best birds: August 2013

Months end

As August ends the whoosh site comes into its own again , Linnets become the most ringed species of the year with 236 new birds ringed this month, bringing the years total to 500 so far.

Also 8 Meadow Pipits and 6 Goldfinch ringed in with them.

A great day last Thursday at the Regaby site with 90 new birds ringed

22 Greenfinch ringed which is the most ringed on the island in a good few years.

22 Chaffinch

6 Tree Sparrow 19 now ringed here

3 Swallow

1 House Martin

13 Great Tits

13 Blue Tits

7 Goldfinch

2 House Sparrow

Also this week

9 Sand Martins ringed, with 5 Swallows.

This year the site we normally ring at for Sand Martins was not available and all the others were inaccessible. So a low number this year.

reade more...

I've spent the past two mornings out at Horsey. The access road along to Horsey Gap car park has been quite good with plenty of Phylloscs, up to 3 Read Warblers and a couple of Pied Flycathers. The find of the day yesterday, was a Wryneck in Horsey Gap car park. It was flushed from the car park and flew into the bushes on the west side, but despite waiting around for a while it didn't show its face again. Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail were also nice.
A juvenile Rose-coloured Startling turned up at the south side of Horsey yesterday, although it's apparently been around further south for a few days. I decided to go and have a look at it today, so after having another (unsuccessful) look for the Wryneck and checking the north side of Horsey Gap, I headed south. There were lots of Northern Wheatears around the Nelson Head track (up to 15), 7 Yellow Wagtails flew north, Lesser Whitethroat numbers seemed higher (4 in total), 4 Redstarts and 3 Whinchats added to the diversity.

One of the many Northern Wheatears at Horsey.

I found the starling feeding in the brambles about 500 metres south of the Nelson Head track. It was quite showy, but every time it flew it got totally hammered by all the migrant Swallows in the neighbourhood.

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

reade more...

East Norfolk fall

I'd missed all the excitement of the previous 3 days, having been back in Stoke-on-Trent for the Bank Holiday, so Tuesday morning found me heading out to east Norfolk to see if I could find any 'left-overs' from the big fall which occurred over the weekend. I headed down the Nelson Head track and over to my little patch of bushes on the farmland south of the track, which I have permission to bird. This isolated patch of bushes, which has provided me with Great Snipe, Barred Warbler, RBF, Wryneck and R-b Shrike in the past didn't disappoint. The first thing I found was a Greenish Warbler. It perched above my head for a few seconds, just long enough to see a few field marks and then it took me an hour and a half to see it again. In the end it started singing and giving really good views, albeit still inside the bushes, making it impossible to photograph, but I did manage to record the bird calling and singing on video (sound only).
Crank up your volume and have a listen...

Also in the bushes, was a slightly more co-operative Icterine Warbler.

Icterine Warbler, Horsey, Norfolk

There were still plenty of common migrants around. Between the south side of Horsey and Waxham I must have seen about 40-50 Wheatears, 8 Common Redstarts, 5 Whinchats, 20 Willow Warblers, 5 Pied Flycatchers and 2 Spotted Flycatchers.

A really nice day!

Pied Flycatcher, Waxham.

Spotted Flycatcher, Horsey

Northern Wheatears, Horsey.

reade more...

RECORD YEAR FOR RÜPPELL’S VULTURE

In May 2013 we published two simultaneous observations of Rüppell’s Vultures Gyps rueppellii) in Extremadura, one in Badajoz province and the other in Cáceres. Thanks to the collaboration of photographers we now know of two further sightings, one in June and the other in July, which means that we now have four records in 2013 (and there is still time for more!!). This is without precedent and clearly demonstrates the regular arrival of individuals in Extremadura. It is difficult to guess the numbers involved, but it must be more than we imagined, perhaps a few dozen.

The first of the photographed birds was “taken” in Villanueva del Fresno, Badajozon 22 June 2013 by Alfonso Pérez del Barco. It is a different individual to the one seen twice in May, an older bird, perhaps of third or fourth calendar year. (Photo above).

The second photo was taken on 28 June 2013 close to the rubbish tip at Mirabel, Cáceres, by David Álvarez. One of the sightings in May took place here. Although the photos taken then were of poorer quality so a direct comparison is not possible, the field notes taken suggest that two different birds are involved, with a third-year bird in May and a second-year bird (showing no signs of moult) in July (see photo above).

