GOOSANDER

Photographed in Wales

271             GOOSANDER              Mergus merganser

Britain          (6)

Known in North America as Common Merganser, and sometimes referred to as Buff-breasted Merganser. Found in rivers and lakes of forested areas. Range across Europe, north and central Asia and North America. 58-72 cm. Can be found in freshwater and saltwater. Has several edges on bill, to help grip fish, so also known as sawbills.

Male Goosander

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.

COMMON PHEASANT

Photographed near Loch Ness, January 2014

264                COMMON PHEASANT            Phasianus colchichus

UK    (1)

Also known as Ring-necked, Chinese or Mongolian Pheasant, and in many countries just as pheasant.  Originated in Asia it has been introduced to many countries where it has become one of the most hunted birds in the world. In some places it is semi-domesticated. It was introduced into Australia from Great Britain. Now in Australia there are a few feral population, such as Rottnest Island, King Island and possibly in Tasmania.

INDIAN PEAFOWL

Photographed in Chitwan Natinal Park, Nepal

263                INDIAN PEAFOWL             Pavo cristatus

Nepal          (1)

Also known as Blue Peafowl; commonly the male is called Peacock and hen called Peahen. Range: it is native to south-east Asia but there are now small feral populations in many countries around the world where it has been introduced; in Australia small populations around settlements. It is the National bird of India. Found mainly on the ground in open forests or on cultivated ground.

LITTLE EAGLE

262          LITTLE EAGLE         Hieraaetus morphnoides   

Australia         (239)

45-55 cm, span to 1.30 m. Female larger. Range all over mainland Australia. Found on plains, foothills, open forests, woodlands, scrubland, red river gums on watercourses and lakes.

PURPLE HERON

261               PURPLE HERON            Ardea purpurea

South Africa     (23)

78-86 cm, 550-1200 g. Range eastern half of South Africa. Found in wetlands, particularly amongst sedges and reeds, rarely feeds in open.

PINK-THROATED TWINSPOT

Female Pink-throated Twinspot.

260           PINK-THROATED TWINSPOT            Hypargos margaritas

South Africa       (22)

12 cm, 12-14 g. Range endemic to ne tip of South Africa and southern Mozambique. Found in thornvedt thickets and coastal scrubs, drinks from puddles early in morning.

EMERALD-SPOTTED WOOD DOVE

259                EMERALD-SPOTTED WOOD DOVE                Tutur chalcospilos

South Africa     (21)

17-20 cm, 55-70 g. Range n anse South Africa. Common in woodland, savanna and valley bush veld.

BLACK STORK

258            BLACK STORK         Ciconia nigra

South Africa       (20)

95-110 cm, 2.5-3.2 kg; Ranges over most of South Africa. Uncommon and decreasing at lakes, rivers ad estuaries; population around 1,000 pairs. Breeds singly on cliff edges, reusing same site for years.