best birds: January 2013

Twite to Walney

I got an email past on to me by Pete Marsh at Heysham from Alan Draper who has seen one of our colour ringed Twite at Walney on the 14/01/2013

The colours were White above Blue Red a bird i ringed at the Point of Ayre during this winter

October 2012 December 2012.

We have had Machrihanish birds at the Point and we have caught a bird ringed in Askam in Furness

now Walney have had one of ours.

So a nice picture is now building of the movements these small little finches make. We knew birds winter on the west coast from the Scottish islands down to Heysham. Now we know they stop over on the Isle of Man and move off again to the mainland and when travelling back to their breeding grounds in Scotland drop in again, now all we need is an Irish bird. Thanks to Alan and Pete for the info.

Askam Ringed Bird

January ends thank god

Well what a horrendous month that was, gale force winds Snow rain the full works.

Only 195 new birds ringed of 18 species in January.

Last year at this time we had ringed 400 and 31 species. OH well can not be helped it can only get better.

Highlight of the month a cracking 3CY Male Sparrowhawk ringed at Port Lewaigue.

The two feeder sites for Siskin are starting to pull the birds in with 46 new Siskin ringed this month.

The Whoosh site at the Point of Ayre has been deadly quite but the wind has not helped as you can not put the the nyger seed down as it just blows away.

The Little whoosh net in the garden has caught 8 Blackbirds and 3 Song Thrush some of the Blackbirds showing characteristics of northern European birds with bigger wings and weight.

Hopefully February will bring us some better weather. Got some gull rings made up for the up and coming season as the weather was so bad, it will be here before we know it.

LEACH'S STORM PETREL: NEW SPECIES FOR EXTREMADURA

The Storm Petrels (family Hydrobatidae) are small pelagic (offshore) birds that appear only inland in exceptional circumstances. Three species of storm petrel have been recorded in Extremadura. One of them recently, the story of which appears on the personal blog of Victor Manuel Quintana. A Leach's storm petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) was found on January 21, 2013 in Miajadas (Cáceres). The bird must have died after colliding with the walls of a factory. Here we show a photograph taken by V. M. Quintana from his blog, where you can see more images of this individual.

All records in Extremadura of petrels relate to birds found dead or very weak in urban areas after wind storms in the Atlantic. Apparently the birds had been carried by the wind inland where they become disoriented, perhaps being attracted by the lights of the towns. In this case, on January 19, two days before, there was an explosive cyclone with strong winds and rain. In April 2012 a similar one occurred, as reported in this blog, which was also associated with the arrival of seabirds.

The first record in Extremadura of a storm petrel dates back to February 15, 1970, when a first winter Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro) was found dead in Badajoz city (J. Gómez-Tejedor). The second record was also a Maderian storm petrel: a bird ringed on January 28, 1995 in the colony Farilhao Grande, Berlengas island (central Portugal), was found very weak on February 24, 1995 in Benquerencia de la Serena (Badajoz) and died the next day in a recovery center. Since being ringed only 27 days had elapsed and the distance travelled was 362 km (Oficina Anillamiento). This species breeds in winter in Macaronesia (in the archipelagos of Madeira, Azores and the Canary Islands) and a colony on Portuguese Iberian coast (Berlengas). Its taxonomy is being debated, with some authors include populations that breed in Cape Verde, in the South Atlantic and even in the Pacific. To complicate matters, there are two populations in the Azores, one breed in winter and other in summer, the latter being proposed as a separate species: the Monteiro's Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma monteiroi).

The third record of a storm petrel seen in Extremadura was of two European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) found, one dead and one wounded but died later, in Fregenal de la Sierra (Badajoz) on November 6, 1997 (Juan Carlos Delgado). Of the three species mentioned it's the only storm petrel breeding on Spanish coasts, both Mediterranean and Atlantic.

