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bird identification

Watching Wild Birds Is incredibly Fascinating And A Excellent Stress Reliever.

For centuries humans are actually fascinated with watching outdoors birds. Regardless of species, birds in the outdoors have many characteristics which have kept us mesmerized using their antics, and likely will for years into the future. Many people watch birds within their natural habitats for a spare time activity, while others are actual researchers from the field that are fortunate enough to get paid to view them.

Many of the bird identification lovers of the world are not privileged in location, so can't seem to get close enough to a few of the rarest and most beautiful of the species, this is where documentaries come in handy. There are companies that go out into the wild off locations to film along with document these wild birds within their natural settings, and are able to catch some of the most fascinating subjects while these birds are at work, and at participate in. The mating seasons really are a phenomenal time to end up being out filming bird identification, a lot of the birds of the outdoors are absolutely amazing during this season.

bird identification lovers go crazy over watching these fascinating bird identification mate since they display their feathers in frumpy manners, and some are so articulate using their methods that not all kinds of other animals can compare for them. Though it may sound strange to desire to watch bird identification mate, there really are some interesting aspects to birds that could otherwise never be witnessed or else done so during this season. bird identification tend to go all out and sing the most beautiful and intriguing songs, dance some of the most peculiar dances, and put on trend shows that would take advantage of gorgeous runway models envious but only during mating season.

Though watching bird identification may be accomplished in many of our own backyards, there is anything fascinating about watching wild birds from other countries, for instance those that are in tropical zones. These birds are brilliant specimens that the majority of common backyard bird identification simply cannot compete with with regards to colors and personalities. These bird identification are highly known for their beautiful feathers of the most brilliant colorings, many of them are a mixture of several striking colors, while others are colored in a few basic colors. None of the tropical birds may very well be ordinary however, not at all.
bird identification

For years man has desired the most unique and rarest of the species and has documented them for all of those other world to be capable to bear witness to some of the most awesome animal species available, the wild bird. Watching wild bird identification is straightforward, especially if the individual takes enough time to research local birds and it has a basic knowledge involving wild bird identification. Watching bird identification isn't only gratifying, but is also an incredible stress reliever that many have cultivated very fond of.
Watching Wild Birds Is incredibly Fascinating And A Excellent Stress Reliever.

For centuries humans are actually fascinated with watching outdoors birds. Regardless of species, birds in the outdoors have many characteristics which have kept us mesmerized using their antics, and likely will for years into the future. Many people watch birds within their natural habitats for a spare time activity, while others are actual researchers from the field that are fortunate enough to get paid to view them.

Many of the bird identification lovers of the world are not privileged in location, so can't seem to get close enough to a few of the rarest and most beautiful of the species, this is where documentaries come in handy. There are companies that go out into the wild off locations to film along with document these wild birds within their natural settings, and are able to catch some of the most fascinating subjects while these birds are at work, and at participate in. The mating seasons really are a phenomenal time to end up being out filming bird identification, a lot of the birds of the outdoors are absolutely amazing during this season.

bird identification lovers go crazy over watching these fascinating bird identification mate since they display their feathers in frumpy manners, and some are so articulate using their methods that not all kinds of other animals can compare for them. Though it may sound strange to desire to watch bird identification mate, there really are some interesting aspects to birds that could otherwise never be witnessed or else done so during this season. bird identification tend to go all out and sing the most beautiful and intriguing songs, dance some of the most peculiar dances, and put on trend shows that would take advantage of gorgeous runway models envious but only during mating season.

Though watching bird identification may be accomplished in many of our own backyards, there is anything fascinating about watching wild birds from other countries, for instance those that are in tropical zones. These birds are brilliant specimens that the majority of common backyard bird identification simply cannot compete with with regards to colors and personalities. These bird identification are highly known for their beautiful feathers of the most brilliant colorings, many of them are a mixture of several striking colors, while others are colored in a few basic colors. None of the tropical birds may very well be ordinary however, not at all.
bird identification

For years man has desired the most unique and rarest of the species and has documented them for all of those other world to be capable to bear witness to some of the most awesome animal species available, the wild bird. Watching wild bird identification is straightforward, especially if the individual takes enough time to research local birds and it has a basic knowledge involving wild bird identification. Watching bird identification isn't only gratifying, but is also an incredible stress reliever that many have cultivated very fond of.
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BOOTED EAGLES: VALIENTE AND LUNA


Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata). Valiente, male (photo: Domingo Rivera).

