Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: fredg on April 02, 2010, 05:56:28 PM
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Last month I posted a picture of a pair of Jackdaws in their chosen nesting site, a chimney stack.
The other day I was watching them and other Jackdaws started arriving in pairs.
They stayed for about 15 minutes.
I've never seen so many gathered on the chimney. ;D
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Last month I posted a picture of a pair of Jackdaws in their chosen nesting site, a chimney stack.
The other day I was watching them and other Jackdaws started arriving in pairs.
They stayed for about 15 minutes.
I've never seen so many gathered on the chimney. ;D
How nice..... a house-warming party! ;D
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My thoughts too Maggi. ;D
And they didn't leave any empty cans on the roof.
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If they're clustered round the chimney, more likely a bum-warming party. ;D
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I'd be surprised if anything hot comes out of those chimneys! ;D
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It's very sad how something so graceful could knocked out of the air by a wind turbine. A good idea would be to have streamers on the blade tips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RcTjdY1aN4&feature=player_embedded# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RcTjdY1aN4&feature=player_embedded#)
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This just arrived in an email.
Is it a Costa Rican woman helping secure the future of these turtles?
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No!! They are collecting the eggs for human consumption and to make an alcoholic drink :o :'(
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Mark, read this and see what you think then....
http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/sdrp/tortugas.html
http://www.oceanactions.com/?page_id=95
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Ah, I see know. 10 million eggs that's a lot a laying. Delete it if you want to.
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I think it's better to leave it, Mark, in case others are confused and upset at the initial thought of the destruction.
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Remember the passenger pigeon. :-\
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Remember the passenger pigeon. :-\
Not personally, Anthony, no. The figures for the upsurge in the Turtle numbers look promising though, do they not?
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I suppose the knock on effects should benefit the rarer species, one hopes? My brother-in-law's nephew works with turtles and has seen what poachers do to something approaching the size of the average sofa on a Tobago beach. They hack its legs off and leave the immobile animal for the vultures to peck the still living turtle's eyes out.
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not so bird brained starling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=invpCIlOytw&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=invpCIlOytw&NR=1)
bird brianed dove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBJK-ROjJYI&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBJK-ROjJYI&feature=related)
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Oak Beauty moth (Biston strataria) outside my back door yesterday. It is a relative of the Peppered moth used to demonstrate natural selection.
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Capercaillie 1-0:
http://www.fvn.no/lokalt/article753550.ece (http://www.fvn.no/lokalt/article753550.ece)
Run the video and use Google Translate to make some sense of the Norwegian ;)
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5.30 and hardly dusk when I watched a bat on a circuit above against a clear sky - it was riveting!
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What a "catch", Robin.... well done!
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Our local butterfly, The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) feeding?? on ground cedar (Lycopdium flabelliforme)
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A beautiful butterfly. It's just resting. You can see the proboscis is not uncoiled. These butterflies are nectar feeders and club mosses won't have nectar, or even flowers for that matter.
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Thanks Anthony. I thought as much, that's why I put the ?? after feeding. There really is nothing to feed off on the cedar.
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I thought as much. At school we use Lycopodium spores in our "custard powder" explosion tins. It is poured into a glass thistle funnel inside a genuine custard powder tin. This is connected to a rubber tube with a squeezable bulb and a one way valve. A candle is lit inside the tin and the lid firmly pushed down on the tin. It quick squeeze of the "bulb" and the the lid explodes off as the powder ignites. We use it to demonstrate the energy content of carbohydrate.
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A friend sent me this pic of a moth reared on Eucalyptus gunnii. It is Actias isis from Sulawesi in Indonesia.
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What a gorgeous thing. Brown leotard and yellow shoes over the wonderful multi-coloured cape. Wonder what the ballet is? ;D
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A chilly but warm in the sun day brought out the first Orange Tip and Swallowtail looking for wild flowers. Even this Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) thought it was warm enough to sunbathe on a stone wall!
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On Monday I managed to 'capture' this peacock butterfly on Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai'. My husband tells me he has released 4 recently from his shed when they were trying to get out through the window.
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That's excellent news. Sheds are favourite places for peacocks and tortoiseshells to hibernate Roma. Many succumb to a slow death at this time of year as sheds get overlooked by the armchair gardeners. :-\
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One I truly wish our early or later settlers had brought with them. Lovely to see it Roma. I hope that you have at least 4, means a good breeding season for them.
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Peacocks are a real Scottish success story. Less than twenty years ago I would have had to go to the coast to see one, and even there they were rare. Now they are the commonest late summer butterfly in my garden.
