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  • Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta L 43cm. Elegant wader with distinctive black and white plumage. Feeds by sweeping diagnostic, upcurved bill from side-to-side through water. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white plumage with black on crown, nape and wings. Legs are blue and bill is black. Juvenile is similar but black elements of plumage are dark brown. Voice Utters a ringing klueet-klueet… call. Status Favours shallow, coastal brackish lagoons in breeding season. In winter, found on estuaries, mainly in SW England.
    138311.jpg
  • Turnstone - Arenaria intepres
    163108.jpg
  • Turnstone - Arenaria intepres
    162976.jpg
  • Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus L 18-20cm. Dumpy wader. Much smaller than Snipe, with shorter bill and legs, and more striking head and back markings. Pumps body up and down as it walks. Easy to overlook: plumage is cryptic and bird is very reluctant to fly. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have mainly brown upperparts with intricate, cryptic dark feather markings. Note striking yellow stripes on back; greenish sheen sometimes discerned. Head is has dark and pale buff stripes, including forked, pale supercilium. Neck and breast are streaked and underparts are white. Voice Mostly silent. Status Non-breeding visitor in small numbers. Favours muddy margins of pools and marshes, where tangled dead rush and grass stems match its cryptic plumage.
    155659.jpg
  • Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Length 45-55cm Abundant rodent. Introduced to Britain, now the most familiar squirrel. Diet is omnivorous and renowned for its cunning in exploiting food sources. Adult has plump but elongated body and long bushy tail. Rounded ears lack ear tufts. Coat is mainly grizzled grey with whitish chest and belly. Some individuals are variably tinged with brown in summer. Utters teeth-smacking ‘tchack’ when alarmed. Native to North America, introduced here in 1876. Now widespread and common, its adaptability allowing it to thrive in woods, parks and gardens.
    145852.jpg
  • Little Crake - Porzana parva
    137648.jpg
  • Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius L 15-17cm. Slim-bodied little plover that lacks white wingbar. Sexes are similar. Summer adult has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts with black collar and breast band, and black and white markings on head. Has black bill, yellow legs and yellow eyering. Female has duller black elements of head plumage than male. Juvenile has black elements of plumage replaced by sandy brown. Breast band is usually incomplete, leg and eyering colours are dull, and head lacks pale supercilium seen in juvenile Ringed Plover. Voice Utters a pee-oo call. Status Locally fairly common, nesting around margins of flooded gravel pits and other manmade sites. Migrants turn up at freshwater sites outside breeding range and sometimes on coast.
    141098.jpg
  • Little Stint Calidris minuta L 13-14cm. Tiny wader, like a miniature, short-billed Dunlin. Constant, frantic feeding activity helps with identification. Legs and bill are dark in all birds. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has white underparts, reddish brown on back and variable suffusion of rufous on head and neck. Note yellow ‘V’ on mantle, and pale supercilium that forks above eye. In winter, has grey upperparts and white underparts, with white on face between bill and eye. Juvenile has white underparts. Reddish brown and black feathers on back and wings have pale fringes that align to form white ‘V’ markings. Note buffish flush on side of breast, pale supercilium that forks above eye, pale forecrown and dark centre to crown. Voice Utters a shrill stip call. Status Regular passage migrant, most numerous in autumn when juveniles predominate.
    141939.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145942.jpg
  • Turnstone - Arenaria intepres
    162980.jpg
  • Turnstone - Arenaria intepres
    162977.jpg
  • Turnstone - Arenaria intepres
    162971.jpg
  • Turnstone - Arenaria intepres
    162905.jpg
  • Turnstone - Arenaria intepres
    161904.jpg
  • Woodcock - Scolopax rusticola. L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    157685.jpg
  • Knot Calidris canutus - Juvenile. L 25cm. Dumpy, robust wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Has white wingbar but otherwise lacks distinctive features in non-breeding plumage. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) has orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. Voice Utters a sharp kwet call. Status Non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
    155511.jpg
  • Dunlin Calidris alpina (L 17-21cm) is the yardstick by which all other small waders should be judged. Get to know it in all its different plumages and you will have overcome the biggest hurdle in identification of other similar species. Several different races, with differing bill lengths, occur here outside the breeding season. Forms large flocks in winter. Summer adult has reddish brown back and cap, and whitish underparts with bold black belly and streaking on neck. Male is usually more boldly marked than female. Winter adult has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has reddish brown and black feathers on the back; pale feather margins align to form ‘V’ patterns. Underparts are whitish but with black streak-like spots on the flanks and breast; head and neck are brown and streaked. Voice Utters a preeit call; breeding ‘song’ comprises a series of whistling calls. Status Local breeding species on damp moorland and mountain habitats. Locally abundant outside breeding season due to migrants from Arctic.
