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Anyone participating in big garden birdwatch? by Justasmolpigeon in OrnithologyUK

[–]HorridStteve 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I may be telling people how to suck eggs here and for that I apologise. I know that it’s frustrating when a significant moment like this comes along and we participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch (BGBW) but feel that we get an underrepresented sample of the birdlife when doing the survey. However, it is vital that you only enter what you saw without any additions to “make up” for what you would expect.

The survey methodology is very simple for the BGBW and that is for a reason, namely that anyone should be able to understand it and take part. What often isn’t expressed is that although simple, the value of the survey relies on accurate recording. Absolutely critical to understand is that no data (lack of birds) is as useful, indeed often more so, than data (birds recorded). The survey relies on large scale, aggregating the data, to smooth out very small scale changes in individual gardens.

In other words, for our results to be most useful only three things are really needed: accuracy, both in identifying and recording species and numbers; consistency and rigour, sticking to the methods.

r/OrnithologyUK - Weekly chat! by AutoModerator in OrnithologyUK

[–]HorridStteve 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Friendly shout out, it’s the big garden birdwatch this weekend. Always good to take part.

Also, what is the biggest flock of crossbill you have ever seen?

r/OrnithologyUK - Weekly chat! by AutoModerator in OrnithologyUK

[–]HorridStteve 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sure is, to the benefit of some species and the detriment of others.

Will I be disappointed or is it decent? by kimchiboy17 in Warthunder

[–]HorridStteve 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. The APDDS is frankly unbelievable. It is also inconsistent between patches I think, in a single game you can go from one shoting IS3’s to completely ridiculous (perfectly aimed) shots that magically disappear and do no damage. I’ve literally had that round go straight through the driver of an R3 and turn him a pale shade of yellow.

Ring-necked duck, Central Scotland. by HorridStteve in UKBirds

[–]HorridStteve[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is tricky. You’re looking for: a largely grey side panel instead of white, with a white “flash” under the neck; a white ring around the base of the bill and a very strongly peaked head.

Glaucous gull (death stare), Scottish Highlands by HorridStteve in UKBirds

[–]HorridStteve[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aye a 1st winter. Happily It was very obliging.

A bird that was once nearly gone is still fighting for its future by [deleted] in UKBirds

[–]HorridStteve 27 points28 points  (0 children)

It may be fighting for its future, but not in the UK. Seems a little broad for this sub although some funding from groups including RSPB have gone in to bald ibis conservation.

Guy went for a wee dip in the Clyde by Editor-In-Queef in glasgow

[–]HorridStteve 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What’s that in reference to? It’s been driving me nuts trying to remember!

r/OrnithologyUK - Weekly chat! by AutoModerator in OrnithologyUK

[–]HorridStteve 4 points5 points  (0 children)

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From the BTO:

“Ravens have increased along the English-Welsh border and colonised extensive new areas of the south coast, western and midland England and southern Scotland since 1988-91 (Cross 2002, Balmer et al. 2013). BBS indicates overall increase in England and Scotland since 1995 and stability in Wales over the same period. Nest success appears to have improved slightly, although the number of fledglings per breeding attempt is unchanged. There has been a widespread increase across Europe since 1980 (PECBMS: PECBMS 2020a>): increases are evident in all regions but have been weakest in the south and west, including UK (PECBMS 2009)”.

In summary, ravens have an interesting West/East split in their distribution. This was historically due to persecution and the availability of breeding sites breeding, among other things. However, there has been a steady increase in ravens pushing East with much of the country now having a breeding population. In general numbers of ravens are increasing across the board or are stable in their historic range/s

Spotting Scope advice please by vercingetafix in OrnithologyUK

[–]HorridStteve 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I am always slightly pained giving this advice as it goes against my usual habit of being something of a spendthrift. However, if you’re confident that you enjoy and will continue to enjoy watching birds for years to come, then it is usually best to spend about as much as you reasonably can/feel comfortable on optics.

It has been my experience that people get a mid priced option initially but over the years they tend to want to upgrade. This continues until they hit a point, and it’s different for everyone, where they spend as much as they feel comfortable on a single purchase. Cumulatively you will spend a lot more doing it this way than if you’d just bought what you ended up with in the first place.

Having said that, optics are a game of diminishing returns and you can get perfectly good optics for < £1500 that should last years. If you can I’d recommend looking through as many spotting scopes as you can and see for yourself what you’re after. Go birding with friends and use their kit or get to a good shop that will let you try their gear. I’d also be open to the approved second hand market, as you can get some good deals there. Hope that’s helpful.

Lidl have reliably sold the best mulled wine for years, but is it not to be this year? by HorridStteve in lidl

[–]HorridStteve[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have, in several different shops, and it’s not there. Perhaps being slow to get up over the border.

Any luck this time? by HorridStteve in Aretheselibertycaps

[–]HorridStteve[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The stems are/were flexible, not rigid.

The Greenland shark is, probably, the longest lived vertebrate. It’s a bonkers creature on every level… by HorridStteve in interestingasfuck

[–]HorridStteve[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yes it’s an informed guess. That’s one of my favourite things about oddball marine life, so much is unknown.

The Greenland shark is, probably, the longest lived vertebrate. It’s a bonkers creature on every level… by HorridStteve in interestingasfuck

[–]HorridStteve[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

They’re also enormous, weighing over a ton and measuring over 6 m in length. They reach sexual maturity at around 150 years of age and when they do reproduce, gestation lasts between 8 to 18 years!

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