birdman
Saturday 22nd May 2004, 19:42
Time once more for a trip outback…
With summer well on it’s way, and all the trees and shrubs in full leaf, it’s getting more and more tricky to track anything down by sight, that doesn’t want to be seen.
Fortunately, there are still a few birds that like to sing from high perches… but for the most part, they stay hidden in the foliage.
This would have totally stumped me a couple of years ago, but since joining BF, and particularly since paying close attention to my local patch, I’ve improved (though I say so myself) in the call id department quite considerably.
Many of you will know that I am still a long way from being an expert, but it does mean I can report a bird list from my outback with considerably more confidence in those ided by call.
And as many of you will know, getting to know a bird call will often lead you to a visual id of the bird.
Well… still have much to learn but today managed to knock off 36 species, which I think is getting on for a record for my outback.
Also picked up a few butterflies, and a couple of nice d-files… the yellow one I’ve never come across before.
The usual numbers follow…
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
Pheasant : 2 (1)
Mallard : 13 (7)
Greater Spotted Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Swift : 6 (6)
Woodpigeon : 9 (2)
Collared Dove : 3 (2)
Moorhen : 1 (1)
Coot : 12 (5)
Kestrel : 1 (1)
Grey Heron : 1 (1)
Magpie : 5 (3)
Pheasant : 2 (1)
Carrion Crow : 3 (2)
Blackbird : 4 (1)
Song Thrush : 1 (1)
Mistle Thrush : 1 (1)
Robin : 2 (1)
Starling : 5 (3)
Nuthatch : 1 (1)
Treecreeper : 2 (2)
Great Tit : 2 (1)
Blue tit : 4 (1)
Long-tailed Tit : 4 (4)
Swallow : 3 (2)
House Martin : 4 (4)
Chiffchaff : 3 (2)
Blackcap : 1 (1)
Whitethroat : 6 (2)
Skylark : 8 (2)
Pied Wagtail : 1 (1)
Meadow Pipit : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 13 (3)
Goldfinch : 1 (1)
Linnet : 3 (3)
Yellowhammer : 2 (1)
With summer well on it’s way, and all the trees and shrubs in full leaf, it’s getting more and more tricky to track anything down by sight, that doesn’t want to be seen.
Fortunately, there are still a few birds that like to sing from high perches… but for the most part, they stay hidden in the foliage.
This would have totally stumped me a couple of years ago, but since joining BF, and particularly since paying close attention to my local patch, I’ve improved (though I say so myself) in the call id department quite considerably.
Many of you will know that I am still a long way from being an expert, but it does mean I can report a bird list from my outback with considerably more confidence in those ided by call.
And as many of you will know, getting to know a bird call will often lead you to a visual id of the bird.
Well… still have much to learn but today managed to knock off 36 species, which I think is getting on for a record for my outback.
Also picked up a few butterflies, and a couple of nice d-files… the yellow one I’ve never come across before.
The usual numbers follow…
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
Pheasant : 2 (1)
Mallard : 13 (7)
Greater Spotted Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Swift : 6 (6)
Woodpigeon : 9 (2)
Collared Dove : 3 (2)
Moorhen : 1 (1)
Coot : 12 (5)
Kestrel : 1 (1)
Grey Heron : 1 (1)
Magpie : 5 (3)
Pheasant : 2 (1)
Carrion Crow : 3 (2)
Blackbird : 4 (1)
Song Thrush : 1 (1)
Mistle Thrush : 1 (1)
Robin : 2 (1)
Starling : 5 (3)
Nuthatch : 1 (1)
Treecreeper : 2 (2)
Great Tit : 2 (1)
Blue tit : 4 (1)
Long-tailed Tit : 4 (4)
Swallow : 3 (2)
House Martin : 4 (4)
Chiffchaff : 3 (2)
Blackcap : 1 (1)
Whitethroat : 6 (2)
Skylark : 8 (2)
Pied Wagtail : 1 (1)
Meadow Pipit : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 13 (3)
Goldfinch : 1 (1)
Linnet : 3 (3)
Yellowhammer : 2 (1)