Manx Babblers (2 Viewers)

[Acanthis]

Hi Folks,

What's the story behind the appearance of Red-winged Laughingthrushes on the Isle of Man?

 

[Steveiom]

Just signed up to the forum and this caught my eye as I live on the Island.

What's your reference to this being the case? Is it a recent sighting? There are two sights for birders based on the island and neither have any report of the bird. If it's/they are here I need to find them! We don't get many rarities, last year was particularly bad.

Can I ask if the title of your mail refers to the species Babbler, I assume so. Not to hot on international birds as yet but I've seen Babblers in a book on South African birds that I've borrowed as I'm heading there in April?

Cheers

 

[Edward woodwood]

they'll be escapes

babblers is a lose assemblage of many many species, several of which have tentative affinites. Kind of a holding box for birds waiting to be assigned.

 

[Steveiom]

they'll be escapes

babblers is a lose assemblage of many many species, several of which have tentative affinites. Kind of a holding box for birds waiting to be assigned.

I see, thanks for that. Learnt something new.

 

[Acanthis]

Just signed up to the forum and this caught my eye as I live on the Island.

What's your reference to this being the case? Is it a recent sighting? There are two sights for birders based on the island and neither have any report of the bird. If it's/they are here I need to find them! We don't get many rarities, last year was particularly bad.

Can I ask if the title of your mail refers to the species Babbler, I assume so. Not to hot on international birds as yet but I've seen Babblers in a book on South African birds that I've borrowed as I'm heading there in April?

Cheers

Apologies pal, I should've been clearer in my question. The Red-winged Laughingthrush is a very attractive oriental babbler species but strictly untickable on the Isle of Man I'm afraid.
I'd heard about this escaped species through an earlier thread about introduced birds though information is very limited and I've been unable to discover their location on the Island.
I'm interested in introduced birds and how they manage to survive or not in alien environments, and what impacts they have on native wildlife which is often negative.
Good Luck with your South African trip!

 

[Kiki]

Several birds escaped from the Curraghs Wildlife Park back in the early 1990s.
At least two broods were raised in 1998 in a private garden in the area of Ballaugh Glen. There have been no reliable sightings since that time.
Most definitely not tickable - which is why we don't report them on Isle of Man Birding.
Hope this helps.

 

[Steveiom]

Ah, I see Acanthis, understand your interest now. Still, happily to learn about anything in the bird world.

Thanks for info Kiki, didn't know about that. I've been on the island since '97 but only been birding regularly again since '02 (Did a lot with my Dad as a kid). Completley agree on the lack of tickability know I know the story.

I believe there are have been several owls released from captivity as well over here in my time. There was a European Eagle Owl in a garden in Port St Mary for a while last year, the cat and dog population of the village didn't seem to be affected though

 

[Acanthis]

Several birds escaped from the Curraghs Wildlife Park back in the early 1990s.
At least two broods were raised in 1998 in a private garden in the area of Ballaugh Glen. There have been no reliable sightings since that time.
Most definitely not tickable - which is why we don't report them on Isle of Man Birding.
Hope this helps.

Cheers Kiki.