    153927.jpg
  • Turnstone Arenaria interpres L 23cm. Pugnacious wader with stout, triangular bill, used to turn stones in search of invertebrates. Feeds unobtrusively. All birds have reddish orange legs and black and white wing pattern in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red on back, white underparts and bold black and white markings on head. Males have brighter back colours than females and more distinct black head markings. Winter adult has grey-brown upperparts, the head and neck. Breast is marked with blackish band that shows a clear demarcation from white underparts. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but upperparts are paler and back feathers have pale fringes. Voice Utters a rolling tuk-ut-ut in flight. Status Non-breeding visitor to coasts. Widespread and common.
    154198.jpg
  • Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus Length 30-50cm Familiar rodent with omnivorous diet. Swims and climbs well. Adult recalls an outsized mouse but with a larger, plumper body, shorter ears, shorter legs (but larger feet) and a thicker tail. Fur is coarse and mainly brown, grading to grey on underparts. Tail looks scaly with sparse bristles. Utters agonising screams in distress. First reached in Britain in 1720 as a stowaway on boats. Now widespread and abundant especially in areas where food is discarded.
    128474.jpg
  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
    144231.jpg
  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
    144235.jpg
  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
    144238.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba - Adult intermediate stage growing into breeding plumage. L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    133978.jpg
  • Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus L 30cm. Similar to Redshank but with longer legs and bill. In flight, note uniform upperwings (no white trailing edge) and distinctive flight call. Often feeds in deep water and swims sometimes. Sexes are similar. Adult in breeding plumage (seen in late spring and summer) is mainly black with white eyering and dotted white fringes to back feathers; incomplete breeding plumage is more typically observeed. In winter, has pale grey upperparts and clean, whitish underparts. Legs are reddish and note pale supercilium. Juvenile recalls winter adult but plumage is overall darker and underparts are barred; legs are orange-yellow. Voice Utters a diagnostic tchewit call. Status Regular but scarce passage migrant; winters in small numbers on estuaries mainly in S.
    137361.jpg
  • Baillon's Crake - Porzana pusilla
    137610.jpg
  • Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus L 43cm. Distinctive wader with striking black and white plumage and loud alarm call. Powerful bill used to hammer molluscs off rocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has black upperparts and white underparts with clear demarcation between the two on breast. Note red bill, pinkish legs and beady red eye. In winter, similar but note white half-collar. Juvenile is similar to summer adult but black elements of plumage are brownish and bill and leg colours are subdued. Voice Utters a loud, piping peep call. Status Breeds commonly on coast and beside inland lakes and rivers in N. Mainly coastal in winter, favouring estuaries and mudflats.
    137621.jpg
  • Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica L 35-40cm. Large wader with long, slightly upturned bill. Looks shorter-legged than Black-tailed. In flight, note absence of wingbar on upperwing; white rump extends as wedge to lower back and tail is barred. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange head, neck and underparts. Back is spangled grey, black and pale buff. Adult female in breeding plumage has buffish orange wash on head, neck and breast, pale belly and greyish back. Winter adult has grey-brown head, neck and upperparts; underparts are pale. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buffish wash to head, neck and upperparts. Voice Utters a sharp kve-wee call in flight. Status Nests in Arctic; non-breeding visitor to coastal Britain and Ireland.
    137631.jpg
  • Little Crake - Porzana parva
    137645.jpg
  • Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus L 43cm. Distinctive wader with striking black and white plumage and loud alarm call. Powerful bill used to hammer molluscs off rocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has black upperparts and white underparts with clear demarcation between the two on breast. Note red bill, pinkish legs and beady red eye. In winter, similar but note white half-collar. Juvenile is similar to summer adult but black elements of plumage are brownish and bill and leg colours are subdued. Voice Utters a loud, piping peep call. Status Breeds commonly on coast and beside inland lakes and rivers in N. Mainly coastal in winter, favouring estuaries and mudflats.
