tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45261806469389546602024-03-19T09:51:54.405+00:00Another Bird BlogBird Watching, Bird Ringing,
PhotographyPhil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.comBlogger1810125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-3428912206813620442024-02-24T09:08:00.004+00:002024-02-24T09:26:03.317+00:00A Spanish Stopover<div style="text-align: justify;">2023 was such a poor year for ringing birds that our site at Pilling yielded just 2 Common Whitethroats, one in July and one in August. Neither were caught after the initial day of ringing. They both moved on elsewhere. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Imagine our surprise, a notification from the BTO this week told us that ACV6277 a juvenile we ringed on July 9th was caught in Spain later in the year. If only this particular recovery rate of 50% could be replicated with all ringed birds. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LxMQZTJ6YCtkUXs2xtdVlem5kscRDm3Kh53Lkpdefd-InQ7w8nyIGfv6AimXpN8XJj1ujXZwCD-w1JwUuWKLijrnrrya4ScrGujAtngdHpaleyGZuN9jrO6ZPnDSiK77YeP4rsCHa2QGGdYh6UASH0aRftGyWeszLtZ9Cn7xlb34dYcm5X74YfhHIAE/s1318/ACV6277.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1318" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LxMQZTJ6YCtkUXs2xtdVlem5kscRDm3Kh53Lkpdefd-InQ7w8nyIGfv6AimXpN8XJj1ujXZwCD-w1JwUuWKLijrnrrya4ScrGujAtngdHpaleyGZuN9jrO6ZPnDSiK77YeP4rsCHa2QGGdYh6UASH0aRftGyWeszLtZ9Cn7xlb34dYcm5X74YfhHIAE/w400-h245/ACV6277.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Common Whitethroat ACV6277</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">ACV6277 was recaptured by Spanish ringers at San Roque-Darbo, Cangas de Morrazo, Pontevedra on September 1st 2023, some 54 days later. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq71UmSAr_kYGGIj4V5bI9ntUZtyzGu_iAirp2AOrRUrx6RpBBRSAFAggnettm7zIZgfiVTFdZBQpo1My36v8-99lhc_xwNPPwvLa2Ndx_Dvn4bTHclxl0qehmk4cxSfc1QDm8hoB9brK-36AqFnuiG9RkiWoNTJq0ElPFnzZ7N0R42XQf4NIzvAyBQ0s/s905/Cockerham%20to%20pontevedra.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="696" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq71UmSAr_kYGGIj4V5bI9ntUZtyzGu_iAirp2AOrRUrx6RpBBRSAFAggnettm7zIZgfiVTFdZBQpo1My36v8-99lhc_xwNPPwvLa2Ndx_Dvn4bTHclxl0qehmk4cxSfc1QDm8hoB9brK-36AqFnuiG9RkiWoNTJq0ElPFnzZ7N0R42XQf4NIzvAyBQ0s/w308-h400/Cockerham%20to%20pontevedra.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitethroat ACV6277 - Cockerham to Pontevedra</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I looked up the place name of Cangas de Morrazo and discovered it to be a small coastal town in Northern Spain close to the city of Vigo and to the border of Portugal/Spain. It looks a great place for a September break, a traditional Spanish fishing village that is close to a nature reserve - Zonas de Especial Protección para las Aves (ZEPA). A pure guess but there is a good chance that ACV6277 was recaptured in this very place and soon afterwards set off to continue its first ever journey to Africa.
<a href="https://www.mardeons.es/blog/observar-aves-en-cies-y-ons/ " target="_blank">https://www.mardeons.es/blog/observar-aves-en-cies-y-ons/ </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A summer visitor to the UK from Africa, the Common Whitethroat is small, brown warbler that frequents hedgerow and scrubby areas across Britain & Ireland from April to October.
Its winter quarters in Africa occupy the dry Sahel just to the south of the Sahara. This area is subject to prolonged periods of drought which affect Whitethroat overwinter survival. Such conditions led to a crash of 90% in UK Whitethroat numbers in the late-1960s, from which this species is still recovering. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TUusRvbLGD6oyrm8Z6XmSY838Ut7An01k-lkEjvTZWj57_3EPSU3-O3hZw9ScchXjveT4wkdyq9pCXvn5dAHlu0YfapXHTLECy2TpbJXmscXfHCYQHBosKAmu9XnT_p7hhdDFGYOcwdnTYC1lWOp4lzBH5KCRTlUqGoVJzF_tjo-U9LARSVZ52VDVGw/s1264/IMG_2372.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1188" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TUusRvbLGD6oyrm8Z6XmSY838Ut7An01k-lkEjvTZWj57_3EPSU3-O3hZw9ScchXjveT4wkdyq9pCXvn5dAHlu0YfapXHTLECy2TpbJXmscXfHCYQHBosKAmu9XnT_p7hhdDFGYOcwdnTYC1lWOp4lzBH5KCRTlUqGoVJzF_tjo-U9LARSVZ52VDVGw/w376-h400/IMG_2372.JPG" width="376" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitethroat</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JyJneQDsaKCFTKryROuwl-bGgdqhUlq3FR1YBPa-2PZp5QdR1jYBUytrYGYUnllwDeOCSCh7IeDZla2I2xTXSYwF1vUx2Afs8hrmk3EkUZEBAZyDV3pQ78QQO_jbefajTAdnT7DxVui2S3gLG0UqTb1wI5ythmLoJsOr3PE7KWVRxRYZj_Ezwgl1SUY/s777/IMG_9407a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="777" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JyJneQDsaKCFTKryROuwl-bGgdqhUlq3FR1YBPa-2PZp5QdR1jYBUytrYGYUnllwDeOCSCh7IeDZla2I2xTXSYwF1vUx2Afs8hrmk3EkUZEBAZyDV3pQ78QQO_jbefajTAdnT7DxVui2S3gLG0UqTb1wI5ythmLoJsOr3PE7KWVRxRYZj_Ezwgl1SUY/w400-h383/IMG_9407a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitethroat</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whitethroats breed throughout the UK and it can be found from Cornwall to northern Scotland, as well as across Ireland.
The Whitethroat has suffered a 63% decrease in its population in the years 1967 -2020, hardly surprising given the way that the UK continues its desire to concrete over the entire landscape. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">No One Cares. Money speaks louder than wildlife.</div><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>For example. </i></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>A
holiday village and eco-park with up to 450 lodges, a hotel, market
place, virtual reality wildlife experience and craftworkers’ pods
is proposed for land south of </i></span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i><a href="https://www.lancs.live/all-about/lancaster">Lancaster</a></i></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i> in
a planning application.</i></span></p>
<p style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: left;"></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Land
at Home Farm, Ellel Grange, near Galgate, near </i></span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i><a href="https://www.lancs.live/all-about/m6">the
M6</a></i></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>, is the
proposed site for the scheme by applicants TNPG Sandeman Trust and
Ellel Holiday Village Ltd.</i></span></p><p></p>
<p style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>But
the outline application has prompted hundreds of objections along
with some letters of support, according to </i></span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i><a href="https://www.lancs.live/all-about/lancaster-city-council">Lancaster
City Council</a></i></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i> planning
reports”.</i></span></p>
<p style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This really does beggar belief but many have seen </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">for
years </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">where we as a nation are
heading when wildlife and the countryside is to be destroyed and replaced
by virtual wildlife </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">and
craftworkers' pods.</span></p><p style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">You really couldn't make this shit up if you tried.</span></p><p style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Linking this week to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eileen's Blog</a>.</span></p>
<p style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-58606632710518845062024-02-21T20:02:00.001+00:002024-02-22T10:30:58.490+00:00Salvage Hunters<div style="text-align: justify;">Was that the phone ringing in the dining room two walls and two closed doors away? Sue and I were in the bedroom watching Salvage Hunters with Drew just about to pay a crazy sum for a piece of old tat. I reached the phone before it cut off but because of the ensuing conversation I never found out how much Drew wasted. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was Peter on the line, he of Peter and Dot fame, lovers of the great outdoors, birdwatchers, travellers in the best sense of the word, and residents of Garstang Town. Peter had seen that Another Bird Blog lay dormant, near to death condition, and wondered if “everything was ok?” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I reassured him of our as-good-as-can-be situation and asked about their own. We shared our thoughts about the last seven months of lashing rain, wind and unprecedented weather via the Atlantic Jet Stream, plus our frustrations in being unable to find birdwatching spots not besieged by microlites, bicycles, dogs and normies out to make birders’ lives a misery. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A mile or so from Garstang the ringing site of Barnacre has been unworkable, deep in water & slime, now a no-go for weeks if not for smonths ahead. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the way back from Garstang and one of our trips to Booth’s for their bargain £10 for two bacon butties and cappuccino (with loyalty card) Sue and I called at our ringing site out Pilling way to drop seed. There are meanies who refer to Booth’s Café as God’s Waiting Room because it’s popular with oldies, more so on pension day. A rather unfair naming don’t you think? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3k1-6mrJFBePDCG1U2A4O2bhN3P2LeEl-jjAQpHPGHC5wva56RIrkLgNwvteauORzBVJVvpmtI8s-kAZDvYviA-r2Oq52qpjSk7b1DL3i-E-9RAiFmSe6L_i2jwIzWn6hmrpeHmq2zOnneyhCTqVnX0Fi249qwHwm7Y2VVVCoWK9iBXk1S2MZ0iy4MU/s1184/Booths.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1184" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3k1-6mrJFBePDCG1U2A4O2bhN3P2LeEl-jjAQpHPGHC5wva56RIrkLgNwvteauORzBVJVvpmtI8s-kAZDvYviA-r2Oq52qpjSk7b1DL3i-E-9RAiFmSe6L_i2jwIzWn6hmrpeHmq2zOnneyhCTqVnX0Fi249qwHwm7Y2VVVCoWK9iBXk1S2MZ0iy4MU/w400-h235/Booths.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">God's Waiting Room aka Booth's Café, Garstang</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A mile or two away along a farm track I managed to get the car stuck in a nasty, sticky, and uncompromising muddy spot. It was lucky that Sue was able to push the car while I completed the manly manoeuvres of combining clutch & steering wheel to free the car. Sorry about your trainers Sue. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In between times, hunting for and grabbing sunny intervals that came along, I managed to salvage a few new pictures. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meadow Pipits have these incredibly long hind claws as seen below. When you live in long grass like a Meadow Pipit, you need long hind claws to help you stand tall and keep a watch out for predators. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylnBpjXNCrnw6NWQOtYbf1_pHMEnAy5nOgqGVMClJUvqvmgiEKhNi4pj-uQvo6r3RyB7BbIjeVkTEMn36olFg5UZSHxwIz2_KgotXLI1Rllr3JpVrIh8tj2hVO2B2mXUbPWOcOQliJ-4hL3MT_4lPoTn94nqF4ccTpMMHKVtl1-muFY6AfLXYEXj-9-c/s3250/IMG_0617.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2957" data-original-width="3250" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylnBpjXNCrnw6NWQOtYbf1_pHMEnAy5nOgqGVMClJUvqvmgiEKhNi4pj-uQvo6r3RyB7BbIjeVkTEMn36olFg5UZSHxwIz2_KgotXLI1Rllr3JpVrIh8tj2hVO2B2mXUbPWOcOQliJ-4hL3MT_4lPoTn94nqF4ccTpMMHKVtl1-muFY6AfLXYEXj-9-c/w400-h364/IMG_0617.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our wintering Whooper Swans have no problem with flooded fields as it makes hunting for goodies a little easier and encourages spring grass to grow tall. I counted more than 220 Whoopers on one day alone and where another more distant party with Canada Geese remained uncounted. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtIGGTVXV8Fh0nOtpbWfK33bhyPq2LF0mUyNfZ5IPkmnIeQ0C-h0VxLflLTNdsvJ2Q29wFcB0rh6BbIXeQAJD8C9p-H56ESrggzFqrjEncLzpe6MzOmrMHl-Eht4PNHL3G2GH-RxxwnFCL4DdtZcuv5vVU3MhPZL75w_6j5slhozYVhl_7qT7imnK8t4/s6757/IMG_0630.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1846" data-original-width="6757" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtIGGTVXV8Fh0nOtpbWfK33bhyPq2LF0mUyNfZ5IPkmnIeQ0C-h0VxLflLTNdsvJ2Q29wFcB0rh6BbIXeQAJD8C9p-H56ESrggzFqrjEncLzpe6MzOmrMHl-Eht4PNHL3G2GH-RxxwnFCL4DdtZcuv5vVU3MhPZL75w_6j5slhozYVhl_7qT7imnK8t4/w400-h109/IMG_0630.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whooper Swans</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s noticeable how Goldfinches, Chaffinches and Reed Buntings have begun to make their way back north with increased numbers at the feeding station where Blackbirds abound and even a rare Song Thrush put in a brief appearance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlwSjrEYTuU2QFIEDueSqr18r9tY_oO9DJAZ9PdhFfnhTH9E3co1dNmVNDs5uKAqBzIqRs8_IpHoeJNYJSUXoQZ2nWBGTXg4YkD-U_30ILHSQtiQDD6h4Fglvvwz9NUoS3BZigM6pK9LF2kZwJBHKbl-IpOfM72mGddLo4-OFbTZm9e9OW0oJhjUQRR0/s3809/IMG_0629.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3266" data-original-width="3809" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlwSjrEYTuU2QFIEDueSqr18r9tY_oO9DJAZ9PdhFfnhTH9E3co1dNmVNDs5uKAqBzIqRs8_IpHoeJNYJSUXoQZ2nWBGTXg4YkD-U_30ILHSQtiQDD6h4Fglvvwz9NUoS3BZigM6pK9LF2kZwJBHKbl-IpOfM72mGddLo4-OFbTZm9e9OW0oJhjUQRR0/w400-h343/IMG_0629.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Song Thrush</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIq6rZnm350AP6KCVedaaNgnkQtbng_bLXRljswyBrBvq26hKgepUqvNlekDTRpiXZy44w37SbfVeVVzPTImjxNhK0yboVwkina2WpaeIkrm6byMY3yknckqmCUh7wLxMM7a-2zCx8QMLMQr9u188KwuWBxbEUohLP-NKtTnbtPqvSNteD1Qx9WKGLdg/s966/IMG_1156.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIq6rZnm350AP6KCVedaaNgnkQtbng_bLXRljswyBrBvq26hKgepUqvNlekDTRpiXZy44w37SbfVeVVzPTImjxNhK0yboVwkina2WpaeIkrm6byMY3yknckqmCUh7wLxMM7a-2zCx8QMLMQr9u188KwuWBxbEUohLP-NKtTnbtPqvSNteD1Qx9WKGLdg/w331-h400/IMG_1156.JPG" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH0383CezO71BpCQKSv5dUX5eKr6Y-8TzRmiyhDpC0eYjpeX3Vkc2kogEVzLAl7eiA26rM6DIdtvPA9CCQn1_LsVyeNmoK4flM8oI4IXc4dG4VA38MbBttMu6AkiNOqyEz65wYXmFc7p7tpagfzZmXxK9aiB8dCqNuiks60Tkl4NiNVBiOHCKOEwtreM/s2766/_MG_9748.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2376" data-original-width="2766" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH0383CezO71BpCQKSv5dUX5eKr6Y-8TzRmiyhDpC0eYjpeX3Vkc2kogEVzLAl7eiA26rM6DIdtvPA9CCQn1_LsVyeNmoK4flM8oI4IXc4dG4VA38MbBttMu6AkiNOqyEz65wYXmFc7p7tpagfzZmXxK9aiB8dCqNuiks60Tkl4NiNVBiOHCKOEwtreM/w400-h344/_MG_9748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had about 10 seconds to picture a hunting Sparrowhawk, a large female that took a momentary rest on a wire fence. And then it was gone, off to cause bedlam amongst a flock of birds or to pick out a likely looking victim followed by rapid death from those huge talons. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFedJMV41LhgnWurn-Z5US1sfghdkQJZahqY6IZjqsug7cIsjEXXug_zfiDLolaJUY-7i_DGEmqkXHZqS4FY-QRwcCdbc8eyCTSFz5EIMy8_aariQzIeRKDoBQQFieCgt-5kIazvIRhX0vxJkhI7MSvq6HplCCVuJ_dCMe3fkc7gCMZKDku8Yz2q269h8/s1936/IMG_0609.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="1936" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFedJMV41LhgnWurn-Z5US1sfghdkQJZahqY6IZjqsug7cIsjEXXug_zfiDLolaJUY-7i_DGEmqkXHZqS4FY-QRwcCdbc8eyCTSFz5EIMy8_aariQzIeRKDoBQQFieCgt-5kIazvIRhX0vxJkhI7MSvq6HplCCVuJ_dCMe3fkc7gCMZKDku8Yz2q269h8/w400-h333/IMG_0609.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sparrowhawk</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Wednesday came a message from The Florida Lovebirds, Wally and Gini, concerned about the lack of activity from Another Bird Blog. They had read about “a bit of extra dampness in far away lands but details were lost in the alarm over melting glaciers – or was it unusually high snow fall amounts – I forget. I just know it was something catastrophic so we’re still hiding under the bed until it passes.”. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Luckily Wally and Gini “have it on good authority from a little orphan girl that The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” Thanks folks, I will look forward to that. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But I think they must mean in Sunny Florida because there's little sign of the yellow orb in our Wild West skies. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Come back soon everyone. I will try not to leave the blog in sleep mode again. </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-58561257456984532962024-01-14T18:02:00.002+00:002024-01-15T16:40:36.498+00:00Cold with sunny intervals.<div style="text-align: justify;">They are trying to frighten us again. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>“Arctic blast incoming! Britain faces a 383-mile blizzard as temperatures to plummet to -10C: Map reveals where 5cm of snow is set to fall with yellow warnings coming into force!” </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course using the number 5 makes for more impact than telling us that 5cm is less than 2 inches, not enough snow to wet your toe caps. But never allow truth get in the way of a good click-bait headline. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s no surprise that hardly anyone buys newspapers nowadays, instead preferring to find alternative news and current affairs outlets on the Internet where an enquiring mind can delve into a wide spectrum of views and opinions rather than to read constant lies and propaganda. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rant over and excuse the pun but the headline cut no ice with me as I headed out on Sunday morning into the rising sun as a thin layer of ice swished from the windscreen. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqWfUV_JFJxFBUmydr0sh7BrjsWCYfhK9ThGWOW6HjRzFtfHkhHB1gKjysheLENbfWy8pZ34n96YJU7gc1_DWBhKUeJhY9FdbnoeZEVGMY3jTOWS7-GcMShXG2WoX1Z8rdsJDfD4CeXTgjn-kk4tz8Sp1dGYzQOb8ob67T1XzqDTtpv9qjQmmeJIisxY/s5974/_DSC3482.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3189" data-original-width="5974" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqWfUV_JFJxFBUmydr0sh7BrjsWCYfhK9ThGWOW6HjRzFtfHkhHB1gKjysheLENbfWy8pZ34n96YJU7gc1_DWBhKUeJhY9FdbnoeZEVGMY3jTOWS7-GcMShXG2WoX1Z8rdsJDfD4CeXTgjn-kk4tz8Sp1dGYzQOb8ob67T1XzqDTtpv9qjQmmeJIisxY/w400-h214/_DSC3482.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Into the morning sun</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">A pair of Stonechats greeted me at Gulf Lane where three parked and icy cars told me that wild fowlers had set out very early towards the marsh. The female Stonechat was more accommodating than her pal who maintained a safer camera distance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin41JM6rjoHCIZY4xXFMrez6HmejIkGRbB2hEg-IXY2LgmPitgVbmdCGgTRBt1TS3L9tI5l58_h7vDoCMOxLgNkC1DMPl4CwPQlQLbfUfKKf8XfxNCvlk8cAZA1iRxfFdrnjqEULkUJ2cK6JESZrAUCB6xP6ZIJ0niKy8IQYmfrtpZfD6xaQwaUbsmvjk/s3404/IMG_0599.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3081" data-original-width="3404" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin41JM6rjoHCIZY4xXFMrez6HmejIkGRbB2hEg-IXY2LgmPitgVbmdCGgTRBt1TS3L9tI5l58_h7vDoCMOxLgNkC1DMPl4CwPQlQLbfUfKKf8XfxNCvlk8cAZA1iRxfFdrnjqEULkUJ2cK6JESZrAUCB6xP6ZIJ0niKy8IQYmfrtpZfD6xaQwaUbsmvjk/w400-h363/IMG_0599.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stonechat</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I headed down Moss Lane where I hoped there might be a few Fieldfares looking for the last of the now threadbare hawthorns. Yes, and even a few Blackbirds temporarily losing their shyness to grab a few juicy red ones. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfioRaNQzV8P0WEGlqV1J57rMBa5P37cfih_gpiiJ9rV-XiNHhUA-R-M73SosZyapWXaC6Rv8ZvV2AEDWhnC2QPPXGKjXeULt2SeyeOq5CzFXJtEPIYCJ83okQho6-_FKk99kN-5avk7TnElnmjowM522jN1VMzjHU4oO5d95l48n0QUzCnmVtqMoWn4/s5025/IMG_0576.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3695" data-original-width="5025" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfioRaNQzV8P0WEGlqV1J57rMBa5P37cfih_gpiiJ9rV-XiNHhUA-R-M73SosZyapWXaC6Rv8ZvV2AEDWhnC2QPPXGKjXeULt2SeyeOq5CzFXJtEPIYCJ83okQho6-_FKk99kN-5avk7TnElnmjowM522jN1VMzjHU4oO5d95l48n0QUzCnmVtqMoWn4/w400-h294/IMG_0576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blackbird</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08Ni0OQpgKjld4jJh50llfo_6lornAHjigtguZ3d2ASTaRgRC3cwCBYgZ8xZJXpzE4lvn7W5_risHqJ7glzrZFY-pocdeup2oxdQbdTQOWUGzFsev8CYvKLHwoXuFEu_0wSIg80JyWpmBaWabBikfJZ1MfOeMBPVTYfX9k2Ud46RZ28kvUHP-GAhdcXU/s4012/IMG_0582.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4012" data-original-width="3595" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08Ni0OQpgKjld4jJh50llfo_6lornAHjigtguZ3d2ASTaRgRC3cwCBYgZ8xZJXpzE4lvn7W5_risHqJ7glzrZFY-pocdeup2oxdQbdTQOWUGzFsev8CYvKLHwoXuFEu_0wSIg80JyWpmBaWabBikfJZ1MfOeMBPVTYfX9k2Ud46RZ28kvUHP-GAhdcXU/w359-h400/IMG_0582.JPG" width="359" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Constant traffic, including sizeable farm vehicles, made the birds flighty and skittish with 30 or forty chuckling Fieldfares flying off and then returning within minutes. The light was poor for pictures so I set off in search of other birds, promising to come back with sunshine. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Almost at the corner of Jeremy Lane a male Hen Harrier flew across in front of the car and carried on over the fields towards Glasson Dock/River Lune. It could end up almost anywhere, this one of two harriers, a male and a ringtail both seen with regularity and ranging across a large area for three or four weeks now.
According to our Government Ministers, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Hen Harriers have enjoyed a better breeding season in 2023 whereby 141 chicks fledged successfully, the seventh successive year of population growth with 54 nests observed across the upland areas of England including County Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire and Northumberland."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/18/encouraging-population-growth-for-hen-harriers-as-141-chicks-recorded-in-2023/">https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/18/encouraging-population-growth-for-hen-harriers-as-141-chicks-recorded-in-2023/</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alternatively, a search on the Internet finds “Raptor Persecution” telling us that “2023 has been the worst year for the illegal killing of Hen Harriers on grouse moors since the ludicrous DEFRA / Natural England hen harrier meddling trial was given the green light in 2018”. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2023/12/11/2023-worst-year-for-persecution-of-hen-harriers-on-uk-grouse-moors-since-brood-meddling-began/" target="_blank">https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2023/12/11/2023-worst-year-for-persecution-of-hen-harriers-on-uk-grouse-moors-since-brood-meddling-began/</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dear Reader. DYOR - Do Your Own Research and make up your own mind. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I turned the car around around and tried again but the light was no better for Fieldfares hiding in the Hawthorns. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRKH9DafQj8zRwHJ9kE82Aj7Qh8-VRozT-AKCYYjg1sWD8z5EUXGp4OkwrFEt_80oKAl9O51ancIrmFy1YIwqqlEg2mNVVvE_z913sR3lR7VsffwcF02vNrpdmOQPaRbWNMldqFlpN59HMEz1UwwWzCV_zUsHQU56aT989tUlWAPLYIXOl2827IgmuLY/s4464/IMG_0577.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3716" data-original-width="4464" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRKH9DafQj8zRwHJ9kE82Aj7Qh8-VRozT-AKCYYjg1sWD8z5EUXGp4OkwrFEt_80oKAl9O51ancIrmFy1YIwqqlEg2mNVVvE_z913sR3lR7VsffwcF02vNrpdmOQPaRbWNMldqFlpN59HMEz1UwwWzCV_zUsHQU56aT989tUlWAPLYIXOl2827IgmuLY/w400-h333/IMG_0577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blackbird</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHdKfgQrqloiJf6G-o4k16GBQq9wxfnG1D1SLPzMDFqWoWqPkOIsuQRHAIAqeoKc7gj45eLSlzfgALv6BqmynNgY2_33L8GSHzHGZVrNfmDHAA2lcJNCwmxZMBLU7Uv7nIagq4wdGuTePR8pzbhQpPt29U6Z6nACGFLuyUA_sRuu3i7CVScEz2TB2xnQ/s5157/IMG_0592.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3838" data-original-width="5157" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHdKfgQrqloiJf6G-o4k16GBQq9wxfnG1D1SLPzMDFqWoWqPkOIsuQRHAIAqeoKc7gj45eLSlzfgALv6BqmynNgY2_33L8GSHzHGZVrNfmDHAA2lcJNCwmxZMBLU7Uv7nIagq4wdGuTePR8pzbhQpPt29U6Z6nACGFLuyUA_sRuu3i7CVScEz2TB2xnQ/w400-h297/IMG_0592.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Further up the lane I found 40 or more Whooper Swans and several Bewick’s Swans. At Cockersands, 4 Cattle Egret, several Reed Buntings, 8 Goldfinches, 15 House Sparrows and a Barn Owl. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cqUQR6qsnrDKd1z_VED1r6pxBzeNDkoZBynblJYncutj4kC0ktyT_7kvbF2i68m6wE46cCcvDC7oMC3qjni4pI5v5qgk3Ogk4R6XZpkiBtt6rHBREkF7n2iM-3W1QgTwYtTZWcHfTyN16Xb19_wvVvMPjWWNDZN9zp-jEa1aznKQlOQo9mBNT5C5Orc/s1015/_MG_0725.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="857" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cqUQR6qsnrDKd1z_VED1r6pxBzeNDkoZBynblJYncutj4kC0ktyT_7kvbF2i68m6wE46cCcvDC7oMC3qjni4pI5v5qgk3Ogk4R6XZpkiBtt6rHBREkF7n2iM-3W1QgTwYtTZWcHfTyN16Xb19_wvVvMPjWWNDZN9zp-jEa1aznKQlOQo9mBNT5C5Orc/w338-h400/_MG_0725.JPG" width="338" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Barn Owl</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyiQqIvXwvpseljRhE8ad5lDKfNyjWg5Hf9zyRpHk-rTyeaVsjjwtMI5KeBEBWwZJUlEbVlw6iOk9KLx1V-ZQtctDYYCJ3EmcTkgOvG8wRSCVNDbj4sqUv507ex3t05d6-pwqRoQx-2dzR6S5Y4kSlkjeBE9mkD0dc46AbSZQCPotJq5iuK-Il4FLyHY/s5063/IMG_0559.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3137" data-original-width="5063" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyiQqIvXwvpseljRhE8ad5lDKfNyjWg5Hf9zyRpHk-rTyeaVsjjwtMI5KeBEBWwZJUlEbVlw6iOk9KLx1V-ZQtctDYYCJ3EmcTkgOvG8wRSCVNDbj4sqUv507ex3t05d6-pwqRoQx-2dzR6S5Y4kSlkjeBE9mkD0dc46AbSZQCPotJq5iuK-Il4FLyHY/w400-h248/IMG_0559.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whooper Swan</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgai6tMwNasxOzw__aIeDuZihRrBSivAyR4p6ZTT3lLAAMFsUfykSfQ7exXj_mmhKVqU0iHYmoZkmgIH7xEsCGSa6V6q8shjDMFhgXBNXxFaYUMSmyNwCVj2r8VWKlxnTkBR95SDHmgkiCkivG9AKF_uVXokojH_-fJpx4xq9IeerzRR_lG2Q1ypYUpo/s3445/IMG_0570.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="3445" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgai6tMwNasxOzw__aIeDuZihRrBSivAyR4p6ZTT3lLAAMFsUfykSfQ7exXj_mmhKVqU0iHYmoZkmgIH7xEsCGSa6V6q8shjDMFhgXBNXxFaYUMSmyNwCVj2r8VWKlxnTkBR95SDHmgkiCkivG9AKF_uVXokojH_-fJpx4xq9IeerzRR_lG2Q1ypYUpo/w400-h346/IMG_0570.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Starling male</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> And yes, the sun came out again. Maybe next week too, despite the Arctic Blizzards set to engulf us. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-67678721884938851482024-01-10T09:03:00.005+00:002024-01-13T09:06:16.176+00:00Who’s Next? Follow The Money.<div style="text-align: justify;">A new study has found that humans have wiped out around 1,400 bird species - twice as many as previously thought, with major implications for the ongoing biodiversity crisis. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many of the world's islands were previously untouched paradises, but the arrival of people to places like Hawaii, Tonga and the Azores led, over time, to far-reaching impacts including deforestation, overhunting and the introduction of invasive species. Consequently, bird species were wiped out. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the demise of many birds since the 1500s has been recorded, our knowledge of the fate of species before this relies on fossils, and these records are limited because birds' lightweight bones disintegrate over time; this conceals the true extent of global extinctions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Researchers now believe 1,430 bird species, almost 12 per cent, have died out over modern human history, since the Late Pleistocene around 130,000 years ago, with the vast majority of them becoming extinct directly or indirectly due to human activity. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The study, led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and published in Nature Communications, used statistical modelling to estimate the undiscovered bird extinctions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lead author Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at UKCEH, - "Our study demonstrates there has been a far higher human impact on avian diversity than previously recognised. Humans have rapidly devastated bird populations via habitat loss, overexploitation and the introduction of rats, pigs, cats and dogs that raided nests of birds and competed with them for food. We show that many species became extinct before written records and left no trace, lost from history." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dr Søren Faurby of the University of Gothenburg, a co-author of the study, adds: "These historic extinctions have major implications for the current biodiversity crisis.
"The world may not only have lost many fascinating birds but also their varied ecological roles, which are likely to have included key functions such as seed dispersal and pollination. This will have had cascading harmful effects on ecosystems so, in addition to bird extinctions, we will have lost a lot of plants and animals that depended on these species for survival." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Observations and fossils show 640 bird species have been driven extinct since the Late Pleistocene period, 90 per cent of these on islands inhabited by people.
These range from the iconic Dodo of Mauritius to the Great Auk of the North Atlantic to the lesser-known Saint Helena Giant Hoopoe. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4FmUj0xfiKyKprcS2ssFnkGDqgvhZ5BKZgzde8wg0uCGZKNvYEMd53u8JcBtMnZBOikDksybX-hfSvSL14ZIEC9aXTPkoUyYou2gTypnJMZsnmA6sy1I6X6dqMG1kF_uHUzidYg2Is7dcxyJE7ps4FOrUBVoTScf5bSTcxk83PXWwG-c76udgxI7roo/s1280/Edwards'_Dodo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="1280" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4FmUj0xfiKyKprcS2ssFnkGDqgvhZ5BKZgzde8wg0uCGZKNvYEMd53u8JcBtMnZBOikDksybX-hfSvSL14ZIEC9aXTPkoUyYou2gTypnJMZsnmA6sy1I6X6dqMG1kF_uHUzidYg2Is7dcxyJE7ps4FOrUBVoTScf5bSTcxk83PXWwG-c76udgxI7roo/w400-h321/Edwards'_Dodo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dodo -a painting of the late 1620s by Roelant Savery. </div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-8ZQzrfnKNqHEG2ONvEUWeZiV6_4lpUL1xDgs-uESZEDpQy5cL7Tf6wlP2HHYIvwg13BoBJD8aiy9PKqxyBi9nmgy0rBr2iWa0pC2YUlua9WQfoQ33SilvbEbx1733GVxu7nmILWq0YDdl-w-XLY7CaJC0e4Sh8U8oDqWR86TKqWXjcE20ZuMb8PZ3E/s640/Great_Auk_(Pinguinis_impennis)_specimen,_Kelvingrove,_Glasgow_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1108249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="426" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-8ZQzrfnKNqHEG2ONvEUWeZiV6_4lpUL1xDgs-uESZEDpQy5cL7Tf6wlP2HHYIvwg13BoBJD8aiy9PKqxyBi9nmgy0rBr2iWa0pC2YUlua9WQfoQ33SilvbEbx1733GVxu7nmILWq0YDdl-w-XLY7CaJC0e4Sh8U8oDqWR86TKqWXjcE20ZuMb8PZ3E/w266-h400/Great_Auk_(Pinguinis_impennis)_specimen,_Kelvingrove,_Glasgow_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1108249.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">Great Auk - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But the researchers estimated there have been further 790 unknown extinctions, meaning a total of 1,430 lost species. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The scientists say their study has uncovered the largest human-driven vertebrate extinction event in history, during the 14th century, estimating that 570 bird species were lost after people first arrived in the Eastern Pacific, including Hawaii and the Cook Islands, nearly 100 times the natural extinction rate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They believe there was also a major extinction event in the ninth century BC, primarily driven by the arrival of people to the Western Pacific, including Fiji and the Mariana Islands, as well as the Canary Islands, and highlight the ongoing extinction event, which started in the mid-18th century.
Since then, in addition to an increase in deforestation and spread of invasive species, birds have faced the additional human-driven threats of intensive agriculture, pollution and leisure activities. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Previous research by the authors suggests we are at risk of losing up to 700 additional bird species in the next few hundred years, which would be an unprecedented human-driven decimation of species.
But Dr Cooke points out: "Whether or not further bird species will go extinct is up to us. Recent conservation has saved some species and we must now increase efforts to protect birds, with habitat restoration led by local communities." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The study team based their modelled estimates on known extinctions and the extent of relevant research effort in regions compared to New Zealand. The country is the only place in the world where the pre-human bird fauna is believed to be completely known, with well-preserved remains of all birds there. The fewer studies in a region, the more incomplete the fossil record is expected to be, and the greater the number of estimated undiscovered extinctions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Journal Reference: Rob Cooke, Ferran Sayol, Tobias Andermann, Tim M. Blackburn, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Alexandre Antonelli, Søren Faurby. Undiscovered bird extinctions obscure the true magnitude of human-driven extinction waves. Nature Communications, 2023.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXzYuE-pbMfs9ZY-iaQDLnS1kqf_WuyG810AN8RXYGbTTyQDvj9WqgCYQRBPlDyUlIgYQyX3ZTYkFIr69WikhunE2ggq0YJwrfnekrm35c80oiupy-LdVT_lozYGVS2UQDugwyztWEwEGyp56toLSXMlcDKMUH6tTYN7xyNiQTD97-AHHvvZwOqLu2x4/s1600/Upupa_antaios_holotype_(USNM-PAL-175936).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1600" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXzYuE-pbMfs9ZY-iaQDLnS1kqf_WuyG810AN8RXYGbTTyQDvj9WqgCYQRBPlDyUlIgYQyX3ZTYkFIr69WikhunE2ggq0YJwrfnekrm35c80oiupy-LdVT_lozYGVS2UQDugwyztWEwEGyp56toLSXMlcDKMUH6tTYN7xyNiQTD97-AHHvvZwOqLu2x4/w400-h254/Upupa_antaios_holotype_(USNM-PAL-175936).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border: none; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Saint Helena Giant Hoopoe by Michael
Brett-Surman</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>“The first evidence of the Saint Helena Giant Hoopoe was discovered in 1963 by the British zoologist Philip Ashmole in the Dry Gut sediments east of Saint Helena. Ashmole found a left humerus, but assumed it to be of a Common Hoopoe, due to remarkable similarities to known hoopoe species. However, further research in 1975 by American palaeontologist Storrs L. Olson unearthed more remains, including shoulder parts, skull elements, and the left femur, which prompted a re-examination of the older evidence and the nomination of a new species. The British Museum of Natural History, as of 1977, was in possession of at least one femur from a Saint Helena hoopoe, slightly larger than Olson described in the nominal paper.” </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When current day leaders and politicians are caught out following a crisis, a misdemeanour or a disaster they inevitably repeat the shop-worn phrase “lessons will be learnt”. Sad to say that history teaches us that lessons are rarely if ever learned and that as a society we just commit the same mistakes over and over again, like lemmings over a cliff. Given the greed and corruption of modern times it is impossible to see how we can escape further extinctions, including in time, <i>homo sapiens.</i> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Do enough people care? No. Follow the money.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking at weekend to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2024/01/saturdays-critters-526.html" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday</a></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-65229242633915793602024-01-07T08:48:00.000+00:002024-01-07T08:48:08.526+00:00Back In The Old Routine<div style="text-align: justify;">It’s the routine excuse too; the weather - relentless rain, stormy wind and endless grey days take the rap for my lethargy in neglecting the blog. Three weeks have flown by, twenty one days which included Christmas, New Year and all that entails and where the few remaining days were of the type where even cats and dogs stay by a roaring fire. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But now in 2024 and following a rare sunny beginning I left Sue with a cup of coffee and her laptop catching up with soaps while I set off for a spot of birding. Maybe I would nab a few pictures during a few hours without wind or rain? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Things kicked off well near Pilling Village, a roadside Kestrel, one of the pair that live most years at a nearby farm. In some years there will be Barn Owls at the same location and where the two predators exist side by side because their respective lifestyles and feeding requirements do not clash. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXm9Fd5KRvrL60rwTnU2mM3vmZfPMospFWqqrIct6pjgRT3pDeAkmfekTlbn74SRBSpRkUQPufBikoMdmiilqZMJfCK74pg9cMFHAfjAOydmdakaEPI6StUFcihZ3aMq8S9hJxaVlq8IVZZLSgJFgyzb2GjxdTaXiOL4g15ThUXEz3nHXAAYVlM3nb1XM/s1100/_MG_9248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1100" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXm9Fd5KRvrL60rwTnU2mM3vmZfPMospFWqqrIct6pjgRT3pDeAkmfekTlbn74SRBSpRkUQPufBikoMdmiilqZMJfCK74pg9cMFHAfjAOydmdakaEPI6StUFcihZ3aMq8S9hJxaVlq8IVZZLSgJFgyzb2GjxdTaXiOL4g15ThUXEz3nHXAAYVlM3nb1XM/w400-h308/_MG_9248.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kestrel</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I spent a little time at Conder Pool where the erstwhile “pool” now resembles Lake Coniston following five months of rain and where the expanse of deep water means that birds, mainly wildfowl, can keep their distance from curious camera-carrying birders. At best, 50+ Wigeon, 80+ Teal, 6 Tufted Duck and 8 Little Grebe. A single Little Egret in the creek where the water is more suited to wading than the “pool”. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I found 15-20 Linnets above Glasson Dock in their yearly haunt alongside the village hall on the edge of the Lune/Glasson marshes. But less than a score of Linnets in now the coldest months of the year is a lowly total for a location that can record 200/400 Linnets. The species seems low in numbers at the moment and perhaps there are many yet to arrive from the colder parts of Scotland if and when the predicted cold snap arrives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznXqcH8TP4STDbruRlyzC1hzgqG8wlsbQirnFBQ5hZbay4db5YExKOrDUrioeX7Ww6PIq2ttWpJiYWtp4EWl2j2BBNsP9sHoPiDYkabv6hCa_246liOzzVz98gq0V1r1x1KVHdKDoqSBjBpZ50LXzBho2FEB1PLG0m6t4k-ZNSQPAHcwPf7ZHUZc5nJ0/s2424/IMG_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="2424" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznXqcH8TP4STDbruRlyzC1hzgqG8wlsbQirnFBQ5hZbay4db5YExKOrDUrioeX7Ww6PIq2ttWpJiYWtp4EWl2j2BBNsP9sHoPiDYkabv6hCa_246liOzzVz98gq0V1r1x1KVHdKDoqSBjBpZ50LXzBho2FEB1PLG0m6t4k-ZNSQPAHcwPf7ZHUZc5nJ0/w400-h374/IMG_0509.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">A look towards Cockersands proved the most productive time of the morning with first a Barn Owl exiting a building before taking a quick circuit of the nearby marsh. When I drove around the corner to see where the owl had gone, there it was, sat along the fence line before it headed off again, this time out of sight. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaIjdbN3XUoDnPhkAyNg3Iy4dHm5rRWkBTmrxIMnBQ9X5IIGLJVTV_zrcwZ4vJRnOjhTOp7DV3uCe-hsr6UXGrUY1N3ww_ALzC7RjF9tpjUTC4PCa4QSZufihHHXdSfTSIx-jnlQ1TD8jgFEYgd6_JidTjtStsR3maTIBLlhxmpQ99-XnftuPmqTtEmw/s1050/IMG_7049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="708" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaIjdbN3XUoDnPhkAyNg3Iy4dHm5rRWkBTmrxIMnBQ9X5IIGLJVTV_zrcwZ4vJRnOjhTOp7DV3uCe-hsr6UXGrUY1N3ww_ALzC7RjF9tpjUTC4PCa4QSZufihHHXdSfTSIx-jnlQ1TD8jgFEYgd6_JidTjtStsR3maTIBLlhxmpQ99-XnftuPmqTtEmw/w270-h400/IMG_7049.JPG" width="270" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Barn Owl</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5Ptdzo2IZi3aJsUnyRkterej7rEFF3nQllQnrgqkt2DBrwxYcXWhbYa6r7G26gVVdDk1cLg5PFTZZFhP6YI7-7GottsZV_d72WlZf90gmFc61J7bJuh8gToxwOpC7VcyAlkp0YIG9nx8EZ5iksKAaArnRsNarGSeMqQJENqtFqpQmEq4F3uMPGSPWo8/s1100/_MG_3349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1100" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5Ptdzo2IZi3aJsUnyRkterej7rEFF3nQllQnrgqkt2DBrwxYcXWhbYa6r7G26gVVdDk1cLg5PFTZZFhP6YI7-7GottsZV_d72WlZf90gmFc61J7bJuh8gToxwOpC7VcyAlkp0YIG9nx8EZ5iksKAaArnRsNarGSeMqQJENqtFqpQmEq4F3uMPGSPWo8/w400-h305/_MG_3349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Barn Owl</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">At my parked gateway spot were both Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtail, also 15-20 House Sparrows and 70 or so Starlings. The bright sunny morning had sent the Starlings into song and conversations, melodies that included Redshanks, Curlews and others. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXnqzConFHpnHKKiwHbzjHWef4PaYKW9SIzlTfmuH9LmvZfeCqzE4VmHwN1t1Ae2-BlDlCHX2yrcVC9kLXzRuA9lRDKz72VJNO6Vqj3coamGtfsNagwn76t0PohUJtsZWEFKhqZHTGp5axk17WLLUBAJYw7YyI9GKJL9nleY9Y3OLTOKI-mRlFJL8Pkc/s4846/IMG_0547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3396" data-original-width="4846" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXnqzConFHpnHKKiwHbzjHWef4PaYKW9SIzlTfmuH9LmvZfeCqzE4VmHwN1t1Ae2-BlDlCHX2yrcVC9kLXzRuA9lRDKz72VJNO6Vqj3coamGtfsNagwn76t0PohUJtsZWEFKhqZHTGp5axk17WLLUBAJYw7YyI9GKJL9nleY9Y3OLTOKI-mRlFJL8Pkc/w400-h280/IMG_0547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_-iFxCBUNA0U8-HGKakzG7vwwD2BuTuSgmm5V6rbtn9E97HJ1IZts-jVs-WquPRhjzqPFXJ-x6wsV531H7mBYMpa-N_SXAU1OwHjvpySnJ7y3tw4Ovr8Hkk6eB9jVNZFUS_wQ9HmA8lC5sP9HOeQ2aeKBtiex5GXRhf2CpmgY8bRAUWZ7IsAbShY7TQ/s4229/IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3426" data-original-width="4229" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_-iFxCBUNA0U8-HGKakzG7vwwD2BuTuSgmm5V6rbtn9E97HJ1IZts-jVs-WquPRhjzqPFXJ-x6wsV531H7mBYMpa-N_SXAU1OwHjvpySnJ7y3tw4Ovr8Hkk6eB9jVNZFUS_wQ9HmA8lC5sP9HOeQ2aeKBtiex5GXRhf2CpmgY8bRAUWZ7IsAbShY7TQ/w400-h324/IMG_0536.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Starlings</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Starlings are really excellent at mimicking the sounds of other birds and, in fact, any other sounds they hear in their environment. While maybe occasionally the mimicry is spontaneous, mostly it is carefully practised and woven into phrases, which are then arranged into songs"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0dmpeVo6AhU?si=2Oai_cimgJ_fqzv7" title="YouTube video player" width="430"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Along Moss Lane I saw and heard small numbers of Fieldfares alongside the roaming Starling flocks. Because hawthorn bushes are now stripped of berries any remaining Fieldfares now use the Starlings to their advantage and join in searching for earthworms in the still saturated fields. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqCNkYsvwDRFnCjjA6Qo5hATWd1K8YMXMpK3zAbNviBO89Q5tW83_uT_0vxfZWG4JOErSSrrZDPfNDNxbQ0hIpd-vFqEXLP6jeNunGvwY2KGHXu9-LU0O28JsIhT98F-uvUo3Yn3NFYU5-OM1ySI35CuWu6FweEHbeEJhy8OVcpbzZ8sbzl2RqXW8onM/s2538/IMG_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2039" data-original-width="2538" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqCNkYsvwDRFnCjjA6Qo5hATWd1K8YMXMpK3zAbNviBO89Q5tW83_uT_0vxfZWG4JOErSSrrZDPfNDNxbQ0hIpd-vFqEXLP6jeNunGvwY2KGHXu9-LU0O28JsIhT98F-uvUo3Yn3NFYU5-OM1ySI35CuWu6FweEHbeEJhy8OVcpbzZ8sbzl2RqXW8onM/w400-h321/IMG_0513.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare and Starlings</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a field at near Moss Lane junction were 4 Cattle Egrets, almost certainly the same four reported in recent days in this area and further afield, sometimes in twos, other times as a foursome. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNAMLK63alsUZzfrODFSe0qq7uLYPE1rRFO4MPLmxgwpAQ3do5FEcqJb3Tf5K2OoOiwSy5p9ryNvn26rV1tKc3EVcNWKne8iPKvCH7TNqTaozt7TDGo6rZ2SCWAmdv5LyAF2ODFmSWkdCBLf2YFMz0SRqx4Ca-hPkt8thyiYVEQk6Nmh7Aao4viT6Ung/s1200/IMG_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1200" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNAMLK63alsUZzfrODFSe0qq7uLYPE1rRFO4MPLmxgwpAQ3do5FEcqJb3Tf5K2OoOiwSy5p9ryNvn26rV1tKc3EVcNWKne8iPKvCH7TNqTaozt7TDGo6rZ2SCWAmdv5LyAF2ODFmSWkdCBLf2YFMz0SRqx4Ca-hPkt8thyiYVEQk6Nmh7Aao4viT6Ung/w400-h281/IMG_0165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I made for home and my own hot coffee. Join me again soon for more birds and photos on Another Bird Blog. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-49425130403397442372023-12-10T17:58:00.002+00:002023-12-10T17:58:41.189+00:00Bluebirds, Blackbirds, And A Song<div style="text-align: justify;">All through October and November we looked, listened and waited for Fieldfares to arrive in the west when their size, colour and loud chuckling voices would send our eyes skywards in appreciative glances. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Fieldfare is not a species a wide awake birder can miss when the thrushes make it from Norway in their dozens, hundreds, even thousands and drop into glowing-red hawthorn hedgerows to then feast like there’s no tomorrow. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq-QFUD_LMbw5S9qmFQGAjSFliFYWtikwgemFzlou1YpKnfz8bIXUdj1a8Ik7LxUN44Y079AGikvd-TBu1ALqR-rj9ji1QN9JOZ4u59O7NFy9CVtfx4Ko-sofVNUkL4_DApLsUIS4hq_Ivc4K0PJh1_9bPSDttQJt_le8z7tWj1L-LfQZGBkDQ2aG360/s2781/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2377" data-original-width="2781" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq-QFUD_LMbw5S9qmFQGAjSFliFYWtikwgemFzlou1YpKnfz8bIXUdj1a8Ik7LxUN44Y079AGikvd-TBu1ALqR-rj9ji1QN9JOZ4u59O7NFy9CVtfx4Ko-sofVNUkL4_DApLsUIS4hq_Ivc4K0PJh1_9bPSDttQJt_le8z7tWj1L-LfQZGBkDQ2aG360/w400-h343/IMG_0505.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maybe the constant wind and rain of autumn here in the west persuaded many to remain in the North East and then travel quickly south towards France and Spain rather than cross the backbone of England to warm wet Lancashire? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whatever the reason for the deficiency of recent weeks it was more than good to catch up with a small number of Fieldfares out Cockerham last week when the sun shone bright and Fieldfares looked their best. But for this interlude it might be February, March or April before Fieldfares make another appearance, this time on their way back to Northern Europe. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMh9ey2LhzZgnPLgH2ca_BecMBnRvVg5Gbdd8-bhZ6uDBtcKvIxx7mNHKq5HgtRTIm1wlPIDlXQh3E8brCHhfSRlKYMd3APrxNC4FG6IbdfCAEv-6RQb5mlLa47UsTzGYXTTSuO4EJWv6m0XfmdWb9ygs7AiA-ot26KJBfF5JSINQcp8UvkKFLyj3zzks/s1500/IMG_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1500" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMh9ey2LhzZgnPLgH2ca_BecMBnRvVg5Gbdd8-bhZ6uDBtcKvIxx7mNHKq5HgtRTIm1wlPIDlXQh3E8brCHhfSRlKYMd3APrxNC4FG6IbdfCAEv-6RQb5mlLa47UsTzGYXTTSuO4EJWv6m0XfmdWb9ygs7AiA-ot26KJBfF5JSINQcp8UvkKFLyj3zzks/w400-h335/IMG_0497.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6J31W160tsHoWOTiep29cleG-j0pxbGj2Jrms5Qw27cZ3jIjlggYJICtm7g77IfNgzoEEcZNY-uiIodHjWCJaFzjmbFMG3fNC6Gg8ifu_V3X21NCv07apFhmGsoRWWcr26SX11qk5xEKFogF1f7A37aCencJau1kT3Wy_8lANgO8EaIlb6aAq2smqhU/s4875/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3595" data-original-width="4875" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6J31W160tsHoWOTiep29cleG-j0pxbGj2Jrms5Qw27cZ3jIjlggYJICtm7g77IfNgzoEEcZNY-uiIodHjWCJaFzjmbFMG3fNC6Gg8ifu_V3X21NCv07apFhmGsoRWWcr26SX11qk5xEKFogF1f7A37aCencJau1kT3Wy_8lANgO8EaIlb6aAq2smqhU/w400-h295/IMG_0487.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the days of the last century, before even me, the thrush we now call Fieldfare was known as Bluebird to distinguish it from its allies the Mistle Thrush, then named Greybird, and the accurately named Blackbird. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I focused on the Fieldfare’s multifaceted colours and clicked the button, I thought that Varied Thrush - The Haunting Voice of Ancient Forests, might be a more suitable name but posting pictures on the Internet of a Varied Thrush at Cockerham might cause a stampede through the narrow lanes. For sure any such mistake, deliberate or otherwise, would upset local farmers and not help my notoriety among local birders. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8ckH5svAYlnjpHyVSVlhQzk2sKSs_H2MDA1nvDb1-4WDnJ3IMm8J0EHS9QQmcJVASiQtcc2F7d3TU_4BSs334mED9SM3y6NOaG7uD1O8xSJXZ_UabQhEUMlGyf2x3OSQk514ydrAv1Ejgxlt_Ip5LPku5vgsJqF5D6O5FO6DGUxjUtRuRLCy5VE5u8c/s3445/IMG_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3445" data-original-width="3073" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8ckH5svAYlnjpHyVSVlhQzk2sKSs_H2MDA1nvDb1-4WDnJ3IMm8J0EHS9QQmcJVASiQtcc2F7d3TU_4BSs334mED9SM3y6NOaG7uD1O8xSJXZ_UabQhEUMlGyf2x3OSQk514ydrAv1Ejgxlt_Ip5LPku5vgsJqF5D6O5FO6DGUxjUtRuRLCy5VE5u8c/s320/IMG_0495.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><br />Near the top of the hawthorns up popped the ultimate rarity, a shyster; but no, not a politician, the timid, unsure, and now impossible to find Song Thrush. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw one, let alone a half chance at a picture, a species now hardly ever reported by local birders. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s too late to rescue the British Song Thrush. We rip out hedgerows and blanket the countryside in concrete and white elephant windmills where Song Thrushes can’t live; but no one cares. Follow The Money. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUm6K_k0qFSN6H4s3Ym6rew9csVhLgKPCWVrmG48V4Aq1OgfqIABBHqr2D2UDNTqXOHKUoUKpn3Eyz3121JkE6-3DI5WkGpaol5HGCPcjes1bboVXppF8vktVUjLNonVYoJe8-wuRZDvpvap7psXV7oSRapwNwJsTBa6wJ-ooseGwjceBK9KCHxQEqf0/s3500/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2754" data-original-width="3500" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUm6K_k0qFSN6H4s3Ym6rew9csVhLgKPCWVrmG48V4Aq1OgfqIABBHqr2D2UDNTqXOHKUoUKpn3Eyz3121JkE6-3DI5WkGpaol5HGCPcjes1bboVXppF8vktVUjLNonVYoJe8-wuRZDvpvap7psXV7oSRapwNwJsTBa6wJ-ooseGwjceBK9KCHxQEqf0/w400-h315/IMG_0429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Song Thrush</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The few Blackbirds around proved harder to picture than gregarious Fieldfares. The Fieldfares might sit there motionless for a minute, eyeing up a bunch of berries until they decided to eat while the Blackbirds stole through the black branches nicking a berry or two if they thought no one was looking. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoFVs-PwWITawzOqmKRufvz074PdFlRvwEnsb4LEe6zOJ4UThLDNCkfN9Iij7G-eAt3JPt1nJeGb7Ho6Yxqfh-y9sYwFLTrri0uAU6bUMTGNnN4ZbSMpSZYewXKOaDtkRT9o8G1KGvkKJtZS3H2vrAYpFCA4H15D88utqcZ0Z5f_yqaTmDoz60iyjClQ/s3670/IMG_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2937" data-original-width="3670" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoFVs-PwWITawzOqmKRufvz074PdFlRvwEnsb4LEe6zOJ4UThLDNCkfN9Iij7G-eAt3JPt1nJeGb7Ho6Yxqfh-y9sYwFLTrri0uAU6bUMTGNnN4ZbSMpSZYewXKOaDtkRT9o8G1KGvkKJtZS3H2vrAYpFCA4H15D88utqcZ0Z5f_yqaTmDoz60iyjClQ/w400-h320/IMG_0044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blackbird</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd7Km0rLUqqfWiZzZs1ny_FiJT0XV9QyhWz62mPF-fzYmuAYJp1ltrUlroHStbzsLT6zb1odYwh7O_TvxiUgiqK_7zBlEUyRZvrxWLxTD6cysszWSt_mSWMII3FFBtQ8G-Rr525EpKWmC0zIjkw6UHpJfa7NJXxVGWrGZn2M4BQBlB3R1IGaFEoP6OUU/s1250/IMG_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1250" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd7Km0rLUqqfWiZzZs1ny_FiJT0XV9QyhWz62mPF-fzYmuAYJp1ltrUlroHStbzsLT6zb1odYwh7O_TvxiUgiqK_7zBlEUyRZvrxWLxTD6cysszWSt_mSWMII3FFBtQ8G-Rr525EpKWmC0zIjkw6UHpJfa7NJXxVGWrGZn2M4BQBlB3R1IGaFEoP6OUU/w400-h272/IMG_0394.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-yVsGK_GbqWRPfFz-yMe1GtWwyW5N_eHkOxw5NHW_2etnr-wM4QaAlHeVqGDo_ZGkcg_cilj3b451tVaBXl35imUloeRK6jjtRribotOe0Xgk7JrbV418146ZXe1CY8xlZ7xuffLq7qsGgQnuscddHYPoHrAytp8sBODC6bcQsLhtJkj9MDZnSkVWms/s2868/IMG_5089a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2868" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-yVsGK_GbqWRPfFz-yMe1GtWwyW5N_eHkOxw5NHW_2etnr-wM4QaAlHeVqGDo_ZGkcg_cilj3b451tVaBXl35imUloeRK6jjtRribotOe0Xgk7JrbV418146ZXe1CY8xlZ7xuffLq7qsGgQnuscddHYPoHrAytp8sBODC6bcQsLhtJkj9MDZnSkVWms/w400-h255/IMG_5089a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blackbird</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I drove back through Pilling where roadside Lapwings, Golden Plovers and Curlews provided a background symphony of wild calls to the thrum of traffic going nowhere while seeing nothing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFNH9ZoDH_3kLFvaZXDGAfXL7abtie7pwMIVbdV3SNVQVQtcS547ZGY9Q1JdYg9-GtNKLoA52OWiUEi0a6QpdnMjqnqCVrlpFi1oBuPLVbHlQHV5glfKhXufKQ4G_F9uuLXXqXuwn-mop1lMjD9UKVyVgqCKSiWFxsmBvynEs0Lba3-l7dBshvy7cAlg/s1100/IMG_9999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1100" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFNH9ZoDH_3kLFvaZXDGAfXL7abtie7pwMIVbdV3SNVQVQtcS547ZGY9Q1JdYg9-GtNKLoA52OWiUEi0a6QpdnMjqnqCVrlpFi1oBuPLVbHlQHV5glfKhXufKQ4G_F9uuLXXqXuwn-mop1lMjD9UKVyVgqCKSiWFxsmBvynEs0Lba3-l7dBshvy7cAlg/w400-h236/IMG_9999.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Golden Plover</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WMNWk_9UXfdVHCJnT1yRaa7-wYrBpFi69_4fmqepJ2z7s0AWNgbGNXv4dhE0676Vv1vnzEdpZ2FGq4uY-T3G-ed5J50t7FVjBvF24F3UVDXVEqKT_cHD6PgmhvLclbBVKKs6_ERG-4W-RnspUIvbZgIGipZRftPCZASmAJ_VezYyxN_8zn30E4c8mA0/s1255/IMG_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1255" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WMNWk_9UXfdVHCJnT1yRaa7-wYrBpFi69_4fmqepJ2z7s0AWNgbGNXv4dhE0676Vv1vnzEdpZ2FGq4uY-T3G-ed5J50t7FVjBvF24F3UVDXVEqKT_cHD6PgmhvLclbBVKKs6_ERG-4W-RnspUIvbZgIGipZRftPCZASmAJ_VezYyxN_8zn30E4c8mA0/w400-h310/IMG_0482.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lapwing</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2vwoBg5BT2z5EmqNiPqtV43dWsuFUDU1stbsPSyQoyy5eeEl6uFBgfhsBmNFj8MRNNMjpZj4Gkyk2n4hSvRpbh9OyadW7ruRgRFYdhyxrkxHhN-woJE5u1_m5aw309z3Mi1WO_dwnet4kezmiZoqBJtVAzXLrFluFqAZdfzuu-4x0omZAImSYRf8oVs/s3212/IMG_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3212" data-original-width="2328" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2vwoBg5BT2z5EmqNiPqtV43dWsuFUDU1stbsPSyQoyy5eeEl6uFBgfhsBmNFj8MRNNMjpZj4Gkyk2n4hSvRpbh9OyadW7ruRgRFYdhyxrkxHhN-woJE5u1_m5aw309z3Mi1WO_dwnet4kezmiZoqBJtVAzXLrFluFqAZdfzuu-4x0omZAImSYRf8oVs/w290-h400/IMG_0460.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lapwing</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkI-r8MBgqqHyEKN-39DYq4k9iw15IVS3-9WjZC3Xfkflm-DQLHEbQiYlhyphenhyphenqL1ZjxCmG4JR0lg32araoxiPLYH4L0jbvUD72r-4msJbLFu2dRZW197X9zUQ35xYLmPNHMSdPRkjChSuOi-BiTZS7r6ywgqan3WGKPgypKcKakBg1WvOSLC0J9U09Wc2I/s1200/_MG_4056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1200" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkI-r8MBgqqHyEKN-39DYq4k9iw15IVS3-9WjZC3Xfkflm-DQLHEbQiYlhyphenhyphenqL1ZjxCmG4JR0lg32araoxiPLYH4L0jbvUD72r-4msJbLFu2dRZW197X9zUQ35xYLmPNHMSdPRkjChSuOi-BiTZS7r6ywgqan3WGKPgypKcKakBg1WvOSLC0J9U09Wc2I/w400-h284/_MG_4056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Curlew</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s always Lapwing to the fore, Curlews a little further away and Golden Plovers way back, 100 yards or more, out of sight out of mind, except to shooters. Yes in 2023, Golden Plovers are Schedule 2 species, which means that it is legal to shoot them outside the closed season and a feather in a shooter's cap to bag one. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">No one cares. Follow The Money. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-90672027495641417002023-12-04T10:42:00.000+00:002023-12-04T10:42:53.051+00:00Book Review - Birds of China<div style="text-align: justify;">Another Bird Blog today features a new release from Princeton Field Guides, Birds of China, published mid-December in the UK and mid-January 2024 in the US. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are two authors of Birds of China; Liu Yang, professor of animal ecology and ornithology at Sun Yat-sen University and a leading authority on the birdlife of China; Chen Shuihua is deputy director of the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, home to one of China’s largest collections of bird specimens. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl2-7L_oWPOPJQw0VQiD-D4m8i4dvBJ_MMXpXP4b9VSPGhNKw8D4F1sVaeDw_6dGBKiyZ2sSKD11olQIm65WRzsiudxnouy0JbOc104mDi7n5My_96vPuG1SCeCapyPKuyIUz2-DMoVTk9-PpURz8b_fZZvwSZtNfykC0ZUk91J0go47iF-qtVedouyM/s2775/9780691237527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1838" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl2-7L_oWPOPJQw0VQiD-D4m8i4dvBJ_MMXpXP4b9VSPGhNKw8D4F1sVaeDw_6dGBKiyZ2sSKD11olQIm65WRzsiudxnouy0JbOc104mDi7n5My_96vPuG1SCeCapyPKuyIUz2-DMoVTk9-PpURz8b_fZZvwSZtNfykC0ZUk91J0go47iF-qtVedouyM/w265-h400/9780691237527.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Birds of China - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691237527/birds-of-china" target="_blank">Princeton</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Birds of China is the first complete English language guide to China’s fantastic birdlife and a testament to the massive strides the country has achieved in becoming a birding resource to its own people and a destination increasingly accessible to tourists. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Birds of China in the year of 2023 is an English version, a translation from the Chinese National Geography (CNG) edition by the same authors first published in 2021. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In China, birding and what is known as its “bird people” is a growing leisure activity that developed as recently as the 1990s when knowledge and identification was shared mostly by word of mouth. Around that time J MacKinnon’s Field Guide to the Birds of China was THE guide to China but a book unlikely to be available to the majority of a population of some 1.66 billion people, even if they were able to find a copy in that vast country. Given the huge advances in recent years about species, distributions and taxonomy the MacKinnon guide is now somewhat out of date and a newer and therefore more modern field guide was both overdue and very welcome. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Upon opening the book there is a very useful, illuminating and rather charming two-page Forward - Chinese Birders - From Emergence to Citizen Science by SUN Lili, President of Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology. The Forward describes how birding is still very much in its infancy in China, home to 1400 species and 14% of the global total in a country of approximately 3.7 million square miles, a country that contains a huge and diverse variety of habitats. China has three of the Earth’s nine major migratory flyways and the country is visited by 20-25% of the world’s migratory bird populations!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On scrutiny of the main text the translation from the original Chinese version works well however I will mention one or two potential drawbacks that might deter English speaking buyers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Contents at Pages 11 and 12 list the species firstly in Mandarin Chinese followed by the Latin bird family e.g. <i>Anseriformes, Galliformes, Gaviiforme</i>s etc. This means that English names do not appear until the individual species’ accounts and unless a reader is totally comfortable with Latin names they must turn to the Common Name/English Index at Page 651 to find the whereabouts of the family or species they seek. Other than this rather cumbersome process a flick through the pages will usually find the location of the waders, warblers and raptors etc in a familiar systematic order. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9av2L5AFHwJLVmazWQL9eTLntW4ReknRhopIt_qutzU96juB8ds8rEbzts9bGfecX3lPkWGR3sy7Hi0bYBEtgfv_-IhdB7kby8eRGHlJxUgK8JBGaEUb1Z9DSy7QwSVpi5AhdgKAgLrkCJtrKejWdnUxAhXmP5zU3a_-3nU7cfHbxi4U-2U4jjHWF9X8/s1500/IMG_3239.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1500" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9av2L5AFHwJLVmazWQL9eTLntW4ReknRhopIt_qutzU96juB8ds8rEbzts9bGfecX3lPkWGR3sy7Hi0bYBEtgfv_-IhdB7kby8eRGHlJxUgK8JBGaEUb1Z9DSy7QwSVpi5AhdgKAgLrkCJtrKejWdnUxAhXmP5zU3a_-3nU7cfHbxi4U-2U4jjHWF9X8/w400-h331/IMG_3239.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Birds of China - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691237527/birds-of-china" target="_blank">Princeton</a></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because this single volume must contain information about 1500 species together with 4,000 illustrations & plates, the information is of necessity a little crowded into the 672 pages in order to make a portable book. Birds of China weighs in at a hefty 1.6 kg, making for a large contribution to a backpack of birding and/or travel gear. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The guide follows a traditional layout of plates opposite the texts and, through annotations, points out salient ID features. The text is in Mandarin, English and scientific nomenclature for each species, making it accessible to a wide range of enthusiasts based in many countries.
