tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52477598676970258802024-03-23T10:14:17.350+00:00The Curious NaturalistKaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-9152830363655523552021-08-22T08:58:00.001+01:002021-08-22T08:58:30.980+01:00Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 3rd edition<h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NXZdldTBtss/YSIAVjzqOZI/AAAAAAAAGRQ/0CTcXTkYvisL3TYJMGqF3KE1uPGDFpQ3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Raffaele%2Bet%2Bal%2B-%2BBirds%2Bof%2BPuerto%2BRico%2Band%2Bthe%2BVirgin%2BIslands.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NXZdldTBtss/YSIAVjzqOZI/AAAAAAAAGRQ/0CTcXTkYvisL3TYJMGqF3KE1uPGDFpQ3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Raffaele%2Bet%2Bal%2B-%2BBirds%2Bof%2BPuerto%2BRico%2Band%2Bthe%2BVirgin%2BIslands.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 3rd edition</h3><p>Herbert A. Raffaele, Clive Petrovic, Sergio A. Colón López, Lisa D. Yntema & José A. Salguero Faria<br />Princeton University Press | 2021<br />224 pp. | 14 x 22 cm<br />Softback | $24.95 / £20.00 | ISBN: 9780691211671<br /></p><p><br /></p>
First published in 1983, ‘Raffaele’ is the standard field guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. My previous copy is the revised 1989 edition, which follows the format of most guides of its era, with plates grouped in a single block, a number of them monochrome, both measures to save on colour printing costs; many of the paintings are works of art rather than comparative depictions. Three decades later, the 3rd edition places full colour illustrations opposite the text so that all information on a particular species can be gleaned at a glance from an open spread. Species are grouped by habitat to facilitate comparison of similar species. This may be slightly disconcerting to users who have only just got used to wildfowl appearing at the beginning of a field guide, and on this subject I agree with Steve Howell (Howell <i>et al</i>. 2009, 2012) that we should strive to follow a “field-friendly sequence of families”. But that is only a passing comment; this guide is small enough that a particular group of birds will quickly be found by flicking through the pages, something facilitates by the flexible cover.<br />
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Raffaele is joined by four co-authors for this edition, two of them well-known in Puerto Rican ornithological circles and two authorities on the birds of the US and British Virgin Islands. The contribution of each is not described but one can probably assume that status and distribution reflect the most current knowledge. The artists are, with one exception, new, and paintings are of a high standard. Taken together, visitors should have little trouble identifying most of the birds of the territories. As with the rest of the Neotropics, the visitor would still be well-advised to take along a standard North American field guide.<br />
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In the 30 odd years since the last edition, the number of species recorded has increased by a quarter!The guide covers all 347 species now on the checklist. Helpfully, vagrants and hypothetical species are relegated to the rear of the book, which allows the main body to focus on those species most likely to be encountered. Taxonomy largely follows AOS, departing in a few cases such as the splitting of Eastern <i>Tringa (semipalmata) inornata</i> and Western Willet <i>T. (semipalmata) inornata</i>, Puerto Rican (Loggerhead) Kingbird <i>Tyrannus (caudifasciatus) taylori</i>, and Puerto Rican (Lesser Antillean) Pewee <i>Contopus (latirostris) blancoi</i>. For the first time, local names are included, as well as standard English names, and they also receive their own index. This will surely be welcomes by local birders and naturalists.<br />
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Introductory chapters provide analyses of the avifauna and its changes over time, geography and biogeography, and conservation, while potential birding destinations are suggested at the end of the book.<br />
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Even with the increase in the number of species covered and supplementary information, this guide is about the same size and weight as its predecessor, and—unlike many field guides to the megadiverse Neotropics—it really is a portable reference. This is the obvious choice for anyone visiting either Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. The improvements on the previous edition are such that those in possession of a 1980s vintage would be wise to invest the very modest cover price to equip themselves with this new guide. It will also be a mandatory purchase for students of the wider West Indian avifauna. The authors and artists are to be congratulated on producing a handy, accessible guide that will doubtless help further the conservation of the birds of these territories.<br />
<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-49917423546839136932021-08-21T16:11:00.002+01:002021-08-22T11:17:29.946+01:00Naturalized Parrots of the World<h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2egtb_KguOc/YSEXMaeQ6cI/AAAAAAAAGRI/Mw1F6e2pT90SOWH0H-GfAnL-QFrZxj5wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1750/Pruett-Jones%2B-%2BNaturalized%2BParrots%2Bof%2Bthe%2BWorld%2Blr.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1225" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2egtb_KguOc/YSEXMaeQ6cI/AAAAAAAAGRI/Mw1F6e2pT90SOWH0H-GfAnL-QFrZxj5wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Pruett-Jones%2B-%2BNaturalized%2BParrots%2Bof%2Bthe%2BWorld%2Blr.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>Naturalized Parrots of the World<br /></h3><p>Stephen Pruett-Jones (ed.)<br />Princeton University Press | 2021<br />304 pp. | 18.5 x 26.2 cm<br />Hardback | £35 / $45 | ISBN: 9780691204413 <br /><br /></p><p>As a group, the parrots (Psittaciformes) are highly threatened, with 16 species already extinct and 29% of the rest—118 of the 404 extant species recognised under BirdLife International taxonomy—now threatened with extinction, 20 of them in the highest threat category, Critically Endangered. Habitat loss, persecution of these (largely) seed predators as pests, and direct hunting of the birds for food, are some of the causes of decline, but the pet trade has been a major driver that has also led simultaneously to the establishment of exotic populations of a number of species, often far from their native range. This book is the first to provide a detailed overview of naturalised parrots, with half of the book focussing on distribution and ecology, and the other providing case studies. It is a welcome overview and point of entry into a fascinating subject. </p><p>The first part of the book covers subjects of relevance like the parrot trade, distribution, genetics of established populations, parrot-human relations, conservation, ecological impacts, management and so on. These are well-compiled, very useful summaries, amply referenced and illustrated with numerous tables and graphics. There is plenty of good, hard information here about everything from population trends to economic impacts. Each chapter has been written by notable specialists in the topic at hand, and the chapters are individually well laid out, all including summary conclusions. The graphs and tables are generally helpful and display information at a glance. The figures at a global scale are, however, sometimes of insufficient size to adequately convey detail. For example, Fig. 2.1 on p. 30, which shows world distribution of naturalised parrots, is too small to feasibly show most Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, which harbours self-sustaining populations of at least eight species of exotic parrot. The same figure omits Venezuela, with its well-known urban populations of Rose-ringed Parakeet <i>Psittacula krameri</i> in Caracas. </p><p>The case studies take up the second half of the book and either focus on species—Rose-ringed Parakeet and Monk Parakeet <i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>, the two most widespread—or geographic areas like the USA, Europe, the Hawaiian Islands, South Africa and Australia. Again, Rose-ringed Parakeet populations are not indicated in Venezuela, or even Puerto Rico (where first reported in 1979) or indeed anywhere else in the West Indies. These chapters are good primers those who wish to inform themselves about the real impacts of naturalised parrots, given the ongoing debates about whether such species should be controlled. There is plenty to absorb here and extensive reference sections are provided. </p><p>This is a much needed compilation of information on the world’s naturalised parrots. Although aimed primarily at the ornithological and conservation community, there will be much here for the amateur enthusiast to enjoy. The care taken in the production, with high-quality paper and a pleasing design, does the content justice and makes this an ideal gift. A very worthwhile publication that will be a major reference for years to come.</p>Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-82450188931727710032021-07-09T16:48:00.007+01:002021-07-09T16:54:36.694+01:00Book review: Much Ado About Mothing<p> </p><h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ4njpqhA0w/YOhuOrgOgmI/AAAAAAAAGPg/JQCs2fIi45EHsZYALbY_f8s7AoaN4BNuACLcBGAsYHQ/s914/Lowen%2B-%2BMuch%2BAdo%2Babout%2BMothing%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="568" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ4njpqhA0w/YOhuOrgOgmI/AAAAAAAAGPg/JQCs2fIi45EHsZYALbY_f8s7AoaN4BNuACLcBGAsYHQ/w198-h320/Lowen%2B-%2BMuch%2BAdo%2Babout%2BMothing%2Bcover.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>Much Ado About Mothing. A year intoxicated by Britain’s rare and remarkable moths<br /></h3><p>James Lowen <br />Bloomsbury | 2021<br />384 pp. | 14.3 x 22.2 cm<br />Hardback | £18.99 | ISBN: 9781472966995 </p><p><i>Much Ado about Mothing</i> is an action-packed, whistle-stop tour of Britain and its moth inhabitants that conveys all of the drive and excitement but doubtless only a fraction of the hectic schedule of James Lowen’s year-long quest. The reader will be taken by the hand—often gently, but just as frequently whisked along with the author—on his 500 mile days out, up hills and mountains, into dozens of the UK’s remaining wildlife havens, including some of the quirkiest spots in the country: from Sychnant Pass to Orlestone Woods, Muir of Dinnet to Dungeness. If nothing else, this is an enlightening nature-oriented tour of the British Isles. <br /><br />But it is more than a travelogue. There can be no grounds for feeling short-changed on information. The 380+ pages are stuffed to overflowing with moth names, descriptions, potted life histories, folklore, science, all woven into the fabric provided by James’s entertaining personal adventures with the moths and other like-minded souls who study, love and protect them. The list of amateur enthusiasts and experts that James meets along the way seemingly includes all of the nation’s best known moth experts, enthusiasts and eccentrics. There are constant references to the past giants of moth lore from the 19th century’s J. W. Tutt and P. B. M. Allan, to the 20th’s E. B. Ford, Bernard Kettlewell and Mike Majerus (initials eventually giving way to admission of actual names). Along the way, the principles of Müllerian mimicry and controversy over industrial melanism are succinctly explained, along with the pervasive issue of conservation. Indeed, much of the year is spent seeking out unusual, scarce and geographically restricted species, precisely those whose conservation status is likely to be in jeopardy. <br /><br />James’s raw enthusiasm and energy is contagious. The Victorian naturalists might be his historical forbears, but this modern-day moth-man comes across as the frenetic millennial—not he the man of leisure idly twiddling a butterfly net after the Sunday service, but rather (ever conscious of other hands on his time) a determined and disciplined aurelian loaded with state-of-the-art professional photographic gear or moth trapping paraphernalia to the point of physical discomfort and potential bodily injury, eyes darting anxiously after his current quarry, fingers of the hands in his pocket jangling the keys of his ‘Quattro’ in anticipation of the next moth rendezvous on the frighteningly long list of appointments. No-one I know would have been able to execute such a punishing schedule that clearly often combined visits to several widely separated sites in one day or required serial all-night vigils followed by days of processing the spoils. The results are apparent, between the covers of this book.<br /><br />For those who are no stranger to Merveille du Jour and even Clifden Nonpareil, this will make a rollicking good read, and should provide the stimulus to go out and do more, explore new areas, experiment with pheremone lures, or simply overcome the end of week fatigue to put out the Robinson trap on that dull Friday evening. But if you have been wondering what this mothing business is about and are waiting to be nudged into taking the plunge, this book could well be for you. Be warned: mothing is an addictive pastime, and you are unlikely to be able to resist James’s siren call to spend a year or two ‘intoxicated by Britain’s rare and remarkable moths’. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-82144710339791094352021-03-16T14:44:00.001+00:002021-03-16T14:44:46.962+00:00Flight Identification of European Passerines and select landbirds<h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnuRq8sezA0/YFCL_nJ6zSI/AAAAAAAAGHw/g00fAXqe7qI-eDK763A7WhYxrlckxZL4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/Flight%2BID%2BEuropean%2BPasserines%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnuRq8sezA0/YFCL_nJ6zSI/AAAAAAAAGHw/g00fAXqe7qI-eDK763A7WhYxrlckxZL4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Flight%2BID%2BEuropean%2BPasserines%2Bcover.jpg" /></a></div>
Flight Identification of European Passerines and select landbirds</h3><p>
Tomasz Cofta<br />
Princeton University Press WILDGuides | 2021<br />
496 pp. | 16 x 24 cm<br />
Paperback | £38 / $ 45 | ISBN: 9780691177571<br />
<br />
Ever since its inception at the turn of the millennium, the WILDGuides series has repeatedly broken new ground in field guide concepts and production. From the championing of photographic guides and use of digital artwork, to coverage of overlooked taxonomic groups, the series has made a name for pushing the frontiers of field guide capability. The current title certainly follows that precedent. We have enjoyed flight identification guides to non-passerines for decades, but the practicalities of producing an illustrated guide to smaller, fluttery passerines are considerable. And would the birding public need or want such a guide? Well, the gauntlet has quietly been taken up and the book is out. I suspect WILDGuides have done it again by publishing another indispensable guide that we did not know we needed.<br />
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This is a large and detailed guide, slightly larger than <a href="https://thecuriousnaturalist.blogspot.com/2020/06/book-reviewn-britains-birds-2nd-edition.html"><i>Britain’s Birds</i></a> and about the same weight. The book treats 205 passerines and 32 non-passerines, approximately one third of the number covered there, which gives some idea of the amount of space afforded each species. The book goes into considerably more detail on its subject than any other available guide, providing a wealth of information that will be of immediate interest to the vismig and <a href="https://nocmig.com/">nocmig</a> communities, but with wider appeal to all keen birders who strive to improve their field identification skills.<br />
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</p><p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEjcQHbWpfk/YFCwHG2Ha_I/AAAAAAAAGH4/BA6UZATcAbEWy5OKVMX3u-fiU2T0NDnwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1963/Intro%2BJay%2Bflaps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1963" data-original-width="1040" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEjcQHbWpfk/YFCwHG2Ha_I/AAAAAAAAGH4/BA6UZATcAbEWy5OKVMX3u-fiU2T0NDnwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Intro%2BJay%2Bflaps.jpg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWyppKKmMgo/YFCwHuqkALI/AAAAAAAAGH8/B1f0nXGx2c84EM4BrXRTGMUyu3SNmbM3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/Intro%2Bflock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWyppKKmMgo/YFCwHuqkALI/AAAAAAAAGH8/B1f0nXGx2c84EM4BrXRTGMUyu3SNmbM3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Intro%2Bflock.jpg" /></a><br />
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This is one book that benefits from a careful read of the introductory sections, which advise on how to use the guide and set out an important framework for analysing passerines in flight that covers structure and shape, colouration, flight characteristics, flock dynamics and vocalisations. These sections are worth studying because they break down the components that comprise each species’ flight signature and reinforce a habit of running through this checklist in order to identify birds. They also establish definitions that are used in the species identification accounts. Much of this information will be new to the average user and is worth digesting before proceeding to the species accounts.
