Re: Identify this - Mostly Fen Drayton Lakes today...

Had a lovely walk at Fen Drayton Lakes today...

Main aim was to photograph a lapwing

Lovely bird, not so lovely photo, but not a lot seemed to be getting them riled today...

I also snapped this - which I think is a tern, but it has a fully black head, and seemingly a black beak too?

Can anyone confirm that this is just a tern with heavy make-up?

And finally - this wasn't at FDL today, this was circling right over my house (about 3 miles in Over) 2 weeks ago.

But is it just me, or is this NOT a buzzard? Looks perhaps a bit red-kite-like to me....
 

It's a slightly grubby photo, but it was at least 1000 feet up...

Thanks,

Mike

Hi-

your first photo is a Lapwing as you thought  however the second photo is an adult summer Black headed gull- note the whole head is dark and the underwing shows the distinctive pattern of black with white leading edge on the primaries.

The third photo is a Red Kite-  note the forked tail and white underwing patches

:)

S

Thanks seymouraves!

I don't know how often Red Kites come out this way - but I don't think it's terribly often.