Here in the species’ accounts and on the illustrations plates I found the print a little small for my liking and also a pale shade of grey against the white pages where a black typeface would improve the reading experience. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMzJxSXsUwQ1IVYqGikCugUYZNQPI8rApz2q7L839TiWJ8ei85wJzSopQFbWJ85tcTfLnS0r95xl_34bDiyCQvJCxmK30jjXEtL_DiT2H6V8PMYRbGyqQhNVSMDcnnrCGfKVVOmMMA-IPm4B6-iU8U9TFQQV5-XV9ciAnhSSsHZsua7yAiruPm6Fqf_8/s1500/IMG_3241.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1305" data-original-width="1500" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMzJxSXsUwQ1IVYqGikCugUYZNQPI8rApz2q7L839TiWJ8ei85wJzSopQFbWJ85tcTfLnS0r95xl_34bDiyCQvJCxmK30jjXEtL_DiT2H6V8PMYRbGyqQhNVSMDcnnrCGfKVVOmMMA-IPm4B6-iU8U9TFQQV5-XV9ciAnhSSsHZsua7yAiruPm6Fqf_8/w400-h348/IMG_3241.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Birds of China - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691237527/birds-of-china" target="_blank">Princeton</a></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Against the grain of recent bird guides based on photographs Birds of China boasts a set of painted plates from about 25 Chinese artists. Without exception the paintings are very good, some exceptional and where I was especially struck by the shrikes, herons, owls and raptors. The style of the paintings is very much alike throughout and it is difficult to see where one artist ends and the next begins. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyGq4aI-uLKTP1_7TSz178zi_okpqg6ElTXyXACt1MxXn7tSPwKx6kKLykGG7t5rlz4iEtSWwgwfWwLfzD3aIjHFQ4ytuBsWiQYQZ6Jv0xCkXpO4kFGB4pEQ7GRZbXBfDKGdkiSum9aYfjW5AS22Qao4fZC8J0inQBB2Dh0M67Mrl6fZNA_RYfHkn-Gs/s1500/IMG_3240.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1500" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyGq4aI-uLKTP1_7TSz178zi_okpqg6ElTXyXACt1MxXn7tSPwKx6kKLykGG7t5rlz4iEtSWwgwfWwLfzD3aIjHFQ4ytuBsWiQYQZ6Jv0xCkXpO4kFGB4pEQ7GRZbXBfDKGdkiSum9aYfjW5AS22Qao4fZC8J0inQBB2Dh0M67Mrl6fZNA_RYfHkn-Gs/w400-h318/IMG_3240.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Birds of China - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691237527/birds-of-china" target="_blank">Princeton</a></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalHmgSq1LQQcEnPSz0Iu7OWyIF3_Bx9MWB5w7h0wrSSEI3QHKB7TBjone42SO5xq6-B3JHOjCkSb8dJMxCdlJa4kV1mxKr73-DY0RIEQlazgMFmn2vKCRBlfJmmc8b1fCWs4tW1uPuRLFaxDiDNITCJO5_m_unWLuLtbS_GsrewwyE2YPJEEKRrZbTNA/s3978/IMG_3242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2986" data-original-width="3978" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalHmgSq1LQQcEnPSz0Iu7OWyIF3_Bx9MWB5w7h0wrSSEI3QHKB7TBjone42SO5xq6-B3JHOjCkSb8dJMxCdlJa4kV1mxKr73-DY0RIEQlazgMFmn2vKCRBlfJmmc8b1fCWs4tW1uPuRLFaxDiDNITCJO5_m_unWLuLtbS_GsrewwyE2YPJEEKRrZbTNA/w400-h300/IMG_3242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Birds of China - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691237527/birds-of-china" target="_blank">Princeton</a></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOSHjGx_KQWn3CrBVXFdnPecKMZQS6Tkoe7BKumV3tRV59JyswS8Qv2gWPhcIgSA_T7MSfIJk0hOaESI-_q5iP38dJMNRd-Ye4ibWbXexsPe3EXL7pAZku79H8DAvQXekoKHLvoHntOufVvJ-FHZBapGonUHqzzn_6jqzH1x4KRLefgxZ2WSkbKHsd_w/s4218/IMG_3243.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3293" data-original-width="4218" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOSHjGx_KQWn3CrBVXFdnPecKMZQS6Tkoe7BKumV3tRV59JyswS8Qv2gWPhcIgSA_T7MSfIJk0hOaESI-_q5iP38dJMNRd-Ye4ibWbXexsPe3EXL7pAZku79H8DAvQXekoKHLvoHntOufVvJ-FHZBapGonUHqzzn_6jqzH1x4KRLefgxZ2WSkbKHsd_w/w400-h313/IMG_3243.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Birds of China - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691237527/birds-of-china" target="_blank">Princeton</a></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhTuIc0sU4ZZMg-GAg6j1dbh-VcWHeiYCqNsI6hyphenhyphenHzRjHO_Xqo64Ds1JqbFJeWSIhDB_jmNjHXMF1JvSR1FImepbbI6olP7ulVUFGS8wMaUspuq7hjesI7De-kHFW81ElpLUXP7rnL3bklegE06HFWt2cAwWti1HDHNVjJnP-zGKF0ZLYzI6WmB7xLLU/s4053/IMG_3244.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3339" data-original-width="4053" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhTuIc0sU4ZZMg-GAg6j1dbh-VcWHeiYCqNsI6hyphenhyphenHzRjHO_Xqo64Ds1JqbFJeWSIhDB_jmNjHXMF1JvSR1FImepbbI6olP7ulVUFGS8wMaUspuq7hjesI7De-kHFW81ElpLUXP7rnL3bklegE06HFWt2cAwWti1HDHNVjJnP-zGKF0ZLYzI6WmB7xLLU/w400-h330/IMG_3244.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Birds of China - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691237527/birds-of-china" target="_blank">Princeton</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Upon delving further into the core of the book I was reminded of how many species we in the UK and Europe share with China, a point reinforced in recent years by the number of “new for the UK and the Western Palearctic species” which originate in the Far East. Birders travelling to China will encounter many familiar species among the exciting and vibrant birds they will surely see for the very first time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Relatively minor quibbles aside, I can thoroughly recommend this new guide, a ‘must-have’ for those with an interest in China’s birds but especially so for long-distance birders who like to explore exciting new places and opportunities. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At £35 Birds of China is pretty much another bargain we have come to expect from Princeton’s output of birds and wildlife, a book that should find a place on many a bookshelf. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Birds of China</b> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Price: $39.95/£35.00 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN: 9780691237527 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published (US): Jan 16, 2024 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published (UK): Dec 12, 2023 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copyright:2024 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages: 672
Size: 6.13 x 9.25 in. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Weight: 1.6 kg </div><div style="text-align: justify;">4,000 colour illustrations </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-32186721143495071752023-11-29T20:16:00.003+00:002023-12-02T08:07:12.212+00:00Baby It's Cold Outside (And Inside)<div style="text-align: justify;">“Minus 4° - potential for ice on roads” read the dashboard. I’d already decided that sunny and dry Wednesday would be a birding day of warm fingers, and hopefully one that might include a few photographs. I set off into the frosty landscape and headed for the A588 towards Lancaster. </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Pink-footed Geese were on the move high, south and east, to escape the inevitable guns, although a couple of hundred had stopped off in a relatively safe field bounded by a sparse hedgerow that gave a semblance of peace & quiet.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Each year becomes more difficult to both to see and to hear our wild geese on the ground as the disturbance to traditional haunts becomes more intense and threatening to feeding geese through "development", traffic - large & small, walkers, shooters, and yes, birdwatchers.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Sgf6eCBPUh_2JP3J02fJDezMKt-CeCJe7fO5bWeACZiP4fxG4SuYNzJiaFHXdpZeL2P054h5Tapl0zgLFfCLfya0BdU5iGXNpoWq-xzxPwzuxI9CTpc-xeBfaGnUD_ZPPqADNIE8CswqGwSarwfru5tEQ1ZGi80ZSJWw_vTbJVT1-sQu2jMq0ST83H4/s1250/IMG_0416.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1250" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Sgf6eCBPUh_2JP3J02fJDezMKt-CeCJe7fO5bWeACZiP4fxG4SuYNzJiaFHXdpZeL2P054h5Tapl0zgLFfCLfya0BdU5iGXNpoWq-xzxPwzuxI9CTpc-xeBfaGnUD_ZPPqADNIE8CswqGwSarwfru5tEQ1ZGi80ZSJWw_vTbJVT1-sQu2jMq0ST83H4/w400-h188/IMG_0416.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pink-footed Geese</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Approaching Lapwing Lodge and glancing left I couldn’t help but see a large raptor moving very slowly, almost hovering above a reed-fringed ditch that runs north towards the coast. The deep-v profile became more obvious upon closer approach, as did the size. But for the following traffic on the dangerous fast bend, a stop would have confirmed a Marsh Harrier, probably the same bird that has frequented this locality for several weeks now. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Marsh Harrier is no longer a spring and autumn migrant bird to our Fylde coast: it is now a year round resident that can be seen during the winter months, albeit in smaller numbers than at the peak the species’ autumn migration August to October. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A stop at Gulf Lane found seven or eight Snipe hiding in the furrows of a ploughed field that has yet to dry out from the rains of August through to November. At the approaching car a few “snipped” away to hide elsewhere. A number of Lapwings were easier to spot than the crouching and immobile Snipe using their cryptic plumage to best advantage.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7hr31BeXJ1ikal6yNoFnq1WcfQDFNidEyC7gERtgkVlD1mDt3Ok2gvutuuaJivogA6_ZmogjWzMKUk1d7cGiMFSknpyrlhb8l1DU9hf5IaA384h3OjysRyBIVxfRcikbYEScYZypXp0t8DW2svHA21E0mTnVPKwKaAm_nH-qSVFALlcp1lgOi1I5s9c/s1500/404890020_7410527115641989_7193085047184435387_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1500" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7hr31BeXJ1ikal6yNoFnq1WcfQDFNidEyC7gERtgkVlD1mDt3Ok2gvutuuaJivogA6_ZmogjWzMKUk1d7cGiMFSknpyrlhb8l1DU9hf5IaA384h3OjysRyBIVxfRcikbYEScYZypXp0t8DW2svHA21E0mTnVPKwKaAm_nH-qSVFALlcp1lgOi1I5s9c/w400-h199/404890020_7410527115641989_7193085047184435387_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Snipe</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OVO5G7WSCkfZ9k86QW-AyvkKV9eERxXNVo17YPPvaU7K9a5CtpIvJ6lErte-oHQnvvfYfhP9Fyio4zMKHIgFanY8yoPjjXPLVnGWdc3-lUWoZKOlMUtxYAn9Os2Aehh8ap0NG1wNCYAumhnyhpQtPaGPtuSC32gm1tr-8jm7SDtbq8EZIFSSg87qRas/s4935/IMG_0161.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3885" data-original-width="4935" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OVO5G7WSCkfZ9k86QW-AyvkKV9eERxXNVo17YPPvaU7K9a5CtpIvJ6lErte-oHQnvvfYfhP9Fyio4zMKHIgFanY8yoPjjXPLVnGWdc3-lUWoZKOlMUtxYAn9Os2Aehh8ap0NG1wNCYAumhnyhpQtPaGPtuSC32gm1tr-8jm7SDtbq8EZIFSSg87qRas/w400-h315/IMG_0161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lapwing</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">More Lapwings graced the field from here all the way to Braides Farm, Cockerham where more distant birds gave approximate counts of 490 Lapwing, 150+ Golden Plover, 80 Curlew and 40 Redshank. A single Pied Wagtail pottered along the pooled track. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This has been a poor autumn for seeing Fieldfares but I caught up with some today on the road to Cockerham Abbey where they were feasting on the now dwindling hawthorn berries. Also a few Blackbirds and one or two Redwings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmduWsJrchlwAZkuy9LEUHkn15hCyiTtHuQWjJ3klWoy413kXoiDIZwbqIHmmIq3yABPxP2qYrtl7_x5P0ZSdoB6CxZN64KuWKtLt2z9rsplf-fv9hMQGDgTdRfWKL8UrztEYOMtATEzdonJlHj15eAdD7vG6yXThylZCVpEcT5XbSlW4y39oqrkTvPk8/s1509/IMG_0391.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="1250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmduWsJrchlwAZkuy9LEUHkn15hCyiTtHuQWjJ3klWoy413kXoiDIZwbqIHmmIq3yABPxP2qYrtl7_x5P0ZSdoB6CxZN64KuWKtLt2z9rsplf-fv9hMQGDgTdRfWKL8UrztEYOMtATEzdonJlHj15eAdD7vG6yXThylZCVpEcT5XbSlW4y39oqrkTvPk8/w331-h400/IMG_0391.JPG" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQVAKYzi6tT2WydHShJe3ip_caF1GMhC-VXVn7TkOCqe8n-XLQnzWKpFd1_FrUEhd7GMmmA6gRflzVC5mrF3IkP71BEBD54mcEx3ciilZZBgza44En_gjXZIMCzcOrd6uSCfcEoCtowH0KwIzfUXN0vVCvfVQRYcPDzSrmetu8pgXl6kvxu4eblIwR5w/s4506/IMG_0325.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4506" data-original-width="3050" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQVAKYzi6tT2WydHShJe3ip_caF1GMhC-VXVn7TkOCqe8n-XLQnzWKpFd1_FrUEhd7GMmmA6gRflzVC5mrF3IkP71BEBD54mcEx3ciilZZBgza44En_gjXZIMCzcOrd6uSCfcEoCtowH0KwIzfUXN0vVCvfVQRYcPDzSrmetu8pgXl6kvxu4eblIwR5w/w271-h400/IMG_0325.JPG" width="271" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hawthorn</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UO9w94M8v1V55qced7UXqh0hcexLdZgoCQkF7dJ8cZflTBRF1VIA_uCKb8QvD6Mo1uQBiiPhmKOUQufAK66G0fGStyD62UVhmvpkxajELjO6IUZDlYm9IOavhEIHqcjMokA70TNU0r1-bnM-lxNt7zAMv-R1Z0kyLWfuTTRXtRTIA5_v_2j6-YwNsAk/s1250/IMG_0394.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1250" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UO9w94M8v1V55qced7UXqh0hcexLdZgoCQkF7dJ8cZflTBRF1VIA_uCKb8QvD6Mo1uQBiiPhmKOUQufAK66G0fGStyD62UVhmvpkxajELjO6IUZDlYm9IOavhEIHqcjMokA70TNU0r1-bnM-lxNt7zAMv-R1Z0kyLWfuTTRXtRTIA5_v_2j6-YwNsAk/w400-h272/IMG_0394.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A single Kestrel hunted alongside the road and spent time loitering at lookout spots in the hope of spotting a small mammal meal. At minus 4 degrees a Kestrel needs to spend more time in search of food. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS0g-d7sCRJsypt67RyS5LvB3JfP4jvrn2ygT-dpv6o3yoTlac2p3vKuHlNgCcXBo1adkXJ3g5k3-CODxzSZ_HbfZeMM8tQ_4AGPDhBqX7_fwQPcJ2Y1fPd8ySLdRNkVEgQcn8FhW2Z1I3v_1hZWculBhTc2HatnQBzeh7Z0zWj6N2-A-Y_i5aDMex-c/s1258/IMG_0332.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS0g-d7sCRJsypt67RyS5LvB3JfP4jvrn2ygT-dpv6o3yoTlac2p3vKuHlNgCcXBo1adkXJ3g5k3-CODxzSZ_HbfZeMM8tQ_4AGPDhBqX7_fwQPcJ2Y1fPd8ySLdRNkVEgQcn8FhW2Z1I3v_1hZWculBhTc2HatnQBzeh7Z0zWj6N2-A-Y_i5aDMex-c/w398-h400/IMG_0332.JPG" width="398" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kestrel</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnCrWIm0Xfyh_Po5Nt7l1FeHQGeyYqsEa48PPaB4_KQnPMgjd6B5a69FnfJWdJ2f4aerPKwa6gE2Ar51fo0AE4F2UFXIw2o3rqojB6tiynDfM4Vp74fpaR22vdNR4V1Go8iypRK3aOF91P16TahLj3Jm4IKaSz5MJP3GVJFDk0QRPLo8s1epeF-kDywE/s1250/IMG_0354.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1250" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnCrWIm0Xfyh_Po5Nt7l1FeHQGeyYqsEa48PPaB4_KQnPMgjd6B5a69FnfJWdJ2f4aerPKwa6gE2Ar51fo0AE4F2UFXIw2o3rqojB6tiynDfM4Vp74fpaR22vdNR4V1Go8iypRK3aOF91P16TahLj3Jm4IKaSz5MJP3GVJFDk0QRPLo8s1epeF-kDywE/w400-h376/IMG_0354.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kestrel</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's that familiar song Baby It's Cold Outside. A new version dedicated to people struggling to pay gas & electric bills and to that eminent scientist recently in the news for expressing very unpleasant views. </div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="425"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">i<br /><br />Here we come with another masterpiece by <a href="https://twitter.com/crom_oliver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@crom_oliver</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/shillitz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shillitz</a>, dedicated to that long-awarded, eminent scientist! <a href="https://t.co/TDedeQ7aUb">pic.twitter.com/TDedeQ7aUb</a></p>— Despicable Miguel "Ruz" ™ (@Feldegar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Feldegar/status/1645382488913477635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Enjoy
the rest of your week good people and then come back soon to Another
Bird Blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Linking today to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2023/12/saturday-critters-520.html" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-11970412224348469952023-11-25T14:12:00.005+00:002023-11-25T14:13:53.104+00:00Down To Zero <div style="text-align: justify;">After yet another windy week our one out of seven days a week of ringing turned out to be Saturday.
Overnight Friday/Saturday the temperature gauge dived to 0° whereby the Fiat’s heated seat and windscreen proved worth their weight in gold. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I met Will at 0730 up at Oakenclough and where as I arrived he was already on with the mist nets. The sun stayed hidden behind the horizon as winter gloves made their first appearance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A quiet session ensued, highlighted by singles of Redwing and Lesser Redpoll included in our meagre catch of just 13 birds – 4 Chaffinch, 3 Robin and singles of Blackbird, Redwing, Lesser Redpoll, Coal Tit, Wren, and Blue Tit. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn7wKq8fcWqUI5moEu3APXkR5w8BjcyDXUVYsp3gEkDqxu76gJgwK96EVCBvQNskeFCAevVgd6FIqYZnmtbw_G5VA8vNMLoSvMC2F2L4j70x5SgHC1EBqEa3PHPwjpC6spmup9uYaHXUSOZar3FnujW3uBrg_-kpk5zASaqhUY57ZCVDMtcRMZHR-XYY/s800/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="800" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn7wKq8fcWqUI5moEu3APXkR5w8BjcyDXUVYsp3gEkDqxu76gJgwK96EVCBvQNskeFCAevVgd6FIqYZnmtbw_G5VA8vNMLoSvMC2F2L4j70x5SgHC1EBqEa3PHPwjpC6spmup9uYaHXUSOZar3FnujW3uBrg_-kpk5zASaqhUY57ZCVDMtcRMZHR-XYY/w400-h245/IMG_0005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blackbird</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19W0N2-5AojRufriFXot4A3Dtp8b9cQR138pgbQYhb2Nszvv_QRF7ZXMQzijBqYv2QDF4WFbOOQgOwOV2WoCeiCLPgtbxh7WoMMLxG4oj2oCMuly3kWhnIE_qOmmh0eaO5zSM-chgH8vChyphenhyphensDw7uU8REgpgmxp3dA1QFH7wVpulihY4movzNVHBxUSBw/s3775/IMG_1022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3775" data-original-width="2784" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19W0N2-5AojRufriFXot4A3Dtp8b9cQR138pgbQYhb2Nszvv_QRF7ZXMQzijBqYv2QDF4WFbOOQgOwOV2WoCeiCLPgtbxh7WoMMLxG4oj2oCMuly3kWhnIE_qOmmh0eaO5zSM-chgH8vChyphenhyphensDw7uU8REgpgmxp3dA1QFH7wVpulihY4movzNVHBxUSBw/w295-h400/IMG_1022.JPG" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iqs19IbiDcsU3ON7GSqh4kiXBib5g7F4QWFHk1Jh8Yn4ssFJ3d3XQ4XehH9S5ZkrBfOj3N_nH-3A6hcDbtFdCDOFcZQJ4w_5hfEoLe1kHyGkR1tt6zf4fhkDcVPYyG3EZ51kajuoaE9Hbfw8OIbS3ANXKNE8eGpcg0E64Of11cTVbd_6dY34EJzy06g/s4434/IMG_3177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4434" data-original-width="2472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iqs19IbiDcsU3ON7GSqh4kiXBib5g7F4QWFHk1Jh8Yn4ssFJ3d3XQ4XehH9S5ZkrBfOj3N_nH-3A6hcDbtFdCDOFcZQJ4w_5hfEoLe1kHyGkR1tt6zf4fhkDcVPYyG3EZ51kajuoaE9Hbfw8OIbS3ANXKNE8eGpcg0E64Of11cTVbd_6dY34EJzy06g/w357-h640/IMG_3177.JPG" width="357" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lesser Redpoll</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRlFk4hWMGTTOAaER_yFuAvrLfD1PC4UAy3iAJjwW0rraSJFDrwpaJMClVzCUx8ZEA-jHN6w0jNvYb6EGhgc330ihF4o-8kX1UXdy9NNfecCKDvC0qttKyZqi975el-k02-XgzcImhym4XMxt8dMAHODY3tei_sX9VJzwxK0taBu6AAOUE1rCtA1Gwvs/s4449/IMG_9737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2241" data-original-width="4449" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRlFk4hWMGTTOAaER_yFuAvrLfD1PC4UAy3iAJjwW0rraSJFDrwpaJMClVzCUx8ZEA-jHN6w0jNvYb6EGhgc330ihF4o-8kX1UXdy9NNfecCKDvC0qttKyZqi975el-k02-XgzcImhym4XMxt8dMAHODY3tei_sX9VJzwxK0taBu6AAOUE1rCtA1Gwvs/w400-h201/IMG_9737.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Redwing</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">More frustration followed by our failure to catch birds that we saw but which avoided our nets completely, e.g. Crossbill, Bullfinch, Siskin and Sparrowhawk. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Loxia curvirostra</i>, the Red Crossbill (North America) or Common Crossbill (Europe) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. Crossbills have distinctive mandibles, crossed at the tips, an adaptation enables them to extract seeds from conifer cones and other fruits.
Adults are often brightly coloured, with red or orange males and green or yellow females, but there is wide variation in beak size and shape, and call types, leading to different classifications of variants, some of which have been named as subspecies.</div><div><br /><div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260-" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kQRv6g45wek?si=9uiHxGy7x9RWt95p" title="YouTube video player" width="420"></iframe> </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two parties of Crossbills, a gang of five then a larger party of 7 or 8 made their way and calling overhead as we watched a number drop into the area of a mist net. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We failed to catch any but as the breeding season for Crossbills approaches we hope that some will stick around for the next several weeks. Common Crossbills nest very early in the year in English pine plantations, hatching their chicks in February and March to take advantage of the new crop of pine cones. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking today to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2023/11/saturday-critters-519.html" target="_blank">Eileen's Weekend</a>.</div><p>Back soon with more pics, news and photos. Stay cool but stay warm and come back to Another Bird Blog on another day.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-25611912528719572792023-11-18T08:35:00.001+00:002023-11-18T08:35:58.618+00:00Standard Autumn Fayre<div style="text-align: justify;">Surprise surprise. We survived Storm Debi, a “storm” hyped up by the usual suspects quoting 70 mph gusts from well-known exposed sites on cliff tops and unprotected coastal locations. Here in flat windswept Fylde the gusts turned out to be nothing more than the typical weather we experience for days at a time every autumn. Strong winds with bouts of rain, before everything returns to normal a day or two later. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We know of course why they do it – to crank up climate alarmism for people who have yet to realise that the “climate emergency” is one big scam designed to part them from their money. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38U1L4vkJWTtNcD098ieJMsNCKiXHf9HvIHJDXxq3qfQqKR_iebDN7CZqJVvU5Ie8-53KyIAzWmgOcemAkZVnXFDro93O9EyI5wJ1BHCcgT3z2HVId66dxH5yDKKWEVBmvk1U8xSKYswPzFdAvsCmDXpQpKJ7YHrL26Q_kOMnSXGjqM2HpfSz1q2B02g/s501/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-18%20at%2007.08.56_4d93e702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38U1L4vkJWTtNcD098ieJMsNCKiXHf9HvIHJDXxq3qfQqKR_iebDN7CZqJVvU5Ie8-53KyIAzWmgOcemAkZVnXFDro93O9EyI5wJ1BHCcgT3z2HVId66dxH5yDKKWEVBmvk1U8xSKYswPzFdAvsCmDXpQpKJ7YHrL26Q_kOMnSXGjqM2HpfSz1q2B02g/w379-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-18%20at%2007.08.56_4d93e702.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Clearing our garden of neighbours’ sycamore leaves is a yearly event come rain or shine but inventive doom mongers have yet to claim that the late falling leaves of 2023 are due to global warming. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lb_knqbEXhwwu2O2zaznTFJJNhaz3cwpGjxFQBWsBZLgoiDmUVncHdRCazp2Zj_uPgFcSIkO0g1IipBBIaFIvIn0Iiaoumhfdxb1EqIJGyiyJ2r585clGX6rYFnqnJ9uyyXzxnhKB6g8rAV9VBpg6kqliSPYwtF5d9fdoXqbeJGMp6ztpwpPr2u-i6Q/s6366/IMG_0290.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4113" data-original-width="6366" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lb_knqbEXhwwu2O2zaznTFJJNhaz3cwpGjxFQBWsBZLgoiDmUVncHdRCazp2Zj_uPgFcSIkO0g1IipBBIaFIvIn0Iiaoumhfdxb1EqIJGyiyJ2r585clGX6rYFnqnJ9uyyXzxnhKB6g8rAV9VBpg6kqliSPYwtF5d9fdoXqbeJGMp6ztpwpPr2u-i6Q/w400-h259/IMG_0290.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Autumn Leaves</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Early this week we pencilled in the only suitable day, of Friday for a ringing session at Oakenclough near Garstang. Will visited a week earlier with moderate success that included the catching of four Common Crossbills, a few Redwings and other bits and pieces. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yours truly, Will and Andy met up at 0730 to rain but forecasts of brightening skies and afternoon sun; before planning a ringing session we make it a rule to check at least two weather forecasts as they hardly ever agree. About an hour later the rain relented and we set to the job in hand and landed a good variety of species, 18 birds before packing in about 1100 when things turned suddenly quiet. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We caught no more Crossbills, a rarely encountered species that would have enlivened the usual autumn fayre of 4 Blue Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Siskin, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Goldcrest. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7OH5c6euTDDPZVEouE-_dPH5k2446wLG7syRhLd9my-sg0FTajQQok-D4dnDRTwtnqmmyfLJnzJUnwn3BYw3ft-YYONrBeT0Izxwmcb_UFq9pC2E0FiulQpeCDqznLGCyl3cuux5ZARj2NGor33pGvGp4zDjNe2PNavzU-qQ4x7X49A4ruIlmeL23hQ/s1200/IMG_3210.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7OH5c6euTDDPZVEouE-_dPH5k2446wLG7syRhLd9my-sg0FTajQQok-D4dnDRTwtnqmmyfLJnzJUnwn3BYw3ft-YYONrBeT0Izxwmcb_UFq9pC2E0FiulQpeCDqznLGCyl3cuux5ZARj2NGor33pGvGp4zDjNe2PNavzU-qQ4x7X49A4ruIlmeL23hQ/w400-h209/IMG_3210.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd2L0HaicP4SFxIbXqEICBrB96ek4y17Jyd9bb-VMVGpOAph5ONLI7rkclHusLPWC_WsyDazj9iRynCAPuDnKyQ5i4V7DU_FWTVKuLOTAWhHAQmR1TBtTjehWwvZwz9gRfSEJhU0RKiXNdGvYcmitDcZAru9vuzr5-DVPFKDBFihPcWMgouC791F5fEE/s1200/IMG_3217.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd2L0HaicP4SFxIbXqEICBrB96ek4y17Jyd9bb-VMVGpOAph5ONLI7rkclHusLPWC_WsyDazj9iRynCAPuDnKyQ5i4V7DU_FWTVKuLOTAWhHAQmR1TBtTjehWwvZwz9gRfSEJhU0RKiXNdGvYcmitDcZAru9vuzr5-DVPFKDBFihPcWMgouC791F5fEE/w400-h266/IMG_3217.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Great-spotted Woodpecker</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBMtJdVD3jiLuSyDfqx1QXTORv0Y5TPSP6oOli4LUqhyphenhyphenyL7Lq1mrWOoOL721vthNpaLT5DQtLByOoNFzWqno4VcXfBHBXfM54eWo8Eb5FloxheXkCCk1vPi9qPNHSqxu8P2yLZTm45ctJdvE3xTQxTpRfQlQnGtj8SVH3OD_-vep49taprg5L-bEY5a8/s1200/IMG_3229.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1200" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBMtJdVD3jiLuSyDfqx1QXTORv0Y5TPSP6oOli4LUqhyphenhyphenyL7Lq1mrWOoOL721vthNpaLT5DQtLByOoNFzWqno4VcXfBHBXfM54eWo8Eb5FloxheXkCCk1vPi9qPNHSqxu8P2yLZTm45ctJdvE3xTQxTpRfQlQnGtj8SVH3OD_-vep49taprg5L-bEY5a8/w400-h249/IMG_3229.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Siskin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7csStHXrrNgUbUxHWgEYRsL4BIYuT3GEgB8gOAcF4lnPrVs-wKi3wJ8NThKAPs9iAXu36jPxXCwOoewPyecYJInWgyW9viqP9xcaT1A3TggdxUgKw4KNVdAitDZIUm14pU7bn1IpZdECWruhClhXVRd2f2OKpHMO61vRpxlNslgmUE83g_0ylPHS0zE/s1200/IMG_3231.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1200" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7csStHXrrNgUbUxHWgEYRsL4BIYuT3GEgB8gOAcF4lnPrVs-wKi3wJ8NThKAPs9iAXu36jPxXCwOoewPyecYJInWgyW9viqP9xcaT1A3TggdxUgKw4KNVdAitDZIUm14pU7bn1IpZdECWruhClhXVRd2f2OKpHMO61vRpxlNslgmUE83g_0ylPHS0zE/w400-h381/IMG_3231.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Siskin</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI14Y8dY8i28wD1SL67kjI7AaQ3LYAVu7ehJRJ8iuI7zUsD0QgUeNZdeZ5Lc2NBZi_NT4ZVCKpRuSs8_K4AqQ9ZEWAxv3FEcShgLN771mrll2NDfFiE3hqUp22H8m4S1YCbj8PM-QsRNac633ALPBKs7Pv7CVSA47-sNvk4WY93X9hjH3ezvv1WroSFdc/s1184/IMG_7257.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI14Y8dY8i28wD1SL67kjI7AaQ3LYAVu7ehJRJ8iuI7zUsD0QgUeNZdeZ5Lc2NBZi_NT4ZVCKpRuSs8_K4AqQ9ZEWAxv3FEcShgLN771mrll2NDfFiE3hqUp22H8m4S1YCbj8PM-QsRNac633ALPBKs7Pv7CVSA47-sNvk4WY93X9hjH3ezvv1WroSFdc/w263-h400/IMG_7257.JPG" width="263" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lesser Redpoll</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As autumn turns effortlessly to winter, so do the birds, with little in the way of numbers that punctuate September and October ringing sessions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Noted today, small numbers of Jackdaws, Woodpigeons and Starlings. Otherwise let’s hope that some of the influx of Waxwings, & Short-eared Owls to Scotland and the east coast of England can find their way westwards.
