Nick Smith
Member of the Staffordshire Bird Club
Even the pattern of the black band on the upper manibles match. There's a small v section if you look. Like I said, first impressions count more in my opinion than a photo.
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Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter The Moore-hen
- Start date
Even the pattern of the black band on the upper manibles match. There's a small v section if you look. Like I said, first impressions count more in my opinion than a photo.
The Moore-hen
Association of Satirical Birders & Ornitholigists
Blimey, if I wasn't confused before I am now! When I saw the first photo on twitter I thought 'that's a RBG!' it just looked so pale and, more importantly, small enough. When Steve then had the hybrid in the Belvide roost I thought 'Oh well I've f*cked that up again' but those shots showing a different primary pattern in the Priorslee/Belvide bird to the Chasewater bird has really put the cat amongst the gulls! The hybrid is quite obvious (as a hybrid) as it's much too dark for RBG (darker than Common I'd say) and is quite large but I've only seen it once and it was perched on ice not in the water - Steve has seen it enough times to know it by name, so that is what was in the Belvide roost. It does just leave the two bird theory which, although seemingly unlikely at the start, now looks the most likely option to me based on those wing formula shots of Zac's.
It takes me back to the Little Buntings on the Staffs/Worcs border when we couldn't work out why some observers were adamant it was male and others female when it was been seen by different groups that first morning... In the end there were 3 birds in the same game crop!
It takes me back to the Little Buntings on the Staffs/Worcs border when we couldn't work out why some observers were adamant it was male and others female when it was been seen by different groups that first morning... In the end there were 3 birds in the same game crop!
Steve Nuttall
Well-known member
What's the latest from Chasewater this evening. I'm getting lots of mixed messages about this Gull this afternoon. It's a hybrid/ No it's not. Saw an image of a darker mantled bird sent to my phone. Very confusing.
Cheers Steve
Cheers Steve
The Moore-hen
Association of Satirical Birders & Ornitholigists
Couple of tweets from Craig R this afternoon saying hybrid but RBA put out that one message simply saying 'Adult RBG again at 3.15' - must be the same bird as photographed on Sat and RBA aren't moving on their stance it's a pure RBG based on 'expert opinion'. I'm still confused as to whether there are two birds knocking about or not - the photos that Zac posted appeared to show there are! I know why I hate Gulls...
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
The CWG website states for today "The hybrid Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull was again present in the roost"
Nick Smith
Member of the Staffordshire Bird Club
but if you look at that Jane Turner-esque montage of the wing patterns, don't you think the top two wing shots are remarkably similar. The only differece I can se is the angle of the wing. The white blog looks v similar in pattern. That would make the Priorslee bird and Chasewater bird the same. The third picture is a more elongated white blog and is a pure RBG from Ireland.
The Moore-hen
Association of Satirical Birders & Ornitholigists
I must admit I've only looked at them on my phone but will take a proper look on mac screen later - feel like going round in circles at the mo with this! Glad we don't get many gulls at Gailey!
midlands birder
Well-known member
Hi all.
Some new details.
Me and Matt Bruce went back to relocate the bird last night. And very early on in the roost, I picked up on an obvious Ring-billed hybrid. As described, it was almost the size of a LBBG, with a very dark, slateish coloured back, and most significantly, very dark head streaking, creating almost a hooded effect!
This bird was without a doubt a hybrid, but I am not totally convinced the same bird was involved! First of all the size was well off compared to the bird we had Saturday. Saturdays bird was much smaller (significantly so!). The head streaking in my opinion didn't at any point reach quite as dark and extensive as last nights bird, and I'm not totally convinced the mantle was quite that dark (however still noticeably darker). The eye also seemed noticeably darker, rather than the very bright pale eye that we observed Saturday. Unfortunately the bird was not seen/ photographed while stretching its wings (an easy way to prove it to be the same bird), and the views were slightly more distant last night.
MB
Some new details.
Me and Matt Bruce went back to relocate the bird last night. And very early on in the roost, I picked up on an obvious Ring-billed hybrid. As described, it was almost the size of a LBBG, with a very dark, slateish coloured back, and most significantly, very dark head streaking, creating almost a hooded effect!
This bird was without a doubt a hybrid, but I am not totally convinced the same bird was involved! First of all the size was well off compared to the bird we had Saturday. Saturdays bird was much smaller (significantly so!). The head streaking in my opinion didn't at any point reach quite as dark and extensive as last nights bird, and I'm not totally convinced the mantle was quite that dark (however still noticeably darker). The eye also seemed noticeably darker, rather than the very bright pale eye that we observed Saturday. Unfortunately the bird was not seen/ photographed while stretching its wings (an easy way to prove it to be the same bird), and the views were slightly more distant last night.
MB
Steve Nuttall
Well-known member
Hi Craig,
that has made me feel a lot better about the bird I saw at Belvide on Sunday. I was beginning to question myself that I'd cocked up.
I was questioned about my use of the word categorically, but when you've been doing gull roosts the amount of years I have, you almost get to know gulls as individuals. I'm sure other regular gull roosters will agree with me on this. Anyway it does sound like there could be two birds involved.
I must try and get up to Chasewater soon if this bird continues to roost there.
