tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11181927351069569482024-03-13T08:52:47.635+00:00PELAGIC BIRDERPelagic working voyages interspersed with local patch and occasional twitch birding newsAndy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-11717713207004943372019-06-06T22:53:00.001+01:002019-06-08T13:09:21.248+01:00Birding press trip- Pollensa, Mallorca. <div style="text-align: justify;">
Earlier this year I was very fortunate and privileged to be invited to <span style="color: red;">Pollensa</span> as part of a group of birders from Northern European countries in order to explore and promote the birding potential of this wonderful island. Although Pollensa and Mallorca in general, are relatively well known as a tourist and birding destination, most visitors arrive during the traditional, summer, high season. The objective of our visit was to promote the birding potential during the much quieter (and cooler) 'off season'. Palma has excellent flight connections from a variety of European hub airports and following minimal formalities and a meet and greet at Palma airport we were whisked to our accommodation in Pollensa. I stayed at the superb <span style="color: red;">Azul Puerto</span> <a href="http://puertoazulsuitehotel.com/" target="_blank">Puertoazulsuitehotel.com</a> where everything from early breakfast options, helpful, friendly staff and superb, clean, spacious accommodation was perfect for a birding break- and so close to the Boquer Valley!<br />
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Early evening saw us enjoying an escorted walk around the 'old town' with a very professional tour guide. Whilst enjoying the ambiance, culture, history and architecture of this wonderful town we were treated to the spectacular sight of <span style="color: blue;">Swifts </span>screaming overhead and the 'ticking' of <span style="color: blue;">Sub-Alpine warblers</span> feeding in the vegetation. The birding highlight during our stroll was undoubtedly an <span style="color: blue;">Alpine Swift</span> that flew past the church tower in glorious evening light- superb! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollensa- a delightful town full of history -and birds! </td></tr>
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A short time later we were whisked to the <span style="color: red;">La Braseria</span> restaurant in Pollensa, <a href="http://grupcalvari.com/" target="_blank">Grupcalvari.com</a> This is quite possibly one of the nicest restaurants I have ever been in- lovely atmosphere, delightful decor, superb food and perhaps, most importantly, wonderful, smiling, helpful staff. My Spanish is very basic but the staff seemed to appreciate my trying a few phrases, but they also happily reverted to English when I got out of my depth. It was good to see a cross section of people in the restaurant and although the restaurant was very smart it was not overly formal and we enjoyed a very relaxed evening. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Braseria, Pollensa.</td></tr>
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Following a good rest, we were up early the following day to start our birding in earnest. The first visit was a short drive to the wetlands of <span style="color: red;">S'Albufereta</span>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S'Albufereta</td></tr>
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The scenery was gorgeous- expansive wetlands with a distant, mountainous back drop and patches of scrub and woodland- birds were everywhere and I found it tricky to stay on top of all the species that were quickly added to our 'trip list'. Our local Mallorcan guide 'Pep', quickly got us onto a range of goodies and initial highlights included <span style="color: blue;">Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Marsh Harrier, </span>and <span style="color: blue;">Black-Winged Stilts. </span>The woodland areas held a variety of warblers and flycatchers and so I was kept on my toes, checking out the LBJ's (little brown jobs for the uninitiated) as they flicked through the foliage. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Stilts</td></tr>
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We enjoyed a casual stroll back to our transport in the surprisingly hot sunshine- shirt sleeve birding- what a bonus! The tracks held singing <span style="color: blue;">Cettis</span> and <span style="color: blue;">Sedge</span> warblers and the butterfly action was impressive too with a lovely <span style="color: magenta;">Swallowtail</span> being my favourite. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swallowtail Butterfly</td></tr>
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A short time later we made a brief stop on the local coast near Pollensa. We enjoyed superb views of a number of species although my personal highlights were <span style="color: blue;">Audouin's Gulls</span> and <span style="color: blue;">Kentish Plovers.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audouin's Gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kentish Plover</td></tr>
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I had often heard of the famous <span style="color: red;">Boquer Valley</span> just outside of Pollensa as a prime birding destination and I was not disappointed. The woodland on the lower slopes offer a prime habitat for migrants in addition to a dazzling array of resident species. We were soon met with an impressive vista from the lower access path and there were plenty of birds in the foliage- <span style="color: blue;">Willow warblers, </span><span style="color: blue;">Mediterranean flycatchers </span><span style="color: blue;">and</span><span style="color: blue;"> Redstarts</span> to name a few. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning vista from the access path to the Boquer Valley.</td></tr>
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As we climbed higher, the scenery became increasingly dramatic with towering rocky walls on either side of the scrub filled valley floor. <span style="color: blue;">Sub-Alpine warblers</span> sang, <span style="color: blue;">Crag Martins</span> hunted for insects overhead, we heard <span style="color: blue;">Bee-Eaters</span> bubbling high up the escarpment and saw <span style="color: blue;">Peregrine</span> and a migrant <span style="color: blue;">Honey Buzzard</span> flying over our heads. <span style="color: blue;">Blue Rock Thrushes</span> could be seen on the rocks too- a wonderful selection of birds so close to the town of Pollensa! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boquer Valley- a birding mecca!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey Buzzard on passage.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Walking and birding was hungry work so we headed for the superb <span style="color: red;">restaurant Cala Barques</span> in nearby <span style="color: red;">Cala San Vincente.</span> I think this is another restaurant where all the superlatives have been used previously but it was really hard not to be impressed- a fantastic location, friendly and helpful staff, a glorious menu and probably the best Paella ever! To cap the stunning views, as we left the restaurant we saw and heard a flock of 15 migrant <span style="color: blue;">Bee-eaters</span> overhead- delightful! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Back in the minibus and we headed excitedly up the high, winding road that leads to the high hills of <span style="color: red;">Cap Formentor. </span>Long regarded as an excellent migration watch point, we were not disappointed seeing <span style="color: blue;">Osprey</span> and <span style="color: blue;">Montagu's Harrier. </span>The scenery and views were spectacular but most of our party were here for a chance of seeing<span style="color: blue;"> Balearic Warblers. </span>As if on cue the birds showed well and we had fantastic views of two singing males!<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balearic Warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very happy birders on the Cap Formentor peninsula- stunning location and top birding!!</td></tr>
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By now we had seen so many good birds and visited so many stunning locations that my day was blurring into a kaleidoscope of highlights- but there was more to come as we headed high into the Serra de Tramuntana to go birding around the estate of the <span style="color: red;">Mortitx</span> vineyard and winery. <a href="http://vinyesmortitx.com/" target="_blank">Vinyesmortitx.com </a>The vineyard is located over 400 metres above sea level in a natural amphitheatre of impressive rocky ridges and surrounded by ancient olive groves. I am lucky to have seen a fair bit of the world on my travels but this location was one of the best I have ever seen. For the next hour or so I enjoyed some very special birding moments- A pair of <span style="color: blue;">Bonnellis eagles</span> were scoped whilst sat on the rocks above the vineyard, two vultures- a <span style="color: blue;">Griffon</span> and a <span style="color: blue;">Cinerous (Black)</span> soared together over the high ridges, a flock of 3 <span style="color: blue;">Hobbies</span> hawked for insects, a multitude of <span style="color: blue;">Crag Martins</span> and <span style="color: blue;">Swallows</span> chased insects, a <span style="color: blue;">Woodchat Shrike</span> sat in the olive grove whilst a <span style="color: blue;">Cirl Bunting</span> provided excellent views on the vines and a pair of <span style="color: blue;">Firecrests</span> were seen displaying with their magnificent crests raised! To further add to the thrill, a <span style="color: blue;">Wryneck</span> and a <span style="color: blue;">Nightingale</span> sang as we walked around the vines! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRu3OqwX8M9bXTkpr8Q8MSDWonLkap9X8yQQPdbuLwTwJruG7LXQiqUEjh8_FArEwaELThsIWcNEk1HPDiB_GHJYANCUXxuqTLk5gvBcQpUT5koBRnnwu64W1eCB8xQhlm1_LNGbXyw3L7/s1600/Trip+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRu3OqwX8M9bXTkpr8Q8MSDWonLkap9X8yQQPdbuLwTwJruG7LXQiqUEjh8_FArEwaELThsIWcNEk1HPDiB_GHJYANCUXxuqTLk5gvBcQpUT5koBRnnwu64W1eCB8xQhlm1_LNGbXyw3L7/s640/Trip+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vinyes Mortitx- a stunning location for wine and birds!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Following the excellent birding, wine tasting tour and traditional Mallorcan food we headed for our accommodation. The following morning we were up early in anticipation of visiting the coast of Cap Formentor- for a vessel charter that would allow us to look for some very special birds! Before boarding the vessel I walked to the harbour in the cool, still air, picking up a number of common passage migrants en-route. </span></div>
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Early morning stroll through the port of Pollensa</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Having boarded our vessel we set off for the impressive rocky peninsula of Cap Formentor- the impressive craggy headlands were even more impressive when viewed from sea level. As we steamed further from the port we got increasingly close to rafts of the critically endangered <span style="color: blue;">Balearic Shearwater</span>. Although I have seen these birds at various locations previously it was impressive to get such good views of these birds- settled on the sea and also in flight. We were also treated to marvellous views of <span style="color: blue;">Scopoli's Shearwaters</span> in addition to several species of the larger gulls. </span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJycmoyE5Xnq-hTKj2LDdgUKp7hYV-tMoGKjk0pWRW2UlTWMakRKkLBl90yan9WmiB1B7F-A0KIaw_s13VIALIZoVjoMGzyetfp2IbdZfXn0Aba-yTYrOpRO5Wx0LCblCsTF8IX7x6W4dP/s1600/Balearic+Shear+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1230" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJycmoyE5Xnq-hTKj2LDdgUKp7hYV-tMoGKjk0pWRW2UlTWMakRKkLBl90yan9WmiB1B7F-A0KIaw_s13VIALIZoVjoMGzyetfp2IbdZfXn0Aba-yTYrOpRO5Wx0LCblCsTF8IX7x6W4dP/s640/Balearic+Shear+A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Balearic Shearwater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpy8RBQe_no8vT6TJKDU4asmGfjhbejLBRvcq7TrK0m9BJC8iSvaFSZve8d5XzmbE9U7xVn4kgNS6yC2O8wp3ap5fElrS6gOYODyWv-6OuViPRsjToWhZ1QuW4k154KckpOeJW3DQY4AI/s1600/Scopoli%2527s+Shearwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1361" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpy8RBQe_no8vT6TJKDU4asmGfjhbejLBRvcq7TrK0m9BJC8iSvaFSZve8d5XzmbE9U7xVn4kgNS6yC2O8wp3ap5fElrS6gOYODyWv-6OuViPRsjToWhZ1QuW4k154KckpOeJW3DQY4AI/s640/Scopoli%2527s+Shearwater.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scopoli's Shearwater<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">After a rigorous sea-birding session we enjoyed a lavish lunch of traditional Mallorcan food and some wonderfully chilled white wine under the awning of our charter vessel. Refreshed we continued birding and soon encountered our prime target bird of the session- a really smart <span style="color: blue;">Eleonora's Falcon!</span> The bird was initially seen under an overhang of a small cliff above the sea but the bird also made several short flights allowing us to get excellent views. </span></div>
