Great Lives Series 50 - 5. Alfred Russel Wallace

GREAT LIVES SERIES 50 - 5. ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE (320kbs-m4a/63mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 31st December 2019

Bill Bailey has not just travelled in naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace's footsteps, he's crazy about him too. "I love him, I really do." Wallace is best known for what used to be known as the Wallace-Darwin theory of evolution. When he died in 1913, the New York Times called him the last of the 'giants belonging to that wonderful group of intellectuals ... whose daring investigations revolutionised and evolutionised the thought of the century."

Born in 1823, Wallace was a collector, a writer, a keen conservationist, and Bill has been to Borneo to see Wallace's famous flying frog.

With Sandy Knapp of the Natural History Museum, and presented by Matthew Parris.
The producer in Bristol is Miles Warde.

Discovery - A Sense Of Time

DISCOVERY - A SENSE OF TIME (96kbs-m4a/18mb/26mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 6th May 2019

Our senses create the world we experience. But do animals have a ‘sense’ of time, and does that differ between species, or between us and other animals?

We know that animal senses reveal a wealth of information that humans can't access. Birds can see in ultra violet, and some fish can 'feel' electricity. So perhaps their sense of time is similar.

If you've ever tried to swat flies, you'll know that they seem to have super-powered reactions that let them escape before you can blink. Presenter Geoff Marsh asks whether flies have some sort of super-power to see the world in slow motion. Are they watching your hand come down at what might appear a leisurely pace?

Science reveals a window into the minds of different species and their temporal perceptions. Some birds have such fast vision that they can see and react to movement at twice the speed you can, and our vision works at more than six times the speed of one species of deep sea fish. This programme delves into each moment of experience to ask 'what is time, biologically?' When birds have to dodge through forests and catch flies on the wing, or when flies have to avoid those birds, it would seem that a faster temporal resolution would be a huge advantage.

Geoff meets physicist Carlo Rovelli and asks him to jump outside of physics to answer questions on biology and philosophy. Geoff explores the mind of a bat with Professor Yossi Yovel in Israel, and dissects birdsong at super slow speeds with BBC wildlife sound recordist, Chris Watson. Getting deep into the minds of animals he questions whether our seconds feel like swordfish seconds, or a beetles' or birds' or bats'..?

Presenter: Geoff Marsh
Producer: Rory Galloway

Picture: Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea) male flying from branch, Itanhaem, Brazil
Credit: Getty images

Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Prestwick Carr 8th January 2020

An Eastern Yellow Wagtail was discovered by local birder Paul Cassells at Prestwick Carr, Northumberland on 14th December 2019. I was hoping to visit Norfolk to see the Eastern Yellow Wagtail (aka Alaskan Yellow Wagtail aka Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail) at Sedgeford with the bonus of a Desert Wheatear at Eccles-on-Sea, but with negative news on the Wheatear yesterday I decided to head to Northumberland early this morning, arriving at Prestwick Carr mid-morning.

There were a couple of birders present looking through gaps in the hedge into the flooded field about 100yds north of the farm buildings, where the Eastern Yellow Wagtail had been viewed most frequently. However, it wasn't on view, although it had been very close a short time before my arrival! The westerly wind was bitterly cold causing my eyes to water, making the task of locating the bird even more difficult. I was soon alone gazing across the flooded field.

A few more birders arrived and shortly after someone came from around the corner telling us the bird was on view in the small paddock immediately to the west of the farm buildings. We all watched the Eastern Yellow Wagtail in glorious sunshine in this rather sheltered spot for some time. There were also Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits & Redwings in the field & suddenly they all took flight. Folks seemed to have been satisfied with the views they had and wandered off, but I wanted some more so went back to the favoured area. Sure enough, a couple of birders were watching the bird. We all had excellent close views for quite a while, so close the bird disappeared momentarily under the hedge a few times.

Siberian Stonechat, Ashton's Flash 5th January 2020

An 'Eastern' Stonechat was found at Ashton's Flash, near Northwich, by local birder David Bedford on 24th December 2019. Whether this bird is Siberian or Stejneger's it's a first for Cheshire & Wirral. DNA has been collected, so we should know for sure in a couple of weeks.

I popped over to Ashton's Flash this morning, not having any transport over the Christmas period. A small group of maybe half a dozen birders were watching the 'Eastern' Stonechat when I arrived on site. The bird performed pretty well being on view when I arrived & for the whole of my stay, a little east of the bund bench.

Videos by Pete Hines

 

Update: 20th January 2020 - DNA confirmed as Siberian Stonechat

Hume's Warbler + Stejneger's Stonechat, Easington 10th November 2019

A trip over to the East coast was required on Sunday morning since both Hume's Warbler and Siberian/Stejneger's Stonechat were present near Spurn at Easington along Eastfield Road (also known as Peter Lane). Setting off early I arrived on site mid-morning.

As it turned out both birds were within 50yds of each other. The Hume's Warbler gave excellent views as it made its way to and fro along the hedge bordering Peter Lane, whilst the 'Eastern' Stonechat stayed around the flooded field close to some farm buildings.

Photo of Hume's Warbler by Simon Knight.

Whether the 'Eastern' Stonechat is Siberian or Stejneger's is someting only DNA analysis or in-the-hand obsevations will be able to tell. One of the Spurn Observatory members was trying to trap the chat, but I don't know whether he was successful. At present its identity is undecided.

Photos of 'Eastern' Stonechat by Simon Knight: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4

I headed for Spurn Point and as I approached Kilnsea Wetlands I noticed a group of birders looking at something opposite the Wetlands Centre. I pulled over to find they were watching a Black Brant with its hybrid offspring. A new bird for me, but only the American subspecies of Brent Goose, of which there were many present.

Update: 6th December 2019 - DNA confirmation of the Easington chat as Stejneger's Stonechat.

Egyptian Goose, Denhall 10th October 2019

An Egyptian Goose turned up at Denhall on 1st October 2019, first reported via Wirral Birders WhatsApp group. I popped over there earlier today to take a look.

At first I was unable to locate the Egyptian Goose, but it then appeared at the back of the near flooded area on the left, working its way along a fenceline & disappearing at times or with just its head & neck visible.

A female/immature type Hen Harrier glided past whilst I was searching for the Egyptian Goose. The harrassing calls of a group of Crows alerted me. They continued to harrass the Harrier, which seemed to take little notice, flicking left and right until the Crows lost interest. The Hen Harrier headed towards Burton Point and out of view.

Red-eyed Vireo, Church Cove 3rd October 2019

A Red-eyed Vireo was found by local birder D. Collins (who also found the Brown Booby at Kynance Cove) in the grounds of St. Wynwallow's Church at Church Cove, The Lizard, Cornwall last Wednesday 2nd October 2019. Since this species was one of my most wanted transatlantic vagrants I headed out early doors Thursday morning, arriving on site early afternoon.

The weather was not too good, overcast with light rain. Fortunately, the few folks at the far end of the church car park were on the bird when I arrived. I managed several brief views of the Red-eyed Vireo as it moved about the ivy-covered Sycamores. A short while later I obtained my best views upon relocating the bird in the same area. It sat atop a lower branch for a minute or so before disappearing and not reappearing that day as the weather worsened.

After spending the night at an old friend's house I headed back to Curch Cove the following morning, arriving early afternoon, hoping for better views of the Red-eyed Vireo. The weather was much better, so it looked good. Unfortunately, although there were more birders on site than the previous day, the bird was not seen whilst I was present.

St Wynwallow's Church car park

Photo by Peter Garrity

Video by John Chapple