"Eastern Birds" Richard Crossley's ID Guide.

A copy of this book has been on my table or awhile, and because it is a guide different to any other, I keep delving into it.
Crossley has taken digital birding photography and the concept of ID guides to a whole new level. Here you get the specie in its own habitat. But not just from one viewpoint. Here we see several birds showing the reader its front, rear, side view, and in flight, or preening underneath its wing, revealing the underside.
Added into the mix, we also have adult, juvenile or 1st winter, (depending on the changes after moulting.

In short, I am dying for Richard, who is English after all, to come back across the pond, and create a British/Irish version of his American book. Or two books on East and West European ID guides.

Mind you, this is not a field guide. But if you are planning a ,North-East, American birding trip, you definitely need to bring one of these to check your sightings with the many specie samples in the photos.

I'm definitely sold on Crossley's book, and I'll be looking forward to other bird ID books, by this photographer. , I feel that this will be the way forward to new and exiting bird ID guides.

The website Crossley's Birds states that he has two more books coming soon:
The Crossley ID Guide: Great Britain
The Cossley ID Guide: Western Birds.
I know which one I'll be looking forward to!
This website also features interactive pages of the book.



The Crossley's ID Guide, Eastern Birds, is available at Princeton Universiity Press,
554 pages, with 10.000 colour photos. At $ 35.00 or £ 24.

A big shock for the birds and us.

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus.

Last week, the birds and I had quite a shock, when the raised planter, aka bird table, collapsed. In truth, the real birdtable was blown off its perch years ago already. The raised planter, underneath the bird table, has been used by the birds since then. A large Fennel has been offering countless perch opportunities. Leaving stalks into the ground, and not tidying removing these at the end of the summer, meant that there was always room for eager little feet. Apart from serving as a perch, I have spotted Coal and Blue Tits remove Insects from the hollow stems in winter. The planter itself had been built around a metal pole, a remnant of the metal railing, which was put along the path, according to building regulations, according to the county council. It was way too restricting for me, and although it would be great for any resident walking here, and needing support, to me it was of absolutely no use. (I’m always sitting or half hanging bent over my knees or my arm rest, in order to get my macro images.) We were afraid that one day I would seriously hurt myself on those bars, so Francis removed them. Those on the wall we left. The perch of the old birdtable had been hammered into the steel pole; which means that it is useless now.

The planter was ideal to photograph my birds. At 1.5metre from the kitchen window, I only had to look over my shoulder to see who was eating what. As a plus point, the windowsill offers a nice support for my wrist. And of course, most important of all, the birds could not see me.

Replacing it is not very easy. If my little hill allowed me to, I’d just get a feeder pole, push it into the ground, or get one with a patio foot. Unfortunately, we’re on top of a large rock here (we are in Ireland, after all!) and have not got any soil to push it into! And, being higher up, too much wind is the other factor.

The Birds have again provided me with the next (though temporarily) option: The Fatsia, growing in a black bin, has been used by the Sparrows this summer, and so the most logical thing to do was to put a little tray with mixed seed into the bin. The advantage for the birds is that the soil, and thus the food, is at least 15cm below the top rim of the bin. Unfortunately, I cannot see the birds any more. Needless to say, that in a case like this, the birds come first!. Francis is trying to design a feeder pole. which can be attached onto the remnants of the steel pole covering (part of the good old planter)

Our local garda station has a lot of Fennel in its front garden, and I will check with Brendan if there are any smaller ones among them. Their flowers attract Insects, and these in turn attract birds like the Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. (of which I did not get any photos this summer, unfortunately.) Besides, I've been drinking Fennel Tea since 1988.

What is left of the planter/birdtable
Jackdaw, Corvus monedula


Robin, Erithacus rubecula





Where is my breakfast table gone?

I feel sorry for my birds, i know they need time to adjust to the new situation, and therefore, the main aim now is to get the peanutfeeder up.

