Saturday, August 01, 2026

Baitings

Kestrel. I thought this bird was a male when it showed a grey tail on landing, but (with the help of Dick Forsman's 1999 'Raptors') I've identified it as an adult female.

The underparts have light streaking, and spots, - not the heavy streaking of a juvenile. The cere and feet are yellow, (tinged green in juv). The bird is moulting its flight feathers and tail: some primaries are missing and 3 tail feathers are not fully grown, (first such moult occurs when a year old).

The crown, posterior eye stripe, and moustache are pale - perhaps indicating a young bird (? 2 or 3cy). Upperparts are brown with typical black flat triangular bars. Tail has grey feathers with black bars and broad subterminal band, (Forsman quotes a study finding 40% of 2cy females with grey in tail, and up to 75% of older birds).



Thursday, July 30, 2026

Whiteholme

Little Ringed Plover

Common Scoter pair
Great Crested Grebe 5




Blackstone Edge

Ringed Plover 2



Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Whiteholme

Merlin juvenile. Dick Forsman (1999, Raptors of E and ME) has a photo of a juvenile Merlin, and notes that there are dark streaks on the breast "turning to bars towards the flanks". This bird shows this feature. And I do not think an adult would have let me get as near as I did to this bird.

Also: Wheatear 1

Blackstone Edge

Ringed Plover juvenile

Also: Wheatear 1

Monday, July 27, 2026

Whiteholme

Meadow Pipit with 2 or 3 prey items

Common sandpiper

Blackstone Edge

Ringed Plover juvenile. Body more 'dumpy' than LRP, and rear not attenuated. Thicker bill. No yellow or pale buff orbital ring. Pale forehead visible in second photo.

Common sandpiper

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Baitings

Chiffchaff

Grey Heron on shoreline exposed by falling water level





Friday, July 24, 2026

Whiteholme

Little Ringed Plover, (with Pied Wagtail juvenile). The narrow breast band indicates female

Solitary Black-headed Gull
Also:  1 Redshank, and 2 Swifts SW

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Ringstone Edge, 22 July

Great Crested Grebe 2

Cormorant 5
Common Gull 1
Stock Dove 2


Monday, July 20, 2026

Ringstone Edge

Tufted Duck male

Teal 4
British Cormorant, P c carbo, immature. The rear edge of the yellow gular patch slopes forwards below the gape
Pheasant female
Kestrel male
Pied wagtail 2 juveniles
Magpie juvenile

Tuesday, July 14, 2026