A - C

	Birds A-C

Image	Name	Information & Identification
	Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	Length: 14" (36cm) Location: Western Europe from southern-ocean wintering grounds Habitat: Mainly on or near coasts where they breed in colonies especially in the north of the British Isles. Further information: Has long tail streamers and is often known as the "Sea Swallow". Can be told from similar Common Tern by its all red bill. The Common Tern has a dark-tip to its bill during the breeding season. Often seen on migration in central England, they may appear at inland waters in Apr/May and on their return in Jul/Aug. Arctic Terns travel further than any other living bird and will spends April-September in the northern hemisphere, before traveling up to 12,000 km (7,500 miles) to Antarctica for another summer in the south.

	Barn Owl Tyto alda	Length: 15" (33 - 35cm) Location: World-wide Habitat: Farmland, Open countryside with scattered trees. Feeds over marshes and fields Further information: Resident Owl. Normally a nocturnal feeder, it can be seen during daylight hours in the breeding season, when it is out catching voles and other small rodents for its young. Often nests in old barns, churches, old buildings and ruins. Does not hoot but has an eery shriek and wheezy cry.

	Blackbird Turdus merula	Length: 10" (25cm) Location: Most of Europe and North Africa Habitat: Gardens, parks and woods. Further information: Mainly resident, but birds will push south and west from northern Europe when winter sets in. Often seen on lawns where it can be seen tilting its head to one side listening for earthworms, which makes up a large proportion of its diet. When winter sets in will feed on fallen apples and many varieties of berries.

	Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla	*Length:* 5½" (14cm) Location: Europe and North Africa Habitat: Parks and woods with good cover. Further information: Summer visitor to Central and Northern Europe. Many eastern and northern birds are often seen wintering in the British Isles. When over-wintering, will readily eat berries instead of its normal diet of insects. This female was feeding on bird seed.

	Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	*Length:* 14" - 15" (36 - 38cm) Location: Europe and North Africa Habitat: Lakes and sea Further information: Our commonest gull and one that is more likely to be seen inland that along our coasts. To call it a Black-headed Gull is a bit of a misnomer, as the head in breeding plumage is more chocolate brown. in the winter it loses its black hood and all that remains is a dark spot behind the eye. In the winter is quite widespread on farmland, playing fields and waste ground.

	Black Tern Chlidonias niger	Length: 9½" (24cm) *Location:* Europe and North Africa Habitat: Marshes and fens. Further information: One of the more elegant marsh terns, not native to the British Isles, but a regular visitor during the summer, when they drift over from the continent. This individual was a visitor to Priorslee Lake, Telford, Shropshire.

	Blue Tit Parus caeruleus	Length: 4½" (11.5cm) Location: Europe and North Africa Habitat: Broad-leafed woodland, parks and gardens. Further information: One of the more commoner resident garden birds to be seen in the British Isles. Readily feeds on hanging feeders filled with peanuts, sunflower seeds and even suet puddings. In the spring will seek out suitable nesting sites in small holes in tree and nest boxes, where it will raise any number of chicks from 6 to 15. The Chick on the left, left the nest box on the morning of 31st May 2003, along with 7 of its brothers and sisters. The clutch started off with 9 eggs, so one fatality, though sad, was very good for a brood this size. Once out of the nest though, they face many predators and changes in the weather. The survival rate here could see only 2 possibly 3 chicks seeing it through to the following Spring.

	Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula	Length: 6" (15cm) Location: Europe Habitat: Broad-leafed woodland, parks, gardens and orchards Further information: One of Britain's most colourful birds and also one of the shyest of finches. The male has very distinctive red underparts, whereas the underparts of the female are more salmon-pink. In flight it has a very noticeable white rump. In Summer the only sound you will hear to give away its presence is a feint "wheet", which may be repeated once or twice. Has a great liking for buds, especially fruit trees. So much so that back in the 60's and early 70's many Bullfinches were trapped and destroyed by fruit farmers. Their numbers are well down now and the best time to see them is when they gather in small parties in the winter.

