need identification!! saw this bird at Rainham marsh last week and just dont know! sorry a crap pic!. the same colouring of a robin but def not!! the only thing close i could find was a red-breasted flycatcher which surely it cant be!!??
This is a Female Stonechat, with the male off to the far right of picture! The female often has no white band to speak of.
I believe you have a Stonechat, as they say above female. hope this is of help. If you type in stonechat on Flicker you may get better pictures of more Females to help in your ID quest.
John
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
Hi Robin,
I would love to be able to help but cant make it out really. The Stonechat also has a reddish breast could it have been one of them?
Graham
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hello Graham,
Thanks so much for your reply. i got close with my bics and he didnt seem to have any white on him his body seemed to be all a rich brown??
I dont know what else it could be. I have looked at the species seen at Rainham and I dont see the Red breasted flycatcher listed.
hi Graham
i think you may be right, the female is more brown then the isn't it??
robin
missed out the word 'male' whoops lol
Hi Robin
I have been looking at this as well, managed to take it up to 400 zoom, which blurred things considerably but enlarged the bird. The only thing I can suggest is perhaps it's a juvenile robin which is only just developing the red breast and white feathers.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Not sure if it fits with season or location but could it be a female redstart?
GillP Not sure if it fits with season or location but could it be a female redstart?
The Redstart favours open woodland areas (sessile oak is a favourite) and also I think it is more numerous in Wales.
Hi Robin I have managed to zoom in and the bird looks either like a robin or with the darkish markings on the head and back it could be a Redstart but it still looks difficult from that distance
Being Happy doesn't mean everythings perfect........
It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.....
hi everyone, thanks for your replies.
does a redstart female have the white crown like the male?? i can still picture the bird in my head and a redstart seems the closest, as the red was the whole way down his underparts, so if the female doesn't have the crown i think we have an answer!!
I would say it is a Common Female Redstart because the colouration is buff/rust coloured (Female Redstarts have that colouration) and does not include any white areas at all. Any white markings would have shown up on the photograph
Both Stonechats and Whinchats have a lot of white colouration so they are out of the picture (excuse the pun)
Regards
Kathy and Dave
I'd be inclined to agree with those who think it's a female Stonechat, it was definitely my first and main impression anyway.
Thank you everyone for your replies, i am going with a female stonechat!! thanks again