tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50011060290570566912024-03-06T03:29:44.580+00:00Birds and Their HabitatsGeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-25688553263758364642013-04-18T21:11:00.000+01:002013-04-18T21:15:59.424+01:00Session 2 - Fieldtrip to Elton Reservoir, Bury - 18th April 2013Here are some of Alan's photos from today's fieldtrip for now - a full report will follow later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlMWPhqRHGmE6cmdTKCcb2z2MN_nFzAYeD5n6YlYFsyNJXDRnKz4pnfXAFC1k7KXcgZ7YL9HES5yT9SYD15uKawixv9lMWbDWHsUe1NL_I0RRVABVhwnamlxnK5uWOY6d0obrP-Gc0ari/s1600/AF_Arctic+Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlMWPhqRHGmE6cmdTKCcb2z2MN_nFzAYeD5n6YlYFsyNJXDRnKz4pnfXAFC1k7KXcgZ7YL9HES5yT9SYD15uKawixv9lMWbDWHsUe1NL_I0RRVABVhwnamlxnK5uWOY6d0obrP-Gc0ari/s640/AF_Arctic+Tern.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arctic Tern - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjKrfeXvq4n6te3ZDftW3A-9yCyIjiPHLtZSttJzIgrBd20T6WqEffXZMxzkb63bbIbukLYMf1YA2YUQdprQRt6Jkr1_rg1Z7EHqwvLc6k8X7p56nrhw76WABoRT9vLMQycTO8SEpJf0e/s1600/AF_Little+Ringed+Plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjKrfeXvq4n6te3ZDftW3A-9yCyIjiPHLtZSttJzIgrBd20T6WqEffXZMxzkb63bbIbukLYMf1YA2YUQdprQRt6Jkr1_rg1Z7EHqwvLc6k8X7p56nrhw76WABoRT9vLMQycTO8SEpJf0e/s640/AF_Little+Ringed+Plover.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Ringed Plover - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ15nrpRqo3Y8l-CKm5UkxgxfSLOfvsK2BOvYCI6G214sItTkUNq_35opOBOnOhFRE8ToFNnPx1AHLbjt8JpGg1RdZYoHoW6FNe56-vS3bzegRla1MPUJakLwUsNiXYxqF4b60OYEdi6X1/s1600/AF_White+Wagtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ15nrpRqo3Y8l-CKm5UkxgxfSLOfvsK2BOvYCI6G214sItTkUNq_35opOBOnOhFRE8ToFNnPx1AHLbjt8JpGg1RdZYoHoW6FNe56-vS3bzegRla1MPUJakLwUsNiXYxqF4b60OYEdi6X1/s640/AF_White+Wagtail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Wagtail - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
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<br />GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-29499155630542856432013-04-12T18:10:00.004+01:002013-04-14T19:15:07.208+01:00Peter's Starring on the Radio<b>Peter Baron</b>, our glorious leader, will be starring on <b>BBC Radio 4's iPM</b> programme tomorrow (Saturday 13th April) at<b> 5:30pm</b>. I will try to record the program and put it on this website just in case you don't manage to catch it live. As you know, Peter has an incredible knowledge of birds and he is very entertaining with it, so it will undoubtably be a good listen.
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<b>UPDATE:</b><br />
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Click the 'Play' button below to hear Peter's interview on your computer:<br />
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<embed flashvars="audioUrl=http://sites.google.com/site/geekteachersfiles/mp3s/Peter_Baron.mp3" height="27" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="best" src="http://www.google.com/reader/ui/3523697345-audio-player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="transparent"></embed>
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Or if you want to download an MP3 file of it, right click on this link, <b><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/geekteachersfiles/mp3s/Peter_Baron.mp3">Peter on Radio 4</a> </b>and choose '<b>Save As'</b> or '<b>Download Linked File'</b> depending on your computer.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-63933513267005246262013-04-11T18:12:00.000+01:002013-04-18T21:12:14.185+01:00Session 1 - Fieldtrip to Pennington Flash - 11th April 2013The first of our summer term fieldtrips was to <b>Pennington Flash</b> on a wet and windy day. After meeting on the main car park we set off for <b>Horrocks' Hide</b> where the highlights were a <b>Little Ringed Plover</b> and at least five <b>Snipe </b>giving great views out in the open for a change. Other birds here included <b>Goldeneye</b>, <b>Great</b> <b>Crested</b> <b>Grebes</b>, <b>Cormorants</b>, a single <b>Heron</b>, <b>Teal</b>, <b>Redshank</b>, <b>Black</b>-<b>headed</b> Gulls and quite a few <b>Lesser Black-backed Gulls</b> roosting at the end of the Spit.<br />
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After 20 minutes or so here, we made our way to the feeding station at <b>Bunting Hide</b>, which rarely fails to please. Today was no exception, the best bird undoubtably being a stunning <b>Redwing</b> of which we had brief closeup views.<br />
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Redwing at Bunting Hide - (c) Alan Flavell</div>
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We also saw <b>Willow</b> <b>Tits</b>, <b>Bullfinches</b>, <b>Reed</b> <b>Buntings</b>, <b>Chaffinches</b>, <b>Dunnocks</b>, <b>Robins</b>, <b>Great</b> <b>Tits</b>, <b>Blue</b> <b>Tits</b>, <b>Greenfinches</b>, <b>Chaffinches</b>, <b>Stock</b> <b>Doves</b>, <b>Blackbirds</b>, <b>Magpies</b> and <b>Moorhens</b>. The only 'usual' birds I don't remember seeing today were Long-tailed Tits.<br />
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From Bunting Hide we walked on to view the scrapes at <b>Teal Hide</b> where there were <b>Goosander</b>, <b>Gadwall</b>, <b>Shovelers</b>, <b>Coots</b>, <b>Moorhens</b>, <b>Mallards</b>, <b>Mute</b> <b>Swans</b> and of course, <b>Teal</b>. There was also a tiny <b>White Wagtail</b> bobbing around the gravel in the distance,<br />
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After a short but interesting stop we made our way through the woods round the the back of the pools to <b>Ramsdale's Hide</b>. Apart from a lovely <b>Grey Wagtail</b> on the stream along the edge of the Golf Course and some <b>Woodpigeons</b>, there were very few birds to see in the trees, although several species could be heard singing. We paused briefly near the bridge over the canal to look for the resident Kestrel, but with no luck today.<br />
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At Ramsdale's there was no sign of the usual Little Grebes or Kingfisher, and in fact very little to see today and so we didn't stop long. The same was true at <b>Tom Edmondson's Hide</b>, with not even a Heron on view. The only birds we could see were a few<b> Canada Geese</b> and some <b>Teal</b>.<b> </b><br />
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So finally we went back to Bunting Hide to hunt for the elusive male Brambling which has been frequenting the area this year. Unfortunately today we were out of luck, but here's a photo Alan took at Bunting Hide earlier in the week:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjJFiQgFvJW1jAkxodYCZhVK24XWxZCF6tgKJuHifh20W_uxHlLr7fYmPigMxT9mIfyc2VvTLSW_QldC8y6ifilUsU9rD2tuJqhg9zEwMXaal7sb4K6FRqhBkKlPwDkfU813JV46-zoh7/s1600/AF_Brambling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjJFiQgFvJW1jAkxodYCZhVK24XWxZCF6tgKJuHifh20W_uxHlLr7fYmPigMxT9mIfyc2VvTLSW_QldC8y6ifilUsU9rD2tuJqhg9zEwMXaal7sb4K6FRqhBkKlPwDkfU813JV46-zoh7/s640/AF_Brambling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Brambling at Bunting Hide - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
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On the way back to the cars, we stopped briefly for a view over the main Flash where we could see plenty of <b>Sand Martins</b> and the occasional <b>Swallow</b> swooping down over the water catching insects.<br />
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Our last port of call was the car park to look for the female <b>Pintail</b> that's been resident here for a while now. As you can see from Alan's photo, it's a ringed bird and because its bee here so long and is tame coming for bread, most birders believe it to be an escapee from a collection. Still, it's a very elegant bird and quite different to a female Mallard when you look closely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qHVGsvv_smsOipJWP1l3y51WV5SOzcGfCvTi8fzpinxEszfObnyc0Lp0LkvBuoUrpDyXTLMOP44sBwNuwv5TPSJ8_h6kZPiLk9vKJjjalAbbsvVYl2saGTSfAkB-4JNtXGq-djBT4jED/s1600/AF_female+Pintail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qHVGsvv_smsOipJWP1l3y51WV5SOzcGfCvTi8fzpinxEszfObnyc0Lp0LkvBuoUrpDyXTLMOP44sBwNuwv5TPSJ8_h6kZPiLk9vKJjjalAbbsvVYl2saGTSfAkB-4JNtXGq-djBT4jED/s640/AF_female+Pintail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Pintail near the Car Park - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
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Another successful fieldtrip with a total of <b>40 species</b> seen in about three hours.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-75102579960141758052013-03-29T08:09:00.000+00:002013-04-12T18:14:46.721+01:00Collective Nouns for Birds<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>I thought the class might be interested in some of these names for groups of birds:</o:p></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">Sorted by Noun<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="background: #FEC1C1; border-bottom: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 276.45pt;" width="276"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">Sorted by Bird Type<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="background: #C4FDC1; border-top: none; border: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 260.55pt;" width="261"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">aerie of eagles <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">aerie of hawks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">ascension of larks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">band of jays <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bevy of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bevy of quail <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bevy of swans <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bouquet of
pheasants (when flushed) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brace of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brood of chickens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brood of chicks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brood of hens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brood of turkeys
(immature) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">building of rooks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bury of conies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">cast of hawks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">chain of bobolinks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">charm of finches <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">charm of
goldfinches <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">charm of
hummingbirds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">chattering of
choughs <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">chattering of
chicks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">clamor of rooks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">clutch of chicks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">colony of gulls <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">colony of penguins <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">colony of vultures <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">company of parrots <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">congregation of birds
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">congregation of
plovers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">conspirancy of
ravens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">convocation of
eagles <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">cote of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">cover of coots <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of pheasants
(on the ground) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of ptarmigans
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of grouse <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of partridges
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of quail <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">crèche of penguins <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">deceit of lapwings <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">descent of
woodpeckers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">dissimulation of
birds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">dole of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">dule of turtledoves
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">dule of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">exaltation of larks
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">fall of woodcocks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of birds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of
cormorants <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of pigeons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of swallows <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of birds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of chickens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of geese <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of pigeons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of swifts <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of turkeys <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flush of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">gaggle of geese <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">hedge of herons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">herd of curlews <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">herd of swans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">host of sparrows <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">huddle of penguins <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">kettle of hawks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">lamentation of
swans <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">mob of emus <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">murder of crows <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">murmuration of
starlings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">muster of peacocks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">muster of storks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">mustering of storks
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">nest of pheasants <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">nide of pheasants
(on the ground) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">nye of pheasants
(on the ground) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">ostentation of
peacocks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">pack of grouse <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">paddling of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">parcel of penguins <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">parliament of rooks
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">parliament of owls <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">party of jays <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">peep of chickens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">piteousness of
doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">pitying of
turtledoves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">plump of wildfowl <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">plump or waterfowl <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">raft of wigeons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">raft of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">rafter of turkeys <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">rookery of penguins
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">scold of jays <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">sedge of bitterns <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">sedge of cranes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">sedge of herons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">siege of bitterns <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">siege of cranes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">siege of herons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">skein of geese (in
flight) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">skein of goslings <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">sord of mallards <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">spring of teals <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">storytelling of
crows <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">storytelling of
ravens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">storytelling of
rooks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">team of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">tidings of magpies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">unkindness of
ravens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">volery of birds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wake of buzzards <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">walk of snipes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">watch of
nightingales <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wedge of geese
(flying in a 'V') <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wedge of swans
