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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 12:54
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#1 |
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Location: Greater Manchester
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Bird feeder visitor - UK - no pics!
OK - here we go.
A colleague with a passing interest in birds has a vistor that they can't identify. The description that she's given, and the only photo that she recognises confirms her ID from her bird book that the bird in question is a Sedge Warbler. The bird is present now, is feeding in her Mancunian suburban garden and making some visits to her garden feeders. Common sense says it won't be a Sedge Warbler, but I've gone through a host of possibilities inc Siskin, Redpoll, Brambling, Chiffchaff, Blackcap etc. She's familiar with the usual garden birds and we can rule out larger eyestriped birds such as Redwing on size, and smaller ones like Firecrest. What am I missing that might fit the bill? (And yes, before you ask I will try and get down to see it when I can!).
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 12:58
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#2 | |
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Down Under Birdo.
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Otherwise I'm stumped! Can you give any more details other than the eyestripe? |
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 13:08
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#3 |
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Eyestripe, streaked back, pale underparts, "sparrow" sized, brownish rather than greenish. It's not much to go on I know (if the description was fuller I'd have hoped to haver cracked it myself!) - but I'm sure I'm missing an obvious candidate.
Wintering Sedge wouldn't be unprecedented but the records I could find (Cambridgshire x2 and Cotswold Water Park) all related to typical habitat and certainly can't see one being attracted to a feeder!
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 13:14
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#4 |
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What about a well marked Chiffchaff?
(but still unlikely on the feeder) |
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 13:19
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#5 |
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Reed Bunting?
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 13:26
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#6 |
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Yeah, sounds like Reed Bunting to me. Folks don't always imagine they'll come to bird tables, and winter plumages aren't featured in every ID book. I bet they catch plenty out.
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 14:03
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#7 |
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I was thinking Reed Bunting too. But if she's that confused over Firecrest/Redwing, wouldn't she just think it was a sparrow?
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 14:03
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#8 |
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Thanks - we tried Reed Bunting but she's convinced there is no streaking to the underparts at all.....
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 14:19
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#9 |
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How about an escape? Something like a Bishop, Whydah or other seedeater sounds like it would be fit.
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 14:22
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#10 |
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I suppose details such as eyestripe can mean an awful lot of things. Wouldn't be a dunnock would it?
PS I wouldn't say it has an eyestripe, but this illustration has http://www.dungevalley.co.uk/Birds/dunnock.jpg |
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 14:50
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#11 |
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Does she know her female House Sparrows?
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 15:32
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I'm pretty sure that she does - otherwise I wouldn't have asked such a "how long is a piece of string" question on this Forum!
If I hadn't ruled some birds out as possibilities then you migt have wasted time suggesting them - its a bit Catch-22 really. Thanks anyway for all your suggestions, by rights it should turn out to be a Jay really - it's the usual answer to the "my mate has a bird in his garden" question. It looks like it has an early afternoon routine so I'll try and take a late lunch tomorrow and see if I can see it for myself. Just hoping it isn't a Chinatown Warbler!
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 15:36
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#13 | |
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You've all got one...............!
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Quote:
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Wednesday 2nd January 2008, 15:37
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#14 |
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You've all got one...............!
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Of course if it does turn out to be a Sedge Warbler after all, it won't be the first winter record in the UK
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Friday 4th January 2008, 10:29
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#15 | |
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Quote:
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Friday 4th January 2008, 13:35
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#16 |
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Birding for fun
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Tend to err on the female house sparrow ticket as they can be variable at this time of the year. Reed bunt a good call too, though.
regards, Jono
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Friday 4th January 2008, 15:07
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#17 |
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No further sign I'm afraid - I'm hoping that they'll see it again over weekend and I can get down to solve the mystery.
Thanks again for the suggestions.
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Friday 4th January 2008, 18:12
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#18 |
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I heard that
It was obviously a Bobolink
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Friday 4th January 2008, 22:20
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#19 |
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There is bracken in the garden!
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