    139592.jpg
  • Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea L 19-21cm. Small, elegant wader. Similar to Dunlin but separable by noting long and obviously downcurved bill and white rump. Sexes are hard to separate. Adult in summer has spangled reddish brown, black and white back and (briefly) brick red on face, neck and underparts (appears mottled in moulting migrants). Male is brighter than female. Winter adult (seldom seen here) has greyish upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile (commonest plumage encountered here) has scaly-looking back, white belly and buffish breast; note pale supercilium. Voice Utters a soft prrrp call. Status Breeds in high Arctic and seen here as scarce passage migrant, usually on estuaries and coastal pools, often with Dunlins.
    141361.jpg
  • Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus L 18-20cm. Dumpy wader. Much smaller than Snipe, with shorter bill and legs, and more striking head and back markings. Pumps body up and down as it walks. Easy to overlook: plumage is cryptic and bird is very reluctant to fly. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have mainly brown upperparts with intricate, cryptic dark feather markings. Note striking yellow stripes on back; greenish sheen sometimes discerned. Head is has dark and pale buff stripes, including forked, pale supercilium. Neck and breast are streaked and underparts are white. Voice Mostly silent. Status Non-breeding visitor in small numbers. Favours muddy margins of pools and marshes, where tangled dead rush and grass stems match its cryptic plumage.
    141783.jpg
  • Knot Calidris canutus L 25cm. Dumpy, robust wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Has white wingbar but otherwise lacks distinctive features in non-breeding plumage. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) has orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. Voice Utters a sharp kwet call. Status Non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
    141940.jpg
  • Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus
    142096.jpg
  • Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus
    142097.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    142336.jpg
  • Knot Calidris canutus L 25cm. Dumpy, robust wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Has white wingbar but otherwise lacks distinctive features in non-breeding plumage. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) has orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. Voice Utters a sharp kwet call. Status Non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
    143150.jpg
  • Knot Calidris canutus L 25cm. Dumpy, robust wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Has white wingbar but otherwise lacks distinctive features in non-breeding plumage. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) has orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. Voice Utters a sharp kwet call. Status Non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
    143152.jpg
  • Knot Calidris canutus L 25cm. Dumpy, robust wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Has white wingbar but otherwise lacks distinctive features in non-breeding plumage. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) has orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. Voice Utters a sharp kwet call. Status Non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
    143856.jpg
  • Wader Footprints in the Sand
    144053.jpg
  • Mixed coastal waders at dawn
    144055.jpg
  • Mixed coastal waders at dawn
    144054.jpg
  • Turnstone Arenaria interpres L 23cm. Pugnacious wader with stout, triangular bill, used to turn stones in search of invertebrates. Feeds unobtrusively. All birds have reddish orange legs and black and white wing pattern in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red on back, white underparts and bold black and white markings on head. Males have brighter back colours than females and more distinct black head markings. Winter adult has grey-brown upperparts, the head and neck. Breast is marked with blackish band that shows a clear demarcation from white underparts. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but upperparts are paler and back feathers have pale fringes. Voice Utters a rolling tuk-ut-ut in flight. Status Non-breeding visitor to coasts. Widespread and common.
    144078.jpg
  • Turnstone Arenaria interpres L 23cm. Pugnacious wader with stout, triangular bill, used to turn stones in search of invertebrates. Feeds unobtrusively. All birds have reddish orange legs and black and white wing pattern in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red on back, white underparts and bold black and white markings on head. Males have brighter back colours than females and more distinct black head markings. Winter adult has grey-brown upperparts, the head and neck. Breast is marked with blackish band that shows a clear demarcation from white underparts. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but upperparts are paler and back feathers have pale fringes. Voice Utters a rolling tuk-ut-ut in flight. Status Non-breeding visitor to coasts. Widespread and common.
    144080.jpg
  • Turnstone Arenaria interpres L 23cm. Pugnacious wader with stout, triangular bill, used to turn stones in search of invertebrates. Feeds unobtrusively. All birds have reddish orange legs and black and white wing pattern in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red on back, white underparts and bold black and white markings on head. Males have brighter back colours than females and more distinct black head markings. Winter adult has grey-brown upperparts, the head and neck. Breast is marked with blackish band that shows a clear demarcation from white underparts. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but upperparts are paler and back feathers have pale fringes. Voice Utters a rolling tuk-ut-ut in flight. Status Non-breeding visitor to coasts. Widespread and common.
