Blimey! That looks like a big white rump!
As does this one, from a friend of a friends garden. I realise it's overexposed so rump may not be quite as it seems.
That is the best Arctic candidate I have seen posted here recently, but I am not suggesting it is.As does this one, from a friend of a friends garden. I realise it's overexposed so rump may not be quite as it seems.
Steve, if so, are you more in favour of Coues's or Hornemann’s?I think the one in Zing's mate's garden is an Arctic!!!!!
That is the best Arctic candidate I have seen posted here recently, but I am not suggesting it is.
These are the pro features:
Small poll
Lacking obvious red/pink on the breast
Overall white/very pale
Little evidence of distinct ear covert
These are the against features:
Photo seems overexposed
Still quite a bit of buff toning
Difficult to judge bill size due to some blurring (and this is posture dependent anyway)
Still some evidence of ear covert patch
Still some evidence of pink on breast which maybe being lessened by overexposure
I'm a beginner with scarce Redpolls, so please feedback with any mistakes I might be making :t:
Steve, if so, are you more in favour of Coues's or Hornemann’s?
I would say it's closer to 1st w Hornemann’s.
another one to intrigue!
Now there I start to struggle, if I wasn't struggling before!
Anyhow, having seen the second pic., it has to be an Arctic of some race.
I don't suppose viewing access is possible is it? I was contemplating heading to Rainton Meadows tomorrow.
Based on that second photo I'm back to Mealy or Coues's. The lighting conditions on that one have either forced the camera to push up the levels or it's been done in post-processing. The effect is that the rump is over exposed and could be hiding some mild streaking. It should be closer to the wing-bar tone.Now there I start to struggle, if I wasn't struggling before!
Anyhow, having seen the second pic., it has to be an Arctic of some race.
I don't suppose viewing access is possible is it? I was contemplating heading to Rainton Meadows tomorrow.
Steve, if so, are you more in favour of Coues's or Hornemann’s?
I would say it's closer to 1st w Hornemann’s.
Yep same here.Beginning to wonder if there shouldn't be a separate Yorkshire thread for Redpolls?
Beginning to wonder if there shouldn't be a separate Yorkshire thread for Redpolls?
Blimey! That looks like a big white rump!
As does this one, from a friend of a friends garden. I realise it's overexposed so rump may not be quite as it seems.
Doc, I think your first is a Lesser - the brown tones to the wingbar as Ben says.
I think your second is a Common. I think your third is also a Common, but would like to see more shots of that one, if it is different to 2.
Re the fourth, it is hard to say. The rump could appear bigger because the photo is slightly blurred. I thought the bill was too big but just realised it's a bud!. The fifth is a Common - not sure if 4 and 5 are the same. If they are I think Common. If not 4 isn't a bad shout for Arctic, now I've realised about the bill.
The problem is you need to see the clear white rump, stubby bill, and the undertail coverts - no more than a single streak.
I think the one in Vwxyzn's mate's garden is an Arctic!!!!!
Doc, may do Redhouse tommoz.
Edit: may be wrong, but just to add to our woes, I'm sure the Commons get browner as we move out of winter, and the gap between Common and Lesser closes in mantle tones.
Bloody hell! These birds are a pleasure..and a nightmare...that does look good though!!
If folks getting bored....should we be starting redpoll thread...I luv 'em ,but realise not everyone else might??
I think they r massive challenge, we don't know enough about 'em.....getting opinions on here has helped me massively with ID of these birds...happy to start Yorks redpoll thread if thats best idea????????????