Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Robin


Robin, Fowlmere, 30th January, © Jack Harrison. This great photo was taken with a Canon A95 at just 3X zoom. Amazingly Jack's lense was only 70cms from the Robin which continued singing throughout! (JL).

Caspian Gull





Adult Caspian Gull, Long Drove, Cottenham, 30th January 2007, © Dick Newell
This emaculate Caspian Gull has an unusually bright bill, showing neither the usual limy tone to the base nor a black mark on the gonys, and obviously yellow legs. One would only expect to see these things when breeding.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Mute Swans


Mute Swans, Burwell Lode, Wicken, January 29th 2007, © Jack Harrison.

Yellow-legged Gull



2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull, Milton, 29th January 2007, © Dick Newell
One of at least 4 2nd winters and 2 adults.

Common Gull



1st winter Common Gull, Milton, 29th January 2007, © Dick Newell
Most nominate canus Common Gulls should have moulted their scapulars by late September but this bird has barely started. This is more typical of birds from a more northerly or easterly origin. Together with the primaries hanging below the tertials and inner greater coverts this bird could be heinei. See this Danish example of a November heinei. (RGN)

Caspian Gull




1st winter Caspian Gull, Milton, 29th January 2007, © Dick Newell
Fairly large bird, so probably a male. Unusually, the underwing was rather dark for a Caspian Gull, which, together with the fairly heavily anchored scapulars, perhaps indicates some impurity. (RGN)

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Mallards


Mallard Duck & Drake, Grafham Water, 28th January, 2007. © James Hanlon. This pair of Mallards seems to have found a ready food supply! (JL).

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Black-necked Grebe



Black-necked Grebe, Paxton Pits, 25th January 2007, © Garth Peacock.

Great Spotted Woodpecker


Great Spotted Woodpecker, Paxton Pits, 25th January 2007, © Garth Peacock.

Black-necked Grebe




Black-necked Grebe, Paxton Pits, 25th Jan 2007, © Martin Davis.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Barn Owl



Barn Owl, Woodwalton Fen, January 21st 2007, © Mike Weedon.

Redwing


Redwing, Woodwalton Fen, January 21st 2007, © Mike Weedon.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Mistle Thrush


Mistle Thrush, Great Shelford, 20th January, © James Hanlon. It looks like these particular berries are highly atractive to thrushes as this is the same tree James photographed a Redwing in on January 12th. (JL).

Friday, January 19, 2007

Water Pipit


Water Pipit, Paxton, 19th January 2007, © Martin Davis
This is a hard species at Paxton . This is only my 3rd in 25 years birding here (MD)

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Caspian Gull




Adult Caspian Gull, Paxton, 16th January 2007, © Jamie Wells above © Martin Davis below
Almost certainly the same bird (Jamie's picture was taken a few days earlier), there are enough clues here for a conclusive id, including greenish bill-colour and shape, beady eye, darker than Herring Gull, long legs, upright stance, long neck, what more do you need?

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Sparrowhawk



Juvenile Sparrowhawk, Waterbeach, 13th January 2007, © Luca Patriccioli
Although not usually exposed, and, although illustrated in a video-clip but not even mentioned in BWPi, white bases to the scapulars is within the normal variation of Sparrowhawks, as in this similar Polish bird. The width of the top of the garden seat is 70mm, from which one can work out a very approximate wing-length of 184mm, which is even smaller than the smallest male Sparrowhawk. So this bird is almost certainly a male. [RGN]

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Black-headed Gull



1st Winter Black-headed Gull, Fen Drayton, 14th January, © Stuart Elsom. The recently flooded fields at Fen Drayton are proving a magnet for feeding Black-headed Gulls, with some individuals like this moulting first-winter bird dip feeding right by the roadside. (SME).

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Kingfisher


Kingfisher, Paxton, January 2007, © Martin Davis

Little Egret


Little Egret, Paxton, January 2007, © Martin Davis

Garganey



Female Garganey, Paxton, January 2006, © Martin Davis
Good record shot of a rather rare overwintering bird.

Stonechats





Female and male Stonechat, January 2007, Paxton, © Martin Davis
There seem to be quite a few paired Stonechats around.

Iceland Gull


2nd winter Iceland Gull, Tanholt Gravel Pits, January 13th, © Josh Jones.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Redwing


1st winter Redwing, Great Shelford, January 12th, © James Hanlon. This Redwing was photographed by James from his flat window. (JL).

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Long-tailed Tit


Long-tailed Tit, Cambs., 5th January 2007, © Stuart Elsom
Long-tailed Tit is just about annual in Stuart's garden so a flock of
12 so soon into the New year was very welcome indeed. This endearing
individual was just about the only bird in the flock to stay still long
enough to allow its photo to be taken!

Friday, January 05, 2007

Yellow-legged Gull?




Yellow-legged Gull ssp., Long Drove, Cottenham. 5th January 2007
This 3rd winter bird is extremely dark for a nominate michahellis, so one might consider Armenian Gull, Azorean atlantis or a hybrid. Azorean gull has probably lost its head-streaking by now, so that doesn't help. Given the numbers of Caspian Gulls about, one is tempted to think of something from the east. The illustration of a 3rd winter Armenian Gull in BWPi looks a very good match. (RGN)
Feedback: This bird resembles a ringed hybrid Yellow-legged x Lesser Black-backed Gull seen by Steve Cooper a few years ago.

Caspian Gull



3rd winter Caspian Gull, Long Drove, Cottenham, 5th January 2007, © Dick Newell
You don't see many at this age. Note the long pale tibia and, unusually, this bird has an obvious pale iris. (RGN)

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Red-crested Pochard


Red-crested Pochards, Ferry Meadows, 4th January 2007, © Peter Beasley
One wonder's where these might have come from. (RGN)

Magpie


Magpie, Ferry Meadows, 4th January 2007, © Peter Beasley
It is quite difficult to get a shot like this of a wary bird like the Magpie (RGN).

Caspian Gull





2nd winter Caspian Gull, Long Drove, Cottenham, 4th January 2007, © Dick Newell

Rather like a huge, over-sized 1st winter Common Gull at this age. (RGN)

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Red-necked Grebe




Red-necked Grebe, Ferry Lagoon, Fen Drayton GPs, 2nd January, © Garth Peacock.

Common Stonechat


Common Stonechat, Fen Drayton GPs, 2nd January, © Garth Peacock.

Fieldfare


Fieldfare, Fen Drayton GPs, January 2nd, © Garth Peacock.