Surfbirds Bird Forums - 4,7,8,9,10,12,13,17,18,19,23,24,25,27,28,29,30,36,37,39,40,41,42,43,46,47 http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/ Surfbirds Forums are birding and birdwatching forums en Tue, 20 Dec 2016 14:50:55 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png Surfbirds Bird Forums - 4,7,8,9,10,12,13,17,18,19,23,24,25,27,28,29,30,36,37,39,40,41,42,43,46,47 http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/ Bird ID Rwanda http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14822-Bird-ID-Rwanda&goto=newpost Sun, 18 Dec 2016 16:19:50 GMT Hi everybody would appreciate some ID help for these birds from Rwanda, this November. From Volcanoes NP: 1) Regal Sunbird? 2) Some... Hi everybody would appreciate some ID help for these birds from Rwanda, this November.

From Volcanoes NP:

1) Regal Sunbird?

2) Some Flycatcher - White-Eyed Slaty FC?

3) Looks like a Black-Headed Weaver but eye colour is wrong

4) A fem. Stonechat? The blue under the wing confuses me.

5.) Mountain Buzzard or something else?
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]]> michael-ibk http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14822-Bird-ID-Rwanda possible Asian House Martin in Israel http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14821-possible-Asian-House-Martin-in-Israel&goto=newpost Fri, 16 Dec 2016 14:53:45 GMT pics of possible Asian House Martin at Ma'agan Michael in Israel, though black on chin not too extensive
https://twitter.com/TarsigerTeam/sta...19676611788800

cf - http://birdingfrontiers.com/2012/10/...land-near-you/




Brian S ]]> Rest of World Rare Birds Brian S http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14821-possible-Asian-House-Martin-in-Israel <![CDATA[Raffle for rare opportunity to bird Rachel Carson's summer home]]> http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14819-Raffle-for-rare-opportunity-to-bird-Rachel-Carson-s-summer-home&goto=newpost Thu, 15 Dec 2016 22:07:23 GMT The Rachel Carson Homestead, in Springdale, PA, is offering a rare opportunity for a lucky winner of a special drawing to win a week at Silverledge;... The Rachel Carson Homestead, in Springdale, PA, is offering a rare opportunity for a lucky winner of a special drawing to win a week at Silverledge; Rachel Carson's summer place on the Maine coast at Southport Island, about three hours north of Boston.

Only one hundred tickets will be sold at one hundred dollars apiece ($100).

This lovely four bedroom rustic cottage sleeps six. It has two baths, an equipped kitchen and outdoor grill among its many comfortable features. The cottage is fully furnished, including pillows and blankets.

Please see our attachment and two links for more information on this unique opportunity to come and walk, sleep, bird and explore the land and seascapes that inspired this remarkable woman to write her wildly popular books, The Sea Around Us, At the Edge of the Sea, and Under the Sea Wind, and gave her the courage and conviction to write her environmental classic, Silent Spring (which is why you can enjoy birding today).

n.b. Wi-fi, cable-tv and additional services are NOT provided at the cottage. This is a place to totally relax and forget about the outside world.

The Rachel Carson Homestead is non-profit,and preserves the structure in which she was born, and promotes and publicizes her legacy. Your support will help in these endeavors. Ticket cost is generally not tax-deductible.
You may buy tickets online now, or by mail to: RCHA, PO Box 46, Springdale, PA 15144.

Feel lucky and want to help support Rachel�s Homestead, but you would not be able to make the trip? If you win, donate it back, and we'll auction it off, with the proceeds going to support our upkeep.

If you register from our calendar link, expect a PayPal pop-up. If it doesn't show, please check your browser settings.


http://triblive.com/local/valleynews...cottage-rachel

http://rachel_carson_homestead.myups...ents-calendar/
Rachel Carson's Cottage at the Edge of the Sea - Rachel Carson Council

If you do purchase a ticket, please put "Surfbirds" somewhere on your request.
Thank you all for your attention, and best wishes to all for a lovely holiday season.