Cheers Steve
The Moore-hen
Association of Satirical Birders & Ornitholigists
Request for information
I'm almost up to date now with reading through the WMBC annual reports from 1947 to find all the past records for Gailey. I know that Smith (not Bernie!) published details of The Birds of Staffordshire in the appendices of the North Staffordshire Field Group 1930-1938 volumes 64-72 but are these available anywhere on-line for me to research? If not, if anybody has a copy and fancies sending me a scanned PDF copy my email address is [email protected]
My research so far has added another 7 species that I wasn't aware had occurred at Gailey as follows: Twite and Pied Fly (1960), Crossbill (1967 - by a P.Jones - he doesn't look that old!), Quail and Manx Shearwater (1969) and Corn Bunting & Wood Warbler (1970). This takes the official Gailey List to 195 - nearly at the 200 mark and there must be old records of Corncrake if I can find them! Still not a sniff of a Little Tern or Sanderling record...unless anyone knows any different? Cheers all.
I'm almost up to date now with reading through the WMBC annual reports from 1947 to find all the past records for Gailey. I know that Smith (not Bernie!) published details of The Birds of Staffordshire in the appendices of the North Staffordshire Field Group 1930-1938 volumes 64-72 but are these available anywhere on-line for me to research? If not, if anybody has a copy and fancies sending me a scanned PDF copy my email address is [email protected]
My research so far has added another 7 species that I wasn't aware had occurred at Gailey as follows: Twite and Pied Fly (1960), Crossbill (1967 - by a P.Jones - he doesn't look that old!), Quail and Manx Shearwater (1969) and Corn Bunting & Wood Warbler (1970). This takes the official Gailey List to 195 - nearly at the 200 mark and there must be old records of Corncrake if I can find them! Still not a sniff of a Little Tern or Sanderling record...unless anyone knows any different? Cheers all.
Nick Smith
Member of the Staffordshire Bird Club
I've got a reproduction copy of Bernie Smiths book. Its 285 pages thick so not really PDFable. But I do have a copy
The Moore-hen
Association of Satirical Birders & Ornitholigists
Blimey, didn't realise it was that big! I thought it was just a few appendices at the end of the Field Group Notes! Assuming it's not on-line anywhere then? Maybe I need to search for a copy to purchase then...back to google searching!
Nick Smith
Member of the Staffordshire Bird Club
I'm fairly certain I bought it from the book shop in Leek. Also have the repro copy of The Birds of Staffordshire by McAldowie from 1893. It mentions Gailey as "a poor place that is very hard work when birdwatching and not really worth the effort but does get the odd rare bird every decade." He describes Westport as "a brilliant oasis in a marvellous vibrant city that makes beautiful cups and plates. Full of exciting interesting birds on a daily basis".
If you want me to look anything specifically up I can do - [email protected]
The Moore-hen
Association of Satirical Birders & Ornitholigists
Looks like nothing much has changed then in over 120 years!
Thanks Nick - I'm basically looking for any Gailey records - species, date, observer(s) and any decent counts - some I've found like 12 Smew and 50 Turtle Dove I don't think will ever be repeated! Anything you can find just drop me an email. Much appreciated...:t:
PS there's a signed copy of McAldowie on the net for £420! And a photocopy for £60!
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Nick Smith
Member of the Staffordshire Bird Club
Looks like nothing much has changed then in over 120 years!
Thanks Nick - I'm basically looking for any Gailey records - species, date, observer(s) and any decent counts - some I've found like 12 Smew and 50 Turtle Dove I don't think will ever be repeated! Anything you can find just drop me an email. Much appreciated...:t:
PS there's a signed copy of McAldowie on the net for £420! And a photocopy for £60!
Mine copy has £17-95 pencilled in the front cover. Apparently only 100 were done originally and it says its quite a rare book.
NickPomiankowski
Well-known member
Changes to Staffs Rarities 2015
Hi All,
From 1/1/2015, Great White Egret will be removed from the county rarities list and Ruddy Duck added back in.
Merry Xmas to everyone.
Nick
Hi All,
From 1/1/2015, Great White Egret will be removed from the county rarities list and Ruddy Duck added back in.
Merry Xmas to everyone.
Nick
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Nine years from a BB rarity to not being on the county rarity list isn't bad going!
steve_zodiac
Well-known member
Yeah, just a shame about the Ruddy Duck, I used to love seeing them. Can't think of the last time I did see one. Just hope the Spanish are happy now :C
Steve Nuttall
Well-known member
With only 10 days left this year, this will be the first year since 1959 that the species has not been recorded at Belvide.
The Moore-hen
Association of Satirical Birders & Ornitholigists
How times change! Could never of imagined Ruddy being a rarity and GWE 'commonplace'! Although, during my research into the birds at Gailey it's so interesting to see how times have changed - for Gailey, double figure counts of Smew, 50+ Turtle Dove (the next description species?), up to 50 Bewick's Swan and for wider Staffs flocks of 1,500 Tree Sparrow and 5,000+ Lapwing! Then again other stuff we now take for granted were mega - Little Gulls were rare, Med Gulls un recorded and 2 Little Egret at Blithfield were exceptional!
