tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88944181316868824632024-03-13T21:23:55.611-07:00Ken Cross in EuropeKen Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-19840921664725988582015-06-16T07:24:00.000-07:002015-06-17T05:24:43.482-07:00England, Wales and Scotland - a reviewThe tour is now over and its time to reflect over the trip's two parts and consider, not for a final time, the overall trip and, in particular, the wonderful birds and animals encountered.<br />
<br />
I'll deal with the last part of the Scottish part of the trip first. This part of the trip featured five from the England / Wales section and Russ Lamb and Maria Dam who 'swapped' with Norm and June Harris. the trip began and ended in Aberdeen and took in both selected Highland sites, all relatively close to the Cairngorm areas plus a wonderful few days in the outer Hebrides; specifically the Uists.<br />
<br />
We were under the calm and patient tutelage of John Poyner, owner and operator of Highland Nature. John, originally an Englishman, is a born again Scot and his love for Scotland and its wildlife and wild places is obvious. His reserved character and confidence, based on an excellent knowledge of the birds and wildlife, made him an excellent choice for guide. His driving skills and navigation, particularly on the maze of roads in the Hebrides, were also admired. John's choice of hotels, and the wonderful food therein, were greatly appreciated. Thanks too, to the staff and management of the Grant Arms Hotel and, in particular, the Bird and Wildlife club based there.<br />
<br />
The birds. It was voted the Bird of the Trip was Ptarmigan. [with Black Grouse and King Eider coming equal second although a long way back].<br />
<br />
Ptarmigan is a classic highland species - only viewable in the high hills of Scotland in the context of the British Isles. It is a bird that you have to make some effort to see. We were lucky; climbiing the hills under rare sunshine and the birds were lower on the slopes than usual and allowed long, close views. <br />
<br />
The list of 'Birds of the Day' provide an indication how successful we were to get a range of species and many Scottish specials;<br />
<br />
1. King Eider<br />
2. Black Grouse<br />
3. Ptarmigan<br />
4. Red-breasted Merganser<br />
5. White-tailed Eagle<br />
6. Corn Crake<br />
7. Hen Harrier<br />
8. Corn Bunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
9. Short eared Owl<br />
<br />
We also saw Puffin, Black and Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Manx Shearwaters, Leaches Storm-Petrel, waders intheir breeding finery; Ruff, Dunlin, Redshanks, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Snipe, Sanderling. We had views of White-tailed Eagle - the result of a fascinating and successful conservation story - and amazing views of Golden Eagles [although not that amazing toknock Corn Bunting off its 'Bird of the Day' perch]. Black, Willow or Red Grouse plus Ptarmigan. Common Eiders plus Elvis the King Eider. Loons? Three - Black-throated [or Arctic], Red-throated and Great Northern [or Common]. Plus more things I cannot think of at the moment but the full list will be printed below. Plus we saw and heard about a million chaffinches! <br />
<br />
Regarding mammals - Otter, Red Squirrel, Red Deer, plus Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales and Harbour Porpoise - again to name a few.<br />
<br />
For the England Wales part of the trip we muddled through basically by ourselves however we were aided by the good folk at Two Owls Birding who operate out of Dorset and Marcus Nash who operates out of Norfolk. We were also helped by Swallow Birding who gave great suggestions for our itinerary.<br />
<br />
Birds of the day recorded for the England Wales section included Tufted Duck, Dunlin, Yellowhammer, Wood Warbler, Woodcock, Buzzard, Great Bustard and Puffin.<br />
<br />
Here is the List of Bird Species recorded for our UK Trip<br />
<br />
UK BIRD LIST – recorded species<br />
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mute Swan - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whooper Swan – ABERDEEN AND OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Greylag Goose – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Canada Goose – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Barnacle Goose - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Eider – SCOTTISH COASTS<br />
7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>King Eider - ABERDEEN<br />
8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Goldeneye - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-breasted Merganser – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Egyptian Goose I - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
11.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Shelduck - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
12.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-crested Pochard - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
13.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Pochard – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
14.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tufted Duck - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
15.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern Shoveler – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
16.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gadwall - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
17.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Wigeon – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
18.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mallard - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
19.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Teal – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
20.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mandarin Duck I – WALES and SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
21.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-legged Partridge I - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
22.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Pheasant I - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
23.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Willow Grouse - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
24.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock Ptarmigan - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
25.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Black Grouse - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
26.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Partridge – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
27.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Grebe - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
28.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Crested Grebe – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
29.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Slavonian Grebe - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
30.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock Dove - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
31.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stock Dove – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
32.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wood Pigeon – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
33.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Collared Dove - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
34.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Nightjar - SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
35.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Swift - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
36.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Cuckoo - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
37.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Corncrake - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
38.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Moorhen - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
39.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Coot - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
40.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Crane - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
41.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-throated Diver – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], OUTER HEBRIDES and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
42.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-throated Diver - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
43.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Northern Diver - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
44.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Leach’s Storm-Petrel - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
45.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern Fulmar – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
46.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Manx Shearwater - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
47.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Bittern – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
48.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Bittern – heard NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
49.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Heron - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
50.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Egret – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
51.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern Gannet - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
52.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Shag - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
53.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Cormorant - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
54.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Thick-knee - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
55.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Oystercatcher - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
56.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pied Avocet - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
57.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Golden Plover – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
58.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Dotterel - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
59.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Ringed Plover – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
60.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Ringed Plover - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
61.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern Lapwing - SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
62.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whimbrel - WALES<br />
63.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Curlew - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
64.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bar-tailed Godwit - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
65.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-tailed Godwit – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
66.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ruddy Turnstone - SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
67.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ruff - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
68.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sanderling – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
69.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dunlin – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
70.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Woodcock – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
71.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Snipe - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
72.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Sandpiper - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
73.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Greenshank - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
74.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Redshank – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
75.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-necked Phalarope - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
76.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Atlantic Puffin – WALES and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
77.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black Guillemot - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
78.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Razorbill - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
79.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Guillemot - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
80.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Skua - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
81.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-legged Kittiwake - WALES and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
82.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-headed Gull - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
83.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mew Gull – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
84.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lesser Black-backed Gull - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
85.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Herring Gull – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
86.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Gull – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
87.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mediterranean Gull - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
88.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Black-backed Gull - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
89.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Tern – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
90.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Tern – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
91.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Arctic Tern - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
92.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sandwich Tern – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
93.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Osprey - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
94.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Golden Eagle - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
95.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western Marsh Harrier - SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
96.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hen Harrier - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
97.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Sparrowhawk – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
98.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>White-tailed Sea Eagle - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
99.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Kite – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
100.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Buzzard - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
101.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Short-eared Owl – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
102.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Owl - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
103.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Green Woodpecker – WALES and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
104.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Spotted Woodpecker – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
105.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Kestrel - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
106.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Hobby – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
107.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Peregrine Falcon – WALES and SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
108.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rose-ringed Parakeet I – London pre-trip<br />
109.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-billed Chough - WALES<br />
110.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Jay - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
111.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Magpie - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
112.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Jackdaw - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
113.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rook - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
114.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Raven – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
115.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Carrion Crow – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON; except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
116.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hooded Crow - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
117.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dunnock - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
118.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>House Sparrow - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
119.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tree Pipit – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
120.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Meadow Pipit – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
121.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock Pipit - WALES<br />
122.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Wagtail – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
123.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>White Wagtail - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
124.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Chaffinch - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
125.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hawfinch - SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
126.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Bullfinch – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
127.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Greenfinch - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
128.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Twite - OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
129.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Linnet – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
130.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Redpoll - WALES<br />
131.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Goldfinch - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
132.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Siskin – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
133.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Corn Bunting – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
134.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yellowhammer – WALES, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
135.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Reed Bunting – WALES, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
136.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Coal Tit - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
137.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crested Tit - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
138.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Marsh Tit – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
139.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Willow Tit - WALES<br />
140.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Blue Tit - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
141.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Tit - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
142.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wood Lark - SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
143.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Sky Lark – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except WALES<br />
144.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bearded Reedling – WALES and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
145.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sedge Warbler – WALES, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
146.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Reed Warbler – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
147.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern House Martin – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
148.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Barn Swallow - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
149.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sand Martin – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
150.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wood Warbler – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
151.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Willow Warbler - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
152.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Chiffchaff - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
153.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cetti's Warbler – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
154.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Long-tailed Tit - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
155.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Blackcap - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
156.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Garden Warbler – heard NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
157.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lesser Whitethroat - SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
158.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Whitethroat - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
159.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dartford Warbler - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
160.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Goldcrest - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
161.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Firecrest – heard SOUTHERN ENGLAND, seen NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
162.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Treecreeper - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES<br />
163.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Nuthatch – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
164.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Wren - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
165.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Starling - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
166.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>White-throated Dipper – WALES and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
167.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spotted Flycatcher – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
168.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Robin - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
169.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Pied Flycatcher - WALES<br />
170.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Redstart – WALES and SOUTHERN ENGLAND<br />
171.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Stonechat – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
172.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern Wheatear – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]<br />
173.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mistle Thrush - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
