The time has come to reveal the answers to some of the toughest questions ever posted on this blog. They were quite hard, I must say, but I am expecting a lot of good results… well, Number 2 might be a stumbling block at least…
Question 1
Which are you more likely to discover in the UK? A Green Sandpiper or a Pacific Golden Plover? The Green Sandpiper is probably more likely to be found, but it is by no means easy to spot. However, the Pacific Golden Plover is a rare vagrant to our shores, and to find one would depend on luck, as with most rarities.
Question 2
Now, this was a hard one. What are these birds? Look at the white stripe on its bill: these are Brunnichs Guillemot, also known as the Thick-Billed Murre. Unlike its relative, the Common Guillemot (also known as the Common Murre), it is a very rare vagrant to Britain, from the Arctic North. A lot of birds end up here and die, or are found dead.
Question 3
The full courtship display of the Great Bustard is of course the famous foam bath, where it ruffles up its feathers and displays the white sections of its plumage, appearing to be coated in feathery foam. It is incredible to watch, but a spectacle I am yet to see.
Question 4
What is another name for the Stone Curlew? Did you look at its knees, because it is of course also known as a Eurasian Thick-Knee. They are a bit of an oddity in the avian world, but both its calls and its incredible ability to camouflage itself are amazing.
Question 5
This one was probably the easiest. This little wader is a Dunlin, an odd name but a great bird. A creature seen in greater numbers in winter in Britain, on estuaries and such, but that also breeds in the uplands of Wales, England and Scotland. its breeding plumage is truly striking.
How did you get on? 4/5, or even 5/5 would be a brilliant score, given the questions above. By the way, if I did get any facts or questions wrong, do drop it in the comments and I will correct it right away. More quizzes are to come, stay tuned…
The Bovey Birder 