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We have had quite a few this year already.... Ian spent quite a while yesterday chasing a pair round the garden in an attempt to photograph them... they were very flighty!
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Peacocks are a real Scottish success story. Less than twenty years ago I would have had to go to the coast to see one, and even there they were rare. Now they are the commonest late summer butterfly in my garden.
Do you know the reason for the increase? I saw them also here for the first time about 5 years ago and they now turn up most years. There's a large geographical gap in the distribution though between our area and the far south of Norway, see the map showing all observations in our web reporting scheme:
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Climate change, pure and simple. George Thomson in "The Butterflies of Scotland (1980) writes "resident in west Scotland, probable migrant to east Scotland and uncommon visitor to north and north-east Scotland." He goes on to report ".. accounts in entomological and zoological journals show that the Peacock butterfly must have been well established in the south of Scotland in the nineteenth century". It seems to have decreased during the early part of the twentieth century "at the beginning of this [20th] century it was becoming rare in Roxburghshire and scarce in Berwickshire. It did not completely disappear from Galloway". Its food plant (nettle) is not the issue, so it must be a change in climate. This has also seen the spread of the Orange Tip (Anthocaris cardamines), now common in Dunblane but in 1980 I had to drive to Kingussie in June to see it. In more recent times the Comma (Polygonia c-album) has been seen in Dunblane. In the 1920s this butterfly's distribution in the UK had retracted to a very small area around Hereford!
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Anthony I hope you were watching Museum of Life tonight. Lots of butterflies
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Anthony I hope you were watching Museum of Life tonight. Lots of butterflies
No. What channel?
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I sent you a text when I saw what would be on. It will probably be repeated or you can catch it on iplayer
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This time of year again :)
Crappy pics, sorry.
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Tough to find a sunny spot to warm up and feel full of the joys of spring when all that snow is still around.... hard life being a snake!
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Cool snake!
Weather's been warm enough to switch the waterfall on. Here a coal tit takes a bath in the water that bubbles out of the top of the boulder.
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Is that frog spawn on the rocks?
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Moss that grows on anything in my garden that doesn't move. A curious question Mark.
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It's still around, the Jackdaws were too busy playing with the neighbourhood Crows to bother with it.
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It looks like jelly, Anthony. Did you watch Museum of Life? It's a brilliant series about behind the scenes of the Natural History Museum
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It looks like jelly, Anthony. Did you watch Museum of Life? It's a brilliant series about behind the scenes of the Natural History Museum
Jelly? That will be because there's water tumbling over it. It's bone dry except when it rains or I have the water fall turned on.
Not had a chance yet.
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Is that frog spawn on the rocks?
No, it's a dessert called Lemon Sago. Someone spat it out. :o
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lots of swallows, martins and warblers in now. Two weeks and the swifts will be here
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(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/IMG_5319.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/IMG_5311.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/kk-6.jpg)
looking for there name
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2. American robin, Turdus migratorius.
3. Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis.
Have to think about #1. I assume it's a North American bird, too? It appears to be fairly short-tailed, so possibly a female merlin, Falco columbarius?
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Where on the planet were they photographed? If the names are correct, certainly not Hungary!
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I would guess that the first picture is of a Prairie Merlin
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Where on the planet were they photographed? If the names are correct, certainly not Hungary!
Anthony, Erika has recently returned from a trip to the US of America ;)
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lots of swallows, martins and warblers in now. Two weeks and the swifts will be here
Mark
They have arrived in the UK. Today there were 3 noted. In Wales, Bucks. and Lancs. If the wind changes to the South they could be with you shortly.
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swifts? Where did you hear/read the records?
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I would guess that the first picture is of a Prairie Merlin
Is Prairie Merlin the common name used in the UK for Falco columbarius, or is it for another species? (Just wondering, as we also have "prairie falcons", Falco mexicanus, although the bird in the photo lacks the facial patterning of that species.) The common name for F. columbarius here is just "merlin"... at least so far the vintage of our most recent bird guides! ... Although I may well be out of date, as I must admit I have been surprised to find that common names, and even species names, have been revised for several North American birds.... almost as bad as plants! :)
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Prairie
falcon merlin = Falco columbarius richardsonii ?? (corrected!)
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I'm sure you meant, "Prairie merlin = Falco columbarius richardsonii"... If so, I see! Theoretically, that would be the subspecies that occurs here, if it's still considered valid... and it does appear to be (http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/raptors/Merlin.html). Must admit I have never heard or seen (I guess noticed is the better term!) "prairie" merlin used.
http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=40B230606774AF67&sec=summary
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Thanks a lot! I have got them on my camera at Mayersville, MD and I was told total different names ::)
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Thanks a lot! I have got them on my camera at Mayersville, MD and I was told total different names ::)
Thanks Erica/Maggi.