174.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Song Thrush - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
175.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Redwing - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
176.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Blackbird - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON<br />
177.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ring Ouzel - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS<br />
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Mammals seen;</div>
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1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pilot Whale<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Dolphin<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Porpoise<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Risso’s Dolphin<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Seal<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Seal<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Otter<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Fox</div>
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9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Badger<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Squirrel<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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11.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Squirrel</div>
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12.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brown Rat </div>
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13.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Vole sp<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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14.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rabbit<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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15.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brown Hare<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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16.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mountain Hare<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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17.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Deer<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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18.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Roe Deer<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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19.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fallow Deer</div>
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In addition a fine female Adder was seen in Minesmere.</div>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-18622284224064778952015-06-15T13:55:00.002-07:002015-06-17T02:16:05.801-07:00The Uists - an adventure in the outer Hebrides of Scotland<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dnEspBOUXs0/VYAmGx6CtUI/AAAAAAAAGuA/Isqt5Yyd4f0/s1600/DSCN5416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dnEspBOUXs0/VYAmGx6CtUI/AAAAAAAAGuA/Isqt5Yyd4f0/s640/DSCN5416.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilot Whales enroute in shallow bay off Skye</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bosVBrXMrTo/VYAmJv-OqeI/AAAAAAAAGuI/XXJpMRSbe9E/s1600/DSCN5403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bosVBrXMrTo/VYAmJv-OqeI/AAAAAAAAGuI/XXJpMRSbe9E/s640/DSCN5403.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilot Whale<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The second major part of our Scottish adventure had us driving west from the Highlands, through Inverness and onto the island of Skye, making our way across Skye to the western side before boarding a ferry for a near two hour crossing to Lochmaddy, a village on the eastern shores of North Uist. From Lochmaddy we drove for an hour south to the island of Benbecula and then to the island of South Uist, where we would stay for four nights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The first part of the journey took us to Skye and its huge barren hills. Skye had made the news a few days or so earlier as it hosted, unintentionally, a whale beaching event and as we traveled across the island we heard that Pilot Whales again had gathered in a shallow bay - perhaps with the same intention. We saw the animals - perhaps three or four - moving slowly around in the bay - with much traffic having stopped to view the drama. On our return the whales were still there; the drama continuing unresolved. Hopefully a rescue attempt can be undertaken before the inevitable occurs. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFOfli54-x0/VYAl9FfmUFI/AAAAAAAAGtY/T9IFfixVmUk/s1600/aafulmar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="584" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFOfli54-x0/VYAl9FfmUFI/AAAAAAAAGtY/T9IFfixVmUk/s640/aafulmar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fulmar from Ferry Crossing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFxM-4sECeU/VYAmAMnZRWI/AAAAAAAAGt4/x--P3gs4FDI/s1600/DSCN5419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFxM-4sECeU/VYAmAMnZRWI/AAAAAAAAGt4/x--P3gs4FDI/s640/DSCN5419.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Guillemots</td></tr>
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The Ferry crossing was desscribed by Russ Lamb, as the best Pelagic he had ever done. Quite a call but let's present the evidence. First it was, obviously, a huge and stable vessel. Second the weather was fine with little wind, so the seas were calm. It was, as you would expect, cool. Birds? Common Eider, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Common Guillemot, Gannet, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Leach's Storm Petrel, plus gulls and a couple of terns. We also saw Common dolphins plus Harbour Porpoise. The return crossing added Manx Shearwaters and [probable] Risso's Dolphin. <br />
<br />
Our arrrival also enjoyed, as we neared North Uist, a White-tailed Eagle sail past. A great bird indeed and a good omen. From the RSPB - <span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: urbanoLight, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2800006866455px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>The white-tailed eagle was fairly common throughout much of Europe until the early nineteenth century, when numbers started to decrease dramatically, mainly because of persecution that resulted in the loss of many of the western European populations.</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>While conservation measures allowed the species to recover in the 1970s, the impact of mercury and of organochlorine and other pesticides continued to reduce the breeding success into the 1980s.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>The white-tailed eagle was widespread in Scotland and Ireland in the 18th century, and also bred in England and the Isle of Man. Over 100 eyries were known in Britain and at least 50 in Ireland in the early 19th century. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>The species became extinct in the UK as a result of direct and sustained persecution by shepherds, gamekeepers, fishery owners, skin collectors and egg collectors. Habitat loss was not a factor. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>By 1800 the species had disappeared from England. It survived in Ireland a little longer, but by 1900 only a handful of pairs remained on the British Isles, all in Scotland. The last breeding record in Scotland was on the Isle of Skye in 1916, and the last British white-tailed eagle was shot in Shetland two years later.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>A re-introduction programme by the Nature Conservancy Council (now Scottish Natural Heritage) and the RSPB started in 1975. In the following ten years 82 young eagles from Norway were released on the Isle of Rum in the Inner Hebrides. The first successful breeding took place in 1985, and since then several pairs have nested successfully every year. Further releases in 1990s in Wester Ross ensured that the population became self-sustaining.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>The white-tailed eagle is included on the Red list of UK birds of conservation concern because of the long-term population decline and since it is a rare breeder in the UK and across its European range.</b></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFRHrIZh9vY/VYAl9cpBJ7I/AAAAAAAAGtc/ft5lUzO5zHI/s1600/aasanderlings2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFRHrIZh9vY/VYAl9cpBJ7I/AAAAAAAAGtc/ft5lUzO5zHI/s640/aasanderlings2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanderlings on Uist</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kbNnAvsDOpo/VYAl9l-z90I/AAAAAAAAGtk/dG_md0c4yHc/s1600/aasanderlings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kbNnAvsDOpo/VYAl9l-z90I/AAAAAAAAGtk/dG_md0c4yHc/s640/aasanderlings.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more Sanderlings..........</td></tr>
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Arriving on the outer Hebrides we were greeted with a landscape unlike any i had seen before. While there are some hills, in the east of some of the islands, much of the land is flat or gently undulating dotted evrywhere by Lochs and carved or separated by long fingered bays that threaten to tear the islands apart. The islands still have not yet decided whether they are land or sea and everywhere, in every view, there is water. These islands, jutting out into the North Atlantic and being isolated, support a surprising decity of houses and perhaps people. I read though the population has been decling since the late 1800's and without government supported ferries and the like the islands would die. As they are they exist on a mix of farming, fishing and tourism. Nature tourism is especially obvious as they support a wondeful diversity of life.<br />
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The most obvious birds are the breeding waders. For Australians we see migratory waders in duller non-breeding plumage; here they are coloured [generally] and are displaying with hopes for breeding. Redshanks, Dunlin, Godwits were common - the former most abundant. Snipe were heard flying around above displaying their tail feathers held to make a particular drumming sound. All in all it was very impressive. Ruff and Rednecked Phalarope were seen, both in breeding colour,<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8dd4PN4aFo/VYAl-1tbpYI/AAAAAAAAGtw/6jTZJpeopAI/s1600/aasnipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8dd4PN4aFo/VYAl-1tbpYI/AAAAAAAAGtw/6jTZJpeopAI/s640/aasnipe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common snipe - a common breeder on the outer Hebrides.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLffiWfqmuA/VYAoNL4V3QI/AAAAAAAAGvc/06s7SEyIEJw/s1600/DSCN5556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="556" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLffiWfqmuA/VYAoNL4V3QI/AAAAAAAAGvc/06s7SEyIEJw/s640/DSCN5556.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">breeding Redshank</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IcPoR0zmBhc/VYAnaSw794I/AAAAAAAAGuU/hyAqBYTa5r0/s1600/DSCN5451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IcPoR0zmBhc/VYAnaSw794I/AAAAAAAAGuU/hyAqBYTa5r0/s640/DSCN5451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oystercatchers everywhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUpix0xQZq8/VYAndp17f1I/AAAAAAAAGuc/nu4BTSqf6g8/s1600/DSCN5453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUpix0xQZq8/VYAndp17f1I/AAAAAAAAGuc/nu4BTSqf6g8/s640/DSCN5453.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">take care for young waders..</td></tr>
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Waterfowl on the Uists included Eider. Almost every bay had some birds and many had ducklings. Elsewhere Mallard and Tufted Duck dominated. Mute Swan and Greylag were common but there were a pair or two of Whooper Swan - so maybe they breed. Common Shelduck were seen in some bays and there were a few Common Teal and one lone Wigeon recorded.<br />
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The waters also had the occasional Divers - both Great Northern and Red-throated. We enjoyed seeing both eagles - White tailed and Golden and got great views of the latter as a pair were mobbed by large numbers of gulls. Arctic Tern was a lovely species to get to know; as they too bred around the many Lochs. We also enjoyed particularly great views of day hunting Short-eared Owls plus Hen Harriers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common eider and ducklings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of a pair of Whooper Swans</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">female Wheatear near her nest hole</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer [Reds] on the beach preparing for a swim - seriously</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign says it all - we saw otters but they proved a little too fast to photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stag on a rock - obviously</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more flowers for Bob and a butterfly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep - apparently possessed by demons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ubiquitous Meadow Pipit</td></tr>
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One of the places visited on the island of North Uist was an RSPB reserve - Balranald. This reserve is described by the RSPB thus; <b style="font-style: italic;">This beautiful Hebridean reserve has sandy beaches, rocky foreshore, marshes and sand-dunes. An information centre explains the importance of traditional crofting agriculture for corncrakes and other wildlife. Many wading and farmland birds nest on the flower-rich machair and croft-land. Perhaps your best chance to hear and to even see corncrakes and corn buntings. </b>We saw both key bird species and we heard both before viewing them. Corncrakes are a key target species when visiting these islands. <b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Availability of increasing areas of cultivated land caused an extension of range in northern Europe and western Siberia in the past, and it is thought that most of central and western Europe used to be inhabited by the corncrake.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The species started declining in western Europe in the mid 19th century coinciding with the start of the mechanisation of the agricultural systems and earlier cutting of the hay harvest. Since the 1950s the rate of decline accelerated, coinciding with a period when majority of hay fields were changed to silage production, which allowed even earlier cutting dates, and often production of two crops from a field. This was first noticeable in Britain, Ireland, Fennoscandia and west-central Europe, and since 1970 the decline spread through most of the European range of the species, including some of its east European strongholds. During 1970-1990 all countries except Sweden and Finland recorded declines in excess of 20% (in ten countries over 50%).</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">In Britain the decline started in south-east England in the mid-19th century and gradually spread north and west. By the late 1930s corncrakes were absent from much of England and southern Wales, and large parts of Scotland. Only in the northern and western islands were they still abundant. In Ireland the decline started later and spread more slowly, though more recent decline since 1988 has been dramatic.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The declines throughout the corncrakes range were closely linked to periods of change in the farming systems: from the mechanised cutting and earlier cutting dates to the change from hay to silage with its associated even earlier cutting dates, and often production of two crops from a field. In many areas cutting is now so early that suitable nesting habitat no longer exists in the breeding season. Major investment in drainage schemes in the 1980s allowed silage production to spread to many poorly drained areas in Scotland and Ireland, which until then had remained untouched.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The speed at which agricultural changes can affect the corncrake is illustrated by the 80% decline in numbers in Northern Ireland in three years (1988-1991), which co-incided with earlier cutting dates as farmers were encouraged to produce silage instead of hay and increased sheep stocking which resulted in further loss of hay meadows.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">In Britain and Ireland there have been unprecedented declines in numbers throughout the range of the species, accompanied with 76% contraction in range since 1970. By the 1990s the annual decline was so great that, had it continued, the species would have gone extinct in the British Isles within 10-20 years. As a result of conservation measures in the core areas, the decline was finally halted with the lowest point in Britain in 1993 with 480 calling males, and in Republic of Ireland in 1994 with 129 calling males. Since then the numbers have slowly increased.</span></i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a Corncrake but a Corn Bunting - a [unbelievedly so] 'Birdof the Day'!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corncrake - an uncommon bird and a difficult one to see</td></tr>
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a quick water colour i knocked up!!</div>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-16071979643038308782015-06-10T12:54:00.001-07:002015-06-10T13:08:35.981-07:00Seaside Excursion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">distant view of sea cliffs [please note weather!]</td></tr>
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Today we went to the seaside on a sunny Scottish excursion.<br />
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It was hot! Damn hot! There were blue skies and the temperature I’m sure climbed above the twenty degrees Celsius mark however in direct sun light it seemed much warmer than that number suggests.<br />
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We started close to our village of Granton-on-Spey and checked out a nearby river; let’s call it the Spey. Goosanders or Common Mergansers were the targets but neither were seen. A reasonable range of other spp including Dipper, Sand Martin, Goldeneye though.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge over the Spey</td></tr>
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Back to Abernathy Forest to search again for Crested Tit but the forest was very quiet save the Chaffinch.<br />
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Now to the Inner Moray Firth near Inverness where we saw my ‘bird of the day’ – Otter! Reasonable views of two animals were seen under the pylons of the one massive bridge spanning the Firth.<br />
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Then on to The “Black Isle” for some seabirds such as Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants and shags plus the regular gulls and Common Terns. At the sea watching spot we also scored a few nice views of Goldcrest, Whitethroat, Robin, Song Thrush, Wren etc. The lunchtime spot yielded Red-throated Divers out in the firth plus Yellowhammer on the adjacent golf course. Red Kite was seen on route – our first for Scotland.<br />
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The last couple of stops yielded, most notably, Red-breasted Merganser. Plus a few others like Ringed Plover. <br />
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-82351898402585866942015-06-09T12:55:00.001-07:002015-06-10T13:47:49.068-07:00One perfect day in the Cairngorms<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e9e3wFklAWA/VXdEfveRpQI/AAAAAAAAGpc/XAWVmrrGKM8/s1600/aapt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e9e3wFklAWA/VXdEfveRpQI/AAAAAAAAGpc/XAWVmrrGKM8/s640/aapt.jpg" width="578" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ptarmigan</td></tr>
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It was a great day birding here in the highlands of Scotland under blue skies where the temperature threatened twenty degrees Celsius. It was this day that we had planned to go on a wee hike up the hills in the Cairngorms. We had packed a lunch and waterproofs and coats in case the unpredictable mountain weather turned nasty however, while the lunch certainly proved useful, the need for cold weather clothes or raincoats never eventuated.<br />
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The first target species showed itself well close to the ski fields car park – Ring Ouzel. This thrush is like a Blackbird with a bold white sash across its chest; a mountain version of the Blackbird if you will. And when it finally decided to show itself it lost inhibitions and displayed nicely.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ring Ouzel</td></tr>
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The next target was definitely an upland species the Rock Ptarmigan. A species that almost everyone knows about. Famous for camouflage as it turns completely white in winter and in Summer the bird moults into plumage designed to keep it invisible. Despite its camouflage the bird was [luckily] easy to find. A pair were discovered relatively low on the hill and close to the path and they shuffled around slowly and confidently allowing long looks. The male still had a proud white belly but its upper parts blended with the lichen covered granite on the hillsides while the female had a more intricate pattern that rendered it impossible to see among the vegetation; a useful strategy for a ground nesting bird.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Ptarmigan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Ptarmigan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Ptarmigan</td></tr>
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Climbing even further to the top we lucked upon four Dotterals. These are Arctic or alpine specialists who return to these high hills to breed after wintering in the southern Mediterranean or northern Africa. We had seen a flock of about 12 on ploughed fields on the Spanish Steppes and those birds could have, in all possibility, been aiming for the highlands of Scotland. We can claim luck to have seen these well coloured birds on their breeding grounds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_BZDvSNPKDQ/VXh53ciw0KI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/rmnXCOKjdP8/s1600/DSCN5240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_BZDvSNPKDQ/VXh53ciw0KI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/rmnXCOKjdP8/s640/DSCN5240.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cairngorms</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Cairngorms</td></tr>
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Scanning a nearby Loch after the long climb down we discovered yet another Scottish trip bird; an adult Red-throated Diver.<br />
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Our day ended with a visit to an Osprey nest where the birds were busy returning to their chicks with fish while the surrounding forests were rich in song of a variety of warblers and other songbirds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treecreeper at nest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PDoQ-eJFX9M/VXifHY3xHfI/AAAAAAAAGss/7LxilaMLQ5Q/s1600/DSCN5180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PDoQ-eJFX9M/VXifHY3xHfI/AAAAAAAAGss/7LxilaMLQ5Q/s640/DSCN5180.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the view of the Cairngorms the day before</td></tr>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-91157179199734174392015-06-09T12:53:00.000-07:002015-06-10T13:37:41.764-07:00Speyside<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">now that is what i call a glacial valley....</td></tr>
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Today we went for a drive around a few classic birding sites in the highlands looking for a few classic bird species. It is fair to say that we were quite successful.<br />
