Monday 30 May 2011

Priolo


Azores Bullfinch (Priolo) feeding on Pink Knotweed Persicaria capitata an introduction from Asia (thanks Gareth for identifying that)

Azores Chaffinch

Azores Goldcrest

Orchid sp. Gareth Knass kindly provided this info: Platantera micrantha. It doesnt have an english name but the logical one would be Small-flowered Butterfly Orchid as the latin micrantha means 'small-flowered'. The Portuguese name translates as 'Pennywort-to-kill' or 'Pennywort Bush' - presumably because it looks like a Wall Pennywort (Umbilicus sp.).

Spent today in the Laurissilva of Sao Miguel looking for the Azores endemic 'Azores Bullfinch or Priolo' amongst endemic laurel forest.

4 comments:

john said...

Are the Azores Chaffinch and Goldcrest considered endemics as well?

Peter Alfrey said...

Hi John,
They are considered endemic forms/ races.
The endemic species on the Azores are Azores Bullfinch and the recently described Monteiro's Petrel.
It is possible that some of the races might be considered as species.

Eleanor said...

My favourite of those photos is the Hobby tiercel. I am 12 and a keen birder from Britain and I write poetry about the birds I have watched. Birds-of-prey are a big focus for me and the Hobby is a fantastic falcon as they all are. You are lucky to have a regular Hobby near you. I d have a local Kestrel female though. Check out my blog www.birdinginthegarden.blogspot.com because I am using your Hobby phot on a post on falcons. I HAVE CREDITED IT before you say it was copyrighted by you. thank you! :o) Eleanor Woodcock

Gareth said...

Hi Peter,

I assume you get a notification that someone has posted a comment on an old post. I could have sent an email, but a link here to future browsers of your blog may want to understand the updated taxonomy of Platanthera Orchids on the Azores. There is a paper here (https://peerj.com/articles/218/), but you will note, the orchid we observed on the Azores in 2011 has now actually changed its name to Small-spurred Butterfly-orchid (Platanthera pollostantha). The term 'pollostantha' referring to the 'smallest flowering' given that the authors could no longer use the term 'micrantha' for this species. An interesting account and some entertaining discussion from one of the authors of the paper is here: http://www.hardyorchidsociety.org.uk/HOS%201012/Azores.html

Cheers
Gareth