Birds Photographed in the UK in 2004
(July - December)
Jonathan Wasse
London, UK
|
|
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa
Wombwell Ings, South Yorkshire, July 2004.
A flock of 19 birds (1 juv) flew in on a grey day with a light easterly breeze. One adult was colour-ringed
on both legs above the knees. Red above orange-left, red above green-right. This adult has spent a lot of time
wintering in France, but only a few days before this sighting, it was seen in Iceland.
|
|
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Broomhill Flash, South Yorkshire, July 2004.
An typical breeding summer migrant at the excellent Dearne Valley wetlands.
|
|
Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Midhope Moors, South Yorkshire, July 2004.
A little cracker!!
|
Mediterranean Gull
Larus melanocephalus
Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, Aug. 2004.
Two 1st summer birds and a cracking juvenile were present at the southern most end of the estuary.
|
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, Aug. 2004.
10+ on the estuary. I remember in 1988 when a group of 6 or more made birding headlines! Panic sets
in as the local Peregrine flew over.
|
|
Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow
Corvus cornix x Corvus corone
Burgh Castle, Norfolk, Aug. 2004.
Quite a surprise when this bird showed amongst the castle ruins. I didn't know that a hybrid and next
generation hybrids were present in the area. This adult bird may have been the original adult. Whilst
at first glance it looked good for a Hoddie, the large amount of black reaching down its breast shows
it to be a hybrid.
|
Wryneck
Jynx torquilla
Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, Aug. 2004.
At least 5 of these cryptic and elusive peckers were at Spurn during the week of the fall.
|
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus and
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, Aug. 2004.
Typical autumn migrants, although over 150 Pied Flys on one day was a good count for early August.
|
|
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea,
Grey Plover Calidris canutus,
Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus,
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Spurn, East Yorkshire, Aug. 2004.
A nice selection of waders on the Humber shore.
|
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Burgh Castle, Norfolk, Aug. 2004.
At last on my Norfolk lisit. Dipped one by minutes at 2 locations on the Norfolk coast in 1992!
This bird at Burgh Castle was elusive but showed well, eventually! A lot easier to see than when
it frequents Berney Marshes RSPB.
|
|
|
|
|
Mediterranean Gull
Larus melanocephalus and Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Aug. 2004.
The East Cosast Mecca for Med Gulls. Up to about 40 birds were reported mid- August on the seafront. I came across about
20 in two visits. Five birds were colour ringed. GREEN RINGS: 63U, 3PC0 and 25K; WHITE RINGS: 12W,& 3AT. A colour ringed
1st summer GBB Gull was present sporting an orangering with green lettering 0952. It was rung at Gerrards Cross, UK in
January 2004.
Med Gulls with green rings:
63U (shown top left)- this adult winter was rung as a pullus in Belgium in 2001, and visited southern Spain later that year.
In 2002 it was seen in both France and at Great Yarmouth, being observed in France and Gt. Yarmouth again in 2003, with this
sighting the first at Gt. Yarmouth since November 2003.
3PC0- this 1st summer moulting into 2nd winter was rung as a pullus in Belgium in 2003 and then visited Gt. Yarmouth and
Folkestone later that year. It spent March 2004 in France before this next recorded sighting at Gt. Yarmouth.
25K- adult that was rung in its 3rd CY in Belgium in 2001. It has been observed on many occasions wintering at Gt. Yarmouth
and has visited France, Belgium and Holland.
|
|
|
|
Redshank Tringa totanus,
Knot Calidris canutus and
Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Cley, Norfolk, Aug. 2004.
A nice selection of waders on Arnold's Marsh.
|
Green-winged Teal
Anas carolinensis
Edderthorpe Flash, South Yorkshire, Sep. 2004.
A very smart birds present with Eurasian Teal, the latter still in eclipse plumage. Note the vertical white breast stripe,
and lack of yellow lining between the red and green on the face.
|
|
|
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
Rutland Water, Leics., Sep. 2004.
This juvenile showed well but distantly on Lagoon 1, with Redshank, Spotted Redshank and Ruff present nearby for company.
|
|
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropus
Rutland Water, Leics., Sep. 2004.
A winter plumage adult bird.
|
|
Sora
Porzana carolina
Attenborough NR, Notts, Dec. 2004.
A very rare late autumn/winter visitor to the UK, with only a handful of records.
This smart bird
showed very well in the frosty conditions.
|
