Tag Archives: 2013

Redwing – 12th December

This evening, as the Redwings came in to roost in the scrub on the Deep Pit banks, a white bird was seen amongst them. It was obviously a Redwing but, apart from some streaking on the head, it was almost completely white. The bill was dark, with perhaps a hint of yellow at the base, and the eye looked dark. It was streaked most heavily on the crown with some more on the cheeks and throat. The light was poor and it buried itself in the hawthorn, so views were not perfect, but it was a stunning sight of what was probably a leucistic bird. PS.

Mealy Redpoll – 6th December

This morning a small flock of Lesser Redpolls was feeding on Willow Herb, along the Lower Path. They were all typically brownish birds except one which was predominantly grey. This bird was slightly larger than its companions and when it preened its rump it looked nearly all white and its breast was very pale with a slight pink suffusion. Views were not good enough to eliminate an Arctic Redpoll and the beak size and shape were not seen but the bird is tentatively identified as a Mealy Redpoll (Carduelis flammea). PS.