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Holiday birding (1 Viewer)

mary99

Well-known member
Hi Guys,

I've just come back from Torquay and went to Labrador bay RSPB nature reserve. I watched a pair of birds I hadn't seen before for about 15 minutes and got a really good look through binoculars rather than my ususal glance as they fly off and when I came back to identify them it was a male and female Cirl bunting! I was delighted, they are restricted to the SW and mostly to south devon which was exactly where I saw them, very chuffed.

Other life ticks for me (bearing in mind I am beginner)

Peregrine Falcon
Shag
Egrit
these on a wildlife boat trip

Turnstone
black headed gull
on beach

nuthatch
on a feeder at Paignton zoo


One bird I saw which I haven't been able to identify was at Labrador bay, so coastal and farming land.
It was hopping along a path when I first saw it when it flew up on to a fence, it was between robin and black bird sized it was grey backed/headed and lighter colour underneath, slim shape with slightly longer/noticable tail than you'd expect. Accuracy not fantastic as I didn't get to look for long but if anyone could make some suggestions I could research I'd appreciate it. I've tried the rspb bird identifier but I didn't find a match.

Thanks,
Mary
 
Hi Mary

Check out the grey wagtail and female pied wagtails in your bird book - one of these may be your mystery bird.

Mike
 
Thanks for the suggestion Mike but it wasn't a wagtail, I didn't see any yellow or black and I'm fairly familiar with Wagtails.

The closest in looks I can find is a spotted flycatcher but the behaviour doesn't add up. I'll just have to wait for another one and a better look!

Mary
 
What about a Wheatear, Mary? Did it have a white tail and rump? Habitat: coastal and farmland would be good for migrating Wheatears now. Behaviour would fit too.
 
Thanks Joanne, YES I think that could be a possibility, I thought I had seen a flash of white as it flew off.

I need to improve my observation skills!

Thanks again for the help guys,
Mary
 
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