birdman
Sunday 20th June 2004, 23:52
First trip outback for a couple of weeks, and fortunately we managed to pick a three-hour window that was almost entirely dry.
And what a busy day!
There are young birds absolutely everywhere, starting with the pond, where we have either a late or second brood of tiny ducklings to add to the numbers of the their older “brothers and sisters” and the proud parents.
On two separate occasions, we were even more overwhelmed by the woodland birds than usual, simply because we couldn’t keep track of all the activity.
On top of that, the biggest collection of hirundines of the year, and my decision to count individuals has come under its sternest test of the year!
So, I must say that the numbers below are only estimates at best in many cases, but will undoubtedly be underestimates!
In all, as well as larger numbers than usual, we picked up 38 different species (reduced from 39 for reasons I shall divulge shortly), and that doesn’t include the very probable Great Spotted Woodpecker that we couldn’t quite track down and the usual selection of possible Whitethroats and Blackcaps that we are struggling to get on top of this year. (Last year we were inundated by Whitethroats, and their call became very familiar, but this year they seem a bit this on the ground, and we are still out of practice on the call!)
Included in the 38 are a UK first timer and a lifer, although you will quickly notice that that says more about the size of my list than the unusualness of the birds!
You will spot them easily enough in the list, but a quick additional note for each.
The hirundine flock that we counted was of a good 50 or so birds, of which it seemed to be 5 to 1, Martin to Swift. A single Swallow made an appearance, and to be fair, there may have been twice as many in total, but due to the habits of the birds I tend to count them differently. Rather than adding 2 here to 2 there; because they get about so much, I almost always only note the total number seen at one time. There did feel like there were more today. Anyway, whilst watching the House Martins, there was definitely one, perhaps two (and may more!) Sand Martins, but one for the record.
The reason for dropping down from 39 to 38 was because I originally included Grey Wagtail. In fact, we saw a Wagtail close to the edge of the pond, that I immediately ided as a Grey. Then we noticed, two or three feet to its right, a striking Yellow Wagtail, and I came home thinking I had both. But on checking my books, I am now of the opinion that the “Grey” was simply a juvenile Yellow. In addition, I also saw two “warblers” at the same time as they flew into a shrub. Apart from appearing warbler-like, the only feature I noticed were yellow under-tail coverts (see, I told you I’d been checking my books!) and that this feature, combined with the warblerish appearance, could also be indicative of juvenile Yellow Wagtails. As the latter id is merely a “could be one or other or neither”, it unfortunately goes in the neither pot, but as the former has a decent chance of being correct, I feel confident enough to go for 2 Yellow Wags.
Unless of course, you know different!!!
Pictures 4 and 5 attached are said birds. 4 is the yellow – take my word for it – 5 the juvie-Yellow / Grey. If there’s enough detail for you to form an opinion, I’ll be glad to hear it!
Either way… what a great walk!
The numbers…
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick
Bold italic blue text = UK life tick
Bold italic red text = Life tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
Grey Partridge : 1 (1)
Pheasant : 2 (1)
Mallard : 35 (29)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Swift : 10 (10)
Woodpigeon : 14 (4)
Moorhen : 3 (3)
Coot : 22 (10)
Black-headed Gull : 1 (1)
Kestrel : 1 (1)
Jay : 1 (1)
Magpie : 3 (1)
Grey Partridge : 1 (1)
Carrion Crow : 6 (2)
Blackbird : 3 (1)
Song Thrush : 1 (1)
Robin : 4 (2)
Starling : 6 (3)
Nuthatch : 1 (1)
Treecreeper : 1 (1)
Wren : 3 (1)
Coal Tit : 2 (2)
Great Tit : 3 (1)
Blue Tit : 16 (6)
Long-tailed Tit : 2 (2)
Sand Martin : 1 (1)
Swallow : 1 (1)
House Martin : 40 (40)
Willow Warbler : 2 (2)
Chiffchaff : 1 (1)
Skylark : 9 (3)
House Sparrow : 1 (1)
Yellow Wagtail : 2 (2)
Meadow Pipit : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 16 (6)
Goldfinch : 2 (2)
Bullfinch : 1 (1)
Yellowhammer : 4 (1)
And what a busy day!
