Translate

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

NONBREEDING SPOTTED REDSHANK, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   We can ID this sandpiper as a nonbreeding Spotted Redshank as follows:
  • Grey upperparts
  • Whitish underparts with spotted flanks
  • Red legs
  • Red on bill is only at base of lower mandible (you can see this in the first photo) - this differentiates the Spotted Redshank from the similar Common Redshank, where the red is on the whole bill base

   The Spotted Redshank is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 942.



 

 

CORK OAK TREE, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   The bark of the Cork Oak tree is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as ccork flooring and as the core of cricket balls.  It is one of Portugal's major exports.
   The lower portion of the tree is harvested every 10 years.  The 9 on the tree indicatess it was harvested this year and will be harvested next in 2029.




CRESTED LARKS ON GROUND, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   We can ID this bird as a Crested Lark as follows:
  • You can see the distinctive spiky crest in the upraised position on crown of the lark on the right in the first photo
  • Short broad tail
  • Habitat: on ground in dry area with scarce vegetation 
  • Overall grayish-brown plumage with streaked white breast
  • Merlin bird photo ID app identified this bird as a Crested Lark

   The Crested Lark is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 941.




Monday, October 21, 2019

GREY HERON, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019



COMMON SNIPE, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   We can ID this wading bird as a Common Snipe:
  • Very long, pointed, straight dark bill
  • Mottled brown body with straw-yellow stripes on upperparts
  • Dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it
  • Short neck

   The Common Snipe is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 940.






BREEDING MALE YELLOW-CROWNED BISHOP, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

      We can ID this bird as a breeding male Yellow-crowned Bishop as follows:
  • Black lower face, throat, breast and belly
  • Black collar on back of neck
  • Brilliant yellow crown, forehead and nape
  • Yellow rump and back
  • Brown wings and tail
  • Pinkish legs

   The Yellow-crowned Bishop is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 939.





MALE EUROPEAN STONECHAT, LISBON REGION,PORTUGAL, 9/29/2019

   We can ID this bird as a male European Stonechat as follows:
  • Distinctive black head extending to middle of nape set off by big white patch on sides of neck
  • Black bill and tail
  • Orange-rufous  breast extending down to flanks
  • Creamy white belly and undertail coverts
  • Black upperparts with edged brown feathers on mantel

   The European Stonechat is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 938.