Grey Heron, Horningsea, 21st October 2008 © Luca Patriccioli
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Common Gull
Common Gull, Cambridge, 19th October 2008 © Richard Hall
Taken on Parkers Piece in central Cambridge
Yellow-legged/Caspian Gull?
Yellow-legged/Caspian Gull?, Paxton Pits, 19th October 2008, © Jamie Wells
At first sight, the bullet-hole eye, rounded head and parallel-sided bill, make this gull look like a Caspian Gull. However, it looks a little dark and the mirror on P10 is the typical trapezoidal shape of adult Yellow-legged Gull. However, the bird is not fully adult, there is a brown smear on the tertials, so the mirror might not mean much. The bird does not exhibit the ridiculous long-winged appearance of some Caspian Gulls. Apparently there were some grey tongues protruding into the black on the primaries.
Without a view of the legs, this bird may be best left unidentified, it could even be a hybrid (RGN).
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Scaup & Tufted Duck
Scaup and Tufted Duck, Wicken Fen, 18th October 2008 © Richard Hall
Photo taken from Westmere Hide
Friday, October 17, 2008
Yellow-legged Gull
Yellow-legged Gull, Landbeach, 11th October 2008, © Dick Newell
This gull has a very large mirror on P10 merged into the white tip on that feather. It also has a mirror on P9. The black band on P5 is a bit greyed out on the inner web and is not continuous across the feather, it is split in the middle. The pattern of P9 and P10 as well as the lack of a mark on P4 seems to fit what Olsen & Larsson say about eastern populations of Yellow-legged Gull. Or is it just an unusual western Mediterranean bird?
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Teal
Female Teal, Ferry Meadows, 9th October 2008 © Garth Peacock
An experiment in back-lit photography in the late afternoon sun.
Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested Grebe, Ferry Meadows, 9th October 2008 © Peter Beesley
I had to twist Peter's arm to let me post this most unusual photograph - GP
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Pied Wagtail
Pied Wagtail, Grafham Water, 5th October 2008 © Stuart Elsom
This adult male was very obliging at the south end of the dam - SE
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Yellow-legged Gull
Yellow-legged Gull, Cottenham Long Drove, 4th October 2008, © Dick Newell
This bird is about as streaky-headed as nominate michahellis gets, it is also quite dark, although not quite as dark as it seems in this photograph. It is not fully adult, as evidenced by the black alula, so the lack of a mirror on P10 is not informative. However, one is tempted to speculate that it might be atlantis.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Honey Buzzard
Juvenile dark-phase Honey Buzzard, Fen Drayton, 18th September 2008, © Colin Brown
"A raptor shot out in front of us chased by a couple of crows. I managed some reflex shots, of which this is the best." - yes probably the best shot of a Honey Buzzard ever taken in Cambs.
Adult Male Restart
Adult Male Redstart, Croydon Hill, 19th September 2008 © Jim Lawrence. This cracking male was one of four birds present this morning.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Spoonbill
Juvenile Spoonbill, Grafham Water, 17th September 2008 © Garth Peacock
One of two that have been inhabiting the lagoons for the past few days.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Turtle Dove
Juvenile Turtle Dove, Landbeach, 16th September 2008, © Dick Newell
This was a nice surprise on my driveway, one of two birds which I assume fledged locally and quite recently. Turtle doves turned up much later than usual in Landbeach this year.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Yellow-legged Gull
Yellow-legged Gull, adult and 2CY, Smithy Fen, Cottenham, 12th September 2008, © Dick Newell
The adult bird, in active primary moult, demonstrates nicely the characteristic head-shape of many Yellow-legged Gulls. The 2CY bird has mostly second generation feathers apart from a few 3rd generation grey mantle feathers. Most 2CY Yellow-legged Gulls would have a lot more grey on the back by this date. This bird had a yellowish tinge to the legs, which is not always the case at this age.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Arctic Skua
Adult pale-morph Arctic Skua, Foul Anchor, 7th September 2008 © Stuart Elsom
Only 15 minutes after the Honey Buzzard came two Skuas, the first was this excellent Arctic and the second was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua which, once identified, was watched through bins as I was shaking too much with excitement to take any photographs! - SE
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Baird's Sandpiper
Juvenile Baird's Sandpiper, Paxton Pits, 29th August 2008 © Stuart Elsom
This record shot shows the typical elongated profle of Baird's Sandpiper. The fresh pale feather edgings age it as a juvenile and give a characteristic scaly appearance. Note also the buffy wash across the upper breast. A class find by Martin Davis - SME
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit
Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit, Cam Washes, Waterbeach, 10th August 2007, © Peter Stronach
Adult birds in wing-moult just returned from Iceland.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Sparrowhawk
Juvenile Sparrowhawk, 5th August 2008, Cambridge © Richard Fusniak
This bird appeared with a kill in Richard's garden in Cromwell Road, just one mile from the City centre.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)