MUTE SWAN

Photographed in England

270          MUTE SWAN           Cygnus olor

Britain        (5)

A native to much of Europe and Asia,and infrequent visitor to northern Africa; introduced to North America, Australia and southern Africa. 125-170 cm. Called 'mute' as not as noisy as other swans. The total native population of swans is about 500,000, of these 350,000 are in the former Soviet Union, 22,000 in the UK. For many centuries in Britain swans were breed for food, the owners would mark or brand the beak or feet and these marks were registered with the crown. A Royal Swanherder was appointed and any birds not branded were considered property of the crown.

RUDDY TURNSTONE

Photographed in England

269            RUDDY TURNSTONE           Arenaria interpres

Britain      (4)

Also commonly known as Turnstone, even though there are two types of Turnstones. It breeds in the northern parts of Eurasis and North America and migrates to countries in the southern hemisphere. 22-24 cm. In Australia found around the coastline of the mainland and Tasmania.

EUROPEAN ROBIN

268                      EUROPEAN ROBIN                  Erithacus rubella

Britain (3)

Commonly known just as Robin or even English Robin. 12.5-14 cm. Found across Europe , east to Western Siberia and south to North Africa. The robin is an insectivorous passerine bird, specifically a chat, it was considered part of thrush family  but now considered Old World flycatcher. The term robin is widely used; the American robin is a thrush, and the Australian robins belong to the family Petrocia. There were attempts to introduce the European Robin into Australia but they all failed. 

COMMON CHAFFINCH

267              COMMON CHAFFINCH                  Fringilla coelebs

Britain    (2)

Commonly known as Chaffinch. Breeds in much of Europe, across Asia to Siberia and in northwest Africa. Prefers open woodlands. 14.5 cm.

RED-NECKED ADVOCET

Photographed Central NSW coast, at Tuggerah Water Treatment Plant and Chittaway, October 2014.

266             RED-NECKED AVOCET             Recurvirostra novaehollandiae

Australia        241

40-48 cm. Found in estuaries, tidal mudflats, brackish and salt swamps and lakes, sewerage ponds. Range across bottom two-thirds of mainland Australia except driest parts and se corner NSW/ne corner Victoria.

RED-KNEED DOTTEREL

Photographed at Tuggerah Water Treatment plant ponds on NSW Central Coast, October 2014

265             RED-KNEED DOTTEREL             Erythrogonys cintus

Australia    (240)

Range over most of Australian mainland except driest areas. Found in shallow freshwater wetlands, floodwaters, sewerage ponds, clay pans. 17-19 cms.