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4 Mar
6:34pm, 4 Mar 2024
33,070 posts
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HellsBells
Lovely. What is youngest’s partner doing there?
It’s an unpaid internship which seems to be the only route in to most conservation jobs - she gets accommodation in a staff block, 4WD and chainsaw training and certificates and they get 6 months free labour - scrub management, species surveys, dealing with the public etc, etc
Youngest was laid off from his marine wildlife analyst job last week so lent a hand with the snipe survey on Friday - I think he said 102 snipe, 11 woodcock and 7 Dartford warblers
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4 Mar
9:18pm, 4 Mar 2024
6,226 posts
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Windsor Wool
Sorry to read of the lay-off course but how wonderful to be able to think of your kids working in areas (I assume) they have a passion for. Good for you all 👍🏻
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5 Mar
3:28pm, 5 Mar 2024
33,076 posts
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HellsBells
Youngest reports hearing his first chiff of the year yesterday
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5 Mar
3:35pm, 5 Mar 2024
64,786 posts
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Derby Tup
I saw reference to an incoming chiffchaff in Devon. They arrive with heads covered in pollen and the photo suggested this wasn’t an over wintering bird. I’m listening out now but think end next week realistically for here
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5 Mar
3:41pm, 5 Mar 2024
4,403 posts
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paulcook
They arrive with heads covered in pollen
Does that mean they spread plants from far overseas? Isn't nature brilliant.
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5 Mar
3:46pm, 5 Mar 2024
33,077 posts
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HellsBells
He said it was the Otter Estuary nature reserve and there were singing blackcaps too.
I was serenaded all the way to Sainsburys and back by very loud robins!
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5 Mar
3:47pm, 5 Mar 2024
64,787 posts
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Derby Tup
I’m not a biologist but seeds would spread plants. I need to google what pollen does tbh. But yes, nature is utterly brilliant. I can never understand people who aren’t attuned to the weather / seasons, birds, trees, insects, plants etc
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5 Mar
7:49pm, 5 Mar 2024
4,318 posts
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jacdaw
Not plants, so much, but possibly genetics, if they come into contact with receptive female flowers of the right species.
But the "pollen horn" in migrating chiffchaff is usually citrus or eucalyptus pollen, from the med; not common UK species. And possibly not much pollen, just waxed up feathers?
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5 Mar
7:53pm, 5 Mar 2024
64,794 posts
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Derby Tup
The birds with pollen haven’t just hopped over from France but as you say jacdaw travelled further from warmer climes
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5 Mar
9:44pm, 5 Mar 2024
18,250 posts
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KinkyS
Pollen is produced by the stamen on the anthers (male parts of flowers) and carries the male gametes. It needs to be deposited on the stigma (female flower part) of a flower of the same species for pollination and subsequent seed formation to occur via an oviduct (pollen tube) down to the ovary where the female gamete is found. It seems highly unlikely that any Mediterranean species will be in flower in the UK in March even if they are found as non-natives in gardens. But it's an intriguing possibility and nature can do the most incredible things...
Yesterday, Network Rail cut down the small stand of birch at the end of our cul de sac where early chiffs used to sit and shout at us. Might have to hunt further afield this year 
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