Norfolk birding (1 Viewer)

[dantheman]

Completely forget where but sure that within the last 6 months (on bf?) another bird written off as a hybrid was then reconsidered to be just a normal fudge.

Reverse stringing or what?

 

[stuart white]

I'd like to know too (I do have a vested interest though). Surely if there are Pochard genes in there they didn't enter in the bird's recent ancestry?

It's a pretty good looking fudge, but the head is more pochard shaped IMO, sloping forehead and peaked crown. The other wrong feature is the black on bill tip, should only be the nail on fudge, this bird has quite an extensive black tip(close to a quarter of the bill).
Though I can only say this due to the excellent set of photographs. I'm pretty sure the snettisham female from a few years back was poo-pooed by some for similar reasons.

 

[jimmyg]

It's a pretty good looking fudge, but the head is more pochard shaped IMO, sloping forehead and peaked crown. The other wrong feature is the black on bill tip, should only be the nail on fudge, this bird has quite an extensive black tip(close to a quarter of the bill).
Though I can only say this due to the excellent set of photographs. I'm pretty sure the snettisham female from a few years back was poo-pooed by some for similar reasons.

I don't know about the head profile, but I think there's nothing wrong with the bill given that this bird is a female. The black nail is only a requirement for purity in adult males, and having taken a look at photos on Birdguides (including from the breeding range) I don't think the black is too extensive for a female.

And yes, brilliant photos!

 

[stuart white]

I don't know about the head profile, but I think there's nothing wrong with the bill given that this bird is a female. The black nail is only a requirement for purity in adult males, and having taken a look at photos on Birdguides (including from the breeding range) I don't think the black is too extensive for a female.

And yes, brilliant photos!

Hi jimmy

Not according to the bible "Macmillan guide to bird I.D"!
In a quick google search of female ferruginous duck, all of the birds i can see with a more extensive black bill tip are labelled as presumed hybrids.
Where did you read only adult males require the black nail ? I'm not questioning you, just interested as Macmillan is normally spot on

Cheers Stuart

 

[jimmyg]

Hi jimmy

Not according to the bible "Macmillan guide to bird I.D"!
In a quick google search of female ferruginous duck, all of the birds i can see with a more extensive black bill tip are labelled as presumed hybrids.
Where did you read only adult males require the black nail ? I'm not questioning you, just interested as Macmillan is normally spot on

Cheers Stuart

No worries, that's fair enough. I'm referring to the Collins and the Advanced Bird ID Guide.

 

[dantheman]

Could we have the first evidence ever that 'the bible' is wrong? :eek!:

 

[postcardcv]

Interesting stuff about the duck (if a little annoying as i've not photographed a fudge before). Those that were there yesterday did discuss the hybrid possibility but all were happy with it at the time. Looking I can see what people are saying about the shape of the forehead, but I thought hat the bill tip wasn't an issue. I have seen a couple of other fudge hybrids in the past but they have all been obvious, this one really did look good for it in the flesh so I will be interested to hear what else I should be looking for in the future. I have started a thread about it over in the ID section and will link in if any further info comes up on there. Does anyone have a link to the photos that the bird was re-ID'ed from? I'm wondering if they might show other features.

 

[stuart white]

Could we have the first evidence ever that 'the bible' is wrong? :eek!:

Well I guess it was written back in the late 80's and knowledge may have advanced since then, but would you trust a book with no pictures over the bible

 

[Tideliner]

I would guess the hybrids are a left over from the feral ferruginous ducks in the Wensum Valley back in the 1980s and 90 when a small free winged flock from Pensthorpe used to roam the valley along with a much larger flock of red crested pochard and several ruddy shielducks. All of which used to breed in the surrounding area.

 

[MJB]

Well I guess it was written back in the late 80's and knowledge may have advanced since then, but would you trust a book with no pictures over the bible?

It depends on whether the reader of the 'book with no pictures' moves his/her lips while doing so...
MJB

 

[Tractorboy69]

Out of interest are there (unusually) high numbers of Common Scoter being seen around the coast at the moment? There are currently 1000+ lingering off Overstrand which is totally unprecedented for recent years, as usually we have none offshore other than fly-by's. So I was wondering if its just due to it being a good feeding area here at present, or like the Shags, more than usual have been pushed south from the northern North Sea.

Simon

 

[Connor Rand]

I'm pretty sure the snettisham female from a few years back was poo-pooed by some for similar reasons.

By who? Think it was accepted by the CRC wasn't it?

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell November 8th

Today’s highlights

Snow bunting – 10 on beach
Hen harrier – male over saltmarsh then over reedbed later in afternoon
Red crested pochard – pair on fresh marsh, female on Patsy’s reedbed
Yellow legged gull – adult on fresh marsh
Velvet scoter – drake offshore
Slav grebe – 1 offshore
Great skua – 1 offshore
Brambling – 2 on feeders

Paul

 

[Suffolkringer]

So it seems that other than the nail on the bill (which seems to be a little subjective) nobody can give an info as to who did and why this suddenly was turned into a hybrid? Anyone know any of the Birdguides lot to ask?

 

[stuart white]

So it seems that other than the nail on the bill (which seems to be a little subjective) nobody can give an info as to who did and why this suddenly was turned into a hybrid? Anyone know any of the Birdguides lot to ask?

I think the grey tone to the wing bar may suggest pochard influence as well ?

 

[petehasset]

2 Swallows near tower hide at Strumpshaw fen 2day

 

[wolfphotos]

I thought I saw two there today as well but convinced myself I was seeing things. Got some great shots of the bearded tits from fen hide though and two nice field fares as well.

 

[ben_lewis]

There were 7 Swallows at Strumpshaw first thing in the morning. Quite late records for here compared to the last 2 years. I did notice thatthere were 2 adults and at least 4 young so wondered if it could be a very late brood from quite far north?

 

[john miller]

Very late RB Shrike in Martin Prestons Weybourne garden this afternoon. If it is still around in the morning it can be viewed from the beach carpark.

John

http://kellingnature.zenfolio.com/

 

[firefox32]

Bit of an odd post here!!! Have any of you seen any sloes on your birdwatching travels, I am struggling in the normal places I get them this year!! Seem to bee pretty low in numbers!! Any help would be gratefully received!! Thankyou!!