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I'm with Sandi, a female chaffinch
Posted 29 months ago.
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Brambling ? Pepper photography seems to think it is aswell - but can anyone throw some light on why it's here ? Blown off course? Do they stay anyway? I have never seen one here before.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Indeed, jcj.bird, a female Brambling. Quite widespread in the winter across the UK (although not Scotland I think), not frequent visitors to gardens but do occassionally turn up particularly when the weather is as it is now. Often mixes in with flocks of Chaffinches. Nice shot.
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Stuart Carlton edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Sandi (busy lady) ahh - thanks sandi (and mark) - why can't birds come with little labels! I could spot a male chaffinch (I think) - but the dowdy birdy womenfolk always confuse me... come to mention it, womenfolk in general confuse me! ;-)
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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revnev edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Bramblings are found in all but the north and west of Scotland
Posted 29 months ago.
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"Why can't birds come with little labels!"
They do - you just have to learn to read them! For example this one has a conical bill that's a label to tell you it's a seed-eater, such as a finch, sparrow or bunting, whereas Whitethroats and other warblers have fine bills for eating insects.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Dave Appleton you're right, of course, Dave - this year I have vowed to learn a bit more. having started photography I can now already recognise 50 times as many birds than I could this time last year!
Posted 29 months ago.
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fat wagtail photography this is a meadow pipit
Posted 29 months ago.
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I think this is a Fieldfare as it arrived in a flock of 20-25,any thoughts??
Yes, a Fieldfare... the similar visiting bird is the Redwing. It has a red under wing shading.
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Sandi (VERY busy lady) edited this topic 29 months ago.
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yes fieldfair :)
Posted 29 months ago.
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This was in my garden this morning and IU haven't a clue but it was evry pretty. Can anyone help me?
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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gdaneuk edited this topic 29 months ago.
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its a redwing :)
Posted 29 months ago.
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This morning this little bird arrived at the back door, it looks very much like a Pied Wagtail but has NO tail to wag, looks like it may have lost its wag or does anyone think it is some other visitor.
Much obliged.
Posted 29 months ago.
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this is a pied wagtail. but why has it got no tail i wonder ?
Posted 29 months ago.
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In Newholm near Whitby, North Yorkshire. Think it's a Willow Tit?
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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dave091260 edited this topic 29 months ago.
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In Newholm near Whitby, North Yorkshire. Ideas please!
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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dave091260 edited this topic 29 months ago.
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In Newholm near Whitby, North Yorkshire. Ideas please!
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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dave091260 edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Dave: this appears to be a Black-Throated Thrush!! Great find. There was one in Wales last week also. It differs from Redwing, apart from the grey colouring, in lacking the red underwing and eye-stripes. This appears to be a first-winter female due to sparse dark streaking on breast and sides of the throat. It is a Dark-throated (as opposed to Red-throated) due to grey-brown tail colour (rusty-red in Red-throated).
Well done!!
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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M Carmody Photography edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Dave, this is a BLACK-THROATED THRUSH! These are extremely rare visitors to the UK and a fair few people would be very interested in seeing this tomorrow, if access is possible. Please could you let us know exactly where it is, if that's at all possible!
Posted 29 months ago.
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PS: if access is tricky and you need help organising it, then I'm sure there will be some local birders who would be happy to help - let me know if you want me to get hold of anyone.
(I see Carmo got there first!)
Posted 29 months ago.
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Good week for black throated. Would recommend double checking all redwing flocks. Who knows where more will show. Hopefully this well!
Posted 29 months ago.
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A excellent find Dave. Well done!
I had a feeling that it could've been a rare bird when I first saw the pictures you took but as I didn't know of Black-Throated Thrushes, I thought it was a Redwing.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Great find Dave, well done
Posted 29 months ago.
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In the excitement of the thrush I didn't look at your Marsh/Willow Tit. That appears to me to be a Marsh Tit - not only does it lack the wing-panel shown by most Willow Tits but it also seems to have the pale spot on the bill which Willow Tit nearly always lacks.
Posted 29 months ago.
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I think this is a Juvenile Pied or Yellow Wagtail.Does anybody have any ideas? Thanks for the ID about the Fieldfare!
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Sandi (VERY busy lady) edited this topic 29 months ago.
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It's a juvenile Pied, Churchy.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Thanks Blackcap for confirmation, does look like it lost its tail, - but why? probably that is another tale.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Is this a yellow wagtail?
On my back lawn, Swansea S.Wales.
Admittedly not a good image but I had such a surpise when I caught it out of the corner of my eye through my patio window, that it was gone before I'd had time to hold my camera properly
Thanks
Posted 29 months ago.
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Must be a black throated thrush in Ireland somewhere, get find Dave, One favour send it this way please!
Posted 29 months ago.
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Eiona - That is a Grey Wagtail. The Yellow Wagtail visits parts of the UK only in the summer months.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Thanks for that - one of my Contacts had also suggested the same.
Posted 29 months ago.
