ID? no picture.

[Reptilian]

Hi all.

I just got back from walking the river then coastal cliff path from Aberaron to New Quay (West wales) I saw a few nice birds today including a Treecreaper, Dipper, Kite and pair of Choughs on the cliffs but there was one i couldn't ID. It was along the cliff path sat on a tall peice of grass in a field. I'd say it was green finch size, black head, thinish white colar and had a red front. I didn't see it from the back, and it didn't stay still for long for a good ID.

Any ideas?

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Reptilian

Hi all.

I just got back from walking the river then coastal cliff path from Aberaron to New Quay (West wales) I saw a few nice birds today including a Treecreaper, Dipper, Kite and pair of Choughs on the cliffs but there was one i couldn't ID. It was along the cliff path sat on a tall peice of grass in a field. I'd say it was green finch size, black head, thinish white colar and had a red front. I didn't see it from the back, and it didn't stay still for long for a good ID.

Any ideas?

Not exactly red front-stonechat perhaps?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Not exactly red front-stonechat perhaps?

Sometimes you do come across ones that are quite strikingly red, I think you're right male Stonechat sounds about right!

[Deer Stalker]

I would say Stonechat too.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

The two that spring to my mind are Stonechat and Bullfinch, both black headed with redish fronts





Both images swiped from the galleries

[aeshna5]

Sounds like a Stonechat male to me from both the description + its behaviour. The Bullfinch doesn't have the white collar + they tend to be shyer + perhaps less likely to be sitting out like that.

[Reptilian]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Sounds like a Stonechat male to me from both the description + its behaviour. The Bullfinch doesn't have the white collar + they tend to be shyer + perhaps less likely to be sitting out like that.

I see Bullfinches fairly often and it was defiantly not a Bullfinch. When I got home I flicked through my field guild and the closest I could get was a Stonechat. After reading these replies I don't think it could be anything else so it's another bird I can mark off, though I will go back to the area to try and make a 100% ID with pictures!

Thanks peeps.