SOUTHERN ENGLAND, MARCH 30-April 8, 2012 

                                                                               BIRD LIST (87 Species)

                                                                            © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

KEY TO LOCATIONS

FNP = Fraser Nature Preserve, Capel

DS = Dungeness RSBP(gp = reclaimed gravel pit and adjacent fields; dbo = bird observatory; tp =  ('the patch') shoreline and nuclear facility outlet to sea.

DB = Dymchurch Beach

DHC = Dover Harbor and Castle

CD = Train from Canterbury to Dorking

MRD = Mole River, Dorking

WM = Warnham Nature Preserve, Dorking

M = Minsmere RSBP, Dunwich Heath and Eastbridge

HP = Hyde Park, London

DH = Down House and gardens, Kent

                           

                                                                                                                                                                 © 2012  Michelin Maps

 

                                                                    BIRDS NOTED

(Nomenclature and taxonomic sequence follows Jonsson, L. 1993. Birds of Europe. Princeton Univ. Press, New Jersey. 559 pp.)

 

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) 3 DS; 2 WM; usually paired in open water.

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 1 WM, in shallows.

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)   25  DS ( alt. plmg.; several pairs with active nests on sandbar); 1 flying, WH.

Bittern (Botarus stellaris)  3-4; booming calls in late afternoon; one flying past Island Mere hide, M.

Great White Egret (Egretta alba) 1? standing in a pasture, CD.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)   3-4  together in a large pasture bordered by shrubs, CD.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)  1  flushed from edge of pond, FNP.

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)  1  foraging at edge of flooded field and marsh, M (photo).

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) Eastbridge (Minsmere) England, 5 April, 2012

                                                                               © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  30 DS;  2 M;  10 CD; 1 WM; 2 HP (photo).

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) Hyde Park, London  7 April, 2012

                                                                                       © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)  6 DS;  10 M;  2 WM.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2 FNP;  3 M.

Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)  10 on shore, DB.

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)  20 M (photo).

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) Minsmere, England, 5 April 2012

                                                                                      © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Shellduck (Tadorna tadorna) 4 (m,f)  often in pairs, DS; 20 M (photo)

Shellduck (Tadorna tadorna) male; Minsmere, England  4 April, 2012

                                                                              © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

 

Wigeon (Anas penelope) 14 (m,f) M.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 3 (m,f) FNP;  1 DS; (8 "Indian Runners - photo).

 Introduced Indian Runner domestic Mallard   Dungeness, 31 March, 2012

                                                                                                                                           © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Gadwall (Anas strepera)  5 (m,f) DS;  4 M.

Pintail (Anas acuta) 2 (m,f) M.

Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  120 (m,f) M.

Teal (Anas crecca)  8 (m,f) M.

Mandarin (Aix galericulata) 2 (m,f) pair staying close, HP (photo).

Mandarin (Aix galericulata) male (left), Female (right)  Hyde Park, London  7 April 2012

 

                                                                           © 2012 Callyn Yorke

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)  2 (m,f)  pair staying close, Round Pond, HP (photo).

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) male (top), female (below) Round Pond, Hyde Park, London  7 April, 2012

                                                                                           © 2012 Callyn Yorke

Pochard (Aythya ferina) 2 (m,f) resting at edge of Serpentine lake, HP.

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)  20 (m,f) DS; 20 M; 16, WM;  5 HP (photo).

 

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)  male  Hyde Park, London  7 April 2012

                                                                                            © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)   1 (f)  M.

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)  1 circling garden, swooping down and picking up chicken parts on lawn, using its feet; followed by Rooks, FNP(photos).

Red Kite (Milvus milvus) with Jackdaws (right) Capel, England, 2 April, 2012

   

                                                               © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)  2 (m,f) soaring low over marsh; landing at same spot repeatedly (nest?) M (photo).

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) male  Minsmere, England  3 April, 2012

                                                                                   © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Buzzard (Buteo buteo) 1 circling above the ridgeline, Capel; 1 DS.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) hovering above Dover castle, DR.

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) 10 (m,f) M;  2 DS; 1 WM (photo)

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) male  Warnham Bird Preserve, Surrey, England, 2 April 2012

                                                                              © 2012 Callyn Yorke

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)   2  calls, repeated near Island Mere, M.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)  4 WM;  2 HP (photo).

