Anyone know what these two birds are ?

jds9000 · #1 19-05-07

1:

2:

Sorry the pics are a bit naff .... can't afford one of those 'posh' lenses yet, and they were at least 150 yards away !!

Has anyone any ideas what they might be ?

Ian · #2 19-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jds9000

1:

2:

Sorry the pics are a bit naff .... can't afford one of those 'posh' lenses yet, and they were at least 150 yards away !!

Has anyone any ideas what they might be ?

Where these taken in Guernsey? Location information could be very helpful in identifying them, though I do keep on hearing about unusual birds turning up - probably something to do with climate change.

Ian

jds9000 · #3 19-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Where these taken in Guernsey? Location information could be very helpful in identifying them, though I do keep on hearing about unusual birds turning up - probably something to do with climate change.

Ian

On the tiny Lihou Island ..... very very small ... usually inhabited by a large collection of Seagulls !! .... oh and a couple of rabbits.
It's just of our Southwest coast .... and can be reached by a small causeway, but only on certain days of the year when the tide gets low enough.

There was a Channel 4 program about it last year .... about the old priory ruins on it. There is a house on it, which is occupied during the summer months only. Wouldn't fancy being out there in the winter !!
The highest point is only about 50 feet !!

Pol · #4 19-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jds9000

On the tiny Lihou Island ..... very very small ... usually inhabited by a large collection of Seagulls !! .... oh and a couple of rabbits.

Were there any Teasels in the vicinity? Finches like to eat Niger and Teasel seeds?

Pol

jds9000 · #5 19-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pol

Were there any Teasels in the vicinity? Finches like to eat Niger and Teasel seeds?

Pol

Not sure about 'Teasels' ... (had to look that one up !!) ... but a lot of Bracken and gorse .... not a lot else .... apart from the main house, the ruins, and a couple of rocks .... it's pretty well open to the Atlantic !! and gets a fair wind gusting over it !!

This is basically it !!

Pol · #6 19-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jds9000

Sorry the pics are a bit naff .... can't afford one of those 'posh' lenses yet, and they were at least 150 yards away !!

Has anyone any ideas what they might be ?

It's difficult to be absolutely sure about the first one - but the second one definitely looks like a Male Redpoll.

If they were together, or near to each other in the same location - the first one could be the female. The male Redpoll usually has a more prominent red cap and breast.

Redpolls are from the Finch family of birds and approximately the same size as Siskins. I can't remember exact details but that's the gist of it.

I have a photo of a female Redpoll in the Bird gallery actually. Does this look like the one in your first photo?

Pol

jds9000 · #7 19-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pol

It's difficult to be absolutely sure about the first one - but the second one definitely looks like a Male Redpoll.

If they were together, or near to each other in the same location - the first one could be the female. The male Redpoll usually has a more prominent red cap and breast.

Redpolls are from the Finch family of birds and approximately the same size as Siskins. I can't remeber exact details but that's the gist of it.

I have a photo of a female Redpoll in the Bird gallery actually. Does this look like the one in your first photo?

Pol

That's the one ..... There were a couple of them flying around, and one had a more red breast than the other, which looked like the one you have. I think the first one was quite a bit bigger .... almost the size of a Jay .... (not that we have any of those either !!) ..... but hard to tell from tha distance ...
Thanks for the help though .....

Mick Johnson · #8 19-05-07

The first one is definately a Wheatear, female I think but not too sure.

There are quite a few breeding quite close to me at the Roaches nr Leek.

jds9000 · #9 19-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick Johnson

The first one is definately a Wheatear, female I think but not too sure.

There are quite a few breeding quite close to me at the Roaches nr Leek.

Wow .... I'm impressed at everyones knowledge ..... must be nice to see a large variety right 'on you doorstep' .... we don't have a great deal over here .... lot of Geese though !!

Jocelyn Walker · #10 20-05-07

Normally you can tell a Finch by the shape of its beak....fairly thick & short. The second pic definitely fits that category! It is one of the first things to look at...the beak shape...suggests what it eats...eg seeds! Colouration & shape of tail next...then eye & leg colour! Gives you a good lead then on identifying a bird in a book or on the net!