It is worth at this point noting the author’s credentials. I first came across Tomasz Cofta’s striking bird illustrations while reviewing drafts of <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691155968/the-worlds-rarest-birds"><i>The World's Rarest Birds</i></a> in 2012, when he stepped in to provide images of those 75 species that were so rare that no photograph existed. But, by his own account, Cofta has spent thousands of hours observing migrating birds, has ringed almost 100,000 individuals and published a hundred articles (mostly in Polish journals), so he should not lack the authority to produce such a book.<br />
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Each species account is typically constructed around digital artwork depicting the species from the side above and below supplemented by a gallery of photographs, 2400 in all, obtained under field conditions. The less than studio quality of the photographs, sometimes taken at odd angles, often backlit, occasionally blurry, counterbalances the meticulous precision of the paintings by capturing the sort of glimpses that one might snatch in field observations. That is not to say that many of the photographs are not of excellent quality. The combination of clean, precise artwork and field photographs works well in giving an idea of the flight jizz of most species.<br />
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The text is surprisingly detailed, longer than some field guide texts. Who would have guessed that there was so much to say about small birds in flight? There is a lot to digest here, and I confess I am still in that process, slowly reading through species of interest in order to assimilate new information.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfveuo_Bwho/YFDC_rX8L4I/AAAAAAAAGIg/Mr76eL8h_SsXmO8Ze2p60S_pOfFST83kACLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/Thrushes.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfveuo_Bwho/YFDC_rX8L4I/AAAAAAAAGIg/Mr76eL8h_SsXmO8Ze2p60S_pOfFST83kACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Thrushes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> Efforts have been made to compare similar species, so, for example, the section on thrushes nicely distinguishes each species on a combination of differences in tail length, flapping rate, flight-wave and flock size even without a the need to obtain a hint of colour.<br />
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Sound is at least as important as visual clues in identifying flying birds, and Cofta gets as close as it is possible to get in a book to a comprehensive description by triangulating transliterations of calls, sonograms, and a single QR code link to sound recordings hosted on the <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-671277267/sets/flight-identification-european-passerines">Princeton University Press Soundcloud website</a>. Sonograms are a very powerful tool that have grown in popularity. They were virtually unheard of in British birding circles before the publication of the first volume of BWP in 1977, which confounded many buyers by including them. Perhaps the biggest boost to their popularity has come from the growing popularity of nocmig, where identification of flight calls by sonograms is routine. The only other other field guides that attempt comprehensive coverage of bird vocalisations by sonograms that I am aware of are Nathan Pieplow’s excellent <a href="http://earbirding.com/blog/book">Peterson field guides to North American birds</a>, and I would love to see an equivalent for the Western Palaearctic.<br />
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In sum, this pioneering guide is a formidable reference tool for identifying passerines in flight. It will deepen the understanding of anyone interested in the subject, particularly vismig and nocmig enthusiasts, but also the garden patch birder straining to determine the identity of the smaller birds that fly over the house. A strong recommendation for anyone wanting to push their personal frontiers of bird identification.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xedJ1FkIlGg/YFDDvLqQEMI/AAAAAAAAGIs/iCojDUx-fo8IIXT2YIEzOVtYiN-f0aapQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210316_122330.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xedJ1FkIlGg/YFDDvLqQEMI/AAAAAAAAGIs/iCojDUx-fo8IIXT2YIEzOVtYiN-f0aapQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210316_122330.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUMpBq9O_oM/YFDDuWML5dI/AAAAAAAAGIo/-J4B5iTa8PMJ-y7gQK1gmuHu9q9dXTAbACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210316_122431.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUMpBq9O_oM/YFDDuWML5dI/AAAAAAAAGIo/-J4B5iTa8PMJ-y7gQK1gmuHu9q9dXTAbACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210316_122431.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><p><br />
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<u><b>References </b></u><br />
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Cramp, S. et al. (1997–1996) <i>Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East And North Africa
Volumes 1–9</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.<br />
<br />
Hirschfeld, E., Swash, A., & Still, R. (2013) <i>The World's Rarest Birds</i>. Princeton University Press WILDGuides, Oxfordshire.<br />
<br />
Hume, R., Still, R., Swash, A. R., Harrop, H. & Tipling, D. (2020) <i>Britain’s Birds. An Identification Guide to the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland</i>. 2nd ed. Princeton University Press WILDGuides, Oxfordshire.<br />
<br />
Pieplow, N. (2017) <i>Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern North America</i>. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston.<br />
<br />
Pieplow, N. (2019) <i>Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Western North America</i>. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston.<br /><br /></p>Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-74893404662734266992020-11-20T13:55:00.066+00:002020-12-04T15:20:54.766+00:00Book review: The Birds of Cuba. An Annotated Checklist<h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-angBTl81uHE/X8pOCd3eSUI/AAAAAAAAGEw/R5os6Ir3X2YjL5Q0NeBJ3HmltyyU8n2IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s950/Birds%2Bof%2BCuba%2Bchecklist%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-angBTl81uHE/X8pOCd3eSUI/AAAAAAAAGEw/R5os6Ir3X2YjL5Q0NeBJ3HmltyyU8n2IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Birds%2Bof%2BCuba%2Bchecklist%2Bcover.jpg" /></a></div>The Birds of Cuba. An Annotated Checklist. BOC Checklist Series: 26</h3><p></p>Arturo Kirkconnell, Guy M. Kirwan, Orlando H. Garrido, Andy D. Mitchell & James W. Wiley<br />
British Ornithologists’ Club | 2020<br />
472 pp. | 15.4 x 24.5 cm<br />
Paperback | £44.99 = $ 61 | ISBN: 9780952288671<br />
<br />
<p>My first visits to Cuba were in 1995 and 1996, as a consultant to the <a href="https://www.unep-wcmc.org/">World Conservation Monitoring Centre</a> and <a href="https://www.undp.org">United Nations Development Programme</a> respectively, to work with Miguel Vales and a team of Cuban scientists at the <a href="http://www.ecosis.cu/centro-nacional-de-biodiversidad/">Centro Nacional de Biodiversidad (CeNBio-IES)</a> on the national <i>Biodiversity Country Study</i>, one of the first requirements of the <a href="https://www.cbd.int/">UN Convention on Biological Diversity</a>. This was during the <i>período especial</i>, the 'Special Period' of adverse economic conditions triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, and it was a real eye-opener for me. Even though everything from toilet paper to fuel, and beef to coffee had disappeared from daily life, and despite our conservation work being frustrated by the US embargo on the country (Nairobi funds were routed through Washington were frozen, while California-based Esri were threatened with fines for attempting to supply the GIS package Arc Info), I found Cubans remarkably hospitable, making me feel most welcome, sharing their extremely limited resources unselfishly and even going out of their way to find a vehicle to take me birding outside La Habana in the <a href="https://www.ecured.cu/Sierra_del_Rosario">Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve</a>. One of my most poignant memories was being shown one lunchtime a Gundlach specimen of the extinct Cuban Macaw <i>Ara tricolor</i>—the sole example held in Cuba—that (I learned from this new checklist) has subsequently been lost, probably stolen. At that time, few foreign birders visited Cuba, the majority of them Canadians or Europeans. The embargo was a disincentive to US tourism, but some birders and ornithologists from that country nevertheless succeeded in visiting the island. <br /><br />Since then, I have been back several times, and particularly since 2014, tourism flourished as US-imposed restrictions were relaxed, a welcome policy that culminated in the restoration of direct flights in 2016. Although there has been a reversal of political rhetoric under the retrograde policies of the Trump regime, I am hopeful that a more pragmatic future awaits. At any rate, there seems no better time to publish a revision of the Cuban avifauna, something that had not been attempted—leaving aside the more summary treatment in Garrido and Kirkconnell’s field guides to the birds of Cuba (2000, 2011)—since Garrido and García’s <i>Catálogo de las aves de Cuba</i> published in 1975. I was honoured to be asked to review the new checklist for the next issue of the <a href="https://boc-online.org/bulletin">Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club</a>.<br />
</p><p><br />
TEXT TO FOLLOW AFTER PUBLICATION. </p><p> </p><p>For more information on birds and birding in Cuba, you could do worse than read <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328166963_Seeing_Cuba%27s_endemic_birds_and_other_specialities">Seeing Cuba’s endemic birds and other specialities</a>.<br /></p><p> <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFHi-3JJd4Q/X7ukMbl8ayI/AAAAAAAAGDk/ECPi9v8t85Me1EzDuCs9nFa9fmUXQcddQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/Birds%2BCuba%2Bchecklists%2Blr.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFHi-3JJd4Q/X7ukMbl8ayI/AAAAAAAAGDk/ECPi9v8t85Me1EzDuCs9nFa9fmUXQcddQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Birds%2BCuba%2Bchecklists%2Blr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-44992006118032320562020-10-30T07:38:00.035+00:002020-11-02T17:11:12.180+00:00Europe's Dragonflies: A field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies<h3 style="text-align: left;">Europe's Dragonflies: A field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies </h3><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lb74h_az1c/X5vCSztDH5I/AAAAAAAAGBo/QvFdyK8PupM6ci_BUoqY_EZfQDI379SLACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1424" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lb74h_az1c/X5vCSztDH5I/AAAAAAAAGBo/QvFdyK8PupM6ci_BUoqY_EZfQDI379SLACLcBGAsYHQ/w222-h320/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bcover.jpg" width="222" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Dave Smallshire & Andy Swash</div><div style="text-align: left;">Princeton University Press WILDGuides | 2020</div><div style="text-align: left;">360 pp. | 15 x 21 cm </div><div style="text-align: left;">Paperback | £25 / $ 29.95 | ISBN: 9780691168951</div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div>
Few groups illustrate as clearly as dragonflies the enormous advances in field guide technology over the past few decades. I became interested in the Odonata at a local nature reserve at age 11, and having read the school library’s copy of Collins New Naturalist Dragonflies from cover to cover I soon needed something to help me identify the species I encountered. At that time, the only identification guide available to me —and in a new edition on sale in the coveted natural history corner of Austicks Bookshop— was the slim, A4-sized volume by Harley Books. At £16.95 it was fabulously expensive, but my 1984 school Physics prize put it within reach and I spent the next few weeks bubbling with the anticipation of actually receiving it from the headmaster. As I carefully scrutinised its pages over and over again, it did not seem as if identification literature could ever get better than its sumptuous super-life-size full-colour plates, technical keys to both adults and larvae, and impressive 10 km square National Grid maps. The excitement was tempered slightly by the fact that I could now see starkly that I was apparently never going to be able to find many more species this far north in Yorkshire: most British dragonflies were limited to the balmy climes south of the Humber. <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VeA38x82Syg/X5vJV5YA0jI/AAAAAAAAGB0/WO8vyj0BRP8DsmHcEJmtqDcUrNcPXN7lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/My%2BEuropean%2BOdonata%2Bfield%2Bguides%2Blr.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VeA38x82Syg/X5vJV5YA0jI/AAAAAAAAGB0/WO8vyj0BRP8DsmHcEJmtqDcUrNcPXN7lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/My%2BEuropean%2BOdonata%2Bfield%2Bguides%2Blr.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The evolution of dragonfly guides...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
I still have enormous affection for that identification guide, and great respect for its
author, who —like so many great naturalists— was not a
professional, but a north London schoolmaster, and I still take it
off the shelves to learn its insight into the species that I find.
But times have changed for those wishing to identify dragonflies. On
one hand the number of potential species
has increased as dragonflies expand their ranges, moving northwards to
colonise the British Isles, and on the other the identification
literature has vastly improved to more than keep pace with new
challenges. The illustrations of Richard Lewington have greatly
facilitated the amateur identification of several once arcane insect
groups and collaborations with Steve Brooks in 1997 and Klaas-Douwe
Dijkstra in 2006 produced ground-breaking guides to British and
European dragonflies respectively. Both are a pleasure to use. The
former has run to three editions while a second edition of the latter
is in press as I write. On a different
tack, the WILDGuides team employed their trademark photographic
approach to produce a complementary guide to Britain’s dragonflies
in 2004; the 2014 third edition is
excellent, a resource that I use alongside Brooks & Lewington. So
it is perhaps no surprise that WILDGuides
have taken the logical step to publishing a
photographic guide to the wider region of Europe.
There has been no better time to get out
and explore the European dragonfly fauna.<br />
<br />
The new guide has all the hallmarks we have come to expect from WILDGuides publications. It is portable, robust, oriented at field identification by amateurs as well as professionals, visually intuitive, and makes use of the highest quality photographic images skilfully manipulated by design wizard Rob Still. As with other titles in the series, it also includes introductions to the identification of particular subgroups and plenty of comparative plates and text to facilitate correct identification, thus guiding the user in the process of identification. This use of ‘visual keys’ is one of the strengths of the book, and the series as a whole.<br />
<br />
This guide covers all 140 of Europe’s species. Apart from the keys and comparative plates, each species receives a full double-spread account comprising three to ten or more photographs and facing text set against the background image of a typical habitat. There are 1400 photographs in all. The text is concise and very easy to navigate. Abundance and seasonality data are placed adjacent to range maps to facilitate the rapid narrowing-down of options, while the main body of text focuses on identification, behaviour and breeding habitat. A short list of similar species (with respective page numbers) is shown at the bottom left of each species account.<br />
<br />
Distribution maps are based on the 2015 <i>Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies</i>. Each is printed at a scale (43 x 34 mm) that allows just sufficient resolution to determine whether or not the species is likely to be encountered at a given location. Interestingly, since I received my school prize field guide a dozen new (mostly) continental species have been recorded in the UK, half of them (<i>Chalcolestes viridis</i>, <i>Lestes barbarus</i>, <i>Coenagrion scitulum</i> [recolonising], <i>Erythromma viridulum</i>, <i>Anax parthenope</i>, <i>A. ephippiger</i>) becoming established, having bred or at least recorded egg-laying. Others, like <i>Aeshna mixta</i>, was, as its name Migrant Hawker suggests, largely an immigrant only just beginning to breed in the UK, but is now a common resident throughout most of England. The still more southerly <i>A. </i><i>affinis</i>, a rare vagrant when I was at school, has subsequently expanded its European range several hundred kilometres polewards and has now also bred in the UK, something that will make its English name of Southern Migrant Hawker redundant. In fact, many species have expanded their range north and westwards in response to a warming climate. And one thought to be extirpated in my school days, <i>Lestes dryas</i>, has been rediscovered, within a few kilometres of my current home. <br /><br />As ever with WILDGuides publications, the book has been issued in association with a relevant conservation organisation, in this case the British Dragonfly Society, and there is a strong emphasis on conservation throughout, including details of IUCN Red List status for each species in a handy checklist located at the end of the book. <br /><br />This book is almost self-recommending. Anyone with an interest in the dragonflies of the region will want a copy. Even for those who limit their travels to the UK —virtually all of us at present— this guide will provide vital context and also some handy identification tips. I am very glad to have this book on my shelves and wish a copy had been available to help me with the challenges of exploring the Iberian Odonata. At the same time, I look forward to the publication of the second edition of Dijkstra & Lewington’s wonderful guide. The two should complement each other perfectly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">
