tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58278579153137107532024-02-20T02:26:13.423-08:00Lighthouse JournalRich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-63986995925753039732013-01-27T12:31:00.001-08:002013-01-27T12:31:39.769-08:00We've moved! As many of you know, we're now the Wardens of Skokholm Island. It's a fantastic place, Britain's first Bird Observatory, home to Britain's densest <b>Manx Shearwater </b>colony and largest <b>Storm Petrel </b>colony, with 5,000 <b>Puffins </b>and stunning scenery. We'll be living in the Lighthouse, monitoring the wildlife, running the guest accommodation and trying to reestablish the Bird Observatory. Exciting times! To follow our adventure, visit our new blog at <a href="http://skokholm.blogspot.co.uk/">skokholm.blogspot.co.uk</a> and click on the bar to the right to Follow us. Thanks for all the visits and comments on this blog and we'll see you on the other side.Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-36211286567050923482012-12-21T13:42:00.000-08:002012-12-26T05:39:19.267-08:00November on Bardsey proved to be a massive disappointment
bird wise. We decided that a holiday was the only medicine and that the oft
suggested winter trip to the South of France, specifically Les Baux and the
Camargue, should become a reality. So we teamed up with birding legend Dave
Boyle of Skomer Island, our future neighbour, and went Easy Jet for a week birding. Recent trip reports were not particularly recent, most coming from the
89p a flight era of nearly a decade ago. But we figured that not too much would
have changed and targeted sites previously good for our most wanted species.
What follows is a brief account of events between the 11th and 18th December
2012.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day two:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where’s day one you ask? Well it was an afternoon of travel
and, as we left Marseilles in our five-door Renault, darkness was already
descending. Naively stumbling upon a toll road, Dave Boyle was not flustered, and four euros later we vowed never to find ourselves on it again. We stayed in the Hotel Lemon on the outskirts of Tarascon, a 29euro
per night motel popular with passing workmen. Trip Advisor would perhaps put
you off staying here. But the 29euros is for the room, which will sleep up to
three. So it’s very cheap, clean and perfectly positioned. You couldn’t want
more if all you’re doing there is sleeping. We were particularly pleased that we opted out of the 3.90euros petite-dejeuner which on the poster was an array of sausages, hash browns and grilled tomatoes. In reality it was a loaf of bread and a couple of sachets of Marmite. The Lemon is about 20 minutes from
the amazing Les Baux, a rocky outcrop on the end of the Alpilles Mountains
topped by a Chateau carved into the Limestone crags. The scenery is amazing,
but more importantly the cliffs provide classic winter habitat for the
remarkable <b>Wallcreeper</b> and the Chateau traditionally harbours <b>Alpine
Accentors</b>. As the sun rose on our first morning one thing was clear – it
was knobbing freezing. But not to be deterred we set out to look for our number
one target bird, the majestic, crimson-winged <b>Wallcreeper</b>. The trip reports suggested we find a sign marked ‘the
village’ before hanging a right past a statue of the Virgin Mary. The sign has
been removed and replaced with a post that looks capable of supporting a sign
in the future. The path is at the end of the pay and display parking area when
heading down hill on the D78F. The Virgin Mary is still there and marks the
start of the path which leads anticlockwise around the base of the cliffs. We
headed to the sunny east face and soon found an <b>Alpine Accentor</b> high on the cliffs. Conveniently enough, this bird
hopped its way towards a <b>Wallcreeper</b>.
It was mega. Two hours into our first morning and we’d already nailed two
stunning alpine specialists. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HveyGjqX2wfRyfi7-_tXre7_hLbu30vBj-SLj4EntVXT_NUHnFIJ0QnidODWispkAQYJW9byWzvvCqFJg2k5x2Uz2p9ZFugIjsGFI0R2aniI4VRAPxX8u2-mwEs7RF5d_EKw7Dp1GPA/s1600/IMG_8654+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HveyGjqX2wfRyfi7-_tXre7_hLbu30vBj-SLj4EntVXT_NUHnFIJ0QnidODWispkAQYJW9byWzvvCqFJg2k5x2Uz2p9ZFugIjsGFI0R2aniI4VRAPxX8u2-mwEs7RF5d_EKw7Dp1GPA/s640/IMG_8654+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvc6pHdqAw3CXwljFbhus2PaBwfd8FiqGIGbPITkO4PUmPugIPZY1q1N4I1pk2-DzMqrcciPRjmTCktijn0sNvZXuZooHJCIm72jiXoGZk1LdC1WJ3ZzO3j_7mKzz2JmsGkLUaTLZa4A/s1600/IMG_8663+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvc6pHdqAw3CXwljFbhus2PaBwfd8FiqGIGbPITkO4PUmPugIPZY1q1N4I1pk2-DzMqrcciPRjmTCktijn0sNvZXuZooHJCIm72jiXoGZk1LdC1WJ3ZzO3j_7mKzz2JmsGkLUaTLZa4A/s640/IMG_8663+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The Wallcreeper. So
mental that it gets a Family to itself. It’s nearly a Nuthatch, but not quite.
Its long toes and claws are perfectly evolved for clinging to the rocks and its
disproportionately large wings allow it to gain height in updraughts with
minimum energy expenditure. They show wintering site fidelity and clearly Les
Baux is to their liking. © Richard Brown<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lLu6o85o0xi2Wy4ZfWFqA2wsLvSd1SusDEL3PpmJOSoHBdxW4Zsz-BqmPSmnkC0QUxQAuTpQf_0zlxZZ24a6p2Pup2TjBB311qUxOFSnByRYG-1wK7F9yjjEmL6g_Q9l-kDppvyBnD4/s1600/DSC_0588+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lLu6o85o0xi2Wy4ZfWFqA2wsLvSd1SusDEL3PpmJOSoHBdxW4Zsz-BqmPSmnkC0QUxQAuTpQf_0zlxZZ24a6p2Pup2TjBB311qUxOFSnByRYG-1wK7F9yjjEmL6g_Q9l-kDppvyBnD4/s640/DSC_0588+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0sHkTepxApPLB4qIknOV225WkP17VK7aqk0jDgwm-jdffZxXi5IHkvSbRjJNTaHQkckQRaKDItldJNIDMK6yqbDit17fdoptxFtm72bHftf0tSzpSubIBRprZ3ql6EkzzIYdCiZtcic/s1600/DSC_0592+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0sHkTepxApPLB4qIknOV225WkP17VK7aqk0jDgwm-jdffZxXi5IHkvSbRjJNTaHQkckQRaKDItldJNIDMK6yqbDit17fdoptxFtm72bHftf0tSzpSubIBRprZ3ql6EkzzIYdCiZtcic/s640/DSC_0592+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Rich scanning the cliffs opposite Les Baux and the faces to the South of the Chateau where the Wallcreeper favoured. There is a depiction in the Chateau of an invader getting thrown off the cliffs; there is a reasonable chance of Wallcreeper on the way down. © Giselle Eagle</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The calls of <b>Jackdaws</b>
echoed around the cliffside and <b>Black
Redstarts</b> and <b>Sardinian Warblers</b>
flitted around the scrub either side of the path. The <b>Wallcreeper</b>, although high, gave excellent scope views as it fed on
the cliffs, constantly flicking its wings. We headed back to the Mary statue
and then on up to the Chateau itself. Entry is now 8euros per person but it is
well worth it. The castle is an amazing feat of engineering, partly carved into
the cliffs, partly built up into massive towers. The green areas around the
grounds held plenty of <b>Blackcaps</b>, <b>Sardinian Warblers</b> and <b>Serins</b>. The Westerly field, home to
France’s largest trebuchet and several other machines of war, held 11 <b>Alpine Accentors</b> which moved between
here, the graveyard and an area which must be home to archery in the tourist
season. We had the birds to ourselves and they performed ridiculously well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLTI23mYZ12LPB7fSzThvPxJblVEgyU3tBPSD_lMhehoP7zjtQX5kW2yljDd42aiNqX5sjh4VoShgHRPjJKxEqQVbHg5CkH7rDObLa9dHmmfIBbmr60BmCy3mlutDq7SasIUiiVsrhdU/s1600/IMG_8033+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLTI23mYZ12LPB7fSzThvPxJblVEgyU3tBPSD_lMhehoP7zjtQX5kW2yljDd42aiNqX5sjh4VoShgHRPjJKxEqQVbHg5CkH7rDObLa9dHmmfIBbmr60BmCy3mlutDq7SasIUiiVsrhdU/s640/IMG_8033+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4MZqi3jjaT_VpLnagQpgZ_HMlMn_q3WP27ElgVDi3ORGLENjYB8Ayq4mL6owATzrrAn1BEpjwfB3r_IAs5qoccD7_BEHIWtZikHnxQS8SOdxW1J9eJMc6ZppAe9Z7wlbK4UEoUu9_IE/s1600/IMG_8067+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4MZqi3jjaT_VpLnagQpgZ_HMlMn_q3WP27ElgVDi3ORGLENjYB8Ayq4mL6owATzrrAn1BEpjwfB3r_IAs5qoccD7_BEHIWtZikHnxQS8SOdxW1J9eJMc6ZppAe9Z7wlbK4UEoUu9_IE/s640/IMG_8067+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U27zvAnet8XJu-qc15OOcnhOOQIOW0QrbE0_MbQVs6G6rFaOh4nfUmTtJl7MlmN8b86-VZVZGZ-QGPT2opw9KgM3ihbTNCm1oiTVS8nYl9yj2rMSiErLGDhAkdVEqqeGLbABBbFgU5U/s1600/IMG_8191+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U27zvAnet8XJu-qc15OOcnhOOQIOW0QrbE0_MbQVs6G6rFaOh4nfUmTtJl7MlmN8b86-VZVZGZ-QGPT2opw9KgM3ihbTNCm1oiTVS8nYl9yj2rMSiErLGDhAkdVEqqeGLbABBbFgU5U/s640/IMG_8191+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEtRvfJGy8KwOuoKbOerHcObT2KivvzQzM21s1KuLAuI8JUy0CnXrunylj7OVn3hA2XwHZA_t6SkV9_jTlRE2c9_tJwTjUBqqsl_JAOFJyi6pEweqzNHJJiOCuy9VDUGGvUhU2cf511Y/s1600/IMG_8218+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEtRvfJGy8KwOuoKbOerHcObT2KivvzQzM21s1KuLAuI8JUy0CnXrunylj7OVn3hA2XwHZA_t6SkV9_jTlRE2c9_tJwTjUBqqsl_JAOFJyi6pEweqzNHJJiOCuy9VDUGGvUhU2cf511Y/s640/IMG_8218+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASwsfXvj9hisZ7dUGz9npLBpcV8sOa6xhMCMoJ0NKqwaSOtv1dyU1yirzz7QFKg1LzzF6eilXr8vP5o9fTxaTyB-dVX5NoFdMIf1Osg1pQ9VUX087VztmIOIrUcuJZYmuUGj85hehehk/s1600/IMG_8221+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASwsfXvj9hisZ7dUGz9npLBpcV8sOa6xhMCMoJ0NKqwaSOtv1dyU1yirzz7QFKg1LzzF6eilXr8vP5o9fTxaTyB-dVX5NoFdMIf1Osg1pQ9VUX087VztmIOIrUcuJZYmuUGj85hehehk/s640/IMG_8221+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQOCU6qru3JJvBeys0YGERDucXNqHitRkDwrfvoVVuRxNlYDvzPSs1kK4YqlGt08IBZmI0r2EHDiMrqqGz3AVt6CWmcNstgNV86aWSxc14w0W7PpNUuNbHE0q7Slp9aqt4r1nf3BMMws/s1600/IMG_8305+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQOCU6qru3JJvBeys0YGERDucXNqHitRkDwrfvoVVuRxNlYDvzPSs1kK4YqlGt08IBZmI0r2EHDiMrqqGz3AVt6CWmcNstgNV86aWSxc14w0W7PpNUuNbHE0q7Slp9aqt4r1nf3BMMws/s640/IMG_8305+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGrM0MykMuLL-3PidgulJdjkAU_T6Jh4wmlTkcFRPQj5vmvXN__9bcWgMumlickzTUujxg6qdxa9djfLer6nWQp3kW1INFnXimOleDlNz_9EDGRvDYj3hEnpcTAmKE_Q1WlXV6H1RMzE/s1600/IMG_8310+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGrM0MykMuLL-3PidgulJdjkAU_T6Jh4wmlTkcFRPQj5vmvXN__9bcWgMumlickzTUujxg6qdxa9djfLer6nWQp3kW1INFnXimOleDlNz_9EDGRvDYj3hEnpcTAmKE_Q1WlXV6H1RMzE/s640/IMG_8310+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnyvsI2aEO_bqFUS9dB2_PFHoQ69qeWW8etdX94nh0lQgD38dH3_pextWFUj4dAMoLEfa6LKNMfO4K-ePRbhG3U_3XOPIq2AZrQ8N5DJMaubHYVVDrolR-qUxf-y6lcVfiViJoRHklEs/s1600/IMG_8330+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnyvsI2aEO_bqFUS9dB2_PFHoQ69qeWW8etdX94nh0lQgD38dH3_pextWFUj4dAMoLEfa6LKNMfO4K-ePRbhG3U_3XOPIq2AZrQ8N5DJMaubHYVVDrolR-qUxf-y6lcVfiViJoRHklEs/s640/IMG_8330+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9_4a9qgb9NzIVF_PzcduDtSWPp9WpGB2zBsLJcNh6I8LVAm8PVbRY3PGGKdiXvqvnVobtzOy9tX97zmB4CAabMgAaBM8P6HDGPQ5CVuCT2sFfQCtFwHJBEy7iAQsJ_XOoJC3baEA6H8/s1600/IMG_8378+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9_4a9qgb9NzIVF_PzcduDtSWPp9WpGB2zBsLJcNh6I8LVAm8PVbRY3PGGKdiXvqvnVobtzOy9tX97zmB4CAabMgAaBM8P6HDGPQ5CVuCT2sFfQCtFwHJBEy7iAQsJ_XOoJC3baEA6H8/s640/IMG_8378+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kpNPLYb9P5CJRyxUt4qJz7yzMeFzW2rYOV_wAIDK6cxsFvHbdMCbAZr-OwG7oCprTiJQG5t5QHM1nLW3VYj92y9ptbWyNl-VMFF6UpKrswQHGX2f6ibQZBbggXv3CfbJZfRSpzhyphenhyphenemc/s1600/IMG_8414+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kpNPLYb9P5CJRyxUt4qJz7yzMeFzW2rYOV_wAIDK6cxsFvHbdMCbAZr-OwG7oCprTiJQG5t5QHM1nLW3VYj92y9ptbWyNl-VMFF6UpKrswQHGX2f6ibQZBbggXv3CfbJZfRSpzhyphenhyphenemc/s640/IMG_8414+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
They generally
hang out above 2000m so Les Baux, at around 310m, is a rather handy place to
catch up with these monster accentors. There are 34 British records, the most recent from Norfolk in 2004. If we find one on Skokholm it will only be the third for Wales following birds in 1870 and 1997. © Richard Brown<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsheqOH6ikNyvBBAnxnLCtzsv7CNI-k18FU6c9MU7Q8t8NRjLkrb4i2Q3zgRKqmhmTdCG6vcLKs1Lb5Ksl0swxV6X48cgq1Tx4S0_79pmrcm5kTPUozS0Sx7nf-OUHVzQszkHajnWUjc/s1600/DSC_0649+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsheqOH6ikNyvBBAnxnLCtzsv7CNI-k18FU6c9MU7Q8t8NRjLkrb4i2Q3zgRKqmhmTdCG6vcLKs1Lb5Ksl0swxV6X48cgq1Tx4S0_79pmrcm5kTPUozS0Sx7nf-OUHVzQszkHajnWUjc/s640/DSC_0649+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The Alpine Accentors
are very confiding. Rich was not run over by the JCB. © Giselle Eagle</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a warming pizza in the village we returned to the
bottom path. The <b>Wallcreeper</b> was
nowhere to be found but a male <b>Blue Rock
Thrush</b> showed well and flocks of <b>Crested
Tits</b> and <b>Firecrests </b>were feeding
in the path side vegetation. Les Baux had totally impressed and was clearly still
as good as previously reported. So would L’Hotel Mas d’Oulivie still be as good
for Eagle Owls as it was at the time of previous reports. The hotel, not far
out of Les Baux on the D78F, is skirted to the south by a track which leads to
a red fire hydrant and the previously recommended view point. The trees have
probably grown up a bit since these reports, but we found that a quick walk
along the track, forking right, comes to a nice little Olive Grove which allows
close views of the crags. It was still icy cold but a friendly dog-walking lady
assured us that ‘le Grand-duc’ could be seen on the cliffs from which <b>Jays </b>were noisily departing. Luckily Boyle had gend up on the French name for this monstrous owl and we were able to nod and say 'oui' at the right moments in the conversation. We felt that a sweeping flyby was imminent. Not on day
two however. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day three:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We knew in advance that the weather on day three would be
wet. But we were prepared for this and figured that the Camargue would be our
best bet; not only could we bird from the car and hides but perhaps the wet
would be good for seeing Stripeless Tree Frog. Incidentally, the weather
forecast we printed out before leaving was correct for the entire trip. We
arrived at La Capeliere on the Eastern fringe of Etang de Vaccares for dawn. A
minimum of 90 <b>Black-necked Grebes</b>
were close in to the road and the first two <b>Slender-billed Gulls</b> of the holiday went over. <b>Greater Flamingos</b> were in several bays and ponds and several <b>Buzzards</b> and occasional <b>Hen </b>and <b>Marsh Harriers</b> were along the road which also rang with the
calls of <b>Green Sandpipers</b>. The
reserves at La Capeliere and Salin-de-Badon failed to produce either Moustached
Warbler or the tree frog. We did however have good views of a <b>White Stork</b>, <b>Dartford Warbler</b> and the walks were to
an accompaniment of calling <b>Water Rails</b>
and <b>Cetti’s Warblers</b>. We headed
around the north fringe of Etang de Vaccares in worsening rain. It wasn’t going
to be a day for the large raptors we hoped might be wintering in the area but
we headed on down to Mas de Cacharel by Etang de l’Imperial where a flock of <b>Red-crested Pochards</b> headed over
northwards. The expected wildfowl and commoner waders and gulls lined several
roadside pools but the rain was definitely hampering our birding. But even when
so soggy, it was clear that the Camargue had the potential to be pretty special
and the ever present <b>Greater Flamingos </b>were
fantastic. We would return in more clement weather. Our decision to depart had nothing to do with stumbling across several large Frenchmen with several large guns (there is still a lot of hunting in this area). </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UXMaKMEs42cckRKi6QzgY2omfrQ-pLJ4Jt1Y7nimplfJdVsRZ5WFcEhj7wdpaw539-f1-lrG2KCBzz_8tg_jvZFHmUxo5jqLqaaJkZefBN0WQc14i7hNv5JOwPDYOFW_l4fd9FxBmeQ/s1600/IMG_8483+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UXMaKMEs42cckRKi6QzgY2omfrQ-pLJ4Jt1Y7nimplfJdVsRZ5WFcEhj7wdpaw539-f1-lrG2KCBzz_8tg_jvZFHmUxo5jqLqaaJkZefBN0WQc14i7hNv5JOwPDYOFW_l4fd9FxBmeQ/s640/IMG_8483+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Several of the flamingos were ringed, not a massive surprise as roughly 800 chicks are ringed every year to help to understand these fantastic birds which are vulnerable to many factors such as land drainage, pollution and predation. Although they wont do quite so well in the wild, a Greater Flamingo in Adelaide Zoo is at least 77 years old. © Richard Brown</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day four: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was to focus on the dry stony plains of the Crau.
However, dawn saw us arrive at Entressen landfill where traditionally masses
of gulls and raptors came to scavenge. None of us are French speakers, but the
signs seemed to suggest that the tip was capped in 2005. Either that or the fine for trespassing was 2005euros. It’s now a big green
hill no doubt easily visible from space. We headed for the Crau and accessed
the plains through the village of Vergieres before slowly driving the dirt
tracks. Two <b>Common Cranes </b>were feeding in a
roadside field before the vegetation gave way to an amazing rocky landscape
which has been used as pasture since Roman times. We failed to locate
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and found the plains to be rather bird-free, no doubt due
in part to the wind which must have kept a lot of birds tucked in. A few <b>Lapwings </b>and <b>Golden Plovers</b> would take flight from time to time and <b>Skylarks</b> and an occasional <b>Crested Lark</b> also got up. We also had decent scoped views of three <b>Southern Grey Shrikes</b>. We headed for the more sheltered Mas-Thibert on the banks of the Rhone where we
again failed to find Moustached Warbler. However two <b>Penduline Tits</b> were feeding in one of the reed beds and <b>Hen</b> and <b>Marsh Harriers</b> again gave good views. It was here that we had our
first views of <b>Coypu</b>. As on day
three, the calls of <b>Kingfishers</b>, <b>Green Sandpipers</b>, <b>Curlews</b>, <b>Snipe</b> and <b>Water Pipits</b> were regular around the
ponds and most pools held <b>Little </b>and
<b>Great Egrets</b>. We scanned the Bramble intensively for the illusive Stripeless Tree Frog, but again to no avail. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBknB0MtgOpsA0ZIbYQ8n0W8k8WXknd_KFpSzpYotJRbIKQArvhCt5xyIMRCoQV4oYdtn7cp-XS7tC93tPwvjXrIg1upmkLQ7R6W7Dl-JbhpOuU7qwWWz8rX0eR4je2Szfev1oNdHeoKs/s1600/IMG_8499+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBknB0MtgOpsA0ZIbYQ8n0W8k8WXknd_KFpSzpYotJRbIKQArvhCt5xyIMRCoQV4oYdtn7cp-XS7tC93tPwvjXrIg1upmkLQ7R6W7Dl-JbhpOuU7qwWWz8rX0eR4je2Szfev1oNdHeoKs/s640/IMG_8499+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>One of two Penduline Tits at Mas-Thibert. Male Penduline Tits are not the most faithful of partners. If they see an egg in their nest they will head off to impress another female. But the females aren't daft, and they're also quite keen to leave the male as the only parent and head off themselves to re-pair. But how to keep the male around? The female hides the eggs whenever she leaves the nest and will try to prevent males entering nests where the eggs have been uncovered. </o:p>© Richard Brown</div>
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OgFc2rn9bWCV_vvaCfZy_nxkuNrHFDUVnh5Bt5nY5_RdvRTj2vfK0Nre4YR6m9G9QNO1YclQkjmnGDPHkmio6vyzYO-7BgEwsKx5tABd-1nySXBq1F_IpqRI0t69fPSI28cJdNrtMjE/s1600/IMG_8971+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OgFc2rn9bWCV_vvaCfZy_nxkuNrHFDUVnh5Bt5nY5_RdvRTj2vfK0Nre4YR6m9G9QNO1YclQkjmnGDPHkmio6vyzYO-7BgEwsKx5tABd-1nySXBq1F_IpqRI0t69fPSI28cJdNrtMjE/s640/IMG_8971+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Great Egrets are everywhere around the Camargue, as are Little and Cattle Egrets. Great Egrets bred in England for the first time this year, so perhaps it wont be too long before they are just as common as in the Camargue. © Richard Brown</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>We next searched the area around Le Vallon to the north of Entressen. Two <b>Rock Buntings</b> were on the roadside and a group of at least thirty <b>Little Bustards</b> were feeding and occasionally displaying on a scrubby area of Crau. Two <b>Red-legged Partridge</b> were also in the area. It was still cold and overcast but we again tried for Eagle Owl, this time at the dirt bike track near Le Destet where they were regular several years previously. The habitat looked great, but we again failed to find one of these monster owls.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day five:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had enjoyed Les Baux so much that we decided to start day
five back on the track below the Chateau. A thick fog was below us as the sun
rose in an amazing spectacle which turned the cliffs a golden orange. The
Wallcreeper was obviously admiring the spectacle form elsewhere but two <b>Blue Rock Thrushes</b> were on the cliffs
along with nearly 20 <b>Black Redstarts</b>.