The fourth record was this Leach's storm petrel, a species that breeds in the North Atlantic, both in America and in Europe. And anecdotally, the first sighting of European storm petrels in Madrid took place on January 1, 1999, when one fell from the shy onto a group of people waiting at the door of a nightclub for a New Years Eve party.

The RSPB | Big Garden Birdwatch | My Results

I carried out my Big Garden Birdwatch survey yesterday morning as planned. I have visited the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch website but it seems that the form for submitting results is not up yet. There is no need to panic though, the form will apparently be available online from this weekend until some time in February.

We had another fall of snow that started Friday evening and continued all

Mistle Thrush

I saw on BBC teletext this morning and on the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch website that the numbers of Mistle Thrush in the UK is in a serious decline.

Low and behold I glanced out of the window this afternoon and there perched on the dead branch of the Corderline tree was first one and then two Mistle Thrushes. The first I had seen since the cold spell last winter.

What a coincidence eh!

The RSPB | Big Garden Bird Watch

Well it's that time again, doesn't the time just fly? It's time once more to sit yourself down for an hour over the weekend and take part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch.

All you need to do is watch the birds in your garden or local park for a one hour period sometime during this weekend (26 - 27 of January). You record the highest number of each bird species you see at the same time. You

Recoveries and Controls from 2012

Kev has put a Preliminary report together for the controls and recoveries for 2012 please click on link

to see some great info on birds ringed in the Isle of Man.

Lesser Black backed Gulls to Spain, Mute Swans to Edinburgh, Cormorants to France and Goldfinch to Kent + loads more.

Recoveries and controls 2012

Keep Warm, Fed and Watered.

Yesterday a light snow fall continued during the morning and the temperature remained well below freezing throughout the day. It was important to ensure that my garden birds could rely on having access to clean water that was not frozen and food that was not buried beneath the snow.

One of our regular Woodpigeons sat on this perch for about two hours.
The feathers are fluffed up to an

Collared Doves Steal a Kiss

Despite the snow the birds must feed and there were many birds in my garden this morning. Away from the frenzied activity of the Starlings and the House Sparrows plus the fights between the Blackbird and Starlings, a Woodpigeon and a pair of Collared Doves sought a little solitude.

The Woodpigeon had his back to the Collared doves:

The Collared Doves steal a kiss:

The Woodpigeon senses

Blackbird in the Snow

This Blackbird was very entertaining whilst digging out the mealworms from beneath the fresh fall of snow. Holding his head on one side then the other and doing the "Blackbird" dance. Eventually he would plunge his beak into the snow and pull out a tasty morsel.

We Shall Have Snow

Well Friday saw the promised snow arrive, falling gently at first but thick and fast as the morning progressed. At first light I thawed the water for the birds and cleared the early morning snow from the feeders. It seemed that no sooner had I put out the food than the snow was covering everthing over again so I placed more on the ground in the shelter of the bamboo.

I saw Woodpigeons,

My Garden Birds

Here are a few pictures of my regular Garden Birds yesterday before the snow arrived.

After a good feed there is nothing better than having a nap.

The Striking plumage of the European Starling.

Another Cold Day

Well yesterday the temperature was down to minus 3 so the water for my garden birds needed constant thawing. We also saw many more birds coming into the garden to feed, to the point in fact where a second helping of food was needed in the afternoon.

For most of the day I was not in a position where I could see into the garden but Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, House Sparrows, Starlings and

Snow Frost Ice equals Birds

The past weekend saw a return of temperatures below zero, a heavy frost on Sunday morning then snow falling throughout Sunday night. Despite the weather forecast showing clear skies over us on Monday, the snow became heavier well into the afternoon.

The birds were back. I have written before about how the appearance of my garden birds depends very much on the weather. Obviously an abundance

Rock Pipit movement

Brian rang me last week to tell me had photographed a Rock Pipit at Port St Mary Promenade with colour rings on. We have ringed a handful of birds down around there so i presumed it was one of them.

