Mystery Bird

[jedimaster]

Saw a bird today at the river side in Wolfscote Dale in Derbyshire. I cannot find it in my books.

A bit like a ring ouzel but quite a bit bigger, beak longer, quite long legs, the most striking feature was it's amazing white breast, squarish in shape. rest of bird was darkish brown speckled on the back (a bit pheasant like) but smaller speckles.

There were two of them preening themselves.

any ideas on what it might be please ?

thanks

[Jason Green]

Welcome to WAB, JM!

Longer beak, longer legs, by a river, a Wader??

I would have said Little Stint for the speckled back and white chest and Pheasant-like speckles but it isn't so numerous.

Wiuth the reference to Ring ouzels (Black, long legs, wader) maybe Oyster catcher? Probably not without a mention of the redness... as you can probably tell, a picture would have been great!

[jedimaster]

Not sure, they were on the bank side not in the water.

[Gill Catton]

dipper - perhaps a juvenillie and hence specklyness

[jedimaster]

Not a dipper, quite a bit bigger, large white breast but not white throat.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by jedimaster

Not a dipper, quite a bit bigger, large white breast but not white throat.

hmmmm tricky, perhaps a juvenille coot, otherwise I'm rather out of ideas

[Jason Green]

So, on to the type. Is it a Wader (big-ish, long legs, bill etc)or a smaller bird (Garden type?)

The Dipper was a good suggestion:

1. Blackbird size
2. Square white chest
3. Aquatic habitat

I can only really suggest checking the RSPBs site and awaiting further posts.

[MagpieMick]

Common Sandpiper springs to mind....!!!

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by MagpieMick

Common Sandpiper springs to mind....!!!

oh that's a good one,

not much bigger than a dipper though - but size can be tricksie.....

[jedimaster]

Thanks for all the suggestions, not a common sandpiper, not a little stint or oyster catcher, I think juvenile coot unlikely.

The white breast did not stretch into it's underparts, sides or throat. If you can visualise a robin with it's red breast, this was similar but stark white and bigger than a blackbird, but not quite as big as a pigeon.

I've never seen anything like it before.

I've tried the RSPB bird identifier to no avail.

Had the binocs with me, but left the camera in the car, typical!!