Last week while dropping my mum off, I briefly saw two birds around the size of a thrush. They were on the ground pecking. One was stronger coloured than the other (they seemed to be together) a bit speckly with a black cap. I assumed it WAS a blackcap but looking at the ID books they're not speckly. I've been back a few times but haven't seen them again. Any ideas please? Also saw 5 or 6 birds just rootling around by the Madjeski stadium that looked like redwings but they had very auburn chests. Were they something else? Very pretty whatever they were. Thanks.
I think you're right in that they probably weren't blackcaps. A blackcap is much smaller than a thrush, it's more the size of a bluetit (well, at least the ones in my garden are!). Also, a female blackcap has a brown cap, and you're unlikely to see two males feeding together because they're not much into sharing.
There is something that looks quite like a blackcap but has a longer 'cap' which goes below its eyes... but I can't remember what it is. Whitethroat, possibly?
BB
Hi,
I wondered if it was just a bad view of some fieldfares :)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
Hi littlefairycat
I'm not sure I know what you saw either but I'll have a go. Not much to go on. Black cap, speckly and about the size of a thrush
I wonder whether what you saw might have been a male and female reed bunting. The male has quite a lot of black on the head (fairly muted at this time of year) whereas the female is less coloured. They are stripey rather than speckled but may have given that appearance at a quick glance. There is one snag, however, they are smaller than a thrush, more sparrow sized, Well, two out of three ain't bad!
They are seen feeding on the ground. Take a look at these photos of reed buntings. What do you think? Could they have been what you saw?
As to the other birds near the Madjeski, redwings are still around but so are fieldfares and they are aften seen in flocks prior to them migrating back to Scandinavia. The fieldfare is bigger ( more blackbird sized) than a redwing but it does have quite an auburn chest. Here's a photo of one.
Hope this is of some help.
TJ
____________________________________________________________________
Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Great set of photos TJ.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Lovely photos TJ,
Unknown said:two out of three ain't bad!
and a Meat Loaf fan as well!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
LOL I missed that one - well spotted Sparrow!
Susan H said: two out of three ain't bad! and a Meat Loaf fan as well! [/quote] If there was a thead about bats I might try and work that one in as well. LOL ____________________________________________________________________ Tony My Flickr Photostream
two out of three ain't bad!
[/quote]
If there was a thead about bats I might try and work that one in as well. LOL
LOL at Meatloaf and Bats
Fab pictures of the Reed Bunting and Thush
Hope the mystery birds are resolved
Regards
Kathy and Bats
LOL Blackbird, how does Dave feel about being called Bats?
Hi Sparrow
The answer to that question about him being Bats is he called me his little Fruit Bat LOL
So now we are equal
Kathy and Dave
Susan H said: LOL Blackbird, how does Dave feel about being called Bats?