Another Whiz Round.

The whiz was around Conder Green yesterday, with a quick look in on the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock....and the P R's Turaco. 

Conder Green had the usual pluses and minuses from recent visits with the Spotted Redshank on Conder Pool well into its transformation to winter plumage accompanied by 102 Redshank, 4 Black-tailed Godwit were a brilliant addition to the pool in their stunning summer plumage, 2 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 9 Dunlin, a Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, and the summer Goldeneye and 2 drake Wigeon all showed well, whilst others stayed elusive.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, c.250 Dunlin were a sign of things to come with their return here, also a similar number of Lapwing and a Little Egret to note....otherwise a little thin.

Prince Ruspoli's Turaco. John Darbyshire.

It was good to meet John and Kath at Glasson Dock....long time no see. They briefly mentioned a trip they had made to Ethiopia a couple of years ago where they not only saw this brilliant bird the Prince Ruspoli's Turaco, but John had achieved an excellent image of this stunning bird endemic to Ethiopia. John asked if I'd like the image of the bird and I think you know my reply. I promised John I would write up a piece on this bird and its finder, a promise I was keeping until I came across THIS ....talk about memory loss. But then I recalled finding the story of the Turaco on the Birdlife International website which is where John's image was. All quite a coincidence.

Hope you enjoy this John and Kath....I did, and hope to see you both again soon. 

Critical!

This video is brilliant if short....

An Ethiopian endemic in trouble is the grandly named Prince Ruspoli's Turaco (PRT). The macaw-sized bird with it's scarlet and navy-blue wings, long tail, and green-and-white head was first found amongst the personal effects of the prince after he had been trampled to death by an elephant in 1893. As the unfortunate nobleman had not had the time to label the specimen, it's origins remained a mystery for half a century before the species was seen in the wild by a Cambridge naturalist in southern Ethiopia.

Liben Lark.

The PRT carries with it the unfortunate distinction of being classified as Critically Endangered which is the highest level of threat. It looks set to follow in the footsteps of another bird the Liben Lark which is itself heading towards being the first recorded extinction of mainland Africa's birds, the population of which is thought to number fewer than 100 birds. 

Prince Ruspoli's Turaco. John Richard Darbyshire.

But there is good news, a lifeline has been thrown for these birds thanks to funds collected at last years British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water....'Hope springs eternal'....Alexander Pope 1688-1744.

LEARNING SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY!