Brambling.

[CT]

Can't believe my luck - just when I thought the garden had yielded all the species I'm likely to get, I get a Greenfinch on the feeder yesterday- no big deal I know, but a first for this garden, and looking out of the window this morning I saw this lovely bird, female I think, which has certainly never graced the garden before ...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2435620551_99d1368392_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/2436437908_5ceefa0777_o.jpg

Pretty long range, so not the best shots in the world, and I just had time switch to spot metering for the second shot before she naffed off.

700mm and 800 ISO

[birdy961]

Lucky you CT :thumbs:

Don't think I have ever seen a brambling before:(

[Veracocha]

Great capture and what a buzz that must have been. I had a Male Blackcap, Wren & a Goldfinch in my garden this weekend and all were firsts for me so something strange going on in the midlands.

[Jo]

:clap: Congrats and well done CT! It's funny how little surprises pop up when you least expect them isn't it? (shush Janice!).

I have a puzzling little bird visiting recently, and have yet to find out exactly what it is. It looks very much like a female chaffinch, but the bits that should be white are yellow and the majority of the rest of the feather have a green tint to them in certain light. It does have a chaffinch style bill though... oh and it also has a yellow solid ring around the eyes. :shrug:

[CT]

Sounds like it's possibly a Siskin Jo? I've yet to get one of those.

[BRASH]

Excellent crystal clear pics:thumbs:

[Jo]

No it's bigger than a Siskin ... I didn't get a very good shot, and every time I have tried since it seems to fly off when I get my camera out, but this is the little one:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/jojo24/IMG_7663.jpg

It really does look like a female chaffinch to me, but the colouring is just wrong in comparison to the other fems we have pottering around :shrug: The colour in this shot is off btw, it really is more of a green and the tail feathers and eye ring are yellow :lol:

PS. sorry for hijacking your thread CT :$

[CT]

Looks like a pretty scruffy female Chaffy I'd have to agree. The Chaffinches are actually showing great colour at the moment, so this one is possibly suffering from some ailment, or just one of those odd variations you get in all species.

LOL. Don't worry about the thread Jo. ;)

[Jo]

True that ... true :)

[jimbob]

nice one ct,what a result.it does make you wonder though how many species visit your garden and you dont spot them ???

[Fangman]

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/Exfangman/Brambling.jpg
It must be catching! Frist siskins then bramblings in the garden must be exporting them in your direction. Both first timers for me this year. What will we get next - Black Larks down from the coast I suppose

[sawman]

Havent seen one of those for years. Well done.

[Cuddy]

Lucky Lucky Punter, great pics CT :thumbs:

[Richard T]

not even seen a brambling before. well captured CT

[Yv]

:thumbs: excellent CT!! I have spent years watching Bill Oddie and the likes showing us birds I think I am never likely to see, so each time a new one is added to the list, especially in your own garden, its a great moment :D

[CT]

Thanks peeps. :thumbs:

I did manage to get a bit closer later in the day,they really are a striking bird!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2437371604_1d87b2c860_o.jpg

[IanC_UK]

lol with your luck it will be an osprey next :)

Great shots again mate, cant add much more to what been said already, im sure i should nit pick something but im tired and cant be arsed :)

[Trev Rich]

Cracking shots CT..
Next stop an albatross on the roof or a dodo in the shed u lucky git!

[Venomator]

I did manage to get a bit closer later in the day,they really are a striking bird!

You should see the male then Cedric ... ;)


Two good points about your new lady friend you might not fully appreciate now ... :thinking: ... it's a first for you ... :suspect: ... and you managed to capture it on 'film' ... :D


Great work and well done m8 ... ;)


It's quite strange really ... our garden was absolutely chock full of all sorts up until a couple of weeks ago and then, almost overnight it appears everything disappeared, Siskins, Bramblings, Reed Buntings, LTTs etc., :shrug: ... except for the last couple of days a female Brambling has been popping in and out ... weird ... :suspect:




:p

[CT]

You should see the male then Cedric ... ;)


Two good points about your new lady friend you might not fully appreciate now ... :thinking: ... it's a first for you ... :suspect: ... and you managed to capture it on 'film' ... :D


Great work and well done m8 ... ;)




Well - not a first per se Rog, I have nabbed 'em before on Cannock Chase where they have quite large numbers of them, and as you say the male is very striking. To get one in the garden in this area is just amazing though!

[Venomator]

Nah ... I did actually mean a first in your garden per your OP ... :D

I think their abundance in gardens this year, along with the Siskins, has meant many people have seen these species in their own gardens for the first time this year ... :shrug:




:p