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18-11-2007, 06:22 AM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,533
| | | Grey Phalarope
We were very privileged to see a Grey Phalarope that had dropped into a Kent reserve yesterday. We watched it's curious feeding ritual of turning in circles. Lovely little thing, but too distant to get any shots I'm afraid. Anyone else seen one?
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
18-11-2007, 06:29 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,561
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
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18-11-2007, 06:30 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,954
| |  Re: Grey Phalarope
Nice one WW! I've seen a handful, but only one fairly close, but like all phalaropes they are splendid birds to watch. I'd love to see one in breeding plumage as they are striking birds + bit like the Dotterel it's the female who has the brighter plumage, while the poor male gets left to do the hard work (I can see you smiling at this from here Jules!).
In North America it's known as the Red Phalarope because of it's stunning colours. There was one around the Thames near Purfleet for some time last winter but I never managed to get up there to see it. Perhaps your bird came down on these winds that have brought down record numbers of Little Auks over last week or so. |
18-11-2007, 06:36 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,533
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Yes it was great to see and had drawn a fair crowd, all at a respectful distance, enjoying this lonesome bird that was commuting between ditches. I hope it makes it back to where it should be.
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
18-11-2007, 06:38 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Small North Lincolnshire village
Posts: 6,868
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Very nice find Jules, I missed the one on my local patch that Tormentil managed.
Roger |
18-11-2007, 06:43 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,533
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ollie  Very nice find Jules, I missed the one on my local patch that Tormentil managed.
Roger | It was a pity that we couldn't get a shot for you all but it was a fair distance and the wind didn't help. The spotting scopes wobbled in the wind too.
Boy is was cold out there yesterday. I'm still thawing out!
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
18-11-2007, 07:57 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,024
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
I have been lucky enough to have seen quite a few over the years, some of them down to a few feet. However this bird that I have attached actually walked within 1" of my feet, and other birds feet as well) at Chasewater, near Brownhills on 30/11/2003. As I was digiscoping at the time I couldn't actually take a photo of the bird that close. Now if I had my DSLR then I can only imagine the photos I would have got.  
John |
18-11-2007, 08:27 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,533
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Quote:
Originally Posted by John I have been lucky enough to have seen quite a few over the years, some of them down to a few feet. However this bird that I have attached actually walked within 1" of my feet, and other birds feet as well) at Chasewater, near Brownhills on 30/11/2003. As I was digiscoping at the time I couldn't actually take a photo of the bird that close. Now if I had my DSLR then I can only imagine the photos I would have got.
John | Nice images John. Certainly characterful little birds. The one we saw seemed fit and well and apparently displaying normal behaviour, just a bit off course I suppose.
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
18-11-2007, 08:33 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,024
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Hi Jules
There are plenty around at the moment. We do get them in fair numbers each year and they can turn up anywhere, even on the smallest of waters.
Most bizarre so far this year have been on a puddle behind a pub and walking along an east Norfolk Road.
John Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman Nice images John. Certainly characterful little birds. The one we saw seemed fit and well and apparently displaying normal behaviour, just a bit off course I suppose. | |
18-11-2007, 08:36 AM
|  | New Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 18
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
There was one stopped over for a couple of days on The Flashes at Upton Warren (Worcs.) |
18-11-2007, 08:36 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,954
| | Re: Grey Phalarope
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hi Jules
There are plenty around at the moment. We do get them in fair numbers each year and they can turn up anywhere, even on the smallest of waters.
Most bizarre so far this year have been on a puddle behind a pub and walking along an east Norfolk Road.
John | That must have been worth seeing John-a Grey Phalarope in a puddle by a pub; enjoy while supping a pint! |
18-11-2007, 08:38 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SE Northumberland
Posts: 2,164
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Theres one in Blyth harbour a couple of miles away from me at present.
Mark H |
18-11-2007, 08:39 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,024
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
I must admit that whejn it came up on the pager I thought it was a wind up but it was regularly reported for a few days before disappearing.
John Quote:
Originally Posted by aeshna5 That must have been worth seeing John-a Grey Phalarope in a puddle by a pub; enjoy while supping a pint! | |
18-11-2007, 08:48 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,024
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
We have had a few here in the Midlands.
Warwickshire has seen them at Brandon Marsh, Draycote, Shustoke Reservoir and Earlswood.
Worcs have seen them at Upton Warren, Defford, Upper Bittell & Bredons Hardwick
Staffs had one at Blithfield
Even Birmingham has got in on the act when one visited Bartley Green reservoir.
John Quote:
Originally Posted by yorky There was one stopped over for a couple of days on The Flashes at Upton Warren (Worcs.) | |
18-11-2007, 06:51 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,196
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
I saw a Grey Phalarope at Welche's Dam three weeks ago. I wasnt able to identify it at the time. Thanks for posting this. Another one to add to the never seen before list.
jaki
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18-11-2007, 07:01 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Oxfordshire
Posts: 1,379
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
We had one at Farmoor Res a few weeks back. Showed no sign of being afraid of our presence and could get quite close.
Have seen quite a few over the years in Oxon, also at sea in the Bay of Biscay and other places.
Paul
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18-11-2007, 07:08 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,548
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman We were very privileged to see a Grey Phalarope that had dropped into a Kent reserve yesterday. We watched it's curious feeding ritual of turning in circles. Lovely little thing, but too distant to get any shots I'm afraid. Anyone else seen one? | Well done Jules .... excellent sighting for you and Elmley.
I normally see a Grey Phalarope somewhere each year but I have not seen one this year.
I was at Elmley today but couldn't find the bird that you saw (I assume your "Kent reserve" was at Elmley?) although I did have very good views of a female Merlin and a female Peregrine.
Richard |
18-11-2007, 07:19 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,533
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Yes it was Elmley Richard. We caught the Peregrine on the long walk back out of the reserve. Once again, the shots were blurred because of the wind.
So Richard-you've ventured across into Kent again...hope you bought your pass. 
It was flipping cold yesterday, it must have been like Siberia today! 
Jules 
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
20-11-2007, 06:11 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Suffolk Coast
Posts: 878
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Quote:
Originally Posted by John I have been lucky enough to have seen quite a few over the years, some of them down to a few feet. However this bird that I have attached actually walked within 1" of my feet, and other birds feet as well) at Chasewater, near Brownhills on 30/11/2003. As I was digiscoping at the time I couldn't actually take a photo of the bird that close. Now if I had my DSLR then I can only imagine the photos I would have got.
John | The quality of your photos really annoys me John 
Super, super little bird. |
22-11-2007, 06:38 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Erith, Kent
Posts: 333
| | | Re: Grey Phalarope
Hello all,
The Grey Phalarope is still present today at Elmley...
Mick.. | | |
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