Bird ID, please (no photo)

[rainmaker]

After my excursion to East Anglia, I have a query - there was a lovely flock of birds at Blakeney point in the green verges on the banks - bit dunnock-like (in closed wing view), but a touch smaller, and beautiful flashes of white/blue (black?) when they took wing - about 20 in the flock, and they played a game of follow-my-leader, whilst performing a bouncy jaunty flight up to 10m in the air, and then suddenly diving into the verges to feed again. Anyone any idea what they are? I suspect, from images on t'internet that they were Lapland Buntings - but there seems no description of the white/blue-black of the underwing or tail, nor are there any in-flight pics!

[VinceS]

Consider Snow buntings. These are quite disinctive in flight showing balck and white.

Vince

[Dae]

Well you say dunnock-like, and I first think of pipits. But if they had thick bills like a sparrow then I imagine buntings are a consideration as well.

[epops]

Originally Posted by VinceS

Consider Snow buntings. These are quite disinctive in flight showing balck and white.

Vince

id go with snow bunting as well

[rainmaker]

I'd already looked at snow bunting and crossed it off, mainly due to the dunnock-like breast markings (the thin lines).

A pipit may also be a good shout, I kind of hoped that the vague behaviour description may help with the ID.

They really were remarkably innocuous-looking until they took off!

Cheers all

[Dae]

Well, pipits are the only birds I can think of that travel like you described, that are streaked like a dunnock and a bit smaller than a dunnock. There's a few buntings as well that may be the ticket, and I do feel that snow bunting may not be one as it's not streaked, but without knowing the bill type, it's tough for me to narrow it down. I'm sure someone more proficient will be able to help you

[epops]

urm linnnets? meadow pipits? wood larks ? probly none of these im just stabbibg in the dark me thinks.

[VinceS]

Have you checked out juvenile snow bunting - these can have streaky breasts. Just a thought.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Your description is almost perfect for the many flocks of Snow Bunting around on the Norfolk coast at the momemt. I have seen 50+ flocks recently at Salthouse and Holkham, which are either side of Blakeney.

Cheers,

Adam

[aeshna5]

Sound like Snow Buntings to me too; recently had a flock of c100 at Holkham.

[ChrisJB]

If you say a bit smaller than Dunnocks, then they are unlikely to be Snow Buntings, as these are noticably larger. I think they could well be Twite, which tend to be slightly smaller or similar sized to Dunnocks. They also show white on the tail and on their underparts.

Regards, Chris

[paulchandler6]

My thoughts were Twite, once you eliminated Snow Bunting.

Paul

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

If you say a bit smaller than Dunnocks, then they are unlikely to be Snow Buntings, as these are noticably larger. I think they could well be Twite, which tend to be slightly smaller or similar sized to Dunnocks. They also show white on the tail and on their underparts.

Regards, Chris

I think when people give size comparisons like this they are often mistaken, so although Snow Buntings are larger, I took it with a pinch of salt. There also seems to be a lack of Twite in that area recently, though it remains a possibility. To me they look very dark at a distance, not obvious white.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I think when people give size comparisons like this they are often mistaken, so although Snow Buntings are larger, I took it with a pinch of salt. There also seems to be a lack of Twite in that area recently, though it remains a possibility. To me they look very dark at a distance, not obvious white.

Yep, you could be right. Though I have to say I am still leaning towards Twite. The first time I saw Snow Buntings it really struck me how big they were (within reason, obviously not Mute Swan big!). The 'lines' on the breast would fit with Twite and they are certainly 'innocuous looking birds', until they take off, when the white may be seen. To me Snow Buntings are not innocuous, even when stood on the ground, but I accept this is subjective!

Regards, Chris

[rainmaker]

Almost definitely a Twite; when I said "innocuous" I did my usual master-of-understatement thing - almost invisible; also I wouldn't expect to see a full flock of juvenile snow buntings, which seem quite striking, whether on the ground or not.

There's quite a few images on google search which indicate that it was indeed a flock of twites, and reading the RSPB site, all evidence would back up this.

Thanks for all your time - much appreciated

[Jolanta Zofia Nowak]

I wouldn't say that Twite would come into the 'beautiful' category - and size is always tricky if there are no comparators.

Apart from the Snow Bunting suggestion, I'm afraid I'd tend to go with the likes of something more common like Chaffinches or maybe Bramblings.

Having said which, there are Twite in that area sometimes...

[VinceS]

Hi rainmaker
Glad you have sorted the ID to your satisfaction. It is a good feeling when you can be happy with the ID.

Vince

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Jolanta Zofia Nowak

I wouldn't say that Twite would come into the 'beautiful' category

That's a bit subjective - a small flock of them on the ground is no great shakes - but the aerial antics were beautiful to watch. And also, in one of the other threads, if you look at peoples favourite birds both dunnocks & sparrows appear more than once; again both are fairly innocuous, but people love them for a reason.

Originally Posted by Jolanta Zofia Nowak

Having said which, there are Twite in that area sometimes...

Yup

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

That's a bit subjective - a small flock of them on the ground is no great shakes - but the aerial antics were beautiful to watch. And also, in one of the other threads, if you look at peoples favourite birds both dunnocks & sparrows appear more than once; again both are fairly innocuous, but people love them for a reason.



Yup

Very true. I have a real soft spot for Twite (or the old name, Yellow-neb Lintie!). They breed on my local moors, though sadly in ever decreasing numbers. We had a chap who regularly fed them at a locally well known moorland feeding station in winter, but I have heard he has recently moved away from the area and the winter flock has vanished.

Regards, Chris

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

(or the old name, Yellow-neb Lintie!)

Now THAT is a lovely name - is that colloquial?

[ChrisJB]

It's a Scottish colloquial name I think, named after the yellowish colour of the bill in autumn. In parts of Scotland it was also known as the 'Heather Lintie'. The Twite is blessed with a lot of local names. The old timers here in the South Pennines used to call them 'Moorpeeps' (along with Meadow Pipits).

I've read somewhere that they are the only European bird derived from the Tibetan fauna, in that they spread into central Europe from Tibet during the Ice-Age, and as the ice retreated into northern Europe, some of the Twite followed the retreating ice sheets. This certainly explains it's fragmented range in Eurasia.

It's just struck me. The ones you saw may be our local summer breeders. If you see them again, say hello to them for me!

Regards, Chris