A pair of <b>Cirl Buntings</b> were in the
bushes above the crags and, as the air warmed, <b>Cirl Bunting</b> song mixed with that of the <b>Serins</b>. Following the nearly freezing conditions of the past three
days we found ourselves overdressed as the temperature rose to 16 degrees. We didn't dare complain though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Bs3dAnCApt0b4AfA7Prdi_UU_ym9deLy2Ef_KCUkbMn848BUbhG7ZgBRAECzW0FvRGyrC5HcgTmgP7UsC8TRqf2XTqEWQm9yrw-_i3IBLpMTzkY8KbIxG9BCdKrRlEBF_-pBzuCTSeE/s1600/DSC_0675+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Bs3dAnCApt0b4AfA7Prdi_UU_ym9deLy2Ef_KCUkbMn848BUbhG7ZgBRAECzW0FvRGyrC5HcgTmgP7UsC8TRqf2XTqEWQm9yrw-_i3IBLpMTzkY8KbIxG9BCdKrRlEBF_-pBzuCTSeE/s640/DSC_0675+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7a-2eMv6LyECuI29Y69HvFedgOWjdBdsHDnFgP8YmMKIuftbAGWTWbbldD7uTCmt_k_Zp_YoofN6ahu2Kvxj1_u8oKbsaVR31OPNDY1L0veX8k063JRnfAjeaKAA6sQTBiHXVU8uUMw/s1600/DSC_0677+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7a-2eMv6LyECuI29Y69HvFedgOWjdBdsHDnFgP8YmMKIuftbAGWTWbbldD7uTCmt_k_Zp_YoofN6ahu2Kvxj1_u8oKbsaVR31OPNDY1L0veX8k063JRnfAjeaKAA6sQTBiHXVU8uUMw/s640/DSC_0677+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Giselle enjoying the fantastic birding at Les Baux and the view looking up towards the Chateau from the Southern path. The folks that lived up in the castle were part of an unsuccessful revolt against the Crown, events which led to Cardinal Richelieu of Three Musketeers fame to order its destruction. © Richard Brown</div>
<br />
Suddenly soaring raptors and lizards were on the agenda so we headed for La
Caume, a 4km walk on a paved road to a large TV antenna from which Bonelli’s
Eagles used to be regular. Perhaps they still are, but not on day five. We did
however find <b>Common Wall Lizard </b>on
the way up, along with <b>Hummingbird
Hawkmoths</b> and a <b>Clouded Yellow</b>.
The walk up was surrounded by <b>Crossbills</b>,
<b>Crested Tits</b> and <b>Firecrests</b>. On the scrubby plateau we
again had <b>Dartford Warbler</b> and a <b>Spanish Psammadromus</b> was found lurking. We have always been taught to be wary of lurking <b>Spanish Psammadromus</b>. The lurkier ones are thought to signify an upcoming apocalypse. When this particular creature was viewed in a certain light, its long, slender, tail spelled out 21/12/12. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1JV2ixvvq-i-Fc3XAANuOCftoKZiOgah1naca0TvB6_Iw_SEw8xUZGBanP3I2ZUIbX2OCaODdIyY9arVmAixPzwV-uCZVPYAmcPeU3Xr-u4Tpl95WWoZqMWvRjbH3w9xKnzy2dNx2mg/s1600/IMG_8553+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1JV2ixvvq-i-Fc3XAANuOCftoKZiOgah1naca0TvB6_Iw_SEw8xUZGBanP3I2ZUIbX2OCaODdIyY9arVmAixPzwV-uCZVPYAmcPeU3Xr-u4Tpl95WWoZqMWvRjbH3w9xKnzy2dNx2mg/s640/IMG_8553+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxxmCCRZyJjcV1KoyLYlrsmgLlA4zlA75PL94FyE-KXJjyYrL2J7rVw8-kNh5hAMrTpDON3UTpJZzlP-eQJkyLCfEuOnYlrg1HvwSqXZ_pnnwjgrGDYZPQl15N3EFZes1dWvaMSVNeOk/s1600/IMG_8516+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxxmCCRZyJjcV1KoyLYlrsmgLlA4zlA75PL94FyE-KXJjyYrL2J7rVw8-kNh5hAMrTpDON3UTpJZzlP-eQJkyLCfEuOnYlrg1HvwSqXZ_pnnwjgrGDYZPQl15N3EFZes1dWvaMSVNeOk/s640/IMG_8516+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Spanish Psammodromus or Sand Racer (upper) and Common Wall Lizard (lower), showed well as soon as it warmed up a bit. The Sand Racer has a rather sneaky and successful anti-predator strategy. When threatened it will quickly accelerate, fleeing to the bases of thick bushes and stopping abruptly when cover is reached. It is then difficult to locate due to its cryptic colouration. However, not content with this, the Racer will then nip to a neighbouring bush when the predator is busy searching bush the first. Then the same for bush the second, sometimes even returning to bush the first. Basically they're not keen on going down holes. © Richard Brown</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJr8VdV0V-cavocGH6v02Up_cHByp_UGwTvGVo9vWXUgCtwqDIvAbp8y4EcK4vs83EsMJ7ekBfxrIqCJMpMMb1lTMXrdSRySxUCSoVI0vUZTYGNNVFid-jUXhZBv5xLxJrVB9LCoRiYUk/s1600/DSC_0694+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJr8VdV0V-cavocGH6v02Up_cHByp_UGwTvGVo9vWXUgCtwqDIvAbp8y4EcK4vs83EsMJ7ekBfxrIqCJMpMMb1lTMXrdSRySxUCSoVI0vUZTYGNNVFid-jUXhZBv5xLxJrVB9LCoRiYUk/s640/DSC_0694+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Giselle failing to find Bonelli's Eagle. But then it is France's scarcest breeder with only 29 pairs in 2009. It's a fantastic view and there's plenty other stuff about when the eagles aren't showing. The abundant Rosemary bushes gave proceedings a rather Mediterranean smell. © Richard Brown</div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
After our descent we returned to Les Baux to find that a <b>Wallcreeper</b> was back, obviously undeterred by the impending end of the world. We had great views and it passed overhead twice as it moved to a lower bluff below the path. Stunning. We were on a role and returned to L’Hotel Mas d’Oulivie in beautiful warm evening sunshine. As the last of the evening light left the cliffs a steroidal <b>Eagle Owl</b> flew into view and perched silhouetted on the crags to the left of the valley above the Olive Grove. It later swept along the cliffs and began calling from a tree, and then a boulder, further to the west.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5TcpCfccEOHdoOEWMccjUhtbL4rgxx9argnxifBP220045pA8JV_EyGgdpOvXzDCAKPO5DrZj_Y_2kGroZQm2afn3Tog7U_AxP92RvbJ59lBxi6saCX79LBC4TEzqm2IGdOB-Vd2lCA/s1600/IMG_8691+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5TcpCfccEOHdoOEWMccjUhtbL4rgxx9argnxifBP220045pA8JV_EyGgdpOvXzDCAKPO5DrZj_Y_2kGroZQm2afn3Tog7U_AxP92RvbJ59lBxi6saCX79LBC4TEzqm2IGdOB-Vd2lCA/s640/IMG_8691+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>The photo at 1/30 second doesn't do the views we had justice. It was fantastic. This bird is actually capable of skinning Hedgehogs which are apparently a favoured prey item. They can also take fully grown foxes and common avian prey includes crows, grouse, woodpeckers, herons, ducks, seabirds and geese. They have even been recorded munching on Goshawks, Peregrines, Buzzards and an Egyptian Vulture. Such acts are often referred to as Superpredation - double hard. </o:p>© Richard Brown<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJL8-dOWlskKJ8giAyWztMnzMTtVDdGM-GJjPXQAOIf5vlL5jfpgT5wqP_2ZlLoLoeKpLiwzImBRBi46JTq1yC-G3ZHGUZPnAgfKnpYSHn3C9s6kN-31gi8XRkngUyHvt5nEnFi8AHDg/s1600/DSC_0668+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJL8-dOWlskKJ8giAyWztMnzMTtVDdGM-GJjPXQAOIf5vlL5jfpgT5wqP_2ZlLoLoeKpLiwzImBRBi46JTq1yC-G3ZHGUZPnAgfKnpYSHn3C9s6kN-31gi8XRkngUyHvt5nEnFi8AHDg/s640/DSC_0668+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>The Olive Grove at </o:p>L’Hotel Mas d’Oulivie. The Eagle Owl sweeps through the valley to the right and sits up somewhere on these crags. Or it did for us anyway. © Giselle Eagle</div>
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day six:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was to be the longest drive, but it turned out that
Mont Ventoux was only about 90 minutes away. We ascended the legendary Tour de
France road towards Le Chalet Reynard but briefly stopped on a forest track
where we had a <b>Hawfinch</b> overhead, <b>Redwings</b> calling and the ubiquitous <b>Crested Tits</b>. The area around Chalet
Reynard was birdless, but it was rather early, so we headed west towards the
James Bondian Observatory on the summit but were brought up short by the snow
gates. The area next to the gates held a small flock of <b>Fieldfares </b>and two <b>Alpine
Accentors</b> fed close to the road. We headed out into the snow, working
uphill towards a rather purple grey sky which promised more snow. We were perhaps
200m above the road when we first caught a glimpse of a <b>Snow Finch</b>. The flock was rather mobile and as the snow began we
thought we might be beaten by the weather. However, we turned our backs to the
blizzard and, after a few distant flybys, we eventually secured decent views of two
groups, totaling 21 individuals, as they fed in the moraine between the snow
drifts. They were absolutely fantastic. We were on a high after securing great views of this mega-hard, element-enduring Finch. We dropped back into Chalet Reynard and had a walk around the chalets. <b>Crossbills </b>and <b>Crested Tits</b> were all along the trails and a mixed tit flock coming
in to a bag of seed held five tit species including <b>Crested </b>and <b>Marsh </b>along
with <b>Nuthatches</b>. We failed to find
any Citril Finch which so many people had seen at this site previously. We
called at several picnic sites as we headed back down the mountain but also
dipped on Black Woodpecker. We did however have two <b>Golden Eagles</b> soaring together in the sunshine which had moved in
after the morning snow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1co3ueRNAAaRx-9qevpnyMaJdejg1CbdS3sVU54ZBi9rkjeldsGAE6jq11CrF2MhW8BlxXJcEhXPiWP5d70ZdGFy6rzW4PNwc7v3pgL6PLQNn_SJIyHFrRzs43F9YcdY4i8r2evp6FiE/s1600/IMG_8537+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1co3ueRNAAaRx-9qevpnyMaJdejg1CbdS3sVU54ZBi9rkjeldsGAE6jq11CrF2MhW8BlxXJcEhXPiWP5d70ZdGFy6rzW4PNwc7v3pgL6PLQNn_SJIyHFrRzs43F9YcdY4i8r2evp6FiE/s640/IMG_8537+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>Ernst Stavro Blofeld's gaff at the top of Mont Ventoux. A keen birder, all the supervillain wanted was Snow Finches in his garden. Number 1 knew where the Citril Finches were, but he wanted one million dollars for the gen. </o:p>© Richard Brown</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5wJEGOE22glv53M4Z1BzyhkOuMPRJ6jhdho8T4RUxIk1hQqSPRBYmIWmKqQWrySdAXru4JxnYELMkyLqO4IdpztFM06GCwuE-ZasCZy2JO76ZhhdY9rT1SCuohHU883DHlgwjWECbT8/s1600/IMG_8721+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5wJEGOE22glv53M4Z1BzyhkOuMPRJ6jhdho8T4RUxIk1hQqSPRBYmIWmKqQWrySdAXru4JxnYELMkyLqO4IdpztFM06GCwuE-ZasCZy2JO76ZhhdY9rT1SCuohHU883DHlgwjWECbT8/s640/IMG_8721+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG6qDjuispvQp3kbtdI_4nOh_p2RloOKPjIaUJnEGMqCbs8rhuZ3aFR5ddehePeZflKJO6Zqpdzgm2JTnkuNw_huTq7_7VA4HaQnFZe2Sp_-qhQ6drTrOdjcYj7kZykiBWpAead-O-q4/s1600/IMG_8741+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG6qDjuispvQp3kbtdI_4nOh_p2RloOKPjIaUJnEGMqCbs8rhuZ3aFR5ddehePeZflKJO6Zqpdzgm2JTnkuNw_huTq7_7VA4HaQnFZe2Sp_-qhQ6drTrOdjcYj7kZykiBWpAead-O-q4/s640/IMG_8741+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5VeJ6I9Wo2i8mLEZiPgiDEuskn-NfKQyulCbm56UEjaT9VAHwTbN-Avgn5_qDW1iMrxHKqkBMTvMbWyASLDrEATcaEazr6zPZQsSC2uRSO79UCdqpqGnhIF-OGH1kFcn_2Uaxs01lKo/s1600/IMG_8761+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5VeJ6I9Wo2i8mLEZiPgiDEuskn-NfKQyulCbm56UEjaT9VAHwTbN-Avgn5_qDW1iMrxHKqkBMTvMbWyASLDrEATcaEazr6zPZQsSC2uRSO79UCdqpqGnhIF-OGH1kFcn_2Uaxs01lKo/s640/IMG_8761+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>We had read that peckish Snow Finch and Citril Finch descend into the carpark at Chalet Reynard to enjoy the leftovers from skiers picnics. So Rich promptly ripped up the leftovers of yesterday's baguette and merrily cast them about the carpark for the hungry birds. The conditions got worse, the bread got soggy, the birds did not appear. Skiers and therefore alpine finches must have more expensive tastes in bread than we do. Happily we located the Snow Finches higher up the mountain. </o:p>© Richard Brown<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGUv_uXKg5UeOyCS6INUzZI_26Vwmay5kx9UNPGfFYfTfk9S646OGf0KaQLLWiRcGxcrKgzDnPUqX-w1TKGA0HeZmlf7c6joFyBTO5T9kfqa1kui5WYxaE69blBRcbMX3EzX127TlgA4/s1600/L1420864+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGUv_uXKg5UeOyCS6INUzZI_26Vwmay5kx9UNPGfFYfTfk9S646OGf0KaQLLWiRcGxcrKgzDnPUqX-w1TKGA0HeZmlf7c6joFyBTO5T9kfqa1kui5WYxaE69blBRcbMX3EzX127TlgA4/s640/L1420864+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Searching for Snow Finch on Mont Ventoux. Ventoux means windy in French and speeds of up to 200 miles an hour have been recorded. On average the wind blows at a minimum of 56 miles an hour on 240 days of the year. © Richard Brown</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCwuIySegwdKlmMcdpwKbT8UL_DIfO5GIm78E6gzTOyEI9Oc5qjhzW8bdNgEfv5aNjTHcD6Uwsu0zrCfZ08DQR-aCFk9qGCxyVtKxhIlKAuOUKP_aY6LeDtOyQp5rP3igX2Cgt8ENf_E/s1600/IMG_8786+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCwuIySegwdKlmMcdpwKbT8UL_DIfO5GIm78E6gzTOyEI9Oc5qjhzW8bdNgEfv5aNjTHcD6Uwsu0zrCfZ08DQR-aCFk9qGCxyVtKxhIlKAuOUKP_aY6LeDtOyQp5rP3igX2Cgt8ENf_E/s640/IMG_8786+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>Two sub-adult Golden Eagles over the approach to Chalet Reynard. There are approximately 450 breeding pairs in France and 240 in the French Alps. </o:p>© Richard Brown</div>
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0abSuLpq8ZdzQVXjdl8EKQAADomk8aghWyeH0LfSO0scCXEiKmFeVaKgM_g4srb-nMiL-4BCufLQOKGuyfq-CdqQ-rrEr7vmZ3rB25ykphuoBqPWCFDT4bkHe0QImVf5_qKcW2rDkqRY/s1600/IMG_8766+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0abSuLpq8ZdzQVXjdl8EKQAADomk8aghWyeH0LfSO0scCXEiKmFeVaKgM_g4srb-nMiL-4BCufLQOKGuyfq-CdqQ-rrEr7vmZ3rB25ykphuoBqPWCFDT4bkHe0QImVf5_qKcW2rDkqRY/s640/IMG_8766+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>The ubiquitous Crested Tit. Although vocal at nearly every site we visited, there was just too much stuff going on to devote any time to photography. </o:p>© Richard Brown</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>We next headed to Pont du Gard, an impressive 1st century, three tier, Roman aqueduct bridge and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also a traditional roost site for <b>Rock Sparrows</b> and the place of an outrageous 18euro carpark charge. A December evening visit saw us arriving as most tourists left and we could park for free in front of a locked campsite. The <b>Rock Sparrows</b> were dropping in as we arrived and we counted at least 30 sat on various levels of the aqueduct before they dropped into holes on the bridge. <b>Kingfishers</b> were active on the Gardon River and 20 <b>Crag Martins</b> fed low over the bridge. <b>Green </b>and <b>Great Spotted Woodpeckers</b> were along the banks.</o:p><br />
<o:p><br /></o:p>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXm7irXSDlN2xeD8Wot3rBRLZcTc-CXABdKfUg7Kr0P5IUGg6Dup458zt5beN1lZsZC9tkaIzVDaOIm_fYS073oQ4dvHzZwZ5Xi8prPtfsw4BjvrKGZG3asz5ifrEvF4E0XfhfCJhwenI/s1600/L1420869+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXm7irXSDlN2xeD8Wot3rBRLZcTc-CXABdKfUg7Kr0P5IUGg6Dup458zt5beN1lZsZC9tkaIzVDaOIm_fYS073oQ4dvHzZwZ5Xi8prPtfsw4BjvrKGZG3asz5ifrEvF4E0XfhfCJhwenI/s640/L1420869+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>Digiscoped Rock Sparrows. The views are distant but plenty good enough with a scope. Research in the French Alps showed that males whose mates have departed to be with another bird sing louder than males with faithful partners, perhaps to try and win back the lost female. This suggests that females use other cues, perhaps physical appearance, when picking a mate. </o:p>© Richard Brown</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmTwqg7KmWl4pT0whVT1tW0L6P8kNzDTVNNkQW3APM6kk-WtNH8gdmDoolI1Q-7M3yEfmGvelbPTuurZudMRjbboN9iTpkY3Fiy-oXbEl95SdH9k3VFEOH0p2369S8JbVHdwJnjMEyOY/s1600/IMG_8843+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmTwqg7KmWl4pT0whVT1tW0L6P8kNzDTVNNkQW3APM6kk-WtNH8gdmDoolI1Q-7M3yEfmGvelbPTuurZudMRjbboN9iTpkY3Fiy-oXbEl95SdH9k3VFEOH0p2369S8JbVHdwJnjMEyOY/s640/IMG_8843+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WAg2Zg7CQ4P6p_cFKRVFz6aecRKXlFZZR6DbW7fOh6jlEU9ZlPpDRXqxV5x6h59I2FSHGJuLaGdoMUYJHSKLW1DNNBOmQ-_PeH3-bsiwPEv7cBl96FzZTb_u6ZGHa-mtuvJbEeLxy-U/s1600/IMG_8837+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WAg2Zg7CQ4P6p_cFKRVFz6aecRKXlFZZR6DbW7fOh6jlEU9ZlPpDRXqxV5x6h59I2FSHGJuLaGdoMUYJHSKLW1DNNBOmQ-_PeH3-bsiwPEv7cBl96FzZTb_u6ZGHa-mtuvJbEeLxy-U/s640/IMG_8837+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>Crag Martins above the Pont du Gard. Despite the many arches of the bridge, it seemed as though its face was creating a standing wave in the airflow, concentrating insects, and the martins, above the vertical face of the bridge. Several previous birders had picked up Crag Martin at Les Baux and other sites, however we only saw them here. </o:p>© Richard Brown<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IpyqDv_qC1OLybxrLfzC-_AzyKpQZV57ra2NYyvXDVL77eNGOJSVPjfYdIAP2a3U7ZWBEiVAzc-lLX5TO2_OoOwVVzWa5V1cxxRa9sgDB8b7qzhNWaSfAaqOE9HrEJ7x44zN3oCJN8E/s1600/DSC_0742+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IpyqDv_qC1OLybxrLfzC-_AzyKpQZV57ra2NYyvXDVL77eNGOJSVPjfYdIAP2a3U7ZWBEiVAzc-lLX5TO2_OoOwVVzWa5V1cxxRa9sgDB8b7qzhNWaSfAaqOE9HrEJ7x44zN3oCJN8E/s640/DSC_0742+%5B1280x768%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The impressive Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard. The Rock Sparrows sat on the uppermost section before dropping into crevices lower down on the bridge. The protruding blocks are thought to have supported the scaffolding used to build the aqueduct. © Giselle Eagle</div>
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day seven:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were now enjoying a period of warm, dry weather so we
returned to the Camargue where poor weather had previously hampered us. As dawn
broke over Etang de Consecaniere we enjoyed the amazing spectacle of over 950 <b>Common Cranes</b> heading north. Large groups of <b>Greater Flamingos</b> were also heading
over on their way to feeding grounds. We worked the back road from Mas de
Cacharel to Mejanes along the edge of Etang de Vaccares. Highlights included two
<b>Fan-tailed Warblers</b>, surprisingly
the only ones we saw in France, 142 <b>Slender-billed
Gulls</b> feeding close inshore, at least 15 <b>Water Pipits</b> feeding in a muddy field, over 100 <b>Red-crested Pochards</b> in a large flock
of common wildfowl and four <b>Crested
Larks</b>. The scarcest bird we saw though, in Camargue terms, was a <b>Snow Bunting</b>. We’re not sure how
regular these are in the Camargue. We again dipped on the large raptors which
traditionally overwinter in the area, but many <b>Buzzards</b>, multiple <b>Marsh Harriers</b>
and three <b>Hen Harriers</b> were along
