Siskin photo...
Is the Birdwatch Billy clarke talk still on tommorow night?
Carrion crow at Carlingford yesterday - has anybody noticed tha lack of red throated divers and great northern divers this year? In past years there were regularly a few, sometimes a few tens between giles quay and carlingford lough but this year very thin on the ground.
P. falcon at dundalk docks,egret at cruietown.
Large all dark raptor seen mobbed by gulls flying north over dundalk today.
Brill shots of the peregrine at the docks.
Any guesses on the raptor id - assume it was same bird EL saw - at least the size of an osprey.
P. falcon at dundalk docks,egret at cruietown.
Black redstart at dundalk docks and twite lurgangreen..Last photo twite mobing kestrel....
FYI Black redstart (area just West of Spirit Store) plus >20 twite (Lurgangreen) still present.
Only began birdwatching since before christmas so my id skills are pretty poor, As regards your description i'm leaning towards a male chaffinch although I could be completely wrong maybe somebody with a bit more experience would give you a better id, Gerard.P.S. It could also be my old favourite male linnet in summer plummage.
Welcome to the forum! Just took these photos today of a male chaffinch - sometimes in varying light (just like Gerry's blue Waxwing) birds look completely different, so the head on your bird may have looked darker. Does this look like your bird?Thanks Squidge ! Wonder if you could help me out on an ID - Finch size bird with a black head from the neck up and a distinct line with a rusty red body and brown wings/tail,a flash of white on the wing when in flight ! Thought it was a Bull finch but slightly smaller and a finch type beak as opposed to bill
OK Squidge - It definitely isn't a male Chaffinch (I have a few cracking ones who I've been feeding in my Garden) I've been looking through my bird books - but nothing similar ? Its not a black cap because its complete head is black !
maybe its a visitor due to the harsh winter in the UK and further afield ?