Both species pictured below from previous winters in the Fylde. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg595DiTjbbgUiMNEpDjRIYVjV9AbQSoOSrTmXgaR8HTrjN0-wkl6o8X67phHrkeJin8uQ51bwqI4hwHLxAw7cVabWeIRClqUhcPlMpjA0-47aoUzMkPSmuhAhOxqMQp3RS9zrR_H0LYmj4-TwMx_uxiB26AR55Z7anIUjIC12bbSO_3ETDrRwjICZWZaQ/s2824/IMG_1490.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2824" data-original-width="1956" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg595DiTjbbgUiMNEpDjRIYVjV9AbQSoOSrTmXgaR8HTrjN0-wkl6o8X67phHrkeJin8uQ51bwqI4hwHLxAw7cVabWeIRClqUhcPlMpjA0-47aoUzMkPSmuhAhOxqMQp3RS9zrR_H0LYmj4-TwMx_uxiB26AR55Z7anIUjIC12bbSO_3ETDrRwjICZWZaQ/w278-h400/IMG_1490.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Waxwing</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMZL-HvLr-hryWmWvP7uBOTw8Ikm-KTtCJHtQTx_DWrM780KLYwnhyBt6BetAZVnJ2nIkV6wc1ccIuF48Ag7EgVZF0i_2GQnMLmz8T4YA-T7Xeh8AbTafO52DdHTQ6XLi8uhGSkIwWD1pKascJt1_T9CaxSYYPGIqzkgdSWrESDNdGiXdAw2Xm_ODtCM/s1250/shorty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1250" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMZL-HvLr-hryWmWvP7uBOTw8Ikm-KTtCJHtQTx_DWrM780KLYwnhyBt6BetAZVnJ2nIkV6wc1ccIuF48Ag7EgVZF0i_2GQnMLmz8T4YA-T7Xeh8AbTafO52DdHTQ6XLi8uhGSkIwWD1pKascJt1_T9CaxSYYPGIqzkgdSWrESDNdGiXdAw2Xm_ODtCM/w400-h266/shorty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Short-eared Owl</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Enjoy your weekend folks. Stay safe, warm and sane then come back again to Another Bird Blog for news, views and photos.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking this Saturday to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday Blog</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-39362694116280761082023-11-13T09:19:00.000+00:002023-11-13T09:19:39.279+00:00Some Things Never Change<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>It’s not just me. Studying the latest news on local web sites it is clear that most birders are struggling with the weather in being able to get outdoors for even a spot of birding, never mind ringing. Apologies for the lack of posts in recent days and for the next week or so as Storm Debi is the latest Atlantic arrival to batter our lives. </p><p>I raided the archives and found memories of warmer, drier days gone by in The Middle East and Egypt where politics and/or religion are often a cause of trouble.</p></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After arriving in Egypt to tanks on street corners the holiday was uneventful but totally relaxing. Late on Friday November 8 2011 we arrived in Manchester safe and sound from Hurghada and The Red Sea, many miles from the shock waves still emanating from Cairo and other Egyptian cities. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sue and I had healthy tans from a wonderful holiday, and after two weeks of unbroken 28 degrees, together with staving off Pharaoh’s Revenge, we felt pretty relaxed about Egypt. Most other Europeans went home with tails between their legs at the first sign of trouble, and left mainly German and UK nationals remaining. By our second week, the early mornings saw a halt to hostilities in the “Towels on Sunbeds War” and where available sunbeds on our deserted beach easily outnumbered potential occupants by five to one.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">These unexpected plusses neatly allowed me to head off for a little local birding in the by now extremely quiet but lush, well-watered, green resort of Makadi Bay where Bougainvillea clad buildings greet at every turn. I quickly established a couple of miles local patch that comprised boating wharfs, the beach and numerous garden areas of the many four and five star hotels. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The locals tell you that Egypt is 95% sand, where the Red Sea resorts are built on strips of land bounded by sandy shores on one side and desert sand on the other, Hurghada being no exception to that rule. That rather limits the birding unless car hire is taken, but that wasn’t on the agenda in strife torn Egypt. I found plenty of birding and photographic opportunities with morning and afternoon forays and gentle strolls around the beautiful bay.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is a flavour of the birds I saw in Egypt, and in the next week or two I hope to post more pictures after first catching up with blogging friends everywhere, news from my local patch here in the UK and get in an overdue ringing session.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Common and numerous everywhere in Makadi Bay are Bluethroats, wintering birds from the several races of Europe.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJ8lZCxWbntVKlGyIIAR-gLjuyQZBi6CJT7Pfy9TcQt_S8rJfb1Ge1WoLVaNKmkIWdwXuKHOdtZrP7U7wbOlv4eh62qZcvV6nTWbsrfnAoIM3vWtgmeb42v9n0RilzWred3dlLUp3HB9k6yTjthKEROl3THeNRRYHuBPaaEFLmky7sGvF8MnncoA3uj0/s1100/IMG_8983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1100" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJ8lZCxWbntVKlGyIIAR-gLjuyQZBi6CJT7Pfy9TcQt_S8rJfb1Ge1WoLVaNKmkIWdwXuKHOdtZrP7U7wbOlv4eh62qZcvV6nTWbsrfnAoIM3vWtgmeb42v9n0RilzWred3dlLUp3HB9k6yTjthKEROl3THeNRRYHuBPaaEFLmky7sGvF8MnncoA3uj0/w400-h253/IMG_8983.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Makadi Bay</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIJogKaEn7LEemW4GV7qi9OT-v6vIjxCswXUmPM9qHLx80EZdTeMt-SH4E4mOn0rg242A8j52juQEEDSvV7xD_yq0oLuESPb5OWU8nwmGlUvt9vQMpFDpeZLC5bmmaGIQXlE8KJfF7PQ/s1600/IMG_8312.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572808134943369650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIJogKaEn7LEemW4GV7qi9OT-v6vIjxCswXUmPM9qHLx80EZdTeMt-SH4E4mOn0rg242A8j52juQEEDSvV7xD_yq0oLuESPb5OWU8nwmGlUvt9vQMpFDpeZLC5bmmaGIQXlE8KJfF7PQ/w238-h400/IMG_8312.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 190px;" width="238" /></a><center>Bluethroat</center><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I found lots of ground-hugging Red-throated Pipits skulking about the quiet grassy areas where Cattle Egrets also fed as Kestrels and an Egyptian soldier kept a look-out.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2J0CgAhrccG7uF5t4lGwcNevEsvGXarXbbTTH0gJ5X8TLAtbOKkks8VIFBrZja44KXLPRIZRbN-Qjgi78Az_dH1MPuSMsphzfyklVGWvPGo99-fN-yhf3IwF1IQC76d4jC53s239KzwA/s1600/IMG_8694.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="243" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572809321241034898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2J0CgAhrccG7uF5t4lGwcNevEsvGXarXbbTTH0gJ5X8TLAtbOKkks8VIFBrZja44KXLPRIZRbN-Qjgi78Az_dH1MPuSMsphzfyklVGWvPGo99-fN-yhf3IwF1IQC76d4jC53s239KzwA/w400-h243/IMG_8694.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 194px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" width="400" /></a><center>Red-throated Pipit</center><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRWoRrdhbaQ2ug_s4U8B1hRT9E8sXQey_XQcj_G3F7FUKMfppBa4ERvaFvS-wu4DoJ06myKirKpEvxfycz92W74T095o6CUckmSjHv3yCxY3u59a3YmVBuS1cYCvNqtRt2hkTc7iCAmU/s1600/IMG_8578.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572809084314939458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRWoRrdhbaQ2ug_s4U8B1hRT9E8sXQey_XQcj_G3F7FUKMfppBa4ERvaFvS-wu4DoJ06myKirKpEvxfycz92W74T095o6CUckmSjHv3yCxY3u59a3YmVBuS1cYCvNqtRt2hkTc7iCAmU/w353-h400/IMG_8578.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 282px;" width="353" /></a><center>Red-throated Pipit</center><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaBDkJxQz1iJsh-7q0mjWRkrorEfI9Wba3obgHgr_YX3ZA8y4mmrCnh2uYe0hiwagJfAUqBxONRCUtbTCvgX8Skpf09ePULs8c5eY_wSas6rtObp3SD4CzDWy84Q0DrOKtdHsILlsBws/s1600/IMG_9062.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572809562719051714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaBDkJxQz1iJsh-7q0mjWRkrorEfI9Wba3obgHgr_YX3ZA8y4mmrCnh2uYe0hiwagJfAUqBxONRCUtbTCvgX8Skpf09ePULs8c5eY_wSas6rtObp3SD4CzDWy84Q0DrOKtdHsILlsBws/w333-h400/IMG_9062.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" width="333" /></a><center>Kestrel</center><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt0ogJGTOWi2RBtb20EjDB2igXFPOghTVegco5zLpjYs7ziL1qMIpTAjkzcwrxKsrrA5lJ5HmFiXUrZrUonJ6CdvLqVfFXYBEHa1b0V7UmKqRgSpXLNT1JVhWMI8qX_1FSEnng-ig0go/s1600/IMG_9118.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572809819270587858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt0ogJGTOWi2RBtb20EjDB2igXFPOghTVegco5zLpjYs7ziL1qMIpTAjkzcwrxKsrrA5lJ5HmFiXUrZrUonJ6CdvLqVfFXYBEHa1b0V7UmKqRgSpXLNT1JVhWMI8qX_1FSEnng-ig0go/w253-h400/IMG_9118.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 202px;" width="253" /></a><center>Cattle Egret</center><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHk_N5AxcursphXU7hBhGPLqQqmZBCy_BFO-aBeU9TIBdx2fae6od1l8_co4GSbHPX7qVO04stueNz7ia5bmTRUNZ2HKdL3Pkr7sAal-gbUBh-zGkOnvp3uz7noVs_nJBTNhP3n11mqwU/s1600/IMG_9072.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572810216231305218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHk_N5AxcursphXU7hBhGPLqQqmZBCy_BFO-aBeU9TIBdx2fae6od1l8_co4GSbHPX7qVO04stueNz7ia5bmTRUNZ2HKdL3Pkr7sAal-gbUBh-zGkOnvp3uz7noVs_nJBTNhP3n11mqwU/w295-h400/IMG_9072.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 236px;" width="295" /></a><center>Bougainvillea</center><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JxC4E5TnPCeKDATJuTKJlM91AX0W19Gs3Bq5g_-T2LVyRLYxYzDrJxUdmNLNcPa8eQYCxlZLe0rlmquoXWt1qMwJUhYKcgbEKTJLoMUJ7Fmn6RLhKplJoXOCEbZjY3tMx9PdheYVsXw/s1600/IMG_9038.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572811534900172146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JxC4E5TnPCeKDATJuTKJlM91AX0W19Gs3Bq5g_-T2LVyRLYxYzDrJxUdmNLNcPa8eQYCxlZLe0rlmquoXWt1qMwJUhYKcgbEKTJLoMUJ7Fmn6RLhKplJoXOCEbZjY3tMx9PdheYVsXw/w193-h400/IMG_9038.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 154px;" width="193" /></a><center>Egyptian Soldier</center><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The beach and the shore held Western Reef Herons and an occasional Striated Heron, crepuscular in their habits.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhEsoYTmtGsxoNheYptwLBcxSbcwFeRsoO01mK2al1IR_-2xFX7Jm0hQ4ZyvNPBdUKtcPlQIoq0udJFqXTi0TLkt6flRdqDpIOimhEyEd3CQ-ZFp8xT1LjXyBr7GP7if8jvD-ksUWcm0/s1600/IMG_9400.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="275" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572810490967743410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhEsoYTmtGsxoNheYptwLBcxSbcwFeRsoO01mK2al1IR_-2xFX7Jm0hQ4ZyvNPBdUKtcPlQIoq0udJFqXTi0TLkt6flRdqDpIOimhEyEd3CQ-ZFp8xT1LjXyBr7GP7if8jvD-ksUWcm0/w400-h275/IMG_9400.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 220px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" width="400" /></a><center>Sunrise, Makadi Bay</center><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiyLRh3ffAM6hB5fPWI3ggsEq7Ck7js0rJ03SW-Vq2UPyJVbRguPJFD_1p0_tmND7a6kneIW4rCVDu6yAvAmFnfWtWchlaRXWUkhCRO1FPpX1WhyphenhyphenRs_jVzwAiZZjzlOzT6u9Lxw37BX4/s1600/IMG_9605.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="364" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572810690955999314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiyLRh3ffAM6hB5fPWI3ggsEq7Ck7js0rJ03SW-Vq2UPyJVbRguPJFD_1p0_tmND7a6kneIW4rCVDu6yAvAmFnfWtWchlaRXWUkhCRO1FPpX1WhyphenhyphenRs_jVzwAiZZjzlOzT6u9Lxw37BX4/w400-h364/IMG_9605.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 291px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" width="400" /></a><center>Striated Heron</center><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yPSEUgDmcx4ceJfWBkn9JqCSM-3u1C_jild0abL3AS1PjcIzORerZbGr5lYZOuALlaYup1IPYeGTJkKYA9LNzYrUDKoE4WqDG8MuLiDP5EeUpKF1Oc4p6YH7DPGMudCZKrABBraRAiI/s1600/IMG_8477.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572810920292369138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yPSEUgDmcx4ceJfWBkn9JqCSM-3u1C_jild0abL3AS1PjcIzORerZbGr5lYZOuALlaYup1IPYeGTJkKYA9LNzYrUDKoE4WqDG8MuLiDP5EeUpKF1Oc4p6YH7DPGMudCZKrABBraRAiI/w278-h400/IMG_8477.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 222px;" width="278" /></a> <center>Western Reef Heron</center><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Stay tuned folks. Storm Debi can't last forever can she?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another Bird Blog is back soon.</div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-81506090299631240812023-10-29T16:02:00.000+00:002023-10-29T16:02:31.215+00:00Sunday Morning Twite<div style="text-align: justify;">I changed the header. It’s a Twite <i>Linaria flavirostris</i>, a close relative of the Linnet <i>Linaria cannabina</i>, a bird featured many times here on Another Bird Blog. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most people wouldn’t notice a Twite - a small, streaky brown finch whose only colour is a bright pink rump and even that shows only in Spring. The rest of the year, it’s rather retiring and uncommon. Perhaps that’s why it’s disappeared from our uplands almost without us noticing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here on the Fylde stretch of coastline in the extreme south of Morecambe Bay, the Twite is a winter visitor and autumn migrant. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was lucky this morning when two Twite put in an appearance out Pilling Way. Who can resist a few clicks when there’s Linnets and Twite around for direct comparison? A Twite has a distinctive and rather beautiful orange-buff ground colour to the face and the unstreaked throat. Brown streaking extends from the sides of the breast rather diffusely down onto the flanks, but the belly and undertail coverts are white.
Unlike a Linnet, a Twite has an obviously yellow bill in winter, contrasting with the face.
Twite have black feet and legs, a Linnet has paler brown/dark straw coloured legs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSAPS9oo3CEOY120xT-uVvlK0CsehpAlGZw8nPlOfpwhf6GHfLh07VIldw_Pw32NVG-i8K4jNlgCvVD4dqugyq9tcqGrlRfUE3Pl3N2-QC6u5AIy3jSbAWbKH6zJbsNdNStrRDLOEcVih9kpfNq_NrcRnErQ6z1FuGps4qSi65-_QoqpI8HGqzvdD8Ps/s2695/IMG_0187.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2695" data-original-width="2323" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSAPS9oo3CEOY120xT-uVvlK0CsehpAlGZw8nPlOfpwhf6GHfLh07VIldw_Pw32NVG-i8K4jNlgCvVD4dqugyq9tcqGrlRfUE3Pl3N2-QC6u5AIy3jSbAWbKH6zJbsNdNStrRDLOEcVih9kpfNq_NrcRnErQ6z1FuGps4qSi65-_QoqpI8HGqzvdD8Ps/w345-h400/IMG_0187.JPG" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Linnet</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaopbSdyW2ySr13BQGb-gPou1KGghYtWqvdBTmyrDU0M3lnVmpri5zZVBzo2rdsZB4VENCLrdTTCwdeEKc8xQqF-QXg9jx7kiLNzDPWrdfZzgANqf5QC96OVJaVFoXqYpKHQlvUyQEucsSHykFxjc5sdnuG9zaSE8z8QZoyg7wh8Qj9OrIbO9z0C_f2Q/s3532/IMG_0204.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3532" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaopbSdyW2ySr13BQGb-gPou1KGghYtWqvdBTmyrDU0M3lnVmpri5zZVBzo2rdsZB4VENCLrdTTCwdeEKc8xQqF-QXg9jx7kiLNzDPWrdfZzgANqf5QC96OVJaVFoXqYpKHQlvUyQEucsSHykFxjc5sdnuG9zaSE8z8QZoyg7wh8Qj9OrIbO9z0C_f2Q/w400-h340/IMG_0204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QAGy2QbW7q5UFehQCpUIbr544CI23el-mZ1m_o5XAVxHmpeXbk9O8cnRX0uc5E9S5Gyt6KjG3SnxNRWgwCnZAW23SFVwsMNHk5Nk8HmGdY0ND_Y2PykWoiYz58r1EdU0QCP3UI3HDUlbcHJnBcM-7jpZ-FEEf6MYK-MSwJaXVqhKv55fNhXOU1aiiC4/s4610/IMG_0261.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3621" data-original-width="4610" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QAGy2QbW7q5UFehQCpUIbr544CI23el-mZ1m_o5XAVxHmpeXbk9O8cnRX0uc5E9S5Gyt6KjG3SnxNRWgwCnZAW23SFVwsMNHk5Nk8HmGdY0ND_Y2PykWoiYz58r1EdU0QCP3UI3HDUlbcHJnBcM-7jpZ-FEEf6MYK-MSwJaXVqhKv55fNhXOU1aiiC4/w400-h314/IMG_0261.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Twite</div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ4m_PDCVEc8SrjHzmybyXpI8xeFkgF9C5T28cihyphenhyphenlNzCaUHnolrGkFhDqiZYZ6hSt8eCIV6KnESwVpdOsvoUGAZUkvaWxAowzp2nEY0plUFcb3DJjSeGdTH7UNaSA9Ac9QPOZMqQVJiiiELIvFvMVydUOf9nbr86l2wKlKS2k8jQJNTpEIlZTbVOrWM/s4877/IMG_0245.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4273" data-original-width="4877" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ4m_PDCVEc8SrjHzmybyXpI8xeFkgF9C5T28cihyphenhyphenlNzCaUHnolrGkFhDqiZYZ6hSt8eCIV6KnESwVpdOsvoUGAZUkvaWxAowzp2nEY0plUFcb3DJjSeGdTH7UNaSA9Ac9QPOZMqQVJiiiELIvFvMVydUOf9nbr86l2wKlKS2k8jQJNTpEIlZTbVOrWM/w400-h350/IMG_0245.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Twite</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dTwz1rpzxb7dCk2a6Od64ui5qry10kOSokalkTZhf3WDDfVZEbHBNZSvv0dWR3-HTZNaZ8DBRFtDQ_pLbvz1BX997EtVMQwBv1QypNCrWO3HfBXaHEMyPBEEhVC8Jzi1zegplsv_6xA9FnCcc6Ujl7ATmEshX2XswTGOINGivfYY0VHldSl8XUxw4p8/s4604/IMG_0257.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3842" data-original-width="4604" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dTwz1rpzxb7dCk2a6Od64ui5qry10kOSokalkTZhf3WDDfVZEbHBNZSvv0dWR3-HTZNaZ8DBRFtDQ_pLbvz1BX997EtVMQwBv1QypNCrWO3HfBXaHEMyPBEEhVC8Jzi1zegplsv_6xA9FnCcc6Ujl7ATmEshX2XswTGOINGivfYY0VHldSl8XUxw4p8/w400-h334/IMG_0257.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Twite</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUtcVdjHVGBs4-js_F_J03a7bRhjYuUf9Aja715K9vcwKEODWlE2xBi5xLXqFEygW1QVhcKuplwTRbtqofUYHGGHacP-BCxLKCUDHwAJbTGvQrv89lwXp6lOdPUkRctemYrwHwBF3GNQGUnj14jLauU3BMES02pJEDfmOj6GiRIUM7avSKdY1eIbjj38/s3838/IMG_0229.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3153" data-original-width="3838" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUtcVdjHVGBs4-js_F_J03a7bRhjYuUf9Aja715K9vcwKEODWlE2xBi5xLXqFEygW1QVhcKuplwTRbtqofUYHGGHacP-BCxLKCUDHwAJbTGvQrv89lwXp6lOdPUkRctemYrwHwBF3GNQGUnj14jLauU3BMES02pJEDfmOj6GiRIUM7avSKdY1eIbjj38/w400-h329/IMG_0229.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Twite</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The morning improved when a Kingfisher flew back and forth for several minutes and where I got the distinct impression there may have been two rather than the single bird that posed briefly. Here at this spot are hundreds of yards of ditches and dykes for Kingfishers and other water birds. Hence the Little Grebe, several Little Egrets and Reed Buntings flitting around the phragmites fringed ditches. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9obQOVedHycj5vmUwe-wtdvMO_EHejDF7VOeVIppxPq4Id-7UnIXwR98w1Czntz8dMdHPoPJTdxqmz4oBBLrsFZBRQp4JC6f-NbsDA8bys0atKJYWduKsLZQCaDi6g5F2XHdNCQr2Svbw9RVOZLosVpGGy6ycW1UlOHh5d8YKF1OVfIHoV53LW-QmGvs/s1250/IMG_0080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1250" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9obQOVedHycj5vmUwe-wtdvMO_EHejDF7VOeVIppxPq4Id-7UnIXwR98w1Czntz8dMdHPoPJTdxqmz4oBBLrsFZBRQp4JC6f-NbsDA8bys0atKJYWduKsLZQCaDi6g5F2XHdNCQr2Svbw9RVOZLosVpGGy6ycW1UlOHh5d8YKF1OVfIHoV53LW-QmGvs/w400-h371/IMG_0080.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmb2PP3KIN1ATTH2tbiTEpQQvMAbGHssO6_-KyPk1v_GlR9NAKjD_IZH04BnGFbkPYMUon0zoMbcg6GyhQ3fYSYk23jL367sFsk5oaIzwvBsKxIdeNSClyy5T9FFqPs_Jr1hs-g-2IcC6AN4Rt0lAh8wC9cVs3Fxb65l4BKJzRthg6sW_Yc70OaM36DI/s3540/IMG_9914.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2779" data-original-width="3540" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmb2PP3KIN1ATTH2tbiTEpQQvMAbGHssO6_-KyPk1v_GlR9NAKjD_IZH04BnGFbkPYMUon0zoMbcg6GyhQ3fYSYk23jL367sFsk5oaIzwvBsKxIdeNSClyy5T9FFqPs_Jr1hs-g-2IcC6AN4Rt0lAh8wC9cVs3Fxb65l4BKJzRthg6sW_Yc70OaM36DI/w400-h314/IMG_9914.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Could it get any better? Well yes when a Merlin flew past pursued by a Crow and then a few minutes later a Marsh Harrier going in the opposite direction. The raptors were the reason for so much Lapwing activity with many 300/400 hundreds flying around in a seemingly random fashion but all the while keeping their distance from danger. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5a9waDRMxmtazTWBz-yM7NP8qDVHpnQKKQUNoWk_GOE8CU6Jcgw11m4v2vvAd3tkuGTEa3ALypmvjH6M0oWEGdKQqHtH838BWOiBkTWHmGoTKGe5F8zNMKqg7nBoio609_J5GIVlebm4JMkvU9nZRXZmtvXNzqEboXur2KYwz-TPZsS2UWd6-6W1VLAo/s805/IMG_1132a%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="805" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5a9waDRMxmtazTWBz-yM7NP8qDVHpnQKKQUNoWk_GOE8CU6Jcgw11m4v2vvAd3tkuGTEa3ALypmvjH6M0oWEGdKQqHtH838BWOiBkTWHmGoTKGe5F8zNMKqg7nBoio609_J5GIVlebm4JMkvU9nZRXZmtvXNzqEboXur2KYwz-TPZsS2UWd6-6W1VLAo/w400-h360/IMG_1132a%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lapwings</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A drive out Cockerham way produced a count of six Cattle Egrets feeding amongst some pretty muddy cows. Of course the egrets are adept at exploiting the churned up ground in which to find their prey of insects and worms that cattle disturb with their feet. The egrets also will sit on cattle to look out for insects but I have only observed this behaviour in the Med and not in the UK. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ64GK1Q5cw7efNFovdXXMan09Ga_PlRetCTNxmKkFmsmPVmYzUPAXJuuCoIPgs0k46d69OJt-_gvR5Vk73BMEszFFBb4sU271Vd2bFkF5fj1ChfoxKWTZyS_Gl6xVJTJzmk9wVGxLojTRVp6Ox27Om71lkIEUHUYbMUJwRW-H8BRa9Ka3zb6zPtveNxY/s1251/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1100" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ64GK1Q5cw7efNFovdXXMan09Ga_PlRetCTNxmKkFmsmPVmYzUPAXJuuCoIPgs0k46d69OJt-_gvR5Vk73BMEszFFBb4sU271Vd2bFkF5fj1ChfoxKWTZyS_Gl6xVJTJzmk9wVGxLojTRVp6Ox27Om71lkIEUHUYbMUJwRW-H8BRa9Ka3zb6zPtveNxY/w351-h400/IMG_0155.JPG" width="351" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It seems that the six Cattle Egrets weren't the only ones today. Another ten were seen a couple of miles away near the coast at Cockerham. The species may have had a good breeding season in the east with many now heading our way to enjoy the milder Lancashire weather rather than the cold of Europe. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The forecasts for the week ahead don't look too clever but as always where there's a will there could be a way. Stay tuned to Another Bird Blog for the very latest news, views and photos.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-50767882296093381992023-10-25T15:11:00.002+01:002023-10-28T08:32:33.681+01:00Half Day Wednesday<div style="text-align: justify;">A 0730 start is as late as it gets now. Next weekend we turn the clocks back an hour and head into winter. At seven-thirty Thursday it was still pretty dark and we hoped to catch a few early morning Redwings. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We got the nets up in double quick time with the help of headlamps however the Redwings didn’t arrive and we settled for a couple of migrant Blackbirds.
In fact the whole morning’s ringing turned out quiet with just 11 birds caught – 3 Blackbird, 4 Linnet, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9R0kAzkAEmPpmOIKDKOHDY5OBsb85dd38eSIDgLJzWtCuGl41axzMHTxKgJbaO6bI4dX1uGsfrApMyFshKXN-ONw4f4Lug5XB8EON1BlTTg5x8byo-uSlKOMpVC-1SmeugGXuJALqdQ7XzEETfqiZsmydb9sl4ZhohHOR1LqKlVGET0tplwoN_A4_no/s1200/_MG_1642.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1200" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9R0kAzkAEmPpmOIKDKOHDY5OBsb85dd38eSIDgLJzWtCuGl41axzMHTxKgJbaO6bI4dX1uGsfrApMyFshKXN-ONw4f4Lug5XB8EON1BlTTg5x8byo-uSlKOMpVC-1SmeugGXuJALqdQ7XzEETfqiZsmydb9sl4ZhohHOR1LqKlVGET0tplwoN_A4_no/w400-h235/_MG_1642.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UJmcStnmZqd-Bly0PwD79Yc_HtNPtkyML7PZUy3Sl-bnhM81Z5NjDJ69t9D81wbd19_LgxMR7pSn9l2o4VmpEbgvGOqVPQG_HKiGtSY30v1VQuvTxZRlJ5IHXrHQFiu7dEnrwLjY-undhe-emFQAHwe2G_PdWQIobj9Qq3UTKLgMyIHEipAFC5PEUwo/s1042/IMG_7342.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="1042" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UJmcStnmZqd-Bly0PwD79Yc_HtNPtkyML7PZUy3Sl-bnhM81Z5NjDJ69t9D81wbd19_LgxMR7pSn9l2o4VmpEbgvGOqVPQG_HKiGtSY30v1VQuvTxZRlJ5IHXrHQFiu7dEnrwLjY-undhe-emFQAHwe2G_PdWQIobj9Qq3UTKLgMyIHEipAFC5PEUwo/w400-h163/IMG_7342.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our four Linnets proved disappointing when the combined count of a number of flocks totalled over 250 finches, a count that included a number of Goldfinches and Greenfinches, the latter not easy to pick out amongst fast flying gangs of small birds. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All four Linnets showed features of Scottish birds and as usual all new birds, with a slim chance only of capturing a recent Linnet or a Linnet from elsewhere.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzrxUobClY1n1ZiFFvBLOQiBn7xszlDKpmPXVbHdH9wgoMqWtLTvxzeXYclq1-00q_xkPkGlfwRIf5Vp7HxqaM7DayJ2bcjrfy_3PBaFtmhC0xccA0T6jogW2jhpNNvLLzb3FLlddj_MMSMlHT4MFRD3-uSnnwUnF-nHyITycKMqPrad4LYP0fGdsJNQ/s1250/IMG_3139.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1250" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzrxUobClY1n1ZiFFvBLOQiBn7xszlDKpmPXVbHdH9wgoMqWtLTvxzeXYclq1-00q_xkPkGlfwRIf5Vp7HxqaM7DayJ2bcjrfy_3PBaFtmhC0xccA0T6jogW2jhpNNvLLzb3FLlddj_MMSMlHT4MFRD3-uSnnwUnF-nHyITycKMqPrad4LYP0fGdsJNQ/w400-h255/IMG_3139.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Scottish" Linnet</div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTerPwzNKsQ6V6II3R85HsQ3hlfR0PUwtqyg33gFtp59u1x_Ry0BVwjijEr8PiBchiRpYXqyX5d21oMI-HqUYGhS59LHm3xeuBaWxQypJJjJS5Z3wV24wZ2NRWojstnj-igJmNFiMPaO1tnuY7OfSiEyb5skH6V8WgyDL39JO91wsgPv1XxVCKE2e_fYY/s1500/IMG_0192.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1500" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTerPwzNKsQ6V6II3R85HsQ3hlfR0PUwtqyg33gFtp59u1x_Ry0BVwjijEr8PiBchiRpYXqyX5d21oMI-HqUYGhS59LHm3xeuBaWxQypJJjJS5Z3wV24wZ2NRWojstnj-igJmNFiMPaO1tnuY7OfSiEyb5skH6V8WgyDL39JO91wsgPv1XxVCKE2e_fYY/w400-h340/IMG_0192.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4xkTAYTIzI0nmMS_psIDdq1SAuo4rur-fEnZ1DvYuAX0dRzW9beNaH8Ll4WqeOSTcNrrHL8kHPZFG1Wa4jiaH4GpOolOsTUwakvlZi8c7ltk3ueYdTduUULKdQbGUTnY8hP0PxmDj9nZvlxv8EMDra16zi0K9D59Sdmbl66pnSgcVjpJnU-kIZKmiAM/s3532/IMG_0204.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3532" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4xkTAYTIzI0nmMS_psIDdq1SAuo4rur-fEnZ1DvYuAX0dRzW9beNaH8Ll4WqeOSTcNrrHL8kHPZFG1Wa4jiaH4GpOolOsTUwakvlZi8c7ltk3ueYdTduUULKdQbGUTnY8hP0PxmDj9nZvlxv8EMDra16zi0K9D59Sdmbl66pnSgcVjpJnU-kIZKmiAM/w400-h340/IMG_0204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There was a Sparrowhawk in attendance and then brief views of a “ringtail” Hen Harrier over the nearby marsh. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKGIszoB66q8VojuhL3EsZ22KHRCwZNTkQJHv5P-5QpG1SxIeCYOBlW3vmDP_NKH1cYSHbip1tYW-KjbnfPie8xXQXUFdJl_rNhxNft1DTjnbv7YDwEIzerBPEucx0nsFDbu_ndl9iko7yHDBEB1S7xSBpUEXfRbNa8gXelJgVbqkEYR_1qLLCKyTMo4/s2000/harrier.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="2000" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKGIszoB66q8VojuhL3EsZ22KHRCwZNTkQJHv5P-5QpG1SxIeCYOBlW3vmDP_NKH1cYSHbip1tYW-KjbnfPie8xXQXUFdJl_rNhxNft1DTjnbv7YDwEIzerBPEucx0nsFDbu_ndl9iko7yHDBEB1S7xSBpUEXfRbNa8gXelJgVbqkEYR_1qLLCKyTMo4/w400-h294/harrier.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hen Harrier</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Female and juvenile Hen Harriers, are known colloquially as “ringtails”, both look very similar, with brown on top, almost checkerboard brown and beige underwings, a white rump and a bearded tail. However, females are larger than males at 400-600g, compared to 300-400g. They're smaller than buzzards, but larger than crows. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Storm Babet made little impression here on the west coast, a few windy days and nights but we are rather accustomed to that scenario and take it in our stride.