Tag Archives: 6th December

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.

Siberian Chiffchaff – 6th January

The Siberian Chiffchaff was seen along the Ouse Dyke again today, once in the company of another Chiffchaff. Later a Chiffchaff was seen on its own that showed features of the Scandinavian race, abietinus, being a very pale individual but not showing the clear grey mantle or wing bar of the other bird. Three Little Egrets and a Kingfisher were also seen and two Cetti’s Warblers were heard calling from the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. PS.