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Eleonora's Falcon</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We finished our birding trip with a brief visit to <span style="color: red;">La Gola</span>- a wonderful wetland reserve in Pollensa. There is an excellent visitor centre with friendly and enthusiastic staff and a great selection of birds. As well as fly-over <span style="color: blue;">Egyptian Vultures</span> and <span style="color: blue;">Booted Eagle</span> I enjoyed fabulous views of <span style="color: blue;">Little Egret</span> and <span style="color: blue;">Little-Ringed Plover</span>. Amazingly, this small reserve is right next to the promenade and beach in Pollensa and provides a wonderful, peaceful haven. An ideal spot for a touch of birding during a busy family holiday perhaps! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">La Gola reserve, Pollensa</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Little Ringed Plover</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I enjoyed a very relaxed birding trip to Pollensa, Mallorca and in two days saw over 70 species. This total could have been much higher had we put in more field time but it was also necessary to explore the dining and accommodation possibilities for visiting birders. If you have a chance to visit Pollensa you will not be disappointed! The Winter and early Spring months provide wonderful birding opportunities, the climate is agreeable, hotels and flights are cheaper than during peak season and there are far less crowds! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My press visit was at the invitation of the <span style="color: magenta;">Pollensa town council</span> and the <span style="color: magenta;">Pollensa Hotels association</span>- I am indebted to both organisations for their friendship, and assistance during the trip. A special word of thanks should go to <span style="color: magenta;">Alessia Comis</span> at <span style="color: magenta;">Pidelaluna</span> who worked tirelessly before and during my visit to ensure all the logistical planning ran smoothly. I made many new friends on Mallorca, enjoyed wonderful birding and really can't wait to return! Please see <a href="http://pollensa.com/ca" target="_blank">Pollensa.com/ca</a> and <a href="http://pidelaluna.com/" target="_blank">Pidelaluna.com</a> and <a href="http://enjoypollensa.com/" target="_blank">EnjoyPollensa.com </a> for more information. </span></div>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-6337423280565336012019-05-31T10:26:00.005+01:002019-05-31T10:26:40.236+01:00Albania<div style="text-align: justify;">
Had an exciting start to 2019 with a 10 week working trip to Albania. I was working on the Adriatic coast to the East of Fier. My work responsibilities included marine fauna mitigation on a pipeline project both on the shore and in shallow water coastal areas. Naturally I was able to do a spot of birding during my coffee and lunch breaks and for more extended spells when work was interrupted by bad weather (Sea state challenges). My early days were spent familiarising myself with the littoral zone where I was fortunate to get regular and exceedingly nice views of <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Water Pipits,</span></span> <span style="color: blue;">Crested Larks </span>and<span style="color: blue;"> Black Redstarts.</span></div>
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Crested Lark</div>
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Water Pipit</div>
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Black Redstart</div>
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Albania is what I would describe as a developing country- many aspects of the country appear to be living in the shadow of the former communist regime. Some aspects of the country are rapidly modernising in terms of infrastructure although considerable poverty still exists within some sections of the populace. I admit to having a slightly negative, almost sinister view of Albania before my visit but this was ill conceived, with the people proving helpful and welcoming to visitors. The scenery is often spectacular, the food lovely and the fauna and flora exciting and diverse. The language can be challenging but Italian is widely understood and English becoming increasingly used in the larger cities and transport hubs. In short, a lovely country and well worth a visit. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful blue light on the Adriatic coast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn over Fier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunting Marsh Harrier with a stunning mountain backdrop<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In addition to the avifauna, Albania has an impressive species diversity with regard to butterflies, moths, plants, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. I would highly recommend a visit by any adventurous amateur and professional naturalist. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hummingbird Hawkmoth on Rosemary.</td></tr>
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<br />Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-48176358416442693042016-11-02T11:59:00.000+00:002016-11-02T11:59:12.531+00:00Sensational spring & super summer<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have been a little remiss concerning my blog- largely due to my new found compulsion of sharing my birding exploits on twitter. (@pelagicbirder). Time to catch up. I suppose like many birders my favourite months are May and October. By May, even in the far North, most migrants have returned, there is a real chance of an overshoot rarity and it generally feels good to be in the field. This May was rather good for the quality of birds I was able to catch up with. I did a double dash to Aberdeenshire to connect with a very smart <span style="color: red;">lesser yellowlegs</span> and a couple of weeks later managed to twitch a splendid <span style="color: red;">Pacific Golden plover</span>. Things really kicked off two days later with the discovery of an amazing <span style="color: red;">Black- billed cuckoo</span> on North Uist. There was no time for pontification- a quick phone call to see who was up for the twitch, followed by the hard work of organising driving partners, accommodation and ferry bookings. It's always tricky twitching the Scottish Islands and involves significant effort and coordination- some birders just get it done, whilst others whine about missed opportunities. Over the years such effort has resulted in me seeing some outrageously good birds and also suffering some very painful dips- but as in birding, as in life- I at least now know who will share the responsibilities of getting trips sorted as opposed to the lazy hang-ons that just wait to bum rides once the logistics have been sorted! The bird was stunning and a species I never really ever expected to catch up with, so the hassle of the trip was well worth it. </div>
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A week later I drove up to Balnakiel to see a splendid <span style="color: orange;">Stone curlew</span>- in Scottish terms a mega in it's own right. Having been unemployed for a number of months my birding budget was seriously depleted so I frustratingly held off going south to see a marvellous <span style="color: red;">Gull- billed tern</span>. A few days later however, the opportunity to share driving and costs presented itself and was duly seized upon. After an initial evening dip, followed by a night of camping, we chanced upon the bird that eventually did the most marvellous fly-bys! Happy days indeed and once more worth the effort of long drives and a night away living on cheese sarnies.<br />
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The summer continued in a similar vein- not huge numbers of birds to be seen but the quality was certainly of a high standard. The next really good bird to turn up was the magnificent male <span style="color: red;">Black- headed bunting</span> on the Isle of Skye. Over the years I have spent countless hours trying to find one in the NW Highlands so it was just reward to finally be able to see one visiting a garden feeder. Unfortunately I could only view it briefly from a private residence but it was still a magnificent bird to see. </div>
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A further dash over to Aberdeenshire with some Highland birding friends allowed reasonable views of the <span style="color: red;">White- winged scoter</span> at Murcar. Although always rather distant it was great being able to finally pin it down after a number of hours searching through the huge flock of scoters that frequent this stretch of coast. I finally got a short-term contract surveying cetaceans in the North sea and the highlight of my 3 weeks at sea was a self-found <span style="color: orange;">Ortolan</span> that briefly alighted on the deck before flying off towards the Aberdeenshire coast- a really good find in Scotland. </div>
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My final 'good bird' of the summer came during a brief visit to the Isle of Lewis in the shape of a splendid <span style="color: orange;">Buff- breasted sandpiper</span>. Although I have seen a number of these in Cornwall this bird was a very nice addition to my 'Scottish list'. The bird was very confiding and once I had sat quietly on the turf for a few minutes it wandered over to within 5 metres of my position- an absolute treat! </div>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-74146332404106639702016-04-21T21:52:00.000+01:002016-04-21T21:52:10.959+01:00King of the Highlands<div style="text-align: justify;">
Great find a few days ago in the shape of a stunning drake <span style="color: red;">King Eider</span> 20 miles up the coast from Ullapool. A few local birders have tried to find out who found and first reported the bird but unfortunately this has not been possible to date. The bird shows well when it moves into the near-shore areas with the small flock of <span style="color: blue;">eider</span>, but on occasion is distant and it has also been known to disappear in the numerous rocky inlets that are characteristic of much of the coastline in the area. </div>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-25665395269471214412016-04-06T20:08:00.002+01:002016-04-06T20:08:38.943+01:00Bucket list bird at Balranald!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some three and a half years after seeing a magnificent white morph <span style="color: red;">Gyr</span> in Greenland (see post for Oct 12th 2012) I finally got one for my Scottish list! It took a lot of work including a 3 day dip last January and several more hours during another Barra dip for the American herring gull. Perseverance eventually paid off last week - after another slightly shaky start. The bird had been 'showing well'- a phrase I have often come to dread and upon arrival an hour or so was spent around Balranald, checking fenceposts and rocky hillocks to no avail. The all too familiar 'dip' aura seemed to fill the air so we drove a circuit back to the main road and around the minor road to Hougarry. Suddenly a heavy, broad-winged, white bird, flapped lazily across the road some 100 metres or so in front of us and landed on a post, splaying its barred tail and wings. Someone muttered 'whats that!' and I replied 'thats the bird'! as I immediately recognised the in-flight jizz from my Greenlandic encounters. Imagine that- a tick-able Gyr from the car!! Well as expected there were a few moments of chaos as I put the car on a verge and we quickly got views and record shots from hastily snatched cameras. The bird was aware of us but seemed reluctant to move on, so better photos were obtained, scopes were set up and after much swearing and gasping we eventually settled down to enjoy crippling views of what is certainly the best bird I have ever seen. Another car coming the other way stopped so close to the bird that we were amazed it did not fly off, but later the driver explained that the bird was perched some 5 metres or so from a swan carcass that it habitually visited to feed. We decided that it was then prudent to move on to allow the bird to feed so headed for our accommodation to have a wee drink in celebration. </div>