(flying in a 'V') <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wing of plovers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wisdom of owls <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wisp of snipes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #FEC1C1; border-bottom: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #6D6D6D 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 276.45pt;" width="276"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">congregation of
birds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">dissimulation of
birds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of birds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of birds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">volery of birds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">sedge of bitterns <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">siege of bitterns <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">chain of bobolinks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wake of buzzards <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brood of chickens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of chickens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">peep of chickens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brood of chicks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">chattering of
chicks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">clutch of chicks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">chattering of
choughs <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bury of conies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">cover of coots <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of
cormorants <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">sedge of cranes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">siege of cranes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">murder of crows <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">storytelling of
crows <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">herd of curlews <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bevy of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">cote of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">dole of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">dule of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">piteousness of
doves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brace of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flush of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">paddling of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">raft of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">team of ducks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">aerie of eagles <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">convocation of
eagles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">mob of emus <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">charm of finches <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of geese <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">gaggle of geese <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wedge of geese
(flying in a 'V') <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">skein of geese (in
flight) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">charm of
goldfinches <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">skein of goslings <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of grouse <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">pack of grouse <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">colony of gulls <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">aerie of hawks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">cast of hawks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">kettle of hawks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brood of hens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">hedge of herons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">sedge of herons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">siege of herons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">charm of
hummingbirds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">band of jays <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">party of jays <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">scold of jays <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">deceit of lapwings <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">ascension of larks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">exaltation of larks
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">tidings of magpies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">sord of mallards <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">watch of
nightingales <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">parliament of owls <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wisdom of owls <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">company of parrots <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of partridges
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">muster of peacocks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">ostentation of
peacocks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">colony of penguins <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">crèche of penguins <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">huddle of penguins <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">parcel of penguins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">rookery of penguins
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">nest of pheasants <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of pheasants
(on the ground) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">nide of pheasants
(on the ground) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">nye of pheasants
(on the ground) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bouquet of
pheasants (when flushed) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of pigeons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of pigeons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">congregation of
plovers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wing of plovers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of ptarmigans
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bevy of quail <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">covey of quail <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">conspirancy of
ravens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">storytelling of
ravens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">unkindness of
ravens <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">building of rooks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">clamor of rooks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">parliament of rooks
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">storytelling of
rooks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">walk of snipes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wisp of snipes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">host of sparrows <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">murmuration of
starlings <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">muster of storks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">mustering of storks
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flight of swallows <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">bevy of swans <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">herd of swans <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">lamentation of
swans <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">wedge of swans
(flying in a 'V') <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of swifts <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">spring of teals <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">flock of turkeys <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">rafter of turkeys <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">brood of turkeys
(immature) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">dule of turtledoves
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">pitying of
turtledoves <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">colony of vultures <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">plump of waterfowl <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">raft of wigeons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">plump of wildfowl <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">fall of woodcocks</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">descent of woodpeckers</span></div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-91637026909207792782013-03-21T18:15:00.000+00:002013-04-12T18:16:35.689+01:00Session 9 - 24th March 2013<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Report to follow soon ...</i></b></div>
GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-73232777596500174942013-03-14T19:10:00.000+00:002013-04-12T18:13:59.529+01:00Session 8 - 14th March 2013We began the session with a recap on the birds seen during our full day fieldtrip to <b>Fairburn Ings RSPB</b> last week, and a total of <b>57 species</b> were agreed by the class as a whole. Then Peter asked us to consider which places we would like to go to on our seven half day fieldtrips which make up next term. A sheet was also given out for us to complete regarding topics we would like to cover in the next academic year.<br />
<br />
The main focus of this session was on the second part of <b>Bird Migration</b> - the amazing statistics. Migration is one of the most astonishing feats of the natural world with millions of birds migrating over long distances in order to benefit from seasonal resource surpluses and to avoid predators and competitors. <br />
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The scale of bird migration is difficult to comprehend - here is a rough estimate of the European population of common migratory species returning to Africa with their newly fledged juveniles each Autumn:<br />
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<center>
<table border="1" bordercolor="#FFCC00" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="background-color: #ffffcc; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b> Migrating Bird</b></td>
<td><b> Number (in millions)</b> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Willow Warbler</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
900</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Sand Martin</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
375</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Tree Pipit</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
260</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Spotted Flycatcher</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
250</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Swallow</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
220</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Blackcap</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
200</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Garden Warbler</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
200</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Lesser Whitethroat </td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
150</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Wheatear</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
120</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Redstart</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
120</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Whitethroat</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
120</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Ortolan Bunting</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
120</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> House Martin</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
90</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Yellow Wagtail</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
70</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> Whinchat</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
45</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pied Flycatcher</td>
<td><div style="text-align: center;">
30</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
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The above <b>16 species</b> alone account for <b>3,300 million migrants</b> going into Africa. On top of this another <b>50 species</b> of songbirds go into Africa in varying numbers as well as about <b>40 million</b> birds of prey, which are mainly falcons but with up to 1 million being Steppe Buzzards (Eastern Race). About <b>700,000</b> White Storks also leave Europe for Africa and small passerines including a huge number of Swifts also account for another <b>200 million</b> birds. In total therefore, around <b>500 million birds</b> migrate to Africa each year and this excludes waders, sea birds and water birds. This means that on average one bird from every five acres of Europe migrates there - phew!<br />
<br />
The birds migrate on a broad front across <b>2,500 </b>miles from Portugal to Eastern Turkey. 500 million migrants means <b>2 million</b> birds per mile of coastline each autumn. The main migration event lasts six weeks and that mean <b>50,000</b> birds cross each mile of coastline each night.<br />
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We finished off this topic by looking at the migratory habits of some individual species including Robin, Chaffinch, Blackbird as well as what triggers migration and which time of day each species migrates. We also briefly considered the migration routes for different types of birds, with large birds such a Cranes and some birds of prey not being able to sustain flapping flight choosing the path with the shortest area of water to cross, such as at Gibraltar or the east end of the Mediterranean Sea.<br />
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With spring nearly upon us, we next looked at the <b>Raptors</b> which are summer visitors (March to October) to Britain. In addition to the twelve winter Raptors discussed in a previous session, a further four are summer only visitors, with only the Marsh Harrier being either resident or migratory. The four 'extra' birds are:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/montagusharrier/index.aspx">Montagu's Harrier</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/honeybuzzard/index.aspx">Honey Buzzard</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/hobby/index.aspx">Hobby</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/o/osprey/index.aspx">Osprey</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
The best way to identify these summer Raptors is to familiarise ourselves with our common residents, so that differences can be identified. The way a Buzzard or Harrier flies should be known as well as how the three resident falcons behave. It is only when the common birds can be confidently identified that the scarcer birds which are not seen all year round can be spotted.<br />
<br />
The ability to differentiate between flying Buzzards and Harriers is vital and once this is learnt, we need to know which features separate our Common Buzzard from the Honey-buzzard in flight, and know how they hold their wings when soaring or gliding. The Honey Buzzard holds its wings very flat and it has a longer tail whereas the Common Buzzard's wings are held in a much deeper V shape and its tail length doesn't exceed its wing width. The Honey Buzzard generally has three unevenly spaced dark bands underneath with a broad terminal band.<br />
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<div>
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The <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/peregrine/index.aspx">Peregrine</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/merlin/index.aspx">Merlin</a></b> are two falcons which chase birds and so they have broad based wings for power and fast flapping flight. The <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/k/kestrel/index.aspx">Kestrel</a></b> however is a falcon which doesn't chase birds, preferring to eats voles and small rodents and so it drops on its prey from a height. Its narrower pointed wings are built for hovering and its tail length is much longer as it is used for stability in the air. The <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/hobby/index.aspx"><b>Hobby</b></a> which eats both dragonflies and sometimes small birds also has narrow pointed wings.<br />
<br />
We went on to look at <b>Wykeham Forest</b> which is a site in Yorkshire 10 miles east of Pickering on the road to Scarborough which is famed for its views of <b>Goshawks</b> and, from May to August<b>, Honey Buzzards</b>. A map was given out as well as directions to the Forestry Commission's <b><a href="http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/englandnorthyorkshirenoforestwykehamforestraptorviewpoint">Raptor Viewpoint</a></b> overlooking the keepered woods to the north of the viewpoint. <a href="http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/categories/articleitem.asp?item=744"><b>Goshawks</b> </a>can be seen all year round above the breeding wood but are best seen on calm sunny days from February to late April when they engage in their '<b>skydancing</b>' breeding behaviour.<br />
