Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Chlidonias ("swallow-like") hybrida ("hybrid")

                                             Whiskered Tern (subspecies C. h. hybrida) at Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Chlidonias hybrida hybria

Weight: 80-100g  /  Length: 23-25cm  /  Wingspan: 74-78cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The palest of the three "Marsh Terns" found regularly in Europe, the Whiskered Tern more resembles a "classical" tern with a dark underbelly than the other two when in full breeding plumage. This is in fact reflected in the latin name "hybrida" - which suggests it does look like a hybrid of Marsh and "Sterna" terns.  A rare visitor to the UK, and I once attempted to see a juvenile that was present at Rutland Water, but was unable to positively pick it out without the more distinctive plumage at the great distances.  In Laguna Navaseca in Toledo province they were a common and easy to see presence, fishing in front of hides in the same way Common Terns do in wetlands in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Chlidonias
Subspecies: C. h. hybrida, C. h. delalandii, C. h. javanicus

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer Name: រំពេរពោះប្រផេះ ("? Grey Belly")

A locally common Winter visitor and passage migrant.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common approaching Prek Toal

SPAIN - Spanish - Fumarel cariblanco ("White-cheeked tern")

Locally common Summer migrant

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant at Laguna Navaseca (dozens seen) and one flock seen at Laguna del Longar distantly.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Melanocorypha ("black lark") calandra (species specific name)

                                            Calandra Lark (subspecies M. c. calandra) at Laguna del Longar, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Melanocorypha calandra calandra

Weight: 44-73g  /  Length: 18-20cm  /  Wingspan: 38-44cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large, powerfully built lark with a distinctive black "neckerchief" like mark, the Calandra lark is found around much of the rim of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and into Central Asia, after which it is replaced by its closest relative, the Bimaculated Lark.  A bird of farmland and steppe, it feeds on seeds and insects.  It has a comparatively large population, but isn't the commonest lark species within its range.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Melanocorphya
Subspecies: M. c. calandra, M. c. hebraica, M. c. gaza, M. c. psammochroa

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Calandria común ("Common Calander")

Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant at Laguna del Longar (dozens of Summer plumage birds)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Gelochelidon ("laughing swallow") nilotica ("of the Nile")

Five adult Gull-billed Tern (subspecies G. n. niloctica) at Laguna del Longar, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Grelochelidon nilotica nilotica

Weight: 150-292g  /  Length: 33-42cm  /  Wingspan: 76-91cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Gull-billed Tern is a comparatively powerfully built tern found sporadically across all continents except Antarctica is variable densities.  Through much of it's range, it is a coastal species, though it may breed at more inland sites. The colony I encountered was at Laguna del Longar in Toledo province, where they breed on the sandbars, although these birds were washing themselves in the fresher inlet streams closer to the hides.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Gelochelidon
Subspecies: G. n. niloctica, G. n. affinis, G. n. macrotarsa, G. n. aranea, G. n. vanrossemi, G. n. gronvoldi

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Pagaza piconegra ("Black-beaked Tern")

Local Summer Migrant

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant at Laguna del Longar (at least fifteen seen around Lagoon at various times)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Charadrius (a bird named in the Vulgate Bible) alexandrinus ("of Alexandria")

Breeding pair of Kentish Plover (subspecies C. a. alexandrinus) at Laguna del Longar, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus
Weight: 35-45g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: 42-45cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Kentish Plover is a bird whose name is a relic; while this species used to breed in the UK, and notably Kent, that has not been the case for a long time now.  The last continuous breeding ended in the 1940s with it's extinction in the British Isles.  Which is somewhat odd in the context that this remains a fairly widespread breeding species across the coastline of Europe - even on the direct opposite side of the channel.  While broadly a coastal species, it is also found at certain more saline inland sites, such as the Laguna del Longar where I saw them.  Very widely distributed, they are found around the majority of the coast of Eurasia and North Africa - had I been at suitable sites I would have encountered this species easily on my trips to Japan.  

