tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post2336563328478421726..comments2022-03-26T21:50:16.525+01:00Comments on birding the costa: 01/04 : Lesser Moorhen -- to be or not to be?Andy Patersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-62331382587612515832012-04-03T21:15:52.846+02:002012-04-03T21:15:52.846+02:00Hi Simon:
Idea is good, my dearl Holmes, but it me...Hi Simon:<br />Idea is good, my dearl Holmes, but it means going through a screen, round in front of the hide, rummaging around and as the reserve is well guarded, I rather suspect that one would end up being escorted by either the Guaradia Civil or the local police.<br />AndyAndy Patersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-17782685205233831942012-04-03T10:58:58.543+02:002012-04-03T10:58:58.543+02:00Clutching at straws here but anyway... that bent o...Clutching at straws here but anyway... that bent over brown tipped stem in the first photo looks fairly distinctive, I have no idea of the size of this wetland but if that stem could be located and measured it could then be used to calculate the length of the bird from the photos, thus proving this one way or another, which would be very neat. Not the most exciting idea for a day out I've ever had, but you never know what you might find whilst searching for the stem! <br /><br />I won't comment on the ID because I know no more than anyone else with google and a few books, and I've never seen a Lesser. <br /><br />Simon MahoodAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-60816482816704777812012-04-02T19:52:51.053+02:002012-04-02T19:52:51.053+02:00Richard:
It has absolutely no connection with Apri...Richard:<br />It has absolutely no connection with April Fool's Day and was seen on 31 March. One doesn't joke about things like this, just regret having put the news out!<br />AndyAndy Patersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-2000130182386616522012-04-02T14:04:16.875+02:002012-04-02T14:04:16.875+02:00Andy,
I take it that the date of publication of th...Andy,<br />I take it that the date of publication of the blog has no bearing on this record? (1st April, April Fool's day!)<br /><br />Richard Howardmurciabirderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04994695997171248989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-28260643947300230982012-04-02T11:03:16.253+02:002012-04-02T11:03:16.253+02:00Ernest:
Surely the size differences, as pointed o...Ernest: <br />Surely the size differences, as pointed out in the blogs, would rule out the Moorhen identity, unless it's a runt bird and I don't believe much in those.<br />AndyAndy Patersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799621501862000536.post-13828169728278436642012-04-02T11:01:38.578+02:002012-04-02T11:01:38.578+02:00SENT BY ME ON BEHALF OF DR. ERNEST GARCÍA
Lesser M...SENT BY ME ON BEHALF OF DR. ERNEST GARCÍA<br />Lesser Moorhen? I have no experience of this species but I have consulted the accounts in HBW, Birds of West Africa and the SASOL Guide to birds of Southern Africa. The clincher would seem to be size: the Lesser Moorhen is 22–26cm long and the Common Moorhen is 30–36cm. The latter is also twice the weight of the former. The Lesser Moorhen is apparently much more skulking than the Common Moorhen. The bird in question is not in immature plumage and the dorsal feathering is very worn. The legs lack the red garter at the top (as does the Lesser Moorhen). The bill colour should be useful but is ambiguous. The overall colour is yellowish (good for Lesser Moorhen) and the culmen is dark but not red. The frontal shield is yellowish with a red margin – inconclusive for either species – although it seems small for a Common Moorhen; but is it pointed enough for Lesser Moorhen? In short, it would be helpful to have more pictures, especially one of this bird alongside a Common Moorhen. As things stand, I can see that it may well be a Lesser Moorhen but, on available evidence, I cannot rule out a youngish Common Moorhen whose bill colour has not yet developed fully. Ernest Garcia.Andy Patersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469027232217234652noreply@blogger.com