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  • Osprey - Pandion haliaetus - adult bird USA
    160434.jpg
  • Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias - adult bird with tilapia catch
    160430.jpg
  • Slavonian Grebe - Podiceps auritus - winter plumage. L 31-38cm. Buoyant little waterbird with beady red eye. Flattish crown and white-tipped, even-shaped bill (both mandibles are curved) allow separation from Black-necked. White patches on both leading and trailing edges of wings are seen in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has reddish orange neck and flanks. Back is black and black head has golden-yellow plumes. In winter, has black upperparts and white underparts with clear demarcation between black cap and white cheeks. Juvenile is similar to winter adult. Voice Utters trills and squeals at nest. Status Scarce winter visitor to sheltered coastal waters. Rare breeding bird in Scotland, on shallow lochs with abundant sedges.
    154225.jpg
  • Common Scoter Melanitta nigra L 44-54cm. Male is our only all-black duck. Rather long tail is sometimes raised when swimming. Gregarious outside breeding season. In flight, looks mainly dark but paler flight feathers can sometimes be seen. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has uniformly black plumage. Head sheen only visible at close range. Bill is mostly dark but with yellow ridge; base is bulbous base. 1st winter male has browner plumage are all-dark bill. Adult female has mainly dark brown plumage with pale buff cheeks. Juvenile resembles aadult female. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding bird, found on vegetated N lakes and lochs. Locally fairly common in winter, found on coasts with sandy seabeds.
    154227.jpg
  • Field Bird's Nest - Cyathus olla
    135559.jpg
  • Siberian Stonechat - Saxicola maurus Length 12-13cm Small, compact bird. Similar to European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola; formerly treated as a subspecies of that bird, but now elevated to species status. Diagnostic difference is white, unstreaked rump. 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, feathers fringed brown in winter. Compared to European Stonechat, underparts are paler and less colourful. Adult female is similar but colours are muted. 1st winter bird has streaked sandy brown upperparts and head, and buffish orange underparts. Utters harsh tchak call, like two pebbles knocked together. Song is rapid and warbling. Breeds across much of central Asia and winters further south. Vagrants turn up in western Europe, mainly in autumn.
    145656.jpg
  • Fluted Bird's Nest - Cyathus striatus
    135583.jpg
  • Field Bird's Nest - Cyathus olla
    135560.jpg
  • Fluted Bird's Nest - Cyathus striatus
    135542.jpg
  • Common Bird's Nest - Crucibulum laeve
    135501.jpg
  • Common Bird's Nest - Crucibulum laeve
    135489.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    156795.jpg
  • Bird Box. Common style of wooden bird box for common garden species.
    130264.jpg
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage.
    136917.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    137380.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145942.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    157709.jpg
  • Woodcock - Scolopax rusticola. L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    157685.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    157613.jpg
  • Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus - Male. L 12-13cm. Small, compact bird. When perched, flicks short, dark tail and utters harsh alarm call. Sexes are dissimilar. All birds have a pale, unmarked rump. 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 Breeds in Siberia and central Asia and winters in southern Asia. Vagrant in Europe.
    154191.jpg
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage.
    130084.jpg
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage.
    136916.jpg
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage.
    136918.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    137841.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    137843.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    137845.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    137846.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    137848.jpg
  • Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (L 60-65cm) is a stocky bird, adults of which are mainly black-and-white bird; juveniles are brown and spotted. It is active mainly after dark.
    143405.jpg
  • "Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage. "
    144767.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145941.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145944.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145943.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145945.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145946.jpg
  • Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus - summer adult.  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.
    157668.jpg
  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Summer Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
    157421.jpg
  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Summer Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
    157420.jpg
  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Summer Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
    157418.jpg
  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Summer Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
    157417.jpg
  • Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus - winter adult.  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.
    157079.jpg
  • Nuthatch - Sitta europaea. L 14cm. Dumpy, short-tailed woodland bird that often descends tree trunks head-first. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey upperparts, black eyestripe, white cheeks and orange-buff underparts; on average, males are more reddish buff on flanks than females. Juvenile is similar but duller. Voice Utters a loud zwiit, repeated if bird is agitated. Song is a series of whistling notes. Status Fairly common resident of deciduous and mixed woodland, and gardens, mainly in England and Wales.
    157055.jpg
  • Herring Gull Larus argentatus - 1st Winter. L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
    156918.jpg
  • Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus L 23-28cm. Secretive wetland bird. Distinctive call is heard far more frequently than bird is seen. In profile, note dumpy body, short tail and long bill. Seen head-on, body is laterally compressed. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly blue-grey underparts, reddish brown upperparts, and black and white barring on flanks. Bill and legs are red. Juvenile is similar to adult but duller. Voice Utters a pig-like squeal and various choking calls. Status Favours reedbeds and marshes; migrants sometimes found on streams and watercress beds.