	Carrion Crow Corvus corone corone	Length: 18½" (64cm) Location: Western Europe Habitat: Open countryside, towns and cities. Further information: Not a gregarious bird, usually seen singly or in pairs. A lot slimmer than the Rook. Utters a loud "Kraa" which it does by bowing its body forwards from a branch or perch. Feeds on the ground mainly on carrion such as dead rabbits. Will occasional eat eggs and live chicks. The bird shown in photo 1 is unusual, in that its primaries are white and not black as in comparison with the bird on the right of photo 2.

	Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs	Length: 6" (15cm) Location: Europe and North Africa Habitat: Deciduous and coniferous woodlands, gardens and parks. Further information: Probably one of Europe's most commonest of birds. In the UK it is resident, will flock in large numbers in the autumn and winter, where it can be found on farmland, especially where grain has been spilt.

	Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita	Length: 4¼" (11cm) Location: Europe and North Africa Habitat: Woodland areas with scattered trees and bushes. Further information: Summer visitor to Central and Northern Europe. They are normally the first of our Summer Warblers to arrive on our shores and can often be seen feeding on insects in amongst the leaves of deciduous trees. Its distinct call of Chiff-Chaff gives it its name.

	Coal Tit Parus ater	Length: 4½" (11.5cm) Location: Europe and North Africa Habitat: Mainly coniferous forests. In Britain can be found in Deciduous woodlands and gardens. Further information: Resident but shy member of the Tit family. When feeding, will tend to take its food away to eat, unlike others of its family which will remain on feeders to feed.

	Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocta	Length: 12½" (32cm) Location: Europe Habitat: Towns, Villages, Farms, Gardens and Parks Further information: Originally from the Balkans, the Collared Dove has spread rapidly across Europe. Since 1955 has colonised probably every part of the British Isles. Loves spilt grain or animal feed and feeds readily at bird tables.

	Coot Fulica atra	Length: 15" (38cm) Location: Europe and North Africa Habitat: Lowland lakes and ponds. Further information: A very distinct member of the wader family, with its jet black body and white bill and face. Very aggressive towards other birds. Found on most waters and will congregate in large numbers on the bigger lakes and waterways in the winter.

	Common Buzzard Buteo buteo	Length: 20 - 22" (51 - 57 cm) Wing Span 46 - 54" (113 - 128cm) Location: Europe and Northern Hemisphere Habitat: Very widespread. Forests, Broadleafed Woodlands, Farmland with trees. Winters on moors, plains and extensive open areas. *Further information:* A resident bird which suffered two fates last century. It's first was by gamekeepers and then more seriously by the introduction of myxomatosis in the early 50's, which all but eliminated the UK rabbit population and saw a drastic reduction in Buzzard numbers. Nowadays rabbit numbers have increased and Buzzards can now be found a lot further east. Can sometimes hover and has a very distinct mewing call. Its plumage is quite interesting as it can have a varied colour, with a light phase, medium phase and dark phase. The bottom photograph shows a territorial dispute and often occurs in spring when several birds from neighboring territories come together. Up to a dozen soar together and there is a lot of calling and displays, as well as the odd tussle.

	Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo	Length: 36" (90cm) Location: Europe and North Africa Habitat: Very widespread. Coasts and large inland lakes. *Further information:* A resident bird which nowadays is more likely to be found on the large freshwater lakes and waterways, than on its more usual location the sea. The photograph at the top shows just how many birds will flock together. There are 41 birds seen here with 4 others just out of view. They were seen on 30th December 2003 over Priorslee Lake, Telford, Shropshire. When they landed they were seen herding the fish, by diving under them and forcing them up to the surface before picking them off.

	Cuckoo Cuculus canorus	Length: 13" (32 - 34 cm) Location: Europe, North Africa and Middle East Habitat: Widespread throughout Britain, but numbers are falling. *Further information:* Spring wouldn't be complete if you hadn't heard the Cuckoo calling. Nowadays the numbers are rapidly falling away as hedges disappear at an alarming rate, and even at the Lake it is a rare thing to hear one locally. It is our only parasitic bird and lays an egg in a number of different hosts nests, including those of Meadow Pipit, Reed Warbler and Dunnock. The adult will normally remove an egg before she lays a solitary egg which often resemble those of the host. And when the egg hatches the new-born cuckoo will eject all the other eggs around it and then will be brought up by the host. The female has a quite a distinct bubbling call quite unlike any bird Iv 'e ever heard. The image here was by courtesy of Mark Hill

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