What wee birds are these?

[walk aboot]

What wee birds are theses? Photographed them @ the Necropolis in Glasgow today, there were a few of them buzzing around...

[Gavin99]

Hi WA , those are Redpoll , a lovely little finch , often to be found in alder or birch trees eating seeds and making a racket . In the first photograph you can just see his red 'poll' or head , this is much brighter in summer . I think photo 5 is something else , not sure what !
Great photographs

[snodland]

my money is on a linnet ? what do you reckon? looks like a "v" in the tail and I must admit I thought the head had stripes though it could be a redhead.
Was up Necropolis too this afternoon Walk Aboot. Will e-mail you separately

[walk aboot]

Terrific, thanks Gavin

@ snodland - I didn't see you Andy. I was there around 12noon - 2pm but I was sneaking about the trees at the far end, away from the main gravestones and tombs.

[walk aboot]

A few more from the Necropolis...

Long-tailed tit

Redwing

Blue tit

Blue tit

Magpie

Magpie

Robin

Wood pigeon

Long-tailed tit

[Gavin99]

my money is on a linnet ? what do you reckon? looks like a "v" in the tail and I must admit I thought the head had stripes though it could be a redhead.

Linnet and Redpoll are very similar but in the first photo the red head, dark streaking ,yellow beak and dark muzzle make him a Redpoll for me , the other birds are females and juveniles so are easily confused with linnet but the pale wing bar is the key feature .

I went on a guided tour of the Necropolis last year , an amazing place ,full of wildlife and history , don't want to end up there though , not yet anyway !

[starrynights]

Ah, lovely close up photos Walk Aboot. You've made me want to dig out my pics now, had a swallow 'couple' nest in the rafters of my half built house last year, had three clutches, three eggs in each. One fledgling fell out before it was able to fly so I picked it up (as gently as possible, dreaded hurting it), climbed up a ladder and across the rafters and managed to put it back in the nest. Was so chuffed the next day when I saw the three babies sitting on the rafter again. I have some pics of them, bit dark, but will see how they come out on here.

cheers

[snodland]

hi gavin 99. Yes i think you got it. i didn't notice the red patch on the head of the first photo. i just lost my money betting on linnets - probably are redpoll

[Caberfeidh]

What wee birds are theses? Photographed them @ the Necropolis in Glasgow today

Hold on a minute ... you hang around graveyards????

[walk aboot]

yep, in a woolly hat and anorak with a camera...no wonder I no longer get chatted up at weekends

[walk aboot]

Still don't know what the wee bird is in the 5th photo? A couple of friends think some kind of warbler?

[Mark Darling]

Hi WA, the wee bird in the 5th pic is a Chaffinch.

[Gavin99]

Still don't know what the wee bird is in the 5th photo? A couple of friends think some kind of warbler?

The only warblers left in Britain in winter are a few hardy Blackcaps , the rest have quite sensibly toddled off to Africa for some lounging about in the sun . I don't think it is a Blackcap , definitely some kind of finch , I would say a female Chaffinch , the pink beak with dark tip , pale grey/buff undersides and darker wings look right to me .

Anyway that's my guess , more great photo's by the way , love the LTTs

[Gavin99]

Oh , Mark beat me to it !

[walk aboot]

Brill, thanks