Gulls/Ducks/Wagtail IDs please - London UK (1 Viewer)

[ChrisKten]

All pictures taken at local Reservoirs this morning (where it was bl**dy cold |=)|)

First picture: 1cy Common Gull ?

Second Picture: Both Black-headed Gulls but different ages ?

Third Picture: Not sure about these, this is male and female of same species, I think. I have a feeling it's just the angle of the head that's confusing me, but there's also a different feather pattern on the back of the duck that's closest.

Fourth Picture: Well I thought it was a Tufted Duck when I took the picture, but in the picture at least, there seems to be too much white. (I have one more picture of this if needed)

Fifth Picture: Pied Wagtail, or is it too lightly coloured? (very distant bird, more blurred pics if needed)

Thanks.

 

[Adam W]

photo 3 is a pair of Gadwall 4 is a drake Goldeneye and i think you were correct with the other three.

 

[LKB-28]

Can't help with the gulls...

#3 looks like 2 different ducks to me; rear female Gadwall?, front Pintail? [Edit - scrub that - agree male Gadwall...]

#4 looks like a GoldenEye to me..

#5 femail Pied Wagtail?

 

[ChrisKten]

Thanks for replying.

I've added the only other pictures I have of #3 and #4:

 

[melanothorax]

For pic number 5, the others are right it's probably a Pied Wagtail. But out of curiosity - do you occasionally get White Wagtail (alba subspecies) in the UK?

 

[colonelboris]

For pic number 5, the others are right it's probably a Pied Wagtail. But out of curiosity - do you occasionally get White Wagtail (alba subspecies) in the UK?

Most often when they're on migration and a fair few will move along the coast of the UK.
F'rinstance, here's some awful pics of one from Essex (nearer the bottom):
http://www.tonykeenebirds.co.uk/bbirds/piedwagtail.html

 

[ChrisKten]

For pic number 5, the others are right it's probably a Pied Wagtail. But out of curiosity - do you occasionally get White Wagtail (alba subspecies) in the UK?

I'm not sure, but this bird seemed lighter than the Pied I photographed there last week. But I suppose it's just the light.

 

[ChrisKten]

Most often when they're on migration and a fair few will move along the coast of the UK.
F'rinstance, here's some awful pics of one from Essex (nearer the bottom):
http://www.tonykeenebirds.co.uk/bbirds/piedwagtail.html

Now that picture makes me wonder about the Pied I took last week. But it was confirmed here as Pied.

I've not gone through all of my pictures from this morning yet, I'll see if I can find any that are reasonable, and at different angles.

 

[ChrisKten]

OK, three more pics of the distant Wagtail, best I've found so far. These were taken at the equivalent of over 1000mm zoom (TCON17), so not great.

 

[Pete Mella]

The wagtail's fine for a an ordinary pied (yarrelli) wagtail - they are variable. A white would be very rare this time of year.

 

[Parker]

Hi Chris, The gulls you've id'd correctly & your right about the Black Headed Gulls being diferent ages, an adult win at the front & a 1st win behind. The Common Gull is also a 1st win. Agree with the other id's. White Wagtails are fairly common in the Spring in the UK & can be very widespread over the country, we get a few every year at most local reservoirs. Cheers, P.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

OK, three more pics of the distant Wagtail, best I've found so far. These were taken at the equivalent of over 1000mm zoom (TCON17), so not great.

Pied Wagtail.

 

[ChrisKten]

Thanks all.

 

[pauco]

Agree with Gulls.
1st winter Common-Gull.

Photo 2.
Foreground Adult winter Black-Headed Gull

Background 1st winter B-H-Gull.

 

[TringBirder]

The Pied Wagtail looks like a 1st-winter female. These are the palest of the Pied and most readily confused with White Wagtail. Some in Spring are real problems and certainly account for some of the claims of White.

 

[ChrisKten]

Thanks Paul.

The Pied Wagtail looks like a 1st-winter female. These are the palest of the Pied and most readily confused with White Wagtail. Some in Spring are real problems and certainly account for some of the claims of White.

I never thought of it being a first winter bird, that explains the paler colouring, thanks for that.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Pic 1 - 1st win Common Gull
Pic 2 - 1st winter and adult winter B.H.Gulls
Pic 3 - pair Gadwall
Pic 4 - male Goldeneye
Pic 5 - Pied Wagtail

CB