Bargain Bins

We all like a bargain don’t we? I may have found one when Silver Surfing the other day; it was a pair of Celestron Granite 10x42 binoculars for £199.99, free postage. 

I have been looking for a pair of inexpensive bins I could leave in the car at all times to lessen the chances of heading out birding and then at the crucial moment realising bins had been left at home. Old Age coupled with being none the wiser is a terrible handicap. 

I knew the Granite range of binoculars was a few years old but that didn’t worry me too much if the price and quality worked OK.  A search of Internet reviews and You Tube showed that the marque and 10x42 HD model was top of the range and well received when first introduced. The ones found on the Internet had just a few years ago retailed at around £400 but had now been superseded by newer but not necessarily better models. 

Celestron 10x42 ED 

Celestron is a company based in California that manufactures telescopes and distributes telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, and accessories manufactured by its parent company, the Synta Technology Corporation of Taiwan. 

Therefore, no illusions, my new binoculars are probably manufactured somewhere in China, not uncommon for much of the current generation of birding optics, and a way for large companies to increase profits. 

A search via Google for “birding optics China” brings up names like Zeiss, Nikon, Bushnell, Kowa, Vortex and RSPB. The internet also tells how some Leica binoculars are made in Portugal and have been for many years. Portugal is a country usually associated with producing top quality wines and corks that seal the bottles rather than the manufacture of optics.  

There’s no real reason why in 2020 Chinese and other manufacturing countries cannot make quality optics that were once produced by well-known German and Japanese names. There are many high quality products made in China these days - the world has moved on. 

Meanwhile "made in" labelling is an absolute minefield as "Made in Germany" or "Made in Japan” could mean performing the final operation in Germany/Japan for a product actually made in another continent. This could be as simple as sticking on the "made in" label, attaching straps, packaging, or any other number of minor jobs. Zeiss Conquest and Zeiss Terra models fall under this category with a design sourced from Kamakura, Japan. Kamakura has some manufacturing capacity in mainland China, and may source components, or even assemblies from local producers there. 

So, what of my pristine bins when I opened the box and then tested them out? 

Celestron Granite 10x42 ED 

Like most roof prism binoculars these days, they are fully sealed and nitrogen-purged to be waterproof, dust proof and internally fog proof. As the ED label implies, Granite binoculars are made with high-density, Extra-low Dispersion glass and BaK4 prisms with high-reflective coatings which are said to improve image clarity and throughput and to provide major performance enhancements relative to cheaper glass. 

Close focusing seems good at less than 7ft with a field of view that the makers claim is 340ft but which I am unable to test just yet. These new bins weigh in at an acceptable 26 ounces and stand at a very compact 5.8 inches tall and 4.5 inches wide, dimensions almost identical to my other pair of bins, 10x42 Vortex Vipers. I especially like the open-bridge design that allows a user to hold the binoculars more securely than the traditional joined double barrel format.    

The Granites are covered in smooth matt black rubber armouring free of any texturing. Shallow thumb grooves on the underside of the barrels increase the comfort of the grip overall. The metal eyecups adjust with a standard helical-twist mechanism, with one stable intermediate position between fully in and fully out. The action is smooth and fairly precise; likewise the focus mechanism that turned smoothly straight out of the box. 

The dioptre adjustment is a simple twist ring beneath the right ocular lens. A raised vertical dash on the ring lines up with a triangular mark on the armouring of the barrel to denote the position for equal eyes, with minus and plus signs on either side to indicate the direction of adjustment. The mechanism does not lock, and there are no markings to indicate positioning away from the equal position, though there are other positions using the raised oval markings on the twist ring. This is a typical basic dioptre adjustment mechanism, and one that once set, rarely needs further changes. 

The box contains the expected top and bottom lens covers to guard against rain, dust and misuse. Misuse perhaps of those birders who leave binoculars bouncing around the foot well of their car? 

Celestron did a good job with the straps. In addition to a standard neck strap, which is pretty comfortable, Celestron also provides a harness strap, but it’s not something I will use. There's a soft carrying case made of rubber-coated fabric which provides padding to protect the optics. The lid closes with a pressure-opening clasp. There is also an outer pouch for lens cleaning tools or whatever. A good, simple and functional case. 

Celestron Granite 10x42 ED

All in all, I like these Granites a lot. They offer a great level of optical quality and usability for £200. They continue the trend of making high-quality glass available to those who don’t have £thousands to spend on binoculars. Anyone in the market for a low-cost birding glass, should consider snapping up one of these bargains while they are still available for around £200. 