Juvenile Pied Wagtail High Herons

Above the village road to the bay, it is mostly very noisy; some of the Rooks nest and roost in a couple of large Scotch Pines which grow at the back of the garden of what used to be a small shop in the front room of a residential house. Ideal for that pint of milk, tin of dogfood or bag of flour, you'd forgotten, and didn't fancy a 20min. round trip in the rain without a roof over your head. So instead you'd come to Mrs. Donovan, which would take at least half the time. The garden, most of it lawn for the grandchildren, backs onto a tidal river, often a respite for the Mute Swans and other waterfowl.

The other day I sat watching a play with two star characters:
The Parent Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba.
and
the Juvenile Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba

It was quite comical to watch the Parent foraging with the Kid following eagerly for the next worm or Insect.
The Kid went of exploring on its own too, of course; one needs to find out what is behind that shrub, evelation, or tree.







In short, I spend a delightful time here at the side of the road, my eyes, camera and bins transfixed on the theatre set.

Next I rode on along the bay, looking longingly towards the pier. The breeze, as ever, was too strong to go and sit here out into the open, so I decided against it, and as I watched the Sea Asters, which finally were coming into bloom. I'd been waiting for these little little Wild Flowers, which last summer attracted so many Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies. I have only seen a few of these yet, which I do hope will be changing soon. To be honost, the ones I did see this summer, were all back in the garden. As I looked down, I spotted a Gull flying up, while I was thinking how odd it was to see a totally white one. Besides this strange plumage, I noticed that it would be too large for one too. I've seen big Great Black backed Gulls, Lesser Black backed or Heron Gulls, but this one beat all of those. Not that these were all white, far from it!
Following it, it landed in a across the bay. Heading back to the Church of Ireland, I spotted two Little Egrets in one tree, another Little Egret and Grey Heron in another, nearby.

The discovery of the latter was odd and yet it brought a smile to my face. The Grey Herons breed and rooast in a tree across the pier, and usually fish here too. The Egrets I had not seen in the bay since last year. I've seen Little Egrets in Bantry Bay, but not here in Dunmanus Bay. they have eluded me since. Whenever I would see the 'white Herons' here, one Grey Heron had been with them, everytime.
I am sorry, it was too far across for my dear Lumix. Besides the problem of distance, the other was white blobs in the tree. The sun was beaming right onto the birds, and even adjustments couldn't change this, without any visible details.

The botanical photos will be on Wildlife on Wheels. Not many either, because the break in the clouds was not very tolerable; wind and looming rain meant that I soon had to turn back again.

Yet it had been fun observing the Wagtails. I love juvenile Wagtails, their grey colour reminds me a bit of female Chaffinches, which would probably love such a large black bib too!

Rendez vous at Dunmanus Bay.

Today for the first time since weeks, I had the chance to get further from home than the Eddy's shop and the post office. The Sun was out and although JJ and my Coal Tits were trying to keep me up here at base, I simply had to go.

Since somewhere late I had not seen the little Common Teals (small Ducks) and I really wished to meet them again, before they would leave for their nesting grounds.
I have always assumed that the Teals were migratory birds, but my book is telling me that the SW corner of this island has residential Teal. Yet I never see them in summer, or anytime other than late autumn/winter or at other visits to the bay during the winter.
Before I spotted the Ducks in the bay, I was bombarded by the usual cacophony of the many Rooks and Hooded Crows repairing their nests in the large trees along the river at the church of Ireland. Although I tried, I was unable to get any shot of them. Sorry, Crow. (other time again!)
I was tempted to get up to my little "botany backroad", to see if the flock of LTTs or the Goldcrests were about. Mine might have perished, (this I assume because I haven't seen them since the cold spell hit these islands. However, the wind, very much down on previous days/weeks, was still bothering me too much.

