July 31, 2012

Feckin midge…

Tuesday brings the little snackers, absolutely wick with the scourge of this country. Even the songbirds on the new rustic bird table looked troubled, speaking of birds, we have a seemingly rare summer visitor. It comes every year but i’ve never been able to clap eyes on it, the song is like a grasshopper and goes on for ages, usually at dusk. Well, as this is one of those touch screen whizz’y android phone thingy’s, I had a notion that there could be a wild bird ap. As luck would have it there is and would you believe, not only picture but song aswell.

Turns out, according to this whizz’y little ap thingy, its a grasshopper warbler and according to the rspb it’s on the red list. Me thinks the republic has a hidden gem, I’m going to look it up on the tinternet and finish this post with some rieved info…..

…..meanwhile, back at home…

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/grasshopperwarbler/index.aspx

Overview

The high, insect-like reeling song of the grasshopper warbler is the best clue to its presence. Even when you hear one it can be difficult to locate it due to the ventriloquial effect of its singing. If seen on migration it moves like a little mouse, creeping through the foliage. Dramatic population declines have made this a Red List species.

Where to see them

Found scattered across the UK in summer, although less common in Scotland. Likes areas of scrub, thick grassland, the edges of reedbeds, new forestry plantations and gravel pits with plenty of scattered bushes.

When to see them

Birds arrive from mid-April and leave again in August and September. Best listened for between April and July when they perch and sing from songposts, mostly at dawn and dusk but often through the night.

Red list criteria

Globally threatened
Historical population decline in UK during 1800–1995
Severe (at least 50%) decline in UK breeding population over last 25 years, or longer-term period (the entire period used for assessments since the first BoCC review, starting in 1969).
Severe (at least 50%) contraction of UK breeding range over last 25 years, or the longer-term period

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=IQiGRus4ETk&feature=endscreen

click on the youtube link and listen to this thing, it’s song just goes on and on, it must have some lungs on it.

Mrs republic is getting into this wildlife photo lark.