Sunday 29 July 2018

May to July Birding Video Highlights


A compilation of birding videos from a trip to Cape May, New Jersey, USA in May 2018. Includes footage of the Swainson's Warbler that drew in the crowds, other migrating Warblers, Swainson's Thrushes and a good variety of other species including late in the season Iceland (Kumlien's) and Glaucous Gulls.


Please click on the link for the Birding Cape May Compilation - May 2018 YouTube compilation video.






It's almost from out of this world, a Magnificent Frigatebird soaring over the sea off Cape May Point in mid May 2018. Watching it glide in and out of the fog bank was pretty special.

Please click on the link for the Magnificent Frigatebird YouTube video.






A compilation of birding videos from Germany in early June 2018. Includes nice views of Purple Herons, Bee-eaters and wandering Spoonbills and Great White Egrets in the Rhine rift valley..


Please click on the link for the Birding Germany Compilation - June 2018 YouTube compilation video.






This beautiful Tringa, a Marsh Sandpiper showed well yet distant during the windy conditions on the last Saturday of July 2018 at Rainham Marshes RSPB. A rarity to the UK, this species is especially rare in the London area, reportedly the first one in over 30 years.


Please click on the link for the Marsh Sandpiper YouTube video.

Saturday 7 July 2018

Klingon Starship or something simply Magnificent!

Live Long and Prosper


Mid afternoon during the World Series of Birding (12 May) in between Brig and Avalon somehow the conversation turned to Star Trek, especially the role of the Trill. At that time I didn't have a clue as to who or what Trills are! I mentioned that if we saw a Klingon Starship decloak during the World Series then, "I'm out of here!". Little did I know that 5 days later...

It's a seabird Jim, but not as we know it!


Leaving Cape May to travel north to Sussex County, NJ (17 May). However, before the journey north spent the early morning birding Cape May Point where it was soon obvious that there had been a bit of a fall of Warblers. Highlights included a female Golden-winged, singing Wilson's and several Canada Warblers at the Point. Whilst trying to relocate the Golden-winged RC kindly signed a copy of the cracking Crossley ID Guide to Waterfowl. Returned to the Point after checking out of the Stockton Inns (best place to stay in town) about one hour later and was quickly directed to the Coral Avenue jetty, because RC had found a Magnificent Frigatebird! After a brief panic and 2 minute journey that seemed like 20, there it was. Looking like a 'Klingon Starship' it even decloaked out of the fog bank high up over the water, but not too far offshore in looking to the SW. Having never seen examples of this family in the 'field' I have always wondered as to how distinctive and therefore how easy they would be to pick out on a 'seawatch'?
  • As to the family - fairly easy.
  • As to the species - if I had seen this alone would I have known as to which species of Frigatebird I was watching? The honest answer is no!
To to get a little closer I re-positioned myself along the Point jetties to the west before settling on St Peter's where I got lucky with the photos below and video footage of this rare visitor.

Why is it a 'Magnificent Frigatebird'?


From studying the bird in the field and then the photos and videos later, and then consulting the available literature - the big size, extensive pure white head, the white extending onto the underparts and clear cut 'diamond' collars on the underparts point to this being a juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird. This may be the expected species for this usually storm driven seabird in these parts, and perhaps adds credence. However, from a quick look at 'The Birds of New Jersey Status and Distribution' (Boyle and Karlson) I understand only 4 out of 24 NJ accepted Frigatebirds have been identified to species level as Magnificent. These figures may have changed since 2011 when the book was published.









Stop Press: The above has been accepted by the New Jersey Birds Rarities Committee in their Jan - May 2018 review as Magnificent Frigatebird.