curlewsandpiper1980
Well-known member
Curlew or Wimbrel? Kittiwakes? Little gull or Black head gull?
Location: NE Scotland, Lossie river estuary
Date: 29 July 2020
Picture 1: Whimbrel or Curlew? I spotted what might be a Whimbrel, due to the visible white supercilium above the eye (though curlew can sometimes have this too) and how the bill is curved down. Whimbrel is known to occur in the area. But I let this up for the experts to decide. Bird was alone and made no sound.
Picture 2 is from what I think are kittiwakes (they were also mixed with gulls and terns). They had white heads and yellow bills (therefore excluding little gulls), short dark legs (therefore excluding common gulls), and black eyes (therefore also excluding herring gulls), so I am almost confident about them.
Picture 3 and 4 show the same bird, which could be a black head gull. It had reddish legs and bill but a brownish or dark head. Mediterranean gulls have been spotted in the area, so that is another possibility. And a third option is for a little gull.
Picture 5 shows another bird. Perhaps a little gull? Some dark patches in the head (but a bit unlike a black head gull. It had reddish legs and bill. I do not have a clear idea about the ID for this bird.
Sorry for the low quality of the pictures. Done with my mobile and binoculars. I can upload some more if needed.
Location: NE Scotland, Lossie river estuary
Date: 29 July 2020
Picture 1: Whimbrel or Curlew? I spotted what might be a Whimbrel, due to the visible white supercilium above the eye (though curlew can sometimes have this too) and how the bill is curved down. Whimbrel is known to occur in the area. But I let this up for the experts to decide. Bird was alone and made no sound.
Picture 2 is from what I think are kittiwakes (they were also mixed with gulls and terns). They had white heads and yellow bills (therefore excluding little gulls), short dark legs (therefore excluding common gulls), and black eyes (therefore also excluding herring gulls), so I am almost confident about them.
Picture 3 and 4 show the same bird, which could be a black head gull. It had reddish legs and bill but a brownish or dark head. Mediterranean gulls have been spotted in the area, so that is another possibility. And a third option is for a little gull.
Picture 5 shows another bird. Perhaps a little gull? Some dark patches in the head (but a bit unlike a black head gull. It had reddish legs and bill. I do not have a clear idea about the ID for this bird.
Sorry for the low quality of the pictures. Done with my mobile and binoculars. I can upload some more if needed.
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