Four Eurasian White-fronted Geese on the closes this afternoon. I think one adult and three first winters: adult clearly standing guard while the youngsters grazed.
Red-crested Pochard 2 from the 2nd screen
Ruff
Dunlin 40+
(per Bark).
Hen Harrier ringtail hunting at dusk over the moor just as Starling arriving- stunning.
Merlin 15:30.
3 Marsh Harrier: Seen throughout the afternoon hunting along the hedge line and over the reed beds - one on ground in late afternoon eating prey. 15:30.
3000 Lapwing: Estimated number across the reserve - huge numbers circling in the air with Golden Plover flocks filling the sky. 15:30.
2000 Golden Plover 15:30.
2 Snipe 15:30.
30 Shoveler 15:30.
3 Water Rail 15:30.
4 Cetti's Warbler 15:30.
3 Stonechat: 2 male; 1 fem. 15:30.
(per Steve Akers)
3000 Lapwing: Estimated number across the reserve - huge numbers circling in the air with Golden Plover flocks filling the sky. 15:30.
2000 Golden Plover 15:30.
2 Snipe 15:30.
30 Shoveler 15:30.
3 Water Rail 15:30.
4 Cetti's Warbler 15:30.
3 Stonechat: 2 male; 1 fem. 15:30.
(per Steve Akers)
2 adults and 2 first winters
ReplyDeleteHi anonymous. How are you ageing them? The sequence of photos I have seems to show three birds with reduced white blaze, darker nail to bill and 'messier' pattern to scaling on upperparts compared to the much neater scaling on the obvious adult. I thought those were a reasonable set of characters for first winter.
ReplyDeleteThe most obvious feature is that two of the four birds have significant belly markings (a speckle-belly score of approx 2.5/5 - Stroud 1981). Cramp & Simmons (1977) and Reeber (2015) both state that the black ventral bars are absent or reduced to minimal spotting on first winter birds.
ReplyDelete