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  • Rufous Bush Robin - Cercotrichas galactotes
    139767.jpg
  • Rufous Bush Robin - Cercotrichas galactotes
    160956.jpg
  • Rufous Bush Robin - Cercotrichas galactotes
    141307.jpg
  • Rufous Bush Robin - Cercotrichas galactotes
    155389.jpg
  • Rufous Bush Robin - Cercotrichas galactotes
    155387.jpg
  • Rufous Bush Robin - Cercotrichas galactotes
    155388.jpg
  • Rufous Hummingbirds - Selasphorus rufus & Black-chinned Hummingbirds - Archilochus alexandri
    149420.jpg
  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda
    161804.jpg
  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda
    161802.jpg
  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda
    161890.jpg
  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda
    161803.jpg
  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda
    161805.jpg
  • Rufous-breasted Hermit - Glaucis hirsutus
    161895.jpg
  • Rufous-tailed Jacamar - Galbula ruficauda
    161889.jpg
  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda
    161860.jpg
  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda
    161808.jpg
  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda
    161807.jpg
  • Adult Rufous-chested Dotterel - Charadrius modestus
    135473.jpg
  • Rufous-breasted Hermit - Glaucis hirsutus
    161894.jpg
  • Rufous-breasted Hermit - Glaucis hirsutus
    161977.jpg
  • Common Rock Thrush - Monticola saxatilis
    154142.jpg
  • Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
    139663.jpg
  • Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
    157220.jpg
  • Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
    157221.jpg
  • Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
    139661.jpg
  • Common Rock Thrush - Monticola saxatilis
    154141.jpg
  • Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
    160353.jpg
  • Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
    160352.jpg
  • Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda Large, omnivorous member of the crow family. Widespread across the Indian subcontinent. Recognised by its rufous back, black hood, and grey and black patterns on wings and long tail.
    145657.jpg
  • Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda Large, omnivorous member of the crow family. Widespread across the Indian subcontinent. Recognised by its rufous back, black hood, and grey and black patterns on wings and long tail.
    157235.jpg
  • Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda Large, omnivorous member of the crow family. Widespread across the Indian subcontinent. Recognised by its rufous back, black hood, and grey and black patterns on wings and long tail.
    157234.jpg
  • The Minors Oligia sp. Length 12-15mm. There are three closely-related species that are hard to distinguish from one another. All rest with wings held in a shallow tent-like manner. Tawny Marbled Minor O. latruncula often has a brown hue to the forewings. Marbled Minor O. strigilis is usually greyish-black with a pale submarginal band near the outer smargins. Rufous Minor O. versicolor is usually beautifully patterned with chestnut and grey. All three species fly June-July. Larvae feed on grasses. All three species are widespread and locally common in southern and central Britain, but much more local further north.
    140812.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.
    153789.jpg
  • Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus L 15-17cm. Dumpy little coastal plover. Looks overall much paler than other similarly sized species. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts. Sandy crown has black at front and rufous at back. Has black through eye and dark patch on side of breast. Legs and bill are black. Summer adult female, juvenile and winter adult are similar but black elements of plumage are pale sandy brown (same colour as upperparts); legs are dull brown. Voice Utters a soft bruip call. Status Scarce, short-staying passage migrant, found on sandy estuaries.
    129013.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    129045.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    136654.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    144827.jpg
  • 73.175 (2338)<br />
Rufous Minor - Oligia versicolor
    158877.jpg
  • Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus L 15-17cm. Dumpy little coastal plover. Looks overall much paler than other similarly sized species. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts. Sandy crown has black at front and rufous at back. Has black through eye and dark patch on side of breast. Legs and bill are black. Summer adult female, juvenile and winter adult are similar but black elements of plumage are pale sandy brown (same colour as upperparts); legs are dull brown. Voice Utters a soft bruip call. Status Scarce, short-staying passage migrant, found on sandy estuaries.
    145662.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus - Juvenile. L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    138060.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.
