Sunday 11 February 2007

Entertaining birdwatching book


Although strictly this is not a sighting, it is sightings related. Simon Barnes' book is entertaining and informative. Here is a bit I like:
He talks about jizz recognition (this is something I can do with herons) - 'But looking and absorbing the shapes and sizes and movements of a bird is how you begin to get the hang of them. From the chaos of biodiversity comes a pattern and from the pattern comes the beginning of an understanding. You acquire the skill of jizz recognition simply by looking at birds you have already identified; because you see, identification is the beginning not the end of the process, and that is why birdwatching, good and bad, is the exact opposite of trainspotting'

Thursday 8 February 2007

A WWA winter wonderland!


Redwing


sighted again yesterday, more birds than the half dozen
or so spotted last week.
This time, perhaps 20, near the bridge/ railway embankment area and on the allotment adjoining The Mere,

They seemed to be everywhere!

Photo taken Nunnery Allotments side of the Ver.

Sunday 4 February 2007

Britain's smallest bird


a Goldcrest, in the oak tree, behind the toolshed.

Not a great shot, but nice to see nonetheless.