Elizabeth I
Philosopher
Oh, wow, it's worse than I thought - triple post...
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Ed Forum birdwatching 2008
- Thread starter Kotatsu
- Start date
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- Tags
- birds birdwatching
Kotatsu
Phthirapterist
220 species now, as only three of mummumonkey's observations were new species (Snipe, widgeon and the Crested grebe). I have been, and will be, too occupied with couchsurfers for the next week or so to do any real birdwatching, but I'll try to sneak away from work a few times and get something done at least...
mummymonkey
Did you spill my pint?
Has Reed bunting been spotted?
bruto
Penultimate Amazing
Visiting in Texas for awhile, and not keeping up on the identifications, but we've seen some egrets, a couple of mockingbirds, a strange hawk somewhat similar to a rough legged hawk but not quite, some unfamiliar texan crows with very long tails, and - not really an identification thing, but a good omen for us northerners, great big skeins of snow geese flying very high overhead, heading back north. Go, geese, go, and bring spring with you!
Elizabeth I
Philosopher
Those crows are probably grackles, a species working hard at taking over the "rats with wings" title.
Kotatsu
Phthirapterist
Ah! No, that's another one. Sorry^^.
You wouldn't happen to know what subspecies of the heron you have in your area? We have ssp. wardi already, and if you have another subspecies where you live, maybe I'll need to look up how hard they are to tell apart in the field...
If they really do bring spring with them, please send some over here. Maybe you can arrange something with Elizabeth when she sends us all those starlings and sparrows and stuff^^.
According to Wikipedia, most subspecies of Ardea herodias vary only slightly in size an plumage tone. Based on location alone, I probably saw Ardea herodias herodias, but don't feel certain enough to add it to the list.
BTW - Thanks for starting this thread. Searching for birds has been a great excuse to leave the house and go for a hike.
Jeff Corey
New York Skeptic
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2001
- Messages
- 13,714
Is there a list where I can check to assure that I don't post redundant sightings after other people have posted sightings that were the same as I posted before or other people did?
Just asking.
Just asking.
Kotatsu
Phthirapterist
At the moment, only EHocking and I have the list, but if you send me your mail address by PM, I'd be delighted to send the list to you as well. Probably, the list will be more accessible later on this year, as EHocking has some ideas, and possible also a place to host an online list, but I'll have to defer to him on this.
Kotatsu
Phthirapterist
Thanks! I was hoping it'd make me do the same, but unfortunately, weather, laziness, work, and couchsurfers have conspired to keep me indoors for most of the year. It'll get better later on, when there'll still be light after I finish work so I can take detours on my way home. Also, soon the field season starts up again, and I'll be able to do field work even during the days.
EHocking
Penultimate Amazing
Quick note. Yes I plan to host the list at a web page in the fairly near future as well as a couple of charts. If I aim to get a monthly update, that gives me this weekend to do February and then I'll back track to Jan so we can see "progress".
As for Jeff Corey's question, a species x country list should be a nice quick page to write. Can't guarantee before the weekend - started a new job and I'm trying to establish my legs under a desk, if you see what I mean.
ETA: Just had a quick bash at this over lunch. Here's the country list.
I have noticed one thing, though. Kotatsu initially started out merely listing species on a first come first served basis. Now that we're listing by country, there are a number of earlier posts that have been overlooked. I noticed this when I looked over the UK list and a whole bunch of common European birds (that *I'd* posted
) weren't included 'cos Kotatsu had got them in first for Sweden. So the individual total is correct, but if Kotatsu doesn't mind, I might review our posts here and add the firsts for each country as well.
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Kotatsu
Phthirapterist
That looks very nice!
I have noticed one thing, though. Kotatsu initially started out merely listing species on a first come first served basis. Now that we're listing by country, there are a number of earlier posts that have been overlooked. I noticed this when I looked over the UK list and a whole bunch of common European birds (that *I'd* posted
So the individual total is correct, but if Kotatsu doesn't mind, I might review our posts here and add the firsts for each country as well.