    156893.jpg
  • Herring Gull - Larus argentatus - 1st winter.  L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
    156853.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    156796.jpg
  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra L 12-14cm. Colourful, Stonechat-like bird with whitish sides to tail base. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has brown, streaked upperparts with white stripe above eye. Margins of throat and ear coverts are defined by pale stripe; throat and breast are orange; underparts are otherwise whitish. Adult female is similar but colours and contrast are less intense. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but upperparts are more spotted. Voice Utters a whistling tic-tic alarm call. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Local summer visitor, favouring rough grassy slopes with scattered scrub.
    156448.jpg
  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra - female. L 12-14cm. Colourful, Stonechat-like bird with whitish sides to tail base. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has brown, streaked upperparts with white stripe above eye. Margins of throat and ear coverts are defined by pale stripe; throat and breast are orange; underparts are otherwise whitish. Adult female is similar but colours and contrast are less intense. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but upperparts are more spotted. Voice Utters a whistling tic-tic alarm call. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Local summer visitor, favouring rough grassy slopes with scattered scrub.
    156447.jpg
  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra L 12-14cm. Colourful, Stonechat-like bird with whitish sides to tail base. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has brown, streaked upperparts with white stripe above eye. Margins of throat and ear coverts are defined by pale stripe; throat and breast are orange; underparts are otherwise whitish. Adult female is similar but colours and contrast are less intense. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but upperparts are more spotted. Voice Utters a whistling tic-tic alarm call. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Local summer visitor, favouring rough grassy slopes with scattered scrub.
    156444.jpg
  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra L 12-14cm. Colourful, Stonechat-like bird with whitish sides to tail base. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has brown, streaked upperparts with white stripe above eye. Margins of throat and ear coverts are defined by pale stripe; throat and breast are orange; underparts are otherwise whitish. Adult female is similar but colours and contrast are less intense. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but upperparts are more spotted. Voice Utters a whistling tic-tic alarm call. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Local summer visitor, favouring rough grassy slopes with scattered scrub.
    156443.jpg
  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra L 12-14cm. Colourful, Stonechat-like bird with whitish sides to tail base. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has brown, streaked upperparts with white stripe above eye. Margins of throat and ear coverts are defined by pale stripe; throat and breast are orange; underparts are otherwise whitish. Adult female is similar but colours and contrast are less intense. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but upperparts are more spotted. Voice Utters a whistling tic-tic alarm call. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Local summer visitor, favouring rough grassy slopes with scattered scrub.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Breeding Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Woodpigeon Columba palumbus L 41cm. Plump, familiar bird whose ‘song’ is a countryside familiar sound, as is loud clatter of wings heard a bird flies off. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are similar.<br />
Adult has mainly blue-grey plumage with pinkish maroon on breast. Note white patch on side of neck and, in flight, prominent, transverse white wingbars, dark wingtips and dark terminal band on tail. Juvenile is similar but white mark on neck is missing. Voice Sings a series of oo-OO-oo, oo-oo phrases. Status Abundant on farmland and lightly wooded countryside generally. Also increasingly in towns.
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  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra - Male. L 12-14cm. Colourful, Stonechat-like bird with whitish sides to tail base. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has brown, streaked upperparts with white stripe above eye. Margins of throat and ear coverts are defined by pale stripe; throat and breast are orange; underparts are otherwise whitish. Adult female is similar but colours and contrast are less intense. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but upperparts are more spotted. Voice Utters a whistling tic-tic alarm call. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Local summer visitor, favouring rough grassy slopes with scattered scrub.
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  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra L 12-14cm. Colourful, Stonechat-like bird with whitish sides to tail base. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has brown, streaked upperparts with white stripe above eye. Margins of throat and ear coverts are defined by pale stripe; throat and breast are orange; underparts are otherwise whitish. Adult female is similar but colours and contrast are less intense. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but upperparts are more spotted. Voice Utters a whistling tic-tic alarm call. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Local summer visitor, favouring rough grassy slopes with scattered scrub.
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  • Herring Gull - Larus argentatus - Summer Adult.  L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
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  • Herring Gull - Larus argentatus - 2nd winter.  L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
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  • Herring Gull - Larus argentatus - 2nd winter.  L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
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  • Herring Gull - Larus argentatus - 1st winter.  L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
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  • Herring Gull Larus argentatus - tangled up with fishing litter. L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.<br />
Kimmeridge bay september.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Breeding Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Breeding Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Breeding Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Breeding Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Breeding Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Breeding Adult. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Breeding Adult.  L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Stonechat Saxicola torquata 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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  • Herring Gull Larus argentatus - 2nd Winter. L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
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  • Herring Gull Larus argentatus - 2nd Winter. L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
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  • Herring Gull Larus argentatus - Winter Adult. L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - in flight winter. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - in flight winter. L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Stonechat Saxicola torquata - Female. 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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  • Stonechat Saxicola torquata - Female. 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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  • Stonechat Saxicola torquata 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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  • Nuthatch Sitta europaea L 14cm. Dumpy, short-tailed woodland bird that often descends tree trunks head-first. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey upperparts, black eyestripe, white cheeks and orange-buff underparts; on average, males are more reddish buff on flanks than females. Juvenile is similar but duller. Voice Utters a loud zwiit, repeated if bird is agitated. Song is a series of whistling notes. Status Fairly common resident of deciduous and mixed woodland, and gardens, mainly in England and Wales.
