Beginners guide to common wading birds. Part 1: Know Your Dunlin.

 Having put a post on Stortford Nature Facebook about identifying corvids and saying if anyone had other identification issues I'd be happy to advise, I got a request for gulls and waders! Wow, that is an easy intro. Here goes. Thanks Dave Bromage!

First rule of watching waders is to know the common species. When I was 7-11 or so I used to bird watch waders around The Wirral and was always told, "Know your dunlin." The most common species so first tip is to spend time watching these. Get a feel for their shape, their movement when feeding, how they run and move, how they flock together. Once familiar with them it becomes easier to spot a bird on the mud that appears to be a different bird. It may look plumper, longer bill, more of a white stripe over the eye. Then start to note the colour of beak and legs. Warning, they may be covered in mud so not always guaranteed. A redshank shows orange legs but these can appear mud coloured due to the fact they're muddy!

So; lets start with Dunlin. The most common wader, a small rounded and plump bird found on mud from late August through to April but in high numbers during migration season (March - early May and then August- early October.) Consequently, it shows several plumages as shown below. Mainly it will be a grey/brown bird whilst breeding plumage shows a golden back with an obvious black belly.

In breeding plumage the dunlin is unmistakeable. Note the slightly decurved bill and the black legs on these two individuals. One from Norfolk, one from Aviero in mid Portugal. Both on migration north to their breeding grounds. Also, note the white eye stripe, (supercilium) as this helps with winter plumage.

Two Dunlin in changing plumage. Note the dark belly just coming on the second bird whilst the golden wing and mantle feathers are showing through on the first bird. In both, the decurved black bill and black legs remain the same. Photos from Norfolk (first) and Tavira in The Algarve (2nd)

When dunlin migrate through the UK and some overwinter at places like North Norfolk they become a much greyer in plumage. This is their none breeding plumage that will be apparent from September through until March. It can still vary. There are 4 sub species of dunlin all showing their own diagnostic characteristics but here is not the place to go into the complexities of all of that. 

The two photos above show the progression to winter plumage as shown in the final snap. Note also that dunlin invariably feed in a flock. They tend to walk in the same direction, occasionally running. However, as always, the slightly decurved black bill and black legs, along with the rounded dumpy shape remain the same. Also, note that the white supercilium (eye stripe) remains and joins just at the base of the upper mandible.

Dunlin in flight. Very fast flying so tough to note too much detail. White underwings, darker on top, black belly when in breeding plumage. Note the black "spine" to the plumage that comes to a point at the end of the tail. Often too fast to note this but can be picked up in photos. 

Top photo of these three, standard dunlin in moult. However, second photo serves as a good example of seeing other birds that to begin with look similar. Note the bird on the right. Smaller, straighter bill which is clearly shorter and a more prominent white eyebrow, mainly behind the eye rather than meeting at the base of the bill. Time to look more closely as this is not a dunlin. A Little stint which I shall cover in another episode. Final photo, Aviero, south of Porto in Portugal, just shows a group of mid breeding plumage Dunlin doing what they do.

Final photo. Differences in size and colouration around the face raise alarm bells. Dunlin right and a Little stint left. 

So, highly recommended. Sit a while overlooking a scrape where Dunlin are present. Watch them behave and wander. Note their takeoff and landing. Check the beak and legs and then begin to get into the finer details of their plumage. Not easy but it does become less confusing with time. I've only been doing wader watching for 55 years and still say "What's that, 3rd bird from the left of the greylag goose?" and it will be a long billed dunlin.

Return to Wallington Road

 Yesterday I returned to where I had been earlier in the week, hoping to catch sights of the birds of prey present. Arriving at 1pm I soon encountered the pale breasted buzzard seen last time before heading up the road towards Wallington. On the right were two Red kites in a tree with a smaller bird. I parked and through the binoculars noted it was the male merlin. It flew off just as I took a long distance photo. Several kestrels were about, too before I headed to where the Short eared owl seems to appear from, along the public footpath to Bygrave. After a while, I headed off to get some late lunch before returning to the same place. Around 2.30pm it appeared from nowhere, working its way along the hedge line before disappearing from view. I scanned the fields and now, on the other side of the road was either the same bird, or a second one. It was wide ranging, following hedges before flying over ploughed and winter barley fields to the next hedge. At no point was I anywhere near to it so all shots are either as they came of the camera, or heavily cropped. Several corn buntings were in a tree, a flock of common gulls flew overhead as did a few skylarks. At one point, a peregrine flew through, again, to distant for a photo. 

