Hi, I don't know if there's any keen birders on the forum, but I came across an unexpected sighting today, something unusual of which I have no idea what it is.
Basically it's a blackbird sized bird, similar habit to a garden bird with a metallic mid blue colour on top with some scarlett sheen mixed in, real strange, never seen anything like it.. any idea?
Bird Identification
Started by SP1986, Dec 26 2010 18:11
8 replies to this topic
#1
SP1986
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Santo
Posted 26 December 2010 - 18:11
Heswall, Wirral, UK (102m asl)
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#2
Nick L
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Posted 26 December 2010 - 18:21
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#3
Cableguy
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Posted 26 December 2010 - 18:29
SP1986, on 26 December 2010 - 18:11 , said:
Hi, I don't know if there's any keen birders on the forum, but I came across an unexpected sighting today, something unusual of which I have no idea what it is.
Basically it's a blackbird sized bird, similar habit to a garden bird with a metallic mid blue colour on top with some scarlett sheen mixed in, real strange, never seen anything like it.. any idea?
Basically it's a blackbird sized bird, similar habit to a garden bird with a metallic mid blue colour on top with some scarlett sheen mixed in, real strange, never seen anything like it.. any idea?
Probably a common grackle
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#4
cuckoo
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Posted 26 December 2010 - 18:35
Sounds like it could be a Fieldfare. I saw one the other week when I was out walking. They migrate here from East and North East Europe to evade the harsher winters there. Given the current weather they are probably struggling to find food in the woodland / farmland pasture and are visiting gardens in their search for food.
#5
SP1986
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Santo
Posted 26 December 2010 - 18:57
None of those, I should have said a greeny-blue rather than a dark blue..
Heswall, Wirral, UK (102m asl)
A member of the Net-weather hosting team - Do you have any questions? Let me know
Extremes for Winter 2011 (so far):
December 2011
Maximum temperature: +15.1C
Minimum temperature: +0.8C
Airfrosts: 0
Ground Frosts: 1
Snow Falling: 1
Snow Lying: 1
January 2012
Maximum temperature: 12.2C
Minimum temperature: 3.6C
Airfrosts:0
Ground frosts: 0
Snow Falling: 0
Snow Lying: 0
'Views and opinions expressed in this or any other of my posts are my own'
A member of the Net-weather hosting team - Do you have any questions? Let me know
Extremes for Winter 2011 (so far):
December 2011
Maximum temperature: +15.1C
Minimum temperature: +0.8C
Airfrosts: 0
Ground Frosts: 1
Snow Falling: 1
Snow Lying: 1
January 2012
Maximum temperature: 12.2C
Minimum temperature: 3.6C
Airfrosts:0
Ground frosts: 0
Snow Falling: 0
Snow Lying: 0
'Views and opinions expressed in this or any other of my posts are my own'
#6
Sonnia
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Posted 26 December 2010 - 19:03
SP1986, on 26 December 2010 - 18:57 , said:
None of those, I should have said a greeny-blue rather than a dark blue..
Hi I think you may find it is called a jay. They fly in the same fashion as the Thrush. They are of a size between a Thrush & a Magpie. They are very shy birds
#7
SP1986
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Santo
Posted 26 December 2010 - 21:20
Sonnia, on 26 December 2010 - 19:03 , said:
Hi I think you may find it is called a jay. They fly in the same fashion as the Thrush. They are of a size between a Thrush & a Magpie. They are very shy birds
Definitely not a Jay, I have Jays in my garden sometimes, this was much much different. I mean I sometimes go and birdwatch at the local hide, so all the local birds I've probably seen there, but this was unusual, normally you don't take it notice.
I found this picture, it's very unlikely to be what I saw, but this is the colour I'm referring to (and the metallic sheen, with a scarlet rump)
Very much this colour and shine: http://www.google.co...bhY0j7kzy9wy0_Q
It wasn't a normal starling though
Heswall, Wirral, UK (102m asl)
A member of the Net-weather hosting team - Do you have any questions? Let me know
Extremes for Winter 2011 (so far):
December 2011
Maximum temperature: +15.1C
Minimum temperature: +0.8C
Airfrosts: 0
Ground Frosts: 1
Snow Falling: 1
Snow Lying: 1
January 2012
Maximum temperature: 12.2C
Minimum temperature: 3.6C
Airfrosts:0
Ground frosts: 0
Snow Falling: 0
Snow Lying: 0
'Views and opinions expressed in this or any other of my posts are my own'
A member of the Net-weather hosting team - Do you have any questions? Let me know
Extremes for Winter 2011 (so far):
December 2011
Maximum temperature: +15.1C
Minimum temperature: +0.8C
Airfrosts: 0
Ground Frosts: 1
Snow Falling: 1
Snow Lying: 1
January 2012
Maximum temperature: 12.2C
Minimum temperature: 3.6C
Airfrosts:0
Ground frosts: 0
Snow Falling: 0
Snow Lying: 0
'Views and opinions expressed in this or any other of my posts are my own'
#9
Fozfoster
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Posted 29 December 2010 - 14:03
Hi , we have had 5 or 6 Fieldfare feeding on the berries, not seen them round here before . I think they are a winter visitor to the UK from the Continent but are they common? Cheers ff.
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