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  • Ruff - Philomachus pugnax. L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    156880.jpg
  • Ruff - Philomachus pugnax -juvenile. L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    154257.jpg
  • Common EelAnguilla anguilla Length to 100cm<br />
Similar to Conger Eel but with subtle structural differences. Found in freshwater for much of life but also on rocky shores and in estuaries. Adult is yellowish for much of life, but turns silvery-blue as adult before migration. Compared to Conger note relatively smaller eye, protruding lower jaw, and dorsal fin that starts 1/3 of way down body. Widespread but rather scarce, numbers much reduced in recent years.
    141742.jpg
  • Common EelAnguilla anguilla Length to 100cm<br />
Similar to Conger Eel but with subtle structural differences. Found in freshwater for much of life but also on rocky shores and in estuaries. Adult is yellowish for much of life, but turns silvery-blue as adult before migration. Compared to Conger note relatively smaller eye, protruding lower jaw, and dorsal fin that starts 1/3 of way down body. Widespread but rather scarce, numbers much reduced in recent years.
    141724.jpg
  • Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Length to 10cm<br />
Familiar freshwater ‘tiddler’ that also occurs in estuaries and brackish lagoons. Adult has slender body, elongate tail stock and 3 spines (2 long, 1 short) in front of dorsal fin. Mostly yellowish-green above, silvery below; breeding male has red belly and blue eyes. Widespread and locally common.
    141651.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    127391.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    137623.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    143702.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    143787.jpg
  • Ruff - Philomachus pugnax. L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    156886.jpg
  • Ruff - Philomachus pugnax. L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    156746.jpg
  • Ruff - Philomachus pugnax - female, moulting from summer to winter plumage. L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    154259.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    141929.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    143488.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    143626.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    143785.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    143788.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    143789.jpg
  • Ruff - Philomachus pugnax. L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    156745.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax - Juvenile. L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    155574.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax - Juvenile. L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    155575.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    154143.jpg
  • Brown Trout Salmo trutta Length 30-50cm <br />
This familiar sport fish is known in two forms: the Brown Trout, which spends its entire life in freshwater; and the so-called Sea Trout, which only ventures up rivers to breed. Both forms spawn in gravel beds in shallow water. An adult Brown Trout has an orange-brown body adorned with red and black spots; a Sea Trout is pale and silvery with a few dark spots. Brown Trout are widespread and often common in fast-flowing unpolluted rivers and streams. Sea Trout are scarce and declining, found mainly in the W and NW of Britain.
    136622.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    127390.jpg
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    141930.jpg
  • Freshwater Annelid Worm - Lumbriculus variegatus
    126579.jpg
  • Ruff - Philomachus pugnax<br />
male, moulting into winter plumage.  L 23-29cm. Variable wader but rather small head is a consistent feature. Has slightly downcurved bill, orange-yellow legs and, in flight, narrow white wingbar and white sides to rump. Male is smaller than female and, in breeding season, has unique head decorations. Adult male in summer has brownish upperparts, many feathers with black tips and bars. On breeding grounds, briefly has facial warts and variably coloured ruff and crest feathers. Adult female in summer has grey-brown upperparts, many feathers with dark tips and bars; underparts are pale. Winter adult has rather uniform grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buff suffusion and scaly-looking back. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on freshwater wetlands. Fairly common passage migrant, favouring coastal freshwater pools; scarce in winter.
    154258.jpg
  • Freshwater Shrimp - Gammarus pulex
    105710.jpg
  • Salmon - Salmo salar Length to 150cm. Large and distinctive fish. Found in open seas for much of life, but migrates into freshwater to spawn. Adult has streamlined, powerfully muscular body. At sea, silver-grey above, silvery-white below, with dark spots on back and flanks; spawning individuals become duller and more yellow. Widespread and locally, and seasonally, fairly common, least so in E and SE.
