The proximodistal axis of evil

This is going to be boring but, if you think you might apply the terms distal or proximal to a rarity description please read on. Yesterday I was re-reading an ID article within which the term distal had been used in an 'interesting' fashion at least twice (by 'interesting' I mean unclear or incorrect, I'm not trying to alleviate the tedious nature of this post, an impossible task I think we can all agree). Within a discussion of tail bars, the author had used distal in a situation where 'sub-terminal' would have been much clearer and, later, with regard to a bar partly obscured by the uppertail coverts (presumably a typo in lieu of proximal). Therefore, in the spirit of universal education and due to the fact I am a birding pedant living in Gwent (where it is much easier to sit in reading about good birds rather than getting out and finding them) I present Dictionary Corner,... [insert fanfare here]

In the context of anatomical description, the term distal describes that end of a limb or appendage furthest from the point of attachment with the body; proximal describes the end of the limb or appendage that joins the body. The terms can, of course, be used in a relative manner to indicate where a structure lies along the proximodistal axis, e.g. a sub-terminal tail bar is distal in relation to almost every other part of the tail except the terminal bar (or perhaps tail-tip) to which it is proximal. If you are still struggling, if you imagine a central point within the bird then that end of the bill, tail, tarsus, etc., closer to this point is proximal, that which is further away is distal. Or, to put it another way if there's a bright centre to the birding universe, I'm sat in the county most distal to it.

There, now aren't we all going to sleep that much better in our beds tonight? Hmmm? Aren't we? Hmmm? Zzzzzzzz.

Exxon Watch 2

More excellent tales about the loveable little chaps at ExxonMobil or Esso, as we like to call them round here,...

First an oldie but a goodie here. A story of intrigue and atrocity in the jungles of SE Asia; complete with alleged murder, torture and sexual abuse. It's a bit like Apocalypse Now only Esso didn't win the Palme d'Or.

Another old, but still relevant, one here. Less action in this one, more of a slow burner.

And this here is true class. It is amazing how understanding the supreme court can be when the President is more-or-less on the pay-roll. I'm looking forward to the film about this, I assume it will be a bit like All the President's Men but without the flares and collars (I suppose Brad Pitt will come in for Redford but who will step into Hoffman's shoes?).

Best avoid Esso garages, you might get done for aiding and abetting.

Surprise, surprise!

The government,... talking bollocks about the levels of the UK's greenhouse gases? No! Surely they wouldn't do such a thing,... a British government burying bad news in an obscure press release, they wouldn't,... would they? See here to find out for yourself.

But it's alright dearest reader because every cloud has a silver lining, as can be seen here. Presumably this is a totally different 'Exxon' to that which was recently forced to admit to having spent the last decade funding a climate change denial industry to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. I assume, at some point in the future, Rex Tillerson and the other Exxon high-ups will be dragged (in a Radovan Karadzic stylee) in front of a 'crimes against humanity' tribunal in The Hague. I can't wait, what fun we'll have.

Phew! For a moment there I thought this would be another Eeyore-esque post from deepest Gwent (a gloomy place, rather boggy and sad).

PS. My favourite food is thistles don't you know.

Subbuteo, oh, oh, oh, oh.

A disappointing turn out of hirundines at Uskmouth this evening; the three Hobbies present had to make do chasing each other and the the odd invertebrate. The number of acros is building up nicely.

Keep an eye out

The first few signs of passerine passage are appearing on the horizon; Sedge and Reed Warbler numbers are slowly increasing down at Uskmouth and, this morning, a decent number of young phylloscs were also knocking about. Nothing to get the pulse racing but just the merest hint of the slightest intimation of a barely perceptible glimmer that autumn is on the way.

Spend it

There is nothing more fun than exchanging cash for books. Despite the nice little vignette of our monarch (gawd bless 'er), money pales into insignificance alongside a good read. Even more exciting is to have them delivered, in this house it often goes like this,...

"A parcel? For me?" [cue girly squeals of delight, a blur of scissors and a trail of cardboard, bubble wrap, etc. between front door and study].

Actually, that might be the slightest of slight exaggerations but you get my drift. Today it was pretty close to the mark as five (oh yes, count 'em) books appeared in two parcels from the lovely people at NHBS and CUP. Just so you can partake of the fun here is a pic.



I'm halfway through 'Frontiers of Birding' and the hybrids book is really reference only, so that leaves three for the weekend, let's hope there's not much about.

PS. Bubble wrap, will its appeal ever wane?

Lumping in the age of the split

Some time ago I drew a pretty picture depicting a 20 year snapshot of the turbulent seas of large white-headed gull taxonomy (see here). July's British Birds included the most recent gripping installment in the ongoing saga. Collinson et al. explains last year's, pretty uncontroversial, recommendations by the BOURC TSC and, amongst other things: extends the range of 'American Herring Gull' way beyond the nearctic; and reduces a fair few peoples' lists by two or three species. Due to the fact that I was bored whilst listening to this morning's cricket, I have redrawn my original flow diagram. I look forward to the day when this step-by-step process results in a frieze extending right round my study, how jolly nice that will look. Interior decor by taxonomists, surely the last word in birding chic.


PS. The asterisk is there to highlight the fact that taimyrensis may actually be best lumped with heuglini or treated as a hybrid between heuglini and vegae; the bold type is there to help you see which taxa have occurred in the UK (I don't think any of the claimed atlantis have yet been accepted, feel free to drop me a comment if you know better).

Once more

A four and a half hour vigil at Goldcliff this evening produced nothing particularly pulse quickening. There was a distinct lack of Cattle Egret action and it fell to the motley male Ruff to collect the best bird award. I think two, as yet uneaten, Redshank chicks and two Stock Dove picked up the silver and bronze medals, a true reflection of Gwent's form at present. There was a good turnout of the, ever optimistic, county's birding fraternity though, which was nice.

Long-eared squeaker

Bumped into a very vocal and pretty mobile young LEO last night (unfortunately beyond the bounds of Gwentcestershire), probably a good time to check your local haunts, should you feel the need to partake of some squeaky gate action.

If you're out Cattling

If, whilst you are out searching for last weekend's Cattle Egret, you're looking through Littles, it might be worth checking their legs. There may well be one or two colour-ringed birds amongst them, looking a bit like this,...