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Coot
- Length 38cm
Plump, black, seen in parks and resevoirs, bigger
than Moorhens. Clumsy in flight, lands with a splash. Head bobs
while swimming, dives a lot. Patters along surface when taking off.
Rather quarrelsome.
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Great
Crested Grebe - length 48 cm
Once nearly exterminated because of demand for feathers
for women's hats. But now protected and numerous again. Found in
reservoirs and lakes in Birmingham. Nests on floating nest, attached
to vegetation. When courting, offers gifts of water-weed!
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Mallard
- length 58.5 cm
Nests on ground, sometimes in a hollow tree. very
tame. Strong flight. Duck quacks loudly, Drake has a quiet whistle.
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Moorhen
- length 33 cm
Common on ponds and park lakes. Swims jerkily.
Defends its territory - males will fight. Nests in thick cover
close to water. Not a stong flyer.
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Pipistrelle
Bat - wingspan 20.5 cm
Commonest and smallest type of Bat. Common in parks
and gardens. In summer, sleeps in buildings, hollow trees, in daytime,
comes out soon after dusk. Flies fast but erratically, dodges about.
Can be seen also in spring or mild winter. Hibernates in Winter.
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Rook
- length 45.5 cm
Similar to Crow except for whitish face and beak.
Very sociable, found in groups or rookeries. Aggressive in defending
the group's territory. Useful to farmer - eats wireworms and leather-jackets.
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Mute
Swan - length 152.5 cm
A familiar sight, with graceful curved neck. Powerful
in flight, with a creaking noise. Hisses and snorts - keep away!
Mates for life. Is considered a royal bird - the Crown once owned
them all.
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Brown
Rat - length 24 cm
Occupies anywhere undisturbed where it can find
food - in winter in buildings, store rooms, cellars.
In summertime moves to edges of lakes or canal banks. Digs, burrows
and swims well. Can do severe damage and spread disease.
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Canada
Goose - length 101.5 cm
Largest Goose, brought in from North America for
ornament but they escaped. Seen on ponds and town parks. May up-end
in water.
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Heron
- length 91.5 cm
Stands like a sentry beside water, waiting for a
fish. When flying, has slow flapping wing-beats, head tucked in.
Will steal goldfish from ponds. Herons are very noisy during nesting,
croaking and chattering of beaks.
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