Hawfinch, Leeds

Morrywray · #1 (**permalink**) 22-09-2010, 09:29 PM

As I walked into work this morning there was a Hawfinch on the grass outside. This was in suburban Leeds, West Yorks. Is this unusual...never seen one before.

Picidae · #2 (**permalink**) 22-09-2010, 10:46 PM

Welcome to WAB - A bit unusual for this time of year and especially in your location - they will readily visit parks/gardens etc for berries/bird tables late autumn/winter but this time of year still preferring conifer/seed bearing trees and generally far less visible even if foraging on the ground.

You say you've never seen one before, so would it be fair to say you are not a particularly experienced birder? Could it have been something else? Jay, another type of finch? Would be interested to know if it a male or female and how you identified it?

Morrywray · #3 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 06:29 PM

Hi
Yes you are qite right, I'm not very experienced and I identified it from the rspb on line bird identifier. I'm pretty sure it was a hawfinch; distinctive orange neck and head and stubby finch like beak. Quite big though, nearly as big as a crow, I thought it very unusual looking. The pictures of Jays I have seen don't seem as colourfull. My camera was in the office, but by the time I came back out it had gone.

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morrywray

Hi
Yes you are qite right, I'm not very experienced and I identified it from the rspb on line bird identifier. I'm pretty sure it was a hawfinch; distinctive orange neck and head and stubby finch like beak. Quite big though, nearly as big as a crow, I thought it very unusual looking. The pictures of Jays I have seen don't seem as colourfull. My camera was in the office, but by the time I came back out it had gone.

If it was nearly as big as a Crow- it defintely wasn't a Hawfinch or any other finch! Jay does seem the most likely suspect, but without a photo or fuller description can't be 100%.

Don't worry we all make lots of mistakes when we start out + even when experienced still make the odd one!

Morrywray · #5 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 09:16 PM

I'm not worried... no reputation to protect in my case. I don't know what it was then but it looked very much like the hawfinch pictures I have seen, especially the beak and orange plumage. Non of the pictures of Jays I have see, have these features? Maybe we've got some giant finch in Leeds!
Thanks for your interest.