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mixed with flock of sanderlings
knot?
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Andrewsteeleuk edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Andrew, I am no expert on waders, but you may be right. I suggest you wait for a confirmed identification:)
Sandi
Posted 29 months ago.
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i think the first one is a sandering and the second is some kind of plover but I'm not sure witch type
Posted 29 months ago.
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The first one looks like a Dunlin to me and the second a grey or golden plover but I'm no expert.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Yes, they are Dunlin and Grey Plover.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Two little birdies... can anyone tell me what they are? Images are not sharp, but hopefully they are identifiable. Seen today in Stanmer Park in Brighton.
1
2
(Hmmm, they look very similar - perhaps they are a couple!?)
Posted 29 months ago.
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Goldcrest
Posted 29 months ago.
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I think they may be Goldcrest.
Posted 29 months ago.
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yes goldcrest
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Thanks!
Posted 29 months ago.
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Cheers sandi, blackcap tom and dave for helping me out :)
Posted 29 months ago.
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Katariina, the first one is a FIRECREST - a much scarcer bird, although a fair few winter along the south coast. Note the prominent white stripe over the eye and generally brighter plumage. The second bird is a Goldcrest, with a diffuse pale surround to the eye but no prominent white stripe above it.
It's getting good here, with halimodendri Lesser Whitethroat, Black-throated Thrush and Firecrest already this year!
Posted 29 months ago.
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Oops! I should have looked more closely. I assumed they were the same bird.
Posted 29 months ago.
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was wondering if the bird on the right is a sandpiper of some type
and common gull?
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Andrewsteeleuk edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Andrew, the birds in the foreground look like Dunlin (with Bar-tailed godwits in the background). Probably the commonest small wader in the UK, with a slightly downcurved bill, overall dull brown upperparts and pale underparts. Not particularly long-legged. Usually feeding in flocks.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Dave, thank you - I've just been reading my bird books and was about to come back here and ask whether the first one is actually a firecrest. :) Thanks for confirming it. Shame I didn't get a better picture of it. (And wish I'd taken some bird seeds with me for the poor little birds whose woods was covered in snow...)
Posted 29 months ago.
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thanks carmo the black line on its neck threw me :)
Posted 29 months ago.
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I suspect the black line is where the feathers are not lying flat and you can see the shadow beneath them.
The gull is Common Gull as you suspected.
Posted 29 months ago.
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I'm pretty sure this is a chaffinch, but am I correct in thinking it's a female?
Posted 29 months ago.
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correct :)
Posted 29 months ago.
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Help please... still new to this and not sure, either a greenfinch or siskin maybe? sorry its not very clear
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Sandi (VERY busy lady) edited this topic 29 months ago.
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female chaffinch
Posted 29 months ago.
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yes female chaffinch :)
Posted 29 months ago.
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@ Andrewsteeleuk - Thanks for my chaffinch confirmation!
Posted 29 months ago.
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Hello there. Can anyone tell me why this great tit is so dark. Is it some sort of genetic thing. Thanks. Kate
Posted 29 months ago.
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Alkira ... he looks like he has been down the mines!
Sorry I have no idea.... hopefully someone else might know.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Lol, we've got no mines round here Sandi. I'll keep checking to see whether anyone has any ideas. Thanks
Posted 29 months ago.
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The plumage doesn't look like it's in good condition which suggests to me that the darkness is a consequence of some kind of contamination rather than melanism (basically where a bird has more pigment than usual making it appear dark). I'd want to see more/better photos to be sure but I think the scapulars at least aren't lying normally, suggesting contamination rather than natural cause.
The most familiar contamination that causes darkness in birds is oiling - seabirds such as gulls are often seen with blackish patches on their underparts, or occasionally more extensively, from swimming in oily water. This one's fairly unlikely to have been swimming in oil though! There are a few photos of "melanistic" Cattle Egrets on the net from Nigeria where it's thought they have been affected by passing through smoke clouds around the burning well-heads - similar events were commonly noticed in the gulf area following the Gulf War. That's probably rather more extreme than any pollution in your region but I guess if a bird passes through any small smoke cloud then it's going to end up getting a bit mucky. The fact that it's pretty much all over suggests to me that the pollutant was air-borne.
Reminds me of a Wheatear that I saw a few years ago, though that bird wasn't completely covered.
Posted 29 months ago.
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How sad, I think you're right Dave, had another look at my photos and noticed another dark one that still had a white cheek whereas the first one's is dark. Maybe they were trying to keep warm somewhere oily. Hope the cause is dealt with if it is pollution. Thanks again for your informed advice Dave.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Can anyone ID this one
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Sandi (VERY busy lady) edited this topic 29 months ago.
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That's a Skylark.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Thank you
Posted 29 months ago.
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I've had a couple of possible ID's on this one but nothing certain. Can anyone help me out? It was taken in September at the mouth of the the River Lyn in North Devon as it runs through the village
Posted 29 months ago.
