Ed Forum birdwatching 2008

[Kotatsu]

I've been up trying to catch moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) all night. We discovered that they spend the night sitting on some low branches just within reach in some ponds in a local park. So a friend and I went out with flash lights and a large net last night, trying to catch them. We found three or maybe four, but they were all just outside reach. Or, rather, there were too many streetlights in the area for us to be invisible enough to be able to catch one. We tried for several hours, but no luck. Really close a few times though.

Well, better luck next time, I guess. Otherwise, we'll have to go somewhere else, with fewer streetlights.

 

[EHocking]

A few from last weekend (19th -22nd Jan).
Location: Marrakech, Morocco.

House Bunting Emberiza striolata
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
Blackbird Turdus merula
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Rock Dove (Pigeon) Columba livia
(not including the ones sold in the souks for pastilla)
(or the one I et)
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
Blackstart Cercomela melanura
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
(before you ask - yes, I've seen both before and knew what to look for)
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Common Swift Apus apus
House Martin Delichon urbicum
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri

There are a few I haven't listed as I was eyeballing only, since my binoculars remained in my luggage..... which never left Heathrow. There are a number that I'd LIKE to list, but couldn't possibly be positive about. So there it is.

 

[mummymonkey]

See any pallid swifts?

 

[Molinaro]

I've been up trying to catch moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) all night. We discovered that they spend the night sitting on some low branches just within reach in some ponds in a local park. So a friend and I went out with flash lights and a large net last night, trying to catch them. We found three or maybe four, but they were all just outside reach. Or, rather, there were too many streetlights in the area for us to be invisible enough to be able to catch one. We tried for several hours, but no luck. Really close a few times though.

Well, better luck next time, I guess. Otherwise, we'll have to go somewhere else, with fewer streetlights.

Were you wearing your moorhen costumes?

 

[Kotatsu]

I wish. Large numbers of lapwings winter here, only moving on when the weather is very cold.

Occasionally, there are a few wintering here as well, but not tonight. We do have both Purple sandpipers and European Oystercatchers this year, however, which is quite nice. No linnets so far, though. And I have not been able to find time to go birdwatching at all, more or less! Grrrrr.

Glenshee, Scotland
Snow buntings Plectrophenax nivalis

Auchmithie, Arbroath, Scotland
Linnet Carduelis cannabina
FulmarFulmarus glacialis

These three were new, and are added to the list. Thank you!

From yesterday, we can add a Common Merganser (mergus merganser). Just the one. No mate in sight.

We already have that. If this is a different subspecies than the European one, it could be listed as well, perhaps. The same goes for the Rough-legged buzzard which has been seen on both sides of the Atlantic, I think. I'll have to check that on Monday.

If hearsay is allowed, I'll add that my wife says she saw a flock of robins yesterday. For those outside the U.S. I should point out that our robins are not actually "robins" but a kind of thrush called turdus migratorius, and that name should be a hint why this was worth a double take in Vermont in January.

Hearsay would be allowed, but I believe Elizabeth I has already reported this one.

A few from last weekend (19th -22nd Jan).
Location: Marrakech, Morocco.

That's great! I am quite envious. I, too, want to go see the birds that have smaller pictures in the field guides because they only live at the outskirts of Europe^^. Thanks a lot. And it's nice to have some birds from such a comparatively out-of-place country as Morocco. This adds a second African country to the list, and so far we have no Asians and no South Americans!

There are a few I haven't listed as I was eyeballing only, since my binoculars remained in my luggage..... which never left Heathrow. There are a number that I'd LIKE to list, but couldn't possibly be positive about. So there it is.

Did you take any pictures?

Were you wearing your moorhen costumes?

I should've!

 

[Kotatsu]

Okay, so the new list contains 172 species from 8 countries! I had forgotten to add one of my own:
Kinglet Regulus regulus 12/1 2008 Gothenburg, Sweden.

I thank everyone for their contributions, and note that unless something happens, I will be out birdwatching all day tomorrow, for the first time in ages! Hooray!