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Although elated I knew that the following morning was going to be potentially stressful- we had six birding friends due on the morning ferry- two relatively 'local' from the Highlands and four travelling up from Lothian. To really enjoy the bird it was important that everyone got to see it. The next morning back at Balranald we quickly got onto the bird. It sat on a post for an hour and text messages revealed that the rest of the crews were still in Uig on the Isle of Skye. Eventually they sailed but the bird was becoming increasingly restless- preening, wing stretching and I just knew it had been on the post far too long. Still it sat on the post but momentarily flapped its impressive wings when it was mobbed by a couple of very noisy common gulls. I was feeling very nervous at this time. More sending of texts revealed the ferry was on approach to Loch Maddy and then the unmentionable happened. A tourist and his wife asked what I was looking at through the scope and having explained the birds presence I stepped away from my scope to let them have a look. The guy stood back and said 'I can't see it' -it just flew away! Yikes! after almost 2 hours of 'eyes-on' the bird, it had flown at the precise moment I wasn't watching so I didn't have a clue which direction it had gone- pure stress! Fortunately the guy concerned was able to tell me that he thought it had gone 'over that hill'. Having texted the travelling birders that the bird had flown I set off on foot to hopefully 'refind' it before the crowd arrived. One of our party stayed at the junction to provide directions and also to cover the immediate area incase it came back. Another of our party checked the coast and dunes and I headed North. After 20 minutes of yomping with my camera and scope I realised I was almost back at the loch where the bird had been feeding the evening before. A quick scan and I relocated the bird on a distant fence post. I texted everyone to let them know that we had it relocated and 30 minutes later everyone arrived, got stunning views, brilliant photos and even video footage. A truly magnificent bird, a wonderful location and a great bunch of birders made for my best ever twitch. We even had a supporting cast of <span style="color: blue;">eagles, harriers, short-eared owls, corn buntings, glaucous gull</span> and a <span style="color: orange;">great white egret</span>! Thanks to <span style="color: red;">Steve Duffield</span> of <span style="color: red;">Western isles wildlife</span>- who has spent a lot of time over many months pinning this bird down in order that lots of visiting birders could connect with it- including me! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At home in the sleet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOZln0xjG21Dllzp1t2B5j7YUD1G66tLmaSqLWZAPycyvTxmGMQPSUMcqQ1kggsN5a_BukCmFlkPykucmn_QricCt58764LYhPCr8x55fEQ-ucNyBqkiXUA0ZpMojMqXmJ-eKSdriLyRo/s1600/Gyr+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOZln0xjG21Dllzp1t2B5j7YUD1G66tLmaSqLWZAPycyvTxmGMQPSUMcqQ1kggsN5a_BukCmFlkPykucmn_QricCt58764LYhPCr8x55fEQ-ucNyBqkiXUA0ZpMojMqXmJ-eKSdriLyRo/s320/Gyr+C.jpg" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sorting out a local 'thug' buzzard!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLsfVkZTfLVFXIErG2lC0uGfW_0ARyKoaQQVEGGAJb1sP_msxOp0MlJYnWGBXOMiNOOr3DOl6lXRyNBAmcCtu8eWAMBW5EQE5qVUJICyRYfOgWuxL-sDGW_1VGQEGSA6cf4PloMpyeDPV/s1600/The+team%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLsfVkZTfLVFXIErG2lC0uGfW_0ARyKoaQQVEGGAJb1sP_msxOp0MlJYnWGBXOMiNOOr3DOl6lXRyNBAmcCtu8eWAMBW5EQE5qVUJICyRYfOgWuxL-sDGW_1VGQEGSA6cf4PloMpyeDPV/s640/The+team%2521.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some serious birding talent here- and all smiling! </td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-37124366291211365932016-04-03T14:27:00.000+01:002016-04-03T14:27:27.644+01:00Lovely Cornwall<div style="text-align: justify;">
Not been 'home' for a good while so with a family visit long overdue It was good to get back to Cornwall. I had very little dedicated birding time but it was still good to get a few hours at Penzance, Marazion and Hayle- I had forgotten how easy the birding is down south! ;) A few snaps below with the <span style="color: blue;">Black redstart</span> being my bird of the week. Just for the interest of 'locals' I spent a day at the Eden project and recorded a number of birds in the 'biomes' - grey wagtail, blue tit, chaffinch, robin, wren, dunnock, blackbird, chiffchaff etc. Of greater interest was a fleeting glimpse of a chunky green/yellowish warbler with a significant bill that certainly looked like a '<span style="color: blue;">hippo' sp</span>.- worth checking in the 'rain forest' biome if you visit! -I didn't take my bins or camera in ;(</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzWEHR__WBQoM-ERSgqWcT_EvZoTn3sHKtNNVexqPHI7-xvf7NGkxyanM-5aCEGLUh4U_JcgciXwVa8w1nwW6EPod6gZoBQN-QJwJvZjsop8p_UaytT3PKJM6V4SJUkysHKvsEODgnidp/s1600/BR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzWEHR__WBQoM-ERSgqWcT_EvZoTn3sHKtNNVexqPHI7-xvf7NGkxyanM-5aCEGLUh4U_JcgciXwVa8w1nwW6EPod6gZoBQN-QJwJvZjsop8p_UaytT3PKJM6V4SJUkysHKvsEODgnidp/s640/BR2.jpg" width="632" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black redstart- Penzance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvQx3J08Uy1qEsiORnk1uF56oWqKo3iOpxX8NtM903wwCiNbZFg2LfsOXWE-kq7KhHaBge66uAnzd__vzlS0PALr3uPssbbH-_loFGYcQtVUgaLU8zv47Uupy-0jEOSrPwNySIITBA8el/s1600/BR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvQx3J08Uy1qEsiORnk1uF56oWqKo3iOpxX8NtM903wwCiNbZFg2LfsOXWE-kq7KhHaBge66uAnzd__vzlS0PALr3uPssbbH-_loFGYcQtVUgaLU8zv47Uupy-0jEOSrPwNySIITBA8el/s640/BR1.jpg" width="572" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Redstart</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI3y5YuuSmy_mRNKUaXlbJ9l_j4C4mZmuIIjEgk9L8Njm8lJYblTOeNIoiVyPLfUqXtlxFVyTenZfRwD-CRPJSBsY8DFvUOzC3gdLcvTZZYlPKciWMYVaIfsJRD2xhvnmgi9pbeuD-Poe/s1600/LE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI3y5YuuSmy_mRNKUaXlbJ9l_j4C4mZmuIIjEgk9L8Njm8lJYblTOeNIoiVyPLfUqXtlxFVyTenZfRwD-CRPJSBsY8DFvUOzC3gdLcvTZZYlPKciWMYVaIfsJRD2xhvnmgi9pbeuD-Poe/s640/LE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Egret, Newlyn </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjol0k2At0Qpr4y7V29wJk-lsX47_BL6huc6xmEfrqGyNs3NYMb_oyqP9Eqyp9jsO1ywYrPAVyxPgbXIeL6-KFdw26A4ECCRxR2jHlOHTTbF7dkC7i7gET844LN_Ej_QaSCDC6oDhkP-nV6/s1600/SC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjol0k2At0Qpr4y7V29wJk-lsX47_BL6huc6xmEfrqGyNs3NYMb_oyqP9Eqyp9jsO1ywYrPAVyxPgbXIeL6-KFdw26A4ECCRxR2jHlOHTTbF7dkC7i7gET844LN_Ej_QaSCDC6oDhkP-nV6/s640/SC.jpg" width="602" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonechat, Marazion.</td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-63262592937493392162016-04-02T21:06:00.001+01:002016-04-02T21:06:16.701+01:00Fantastic February<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the major crash in Oil prices, exploration survey work is at an all time low so I have not had any pelagic birding work for some months. Instead of moping about at home I have decided to use my time and savings to catch up with some new birds for my Scottish list. Financial constraints have meant greater use of hostels and buses that although sometimes inconvenient, have still allowed me to get a few ticks. Following several dips over the past few years I finally got to see a cracking <span style="color: blue;">bittern</span> at Montrose basin. The bird kept me waiting for 30 minutes or so but it was well worth the wait when it eventually flew past the hide. The memory of a major dip after sitting in a hide for 3 days at Kinnordy loch last year were almost forgotten! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF9XN12tHfn5PEKIoTPK7EjUTMlOWqpVk6Xfz-wbhjQXhdgpGiJ9LzkC-PgDhEUCZGZ6Ft9f6oJYtfAp3QuQfI8EjLv_8OVEDFNLierunThfgFJkA6zXxRoy7STswMvGB9v0tgahT9AZs/s1600/Bittern+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF9XN12tHfn5PEKIoTPK7EjUTMlOWqpVk6Xfz-wbhjQXhdgpGiJ9LzkC-PgDhEUCZGZ6Ft9f6oJYtfAp3QuQfI8EjLv_8OVEDFNLierunThfgFJkA6zXxRoy7STswMvGB9v0tgahT9AZs/s640/Bittern+A.jpg" width="609" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bittern, Montrose basin.</td></tr>
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Five days later I successfully twitched an <span style="color: blue;">Avocet</span> on the Kyle of Tongue and also grabbed a self-found <span style="color: blue;">Great grey shrike</span> near Laxford bridge on the way up. Although I have seen a few GGS in Scotland before it always feels good to find your own birds!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVK_DC1YWfBQaYMKVNLfyC9Inewv14i9o19lcpj5z9UJbcBXNTN3xx0D9TYzsh7McGk9TwtmtOSaVBIGwrZYLsu7S2gCX36eDq24mPFb8Heo4wLuBd7n7kG1gCrrZkZ59Dhdx-QjYrpjI/s1600/Avocet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVK_DC1YWfBQaYMKVNLfyC9Inewv14i9o19lcpj5z9UJbcBXNTN3xx0D9TYzsh7McGk9TwtmtOSaVBIGwrZYLsu7S2gCX36eDq24mPFb8Heo4wLuBd7n7kG1gCrrZkZ59Dhdx-QjYrpjI/s640/Avocet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avocet, Kyle of Tongue.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpSIJZZP7GOrAZTUJoWyfcGsRFgaSjQpdGUNDgz5NAhtrQ2W31iyaoECNF6tELMSlckycXSRQaMiJpBO0dTVC2WESa-xQQKR35NCT1xQu4uwvZ1NRv1Pd1w3gz9MfBjiQveXdjVmq-BWN/s1600/Great+grey+shrike+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpSIJZZP7GOrAZTUJoWyfcGsRFgaSjQpdGUNDgz5NAhtrQ2W31iyaoECNF6tELMSlckycXSRQaMiJpBO0dTVC2WESa-xQQKR35NCT1xQu4uwvZ1NRv1Pd1w3gz9MfBjiQveXdjVmq-BWN/s640/Great+grey+shrike+A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great grey shrike, Laxford bridge.</td></tr>
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Following reports of <span style="color: blue;">marsh tit</span> on bird track I managed to get some specific site details from a good birding friend in lothian. As this bird is so rare in Scotland there was a fair bit of interest in a cost sharing twitch, so I headed down with two other Highland birders and successfully saw two birds. A report of <span style="color: blue;">Caspian gulls</span> near Torness meant that we also got to find a 1st winter bird near Dunbar land fill site so amazingly I got two Scottish ticks in one day! </div>
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The <span style="color: red;">Northern Harrier</span> on North Ronaldsay proved difficult and took two trips and nine days of effort including the travel days. We finally got the bird at last light on our 4th 'field day' By then, seeing the bird resulted in feelings of relief rather than excitement for this recent addition to the British list. The next day we scoped the bird for over 40 minutes as it sat in the rain and although always distant it was a very good bird to catch up with. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQ8Oj_OwDLDsjDDp6MACuzufyUGlpHOUPNjGI1Uce-rvj7Xi6hGUqS3dUPiJcGs-aYEONdLSJQkKn2bQ9qrtRw4w9ntFUJaAE4uC0KP12hdiu2aUyoqCw5AImPYnc3u943THTjmQOcUPN/s1600/IMG_2233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQ8Oj_OwDLDsjDDp6MACuzufyUGlpHOUPNjGI1Uce-rvj7Xi6hGUqS3dUPiJcGs-aYEONdLSJQkKn2bQ9qrtRw4w9ntFUJaAE4uC0KP12hdiu2aUyoqCw5AImPYnc3u943THTjmQOcUPN/s640/IMG_2233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern harrier, North Ron.</td></tr>
