Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Phalaropus ("coot foot") tricolor ("three coloured")

First Winter Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) at Oare Marshes, Kent - October 2017

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 51-79g  /  Length: 23cm  /  Wingspan: 38cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Wilson's is the the largest of the three species of Phalarope and the only one not normally found in Europe - it's a bird that ordinarily breeds in North America and travels to the South, with very occasional vagrants like this one getting blown off course to Europe.  Perhaps the most distinctive thing about the Wilson's Phalarope while watching it though is it's perculiar feeding technique - it moves rapidly in small circles on the surface of the water which apparently sucks small invertibrates upwards where the bird can feed on it.  In addition to doing this, this particular bird had mastered another technique - stalking a feeding Northern Shoveler at short distance, presumably to feed on the creatures disturbed in it's wake.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Very rare vagrant

 - A vagrant Oare Marshes in October 2017.

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in North West and around the Great Lakes
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Five seen at Monterey

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

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Circus (bird named for circling flight) cyaneus ("dark blue/sea blue")

Adult male Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - February 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 290-750g  /  Length: 41-52cm  /  Wingspan: 97-122cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the three Harrier species found in the UK, the Hen Harrier is more common than the similar looking Montague's, but is arguably the single most persecuted species of bird in Britain.  This is mainly as a result of it feeding on Red Grouse on shooting estates making it very unpopular with Game Keepers, some of whom will shoot, trap or poison them.  As such, it is apparently the bird species most likely to go Extinct in England.  It barely breeds in England at all, its main strongholds being Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Mann, but birds Winter in suitable habitat in England - often moors, farmland and marshes.  As such, if you want to find them in England, it's best to look in Winter.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Circus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (617 pairs) and scarce Wintering species Migrant

 - Wintering female seen at Oare Marshes in 2012 

SPAIN - Spanish - Aguilucho pálido ("Pale Harrier")
Uncommon Wintering species

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: A pair seen in the farmlands around Madrid

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

Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)

OTHER NAMES: Dusky Redshank, Greater Redshank

Latin Etymology: Tringa (bird named by Aristotle) erythropus ("red-footed")

Adult Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) in Autumn moult plumage at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - August 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 125-160g  /  Length: 29-33cm  /  Wingspan: 59-66cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The rarest of the three "shanks" found in the UK, the Spotted Redshank is more delicate and pale than the redshank.  Spotted Redshanks are primarily passage migrants, turning up in Autumn and Spring although a few do overwinter, such as the one photographed here.   Finding one can be tricky - you need to get the hang of seeing the differences between them and a Common Redshank which is hard to do without actually seing one in the first place.  Key identification features include the longer thinner beak with a black upper jaw, larger pale stripe above the eye and general paler colours overall.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Tringa
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare passage migrant (540 birds) and very rare Winter migrant (98 birds)

 - A bird at Oare Marshes in September 2012 plus a bird at Crayford Marshes in in February 2012 . 

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

Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Cettia (after Francesco Cetti) cetti (after Francesco Cetti)

Adult Cett's Warbler (subspecies C. c. cetti) at Oare Marshes - September 2012

Featured Subspecies: Cettia cetti cetti
Weight: 12-15g  /  Length: 14cm  /  Wingspan: 17cm
UK GREEN LIST  / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Cetti's warbler is one of the most recent colonists to the UK - only establishing itself in 1973 - it is a reedbed dweller, and even compared to our other reedbed dwelling species can be a pain to catch more than a fleeting glance.  Unlike our other reedbed warbler species however, it remains in the UK during the winter.  Actually getting a positive identification on this species can be a pain, and you are much more likely to hear one than see one - but, if you look in the Winter when it'll be the only warbler in the reeds you might just strike lucky.  I've had a little luck playing back a recorded Cetti's song to get them to emerge.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cettidae
Genus: Cettia
Subspecies: C. c. cetti, C. c. orientalis, C. c. albiventris

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Unommon breeding resident (2000 males) in Southern Britain

 - Various sites including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Oare Marshes. 

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

Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)

OTHER NAMES: Brant Goose
Latin Etymology: Branta ("burnt" from Old Norse) bernicula ("barnacle")

Brent Goose (subspecies B. b. bernicula - "Dark-bellied Brent Goose") at Margate, Kent -  October 2018

Featured Subspecies: Branta bernicla bernicla (the "Dark-bellied Brent Goose")
Weight: 600-2200g  /  Length: 55-66cm  /  Wingspan: 106-121cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Brent Goose is probably a species most easily seen on the coast in the Winter - it forms large flocks which makes it easy to see and find, but conversely, it is probably quite thinly distributed in where these flocks turn up. Individuals or small groups may also sometimes appear, as in theno-cane case of the single Brent Goose which formed my first ever Brent Goose sighting - unfortunatly it was plonked on the far bank of the Thames beyond my photography range. The birds in the photograph however, were part of a very large flock near Reculver in Kent - and generally the North Kent Coast is going to be a reliable site for them, probably any site between Oare Marshes and Ramsgate during the Winter should have them pass by sooner of later.

Related Species:

Order: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae 

Genus: Branta 
Subspecies: B. b. bernicla, B. b. hrota, B. b. nigricans, B. b. orientalis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally commom Winter visitor; B. b. bernicula (91,000 birds) and B. b. hrota (31,400 birds). B. b. nigricans an annual vagrant. 

 - Dark-bellied subspecies a locally abundant Winter visitor in North Kent; Herne Bay, Reculver and Oare Marshes being good sites. 