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Our first stop was Abenathy Forest – an RSPB reserve on the shores of Loch Garten – another reserve made famous through being the site of the natural re-introduction of Ospreys in the 50’s. Here we found one of the specials straight away; Crested Tit. Coal, Blue and Great Tits were also found here as were [of course] Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Tree Pipit and several others. Goldeneye were a trip bird for us on the Loch it self.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">breeding plumaged Slavonian or Horned Grebe</td></tr>
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Another target water bird was found in another small Loch nearby – Slavonian Grebe or Horned if you’re an American. This bird is stunning in its summer plumage and there were three birds seen so attired. Greylag, Mallard, Great BB Gull helped complete the compliment of other species here. Common Sandpiper was a trip bird here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7cMJ6PQ4nM/VXifPR8sUWI/AAAAAAAAGs0/SCnuhk86yO0/s1600/DSCN5204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7cMJ6PQ4nM/VXifPR8sUWI/AAAAAAAAGs0/SCnuhk86yO0/s640/DSCN5204.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">remains of an ancient bridge</td></tr>
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Another wetland yielded more waterfowl – Wigeon and Common Teal – with Goldeneye, Mallard and more Greylag. Little Grebe plus Oystercatchers and Lapwing were here also.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red deer</td></tr>
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We then ventured up into a classic highland valley, its glacial formation obvious to all. Herds of Red Deer were seen both high on the hills and sheltered near the valley floor close to the safety of forests. Dipper and Grey and White Wagtails were conspicuous on the streams while Siskin, Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were buzzing around the tree tops. Distant Buzzard and Kestrel were the only raptors seen. A distant Ring Ouzel was scoped but people agreed that a BVD [Better view was desired].<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grouse chick</td></tr>
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Then to the moors – an amazing expanse of scenery and vegetation. Nesting Common Terns plus great views of Red or Willow Grouse. WE also had views of yet another trip bird – Black-throated or Arctic Loon / Diver. Near here we saw an albinistic Meadow Pipit - the bright white bird causing initial confusion.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Plover</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nesting Common Gull</td></tr>
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We had an after dinner excursion that proved rewarding - out across the moors. Short eared Owl was seen twice before good views of Black Grouse at a Lekking site. 6 males and a couple of females were seen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dhlwkn6p1c0/VXieyq2G3hI/AAAAAAAAGsk/FC5D9PRraCM/s1600/DSCN5201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dhlwkn6p1c0/VXieyq2G3hI/AAAAAAAAGsk/FC5D9PRraCM/s640/DSCN5201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Curlew</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ct1i3Wxj5I/VXifQkCnOCI/AAAAAAAAGs8/W9A4c92Ex64/s1600/DSCN5215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ct1i3Wxj5I/VXifQkCnOCI/AAAAAAAAGs8/W9A4c92Ex64/s640/DSCN5215.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the van on the moors</td></tr>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-75159906673917259552015-06-07T13:48:00.005-07:002015-06-07T14:00:52.457-07:00To Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Seal</td></tr>
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Leaving the hotel we hopped the Hoppa to Terminal Two at Heathrow for our morning flight to the northern Scottish city of Aberdeen. Here we would start our Scotland tour.<br />
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We were met by our guide John Poyner, who is a birder / naturalist / scientist based in the Scottish Highlands. And fortunately for me he is also a driver! So for the first time since leaving Oz I can kick back, look around and be a passenger. Happy bloody days!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NoULc-_n1Dk/VXStduABxHI/AAAAAAAAGow/-P9VznSfQWM/s1600/DSCN5115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NoULc-_n1Dk/VXStduABxHI/AAAAAAAAGow/-P9VznSfQWM/s640/DSCN5115.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">enroute to the estuary - our guide John in the lead</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John's conga line continuing across the Scottish estuary</td></tr>
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We began birding straight away with a visit to a nearby estuary which was happily crowded with Common Eider. These are tremendous birds and it was wonderful to see them in such numbers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Eider - male</td></tr>
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There was a surprise though. In among the Common Eiders there was lurking or sleeping as it turned out another Eider – a male King Eider. This bird, possibly the only wild King eider in the British Isles had been christened, Elvis. [Elvis the King – get it?] Needless to say but I will say it – Elvis was the Bird of the Day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elvis - first view</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fgquJIjQ3n4/VXSsy8Dx1vI/AAAAAAAAGng/4YGXJ-ylA14/s1600/DSCN5138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="614" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fgquJIjQ3n4/VXSsy8Dx1vI/AAAAAAAAGng/4YGXJ-ylA14/s640/DSCN5138.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elvis the King Eider taking some steps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exVEou6IWcI/VXSs1g4yShI/AAAAAAAAGno/nmt12sIWuUo/s1600/DSCN5141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="516" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exVEou6IWcI/VXSs1g4yShI/AAAAAAAAGno/nmt12sIWuUo/s640/DSCN5141.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Eider - clearly a waterfowl unlike any other</td></tr>
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In some ways it was sad that Elvis appeared even though he was a massive Bimbo [lifer] because it took some appeal away from the Common Eider which is a wonderful waterfowl in its own right. We also saw a mass of other common estuary birds; Cormorant, Black-headed, Herring, Lesser and GReater Black-backed Gull and another new bird Common or Mew Gull. There were Common and Sandwich Terns. Mallard and Shelduck and Mute Swans. Redshank and Curlew.<br />
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Common Seals and Grey Seals were numerous too in the no-doubt frigid waters.<br />
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Among the Mute Swan was another unexpected species a super [duper] Whooper Swan. We only had very distant views but we counted ourselves lucky to see what is normally a winter visitor.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sub adult common Gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Russ [foreground] & l to r - Carol, Bob, Berry [back view] and the grinning ir gimmacing Sandra</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xw3JJmSedzg/VXStaxQWAfI/AAAAAAAAGoo/Yh73sCYrgho/s1600/DSCN5160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xw3JJmSedzg/VXStaxQWAfI/AAAAAAAAGoo/Yh73sCYrgho/s640/DSCN5160.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a very very very distant Whooper Swan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lg0D6tkYhH8/VXStCOTx1XI/AAAAAAAAGoA/Y1vNUoH-RZ4/s1600/aaeider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lg0D6tkYhH8/VXStCOTx1XI/AAAAAAAAGoA/Y1vNUoH-RZ4/s640/aaeider.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Eider - male</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1msRaISCBA/VXSwTHlhBzI/AAAAAAAAGo8/jhoK7C71_yU/s1600/DSCN5119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="556" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1msRaISCBA/VXSwTHlhBzI/AAAAAAAAGo8/jhoK7C71_yU/s640/DSCN5119.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Eider - female</td></tr>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-71004030773191789682015-06-07T13:37:00.004-07:002015-06-07T13:37:54.894-07:00A Day in London<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OO8sRFFHx8/VXSl87e0TLI/AAAAAAAAGmg/n6_hHJDaX0c/s1600/aavermin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="584" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OO8sRFFHx8/VXSl87e0TLI/AAAAAAAAGmg/n6_hHJDaX0c/s640/aavermin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Vermin - Grey Squirrel</td></tr>
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We had a day off today to recover, rest or explore. I chose....explore. It was time to head into the big city of London. It was a beautiful day, sunny but breezy and a little cool because of it. Sadly it was saturday and saturday meant crowds.<br />
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I started at Leicester Square which strangely had changed a wee bit over the last twenty years. I had a long stroll; Trafalgar complete with Nelson's column which seemed somehow much taller than I remembered. To Picadilly Circus and then to Green Park and onto Hyde Park where there was a few birds to view. Then my camera run out and by then I was tired and probably over side stepping crowds and being a tourist so I went, indirectly back to the hotel to rest up for....Scotland!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Crested Grebe in Hyde Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkRqyHttbMs/VXSmQ9Q25zI/AAAAAAAAGnA/QwZI8dtpYNc/s1600/red%2Badmiral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="542" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkRqyHttbMs/VXSmQ9Q25zI/AAAAAAAAGnA/QwZI8dtpYNc/s640/red%2Badmiral.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Admiral in Hyde Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verticle Garden near Green Park<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-46285365949667748202015-06-05T22:51:00.003-07:002015-06-07T00:50:37.603-07:00Minesmere RSPB<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcg1SviQXOw/VXKJiLm9-qI/AAAAAAAAGlI/xL7tuzn_jog/s1600/aaaaadder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcg1SviQXOw/VXKJiLm9-qI/AAAAAAAAGlI/xL7tuzn_jog/s640/aaaaadder.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tagged Adder - female</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tFljOmyIxqI/VXKJo-QlqFI/AAAAAAAAGlc/ZXm7Ii28MtE/s1600/aagreen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tFljOmyIxqI/VXKJo-QlqFI/AAAAAAAAGlc/ZXm7Ii28MtE/s640/aagreen2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an elusive Green Woodpecker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjKQjwQwM7M/VXKJozGEozI/AAAAAAAAGlk/7GwJDvmFcCE/s1600/aagreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UjKQjwQwM7M/VXKJozGEozI/AAAAAAAAGlk/7GwJDvmFcCE/s640/aagreen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Woodpecker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UWCOlTRSMCs/VXKJpuf-iEI/AAAAAAAAGlo/DWjjtciQ8C8/s1600/aabearded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UWCOlTRSMCs/VXKJpuf-iEI/AAAAAAAAGlo/DWjjtciQ8C8/s640/aabearded.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearded Tit - sorry Reedling but more correctly Parrotbill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8hOSNpuptQ/VXKKMEdSqmI/AAAAAAAAGls/u4oYwk4lCsY/s1600/DSCN5076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8hOSNpuptQ/VXKKMEdSqmI/AAAAAAAAGls/u4oYwk4lCsY/s640/DSCN5076.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cute but noxious Grey Squirrel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9QRhS46sz_I/VXKKPDn_9EI/AAAAAAAAGl0/83Zi9GSF8aE/s1600/DSCN5071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9QRhS46sz_I/VXKKPDn_9EI/AAAAAAAAGl0/83Zi9GSF8aE/s640/DSCN5071.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minesmere RSPB</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBC kit at Minesmere - part of their Springwatch programme</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ncntrNxB14/VXKKQt-ggnI/AAAAAAAAGl8/cH7RJKlAuTQ/s1600/DSCN5079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ncntrNxB14/VXKKQt-ggnI/AAAAAAAAGl8/cH7RJKlAuTQ/s640/DSCN5079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Copper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTGtaltyRps/VXKKVPuHCDI/AAAAAAAAGmM/xnhm0A_dmKA/s1600/DSCN5082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTGtaltyRps/VXKKVPuHCDI/AAAAAAAAGmM/xnhm0A_dmKA/s640/DSCN5082.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nesting Sand Martins</td></tr>
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<br />Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-6180794807036464742015-06-05T22:43:00.002-07:002015-06-05T22:43:21.969-07:00Cley etc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qqacXdIwFsA/VXKGOxsUP5I/AAAAAAAAGjU/Yu8WOzNMpIs/s1600/aasealbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qqacXdIwFsA/VXKGOxsUP5I/AAAAAAAAGjU/Yu8WOzNMpIs/s640/aasealbeach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZS5wJzUoU0/VXKHFU09dgI/AAAAAAAAGk8/KAAZo4Typhs/s1600/DSCN4917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZS5wJzUoU0/VXKHFU09dgI/AAAAAAAAGk8/KAAZo4Typhs/s320/DSCN4917.JPG" width="320" /></a>This post is entitled Cley etc. Cley is a famous name among birders generally and UK birders in particular. Now the etc part is important too. There is the first etc; which was a seal viewing boat trip to Blakeney Point which proved a great birding option as well. The second etc was a tip off from our guide Marcus to a local heath where he thought we might find some target birds.<br />
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So first things first. The seal trip. We had booked the boat trip a couple of days earlier – the Tuesday for the Thursday and were told that they had cancelled the trips on the Tuesday because of the poor weather, in particular, the strong winds. I am pleased to say that by the time Thursday had arrived the winds had left, leaving, by any standards, a glorious day. So glorious in fact that many on the trip proudly displayed bare arms for the very first time on tour!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJoTtxsH5Lk/VXKG0bMr8MI/AAAAAAAAGkE/nRaFrwwLO-Y/s1600/aasealhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="566" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJoTtxsH5Lk/VXKG0bMr8MI/AAAAAAAAGkE/nRaFrwwLO-Y/s640/aasealhead.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Seal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmZ0HE1GTQ8/VXKG0g8aT2I/AAAAAAAAGkI/ZgIs-I3QIZc/s1600/aasealmouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmZ0HE1GTQ8/VXKG0g8aT2I/AAAAAAAAGkI/ZgIs-I3QIZc/s640/aasealmouth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Seal</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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-soZAJHeTS2w/VXKGziIph1I/AAAAAAAAGkA/aMDBPZnzTHg/s1600/aaseal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-soZAJHeTS2w/VXKGziIph1I/AAAAAAAAGkA/aMDBPZnzTHg/s640/aaseal.jpg" width="588" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Seal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xvB03qj0pk/VXKGvmGfBwI/AAAAAAAAGjg/PvmWKy_U2MA/s1600/aacommon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xvB03qj0pk/VXKGvmGfBwI/AAAAAAAAGjg/PvmWKy_U2MA/s640/aacommon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Seal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q74QJUoZnRw/VXKGxM3gsvI/AAAAAAAAGjs/DU_07vdJyr0/s1600/aacommonseals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q74QJUoZnRw/VXKGxM3gsvI/AAAAAAAAGjs/DU_07vdJyr0/s640/aacommonseals.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common or Harbour Seals</td></tr>
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We were to board one boat; proudly named the Ptarmigan, despite the fact that the bird has nothing to do with the waters on which we were sailing. To tell the truth I was a little concerned about the trip – early on. As there were crowds of people; especially school kids – the large numbers created by the cancellations early in the week – and I thought that our boat might be too well crowded. In the event it was okay despite the fact that we had three dogs aboard. The dogs and everyone in fact behaved well and we had a great trip. My only lasting complaint was that it could have been longer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tfa4xtlp6A/VXKG2LBhVkI/AAAAAAAAGkQ/22G_ame9GVI/s1600/aacomontern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tfa4xtlp6A/VXKG2LBhVkI/AAAAAAAAGkQ/22G_ame9GVI/s640/aacomontern.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Tern</td></tr>
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Oh, I had another concern, too, caused by the smoking boat man who flicked his half smoked fag into the water as people began boarding. Eco tourism providers probably should have some idea about water pollution…<br />
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The boat sped out to the point and we were busy identifying birds as we went; Black-headed Gull, Herring, Little and Common Terns, a Loon. A Loon? Unexpectedly we saw a Loon or as the Brits call them a diver, a juvenile. This was a surprise as all the loons [divers] should have gone north. We would have liked to get closer but the boat was heading for the seals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JJY0iwt5OMM/VXKGxte6tWI/AAAAAAAAGjw/hoyAAaT0Pd4/s1600/aadiver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JJY0iwt5OMM/VXKGxte6tWI/AAAAAAAAGjw/hoyAAaT0Pd4/s640/aadiver2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-throated Diver</td></tr>
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We enjoyed the seals lounging on the beaches and frolicking in the waters or just floating around like bloated holiday makers. And while we watched and photographed the seals, one eye was kept towards the sky looking for rarer birds. I’m pleased to say that we got lucky and got reasonable views of a rare British breeding bird- the Mediterranean Gull. <br />
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On the way back our smoking boatie proved he was a good fella by respecting my request to approach the loon so we could photograph it for an ID. The photo proved it was a Red-throated diver. And bird of the day!!<br />
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The second etc was a heath, where the most northerly records of breeding Dartford Warblers were logged. Four pairs inhabited an area of 100’s of acres. Luckily we met John, a smashing old fellow, who was one of the management advisors for the land and a frequent and passionate visitor to the reserve. He is into all things natural and he shared his experiences with specific management decisions to enhance butterfly populations within the heath, especially endangered species. His passion, of course, extended to the warblers; birds he himself had discovered. We got great views of a pair and their young flitting between the bushes. Another target – the Turtledove –remained both silent and invisible. So happy with our successes we made our way to our Norwich Hotel, an hour’s drive to the south.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3u9gmkffWGk/VXKG34B2_5I/AAAAAAAAGkY/hfxJ5fc2cBQ/s1600/aachaffinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3u9gmkffWGk/VXKG34B2_5I/AAAAAAAAGkY/hfxJ5fc2cBQ/s640/aachaffinch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch male</td></tr>
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In between etc 1 and etc 2 we visited a Norfolk Nature Reserve – Cley Marshes. This reserve is a testament to the bird lovers of Norfolk and the UK. It is a small but well maintained reserve featuring fresh and salt water habitats. The fresh water creates habitat for large reed beds that surround open waters where waders and waterfowl congregate. The reserve has large hides and an extensive shop, café and education centre. And we all wished that Australia could create a few things similar, close to our larger cities, where young and the not-so-young could get a natural history fix! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dy-NNwzxUjo/VXKG7f3QNKI/AAAAAAAAGkw/-HCl1VTKB8s/s1600/aashoveller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dy-NNwzxUjo/VXKG7f3QNKI/AAAAAAAAGkw/-HCl1VTKB8s/s640/aashoveller.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoveller</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7ZbgbNLh5o/VXKHBzCcSII/AAAAAAAAGk4/gep6xpRpwI4/s1600/DSCN5047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="524" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7ZbgbNLh5o/VXKHBzCcSII/AAAAAAAAGk4/gep6xpRpwI4/s640/DSCN5047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed Gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFYXe1GE06s/VXKG6tqyLaI/AAAAAAAAGko/TfnlTISBzNE/s1600/aalittleegret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFYXe1GE06s/VXKG6tqyLaI/AAAAAAAAGko/TfnlTISBzNE/s640/aalittleegret.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Egret</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DeJFic6gf_4/VXKG5FLT2lI/AAAAAAAAGkg/FQJ1KrwX4UY/s1600/aagowits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DeJFic6gf_4/VXKG5FLT2lI/AAAAAAAAGkg/FQJ1KrwX4UY/s640/aagowits.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-tailed Godwit</td></tr>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-51658555078536021902015-06-03T13:17:00.003-07:002015-06-03T13:22:57.164-07:00To the Brecks <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.birdtour.co.uk/images/Marcus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marcus" border="0" src="http://www.birdtour.co.uk/images/Marcus.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcus Nash</td></tr>
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Today we had the pleasure of the company of a local - Marcus Nash. Marcus runs his own birding company - The Bird ID Company. His website is at <span style="color: blue;">http://www.birdtour.co.uk/</span><br />
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He describes his company thus;<br />
<i><b>The Bird ID Company offers a variety of birdwatching tours and holidays throughout the year to well-known reserves and other sites across Norfolk and Suffolk. All of these provide fantastic opportunities to see a wide range of different birds and other wildlife.</b></i><br />
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He escorted us to an area of southern Norfolk and northern Suffolk known as the Brecks.<br />
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<i><b>The Brecks or Breckland is the name for the area around Thetford, on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk. Traditionally poor quality heathland, some of which still persists today, the area was extensively planted with trees in the 1920s and 1930s and Thetford Forest still today comprises the largest lowland pine forest in Britain. This combination of specialist habitats contains some highly sought after species.</b></i><br />
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The first key target species that we sought and found was Stone Curlew.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHm1bt5YTok/VW9ZZSNin2I/AAAAAAAAGiE/2nWlb8eyE-M/s1600/aastone2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="546" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHm1bt5YTok/VW9ZZSNin2I/AAAAAAAAGiE/2nWlb8eyE-M/s640/aastone2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a long distance admittedly crap picture of a great bird - Stone Curlew</td></tr>
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<b>From the RSPB website<i> - The stone-curlew population in western Europe began to decline in the latter 19th century, and accelerated after the Second World War, coinciding with acceleration in the loss of lowland dry grassland and heath. </i></b></div>
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<i><b>Numbers fell practically all across Europe during 1970-1990, including the large populations of Spain, Portugal and France. The Dutch population vanished altogether. The Russian population is considered stable, but the population size and trends are not fully known.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>In the UK, stone-curlews have suffered from a long term decline in population size and distribution. It disappeared from the northern part of its range in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in the first half of the 20th century, and the contraction of range has continued until recent years. </b></i></div>
