Northern Bullfinch

Post date: Dec 19, 2010 9:35:48 PM

A very productive weekend here birdwise, and all the more satisfying that it was all done within walking distance from home. A walk on a bitterly cold Saturday morning around the parish and Hungry Hill started with a Water Rail, then shortly after the distinctive trill of a Waxwing, I saw the bird through a clearing flying high NW, no doubt heading over my garden! I was on the look out for Woodcock, the same area last year held over twenty, but today despite similar conditions there were none. The reservoir was completely frozen over and the pit held my only Woodcock of the day. After a most appreciated hot mug of Tea at Carls, I headed down the hill towards home when I heard a single distinctive bugling, with the garden in clear sight 5 Whooper Swan flew low eastwards over the Hill. Bugger! Would have been a great garden tick but will have to settle for a patch tick. As they disappeared east I picked up a raptor moving purposely high north-west, an adult male Marsh Harrier glowing white with the winter sunlight reflecting up from the snow to the underside, possibly a cold weather movement?

Back to today, and yesterday I had what I was certain was a female Northern Bullfinch whilst doing the rounds but it was a silent bird so today I decided to go back and see if I could relocate it (Northern Bully has been a local target of mine this winter, along with corresponding Long-tailed Tit, oh and Harrier, but I may have to travel for that one!) As I walked along towards the area a burst of "pink pink pink-ing *" came from the hedgerow beside me (which I liken too gently breathing in to the old style long metal police whistles!) and there, working their way to the top of the hedge, were three Northern Bullfinch Big, black,white and grey beauties, they flew across to some scrub and started calling again, different this time , more a kin to European ssp.but more drawn out with an almost 2 note quality to it. Briefly loosing them whilst a rather handsome male bird started to bide for my attentions, I caught up with all three again in the same area as I saw the single yesterday (undoubtedly one of these three) I then enjoyed great views as they fed, very un-European ssp. like, out in a sugarbeet field on the the scattered fat hen weeds, dwarfing the associating Chaff- and Goldfinches.

* I am curious as to whether that this distinctive call may be an alarm call, as most reports of it relate to an observers initial discovery of a Northern, ie flushing or surprising the bird when being unaware of its presence.

Northern Bullfinch - very much a grey, black & white looking birds with any hint of colour on the under parts a diffuse wash to the grey. The black is jet black, the white, dazzling white, all making up a fairly distinctive looking bird and probably one of those that, if you think it might be one its not, because once you've seen one it smacks you in the face (probably could quite literally!) I also noted that all three had slightly differing pattern to the forward edge of the white covert bar, from smooth, clean cut demarcation, to stepped, to almost toothed.

same bird as above (these two taken on Saturday in good light, what a difference the sun makes!)