Pale Lesser Redpoll - or Common? (1 Viewer)

I know that the identification of redpolls on the inner hebrides has been touched on before (at least in this thread from 2006; http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=66814 ), but I'd be interested in any comments people have about the identity of the bird in the attached photos. It was one of a pair seen near Uig, Skye, on 18th May. Both birds looked far paler than I am used to for Lesser Redpolls, and they gave the impression of being fairly large (but with no real comparison available that may just be wishful thinking). I would describe the breast of the male (in the photos) as being a fairly deep red colour, with this more or less restricted to the breast (it was far redder than it appears in these photos due to the angle & position of the bird).
All opinions welcome, especially if you have time to say why you would attribute it to a certain taxa. Is it a pale (worn?) Lesser Redpoll - or do we still not know enough to identify redpoll 'species' with certainty in some cases?

I notice this has had 134 views to date, and no response.

I dare to reply.

I think we are in the flammea zone here. IMHO.

Very chunky, and, seemingly, in quite fresh plumage.

looks like a typical Hebridean Redpoll to me. As to what taxa it is, I pass!

In the olden days I would have said Common. Without wishing to move 5 yards to find my book I don't know what that translates to in modern day parle.

Thanks to those who have replied. I think Jane is probably right to say that look like Hebridean redpolls and leave it at that (I have had confirmation from a Skye resident that they look like the birds that they call Lessers).
Doesn't look like the birds that I'm used to calling Lesser though - or the even paler birds that I'm happy to call Mealies!

Jane Turner said:

looks like a typical Hebridean Redpoll to me. As to what taxa it is, I pass!

Click to expand...

Jane, pray tell what exactly is a 'typical' Hebridean redpoll!

It's a bit like the male of the pair breeding in my garden (which I'm unsure of), however the female looks nothing like the male!

Cheers,
Andrew

A typical Hebridean Redpoll is one that you look at and say "i give up on redpolls"