Birds you have seen but want to see in summer plumage (1 Viewer)

[wolfbirder]

I have seen White-billed Diver in breeding plumage, but not Grey Phalarope nor Red-Flanked Bluetail. So lots of 1stW or winter plumage birds only.

Those 2 are top of my list. Any others?

 

[delia todd]

Ruiff!!!

 

[James Lowther]

Ruff, black-throated and white-billed diver, the sand plovers, wilson’s Phalarope
Cheers
James

 

[birdboybowley]

Defo Grey Phal for me too.....and a spanking male Snow Bunting also

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I'll join the ranks longing for a sum-plum Grey Phal. I had the chance to see one at Brandon when we were living near Leamington Spa a few years ago, and was even on annual leave, but decided against it. Can't remember why. I'd also love to see a sum-plum Wilson's.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Maybe a Sabine’s Gull here. Grey Phal would also be nice though.

Rich

 

[Conwy Birder]

On a similar theme I have only seen female King Eider so a male is high on my wish list!

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Another for Grey Phalarope (although I have seen it in summer plumage in captivity)

 

[Xenospiza]

Caspian Plover, Ross's Gull, Blackpoll Warbler.
Other disappointing birds on my list are female Capercaillie, a number of weavers and worst of all juvenile Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah.
Twitching Grey Phalarope was well worth it!

 

[chowchilla]

Siberian Rubythroat, Red-necked Phalarope, Ruff, Brambling. Any of the divers.

 

[raymie]

Not really "summer plumage", but I have seen Long-tailed Duck a number of times, but never the (beautiful) adult male. It's always females or young males.

 

[birdboybowley]

Bizarrely I think LTD males actually look better in winter.....same with Purple Sands

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Bizarrely I think LTD males actually look better in winter.....same with Purple Sands

Agree on both of these.

 

[raymie]

Bizarrely I think LTD males actually look better in winter.....same with Purple Sands

Oh I agree - that's the plumage I was talking about.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Ptarmigan in winter plumage would be nice

 

[wolfbirder]

I have made great effort over the years to try and see species in the UK in adult breeding plumage, hence been fortunate to see many, but one species other than Grey Phalarope that I would love to see is an adult male Snowy Owl. An all-white beauty! Only seen heavily mottled immatures.

I agree with others, Long-tailed Duck is one of those species that very rarely looks way better in winter plumage than in breeding plumage.

 

[connorco]

Probably Lapland Longspur and Red-throated Pipit for me, I see both of these in really small numbers each year in California, but they're never in their breeding plumage.

 

[wolfbirder]

Probably Lapland Longspur and Red-throated Pipit for me, I see both of these in really small numbers each year in California, but they're never in their breeding plumage.

Yes good shout! Lapland Bunting (as I think most Brits still call them) are lovely birds and I’ve seen them in faded summer plumage but never in bold, breeding plumage.

 

[Sangahyando]

White-billed Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked and Grey Phalaropes, and, now that you've mentioned it, Lapland Bunting too.

 

[birdmeister]

First one that came to mind here was Red-throated Loon/Diver. The vast majority molt after passing through our inland lakes, and then again before returning.

Also breeding male Mourning Warbler, which shouldn't be quite as difficult.


Great thread idea by the way!