After a little Sunny chat with a friend and her 3 dogs, en route to the school, I was glad to see parents still doing the walking school run, deciding to leave the car at home.
OK, many parents live out of the village, and a good few miles via the main road, but those who live just like my friend, between 1km-1 mile, should really let their kids get the experience of the road. It might not sound like much, compared with city traffic, I think we shuold start here. Kids should get used to either go walking, or cycling and it is quite a lot safer than the UK, yet even I would not let my kid, if I had any, out onto the main roads here. The traffic there is ruthless and it can even scare my wheels now and then. :)

As I turned onto the main road at the church of Ireland, about 5 birds were flying low over the water, and although I was unable to recognise their calls, a brief flash of black and white made me think that these were the ones I had been wanting to meet today! One or two landed on the water, close to the road, and I rode a little faster, while still trying to be as quietly as possible. From a distance, I had the feeling that they were far too small for my little Ducks, and my heart sank again. Yet the possible candidates, Black headed Gulls and Redshank, had no b&w markings on their wings nor any parts of their body. As quick as the birds had landed, they flew off again in the direction of the other bank, avross the bay. My sweet little Panasonic had not enough strength to reach that far, so her heart started sinking also.
In the end they congregated around the piece of piece of land sticking out into the bay, where the larger birds, Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Whimbrel, and Cormorants keep watch, and on which the Cormorants have "their tree" (totally empty now)

My camera had been able to shoot nice pictures of birds sitting there, I would have to do a little cropping for these photos,as these Ducks are quite a bit smaller.
My flexible case of my little bins would need another clean, I saw when taking these out, which needs doing quite regularly because the case is 'clipped onto my wheels. This way I am never without them. and also, they might be small, but I have no opportunity to bring them otherwise. I can hang shopping on the back of my wheels, for other people to remove it again, because there is no way I can reach any bag on the back. And if my neck was strong enough to have anything dangling from it, my bins would be in the way of my camera's bag which is on my lap.
In the end I was only able to get one or two shots; the wind increased and rain was getting too close. (which started indeed before I was home)

Redshank:

Common Teal:

jj, our juvenile (well, 9 months old) Jackdaw,


House Sparrows in the garden:


Earwig, on my table in the kitchen, on the first tentative step to stardom:

JJ steps back into the Frame.

After two weeks without my camera, the birds were getting slack. They had stopped their usual minute of posing.

Today though, just telling the postman that he had made my day, made me feel good already, because I knew that him knocking the door meant that he would have something to deliver!

Francis was already standing at the kitchendoor, looking up at the sky, to see if I would be able to get out on a ride to the bay, but could tell him that the weather was too wishy washy. (I had been out of bed a lot longer already by then!)

Anyway, enjoy JJ's photos. I am just glad my camera is back and working properly again.










And just as I am uploading my photos onto this blog, these pictures were born, thanks to this littlevisitor, not as welcome as my Garden birds though.
Looking at its markings, I'm surprised that it is the same colour/markings, as the one I have photographed before and posted here last summer, I think.

some of my last photos, compiled

The storm might have passed us, but after more hail, sleet, the temperatures were low enough to keep the flakes frozen in the planter and on any other horizontal surface. This is unusual in our warm corner of the island.

Anyway, as soon as the temperatures rose slightly, rain came our way once again.

My lens managed to peek in between the - still- wet window now and then to capture my little visitors, and I've already got quite a collection of Goldcrest pics. Even got one, out of focus Goldcrest in the Fennel. At least I got it in time, which is a start.

So I've included a few into this slide show, which is just for fun.

Or at least I thought it would be fun, but my, it made me sigh on a very regular basis, as it was not as easy as it made out to be.
Then again, might be better next time? Yeah right! As if.

Not that this one is perfect, far from it. some photos might be a bit off kilter also.

It's at the bottom of the blog.

The storm has past

A storm was and forecasted for Saturday for this island of Ireland, and that of the UK, with our West coast and the west coast of Scotland mostly exposed and therefore facing the and receiving the brunt of it before the West country and Wales would be getting the tail on the next (Sun) day.

With the gales raging around our house at 100miles an hour and with hail popping down most of the time, I was concerned for the little visitors of the garden and had scattered little pieces of bacon rind around the planter which were greatly received by birds like the Pied Wagtails, Chaffinches and House Sparrows.