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<i><b>Numbers of stone-curlews fell by over 85% between 1940 and 1985, when the numbers hit a low of 150-160 pairs. The reasons for the decline include reduction in area of semi-natural short grassland and changes in farming practices, which affect the suitability of the land for stone-curlews and the productivity of the birds.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Much of the close grazed chalk grassland has either been converted to arable farmland or forestry, or has become unsuitable due to reduced of grazing pressure by both sheep and rabbits. As a result, more than two-thirds of the population nested on arable farmland among spring-sown crops such as sugar beet, barley and carrots by the late 1980s.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Population density on arable land rarely exceeds one tenth of those on ideal habitat. Birds on arable land are also in danger from farming operations, although effective nest protection and marking schemes have successfully reduced this source of mortality.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Despite an increase in numbers since 1985, the status of the UK population is still critical, particularly in the peripheral areas. In the core areas population decline has been halted and it is now increasing. The current increase is due to the extensive efforts put into nest protection on arable land, without which the population would be declining at 3-4% per year.</b></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_95n-hWFNek/VW9fO8v4NRI/AAAAAAAAGig/MkAH0gNgqW0/s1600/DSCN4895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_95n-hWFNek/VW9fO8v4NRI/AAAAAAAAGig/MkAH0gNgqW0/s320/DSCN4895.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal Tit</td></tr>
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Following this success we moved on to an arboretum where we were frustrated intitially by Goldcrest and Firecrest. Goldcrest ultimately showed itself quite well however Firecrest led us on a merry dance. I managed a brief view however no one else got onto it. At the arboretum we also got [pretty] good views of Bullfinch. Song Thrush showed well as did the expected Robin and Tits [Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh]. The expected Garden Warbler remained quiet however Blackcap showed well and Chiff Chaff sounded off. A family of Nuthatches also were a pleasant diversion.</div>
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Next site was a famous RSPB reserve - Lakenheath Fen. From the RSPB - <i><b>At Lakenheath Fen, the RSPB has converted an area of arable farmland into a large wetland, consisting mainly of reedbeds and grazing marshes. The new reedbeds have attracted hundreds of pairs of reed warblers and sedge warblers, as well as bearded tits and marsh harriers. </b></i></div>
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<i><b>Bitterns have been seen increasingly in all seasons of the year. In early summer, hobbies catch insects high over the marshes. Golden orioles breed in the remnant poplar woods on the reserve, along with blackcaps, garden warblers and woodpeckers. Barn owls and kingfishers are regularly seen during the winter months. </b></i></div>
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Now we certainly saw Reed and Sedge Warblers, and Reed Buntings. Many Hobbies were soaring over the reserve - at least 10 and it was certainly a joy to see them in such numbers and to observe their hunting skills as they plucked aerial insects as they circled the reserve. Marsh Harriers, too, were conspicuous and their behaviour was interesting as well; we saw the food exchange - a mid air exchange of prey from the 'huntering and gathering' male to the nesting female. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iaAOn0NEcJU/VW9fN5s2m2I/AAAAAAAAGiY/v5a6Uc-3hOM/s1600/DSCN4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iaAOn0NEcJU/VW9fN5s2m2I/AAAAAAAAGiY/v5a6Uc-3hOM/s640/DSCN4899.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdEsM86XFxY/VW9faIkglpI/AAAAAAAAGio/XPaJGZ6VA8g/s1600/DSCN4906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="508" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdEsM86XFxY/VW9faIkglpI/AAAAAAAAGio/XPaJGZ6VA8g/s640/DSCN4906.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</td></tr>
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The Golden Orioles have sadly gone and the fluty notes of this bird have now been confined to history. Hopefully the Poplars will one day again host this bird.</div>
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A great bonus for us here was a distant view of a pair of Common Crane, who in the last few years have introduced themselves to the UK. Another lifer! </div>
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Bitterns are an attraction at Lakenheath Fen. There was a twitch in progress while were there; about a dozen or so hoping for a view of a Little Bittern. I had hoped we could stroll up and have the bird appear on cue for us but it was not to be. We did hear the bird though. We also heard the booming of the Bittern [the big guy] and actually saw it briefly fly across the reeds and land.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_XgKmGgB8CA/VW9f4hCel4I/AAAAAAAAGi4/PnbHH29LReE/s1600/DSCN4914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_XgKmGgB8CA/VW9f4hCel4I/AAAAAAAAGi4/PnbHH29LReE/s640/DSCN4914.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock</td></tr>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-75968829185284069142015-06-02T14:09:00.001-07:002015-06-02T14:24:14.682-07:00Titchwell RSPB reserve etc<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Piwyj1igko/VW4WghA1ppI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/6roT87gjSF0/s1600/choseley%2Bbarns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Piwyj1igko/VW4WghA1ppI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/6roT87gjSF0/s640/choseley%2Bbarns.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choseley Barns</td></tr>
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Today Titchwell RSPB was on the agenda and after a more-than-decent breakfast at our Hunstanton B&B we headed off in that direction.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hGLA_AClG18/VW4WWJ8dA0I/AAAAAAAAGgA/uHX-ebuV9ks/s1600/aarlpart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hGLA_AClG18/VW4WWJ8dA0I/AAAAAAAAGgA/uHX-ebuV9ks/s400/aarlpart.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-legged Partridge</td></tr>
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However before we got there we decided to try a small site near Titchwell named Choseley Barns. This was a site recognised on a Birds of Norfolk website and we were happy to check it out. Corn Buntings were seen in addition to Green and Gold finches, Chaffinches, House Sparrows plus Yellowhammer. In the adjacent fields both Red-legged and Grey Partridge were seen. Marsh Harrier flew by. All in all a good start to the day despite the windy and overcast conditions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy happy happy people!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qR3ljV4egP0/VW4clNvbJ9I/AAAAAAAAGgg/Vt1YzzBMc3Q/s1600/aaaavocets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qR3ljV4egP0/VW4clNvbJ9I/AAAAAAAAGgg/Vt1YzzBMc3Q/s640/aaaavocets.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avocets - the symbol of the RSPB and a common species at Titchwell</td></tr>
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Soon though we arrived at Titchwell RSPB and as a member I could park for free! It is an excellent reserve - the kind of reserve that you wish that all Australians could have on their doorstep; complete with excellent hides, a very good system of paths that guide visitors through a good range of habitats plus, and this is the really important part, a great range of species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVjTKwo7BEQ/VW4e0ENgfoI/AAAAAAAAGh0/FXTWJKGEaDc/s1600/phalarope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVjTKwo7BEQ/VW4e0ENgfoI/AAAAAAAAGh0/FXTWJKGEaDc/s640/phalarope.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Phalarope - surrounded by Black-tailed Godwits</td></tr>
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Regular species such as the RSPB's mascot, the Avocet can be seen easily. There is a great range of waterfowl plus waders and a fair range of bush birds too. Today we were lucky enough to score a couple of semi rarities; a Red-necked Phalarope in good breeding colour plus a small flock of Little Gull - a couple approaching summer plumage. I was pretty happy to see the Little Gulls as I had not seen any since 1992! <span style="font-size: large;">They were the Bird of the Day!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Gull - the bird of the day!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIqEvexykiU/VW4cvqtlQeI/AAAAAAAAGhA/3WLnpoDY87s/s1600/aaalg2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIqEvexykiU/VW4cvqtlQeI/AAAAAAAAGhA/3WLnpoDY87s/s640/aaalg2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyOt9syx4mY/VW4cqo7eIFI/AAAAAAAAGg4/Q588jnZOSuI/s1600/aaalg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="560" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyOt9syx4mY/VW4cqo7eIFI/AAAAAAAAGg4/Q588jnZOSuI/s640/aaalg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Gull - nearing Summer plumage</td></tr>
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Other waterfowl included Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveller, Pochard, Tufted duck, Canada Goose plus a few 'strange ones'; a pair of Barnacle Geese, a lot of breeding Greylag Geese, a flock of Red-crested Pochard [plus views later in the day of Egyptian Geese at another site...] Waders included LR Plover, Ringed Plover, a nice Sanderling in Summer plumage, Dunlin, and a great flock of finely coloured Black-tailed Godwit. Oystercatchers and Lapwings [going off!] were also seen well. Little and Sandwich Terns accompanied Black-headed, Herring and a solitary Lesser Black-backed Gull.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VNF8vPvYCZU/VW4cmBk9sQI/AAAAAAAAGgs/74ML9fT0kvY/s1600/aagreylag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VNF8vPvYCZU/VW4cmBk9sQI/AAAAAAAAGgs/74ML9fT0kvY/s640/aagreylag.jpg" width="630" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greylag Geese - a common breeder around Norfolk it seems</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DrbIDYUR7AE/VW4c37YyWcI/AAAAAAAAGhI/JiAncJ2r_no/s1600/aarcpochard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DrbIDYUR7AE/VW4c37YyWcI/AAAAAAAAGhI/JiAncJ2r_no/s640/aarcpochard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-crested Pochard - drake</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEzDpXjvQ10/VW4dHh1N9CI/AAAAAAAAGhk/YiO7ZT5RBwQ/s1600/aamud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEzDpXjvQ10/VW4dHh1N9CI/AAAAAAAAGhk/YiO7ZT5RBwQ/s640/aamud.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look, mud!" </td></tr>
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Here is more information about Titchwell than perhaps you need;<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KH2vIv_4XK8/VW4dFEdeSpI/AAAAAAAAGhY/8BT3tOpwR_8/s1600/DSCN4871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KH2vIv_4XK8/VW4dFEdeSpI/AAAAAAAAGhY/8BT3tOpwR_8/s400/DSCN4871.JPG" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin</td></tr>
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<i><b> Titchwell Marsh is an English nature reserve owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Located on the north coast of the county of Norfolk between the villages of Titchwell and Thornham, about 8 km east of the seaside resort of Hunstanton, its 171 hectares (420 acres) include reed beds, salt marshes, a freshwater lagoon and a sandy beach, with a small area of woodland near the car park.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The reserve is important for some scarce breeding birds, such as pied avocets on the islands, and western marsh harriers, Eurasian bitterns and bearded reedlings in the reeds. To encourage bitterns to breed, the reed beds have been improved to make them wetter, and the lagoon has been stocked with the common rudd. Typical wetland birds such as the water rail, reed warbler and sedge warbler also appear, and little egrets are common. The reserve has regularly attracted rarities, as its location is important for migrating birds. Ducks and geese winter at Titchwell in considerable numbers, and the reserve shelters the endangered European water vole.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxP0ERu0n-k/VW4dHuoakSI/AAAAAAAAGhg/HE8Z-Dh4-w0/s1600/DSCN4881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxP0ERu0n-k/VW4dHuoakSI/AAAAAAAAGhg/HE8Z-Dh4-w0/s320/DSCN4881.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Grebes</td></tr>
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<i><b>Facilities include three bird hides, a seawatching platform, two nature trails, and a visitor centre. Because of concerns about climate change, a major project in 2010 and 2011 brought improvements to the banks around the freshwater lagoon and the conversion of the brackish lagoon to tidal saltmarsh, a more effective barrier to encroachment by the sea.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Titchwell Marsh is archaeologically significant, with artefacts dating back to the Upper Paleolithic, and has remains of military constructions from both world wars. These include brickwork from a First World War military hospital and 1940s artillery targets for armoured fighting vehicles and warplanes. This internationally important reserve is part of the North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and is also protected through Natura 2000, Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar listings.</b></i><br />
<i><b>History</b></i><br />
<i><b>To 1972</b></i><br />
<i><b>Titchwell has a long history of human occupation. Populations of both Modern and Neanderthal people were present in Norfolk before the last glaciation between 100,000 and 10,000 years ago, and returned as the ice retreated north. The archaeological record is poor until about 20,000 years ago, partly due to the prevailing conditions, but also because the coastline was much further north than at present, so that many sites are now under the sea.[1] Early Mesolithic flint tools with characteristic blades up to 15 cm (5.9 in)[2] long found on the present-day coast at Titchwell date from a time when it was 60–70 km (37–43 mi) from the sea. Other flint tools have been found dating from the Upper Paleolithic to the Neolithic. As the ice retreated during the Mesolithic, the sea level rose, filling what is now the North Sea, and bringing the Norfolk coastline much closer to its present line;[1] the remains of submerged forests can still be detected at low tide.[3] By 11,000 BC, the makers of the long blades had gone, and peat marshes had formed behind an offshore barrier islandor spit.[1] A layer of peat formed between 1920 and 1680 BC and another between 1020 and 830 BC, indicating marshy conditions;[4] polished Neolithic axes found in those layers were blackened by exposure to the peat.[5]</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Two possible timber platforms were identified within the peat at Titchwell, and may be prehistoric. Similar Bronze Age structures are rare, and they may be significant in providing information about early timber construction methods.[6] Medieval and later pottery has been found at Titchwell, and the peat and silts which overlay the sediments deposited by the retreating glaciers have signs of post-medieval ploughing.[5]</b></i><br />
<i><b>The draining of Norfolk's coastal marshes commenced in the late 17th and 18th centuries, and sea defences including the "Old Lord's Bank" at Titchwell were shown in maps from 1786 and 1797.[1] For the next 170 years or so, the reclaimed marsh was arable, producing crops and beef cattle.[7] A huge influx of Pallas's sandgrouse into Britain in 1853 led to several arrivals at Titchwell, including mated pairs. The last bird seen was on the saltmarsh, and the rest were on the dunes or in marram grass; many were shot.[8][9]</b></i><br />
<i><b>Thornham Marsh, immediately west of Titchwell, was used between 1914 and 1918 by the Royal Flying Corps as a bombing range. Some brickwork on Titchwell Marsh is all that remains of a military hospital dating from that period. A First World War concrete building along the west bank was let as holiday accommodation until the British Army returned in 1942.[10]</b></i><br />
<i><b>During the Second World War, military defences were constructed at Titchwell. The drainage of farmland behind the banks was stopped, reflooding the former marshland;[11] zigzag ditches were dug, and pillboxes built into Old Lord's Bank.[5] Between 1942 and 1945, the marsh was used by the Royal Tank Regiment;[10] an armoured fighting vehicle gunnery range was established and new banks were constructed for firing practice, with targets set at 900 m (980 yd) intervals. Some of the still extant islands were built to hold "pop-up" targets, operated by cables from winches in a building whose foundations lie below Island Hide. Remains of the triangular concrete track used by the tanks also survive.[10][11] Military activities continued after the war, with the Royal Air Force returning to Thornham Marsh between 1950 and 1959. Bombing practice was supervised from a control tower, which was demolished in 1962, leaving only a concrete structure opposite the end of Titchwell's west bank.[5][10] The remains of two Second World War Covenanter tanks, probably used as targets, are sometimes exposed at low tide.[11]</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The wreck of the SS Vina, a cargo steamer built in 1894, can be seen at low tide. In 1944, she was anchored offshore for use as an RAF target when a gale dragged her to her present location and sank her. After the war, some of the wreck was salvaged as scrap.[12] The remains of the Vina are accessible at low tide, but visiting them is potentially hazardous as the wreck is quickly cut off and submerged by the incoming tide.[13][14] A warning sign on the wreck advises anyone reaching it to return to the beach immediately.[15]</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Behind the sea wall, the marshes were drained after the war, and reverted to farmland, but the bank was breached in the North Sea flood of 1953, returning the whole area to tidal saltmarsh dominated by sea aster.[16] The construction of a new sea wall across the reserve created a shallow freshwater lagoon, with a reed bed on its northern side and a vegetation-free brackish marsh.[16]</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>RSPB era</b></i><br />
<i><b>Between 1970 and 1972, a pair of Montagu's harriers, Britain's rarest breeding birds of prey, nested in the reed bed. The RSPB bought the reserve in 1973 for £53,000 (£572,000 in 2015).[17] The Montagu's harriers did not return, but marsh harriers did, and the RSPB commenced improving the habitat and facilities, including embanking the lagoons and building a car park and visitor centre. Avocets, then still very rare in the UK, first bred here in 1984. The visitor centre facilities were improved between 1987 and 1989 to cope with the numbers of visitors.[18]</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>In 1991, the sea broke through the dunes at the eastern end of the beach near the former Tern Hide, and the dunes started to erode. The remains of the Second World War tanks first appeared around this time. In the following year the boardwalk at the beach end of the west bank was constructed to protect the dunes, and the seawatching platform was added at its northern end. 12 hectares (30 acres) of land to the east of the reserve was bought in 1993; much of this was formerly part of the firing range, and large amounts of barbed wire caused problems when the area was being converted to reed bed and wet grazing meadow. Over the winter, an old hide on the West Bank was demolished and replaced with the current Island Hide. Storms in February 1996 removed most of the dunes east of the boardwalk, and eroded those to the west. The Tern Hide, now cut off at high tide, was dismantled. Developments at the end of the 20th century included the 1997 extension of the visitor centre, which included building a cafe, and the erection of Fen Hide in 1999, together with a boardwalk path to the hide, and a dragonfly pond.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The reserve covers 171 hectares and is of international importance for its breeding and wintering birds. It was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1973, and in 1986 it was subsumed into the 7,700 hectares (19,000 acres) North Norfolk Coast SSSI. The larger area is now additionally protected through Natura 2000, Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar listings, and is part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This is the RSPB's most visited reserve, with about 92,000 visitors annually.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The main part of the reserve is accessed from the visitor centre using the 1 km West Bank footpath. After leaving the woodland around the visitor centre, there are two short paths running from the main path; the 200 m Fen Trail to a hide overlooking the reed bed, and the 100 m Meadow Trail boardwalk loop through wet marsh and past the dragonfly pond. The main footpath continues north past the reedbed to the freshwater lagoon and the Island Hide, then reaches a bank running across the reserve. The new Parrinder hides are placed along this wall. The footpath continues past a tidal lagoon, and over another bank to a saltmarsh, ending at a raised wooden seawatching platform on the dunes by the beach.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Fauna and flora - Birds</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The key breeding species are reed bed specialists such as the marsh harrier, Eurasian bittern and bearded reedling, together with the avocet, the RSPB's symbolic bird. Bitterns stopped breeding on the reserve in 1989 due to inadequate habitat and a lack of sufficient large food fish; although European eels, a favoured food, are present, the numbers are too low. These problems were addressed by managing water levels and excavating some of the reed bed to create open, reed-fringed pools, and stocking the lagoon with the common rudd; breeding recommenced in 2004. In 2011, there were 80 avocet nests, two pairs of Eurasian bitterns, and four pairs of marsh harriers, the latter successfully fledging seven young.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Other breeding birds include ringed plovers and Eurasian oystercatchers in the sand dunes, and water rails in the reed bed. Sedge, reed and Cetti's warblers all nest in the wetland, and little egrets are now common on the reserve. In early summer, scarcer migrants like the little gull, black tern, Eurasian spoonbills and garganey may pass through on their way to breed elsewhere.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>In the autumn, species arrive from the north, some, such as black-tailed godwits, curlew sandpipers and little stints just passing through, pausing for a few days to refuel, others staying for the winter. This is also a good time to see bearded reedlings. Offshore, Great and Arctic skuas, northern gannets and black-legged kittiwakes may pass close by in favourable winds.</b></i><br />
<i><b>Large numbers of ducks winter on the reserve, including many Eurasian wigeons, Eurasian teals, mallards and gadwalls, and smaller counts of goldeneyes and northern pintails.[33] Offshore, there may be large "rafts" of common scoters, and smaller numbers of common eiders, long-tailed ducks, velvet scoters[35] and red-throated divers. Brent geese feed on sea lettuce and other green algae,[36] and hundreds of European golden plovers may roost on the reserve at high tide. In the evenings, large flocks of pink-footed geese fly over Titchwell on their way to roost, and barn owls and hen harriers quarter the marshes. This is the season for flocks of lesser redpolls, sometimes accompanied by a rarer common redpoll, and snow buntings are to be found on the beach.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The reserve's location means that migrants may be found, sometimes in huge numbers when the weather conditions are right. These may include vagrant rarities. A black-winged stilt, which acquired the nickname "Sammy", arrived in 1993 and became a permanent resident up to its disappearance in 2005. Other rarities in recent years include a Baird's sandpiper, a broad-billed sandpiper, a thrush nightingale and an Arctic redpoll, all in 2004, a stilt sandpiper in 2005, and a black-winged pratincole and a black-headed wagtail in 2009.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Other animals and plants</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Saltmarsh behind the beach</b></i><br />
