Birds Photographed in the UK in 2001

Jonathan Wasse

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, April 2001.

individual, This 1st summer, which was the
2nd ever? record of this species in Suffolk,
proved elusive on my visit in April 2001.
After a few hours it flew in, took the bread
and promptly disappeared.

Always a poser are "Ring-bills". The bill is
a stonker! Will this bird stay through the
summer?

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata
Frensham Common, Surrey, June 2001.

It seems like every piece of heathland south of
the Thames have these little beauties scolding
the birders from the gorse. Let's have more of
these gems.

Woodlark Lullula arborea
Frensham Common, Surrey, June 2001.

This youngster posed nicely for the camera.

Glaucous Gull Larus melanocephalus
King's Lynn, Norfolk, June 2001.

You still here? This 3rd summer was undoubtedly
the same as photographed in January 2000.

It was intersting to watch its behaviour with
the other gulls. This individual was a decent
sized "Glauc", bulkier than the "argenteus"
Herring Gulls present, yet smaller than
immature Great Black-backed Gulls Larus
marinus also present. It would move away
if approached by the latter, but clearly bossed
the Herring Gulls when chasing for food.

A little distant on the far shore of the Ouse mouth.

Caspian Gull Larus (argentatus) cachinnans
(cachinnans) whatever!
Cley, Norfolk, July 2001.

Finally caught up with one in Norfolk. It flew in
with about 100 LBB's at lunchtime. Note the long
bill and dark marks near the tip. This bird was a
2nd summer having extensive grey upperparts.
The grey was lighter in tone when compared with
2nd summer Yellow-legged Gulls (see below) and
a shade darker than Herring Gulls that were present
as well.

Note the long sloping forehead. Not obvious
from the photograph, but when watching the
bird the long legs (especially above the knee)
gave the impression it was walking on stilts!

The characterisitc long headshape can be
seen here. In flight the underwing was
extensively white.

Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Cley, Norfolk, July 2001.

Several 2nd summer birds were also present,
including this one wing stretching.

Another 2nd summer bird. I saw my first
"yellow-legged" here at Cley in summer 1992.