Can anyone confirm whether this is a Juvenille blackbird for me? The blueish front has thrown me. Thanks x

Hi Goldfinch... I like your feeders - not seen those before. My dunnock families also come up above ground level onto my feeder tables. They land on the gate then make their way along the trellis (6 feet high) before hopping across to the 5 feet high table. It did take them a while to get used to doing this. Initially they pootled around on the ground below the table, but I was determined to encourage them upwards as next door's cat lurks amongst the tubs in my yard from time to time until I spot her and throw her out.

Squirrel

Its a Dunnock and it is surprising to see it up at feeders, but like Robins these days we  see them often on our feeders.

Thanks for your reply and confirmation. Believe it or not, this little bird did start on the ground feeding a couple of weeks a ago but one day decided to scuttle up the trunk of the feeder (not fly up) and has been feeding up there ever since. They hop in and out of the same tall hedges that the blackbirds do hence the further confusion.

thanks again and happy birding!

Dunnocks are a lovely little bird imo - very well disguised when they're hopping about in and beneath the hedgerows (their usual habitat - one of their other names being 'hedge sparrow'). They're often mistaken for house sparrows but are quite distinctive in their colouring and beak shape. I've never seen one on our feeders but they often hop around underneath looking for dropped seeds.

Nice picture, by the way!

Hi, as a lot have already confirmed its a Dunnock, I have recently photographed what I think is a very overlooked bird, and have posted some pictures on my blog site - http://walksnwildlife.blogspot.com/

Regards

Gary

Hi Gary... that's gone STRAIGHT to my favourites - wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing.