Back on old stomping grounds
I took a chance to spend some time in Cassiobury Park before making my way back to the airport. It was interesting to puck up the common UK species with such close relatives in. the US. Nuthatch (whatever it's prefix is) looks big and colorful, Grey Heron looks small and monochromatic and Goldcrest look very showy, flashing their crest as they surround the slightest pish. Also looking relatively gaudy compared to their American cousins, 15 or so Siskins (whatever THEIR prefix is) showing fading adult plumage with some less well marked juvs.
***apparent both missing prefixes above are Eurasian!****
A couple Of Winter Wren looked decidedly more rufous and less well marked than even their eastern US cousins - I don't recall was US winter Wren split from European WW when pacific wren was?
**** more rufous colour on back, pale underparts which are less well marked ****
**** update
Winter wren - European Troglodytes troglodytes
Winter wren - US Troglodytes hiemalis
Pacific Wren Troglodytes Pacifica
******
Eurasian Jays are less raucous (slightly) but even more colorful than their Blue cousins of course and typically less migratory. They do seem to fill a similar niche, and a number were seen today some transporting acorns around the park as their American cousins do. I'm wondering if this is a migration year though as there were a number around this morning, or maybe I am out of touch ! Manage to get a good view of a Great-spotted Woodpecker (that red undertail!) and heard a nearby Green, also a Great Cormorant flew over - another newly qualified name since I was last here!
The Horse Chestnut trees are changing colour nicely. There were plenty of fruit coverings around the trees so I am assuming that conkers is still somewhat popular, although you don't hear much about it these days and it seem pretty old-fashioned.
***apparent both missing prefixes above are Eurasian!****
A couple Of Winter Wren looked decidedly more rufous and less well marked than even their eastern US cousins - I don't recall was US winter Wren split from European WW when pacific wren was?
**** more rufous colour on back, pale underparts which are less well marked ****
**** update
Winter wren - European Troglodytes troglodytes
Winter wren - US Troglodytes hiemalis
Pacific Wren Troglodytes Pacifica
******
Eurasian Jays are less raucous (slightly) but even more colorful than their Blue cousins of course and typically less migratory. They do seem to fill a similar niche, and a number were seen today some transporting acorns around the park as their American cousins do. I'm wondering if this is a migration year though as there were a number around this morning, or maybe I am out of touch ! Manage to get a good view of a Great-spotted Woodpecker (that red undertail!) and heard a nearby Green, also a Great Cormorant flew over - another newly qualified name since I was last here!
The Horse Chestnut trees are changing colour nicely. There were plenty of fruit coverings around the trees so I am assuming that conkers is still somewhat popular, although you don't hear much about it these days and it seem pretty old-fashioned.
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