|
|
|
 Sent
to you
by e-mail
|
|
Simply
enter your details and hit the send button
more
info |
|
Click Here
Links
Advertise
Terms of Use
Contributors
About Us
Contact Us
|
 |
Go back
| Bookmark
| Print Page 
| E-Mail Us 
Rare Bird Sightings
February 2006
Photo: Steve Botham
|
|
UK
Safari Tip:
Need help identifying birds? One of the best field guides is the
"Collins Bird Guide" - available through the Amazon bookshop -
click
here
|
|
This
White-Headed Duck was spotted at Broadwater Gravel Pits Denham,
Buckinghamshire, at the beginning of the month.
White-Headed Ducks are a
globally threatened species. The European population is estimated
to be between 50-100 pairs, all found in Spain.
By contrast, the Ruddy duck, which was imported to this country from America in the
1940's, is quite a common species. The ruddy duck, named after its
red-brown plumage, has ruffled a lot of feathers because it mates with
the White-Headed duck producing a fertile cross-breed. In an
effort to save the White-Headed duck species from extinction, and
under pressure from the Spanish Government, the UK Government is
culling Ruddy ducks. After habitat loss, non-native species are considered the
biggest global threat to biological diversity.
This Laughing Gull, a visitor from North America was spotted at
Porthmadog, Wales. It's one of three in Wales which arrived as
a result of Hurricane Wilma in November. In most years only one or
two Laughing Gulls are recorded in the whole country, but last
year around 60 arrived and several counties had there first ever
record (i.e.Pembrokeshire went from 0 to 6). Most of them moved on before the new year.
An adult Ring-billed Gull was spotted at Westcliff-on-Sea at the
beginning of the month. This species has a black ring near the tip of the pale bill (hence the name). Around 50 of these birds arrive in the UK each year from North America,
often showing up at coastal estuaries.
This Lesser Scaup was at the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire on the
5th February. This is another North American bird, with just one
or two showing up in the UK each year. These ducks are a bit smaller than
our native Scaup with a bump on the back of the head, and a small black nail on
the bill. The markings on the back are much coarser.
Top 50 Garden Birds ID Chart
Wetland Birds Identification Chart
UK Safari Rare Bird Section
UK Safari Bird Section
|
|
|
