bird ID please anyone????

[Nicos]

Over the past couple of weeks I've been watching a bird in the garden, but just can't find any ID information which sounds anything like it.

It's about the size of a bullfinch but with a long tail which if dips like a wagtail.
Not a finch type beak.
It's body is a very rich chestnut, and it's head and neck are black , with a white patch of feathers on top of it's head.

No piccies I'm afraid

Anyone go any ideas???

[scarey55]

Is it a black redstart Nicos. There aren't too many in UK but there are loads of them in France. We had one build a nest on a few bits of wood in the bread oven room they also seem to nest in our chimney and fledge downwards into our wood burner (thankfully not lit at fledging time) We have to open the door when we hear fluttering to let them out.

[Nicos]

well- apart from the white patch on top of it's head- the colours are identical...I wonder if I've got the only black redstart with an albino 'bobble hat????'

The chestnut colouring is really rich like on the piccie..

http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/~amit/bird...rt-on-lawn.jpg

[scarey55]

OK then, how about a "common" redstart, THIS LINK shows a white patch on his head - we get these here too

[Nicos]

Looks more like it- although there wasn't the greyish bit down the back of the neck.....more likely to be that one too....being 'common' an all!!!!


OOOhhh...just found it on Google!!!!!

White capped Water Redstart!!!!

Google Image Result for http://www.birding.in/images/Birds/rajiv/wc_redstart.jpg

oh...it says" local resident in Himalayas and north-east India"...can't possibly be that surely???? ....it looks spot on though....even my OH says it's the same!!!

[Nicos]

Think mine has a more chestnut colour than that red though......

think you're right Scarey!!!!

[scarey55]

Redstarts do behave very much like wagtails and they make a single "pipping" sound - almost ticking. They are beautiful birds and quite striking.

We have seen many lovely birds here that we haven't seen in UK including loads of black kites at the local déchetterie (tip) - good ere innit?

[Brewer-again]

Hi ! Nicos, hope your garden is doing well.I saw a stork in east sussex, it had flown from a bird sanctuary and I also saw a pair of common crane near Newhaven which are extremley rare.
You never know what you will see, but you have to look.
I am amazed how many people fail to see or watch the kestrels along the coast road at Saltdean east sussex. We are all stationary, stuck in the traffic jams and they fly ten feet above the car or level with the window. Fantastic to see.
Scarey55 what is a déchetterie ??? I hope to move to france soon, you sound settled.

[Nicos]

Good to hear from you again Brewer-again!!!

It's fantastic actually having the time to look about and try and learn...love it here!

A dechetterie is a tip ...rubble etc where you dump the stuff the bin men won't take! They are all over the place!!

Moving to France eh???...wow...what area are you thinking of moving to...or are you still in the planning stage????

Scarey- I've had an even closer look- and you are spot on!!!...thanks

[scarey55]

Hi there Brewer-again. Yes, we certainly are settled here and as Nicos said, it's good to have the time to look at the life going on around you. I don't think a day goes by when I don't appreciate how lucky I am

Moving to France eh? We have a website with a link to our blog that you might want to have a look at HERE , it shows you where we are and gives you a bit of a diary of our life here, and if you want to know anything else, PM me and I will try to help. Mods, I hope this is OK but feel free to take this bit out if it isn't appropriate

Glad to be of service Nicos. Beautiful aren't they