Birding as a lifestyle

Birding is a lifestyle for me and not just a hobby. All aspects of the world around us are connected to birds directly or indirectly. Even political decisions and changes have fundamental effects on bird populations.

More here: www.peteralfrey.blogspot.com/2009/12/birding-lifestyle-not-hairstyle.html

Heron sp.

I took thse shots of a heron flying over Beddington on May 2nd earlier this year. I thought it looked like a Purple Heron and forgot all about it until now as I was going through my photos. It was extremely high and migrating towards the northeast. It still looks like one to me. Any comments?

Mealy madness

Went looking for the Mealy again today. Saw three Lesser Redpolls, 40+ Linnet, 30+ Goldfinch, a Little Egret and 2 Peregrine. There was a bit of stake out going on for the Mealy. Various factions of the BFBG were covering various positions. It is always inconvenient when a rare turns up because it means that various factions have to run the risk of 'being near' each other. Needless to say I was enjoying the anthropology more than the Redpolls.

Redpoll taxonomy also popped up as a topic of conversation which led us to discussing the rationale behind those on the BOURC, which then as usual ended up on the Booted Eagle and then the Slender-billed Curlew. Basically in conclusion those of us who haven't seen the Mealy are anti-BOURC and support a redpoll lumping and those of us who have seen it, support the BOURC and this particular split.

Beddington Farmlands- it stinks

The wind must be have an east componet to it. The catch with living on an emerging urban nature reserve is that it is emerging from the restoration of a landfill site and sewage farm which doesn't always smell too clever. On nights like tonight it absolutely honks. There is a blinking pump going 24/7, draining out the Northern lake for the restoration that not only sings me to sleep but is also draining the water revealing the sediment which smells too- adding a new liquer to the cocktail of smells. Only 12 years to wait for the reserve.

Philosophical interlude

If you happen to be partial to wild language, over the top rhetoric and lots of ranting than visit:

www.peteralfrey.blogspot.com

Redpolls at Beddington

Mike found a flock of Redpolls this morning with a Mealy Redpoll among them. I couldn't find the Mealy but this is the first time I have seen a flock of Lesser Redpoll feeding on the farm- there were 25+. The trees that were planted around the perimeter when the development started have now grown up and attracting good numbers of passerines. Also a few Redwings and Fieldfares buzzing and chacking around.

Some more on Redpolls here from a visit to Tring earlier on in the year: www.peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/04/redpolls-observations-on-specimen.html