I just looked again on the Internet where I found just one supplier still offering the same 10x42 model at £199.99. Amazon came in at £240, a number of outlets wanted £299 and one asked £310.00. 

Alternatively, for badge freaks top of the range 10x42 binoculars from Swarovski, Zeiss and Leica bins all retail around the £1900 mark. 

Linking today to Anni's Birding and Eileen's Viewing Nature. 

An Apple A Day

Here’s wishing every one my readers a Happy, Prosperous, Optimistic and Bird Filled New Year. 

The first post of 2020 concerns the common Blackbird Turdus merula. 

The Blackbird is ubiquitous in these parts, so common that it rarely makes the bird headlines. On a Rarity Scale of one to ten the mundane and seemingly uninteresting Blackbird scores a resounding zero to most birders. 

Since early December there have been lots of Blackbirds in my garden with an average count of 15 on any given day but now in the New Year down to a handful. But on dull, rainy days I’ve taken a closer look at the numbers together with their diverse appearance and behaviour. 

Blackbird 

Our Blackbird is also called Eurasian Blackbird, especially in North America. This is to distinguish it from unrelated New World icterids (e.g tanagers) and species that have “blackbird” in their title (e.g. Red-winged Blackbird, Melodious Blackbird), birds which have a superficial resemblance to the Blackbird even though they are unrelated by evolution. 

Blackbird

It may not be immediately apparent why the name "blackbird", first recorded in 1486, was applied to this species and not to one of the other common black English birds, such as the Carrion Crow, Raven, Rook, or Jackdaw.  In Old English, and in modern English up to about the 18th century, "bird" was used only for smaller or young birds, and larger ones such as crows were called "fowl". At that time, the Blackbird was the only widespread and conspicuous "black bird" in the British Isles. (Wiki).

Blackbird

Turdus merula breeds in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has a number of subspecies across its large range; a few of the Asian subspecies are sometimes considered to be full species. The Blackbird is but one member of the genus Turdus, one of  about 65 species of medium to large thrushes dotted around the world.  Depending on latitude, the common Blackbird may be resident, partially migratory, or fully migratory. 

In the last four weeks Blackbirds, resident, migratory or maybe even fully migratory cleaned me out of apples, not a six-pack from Tesco, but dozens and dozens of windfalls left in the garden since September. 

During early September we, the family and neighbours took our fill of this year’s bumper crop of Granny Smiths until apple crumble, apple pie, apple charlotte, baked apple, apple cake and fried apples came out of our ears.  Just along Grange Lane our friend Stinky the Pig welcomed a few bags of slightly bruised apples and grunted in delight at our generosity. 

Stinky

Blackbirds eat apples and many types of soft fruit. I know from experience that they like blackberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, cherries grapes, plums, damsons and even kiwi fruit. They don’t seem keen on pineapple - very wise; neither do I - more so when it defaces a crusty pizza. 

Blackbird

Blackbird

In Australia where the Blackbird was introduced in the 19th century it is now considered a pest because it damages a variety of soft fruits in orchards, parks and gardens including berries, cherries, stone fruit and grapes. 

Meanwhile and by the middle of September when we left for a Greek holiday all the fallen apples were deliberately left for the onset of cold weather and the annual arrival of thrushes. By early December it was good to see 15/20 Blackbirds on most days, the only member of the thrush tribe, with no garden sightings of Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing or Fieldfare. We had few days of real frost, ice or snow during that period. 

Blackbird

And now in January 2020 as the apples have shrunk to morsels of apple skin and not much else, the Blackbirds have mostly left in search of other bounty. 

There’s been the full range of Blackbirds. Both male and female adults, first winters of both sexes, black ones, brown ones and grey toned ones. We’ve had males & females with yellow bills, and then dark-billed Blackbirds of both sexes. Size was apparent with both large and small Blackbirds, plus some of intermediate size. 

Blackbird

The large ones, especially the yellow-billed males, threw their weight around by way of chasing off the less dominant dark bills from an apple that they themselves took a liking to. I suspect these were local birds defending both an apple and their familiar winter territory. 

Females have seemed less aggressive, submissive even, in allowing themselves to be chased away from an apple and content to find an alternative. Meanwhile larger females would also chase away other females and even less dominant males. 

There’s no doubt that many, many dozens of Blackbirds took advantage of our apple bonanza and that a number of them were "Continental Blackbirds", winter immigrants escaping the colder temperatures of Europe. 

Blackbird

Blackbird

Blackbird 

Blackbird

Yep!  Blackbirds are definitely worth a second look.  A 1/10 if ever I saw one.

Linking today to Anni's Birding in Texas and also to Eileen's Saturday Blogging. Take a look and join in.