Falco columbarius is just called the 'Merlin' here in the UK.
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Mark
Google Birdguides and join-it's free. They have a daily report of all sightings in the UK and Ireland on a rolling basis. Two more Swift reports from yesterday. One from Notts. and one from S. Yorkshire
Sibley's "the North American bird guide" names three Merlins Falco columbarius
PACIFIC (BLACK). Falco suckleyi Pacific coast as far as Mexico. As name indicates, very dark in colour
TAIGA Falco columbarius Not Pacific and Great Plains. Dark plumage but not as dark as PACIFIC
PRAIRIE Falco richardsonii Canada to Mexico. Light brown plumage.
I consulted Sibley's, Handbook of the Birds of the World and the National Geographics birdguide. Sibley's have the illustration closest to the picture.
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Tom I know the Bird Guides web site but where do I find sighting?
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Mark
It is called Bird news extra. See the attached copy of the page. As far as I can remember, this page is free to view but there is a charge for the other services such as the exact location of the sighting. If I send in a local sighting to Ayrshire birding group, it is automatically put on this site. It can be registered within 15 mins. of a sighting report being submitted. Rarities are not verified. Surprisingly I have never seen a sighting report from Ulster. There are several from Eire - mainly Gulls from Nimmo's pier
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Mark
A couple of more sightings if you have not yet looked at the Birdguides site. I am pretty sure you have to join to get on the site as I have to Logon with my email address and password
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A friend was watching an egret on Islay over the Easter hols.
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Having seen the photo of the American Robin, I thought you might enjoy these photos I took this evening. The robin's nest is nestled in a Viburnum which grows off our back porch (which made for a very easy shot without disturbing anything).
1. The nest
2. Close up of the eggs.
Don't know if it's the same robin but she lays her eggs here every year.
3. Not seen it yet this year (or last) but we had a pair of Grosbeaks visit us two summers ago. Apparently one is rare in this neck of the woods.
4. Red headed woodpecker
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.....and speaking of Egrets.
This was taken in South Carolina.
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...and something you definitely don't want to see in your garden
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Not in yours, I hope Alan. ???
What beautiful, glossy eggs the robin lays.
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No Lesley, thank goodness.......and having seen them in the wild, that was enough for me. Believe me, they look a lot bigger in real life than they do in photographs...and I was about 15 feet away from this, thankfully on a boat.
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Having seen the photo of the American Robin, I thought you might enjoy these photos I took this evening. The robin's nest is nestled in a Viburnum which grows off our back porch (which made for a very easy shot without disturbing anything).
1. The nest
2. Close up of the eggs.
Don't know if it's the same robin but she lays her eggs here every year.
3. Not seen it yet this year (or last) but we had a pair of Grosbeaks visit us two summers ago. Apparently one is rare in this neck of the woods.
4. Red headed woodpecker
How on earth do you get such good shots of birds? Even with semi-tame chickadees, I still can't manage!
I think you meant Red-bellied Woodpecker, yes?
That reminds me of seeing alligators in Texas (Laguna Atascosa) and Louisiana the odd time!
It was interesting, while doing some field work in Madagascar a few years ago, to see crocodiles dive in the river... the same river that we were about to be dropped off on the banks of by the helicopter. It gives one pause! We saw two sets of tracks on a sandbar later on as well. That, and being told by a local helper that a girl had been taken by a croc a couple of months ago in a nearby village, caused us to walk pretty carefully through the tall grass on the river banks...
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First Swift observation in Scandinavia, near Stockholm - this is early, I dont normally see my first for a month yet!
http://www.artportalen.se/fennoscandia_birds.asp?speciesid=481&year=2010&month=4 (http://www.artportalen.se/fennoscandia_birds.asp?speciesid=481&year=2010&month=4)
....and Swallows have now arrived in the south and a few have been sighted near where I live:
http://www.artportalen.se/fennoscandia_birds.asp?speciesid=522&year=2010&month=4 (http://www.artportalen.se/fennoscandia_birds.asp?speciesid=522&year=2010&month=4)
Here, the usual early migrants have all now arrived: Dunnock, White Wagtail, Redwings, Fieldfares, Chiffchaff, Robins, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch.
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Having seen the photo of the American Robin, I thought you might enjoy these photos I took this evening. The robin's nest is nestled in a Viburnum which grows off our back porch (which made for a very easy shot without disturbing anything).
1. The nest
2. Close up of the eggs.
Don't know if it's the same robin but she lays her eggs here every year.