___________________</div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yp1M5uDXfX8/X5_OodMT1JI/AAAAAAAAGCM/RfAN9ZK1LxYle0G14GlhFt78ysPEOrJjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bp13.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1408" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yp1M5uDXfX8/X5_OodMT1JI/AAAAAAAAGCM/RfAN9ZK1LxYle0G14GlhFt78ysPEOrJjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bp13.jpg" /></a>Accessible, easy-to-understand introductory material.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYv4ATyp5zw/X58WsjTxKmI/AAAAAAAAGCE/8q6_hu5lRGcOdRyN6rHc2kFVCd9IFF3IgCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bp15.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1406" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYv4ATyp5zw/X58WsjTxKmI/AAAAAAAAGCE/8q6_hu5lRGcOdRyN6rHc2kFVCd9IFF3IgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bp15.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">A wealth of information packed into concise, image-rich content in a careful layout designed to provide the most helpful cues along the quickest and easiest route to identification.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBSt7K72OWg/X5_OwtveR2I/AAAAAAAAGCY/XxxWmouTWLQ-xOMjxBZ7hZRdPWF29kyGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bpp64-65.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="960" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBSt7K72OWg/X5_OwtveR2I/AAAAAAAAGCY/XxxWmouTWLQ-xOMjxBZ7hZRdPWF29kyGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bpp64-65.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">'Visual keys' to the trickiest groups making full use of painstakingly selected images supplemented with identification pointers. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-5qe47fhns/X5_OwqNDK9I/AAAAAAAAGCc/afGmTTvld9M3pcdQcmfYcTDN-tVSpHjGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bpp128-129.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-5qe47fhns/X5_OwqNDK9I/AAAAAAAAGCc/afGmTTvld9M3pcdQcmfYcTDN-tVSpHjGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bpp128-129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One of several critical comparison plates.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PP_ANwHV-60/X5_OwGWmKVI/AAAAAAAAGCU/EjdLLR_dbD8hf3toK_NlC8tlNOQh-cNggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2511/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bpp132-133%2Bcrop2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2511" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PP_ANwHV-60/X5_OwGWmKVI/AAAAAAAAGCU/EjdLLR_dbD8hf3toK_NlC8tlNOQh-cNggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bpp132-133%2Bcrop2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Detail of a particularly useful comparison plate depicting lateral views of flying <i>Aeshna</i> males. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DrwmXrXab_s/X5_Ov3JcRqI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/1UqbfdzF_dg434Dt-0_oGGSId5S3pQsAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bp343%2BChecklist%2Bcrop.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1798" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DrwmXrXab_s/X5_Ov3JcRqI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/1UqbfdzF_dg434Dt-0_oGGSId5S3pQsAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Europe%2527s%2BDragonflies%2B-%2Bp343%2BChecklist%2Bcrop.jpg" /></a></div>Checklist of European Odonata.<br /><br /><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>References</u></b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Askew, R.R. (2004) <i>The dragonflies of Europe</i>. 2nd edition. Harley, Colchester. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Brooks, S. & Lewington, R. (1997) <i>Field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland</i>. British Wildlife Publishing, Dorset. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Corbet, P.S., Longfield, C. & Moore, N.W. (1960) <i>Dragonflies</i>. Collins (New Naturalist No. 41), London. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Dijkstra, K-D.B. & Lewington, R. (2006) <i>Field guide to the dragonflies of Britain and Europe</i>. British Wildlife Publishing, Dorset. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Galliani, C., Scherini, R. & Piglia, A. (2017) <i>Dragonflies and damselflies of Europe. A scientific approach to the identification of European Odonata without capture</i>. World Biodiversity Association (WBA Handbooks No. 7), Verona. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Hammond, C.O. & Merritt, R. (1983) <i>The dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland</i>. 2nd edition. Harley, Colchester. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Kalkman, V.J. & Boudot, J-P. (2015) <i>Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies</i>. KNNV, Netherlands. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Smallshire, D. & Swash, A. (2014) <i>Britain’s dragonflies: A field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Britain and Ireland</i>. 3rd edition. Princeton WILDGuides, Hampshire. </div>Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-30253324635404390162020-08-26T13:33:00.009+01:002020-11-02T17:16:04.635+00:00Britain's Ferns: A field guide to the clubmosses, quillworts, horsetails and ferns of Great Britain and Ireland<h3>Britain's Ferns: A field guide to the clubmosses, quillworts, horsetails and ferns of Great Britain and Ireland</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oz1BkMBupjc/X0ZSoAsAXHI/AAAAAAAAF-g/oDhQwpnDxTMESzPPZ_7npA0kJysU-rDqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1457" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oz1BkMBupjc/X0ZSoAsAXHI/AAAAAAAAF-g/oDhQwpnDxTMESzPPZ_7npA0kJysU-rDqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w186-h262/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bcover.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><p>
</p><p><br />James Merryweather<br />
Princeton University Press WILDGuides | 2020<br />
280 pp. | 15 x 21 cm<br />
Paperback | £20 / $ 23.95 | ISBN: 9780691180397<br /><br />Ferns are – at least to this novice – a rather daunting identification prospect, notwithstanding the manageably low diversity compared with more popular taxonomic groups. My first attempt to get to grips with ferns was in the early 1980s, enthused by the newly published <i>Grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens of Great Britain and Ireland</i>, one of several ground-breaking Roger Phillips guides published by Pan (of which his <i>Mushrooms</i> has best stood the test of time). This was quickly supplemented by the <i>Collins guide to the grasses, sedges, rushes and ferns of Britain and Northern Europe</i>, from another proven field guide pedigree. As I take them off the shelf now, these pioneering aids look decidedly dated, and perhaps I can be pardoned for blaming my lack of expertise to some extent on deficiencies in the literature. In the intervening period (while I lived outside the UK), Page’s excellent <i>The ferns of Britain and Ireland</i>, has become the standard work, although since it is seemingly never to be found second hand for less than £60 I am not in a position to have acquired it. So I lay out my cards as an interested – and probably not very persevering – novice, and my assessment of the current guide should be taken as such. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aecCndin9CE/X0ZUDTnON4I/AAAAAAAAF-w/KJUBogX0luEo9xrYtQlm7v5tyTKO2oVggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bp11.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1444" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aecCndin9CE/X0ZUDTnON4I/AAAAAAAAF-w/KJUBogX0luEo9xrYtQlm7v5tyTKO2oVggCLcBGAsYHQ/w231-h328/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bp11.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><p>But there’s no excuse for not tackling this group now. James Merryweather’s new field guide should put British fern identification within the reach of the most botanically (and economically) challenged. It is small, portable, clear and up-to-date. All 60 native ferns, 6 clubmosses, 3 quillworts and 9 horsetails are treated in this new photographic guide, in a format that will be very familiar to aficionados of the growing WILDGuides series. <br /></p><p><br />Like most WILDGuides books, the aim is not merely teach the user the characters of each species, but primarily to inculcate an identification process that can be applied to any specimen encountered. As with companion guides, the introductory sections – a full 97 pages – comprise identification procedures, extremely detailed keys, and a guide to families. Those allergic to keys should not be put off, since this highly visual resource bears little resemblance to the dry dichotomous texts of yore. Here text, photographs, diagrams and clever design are married to produce a tool that the least technically proficient will be able to use. So the recommended way to use the guide is to work through the keys to find a suggested identification, which then directs the user to a full species description. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Chj8Eba936g/X0ZTrvePX6I/AAAAAAAAF-o/lN1kt2NiuWk1XR99SZf5k_SKcdLdA3legCLcBGAsYHQ/s1230/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bpp24-25.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1230" height="231" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Chj8Eba936g/X0ZTrvePX6I/AAAAAAAAF-o/lN1kt2NiuWk1XR99SZf5k_SKcdLdA3legCLcBGAsYHQ/w328-h231/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bpp24-25.jpg" width="328" /></a>The species descriptions each cover a double-page spread, with most of the text, a map and a full-plant photograph appearing on the left, complemented by large photographs of fronds, sporangia and further detail on the right. These are very straightforward to peruse. Additional tables are provided to aid critical identification of the tricky British male-ferns. The closing pages are largely devoted to guidance as to when and where to encounter ferns and to further resources for study and recording. The skill of designer Rob Still is everywhere apparent, making the material supremely accessible. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nwq5zDvuNBQ/X0ZUi-MBz8I/AAAAAAAAF-4/CNxxCScSonUsq9uVZZ7s3RWFP7pk_pv4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1228/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bpp32-33.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1228" height="231" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nwq5zDvuNBQ/X0ZUi-MBz8I/AAAAAAAAF-4/CNxxCScSonUsq9uVZZ7s3RWFP7pk_pv4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w328-h231/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bpp32-33.jpg" width="328" /></a></div>The text itself is remarkably free from technical terms, so can be used with ease by the complete beginner. Indeed, the warm, accessible, occasionally whimsical style, is ideally suited to the task. However, the amount of information provided will make it just as handy for experienced botanists or professional ecologists. The author has decades of experience in the field and has already produced a previous illustrated key in the popular Field Studies Council AIDGAP series.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcpzax7OLHQ/X0ZU8YlGoEI/AAAAAAAAF_A/2iSoviAkxVAfLTYFTzDt0UPTqtg24nZdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1230/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bpp188-189.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1230" height="231" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcpzax7OLHQ/X0ZU8YlGoEI/AAAAAAAAF_A/2iSoviAkxVAfLTYFTzDt0UPTqtg24nZdACLcBGAsYHQ/w328-h231/Britain%2527s%2BFerns%2B-%2Bpp188-189.jpg" width="328" /></a></div>This is yet another ground-breaking WILDGuides initiative: as the first portable photographic field guide to British ferns, it really plugs a gap in the British identification literature. As usual, I can find little to fault here, and no reason why any keen naturalist would not want to get hold of a copy. I would expect to see interest in this group increase in response, as has occurred with the emergence of previous novel guides, to the benefit of national recording schemes. This can only be good for conservation, which is one of the major aims of the WILDGuides founders. Grasses next?<br /><br /><b><u>References</u></b> <br /><br />Fitter, A., Fitter, R. & Farrer, A. (1984) <i>Collins guide to the grasses, sedges, rushes and ferns of Britain and Northern Europe</i>. Collins, London. <br /><br />Merryweather, J. (2007) <i>The fern guide</i>. 3rd edition. Field Studies Council, Shrewsbury.<br /><br />Page, C.N. (1997) <i>The ferns of Britain and Ireland</i>. 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press.<br /><br />Phillips, R. (1980) <i>Grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens of Great Britain and Ireland</i>. Pan, London. <br /><br />Phillips, R. (1981) <i>Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and Europe</i>. Pan, London. <br /><br />Rose, F. (1989) <i>Colour identification guide to the grasses, sedges, rushes and ferns of the British Isles and north-western Europe</i>. Viking, London. <br /><br /><br />
<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-15827370470655500762020-06-10T12:21:00.001+01:002020-08-26T13:40:08.015+01:00Book review: Britain’s Birds. An Identification Guide to the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland. Second Edition<h3>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z2WK9S3uiQ/XuCpPri6eyI/AAAAAAAAF64/7y4sT5It2f0k-1cVIO88OeMGjKgyaU2LwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Hume%2Bet%2Bal%2BBritain%2527s%2BBirds%2B-%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1113" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z2WK9S3uiQ/XuCpPri6eyI/AAAAAAAAF64/7y4sT5It2f0k-1cVIO88OeMGjKgyaU2LwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Hume%2Bet%2Bal%2BBritain%2527s%2BBirds%2B-%2Bcover.jpg" width="220" /></a>
Britain’s Birds. An Identification Guide to the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland. Second Edition, fully revised and updated</h3>
Rob Hume, Robert Still, Andy Swash, Hugh Harrop & David Tipling<br />
Princeton University Press WILDGuides | 2020<br />
576 pp. | 15 x 21 cm<br />
Paperback | £20 / $ 35 | ISBN: 9780691199795<br />
<br />
<br />
Despite commencing birding at a time when painted plates in field
guides left quite a lot to be desired, I have been slow to entirely
embrace photographic guides. My first was the <i>Collins Bird
Guide</i>, “a revolutionary field guide” to the birds of Britain
and Europe, and it provided a welcome additional source of visual
material at a time when good quality photographs of birds were not
readily available, but I certainly never pressed it into action as a
field guide. The first publishers that seemed to be dealing with the
limitations of photographic material in order to take full advantage
of growing photographic libraries were WILDGuides in the UK and Kenn
Kaufmann in the USA. Both were skilfully manipulating selected images
in order to compensate for different light conditions, standardise
postures and eliminate artefacts of the photographic process. Both
publishers now have a long list of titles covering a wide range of
taxonomic groups, some of which have were sorely lacking in
identification literature, and many of these guides are now standard
identification works. However, the United Kingdom’s avifauna is
very well covered by a dizzying number of field guides, some of them
amongst the best guides to any avifauna in the world. A new guide
launched onto this crowded field has to be very good indeed if it is
to make any significant contribution. And <i>Britain’s Birds</i>,
published in 2016, is, and it has.
<br />
<br />
I have had the first edition by my
bedside since that time. I typically pick it up at the end of the day
to resolve queries arising from the day’s encounters, and one
consultation generally leads on to another. After 40+ years of birding, I still
get puzzled or excited by something every day, and this book helps me
resolve doubts. It seems fitting that the first author, Rob Hume, has
been a familiar name from YOC/RSPB magazines since I began birding.
Rob’s co-authors together have truly formidable experience, not
only on this topic, but in photography, design and the production of
field guides. So the user is in very safe hands indeed.
<br />
<br />
<i>Britain’s Birds</i> is a large,
comprehensive field guide, approaching the size of many of the
standard Neotropical guides that cover avifaunas several times as
large. At 1.44 kg and nearly 600 pages, it could be reasonably
argued that this is not a field guide at all – indeed, my first
edition has never seen sun, shower or the shady inside of a backpack
– but then again, British birders of my generation were schooled to
leave all references at home, but rather to take detailed field
notes, something that I dutifully abide by to this day; and indeed,
being of a similar vintage, this is the process suggested by the
authors.For those who feel daunted by such a tome, or really do want a portable guide to take into the field, watch out for my review of the companion <i>British Birds, A Pocket guide</i>.<br />
<br />
Why so large? The authors cover all 631
species on the British and Irish lists as of the end of 2019, using<span style="font-style: normal;">
BOU/IRBC </span>taxonomy which is in turn adopted from the IOC <i>World
Bird List</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> (</span><span style="font-style: normal;">note
that</span><span style="font-style: normal;">, as Nigel Collar has
pointed out,</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> IOC denotes the
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">“international
ornithological community”, not International Ornithological
Congress)</span>. Another 33 species are also covered. So a page per
species is about what one would expect for a visual guide to birds.
<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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gg9RqeB-R3M/XuCpYgukrdI/AAAAAAAAF7U/X0MsgQpL0xsDtOCfXgomZnMIiX4fxiDOgCEwYBhgLKtQDAL1OcqwGUkYHnIzNV34RJjTlsc5SAbAXpD4ebsD7JwJk0OCe-dxhoMXBMmhgZGFhGJl39L_2AxeGGrz4KMuCqXRRO-jVzRWTRozttZTD5t2kGs8DOo7jUL5UHhtbgojSZ2E1n4FnXRUWbFhhaA1KzznOD_raLdIIh0qluBatQb9BMaWRfFVPvhmbonfBq9mWbQDSPiVIqAKosnKqPJMwbk1ko3UkYVMB4a2E7-1Zcn2JqqHdJcM8yB4C51eSv1XSk2uHKncZbKCtZ3SO6Qj0XyAU7n350be-qnjAHjtZcCfbMiZd483yJakmszLfN4SM-_KHiceHWzirRRKYzTRWac5VjBNKc74suvo6-SRZq1erdvhWZQlBKZ1x-HmyxTSNIZxrlQITCDthk_N7iOGI74WvkXJ7OZWO79Z_XrGbZ6CebHpiNWnyhbfvV0tSGJAI-0i-aBRPcr1CfzRGFCYskMUO0Pp2wqhGb6bUbHiWxdyx3NOYY3Q7hQ0kSTjCk5Chp3j6gLO6v8SJrtJqmPuUUen3soQpAOmuroWNMmPblGjBgHuFpD3d5esNoL6AwIw4e889nlzRLC4AOK4qPtUTZZodTq-3u1VRf54xFPydE8nA49ecMILYgvcF/s1600/Hume%2Bet%2Bal%2BBritain%2527s%2BBirds%2B-%2Ba%2Bguide%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bspecies%2Baccounts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="901" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gg9RqeB-R3M/XuCpYgukrdI/AAAAAAAAF7U/X0MsgQpL0xsDtOCfXgomZnMIiX4fxiDOgCEwYBhgLKtQDAL1OcqwGUkYHnIzNV34RJjTlsc5SAbAXpD4ebsD7JwJk0OCe-dxhoMXBMmhgZGFhGJl39L_2AxeGGrz4KMuCqXRRO-jVzRWTRozttZTD5t2kGs8DOo7jUL5UHhtbgojSZ2E1n4FnXRUWbFhhaA1KzznOD_raLdIIh0qluBatQb9BMaWRfFVPvhmbonfBq9mWbQDSPiVIqAKosnKqPJMwbk1ko3UkYVMB4a2E7-1Zcn2JqqHdJcM8yB4C51eSv1XSk2uHKncZbKCtZ3SO6Qj0XyAU7n350be-qnjAHjtZcCfbMiZd483yJakmszLfN4SM-_KHiceHWzirRRKYzTRWac5VjBNKc74suvo6-SRZq1erdvhWZQlBKZ1x-HmyxTSNIZxrlQITCDthk_N7iOGI74WvkXJ7OZWO79Z_XrGbZ6CebHpiNWnyhbfvV0tSGJAI-0i-aBRPcr1CfzRGFCYskMUO0Pp2wqhGb6bUbHiWxdyx3NOYY3Q7hQ0kSTjCk5Chp3j6gLO6v8SJrtJqmPuUUen3soQpAOmuroWNMmPblGjBgHuFpD3d5esNoL6AwIw4e889nlzRLC4AOK4qPtUTZZodTq-3u1VRf54xFPydE8nA49ecMILYgvcF/s400/Hume%2Bet%2Bal%2BBritain%2527s%2BBirds%2B-%2Ba%2Bguide%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bspecies%2Baccounts.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical species account</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What about content? All regularly
occurring species are typically treated by a page of coverage which
includes text, photographs and a map. Birds are presented in their
habitat, giving an additional clue to their characteristics. Scarcer
species receive less space, while problematic groups, such as gulls,
enjoy expanded comparative sections. All plumages are included,
depicted with 3,591 photographs.
<br />
<br />
Maps are derived from current <i>BirdLife
International</i> base maps, which were originally compiled by
<i>BirdLife International</i> and <i>Handbook of the Birds of the
World</i> (the latter now defunct). They are a generous size that is
easy on the eye and permits high resolution. Arrows indicate broad
migration routes. Status, seasonality and population data appear
above the map, and habitat information below, allowing the user to
determine almost at a glance the chances that a particular species
has been seen.
<br />
<br />
Text is concise and, for me, achieves
that tricky balance between providing enough description to clinch
identification and avoiding extraneous detail. The team’s field
experience is much in evidence, with expert insight being employed to
craft succinct accounts that incorporate much distilled
identification knowledge. Capitals, bold text and italics help
navigate the sections.
<br />
<br />
Any downside? Having written field
guides myself, I have renewed respect for those who take on such a
task, and am now strangely reluctant to pick holes in the work of
others. The production of a work like this is a massive undertaking,
and all field guides contain errors, many of them spotted the day
after the galleys go to press. However, I would be hard pressed to
find much to complain about with this field guide, and remarkably
uncharitable to draw attention to anything I found. I had already
consulted the first edition on a daily basis, and – barring one
unfortunate but conspicuous photo mix-up in my first printing –
errors were few and far between, and the overall utility of the guide
simply swamps any gripes. This edition has corrected the few
oversights I had found and has improved the already high overall
quality in every respect. Doubtless Chris Batty’s role as an identification consultant will have eased the burden of verification (he kindly gave me the benefit of his formidable knowledge on one of my own field guides). As far as field guides to the British
avifauna are concerned, Svensson <i>et al</i>.’s Collins field
guide and this current volume have, for me, become the two standard
works the I reach for first, and their very different approaches
complement each other nicely. If I need to delve beyond them, I reach
for Witherby, BWP, van Duivendijk, Beaman and Madge, Harris <i>et al</i>.
or the relevant standard monograph.