There are young birds absolutely everywhere, starting with the pond, where we have either a late or second brood of tiny ducklings to add to the numbers of the their older “brothers and sisters” and the proud parents.
On two separate occasions, we were even more overwhelmed by the woodland birds than usual, simply because we couldn’t keep track of all the activity.
On top of that, the biggest collection of hirundines of the year, and my decision to count individuals has come under its sternest test of the year!
So, I must say that the numbers below are only estimates at best in many cases, but will undoubtedly be underestimates!
In all, as well as larger numbers than usual, we picked up 38 different species (reduced from 39 for reasons I shall divulge shortly), and that doesn’t include the very probable Great Spotted Woodpecker that we couldn’t quite track down and the usual selection of possible Whitethroats and Blackcaps that we are struggling to get on top of this year. (Last year we were inundated by Whitethroats, and their call became very familiar, but this year they seem a bit this on the ground, and we are still out of practice on the call!)
Included in the 38 are a UK first timer and a lifer, although you will quickly notice that that says more about the size of my list than the unusualness of the birds!
You will spot them easily enough in the list, but a quick additional note for each.
The hirundine flock that we counted was of a good 50 or so birds, of which it seemed to be 5 to 1, Martin to Swift. A single Swallow made an appearance, and to be fair, there may have been twice as many in total, but due to the habits of the birds I tend to count them differently. Rather than adding 2 here to 2 there; because they get about so much, I almost always only note the total number seen at one time. There did feel like there were more today. Anyway, whilst watching the House Martins, there was definitely one, perhaps two (and may more!) Sand Martins, but one for the record.
The reason for dropping down from 39 to 38 was because I originally included Grey Wagtail. In fact, we saw a Wagtail close to the edge of the pond, that I immediately ided as a Grey. Then we noticed, two or three feet to its right, a striking Yellow Wagtail, and I came home thinking I had both. But on checking my books, I am now of the opinion that the “Grey” was simply a juvenile Yellow. In addition, I also saw two “warblers” at the same time as they flew into a shrub. Apart from appearing warbler-like, the only feature I noticed were yellow under-tail coverts (see, I told you I’d been checking my books!) and that this feature, combined with the warblerish appearance, could also be indicative of juvenile Yellow Wagtails. As the latter id is merely a “could be one or other or neither”, it unfortunately goes in the neither pot, but as the former has a decent chance of being correct, I feel confident enough to go for 2 Yellow Wags.
Unless of course, you know different!!!
Pictures 4 and 5 attached are said birds. 4 is the yellow – take my word for it – 5 the juvie-Yellow / Grey. If there’s enough detail for you to form an opinion, I’ll be glad to hear it!
Either way… what a great walk!
The numbers…
Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold italic text = Outback life tick
Bold italic blue text = UK life tick
Bold italic red text = Life tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
Grey Partridge : 1 (1)
Pheasant : 2 (1)
Mallard : 35 (29)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Swift : 10 (10)
Woodpigeon : 14 (4)
Moorhen : 3 (3)
Coot : 22 (10)
Black-headed Gull : 1 (1)
Kestrel : 1 (1)
Jay : 1 (1)
Magpie : 3 (1)
Grey Partridge : 1 (1)
Carrion Crow : 6 (2)
Blackbird : 3 (1)
Song Thrush : 1 (1)
Robin : 4 (2)
Starling : 6 (3)
Nuthatch : 1 (1)
Treecreeper : 1 (1)
Wren : 3 (1)
Coal Tit : 2 (2)
Great Tit : 3 (1)
Blue Tit : 16 (6)
Long-tailed Tit : 2 (2)
Sand Martin : 1 (1)
Swallow : 1 (1)
House Martin : 40 (40)
Willow Warbler : 2 (2)
Chiffchaff : 1 (1)
Skylark : 9 (3)
House Sparrow : 1 (1)
Yellow Wagtail : 2 (2)
Meadow Pipit : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 16 (6)
Goldfinch : 2 (2)
Bullfinch : 1 (1)
Yellowhammer : 4 (1)