Bite-Sized Biochemistry #12: Catalytic Mechanisms

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Lecture by Kevin Ahern of Oregon State University discussing Biochemistry Basics in BB 450. See the full course at oregonstate.edu This course can be taken for credit (wherever you live) via OSU's ecampus. For details, see ecampus.oregonstate.edu Download Metabolic Melodies at http://www.davincipress.com Related courses include BB 350 - oregonstate.edu BB 451 - oregonstate.edu BB 100 - oregonstate.edu Highlights Enzymes 1.Chemicals, such as DIPF and iodoacetate, covalently (and irreversibly) bind to the side chains of specific amino acids (serine and cysteine, respectively) and if these side chains are essential for the catalytic action of the enzyme, the enzyme will not catalyze reactions after being treated with these chemicals.

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Bite-Sized Biochemistry #12: Catalytic Mechanisms

Fair Isle update

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Flying to Fair Isle (in a gale!)

Not exactly Heathrow - Fair Isle airport

Tuesday 4th October: A quick update from the northern Isles as myself (David Steel) and assistant warden Jamie Coleman are visiting Fair Isle for the week. Its been an interesting start as Jamie touched down on Fair Isle on Saturday but I was delayed on Shetland until Monday. However between that period, the wind had notched up a level and I eventually departed Shetland for Fair Isle in southerly gales on Monday morning. As I'm not the best of fliers, this certainly went down as an 'experience' I'll never forget...

Now on Fair Isle the birding has been generally quiet (due to westerly winds) although it's been great to catch up with lots of friends. Ex-Farne Islands warden David Parnaby is now the main warden of Fair Isle whilst Jason Moss works alongside him as assistant. Other Farne Island connections included visiting ex-wardens Chris Dodd, Micky Mahar and Matthew Smith, so we're not short of topics to discuss. I'll keep you updated from the northern isles but keep tuned into the Farne Islands and more news about our Grey Seals.

Here we go again…

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The Yellow-browed warbler sits in the Brownsman vegetation (Ciaran Hatsell)

Yellow-browed Warbler showing well (Graeme Duncan)

A Redwing takes shelter on Inner Farne (Andrew Denton)

Our first grey seal pup doing well! (Ciaran Hatsell)

Tuesday 4th October comments: Old man westerly has awoken once more, with forecasts showing at least a week of strong winds from our least favourite direction! The change in direction has quashed any hopes of further rare migrants for the time being, and will put a stop to the passage of Scandinavian migrants such as Redwing and Song Thrush, as they get pushed into the European Continent.

Monday, however, brought another Siberian surprise to Brownsman island, as yet another Yellow-browed Warbler was found by the pond. This tame individual was viewed well by the two resident wardens. Inner Farne played host to the first Jack Snipe of the autumn, and a lingering Yellow-browed Warbler from the previous day.

A welcome addition was a second seal pup, discovered on the North Wamses, and most likely one day old. Our first seal pup is still going strong on the South Wamses, and has put on quite a bit of weight; he can often be seen being suckled by his attentive mother on the shingle beach. With many pregnant mothers now congregating on the islands, and bull seals hauling themselves onto the rocks keeping an eye out for potential opportunities, it won’t be long until the seal breeding season is well underway.

By this morning, most of the birds have gone from the islands, though a few Brambling and thrushes remain, along with Wheatear and Willow Warblers. The warden team is hoping that the westerly winds will break sooner rather than later, bringing an opportunity both for viewing migrant birds and for getting supplies and showers on the mainland!

Hopefully the strong westerly winds bring our head warden David, Jamie and all the Fair Isle team some rare American vagrants...

Monday 3th October totals: Redwing 13, Song Thrush 12, Brambling 2, Goldfinch 2, Redpoll 3, Linnet 23, Siskin 2, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 1, Chiffchaff 5, Willow Warbler 7, Yellow-browed Warbler 1, Goldcrest 9, Pied Flycatcher 1, Skylark 4, Wheatear 10, Pied Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipit 23W, Tree Pipit 1, Reed Bunting 2, Jack Snipe 1, Dunlin 9, Manx Shearwater 1N, Kestrel 1, Peregrine 1.