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Summarise Yorkshire Post article on Goshawks and Honey Buzzards here ...<br />
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Our <b>Bird in Focus</b> this week was the <b><a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/bird-in-focus-yellowhammer.html">Yellowhammer</a></b> which was once a very common bird in Britain but which sadly is now in decline. We read through another article from Yorkshire Post ....<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8553189786_73c63b9ca8_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8553189786_73c63b9ca8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Kingfisher at Moore Nature Reserve - (c) Martyn Jones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Martyn then did his usual 'show and tell', with closeup photos of a male <b><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8553189786_73c63b9ca8_z.jpg">Kingfisher</a></b> as well as female <b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjo7McFmI6YncO8lK4J_OUsMigKCCmNdHn9YWiSHECAZwkAq2ouzrYX06BuqTMQKWqu3ibqNOp7mtzDP6jHAQPEl9nNKWUV_uqttFtgIcbam8xMOoasSXuk_TnbuN6oqnXXTJrBswHPI/s640/reedbunting0.jpg">Reed Bunting</a></b> that he just wanted confirming. He also had some record shots of the hard to find female <b><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8551690139_fa5da9e4db_z.jpg">Lesser Spotted Woodpecker</a></b> from <b>Moore Nature Reserve</b> in Warrington.<br />
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Finally some map and direction sheets were given out for <b>Dunsop Bridge</b> and <b>Pendle Hill</b> in Lancashire for those members of the class who wanted to go to look for <b>Goshawks</b> and <b>Dotterel</b> in these two places respectively.</div>
GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-21617266339423516242013-03-14T19:01:00.000+00:002013-04-12T18:14:22.061+01:00Bird in Focus - Yellowhammer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfd_qzg0EGqT81NTMO5toPZqR1-1PFZSKre_Ct7SMjr80OcFaNuS8eZ-oUXkw5ru9rnM_5i5Wf89bFuhDzJRdOZcd37YBC-kGFc5MkyA4t_edA8z07DI4cqfc68lZjMFR4suDhm0LR-49/s1600/yellowhammer+0946-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfd_qzg0EGqT81NTMO5toPZqR1-1PFZSKre_Ct7SMjr80OcFaNuS8eZ-oUXkw5ru9rnM_5i5Wf89bFuhDzJRdOZcd37YBC-kGFc5MkyA4t_edA8z07DI4cqfc68lZjMFR4suDhm0LR-49/s320/yellowhammer+0946-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Male <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/y/yellowhammer/index.aspx"><b>Yellowhammers</b></a> are unmistakeable with a bright yellow head and underparts, brown back streaked with black, and chestnut rump. In flight it shows white outer tail feathers. They are often seen perched on top of a hedge or bush, singing. Its recent population decline make it a Red List species.<br />
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Yellowhammers are found across the UK but are least abundant in the north and west, and absent from some upland areas, such as the Pennines and Highlands of Scotland, as well as some lowland areas, such as the Inner Hebrides and the Orkneys. They favour farmland and open countryside with bushes and hedgerows.<br />
<br />
Yellowhammers can be seen all year round and they eat seeds and insects.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-17502852535050756892013-03-07T22:01:00.000+00:002013-03-20T19:12:43.106+00:00Session 7 - Fieldtrip to RSPB Fairburn Ings - 7th March 2013<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqVAjsJhKjAZx8UVdS3W8yghVrrtSaECmAXkz1ZGVUcR7BcyzmImW6pJ7ohslQcUFqQekosX2orFZK09svYDfYHdqykQoDUjqNDxXoZ_H1oiMuzRzY8W4gI03QPIVG_VS6GUN8-XcddT0/s1600/AF_Tree+Sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqVAjsJhKjAZx8UVdS3W8yghVrrtSaECmAXkz1ZGVUcR7BcyzmImW6pJ7ohslQcUFqQekosX2orFZK09svYDfYHdqykQoDUjqNDxXoZ_H1oiMuzRzY8W4gI03QPIVG_VS6GUN8-XcddT0/s320/AF_Tree+Sparrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Sparrow - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a horrendous journey through bad weather and roadworks up the M62 toward Leeds, we eventually arrived at the <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/fairburnings/">RSPB's Fairburn Ings</a></b> Visitor Centre at around 11am.<br />
<br />
The weather was fairly dull at first but there were brighter interludes during the course of the day and it didn't really rain.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Smew</b> was the order of the day, at least as far as Peter was concerned, and much of the day turned out to be <b>Peter Baron's 'Smew Quest'</b> (with a nod to David Attenborough).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHbfSL7ktx-8s5HoyO46xguqcMvSlmMgDdNKIxPKqNtwWS0LkswLKx-05RHtE91LOx5z9-3OYVlFXxMlNzbP9Zta5NJ1lSYv3QTjSWGKuKDm7VLAHX5CzRPjmhCI4HkIx9V1x7NxEy1-p/s1600/AF_Female+Siskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHbfSL7ktx-8s5HoyO46xguqcMvSlmMgDdNKIxPKqNtwWS0LkswLKx-05RHtE91LOx5z9-3OYVlFXxMlNzbP9Zta5NJ1lSYv3QTjSWGKuKDm7VLAHX5CzRPjmhCI4HkIx9V1x7NxEy1-p/s320/AF_Female+Siskin.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Siskin - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There were all the usual <b>Titmice </b>(<b>Blue</b>, <b>Great</b>, <b>Long-tailed Tits</b>) and <b>Finches</b> (<b>Goldfinch</b> and <b>Greenfinch</b>) as well as a <b>Robin, Blackbird</b> and two <b>Dunnocks</b>, but the star attractions were the male and female <b>Siskins</b>, a <b>Lesser Redpoll</b>, the many <b>Tree Sparrows</b>, a <b>Willow Tit</b> and a <b>Treecreeper</b>.<br />
<br />
When I saw a Siskin on a wellington boot seed feeder I instantly knew it could be a good 'competition shot' for Alan, who was busy firing off a few rounds.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvIVRU7cnFAJ0YIOm7vfz_TBrghwfuhCREGEJiY5T_q2FCR0hQJERgyo92LrXE99INBfOVF3Co36wZDtrFnHtrhlk37bOzpaSJXIOfjmmDYEdzn6srIyLUpPDcrxs8EZ9tlT-phTNsbUN/s1600/AF_Male+Siskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvIVRU7cnFAJ0YIOm7vfz_TBrghwfuhCREGEJiY5T_q2FCR0hQJERgyo92LrXE99INBfOVF3Co36wZDtrFnHtrhlk37bOzpaSJXIOfjmmDYEdzn6srIyLUpPDcrxs8EZ9tlT-phTNsbUN/s320/AF_Male+Siskin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Siskin given the boot - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After this we moved on to the <b>Pickup Hide</b> where we saw <b>Reed Bunting</b> and more <b>Tree Sparrows</b>, <b>Chaffinches</b>, two circling <b>Buzzards</b> being mobbed by a <b>Carrion Crow</b>, with a <b>Grey Heron</b> and a <b>Cormorant</b> doing a flypast.<br />
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<br />
We then followed the woodland trail past the <b>Feeder Screen </b>round to the <b>Kingfisher Screen</b>, first hearing and then seeing a <b>Coal Tit</b> on the way, but with no sign of any Kingfishers - perhaps they should think about renaming it!<br />
<br />
Then we followed the path more or less parallel to the <b>River Aire</b> to the <b>Bob Dickens Hide</b> overlooking the <b>Main Bay</b>. This was a good place to stop for lunch as it was just the right size to seat our ten-strong party of birders. Here we saw male and female <b>Goldeneye</b> and <b>Goosander</b>, <b>Shelduck</b>, <b>Jackdaws</b>, some <b>Great Crested Grebes</b>, <b>Mute Swans</b>, <b>Mallards</b> and <b>Teal</b>. No Smew though.<br />
<br />
We moved on to the <b>Village Bay Hide</b> which provided a very good viewpoint, but through which was blowing a freezing cold wind - needless to say, we didn't stay too long. Before we left we did add a group of early roosting <b>Cormorants</b> and <b>Gadwall</b> to the day list, but still no Smew.<br />
<br />
This was followed by quite a long and fairly unproductive walk through the trees on a raised path separating the lake from the river with just the occasional glimpse of the the water. From the bridge overlooking the west end of <b>Village Bay</b> the 'Smew Quest' continued, but we only got more views of the same birds we'd seen from the previous hide.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxH3hQpr4MeRXtfI-ohvGAT3Su4uRUU-ZvYqHeAiv8ZGtT-_XJxBwnZ5V4Pqlz33CVOA-kJ6ejBAvAZnqbqTqVi6OVv5aMSpGDe_Xym3jziu3uIfiAEeC64L1-svogsHJspM_St99P_HiO/s1600/AF_Oystercatchers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxH3hQpr4MeRXtfI-ohvGAT3Su4uRUU-ZvYqHeAiv8ZGtT-_XJxBwnZ5V4Pqlz33CVOA-kJ6ejBAvAZnqbqTqVi6OVv5aMSpGDe_Xym3jziu3uIfiAEeC64L1-svogsHJspM_St99P_HiO/s320/AF_Oystercatchers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oystercatcher on a stick anyone?</td></tr>
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We moved on to <b>Charlie's Hide</b> where some of the class were rewarded by the sight of a <b>Kingfisher</b> flying up the stream and briefly perching on a branch. There were also some <b>Shoveler</b>, <b>Lapwing</b>, <b>Oystercatchers</b>, <b>Teal</b> and <b>Canada Geese</b> seen through through the viewing windows.<br />
<br />
It was now time for the return journey to the car park and on the way back we met a broadly spoken fisherman who had just caught a young pike which was about two feet long. He had laid it out on the ground in his net and was removing the fishing hook which had lodged itself in its tail of all places.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQy_MGHxicbywk9joBgNBSEW_eIC4zNGn-wEU0ZY2OL55J4AumVAPlskf-arQCuDv5uJr_HOgLUps-SDQQUKLsrIqnQJDqnu5h15-PamoA6P7m7TVmQWOHvNoYMgZwhMmfqNE-VJl4HB9/s1600/AF_Red-legged+Partridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQy_MGHxicbywk9joBgNBSEW_eIC4zNGn-wEU0ZY2OL55J4AumVAPlskf-arQCuDv5uJr_HOgLUps-SDQQUKLsrIqnQJDqnu5h15-PamoA6P7m7TVmQWOHvNoYMgZwhMmfqNE-VJl4HB9/s320/AF_Red-legged+Partridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Covey of Red-legged Partridges - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Quite a long walk back through the houses and along the road was made more enjoyable by hearing and then seeing a group of <b>House Sparrows</b> in a garden bush and later five or six <b>Red-legged Partridges</b> running up towards the crest of a ploughed field.<br />
<br />
We also had some futher views of the main lake where we saw a variety of Gulls, including <b>Great Black-backed</b>, <b>Lesser Black-backed</b>, <b>Herring</b>, <b>Common</b>, and <b>Black-headed</b> varieties with plenty of immature or juvenile birds about. We also got a better view of Laura's <b>Great Crested Stick</b>, which was sticking out of the water near to the bank.<br />
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As we approached the Visitor Centre a walkway led to the east end of the lake where a large group of <b>Mute Swans</b> had amassed due to it being a popular feeding location. After a quick chat on the car park, we all agreed to call in at <b>Lin Dike Hide</b> which overlooks Spoonbill Flash at the eastern end of the Fairburn Ings reserve because we would be going past it on the way home.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTS67j6ggbx_Pkz_BRRQO0TyER58mdCYXji0HMUPdWFvXdJA11QSv1SxsbFUzaimTO_V3oHZKxXEYK7WzbuUNJ5IHX76rTYVzGqiOUkWoZgaddtofx7wgKUJ-1Lq7NJKmZoIE0rIZ0oBI6/s1600/AF_Male+Smew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTS67j6ggbx_Pkz_BRRQO0TyER58mdCYXji0HMUPdWFvXdJA11QSv1SxsbFUzaimTO_V3oHZKxXEYK7WzbuUNJ5IHX76rTYVzGqiOUkWoZgaddtofx7wgKUJ-1Lq7NJKmZoIE0rIZ0oBI6/s200/AF_Male+Smew.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Smew - (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This proved to be a very wise move because we added four new species to our day list here: <b>Little Egret</b>, <b>Wigeon</b>, <b>Ruddy Duck</b> as well the elusive Male and Female <a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/birds-in-focus-smew.html"><b>Smew</b></a> that has been reported here over the last week or so. Martyn couldn't believe it when he first spotted it through his scope and tried his best to get Peter to confirm the sighting, which he did. As they both hurried to get their scopes set up for others to have a look, the Smew slowly drifted behind some vegetation and sadly out of view.<br />
<br />
Whilst doing this, Martyn then spotted the <b>Ruddy Duck</b>, which was a lot easier to see as it was staying in more or less the same place, in spite of it regularly disappearing through diving fairly often. It was unfortunate that not everyone got to see the Smew, but at least they all had good views of the Ruddy Duck.<br />
<br />
We had at total of <b>57 species</b> for the day and this made the prospect of a tedious drive home through the motorway roadworks a little more palatable. And all the way home I kept thinking:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>'Two Smew, Ruddy Duck too, Egret, Wigeon and Duck' </i></b>(with thanks to Trumpton).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/1012833_tcm9-112896.jpg?width=768&crop=(20,20,4000,2260)" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/1012833_tcm9-112896.jpg?width=768&crop=(20,20,4000,2260)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial view of Fairburn Ings - (c) RSPB</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-82032222604728842452013-02-27T20:41:00.000+00:002013-03-08T20:41:59.442+00:00Session 6 - 27th February 2013<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Coming Soon</i></b></div>
GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-76227455157742354362013-02-21T20:40:00.000+00:002013-03-08T20:40:56.047+00:00Session 5 - 21st February 2013<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Coming soon ....</i></b></div>
GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-47560714484840937682013-02-07T22:37:00.000+00:002013-02-18T11:50:50.165+00:00Session 4 - 7th February 2013Following our fieldtrip to <b>Pennington Flash</b> last week, this session began by recapping the birds we saw and checking them on a list. A total of <b>42 species</b> were seen, although not all of them by everyone, and this was a good count considering the very windy weather conditions.<br />
<br />
We then went on to discuss the birds we had seen during the week and Martyn told the class that he had a few birds he'd like positively identifying from some blurry record shots he took in North Wales last weekend - it was agreed to do this at the end of the session.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFPdORem81VuGzjllQq_12cEaDCqx2amrBV9Gt3IE5DUDTxAutJUrrZMsbUgHEf3UiayflXgSN_o0msUySlIvf7hLTbGbRAskPUZwGeDMZ7hPFFlhvR5c50f0xWgbMH0OterDccWaubOS/s1600/BonapartesGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFPdORem81VuGzjllQq_12cEaDCqx2amrBV9Gt3IE5DUDTxAutJUrrZMsbUgHEf3UiayflXgSN_o0msUySlIvf7hLTbGbRAskPUZwGeDMZ7hPFFlhvR5c50f0xWgbMH0OterDccWaubOS/s320/BonapartesGull.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonaparte's Gull</td></tr>
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Our first discussion today centred around last week's homework - to identify a gull from a photograph. Peter had given us some good clues about this bird, but nevertheless it was still quite difficult to pin it down. <br />
<br />
The main clue was that it wasn't a British bird and a book with European birds (such as the Collins bible) would be need to ID it. <br />
<br />
I personally to'ed and fro'ed between a <b>Slender-billed Gull</b> and <b>Bonaparte's Gull</b> as seemed to have most of the features of both - except that was for the dark spot just behind the eye. <br />
<br />
So in the end the bird proved to be a vagrant <b>Bonaparte's Gull</b> in adult winter plumage with the remnants of it's dark hood showing as the spot. Having said that the bird's legs did seem very long for this Gull. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj_HQ7SDgYyO0JZQ4xb2E6l31L_LtbgYTDukwYHmY4FL_FbeJLIO9W8nDmg3hwlB05iZbufI_7AOE9VNgVr0zIbXl0sdTY-2Jea7reruxfAYNJ4yv5MZCjIkqAUQXWJbKiqYs9MPEXlo2/s1600/Harris-Hawk-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj_HQ7SDgYyO0JZQ4xb2E6l31L_LtbgYTDukwYHmY4FL_FbeJLIO9W8nDmg3hwlB05iZbufI_7AOE9VNgVr0zIbXl0sdTY-2Jea7reruxfAYNJ4yv5MZCjIkqAUQXWJbKiqYs9MPEXlo2/s200/Harris-Hawk-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harris's Hawk in Flight</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
For our <b>'Birds in History'</b> section, we were given a sheet on the <b><a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/birds-in-history-and-culture-harris-hawk.html">Harris's Hawk</a></b> which recollected Laura's story about the young birds which, when threatened, stand on each other in the nest with the youngest on top forming a pole-like structure. This is thought to be the inspiration for the Native Americans' totem pole!</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
We also had a quick look at a handout from the Yorkshire Post on the 'White Nun' <b><a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/birds-in-focus-smew.html">Smews</a></b> which are increasing number in Yorkshire due to snow and ice in the Low Countries.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvsK0qbSlb-Iu3w230VHwtZHXvWe55pin8JifelWvb3OsHDFPmoM1ybMvrQzCOjvS_OfnoV2ZaOhdhb0QfEq3kLe-MreVCjwycyfIBW79FHuGu4ezhi36KTvjot1bVLluUOtgpr4QHc2Y/s1600/DartfordWarbler11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvsK0qbSlb-Iu3w230VHwtZHXvWe55pin8JifelWvb3OsHDFPmoM1ybMvrQzCOjvS_OfnoV2ZaOhdhb0QfEq3kLe-MreVCjwycyfIBW79FHuGu4ezhi36KTvjot1bVLluUOtgpr4QHc2Y/s200/DartfordWarbler11.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dartford Warbler</td></tr>
