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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: August 2016
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Friday, 26 August 2016. For the first time in almost ten years of my involvement with Hen Harriers at Geltsdale we have a fledged chick. The young bird, the only one of a clutch of five eggs to hatch, flew twice this week during my eight hour session at the hut. The mist was coming and going from the area all day long as I viewed from here. And finally sunshine! Subscribe to: Posts (Atom). View my complete profile. Simple theme. Powered by Blogger.
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: January 2017
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Monday, 30 January 2017. Three of us Geltsdale Reserve Hen Harrier workers set off for the Humber Marshes before first light yesterday. We had harriers in mind but what we most of all hoped to see was a juvenile Pallid Harrier which had been reported intermittently at Welwick Saltmarsh since mid November 2016. The upper parts were very dark with the exception of the strikingly contrasting white rump and the discreet pale areas on the upper-wing coverts . The four 'finger...
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: November 2016
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Thursday, 10 November 2016. Carlisle Waxwings .and some other birds today. A visit this morning to see the flock of about fifty Waxwings feeding on Rowan berries right next to the busy traffic on Currock Road -. In flight the red 'waxy' tips to the secondaries show up well on photos -. The insect-like calls penetrated the noise of traffic as they fed close to the busy road -. But the highlight of the day was the Waxwings! Thursday, 3 November 2016. Bizarrely, the debate ...
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: Antarctica to Ushuaia
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Wednesday, 4 January 2017. As we headed north and left the Antarctic Peninsula behind another very obliging Antarctic Petrel spent some time around the ship and made great arcs from the stern over the top deck . The following day there were further opportunities to study the different age related plumages. And the under wing was typical of immature birds . Unlike this classic adult bird . And some great views of the now very familiar Southern Royal Albatross . A lovely a...
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: Antarctica
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Tuesday, 3 January 2017. Following on from our unexpected encounter with Emperor Penguin we set out to land at a number of sites on the Antarctic mainland, nearby islands and on the ice shelf itself . Adelie Penguins were well into their breeding cycle . some were nest building . Others had eggs . They utilised the available flat ground while Antarctic Cormorants inhabited the steep slope above . This species already had some chicks hatched . Deception Island is a calder...
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: September 2016
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Thursday, 29 September 2016. A trip to Norfolk always carries a high burden of expectation. The first port of call was Tichwell where there was a nice group of six Spoonbills - always good to see and a species I don't see too often in Britain. A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper gave good but brief views. The saltmarsh near Stiffkey had some productive channels on the low tide and an adult Greenshank was feeding with characteristic fervour while pausing occasionally. This 3rd ...
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: Barnacle Geese and Bramblings
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Tuesday, 10 January 2017. Barnacle Geese and Bramblings. A nice fly by of Barnacle Geese off Bowness-on-Solway against a blue sky . Some different age birds in the flock with the bird on the left showing upper wing coverts having little contrast - so ageing it as a juvenile. While the right hand side bird - an adult - shows a much crisper pattern with clear white tips and narrow black bands on the wing coverts . This lovely adult male is showing quite a black head for su...
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: South Georgia to Antarctica
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Monday, 2 January 2017. South Georgia to Antarctica. After the wonderful experiences of landscape and birding on South Georgia it was nevertheless good to be back on the ocean and heading south west toward Antarctica. So once more onto the bridge . and with great results! And soon there were more and we rapidly started picking them up on their largely white undertail pattern and grey / black crown and nape . An Antarctic Prion followed these two Blue petrels. Fulmars are...
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: October 2016
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Wednesday, 26 October 2016. Environmental Audit Committee - " after Brexit " - a few observations. This select committee session was a very different affair from the session on 18th October relating to Grouse shooting. The chair - Mary Creagh ( remembered for opposing the sell-off of publicly owned woodlands ) - was excellent, unlike the chair of the earlier session. The appointment of Dr Coffey to her present role was welcomed by the Countryside Alliance. She suppor...
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Borderlands Birding... and beyond: December 2016
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Borderlands Birding . and beyond. Friday, 30 December 2016. On 26th November we landed at Salisbury Plain in the Bay of Isles on the north coast of the island - over three days we visited a number of sites as we headed south east along the coast . The hazards of walking through the tussock grass were revealed . Sleeping Fur Seals can look very much like a good stepping stone. Huge numbers of King Penguins breed here - flat ground is a scarce commodity on the island . The beach is often a crowded place .
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