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As the tide falls: an hour at Brancaster Staithe

10,000 Birds

Though these plovers are common on the North Norfolk coast, their nearest breeding grounds are far to the north. A few do breed in Europe, on the extreme north-east of European Russia. These were dark-bellied birds from Russia. There were several Wigeon to be seen, too, but all were snoozing with heads under wings.

Geese 174
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The Siberian Rubythroat

10,000 Birds

The Siberian Rubythroat seems to somewhat lack a proper inbuilt GPS system – while it breeds as far west as the Ural Mountains and winters as far est as Central India, it does not migrate through central Asia in large numbers (even though this would be the shortest way). So better not let a rubythroat bite you. .

Russia 204
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Are Kittiwakes Catholic?

10,000 Birds

It’s a bird that rarely occurs inland, and outside the breeding season it spends its time far out to sea. In March, as the days start to lengthen, so the wandering birds return to their breeding cliffs. Adult pairs are very site faithful, and if their breeding is successful, they will return to the same colony year after year.

Breeding 202
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A Fierce Cartoon Bird: Steller’s Sea Eagle on Hokkaido

10,000 Birds

Georg Wilhelm Steller (1709 – 1746) was a German-born naturalist, though it seems he spent most of his (shortish) adult life in Russia, participating in the exploration of the North Pacific region. The species is listed as Vulnerable – the estimated number of individuals is 4600-5100 (HBW), of which about 2000 winter on Hokkaido.

Eagles 130
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The most important book about European birds in this century

10,000 Birds

The adventure of the second European Breeding Bird Atlas, or EBBA2, was the topic of one of my first posts here at 10,000 Birds: In a warm Catalonian March, Barcelona is filled with sunlight and full of Rose-ringed and Monk Parakeets. In a very short time, we get two responses, two birds calling from opposite directions.

Europe 263
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The World’s Most Beautiful Goose?

10,000 Birds

Explaining the increase in the number of sightings is difficult, as the Siberian breeding population is declining. This current winter is no exception, and at the time of writing there are no fewer than five to be seen at four different locations.

Bulgaria 130
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Flights of Passage: a book review

10,000 Birds

A simple, useful world map in outline shows approximate breeding ranges in yellow and wintering ranges in blue, and for some birds, permanent resident ranges in green. Some birds with populations on different breeding grounds move not to the same winter quarter but to far-distant ones – such as the Red-necked Phalarope.

Alaska 196