    153796.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    154230.jpg
  • The Minors Oligia sp. Length 12-15mm. There are three closely-related species that are hard to distinguish from one another. All rest with wings held in a shallow tent-like manner. Tawny Marbled Minor O. latruncula often has a brown hue to the forewings. Marbled Minor O. strigilis is usually greyish-black with a pale submarginal band near the outer smargins. Rufous Minor O. versicolor is usually beautifully patterned with chestnut and grey. All three species fly June-July. Larvae feed on grasses. All three species are widespread and locally common in southern and central Britain, but much more local further north.
    141063.jpg
  • Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Length 40-55cm Familiar, long-eared social burrowing mammal. Lives in tunnel complexes called warrens. Mainly nocturnal or crepuscular; diet is vegetarian. Adult has mainly greyish brown fur with rufous nape and pale greyish underparts. Long ears have rounded, brown tips and tail is dark above and white below. Legs are long but relatively shorter than those of Brown Hare. squeals loudly in alarm. Introduced to Britain but now widespread and common in grassland, scrub and on roadside verges.
    128105.jpg
  • Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Length 45-60cm Has shorter ears and more compact body than Brown Hare. Tail is uniformly white and ears are tipped black. Adult Scottish race has greyish brown coat in summer, palest on underparts and most rufous on head. Underfur is blue grey. In winter, acquires thick, whitish coat except for buffish nose. Adult Irish race has reddish brown summer coat and variably buffish brown and white winter coat. Mostly silent. Scottish animals favour heather moors and mountains. Irish Hares favour more grassy habitats.
    135942.jpg
  • Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Length 40-55cm Familiar, long-eared social burrowing mammal. Lives in tunnel complexes called warrens. Mainly nocturnal or crepuscular; diet is vegetarian. Adult has mainly greyish brown fur with rufous nape and pale greyish underparts. Long ears have rounded, brown tips and tail is dark above and white below. Legs are long but relatively shorter than those of Brown Hare. squeals loudly in alarm. Introduced to Britain but now widespread and common in grassland, scrub and on roadside verges.
    136041.jpg
  • 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.
    128877.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.
    129017.jpg
  • Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus L 35-38cm. Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage variable but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent feature. Forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, white underparts and chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above behind eye. Juvenile has orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. Acquires adult plumage by 2nd winter through successive moults. 1st winter bird retains many juvenile plumage details but loses rufous elements and gains grey back. 1st summer bird still has juvenile-type wing pattern but gains dark hood. Voice Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. Status Widespread and numerous. Commonest on coasts and inland freshwater sites, but also in towns and on farmland; often follows the plough. Nests colonially beside water. Migrants from Europe boost winter numbers.
    133485.jpg
  • Whitethroat Sylvia communis L 13-15cm. Familiar warbler of open country. Males often perch openly. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey cap and face, grey-brown back and rufous edges to wing feathers. Throat is white while; underparts otherwise pale, suffused pinkish buff on breast. Legs are yellowish brown and yellowish bill is dark-tipped. Dark tail has white outer feathers. Adult female and juveniles are similar but cap and face are brownish and pale underparts (apart from white throat) are suffused pale buff. Voice Utters a harsh check alarm call. Song is a rapid and scratchy warble. Status Common summer visitor to scrub patches, hedgerows and heaths.
    133717.jpg
  • Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus showing various plumages. L 35-38cm. Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage variable but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent feature. Forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, white underparts and chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above behind eye. Juvenile has orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. Acquires adult plumage by 2nd winter through successive moults. 1st winter bird retains many juvenile plumage details but loses rufous elements and gains grey back. 1st summer bird still has juvenile-type wing pattern but gains dark hood. Voice Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. Status Widespread and numerous. Commonest on coasts and inland freshwater sites, but also in towns and on farmland; often follows the plough. Nests colonially beside water. Migrants from Europe boost winter numbers.
    136081.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    145623.jpg
  • Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda
    160329.jpg
  • Rufous Grasshopper - Gomphocerippus rufus - male
    159863.jpg
  • Rufous Grasshopper - Gomphocerippus rufus
    159260.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.
    155553.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.
    153788.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.
