Tag: Birds

30 Days Wild 2021 – Day 12 – Ponds/Lakes – Coots

Sitting at the fishing lake today, a family of Coots (Fulica atra) were swimming around. The family were, mum, dad, juvenile and a baby.

Bit sad that there was only one baby with the as last weekend there were 2 others making 3. Thats the circle of life. Possibly taken by predators such as Pike, Heron or Fox. More likely to be a Pike as there are a couple of big ones on the pond/lake.

Coots are a water bird that make their nests in reedbeds or along the banks in cover. At the pond, they make a nest on a floating island so protected from preadators. Until they come out in the open.

The Coot has a distinctive shield white bill marking on the front of their heads.

Hopefully this family will survive as is going forward.

There are other species of Coots that fall under the Genus Fulica.

30 Days Wild 2021 – Day 5 – Nature Walking – The Robin

Nature is all around us and it is good to get out walking and seeing it first hand. On this particular walk my family and I came across a Robin “Erithacus rubecula” sat next to the path.

Robin “Erithacus rubecula” watching passers-by

It was happily watching the walkers out on this route picking up anything that a walker may have given it such as a scrap of sandwich.

It was then we noticed movement down near our feet and spotted the mottled brown feathers of a fledgling Robin.

Fledgling Robin with Mottled Brown Feathers

We therefore assumed that this was a parent Robin watching its baby.

A female Robin typically lays 4 to 6 eggs in 2 broods. How many hatch and survive to adulthood is down to nature.

A typical Robin grows to 14cm long and has a wingspan of 21cm. They only weigh around 18 grams.

The Robin is a familiar sight across the UK in woods, fields and gardens. They will follow a gardener around their garden in the hope of an upturned worm or disturbed insect, grub or spider.

Robins have also been associated with people who has passed away with a Robin appearing when loved ones are near.

Robins have a nice song and is one of the few birds that will sing all year long. The RSPB have an audio clip of a Robin singing – Robin Song.