h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I remember being rather put off birdwatching by visits to estuaries in the rain. Often all I got to see was a line of birds at the edge of the water, too far away for any detail. And juvenile seagulls are difficult, because they are mottled brown, changing gradually to white.

So this is the best I can do. No 1 features two jackdaws - easy because they have grey heads. 10 looks like a blackheaded gull and 12 like an egret. My bird book says that egrets don't occur in Britain but nobody told the egrets.

They never consult the egrets, do they? Thanks for starting us off!

There’s no egrets










no tears goodbye

It was sat on a Dorset shire riverbank, and it was probably not extinct as it managed to fly away.

It had waders legs and an impressive wingspan.

I'll give it a go - I'm not the expert either, although I am learning from my honorary brother in law as he very kindly looks at fuzzy pictures I've taken and tries to deduce what the birds might be!

1 Jackdaw
2 I wondered if it is a black headed gull but its beak seems very red
3 Looks like a Curlew in flight!
4 and 5 possibly starlings gathering for a murmuration (stunning sunset colours!)
6 That looks more like a black headed gull
7,8,9 stunning colours - very grey but I'm wondering if that is some sort of gull as well, eg a Little Gull
10 Great framing with the cloud in the background. Could be a Mediterranean Gull with the black head and white tail
11 Distinctive wing shape - I'd guess at starlings again
12 Probably a Little Egret

This way to the egret!

Thanks both of you, for that information it will help DG to tag them

Well done

I look at the gallery and see gulls.

I was always told there are only two species of birds: sinkers and floaters.

I may give it a go later.

I would have thought birds would be sorted according to whether or not they can fly.