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  • Water Rail Rallus aquaticus L 23-28cm. Secretive wetland bird. Distinctive call is heard far more frequently than bird is seen. In profile, note dumpy body, short tail and long bill. Seen head-on, body is laterally compressed. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly blue-grey underparts, reddish brown upperparts, and black and white barring on flanks. Bill and legs are red. Juvenile is similar to adult but duller. Voice Utters a pig-like squeal and various choking calls. Status Favours reedbeds and marshes; migrants sometimes found on streams and watercress beds.
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  • Water Rail Rallus aquaticus L 23-28cm. Secretive wetland bird. Distinctive call is heard far more frequently than bird is seen. In profile, note dumpy body, short tail and long bill. Seen head-on, body is laterally compressed. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly blue-grey underparts, reddish brown upperparts, and black and white barring on flanks. Bill and legs are red. Juvenile is similar to adult but duller. Voice Utters a pig-like squeal and various choking calls. Status Favours reedbeds and marshes; migrants sometimes found on streams and watercress beds.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (L 60-65cm) is a stocky bird, adults of which are mainly black-and-white bird; juveniles are brown and spotted. It is active mainly after dark.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra L 12-14cm. Colourful, Stonechat-like bird with whitish sides to tail base. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has brown, streaked upperparts with white stripe above eye. Margins of throat and ear coverts are defined by pale stripe; throat and breast are orange; underparts are otherwise whitish. Adult female is similar but colours and contrast are less intense. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but upperparts are more spotted. Voice Utters a whistling tic-tic alarm call. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Local summer visitor, favouring rough grassy slopes with scattered scrub.
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  • Nuthatch Sitta europaea L 14cm. Dumpy, short-tailed woodland bird that often descends tree trunks head-first. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey upperparts, black eyestripe, white cheeks and orange-buff underparts; on average, males are more reddish buff on flanks than females. Juvenile is similar but duller. Voice Utters a loud zwiit, repeated if bird is agitated. Song is a series of whistling notes. Status Fairly common resident of deciduous and mixed woodland, and gardens, mainly in England and Wales.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (L 60-65cm) is a stocky bird, adults of which are mainly black-and-white bird; juveniles are brown and spotted. It is active mainly after dark.
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  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
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  • Woodpigeon Columba livia L 41cm. Plump, familiar bird whose ‘song’ is a countryside familiar sound, as is loud clatter of wings heard a bird flies off. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are similar.<br />
Adult has mainly blue-grey plumage with pinkish maroon on breast. Note white patch on side of neck and, in flight, prominent, transverse white wingbars, dark wingtips and dark terminal band on tail. Juvenile is similar but white mark on neck is missing. Voice Sings a series of oo-OO-oo, oo-oo phrases. Status Abundant on farmland and lightly wooded countryside generally. Also increasingly in towns.
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  • Woodpigeon Columba livia L 41cm. Plump, familiar bird whose ‘song’ is a countryside familiar sound, as is loud clatter of wings heard a bird flies off. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are similar.<br />
Adult has mainly blue-grey plumage with pinkish maroon on breast. Note white patch on side of neck and, in flight, prominent, transverse white wingbars, dark wingtips and dark terminal band on tail. Juvenile is similar but white mark on neck is missing. Voice Sings a series of oo-OO-oo, oo-oo phrases. Status Abundant on farmland and lightly wooded countryside generally. Also increasingly in towns.
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  • Wooden Bird Table. A common design for feeding garden birds.
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  • Wooden Bird Table. A common design for feeding garden birds.
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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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Herring Gull Larus argentatus L 56-62cm. Noisy, familiar bird and our most numerous large gull species. Often follows boats. Bold when fed regularly. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey black and upperwings, with white-spotted, black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Legs are pink, bill is yellow with orange spot, and eye is yellow with orange-yellow ring. In winter, similar but with dark streaks on head and nape. Juvenile and 1st winter are mottled grey-brown with streaked underparts. Legs are dull pink, bill is dark and spotted pale tail has dark tip. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter bird is similar but has grey back and grey areas on upperwing. Tail is white with dark tip. 3rd winter resembles winter adult but has more black on wingtips and hint of dark tail band. Voice Utters distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Common, mainly coastal in summer, nesting on seacliffs and in seaside towns. Widespread and more numerous in winter due to migrant influx.
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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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  • 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.
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  • Stonechat Saxicola torquata 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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