The Rare House Sparrow

Everybody knows the simple House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus). It is (or should I say: was) the first bird you learn to recognize and every garden in the country has them as a visitor…or not. Because the RSPB website gives some daunting facts:

House sparrow numbers have dropped nationally over the last 25 years (BTO various data). In Greater London they declined by 68 % between 1994 and 2009 (BTO Breeding Bird Survey data) - and sparrows are now absent from many areas of central London where they were once common.

Recent research has shown house sparrows in urban areas suffer from a lack of invertebrates (insects) to feed their young. This was shown by a study in Leicester, where poor condition and death of young chicks was linked to low numbers of invertebrates in their diet (RSPB and De Montfort University study). A large-scale feeding experiment in London (RSPB study) has demonstrated the importance of invertebrates for the survival of young chicks. Through this project, we tested more natural ways to increase the numbers of invertebrates available to sparrows and other birds in our urban green spaces.

And to be quite honest: I haven’t seen them so much lately. But there is hope. Their decline has been addressed by all kind of projects lately and the facts and figures gathered in those projects (e.g. House Sparrow numbers in relation to insect availability) will help to move to the next step: to bring these little friends back to our urban wildlife.

In order to make the case for the House Sparrow and their re-introduction, I will show some of the few pictures I made of them.

Even if they are merely brown and grey, they are quite pretty little birds and definitely worth preserving. I will finish this blog with a picture I took a couple of years ago of four females chatting along (as they do) on a fence.

Ruislip Lido

I had one of my many walks around Ruislip Lido today. When I returned home I realised I never wrote about it in my blog. And that is not fair, since it is a very pretty little pond with a cute steam train running around it. Apart from the usual swans and ducks you would find in such urban nature reserves, I have come across some other interesting birds as well. I also came across birds doing interesting things, such as this Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus Ridibundus), diving for something.

Originally opened as a feeder reservoir for the Grand Junction Canal in 1811, the reservoir was reopened in 1933 as a lido, with facilities for swimming and boating. A narrow gauge railway, the Ruislip Lido Railway was opened in 1945, and now runs about two thirds of the distance around the reservoir.

Having fallen into a state of disrepair during the 1970s and 1980s, the lido has since undergone renewal works, and was the subject of an enhancement project unveiled by the London Borough of Hillingdon in January 2010. The project involved the return of boating and swimming in the reservoir, which had previously not been possible due to pollution and an artificially low water level (Source: Wikipedia).

In this blog I will take you along on the various journeys I had around the Lido and show what I saw. Mostly beautiful and often surprising. But always a joy of variation and difference.

 

 

Their must be enough fish in the Lido, because you often see Common Terns (Sterna Hirundo) fly above it…and dive for some food!

 

My favourite duck, the Tufted Duck (Aythya Fuligula) is a permanent resident…and there are quite a few around. They normally swim against the main stream because they don’t care for the offered bread that the spectators bring along. I did see one once ashore, which is not often seen.

Lately I have seen more and more Gadwalls (Anas Strepera) at the Lido. They seem to feel at home between the normal residents and since they are non migratory, they are here to stay.

This winter I came across some unexpected visitors: the Little Egret (Egretta Garzetta) and the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla Flava). They were not frightened off by the snow and the cold weather.

And there are of course many, many Muted Swans (Cygnus Olor), Mallard Ducks (Anas Platyrhynchos) and Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis) in the water and ashore throughout the year. They are very common in these sort of places. But I would like to finish with a picture of a large group of Shoveler Ducks (Anas Clypeata) that I saw in the winter of 2012. That was a real treat! It is always a privilege to see the water birds at the Ruislip Lido. I hope you enjoyed this introduction. Come and have look…

Hurray for the Wigeon

And indeed, they do have a distinctive whistle. Listen to this clip you will understand what I mean.

Funny enough, I have always been fascinated by the Wigeon (Anas Penelope). Firstly, the name is quite funny in many languages. Some examples: in Dutch it is called Smient, in German it is called Pfeifente and in French is has the same name (whistle duck): Canard Siffleur. But I think the Danish name is the best: Pibeand (still meaning whistle duck).

It is not only it’s name and it’s whistle that makes this duck so interesting. Because secondly, it does behave like a goose (migratory and feeding on land) and thirdly, the colours are just magnificent.

They breed of course in the summer, but almost nowhere in the UK. They do prefer the northerly parts of Europe, such as Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia. They can even be found breeding in Siberia, hence their official name: Eurasian Wigeon.

Their habitat is always close to lakes with plenty of grassland ashore to feed.

There are millions of Wigeons worldwide; they can live for about 15-20 years. With a strong health and no known diseases on record they are not considered to be endangered.

So much for the facts and figures. This blog was actually meant to show some pictures of this beautiful little duck.

This picture was taken in Regent’s Park (London). Although these two are permanent resident, it shows the beautiful colours and pattern the male as well as the female Wigeon has.

Talking of the funny whistle that the Wigeon can produce: the picture on the left was taken in London Wetland Centre and it shows how it produces it sound. The picture on the right is of one of the early females that returned this year to the London Wetland Centre.

To finish this blog, a picture from the penultimate day of last year: many Wigeons grazing like geese on a pasture green.

Autumn at London Wetland Centre

Autumn started officially three weeks ago but today it still felt as if it was summer. I read on the website of London Wetland Centre that already 70+ Wigeons (Anas Penelope) had returned for the winter period. Enough reason to visit the wetland centre and see for myself how autumnal it already looked and  felt.

