Saturdays are just great as its when I get up close to birds and study them. It was an epic day ringing with a new species of bird for me and a new species of bird ringed at the site. Whilst setting the nets up recently we have seen this bird flitting up and down the fields, however this particular day I had seen several. We caught one of the birds but not in the net we expected, we actually caught it at the larger feeding station in the net ride closest to the entry of the feeding station.
As you may of noticed the bird I am talking about is the splendid Woodcock, an alien like bird that takes an E size ring.
This great photo taken by my dad really shows there beauty and alien like form properly. You would not see this properly at dawn when it is still reasonably dark, so it was great that we got to study it when the sun was out.
The Woodcock is on the amber list and a conservation concern due to a big decline in recent years. This species of bird is the only species of wader adapted to breeding in woodland, and I suppose it makes sense with it's perfect camouflage.
These birds have a great eye sight, in fact they can see all the way behind their head, upwards and the front of their face because their eyes are so high eyes bulge out so much (as I was saying it was alien like). There brain is sort of upside down to make room for the huge eye. Truly amazing creatures.
Just look at those head markings and the eye. Lots of birds ringed again over the weekend with still quite good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare about. And another Great Spotted Woodpecker, but the highlight for me has to be the Woodcock.
Even the hairy highland cattle looked impressed by the Woodcock!
Thanks for reading, and I hope you read my next blog as I have a good quiz question for you on Tuesday and it involves a Woodcock of course.
how truly awesome! love the highland cattle, too. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! that's a fabulous bird to catch and study up close Findlay. I bet you were really excited to get the chance to handle and ring it?
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about their upside down brain!!...[;o)
Fantastic birds Findlay.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few when I stay in Wales; but never up close like that! :-)
How fabulous to see a Woodcock so close and in daylight, Findlay! I've only seen them in silhouette at night and at a fair distance. I'd not realised that they were as big as that!
ReplyDeleteAmazing fact you have given us, and the Woodcock, brilliant photos, thanks to your dad.
ReplyDeleteHi Finlay. What. Wonderful opportunity for you to hold a Woodcock and seeit so close. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning species to catch in the net, I love the woodcock and not many people get to see one of them close up
ReplyDeleteGreat experience to hold such a stunning bird.
ReplyDeleteLucky you Findlay.
John..
Wow - to think you got to hold such a magnificent bird. So glad you shared these lovely photos. Have a lovely week.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful bird to see Findlay... and fantastic that you got to hold it.
ReplyDeleteWow at the weekend people that I ring with they caught it but sadly I wasn't there
ReplyDeleteI can understand why you love Saturdays. I do too. Cool photos of the woodcock and I like the Highland cattle too.
ReplyDeleteVery informative post, well illustrated! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo good you got to see a Woodcock close up Findlay. Often the best you get is a view of its backside flying quickly away from you.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, young man!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
Congratulation, in my area a woodcock is very rare.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great catch! I've never seen a Woodcock, it's a fascinating bird!
ReplyDeleteCongratulation on the Woodcock.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the close up of the Woodcock Findlay. Like many others, the only time I’ve ever seen this bird was when I accidentally flushed it looking for other things, and then you only see it from the back as it flies away from you. You’ve also taught me something, an upside down brain, amazing. I love little facts like that, it’s what make nature so utterly fascinating. Keep up the good work. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great bird to have in the hand - I have to admit I an a bit of a geek and have just spent a little while reading about Woodcock in the migration Atlas - up until 1997 less than 10,000 had be ringed - so this is a good bird to have in your "log book"!
ReplyDeleteNice post!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne