Didimendum1's photostream  

It's not the best of pictures so I have added some white fluff around the edge to add to the general confusion! But I don't know if I will be as lucky in future so I may as well go with this one.

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According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Mute Swan is, 'a very large white waterbird. It has a long S-shaped neck, and an orange bill with black at the base of it. Flies with its neck extended and regular slow wingbeats. The population in the UK has increased recently, perhaps due to better protection of this species. The problem of lead poisoning on lowland rivers has also largely been solved by a ban on the sale of lead fishing weights. Some birds stay in their territories all year, while others move short distances and form winter flocks. In cold weather, some birds arrive from Europe into eastern England.' The species is on the Green List*.

See ... www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/muteswan/ ...

* See ... www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/status_explained.aspx ... for explanations of Red, Amber and Green List criteria

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Birds seen/identified: Mallards, Coots, a pair of Shovelers, a pair of Great Crested Grebes (one sitting on a nest ~ Coots were nesting nearby), Mute Swans (see above), (White) Domestic Geese, Tufted Ducks, Canada Geese, a Little Grebe, Moorhens, Black-Headed Gulls, Magpies, Feral Pigeons, Carrion Crows and a few noisy Ring Necked Parakeets.

Birds seen/identified: Mallards (see above), Coots, a pair of Shovelers (see above), a pair of Great Crested Grebes ~ one sitting on a nest ~ Coots were nesting nearby (see above), Mute Swans (see above), (White) Domestic Geese (see above), Tufted Ducks (see above), Canada Geese (see above), a Little Grebe, Moorhens, Black-Headed Gulls (see above), Magpies, Cormorants, Feral Pigeons, Carrion Crows and a few noisy Ring-Necked Parakeets.

Vessel's Name: Samira
IMO Number: 9240744
Flag: Netherlands
Call Sign: PCCG
MMSI Number: 245015000
Port of Registry: Heerhugowaard
Type of Vessel: General Cargo Vessel
Built: 2004
Classification Society: Bureau Veritas
Operator (assumed): Wagenborg Shipping ... www.wagenborg.com/en/divisions/wagenborg-shipping/wagenbo... ...

Information is gathered from various published sources and represents an interpretation ~ it cannot be either guaranteed and/or relied upon

'The Thames supports thousands of ducks, wading birds and gulls in autumn and winter. Over a thousand Teal can be seen feeding on the mud at low tide, alongside waders such as Dunlin, Redshank and Godwits. Black-headed Gulls and ducks such as Gadwall and Shoveler congregate around the Outfall from the Crossness Sewage Works, where nutrients in the treated effluent attract small fish and invertebrates. In summer, shoals of larger fish, especially Grey Mullet, can be seen in the water by the outfall. The fish provide food for birds such as Herons, Cormorants and Terns.'

See ... www.belvederegreenlinks.org.uk/index.php?cID=115 ...

According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Black-Tailed Godwits are 'large wading birds. In summer, they have bright orangey-brown chests and bellies, but in winter they’re more greyish-brown. Their most distinctive features are their long beaks and legs, and the black and white stripes on their wings. Female black-tailed godwits are bigger and heavier than the males, with a noticeably longer beak (which helps the sexes to avoid competing for food with each other). They’re very similar to bar-tailed godwits, which breed in the Arctic. Black-taileds have longer legs, and bar-taileds don’t have striped wings. As the names suggest, the tail patterns are different, too.' The species is on the Red List*.

See ... www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/blacktailedgodwit/ ...

* See ... www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/status_explained.aspx ... for explanations of Red, Amber and Green List criteria