Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Phalaropus ("coot foot") lobatus ("lobed")

Non-breeding Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 27-48g  /  Length: 17-19cm  /  Wingspan: 32-41cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Red-necked Phalarope is one of the most tenuous breeding species in the UK; it is at the very southerly fringe of it's range on some of the islands of Scotland, otherwise it largely breeds in Norway, Finland, Russia, Canada, Greenland and Alaska.  It is however migratory, and a small number pass through on passage each year, allowing it to be seen in more easily seen on passage as it heads out to open patches of sea in the tropics.  Typically however it is still hard to catch up with on passage, not staying more than a day at a single location, however a few individuals in 2018 proved to be more lingering, making them a lot easier to catch up with.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Phalaropus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare passage migrant (30 birds) and very local breeding species (22 males)

 - An single passage migrant at Oare Marshes in July 2018.

UNITED STATES 
Patchily distributed across Western Lower 48
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

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

Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Chroicocephalus ("colour head") philadelphia ("Philadelphia")

Adult in transitional plumage of Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) at Oare Marshes, Kent - July 2018

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 210g  /  Length: 43-53cm  /  Wingspan: 76-84cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Bonaparte's Gull is a small gull species found primarily across North America, though it is a reasonably frequent vagrant to the UK.  Despite the obvious expectation, it is not named for Napoleon Bonaparte but rather his nephew, Charles Lucien Bonaparte a naturalist and ornithologist in his own right.  It is much more notably migratory than most UK species, breeding in the Northern parts of North America including Alaska and Canada and then moving down south to Winter.  This particular individual seems to have maintained this pattern - a single bird that has recurred year after year at Oare Marshes that I have never got to catching up with until now.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Chroicocephalus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare vagrant

 - An annually recurring vagrant individual seen at Oare Marshes in July 2018.

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

Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Calidris (waterside bird mentioned by Aristotle) minuta ("tiny")

Two adult Little Stint (Calidris minuta) in Autumn transition plumage at Oare Marshes, Kent - October 2017

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 20-30g  /  Length: 14-15.5cm  /  Wingspan: 27-30cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Little Stints are tiny waders mostly seen on passage, but small nubmers, such as this one, do Winter in the UK.  They often mix in with Dunlin and can be tricky to pick out, despite the differences, just because picking out any different individuals from a swarm of little scuttling birds is a challenge.  Their Autumn plumage is a lot more distinctive than their Winter one. Despite its tiny size, it migrates spectacular distances - from the Arctic to Africa and South Asia. 

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Calidris
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce passage migrant (460 birds) and very rare Winter migrant (14 birds)

 - At Oare Marshes in September 2012, March 2012 and October 2017. 

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

Common Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

OTHER NAMES: Dark Clouded Yellow, Clouded Yellow

Latin Etymology: Colias (named after goddess Kōlias) croceus ("yellow/golden")

Adult Common Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus - unknown subspecies) at Donana, Spain - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: unknown
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 52-62mm

UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Common Clouded Yellow is one of the two large bright yellow butterflies found regularly in the UK along with the more greenish Brimstone.  It is fairly scarce in Britain, but is more common in Europe, and I found several around Donana in Southern Spain at a point in the year where only a few butterflies remained. 

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Colias
SUBSPECIES: C. c. chinensis, C. c. cremonae, C. c. edusina, C. c. helice

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An uncommon scarce annual migrant.

 - Butterflies seen at sites including The Lizard and Oare Marshes.

SPAIN - Common to locally abundant resident in appropriate habitat.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Seen near El Rocio

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

Common Seal (Phoca vitulina)

OTHER NAMES: Harbour Seal

Latin Etymology: Phoca ("seal") vitulina ("calf-like")

Herd of Common Seal (subspecies P. v. vitulina) at Oare Marshes - August 2013

Featured Subspecies: Phoca vitulina vitulina
Weight: 130kg  /  Length: 185cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED /  IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Despite the name, really the common seal is in my experience a less common species than our other piniped, the grey seal.  Which is not to say that they are rare, but they seem to be more comfortable than the greys in more esturine habitat and hauling out on muddy beaches than the rocky shores I have seen their larger cousins at.  They can be fairly difficult to identify from each other, but the key is the face - the common seal has a shorter, concave snout compared to the dramatic roman nose of the grey and a more domed forehead.

Related Species:
Order: Carnivora 
Family: Phocidae 
Genus: Phoca
SUBSPECIES: P. v. concolor, P. v. mellonae, P. v. richardsi, P. v. stejnegeri, P. v. vitulina

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A locally fairly common resident.

 - Seen at Oare Marshes and Gravesend.

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

Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)

OTHER NAMES: Lake Frog, Laughing Frog

Latin Etymology: Pelophylax (possibly "earth watcher") ridibundus ("laughing")

Two adult Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ribidundus - unknown subspecies) at Rainham Marshes, London - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: unknown
Weight: 14g  /  Length: 12-17cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

An introduced species, the Marsh Frog is normally resident in Europe, but has established itself in parts of the UK. They can be seen in various sites around the Thames, but I've personally only seen them at Rainham marshes. They are a bit bigger than our native frogs, and also a lot noisier - they produce a stereotypical frog like croak, and can sometimes be seen inflating their cheeks to do so.

Related Species: 
Order: Anura 
Family: Ranidae 
Genus: Pelophylax 
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident of South-East England.

 - Seen at Oare Marshes and Rainham Marshes

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

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