Related Species:

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Charadridae

Genus: Charadrius

Subspecies: C. a. alexandrinus, C. a. nivosus, C. a. tenuirostis

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Chorlitejo patinegro - "Black-footed Plover"
Locally Common Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Common at Laguna del Longar  (at least ten birds, many in pairs)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Tetrax (species specific name) tetrax (species specific name)

                                  Male and Female Little Bustards (Tetrax tetrax) on Madrid Region Farmland, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 830g  /  Length: 43cm  /  Wingspan: 110cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened  

 The Little Bustard is a fairly rare species in Europe, and is declining - we were very lucky to see them at the time of year we did - they ordinarily are hidden among the long grasses and crops of the steppe habitat they inhabit.  Though they are significantly smaller than the great bustard, they are still a decent sized bird - probably about on a scale with a pheasant, and are exceptionally well camouflaged - even without any ground cover these birds would have been very easy to miss.

Related Species:
Order: Otidiformes
Family: Otididae
Genus: Tetrax
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Sisón

Widespread but scarce and local resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Pair on farmland North of Madrid 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Two birds seen near Laguna del Longar 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Great Bustard (Otis tarda)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etmology: Otis ("bustard") tarda ("slow")

Mature adult male Great Bustard (subspecies O. t. tarda) in grasslands in Castille-La-Mancha, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Otis tarda tarda

Weight: 10-19kg  /  Length: 90-105cm  /  Wingspan: 2.1-2.7m

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The Great Bustard is a huge bird - the male in particular is possibly the heaviest living flying animal, rivaled only by other large bustard species.  They are I saw this species near Madrid on a guided tour with Luis Sitges who was familiar with where best to see them, though unfortunately due to disturbance caused by people walking along the fields, this was the only individual we saw of this massive species. It was formerly resident in the UK, but due to hunting became extinct by 1840s, but as of 2002 a reintroduction project has begun to re-establish this spectacular bird as a breeding species in England.

Related Species:
Order: Otidiformes
Family: Otididae
Genus: Otis
Subspecies: O. t. tarda, O. t. dybowskii

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Avutarda

 Scarce but locally common resident of farmland.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: One male seen at great distance on the farmlands around Madrid 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant in the surroundings of Laguna del Longar (multiple flocks of around 10 birds, one flock of 90)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-Canto   .

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Galerida ("lark with a crest") cristata ("crested")

Adult Crested Lark (subspecies G. c. pallida) in Farmland near Madrid, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Galerida cristata pallida
Weight: 37-55g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: 29-38cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The crested lark is a lark found widely throughout most of mainland Europe, but is absent from the British Isles. In Southern Spain at least it is fairly widespread, found on open ground, both in the countryside, or even, in this case, in the middle of cities - this particular individual was in the middle of Seville city center alongside the canal.  They get their name from their crest, which when raised is far more striking than the Skylark.  I saw this species again on my visits to Madrid, but unlike in Seville, it seemed more restricted to the countryside yet more abundant.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Galerida
Subspecies: G. c. cristata, G. c. pallida, G. c. neumanni, G. c. apuliae, G. c. tenuirostris, G. c. meridionalis, G. c. caucasica, G. c. subtaurica, G. c. cypriaca, G. c. zion, G. c. cinnamomina, G. c. magna, G. c. leautungensis, G. c. coreensis, G. c. iwanowi, G. c. lynesi, G. c. kleinschmidti, G. c. riggenbachi, G. c. carthaginis, G. c. randoni, G. c. macrorhyncha, G. c. balsaci, G. c. arenicola, G. c. helenae, G. c. festae, G. c. brachyura, G. c. nigricans, G. c. maculata, G. c. halfae, G. c. senegallensis, G. c. jordansi, G. c. alexanderi, G. c. isabellina, G. c. altirostris, G. c. somaliensis, G. c. tardinata, G. c. chendoola

SPAIN - Spanish -  Cogujada común ("Common Lark")

Common to locally abundant resident, particularly in Cities.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: A number seen at Italica, and a pair in the centre of Seville itself.
 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common on farmland around Madrid.
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Common around Madrid and appropriate sites throughout, including many a round Laguna del Longar.               

