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Hairstyles, Beak-styles

Sunday, 11. January 2009, 17:07:05

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(A bit of catchup post)

I haven't been out for a walk today, but even from my window I can see that the weather is continuing to do interesting things out there :right: This was the view at 7:45am! :yikes:


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I don't find identification of waders very easy, as a rule. Many species only have subtly different markings, especially in the winter. But there are some exceptions - not least the handsome woodcock that I saw here in the North Downs yesterday. On Friday, I was down by the south coast and saw two more highly distinctive species :smile:

Lapwing





Curlew



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I'm currently rewriting my entire website. As part of that process, I've amalgamated my various clips of foxes making loud calls into one video to put on the new site (which isn't online just yet).

It's strange to watch the older footage. The Chipped Vixen and the Sandy Dogfox are, for the most part, decidedly quiet individuals, and I hazily remember the days when the garden was being constantly serenaded by the diva of the wild herself: the Fringe Vixen :sing: :sing: :sing: :insane:

Directions please?Time for a New Look

Comments

gdare 11. January 2009, 17:33

Lapwing... I`ve never seen that bird before :left:

SittingFox 11. January 2009, 17:36

It goes by other names sometimes, such as peewit. We do have them here in the North Downs but they're shy and hard to photograph. Their numbers are falling nationally due to changing agriculture practices. In winter, there are large flocks on some fields and estuaries. I like their hairstyle :D

cakkleberrylane 11. January 2009, 18:31

Awesome video! I played it and immediately recognized the sounds, as did the dog and cats. Very interesting "hairstyles"!!!

SittingFox 11. January 2009, 18:32

LOL, hope it didn't wind the dogs up too much! :wink:

Thanks! :smile:

cakkleberrylane 11. January 2009, 18:36

Dog is a very spoiled little girl. She gave me a "Look" and hid under the bed! Cats are braver, one jumped up to the computer to see what was going on!

Ukwildlife 11. January 2009, 20:49

Great stuff.

I saw lots of lapwings and curlews today in North Kent (not to mention 1000+ fieldfares). But they were way too far away for photos. How far were you from these?

SittingFox 11. January 2009, 21:21

@Lois - LOL! :lol: Foot didn't react much but she's getting used to hearing strange fox noises coming from my computer! :cat:

SittingFox 11. January 2009, 21:25

@Neil - thanks! :smile: A thousand fieldfares! Wow! :eyes:

I took these pictures from the car so probably...thirty feet perhaps, at the closest? Not sure. I was using the 500mm lens.

pabha 12. January 2009, 00:26

Lapwing looks interesting with the feather on its head.
I like the first photo too, the sky is beautiful. :smile:

SittingFox 12. January 2009, 13:58

Thanks! :smile: That was an amazing sunrise. Today, it is just thick grey cloud outside :right:

Words 13. January 2009, 07:37

Good shots of the lapwing and curlew. Love the video, especially the hungry fox cub LOL! Misty here at the moment, though tomorrow (Wednesday) looks better.

Flying Red Fox Blog 13. January 2009, 20:56

Lovelly photos and i love the video! :D :heart:

SittingFox 13. January 2009, 21:05

@Words - Chatter had a voice all her own :sing: I'd love to see her now she's grown up. I bet she's still very noisy :wink:

Thanks :smile:

SittingFox 13. January 2009, 21:06

@Mark - thanks! :smile: That was quite a fun video to make.

sprogger 14. January 2009, 05:06

I saw both species of birds here just the other day, I have to say that you got much better shots than I did.

It took me ages to identify the lapwing I saw, there was two of them in flight and that distinctive crest all but disappears when they are in the air. And the curlew was wading in the water beneath them.

First time I have seen a lapwing around here.

SittingFox 17. January 2009, 15:19

Hi Sprogger, yes, lapwings can be tricky to ID on the wing. Their rounded wings are probably the best thing to look for. Congrats on the sighting :up:

Vulpes vulpes 21. January 2009, 17:22

Wow, what a sunrise!! Great collection of vocals.

SittingFox 21. January 2009, 18:48

Thanks! :smile: The kind of weather that you want to see when you are not going anywhere! :right:

Shaunak 23. January 2009, 01:56

Thats a beautiful sight to see first thing in the morning!

SittingFox 23. January 2009, 18:46

Sure was, but red sky in the morning often signals bad weather in the afternoon! This has been such a strange winter.

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