Birds Photographed in the UK in 2005
(September - December)

Jonathan Wasse

Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Kirkby-on-Bain Gravel Pits, Lincs., Sept. 2005.

A late migrating adult showed well as it fed alone on the gravel pit.

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor
Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, October 2005.

Now a very rare visitor to the UK on passage. A good Yorkshire tick, shame about the tail.

Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
Edderthorpe Flash, South Yorkshire, September 2005.

A returning adult?

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, October 2005.

A massive influx of migrants saw over 1600 seen at Spurn on one day in October.

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
nr Featherstone, West Yorkshire, October 2005.

A good Yorkshire tick. This 2nd winter lingered for many to see, eventually!

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans
Anglers Country Park, West Yorkshire, October 2005.

Whilst looking for the Laughing Gull (above) to come to roost for a Barnsley tick, this 2nd winter Caspo (record shot!) was the first of three seen over the weekend - an adult and a cracking 1st winter were also seen. I wish I had seen the adult!!!The 1st winter was a stunner! This species still very rare in the Barnsley area.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Old Moor, South Yorkshire, October 2005.

The Rail showed well, but the crake eluded me.

Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Windsor, Berkshire, November 2005.

Coming to a bird feeder near the Castle.

Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
Kingston Seymour, Somerset, November 2005.

A cracker, and a good bird for the mainland. Showed very well in the cold afternoon sunshine.

Gull
KGV Dock, London, November 2005.

Is this a Caspian Gull? This assumption leaves me with more questions than answers. (Is it the same as the bird depicted in Jan 05?) Can this bird be identified from these photos, or can Caspian be ruled out?

What stuck me about the bird was (a) grey mantle appeared to be not that much darker than "argenteus", (b) yellow legged but are they too "yellow" and long enough for Caspian?, (c) dark eye at distance with red orbital ring, the iris was pale when observed close up, (d) is the closed wing pattern wrong for Caspian? (e) is the bill too short and strong for Caspian? (f) is the head shape wrong as well?

The bottom 4 photos are new ones of this bird taken in mid January 2006.

Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire, December 2005.

At least 3 birds are present on the reserve. This one showed on Pipers Marsh.

Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius
Rainham Marshes, London, December 2005.

A smart looking bird. It was elusive, but flew in with Lapwings an hour or so before dark to roost.
Smaller and more slender-winged than Lapwing in flight, with the distinctive wing pattern.