Help with ID please :)

[Bekki :)]

Hi all .... I have 3 birds which I'm not 100% sure on and was wondering if anyone could help me?

First one is this one ...

I saw this one in woodland that is bordered by pasture and backs on to heathland. I would say it was about the same size, maybe a little smaller than a blue tit ... but all these little brown jobs look the same to me!!

The second is this one ...

Was wondering if this is a marsh or willow (I cant tell the difference!)

And the third is ....



Saw this one on the top of the pine in the middle of a big heathland/bog area which backs on to pine woods. I think it could be a linnet ... just not 100%.

I know these arent amazing photos but I hope they are of some use

Thanks in advance!!

Bekki

[Wild-Woman]

Here's my thoughts.
1 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Tit
3 Female Linnet

Let the real experts guide you though!

[RoyW]

Hi Bekki,

1. Chiffchaff.
2. Marsh Tit (the second photo shows the pale spot on the bill which is a good feature to look for - and is absent in Willow).
3. Linnet.

The photos may not be perfect, but they are more than adequate to allow identifications to be made.
Digital photography has made it a lot easy to get 'record shots' of birds. I'm not always sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, it does make it easier to confirm/correct identifications in many cases, but at other times the photos don't show the features needed for an identification and the time spent trying to get the shots would have been better spent taking field notes (something that doesn't happen as much now).

[Wild-Woman]

Oh well 2/3 aint bad! I came very close to saying Marsh too!

[Wild-Woman]

PS that's a good feature to look out for on the Marsh- cheers. I can remember that!

[Bekki :)]

I thought it was a marsh too but I have no idea of how to tell the difference ... but I do now though Thanks very much!!

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

PS that's a good feature to look out for on the Marsh- cheers.

At your age?

(relates to another thread!)