I am always amazed how small birds will still come and fly in and come here to find their food. OK, it is logic also, because they do need their calories in order to fight the cold spread by the strong winds and when you need to eat something like 6x your own bodyweight, just so you can get through the night. (I am not sure these are the right figures, it could well be more times bodyweight)

Still, a lot of people do record less birds in extreme conditions like these, but not here. OK, not all of the Great Tits might come for dinner, yet I was thrilled to see the two little Goldcrests land in the planter, for a good feed on peanut cake and anything else they could find on their nose-down ramble around the planter and peanuts. I had feared they would not make it against these strong violent gales of force 11, tiny as they are. However, I was wrong and 2 of those little birds did manage their way into the garden.

I am still trying to attempt a Goldcrest photo when sitting on a Fennel stalk. It is very hard to do one of these. They will fly into the planter, or rather they show up in there quite sudden, flit around, feeding when they can, take a bite of peanut cake into their beak, then up into the Fennel before getting bak down again where the feeding will proceed in the same manner.
(This is whenever there are no other takers at the peanut cake.) Finding the tiny mass of feather and fluff on the Fennel stalks is the hard bit. And I haven't even been able to focus yet! So before I can post one of those shots, I have managed these shots





And for those who have followed the progressof our young Jackdaw, here are a few more of today's shots of the lovely boy or girl.





And another little fighter which battled its way through the storm. A brave little Blue Tit. I think I took the photo when we had a bit of an invasion of Rooks and Jackdaws this afternoon. It looks a little bit scared, doesn't it?

Here is one of the Rook culprits, looking for a portrait I believe:
And a picture of a female Xhaffinch and a Pied Wagtail are included here too.






Although we had decided that it would be best for me to stay indoors, rather than go to the shop, when it cleared up a little in the afternoon, I timed it well and was able to get down and up in one piece. As soon as I came off the estate and onto our little back road, I ws swept up almost and was pushed forward with the wind in my back. Now we, reasonable people, all know that any wheels like mine, have their own speed limits and will eiter go not faster than 6,8 miles per hour. (all depending on the state of your batteries in reality)

Yet, I was convinced that I was going a lot faster than whatever is the fastest my wheels can go. One day, when we know a storm is brewing, I want to try this out with all the apparatus needed.

It was therefore very funny that Francis asked why I took so long? At which my answer was (of course) that it was hard craft battling against the storm on my return.

Goldcrest and Robins

Ever since my first visiting Goldcrest, and when I did manage a photo of this lovely creature, I've been wanting to get another one.

I can safely say that I've been almost as restless as the bird itself, afraid I'd miss the opportunity to photograph this lovely little creature.

When taking a break from my dishes, so that one bit could dry before the turn of the last bits, I spoted it on its way out, and, looking at the clock, it had been bang on time too, 1pm. So I did not think it would return this afternoon.

Well it did, to my surprise, and although it did not really sit still, this is the best I could do.


The annual Robin fights have started again. Last week two went head to head and it will be a bit calmer next spring, with only two Robins claiming this food source, after I found my third Robin last week.

In spring this year I observed three Robins on my wall.

It is best to understand when you start with picture number one, then go to the next by pressing the right arrow on your keyyboard. This way you can keep looking at the monitor and then you see the small position changes in the birds probably best.

We've now arrived at the usual roster where one Robin comes in to feed, and as soon as it leaves, number two flies in.
Robin One and Two: I don't know which produced it, but every year sees one beautiful young Robin. One of the most beautiful chicks on earth.



One of the Chaffinch females.

Wee birds, Whiffwhaff and Wren

Downpour after downpour did not make for fine birdwatching behind the window in the kitchen, and definitely a bad day for bird photography. Still, I am the lucky one, I guess; my poor birds are fighting a lot more than a wet and speckled window, if they want to feed any more calories than those, spent on keeping warm and flying straight from A to B in these strong Winds. Even Junior is having trouble in staying warm, these days. At first I thought he had a painful foot, but then after observing how he retracts his foot immediately after putting it on the wall. For a second, his foot touches the cold brick of the wall, and you can see him think behind those enormous and piercing eyes of him, Will I put weight on this, or am I too heavy? The leg disappears soon after, back into the warmth of the moulting plumage. I think the poor bird needs little socks or shoes, to keep him going through winter, later.