    153795.jpg
  • Whitethroat Sylvia communis L 13-15cm. Familiar warbler of open country. Males often perch openly. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey cap and face, grey-brown back and rufous edges to wing feathers. Throat is white while; underparts otherwise pale, suffused pinkish buff on breast. Legs are yellowish brown and yellowish bill is dark-tipped. Dark tail has white outer feathers. Adult female and juveniles are similar but cap and face are brownish and pale underparts (apart from white throat) are suffused pale buff. Voice Utters a harsh check alarm call. Song is a rapid and scratchy warble. Status Common summer visitor to scrub patches, hedgerows and heaths.
    154209.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    154228.jpg
  • Great Skua Stercorarius skua L 48-52cm. Bulky seabird. Gull-like but note large head, dark legs and dark bill. In flight, shows striking white wing patch. Part scavenger, part predator and food parasite of Gannet. Sexes are similar. Adult is brown with buff and golden-brown streaks. Juvenile is uniformly dark brown and rufous. Voice Mostly silent. Status Locally common summer visitor and passage migrant. Nests near seabird colonies in Scotland; Orkney and Shetland are strongholds. Passage birds invariably seen at sea.
    154233.jpg
  • Rufous Grasshopper - Gomphocerippus rufus
    141535.jpg
  • Rufous Grasshopper - Gomphocerippus rufus
    105386.jpg
  • rufous milkcap<br />
Lactariuis rufus
    137444.jpg
  • Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Wingspan 45mm. A familiar woodland and hedgerow butterfly that favours sunny glades; fond of basking. Adult has dark brown upperwings with pale markings; underwings are rufous brown with similar pattern to that seen on upperwings. Double-brooded: adults fly April–June and July–September. Larva feeds on grasses and is strictly nocturnal. Widespread but common only in southern England; local or absent further north and in Ireland.
    140340.jpg
  • Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria Wingspan 40mm. A distinctive autumn-flying moth. Female is wingless; male rests with wings spread flat, forewings covering hindwings. Adult male has forewings that vary from pale to dark brown; typical form has a pale central band, bordered by a black line and containing black dot; other forms are uniformly rufous but all show the black dot. Flies October-December. Larva feeds on deciduous trees and shrubs. Widespread and common.
    132981.jpg
  • Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Length 45-60cm Has shorter ears and more compact body than Brown Hare. Tail is uniformly white and ears are tipped black. Adult Scottish race has greyish brown coat in summer, palest on underparts and most rufous on head. Underfur is blue grey. In winter, acquires thick, whitish coat except for buffish nose. Adult Irish race has reddish brown summer coat and variably buffish brown and white winter coat. Mostly silent. Scottish animals favour heather moors and mountains. Irish Hares favour more grassy habitats.
    100376.jpg
  • Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Length 40-55cm Familiar, long-eared social burrowing mammal. Lives in tunnel complexes called warrens. Mainly nocturnal or crepuscular; diet is vegetarian. Adult has mainly greyish brown fur with rufous nape and pale greyish underparts. Long ears have rounded, brown tips and tail is dark above and white below. Legs are long but relatively shorter than those of Brown Hare. squeals loudly in alarm. Introduced to Britain but now widespread and common in grassland, scrub and on roadside verges.
    127611.jpg
  • Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Length 45-60cm Has shorter ears and more compact body than Brown Hare. Tail is uniformly white and ears are tipped black. Adult Scottish race has greyish brown coat in summer, palest on underparts and most rufous on head. Underfur is blue grey. In winter, acquires thick, whitish coat except for buffish nose. Adult Irish race has reddish brown summer coat and variably buffish brown and white winter coat. Mostly silent. Scottish animals favour heather moors and mountains. Irish Hares favour more grassy habitats.
    144328.jpg
  • Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Length 45-60cm Has shorter ears and more compact body than Brown Hare. Tail is uniformly white and ears are tipped black. Adult Scottish race has greyish brown coat in summer, palest on underparts and most rufous on head. Underfur is blue grey. In winter, acquires thick, whitish coat except for buffish nose. Adult Irish race has reddish brown summer coat and variably buffish brown and white winter coat. Mostly silent. Scottish animals favour heather moors and mountains. Irish Hares favour more grassy habitats.