    144083.jpg
  • Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus L 30cm. Similar to Redshank but with longer legs and bill. In flight, note uniform upperwings (no white trailing edge) and distinctive flight call. Often feeds in deep water and swims sometimes. Sexes are similar. Adult in breeding plumage (seen in late spring and summer) is mainly black with white eyering and dotted white fringes to back feathers; incomplete breeding plumage is more typically observeed. In winter, has pale grey upperparts and clean, whitish underparts. Legs are reddish and note pale supercilium. Juvenile recalls winter adult but plumage is overall darker and underparts are barred; legs are orange-yellow. Voice Utters a diagnostic tchewit call. Status Regular but scarce passage migrant; winters in small numbers on estuaries mainly in S.
    145446.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145941.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145944.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145943.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145945.jpg
  • Turnstone - Arenaria intepres
    162972.jpg
  • Jack Snipe - Lymnocryptes minimus. L 18-20cm. Dumpy wader. Much smaller than Snipe, with shorter bill and legs, and more striking head and back markings. Pumps body up and down as it walks. Easy to overlook: plumage is cryptic and bird is very reluctant to fly. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have mainly brown upperparts with intricate, cryptic dark feather markings. Note striking yellow stripes on back; greenish sheen sometimes discerned. Head is has dark and pale buff stripes, including forked, pale supercilium. Neck and breast are streaked and underparts are white. Voice Mostly silent. Status Non-breeding visitor in small numbers. Favours muddy margins of pools and marshes, where tangled dead rush and grass stems match its cryptic plumage.
    156932.jpg
  • Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus L 18-20cm. Dumpy wader. Much smaller than Snipe, with shorter bill and legs, and more striking head and back markings. Pumps body up and down as it walks. Easy to overlook: plumage is cryptic and bird is very reluctant to fly. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have mainly brown upperparts with intricate, cryptic dark feather markings. Note striking yellow stripes on back; greenish sheen sometimes discerned. Head is has dark and pale buff stripes, including forked, pale supercilium. Neck and breast are streaked and underparts are white. Voice Mostly silent. Status Non-breeding visitor in small numbers. Favours muddy margins of pools and marshes, where tangled dead rush and grass stems match its cryptic plumage.
    155903.jpg
  • Knot Calidris canutus - Juvenile. L 25cm. Dumpy, robust wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Has white wingbar but otherwise lacks distinctive features in non-breeding plumage. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) has orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. Voice Utters a sharp kwet call. Status Non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
    154264.jpg
  • Dunlin Calidris alpina (L 17-21cm) is the yardstick by which all other small waders should be judged. Get to know it in all its different plumages and you will have overcome the biggest hurdle in identification of other similar species. Several different races, with differing bill lengths, occur here outside the breeding season. Forms large flocks in winter. Summer adult has reddish brown back and cap, and whitish underparts with bold black belly and streaking on neck. Male is usually more boldly marked than female. Winter adult has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has reddish brown and black feathers on the back; pale feather margins align to form ‘V’ patterns. Underparts are whitish but with black streak-like spots on the flanks and breast; head and neck are brown and streaked. Voice Utters a preeit call; breeding ‘song’ comprises a series of whistling calls. Status Local breeding species on damp moorland and mountain habitats. Locally abundant outside breeding season due to migrants from Arctic.
    153924.jpg
  • Dunlin Calidris alpina (L 17-21cm) is the yardstick by which all other small waders should be judged. Get to know it in all its different plumages and you will have overcome the biggest hurdle in identification of other similar species. Several different races, with differing bill lengths, occur here outside the breeding season. Forms large flocks in winter. Summer adult has reddish brown back and cap, and whitish underparts with bold black belly and streaking on neck. Male is usually more boldly marked than female. Winter adult has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has reddish brown and black feathers on the back; pale feather margins align to form ‘V’ patterns. Underparts are whitish but with black streak-like spots on the flanks and breast; head and neck are brown and streaked. Voice Utters a preeit call; breeding ‘song’ comprises a series of whistling calls. Status Local breeding species on damp moorland and mountain habitats. Locally abundant outside breeding season due to migrants from Arctic.