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Keep an eye on the weather folks. And then come back here to Another Bird Blog for the latest news, views and photographs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking today to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2023/10/saturdays-critters-515.html" target="_blank">Eileen;s Saturday blog</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-21507667122241099982023-10-17T08:27:00.001+01:002023-10-20T20:20:49.763+01:00Finches On The Move<div style="text-align: justify;">Monday’s weather didn’t disappoint with a start of zero wind, zero rain, and a hint of a sunny morning to come. I met up with Will at 0715 and we set just a couple of nets, single panels for finches in the seed plot together with a 60 footer alongside a hawthorn hedge. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We didn’t wait long for the first Linnets to arrive from the north and east, following their trajectory that is inevitably the same north to south direction as the set-aside seed plot. The route became busy as many small groups and larger flocks passed through and eventually totalled over 450 finches when we packed in about 1030. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not all were Linnets in the catch of 30 birds and the good mix of species - 16 Linnet, 5 Greenfinch, 2 Robin, 1 Great Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Redwing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The percentage of Scottish type Linnets is increasing at each visit now with our 16 Linnets today almost exclusively of that type. If and when “ferocious” storm Babet hits Scotland it will surely send more Linnets our way. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqaPtXKBlpzFiJ2j2Gz7fnUd6LNwTFPNzgMfcMx-3tFj60R2shtG4ehd5HaWgksYwlt9f1Dre-_5cchbGdoULzBGqfV2AYq-ZEeV-Ll9zQMjbJ7E-YDld02aDBAXC-TiqLaFiUP87mkwDmVspOBd5z9l0b_AKgHaPcGID887BJ5PvgDuAHu-Wafv1u_Y/s1200/IMG_3168.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqaPtXKBlpzFiJ2j2Gz7fnUd6LNwTFPNzgMfcMx-3tFj60R2shtG4ehd5HaWgksYwlt9f1Dre-_5cchbGdoULzBGqfV2AYq-ZEeV-Ll9zQMjbJ7E-YDld02aDBAXC-TiqLaFiUP87mkwDmVspOBd5z9l0b_AKgHaPcGID887BJ5PvgDuAHu-Wafv1u_Y/w400-h266/IMG_3168.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Redwing</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5awMIT45ftQujFwvMu20w9BaluWoN9JLqS_D8B2GB9y-pNvK1J4kbE7qnhPYLOKEmmriIJFe_cRPZg53ZrF2wO3A9QXT_0y6tqCAC8z1K1qGNvNZ5OKQc0_spbuugzerox_uBnyhulLj8rpKtPD09efrpSWS8YeB6HAqJqaTjG-STg0CIthucs_jBKug/s1100/IMG_3183.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1100" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5awMIT45ftQujFwvMu20w9BaluWoN9JLqS_D8B2GB9y-pNvK1J4kbE7qnhPYLOKEmmriIJFe_cRPZg53ZrF2wO3A9QXT_0y6tqCAC8z1K1qGNvNZ5OKQc0_spbuugzerox_uBnyhulLj8rpKtPD09efrpSWS8YeB6HAqJqaTjG-STg0CIthucs_jBKug/w400-h350/IMG_3183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Greenfinch</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0olwioomBqOcA9xNTXd4DRTJbiExB_ZvTcEbcuSxX-h80mEhD-LjB3yZn46iUyEmQcLviltipjkpG0YqSSWi5d-p0byfvToMqBEVUcoyRfsU-00PtwTIl3I3g94ki3Kdd4IaRZngRfQFNg64LgFLjczIXNGwZ65o7KBGcqxSHw4XznDVbowg1g7OwGTI/s1100/IMG_3176.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1100" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0olwioomBqOcA9xNTXd4DRTJbiExB_ZvTcEbcuSxX-h80mEhD-LjB3yZn46iUyEmQcLviltipjkpG0YqSSWi5d-p0byfvToMqBEVUcoyRfsU-00PtwTIl3I3g94ki3Kdd4IaRZngRfQFNg64LgFLjczIXNGwZ65o7KBGcqxSHw4XznDVbowg1g7OwGTI/w400-h220/IMG_3176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl_jI0C5OKVNW7y_HCDJjE3L6UJEJU_REcMWvZGCQWnpzsfO9yukHr7QmYpCZeIw0zzY2T43xZgNuvLRNsYrY3ACEieSOc-rKwJEmGh2tAHzc6bKjjMRCNFYQ8Uhjkz4xjwn-LhtYoP-_92B5oHde4VTT5NXCE2WuaVnabPGBqLF2BB-1q926YinsYZw/s1100/IMG_3189.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1100" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl_jI0C5OKVNW7y_HCDJjE3L6UJEJU_REcMWvZGCQWnpzsfO9yukHr7QmYpCZeIw0zzY2T43xZgNuvLRNsYrY3ACEieSOc-rKwJEmGh2tAHzc6bKjjMRCNFYQ8Uhjkz4xjwn-LhtYoP-_92B5oHde4VTT5NXCE2WuaVnabPGBqLF2BB-1q926YinsYZw/w400-h296/IMG_3189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DEn6sldXK5aohRnC-iVqPrKvzGhci7ACxuklMKeGFM8auigR1LXOhxdIq776oaLYw_gKVrUQ28i-M5LV_MzZDHsoEcCtS0H-vtGktSnHg8AmRqJYW6WP5j8aKCSOtwFyXVNdbSUmRaotGqFceDKUPm2Ges_GYfEBdXQ7MJP0APGW-N4RyNuirlgL48c/s3497/IMG_3148.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2696" data-original-width="3497" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DEn6sldXK5aohRnC-iVqPrKvzGhci7ACxuklMKeGFM8auigR1LXOhxdIq776oaLYw_gKVrUQ28i-M5LV_MzZDHsoEcCtS0H-vtGktSnHg8AmRqJYW6WP5j8aKCSOtwFyXVNdbSUmRaotGqFceDKUPm2Ges_GYfEBdXQ7MJP0APGW-N4RyNuirlgL48c/w400-h309/IMG_3148.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The concentration of finches brought in a Sparrowhawk on at least two occasions and although we didn’t see a kill, the hawk would not be without a meal for long when so many birds were on the move. A cream top Marsh Harrier flew around hunting for a while where it disturbed Teal and Mallards from their shallows haunt before it too set off to try its luck out on Pilling Marsh. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Other birds seen in our 3+ hours included 10 Redwing, 8 Skylark, 10 Chaffinch ,2 Cetti’s Warbler, 20+ Reed Bunting, 3 Pied Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipit, 4 Whooper Swan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4gNq-SWkYcpTEOAZQdu0XGe1hvm1tCz23RMK5jzJqtYwyPJWJVZAmGCVVMLHaTewe8GedxP-BNL6u-OLZd7Vyu3U0AT2nEMBaHXHp9O0QFzJiQPUPc-oImdqrlKZzvaowuK-HLcSUBX5BGNmfqkljKpIUV0xnaHYy6MLCTAOR1mWa2LxEdsmtkkcNFI/s3746/IMG_0083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3695" data-original-width="3746" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4gNq-SWkYcpTEOAZQdu0XGe1hvm1tCz23RMK5jzJqtYwyPJWJVZAmGCVVMLHaTewe8GedxP-BNL6u-OLZd7Vyu3U0AT2nEMBaHXHp9O0QFzJiQPUPc-oImdqrlKZzvaowuK-HLcSUBX5BGNmfqkljKpIUV0xnaHYy6MLCTAOR1mWa2LxEdsmtkkcNFI/w400-h395/IMG_0083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ40EdyrV44LF4M3z7U1sq63V4-dNeBTBaim78mYmH2VJ2Xk-w7_fKjAw6NTZJ0Sv8K2eCPWiIkAnd3CzjU2lE_MSCqnvWcT8KslcviUAgu70YxhZ7q0cBhzEq0qdSiXKewiXvQrq1ANUeyuPbQBaw9FV74eMY4UtKXozFaCNW7oKZYm-9gUEheIhS4PU/s5486/IMG_0106e.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3425" data-original-width="5486" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ40EdyrV44LF4M3z7U1sq63V4-dNeBTBaim78mYmH2VJ2Xk-w7_fKjAw6NTZJ0Sv8K2eCPWiIkAnd3CzjU2lE_MSCqnvWcT8KslcviUAgu70YxhZ7q0cBhzEq0qdSiXKewiXvQrq1ANUeyuPbQBaw9FV74eMY4UtKXozFaCNW7oKZYm-9gUEheIhS4PU/w400-h250/IMG_0106e.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQvKdFyTfbVslKlVl7xh576jU-ir51RDW380jX6TtL3ZsXjhUgwLRNQkC-iy1OWpvM665iKzInhhnHK97qTMva2C9Pgi5DXs0XiRHgVOWbatbRjbBzZ3kxMvsqq7eRDt7rnY1EKLMnSQmxa-rykkA038uKHE0R01Y6NosUvSXLw1tOgKOYekyHOUxfE4/s1500/IMG_9439.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1500" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQvKdFyTfbVslKlVl7xh576jU-ir51RDW380jX6TtL3ZsXjhUgwLRNQkC-iy1OWpvM665iKzInhhnHK97qTMva2C9Pgi5DXs0XiRHgVOWbatbRjbBzZ3kxMvsqq7eRDt7rnY1EKLMnSQmxa-rykkA038uKHE0R01Y6NosUvSXLw1tOgKOYekyHOUxfE4/w400-h291/IMG_9439.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fingers crossed that Storm Babet is another figment of the weathermen’s imagination and that we can enjoy another excellent morning of birding and ringing very soon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgPuWEm9zrOz0VobbCPFSuRw-a2Qc3iAeokKZgkhP0MzrFaN01R2pe1ZCCNec5V9W8GkwsRUHc7odGpWLiv5K8hStgmbW_zfe4xkljh6QFxm8QWPvQMiJ2Rviogaw-Kp_7u06xA2P7uPtuja0NfrL0VnXSos6F9S1p0cX3e0w-khHC8VBQb_rDdVma6Q/s856/Untitled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="856" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgPuWEm9zrOz0VobbCPFSuRw-a2Qc3iAeokKZgkhP0MzrFaN01R2pe1ZCCNec5V9W8GkwsRUHc7odGpWLiv5K8hStgmbW_zfe4xkljh6QFxm8QWPvQMiJ2Rviogaw-Kp_7u06xA2P7uPtuja0NfrL0VnXSos6F9S1p0cX3e0w-khHC8VBQb_rDdVma6Q/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Storm Babet - Wednesday night</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stop Press. I studied several weather charts. You heard it here first.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Already I am downgrading Storm Babet to a bit of a blow. They are trying to frighten us again! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking at the weekend to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday blog</a></div><p> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-54855504299348015492023-10-12T19:53:00.003+01:002023-10-13T19:23:32.749+01:00Terns of North America - Book Review<div style="text-align: justify;">As promised, and despite my being poorly with a dose of Common Cold, saved only by a glass or two of ouzo held back in case of serious illness, here it is. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My personal and early look at Terns of North America; A Photographic Guide by Cameron Cox, due for release on 24 October 2023.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5gMlapv4y8qG96EiP_Tl4cy4_zaAcI9H3DiIbyRr6H-bUI1v82bzLPZyTYYuSZc5eerS0p62XGAbBw47AcIcdC-SBxQu4K93zruyqQSQP28ou5-WfFvmRUhe-hGlkLyQazblXe5Gcc9XicAHBlZ6_6i8QuxK859UyKL0fiE4nRzDbCzd5Q4DxfhaQAo/s572/Untitled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5gMlapv4y8qG96EiP_Tl4cy4_zaAcI9H3DiIbyRr6H-bUI1v82bzLPZyTYYuSZc5eerS0p62XGAbBw47AcIcdC-SBxQu4K93zruyqQSQP28ou5-WfFvmRUhe-hGlkLyQazblXe5Gcc9XicAHBlZ6_6i8QuxK859UyKL0fiE4nRzDbCzd5Q4DxfhaQAo/s320/Untitled.png" width="253" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Terns of North America - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america" target="_blank">Princeton Press</a></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let’s not beat about the proverbial bush. This is a simply stunning book that every birder should own - an essential identification guide to not just North American terns, but the noddies and skimmers that in recent years have crossed the Atlantic to appear on the British List with increasing regularity. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The book follows the expected traditional route of an Introduction from Pages 1 to 19 followed at Pages 20 to 197 by the Species Accounts. 208 Pages in all. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge752-lp3mVAjBN5dGvF8oxVDlX2LcwRqu5H1jLEWCGKvO7lo9dHqRCtVqO4y7nmB7sInnH0wcM2pIheDSlcyub5hT43icPkvQ7tShn5msyfTd8FsnNhupq5JwWIX0MBv7tDYGYyDkXoAb14Gjs5t_WmNVBX9tli7MvasSPLznxTntakms2-WW7pbjb_E/s648/contents.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge752-lp3mVAjBN5dGvF8oxVDlX2LcwRqu5H1jLEWCGKvO7lo9dHqRCtVqO4y7nmB7sInnH0wcM2pIheDSlcyub5hT43icPkvQ7tShn5msyfTd8FsnNhupq5JwWIX0MBv7tDYGYyDkXoAb14Gjs5t_WmNVBX9tli7MvasSPLznxTntakms2-WW7pbjb_E/s320/contents.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Contents - Terns of North America - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Princeton Press</a></div></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The author’s Introduction quickly puts the reader at ease with the assertion that despite perceptions by some birders, terns do not present extreme ID challenges. He reassures the reader that difficult and real ID distinctions are few and far between, and mainly within larger <i>Sterna</i> terns. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The section Tricky <i>Thalasseus </i>is especially welcome in dealing with similarities and differences between the North American Sandwich Tern, Eurasian Sandwich Tern and the so called Cabot’s Tern. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen95I1fN2_xjooe4Le10KFYmvsvaS4L4NnzScGs8fAh_sVGLyps3IR78pLvjWxcyEmmJqXVcwcZT8EapgfEtP5HfJKu0GugJdPp7bK3IebQBfVo6WsCC87Mx7gxBD9fQsa0ebp2KQ-Bc6ECQP_g_WgraLiEtAzlPCi8WuSeyRGiE-ku8vTpOz2HMK3W8/s707/Untitled%20tern5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="554" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen95I1fN2_xjooe4Le10KFYmvsvaS4L4NnzScGs8fAh_sVGLyps3IR78pLvjWxcyEmmJqXVcwcZT8EapgfEtP5HfJKu0GugJdPp7bK3IebQBfVo6WsCC87Mx7gxBD9fQsa0ebp2KQ-Bc6ECQP_g_WgraLiEtAzlPCi8WuSeyRGiE-ku8vTpOz2HMK3W8/w314-h400/Untitled%20tern5.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Terns of North America - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america" target="_blank">Princeton Press</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DqJkKfCLLH7lHPJvMd8XgLr_KBo5Qah-goJ5no-I4n0NoxS05VcNOQkfra3b_h_HmGKWOf4zDvvVhHRpMDIFVa4EtKmItwfPRvMn3r-T5JjxUMmKOsuXSrO66NufMw-nw2obD2O4TD_7osNGV9bO46v0OnfSeGBFeUZFB4MCAK9E6RdJDPKSQEXIZe8/s711/Untitled%20tern%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DqJkKfCLLH7lHPJvMd8XgLr_KBo5Qah-goJ5no-I4n0NoxS05VcNOQkfra3b_h_HmGKWOf4zDvvVhHRpMDIFVa4EtKmItwfPRvMn3r-T5JjxUMmKOsuXSrO66NufMw-nw2obD2O4TD_7osNGV9bO46v0OnfSeGBFeUZFB4MCAK9E6RdJDPKSQEXIZe8/w310-h400/Untitled%20tern%208.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Terns of North America - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america" target="_blank">Princeton Press</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIzpG89Vojhy3hcKxokT3r2KyqD9RT5jHxUcFQ1UMEahrGnRNGGPyd44ZtIhHlFftx4BZlNK7L-E8mJlNSalTwrj44QtJU8T5mQvUKfUtZ3PGUgP1AaWXMrLDlo3gR2B7gUlqWHluQGQWwB4cNvXmTKIh_5PxCG2bYPhvvPXikSBkqNtzFOwRo-QR4so/s1900/9780691161877_sample_Page_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="1402" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIzpG89Vojhy3hcKxokT3r2KyqD9RT5jHxUcFQ1UMEahrGnRNGGPyd44ZtIhHlFftx4BZlNK7L-E8mJlNSalTwrj44QtJU8T5mQvUKfUtZ3PGUgP1AaWXMrLDlo3gR2B7gUlqWHluQGQWwB4cNvXmTKIh_5PxCG2bYPhvvPXikSBkqNtzFOwRo-QR4so/w295-h400/9780691161877_sample_Page_01.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Terns of North America - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america" target="_blank">Princeton Press</a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The individual species accounts are found together, grouped under logical headings rather than in pure scientific order, a sequence that might still upset the purists. But this is an entirely acceptable device that makes for a highly functional field guide, one that will find its way into a backpack for that trip to the shore where terns and their allies congregate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For instance, a glance through sections entitled Large Terns, Crested Terns, Medium Sized Terns or Sterna Terns will quickly sort the possible from the unlikely. Equally, Marsh Terns, Pelagic Terns and Upland Terns can be found in their own respective compartments. As one might expect, Skimmers and Noddies can be found in a section all of their own. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf1OusMwIfAlaNJ2Hsfm397uGV9eC3GcgbWAKQ9Qd5DMrgthYMmtsepX3Edm9aeV5JlQlnOPHfT1dpe9qWFAmkUlTTbdo_NdLQYFCiZXTsvwezivt8HZYYU3yoBMo_3ZfDdlxCy3-hSicbnzPiEZx3gdW54XmfN5dhapxOuDdbg-Gb-RoNCJmSERe3ac/s702/Untitled%20tern%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="551" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf1OusMwIfAlaNJ2Hsfm397uGV9eC3GcgbWAKQ9Qd5DMrgthYMmtsepX3Edm9aeV5JlQlnOPHfT1dpe9qWFAmkUlTTbdo_NdLQYFCiZXTsvwezivt8HZYYU3yoBMo_3ZfDdlxCy3-hSicbnzPiEZx3gdW54XmfN5dhapxOuDdbg-Gb-RoNCJmSERe3ac/w314-h400/Untitled%20tern%204.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Terns of North America - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america" target="_blank">Princeton Press</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjzXGTeehApP49YYDaZ8LZ0uTf53VE6taBoo_8lD4rx6tCqgO_O-HCLcWZVzlnhs8yvAgU3nDMQH5NHrTgils5b4gtX7sO_wuUiV4ibmdbuw9gU6po3A5I0siKvxUXx4E3P11VprWPipwdAULsiDn_UrT1PLqaopDfvm6uSoa5JF846j1f9PzlQGyiRQ/s710/Untitled%20tern%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="545" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjzXGTeehApP49YYDaZ8LZ0uTf53VE6taBoo_8lD4rx6tCqgO_O-HCLcWZVzlnhs8yvAgU3nDMQH5NHrTgils5b4gtX7sO_wuUiV4ibmdbuw9gU6po3A5I0siKvxUXx4E3P11VprWPipwdAULsiDn_UrT1PLqaopDfvm6uSoa5JF846j1f9PzlQGyiRQ/w308-h400/Untitled%20tern%206.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Terns of North America - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america" target="_blank">Princeton Press</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVXHYYb7XsL4A8CRxaHDeZw6Wzf_gvI25-JfHKESpLg2dHvTzyw2sFHKiwf3h8k0gxm_-ZJ8aOVLzabOZtfOf_hiAB-nzgChlRbJg4Qu2kROaF_Qcl6tbeYIQBZwJylRbmf-E6tfGg57ULBWsFDII_2j1ezZgJMuNiNc4rtMhlZXCKCp_fF0KKqA9zDw/s712/Untitled%20tern%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="558" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVXHYYb7XsL4A8CRxaHDeZw6Wzf_gvI25-JfHKESpLg2dHvTzyw2sFHKiwf3h8k0gxm_-ZJ8aOVLzabOZtfOf_hiAB-nzgChlRbJg4Qu2kROaF_Qcl6tbeYIQBZwJylRbmf-E6tfGg57ULBWsFDII_2j1ezZgJMuNiNc4rtMhlZXCKCp_fF0KKqA9zDw/w314-h400/Untitled%20tern%207.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Terns of North America - <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america" target="_blank">Princeton Press</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Within the pages are a small number of photo quizzes that I found quite difficult based upon my limited experience of North American terns, questions that those on the US side of the Atlantic might solve more easily. In any case, the answers and explanations can be found in time honoured fashion in the final pages. There is a very useful bibliography at Pages 198-201 followed by a mercifully short Index. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are 350 high quality illustrations, mostly superb photographs packed into 200 or so pages of Terns of North America, photographs that take tern ID to another level and demonstrate once again how quality bird photography is the future for field guides focused on birds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sheer strength of the book lies in the many sensational photos of terns. Terns at rest, terns in flight, flocks of terns, mixed terns, mottled terns, immaculate terns, grey terns, black terns, carrot billed terns or banana billed terns. They are all in here where bird photography crosses into art and thrills the reader into discovering more about this rather special family of beautiful and elegant birds. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I found myself browsing the many photographs so as to simply enjoy the experience and forgetting to read whole chunks of text. Stand out images included Aleutian Terns at pages 152/153, a Black Tern at 135 followed by a whole set of similar joys and then the fabulous Sandwich Tern in flight that opens the Species Accounts. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I browsed the hundreds of photos it came increasingly obvious just how many had been taken in The Sunshine State of Florida, that Beachy Hotspot of terns and skimmers. I know one or two birders in FL who right now will I suspect be clicking that link to Princeton, itching to get their hands on a copy of Terns of North America. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The book is a great value for money prospect for cash-strapped birders who are often notoriously reluctant to part with their dosh, in this case for a meagre 19 or 20 species that already feature in guides they own. To not invest in this inexpensive book would be a mistake because it is bang-up-to-date in its detailed and simplified approach to sometimes challenging tern ID, whereby to head out onto a tern-crowded beach without might be a recipe to fail. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Go on, treat yourself. At £22 or $27.95 this book is another winner from Princeton. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america " target="_blank">https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161877/terns-of-north-america </a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Price: $27.95/£22.00 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">ISBN: 9780691161877 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published: Oct 24, 2023 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pages: 208
Size: 7.5 x 9.5 in. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">350 colour illus. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back soon with news, views and photos on Another Bird Blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Linking this weekend to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday</a>.Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-62384891771546897002023-10-11T16:16:00.001+01:002023-10-11T17:29:29.526+01:00One Of Each<div style="text-align: justify;">On Tuesday morning Will and I met up to have a go for Linnets and anything else in the offing.
Firstly I stopped off along the A585 main road and checked on the small group of Mute Swans, a couple of Whooper Swans and egrets that have spent a number of days on a single field. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two days before I saw two small, crouching white egrets that upon closer views were Cattle Egrets and not the usual Little Egrets that frequent these fields. There was Little Egret too, picking through the recently cleared crop of maize.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ekNokcvMQEVibKwz_5D82-H9NCum85DCR39F6Zjt9RWcvBBV4PoD-eZVm4TZ94hh4sQdYwWxM4LU1o3ibPLVtmsB2aVXd1Wcf1Y9MjrPaDqEm5kuLMStqKDSAMxgxjWWa4wZ9O-qsyQI93LGnSxaVImtzT7Xgshy9ajT7JmnHZB1sdckIXrZmI-Lf28/s1289/IMG_0156.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="1100" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ekNokcvMQEVibKwz_5D82-H9NCum85DCR39F6Zjt9RWcvBBV4PoD-eZVm4TZ94hh4sQdYwWxM4LU1o3ibPLVtmsB2aVXd1Wcf1Y9MjrPaDqEm5kuLMStqKDSAMxgxjWWa4wZ9O-qsyQI93LGnSxaVImtzT7Xgshy9ajT7JmnHZB1sdckIXrZmI-Lf28/w341-h400/IMG_0156.JPG" width="341" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREttoXLvYufKNMjnkirGBz9Hsg2Xew_t13dt9xauw_uaZqI72eb7lPZCCZPoxhC27E_kmy2qwBrlJepHpnXBmBOe3cRPxyDdJe7-qxo_j7oQ61P8Erjx18GtJckqJtC8V8Geqp-B25cAV1iJrn9lNUx7UUq1iPYxPdianXxhwrl7xO0eTQEg6rOTKtu0/s4654/IMG_0045.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3575" data-original-width="4654" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREttoXLvYufKNMjnkirGBz9Hsg2Xew_t13dt9xauw_uaZqI72eb7lPZCCZPoxhC27E_kmy2qwBrlJepHpnXBmBOe3cRPxyDdJe7-qxo_j7oQ61P8Erjx18GtJckqJtC8V8Geqp-B25cAV1iJrn9lNUx7UUq1iPYxPdianXxhwrl7xO0eTQEg6rOTKtu0/w400-h308/IMG_0045.JPG" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Little Egret</div></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our catching was extremely quiet even though there seemed to be lots of birds on the move in the way of 30+ Skylark, 15+ Pied Wagtail, 30 Greenfinch, 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 8 Redwing, 10 Reed Bunting, 8/10 Tree Sparrow, 12 Chaffinch and a dozen or more Meadow Pipit. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2sZtWIZTrWNfmUDToDRf8Uilt7_ZOfTy_5rHOnCDda3JVjK2LzwGpuylnaKpu0EMIOWJr0UpOzJ-Tb568JjjOdKNNMSHAhZL3oOucdzy1pycrBbEPZyuAtqhCRWPMFroLjxxehWIu2fPNx43L6TdtxhUzrcTDNXojkXkt3RzTcDlZ1YE66nFIUMw2aw/s1409/IMG_0074.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2sZtWIZTrWNfmUDToDRf8Uilt7_ZOfTy_5rHOnCDda3JVjK2LzwGpuylnaKpu0EMIOWJr0UpOzJ-Tb568JjjOdKNNMSHAhZL3oOucdzy1pycrBbEPZyuAtqhCRWPMFroLjxxehWIu2fPNx43L6TdtxhUzrcTDNXojkXkt3RzTcDlZ1YE66nFIUMw2aw/w355-h400/IMG_0074.JPG" width="355" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">So many birds around attracted the usual raptors looking for a meal with single sightings of Merlin, Sparrowhawk and a fine “cream head” Marsh Harrier. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linnets came and went in their usual frustrating fashion, dipping in and out of the target area without staying long enough to be caught. The number of parties noted added up to 150+, therefore a catch of just two proved how difficult it can be to catch Linnets in any numbers when the species is so wary and flighty. Hardly surprising considering the attention their flocks receive from raptors looking for a snack. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Chaffinch and two Linnets was the sum of effort however both Linnets proved to be of the “Scottish” type, our eyes now well trained to pick out them out in a crowd. Look at the example below, a female with a very dark, almost black streaked cap with equally dark grey ear coverts and general dark streaked appearance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVICMGhWOzbbXD_P35BiKg3qgTU9k-VUwVD5nLLxbgiUiS8k0Kw0KTzhjiX_ID2N39Dfz03B5uxn0ifdgdvXlNCIVR4H63EvJVQjabXnuG2Q3TLDqYiLHd5lOgXDXFDjLNqW1NctBsFPfUhgQqnyDHTluBLBrOWTUIcoG-5ah-wiq5T-bSCOQVYrlDoBQ/s1250/IMG_3139.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1250" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVICMGhWOzbbXD_P35BiKg3qgTU9k-VUwVD5nLLxbgiUiS8k0Kw0KTzhjiX_ID2N39Dfz03B5uxn0ifdgdvXlNCIVR4H63EvJVQjabXnuG2Q3TLDqYiLHd5lOgXDXFDjLNqW1NctBsFPfUhgQqnyDHTluBLBrOWTUIcoG-5ah-wiq5T-bSCOQVYrlDoBQ/w400-h255/IMG_3139.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Scottish Linnet</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unexpected came two new Cetti’s Warbler that we were able to age and sex as both birds of the year, one male and one female. With wing and weights of 62mm and 15.3 gms; 56mm and 10.8 gms, the two displayed no overlap, unlike Cetti’s Warblers that remain unsexed in the winter months when biometrics fit into both camps, male or female.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaDZVCEmua-5HKruqUvlP2nP243lIp4Oqa3mHADeNPFz_iEQLUhsh1BeRjMRdKnvga7JFv2y4VrY2amtbNugJ4-VvyYkhnWFj4cxJwz8vdQuV6Jhh4QVIg9EU29MB7H0gb4e9hru_itJlCxJ2SXDGevkLdgBwbsIhEZvTQNHOb7pqaRiri7IivISbsTw/s1250/IMG_3150.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="1250" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaDZVCEmua-5HKruqUvlP2nP243lIp4Oqa3mHADeNPFz_iEQLUhsh1BeRjMRdKnvga7JFv2y4VrY2amtbNugJ4-VvyYkhnWFj4cxJwz8vdQuV6Jhh4QVIg9EU29MB7H0gb4e9hru_itJlCxJ2SXDGevkLdgBwbsIhEZvTQNHOb7pqaRiri7IivISbsTw/w400-h279/IMG_3150.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cetti's Warbler</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cetti’s Warbler first appeared in this area known as the Fylde in the early 1990s at Marton Mere, Blackpool. There then followed a series of sightings of single birds and ones or two through the 1990s and into the new millennium whereby the species became well established but never numerous in a small number of mainly coastal or near coastal wetland localities. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The species remains very difficult, almost impossible to see in the field, often the only clue to its presence the rattling burst of loud song that emanates from a patch of unkempt scrubby growth or reeds adjacent to water. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stay tuned folks for my look at a stunning new bird book sure to appeal to birders, everywhere, here in UK and for sure the United States.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eWbLnq0v57ElLRpTBcYKkjKu4Iqr_-21flf6C-RGME7QbviTmjHXbtaMrk3AsONORkB-qtXZTf1AsK5sW2O_pAkKMO4U5ulGhYkpVyKjGlTMpWI_a8UzZTsGG-wg8HvTNp14fXDlTjLqSe-EO1P1k3dZatuvtgJ6T7t1GER-o737HeH9yqm3o8ZUrxs/s572/Untitled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="452" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eWbLnq0v57ElLRpTBcYKkjKu4Iqr_-21flf6C-RGME7QbviTmjHXbtaMrk3AsONORkB-qtXZTf1AsK5sW2O_pAkKMO4U5ulGhYkpVyKjGlTMpWI_a8UzZTsGG-wg8HvTNp14fXDlTjLqSe-EO1P1k3dZatuvtgJ6T7t1GER-o737HeH9yqm3o8ZUrxs/w316-h400/Untitled.png" width="316" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Terns of North America by Cameron Cox</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have a copy of Terns of North America. A Photographic Guide. Coming soon on Another Bird Blog. This one you will definitely want. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-41294295843521266792023-10-03T11:18:00.003+01:002023-10-07T08:25:34.068+01:00Food For Thought<div style="text-align: justify;">One of these days I will get around to a blog post about Sue & I and our 14 days in sunny Skiathos, our second home.
How we survived the aftermath of horrific storm Daniel and the accompanying floods that almost destroyed yet another Skiathos season. How the stoical, independent-minded, enterprising and hard working Skiathans returned their island to almost normal in less than a week while welcoming travellers to their magical island as if nothing had happened.
