Friday, January 26, 2024

Plastic Crabs and Birds an update

 

Plastic pollution


Research indicates that the natural snail shells were in decline, so it's suspected it might be becoming easier for the animals to find an artificial alternative. And lighter, plastic 'shells' might even help smaller, weaker crabs to survive because they are easier to carry.


Bottle Top Crab

There is certainly a great deal of plastic in the marine environment for the animals to choose from. A recent study that attempted to quantify the scale of plastic pollution estimated that at least 171 trillion pieces of plastic are now floating in our oceans.


That could nearly triple by 2040 if no action is taken, experts have warned.
But there is hope that 2024 could see nations finally sign up to a long-awaited global treaty to end the scourge of plastics.

"Instead of being adorned with a beautiful snail shell, which is what we're used to seeing - they would have a red plastic bottle cap on their back or piece of light bulb."

Light bulb Crab


Toothpaste top Crab

But there is hope that 2024 could see nations finally sign up to a long-awaited global treaty to end the scourge of plastic.

Plastic Birds

Imagine that you are constantly eating, but slowly starving to death. Hundreds of species of marine mammals, fish, birds, and sea turtles face this risk every day when they mistake plastic debris for food. 


Plastic debris can be found in oceans around the world. Scientists have estimated that there are over five trillion pieces of plastic weighing more than a quarter of a million tons floating at sea globally. 






Most of this plastic debris comes from sources on land and ends up in oceans and bays due largely to poor waste management.
Plastic does not biodegrade, but at sea large pieces of plastic break down into increasingly smaller fragments that are easy for birds to consume. 


A nose for sulfur
in the early 1970s showed that tube-nosed seabirds use their powerful sense of smell or olfaction, seabirds are attracted to dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a naturally scented sulfur compound. DMS comes from marine algae.



However, a study just published proposes a new explanation: For many imperiled species, marine plastic debris also produces an odor that the birds associate with food and is very similar to DMS


So much plastic trash is flowing into the oceans that 90 percent of seabirds eat it now and virtually everyone will be consuming it by 2050 In a new study published this week, tracks for the first time how widespread plastics have become inside seabirds around the world.

Scientists have been tracking plastic ingestion by seabirds for decades. In 1960, plastic was found in the stomachs of fewer than five percent, but by 1980, it had jumped to 80 percent. 

The most disturbing finding is. 

“Global plastic production doubles every 11 years “So in the next 11 years, we’ll make as much plastic as we’ve made since plastic was invented. 


You can help: pay attention to how much plastic you throw away—grocery bags, Styrofoam cups, water bottles, packaging—and try to use less and recycle and dispose of plastic correctly




sometimes I get a feeling that it is all s bit too late


Cheers Bryan 



Monday, January 22, 2024

The Curse

 

Sunday 21st January 

Today John and I thought we'd get out and have a look around for the recently seen  Black shoulder Kite at Palm Farm Road.

My Devil Bird

The plan was to go straight inland and start the search, as we ambled around taking this and that track and bumping into the birds that were there.

Big flocks of Serin 200+ quite a few hoopoes, Chaffinch, lots of Marsh Harrier, a few Booted Eagles, Buzzard, Corn Buntings, and Black Cap, birding was a bit slow. 

The weather was overcast and the forecast was for full sun, possibly later.

 First breakfast tea and a slab of orange cake.

Down another road, "Slow up  John" There's something in the distant tree, I said its probably a Booted and Kestrel, I'll set the scope up, while setting up the scope, John said I've got 18 Common Cranes, great stuff, I got the camera out, next second there off and flying, I said to John, blimey there flighty, we were 3 fields away.  The birds were near Vistabella Road off one of the side roads.

Anyway, we found the reason the birds were flushed, a birder / the guilty one was less than 50 meters from the birds.

The Culprit

Unbelievable.

Surely the views through the scope would have given more than adequate views, without putting so much pressure on the birds.

We watched the Cranes ( 21 of them ) fly miles away, cronking as they went their way, so we gambled and followed,

Common Cranes

God knows where we ended up after many miles of tracks, we found 3 Common Cranes in a field somewhere near San Fulgencio.

 Common Cranes



 Common Crane

Other birds seen 2 Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Green Sandpipers, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Water Pipit, Meadow Pipits,

I've not mentioned every bird seen, and it's not a big list.

Time to call it a day and head for home.

 We call into the Clot on route home. It was a total waste of time. As there were far too many people and families, lots of noise, some sort of an event / a party even?  and no birds, I wonder why?

Avoid the weekends at the Clot.

 Enjoyable morning Birding

 At some point, I'll break the curse of the Black Shoulder Kite.

Have fun

Cheers Bryan

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Spring has Sprung,


Barmy Weather Today

The bills of the White-headed Duck are almost completely blue so it must be spring.

35 degrees in the sunshine to hot for jeans and fleece. 

An interesting day, obviously the birds are right in the mood for getting it on. The weather had been incredible this winter lots of sunshine and endless Blue Skys, and tonight at the time of writing the blog at 8.30 pm it's 29 degrees outside@Gran Alacant.  Lots of birds singing, and calling during the daytime.

 In pristine plumage for instance the Purple Swamp Hens are amazing and stunning. The ducks are displaying and looking so good.

So across the Santa Pola Salinas 

Highlights 3 Osprey, ( overwintering Maybe?  But I suspect on the move and migration has started ) 40 plus Spoonbill, ( less from some weeks ago, down from 150+ ) 

 Black-tailed Godwit


Osprey

Redshank, Green Sandpipers, Turnstone, Water / Meadow Pipits, European Snipe, lesser Black-backed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocets, Red-knobbed Coots, Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Booted Eagle's lots of little waders too far away through bins to confirm ID

Water Pipit

I've not included every single bird seen.

Lots of the little stuff like Serin, Goldfinch, Green Finch, linnet, Chaff Finch, Corn Bunting, Southern Grey Shrike, Stone Chat, Black Redstart, Cetti's Warbler etc.

Corn Bunting

El Clot

We didn't spend much time, there John and I only went because of a report of a Garganey.

 Funny coincidence I found a Male Garganey on this day last year ( 2023 ) at the Clot


Garganey on this day 17th Jan ( 2023 )

 wondering if it's the same bird returning.  Nice Grey Wagtail showed for a while, Teal, Gadwell, Shoveller, White Heads, Little Grebe.

Teal


 Shoveller

 John Edwards picked out a small dark dabbling Duck.

1st Winter female Ferruginous Duck

 I thought at first Winter female Ferruginous Duck? But wanted to just double-check the photos.

1st Winter female Ferruginous Duck

Undertale showing Some white feathers, belly whitish/ grey mottled, dark-eyed, bill and head looking good for Ferruginous Duck, color a dull brown ( nice bird )

1st Winter female Ferruginous Duck

Get out there and go birding, it feels good just to be out there

Grey Wagtail

Cheers Bryan