<br />
<br />
Given that I view this as a must-have
for anyone with an interest in identifying the birds of the UK,
whatever their level of expertise, the question then becomes, “Should
owners of the first edition replace it with the second?”. That’s
a hard question to answer, and depends as much on the strength of
one’s bookcase shelves and the tolerance of one’s cohabitants as any
technical factors. The current edition incorporates 800+ new photos,
layout has been improved in key places and the entire production
looks to have been revised with a fine tooth comb. And, of course,
the list of taxa covered is bang up to date, reflecting the February
51st BOURC Report. So American ‘Taiga’ Merlin (<i>columbarius</i>)
and Shorelark (<i>alpestris</i> group) are covered, as are other
splits and additions over the past four years.<br />
<br />
This
is yet another ground-breaking field guide from the WILDGuides
imprint, and an outstanding guide to Britain's birds for observers of
all levels. At a retail price of £20, this is an absolute bargain.
The authors and all contributors are to be heartily congratulated.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
___________________</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5NlLG1VAew/XuCpWjluC5I/AAAAAAAAF7Q/CXdhaxPtjPU8dsEtHhliGAgimXZz1aP6QCEwYBhgLKs4DAL1OcqyddAp_nCmnEI7p0gfKA5C-dmLW3nlhYlkFKf2TwIlG3zn28frS4r1EkdOxFas_JRpeiHn_w71zbExASWDOarBvckuRVJrWL8BCbn8O5aXbtFJ4IH43af6PunLmKK3vCZgnBTrA7MWSogEAuPKos56r6_5SeuMKwYv6u-xzihQqngiLK-ePDwgk23vnEj5zAYCZunFhEWgKIrXJhD7A1nvKx8mXSSXwgEn4G1shS-ofK1yhaKdif8cuUFZHoajejCFOPRn1z4aa8ftxNnFzlqVfoNIcGO2a1h76VrxomMRLVe7asl-MT4FgjR-k7SOFo4INJP9CIL6nHswfJHoR16EkXrHZaboJSJtHBM5xsLOEB7XI2OGKqmGi3qXq0B3fsMNR5iBrJjl-ZpGT977OzYe91TXMi6HnmTTwTbFvyp5n5ywXrk97k9VMFlvJLQ_ySTL15myd8qmqklI0hJAjemzCQGTpKdEW9RZGiWa0uFvx7BnMjEignRgeVjRCe_eEGQs4DFYYhYjhrBnn_gq7QumGDjq1GUzfm5RhFkHZsHQDAHJYZ9RGMT4Hj6BEncOb1qel45PNKvwhOxjgEQYkwleKKn_bl1bSvIesMKbYgvcF/s1600/Calidris%2Balpina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5NlLG1VAew/XuCpWjluC5I/AAAAAAAAF7Q/CXdhaxPtjPU8dsEtHhliGAgimXZz1aP6QCEwYBhgLKs4DAL1OcqyddAp_nCmnEI7p0gfKA5C-dmLW3nlhYlkFKf2TwIlG3zn28frS4r1EkdOxFas_JRpeiHn_w71zbExASWDOarBvckuRVJrWL8BCbn8O5aXbtFJ4IH43af6PunLmKK3vCZgnBTrA7MWSogEAuPKos56r6_5SeuMKwYv6u-xzihQqngiLK-ePDwgk23vnEj5zAYCZunFhEWgKIrXJhD7A1nvKx8mXSSXwgEn4G1shS-ofK1yhaKdif8cuUFZHoajejCFOPRn1z4aa8ftxNnFzlqVfoNIcGO2a1h76VrxomMRLVe7asl-MT4FgjR-k7SOFo4INJP9CIL6nHswfJHoR16EkXrHZaboJSJtHBM5xsLOEB7XI2OGKqmGi3qXq0B3fsMNR5iBrJjl-ZpGT977OzYe91TXMi6HnmTTwTbFvyp5n5ywXrk97k9VMFlvJLQ_ySTL15myd8qmqklI0hJAjemzCQGTpKdEW9RZGiWa0uFvx7BnMjEignRgeVjRCe_eEGQs4DFYYhYjhrBnn_gq7QumGDjq1GUzfm5RhFkHZsHQDAHJYZ9RGMT4Hj6BEncOb1qel45PNKvwhOxjgEQYkwleKKn_bl1bSvIesMKbYgvcF/s320/Calidris%2Balpina.jpg" width="320" /></a>A typical double-spread species account, in this case for Dunlin <i>Calidris alpina</i>, showing the major plumages encountered in Britain and Ireland, along with subspecific variation. This is a variable species, and a standard, common 'yardstick' shorebird, so the coverage will be useful for beginners as well as those who want try to determine which subspecies they are seeing. Note the map indicating migration routes, and table showing the months during which different subspecies may be encountered. All relevant information can be taken in at a glance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEe_gEpQFO4/XuCpaAWBmoI/AAAAAAAAF7Y/PQJfZppdiu0icA5nUzZCy96aeOn9naphACEwYBhgLKs4DAL1OcqyaMznjizb7w9zBlJBQspDBXq9wklSH3KNPRUQwrG0iLpoaVkDmyLCgdGkUFiwDPdw8MDNW0afDrkN_sN4I_us0WJQRApwi31y_hfgHy1QTni42cppseLVw5DCI7dJMRtv9jzaF-bMBrzGRNzVblJ142TuIyiwxxnUJhHuqeZ_1XzSMp9ARKDMLFmS7rxbI4xQu7q1kpJIfL_GBldeJczDBxDysf16BDCy856rsTy229EsNa-tILy5hB4TCC1e1n-wV9rClGeqcyD0vZijJlVR96Lm56HAI-fGSvP-HCeusQ-3Z4D5TH9ZlvwrIBZu7AUdka1hPD4RYpnMn2TGvM8QbQyor3sU5luTuE-834EJdhOY-eA1BBvkEi_9WDBZuJ5B9qAgx3JWegkahYuQX_YvIDBsTTyaIYgYhMaOS_rR8mdgzpR4lZYFlaNNpwkubi--njvGR48u8fuAdJg-kZ28LOQEtFma2pOr_Bl33mSBFU2tkeU3jlj-kZHe1FvN0zIUmU6BpMAOHPwtuG0YmIsZSAXHE_RRr0I6duv31pue7kv2G_2zNHMFHSlBscp1Q2yCGvuKQCIufjLqk3u811Obsil-dLbZSU-DeMLbYgvcF/s1600/Motacilla%2Balba%2Byarrellii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEe_gEpQFO4/XuCpaAWBmoI/AAAAAAAAF7Y/PQJfZppdiu0icA5nUzZCy96aeOn9naphACEwYBhgLKs4DAL1OcqyaMznjizb7w9zBlJBQspDBXq9wklSH3KNPRUQwrG0iLpoaVkDmyLCgdGkUFiwDPdw8MDNW0afDrkN_sN4I_us0WJQRApwi31y_hfgHy1QTni42cppseLVw5DCI7dJMRtv9jzaF-bMBrzGRNzVblJ142TuIyiwxxnUJhHuqeZ_1XzSMp9ARKDMLFmS7rxbI4xQu7q1kpJIfL_GBldeJczDBxDysf16BDCy856rsTy229EsNa-tILy5hB4TCC1e1n-wV9rClGeqcyD0vZijJlVR96Lm56HAI-fGSvP-HCeusQ-3Z4D5TH9ZlvwrIBZu7AUdka1hPD4RYpnMn2TGvM8QbQyor3sU5luTuE-834EJdhOY-eA1BBvkEi_9WDBZuJ5B9qAgx3JWegkahYuQX_YvIDBsTTyaIYgYhMaOS_rR8mdgzpR4lZYFlaNNpwkubi--njvGR48u8fuAdJg-kZ28LOQEtFma2pOr_Bl33mSBFU2tkeU3jlj-kZHe1FvN0zIUmU6BpMAOHPwtuG0YmIsZSAXHE_RRr0I6duv31pue7kv2G_2zNHMFHSlBscp1Q2yCGvuKQCIufjLqk3u811Obsil-dLbZSU-DeMLbYgvcF/s320/Motacilla%2Balba%2Byarrellii.jpg" width="320" /></a>The double-spread devoted to the White/Pied Wagtail <i>Motacilla alba</i> complex has been completely overhauled in this edition. I still find <i>alba</i> hard to clinch, despite having read and re-read all of the literature, coupled with hours spent staring in monochrome at borderline individuals, so have already interrogated these pages several times. Photographs have been selected to help people like me. Note the inclusion of <i>personata</i>, new to Britain since the book's first edition.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wvf22hKsEs4/XuC2DMKj8uI/AAAAAAAAF7g/uv-8LRc_Ke8iBc-F0jmqMD0pOTztyVuyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Ducks%2Bin%2Bflight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wvf22hKsEs4/XuC2DMKj8uI/AAAAAAAAF7g/uv-8LRc_Ke8iBc-F0jmqMD0pOTztyVuyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ducks%2Bin%2Bflight.jpg" width="320" /></a>Ducks in flight: handy double-spread guide to fieldmarks. The images are first class, and the spread has been slightly improved since the first edition, with subtle eye-guiding lines linking images of the same species. Similar comparison spreads are provided for other groups that requite critical flight identification, for example gulls, shorebirds, raptors – even larks.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFYG32NRrck/XuCpYvK1t2I/AAAAAAAAF7U/WIgnlncxWLUHf5B_bP0tfA_-91kBkhBpACEwYBhgLKtQDAL1Ocqz_WhqscTLKoaR4MJGgmwSiwZe0l6Wh8FWIZKUJArho_ua6rj3PRtf5q-vfWKGco-Bwrx6FuWR2nwfRVT0tlTJtSN0W_png7jaTwXECA5yNbxzPbNLYGzOuUwCTz3VgazF-vo6YCoYUDRtf_p76EvUbG4MAeFlM2FiewZuMMVThDo9BvDjjLa0I0EX0P7Y0d6q_-jl8WVzlcmP_wRL3Qpw5jKJQbHffpVGeX2SZRjJJ9Oz_bvy4cJ6AJN8WuxGL31QPOLuSr2mE_yWx3S97o1mIQ66p4BygUXQ6dN2Ie_6QYV_z8PBk7u4-wis4TlDQ1z8O4dGzYmsxe5c55fgdvNEDNxuPWA2RxKchnz66QExHhEmBLIziCyU32sWXpjk1vO_lni3cm6MXqslhnAG0dLg6TngDOx2GXguc6zVL9ahKjBCJHRscfkuVcGNO_S-yyGs-AL8e2xGbxzuelwhvS-vyzGMBkQrlFi5KROYewtV3l_JaxlD3mgUMKWsqPZrTW3efZltYSg1P07H_E47HX-qlKOIRLWyllk0E6IvvhzwdpAUbGJJuoZXXwBxjoLi01fQRLXASlTbPo1UaMMIUFlidFjC_WMW_jrqeN7dNBAeRMP_YgvcF/s1600/Golden%2Bplovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFYG32NRrck/XuCpYvK1t2I/AAAAAAAAF7U/WIgnlncxWLUHf5B_bP0tfA_-91kBkhBpACEwYBhgLKtQDAL1Ocqz_WhqscTLKoaR4MJGgmwSiwZe0l6Wh8FWIZKUJArho_ua6rj3PRtf5q-vfWKGco-Bwrx6FuWR2nwfRVT0tlTJtSN0W_png7jaTwXECA5yNbxzPbNLYGzOuUwCTz3VgazF-vo6YCoYUDRtf_p76EvUbG4MAeFlM2FiewZuMMVThDo9BvDjjLa0I0EX0P7Y0d6q_-jl8WVzlcmP_wRL3Qpw5jKJQbHffpVGeX2SZRjJJ9Oz_bvy4cJ6AJN8WuxGL31QPOLuSr2mE_yWx3S97o1mIQ66p4BygUXQ6dN2Ie_6QYV_z8PBk7u4-wis4TlDQ1z8O4dGzYmsxe5c55fgdvNEDNxuPWA2RxKchnz66QExHhEmBLIziCyU32sWXpjk1vO_lni3cm6MXqslhnAG0dLg6TngDOx2GXguc6zVL9ahKjBCJHRscfkuVcGNO_S-yyGs-AL8e2xGbxzuelwhvS-vyzGMBkQrlFi5KROYewtV3l_JaxlD3mgUMKWsqPZrTW3efZltYSg1P07H_E47HX-qlKOIRLWyllk0E6IvvhzwdpAUbGJJuoZXXwBxjoLi01fQRLXASlTbPo1UaMMIUFlidFjC_WMW_jrqeN7dNBAeRMP_YgvcF/s320/Golden%2Bplovers.jpg" width="320" /></a>Particularly tricky identification challenges are sometimes addressed by means of an extra page or two, in this case examining the similar <i>Apricaria</i> golden plovers. Not quite as much has been made of differences in leg length/proportion and head pattern as I might have suggested, but nevertheless the key identification characters are well covered.<br />
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<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-65157759904892625712019-11-23T08:41:00.000+00:002020-05-15T11:55:46.390+01:00Book review: two new guides to the birds of Colombia<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5iu7dHUt2D0/Xr50fzlGPeI/AAAAAAAAF5Q/8vbNmfz6H6Uqc_RXhjuaymdqKDfda8RKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Colombia%2BMcMullan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="870" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5iu7dHUt2D0/Xr50fzlGPeI/AAAAAAAAF5Q/8vbNmfz6H6Uqc_RXhjuaymdqKDfda8RKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Colombia%2BMcMullan.jpg" width="135" /></a><br />
<b>Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia</b> <br />
Miles McMullan <br />
Rey Naranjo (Bogotá) | 2018<br />
432 pp. | >5,000 colour figures, maps.<br />
Softback | £49.99 / $65 / $115,000 COP |
ISBN 978-9588969626<br />
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<b>Guía ilustrada de la avifauna colombiana</b><br />
Fernando Ayerbe Quiñones<br />
Wildlife Conservation Society (Bogotá) | 2018<br />
410 pp. | 212 colour plates, 1,932 maps.<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xtuQ46P-JjE/Xr50prHW6sI/AAAAAAAAF5U/bt6uU_xg6fkpSusGQteyuQQd_KnyN2_DgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Guia%2Bilustrada%2Bavifauna%2BColombiana%2BAyerbe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="1022" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xtuQ46P-JjE/Xr50prHW6sI/AAAAAAAAF5U/bt6uU_xg6fkpSusGQteyuQQd_KnyN2_DgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Guia%2Bilustrada%2Bavifauna%2BColombiana%2BAyerbe.jpg" width="131" /></a>Softback | $120,000 COP (apparently unavailable outside Colombia) | ISBN 978-9585461031<br />
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Just finished my review of two exciting new guides to the birds of Colombia, to be published in <a href="https://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/nbc-publications/neotropical-birding/">Neotropical Birding</a> 26... <br />
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TEXT TO FOLLOW ONE YEAR AFTER PUBLICATION. Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-65275767236894208622019-06-12T08:44:00.001+01:002019-07-16T12:20:05.843+01:00Orchids on Chapel Green wildflower meadow, Rocklands <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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYgP7S1EwDw/XQCr0SzZ5zI/AAAAAAAAFyU/U0xPg3UNGvwqbZhrs75rD5i_jTVOnV4SgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Bee%2B%2526%2BCommon%2BSpotted%2BOrchid%2BChapel%2BGreen%2BJun%2B20190612%2BP1010450%2Bedit%2Blr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYgP7S1EwDw/XQCr0SzZ5zI/AAAAAAAAFyU/U0xPg3UNGvwqbZhrs75rD5i_jTVOnV4SgCEwYBhgL/s320/Bee%2B%2526%2BCommon%2BSpotted%2BOrchid%2BChapel%2BGreen%2BJun%2B20190612%2BP1010450%2Bedit%2Blr.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower-rich meadow with orchids, Chapel Green, 12 June 2019</td></tr>
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After an apparent absence of several years—though these things can be notoriously elusive!—Bee <i>Ophrys apifera</i> and Common Spotted-orchid <i>Dactylorhiza fuchsii</i> are coming into flower on Chapel Green. In previous years the best area for these orchids has been the southern edge of the meadow adjoining the road, the spot that is driest and has lowest fertility thanks to years of removal of hay. This year, the orchids are close to the pond margin in a much wetter, more fertile area (see photo) that we have been managing precisely to increase floral diversity. This morning there was one flowering spike of Bee and two of Common Spotted-orchid. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YoIdjpi1mMg/XQCr0OqqNDI/AAAAAAAAFyM/6N913LqJGEceBIryLJ-3Rv4mk-KElGKFgCLcBGAs/s1600/Bee%2BOrchid%2BChapel%2BGreen%2BJun%2B20190612%2BP1010447%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1102" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YoIdjpi1mMg/XQCr0OqqNDI/AAAAAAAAFyM/6N913LqJGEceBIryLJ-3Rv4mk-KElGKFgCLcBGAs/s320/Bee%2BOrchid%2BChapel%2BGreen%2BJun%2B20190612%2BP1010447%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee Orchid <i>Ophrys apifera</i> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LmGcj5PM9iQ/XQCr0XTgrbI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/UV97syM40TwqypT0xt-diBQRgAv3zXVBQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Common%2BSpotted%2BOrchid%2BChapel%2BGreen%2BJun%2B20190612%2BP1010451%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1485" data-original-width="1113" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LmGcj5PM9iQ/XQCr0XTgrbI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/UV97syM40TwqypT0xt-diBQRgAv3zXVBQCEwYBhgL/s320/Common%2BSpotted%2BOrchid%2BChapel%2BGreen%2BJun%2B20190612%2BP1010451%2Bcrop.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Spotted-orchid <i>Dactylorhiza fuchsii</i> </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><u><b>Update 30 June 2019</b></u></span> <br />
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Today's count 1 Bee and 7 Common Spotted-orchids.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><u><b>Update 7 July 2019</b></u></span> <br />
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Today's count 1 Bee and 9 Common Spotted-orchids.<br />
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Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0Chapel Green, Rockland St Peter, Norfolk, UK52.538977466738352 0.9330010925978058452.538350966738349 0.93116909259780589 52.539603966738355 0.93483309259780578tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-29313234594388548682019-06-10T17:38:00.000+01:002019-07-16T12:20:55.493+01:00Ghost Moth lek on Rocklands' Chapel GreenGhost Moths <i>Hepialus humuli</i> are one of the few British moths that have entered popular culture and are—or used to be—generally known to the non-specialist. In earlier times, when insects were more abundant, meadows more commonplace, street lighting less widespread, and people abroad in the gloaming, an encounter with this species would have been a frequent early summer occurrence. Frequent but nevertheless remarkable. The memorable sight of a dozen or more large white moths hovering over the grass tops as if tethered to a thread in the fading light doubtless gave rise to their name.<br />
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Today this sight is considerably less familiar. In fact, unless they make a special effort, even moth-ers have rarely seen it. So when keen moth-man and wildlife writer <a href="http://www.jameslowen.com/">James Lowen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JLowenWildlife/status/1084463271757955072">asked if anyone in East Anglia knew of a lek</a> to cover in his <a href="http://www.jameslowen.com/blog-23-oct-2018-new-book.html">forthcoming book</a>, I racked my brains and suggested the two places that I had seen male moths in recent years: Old Buckenham village green and <a href="http://rocklands.org.uk/wp/?page_id=490">Chapel Green</a>, Rocklands. This latter is a tiny plot of wildlife meadow that was restored by Rocklands Parish Council two decades ago through a Millenium Meadows grant, and financial support from Norfolk Rural Community Council, Norfolk County Council and guidance from Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It is a tiny (<i>c</i>. 0·015 ha) fragment of managed habitat that holds a surprisingly diverse and interesting flora and fauna, amongst which is a lek of Ghost Moths. I say lek, but when I checked back through my records I saw that I had only seen single males in June 2014, and (twice) in July 2016. <br />
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On D-Day, Thursday 6 June, despite a cool and windy evening, at 9.45 p.m.. I decided that I could no longer put off checking whether this year would produce an improvement on the singles that my memory had embellished into a weaving and bobbing troupe. I was fully prepared to tell James that the promised lek had not materialised and may have been unreliable in any case. What a relief to find two, then four, then finally a dozen male Ghost Moths "pendeculating" – Kettlewell's neologism for South's "swaying themselves to and fro without making progress".<br />
