Hi Col
Very good description. The general colouring and particularly the white rump in flight make me think of a female or first year (Northern) Wheatear. Tail flicking is also a characteristic. Take a look at some of the images HERE to see if I'm on the right track
It's unusual to see one in a garden but during migration they can turn up anywhere
To post photo follow this link
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/about/f/1251/t/108794.aspx
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
I found a couple of rubbish photos of one that turned up in Regent's Park, London last year. The second one shows a bit of its white rump
Thanks for the quick reply Tony
I think you are spot on! I try and post a pic later, although they are not very good taken through glass and is not as good as those 'rubbish' photos anyway (ha), but should be good enough and perhaps you can confirm, but certainly looks like it, I always though a Wheatear was a bit bigger, but not having seen one before... I'll add it to my garden 'seen' list.
Thanks for your knowledgeable reply
I believe that this is the bird I’ve just seen in my garden. I didn’t get to see the white rump but the rest of your description seemed right. I thought at first, not being very good at identifying anything beyond the very common birds, that it may have been a young robin awaiting his full red breast as there was a ‘blush’ n the right area. However, he didn’t eat the live mealworms but did snap at a fly mid air. I live on the Kent/Surrey border surrounded by woodland and fields. I spend a lot of time watching the wildlife where I live but can’t recall having seen this little chap before.
I’ve
Immature robin just acquiring some red. N.b Bert…..this is an old thread.
Sorry that I’m writing on an old thread but the questions and answers are still helpful.
That is fine, but you may not have got a response if I hadn’t posted, as Col who wrote the post 9 years ago isn’t a familiar name.