I now know where I think the owl roosts and will return and position myself in a hedge much closer to where it hunts to get better photos.

Perched on a hedge some 300 yards away

Size of lorries on A505 and the huge field dwarf the SEO

Seems to have spotted me from 500 yards away

Checking another hedge

Spotted something

Quartering the wild strip along the edge of a field

Another hedge to check

Off again

female kestrel

3 Red kites and a Carrion crow

Watching another kite feeding on the ground

Merlin is off as I take the first photo

Distant Common buzzard

Foggy Times at Wallington

 This afternoon set off for Wallington near Baldock to check along the lane for several birds of prey: merlin, Hen harrier, Short eared owl as well as Corn buntings, a species long since departed from East Herts.

Drove through thick fog around Cottered and nearly turned around but upon arriving at Wallington Road the fog was now a little thinner. I scanned the fields where a few other birders were and the Merlin was found on the ground, some 400 yards away. A pale breasted Common buzzard sat atop a telegraph pole, Corn buntings sat on the wires and a pair of stonechat posed on top of umbellifers. A tractor and quad bike disturbed the lot so off up the lane for the SEO. A couple out walking had seen it some 15 minutes previously but after 2 hours in worsening light, I headed home having not seen it. Try again in better light conditions later in the week. 

Some record shots here.

Corn buntings and goldfinches

Pair of Corn buntings

Fog bound Common buzzard

As clear as I can get the Merlin shots

Merlin

Things to look out for in November and December

 With a new national lockdown commencing on Thursday for at least 4 weeks, I suspect there will be many who will be making the most of this time to get out for walks in the countryside. 

Last lockdown I put up a series of walks that are all around Bishop's Stortford and I shall paste links to these at the end of this blog entry.

Whilst there are considerably fewer insects about now there are plenty of other wildlife species that, with a little searching in the correct habitat will be relatively easy to find.

Birds:

Probably the easiest to find will be the larger birds such as crows, rook, jackdaws and gulls. These can be seen, often in large numbers on playing fields and ploughed fields. A check on the football fields at Grange Paddocks would be a good start for these and with a pair of binoculars it is not too tricky to pick out different birds. Black headed gulls (red beak, spot behind the eye) Lesser black backed gull (dark grey, yellow legs) Herring gull (pink legs, lighter grey with brown speckling on head and neck and Common gull (smaller, light grey, yellow bill with black stripe and greeny/yellow legs) may all be present.

In here: 7 Black headed gulls, 4 Common gulls, 3 Lesser black backed gull, 1 Herring gull and a random Lapwing. Can you spot them?

Carrion crows (black bill) Rook (silver grey pointed bill and showing shaggy feathers on legs) and Jackdaws (smaller with a grey nape and sparkling blue/grey eye) will also be present in numbers. 

Large flocks of starlings will also be feeding on the ground. At first sight a black bird but upon closer inspection, often covered with white spots and in sunlight, showing purples, greens and blues.

Also thrushes and blackbirds. Fieldfares (large birds, speckled breast shaded golden and very noisy. their chack chack call gives away their presence can be found both feeding on the ground and in berry trees as can the smaller Redwing with its very distinctive white eyebrow and red "armpits" when in flight. Usually silent but can give a thin, wispy call when in flight parties. The large mistle thrush with speckled breast and overall grey appearance and smaller Song thrush with its arrow head spots on the breast can also be found in good numbers.

Meadow pipit

In seed bearing trees, particularly alders there will be a good chance of seeing both Lesser redpoll and Siskin. Latter a greeny/yellow finch in female and first year birds with the male being a striking yellow and black bird. Often in parties of up to 70 at a time. The Lesser redpoll is a light grey bird that can feed, like the siskin, hanging upside down from the alder cones. It shows a small red patch on the forehead, the rest of the plumage a grey/white streaking.

Residents such as Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Greenfinches will be seen in good numbers wherever there is food, both seeds and berries. Bullfinches become more obvious at this time of the year as the leaves drop and they often gather together in parties so if you see one flying, showing a very obvious white rump, hang around a while as there is every possibility there will be more following. Their call is like a squeaking iron gate. Fairly quiet but distinguishable.

Chaffinch

Jay numbers increase in winter with many migrating over the North Sea from Scandinavia. These are colourful birds that associate with oak woods. Magpies, of course will be everywhere.

