Goose Barnacles

 Goose Barnacles

These magnificent specimens were found by ATh.washed up at Hadston.

Info below copied from web-sites.

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Barnacles.html

November - December 2015

Thousands of clumps of Goose Barnacles, Lepas anatifera, attached to floating objects have been washed ashore all along the south coast from Cornwall to Kent. Those strandings occur very year, but it seems that more than the usual number were discovered this winter. Diligent beachcombers have discovered the tiny Columbus Crabs, Planes minutus. amongst the wrecks, as well as few of the other pelagic Goose Barnacles like Lepas anserifera.

Lepas anatifera is a pelagic barnacle that can be found attached to a variety of floating objects, including driftwood, bottles, boats, buoys, macroalgal rafts, and turtles. It can also be found on fixed objects such as rocks and off-shore structures. This species is most abundant in tropical and subtropical waters where sea temperatures exceed

 18-20 ºC.

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepas_anatifera/

Wikipedia entry

In the days before it was realised that birds migrate, it was thought that barnacle geese, Branta leucopsis, developed from this crustacean, since they were never seen to nest in temperate Europe,[2] hence the English names "goose barnacle", "barnacle goose" and the scientific name Lepas anserifera (Latin anser = "goose"). The confusion was prompted by the similarities in colour and shape. Because they were often found on driftwood, it was assumed that the barnacles were attached to branches before they fell in the water. The Welsh monk, Giraldus Cambrensis, made this claim in his Topographia Hiberniae.[3]

Since barnacle geese were thought to be "neither flesh, nor born of flesh", they were allowed to be eaten on days when eating meat was forbidden by Christianity,[2] though it was not universally accepted. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II examined barnacles and noted no evidence of any bird-like embryo in them, and the secretary of Leo of Rozmital wrote a very skeptical account of his reaction to being served the goose at a fast-day dinner in 1456.[4]

These Barnacles were still alive and attempts to re-float the log just resulted in it being washed back ashore.

Grey Days

I don't normally complain about the lack of light in the summer but the past few days have been awful. The fog today means I'm updating the blog when I should be out birding. (Maybe later?)

GCGs have at least two young. There were 3+ pairs attempting to nest but this is the only success so far. There may be another pair on the nearby pool. It also looks as if the Widdy Moor pair have failed.

About time. My first Cuckoo of the year, this one around the Hadston/Chev area.

ATh kindly informed me of the presence of these Little Terns on the beach so I duly twitched them.

Finally this Shrew was not very well and kept wandering on to the path. I managed to stop two lots of dogs catching it before catching it myself and releasing it into some thicker vegetation

A Hint of Summer

No, sorry, your camouflage is not good enough!

The hides provided by NWT finally have some thankful visitors.

Two broods of 6 and 5 Mute Swan cygnets seemed to have disappeared. Only one cygnet was on the North pool on Monday and Tuesday. I thought Otters may have been responsible. Today the group of 6 cygnets returned? (We're still missing 4.)

Having been at Chevington early morning, hoping to hear a Crake calling, I reversed my daily route and followed with visits to Lynemouth, Cresswell and Druridge.

Sadly the Crake which gave the briefest of flight views on Tuesday was not seen and not calling. It was small (smaller than Water Rail), pale brown and short bill.

So I eventually arrived at Druridge and stumbled upon two Spoonbills. Having just left AC and MS, and having said Spoonbills were at East Boldon yesterday I still hadn't expected to see them so soon. I noticed JA's car but couldn't see him so decided to call ... straight to voicemail. I was sure he must have seen them and sure enough, he had already spotted them from the Budge Screen, but had left his phone in the car.

I let AC and MS know the good news but before they arrived the horses started galloping around the field and the Spoonbills decided to head off North. Amazingly they were not relocated.

Still a Chance

Broad-billed Sandpiper

(Check birdguides for some much better photos by FG)

I was delighted to get a text from AC alerting me to the B-b S. Found by a visitor to the area, thanks whoever your are! The last one I saw was at East Chevington, when the South pool was an attractive site for waders.

Common Terns

Birders in Northumberland will now start to turn their interests to butterflies and Dragons. However, there is still time for some surprising bird finds.

With builders/plumbers creating my new bathroom, I still managed a little birding last week and there was plenty to hold the interest. Displaying Ruff, GWE still in the bay and thanks to MW my first Arctic Tern.

Plenty of Activity in the reedbed.