How we felt humbled and amazed that in the face of more disasters, their spirit, generosity and welcoming nature never faded a jot. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81T-mpyqnGglg8aNRSj0rZQVpc4ZPvs2QP0DCBZ9MjFaSYaYZw9JLweTO6CFZdnJQgzOShuuGmhuoHs4e0sqDlwssY5N8zgGAMReHT5J3SZjXJTdDtKW5D3N-0oBu0zmd9As-22tafxWs_BB8fnmAsyzlqRcdzVpxexc59TnygDLTGS0nicxkaMlTVpk/s800/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-09-26%20at%2019.20.34_0b38841b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81T-mpyqnGglg8aNRSj0rZQVpc4ZPvs2QP0DCBZ9MjFaSYaYZw9JLweTO6CFZdnJQgzOShuuGmhuoHs4e0sqDlwssY5N8zgGAMReHT5J3SZjXJTdDtKW5D3N-0oBu0zmd9As-22tafxWs_BB8fnmAsyzlqRcdzVpxexc59TnygDLTGS0nicxkaMlTVpk/w300-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-09-26%20at%2019.20.34_0b38841b.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Skiathos. Not My Picture.</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">For now it’s another ringing morning, this time on Monday at 0700 with Will, Andy and Bryan (not forgetting Barney) at our Oakenclough site on the edge of the Pennines above the market town of Garstang. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rather gloomy start did not faze us because over to the north just 12 miles away over Morecambe Bay the sky promised a bright, even slightly sunny morning that would part any clouds and propel birds through to our waiting nets. We were not disappointed when very quickly began an almost constant flow of migrant birds from the north; above and at eye level, heading south and west, hirundines, finches, wagtails, pipits, larks and even geese. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Periods of processing and ringing birds by all four led inevitably to an incomplete and somewhat scratchy estimate of the species moving through and passing overhead – 220 Pink-footed Geese, 200+ Meadow Pipits, 60 + Swallows, 35 Siskins, 50 Chaffinches, 10 Lesser Redpolls, 60 Goldfinches, 15 Skylark, 20 wagtails, 35 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Sparrowhawk. And goodness only knows how many there really were! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiU_DU3zdcFyzlZq9jE6IA6-rGcIFxolY01nIbtHhd8cvIxKFJ7-0zrl2m9vOiuU5iRZlzHQ5-0G1cKng_Iak3CuVDuaxhOhc-TcsA_brClyEtnnju1U9D6OKZpqv2OAeqG3UWLb9Mi_iNFbJ9HrRj9H0WNMnZQJRcFx6MWj5J-BMh_sx_t1s-ia5erg/s4345/IMG_0030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3360" data-original-width="4345" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiU_DU3zdcFyzlZq9jE6IA6-rGcIFxolY01nIbtHhd8cvIxKFJ7-0zrl2m9vOiuU5iRZlzHQ5-0G1cKng_Iak3CuVDuaxhOhc-TcsA_brClyEtnnju1U9D6OKZpqv2OAeqG3UWLb9Mi_iNFbJ9HrRj9H0WNMnZQJRcFx6MWj5J-BMh_sx_t1s-ia5erg/w400-h309/IMG_0030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFojnHTv2S0VGk2TqJu86foLpZM8mAH8REZfAaESufKWpjbV1uZBW6LLUQboXusqSnsX0k46XtHajdueAxj4t21NKERLs4KciPdDpTNviMUguZtBSW51wpEOsf1zANb9138cCu1s59ZZ_1GpcoJDaTC-x60RWD34cMCBoJBqgV7vtt7pOhWvdjDwCdl0/s1450/IMG_9945.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="1450" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFojnHTv2S0VGk2TqJu86foLpZM8mAH8REZfAaESufKWpjbV1uZBW6LLUQboXusqSnsX0k46XtHajdueAxj4t21NKERLs4KciPdDpTNviMUguZtBSW51wpEOsf1zANb9138cCu1s59ZZ_1GpcoJDaTC-x60RWD34cMCBoJBqgV7vtt7pOhWvdjDwCdl0/w400-h290/IMG_9945.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrCyi36fifeTqvkR5Pacybw_ib_wYyiraE02Cb5xY03UkGe-7Q4Lr_A8ncCbSvYEOn93s47vIXw1IDBvp6ReNd_-6-n3N3Df6sIp22W35qdCJ9zmMSdQgbbELWNSfjuvNzPgAlgFqDqnAulEfcCu1hL6-AIpCIY3OPsAWpIo35jhv_nmbPU-wNnAtmiM/s4301/IMG_0029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2742" data-original-width="4301" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrCyi36fifeTqvkR5Pacybw_ib_wYyiraE02Cb5xY03UkGe-7Q4Lr_A8ncCbSvYEOn93s47vIXw1IDBvp6ReNd_-6-n3N3Df6sIp22W35qdCJ9zmMSdQgbbELWNSfjuvNzPgAlgFqDqnAulEfcCu1hL6-AIpCIY3OPsAWpIo35jhv_nmbPU-wNnAtmiM/w400-h255/IMG_0029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile a single Blackbird and no other thrushes felt rather strange amongst the rush and totals of species and numbers on the move - food for thought. In the meantime Redwings, Fieldfares and Northern Blackbirds will be with us very soon on their trajectory to warmer climes. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Birds ringed 0730 to 1130 – 53 of 12 species – 14 Goldfinch, 9 Chaffinch, 6 Meadow Pipit, 6 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Coal Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Robin, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Goldcrest. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaokwVs-FJqsc6-HiKv822wEs-Z9zByJZJE3uxEopXZdLF5tNIj2JDji4CIKzQPsjbKOjheSnx15d6PB4pQa1bGlPVBKhdXqbA6Ynx0v5XWbwgkaiEBUH7lm-ZNReANsFZSypBbR3puY8L7rPayKbk4YN7A-E8aivxxilK8kzLJCwFALnj7tozBdddrJk/s1250/IMG_3112.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1250" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaokwVs-FJqsc6-HiKv822wEs-Z9zByJZJE3uxEopXZdLF5tNIj2JDji4CIKzQPsjbKOjheSnx15d6PB4pQa1bGlPVBKhdXqbA6Ynx0v5XWbwgkaiEBUH7lm-ZNReANsFZSypBbR3puY8L7rPayKbk4YN7A-E8aivxxilK8kzLJCwFALnj7tozBdddrJk/w400-h234/IMG_3112.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bullfinch</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SNFKeRRCvEFCWfqF-CyH3oiuH-RI-EdJqBaQVejyKg48lAvdGh16UtLbbVs83uhTaU_cWzhozrDciO4jA9pe7bibCPwdEWv4g1nNeu90m77dO4eN7xMVCIUR7tBNMfIJLm0eHjyJqjoN_EHwzF6gzbkq-w-gaQgs5w2n9_vZo2FbmCWHDGHZ2SRkEDY/s1250/IMG_3107.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1250" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SNFKeRRCvEFCWfqF-CyH3oiuH-RI-EdJqBaQVejyKg48lAvdGh16UtLbbVs83uhTaU_cWzhozrDciO4jA9pe7bibCPwdEWv4g1nNeu90m77dO4eN7xMVCIUR7tBNMfIJLm0eHjyJqjoN_EHwzF6gzbkq-w-gaQgs5w2n9_vZo2FbmCWHDGHZ2SRkEDY/w400-h181/IMG_3107.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lesser Redpoll - indeterminate sex first autumn</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsB3ZKjaS1mFSy_qtgGmJ4u4qTLr6DlcX6r5B559cuXY09z6gS57OUpPZUbW9YnEDQYJYw3w17yVZ4Bm0VeylzElXffvhgyHs83vqktl63sBas0xHex8WCoBGmONl4NSLPY8iYPdCLBhdzVHkWp3HUzPqAvM4WXIaAfDn5GwMiI1mvMxbGoVcqyHvb9w/s1250/IMG_3108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1250" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsB3ZKjaS1mFSy_qtgGmJ4u4qTLr6DlcX6r5B559cuXY09z6gS57OUpPZUbW9YnEDQYJYw3w17yVZ4Bm0VeylzElXffvhgyHs83vqktl63sBas0xHex8WCoBGmONl4NSLPY8iYPdCLBhdzVHkWp3HUzPqAvM4WXIaAfDn5GwMiI1mvMxbGoVcqyHvb9w/w400-h329/IMG_3108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Treecreeper - first autumn</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6fglu7x1hPXMlkyLbjawP90Jkvei-A8yBJ_8v7mEAFIoMWRo8gMZo2r567ZzYEyGtTV6nLxM4XmnkNisHyGNsgkvRP2WuybEAwidmmxkNN2Mjn4SsVv1TfD5Qrn4NJdVeYv49s95VMMV9kN8ViA_4skcIfGElXvFEIN9Ei0WHZraBH7PTpD91m3uvVM/s1250/IMG_3122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1250" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6fglu7x1hPXMlkyLbjawP90Jkvei-A8yBJ_8v7mEAFIoMWRo8gMZo2r567ZzYEyGtTV6nLxM4XmnkNisHyGNsgkvRP2WuybEAwidmmxkNN2Mjn4SsVv1TfD5Qrn4NJdVeYv49s95VMMV9kN8ViA_4skcIfGElXvFEIN9Ei0WHZraBH7PTpD91m3uvVM/w400-h323/IMG_3122.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit - first autumn</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriD7PZHnd29DRDsEq2IOzdzjMeunnjB3o2ja_IhRn6ZiWRsiKOxV4UlTCmHwriIOYmOElZpN-MDbIs1ntxB9T97HspiLIiLEvO1mURmGhpocIQCUqp_t1EnpLFlbH64OP-6MGEQ866phMkUQ77SHv8HvxJn2O9L6Kc476o8NwRgnc2H42QPIRhEcrrq8/s1250/IMG_3125.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1250" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriD7PZHnd29DRDsEq2IOzdzjMeunnjB3o2ja_IhRn6ZiWRsiKOxV4UlTCmHwriIOYmOElZpN-MDbIs1ntxB9T97HspiLIiLEvO1mURmGhpocIQCUqp_t1EnpLFlbH64OP-6MGEQ866phMkUQ77SHv8HvxJn2O9L6Kc476o8NwRgnc2H42QPIRhEcrrq8/w400-h248/IMG_3125.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Siskin - first autumn male</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVk4Vqm5rWBP_R9_qLPMYSpnYqasuEwxinmJ0S4xEpidei7CtAWcNqwJdNKZi9J667BoeBgvp9BQDGkRJrrd7X3RNzSzKAWAVevpKCn9kk1G0JhKf4LYxSUZ6czHl8MKLhQCQ6Q33O2M6GUQ_DiwanZNCHG_j9K9vVxTv4OqDEjqHRLEEM3TptAA70xw/s1250/IMG_3131.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1250" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVk4Vqm5rWBP_R9_qLPMYSpnYqasuEwxinmJ0S4xEpidei7CtAWcNqwJdNKZi9J667BoeBgvp9BQDGkRJrrd7X3RNzSzKAWAVevpKCn9kk1G0JhKf4LYxSUZ6czHl8MKLhQCQ6Q33O2M6GUQ_DiwanZNCHG_j9K9vVxTv4OqDEjqHRLEEM3TptAA70xw/w400-h297/IMG_3131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit- adult autumn</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa9MuuJGoUn-2bBy-Vs9SGuCu8JafdHEhZnNbenehRwEjvrRp_d8UPuxA5jTXe-5bp8HwyTFV10DuA8BBi1h8gpp3D7qyxlPYoQgZVWTOvsTseQhbRMBBzqLOgVK74XGyASzu7-XzBPLusy02wFHU8V11w0C0TerD7Hl4hHwKa0Cilwy_6T9pblM1g3g/s1250/IMG_3136.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1250" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa9MuuJGoUn-2bBy-Vs9SGuCu8JafdHEhZnNbenehRwEjvrRp_d8UPuxA5jTXe-5bp8HwyTFV10DuA8BBi1h8gpp3D7qyxlPYoQgZVWTOvsTseQhbRMBBzqLOgVK74XGyASzu7-XzBPLusy02wFHU8V11w0C0TerD7Hl4hHwKa0Cilwy_6T9pblM1g3g/w400-h270/IMG_3136.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit - adult autumn</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Food for thought. In between the worry and expense of clearing up after Storm Daniel, and while caring for quests, our hosts Makis and Litsa of Hotel Ostria came to us in the garden one day with a freshly made Cheese Pie. Filo pastry with goat’s cheese filling, the pastry then glazed over with Greek Honey. Home made, simple yet divine. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeTPJaeWTEA2Rh-Qx2RrYejVVuqNG7-rk3slVi8pH6VQjJZRcl8OOzQzGNIlGEPTxTPdvYK_Mi4wN4DVdxAkWdCVskOBjfWJsO0-dguwb7zNTuQMvzQZFZNfCywEQza2l3Zu1-k9qY0DVANSPN7eJJjn6VNJ8K4ptFebDE_YZRm8QjLrFNri3E9IXxfQ/s1315/e16979af-fb23-47c1-b3c9-a6551120b5e5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1315" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeTPJaeWTEA2Rh-Qx2RrYejVVuqNG7-rk3slVi8pH6VQjJZRcl8OOzQzGNIlGEPTxTPdvYK_Mi4wN4DVdxAkWdCVskOBjfWJsO0-dguwb7zNTuQMvzQZFZNfCywEQza2l3Zu1-k9qY0DVANSPN7eJJjn6VNJ8K4ptFebDE_YZRm8QjLrFNri3E9IXxfQ/w400-h365/e16979af-fb23-47c1-b3c9-a6551120b5e5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Skiathos Cheese Pie</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Philoxenia" - φῐλοξενῐ́ᾱ meaning "friend to a stranger” is about much more than a warm welcome; it is a complex moral code with deep roots in Greek culture and Greek daily life. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile in Western Europe and seemingly also in the US, led by media, big business and government there is an epidemic of cultural dementia coupled with a desire to obliterate our history and values. The Greek people don’t fall for such nonsense. and remain true to their beliefs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back soon folks with more tales, news, views and photos on Another Bird Blog. Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking today to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2023/10/saturdays-critters-512.html" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday</a>.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-91486836113321362772023-09-30T16:18:00.002+01:002023-09-30T17:22:06.624+01:00A Kingfisher Plus<div style="text-align: justify;">Just a few days after returning from two weeks in sun-kissed Skiathos I had messages from Andy and Will. Unlike my sunshiny days of Greece they had struggled with gloomy, rainy Lancashire and managed only one or two ringing sessions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Saturday morning we met up out Pilling way to a bright start and 5mph breeze and set the usual nets plus one. The Plus One was to be important. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The morning began slowly and in a rather unexceptional way with half a dozen Long - tailed Tits and singles of the Blue and Great variety. “Things could only improve” we thought in unison. And they did with a final catch of 32 ringed and a couple or more superb sightings. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ringed - 10 Linnet, 5 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 2 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Kingfisher. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We quickly realised that a number of the Linnets coming from the seed plot had characteristics of the Scottish race of Linnet. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have noted in past years that movements of Scottish birds beginning in September include slightly darker plumaged birds and also marginally longer winged individuals, often both characteristics in the same bird. The dark features of Scottish Linnets are very noticeable on the crown, around the ear coverts and on the back, especially so when when compared side to side with the “average” Lancashire individuals we see in the summer months. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcPq7rlHnGzfz47J0Eb-GCXxqSLT_UG0wGQBEjQG22RcsYVzZt7K9fk1aznox7tYe6w9q3wZlg0BBhFslwXO3dZH7kH6PNBq2d6EqCK3NZ_Wjup-BLdGt8xer0HT9iJ88cX-O1CDE3SMbufAkEsiGYWNRkrDIpEuYeRCakHuMpIUERVYEISjkVWXGIys/s1200/IMG_2983.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1200" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcPq7rlHnGzfz47J0Eb-GCXxqSLT_UG0wGQBEjQG22RcsYVzZt7K9fk1aznox7tYe6w9q3wZlg0BBhFslwXO3dZH7kH6PNBq2d6EqCK3NZ_Wjup-BLdGt8xer0HT9iJ88cX-O1CDE3SMbufAkEsiGYWNRkrDIpEuYeRCakHuMpIUERVYEISjkVWXGIys/w400-h354/IMG_2983.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">" English" Linnet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kx2l0LmGeFJt-SpGkZJM3FBCAz5KlHVWjnfC5_fbaKkq4LwTcqumIrQmD5LJAQaqGP3WlLJgbsiT36TtDMfefKVpsXiRmy5-mmmV2DUYScGwXIhthdiBgNxzHwg1-VM9gYZSdlN99v0OTjN83aaD932SP-A8RNkdASnZpoy4_4CrH6xS6rTLYou1jfY/s1250/IMG_3075.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1250" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kx2l0LmGeFJt-SpGkZJM3FBCAz5KlHVWjnfC5_fbaKkq4LwTcqumIrQmD5LJAQaqGP3WlLJgbsiT36TtDMfefKVpsXiRmy5-mmmV2DUYScGwXIhthdiBgNxzHwg1-VM9gYZSdlN99v0OTjN83aaD932SP-A8RNkdASnZpoy4_4CrH6xS6rTLYou1jfY/w400-h260/IMG_3075.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Scottish" Linnet</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A couple of years ago and after discussion with experienced ringers from North of The Border we concluded that there is no Scottish sub-species but that the marked plumage and size variation in Linnets during our Lancashire winters is one of a gradual north to south clinal variation between two populations of Linnets. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our 19 Goldfinch/Linnet/Greenfinch catch came mostly from the seed plot where the concentration of 150 - 200 finches attracted in turn a marauding Hobby and two Sparrowhawks. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZWzNX1-YNFLha9YNi0EPlq4nwGxJ6_BntnUTJWJqQtvOE51krBC8ltXr2bNn2pSMM6AjFBFVgVDU4YZmhEsUMWoqjhSllzVRUPhA4aXmwQvT1p32v6rRnTn5k9_tjd_MhRdHiW2V-3pERrq6una3pEOzrhuL7rlhvAeQ6o-A6aNxREkSiDgEoaMCfEc/s4522/IMG_3094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2826" data-original-width="4522" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZWzNX1-YNFLha9YNi0EPlq4nwGxJ6_BntnUTJWJqQtvOE51krBC8ltXr2bNn2pSMM6AjFBFVgVDU4YZmhEsUMWoqjhSllzVRUPhA4aXmwQvT1p32v6rRnTn5k9_tjd_MhRdHiW2V-3pERrq6una3pEOzrhuL7rlhvAeQ6o-A6aNxREkSiDgEoaMCfEc/w400-h250/IMG_3094.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Greenfinch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpXwTtvvMXqtOYVjsDtqrTZkZykVbaSDk2SWb_hQdive_wfLlGNeMOQMgCSKSSrV4_BquFUTJSFGGpCnL9mpXXDtCGW9CzXvLlClZPw2UiJTH5kdEDvleKK_32nEVu_MxL7L3U_QjJfEiNG2DtFwWVopsUV5WD96UXYWxVFbP6oGpgvBCHcEVbiCqxTk/s1250/IMG_3087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1250" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpXwTtvvMXqtOYVjsDtqrTZkZykVbaSDk2SWb_hQdive_wfLlGNeMOQMgCSKSSrV4_BquFUTJSFGGpCnL9mpXXDtCGW9CzXvLlClZPw2UiJTH5kdEDvleKK_32nEVu_MxL7L3U_QjJfEiNG2DtFwWVopsUV5WD96UXYWxVFbP6oGpgvBCHcEVbiCqxTk/w400-h281/IMG_3087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I travelled off on holiday Andy and Will were under strict instructions to catch the female Kingfisher I had photographed on 7 September. Of course the usual weather tricks put paid to that and other plans but this fine Saturday morning allowed the first opportunity. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Kingfisher obliged in net Plus One but it wasn’t the individual from September 7, a female, but this one a male. It’s the old cautionary story of never assuming that the bird seen one minute is the same individual five minutes later. And we must never assume so where hours, days or weeks are involved. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eXK7PMxBf8jW54EttHKrzz-AFOmHa2UQBgxWO8C3pgNyngmsWdHjOpI1HQMTjt5zpQUJ-0zAAbb0mB5wCl2BvHJlKrpw6-qKC1O91e7nJ_RZKwl5al_eB8h2ogAkKW4zK0hsCDbtvdWmcZiX-_TKhgNj15N_zwhGcM4qUQrUdMnnEGO56qa40-z7b1Y/s1300/IMG_3083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1300" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eXK7PMxBf8jW54EttHKrzz-AFOmHa2UQBgxWO8C3pgNyngmsWdHjOpI1HQMTjt5zpQUJ-0zAAbb0mB5wCl2BvHJlKrpw6-qKC1O91e7nJ_RZKwl5al_eB8h2ogAkKW4zK0hsCDbtvdWmcZiX-_TKhgNj15N_zwhGcM4qUQrUdMnnEGO56qa40-z7b1Y/w400-h235/IMG_3083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher - male</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Qqd6eWUeOGaQy8BUV15l5E_4iyn3Gluw_oxRRAMeJCX2HP3FNS25vmibMFEADAM8FJ1SVsv-Ci0Jx1If53l_YmxWlKL69kguVkq63tPBKSk77ULrjN5aZKr3DhV21W4iWwlMkRtdVgoAkXYSySKmTGqT_8SwgL7Buqz3xyq7Q9Wh-_x6RmguBa1styA/s4290/IMG_9931.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3879" data-original-width="4290" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Qqd6eWUeOGaQy8BUV15l5E_4iyn3Gluw_oxRRAMeJCX2HP3FNS25vmibMFEADAM8FJ1SVsv-Ci0Jx1If53l_YmxWlKL69kguVkq63tPBKSk77ULrjN5aZKr3DhV21W4iWwlMkRtdVgoAkXYSySKmTGqT_8SwgL7Buqz3xyq7Q9Wh-_x6RmguBa1styA/w400-h361/IMG_9931.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher - female</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Other sighting came today via a Marsh Harrier, Cetti’s Warbler, 15 Little Egret, 20 or more Swallows, 50/60 Meadow Pipits, 25+ Skylarks. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back soon with more tales news and photos on Another Bird Blog. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking this weekend to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2023/09/saturdays-critters-511.html">Eileen's Saturday</a>.</div><p> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-4186326306074376672023-09-07T15:26:00.005+01:002023-09-10T18:56:26.660+01:00Wheats About?<div style="text-align: justify;">A wander out Pilling way on Sunday saw activity of mainly egrets, pipits and Linnets along the sea wall. Two identical looking Wheatears caught my eye so I stopped for a closer inspection.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tidal defences here keep Morecambe Bay tides at bay with a high raised earth bank, (a bund) interspersed with sections consisting of large rocks and stones. The rockery is an attraction to migrant birds where crevices and holes out of prevailing winds provide a sanctuary to insects attractive to Wheatears and other insectivores. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over many years I have ringed over seventy Wheatears along Pilling shore, until taking a break in recent years when human and canine disturbance made the job impossible. Having recently found a new private spot, and even in the limited possibilities of September when their numbers decline, the desire to catch Wheatears resurfaced with the appearance of these two Wheatears. I suspect the two were siblings so closely did they resemble each other and to follow in each other’s movements. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Luckily mealworms were at hand together with a couple of spring traps that caught one bird quite easily as the other scooted into the distance upon seeing its companion compromised inside a tent of netting. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kS_sfgB-gljbpTktFgXuOcago8xdLkRKjfTzqGY45EaF3uJOAKN6_JAJHqieFhHkToBSlzG9mTasYNu1ULDzJlueB7zhCgakOm6fdnVWgbBH2eFGlhPnt9x9bGY3fvR5Lbfrx3NJoB6U7_-FsMOyYVE9hauyNvQEeAaFgPmOD_Bl3lI9nNtWCNZEZVA/s1500/IMG_9909.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="1500" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kS_sfgB-gljbpTktFgXuOcago8xdLkRKjfTzqGY45EaF3uJOAKN6_JAJHqieFhHkToBSlzG9mTasYNu1ULDzJlueB7zhCgakOm6fdnVWgbBH2eFGlhPnt9x9bGY3fvR5Lbfrx3NJoB6U7_-FsMOyYVE9hauyNvQEeAaFgPmOD_Bl3lI9nNtWCNZEZVA/w400-h398/IMG_9909.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3K-fFI-Nlwdlevqmpb9fqcgz7z-1j2lktnF_-41yJbFNO6dycA4Jrzyy-UmNOMyRBnbEh8dKT8vkOLBJQ3f-XTQeqVie-_UuzN5WFBH_BWozZEHnwASqBT9cKwx-P08APMicKtRm3vxCxL2nXI2lVZ3CKKvhwMypqtpX98y5Uh8ro5xGRWChX5tEQgQ/s3681/IMG_9901.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3681" data-original-width="3302" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3K-fFI-Nlwdlevqmpb9fqcgz7z-1j2lktnF_-41yJbFNO6dycA4Jrzyy-UmNOMyRBnbEh8dKT8vkOLBJQ3f-XTQeqVie-_UuzN5WFBH_BWozZEHnwASqBT9cKwx-P08APMicKtRm3vxCxL2nXI2lVZ3CKKvhwMypqtpX98y5Uh8ro5xGRWChX5tEQgQ/w359-h400/IMG_9901.JPG" width="359" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eoCQjPZ3p3wLQh6DlL4uHf3gl2AUXo-8iYzIsZMPyJ0Y4i3_ScRRFkE1DBnfJw_OWqGd-fxP2RDdyvrttQHxnDCk_C3C_iALaVvs1a3DS4N7XW477z5Msg8OK5KC_7XDfCEz3GZXX51vXmo1r-rIUPPSkqyr3uYs-5M1U2NDsphd5tFaBNGGftYCHs0/s1500/IMG_3020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1500" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eoCQjPZ3p3wLQh6DlL4uHf3gl2AUXo-8iYzIsZMPyJ0Y4i3_ScRRFkE1DBnfJw_OWqGd-fxP2RDdyvrttQHxnDCk_C3C_iALaVvs1a3DS4N7XW477z5Msg8OK5KC_7XDfCEz3GZXX51vXmo1r-rIUPPSkqyr3uYs-5M1U2NDsphd5tFaBNGGftYCHs0/w400-h272/IMG_3020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx8veexxpNbVNkBJ8_nRuTbCzRLx69sYHEE0LqSmQD3qbH4hK-k5bnKYUlX7NDxGkM2kX4fpGUaLStGAzxYfRekkKUYxrsAvHZVEvM2lEj0Yr02tDUqDOE5Duupszzo2T1wXXdPs048toImTrAUMDRDyYjp9xNQBAthhXbVMAtRDdAmTodxS2R_juqho/s1500/IMG_3028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1500" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx8veexxpNbVNkBJ8_nRuTbCzRLx69sYHEE0LqSmQD3qbH4hK-k5bnKYUlX7NDxGkM2kX4fpGUaLStGAzxYfRekkKUYxrsAvHZVEvM2lEj0Yr02tDUqDOE5Duupszzo2T1wXXdPs048toImTrAUMDRDyYjp9xNQBAthhXbVMAtRDdAmTodxS2R_juqho/w400-h264/IMG_3028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a few days off I met up with Will and Andy on Thursday at 0630 for a go at the Linnets and anything else linked to the month of September. Thirteen birds caught/ringed - 6 Linnet, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Robin. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have to remind ourselves that male Linnets are normally a touch larger than females but this is never the decider between male or female. The most reliable method is the amount of white on the outer web of the primary wing feathers numbers 7 to 9. A gap of less than 5mm from the white feather to the centre shaft tells us the bird is a male, more than 5mm a female. In other words, males have more white in the wing, a feature that is sometimes discernible with Linnets in flight, more easily picked out ina large flock rather than isolated birds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Very often autumn males show brown/rufous rounded markings on the breast, unlike a female which is more streaked. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WPshcdvIYjBqJS32vW6zbRmVkX5jCAHRcSon5MIiAns-JvGZ2ZrHV97fgVZRIr7hmGA2N3ZFVzGNa6N5n8VnBgJlOp3kqW5Wa-p7tbSUhEX_SXWSR9DddfDuGLNOYPbckGtPCJrbu-M0obA-CWxQHUiZlpWOlJmOcxFxuZsGUs9KOTQzxoa7VK9YmOM/s1250/IMG_3047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1250" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WPshcdvIYjBqJS32vW6zbRmVkX5jCAHRcSon5MIiAns-JvGZ2ZrHV97fgVZRIr7hmGA2N3ZFVzGNa6N5n8VnBgJlOp3kqW5Wa-p7tbSUhEX_SXWSR9DddfDuGLNOYPbckGtPCJrbu-M0obA-CWxQHUiZlpWOlJmOcxFxuZsGUs9KOTQzxoa7VK9YmOM/w400-h268/IMG_3047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet male September</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIYfjhjrXsCMDkc5pdrNVMAbJ-hzIkJZ_FFxFK14vnPCAFT3gizLxGHELRnavdc7CVPHI-SfKFUIbMcvcdRwFmRHF1bm0qN8WSfraXy5Wt1QijAwBO-QrSphaFzHBsceIWja0nUbAbmM9IePxtfLg0bRKGGK7x9leVG6pGK5uyXOVr7hkCrQpjVdKW_s/s1200/IMG_3063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1200" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIYfjhjrXsCMDkc5pdrNVMAbJ-hzIkJZ_FFxFK14vnPCAFT3gizLxGHELRnavdc7CVPHI-SfKFUIbMcvcdRwFmRHF1bm0qN8WSfraXy5Wt1QijAwBO-QrSphaFzHBsceIWja0nUbAbmM9IePxtfLg0bRKGGK7x9leVG6pGK5uyXOVr7hkCrQpjVdKW_s/w400-h253/IMG_3063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet female September</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUooKWrVf6EM8-wYmeQDRG-9DChc3UUCp52ru84VgijE2AaYzS9_-CBk1RcnkhvyxbXmJxz0_o-3AAH3HU74K9EqSpMMbg2JXi_qHo6XOrgLoFWiLL9NtUIzd6ejlayPDud10Yxu2jqj5pVlIGWNhktNypusNfgaq2iPv3ya3dLWh0Xlu3Pynv2j3y1tU/s1200/IMG_3046.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1200" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUooKWrVf6EM8-wYmeQDRG-9DChc3UUCp52ru84VgijE2AaYzS9_-CBk1RcnkhvyxbXmJxz0_o-3AAH3HU74K9EqSpMMbg2JXi_qHo6XOrgLoFWiLL9NtUIzd6ejlayPDud10Yxu2jqj5pVlIGWNhktNypusNfgaq2iPv3ya3dLWh0Xlu3Pynv2j3y1tU/w400-h313/IMG_3046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet male September</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ-48CSD_rnhSlispejlKP08lQ8Fe6D6IAnBB2XY3O2yRqtpl6Ac3uoRIwDDojziTT2cKAb_JSsyrisfML8X7S6ht5l9bBt9yPsrbgdRy5GH1QPUocH3-vwO13mpL8X-OzQWLQ2KKsc4Acacw5hYAsamC9pXzoU6kfsH_p-GI4fEY-8CFaf6Qd_ILVCU/s1200/IMG_2983%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1200" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ-48CSD_rnhSlispejlKP08lQ8Fe6D6IAnBB2XY3O2yRqtpl6Ac3uoRIwDDojziTT2cKAb_JSsyrisfML8X7S6ht5l9bBt9yPsrbgdRy5GH1QPUocH3-vwO13mpL8X-OzQWLQ2KKsc4Acacw5hYAsamC9pXzoU6kfsH_p-GI4fEY-8CFaf6Qd_ILVCU/w400-h354/IMG_2983%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet female September</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is not surprising that about 80/90 % of autumn Meadow Pipits we catch are first summer/juveniles as the species is able to raise two broods of youngsters in a normal summer. The juvenile below is already part way through its post-juvenile moult. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFVJS8PecY9oDswjv0FtZO0-NMON8TYhJVmmA_Ig9xdX8Pgp0wBIH-ZQPUa6ECXFqQVAhNRVIYkA_O_ucvDNd_pAGdQm7TAj08hTaX5cxvVSKgcXah2QW2DnRd_NJ2isNnCOiBy3aMjDyzlyv83XWSrysy_Vo0ro1YX1JWkDHcx-6FklbGGJojjmzVls/s1200/IMG_3068.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1200" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFVJS8PecY9oDswjv0FtZO0-NMON8TYhJVmmA_Ig9xdX8Pgp0wBIH-ZQPUa6ECXFqQVAhNRVIYkA_O_ucvDNd_pAGdQm7TAj08hTaX5cxvVSKgcXah2QW2DnRd_NJ2isNnCOiBy3aMjDyzlyv83XWSrysy_Vo0ro1YX1JWkDHcx-6FklbGGJojjmzVls/w400-h231/IMG_3068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Other birds seen and not caught - 50+ Linnet, 50+ Meadow Pipit, 8/10 Tree Sparrow, 2 Blackbird, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine overhead.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJ7X21m9MDNTpefZE39hwjjbW57OGq1tdzvINCK367vvgV8gWyiUHPcRlbFWa8QThIKqpjHBkD90an9pNqbZHYDW5HuYRVtW6Jovl0tzOTHIxfILmyfz-oT-YH0Lb-PjmUIyo2UmIkG6tH4GND9fw15uNX-C6kMTL3N8fGC-ebTQPxl937SMfJ53Zw0U/s1500/IMG_9914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1500" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJ7X21m9MDNTpefZE39hwjjbW57OGq1tdzvINCK367vvgV8gWyiUHPcRlbFWa8QThIKqpjHBkD90an9pNqbZHYDW5HuYRVtW6Jovl0tzOTHIxfILmyfz-oT-YH0Lb-PjmUIyo2UmIkG6tH4GND9fw15uNX-C6kMTL3N8fGC-ebTQPxl937SMfJ53Zw0U/w400-h314/IMG_9914.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fifteen Pink-footed Geese arrived from the north and landed on the salt marsh. The first of the Autumn.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Log in again soon everyone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There’s always news, views and pictures of The Real World on Another Bird Blog. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking this weekend to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2023/09/saturdays-critters-508.html" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-61088449435998641372023-09-02T14:55:00.002+01:002023-09-02T19:51:53.772+01:00A Boiling Kettle <div style="text-align: justify;">Saturday 2 September with the full team out at Pilling, Will, Andy and Yours Truly. Better still, and after another breezy week, the wind had dropped and the sun shone bright for our 0630 start. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the week I dropped additional seed and windfall apples into the varied seed plot where I thought the natural is not quite ready. A flock of more than 70 Goldfinch testified that their favourite sunflower seed needs more time but that they are well prepared by warming up on the lesser stuff. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHH0ciZgKup-Nay_upOB2Gm26047y_wqJxQgjrEafx39TMg4SDTRYkWZrhm5Gd_x9p_pfm0nO-Kdados9KhaOmme9IlgMpxPUt-3R3Skxab_GYHco_95-mkorM3JqsZHDoEkFzMlzooD6f9VUjxOz0iL_I6TKNQL67G7u6XrqoKI9RSJbj-6fK5zaAOo/s784/IMG_1081.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHH0ciZgKup-Nay_upOB2Gm26047y_wqJxQgjrEafx39TMg4SDTRYkWZrhm5Gd_x9p_pfm0nO-Kdados9KhaOmme9IlgMpxPUt-3R3Skxab_GYHco_95-mkorM3JqsZHDoEkFzMlzooD6f9VUjxOz0iL_I6TKNQL67G7u6XrqoKI9RSJbj-6fK5zaAOo/w396-h400/IMG_1081.JPG" width="396" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Along the sea wall were eight Little Egrets, two Grey Heron, a couple of Pied Wagtails, a single Kestrel and 2 Wheatears. The chats avoided the steady north westerly wind and found hiding insects by ducking in and out of the sea defences.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35LBp0eL6onX0OuGFAI8hGsG_NwC5Yu2mNSHIvUCXALzOoT0l9XfJM538moOvo3XfYx0dr6d1s4GKpWmlbQ5PRheSy_eVLmLSammrPgE0QVrajXd6Dk8elPsvEGixsxW64raCxCgqdK98oucdRkrSNHja80AoudxVauaCRqwsdKyvRfwc4JWbHnf5PUA/s1500/IMG_9813.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1500" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35LBp0eL6onX0OuGFAI8hGsG_NwC5Yu2mNSHIvUCXALzOoT0l9XfJM538moOvo3XfYx0dr6d1s4GKpWmlbQ5PRheSy_eVLmLSammrPgE0QVrajXd6Dk8elPsvEGixsxW64raCxCgqdK98oucdRkrSNHja80AoudxVauaCRqwsdKyvRfwc4JWbHnf5PUA/w400-h271/IMG_9813.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodefi4RFc9WyRmy3A5BnMmHSbrYApWY83u0OffczZG5184Cfp9DYRdhZFHzq_Yz2YBBefoBoq63VZ_WIUFTKtJzuuCNw-cnBRo4wedRy3oEuEOAuOsf6yLfH5a0_1_VFFzRtXnkWrLLzwMNujsMp25dKG0li5x3wAtg6jpOH0WTbjdWONFJvW0_-acyA/s2522/IMG_9837.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2512" data-original-width="2522" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodefi4RFc9WyRmy3A5BnMmHSbrYApWY83u0OffczZG5184Cfp9DYRdhZFHzq_Yz2YBBefoBoq63VZ_WIUFTKtJzuuCNw-cnBRo4wedRy3oEuEOAuOsf6yLfH5a0_1_VFFzRtXnkWrLLzwMNujsMp25dKG0li5x3wAtg6jpOH0WTbjdWONFJvW0_-acyA/w400-h399/IMG_9837.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Saturday session came with a small mixed bag, one that once again lacked both numbers and the warbler species that are simply not around this autumn. The Experts have no evidence as yet but there is a real possibility that avian flu virus has passed in some degree to passerines via the known and now well documented death toll upon many sea bird species during 2022 and 2023. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our catch of 14 birds comprised 3 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Wren, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird and 1 Sedge Warbler. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WRZqhQAIH2ciTUgj0CrVmSpwLMOLyKALsd5n-cbLJGeOcEgVOevmkOHbOxAjyKcW2HB7Wtm6ymht9LmfQctItCjwmxLEBXBap-E7wVBABYBAfr77Zx4XRw-8ihtP_2PRHLOJaGcF5xK65yBAPi75BhX29u43c65GN_3bvY_w2-jFKBgA6iMlm1EQK-A/s1250/IMG_2985.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1250" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WRZqhQAIH2ciTUgj0CrVmSpwLMOLyKALsd5n-cbLJGeOcEgVOevmkOHbOxAjyKcW2HB7Wtm6ymht9LmfQctItCjwmxLEBXBap-E7wVBABYBAfr77Zx4XRw-8ihtP_2PRHLOJaGcF5xK65yBAPi75BhX29u43c65GN_3bvY_w2-jFKBgA6iMlm1EQK-A/w400-h264/IMG_2985.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Goldcrest</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUaRuuIpPpUllfSq77zpTqUQK5flgEX4pTLx6F_EySUXSMVQ62R6qY2s4FRuPAxmWBuEsqa8pmA24__n7zz5SOPfIA0T22iFzpUccEP_nvk4VI9KuotBjJWVI79BeIykDDcOi2zlapOdvjos04BquozI_N2Ala-CmXJnViKx-e7b52jpkD2O-bnmJatA/s1250/IMG_2992.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="1250" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUaRuuIpPpUllfSq77zpTqUQK5flgEX4pTLx6F_EySUXSMVQ62R6qY2s4FRuPAxmWBuEsqa8pmA24__n7zz5SOPfIA0T22iFzpUccEP_nvk4VI9KuotBjJWVI79BeIykDDcOi2zlapOdvjos04BquozI_N2Ala-CmXJnViKx-e7b52jpkD2O-bnmJatA/w400-h211/IMG_2992.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sedge Warbler</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ne2BYJ7Q0K8bW1JGk2W2NY-s0B7ufodsz75wCJqmQueUdFZF7m69I36SLccerNnYQup8dPJkcvWnSzdAQA2FrZWA_5UyeduYqUbMbqb47i-_fb0QJzJ2EmVA7I5jDirU9IifC638yvDbs9I3daeoegDhBeVzm858hrSjZzYI3yPJX6QHU3XE2D2a_0Q/s1250/IMG_2999.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1250" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ne2BYJ7Q0K8bW1JGk2W2NY-s0B7ufodsz75wCJqmQueUdFZF7m69I36SLccerNnYQup8dPJkcvWnSzdAQA2FrZWA_5UyeduYqUbMbqb47i-_fb0QJzJ2EmVA7I5jDirU9IifC638yvDbs9I3daeoegDhBeVzm858hrSjZzYI3yPJX6QHU3XE2D2a_0Q/w400-h315/IMG_2999.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWA_PuFj31fmO2vBtPYBeA9OqruFvAjLmG2jozgXh7wNpEUFiQdwPYxZtEz2aAgpkxfEnQqARHNioXwKaRK0ufA8qlzuhMJZ3bEtlsRKK84kcVhBpkVa8vaaF0ks3T2WOyCtVwF8wzp4YPkubgB1RrRtV_kNHacEr6XVi2JpO8KOZ63VaBSk-kEsgZlA/s1250/IMG_3019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1250" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWA_PuFj31fmO2vBtPYBeA9OqruFvAjLmG2jozgXh7wNpEUFiQdwPYxZtEz2aAgpkxfEnQqARHNioXwKaRK0ufA8qlzuhMJZ3bEtlsRKK84kcVhBpkVa8vaaF0ks3T2WOyCtVwF8wzp4YPkubgB1RrRtV_kNHacEr6XVi2JpO8KOZ63VaBSk-kEsgZlA/w400-h233/IMG_3019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the morning we saw 20 or more Swallows on the move south but little else obvious in the clear blue sky save for a couple of Meadow Pipits plus a number of finches we didn’t catch. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we packed up the ringing gear about 1100 hours Richard, Eyes-Like-The-Proverbial, drew our attention to a number of Buzzards at great height and slowly moving west. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In all we counted sixteen, yes 16 Buzzards taking advantage of thermals of the warm morning by “kettling” together, swirling and spiralling like objects being stirred or boiled in a pot. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Such a large number of Buzzards together represents an autumnal dispersal of sorts.