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Aside from new 'ticks' it was also good to get self-found <span style="color: orange;">common crane</span> and <span style="color: blue;">smew</span> in addition to great views of lots of commoner species. A great birding month! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUR_OMYlWTXc9ElIJd3nHr-Fuv6fd7ZoRJTaV1Hz6n-QCgV_Jxan2dpr1fjCiNw53bsv3oVQnaaNkV-rQCdln3eaOT4KtFTx4LC-odG3kqYVcizX-xsjNNbwZDtOlHrz75JGeojDDEJWC/s1600/Common+crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUR_OMYlWTXc9ElIJd3nHr-Fuv6fd7ZoRJTaV1Hz6n-QCgV_Jxan2dpr1fjCiNw53bsv3oVQnaaNkV-rQCdln3eaOT4KtFTx4LC-odG3kqYVcizX-xsjNNbwZDtOlHrz75JGeojDDEJWC/s640/Common+crane.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common crane, North Ron.</td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-84679119765346269842015-12-19T19:37:00.002+00:002015-12-19T19:37:46.208+00:00Bugs life plusJust finished my survey time off Senegal so here's a selection of some of the fauna that I saw during the voyage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbCB_7_1BX8qZCzsA60dzjVHT2ssio8PVloacZabXPiGBZ4pWAWMBg6eDH_cNMf1bG3w6Ola57FVsdXU7dzbGUe9jrGwkDWgiQLjuYuXd82-oPVk1GqPXCan8AaF76vfdF5eHleflybXt/s1600/Smiling+grasshopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbCB_7_1BX8qZCzsA60dzjVHT2ssio8PVloacZabXPiGBZ4pWAWMBg6eDH_cNMf1bG3w6Ola57FVsdXU7dzbGUe9jrGwkDWgiQLjuYuXd82-oPVk1GqPXCan8AaF76vfdF5eHleflybXt/s640/Smiling+grasshopper.jpg" width="586" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grasshopper with a smile!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNJfu6L8TCbtxgTMBuqw6nlUGIOvCF-4dHBlI_yt4MLErfR6vO9RHoWg1p5vae8islUhStUCDhHU4wv_dBiby35044L6N8RO739Sv7orQpcsqDzwbNU2oK4AcWOGIBbcAqYYjss_zV40I/s1600/Locust+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNJfu6L8TCbtxgTMBuqw6nlUGIOvCF-4dHBlI_yt4MLErfR6vO9RHoWg1p5vae8islUhStUCDhHU4wv_dBiby35044L6N8RO739Sv7orQpcsqDzwbNU2oK4AcWOGIBbcAqYYjss_zV40I/s640/Locust+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">locust</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uUkv_T0Ojc8xZmYPGyjZM8HZ6gRvpJnAGlcglGoppdpOR_evfkPKETw4BfuKdYd5iQJnpzeE5PQedjHsG7Zg6naXuAMulOMMjAHPIfcyn06RCPBwSxUqnGBoF2unimuCtSjngwh0y6Yn/s1600/IMG_9716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uUkv_T0Ojc8xZmYPGyjZM8HZ6gRvpJnAGlcglGoppdpOR_evfkPKETw4BfuKdYd5iQJnpzeE5PQedjHsG7Zg6naXuAMulOMMjAHPIfcyn06RCPBwSxUqnGBoF2unimuCtSjngwh0y6Yn/s640/IMG_9716.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Monarch</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic43FG16iWRp3p_pNk3IaQ7CLAAZhz6wU1o93yBNidfPkREtd4xZ8Bq_bzIwMFQMy1aXMnAZu6Qi7cjneWFLWKUM-ifqwwisBZ1YX9DYPKheZtHhKqkvKU5uHTdECmsm-6wKEoqv1623R8/s1600/POM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic43FG16iWRp3p_pNk3IaQ7CLAAZhz6wU1o93yBNidfPkREtd4xZ8Bq_bzIwMFQMy1aXMnAZu6Qi7cjneWFLWKUM-ifqwwisBZ1YX9DYPKheZtHhKqkvKU5uHTdECmsm-6wKEoqv1623R8/s640/POM1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pomarine skua</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6p-oEWv3NQ_EfU04McOUro6cF2DEYlSZR2TSHB5OCSv8lJ4D0jK9FuIy6QPf3vdMXW0zRC6jCoTFlFjWgIufMzA5zxWIkOO2J16jZUvJeusf3kUrWbXj3KO9XX7dziAS8yO-S_gWgYj7j/s1600/Sudan+golden+sparow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6p-oEWv3NQ_EfU04McOUro6cF2DEYlSZR2TSHB5OCSv8lJ4D0jK9FuIy6QPf3vdMXW0zRC6jCoTFlFjWgIufMzA5zxWIkOO2J16jZUvJeusf3kUrWbXj3KO9XX7dziAS8yO-S_gWgYj7j/s640/Sudan+golden+sparow2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sudan Golden sparrow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6jm1eOgjGFScGS6n0nytQkSBzb_-3z8R1hAGt2ddyNWNWsrhWIpWZOrvvGFF54lCzQVAEXhttsd4tjrQovpK9i6RPPWwKSrQTHlkPdmSRPAFcX_Y7GZEeYZ41hvuyoHNHJQH-3gvlu-7/s1600/Sighting+59+%2528E%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6jm1eOgjGFScGS6n0nytQkSBzb_-3z8R1hAGt2ddyNWNWsrhWIpWZOrvvGFF54lCzQVAEXhttsd4tjrQovpK9i6RPPWwKSrQTHlkPdmSRPAFcX_Y7GZEeYZ41hvuyoHNHJQH-3gvlu-7/s640/Sighting+59+%2528E%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sei whale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-MJve0SRpPh-3KQCodFULIeI7syDrYD5z9EC65dsNIycElbp5VHgXEkNsO0jkv4QNq2KYm9RfxoxWsCf6YqpvP-KrAWT4LWGu485YUMu6qWI_2z6kz0JZkJr8s-c4IgZSJHasdHfKFSx/s1600/Sighting+65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-MJve0SRpPh-3KQCodFULIeI7syDrYD5z9EC65dsNIycElbp5VHgXEkNsO0jkv4QNq2KYm9RfxoxWsCf6YqpvP-KrAWT4LWGu485YUMu6qWI_2z6kz0JZkJr8s-c4IgZSJHasdHfKFSx/s640/Sighting+65.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraser's dolphins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0a4LK40T2GUTeEyz0i3gypv2fKnBzfsUbDgaQV-P_alR4lTTl5zsFeCAO-vTX-c_MNUbJHGljhuSFGrgwbSyBGNnfGTbNalEURJHG8yLqNIjQ5Ih7wKPdeUoik_LGZcmX8UtZxaVMcva/s1600/Sighting+35+%2528C%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0a4LK40T2GUTeEyz0i3gypv2fKnBzfsUbDgaQV-P_alR4lTTl5zsFeCAO-vTX-c_MNUbJHGljhuSFGrgwbSyBGNnfGTbNalEURJHG8yLqNIjQ5Ih7wKPdeUoik_LGZcmX8UtZxaVMcva/s640/Sighting+35+%2528C%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">short-finned pilot whales</td></tr>
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<br />Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-17182455372555197642015-12-01T20:59:00.002+00:002015-12-01T20:59:52.588+00:00A siege of egrets?<div style="text-align: justify;">
I admit I had to go online to find a collective term for egrets. I found that a group of herons are referred to as a scattering, a sedge or a siege- so I assume these apply to egrets too? My ship has been working mid way between Dakar, Senegal and the Cape Verde archipelago- for the past 10 days or so we have been circa 150+ nm from the nearest land and remarkably I have seen over a 100 egrets flying over the ocean. The birds have usually been in small flocks of 2 to 4 birds with a single flock of 8 being the largest group. All the birds have come up from the south and south west and been observed battling their way into the NE F5/6 winds that have been prevalent during my time here. Many of the birds have landed on the ship and taken advantage of the many wind-blown insects that have accumulated on the decks. I can't work out where these birds have come from or where they are trying to get to- I assume they have rounded the 'bulge' of west Africa to the SE having been displaced over the ocean and are desperately trying to get back to the coast of Mauritania or thereabouts. I have identified <span style="color: blue;">cattle egrets</span>, a couple of <span style="color: blue;">great white egrets</span> and what I think are probably <span style="color: blue;">intermediate egrets</span> on account of their greenish lores and dark-tipped bills. All other species observed on migration here from blackcaps, redstarts, kestrels and swifts have all been heading south- as expected at this time of year- so a bit of a migration/displacement mystery to add to the many that I have encountered over the years, but a spectacle to be enjoyed anyhow. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0ZkxPsR9rs1lY1kU0f__PCMkRHRHzrPiyFLuTGVLwU8C27Oh518j77ZY9MfgceFRob9F9Sts1kN5CRbqhYToaror0ZHSH2D2UMVfJbatsYiaPOwSYC7b75fDC9x48dJA38zeq-6UPhEK/s1600/IMG_3233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0ZkxPsR9rs1lY1kU0f__PCMkRHRHzrPiyFLuTGVLwU8C27Oh518j77ZY9MfgceFRob9F9Sts1kN5CRbqhYToaror0ZHSH2D2UMVfJbatsYiaPOwSYC7b75fDC9x48dJA38zeq-6UPhEK/s640/IMG_3233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a chart showing my recent position</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNe_0YrFrIeUg5myhqyFdQAw8eqgeQRfJbnocwTdxAuO2B3kmTuUQ-gN5Ctsf-mJlq3KQIxZMYUJCX0XXpTdM4DStHF9gJorKmUe6aE4wmedrC0CkFLptmG9b7T5oribfWfQ1W3v6R8Ms/s1600/Egret+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNe_0YrFrIeUg5myhqyFdQAw8eqgeQRfJbnocwTdxAuO2B3kmTuUQ-gN5Ctsf-mJlq3KQIxZMYUJCX0XXpTdM4DStHF9gJorKmUe6aE4wmedrC0CkFLptmG9b7T5oribfWfQ1W3v6R8Ms/s640/Egret+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ubpluKItvpYZR_mpChD9Ychuh7bejL2WVOyE03RF9vNbs8JomEsci0PtKhMbfwmk0z7mMPull2n_jhwfLq-tH_Y7PuFDiedqEfWwGYuzoG0_8LS89bFlIgUkApvcRWE1t6ECzubF929y/s1600/Egret+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ubpluKItvpYZR_mpChD9Ychuh7bejL2WVOyE03RF9vNbs8JomEsci0PtKhMbfwmk0z7mMPull2n_jhwfLq-tH_Y7PuFDiedqEfWwGYuzoG0_8LS89bFlIgUkApvcRWE1t6ECzubF929y/s640/Egret+A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx_zWrdo1jlBoQkQIeUt9W3OuWScviUUyKbzdtEFcBZSvYVYAbqAk4EMpuh2rlrV8AHc5ukLo9iixtHsh0IMfQngmqzO7ThahC5D-A9MfYCukbC-LlJpwraxEXY32cBd8Ax1oVIDDYh_x/s1600/EGRET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx_zWrdo1jlBoQkQIeUt9W3OuWScviUUyKbzdtEFcBZSvYVYAbqAk4EMpuh2rlrV8AHc5ukLo9iixtHsh0IMfQngmqzO7ThahC5D-A9MfYCukbC-LlJpwraxEXY32cBd8Ax1oVIDDYh_x/s400/EGRET.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUGrbtKlQkUhpbKe9fC26Fn6A0LAwfyBB8xWIhh1DXvb75CS6xwXpcij6uj35zQjbwSQfm13XRen4Exvjy2Om2QaV_ymHpcdATg62nzka7v9HygZfFiZ0tHx8OAloAAqnhtE9bpP7s3wh/s1600/IMG_0179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUGrbtKlQkUhpbKe9fC26Fn6A0LAwfyBB8xWIhh1DXvb75CS6xwXpcij6uj35zQjbwSQfm13XRen4Exvjy2Om2QaV_ymHpcdATg62nzka7v9HygZfFiZ0tHx8OAloAAqnhtE9bpP7s3wh/s400/IMG_0179.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8rIJxr3DaQEAgLnFNkUpZeMoq14sDDWcWroErzMxC3-NRQJV9pl_lUQl3uTQEsrveWUipp6j3X4hFq_FJDqS_2pq42hEvu3B3Pxeyx6WBF-kTkfLkIuLvY5tKiXXnme8fovyPUxRgxH7/s1600/IMG_0214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8rIJxr3DaQEAgLnFNkUpZeMoq14sDDWcWroErzMxC3-NRQJV9pl_lUQl3uTQEsrveWUipp6j3X4hFq_FJDqS_2pq42hEvu3B3Pxeyx6WBF-kTkfLkIuLvY5tKiXXnme8fovyPUxRgxH7/s640/IMG_0214.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmet03Wd674iQZXouRh0laPv6bTIQPGJrQQBaOKZgQURimnr789zT77NZP0TM3zyXwUc4AJryTOutll-Xw5bOg6JV8HUkT5tZIc8sf_Y4zPOFFvFXUYP6hHB52vg6wh7ZQONLGnh7MnQP/s1600/IMG_0322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmet03Wd674iQZXouRh0laPv6bTIQPGJrQQBaOKZgQURimnr789zT77NZP0TM3zyXwUc4AJryTOutll-Xw5bOg6JV8HUkT5tZIc8sf_Y4zPOFFvFXUYP6hHB52vg6wh7ZQONLGnh7MnQP/s640/IMG_0322.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvUeRFlO4Da_YQuiVWLsB0_vFe4jqAN-DLjXECt3Bdyk5BKJigKEpru1VeXuRRrG3Ekr1RSTXIDOtwP9Qo5tzzk5K7v7w_fjuUMxJTAf7pjDlPL_OSiei1E8grBXyFy1fz0E6AiqNg3cA/s1600/IMG_9709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvUeRFlO4Da_YQuiVWLsB0_vFe4jqAN-DLjXECt3Bdyk5BKJigKEpru1VeXuRRrG3Ekr1RSTXIDOtwP9Qo5tzzk5K7v7w_fjuUMxJTAf7pjDlPL_OSiei1E8grBXyFy1fz0E6AiqNg3cA/s400/IMG_9709.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">probable intermediate egret</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOCQfJt3tHcDSgDOI3vyPhc_mIwD0spXJwFlbopJpQzYhZGmVbDOjganEgFYihttptbUFgMCLMgHV2dIXac1QstU09TdE6Ekwb3lAZwwbxxf3pP0NzEb7TIUgLlAjEGFjQ2f8Awj2uwIZ/s1600/IMG_0119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOCQfJt3tHcDSgDOI3vyPhc_mIwD0spXJwFlbopJpQzYhZGmVbDOjganEgFYihttptbUFgMCLMgHV2dIXac1QstU09TdE6Ekwb3lAZwwbxxf3pP0NzEb7TIUgLlAjEGFjQ2f8Awj2uwIZ/s320/IMG_0119.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">probable GWE (left) and intermediate (right)</td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-38091223595631967732015-11-19T20:48:00.001+00:002015-11-19T20:48:18.721+00:00Cape Verde shearwaters<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some years ago (I'm too polite to say exactly how many) a group of intrepid birding greats including the likes of Tony Marr, Dick Newell, Richard Porter and Robin Jolliffe undertook a series of pioneering trips to Dakar, Senegal. These very capable birders embarked on a series of pelagic trips and recorded thousands of the fabled <span style="color: blue;">Cape Verde shearwater</span> (<i>Calonectris edwardsii</i>) in the waters off Senegal. Additional, impressive passage counts of more familiar species such as Sabine's gulls and Pomarine skuas were also recorded. Years later, the immense potential for superb sea watching off Senegal continues to steadily gather momentum. </div>
