WILSON'S SNIPE still present in Finland

Some more pictures and recordings from 23rd of April can be found on my websites:

koti.mbnet.fi/caligata

I also took a short video which is on Youtube.

Direct links: Pictures (my wife Hanna took the last picture):

http://koti.mbnet.fi/caligata/lintukuvat2/Galdel.html

Recordings:

http://koti.mbnet.fi/caligata/aanitykset/Galdel1.mp3
http://koti.mbnet.fi/caligata/aanitykset/Galdel2.mp3

And also a short video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Hato3q2VQ

Janne Allto

ISRAEL birding Summary - March 2010

Summary with photographs of last month's sightings is available at:

http://www.israbirding.com/reports/monthly_summaries/mar_10/

Any one who has additional contributions, kindly let me know, we willhappily publish new updates.

Best Regards, Avner Cohen, Israbirding.com

WILSON'S SNIPE in Finland - for third consecutive summer!

A WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata) has displayed since 22.4.2010 at Laukaa (central Finland, near city of Jyväskylä). The bird was still present last night (being apparently most active at night but also displaying sometimes in broad daylight).

From a twitching perspective it's interesting to note that apparently the same bird has been seen/heard on same site in summer 2008 and 2009 (but not identified as Wilson's S. then). In previous years it has been displaying well into May. An attempt will be made to catch and ring the bird tomorrow (with subsequent days as spare days in case of bad weather etc.).

Recordings: http://www.tarsiger.com/sounds/index.php?sp=find&lang=eng&order=nro,paiva%20DESC&species=14980

Photos: http://www.tarsiger.com/gallery/index.php?sp=find&lang=eng&order=nro,paiva%20DESC&species=14980

Sonogram analysis (in Finnish only but pictures may still be understood): http://surfbirds.com/blog/soundsfromnature/15382/Amerikantaivaanvuohikandin+spektrit.html

The observation site is at Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=62.347299,25.928872&spn=0.004422,0.016512&z=17

Martin Helin, Finland

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH trapped and ringed in France

A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Seiurus noveboracensis) was trapped and ringedyesterday (27/04/2010) on Porquerolles Island, South-east France ! Photos on

http://www.faune-paca.org/index.php?m_id=54&mid=5719

This is the first record on the French Mediterranean coast, and the 3rd for France (per Amine Flitti)

EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER trapped in East Spain

On Saturday 17 April, an EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus orientalis) was captured by Joan Castelló at Llobregat Delta, Barcelona. Sunday early morning Marcel Gil has relocated the bird in the same place. More information and GPS coordinates at Reservoir Birds webpage http:///www.reservoirbirds.com. Photos of this First for Spain coming soon! (per Ferran López)

VERRAUX'S EAGLE in Eilot Mountains, ISRAEL

An adult VERREAUX'S EAGLE was seen this morning at 09:40 at the lower Eilat Mtns. The bird was seen soaring quite low and slowly moving north, probably searching for Hyrax. The Eagle was seen on the north side of the road, just above the oil tanks and first army base going up the Mtns road. The observation was very brief, only about 15 seconds, and as the the bird was located from a driving bus by the time we got on it it was already flying away.

Apparently there is an adult roaming the Mtns, as this is the 3rd time a Verreaux's Eagle is observed at the Mtns in the past 2 weeks (per Jonathan Meyrav)

BLACK VULTURE in Denmark

Today at 12:52 hours mr. Andreas Bruun Kristensen from the Danish RaritiesCommittee, along with Ib Jensen og Morten Kofoed Hansen ("Team Cheferne ifelten"), discovered a Eurasian Black Vulture *Aegypius monachus* near the Cheminova plant at Harboøre Tange near Lemvig, Vestjylland, Denmark. The bird was sitting at times during easterly winds. Also a migrating Red Kite and Osprey were seen.

The Black Vulture had a white bleached feather in the middle of the left wing. So far I have received no other information on the bird's plumage, nor if it is wearing rings.

Surely, the same bird, descibed as an adult, was seen on 24th March in the NE Netherlands http://waarneming.nl/waarneming/view/46994264

The bird is perhaps the now infamous "Thécla" released in the French Alps on 8th December 2008http://verdon.lpo.fr/actualites/actualites.html

This could be a new bird for Denmark, but apparently such records only make it to category E as most of our Lammegeiers. Another Danish record of a sure escape was one at various Vestjylland sites during 17th August to 13th September 1974.

Rolf Christensen