What new birds are now coming into your garden this winter??

[ChrisR]

Just thought that I had another Common Redpoll but when I got the bins on it it turned out be a very smart little Siskin! This cold winter really has drawn in lots of northern finches - a friend reported that 25 Common Redpoll were mist-netted in South Oxon a few days ago - including two possible Mealy Redpoll - an Arctic species. We might have had a harsh winter but in Scandinavia and northern Europe there seems to have been much more snow, and the easterly winds have driven a lot of unusual birds to our shores

[earthdragon64]

Aren't Common and Mealy Redpoll the same species? As opposed to the Lesser Redpoll, which is the one that's resident in most of the UK.

[Mirandalyn]

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

Aren't Common and Mealy Redpoll the same species? As opposed to the Lesser Redpoll, which is the one that's resident in most of the UK.

Yes, Common and Mealy are the same species, and yes, The Lesser Redpoll is UK's resident bird

Steve's Birding Pages

The RSPB: Lesser redpoll

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

Aren't Common and Mealy Redpoll the same species? As opposed to the Lesser Redpoll, which is the one that's resident in most of the UK.

Yes Common is Mealy Redpoll, Carduelis flammea. The resident Lesser Redpoll, C. cabaret, was fairly recently split from this species.

I'm surprised in the new 2nd edition of the Collins Bird Guide Lesser is still treated as a sub-species.

Redpoll ID can be tricky with different sub-species with some overlapping characters.

[Dogghound]

The only new bird here is a Wren. In the 10 years ive lived here ive had about 1 other sighting of one in the garden. This one is hanging around abit more, good to see the large amounts of changes ive made to the garden are starting to work.

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

Aren't Common and Mealy Redpoll the same species? As opposed to the Lesser Redpoll, which is the one that's resident in most of the UK.

Ahh, my mistake then - I am quite a 'novice' birder and I just call them Redpolls ... I'd assumed that we would have Common as the primary species ... Lesser sounds like something unusual

[M of R]

Having just moved, we are getting lots of Jackdaws, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Blue/Coal Tits and Fieldfares.

To a lesser extent we are getting Nuthatches, Robins, Collared Doves, Blackbirds, Greenfinches and a Greater Spotted Woodpeckker.

Nice!!

[DanJeffery]

I think long tailed tits are new to our garden (I had only been a casual bird "glancer" until this year but I don't think I have seen long tailed tits before)