Unlikely Bird

[Beverley Lass]

Hi all birdlovers,

I'm sorry I haven't photographic evidence of my own ..

But today I saw 5 or 6 birds at the bottom of my garden.

They were in the bare branches of my whitebeam tree.

I had a good look at them through my handy binoculars

and they seemed different to Yellowhammers.

The males had a strong black stripe through the eye region.

The rest of their cheeks/head was a vivid yellow.

Their bodies much like a 'striking' sparrow.

Looking in my bird book, they seem just like this ..

the Cirl Bunting !

But they are rare indeed (c. 200 pairs?) and confined to the very south

coast I believe ?

I've e-mailed the RSPB, and I'll wait and see if they pass comment.

Beauties anyway. Hope they return !

BL. x

[Just Before Dawn]

Hi all birdlovers,

I'm sorry I haven't photographic evidence of my own ..

But today I saw 5 or 6 birds at the bottom of my garden.

They were in the bare branches of my whitebeam tree.

I had a good look at them through my handy binoculars

and they seemed different to Yellowhammers.

The males had a strong black stripe through the eye region.

The rest of their cheeks/head was a vivid yellow.

Their bodies much like a 'striking' sparrow.

Looking in my bird book, they seem just like this ..

the Cirl Bunting !

But they are rare indeed (c. 200 pairs?) and confined to the very south

coast I believe ?

I've e-mailed the RSPB, and I'll wait and see if they pass comment.

Beauties anyway. Hope they return !

BL. x

There's quite a lot of similarlity in facial markings between Yellowhammer and Cirl Bunting, especially in worn male yellowhammers - the Cirl bunting in the photo is also rather worn - a good (ish) test is to catch a glancing look at the head - if the first impression is of a dark head with two yellow stripes, it's cirl bunting, if it's a yellow head with dark stripes, yellowhammer. I'd be interested in what the RSPB say, but Cirl buntings are one of our most sedentery birds, they're confinded to the South west and often dont go further than a mile or so from their own territory. If they do turn out to be cirl buntings, it'd be an extraordinary record - I'm not sure they've been recorded ever in Lincolnshire.

Just a thought - have a look at little bunting and pine bunting - they occasionally turn up on the east coast, and could be hanging around in a mixed bunting flock - they've got very keenly marked heads too.

Edited February 7, 2008 by Just Before Dawn

[Beverley Lass]

There's quite a lot of similarlity in facial markings between Yellowhammer and Cirl Bunting, especially in worn male yellowhammers - the Cirl bunting in the photo is also rather worn - a good (ish) test is to catch a glancing look at the head - if the first impression is of a dark head with two yellow stripes, it's cirl bunting, if it's a yellow head with dark stripes, yellowhammer. I'd be interested in what the RSPB say, but Cirl buntings are one of our most sedentery birds, they're confinded to the South west and often dont go further than a mile or so from their own territory. If they do turn out to be cirl buntings, it'd be an extraordinary record - I'm not sure they've been recorded ever in Lincolnshire.

Just a thought - have a look at little bunting and pine bunting - they occasionally turn up on the east coast, and could be hanging around in a mixed bunting flock - they've got very keenly marked heads too.

Thanks for replying 'Just Before Dawn'.

I've looked out for them returning, but no luck so far.

It seems everso unlikely they were Cirl's by the sounds of it .. by location and habit ..

but I must say they did have darker heads than any yellowhammer I've

ever seen. Their body plummage was a tad different too.

I hadn't heard of the two buntings you referred to, but I've had a look-see and

no, it wasn't them.

Hope I get another chance to scrutinize my pretty little visitors.

Cheers,

BL x

[Hiya]

Thanks for replying 'Just Before Dawn'.

I've looked out for them returning, but no luck so far.

It seems everso unlikely they were Cirl's by the sounds of it .. by location and habit ..

but I must say they did have darker heads than any yellowhammer I've

ever seen. Their body plummage was a tad different too.

I hadn't heard of the two buntings you referred to, but I've had a look-see and

no, it wasn't them.

Hope I get another chance to scrutinize my pretty little visitors.

Cheers,

BL x

Perhaps they were Yellowhammers from elsewere that are slightly different in appearance? Certainly when I look at some pictures on google I have to say the Yellowhammers in central Scotland look a tab darker.

[Yozzer]

Sorry, when I saw the thread title I was expecting something else completely...I'll go now!

[Beverley Lass]

Perhaps they were Yellowhammers from elsewere that are slightly different in appearance? Certainly when I look at some pictures on google I have to say the Yellowhammers in central Scotland look a tab darker.

Yes 'Hiya', maybe that's it .

Yellowhammers are infrequent visitors to my garden here.

Cheers,

BL x

[Beverley Lass]

I came in to catch the local news, 'Look North'

to hear Peter Levy mentioning an unusual bird blown

into the region ..

but it was a Glossy Ibis, lol.

To be seen on the coast in Lincs and very lovely it is too !

Awww.

BL.

[Beverley Lass]

There's quite a lot of similarlity in facial markings between Yellowhammer and Cirl Bunting, especially in worn male yellowhammers - the Cirl bunting in the photo is also rather worn - a good (ish) test is to catch a glancing look at the head - if the first impression is of a dark head with two yellow stripes, it's cirl bunting, if it's a yellow head with dark stripes, yellowhammer. I'd be interested in what the RSPB say, but Cirl buntings are one of our most sedentery birds, they're confinded to the South west and often dont go further than a mile or so from their own territory. If they do turn out to be cirl buntings, it'd be an extraordinary record - I'm not sure they've been recorded ever in Lincolnshire.

Just a thought - have a look at little bunting and pine bunting - they occasionally turn up on the east coast, and could be hanging around in a mixed bunting flock - they've got very keenly marked heads too.

I've just had a reply from a very nice man from the RSPB ..

He suggests a group of Siskins and sent their link to a picture.

Well, again, maybe, but my sightings were of birds with such strong

black markings on the head, including thru' the eye region.

Sadly, they haven't returned and no neighbours have seen them.

Cheers, BL

[Osbourne One-Nil]

I saw the title and was hoping that Keeley Hawes had turned up on your lawn.

Alas...no.

[Beverley Lass]

I saw the title and was hoping that Keeley Hawes had turned up on your lawn.

Alas...no.

Aye, shame that

Sorry for all the disappointment .. lol

BL x