Little grebe

On ponds and rivers there may well be an increase in wildfowl, with the ever present mallards making up most of the numbers but always worth checking for other species such as Gadwall, Shoveler, pochard and teal. Coots and Moorhens will also be present and on larger stretches of water, Little grebe will be found, such as along the Stort both north and south of Spellbrook locks. 

drake Teal

drake shoveler

Gadwall pair

Birds of prey can be seen more frequently in winter as the short hours of daylight force them to maximise their hunting times, so Kestrels (the only bird of prey that hovers) found along hedgerows whilst Sparrowhawks will visit gardens, especially if you have bird feeders about whilst Red kites and Common buzzards will almost certainly be a daily sight.

Great spotted woodpeckers can be seen more frequently as the leaves drop from deciduous trees but always check for the smaller (sparrow sized) Lesser spotted woodpecker. By the end of December it will be likely that the GSW will already be drumming its territorial call. This lasts for a few seconds and is regularly repeated.

Great spotted woodpecker (female as no red on neck)

Tawny owls and Little owls will be calling at night. Twitt twoo call of the tawny is well known. I liken the call of the little owl to the soundtrack to the shower scene in the film Psycho. You'll recognise it when you hear it.

Tawny owl found on the side of the road. Made full recovery at a vets who named it Deidre. I put the gardening gloves on as the talons are razor sharp.

Along rural hedgerows the yellowhammer will be overwintering in good numbers. Also here, as just about everywhere, Great, Blue and Long tailed tits and, if near conifers, a chance of a Coal tit, showing a white oblong on the back of the head. Also, in trees growing in hedgerows both nuthatch and tree creeper are possible.

Tree creeper

Plenty of other birds will be encountered, this just to give a flavour of what may be found on any wander along the footpaths surrounding Stortford.

Insects:

The butterflies and dragon/damselflies have just about finished now. On a sunny day before the first frost it may be possible to come across one or two. There will be some wasps still about, craneflies, and several fly species. All these can be found by checking any flowerheads on footpaths as well as in the garden. Here are a few from my garden today, 01.11.2020

Signs of insects can be found, especially in leaf mines on the brown leaves. Look for marks on the leaves that look like tunnels. These will be made by tiny caterpillars that munch there way around the leaves. This leaves a very distinctive trail that, when the tree species is known and the pattern of the mine is known, can be identified to species. Children love looking for these and they are very easy to find. To get started, check on well known trees like apple, hazel and hawthorn. Hold the leaf up to the light and you may be able to see the caterpillar still inside. Alternatively, there will be a hole where the cat has eaten its way out to pupate.

Garden or Woodland Activity: Stuff an old pair of tights with leaves picked up from the woodland floor or the garden lawn. When full, leave under a hedge all winter and into spring and in about April, bring it in to a warmer place such as a garage or shed. In mid May, tip out the contents whereupon you'll come across loads of tiny moths, a few beetles and several fly species that were all pupating in or on the leaf litter. 

Worth also picking up leaf litter in woodland habitats to check for ground beetles. There are a few that can be found throghout the winter.

Spiders:

Most spiders will be finished by now, but a wander around the garden with a torch may turn up several species as well as checking sheds, garages and corners of ceilings. One that is still in the garden is Araneus diadematus, the Garden cross spider. Females make a web each day and usually sit in the middle of it. Look for this near security lights or outside patio lights. This sort of habitat can also attract other spider species, too. Sitting here in my shed/office I can see 3 spiders, two species as I am typing. Here's one of them.

Zygiella x notata

Links to walks:

https://littlehadhambirding.blogspot.com/2020/05/local-walk-6-west-from-tescos-to-bury.html

https://littlehadhambirding.blogspot.com/2020/05/local-walk-5-thorley-church-spellbrrok.html

https://littlehadhambirding.blogspot.com/2020/05/local-walk-4-start-and-finish-at.html

https://littlehadhambirding.blogspot.com/2020/05/local-walk-3-little-hadham-area.html

https://littlehadhambirding.blogspot.com/2020/05/local-walk-2-flitch-way-with-extension.html

https://littlehadhambirding.blogspot.com/2020/05/walks-around-stortford-walk-1-from.html

Hope these help and that the walks are not too muddy. Note, they are at present!! I shall add extra details as I think of them in edits here. Plenty to find, just have to look a little closer. Good luck and I look forward to hearing about where you went and what you saw. 

2020 Bird Year list

I don't often keep a year list of birds but thought this year has been so different I thought it would be worth recording for posterity. This is a list, as far as I can recall up until 17th December.

