I live in the Derwent valley in the North East of England and i have been filming wild birds for a couple of months now. I went on an early morning walk to a new wetland spot, and aswell as others i have some footage of 3 that i cannot identify and the books i have looked in cannot either. I have posted the video with the 3 on youtube and i cannot use the uploader on the site, this is the link for the video. It is only around a minute long and the videos are clear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj2er5Vb4s0 The first is about the size of a robin and dark brown. The second bird is what has me the most intruiged and i have been told by one person it could me an immature cuckoo, about 15cm long and a greyish colour and the last one is a robin lookalike with a lush white belly but no red breast. Thank you i hope somebody can shed some light on these beauties.
I couldn't get a good enough look at the first bird so I can't help you on that one I'm afraid; but I'm pretty sure that bird number 2 is a dunnock, and bird number 3 is a chiffchaff (identified purely by the fact that it can be seen and heard singing the chiffchaff song).
Hi cJackson92, welcome to the forum.
I have watched your video several times and the first bird is proving the hardest to identify. It's what know as a little brown job. I can't see any colour and I can't hear any call or song.
If you have a photo then I would suggest you upload that, we can then alter that image and you will hopefully get it identified.
The second bird is a Dunnock a juvenile Cuckoo would be twice as big.
The third bird is a Chiffchaff, if you listen to his song that is what he is saying Chiffchaff Chiffchaff etc.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Thank you both for your information although on the 2nd bird i musent have accuratley guessed the length as the full length is probably more like 18-20 cm. It was really double the size of any of the dunnocks i have seen, although i'm far from an expert... by the way just incase you havent already, watch the video in HD.
Hi cjackson92
Welcome to the forum.
I think that the first bird is behaving like a dunnock, but I can't say what it is for certain. At this time of the year they flit their wings like that much of the time in courtship display. I also think that bird 2 is a dunnock and bird 3 is saying his name 'chiff chaff chiff chaff'
Best wishes Chris
Click Here to see my photos
Hi
Bird 1- Dunnock- it is wing flicking as they do :)
Bird 2- Dunnock- shows all the plumage characters
Bird 3- Chiffchaff- it is a small phyllosc and tail pumps :)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
For a 'little brown job' I think Dunnocks are wonderful birds!!
I can watch them for hours pottering round the garden. Yes Dunnocks number 1 and 2
Pipit
Thank you everyone for how many reply's i have got, i think it is a unanimous decision on the birds, thank you again