Monday, December 31, 2007

Fieldfare


Fieldfare, Aldreth, December 2007, © Simon Stirrup
Handsome beast

Starling


1st winter Starling, Aldreth, December 2007, © Simon Stirrup
Even young Starlings can look stunning at times.

Kestrel


Female Kestrel, Paxton Pits, 21st December 2007, © Jamie Wells

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Cattle Egret


Cattle Egret, St Neots, 28th December 2007, © Chris Martin

Friday, December 28, 2007

Cattle Egret


Cattle Egret, St Neots, 28th December 2007, © Jamie Wells

Cattle Egret



Cattle Egret, St Neots, 28th December 2007, © Mark Thomas.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Yellow-legged Gull


2CY Yellow-legged Gull, Cottenham Long Drove, 22nd December 2007, © Dick Newell
Dark grey back, very long wings and fierce expression makes this bird easy to pick out.

Caspian Gull



Adult Caspian Gull, Cottenham Long Drove, 22nd December 2007, © Dick Newell
This bird is pretty good in most respects, except that it has rather thick, bright pink legs, and it's wings are not quite as long as one would expect. Also the white tongue on the inner web of P10 does not hug the shaft as much as it should, so maybe it has mixed ancestry.

Caspian Gull


2CY Caspian Gull, Landbeach A10, 22nd December 2007, © Dick Newell
The distinctive head and bill-shape is the main giveaway here. It is well advanced in its covert moult.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Caspian Gull




2CY Caspian Gull, Cottenham Long Drove, 20th December 2007 © Dick Newell
Easily overlooked as a Yellow-legged Gull at this age, this was one of two 2CY's present. The distinguishing features include the long wings, long tibia, pale tips to both median and greater coverts, shadow line along nape-crown boundary and relatively slender bill (RGN).

Friday, December 14, 2007

Grey Heron


Grey Heron, Paxton Pits, 14th December 2007, © Jamie Wells
A beautiful shot. The neat black belly band is a strange feature to see on a Grey Heron. Explanations are welcome.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Nuthatch




Nuthatch, 12th December 2007, Bluebell Woods Peterborough © Garth Peacock

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Redwing


Redwing, Girton, 11th December 2007 © Garth Peacock