A winter visitor

Brambling
Fringilla Montifringella

The snow which had beset England and Wales descended on Perthshire last night and where I live the roads aren't gritted and were a bit hazardous. I popped the dogs into a neighbouring field for a quick run and then settled in to watch the birds and was in for a surprise. At one time I had six goldfinches vying for room at the nyger seed along with the usual motley of tits and chaffinches. I then noticed groups gathering underneath the feeders and I noticed that amongst them was a stranger. Excitedly I quickly took some shots and then looked up my Scottish birdbook to discover that this is a a Brambling, a passage migrant and winter visitor to Scotland, and in this image you can see it next to its cousins on the left, the chaffinches. In fact it looks as if the chaffinch at the back is wondering who on earth the stranger is! The shot is a bit grainy as it is on telephoto and through glass but it is unmistakable! It has orange-brown markings with a mottled brown head and grey on the sides and back of the neck.

Most Bramblings in Scotland are seen in winter and come from Norway and other parts of Scandinavia. They feed on the ground, mostly under Beech trees but in cold spells they may visit gardens. According to my book it is a rare breeding species that is specially protected in Scotland. My excitement was enhanced even further by the fact that it is not yet on the list for the Blip Big Year bird challenge - unless someone else sees it today!

I tried putting the other shots I took of it into a collage using photobox, which I have never done before so it is a bit heath robinson! Anyway if you wish to have a look they are here and here and here in his snowy perch.