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The following evening, James was able to visit Chapel Green, arriving at 9.20 p.m. on his way back from another mothing assignment at Dungeness with moth expert Will Soar. For the first 20 minutes we enjoyed the meadow's wildflower display, twitching at passing Straw Dots <i>Rivula sericealis</i> and Common Swifts <i>Korscheltellus lupulina</i> (the latter a close relative of Ghost Moth) identified by Will. It was not until 9.40 p.m. that the first of our glowing white targets appeared, immediately followed by another, and another... Soon a group of six males were swaying and weaving on one side of the meadow, with another couple on the other. Our neighbour Carolyn, who coordinates the Chapel Green Management Committee, came out to enjoy the spectacle. We wondered if we might be lucky enough to see females, and shortly afterwards a dull yellowish brown female did indeed appear, immediately to mate with her chosen male. We found two pairs of mating moths, both on tall grass spikes, as well as a bloated female that was surely about to deposit her eggs. By 10.00 p.m. the display was over, and only these five Ghost Moths remained, clinging to their respective stems. The entire show had lasted exactly 20 minutes.<br />
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What is going on? A lek is an aggregation of male animals that come together, usually at a traditional site, to display together in order to compete for access to females. The phenomenon is especially well-documented in birds (particularly grouse and manakins) but not so widely-known in insects. In the case of Ghost Moths, the males hover over the grass, fanning their wings in order to release from scent brushes on the tarsus of the rear pair of legs a pheromone that attracts the females. The latter enter the lek briefly, select a mate, copulate on a grass stem and then fly off to drop their eggs over suitable grassy areas. The process was diligently observed and described by Mallet in his <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/taxome/jim/pap/mallet84%20ghost%20moths.pdf">1984 paper</a>.<br />
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Formerly common, Ghost Moth is now a UK Biodiversity Action Plan
species, listed because its populations are declining markedly. Conservation of this and a suite of other disappearing
grassland plants and animals species is precisely the reason that Rocklands Parish
Council manage this small area as a wildflower meadow. <br />
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<u><b>More information?</b></u><br />
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Ghost Moth on NorfolkMoths <a href="https://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=140">here</a>.<br />
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Rocklands Parish Council Chapel Green wildflower meadow page <a href="http://rocklands.org.uk/wp/?page_id=490">here</a>.<br />
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Previous posts about management of Chapel Green wildflower meadow <a href="http://thecuriousnaturalist.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/wildflower%20meadows">here</a>.<br />
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James Lowen's blog <a href="http://www.jameslowen.com/">here</a>.<br />
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<u><b>References
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Kettlewell, H.B.D. (1973) <i>The evolution of melanism</i>. Clarendon Press: Oxford. 423 pp.<br />
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Mallet, J. (1984) Sex roles in the ghost moth <i>Hepialus humuli</i> (L.) and a review of mating in the Hepialidae (Lepidoptera). <i>Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society</i> <b>80(1)</b>: 67–82. <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/taxome/jim/pap/mallet84%20ghost%20moths.pdf">PDF</a>.<br />
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South, R. (1908) <i>The moths of the British Isles, second series</i>. Frederick Warne & Co.: London. 388 pp.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><u><b>Updates</b></u></span> <br />
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James Lowen's wonderfully illustrated account of tonight's display <a href="http://www.jameslowen.com/blog-12-jun-2019-ghosts.html">here</a>.<br />
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On the evening of <u><b>11 June</b></u>, despite cool temperatures (10°C), moderate drizzle and a damp SE
2–3 breeze, we counted at least 14 males lekking for exactly 20 minutes 2149–2209. The females are more difficult to spot, but we did see two come in and mate with males.
The mild (15°C) evening of <u><b>17 June</b></u> was even more active, with a high count for this year of <b>at least 32 males and 4+ females</b> between 2155 and 2215 (and perhaps later, as I left while it was still in full swing). A quick visit at 2210–2220 on the cool (14°C), evening of <u><b>22 June</b></u> showed 24 males lekking, along with 1 female, though did not have time to check thoroughly. Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0Chapel Green, Rockland St Peter, UK52.5389707312173 0.9329356539496984652.538819731217295 0.93262065394969851 52.5391217312173 0.93325065394969842tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-70120094022113406582019-05-28T22:00:00.000+01:002019-05-30T17:31:01.153+01:00Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) resighting in Venezuela and Canada<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mL1emhriGAM/XO_w6Md2l8I/AAAAAAAAFxQ/_zsBy-6Ywu0eYqkHjlzLRWB0V6tM12dKQCLcBGAs/s1600/REKN%2BFE%2528LG%2B9HL%2529%2BFacebook%2Bcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="903" height="177" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mL1emhriGAM/XO_w6Md2l8I/AAAAAAAAFxQ/_zsBy-6Ywu0eYqkHjlzLRWB0V6tM12dKQCLcBGAs/s320/REKN%2BFE%2528LG%2B9HL%2529%2BFacebook%2Bcrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; width: 220px;">Red Knot FELG9HL, Falcón, Venezuela, 29 Mar 2019. Photo: Gianco Angelozzi</td></tr>
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On 29 March, a team of ornithologists working on a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network project (Sandra Giner, Virginia Sanz, Gianco Angelozzi and I) were carrying out International Shorebird Censuses on the Punta Maragüey spit on the western coast of Falcón with Jose Ochoa. Gianco was able to get close to a flock of several hundred Red Knot (<i>Calidris canutus rufa</i>) moulting into breeding plumage, and using our best optics - a superb new Kowa scope donated in 2018 by Cley Spy - to pick out and photograph seven flagged individuals, of which only FELG9HL was legible; this bird also carried a geolocator (Gianco's photograph attached - more <a href="https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S54350838">here</a>).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; width: 220px;">Red Knot FELG9HL, Ontario, Canada, 20 May 2019. Photo: photographer unknown</td></tr>
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Today I checked the bird's whereabouts and found that it had been photographed (attached - photographer unknown) 52 days later on 20 May in magnificent full breeding plumage at a reservoir W of Townsend in S Ontario, Canada. This elucidates only part of the jigsaw puzzle of migratory connectivity for this threatened shorebird, and quite appropriate given that this Manomet / WHSRN work is financed by Environment Canada. Next stop for these birds will be the high Arctic. The earliest data available for FELG9HL come from 30 May 2011 in Delaware, so the bird is perhaps 10 years old and will have made this journey as many times.<br />
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Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-32315546258527331452019-05-07T12:39:00.000+01:002020-05-15T11:22:47.354+01:00Book review: Birds of Central America: a field guide<h3>
Birds of Central America: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UrD-exsIJ5k/XMwlwvmsd9I/AAAAAAAAFvo/Mt3XHLWfcz4K5rub9XhQC4S-lLU-7T35wCLcBGAs/s1600/Birds%2Bof%2BCentral%2BAmerica.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UrD-exsIJ5k/XMwlwvmsd9I/AAAAAAAAFvo/Mt3XHLWfcz4K5rub9XhQC4S-lLU-7T35wCLcBGAs/s320/Birds%2Bof%2BCentral%2BAmerica.png" width="213" /></a>Andrew C. Vallely & Dale Dyer<br />
Princeton University Press | 2018<br />
584 pp. | 16 x 23.5 cm | 260 colour plates, 1261 maps<br />
Softback | £40 / $49.50 | ISBN: 9780691138022<br />
<br />
Just finished my review of the superb new guide to the birds of Central America, to be published in <a href="https://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/nbc-publications/neotropical-birding/">Neotropical Birding</a> 25...<br />
<br />
Thanks to <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/titles/13253.html">Princeton University Press</a> for providing a review copy.<br />
<br />
Published review below, PDF <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339876130_Book_reviews_Birds_of_Central_America_Belize_Guatemala_Honduras_El_Salvador_Nicaragua_Costa_Rica_and_Panama">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Until recently, field guides for Central America
were getting rather long in the tooth, although such
masterworks as Howell & Webb (1995), Stiles &
Skutch (1989), and Ridgely & Gwynne (1989) never
become obsolete. The situation was remedied by the
first field guides to Belize (Jones 2003) and Honduras
(Gallardo 2014), followed by pocket guides to Costa
Rica (Garrigues & Dean 2007), Panama (Angehr &
Dean 2010) and Nicaragua (Chavarría-Duriaux <i>et al</i>.
2018; see review, page 88) published by Zona Tropical/
Comstock Publishing Associates (latterly imprints
of Cornell University Press), and by the Peterson
guide to Northern Central America (Fagan & Komar
2016). The present volume, as the first field guide to
the entire Central American avifauna, fills the gaps
left by El Salvador and Guatemala and brings the
identification literature for the remaining countries up
to date.<br />
A decade in production, the book covers the
1,261 bird species that had been documented in the
political region of Central America as of August
2017, an avifauna comparable in size with that of a
typical South American country – quite a daunting
undertaking. Each of the 1,194 bird species of what
the authors define as the ‘core avifauna’ is accorded
a main species account, while a further 67 ‘marginal,
dubious and hypothetical species’ are relegated to an
annotated appendix.<br />
The region is delimited politically rather than
biogeographically, so Vitelline Warbler <i>Setophaga
vitellina</i>, a West Indian species found only on the
Swan Islands and (extralimitally) on the Cayman
Islands, is included. Taxonomy and order broadly
follow American Ornithological Society (AOS).
There are some logical departures, such as treating
Audubon’s <i>Setophaga auduboni</i> and Goldman’s
Warblers <i>S. goldmani</i> as separate from Yellow-rumped
Warbler S. coronata, or recognising Azuero
Parakeet <i>Pyrrhura eisenmanni</i> as distinct from South
American Painted Parakeet <i>P. picta</i>.<br />
The main accounts comprise carefully
distilled, concise identification texts and good-sized
distribution maps (29 x 36 mm) on the left,
with plates on facing spreads. Layout is intuitive,
facilitating cross-referencing to the facing page. For
species that exhibit geographic variation northern/western subspecies appear on the left-hand side
of the plate and eastern/southern subspecies on
the right. Plates are the most realistic of any guide
to this region, accurately capturing the jizz and
plumage of all groups. Birds are usually shown in
profile to facilitate comparison, but the illustrations
have a pleasing three-dimensional quality and the
plates themselves are works of art. The antbirds and
furnariids are spectacular. The figures are large and
fill each plate, leaving minimal blank plate.<br />
Critical groups such as shorebirds, tyrant
flycatchers and warblers are very nicely illustrated, the
latter with both breeding and non-breeding plumages.
There should be no need to carry an additional guide
to the birds of North America. It is no surprise to
learn that both artist and author spent a great deal of
time in museum collections, especially the American
Museum of Natural History, checking and comparing
specimens. The depth of their research is apparent in
the quality of the entire book. It may take a while for
the eye to adapt to the lack of colour saturation of the
plates, particularly for some groups like vireos and
thrushes. However, I find the artwork very pleasing.<br />
In the introduction, the authors set out their
reasons for not labelling figures with subspecies
names; having examined the full range of geographic
variation they
felt that a more
general description
of geographic
variation was more
appropriate. Given
the diligence with
which the authors
examined museum
specimens, I would
have liked to have
seen scientific
names of subspecies
specified, which I
think would have added clarity to accounts of, for
example, Willet <i>Tringa semipalmata</i>, Short-billed
Dowitcher <i>Limnodromus griseus</i>, Osprey <i>Pandion
haliaetus</i>, Dusky-capped Flycatcher <i>Myiarchus
tuberculifer</i> and Northern Rough-winged Swallow
<i>Stelgidopteryx serripiennis</i>.<br />
Text focuses squarely on the task of identification.
In the interest of brevity, it omits information
on aspects of life history except where they aid
identification. An introductory line on regional
and global status precedes the main identification
text, which is followed by a short section covering
geographic variation where appropriate. Notes on
habits indicate habitat preference, the favoured
habitat stratum (canopy vs understorey, etc.), and
distinctive features of behaviour. The final section
describes vocalisations. The compilation of accurate
distribution maps across seven nations must have
consumed an inordinate amount of time. I could
find no obvious oversights, although unfortunately
Turquoise-browed <i>Eumomota superciliosa</i> and Blue-throated
Motmot <i>Aspatha gularis</i> maps have been
transposed during layout. The authors have wisely
treated records on popular online platforms with
caution, which will ensure that the distributional data
provides a solid baseline for future work.<br />
Compressing practical information on the
identification of 1,200 species into one volume
demands a good-sized book. This one is about the
size of old guides such as Stiles & Skutch or Ridgely &
Gwynne, and weighs 1.3 kg. Yes, for those who want
to carry a pocket guide, it is bulky, and also heavy.
And it is likely that many visitors will be inclined to
pass it over in favour of a lighter guide. In my opinion
that would be a mistake. I much prefer to carry a
dependable, authoritative reference and will gladly
have this in a backpack in preference to a smaller
guide. At the very least, for those who will not be
taking it in the field,
it should be an
essential reference
for consultation back
at camp or at the
hotel.<br />
So, an excellent
addition to the
literature on the
birds of Central
America with strong
text and plates. This
new guide becomes
the benchmark for the
region and acts as a worthy geographical complement
to Howell & Webb (1995), with a slight geographic
overlap. The authors deserve the highest praise for a
magnificent achievement.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Christopher J. Sharpe</i> </div>
<br />
<b>REFERENCES</b><br />
Angehr, G. R. & Dean, R. (2010) <i>The birds of Panama</i>.
Ithaca, NY: Comstock Publishing Associates.<br />
Chavarría-Duriaux, L., Hille, D. C. & Dean, R. (2018)
<i>The birds of Nicaragua: a field guide</i>. Ithaca, NY:
Comstock Publishing Associates.<br />
Fagan, J. & Komar, O. (2016) <i>Peterson field guide to birds
of northern Central America</i>. New York: Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt.<br />
Gallardo, R. J. (2014) <i>Guide to the birds of Honduras</i>.
