Friday, September 25, 2026

Cold Edge

Lapwing 8, (with Canada Geese). In the top photo, the faces of the right two birds show the buff tone of winter plumage, and between them the three birds show (similar to Pied Wagtail!) winter's white chin and throat, and black breast band

Mistle Thrush and Kestrel
Moorhen juvenile
Pied Wagtail, with the white chin of winter plumage
Dead mole. Impressive claws!


Thursday, September 24, 2026

Blackstone Edge

Linnet 1, Meadow Pipit 4, Canada Goose +

A Tree Pipit would have a stronger supercilium, a thicker bill base, and a thin black loral stripe in front of the eye

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Cold Edge

 Leucistic (see 31 August post) and normal Greylags

2 Reed Buntings

Stonechat female. The 2nd and 3rd photos show that the underwing coverts are pale: in Siberian Stonechat they are black




Monday, September 21, 2026

Cold Edge

Moorhen 1 juvenile. (Also 1 adult)

Robin
Stonechats
Part of a flock of 21 Greylags




Saturday, September 19, 2026

Cold Edge

6 Greylags flew in from the east

The (probably for now) resident Herring Gull - see 19 Aug and 5 Sep - now has a white-tipped primary
Starling 60: adults and many juveniles. All birds now have a fresh spotted body and neat brown-edged flight and tail feathers. The juveniles' heads are pale - some more than others



Friday, September 11, 2026

Fly Flatts and Withens Head

 After finding very little at Fly Flats - scoping from the top road I tried Withens Head for half an hour or so. All quiet, then a Black Redstart turned up on the roof at the same time as a single Wheatear and c60 Meadow Pipits. All very flighty, most of the pipits stayed for several minutes then headed off, wall hopping then away across the moor. The Wheatear and Black Redstart headed off towards the  long pile of stones near Slade where I lost them. Just right time, right place I guess.

A Kestrel was about and on the thistle heads around 40 Goldfinch.

Cold Edge

Teal with Black-headed Gulls



Thursday, September 10, 2026

Cold Edge

Stonechat juvenile



Wednesday, September 09, 2026

Cold Edge

Teal. I think this is an eclipse male. The top photo shows a small pale yellow triangle on the undertail: a female or juvenile would have a white line here. 'Europe's Birds' says eclipse males often have a dark cap and pale cheeks: this bird approaches this. Its belly is pale: 'Collins Bird Guide' says juveniles have darker bellies than adults.

British Cormorant, P c carbo
Pheasant: 2 males (one with no tail), 1 female



Monday, September 07, 2026

Blackstone Edge

Linnets + 2 juvenile Goldfinches