Really interesting wildlife shots, Alan and Sherba, how close were you to the crocodile?
Wonderful shots of the Robin's nest with beautiful, glossy, turquoise blue eggs - I do hope you show us more photos ass the eggs hatch ::)
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Really interesting wildlife shots, Alan and Sherba, how close were you to the crocodile?
Wonderful shots of the Robin's nest with beautiful, glossy, turquoise blue eggs - I do hope you show us more photos ass the eggs hatch ::)
We went on a boat trip in South Carolina.....not sure what type of boat but something akin to a skiff. We were somewhere in the region of 15 feet away. If the alligator had decided to, it could easily have got on the boat. It was a wonderful experience but something we wouldn't do twice.
We'll try to get some more shots of the development of the eggs, just so long as it isn't distressful for the mother.
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How on earth do you get such good shots of birds? Even with semi-tame chickadees, I still can't manage!
I think you meant Red-bellied Woodpecker, yes?
Firstly, Lori is quite correct. It is a red-BELLIED woodpecker....not a red HEADED. Thanks for pointing that out Lori.
We have lots of birds come to our yard and I use a 200mm macro lens. The woodpecker is far from timid. I can get to within 3 feet of it before it flies off.
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It is a red-BELLIED woodpecker....not a red HEADED.
How silly is that? It has a red head not a red belly...... flippin' taxonomists again...... :P
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Actually, it does have a red belly - just not very visible in the pic. Red-headed woodpecker has a REALLY red head (completely) with a neat black line separating it from the white belly. I agree, though - why is it so often the least noticeable characteristic picked for the common name? (E.g. Ring-necked duck... why not ring-billed duck?!)
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Actually, it does have a red belly - just not very visible in the pic. Red-headed woodpecker has a REALLY red head (completely) with a neat black line separating it from the white belly. I agree, though - why is it so often the least noticeable characteristic picked for the common name? (E.g. Ring-necked duck... why not ring-billed duck?!)
;) ;D
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red-bellied woodpecker http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp (http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp)
red-cocaded woodpaecker http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp (http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp)
red-crowned http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp (http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp)
red-headed woodpecker http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp (http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp)
On the subject of woodpeckers Ireland has a new resident bird that is breeding and spreading - great-spotted woodpecker. They were first spotted/heard a few years ago. Young were seen a couple of years ago. Last year they bred in County Down. Last week a bird was seen in mid Antrim
This all happened when plans were being made to reintroduce them
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It is a red-BELLIED woodpecker....not a red HEADED.
How silly is that? It has a red head not a red belly...... flippin' taxonomists again...... :P
Similar thing with a South African bird - the black-collared barbet (Lybius torquatus). Surely the black collar is not the first thing you notice?? http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/lybiidae/lybius_torquatus.htm
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You're right Calvin. It's the huge beak! :o
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Does anyone nowadays read the books of Angela Thirkell? I haven't seen them for year. At one stage she mentioned (tongue in cheek) a splay-footed bumble-gobbler. Lovely name for a bird, I thought. ;D
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You Scots kept this quiet
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2027 (http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2027)
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Red Kite population in Scotland failing :'(
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2053 (http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2053)
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You Scots kept this quiet
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2027 (http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2027)
Yes.... well..... April the First is a busy news day!
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Red Kite population in Scotland failing :'(
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2053 (http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2053)
Poor results indeed. I did not know the numbers were so bad. :(
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They are being poisoned over here, also, by narrow minded farmers
First first golden eagle to fledge in Ireland for 100 years has been poisoned at only 10 months old
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You Scots kept this quiet
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2027 (http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2027)
Yes.... well..... April the First is a busy news day!
Eagle-eyed Maggi spotted that one! 8)
Red Kite population in Scotland failing :'(
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2053 (http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2053)
Not near us they aren't. The central Scotland red kites seem to be doing OK http://www.argatyredkites.co.uk/
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I have been watching the Red Kite introduction in the Loch Ken area for 10 years and the population is thriving. About 10 days ago we saw about 14 birds in and around their feeding station at Lauriston plus several singles round and about. It brings an economic benefit to the area.
The situation in the Black Isle is different because of the proximity of shooting estates. Any bird of prey is fair game for these people.
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Actually, a hefty fine and perhaps prison means they are not fair game, but you can't change people's attitudes. Money talks!
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Snoozing in the morning sun near Hacquetia Thor. Who is this fellow?
johnw
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A big wasp! :o
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A big wasp! :o
:o
johnw
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Another big wasp ;D
Hornet?
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Wasps have eyes on their head?