Rock Pipit Black White, Lime over Orange was ringed by me back on the 19 August 2012 at Port Mooar as a Juvenile.

Seen again at Port St Mary Promenade on the 07 January 2013, a distance of 24 Miles OK its not off Island but it our farthest record so far for Rock Pipit.
Cheers Brian

Rock Pipit at Port St Mary Photo Brian Liggins

Slow start to 2013

A lot of hours put in these last 2 week for very little. It has been mild though. The weather has got colder in the last two days, a planned visit today to the Dhoon valley feeder site was cancelled due to the sleet and wind.
This site is just being fed with nyger and already 30 Siskin and 18 Goldfinch have been ringed.
The Linnets at the Point have slowed down now and i am starting to recapture a few the big surprise is the 57 Lesser Redpoll I have ringed here since November. The Redpolls are there most days mixed in with the Linnet and are always the firsts birds to feed. The Point of Ayre isn't really the terrotory for these small finches and when i first started catching them i thought they were just moving through, not the case as 10 retraps the other day.

I had a nice afternoon at Port Lewaigue on Wednesday a good spot of winter ringing
with Long tailed Tits Wren and Goldcrests. I have not ringed at this site for 3 months as it is underwater most of the time there is a big problem with an underground spring.

So far in 2012 New retrap

Rock Pipit (1)
Wren 1
Dunnock 3
Robin 1
Goldcrest 4 (3)
Long tailed Tit 5
Coal Tit 2
Blue Tit 2
Great Tit (2)
Chaffinch 2
Goldfinch 3
Siskin 24 (2)
Linnet 26 ( 3)
Lesser Redpoll 8 (10)

81 21

DECEMBER 2012: NOTABLE SIGHTINGS IN EXTREMADURA

A list of the most interesting sightings sent to the GOCE forum. Composed by Sergio Mayordomo. CC= Cáceres province. BA= Badajoz province.

- Bean Goose: One at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 10/12 (Goyo Naharro, Fernando Salas and Antonio Torrijo), 11/12 (Sergio Mayordomo, Ricardo Montero, Hugo Sánchez y César Clemente), 15/12 (Javier Prieta, Javier Mahillo and C. Clemente) and 22/12 (S. Mayordomo and Eva Palacios).

- Pink-footed Goose One found on 02/11 at the embalse de Valdecañas and still present on 02/12 (Vicente Risco and Javier Briz), 07/12 and 23/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- White-fronted Goose: One at Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (BA), on 01/12 (Manuel García del Rey, Juan R. Suárez and David Cuenca). At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) 7 were seen on 02/12 (Juan Diego Acevedo), 8 on 16/12 (F. Salas and A. Torrijo) and 23/12 (S. Mayordomo) and at least one on 29/12 (V. Risco and J. Briz). At the embalse del Borbollón (CC) 2 were seen on 10/12 (G. Naharro, F. Salas and A. Torrijo), 11/12 (S. Mayordomo, R. Montero and H. Sánchez), 15/12 (J. Prieta, J. Mahillo and C. Clemente) and 22/12 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios) and one on 13/12 (H. Sánchez).

- Bar-headed Goose: One in the rice fields of Trebolosa, Madrigalejo (CC), on 09/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- Canada Goose: The bird seen in november was still present at Lagunas de Torremejía (BA) on 02/12 (Vanessa de Alba, Francisco Montaño and Antonio Núñez), 06/12 (Miguel Ángel Muñoz, Jesús Solana, E. Palacios -photo- and Ángel Sánchez), 08/12 (John Muddeman) and 09/12 (S. Mayordomo, E. Palacios and Antonio Matador).

- Barnacle Goose: At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) one was seen on 02/12 (V. Risco and J. Briz), 23/12 (S. Mayordomo), 25/12 (R. Montero) and 29/12 (V. Risco and J. Briz). One was seen at la Vega del Haza and the one seen last month on 03/12 (Chema Diu). One was at the embalse del Salor (CC) on 30/12 (Carlos Fernández).