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Over the past few years I have spent a number of occasions with Tony, sea watching at the Butt of Lewis. During our many birding conversations we often discussed the possibility of me finding the elusive Cape Verde shearwater, whilst undertaking my numerous surveys off the West coast of Africa. Despite much time scrutinising sea birds off the likes of Morocco, Mauritania and further south Gabon and Ivory Coast I have never managed to find one of these birds. Over the last week I have been working off Senegal and have enjoyed watching <span style="color: blue;">Cory's shearwaters</span> on a daily basis- a few birds may have been candidates for <span style="color: blue;">Scopoli's shearwater</span> and I have also seen two <span style="color: blue;">great shearwaters</span> and a solitary <span style="color: blue;">Manx shearwater</span>. A few days ago whilst studying the Cory's I noticed some 'large shears' that although superficially resembling Cory's, appeared a tad smaller and slimmer (by about 10%?). These birds appeared slightly stiffer-winged, and possibly had slightly faster wingbeats- I'm trying not to string anything here! With better views the birds appeared to have more chocolate brown tones to the head as opposed to the generally diffuse greys of the Cory's. These birds also have more brown on the underwing. In certain light conditions the birds appeared rather 'capped'- something the Cory's never showed. Upon closer scrutiny it was apparent that the birds had thinner, grey bills although this has proven difficult to utilise as a useful field characteristic except when the birds ventured very close in and under very good light conditions. Generally though, the lack of a typical Cory's massive, yellowish bill can be a useful indicator under the right circumstances and with birds that 'cooperate'! With increased practice I have managed to pick up a few birds at greater distances, based on the faster flight action and generally slimmer/darker jizz, although readily admit it is not easy! Having managed a few photographs I was delighted to see that they were indeed Cape Verde shearwaters- a seabird 'lifer' for me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR79eUeLRADdsqPTOvqw6G1u9c3yEt9vlIr_rjgkvt6G8FERfuO58EyR3W7EOpIG3Nsi9b6eP9XZGGlKeDSM-ebI2R3_aw07bxc_ITeC0VEOZnWlNUvWWe8ztliFex6Hi5yRr2zCCCeTNs/s1600/Cape+Verde+shear+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR79eUeLRADdsqPTOvqw6G1u9c3yEt9vlIr_rjgkvt6G8FERfuO58EyR3W7EOpIG3Nsi9b6eP9XZGGlKeDSM-ebI2R3_aw07bxc_ITeC0VEOZnWlNUvWWe8ztliFex6Hi5yRr2zCCCeTNs/s640/Cape+Verde+shear+C.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tb5zeiwUIo26lVltLiZHpKFH3xHEZOMnOjH5WIjRnl63BedL9nYqC7fym1pV6j8xdpmuKZpUdqvyvqudGgURVwL6f0k2CPCjNWnW_K9cXfQ4a98Ya7grlaJxEcx70UgPKCQI8MVD5czd/s1600/Cape+Verde+shear+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tb5zeiwUIo26lVltLiZHpKFH3xHEZOMnOjH5WIjRnl63BedL9nYqC7fym1pV6j8xdpmuKZpUdqvyvqudGgURVwL6f0k2CPCjNWnW_K9cXfQ4a98Ya7grlaJxEcx70UgPKCQI8MVD5czd/s640/Cape+Verde+shear+B.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hGPMHUJlnvFfgx1EhdgT6vtNzNwQr1TlhiAX0OUhdOlmpJ7Jz40o6U9w5q7Wavr1pgWj6AuqLAy_nc8J677tEtjxwOXDMqEcBvrJC_Xl3ge1cUTcc4vQW4ZYM15MU6y9Q2n_Ln-qjJ9n/s1600/Cape+Verde+shear+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hGPMHUJlnvFfgx1EhdgT6vtNzNwQr1TlhiAX0OUhdOlmpJ7Jz40o6U9w5q7Wavr1pgWj6AuqLAy_nc8J677tEtjxwOXDMqEcBvrJC_Xl3ge1cUTcc4vQW4ZYM15MU6y9Q2n_Ln-qjJ9n/s640/Cape+Verde+shear+A.jpg" width="632" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Identification is fairly straightforward at these distances! </td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-88446867838166714542015-11-09T19:58:00.004+00:002015-11-09T19:58:52.769+00:00SEO migration<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm back at sea- currently on a survey vessel off the coast of Mauritania/Senegal. I have been busy setting up the project but found time to snap a few shots of a wonderful <span style="color: blue;">short-eared owl</span> that circled the ship before alighting and appearing to look for a suitable roosting site. There seems to have been a significant movement of these birds through much of the western palearctic recently, so I assume this is one of those migratory birds heading south to spend the winter in Africa. Wonderful birds.</div>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-65602554898090199062015-10-31T20:32:00.000+00:002015-10-31T20:32:03.379+00:00Hot patch<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKq71Tk_6g38aNfc3ltvjLLN7davziHP8-3ZvmZxm4rlFRiDTIi75jn_dbqMqnXUka-GUpdExM9NBwglKe7T5O3O8aJ484Qgo8OR4TJZ_dV1gExIJnFxcscixaNaWRscp6z_qeDj36rDk/s1600/FC+durness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKq71Tk_6g38aNfc3ltvjLLN7davziHP8-3ZvmZxm4rlFRiDTIi75jn_dbqMqnXUka-GUpdExM9NBwglKe7T5O3O8aJ484Qgo8OR4TJZ_dV1gExIJnFxcscixaNaWRscp6z_qeDj36rDk/s640/FC+durness.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firecrest Durness</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firecrest- a patch tick!</td></tr>
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As most patch workers will appreciate, sometimes it is easy to go for many a month or even a year or two with very little reward- but still we feed our addiction and keep plugging away in the hope of turning up a good bird on 'our patch'. If memory serves my last 'good' bird on a local patch was a grey phalarope back in 2009! Anyway, this week after getting back into local birding after the autumnal delights of the Hebrides and Northern isles I finally found a new patch bird in the shape of a delightful firecrest! Although not great rarity this is a very significant find in Scotland and particularly in the highland region where it is still a description species on account of it being recorded on less than an annual basis. I have managed to see the delightful bird on 3 of the last 4 days and am hopeful that it may over winter- it is in classic, sheltered habitat that should sustain it through the winter months. Having said that, last night was clear and fine and I couldn't locate it today. By a strange coincidence I had a day birding in the Durness region yesterday where I found another firecrest whilst in the company of Peter Stronach. Two birds, two descriptions and a patch tick! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firecrest in Durness<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-85293183320385906322015-10-24T12:36:00.000+01:002015-10-25T15:42:20.534+00:00Wilson's warbler, Port Nis, Isle of Lewis<div style="text-align: justify;">
Don't have much to say about this- I was fairly speechless when I saw the bird and although my photos. don't give the bird the full credit it deserves, some of the amazing shots put out on the various bird news services say it all- probably the best best bird I have seen in Britain! </div>
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However, I will briefly thank Tony Marr and Roy Dennis for finding the bird and putting the news out so that others could enjoy it and also express thanks to the owners of the property who so willingly allowed several hundred birders access to their private garden. </div>
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The vast majority of birders on site were incredibly pleasant, helpful and well behaved but I'm amazed at the 60+ year old chap from down south who squeezed through the legs of the patient crowd on all fours to get to the front of the crowd and then stood up in front of us and totally ruined our view and photo. opportunity- cheers mate whoever you are! Why is there always one? ;) Fortunately I stayed around and got better views later in the day when the minority hooligan element had dispersed. </div>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-39272035900503775772015-10-24T12:12:00.001+01:002015-10-25T15:43:13.188+00:00Shetland phase II<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back to Shetland for some more quality birding. This autumn has been fairly quiet by Shetland's usual high standards. Weather systems were largely benign, with no predominant airflow from either the east or west- just big lumps of high pressure sitting over the Northern isles- beautiful conditions for being in the field but not great for bringing in migrants. The priority for me and my fellow birders was to work habitat in the hope of finding our own birds. Although we worked very hard for a considerable number of days, our 'self-founds' were limited to a bluethroat, a Richard's pipit and a little bunting. The quality of birding was still very good however, and I have to remind myself that seeing Great grey shrikes, Red-backed shrikes, Richard's pipits, OBP and Dusky warbler in addition to heaps of YBW's is not to be sniffed at- especially now that I am back home in the birding 'black hole' of the NW highlands! We cut our Shetland time a day early to dash south for the little yellow gem found by birding friend Tony Marr on Lewis........... of course that meant missing a red-flanked bluetail and a cattle egret- but I'm sure there will be further opportunities to catch up with those!..........</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barnacle geese over Lamda Ness, Unst.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluethroat, Quendale (not found by us!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bunting, Toab</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AWGM0aRODJvfC8UZ4f_f41D_7ZIOxGsNgfRCxLo0FL3b8rsdLFjC6guwVTTy-6AwxfbmIS0A-HFUaVB3d28mCJY26TZrROh1pBcfHGLhnwWHVVaNyjCGCviburhXmdC0nn6KQRZaWq2R/s1600/Red-backed+shrikeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AWGM0aRODJvfC8UZ4f_f41D_7ZIOxGsNgfRCxLo0FL3b8rsdLFjC6guwVTTy-6AwxfbmIS0A-HFUaVB3d28mCJY26TZrROh1pBcfHGLhnwWHVVaNyjCGCviburhXmdC0nn6KQRZaWq2R/s640/Red-backed+shrikeb.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Red- backed shrike, Burrafirth</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky warbler, Sandwick</td></tr>
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<br />Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-13596797307192111062015-09-20T09:13:00.003+01:002015-09-20T09:13:48.665+01:00Shetland- birding 60 degrees North. <div style="text-align: justify;">
Just had a great few days birding Shetland with some of my birding friends from the Scottish Highlands- Al Mcnee, Bob Swann, Richard Rafe and Peter Stronach. After initially twitching the amazingly tame <span style="color: red;">Long-billed dowitcher</span> just north of Burravoe, we decided to go and search for our own birds as opposed to just twitching the 'big' arrivals. It is probably a little early for the main event with regards to migration, although we met with varying degrees of success, clocking up two <span style="color: red;">western Bonelli's warblers</span> including a group 'self found' at Sumburgh. Other birds found included a <span style="color: orange;">red-backed shrike</span>, six or so <span style="color: orange;">yellow-browed warblers</span>, a couple of <span style="color: orange;">barred warblers</span> and a number of <span style="color: blue;">pied flycatchers</span>. A <span style="color: blue;">gropper</span> found in a bed of nettles at Sumburgh initially had everyone's pulse racing! The Sumburgh Bonelli's was very interesting as we had initially tried to find the elusive booted warbler. Once again a pale warbler was encountered in awful light and in wet conditions and following fleeting glimpses of the bird in flight, it took the more senior and capable birders of the group some effort in deciding that the bird was a Bonelli's sp. and not the booted! Amazingly in the low- light and wet conditions no greenish hues could be seen although photos. of the bird showed otherwise! It was finally confirmed as a western Bonelli's after it was trapped, ringed and processed by some of Shetlands' finest. We later saw another western Bonelli's at Burrafirth and the good light conditions made that identification far more straightforward- especially as it had been previously found and identified by top, local birder, Brydon Thomason of Shetland nature. Hearing this bird call was a useful learning process for me. Of course, with some very challenging conditions we did not get everything our own way and dipped Pallid harrier, Booted and Eastern Olivaceous warblers but we also managed to accumulate a trip list of 97 species over our four days including <span style="color: blue;">marsh harrier, little stint, garganey, ruff, lapland bunting</span>, <span style="color: orange;">red-breasted fly</span>, <span style="color: orange;">common rosefinch</span>, lesser whitethroat and jack snipe. A great trip North! I'm going back up in a couple of weeks with Shetland Nature and can't wait!</div>
