Can anyone help identify this pretty little visitor to our garden this January? It was a regular feeder off our seed /breadcrumb tray - about the same size as the numerous chaffinches but with distinctive orange/pink legs.
I'd be most grateful for any guidance!
Welcome DD Rhydowen! I would say meadow pipit!
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
It looks like it could be a meadow pipit, what a lovely visitor to get in your garden.
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Hi DD
I've enlarged your photo and lightened it a bit so I can see it more clearly. I'm pretty sure it's a Meadow Pipit. However, it's probably better to wait until some one who is more expert than me to confirm.
Welcome to the Forum if you've just joined.
Regards TJ
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Tony
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Welcome to the forum DD Rhydowen.
As the other members have suggested the bird is indeed a Meadow Pipit.
During the severe weather many were sighted visiting gardens in search of food!
I also cropped your photo and brightened it up to give a bit better definition of the bird!
It now has to much exposure, but it helps to see the bird.
Regards Buzzard
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Many thanks one and all for welcoming me to this lovely and very useful Forum .... and for all your help. Particular thanks to you Buzzard for enhancing my photograph. I agree it looks like a Meadow Pipit. I do have another Mystery Visitor in my garden - only seen twice - but sadly on neither occasion did I have my camera to hand and on standby! I will try to descrIbe it though. ....... It looked like a very smart and extremely well marked Sparrow with a noticeably dark brown head and a longer tail. It also had a very distinctive way of walking - bobbing it's tail a lot - which made us sure that it wasn't a sparrow or chaffinch. Having scoured through all my Bird Books and now having looked through some of the other questions/answers on this Forum it may well be a reed bunting - but is that possible here in Wales do you think? We are within sight of a river!
Rockwolf said: Welcome DD Rhydowen! I would say meadow pipit!
Thanks on both counts! I agree!
Unknown said: Hi and welcome to the forum. It looks like it could be a meadow pipit, what a lovely visitor to get in your garden.
Thanks Bishy-barney-bee. I've never seen one in my garden before so I'm quite excited!
Unknown said: Hi DD I've enlarged your photo and lightened it a bit so I can see it more clearly. I'm pretty sure it's a Meadow Pipit. However, it's probably better to wait until some one who is more expert than me to confirm. Welcome to the Forum if you've just joined. Regards TJ
Thanks TJ. Nice to be a member of such a friendly Forum! From all the other answers I've had I think you're right. Thanks for your help!
DD Rhydowen
Unknown said:....... It looked like a very smart and extremely well marked Sparrow with a noticeably dark brown head and a longer tail. It also had a very distinctive way of walking - bobbing it's tail a lot - which made us sure that it wasn't a sparrow or chaffinch. Having scoured through all my Bird Books and now having looked through some of the other questions/answers on this Forum it may well be a reed bunting - but is that possible here in Wales do you think? We are within sight of a river!
Hi again DD Rhydowen
From your description of a "very smart sparrow" it sounds very much like a Reed Bunting Here's a couple of pics that I took in my own garden back in the winter. Did it look anything like these?
Lots of people reported having them visit their gardens during the winter so I think it's perfectly posible that you did too especially as you are close to a river. They've even been seen on bird tables.
Best wishes
TJ
Excellent TJ! Thanks. Yes that's definitely it! Well, what excitement! 2 new birds for me this year and it's only April!!
It sounds as though you have a wonderful variety of birds where you are. And some super photos. Well done indeed for helping to solve my two mysterious visitors!
Are you an keen Bird Watcher as your knowledge is amazing?! I am pretty new to all this - but the bird life here in West Wales is fabulous and we are blessed with the amount of birds coming to our garden - especially as it is a new garden without much cover (as yet!)
DD