Honduras: Mountain Gem Tours.<br />
Garrigues, R. & Dean, R. (2007) <i>The birds of Costa Rica:
a field guide</i>. Miami, FL: Zona Tropical.<br />
Howell, S. N. G. & Webb, S. (1995) <i>A guide to the birds of
Mexico and northern Central America</i>. Oxford, UK:
Oxford University Press.<br />
Jones, H. L. (2003) <i>Birds of Belize</i>. Austin, TX: University
of Texas Press.<br />
Ridgely, R. S. R. & Gwynne, J. A. (1989) <i>A guide to the
birds of Panama, with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and
Honduras</i>. 2nd edition. Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press.<br />
Stiles, F. G. & Skutch, A. F. (1989) <i>A guide to the birds of
Costa Rica</i>. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-5966581959849495982018-11-13T15:00:00.000+00:002020-05-15T11:05:21.123+01:00Book review: Antpittas and Gnateaters<h3>
Antpittas and Gnateaters</h3>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RjzdirdDvYQ/W-6D-_-fjOI/AAAAAAAAFg4/1TLhF9LYdDIy8fh86LqSwBHy0Q-Ab-Z7ACLcBGAs/s1600/Antpittas%2BGreeney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="421" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RjzdirdDvYQ/W-6D-_-fjOI/AAAAAAAAFg4/1TLhF9LYdDIy8fh86LqSwBHy0Q-Ab-Z7ACLcBGAs/s320/Antpittas%2BGreeney.jpg" width="225" /></a>Harold F. Greeney<br />
Helm (Bloomsbury) | 2018<br />
496 pp. | 18 x 24.7 cm | 24 colour plates, 250 colour photographs<br />
Hardback | £50 / $65 | ISBN: 9781472919649<br />
<br />
Just finished my review of Harold Greeney's <i>magnum opus</i>, to be published in <a href="https://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/nbc-publications/neotropical-birding/">Neotropical Birding</a> 24...<br />
<br />
Thanks to <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/antpittas-and-gnateaters-9781472919649/">Bloomsbury Publishing</a> for providing a review copy.<br />
<br />
Published review below, PDF <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339875904_Book_reviews_Antpittas_and_gnateaters">here</a>.<br />
<br />
This book is quite obviously a labour of love and, for anyone familiar with the author’s huge body of published work, it could never be anything but thorough. Harold Greeney is unashamedly a natural historian, a term that has regrettably become
unfashionable in our modern world. This book does indeed read in places like a work of the Victorian era, with all the positive connotations that this implies, and venerable 19th and early 20th century names like Sclater, Godman, Salvin, Hartert and Hellmayr crop up repeatedly. The feel is maintained by the extensive excerpts from original descriptions that preface some of the species accounts, setting a tone of wonder and discovery that befits a group about which so much remains to be unearthed.<br />
Distributional information forms a major part of this work. Maps are a model of clarity, with base cartography showing national borders and major rivers upon which known ranges are carefully mapped. A very useful innovation is the inclusion
of marked type localities. As Greeney is at pains to point out in the introduction, researching distribution “was one of the most time-consuming aspects of this work”. The maps are based on a vast compilation of records, comprising specimen data, publications, and voucher records held at archives such as xeno-canto (<a href="https://www.xeno-canto.org/">https://www.xeno-canto.org/</a>) and the Internet Bird Collection (<a href="https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/">https://www.hbw.com/ibc</a>). The half-a-billion records in the increasingly popular (and powerful) eBird system (<a href="https://ebird.org/">https://ebird.org</a>) have also been evaluated, with sight records employed cautiously, emphasising to eBird users the utility of supporting unusual records with voucher audio or visual material. In painstaking detail, sight records have routinely been verified by correspondence with the observers. The source of all records is provided; as the author admits, he did not want to condemn future revisers to repeat the process by obscuring the primary data beneath interpretative accounts. These data will be passed over by many readers, but for perhaps as many others they will be a gold mine to be exploited again and again. They are the sort of feature that sets this monograph apart from so many other similar titles covering other bird families, and their inclusion can only be applauded.<br />
We have established that the library and museum
research has been extraordinarily thorough. But
Greeney’s credentials as a field ornithologist are
second to none. Texts are thoroughly underpinned
by hard scientific data, but Greeney contributes
much original observation of his own. For example,
referring to Plain-backed Antpitta <i>Grallaria
haplonota</i>, he relates “<i>A pair that I observed in the
foothills of Ecuador (chaplinae) appeared to increase
song rates in response to darkening skies...</i>”, a trait
that will be familiar to anyone who has spent time
with the species, for example, in Rancho Grande
Biological Station, Venezuela, where its haunting
song is a feature of the soundscape during misty
hours. Indeed, much life-history information, such as
nesting data, seasonality, plumage and moult, is here
published for the first time. Some of this is recounted
in a way that captures the naturalist’s joy at observing
the events, such as Greeney’s personal account of a
Tawny Antpitta <i>Grallaria quitensis</i> adult relieving its
incubating mate on a snow-bound nest.<br />
Taxonomy follows the American Ornithological
Society, with one minor departure in the recognition
of <i>Grallaria fenwickorum</i> rather than <i>G. urraoensis</i> for Urrao Antpitta, in adherence to International
Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
regulations. The author recognises that some of
the ‘species’ treated are therefore obvious species
complexes, the component subspecies of which
will in all likelihood, once the evidence is formally
marshalled, be elevated to species level. Obvious
examples are the Rufous <i>Grallaria rufula</i> and Tawny
Antpitta <i>G. quitensis</i> complexes, which potentially
comprise seven and three species respectively;
the Sierra de Perijá taxon <i>saltuensis</i> of northeast
Colombia and northwest Venezuela is perhaps
the clearest case in point, originally assigned to <i>G.
rufula</i> when described more than 70 years ago, with
the remark that it “it seems possible that it may be
a distinct species”. All seven current subspecies of
Rufous Antpitta are illustrated and, since all 156 taxa
recognised in the book are treated separately and in
detail, disentangling the taxa in future will not prove
too much of a challenge.<br />
With the sheer volume of information included
here, it is no surprise that the odd minor error has
crept in. The text states (p. 436) that the range of
Slate-crowned <i>Grallaricula nana</i> “does overlap
with Sucre Antipitta [<i>G. cumanensis</i>] in the east
[of Venezuela]”, from which the crucial word “not”
is missing. More seriously, subspecies labels have
been incorrectly placed on the map for Plain-backed
Antpitta Grallaria haplonota, surely a slip-up at the
layout stage. But such things should not trouble us.<br />
Plates are of the high quality we have come to
expect from David Beadle, and are a pleasure to
peruse. In this case one definitely can judge the book
by its (stunning Crescent-faced Antpitta <i>Grallaricula
lineifrons</i>) cover. Photographs of live birds are
provided for all currently recognised species, except
for Elusive <i>Grallaria eludens </i>and Grey-naped
Antpittas <i>G. griseonucha</i>, where specimens are
substituted. Not surprisingly, given the author’s track
record of publishing nest descriptions, many of the
photos are of nests, nestlings or fledglings – all of which will be excitingly unfamiliar to many readers.<br />
This is one of the best-researched avian monographs ever published, and leaves little to desire in the coverage of its subject. In fact, it would scarcely be an exaggeration to say that everything we currently know about this group is contained within this book, so the only factor in deciding whether or not to acquire it is whether antpittas and gnateaters are of interest to the potential purchaser. Given the almost cult interest in these enigmatic cryptic birds, which to judge by the growing number of feeding stations is on the increase, I am confident that the book will sell itself.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Christopher J. Sharpe</i></div>
Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-68689575938910178202018-11-12T09:00:00.000+00:002020-05-15T11:31:56.168+01:00Book review: Birds of Nicaragua: a field guide<h3>
Birds of Nicaragua: a field guide</h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vudAoktUh8U/W-5pG8xxGAI/AAAAAAAAFgs/fAHIsFFEIzwatNbX7fV_WxJARiNkUjyYACLcBGAs/s1600/Birds%2Bof%2BNicaragua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="647" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vudAoktUh8U/W-5pG8xxGAI/AAAAAAAAFgs/fAHIsFFEIzwatNbX7fV_WxJARiNkUjyYACLcBGAs/s320/Birds%2Bof%2BNicaragua.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
Liliana Chavarría-Duriaux, David C. Hille & Robert Dean<br />
Comstock (A Zona Tropical Publication) | 2018<br />
480 pp. | 14 x 21.7 cm | 1332 colour illustrations, 9 colour photographs, 810 maps<br />
Softback | £32 / $39.95 | ISBN: 9781501701580<br />
<br />
Just finished my review of the handy new guide to the birds of Nicaragua, to be published in <a href="https://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/nbc-publications/neotropical-birding/">Neotropical Birding</a> 24...<br />
<br />
Thanks to <a href="http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100957340">Cornell University Press</a> for providing a review copy.<br />
<br />
Published review below, PDF <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339875978_Book_reviews_Birds_of_Nicaragua_a_field_guide">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Nicaragua has long been in the shadow of its
neighbour, Costa Rica, partly due to decades of
political instability fuelled by proxy war. During the
last century, grouped with El Salvador and Honduras,
it was often overlooked by travellers and birders, or
given a wide berth. It still slips under the world-listers’
radar simply because it has no endemic species. This
is a terrible shame since the country has so much to
offer, arguably more than any other in the region. It
holds the largest continuous block of tropical forest
north of Amazonia, habitats that are better preserved
than those in neighbouring countries, a respectable
750+ species of bird (vs 925 for Costa Rica) and
is the Central American country where exciting
new discoveries can most realistically be expected.
Without a doubt, the lack of a modern field guide
has not helped the country promote its avian riches.
Now that has been remedied, first by a pioneering
2014 bilingual guide (Martínez-Sánchez <i>et al</i>. 2014;
on which Liliana Chavarría-Duriaux was a co-author),
and now by this Zona Tropical offering.<br />
The guide covers 763 species, with full accounts
accorded to every species that is known to have
occurred, including vagrants such as Pacific
Golden Plover <i>Pluvialis fulva</i>, Black-capped Petrel
<i>Pterodroma hasitata</i> and Tawny-collared Nightjar
<i>Antrostomus salvini</i>. An appendix provides shorter
text and thumbnail illustrations of 43 species that are
likely to be found in future, or whose claim to form
part of the avifauna rests on a single sight record,
thus helping future-proof the book to some extent.
Some sight records have apparently been rejected
on available evidence, as with a March 2014 sight
record of Sinaloa Martin <i>Progne sinaloae</i>, although
for this species whose winter range is unknown
(quite possibly Amazonia), it would seem at least
plausible that it might migrate through Nicaragua.
Taxonomy follows the American Ornithological
Society; differences with the increasingly popular
Clements and International Ornithological Congress
lists – much favoured by eBirders and world-listers
respectively – are not mentioned, but neither are they
difficult to determine.<br />
All information pertinent to a species is provided
on a single page spread, making the guide quick to
use in the field. The book itself is slightly larger (about
2 cm taller) than Zona Tropical’s popular Costa Rica
predecessor (Garrigues & Dean 2007), which puts it
on the borderline of what might be called a ‘pocket
guide’, but it is otherwise fairly similar in style and
layout, all wrapped in the identical type of standard
soft cover.<br />
Text is concise, albeit a little longer than that of
its Costa Rican counterpart, and clearly emphasises
characters for field identification. Care has been taken
to describe distribution, status and seasonality in
sufficient detail for critical use. Descriptions of voice
are always idiosyncratic, and in some cases I am not
sure my ears are quite attuned to those of the authors.
For example, I have trouble matching the description
of a “rhythmic 4-phrase song” for Pale-vented Pigeon
<i>Patagioenas cayennensis</i> with the classic ‘Santa Cruz’
mnemonic that my brain ascribes.<br />
The 2014 Nicaragua guide lacked maps, relying
instead on range descriptions. This Zona Tropical
guide breaks new ground, with large, colour-coded
maps that permit the instant narrowing-down of
possibilities. Despite their size, the maps are rather
broad-brush, doubtless reflecting the resolution of
the information the authors had at their disposal,
especially the paucity of museum collections made in
Nicaragua; their source is not specified beyond “years
of field research”.<br />
Robert Dean’s plates originally appeared in
Garrigues and Dean (2007), but there are many new
illustrations depicting females, birds in flight, tail
patterns and so on. All boreal migrants are illustrated,
cutting down on the need to carry a North America
field guide. As users of previous guides featuring
Dean’s work will know, the paintings are well-suited
to the purpose of practical identification, showing
diagnostic field marks.<br />
Zona Tropical publications have made a niche
for themselves with a series of well-produced field
guides to Central American biota, and this latest
addition will occupy a prominent place in their
portfolio. I very much hope that birders will be
persuaded to visit Nicaragua, and tour companies
will eventually welcome it into the suite of orthodox
tour destinations. With the appearance of this handy
guide, crafted with love as well as expertise, there
should be no excuse.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Christopher J. Sharpe</i> </div>
<br />
<b>REFERENCES</b><br />
Garrigues, R. & Dean, R. (2007) <i>The birds of Costa Rica: a
field guide</i>. Miami FL, USA: Zona Tropical.<br />
Martínez-Sánchez, J., Chavarría-Duriaux, L. & Muñoz, F.
