Bird IDs Needed

[Connor7]

Hey Everyone,

I haven't posted an ID thread up in a while
Any help is much appreciated

This Bird was around the size of a wagtail, it was extremely small


Little Grebe?


Gadwall?


And looking for a good annotation for these Herons


Are these just blackheaded gulls halfway between their winter and summer plumage ? Because they had black tips on their beaks.. One is actually regurgitating something

Picture 214 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Thanks,

Connor

[MikeS]

1. Common Sandpiper - the white on the flank going round the "shoulder" of the wing is a giveaway.
2. Yes - Little Grebe
3. Yes - Gadwall, although the head/neck looks very slender in this shot
4. "Where's my patch?" - Herons are early breeders, and will already be looking at repairs needed to their nests for this season. Average first egg date 12th March.
5. The BHGulls are just starting to change to breeding plumage - they always have two dark smudges over the head in winter, but these are a getting a bit stronger. The tip of the bill is normally a bit darker - but for breeding the bill gets a stronger blood-red colour - fairly subtle change. Young birds have a yelowish bill which gradually changes to reddish thro' their first year. BH Gulls do not breed until they are 2 years old.

[Connor7]

Wow Mike

You just answered everything, thanks for your quick and helpful reply

[Hobjob]

"Two is company three is a crowd."