Sunday, May 2, 2010

Tetrads

A tetrad by definition is the cardinal number of 3 plus 1. For our purposes its the researh of bird populations, over a defined area, researched 4 times. In layman's terms it means identifying birds, their behavior in a given area to determine population, breeding etc. That way we can know if populations are static, on the rise or in decline. For me its a great excuse to see the english country side and to learn more about the wildlife of the UK.

Over the 3 weeks in England we identified 114 different species of birds. Pretty good eh?!



Some of the farmland would walk to identify birds and their behavior. We covered a specific area over a specific time of 2 hours.



I liked this tree! The lakes district is simply one of the most beautiful places I have been.



Dr Jim Fowler negotiating one of the many styles we have to climb.



And the roads we walked. This is what is so enchanting- you can walk across farmland and really see and appreciate what is on offer.

Below is my bird list, you will have to scoll down to see what was my favorite bird of the trip and why....:-


01. Dunnock
02. Herring Gull
03. Mallard
04. Pheasant
05. Rook
06. Mute Swan
07. Buzzard
08. Greenfinch
09. Chaffinch
10. Robin
11. Bullfinch
12. Marsh Tit
13. Blue Tit
14. Great Tit
15. Magpie
16. Coot
17. Lapwing
18. Black-headed Gull
19. Shoveler
20. Teal
21. Pochard
22. Canada Goose
23. Greylag Goose
24. Cormorant
25. Little Egret
26. Carrion Crow
27. Shelduck
28. Gadwall
29. Tufted Duck
30. Long-tailed Tit
31. Coal Tit
32. Kestrel
33. Great Black-backed Gull
34. Pied Wagtail
35. Marsh Harrier
36. Oystercatcher
37. Lesser Black-back Gull
38. Redshank
39. Curlew
40. Woodpigeon
41. Song Thrush
42. Woodcock
43. Goldfinch
44. Chiffchaff
45. Grey Wagtail
46. Dipper
47. Blackbird
48. Collared Dove
49. Jackdaw
50. Starling
51. Meadow Pipit
52. House Sparrow
53. Raven
54. Green Woodpecker
55. Reed Bunting
56. Wren
57. Grey Heron
58. Goldcrest
59. Goosander
60. Nuthatch
61. Treecreeper
62. Swallow
63. Red-breastd Merganser
64. Snipe
65. Eider
66. Sandwich Tern
67. Goldeneye
68. Sand Martin
69. Willow Warbler
70. Little Grebe
71. Moorhen
72. Black-tailed Godwit
73. Ringed Plover
74. Common Gull
75. Great Crested Grebe
76. Skylark
77. Turnstone
78. Purple Sandpiper
79. Knot
80. Linnet
81. Wigeon
82. Twite
83. Stonechat
84. Red-throated Diver
85. Yellowhammer
86. Tree Sparrow
87. Grey Partridge
88. Fulmar
89. Razobill
90. Guillemot
91. Black Guillemot
92. Kittiwake
93. Rock Pipit
94. Stock Dove
95. Jay
96. Siskin
97. Wheatear
98. Grey Plover
99. Pintail
100. Great Spotted Woodpecker
101. Tree Pipit
102. Blackcap
103. Black Grouse
104. Red Grouse
105. Avocet
106. Ruff
107. Whooper Swan
108. Redpoll
109. Osprey
110. Banacle Goose
111. Sparrowhawk
112. Dunlin
113. Sedge Warbler
114. Red-legged Partridge



Green Woodpecker! Why? Well these guys love to peck steel power poles and make enourmous sounds, each trying to outdo the other! Brilliant!

18 comments:

  1. good thing you explained that... i would have had no idea :)
    i like that woodpecker. hes awesome
    cheers
    ~laura

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  2. Hi Laura---hahahah! yes. They produce a book about it. Great excuse for a walk and a vital park of "mapping" bird populations :o)

    The woodpecker and its behavior is very cool imo :o)

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  3. Hey Simon
    Cute woodpecker you've got there.. and talking about numbers.. 114 ..not too shabby!!! The views look glorious!!!

    by the way.. now 95.. ciao ciao.. Julie

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  4. Nice post mate!
    I should say that, by strict definition, a tetrad is a square 2km x 2 km (hence 4 sq km) of our Ordnance Survey grid system, but you are right in saying that the survey requires 4 visits to each tetrad.

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  5. Incidentally, we call the construction in the road in the picture above your list a cattle grid . Do you have then in Australia?

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  6. Julie- thanks! hope you get to 100 comments!

    Jim- thanks mate.. yes I realised I had ommited the area of the tetrad

    Yes we have cattle grids and cottages in australia!

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  7. 114?? All in 4sq km? Wow, that is seriously impressive! Sounds as though you had a thoroughly good time, as well as putting it to some great use. Glad you enjoyed visiting our shores, when are you coming back again?

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  8. Beautiful countryside. Would love to go walking there. Having listened to Jill though, I imagine I would be lumbered with heavy tripods and the like, so maybe not!

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  9. Shrinky- oh no! thats 114 species in two weeks as well as the tetrads.

    Kiwi- its not too bad really, once you get the balance point on your shoulder right.

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  10. I see you have the same Chinese spammer who visits me. I might tighten up my comments criteria...

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  11. Mate, do you know this song about a motor vehicle?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMEj8Tc_SmY&feature=PlayList&p=DC778C2E5EDD7B75&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=60

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  12. Kiwi- yes drives me niuts.

    Maalie I will check it out

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  13. The woodpecker is fab! Amazing countryside - first visited that area a few months ago! Typical, travel the world but don't see own beauty at home

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  14. Did you get a chance to listen to that song mate? It's about a motor vehicle, I think you will enjoy it.

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  15. Wow, Simon. You're quite the naturalist yourself! What a list!

    Glad you could have such a good time in the UK with Maalie.

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  16. it was a great holiday mate!

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  17. Simon that's amazing work! But seriously - 4sq km (x4) isn't much to cover for a hiker like you ;-) Just kidding. Have you achieved the same sort of feat in AUssie?

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  18. no. its different in the UK. We cover HUGE distances here but its not the same :o)

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