The Lincolnshire Bird Club

A brief sea watch at Huttoft CT produced
1 Bonxie N
2 Arctic Skuas N

At Anderby Creek a look near the old tennis courts produced
c15 Goldcrests but no sign of yesterday's Firecrest
1 Yellow-browed Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
also 1 Woodcock under the trees

At Donna Nook the Red-flanked Bluetail was often elusive but showed well on occasions. Some snaps here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/120340949 ... 8078912016
Also the Rose-coloured Starling was showing well for a while

John

_________________
Lincolnshire Birds https://www.flickr.com/photos/120340949 ... 8078912016
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Contact: recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk

This Red-flanked Bluetail is the second record for the area. The first was in 1978, coincidentally also on 10th October.

http://pewit.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/red ... sited.html

patience and field craft pay off --it is pretty tame if you don't shout at it and wave your arms about --

. . a bit of luck comes in handy, too.

Between. 2.15-4.30 yesterday, the bird veered between elusive and reclusive . At various times, there were about a dozen of us waiting for it to "show well".

We were all lamenting its extreme skulkiness and humming the refrain to the theme song of disaffected birders everywhere - Bruce Hornsby's "That's Just The Way It Is".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlRQjzltaMQ

My individual stroke of fortune came when a snipe got up from the ditch. That seemed to flush the r-fb because it suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Then it was gone again in an instant, not to be seen again (at least not by me).

OK I got the tick, but there's no real satisfaction unless a rarity tarries for a minimum of at least three seconds to allow you to revel in its delightful company. Otherwise, it's like inserting into your mouth a delicious segment of mango, then having it snatched right out again.

So on balance, yes, I'm a bit disappointed - where can I get my money back?

However, through gritted teeth, I heartily congratulate JC, GPC and all those who took such stupendous pix of the bird. Huge respect!

Jim
PS
Are there any other pop song titles that sum up the birder's lot?

Also at Donna Nook today from Stonebridge to Pye's Hall
4+Ring Ouzel
40 Robins
10 Song Thrushes
2 Fieldfares
2 Brambling
Many Redwings and Goldcrests but only the one Red-flanked Bluetail

And here's another pic from this morning
https://www.flickr.com/photos/120340949 ... en-public/

John

_________________
Lincolnshire Birds https://www.flickr.com/photos/120340949 ... 8078912016
-------------------------------


Contact: recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk

Great pic of r-f b on wire!

Judging by other photographs elsewhere, the creamy-whiteness of the circumference to the eye seems to diminish when the species is in breeding plumage.

I asked my expert London birding pal, Pete, and he said this is to do with seasonal changes in ocular pressure which occur in other birds and creatures including humans. Not sure if I believe this. Can anyone confirm - with particular reference to bluetails?

Then there is the barbed wire. Always amazes me that birds have the eyesight, reflexes and judgement to know how, even in poor light, they are able to settle without mishap. It takes skill.

By contrast, they mostly seem to shun the palisade security fencing favoured by Network Rail, industrial estates and even some schools and landowners. Magpies and woodpigeons
sometimes perch on these fences, but I have only once seen a songbird ( a robin) manage to do so (precariously for a split second).

At an industrial exhibition earlier this year, I raised this issue with an installer of palisade fencing. I didn't get the impression that he would make my concern a top priority.