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STEVE YOUNG { 61 images } Created 7 Jan 2014

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  • White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus - Juvenile
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  • Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus
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  • Wilson's Phalarope - Phalropus tricolor - Adult Female
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  • Wilson's Phalarope - Phalropus tricolor - Adult Female
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  • White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus - Juvenile
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  • White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus - Juvenile
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  • Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini - Juvenile. L 30-35cm. Distinctive seabird. Can only be confused with juvenile Kittiwake but upperwing patterns are separable with care. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey back and upperwings, dark hood, dark wingtips with white spots and dark bill with yellow tip. In flight, upperwing pattern is diagnostic: triangular patches of black, white and grey. Tail is forked. In winter, similar but dark smudges on nape replace dark hood. Juvenile has a upperwing pattern to adult but triangle of grey replaced by scaly grey-brown. Forked tail is dark-tipped. Voice Silent. Status Nests in high Arctic and winters at sea in southern oceans. Seen here mainly as offshore passage migrant in autumn. Does not willingly come close to land.
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  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Winter Adult
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  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Winter Adult
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  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Winter Adult
    155230.jpg
  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Winter Adult
    155229.jpg
  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Winter adult
    155227.jpg
  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Winter adult
    155226.jpg
  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea
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  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Juvenile 1st Winter
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  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Winter Adult
    155222.jpg
  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Juvenile
    155208.jpg
  • Ross's Gull - Rhodostethia rosea - Juvenile 1st winter
    155207.jpg
  • White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus - Juvenile
    155201.jpg
  • American Black Tern - Chlidonias niger surinamensis - Juvenile
    155295.jpg
  • American Black Tern - Chlidonias niger surinamensis - Juvenile
    155294.jpg
  • American Black Tern - Chlidonias niger surinamensis - Juvenile
    155293.jpg
  • White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus - moulting adult autumn
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  • White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus - moulting adult autumn
    155372.jpg
  • Little Auk Alle alle L 20cm. Our smallest auk with a dumpy body, short neck and tiny, stubby bill. Flies on whirring wingbeats and can look almost Starling-like in flight. Swims well and dive frequently. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has black cap, nape and back, and white underparts; at close range, note white lines on wings and tiny white crescent above eye. Not seen in breeding plumage in our region. Voice Silent at sea. Status Winter visitor from Arctic breeding grounds where it is locally abundant. Probably numerous in N North Sea in winter but seldom comes close to land by choice
    155369.jpg
  • Little Auk Alle alle L 20cm. Our smallest auk with a dumpy body, short neck and tiny, stubby bill. Flies on whirring wingbeats and can look almost Starling-like in flight. Swims well and dive frequently. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has black cap, nape and back, and white underparts; at close range, note white lines on wings and tiny white crescent above eye. Not seen in breeding plumage in our region. Voice Silent at sea. Status Winter visitor from Arctic breeding grounds where it is locally abundant. Probably numerous in N North Sea in winter but seldom comes close to land by choice.
    155368.jpg
  • Little Tern - Sterna albrifons - Juvenile
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  • Little Tern - Sterna albrifons - juvenile. L 24cm. Tiny, pale tern that hovers before plunge-diving after fish and shrimps. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, mainly black cap, and otherwise white plumage. Note black-tipped yellow bill and yellow-orange legs. In flight, wingtips are dark. Non-breeding plumage (acquired from late summer onwards) is similar but forehead becomes white and leg and bill colours darken. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but back looks scaly. Voice Utters a raucous cree-ick call. Status Local summer visitor with scattered coastal colonies on shingle and sandy islands and beaches.
    155366.jpg
  • Pochard - Aythya ferina - Females in flight.  L 42-49cm. Distinctive diving duck with long bill, curving forehead and peaked crown. Gregarious in winter, often with Tufted Ducks. Both sexes have dark bill with pale grey band. In flight, all birds have uniform grey wings with dark trailing edge to outer flight feathers. Sexes are dissimilar in other regards. Adult male has reddish orange head, black breast, finely marked grey flanks and back, and black stern. In eclipse, black elements of plumage are sooty brown. Adult female has brown head and breast, grey-brown back and flanks, and pale ‘spectacle’. Juvenile resembles adult female but plumage is more uniformly brown. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce breeder but locally common in winter: migrants arrive from mainland Europe. Favours flooded gravel pits, reservoirs and lakes.
    155365.jpg
  • Greater Scaup - Aythila marila - female
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  • Greater Scaup - Aythila marila - flock in flight. Bulky diving duck. Recalls Tufted Duck but has rounded head without tufted crown. Gregarious outside breeding season. In flight, has striking white wingbar. Sexes are dissimilar in other respects. Adult male has green-glossed head and dark breast (look black in poor light). Belly and flanks are white, back is grey and stern is black. Has yellow eye and dark-tipped grey bill. In eclipse, dark elements of plumage are buffish brown. Adult female has mainly brown plumage, palest and greyest on flanks and back. Note white patch at base of bill. Juvenile is similar to adult female but white on face is less striking. Voice Mostly silent. Status A few pairs breed but known best as local winter visitor, mostly to sheltered coasts.
    155363.jpg
  • Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus minor L 14-15cm. Unobtrusive and easily overlooked. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has black back and wings with white barring. Underparts are grubby white with dark streaking. Face is white and nape is black; black stripe runs from bill, around ear coverts to sides of breast. Note white-flecked red crown. Adult female and Juvenile are similar but with black crown. Voice Territorial male utters raptor-like piping call in spring. Drumming is rapid but rather faint. Status Local resident of deciduous woodland and parkland; often associated with alders
    155362.jpg
  • Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopus minor - male. L 14-15cm. Unobtrusive and easily overlooked. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has black back and wings with white barring. Underparts are grubby white with dark streaking. Face is white and nape is black; black stripe runs from bill, around ear coverts to sides of breast. Note white-flecked red crown. Adult female and Juvenile are similar but with black crown. Voice Territorial male utters raptor-like piping call in spring. Drumming is rapid but rather faint. Status Local resident of deciduous woodland and parkland; often associated with alders
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  • Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopus minor - female. L 14-15cm. Unobtrusive and easily overlooked. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has black back and wings with white barring. Underparts are grubby white with dark streaking. Face is white and nape is black; black stripe runs from bill, around ear coverts to sides of breast. Note white-flecked red crown. Adult female and Juvenile are similar but with black crown. Voice Territorial male utters raptor-like piping call in spring. Drumming is rapid but rather faint. Status Local resident of deciduous woodland and parkland; often associated with alders
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  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger - juvenile
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  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger
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  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger - Adult autumn
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  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger - adult autumn
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  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger - adult autumn
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  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger - juvenile
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  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger - juvenile
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  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger - Juvenile
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  • Siberian Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita tristis
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  • Siberian Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita tristis
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  • Oriental Turtle Dove - Streptopelia orientalis - 1st winter
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  • Rook - Corvus frugilegus - juvenile. L 43-48cm. Familiar farmland bird. Feeds in large flocks (mainly on soil invertebrates) and occupies noisy colonial tree nest sites. Sexes are similar. Adult has black plumage with reddish-purple sheen. Bill is long, narrow and rather pointed; note bare patch of whitish skin at base. Juvenile is similar but skin at base of bill is feathered. Voice Utters a grating craah-craah-craah… call. Status Locally common resident, found mainly on farmland and grassland. Builds large twig nests in clumps of tall trees.
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  • Richard's Pipit - Anthus richardi. In spring and autumn, it is worth checking any flocks of migrant pipits and wagtails you come across for one of their rarer cousins, vagrants from Asia. Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi (L 17-20cm) is larger than a Meadow Pipit with a much longer tail and legs.
    155499.jpg
  • Richard's Pipit - Anthus richardi. In spring and autumn, it is worth checking any flocks of migrant pipits and wagtails you come across for one of their rarer cousins, vagrants from Asia. Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi (L 17-20cm) is larger than a Meadow Pipit with a much longer tail and legs.
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  • Pied wagtail - Motacilla alba yarrellii - juvenile.  Length 18cm. Familiar black, grey and white bird that pumps its tail up and down and has a distinctive call. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white underparts and black breast and upperparts; note white face, white wingbars, dark legs and bill, and white outer tail feathers. In winter, similar but throat is white and black on breast is less extensive. Adult female recalls an adult male in various seasons but back is dark grey. Juvenile and 1st winter birds have greyish upperparts, black rump, and whitish underparts; note whitish wingbars and yellowish wash to face. Voice Utters a loud chissick call. Status Favours bare ground and short grassland, often near farms, on playing fields or in car parks.
    155497.jpg
  • Pied wagtail - Motacilla alba yarrellii - juvenile.  Length 18cm. Familiar black, grey and white bird that pumps its tail up and down and has a distinctive call. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white underparts and black breast and upperparts; note white face, white wingbars, dark legs and bill, and white outer tail feathers. In winter, similar but throat is white and black on breast is less extensive. Adult female recalls an adult male in various seasons but back is dark grey. Juvenile and 1st winter birds have greyish upperparts, black rump, and whitish underparts; note whitish wingbars and yellowish wash to face. Voice Utters a loud chissick call. Status Favours bare ground and short grassland, often near farms, on playing fields or in car parks.
    155496.jpg
  • Marmora's Warbler - Sylvia sarda - adult male
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  • Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus W 70-85cm. Skims low over sea on stiffly held wings. Contrasting dark upperparts and mainly white underparts are seen as bird banks and glides. Gregarious when feeding is good. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish upperparts and mainly white underparts with dark wing margins. Juvenile is similar to adult. Voice Silent at sea; strangled coughing calls uttered after dark when nesting birds. Status Fairly common summer visitor. Seen mostly at sea; only visits land to breed, after dark. Nests in burrows on remote islands.
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  • Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis - female.