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<br />
With spring around the corner, the main topic of this session was the identification of Warblers as they will soon be migrating here as the year progresses. Excluding rarities, we can easily see <b>twelve species</b> of Warbler in Britain, ten of which are regular summer visitors and two of which are resident. The two resident birds are the <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/d/dartfordwarbler/index.aspx">Dartford Warbler</a></b> and <b><a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/birds-in-history-and-culture-cettis.html">Cetti's Warbler</a></b>.<br />
<br />
A useful acronym for remembering the four migrant genera is <b>PALS</b>.<br />
<br />
<b>P </b>- <i>Phylloscopus</i> (3 species) - Chiffchaff, Wood and Willow Warbler<br />
<b>A </b>- <i>Acrocephalus</i> (2 species) - Reed and Sedge Warbler<br />
<b>L</b> - <i>Locustella</i> (1 species) - Grasshopper Warbler<br />
<b>S</b> - <i>Sylvia</i> - (4 species) - Blackcap, Garden, Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat<br />
<br />
Each genera has a favoured habitat, such as marshes, woodland, scrub etc and this helps in their identification. Failure to identify warblers is mainly due to lack of field experience - once you've learnt their songs and perhaps seen them, they're gone - they're only around for half the year at best as they come in the spring to breed and remain until August.<br />
<br />
The most common summer visiting warbler is the <b><a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/birds-in-focus-willow-warbler-and.html">Willow Warbler</a></b> which is often confused with its 'twin species', the <b><a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/birds-in-focus-willow-warbler-and.html">Chiffchaff</a>. </b>As these birds look virtually identical, their song is the most reliable form of identification, the differences being very subtle. Both will have arrived and be in full song by mid-April and sometimes earlier. They are trans-Saharan birds which some here to breed and so they sing their hearts out to get a mate and establish a territory. <b>Chiffchaffs</b> will be in song in the middle of March and the birds you hear will be those which have just arrived<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6m-xGzJktTYH-hhyxgoucfiQlPnoYFp4nXMW-OwuPmwMd50bdsHBiE0uzAFpPm8JVCtQpbEr2XmfpOriPHTiKuZnQofpsT1c7DcDTK1uECnZBY8ZwYUhH5hj2bwsFy0h1YKV9dNUs0ba/s1600/siberian_chiffchaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6m-xGzJktTYH-hhyxgoucfiQlPnoYFp4nXMW-OwuPmwMd50bdsHBiE0uzAFpPm8JVCtQpbEr2XmfpOriPHTiKuZnQofpsT1c7DcDTK1uECnZBY8ZwYUhH5hj2bwsFy0h1YKV9dNUs0ba/s200/siberian_chiffchaff.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siberian Chiffchaff</td></tr>
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There are no leaves on the trees when they first arrive, and this makes them easy to see April being the best time due to the lack of vegetation. After they have mated they stop singing and the leaves start to appear, making viewing a lot more difficult. Willow Warblers moult in Autumn and leave by September. Some Chiffchaffs overwinter in Britain and we currently have a <b>Siberian Chiffchaff</b> along with two 'normal' Chiffchaffs at <b>Wince Brook</b> in Middleton.<br />
<br />
Whereas Willow Warbler and Chiffchaffs are 'lookalikes', some birds are 'soundalikes', such as the <b>Reed Warbler </b>and <b>Sedge Warbler</b> and the <b>Blackcap</b> and <b>Garden Warbler</b>. The <b>Common Whitethroat</b> is a rusty-tinged bird that wants to be seen, whereas the <b>Lesser Whitethroat</b> is a greyer bird which doesn't want to be seen. More on these next time.<br />
<br />
We continued the session with Peter's fascinating account of why birds migrate, which is now presented here in summary form.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The most recent Ice Age, which had lasted for about 70,000 years, came to an end some 10,000 years ago. There have been five Ice Ages in the past, each separated by an interglacial period and bird migration started at the end of the last Ice Age. At the peak of the last Ice Age about 15,000 years ago, the mean temperature in Britain was 15° C lower than it is today. As the mean temperature in Britain today is about 8</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">°</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> C, that means the temperature was about -7</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">°</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> C on average. In Mediterranean Europe it was 10</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">°</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> lower and in the tropics it was 5</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">°</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> lower than today.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">At the end of the last Ice Age, Spain and Portugal, France and south east England were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tundra">tundra</a> habitats with low temperatures, no trees and a short growing season. The Ice Cap was about 1 mile thick in the northern parts of Britain and so there really was not much life about. Any heat from the sun was reflected back into space off the ice by the albedo effect.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">When the Ice Age finally came to an end, huge volumes of water were produced by the melting ice and the UK became an island being cut off from France by the water which became the English Channel. The temperature rose and life started to be reborn after 70,000 years of Arctic conditions. With the revegetation of the land came insects and after thousands of years the UK was eventually completely forested. It is noted in the Domesday Book that in 1066 the whole of the country was covered in trees.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Meanwhile most life was concentrated in what is now Africa, which was a 'Garden of Eden' 5000 years ago. The Sahara Desert area was much bigger than it is today, so big that it acted as a barrier to movement of living things. But as the global water levels rose, the Sahara shrank in size. Previously there had been nothing much north of the Sahara, but as it receded it became less of an obstacle and new territories and lands were opened up for living things, including birds.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In the highly populated area south of the Sahara there was competition for food and also many predators. So some birds started pioneer northerly movements to find food elsewhere which they did in abundance north of the Sahara, as well as there being no predators. There was also the added benefit of longer daylight hours for hunting insects and foraging for food and all these factors led to birds having bigger and healthier broods. The birds which moved north did better than those that stayed put and so natural selection favoured the migrants, who passed on their behaviour through their genes to their offspring.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">After breeding, some birds then returned home and so this was the start of the traditional migratory routes which many birds continue every year. The natural ancestral home of many birds we call British (such as Swallows) is Africa. It must benefit the species that have this strategy or else they would not survive or do it. Any bird migration takes place to exploit seasonal (albeit temporary) benefits.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">To conclude, a wise and famous man (I think it was Peter) once said '<b><i>A bird will only undertake a migratory journey if the benefits of the journey outweigh the risks of staying put - it does, so they do it</i></b>'.</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
For homework we were given a sheet with three '<b>Mystery Migrants'</b> to identify and we finished off the session by identifying the birds on some of Martyn's blurry photos. The one he was most pleased about was the <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/purplesandpiper/index.aspx">Purple Sandpiper</a>, </b>the topmost bird in the shot below, as this was a 'lifer' for him.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNp9pO9looBtCI61aoUryTr_yOs9TIqQgTn5r3huZZRAInlGPvXeCqk4vsjfsiE10W7-ySQJCNcxBtXPrJVWEXxG746ZiYQ1FfER0HA_LLDe3avJ6gz47vJkCa4E7hIaSPCTDUPCuxgPh/s1600/mixedflock4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNp9pO9looBtCI61aoUryTr_yOs9TIqQgTn5r3huZZRAInlGPvXeCqk4vsjfsiE10W7-ySQJCNcxBtXPrJVWEXxG746ZiYQ1FfER0HA_LLDe3avJ6gz47vJkCa4E7hIaSPCTDUPCuxgPh/s640/mixedflock4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed flock of Turnstones, Dunlin and a Purple Sandpiper - (c) Martyn Jones</td></tr>
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<br />GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-77789251555853560732013-02-07T21:49:00.000+00:002013-02-17T19:53:55.112+00:00Birds in Focus - Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD1uH8lvEf22Pi1a54CwqMHIzk8mY1fIYVfXXXwO1gn14zz5orXIf95O58JK2FrAJ-QQ_FdUHAO7PIEYAksm21MsV3-1p9nAwp2AmREgL64PwlXHk9B9zGsFtKRIPevxOU53J-ry8XIi9/s1600/Willow+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD1uH8lvEf22Pi1a54CwqMHIzk8mY1fIYVfXXXwO1gn14zz5orXIf95O58JK2FrAJ-QQ_FdUHAO7PIEYAksm21MsV3-1p9nAwp2AmREgL64PwlXHk9B9zGsFtKRIPevxOU53J-ry8XIi9/s320/Willow+Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow Warbler</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/willowwarbler/index.aspx"><b>Willow Warblers</b></a> are small birds with grey-green backs and pale under parts. They have a yellow tinged chest and throat and pale supercillium (the stripe above the eye). They are separated from the very similar chiffchaff by their song. Their population, especially in southern Britain, has undergone a moderate decline over the past 25 years making them an Amber List species.<br />
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Willow warblers are widespread and can be seen in suitable habitat across most of the UK. They can be readily seen from April to September and they eat a wide variety of small insects and spiders. Fruit and berries in autumn.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gzy_NdStnk3XvJs1mC0_iRKfpQE6wZxf1E_1IbWmB6-yMB1PyPbaUkG4OsZ-A9icJLKBB69Y9aRHuW80EQgbhiynpUPLcX4HS7J60hz25nKeb9Si3IqhApCnC85_NGNT1WSUkO0kV7f_/s1600/chiffchaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gzy_NdStnk3XvJs1mC0_iRKfpQE6wZxf1E_1IbWmB6-yMB1PyPbaUkG4OsZ-A9icJLKBB69Y9aRHuW80EQgbhiynpUPLcX4HS7J60hz25nKeb9Si3IqhApCnC85_NGNT1WSUkO0kV7f_/s320/chiffchaff.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiffchaff</td></tr>
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The <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/chiffchaff/index.aspx">Chiffchaff</a></b> is a small olive-brown warbler which actively flits through trees and shrubs, with a distinctive tail-wagging movement. It is less bright than the very similar Willow Warbler and is readily distinguished by its song, from where it gets its name. Chiffchaff pick insects from trees and also fly out to snap them up in flight.<br />
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The favour lowland woodlands, parks and large gardens and can be seen all year round, but most arrive in late March and depart in August and September. They eat insects.<br />
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GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-60042436290589669922013-02-07T21:47:00.000+00:002013-02-17T20:20:27.492+00:00History and Culture - Harris's Hawk<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSBuLgSe1y8bsJJk9iy_L-zzig4oBX2sLO8NhaVNGbzEbpeJzIbsBwJ_lCJ4rH_6mrCOB9LHqDHSvmoEI2K1suHMEuDslD8RSFuVUNDirAJMPkZl4XVxd2guns1RhsSOnoW445ruwo9le/s1600/harriss_hawk_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSBuLgSe1y8bsJJk9iy_L-zzig4oBX2sLO8NhaVNGbzEbpeJzIbsBwJ_lCJ4rH_6mrCOB9LHqDHSvmoEI2K1suHMEuDslD8RSFuVUNDirAJMPkZl4XVxd2guns1RhsSOnoW445ruwo9le/s320/harriss_hawk_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harris's Hawk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Harris's Hawk</b> is a medium-large brown bird of prey weighing about 2lbs and found in south-west United States and Central America. <br />
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<b>John James Audubon</b> gave this bird its English name in honour of his ornithological companion, financial supporter, and friend <b>Edward Harris</b>.<br />
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The bird is notable for its behaviour of hunting cooperatively in "packs", consisting of family groups while most other raptors hunt in solitary. They search the brush for birds and mammals.<br />
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If the unattended young are threatened whilst in the nest, they have a very unusual strategy to use as a deterrent. The young birds cooperate to form a pole-like structure with their bodies, with the youngest and smallest at the top. Some say that this formation is where the North American Indians got their inspiration for the <b>totem pole!</b><br />
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Escaped falconry Harris's Hawks are frequently seen in Britain and one recently was proving to be a visitor attraction at our local <b>Heaton Park</b> in Manchester.<br />
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GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-59159727535802965312013-02-07T20:20:00.000+00:002013-03-08T21:21:48.058+00:00Birds in Focus - Smew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-XSc0z8Jbz36iAi8qJ5LMmbPYzpB_JrZ-qAozSUvaoIXSQ4OuH7sLV-PTi0njchhkODzNhquRo15nMau3aXYGlhOQjjErZrT12GBznOJJ2S5DCZhPuBlzRoyIdZ95cCipPLo73_LD9Hw/s1600/Smew1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-XSc0z8Jbz36iAi8qJ5LMmbPYzpB_JrZ-qAozSUvaoIXSQ4OuH7sLV-PTi0njchhkODzNhquRo15nMau3aXYGlhOQjjErZrT12GBznOJJ2S5DCZhPuBlzRoyIdZ95cCipPLo73_LD9Hw/s320/Smew1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/smew/index.aspx">Smew</a></b> is a small compact diving duck with a delicate bill. The male is white with a black mask and a black back, and for this reason it is sometimes called a 'White Nun'.<br />
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In flight, it shows black and white wings. It is a winter visitor in small numbers from Scandinavia and Russia. Sometimes birds move here from Holland and Denmark to escape freezing weather there. Little is known about this bird on its breeding grounds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByNkqK-GtpKDjiClOuWIwPcha-CwD-Ot33vGkmO6B_TITtQ49AnFPEe7g3yhehjowAkT4T3xhFmyo_JW2rJ3LdMaUc3bG3j9Xciy4xy9aTH0lOrL6oXNqWK1cEWE5vywXToXWr0YCB6fB/s1600/Female_Smew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByNkqK-GtpKDjiClOuWIwPcha-CwD-Ot33vGkmO6B_TITtQ49AnFPEe7g3yhehjowAkT4T3xhFmyo_JW2rJ3LdMaUc3bG3j9Xciy4xy9aTH0lOrL6oXNqWK1cEWE5vywXToXWr0YCB6fB/s320/Female_Smew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The female Smew is grey with a reddish-brown head and white cheek and the juvenile birds are very similar to the females. For this reason they are often collectively called Red Head Smews.<br />
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Most are found south of a line between the Wash and the Severn. Birds sometimes turn up on quite small areas of water so it's worth looking for at any inland lake in winter, particularly in very cold weather. In the UK Smews can be seen from December to March and they eat fish, insect larvae and other insects.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-36231813346221961952013-02-01T06:31:00.001+00:002013-02-17T20:24:44.671+00:00Session 3 - Pennington Flash Fieldtrip - 31st January 2013Today's session took the form of a fieldtrip to <b>Pennington Flash</b> in Leigh. The weather was sunny but very windy and quite cold, so the prospects for seeing birds wasn't all that good.<br />
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We met on the car park at 1:30pm and set off for the <b>Bunting Hide</b> feeding station. We normally would visit Bunting Hide last, but as the hides have been shut quite early this year, we decided to go here first and not risk missing the birds.<br />
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Bunting Hide rarely disappoints and today was no exception. There were plenty of birds to see and some in quite large numbers. Here's a list of what was on view today:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNXOFVYq1tw-cpu27pdXypR_FjlPJFKtqIJFmry0tNPzUYYwLgYfnL46M2Kn2vwOA1EACvEJYepXyLHxYIjInTYCvy7fFR-4TKBJYLOJFJiz7txxgmspBcmKlYljnqq5C8bxTY_2it8-a/s1600/AF_Long+tailed+Tit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNXOFVYq1tw-cpu27pdXypR_FjlPJFKtqIJFmry0tNPzUYYwLgYfnL46M2Kn2vwOA1EACvEJYepXyLHxYIjInTYCvy7fFR-4TKBJYLOJFJiz7txxgmspBcmKlYljnqq5C8bxTY_2it8-a/s320/AF_Long+tailed+Tit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-tailed Tit (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>Male and female <b>Reed Bunting</b> </li>
<li><b>Long-tailed Tit</b></li>
<li><b>Willow Tit</b></li>
<li>Male and female <b>Bullfinch</b></li>
<li><b>Blue Tit</b></li>
<li><b>Great Tit</b></li>
<li><b>Greenfinch</b></li>
<li><b>Dunnock</b></li>
<li>Male and female <b>Chaffinch </b></li>
<li><b>Robin</b></li>
<li><b>Moorhen</b></li>
<li>Male and female <b>Teal</b></li>
