Army Birding

Could be really good birding after the tornado, especially if birds are still migrating.

The species of rabbit at Suffiled is the Mountain Cottontail. I know the priaire looks flat and it is easy to assume that you are in the lowlands but it is actually about 2,300' asl.

Lesser Spot Finder,

Please check your personal messages!

Can't help thinking that you were lucky not to be tasered out on the prairie and flushing everything for a mile!

There have been several reports of a European Roller on an MOD Fence at Upper Hollesley Common, Suffolk today (Grid Ref: TM3347). The site is near Woodbridge. News of rare birds elsewhere include a presumed 1st summer male White-winged Scoter (subsps deglandi) in the Blackdog/Murcar Golf Course area...

Varied Thrush is probably my favourite bird in Canada. Grey Jays are nice, although I think your FB photo of the Stellar's Jay shows which is the more glamourous. Lake Louise car park soon for the Clark's Nutcracker!

You have really caught the bad weather! Glad you managed to see something at Waterton, I hope the weather improves before you return.

Pleased that you got the R-N Sapsucker and Tanager. Did you see or hear the Varied Thrush?

I have had a look into the parasites that I saw on the House Martin, almost 20 years ago in Northern Ireland. It looks as though they were wingless Louse Flies (Crataerina hirundinis), not lice. The lice are about 3mm or smaller, the Louse Flies were 2-3 times the size.

Inadvertently the removal has probably saved the lives of many young hirundines. In Northern Ireland I once found a fully fledged young House Martin on my doorstep. As I examined the very obliging little bird I noticed something moving amongst its neck feathers. As I watched curiously the little mar...

Rich, Wilson's Warbler! Nice bird! I assuming this is a late migrant because I would have expected this species to have been in the Rockies by now, as a forest species. It may be worth catching the Canadian weather forecast and see what the state of the weather is like in the mountains and in the ar...

Rich, It appears that the weather conditions may be affecting migration. The B-B Sands are really good birds to see in that area. The traditional site is Tofield, several hundred miles to the north. I searched for this species and did not see a definite in Canada at all, so if you catch up with any ...

Rich, As the pack arrived or are you referring to the emails? I will have to check the flycatchers for you but Least and Western Wood Pewee are most likely. Keep your eyes open for Say's Phoebe too. It sounds as though migration could be a little late this year. If there is still snow in the Cypress...

Glad to hear you made it safely! The Empid Fly is highly likely to be a Least Flycatcher, these are by far the most common; look for the obvious eye ring. The stilt you saw would be a Black-necked (Himantopus mexicanus), rather than a Black winged (Himantopus himantopus). The parcel has gone special...

If a week is a long time in politics it can seem like an eternity for birders. Saturday is still a while away but other good birds around North Norfolk today have included an American Wigeon, Ross' Goose and Black Brant at Cley and a Rough-legged Buzzard at Holkham.

I visited Thornham and Titchwell today, New Year's Day. I spent 5.5 hours at Thornham and 1 hour at Titchwell. Highlights included: Thornham : 1 Northern Harrier , 1 Hen Harrier, 6 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Waxwing and 1 Lapland Bunting. Titchwell : 1 Bittern, 1 R-B Merganser an...