Vis-mig, Dundee, Scotland 22/10/23 (1 Viewer)

[Stonefaction]

A couple of birds photographed (badly) over Riverside Nature Park in Dundee while watching migrants passing through in late October. I put the 2 Buntings down as Reed Bunting - despite the colour of the cheek looking a bit more Little Bunting-esque, and the 'finch' has been left as an undecided - though now swaying between Linnet and Twite (the white panel in outer wing fits Linnet slightly better but the white wingbar/curve inboard of that seems a little too strong for Linnet). The white balance is very likely a bit 'off' giving a false impression of colours - due to early morning sun. Reed Bunting and Linnet would be likeliest for the location but am interested as to what others think.

 

[Xenospiza]

Reed Bunting for me too.
I have no better ideas on the finch.

 

[kuzeycem]

Finch looks like a Redpoll sp.

 

[Stonefaction]

Finch looks like a Redpoll sp.

I certainly can't say that it definitely isn't a Redpoll. I've photographed a few in similar situations this Autumn and they've looked like obvious Redpolls on the photos. To me, this one looks rather different to those birds/photos, despite a few potentially pro-Redpoll features.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
I dont have confident features against Redpolls and they might well be ones, but when you dont got a Redpoll, but a Twite vibe in the field and you know I trust observers opinions more than poor resolution pictures (no offence you know), why not Twites with that appearant whitish panel in the primaries and the appearant lack of streaks to the flanks.
Some Twites can be quite drab birds with the whitish wingbar the most obvious feature.

edit: please compare (Fiener Bruch near Tucheim, NE-Germany)

https://flic.kr/p/2keUak2

https://flic.kr/p/2hYrwrV

 

[SteveClifton]

#1 is a Reed Bunting, and agree with Alexander for the second pic.

You can see white shafts in all primaries (e.g. first and last pics) which eliminates all Redpoll sp, and a rather bulky/bulbous head and neck, lacking the rufous mantle tones of Linnet. Also the face pattern isn't strong enough for Linnet (lacks 'moustache' for example). It has a nice bright greater covert wing bar. I can see nothing wrong for Twite.

 

[Stonefaction]

Hello,
I dont have confident features against Redpolls and they might well be ones, but when you dont got a Redpoll, but a Twite vibe in the field and you know I trust observers opinions more than poor resolution pictures (no offence you know), why not Twites with that appearant whitish panel in the primaries and the appearant lack of streaks to the flanks.
Some Twites can be quite drab birds with the whitish wingbar the most obvious feature.

edit: please compare (Fiener Bruch near Tucheim, NE-Germany)

https://flic.kr/p/2keUak2

https://flic.kr/p/2hYrwrV

#1 is a Reed Bunting, and agree with Alexander for the second pic.

You can see white shafts in all primaries (e.g. first and last pics) which eliminates all Redpoll sp, and a rather bulky/bulbous head and neck, lacking the rufous mantle tones of Linnet. Also the face pattern isn't strong enough for Linnet (lacks 'moustache' for example). It has a nice bright greater covert wing bar. I can see nothing wrong for Twite.

Alexander (and Steve), my impressions of the bird are all from the photos - however, I've seen/photographed lots of Linnets and Redpoll and this bird doesn't look like any of those - except in a few details. The more I tried to work out what it was, the more I was leaning towards Twite - the bill looks smaller than a Linnet's, and the combination of white panel and white wing bar in the closed wing views ruled out pretty much everything else other than Twite. What was putting me off was that we don't get Twite here in Dundee (though there is a small wintering flock about 10 miles away). However, I was hoping that with the previous few day's stormy conditions clearing that there might be some interesting migrants 'backed up' at the coast. There were hundreds of thrushes passing through that morning as well as mix of other species including a relatively late Tree Pipit, so in that context, Twite isn't particularly unusual - except for the location. I don't see Twite very often - about once a year if I'm lucky, so I was very wary of calling it one and why I posted it on here for a second opinion. I'll run it past the park's 'rarities committee' for one final check, but it would certainly appear that I have yet another new bird for my Dundee145 list (number 154!) and a new one for the park's list too. Thanks for your input, guys.

 

[kuzeycem]

If this won't stop me from trying to ID birds from my phone screen while I'm outside, I don't know what will.
Of course it's a Twite, apologies for the confusion.