Back at Soglitelle after quite a while. A quiet day with a couple of highlights. Best birds were a gorgeous ad fem Montagu’s H, and at least 2 Richard’s Pipits. 12 Collared Pratincole were my first this year. Hoopoe, Great Reed and Sedge Warbler in the nets. #birds #birdingitaly
Wryneck were common as usual here in Spring. Pied Fly started coming through at the end of the week, and several races of Yellow Wag present including 2 magnificent feldegg. Many other migrants, but nothing properly rare yet (barring the Eyebrowed Thrush ringed at the Obs!) #birds #birdingitaly
An early season trip to Ventotene. The main species were very large numbers of Robins and Redstarts. There were hundreds of all 3 species. 5 different E BE Wheatear were a highlight. Lots of sylvias, mainly Blackcap, Common & Lesser Whitethroat, Sardinian and E Subalpine. #birds #birdingitaly
Long-tailed is pretty common throughout Africa. The Great needs larger bodies of water, and is commoner on the larger lakes. Which field guide are you using? I probably have a copy!
Lovely picture, but this is a Great Cormorant (it has various names around the world, but that’s the one I’m used to). The Long-tailed (or Reed Cormorant) never has such a clean white face, and has a red eye. The bill is also noticeably shorter, and the bird is overall much smaller.
You’re right about Black Herons, they are amazing. This picture is of a Black-headed Heron however, which doesn’t have the same feeding behaviour. Great shot though…
As it happens Eswatini is quite nice, or it was when I lived there (it was called Swaziland in those days).
Not to mention the fact that Tudor totally ignores Kinsky when he gets subbed. Brutal man management.
It isn’t is it? The poor goalkeeper, absolutely brutal…
Oh man… what I wouldn’t give to be there right now…
Joking aside, if you do go down there will be a proper exodus won’t there? When was the last time a team of this size got relegated?
The quintuple!
Surely he’s too good to play in the Championship?
St Totteringham’s day will be in August next season.
I’m hoping for the quintuple!
I am, and it is!
A couple of slightly unusual graves…
Assisi War Cemetery
Oh absolutely, couldn’t agree more. It’s the proof of criming that’s the issue….
The AOP will go through like lightning, and several members of the commonwealth have already said that they would support that. I think it’s a done deal, and the royal family are fine with it. If it gets the press of their backs they’ll be happy. It probably won’t though…
Because that leaves a paper trail, sexual crimes are less easy to prove. Mandelsson being gay is another reason there may not be much to find in that direction.
I saw plenty of Hedge Sparrows where I went to school near London. You didn’t answer the question about when you started birding.
Using my Poirot-like detective skills I will estimate your age at over 55. And you started birding before you were 20.
I’m old enough to remember calling them that! My oldest bird book was given to me in 1974, on my 8th birthday!
Showing your age there Andrea. I haven’t heard them called Hedge Sparrows for a couple of decades!
Nice picture, but it’s a Lesser Goldfinch.
A Little Gull was a new addition to the site list for Torre Flavia this morning, quite a scare bird in Lazio. Elsewhere the 6 Velvet Scoters remain at hospital beach. #birds #birdingitaly
Ethics team?
The money leaves a paper trail, the sex abuse doesn’t. Any police force that arrests someone of this profile has to be sure they’ll get a conviction otherwise heads will roll. Sex abuse cases are notoriously difficult in that regard…