Cracking review of Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 2009 on Birdguides.com

The hefty package that dropped through the letterbox the other day held great promise, as I was expecting my review copy of the Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report for 2009. The nation's premier birding county is a veritable mecca for birders from across the country, so big things are always expected of the report.

Published by the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society (N&NNS), the report certainly delivers and is a comprehensive summary of the year, with plenty of background information to while away many an evening. The individual articles make good reading, pitched at various levels for the widely differing readership. There is a real focus on 'forms' as well, with articles looking at the occurrence of 'Greenland' Common Redpoll, Icelandic Redwing and eastern Lesser Whitethroat, although the lack of promised sketches with the latter was unfortunate. Adding to this are documentation of the first modern breeding records of Red Kite — and a summary of the last historical record — and a summary of the origins of Great Yarmouth's Mediterranean Gulls.

It's easy to just focus on the birds, but the mammal report is also a cracking read. It is as complete as any I've seen, and includes maps and details accounts of most species. The account of the county's second record of Sowerby's Beaked Whale is an exciting read, but perhaps the less said about the photo of the straight-sided penis of a Whiskered Bat the better.

Read on...

THIS JUST ABOUT SUMS IT UP REALLY

UNCONVENTION 2010: Mark Chadbourn/Natasha Mostert/Adam Nevill - PANEL: Forteana and Fiction

CFZ AUSTRALIA: An Australian Montauk Monster

http://cfzaustralia.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-coffs-harbour-critter.html

LARS THOMAS: Ye Olde Fin Whale

During the summer of 2010 a fin whale spent several weeks swimming around the inner Danish waters. Finally it ended up stranded in a fiord just outside the town of Vejle where, after a lenghty debate in the Danish media about whether to put it out of its misery or not, it ended up dying. Nothing special there; whales beach themselves all over the place; but analysis of the dead animal has now revealed that it was somewhere between 131 and 140 years old when it died - most scientists had judged it to be some 30-40 years old when it was first seen alive. So all the thoughts about a young whale getting lost was quite a bit off the mark.

OLL LEWIS: The Ancient Sea-monsters of India

http://cfzindia2010.blogspot.com/2010/11/oll-lewis-ancient-sea-monsters-of-india.html


Once again, in the absence of any news from the India expedition, Oll Lewis visits another interesting facet of Indian cryptozoology.

HELP WANTED

We are always looking for new people to get involved with the bloggo, but specifically we are looking for someone to impliment a new feature that I have in mind. It won't take more than 20 minutes a day, and involves slight knowledge of html. If you fit the bill and want to join the bloggo family please email me on jon@eclipse.co.uk

OLL LEWIS: Yesterday's News Today

http://cryptozoologynews.blogspot.com/

On this day in 1971 NASA’s Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars, becoming the first man-made object to orbit an alien planet.
And now, the news:

INTERPOL co-ordinated operation targeting illegal ...
Orissa Bans Fishing During Olive Ridley Turtles Br...
Seal found in main street of Scottish town
Is South China's rare tiger fighting back?
Mummies of 15th century dogs discovered in Peru
Goldfish the latest weapon to protect world leader...
Scientists discover unknown lizard species at lunc...
Weird beasts spook couple - UK
Mystery of how cats lap is revealed
Woman annoyed by deer ringing her doorbell
Headless Goat Found in NW Atlanta Neighborhood
Turkeys terrorize New York neighborhood

Close enough:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL_-1d9OSdk

UNCONVENTION 2010: Jan Bondeson - Queen Victoria's stalker.