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  • Merlin Falco columbarius - at nest. W 60-65cm. Our smallest raptor. Typically seen dashing flight, low over in pursuit of prey such as Meadow Pipit. Also perches on fence posts or rocky outcrops. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey upperparts and buffish, streaked and spotted underparts. In flight from above, note contrast between blue-grey back, inner wings and tail, and dark wing tips and dark terminal band on tail. Adult female has brown upperparts and pale underparts with large, brown spots. In flight from above, upperparts look rather uniformly brown with numerous bars on wings and tail. Juvenile resembles adult female. Voice Mostly silent but shrill kee-kee-kee… is uttered in alarm near nest. Status Scarce breeding season, found on upland moorland in spring and summer. Outside breeding season, moves S and to lowland areas and numbers boosted by migrants from Iceland.
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  • Wren Troglodytes troglodytes L 9-10cm. Tiny, dumpy bird that cocks tail upright. Unobtrusive and often creeps through low vegetation. Call is distinctive. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have dark reddish brown upperparts with barring on wings and tail. Underparts are greyish white with buff wash to flanks; note striking, pale supercilium. Bill is needle-like and legs are reddish. Voice Utters a loud, rattling alarm call; warbling song ends in a trill. Status Widespread resident of all sorts of habitats with dense undergrowth.
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  • Least Tern - Sternula antillarum - breeding adult
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  • Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus - at nest. L 27cm. Appreciably larger than Song Thrush. Unobtrusive but has distinctive call and song. Sexes are similar. Adult has grey-brown upperparts with hint of white wingbar. Underparts are pale with large dark spots and flanks are washed orange-buff. In flight, note white underwings and white tips to outer tail feathers. Juvenile is similar but back has white, teardrop-shaped spots. Voice Utters a loud, rattling alarm call. Song contains brief phrases and long pauses; often sung in dull weather. Status Fairly common resident of open woodland, parks and mature gardens.
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  • Swallow - Hirundo rustica. L 19cm. Recognised in flight by pointed wings and long tail streamers. Sexes are similar but male has longer tail streamers than female. Adult has blue-black upperparts and white underparts except for dark chest band and brick-red throat and forecrown. Juvenile is similar but has shorter tail streamers and buff throat. Voice Utters sharp vit call in flight; male sings twittering song, often from overhead wires near nest. Status Common and widespread in summer. Usually nests in villages and farmyards, half cup-shaped mud nest typically sited under eaves or in barn. Migrants congregate over freshwater and roost in reedbeds.
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  • Northern Flicker (Red-shafted race) - Colaptes auratus - male
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  • Northern Flicker (Red-shafted race) - Colaptes auratus - male
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  • Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - at nest with young. L 14cm. Charming, perky bird with unremarkable plumage. Recognised by upright posture and habit of making insect-catching aerial sorties from regular perches. Sexes are similar. Adult has grey-brown upperparts, streaked on crown, and pale greyish white underparts heavily streaked on breast. Juvenile is similar but has pale spots on back and dark spots on throat and breast. Voice Utters a thin tsee call. Song is simple and includes thin, call-like notes. Status Widespread summer visitor to open, sunny woodland, parks and gardens; often nests around habitation.
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  • Swallow - Hirundo rustica. L 19cm. Recognised in flight by pointed wings and long tail streamers. Sexes are similar but male has longer tail streamers than female. Adult has blue-black upperparts and white underparts except for dark chest band and brick-red throat and forecrown. Juvenile is similar but has shorter tail streamers and buff throat. Voice Utters sharp vit call in flight; male sings twittering song, often from overhead wires near nest. Status Common and widespread in summer. Usually nests in villages and farmyards, half cup-shaped mud nest typically sited under eaves or in barn. Migrants congregate over freshwater and roost in reedbeds.
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  • Stonechat Saxicola torquata - Male at nest. L 12-13cm. Small, compact bird. When perched, flicks short, dark tail and utters harsh alarm call. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blackish head, white on side of neck, and dark back. Breast is orange-red, grading into pale underparts. In autumn, pale feather fringes make head appear paler. Adult female is similar but colours are muted and plumage is more streaked. 1st winter bird has streaked sandy brown upperparts and head, and buffish orange underparts. Voice Utters harsh tchak call, like two pebbles knocked together. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Locally common heaths, commons and gorse-covered slopes near coast. Some dispersal, mainly to coasts, occurs in winter.
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  • Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa - Adult at nest with chicks. L 32-34cm. Dumpy, well-marked gamebird. Forms small parties (covies), outside breeding season. Hunted and often wary. Prefers to run from danger but flies low on stiffly-held wings. Sexes are similar. Adult has red bill and legs, and white throat bordered with gorget of black spots. Plumage is otherwise mainly blue-grey and warm buff except for black and white barring on flanks. Juvenile has grey-buff plumage with hint of adult’s dark markings. Voice Utters a loud ke che-che, ke che-che… call. Status Introduced but well established, mainly on arable farmland with mature hedgerows and scattered woods.
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  • Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus - adult male at nest with chicks. L 14-15cm. Well-marked bird of wetland margins. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult summer male has black head, throat and bib, and white collar and submoustachial stripe. Underparts are whitish with faint streaking, back is dark and wings have reddish brown feather margins. In all other plumages head has dark brown and buffish brown stripes and pale submoustachial stripe. Back has brown and buff stripes, wing feathers have reddish brown margin and pale underparts are streaked on flanks and breast. Males show hint of summer head pattern. Voice Utters a thin seeu call. Song is simple, chinking and repetitive. Status Locally common. In winter, flocks found on arable fields.
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  • Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos
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  • Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted race) - Colaptes auratus - female
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  • Great Egret - Ardea alba - adult feeding chicks
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  • Anhinga - Anhinga anhinga - family on nest
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  • Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus. Spring and early summer are the times when rare waders that breed in Asia turn up here. The Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus is unmistakable with its black and white plumage and ridiculously long, red legs
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  • Great Egret - Ardea alba - adult feeding chicks
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  • Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus. Spring and early summer are the times when rare waders that breed in Asia turn up here. The Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus is unmistakable with its black and white plumage and ridiculously long, red legs
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  • Great Blue Heron chicks - Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
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  • Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna - Adult female
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  • Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - Adult leaving nest. L 14cm. Charming, perky bird with unremarkable plumage. Recognised by upright posture and habit of making insect-catching aerial sorties from regular perches. Sexes are similar. Adult has grey-brown upperparts, streaked on crown, and pale greyish white underparts heavily streaked on breast. Juvenile is similar but has pale spots on back and dark spots on throat and breast. Voice Utters a thin tsee call. Song is simple and includes thin, call-like notes. Status Widespread summer visitor to open, sunny woodland, parks and gardens; often nests around habitation.
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