J. (2014) <i>A guide to the birds of Nicaragua/Nicaragua
– una guía de aves</i>. Magdeburg, Germany: Verlags KG
Wolf.Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-87974602185336737682018-11-10T15:34:00.000+00:002018-12-07T11:59:38.420+00:00Birds of Vietnam goes to pressBirds of Vietnam, the second title in the<a href="https://www.lynxeds.com/catalog/lynx-birdLife-international-field-guides"> <i>Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides</i></a> series has gone to press. More details can be found on the <a href="https://www.lynxeds.com/product/birds-vietnam">book's Lynx webpage</a>. Sample page spreads are <a href="http://lynxeds.info/item/vietsp1/?id=25053">available for download too</a>. This pioneering publication is the first ever field guide to the avifauna. The new flexicover version is available at a discount and with <a href="http://lynxeds.info/doc/newsletter-birds-of-vietnam/">free worldwide shipping until 20 December</a>. More information to follow soon...<br />
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<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-37581420640713890992018-08-10T14:00:00.000+01:002018-12-07T12:38:21.280+00:00Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides at Birdfair<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDjBfih8y04/XApl_qUzrVI/AAAAAAAAFjs/kr6P0OU009U1oR8mXXtxANdfk5d13B9AwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lynx%2BThailand%2BViet%2BNam%2BField%2Bguides.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="238" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDjBfih8y04/XApl_qUzrVI/AAAAAAAAFjs/kr6P0OU009U1oR8mXXtxANdfk5d13B9AwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lynx%2BThailand%2BViet%2BNam%2BField%2Bguides.png" /></a>Lynx Edicions is launching the <a href="https://www.lynxeds.com/catalog/lynx-birdLife-international-field-guides"><i>Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides</i></a> series at <a href="https://birdfair.org.uk/">Birdfair</a>. If you're going to be there, come along to our stand for a chat with two of the ornithologists in charge of this collection:
Guy Kirwan on Saturday and me on Sunday. More information <a href="https://mailchi.mp/5b5811a41aa2/come-and-meet-lynx-edicions-at-the-british-birdwatching-fair">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-30524909906843016482018-07-27T13:00:00.000+01:002018-12-07T12:00:17.804+00:00Birds of Thailand is out!<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s53Y-Hb4KUY/XApgDqLtInI/AAAAAAAAFjc/9SebntAFJyAD29aZRCScmRel1ZDXdsPogCLcBGAs/s1600/Thailand%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="422" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s53Y-Hb4KUY/XApgDqLtInI/AAAAAAAAFjc/9SebntAFJyAD29aZRCScmRel1ZDXdsPogCLcBGAs/s320/Thailand%2Bcover.jpg" width="225" /></a>Birds of Thailand, the first title in the<a href="https://www.lynxeds.com/catalog/lynx-birdLife-international-field-guides"> <i>Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides</i></a> series has gone to press. More details can be found on the <a href="https://www.lynxeds.com/product/birds-thailand-0">book's Lynx webpage</a>. More information to follow soon... <br />
<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-72514300859032206272017-08-31T21:00:00.000+01:002019-07-16T12:21:46.061+01:00A brief history of Chapel Green, Rocklands, a community-managed wildlife meadowChapel Green in Rockland St. Peter has been a public watering hole since 1814 and there is a long history of active protection and management of the area for the use and enjoyment of the community. The green itself has been a meadow as far back as living memory can recall. Up until recent times, livestock have used the site for grazing. After a period of relative neglect—during which time rubble from neighbouring house developments was dumped, the green was used for car parking, sewage from an adjacent house drained directly onto the land, and the area was judged to be "in a rather parlous state"—towards the turn of the millennium, a dedicated <i>Rockland Chapel Green Restoration Group</i> acting on behalf of Rocklands Parish Council (RPC) sought recuperate the area. Millennium Meadow funding was obtained from Norfolk County Council (NCC), Norfolk Rural Community Council and RPC, and with advice from Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the NCC Countryside Officer, the community was able to clean the pond and restore the meadow.<br />
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As a result, for the past decade or two, the small (c. 0·015 ha) grassland has been managed as a wild-flower meadow by a succession of stewards appointed by the Parish Council, of which—since 2011—I am the incumbent. Management consists of an annual cut of hay in August–September, carried out by the Parish Council, followed by regular mowing during late summer through to early spring, effected by the steward or volunteers. During the spring and early summer, the meadow is left to flower and seed, ensuring the perpetuation of a rich diverse community of native flowers which support an impressive array of insect pollinators.<br />
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Up until 2012, the annual cut was carried out by the Bacon family on behalf of Parish Council, sometimes with help from various neighbours. The Bacons owned appropriate cutting apparatus and a lorry to remove the cuttings, which made light work of the operation. Since they left the village, it has proved more difficult to arrange the cut, and the task has fallen to a group of neighbours, who have struggled to arrange it. Harold Neale was particularly helpful in 2014 and 2015, sourcing a rotary scythe and performing the cut. In 2016, after not inconsiderable effort, and two promises of machinery, we failed to harvest the hay. This meant that the green looked lank and untidy for the best part of a year. Although the plants did flower as usual, the show was somewhat obscured by long grass. Fortunately, in 2017 our local <a href="https://www.wtgn.co.uk/">Walnut Tree Garden Nursery</a> offered us their brand new wheeled strimmer and we were able to effect the cut on 13 August as usual. The remaining stubble was mown to a short sward and the aftermath was cut by petrol mower during the last week of August. It is to be expected that the green will return to its usual state. We are also assured that the strimmer will be available in future. The group of neighbours that participated in this year’s cut is happy to continue to maintain the area in future if we can secure the appropriate equipment for the annual cut.<br />
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We have recently been made aware that several residents have been unhappy with the management of the green and would prefer to replace it with a frequently-mown short grass lawn. At the same time, one neighbour has asked that the green simply be cut once a year and the hay left to decompose, thus allowing the area to become a high-fertility meadow with a flora typical of our roadside verges. It is proposed that these ideas be discussed at the forthcoming Parish Council meeting.<br />
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If there is a proposal to change the management of the green, it would seem sensible that the community be made aware of its history, the considerable effort that the Parish Council has invested in turning it into a wild-flower meadow and its current ecological and social value to the village, so that we can make an informed democratic decision.<br />
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<u><b>November 2017 update</b></u> <br />
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RPC organised a community-wide vote on the future of Chapel Green with options being the continuation of the traditional management regime or conversion to a close-cropped lawn. The former option was overwhelmingly supported. RPC has created a <a href="http://rocklands.org.uk/wp/?page_id=497"><i>Chapel Green Management Committee</i></a> in order to carry out future management in accordance with the wishes of the Rocklands community.Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0Chapel Green, Rockland St Peter, Norfolk, UK52.539005206878294 0.9330029471856278252.538378706878291 0.93117094718562787 52.539631706878296 0.93483494718562776tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-80308604860116713562017-08-13T21:00:00.000+01:002019-07-16T11:57:59.590+01:00Wildflower meadow management at Chapel Green, Rocklands<br />
Today villagers got together to carry out the annual cut of Chapel Green wild-flower meadow. Further posts on this wonderful local asset, managed by the community on behalf of <a href="http://rocklands.org.uk/wp/">Rocklands Parish Council</a>, are to be found <a href="http://thecuriousnaturalist.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/wildflower%20meadows">here</a>.<br />
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The green had unfortunately grown quite long and rank, because we were unable to carry out the annual cut in 2016.<br />
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Thanks to the loan of a wheeled petrol strimmer by the kind people at the village's <a href="https://www.wtgn.co.uk/">Walnut Tree Garden Nursery</a>, we made short work of the cut. <br />
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Our late afternoon break, with the hay almost cut, consisted of Carolyn's locally harvested, home-made elderflower cordial, freshly harvested apple (from our garden) crumble, and tea.<br />
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After a further mow with the lawnmower, the green is ready for the coming year's growth.<br />
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<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0Rockland St Peter, Attleborough NR17 1UJ, UK52.539663999999988 0.9327799999999797452.520345999999989 0.89243949999997974 52.558981999999986 0.97312049999997974tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-77251225861021482872017-08-04T10:00:00.000+01:002019-07-16T11:53:56.029+01:00Butterflies of the Pyrenees<br />
Some of the butterflies encountered on a family camping trip to the Huesca Pyrenees in late July-early August. <br />
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[Text to follow. Some IDs tentative]<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TwETxfLBUg/WZAbvdvIoPI/AAAAAAAAFH8/PuOaDm1zPB4pPN91rCINeRD5bF8erWj5QCLcBGAs/s1600/Pyrgus%2Balveus%2Bcentralhispaniae%2Bor%2B%2BP.%2Barmoricanus%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TwETxfLBUg/WZAbvdvIoPI/AAAAAAAAFH8/PuOaDm1zPB4pPN91rCINeRD5bF8erWj5QCLcBGAs/s320/Pyrgus%2Balveus%2Bcentralhispaniae%2Bor%2B%2BP.%2Barmoricanus%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pyrgus alveus centralhispaniae</i> / <i>P. armoricanus</i> ?, Torla, 21 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DcwpsH5AJqE/WZAc9fkFAtI/AAAAAAAAFII/ECVcrzeiPWQm9TA0o1n5VyJqvBWi4EYjACLcBGAs/s1600/Argynnis%2Bpandora%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DcwpsH5AJqE/WZAc9fkFAtI/AAAAAAAAFII/ECVcrzeiPWQm9TA0o1n5VyJqvBWi4EYjACLcBGAs/s320/Argynnis%2Bpandora%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Argynnis pandora</i>, Torla, 21 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3NoNkzi6sQY/WZAeE8GzlRI/AAAAAAAAFIU/Ojv-hGrkxvQhh2Qf53qosFcfsvXqmx--wCLcBGAs/s1600/Apatura%2Biris%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3NoNkzi6sQY/WZAeE8GzlRI/AAAAAAAAFIU/Ojv-hGrkxvQhh2Qf53qosFcfsvXqmx--wCLcBGAs/s320/Apatura%2Biris%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Apatura iris</i>, Torla, 21 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2tzToqgWKY/WZAeO7mYi1I/AAAAAAAAFIc/9sV5E_I-vYofRLFStSmF5jv1rIofkKMYwCLcBGAs/s1600/Parnassius%2Bapollo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2tzToqgWKY/WZAeO7mYi1I/AAAAAAAAFIc/9sV5E_I-vYofRLFStSmF5jv1rIofkKMYwCLcBGAs/s320/Parnassius%2Bapollo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Parnassius apollo</i>, río Ara above Bujaruelo, 22 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2X--oSQWguA/WZAfdDaiKFI/AAAAAAAAFIo/ED39xPYyr981kVNdlTx_naRxBhXz5KmHQCLcBGAs/s1600/Hesperia%2Bcomma%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2X--oSQWguA/WZAfdDaiKFI/AAAAAAAAFIo/ED39xPYyr981kVNdlTx_naRxBhXz5KmHQCLcBGAs/s320/Hesperia%2Bcomma%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hesperia comma</i>, Valle de Otal, 23 July</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bYHSd4pJNg/WZAf5Gcy4dI/AAAAAAAAFIs/0M-IWY97i-Ea7Te-glxTEx_qQjzDIf5zwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lasiommata%2Bmaera%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bYHSd4pJNg/WZAf5Gcy4dI/AAAAAAAAFIs/0M-IWY97i-Ea7Te-glxTEx_qQjzDIf5zwCLcBGAs/s320/Lasiommata%2Bmaera%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lasiommata maera</i>, Valle de Otal, 23 July</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqQvKW8De40/WZA_ZfbPBuI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/_0f-PDmyKUU7z36bPorhodMjiZ6hC3rJQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Blue%2BOtal%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1316" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqQvKW8De40/WZA_ZfbPBuI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/_0f-PDmyKUU7z36bPorhodMjiZ6hC3rJQCEwYBhgL/s320/Blue%2BOtal%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Polyommatus escheri</i> ? <span class="_Tgc">♂</span>, Valle de Otal, 23 July</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0n2Q5gU_DZE/WZGPaE3-hTI/AAAAAAAAFKk/MUvuZYe7tscpOXf0BF0RHnKVMGjqlOt9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Hesperiidae%2BOtal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0n2Q5gU_DZE/WZGPaE3-hTI/AAAAAAAAFKk/MUvuZYe7tscpOXf0BF0RHnKVMGjqlOt9wCEwYBhgL/s320/Hesperiidae%2BOtal.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pyrgus </i>sp. Valle de Otal, 23 July</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3R7zlc6B9A/WZGQck-OoeI/AAAAAAAAFKs/J3hAbPv46KINKIKtlKxUNCKmW169tB8-QCLcBGAs/s1600/Lysandra%2Bcordon%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3R7zlc6B9A/WZGQck-OoeI/AAAAAAAAFKs/J3hAbPv46KINKIKtlKxUNCKmW169tB8-QCLcBGAs/s320/Lysandra%2Bcordon%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lysandra cordon</i>, Valle de Otal, 23 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zKVp0pvmfcE/WZGRAhOPCyI/AAAAAAAAFK0/cIKYHUDX_T46Bufec3kqhGWOaNpcKbLKwCLcBGAs/s1600/Argynnis%2Bpaphia%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zKVp0pvmfcE/WZGRAhOPCyI/AAAAAAAAFK0/cIKYHUDX_T46Bufec3kqhGWOaNpcKbLKwCLcBGAs/s320/Argynnis%2Bpaphia%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Argynnis paphia</i>, Valle de Otal, 23 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rZ1SNOpzMg8/WZAnTtEzBmI/AAAAAAAAFJo/CX_JjyD0TfMI88O9rhspN1o8poHouTPRgCLcBGAs/s1600/Blue%2Bcrop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rZ1SNOpzMg8/WZAnTtEzBmI/AAAAAAAAFJo/CX_JjyD0TfMI88O9rhspN1o8poHouTPRgCLcBGAs/s320/Blue%2Bcrop.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Polyommatus escheri</i> ? <span class="_Tgc">♂</span>, Valle de Ordesa, 24 July</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Plebicula dorylas</i> ♀, río Ara above Bujaruelo, 25 July</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nymphalis antiopa</i>, Lac d'Orédon, 29 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lycaena vigaureae</i>, Lac d'Orédon, 29 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brassy <i>Erebia </i>sp cf gorgone, Ibón de Plan, 31 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ibón de Plan, 31 July </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Melitaea phoebe occitanica</i> & <i>Zygaena filipendulae</i>, Revilla, 1 Aug</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Melanargia galathea</i>, Revilla, 1 Aug</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Iphiclides feisthamelii</i>, Laguna de Pineta, 3 Aug</td></tr>
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<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0Pyrenees42.6681804 1.001189899999985839.681711899999996 -4.1623841000000139 45.6546489 6.1647638999999854tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-77546495194074425302016-09-09T14:00:00.000+01:002016-09-23T12:13:59.745+01:00Chalcolestes viridis Willow Emerald Damselfly, a new Norfolk garden arrival[full text to follow]<br />
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<i>Chalcolestes viridis</i>, Willow Emerald Damselfly began to colonise the UK only a few years ago. The first British record was a dead adult found at Pevensey, E Sussex in 1979, followed by a larval exuvium collected at Cliffe Marshes, N Kent in 1992. Adults were seen near Felixstowe, Suffolk in 2007, but in 2009 there were at least 400 reports from N Essex, E Suffolk and S Norfolk, and in subsequent years the species has pushed westwards.<br />
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Having never seen its widespread British cousin, <i>Lestes sponsa</i>, in our garden I have never expected to encounter this new arrival. First seen yesterday, but it took flight and disappeared before I could get photos. Despite the stiff breeze it was on the same low perch today, 50 cm up next to bushes, well away from water.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7k8XLu-B6w/V9ZaEdHqnwI/AAAAAAAAE_c/Ui8Alo6WQcMhjrFKsro4JW9cYx5cxReVgCLcB/s1600/Chalcolestes%2Bviridis%2B2km%2Bmap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7k8XLu-B6w/V9ZaEdHqnwI/AAAAAAAAE_c/Ui8Alo6WQcMhjrFKsro4JW9cYx5cxReVgCLcB/s320/Chalcolestes%2Bviridis%2B2km%2Bmap.png" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chalcolestes viridis</i> current UK distribution (Biological Records Centre)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chalcolestes viridis</i> current UK distribution (Biological Records Centre)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 and pre-2016 UK records of <i>Chalcolestes viridis</i> (British Dragonfly Society)</td></tr>
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<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-63550572620010745992016-07-16T20:30:00.002+01:002016-07-25T09:40:33.708+01:00Norfolk moths: Rocklands School Playing Fields Moth Breakfast, 16 July 2016<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f4-fO-REa7g/V5IBK5HbwfI/AAAAAAAAE9E/qs_92jlq8X4JNQM40WTkuvhEg2JnEiQ5ACLcB/s1600/Moth%2Btrap%2BRocklands%2BRec%2BSimon%2BBest%2Blr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f4-fO-REa7g/V5IBK5HbwfI/AAAAAAAAE9E/qs_92jlq8X4JNQM40WTkuvhEg2JnEiQ5ACLcB/s320/Moth%2Btrap%2BRocklands%2BRec%2BSimon%2BBest%2Blr.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moth whisperers (Simon Best)</td></tr>
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To coincide with a Friday night camping event on our village playing fields organised by Rocklands School Council, I ran a moth trap so that pupils, parents and villagers might have a chance to see some of our local moths. Although it was warm (17°C minimum), humid and overcast, the strong breeze at this exposed site and losing the first hour in order not to irradiate the barbecue (light was on from 23h00) made for a slightly smaller haul than expected. I turned off the trap at 04h00, but had been beaten to the moths by an early-rising Blackbird. We opened the trap at 8 am and examined our catch, as we juggled our bacon and sausage butties. In the morning turmoil, with moths quite flighty in the sunshine, the list was not complete, but thanks to our scribe we did manage to note down most of the catch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trap full of moths (Ian Scholes)</td></tr>
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The first to catch everyone's attention were several showy <b>Swallow-tailed Moths</b>, but they were immediately eclipsed by <b>Elephant
Hawk-moths</b>. A fresh <b>Peach Blossom</b> and a <b>Buff Arches</b> that had settled outside the trap, just below the bulb, were next; then two striking <b>Brown-tails</b>, white micro teddy-bears with feathery antennae. <b>Common</b>, <b>Buff</b> and 'melon seed' <b>Dingy Footman</b> obligingly posed almost side-by-side. <b>Early Thorn</b> perched butterfly-like with wings pressed together over its back. <b>Small Magpies</b> were a favourite with the children.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gX_yMPt0-ys/V4swjAi2NYI/AAAAAAAAE8I/0qjC42513NcyTaaHTgIBn-SGg8A_zBqgQCLcB/s1600/Shaded%2BBroad-bar%2BRocklands%2BRec%2B20160716%2BIan%2BScholes%2Bedit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gX_yMPt0-ys/V4swjAi2NYI/AAAAAAAAE8I/0qjC42513NcyTaaHTgIBn-SGg8A_zBqgQCLcB/s320/Shaded%2BBroad-bar%2BRocklands%2BRec%2B20160716%2BIan%2BScholes%2Bedit.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaded Broad-bar <i>Scotopteryx chenopodiata</i> (Ian Scholes)</td></tr>
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<b>Shaded Broad-bar</b> is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, being common and widespread, but rapidly declining (by 73% over the last 35 years). A couple of species that were new for tetrad TL99Y: <b>Brown-tail</b> and <b>Peach Blossom</b>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swallow Prominent <i>Pheosia tremula</i> (Ian Scholes)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2PzcrKbGkk/V5ILdAjC0aI/AAAAAAAAE90/MWLheKuS5ZU0kGo7tvxAsZNt3Rw9Y0fAgCLcB/s1600/Girl%2Bwith%2BElephant%2BHawkmoth%2BIMG_4067%2BIan%2BScholes%2Blr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2PzcrKbGkk/V5ILdAjC0aI/AAAAAAAAE90/MWLheKuS5ZU0kGo7tvxAsZNt3Rw9Y0fAgCLcB/s320/Girl%2Bwith%2BElephant%2BHawkmoth%2BIMG_4067%2BIan%2BScholes%2Blr.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">Elephant Hawk-moth <i>Deilephila elpenor</i> in good hands (Ian Scholes)</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://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nbNYV8bLysU/V5IFXdBuSLI/AAAAAAAAE9c/MaOf2k4DsuEQsATlYljKphjDhgPNV85egCLcB/s1600/Moth%2Bbreakfast%2BSimon%2BBest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nbNYV8bLysU/V5IFXdBuSLI/AAAAAAAAE9c/MaOf2k4DsuEQsATlYljKphjDhgPNV85egCLcB/s320/Moth%2Bbreakfast%2BSimon%2BBest.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moth breakfast in full swing (Simon Best)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had not realised that several dozen Lesser Black-backed Gulls use the playing fields as a roost, leaving behind blizzards of moulted feathers. <br />
<br />
