09 May 2009

Naffin' doing

A five hour vigil at Goldcliff Pools was only maintained due to the surprising comfort achievable whilst reclining on the sea-wall. The birds were very thin on the ground/water. Three Gannet down-channel were the only seabirds; a fly by Cuckoo, a Wheatear and a few Swifts and hirundines were the only real migrants; and a few Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Knot were the best of the waders. All the above were beaten into a poor second place by the unringed (and, therefore, blatantly tickable) Bar-headed Goose.

P.S. Also had my first ickle baby Redshanks of the year,... aaah.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've heard of crane,mantis and monkey but this is the first time I have seen the goose kung foo style!

Darryl said...

I thought it was yoga but, seconds after this shot was taken, the bird let out a distinctly audible fart! Apparently Bar-headed Goose is famed for this, according to HBW they have evolved this, slightly antisocial, gaseous exchange method in response to air pressure changes experienced during their pan-Himalayan migration. You learn a new thing everyday huh?