    156408.jpg
  • Salmon - Salmo salar Length to 150cm. Large and distinctive fish. Found in open seas for much of life, but migrates into freshwater to spawn. Adult has streamlined, powerfully muscular body. At sea, silver-grey above, silvery-white below, with dark spots on back and flanks; spawning individuals become duller and more yellow. Widespread and locally, and seasonally, fairly common, least so in E and SE.
    141048.jpg
  • Marsh Dock - Rumex palustris. Annual or biennial of muddy freshwater margins. Similar to Golden Dock, but fruits do not turn yellow and fruit teeth are shorter than valve. Flowers in dense, widely separated whorls (Jun-Aug).
    134647.jpg
  • Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo L 80-100cm. Dark water bird with heavy, hook-tipped bill. Swims low in water, propelled by large webbed feet. Wings often held outstretched when perched. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly dark with an oily sheen and black-bordered brownish feathers on wings, and white on thigh and head. Eye is green; skin at base of bill is yellowish. In winter, white feathering is absent. Juvenile has brown upperparts and whitish underparts. Voice Silent except at nest. Status Common, favouring sheltered seas and large freshwater lakes. Breeds colonially.
    139593.jpg
  • Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii L 14-15cm. Tiny, slim-bodied wader with deliberate, almost creeping, feeding action. Compared to Little Stint, has short, yellow legs, longer tail and wings, and slightly downcurved bill. Note clear demarcation between dark breast and white underparts and white outer tail feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and streaked grey head, neck and breast; many back feathers having dark centres. Underparts are white. In winter (unlikely to be seen here), has uniform grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has white underparts and brownish upperparts with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a trilling call. Status Scarce passage migrant; favours margins of shallow freshwater pools. A few pairs breed in Scotland.
    143087.jpg
  • 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.
    143122.jpg
  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
    143773.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.
    143873.jpg
  • Canada Goose - Branta canadensis. L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157645.jpg
  • Canada Goose - Branta canadensis. L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157148.jpg
  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
    156859.jpg
  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
    156637.jpg
  • St Agnes' Church, Freshwater, Isle of Wight
    156611.jpg
  • Blue-winged Teal - Spatula discors - Male. Length 37-40cm. A small distinctive North American duck. Adult male has a bluish head with a striking and diagnostic white crescent. The body is buffish-brown, marbled with darker spots, and a white patch can be seen on the otherwise black stern. Adult female and juvenile are mainly marbled brown and are similar to their Teal counterparts. However, the plumage is greyer; note the pale spot at the base of the bill and the absence of a pale patch at the side of the base of the tail (seen in Teal). In flight, all the birds reveal an extensive and diagnostic blue panel across much of the upper surface of the inner wing. Ten or so individulas might be recorded in a good year, mainly in autumn and winter. Blue-winged Teals favour freshwater wetlands and occur in similar habitats to those frequented by migrant Garganeys in spring and summer.
    147089.jpg
  • Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo L 80-100cm. Dark water bird with heavy, hook-tipped bill. Swims low in water, propelled by large webbed feet. Wings often held outstretched when perched. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly dark with an oily sheen and black-bordered brownish feathers on wings, and white on thigh and head. Eye is green; skin at base of bill is yellowish. In winter, white feathering is absent. Juvenile has brown upperparts and whitish underparts. Voice Silent except at nest. Status Common, favouring sheltered seas and large freshwater lakes. Breeds colonially
    155310.jpg
  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
    154377.jpg
  • Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo L 80-100cm. Dark water bird with heavy, hook-tipped bill. Swims low in water, propelled by large webbed feet. Wings often held outstretched when perched. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly dark with an oily sheen and black-bordered brownish feathers on wings, and white on thigh and head. Eye is green; skin at base of bill is yellowish. In winter, white feathering is absent. Juvenile has brown upperparts and whitish underparts. Voice Silent except at nest. Status Common, favouring sheltered seas and large freshwater lakes. Breeds colonially.
