Lady Amherst's Pheasant (2 Viewers)

[Common2412]

I am planning on going to Beds/Bucks on Sunday and would be interested in knowing what a Lady Amherst's Pheasant sounds like, just in case I get lucky. How does it compare with Common Pheasant or Golden Pheasant etc. None of my CD/DVD's cover this species. Any help appreciated.

Many thanks

Steve

 

[IanF]

Hi Steve,

I've seen them as display birds at a Falconry centre and they are very pretty indeed, almost as bonnie as the Golden Pheasant.

Collins describes the voice as "Soft song heard at nightfal, an 'aahk aik-aik' thus as Golden Pheasant but with a double-note ending. "

Hope that helps :t:

 

[Steve]

Steve I live in Bucks, do they live here? I thought they were almost exclusive to Norfolk? east anglia ? somewhere East anyway!!

 

[Stringer]

No its Golden Pheasant in Norfolk. LA Pheasant are one of the most difficult species to see in the UK, as they are both very rare and extremely secretive. Lee Evans ran trips last year to a secret location near Woburn to see this bird. I do not know if this is still happenning. If not, my guess would be you would be very lucky to see (or hear) this species............but you never know!

 

[Steve]

sandringham estate what lives there? apart from HM ?

 

[T0ny]

Wolferton Triangle nr Sandringham has Golden Pheasant - allegedly.

Tony

 

[Reader]

I have visited a site that runs alongside the M1 that has them but as yet I haven't heard or seen any there. Apparently there is the odd site around Ampthill as well.

I live in hope of seeing one before I pack up my bins and scope.

 

[Doug]

For LA Pheasants try parking at the parking area grid ref TL073394 at Maulden Woods - There is a forestry commission trail from here - good for Woodcock, LS Woodpecker, Hawfinch etc but the pheasants favor the densley coppiced north and western sections and can be seen feeding in the leaf litter on the wide tracks at dawn or evening. Lee Evans say sto walk west along the wide sandy track for about 400 yds and then explore the tracks to the right or continue past the new plantation on the left and explore the tracks to the west. Best to go in April & May. Please take care as disturbance causes this species to abandon its territory.

 

[Doug]

Additional sites :Lee recommends are Lowes Wood at Brickhill - park at SP924327 by the county boundary sign and walk south into the wood opposite on the footpaths. The birds are EXTREMELY shy so expect to dip!!!!!

 

[Reader]

A tip I was given, by an RSPB wildlife expert, about these birds is to make sure that you are prepared to wait for ages. What he did was to take a folding chair with him and set it up on an edge of a ride and then sit and wait. Try and place yourself at the beginning of the ride so that you don't have to twist and turn everywhere. That way you are visually taking in every movement in front of you. Try and get as close to some covering vegetation where you can see through, helps camouflage you, and for goodness sake wear clothing that will fit in, colour-wise, with your surroundings.

 

[dimp1953]

The Lady A in my locality is far from shy. He attacks everyone who comes in my garden and is becoming a downright pain in the neck.

Stewart

 

[Edward woodwood]

yes, pheasants can be shy

you really appreciate fieldcraft when stalking them

try looking for Brown-eared Pheasants in July and you soon realise how important it is.

I can imagine why a lot of people dip LAs

Tim

 

[Marmot]

The Lady A in my locality is far from shy. He attacks everyone who comes in my garden and is becoming a downright pain in the neck.

Stewart

If this is a wild one is there any chance of getting a picture of it as we do not have one in the gallery or database.

Tell it that it will become the star of Birdforum and it might just curb its ways.

 

[Hanno]

If you PM me your e-mail address, I can send you two sound files with the song and calls.