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  • Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus - juvenile.  L 53-56cm. Similar to Herring Gull but adult has dark grey back and upperwings and bright yellow legs. Note, confusion possible with adult Yellow-legged (upperparts paler). Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has dark grey back and upperwings. Black wingtips are darker than rest of upperwing except for white trailing edge; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow with orange spot. Iris is yellow and orbital ring is red. In winter, similar but with streaks on head and neck, and duller leg and bill colours. Juvenile and 1st winter have streaked and mottled grey-brown plumage, palest on head. Upperwings dark brown and whitish tail is dark-tipped. Eye and bill are dark. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter similar to 1st winter but with grey back, pinkish legs and dark-tipped pink bill; 3rd winter resembles heavily streaked winter adult. Voice Utters a distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Locally common in summer, nesting colonially on seacliffs and islands. Most migrate S to Mediterranean outside breeding season; small numbers remain, often roosting on reservoirs.
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  • Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus - 2nd winter.  L 53-56cm. Similar to Herring Gull but adult has dark grey back and upperwings and bright yellow legs. Note, confusion possible with adult Yellow-legged (upperparts paler). Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has dark grey back and upperwings. Black wingtips are darker than rest of upperwing except for white trailing edge; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow with orange spot. Iris is yellow and orbital ring is red. In winter, similar but with streaks on head and neck, and duller leg and bill colours. Juvenile and 1st winter have streaked and mottled grey-brown plumage, palest on head. Upperwings dark brown and whitish tail is dark-tipped. Eye and bill are dark. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter similar to 1st winter but with grey back, pinkish legs and dark-tipped pink bill; 3rd winter resembles heavily streaked winter adult. Voice Utters a distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Locally common in summer, nesting colonially on seacliffs and islands. Most migrate S to Mediterranean outside breeding season; small numbers remain, often roosting on reservoirs.
    155491.jpg
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus - juvenile.  L 53-56cm. Similar to Herring Gull but adult has dark grey back and upperwings and bright yellow legs. Note, confusion possible with adult Yellow-legged (upperparts paler). Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has dark grey back and upperwings. Black wingtips are darker than rest of upperwing except for white trailing edge; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow with orange spot. Iris is yellow and orbital ring is red. In winter, similar but with streaks on head and neck, and duller leg and bill colours. Juvenile and 1st winter have streaked and mottled grey-brown plumage, palest on head. Upperwings dark brown and whitish tail is dark-tipped. Eye and bill are dark. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter similar to 1st winter but with grey back, pinkish legs and dark-tipped pink bill; 3rd winter resembles heavily streaked winter adult. Voice Utters a distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Locally common in summer, nesting colonially on seacliffs and islands. Most migrate S to Mediterranean outside breeding season; small numbers remain, often roosting on reservoirs.
    155490.jpg
  • Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus W 70-85cm. Skims low over sea on stiffly held wings. Contrasting dark upperparts and mainly white underparts are seen as bird banks and glides. Gregarious when feeding is good. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish upperparts and mainly white underparts with dark wing margins. Juvenile is similar to adult. Voice Silent at sea; strangled coughing calls uttered after dark when nesting birds. Status Fairly common summer visitor. Seen mostly at sea; only visits land to breed, after dark. Nests in burrows on remote islands.
    155489.jpg
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus - juvenile - 1st winter.  L 53-56cm. Similar to Herring Gull but adult has dark grey back and upperwings and bright yellow legs. Note, confusion possible with adult Yellow-legged (upperparts paler). Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has dark grey back and upperwings. Black wingtips are darker than rest of upperwing except for white trailing edge; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow with orange spot. Iris is yellow and orbital ring is red. In winter, similar but with streaks on head and neck, and duller leg and bill colours. Juvenile and 1st winter have streaked and mottled grey-brown plumage, palest on head. Upperwings dark brown and whitish tail is dark-tipped. Eye and bill are dark. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter similar to 1st winter but with grey back, pinkish legs and dark-tipped pink bill; 3rd winter resembles heavily streaked winter adult. Voice Utters a distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Locally common in summer, nesting colonially on seacliffs and islands. Most migrate S to Mediterranean outside breeding season; small numbers remain, often roosting on reservoirs.
    155488.jpg
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus - juvenile - 1st winter.  L 53-56cm. Similar to Herring Gull but adult has dark grey back and upperwings and bright yellow legs. Note, confusion possible with adult Yellow-legged (upperparts paler). Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has dark grey back and upperwings. Black wingtips are darker than rest of upperwing except for white trailing edge; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow with orange spot. Iris is yellow and orbital ring is red. In winter, similar but with streaks on head and neck, and duller leg and bill colours. Juvenile and 1st winter have streaked and mottled grey-brown plumage, palest on head. Upperwings dark brown and whitish tail is dark-tipped. Eye and bill are dark. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. 2nd winter similar to 1st winter but with grey back, pinkish legs and dark-tipped pink bill; 3rd winter resembles heavily streaked winter adult. Voice Utters a distinctive kyaoo and anxious ga-ka-ka. Status Locally common in summer, nesting colonially on seacliffs and islands. Most migrate S to Mediterranean outside breeding season; small numbers remain, often roosting on reservoirs.
    155487.jpg
  • Steppe Grey Shrike - Lanius meridionalis pallidirostris
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  • Steppe Grey Shrike - Lanius meridionalis pallidirostris
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