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ID-FRONTIERS for September 1-9, 2000
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Subject: Buff-bellied Pipits in Norway and Sweden
From: Brian Small <BrianJSmall(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 1 Sep 2000 2:54am
All.
I am trying to chase references for records of Buff-bellied Pipit in Norway
(Dec 1997) and Sweden (Jan 1997), or indeed if the records were ever
accepted. In particular to which sub-species they may been assigned. I am
aware of the image in Birding World of the one of them, but would like to
make specific reference to the citation in the literature.
Many thanks.
Brian Small
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Subject: Re: Lava Beds titmice
From: Don Roberson <creagrus(AT)MONTEREYBAY.COM>
Date: 1 Sep 2000 7:34pm
Last week I posted a notice about a short web essay on the mystery of
identifying titmice at Lava Beds Nat'l Monument, Siskiyou Co., CA. After doing
that project, it occurred to me (and to Bill Smith) that we would be better
served by addressing the question to Carla Cicero at MVZ, Berkeley. It is her
work that led to the A.O.U. taxonomic split. So I forwarded my post to her,
and here is Dr. Cicero's reply:
"I have spent the past several years gathering specimens/data on titmice in
the Lava Beds NM region, and hope to write up the results this winter. The
basic situation is this: the 2 species of titmice occur in narrow secondary
contact between Lava Bads NM and the Tule Lake Hwy. Within this zone,
there is a very sharp change in mitochondrial DNA type from diagnostic Oak
Titmouse to diagnostic Juniper Titmouse. Thus, both kinds may occur in
Lava Beds. Because the birds vary clinally in size and color across this
zone, they are not easily assigned to one species or the other in that
region based on external characters. Vocal variation appears to be complex
in this area, and it's too early to say whether voice can be used to
diagnose the 2 species in/near the zone of secondary contact. Ned and I
are continuing to record titmice from throughout their ranges for a study
of vocal variation, including across the contact zone.
Although the "mystery" of identifying the 2 species of titmice in Lava Beds
remains a problem, that is the reality of the situation."
So the answer is: they are still a mystery, they are within the narrow zone of
secondary contact, and there may be some introgression going on here. This
would help to explain Juniper-looking titmice than act like Junipers and sound
like Oaks. I have now revised my page on the Lava Beds titmice; the page is at
http://montereybay.com/creagrus/titmouse_id.html
The revised page includes Carla Cicero's comments, a little more introduction
(for archival purposes), and a re-orientation of John Sorensen's Oak Titmouse
photo to its actual vertical composition!
Thanks for all the comments,
Don Roberson
Pacific Grove CA
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Subject: Hybrid Ducks
From: paullarkin <paullarkin(AT)PGEN.NET>
Date: 3 Sep 2000 1:27pm
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What Ho!
Those of you interested in the identification of hybrid ducks may wish =
to know that Eric Gillham has published Bulletin No 3 updating Hybrid =
Ducks: a contribution to an inventory. This includes descriptions of =
hybrid BW X Cinnamon Teal, Can X Pochard, RN Duck X T. Duck, Teal X GW =
Teal and Amer Wig X Euro Wig amongst many others. It can be obtained =
from the following address. Unfortunately I do not know the price.
Mr E Gillham esq.
90 Church Road,
West Row,
Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk IP28 8PF
UK.
As always he is very interested in obtaining photographs and/or =
descriptions of any hybrid ducks.
Cheers
Paul
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Subject: Buff-bellied Pipit complex - ID article
From: Martin Birch <martinb(AT)ACTIONAID.ORG.UK>
Date: 4 Sep 2000 3:11am
Wow, cracking new ID article by Cin-ty Lee covering the Buff-bellied Pipit
complex on, and only on, the web.......and just in time for the Autumn !
But where .... well, at.....
http://www.surfbirds.com
of course.
Please read this article and give Cin-ty and the surfbirds team your feedback -
we will update the article as new and enlightening information becomes
available.
In recognition of Cin-ty's important contribution to birding or if you haven't
visited the surfbirds site yet (then now is the time to do so) - please tell
your birding friends, your local bird clubs, your state chat-rooms and state
organisations about surfbirds !
Enjoy surfbirding
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Subject: GB Heron information
From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby(AT)TI.COM>
Date: 5 Sep 2000 4:29pm
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this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
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All:
I am trying to get some information on Great Blue Herons for an id article I
am working on with Ian McLaren. I would appreciate further insights on the
following:
1/ Apparently it is stated in some literature that Great Blue Herons may
attain bright yellow-orange legs for a brief time at the start of the
breeding season. I haven't observed this at my local colony, but I would
like to get others' perspective on this, since Great Blue Herons occur in
rather small numbers in my area.
2/ We've got the impression from looking at photos that GB Herons in the SE
USA seem to show all dark legs more frequently than birds in our areas.
Could someone confirm if GB Herons in FLA and elsewhere in the SE do
regularly show all dark legs. I have only noticed this on one immature in
CA. The normal pattern is for pale tibia but dark 'knees' and tarsi. The
soles of the feet are also yellow.
Thanks
Nick Lethaby
(805) 562 5106
nlethaby(AT)ti.com
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Subject: Juvenile Caspian Gull
From: Brian Small <BrianJSmall(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 8 Sep 2000 1:59pm
A photo of a juvenile (moulting into first-winter) Caspian Gull at
Walberswick, Suffolk, UK, probably the first taken in the UK, exists at
www.surfbirds.com, under the photo page. Even by early September cachinnans
can have a virtually unmarked white head, but note especially the wing-barred
effect, with the tips to the greater and median coverts forming white bars
across the wing. The under-wing coverts were smoky white, the under
primaries sivery with only a limited amount of black near the tip.
What may also be of interest is the tail pattern of the
first-summer/second-winter at the same site. The tail band is black and
broad on all but the T1 on the right side, which has more restricted black
and more white at the base. Most birders view of second-generation tail
feathers on Caspian is that they should show a relatively narrow tail band
(cf Jonsson's image in Alula), but this, like so many things with gulls is a
variable feature.
Brian Small
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