I've moved a bit of a discussion on a local birding website to Birds2blog, the strategy not least of all being that on Birds2blog I can say what I think and pass my opinion without fear of censorship as on other websites, some of which are ruthless and whose administrators seem to let a little bit of authority go to their heads to perform their unfair judgements on peoples opinions and views concerning birds and birding and send comments to the dump at will. Another great advantage of the diversion to my website is that those involved in this 'discussion' about the recent Long-tailed Duck (LTD) on the River Lune in Lancaster won't transfer their comments to here so as to avoid establishing they visit Birds2blog, though I assure you they have visited, still do, and will certainly read this post.
I apologise to the many visitors who will not have any idea what this is all about, however it's important for those who do know that I get out into the open this debate void of being accused of secrecy and the fear of the aforementioned censorship if I say something they 'think' I shouldn't have said.
The LTD on the River Lune in Lancaster - which I found on Thursday 8 November - as I saw it was a female/juvenile male. I need to make claim to having no experience of this scarce duck in our area, but have taken close notice of this bird in an excellent photograph I obtained from a Cumbrian birder, to add to the many pages of reference to the LTD which I have studied and arrived at this conclusion albeit not an absolute one.
The LTD is notorious for its complex plumage at certain stages of its life, adult birds of both sexes in summer plumage might be one thing, but a first calendar year bird like this one is another. As I see this bird the scapulars and upper-wing coverts are juvenile feathers, and the lack of pink in this birds bill leans towards a female, but the question posed there is....will immature male birds have developed pink in their bills by mid-November, the problem is then complicated by....some possibly will, whilst some won't. I also suspect, if this bird had been seen in flight some more questions about ID could have been answered.
I hide no secrets about this birds identity, the only secret being just where and when I reveal them. I think its unfortunate that some - and those who support them - have to make such accusations of secrecy towards other birders by throwing bricks at them in public and thereby turning birding sour for us all. I also have no belief that anyone with a remote interest in the local birding scene hasn't already seen the photograph published on Birds2blog nine days ago on Sunday 18 November, but....
I apologise to the many visitors who will not have any idea what this is all about, however it's important for those who do know that I get out into the open this debate void of being accused of secrecy and the fear of the aforementioned censorship if I say something they 'think' I shouldn't have said.
The LTD on the River Lune in Lancaster - which I found on Thursday 8 November - as I saw it was a female/juvenile male. I need to make claim to having no experience of this scarce duck in our area, but have taken close notice of this bird in an excellent photograph I obtained from a Cumbrian birder, to add to the many pages of reference to the LTD which I have studied and arrived at this conclusion albeit not an absolute one.
The LTD is notorious for its complex plumage at certain stages of its life, adult birds of both sexes in summer plumage might be one thing, but a first calendar year bird like this one is another. As I see this bird the scapulars and upper-wing coverts are juvenile feathers, and the lack of pink in this birds bill leans towards a female, but the question posed there is....will immature male birds have developed pink in their bills by mid-November, the problem is then complicated by....some possibly will, whilst some won't. I also suspect, if this bird had been seen in flight some more questions about ID could have been answered.
I hide no secrets about this birds identity, the only secret being just where and when I reveal them. I think its unfortunate that some - and those who support them - have to make such accusations of secrecy towards other birders by throwing bricks at them in public and thereby turning birding sour for us all. I also have no belief that anyone with a remote interest in the local birding scene hasn't already seen the photograph published on Birds2blog nine days ago on Sunday 18 November, but....
Long-tailed Duck. Graham Williams.
....here it is again.
And finally, to loosen up and brighten up Birds2blog....
And finally, to loosen up and brighten up Birds2blog....
Whooper Swan Gary Jones
The Whooper Swan in all its glory, the result of a visit by GJ to Martin Mere with the camera. Thanks Gary....Exquisite.
Enjoy your birding/wildlife whatever form it takes. I do....and with me its a passion.
great swan
ReplyDeleteI have to keep clear of the forums down here Pete, i'm not very popular :-)
ReplyDeleteit's not just in the birding community that things get heated - it's the same with anything where people get passionate - whether it be sport, art, birding, whatever! Shame but that's humans for you! It was flippin freezing photographing those swans but worth every minute! Enjoy your birding Pete, look forward to the next post
ReplyDeleteAdam/Warren/Sharon, thanks for your comments, I appreciated them.
ReplyDeleteBy the way....The deleted one was by another of those 'Anonymous' types and wasn't remotely connected to birds/birding/wildlife.
They're a nuisance those anonymous comments that are completely random and don't make any sense at all - thankfully they dont seem to appear on my blog but I get them as emails - weird!
ReplyDeleteAnother 'rhymes with tanker' deleted.
ReplyDelete