    153926.jpg
  • Fox Vulpes vulpes Length 95-130cm Adaptable dog-like carnivore but with a catholic diet including fruits and berries. Mainly nocturnal; daytime shelter is called an earth. Adult has thick, mainly orange-brown coat with whitish jaws and underparts are white and white tip to tail. Feet and backs of ears are blackish. Yelping scream is uttered mainly by females for brief period in winter, to mark breeding season. Common, widespread and adaptable, found in towns and cities as well as countryside.
    125121.jpg
  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
    144225.jpg
  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
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  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
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  • Spotted Crake Porzana porzana L 19-22cm. Secretive wetland bird. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown upperparts and blue-grey underparts, all adorned with white spots; note dark-centred feathers on back and striking barring on flanks. Bill is yellow with a red base; face is marked with black and undertail coverts are pale buff. Legs and feet are greenish. Juvenile lacks adult’s dark face and throat and blue-grey elements of plumage are buffish grey. Voice Male’s territorial call is a repetitive whiplash-like whistle, uttered after dark. Status Migrant visitor. Favours impenetrable wetlands so breeding status is impossible to assess accurately.
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  • Little Crake - Porzana parva
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  • Little Crake - Porzana parva
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  • Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula L 17-19cm. Small, dumpy coastal wader. Runs at speed before pausing and picking food item from ground. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are separable. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts with black breast band and collar. Has black and white markings on face, and white throat and nape. Legs are orange-yellow and bill is orange with dark tip. Adult female in summer is similar but black elements of plumage are duller. Winter adult is similar to summer adult but most black elements of plumage are sandy brown, and has pale supercilium. Leg and bill colours are dull. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but breast band is often incomplete. Voice Utters a soft tuu-eep call. Status Locally common. Nests mainly on sandy or shingle beached, sometimes inland. Coastal outside breeding season; numbers boosted by migrants from Europe.
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  • Red-wattled Lapwing - Vanellus indicus
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  • Red-wattled Lapwing - Vanellus indicus
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  • Greenshank Tringa nebularia L 30-31cm. An elegant and long-legged wader. Beautifully patterned but can look very white at a distance. Has yellowish green legs and long, slightly upturned, grey-based bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts with black centres to many back feathers. Head, neck and breast are streaked but underparts are white. In winter upperparts are pale grey above and underparts are white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but upperparts are darker and browner. Voice Utters a distinctive tchu-tchu-tchu call. Status Scarce breeding species, restricted to Scottish blanket bogs. Fairly common passage migrant, mainly to coasts, and local in winter.
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  • Dunlin Calidris alpina (L 17-21cm) is the yardstick by which all other small waders should be judged. Get to know it in all its different plumages and you will have overcome the biggest hurdle in identification of other similar species. Several different races, with differing bill lengths, occur here outside the breeding season. Forms large flocks in winter. Summer adult has reddish brown back and cap, and whitish underparts with bold black belly and streaking on neck. Male is usually more boldly marked than female. Winter adult has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has reddish brown and black feathers on the back; pale feather margins align to form ‘V’ patterns. Underparts are whitish but with black streak-like spots on the flanks and breast; head and neck are brown and streaked. Voice Utters a preeit call; breeding ‘song’ comprises a series of whistling calls. Status Local breeding species on damp moorland and mountain habitats. Locally abundant outside breeding season due to migrants from Arctic.
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  • Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola L 19-21cm. Elegantly proportioned wader. Legs are yellowish and relatively longer than those of similar-sized cousins. Has pale supercilium and, in flight, note white rump and barred tail. Sexes are similar. Adult has brownish, spangled upperparts. Head and neck are streaked and has faint streaks and spots on otherwise pale underparts. Juvenile is similar but upperparts are browner and marked with pale buff spots. Voice Utters a chiff-chiff-chiff flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found mainly on freshwater pools near the coast; more rarely inland. Handful of pairs breed in bogs in Scottish Highlands.
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  • The Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus (L 18cm) is a much-admired bird, named because adults have red, wax-like projectionist on the wings. The plumage is mainly pinkish buff plumage but note the crest, black throat and black mask through the eye. The rump is grey, the undertail is chestnut and dark tail has a broad yellow tip (narrower in females than males). Waxwings breeds in northern mainland Europe and are winter visitors to Britain. In most years there are just a few records but once every decade or so they appear in large numbers. Typically, they are remarkably indifferent to people, allowing superb views to be had.