Pol · #11 20-05-07

One of our members, Andy Bright, is on the staff of a very comprehensive Birding website. It's an excellent site for asking for ID of birds, insects etc and there's also a huge gallery. SEE HERE

You need to register to access the full site but it's free and it's packed with all sort of information and amazing pictures.

Pol

Caz · #12 20-05-07

An interesting topic - and I know what jds means about not being able to get close enough.... but not enough to make me want to go and get the slr kit out again

The site that Pol recommends looks interesting - as an amateur birder, I have tried to get good pictures but rarely get close enough. It's a shame that you have to register on that site to be able to view the images.

I've only just found the British Bird group on flickr, but as I've only just joined, can't give any feedback on that site. The link for that is http://www.flickr.com/groups/britishbirds/

Once you look on there, there are links to other groups too

Caz

Pol · #13 20-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caz

An interesting topic - and I know what jds means about not being able to get close enough.... but not enough to make me want to go and get the slr kit out again

The site that Pol recommends looks interesting - as an amateur birder, I have tried to get good pictures but rarely get close enough. It's a shame that you have to register on that site to be able to view the images.

Caz

The Birdforum.net registration is very quick and free. They send you an activation link, which is an ideal method for deterring spammers.

Have you ever considered digiscoping birds, as an alternative to using the SLR? Andy's website has a lot of helpful information about digiscoping, as well as SLR methods. Have a look at Andy's website HERE Lots of excellent Bird shots on there too.

I always enjoy looking at the work from Nigel Blake too - another key person from BF (Birdforum). Here's a link to Nigel's website

Pol

Caz · #14 20-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pol

The Birdforum.net registration is very quick and free. They send you an activation link, which is an ideal method for deterring spammers.

Have you ever considered digiscoping birds, as an alternative to using the SLR? Andy's website has a lot of helpful information about digiscoping, as well as SLR methods. Have a look at Andy's website HERE Lots of excellent Bird shots on there too.

I always enjoy looking at the work from Nigel Blake too - another key person from BF (Birdforum). Here's a link to Nigel's website

Pol

Thanks Pol - they both look very interesting sites, bookmarked both of them!

We are thinking of investing in a scope, but still researching and wondering whether we've got enough pennies at the moment! (May have to wait until I've upgraded the bathroom.....)

Saw one as a 'special offer' as I walked past (ahem) Jessops yesterday for £99. I'll be reading that page very carefully to see whether I can attach my Canon A710 to it, and what kind of converters' needed. When I bought the camera, the manual says there are attachments available, but haven't been able to find any - even on the Canon website.

The Digiscope site doesn't mention my camera specifically, but does mention the Powershots (The new Canon A610 & A620 use a different add-on lens adapter that gives a larger thread size, so it could be problematic for attaching a digiscoping adapter. The Canon S70 (+ LA-DC10 Adapter) & S80 ( + LA-DC20 Adapter) work.)

BTW, they were offering the A710 at a 'special Canon event price' of £199... about £30-40 more than I paid last November!

Caz

Pol · #15 20-05-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caz

We are thinking of investing in a scope, but still researching and wondering whether we've got enough pennies at the moment! (May have to wait until I've upgraded the bathroom.....)

Caz

I seriously urge you to register at birdforum.net before you buy any scopes or other kit. There's a mine of information in there, specialist forums dedicated to scopes, suitable cameras, adaptors, reviews of just about everything available etc .. and there are also people selling kit before they upgrade.

Your email addy will very safe with the birdforum.net - I've never yet been spammed at the addy I used to register over there ...... but you can always use a hotmail or yahoo addy if you wish. You can also use another nickname.. and simply lurk if you don't wanna post. I've been registered with them for a few years now but only posted very occasionally to ask for insect or bird IDs. It's a very busy place - busiest bird forums on the net, so nobody minds if you just sign up to lurk. Nobody ever complained at me for being a longtime lurker anyway. I think lumix (Ron) and Mick are registered at BF too.

There are masses of forums on the board covering a wide range of all sorts of topics, birds,insects,plant,kit etc. Go on - I promise you won't regret it and you'd be amazed by how much you'll 'absorb' just by looking in there occasionally. Then you can show us yer shots in here - digiscoped or otherwise.

I'm attaching a screenshot of the section that includes the digiscoping information.... and there are loads of subsections within it.

Pol