[ChrisKten]

Took these at the local Reservoirs this morning, would like confirmation please. You never know, I might get one of them right.

Picture 1: Black Headed Gulls + Common Terns

Picture 2: Mallards, although I'm not used to seeing them standing

Picture 3: Chiffchaff ?

Picture 4: Black Headed Gull

Thanks.

[Cristian Mihai]

I would agree with your IDs.

[Stoggler]

Look good to me.

Are there male mallards in eclipse in that photo?

By the way, which reserve(s) was that Chris?

Thanks

[ChrisKten]

Originally Posted by Stoggler

Look good to me.

Are there male mallards in eclipse in that photo?

By the way, which reserve(s) was that Chris?

Thanks

Damn, I actually got them all right.*runs off giggling*

I'm not sure about the eclipse plumage, I'm not quite up to that yet.

All birds were at Walthamstow Reservoirs (SSSI, 10 reservoirs, 100s of birds there), most well known birds there are Grey Herons and Little Egrets.

Thank you both for confirming the IDs.

[pauco]

I'll 3rd your I.D.'s your 4th pic of Black-Headed Gull, adult moulting from summer to winter plumage.

[ChrisKten]

Originally Posted by pauco

I'll 3rd your I.D.'s your 4th pic of Black-Headed Gull, adult moulting from summer to winter plumage.

Thanks for that, Paul. I was actually wondering if it was in moult, but I didn't want to push my luck and suggest it.

[cheersm8]

The three foreground Mallards are all male 'eclipse' birds. You can tell by bill colour and can compare with the female Mallard at the top back of the photo.

[ChrisKten]

Originally Posted by cheersm8

The three foreground Mallards are all male 'eclipse' birds. You can tell by bill colour and can compare with the female Mallard at the top back of the photo.

Thanks, now you've said it I can see exactly what you mean. Incidentally, is it possible that the reason they didn't fly off while I photographed them, because they couldn't? Or are they only flightless for a very short period of time? (assuming that I'm remembering correctly that they can't fly for a time)