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

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

OTHER NAMES: Black-bellied plover, Gray plover, Silver plover, Grey sandpiper

Latin Etymology: Pluvialis ("relating to rain") squatarola (Venetian name for a kind of plover)

Three adult Winter Grey Plover (subspecies P. s. squatarola) at Reculver, Kent - February 2014

Featured Subspecies: Pluvialis squatarola squatarola* (see subspecies notes below)

Weight: 190-280g  /  Length: 27-30cm  /  Wingspan: 71-83cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Another estuary specialist, in this case a Winter migrant. Unfortunately this means that ordinarily the UK never gets to see this bird in it's striking black, white and silver summer plumage although I had the great luck to find a single individual in un-seasonal plumage in January amidst dozens of its winter plumaged brethren. As a target for photography, it probably depends very much on position of your vantage point to where they are - they would probably fly off if approached in the open, but hides overlooking roost sites or tidal flats hold the potential for good views.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Genus: Pluvialis
Subspecies: either - monotypic OR P. s. squatarola, P. s. cynosuae, P. s. tomkovichi

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common Wintering species (43,000 individual) and locally common Spring Passage Migrant (70,000 individuals)

 - Common in Winter at Oare Marshes, Elmley Marshes and Gravesend. 

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska, Wintering range along most of the Coast of the Lower 48.
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, 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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Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus)

OTHER NAMES: Bearded Reedling, Bearded Parrotbill

Latin Etymology: Panurus ("exceedingly tailed") biarmicus ("bearded")

Adult male Bearded Tit (subspecies P. b. biarmicus) at Oare Marshes, Kent - October 2017

Featured Subspecies: Panurus biarmicus biarmicus

Weight: 11-20g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: 17cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name (and how I've categorised it) not actually a tit, nor a member of any other family - the Bearded Tit is a unique songbird with no close relations. It is a reed-bed specialist, and can primarily be found along the Norfolk marshes. I was however lucky enough to catch a flock of them at Rainham, although they can turn up in any suitable reedbed. Easily identified by their distinctive call (which can be played on the RSPB site) after locating them, if you have a clear enough view of the surrounding marsh you stand a decent chance of seeing them flitting about in flocks not dissimilar to the unrelated Long Tailed Tit.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Panuridae
Genus: Panurus
Subspecies: P. b. biarmicus, P. b. russicus, P. b. kosswigi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce and local breeding Species (630 pairs) which can disperse quite widely.

 - A small flock seen at Rainham Marshes in November 2010. Several flocks at Oare Marshes in October 2017

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

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

OTHER NAMES: Pygmy Curlew, Curlew Stint, Redcrop
Latin Etymology: Calidris (bird named by Aristotle) ferruginea ("rust coloured")

 Adult moulting Curlew Sandpiper  (Calidris ferruginea) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - August 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 43-67g  /  Length: 19-21.5cm  /  Wingspan: 48-41cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The curlew sandpiper is a passage migrant that mainly passes through the UK in August and September, your best bet to see them is probably visiting estuaries and marshes during these months. I can't claim to have any further information on seeing them, but they didn't seem notably more difficult to photograph than any other wader for their size.  Though they are fairly similar in size to Dunlin, they can be identified by the grey plumage and longer curved beaks.

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

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An uncommon passage migrant (670 birds) 

 - Seen on migration at Rutland Water in 2010.  Better views had at Oare Marshes in September 2010.

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

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Ruff (Calidris pugnax)

OTHER NAMES: Reeve

Latin Etymology: Philomachus ("pugnacious") pugnax ("fond of fighting")

Winter Plumage Ruff (Calidris pugnax) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - February 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 180g  /  Length: 29-32cm  /  Wingspan: 54-60cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Ruff is the sole member of its genus, which is found in the broader "sandpipers and allies" family of Scolopacidae. In the UK, it is actually a relatively rare bird with only 800 wintering and less than 40 breeding, and otherwise mainly seen on passage. Not knowing this, before I started the Bird-dex I actually must have seen a sizable chunk of that 700 on one lagoon at Rutland Water at one point, and at the time I didn't think much of it, but subsequently I've never seen such a large quantity at once. Oare Marshes in Spring and Autumn seems to be a pretty reliable site to get good close up views of these birds.  Ruff are a very variable species visually, that can come in a variety of colours, not even counting the spectacular namesake ruff which is hard to see in this country.

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

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very rare breeding secies (0-11 females) and scarce Wintering species (820 birds) 

 - Seen at Rutland Water, Oare Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir and Rainham - generally in Autumn.

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

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Little Owl (Athene noctua)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Athene (after the Greek goddess, who bird was the owl) noctua (sacred owl of Athene)

Adult Little Owl (subspecies A. n. vidalii) at Geddington, Northants - November 2022

Featured Subspecies: Athene noctua vidalii
Weight: 180g  /  Length: 22cm  /  Wingspan: 56cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite theoretically being the second most common owl in Britain and being more diurnal that most, it is that last owl for me to see, during this challenge or otherwise. It's size might be a factor in that it makes it harder to distinguish at a distance. Combined with the fact that it doesn't roost in the day and is of much more subtle colouring that the distinctive pale barn owl it becomes a bird that is easy to see if you know where to look. When you do see one though it is definitely worth it as they are very charming little birds. Photographing them is at least helped by the fact you'll likely see them in daylight hours.

Related Species:
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Athene
Subspecies: A. n. noctua, A. n. ubdugena, A. n. vidalii, A. n. glaux, A. . saharae, A. n. bactriana, A. n. indigena, A. n. spilagastra, A. n. somaliensis, A. n. orientalis, A. n. impasta, A. n. ludlowi, A. n. plumipes   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An introduced resident (5,700 pairs)

 - A pair used to roost near Geddington. Birds also seen in Oare Marshes

SPAIN - Spanish -  Mochuelo común ("Common Owl")

A fairly common resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A pair living in the roof of an old barn at Laguna Navaseca

Further Information: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, Wikipedia, RSPB, 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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