Grey Phalarope (1 Viewer)

[kevtubb]

I was mopping up the birds in the Bristol area on Sunday, i.e.

Upland Sandpiper
Richard's Pipit
Grey Phalarope
Ring-necked Duck

At the Grey Phalarope site, I heard a birder talking to a non birder
telling them about the phalarope. I overheard them say that
phalaropes only spin in one direction, i.e. clockwise. Is this true or
are there 'left'/'right' hand phalaropes?

 

[streatham]

Hi Kev,

As I recall Phalaropes can spin either direction but I think the basic understanding is that a particular individual will only spin in one direction - although I do remember reading a report this year of an individual supposedly spinning in two directions.

Luke

 

[kevtubb]

Hi Kev,

As I recall Phalaropes can spin either direction but I think the basic understanding is that a particular individual will only spin in one direction - although I do remember reading a report this year of an individual supposedly spinning in two directions.

Luke

Cheers Luke - it will be interesting to note which way subsequent
phalaropes, that I see, are spinning

 

[birdman]

Phalaropes in general spin clockwise in the nothern hemisphere, and anti-clockwise in the in the southern hemisphere, due to the coriolis effect.

At the equator, it's 50-50 clock to anti, on average.
























I'm kidding of course.... I didn't even know they spun!!!!

 

[Dawsy]

Phalaropes in general spin clockwise in the nothern hemisphere, and anti-clockwise in the in the southern hemisphere, due to the coriolis effect.

At the equator, it's 50-50 clock to anti, on average.

I'm kidding of course.... I didn't even know they spun!!!!

:clap: Well that amused me anyway.
Michael

 

[kevtubb]

Spinning phalaropes

So, presumably, on the equator they don't move in either direction but just
sit there!

 

[birdman]

So, presumably, on the equator they don't move in either direction but just
sit there!

No... I think they can move... just that they cannot leave the equator, and must therefore embark on longitudinal migration - of course, in the same direction as the spin of the earth, because it's more energy efficient.

 

[MSA]

Don't they just jump up occasionally, and let the Earth spin beneath them?

 

[Reader]

:clap: Well that amused me anyway.
Michael

:clap: and me. Mind you I'm easily pleased.

 

[Gus Horsley]

Hi Kev,

As I recall Phalaropes can spin either direction but I think the basic understanding is that a particular individual will only spin in one direction - although I do remember reading a report this year of an individual supposedly spinning in two directions.

Luke

It all depends on which way the spring is wound on the mechanism.

Gus

 

[London Birder]

:clap: and me. Mind you I'm easily pleased.

:clap: and me