Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - Halland migration and some more mushrooms
Went south for the first time in ages to check out a good spot for migration watching. The amount of passerines was absurd. When we arrived, the finches and pipits went by in a steady flow of probably thousands per minute. Also a couple of late Sanderlings and some Merlins.
Couldn't resist a bit of mushroom hunting among the low dense pines along the beach, but came up only with Jersey cow mushrooms (Suillus bovinus), a mushroom of very uninspiring texture. A more interesting find was the occasional Rosy spike-cap (Gomphidius roseus), a smallish pink gilled mushroom that is exclusively found with, and assumed to be parasitic on, S. bovinus.
At the next spot we got to watch several Hen Harriers, some Buzzards and a couple of Kestrels. Also found a nice Suillus luteus (apparrently known as sticky bun or slippery jack) and some decent Birch boletes.
Next we went to good old Munkagårdsfloen, where we saw a couple of Grey Partridges for a moment before they hid in the long grass. Two red kites, a young Peregrin Falcon trying to catch a small wading bird of some sort and a very nice male Hen harrier.
Last stop was Getterön as usual, for a brief rest and blueberry muffin. We got to witness a rather remarkable incident there; a White-tailed Eagle attacked and killed a Barnacle Goose, apparently by drowning it. Afterwards it tried for some time to fly away with its catch, but the Goose was to heavy and probably soaked which didn't exactly help...
No life ticks this time, but that's not the only purpose of bird watching. Added nicely to year and september lists though :)
|
|
Post A Comment!
|
Thursday, October 1, 2009 - hello |
| Posted by Anonymous |
I found your blog from your signature in the Mandriva forum. A bird watcher who uses Linux... a man after my own heart.
My dad got me started in birding from my earliest recollection. Most of our vacations were centered on birding. He passed in 1979 but I've carried on the tradition.
I'm jealous of my older brother, who as a forestry researcher (Virginia Tech) has been to China, France and several South American countries. Of course his life list is at minimum 5 times my own. =(
I am now pretty well stuck in western New York state, so my highlights are the occasional stray, or the rarer varieties that only make their way here under extraordinary weather circumstances.
My dad was friends with legendary birder Frank Phelps, who at the time was a big-wig in the Boroughs Audubon Society. My mom is still a life member.
He also did a lot of foundational legal paperwork that helped launch the Nature Conservancy here in New York state. (he was a lawyer) Though his work was essential he never got any public recognition for it. The 'celebrities' in the public light thanked him behind the scenes, but his name doesn't appear anywhere except maybe on some ancient donor lists.
He also helped with the purchase of various small parcels of land destined to be turned over to the Conservancy, usually swamp lands which until then (1960's) had been toxic dumping grounds or considered "prime real estate" for filling in to put up shopping plazas. His motivation of course was preserving habitats for birds.
He also bought land the family still owns, and labored to make a wildlife habitat out of it. It was an abandoned 100 acre farm planted almost entirely with Norway Spruce to stop the erosion. When we bought it you saw grassland with little green dots scattered about. Now some of the trees are pushing 60 feet (approx 20 meters) and hardwoods are getting a good foothold.
The local farmers thought we were nuts back then, buying this 'wasteland.' But the first wild turkey the area had seen in decades eventually settled there. Other species have made a decent comeback as well, my brother could speak more authoritatively on the biodiversity. All I know is he says the area is quite unique.
Now local hunters and the farmers downstream, who's water quality has improved drastically are eternally thankful for all our efforts. (spent most summers working there myself)
The species we are most excited about lately is the bobcat, we'd always seen one on the rare occasion, but it seems now they are a well established presence in the area.
The farmer immediately downstream has seen such an improvement in his own soil and water conditions that he's migrated from raising beef cattle and raising corn to growing berries and garlic. He can make the same profit while cultivating a vastly smaller footprint.
Anyway, I shall bore you no further. Enjoy the birds, and thank you for blogging about your adventures. And welcome to Mandriva Linux. I've used Mandrake/Mandriva as my primary OS for 10 years now. What windows??
Be well,
Cliff Jones in New York
ps My wife likes mushrooms. I hate 'em. Ironically I used to fly the executives of one of America's premier mushroom growers and they'd bring us pilots huge bushels full of all kinds of mushrooms. I was told buying them all at retail would have cost 200-300 USD. There were so many we had to give 99% of them away. The neighborhood loved me... |
| Permanent Link |
|
About Me
28 year old birder from Gothenburg, Sweden.
Back in school to become a teacher. Aiming half-heartedly for 300 life ticks this year.
Friends
• gladan
Other birding blogs•Brazilianpioneerbirder
Categories
•Local watching
•Other
•Rarities
•Travel
Last ticks
• 280: Turtle dove
• 279: Atlantic Puffin
• 278: Little Egret
• 277: Rosy Starling
• 276: Ring-necked Duck
• 275: Red-footed Falcon
• 274: Black Grouse
• 273: Steller's Eider
• 272: Water pipit
• 271: Eurasian Pygmy Owl
|
