There's been something of a flood of rarities into the country recently and the Bridled Tern is certainly one of them....Don't forget to 'clik the pik' to see how excellent the Birds2blog photographers images really are.
Bridled Tern. Copy Permitted.
The Bridled Tern occurs throughout the tropics, the nearest breeding population is in the Caribbean, it is a very rare vagrant high on the list of many birders, and the bird in the photographs above was found on Monday afternoon on Inner Farn and became the fifth record of the species in Northumberland.
Historically the first Bridled Tern for Britain was of a bird found in September 1875 but some inconsistencies in the account caused this record to be rejected. The second record was of a corpse found a few miles inland from Dungeness in Kent in 1931, this bird had a hole in its chest indicating it may have been the victim of a bird of prey. The first live bird found in Britain was outside the harbour at Stromness, Orkney in August 1979.
A brief account of Mondays bird with pictures can be found on Alan Tilmouths blog HERE
This is interesting too, also in Northumberland at East Chevington on 21 June 2010 HERE
And this was another rarity into the country....
Above is the image of a truly brilliant bird meeting a tragic death from the blade of a wind turbine. I think if we tried to work out why this bird found itself lost on the Isle of Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland, and tried to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of wind turbines we'd be at it for ever, so we won't discuss either subject....this time anyway.
The White-throated Needletail breeds in central and eastern Siberia, it is a very long range migrant and winters in Australia. This bird is a very spectacular creature and a highly sought after bird on the list of many birders, it is one of the worlds fastest birds, and seriously documented measurements show that it is capable of speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, there have been claims that, when this bird is seen passing overhead the 'whoosh' from its wings are often detectable.
I reckon if you're not affected emotionally about this tale of the White-throated Needletail and its demise your passion for the birds is lacking. Read an excellent and personal account of this story on David Campbell's blog.
Historically the first Bridled Tern for Britain was of a bird found in September 1875 but some inconsistencies in the account caused this record to be rejected. The second record was of a corpse found a few miles inland from Dungeness in Kent in 1931, this bird had a hole in its chest indicating it may have been the victim of a bird of prey. The first live bird found in Britain was outside the harbour at Stromness, Orkney in August 1979.
A brief account of Mondays bird with pictures can be found on Alan Tilmouths blog HERE
This is interesting too, also in Northumberland at East Chevington on 21 June 2010 HERE
And this was another rarity into the country....
White-throated Needletail. David Campbell.
Above is the image of a truly brilliant bird meeting a tragic death from the blade of a wind turbine. I think if we tried to work out why this bird found itself lost on the Isle of Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland, and tried to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of wind turbines we'd be at it for ever, so we won't discuss either subject....this time anyway.
The White-throated Needletail breeds in central and eastern Siberia, it is a very long range migrant and winters in Australia. This bird is a very spectacular creature and a highly sought after bird on the list of many birders, it is one of the worlds fastest birds, and seriously documented measurements show that it is capable of speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, there have been claims that, when this bird is seen passing overhead the 'whoosh' from its wings are often detectable.
I reckon if you're not affected emotionally about this tale of the White-throated Needletail and its demise your passion for the birds is lacking. Read an excellent and personal account of this story on David Campbell's blog.
cool birds
ReplyDeleteBlimey, what a tragedy :-(
ReplyDelete