<i><b>Water voles are a highly threatened species in the UK, with a huge decline in numbers, mainly due to predation by the introduced American mink. They are still common at Titchwell, which is one of a number of East Anglian sites now of national importance for this species. Both common and grey seals can be seen off the beach. Other vertebrates include European eels, common toads and three-spined sticklebacks.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>In summer, the dragonfly pond can hold up to ten species of dragonflies and damselfies. The nationally scarce moth flame wainscot has bred at Titchwell since 1996; other Lepidoptera may include migrants such as the painted lady, the diamondback moth, and especially the silver Y, which can occur in huge numbers; 90,000 were recorded on the reserve in July 2010, feeding on sea lavender.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The saltmarsh contains glassworts and common cord grass in the most exposed regions, with a succession of plants following on as the marsh becomes more established: first sea aster, then mainly sea lavender, with sea purslane in the creeks and smaller areas of sea plantain and other common marsh plants. The drier areas contain maritime grasses such as sea couch grass and sea poa grass. The reedbeds are dominated by common reed with saltmarsh rush, brackish water crowfoot, sea clubrush and common bulrush also common in the various wetland habitats.</b></i><br />
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-78442359462902765022015-06-01T15:15:00.001-07:002015-06-01T15:15:22.252-07:00Driving Day - Dorset to Norfolk<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KUPOHuQ21FI/VWzWS27paPI/AAAAAAAAGfU/UishHv1YWz0/s1600/aastonehenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KUPOHuQ21FI/VWzWS27paPI/AAAAAAAAGfU/UishHv1YWz0/s640/aastonehenge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonehenge</td></tr>
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<i><b>Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England, about 2 miles (3 km) west of Amesbury and 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is the remains of a ring of standing stones set within earthworks. It is in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Archaeologists believe it was built anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. Radiocarbon dating in 2008 suggested that the first stones were raised between 2400 and 2200 BC,[2] whilst another theory suggests that bluestones may have been raised at the site as early as 3000 BC.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury Henge. It is a national legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage, while the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Archaeological evidence found by the Stonehenge Riverside Project in 2008 indicates that Stonehenge could have been a burial ground from its earliest beginnings. The dating of cremated remains found on the site indicate that deposits contain human bone from as early as 3000 BC, when the ditch and bank were first dug. Such deposits continued at Stonehenge for at least another 500 years.</b></i><br />
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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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4ObTRiVvGk/VWzXQbNMwEI/AAAAAAAAGfw/dyMEIeCbz3g/s1600/DSCN4810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4ObTRiVvGk/VWzXQbNMwEI/AAAAAAAAGfw/dyMEIeCbz3g/s640/DSCN4810.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Bustard visiting Stonehenge</td></tr>
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<b><i> The Great Bustard Group is a UK Registered Charity (number 1092515), working to reintroduce the species to the UK and to promote its interests throughout its range. Great Bustards were formerly very much part of British wildlife until the 1840s when they became extinct in Britain due to collectors and changes in agriculture. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>They have suffered similar dramatic declines in numbers across their range in the last 200 years and their global population is now estimated to be just 35,000 individuals. They are currently listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Globally Threatened Species. They are a missing piece of UK wildlife heritage, artificially removed from the ecosystem due to over zealous trophy hunters. There still remains plenty of habitat suitable for Great Bustards in the UK, in particular the rolling downland and arable fields of Wessex. However, their population decline and fragmentation means recolonisation is unlikely to occur without a reintroduction programme.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Background to the Project</i></b><br />
<b><i></i></b><br />
<b><i>The UK is obliged under EU legislation (Habitats Directive 1992) to reintroduce species where it is considered feasible. The GBG was set up in 1998 to explore the possibility of reintroducing the Great Bustard to the UK and commissioned a feasibility study accordingly. The study took several years to compile and investigated all academic and practical research on Great Bustards and reintroductions in general. It ably demonstrated that the UK offers suitable conditions for Great Bustards and that the project would not be detrimental to the donor population or the existing UK ecosystem. Based on the feasibility study, in 2003, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs issued a 10-year trial-licence to release Great Bustards in the UK. Releases have taken place annually since 2004. Read about how we source the birds for the new British population.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Until 2013, Great Bustards for the UK reintroduction came from the population in the Russian Federation. Russia has the second largest population in the world, estimated at 8,000 individuals, and is considered stable by BirdLife International. This population is centred in the Trans-Volga region of southern Russia, principally the Oblast (administrative region) of Saratov. Much of the natural steppe grassland of Saratov has been converted to huge cereal fields which now seem to provide more attractive conditions for Great Bustards to nest in even when areas of natural and semi-natural steppe are available. The extreme seasons experienced in Saratov results in the cultivation of fields coinciding with the Great Bustard nesting period. Despite their size, female Great Bustards are difficult to spot on a nest and reluctant to fly away from approaching tractors and consequently countless nests are inadvertently destroyed by the teams of tractors working the fields.</i></b><br />
<b><i></i></b><br />
<b><i>Since the 1980s The A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (a branch of the Russian National Academy of Science) have been collecting eggs from doomed nests and artificially incubating them. Chicks from this scheme were used in a captive rear and release project, releasing Great Bustards back into the wild in Russia and also providing the chicks for the UK reintroduction for many years.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>The end of an era</i></b><br />
<b><i>The termination of the sourcing of eggs from Saratovskaya in Russia in early 2013 marked the end of a chapter of the GBG’s history. In the winter of 2012/13 changes in the situation in Russia, the study of the superb birds of 2012 and the results of genetic work carried out by Dr O’Donoghue (see Otis 42 – The Right Birds – pg 10, and Genetic Analysis – pg 24) clearly identified Spanish birds as being more suitable for release in the UK. The early years in Russia were particularly stressful. In 2003 the Russian side was prepared to export birds to the UK, but the UK licensing authority, then DEFRA, had not yet concluded whether they would grant a licence to release the birds in the UK.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Having survived the stressful procedure of getting CITES permits the following years always presented new challenges. Some of these have been covered in previous issues of Otis. They were all overcome but the project lives on and it is because of these years in Russia that we are where we are today.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Why Spain for our Bustards.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i></i></b><br />
<b><i>The initial proposal made in 2001 by the GBG to DEFRA (then the licensing authority in the UK) for a reintroduction project was based on the use of birds derived from eggs rescued from destroyed nests in Saratov Oblast in the Russian Federation. Despite the unusual, even unique, suggestion of the project limiting itself to eggs which had no chance of hatching under natural conditions, the alleged impact on the donor population (which was held to be either level or increasing in population) became a difficult issue for the GBG, with the Birdlife network of organisations protesting strongly to prevent or terminate the project.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>The licences issued by the local, regional and federal authorities in Russia all restricted the collection of eggs to those from destroyed or abandoned nests. This condition was also imposed by the UK authorities in the import licence and the licence to release the birds. Regular and frequent inspections by Russian officials were not judged to be thorough or competent enough by the UK licensing authorities and their advisors, and the whole project was threatened until independent witnesses and inspectors were able to report on the project. The GBG was obliged to fund two trips by staff from the Hungarian Birdlife Partner, MME, and these trips resulted in a report which confirmed the previous findings and statements from the GBG and the Russian state authorities. There is no other country in the world where a significant number of nests are destroyed by agriculture, so adherence to the conditions then set by the UK authorities made the use of any other populations impossible.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Within Europe the central and eastern Great Bustard populations are relatively small and subject to large state funded conservation projects. The UK project ( Trial Reintroduction) did receive much support from the German Bustard project and they did give the GBG two young hand reared males, but the UK licences prevented these birds from being released. They lived in the large release pen and acted as living decoys. However, national politics, funding restrictions and low numbers prevented the eastern and central Great Bustard range states from being able to offer birds in enough quantity to sustain a reintroduction project. Both Germany and Hungary operate an egg rescue programme and approaches were made to both countries.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>The Iberian population was widely held to be genetically distinct from the rest of the worlds population. The idea being that having entered the Iberian Peninsular across the Straits of Gibraltar they were then unable to negotiate any crossing of the Pyrenees and became isolated. Despite many other bird species being able to negotiate the Pyrenees, including Little Bustards, this idea was circulated in the conservation and scientific press and was generally accepted. Further dampening on the use of Iberian birds came from an article published in the scientific press about the failure of a captive breeding project run by the Great Bustard Trust in Wiltshire during the 1970s and 80s. One of the explanations given in the article for the failure of the project to generate stock for repopulating the UK was that the majority of the birds used were Iberian and therefore unsuited to the the UK latitude. There was no evidence to support this suggestion, but as it appeared in print it was widely believed.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>The operations of the GBG in Russia and its aim to raise awareness of the species in Russia, along with staff changes in the Russian partner organisation made it harder to export larger numbers of birds from Russia, with only 6 birds total for a years work on more than one occasion. Working with the University of Chester, the GBG sought to compare the different Great Bustard populations which may be suitable for release in the UK. The University of Chester undertook a comparison of the genetic analysis of Great Bustard samples from Russia, Germany and from historical specimens from the UK. The UK LIFE + project made a contribution to the laboratory material costs of this analysis. The results showed there was very little variation between the populations and that the closest population to the old UK Great Bustard population was from Spain.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The biggest breakthrough came in 2013 with the first release of Great Bustards reared from Spanish eggs. Prior to this the GBG had operated an egg rescue programme in Saratov in the Russian Federation, but a genetic study undertaken by Dr. Paul O’Donoghue at the University of Chester showed that the Spanish birds were closest to the original UK population.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Eggs, collected under licence in Castilla La Mancha, have been transported to the UK for the last two years with collection undertaken early in the season to encourage the females to lay a second clutch. The eggs are transported to Madrid Zoo where incubation is continued until they are moved to Birdworld, a specialist bird park in Farnham, Surrey. Here the team continue the incubation and oversee the hatching of the eggs.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The day old chicks are then taken to the GBG Project Site in Wiltshire and reared by the Great Bustard Group. The chicks need to be bill fed with a puppet and exercised as they grow so the rearing team wear dehumanisation suits to stop the chicks becoming attached to humans.</i></b><br />
<b><i></i></b><br />
<b><i>2014, the first using Spanish Great Bustards, saw 33 birds released and a spring census showed a survival rate of over 50% through the first winter. This percentage is much better than was achieved when using chicks imported from Russia, and is significantly better than the 22% which may be expected in a natural wild population.</i></b><br />
<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBGRTLiA9m4/VWzXLr4GG_I/AAAAAAAAGfg/0JGB7I9ATJo/s1600/DSCN4809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBGRTLiA9m4/VWzXLr4GG_I/AAAAAAAAGfg/0JGB7I9ATJo/s640/DSCN4809.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucky Bustard</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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9iprXd5Sfy4/VWzXL7cqRuI/AAAAAAAAGfk/PHLmLa3tyJQ/s1600/DSCN4790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="564" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9iprXd5Sfy4/VWzXL7cqRuI/AAAAAAAAGfk/PHLmLa3tyJQ/s640/DSCN4790.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Bustard Portrait</td></tr>
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<br />Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-63322671414515191942015-05-31T15:06:00.000-07:002015-06-01T14:58:54.932-07:00Weymouth and Portland Bill and Badgers<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-34smE64nv48/VWuFCxTsM0I/AAAAAAAAGbw/DS6fZqKufT4/s1600/aaabadger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-34smE64nv48/VWuFCxTsM0I/AAAAAAAAGbw/DS6fZqKufT4/s640/aaabadger.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Badger Portrait - Dorset Badger Watch</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s773k0qTcAE/VWzUetv_bmI/AAAAAAAAGeo/OAHRJ1ougbg/s1600/DSCN4565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s773k0qTcAE/VWzUetv_bmI/AAAAAAAAGeo/OAHRJ1ougbg/s320/DSCN4565.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighthouse at Portland Bill</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VY8sn6TU4mE/VWzUfiH_vmI/AAAAAAAAGew/WtsQPJNoGHk/s1600/DSCN4566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VY8sn6TU4mE/VWzUfiH_vmI/AAAAAAAAGew/WtsQPJNoGHk/s320/DSCN4566.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob of the Flowers</td></tr>
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Today we wnt birding. From our base in Bournemouth we eventually found the right road and drove east to Weymouth and then south to Portland Bill. Here on a very southern part of the British Isles we looked southward onto the ocean. As [perhaps] usual the wind was blowing and we looked south towards the sea. Out among the waves Guillemots and Razorbills, to a lesser extent, powered over the waves. Joining them was the occasional Gannet. Fulmars - aka - Northern Dwarf Albatross also flew around as did Gulls - Herring, Great Black-backed, Kittiwake plus Sandwich Terns, which was a new trip bird. Both Cormorants and Shags were seen also. With perseverence a couple of Manx Shearwaters were also observed sailing through and with the wind. Heping us navigate these species was a young man, Sean. Sean was a quiet guy with a passion for birds and birding, nature and conservation. He works as a post man and birds whenever he can. Today he birded with us.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gCAs4Ct9ok4/VWzUlgc4owI/AAAAAAAAGe4/GqXJQY-XAaU/s1600/DSCN4607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gCAs4Ct9ok4/VWzUlgc4owI/AAAAAAAAGe4/GqXJQY-XAaU/s320/DSCN4607.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the crew overlooking Little Tern nesting area</td></tr>
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Under Sean's direction we visited the local Portland Bill Bird Observatory that had been highjacked by Moth enthusiasts who insisted on sharing their night's catch [with just a little too much excitement]. Actually I can't really critique their enthusiasm for moths as it would be interesting to try to work out how many thousand species of moth i have in my yard but the resources simply are not available. In the UK all of the moth species are covered within the confines of a couple of small volumes - over 2400 moth species have been recorded in the British Isles -. The Australian moth fauna is at least 10 times greater - between 20 000 and 30 000 species have been recorded [with some 400 species of butterfly]. We also had a brief look through the observatory's excellent natural history bookshop. Luckily I left my glasses in the car so i could not really work out what was there. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2JNfssgqWPE/VWzUqNeHpLI/AAAAAAAAGfA/o51bye7VaYE/s1600/DSCN4674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2JNfssgqWPE/VWzUqNeHpLI/AAAAAAAAGfA/o51bye7VaYE/s320/DSCN4674.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly at Lodmor</td></tr>
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Next stop was a breeding pair of Peregrines plsu other species in and around a cliff site. Good views of Stock Dove plus annoying miss of a skulking but loud Lesser Whitethroat.<br />
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Lunch at a Dorset Nature Cafe was followed by waders - Sandering, Dunlin - both in good colour plus Ringed Plover plus Ruddy Turnstone. Little Egrets plus Oystercatcher were seen befoer a brief visit to a fortified area of shingle that was a breeding area for an important colony of Little Terns.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe8DUoqpfHk/VWzUxU7SdmI/AAAAAAAAGfI/jsPdv_if-lc/s1600/DSCN4692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe8DUoqpfHk/VWzUxU7SdmI/AAAAAAAAGfI/jsPdv_if-lc/s400/DSCN4692.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Bader hide - Bob, Carol, June and Berry</td></tr>
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A walk around an area adjacent to Lodmor RSPB reserve yielded many Common Swifts, our first Marsh Harrier, breeding Common Terns, a nice party of Long-tailed Tits, Common Pichard and ducklings, Gadwell, Mallard and Tufted Duck with many Shelduck and Canada Geese. Some saw Bull Finch. Cetti's Warbler remained invisible.<br />
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Birding finished we drove half and hour north of Weymouth to a farm that was selling Badger viewing. We were [as you can tell from the photos] successful; viewing seven badgers from their hide plus two foxes.<br />
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Hungry but contented we drove home to the hotel at Bournemouth.<br />
<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r4b63EgJU2w/VWuE9E10MDI/AAAAAAAAGbo/6dlXJkTA-kI/s1600/aabadger5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="534" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r4b63EgJU2w/VWuE9E10MDI/AAAAAAAAGbo/6dlXJkTA-kI/s640/aabadger5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European Badger - Bimbo!</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1GDxb1l7S4I/VWyRHgY5YCI/AAAAAAAAGcA/OAYsPQNk7nY/s1600/aabh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1GDxb1l7S4I/VWyRHgY5YCI/AAAAAAAAGcA/OAYsPQNk7nY/s640/aabh.jpg" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed Gull</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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-omVQYKNSrYM/VWyRlJ8cmzI/AAAAAAAAGcg/gMKgDarb-bs/s1600/aabhgull2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="550" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-omVQYKNSrYM/VWyRlJ8cmzI/AAAAAAAAGcg/gMKgDarb-bs/s640/aabhgull2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed Gull</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqGv4T6RxNw/VWyRUAdfZ9I/AAAAAAAAGcI/3TmoF4yKyQI/s1600/aabhgull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="618" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqGv4T6RxNw/VWyRUAdfZ9I/AAAAAAAAGcI/3TmoF4yKyQI/s640/aabhgull.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed Gull</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fhWHbuYl14/VWyRlHzMkgI/AAAAAAAAGck/Xg2ajKYzAmM/s1600/aadunlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fhWHbuYl14/VWyRlHzMkgI/AAAAAAAAGck/Xg2ajKYzAmM/s640/aadunlin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunlin in breeding finery - BIRD OF THE DAY!!!!!!</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NzFzXpPCyE8/VWySMNq4iGI/AAAAAAAAGdk/FA_NxM7voPY/s1600/aafox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NzFzXpPCyE8/VWySMNq4iGI/AAAAAAAAGdk/FA_NxM7voPY/s640/aafox.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sly Red Fox</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UDb75iT7ZQ4/VWyRpDEqmII/AAAAAAAAGc4/9DzfqF9547Q/s1600/aafulmar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UDb75iT7ZQ4/VWyRpDEqmII/AAAAAAAAGc4/9DzfqF9547Q/s640/aafulmar2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flying Fulmar</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EmnUOpPpTlw/VWyRnw1wJaI/AAAAAAAAGcw/w3HySpAq0mw/s1600/aafulmar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EmnUOpPpTlw/VWyRnw1wJaI/AAAAAAAAGcw/w3HySpAq0mw/s640/aafulmar.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fulmar</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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eg0zWoINir4/VWyRuLRHQDI/AAAAAAAAGdA/49DzPWfhlCQ/s1600/aalinnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="584" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eg0zWoINir4/VWyRuLRHQDI/AAAAAAAAGdA/49DzPWfhlCQ/s640/aalinnet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">male Linnet</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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MQAbYobs3L0/VWyRvd9Eo4I/AAAAAAAAGdI/jc7dxoqUUS0/s1600/aamallard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MQAbYobs3L0/VWyRvd9Eo4I/AAAAAAAAGdI/jc7dxoqUUS0/s640/aamallard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mallard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Oq2hFyvPBg/VWyRz7jAyvI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/KIbeSPayTEw/s1600/aaringed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="612" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Oq2hFyvPBg/VWyRz7jAyvI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/KIbeSPayTEw/s640/aaringed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringed Plover</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KI_n8lk9N0/VWyR6Pm07kI/AAAAAAAAGdY/2AVI53LZYBI/s1600/aaringedbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KI_n8lk9N0/VWyR6Pm07kI/AAAAAAAAGdY/2AVI53LZYBI/s640/aaringedbook.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringed Plover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1aq6m_MSZk/VWySMCCr80I/AAAAAAAAGdg/vgi2boQhcAE/s1600/aashelduck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1aq6m_MSZk/VWySMCCr80I/AAAAAAAAGdg/vgi2boQhcAE/s640/aashelduck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelduck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1fHojknJ3M/VWySL2OHRoI/AAAAAAAAGdo/qHDJlRrx_6k/s1600/aaskylark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1fHojknJ3M/VWySL2OHRoI/AAAAAAAAGdo/qHDJlRrx_6k/s640/aaskylark.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skylark with clover in focus!</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJb3HFvqx00/VWySYXXmvmI/AAAAAAAAGeA/0vXjeqAsA4Q/s1600/aastarling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="590" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJb3HFvqx00/VWySYXXmvmI/AAAAAAAAGeA/0vXjeqAsA4Q/s640/aastarling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Starling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nuwbJXwdHwg/VWySWTd0zvI/AAAAAAAAGd4/wmZ79osGR7s/s1600/aatern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nuwbJXwdHwg/VWySWTd0zvI/AAAAAAAAGd4/wmZ79osGR7s/s640/aatern.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">left - Sandwich Tern; right - Black-headed Gull</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7A7dJvlV5U/VWySfNddtPI/AAAAAAAAGeQ/qKBjsZFwego/s1600/aatuft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7A7dJvlV5U/VWySfNddtPI/AAAAAAAAGeQ/qKBjsZFwego/s640/aatuft.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tufted Duck drake - apparently drunk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-16YX4tUp7XM/VWySfsZl8HI/AAAAAAAAGeU/4bWeobDsn2I/s1600/aatuftpair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-16YX4tUp7XM/VWySfsZl8HI/AAAAAAAAGeU/4bWeobDsn2I/s640/aatuftpair.jpg" width="582" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tufted Duck pair</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Watching with Sean - our guide</td></tr>