[NOTE: There is still lots of time! Just a few days after posting this note we have been informed of a further record, the fifth this year. Justo Manuel García saw a Rüppell’s Vulture flying alone in the Sierra de Magacela (Badajoz) on 21 August 2013. Will it be the last?]

reade more...

canaries birds

canaries birds usually are beautiful song "canaries birds" This have be a great common pet throughout today's world. intended for centuries, anyone have appreciated the particular bird for its singing ability. a great wild bird at the beginnings, they belonged in order to areas of Canary Islands, Azores AS WELL AS Madeira. Thus, your bird gained the label In the same way canary. for the amazing singing abilities, they were domesticated start for the 1600s. Breeding these_ canaries birds became a great hobby intended for a few ALONG WITH a good profession pertaining to others. anyone are bewitched from it\'s melodies, especially with male birds, that usually are the your current The idea will probably get an beautiful tune. fired up initial to be a high society hobby, canaries birds eventually became popular towards common man Just as well.

canaries birds come in various other colors such as orange, brown, white, black, yellow ALONG WITH red. They is bred for you to end up being in various colors IN ADDITION TO sometimes these include even bred Based on the sound patterns. Sometimes finding a canary That may sing your current just about all beautiful complex melodies became something of an contest. Even today, you\'ll find so many bird shows for the world by which canary owners let their canaries birds compete with singing competition.

Breeding canaries birds tends being a difficult challenge because It is hard for you to distinguish your current sex of a canaries birds, which is to be a good essential section in order to check out no matter whether your own bird may sing as well as not. ones breeding Ailments be required to end up being optimal Just as well. they are Least difficult to possibly be bred in single pair per cage. Bird cages similar to provide breeder cages or perhaps aviary cages, IN ADDITION TO nesting boxes AND nesting materials, are generally a great suited environment regarding breeding. Initially they involve for getting launched for you to each other. just after these include seen the male is usually trying to help breed with the female, next This really is appropriate for you to put them together with solitary cage.

During your current breeding period, Make sure how the canaries birds are generally getting ones Least complicated nutrition Equally they may get. things just like cuttlefish bones, broccoli, apple, tricky boiled eggs IN ADDITION TO bread are wonderful to help replenish virtually any nutritional deficiencies your current mother may then have throughout your period. throughout good nutrition AND ALSO environment, ones whole program Just in case go smoothly.

canaries birds..

The mother typically lays four in order to 5 eggs AS WELL AS spends four to a few weeks to incubate ones nest. your own father's role will be to help bring your current foodstuff AS WELL AS feed your own mother. the time, again, good nutrition is actually acceptable due to the bird. ensure that to leave a lot of food Utilizing your double breeder cage or even aviary cage. soon after your current primary round connected with breeding, your pair will probably scoot intended for an second round. your young birds In the event possibly be separated with the partition on be used breeder cages or separate them for you to another cage so This they may safely grow canaries birds.

As they grow up, the tunes they get intrigue anybody all around. Always tend carefully to canaries birds since these are generally not canaries birds which like in order to always be handled much. if these include standing with your own hand, then You will be sure they trust anyone a lot. Ultimately, canaries birds tend to be your own Best pet to have if an individual take pleasure in beautiful music ALONG WITH breeding them will also be the incredible experience canaries birds.

reade more...

RINGING OF WESTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER IN BADAJOZ

As occurred in July 2012 at the Azud de la Granadillaor Azud de Badajoz individuals of Western Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna opaca) have been trapped for ringing. This new record complements the recent posting in this blog, which carried a revision of the status of Western Olivaceous Warbler in Extremadura.

In 2012, abird of the year was trapped for ringing on 14/07/2012. It was probably a bird reared at the same site or nearby (Ángel Tomas Mejías). In 2013 on 10 August the same ringer trapped close to the Azud de la Granadillaan adult and a juvenile. The two birds were flying together and trapped in the same shelf of the same net, beside each other. Therefore it is thought they too were local birds. Their physical condition suggested that they were not on passage, rather they were starting to accumulate fat before migration. (Á. T. Mejías, Pablo Herrador, Inmaculada Jerez y José Luis Bautista –photos, Western Olivaceous warbler to the left and in the centre and a Melodious Warbler to the right). They also caught a Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta), so a good comparison was possible. Without doubt there are more Western Olivaceous Warblers in Extremadura than previously supposed.

reade more...

rainforest birds

Bird Name:

Long-tailed tit

Latin Name:

Aegithalos caudatus

Status:

rainforest birds

Least concern

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Aegithalidae

Genus: Aegithalos

Species: A. caudatus

General Information:

The Long-tailed tit is really a common European bird. these are generally lively rainforest birds as compared to is usually aggressive. They will certainly roost together, that will helps preserve body heat. Up to help 50 rainforest birds will be clustered together with once. your large groups are generally quite noisy rainforest birds.