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I have put a couple of phots. below comparing 'our' Western Bonelli's in the awful conditions with the one we later saw on Unst, showing the obvious effect good light conditions can have on the same species.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS2wuo-O0XOXMgQGvdVztHuwcaEvUB5x8H92nA9_tsoygW6Cl6gFBnNnDaYrzsTLZRqcRugfdPZFjRFdPStHgwsFd0BUZZTI9Z-zMVIpuzqgek1LhO7R3VPbXPXVIepCrElwpGun5UzH9/s1600/WB3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS2wuo-O0XOXMgQGvdVztHuwcaEvUB5x8H92nA9_tsoygW6Cl6gFBnNnDaYrzsTLZRqcRugfdPZFjRFdPStHgwsFd0BUZZTI9Z-zMVIpuzqgek1LhO7R3VPbXPXVIepCrElwpGun5UzH9/s640/WB3.jpg" width="634" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Bonelli's at Burrafirth</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88_5e-VuEuat3ZX-Y5bB0puYT6JNBvDylRgtDBdr9k0IUmMWMaNKicfvfSM4Fvr3sbMF_62utoGZQCz7jjXQWWMPuxYO7lgSarTa9HCXQS9kCYKmHwwP48nI5sWJqHwXsch08gZ33LcxT/s1600/BON4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88_5e-VuEuat3ZX-Y5bB0puYT6JNBvDylRgtDBdr9k0IUmMWMaNKicfvfSM4Fvr3sbMF_62utoGZQCz7jjXQWWMPuxYO7lgSarTa9HCXQS9kCYKmHwwP48nI5sWJqHwXsch08gZ33LcxT/s640/BON4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Bonelli's at Sumburgh</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed dowitcher near Burravoe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3_qIiUO3eSjrK3qOS_BHmIticAFyX4wgSAgTJANZQcO5r5YY1cb2Qo6cdUhNe6Epc9X1EZxp5TrEofavuNilpHnXGzeghOcm8HsSJN5fp1NOJqh8H-vHX-StrEb6vx7Wcn1FvMQB1r2K/s1600/Red+backed+shrike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3_qIiUO3eSjrK3qOS_BHmIticAFyX4wgSAgTJANZQcO5r5YY1cb2Qo6cdUhNe6Epc9X1EZxp5TrEofavuNilpHnXGzeghOcm8HsSJN5fp1NOJqh8H-vHX-StrEb6vx7Wcn1FvMQB1r2K/s640/Red+backed+shrike2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-backed shrike, Sandgarth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizTCYMIvbb5NwYGZguU7BLjVBY2CyXTZppNDU8QG2ripdOGuPRc7u5oBtQfI1zvuBcCjlJi6Od5dbk_hkfC4GkXBZa2ZruLuutxD5jtCCmHmysq5-mT70hHxWzIyEqcg82Rtwn62c_N4_/s1600/Gropper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizTCYMIvbb5NwYGZguU7BLjVBY2CyXTZppNDU8QG2ripdOGuPRc7u5oBtQfI1zvuBcCjlJi6Od5dbk_hkfC4GkXBZa2ZruLuutxD5jtCCmHmysq5-mT70hHxWzIyEqcg82Rtwn62c_N4_/s640/Gropper.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grasshopper warbler, Sumburgh.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99PPwcrCvF48AxxtM9_TUDZlhAcuUvqWhzPHc2QtXYpw9oibAuiUAyKowLcKktlJXWCSWztajC7oxRboTie8_j4mhQPsASLd7dnSyYnh1rR3bHU3-1OsNVMf-6vYZCyqFzX5lpXL8Hury/s1600/YBW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99PPwcrCvF48AxxtM9_TUDZlhAcuUvqWhzPHc2QtXYpw9oibAuiUAyKowLcKktlJXWCSWztajC7oxRboTie8_j4mhQPsASLd7dnSyYnh1rR3bHU3-1OsNVMf-6vYZCyqFzX5lpXL8Hury/s640/YBW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-browed warbler, Isbister. </td></tr>
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<br />Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-17766885184849233512015-09-15T21:38:00.002+01:002015-09-15T21:39:06.363+01:00Red-footed falcon<div style="text-align: justify;">
During last Friday mornings' shopping expedition down to Inverness, news came through that the <span style="color: red;">red-footed falcon</span> was still located at Girdle ness so I quickly curtailed my time in the Eastgate shopping centre and headed off for Aberdeen. A few hours later I arrived at the golf course and amazingly upon arrival saw the bird from the car as I pulled up. The light was poor and the foggy conditions were not ideal for photography although the bird was very confiding and allowed a number of birders to get great views.</div>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-37397020025748289132015-09-08T14:26:00.000+01:002015-09-08T20:56:05.051+01:00ID blooper- my white- throated-non-barred-eastern sub- Ruppell's warbler! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hold my hand up and readily admit I made a howler of an ID blooper near the Butt of Lewis last Friday! I don't feel the need to make excuses- I have never considered myself to be anything other than an average birder with (obviously) limited experience of many tricky species. I still learn something new whenever I'm in the field. However, the way things transpired with subsequent suggestions of mega and rare bird species, coupled with a couple of negative/petty comments suggests that it may be beneficial to put the record straight.....</div>
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Having been out all morning looking for migrants at the Butt of Lewis in challenging conditions (Near gale- NNW Beaufort F7/intermittent, persistent rain and very poor light), I worked my way down to the dense cover of the garden at the rear of what used to be the Eoropie tea room. At about 30 metres from the garden I had a split second flight view of a 'sylvia sp.' that I initially thought could be a whitethroat. I saw the bird alight briefly and dive into dense foliage. Later, I managed a few dreadful photos of a pale grey, skulking bird in the swaying and buffeted vegetation. After 20 minutes or so, the bird again showed fleetingly and appeared sluggish and heavy. It was a pale bird against a dark background and in the wet and gloom I fell into the trap of thinking the bird was bigger than it obviously was. Soaking wet and cold and with rain on my 'foggy' glasses, bins and camera I trudged back to my accommodation to dry out. I downloaded some reasonable shots of <span style="color: blue;">ruff</span> and <span style="color: blue;">black-tailed godwits</span> taken during a 'dry' interlude and sent off a few shots of those to some birder friends and without really thinking I also attached my best 'whitethroat' shot. Later, after a shower and much coffee, I pondered the rest of the photos and realised with some consternation that the bird was not a whitethroat, but that it reminded me of a couple of barred warblers I had seen previously on Shetland during similar autumnal conditions. I sent out photos to some very capable and respected birding friends asking if this skulking bird could be a barred warbler. The photos were not great and they concluded the following morning that it was a 'probable' barred warbler although I must stress that it was my call. Later I met up with a local birder who asked if the 'barred warbler' sighting/photos could be put out to a 'local' email group to which I readily agreed. At the time I was not aware that the email distribution included RBA admin. and Birdline Scotland! I decided to go for a sea watch at the Butt for an hour, enjoyed a few <span style="color: blue;">sooty shearwaters</span>, then once again returned to the tearoom garden. As I approached the garden the local birder pulled over and said 'Andy- I have been trying to phone you'! I have good news and bad news....... your bird is not a Barred warbler- it's a probable Ruppell's warbler- yikes! To be totally honest I had to look in a field guide to check exactly what a Ruppell's warbler looked like! I felt excited but also rather sheepish in consideration of the implications of my ID error and felt a strong desire to put my head down a rabbit hole! The rest is history. The weather improved, the bird was seen by two other observers and much better photos. were obtained. With further, better quality, photographic evidence available to the wider birding community, the bird was subsequently re-identified as a probable eastern subalpine warbler. Having now seen the other observers' superior images, I admit to being rather horrified at how different the bird looks from when I first saw it in the field when much of the plumage detail, leg colour and bill size were far from obvious. </div>
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I received two, petty messages, from unknown 'birders' that were childishly rude and very critical of my error- these were immediately consigned to the bin! I also received a number of texts, phone calls and emails from a number of very good birders from the Highlands, Hebrides, Shetland and Cornwall who have all been very supportive and have pointed out that many birders make mistakes when in the field and that most criticism comes from those armchair birders that rarely get out in the field in poor conditions. The digital age has become a welcome tool in sorting out tricky birds but gives little or no reference to field conditions and in some cases it has become far too easy to look at others' photographs post sighting, from the comfort of warm, dry rooms with field guides to hand. I made a mistake yes, but it has been a useful learning curve and certainly won't stop me from getting out in the field and continue trying to improve my birding abilities. Hopefully the next time I find a rare bird I'll be able to ID it accurately. I would like to thank the birders who have been supportive - you all know who you are! Many thanks also to those gifted birders (sorry- don't know your details) that contributed to the debate with suggestions of Ruppell's and ultimately eastern subalpine warblers - hopefully a little more has been learned about the identification of these birds by the wider birding community and that can only be a positive. When all is said and done the bird is still a great record for the Outer Hebrides- now I have to sort out what the description criteria are?....</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my 'Barred' eastern subalpine</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUubEZn4VQ50K0oW23HIk0T8P6TO6FYpSH5f92Wi4PRzR6tvo2D3sinN6JYRCmjCRA985HwZitmddkvPVtk09_wNfNXloFoZ3Y1appMNjxxYSlxjp36GdPiCyzv4HuTMksVD302_sfUFSF/s1600/warbler+sp.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUubEZn4VQ50K0oW23HIk0T8P6TO6FYpSH5f92Wi4PRzR6tvo2D3sinN6JYRCmjCRA985HwZitmddkvPVtk09_wNfNXloFoZ3Y1appMNjxxYSlxjp36GdPiCyzv4HuTMksVD302_sfUFSF/s400/warbler+sp.4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">black-tailed godwit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ruff</td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-9295965643761067462015-09-02T12:05:00.000+01:002015-09-02T12:05:44.503+01:00Flight ops. <div style="text-align: justify;">
As is so often the case, a vessels' helideck often proves attractive to passing migrants. I assume from the perspective of a migrant bird it is the most attractive, safe option- generally clear of obstructions, normally devoid of personnel due to the exhaustive HSE rules n regs. and in wet weather it is often similar to a fresh water pool- obviously attractive when flying over the open ocean. On my latest survey it attracted two <span style="color: blue;">cattle egrets</span>, <span style="color: blue;">semipalmated plovers</span>, a <span style="color: blue;">semipalmated sandpiper</span>, two <span style="color: blue;">least sandpipers</span> and several passerines including <span style="color: blue;">fork-tailed flycatcher</span> and <span style="color: blue;">small-billed elaenia</span>- the latter bird proving very difficult to identify as initially it was thought to be one of the <i>Epidonax</i> flycatchers moving down from North America. A <span style="color: blue;">short-tailed swift</span> did a number of incredibly fast sorties around the ship and eventually roosted under the helideck for a nights rest. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7i7bpUCwZKqWJJoV_pRTq1w4EHaaeC3YAKyjpt4zjoglCLW6Qd1g_U-xLPw_5i9KxuJ7sb0pVZpuw5eizuiNVMtl485J6z8A-lFTsVnZUoqsxyZgM4IitmOI6abseWxZv6qeaJXTodxK/s1600/CE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7i7bpUCwZKqWJJoV_pRTq1w4EHaaeC3YAKyjpt4zjoglCLW6Qd1g_U-xLPw_5i9KxuJ7sb0pVZpuw5eizuiNVMtl485J6z8A-lFTsVnZUoqsxyZgM4IitmOI6abseWxZv6qeaJXTodxK/s640/CE2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cattle egret</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhDfaa2rmFnMz-duU3DZdkiMkXxdLZDiRWxm2jmEsS6RLtj5xdf396Q41FXbVsbXtPp-0iEVqG_iJeZsMzgTOpxj3kBMAJIUEHTV-apf_v8RaMsnLE_XqEr7Q6dH90gregodDF2lH_SKV/s1600/IMG_6020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhDfaa2rmFnMz-duU3DZdkiMkXxdLZDiRWxm2jmEsS6RLtj5xdf396Q41FXbVsbXtPp-0iEVqG_iJeZsMzgTOpxj3kBMAJIUEHTV-apf_v8RaMsnLE_XqEr7Q6dH90gregodDF2lH_SKV/s640/IMG_6020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fork-tailed flycatcher</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZyTWI20B_d7WZKabKHbE0__UHfzIGNSJoZ70j30H0TL4Oo6fmDKgkDZG4WNt7hCTrKfHGkjpV_HRdE3PBxyIYfl2fuCw5ibva9k5qmD8pcUqSR0CpqiNb5uUXkDOpraDqvjy97g4X6f7/s1600/Least+sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZyTWI20B_d7WZKabKHbE0__UHfzIGNSJoZ70j30H0TL4Oo6fmDKgkDZG4WNt7hCTrKfHGkjpV_HRdE3PBxyIYfl2fuCw5ibva9k5qmD8pcUqSR0CpqiNb5uUXkDOpraDqvjy97g4X6f7/s640/Least+sand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Least sandpiper</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeQLMJfGfYkeHZ0mi-4yCVLvhSuxNX_0wdxfAeiezHrWGuQhG0YorPxKwCDkwmT2wSOGcL6C3B7YHCYpEOMxH_-fFnvcj5MSOvECz-nABB00D6EdIrs72qGAXYAGkw0lwAEclnWZmPWNn/s1600/Semi+P+plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeQLMJfGfYkeHZ0mi-4yCVLvhSuxNX_0wdxfAeiezHrWGuQhG0YorPxKwCDkwmT2wSOGcL6C3B7YHCYpEOMxH_-fFnvcj5MSOvECz-nABB00D6EdIrs72qGAXYAGkw0lwAEclnWZmPWNn/s640/Semi+P+plover.