    153867.jpg
  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
    153968.jpg
  • Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis L 25-29cm. Dumpy, buoyant waterbird with powderpuff of feathers at rear end. Dives frequently for fish and aquatic invertebrates. Wings are rounded and uniform grey-brown. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly brownish but neck and cheeks are chestnut. Pale-tipped dark bill has lime-green spot at base. In winter, has mainly brown upperparts and buffish underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but with pale throat and black stripes on face. Voice Utters a whinnying trill. Status Ffairly common resident of freshwater ponds and slow-flowing rivers; in winter, also seen on sheltered coasts and estuaries.
    154052.jpg
  • Freshwater Shrimp - Gammarus pulex
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  • Freshwater Louse - Asellus aquaticus
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  • OPPOSITE-LEAVED PONDWEED Groenlandia densa (Potamogetonaceae) Aquatic. Submerged, freshwater perennial of ponds and ditches, as well as streams with a moderate flow. FLOWERS are small, petal-less and greenish; borne in small, submerged clusters (May-Sep). FRUITS comprise small clusters of achenes. LEAVES are narrow-ovate, pointed-tipped and borne in opposite pairs. STATUS-Locally common only in S.
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  • MARSH ARROWGRASS Triglochin palustre (Juncaginaceae) Height to 50cm. Recalls Sea Arrowgrass but note differences in leaf and fruit structure. Grows in freshwater habitats, notably marshy meadows. FLOWERS are 2-3mm across, 3-petalled and green, edged with purple; in slender, long-stalked spikes (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are club-shaped with 3 segments. LEAVES are long, narrow and furrowed. STATUS-Locally common.
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  • FAT DUCKWEED Lemna gibba (Lemnaceae). Aquatic. Floating, freshwater perennial of ponds and ditches. Flowers minute and seldom seen. Fruits seldom seen. Leaves swollen and spongy, 5-6mm across and 5-6mm deep. Status local.
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  • LESSER BLADDERWORT Utricularia minor (Lentibulariaceae)  Aquatic. Freshwater plant of still, mainly acid waters. Small, flask-shaped bladders are found along the submerged stems and trap tiny invertebrates. FLOWERS are 6-8mm long and pale yellow; in clusters of 2-5 on slender stems (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are finely divided, untoothed and lack bristles. STATUS-Local, mainly N and W.
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  • LESSER BLADDERWORT Utricularia minor (Lentibulariaceae)  Aquatic. Freshwater plant of still, mainly acid waters. Small, flask-shaped bladders are found along the submerged stems and trap tiny invertebrates. FLOWERS are 6-8mm long and pale yellow; in clusters of 2-5 on slender stems (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are finely divided, untoothed and lack bristles. STATUS-Local, mainly N and W.
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  • BULRUSH Typha latifolia (Typhaceae) Height to 2m. <br />
Sedge-like plant (aka Great Reedmace). Grows in freshwater margins. FLOWERS are borne in spikes and comprise a brown, sausage-like array of female flowers and a narrow, terminal spire of male flowers, the two contiguous (Jun-Aug). FRUITS have cottony down. LEAVES are grey-green, long and 1-2cm wide. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • Water Shrew Neomys fodiens Length 12-17cm Distinctive bi-coloured shrew, usually seen near freshwater. Swims well. Adult has dense fur: blackish upperparts and flanks contrast with whitish underparts. In water, fur traps a layer of air that makes submerged animal look silvery. Fringes of hairs on tail, and on relatively large hind feet, assist swimming. Utters high-pitched squeaks. Widespread except in N Scotland and on islands. Favours slow-flowing and well-vegetated streams and watercress beds. Pollution and disturbance are agents of its decline.
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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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  • Shoveler - Spatula clypeata. L 44-52cm. Unmistakable because of bill shape. Usually unobtrusive. In flight, male shows blue forewing panel and white-bordered green speculum; in female, blue is replaced by grey. Sexes are dissimilar overall. Adult male has shiny green head, white breast and chestnut on flanks and belly. Stern is black and white and back is mainly dark. Has yellow eye and dark bill. In eclipse, resembles adult female although body is more rufous and head greyer. Adult female has mottled buffish brown plumage and yellowish bill. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters a sharp tuk-tuk while female makes a soft quack. Status Scarce breeding species on freshwater wetland. Commoner and more widespread in winter but seldom numerous.