<li><b>Magpie</b></li>
</ul>
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From Bunting Hide we walked to <b>Tom Edmonson's Hide</b> which gave us a brief respite from the wind. Along the path we could hear <b>Goldfinches</b> chattering away in the bushes and we saw two <b>Blackbirds</b> fly across an opening in the hedge. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjX_89Yn1tEHc93Qovgeaj55GCUxTOyZCBGNFeKDEEU09blbeL6t29mHW9YUBlUdl4vZuLhAlN18Wbozz94K1UkUVteKtnTsrnKx3AnKcQeiDtivkhjOsZi1cHL5L6dSi5gH1ZnuV3suN/s1600/AF_Male+Teal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjX_89Yn1tEHc93Qovgeaj55GCUxTOyZCBGNFeKDEEU09blbeL6t29mHW9YUBlUdl4vZuLhAlN18Wbozz94K1UkUVteKtnTsrnKx3AnKcQeiDtivkhjOsZi1cHL5L6dSi5gH1ZnuV3suN/s320/AF_Male+Teal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teal (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
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There wasn't too much about in view from the hide, but we did see:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjX_89Yn1tEHc93Qovgeaj55GCUxTOyZCBGNFeKDEEU09blbeL6t29mHW9YUBlUdl4vZuLhAlN18Wbozz94K1UkUVteKtnTsrnKx3AnKcQeiDtivkhjOsZi1cHL5L6dSi5gH1ZnuV3suN/s1600/AF_Male+Teal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Mute Swan</b></li>
<li><b>Tufted Duck</b></li>
<li><b>Gadwall</b></li>
<li><b>Teal</b></li>
<li><b>Mallard</b></li>
</ul>
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Then very briefly onto <b>Ramsdales Hide</b> where there was scarcely a bird in sight so we quickly moved on to the reedbeds around the corner. Just before we got there a <b>Kestrel </b>made an appearance hovering over some rough land.<br />
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From the viewing area at <b>Ramsdale's reedbed</b> we could see:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8469749441_30b4d7198d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8469749441_30b4d7198d_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Goosander (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><b>Lapwing</b></li>
<li><b>Cormorant</b></li>
<li>Male and female <b>Goosander</b></li>
<li>Male and female <b>Goldeneye</b></li>
<li><b>Great Crested Grebe</b></li>
<li><b>Little Grebe</b></li>
<li><b>Mute Swans</b></li>
<li><b>Black-headed Gull</b></li>
<li><b>Great Black-backed Gull</b></li>
<li><b>Coot</b></li>
</ul>
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From here we took the walk through the wooded area back to Teal Hide. There was nothing much about on the way, but when we got there we saw: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwANtNvWQqzkOtlYroWMDi5Sv6lrujoEXypdDfmiN7Ku830E8OsvsqEorqeSlQtubyxDrKjIQ3bCWBzOz35BngETwUfTSn9bpyC275c280tuqDHHmorcIZNqH56JyKx80VyiHyhP2K12tc/s1600/AF_Male+Shoveler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwANtNvWQqzkOtlYroWMDi5Sv6lrujoEXypdDfmiN7Ku830E8OsvsqEorqeSlQtubyxDrKjIQ3bCWBzOz35BngETwUfTSn9bpyC275c280tuqDHHmorcIZNqH56JyKx80VyiHyhP2K12tc/s320/AF_Male+Shoveler.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoveler (c) Alan Flavell </td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><b>Goosander</b></li>
<li><b>Shoveler</b></li>
<li><b>Wigeon </b></li>
<li><b>Teal</b></li>
<li><b>Gadwall</b></li>
<li><b>Coot</b></li>
<li><b>Mute Swan</b></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzt0gids8hZQ5J2B5pI6ICAeILV1ccaM9osesOq3UXS6Uq5pdIefqaX-eVRnhA5TwdlnPl5awUfI975NvKW4sEQejZu6dDjQYecvlyjMlmO-69FYBIAsKW1ZP9Mef36Afmh1lwB_n86OK/s1600/AF_Siskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzt0gids8hZQ5J2B5pI6ICAeILV1ccaM9osesOq3UXS6Uq5pdIefqaX-eVRnhA5TwdlnPl5awUfI975NvKW4sEQejZu6dDjQYecvlyjMlmO-69FYBIAsKW1ZP9Mef36Afmh1lwB_n86OK/s320/AF_Siskin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siskin in Alder Tree (c) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
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Perhaps the highlight of the trip was what came next. On the way back to the car park Peter heard some birds calling from a tall <b>Alder trees </b>outside Lapwing Hide. At first we could see them but, as we moved round and changed our position, some male and female <b>Siskin</b> came into view.<br />
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They were feeding by hanging upside down on the cones to get at the seeds. Up to four birds were in view, but when they flew off there were at least six or seven of them, showing how difficult it is to see them.<br />
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They landed in another tree a little further down the path and Peter set up his scope to get a better view. There were also some <b>Goldfinches</b> in the same tree. Peter also noticed some <b>Redwing</b> flying high above us in the distance and a <b>Carrion Crow</b> also surfed the wind.<br />
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We had a quick look on the water for any Mediterranean Gulls amongst the <b>Black-headed Gulls</b>, but none were evident today. However there were some <b>Common Gulls</b>. On the car park there was the usual mix of<b> Canada Geese</b>, <b>Mallards</b>, <b>Moorhens</b>, <b>Mute Swans</b> and more <b>Black-headed Gulls</b>, with some <b>Coot</b> on the water.<br />
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So after what looked like a potentially iffy day, we saw a total of <b>42 species</b>.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-21425790292257843362013-01-24T13:40:00.000+00:002013-01-29T09:36:34.265+00:00Session 2 - 24th January 2013The session began with Peter giving us details of next week's fieldtrip to <b>Pennington Flash</b> in Leigh - meet at Whitefield Library at 1:00 or Pennington Flash at 1:30pm.<br />
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We then went on to quickly discuss the birds we had seen last week, which included two Barn Owls and some Goosander seen by Martyn and Alan mentioned five Waxwings which had turned up in Bury.<br />
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The first topic we looked at today was the identification of fairly common seabirds and to do this we were given a large handout containing 21 birds. However, although there were 21 birds, there were only 17 species as some drawings were of both the male and female forms of each bird.<br />
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In summary, the birds were:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/redbreastedmerganser/index.aspx">Red-breasted Merganser</a> (male and female)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/e/eider/index.aspx">Eider Duck</a> (male and female)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/commonscoter/index.aspx">Common Scoter</a> (male and female)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/v/velvetscoter/index.aspx">Velvet Scoter</a> (male and female)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/shag/index.aspx">Shag</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/cormorant/index.aspx">Cormorant</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greatnortherndiver/index.aspx">Great Northern Diver</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/blackthroateddiver/index.aspx">Black-throated Diver </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/redthroateddiver/index.aspx">Red-throated Diver</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/redneckedgrebe/index.aspx">Red-necked Grebe</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greatcrestedgrebe/index.aspx">Great Crested Grebe</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/slavoniangrebe/index.aspx">Slavonian Grebe </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/puffin/index.aspx">Puffin</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/littleauk/index.aspx">Little Auk</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/blackguillemot/index.aspx">Black Guillemot</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/guillemot/index.aspx">Guillemot</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/razorbill/index.aspx">Razorbill</a></li>
</ul>
Next we went on look at the 'twin species' of <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/cormorant/index.aspx"><b>Cormorant</b></a> and <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/shag/index.aspx"><b>Shag</b></a>. Both these species can be seen all year round, but their distribution is quite different and this can be diagnostic. Shag are exclusively marine whereas Cormorants are found everywhere is both salt and freshwater environments.<br />
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Shag are smaller, slimmer necked and thinner billed than Cormorants and the yellow is confined to the gap. In the breeding season (from January onwards) Shag have a crest on their forehead. They tend to leap into the air before plunging fowatd when diving underwater, whereas Cormorants glide more gently underwater. <br />
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So a combination of distribution, size, structure and jizz (behaviour) all helps ID these two species of bird.<br />
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Peter gave us another of Bill Teale's Birdwatch articles from the Yorkshire Post this time about a campaign to save <b>Worlaby Carrs</b> in Lincolnshire, which is a fantastic place to see <b>Short-eared Owls</b>. It seems that the farmer intends to plough up the rough pasture and plant rape seed as his Higher Level Countryside agreement with DEFRA which has caused the field to be unworked since 2000 has come to an end.<br />
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An e-petition for the Carrs to be preserved as rough pasture has been set up by local birders and so far it has attracted 1200+ signatures. As well as the Owls the site also attracts <b>Hen</b> and <b>Marsh Harriers</b>, <b>Peregrine Falcons</b>, <b>Merlins</b>, <b>Kestrels</b>, <b>Common </b>and sometimes <b>Rough-legged Buzzards</b>.<br />
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If you'd like to register your protest by signing the petition, the address is here:<br />
<a href="https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43941"><b><br /></b></a>
<a href="https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43941"><b>Save Worlaby Carrs e-petition</b></a><br />
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To finish today's session we were given a photograph of a gull to identify for homework - see you at Penny with your answers next week! <br />
<ul>
</ul>
GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-9676030787128294842013-01-24T09:17:00.000+00:002013-01-29T09:37:23.256+00:00Birds in Focus - Cormorant and ShagSuperficially <b>Cormorants</b> and <b>Shags</b> are quite similar-looking birds which can be difficult to tell apart, especially from a distance or in poor light. However, they each have characteristic features which can be used in identification. <br />
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<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHk-1WA39sE4bCFxgTtpeoPkCypnlsGfc-aqw3g_uKoYcTeg1xnfeQEapilDu34E7Cu2HS40KZbBsdUR1HIB_XgVFIP-K8YfYQzOgmNST3zfoF6ppmUJpxLWFwbvONJsVsuKRKaorqYET/s1600/cormorant_icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHk-1WA39sE4bCFxgTtpeoPkCypnlsGfc-aqw3g_uKoYcTeg1xnfeQEapilDu34E7Cu2HS40KZbBsdUR1HIB_XgVFIP-K8YfYQzOgmNST3zfoF6ppmUJpxLWFwbvONJsVsuKRKaorqYET/s200/cormorant_icon.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cormorant drying wings</td></tr>
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</td>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TNTsNVSKr_HNDxpcDQNu1nEAT7yY-3pVCRWLoTAgdje_6KQycV4zNRoufkiEGY6XreUxZ1QEZk4tshYPtMXQbyff_M6VDL4n6q9Z9tNpnd2BYl55a_6Fwpjkm7_seLfYrOzbwstMv2yN/s1600/Shag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TNTsNVSKr_HNDxpcDQNu1nEAT7yY-3pVCRWLoTAgdje_6KQycV4zNRoufkiEGY6XreUxZ1QEZk4tshYPtMXQbyff_M6VDL4n6q9Z9tNpnd2BYl55a_6Fwpjkm7_seLfYrOzbwstMv2yN/s200/Shag.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shag showing crest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/cormorant/index.aspx">Cormorant</a></b> is a large and conspicuous waterbird which has an almost primitive appearance with its long neck making it appear almost reptilian. It is often seen standing with its wings held out to dry. Regarded by some as black, sinister and greedy, cormorants are supreme fishers which can bring them into conflict with anglers and they have been persecuted in the past. The UK holds internationally important wintering numbers.<br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Cormorants are found around the UK coastline on rocky shores, coastal lagoons and estuaries, it is increasingly being seen inland at reservoirs, lakes and gravel pits. They can be seen all year round and they eat fish.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /> <b>Cormorant (adult)</b> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Size: bigger than mallard </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Feather colours: brown, black, white </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak colours: black/dark grey, yellow </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak length: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak thickness: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak shape: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Leg colour: black/grey, brown </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Behaviour: part of flock, dives underwater </span></li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Cormorant (juvenile) </span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Colouring: Juvenile </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Size: bigger than mallard </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Feather colours: brown, white, grey </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak colours: black/dark grey, yellow </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak length: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak thickness: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak shape: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Leg colour: black/grey, brown </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Behaviour: part of flock, dives underwater </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Th<span style="font-size: small;">e</span> <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/shag/index.aspx">Shag</a></b> is a goose-sized dark long-necked birds similar to cormorants but smaller and generally slimmer with a characteristic steep forehead. In the breeding season adults develop a dark glossy green plumage and prominent recurved crest on the front of their head. In the UK they breed on coastal sites, mainly in the north and west, and over half their population is found at fewer than 10 sites, making them an Amber List species. Shags usually stay within 100-200km of their breeding grounds. <br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">During the breeding season Shags can be seen at their large Scottish colonies on Orkney, Shetland, the Inner Hebrides and the Firth of Forth. Elsewhere they can be seen commonly around the coasts of Wales and South West England (especially Devon and Cornwall).<br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They can be seen all year round and they eat fish and occasionally crustacea and molluscs.<br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Shag (adult) </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Size: bigger than mallard </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Feather colours: brown, black, green </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak colours: black/dark grey, yellow </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak length: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak thickness: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak shape: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Leg colour: black/grey, brown </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Behaviour: part of flock, dives underwater </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Shag (juvenile)</b> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Colouring: Juvenile </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Size: bigger than mallard </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Feather colours: brown, black, white, green </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak colours: black/dark grey, yellow </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak length: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak thickness: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Beak shape: long </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Leg colour: black/grey, brown </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Behaviour: part of flock, dives underwater </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-46944568306533712162013-01-17T18:26:00.000+00:002013-01-28T13:52:12.088+00:00Session 1 - 17th January 2013This was the first session of both the new term and the new year and so much of the first part was concerned with basic administrative tasks. During the term we will be looking at the following topics:<br />
<ul>
<li>British birds and their habitats in winter and spring</li>
<li>How to identify and where to find them</li>
<li>Birds and weather</li>
<li>Birds in history and culture</li>
<li>Identification of closely related or 'twin' species </li>