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Semipalmated plover</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkm5hiovu2p9I5TB3avk6N3e_BzCpHe2G2_FtpsNpwnSuYFbTp_oHFVgp0773AuuLqasbbAYQ-jCzsMt-frkMXOQeYFYixblSzrQSbYHPuBrMqTnub3heyd-2D3CwJAeEqCBHu5crD37B/s1600/short-tailed+swift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkm5hiovu2p9I5TB3avk6N3e_BzCpHe2G2_FtpsNpwnSuYFbTp_oHFVgp0773AuuLqasbbAYQ-jCzsMt-frkMXOQeYFYixblSzrQSbYHPuBrMqTnub3heyd-2D3CwJAeEqCBHu5crD37B/s640/short-tailed+swift.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-tailed swift- at speed!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEppu49VBqNKXOWkIwNpUmXKCdVPU3b5Mtx54FrKdexEylDJLvllYJGejoJlh6a0DLdXCc3QkPu16WX85cs5NMYnC0jTUcwIdeEvqInN4BKO9BiEz7U6v68dBrtNUt0zCekef81193IiA/s1600/small-billed+elaenia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEppu49VBqNKXOWkIwNpUmXKCdVPU3b5Mtx54FrKdexEylDJLvllYJGejoJlh6a0DLdXCc3QkPu16WX85cs5NMYnC0jTUcwIdeEvqInN4BKO9BiEz7U6v68dBrtNUt0zCekef81193IiA/s640/small-billed+elaenia.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">small-billed elaenia- photo. Chris McCullough.</td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-36118027462654905762015-09-01T10:37:00.001+01:002015-09-01T10:37:46.139+01:00 Dolphin delights<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whilst onboard the crew transfer vessel for the 24 hour passage to Paramaribo I had two great encounters with bow-riding cetaceans. First up were <span style="color: blue;">Atlantic spotted dolphins</span> and then a couple of hours later the same thing happened with <span style="color: blue;">Long-beaked common dolphins</span>. A real treat to watch both species cavort in the pressure wave ahead of our bow. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aXlqG85gAGUTUtEdeZ__Mg_Si7_J-BZNj5nqHOckvDkwSR9ON9EygSLTWkeaiTzz8i_i2yRx0yPLCOSO_a3wgWndGaRBUr9MCUfFof00h7-WS2vtjku307aAdwhjjUidgK-SQP6M4Ucw/s1600/Long-beaked+common+dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aXlqG85gAGUTUtEdeZ__Mg_Si7_J-BZNj5nqHOckvDkwSR9ON9EygSLTWkeaiTzz8i_i2yRx0yPLCOSO_a3wgWndGaRBUr9MCUfFof00h7-WS2vtjku307aAdwhjjUidgK-SQP6M4Ucw/s640/Long-beaked+common+dolphin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-beaked common dolphin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUTdLhAK5cUShbIASt8IUh74XO6r6v8zE9GkJf6Kv7icF_52axre1LsiCuhkUA16AHS6lrS4Py3mWYWwUWyt2IQhlNepxA3aIpuD-LQHXQtYSKDI1dWCYxHgnbgi0_fOSo-WI_HYG7z2p/s1600/LBCD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUTdLhAK5cUShbIASt8IUh74XO6r6v8zE9GkJf6Kv7icF_52axre1LsiCuhkUA16AHS6lrS4Py3mWYWwUWyt2IQhlNepxA3aIpuD-LQHXQtYSKDI1dWCYxHgnbgi0_fOSo-WI_HYG7z2p/s640/LBCD1.jpg" width="572" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-beaked common dolphin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tOS7f2elPPmTlmFxSX9oSF8R9jA3UMdOhQKxBwNt8hJR7d4ZuJN7XeNzqu5vQruVkNNtdJBqssAUa7J6c1cKFg3ZOKbCqC5DDOcDOU35LQuVyQed_S8pM1PATYWbU9_TQNF6WFH32H3u/s1600/ASD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tOS7f2elPPmTlmFxSX9oSF8R9jA3UMdOhQKxBwNt8hJR7d4ZuJN7XeNzqu5vQruVkNNtdJBqssAUa7J6c1cKFg3ZOKbCqC5DDOcDOU35LQuVyQed_S8pM1PATYWbU9_TQNF6WFH32H3u/s400/ASD2.jpg" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic spotted dolphin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrUwEA7xthGNZEistaN-R1XyN9Mow0G6MJ9lcjkdIzcEaFvx-VZk1H_Jex8f7ZgiykmI0fFZEJK0a0iwCUDOoUTs_YpcMspDAwKtvYKy-8xXjQ5LWvWtPYlDmp6Qj9s2OuzzVSxaABdQ1/s1600/ASD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrUwEA7xthGNZEistaN-R1XyN9Mow0G6MJ9lcjkdIzcEaFvx-VZk1H_Jex8f7ZgiykmI0fFZEJK0a0iwCUDOoUTs_YpcMspDAwKtvYKy-8xXjQ5LWvWtPYlDmp6Qj9s2OuzzVSxaABdQ1/s400/ASD1.jpg" width="351" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic spotted dolphin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqh5dKSYvNjPhinAJADpLFd5sHdF0u5VoBE4b6bf1wFZqQ27yI4PzYilMgHgksz_yLBl9Cx32AbKmxGH5VX-_XmbKoIxT_5M_V4NYWKdyPc0MAw4NLGNfRV_cpDtxZYMWipe0u42Q2ibv/s1600/atlantic+spotted1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqh5dKSYvNjPhinAJADpLFd5sHdF0u5VoBE4b6bf1wFZqQ27yI4PzYilMgHgksz_yLBl9Cx32AbKmxGH5VX-_XmbKoIxT_5M_V4NYWKdyPc0MAw4NLGNfRV_cpDtxZYMWipe0u42Q2ibv/s640/atlantic+spotted1+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic spotted dolphin</td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-73554906427085670402015-08-21T21:57:00.000+01:002015-08-21T21:57:05.927+01:00'Semi P'<div style="text-align: justify;">
An intense tropical downpour yesterday forced a tiny wader onto the hell deck- not surprising really as the area quickly became the largest source of fresh water for well over a hundred miles. The bird hunkered down in the anti- slip matting but once the rain stopped the bird started bathing, preening and then drinking. I was delighted to see that it was a rather brightly coloured juvenile <span style="color: blue;">semipalmated sandpiper</span>- a charming little wader that spent an hour or so onboard before continuing its' southerly migration. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBuoimJ5rLRjMp7d3RIqLU25b-RH-37g5vuY0D9lT7qvvoBu2R3ZZbiDmpLY62P2qX1f3liubtzAqXsl04Aa_D33ZPVpoihsGOkAzMZlEoyJcjgT9YGg_E8hh7ybgtD6acVMWy0eQXzJD/s1600/Semip1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBuoimJ5rLRjMp7d3RIqLU25b-RH-37g5vuY0D9lT7qvvoBu2R3ZZbiDmpLY62P2qX1f3liubtzAqXsl04Aa_D33ZPVpoihsGOkAzMZlEoyJcjgT9YGg_E8hh7ybgtD6acVMWy0eQXzJD/s640/Semip1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the partial webbing between the toes can be seen in this shot</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8g_JgMQ6qRSvMEDLFYWqUHisTGc5aCvSwiYcyHHvvOzb2s63HK_P0S5mlppfpT61VUJmjfbCAJXmlULfP_DKtk65yekHSGhA-wS-pClo1J01R4ltkQcjzJ6dhxSyy2KHyNUsKWPnlLO0/s1600/sp+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8g_JgMQ6qRSvMEDLFYWqUHisTGc5aCvSwiYcyHHvvOzb2s63HK_P0S5mlppfpT61VUJmjfbCAJXmlULfP_DKtk65yekHSGhA-wS-pClo1J01R4ltkQcjzJ6dhxSyy2KHyNUsKWPnlLO0/s640/sp+face.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">note the slightly bulbous tip to the end of the bill</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rcLmKE3_iS9niLotoOKeWJ3PsJGUGZKOuNPYFHurFywWmeVhwkGBqJlY_UuD2ivp04gzZ8vAdnmZw-UcWgiY8MHzA_e5FkUyUjb1jow9RBBskgjyXqekOQhnLUFYlo-RHu-SirJYhdhQ/s1600/semi+p4%253F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rcLmKE3_iS9niLotoOKeWJ3PsJGUGZKOuNPYFHurFywWmeVhwkGBqJlY_UuD2ivp04gzZ8vAdnmZw-UcWgiY8MHzA_e5FkUyUjb1jow9RBBskgjyXqekOQhnLUFYlo-RHu-SirJYhdhQ/s640/semi+p4%253F.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the peach wash and diffuse streaking on the neck is a good ID feature</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2RevgR1wYnwGADgFM_DEhnJZLbIPsj8YjNP4btCeNs9gDOhkZ3M1Bc-u-z12NB41pS7LG-6jULQRzCRztbK0BOpkl5_5xtpfezQbS0pyjo_87j4CFuZHd4ZHAxL1024dcuF_iaFl-uHi/s1600/SP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2RevgR1wYnwGADgFM_DEhnJZLbIPsj8YjNP4btCeNs9gDOhkZ3M1Bc-u-z12NB41pS7LG-6jULQRzCRztbK0BOpkl5_5xtpfezQbS0pyjo_87j4CFuZHd4ZHAxL1024dcuF_iaFl-uHi/s640/SP3.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and only faint white mantle 'V' </td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-9008798161434905712015-08-20T02:14:00.001+01:002015-08-20T02:14:28.286+01:00Ruff justice- another country 'first'!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have been lucky in that on two previous voyages a few years ago I saw a common swift off the coast of Suriname that once 'accepted' proved to be the first documented record for Suriname and South America. A year later I got my 'first for Bulgaria' in the form of a Black- throated accentor' - that too being accepted by the relevant National rarities committee. Strike three for the bespectacled, pelagic birding geek yesterday, in the form of a very nice <span style="color: blue;">ruff </span>that flew over the sea from the north, settled briefly on the waves as if it thought it was a phalarope and then flew south for the coast of Suriname! ...........</div>
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Week four of a five week survey and for want of a better word the sea birding has been rubbish. Maybe I'm being a tad harsh but many days have gone by without a single bird being seen, and indeed I have even had spells of two and three days without a single feather to gaze upon. Of course spending many hours wave -watching eventually turns up something and I have been fortunate to see plenty of cetaceans, complimented by two <span style="color: blue;">red-billed tropicbirds</span>, a few <span style="color: blue;">Audubons' shearwaters</span>, a single <span style="color: blue;">great shearwater</span>, a few <span style="color: blue;">pomarine skuas</span> and a handful of <span style="color: blue;">boobies- masked, brown</span> and <span style="color: blue;">red-footed</span>. A few birds have settled on deck for a rest during their southerly migrations including a <span style="color: blue;">cattle egret</span> and a <span style="color: blue;">least sandpiper</span>- but its been slow......oh so mind numbingly slow. At least until yesterday. As I glanced over the starboard rail I picked up what was obviously a wader flying 15 metres or so above the waves and alongside the ship at a distance of maybe 120 metres. It was largely in silhouette in the intense tropical sunlight and I knew I couldn't ID it on that view. Suddenly the bird banked hard left and dropped towards the sea surface and flew towards the ship. The flight was rather languid for a wader and certainly not the ultra fast, mechanical beats associated with so many of the small sandpipers I am familiar with. Head- on, I could see a very nice 'rusty' crown and with improving views, a hint of a pale eyestripe and significantly projecting toes. Then the white sides to the rump were apparent, the weak white bar across the secondaries was a clue, as were the plain, buffy tones to the face and neck and as the bird dropped down to settle on the sea, a pale underwing and dark, medium length bill with a very slight down- curve near the tip. Hmmm- interesting in a vaguely familiar sort of way. Anyway, having grabbed a few record shots (no mean feat from a 15 metre high vessel rolling almost 10 degrees port and starboard at seven second intervals!) I studied the bird through my binoculars and tried to turn it into a rare wader that I had never before encountered, but after a few seconds the bird flew rapidly south. I checked my photos and checked through the key ID points and arrived at a probable juvenile ruff- hmmpf- a nice bird and no big deal, but something niggled away in my head for the rest of my sea watch time. Later I had a look at the Suriname bird species checklist that stood at a respectable 749. Ruff was not on it- yikes! I rechecked the list, rechecked my photos, enlarged them on the computer, rechecked the list again, went through the ID features again then got worried that I was making a silly ID mistake- after all birds look so different on the sea with no sense of scale and the light was bleaching the bird and I was tired, blah blah blah. At that point I realised that if I was going to claim a country first I wanted a good second opinion on the birds ID. I sent the best photos to my good birding friend Bob McMillan on the Isle of Skye and just said 'can you assist with the ID of this bird' - no prompting or clues, other than that if I had seen this bird in western Europe at this time of year I would not have doubts as to its ID but as it was off the coast of Suriname it could be an important record. Bob quickly got back to me confirming that it was certainly a Ruff. I then sent the photos to a Dutch birding friend based in Paramaribo- Arie Spaans - who is compiling the latest guide to the birds of Suriname and after circulating the photos to other birders in Suriname he was delighted to inform me that yes it was a ruff and that the Suriname bird list now stood at 750 species! Happy days as they say. </div>
