Birds Photographed in the UK in 1994
(July - October)

Jonathan Wasse

Little Owl Athene noctua
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, July 1994.

This smart individual was sitting in the shade
close to its nest hole.

Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus
Moelfre, Anglesey, July 1994.

Mid-summer usually sees the arrival of wandering
adults of this species in the UK, some years
produce numerous records. 1994 was a good year.

Only against a dark background does the pink stand
out.

A couple of juvenille Common Starlings
Sturnus sturnus for comparison.

Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus
Broomhill Flash, South Yorkshire, August 1994.

My best ever find back home. Scanning the right
hand side of the Flash, I could not believe it as
this Skua flew in, and swooped onto the flock of
Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus resting
on the water. It circled this wetland for a few
minutes and at one point was pursued by a Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus. It drifted off to the south-
west never to be seen again. It's small size, reduced
white in the primaries, dark cap, secondary bar and
its blunt tail streamers confirmed this as a juvenille
"intermediate-type" Long-tailed Skua.

Tawny Owl Strix aluco
Wells Wood, Norfolk, September 1994.

This sleeping owl was pestered by Blackbirds
Turdus merula and a migrant Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrix.

Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos
Broomhill Flash, South Yorkshire, September 1994.

A common passage migrant in both autumn and
spring to this excellent nature reserve.

Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus
Skipsea, East Yorkshire, October 1994.

On ariving at the site on a Sunday afternoon, I
was amazed to find no one here. On phoning
Birdline North-East, I soon understood why. The
lure of a Pechora Pipit at nearby Filey had proved
too much.

The pale nape, and breast (above) are characteristic
of this species. They do also like to wander around
golf courses!

Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleshanka
Felixstowe, Suffolk, October 1994.

A very obliging immature female showed well on
the perimiter fence of Felixstowe docks.

The Wheatear attracted the crowds to this mega hot-
spot of south east Suffolk.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
Salthouse, Norfolk, October 1994.

This introduced species is a common sight on the
north Norfolk coastal marshes. These young
were born, perhaps surprisingly, late in the year.

Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus
Stiffkey, Norfolk, October 1994.

There's not a finer site then watching this majestic
raptor hunting along the east coast in late autumn.
October and November 1994 proved to be an
exceptional couple of months for witnessing an
influx of this species from Scandinavia to the east
coast of Britain. No fewer than 100 individuals
were located in that period.

To me this photo captures the relatively long
wingspan of this species, which is noticeable
in the field (especially when compared side by
side with a Common Buzzard Buteo buteo, for
example).

Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris
Rimac, Lincolnshire, October 1994.

This mega-rarity was most unexpected, especially
with it frequenting the edge of a Lincolnshire saltmarsh.