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  • Turnstone Arenaria interpres L 23cm. Pugnacious wader with stout, triangular bill, used to turn stones in search of invertebrates. Feeds unobtrusively. All birds have reddish orange legs and black and white wing pattern in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red on back, white underparts and bold black and white markings on head. Males have brighter back colours than females and more distinct black head markings. Winter adult has grey-brown upperparts, the head and neck. Breast is marked with blackish band that shows a clear demarcation from white underparts. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but upperparts are paler and back feathers have pale fringes. Voice Utters a rolling tuk-ut-ut in flight. Status Non-breeding visitor to coasts. Widespread and common.
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  • Turnstone Arenaria interpres L 23cm. Pugnacious wader with stout, triangular bill, used to turn stones in search of invertebrates. Feeds unobtrusively. All birds have reddish orange legs and black and white wing pattern in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red on back, white underparts and bold black and white markings on head. Males have brighter back colours than females and more distinct black head markings. Winter adult has grey-brown upperparts, the head and neck. Breast is marked with blackish band that shows a clear demarcation from white underparts. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but upperparts are paler and back feathers have pale fringes. Voice Utters a rolling tuk-ut-ut in flight. Status Non-breeding visitor to coasts. Widespread and common.
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  • Turnstone Arenaria interpres L 23cm. Pugnacious wader with stout, triangular bill, used to turn stones in search of invertebrates. Feeds unobtrusively. All birds have reddish orange legs and black and white wing pattern in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red on back, white underparts and bold black and white markings on head. Males have brighter back colours than females and more distinct black head markings. Winter adult has grey-brown upperparts, the head and neck. Breast is marked with blackish band that shows a clear demarcation from white underparts. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but upperparts are paler and back feathers have pale fringes. Voice Utters a rolling tuk-ut-ut in flight. Status Non-breeding visitor to coasts. Widespread and common.
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  • Dunlin Calidris alpina (L 17-21cm) is the yardstick by which all other small waders should be judged. Get to know it in all its different plumages and you will have overcome the biggest hurdle in identification of other similar species. Several different races, with differing bill lengths, occur here outside the breeding season. Forms large flocks in winter. Summer adult has reddish brown back and cap, and whitish underparts with bold black belly and streaking on neck. Male is usually more boldly marked than female. Winter adult has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has reddish brown and black feathers on the back; pale feather margins align to form ‘V’ patterns. Underparts are whitish but with black streak-like spots on the flanks and breast; head and neck are brown and streaked. Voice Utters a preeit call; breeding ‘song’ comprises a series of whistling calls. Status Local breeding species on damp moorland and mountain habitats. Locally abundant outside breeding season due to migrants from Arctic.
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  • Dunlin Calidris alpina (L 17-21cm) is the yardstick by which all other small waders should be judged. Get to know it in all its different plumages and you will have overcome the biggest hurdle in identification of other similar species. Several different races, with differing bill lengths, occur here outside the breeding season. Forms large flocks in winter. Summer adult has reddish brown back and cap, and whitish underparts with bold black belly and streaking on neck. Male is usually more boldly marked than female. Winter adult has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has reddish brown and black feathers on the back; pale feather margins align to form ‘V’ patterns. Underparts are whitish but with black streak-like spots on the flanks and breast; head and neck are brown and streaked. Voice Utters a preeit call; breeding ‘song’ comprises a series of whistling calls. Status Local breeding species on damp moorland and mountain habitats. Locally abundant outside breeding season due to migrants from Arctic.
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  • Hoopoe Upupa epops L 25-28cm. Distinctive, with long, downcurved bill. Habit of creeping along ground often makes it hard to spot. In flight, however, unmistakable thanks to bold black-and-white bird pattern and butterfly-like flight. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile are mainly pale pinkish brown with black and white barring on wings and back; white rump is seen in flight. Erectile crest of barred, pink feathers is raised in excitement. Voice Utters diagnostic hoo-poo-poo call. Status Has bred here, but best known as scarce visitor in spring and autumn.
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  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
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  • Knot Calidris canutus L 25cm. Dumpy, robust wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Has white wingbar but otherwise lacks distinctive features in non-breeding plumage. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) has orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. Voice Utters a sharp kwet call. Status Non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
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  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
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