    144332.jpg
  • Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Length 40-55cm Familiar, long-eared social burrowing mammal. Lives in tunnel complexes called warrens. Mainly nocturnal or crepuscular; diet is vegetarian. Adult has mainly greyish brown fur with rufous nape and pale greyish underparts. Long ears have rounded, brown tips and tail is dark above and white below. Legs are long but relatively shorter than those of Brown Hare. squeals loudly in alarm. Introduced to Britain but now widespread and common in grassland, scrub and on roadside verges.
    144363.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.
    127338.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.
    127340.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.
    129018.jpg
  • 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.
    133077.jpg
  • Shoveler (male) - 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.
    136031.jpg
  • Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus L 15-17cm. Dumpy little coastal plover. Looks overall much paler than other similarly sized species. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts. Sandy crown has black at front and rufous at back. Has black through eye and dark patch on side of breast. Legs and bill are black. Summer adult female, juvenile and winter adult are similar but black elements of plumage are pale sandy brown (same colour as upperparts); legs are dull brown. Voice Utters a soft bruip call. Status Scarce, short-staying passage migrant, found on sandy estuaries.
    141927.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.
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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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  • Whitethroat Sylvia communis L 13-15cm. Familiar warbler of open country. Males often perch openly. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey cap and face, grey-brown back and rufous edges to wing feathers. Throat is white while; underparts otherwise pale, suffused pinkish buff on breast. Legs are yellowish brown and yellowish bill is dark-tipped. Dark tail has white outer feathers. Adult female and juveniles are similar but cap and face are brownish and pale underparts (apart from white throat) are suffused pale buff. Voice Utters a harsh check alarm call. Song is a rapid and scratchy warble. Status Common summer visitor to scrub patches, hedgerows and heaths.
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  • Whitethroat Sylvia communis L 13-15cm. Familiar warbler of open country. Males often perch openly. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey cap and face, grey-brown back and rufous edges to wing feathers. Throat is white while; underparts otherwise pale, suffused pinkish buff on breast. Legs are yellowish brown and yellowish bill is dark-tipped. Dark tail has white outer feathers. Adult female and juveniles are similar but cap and face are brownish and pale underparts (apart from white throat) are suffused pale buff. Voice Utters a harsh check alarm call. Song is a rapid and scratchy warble. Status Common summer visitor to scrub patches, hedgerows and heaths.
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  • Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus L 35-38cm. Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage variable but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent feature. Forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, white underparts and chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above behind eye. Juvenile has orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. Acquires adult plumage by 2nd winter through successive moults. 1st winter bird retains many juvenile plumage details but loses rufous elements and gains grey back. 1st summer bird still has juvenile-type wing pattern but gains dark hood. Voice Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. Status Widespread and numerous. Commonest on coasts and inland freshwater sites, but also in towns and on farmland; often follows the plough. Nests colonially beside water. Migrants from Europe boost winter numbers.
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  • Whitethroat Sylvia communis L 13-15cm. Familiar warbler of open country. Males often perch openly. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey cap and face, grey-brown back and rufous edges to wing feathers. Throat is white while; underparts otherwise pale, suffused pinkish buff on breast. Legs are yellowish brown and yellowish bill is dark-tipped. Dark tail has white outer feathers. Adult female and juveniles are similar but cap and face are brownish and pale underparts (apart from white throat) are suffused pale buff. Voice Utters a harsh check alarm call. Song is a rapid and scratchy warble. Status Common summer visitor to scrub patches, hedgerows and heaths.
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  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
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  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
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  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
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  • Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus L 35-38cm. Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage variable but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent feature. Forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, white underparts and chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above behind eye. Juvenile has orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. Acquires adult plumage by 2nd winter through successive moults. 1st winter bird retains many juvenile plumage details but loses rufous elements and gains grey back. 1st summer bird still has juvenile-type wing pattern but gains dark hood. Voice Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. Status Widespread and numerous. Commonest on coasts and inland freshwater sites, but also in towns and on farmland; often follows the plough. Nests colonially beside water. Migrants from Europe boost winter numbers.
