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.

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)

Mallards

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

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.

Barn Owl

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

Redwing

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

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).

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)

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?

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]

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).

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.

Redwing

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

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!

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)

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)

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.