Jerry Kruth
RCHA Board ]]> Surfbirds Noticeboard JerryKruth http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14819-Raffle-for-rare-opportunity-to-bird-Rachel-Carson-s-summer-home Asian house martin http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14810-Asian-house-martin&goto=newpost Thu, 08 Dec 2016 12:11:48 GMT We found this bird on Scilly on 27th Oct this year which shows the characteristics of Asian house martin. The ID of AHM seems challenging, not least... We found this bird on Scilly on 27th Oct this year which shows the characteristics of Asian house martin. The ID of AHM seems challenging, not least because of different subspecies of AHM but also potential confusion with immature northern house martin, 'dusky' versions of northern house martin and even potential hybrids.

Nevertheless, there do seem to be several features which the nominate dasypus AHM possess, which this bird also shows:

  • Size/structure: AHM smaller, more compact with shorter, less forked (more 'notched'?) tail
  • White throat contrasting with dusky underparts, with a demarcation or even a band showing on upper breast
  • Blackish underwing coverts
  • Dusky/brownish undertail coverts with some brown flecking
  • Restricted white rump (upper tail coverts dark, rather than white on NHM)


In the field the white throat, dusky underparts, blackish underwing coverts and restricted white rump were all visible. Some observers noted a different flight style.
The photos below were taken by Paul Gale sequentially - the first photo shows the bird - and I think the next 2 are also the same bird. There has been discussion on this bird elsewhere but I would welcome thoughts about the bird and also about ID of AHM in general.
House Martin Scillies Oct 16 7428a.jpg
House Martin Scillies Oct 16 7429a.jpg
House Martin Scillies Oct 16 7430a.jpg
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]]> niallM http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14810-Asian-house-martin Interesting video about the Gyr Falcons of Alberta http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14809-Interesting-video-about-the-Gyr-Falcons-of-Alberta&goto=newpost Wed, 07 Dec 2016 21:14:20 GMT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzs3Fq-yYWw ]]> Surfbirds Noticeboard AndyB http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14809-Interesting-video-about-the-Gyr-Falcons-of-Alberta Slaty-backed Gull in Poland http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14807-Slaty-backed-Gull-in-Poland&goto=newpost Sat, 03 Dec 2016 10:01:00 GMT A second-winter Slaty-backed Gull was found yesterday at Gdansk in Poland...the 1st record for the country subject to acceptance. ... A second-winter Slaty-backed Gull was found yesterday at Gdansk in Poland...the 1st record for the country subject to acceptance.

http://clanga.com/index.php/gallery/...e/mewa+ochocka

Grahame ]]> European Rare Birds GrahameW http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14807-Slaty-backed-Gull-in-Poland Help with bird ID please http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14806-Help-with-bird-ID-please&goto=newpost Fri, 02 Dec 2016 19:25:32 GMT Can anyone help in identifying the bird in the attached photo; it was seen in Lanzarote within the last 2 weeks found on scrubland. The photo was... Can anyone help in identifying the bird in the attached photo; it was seen in Lanzarote within the last 2 weeks found on scrubland. The photo was taken at a distance but I think the size of the bird is somewhere between a Wheatear and Thrush.

Many thanks.
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]]> picadura http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14806-Help-with-bird-ID-please Masked Wagtail in Pembrokeshire http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14800-Masked-Wagtail-in-Pembrokeshire&goto=newpost Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:53:27 GMT A male Masked Wagtail Motacilla alba personata was photographed by Jon Hudson today at Camrose in Pembrokeshire....1st record for the UK. ... A male Masked Wagtail Motacilla alba personata was photographed by Jon Hudson today at Camrose in Pembrokeshire....1st record for the UK.