Click on the links to see photographs from the superb Norfolk Moths website, managed by Jim Wheeler.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Macro-moths (81</b></u><u><b> moths of 34 spp.)</b></u>:-<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="212"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="208"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="136"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=16520"><i>Thyatira baits</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Peach Blossom</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=16530"><i>Habrosyne pyritoides</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Buff Arches</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=19910"><i>Deilephila elpenor</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Elephant Hawk-moth</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">2</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=17130"><i>Idaea aversata</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Riband Wave</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">2</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=17320"><i>Scotopteryx chenopodiata</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Shaded Broad-bar</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=19060"><i>Opisthograptis luteolata</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Brimstone Moth</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">2</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=19170"><i>Selenia dentaria</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Early Thorn</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=19210"><i>Crocallis elinguaria</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Scalloped Oak</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">2</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=19220"><i>Ourapteryx sambucaria</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Swallow-tailed Moth</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">7</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=19580"><i>Lomographa temerata</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Clouded Silver</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20070"><i>Pheosia tremula</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Swallow Prominent</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">2</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20110"><i>Pterostoma palpina</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Pale Prominent</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=24770"><i>Hypena proboscidalis</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Snout</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20290"><i>Euproctis chrysorrhoea</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Brown-tail</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">2</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20610"><i>Spilosoma lutea</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Buff Ermine</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">3</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20490"><i>Eilema depressa</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Buff Footman</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20440"><i>Eilema griseola</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Dingy Footman</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20500"><i>Eilema lurideola</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Common Footman</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">4</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=24890"><i>Herminia tarsipennalis</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Fan-foot</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">5</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=22780"><i>Subacronicta megacephala</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Poplar Grey</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=23810"><i>Hoplodrina octogenaria</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Uncertain</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">7</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=23210"><i>Apamea monoglypha</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Dark Arches</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">4</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=23439"><i>Mesapamea secalis agg.</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Common Rustic agg.</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">4</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21600"><i>Lacanobia oleracea</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Bright-line Brown-eye</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21550"><i>Melanchra persicariae</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Dot Moth</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">3</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21920"><i>Mythimna conigera</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Brown-line Bright Eye</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">3</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21980"><i>Mythimna impura</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Smoky Wainscot</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">3</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21930"><i>Mythimna ferrago</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Clay</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">4</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20890"><i>Agrotis exclamationis</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Heart and Dart</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">3</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=20980"><i>Axylia putris</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Flame</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21070"><i>Noctua pronuba</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Large Yellow Underwing</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">3</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21100"><i>Noctua fimbriata</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21090"><i>Noctua comes</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Lesser Yellow Underwing</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?bf=21280"><i>Xestia triangulum</i></a></td>
<td align="left"><b>Double Square-spot</b></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">2</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Micro-moths (7</b></u><u><b> moths identified, of 3 spp.)</b></u>:- <br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="212"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="208"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="136"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=10110"><b><i><span style="color: #333399;">Pseudargyrotoza conwagana</span></i></b></a></td>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #333399;">Yellow-spot Tortrix</span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">5</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=13760"><b><i><span style="color: #333399;">Anania hortulata</span></i></b></a></td>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #333399;">Small Magpie</span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">5</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=14050"><b><i><span style="color: #333399;">Pleuroptya ruralis</span></i></b></a></td>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #333399;">Mother of Pearl</span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: red;">1</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-55355634355258377802016-07-09T18:00:00.000+01:002016-07-15T17:32:16.190+01:00Norfolk moths: Rockland St. Peter garden, 8 July 2016 It has been a cool, wet summer, so 20°C made a respectably warm day, and with partly cloudy skies in the evening it looked to be a good night to get out the trap. The temperature held up, with 17.5°C when I turned on the
MV light at 22h00 and 13°C when I turned it off at 04h00. A light E breeze. Waxing new moon.<br />
<br />
New macro moths for the garden were <b>Blue-bordered Carpet</b>, <b>July Highflyer</b>, <b>V-Pug</b>, <b>Small Yellow Wave</b>, <b>Short-cloaked Moth</b> and <b>Poplar Grey</b>. <b>Large Twin-spot Carpet</b>, <b>Sycamore</b> and <b>Beautiful Hook-tip</b> are local species. All moths were rather flighty, and none posed for photographs. <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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdU0omBQyTw/V4He-hRDffI/AAAAAAAAE7k/21W24qpO2UcgFDpY4LWlXv43NpzB6MvpgCLcB/s1600/Large%2BTwin-spot%2BCarpet%2Bedit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdU0omBQyTw/V4He-hRDffI/AAAAAAAAE7k/21W24qpO2UcgFDpY4LWlXv43NpzB6MvpgCLcB/s320/Large%2BTwin-spot%2BCarpet%2Bedit.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large Twin-spot Carpet <i>Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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://3.bp.blogspot.com/-doPaN3jZo_U/V4ZKrGnf7CI/AAAAAAAAE70/EBoLQAGs1j0rPl3MaTY692l9wv715DseACLcB/s1600/Eudonia%2Blacustrata%2Bedit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-doPaN3jZo_U/V4ZKrGnf7CI/AAAAAAAAE70/EBoLQAGs1j0rPl3MaTY692l9wv715DseACLcB/s320/Eudonia%2Blacustrata%2Bedit.JPG" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eudonia lacustrata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Macro-moths (</b></u><u><b>102 moths of 43 spp.)</b></u>:-<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="212"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="227"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="3"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=140">Hepialus humuli</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=140">Ghost Moth</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=16690">Hemithea aestivaria</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=16690">Common Emerald</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17130">Idaea aversata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17130">Riband Wave</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17260">Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17260">Large Twin-spot Carpet</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17650">Cidaria fulvata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17650">Barred Yellow</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17660">Plemyria rubiginata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17660">Blue-bordered Carpet</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17770">Hydriomena furcata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=17770">July Highflyer</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=18580">Chloroclystis v-ata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=18580">V-Pug</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=18600">Pasiphila rectangulata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=18600">Green Pug</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=18760">Hydrelia flammeolaria</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=18760">Small Yellow Wave</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=18870">Lomaspilis marginata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=18870">Clouded Border</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19060">Opisthograptis luteolata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19060">Brimstone Moth</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19220">Ourapteryx sambucaria</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19220">Swallow-tailed Moth</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19310">Biston betularia</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19310">Peppered Moth</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19370">Peribatodes rhomboidaria</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19370">Willow Beauty</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19560">Cabera exanthemata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19560">Common Wave</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19580">Lomographa temerata</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19580">Clouded Silver</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19810">Laothoe populi</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19810">Poplar Hawk-moth</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19910">Deilephila elpenor</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=19910">Elephant Hawk-moth</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20110">Pterostoma palpina</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20110">Pale Prominent</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20300">Euproctis similis</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20300">Yellow-tail</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20500">Eilema lurideola</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20500">Common Footman</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20610">Spilosoma luteum</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20610">Buff Ermine</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20690">Tyria jacobaeae</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20690">Cinnabar</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20770">Nola cucullatella</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20770">Short-cloaked Moth</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20980">Axylia putris</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=20980">Flame</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21020">Ochropleura plecta</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21020">Flame Shoulder</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21280">Xestia triangulum</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21280">Double Square-spot</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21550">Melanchra persicariae</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21550">Dot Moth</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21600">Lacanobia oleracea</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21600">Bright-line Brown-eye</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21980">Mythimna impura</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=21980">Smoky Wainscot</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=22780">Acronicta megacephala</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=22780">Poplar Grey</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=22790">Acronicta aceris</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=22790">Sycamore</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23210">Apamea monoglypha</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23210">Dark Arches</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23220">Apamea lithoxylaea</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23220">Light Arches</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23810">Hoplodrina alsines</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23810">Uncertain</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23820">Hoplodrina blanda</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23820">Rustic</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23870">Caradrina morpheus</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23870">Mottled Rustic</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23890">Paradrina clavipalpis</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23890">Pale Mottled Willow</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=24730">Laspeyria flexula</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=24730">Beautiful Hook-tip</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=24770">Hypena proboscidalis</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=24770">Snout</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=24890">Zanclognatha tarsipennalis</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=24890">Fan-foot</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23371">Oligia strigilis agg.</a></span></td>
<td align="left"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/?bf=23371">Marbled Minor agg.</a></span></b></td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Micro-moths (9</b></u><u><b> moths identified, of 4 spp.)</b></u>:- <br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="212"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="227"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="3"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><b><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=13380">Dipleurina lacustrata</a></span></b></td>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=13380">(Eudonia lacustrata)</a></span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: #333399;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><b><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=13760">Eurrhypara hortulata</a></span></b></td>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=13760">Small Magpie</a></span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: #333399;">6</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><b><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=13780">Phlyctaenia coronata</a></span></b></td>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #333399;"><br /></span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: #333399;">1</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="20"><b><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=14280">Aphomia sociella</a></span></b></td>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=14280">Bee Moth</a></span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: #333399;">1</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5247759867697025880.post-52568770558648404022016-05-30T14:33:00.000+01:002016-05-31T10:52:21.260+01:00Book review: Listening to a Continent Sing by Don Kroodsma<h3>
Listening to a Continent Sing. Birdsong by Bicycle from the Atlantic to the Pacific</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ry_-PdfI-k/V0w9Nft4y7I/AAAAAAAAE5E/moBovE-4sYQeNx7EIW9hKHMSv9XzPsfcgCLcB/s1600/Kroodsma%2B-%2BListening%2Bto%2Ba%2BContinent%2BSing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ry_-PdfI-k/V0w9Nft4y7I/AAAAAAAAE5E/moBovE-4sYQeNx7EIW9hKHMSv9XzPsfcgCLcB/s320/Kroodsma%2B-%2BListening%2Bto%2Ba%2BContinent%2BSing.gif" width="211" /></a></div>
<a href="http://donaldkroodsma.com/"><br />
Donald Kroodsma</a><br />
Princeton University Press | 2016<br />
336 pp. | 16 x 24 cm | 125 line illustrations<br />
Hardcover | £22.95 / $29.95 | ISBN: 9780691166810<br />
<br />
<a href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10668.html">Listening
to a Continent Sing</a> documents a ten-week cycle trip made by Don
Kroodsma and his son David across the USA from the Atlantic to the
Pacific – east to west against the wind in order to best take
advantage of the advancing season – “<i>lingering and listening to our
continent sing as no one has before</i>”. A taste of the
coast-to-coast journey, made during the summer of 2003, can be found
in the NPR clip <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4699207">Searching
Out 'The Singing Life of Birds'</a>, recorded a couple of years after
the trip. The author's pure joy, his sense of wonder and curiosity,
combined with scientific rigour, so evident in Elizabeth Arnold's
interview, are qualities that infuse the resulting book. The text
takes the from of a travelogue, but it is more immediately an
exploration of rural back routes, a celebration of nature, and a
wonderful appreciation of bird song. As a travel diary, it is an easy
and entertaining read. But for those who want to take the subject
further the book serves as an introduction to learning bird song: the
QR codes sprinkled throughout link to 381 recordings that really
bring the trip to life and are a great way for the reader to gain
familiarity with some of North America's finest songsters. This and
much more material is provided on the author's Listening to a Continent Sing <a href="http://listeningtoacontinentsing.com/">companion website</a>. A handful of recordings
make up an audio archive documenting some of the characters that the
cyclists met <i>en route</i> and their relationship with birds:
family store owner <a href="http://listeningtoacontinentsing.com/recording.php?page=VA-18&autoplay=0">Charles
Haupt</a> on his Purple Martins in Charles City, Virginia, bubbly
Park Naturalist <a href="http://listeningtoacontinentsing.com/recording.php?page=VA-67&autoplay=0">Terry Owens</a> on the avian delights of Breaks Interstate Park, far
western Virginia, or <a href="http://listeningtoacontinentsing.com/recording.php?page=KY-117&autoplay=0">Rev.
James R. Love</a> on his local birds (maintaining that birds sing
because they are happy) in Eastview, Kentucky.<br />
<br />
<i>Listening to a Continent Sing</i> will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the
outdoors, by cyclists (David Kroodsma is himself an experienced
cyclist and author of <a href="http://rideforclimate.com/book.php">The
Bicycle Diaries</a>), and above all by birders. I have only just
begin reading the book, but I already suspect that it will turn out
to be one of the outstanding popular bird books of the year.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***
</div>
<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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxzvNH8ZWHM/V0w-8xC49PI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/89hG_YuWHyUVaJ6-SVQ21Y9N-1GH4jGFQCLcB/s1600/Kroodsma%2Bp%25C3%25A1ramo%2BM%25C3%25A9rida.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxzvNH8ZWHM/V0w-8xC49PI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/89hG_YuWHyUVaJ6-SVQ21Y9N-1GH4jGFQCLcB/s320/Kroodsma%2Bp%25C3%25A1ramo%2BM%25C3%25A9rida.gif" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center; width: 220px;">Don Kroodsma at work in the Mérida Andes. Photo: Don Kroodsma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I first met Don
Kroodsma in 1995 when he had quickly acquired a reputation as an
eccentric <i>gringo</i> professor studying, together with student
Viviana Salas, endemic Mérida Wren <a href="http://www.hbw.com/node/58116"><i>Cistothorus
meridae</i></a>, a scarce bird restricted to a tiny range in the
Venezuelan Andes. This species was a key target for visiting birders
and was not all that well known ecologically, so I was surprised to
find that Don knew so much about the population at the head of the
Santo Domingo valley: where to find them, how many territories there
were (over a dozen!), and of course how many songs formed the
repertoire of each male... He was a fount of <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1650/0010-5422(2001)103%5B0855:SVACWW%5D2.0.CO;2">fascinating
information</a> on the species – and one of his tips helped us
obtain superb views of the bird, which can be a tricky business when
the weather is inclement.<br />
<br />
A year or two
later, I was lucky enough to be invited to take a Cornell LNS bird
sound workshop with Don, Greg Budney and Dave Ross at the joint
ABA/AFO conference in Costa Rica. Their combined experience was
formidable and really got me hooked on professional sound recording
(prior to that I had been using a cheap and inadequate Sony video
microphone feeding into a budget dictaphone).<br />
<br />
Being taught by one of
the world’s experts in bird vocalisations together with one of the
premier recordists was a real privilege. On our field trip to Tipantí
National Park we were accompanied by a friend of Don’s, the late
Dave Stemple (husband of children’s author Janet Yolen), with whom
I was later to spend a lot of time recording bird songs and through
whom I kept in contact with Don.<br />
<br />
In 1998 I was
able to repay Don for his efforts in teaching the workshop, when,
while living in Managua, I noticed that the Three-wattled Bellbirds
<i>Procnias tricarunculatus</i> of the Nicaraguan highlands sang very
differently to their <a href="http://listeningtoacontinentsing.com/recording.php?page=OR-352&autoplay=0">Costa Rican relatives</a> that I knew fairly well. I
suspected that Don might be interested in this, and through Dave, I
was able to send Don some extended sound recordings of the Nicaraguan
birds, which helped him <a href="http://donaldkroodsma.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Three-wattled-Bellbird-2013-Wilson-Journal.pdf">document
song learning in a suboscine passerine</a>. This exciting discovery
is described in Don Stap's <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/Birdsong/Don-Stap/9781451612974">Birdsong.
A Natural History</a>.<br />
<br />
Over the years I have kept up with Don’s research – he is, after
all, an authority in the field of bird song and his discoveries
demand to be read by anyone with an interest in bird vocalisations. I
was able to procure a copy of the superb <a href="http://donaldkroodsma.com/?page_id=69">The
Singing Life of Birds</a> and occasionally come across radio
interviews. Another NPR interview, with Terry Gross, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4565590">Understanding
Birdsong — and Its Fans</a> was made on the launch of The Singing
Life of Birds. A useful <a href="http://donaldkroodsma.com/?page_id=16#birdinginterview">2009
interview in the ABA's Birding magazine</a> contains plenty more
links to cuts of North American birds.<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.28cm; margin-left: 1.27cm;">
“<i>There’s this wonderful Zen parable. If you listen to the
thrush and hear a thrush, you’ve not really heard the thrush. But
if you listen to a thrush and hear a miracle, then you’ve heard the
thrush.</i>”</div>
<div align="right" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.28cm; margin-left: 1.27cm;">
— Don Kroodsma in <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4699207">Searching
Out 'The Singing Life of Birds'</a> (NPR interview with Elizabeth
Arnold, 13 June 2005)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
Kaikusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035443106534538343noreply@blogger.com0