Something stirring in the sedges

So far this year there have been two reports of Sedge Warbler on the GOS sightings page from the Newport Wetland Reserve (one on 17th at Goldcliff and one on 20th at Uskmouth). These, if not involving [enter smallish streaky/brown/poorly seen passerine here], would constitute the two earliest records for Gwent in the history of the world, EVER. As a result of this, and my continued living of the saddest of existences, I thought I would check to see when Sedgies have appeared over the last ten years for which reports have been published, in the lovely county of Gwentcestershire.

And, in chronological order, the dates are: 2006 - 15th April; 2005 - 16th April; 2004 - 11th April; 2003 - 31st March; 2002 - 13th April; 2001 - 23rd April; 2000 - 20th April; 1999 - 3rd April; 1998 - 13th April; and 1997 - 10th April.

I'm not saying there aren't any Sedge Warblers down at the NWR yet, I'm just suggesting some reports on the GOS sightings page are probably best viewed through the sights of a police marksman's rifle.

A nice flag

There is nothing like a nice flag is there? The only trouble is, your great big fat neighbour might start looking at it in an 'I-wouldn't-mind-owning-that-myself' sort of way. Before you know where you are, they have moved in and are soon settling all and sundry here, there and everywhere and having the bare-arsed cheek to complain when you suggest they have outstayed their welcome. Can't wait to see the torch of peace and goodwill pass through Lhasa on the way to the Olympics. I'm also looking forward to the, always entertaining, looking-the-other-way marathon to be undertaken by all visiting politicians when asked "What the f*** are you doing sitting watching drug-addled athletes trot around a track whilst a superpower destroys another sovereign state?"

M4 corridor

Birding along my second favourite corridor today, on the way to God's county, produced seven Smew and 14 Red-crested Pochard; the M4 itself mustered two Red Kite, a large brownish falcon and a Woodcock. When taken with the fact that both Manchester plc and Chelski got dumped out of the cup today, I think we can all agree that it was worth getting up this morning (and Sidebottom got a hat-trick despite looking an awful lot like Roger Daltrey).

Titles are for wimps

A tour of the Goldcliff vantage points produced both the wintering Spotted Redshank and Greenshank plus all the usual wildfowl. No Sand Martin, LRP or Garganey though. It was so slow I even counted the Wigeon, some of which looked a bit like this...

Gone west

Thought I'd go and see some half-decent birds today so, leaving Gwent far behind, I proceeded to meander around Somerset for the day. First stop (as illustrated in video form below) was a Cattle Egret or two cowering behind a sheep's arse (insert Welsh joke here). Despite the intervening fences, armco barriers and bramble, I think I managed to obtain proof, as if it were needed, that: a. there was a Cattle Egret in that field; b. there are too many humans on this island, of which far too many spend their time bombing around it little tin cans; and c. it was a tad windy today. Job done.

A short tin can ride later and Shapwick Heath loomed into view; all the recent goodies were present, a short walk later and more looming, first up Great White Egret followed by White-fronted and Bar-headed Goose, and finally the 5000 year old Sweet Track (aaah, how sweet). Looming marvelous!


Next stop Cheddar Reservoir where everything behaved terribly well, apart from some snotty kid, who insisted on wandering across in front of my scope in an attempt to scare the birds. Unfortunately for him, everything on the reservoir appeared to have never seen a human before, the Red-necked Grebe just sat there gawping at the pudgy little brat. One of us, me or the grebe (can't remember which), asked him if ugly fat kids like him still get beaten up at school,... he left. Also parading about on the water were a Great Northern Diver and five Scaup (I ignored the fact that one of the males appeared to have the merest hint of a vestigial bump at the rear of the crown and an ever so slightly darker mantle [edit: perhaps it would be more accurate to say four Scaup and one 'mostly Scaup', the bird is back/left in the pic below]). Superb day all round methinks.

Larid!

Two poor shots from a few evenings ago, this gull has had a rather muted response from all and sundry, so far, only five birders have laid eyes on it.

Haven't we done well

Thanks to a query on the GOS website, I compared the taxonomic approach to large white-headed gulls in 'Seabirds' and Clements yesterday. Jeeeez, poor old Harrison, thanks to all the tinkering over the last two decades page 338 is looking a little tired to say the least.

rrrritzbew,... rrrritzbew,... rrrritzbew

If you avoid taking into consideration all the intervening stages, the nigh total re-classification of the 'Herring Gull' complex looks rather brutal. How dare these birds keep evolving like this? More to the point, how dare these taxonomists keep coming up with new ways to produce phylogenies?

rrrreeea,... ritzbew,... rrrreeea,... ritzbew

Just in case you were wondering how the shifting sands of gull classification would look if someone had too much time on their hands and decided to illustrate the changes in the form of a flow-charty-type-thing (and then write a particularly long sentence about it), click on the pic below (NB. those taxa marked with an asterisk either don't 'exist' today, or didn't 'exist' in 1985; and those in bold type have occurred in the UK). I should point out that the Clements approach is not the be all and end all; you might prefer to nestle smithsonianus alongside vegae, or cachinnans with barabensis (and armenicus?), you may still pine for taimyrensis or even omissus.

chebik,... chebik,... chebik

PS. Knowing all the scientific names does not make you clever or even a good birder, it does make it a helluva lot easier to have a conversation about seagulls though.

whit,... whit,... whit,... whit

PPS. Does anyone else find it difficult to type whilst listening to Empidonax flycatchers on the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs (Western Region)?

Third time lucky

The second-winter Caspian Gull showed reasonably well to the gathered throng this evening (if five birders can be described as a throng) thus breaking my recent protracted run of dippage at Llareggub. A first for Gwent and Wales,... excellent.

Aaaaaaaargh!

My nemesis returns (in a slightly different disguise). The one good thing about having a nemesis is that you know there is always someone looking out for you, albeit in a plotting-your-untimely-demise-type way. I am reliably informed Casper the friendly gull has also reappeared this evening (try checking here later for more news).

The curse of Llareggub

It took its time, but it appears Caspian Gull has finally flopped into the Gwent avifauna. Efficiently found and photographed on Friday (see here for pics and info), it was dipped (with equal efficiency) by yours truly on both Saturday and Sunday.

As if to prove the fact my luck was out, just as I was about to get an excellent shot of a sun-kissed rock on the far side of the reservoir, somebody hoisted up the south end and tipped all the water out. Bugger!



PS. Now that GOS appear to have rebelled against the use of BOU names, does this mean they will have a vote at the next AGM on what to call Caspian Gull? I think I'll propose 'Wych-of-my-broomstick-hazel Gull' any seconder?