My Coal Tits, as ever are being chased by the Blue Tits, as usual. It is a habit of the Blues which they’ve kept up ever since they first started feeding in my garden. It is a waste of spilt energy on evading manouvres by our Coal Tits, and often before they’ve even had a chance to get any food inside them. It is not as if there won’t be enough food for the two species.
After breeding and moulting my male Chaffinches are also starting to return without having to fight each other for females or housing permission. I have no idea if any of the other Finches in the neighbourhood, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Siskins, which used to arrive here in October en masse, until the past 2 years. Last year we were in the predicament where we had to wave off any new visitor but the Tits.. After my Sparrows had introduced Trichomoniasis into my garden.

And how many Sparrows will we have left over after adults sent the young ones packing? My mind is drawing a complete blank whenever I’m even starting to think about this. We still have to take into consideration the new predator in the garden, a new cat.

This morning I needed to wash my window again, and only the Coal Tits and Great Tit weren’t fooled by my waving motion of my arm. They just kept coming to the planter, looking for food; as usual, the Coal Tit held the left side of the planter and Fennel with the Greats sticking to the right.
I promised myself a few minutes at the window with a cuppa as soon as I was done and asked the Coal Tit to return for a few photos. It was not the Coal Tits which caught my attion when I was almost done. With my camera already at hand, I was praying for a few notes of this tiny bird’s call or song, so I’d be able to ID it properly. The tiny Warbler sat feeding in the top of my Fennel, stretching out its neck as far it could master to bring the tip of its beak as close to the tiny Insects as possible. Perhaps it is that Autumn Omen which brought my first, and most likely my last,, Wiffwaff of this summer, into my garden. Was it trying to fatten up before that long trek south? Where had it been breeding? Or was it a youngster perhaps, grown up in record speed, and practicing flight as soon as it left the nest earlier this summer, However, not a sound popped into the atmosphere between us, neither a Chiff…. Chaff, nor the pretty song of the Willow Warbler. Due to its position on the Fennel, where it sat vertically at the top, just underneath the yellow flowerhead. I was stunned by the colouring; it was much more green and yellow than I remembered them being. And although the Coal Tits had been visiting during this interval, as they had promised, it was my Wren, which has been visiting almost daily lately. It loves all the wood in this garden, the shelving, its supports, with the little bars, which seem to house a lot of Insects if my Wren’s feeding is anything to go by. Most of the time it disappears into the (over)growth on and around the shelf. After following it with my camera, al along the shelf, it landed onto the edge of the planter in the end. First onto the right side, before creeping along the back of the Fennel stalks, before sticking the head into the peanut cake tub.
The Wren left after feeding around the planter too, picking up bits here and there. It left via the shelf again, but kept coming back a few times. Francis was surprised to hear me say, that my arm was getting tired in keeping the camera aloft, while the shutter kept clicking. The Wren pictures turned out better than I’d expected; the Wiffwaff’s however, are a little disappointing. Also due to its vertical position, I think. The Wren is a youngster, I think; it has a little yellow gape left around the corners and the supercilium is not very distinct either. While washing the window, another dead Moth twirled down to the sill. A Small Carpet of some sort, I think. I forget to post my photos onto the Yahoo Moth Group site. I will try to do so this week. My Robins are moulting and do need a few easy days without having to burn extra energy by needing to keep warm and dry. They too have a lot of competition for the peanut cake and one solved this issue by calling at around 17.00, waiting for the Sparrow families to leave the garden first. I might be disappointed with my Whiffwhaff's photos, I think that at least it did the job of helping me with ID; the eyering alone makes me think that it was a Chiffchaff, although the yellowish colouring does not help me in this.

I hope the wing shows its real colour,Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler?
My Wren, a juvenile, I think,Blue Tit,Coal Tits, one perhaps a youngstersJunior,A Great Tit grabs a bite,Robin, moulting