My Outback 2004 / 2

[birdman]

Took a second trip out today, which weatherwise was still grey, but calm and not nearly so cold.

Things, perhaps as a consequence, were much more lively, and the wooded area adjacent to the railway lines (see My Outback Map (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=5760) if interested) was a riot of bird call. As such, the numbers for woodland birds could possibly be doubled, if not more.

(BTW, regarding counting... I'm beginning to feel like the new kid who's been asked to go for a "long stand" - it is VERY difficult!!!)

Anyway, the second bird list of the year (25 species ided) requires a key; so,

Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick

I'm pleased to report that I required bold italic today!

Starling : 9
Magpie : 10
Black-headed Gull : 3
Woodpigeon : c17
Moorhen : 6
Grey Heron : 1
Robin : 11
Long-tailed Tit : c35
Blue Tit : 12
Carrion Crow : 17
Chaffinch : c12
Pheasant : 2
Blackbird : c18
Kestrel : 3
Goldfinch : 1
Fieldfare : 9
Nuthatch : 3
Great Tit : 6
Greenfinch : 2
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker : 1
Collared Dove : 1
Mistle Thrush : 10
Jay : 1
Goldcrest : 3
Mallard : 1

In addition to the above, approximately 100 large gulls flew over, in three separate Vs, and there was a middle-distance flypast of approximately 40 middle-sized waders.

[Andrew]

So how many are you on so far? The LSW is a valuable tick. I doubt I will be lucky enough to see one this year.

[birdman]

LSW is number 61 on my all-time Outback List.

This year the list stands at 27, my total 2004 list is now on 49.

[Karl J]

Mmmmm .... Lesser Spotted Woody (bring on the bold italics !!) + 3 Nuthatch. Very nice.

3 Kestrel as well ... is that an average number for one day ?

[birdman]

Hi Carlos,

Three Kestrel is as many as I have ever seen on my patch. I have seen two before.

The caveat, although I think I have counted "reasonably" is that we saw two individuals at almost the same time (ie close enough that they couldn't have been one and the same) and then a third likely individual much further away from the two, and not in the direction they had flown.

In fact, we had seven sightings in total, but it is extremely likely that 5 of these were of the first two birds. I hope that makes sense!

[birdman]

BTW... don't forget you could probably double the Nuthatches, there was a real commotion in the woods!

[seb_seb]

35 long-tailed tits is pretty impressive. Was this all in one group?

[Karl J]

Yes makes sense alright. They have no consideration for the poor guy trying to count them, do they.

I've just read your last report ....2 sp. woodpecker in 2 visits, thats some going.

[tf1044x]

Birdman,
I would think looking at your location, that flypast of waders would probably be Golden Plover.

[birdman]

seb_seb...

...the longtails were really difficult to count. There was a group of apx. 14 + a few stragglers at one end of the patch, then a sighting at the other end of a group of about 10, closely followed another of a group of about 12 (so I called that 12 in total), giving 26 plus a few... then there were others in the woods, the most I could see at one time being 5 or 6... giving a very approximate 35. I guess there was a lot of room for overlap, 'cos the little horrors will fly around, but also, I reckon I understated the "wood" numbers as much as for any other bird.

Carlos...

... really pleased with the LSW, and the Greens, which I also really enjoy seeing, are fairly regular. We would consider ourselves unlucky not to at least hear at least one every time (ermm.. like today, for example!)

trev...

... thanks for the info on the waders. If I could get any better at iding waders on the ground, never mind in the air, I might stand a better chance. These seemed middle-sized, about Shank-sized, and were generally dark, although they did have some white that was visible in flight. They also gave a typically wader-like whistle in flight.