What bird is this?

[Jersali]

Hello all,
great day perusing that coastal marshes at Reculver today, saw several of these birds, feeding on the ground then constantly flitting back up to the thistles ans scrub on the inland side of the sea wall.
Can anyone tell me what it is please?

Al

[tigertom]

your bird is a Female stonechat
MIKE

[faz]

agree with tiger tom

[Shrike]

stonechat for me too , however i cant tell myself if its female or first winter male/female.

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by Shrike

stonechat for me too , however i cant tell myself if its female or first winter male/female.

I'd agree with you on first winter juv

[Dogghound]

Its a female, but I think ageing it may be a little hard from this photo, unless someone is seeing something im not? You cant see the tail and you cant see the greater coverts (clearly). Granted the jizz of the bird is 1st winter, quite a pale head. I would leave it as Female.

[Jersali]

Thanks for all the replies, enjoyed the debate about female or juvenile, wow there's some great detail in there

I think female is spot on, lucky enough to go back and have another look today (same pair I guess), male is much easier to identify..








Thanks again
Al