birdman
Thursday 1st July 2004, 00:23
<>Very busy at the moment, so all my Outback reports of late seem to be getting written up well after the event.
Anyway, managed to get some time out on Sunday around lunchtime.
<>Weather was very warm, but with cloud and a good deal of wind. <>Happy to report the day was a 4-warbler day, which is as good as I’ve ever had, the highlight being brilliant views of a “brown”cap – which, whether female or juvenile suggests there would be at least a “black”cap around, but as I only saw this one, I only get one on the list.<>
A quick look at the pond would seem to suggest some success in the Mallard breeding season… are all these little ‘uns gonna stay when they grow up, or will they disperse far and wide? It’s getting pretty crowded!<>
The hirundine (and apodid?) numbers were not as impressive as last time. Understated again probably, for the same reasons, but clearly not as many, and I didn’t notice any Sand Martins. <>I did notice, surprisingly, a previously unexplored footpath, which leads through a finger of woodland towards the main road. All future explorations would necessitate a double back, if I am to avoid the maniacal traffic, but as I picked up a Jay along there, amongst others, it will probably be looked again when time allows.<>
Anyway, all we Northern Hemispherites’ trees are probably now in full thick leaf, blossom etc. (mine are at least!) making sightings of birds increasingly difficult, and as a consequence, much of this trip’s list was “heard only”.<>
That, and the fact that the grasses now range from thigh high to more than head high, and things could start to get tricky for the next few weeks… better practice recognising birdsong!!!
<>Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
<>Pheasant : 1 (1)
Mallard : 60 (40)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Swift : 16 (16)
Woodpigeon : 5 (2)
Moorhen : 6 (6)
Coot : 12 (2)
Lapwing : 5 (5)
Black-headed Gull : 1 (1)
Kestrel : 1 (1)
Jay : 1 (1)
Magpie : 4 (2)
Pheasant : 1 (1)
Blackbird : 1 (1)
Song Thrush : 1 (1)
Mistle Thrush : 1 (1)
Robin : 2 (2)
Wren : 3 (1)
Blue Tit : 8 (6)
Swallow : 2 (2)
House Martin : 20 (20)
Willow Warbler : 3 (3)
Chiffchaff : 3 (1)
Blackcap : 1 (1)
Whitethroat : 1 (1)
Skylark : 9 (3)
House Sparrow : 2 (2)
Pied Wagtail : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 6 (2)
Greenfinch : 1 (1)
Yellowhammer : 4 (2)
Anyway, managed to get some time out on Sunday around lunchtime.
<>Weather was very warm, but with cloud and a good deal of wind. <>Happy to report the day was a 4-warbler day, which is as good as I’ve ever had, the highlight being brilliant views of a “brown”cap – which, whether female or juvenile suggests there would be at least a “black”cap around, but as I only saw this one, I only get one on the list.<>
A quick look at the pond would seem to suggest some success in the Mallard breeding season… are all these little ‘uns gonna stay when they grow up, or will they disperse far and wide? It’s getting pretty crowded!<>
The hirundine (and apodid?) numbers were not as impressive as last time. Understated again probably, for the same reasons, but clearly not as many, and I didn’t notice any Sand Martins. <>I did notice, surprisingly, a previously unexplored footpath, which leads through a finger of woodland towards the main road. All future explorations would necessitate a double back, if I am to avoid the maniacal traffic, but as I picked up a Jay along there, amongst others, it will probably be looked again when time allows.<>
Anyway, all we Northern Hemispherites’ trees are probably now in full thick leaf, blossom etc. (mine are at least!) making sightings of birds increasingly difficult, and as a consequence, much of this trip’s list was “heard only”.<>
That, and the fact that the grasses now range from thigh high to more than head high, and things could start to get tricky for the next few weeks… better practice recognising birdsong!!!
<>Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)
<>Pheasant : 1 (1)
Mallard : 60 (40)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Swift : 16 (16)
Woodpigeon : 5 (2)
Moorhen : 6 (6)
Coot : 12 (2)
Lapwing : 5 (5)
Black-headed Gull : 1 (1)
Kestrel : 1 (1)
Jay : 1 (1)
Magpie : 4 (2)
Pheasant : 1 (1)
Blackbird : 1 (1)
Song Thrush : 1 (1)
Mistle Thrush : 1 (1)
Robin : 2 (2)
Wren : 3 (1)
Blue Tit : 8 (6)
Swallow : 2 (2)
House Martin : 20 (20)
Willow Warbler : 3 (3)
Chiffchaff : 3 (1)
Blackcap : 1 (1)
Whitethroat : 1 (1)
Skylark : 9 (3)
House Sparrow : 2 (2)
Pied Wagtail : 1 (1)
Chaffinch : 6 (2)
Greenfinch : 1 (1)
Yellowhammer : 4 (2)