3 Stonechats flitting next to road above Sowerby.
Than on way home home saw this and it seemed different. Quite distant but seemed to have really grey head and deep black face through bins. Got this v poor pic but can anyone confirm from this that it is a 'chat?(may need to double click but doesn't get much clearer).
3 comments:
I think it's most definately a Stonechat. Stonechats can be very variable especially at this time of year with a mix of older post breeding birds and this years young ones. Nice find all the same, though they have become more widespread in Calderdale in the last few years - perhaps due to milder winters?
Hi Guys
Could someone be kind enough to give me a crash course in seperating Stonechat and Whinchat by Jizz ? Lots of what I think are both around here in N Wales but I wonder if there is a definate quick way to seperate with less than perfect views ?
Both birds are closely related however the Whinchats will be gone in the next week or two back to Africa and the Stonechats stay around all winter. I find the best pointer with Whinchat is the white eye stripe (supercillium)and as it flies away the white outer tail feathers above the dark tail band. Stonechat male has a black hood and white collar. The ones that are tricky are the 1st winter and female Stonechats - they usually show the darkish hood and lack of white on the outer tail feathers. Hope that is of some help?
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