- Egyptian Goose: One was at the charca de Corral Alto, Zorita (CC), on 06/12 (M. Á. Muñoz and E. Palacios -photo-). 2 were seen on a pond between La Nava de Santiago and La Roca de la Sierra (BA) on 23/12 (José Luis Bautista).

- Ruddy Shelduck: 2 were at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 15/12 (S. Mayordomo, Marta Gómez, J. Prieta, J. Mahillo and C. Clemente).

- Shelduck: At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) 5 were seen on 02/12 (V. Risco, S. Mayordomo, M. García del Rey, J. Prieta and J. Briz), 3 on 16/12 (F. Salas and A. Torrijo) and 4 on 23/12 (S. Mayordomo). At the embalse de Los Canchales (BA) 1 was seen on 02/12 (Adenex), 16/12 (J. Solana) and 29/12 (Francisco Lopo), and 2 on 13/12 (Juani Vilches, José Mari Salazar, Javier Arias and Fran Molinos). A female at the embalse del Sotillo, Monroy (CC), on 12/12 (S. Mayordomo). A pair in the rice fields of Palazuelo (BA) on 16/12 (José Antonio Román).

- Red-crested Pochard: A male on charca de Morantes (BA) on 23/12 (J. L. Bautista and F. Lopo). 3 at La Atalaya, Aldea del Cano (CC), on 18/12 (A. Maestre).

- Ferruginous Duck: A female at Lugar Nuevo, Peraleda de la Mata (CC), on 02/12 (S. Mayordomo, M. García del Rey and J. Prieta).

- Common Quail: 2 in the rice fields at Galisteo (CC) on 23/12 (J. Prieta).
- Great Northern Diver: One was collected from an industrial estate at Almendralejo (BA) on 03/12 and taken to AMUS (Jesús Sánchez and Isabel González). The bird was released the next day.

- Black-necked grebe: On 01/12 sone was seen at the Balsa de Moheda Alta, Navalvillar de Pela (BA), (José Carlos López) and 4 on the Charca de Brozas (CC) (Godfried Schreur).

- Bittern: At the embalse de Arrocampo (CC) one was seen on 02/12 (Javier G. Labrador) and 3 on 23/12 (Julio Ceballos and Antonio Ceballos). One was at the rice fields of Galisteo (CC) on 23/12 (J. Prieta).

- Little Bittern: At least 3 at the embalse de Arrocampo (CC) on 07/12 (J. Muddeman). On the River Guadiana as it passes through Badajoz 2-5 were seen between 13/12 and 29/12 (Juan Carlos Paniagua and José Guerra).

- Night heron: One on the River Guadiana in Badajoz between 06/12 and 29/12 (J. C. Paniagua and J. Guerra).

- Squacco Heron: On the River Guadiana at Badajoz, 1-4 were seen between 05/12 and 29/12 (J. C. Paniagua and J. Guerra). One at Azud del Guadiana on 29/12 (Juan Carlos Salgado -photo-).

- Great white Egret: 49 went into a roost at Arrocampo (CC) on 07/12 (J. Muddeman). Biggest group sighting in Extremadura. 12 were on the River Guadiana in Mérida (BA) on 08/12 (Antonio Calvo).

- Black Stork: 2 were at the canal de Las Dehesas, Logrosán (CC), on 18/12 (Á. Sánchez). On 19/12 one was seen at Oliva de Plasencia (CC) (S. Mayordomo), another at La Bazagona (CC) (J. Prieta and Iván Hernández) and another at Macarra, Toril (CC) (Javier Parra). One was at Monesterio (BA) on 27/12 (Javier Conejero).

- Glossy Ibis: 3 were seen at Santa Amalia (BA) on 02/12 (Á. Sánchez).

- Black Kite: 2 in Badajoz on 30/12 (J. Guerra).