the track. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxz7WYU3BB6c5bGaBqNWY4olr7azUDrfp5gwY7OPI7bEbXp7x7p51cXv5_tEe9YHIGtOB4SpvdNspkBbHQDExsuq23q6z7piktAi1ciA9SV8fFyNz4xmxlamEDM3awmbpiaQIs3FSX-c4/s1600/IMG_8859+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxz7WYU3BB6c5bGaBqNWY4olr7azUDrfp5gwY7OPI7bEbXp7x7p51cXv5_tEe9YHIGtOB4SpvdNspkBbHQDExsuq23q6z7piktAi1ciA9SV8fFyNz4xmxlamEDM3awmbpiaQIs3FSX-c4/s640/IMG_8859+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBP-VkInRNW25l_svq_yS1XSAKqEPEofHI9c27gRu87b0J5P9xzeFw5Z4YVVy8Ag66YPlZ25xLiS9MAZ4YMAYuJ5yziaXBGsILMHpITYJxVXEOhfjWhopd6VvUe_AP9K0VhIGNciD8tvU/s1600/IMG_8866+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBP-VkInRNW25l_svq_yS1XSAKqEPEofHI9c27gRu87b0J5P9xzeFw5Z4YVVy8Ag66YPlZ25xLiS9MAZ4YMAYuJ5yziaXBGsILMHpITYJxVXEOhfjWhopd6VvUe_AP9K0VhIGNciD8tvU/s640/IMG_8866+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of several flocks of Common Cranes that passed over, totaling nearly 1000 birds. Greater Flamingos, pretty ridiculous looking in flight, were also heading out to their morning feeding areas. © Richard Brown</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtdUoRZgE3seDVhADm5qB_bYFNi_5W6tXLzkjwa3j5f4IO_tknzUcoLIEjTn3O4ONCrPpQLSN2268FaaD0NKpRGEoZ_7k7-SothmmRkWkTxoUg633RYFMCAfVj7K5_i1WLQR-yHAGdZU/s1600/IMG_8899+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtdUoRZgE3seDVhADm5qB_bYFNi_5W6tXLzkjwa3j5f4IO_tknzUcoLIEjTn3O4ONCrPpQLSN2268FaaD0NKpRGEoZ_7k7-SothmmRkWkTxoUg633RYFMCAfVj7K5_i1WLQR-yHAGdZU/s640/IMG_8899+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>We're still not sure how rare Snow Buntings are in this part of France, with Collins suggesting that they don't get much further South than the North Coast. A local birder seemed surprised that we were more interested in the Water Pipits. </o:p>© Richard Brown</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiik8TokcnwA_fLylo0_R09pQNUd2-lZrVJiJXAmlu8ytjhSlfviF9jKU7iowD3W2yZ7hd8OUrT8w5GdAwkFKXwAzT37x6ujhVgiOmwO-RbCAZgfWRnDV1KfnEnMp5O-mXbEWh6n52BA/s1600/IMG_8955+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiik8TokcnwA_fLylo0_R09pQNUd2-lZrVJiJXAmlu8ytjhSlfviF9jKU7iowD3W2yZ7hd8OUrT8w5GdAwkFKXwAzT37x6ujhVgiOmwO-RbCAZgfWRnDV1KfnEnMp5O-mXbEWh6n52BA/s640/IMG_8955+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Part of a flock of 142 Slender-billed Gulls. In 2000 there were approximately 850 breeding pairs in France but this may have declined in recent years. © Richard Brown</div>
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCZ9dZj4XDuOSZ4NSf17E7h3wzXjL1AaWN_PA1M1Yx4cAUc1c_nZqqgYuY00abbVc7X3r4Ye-Uferdfw4BP4rQ_Ak422TEiWXsoOo1NnVK2VTwP9AsfxTHGN4bsNnngGyxTMTwFic-kE/s1600/IMG_8894+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCZ9dZj4XDuOSZ4NSf17E7h3wzXjL1AaWN_PA1M1Yx4cAUc1c_nZqqgYuY00abbVc7X3r4Ye-Uferdfw4BP4rQ_Ak422TEiWXsoOo1NnVK2VTwP9AsfxTHGN4bsNnngGyxTMTwFic-kE/s640/IMG_8894+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>The Coypu or Nutria was introduced to Europe from South America, primarily for its fur. The females have unusually placed nipples; by having their nipples high on their flanks females can suckle their young whilst remaining in the water. </o:p>© Richard Brown</div>
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>We headed back around to La Capeliere, but again failed with Moustached Warbler. However, the warmer weather had brought four <b>Stripeless Tree Frogs</b> out into the open, a great reward for all the time we had spent looking into Bramble patches. We looped round into La Crau but again failed to find Pin-tailed Sandgrouse among the vast planes of arid, rocky scrub. Calling <b>Woodlarks </b>were the only birds of note. We returned to Tarascon via L’Hotel Mas d’Oulivie and were treated to even better views of <b>Eagle Owl</b>. The bird flew in to the left hand bluff earlier than on our previous visit and immediately began to call. Scope views showed all the plumage detail, the piercing eyes and the white throat fluffing out with each bellowing call. Awesome.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQTegcZoL2LW5Hcc0051kp2dDILuK3YwH_QKZtBhq9iRpLZYJ74yv8bkqGzy_t0tBYX0nvy5AaTjH8107SmmpYOP8DHcUP1QDHoNlQwqy62IzQZ786RPg5oNGOHAL9uaID5pyDULIK-4/s1600/IMG_8989+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQTegcZoL2LW5Hcc0051kp2dDILuK3YwH_QKZtBhq9iRpLZYJ74yv8bkqGzy_t0tBYX0nvy5AaTjH8107SmmpYOP8DHcUP1QDHoNlQwqy62IzQZ786RPg5oNGOHAL9uaID5pyDULIK-4/s640/IMG_8989+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1pe-KVw3TgkeOaqDaBrM9ALoikwVCLtH8VbP3k7nT2Gb5PrrUCHIAm_iQgfuhz7YpZfHL27vPy7Ej8Q25S9NL5brTgDd-C-FNAXW0Exod2WpgWei0eV-NEzVWv0xQERnUPYQuYfmOII/s1600/IMG_8998+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1pe-KVw3TgkeOaqDaBrM9ALoikwVCLtH8VbP3k7nT2Gb5PrrUCHIAm_iQgfuhz7YpZfHL27vPy7Ej8Q25S9NL5brTgDd-C-FNAXW0Exod2WpgWei0eV-NEzVWv0xQERnUPYQuYfmOII/s640/IMG_8998+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>Larger than the Common Tree Frog, the Stripless Tree Frog has longer hind legs and a flank stripe which only reaches the front legs. We spent a long time peering into Brambles to find these fellas, but as soon as the temperature increased we found that they stood out a mile. </o:p>© Richard Brown</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day eight:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our return flight was not until four in the afternoon so we
had most of the day to play with. We returned to Les Baux but failed to find
the Wallcreeper. So we connected on two out of four visits. The path is a fantastic
place to bird, with singing <b>Blue Rock
thrush</b>, <b>Serins </b>and <b>Sardinian Warblers</b>. We next headed to
Eyguieres Airfield but only managed to locate a single, very distant <b>Little Bustard</b>. The airfield also held
a flock of 80 <b>Skylarks</b>, <b>Crested Lark</b>, 40 <b>Corn Buntings</b>, <b>Black
Redstarts</b> and <b>Stonechats</b>. We were
not here for long but failed to find Rock Bunting. We returned to our previous <b>Little Bustard</b> site and again found a
minimum of 32 birds. We also had <b>Woodlark</b>,
eight <b>Red-legged Partridge</b> and <b>Serins</b> were singing as we walked. Each site we visited on day eight had <b>Red Kites</b> overhead, a species we had not yet bumped into. Our
final destination was the airfield south of La Fare-les-Oliviers on our return
to Marseilles. Previous trip reports do not mention this site but it has been
regularly featured on www.ornithomedia.com, a kind of French Birdguides. Up to
220 <b>Little Bustards</b> had been seen
prior to our trip and we had a minimum of 115 although more were probably in
the long grass. The views were close, the best we had of <b>Little Bustard</b>, and a great end to the trip. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5djRf6vAG2FLKUVCz9IkdqzECytXBEd3ybRnZnnIhJtvk1kynYyS4tKeDMs_1Iv_QYB0dIMSm8nlDQBUF9mL7uoqhatQagyW7yE79eONb_qqZTrCeKiH1DO2bqvmPyscC3cypj02BCls/s1600/IMG_9021+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5djRf6vAG2FLKUVCz9IkdqzECytXBEd3ybRnZnnIhJtvk1kynYyS4tKeDMs_1Iv_QYB0dIMSm8nlDQBUF9mL7uoqhatQagyW7yE79eONb_qqZTrCeKiH1DO2bqvmPyscC3cypj02BCls/s640/IMG_9021+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOi_ppxSMrhWABzI4-Vz_qvlGWHfEir5XqPxraXX37gT7I9i_Pg1LL1qqKCgs2Toa4svyx23XcA8ae1o6GYFU0363AXioyr0gucTdz_vOuVBZefP-96z33Mf-lPp3GsSFUP_pMzbNVoI/s1600/IMG_9022+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOi_ppxSMrhWABzI4-Vz_qvlGWHfEir5XqPxraXX37gT7I9i_Pg1LL1qqKCgs2Toa4svyx23XcA8ae1o6GYFU0363AXioyr0gucTdz_vOuVBZefP-96z33Mf-lPp3GsSFUP_pMzbNVoI/s640/IMG_9022+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl6INwYtUQDMC6zv5BG1bv4DMQWoMiBFN7iss-9VgV1iqj2CaRzvF-ca5EeEeV_jPSnEyqUORm76vGfzEIsBsv67QQQI_kKxAqHnhf02x09AzP3NHO2E1eeXLmXOtL4c6ZaLXT0lSlVs/s1600/IMG_9062+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl6INwYtUQDMC6zv5BG1bv4DMQWoMiBFN7iss-9VgV1iqj2CaRzvF-ca5EeEeV_jPSnEyqUORm76vGfzEIsBsv67QQQI_kKxAqHnhf02x09AzP3NHO2E1eeXLmXOtL4c6ZaLXT0lSlVs/s640/IMG_9062+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvhEdUqW1pIQilKQ_OBzxx39uHQEJTWMvZSRN2W4SWgygoFewLhAwXAbkiMhHaCuCYUSOTdy-6dpcpLry4RaC6VvZtlTlWPWpA_M5gKUvI3-sW3xpsnoDZPhx6DLQAljdKcIxbxAtv5U/s1600/IMG_9077+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvhEdUqW1pIQilKQ_OBzxx39uHQEJTWMvZSRN2W4SWgygoFewLhAwXAbkiMhHaCuCYUSOTdy-6dpcpLry4RaC6VvZtlTlWPWpA_M5gKUvI3-sW3xpsnoDZPhx6DLQAljdKcIxbxAtv5U/s640/IMG_9077+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1Wv5XiX7_VB9ggBffOaW2ezINiqjobS1xlVVi9R1x1cW7Jxbzh_3Ah5NXnhhGIn6-Ws9GuSeNlKXRChIWFfFFvoevt3QT602NfRHAtw1c2W5QN3QI8as_7OptLYWcdBU13AO0RRHi1E/s1600/IMG_9086+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1Wv5XiX7_VB9ggBffOaW2ezINiqjobS1xlVVi9R1x1cW7Jxbzh_3Ah5NXnhhGIn6-Ws9GuSeNlKXRChIWFfFFvoevt3QT602NfRHAtw1c2W5QN3QI8as_7OptLYWcdBU13AO0RRHi1E/s640/IMG_9086+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCspwguVUXStjbYGjEUCftC3LCDitnCtCrlnPw5WLmmJpHwQuoog3M-8Lzgfq-TrzsTUPIPo1Zg5vgAzmzSTetm136lnDeIc9ggkW0iGbBIkcE_pWGBrL0jDP-3c73g3sXE3yULilBuU/s1600/IMG_9093+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCspwguVUXStjbYGjEUCftC3LCDitnCtCrlnPw5WLmmJpHwQuoog3M-8Lzgfq-TrzsTUPIPo1Zg5vgAzmzSTetm136lnDeIc9ggkW0iGbBIkcE_pWGBrL0jDP-3c73g3sXE3yULilBuU/s640/IMG_9093+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8DKzT3674m7TJ22tMc-jmHKE8kpknB9KLlSlStW8C75V9SOzIBQyLjRmKt6mEEQBq4A3P-sQAa4FmWcUJogPadS2JTOY7dzDyFTzBxe3xptMFffG5RGSn3uYu_Xl6b8rFQOYELjdw50/s1600/IMG_9097+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8DKzT3674m7TJ22tMc-jmHKE8kpknB9KLlSlStW8C75V9SOzIBQyLjRmKt6mEEQBq4A3P-sQAa4FmWcUJogPadS2JTOY7dzDyFTzBxe3xptMFffG5RGSn3uYu_Xl6b8rFQOYELjdw50/s640/IMG_9097+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qSP8L7VVAHQ8Cr18V_eQY6wpdS-kHnEC073ZxUp_AyhEKNGELCtSJW7USJr33z-WzVMU6m7WOP87P4Gr1WgQnrLCN4-2nPihf_iTsabgk0jeGMxmk9ffJlevDGoDjRsxWpkxWf0aVBU/s1600/IMG_9104+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qSP8L7VVAHQ8Cr18V_eQY6wpdS-kHnEC073ZxUp_AyhEKNGELCtSJW7USJr33z-WzVMU6m7WOP87P4Gr1WgQnrLCN4-2nPihf_iTsabgk0jeGMxmk9ffJlevDGoDjRsxWpkxWf0aVBU/s640/IMG_9104+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Despite the fact that the male birds lack their dramatic black and white neck feathers at this time of year, they were performing dramatic leaps from time to time, flashing their black and white wings and stomping their feet as if in courtship. © Richard Brown<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhNVBOrTMRycnFUMGbzBsw_S9ixA2GdiDZPK8ic_E9yP3ldxWg47PhW66lPhcZ2ihawluQCx6i5-iACHlAxxbXM-jKT47ocSc2ZLH4DoER66wZ8FYq89R19RDgikhmfA25Aeesrn49uk/s1600/L1420912+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhNVBOrTMRycnFUMGbzBsw_S9ixA2GdiDZPK8ic_E9yP3ldxWg47PhW66lPhcZ2ihawluQCx6i5-iACHlAxxbXM-jKT47ocSc2ZLH4DoER66wZ8FYq89R19RDgikhmfA25Aeesrn49uk/s640/L1420912+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And a final word about getting around. Although driving on the 'wrong' side of the road took a bit of getting used to, Dave did an amazing job. The other road users were generally keen on travelling faster than us and roundabouts and crossroads were occasionally a bit of a free-for-all. Still, the majority of other drivers were very good. © Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-54608463432395562122012-10-24T05:14:00.002-07:002012-10-24T05:20:19.994-07:00It's been a fantastic few days, although frustrating at times. The beautiful clear skies that saw such Bardsey scarcities as <b>Red Kite</b>, <b>Hen Harrier</b> and <b>Hooded Crow</b> drift across to our shores continued into the night, before a light drizzle and total darkness descended. The conditions were perfect for a lighthouse attraction and it was no surprise at 0200 when the first <b>Redwings</b> started calling. The night of the 22nd/23rd saw a total of 102 <b>Redwings</b>, three <b>Fieldfares</b>, 13<b> Blackbirds</b>, 10<b> Song Thrushes</b>, two <b>Black Redstarts</b>, 195 <b>Starlings</b>, a <b>Robin</b>, four <b>Goldcrests</b>, a <b>Chiffchaff</b>, a <b>Snipe</b>, a <b>Woodcock</b> and a <b>Manx Shearwater</b> attracted. That Spurn had more birds attracted to their moth trap (and remembering that Bardsey Lighthouse is visible for roughly 43km), highlights a slight difference in the numbers of birds passing down each coast of the UK at the moment. It was still an impressive spectacle however, and using the diversionary lights through the night we managed to keep fatalities down to just two <b>Redwings</b>. The murk continued the next day but it was soon clear that a few more exciting birds had also reached our shores. A pipit with a rather short, buzzing call toured the lowlands before vanishing. It certainly sounded <b>Olive-backed Pipit</b>-like, but is yet another bird to get away this year. A <b>Little Bunting</b> showed very briefly for one observer before doing a similar disappearing act. Surely these birds couldn't be leaving the island. But then a <b>Richard's Pipit</b> showed that birds could definitely move straight through in the gloom by coming in past the Lighthouse, straight up the island, and out to sea to the North. A supporting cast of five <b>Yellow-browed Warblers</b>, three <i>abietinus</i>-type <b>Chiffchaffs</b>, a <b>Firecrest</b>, five <b>Black Redstarts</b>, a <b>Long-eared Owl</b> and a rather eastern looking <b>Lesser Whitethroat</b> all made for exciting birding.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheutGpG-ZCPiSM6cjcuEUScFtuJ3594awLcU6Kr9Z5HSGPgsVlcVdHPojdE8bZMes03VBtpHLYyh36PZrGtReB32WoXDtX5fwZ8ylEd5LJOqWe8TDQ0n73fOyWosmq6JFNnrt3dWKVYgg/s1600/Yellow-browed+Warbler+7,+Bardsey+20Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheutGpG-ZCPiSM6cjcuEUScFtuJ3594awLcU6Kr9Z5HSGPgsVlcVdHPojdE8bZMes03VBtpHLYyh36PZrGtReB32WoXDtX5fwZ8ylEd5LJOqWe8TDQ0n73fOyWosmq6JFNnrt3dWKVYgg/s640/Yellow-browed+Warbler+7,+Bardsey+20Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtRDsEpkQu9vwBJfVOcnfyiKTY_KhbTeYHWd-w8Ir6LZiMV_zvG6wpq32mqCls2FOldhK4VOpbth2mowd6_SJ8IA6T9397Ey0o3pZ_otSjHOwMtDenoT5nu-TDMLhsUrLHCGtfFbzdsU/s1600/Yellow-browed+Warbler+10,+Bardsey+20Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtRDsEpkQu9vwBJfVOcnfyiKTY_KhbTeYHWd-w8Ir6LZiMV_zvG6wpq32mqCls2FOldhK4VOpbth2mowd6_SJ8IA6T9397Ey0o3pZ_otSjHOwMtDenoT5nu-TDMLhsUrLHCGtfFbzdsU/s640/Yellow-browed+Warbler+10,+Bardsey+20Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dsJ8hnYUDtQotV1SSlwp_zbA2mTNyAGBxdSsqOipZUCvlA1LPAgaN5n0UfVdx3hJzp53LcRf2Ohhj7ZlwAwDsM9_gvpGd8_6F4ifkbjZpwMNTR-SdYdYcSH5pRzyY3HrFucvUWldQ4o/s1600/Yellow-browed+Warbler+8,+Bardsey+20Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dsJ8hnYUDtQotV1SSlwp_zbA2mTNyAGBxdSsqOipZUCvlA1LPAgaN5n0UfVdx3hJzp53LcRf2Ohhj7ZlwAwDsM9_gvpGd8_6F4ifkbjZpwMNTR-SdYdYcSH5pRzyY3HrFucvUWldQ4o/s640/Yellow-browed+Warbler+8,+Bardsey+20Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Up until this season 62 Yellow-browed Warblers had been ringed on Bardsey. A further five have been ringed so far this autumn. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEhB7JxYqTfxKXU5PUGymzil-GsqtEimG_I2HlK-Qn7fdF7hz77LNgrpu6xb6a-flNmLs7Y_qzeBHG1ZxcEzjU8usAsOCoZZKgMlOaLOLZNqRYIaMRljFqv8DAUBZTUxMNOvBbXVC6vwhTk/s1600/Richard's+Pipit+11,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7JxYqTfxKXU5PUGymzil-GsqtEimG_I2HlK-Qn7fdF7hz77LNgrpu6xb6a-flNmLs7Y_qzeBHG1ZxcEzjU8usAsOCoZZKgMlOaLOLZNqRYIaMRljFqv8DAUBZTUxMNOvBbXVC6vwhTk/s640/Richard's+Pipit+11,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The classic Bardsey view: a large pipit with a long tail flies over and gives a loud, hoarse <i>shreep</i> a few times before keeping on going. There have been five such flyovers so far this year. The Richard of the bird's English name is Richard of Luneville, a French naturalist and collector. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEhf7umIsnjUBlbL4yiSg3id6ehCp6N_LbMDmZ2OfOTtG0USPD6pbxM8j1ll1lyPYjDeU_wZ5vukJNeXNSXbymZnAHW2lGIg1kO0FboJRSVQSCiCtOg4VIB1R8yYr3POf4VwXATOM9CQL0w/s1600/Long-eared+Owl+10,+Bardsey+21Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7umIsnjUBlbL4yiSg3id6ehCp6N_LbMDmZ2OfOTtG0USPD6pbxM8j1ll1lyPYjDeU_wZ5vukJNeXNSXbymZnAHW2lGIg1kO0FboJRSVQSCiCtOg4VIB1R8yYr3POf4VwXATOM9CQL0w/s640/Long-eared+Owl+10,+Bardsey+21Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uFam2X3WJ1Rn0A0DIYDr84095EHmHPA0SdD2QSCvoXqE1tFV3mKm4scrvFtejSs3Cqwagc0ylG4xggeaeOWij0QYcyIwt6aKKLJ7BA05Zl_fdisRBzGjx9qAz9hmwAjEdmGbMiqvRq8/s1600/Long-eared+Owl+11,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uFam2X3WJ1Rn0A0DIYDr84095EHmHPA0SdD2QSCvoXqE1tFV3mKm4scrvFtejSs3Cqwagc0ylG4xggeaeOWij0QYcyIwt6aKKLJ7BA05Zl_fdisRBzGjx9qAz9hmwAjEdmGbMiqvRq8/s640/Long-eared+Owl+11,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcB7WqVGhGDAtoLdxTdiFx_FOy4-aIGRs3s6wuEcdpQ1LMmbkqI0HsQ2X1aJAAX9WuAzQDDK4Lr5isAun0wU1nax4pvjRd0iojNY5Rr0I236AkN8gQkbGKjCcTlpf5UWIRijik30MrcQ/s1600/Long-eared+Owl+12,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcB7WqVGhGDAtoLdxTdiFx_FOy4-aIGRs3s6wuEcdpQ1LMmbkqI0HsQ2X1aJAAX9WuAzQDDK4Lr5isAun0wU1nax4pvjRd0iojNY5Rr0I236AkN8gQkbGKjCcTlpf5UWIRijik30MrcQ/s640/Long-eared+Owl+12,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The top photo is the Long-eared Owl Rich found a couple of days ago. Good news for Bardsey's youngest birder is that it isn't in wing moult (so he can have the lower bird on his self-found list). The second Long-eared Owl of the year flushed into the Obs garden and hit a mist net set up to catch a couple of Yellow-browed Warblers. It is the 21st adult Long-eared Owl to be ringed on Bardsey. The primary moult suggests an adult bird. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEjdqL1tZ8BmRGz30M8BEAgYYysJiMSgjTj1qzlKW5l92n5F8dVmBUfcKAO7ydENqynregKs2f7PMs8iS0GydO38Cnw9ZeAVe10A1fgI_RSGHZPWv1npWUkfmmx7xEI9VCjSNTwVBrPcZDQ/s1600/Lesser+Whitethroat+9,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqL1tZ8BmRGz30M8BEAgYYysJiMSgjTj1qzlKW5l92n5F8dVmBUfcKAO7ydENqynregKs2f7PMs8iS0GydO38Cnw9ZeAVe10A1fgI_RSGHZPWv1npWUkfmmx7xEI9VCjSNTwVBrPcZDQ/s640/Lesser+Whitethroat+9,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6bk9u7UKiucINmeb3-Uis8GAm9GS6drHX-yzL7cCOiN1iIbaQn7hQLYbcgm5kij73-WCpGK0Wr_G6d9BpPxzTniNY2NvDTt_o5DpUoq201aDb7n5P2p4d4QA36j8330gHGXlEH-QN-4/s1600/Lesser+Whitethroat+10,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6bk9u7UKiucINmeb3-Uis8GAm9GS6drHX-yzL7cCOiN1iIbaQn7hQLYbcgm5kij73-WCpGK0Wr_G6d9BpPxzTniNY2NvDTt_o5DpUoq201aDb7n5P2p4d4QA36j8330gHGXlEH-QN-4/s640/Lesser+Whitethroat+10,+Bardsey+23Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A rather eastern-looking Lesser Whitethroat. Not as short winged and fine-billed as <i>minula</i>, it looks good for a<i> halimodendri</i>/<i>blythi</i> type bird. Lots of white in the tail, rather blunt winged and an occasional Mistle Thrush-like rattle to the call. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-57465357879731265692012-10-14T09:20:00.000-07:002012-10-14T09:20:29.904-07:00It isn't too often that Bardsey feels like Southeast Asia. But today you could be forgiven for thinking it might be (as long as you ignore the hail stones). A new <b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b>, a flyover<b> Richard's Pipit</b>, a brief re-sighting of the <b>Citrine Wagtail </b>and a <b>Radde's Warbler</b> at Nant, all helped to take the mind off the chill. The <b>Radde's Warbler</b> was the fifth for Bardsey and the first since 30 October 2006.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc16D8KpeJneWTwfKORNVDSbXHjt-0BNR7DuYqQg3vHvKfnnjJX68VyD1sV7mX-Jx4MSURnKRAx862HIJ1gk-IIVn527X1dukQ11FMwJIQpAZz520-u5Sz-b35eoHZQ2m9IMJ7esnDC2w/s1600/Radde's+Warbler+3,+Bardsey+14Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc16D8KpeJneWTwfKORNVDSbXHjt-0BNR7DuYqQg3vHvKfnnjJX68VyD1sV7mX-Jx4MSURnKRAx862HIJ1gk-IIVn527X1dukQ11FMwJIQpAZz520-u5Sz-b35eoHZQ2m9IMJ7esnDC2w/s640/Radde's+Warbler+3,+Bardsey+14Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXawCjb7KM4k4DATayYSjkACDfo3ymX5j_lBDI_gbbRZ4-NKWjyeMs3m-NTU3MGA0mG-X4vsxHB9tyenfB-4a0ZYYw1G2jv-fevNGA5C7aSKAJVTmPHm0wTGNxTNeyNOXmkCeCyuyciXc/s1600/Radde's+Warbler+2,+Bardsey+14Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXawCjb7KM4k4DATayYSjkACDfo3ymX5j_lBDI_gbbRZ4-NKWjyeMs3m-NTU3MGA0mG-X4vsxHB9tyenfB-4a0ZYYw1G2jv-fevNGA5C7aSKAJVTmPHm0wTGNxTNeyNOXmkCeCyuyciXc/s640/Radde's+Warbler+2,+Bardsey+14Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBr1UdXZ5m16zjfvrKas-OLSk8dFGX6QbtmewSAgWg2LLmRMmIBwYfxUgsDm8CpNBrethqEOoHMWBSG_8zsAFoDCKeGLYgNuNCGrj5TJgbOBD54_xvIFQs-MwRZKjMn1VZmYCAYvIrXM/s1600/Radde's+Warbler+1,+Bardsey+14Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBr1UdXZ5m16zjfvrKas-OLSk8dFGX6QbtmewSAgWg2LLmRMmIBwYfxUgsDm8CpNBrethqEOoHMWBSG_8zsAFoDCKeGLYgNuNCGrj5TJgbOBD54_xvIFQs-MwRZKjMn1VZmYCAYvIrXM/s640/Radde's+Warbler+1,+Bardsey+14Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtyEGIgKQEPGcw7Bu5BZmY3Hhah05hlfnlsOpEvQf222-fhuuB4Lj_TwJDnXTQ1jiZQF7kc1tD_dXJnuZb5Y7w3C5HQYMkXkvfP1-qRaYTuB-f_ATQHxG49olafThjaDlUPZg7IKryuA/s1600/Radde's+Warbler+4,+Bardsey+14Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtyEGIgKQEPGcw7Bu5BZmY3Hhah05hlfnlsOpEvQf222-fhuuB4Lj_TwJDnXTQ1jiZQF7kc1tD_dXJnuZb5Y7w3C5HQYMkXkvfP1-qRaYTuB-f_ATQHxG49olafThjaDlUPZg7IKryuA/s640/Radde's+Warbler+4,+Bardsey+14Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The only other Bardsey records were on 29 October 1987, 18 October 1990, 29 October 2006 and most recently on 30 October 2006. Radde was an apothecary but also an explorer and naturalist. He discovered one of these stunning, lumpy phylloscs in a kitchen garden in central Asia. It was on 22 September 1856 but it wasn't until 1863 that he formally described it and named it after himself. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-82511939143477993752012-10-10T08:25:00.002-07:002012-10-10T08:25:44.736-07:00A very damp mist type wetness has hung over the island for most of the day. But it hasn't all been bad. We'll let the pictures do the talking.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDblgINaMZbLT-7Hrj41jGY0BQv9fPsipEaw4-RXQL_i0ePK_usynF9ctvVuZ3NfvvOaaiPaBbVoN9QfUdhWMy2CHZYPB2FoiCZ0Fq8e6VLjXD4fcMLBEC1n6O7RXtMqcBcTuxZUNi4KA/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+8,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDblgINaMZbLT-7Hrj41jGY0BQv9fPsipEaw4-RXQL_i0ePK_usynF9ctvVuZ3NfvvOaaiPaBbVoN9QfUdhWMy2CHZYPB2FoiCZ0Fq8e6VLjXD4fcMLBEC1n6O7RXtMqcBcTuxZUNi4KA/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+8,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-Bgd75q9OMzXwtipK6AxTx4l7Mw-IFDx5d8KlrWeNPhg0Yph0UB2xO5lI1ICzVQPT2VS63aws9o0xFwoJcFTutw-UMpN0GoRoTrf_fRoC7n5daMxcf3ws9j0WYRz4GpOlTxBUv1oJ6M/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+1,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-Bgd75q9OMzXwtipK6AxTx4l7Mw-IFDx5d8KlrWeNPhg0Yph0UB2xO5lI1ICzVQPT2VS63aws9o0xFwoJcFTutw-UMpN0GoRoTrf_fRoC7n5daMxcf3ws9j0WYRz4GpOlTxBUv1oJ6M/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+1,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvWjHmrq7Td9Cpp6pLMwWqBqja453DhciwldNTAPxGYHyaJPFQixZ-6PgksgN7rOQRBgNdgbJG_m6YZcZ-cCujnFiA7qAAR5BVMPFfgzE1lYXeTBDHysVAL_kPVmJFX2SgX7Pr0fz3Hg/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+7,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvWjHmrq7Td9Cpp6pLMwWqBqja453DhciwldNTAPxGYHyaJPFQixZ-6PgksgN7rOQRBgNdgbJG_m6YZcZ-cCujnFiA7qAAR5BVMPFfgzE1lYXeTBDHysVAL_kPVmJFX2SgX7Pr0fz3Hg/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+7,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4Eqlacdbbw0-m6T7DOmzV4aB0fPfVp5NdSWW55YTmvYrHqmlmPo1oOOQ7TMcwSVUvg9rsqUxlHw1zvDNUE_jRcdNwnD7V2C2PMvbVQFrsq7LEUUlLz7_pY0cWgzxK7P01qDbkDYjALI/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+2,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4Eqlacdbbw0-m6T7DOmzV4aB0fPfVp5NdSWW55YTmvYrHqmlmPo1oOOQ7TMcwSVUvg9rsqUxlHw1zvDNUE_jRcdNwnD7V2C2PMvbVQFrsq7LEUUlLz7_pY0cWgzxK7P01qDbkDYjALI/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+2,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk_6mjvTPXYUPTTADGE25WLYll7VQopa8RtwzYwJVRFsDz68IbsxS-hlBuVdwcqOLdPC4XQiRZhV58r5nl32lbJWAQJJ-qr__okWPhp2JOyFEv_EU2R05vsQX6xnYTopN5OiLJ5WQiUg/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+6,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk_6mjvTPXYUPTTADGE25WLYll7VQopa8RtwzYwJVRFsDz68IbsxS-hlBuVdwcqOLdPC4XQiRZhV58r5nl32lbJWAQJJ-qr__okWPhp2JOyFEv_EU2R05vsQX6xnYTopN5OiLJ5WQiUg/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+6,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAj4o-r0wBid7Gfn52tBFwe9gp3IxO8eO23KTwDlTK4vTgcii5AUK7K7R0nNlh7oQal3w7QaUEGizapZFLGiM9RTW9jsXFcDzJH9HNJU2ENQMbkkeW30MZis5NBPvZzrXlFdfA3gKS_T4/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+4,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAj4o-r0wBid7Gfn52tBFwe9gp3IxO8eO23KTwDlTK4vTgcii5AUK7K7R0nNlh7oQal3w7QaUEGizapZFLGiM9RTW9jsXFcDzJH9HNJU2ENQMbkkeW30MZis5NBPvZzrXlFdfA3gKS_T4/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+4,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NIlNtqLZSgQaJKzWM3wHwRw5DOG7szf1DrQzpnbKxdfvrh9T27waXB6I9VUjlY67yo6rvfwftWOD0Xg21Rh37NEVc0AXAKpnXEdi-L_nDEnVRbxYBlyyJD2Yj32jQmVSotdR33dRDns/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+9,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NIlNtqLZSgQaJKzWM3wHwRw5DOG7szf1DrQzpnbKxdfvrh9T27waXB6I9VUjlY67yo6rvfwftWOD0Xg21Rh37NEVc0AXAKpnXEdi-L_nDEnVRbxYBlyyJD2Yj32jQmVSotdR33dRDns/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+9,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErL-sL7KcUkVRkQhmuQoPN0wyZNk4_VwmmBlejo-JlzxUgWEsFFayWatM0u9Gocq0IufEHo5Aal5z_Srp_7od5YdbPrCS7su4STrHFD8NHXi8VTI-IDq7qjjW0U61l0uY8QULCdJTp9k/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+5,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErL-sL7KcUkVRkQhmuQoPN0wyZNk4_VwmmBlejo-JlzxUgWEsFFayWatM0u9Gocq0IufEHo5Aal5z_Srp_7od5YdbPrCS7su4STrHFD8NHXi8VTI-IDq7qjjW0U61l0uY8QULCdJTp9k/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+5,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-e8uyhKIRPxLwJ8NiZkpZDyr2Fy2bNxbptPNkwQlBag2y7MuxHLsrj1RbX440Y64acxHOZyYfRNDGwqs324IxY6i6exK2l8Z5uKlsCnqnFlqIq1RKpqmOGqTMdJGzlQ1lXaZ4VOE6ILU/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+10,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-e8uyhKIRPxLwJ8NiZkpZDyr2Fy2bNxbptPNkwQlBag2y7MuxHLsrj1RbX440Y64acxHOZyYfRNDGwqs324IxY6i6exK2l8Z5uKlsCnqnFlqIq1RKpqmOGqTMdJGzlQ1lXaZ4VOE6ILU/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+10,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gb4BZ26kh2mWE9JV6Hh5hzia6-TuUpywYPgmG8NoqmYfY0dYpzaYfcPpaj-7KNovOsmYpObP7ze18hV619mqZBUEbB-bOkTH2ngD9q0HQcWUfND_tbaGsncmRL2hX7PTDrCeGonZgxc/s1600/Citrine+Wagtail+3,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gb4BZ26kh2mWE9JV6Hh5hzia6-TuUpywYPgmG8NoqmYfY0dYpzaYfcPpaj-7KNovOsmYpObP7ze18hV619mqZBUEbB-bOkTH2ngD9q0HQcWUfND_tbaGsncmRL2hX7PTDrCeGonZgxc/s640/Citrine+Wagtail+3,+Bardsey+10Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The long-awaited and oft-predicted first for Bardsey. This stunning first-year Citrine Wagtail has spent the day delighting all comers around the Narrows. Although it has headed off high on a few occasions, it continues to return to Solfach, perhaps because the mainland has not been visible. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-57567723359163720632012-10-09T10:41:00.001-07:002012-10-09T10:41:58.990-07:00The weather has looked very promising for the last few days but it has so far been rather quiet on the birding front. There has been plenty of time to hypothesise about what we would have had, had Ireland not been in the way that is. But it has been very pleasant, a reasonable finch and<b> Skylark</b> passage giving proceedings a nice autumnal feel. The <b>Barred Warbler </b>lingered for a few days, although proved very illusive, and one of the <b>Yellow-browed Warblers</b> continued to flit about at Nant. Our annual autumn steak-dinner Birdrace with Skomer is hotting up; they took an early lead but such cripplers as <b>Greylag Goose</b>, <b>Wigeon</b>, <b>Barn Owl</b>, <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b>, <b>Redstart</b>, <b>Song Thrush</b>, <b>Jackdaw</b>, <b>Starling </b>and<b> Reed Bunting </b>have brought us neck and neck.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUO3wlI6xumG-NAOThrjN6AJgJiy30umfal6epGqpcYvxEBr0djVzecYKefjUZ8IXijyd4wQTNnrvjOl4k0Sgqdor_IeGKq2bn9U9BaHDbEw97H_3b9QiUPe4Z9yIdvVZ7OTrTvSGshw/s1600/Yellow-browed+Warbler+6,+Bardsey+5Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUO3wlI6xumG-NAOThrjN6AJgJiy30umfal6epGqpcYvxEBr0djVzecYKefjUZ8IXijyd4wQTNnrvjOl4k0Sgqdor_IeGKq2bn9U9BaHDbEw97H_3b9QiUPe4Z9yIdvVZ7OTrTvSGshw/s640/Yellow-browed+Warbler+6,+Bardsey+5Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The second Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn to be trapped. Interestingly, this bird lacks the dark bases to the secondaries associated with this species and thus looks a little Hume's-like in the wing. However the two broad wingbars of the same colour as the pale yellowish supercilium, the very dark centres to the tertials, pale legs, greenish crown and call all pointed to the much commoner species. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEju538bND6qJmbhlooy51hbFcqgDVlVgkcCuZ1M8pY9kUD86IuQD9HwzxSFXhvbMRRs4PMHtgBOiRRiJRdnQz7WkVvCsTSvpwwZRxLW6bxSBg3YUHlGGyKxqZgPAnmrYfimS2S3C528PHA/s1600/Redstart+9,+Bardsey+8Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju538bND6qJmbhlooy51hbFcqgDVlVgkcCuZ1M8pY9kUD86IuQD9HwzxSFXhvbMRRs4PMHtgBOiRRiJRdnQz7WkVvCsTSvpwwZRxLW6bxSBg3YUHlGGyKxqZgPAnmrYfimS2S3C528PHA/s640/Redstart+9,+Bardsey+8Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieucEo8QnCeDXIotvrIbrtumXBLR5HHGdwqrFHNGAEHy8gBmLm7AXxC9stknvqnV3o0t6j5UdAjLhX-x7rskvF9p-XWCRUftSiEKhdpriRNyjCX4xRf-jjZYFbsajAc28TZjRwDjvIecQ/s1600/Redstart+10,+Bardsey+8Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieucEo8QnCeDXIotvrIbrtumXBLR5HHGdwqrFHNGAEHy8gBmLm7AXxC9stknvqnV3o0t6j5UdAjLhX-x7rskvF9p-XWCRUftSiEKhdpriRNyjCX4xRf-jjZYFbsajAc28TZjRwDjvIecQ/s640/Redstart+10,+Bardsey+8Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPI86fs4svSl3Mr-vSuf31kDw49aW3pQyWAe5-kgwCjeq9DTVBnLfhj400h-MfJkwQEfyTo5sNFUjbs94XCSintZ9AkSi2-VQPBG5g7b2NYK4VA7dKv2cUuE-cKrieFtu3A3qPnLyOI3s/s1600/Redstart+15,+Bardsey+8Oct12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPI86fs4svSl3Mr-vSuf31kDw49aW3pQyWAe5-kgwCjeq9DTVBnLfhj400h-MfJkwQEfyTo5sNFUjbs94XCSintZ9AkSi2-VQPBG5g7b2NYK4VA7dKv2cUuE-cKrieFtu3A3qPnLyOI3s/s640/Redstart+15,+Bardsey+8Oct12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This Redstart turned up at the Lighthouse yesterday and then spent at least some of last night flying in the beams with a small number of Goldcrests and a Starling. During the day it was spending most of its time in the nettle patch where it was making the most of the Red Admiral caterpillars. Up until 1997, there had been 356 ringing recoveries. Only 62 had been retrapped by ringers; approximately 100 were deliberately killed by humans and roughly 40 were taken by domestic predators. So cat lovers everywhere can point to the importance of their moggies as a useful tool in understanding Redstart movements. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-34164206666951424172012-10-04T11:47:00.000-07:002012-10-04T11:47:09.321-07:00Well it's been a little while coming, but <b>Yellow-browed Warblers</b> finally made it to Bardsey today. There were at least two; one at the Obs and one we trapped and ringed at Nant. Either a third bird, or more likely the Obs bird working North, turned up at Nant with a wave of <b>Goldcrests</b> bearing rings added at the Obs. A couple of <b>Garden Warblers</b> and a few<b> Chiffchaffs</b> and <b>Blackcaps </b>joined the hoards of franticly gleaning <b>Goldcrests</b>. Approximately 120 migrants were trapped whilst reasonable numbers of <b>Skylarks</b>, <b>Meadow Pipits</b>, <b>Chaffinches</b> and <b>Goldfinches </b>passed over head.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil700E2VA-msmRXPKe2pDrIwzDnT63JwmugdJtDMcBcdOidlN4pynmbK2KoPxwT-Z2YYhQnay8piKpk8CZ1T36GReWzJ-4c0ZeonkD03AvpELbepRKdud_uEKzJ3Dfd6oh5yOFmIZiMRg/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil700E2VA-msmRXPKe2pDrIwzDnT63JwmugdJtDMcBcdOidlN4pynmbK2KoPxwT-Z2YYhQnay8piKpk8CZ1T36GReWzJ-4c0ZeonkD03AvpELbepRKdud_uEKzJ3Dfd6oh5yOFmIZiMRg/s640/DSC_0128.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Following only a single record in 2011, it was nice to again see a couple of these little stunners of the Siberian taiga. It is likely that this bird is a female; the tail was 38mm in length (males typically have tails of 40mm or longer) and the wing chord was 54mm (males are usually at least 55mm long). We feel that the scientific name<i> inornatus </i>is a little harsh; this little female is neither plain or unadorned. It has been suggested that so many of these fantastic phylloscs turn up in Western Europe that they might not really be vagrants at all, but rather birds from an enterprising population eminating from the Western Urals who, by overwintering here, save themselves the extra 2000km or so that they would have had to have travelled to reach Southeast Asia. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-41564871486676678932012-09-30T12:05:00.001-07:002012-09-30T12:29:54.546-07:00We've<span style="font-family: inherit;"> been away from Bardsey for the past week. It was
inevitable that we were going to miss a bird or two; it was the last week of
September after all. At the start of the week it seemed as though we might get
lucky; howling winds and persistent rain kept attention focused on a rather
quiet sea. But with so much having arrived on the East Coast, and with the
winds dropping, it was only a matter of time before Bardsey would collect
another Welsh Rare. It came in the form of a rather brief but obliging </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Little Bunting</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">, the first since 2005 and only the 13th for Bardsey. The
following day saw a skulking Locustella which was probably smaller than a </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Grasshopper Warbler</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">. We had only been
back on the Island for an hour when a </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Barred
Warbler</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> was located near the Chapel. It was clearly on a mission and soon
flew over the assembled crowd and off up the mountain.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So why leave such a fantastic place in the last week of
September? Well there would have to be a pretty good reason. And there was. The
Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales were looking to appoint a new Warden for
Skokholm. We are very pleased to announce that they have appointed two. From
the start of January we will be the Skokholm Island Wardens! Skokholm is home
to approximately 20% of Europe’s breeding <b>Storm
Petrels</b> and 15% of the world population of <b>Manx Shearwaters</b>. The seabird assemblage is of international
importance. Throw in a few Nationally Scarce species of Lepidoptera and plants,
a spectacular landscape of old red sandstone, Skokholm’s reputation as a
migration hotspot and it is no surprise how excited we are. It hasn’t really
sunk in yet. Skokholm was also Britain’s first Bird Observatory, started by
Ronald Lockley in 1933. It is a real honour to be able to follow in the
footsteps of such a pioneering naturalist. We would like to extend a massive
thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us on Bardsey, and to all
the guests who have become good friends over the years. We will of course be
hoping to see you all on Skokholm in the future.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are very excited about having a final autumn on Bardsey
and hope to go out with a bang (well a nice selection of rares anyway). </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WvDlzMxbEbO0NT-L1tJtTmC8si-xwViV6QN0QrrshSrbaTlP871p4ipXzIyonuvm7S4WANx59LWl17IbqbrUYy5IsrmUjemUZhM67Akk_H7ERoZlF5qxxMxWDJztQYI2ocxSvQ41Qu0/s1600/Barred+Warbler+4,+Bardsey+29Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WvDlzMxbEbO0NT-L1tJtTmC8si-xwViV6QN0QrrshSrbaTlP871p4ipXzIyonuvm7S4WANx59LWl17IbqbrUYy5IsrmUjemUZhM67Akk_H7ERoZlF5qxxMxWDJztQYI2ocxSvQ41Qu0/s640/Barred+Warbler+4,+Bardsey+29Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWWGsAaVEM7ePuF4z7IGkqzP8fTRaidxVZb0RFbi7v193qpPubpZugykS9zqPRJDI5mcSCNRo1xgKPXuopo2qX_uotQd_IBtzSl_sI7vV_jhsB3Y4ZHRn7DPMWSUGITfyj7JQn8QNNVo/s1600/Barred+Warbler+3,+Bardsey+29Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWWGsAaVEM7ePuF4z7IGkqzP8fTRaidxVZb0RFbi7v193qpPubpZugykS9zqPRJDI5mcSCNRo1xgKPXuopo2qX_uotQd_IBtzSl_sI7vV_jhsB3Y4ZHRn7DPMWSUGITfyj7JQn8QNNVo/s640/Barred+Warbler+3,+Bardsey+29Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Barred Warbler which greeted us back on Bardsey. There seems to be a moult contrast in the greater coverts of both wings. This, coupled with the </span>limited<span style="font-family: inherit;"> barring to the underparts and the broad pale edges to the tertials and secondaries, suggest a bird of the year. (c) Richard Brown</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7Qf2cdmAo0jnlQOlUGF9TZeNAwtH0LQeBg39UNxY1k2kcaZSU-ntuIDWwQo3GE37R66XL351MucozX924tYu2F1eZWz7nFXR3Zwc400o83GacJqgIrzdlAWRfhCYqrn-BnVNHI1n2g8/s1600/Wryneck+13,+Skomer+28Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7Qf2cdmAo0jnlQOlUGF9TZeNAwtH0LQeBg39UNxY1k2kcaZSU-ntuIDWwQo3GE37R66XL351MucozX924tYu2F1eZWz7nFXR3Zwc400o83GacJqgIrzdlAWRfhCYqrn-BnVNHI1n2g8/s640/Wryneck+13,+Skomer+28Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gn4L0rpIBfGv8hUafWe5IIPYLyg0N9PLwnn_0g1EGjWjoJcnECAAPVBQw1Ccp5MPwzLjgB3geUzevvAeFNUEZH9i5xB1cBqXkJbUTkNhu6XoaBUDTrOpvSH0VwxpVepkUw-SEwev-wk/s1600/Glossy+Ibis+6,+Marloes+Mere+28Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gn4L0rpIBfGv8hUafWe5IIPYLyg0N9PLwnn_0g1EGjWjoJcnECAAPVBQw1Ccp5MPwzLjgB3geUzevvAeFNUEZH9i5xB1cBqXkJbUTkNhu6XoaBUDTrOpvSH0VwxpVepkUw-SEwev-wk/s640/Glossy+Ibis+6,+Marloes+Mere+28Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although our trip to Pembrokeshire this week was on </span>business<span style="font-family: inherit;">, there was a bit of time to go birding. The Wryneck on Skomer is a long-stayer and is frequenting the same bushes where I saw many a Wryneck during my time as Assistant there. The Glossy Ibis is right outside the Marloes Mere YHA where we were staying. This bird has been back and forth to Ireland a couple of times during its stay. It has also visited Skokholm (we can only hope that it continues to do so next year)! But these movements are tiny compared to what it's capable of - recently observations of a ringed bird revealed a movement of 600km in a single day. (c) Richard Brown</span></div>