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<br />Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-57915215861269596442015-08-16T00:43:00.000+01:002015-08-16T00:43:27.399+01:00A trio of boobies.<div style="text-align: justify;">
A good week for boobies- although only observed in low numbers, this juvenile <span style="color: blue;">red footed booby </span>makes it three species in 5 days. Having done the obligatory 'eat the flying fish' routine it decided to settle on a mast allowing for some portrait shots to be taken. I have also had a brief visit from a <span style="color: blue;">bottlenose dolphin</span> and a distant <span style="color: blue;">frigate bird sp</span>. Some autumnal bird migration has started with a few more <span style="color: blue;">pomarine skuas</span>, a single <span style="color: blue;">great shearwater</span> and several distant <span style="color: blue;">wader spp</span>. all flying south. Hopefully something unusual will pass within range of my lens before too long! </div>
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<br />Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-35381244427763992032015-08-13T00:32:00.001+01:002015-08-13T00:32:44.224+01:00Masked maurauder<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The skies around the ship have been largely empty although a very showy <span style="color: blue;">Masked booby</span> put on a show as it chased the <span style="color: blue;">flying fish</span>. A day later one of its' cousins showed up in the form of a <span style="color: blue;">Brown booby</span>- again feasting on the flying fish but on this occasion keeping a greater distance from my vantage point. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrXFWERz0jpzv1DUy5uaY0uUDrOmY8SqwLEwAIWOi8EGbvGnyzr3AaEpXPaAGBdOA9Ct7YyVzKM0lscE9RQ75YABN4FVyzDlhFQtZnKX8LZEbDrgpUUwB8TJzd6hvqDSCqvQml2lWWgX5/s1600/MB4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrXFWERz0jpzv1DUy5uaY0uUDrOmY8SqwLEwAIWOi8EGbvGnyzr3AaEpXPaAGBdOA9Ct7YyVzKM0lscE9RQ75YABN4FVyzDlhFQtZnKX8LZEbDrgpUUwB8TJzd6hvqDSCqvQml2lWWgX5/s640/MB4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">masked booby</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXNZ3eXUtTBkvsuRCJDjXeOgbanUWaUn9csTusPtNWF77EACTCqLJDGt161uCOnStE-5_A2QAl6XZydtj3cWjPmJq-BNlZGHObeoZqAcwzl-H-X3MxgdSZCfh4XX0tVo8d-zBoQm31ALY/s1600/MB1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXNZ3eXUtTBkvsuRCJDjXeOgbanUWaUn9csTusPtNWF77EACTCqLJDGt161uCOnStE-5_A2QAl6XZydtj3cWjPmJq-BNlZGHObeoZqAcwzl-H-X3MxgdSZCfh4XX0tVo8d-zBoQm31ALY/s320/MB1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">masked booby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">masked booby preening</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9BwqImGM5LXLdYBhB2d6DLOpktPYVSNjRQkfZfiwqGYNLSutoIe53JTYjakiHanvRpK9VYMfirMRqICSGPp9jhpTc8X1LrMoF62WcS21BAXJvJ7qLgZ3npzi6mac3BzhOnKvdURlVBxK/s1600/Brown+booby2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9BwqImGM5LXLdYBhB2d6DLOpktPYVSNjRQkfZfiwqGYNLSutoIe53JTYjakiHanvRpK9VYMfirMRqICSGPp9jhpTc8X1LrMoF62WcS21BAXJvJ7qLgZ3npzi6mac3BzhOnKvdURlVBxK/s400/Brown+booby2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">brown booby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flying fish- seemingly on every menu!</td></tr>
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<br />Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-59627120675640188192015-08-07T22:02:00.001+01:002015-08-07T22:02:57.592+01:00Red-billed tropicbird<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have not worked offshore Suriname for a couple of years so it is good to be back. I'm currently two weeks into the survey and although cetaceans and seabirds have been scarce I have racked up a few species including <span style="color: blue;">spinner dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin, melon-headed whale, short-finned pilot whale, sperm whale</span> and a few other distant animals that I couldn't identify. On the birding front I have seen <span style="color: blue;">red-billed tropic bird, pomarine skua, Audubon's shearwater, Cory's shearwater, sooty tern</span> and a single <span style="color: blue;">Masked booby</span>. Stowaways onboard have included a <span style="color: blue;">cattle egret</span> and a <span style="color: blue;">least sandpiper.</span> I have also seen billfish, sunfish, skipjack tuna and the wonderful flying fish that so often join me on my voyages in the tropics. </div>
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Red-billed tropic birds are one of the highlights of sea watching for me, but as yet I have not managed to get decent photographs of the half dozen or so I have encountered over the years. The latest bird was typically cryptic- that may sound odd for a bright white seabird but they invariable cruise over the open ocean at anything between 50 and 150 metres above the sea surface so are often tricky to pick out against a tropical blue sky filled with intense sunlight and fluffy white clouds! Whilst concentrating on the shearwater action I glanced around and saw the bird as it had already passed over head and was flying away- at a distance of some 70+ metres, so I only managed a couple of record shots- very frustrating but hopefully I'll get another chance at this impressive species before too long!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red-billed tropicbird</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiWd2GVpiHAxyaBWonHA0obiGMdzWW8zXiYL8CTTqO-lNtfrOp7kdIMOrE6hm9ucySMY8nb4Dz3GS5_eF6InYXtkHNLmJEjAxJ5Lk4LSXWv2rfzkFaxftvj8qDRMsKzPRhGMZgUtKEZYF/s1600/RBTB3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiWd2GVpiHAxyaBWonHA0obiGMdzWW8zXiYL8CTTqO-lNtfrOp7kdIMOrE6hm9ucySMY8nb4Dz3GS5_eF6InYXtkHNLmJEjAxJ5Lk4LSXWv2rfzkFaxftvj8qDRMsKzPRhGMZgUtKEZYF/s640/RBTB3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red-billed tropicbird</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu_V-JNIJXo6BQVS2aHzepDcEVtQhjJs0f3-Rz5WTMd0nWzdF5z_3K-Y9476KMZFXGzlL1GYyFqhql3SsX24ZPIOlsuqXLWu2DiRclUrKArSpx74JpTCb0v0nY36in4L6qLOfWN8fOniO/s1600/melon-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu_V-JNIJXo6BQVS2aHzepDcEVtQhjJs0f3-Rz5WTMd0nWzdF5z_3K-Y9476KMZFXGzlL1GYyFqhql3SsX24ZPIOlsuqXLWu2DiRclUrKArSpx74JpTCb0v0nY36in4L6qLOfWN8fOniO/s640/melon-head.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">melon-headed whale</td></tr>
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Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118192735106956948.post-2982796419109550062015-07-18T16:37:00.003+01:002015-07-18T16:37:59.895+01:00Of twitchers and ringers<div style="text-align: justify;">
Late June saw me squeeze in a couple of quality twitches- first up was a splendid 1st summer male <span style="color: red;">Ortolan</span> in Morar, followed the next day by good views of a <span style="color: red;">Blyth's reed warbler</span> near Inverurie- at one point it even started to sing! Unfortunately the Ortolan was trapped and ringed and never seen again which was a shame as a number of birders were enroute to see what is a very rare bird for mainland Scotland. I was grateful to have been invited to see the bird before the ringers intervened as I would have been very miffed to have dipped under such circumstances. I can appreciate the scientific value of some ringing methodologies but the seemingly growing trend of targeting a scarcity in order to obtain a 'ringing tick' appears to be a worrying development within some sections of the ringing fraternity. Each to their own of course, but with so much 'guidance' given to birders and photographers concerning birds' welfare I wonder if, when and how it will/may become necessary to mitigate for ringing activities that have questionable scientific objectives in a similar way? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviepZZsZf83XQI0w1faxzUF31ucir9zBTGGxZf8yWPoQrnkcRyJzfa-hGivQKTuPn8Wzf4_EYWkueEqLesaGa8hvORqbQODrQv3-7ou_esJGXK3gP1RpPeT9rAaIkml7uN2XqxnRRXGZA/s1600/Ortolan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviepZZsZf83XQI0w1faxzUF31ucir9zBTGGxZf8yWPoQrnkcRyJzfa-hGivQKTuPn8Wzf4_EYWkueEqLesaGa8hvORqbQODrQv3-7ou_esJGXK3gP1RpPeT9rAaIkml7uN2XqxnRRXGZA/s640/Ortolan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st summer male Ortolan.</td></tr>
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As anticipated July has seen a major slump in terms of quality birds to be seen in the North of Scotland- largely a function of continuing challenging weather conditions, coupled with the usual interlude to migration. In consequence I have concentrated on gathering breeding evidence from my local patches in order to put the information onto the BTO bird track system that gets forwarded to the highland recorder for inclusion in the Highland bird report. I've managed some good records for the area including recently fledged chicks of <span style="color: blue;">redstart</span>, <span style="color: blue;">winchat</span>, <span style="color: blue;">grey wagtail</span> and <span style="color: blue;">ring ouzel</span> in addition to the commoner species such as <span style="color: blue;">spotted flycatcher</span>, <span style="color: blue;">lesser redpoll</span>, <span style="color: blue;">siskin</span>, <span style="color: blue;">ringed plover</span> and <span style="color: blue;">oystercatcher</span>. Two <span style="color: blue;">barn owls</span> visiting a probable nest site was an unexpected bonus as these birds have been slow to recover from a couple of back to back harsh winters a number of years ago. I have also seen two <span style="color: blue;">Black-throated diver</span> chicks and enjoyed marvellous scope views of an adult in its magnificent summer plumage. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2sZoykH8T_KztftT6Im2Zbk7UxBdulnnNfboX6uC_F9cy_BSABJwMhXAyD2I47NM-5buz7IFJAy_CvamKR0IZxK3DPFnOdE1VDi9BbN7vxa7_G9DIleL5hYmFkOISVvaK-vdElHz-UPD/s1600/Common+sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2sZoykH8T_KztftT6Im2Zbk7UxBdulnnNfboX6uC_F9cy_BSABJwMhXAyD2I47NM-5buz7IFJAy_CvamKR0IZxK3DPFnOdE1VDi9BbN7vxa7_G9DIleL5hYmFkOISVvaK-vdElHz-UPD/s640/Common+sand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">common sandpiper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe_zZZ-66gAcz9h4Qiwy9PmDvDuBZI29oz6q_N80RxEa5mTKQrZJYJTCVBx_lRfF7Jmwq9T4FaU9f_s7MAJi8WIbhb4my-1lXp1gfL9ykshWaw7AGC1feIlgUmyJ3IM7iSbR0kgmmTa33/s1600/Barn+owljpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe_zZZ-66gAcz9h4Qiwy9PmDvDuBZI29oz6q_N80RxEa5mTKQrZJYJTCVBx_lRfF7Jmwq9T4FaU9f_s7MAJi8WIbhb4my-1lXp1gfL9ykshWaw7AGC1feIlgUmyJ3IM7iSbR0kgmmTa33/s640/Barn+owljpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn owl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuL5K1s7l6L0VYIwHyRA9mQNKghqUJ6-UBoKtFFqL9N4AgZs4Ld8TVR64fWnKNA0N8ydNprHsx-_9cMs5VqR6dl140gpV2cQ30WyjCpSVBTYj7MGC1l4Q5CI-n8yJdpAN0xb6_gLnXJ3t/s1600/RP+CHICK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuL5K1s7l6L0VYIwHyRA9mQNKghqUJ6-UBoKtFFqL9N4AgZs4Ld8TVR64fWnKNA0N8ydNprHsx-_9cMs5VqR6dl140gpV2cQ30WyjCpSVBTYj7MGC1l4Q5CI-n8yJdpAN0xb6_gLnXJ3t/s640/RP+CHICK.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringed plover chick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRoYRgFoR1S66PVtitrUX7gxn7AQK8LTmsWD-W0gxnEw2JMgao0m0Py7RsFpEh5MTAZc3XQ52y9WUZ4nPkwxRVt3kfBdvbsHuYbGu8XDRtciGUFGPkPxNWV_yJSJOiD8Owau0lle7KDfM/s1600/Oystercatcher+chick1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRoYRgFoR1S66PVtitrUX7gxn7AQK8LTmsWD-W0gxnEw2JMgao0m0Py7RsFpEh5MTAZc3XQ52y9WUZ4nPkwxRVt3kfBdvbsHuYbGu8XDRtciGUFGPkPxNWV_yJSJOiD8Owau0lle7KDfM/s640/Oystercatcher+chick1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oystercatcher chick</td></tr>
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<br />Andy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914323153696869941noreply@blogger.com0