ML616889595

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

7th British record, and the first female. Had to queue up to see the bird, which was at the feeding station at the reserve. Seen by myself and c100 other bird-watchers on 25th February. It had been present for 10 days but only 3 people had seen it, as it was thought to be an aberrant Yellow Bunting. On initial views, very similar to a female Yellow Bunting but without any trace of yellow or gren in the plumage. General size and shape and jizz identical to the c40 Yellow Bunting with which it was associating, feeding on grain especially put out for them. A grey and white bunting. Upper parts greyish with brown-grey coverts and black secondaries and primaries. Coverts all edged with grey-buff and secondaries edged white. Rump, chestnut, like Yellow Bunting. Front of crown grey, heavily streaked with fine dark streaks. Rear of crown with two dark stripes and pale off-white patch between them. Very prominent supercillium, broader than Yellow Bunting. Sub-moustachal stripe, extending down then sweeping under and up behind ear coverts which were dark grey. Underparts whitish with lots of grey streaking on breast and sides of flanks. Flank streaking finer and more of it than on Yellow Bunting. Streaking on sides of breast bolder and with a tinge of chestnut. Bill, most of upper mandible dark, lower, pale horn. Legs dark pink.

Technical information

Model

Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED

Dimensions

3181 pixels x 1908 pixels

Original file size

1.52 MB