A Smattering of Siberians

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Redwings heading south (Will Scott)

A Song Thrush takes a rest (Ciaran Hatsell)

Female Blackcap rescued from inside Brownsman cottage by warden Ciaran

A Yellow-browed Warber sits amongst the vegetation (Ciaran Hatsell)

The female Hen Harrier shows well (Graeme Duncan)

Sunday 2nd October comments: Well, what a weekend we’ve had. Light easterly(ish) winds and damp misty conditions gave the islands perfect weather for a fall of migrants and it didn’t disappoint!

The Saturday morning sunrise dawned on our resident Kestrel roosting on the Brownsman sticks, surrounded by a plethora of migrant passerines including two male Blackcaps and 11 Brambling, whilst the ever-present female Peregrine watched from the south end of the island. It wasn’t long before the Kestrel was off hunting for butterflies and snatched a red admiral out of the air 5 meters away from the Brownsman team, an awesome sight!

As the (human) visitors arrived on Inner Farne, thrushes in their hundreds began to pour over the island, with over 700 Redwing and over 120 Song Thrush recorded both flying overhead and resting on the ground. The sight was a welcome bonus for the visiting public, who enjoyed the spectacle, a true Farnes experience! It truly was a sight to behold, a full-on demonstration of migration in action.

Then, as the team gave the island a proper walk-around after visitors left, a call went out on the radio. Not one, but three Yellow-browed Warblers had been found in the Lighthouse garden on Inner Farne! These tiny Siberian sprites were contentedly feeding around the dock stalks, providing excellent views to the admiring warden team. The team were relieved to finally get a fall of these beautiful birds after jealously watching them crop up on the Northumberland coast all autumn!

As if this wasn’t enough, a pipit was discovered on top meadow. After brief views led to the initial assumption of Tree Pipit, further glimpses allowed the team to confirm that it was in fact the fourth ever Olive-backed Pipit to be seen on the Farnes! The bird gave brief but good views, allowing all present to appreciate the finer points of its identification. Breeding in Siberia and wintering in south Asia, a few of these birds fly the wrong way due to winds and inexperience and end up on our coastline.

Sunday brought in more surprises, with Brownsman playing host to a variety of birds of prey. Two Kestrels, a Peregrine and two Short-eared Owls graced the skies above the outer group of islands, playing havoc with the passerines. The real star of the show, however, was the female Hen Harrier. This upland wanderer quartered above both Staple and Brownsman for most of the day, providing spectacular viewing, before finally heading west (once the mist had briefly cleared) over Inner Farne and on to the mainland. Later on in the day, although the Olive-backed Pipit was no longer present, the Yellow-browed Warbler count on Inner Farne increased to four. Cracking stuff!

Saturday 1st October totals: Redwing 768, Song Thrush 129, Blackbird 16, Brambling 53, Redpoll 4, Snow Bunting 1, Reed Bunting 4, Tree Pipit 2, Olive-backed Pipit 1, Yellow-browed Warbler 3, Blackcap 2, Goldcrest 2, Red-throated diver 11, Velvet Scoter 1, Black Tern 1, Peregrine 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 2, Great Skua 3.

Sunday 2nd October totals: Redwing 92, Song Thrush 71, Blackbird 10, Brambling 21, Redpoll 11, Chaffinch 6, Linnet 4, Siskin 2, Reed Bunting 5, Tree Pipit 7, Meadow Pipit 125, Dunnock 4, Yellow-browed Warbler 4, Chiffchaff 4, Willow Warbler 6, Blackcap 6, Goldcrest 8, Robin 2, Skylark 8, Swallow 2, Wheatear 6, Lapwing 2, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Hen Harrier 1, Short-eared Owl 3, Kestrel 2, Great Northern Diver 1.