Rock Sparrow?

[Maggie28]

Thanks Peter. Just nice to get closer to the birds for a change.

[MIKE THROWER]

Both pics are lesser redpolls

[Dave Appleton]

Well the second picture certainly isn't as frosty as the most obvious Mealy Redpolls but it lacks the extensive warm brown wash on the flanks and breast that a classic Lesser should show. I admit to being defeated by quite a few of the Redpolls that lie somewhere near the border between Lesser and Mealy (as difficult as those that lie on the border between Mealy and Arctic in my opinion) but for this one I'd personally lean towards Mealy. I certainly agree that the first one's a Lesser though.

Cor, wish it was a Rock Sparrow! There's only ever been one British record, seen briefly by 2-3 birders in June 1981. There are a lot of people who would go to virtually any extreme to see that if it turned up again!

Incidentally, the second Redpoll is in an alder (I think - trees aren't my forte), which is typical of Redpolls and Siskins. I'm not sure I've ever seen House Sparrows in alders... Next time you see a flock of sparrows feeding on catkins it's probably worth taking a closer look!

PS: I prefer the name Mealy Redpoll to describe the big pale birds that come from Scandinavia. "Common Redpoll" is sometimes used, but its meaning is ambiguous. Sometimes it refers to Mealy Redpoll, Icelandic and Greenland Redpolls collectively (they're currently treated as the same species) but sometimes it's been used to include Lesser Redpoll too.

[gavinm]

I keep going back to this thread (Common but so so rare) for my Redpoll identification. Great photos showing the difference but it's not always that simple.

[Dave Appleton]

Originally Posted by gavinm

I keep going back to this thread (Common but so so rare) for my Redpoll identification. Great photos showing the difference but it's not always that simple.

True, and Lee's article that's linked to there (indirectly) does contain some birds he's identified as Lesser which aren't far off Maggie's second bird. I think Redpoll ID is often over-simplified and there seem to be birds that fill every shade of variation between the smallest darkest and most obvious Lesser Redpolls to the biggest whitest Arctic Redpolls. The problem seems to be compounded by the fact that different experts draw the line in different places - and some of them change their minds where the line should be drawn. That's a reflection of the fact that no matter whether we're brand new to birding or have years of experience behind us, we're still learning and still have lots to learn.

[astafjevs]

Punkbirder did a very irreverent and funny guide to the intricacies of redpoll identification.

I won't link to it as its won't be to everyones taste, but I liked it.

Its easily googled, though!

[Maggie28]

Originally Posted by Dave Appleton

Well the second picture certainly isn't as frosty as the most obvious Mealy Redpolls but it lacks the extensive warm brown wash on the flanks and breast that a classic Lesser should show. I admit to being defeated by quite a few of the Redpolls that lie somewhere near the border between Lesser and Mealy (as difficult as those that lie on the border between Mealy and Arctic in my opinion) but for this one I'd personally lean towards Mealy. I certainly agree that the first one's a Lesser though.

Cor, wish it was a Rock Sparrow! There's only ever been one British record, seen briefly by 2-3 birders in June 1981. There are a lot of people who would go to virtually any extreme to see that if it turned up again!

Incidentally, the second Redpoll is in an alder (I think - trees aren't my forte), which is typical of Redpolls and Siskins. I'm not sure I've ever seen House Sparrows in alders... Next time you see a flock of sparrows feeding on catkins it's probably worth taking a closer look!

PS: I prefer the name Mealy Redpoll to describe the big pale birds that come from Scandinavia. "Common Redpoll" is sometimes used, but its meaning is ambiguous. Sometimes it refers to Mealy Redpoll, Icelandic and Greenland Redpolls collectively (they're currently treated as the same species) but sometimes it's been used to include Lesser Redpoll too.

The second one was taken in the old dry docks of Govan and I am hopeless with tree id's too.
A lot of the birds that visit the dry docks are just passing through.

The Redpolls were there a few weeks ago but I couldn't say if they are there every day.
I don't expect to see house sparrows either unless they stop for a rest But at a feeding station, thye may well visit the tree till the coast is clear.

I only took the pic of what is now the Redpoll as it looked different from the sparrows (obviously). I should have realised the difference when the sparrows all flew into the nearby bush and this one went to the trees nearby. I still have this knowledge to pick up on.
At least I knew it looked different LOL

As for all the Redpoll id thing goes, that's getting as bad as gulls for me. For now, a Redpoll is a Redpoll

That "Lees Article" looks good though to help with the id's in future. The RP at Lochwinnoch does look a little darker than the ones in Govan so maybe you are right with the difference in both??

[MIKE THROWER]

Mealy Redpoll taken today

[PeterB]

Nice work Mike.