Monthly Archives: January 2011

National Geographic article Q and A

Posted on January 28, 2011 by

With Carl Zimmer There is an open door to ask question of  author Carl Zimmer, in regard to the “long, curious, extravagant evolution of feathers”. The article is in this months National Geographic Magazine (Feb. 2011) , just gone on sale, or here online: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/02/feathers/zimmer-text I … Continue reading →

Posted in National Geographic Magazine | 2 Comments

Great White Redpoll… refound!

Posted on January 26, 2011 by

in North Sheffield. Coming to a garden nyger feeder in Grenoside. Thanks very much to Vincent Giles who sent these images- taken through a house window. Crickey! I wish I had Redpolls that close. More on this bird and fascinating comments on its unusual appearance here: http://birdingfrontiers.com/2010/11/15/great-white-redpoll/ with explanation of the bird’s appearance … Continue reading →

Posted in Finches | 2 Comments

Would Birding Frontiers readers like this..?

Posted on January 25, 2011 by

said National Geographic Magazine No Kidding! Got an email from some of the guys at the 120 year old magazine. Famed for its yellow-bordered front cover, and awesome award winning photo journalism, it was a bit of an honour (and surprise!).  The scoop is an article entitled: ‘The Long, … Continue reading →

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Marsh Gull – Sheffield

Posted on January 24, 2011 by

Well maybe his Great x10 Grandaddy was… Joined Sheffield January Bird racers down at Orgreave  for the gull roost on Saturday evening (22nd Jan). Mark and Pete had a ‘yellow-legged’ argentatus Herring Gull in the morning and before long it … Continue reading →

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Coues’s Arctic Redpoll No. 7

Posted on January 21, 2011 by

First winter- 8th Feb 1996 Wintersett Reservoir, West Yorkshire What follows are photos of 7 different trapped Arctic Redpolls- with very grateful thanks to the guys mentioned below as well as Steve Denny and John Hewitt who sorted out the pics. They range from some … Continue reading →

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Coues’s Arctic Redpoll no. 6

Posted on January 21, 2011 by

1st winter – 16th Dec 1995 Wintersett Reservoir, West Yorkshire Wing length: 73mm Width of dark streak on longest  undertail covert- 1.3mm Length of unstreaked white rump: 12mm Credit for trapping and photographing  goes to Pete Smith, the late Philip Harrison and John Gardner … Continue reading →

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Coues’s Arctic Redpoll Nos. 4 and 5

Posted on January 21, 2011 by

2 first winters  - 27th Dec 1995 Wintersett Reservoir, West Yorkshire Wing length: both 75 mm Width of dark streak on longest undertail coverts recorded as: 1.8mm and 1.6mm Length of unstreaked rump: recorded as zero for both birds- with fine streaking throughout rumps of both birds … Continue reading →

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Coues’s Arctic Redpoll No.3

Posted on January 20, 2011 by

1st winter – 9th March 1996 Recorded as 1st winter male. Wintersett Reservoir, West Yorkshire Wing length: 76mm Width of dark streak on longest undertail covert- 1.0mm Length of unstreaked white rump: 0 mm . (Instead recorded as 14 mm with fine indistinct streaking through rump) … Continue reading →

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Coues’s Arctic Redpoll No.2

Posted on January 20, 2011 by

1st winter  - 9th March 1996 Recorded as 1st winter male. Wintersett Reservoir, West Yorkshire Wing length: 73mm Width of dark streak on longest undertail covert: 1.8mm Length of unstreaked white rump: 12mm Credit for trapping and photographing  goes to Pete Smith, the late … Continue reading →

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