Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)

OTHER NAMES: Woodcock Pilot, Thumb bird, Golden Cutty
Latin Etymology: Regulus ("Kinglet/Prince") regulus ("Kinglet/Prince")

Adult Goldcrest (subspecies R. r. regulus) in Geddington, Northants - October 2010

Featured Subspecies: Regulus regulus regulus
Weight: 6.5g  /  Length: 8.5-9.5cm  /  Wingspan: 12.5-15.5cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

An attractive little bird, the goldcrest's main claim to fame is that it's the smallest bird in Europe. This brings with it some problems in photographing them - they are small, flit in and out of cover and manually focusing cameras don't like picking them up unless you have them in a clear field of view. They are however very widely spread, and numerous if you know where to look and it seems they can be found anywhere with a passable number of trees - particularly conifers. Parks with established trees are probably the best bet.

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Regulidae
Genus: Regulus
Subspecies: R. r. regulus, R. r. azoricus, R. r. sanctaemariae, R. r. inermis, R. r. teneriffae, R. r. ellenthalerae, R. r. buturlini, R. r. hyrcanus, R. r. coatsi, R. r. tristis, R. r. himalayensis, R. r. sikkimensis, R. r. japonensis, R. r. yunnanensis   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Fairly common breeding species (610,000 territories) and common Winter Visitor (3-5 million birds)

 - Most birds seen in Geddington though odd birds elsewhere..         

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

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Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

OTHER NAMES: Rose-ringed Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") krameri (after Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer)

Adult Rose-ringed Parakeet (subspecies P. k. borealis) on Regent's Park, London - October 2009

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula krameri borealis
Weight: 94-180g  /  Length: 40cm  /  Wingspan: 42-48cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Britain's only fully established Parrot species - these parakeet established themselves at some point in the last 50 years and have been increasing ever since. Widespread within London (and apparently other places) they are however still restricted in range for now. In central London Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens seems to be a hot-spot - you can hear them shrieking from the trees a lot of the time just to the west of the Serpentine.  As with in Britain, in Spain the Rose-Ringed Parakeet is abundant in some Spanish cities - Seville in particular, though a few were seen in Madrid, although the Monk Parakeet was more prevalent in the latter.

Related Species:

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula
Subspecies: P. k. krameri, P. k. parvirostris, P. k. borealis, P. k. manillensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common to Locally abundant Breeding Resident (8600 pairs)

 - Locally common in South East England including Regent's Park and Kensington Gardens.

SPAIN - Spanish - Cotorra de Kramer

Common in some cities.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Common around Seville    

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

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Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

OTHER NAMES: Pochard

Latin Etymology: Aythya (a seabird named by Aristotle) ferina ("wild game")

Adult male Common Pochard (Falco naumanni) in Castille-La-Mancha, Spain - April 2016

Local Name (Spain): Porrón común ("Common Pochard")

Weight: 930g  /  Length: 44-48cm  /  Wingspan: 77cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The pochard is mainly seen in the UK as a Winter visitor on lakes of reasonable size. It isn't particularly notably easy, or for that matter notably common when compared to other ducks. It does however seem slightly more wary of humans than many other ducks making it slightly easier to photograph - tending to prefer deeper water where it is harder to get good views.  This particular individual was seen on its own on a small lake at Italica near Seville where the Pochard is actually a bit rarer than in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aythya

Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (350-630 pairs) and Common Winter Visitor (48000 birds)

 - Seen at various sites including Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Eyebrook Reservoir. 

SPAIN - Spanish - Porrón común ("Common Pochard")

Widespread Summer migrant to most of the country, though resident in a few locations in the South.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: A single bird seen around central Italica 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Fairly common at Laguna Navaseca

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

Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)

OTHER NAMES: Jay
Latin Etymology: Garrulus ("chattering") glandarius ("of acorns")

Adult Eurasian Jay (subspecies G. g. jordansi) at Siracusa, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: Garrulus glandarius jordansi
Weight: 160g  /  Length: 32-36cm  /  Wingspan: 56cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Out of the generally bold crow family, the jay is a bit of an anomaly - firstly it is not black, but in fact quite a colourful woodland bird with a brilliant iridescent blue patch. In contrast to this, it is actually a very secretive bird, and if you encounter it in the countryside, the best you are likely to see is it flying away from you in the opposite direction. For much better views, I strongly recognise parks in Cities, the Jays I've encountered in London are not easier to see, at times they aren't bothered by you at all. Listen out for their distinctive raucous call to tell when they are nearby.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Garrulus
Subspecies: G. g. rufitergum, G. g. hibernicus, G. g. hibernicus, G. g. severtzowi, G. g. lusitanicus, G. g. fasciatus, G. g. corsicanus, G. g. albipectus, G. g. jordansi, G. g. ichnusae, G. g. graecus, G. g. cretorum, G. g. glaszneri, G. g. fernandi, G. g. minor, G. g. cervicalis, G. g. whitakeri, G. g. atricapillus, G. g. anatoliae, G. g. samios, G. g. iphigenia, G. g. krynicki, G. g. hyrcanus, G. g. japonicus, G. g. tokugawae, G. g. hiugaensis, G. g. orii, G. g. namiyei, G. g.s sinensis, G. g. taivanus, G. g. persaturatus, G. g. bispecularis, G. g. interstinctus, G. g. oatesi, G. g. leucotis, G. g. haringtoni  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Fairly common resident breeding species (170,000 territories) 

 - Birds seen at a number of sites including Regent's Park and Geddington.  

ITALY - Italian -  Ghiandaia

A common resident.

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen at Syracuse     

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

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Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Aythya (a seabird named by Aristotle) fuligula ("soot throat")

Adult male Tufted Duck (subspecies Aythya fuligula) at Warnham LNR, West Sussex - February 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 760g  /  Length: 40-47cm  /  Wingspan: 65-72cm

UK AMBER LIST  / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Tufted Duck is the second most numerous of the Duck species found in the UK, and other than the Mallard, one of the few species I regularly see wild in urban parks,  The male is a fairly distinctive bird, with bold white side panels, yellow eyes and a blue tinged beak, while the female, as is usual with ducks, is considerably drabber.  Unlike the Mallard, it is a "diver" rather than a dabbler, and so a little more tricky to photograph as it will regularly vanish beneath the water.  It's worth noting also, that in Winter groups of Tufted Duck may contain the much rarer Scaup, so it is worth giving at least a quick scan.  In Japan in Winter, I found them fairly common again, though the Scaup is much more common there, so a bit more care would have to be taken to make sure you had got the right one.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae 
Genus: Aythya
Subspecies: None - Monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident breeding species (16,000-19,000 pairs) and Common Winter Visitor (120,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including Rutland Water, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, and Eyebrook Reservoir.

JAPAN - Japanese - キンクロハジロ  /  Kin-kuro ha-jiro ("Gold-black White-wing")

Winter visitor.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Seen on river in Kushiro.

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

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Podiceps ("vent-foot") cristatus ("crested")

Adult breeding plumage Great Crested Grebe (subspecies P. c. cristatus) at Rutland Water, Rutland - July 2012

Featured Subspecies: Pociceps cristatus cristatus
Weight: 900-1500g  /  Length: 46-51cm  /  Wingspan: 59-73cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of Britain's two "common" grebes, perhaps the Great Crested Grebe's biggest claim to fame is that the RSPB was set up in part to protect this species from over hunting (for its feathers in women's hats) and thus is in part responsible for the continued existance of a lot of other species. The great crested grebe itself is found on most large bodies of water - most lake sites I visit seem to have good numbers of them. Photographing them is perhaps easier on smaller (or at least narrower) bodies of water where you'll be closer to them, or in locations where they are nesting within view of the shore.  It is found over most of the Old World, and thus is one of the more omnipresent species in that range.

Related Species:
Order: Podicepiformes
Family: Podicipedidae
Genus: Podiceps
Subspecies: P. c. cristatus, P. c. infuscatus, P. c. australis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Fairly common resident (5300 adults) and fairly common Winter visitor (23,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including Rutland Water, Regent's Park, Brent Reservoir and Pitsford Reservoir.

JAPAN - Japanese - カンムリカイツブリ / Kanmuri kaitsuburi ("Crested Grebe")

A Winter visitor.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: A single bird on the sea at Kamakura.

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

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European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

OTHER NAMES: Robin, Redbreast

Latin Etymology: Erithacus (unidentified species) rubecula ("robin")

Adult Eurasian Robin (subspecies E. r. melophilus) at Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall - April 2015

Featured Subspecies: Erithacus rubecula melophilus
Weight: 16-22g  /  Length: 13-14cm  /  Wingspan: 20-22cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

By a long long way the most common and famous member of the chat group, robins are a garden regular but seem to find homes in all sorts of environments. Easy to spot and frequently easy to photograph - these bold little birds are quite possibly one of the easiest of all photographable species - in some places I've encountered them they have been bold enough to take the crumbs right off the plate on your table! 

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Erithacus
Subspecies: E. r. melophilus, E. r. rubecula, E. r. superbus, E. r. witherbyi, E. r. balcanicus, E. r. valens, E. r. hyrcanus, E. r. tataricus     

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Abundant resident (6,700,000 territories)

 - Seen at a very large number of sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

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

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Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

OTHER NAMES: Tame Swan

Latin Etymology: Cygnus ("swan") olor (species specific name)

A flock of assorted aged Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) at Wellingborough, Northants - May 2013

Local Name (Japan): Kobu haku-chō (コブハクチョウ) - "Lump White-bird"
Weight: 8.5-12kg

Length: 120-170cm

Wingspan: 200-240cm

UK AMBER LIST  / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most common and easily seen of all British waterbirds, it is also one of the heaviest flying birds on earth and thus fairly difficult to miss.  They are found on most bodies of water, including lakes, rivers and parks even in urban areas and so should be one of the first waterbirds many people come across in their lives. Unlike the other two swans naturally occurring in Britain, the Mute Swan is identifiable by its orange beak with a raised black knob, and its "s" shaped neck, in addition to being the only one which occurs throughout the year rather than just wintering.  They are generally fairly approachable, so therefore should be very easy to photograph, though they may be aggressive so treat them with the respect that wild animals deserve.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Cygnus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident (6000 pairs) and common Winter visitor (79,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits, Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.
JAPAN - A rare feral species

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: One pair seen in central Tokyo.

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

Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

OTHER NAMES: Jackdaw, Western Jackdaw, European Jackdaw, Caddaw

Latin Etymology: Corvus ("raven") monedula ("money eater")

Adult Eurasian Jackdaw (subspecies C. m. spermologus) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: Corvus monedula spermologus
Weight: 250g  /  Length: 34-39cm  /  Wingspan: 67-74cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the more common members of the crow family, the jackdaw is also perhaps the tamest, or at least boldest, when it comes to getting close. It is the smallest of the black members of the crow family with a distinctive grey head with dark forehead. It does seem easiest to photograph in touristy spots - presumably because it is scavenging off of dropped food, though it has adapted well to life in many urban areas in general.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Subspecies: C. m. monedula, C. m. spermologus, C. m. soemmerringii, C. m. cirtensis  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Abundant resident (1,400,000 pairs)

 - Seen at many sites including Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Pitsford Reservoirhford Gravel Pits and Geddington.

SPAIN - Spanish - Grajilla 

Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen flying over Laguna Campillo. 

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

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