Recent Baston & Langtoft Pits Birds

Juvenile female Peregrine



'Nordic' Jackdaw (Corvus monedula monedula)


Male Brambling at the feeding station


Little Egrets

All (c) Josh Jones.

'Nordic' Jackdaw at Burghley Park

© Will Bowell
Another 'Nordic' type Jackdaw that has been found in the area over the past few weeks. This particular individual was rather striking, with the most obvious feature being it's paler neck sides and nape, which appeared to be dirty white when the bird was in sunshine. Another bird present showed a less well defined 'collar'.

From the comparison shot other differences can be noted, such as the paler underparts on the Nordic bird (left) compared to the Jackdaw (right). The Jackdaw also shows an even colouration in the nape, neck sides and underparts, where as the Nordic bird shows a paler nape and neck sides than underparts.

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Red-crested Pochard and Smew at Ferry Meadows

A pair of Red-crested Pochard and two 'redhead' Smew have been gracing Lynch Lake.

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina



Smew Mergellus albellus


© Brian StoneDigiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Wren at Ferry Meadows

© Roy Norris
See further images at http://fenlandwalker.blogspot.com/

Lesser Redpolls at Ferry Meadows

Part of a party of at least 5 feeding around the northern end of Lynch Lake.

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret



Pochard Aythya ferina


Blackbird Turdus merula


© Brian Stone Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Glaucous Gull, Tanholt Pits

© Josh Jones

Glaucous Gulls have become increasingly scarce in recent times in the PBC area (and across the country), so this juvenile bird was a pleasing find for the photographer.

Little Egret at North Bank SW

© Will Bowell
One of two birds hanging around the ditches by the Sewage Works this afternoon. At least one remained, hiding in ditches on Stanground Wash. Excellent to see them so close to the city centre. Note one of the Power Station chimneys in the top photo.

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Fieldfare at Willow hall Lane

© Will Bowell
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Robin

Robin in a Peterborough Garden

Caspian Gull at Tanholt Pits

© Josh Jones

This bird is the third first-winter Caspian Gull this November in the Peterborough area. Although similar to the bird from 4th, the upperparts are marked differently, and the underparts and neck are streaked more heavily. The bill pattern is also slightly different. Interestingly, just one of the three birds so far has shown a dark bill which is perhaps more typical of the species at this age, especially at this time of year.

Bar-Headed Goose - Deeping High Bank

© Roy Norris
Bar-Headed Goose seen at Deeping High Bank today amongst large flock of Greylag. Also one Barnacle Goose amongst them.

Goldeneye - Deeping High Bank

© Roy Norris
Four Goldeneye seen at Deeping High Bank today. Not very clear unfortunately.

Shag, Town Bridge

Nice find by Will Bowell.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis

© Brian Stone Digibinned with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica 8x42 BA

Tawny Owl, Peterborough SW

At the old sewage works.

Tawny Owl Strix aluco

© Brian Stone

Grey Heron at Ferry Meadows

© Mike Weedon
Grey heron, Ferry Meadows, 16.11.07 (DSLR). Click for a larger version.

Whooper Swan at Deeping High Bank

© Mike Weedon
Whooper Swan, Welland, Deeping High Bank, 10.11.07 (DSLR)

Fieldfare at Tanholt pits

© Mike Weedon
Fieldfare, Tanholt pits, 10.11.07 (digiscope)

Fieldfare

Fieldfare at Woodwalton Fen

Caspian Gull at Dogsthorpe Tip

Above: the pale underwing (a feature of the species) can be seen in the videograb above. It is not as clean as it could be, but this is probably due to the bird still being rather fresh, and it is still early on in the winter.


Above: this videograb compares the upperwings of first-winter Herring (below) and Caspian (upper left) Gulls. Note how the dark-centred tertials contrast with the coverts on Caspian, with much less contrast shown on Herring.


This image shows the bird's tail pattern - typical of a first-winter Caspian Gull, with the sharply-defined dark band contrasting with the white of the rump and rest of tail. Note how limited black marking is aside the tail band.


A profile view of this distinctive (and large) individual. Note the long-necked, elegant appearance, the small, dark eye, extensive white/paleness to the underparts, and the long, thin bill with virtually no angle at the gonys. The all-dark tertials can also be seen well in this image. This bird is more advanced than some are at time of the year.

(c) Josh Jones

Coal Tit in Peterborough Garden

Stonechat (pair)

© Roy Norris
On fenceline in Woodcroft road, on the Etton side of rail crossing. Taken with 75-300mm lens

Fieldfare

© Roy Norris
Willow Drove, Newborough.

Barnacle Goose at Ferry Meadows

© Roy Norris
Observed today at Ferry Meadows (Lynch Lake) with 60+ Canada Geese. Assume this is from one of the naturalised populations. (AC2E)

Reed Bunting at Ferry Meadows

Puple Heron at Eldernell

The best shot I got of this elusive (to me anyway) birdie. See my post on Peterbirder.

Meadow Pipit, Maxey GP

©Brian Stone Digiscoped with Canon A640 and Leica APO77 x20

And a female to go with Brian's male! Eldernell

This female was present with a male (which I caught eating a Darter) at Eldernell on 4.10.07

Stonechat, Maxey GP

A male at the south end of the Etton Road pits.

Stonechat Saxicola torquata

© Brian Stone Digiscoped with Canon A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Greater Yellowlegs at Baston & Langtoft GP

© Josh Jones

An adult bird.

Click the image for the bigger version.