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red , RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

OTHER NAMES: Marsh Harrier

Latin Etymology: Circus ("circling") aeruginosus ("rusty")

 Adult male Western Marsh Harrier (subspecies C. a. aeruginosus) at Blakenham, Norfolk - May 2022

Featured Subspecies Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus
Weight: 400-650g  /  Length: 43-54cm  /  Wingspan: 115-130cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite being by far the most common of the UKs three regular harriers, the Marsh Harrier still isn't a particularly common bird in most places. AS the name suggests, it favours marshland, although it can occasionally be sighted over less specialised wetland. I cannot recommend Elmley Marshes RSPB enough for seeing this species, on my visits I can often see 15+ of these birds in an afternoon. This however does not mean that the views you get of them are as good it must be noted, and unfortunately, despite the number of sightings, they don't necessarily tend to be that close range unless its in fairly low light anyway.  I also encountered this species in Spain, where it appears much more content to hunt over arable fields than it is in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Circus
Subspecies: C. a. aeruginosus, C. a. harterti

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce but locally common breeding resident. (400 pairs)

 -  Stronghold around the Swale,notably Elmley Marshes and Oare Marshes, Also seen at Rainham Marshes, Nene Washes, Blakenham, Thornham Harbour and other wetland and saltmarsh sites. 

ITALY - Italian - Falco di Palude ("Swamp Falcon")

A localised resident, non-breeder and passage migrant.
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Two seen at Fiume Ciane 

SPAIN - Spanish - Aguilucho lagunero ("Lagoon Fight-eagle")

Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen in the vicinity of Madrid 

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen frequently throughout most notably at Laguna Del Longar

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

OTHER NAMES: Avocet
Latin Etymology: Recurvirostra ("curved backwards beak") avosetta ("avocet")

Adult Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - August 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 225-395g  /  Length: 43-45cm  /  Wingspan: 76-80cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

The Avocet, or as it is known to people where it is not the only species of it's genus, the Pied Avocet is a striking wader notable for its strongly upturned beak and distinctive black and white plumage. It is perhaps most famous for being the logo of the RSPB. It is one of the more localised waders and is rarely seen on passage, so generally it's easiest to see them at sites where they are resident - the reserves around the Swale in Kent are fairly reliable options. Though they are not especially flighty, they do tend to prefer deeper water than most waders and so generally will be fairly distant compared to other species in the same habitat.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae
Genus: Recurvirostra
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce breeding species (1500 pairs) and local Wintering species (7500 birds).

 - Regular at Oare Marshes, Elmley Marshes and Cliffe Pools.  Stray birds seen at Rutland Water and Rainham

SPAIN - Spanish - Avoceta

Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Single bird seen at Laguna del Longar

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

OTHER NAMES: Purre, Plover's Page, Least Snipe, Dunlin Sandpiper
Latin Etymology: Calidris (bird named by Aristotle) alpina ("of the mountains")

Adult breeding plumage Dunlin (subspecies either C. a. alpina or C. a. schinzii) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: Calidris alpina alpina OR Calidris alpina schinzii (?)
Weight: 48-64g  /  Length: 17-21cm  /  Wingspan: 32-36cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the UK's commonest wader, this smallish bird can be seen in small groups either on the coast or on inland reservoirs. It is probably best seen on the coast in Winter or on passage however where it arrives in huge numbers. In theory it probably isn't that difficult to photograph, but getting a good photograph might be tricker unless you are at a suitable site. It is generally the most numerous wader on muddy coastal sites and roosts in large numbers.  It has very distinct plumages in Summer and Winter - the Winter being an unremarkable dull grey-brown, while in Summer it gains a russet colour on top and a distinctive black belly patch.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Calidris 
Subspecies: C. a. arcticola, C. a. pacifica, C. a. hudsonia, C. a.arctica, C. a. schinzii, C. a. alpina, C. a. sakhalina, C. a. actites, C. a. kistchinskii

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce and local breeding species (8,600-10,600 pairs) and numerous Winter visitor (360,000 birds)

 - Birds seen commonly at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir, Eyebrook Reservoir, Oare Marshes, Elmley Marshes, Herne Bay and Summerleys.

SPAIN - Spanish Name: Correlimos común ("Common Dunlin")

Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen at Laguna del Longar.     

Further Information: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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