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<br />Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-2862809404195787742015-05-30T15:39:00.000-07:002015-05-30T16:00:43.966-07:00Bournemouth [and district] Birding<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Tits - obviously feeding time</td></tr>
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Today we joined local birder, Nick, who with his wife Jackie run a small birding company, Two Owls Birding, for a birding trip around the New Forest.<br />
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We had a great day exploring the maze of the New Forest area and seeing some great birds along the way. Woodlarks, Redstarts showed well as did an amazing and probably desperate male Wood Warbler. Lapwings and Stock Doves were early trip birds. And we also added to our list Eurasian Curlew, Songlark, Marsh Tit and Hobby. Ws got our best view of Sparrowhawk and incredibly distant views of an accipiter that could have only been Goshawk. Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel rounded out our raptors. Tree and Meadow Pipit were seen well. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LzS-TcWN-w/VWo-mdSJLCI/AAAAAAAAGZo/PZvenW1VqJw/s1600/aameadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LzS-TcWN-w/VWo-mdSJLCI/AAAAAAAAGZo/PZvenW1VqJw/s640/aameadow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mistle Thrush</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Warbler - our bird of the day!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodlark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hRj1D2vojCo/VWo_nLrUYQI/AAAAAAAAGag/wD898PrM4Wo/s1600/aawoodylark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="514" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hRj1D2vojCo/VWo_nLrUYQI/AAAAAAAAGag/wD898PrM4Wo/s640/aawoodylark.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodlark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCfsmg0f4n0/VWpA0BmdzvI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/WWA_l0u5B5Q/s1600/DSCN4526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCfsmg0f4n0/VWpA0BmdzvI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/WWA_l0u5B5Q/s640/DSCN4526.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raptor Watching - missing the Honey Buzzard....</td></tr>
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We also got some mammals; Fallow and Roe Deer plus the feral Grey Squirrel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">distant Roe through the heat haze</td></tr>
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Nick saved the best for last when we visited a local moorland for smashing views of Nightjar. That perched for scope views and flew plainly around for all to see. Importantly we got the opportunity to listen to these birds. Woodcock was also seen very well -zooming over our position a number of times, beeping to itself as it sped past. Both of these birds were lifers for me!!Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-43308629585707686862015-05-30T15:24:00.000-07:002015-05-30T15:59:59.559-07:00From Wales to Bath To Bournemouth<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-poW0hPQ0Bto/VWo-6i9_jPI/AAAAAAAAGZw/HACJ6VphRIQ/s1600/DSCN4508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-poW0hPQ0Bto/VWo-6i9_jPI/AAAAAAAAGZw/HACJ6VphRIQ/s640/DSCN4508.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath Bridge - part of this World Heritage area</td></tr>
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We left a cold and wet Wales quite early in the morning after a lovely stay in our B&B and drove back to England; to Bath in fact. Bath was wet and crowded and its roads were clogged. It took us a very long time to reach the city centre from its outskirts. Our traffic crawling finally landed us close to town and in our hurry to find a park we pretended we were a bus and parked in a bus and coach parking lot. We paid our money and no one seemed to take offense.<br />
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A few of us joined the Mayor's free walking tour of the city and it proved to be be no money well spent. In other clearer words it was good value. It was an interesting guided lesson into Bath's long and varied history, its current architecture and stories of some of the individuals that made a considerable mark on Bath today.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Circus</td></tr>
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Post tour we again crawled slowly out of Bath and had a long trip to the south coast of England; to Bournemouth to be precise. No sat nav proved slightly expensive in terms of time but eventually we found our hotel. Insult was added to injury as we had to limit our late meal time selections to only half of an already small selection. Still fuel was provided.....<br />
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Today, it is certainly, worth a mention was June Harris's birthday. And we celebrated by popping the cork on some champagne and, of course, cutting a cake. And because we had done both of these things we decided to eat a piece of cake and drink some champagne... Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-5985615858254332052015-05-28T15:14:00.002-07:002015-05-29T15:00:26.519-07:00To the centre of Wales continuedToday we went to a Welsh wildlife reserve; Gilfach Farm Reserve before travelling on to a legitimate wildlife spectacle at Gigrin Farm. And following that we visited a nice forested area where we got a tip off about a Welsh specialty - Wood Warbler.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The voted bird of the day was Dipper!</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X8knUWzWf9M/VWeTPiJsPII/AAAAAAAAGXY/yhJa4TeClcc/s1600/aaadipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X8knUWzWf9M/VWeTPiJsPII/AAAAAAAAGXY/yhJa4TeClcc/s640/aaadipper.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dipper at Gilfach Farm</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bucolic scene at Gilfach Farm</td></tr>
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<b><i>A hill farm of open moorland, flower-rich grasslands and oak woodland, bissected by the River Marteg, an important tributory of the Upper River Wye. Follow the various walks and nature trails to explore its wilder parts and find out more of its historic past from the Bronze Age tumuli to the Medieval long house and the derelict Mid Wales Railway.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>The meadows contain a range of ancient grassland species, including, moonwort, adder's-tongue fern, mountain pansy, parsley fern, heath dog-violet, and eyebright. A large number of waxcap fungi (Hygrocybe spp.) are found across the reserve. The Gilfach nature reserve is particularly rich in lower plants, with 425 species of lichen found to date. The species list for birds is currently over 70, over two-thirds of which breed. Breeders include: red kite, dipper, grey wagtail, pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler, tree pipit, raven, whinchat, stonechat, linnet, yellowhammer, siskin, redpoll, marsh and willow tit, stock dove, wheatear, bullfinch, buzzard, kestrel, tawney owl, spotted flycatcher, meadow pipit, skylark. Other visitors include: merlin, sparrowhawk, peregrine, goosander, kingfisher, reed bunting, ring ouzel and osprey. Insects abound; along the river Damselflies such as the beautiful and banded demoiselles and common red damselfly can be seen. Common green grasshopper and bloody-nosed beetle are frequently found in the grasslands. Butterflies include ringlet, small copper, small heath, purple and green hairstreak, dark green and small pearl-bordered fritillary. The old railway cuttings are a great place to spot butterflies. In 2009, the rare Welsh clearwing moth was found on the reserve, the first record for Radnorshire. Larger mammals on the reserve include otter, polecat, stoat, weasel, badger, fox, rabbit, brown hare and hedgehog. In 2009 water voles were recorded on the river for the first time, spreading out from a local colony. Bats hibernating in the railway tunnel include daubenton's, natterer's and brown long-eared among the six species recorded on the reserve.</i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">birding the forest edges at Gilfach Farm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K-lafLe1538/VWjeWQG9gxI/AAAAAAAAGX0/TLxzVOr9dNU/s1600/aagreattit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K-lafLe1538/VWjeWQG9gxI/AAAAAAAAGX0/TLxzVOr9dNU/s640/aagreattit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Tit checking out my coat</td></tr>
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The farm house area had a few feeders that attracted a range of common species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tEbpTxBAW3U/VWjetjX-LcI/AAAAAAAAGYo/Uz8bewOA058/s1600/DSCN4322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="596" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tEbpTxBAW3U/VWjetjX-LcI/AAAAAAAAGYo/Uz8bewOA058/s640/DSCN4322.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Pipit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18bBmCP-bsY/VWjeWIYI9PI/AAAAAAAAGXo/EuEUxsEAZvg/s1600/aacoaltit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="520" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18bBmCP-bsY/VWjeWIYI9PI/AAAAAAAAGXo/EuEUxsEAZvg/s640/aacoaltit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal Tit<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
Gigrin Farm is the place for a spectacular showing of Red Kite.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GlIKXvIg1E/VWjeh2ma_uI/AAAAAAAAGYI/o8xr9aONqfQ/s1600/aakite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="354" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GlIKXvIg1E/VWjeh2ma_uI/AAAAAAAAGYI/o8xr9aONqfQ/s640/aakite.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Kite</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lty32NdXmHQ/VWjefw7MnfI/AAAAAAAAGYA/IaAluTkZiKI/s1600/aaredkite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="528" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lty32NdXmHQ/VWjefw7MnfI/AAAAAAAAGYA/IaAluTkZiKI/s640/aaredkite.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Kite</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a quick painting I whipped up.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOmgpg0kWVI/VWjeWXDz5UI/AAAAAAAAGXw/PrzvQX5IWA0/s1600/aabuzzard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOmgpg0kWVI/VWjeWXDz5UI/AAAAAAAAGXw/PrzvQX5IWA0/s640/aabuzzard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Buzzard also come in for a feed </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppi2z0k-3iM/VWjemyeW9aI/AAAAAAAAGYQ/yFp_EP0ZjrI/s1600/aawood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppi2z0k-3iM/VWjemyeW9aI/AAAAAAAAGYQ/yFp_EP0ZjrI/s640/aawood.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUHy6McGL1w/VWjenYo6viI/AAAAAAAAGYU/OdQZU25uQVE/s1600/aawoodwarbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="596" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUHy6McGL1w/VWjenYo6viI/AAAAAAAAGYU/OdQZU25uQVE/s640/aawoodwarbler.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Warbler</td></tr>
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<br />Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-65500837438020076882015-05-27T23:49:00.005-07:002015-05-29T14:45:46.223-07:00To the centre of WalesWe left the delightful town of Haverdfordwest after an English brekky in the upstairs cafe of Tesco. It was ok but the coffee was still poor. From there we headed towards an RSPB reserve bythe name of Gwenffrwd-Dinas. I can't pronounce it either.<br />
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Here we went for a stroll and bird before a lunch break near the entrance and car park. The first bird walk quickly produced great views of one of our main Welsh targets - Pied Flycatcher. Oddly it was our lunch break that discovered <span style="font-size: large;"><b>our voted bird of the day, Yellowhammer.</b></span><span id="goog_934062192"></span><span id="goog_934062193"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gXj3Co4xQ2Y/VWa0rzW9R2I/AAAAAAAAGUU/do5vQO1eH6U/s1600/aapied.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="582" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gXj3Co4xQ2Y/VWa0rzW9R2I/AAAAAAAAGUU/do5vQO1eH6U/s640/aapied.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-re47k9ONkn8/VWa1Bkn_saI/AAAAAAAAGUc/iEVL6U5WpMs/s1600/aanuthatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-re47k9ONkn8/VWa1Bkn_saI/AAAAAAAAGUc/iEVL6U5WpMs/s640/aanuthatch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nuthatch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKN0Xrg6Ogs/VWa1MuZ3eUI/AAAAAAAAGUs/_drT6cJzuhE/s1600/aayellowhammer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKN0Xrg6Ogs/VWa1MuZ3eUI/AAAAAAAAGUs/_drT6cJzuhE/s640/aayellowhammer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird of the Day!!!! - Yellowhammer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cjf5gCfskck/VWa5naJjtGI/AAAAAAAAGWA/p3V3qGgadxs/s1600/yellowhammer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cjf5gCfskck/VWa5naJjtGI/AAAAAAAAGWA/p3V3qGgadxs/s640/yellowhammer2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowhammer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMx02aStW7A/VWa5CyJybrI/AAAAAAAAGVo/_ZPFI2lW1so/s1600/yellow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMx02aStW7A/VWa5CyJybrI/AAAAAAAAGVo/_ZPFI2lW1so/s640/yellow3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again - Yellowhammer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ea8BcGpqHlA/VWa1F0bUZ6I/AAAAAAAAGUk/VUJuLBV55d0/s1600/aaredstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ea8BcGpqHlA/VWa1F0bUZ6I/AAAAAAAAGUk/VUJuLBV55d0/s640/aaredstart.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redstart</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boardwalk at Dinas RSPB reserve - a simply great birding spot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CnVbbDpChE4/VWa24eyzgLI/AAAAAAAAGVA/PjcrMLyNFN8/s1600/DSCN4259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CnVbbDpChE4/VWa24eyzgLI/AAAAAAAAGVA/PjcrMLyNFN8/s640/DSCN4259.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodland at Dinas - Parsley in the foreground?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MAXAUh2I7j0/VWa4GdrXWvI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/l7OveaiMcXs/s1600/DSCN4260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MAXAUh2I7j0/VWa4GdrXWvI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/l7OveaiMcXs/s640/DSCN4260.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Bell understory</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a river runs through it - wagtail habitat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of Australia's most wanted on the run in Wales</td></tr>
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Post lunch an 80 minute stroll was on the agenda.Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-50036009316353586352015-05-27T14:38:00.000-07:002015-05-28T15:05:08.287-07:00Skomer Island continued continuedWe were lucky to get across to Skomer Island as the day we arrived - our one day possible there was a huge crowd. I was told that the ticket office opened at 8-30am and that there were three boats running. In th event there were 70 people there by 8am - the ticket office opened erly and they put on an extra crossing. We arrived at 8-30, lined up and eventually were sold tickets to the 11-30am crossing. While we were waiting we met others who had arrived at 9-30 and by then no tickets to the island were left. Many missed out.<br />
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We were very lucky with the weather - it was [quite] warm and sunny although the breeze stripped a few degrees off you easily.<br />
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When our boat arrived at Skomer we walked basically around the entire island obviously looking for every bird species that we could. We did see a variety of passerine birds, so Skomer is not just about the seabirds. We lunched soon after arrival at the old farm house before walking north and then around the western side of the island.<br />
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After leaving at 5pm my cunning plan entailed a fish n chip supper before our booked evening cruise at 7pm. The local village had nothiing openend so our chip run turned to a sprint to a not-so-close town. Narrow lanes are not an encouragement to speed so despite the emergency of our situation I did my best to drive both wisely and safely. By the time we finally arrived with our bounty we were basically late. We had to forget chips and simply scoffed the fish as we ran down to the already boarded boat. I apologised to all on board on behalf of New Zealand.<br />
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The boat trip finally got started a full 8 minutes after it was due to get away because of our errant fish n chip endeavour.<br />
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The cruise was called the Seabird Spectacular and it was a product, for once, very aptly named. And the flying flocks of Puffins, Guillemots and Razobills plus a few others quickly made folks forget our late departure. The commentary was interesting and the atmosphere on the boat was fun and friendly.<br />
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The waters were still and calm, the islands beautiful and the birds amazing. It was a fitting finale for a fine day!Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-84744073580987892882015-05-27T13:54:00.003-07:002015-05-27T14:54:05.039-07:00Skomer Island continued<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAOeB_dwf7Q/VWYwH5n7nZI/AAAAAAAAGRY/7XgPnvfjCA8/s1600/DSCN4008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAOeB_dwf7Q/VWYwH5n7nZI/AAAAAAAAGRY/7XgPnvfjCA8/s640/DSCN4008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skomer Island to the top right, from the mainland on Wales</td></tr>
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This is what the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales say about Skomer Island;<br />
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<i><b>On calm days the seas around Skomer are so glisteningly translucent that it is possible to see deep into the turquoise water.For most people this will be their only glimpse into the undersea world of a marine nature reserve that is an almost untouched wilderness. Above the waves, the richness and diversity of wildlife are much more obvious.A visitor to the island in early summer will find sea the strewn with rafts of guillemots, razorbills and puffins, which scatter, leaving watery trails of sunlit footprints across the surface, or dive deep to make a pathway for the approaching boat.</b></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dXZXzTnMAVQ/VWYw4GwcYjI/AAAAAAAAGRk/aY0A6fNtrV8/s1600/aagully2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dXZXzTnMAVQ/VWYw4GwcYjI/AAAAAAAAGRk/aY0A6fNtrV8/s640/aagully2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guillemot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guillemot </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Razorbills</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SphZtpdqxPA/VWYxs1G1vHI/AAAAAAAAGSA/Ta0jUnrZP7s/s1600/aalbbgull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SphZtpdqxPA/VWYxs1G1vHI/AAAAAAAAGSA/Ta0jUnrZP7s/s640/aalbbgull.jpg" width="592" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser Black-backed Gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OUoVYTnMtyw/VWYxk-_4GdI/AAAAAAAAGR4/h8ipp-LmyHo/s1600/aaherringgull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="552" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OUoVYTnMtyw/VWYxk-_4GdI/AAAAAAAAGR4/h8ipp-LmyHo/s640/aaherringgull.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herring Gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CxQTAW1Shu0/VWYx5WvvdsI/AAAAAAAAGSY/VR04GU91id0/s1600/aagbbgull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CxQTAW1Shu0/VWYx5WvvdsI/AAAAAAAAGSY/VR04GU91id0/s640/aagbbgull.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Black Backed Gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lDq9aBnThA8/VWYx2HkWIhI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/U0ACV1K31Fc/s1600/aakittiwake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="572" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lDq9aBnThA8/VWYx2HkWIhI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/U0ACV1K31Fc/s640/aakittiwake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kittiwake</td></tr>
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<i><b>Further exploration of the island reveals a coastline of sheltered bays, exposed headlands, towering offshore rocks and shaded inlets, all painted with the graduated colours of lichen. Perhaps the most stunning of all these sights is The Wick, a sheer cliff carved with ledges that are ideally suited to nesting seabirds. It is partly enclosed by an amphitheatre of sloping stone, which provides a perfect view of the polished jade water and the birds wheeling and diving above and below its surface.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Guillemots, razorbills and puffins soar purposefully up to the cliff, while fulmars slide serenely along the currents of air.</b></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7qDknQdmBqA/VWY10_G2ZCI/AAAAAAAAGSk/zwYLI4CeAes/s1600/DSCN4127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7qDknQdmBqA/VWY10_G2ZCI/AAAAAAAAGSk/zwYLI4CeAes/s640/DSCN4127.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">breeding Fulmars or Northern Pygmy Albatross</td></tr>
