Please note all photographs are copyright CharlieCreek
(this is only a small selection of photographs and is under construction, see the Birds, Owls and Bats section on the home page for a lot more photographs... everything from Ducklings to Raptors)
Avocet
(Recurvirostra avosetta)
A distinctively-patterned black and white wader with a long up-curved beak. Its return in the 1940s and subsequent increase in numbers represents one of the most successful conservation and protection projects.
Bullfinch
(Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Recently declining and of red status. Male bright pink-red breast and cheeks, female duller in appearance. Resident of Woodland, orchards and hedgerows.
Blue Tit
(Cyanisles caeruleus)
Common woodland and garden bird, also seen along hedgerows and in most places with bushes and trees. Almost any garden with a peanut feeder will attract this bird.
Chiffchaff
(Phylloscopus collybita)
Small Olive Brown warbler similar to but less bright than the Willow Warbler and easily recognisable by it's song.
Curlew
(Numenius arquata)
The curlew is the largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable on winter estuaries or summer moors with its long down-curved bill, brown upperparts and long legs. There have been worrying breeding declines in many areas largely due to loss of habitat through agricultural intensification. It is included on the Amber List as a bird with important breeding and wintering populations in the UK.
Habitat - Around the whole UK coastline with the largest concentrations of found at Morecambe Bay, the Solway Firth, the Wash, and the Dee, Severn, Humber and Thames estuaries. Greatest breeding numbers are found in N Wales, the Pennines, the southern uplands and E Highlands of Scotland and the Northern Isles.
Dunnock
(Prunella modularis)
A small brown and grey bird. Quiet and inobtrusive, it is often seen on its own, creeping along the edge of a flower bed or near to a bush, moving with a rather nervous, shuffling gait, often flicking its wings as it goes. When two rival males come together they become animated with lots of wing-flicking and loud calling.
Habitat - Inhabits any well vegetated areas with scrub, brambles and hedges. Look in deciduous woodland, farmland edges, parks and gardens. Keeps largely on the ground and often close to cover.
Goldfinch
(Carduelis carduelis)
Highly coloured sociable finch. Increasing visitor to bird tables and feeders. Long fine beak allows access to seeds in thistles and teasles.
Great Crested Grebe
(Podiceps cristatus)
Elegant resident diving water bird, once hunted for its feathers and almost to the point of extinction. Well known for their elaborate courtship display in which they rise out of the water heads wagging.
Great Tit
(Parus major)
A woodland bird that has adapted to man made habitats and that has become a frequent garden visitor. The largest UK Tit that is quite agressive at the feeder with smaller tits but that joins with Blue Tits in roaming flocks in the winter in the search for food.
Habitat; woodlands, parks and gardens
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
(Dendrocopos major)
Blackbird-sized and striking black-and-white. Very distinctive bouncing flight, spends most of its time clinging to tree trunks and branches, often trying to hide on the side away from the observer. Its presence is often announced by its loud call or by its distinctive spring 'drumming' display. The male has a distinctive red patch on the back of the head and young birds have a red crown.
Habitat - Woodlands, especially with mature broad-leaved trees, although mature conifers will support them. Also in parks and large gardens. Will come to peanut feeders and birdtables. Not found in Ireland or the far North of Scotland. Most common in England and Wales.
Green Woodpecker
(Picus virdis)
The largest of the UK's three breeding woodpeckers. Has undulating flight and climbs tree trunks and branches moving to the far side out of sight of anyone watching.
Habitat; woodland, parks, orchards and farm land. Not totally arboreal and can be seen feeding on heaths, downland and pasture.
Green Sandpiper
(Tringa ochropus)
A very contrasting wader which looks like a large house martin in flight. Its dark, almost black upperparts, pale underparts and white rump are distinctive. It frequently bobs up and down when standing. It often appears nervous and will fly off with a low zig-zagging flight when disturbed.
Habitat - Largely confined to England and Wales. Look for migrant birds near almost any freshwater margins - marshes, lakes, gravel pits and rivers. In winter it likes sewage works, watercress beds and freshwater marshes.
Grey Heron
(Ardea cinerea)
The largest European heron. It can stand with neck stretched out, looking for food, or hunch down with its neck bent over its chest. In flight it holds its neck retracted and has large rounded wings. It is usually solitary although several birds may feed fairly close together. It stalks its food, often standing motionless for some considerable time. It usually feeds close to the bank or shore, but may wade out into shallow water.
Habitat - Wetland marshes, gravel pits, reservoirs, lakes and rivers and estuaries. Usually seen standing silently at the water's edge, waiting for prey. Will come to gardens with ornamental fish ponds and fish farms.
Lapwing
(Vanellus vanellus)
Also known as the peewit in imitation of its display calls, its proper name describes its wavering flight. Its black and white appearance and round-winged shape in flight make it distinctive, even without its splendid crest. This familiar farmland bird has suffered significant declines in the last 25 years and is an 'Amber List' species because of the importance of its UK wintering population.
Habitat - Lapwings are found on farmland throughout the UK particularly in lowland areas of northern England, the Borders and eastern Scotland. In the breeding season prefer spring sown cereals, root crops, permanent unimproved pasture, meadows and fallow fields. They can also be found on wetlands with short vegetation. In winter they flock on pasture and ploughed fields. The highest known winter concentrations of lapwings are found at the Somerset Levels, Humber and Ribble estuaries, Breydon Water/Berney Marshes, the Wash, and Morecambe Bay.
Little Ringed Plover
(Charadrius dubius)
A small plover with a distinctive black and white head pattern, similar to ringed plover. It has a black beak and pale (not orange) legs. Close views reveal a distinctive yellow eye-ring. In flight it shows a plain brown wing without the white wingbar that ringed plover has. It first bred in the UK in 1938 and since then has successfully colonised a large part of England and Wales thanks to man-made habitats such as gravel pits.
Habitat - Virtually confined to England and Wales, uncommon in the latter and very occasionally in Scotland. Gravel pits, reservoirs, sewage works and shingle river banks are all worth checking for this wading bird.
Long Tailed Tit
(Numenius arquata)
Gregarious and noisy, most often seen in small excitable flocks of upto 20 birds. Resident and seen in woodland, hedgerows, parkland, scrubland and gradens.
Mistle Thrush
(Turdus viscivorus)
This is a pale black spotted Thrush, large, agressive and powerful. It has long wings and it's tale whitish edging. Widespread almost everywhere in the UK except in the highest most bare ground.
Moorhen
(Gallinula chloropus)
The moorhen is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird, that is usually found near water. From a distance it looks black with a ragged white line along its body. Up close it is olive-brown on the back and the head and underneath are blue-grey. It has a red bill with a yellow tip. It breeds in the UK in lowland areas, especially in central and eastern England. It is scarce in northern Scotland and the uplands of Wales and northern England. UK breeding birds are residents and seldom travel far.
Habitat - There's a chance of seeing a moorhen anywhere where there is water - from a small ditch or a lake in a city centre park, to a big lake or reservoir.
Mute Swan
(Cygnus olor)
Very large white water bird with S shaped neck and orange bill with black at the base. Flies with the neck extended and slow wingbeats. Population increasing since the ban on lead fishing weights and since better protection for the species has been afforded.
Breeds across most of the UK and can be seen on shallow lakes, slow running rivers and in urban parks.
Redshank
(Tringa totanus)
Medium sized wading bird; long red legs and long straight bill, grey brown above and whitish below. Resident but in the winter the population is probably doubled by birds from Iceland.
Habitat, Mainly Northern UK, on the coast and at reserves with wet grassland suitable for it to breed and feed on.
Reed Bunting
(Emberiza schoeniclus)
Sparrow-sized but slim and with a long, deeply notched tail, the male
has a black head, white collar and a drooping moustache. Females and
winter males have a streaked head. In flight the tail looks black with
broad, white edges. This farmland and wetland bird suffered a serious
population decline making it a Red List species.
Typically found in wet vegetation but has recently spread into farmland
and, in winter, into gardens. When singing the male usually perched on
top of a bush, or reed.
Robin
(Erithacus rubecula)
Probably Britains favourite bird. Robins sing all year round and while they may appear 'cute' they are highlt territorial and their song a warning to ther Robins. Male and female are identical. Habitat; Woodland, Hedgerows, Parks and gardens.
Tufted Duck
(Aythya fuligula)
The tufted duck is a medium-sized diving duck, smaller than a mallard. It is black on the head, neck, breast and back and white on the sides. It has a small crest and a yellow eye. In flight it shows an obvious white stripe across the back of the wing. It breeds in the UK across lowland areas of England, Scotland and Ireland, but less commonly in Wales, with most birds being residents. Numbers increase in the UK in winter because of birds moving to the UK from Iceland and northern Europe.
Habitat - Found across the UK at most times of year. Look in suitable habitat such as a local reservoir, gravel pit or lake.
Wood Pigeon
(Columba palumbus)
The UK's largest and commonest pigeon, it is largely grey with a white neck patch and white wing patches, clearly visible in flight. Although shy in the countryside it can be tame and approachable in towns and cities. Its cooing call is a familiar sound in woodlands as is the loud clatter of its wings when it flies away.
Habitat - Found across the UK in fields and woods, and also in towns and cities where they frequent parks and gardens.