Eventually I did find the Wigeons although it took me a while before I spotted them; they were further away than I hoped.

They are quite social and are not unkind to the neighbours, when they want to enjoy the sun as well.

And with so many Gadwalls (Anas Strepera) around, there is no way you should not share your little island anyway. Below another pair of the many dozens that have arrived in London.

There are quite a lot of Gadwalls around. They are in England the whole year, but from now on they have to share their habitat until the migrants fly north again.

But not only the water birds are preparing for the winter. The Common Darter (Sympetrum Striolatum) wants to make sure there are enough fertilized eggs in the pond before he dies. So the next generation can do it all over again, the next year.

Some other dragonflies, like this Migrant Hawker (Aeshna Mixta), will not fly much longer, given the state of it’s wings.

It won’t be long before the dragonflies and damselflies have all died. That is inevitable. Let’s just enjoy their beauty as long as possible until the next generation shows up, next summer.

To finish this blog, just another picture of one of my favourite geese: the “Greylag” (Anser Anser). I think that my next blog will have much more mushrooms, autumnal colours and returned migrants to show. I can’ t wait for the autumn to really begin!

The Originals

The Latin word for goose is anser. And different geese have been given different scientific names like Anser This or Anser That. But since I am always trying to find the English, Dutch and Latin names for any animal I take pictures of, I found quite some birds that have a scientific name that is just two times the same word. I have started calling them “the originals” and in this blog I will show a few examples.

The Greylag Goose is indeed called Anser Anser.

As the ancestor of most domestic geese, the greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the wild geese native to the UK and Europe. In many parts of the UK it has been re-established by releasing birds in suitable areas; the resulting flocks (often mixed with Canada geese) can be found around gravel pits, lakes and reservoirs all year round in southern Britain (source: RSBP website).

I took this picture in the Goudse Hout in Gouda (The Netherlands), as I described in my blog of 15th July. And whilst is is just a common goose, I think it is a beautiful bird.

 

After the goose, it should be obvious to turn to the swan. The Latin word is cygnus and the actual Cygnus Cygnus is the Whooper Swan. I have only come across the three residing in Regent’s Park in London. They are truly majestic and proud swans with their bright yellow beaks and graceful presentation.

 

We have all flown a kite when we were young. Or just recently when we were not so young. But the Latin word for kite is: milvus and the bird called Milvus Milvus is indeed the Red Kite.

This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest running protection programmes, and has now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland (source: RSBP website).

Nowadays you can see many Red Kites in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, for instance when you are traveling along the M40. They hover over the motorway just like that.

I came across this bird a few times, and when I was in Whipsnade Zoo I was able to take some shots of the bird in flight.

A typical wader is the Northern Lapwing. And this is again one of the “originals”, because the Latin name is Vanellus Vanellus. They are normally found at water edges and have a very distinct green colour pattern.

 

The Eurasian Wren is also one of the “originals”. Their scientific name is  Troglodytes Troglodytes. That name is taken from the Greek word "troglodytes" (from "trogle" a hole, and "dyein" to creep), meaning "cave-dweller", and refers to its habit of disappearing into cavities or crevices whilst hunting arthropods (source: Wikipedia).

There is a story that the birds decided to organize a contest for the bird that could fly the highest. The Wren estimated that he had no chance unless he invented a trick. He hid in the feathers of the Eagle and when the Eagle could not get higher, the Wren began his flight…and won the contest. Since then, he proudly keeps his tail up.

And so we come to the end of this blog. But I cannot just finish, without showing (again) a picture of the Greylag Goose. This last picture was also taken in The Netherlands, near the Reeuwijkse Plassen (lakes near the town of Reeuwijk).

 

 

 

First day of the Autumn

There are different ways to tell that the Autumn has started. According to the calendar, the start was yesterday. The sun will progress further south towards the the Tropic of Capricorn. and some trees already have brown and yellow coloured leaves. The weather is changing slightly.

Widgeons (Anas Penelope) have returned to London Wetland Centre and mushrooms flourish in abundance.

But today was still a warm day with all the activities that could have been seen throughout the Summer.

Here are some more pictures of today’s walk in London’s WLC.

 

 

A Water Vole (Arvicola Amphibius) is foraging, undisturbed by me, when I took it’s picture. The 45^o angle of the bite marks (see photo on the right) are a typical sign that they are around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only have the Wigeons returned, but a few Common Teals (Anas Crecca) can be seen as well at London’s WLC.

But the Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna Mixta) are still flying and mating as if it is full Summer. And with the forecast of high temperatures this week, it will take some more time, before the Autumn finally and truly begins.

Just a common duck

If you don’t know anything about birds, or ducks for that matter, you still would recognize a Mallard Duck (Anas Platyrhynchos). Maybe not by the name but this is what we all know as “a duck”. There are so many to be seen. Every pond or local little lake in every village, town or city has them as their inhabitants.

But in this blog I will show you that although they may be very common, they are actually quite beautiful.

Their ducklings are very cute and they are looked after by the mother; the father doesn’t bother too much.

He will however loose his bright colours after the breeding season and adopt the “ladies colours”. This is where a drake becomes a drag queen.

 

Normally they are very tame and you can approach them quite easily. They simply wait for you to feed them. A nice activity with children. There is not much more I can add, other than to show some more pictures of this very common but beautiful duck. More information can be found on the WiKi-page.