Value Added Birding

Tuesday morning - New Year’s Eve. There was a thin layer of frost on the windscreen but it soon cleared once the heated screen kicked in. On Monday evening Andy had convinced me we should have another go at the Linnets at Gulf Lane despite the little monkeys playing hard to get by refusing our bait for several weeks. 

Fifteen minutes later I’d parked at the gate to see Andy already striding out over the field towards Linnet Square. It was 0800, zero degrees, zero wind and clear skies. Perfect. 

Linnet Square 

We set the whoosh net, added a single shelf mist net along Linnet Road, crossed our fingers and then sat waiting in the car supping a coffee to warm icy fingers. At last, we caught a few - 13 birds - 12 Linnets (10 first winter males, 2 first winter females) and a single adult male Chaffinch. 

 Linnet

Chaffinch 

Linnet 

Continuous counts and observation throughout the morning saw about 150 very mobile Linnets. They are so flighty, easily startled and reluctant to settle that they seem to use an awful lot of energy simply airborne, going round and around. The busy roadside plot means that whenever a largish vehicle passes, e.g. a tractor, large van or vehicle + trailer, the whole flock takes flight yet again. 

The autumn/winter totals here at year end stand at 40 Linnet, 1 Dunnock, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Reed Bunting. 

This is somewhat disappointing as it means we have been unable to continue investigating “the Scottish connection” due to not catching more Linnets from Scotland and vice-versa, Scottish ringers catching Linnets ringed here at Pilling. But fingers crossed again that a couple more successful visits could increase the data we collect while putting more ringed Linnets into circulation for the coming spring and summer. 

In previous winters we considered that a number of the Scottish Linnets we catch have belonged to the sub-species Linaria cannabina autochthona because of their size and colouration. This now seems unlikely since correspondence and further investigation suggest that autochthona (Clancey, 1946) may not exist as a subspecies and that the sometimes substantial variation in a number of the Linnets we catch is due to clinal variation only of Linaria cannabina. 

This is a subject worthy of complete investigation by an ornithologist with the time, determination and due diligence to invest in a single project. Value added birding perhaps? 

It’s my New Year Resolution too. Try and add a little value to my own birding expeditions. 

As we approach January 1st the airwaves and Internet buzz with messages about target species for the Big Day and New Year Listers. 

You know the type. Four up cars loaded with scopes, bins and cameras and a list of places and birds scrawled on the back of fag packets or loaded on the Smartphone. Birds already identified and confirmed for them. Bang, slam, chatter, chatter, tick, tick, bang, slam and off they go to the next one on the list at the following hot-spot rather than spending additional time in the same place. Here  they might have to look at common birds or find a bird of their own. And heaven forbid, learn about species, their life histories, their migration, where birds fit into the bigger picture of avifauna or the world at large. 

Isn’t that what birding is all about? 

Cambridge Dictionary - “Bird-watching is the activity of watching and studying wild birds in their natural surroundings, unlike ornithology - engaging in the study of birds using more formal scientific methods." 

Two rants this week. I think that’s the histrionics over for a while. Honest. 

Sunny Start, Rain Later.

We have 0900 starts for now until the days lengthen but amazingly or not, our garden Dunnocks and Great Tits are already in song? How do they know? 

Great Tit - CC-BY-SA-3.0

There was sunshine this morning so I kicked off at Linnet Square and dropped yet another bucket of seed at the catching spot where dummy poles mark the line of our whoosh net. Tracks and holes in the soil told me that our seed had been found by small mammals and deer.

Trouble is, the mild, wet weather and the Linnets themselves have conspired to make catching impossible since August. The past three winters have seen a number of counts around the 400/500 mark but this season’s average is around 130 only with and a total catch of just 28, way below our target. The count this morning was 150/160 very mobile Linnets and several Chaffinches, none of which stopped to use our seed while natural food seems still plentiful. The sowing mix the farmer uses is so good that the resultant seed seems to last right through the winter until the flock disperses in March. 

Linnets 

Linnet Square 

There was the usual Kestrel, 2 Stock Dove and a single Little Egret. 

When fifteen minutes later I stopped at Conder Green the effect of the continued mild weather was noted again by way of a female/first winter Marsh Harrier. A "Gold Top", circling over the back of the pool and behind the bund, pursued all the way by a complaining Magpie. 

Marsh Harrier  

It was roughly 20/25 years ago that Marsh Harriers were something of a rarity in this part of Fylde, central Lancashire. It was around that time that Marsh Harriers began to breed in the northernmost part of the county at Silverdale, since when the species has never looked back by increasing its spread and numbers into more southern parts of the county. 