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  • Rufous Grasshopper - Gomphocerippus rufus - left - female/right - male
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  • Rufous Grasshopper - Gomphocerippus rufus
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  • Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Length 40-55cm Familiar, long-eared social burrowing mammal. Lives in tunnel complexes called warrens. Mainly nocturnal or crepuscular; diet is vegetarian. Adult has mainly greyish brown fur with rufous nape and pale greyish underparts. Long ears have rounded, brown tips and tail is dark above and white below. Legs are long but relatively shorter than those of Brown Hare. squeals loudly in alarm. Introduced to Britain but now widespread and common in grassland, scrub and on roadside verges.
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  • Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Length 40-55cm Familiar, long-eared social burrowing mammal. Lives in tunnel complexes called warrens. Mainly nocturnal or crepuscular; diet is vegetarian. Adult has mainly greyish brown fur with rufous nape and pale greyish underparts. Long ears have rounded, brown tips and tail is dark above and white below. Legs are long but relatively shorter than those of Brown Hare. squeals loudly in alarm. Introduced to Britain but now widespread and common in grassland, scrub and on roadside verges.
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  • Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus. L 35-38cm. Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage variable but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent feature. Forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, white underparts and chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above behind eye. Juvenile has orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. Acquires adult plumage by 2nd winter through successive moults. 1st winter bird retains many juvenile plumage details but loses rufous elements and gains grey back. 1st summer bird still has juvenile-type wing pattern but gains dark hood. Voice Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. Status Widespread and numerous. Commonest on coasts and inland freshwater sites, but also in towns and on farmland; often follows the plough. Nests colonially beside water. Migrants from Europe boost winter numbers.
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  • Whitethroat - Sylvia communis - juvenile. L 13-15cm. Familiar warbler of open country. Males often perch openly. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey cap and face, grey-brown back and rufous edges to wing feathers. Throat is white while; underparts otherwise pale, suffused pinkish buff on breast. Legs are yellowish brown and yellowish bill is dark-tipped. Dark tail has white outer feathers. Adult female and juveniles are similar but cap and face are brownish and pale underparts (apart from white throat) are suffused pale buff. Voice Utters a harsh check alarm call. Song is a rapid and scratchy warble. Status Common summer visitor to scrub patches, hedgerows and heaths.
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  • Great Skua Stercorarius skua L 48-52cm. Bulky seabird. Gull-like but note large head, dark legs and dark bill. In flight, shows striking white wing patch. Part scavenger, part predator and food parasite of Gannet. Sexes are similar. Adult is brown with buff and golden-brown streaks. Juvenile is uniformly dark brown and rufous. Voice Mostly silent. Status Locally common summer visitor and passage migrant. Nests near seabird colonies in Scotland; Orkney and Shetland are strongholds. Passage birds invariably seen at sea.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus<br />
left = 1st winter, middle = adult winter, right = adult summer<br />
L 35-38cm. Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage variable but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent feature. Forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, white underparts and chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above behind eye. Juvenile has orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. Acquires adult plumage by 2nd winter through successive moults. 1st winter bird retains many juvenile plumage details but loses rufous elements and gains grey back. 1st summer bird still has juvenile-type wing pattern but gains dark hood. Voice Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. Status Widespread and numerous. Commonest on coasts and inland freshwater sites, but also in towns and on farmland; often follows the plough. Nests colonially beside water. Migrants from Europe boost winter numbers.
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  • Whitethroat Sylvia communis L 13-15cm. Familiar warbler of open country. Males often perch openly. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey cap and face, grey-brown back and rufous edges to wing feathers. Throat is white while; underparts otherwise pale, suffused pinkish buff on breast. Legs are yellowish brown and yellowish bill is dark-tipped. Dark tail has white outer feathers. Adult female and juveniles are similar but cap and face are brownish and pale underparts (apart from white throat) are suffused pale buff. Voice Utters a harsh check alarm call. Song is a rapid and scratchy warble. Status Common summer visitor to scrub patches, hedgerows and heaths.
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  • rufous milkcap<br />
Lactarius rufus
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  • Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Wingspan 45mm. A familiar woodland and hedgerow butterfly that favours sunny glades; fond of basking. Adult has dark brown upperwings with pale markings; underwings are rufous brown with similar pattern to that seen on upperwings. Double-brooded: adults fly April–June and July–September. Larva feeds on grasses and is strictly nocturnal. Widespread but common only in southern England; local or absent further north and in Ireland.
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