Topic: Mystery Bird.

[tim]

No - too late to get a picture. But my wife, wearing her glasses(!), 'saw' this thing - woodpecker type - bigger than a greater - black beak - golden to brown back - bright yellow 'trousers'. She has seen it once before. We do have'Birdland' in Bourton, but she reckons it's not from there.

SO......??

[redimp]

Could it be a Golder Oriole?

[tim]

Keep trying!!

[quinny]

Cuckoo's are around this time of year...  Is there a prize for correct identification Tim?

[tim]

No - but a happy wife!!

Cuckoo's certainly got something going for it but not quite, I think.

We might have got a prize, had I managed a photo?

My wife did see fairies when she was young.

[Yellow Petals]

Tim,

When you say yellow trousers, is that referring to under feathers being yellow or yellow legs?  And was it really as big as a woodpecker?  Do you live by water? 

[Robert_Brenchley]

Green woodpecker?It doesn't have yellow trousers but it does have a yellow bum.

[quinny]

Lets here more about these faries Tim...  I believe in them, they used to give me 10p a tooth when I was young... 

[Yellow Petals]

Green woodpecker?It doesn't have yellow trousers

Or a brown back or black beak?  Hehehe

[gunnerbee]

is it a yellow wagtail?

[gunnerbee]

might be a female yellow wagtail from the description.

[tim]

These were not the winged type, quinny - they were little black boys, in coloured hooped Edwardian swimsuits down to their knees, playing amongst the boats on the shore at Wallasey. I think they were about 18" tall.

[Mrs Ava]

Hell quinny, serious inflation has taken place in fairy world.  Daughter number one is getting a pound a tooth at the moment!

[Robert_Brenchley]

My daughter took about five minutes to decide that I was the fairy, and Father Christmas as well. She still expected her money though.

[Yellow Petals]

might be a female yellow wagtail from the description.

colourwise I'd tend to agree but sizewise (and beak colour) doesn't tally up.

[tim]

I'm trying local clubs as well - will let you know if I get anywhere.

I've cleaned the kitchen windows in expectation of another visit.

[Yellow Petals]

This is a real mystery!  There are no British Birds in size and colour which match your (wife's) description so it must either be a summer visitor (which is quite exciting) or as you initially suggested to your wife, from the local Birdland. 

I hope one of you gets to see it again!

[tim]

I feel the same.

I think that your avatar is getting a bit over-excited about it??