The RCP's have departed the Moors Pool
Surely they were plastic anyway, escapees from a wildfowl collection and non tickable?
Matt
What makes you say that? Are you suggesting all records of RCPs in Britain are plastic?
I was assuming most RCP's spotted in the UK are either escapee birds or ferally breeding birds rather than genuine vagrants from Europe. This is certainly the case in Norfolk, where they seem to spring up everywhere in suitable habitat ...along with Ruddy Shelduck etc. To be honest I wouldn't give one a second glance in Norfolk....
Would be interesting to see if the record gets accepted by your county recorder and gets included in next years west midlands bird and mammel report.
Matt
I was assuming most RCP's spotted in the UK are either escapee birds or ferally breeding birds rather than genuine vagrants from Europe. This is certainly the case in Norfolk, where they seem to spring up everywhere in suitable habitat ...along with Ruddy Shelduck etc. To be honest I wouldn't give one a second glance in Norfolk....
Would be interesting to see if the record gets accepted by your county recorder and gets included in next years west midlands bird and mammel report.
Matt
An interesting point Matt. The BOU categorise RCP as a species having been recorded in apparently natural state at least once since 1/1/1950 (A) and as a Naturalised re-established species with established populations resulting from introductions by man, but which also occur in an apparently natural state (C2).
In addition it is categorised under E* ie birds of known or presumed captive origin that breed in the wild in Britain or Ireland.
Its status code under the BOU is NB (naturalised breeder) and SM (scarce migrant).
I certainly gave them a second look - the drakes especially are beautiful! As to whether or not to tick I guess thats a personal choice - if I didn't (as far as my Upton list is concerned) should I tick Canada Goose, Pheasant, Red legged partridge etc etc ?
I was assuming most RCP's spotted in the UK are either escapee birds or ferally breeding birds rather than genuine vagrants from Europe.
Not much added this afternoon with things appearing somewhat static today cf. yesterday. A Goldcrest was present in the conifers bordering the gardens along the east path on the Moors. The Little Egret and Oystercatcher were around Amy's.
Two Treecreepers were in the education reserve. Forgot to mention in my earlier post, a Meadow Pipit flew over the field in front of Hobden Hall Farm this morning.
The flashes roost was disappointing with roughly only about half the number of BHG's compared with yesterday ~320 birds. A Herring Gull flew over the sailing lake and a couple of LBB's were on the Moors.
I don't think anyone is for a moment suggesting many, or indeed any, RCPs in Worcs are genuine vagrants from any of the recognised wild breeding populations in Europe. However, as pointed out in subsequent posts, they are also categorised by the BOU in Cat C2 and there is an established feral breeding population in the Cotswold Water Park. I would suggest that it is more likely that these birds, and others seen in the county over the last 18 months or so, have come from there rather than from a collection. Therefore I wouldn't categorise them as plastic - my interpretation of that being stuff that has patently escaped from a collection, e.g. Ringed Teal, Hottentot Teal, Cape Teal, all of which have been recorded in Worcs, or something identified by some means as having definitely escaped from a collection.
On those grounds I would count them as Cat C2 sightings. What you choose to do regarding your sightings in Norfolk, or elsewhere, is of course entirely up to you - are you disregarding Cat C2 or do you not think any of your sightings originate from such populations?
Mike
Already accepted by the county recorder and entered in to the draft 2010 report. Unringed, fully winged, one day birds, photographed and multi-observed - as good a record as you could hope to obtain. The UK's stronghold for this species is just down the road in the Cotswold Water Park, where no doubt most of our birds originate. Many of these dispersed during the January cold spell and ended up all over the Midlands and beyond, eg c80 were at Rutland Water in January where they normally only get a few and up to eight were at Bredon's Hardwick, which is a good count for Worcestershire.
Brian
Mike - perhaps we should agree on what basis we are ticking Upton birds - according to BOU categories? Exclude all C and E* ? Lets not go there haha!
Or maybe even just watch them and enjoy them for what they are!
Matt
Alas a minefield when it comes to birds like RCP, a stunning bird that really looks more in place in southern Europe and Asia, but natural vagrancy must occur, so it is rather down to the individual as what to do with them on their list, but a generally an accepted tick, regionally or nationally.
Now when it come to Barnacle Geese thats a different matter!
I must confess to really wonder where our Osprey's and Red Kite's now originate from, unless you saw one pre-reintroduction scheme, can you be totally sure what you are seeing.
I was assuming most RCP's spotted in the UK are either escapee birds or ferally breeding birds rather than genuine vagrants from Europe. This is certainly the case in Norfolk, where they seem to spring up everywhere in suitable habitat ...along with Ruddy Shelduck etc. To be honest I wouldn't give one a second glance in Norfolk....
Would be interesting to see if the record gets accepted by your county recorder and gets included in next years west midlands bird and mammel report.
Matt
John. I remember that shearwater-- i'm awaiting a response from Brian.
I met Woodchat in the Education Reserve today. He kept distracting me with idle tittle-tattle. I must have missed about six possible Upton year ticks!
Des.
Hi DesJohn. I remember that shearwater-- i'm awaiting a response from Brian.
I met Woodchat in the Education Reserve today. He kept distracting me with idle tittle-tattle. I must have missed about six possible Upton year ticks!
Des.