Wildlife -Winter 2008

[mark smyth]

Maggi, the bird's feathers dont look how you would image. They are silky all over
http://www.birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?v=1&f=191546&r=0&st=0&q=

birdguides.com photo competition winners
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1533

[mark smyth]

I was given some interesting information about waxwings the other week about their choice of food. They are eating berries in this order
Sorbus, rowan
Crataegus, hawthorn and Rose hips
Cotoneaster and apples
Berberis

Do they know the calorific value of these fruits?

[TC]

Local names still in use are
House Sparrow         Spuig, pronounced s-pyug, probably peculiar to Glasgow
Starling                   Stooky                               ""          ""       "      ""
Shag                      Dooker  used along the Clyde coast
Song Thrush            Mavis
Crow                      Corbie
Lapwing                  Peewit or Peasy
Linnet                     Lintie
Pigeon                    Cushie  probably a corruption of cushat

[Paddy Tobin]

Tom,

Where I grew up the skua was referred to as the "shite hawk" - because of its habit of hassling seagulls until they regurgitated their food. Now, that's a perfectly descriptive name.

The lapwing is called 'Pilibín" - say, pillibeen

The shag or cormorant was always a 'ducky diver'

Paddy

[mark smyth]

Lapwings are also known as green plovers. I have heard starlings refered to as sh1t hawks. It must from the mess at bird of prey nests

[David Shaw]

In Germany I have heard the kingfisher refered to as the eis vogel (Ice bird).

[Gerdk]

In Germany I have heard the kingfisher refered to as the eis vogel (Ice bird).

Yes, we call this bird 'Eisvogel'. I just googled for the origin of this strange name (for me too)
There are 2 presumptions:
1. perhaps from (Old High German) ' eisan ' which means glisten, shine
2. perhaps from ' Eisenvogel ' which is Iron bird

The Eisvogel is ' The bird of the year 2009 ' here in Germany !

Gerd

[Carol Shaw]

We just had two buzzards sitting in the ash tree at the bottom of the garden, didn't realise they were there until they both flew off to land in the field which the farmer is currently ploughing... amazing sight!

[David Shaw]

That's interesting, Gerd. Thank you.

[Carol Shaw]

One buzzard back in ash tree, he tried to get to the worms being turned up by the plough and the seagulls mobbed him 

[TC]

A few more names I have remembered

Yellowhammer                 Yite or yellow yite
Curlew                           Whaup
Skylark                           Laverock
Great Skua                      Bonxie.  Although a Shetland name, it is used in preference in Bird Watching circles.

[Anthony Darby]

Shite hawks are gulls Mark.

[David Shaw]

I go with Anthony one this one, just didn't want to say the five letter word (hawks) first

[Anthony Darby]

Hey, what vivid colours. Wonder if batman agrees?

[Jo]

A tale for Michael. During the big freeze after Christmas one of my cats took up playing on the ice on the pond.  Well the other night we had quite a frost and the pond froze over again.  Yippee thought Rafiki, dancing on ice again   She learnt to swim much more quickly than either of my children