The decent total of 163 new birds did include however some high quality birds especially the (probable) 2 COUE`S ARCTIC REDPOLLS caught in amongst the masses of other Redpolls (there was no question about the first bird but the much whiter, second bird was a bit less definitive being almost too white around the face and underparts if that doesn`t sound too counter intuitive!). Other good birds caught included the third Great Grey Shrike of the autumn, a Mistle Thrush and a late Chiffchaff.
I didn`t really leave the garden but there were a few oddities around through the day including a very late Wheatear on the beach by the car park, a Great White Egret which flew over during a particularly heavy snow shower, a flock of 22 Waxwings which thought about landing but didn`t and several groups of Whooper Swans over.
No problems about this one - a cracking Arctic Redpoll
This one was a bit trickier; although its whiter, it maybe a bit too white around the face and underparts, the bill was a bit larger than the previous bird especially compared to the head size but was still within acceptable measurements. Like the first bird the longest undertail covert had a black streak and the rump looks good, so I`ve tentatively put it down as a first year female Arctic Redpoll
This `middle of the road` bird gave some indication of where all these Redpolls are coming from as it had a ring from Finland!
Waxwings
Great Grey Shrike
Mistle Thrush
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