Birds

A walk along Stokes Bay promenade will allow you to see a few regular bird visitors to our Bay, such as the large, black crows that often cavort across the field next to the sailing club. There are also the sea birds that frequent the beach areas. But to see some of the more rare bird visitors you need to venture away from the beach and on to the wilder ground at the extreme east or west ends of the Bay. Gilkicker Point and the area surrounding the golf course is a good place to start. Be patient, the birds are often shy of humans. At the west end of the Bay you can also spot less common birds on a walk through the shingle grounds of Browndown Ranges, but pay attention to the restrictions in times of opening.

Black Tailed Godwit Scientific name: Limosa limosa Sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes Length: 40-44 cm Wingspan: 70-82 cm Weight: 280-340g	A large wading bird which in Summer has a bright orangey-brown chest and belly, but in winter adults have a uniform brown-grey breast and upperparts. It has a long beak and legs, with black and white stripes on its wings. Female Black Tailed Godwits are bigger and heavier than the males, with a noticeably longer beak. Males have a brighter, more extensive orange breast, neck and head. The Black Tailed Godwit can be difficult to distinguish from the Bar Tailed Godwit which has a streaked back. RSPB Black Tailed Godwit
Siskin Scientific name: Carduelis spinus Bird family: Finches Length: 12cm Wingspan: 20-23cm Weight: 12-18g	Smaller than a Greenfinch, it has a distinctly forked tail and a long narrow bill. The male has a streaky yellow-green body and a black crown and bib. The amount of black on the bib is very variable between males. The female is more olive-coloured than the male. There are yellow patches in the wings and tail. The young have a similar colouration to the females, with drab colours and a more subdued plumage. The siskin is easy to recognize, but in some instances it can be confused with other finches such as the Greenfinch. Look at the tops of trees to find one. RSPB Siskin
Reed Bunting Scientific name: Emberiza schoeniclus Bird family: Buntings Length: 15-16.5cm Wingspan: 21-28cm Weight: 16-25g	A sparrow sized bird with a small but sturdy seed-eater’s bill. The male has a black head and throat, white neck collar and under-parts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is much duller, with a streaked brown head, and is more streaked below. It has a long, deeply notched tail. In flight the tail looks black with broad, white edges. RSPB Reed Bunting
Redstart Scientific name: Phoenicurus phoenicurus Bird family: Chats Length: 14cm Wingspan: 20-24cm Weight: 11-19g	An insectivorous ground feeding bird immediately identifiable by its bright orange-red tail, which it often quivers. The male is mostly brightly coloured in various combinations of red, blue, white, and black. The females is light brown with a red tail. Redstarts ‘bob’ in a very robin-like manner. They eat mainly insects; also spiders, worms and berries. RSPB Redstart
Tree Pipit Scientific name: Anthus trivialis Bird family: Pipits and Wagtails Length: 15cm Wingspan:25-27cm Weight: 20-25g	The tree pipit has a brown streaked upper parts and pale under parts with further streaking on buff tinged chest and flanks. It is very similar to the meadow pipit but has a heavier bill, shorter hind claw and fine streaking on the flank. Tree pipits more readily perch in trees. It is is insectivorous, like its relatives, but will also eat seeds. RSPB Tree Pipit
Stonechat Scientific name: Saxicola rubicola Bird family: Chats Length: 12.5cm Wingspan: 18-21cm Weight: 13-17g	The European Stonechat is a robin sized bird. The male has a black head with white around the side of the neck, orange-red breast and a mottled brown back. The female lacks the male’s black head, but has a brown back and an orange tinge to its chest. Both sexes have distinctively short wings. They are often seen on the tops of low bushes. They get their name from their call which resembles two stones being tapped together. RSPB Stonechat

Bird Anatomy :