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  • 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.
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  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
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  • Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus L 18cm. Confiding wader that habitually swims, picking food from water’s surface. Non-breeding life spent at sea. Adult female in summer has brown upperparts, with buff feather margins on back. Note white throat, dark cap and reddish orange neck; grey breast and mottled flanks grade to white underparts. Adult male in summer is similar but duller. Winter adult has grey upperparts, nape and hindcrown, white underparts and black eyepatch. Juvenile recalls winter adult but grey elements of plumage are mainly brown or buff; grey feathers acquired gradually. Voice Utters a sharp kip call. Status Mainly Arctic breeding species. Britain and Ireland are at S limit of range and hence rare and mainly in N. Nests beside freshwater pools. Best known as scarce passage migrant, seen mainly in wake of severe gales.
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  • Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis L 25-29cm. Dumpy, buoyant waterbird with powderpuff of feathers at rear end. Dives frequently for fish and aquatic invertebrates. Wings are rounded and uniform grey-brown. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly brownish but neck and cheeks are chestnut. Pale-tipped dark bill has lime-green spot at base. In winter, has mainly brown upperparts and buffish underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but with pale throat and black stripes on face. Voice Utters a whinnying trill. Status Ffairly common resident of freshwater ponds and slow-flowing rivers; in winter, also seen on sheltered coasts and estuaries.
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  • Shoveler - Spatula clypeata. L 44-52cm. Unmistakable because of bill shape. Usually unobtrusive. In flight, male shows blue forewing panel and white-bordered green speculum; in female, blue is replaced by grey. Sexes are dissimilar overall. Adult male has shiny green head, white breast and chestnut on flanks and belly. Stern is black and white and back is mainly dark. Has yellow eye and dark bill. In eclipse, resembles adult female although body is more rufous and head greyer. Adult female has mottled buffish brown plumage and yellowish bill. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters a sharp tuk-tuk while female makes a soft quack. Status Scarce breeding species on freshwater wetland. Commoner and more widespread in winter but seldom numerous.
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  • Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii L 14-15cm. Tiny, slim-bodied wader with deliberate, almost creeping, feeding action. Compared to Little Stint, has short, yellow legs, longer tail and wings, and slightly downcurved bill. Note clear demarcation between dark breast and white underparts and white outer tail feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and streaked grey head, neck and breast; many back feathers having dark centres. Underparts are white. In winter (unlikely to be seen here), has uniform grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has white underparts and brownish upperparts with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a trilling call. Status Scarce passage migrant; favours margins of shallow freshwater pools. A few pairs breed in Scotland.
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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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  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
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  • Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis L 25-29cm. Dumpy, buoyant waterbird with powderpuff of feathers at rear end. Dives frequently for fish and aquatic invertebrates. Wings are rounded and uniform grey-brown. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly brownish but neck and cheeks are chestnut. Pale-tipped dark bill has lime-green spot at base. In winter, has mainly brown upperparts and buffish underparts. Juvenile recalls winter adult but with pale throat and black stripes on face. Voice Utters a whinnying trill. Status Ffairly common resident of freshwater ponds and slow-flowing rivers; in winter, also seen on sheltered coasts and estuaries.
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  • 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.
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  • Shoveler - Spatula clypeata. L 44-52cm. Unmistakable because of bill shape. Usually unobtrusive. In flight, male shows blue forewing panel and white-bordered green speculum; in female, blue is replaced by grey. Sexes are dissimilar overall. Adult male has shiny green head, white breast and chestnut on flanks and belly. Stern is black and white and back is mainly dark. Has yellow eye and dark bill. In eclipse, resembles adult female although body is more rufous and head greyer. Adult female has mottled buffish brown plumage and yellowish bill. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters a sharp tuk-tuk while female makes a soft quack. Status Scarce breeding species on freshwater wetland. Commoner and more widespread in winter but seldom numerous.
