Once I had transferred the photos to the computer and cropped them I decided to check with my trusty Collins Complete Guide to check whether what I had seen was really a Blackcap. Of course I had been wrong.
The body colouring was completely wrong. What had visited was a female Bullfinch. The first one of those I have seen. A couple of years ago I had briefly seen a male Bullfinch but no other sightings since until this female turned up yesterday.
I hope there are a couple breeding in the area. It would be really great to have them visit the feeders.
Hi there John, how exciting for you to have a new visitor… wonderful photos too!! I’d love to see Bullfinches visit my garden… or even just perch on my neighbours tree and look around a while :-D
ReplyDeleteWhen is a Blackcap not a Blackcap. I was going to say when its a female Blackcap John.{:)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the female Bullfinch. They are never easy to get a decent photo of.
Hello Shirl. The visit took me by surprise. The male is so colourful I would love to get a proper chance to photograph one.
ReplyDeleteHi John...I have never seen a Blackcap either but also I haven't seen a Bullfinch round here for ages although they used to visit...I wonder where they have all gone...maybe they are heading up to you:-)
ReplyDeleteHello Roy - very true with the female Blackcap. I was really surprised how little notice the Bullfinch took of me as it looked straight at me a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteI tend to get a male Bullfinch making regular visits. I did get a very quick glimse very recently of a female on a feeder one morning when I opened the lounge curtains, unfortunately she flew off and I have not seen her since.
ReplyDeleteHi John that's great for you i hope you have a breeding pair in your area unfortunatley i don't get them here in my neck of the woods. Fabulous photo's too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill! I had the merest glimpse of a male Bullfinch early last year and that was the first I had seen since a child when they were regular visitors to the family garden, infuriating my parents by constantly stripping fruit trees of their buds! Lovely photos of her too John :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Shaz. It was a bit of a rarity here.That only makes two Bullfinch sightings in nearly three years.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jan. By the look of her beak she had been tucking in to some berries somewhere nearby. It really surprised me that she stayed in view for so long.
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about that photo is the Winter sunshine! so precious this time of year. You reminded me that I also have a trusty book of birds. My Auntie Daphne gave me the Oxford Book of Birds in 1965!! still have it...(Bullfinch F - Page 183!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious surprise John. Lovely images.
ReplyDeleteHello Helen. I did notice the Bullfinch was mainly exploring a bush I can't see from the kitchen window so I will have to keep a better lookout in that direction.
ReplyDeleteHello Lynmiranda. It surprised me how long it stayed in view considering how close I was. Great that you have a male visiting. I hope I get to see a male again in the not too distant future.
ReplyDeleteHello Matron. I was a gloriously sunny part of the day. It really made a change to see blue sky and boost my vitamin D production, even if it was cold.
ReplyDeleteI like the Collins guide as it has actual photographs. I think all my other books have drawings / paintings and don't really give a good representation of the colours - not to me anyway. I don't have the Oxford book so I don't know what the illustrations are like in that one.
Hello Frank. It was a surprise as I was just snapping a few Sparrow photos at the time and patiently waiting for a Dunnock to come out in the open.
ReplyDeleteExcellent new visitor to the garden John, and captured beautifully.
ReplyDeleteYou're getting some great birds there.
Hello Keith. I was lucky it so obligingly ignored me while I photographed it. I am seeing a greater variety than I ever expected.
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