The distribution of birds is as follows:
Anseriformes: 16
Apodiformes: 2
Charadriiformes: 12
Ciconiiformes: 9
Columbiformes: 9
Coraciiformes: 1
Falconiformes: 14
Galliformes: 6
Gaviformes: 1
Gruiformes: 5
Passeriformes: 77
Pelecaniformes: 6
Piciformes: 5
Podicipediformes: 1
Procellariiformes: 2
Psittaciformes: 3
Strigiformes: 3

I have also started dividing Passeriformes into families, for greater (or lesser) clarity, but there are too many birds I can't place without the checklist, so that'll have to wait until next week.

Thank you, everyone, and keep up the good work!

 

[EHocking]

See any pallid swifts?

None that I could put hand on heart and swear to. Lack of bins rather limited my IDing capabilities. That and spending most of my time looking out for mad scooter drivers attempting to mow me down.

 

[mummymonkey]

None that I could put hand on heart and swear to. Lack of bins rather limited my IDing capabilities. That and spending most of my time looking out for mad scooter drivers attempting to mow me down.

At this time of year pallid would be much more likely than common though?

 

[Kestrel]

Seen today (Jan 26) in Jefferson County, Colorado, USA

Anas strepera Gadwall
Sitta carolinensis White-breasted Nuthatch
Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull
Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker

 

[President Bush]

January24 - The First Lady and I snuck into a flock of Red-Necked Amazons (Jaco Parrot) yelling and carrying on the edge of the canopy of a rain forest on the side of Morne Diablotin on the island of Dominica in the Caribbean.

Then they were gone. We were up there hoping to spot a Sisserou (Imperial Amazon Parrot) which is Dominica's national symbol. Unlike the Jaco they tend to be solitary.

Four different times we spooked large parrot as we inched around. Might have been a Sisserou but couldn't catch it in the binoculars.

 

[Kotatsu]

Seen today (Jan 26) in Jefferson County, Colorado, USA

Anas strepera Gadwall
Sitta carolinensis White-breasted Nuthatch
Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull
Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker

That's a beautiful woodpecker. I wish we had stuff like that over here.

January24 - The First Lady and I snuck into a flock of Red-Necked Amazons (Jaco Parrot) yelling and carrying on the edge of the canopy of a rain forest on the side of Morne Diablotin on the island of Dominica in the Caribbean.

Then they were gone. We were up there hoping to spot a Sisserou (Imperial Amazon Parrot) which is Dominica's national symbol. Unlike the Jaco they tend to be solitary.

Four different times we spooked large parrot as we inched around. Might have been a Sisserou but couldn't catch it in the binoculars.

Finally some birds from the tropical parts of the Americas! Thank you!

I managed to get four new birds for the list today as well:

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Tawny owl Strix aluco
Redwing Turdus iliacus
Marsh tit Parus palustris

I was planning to go watch birds at the coast, but a friend called yesterday and reminded me that I had promised to volunteer at the National Bird Feeder's Day here, so instead of watching gannets, shearwaters and auks, I got to look at Blue and Great tits for two hours in a freezing botanical garden. Ah well...

 

[Creekfreak]

Oh lord the last thing I expected to see on this board was a birding thread I have seen it all now !
Cool guys very cool .
I am what they call a closet birder only becouse it goes aganst the man code to sit around the camp fire discussing finches .
In my heart though I love birds I allways have I have a few freinds that are into them also so we do sit around the camp fire talking about finches sometimes but mostly about the ivory bill .
There are so many birds here its unbeleavable I see new ones all the time ive never seen before .
You havent lived untell youve walked into a huge blue hering in your yard in pitch darkness that will get your heart pumping !
They will wait untell your right beside them then all hell brakes loose if you dont see them it will scare the hell out of you .
I dont know why but that basterd hangs around here all the time just lurking in the darkness .
Any of you into digiscoping birds ?
Ive got a 118 mm scope I plan to put digital cam on for taking detailed pics of birds and bigfoot from a distance have any of you tryed this ?

 

[bruto]

Oh lord the last thing I expected to see on this board was a birding thread I have seen it all now !
Cool guys very cool .
I am what they call a closet birder only becouse it goes aganst the man code to sit around the camp fire discussing finches .
In my heart though I love birds I allways have I have a few freinds that are into them also so we do sit around the camp fire talking about finches sometimes but mostly about the ivory bill .
There are so many birds here its unbeleavable I see new ones all the time ive never seen before .
You havent lived untell youve walked into a huge blue hering in your yard in pitch darkness that will get your heart pumping !
They will wait untell your right beside them then all hell brakes loose if you dont see them it will scare the hell out of you .
I dont know why but that basterd hangs around here all the time just lurking in the darkness .
Any of you into digiscoping birds ?
Ive got a 118 mm scope I plan to put digital cam on for taking detailed pics of birds and bigfoot from a distance have any of you tryed this ?

