Birds Photographed in the UK in 1993
(August - November)

Jonathan Wasse

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisgena
Rutland Water, Rutland, August 1993.

Twitching the Midlands brought us to Rutland
Water late one Sunday evening. Still managed
to get a nice record shot of this eye-catching
individual. This species is a sporadic breeder in
the United Kingdom, and summer birds, like this
one, usually return to the same site in consecutive
years.

Western Yellow-legged Gull Larus (cachinnans) michahellis
Broomhill Ings, South Yorkshire, August & September 1993.

A collection of birds sighted at this hot-spot in August and September. An adult bird on "The Railway Pond" (August).

A 1st summer/2nd winter type on Broomhill Flash (September).

As the previous photograph.

A possible juvenile bird (far left) (September).>
Comments welcome on this and the above bird.

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, August 1993.

The rocks on the end of the Brigg allow for a close
approach of migrating seabirds and waders.

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, August 1993.

A bright summer-plumaged male.

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, August 1993.

Filey Brigg is a traditional site for passage and
wintering Purple Sandpipers.

Knot Calidris canutus
Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire, August 1993.

A nice variety of passage waders were present
on this visit, including these brick-red Knots.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, October 1993.

Back at the "Med. Gull" mecca that is Great
Yarmouth sea-front, this adult bird came only
to chips and not bread!

It is possible to see the black outer web to the
outermost primary on this immaculate
winter plumaged bird.

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
Holkham, Norfolk, October 1993.

A very scarce autumn migrant that can perform
at close quarters, as seen with this bird. The two-
toned supercillium characteristic of this species
can be easily seen.

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti
Heacham, Norfolk, November 1993.

A little beauty. This 1st winter plumaged female
must have felt the cold as it arrived just before
the first snows of the winter in East Anglia.

Nice view of the wings and all dark tail.

Birders and residents left mealworms for it to eat.
In bad weather it would shelter underneath the
wooden seaside chalets.

Wader sp. Calidris sp.
Cley, Norfolk, November 1993.

What can we say about this bird? Thought either
to be a hybrid, possibly Purple Sandpiper x Dunlin,
or a North American race Dunlin C.a. hudsonia?
Most observers favoured the former.