Allotments 4 All

Over the allotment yesterday i saw a bird between the size of a Great Tit and a Black bird, a head the same shape as a Finch, dark brown or black body with an orange breast.

Anyone got any idea what it was?

Neil

Have a look at the RSPB's bird identifier pages to see if you can find it

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/

Thanks Flighty.
The nearest i could find was a Bull Finch..http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/bullfinch/

But i'm sure its main feathers were all Black.

Neil

A male brambling has an orange breast and fairly dark feathers on its head and back - mind you it isn't really any bigger than a great tit. All birds look bigger though when they fluff out their feathers.

If it is a brambling you're very lucky - they're uncommon winter visitors. Sometimes mixed up with chaffinches but quite different if you see them together.

Please let us know if you find out what it was! Could always have been an exotic escapee I suppose...

Look at the picture of a Redstart on the RSPB Webpage.   I just spotted one on the One Show and thought about this posting.   

It wasn't a Brambling as it wasn't as colourfull, or Redstart as the beak was more like a finch.

The breast and belly was an Orangy yellow.

I'm over there tomorrow, so hopefuly will see it again( probley nothing like i described  :P).

Neil

from sound of it its a Bullfinch, male

Just a suggestion - how about a female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. ;D ;D

valmarg