<li>Birdsong - identification of birds by their songs and calls</li>
<li>Identifying warblers</li>
</ul>
There was also a lot of chat about what people had seen during the five weeks since the last session. Alan and Martyn had seen <b>Waxwings</b> in Howe Bridge Crematorium in Leigh, and had taken some good photographs like this one:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8346280372_79dea5fdd4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8346280372_79dea5fdd4_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wawing eating a Rown berry at Howe Bridge Crematorium - (C) Alan Flavell</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Laura had been to <a href="http://shropshirebirder.co.uk/whixall.html"><b>Whixall Moss</b></a> in north Shropshire where she saw a <b>Hen Harrier </b>amongst many other birds. Alan had been on a trip around <b>Moses Gate Country Park</b> in Bolton with Bolton RSPB and was told about a good place to see a wide variety of dragonflies at Darcy Lever Gravel Pits. This should also attract birds.<br />
<br />
Martyn had seen a <b>Spoonbill</b> and <b>Great White Egret</b> at Marshside RSPB at Southport, two <b>Barn Owls</b> in Horwich and a trip along the North Wales coast had been very productive with <b>Hawfinches</b>, <b>Red-throated Divers</b>, rafts of <b>Common Scoters</b> and <b>Snow Buntings</b> all being seen at various points along the coast.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8382480212_a75984378c_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="616" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8382480212_a75984378c_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow Bunting at Kinmel Bay, North Wales - (C) Martyn Jones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The class then chatted briefly about this week's <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p012msk2"><b>BBC Winterwatch</b></a> programme where <b>Waxwings</b> were shown feeding out of a young lad's hands in Fair Isle, Scotland and <b>Snow Buntings</b> were shown in large numbers on the east coast.<br />
<br />
The main focus of the session was about identifying our two species of <b>wild swans</b>, the <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/whooperswan/index.aspx"><b>Whooper</b></a> and <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/bewicksswan/index.aspx"><b>Bewick's Swans</b></a>, which superficially are both quite similar. Another extract from Bill Teale's Birdwatch articles in the Yorkshire Post was handed out informing us that a regular 'herd' of 100 plus Whooper Swans returns each year to the Lower Derwent Valley reserve between York and Selby. And this year they have been joined by up to eight Bewick's Swans, which is the largest number seen on this reserve for ten years.<br />
<br />
Peter started the wild swan identification by '<i>going off on one</i>' about how the <b>Collins Guide</b> (the birders' bible) calls the Bewick's Swan a <b>Tundra Swan</b> to cater for the book's American audience. He didn't stop there either, also indicating that he doesn't like being referred to as '<i>you guys</i>'<i> </i>by cinema attendants when he and his wife go to the pictures.<br />
<br />
After he had calmed down a little, Peter went on to describe the adult <b>Bewick's Swan </b>as being smaller, stockier and having a shorter neck than the Whooper Swan, but when only one bird is present the size difference may not be as apparent. Therefore it is better to look at the bill pattern and overall extent of the yellow colouration.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0cfX3qqICJqmsfLlwRVC-4P_L7d1Cx4VJmenzCjDDHWQv4YtTmlOooMtXe-L9c0_pAVJUhA_HapAGbbEV-DVpKUjTWTRS2kiRPYFzf33hAT3m_Vfdzf9jhiojjpjDP_xe42Y3lRQqIOM/s1600/Bewicks+Swan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0cfX3qqICJqmsfLlwRVC-4P_L7d1Cx4VJmenzCjDDHWQv4YtTmlOooMtXe-L9c0_pAVJUhA_HapAGbbEV-DVpKUjTWTRS2kiRPYFzf33hAT3m_Vfdzf9jhiojjpjDP_xe42Y3lRQqIOM/s640/Bewicks+Swan.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bewick's Swan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On a Bewick's Swan, the yellow area doesn't come to a point, and it is less extensive finishing 'rounded off' above the nostril. So, from a distance, the bill is predominantly a black or darkish colour. <br />
<br />
On a <b>Whooper Swan</b>, the yellow bill colouration comes down to a sharp point and because it almost exactly follows the bill outline, it almost looks like a 'bill within a bill'. Therefore, from distance, the bill look predominantly yellow in colour.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8381137982_4b72035ed1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8381137982_4b72035ed1_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whooper Swan at Martin Mere - (C) Alan Flavell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The Whooper Swans found in Britain are largely winter visitors from Iceland. On migration they visit estuaries and wetlands in north west England for winter roosts. The Bewick's Swans are winter visitors from Siberia and so are found mainly in eastern and southern Britain, although they can also sometimes be seen on the Wirral at Burton Marsh and in Lancashire. For more information look <a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/whooper-and-bewicks-swans.html"><b>here</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Finally, we were given a photo of a swan to identify and this turned out to be a <b>1st winter Whooper Swan</b> due to it's bill colouration and lighter colour, having lost most of its juvenile brown-coloured down.<br />
<br />
We then went on to briefly look at the identification of <b>wild geese</b> (as opposed to the feral Canada and other 'farmyard' geese so common in parks and water bodies). These wild geese have traditional and separate wintering grounds, and so the location of the sighting is an important aid to identification.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgginT9o82GSESgAjaNcn1gfwMd2vbwjPrZz50kt9sUtENG4iK4z80Xc5VnbT96qOoDpvHiqdzgFPv38f4sI8Bi95nNk6ZJs801MCE9lSnaDxwRm7d7o9AewYpFVr_mp4mKwGU5KU0wqeNf/s1600/pink-footed-goose-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgginT9o82GSESgAjaNcn1gfwMd2vbwjPrZz50kt9sUtENG4iK4z80Xc5VnbT96qOoDpvHiqdzgFPv38f4sI8Bi95nNk6ZJs801MCE9lSnaDxwRm7d7o9AewYpFVr_mp4mKwGU5KU0wqeNf/s200/pink-footed-goose-02.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink-footed Goose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Almost all the <b>grey geese</b> sightings in north west England will be of the Icelandic race of <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/pinkfootedgoose/"><b>Pink-footed Goose</b></a>.<br />
<br />
These geese make landfall in September on the west coast and sometimes migrate as far as Norfolk in eastern England.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXK9NTaGq8QijLQZfGbnSE4Gqliut4cgxc8NYt9XvGDS45fU5xmG2OSmeWn1T8nz8nxo4tKVjMVdv6k4JUIt7t52773qIC8beCCDvdCzbQ2dXxnTDwZWBM2eXc1vzQtgm6QXdT65mTNLX/s1600/Bean+Goose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXK9NTaGq8QijLQZfGbnSE4Gqliut4cgxc8NYt9XvGDS45fU5xmG2OSmeWn1T8nz8nxo4tKVjMVdv6k4JUIt7t52773qIC8beCCDvdCzbQ2dXxnTDwZWBM2eXc1vzQtgm6QXdT65mTNLX/s200/Bean+Goose.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taiga Bean Goose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/beangoose/index.aspx"><b>Taiga Bean Goose</b></a> comes from Finland or Arctic Russia and so is found mainly in eastern England in places such as Norfolk - therefore it is not normally seen in north west England.<br />
<br />
Pink-footed Geese have two main wintering areas: the <b>Ribble Estuary </b>and <b>East Lancashire Mosses</b> and the area around the <b>Wash</b> in eastern England.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4VB5e-nteGMp3LjX4GhfHY02FhcW41IGyVdaud0CLdHBSNYMEbH7kXa3ITBS5dAjTH1sfDrHPdjwihuDBg0ovdfZ6jQmUhq3K59p8CjYG2fP-vXSrUsb-yOH7m2AedPzbimF52pRfecy/s1600/Pink-footed-Geese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4VB5e-nteGMp3LjX4GhfHY02FhcW41IGyVdaud0CLdHBSNYMEbH7kXa3ITBS5dAjTH1sfDrHPdjwihuDBg0ovdfZ6jQmUhq3K59p8CjYG2fP-vXSrUsb-yOH7m2AedPzbimF52pRfecy/s200/Pink-footed-Geese.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinkfeet in flight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To distinguish them from the non-migratory and low-flying <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/canadagoose/index.aspx"><b>Canada Geese</b></a>, the migratory 'Pinkfeet' fly much higher from west to east or east to west across the country and make a <b>bugling wink-wink-wink</b> call (like children in a distant playground according to Peter) rather than the loud <b>honking</b> calls of Canada and Greylag Geese. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kiWyGM0QIcf0QiifLlLi0oO2kLO3K9KXODWCPQyvbwqPepvN_vNX6l1Ph3lBFxvwls0pUNHcpGPr6k_ogXDeEE8oc6yABMLW2cwIJH0CSnVnpXBny-IBqHzEeu1X4X7ac4sQMEHJhdrG/s1600/Woodcock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kiWyGM0QIcf0QiifLlLi0oO2kLO3K9KXODWCPQyvbwqPepvN_vNX6l1Ph3lBFxvwls0pUNHcpGPr6k_ogXDeEE8oc6yABMLW2cwIJH0CSnVnpXBny-IBqHzEeu1X4X7ac4sQMEHJhdrG/s200/Woodcock.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
After this we were given another photograph to identify and this turned out to be a rare daytime picture of a <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/woodcock/index.aspx"><b>Woodcock</b></a>, a nocturnal or crepuscular, woodland bird that is mainly active at dusk and dawn and which is not often seen during the day unless flushed. <br />
<br />
Martyn recounted a visit to Risley Moss Nature Reserve when just as he was about to set off for home at dusk, twelve Woodcock flew overhead silhouetted against the night sky. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We briefly finished off by looking at scientific paper about <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/henharrier/index.aspx"><b>Hen Harriers</b></a>. There are great concerns for the future of these beautiful birds as they are on the brink of becoming extinct in England where only one breeding pair was recorded in 2012, although there were more in Wales and Scotland.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWQQy-Xx7BfiLIR34kInz85D1-M9nWBVhWuleaTRIxM55lgYB714Ld1GNRMHm9SJdkSJ3P3bUV4x98iAkh7U3d3FkYm-hdl2G9ZsbWM9C9oWGX_pJVdy8wa12EkBYD61qL4nNjGCCd-9n/s1600/hen_harrier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWQQy-Xx7BfiLIR34kInz85D1-M9nWBVhWuleaTRIxM55lgYB714Ld1GNRMHm9SJdkSJ3P3bUV4x98iAkh7U3d3FkYm-hdl2G9ZsbWM9C9oWGX_pJVdy8wa12EkBYD61qL4nNjGCCd-9n/s320/hen_harrier.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Hen Harrier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were given another extract from the Yorkshire Post about the <b>Singleton Hide</b> at the <b>RSPB's Blacktoft Sands</b> reserve near Goole which is a good place to see harriers and other birds of prey in winter.<br />
<br />
The harriers gather together to roost in large numbers in the reeds and as well as six male and six ringtail <b>Hen Harriers</b>, more than twenty <b>Marsh Harriers</b> are present as well as a supporting cast of <b>Peregrine Falcons</b>, <b>Merlins</b>, <b>Buzzards</b>, <b>Sparrowhawks</b>, <b>Kestrels</b> and <b>Barn Owls</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Peter finally ended the session by handing out a <b>British Bird checklist sheet</b> for us to keep a tick list of what we see this year.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-31577537078029104392013-01-17T18:07:00.000+00:002013-02-17T19:54:13.562+00:00Birds in Focus - Whooper and Bewick's SwansThe <b>Whooper Swan</b> is a large white swan, bigger than a Bewick's swan. It
has a long thin neck, which it usually holds erect, and black legs. Its
black bill has a large triangular patch of yellow on it. It is mainly a
winter visitor to the UK from Iceland, although a couple of pairs nest
in the north. The estuaries and wetlands it visits on migration and for
winter roosts need protection. Its winter population and small breeding
numbers make it an Amber List species.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNZSk68iv36Rat3y5UogEl3Bvaqqo2BZZIITszhR5KlTK4oP_E_HQDXUhj2_fJlV7CwSz6TJqqxA2UGtl-zVeqJRNr2DUNDGqBddCNPOtLxz2SOgM8aE9N6vKuO6LwddKL13RgQF5tNRK/s1600/Whooper+Swan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNZSk68iv36Rat3y5UogEl3Bvaqqo2BZZIITszhR5KlTK4oP_E_HQDXUhj2_fJlV7CwSz6TJqqxA2UGtl-zVeqJRNr2DUNDGqBddCNPOtLxz2SOgM8aE9N6vKuO6LwddKL13RgQF5tNRK/s400/Whooper+Swan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whooper Swan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They can be seen in Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and parts of East Anglia from October to March. They eat aquatic plants, grass, grain and potatoes. Although about 11,000 Whooper Swans overwinter in the UK, there are only seven or less breeding pairs.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSStNGQC2qXcEZ9MXzv1BUO-jXFFhuyZmSnfOBN8MThdB24g19wG_vT1YipSWeDccmVvKJ1TL6oM8rVOE4X_YL7-WGprq0z6_rSp985L2I_X1niRwTGNvaqKaCDAvztzhfeiv7FmCsVUwU/s1600/Whooper+Swans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSStNGQC2qXcEZ9MXzv1BUO-jXFFhuyZmSnfOBN8MThdB24g19wG_vT1YipSWeDccmVvKJ1TL6oM8rVOE4X_YL7-WGprq0z6_rSp985L2I_X1niRwTGNvaqKaCDAvztzhfeiv7FmCsVUwU/s400/Whooper+Swans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whooper Swans in flight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Adult <b>Bewick's Swans</b> are white all over and young birds greyish with a
pinkish bill. Compared to the similar Whooper Swan, these swans have
proportionally more black and less yellow on their bill. They're also
smaller than both Mute and Whooper Swans and have faster wingbeats.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K7BgDZKUeonNrVi7zwHsKAL5rdnzjAu-xXRvDn-6ilB59CQVZz6SyzaMEP9cvjeyHvwTvWwZKZOGl4Hl6732BLAwXSIRFsW4Ga2dXSF9EJ-gXY8hXFlFYfo7SGW34vpw-z8L_GTfow_Y/s1600/Bewick's-Swan-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K7BgDZKUeonNrVi7zwHsKAL5rdnzjAu-xXRvDn-6ilB59CQVZz6SyzaMEP9cvjeyHvwTvWwZKZOGl4Hl6732BLAwXSIRFsW4Ga2dXSF9EJ-gXY8hXFlFYfo7SGW34vpw-z8L_GTfow_Y/s400/Bewick's-Swan-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bewick's Swans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They're
found mainly in eastern England, around the Severn estuary and in
Lancashire. The Ouse and Nene Washes (Cambridgeshire), Martin Mere
(Lancashire) and Slimbridge (Gloucestershire) are good places to see
Bewick's swans.<br />
<br />
Bewick's swans arrive in
the UK in mid-October after breeding in Siberia. They spend the winter
here in our comparatively warm climate, before departing in March.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xVgEY97-kmEkZ08nhs0Z0NnH3mN4XYdS1sVsn7xhiaUKiH82yPNpV3T14XQaPCEr7WEKKlMqB5833jBWqielYjn1_1BHWxFO4NLo1csX7QQIfRJi6OkEanmCSA4tIbUIhf_OvOH_tRTS/s1600/Bewick's+Swans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xVgEY97-kmEkZ08nhs0Z0NnH3mN4XYdS1sVsn7xhiaUKiH82yPNpV3T14XQaPCEr7WEKKlMqB5833jBWqielYjn1_1BHWxFO4NLo1csX7QQIfRJi6OkEanmCSA4tIbUIhf_OvOH_tRTS/s400/Bewick's+Swans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bewick's Swans in flight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In
the UK, Bewick's swans feed in fields on leftover potatoes and grain.
On their breeding grounds they eat aquatic plants and grass. More tha 23,000 overwinter in the UK and there are around 7,000 breeding birds.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-77445706221989102752012-12-13T19:55:00.000+00:002013-02-18T12:57:37.609+00:00Session 11 - 13th December 2013This was the final session of the term and it turned into a bit of a Christmas party as many members of the class had kindly brought lots of snacks, cakes and drinks.<br />
<br />
To be honest, not a lot of work was done today, and we mainly focused on collecting handouts that had been missed during the term, and a quiz on bird identification.<br />
<br />
Martyn showed some photos of the <b>Water Rail</b> that he had taken on the aborted fieldtrip to <b>Mere Sands Wood</b> last week:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8265797225_aa509b69d4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8265797225_aa509b69d4_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Rail from the Lancaster Hide at Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve (c) Martyn Jones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Peter then gave some directions were given to the location of a Barn Owl near to the Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve as well as the Owls and Hen Harriers at Parkgate on the Wirral. He also informed us of six Waxwings at Callendar Street in Ramsbottom.<br />
<br />
<b>Happy Christmas</b> everyone!GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-27553017231737788822012-12-06T21:25:00.002+00:002013-01-18T18:26:08.112+00:00Session 10 - 6th December 2013 - Mere Sands Wood FieldtripOn a fieldtrip of one (just me), I saw the following birds today:<br />
<br />
<iframe align="middle" frameborder="0" height="600" scrolling="no" src="http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?group_id=&user_id=26972310@N00&set_id=&tags=Mere" width="600"></iframe><br />
<ul>
<li>Water Rail - superb views for photographs from Lancaster Hide</li>
<li>Brambling - only a brief glimpse at the visitor centre</li>
<li>Reed Bunting - great to see lots of them in the reed beds</li>
<li>Jay</li>
<li>Nuthatch</li>
<li>Great Spotted Woodpecker</li>
<li>Chaffinch</li>
<li>Bullfinch</li>