In 2011 the MIGRA project of SEO/BirdLife started, dedicated to the study of the migration of birds from Spainand using, amongst other methods, satellite transmitters to track the movements of many individual birds. One of the first species involved was Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata), with 15 tagged individuals up to 2013 from various parts of Spain, including four from Extremadura, as part of a project led by the Government of Extremadura. In 2011 six birds were tracked and in 2013 it was eleven, now only ten because of the first tagged birds, a male called Valiente, was found dead, hit by a vehicle, a few weeks ago. The peculiarities of the first journey taken by Luna and Valiente, the first Booted Eagles from Extremadura that were tagged in 2011, were described before in this blog ( autumn journey and winter and spring return) and so we will not repeat the details.

Valiente was an adult male dark morph Booted Eagle tagged at La Rocade la Sierra, Badajoz on 3rd August 2011 and whose transmitter continued to show his location until 4th August 2013, two years and a day later, when he was killed on a road between orchards in Valdelacalzada, Badajoz. A cyclist discovered the corpse and was surprised to find it was ringed and carried a yellow apparatus on its back, which he removed and returned. Domingo Rivera and Ángel Sánchez told us of his breeding history over the last three years. In 2011 Valiente successfully raised on his own a chick, as his mate had died on a wire when the chick was only a week old. In 2012, he took over a Raven’s nest in a eucalyptus tree, paired with a pale phase female and despite building a further two nests failed to breed. In 2013, he failed to pair and travelled in an erratic fashion over the area where he normally bred. With respect to his migrations, the map above shows the journeys in 2011/12 and 2012/13, very similar to each other. In both cases, he wintered in the same general area: once in Niger and the other time in Nigeria. The two-way journeys across the Sahara showed that the return journey was always to the west of the route taken in the outward journey. As can be seen in the graph below, the dates did not vary much, the 2012 journey was a bit earlier than 2011 and he spent more time in 2012 on his wintering grounds in Niger. The return journeys were almost identical in terms of dates and duration. Compared with other tagged Booted Eagles, Valiente had been unusual, being the only one with two wintering zones, one that had wintered further away (3,500 km) and the fastest in its return journeys. Of the four tagged birds from Extremadura, he was the only one that wintered in the eastern Sahel, the others staying much further to the west, between Mali and Mauritania.


Luna is an adult female dark morph, tagged in Alburquerque (Badajoz) on 3rd August 2011 and whose transmitter continues in operation. Domingo Rivera and Ángel Sánchez again describe her breeding historyover the last three years. In 2011, she raised two chicks in a nest in a eucalyptus tree. In 2012, she occupied the same nest, but following its collapse because of weather conditions, she did not raise any young. In 2013, she moved to a new nest in a cork oak where again she raised two chicks. With respect to migration, the map shows the journeys made in 2011/12 and 2012/13. In both cases, she wintered in the same zone between Mali and Mauritania, some 2,500 km from the nest site, and, as with Valiente, the outward journey was more eastern than the return. In the graph below, the most interesting is that the departure date was much earlier in 2012 (5th August, a month earlier than usual). This was not seen with the other 15 tagged birds and in principle could have been explained by the breeding failure that year. However, that may not have been the reason, because in 2013, Luna also departed very early (2nd August) despite having a successful season. The return in 2013 was also earlier than in 2012, but by only a week.


The other two Booted Eagles from Extremadura that have been followed are a pair and they breed in the municipality of Badajoz, their names are Guadiana (male) and Alqueva (female). Both are pale morphs and in general their migratory behaviour has been similar to that of Luna, apart from the departure dates, with similar routes and wintering areas in the western Sahel (Maliand Mauritania).

Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata). Valiente, male (photo: Domingo Rivera).