</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-71225155695999766412012-09-23T10:45:00.000-07:002012-09-23T10:45:06.706-07:00It's been a week of seawatching with little in the way of island-based excitement. Nine <b>Red-throated Divers</b>, three <b>Black-throated Divers</b>, two <b>Great Northern Divers</b>, 17 <b>Sooty Shearwaters</b>, seven <b>Balearic Shearwaters</b>, 29 <b>Leach's Petrel</b>, ten <b>Pomarine Skuas</b>, 68 <b>Arctic Skuas</b>, three <b>Long-tailed Skuas</b>, 56 <b>Great Skuas</b>, two <b>Mediterranean Gulls</b>, a <b>Little Gull</b>, a <b>Sabine's Gull</b>, a smattering of commoner terns and a <b>Black Guillemot </b>have all joined the commoner birds passing by. A big shearwater and a small shearwater both got the pulses racing for two lucky (or unlucky) observers, but we sadly didn't connect. Giselle's <b>Melodious Warbler </b>showed amazingly well and when re-trapped was found to have put on 20% of its body weight. It stayed a couple more days before departing on the clear night of the 18th. A brief flyover <b>Hobby</b> brightened our day on the 20th and yesterday morning a large pipit became yet another bird that got away. Silent as it flew over Rich and the South Tip, it was in the company of <b>Goldfinch</b>. The Goldfinches returned from the sea, but no sign of the pipit. The most intergalactic event of the period is documented here: <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/97507/fireball-meteor-or-re-entering-satellite-something-broke-up-over-the-uk-on-friday/">http://www.universetoday.com/97507/fireball-meteor-or-re-entering-satellite-something-broke-up-over-the-uk-on-friday/</a> but the chances of anything coming from Mars are a million-to-one. About the same chances of finding a BB rare on the South End.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH4j7N7KdsAZBtNG57m2NcLXtXO2dta24m39imQEsrmF1HJ96vHD1gnn8e8mOpu-VZBHTW-WPHfYhRReYLrUgiFR_Pp1PyFqqSEN-z6kvlRuNmjOgLvqmgjaSY4YIgOU9tGL1-laTpHo/s1600/Leach's+Petrel+1,+Bardsey+20Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH4j7N7KdsAZBtNG57m2NcLXtXO2dta24m39imQEsrmF1HJ96vHD1gnn8e8mOpu-VZBHTW-WPHfYhRReYLrUgiFR_Pp1PyFqqSEN-z6kvlRuNmjOgLvqmgjaSY4YIgOU9tGL1-laTpHo/s640/Leach's+Petrel+1,+Bardsey+20Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With nearly 30 Leach's Petrels recorded at sea, it was no surprise when Rich found this little fella at the bottom of the Lighthouse during a passing squall. William Elford Leach was an expert in crustaceans and molluscs but also spiders, mammals and birds. He purchased a petrel such as the one above for the British Museum for the princely sum of £5 15s in 1819, and a year later Coenraad Temminck, of Stint and Lark fame, named it after Leach. Leach also purchased a Great Auk and its egg at the same time. This is the third Leach's Petrel we've caught at the Lighthouse in three years. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-61177344175529104372012-09-12T05:56:00.000-07:002012-09-12T05:56:05.912-07:00Northwesterly winds promised a bit of action at sea, but they never really delivered. One lucky observer had a distant <b>Sabine's Gull</b> and a couple of <b>Black Guillemots</b> whilst the rest of us only managed a couple of <b>Black Terns </b>and a few of the commoner skuas. The highlight has been Giselle's <b>Melodious Warbler</b> which continues to delight all comers in the Observatory garden. When she first trapped it the fat and muscle scores for the bird were a lightweight 0/0. The fat is the bird's primary energy reserve and is quickly gained and lost by migrating passerines. The muscle score is a measure of the size of the pectoral muscles whose proteins are used as fuel by migrants. So the Melodious had basically used up all of its fat reserves and wasted its pectoral muscles to get here. But since it has been gorging itself on flies in the back garden and will soon be ready for the off - hopefully in the right direction this time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76OQnCSEWHgHzLEbmO07_kmIot-mtvaBqqirQJQUc9o_Ifejlu6JzeLKV-FklHnwF5a7eOwKbqV-3o7w3l7XLv8xKvVqvAdpwHj65KCy9PR_1gJ-x42rGMWyQDqcXE3JZ4aRBRB5qROk/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+22,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76OQnCSEWHgHzLEbmO07_kmIot-mtvaBqqirQJQUc9o_Ifejlu6JzeLKV-FklHnwF5a7eOwKbqV-3o7w3l7XLv8xKvVqvAdpwHj65KCy9PR_1gJ-x42rGMWyQDqcXE3JZ4aRBRB5qROk/s640/Melodious+Warbler+22,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG5RmnVi3xJrjpa1-AsO4GSkPFw6Zm-MCLyKrVAFrOpfQ1b35L6e72PoE_DXi-Sb_HtovaOIWBauMx3MLsi1jmWsLPWTvMRr_TIpM63Ed1yIudHjK3byU79AgT0jb9m_kZBbDJlMJMWE/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+21,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG5RmnVi3xJrjpa1-AsO4GSkPFw6Zm-MCLyKrVAFrOpfQ1b35L6e72PoE_DXi-Sb_HtovaOIWBauMx3MLsi1jmWsLPWTvMRr_TIpM63Ed1yIudHjK3byU79AgT0jb9m_kZBbDJlMJMWE/s640/Melodious+Warbler+21,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax9nbzaiyJM-Z-EiGUNa1qmI9XcZnVG2xj4GDGeyeAzg25_SdY5y0z5RViQ_DY6LRQUNBvaUnyI9zWjNzi9ynCMElwz9L99duGnPxV3gAIyJapd-ZRo3vsSZbpXz4lz-lR0aJGG02RhA/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+26,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax9nbzaiyJM-Z-EiGUNa1qmI9XcZnVG2xj4GDGeyeAzg25_SdY5y0z5RViQ_DY6LRQUNBvaUnyI9zWjNzi9ynCMElwz9L99duGnPxV3gAIyJapd-ZRo3vsSZbpXz4lz-lR0aJGG02RhA/s640/Melodious+Warbler+26,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziJ_9jvGEhgXTSn9XZh0VB7TrHa5Df1IHBFbsdFJdaoCoVou_6Q0phgR-I27vea4-e6GpWtxOycc7msYPIXGVBT3Bcagq-oa9MnaJy3M8gyRMAtnb02UONCBd73fotvgz4DL9X3UTJDk/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+23,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziJ_9jvGEhgXTSn9XZh0VB7TrHa5Df1IHBFbsdFJdaoCoVou_6Q0phgR-I27vea4-e6GpWtxOycc7msYPIXGVBT3Bcagq-oa9MnaJy3M8gyRMAtnb02UONCBd73fotvgz4DL9X3UTJDk/s640/Melodious+Warbler+23,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Of the ten Melodious Warblers reported in the UK since the 1st of August, we have recorded two of them. Only St. Mary's has managed the same. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEhe6PupPWhjyaAlqL1sxt9pcR9vMKlkSOVi9qxt5IkERK3SWVzMsPdnsybmKu3Vl_bnBjomEkel6UpWfWmKK7dbM8_wTp1I6lMFIivM2w6ds67pZG4-ZvHnXkimbWnvpB4kVzrB_EPWiPQ/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+24,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6PupPWhjyaAlqL1sxt9pcR9vMKlkSOVi9qxt5IkERK3SWVzMsPdnsybmKu3Vl_bnBjomEkel6UpWfWmKK7dbM8_wTp1I6lMFIivM2w6ds67pZG4-ZvHnXkimbWnvpB4kVzrB_EPWiPQ/s640/Melodious+Warbler+24,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXW89a_4UkpfSEQd_HnU59EvWS-AJl9dZOAQJqSt00egmB0ZIbFtcnHjQhj1eKoVye_EixqmGXc00LeRKFekqm5vQD06Vl3vLt_QE8zmjVqHt5ZYRnAutz71nVO8aX1T1cP3TYivi_Ag/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+25,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXW89a_4UkpfSEQd_HnU59EvWS-AJl9dZOAQJqSt00egmB0ZIbFtcnHjQhj1eKoVye_EixqmGXc00LeRKFekqm5vQD06Vl3vLt_QE8zmjVqHt5ZYRnAutz71nVO8aX1T1cP3TYivi_Ag/s640/Melodious+Warbler+25,+Bardsey+11Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The bird is very active, constantly on the look out for insects. Its head is always darting around to spot the next victim. It then either flies at the insect and grabs it or, as in the bottom photo, slowly sticks its neck out before striking out gecko-fashion with a quick lunge. The quickest way to find the bird in the Obs garden is to listen out for the snap of its bill, a sound much louder than that made by the Phylloscs. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEgfMYDf16fXA8NcUC488ueZ9yjnRTd5sVfQW1Wo-em2GyhRKfzlMsRf6kOPQDbeSZLGO5hKzMlma8yxIOMKk4LWq1h7bGeHwTYZjUGhQvsPXia_fbnDBRSqIuHF8SvDTgcB52aefDdbKus/s1600/Icterine+Warbler+7,+Bardsey+26Aug11+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMYDf16fXA8NcUC488ueZ9yjnRTd5sVfQW1Wo-em2GyhRKfzlMsRf6kOPQDbeSZLGO5hKzMlma8yxIOMKk4LWq1h7bGeHwTYZjUGhQvsPXia_fbnDBRSqIuHF8SvDTgcB52aefDdbKus/s640/Icterine+Warbler+7,+Bardsey+26Aug11+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8J2jl8uyw-Kk2eTVQlEuZxbGQmwLHPa8smxCwjKgvrKjcHKZNS08VMSQ5oG5mdTaAH7XVEiwjtZKCPYFqMEonMWVeS3Yq6JVCR_PttVr-DVXGeVBVPosP0YxGnAgsDR-3CBTvVbycaI/s1600/Chiffchaff+25,+Bardsey+16Oct10+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8J2jl8uyw-Kk2eTVQlEuZxbGQmwLHPa8smxCwjKgvrKjcHKZNS08VMSQ5oG5mdTaAH7XVEiwjtZKCPYFqMEonMWVeS3Yq6JVCR_PttVr-DVXGeVBVPosP0YxGnAgsDR-3CBTvVbycaI/s640/Chiffchaff+25,+Bardsey+16Oct10+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An Icterine Warbler (on the 26th August last year) and Chiffchaff also making the most of large flies. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEhdbjSwnl7QUiNJlfAWgyonufDyQpMSIWaO_Z41GIu2tZk3g7QIROLlLxHb_I2KjbJF_7iTZ8bCvdscEHvf9BQjtfukcyXRDv2zc5h5miTOsmO_Xd9dypZZzTvPC2NKASVjBeKyuLQGGfg/s1600/Great+Black-backed+Gull+4,+Bardsey+10Sep12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbjSwnl7QUiNJlfAWgyonufDyQpMSIWaO_Z41GIu2tZk3g7QIROLlLxHb_I2KjbJF_7iTZ8bCvdscEHvf9BQjtfukcyXRDv2zc5h5miTOsmO_Xd9dypZZzTvPC2NKASVjBeKyuLQGGfg/s640/Great+Black-backed+Gull+4,+Bardsey+10Sep12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Most of the Manx Shearwaters are now fledging. Youngsters that haven't made it out to sea or back down a burrow are easy pickings for the Great Black-backed Gulls and Crows. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-24692512977571220222012-09-07T06:20:00.001-07:002012-09-07T06:20:13.082-07:00It has been very quiet bird-wise since our last post. So quiet in fact that we've spent a fair bit of time bothering undergrowth in an attempt to improve our chances of catching birds when they do arrive. The new plantation at Nant has held some pretty decent birds in the last year or so, ranging from a <b>Corncrake</b> to a <b>Western Bonelli's Warbler</b>. But the vegetation had grown taller than the nets and there was a big section of impenetrable woodland which has no doubt held several BB Rarities during the course of the year so far. So we pollarded the trees and stuck in a new 50 foot net ride through the middle. Subsequently there has still been virtually nothing in the way of grounded migrants, although one day saw over 5000<b> Swallows</b> pass North and many <b>Grey Wagtails </b>have gone over (using an old water bottle off a bike we also created a constant drip of water next to one of the nets to try and lure a <b>Grey Wagtail</b> or two down - but it's yet to work). Anyway, the first reward for all our efforts came today. We had only caught about five birds when Giselle extracted the third <b>Melodious Warbler</b> of the year from our new net ride. Despite the area having been well birded, the first we knew about it was when Giselle found it hanging there - what else must have skulked through this dense patch of scrub?<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKZyF4wks7nHu9X_NGbROdTgvkAYvppCs8bhc1BcSk5puOpBFeWZD_VcmpPzNZLUPX_l2jW_TLW0AD2U0Buy06hNBbpaWwouXie7uEcbR0RuM0jmnyp6B8MtgD8yJ3oYtMg89w7CVX0M/s1600/IMG_5495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKZyF4wks7nHu9X_NGbROdTgvkAYvppCs8bhc1BcSk5puOpBFeWZD_VcmpPzNZLUPX_l2jW_TLW0AD2U0Buy06hNBbpaWwouXie7uEcbR0RuM0jmnyp6B8MtgD8yJ3oYtMg89w7CVX0M/s640/IMG_5495.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This neat first year arrived on a good day for Hippos. On Bardsey since 1958, the seventh of September has seen seven previous Melodious Warblers and three Icterine Warblers recorded. So eight of 113 Melodious Warblers have occurred on this date. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEjSpraznAHComMx6YbzUihDHwNLDVjt19EvigBdfdhitUwja_xcPmHjhI8ZTHhFtCJxcl_iV3CEM2Gef0s-6guwmDDlNjhiLspYLUVn7PMc_LP94l2OEWDv-KMEQU13BvActxb768eqEhU/s1600/IMG_5433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpraznAHComMx6YbzUihDHwNLDVjt19EvigBdfdhitUwja_xcPmHjhI8ZTHhFtCJxcl_iV3CEM2Gef0s-6guwmDDlNjhiLspYLUVn7PMc_LP94l2OEWDv-KMEQU13BvActxb768eqEhU/s640/IMG_5433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Several Hummingbird Hawkmoths have been in the gardens along with numerous Silver Ys. Three Migrant Hawkers have also passed through. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-56260162114665531632012-08-26T04:53:00.001-07:002012-08-26T04:53:14.863-07:00Well it wasn't all bad getting stuck off the Island for an extra couple of nights. When news broke on the evening of the 21st that there was a <b>Broad-billed Sandpiper</b> at Seaton Snook, we were already well into our third pints down the local. It was perhaps a bit hopeful to expect the bird to return to the same high tide roost the following evening, but it did. The crappy digiscoped images don't really do justice to the views we had, but it was cracking. The bird usually kept a lower profile than the <b>Dunlin</b>, crouching down in dips and troughs. As the flock worked up towards the gathered crowd of 20 or so birders, we were all hoping for some great views. But the flock was quite active and various dog walkers were not helping them to settle. But the birds kept getting closer. However, for no apparent reason, the star bird suddenly departed with a small group of <b>Dunlin</b> and was last seen flying high over the South side of Teesmouth, perhaps on its way to Nosterfield. But even without the sandpiper, it was an excellent roost. The tern flock, primarily made up of a three figure count of <b>Common Terns</b>, also held a few<b> Arctic Terns</b>, a couple of <b>Sandwich Terns</b>, two <b>Black Terns </b>and an adult <b>Roseate Tern</b> joined the group late on. Two <b>Curlew Sandpipers</b> were with the <b>Dunlin</b> flock.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis76BZqD6NnSTgDynFGYVUt1zFsmeJTF0Pp7_kCwl9FwBQ-QbNU9dyYh5RuCvTYASiDQtejMHtoAMbrNEW6fDPeXisCN5Siooa4_-ZRnKa1aDlh9U1FL7Trij4UESIpc9sw4w9oXL_Hc/s1600/Broad-billed+Sandpiper+2,+Teesmouth+22Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis76BZqD6NnSTgDynFGYVUt1zFsmeJTF0Pp7_kCwl9FwBQ-QbNU9dyYh5RuCvTYASiDQtejMHtoAMbrNEW6fDPeXisCN5Siooa4_-ZRnKa1aDlh9U1FL7Trij4UESIpc9sw4w9oXL_Hc/s640/Broad-billed+Sandpiper+2,+Teesmouth+22Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcM8LQOczYpep8IdNA4Zp5MywYVyThQHQ-QZOJO7P5xK6NK1asU0Nk9jj2HSbm9v5QC0JHaSQ-L9s4tcOkZM0fq9mpa4mFpw0dFJY6N7X6Ss4-RZ_Wz3bWTtUHi0-mp-gbgs5DDkHuCg/s1600/Broad-billed+Sandpiper+1,+Teesmouth+22Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcM8LQOczYpep8IdNA4Zp5MywYVyThQHQ-QZOJO7P5xK6NK1asU0Nk9jj2HSbm9v5QC0JHaSQ-L9s4tcOkZM0fq9mpa4mFpw0dFJY6N7X6Ss4-RZ_Wz3bWTtUHi0-mp-gbgs5DDkHuCg/s640/Broad-billed+Sandpiper+1,+Teesmouth+22Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrfoHnQlIMehbpPyC2_OgkQhV0JhsoWPIdf1DHMaH06BguA9wp8HMliUpygmb4laLkXg6vf-yW7Z9r1TZ4HXwmFGlu1Vz9N0Qzcg_PkiB9SQg2JGvYOaSvABvHyYAb89qvE3EwdNCsqk/s1600/Black+Tern+1,+22Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrfoHnQlIMehbpPyC2_OgkQhV0JhsoWPIdf1DHMaH06BguA9wp8HMliUpygmb4laLkXg6vf-yW7Z9r1TZ4HXwmFGlu1Vz9N0Qzcg_PkiB9SQg2JGvYOaSvABvHyYAb89qvE3EwdNCsqk/s640/Black+Tern+1,+22Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rather poor photos of the juvenile Broad-billed Sandpiper and a Black Tern. This is a truly fantastic site, but it is sadly disturbed by dog walkers on a far too regular basis. Surely there must be a way of dissuading people from the Seaton Snook area at high tide? The vast majority of dog walkers are totally oblivious to the disturbance they are causing, indeed most were oblivious to the big group of people watching them walk through the birds. Perhaps some big dog shaped signs could kindly ask them to walk their dogs on the couple of miles of beach in the other direction? This was only the second Broad-billed Sandpiper of 2012 following on from one in the Outer Hebrides back in May. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEj8Qp3F7Wl0ki249wdo04zT0NrZ8D674EdQstD8F2NNwEW9pdoEZh3OxaucFMzaQdKqSwZOiSUBGv8NCBjyOhePcT_qFdktTmnOHBlkI5spmb-Ry66V9zlSiGH5K6qa62DquUdvksGBOOY/s1600/Osprey+1,+Lockwood+Beck+21Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Qp3F7Wl0ki249wdo04zT0NrZ8D674EdQstD8F2NNwEW9pdoEZh3OxaucFMzaQdKqSwZOiSUBGv8NCBjyOhePcT_qFdktTmnOHBlkI5spmb-Ry66V9zlSiGH5K6qa62DquUdvksGBOOY/s640/Osprey+1,+Lockwood+Beck+21Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A little way to the South, at Lockwood Beck, the Osprey was again showing very well, occasionally fishing below where we were sat. Our yearlist, severely hampered by nine weeks in the Caribbean, scraped over the 200 mark with this bird (watch out Tonks and Aimes, we're coming). (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEi15y4J_1AxRBq_7ohtEYgsdTF3fYq39NeOIGYxjeqJbuAvI-RJ1OWiWtTTnQHALJ1zvXq-VFtr1ubfDI8LhYz9-B9rGWaYfNmK9bu7_8_xk3OBg5fLKIcf5b39O4CQnhXefL-uuxiZGEY/s1600/Pied+Flycatcher+28,+Bardsey+24Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15y4J_1AxRBq_7ohtEYgsdTF3fYq39NeOIGYxjeqJbuAvI-RJ1OWiWtTTnQHALJ1zvXq-VFtr1ubfDI8LhYz9-B9rGWaYfNmK9bu7_8_xk3OBg5fLKIcf5b39O4CQnhXefL-uuxiZGEY/s640/Pied+Flycatcher+28,+Bardsey+24Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdUWO69ISyHQzvK1o9K3ZTMRdlGKmjynh6BYSz9WwXYB-lB6ILxKwqfIkEC777OQXezEcbI1wqRxirhGH4SjYW7NakJh-YTu8-19V2sO2QUQvThj4LDJ4cTbWd1F4rcjywicM-qQvEUA/s1600/Pied+Flycatcher+29,+Bardsey+24Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdUWO69ISyHQzvK1o9K3ZTMRdlGKmjynh6BYSz9WwXYB-lB6ILxKwqfIkEC777OQXezEcbI1wqRxirhGH4SjYW7NakJh-YTu8-19V2sO2QUQvThj4LDJ4cTbWd1F4rcjywicM-qQvEUA/s640/Pied+Flycatcher+29,+Bardsey+24Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Back on Bardsey and a trickle of migrants are continuing to pass through. It's been a great autumn for Pied Flycatchers with numbers considerably up on recent years. The broad white outer edges to the tertials which step in at the feather shaft show this to be a bird hatched this year. Hopefully many people recognise this particular plumage from our little competition at the BOC stand at the Birfair. (c) Richard Brown</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-75808539400832323252012-08-22T00:11:00.000-07:002012-08-22T00:11:25.892-07:00It has been ages since we've blogged. Our only excuse is that we've been quite busy. Back on Bardsey we have managed to build a second Heligoland Trap in the Obs garden. We were inspired by the fact that the original trap has provided us with an average of exactly 450 new birds a year between 2000 and 2011. Also by the decent birds which have recently been taken in the original, including <b>Woodchat Shrike</b>, <b>Melodious Warbler</b> and <b>Greenish Warbler</b>. It hasn't been easy, but we have now managed to build a second trap which uses the east wing of the original to form the new trap's west wing. The new trap thus catches birds approaching from the South whereas the old trap takes birds coming from the North. But we'd only just finished the trap (and caught the first few <b>Willow Warblers</b> in it), when it was time to leave Bardsey to represent the Bird Observatories Council at the Birdfair. We've missed a few birds whilst we've been away, most notably record numbers of <b>Pied Flycatchers </b>along with a <b>Hobby</b>, a <b>Wood Warbler</b>, a <b>Wryneck</b>, a couple of trips of <b>Dotterel</b> and a few more 100+ <b>Willow Warbler</b> days. However we can't really grumble as we had a cracking time at the Birdfair. We're now waiting for the weather to allow us to return to Bardsey, with Thursday looking like it will be good for a crossing. Whilst we wait we've picked up a few more birds for the yearlist, most notably the <b>Black Tern</b> and <b>Black-necked Grebe</b> just down the road at Nosterfield and the very showy <b>Osprey </b>at Lockwood Beck Reservoir.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4e9Nq6VL-Bx7cMmaQm-1BhSdvF1I6UOSWTpEEM7FL-MGIiasOPukFJ6ULW3TG_MkMbC9ldOzgcneuSM70PBBiU2iw8EYaccQ3a_iSN34nNU5XKfm27pBoHJiJRr3V_G6TEZNEAVk7oQ/s1600/L1420548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4e9Nq6VL-Bx7cMmaQm-1BhSdvF1I6UOSWTpEEM7FL-MGIiasOPukFJ6ULW3TG_MkMbC9ldOzgcneuSM70PBBiU2iw8EYaccQ3a_iSN34nNU5XKfm27pBoHJiJRr3V_G6TEZNEAVk7oQ/s640/L1420548.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWMn7IQaEKSH_4buvD3S3FFCAkuMvzAoL1JjETsT_CBSGoDUespZJl6GS1zil53OF7UPRK9fNfeUQPAK7YO8Iwlh-ZfKXKMr28ObTvP851mdP99uNuLcbqBjR48cwdhAOU6k3vyez6Vc/s1600/L1420560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWMn7IQaEKSH_4buvD3S3FFCAkuMvzAoL1JjETsT_CBSGoDUespZJl6GS1zil53OF7UPRK9fNfeUQPAK7YO8Iwlh-ZfKXKMr28ObTvP851mdP99uNuLcbqBjR48cwdhAOU6k3vyez6Vc/s640/L1420560.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our new Heligoland Trap in the Obs garden. Many a Subalpine Warbler has vanished into the Gorse in this part of the garden; hopefully a few will now find the back of the trap. With the exception of the chicken wire, the whole trap has been made out of offcuts and unwanted materials lying around the island. (c) Giselle Eagle</div>
Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-68925376213120012252012-08-06T11:10:00.001-07:002012-08-06T11:13:36.403-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few <b>Willow Warblers</b> in the South End Gorse early on suggested that migrants were on the move. But it was only when we crossed the Narrows that we realised that it was going to be a pretty decent day. The first withy we came to held nine more <b>Willow Warblers</b> and Rich located a <b>Melodious Warbler</b>. It showed well and eventually found a mist net. Often the best way to pick it up as it moved through the vegetation was by the sound of its bill snapping shut on insects. It was clearly feeding well so it was no surprise that its body was surrounded by a layer of fat. <b>Willow Warblers</b> continued to move through during the day; tonight's adding up will no doubt give a figure of well over 150. Add to this a <b>Whinchat</b>, two <b>Spotted Flycatchers</b> and a <b>Tree Pipit</b> and autumn is well and truly under way. </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/AVvXsEi0OIrh4IInzF93DP8oN79PSPBuXV72lrumKw89CoKMljxEAdipygp_MCCd8S2eiM6PLP_Bujq0d36_pnjoI1ge-WBWpOXTMUp-71JgATQviWFBWy9KvSuuX5b7osJJlstkqEnBwG9H9lU/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+18,+Bardsey+6Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OIrh4IInzF93DP8oN79PSPBuXV72lrumKw89CoKMljxEAdipygp_MCCd8S2eiM6PLP_Bujq0d36_pnjoI1ge-WBWpOXTMUp-71JgATQviWFBWy9KvSuuX5b7osJJlstkqEnBwG9H9lU/s640/Melodious+Warbler+18,+Bardsey+6Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispyJrX7wX18uBFeBxRmg3sa329b3jngxzsTk2dJ_APwMpl_uHtiQAOAVJARaN7uKKUBJ2m0pXEVOuirCaI5ooZMz1m5NqMYx74pJANUZXbYFRtRKNrEFaqwov3s4acIZgvfSiedUnqYg/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+19,+Bardsey+6Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispyJrX7wX18uBFeBxRmg3sa329b3jngxzsTk2dJ_APwMpl_uHtiQAOAVJARaN7uKKUBJ2m0pXEVOuirCaI5ooZMz1m5NqMYx74pJANUZXbYFRtRKNrEFaqwov3s4acIZgvfSiedUnqYg/s640/Melodious+Warbler+19,+Bardsey+6Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTMfthQlxtlAvbbscCM99npWtoe6wtVD4iBjsfLnHEY6ozmDDH557NHtyS3H5Uv16CbhbwS9CCP_JqKod1pr-hyL9fVn5-3f2gufxvPa-inqapIfA6m-XkQKKATLOr0NBM4ul1-NRKJs/s1600/Melodious+Warbler+20,+Bardsey+6Aug12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTMfthQlxtlAvbbscCM99npWtoe6wtVD4iBjsfLnHEY6ozmDDH557NHtyS3H5Uv16CbhbwS9CCP_JqKod1pr-hyL9fVn5-3f2gufxvPa-inqapIfA6m-XkQKKATLOr0NBM4ul1-NRKJs/s640/Melodious+Warbler+20,+Bardsey+6Aug12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The first Melodious Warbler to be reported in the UK this autumn. The fresh plumage shows this to be a bird of the year. Adults do not moult until they reach their wintering grounds so their plumage shows the wear picked up during the breeding season. This is the 112th Melodious Warbler recorded by BBFO since 1953! Why Bardsey is so attractive to these short winged Hippos is not clear. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEjSb0kfy0jmsquABH8c_gV4s5FzsWuYBrp3tF3zz-jsnjJa_6KFDI_BfMopVz87iBxWfPQIMZiymp-PL0fYpRvcs5g1Mj7iBn7kVakmhj4TunOaN_JDKY1oP6C1muEPQEqHjoh92H9xBEU/s1600/Lesser+Redpoll+3,+Bardsey+29Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSb0kfy0jmsquABH8c_gV4s5FzsWuYBrp3tF3zz-jsnjJa_6KFDI_BfMopVz87iBxWfPQIMZiymp-PL0fYpRvcs5g1Mj7iBn7kVakmhj4TunOaN_JDKY1oP6C1muEPQEqHjoh92H9xBEU/s640/Lesser+Redpoll+3,+Bardsey+29Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the ninth year that Redpolls have nested on Bardsey, but the first time with more than one pair. The three pairs have fledged a minimum of seven between them, a new island record. This smart male is currently feeding three streaky brownpolls. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEgpeFtHL5ORfnEPdqZazXKqax9EdT6RXJ9AZK2N_xwPELrQCs9DJ88FcLGzeEzjY45ugcPNxzlKSe1QdF39vLiggAAnfCCT-7thL7MFulmT6vkgL8PgaRfgKRsjct2y4xgWSuxWumyb8XE/s1600/Cuckoo+16,+Bardsey+28Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeFtHL5ORfnEPdqZazXKqax9EdT6RXJ9AZK2N_xwPELrQCs9DJ88FcLGzeEzjY45ugcPNxzlKSe1QdF39vLiggAAnfCCT-7thL7MFulmT6vkgL8PgaRfgKRsjct2y4xgWSuxWumyb8XE/s640/Cuckoo+16,+Bardsey+28Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Although this lingering Cuckoo spent a lot of time begging at the Meadow Pipits, it probably came from the mainland. It spent most of its stay gorging on Six-spot Burnets. (c) Richard Brown</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-81727717112662481962012-07-29T09:09:00.000-07:002012-07-31T05:25:45.036-07:00We don't get to see too much in the way of dragonfly action in a normal year on Bardsey. The fresh water areas on the island are eutrophic in nature, and whilst this favours the abundant <b>Palmate Newt</b>, it means that only<b> Blue-Tailed Damselfly</b> breed here with any regularity. So while we were traversing the north-west coast of Scotland, we went on a Dragonfly hunt!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-VnV_kXhx9UJepSNZWmUTTUn7p8xfbBJgBCP_e-9phQH6HdnInKJX2cbtaX0oAYc3a9zzMoHGIYnh75_dgtmhp7jYQRkJkQyGqsNmattXfULHvFt9xGEFyQJuRaTwSj9vyQu1VDl7QA/s1600/L1420080+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-VnV_kXhx9UJepSNZWmUTTUn7p8xfbBJgBCP_e-9phQH6HdnInKJX2cbtaX0oAYc3a9zzMoHGIYnh75_dgtmhp7jYQRkJkQyGqsNmattXfULHvFt9xGEFyQJuRaTwSj9vyQu1VDl7QA/s640/L1420080+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This impressive male Golden-ringed Dragonfly was hanging out in a bog near Loch Morar (which incidentally is the deepest freshwater body in the British Isles with a maximum depth of over 1,000ft). Females have a distinctive 'spiked' vulvar scale, diagnostic of the genus, which aids in the oviposition of eggs in streams and ditches. The larvae of this species live for 3-7 years before emerging as adult dragonflies. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEg11gwyBGtkZPFXk1BXlef4DMWaKJFq-Tn32IrbldYNFSGeJ1ZPpG2hv3BDcRMMZuo3IEtAZcZm1cDgwCuw3641iQDJnHcT3ycdQAri5FjIenBZ5F6jy82ZYx98ezy-aBS1tVsRbcfB5dE/s1600/L1420113+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11gwyBGtkZPFXk1BXlef4DMWaKJFq-Tn32IrbldYNFSGeJ1ZPpG2hv3BDcRMMZuo3IEtAZcZm1cDgwCuw3641iQDJnHcT3ycdQAri5FjIenBZ5F6jy82ZYx98ezy-aBS1tVsRbcfB5dE/s640/L1420113+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Keeled Skimmers were abundant in the same bog, with multiple females egg-laying in the shallow ditches. The smart males, such as this one, were duelling it out over the prime stretches. Keeled Skimmers are common in Southern Europe, but only locally common in Western Britain and Ireland. (c) Richard Brown.</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/AVvXsEgKQwb6ZB4M22v_9TDwSYJsthFxUEgeMuCALbxV2-C2td4NzCu7l1uuouYzcEs_sCegFfaTV2nAZcG8jHojEmShZTeBhXZwKu86TRjLNh4CuwhzsIaLWgcQL5PWEJkTKLWd2jMJ2-X7P7M/s1600/L1420442+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQwb6ZB4M22v_9TDwSYJsthFxUEgeMuCALbxV2-C2td4NzCu7l1uuouYzcEs_sCegFfaTV2nAZcG8jHojEmShZTeBhXZwKu86TRjLNh4CuwhzsIaLWgcQL5PWEJkTKLWd2jMJ2-X7P7M/s640/L1420442+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perhaps the most confiding of all the Dragonflies on the bog was this female Northern Emerald (thanks Andrew!). Although not very visible in this photograph, the two large yellow spots on the third abdominal segment and a broader waist readily separate it from the male of this species. In the UK it is confined to north-west Scotland. (C) Giselle Eagle<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwjHD7FPXK0vI-dQqx4BCe-LPAE2MFTAqVN2_jN0Ip3wfNLBiAIYKB6U1H28h5XYlnYEsurwEKw7oudKlFkI2ej4ycw1o9tEitYDAr3Xx3aMs3Oka-anxm075UT7q0B6cQE6qfk7lNAk/s1600/IMG_4103+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwjHD7FPXK0vI-dQqx4BCe-LPAE2MFTAqVN2_jN0Ip3wfNLBiAIYKB6U1H28h5XYlnYEsurwEKw7oudKlFkI2ej4ycw1o9tEitYDAr3Xx3aMs3Oka-anxm075UT7q0B6cQE6qfk7lNAk/s640/IMG_4103+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Keeping the emerald theme going, this time with a smart male Common Emerald Damselfly that we encountered in another bog on Muck. Males are separated from females by a number of features. Eye colour is blue in males but dark in females. Males show a blue pruinosity (a waxy colouring which develops as the damselfly matures and covers the underlying colouration) which covers all of Segment 2 (which also helps to separate it from the the more southerly Scare Emerald Damselfly), and blue S9/S10 with a distinctively shaped abdomen tip. All Emerald Damselfies share the characteristic 'spread' wings at rest, with all others holding their wings closed. (c) Richard Brown<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcpQ5gfPABblFqB5tcV5nioAn2SzLRGIL548Vmy2xsWAgytDLD5M-FJA7bqIuMER8S-ZwBFent39qo6H0YT_f_WYqWX749T-Sgs_E2H-1Ak3XR6rCnBJ_BO240zIJVMxNDMDOcKpMml4/s1600/IMG_3924+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcpQ5gfPABblFqB5tcV5nioAn2SzLRGIL548Vmy2xsWAgytDLD5M-FJA7bqIuMER8S-ZwBFent39qo6H0YT_f_WYqWX749T-Sgs_E2H-1Ak3XR6rCnBJ_BO240zIJVMxNDMDOcKpMml4/s640/IMG_3924+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
This probable Highland Darter <i>Sympetrum</i> (<i>striolatum</i>)<i> nigrescens </i>was basking on stones near the bog. Some publications question its validity as a separate species suggesting that it is just a melanistic form of Common Darter <i>S.striolatum. </i>Either way, the lack of yellowish streaks on the femora and the dark sides to the thorax, coupled with large amounts of black around the edges of the eyes and the blackish underside to the abdomen, suggest that this is of the highland form. Interestingly, early odonatologists suggested that Highland Darters were the product of hybridisation of Common Darter and Black Darter and this continues to be a long-standing debate. Recent genetic studies have shown some evidence of isolation from Common Darter, especially on Scottish Islands, resulting in restricted gene flow. It is still suggested, however, that Highland Darter is merely a northern morph of Common Darter. (c) Richard Brown.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhP7msmPN-qyRDNR5o4fpL3VDZhsZzLOaNuB9ew1GiCnLZWicJ2Un3_u8eG46tLYrepOErPzmmfQ5qR1dgFjCoyGTtLYUm0gnsPUaLdwHG_z0g-s0n_wV-5w17DgrrYOGzMLEfvFhG1Aw/s1600/IMG_4706+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhP7msmPN-qyRDNR5o4fpL3VDZhsZzLOaNuB9ew1GiCnLZWicJ2Un3_u8eG46tLYrepOErPzmmfQ5qR1dgFjCoyGTtLYUm0gnsPUaLdwHG_z0g-s0n_wV-5w17DgrrYOGzMLEfvFhG1Aw/s640/IMG_4706+%5B800x600%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And finally a straight-forward, no-nonsense, Large Red Damselfly. Exactly what it says on the tin. (c) Richard Brown.</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-14672728971702647722012-07-27T06:20:00.002-07:002012-07-27T06:43:46.095-07:00I thought Rich needed a rest from his <b>Greenish Warbler</b> research, so I booked a holiday in a yurt on the Isle of Muck for the last week of our holiday. It was phenomenal! <b>Corncrakes</b> crexing from the meadows were the avian highlight, although we did see <b>Twite</b>, which was new for the yearlist. The mega highlights of the holiday, however, all came from the depths of the sea...<br />
<br />
On our first day trekking around an island only slightly bigger than Bardsey, we got some distant views of two <b>Basking Sharks </b>feeding in the waters in front of the Isle of Eigg. We watched them for half an hour or so before heading on - there was still a lot of coastline to explore! We hoped we'd get closer views. A couple of days later, we spotted another <b>Basking Shark</b>, very close in to shore. The only problem was we were viewing it from Beinn Airein - the highest point on the island. We made a hurried descent to the bay and watched the shark feeding close in for a couple of hours! Brilliant! Then, on our last night as we enjoyed a few ciders, a <b>Basking Shark</b> appeared in the bay opposite the yurt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C6tRdYP5JPTIkQkzsGjvjpqrQDaXsVpoy0kwUf9xNDmR54dkXkG1y8VjVgFZG3EoUU2Ewz9Iog2cggqiBzbtpxspDdP3blR2UXzwJHZaJNhUno4BFUsEXlicL5GSxtSd5wQMzw_dLVA/s1600/IMG_4357+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C6tRdYP5JPTIkQkzsGjvjpqrQDaXsVpoy0kwUf9xNDmR54dkXkG1y8VjVgFZG3EoUU2Ewz9Iog2cggqiBzbtpxspDdP3blR2UXzwJHZaJNhUno4BFUsEXlicL5GSxtSd5wQMzw_dLVA/s640/IMG_4357+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TVn7sIPdl1AXj_3PoSZzX_0VwheDwqT2xIJ54ERsW736hQK6TMEEfHcYO3kElh8UGYSttamqrNP7CL6WQSBtJ_Ih7dbpxYDs38nKIbdY9MS2iIMnvLo0laTqjRAwU2LMS2K4M0T34jM/s1600/IMG_4326+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TVn7sIPdl1AXj_3PoSZzX_0VwheDwqT2xIJ54ERsW736hQK6TMEEfHcYO3kElh8UGYSttamqrNP7CL6WQSBtJ_Ih7dbpxYDs38nKIbdY9MS2iIMnvLo0laTqjRAwU2LMS2K4M0T34jM/s640/IMG_4326+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApJdBpoVyTRnKkgQUpYDXT1nja0jX29UbfhiDi5U2TKPt7X1cJYr5stakk23lW-lOwah-iM_099N3GOxLkliZtjp-0nR2a3iKqzMPnL2wLv8fzKSJOCrr8EV01fhZPwrc49a6DyAzBT4/s1600/IMG_4502+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApJdBpoVyTRnKkgQUpYDXT1nja0jX29UbfhiDi5U2TKPt7X1cJYr5stakk23lW-lOwah-iM_099N3GOxLkliZtjp-0nR2a3iKqzMPnL2wLv8fzKSJOCrr8EV01fhZPwrc49a6DyAzBT4/s640/IMG_4502+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Adult Gannet, Great Black-backed Gull and Shag to give this enormous sea-beast some scale. This particular shark seemed to be around 12ft long, which is big enough, but massively shorter than the largest specimen ever reported, which was trapped in a herring net in the Bay of Fundy, Canada in 1851 and measured in at a whopping 40ft and tipped the scales at an impressive 19 tonnes! Sadly, the commercial value of Basking Sharks as food, animal feed and sharks liver oil (not to mention the appalling trade in sharks fin) has resulted in over-exploitation of this species and so long-lived individuals like the 1851 specimen are rarely recorded now. Basking sharks filter-feed on blooms of plankton, small fish and invertebrates in the water column and can get through as much as 1800 tonnes of water an hour. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEg0a7iBGJhU7Hd1brxgJeTZwo8vkauTinp0Dk8ZEd4bdsz3Z8A_Fay5COq2CX3YtdkQIiRUPlHcpYsaGElVisYtwat3aYXDHuIqXpsbrtyDLd3zFeyIsjg4kj_vBrqCTGs7ofG0DjK_CYs/s1600/IMG_4472+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a7iBGJhU7Hd1brxgJeTZwo8vkauTinp0Dk8ZEd4bdsz3Z8A_Fay5COq2CX3YtdkQIiRUPlHcpYsaGElVisYtwat3aYXDHuIqXpsbrtyDLd3zFeyIsjg4kj_vBrqCTGs7ofG0DjK_CYs/s640/IMG_4472+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sea-beast the Second! After the excitement of the Basking Shark, came the excitement of the elusive Otter. Yet again the yurt was the place to be and we watched this large individual catching fish just offshore. It's no surprise that he was busy eating, British Otters need to consume somewhere in the region of 15% of their body weight per day to enable them to survive in our chilly waters. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEjf8O2EbZRLShpzthQZ1hggqEsGx1-_eloVhmY7mzyKHQpAvWYLp9k7pklsf2YCqfx0Db85gBINwyg1L1NMinwvZiRmN04JOIzslkS-FPrpnSmx5oifcmZGLd_T3hCHcEvkSbnymQI3LH0/s1600/IMG_4119+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8O2EbZRLShpzthQZ1hggqEsGx1-_eloVhmY7mzyKHQpAvWYLp9k7pklsf2YCqfx0Db85gBINwyg1L1NMinwvZiRmN04JOIzslkS-FPrpnSmx5oifcmZGLd_T3hCHcEvkSbnymQI3LH0/s640/IMG_4119+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A somewhat distant Minke Whale which didn't quite make it onto the yurt list. The Minke Whale is apparently named after Miencke, a Norwegian Whaler who became the butt of his crewmates' jokes when he repeatedly harpooned this species thinking that it was the much larger Blue Whale. They crew dubbed this smallest rorqual whale 'Miencke's Whale' and the name eventually stuck. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEhZyTnXDC00sD-Dqu6kTjzm7cJm0m4eM4RbcLTce1DVk8QKxAohIN0rHc03c0e28UzLTxmjYfU01wCaK-f4zGeMudO8NkAZN-kw8z_cyVb5jnMhh1UKVrgym_Hd9doxktmlEZyfKLE9bIk/s1600/L1420414+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyTnXDC00sD-Dqu6kTjzm7cJm0m4eM4RbcLTce1DVk8QKxAohIN0rHc03c0e28UzLTxmjYfU01wCaK-f4zGeMudO8NkAZN-kw8z_cyVb5jnMhh1UKVrgym_Hd9doxktmlEZyfKLE9bIk/s640/L1420414+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The yurt overlooking the much larger Isle <span style="font-family: inherit;">of </span>Rùm where several tens of thousands of pairs of Manx Shearwater breed high up in the Cuillin Hills. Which goes some way to explaining their constant presence in the waters around Muck. It seems a few pairs have started to breed on Muck but, as on Rùm, the presence of non-native rats will not be helping their productivity. (c) Richard Brown</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So we're now back on Bardsey, and just in time. It might only be the last week in July but autumn is well and truly under way. Over 100 <b>Willow Warblers</b> have been logged for the last two days, predominantly birds of the year, along with the first few <b>Sedge Warblers</b> and <b>Grasshopper Warblers</b> heading South. Up to 13 species of wader have been around the coast and <b>Swifts</b> are screaming their way South. </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/AVvXsEi1JqxBBbV1_oGDIV4miirwkaoJ80BWPvrZpPGOfAH31RVuQCMUaBrkA_opP2hNNGKLjCcfOfneloYLVJvwPsi4WTwgfQgIGQoatU9fGCEu9jMyinIpjy1FVrfEIs59UcCOofnrXL2zXHg/s1600/IMG_4735+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JqxBBbV1_oGDIV4miirwkaoJ80BWPvrZpPGOfAH31RVuQCMUaBrkA_opP2hNNGKLjCcfOfneloYLVJvwPsi4WTwgfQgIGQoatU9fGCEu9jMyinIpjy1FVrfEIs59UcCOofnrXL2zXHg/s640/IMG_4735+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The first Grasshopper Warbler of the autumn was predictably a nice fresh bird of the year. Little is known about Grasshopper Warbler migration but it is likely that this smart <i>Locustella</i> will visit important refuelling sites in Portugal before reaching its wintering grounds in North Africa. (c) Richard Brown</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-16550177605272405652012-07-10T12:18:00.000-07:002012-07-10T12:38:59.839-07:00We've been given a few more pointers on the separation of <b>Greenish Warbler</b> and <b>(Bright) Green Warbler</b>. It's not going to help to secure the identification of our bird, but it does provide a few more talking points. The reason that <b>Green Warbler </b>has been suggested is due to the extent of yellow in the supercilium and ear coverts, which seems to be on the extreme side for <b>Greenish Warbler</b>, however see: <a href="http://birdsofkazakhstan.com/greenish-warbler-phylloscopus-trochiloides/">http://birdsofkazakhstan.com/greenish-warbler-phylloscopus-trochiloides/</a> for photographs of <b>Greenish Warbler</b> in South Kazakhstan (but different light conditions). The chin, throat and upper breast have a pale yellow wash in our bird, but this seems to be within the realms of <b>Greenish Warbler</b>.<br />
<br />
A new feature to us (and apparently said by some to be diagnostic) is the possibility that the feathering along the lower edge of the eye is white (thus contrasting with the ear coverts) in <b>Greenish Warbler</b> and matches the colour of the ear coverts in <b>Green Warbler</b>. It is important that this is assessed in good light conditions so perhaps we can't look at it with any certainty using these photos. However it seems fair to say that our recent bird has feathering more concolourous with the ear coverts than the other two birds, but perhaps not to the extent expected in <b>Green Warbler</b>? The three photos below are full size so anyone out there who's interested can blow them up a bit bigger for a closer look. The lack of yellow in the wing bar seems to have no relevance as fresh <b>Green Warblers</b> on the Turkish Black Sea Coast can show white wingbars when fresh. Ultimately it seems that some extralimital, worn birds cannot be identified without DNA analysis or a sonogram.<br />
<br />
We would be very interested if anyone out there knows about leg colour (which was surprisingly pale in this bird), or the patterning of white on the inner web of the outer tail feather which in this bird was as would be expected in <b>Greenish Warbler</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pfwlRQ473iiUXoyofOUTHC2GJFtElHVD5GJcP60fpp8pQyS8TIOsZXyiVpBFc4CMhMRfQSx5GH_h_bveX52o7DZcWNNLvfkh5R9FT6TDnSusxFw2Zvc8ZRI9Hw5wuA0ycINLThGMi1A/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+head+3,+Bardsey+30Jun12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pfwlRQ473iiUXoyofOUTHC2GJFtElHVD5GJcP60fpp8pQyS8TIOsZXyiVpBFc4CMhMRfQSx5GH_h_bveX52o7DZcWNNLvfkh5R9FT6TDnSusxFw2Zvc8ZRI9Hw5wuA0ycINLThGMi1A/s640/Greenish+Warbler+head+3,+Bardsey+30Jun12.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcwrXlqFnx6sTMy1DCVGmg8HA7gCAEzfoPCr8MMjwW5NTi4PBIYd6kgE5MFXBK3ck5zKVcQN_jPG_pNUihTMBNJSOozZaL5UTzY0Uch8u8t_f4AwS5k9P_-emqKLn7dCwqV1hNMXpDtk/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+head+1,+Bardsey+11Jun10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcwrXlqFnx6sTMy1DCVGmg8HA7gCAEzfoPCr8MMjwW5NTi4PBIYd6kgE5MFXBK3ck5zKVcQN_jPG_pNUihTMBNJSOozZaL5UTzY0Uch8u8t_f4AwS5k9P_-emqKLn7dCwqV1hNMXpDtk/s640/Greenish+Warbler+head+1,+Bardsey+11Jun10.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPM9xDTI78ZvsSTp1FbL5IU_EfyzlvUFCfnBq3StZ6B0Ey4jKiCQQ9TjWzOQfCm4QfZaVmkPAGRYUL06upqB_pb5IKIpxINECjFnmiW5a1VDvr4D2ADJtvZmZE_EQlBK31BIxi0UJGg8/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+head+2,+Bardsey+8Jun12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPM9xDTI78ZvsSTp1FbL5IU_EfyzlvUFCfnBq3StZ6B0Ey4jKiCQQ9TjWzOQfCm4QfZaVmkPAGRYUL06upqB_pb5IKIpxINECjFnmiW5a1VDvr4D2ADJtvZmZE_EQlBK31BIxi0UJGg8/s640/Greenish+Warbler+head+2,+Bardsey+8Jun12.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Bardsey Green(ish) Warbler (upper photo) clearly differs from our two other recent Greenish Warblers (middle photo 11 June 2010, lower photo 8 June 2012). (c) Richard Brown</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-48247310493582041512012-07-07T00:53:00.001-07:002012-07-07T01:15:00.778-07:00Our busman's holiday has continued with a few days of birding, ringing and a quick twitch. The smart male <b>Red-backed Shrike </b>at East Chevington was too close to ignore, so we went to pick it up for the year list and complete the three commoner shrikes hat-trick (watch out Tonk and Aimes, we're getting closer). We had a fantastic day's ringing around Teesmouth with a few wader pulli, including Rich's first <b>Avocet</b>, and fifty plus passerines including lots of <b>Reed Warblers</b> and dispersing juvenile warblers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5UPzWENBKNcL7Uye9QkVbo0G-H7cLE41_XzcS4rzvzpycv5uZlSjD3l9qBASalXgfgRxg9m0p75K4rM__Hz9iG_XYIFrWnZXlT2Z7zSZ_MYVKk3TeAEVfypNx6epd_9VAlsG6xVkq9s/s1600/Red-backed+Shrike+1,+East+Chevington+6Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5UPzWENBKNcL7Uye9QkVbo0G-H7cLE41_XzcS4rzvzpycv5uZlSjD3l9qBASalXgfgRxg9m0p75K4rM__Hz9iG_XYIFrWnZXlT2Z7zSZ_MYVKk3TeAEVfypNx6epd_9VAlsG6xVkq9s/s640/Red-backed+Shrike+1,+East+Chevington+6Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9YbdHqoPVcvyn-ZVgug4oUQNF2s4MigqX6IO4sKEwJiT_yqFaCIpNbYLhW55KmcuuI8724E2Ne6xj5ZO4Kq3Q2s73l8s2paQMD-auIrHJ242oe9zOw9s7_5K9b0L1eOiQaULmFEQCmQ/s1600/Red-backed+Shrike+2,+East+Chevington+6Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9YbdHqoPVcvyn-ZVgug4oUQNF2s4MigqX6IO4sKEwJiT_yqFaCIpNbYLhW55KmcuuI8724E2Ne6xj5ZO4Kq3Q2s73l8s2paQMD-auIrHJ242oe9zOw9s7_5K9b0L1eOiQaULmFEQCmQ/s640/Red-backed+Shrike+2,+East+Chevington+6Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
The East Chevington Red-backed Shrike was somewhat distant and seemed pretty happy to stay in the large patch of sheltered scrub down to the south of the hides. Considering that it is smaller than a Starling, this voracious carnivore is something of a monster, capable of taking small mammals, reptiles and birds along with its more usual prey of insects. The Germans call them Neuntöter, referring to the superstition that they only feed after they have killed nine creatures. (c) Richard Brown and Giselle Eagle<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69RbPjpXy_p9F8Hif1EsklnTuxmjJTMoU8b9HqdGt4GCVR0EpjgGVQHYQO2dk2QLCR61JhB99hxNeDuUWCQ5OwMpJV6CD5qNJf-ktkx3s088xd7HS8VZulZ6J30xbdxT_ZWKjiz6-8y4/s1600/L1410986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69RbPjpXy_p9F8Hif1EsklnTuxmjJTMoU8b9HqdGt4GCVR0EpjgGVQHYQO2dk2QLCR61JhB99hxNeDuUWCQ5OwMpJV6CD5qNJf-ktkx3s088xd7HS8VZulZ6J30xbdxT_ZWKjiz6-8y4/s640/L1410986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8wjFONagCIV9Udkx4nSsBCmjwomUexLGMzLjOIlmG3HRW9kE0GZVEvtBEGjBewaKEg6LEzEbCzYHR8v53B8Xo5SZ9o1hV84oehlaOy71qo5GmoINLVTUWu0kqpQliqXyYOJMmq56LGM/s1600/L1420018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8wjFONagCIV9Udkx4nSsBCmjwomUexLGMzLjOIlmG3HRW9kE0GZVEvtBEGjBewaKEg6LEzEbCzYHR8v53B8Xo5SZ9o1hV84oehlaOy71qo5GmoINLVTUWu0kqpQliqXyYOJMmq56LGM/s640/L1420018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Avocet and Ringed Plover pulli. Productivity isn't looking too good this year, perhaps due to the attentions of local foxes. (c) Richard Brown</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-61982617813965887282012-07-02T15:52:00.003-07:002012-07-02T15:52:46.589-07:00A brief weather window meant that we could get off Bardsey for a 'summer' holiday. The interesting Green(ish) Warbler continues to cause debate, so we intend to continue our research whilst we're off. But today we were constantly distracted by news of the <b>Alpine Swift </b>which was continuing to show well at Buckton Cliffs to the North of Bempton. The forecast was bad, it was already two in the afternoon, but we fancied a drive so headed out for the two hour trip. The forecast was right. We made the mile plus walk to the trig point in something between drizzle and rain. But the bird was still there, feeding low along the cliff edge. It frequently passed just a few feet over head, but it wasn't the best conditions for photography. However it was well worth the drive to spend an hour in the company of this monster Swift which has a wing span of over half a meter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsITtbk6hps4WaeVNL94n8aoeUcKCkcfTx850VqdfpLSj9e9En-RGR__L8fgBS3gF1PgLw9qqLfu2WZEUkHv0DSz1lMgklwIKwjhzH95aOnXUk4Kz34SAFqp1WZza1Xdj3pSRusOJb1wE/s1600/Alpine+Swift+1,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsITtbk6hps4WaeVNL94n8aoeUcKCkcfTx850VqdfpLSj9e9En-RGR__L8fgBS3gF1PgLw9qqLfu2WZEUkHv0DSz1lMgklwIKwjhzH95aOnXUk4Kz34SAFqp1WZza1Xdj3pSRusOJb1wE/s640/Alpine+Swift+1,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MgYit3ZJzmoh4o4DKyuF5SGwt_IneWBjgQXvf5FxaBej_wpa2uLeGSp7cfYRF4WFy5yv-o2cuzzRG8Gsec1JNE6BKAbj5-wxN30euHIXJAFhTYd3psQU3Hg6KOGGzAyeeD4g3fOervo/s1600/Alpine+Swift+3,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MgYit3ZJzmoh4o4DKyuF5SGwt_IneWBjgQXvf5FxaBej_wpa2uLeGSp7cfYRF4WFy5yv-o2cuzzRG8Gsec1JNE6BKAbj5-wxN30euHIXJAFhTYd3psQU3Hg6KOGGzAyeeD4g3fOervo/s640/Alpine+Swift+3,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA5Aps0Pf9D0aRPZnOuKZBw19ixPGT8tccwQodz-kdZLZzo05fF-SORe8hyvbvEYfxZ3UdcSvsqKGIcb9TMvjYbrKUAnvXJAhLt_2Rv2GPcrxpMxvVNQ5gsAonGXUqS9aJzckD-kGFn0/s1600/Alpine+Swift+4,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA5Aps0Pf9D0aRPZnOuKZBw19ixPGT8tccwQodz-kdZLZzo05fF-SORe8hyvbvEYfxZ3UdcSvsqKGIcb9TMvjYbrKUAnvXJAhLt_2Rv2GPcrxpMxvVNQ5gsAonGXUqS9aJzckD-kGFn0/s640/Alpine+Swift+4,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiIGNYYMPodDzPkCeOGdXqIHySftUl3PQzqwrxSyFhfr6u2vfik0UJdbm6o1EJIF6QVXkghQ_IBanNBbzGgBV8HW2YuGO1zDg7eGwULHYg9kMm5dKAOrDeWfg1RfTJ1bofSCfapuoRmY/s1600/Alpine+Swift+2,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiIGNYYMPodDzPkCeOGdXqIHySftUl3PQzqwrxSyFhfr6u2vfik0UJdbm6o1EJIF6QVXkghQ_IBanNBbzGgBV8HW2YuGO1zDg7eGwULHYg9kMm5dKAOrDeWfg1RfTJ1bofSCfapuoRmY/s640/Alpine+Swift+2,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf1KZNDQCJZldXUfBmMtL_m9yEcAS3X_zldUUZE4PTBKH5VbQfBxClPkOT-4eSPNVxZqex8bNHrwFWVmvYEBa50e-rlkRHKo7DBsxjubesd5sNFYfm_7j5wnRWgwOYpbNqG8eDDTUcZw/s1600/Alpine+Swift+5,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf1KZNDQCJZldXUfBmMtL_m9yEcAS3X_zldUUZE4PTBKH5VbQfBxClPkOT-4eSPNVxZqex8bNHrwFWVmvYEBa50e-rlkRHKo7DBsxjubesd5sNFYfm_7j5wnRWgwOYpbNqG8eDDTUcZw/s640/Alpine+Swift+5,+Bempton+2Jul12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This cracker has lingered since the 29th of June, the most predictable of the 21 birds to have been reported in the UK so far this year. Alpine Swifts pair for life and return to the same nest site each year, so perhaps this bird isn't an established breeder. But they can also range long distances when looking for food. Whilst the adults are away hunting, the chicks can lower their body temperature to reach a torpid state, thus surviving unattended for long periods. (c) Richard Brown</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-56187928359803522512012-07-01T15:40:00.000-07:002012-07-01T15:55:15.276-07:00It has been suggested that we may have dropped a bit of a bollock. More precisely, a few very experienced birders have suggested that yesterday's <b>Greenish Warbler</b> bares more than a passing resemblance to a <b>Green Warbler</b>. This may be partly due to the two photographs we posted yesterday; the last day of June was glaringly sunny so the photos were either in full sun (the two posted), or in the deep shade of the ringing hut (see below). But the heavy appearance of the bill, coupled with yellow tones to the supercilium, have rightly raised a few questions. The bird clearly doesn't show the <b>Wood Warbler</b>-like tones to the mantle and throat which are perhaps the first thing that comes to mind for this recently split species, but perhaps a summer bird wouldn't be as obvious as when in fresh autumn plumage? Yoav Perlman's fantastic blog shows what a classic <b>Green Warbler</b> looks like in June here: <a href="http://nubijar.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Green%20Warbler">http://nubijar.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Green%20Warbler</a><br />
but what about a more worn individual?<br />
<br />
Our bird was tape lured. As soon as the tape was played the bird responded emphatically with several flybys before soon hitting the net. But it would seem that this means very little. Prior to the split of <i>trochiloides</i> and <i>nitidus</i>,<i> </i>it was suggested by some authorities that the propensity of <b>Green Warbler </b>to respond to <b>Greenish Warbler</b> song was a good reason not to split them! So what about the song itself? Our bird sang frequently. Here it must be pointed out that our experience of singing <b>Greenish Warbler</b> is limited to two previous singing males on Bardsey and an oft played recording said to be of <i>viridanus </i>Greenish. However to our inexperienced ear the song seemed identical, when singing to the tape the phrases matched perfectly. It wasn't the longer song, including buzzy bits, which is meant to be classic <b>Green Warbler</b>. But then apparently the song can sometimes be very close to Greenish. It didn't call so no help there.<br />
<br />
In the hand the wing formula was almost identical to the <b>Greenish Warbler</b> trapped earlier in June. That is to say that there were emarginations to the third to sixth primaries (although not as strong on P6) and the longest primary was the fourth. The second primary fell between P7 and P8 on the bird in early June, this bird had P2 closer to P8 (which is possibly more <b>Green Warbler</b> although such a slight difference must fall in the realms of individual variation). The wing was 63mm, which doesn't help much.<br />
<br />