I think we may have the same problem with species that occur both in the US and Sweden/UK, actually. When I started listing, I didn't really imagine that sort of thing, but I have no problem with it. I could add a column in the list for each country and just make a small cross or so there for the time being when a species is seen in a new country. being the natural scientist I am, I can only say that the data is there, and free for anyone to use (1).
Also, I really have to get those families and stuff sorted out. I'll try to find time to do that tomorrow.
---
(1) Within reason, of course. In no way does this data lend itself to support that homoeopathy works, for instance.
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EHocking
Penultimate Amazing
I've added these to the spreadsheet that you've sent me in order to get the chart data to work.
Give me overnight to bring up to date and I'll email it to you with my additions highlighted.
Got a start on that too - all in the spreadsheet. I'll let you decide how you want to run with it, but a bit of the donkey work is already done.
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bruto
Penultimate Amazing
They look like grackles to me, but my sister in law called them crows. Not surprising. Precision on these things is not an outstanding family trait. Since we were in San Antonio when I first spotted them, I think it's safe to defer to the "defender of the Alamo" on this anyway. Grackles they are.
In the meantime, I've also seen some pelicans, and what I presume are snowy egrets, and one very large white bird which I presume is a great egret. Also a smallish heron which I'm guessing was a little blue, though I didn't get a long enough look to be sure. Back to the land of snow and ice tomorrow, so I don't know if I'll get any more of those exotic Texan birds.
Camillus
Critical Thinker
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2003
- Messages
- 483
Seen today in a cemetary in West London:
Also saw a fair number of wood pigeons, crows and magpies. I don't think any of the sightings are new, although there might be a couple that are firsts for the UK.
- Ring-necked parrakeet, Psittacula krameri
- Blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
- Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
- Green woodpecker, Picus viridis
- Robin, Erithacus rubecula
Also saw a fair number of wood pigeons, crows and magpies. I don't think any of the sightings are new, although there might be a couple that are firsts for the UK.
Akhenaten
Heretic Pharaoh
Dear EHocking and Kotatsu,
Is the Country List still in its early draft stages or is it appropriate of me to offer corrections? Sincere apologies if I'm jumping in too soon, because you're doing a fantastic job.
The problem is that I've noticed that a couple of species which I reported myself seem to have emigrated, and as far as I know they didn't even have passports, let alone wildlife export licences for themselves.
I'll wait 'til someone in authority (ie. anyone) gives the OK to submit suggested corrections.
Again, sorry if I'm out of order.
Is the Country List still in its early draft stages or is it appropriate of me to offer corrections? Sincere apologies if I'm jumping in too soon, because you're doing a fantastic job.
The problem is that I've noticed that a couple of species which I reported myself seem to have emigrated, and as far as I know they didn't even have passports, let alone wildlife export licences for themselves.
I'll wait 'til someone in authority (ie. anyone) gives the OK to submit suggested corrections.
Again, sorry if I'm out of order.
I haven't read all of this thread but for what it is worth I was at Caerlavarock wetlands reserve in Galloway nr Dumfriess on Saturday and saw
whooper swans
mute swans
widgeon
teal
barnacle geese
canada geese
redshanks
greenshanks
snipe
pochard
mallards
tufted ducks
wood pigeon
rock dove
collar dove
yellowhammer
chaffinch
lapwing
blackbird
blue tits
great tit
shovellers
wrens
dunnock
robin
sparrows
moorhen
pheasant
rooks
whooper swans
mute swans
widgeon
teal
barnacle geese
canada geese
redshanks
greenshanks
snipe
pochard
mallards
tufted ducks
wood pigeon
rock dove
collar dove
yellowhammer
chaffinch
lapwing
blackbird
blue tits
great tit
shovellers
wrens
dunnock
robin
sparrows
moorhen
pheasant
rooks
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