Help with birds in flight, Leicester UK (1 Viewer)

[astley]

Hi All

see if you can help us out here.

Was on the way out with my 10 year old yesterday, and were driving alongside farmland where most of the crops had been harvested.

Flying alongside the car was a flock of 30 or so birds, first impression was Starling, however when I glanced again (driving) they were very slightly smaller than a starling, and appeared lighter

The flock were not tight there were gaps of a few feet between the birds, and the key thing was they had an undulating flight just like a woodpecker, sort of flap, flap, glide.

My son said they were a lightish brown, and some appeared to have a very small fork in the tail ( I did not notice)

After flying alongside for some time they dropped into a ploughed field.

Any suggestions

 

[Chris-Leeds]

Could be linnets or other finches.

 

[Steve Lister]

Could be linnets or other finches.

Or Skylarks ??

 

[astley]

I thought they were a bit big for linnet, as mentioned they were almost starling size but the flight pattern was different.

Had not thought of Skylarks as only ever seen them in singles

Thanks

 

[lazza]

Sounds like linnets to me. I had a similar question about a year ago, a large swooping (twittering) flock of birds lifting from the fields and keeping very much together. Got the advice they could be linnets, and confirmed it a few days later with a bit more patience!

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

I'm in Linnet camp

 

[Steve Lister]

I'm in Linnet camp

I still think Skylarks are the most likely fit on size, colour, flight jizz.

Steve