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A good place to have them Mark. ;)
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wellll, the top of their head
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Two small flocks of geese flew north this afternoon. I thought they would all be gone by now.
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wellll, the top of their head
Those are three extra (simple) ones Mark. They still have their two huge compound eyes at the sides of the head.
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Today I visited the Royal albatross colony at Taiaroa head near Dunedin. The group I belong to was given a complimentary tour. The following pictures were taken from the viewing post ( an enclosed structure with glass windows) Not withstanding the less than ideal conditions for photography I am rather please on how the photos turned out. The photos show a sequence of an adult bird feeding its chick.
No pictures of the birds flying I am afraid there was not enough wind at the time for a good display. They have a 3 metre wingspan and are unsurpassed in their flying ability spending most of their time at sea in the Southern Ocean.
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Thanks, David.... a lovely set of pix..... amazing to get that through glass.
Stunning birds. 8)
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Maggi ,
It was a great thrill seeing the adult feed the chick as these birds do not perform on any regular schedule. The photos are brought to you courtesy of some wonderful Nikon technology, not any skill on my part.
This picture is titled the "Rivera of the Southern Ocean" (that is how the albatrosses see it). Otherwise it might be mistaken for a cold, misty day at Taiaroa Head. Looking out in this direction it is open ocean all the way to Chile.
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Dave
Here is a flying shot I took in 2005 from the Monarch cruise boat off Taiaroa Head. I could not help but notice the Scottish involvement down there. The guide pronounced "head" as "heed"
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Dave, thanks for posting such great photos of the Albatross with chick - we visited the same spot many years ago and I remember an Albatross flying overhead - it was awe inspiring - the wing span is so huge but at the same time they are very graceful once in the air. Watching them take off was something else 8)
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Fantastic pics Dave and I do like that one Tom. Hope to visit this area in the not too distant future. ;)
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Hi Tom,
A lovely picture of an albatross in flight; I will post a couple of pictures that I hope will bring back pleasant memories and encourage Anthony to visit.
The first shows the entrance to Otago Harbour and Taiaroa Head from the opposite side of the harbour. The breakwater at the harbour entrance is another good place to see wildlife. The rare coastal plant Lepidium oleraceum ( Cook's scurvy grass) grows there.
The second picture shows the lighthouse and signal station at Taiaroa head with the cruise boat Monarch below.
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A lovely picture of an albatross in flight; I will post a couple of pictures that I hope will bring back pleasant memories and encourage Anthony to visit.
Who said anything about visit David. One way ticket more like! 8)
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Another two pictures from the archives;
Taiaroa Head from sea level
Tourists on board the Monarch enjoying a cruise of the Riviera of the Southern Ocean.
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First Cuckoo calling - isn't it rather early?
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First Cuckoo calling - isn't it rather early?
Haven't heard ours yet but they do usually come in April.
The verge up our lane is full of cowslips at the moment and as I was driving home from the school run this morning a stoat was scampering along through them, I slowed to his pace and he kept stopping to look at me then eventually dived into our orchard. It was such a pretty sight but of course I didn't have my camera.....
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Coming home last night, just on dusk ,with my 17 and 15 year olds, travelling at 100ks an hour with a sheep paddock one side and woodlot gum trees on the right, I was suddenly stunned to see a large light brown kangaroo face just out my side window. Luckily I think he may have only a blood nose or a bad headache as the impact was so slight. He continued on his way over the paddock fence. Could have done quite a bit of damage if I was a second later. Of course the rest of the trip home was somewhat slower.
We still seem to have a mob of kangaroos in our paddocks just outside the house yard even though the paddocks have greened up now - wouldn't be surprised if they are coming in at night.
Our young kelpie thought I was encouraging him this afternoon as he took off in hot persuit of a couple of kangaroos that were just over our creek bed. I have learnt that you don't yell - just go inside the house and he will return when he hasn't an audience.
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Anthony and Mark I just read the beginning of the wasp talk on the previous page and now I can barely see the screen for my tears. Thanks guys for the laughs.
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Anthony and Mark I just read the beginning of the wasp talk on the previous page and now I can barely see the screen for my tears. Thanks guys for the laughs.
Was my reply to Mark rather waspish, or perhaps Mark's to me? ::)
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(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/th_bogr-2.jpg) (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/?action=view¤t=bogr-2.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/th_bogi-2.jpg) (http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/arykana/?action=view¤t=bogi-2.jpg)
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Les than a metre away, busy collecting moss, moist soil, leaves and twiglets this blackbird took no notice of someone watching in admiration for the huge beak full ready for her nest :D