<li>Greenfinch</li>
<li>Tree Sparrow</li>
<li>Blue Tit</li>
<li>Great Tit</li>
<li>Coal Tit</li>
<li>Long-tailed Tit</li>
<li>Dunnock</li>
<li>Robin - loads of them being very aggressive with each other</li>
<li>Starling</li>
<li>Woodpigeon - a good few thousand in a single flock</li>
<li>Blackbird</li>
<li>Magpie</li>
<li>Carrion Crow</li>
<li>Teal - a good few hundred on the frozen water - never seen so many</li>
<li>Goosander - five or six males circling the water, landing and taking off again</li>
<li>Cormorant</li>
<li>Great Crested Grebe</li>
<li>Mallard</li>
<li>Coot</li>
<li>Moorhen</li>
<li>Pheasant</li>
<li>Kestrel - over nearby field</li>
<li>3 rats</li>
<li>1 rabbit</li>
<li>1 grey squirrel</li>
</ul>
GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-43072582215233975382012-12-03T19:00:00.006+00:002013-01-18T18:25:01.729+00:00Session 9 - 29th November 2012Unfortunately I missed this week's session as my car wouldn't
start when I tried to set off - I spent a very fraught afternoon trying
to work out what was wrong when I discovered I'd left the internal
lights overnight (well about 20 hours). The battery wasn't actually
flat, but there was not enough juice in it to start the engine. After
charging it for an hour or so, I managed to get it started and and so I
took it for a short drive to recharge the battery a little more, but as it had turned 2:30pm, it was sadly far too late to go to the session.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this post is based on a brief outline kindly written by <b>Alan</b> and it will be padded out with a little research by me later in the week.<br />
<br />
Alan started ... I gave them a laugh with the Heaton Park Gull photograph which when I had a
closer look showed the gull flying off with a pork pie. When I told my
wife Marion I’d photographed a gull with a pork pie she said ‘what sort is it?’ to which I replied, ‘I’m not exactly sure but it looks a bit like a Melton Mowbray’.<br />
<br />
It turned out that the Heaton Park one was a <b>Common Gull</b> and the
Penny one a Lesser-black backed. Peter had us using the field guides to
spot the difference <br />
<br />
We then spent some time studying the different White headed gulls as a follow up to last weeks Black-headed ones.<br />
<br />
One of the birds Peter discussed with us was the <b>Long-tailed Duck</b>, he told us how the East-coast was the best place to see them and named a few likely sites.<br />
<br />
We then discussed <b>Waxwings</b> again<b> </b>for a bit before moving on to the differences between <b>Goosanders</b> and <b>Red-breasted Mergansers</b>, then to the differences between <b>Grey Plovers</b> and <b>Golden Plovers</b>.<br />
<br />
The next topic was ‘<b>Ten Winter Waders</b>’ as shown in December’s Bird Watching magazine. Turnstone, Grey Plover, Knot, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper and Oystercatcher.<br />
<br />
Finally Peter gave us a couple of hand-outs on <b>Llanddulas</b>, <b>Pensarn Beach</b> and <b>Marshside</b>.<br />
<br />
Next week's session is a field trip to <b><a href="http://www.lancswt.org.uk/places-to-see/mere-sands-wood-nature-reserve">Mere Sands Wood</a></b> where we hope to see a Water Rail which is regularly seen at the grit feeders.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-66677876586499462072012-11-26T21:03:00.003+00:002013-02-17T19:55:05.145+00:00Birds in History and Culture - Cetti's Warbler<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnCrCjutvKfnrV9RX2-HZTJ1Pn0Ez9qKm0wvFJfaF4n4O0BztE1E0IzlBQxO_dVWlk0wnXW9yoXXxDWv-HtFRGSSl470EK3PT5QfH-ahyurY6NNlvGF4oO1PMxD2GfgmKmwrJ2jfkB_3z/s1600/cettiswarbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnCrCjutvKfnrV9RX2-HZTJ1Pn0Ez9qKm0wvFJfaF4n4O0BztE1E0IzlBQxO_dVWlk0wnXW9yoXXxDWv-HtFRGSSl470EK3PT5QfH-ahyurY6NNlvGF4oO1PMxD2GfgmKmwrJ2jfkB_3z/s1600/cettiswarbler.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cetti's Warbler (RSPB)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/cettiswarbler/index.aspx">Cetti's Warbler</a></b> is another <b>avian eponym</b> which was named after Francesco Cetti (1726 - 1178). Cetti was a Jesuit priest who lived and worked on the island of Sardinia.<br />
<br />
Cetti made the best early natural history study of the island, the second volume of which was devoted to birds, including the rusty-coloured warbler which bears his name.<br />
<br />
The Cetti's Warbler (pronounced chetty) is a small, rather nondescript, skulking bird which can prove
very difficult to see. It usually makes its presence known with <b><a href="http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Cettia-cetti">loud bursts of song</a></b> and the first glimpse will probably be of a dark, rather
stocky warbler with short wings and a full, rounded tail, diving for
cover. It is one of the UK's most recent colonists, first breeding here
in 1973.<br />
<br />
Cetti's Warblers like reedbeds and damp areas close to wetlands such as at the Wigan Flashes and Leighton Moss RSPB. They can be heard (and sometimes seen) all year round and they eat insects and larvae.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-74262299810030904422012-11-22T20:27:00.000+00:002012-12-03T12:08:43.628+00:00Session 8 - 22nd November 2012Today's session began with a recap on the species seen during last week's fieldtrip to Morecambe and Leighton Moss RSPB - the total count of birds seen and heard was <b>77 species</b>. We then had a look at some photos taken the trip using last week's report posting.<br />
<br />
Because we had heard a <a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/birds-in-history-and-culture-cettis.html"><b>Cetti's Warbler</b></a> along the Public Causeway at Leighton Moss RSPB, Peter gave a handout on the origin of it's name. For more information look here in the '<a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/birds-in-history-and-culture-cettis.html"><b>Birds in History and Culture</b></a>' section. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6H1PJ_mo5zA0wplt8SL_Q2xAQ_-jczmAPBrE95ODUV29vkpYKRL6TKR7W2mb_bZFQL7avzW6eXh1PTfNmsbc8CZ3WuKL9u6wGDdo6p3bGkeLAcS_24JzWs4H_Et53sZi5CfiYOYtWy44/s1600/gulls.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6H1PJ_mo5zA0wplt8SL_Q2xAQ_-jczmAPBrE95ODUV29vkpYKRL6TKR7W2mb_bZFQL7avzW6eXh1PTfNmsbc8CZ3WuKL9u6wGDdo6p3bGkeLAcS_24JzWs4H_Et53sZi5CfiYOYtWy44/s640/gulls.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Black-backed, Herring, Black-headed, Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Following this we took our first look at identifying <a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/gulls.html"><b>Gulls</b></a> in a little more detail. This can be a very difficult topic particularly with the different plumages of 1st and 2nd winter birds as well as adults in breeding and non-breeding plumage.<br />
<br />
With this in mind, Peter decided that we would concentrate only on distinguishing adult Gulls for now at least. We started by splitting the Gulls into those <b>with hoods</b> and those <b>without hoods</b> when in full breeding plumage.<br />
<br />
Starting with the Gulls with hoods, there are three main species that are commonly seen in Britain in winter:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/blackheadedgull/index.aspx">Black-headed Gull</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/mediterraneangull/index.aspx">Mediterranean Gull</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/littlegull/index.aspx">Little Gull</a></li>
</ul>
The <b>Black-headed Gull</b> is the most common of these three and so will be used as the yardstick for comparison with other Gulls. The bird's<b> bare part colouration</b> (BPC) including the eye is the best way of distinguishing them as well as the wing pattern.<br />
<br />
Gulls with hoods have red legs and bills and the darkness of the red intensifies throughout the winter and spring, changing from sealing wax red, through blood red to almost black. These gulls also show a vestige of the dark hood in winter in the form of a 'ear' patch or smudge.<br />
<br />
Next time we will look at the gulls without hoods commonly found in Britain over winter which include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Herring Gull </li>
<li>Common Gull</li>
<li>Lesser Black-backed Gull</li>
<li>Greater Black-backed Gull</li>
<li>Yellow-legged Gull</li>
<li>Kittiwake</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
Peter then gave us a handout on the <b>Morecambe tides tables </b>for 2013, which will be very useful for finding the high tides in each month next year. On another handout, Peter pointed out that there is a high tide at <b>Marshside RSPB</b> on 15 December at 10am and another at <b>Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB</b> on the following day at 10:30am. Guided walks by the RSPB will be taking place on both days at a cost of £3 for members and £5 for non-members.<br />
<br />
Here's an <b>online version</b> of the Morecambe tide tables which shows today's high and low tides. If you click on the table it will take you to the full website where you can look at future tides at Morecambe and indeed anywhere in Britain:<br />
<center>
<script src="http://www.tidetimes.org.uk/morecambe-tide-times.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</center>
<br />
If you want to see the tides for a few local North West locations, go to lower part of the <b>Calendar</b> page.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4SQVoK4N96XAtu7A7gfKtesa5upS8k0YsocP2OxwIaYcdPFDj0ocfNYLWZynNrmWpuZKpWHC6sSoBuqfjIIkqmVhZTK-ZLGmRLilgnvDBvl4tP3QPXRgJ_VOioXbv4yia3GnTitOnmO_/s1600/deemapx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4SQVoK4N96XAtu7A7gfKtesa5upS8k0YsocP2OxwIaYcdPFDj0ocfNYLWZynNrmWpuZKpWHC6sSoBuqfjIIkqmVhZTK-ZLGmRLilgnvDBvl4tP3QPXRgJ_VOioXbv4yia3GnTitOnmO_/s320/deemapx.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Next we looked at a handout on the <b>Dee Estuary</b> which separates part of England from Wales and which is one of the UK's most important wintering sites for wildfowl and waders. The mouth of the river has vast areas of sand and mudflats, with salt marsh dominating the landscape to the south. It holds internationally important numbers of 12 species.<br />
<br />
Good locations to see birds include <b>Burton Mere Wetlands RSPSB</b>, <b>Inner Marsh Farm</b> and <b>Denhall Lane</b>, <b>Parkgate</b>, <b>King's Gap</b> and <b>Red Rocks</b> at <b>Hoylake</b>, <b>Hilbre Island</b> and <b>Leasowe Lighthouse</b>.<br />
<br />
It is very important to know the tide times and heights when coastal birdwatching and it's best to plan a visit to coincide with a rising or falling tide, at least an hour or so on either side. And if visiting <b>Hilbre Island</b> it is essential to know the tides as it comes in very quickly and the island is cut off for six hours or so.<br />
<br />
The target birds in this area include: Bewick's and Whooper Swans, Pink-footed and Brent Geese, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Hen Harrier, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail, Grey Plover, Jack and Common Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Short-eared Owl, Rock and Water Pipits and Snow and Reed Buntings.<br />
<br />
Here's the <b>current tide times</b> for the Dee Estuary:<br />
<br />
<center>
<table border="0" bordercolor="#FFCC00" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" style="background-color: #ffffcc; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><script src="http://www.tidetimes.org.uk/liverpool-gladstone-dock-tide-times.js" type="text/javascript"></script></td>
<td><script src="http://www.tidetimes.org.uk/hilbre-island-tide-times.js" type="text/javascript"></script></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<br />
Again, click on the table to go the full website to see future tide times.<br />
<br />
Finally we had another look at the topical subject of <a href="http://birds-ath.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/birds-in-focus-waxwing.html"><b>Waxwings</b></a> which have been showing in fairly large numbers across Britain during much of November. Peter gave us another interesting extract from the Yorkshire Post about the current influx of these birds from Siberia and Scandinavia.<br />
<br />
Finally, here's a superb Waxwing shot by Alan taken in Salford earlier this week:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8211712812_bc2fb98890_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8211712812_bc2fb98890_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001106029057056691.post-32626643250659181862012-11-15T12:25:00.000+00:002012-11-26T20:25:54.665+00:00Session 7 - 15th November 2012This week's session was a full day fieldtrip to <b>Morecambe Bay </b>and <b>Leighton Moss RSPB</b> in Lancashire. There was a <b>high tide</b> at about 11:30am and so we had hopes of the birds being pushed inland giving us closer views than usual. After a fairly misty and murky start in Manchester, it turned out to be a wonderful sunny November day in north-west Lancashire.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTyB9xz7DFwOozUZLKdho2bIebnMRBk80ELZPiRLFUWvYXhiIPpj32Ot2uOt7AAxyvc4UrYekYKjos1ppekggytiTal-CO6-JloeDofIPhAT3KXGjIBFraL7A9hrKa9y2Rg6iYA4ECCk9/s1600/jetty3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTyB9xz7DFwOozUZLKdho2bIebnMRBk80ELZPiRLFUWvYXhiIPpj32Ot2uOt7AAxyvc4UrYekYKjos1ppekggytiTal-CO6-JloeDofIPhAT3KXGjIBFraL7A9hrKa9y2Rg6iYA4ECCk9/s640/jetty3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew, Oystercatchers, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gull and Knot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Some members of the class shared cars and drove up together from Whitefield Library whilst others made their own way there. We all met up on the pay-and-display car park near the stone jetty at Morecambe at about 10:45am, where we started the day with some good views of <b>Oystercatchers</b>, <b>Knot</b>, <b>Redshank, </b>four <b>Curlews,</b> a couple of <b>Herring Gulls</b>, some<b> Black-headed </b>and<b> Herring Gulls</b> and later a single <b>Shelduck</b>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfKvLfyJSTk8kzaywKQEF76O2YePygt2gGLj1HSxAUMC11dUrRpCe3Y09wrUHu0a7VwLDybQijx1JmnxjzHPDJuTEx61nm18EY8gUNDWjQ_RcCEdyZ07AbLQweaKRBdGT3mkKVIG45Dfa/s1600/jetty10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfKvLfyJSTk8kzaywKQEF76O2YePygt2gGLj1HSxAUMC11dUrRpCe3Y09wrUHu0a7VwLDybQijx1JmnxjzHPDJuTEx61nm18EY8gUNDWjQ_RcCEdyZ07AbLQweaKRBdGT3mkKVIG45Dfa/s640/jetty10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Same again with the addition of a Shelduck and some Herring Gulls</span></td></tr>
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We then walked along the promenade southwards towards the pier in search of Rock Pipits which Peter had seen earlier in the week. Unfortunately we didn't see any but we did come across a small flock of <b>Turnstones</b> at the water's edge on the way to the pier. For a short while there was also a single <b>Redshank</b> in with the group.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq11Twinhl75SL2VXXrTitIWQs6T8vAaz5tVmVFjF_wYzeuL9S7Xc8eBUrHD4X1KNwu6uqE_oV_U5oaLyr6m_oVGLlklMWtkaIG_IYW1e40hNqUwsdHu0CDriZo4JNPLOmYo_ls4zYB81d/s1600/turnstone7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq11Twinhl75SL2VXXrTitIWQs6T8vAaz5tVmVFjF_wYzeuL9S7Xc8eBUrHD4X1KNwu6uqE_oV_U5oaLyr6m_oVGLlklMWtkaIG_IYW1e40hNqUwsdHu0CDriZo4JNPLOmYo_ls4zYB81d/s640/turnstone7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turnstone - one of the few not hunkered down</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9pqqCdnwHPp15iHQGfSPiM6NuDZ-HUIgZaGSe5tOVOvJQMZVbZUucWz4odGl6XNEYXPMRDzxSZ1fHuZ1R2OiZwapqN0bT3ECI8PAwspfGeyDt0OyJzCIMv2wqn2fwD-S3PFqfjmJI7N6/s1600/redshank3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9pqqCdnwHPp15iHQGfSPiM6NuDZ-HUIgZaGSe5tOVOvJQMZVbZUucWz4odGl6XNEYXPMRDzxSZ1fHuZ1R2OiZwapqN0bT3ECI8PAwspfGeyDt0OyJzCIMv2wqn2fwD-S3PFqfjmJI7N6/s640/redshank3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A single Redshank amongst the Turnstones</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RjFoHq52T7vfZi8jMxGw5e1qaQcdkcDpwssNyVZ_YNaZL12L-IEmIkjaywGcj5jYJxrZg3JrX1pY2dIae-DMSkPSMyaYQxBHX4eGjbwTawPUAuBrI_iVkcDUv4sQrH8vFgLTNqYT5NIT/s1600/turnstones1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RjFoHq52T7vfZi8jMxGw5e1qaQcdkcDpwssNyVZ_YNaZL12L-IEmIkjaywGcj5jYJxrZg3JrX1pY2dIae-DMSkPSMyaYQxBHX4eGjbwTawPUAuBrI_iVkcDUv4sQrH8vFgLTNqYT5NIT/s640/turnstones1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small group of Turnstones</td></tr>
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As there was nothing much about near the pier, we decided to move up the coast to <b>Morecambe </b><br />