Some Buzzards, probably younger and less experienced individuals, move south and west from their northern strongholds into more favourable areas for the winter before returning north in the early part of the following year. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC_eAJs5E6GW2umT0xhSm02M-lXkzyH7oqrlcEyl94gwGF-YkosyWr6Ro-qUzka-DK88MvFieSXSHnap4elKT_vQAXn6ORsl3Ny6zvjICaoZUA0lGO5zpwuFY58sQqC99iKtKO6LQPb64isGxvK6rkTlozJyFKKUyxLJ2gkaMYVuUZLZ33eUawyZ5jMg/s836/IMG_9979.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="652" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC_eAJs5E6GW2umT0xhSm02M-lXkzyH7oqrlcEyl94gwGF-YkosyWr6Ro-qUzka-DK88MvFieSXSHnap4elKT_vQAXn6ORsl3Ny6zvjICaoZUA0lGO5zpwuFY58sQqC99iKtKO6LQPb64isGxvK6rkTlozJyFKKUyxLJ2gkaMYVuUZLZ33eUawyZ5jMg/w313-h400/IMG_9979.JPG" width="313" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Buzzard</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few minutes later a Marsh Harrier flew west, spotted by six Ravens who drew noisy attention to the large predator in their midst. It was a good morning for raptors and where we had seen both Kestrel and two Sparrowhawks during our ringing session. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking today to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2023/09/saturdays-critters-507.html" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday</a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-18440127477968048602023-08-26T12:06:00.001+01:002023-08-26T12:06:55.912+01:00Wednesday Through Saturday<div style="text-align: justify;">The forecast for Wednesday was looking like the best and only day for a spot of ringing. I met up with Will over Pilling way to a touch of westerly a breeze, a little cloud and a single jacket for the early cool. How the year has flown when the 0630 start seemed like half way through the day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We set a few nets in the usual ride and decided to have go in this year’s seed plot where some preparatory work in the last few weeks established an area that should catch a variety of finches and buntings, maybe even a warbler or two. This year’s plot is somewhat different since the farm’s on-the-ball owners enhanced the normal mix with a bird food concoction that’s grown like crazy in 2023’s ideal growing season. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyGsNlD0-AreDYKq0uuPtjDM6ppTHtqryU7t8x96Mxugn-4cXxyeiatcvtmnryhAZc8rhundbL0LKUV2S3wD7snpqUax7O1LTjERY3zyeXXsJ2-7fUAdbEHhuUX5ItIdW0FX_E0OzH2W60xlMzSrcQmYV0LmKERFB1b9XaHGQa379BgZFnVIjgwgE8EU/s1500/_DSC3286.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyGsNlD0-AreDYKq0uuPtjDM6ppTHtqryU7t8x96Mxugn-4cXxyeiatcvtmnryhAZc8rhundbL0LKUV2S3wD7snpqUax7O1LTjERY3zyeXXsJ2-7fUAdbEHhuUX5ItIdW0FX_E0OzH2W60xlMzSrcQmYV0LmKERFB1b9XaHGQa379BgZFnVIjgwgE8EU/w400-h213/_DSC3286.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunflowers</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Things looked good when small groups of Linnets began to arrive, some settling in a nearby hedgerow and others taking a peek at the seed plot without staying around. The seed plot caught a couple of Reed Buntings but none of the 50 and more Linnets that flew around and over without finding the single panel mist net in the middle of the plot of ground. We agreed, it’s early doors and the net ride will need a little widening together with some introduced bird seed until the sunflowers and the others produce seed in a few weeks time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcHwoB9rxkwZXigeIgGYENxVrwBNYayKS0LVa727jJZVrlKdjAaCZa6OnD-y9YJ2-bULhv9050QFw0H_r6iTM8y3WxoMBO4AEQYgcF10hBY35ja2VwYA7QbBIl77IQiwzADT_LDWeTgnyFBWeiAyRIEekkLLb_NNs9JwxPkR1hjJFuCgHaiZJ4J0LS6c/s1250/IMG_2957.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1250" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcHwoB9rxkwZXigeIgGYENxVrwBNYayKS0LVa727jJZVrlKdjAaCZa6OnD-y9YJ2-bULhv9050QFw0H_r6iTM8y3WxoMBO4AEQYgcF10hBY35ja2VwYA7QbBIl77IQiwzADT_LDWeTgnyFBWeiAyRIEekkLLb_NNs9JwxPkR1hjJFuCgHaiZJ4J0LS6c/w400-h217/IMG_2957.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6KxxwSq1oz1Lk0GZVngh_egfU-1PzBWfuzA-xDI-4S0yp_WH5SntbQz7T7Fu0ANWukrp-rkcksVFye4kpzAiTBom-jg2-HIuySOWR9dOnGPDKWwaer3jUc3IkCS_4xebeKPBcMDWMpOuP2RdiZwpTTZLy6E3ozgkpjM4BSnuUIHQi7HMMIL8qZTXVPk/s1250/IMG_2958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1250" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6KxxwSq1oz1Lk0GZVngh_egfU-1PzBWfuzA-xDI-4S0yp_WH5SntbQz7T7Fu0ANWukrp-rkcksVFye4kpzAiTBom-jg2-HIuySOWR9dOnGPDKWwaer3jUc3IkCS_4xebeKPBcMDWMpOuP2RdiZwpTTZLy6E3ozgkpjM4BSnuUIHQi7HMMIL8qZTXVPk/w400-h266/IMG_2958.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Great Tit</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMUd3v9dnEerqRH8OsaVWOwuhGkASKfzKYpALmAgdsK4OKGrHGfpaCSJ7AOnlG3IX-c637y3VKpMqRozkfRcgj46dJ33V7z63VI51Pw3YZCZ399APdvTjEOqU_scqG6ZYqtgKrqgcfYek0zk3P_vyv-stvKolTQZXgyMTaPWMTxFmhkL_IXuQyg4rqyU/s1250/_MG_4379.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1250" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMUd3v9dnEerqRH8OsaVWOwuhGkASKfzKYpALmAgdsK4OKGrHGfpaCSJ7AOnlG3IX-c637y3VKpMqRozkfRcgj46dJ33V7z63VI51Pw3YZCZ399APdvTjEOqU_scqG6ZYqtgKrqgcfYek0zk3P_vyv-stvKolTQZXgyMTaPWMTxFmhkL_IXuQyg4rqyU/w400-h324/_MG_4379.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnets</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The congregation of Linnets has already captured the attention of a Sparrowhawk with a determined female flying through and over the seed plot on three or four occasions in trying to flush out and then capture a Linnet sometimes with the not commonly seen slow flapping flight so reminiscent of a harrier species</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgf6w786uwHByMXHBUATa-BICf2MYpA810Zt-kSZ_SzHPD3J0gaxP8zN84YCbSQGfSPHJXuGO80fY2epUSLmBSnH692iKGp48J2wwCsKwooklw39RiUMj_NQHXIWXIQ4_ms1IMRr8Joq4Pbk98VwYN30Ui24JmFMqhG6HCNi_WoJM3Gte9-Yv03ylveI/s1125/pexels-photo-5732150%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1125" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgf6w786uwHByMXHBUATa-BICf2MYpA810Zt-kSZ_SzHPD3J0gaxP8zN84YCbSQGfSPHJXuGO80fY2epUSLmBSnH692iKGp48J2wwCsKwooklw39RiUMj_NQHXIWXIQ4_ms1IMRr8Joq4Pbk98VwYN30Ui24JmFMqhG6HCNi_WoJM3Gte9-Yv03ylveI/w400-h266/pexels-photo-5732150%20(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sparrowhawk</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In other nets we caught two Reed Warblers, a Great Tit and a Wren.
The six birds symbolise the fruitless year of 2023 when our summer migrants may have had a poor year, something highlighted by other fieldworkers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If certain migrant species have had a poor year, that will feed through into the data collected by all BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey volunteers and bird ringers plus others contributing to core schemes,.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Do we give up and have lie ins during unproductive times? No. In fact come Saturday morning we met up again at 0630 to have another go after Will spent Friday evening with his strimming device tidying the seed plot ride.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another 7 birds ringed was nothing to shout home about - 1 Robin, 2 Blackbird, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Wren and 1 Linnet. The single Linnet opened the autumn account for Linnets whereby our target for Linnet at the year end is 100 individuals. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNw8KF7kUm6b64MqXEcY4bSt_24i_SjH_sqrOA6mJ6YFIH7MFBjuQJlX3AkOqPG9AszUElD67NGMD-TNxPyMYDmNgzNkTlTzAmKoIroPuiBf2hIMWeh-niEQj02lkvDiD1ZKYEtn4d0vb8ZOSq8X7o1aAKdQRfuG9QnhN3p0YeReht7eS-oBa8WiBx5Q/s1200/IMG_2979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1200" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNw8KF7kUm6b64MqXEcY4bSt_24i_SjH_sqrOA6mJ6YFIH7MFBjuQJlX3AkOqPG9AszUElD67NGMD-TNxPyMYDmNgzNkTlTzAmKoIroPuiBf2hIMWeh-niEQj02lkvDiD1ZKYEtn4d0vb8ZOSq8X7o1aAKdQRfuG9QnhN3p0YeReht7eS-oBa8WiBx5Q/w400-h260/IMG_2979.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_sA8ftKLH8pZyi55aFuzVewDF_Qqiwkse8f6jFTWJ92Mj6Yz7dMnthEK4JAYRPaXuKfGDRR2qGfnXviZwFAqyKA1O1PapXDGAEFuWXu06VLJd6kaU8p_oEl7H0tPWnMlp8abrS7TxiMXClfzmPRko9yhtTQ8yWIMfdp29DjSKChTP_iImihUf_1wVOQ/s1200/IMG_2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1200" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_sA8ftKLH8pZyi55aFuzVewDF_Qqiwkse8f6jFTWJ92Mj6Yz7dMnthEK4JAYRPaXuKfGDRR2qGfnXviZwFAqyKA1O1PapXDGAEFuWXu06VLJd6kaU8p_oEl7H0tPWnMlp8abrS7TxiMXClfzmPRko9yhtTQ8yWIMfdp29DjSKChTP_iImihUf_1wVOQ/w400-h354/IMG_2983.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Other birds seen on Saturday - 18 Tree Sparrow, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 25 Swallows and 4 House Martins flying south. 2 Snipe.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrO173bAdj7ssw3BIXR3pqNmMD_gOtgigmoaVtjDZcbkR801M4oBNS9NsBJeyJMqyLJPGiJHBm2S5D0FzkEfA7T0cqiAYSQsHpVCaujgR7f_KVniMkxoNoggWZtMnQ4Zita4A2d8ner57A2NAgr0GHacoMGvIWIenFqEZdzYitwDdU3b4XZeP_uVom9E/s2300/IMG_9803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2300" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrO173bAdj7ssw3BIXR3pqNmMD_gOtgigmoaVtjDZcbkR801M4oBNS9NsBJeyJMqyLJPGiJHBm2S5D0FzkEfA7T0cqiAYSQsHpVCaujgR7f_KVniMkxoNoggWZtMnQ4Zita4A2d8ner57A2NAgr0GHacoMGvIWIenFqEZdzYitwDdU3b4XZeP_uVom9E/w400-h336/IMG_9803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Snipe</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Come Back soon for more news and views on Another Bird Blog.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Linking today to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday.</a></div><p style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-68046818993532881632023-08-16T16:48:00.002+01:002023-08-19T08:30:25.532+01:00Another Hobby<div style="text-align: justify;">Tuesday 16 August. The forecast looked spot on for Wednesday morning so on Tuesday afternoon I drove out to Pilling way to check everything was in place for a ringing session the following morning.
I saw five Common Snipe on the mucky pools and where wagtails usually outnumber waders but not on this occasion. Perhaps the time of day was not ideal for wagtails but I was confident there would be both Meadow Pipits and wagtails the next morning. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVfLZ-J8luYptcq4VQx7wj6BFQGNmuAKqvpmKyfSnYdQg24fLIsnit4GQujyqctPsRHrfIosFuxoZIk7-yniukGAbzTs_1m7jV9CIgdXLIwStgBFoNU8qQEBi5fOnYyMiV7-TIkTYlV5AfHSeR3zdlxFiVqFStdLjtn4XmZrNhijulyIaLrx_jQR6DgY/s800/IMG_2184.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="800" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVfLZ-J8luYptcq4VQx7wj6BFQGNmuAKqvpmKyfSnYdQg24fLIsnit4GQujyqctPsRHrfIosFuxoZIk7-yniukGAbzTs_1m7jV9CIgdXLIwStgBFoNU8qQEBi5fOnYyMiV7-TIkTYlV5AfHSeR3zdlxFiVqFStdLjtn4XmZrNhijulyIaLrx_jQR6DgY/w400-h321/IMG_2184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Snipe</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZWikEi4S2bisVNQNz84IJsnyD7bzMYSX3elWnxcfFEXvH2X_xogJM2V0VF9n1QyVR3zGqZjs7th5TI-Vb62YzCvt9Up_QK8KNpAfcyMv2d0rYos6UR8mpYVdL4AOsmGAz4dbraLLIhjfYZ-CGqxR-3ZoYdD00u-hBBD41DxKzWpU8d7yidmrVaKohE0/s1200/IMG_9674.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1200" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZWikEi4S2bisVNQNz84IJsnyD7bzMYSX3elWnxcfFEXvH2X_xogJM2V0VF9n1QyVR3zGqZjs7th5TI-Vb62YzCvt9Up_QK8KNpAfcyMv2d0rYos6UR8mpYVdL4AOsmGAz4dbraLLIhjfYZ-CGqxR-3ZoYdD00u-hBBD41DxKzWpU8d7yidmrVaKohE0/w400-h250/IMG_9674.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I drove off site I spotted the slow, lazy flight of a Marsh Harrier, quartering the ground like a Barn Owl, floating above the grassy fields and reedy ditches on long, V-shaped wings, looking and listening for movement below. The harrier was heading my way, but then veered off and I lost it as it headed north west. Not to worry, there was a good chance the same or another one would be around on Wednesday morning. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa9Uf4LLQlmNnRCEkd5Bjbs-cSz-txOlikWU7hTtP3VjcpzNrLmbXgBywbCMgiZICJ3QNqOqZwu90ntwDLddXTj_CYRug5dfRnve7ojxOtgJfOWdwrsbcNokoHgca6oYWDG_4468PgDFFyJIVrdn2oeFfld8vB58Gu0KtHImniPP2lcWMh-KaVFZXxQA/s1300/IMG_0724.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1300" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa9Uf4LLQlmNnRCEkd5Bjbs-cSz-txOlikWU7hTtP3VjcpzNrLmbXgBywbCMgiZICJ3QNqOqZwu90ntwDLddXTj_CYRug5dfRnve7ojxOtgJfOWdwrsbcNokoHgca6oYWDG_4468PgDFFyJIVrdn2oeFfld8vB58Gu0KtHImniPP2lcWMh-KaVFZXxQA/w400-h206/IMG_0724.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Marsh Harrier</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Wednesday morning I met Will at 0630 with a net or two and with the walk-in pipit trap. the one we bait with wriggly meal worms.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlw97_ijZGU_-QSpb0Ckvifrk6Vkq7_XeQY8MoklR7TP8Xu5ZBmU54-7BYo3pGxmOIrdUQV3Xm96FwDf7GffaCNKeWn68rYFwsglFt-fszil0UkRfjk0pBhX9zcluePgR0QJ0mNNoYDrsTBlDTUAGUIUEAIbtenZ_KSzGmmGs6YSY-99KR1xNIaM8syJM/s1002/_MG_7456.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlw97_ijZGU_-QSpb0Ckvifrk6Vkq7_XeQY8MoklR7TP8Xu5ZBmU54-7BYo3pGxmOIrdUQV3Xm96FwDf7GffaCNKeWn68rYFwsglFt-fszil0UkRfjk0pBhX9zcluePgR0QJ0mNNoYDrsTBlDTUAGUIUEAIbtenZ_KSzGmmGs6YSY-99KR1xNIaM8syJM/w399-h400/_MG_7456.JPG" width="399" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meal worms</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although we caught a few Meadow Pipits, the numbers for a larger total just weren’t around and neither were the wagtails of recent days. We caught 8 birds - 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We rarely capture Meadow Pipits a second time because the species is extremely transitory in both spring and autumn. Therefore it was most unusual that this morning one of the pipits in the walk-in trap bore ring number ACV6545, previously caught and ringed here on 9 August. The lure of free meal worms had overcome any fear or memory that the bird may have had of the walk-in trap just a week ago. It seemed that the pipit is no hurry to migrate south. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAxCoC4pGDjICz23cXTiJgAT14lsUaqMGdqU_CQe40YCs2zVvXD81X0noXP8YcYL7Ul5wj-7L14EMFit7p1RY0pUAf--abcTdFrwZvA21AteHa6KGupqHmcbOdz5uvNR90jiEa8Ryj0Lr3G9zco2HmUEpcTNDzcHrniwPAkEY-zPJ8XkaNfF46dJP9Sw/s1250/IMG_0217.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1250" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAxCoC4pGDjICz23cXTiJgAT14lsUaqMGdqU_CQe40YCs2zVvXD81X0noXP8YcYL7Ul5wj-7L14EMFit7p1RY0pUAf--abcTdFrwZvA21AteHa6KGupqHmcbOdz5uvNR90jiEa8Ryj0Lr3G9zco2HmUEpcTNDzcHrniwPAkEY-zPJ8XkaNfF46dJP9Sw/w400-h216/IMG_0217.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3nTCgwm9b-8SLCpN0OgHnU3tWx7qd88FLpdtDf6xV-k6q7Kvlwm7sq_EBxdQCW9U8q6pl_Shyb4qrmp-g_ngo9zmOIZ8hQlPAOQhg6sujZPMFTH3SiK3PLSJ6aumyxmNXL9tOWzGIt0bMIj0jtkkd7CUir0Cl9Kg3UxSIrZOvjAWULbMUZxrv0ZpMWg/s1200/IMG_2944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1200" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3nTCgwm9b-8SLCpN0OgHnU3tWx7qd88FLpdtDf6xV-k6q7Kvlwm7sq_EBxdQCW9U8q6pl_Shyb4qrmp-g_ngo9zmOIZ8hQlPAOQhg6sujZPMFTH3SiK3PLSJ6aumyxmNXL9tOWzGIt0bMIj0jtkkd7CUir0Cl9Kg3UxSIrZOvjAWULbMUZxrv0ZpMWg/w400-h256/IMG_2944.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Warbler</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qKU6Lmxxjk2B5aIFoskBShOomwUTeMfrDdIO2zmH02W6yPd7SoDxmbdCA01trIlJT1v5Mtor5VZusucRNNjKJd2YKDQwti9CalC_3W8I2idqn1lxFLiVkcUZOI7-KlnavvsYSWRJGZdrHbkEXgm89lM0TO5NwEKQJm3bfcaKkGNVb4EpheQs6H0zEv8/s1200/IMG_2947.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1200" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qKU6Lmxxjk2B5aIFoskBShOomwUTeMfrDdIO2zmH02W6yPd7SoDxmbdCA01trIlJT1v5Mtor5VZusucRNNjKJd2YKDQwti9CalC_3W8I2idqn1lxFLiVkcUZOI7-KlnavvsYSWRJGZdrHbkEXgm89lM0TO5NwEKQJm3bfcaKkGNVb4EpheQs6H0zEv8/w400-h296/IMG_2947.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN3CNttf3AKBZZ6Oj1fqHa5EkXPxGYmbJcpib79Txr5Tvy4yLu7ETEikjjWow3cRnVnAhKvARWEm8KpfpzIdyOQXhOpR0ZkcJ_e4Bf0zmkPkbLSLPb1W6MGQM1sRyEd7gtDGHT5njWPK8bfMClULOUMaSwYgd8QEwl0jtChGQgZEX7lcAVFpzHjMBbFs/s4349/IMG_4069.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4349" data-original-width="3168" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN3CNttf3AKBZZ6Oj1fqHa5EkXPxGYmbJcpib79Txr5Tvy4yLu7ETEikjjWow3cRnVnAhKvARWEm8KpfpzIdyOQXhOpR0ZkcJ_e4Bf0zmkPkbLSLPb1W6MGQM1sRyEd7gtDGHT5njWPK8bfMClULOUMaSwYgd8QEwl0jtChGQgZEX7lcAVFpzHjMBbFs/w291-h400/IMG_4069.JPG" width="291" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sedge Warbler</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our catch was a poor representation of the numbers of small birds and the species we saw, with highlights of 40 Meadow Pipit, 10 Reed Bunting, 8 Goldfinch, 30 Swallow, 15 Tree Sparrow, 3 Sedge Warbler, 15 Linnet and 8 Goldfinch. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Better was to come when Will’s superior eyes caught sight of a Hobby heading our way. And then we watched as it changed direction upon spotting us and hurried off in the direction of Fluke Hall and Knott End some miles away. It quickly became a speck in the hazy sky to the west.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was not a surprise to watch a far off Marsh Harrier as it hunted out over the salt marsh but it was too distant to age or sex from some 100 yards away. Was it the same one as Tuesday? Unlikely since mid to late August is peak passage time for this now fairly common raptor of Northern England. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We packed in early as numbers and the clear skies above did little for our catch. But we’ll be back soon so don’t go away good friends because there’s always news, views and photos on Another Bird Blog. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking this weekend to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2023/08/saturdays-critters-505.html" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday.</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-4293016922358255902023-08-09T20:40:00.006+01:002023-08-12T08:00:08.159+01:00Hobby Times Two<div style="text-align: justify;">The Hobby is still something of a scarcity in this part of coastal Lancashire known as The Fylde. The sighting of a Hobby adds more than a smidgeon of excitement to an often mundane day. Even better when a single sighting of the will o’ the wisp raptor becomes a double whammy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Hobby, a Schedule One Species, breeds inland not too many miles away, just a car ride away, a location already subject to interest from too many bird listers. It would be easy to add to the database of visitors and potentially draw attention to a breeding locality but how much better is it to meet and to enjoy a Hobby or two in the course of a normal day's birding? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">My latest encounter of this pacy raptor came about today while Andy and I were out bird ringing over Pilling way, catching the bits and pieces of a normal day. A quiet spell had us sitting in the sun watching Meadow Pipits surveying a walk-in trap placed about 40 yards away on the farm track. We’d had some success with eight Meadow Pipits caught but frustrated by the sight of two Yellow Wagtails not finding their way into the metal maze while pipits had no such problems.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From the north and east came two Hobby (is that Hobbys or Hobbies?) in close unison, playing in the breeze like the juveniles they were as they drifted over the nearby sea wall and continued their leisurely way west. It was yesterday evening when the farmer Richard told me of his sighting while tending livestock of a “large swift” - “going like the clappers”, one of those sightings that goes into the memory hole to often resurface another day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM30vwdouCDfcMd2wbPFFslZ8AHPZYaDN7jWFmq4ORMLRoWdQpvZT8ZHgz9WuLaRO-oNynn2XHDPCFOpJ9PLQ_XcMBtEVIGxkwA2qYrt6inZktXhX3jyinxCZmKDBoa8oX50yoTeZ6IB-NAIFDfhBb5QOAjn46BjQhVMyLiKyTSb4vqpGG_t4A6P6XIeA/s620/3141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="620" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM30vwdouCDfcMd2wbPFFslZ8AHPZYaDN7jWFmq4ORMLRoWdQpvZT8ZHgz9WuLaRO-oNynn2XHDPCFOpJ9PLQ_XcMBtEVIGxkwA2qYrt6inZktXhX3jyinxCZmKDBoa8oX50yoTeZ6IB-NAIFDfhBb5QOAjn46BjQhVMyLiKyTSb4vqpGG_t4A6P6XIeA/w400-h240/3141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hobby</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">We caught other species in a single, slightly blowy mist net and ended up with 14 ringed – 8 Meadow Pipit, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Pied Wagtail. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsnWaaJnssl4T0rRY2xhqL6eo3WVqQ9VIURvTL0dWGCH7JOzsZbBMv1ETEFDLRjW3arIMxfMlmeY6czAQxobUcOX0WVuA9QT8VHnO-7rzKxwKOF5D2ihmQrtL1l9bbAlCt13i8DqfXO6sBogluES1XeoZ7k3QeaJBliMk1TtwXEUpgwv2tN9-B3zOEUM/s800/IMG_0875.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="800" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsnWaaJnssl4T0rRY2xhqL6eo3WVqQ9VIURvTL0dWGCH7JOzsZbBMv1ETEFDLRjW3arIMxfMlmeY6czAQxobUcOX0WVuA9QT8VHnO-7rzKxwKOF5D2ihmQrtL1l9bbAlCt13i8DqfXO6sBogluES1XeoZ7k3QeaJBliMk1TtwXEUpgwv2tN9-B3zOEUM/w400-h328/IMG_0875.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZblKi1MQp3AxIsABl9g1MFezJaOnjXh4036sBwHTdkmCI7ft544bKBC4SiOXlhoRg9v_VLgVf5ciBnK2poqR-EX7ozl_JIPtF0zY8gZhKz78O_3OoPcOD6w8moas5jfpDajK8UhidcFtxIhCAGKQm-khXwe_wTzyFptqor7AJAoPyIX5KOmVn6llhcg/s1152/reed%20warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1152" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZblKi1MQp3AxIsABl9g1MFezJaOnjXh4036sBwHTdkmCI7ft544bKBC4SiOXlhoRg9v_VLgVf5ciBnK2poqR-EX7ozl_JIPtF0zY8gZhKz78O_3OoPcOD6w8moas5jfpDajK8UhidcFtxIhCAGKQm-khXwe_wTzyFptqor7AJAoPyIX5KOmVn6llhcg/w400-h290/reed%20warbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Warbler</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbwTyr1FRGYyFBElt9V82X6f2_H9ncCGDe2184UwPkrHrRgmvYVSx5-YP7eGMGfA66RSqNXQnl4E-PlYX4GzA_fGnuMSvO3m8_oFiUD5u0n896BDYSQBTEHsyIa1BR6psTG0tqk4gAoxJ_RAqw9N9WhhaURyf7PKMqCDMPwy-gZxg3WaACQTEcGYOLfY/s1307/Untitled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1307" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbwTyr1FRGYyFBElt9V82X6f2_H9ncCGDe2184UwPkrHrRgmvYVSx5-YP7eGMGfA66RSqNXQnl4E-PlYX4GzA_fGnuMSvO3m8_oFiUD5u0n896BDYSQBTEHsyIa1BR6psTG0tqk4gAoxJ_RAqw9N9WhhaURyf7PKMqCDMPwy-gZxg3WaACQTEcGYOLfY/w400-h233/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitethroat</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XVfynQMMP4p6gifNVVrXvWBwLGGCROmHZIu3lI1HewAqfre239Ijwk1VjdkUPaKnwIA_tQwUvYdMawvY1BvdhQljG3cFn8yFDT6Ww083hysUZaEmuBgdG283omjiUidRCCJ7gDichdIwwF_TIG8BZ5mojBbxqSOwE9ukNWaMlkLXew71Nhqd_5Xo2qY/s1359/wagtail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1359" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XVfynQMMP4p6gifNVVrXvWBwLGGCROmHZIu3lI1HewAqfre239Ijwk1VjdkUPaKnwIA_tQwUvYdMawvY1BvdhQljG3cFn8yFDT6Ww083hysUZaEmuBgdG283omjiUidRCCJ7gDichdIwwF_TIG8BZ5mojBbxqSOwE9ukNWaMlkLXew71Nhqd_5Xo2qY/w400-h217/wagtail.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Birds that got away or didn’t come near the nets included 70 or more Swallows,40 Meadow Pipits, 4 Wheatear, 25 Pied Wagtail, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Goldfinch, several Linnets, Grey Heron, Common Sandpiper. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMzKtvnjKWrGuDpxqtBnsvkdTosPsOFgS8R2yQRnRM5os4EjqYt1hWHe1Wm8a12WF2upnpwgD-aU34dRK_lDcZZASZ4MJbkJG9vzORkAH7FrmJMm-IYFXdy4iqyfTjcXFMuPcR0Hs-XVfmolSGpLX-y2g9Njvrrn4STSWTgYqoyQTNKtXtGiTJFF8UXM/s2997/IMG_9526.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2963" data-original-width="2997" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMzKtvnjKWrGuDpxqtBnsvkdTosPsOFgS8R2yQRnRM5os4EjqYt1hWHe1Wm8a12WF2upnpwgD-aU34dRK_lDcZZASZ4MJbkJG9vzORkAH7FrmJMm-IYFXdy4iqyfTjcXFMuPcR0Hs-XVfmolSGpLX-y2g9Njvrrn4STSWTgYqoyQTNKtXtGiTJFF8UXM/w400-h395/IMG_9526.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3Yv19MlmaEjCZIX3Fu3_kqPVZykqEjmDVBWR8tKLFgvtuiEHQLnzIDoWylragVvMwopw7Sj5DjZaH_wru4TO6dAHlCC4aaSp_cSAGNFdHXQgIthBbecumX3YbMXry4QzaQqJZQ33gqd0YSUvwtasfTgG4rGi9JUI2kt866ZCNmrVvWYrfILB28X_koI/s1500/IMG_9593.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1500" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3Yv19MlmaEjCZIX3Fu3_kqPVZykqEjmDVBWR8tKLFgvtuiEHQLnzIDoWylragVvMwopw7Sj5DjZaH_wru4TO6dAHlCC4aaSp_cSAGNFdHXQgIthBbecumX3YbMXry4QzaQqJZQ33gqd0YSUvwtasfTgG4rGi9JUI2kt866ZCNmrVvWYrfILB28X_koI/w400-h335/IMG_9593.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsIN615Fb2Wk-qfsGlkgUXtVHMk5K7QfMh436houSPMDN5GfZ_XssfzbAlvcYfgHmb6fAu490aCtiAD3j58_TBxj5Htaaz7BU1c-oKwz1rucEEYHVph4S2r7siwL1L5JlVrJPtDcCMKkrArucllWsL-9K_VUNe7U72i7Ho_xWJaSs-egsT8XuUGcqE8U/s1500/IMG_9610.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1291" data-original-width="1500" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsIN615Fb2Wk-qfsGlkgUXtVHMk5K7QfMh436houSPMDN5GfZ_XssfzbAlvcYfgHmb6fAu490aCtiAD3j58_TBxj5Htaaz7BU1c-oKwz1rucEEYHVph4S2r7siwL1L5JlVrJPtDcCMKkrArucllWsL-9K_VUNe7U72i7Ho_xWJaSs-egsT8XuUGcqE8U/w400-h344/IMG_9610.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKSH6iEZdto4GurB4IB-vgwz1m8g2rOqSux68CxiZuBY_Gmjx_xgAHixpQCLvRFDXpLos3NaP0p1DQqDMvVxNr3EE6fxUUyGZGut1BpWDtLN6BV0rS9nOGCk5d5oAXDScay_z7y5JLO_kcNUJE-3tfhS8F-iCQd7sQMoN-1C1eRZDDIexBbTqumntARo/s1500/IMG_9624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="1500" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKSH6iEZdto4GurB4IB-vgwz1m8g2rOqSux68CxiZuBY_Gmjx_xgAHixpQCLvRFDXpLos3NaP0p1DQqDMvVxNr3EE6fxUUyGZGut1BpWDtLN6BV0rS9nOGCk5d5oAXDScay_z7y5JLO_kcNUJE-3tfhS8F-iCQd7sQMoN-1C1eRZDDIexBbTqumntARo/w400-h338/IMG_9624.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluJqlW5Pxm2terYkwCZ3XaUkIaPC0PgBgqz7TihkbZ1ROf3-yglVPXWfMzh8oeq1FdhLIwK6SsHRh6dSN24ocLIiSspk_Qgsl3cKX_zo9UTmYzcp6aJKqrtp6_-cVNm9UhsZmelsMvwYul6X9KdrItherZ745eal9TUtXb2LJG238dEkUeOe6NxuGlxo/s1250/IMG_9357.