In recent years the  harriers seem able to survive through the winter months by preying on the abundant wildfowl in their chosen wetlands. There have been sporadic attempts to breed on farmland here in Fylde but with very limited success. 

The harrier was the highlight of the pool with little else to cheer except the continued and consistent presence of 140+ Teal in the tidal creeks. Otherwise it was 15 Redshank, 4 Curlew, 24 Wigeon and singles of Little Grebe, Little Egret and Grey Heron. 

Little Egret

Grey Heron  

Teal 

There was a second Grey Heron at Glasson Dock along with 25 Tufted Duck but zero Goldeneye. The Goldeneyes tend to fly into Glasson Dock at the onset of ice and snow. Our wintry days with zero temperatures have so far been counted on one hand. 

I looked for the harrier in the fields beyond the pool with no luck except for two quite separate gaggles of geese, 20 Greylags and 19 Pink-footed Geese. Never the twain shall meet. 

Glasson Dock 

Greylags 

Pink-footed Geese

By 11am clouds rolled in and rain began to fall. I reluctantly headed home after an interesting few hours and a forecast for Tuesday of a decent day. 

Andy thinks we should try for a catch of Linnets but I’m not so sure. 

Doom And Gloom

A Happy New Year to all my readers, regular or new. Apologies for a lack of recent posts and there being few pictures today. I have been on a short sabbatical or as Sue might say, "What are you thinking about?" 

In the coming year of 4,500,000,001, we approach a new scientific age and leave behind Old Religion to embrace a new age of enlightenment. We must realise that The Earth is 4.5 billion years old (give or take several million) existing within a cosmos of unimaginable dimensions where other planets are many, many light years away. 

(Part of) Our Universe 

Year 2020 is but an arbitrary date invented by Man, a fantasy of ideas, myth and religious stories. For now in 4,500,000,001 and as a climate catastrophe engulfs our tiny world we must prepare and survive by adopting the New Religion of Climate Change. 

Fortunately we have a new god to replace the old - Doom Goblin, a child” activist”, together with a band of vocal preachers in the form of the secular BBC and mainstream media to constantly remind us of impending disaster and the coming of the Extinction. Whether the last day arrives via a flood of biblical proportions or as a bolt from on high they have yet to reveal, but it all sounds remarkably similar to stories in the now obsolete Bible.  Apparently the BBC Environment Editor Roger Harrabin “reports what he thinks is true” and is “a journalist”. He is clearly not a scientist, nor is he willing to entertain discussion or debate about climate change alarmism. 

The BBC and other media is unapologetic and well-practised in telling people what to think and how to go about their lives. Their bias against Brexit is still plain to see, so too their diversity and political correctness policies that make TV programmes unwatchable and leaves newspapers redundant. Unless of course you think that Strictly Come Dancing, Eastenders, Channel Four "News", and the Daily Mirror are cultural highs while waiting for Noah’s Ark to arrive? 

But what goodies we enjoy via this new found religion as we await The End. Electric cars that glide silently London to Glasgow (one way only) or Smart Meters that cut off the gas and electric should a householder over-consume. Or rotating Bat and Bird detectors that litter our once green and pleasant land with corpses; blades that kill but which if the wind doth blow, can produce enough electricity to make a few cups of tea? And what of the advance that Northern Hemisphere Solar Energy provides during gloomy winter days in The Northern Isles?  Or maybe you fancy a pair of hemp slippers (£29.99 free delivery) that when worn out (very quickly) can be a light snack or a crafty smoke, whichever takes your fancy. 

The list is not endless, unlike the uninterrupted propaganda and marketing of overpriced “green” goods. Now if I was a cynic, I might conclude that someone somewhere is making a tidy sum out of Climate Change.  Including the BBC. 

The changes in climate, formerly known as Meteorology is the study of climate that is in a constant state of flux on a day-to-day, monthly or yearly basis; sometimes micro sometimes macro, but always unstable. 

Even a tiny search of the Internet reveals that modern climate global record-keeping began roughly 140 years ago, in 1880 only. That's because earlier available climate data doesn't cover enough of the planet to get an accurate reading. The computation of many types of records, including personal, financial, climate and anthropogenic records didn’t begin until the late 1960/early 1970s with increasingly sophisticated computers. 

There is evidence that the changes we see are due to a 1,500-year climate cycle, a phenomenon which produced more than a dozen global warmings similar to the current circumstances since the last Ice Age, and that such warmings are linked to variations in the sun's irradiance and solar energy. 