In 2011 the MIGRA project of SEO/BirdLife started, dedicated to the study of the migration of birds from Spainand using, amongst other methods, satellite transmitters to track the movements of many individual birds. One of the first species involved was Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata), with 15 tagged individuals up to 2013 from various parts of Spain, including four from Extremadura, as part of a project led by the Government of Extremadura. In 2011 six birds were tracked and in 2013 it was eleven, now only ten because of the first tagged birds, a male called Valiente, was found dead, hit by a vehicle, a few weeks ago. The peculiarities of the first journey taken by Luna and Valiente, the first Booted Eagles from Extremadura that were tagged in 2011, were described before in this blog ( autumn journey and winter and spring return) and so we will not repeat the details.

Valiente was an adult male dark morph Booted Eagle tagged at La Rocade la Sierra, Badajoz on 3rd August 2011 and whose transmitter continued to show his location until 4th August 2013, two years and a day later, when he was killed on a road between orchards in Valdelacalzada, Badajoz. A cyclist discovered the corpse and was surprised to find it was ringed and carried a yellow apparatus on its back, which he removed and returned. Domingo Rivera and Ángel Sánchez told us of his breeding history over the last three years. In 2011 Valiente successfully raised on his own a chick, as his mate had died on a wire when the chick was only a week old. In 2012, he took over a Raven’s nest in a eucalyptus tree, paired with a pale phase female and despite building a further two nests failed to breed. In 2013, he failed to pair and travelled in an erratic fashion over the area where he normally bred. With respect to his migrations, the map above shows the journeys in 2011/12 and 2012/13, very similar to each other. In both cases, he wintered in the same general area: once in Niger and the other time in Nigeria. The two-way journeys across the Sahara showed that the return journey was always to the west of the route taken in the outward journey. As can be seen in the graph below, the dates did not vary much, the 2012 journey was a bit earlier than 2011 and he spent more time in 2012 on his wintering grounds in Niger. The return journeys were almost identical in terms of dates and duration. Compared with other tagged Booted Eagles, Valiente had been unusual, being the only one with two wintering zones, one that had wintered further away (3,500 km) and the fastest in its return journeys. Of the four tagged birds from Extremadura, he was the only one that wintered in the eastern Sahel, the others staying much further to the west, between Mali and Mauritania.


Luna is an adult female dark morph, tagged in Alburquerque (Badajoz) on 3rd August 2011 and whose transmitter continues in operation. Domingo Rivera and Ángel Sánchez again describe her breeding historyover the last three years. In 2011, she raised two chicks in a nest in a eucalyptus tree. In 2012, she occupied the same nest, but following its collapse because of weather conditions, she did not raise any young. In 2013, she moved to a new nest in a cork oak where again she raised two chicks. With respect to migration, the map shows the journeys made in 2011/12 and 2012/13. In both cases, she wintered in the same zone between Mali and Mauritania, some 2,500 km from the nest site, and, as with Valiente, the outward journey was more eastern than the return. In the graph below, the most interesting is that the departure date was much earlier in 2012 (5th August, a month earlier than usual). This was not seen with the other 15 tagged birds and in principle could have been explained by the breeding failure that year. However, that may not have been the reason, because in 2013, Luna also departed very early (2nd August) despite having a successful season. The return in 2013 was also earlier than in 2012, but by only a week.


The other two Booted Eagles from Extremadura that have been followed are a pair and they breed in the municipality of Badajoz, their names are Guadiana (male) and Alqueva (female). Both are pale morphs and in general their migratory behaviour has been similar to that of Luna, apart from the departure dates, with similar routes and wintering areas in the western Sahel (Maliand Mauritania).
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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.



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.



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East Norfolk 28 - 29 August

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

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk
 

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk



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

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk
 

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk

Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Horsey, Norfolk



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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

Icterine Warbler, Horsey, Norfolk

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.


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

Icterine Warbler, Horsey, Norfolk

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.


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PHENOLOGY OF MIGRANT BIRDS IN EXTREMADURA

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RECORD YEAR FOR RÜPPELL’S VULTURE



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?]


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?]
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