Mostly Bramblings

It’s not often a ringing session results in Brambling being top of the list, but that’s what happened today Out Rawcliffe way. There’s been a few Bramblings about the site of late, and I thought maybe three or four. But when I went to top the feeders and have a wander around the site for an hour or two today, I ended up catching 5 Brambling, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and a Blue Tit. 

Brambling

Goldfinch

Blue Tit

A Brambling appears to have a larger head and definitely a larger bill than the closely related Chaffinch, features perhaps not always obvious with birds in the field but very apparent in the hand. Both Bramblings and Chaffinches feed on seeds of the beech tree but I suspect that with such a bill the Brambling is probably more efficient in disposing of a beechnut. 

Chaffinch

Brambling

Brambling

All three male Bramblings were first year birds, the two females an adult and a first year. One of the males had fault bars through the tail, just visible near the tips of most feathers, a feature we have seen in the plumage of many young birds in the UK during 2012.

Brambling - "Fault Bars"

“Birding” birds today: 12+ Reed Bunting, 8 Brambling, 15 Chaffinch, 8 Goldfinch, 15 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Tawny Owl, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Skylark, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl, 450+ Woodpigeon. 

Log in soon to see what Another Bird Blog is mostly ringing, looking at, taking photographs of, or hopefully all three.