Recording Data about Birds / Discussion

This is the discussion related to the wiki page Recording Data about Birds.

Wrens - The birds on our banner have changed their name.

Gruffalump 07 Feb 2011 11:38

I am indebted to Sanddancer (Tom) for pointing out to me yesterday that the Winter Wren on our banner is now called the Eurasian Wren, which to me is more meaningful. As has been said elsewhere there are various authorities on the naming of birds and there are therefore various correct names. Within the website I try to be consistent and I use http://worldbirdnames.org as my authority. I don't want to be "correcting" members postings so I will leave whatever name you use in position but will add the IOC name in brackets where appropriate.

Prompted by Tom, I looked at IOC Version 2.5 released on 4th July 2010 where I found that, following splits of the (about 80) American Wren species, the Troglodytes troglodytes is indeed now called the Eurasian Wren.

I have corrected the Feature on Wrens and apologise for not picking this up earlier - actually I tend to be a lumper not a splitter so I had missed it.

Last edited on 07 Feb 2011 11:56 by Gruffalump Show more

Yellow-crowned night herons

phalarope 02 Jun 2013 23:29

Nelson
I have just started a page as a WGBG member and read your pages. I noticed in particular your comments about,and excellent photos, of these lovely birds. As it happens, I have recently been on a cruise covering, inter alia, Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. On a ramble there I came across, completely out of the blue, a colony of these herons nesting in a tree on the edge of a mangrove swamp by the river (which turned out to be part of a reserve). I was on a very busy road bridge level with the tops of the trees - so I got an excellent very close view of one of these on its nest and another one - which came out of the thicket to see why the flock had been disturbed by a fisherman's dinghy on the river (most of its colleagues had taken off!). It surprised me that the colony (at leatst a dozen birds that I could make out through the leaves) had chosen the tree nearest the bridge. And whilst the one on the nest was watching me intently, it did not budge an inch all the time I was there.
Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to attach two jpeg photos I took- but will ask Bob how I might do that.
Phalarope

Re: Yellow-crowned night herons

Gruffalump 03 Jun 2013 08:00

Peter - congratulations on getting your posting in the right place - not everybody manages that. Re-photos - you cannot attach them in Forum (not impossible but rather difficult) - that is why I developed the Your Pages Module. More communications to come when I have completed month end review of websites.
Bob.

Nelson (guest) 03 Jun 2013 18:35

Peter-
Looking forward to seeing pictures from your cruise. Bob said you had a question for me on Night Herons, but I couldn't find it.
Nelson

phalarope 04 Jun 2013 16:28

Nelson
Thanks for comment. Awaiting Bob's suggestions as to how best to deal with these two photos. As Bob says, it appears virtually impossible in practical terms to attach jpeg images in Forum. So maybe I add them to what is on my Page? But I think I will need Bob's assistance to do that.
I don't think I had a question!
Herons and Egrets are a bit of a favourite of mine because they are relatively large, interesting plumages, and so patient/effective with their techniques. There was a wildlife program I was watching on TV once about herons and Egrets in Africa (i think it was). There is one smallish variety there (can't remember the name) that opens its wings like an umbrella as it wades through the water - so it can spot better its lunch.
Anyway, this particular variety we don't get in the UK - hence added interest. And it was such a brilliant surprise to find the colony. I didn't see it at first- walked past it on the bridge (even the nesting heron). It was only when I looked back at the tree that I thought I saw something moving in the foliage, etc.
Peter

PETER MORGAN (guest) 21 Apr 2020 17:41

Male Mandarin duck in full breeding plumage on the Black Lake in Lindow Common. Today 21st April at around 2 pm we watched a male Mandarin in plain view traversing the lake and entering the shrubbery on the Wilmslow side of the lake. First time ever that I have seen one on this lake. Could there be a female incubating eggs?
Lots of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers now calling on the Common. Also heard a Blackcap singing. So difficult to see these small birds because of all the tree leaves but did spot one of the Willow Warblers.
One great Crested Grebe doing a lot of fishing. One pair usually nest on the lake but the bird's partner was not evident - maybe incubating eggs on the nest?
Also saw for the first time a female Mallard deliver an egg - which the attendant male tucked beneath its body between its feet.

Hobby etc

phalarope 27 Aug 2020 22:27

Early this week seen a Hobby perched and preening at top of the dead tree near the main lake at Mere farm chelford. Brilliant view through scope. After some time it flew off but returned to its perch. First time seen by me at this site and first time ever a stationary Hobby. No doubt hunting dragonflies as the Sand Martin colony has departed.
Also 6 Egyptian geese feeding in the field by the track from the road - another first for me at this site.
The water levels on both lakes have been considerably reduced, thank goodness. So there are lots of shores now for waders (including round the island in the main lake), etc. Vast numbers of Greylag geese also present, as well as lots of Lapwings and the usual ducks, cormorants, grebes, etc..