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Caz, it's a domestic variant of Mallard.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Thanks for the ID Dave, not as exotic as I'd hoped for then! At least I can tag it now though
Posted 29 months ago.
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dead i know but shrew not sure on type
and thrush think mistle but have real problem with them
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Andrewsteeleuk edited this topic 29 months ago.
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The thrush is a Song Thrush. Note the arrow-head shaped spots on the breast (more rounded on Mistle), the buffy-yellow wash across the breast contrasting with the whiter background colour on the belly, the warm brown upperparts (colder grey-brown on Mistle). On the wings you can see two wing-bars formed by pale tips to the coverts; on Mistle the pale wouldn't just be on the tips of the feathers but up the edges too.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Can anyone confirm that this is a house sparrow with a paint job please.
Posted 29 months ago.
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that is a house sparrow
Posted 29 months ago.
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Hi, not the clearest photo but can anyone ID this one please?
Posted 29 months ago.
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Cazturner413 - this looks like a dunnock:)
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Sandi (VERY busy lady) edited this topic 29 months ago.
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yes dunnock
Posted 29 months ago.
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thankyou both
Posted 29 months ago.
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ok i took this record shot a few summers ago in the lakes thinking it was goosander but iam having 2nd thoughts can any one confirm it please :)
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Andrewsteeleuk edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Are these bar-tailed godwits?
Posted 29 months ago.
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Andrew, I think you're right to have second thoughts - the lack of a clear distinction between the brown head and white breast is wrong for Goosander; on Red-breasted Merganser the brown merges into the grey more diffusely, just like this.
Former ex, yes, Bar-tailed Godwits.
Posted 29 months ago.
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I'm useless at IDing gulls - the black bill is throwing me off!
Posted 29 months ago.
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Bloo Phoenix - A Black-Headed Gull :-)
Posted 29 months ago.
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Thanks Dave.
Posted 29 months ago.
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I thought this was a female Shoveler but now realise it's not. Is it an immature male or a hybrid?
Posted 29 months ago.
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Hello there former-extog
It looks like a male shoveller in eclipse plumage
www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/shoveler/index....
(see illustration 3)
For a brief explanation of eclipse plumage...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumage
Posted 29 months ago.
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I suspect it's male in its first winter - most uk ducks retain their eclipse plumage for a relatively short period during the summer so I wouldn't expect it to still be this eclipsey in January.
Posted 29 months ago.
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Hello everyone - can you confirm or otherwise if this is a lesser redpoll please? I have never seen one before. I live in the western lake district. Thanks..
 
Posted 29 months ago.
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I'd be happy witnh lesser redpoll
Posted 29 months ago.
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Thanks Mak and Dave for Shoveler comments. I didn't think of eclipse because there was at least one other male in full plumage nearby. After Mark's post I did a little research and thought it was the wrong time of year so I think I'll go with Dave's "probably 1st winter".
Posted 29 months ago.
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Northern Shovelers may retain the eclipse plumage until well into the winter.,,,
www.qc.ec.gc.ca/faune/guide/html/plumage_eclipse_e.html
I agree it is more likely a 1st Winter but eclipse is possible
Posted 29 months ago.
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Thanks Mark. I've made a note of that possibility.
Posted 29 months ago.
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anyone know what this is ???? its not a leather jacket but it had a rather large head. help would be great :-)
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Blackcap1000 edited this topic 29 months ago.
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I'm stumped by this one,any clues please??
Posted 29 months ago.
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This one is a dunnock
not sure on the caterpillar, How big is it?
Posted 29 months ago.
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this a hybrid goose?
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Andrewsteeleuk edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Andrew Steel - I'd say thay's just a cross between wild-type and domestic-type greylags, but I'm willing to be put right.
Posted 29 months ago.
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the caterpillar was 2 in long and just under 1 cm thick
Posted 29 months ago.
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Hello,
New to the Group, and taking pictures come to that.
I found these in the Garden and I wonder if anyone can tell me what these are?
Thanks
Berry
Edit> I think they are Goldfinch, from looking on the RSPB site :-)
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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berry_playle edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Berry,
Yes, they are Goldfinches :)
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Sandi (VERY busy lady) edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Keith Boyer [deleted] says:
yes a greylag
Posted 29 months ago.
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cheers pete :)
Posted 29 months ago.
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Roe or Fallow.
Anyone?
Posted 29 months ago.
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Does anyone have any insight into why this goldfinch has such a pale colouration?
Posted 29 months ago.
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Birds and Wildlife UK /
Discuss
Sandi (busy lady) ahh - thanks sandi (and mark) - why can't birds come with little labels! I could spot a male chaffinch (I think) - but the dowdy birdy womenfolk always confuse me... come to mention it, womenfolk in general confuse me! ;-)
Dave Appleton you're right, of course, Dave - this year I have vowed to learn a bit more. having started photography I can now already recognise 50 times as many birds than I could this time last year!
![Shoveler (immature) [IMG_3366_T] by former-extog](http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4035/4298182213_052f95f31d_m.jpg)
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