seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: Some nice introductions!
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2017/01/some-nice-introductions.html
There are some bird species which were introduced into the UK that have become naturalised, which somehow fill a niche without major problems and become a 'nice' accepted addition to our avifauna. But before I go further lets define introduced species. They are the ones we never had in the first place (not natural), so if and when their populations die out and we want them back we reintroduce. Or trans-located from suitable donor sites. [Glad to say the Devon Bird Atlas 2007-2013 available here. Sadly I ...
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: Evolution and devolution!
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2016/12/evolution-and-devolution.html
I’ve been a keen amateur photographer for many years. It all started when I was given a second-hand Nikon EM body (that’s a budget 35mm film DSLR), by my dear late mum around 1980. And so with Nikon I’ve stuck for around 36 years! I then moved up to a second-hand Nikon FG body (again DSLR film); everything was manual in those days, even winding on the film for the next shot! Then would come the fun bit - armed with a slide viewer and most importantly a bin. Also a Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (so flight ...
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: Knee tremblers and wing runners!
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2016/12/knee-tremblers-and-wing-runners.html
Knee tremblers and wing runners! Having dwelt on seawatching numbers in a previous post, thought I say something about those few ‘rare’ encounters; well one species group in particular. So what’s my best off Devon? For me the real ‘knee trembler’ is seeing a Pterodroma. Though I’ve seen seven (and one that got away, more on that later) off Britain and Ireland (3 Devon, 4 Ireland); that’s more than Barolo Shearwaters (3; 1 Devon, 2 Ireland) or Yelkouans (2 Devon), yet they're more exciting! Tremble’...
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: Where have all the Balearics gone!
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2016/10/where-have-all-balearics-gone.html
Where have all the Balearics gone! Earlier this year I wrote quite a 'large note' in British Birds, showing 10-years' analysis from counting passing Balearic Shearwaters. Through West Lyme Bay (WLB is basically the bit between Berry Head and Start Point). I'm a bit of sad-do - when others are out doing other things I'm starring at the sea hoping I might see this critically endangered. Well this year its back to normal! So how does that compare? Lets see what 2017 brings? 28 October 2016 at 13:43.
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: Just a few hours!
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2016/11/just-few-hours.html
Just a few hours! This post was inspired by a recent email conversation with a fellow seawatcher, who thought looking at effort (hours put in) and the results was fascinating. To many it might be a yawn but I’ll continue! As my seawatching became more and more regular, I made myself a relational database in ACCESS to capture the results (big yawn! 1 Macaronesian (Barolo) Shearwater (BBRC accepted). 2 Yelkouan Shearwaters (one BBRC accepted, one in circulation). 50 ‘Blue’ Northern Fulmars. Brilliant Mark ...
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: Highs and lows of 2016
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2017/01/highs-and-lows-of-2016.html
Highs and lows of 2016. Well we all have our best bits of a year and for me, finally getting the Yelkouan Shearwater accepted by BOURC/ BBRC, Mike Langman and I saw off Berry Head way back takes some beating. To be honest as nearly 8 years had past, I had all but written it off (due to perceived taxonomic issues). Then for the two of us to be asked by British Birds. To write a 'New for Britain' was a great honour. For a seabirder (probably) a once in a lifetime opportunity to do this! Which was published...
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: December 2016
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2016_12_01_archive.html
Knee tremblers and wing runners! Having dwelt on seawatching numbers in a previous post, thought I say something about those few ‘rare’ encounters; well one species group in particular. So what’s my best off Devon? For me the real ‘knee trembler’ is seeing a Pterodroma. Though I’ve seen seven (and one that got away, more on that later) off Britain and Ireland (3 Devon, 4 Ireland); that’s more than Barolo Shearwaters (3; 1 Devon, 2 Ireland) or Yelkouans (2 Devon), yet they're more exciting! Tremble’...
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: A 'big' Merlin at last!
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-big-merlin-at-last.html
A 'big' Merlin at last! Last week I was on Lundy, never been there in October before. Now October to me means Merlin month and Lundy is fabled for its Merlin passage. Having written the rap bit of the DBR many times, Lundy always comes out as tops! And Lundy certainly didn't disappoint, we saw Merlins on four out of five days. On the 21st October in one area we saw four different birds within 10 minutes - so difficult tell how many were going through with the Redwings etc. Now today I was walking around ...
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: November 2016
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2016_11_01_archive.html
Just a few hours! This post was inspired by a recent email conversation with a fellow seawatcher, who thought looking at effort (hours put in) and the results was fascinating. To many it might be a yawn but I’ll continue! As my seawatching became more and more regular, I made myself a relational database in ACCESS to capture the results (big yawn! 1 Macaronesian (Barolo) Shearwater (BBRC accepted). 2 Yelkouan Shearwaters (one BBRC accepted, one in circulation). 50 ‘Blue’ Northern Fulmars.
seaskywatch.blogspot.com
Sea & Sky: October 2016
http://seaskywatch.blogspot.com/2016_10_01_archive.html
Where have all the Balearics gone! Earlier this year I wrote quite a 'large note' in British Birds, showing 10-years' analysis from counting passing Balearic Shearwaters. Through West Lyme Bay (WLB is basically the bit between Berry Head and Start Point). I'm a bit of sad-do - when others are out doing other things I'm starring at the sea hoping I might see this critically endangered. Well this year its back to normal! So how does that compare? Lets see what 2017 brings? A 'big' Merlin at last! In this c...