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)  Hyde Park, London  7 April, 2012

                                                                                        © 2012 Callyn Yorke

Coot (Fulica atrata) ubiquitous in fresh water habitats; floating nest in HP (photo).

Coot (Fulica atrata)   Round Pond, Hyde Park, London     7 April, 2012

 

                                                                                      © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)  4 M (photo).

Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)  Minsmere    5 April, 2012

                                                     © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta)  4  M.

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) 10  M (photo).

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) Minsmere, England  3 April 2012

                                                                             © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)  1 running along edge of scrape, M.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) 3   resting on a scrape, M.

Redshank (Tringa totanus)   3  foraging on edge of a scrape, M (photo).

Redshank (Tringa totanus)  3  Minsmere, England  5 April 2012

                                                                                                 © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus)   3 alt. plmg.   on a distant scrape with Black-headed Gulls, M (photo)

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) Minsmere

April 3, 2012                           © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)  25, DS; 5,000; most in alt. plmg. courtship behavior on scrapes; highly vocal, M (photos).

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)  Minsmere, England      3 April, 2012

                                                                                                                                           © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Common Gull (Larus canus)  10 DS;  20 M.                                                                                                           

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)     20 flying over, calls, FNP;  400 (ad, imm) mostly around "The Patch" and nuclear facility, DS (photos). 50 DS.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) adult  Dover, England                                Herring Gull immature, second cycle  Dover, England  April 1, 2012

   

April 1, 2012                                                                           ©  2012 Callyn Yorke

 

                                          Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) immature, first cycle   Dover, England   1 April, 2012

                                          

                                                                                                                                                   © 2012 Callyn Yorke  

 

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) immature and adult   Dungeness, England  31 March  2012

     

                                                                                                                                            ©  2012 Callyn Yorke

 

 Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) immature, second cycle  "the patch", Dungeness, England   31 March, 2012

   

                                                                                                                    ©  2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)   25 outer shore and "the patch", DS (photo).

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) immature, first cycle, "the patch" Dungeness, England  31 March, 2012

                                                                                                               © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) immature, first cycle   "the patch", Dungeness, England  31 March, 2012

 

                                                                                                                  ©  2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)   25  DS;  15 MS (photo).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) adult   Minsmere, April 5, 2012                Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) adult (lower) imm. HEGU ?(upper) Thames River, London April 7, 2012

                                                                                                               © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)   3  flying near shore, DB.

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) widespread and common; usually shy: 2 FNP;  2 DS; 10 M; 4 coming to feeder at hide WM (photo);  2 with nest material, HP.

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)  Warnham Nature Preserve, Dorking  England,  2 April, 2012

                                                                                                                       © 2012 Callyn Yorke

Rock Dove (Columba livia) 60 HP.

Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)   calling; widespread and common, especially in parks and villages.

Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)   60   noisy, flying between crowns of tall trees, HP.

Little Owl (Athene noctua) 1 calling from 25 feet in large tree, HP (photo).

Little Owl (Athene noctua)  adjacent to the Serpentine, Hyde Park, London 7 April 2012

                                                                                                  © 2012 Callyn Yorke

Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)  1 flying between trees, FNP;  1 foraging on ground on a hillside pasture, M.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major)  1 (m) foraging in woodland at about 20 feet above the ground, M (photo).

 

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major)  (male)  Minsmere, England  4 April, 2012

                                                                                     © 2012 Callyn Yorke

Skylark (Alauda arvensis)  1 fly, song, ID by Jan Fraser (unseen by me), highway stop before exit to Eastbridge (Minsmere).

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)   2  flying around cliff with nest holes, and over marsh, M.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)  6   in small, loose flock, foraging in roadside field, DS (photo).

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) Dungeness, England  31 March, 2012

                                                                            © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)  widespread and common in brushy areas; FNP; WM(photo).

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)  Warnham Nature Preserve, Dorking, England  2 April, 2012

                                                                                                              © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Dunnock  (Prunella modularis)  2 (one banded - photo) WM; 1 singing, HP.

Dunnock (Prunella modularis)  Warnham Nature Preserve, Dorking, England   2 April 2012

                                                                                                        © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)  1 FNP; 2 song, calls, WM (photo); 1 DCH; 2 M; 1 DH.

