tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post3103224658205467721..comments2024-03-29T00:20:48.433+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-31853609091589590032017-01-15T20:02:20.641+00:002017-01-15T20:02:20.641+00:00In Spanish they are called Nile Geese. Slightly be...In Spanish they are called Nile Geese. Slightly better, but not by much. TinĂºvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-52343798158128111722017-01-15T19:41:50.362+00:002017-01-15T19:41:50.362+00:00'Great African Tree Duck' sounds more like...'Great African Tree Duck' sounds more like an exclamation of surprise than the name of a bird. But the name should reflect that they are found all round Africa and not just in Egypt.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-13752735420101772712017-01-15T07:39:19.802+00:002017-01-15T07:39:19.802+00:00That's gladdened my day, to read that it's...That's gladdened my day, to read that it's not just a one-way street of us Brits losing names such as "sulphur" to transatlantic forms. Maybe a portion of thanks should go to Arthur Ransome for "Great Northern" going global. Incidentally I have thought a better name for Egyptian Goose would be Great African Tree Duck, if it weren't such a mouthful. JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-502653173315435802017-01-14T21:25:28.952+00:002017-01-14T21:25:28.952+00:00Until recently, the bird was called a Great Northe...Until recently, the bird was called a Great Northern Diver here and a Common Loon in North America. But now ornithologists have compromised, and officially it's called a Great Northern Loon. Actually the Yellow-Billed Loon, an Arctic species, is bigger.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-35055377044419264652017-01-14T18:01:44.103+00:002017-01-14T18:01:44.103+00:00Just to make it even more complicated, loons are c...Just to make it even more complicated, loons are called 'divers' in the UK - which I think is a nicer name for such a handsome bird.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-3066696382153670722017-01-14T14:50:36.063+00:002017-01-14T14:50:36.063+00:00'Loon' has another meaning: a worthless la...'Loon' has another meaning: a worthless lazy fellow, or, as a verb, to act in an idle or silly way. Unclear whether this refers to the supposed behaviour of the bird, or is from 'lunatic'.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-86369867313587498362017-01-14T08:59:24.742+00:002017-01-14T08:59:24.742+00:00Beautiful picture of my favourite bird, the kingfi...Beautiful picture of my favourite bird, the kingfisher, by the way.Lidahttp://www.mnd-products.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-70946021583595389942017-01-14T08:57:44.771+00:002017-01-14T08:57:44.771+00:00Dear Ralph, I am a regular reader but rarely comme...Dear Ralph, I am a regular reader but rarely comment. However, as a Canadian, I couldn't resist saying that 'looning' is a verb I have not run into. Loons do not behave that way, in my experience. You readers might be interested in the Canadian National Bird selection that took place last year (where Loons featured, of course, but did not ultimately win):://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/meet-our-national-bird-gray-jayLidahttp://www.mnd-products.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-70293959692172932212017-01-14T00:11:03.547+00:002017-01-14T00:11:03.547+00:00Thank you both. But I really look forward to thing...Thank you both. But I really look forward to things beginning to happen again in a month or two.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-68141455183134654362017-01-14T00:09:35.311+00:002017-01-14T00:09:35.311+00:00Quite; every day.
Quite; every day.<br />Ulrikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06022985141813875238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-6731755977577195722017-01-13T22:17:50.146+00:002017-01-13T22:17:50.146+00:00It's always interesting reading the blog.It's always interesting reading the blog.L fairfaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12274756119129254373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-87529291699521495382017-01-13T21:43:28.970+00:002017-01-13T21:43:28.970+00:00Thanks. I do hope it's different every day. Th...Thanks. I do hope it's different every day. There's really not much going on at the moment.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-33484334705010188002017-01-13T21:35:15.379+00:002017-01-13T21:35:15.379+00:00I love your dry commentary Ralph. Every day a dif...I love your dry commentary Ralph. Every day a different story to tell.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.com