Emu spotted on Lowestoft to Ipswich train line

Network Rail recorded a sighting of the exotic bird near Saxmundham at 11.20am (Monday July 9) – but it is believed to have caused little disruption.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “It is not uncommon to have cows and sheep on the line, but an emu is rare.

“When there are reports of animals on the line trains are cautioned through, before being sped up later on to make up the time.”

The incident comes after an ostrich forced a train to slow down near Wickham Market on Thursday, May 24 when it wandered onto the line between Ipswich and Saxmundham.

Did you take a picture of the emu on your journey? Contact reporter Ben Woods on ben.woods@archant.co.uk, call 01502 525832, or message him on twitter @ben_woods01

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/emu_spotted_on_lowestoft_to_ipswich_train_line_1_1439268

WARSHIPS BECAME A BIRD REFUGE IN AFRICA

John Ingham


BEAUTY and war are rare bedfellows but they came together in style when a Royal Navy warship became a bird refuge.

Stunning pictures released yesterday show how birds flocked to the Type 42 destroyer even though it frequently came under fire from Colonel Gaddafi’s shore batteries and itself unleashed more than 100 shells against his forces.


The 43 species were recorded by the “birdman of Liverpool” Chief Petty Officer Mark Cutts who was in charge of all stores on board, from pencils to Sea Dart missiles.


Swallows rested on ledges, a collared flycatcher perched on a Lynx helicopter and a black redstart roamed the deck.


Other birds seeking shelter from fatigue or fog while crossing the Med included a squacco heron, a chiffchaff and several turtle doves. 


When HMS Liverpool moved into the Arabian Gulf a Saker falcon, a big relative of our peregrines, made a flying visit.


HMS Liverpool also gave several insects a breather, including hummingbird hawk-moths and, appropriately, a lot of red admirals.


RSPB expert Grahame Madge said the sightings show that you can marvel at nature anywhere. And Mark, 46, originally from North London but now living in Portsmouth, said: “Even while under fire from the shore or constantly being called to action stations there were still times when during a lull I would take time to look around the upper deck.


“It was amazing to see some of the birds that we see every day in the UK – swallows, robins, song thrushes and starlings – migrating from breeding grounds in Europe to wintering quarters in Africa.


“My favourite bird on board was the hoopoe. I was constantly told by the crew, ‘I just saw the thing with the pink mohican again.’”


But Mark, a member of the Royal Naval Birdwatching Society whose old boys include Sir Peter Scott, founder of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the WWF, said one species perfect for a Royal Navy warship never showed up.


He said: “I’m afraid we never saw any wrens, they just don’t migrate.”


http://www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/view/305550/John-Ingham

Goshen couple had good fortune in first sighting of rare Hooded Crane at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area

This was one of the first photos snapped of the Hooded Crane at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area on Wednesday afternoon. The photo was taken by Dr. John Harley M.D. of Goshen, who first alerted officials the rare black-colored bird in the midst of several Sandhill Cranes.

A Goshen couple had the good fortune and plenty of luck when they were the first to view and photograph the rare Asian Hooded Crane that's been a visitor at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area near Linton since Wednesday afternoon.

This Asian Hooded Crane, which is normally seen only in Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Russia, may have taken "a wrong turn" in December and joined Sandhill Cranes wintering at the Hiwassee Refuge in southeast Tennessee.

When that group of Sandhill Cranes decided to venture northward towards Indiana, the lone Hooded Crane was among the feathered flyers.

On Wednesday, Dr. John and Elaine Harley, of Goshen, picked a good day to be birdwatching near the Goose Pond FWA.

Read on:  http://www.gcdailyworld.com/story/1814508.html