Birds D-H

Further information:    Common in lakes and rivers with lots of dense vegetation. Often difficult to locate and certainly here at Priorslee Lake they can be very elusive at times. Has a very interesting song which consist of a loud trill. Photograph courtesy of Paul King.

Further information:    A small wader found just about anywhere in the British Isles on migration. Very common inland, for example in the winter they can often be seen at Priorslee Lake as they pass south. The Dunlin is just in front of a Black-headed Gull.

Dunnock
Prunella modularis

Further information:    This Little Brown Job (LBJ) is a fairly common resident in the British Isles. Its alternative name is Hedge Sparrow but it isn't a real member of the Sparrow Family. The male is polygamous and will mate with more than one female. 

Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris

Further information:    This is a northern European species of Thrush, which occasionally breeds in northern Britain. In winter is a common migrant to the British Isles when it forms large loose flocks. Can often be seen foraging for berries, especially hawthorns. Is equally at home in pastures searching for seeds and insects. A distinctive chattering "chack-chack-chack" call, often or not gives away this large Thrush

Further information:   Same size as Goldcrest but a non-resident, with small parties overwintering in the UK. The bird shown here at Priorslee Lake, was photographed by Paul King on the 7th March 2005. Can be told apart from a Goldcrest by its pronounced white stripe over eye and black eye-stripe.

Glaucous Gull
Larus hyperboreus

Further information:    Very much a gull of the Arctic, breeding only in southern Greenland. In severe winters can be found in and around the British Isles.

The two images shown on the left are of a 1st Winter Glaucous Gull photographed at the Lake, on the 4th February 2009, courtesy of Jim Almond.

Further information:   Britain's smallest resident bird. This beautifully marked bird is never found to far away from conifers, it will join up readily with other small birds such as Tits when foraging for food in the winter.

Further information:  Resident to the British Isles will form large flocks called charms in late summer and autumn. Adults almost identical, but if both sexes viewed from close quarters, the red on the face of the male extends slightly further back behind the eye.

Further information: Goosander are members of the Sawbill family and is predominantly a fish eater. The nest is often a hole in a tree, which the chicks have to jump from after 2 or 3 days of hatching. As they cannot fly until they are 8 weeks old, this can often be a big leap of faith, but they usually land on the ground injury free.

Further information:    Very common grebe found on British waters, in the winter can be found on coastland waters alongside Black-throated Divers. Their beautiful summer coats pale greatly in the winter.The pair shown top left were photographed mating in February 06. The pair below photographed March 07, maybe the same birds. Both Photographs courtesy of Ed Wilson.

Further information:    Largest of the Tit family. Recognisable by its black glossy crown and band down its front. The band is wider on the male than the female and is more noticeable around the belly. Will readily nest in nest boxes.

Greenfinch
Carduelis chloris

Further information:    Resident finch, will flock in large numbers in the autumn and winter, especially in gardens. One of its favourite seeds is that of the black sunflower, but it is just as happy with peanuts in a hanging basket.

Further information:    A resident bird to the British Isles, will nest in large communes but is distinctly a solitary bird when feeding. Can be often seen standing motionless for long periods, waiting for its prey. Feeds mainly on fish, but will eat small mammals, frogs and birds. A regular visitor to gardens with goldfish ponds. Watching a 9" goldfish being consumed is quite a sight especially if you've only just put it into the pond!

Herring Gull
Larus argentatus

Yellow-Legged Gull
Larus cacchinans
(ssp michahellis)

Caspian Gull
Larus cacchinans

Further information:    Resident. Commonest and most widespread of the larger gulls. Can be found frequenting refuse tips especially in the winter, where it is possible to see rarer gulls such as Glaucous (Larus hperboreous) especially close to the coast. Also keep an eye out for Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cacchinans subspecies michahellis) middle photograph and Caspian Gull (Larus cacchinans). The Caspian Gull shown here was photographed by Jim Almond on 29th December 2007 at the Lake. With more and more people visting the lake this species is being seen a lot more regular, especially during the winter.

Further information:    Easily identified by its prominent white rump and pure white underparts. Lacks long tail streamers like the Swallow. In late summer, before they migrate south, they will congregate in large flocks above housing estates, fields and waters. Watch out for the Hobby (Falco subbeteo), a small bird of prey, that will readily take House Martins in mid-air.

Further information:   Resident. Numbers now dwindling in cities, through what some scientist believe is connected to the bi-products of unleaded petrol. Certainly numbers are down in past years and this once common sparrow could be as hard to locate as its cousin the Tree Sparrow.
If you are lucky enough to find them, then look out for the juveniles in the summer as they gather together in large numbers.There are a couple of images here on the left (Middle courtesy Mark Hill and the bottom image courtesy "Simmo" Simpson)

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