Birds

At last you cry..

Well isn't it strange. I post other wildlife photos and they rarely get a glance. I didn't post the location of this bird because the 'Toggers' would have chased it for the next few days. It is not as if they couldn't find their own and enjoy the experience even more because of their success.

Grey Heron

Wannabe Woodpecker

Meadow Pipit

Dismissed as a LBJ by some. They are much more than that.

Harrier

Can't ID them all, even birds. This came over the sea  and headed West towards the Academy Pools area. It showed no detail to safely ID.

Sandwich Terns

Terns and Black-headed Gulls are having a terrible time at the moment due to Avian Influenza. Hopefully their numbers will recover in the next few years. I remember the Oil Spillages of the 70s and how quickly seabirds recovered let us hope it is the same after this Flu outbreak.

Tricky time of year if you're new to birding. Immature birds can be quite different from adults. Starlings usually moult quickly to adult plumage, This bird shows the first spotted breast feathers and adult flight feathers.

Another pitfall for beginners is the worn adults. After the frenzied food gathering to feed their broods, many birds don't resemble those showy birds marking territories and attracting a mate in spring. Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs can look awful at this time of year.

Fortunately Swallows look great all the time.

Young Wheatears have been appearing on the coast.

 

Waders are passing through in increasing numbers. 150 Sanderlings at East Chevington beach, 4-500 Golden Plover Whitburn Steel. Wood, Green and Wood Sandpipers all putting in an appearance. Ruff and Greenshank also appearing.

Chaffinch and Wren