Goldcrest

Song thrush

1. Red throated diver
2.  Little grebe
3.  Great crested grebe
4.  Fulmar (Weybourne beach, Norfolk)
5.  Gannet
6.  Cormorant
7.  Cattle egret (Burnham Overy Staithe)
8.  Little egret
9. Great egret (Titchwell)
10.  Grey heron
11.  Spoonbill (Stiffkey, Norfolk)
12.  Mute swan
13.  Pink footed goose
14.  Greylag goose
15.  Canada goose
16.  Barnacle goose
17.  Brent goose
18.  Shelduck
19.  Egyptian goose
20.  Mallard
21.  Gadwall
22.  Shoveler
23.  Teal
24.  Pochard
25.  Tufted duck
26.  Common scoter
27.  Goldeneye
28.  Red kite
29.  Marsh harrier
30.  Hen harrier (Wighton, Norfolk)
31.  Common buzzard
32.  Sparrowhawk
33.  Kestrel
34.  Hobby
35.  Peregrine
36.  Red legged partridge
37.  Grey partridge
38. Pheasant
39.  Water rail
40.  Coot
41.  Moorhen
42.  Oystercatcher
43.  Avocet
44.  Little ringed plover
45.  Ringed plover
46.  Grey plover
47.  Golden plover
48.  Lapwing
49.  Knot
50.  Sanderling
51.  Turnstone
52.  Dunlin
53.  Green sandpiper
54.  Redshank
55.  Greenshank
56.  Black tailed godwit
57.  Bar tailed godwit
58.  Curlew
59.  Snipe
60.  Red necked phalarope (Salthouse, Norfolk)
61.  Ruff
62.  Great skua (Titchwell)
63.  Black headed gull
64.  Herring gull
65.  Lesser black backed gull
66.  Greater black backed gull
67.  Common gull
68.  Mediterranean gull (Titchwell)
69.  Sandwich tern
70.  Common tern
71.  Wood pigeon
72.  Collared dove
73.  Cuckoo (heard)
74.  Tawny owl
75.  Little owl
76.  Short eared owl (Wallington nr Baldock)
77.  Barn owl
78.  Swift
79.  House martin
80.  Sand martin
81.  Swallow
82.  Hoopoe (Wighton, Norfolk)
83.  Kingfisher
84.  Rose ringed parakeet
85.  Green woodpecker
86.  Great spotted woodpecker
87.  Skylark
88.  Rock pipit
89.  Meadow pipit
90.  Pied wagtail
91.  Yellow wagtail
92.  Grey wagtail
93.  Wren
94.  Dunnock
95.  Robin
96.  Redstart
97.  Wheatear 
98.  Song thrush
99.  Mistle thrush
100.  Fieldfare
101.  Redwing
102.  Blackbird
103.  Ring ouzel (Garden Drove, Warham Greens, Norfolk)
104.  Barred warbler (Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk)
105.  Garden warbler
106.  Blackcap
107.  Lesser whitethroat
108.  Whitethroat
109.  Sedge warbler
110.  Cetti's warbler
111.  Reed warbler
112.  Willow warbler
113.  Chiffchaff
114.  Radde's warbler (Wells Woods, Norfolk. Only the 3rd I have ever seen in UK)
115.  Yellow browed warbler (Wells Woods, Norfolk)
116.  Pallas's warbler (Holkham Pines, Norfolk)
117.  Goldcrest
118.  Spotted flycatcher
119.  Pied flycatcher (Wells Woods, Norfolk)
120.  Red breasted flycatcher (Wells Woods, Norfolk)
121.  Great tit
122.  Coal tit
123.  Marsh tit
124.  Blue tit
125. Long tailed tit
126.  Bearded reedling
127.  Nuthatch
128.  Tree creeper
129.  Brown shrike (Warham Greens, Norfolk)
130.  Magpie
131.  Jay
132.  Carrion crow
133.  Raven (Garden!)
134.  Jackdaw
135.  Rook
136.  Starling
137.  House sparrow
138.  Chaffinch
139.  Brambling (Burnham Overy Staithe)
140.  Linnet
141.  Lesser redpoll
142.  Goldfinch
143.  Greenfinch
144.  Siskin
145.  Bullfinch
146.  Reed bunting
147.  Yellowhammer
148.  Snow bunting
149.  Siskin
150.  Woodcock
151.  Goosander
152.  Corn bunting
153.  Merlin
154.  Stonechat
155.  Iceland gull (Weybourne beach, Norfolk)
156.  Red breasted merganser
157.  Eider
158.  Wigeon
159.  Great northern diver

Redstart

Knot

Stonechat

Iceland gull

Short eared owl