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)  Warnham, England  2 April, 2012

                                                           © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)  1 on hillside pasture, M (photo).

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) male   Minsmere, England  5 April, 2012

                                                                                  © 2012 Callyn Yorke  

 

Blackbird (Turdus merula)  2 FNP;  3 WM (photo);  6 HP.  

Blackbird (Turdus merula)  male Warnham Nature Preserve, Dorking, England   2 April 2012

                                                                                           © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)  1   early AM, singing by repeating short, musical phrases 2 - 4 times, similar to Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), FNP (photo).

 

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)  1 Fraser Nature Preserve, Capel, England  2 April 2012

                                                                                         © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) 1 singing atop a tall tree in mixed woodland ,after a storm, M.

Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) 2  singing (a very explosive, distinctive warble), DS; 5 singing, M. None actually seen.

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)   2 singing, flying between trees, FNP (30 March); 1 flying, WM.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)   2  fly, sing, mixed woodland, FNP (30 March).

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)  3 song, calls, FNP (30 March); 1 song, DCH; 2 song, WM;  2 M.

Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus)  2 flying quickly, low at edge of marsh by Island Mere hide, M.

Marsh Tit (Parus palustris) 2  flew to shrub at edge of riparian-marsh, M.

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) 8 FNP; 12 coming to feeders, WM (photo); 2 M; 4 HP.

 

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)  Warnham Nature Preserve, Dorking  2 April, 2012

                                                                                                                        © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Great Tit (Parus major)  1 DS; 4 WM; 6 HP (photo).

Great Tit (Parus major)  Hyde Park, London   7 April, 2012.

                                                                                                                     © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Coal Tit (Parus ater) 1 coming near the feeder at a hide, WM.

Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) 1 mixed woodland and edge, MRD. 1 shrubs near the Serpentine, HP.

Nuthatch (Sitta europea)  2  coming to feeder, WM (photo).

Nuthatch (Sitta europea)  Warnham Nature Preserve, Dorking, England  2 April, 2012

                                                                                                        © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  50 (one banded) on lawns and in trees; vocal, HP (photo).

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, London   7 April 2012

                                                                                                         © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Jay (Garrulus glandarius)  2  flying, woods, open field with trees, DH (photo).

Jay (Garrulus glandarius)  Darwin House, Kent, England 8 April 2012

                                                                   © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Magpie (Pica pica)   a widespread and common commensal of man, yet wary and difficult to approach (photo).

Magpie (Pica pica)  Dunwich Heath, Minsmere, England,  5 April 2012

                                                                           © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Jackdaw  (Corvus monedula)  locally common in rural areas and suburbs; an omnivorous commensal of man with odd morphology and behavior suggesting to me this species should be classified separately from other corvids, e.g. Pseudocorvus monedula (photo).

Jackdaw (Pseudocorvus (Corvus) monedula Yorke)  Fraser Nature Preserve, Capel, England   7 April 2012

                                                                                                                                                                                               © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Raven  (Corvus corax)  1   in captivity with clipped wings for superstitious  reasons, Tower of London.

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) a common, widespread commensal of man (photo); similar in form and habits with American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos).

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)  Dungeness, England  31 March 2012

                                                                                                                                © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Rook (Corvus frugilegus)  common and widespread;  omnivorous, commensalistic; colonial nests (rookery) in tall trees in villages and town (photo).

Rook (Corvus frugilegus)  Fraser Nature Preserve, Capel, England   7 April, 2012

                                                                                                                                                          © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)   2  FNP;  6  Eastbridge (Minsmere); highly commensalistic, though decidely less common in southern England than in the western United States.

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)  song, calls; common and widespread in gardens brushy fields and mixed woodland edge (photo).

 

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) male   Minsmere, England  5 April, 2012

                                                                                                                        © 2012 Callyn Yorke

 

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)   2 DS;  3 M; gardens and fields.

Goldfinch  (Carduelis carduelis)  2 WM.

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)  1  mixed woodland, FNP.

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)  2 DS;  2 WM feeding station (photo).

 

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) male   Warnham Nature Preserve, Dorking, England  2 April 2012

                                                                                                                                                            © 2012 Callyn Yorke