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  • Shoveler - Spatula clypeata. L 44-52cm. Unmistakable because of bill shape. Usually unobtrusive. In flight, male shows blue forewing panel and white-bordered green speculum; in female, blue is replaced by grey. Sexes are dissimilar overall. Adult male has shiny green head, white breast and chestnut on flanks and belly. Stern is black and white and back is mainly dark. Has yellow eye and dark bill. In eclipse, resembles adult female although body is more rufous and head greyer. Adult female has mottled buffish brown plumage and yellowish bill. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters a sharp tuk-tuk while female makes a soft quack. Status Scarce breeding species on freshwater wetland. Commoner and more widespread in winter but seldom numerous.
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  • Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii L 14-15cm. Tiny, slim-bodied wader with deliberate, almost creeping, feeding action. Compared to Little Stint, has short, yellow legs, longer tail and wings, and slightly downcurved bill. Note clear demarcation between dark breast and white underparts and white outer tail feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and streaked grey head, neck and breast; many back feathers having dark centres. Underparts are white. In winter (unlikely to be seen here), has uniform grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has white underparts and brownish upperparts with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a trilling call. Status Scarce passage migrant; favours margins of shallow freshwater pools. A few pairs breed in Scotland.
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  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
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  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
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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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  • Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo L 80-100cm. Dark water bird with heavy, hook-tipped bill. Swims low in water, propelled by large webbed feet. Wings often held outstretched when perched. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly dark with an oily sheen and black-bordered brownish feathers on wings, and white on thigh and head. Eye is green; skin at base of bill is yellowish. In winter, white feathering is absent. Juvenile has brown upperparts and whitish underparts. Voice Silent except at nest. Status Common, favouring sheltered seas and large freshwater lakes. Breeds colonially.
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  • Gadwall Anas strepera L 46-55cm. Rather nondescript dabbling duck. Distant male looks grey and brown but close view reveals intricate feather patterns. In flight, both sexes show white in speculum; male also has chestnut on inner wing. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has buffish head and neck, with a clear separation from grey, finely-patterned breast and flanks. Centre of belly is white; black stern is useful identification feature. Has dark bill and yellow legs. In eclipse, male resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled brown plumage with greyish head and yellow bill. Juvenile resembles adult female. Voice Male utters croaking call and female utters mallard-like quack. Status Found on shallow freshwater; dabbles for water plants.
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  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii L 14-15cm. Tiny, slim-bodied wader with deliberate, almost creeping, feeding action. Compared to Little Stint, has short, yellow legs, longer tail and wings, and slightly downcurved bill. Note clear demarcation between dark breast and white underparts and white outer tail feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and streaked grey head, neck and breast; many back feathers having dark centres. Underparts are white. In winter (unlikely to be seen here), has uniform grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has white underparts and brownish upperparts with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a trilling call. Status Scarce passage migrant; favours margins of shallow freshwater pools. A few pairs breed in Scotland.
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  • Black Tern Chlidonias niger (L 24cm); although it has bred here on occasions its status is really that of a scarce passage migrant that pauses briefly on freshwater lakes. In breeding plumage, it is mainly grey and black, with a white undertail. But from July onwards, the plumage appears increasingly mottled as the mainly grey and white non-breeding plumage is acquired. Juvenile plumage is similar to a winter adult but the back is brownish grey and scaly.
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  • Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta (L 16-17cm) is a winter visitor to Britain and Ireland and invariably found near freshwater. During the winter months it has streaked dark buffish brown upperparts and pale underparts, streaked and flushed buffish brown on the breast and flanks; the throat is white and unmarked and the whitish supercilium contrasts with the dark eyestripe. Before birds depart in April, they usually acquire breeding plumage where the underparts become unmarked and flushed pinkish on the breast; the back is brown and the head and neck are grey. Look for Water Pipits at watercress beds and sewage works in SE England in winter.
