Wildlife -January 2010

[Maggi Young]

I thought that on the Vipers the main central dorsal markings were more joined up..... (great grasp of herpetological tech speak there, huh?!! )
The handsome fellow from Zakynthos has a more "dotted" pattern.....

[Tomas]

This snake is Elaphe quatuorlineata.
T.

[Maggi Young]

This snake is Elaphe quatuorlineata.
T.

 So, a Leopard snake rather than a Cat Snake, Telescopus fallax  ?

[krisderaeymaeker]

I think perhaps a Bar-tailed Godwit: Limosa lapponica ??

Maggi , it must be a Bar-tailed Godwit ,but the latin name is still not clear .
On google I found also Limosa limosa as latin name for the Bar-tailed Godwit ?      
Anyway we get ahead with it ,thanks to the forum again .I think the snake is sneaky 

[krisderaeymaeker]

I think perhaps a Bar-tailed Godwit: Limosa lapponica ??

Maggi , it must be a Bar-tailed Godwit ,but the latin name is still not clear .
On google I found also Limosa limosa as latin name for the Bar-tailed Godwit ?      
Anyway we get ahead with it ,thanks to the forum again .I think the snake is sneaky 

I think I got confused but after a cup of coffee, now see clear again ...
The Black-tailed Gotwid is Limosa limosa and the Bar-tailed Gotwid is Limosa lapponica .
Think the picture I posted on this forum is the Black-tailed ,so Limosa limosa

[Maggi Young]

No, I think the Black tailed is different, slightly longer beak, to,.... also taller..... I'm sticking with the Bartailed!  

http://www.pbase.com/adpostma/image/85502431

 Try this page for comparative pix...
https://sites.google.com/site/migratagis/shorebirds-gallery

[PDJ]

I think you will find its the Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica the tail bars are visible in the photo.  The godwits depending on the time of year can be quite variable as to plumage but the bars are always visible.

[krisderaeymaeker]

No, I think the Black tailed is different, slightly longer beak, to,.... also taller..... I'm sticking with the Bartailed! 

http://www.pbase.com/adpostma/image/85502431

 Try this page for comparative pix...
https://sites.google.com/site/migratagis/shorebirds-gallery

I think you will find its the Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica the tail bars are visible in the photo.  The godwits depending on the time of year can be quite variable as to plumage but the bars are always visible.

Oh this story gets a tail anyway. Yes Maggi looking at the picture of the first link I must admit that it looks much the same as the bird on  my picture.So at least I doubt again but maybe I must be humble enough - just like Mark -and admit that waders are not my speciality .Paul ,your explanation is also what I found on the internet.So it is maybe rather difficult to see the difference between both species.The different sites on the internet makes it more confused for me.
But two against one,it is obvious.

[Stephenb]

Sad news. I'm afraid that Munky the Blackcap is no more....

I discovered a pile of blackcap-like feathers under the bird feeder yesterday and she hasn't been seen since. I thought that this would happen as she stayed put when the other birds flew up in alarm at something....

Thought you should know....

[Michael J Campbell]

Cats.

[Maggi Young]

Sad news. I'm afraid that Munky the Blackcap is no more....

I discovered a pile of blackcap-like feathers under the bird feeder yesterday and she hasn't been seen since. I thought that this would happen as she stayed put when the other birds flew up in alarm at something....

Thought you should know....

I wonder if she might have been ill? That could explain the reluctance to take evasive action.... as to the culprit... a pile of feathers usually indicates the lunching spot of a sparrow hawk in our garden.

[Stephenb]

Yes, her strange behaviour certainly suggested that all wasn't well, but she had plenty of energy to chase the other birds away.

Both a cat, Goshawk or Sparrowhawk are all possible here (I've seen a cat sat under the bird feeder the last few days). 

[TC]

For my 10 cents worth it is a Bar Tailed Godwit.  Identification points are shorter upturned bill than Black Tailed Godwit and shorter legs
The plumage on a Black Tail is softer grey without the pronounced streaking.  The supercilium extends behind the eye on the Bar Tail.  The Bar Tail looks "dumpier" than the Black Tail.  This is obvious when you see them together.  In flight the difference is easy. The Black Tail has a black band on its tail separated from its rump by a white band.  The Bar Tail amazingly has a Barred Tail and a white rump !
The Dutch name is Rosse Grutto and the French is Barge Rousse.

I could guess at the snake but I never get close to them if I can help it.  I have met with Green Mambas, Pit Vipers and Boomslangs on my travels and always backed off speedily.  I have also met various varieties in Greece but I have always kept my distance.

[krisderaeymaeker]

No, I think the Black tailed is different, slightly longer beak, to,.... also taller..... I'm sticking with the Bartailed! 

I think you will find its the Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica the tail bars are visible in the photo.  The godwits depending on the time of year can be quite variable as to plumage but the bars are always visible.

For my 10 cents worth it is a Bar Tailed Godwit.  Identification points are shorter upturned bill than Black Tailed Godwit and shorter legs


The plumage on a Black Tail is softer grey without the pronounced streaking.  The supercilium extends behind the eye on the Bar Tail.  The Bar Tail looks "dumpier" than the Black Tail.  This is obvious when you see them together.  In flight the difference is easy. The Black Tail has a black band on its tail separated from its rump by a white band.  The Bar Tail amazingly has a Barred Tail and a white rump !
The Dutch name is Rosse Grutto and the French is Barge Rousse.

So many thanks to you all ,Maggi ,Paul and Tom .Tom thank you for the "technical" explanation ! I go to change the names  on my digital pictures ... and I learned again something about birds .
Tom ,are you specialised in birds ? But Maggi and Paul seems to know also a lot about birds ...

[krisderaeymaeker]

On the other hand ,the snake is not clear for me.Tomas ,Melvyn and Maggi thanks for your reply but it looks that snakes are even more difficult then birds .My first tought on it was Natrix???So together with my own effort we got 4 names...