Elizabeth came to the rescue and I managed to get one shot before it flew off. Unfortunately it turned its head, hiding its enormous bill...
Can you see what it is yet?
We have to admit it was out with the bird books but it was quickly identified as a Hawfinch. For more information see here.
Looking at the RSPB site, linked above, it looks like a male in breeding plumage.
We looked intensely for the rest of yesterday and also today but have had no other sightings. In our bird book it says they like to eat cherry stones, so we will save ours later in the year to see if we can tempt it back next winter. (that is if we have any cherries this year!)
3 comments:
Right on...
I am now green with envy!!
I knew what it was the moment I read your description... I've only ever had a glimpse once... on an RSPB trip to Coldstream [Scots Borders]
You lucky.....!! [fill in suitable exbleetive of your choice!]
It certainly has the "frilly" feathers and dark feathers just in front of them...
female is white/pale just there...
in fact is paler altogether....
and don't believe the books when they talk about Summer plumage... the RSPB is more correct when it talks about breeding plumage.
It is clear that some birds get into their breeding finery at their Autumnal moult...
by the time they've bred and fed and midsummer is here they are usually looking quite dowdy.
Collins... THE Bird Guide uses summer and winter...
it would be better to say Spring and Autumn.
Collins describe it as "a flying pair of nutcrackers!" The bill can generate 50Kg of nut splitting force...
GOOD SPOT... this is exactly why we are looking out of the windows all the time and getting little done!!
Tim. We know all about looking out and getting nothing done! But when you see something new it makes it worthwhile. Still on the lookout for it again, if its been once it may come back. Here's hoping.
"It had a enormous bill...
I hope you weren't "pre-paired" to pay it... or was that why it hid it?
Pauline reckons that a "glimpse once... on an RSPB trip to Coldstream"... when someone points to a shape high in the branches and says "Look, Hawfinch"... is not counted as seeing it!
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