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<i><b>Flurries of kittiwakes circle like eddying snowflakes, and the repetition of their urgent cries harmonizes into something almost musical. In the cloistered stillness the air shimmers with the sound of wings, and strident seabird calls echo against rock and water.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Even with so much to see, there is yet another layer of the island’s wildlife that remains hidden. Though the burrows honeycombing the island’s surface are clearly visible, it is hard to visualise the thousands of birds patiently incubating their eggs underground. It is only the return of the adult puffins with beaks full of fish glinting like metallic rainbows that signals the hatching of the eggs deep inside the burrows.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>By the time the puffin chicks have hatched in May the island is inundated with flowers and their smell saturates the air. Beginning as a faint, bluish mist drifting into the distance, the dense indigo wash of bluebells quickly floods across gentle slopes, making one of the most spectacular displays of wild flowers to be found in Britain.The night time is still more dramatic as tens of thousands of nocturnal Manx shearwaters return to their burrows, skimming the air like half-seen shadows and tumbling clumsily to the ground. With so many birds all calling at once, the intensity of their discordant cries smothers the island in a blanket of noise.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Atlantic grey seals can be seen at any time of year, meandering languidly with their noses above the water, or basking on their favourite offshore rocks at the Garland Stone, where their high-pitched wails drift up to the cliff top. In late summer, when most of the seabirds have left, they gather in growing numbers around the island.When the storms arrive they come onshore, crowding so closely together that their dappled-grey bodies, sleek as sea-smoothed boulders, make patterns like mosaics of stone. Most come just to rest from the turbulent sea, but some find enough shelter, in caves or on beaches, to give birth to their fragile-looking, white pups.land;</b></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5W5nctsIL5k/VWY7GEMdJHI/AAAAAAAAGS0/7Fly_5jQJFo/s1600/DSCN4043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5W5nctsIL5k/VWY7GEMdJHI/AAAAAAAAGS0/7Fly_5jQJFo/s640/DSCN4043.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Seals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D6aJsO7_FLA/VWY8NZ8fbtI/AAAAAAAAGTo/ES-WxgED0mI/s1600/DSCN4044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D6aJsO7_FLA/VWY8NZ8fbtI/AAAAAAAAGTo/ES-WxgED0mI/s640/DSCN4044.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the seals...</td></tr>
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<br />Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-77697571483903741182015-05-26T23:42:00.002-07:002015-05-27T13:52:24.323-07:00Skomer Island, Wales aka a place to be obcessed about PuffinsSkomer does not suck!! What a fantastic day out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqlalAvALos/VWVnE9jpB5I/AAAAAAAAGO4/eDaE1r_4LrM/s1600/aapuffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqlalAvALos/VWVnE9jpB5I/AAAAAAAAGO4/eDaE1r_4LrM/s640/aapuffin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first ever photo of a Puffin - taken before our briefing about the island began...</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23aUeQqHUXo/VWYsBaMrzQI/AAAAAAAAGQU/Z72VU1F7e50/s1600/aapuffin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23aUeQqHUXo/VWYsBaMrzQI/AAAAAAAAGQU/Z72VU1F7e50/s640/aapuffin2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Skomer Island is simply a great place for any naturalist to visit. This wonderful island, located off the very west of Western Wales, has a great variety of wildlife on its wind swept cliffs and in its icy waters but fantastic numbers as well. And perhaps the most appealing of all of its wildlife is the iconic Puffin. The Puffin or to distinguish it from the other two Puffin species, the Atlantic Puffin is a pretty desirable species. Certainly every birder would like to see one. Every birder in our group dearly wanted to see one; even those who had already seen them! In fact I would suggest that the Puffin is one of those magic species that everyone both knows and desires to see.<br />
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On Skomer it is not possible to see one. There are thousands of them and they are doing just nicely, thanks. Their numbers, it was reported on our ‘island briefing’, are increasing and are in the tens of thousands. So every visitor can see puffins. Puffins flying. Puffins landing. Puffins swimming and diving. And you photograph them doing these things – so I did! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BKhFHpIWTdg/VWYtRSCTAUI/AAAAAAAAGRM/KfctCPR76cs/s1600/aapuffinwatching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BKhFHpIWTdg/VWYtRSCTAUI/AAAAAAAAGRM/KfctCPR76cs/s640/aapuffinwatching.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">others watching puffins</td></tr>
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<br />Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-15009080789418604132015-05-25T13:16:00.002-07:002015-05-27T14:55:51.716-07:00First Day on tour - to Wales<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o2-nS2S-_Ac/VWN-A-eu7rI/AAAAAAAAGN0/v4AghS_VAUs/s1600/DSCN3953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-stw6gK5mxlI/VWN-ztzPmJI/AAAAAAAAGOM/P93JSClxZjg/s1600/DSCN3965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-stw6gK5mxlI/VWN-ztzPmJI/AAAAAAAAGOM/P93JSClxZjg/s640/DSCN3965.JPG" width="640" /></a>The plan was simple drive four hours west to western Wales from London, to Haverdfordwest to be precise. So it was decided to break the journey almost two hours west to begin our UK birding trip at the RSPB reserve at Newport named, in English, the Newport Wetlands. It has another name in Welsh.<br />
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<i><b>Situated on part of the tranquil Gwent Levels, at the edge of the city of Newport, this wildlife reserve was created to compensate for the loss of the mudflats of Cardiff Bay.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>The Countryside Council for Wales works in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Newport City Council to run the reserve.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Covering over 438 hectares from Uskmouth to Goldcliff, the reed beds, saline lagoons, wet grassland and scrub, have attracted a wealth of wetland birds.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>The reserve is also an excellent place to see orchids, butterflies, dragonflies and otters.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>From the car park, there are 3 way-marked trails varying in length from 2.74km (1.7 miles) to 4.36km (2.7 miles).</b></i><br />
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It turned out to be a good idea as we recorded a good haul of common species. First Chiff Chaffs chiff chaffing. Good common species on the water; Mallard, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, and juvenile Common Pochard. Good common species on the 'beach' - Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull plus Cormorant. Good common species in the reeds; Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler also, plus, for some, Bearded Reedling, formerly named Bearded Tits. And a few good species in the woodlands; Blue and Great Tits, Whitethroat and Blackcaps, Wren and the strong song from the unseen Cetti's Warbler. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">visitor centre</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiff Chaff</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Whitethroat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDSVfe_S1Ts/VWN8up7IwyI/AAAAAAAAGNY/bZXUzwXJCpU/s1600/aabunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDSVfe_S1Ts/VWN8up7IwyI/AAAAAAAAGNY/bZXUzwXJCpU/s640/aabunting.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Reed Bunting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgCagwFlM3U/VWN9EUSyysI/AAAAAAAAGNg/FfBbE8D9wMY/s1600/aatufted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="616" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgCagwFlM3U/VWN9EUSyysI/AAAAAAAAGNg/FfBbE8D9wMY/s640/aatufted.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>drake Tufted Duck - Our Bird of the Day!!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mute Swan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Heron</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-byG0KHbXIp8/VWN-bEcYjAI/AAAAAAAAGN8/2Sfx8288Td8/s1600/DSCN3975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-byG0KHbXIp8/VWN-bEcYjAI/AAAAAAAAGN8/2Sfx8288Td8/s640/DSCN3975.JPG" width="634" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearded Reedling</td></tr>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-75766295267150550392015-05-24T11:10:00.000-07:002015-05-24T11:26:44.116-07:00First Full Day in England<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8wdVyZoGRs/VWIWgO6cw4I/AAAAAAAAGMI/B4LyIxoypQg/s1600/DSCN3912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8wdVyZoGRs/VWIWgO6cw4I/AAAAAAAAGMI/B4LyIxoypQg/s320/DSCN3912.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Pigeon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It certainly seems strange to be back in the UK after a lazy 23 years away. Now I had a few jobs to do while all of the folks in the new group arrived; get some checklists printed, pick up the new van etc etc and between times quickly start my UK 2015 list.<br />
<br />
My birding was limited to a ten kilometre round trip [and i was a little tired after it]. Still I saw the usual suspects; Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Wood and feral Pigeon, Magpie, Starling, plus a few unexpected species like Ring-necked Parrakeet and Green Woodpecker. Carrion Crow and Herring Gulls were flying around also.<br />
<br />
A few of the other people on the trip reported Red Kite - a bird that i need for my UK list. I'm sure that i will get it soon.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G03obtoeb3s/VWIWWFH8HYI/AAAAAAAAGL4/OH4RsuMLS9E/s1600/DSCN3917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G03obtoeb3s/VWIWWFH8HYI/AAAAAAAAGL4/OH4RsuMLS9E/s320/DSCN3917.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mystery bird - any takers?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wB3QWdIe-7w/VWIWWv9Y4GI/AAAAAAAAGL8/jDZCH8Uii8s/s1600/DSCN3922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wB3QWdIe-7w/VWIWWv9Y4GI/AAAAAAAAGL8/jDZCH8Uii8s/s640/DSCN3922.JPG" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunnock in song</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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJhBsw90joY/VWIWjh4DCuI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/_gJmFdxVgwc/s1600/DSCN3926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJhBsw90joY/VWIWjh4DCuI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/_gJmFdxVgwc/s640/DSCN3926.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch among English roses</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vOaIS0oddAQ/VWIWj4Kk0FI/AAAAAAAAGMU/9g3zRl630tc/s1600/DSCN3944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vOaIS0oddAQ/VWIWj4Kk0FI/AAAAAAAAGMU/9g3zRl630tc/s640/DSCN3944.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7x2rSPOTqBs/VWIW9Wh2tAI/AAAAAAAAGMg/NanqIFHgGX0/s1600/DSCN3915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7x2rSPOTqBs/VWIW9Wh2tAI/AAAAAAAAGMg/NanqIFHgGX0/s640/DSCN3915.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traffic island UK style - note patches of weeds deliberately left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-87890113907106648882015-05-22T23:53:00.001-07:002015-07-04T00:14:22.835-07:00Day 15 - The group's final full day in Spain<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KcmWmhn5PCQ/VZeGb_Ba-bI/AAAAAAAAGy8/ooDYAD9N6Ao/s1600/IMG_2233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KcmWmhn5PCQ/VZeGb_Ba-bI/AAAAAAAAGy8/ooDYAD9N6Ao/s1600/IMG_2233.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last day group!</td></tr>
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We started the day with a full breakfast buffet in our hotel and ended it with a three course meal in the same place with perhaps too many drinks.<br />
<br />
The theme of the last supper was Spain and the birds therein. In other words a review of, what was agreed, a very successful trip - full of many birding and natural highlights.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K7DtG97Tbco/VZeGb363spI/AAAAAAAAGy4/w4lDI403mUA/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K7DtG97Tbco/VZeGb363spI/AAAAAAAAGy4/w4lDI403mUA/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two happy campers</td></tr>
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First my thoughts; Spain was a European nation that I had long wanted to visit and bird. In many ways it was a nation that exceeded my expectations. The range of scenery was spectacular as were the many vistas crammed with explosions of wild flowers. Mountains, in particular, impressed Australian eyes; with our chair lifted visit towards the Picos de Europa singled out by many as perhaps the best place and day on tour. The Pyrenees and specifically the valleys that we visited in northern Spain and, indeed the very south of France, were special but tainted because of the rain we experienced there. Monfrague, with its large folded peaks and its attending flocks of vultures will not be easily forgotten. And the Spanish Steppes, literally steps towards the northern Pyrenees, had a <br />
wild-ness in its wind swept plains and a character unlike anywhere that I have been.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_etejIZpMs/VWIqhUhg1MI/AAAAAAAAGM4/OXan_GUgt-I/s1600/download%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_etejIZpMs/VWIqhUhg1MI/AAAAAAAAGM4/OXan_GUgt-I/s320/download%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve West</td></tr>
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Steve West was an excellent guide. An Englishmen originally, now a proud Catalan man with a Catalan wife and sons, his knowledge of the languages of his adopted nations were essential to [probably] our survival or the very least a successful navigation through menus that had zero respect for English. Steve's knowledge of the birds, and their songs and calls, was impressive; perhaps intimidating but his casual nature [although not as casual as mine] made all feel confident to discuss and to question. His sense of humour was, at times, questionable and his jokes are perhaps worse than mine. We have hoped that our gift to him of Australian field guides for Birds and Mammals create a need to travel down nder one day. We will wait patiently to host him when and if he arrives. One more thing about Steve is that he has a doppelganger, who is a [fictional] birder; Sir Ben Kingsley who plays a birder in the lovely independent film, The Birder's Guide to Everything". Can you tell the difference?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--pwWodacvUg/VWIqgARxJJI/AAAAAAAAGMw/w2NLyBDA2yQ/s1600/main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--pwWodacvUg/VWIqgARxJJI/AAAAAAAAGMw/w2NLyBDA2yQ/s320/main.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve West?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Driving in Spain was a joy. The roads were generally excellent with the motorways allowing speeds of 120 kilometres. Although I am now keen to have a few days off from getting behind the wheel...<br />
<br />
Our group deserves mention as a successful tour needs, perhaps most of all, good people. And I'm very pleased to report that everyone on this tour were excellent. The atmosphere within the group was great from day one. So thankyou to Steve Guerrato, Ray Devine, Jan England, Karen Blake, Vince Lee, Norm and June Harris, Russ Lamb and Maria Dam. A bloody big thankyou!! Muchos gracias grande.<br />
<br />
Finally - the birds. As has become a custom all were asked to nominate their best three birds, in order, to see if there was any consensus in our experience. The results showed minimal consensus with a range of species being nominated some 21 out of a [mathematically] possible 30. The top three species established by our process was...[drum roll] a tie for first place.<br />
<br />
1. Dupont's Lark and Lammergeier<br />
<br />
3. Hoopoe<br />
<br />
with Pin-tailed Sandgrouse tightly sqeezed into fourth place.<br />
<br />
Dupont's Lark is a difficult bird to see well. In a country of larks it is, because of its rarity, its distinct appearance, its wild home on the steppes and its 'rusty gate swinging' song, it is the standout. a few in our group recognised it as a memorable bird as they had prolonged views of the bird doing, what larks do, fluttering furiously while ascending towards the heavens, all the while singing. With the naked eye one sees nothing; its just, 'up there' so good luck and management are needed to enjoy good views.<br />
<br />
The Lammergeier, recently had its official name changed to the far less romantic name of Bearded Vulture by the IOC. I'm going to ignore their call on this occasion and persist with its French [?] sounding name. The Lammergeier is a vulture connected with high mountains; in Europe, in Africa and the Himalayas in Asia. It is a huge bird with a fierce reputation however, like all vultures, it enjoys carrion. Lammergeiers, famously, carry bones high above the stony cliffs, and drop them smashing them onto the rocks such that they can feast on the marrow within the shattered bones. For a few on our group the Lammergeier was a target and we ewre lucky to get good views of a soaring bird while high in the Picos de Europa.<br />
<br />
The Hoopoe is a ridiculous orange, black and white bird with a decurved bill and a not-so-subtle crest. It sings its name and is pretty common allowing all good views and, hopefully, the odd photo. It is found throughout Eurasia and I clearly remember my first sighting of the species behind the Taj Mahal back in 1992!<br />
<br />
The Pin-tailed Sandgrouse was a bird I wanted to see. A Spanish specialty, a family of birds that failed to spread to Australia and a gloriously attractive species that was the standout in our illustrated itinerary were the reasons given for this species making 'our too-deadly four'.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Birds Seen in Spain</b></span><br />
<br />
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yelkouan Shearwater Calonectris xxxxxxxxx<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus<br />
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eastern Storm-petrel<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfrJqFmrZ7U/VY88XhSeOQI/AAAAAAAAGw4/A-IhKtHzcPM/s1600/face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfrJqFmrZ7U/VY88XhSeOQI/AAAAAAAAGw4/A-IhKtHzcPM/s200/face.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelduck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo<br />
7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus<br />
8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax<br />
9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides<br />
10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis<br />
11.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Egret Egretta garzetta<br />
12.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Egret Ardea alba<br />
13.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Heron Ardea cinerea<br />
14.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Purple Heron Ardea purpurea<br />
15.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black Stork Ciconia nigra<br />
16.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>White Stork Ciconia ciconia<br />
17.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia<br />
18.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus<br />
19.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus<br />
20.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avIaRpfqySE/VY88eoeBXaI/AAAAAAAAGxA/yQUiuLxFTp0/s1600/DSCN3831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avIaRpfqySE/VY88eoeBXaI/AAAAAAAAGxA/yQUiuLxFTp0/s200/DSCN3831.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
21.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gadwall Anas strepera<br />
22.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mallard Anas platyrhynchos<br />
23.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata<br />
24.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina<br />
25.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Pochard Aythya ferina<br />
26.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus<br />
27.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black Kite Milvus migrans<br />
28.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Kite Milvus milvus<br />
29.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus<br />
30.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus<br />
31.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus<br />
32.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black Vulture Aegypius monachus<br />
33.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus<br />
34.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus<br />
35.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BgqdqU_HTOA/VY88kjEZNcI/AAAAAAAAGxI/ETeTRRhtWFU/s1600/DSCN3147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BgqdqU_HTOA/VY88kjEZNcI/AAAAAAAAGxI/ETeTRRhtWFU/s200/DSCN3147.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iberian Magpie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
36.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus<br />
37.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Buzzard Buteo buteo<br />
38.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti<br />
39.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus<br />
40.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus<br />
41.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-footed Falcon<br />
42.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni<br />
43.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus<br />
44.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hobby Falco subbuteo<br />
45.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus<br />
46.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa<br />
47.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Moorhen Gallinula chloropus<br />
48.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Purple Swamp-hen Porphyrio porphyrio<br />
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<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMN9gEWmgfg/VY89MIaKzmI/AAAAAAAAGxg/pMCiOsw0AmA/s1600/DSCN3404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMN9gEWmgfg/VY89MIaKzmI/AAAAAAAAGxg/pMCiOsw0AmA/s200/DSCN3404.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpine Chough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
49.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Coot Fulica atra<br />
50.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax<br />
51.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Bustard Otis tarda<br />
52.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus<br />
53.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus<br />
54.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta<br />
55.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus<br />
56.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola<br />
57.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius<br />
58.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula<br />
59.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mC-drBaxlJY/VY889IhCpKI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/b5jlLX7tOfU/s1600/DSCN3220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mC-drBaxlJY/VY889IhCpKI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/b5jlLX7tOfU/s200/DSCN3220.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Stork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
60.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dotterel Charadrius morinellus<br />
61.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola<br />
62.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern Lapwing<br />
63.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Knot Calidris canutus<br />
64.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sanderling Calidris alba<br />
65.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Stint Calidris minuta<br />
