Exotic woodpeckers

Is that a middle spotted woodpecker?! 

 At this time of year young great spotted and green woodpeckers are fully fledged and joining their parents on the feeders and in gardens. These birds can resemble other species such as middle spotted, white-backed or grey-headed woodpeckers. These birds are found in mainland Europe but their reluctance to cross large bodies of water means they have never been recorded in the UK.

 Albino sparrows

We have been sent a few photos of albino birds. The best photo was of a family of house sparrows that had three albino chicks. Most albinos reported to us have normal eye, bill and leg colouration, Partial albinism is caused by the failure of pigmentation to reach certain feathers. While this is often hereditary, other factors such as unbalanced diet, old age and injury, or even disease and shock can cause albinism. True albinos lack colouring in all feathers and soft parts. Their feathers are white, and bill, legs and eyes are pink. True albinos are normally less robust in other ways and often have deficient eyesight and hearing. Being generally conspicuous, they are more likely to fall prey to predators. Some albinos are shunned by other birds and will find it difficult to obtain a mate, but this is not always so.

 "One for sorrow, two for joy"

This week we have had many calls about Magpies, some callers witnessing magpies softening bread in water and others asking us what comes after “one for sorrow, two for joy?” in the nursery rhyme. Most British members of the crow family (including magpies) will take eggs and nestlings. This can be upsetting to witness but it is completely natural. In Superstition, if a lone Magpie is seen, one should salute it to show you respect it...

 IDs

As well as birds, we are often asked to identify other animals, mainly moths and dragonflies. We had a humming bird hawk moth outside Wildlife Enquiries window, which caused some commotion.  We were also asked to identify a species of slug (there are lots of species in the UK apparently) and some seaweed found on Seaford beach.