Nature in View Birds.

Nature in View
Birds.

	Red Kite Milvus milvus. 66cm. The Red Kite was driven to the brink of extinction in Britain during the last century. Only a hand full remained in the remote areas of Mid Wales. With protection and reintroduction in England and Scotland their numbers have now increased to over 1000 breeding pairs. Red Kites Soar.
	House Martin Delichon urbica. 12.5cm Adult collecting mud for nest building. The cup shaped nest is usually built on external house walls under the eaves. Up to three broods are raised in good years and the young are fed on flying insects caught on the wing.
	Nightingale (m) Luscinia megarhynchos. 16.5cm. The Nightingale is a summer visitor to our islands arriving in April. Its rich song is likely to give its location away before you set eyes on it. Its skulking nature make it quite hard to see in the dense cover that it favours.
	Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata. 12.5cm. This bird of the lowland heath has made a dramatic comeback over the last few decades. During the cold winter of 1962/63 their numbers dropped to around 10 pairs. With heath land restoration and conservation numbers have now increased to around 3000 (estimated) pairs.
	Great Tit Parus major. The Great Tit is 14cm and is the largest of Britain's Tit family. It is slightly more secretive and less acrobatic than the Blue Tit. During the summer months caterpillars and other insects are taken, but during autumn and winter, nuts, seeds and fruit are its main source of food.
	Male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus. Farmland near Milford Surrey. The Kestrel is often seen hovering along motorway verges and rail way embankments. It's quite small in size with the female reaching around 35cm. Diet consists of mainly small mammals but small birds are taken along with lizards, beetles and worms.
	Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus. 11.5cm. The Blue Tit is often seen in the garden as it searches for food. It small size and inquisitive nature make it very endearing. Its diet consists of caterpillars, spiders seeds and nuts and will readily come to the bird table for peanuts and mixed bird food.
	Little Egret Eggretta Garzetta. 65cm. The Little Egret didn't start to breed in Britain until 1996. It was wiped out across much of Europe during the 19th century as its feathers were used in the plumage trade. It has slowly started to colonise southern parts of England and there are now around 150 breeding pairs. Chichester Harbour West Sussex.
	Great Black-Backed Gull Larus marinus. This is Britain's largest gull measuring up to 78cm. It kills and eats young sea birds such as Puffins and kittiwakes. Carrion also features on the menu and this gull will sometimes fish or rob others of their food.
	Black-Headed Gull Larus Ridibundas. 37cm. Chichester Harbour. The Black Headed Gull actually has a chocolate brown head which is reduced to a dark spot during the winter months.. It can be found along most of Britain's coast line and also on inland on lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs. Worms, insects, crabs, fish and carrion are eaten along with scraps foraged from rubbish tips.
	Long-Tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus. 14cm.2/3 of which is tail. The Long Tailed Tit has a small round body and long thin tail. It is very sociable and small flocks can be seen working their way through hedge rows and trees in search of food. Beautiful domed nests of moss lichen and cobwebs are constructed by both male and female in late march.
	Magpie Pica pica. 46cm. The handsome Magpie is a member of the crow family. Although its feathers appear black they have a blue green iridescence. As far as food goes the Magpie will eat almost anything which is stored in times of plenty. There has been a large population increase over the last few decades due to reduced persecution and new forestry development.
	Dunnock Prunella modularis. 14.5cm The Dunnock is often mistaken for a Sparrow and is also know as a Hedge Sparrow. On closer inspection the differences are more obvious. The Dunnock has a thin pointed bill were as the Sparrow has a robust finch like bill. Colouration is also different with the Dunnock having blue-grey breast and head with a brown crown. Feeding is carried out at ground level beneath hedge rows and shrubs.
	Chaffinch(m) Fringilla coelebs 14.5cm Pulborough Brooks West Sussex.
	Robin Erithacus rubecula. 14cm.
	Green Woodpecker (m) Picus viridis. 33cm. Farmland running adjacent to the river Arun near Stopham Bridge West Sussex.
	Little Egret Eggretta Garzetta. 65cm. Cuckmere River East Sussex.
	Nuthatch Sitta Europaea. 14cm.
	Sparrow Hawk Accipiter nisus 38cm. Thursley Common Surrey.
	Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major. 23cm. Male Woodpecker feeding his young in a Sussex garden.
	Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 57cm. Llanddeusant Brecon Beacons National Park.
	House Sparrow (f) Passer domesticus. 15cm. Although still common the House Sparrow's numbers have rapidly dropped over the last two decades. In some city centres it has disappeared completely. This little bird that lives in association with man often nests under roof tiles and gaps in eaves. Adult Sparrows feed on seeds and scraps while nestlings are fed on invertebrates.
	Mute Swan Cygnus olor. 155cm. This was one of a pair Flying over Amberley Wild Brooks.