<b>Yacht Club</b> where there is an excellent platform on stilts which is great for viewing the Bay. From here we could see some <b>male Eider Duck</b> and <b>Red-breasted Mergansers</b> a short distance out to sea as well as more <b>Oystercatchers</b>, <b>Curlew</b> and <b>Lesser Black-backed Gulls</b> along a breakwater.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlgSS_NJcxfOSUoc1npYsky4ZppRP6BwQN9xQVUNSteLxiGL913nfgDW-H-MZz6z93cUXOAh2fMJu0zHvyYJj1VKIQ1NDKaLtN8Ra_hFv_jZlRpBU6yzQ6fmAzu5s319QVVDZF4qRX2R3/s1600/bhgulls1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlgSS_NJcxfOSUoc1npYsky4ZppRP6BwQN9xQVUNSteLxiGL913nfgDW-H-MZz6z93cUXOAh2fMJu0zHvyYJj1VKIQ1NDKaLtN8Ra_hFv_jZlRpBU6yzQ6fmAzu5s319QVVDZF4qRX2R3/s640/bhgulls1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed Gulls</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhybSjlDYsmCg4hXa4zlfOArkDnOi7HCl3Is4tiFYT91jOWXM4DiOfxAuNIrM3qrKbnPyugREmu9p1b55AT4B9veZ7-AE80pTw6wu80coc4vVKI2oNkHYrs1tHUbMLnULne4yoYPKGqrB/s1600/mf-goldeneyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhybSjlDYsmCg4hXa4zlfOArkDnOi7HCl3Is4tiFYT91jOWXM4DiOfxAuNIrM3qrKbnPyugREmu9p1b55AT4B9veZ7-AE80pTw6wu80coc4vVKI2oNkHYrs1tHUbMLnULne4yoYPKGqrB/s640/mf-goldeneyes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female and Male Goldeneyes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseAe6ZL-tSFvaZWf_kq9CltppvWILcyZoQ5wUb4LGFzErj8ifzzK1tR_IohTpiJxYenkHD4tPzvxhB6xmXhifYhvVFZLSQAdcT4VZt9vSOkEBBe7o-Bh7sm4j__E_ytscyEvyiZ1xv-Lo/s1600/f-rbmergansers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseAe6ZL-tSFvaZWf_kq9CltppvWILcyZoQ5wUb4LGFzErj8ifzzK1tR_IohTpiJxYenkHD4tPzvxhB6xmXhifYhvVFZLSQAdcT4VZt9vSOkEBBe7o-Bh7sm4j__E_ytscyEvyiZ1xv-Lo/s640/f-rbmergansers1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Red-breasted Mergansers<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzf9BSguYzr7rWlwjqg0neAr_3IfiRri4sdlD_z0eVcuqLdLJ9DZLwOMoF7HmpzINwM1b7scz_haGEa9Ai7i-iaOfug8HNFc_YsSk7EYMZ944Ah0tCl5eQjwcpnWR2I5dkqzj2Q-lLSya/s1600/m-rbmerganser1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzf9BSguYzr7rWlwjqg0neAr_3IfiRri4sdlD_z0eVcuqLdLJ9DZLwOMoF7HmpzINwM1b7scz_haGEa9Ai7i-iaOfug8HNFc_YsSk7EYMZ944Ah0tCl5eQjwcpnWR2I5dkqzj2Q-lLSya/s640/m-rbmerganser1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Red-breasted Merganser</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTz0O4gRaCoaNtfBCvQDSqzHwgZbNE3TrXKb29NwifncMPAFgwb-64gPG5NyBYK2iYT-_rQ06TbO4Ds6U28mUj0o5j34wGXMSLuJs9GRSh2RBfiYxj7Xa3aLJuzufuhSA3aEgPzgolsq5/s1600/geese1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTz0O4gRaCoaNtfBCvQDSqzHwgZbNE3TrXKb29NwifncMPAFgwb-64gPG5NyBYK2iYT-_rQ06TbO4Ds6U28mUj0o5j34wGXMSLuJs9GRSh2RBfiYxj7Xa3aLJuzufuhSA3aEgPzgolsq5/s640/geese1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink-footed Goose flypast ?</td></tr>
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We then went in search of Scaup along the stretch of shoreline near the <b>Broadway Hotel</b>. Eight or so Scaup have been seen here fairly regularly but today was a no-show for us. However there were some good close views of male and female <b>Red-breasted Mergansers</b> here as well as a male and female pair of <b>Goldeneye</b>. There were also some much closer views of Oystercatchers and Curlew at one of the smaller breakwaters.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxhsvd11w3Agx2zn4DmM6k-psX009VicSBqQCTbort2S6SPtDqB-4NgLcIy3V1exVFuWgoVBtYGyVDTVKuDE0QTi1EV9Roq4gutDu542VSsYoyAris_ZsY6ZGoHuVgm1Rzo3X7E7ITb4q/s1600/oystercatchers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxhsvd11w3Agx2zn4DmM6k-psX009VicSBqQCTbort2S6SPtDqB-4NgLcIy3V1exVFuWgoVBtYGyVDTVKuDE0QTi1EV9Roq4gutDu542VSsYoyAris_ZsY6ZGoHuVgm1Rzo3X7E7ITb4q/s640/oystercatchers1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oystercatchers roosting along with a Curlew and a Common Gull</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOgV_xBbf1bNsaTTkQLDRHYLf2uRIe3CgCYS10z93buW10JONp_GAyjeNhyOXhYbaHlUOy7B4yO5owhD3-0tE-xEMm6daESZadq_ghyic7UvwNwQN1pud_om-0ocoWBuLpB0Xh_2a54qa/s1600/curlew5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOgV_xBbf1bNsaTTkQLDRHYLf2uRIe3CgCYS10z93buW10JONp_GAyjeNhyOXhYbaHlUOy7B4yO5owhD3-0tE-xEMm6daESZadq_ghyic7UvwNwQN1pud_om-0ocoWBuLpB0Xh_2a54qa/s640/curlew5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS7OR9IjdW_7OOhxgIKbMcnUE-OqGMtsFSP_InmFMTgNsWBFMgyPskL0CIItOK3O3zoMvPGau7kMXRDMqYQLOdsr4c7nCdOf4dT5knhfMRbXwg3aqnFrTsYMslfKOa9h3sVzSq3X1Fe6H/s1600/hgull2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS7OR9IjdW_7OOhxgIKbMcnUE-OqGMtsFSP_InmFMTgNsWBFMgyPskL0CIItOK3O3zoMvPGau7kMXRDMqYQLOdsr4c7nCdOf4dT5knhfMRbXwg3aqnFrTsYMslfKOa9h3sVzSq3X1Fe6H/s640/hgull2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herring Gull amongst the Oystercatchers</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s4eCsaW4hzXnXFm2BYqWrHBoTsk1xrN6VDBAM6TVgKw8oJWm6bfXx9fjixKPnA9udhfxoC0d5xJZSK7161dUSoAB8FpED0t0-UUpXNNncpT1TJh6xl7iFy7i2s9zlmCDrqGjtcMuTe8h/s1600/curlew13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s4eCsaW4hzXnXFm2BYqWrHBoTsk1xrN6VDBAM6TVgKw8oJWm6bfXx9fjixKPnA9udhfxoC0d5xJZSK7161dUSoAB8FpED0t0-UUpXNNncpT1TJh6xl7iFy7i2s9zlmCDrqGjtcMuTe8h/s640/curlew13.jpg" width="548" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew standing on one leg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyVMWa6eiTEPiu_2pcqRgzH0LQYTN_YQuYhbuhY9exddXB0c4RWwUrYqL1EX6rfffWI3HU7UXFnfNztJHa_C00KJEmUpebTAB7PtjY4w7F7FQiFKsKKf5iTi9UgSdyNfOEcRK49Yn8ZLo/s1600/combo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyVMWa6eiTEPiu_2pcqRgzH0LQYTN_YQuYhbuhY9exddXB0c4RWwUrYqL1EX6rfffWI3HU7UXFnfNztJHa_C00KJEmUpebTAB7PtjY4w7F7FQiFKsKKf5iTi9UgSdyNfOEcRK49Yn8ZLo/s640/combo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice little combo !</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQlTSoeYTD5och1p3HzkAnbCas1X9qouoZ1CCd44cM19UaL7tqDzLcXN75ds5RTImX3PyzIp-b59Pu8diyI0Ow2X1h9EbdI2eftwpoTdu4LsQxeUUR4qOJkoTPU7JLEqaM0sGjJchl6Ro/s1600/oystercatchers3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQlTSoeYTD5och1p3HzkAnbCas1X9qouoZ1CCd44cM19UaL7tqDzLcXN75ds5RTImX3PyzIp-b59Pu8diyI0Ow2X1h9EbdI2eftwpoTdu4LsQxeUUR4qOJkoTPU7JLEqaM0sGjJchl6Ro/s640/oystercatchers3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oystercatchers going for a dip in the sea</td></tr>
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Our final stop at Morecambe was in a small car park at the northern end of the Bay. Whilst eating our sandwiches we had some great views of two<b> female Eider Duck</b>, a single <b>Little Egret</b>, some <b>Black-tailed Godwits</b>, many <b>Lapwing</b>, a few <b>Wigeon</b>, a single <b>Pochard</b> some more <b>Redshank</b> and a lot more <b>Oystercatchers</b> with a couple of <b>Mute Swans </b>flying past us. The light was wonderful here.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNUwG1DpVx1ubJDpzkK9IXIHXwq6ddWGXifztu1UrIaleb2PgEG8p5ViblJ-wzrmpXu_7zAL-FDgxOsPEVienCr-wy1tslxe2QI1amFaMP5oJv7oelUljqqHM1xK7m0ORXdQoqeP4tyK4/s1600/littleegret3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNUwG1DpVx1ubJDpzkK9IXIHXwq6ddWGXifztu1UrIaleb2PgEG8p5ViblJ-wzrmpXu_7zAL-FDgxOsPEVienCr-wy1tslxe2QI1amFaMP5oJv7oelUljqqHM1xK7m0ORXdQoqeP4tyK4/s640/littleegret3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Egret in amongst the Oycs</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_oPnyq0PFXX4U2LjOoEeOGGErHzs5lOQ6IJLQ1-DZeCgAkdf4rRLwP5Z0sgrIIKwRbA6v5cu1a463C6aeuyCWXYpZr-zY55_tFfKPJJdZuka6p_T1VvorLjyTcn1iM4aus-FLFtqK30M/s1600/assorted1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_oPnyq0PFXX4U2LjOoEeOGGErHzs5lOQ6IJLQ1-DZeCgAkdf4rRLwP5Z0sgrIIKwRbA6v5cu1a463C6aeuyCWXYpZr-zY55_tFfKPJJdZuka6p_T1VvorLjyTcn1iM4aus-FLFtqK30M/s640/assorted1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Redshank and a Little Egret<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbAg9AmpY9113zqwpWjDAyYM8DN4g0FV05KHHlsHbcAcpwU_j_Mb-FeD03ngTPWYtgIsDDDc0zuulgsaUAKpvy3zsiQtViu3U1vcTyKmA5sHQeV4CuiZ2KBwjgzX60WwoS-76y_cEJKkq/s1600/muteswans2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbAg9AmpY9113zqwpWjDAyYM8DN4g0FV05KHHlsHbcAcpwU_j_Mb-FeD03ngTPWYtgIsDDDc0zuulgsaUAKpvy3zsiQtViu3U1vcTyKmA5sHQeV4CuiZ2KBwjgzX60WwoS-76y_cEJKkq/s640/muteswans2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mute Swan flypast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0yS9UkUPeqWGFN-RxWFK3F8QzqBSE9PEFDdDffBMcFgDdJR2wOqMGq1FLlZTYhuB6ohEoX27Mp3ort3QlajQlcXMsiKWHEO_0J0oYXUzs6L9HW4zDVEM5DmdG0QRDanEAoVRdHqVmMRZ/s1600/assorted3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0yS9UkUPeqWGFN-RxWFK3F8QzqBSE9PEFDdDffBMcFgDdJR2wOqMGq1FLlZTYhuB6ohEoX27Mp3ort3QlajQlcXMsiKWHEO_0J0oYXUzs6L9HW4zDVEM5DmdG0QRDanEAoVRdHqVmMRZ/s640/assorted3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herring Gull, Eider Duck, Black-tailed Godwit and yet more Oycs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8o1woc43Mm0BOw2NavFWyUWYxtloLJJC1uzi9o_286m5kTkHySq_EFVkmH5zlO9kTDHooYtFkRqltQXZcYKWACr0nKEMAD_C15XyR0N9jW66YE8DfbmvuUGkrAtiOzmWcEuuyLqaq8D4/s1600/eider1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8o1woc43Mm0BOw2NavFWyUWYxtloLJJC1uzi9o_286m5kTkHySq_EFVkmH5zlO9kTDHooYtFkRqltQXZcYKWACr0nKEMAD_C15XyR0N9jW66YE8DfbmvuUGkrAtiOzmWcEuuyLqaq8D4/s640/eider1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two female Eider Ducks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqXUGGfUwLNwbpPXb8zqhVagovPJQXjitOuK4hk9tYFdHkLGwRXKjfAmjAx8hGipe5bDy3ws62XNKbXNGTdo3zbKXS2XNxt1YhHIzcqz7HvM3XULo4TqxXLcnmz9QFfLOTlu_98Flse3i/s1600/pochard&wigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqXUGGfUwLNwbpPXb8zqhVagovPJQXjitOuK4hk9tYFdHkLGwRXKjfAmjAx8hGipe5bDy3ws62XNKbXNGTdo3zbKXS2XNxt1YhHIzcqz7HvM3XULo4TqxXLcnmz9QFfLOTlu_98Flse3i/s640/pochard&wigeon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male Wigeon separating two females</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After lunch we made our way up the coast through <b>Hest Bank</b> and <b>Carnforth</b> (home of the famous railway station featured in the 1945 film 'Brief Encounter') to <b>Leighton Moss RSPB</b>. Our first stop was at the <b>Eric Morecambe</b> salt marsh hide which has been newly refurbished - well completely rebuilt in actual fact. Unfortunately there was very little about here and the hazy afternoon sun made viewing difficult. We did see a <b>Little Egret</b>, two distant <b>Greenshank</b> and perhaps a <b>Spotted Redshank</b> as well as some <b>Teal</b> and a single <b>Snipe.</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPe6iaVNV2lhIOVwkf8QQEIcSwkjiMurSjyf3S3qwgHgkKiYB6sS9gREUMINrdKtPQn6Ce0V1K4Gltk0RZBjud0bSI3IQE0n-31rRqJ7sdaFIARl-R6bZCTrR6V2Jr40BUvO-OYX1DWgd/s1600/teal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPe6iaVNV2lhIOVwkf8QQEIcSwkjiMurSjyf3S3qwgHgkKiYB6sS9gREUMINrdKtPQn6Ce0V1K4Gltk0RZBjud0bSI3IQE0n-31rRqJ7sdaFIARl-R6bZCTrR6V2Jr40BUvO-OYX1DWgd/s640/teal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Teal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After this we made our way to the <b>Public Causeway</b> at Leighton Moss in the hope of seeing some Bearded Tits. We gathered in the usual place by the grit trays and although we did hear them '<b>pinging</b>' once or twice, the birds didn't show for us today. However, on leaving the grit trays we got our first brief but distinctive call of a <b>Cetti's Warbler</b>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNhdjmNVhCaEYw8r6XUBMClR_kUzeDPJrnSxcsg2hoLqWJ2EUgHw3nD9rXyhrU-3z2jvrMA9DJ4nH9_wgO8YFMOgwnXDYWVjchlVyP8t0zDGp43JIlP54v30mRNaTG7vBiQm0WfAUG0At/s1600/shoveler2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNhdjmNVhCaEYw8r6XUBMClR_kUzeDPJrnSxcsg2hoLqWJ2EUgHw3nD9rXyhrU-3z2jvrMA9DJ4nH9_wgO8YFMOgwnXDYWVjchlVyP8t0zDGp43JIlP54v30mRNaTG7vBiQm0WfAUG0At/s640/shoveler2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Shoveler on the edge of the reed bed at the Public Hide</td></tr>
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On the way to the <b>Public Hide</b> we heard a <b>Water Rail</b> squealing like a piglet and also a very tame <b>Robin</b> was posing for photographs and even came a sat on one lady's hand. From the hide we could see <b>Shovelers</b>, <b>Mallards</b>, <b>Coots</b>, <b>Moorhens</b>, <b>Cormorants</b>, <b>Pochard</b>, <b>Mute Swans</b> and <b>Gadwall</b>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEOJ68q4cSJ7aUUt4r2et-0FS7d7hNPep5YNJmLJ86gkPwdZpfisQ5a6hOJRbZ_u1HvJMVhtMy19tvtNCT7E7lqu-tcYn-2tGGoWg8VpAzTdshAGEBdY23t-3JWfe7zGhC8zMzSAE2hru/s1600/robin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEOJ68q4cSJ7aUUt4r2et-0FS7d7hNPep5YNJmLJ86gkPwdZpfisQ5a6hOJRbZ_u1HvJMVhtMy19tvtNCT7E7lqu-tcYn-2tGGoWg8VpAzTdshAGEBdY23t-3JWfe7zGhC8zMzSAE2hru/s640/robin2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several very tame Robins along the Causeway</td></tr>
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On the way back from the hide there were still no Bearded Tits showing, but the <b>Cetti's Warbler</b> let rip again with a really loud series of calls - we couldn't see it anywhere though.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesLaSuhMLSYdmp0sfg_k-noMfQtf0kT98hSBgtgU0pCWAMCpEKvKhZXqwvwH1MOHtSh8dpMDo8TtLS7_HvEOjQSXeMui9fT3RIE-br3eigFX4Dw44JENUzii_X71jFNhFeItWpUmE3kLC/s1600/cormorants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesLaSuhMLSYdmp0sfg_k-noMfQtf0kT98hSBgtgU0pCWAMCpEKvKhZXqwvwH1MOHtSh8dpMDo8TtLS7_HvEOjQSXeMui9fT3RIE-br3eigFX4Dw44JENUzii_X71jFNhFeItWpUmE3kLC/s640/cormorants.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cormorants, one hanging its wings out to dry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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From here we went back to the feeding station behind the RSPB Visitor Centre, stopping on the way to see perhaps 50 to 80 <b>Siskins</b> along with a few <b>Goldfinch</b> high up in one of the Alder trees along the route. At the feeding station there was a <b>Marsh Tit </b>and a <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> as well as the usual ducks.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53RCzmISvQUM9Ka2bpASteddJxnF0seHppkbhp_kGsnBwwQwv64L4qb7YAtSGlk0Bp0hCX69OOtUO8RYsx-1eT1RnVHvOQT6-jRFmJFXO8PAkkCxfREXiCJtZ-6VM82lnWggzQAzFWZVG/s1600/siskin0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53RCzmISvQUM9Ka2bpASteddJxnF0seHppkbhp_kGsnBwwQwv64L4qb7YAtSGlk0Bp0hCX69OOtUO8RYsx-1eT1RnVHvOQT6-jRFmJFXO8PAkkCxfREXiCJtZ-6VM82lnWggzQAzFWZVG/s640/siskin0.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siskin in Alder tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It was now about 4pm and the sun was going down, so we split into two groups for the final event of the day - the <b>Starling roost</b>. One group went into <b>Lillian's Hide</b> whilst the other group went back to the two benches along the high point of the woodland walk on the way to the Causeway from the Visitor Centre. Some <b>Blue Tits</b> and a <b>Coal Tit</b> could be heard in the trees behind us as we looked across the reserve from this panoramic vantage point and quite a crowd had gathered by now.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4soJbDm68LzfV9aAJ9pPRI0DwaK4Ev0RgrlvdWDZ274in-VVCZU4J4cleK7Oj6XwCbaTphtRLA6PLq_up0jHiquv16qOQbo94SeJX93vzmRifs5DPlageqDdiDxJdR3JnVm2IIdR3dXln/s1600/marshharrier1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4soJbDm68LzfV9aAJ9pPRI0DwaK4Ev0RgrlvdWDZ274in-VVCZU4J4cleK7Oj6XwCbaTphtRLA6PLq_up0jHiquv16qOQbo94SeJX93vzmRifs5DPlageqDdiDxJdR3JnVm2IIdR3dXln/s640/marshharrier1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male Marsh Harrier hunting</td></tr>
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After waiting in anticipation of the roost, both groups were rewarded with great views of this amazing natural spectacle. The <b>Starlings </b>seem to appear in smaller groups from various directions and meet up to form a swirling smoke-like mass of birds over the water. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrCQCkZ0In8qRgeixob1UtlsOWauoDJjKnbs8nTnzTha2OU_bZT-4x4KLUTJxqfpWqlNA-hq6HcAo3wAnVXjmcbzkODooYTCvvMZSXW8GFqCBnQ8sZ4p_krZc-traR1m0D5mZ66spujSO/s1600/starlings1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrCQCkZ0In8qRgeixob1UtlsOWauoDJjKnbs8nTnzTha2OU_bZT-4x4KLUTJxqfpWqlNA-hq6HcAo3wAnVXjmcbzkODooYTCvvMZSXW8GFqCBnQ8sZ4p_krZc-traR1m0D5mZ66spujSO/s640/starlings1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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They would twist and turn a while before diving down in to the reed beds. Whilst we were here, we also got a distant but nice view of a male <b>Marsh Harrier</b> and heard another <b>Water Rail</b> squealing as if someone had stepped on its foot. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaAVXuvYWOy2C9XUrcuV4N5lbwFCEqClRuTBtA4WqnWNGWKY4NfIa-dN8WxQ0jXJ_OXFxlZwtP5Rfezpb8BbjKzaUEQvYlnVAVmbUtKh_U2yuPzh46BB2TYRvUYftDeq4GXB2UzigmDqO/s1600/pheasants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaAVXuvYWOy2C9XUrcuV4N5lbwFCEqClRuTBtA4WqnWNGWKY4NfIa-dN8WxQ0jXJ_OXFxlZwtP5Rfezpb8BbjKzaUEQvYlnVAVmbUtKh_U2yuPzh46BB2TYRvUYftDeq4GXB2UzigmDqO/s640/pheasants.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There were also a couple of male <b>Pheasants</b> in the field just in front of us and nine Cormorants roosting in a tree on the far side of the water.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKaNE9AHbZvf4abAGqUE7j4TyTtYQot9z6z3_vHyyxLf9Ew48ADskB9Z2cixQB5mIw5am2D38gyD78v_i_CvO25OjUqxHgta1lzFw2Jn8pUV8JFck3S1cJGxpfCKHNWfDEXLxQJ_3LpQE/s1600/cormorants_roost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKaNE9AHbZvf4abAGqUE7j4TyTtYQot9z6z3_vHyyxLf9Ew48ADskB9Z2cixQB5mIw5am2D38gyD78v_i_CvO25OjUqxHgta1lzFw2Jn8pUV8JFck3S1cJGxpfCKHNWfDEXLxQJ_3LpQE/s640/cormorants_roost.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cormorants roosting in a tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Starling roost probably lasted around half an hour with periods of activity and then lulls and when there seemed to be no more birds flying in, we decided to call it a day.<br />
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It was a fantastic way to end what had been a great day out. The total count of birds either seen or heard was 77 species for the day - <b>Wow! </b>Thanks must go to <b>Peter</b> for arranging the fieldtrip and to the drivers for the transportation.GeekTeacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123681974508581833noreply@blogger.com0