66.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii<br />
67.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ruff Philomachus pugnax<br />
68.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa<br />
69.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica<br />
70.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata<br />
71.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Redshank Tringa totanus<br />
72.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Greenshank Tringa nebularia<br />
73.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wood Sandpiper Tringa glaroela<br />
74.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sALHvoHEYkQ/VY88_YmSi1I/AAAAAAAAGxY/dLA26PalTbw/s1600/DSCN3332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sALHvoHEYkQ/VY88_YmSi1I/AAAAAAAAGxY/dLA26PalTbw/s200/DSCN3332.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitethroat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
75.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Snipe<br />
76.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Turnstone Arenaria interpres<br />
77.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Skua Stercorarius skua<br />
78.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus<br />
79.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus<br />
80.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei<br />
81.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Audouin’s Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii<br />
82.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus<br />
83.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis<br />
84.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica<br />
85.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia<br />
86.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis<br />
87.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Tern Sterna hirundo<br />
88.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Tern Sternula albifrons<br />
89.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida<br />
90.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata<br />
91.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis<br />
92.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock Pigeon Columba livia<br />
93.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stock Dove Columba oenas<br />
94.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus<br />
95.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto<br />
96.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur<br />
97.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus<br />
98.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cuckoo Cuculus canorus<br />
99.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Little Owl Athene noctua<br />
100.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis<br />
101.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Alpine Swift Apus melba<br />
102.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Swift Apus apus<br />
103.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pallid Swift Apus pallidus<br />
104.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>White-rumped Swift<br />
105.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis<br />
106.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Bee-eater Merops apiaster<br />
107.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Roller Coracius garrulus<br />
108.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Hoopoe Upupa epops<br />
109.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla<br />
110.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Iberian (Green) Woodpecker Picus (viridis) sharpei<br />
111.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major<br />
112.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponti<br />
113.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra<br />
114.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla<br />
115.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens<br />
116.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crested Lark Galerida cristata<br />
117.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thekla Lark Galerida theklae<br />
118.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Woodlark Lullula arborea<br />
119.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Skylark Alauda arvensis<br />
120.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sand Martin Riparia riparia<br />
121.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris<br />
122.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica<br />
123.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica<br />
124.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>House Martin Delichon urbicum<br />
125.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris<br />
126.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis<br />
127.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta<br />
128.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava<br />
129.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea<br />
130.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>White Wagtail Motacilla alba<br />
131.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dipper Cinclus cinclus<br />
132.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes<br />
133.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dunnock Prunella modularis<br />
134.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris<br />
135.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Robin Erithacus rubecula<br />
136.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos<br />
137.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros<br />
138.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus<br />
139.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whinchat Saxicola rubetra<br />
140.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola<br />
141.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe<br />
142.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica<br />
143.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura<br />
144.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis<br />
145.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius<br />
146.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus<br />
147.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Blackbird Turdus merula<br />
148.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Song Thrush Turdus philomelos<br />
149.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus<br />
150.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti<br />
151.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis<br />
152.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscninoides<br />
153.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus<br />
154.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus<br />
155.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta<br />
156.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Icterine Warbler<br />
157.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata<br />
158.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans<br />
159.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala<br />
160.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis<br />
161.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whitethroat Sylvia communis<br />
162.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Garden Warbler Sylvia borin<br />
163.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla<br />
164.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli<br />
165.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus<br />
166.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita<br />
167.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Goldcrest Regulus regulus<br />
168.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus<br />
169.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata<br />
170.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca<br />
171.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus<br />
172.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Marsh Tit Poecile palustris<br />
173.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus<br />
174.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Coal Tit Periparus ater<br />
175.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus<br />
176.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Great Tit Parus major<br />
177.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea<br />
178.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla<br />
179.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus<br />
180.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus<br />
181.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio<br />
182.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Iberian Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis<br />
183.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator<br />
184.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius<br />
185.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Iberian Magpie Cyanopica cooki<br />
186.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Magpie Pica pica<br />
187.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax<br />
188.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus<br />
189.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula<br />
190.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Carrion Crow Corvus corone corone<br />
191.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Raven Corvus corax<br />
192.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris<br />
193.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor<br />
194.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>House Sparrow Passer domesticus<br />
195.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis<br />
196.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tree Sparrow Passer montanus<br />
197.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia<br />
198.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs<br />
199.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Serin Serinus serinus<br />
200.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Citril Finch Serinus citronella<br />
201.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Snowfinch<br />
202.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Greenfinch Chloris chloris<br />
203.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis<br />
204.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina<br />
205.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra<br />
206.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula<br />
207.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes<br />
208.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella<br />
209.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus<br />
210.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock Bunting Emberiza cia<br />
211.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana<br />
212.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus<br />
213.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mammals</b></span><br />
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Isard [Pyranean Chamois]<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spanish Ibex<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Deer<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Roe Deer<br />
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Red Squirrel<br />
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rabbit<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Reptiles [to be added]</span></b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QKeSMNGkFfU/VWAiejlRuuI/AAAAAAAAGKo/urqHMvAm87k/s1600/DSCN3868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QKeSMNGkFfU/VWAiejlRuuI/AAAAAAAAGKo/urqHMvAm87k/s320/DSCN3868.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria and moi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rest of our day; bascially the morning was spent doing a quick Barcelona tour which ended with a private tour in the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. This building [although this is an altogether unsatisfactory word to use] has been described simply as a must see while in Barcelona. That is absolutely true! You must see it. I think it is the most stunning 'thing' I have ever witnessed that has been envisaged and constructed by human hands. It was originally designed by the Catalan genius architect and designer Antoni Gaudi and work began in the year of 1882 - the work continues to this day. In effect you are visiting a work site but what a site and sight. Our guide, naturally named Maria, was a very pleasant interpreter to her fair city and her Spanish accent charming.<br />
<br />
<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFY7m-Y69Gc/VWAikmhVhQI/AAAAAAAAGK0/bYcF2AXOylY/s1600/DSCN3869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFY7m-Y69Gc/VWAikmhVhQI/AAAAAAAAGK0/bYcF2AXOylY/s640/DSCN3869.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Barcelona's shaded Boulevards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z-nrnUYpDZM/VWAikmz97lI/AAAAAAAAGKw/nqDbt0yPno4/s1600/DSCN3876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z-nrnUYpDZM/VWAikmz97lI/AAAAAAAAGKw/nqDbt0yPno4/s640/DSCN3876.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">part of the old walled city</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zx-YZYtrlM/VWAi26IZAhI/AAAAAAAAGLI/Fq2iojzdedM/s1600/DSCN3899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zx-YZYtrlM/VWAi26IZAhI/AAAAAAAAGLI/Fq2iojzdedM/s640/DSCN3899.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A work in progress - the Basillica de la Sagrada Familia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T6jMtNfh6G8/VWAjInY46EI/AAAAAAAAGLk/1u4e6KuY6ho/s1600/DSCN3907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T6jMtNfh6G8/VWAjInY46EI/AAAAAAAAGLk/1u4e6KuY6ho/s320/DSCN3907.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glass panels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDM4AayEN-4/VWAi3YtEUuI/AAAAAAAAGLM/JuDNUgGzj9I/s1600/DSCN3906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDM4AayEN-4/VWAi3YtEUuI/AAAAAAAAGLM/JuDNUgGzj9I/s640/DSCN3906.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling detail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-Rwz2ivsSI/VWAjCHZ9eiI/AAAAAAAAGLY/4a69_2PbX9o/s1600/DSCN3908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-Rwz2ivsSI/VWAjCHZ9eiI/AAAAAAAAGLY/4a69_2PbX9o/s640/DSCN3908.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hh5ozfUsLY/VWAjIV_WZQI/AAAAAAAAGLg/b_w7IGDtOiY/s1600/DSCN3911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hh5ozfUsLY/VWAjIV_WZQI/AAAAAAAAGLg/b_w7IGDtOiY/s640/DSCN3911.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">model of the completed work</td></tr>
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Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-37868949283272581822015-05-21T08:24:00.002-07:002015-05-21T08:33:33.895-07:00Day 14 - The final Day with Steve West - To Barcelona<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NyXybwwKbdA/VV31rtg1C5I/AAAAAAAAGIY/GDHXHO-b2gw/s1600/DSCN3833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NyXybwwKbdA/VV31rtg1C5I/AAAAAAAAGIY/GDHXHO-b2gw/s640/DSCN3833.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this reserve is located adjacent to the Barcelona airport</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4CfOb4psb8/VV354GfF6JI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/oouDkS44zlI/s1600/aalapw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="540" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4CfOb4psb8/VV354GfF6JI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/oouDkS44zlI/s640/aalapw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Lapwing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMAjrK6vt5w/VV35-h-2_CI/AAAAAAAAGJY/yA3WFA2i2uA/s1600/aapochard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMAjrK6vt5w/VV35-h-2_CI/AAAAAAAAGJY/yA3WFA2i2uA/s640/aapochard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Pochard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3GcTSUfeVqA/VV35_kJdN6I/AAAAAAAAGJk/aV-DSdBXgDg/s1600/aashell2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="518" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3GcTSUfeVqA/VV35_kJdN6I/AAAAAAAAGJk/aV-DSdBXgDg/s640/aashell2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelduck</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hSRvBEkC-3M/VV35_A4PCnI/AAAAAAAAGJc/bq-tDxL7fUQ/s1600/aashell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="570" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hSRvBEkC-3M/VV35_A4PCnI/AAAAAAAAGJc/bq-tDxL7fUQ/s640/aashell.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelduck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7UAas5rrBYM/VV36DULxp6I/AAAAAAAAGJw/zVxp1NlvZg4/s1600/aaspoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7UAas5rrBYM/VV36DULxp6I/AAAAAAAAGJw/zVxp1NlvZg4/s640/aaspoon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoonbill</td></tr>
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<br />Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8894418131686882463.post-62004951725074408642015-05-21T08:23:00.003-07:002015-07-04T00:15:26.814-07:00Day 13 - Pelagic and The Ebro Delta<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BkUMH2YJduw/VV31RaQbcnI/AAAAAAAAGHo/r9u3FugaXg0/s1600/DSCN3759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BkUMH2YJduw/VV31RaQbcnI/AAAAAAAAGHo/r9u3FugaXg0/s640/DSCN3759.JPG" width="640" /></a>Today we drove a frantic and rapid hour north to find a port to find a boat and to find, more than a few local birders, to make a pelagic birding boat trip. But first we had to find a park.<br />
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Okay - all went well. And the boat fit the description of being spacious and comfortable. The local birders moved aboard and we set out on a three hour voyage.<br />
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<i>Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, </i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wH5IHs2hN9I/VV31HoIT7FI/AAAAAAAAGHQ/p0VMmfgcOX0/s1600/DSCN3781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wH5IHs2hN9I/VV31HoIT7FI/AAAAAAAAGHQ/p0VMmfgcOX0/s400/DSCN3781.JPG" width="395" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Audouin's Gull</i></td></tr>
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<i>A tale of a fateful trip </i><br />
<i>That started from this tropic port </i><br />
<i>Aboard this tiny ship. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The mate was a mighty sailing man, </i><br />
<i>The skipper brave and sure. </i><br />
<i>many birders set sail that day </i><br />
<i>For a three hour tour, a three hour tour. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The weather was not that rough, </i><br />
<i>The ship was comfortable, </i><br />
<i>But If not for the staring of a knowing few </i><br />
<i>Few seabirds would be seen, Few seabirds would be seen.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The birds were seen from the top deck while Maria threw out fish </i><br />
<i>With Russell Lamb </i><br />
<i>and Kenneth too, </i><br />
<i>Lismore Postman and his wife, </i><br />
<i>Vince Lee and Ray </i><br />
<i>Janice England and Karen, </i><br />
<i>Here with Steve and Steve West.</i><br />
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Alright a particularly silly song that doesn't quite work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFFrGG4U3cI/VV31KfTOXcI/AAAAAAAAGHY/FYd0-8T-U4o/s1600/DSCN3775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFFrGG4U3cI/VV31KfTOXcI/AAAAAAAAGHY/FYd0-8T-U4o/s640/DSCN3775.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-legged Gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-troLt-a1at4/VV31ac5XdWI/AAAAAAAAGHw/5cKeMEFB2D8/s1600/DSCN3767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-troLt-a1at4/VV31ac5XdWI/AAAAAAAAGHw/5cKeMEFB2D8/s640/DSCN3767.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve West doing some pre-pelagic Karaoke</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iOI_5g6IPew/VV31c4FrB4I/AAAAAAAAGIA/52AfyUms0W0/s1600/DSCN3768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iOI_5g6IPew/VV31c4FrB4I/AAAAAAAAGIA/52AfyUms0W0/s640/DSCN3768.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">singing was difficult because while the verses were in english - the chorus was sung in Catalan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfy-AQrHtLw/VV31fjGlRwI/AAAAAAAAGII/YSUjQ25_vt0/s1600/DSCN3811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfy-AQrHtLw/VV31fjGlRwI/AAAAAAAAGII/YSUjQ25_vt0/s640/DSCN3811.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria feeding gulls with sardines</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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SyFbcDzq_z8/VV31cTvDVDI/AAAAAAAAGH4/dIlWqgioxJI/s1600/DSCN3789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SyFbcDzq_z8/VV31cTvDVDI/AAAAAAAAGH4/dIlWqgioxJI/s640/DSCN3789.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balearic Shearwater</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8k5OxDw73hI/VV31f6vbg-I/AAAAAAAAGIM/5nzBEmyr-78/s1600/DSCN3788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8k5OxDw73hI/VV31f6vbg-I/AAAAAAAAGIM/5nzBEmyr-78/s640/DSCN3788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shearwaters sailing in front of the city</td></tr>
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Now we saw a few of the target species; Balearic and Mediterranean, [or Yelkouan shearwater] , <i>the</i> Storm Petrel, Great Skua and persistent gulls; Audouin's. Yellow-legged plus, early on the trip - Sandwhich Terns. We also saw two Mediterranean Gulls on the docks before we left. Common Swifts were also common on the water.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sJnYzBK0WPU/VZeGa3DS2GI/AAAAAAAAGyc/LbpF5132smI/s1600/IMG_1993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sJnYzBK0WPU/VZeGa3DS2GI/AAAAAAAAGyc/LbpF5132smI/s1600/IMG_1993.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birding out of the wind in the Ebro Delta</td></tr>
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The afternoon was spent birding around the delta once more. A few passing passerine migrants on passage had turned up. The most interesting species was probably an Icterine Warbler or two. This is a rare vagrant - a Hippolairs warbler and a sibling species to the resident [although too a migrant] Melodious Warbler. We also saw two flycatcher species plus Kentish Plover and a few other waders, and Red footed Falcons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4KrM9qDnNic/VV33KQoT8DI/AAAAAAAAGIk/pCAnRp6kSuk/s1600/DSCN3817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4KrM9qDnNic/VV33KQoT8DI/AAAAAAAAGIk/pCAnRp6kSuk/s640/DSCN3817.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted 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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NAmFtE0MI0I/VV33MqbqRdI/AAAAAAAAGIs/3qPd_-_nzgA/s1600/DSCN3823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NAmFtE0MI0I/VV33MqbqRdI/AAAAAAAAGIs/3qPd_-_nzgA/s640/DSCN3823.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Pied Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHzOHpUEHEU/VV33O3QdUhI/AAAAAAAAGI0/ewMOUJi-46s/s1600/DSCN3831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="602" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHzOHpUEHEU/VV33O3QdUhI/AAAAAAAAGI0/ewMOUJi-46s/s640/DSCN3831.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">handsome Yellow Wagtail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6pv5-TBLLU/VV33RZIyoDI/AAAAAAAAGI8/tomzavfiNnw/s1600/DSCN3829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6pv5-TBLLU/VV33RZIyoDI/AAAAAAAAGI8/tomzavfiNnw/s640/DSCN3829.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kentish 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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJKck4a1ieI/VV33Ts6NDgI/AAAAAAAAGJE/uNh5gJ_-tfQ/s1600/DSCN3827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJKck4a1ieI/VV33Ts6NDgI/AAAAAAAAGJE/uNh5gJ_-tfQ/s640/DSCN3827.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-footed Falcon - male</td></tr>
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<br />Ken Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15738499734039101819noreply@blogger.com0