- White-tailed Eagle: A first winter bird was seen at Talaván (CC) on 06/12, 07/12 (Julio Gutiérrez) and 09/12 (J. Gutiérrez, Javier Cuesta and Enrique Álvarez). It was relocated at Salto del Gitano, Monfragüe (CC), on 24/12 (José Luis Rivero) and between Talaván and Torrejón el Rubio (CC) on 27/12 (Luis J. González).

- Marsh Harrier: The roost at Madrigalejo had 140 birds on 30/12 (Pep Tapia and Maribel Jiménez)

- Pallid Harrier. An adult male was seen at Madrigalejo (CC) on 03/12 (J. M. Vadillo) and Acedera (BA) on 26/12 (Miguel Gómez Guarín and Manuel Gómez Calzado). It was relocated at the roost at Madrigalejo (CC) on 30/12 (P. Tapia and M. Jiménez) and on 31/12 (P. Tapia, M. Jiménez and A. Calvo).

- Goshawk: 2 at Alía (CC) on 02/12 (Noelia Baeza, Jorge Ángel Herrera and Jaime Cerezo).

- Booted Eagle: In Mérida (BA) one was seen on 02/12 (Ángel Sánchez) and 20/12 (Paco Bernáldez). One in Plasencia (CC) on 06/12 (J. Prieta). One in Badajoz on 29/12 (J. Guerra).

- Osprey: One at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 13/12 (H. Sánchez). One at the embalse de Tentudía, Calera de León (BA), on 19/12 (Alberto Pacheco).

- Lesser Kestrel: A male at the embalse de Los Canchales (BA) on 06/12 and at Montijo (BA) on 08/12 (Joaquín Fernández).

- Little Bustard: On 06/12 a group of 420 were seen at Cabeza del Buey (BA) and another 210 close by with 330 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse between Cabeza del Buey and Castuera (BA) (J. M Vadillo).

- Avocet: 9 at the embalse de Los Canchales (BA) on 01/12 (Pablo Herrador).

- Kentish Plover: At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) one was seen on 07/12 (J. Muddeman) and 35 on 16/12 (F. Salas and A. Torrijo). 24 were in the rice fields of Palazuelo (BA) on 24/12 (Juan Pablo Prieto).

- Sanderling: One at the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) on 16/12 (F. Salas and A. Torrijo).

- Curlew Sandpiper: 2 in the rice fields of Santa Amalia (BA) on 23/12 (Á. Sánchez).

- Woodcock: One at Las Mestas (CC) on 13/12 (A. Pacheco). One at Casas del Castañar (CC) on 20/12 (J. Prieta).

- Curlew: One at the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) on 02/12 (V. Risco, S. Mayordomo, Pedro Gómez, M. García del Rey, Manuel Flores, Juan Pablo Resino, J. Prieta and J. Briz). One in the rice fields of Riolobos (CC) on 06/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- Spotted Redshank: 2 at the charca de Brozas (CC) on 01/12 (G. Schreur). In the rice fields of Santa Amalia one was seen on 01/12 (Manuel Rodríguez and Blanca Arenaz) and 23/12 (Á. Sánchez). 7 were in the rice fields of Palazuelo (BA) on 24/12 (J. P. Prieto).

- Black-headed Gull: 13.000 went to roost at the embalse de Alange (BA) on 06/12 (J. Solana).

- Yellow-legged Gull: At the embalse de Valdecañas (CC) 3 were seen on 02/12 (S. Mayordomo, M. García del Rey and J. Prieta) and 4 on 23/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- Little Gull: At the embalse del Borbollón (CC) a first winter was seen on 10/12 (G. Naharro, F. Salas and A. Torrijo) and 11/12 (S. Mayordomo, R. Montero and C. Clemente) and 2 first winter birds on 13/12 (M. Á. Muñoz, J. Mahillo, H. Sánchez -photo-, E. Palacios and C. Clemente) and on 15/12 (J. Prieta, J. Mahillo, G. Naharro and C. Clemente).

- Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. On 06/12 a group of 330 birds mixed with 210 Little Bustards, between Cabeza del Buey and Castuera (BA) (J. M Vadillo)

- Stock Dove: In the rice fields of Riolobos (CC) 75 were seen on 09/12 (J. Prieta) and 73 on 28/12 (S. Mayordomo). 40 at La Senda, Montemolín (BA), on 20/12 (A. Pacheco). 200 at Galisteo (CC) on 23/12 (J. Prieta).

- Long-eared Owl: The same bird as before at IES Zurbarán at Navalmoral de la Mata (CC) on 01/12 (Jesús Garrido and Carlos Andrés). 2 on a roundabout of the N-V in Navalmoral de la Mata (CC) on 02/12 (P. Gómez).

- Short-eared Owl: One at the embalse de Los Canchales (BA) on 13/12 (J. Vilches, J. M. Salazar, J. Arias and F. Molinos) and 16/12 (F. Lopo).

- Pallid Swift: Between 1 and 3 birds in Alange (BA) present for the whole of december (J. Solana).

- Wryneck: One at the Jerte river en Plasencia (CC) on 31/12 (Alberto Salvador).

- Barn Swallow: One at El Ancho, Arroyo de la Luz (CC), on 03/12 (Rafael Parra). One at Barquilla de Pinares (CC) on 30/12 (J. Briz).

- Red-rumped Swallow: One at Alange (BA) on 21/12 (M. Gálvez and J. Guerra).

- House Martin: Between 1 and 3 in Alange (BA) present for the whole of december (J. Solana and J. Guerra). At least 5 at the Castillo de Benquerencia de la Serena (BA) on 10/12 (J. Muddeman).

- White Wagtail: Subespecie M. a. yarrellii: One at the weir at Mirabel (CC) on 12/12 (S. Mayordomo). One at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 15/12 (S. Mayordomo and M. Gómez).

- Alpine Accentor: At Pinofranqueado (CC) 7 were seen at the puerto de Esperabán and 5 at the Bolla Chica el 06/12 (A. Pacheco). One was at the castillo de Benquerencia de la Serena (BA) on 10/12 (J. Muddeman).

- Black Redstart: A leucistic bird was seen at Navalvillar de Pela (BA) on 04/12 (Ángel Luis Sánchez).

- Common Redstart: A male at Logrosán (CC) on 14/12 (Emilio Peña).

- Fieldfare: 2 at Vinosilla, Plasencia (CC), on 22/12 (M. Á. Muñoz, E. Palacios and Carlos Espadero).

- Goldcrest: One at Matallana, Alía (CC), on 08/12 (N. Baeza, J. Á. Herrera and J. Cerezo). 4 in Mérida (BA) on 16/12 (J. Solana). 2 in Zafra (BA) on 18/12 (F. Montaño).

- Bearded tit: One at the embalse de Arrocampo (CC) on 07/12 (J. Muddeman).

- Carrion Crow: One at the embalse del Borbollón (CC) on 11/12 (S. Mayordomo and R. Montero) and 22/12 (S. Mayordomo and E. Palacios). One at Calamonte (BA) on 23/12 (J. Guerra). One at Santa Cruz de Paniagua (CC) on 27/12 (J. C. Paniagua). 2 in a cut rice field at Riolobos (CC) on 28/12 (S. Mayordomo).

- Brambling: 3 at Robledillo de Gata (CC) on 06/12 (A. Pacheco). A female at Villar de Plasencia (CC) on 07/12 (H. Sánchez). 10 in Galisteo (CC) on 23/12 (J. Prieta). Many birds at Cuacos de Yuste (CC) on 31/12 (Manuel Nieto).

- Bullfinch: 3 males in Alía (CC) on 08/12 (N. Baeza, J. Á. Herrera and J. Cerezo).