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1250" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluJqlW5Pxm2terYkwCZ3XaUkIaPC0PgBgqz7TihkbZ1ROf3-yglVPXWfMzh8oeq1FdhLIwK6SsHRh6dSN24ocLIiSspk_Qgsl3cKX_zo9UTmYzcp6aJKqrtp6_-cVNm9UhsZmelsMvwYul6X9KdrItherZ745eal9TUtXb2LJG238dEkUeOe6NxuGlxo/w400-h311/IMG_9357.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qeithHXhX10kt3Zaq4wvtPdLNnsECEai6xvgX_DnJn_w1Wi_7P3YMegmbGmvdf8GcBD6tcwk-JTzQkI0HqRmGgvnyeCEeOht10hQ-jEdeF13XLuxNFs6YsPu-NswHWgHWI6Rw7WfVpTLkKSaVVxOkWItMKeRiKa25lCjNWRG0ET1FqvgCQuEIc7cUEM/s4944/IMG_9583.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3828" data-original-width="4944" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qeithHXhX10kt3Zaq4wvtPdLNnsECEai6xvgX_DnJn_w1Wi_7P3YMegmbGmvdf8GcBD6tcwk-JTzQkI0HqRmGgvnyeCEeOht10hQ-jEdeF13XLuxNFs6YsPu-NswHWgHWI6Rw7WfVpTLkKSaVVxOkWItMKeRiKa25lCjNWRG0ET1FqvgCQuEIc7cUEM/w400-h310/IMG_9583.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Swallow</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEciXowQjVqRVd680y8KP-eoxtbrAJhxPtvQE6c44kefCDer1O3V32-kDvma3cPr9v3pkohD6HyI8mAJ8kaoPCFlv-4MpCgxHdwKEnurQUGQq3a5eE0yu4_7bL91wcQILBlFged0qd8P8pPPXkD4m5ZnFQuMaVtdj5Z7pH9diycXHnUebia3uN70OHtIM/s4475/IMG_9576.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3263" data-original-width="4475" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEciXowQjVqRVd680y8KP-eoxtbrAJhxPtvQE6c44kefCDer1O3V32-kDvma3cPr9v3pkohD6HyI8mAJ8kaoPCFlv-4MpCgxHdwKEnurQUGQq3a5eE0yu4_7bL91wcQILBlFged0qd8P8pPPXkD4m5ZnFQuMaVtdj5Z7pH9diycXHnUebia3uN70OHtIM/w400-h291/IMG_9576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Swallow</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, it was a very young Wheatear that has quickly joined in the action, already setting off on the long journey to Africa. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the sun shines I’m making hay too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Weekend is not looking good but two more days of bright weather means more news, views and photos on Another Bird Blog. Don't miss it folks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Linking today to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday Blog</a>.</div><p> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-33471943664313715762023-08-07T19:06:00.000+01:002023-08-07T19:06:21.301+01:00More Pics<div style="text-align: justify;">A few weeks ago I related the tale of my new Canon 90D camera which has been itching to get out and earn its keep but remained mostly at home because of the constant poor weather. Rain and poor light are the arch enemies of cameras, especially those with a Sigma 150-600mm lens attached. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sunny mornings together with a bird rich location near Pilling tempted me out on a couple of occasions. Almost all of these pictures were shot at ISO 800 or even ISO1000 at f7.1, a setting which seems to be the combination’s sweet spot. The extra megapixels of the 90D give a better result than my old 80D in allowing a bigger crop and an overall finer image. Some of the images are finished via GIMP, others treated to a touch of Microsoft Photos filtering. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Click the Pics for the best effect.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjMynNjcEz0_31KN9Wb5BwiCGMFOqhzzWlNrjY2dBksfpMdj8v0KA2WDlDXxLadi6KrvnmKsouKER1-83IA1l-QgJ8d5dxyue5Qe26Wf0Al9UdOfDzlNW2xqKsfTDe_w7QYM4AzuRotwJNhWuUk94oKfkiXDTmwKR_JLUbGWYd7RDGyKG7Ce99SnrMr8/s1500/IMG_9455.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1500" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjMynNjcEz0_31KN9Wb5BwiCGMFOqhzzWlNrjY2dBksfpMdj8v0KA2WDlDXxLadi6KrvnmKsouKER1-83IA1l-QgJ8d5dxyue5Qe26Wf0Al9UdOfDzlNW2xqKsfTDe_w7QYM4AzuRotwJNhWuUk94oKfkiXDTmwKR_JLUbGWYd7RDGyKG7Ce99SnrMr8/w400-h319/IMG_9455.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfC9magUASbONUcaWq6wgyI4VD64ezP0UI8XFEduazCL-uhgUOkBBShAXhJtcMvwIvd0JRttzAc6zuWGm2eczKZ1FkckBoLUMkK54U56GPgwvJvdqabOLqGwuzkZKpESfzkGw-HPEEs5QcphhRm6--zhkpJVqcrJHDwDX5DIp7PbSydRpqdUfeV74qPw/s1500/IMG_9461.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1500" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfC9magUASbONUcaWq6wgyI4VD64ezP0UI8XFEduazCL-uhgUOkBBShAXhJtcMvwIvd0JRttzAc6zuWGm2eczKZ1FkckBoLUMkK54U56GPgwvJvdqabOLqGwuzkZKpESfzkGw-HPEEs5QcphhRm6--zhkpJVqcrJHDwDX5DIp7PbSydRpqdUfeV74qPw/w400-h399/IMG_9461.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-6s1ocqrVuJUB4W_Mbttm6CntFD6vM0E3ugApspVqFsadUshs-xO9SErNu9nV7JdDdIv-GzyGJ51XXaZL930JuYH-DUgWAEH00GDsnYG23Lo2oHY6UBiHKLht9Gsosd13hECXHITVJlJFrqEP1fjRueLts0EnR_pFngtjeasw-JWDphWcKUKPar9IO4/s1665/IMG_9467.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-6s1ocqrVuJUB4W_Mbttm6CntFD6vM0E3ugApspVqFsadUshs-xO9SErNu9nV7JdDdIv-GzyGJ51XXaZL930JuYH-DUgWAEH00GDsnYG23Lo2oHY6UBiHKLht9Gsosd13hECXHITVJlJFrqEP1fjRueLts0EnR_pFngtjeasw-JWDphWcKUKPar9IO4/w360-h400/IMG_9467.JPG" width="360" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The adult male Reed Bunting is undergoing a post breeding moult as can be seen in the median coverts and the upper tail. Meanwhile a second Reed Bunting is a juvenile i.e. born this year. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A juvenile Sedge Warbler was very obliging for a second or two only before hopping along the fence and diving into the vegetation that meets the fence line. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4BitYE8TgkSvBNUsUvCPBcmXJ8kDR2JvxJw7yQomVF_Er4UXTUULQ8QJ5Q0W22ISilVbjL0HjQst8qsGu8gO8FchFPs9Bv2ANgtjj_zVDiOcVy_Se2-QRZFEom7xFOikq_q6BJCzUCt1UmxwlvSTwkLk_qa4-wcjionngb2LhufWDhY3RirRCzT1w5o/s2913/IMG_9501.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2611" data-original-width="2913" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4BitYE8TgkSvBNUsUvCPBcmXJ8kDR2JvxJw7yQomVF_Er4UXTUULQ8QJ5Q0W22ISilVbjL0HjQst8qsGu8gO8FchFPs9Bv2ANgtjj_zVDiOcVy_Se2-QRZFEom7xFOikq_q6BJCzUCt1UmxwlvSTwkLk_qa4-wcjionngb2LhufWDhY3RirRCzT1w5o/w400-h359/IMG_9501.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sedge Warbler</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyqwDRuJN3DIIv1f17u179RsYc_uICaYV4F9-wn5wMA-rs3vuYLrUUGvjoYo12i054KHX6q9O7nskOne4qIfrCI2AYDEKz9JfJ8hnWmZ_fQiakGytJUH6T_Zke-SlInQcJ70jUst2s7JIxHpy64wk4vtftQXOgCN9jUz_5F4CHZq6L3pf3Vyw7Ry3FAc/s2671/IMG_9505.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2429" data-original-width="2671" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyqwDRuJN3DIIv1f17u179RsYc_uICaYV4F9-wn5wMA-rs3vuYLrUUGvjoYo12i054KHX6q9O7nskOne4qIfrCI2AYDEKz9JfJ8hnWmZ_fQiakGytJUH6T_Zke-SlInQcJ70jUst2s7JIxHpy64wk4vtftQXOgCN9jUz_5F4CHZq6L3pf3Vyw7Ry3FAc/w400-h364/IMG_9505.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sedge Warbler</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rain during the last few weeks has meant that wagtails stay around, but still no Grey Wagtail, just Pied Wagtail and Yellow Wagtails, both species 90% juveniles of the year. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOT7lCTS_PU2mxfgfgoSdYm3tFvBKpeYION8Old8EVgdFbWowJ1rraosYW03cGg-faUyEMCIVSNNM7ypkglLJ-Xu8Il0RUU933H9UJ06SJMhEcDx95R375sZfea9NfFy4mes2G4Eu-CGV15iqgrCZJrDtXeV4vUJGVvRDljoTBzJyIf0mh-0Q2wjzkVgs/s1500/IMG_9335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1500" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOT7lCTS_PU2mxfgfgoSdYm3tFvBKpeYION8Old8EVgdFbWowJ1rraosYW03cGg-faUyEMCIVSNNM7ypkglLJ-Xu8Il0RUU933H9UJ06SJMhEcDx95R375sZfea9NfFy4mes2G4Eu-CGV15iqgrCZJrDtXeV4vUJGVvRDljoTBzJyIf0mh-0Q2wjzkVgs/w400-h264/IMG_9335.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4_BnFmb6_gW4w562W-TJIomDEKSmgRWX_MAbkeLEs29_OYI-SUyTeqC69f9VT5i4cssGAgHnIhjTyNeR3pxxvlN-BOTpZ95_29Pm4cTRRnDIl21tC5jm6sJYQ77gV2Ojnf-rt_3fjFFt83VnETkeM3Aezrcks5vJnfr3tpQ_bsUKeV6gyjGJIP0d1fU/s1500/IMG_9342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1500" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4_BnFmb6_gW4w562W-TJIomDEKSmgRWX_MAbkeLEs29_OYI-SUyTeqC69f9VT5i4cssGAgHnIhjTyNeR3pxxvlN-BOTpZ95_29Pm4cTRRnDIl21tC5jm6sJYQ77gV2Ojnf-rt_3fjFFt83VnETkeM3Aezrcks5vJnfr3tpQ_bsUKeV6gyjGJIP0d1fU/w400-h289/IMG_9342.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuyNxZVjyjO8iAmINjPi4uRY41lXZGfXxQ96MY21vhSVI9gRNcnUH3jSLVzRbFW3iL_OBl3e5ct2PeFr2wE6HVZLZ4H5jopU1uclLNwSu2I0L7WuqYGaMUkjJ_5mbisEAcYo7uB4UcKy9v7VnrOLSDsqh0sfBUr1cfnxnXpkAXlCVtFdHfsCXFat5Dqs/s4658/IMG_9516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3008" data-original-width="4658" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuyNxZVjyjO8iAmINjPi4uRY41lXZGfXxQ96MY21vhSVI9gRNcnUH3jSLVzRbFW3iL_OBl3e5ct2PeFr2wE6HVZLZ4H5jopU1uclLNwSu2I0L7WuqYGaMUkjJ_5mbisEAcYo7uB4UcKy9v7VnrOLSDsqh0sfBUr1cfnxnXpkAXlCVtFdHfsCXFat5Dqs/w400-h259/IMG_9516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4S_mFRPLQHDBeiByD0KlzAMGsLWMtkYJQCNlGJmbUCCVvoCYihwW428PXu0QKT8JSKHyxNA2L9hmDdcN1OqSnOUfO32HjUr86zqqkqQHYCPvcLAETHhRB4tmALvIIdt5FpaxKvxnBrGwYSz585FmgddOal1EG4Ne8DEw7J_5ZjWmHLZv1neCUwpa1y8/s4531/IMG_9276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2927" data-original-width="4531" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4S_mFRPLQHDBeiByD0KlzAMGsLWMtkYJQCNlGJmbUCCVvoCYihwW428PXu0QKT8JSKHyxNA2L9hmDdcN1OqSnOUfO32HjUr86zqqkqQHYCPvcLAETHhRB4tmALvIIdt5FpaxKvxnBrGwYSz585FmgddOal1EG4Ne8DEw7J_5ZjWmHLZv1neCUwpa1y8/w400-h259/IMG_9276.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even when ringing autumn Meadow Pipits it is not too often that an adult bird is encountered in the hand. The birds below are juveniles of the year where it is possible to see the remnants of the nestling yellow gape. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRz8DANeHDSfi_im2a4yTTqecul3KbvB0URQ_d6U45ZtRKKkeYbh-67feGFK-9TPwmjuHv6HirX5jNjynFShNfVr5toojhLmU9AaXnl1IuE6H1aoWiERx-i2J248FWLIXeNvZ3pvSemilppk6_8uG49lHOQknB73OrzE1Ap4UWDSiUrOtopPmLTlSlVs/s1500/IMG_9449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRz8DANeHDSfi_im2a4yTTqecul3KbvB0URQ_d6U45ZtRKKkeYbh-67feGFK-9TPwmjuHv6HirX5jNjynFShNfVr5toojhLmU9AaXnl1IuE6H1aoWiERx-i2J248FWLIXeNvZ3pvSemilppk6_8uG49lHOQknB73OrzE1Ap4UWDSiUrOtopPmLTlSlVs/w400-h266/IMG_9449.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdpz7hmn9BFR5eMqICr-5Xz5G8n33RahxgxQyWubZDroCKHoxM0XgK-kmCyZ-tYgxYEsKApSrFCDSVrV0bAAASc3TNTzrVPg73yjlSaWN7_m8ab9kCHPMNk2WsenXNniM2loMFmZozDFFy9DnsLIINi2YcW087Iqc2LycD6dIVLKsut9LtTa-7bb3MTo/s1500/IMG_9531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1395" data-original-width="1500" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdpz7hmn9BFR5eMqICr-5Xz5G8n33RahxgxQyWubZDroCKHoxM0XgK-kmCyZ-tYgxYEsKApSrFCDSVrV0bAAASc3TNTzrVPg73yjlSaWN7_m8ab9kCHPMNk2WsenXNniM2loMFmZozDFFy9DnsLIINi2YcW087Iqc2LycD6dIVLKsut9LtTa-7bb3MTo/w400-h373/IMG_9531.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACBBJ_QoZggIR0daLM-okZFb8aE88FuHjeDAv5qwBMUIEPjIjcumydGSBMJrDZ2132-wqvGnuNMAaS0m2i1gDaEF3jOQxYOmaacLn4K-77eMb7AG4kDg0o_05ueLqLTCYK9TfN_7HBzIMDX7xQ6doF1BRr9ls0zJXXMIhsK7p1PnDYlz5_SnkZ2f-yx0/s1500/IMG_9449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACBBJ_QoZggIR0daLM-okZFb8aE88FuHjeDAv5qwBMUIEPjIjcumydGSBMJrDZ2132-wqvGnuNMAaS0m2i1gDaEF3jOQxYOmaacLn4K-77eMb7AG4kDg0o_05ueLqLTCYK9TfN_7HBzIMDX7xQ6doF1BRr9ls0zJXXMIhsK7p1PnDYlz5_SnkZ2f-yx0/w400-h266/IMG_9449.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KZLe3IGmSXwL0guOqG1aHjN5uZpU9XG2VncpT9-Jd7M7UGetMA2MAgi64OLcc36mibZXWULVMRc2jo1Mj4_ru17VGBjj1GTjYq7rNlJawSFGiEoFHmJ825xzJZ3Gho9BcTI8nCkYciI3vP48Prei-LXSXgkAvF4Y8xKdq-5PrvakM0ptGjJoHjYGu_o/s1500/IMG_9537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1500" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KZLe3IGmSXwL0guOqG1aHjN5uZpU9XG2VncpT9-Jd7M7UGetMA2MAgi64OLcc36mibZXWULVMRc2jo1Mj4_ru17VGBjj1GTjYq7rNlJawSFGiEoFHmJ825xzJZ3Gho9BcTI8nCkYciI3vP48Prei-LXSXgkAvF4Y8xKdq-5PrvakM0ptGjJoHjYGu_o/w400-h279/IMG_9537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And now for a couple of juvenile Linnets, a species to which our attention will be turned in the coming weeks. The annual seed plot is coming on a treat thanks to the amount of July rain and its (very) intermittent sunny spells. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVxlUbWWDtYanpxmqwXsBuC_fHad3lDjTihzv7Hus2CffugilTUvfyYVp4QU6ib9N1ypGgvInOuxxskb7zHbmZ4CPsJtUHEGQy28FCCMsJqC3NEYYVBQ5Kuj_11N7Vblh74T8KCbx-XyAIU0lguOw86gREqQfBgdKQhakf4g09LDvzVXWkSBmj7iL-t0/s1500/IMG_9426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1500" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVxlUbWWDtYanpxmqwXsBuC_fHad3lDjTihzv7Hus2CffugilTUvfyYVp4QU6ib9N1ypGgvInOuxxskb7zHbmZ4CPsJtUHEGQy28FCCMsJqC3NEYYVBQ5Kuj_11N7Vblh74T8KCbx-XyAIU0lguOw86gREqQfBgdKQhakf4g09LDvzVXWkSBmj7iL-t0/w400-h344/IMG_9426.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAbZq8Z_KoZ1P9W8aFB-gSqjPvXUk6c1sl9X8BNQvnwkgdgQiqNHcYJThu-wpanA2A-KHXtOK0K4S-cSGv_W3jPyBBJnhVbvLC14bcX3KsUmGBq5g6mb8cFIaM6yrzX5TMRWOzaMRmzrxbGNgKH2wrBJvGcwpYKoXwRV9Qw_JGCld133JZm3Y3j6f4lI/s1500/IMG_9439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1500" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAbZq8Z_KoZ1P9W8aFB-gSqjPvXUk6c1sl9X8BNQvnwkgdgQiqNHcYJThu-wpanA2A-KHXtOK0K4S-cSGv_W3jPyBBJnhVbvLC14bcX3KsUmGBq5g6mb8cFIaM6yrzX5TMRWOzaMRmzrxbGNgKH2wrBJvGcwpYKoXwRV9Qw_JGCld133JZm3Y3j6f4lI/w400-h291/IMG_9439.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnet</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wagtails and pipits are not the only birds to find muddy pools attractive. As anticipated there have been Redshanks and Oystercatchers, and today a Common Sandpiper. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are limits to the reach of a digital camera and 600mm lens, more so when reflections from bodies of water seem to interfere with how the camera sensor interprets the scene. Best I could do with the small sandpiper 50 yards away. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pQsMXhzwrQYEQ53SmOVpa55tI7LzRXyMwlUSQzQb19-BnJIqM5PqDVQfdU4O-oci_NerK7udQjj8mBPoqmWi7Q9q97vpmPLwsUwxCNNLtdrrAZDPoQ__VtcqmDOyCLA9Rtlk2nc1bgQ9VPznltq1jPoN47UwZlggFUKyaBtuSZzO_M2TNcBMoxXge3k/s3037/IMG_9550.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2247" data-original-width="3037" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pQsMXhzwrQYEQ53SmOVpa55tI7LzRXyMwlUSQzQb19-BnJIqM5PqDVQfdU4O-oci_NerK7udQjj8mBPoqmWi7Q9q97vpmPLwsUwxCNNLtdrrAZDPoQ__VtcqmDOyCLA9Rtlk2nc1bgQ9VPznltq1jPoN47UwZlggFUKyaBtuSZzO_M2TNcBMoxXge3k/w400-h296/IMG_9550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Common Sandpiper</div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Likewise the buck Roe Deer, some 100 yards away but in good sunny light. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAEBa056n9DbOMddqnWSzhfxy7W5efOyPyn5EYfBI6iw_pDWG7bA-FnfEvh34zDXZqhx-fs7bG4YpylpOp6MuyL8m7fRJiNFnHEwSFq_DIS7OoVCkvGLTaiXcfml1I8G4cBq2MeusZ-47KkDxHkdcCVVf5kxX71p08ONQKQaiDpwFQvp0J9kbk9fR-kA/s1500/IMG_9541.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1500" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAEBa056n9DbOMddqnWSzhfxy7W5efOyPyn5EYfBI6iw_pDWG7bA-FnfEvh34zDXZqhx-fs7bG4YpylpOp6MuyL8m7fRJiNFnHEwSFq_DIS7OoVCkvGLTaiXcfml1I8G4cBq2MeusZ-47KkDxHkdcCVVf5kxX71p08ONQKQaiDpwFQvp0J9kbk9fR-kA/w400-h329/IMG_9541.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Roe Deer</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">More news, views and photos soon at Another Bird Blog. </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526180646938954660.post-16590692477493878622023-08-03T19:38:00.001+01:002023-08-04T18:59:43.514+01:00Mips, Wags And Weather<div style="text-align: justify;">Wednesday evening’s forecast looked hot to go for a Thursday ringing session so I met up with Will and Andy at 0630 out Pilling way, a week after our last get together since when it has barely stopped raining. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“In July 2023 some parts of England set new rainfall records, with Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside all recording their wettest July since records began some 150 years ago. The succession of low pressure systems resulting in long periods of damp and windy weather in much of the country was in sharp contrast to July 2022, when there were heatwaves and temperatures as high as 40.3C.” </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_W8YO5oIkbaHQNFmhQ6Hpyg0Hkky4_zwkWfrfKTzRe_Ea11pXkHbxxtH7D62e_6AR6jXE7OqHc7uPgIZ5AVKDSa5Wg_TjW5OYqwV0TmTsJiPNBpKZDwt7uRUdJsIxdErwlP9cWFFbI0C5BIAwvyyquRdDQ4gGzz0p_Vt2-kJ8QhLCxBomgI73x3xQyU/s599/Screenshot%202023-08-02%20192348.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="599" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_W8YO5oIkbaHQNFmhQ6Hpyg0Hkky4_zwkWfrfKTzRe_Ea11pXkHbxxtH7D62e_6AR6jXE7OqHc7uPgIZ5AVKDSa5Wg_TjW5OYqwV0TmTsJiPNBpKZDwt7uRUdJsIxdErwlP9cWFFbI0C5BIAwvyyquRdDQ4gGzz0p_Vt2-kJ8QhLCxBomgI73x3xQyU/w400-h219/Screenshot%202023-08-02%20192348.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Weather</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although hopes were high we didn’t do at all well with just 5 birds caught - 4 Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler. Always looking for an excuse we blamed the weather for the lack of birds and the rubbish catch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Plan B came into play and I set off to another site a car ride away and our brilliant idea for Friday morning.
Here are heaps of waste material from a bio plant where the rain of recent days has created muddy pools that hold thousands if not millions of tiny flies and other food items of the right size for pipits and wagtails. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sun was out, the gate posts and fences proving to be ideal places for the birds to pose. I grabbed a few photos of Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Yellow Wagtails and it seemed a shame that there were no Grey Wagtails around for the full set of common wags. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSKVSbMheGwfU9DVMleHonSmJwAy6ZL_J51EJAxeIcAIphqsWM9hARlGnrQVSzidygdtjPb0CTrqM89Qzb1TMDxmT4KbztxiM8DoFK8xbjJhpTleDIhMQ4zqyyKysd_Jgca61OoHG3IlcgRABvSfrb_ksgPOAv0QMG8FoLNx_anUyycpZvEWSIgCHpVw/s1504/IMG_9286.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSKVSbMheGwfU9DVMleHonSmJwAy6ZL_J51EJAxeIcAIphqsWM9hARlGnrQVSzidygdtjPb0CTrqM89Qzb1TMDxmT4KbztxiM8DoFK8xbjJhpTleDIhMQ4zqyyKysd_Jgca61OoHG3IlcgRABvSfrb_ksgPOAv0QMG8FoLNx_anUyycpZvEWSIgCHpVw/w399-h400/IMG_9286.JPG" width="399" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDVWprNdmJjebGR4cGixkGNt_-jNwyzYVjHboGVppVSoYSxd9qbh6MuMFlxzd-juhzqKEFeu9ttEZeYbzwp63914o3AGVLLROGJAhUIfqIfaJm0sLpeNZEc5Hi0izRZJQhHLrT2s2SCJLRbLNpO67Pyyi0gDY_kKR9V4ADBLX-vieyQDm2rJL-kY6ja8/s1500/IMG_9289.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="1500" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDVWprNdmJjebGR4cGixkGNt_-jNwyzYVjHboGVppVSoYSxd9qbh6MuMFlxzd-juhzqKEFeu9ttEZeYbzwp63914o3AGVLLROGJAhUIfqIfaJm0sLpeNZEc5Hi0izRZJQhHLrT2s2SCJLRbLNpO67Pyyi0gDY_kKR9V4ADBLX-vieyQDm2rJL-kY6ja8/w400-h281/IMG_9289.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBE456RJeKI-iPV6yLcv6rwaWpHKD9fPE2qS9v-tfJvwLpXe8C2Ia9nukxsxLBA7B01kvv6-sTN_QmtVsXXO2BqRWfPKsU9viTz0Yx027l9wvaEHbfnCcxTMK4Gxr1S-MiHC6tlpFgowqIaVbpUY4XLfFp14dLhgUxmwfy_dDFZrMD657sPBpp14JcBc4/s1500/IMG_9294.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1500" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBE456RJeKI-iPV6yLcv6rwaWpHKD9fPE2qS9v-tfJvwLpXe8C2Ia9nukxsxLBA7B01kvv6-sTN_QmtVsXXO2BqRWfPKsU9viTz0Yx027l9wvaEHbfnCcxTMK4Gxr1S-MiHC6tlpFgowqIaVbpUY4XLfFp14dLhgUxmwfy_dDFZrMD657sPBpp14JcBc4/w400-h283/IMG_9294.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4qEyQrZysCnNDsMFfdz-MO9qf8rexFzvRJbOh_QfQR42LU7ajWs98RJMxbyFsJhS7pjVOeoDCneD-BLV7OFnPj0X5YagTkDm4qVZV7Y-lKafJkcRn-Hl31c_x56nGgxsDJvSy1pOcYc57vPDcQv6HntEq1EsvNXcfzBa0OVbPG5Wn3roQ4NcA_YvUBM/s1979/IMG_9298.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1979" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4qEyQrZysCnNDsMFfdz-MO9qf8rexFzvRJbOh_QfQR42LU7ajWs98RJMxbyFsJhS7pjVOeoDCneD-BLV7OFnPj0X5YagTkDm4qVZV7Y-lKafJkcRn-Hl31c_x56nGgxsDJvSy1pOcYc57vPDcQv6HntEq1EsvNXcfzBa0OVbPG5Wn3roQ4NcA_YvUBM/w304-h400/IMG_9298.JPG" width="304" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEPmJcDCePfb-Y9DwiBG6cJSUVZPMXyH4CweQMu8yf7PgaaccN3quNw7rCKB8Rh7Da7XAQD4ZyR4Ia-a8fh4GUJCGuFx_lz265y25NT0XQolJBVB_rbGH_qrB2tbgWwnqyUZZkg1S5JeOF1ZJJcKfJI8HySiOPfQWO4nzH-BVSR6JWqghl-lguLmExB8/s1500/IMG_9304.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1500" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEPmJcDCePfb-Y9DwiBG6cJSUVZPMXyH4CweQMu8yf7PgaaccN3quNw7rCKB8Rh7Da7XAQD4ZyR4Ia-a8fh4GUJCGuFx_lz265y25NT0XQolJBVB_rbGH_qrB2tbgWwnqyUZZkg1S5JeOF1ZJJcKfJI8HySiOPfQWO4nzH-BVSR6JWqghl-lguLmExB8/w400-h295/IMG_9304.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0hhghYQSEKgvMBSR03bHpNUakXftp_09Gyxfl9XfNAz4iG4HS5Lu-_-si4xgOlfuGxK8Bx6GCRS4zI_Cmu3LPkVjdUA-5PHy1-FlAVVfi4fkIk0-gxV4Gxerm51_Wb1gGAEd04ez8YJcwtkLzZHqD7G2q5eOHu0eAUxNXYxgpTFRjSOn_x6CGT9dyDM/s1500/IMG_9308.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1500" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0hhghYQSEKgvMBSR03bHpNUakXftp_09Gyxfl9XfNAz4iG4HS5Lu-_-si4xgOlfuGxK8Bx6GCRS4zI_Cmu3LPkVjdUA-5PHy1-FlAVVfi4fkIk0-gxV4Gxerm51_Wb1gGAEd04ez8YJcwtkLzZHqD7G2q5eOHu0eAUxNXYxgpTFRjSOn_x6CGT9dyDM/w400-h284/IMG_9308.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQuWlRIikk7Bix2pO7Dn6IfHAELu-dXjOQAX5h1vd_g4sOQxa3TzeCbNHMv4TVYWsXs9SmzzEPXfOdCvPOHyncdj6gTCT2FcCZ1E4mPkgtkM4oOSkZvi_XzLSbQF4CjT1A33iiuLx5CcPY-dnvU7zWhDw0V4dH2eIjSuIqDsA4k681uCVhSfUwHZ8C8w/s1500/IMG_9309.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1500" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQuWlRIikk7Bix2pO7Dn6IfHAELu-dXjOQAX5h1vd_g4sOQxa3TzeCbNHMv4TVYWsXs9SmzzEPXfOdCvPOHyncdj6gTCT2FcCZ1E4mPkgtkM4oOSkZvi_XzLSbQF4CjT1A33iiuLx5CcPY-dnvU7zWhDw0V4dH2eIjSuIqDsA4k681uCVhSfUwHZ8C8w/w400-h272/IMG_9309.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kKRkz60N6Cjvc2rvseDfbz_NhFljCGSBYbXDwF8KNa7WqyQCFtriSBWg9q3igigOP9sO69kS8H3V4ogOnk3lm6aum_iwbCZ1rbqtG5w9ijPmaQJLjPR6DQWVfAz50nwEbo3LNE8YWxY2KS6zVeLDnZI4iMIgE1jewsCtbJ3rFmnZnJASlLbKmHanM2g/s1500/IMG_9312.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1500" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kKRkz60N6Cjvc2rvseDfbz_NhFljCGSBYbXDwF8KNa7WqyQCFtriSBWg9q3igigOP9sO69kS8H3V4ogOnk3lm6aum_iwbCZ1rbqtG5w9ijPmaQJLjPR6DQWVfAz50nwEbo3LNE8YWxY2KS6zVeLDnZI4iMIgE1jewsCtbJ3rFmnZnJASlLbKmHanM2g/w400-h378/IMG_9312.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07Ix08aab61fWV4zWuR7l5UlqUCGEPcqZBtbwEWtpmWMJVEwJpmdSPKVjhvW9yH_bISFPDnfdwggxfUE93TYpSzSjWxoO1PLbQzb3_th6upslkHFI5c4Cho0lXKXkL8Po6BgLDzKi33REZ2WZYCr8RzNkeDASLCjUBaaj2GhcDe4uLxGX148wQgyaA_E/s1500/IMG_9314.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1500" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07Ix08aab61fWV4zWuR7l5UlqUCGEPcqZBtbwEWtpmWMJVEwJpmdSPKVjhvW9yH_bISFPDnfdwggxfUE93TYpSzSjWxoO1PLbQzb3_th6upslkHFI5c4Cho0lXKXkL8Po6BgLDzKi33REZ2WZYCr8RzNkeDASLCjUBaaj2GhcDe4uLxGX148wQgyaA_E/w400-h316/IMG_9314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00oiHABqQpZ7nd_jC1ukjZKY9aU9JbDAb6zl-0K7DjTEj1kvgSFPiYHBEEp4Rvmtgga7fotRuxHGBKoHx_lefj_dA34SoyZejPKFtqytEQxEIIjKdNO3U_Kh5VPTPj_g_289Jr0wOPOwmQBart-DdI26cga7TcqJWsl0CYBZ6ydbmqMep1DWyqEsmbvM/s1500/IMG_9326.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="1500" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00oiHABqQpZ7nd_jC1ukjZKY9aU9JbDAb6zl-0K7DjTEj1kvgSFPiYHBEEp4Rvmtgga7fotRuxHGBKoHx_lefj_dA34SoyZejPKFtqytEQxEIIjKdNO3U_Kh5VPTPj_g_289Jr0wOPOwmQBart-DdI26cga7TcqJWsl0CYBZ6ydbmqMep1DWyqEsmbvM/w400-h263/IMG_9326.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuazoXpUQPQMihup26B-Kfw6DvTu1R90AMjr2rn3ts8xlYxiTvIqa-eSbyDMBwhlubwWzFP4b2eeNlSz6C5QCsh29QmdkrBKsehaluxDZh14Wgq_z4zobL0Yr6AZ7Y3__YRgB7t5qNhEHpCWWJShEPsN1EBej-gl9lW3Xmyr-kXPIkVpXVLH6ZKDn-oc/s1500/IMG_9363.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1500" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuazoXpUQPQMihup26B-Kfw6DvTu1R90AMjr2rn3ts8xlYxiTvIqa-eSbyDMBwhlubwWzFP4b2eeNlSz6C5QCsh29QmdkrBKsehaluxDZh14Wgq_z4zobL0Yr6AZ7Y3__YRgB7t5qNhEHpCWWJShEPsN1EBej-gl9lW3Xmyr-kXPIkVpXVLH6ZKDn-oc/w400-h279/IMG_9363.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfVt-7Sw9xwUojfswgKY-cTfLhhoS_JV1s52FN7zf-H5eAadu3PYQSLzBz9R9HENpIY8nJP_4R0r3FqMuSON441G4dk3QC4i6v8ATihPAl2ed7j9aoIg7jFU88Ft61EZIfYSy_nacirJMCvMw97g5DK6-70bm1FaDyTPD6jrdl42dcDUZ2yIXQbMDqFs/s3880/IMG_9364.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3478" data-original-width="3880" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfVt-7Sw9xwUojfswgKY-cTfLhhoS_JV1s52FN7zf-H5eAadu3PYQSLzBz9R9HENpIY8nJP_4R0r3FqMuSON441G4dk3QC4i6v8ATihPAl2ed7j9aoIg7jFU88Ft61EZIfYSy_nacirJMCvMw97g5DK6-70bm1FaDyTPD6jrdl42dcDUZ2yIXQbMDqFs/w400-h359/IMG_9364.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s arranged. Friday morning is a meet up with Andy and an attempt to ring a few of the species above. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Look in again on Friday evening folks to see how we did. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">UPDATE. Friday morning was windy, breezier than the forecasted 6-8mph and although we turned out in hope, the wind proved too troublesome to continue. This frustration was intensified by the sight of 100 + Swallows, 25+ Pied Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Reed Buntings, 8 Goldfinch and a Great-spotted Woodpecker, none of which we could catch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrL1PGIoNh5VUV1cLlsqIPPHfwktePFvAI5e_mC8W1js8sZAu-3wbgqtyYI_wNiPRVk6AbtXSGz2XmmuCciBdGN_lhQ_bOZkhESc0ymUGMht1xWTmYLJnea2C0V61DplBxW3IzYbZ1HnipS3fDO5KYXBvbjxYUl0Aqk2dqsvH9KOYCIzYArVbLnyzmwqc/s1500/IMG_9370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1500" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrL1PGIoNh5VUV1cLlsqIPPHfwktePFvAI5e_mC8W1js8sZAu-3wbgqtyYI_wNiPRVk6AbtXSGz2XmmuCciBdGN_lhQ_bOZkhESc0ymUGMht1xWTmYLJnea2C0V61DplBxW3IzYbZ1HnipS3fDO5KYXBvbjxYUl0Aqk2dqsvH9KOYCIzYArVbLnyzmwqc/w400-h301/IMG_9370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Linking this weekend to <a href="https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eileen's Saturday Blog</a>.</span></div>Phil Sladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846400106748443969noreply@blogger.com10