If only George Orwell were alive today to cut through the lies, deceit and crap we are fed and to ferret out the countless omissions to which we are not privy. He might deduce by some strange quirk of the time machine that he’d arrived at Animal Farm in the year of Nineteen Eighty Four. He wouldn’t be wrong. 

“Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure. On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?” 

George Orwell 

Dear Reader.  Do not worry unduly. I'm thinking the end is not nigh and that I may be back soon in the real world with birds, bird photos and bird news. Stay tuned but if you see a large vessel arriving at your door, dial 999 and ask for Police Constable Noah.

More Canaries

I'm out of action. For today’s post I put together more archived material. This selection is from January 2013, a winter escape to Fuerteventura, just 60 miles from the coast of Morocco, North Africa.

Fuerteventura is the oldest Canary Island, formed about 70 million years ago as a result of volcanic activity. The geographical position of Fuerteventura means that for many tens of thousands of years sand from the Sahara has been deposited on Fuerteventura's shores, resulting in 125 miles of the world's finest beaches. 

Beach Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura Beach

Little Egret

I volunteered to check out a few beaches for waders and clocked up Kentish Plover, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling, Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew.  Lots of Sandwich Terns buzzed along the shoreline too, West Africa being a hot-spot for seeing the species.

Sanderling 

Kentish Plover

Whimbrel

Sandwich Tern

Anyone planning a trip to Fuerteventura should be forewarned that the island is something of an exhibitionist paradise.  Couples of all persuasions think nothing of walking hand in hand along  the fine sand beaches.

Beach Bums, Fuerteventura  

Although holding a certain attraction, the beaches of Fuerteventura weren’t the sole interest of the holiday. A hire car for a few days gave a chance to explore the island although at approximately 650 square miles there’s a lot of ground to cover. A pure white car may not have been ideal for approaching cautious birds like Cream-coloured Courser, Stone Curlew or Houbara Bustard, the birds of the sandy plains.

Fuerteventura

Over the Plains Fuerteventura

Cream-coloured Courser

Stone Curlew

There were lots of Lesser Short-toed Larks on the dry, open plains with small gangs of Linnets and occasional Desert Grey Shrikes. The Linnets were very unapproachable, likewise the Goldfinches that can be glimpsed in greener parts of the island. The Linnets in the Canary Islands belong to the race/subspecies Linaria cannabina mediterranea, and in these desert islands have a sandy appearance. 

Linnet

Desert Grey Shrike

Lesser Short-toed Lark

We journeyed through the centre of the island through the village of Betancuria and on to the highest parts of the island at 600 metres, giving a spectacular outlook on the landscape below and distant views of an Egyptian Vulture. This species is apparently now rare on the island as they are elsewhere in its range and we had just two sightings of the vulture in two weeks.

Egyptian Vulture

Fuerteventura January 2013

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura, January 2013.

Inland birds and around the village of Betancuria proved to be Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Kestrel, African Blue Tit, Spectacled Warbler and Trumpeter Finch. The latter three were all new birds for me with the wary Trumpeter Finch a particular favourite, due to its slightly comical appearance.

Betancuria - Fuerteventura

Betancuria - Fuerteventura

Trumpeter Finch

A few Spectacled Warblers were in song, and we guessed the breeding season to be early in these parts.

Spectacled Warbler

The so named Canary Islands Stonechat Saxicola dacotiae is found only on Fuerteventura where it is said to frequent dried up river beds, the "barrancos", dotted around the island. I found them in a couple of locations where houses ran down to the beach, one time finding one feeding on the tide wrack with Berthelot’s Pipits. This endemic species is very like a very dark-headed Whinchat rather than a Stonechat but it has the chat like habits of both.

Berthelot's Pipit

Canary Islands Stonechat - CC-BY-2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

 

Fuerteventura

We enjoyed our single visit to Fuerteventura and Costa Calma, a large bay approximately 1.5 km long.  Southwards it is possible to walk along the beach to Morro Jable for approximately 21 km.  

Costa Calma Hotel

In the quiet parts of the hotel grounds were Spanish Sparrows, a pair of Hoopoes, the resident Kestrel and at least one White Wagtail, following  the gardener’s watering hosepipe so as to locate insects. There were Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs about the grounds but they kept out of sight in the strong sunshine of most days.

Hoopoe 

 Spanish Sparrow

Kestrel

African Market, Costa Calma

As very birder knows, there’s a price to pay for a spot of birding, brownie points to be earned and then banked for another day with bins and camera. Here in Costa Calma it’s the “African” market where bartering is the order of the day followed by a glass or two of wine reflecting on the fading light and planning the day to come.

Fuerteventura

More soon. Stay tuned.

Linking this post to Anni's Birding Blog and Eileen's Saturday.