http://pembsbirds.blogspot.co.uk/201...gtail.html?m=1

Grahame ]]> Britain and Ireland Rare Birds GrahameW http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14800-Masked-Wagtail-in-Pembrokeshire 2nd summer Common or Arctic Tern http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14798-2nd-summer-Common-or-Arctic-Tern&goto=newpost Sun, 27 Nov 2016 19:25:16 GMT I have to post and share with you this observation from *31th August 2016* made in the coastal Danube Delta, Romania. In the mentioned day I made... I have to post and share with you this observation from 31th August 2016 made in the coastal Danube Delta, Romania. In the mentioned day I made observations at Sachalin Bay, south of Sfantu Gheorghe village. Amongst thousands of Common and Sandwich Terns in the bay we spotted a 2nd summer Common Tern type bird with a quite worn wing feathers. At first sight I had an impression we found an Arctic Tern and made several pictures through my scope but also took some with a DSLR camera. You can see these pictures below.

I need your help for the right ID.

I have not seen 2nd summer Common nor Arctic Tern before BUT based on the infos from the field and the pictures made during the observation I belive we found an Arctic Tern. The bill size, head shape, form of black cap, short legs, complete white underwing and narrow black edge of the primaries all would indicate Arctic Tern rather than Common BUT the only uncertain part for the right ID is the moulting stage of the wing feathers. Please have a look... I could not seen contrast in the wing feathers, they all one generations? Common should have contrast in the wing (new and worn feathers) while Arctic should have one generations becouse changing the wing feathers in the same time but when?
I am really interested to hear your opinion and thoughts about this bird. Thank you.

Best regards,
Zoli Baczo
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]]> baczozoli http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14798-2nd-summer-Common-or-Arctic-Tern Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Devon http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14792-Azorean-Yellow-legged-Gull-in-Devon&goto=newpost Wed, 23 Nov 2016 23:11:49 GMT You just look at a photo and you know instinctively what it is. http://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/devon_bird_sightings?blogEntry=12815 ... You just look at a photo and you know instinctively what it is.

http://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_...logEntry=12815

http://www.devonbirds.org/images/lib...ng%20Gulls.jpg

Surely this is an Azorean Gull...

B ]]> Britain and Ireland Rare Birds Brian S http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14792-Azorean-Yellow-legged-Gull-in-Devon Wheatear photo on World Birding photo page http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14791-Wheatear-photo-on-World-Birding-photo-page&goto=newpost Tue, 22 Nov 2016 19:30:50 GMT This photo has been posted on the World Birding page as a Desert Wheatear, but I believe it to be a first-winter male Pied. Anyone else agree? ... This photo has been posted on the World Birding page as a Desert Wheatear, but I believe it to be a first-winter male Pied. Anyone else agree?

http://www.surfbirds.com/gallery/sha...113844892.jpeg

Brian S ]]> Mystery Photos Brian S http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14791-Wheatear-photo-on-World-Birding-photo-page Nighthawk in Gamboa, Panama (with pictures) http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14790-Nighthawk-in-Gamboa-Panama-(with-pictures)&goto=newpost Tue, 22 Nov 2016 16:34:29 GMT Hi everybody! On the 15th of April 2016 while I was going to work I was able to snap a few pictures of a bird that landed on a tree beside the... Hi everybody!

On the 15th of April 2016 while I was going to work I was able to snap a few pictures of a bird that landed on a tree beside the road in Gamboa town (on the other side of the road there were the train tracks and the Panama Canal). It was early morning so the light was not great and I was in a hurry, but I was thinking a Nighthawk, either Common or Lesser. Lesser in that period is definitely commoner.

From discussions on other forums I concluded:

Common has going:
- to-the-tail outer primaries
- the white patch is very much covered by the tertials when the bird is resting
- "pointy" ends of the primaries (see here: https://cmboviewfromthecape.blogspot...ification.html )
- not visible (at least in these pictures) buffy spots in the primary. They should have been at least barely visible in picture 2 and 3.

Lesser has going:
- square-looking patch on the wing (picture 1)
- commoner in the area in that period
So, what do you think? Thank you for your opinions!

Best wishes

Beniamino
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]]> btuliozi http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?14790-Nighthawk-in-Gamboa-Panama-(with-pictures)