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  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • 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.
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  • Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii L 14-15cm. Tiny, slim-bodied wader with deliberate, almost creeping, feeding action. Compared to Little Stint, has short, yellow legs, longer tail and wings, and slightly downcurved bill. Note clear demarcation between dark breast and white underparts and white outer tail feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and streaked grey head, neck and breast; many back feathers having dark centres. Underparts are white. In winter (unlikely to be seen here), has uniform grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has white underparts and brownish upperparts with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a trilling call. Status Scarce passage migrant; favours margins of shallow freshwater pools. A few pairs breed in Scotland.
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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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  • 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.
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  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
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  • Shoveler - Spatula clypeata. L 44-52cm. Unmistakable because of bill shape. Usually unobtrusive. In flight, male shows blue forewing panel and white-bordered green speculum; in female, blue is replaced by grey. Sexes are dissimilar overall. Adult male has shiny green head, white breast and chestnut on flanks and belly. Stern is black and white and back is mainly dark. Has yellow eye and dark bill. In eclipse, resembles adult female although body is more rufous and head greyer. Adult female has mottled buffish brown plumage and yellowish bill. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters a sharp tuk-tuk while female makes a soft quack. Status Scarce breeding species on freshwater wetland. Commoner and more widespread in winter but seldom numerous.
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  • Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus L 18cm. Confiding wader that habitually swims, picking food from water’s surface. Non-breeding life spent at sea. Adult female in summer has brown upperparts, with buff feather margins on back. Note white throat, dark cap and reddish orange neck; grey breast and mottled flanks grade to white underparts. Adult male in summer is similar but duller. Winter adult has grey upperparts, nape and hindcrown, white underparts and black eyepatch. Juvenile recalls winter adult but grey elements of plumage are mainly brown or buff; grey feathers acquired gradually. Voice Utters a sharp kip call. Status Mainly Arctic breeding species. Britain and Ireland are at S limit of range and hence rare and mainly in N. Nests beside freshwater pools. Best known as scarce passage migrant, seen mainly in wake of severe gales.
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  • Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii L 14-15cm. Tiny, slim-bodied wader with deliberate, almost creeping, feeding action. Compared to Little Stint, has short, yellow legs, longer tail and wings, and slightly downcurved bill. Note clear demarcation between dark breast and white underparts and white outer tail feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and streaked grey head, neck and breast; many back feathers having dark centres. Underparts are white. In winter (unlikely to be seen here), has uniform grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has white underparts and brownish upperparts with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a trilling call. Status Scarce passage migrant; favours margins of shallow freshwater pools. A few pairs breed in Scotland.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii L 14-15cm. Tiny, slim-bodied wader with deliberate, almost creeping, feeding action. Compared to Little Stint, has short, yellow legs, longer tail and wings, and slightly downcurved bill. Note clear demarcation between dark breast and white underparts and white outer tail feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and streaked grey head, neck and breast; many back feathers having dark centres. Underparts are white. In winter (unlikely to be seen here), has uniform grey-brown upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile has white underparts and brownish upperparts with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a trilling call. Status Scarce passage migrant; favours margins of shallow freshwater pools. A few pairs breed in Scotland.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Blue-winged Teal - Spatula discors. Length 37-40cm. A small distinctive North American duck. Adult male has a bluish head with a striking and diagnostic white crescent. The body is buffish-brown, marbled with darker spots, and a white patch can be seen on the otherwise black stern. Adult female and juvenile are mainly marbled brown and are similar to their Teal counterparts. However, the plumage is greyer; note the pale spot at the base of the bill and the absence of a pale patch at the side of the base of the tail (seen in Teal). In flight, all the birds reveal an extensive and diagnostic blue panel across much of the upper surface of the inner wing. Ten or so individulas might be recorded in a good year, mainly in autumn and winter. Blue-winged Teals favour freshwater wetlands and occur in similar habitats to those frequented by migrant Garganeys in spring and summer.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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