How about sandhill cranes? They should be down your way this season.

And you really need to get out there and make yourself famous by spotting one of those ivory bills!

 

[Kestrel]

That's a beautiful woodpecker. I wish we had stuff like that over here.

It's always nice to spot a showy bird like the Northern Flicker. They are considered common, but I suspect a most of the residents of this area have never noticed them. You have to slow down and look around to see wildlife.

Additions to the list for today (Jan 27) from Jefferson County, Colorado, USA

Pipilo maculatus Spotted Towhee
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird

 

[President Bush]

Finally some birds from the tropical parts of the Americas! Thank you!

Quite welcome.

Thought I'd respond just to push Dominica (which is not the Dominican Republic) as a place to see two species of very rare parrots in the wild. Though my wife and I went there primarily for scuba diving we left with a love for a place very special in many regards.

I don't usually announce favorite places, especially to a bunch of people I don't know. But maybe just a couple of you will listen. Two more added to almost nobody else can not make a difference.

Article

 

[EHocking]

At this time of year pallid would be much more likely than common though?

Well, lacking an adequate field guide for the area and not taking notes at the time (no bins), I'd have to take your word for that.

If I was updating my birding diary (which this thread is, in essence), I'd note these as:

"Swifts (probably Pallid)" and NOT put them on a definites list as there is definitely a question mark on which Swift I saw. Basically I could not have got a decent look at them to be able to make the call.

For this list, I'd remove them.

Back on more familiar territory, here's some additional birds for E11 in London:

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Geadwall Anas strepera
Mallard A. platyrhynchos
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Common Coot Fulica atra

.. and, remarkable because it *should* be so common,

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

I say remarkable, because this is the first one I've seen in the area for 4 years. The "disappeared" a few seasons ago and the gap was filled by Blue Tits. It will be interesting to see if they are moving back.

 

[bruto]

.. and, remarkable because it *should* be so common,

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

I say remarkable, because this is the first one I've seen in the area for 4 years. The "disappeared" a few seasons ago and the gap was filled by Blue Tits. It will be interesting to see if they are moving back.

Interesting that they should be declining there. Here, they're an alien species, and said to be pushing aside the chipping sparrows and invading bluebird nests. They share with starlings the distinction of being unprotected in the U.S. Maybe we could send you a crate or two of the little blighters.

 

[Creekfreak]

Bruto thats close to what I am calling a blue herning but this one doesent have a red head its all gray but tall like the sand hill .
Yep I might just have to use the boat for the ivory bill the tower is perfet for birding .
My 118 mm scope ,small 50mm scope ,feild glasses ,and camara are mounted on the tower right in front of the seat for hands free spoting .
I may have allready got some shots of the bird but on the film they are hard to make out .
Right now I am waiting for a freind to scan them to see if we can see it better on a computer .
All I know is that it was the bigest woodpecker I had ever seen and I hope I see it again .
I even told my freind the other day I should use the boat to take people birding .
I guess if I got a real good shot of an ivory bill I would have no problem geting people to want to go .

 

[EHocking]

...I guess if I got a real good shot of an ivory bill I would have no problem geting people to want to go .

CreekFreak, please don't derail this thread with your IB Woodpecker stories. You have at least 3 threads that I know of on the forum covering the bird and your "sightings" of bigfoot.

Please note the rules of engagement for this thread in the first post, especially no.2:

2. These observations are to be posted here, with a date and a location. We will trust each other enough to assume that all observations are correct, unless not accepted by a local rare birds committee.

Sorry to but in, but everyone here so far has entered into this thread in the spirit that it was proposed. We're not into speculation but in solid lists (see my retraction a few posts up).

 

[Creekfreak]

That is all I am doing posting my observations just becouse I mentioned I may use my boat for birding is not derailing .
I said I may have some photos of the ivory bill if this is a thread for reporting sightings then that should not be derailing ether .