So we are left with plumage and structure. The pro-<b>Green Warbler</b> argument would point to the very striking supercilium which has yellow tones, the yellowish cheek and the heavy looking bill (bill measurements overlap considerably between the two species but Green averages heavier). But the (worn) mantle is grey green rather than moss, the (worn) wingbar lacks any yellow tones and the underparts and throat are whitish, although with some very pale yellow. The supercilium reaches the bill as in Greenish but it could be argued that it gets a bit more vague above the bill, as in <b>Green Warbler</b>. The legs were surprisingly pale, but we can't find much reference to leg colour other than that <b>Greenish Warblers</b> sometimes have paler legs than normal.<br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdIHv-GToOaEcyF4nrDJbYVJ6J7VJ47yIQfN5TlzUgA5q05Hwj-LGXSt3kECUcDTNzvgZctRBnZblQox2rAlvFhD7zm8pHMlqW3ZqjDtvF0t2Ig4plwFuslboksPSb69W5uBIVAa3t80/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+29,+Bardsey+30Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdIHv-GToOaEcyF4nrDJbYVJ6J7VJ47yIQfN5TlzUgA5q05Hwj-LGXSt3kECUcDTNzvgZctRBnZblQox2rAlvFhD7zm8pHMlqW3ZqjDtvF0t2Ig4plwFuslboksPSb69W5uBIVAa3t80/s640/Greenish+Warbler+29,+Bardsey+30Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTiRitUdf8UXnFwZY1KaYgjVgKdrFTT-vtHTtQJHJaQYztsgS2a2f-bbBAEdA795KqSrK4t-w8f62aSXTE5fV3NMS9eifaitbeLhQy-4dBVrOypjN8HRViktYrgGxFfWJX34dZaubOKo/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+4,+Bardsey+11Jun10+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTiRitUdf8UXnFwZY1KaYgjVgKdrFTT-vtHTtQJHJaQYztsgS2a2f-bbBAEdA795KqSrK4t-w8f62aSXTE5fV3NMS9eifaitbeLhQy-4dBVrOypjN8HRViktYrgGxFfWJX34dZaubOKo/s640/Greenish+Warbler+4,+Bardsey+11Jun10+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW-nXSMscQF-RPF4FtGrcmxt7nbuSXQpqHDf9Dspi9pRmaNXD111YhEAB2sc_dCjhM6Q8biwvrKTvVI_6jcUlKRUu1O-aJhSE3zA5OjLvNQLay0Pv_SERuHt4DgHzcXD_APbOg8JnCxU/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+8,+Bardsey+8Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW-nXSMscQF-RPF4FtGrcmxt7nbuSXQpqHDf9Dspi9pRmaNXD111YhEAB2sc_dCjhM6Q8biwvrKTvVI_6jcUlKRUu1O-aJhSE3zA5OjLvNQLay0Pv_SERuHt4DgHzcXD_APbOg8JnCxU/s640/Greenish+Warbler+8,+Bardsey+8Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The top photo is of the same bird in the shade. To us it still seems to fit Greenish, albeit a bright individual, and the song must clinch it. But this is the perfect opportunity for everyone with lots more experience than us to tell us we're wrong! We'd love to hear any comments. The lower two photos are of our other two recent Greenish Warblers for a direct comparison (but beware very different lighting conditions). (c) Richard Brown </div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-81714149410943588652012-06-30T05:25:00.000-07:002012-06-30T05:33:00.085-07:00We'll be honest. We were starting to think about our summer holiday. We'd leave Bardsey today and head up North via the rather stonking <b>Little Swift</b>. But the weather isn't in agreement. Raging 30mph Southwesterlies mean we're staying, at least for today. It's a good job too! For the second time this month, a male <b>Greenish Warbler</b> burst into song this morning. Not the easiest bird to see in swirling, dense foliage, but a brief but good view of the bird, coupled with its distinctive song, meant we were pretty happy about the identification. But as the wind dropped the bird also made the convenient decision to move to the sheltered side of Cristin Withy. A net could be opened and we were soon holding this tenth for Bardsey, the third to be trapped in three years and the second this month!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQaq6ILmnSOYfyX2LNYu-hRnjPJ1mEdehyphenhyphenKAS-5U4jE6b-xE_g6vuh5JkaYDGIRoU8HvtMdXb8NHm5wUBjRTSJS_BDGPP9Zi-cYHpM3fWmwtkFOOmI8M3VAt7k8QG0yAFdOy8_hFdTEU/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+17,+Bardsey+30Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQaq6ILmnSOYfyX2LNYu-hRnjPJ1mEdehyphenhyphenKAS-5U4jE6b-xE_g6vuh5JkaYDGIRoU8HvtMdXb8NHm5wUBjRTSJS_BDGPP9Zi-cYHpM3fWmwtkFOOmI8M3VAt7k8QG0yAFdOy8_hFdTEU/s640/Greenish+Warbler+17,+Bardsey+30Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurGrCbMTLql2fWUbTtIFjrh-y35u9y82gMGfSgleZgLIIur7yY02iLcUTkLcVFn3cuysPrT7z-kBSAge4wF7ePM_tlwv8jsguSNo9hTTN5oiUmsxz-bfJhXYSyGU1daFf9GSYqfgYDvA/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+28,+Bardsey+30Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurGrCbMTLql2fWUbTtIFjrh-y35u9y82gMGfSgleZgLIIur7yY02iLcUTkLcVFn3cuysPrT7z-kBSAge4wF7ePM_tlwv8jsguSNo9hTTN5oiUmsxz-bfJhXYSyGU1daFf9GSYqfgYDvA/s640/Greenish+Warbler+28,+Bardsey+30Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This individual showed a more distinct wingbar than the bird earlier this month. A second wingbar was also faintly visible along the edge of the median coverts. The bird was in good condition with healthy fat and muscle scores. It was released into the Observatory garden where it has continued to sing on occasion. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEg6wSbz2yqOlEFd2qBEWm7143v_-X4xOuaemGQgmW3ZvabpDXVeKMH0LiVn16pfaLwZ8-9N-qPyICyUnf_gW3NXBflQ29aRdW4Cd5HXu_3nDFGqEZ2QQIlXKhyphenhyphen_d-SQqTwFKUBSz2cGWJc/s1600/L1410918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wSbz2yqOlEFd2qBEWm7143v_-X4xOuaemGQgmW3ZvabpDXVeKMH0LiVn16pfaLwZ8-9N-qPyICyUnf_gW3NXBflQ29aRdW4Cd5HXu_3nDFGqEZ2QQIlXKhyphenhyphen_d-SQqTwFKUBSz2cGWJc/s640/L1410918.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There can't be too many places with a ringing schedule looking like this! Outside of Eastern Europe or Russia that is. Two Greenish Warblers ringed 22 days or seven AA rings apart. (c) Richard Brown</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-25463158896304650482012-06-22T05:24:00.003-07:002012-06-22T05:27:49.960-07:00Apologies for the lack of blogs recently but it's all been a bit manic. Our fantastic late spring feels like it's pretty much over but a skulking <i>Acrocephalus</i> in the Obs garden gave us hope yet again. Sadly it wasn't nailed before torrential rain set in. Torrential rain around the new moon period in June usually means <b>Manx Shearwaters </b>at the light, and this is exactly what's been happening. It means we don't get too much sleep as we monitor how many birds are attracted. The last two nights have totalled more than 400 attracted with 73 trapped, including a control, and eight killed. The rain has been so intense that many of the <b>Manx Shearwater</b> burrows on the South End have completely filled with water, bedraggled adults sitting in the entranceways with their eggs presumably submerged.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ca_N1csqUnD9B_7Bp395Rn8vgfZldSIi2FrCL9TMcYMPJVpK_NcgcHwX6cUdUGEfhhqGSdh-HSwY7oePHjJ2WCuy5Hsx-e10c31X7KllXybNIo5TrBJ2KeCZT2-v6qnhzkqAN8ztpU0/s1600/Razorbill+32,+Bardsey+18Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ca_N1csqUnD9B_7Bp395Rn8vgfZldSIi2FrCL9TMcYMPJVpK_NcgcHwX6cUdUGEfhhqGSdh-HSwY7oePHjJ2WCuy5Hsx-e10c31X7KllXybNIo5TrBJ2KeCZT2-v6qnhzkqAN8ztpU0/s640/Razorbill+32,+Bardsey+18Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As soon as the weather improves it gives us a chance to get around to the East Side of Bardsey where our seabird colonies are. We've managed to get to all the major Razorbill colonies and productivity, despite the weather and a rather protracted breeding season this year, is looking pretty good. The large gulls, despite fewer pairs attempting to nest, are also looking good in terms of productivity, particularly the Lesser Black-backed Gulls. (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEiefJK8fynqIHtZLeCeY3FyrzdLVQTq1FY9PzLGQ526UPW2kZzAyXaM7Hw3O7Rg3RiX5aavIi6lSI5XifA5a1YONnam6PccVpEJabaQ7lC5QCFQgAvk9IZdnUGeIIqjPr_kH2Y5xYNcnVE/s1600/Kittiwake+52,+Bardsey+18Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefJK8fynqIHtZLeCeY3FyrzdLVQTq1FY9PzLGQ526UPW2kZzAyXaM7Hw3O7Rg3RiX5aavIi6lSI5XifA5a1YONnam6PccVpEJabaQ7lC5QCFQgAvk9IZdnUGeIIqjPr_kH2Y5xYNcnVE/s640/Kittiwake+52,+Bardsey+18Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kittiwake productivity is also looking excellent, with most of the nests still holding two chicks. However, the number of adults which returned to breed this year was one of the lowest on record. Perhaps the two are linked? (c) Richard Brown</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/AVvXsEjOHU2V_1hhvgbas4Y7EKUismmKG9HsEYNNjlihsR9IqOeYCBoKLSOAimXn_NnFrnYUx9N4QJR_9sU61an24br03hZDtmkWb99Kt3NRDWJcl3zvt8n1Zf3BvYCrxiMXtGly20wC8hZKT_k/s1600/Razorbill+34,+Bardsey+18Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHU2V_1hhvgbas4Y7EKUismmKG9HsEYNNjlihsR9IqOeYCBoKLSOAimXn_NnFrnYUx9N4QJR_9sU61an24br03hZDtmkWb99Kt3NRDWJcl3zvt8n1Zf3BvYCrxiMXtGly20wC8hZKT_k/s640/Razorbill+34,+Bardsey+18Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-N85CDsM85FgshLdVaqPHpmdHFuOr-8Ma2qeIqi3Faj0kduV89FIOGdVJ3gYpCBkBpJBQSdNDmMZs4D_mAF2iDZFH1LQRdoWVc846Sb2_vUEg8AXsSeNHW3i422sQxZjnPhyUWLzaMg/s1600/Razorbill+35,+Bardsey+18Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-N85CDsM85FgshLdVaqPHpmdHFuOr-8Ma2qeIqi3Faj0kduV89FIOGdVJ3gYpCBkBpJBQSdNDmMZs4D_mAF2iDZFH1LQRdoWVc846Sb2_vUEg8AXsSeNHW3i422sQxZjnPhyUWLzaMg/s640/Razorbill+35,+Bardsey+18Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Adult Razorbills, returning to the colony with fish for their single chicks, often linger for long enough to allow for views of their rings. This bird, M94885, was ringed as a chick in 2000 at the same site that it is now rearing its own. More impressive is M23170, last seen in 2004, which had reached the staggering age of 41 years, 11 months and 23 days, the world's oldest Razorbill. (c) Richard Brown</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Although we're now flat out with monitoring our breeding birds, we still had time to twitch Rolf Harris who spent two days filming on the Island.<br />
<br />
The 2010 Annual report has just had a fantastic review on Birdguides (read it here: <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3311">http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3311</a>).Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-23193908667647186522012-06-14T06:01:00.003-07:002012-06-14T06:04:05.888-07:00A quieter couple of days were brightened up by an extremely confiding <b>Pomarine Skua </b>which spent most of this morning touring the Island. The wholly dark underwing suggests that this bird is a full adult and the lack of a breast band is considered to be a feature of some male birds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUAoUObMfFEn0_WhPxUDQCFpeUZm38XhEFouHLE_KXlS9yOCZrKro_86QqTb-x3Y2TxXs-2XveUtBHawg069X_AT1i6gBKkVAGHe37BuFr8Ak30_htxh6D27PL0OnMRkocliRuABEwaI/s1600/Pomarine+Skua+2,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUAoUObMfFEn0_WhPxUDQCFpeUZm38XhEFouHLE_KXlS9yOCZrKro_86QqTb-x3Y2TxXs-2XveUtBHawg069X_AT1i6gBKkVAGHe37BuFr8Ak30_htxh6D27PL0OnMRkocliRuABEwaI/s640/Pomarine+Skua+2,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6_YUwQMkyeA2R5bOj771N9C8pmDJ4rDSYp-6J4AgHv2JrB6_gr12JWdsJm4rJ4vO9r04Dtwa87NsLW3bNB_wsmxOCghVkItPbh2QE0IfWGJ5AShHcSMInaDua0p56jREixaU-6fQWNs/s1600/Pomarine+Skua+1,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6_YUwQMkyeA2R5bOj771N9C8pmDJ4rDSYp-6J4AgHv2JrB6_gr12JWdsJm4rJ4vO9r04Dtwa87NsLW3bNB_wsmxOCghVkItPbh2QE0IfWGJ5AShHcSMInaDua0p56jREixaU-6fQWNs/s640/Pomarine+Skua+1,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cz3ZuaPN3x1mY4Xo3w705qHARqT2KNt5grFxPLSSLffVe8rTQbxz5u44JkxZoD-iatbtxiA-H6usBn7iRdHHquuOM5jqISZBFCENvVYnlHs4M2C5kMzzIlsvCUtjQwdiLcwbyJorskA/s1600/Pomarine+Skua+3,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cz3ZuaPN3x1mY4Xo3w705qHARqT2KNt5grFxPLSSLffVe8rTQbxz5u44JkxZoD-iatbtxiA-H6usBn7iRdHHquuOM5jqISZBFCENvVYnlHs4M2C5kMzzIlsvCUtjQwdiLcwbyJorskA/s640/Pomarine+Skua+3,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w5tXH1zwMyzxvfb2vEb2eDEYwBQZcq_mRx1OoGBZ2x1eKFGgV8bn7P7VFpeFF1IMY3E0d76xKvo6vWASiJXQrwaf64UqJbIoH-gK0qvKieUXJBhK-CiZVgMzLlfCBadoN2UGfRJXIsU/s1600/Pomarine+Skua+4,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w5tXH1zwMyzxvfb2vEb2eDEYwBQZcq_mRx1OoGBZ2x1eKFGgV8bn7P7VFpeFF1IMY3E0d76xKvo6vWASiJXQrwaf64UqJbIoH-gK0qvKieUXJBhK-CiZVgMzLlfCBadoN2UGfRJXIsU/s640/Pomarine+Skua+4,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-TxzxLxnkGzXx4kVhhWSJqILNPhbEjTHzLTT1qE21eetjMzvgr5CrHIVhLZPdq5SpDFiJe_04B7_yuTUXjud0t_pJFDC3x9m1ZF3_TmEZsIZDGn_b6XC4bM1l7NeOaas9cULo1oGLVI/s1600/Pomarine+Skua+5,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-TxzxLxnkGzXx4kVhhWSJqILNPhbEjTHzLTT1qE21eetjMzvgr5CrHIVhLZPdq5SpDFiJe_04B7_yuTUXjud0t_pJFDC3x9m1ZF3_TmEZsIZDGn_b6XC4bM1l7NeOaas9cULo1oGLVI/s640/Pomarine+Skua+5,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnK0WLYdknc8r5j7XeHHDNzDwpyt8ikQcceTByBlyl9COhDExcWtvha2-Q4J1uYY0Q9J-pXqBN5VjAzY5RIF47-N9UyNo0mMJCEe7k3zbQtujjcgPNhthvxr-_uaB7nzzpeB-PxPbPvXI/s1600/Pomarine+Skua+6,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnK0WLYdknc8r5j7XeHHDNzDwpyt8ikQcceTByBlyl9COhDExcWtvha2-Q4J1uYY0Q9J-pXqBN5VjAzY5RIF47-N9UyNo0mMJCEe7k3zbQtujjcgPNhthvxr-_uaB7nzzpeB-PxPbPvXI/s640/Pomarine+Skua+6,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPxnM3-1J7pu0odi_NSiEvvFoe1lqkILf_CjEHvid8pp6NoQhoHKDTxOs-WjmmpqAPVVAxZlLqVROoIH2kbedbyB-98ykdkVoA3YimS3FUtj8TIi3drfBdh8gDbMDqQTqsNlDRiytAZU/s1600/Pomarine+Skua+7,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPxnM3-1J7pu0odi_NSiEvvFoe1lqkILf_CjEHvid8pp6NoQhoHKDTxOs-WjmmpqAPVVAxZlLqVROoIH2kbedbyB-98ykdkVoA3YimS3FUtj8TIi3drfBdh8gDbMDqQTqsNlDRiytAZU/s640/Pomarine+Skua+7,+Bardsey+14Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Genetic studies have shown Pomarine Skuas to be most similar to Great Skuas, in fact the two species have one of the smallest mitochondrial DNA differences of any two vertebrate species that have ever been analysed. But observations on morphology and behaviour show Pomarines to be most similar to Arctic Skua. So, how can a skua be so closely related to one species (genetically speaking), yet display many of the characteristics of another? Well, it is thought that Poms have evolved from an extensive hybrid population of Great x Arctic Skua. The last two photos show the Shelduck's displeasure for today's avian highlight. This particular pair of Shelduck have also forcibly removed the parents of two broods of Solfach Shelduck. Happily they have adopted the two broods, taking the number of chicks in their own mega-brood to 18. (c) Richard Brown</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-18426100829329878042012-06-11T04:38:00.001-07:002012-06-12T05:14:57.563-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our recent good run of birds continued this morning as we reached the Narrows. A stunning male <b>Yellow Wagtail</b> with black ear coverts, a blue grey crown, long white supercilium and mainly yellow throat. Mr. Stansfield muted '<i>dombrowskii</i>' as a good candidate and this<i> feldegg</i> x <i>flava</i> intergrade certainly looks like a good possibility. However these seem to be indistinguishable from the dark ear coverts form of <i>tschutschensis</i> <b>Eastern Yellow Wagtail</b>, at least in appearance. However the call seemed as<i> flava</i>, not the buzzy Citrine Wagtail type call associated with<i> tschutschensis</i>. So <i>dombrowskii</i> is the more likely, but we'll probably never know quite what he is, but he's a cracker none the less. </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/AVvXsEivrDVfsKuTPwF-lG5topgJ1ytF7mAtryh4Q5eVLlrYr3_ZEjuerqF75Go5eKdBl18WiIa45TeGtz2NLSdK4T14s98xfiGD9za0r1ylA-41dzsrVUoPKI7AqSMaBudBq-QAXA8kF5bzG14/s1600/dombrowskii+1,+Bardsey11Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrDVfsKuTPwF-lG5topgJ1ytF7mAtryh4Q5eVLlrYr3_ZEjuerqF75Go5eKdBl18WiIa45TeGtz2NLSdK4T14s98xfiGD9za0r1ylA-41dzsrVUoPKI7AqSMaBudBq-QAXA8kF5bzG14/s640/dombrowskii+1,+Bardsey11Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKvij8YL9U2F472FeVLFxPbPokLiZ0M9mw6_RBy99xKxznCRMfmPyySTWIpXKP-MCt5Jkunss1uFkB-eBeOYkc1omtpDUYPDXiH-aASepFqYpN-SdSENmUhQEwqAp2NKQQAaWTNnKZFg/s1600/dombrowskii+2,+Bardsey11Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKvij8YL9U2F472FeVLFxPbPokLiZ0M9mw6_RBy99xKxznCRMfmPyySTWIpXKP-MCt5Jkunss1uFkB-eBeOYkc1omtpDUYPDXiH-aASepFqYpN-SdSENmUhQEwqAp2NKQQAaWTNnKZFg/s640/dombrowskii+2,+Bardsey11Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrPtkCpVaBmM0miLogXSWsEMN4l4OmWXgzXnfb9fyePFDJhhdmJWesh5lfnWs-kz6iCpSSNqLxgN4UpOwafUhnKTp3oSd8ZP-YfZCBY6MOkesVFnixXYLaVtuKbcRMo7OATq2KbR0YNg/s1600/dombrowskii+3%252C+Bardsey11Jun12+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrPtkCpVaBmM0miLogXSWsEMN4l4OmWXgzXnfb9fyePFDJhhdmJWesh5lfnWs-kz6iCpSSNqLxgN4UpOwafUhnKTp3oSd8ZP-YfZCBY6MOkesVFnixXYLaVtuKbcRMo7OATq2KbR0YNg/s640/dombrowskii+3%252C+Bardsey11Jun12+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNl_RvbWgrFJqiUgTYpzpbl70EdNSVK6bl97HnR8a3vnIZsiKZkC69adVv0eEm5cLID6ZYKDSQiRklVtthjlwonG5Mg1s3qvn_7PJzeQLy5w0EsGNjKvXJvmN9TRaFVhLio_ggerMTCY/s1600/dombrowskii+4%252C+Bardsey11Jun12+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNl_RvbWgrFJqiUgTYpzpbl70EdNSVK6bl97HnR8a3vnIZsiKZkC69adVv0eEm5cLID6ZYKDSQiRklVtthjlwonG5Mg1s3qvn_7PJzeQLy5w0EsGNjKvXJvmN9TRaFVhLio_ggerMTCY/s640/dombrowskii+4%252C+Bardsey11Jun12+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh80A1OUfsNm_sEyhcIc1SnN9D0XaPg_TUThg5r-ruTca6_A9ZnZcAxkOXIRLGmIlm2lA32wGKsN20sA9L8dzixbzu_YUcx-bAUB2LwhgJhtDagtQAJZvLxBdA5TTHanYIDCl0HXXB5Y/s1600/dombrowskii+5%252C+Bardsey11Jun12+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh80A1OUfsNm_sEyhcIc1SnN9D0XaPg_TUThg5r-ruTca6_A9ZnZcAxkOXIRLGmIlm2lA32wGKsN20sA9L8dzixbzu_YUcx-bAUB2LwhgJhtDagtQAJZvLxBdA5TTHanYIDCl0HXXB5Y/s640/dombrowskii+5%252C+Bardsey11Jun12+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A rather flighty little fellow, we later found him half a mile to the North of the Narrows feeding around the cattle troughs. Incidentally <i>Tschutschensis</i> refers to the Chukhotski Peninsula in Siberia. (c) Richard Brown</div>
</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827857915313710753.post-18975364325143418842012-06-08T08:38:00.000-07:002012-06-08T08:38:49.193-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Almost two years to the day since the last Bardsey <b>Greenish Warbler</b> was picked up on song, today saw it happen again with a vocal bird at the farm relocating to the Observatory. In horrendous weather the gathered crowd were only managing fleeting glimpses as it sang from cover. Happily it made its way into the Heligoland Trap (yet again a big thank you to Mr Hugo Weigold (who incidentally was apparently the first Westerner to see a live <b>Giant Panda</b> in the wild)). This is the ninth Bardsey record and the ninth to be reported in the UK so far in 2012.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpP1phQCyyheZeRulZ_WS0ydZKPAOJLdBfarJw4s2tFFn0kKyqq3mw2sioaFTIK5zP4s0WfnHT5Rgsq41m3_GT4kxRDClpVgbejSlxFhP95DvYJyBWl4N5Vot_lScre84RpPUZHmf8N8/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+8,+Bardsey+8Jun12+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpP1phQCyyheZeRulZ_WS0ydZKPAOJLdBfarJw4s2tFFn0kKyqq3mw2sioaFTIK5zP4s0WfnHT5Rgsq41m3_GT4kxRDClpVgbejSlxFhP95DvYJyBWl4N5Vot_lScre84RpPUZHmf8N8/s640/Greenish+Warbler+8,+Bardsey+8Jun12+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr1gHscVJoGmwuZVTionXOe7Jyn1kc1N1OsuYcuA7LC2cWlcbAFOKZgKL3qjURTRNklgVbqhFECgeCjC5dVF8tG_jn29sJv3VTv4QuaBRVynE15OZ81l9vFc4OolZUReMwAeJBII6NnA/s1600/Greenish+Warbler+1%252C+Bardsey+11Jun10+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr1gHscVJoGmwuZVTionXOe7Jyn1kc1N1OsuYcuA7LC2cWlcbAFOKZgKL3qjURTRNklgVbqhFECgeCjC5dVF8tG_jn29sJv3VTv4QuaBRVynE15OZ81l9vFc4OolZUReMwAeJBII6NnA/s640/Greenish+Warbler+1%252C+Bardsey+11Jun10+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The top photo is of today's bird and the lower photo is the bird found whilst trying to locate the White-throated Sparrow on 11 June 2010. Both adult and first-winter Greenish Warblers undergo a complete moult in their Indian wintering grounds so we can't age the birds. The difference in wear to the greater coverts is particularly striking between the two individuals, with today's bird almost lacking a wing-bar entirely. (c) Richard Brown</div>Rich and Gisellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17026490053610101201noreply@blogger.com0