Rspb Garden Bird Watch

[Birdie Wife]

Hi All,

Silly question time, I have lots of little birds coming to visit but there is one I can not identify.

It is probably common but I have only just moved here from an area which did not get many birds.

It looks like a blue tit but it's belly/breast is a really bright yellow and has a bright red forehead not a crest as such and not it whole head.

Any ideas?

Linnet? The males have a bright red patch on the forehead. More kind've reddish brown on the breast though, this time of year.

[smallblueplanet]

Goldfinch?

[Birdie Wife]

Dammit, lost my whole edit there. You beat me to it sbp! Was going to say goldfinch too, otherwise there's other birds that have yellow breast but no red forehead like siskin, great tit and yellowhammer.

[mandyballantyne]

Hi, Small Blue Planet and Birdie Wife,

Nope not them but thanks all the same, it has a similar colour head as the gold finsh, but bright yellow underside and really blue wings. I have tried to get a pic but it is a nervous wee thing...

It also seems to prefer the niger seed over every thing else.

[Birdie Wife]

Hmm, in that case there's not a lot I can suggest, other than it's some sort of weird escapee. There aren't even any vagrant birds that meet that description in my Collins guide. Does it have a thin beak like a tit or a chunky beak like a finch? Is it small like a blue tit, medium like a chaffinch or large like a thrush?

[mandyballantyne]

Hmm, in that case there's not a lot I can suggest, other than it's some sort of weird escapee. There aren't even any vagrant birds that meet that description in my Collins guide. Does it have a thin beak like a tit or a chunky beak like a finch? Is it small like a blue tit, medium like a chaffinch or large like a thrush?

I would say like a blue tit size small beak, weird escapee is a posibility I am slap bang in the middle of the UFO belt here

I will try get that picture, Mandy

[Alice]

Hello Mandy,it sounds like a finch of some kind but nothing native here. I would suggest it's an escapee as some people keep ornamental varieties. Doing a bit of research on it as quite intrigued, so if I turn up anything I'll let you know.

[Piper]

Alo, yes same here Alice. It's quite a mystery, isn't it? I've also been surfin the web to see if I can see anything that looks similar. I wonder how many of us are doing the same thing. Will keep searching.

[mandyballantyne]

Thanks Alice, If I can get even a blured picture I will post.

Mandy

[dexterdoglancashire]

For any Grapes in the area, have a walk around Tockholes near Blackburn, its only a short walk around the woods, but then have a brew in the cafe - they have bird feeders, tables etc etc etc and you can sit at the table and watch the blue tits (around 12" from your face!). The variety of birds is amazing! Went on Sunday with OH and Dexter - saw one of the woodpeckers! Brill!
The food and brews are excellent as well. DDL

[smallblueplanet]

That reminds me - the best thing about Carole Kleins veggie show is the robin that eats off her hand! Robins are ace.

[Piper]

Oh I saw that, it was brill! We have a couple robins but they don't come that close now, wish they did. Two years ago when we moved in one come down and sat on the soil while I was weeding, about a foot away. My husband took some pictures, they were great.

[smallblueplanet]

Apparently (according to the rspb) many robins don't survive the winters thru lack of food - so we put raisins down for ours, well actually for the Blackbirds but Robby always seems to nip in there too!

[Kathie]

All our birds have disappeared from the garden since a kind neighbour's cat uses his natural instinct to kill them.

[Piper]

Thanks SBP will put down some raisins and see if ours like them. We always have food them out so hopefully they will see the winter through.