Stonechat - Cornwall (this weekend) (1 Viewer)

[AFeather]

A friend sent me this photo.

They think it was close to the size of a Magpie.

There could be a colour ring on it, but the photo is not good.

It looks like a stonechat to me?

 

[Butty]

Is this the only image you have? It would be much (much) better if your friend could supply the actual photo rather than a photo of a photo on a monitor.

 

[Rotherbirder]

Not a Stonechat, that's for sure - especially if it was 'close to the size of a Magpie'! There is no indication as to where it was taken, which should appear in the thread title.

RB

 

[Butty]

There is no indication as to where it was taken, which should appear in the thread title

Cornwall - in the thread title.

 

[AFeather]

Is this the only image you have? It would be much (much) better if your friend could supply the actual photo rather than a photo of a photo on a monitor.

I agree, I did ask and unfortunately this is all I have to go off.

Personally I don't believe its as large as suggested, given the quality it could be one of many (e.g. chat or finch).

I wonder if its an escapee, if so, I have no experience

 

[pianoman]

If it were just the back half I would hazard female Bullfinch - front half not so much, but there could be strange light/shadow things going on
Edit: Actually imm Bullfinch is not a bad fit

 

[Jon Turner]

Great Tit?

 

[AFeather]

If it were just the back half I would hazard female Bullfinch - front half not so much, but there could be strange light/shadow things going on
Edit: Actually imm Bullfinch is not a bad fit

I agree,

The bill seems a bit small but I think I can see the wing bar of a bullfinch

 

[Joseph Bouvier]

Jay?

 

[AFeather]

Jay?

That may well be a good shout

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Wow, what a picture for quiz-modus. I must admit, my first reaction was: its a Pied Wagtail, isnt it? But then I read, that its Magpie-sized, but I still struggle to see the other mentioned birds with confidence here.

I also hope for the original picture and more of them, we may be surprised!

 

[KenM]

It appears to have a contrasting pale cheek panel, throw in the pixelation and you might have a Great Tit?

Cheers

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

After a second look in quiz-modus, I see some yellow on the belly and remember pictures of ab·er·rant coloured Great Tits with extensive white faces. They remind me of this bird now.
Still hoping for the original pictures, but thanks to Jon and Ken from me!

 

[Brian J Small]

Odd plumaged tit? Try this

Species affected and abnormality types

leucistic_blackbird_by_finlay_dowell_(ayrshire)_0.jpg Blackbird (Ayrshire) To date, 58 species have been recorded through the Abnormal Plumage Survey. If we bear in mind that only garden habitats are being considered, this total is particularly impressive. The birds that have been spotted range...

www.bto.org

Brian

 

[pianoman]

I'm keeping my pretend money on immature Bullfinch - it's one "size" up from sparrow-sized LBJs and I think that what looks like a longer bill is actually the end of a protruding twig behind the bird, and the darker part of the head is a shadow.

 

[Butty]

I think that what looks like a longer bill is actually the end of a protruding twig behind the bird

Sounds like an interpretation of the photo that I'd not considered. Which end of the bird-like blob do you think the head is at?

 

[pianoman]

Sounds like an interpretation of the photo that I'd not considered. Which end of the bird-like blob do you think the head is at?

LOL it's not quite as bad as that. You can (I think) see a lighter outline of the shorter finch-like bill over the protrusion. I'm beginning to think the part of the apparently long tail is also a twig

 

[Butty]

So you think there is a twig sticking out behind the far left-hand end of the bird?

 

[pianoman]

So you think there is a twig sticking out behind the far left-hand end of the bird?

I do - (well far right-hand for the tail) - originally thought it was a long tail partially concealed by a piece of vegetation but now I think it is shorter. At the left hand end I was wondering how there could be a disembodied twig behind the bill but I now think it is joined to the bush somewhere round the bird's legs.

 

[pianoman]

I'll end my speculation there - @AFeather perhaps you can persuade your friend to send you the original