Exotic birds fly into Wales

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Western Mail

Exotic birds fly into Wales
by Sion Morgan, Western Mail
Apr 28 2011

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/upl/icwales2/apr2011/6/0/bee-eater-802635170.jpg

They’re normally spotted in the more exotic climes of Africa, South America and the Mediterranean. But changing global climates are bringing some unusual avian visitors to Wales, as Sion Morgan reports

From the African plains to the mountains of the Himalayas, from the wilderness of Alaska to the South American jungle, it seems the world’s most exotic birds are increasingly visiting our Welsh shores.

A number of exotic species are now appearing in our gardens and could soon change the landscape of the countryside forever.
Bird watching is changing and the scale of rare, colourful and plain alien species in Wales has been revealed by the Welsh Ornithological Society (WOS).

According to their records, in the past 12 months African bee-eaters and purple herons have been seen in Anglesey, North American great white egrets in parts of the former Gwent and a stunning South American bobolink in St Davids, Pembrokeshire.

Read more: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/04/28/exotic-birds-fly-into-wales-91466-28595925/

[druidity33]

1. Wales is full of magic...

this doesn't surprise me somehow.

Wonder what it "means"?

:shrug:

K&R

[zonkers]

2. It means we have screwd up the earth profoundly. Morning!

[aquart]

3. Yes, but it also means that creatures great and small

are finding their own ways to survive.

[cpwm17]

4. Some birds seem to be spreading to the US also

Along the Arizona boarder with Mexico the ranges of several bird species seem to be spreading north to the US. It makes birding more interesting, though the increasing droughts don't help.

[Beams1969]

5. What is the average air speed of the unladen swallow?

African or European?

[dipsydoodle]

6. Is this a coconut post ?

:rofl:

[dipsydoodle]

7. Is Madame Pamita there with her uke ?

Madame Pamita "My Southern Can Is Mine" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd1LLYAXUnE

[Judi Lynn]

9. Heavenly! Thanks, a lot. Sort of. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

10. Well they don't come much more exotic than her.

We were in touch before she last came to London and I drove down to say hello. :)

[Judi Lynn]

12. It's starting to look as if you know a great many musicians, and assorted music-related people.

Her group, and associates seem very interesting. They even observe "Uketoberfest!" How civilized.

[JawJaw]

8. Change Gonna Come

There's also been an increase in rare shark sightings off the coast of Wales in recent years.

The warmer weather is probably a good thing for Welsh tourism. There's plenty of rainfall too. Maybe in 20 or 30 years time there will be a healthy Welsh wine industry.

In the longer term however, changes in the Atlantic jet-stream could have pretty devastating consequences for us all.

[snooper2]

11. Why would they fly into Wales? Is the Wale hungry? Looking for Shelter?

New Whale high speed transit service? :)

[alfredo]

23. Africa has too many vowels, so they were delivering

the excess to vowel deficient Wales.

[bigworld]

13. Wot?! Girls from London?

[Javaman]

14. And here I thought that was the beginning of a joke.nt

[Uncle Joe]

15. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Judi Lynn.

[NickB79]

16. South American bobolink? Damn, that's a long flight for a little bird. nt

[XemaSab]

19. That's not exactly accurate

They winter in Central and South America and breed in North America. It probably blew across from New England and Wales was the first land it hit. You can see that tinge of purple in Wales on the range map. :D

http://ebird.org/ebird/map/boboli?neg=true&_neg=on

[pitohui]

20. yeah how does a south american bobolink differ from any other bobolink?

i thought they were exactly the same birds, but maybe i should have taken a closer look

[CreekDog]

17. Just like Jonah

:hide:

[Odin2005]

18. But I was told that climate change is a liberal lie!!!

:sarcasm:

[Avant Guardian]

21. Not a lie, a HOAX

It's a massive hoax played upon the world by the likes of NASA, the NOAA, the National Academy of Sciences, and fifty thousand or so scientists.

[Avant Guardian]

22. It's a Photoshopped sparrow

OK, bad joke...