Still no Cuckoo or Greenshank for the patch. Might catch-up on some inland birds if I can tear myself away from the painting. 

Update ... A Decent Week in the Bay

Well it has been a good week Enough variety to re-kindle my enthusiasm for the patch after the excesses of USA birding.

These smart Ruff were at Lynemouth.

Spotted Flycatcher, Icterine Warbler and Common Rosefinch at Druridge had me searching other hotspots. Three Roseate Terns on the rocks at Newbiggin were good to see. Even a trip to 'birdless' Cambois didn't dampen the spirits.

I briefly considered the drive to Newton for the Ibis, but decided against the trip, so I was delighted when I stumbled upon them at Druridge. I was a little disappointed to learn they had been seen flying in by TF and JF a little earlier from the Budge Screen. Just waiting now for the fun run to finish so I can get to Chevington. Yesterday I had a splendid male Wheatear along the track which got the pulse racing as it was so unexpected.

This was lingering off East Chevington?

I was surprised and pleased to find the track to Chevington open early. On the beach two pools have formed; one was being used for feeding by about 100 terns, the other for bathing. I was really pleased to find 3 Roseate Terns and 4 Little Gulls in amongst them.

Rosy

A Few Calls

After a busy holiday it is always difficult to slip back into patch birding mode.

These safety notices and the bank-holiday weekend fun run do not help. I imagine the track at Chevington will be closed on Sunday.

When I left for Arizona the first few Whitethroats had arrived, now, they're everywhere.

Breeding is well underway with our commoner birds. Fully fledged Stonechats, rows of Shelduck ducklings, scattered lapwing chicks and goslings (say no more).

Tuesday I got a call from JA (Thanks John) to let me know about a Little Stint on the tiny flash North of Druridge pools. It was accompanied by 5 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin. It remained fairly settled despite the best action of barking dog, farmer's quad and rampaging cattle.

This morning, while seawatching, I received a text from AC (thanks Andy) to let me know about a Bonaparte's Gull at Castle Island, Ashington.  This bird hung around long enough for some record shots. It spent most of the time facing into the stiff, cool breeze. Then it decided to fly, but headed away towards  the A189 road bridge. I'm sure it will still be around the area.

I resumed my seawatching and best birds of the morning were 10 Manx Shearwaters close in from Snab.

Arizona ... Day 1

All posts about Arizona are now in order if you scroll down the pages!

Arizona, USA. 3^rd May to 16^th May.

Travel to USA was fairly smooth and with my ESTA completed I expected to sail through customs, not quite. I identified my bags and they were sent on to the next flight (you always go through customs at your first point of entry). Then I had to fill in a card of details because it was the first time my ESTA had been used. OK It actually took only 20 minutes and I was ready for my connecting flight.

Chipping Sparrow

Arrived about 9pm local time Tucson, picked up car and had a good sleep. Set off before dawn heading South and had breakfast on the way (you’ll never starve in America). First stop Florida Wash (dry river bed). Large Owl hunting beside I19, then Turkey Vultures leaving roosts. First birds on stopping: Hepatic Tanager, Painted Whitestart (Redstart), Verdin, Mexican Jay, Chipping Sparrow and White-winged Dove.

That buzz of identifying your first few birds is great. Having visited Texas and California they were not all new, so onto Madera Canyon. Here I spent several hours adjusting to the heat, slowing the pace and simply sitting at a feeding station. By now the birding was becoming tricky, as I started finding the flycatchers and frustrating tree top specialists.

Florida Wash

Hepatic Tanager (male)

Wild Turkey 

(yes wild)

Broad-billed Hummingbird

(female B-b H?)

White-winged Dove

Black-headed Grosbeak

Bridled Titmouse

The afternoon was filled by some unplanned visits. Firstly I spotted a new up market housing development near Continental. Lush lawns parks, country club, sprinklers and some welcome shade. Places like this haven’t made it into the site guides yet but water and plants in an arid country have got to be worth a check. Finally, after driving past it several times, I found the Green Valley Water Treatment Plant it is closed to birders until August.

American Robin

A visit to Walmart before finding my accommodation in Nogales allowed me to buy the essential igloo cool box, multi-pack of water and a bag of ice. (Then all the motels along the way provided free ice to top up my cool box.) Day One over only 11 more to go … will I/you make it? (I took nearly 3000 snaps … be warned)

Painted Whitestart

or

Painted Redstart

Red-tailed Hawk

Please let me know if I mess up any of the Identifications. I'm sure to get some of them wrong!