Physical Description "rainforest birds":

The long-tailed tit is a small, fluffy bird with a long-tail. your own tail account for nearly half your body length, that will averages 15 cm. a good thick black stripe above each eye extends back for you to collar. your head ALONG WITH upper breast tend to be otherwise whitish whilst the underparts tend to be rose-pink. It has reddish brown shoulders with white edges towards the flight feathers. your current lengthy tails is black ALONG WITH edged throughout white. Sexes tend to be alike. the young have brown coloring from its heads. Regional variations for you to color due occur rainforest birds.

Diet:

The diet of an Long-tailed titconsists involving invertebrates AND seeds.

Habitat:

Resides in Europe but can be absent by the central IN ADDITION TO northern parts associated with Scandinavia. rainforest birds it is number extends in Asia but not straight into Africa. That lives throughout deciduous IN ADDITION TO mixed woodland with a thick understory. it is nest will be ball or even bag shaped IN ADDITION TO usually consists of moss, lichens ALONG WITH spider webs ALONG WITH is actually lined within feathers. Pair spends 2-3 weeks building the nest. This really is therefore small the tails must curl under in order to fit inside.

Reproduction:

rainforest birds

The breeding season extends through February for you to June. ones clutch consists of 7 to help 12 white eggs inside reddish speckling. rainforest birds Incubation takes all about 13 days IN ADDITION TO is usually completed solely by female, although male may bring her food. Young are usually fed by both parents AND will fledge soon after 14 to help 18 days. no matter whether ones nest will be predated, adults will certainly participate throughout cooperative breeding throughout relative rainforest birds.

reade more...

Gulls and waders at Cley

It was the Norfolk Records Committee meeting today, so I headed up to Cley for some birding in the morning before the meeting. I met up with Mark Golley and we headed for North Hide at Cley. One of the first things we saw was an amazing-looking leucistic Barn Swallow. It was almost totally white apart from some buff areas around its face and back. The other swallows and Skylarks gave it a bit of a hard time so it didn't hang around for long.
North Hide was quite good, with the best bird being a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope feeding not too far from the hide.

Red-necked Phalarope, juvenile

It was then down to Kelling Quags to look for Wood Sandpiper, of which we saw two. There were also a rather nice juvenile limosa Black-tailed Godwit which flew off before I managed to get some shots of it, plus some Ruff and Greenshanks.

Kelling Quags

Wood Sandpiper

Ruff - male at back, female at front

After the committee meeting, a few of us went to the Cley roost where there was a nice male Caspian Gull on Pat's Pool, plus a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls, about 50 Dunlin and one moulding adult Curlew Sandpiper.

Adult male Caspian Gull

Marsh Harrier

reade more...

Terns, Waders, Auks, and the Calf of Man.

First of all let me say sorry for the lack of posts lately, no excuse. The breeding season is coming to an end with only a few Kittiwake chicks and Tern Chick left to fledge.

Here on the Isle of Man we have had a very good Tern season. With Little Terns and Arctic Terns getting young off successfully. Over 70 Terns ringed this year Adults and Young and a few Controls and recaptures from previous years. A great big thank you to the Ayres Warden Louise for all her help and time spent trying to protect and help these birds have such a great season.

Little Tern

My old Pal Andy and his family came to see us for 5 days

It was great to see them all again and get out with my old ringing mate.

Arctic Terns, Herring Gulls, Dunlin, Black Guillemots, Great Spotted Woodpecker {still a rarity here} and Linnets all ringed.

Andy ringing Arctic Tern chicks

Also a couple of night sessions with Kev and more Dunlin, Ringed Plover and a cracking Greenshank was ringed

Dunlin

Ringed Plover

Greenshank

I have just got back from 5 great days on the Calf of Man bird Observatory with Kev who is still out there. He is covering for Will the warden who has had a week off and is back on Tuesday.

Great to see how the Obs is set up and run. A big thank you to Dan the other Warden for making us welcome and doing a great job.