Hi all,
Until recently,this winter has been very quiet over here.Trouble is,after the last few days I almost wish it had stayed that way!!
On Monday a Killdeer was found only about 40 minutes from home,but news didn't break until late that evening(and the birder that put the news out thought that it was common knowledge,when in fact he was one of only 2 people to hear about it!!!He saw it that evening,and posted an e-mail to the IBN)
I spent all day Tue and Wed in the area,to no avail!!Others also looked for it.
Then,news broke yesterday about a possible Common Crane seen by a non-birder(but description sounded good)in north Kerry on Monday.This was looked for today,but no sign.This being Ireland(with so few birders),the bird may not be looked for again(most birders have seen the species here.I have dipped on 2 now!)
Also,a 1st-w Thayer's Gull was found on Sunday at Killybegs(OK,I know that the taxonomy and identification of thayeri is controversial,but I'm into gulls anyway),but that's too far to go by public transport and no-one is going up.
If I could get up,then the ad.Caspian Gull at Derry dump isn't far away,but again no interest(I tell a lie,plenty of birders would be interested,but not in one so far away,and I wouldn't blame them,as the form is probably overlooked!)
I was all set to go to NI for a Tundra Bean Goose,but it has been correctly reidentified as a Taiga Bean,which I have already seen(not split yet,but surely forthcoming?)
On top of all this,gull numbers have fallen dramatically down here due to "improvements" of dumps.
Roll on the spring...
Harry
Harry old chap, you have my deepest sympathy. there's no worse feeling than having lots of goodies, and not being able to go for them.
Our local dump in Plymouth, scene of numerous great birds (Kumleins, Laughing Ross's Franklin's Gull, Red-throated Pipit, Black Kite etc) has also been 'improved' this year - by the arrival of 3 Saker/Peregrine hybrids being flown daily at the Gulls :-(
Darrell
Hi Darrell,
May get one of those birds at least:the Crane was seen again today and confirmed,will travel later today...
Harry