The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Early morning visit to the Cathedral -

Black Redstart on the south side but very mobile, at 10am
Also the pair of Peregrine present all the time, with at least one mating attempt.

David Jenkins

Still present to 3pm at least but can go missing for periods. 2 peregrine still on main tower

Eastern black redstart? see

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=162478
cheers
Paul

The male Black Redstart was still present on and off this morning and was being watched by Dean Nicholson and Andy Sims when I arrived, so luckily there was no waiting around!

Dean pointed out the extensive rufous underparts which extend from the vent onto the lower flanks and up the belly contrasting with the black lower breast, and appears to be more extensive than normal for gibraltariensis. In addition the pale wing panel appears reduced (but not lacking) and at least one photo obtained shows a pale forehead with some contrast with the crown, although this isn’t always apparent. No one is suggesting (yet!) that this is a ochruros/phoenicuroides and it may well turn out to be an intergrade showing some ‘eastern’ type genes, but photos have been emailed to those with considerably more experience and we await their response.

Regards

Grahame

After a few blank visits, I finally managed to have excellent views of the Black Redstart from 12.40 - 1.00pm today. It was showing very well on the South side of the Cathedral mainly around the scaffolding area (no work in progress.)
Also Peregrine perched on SW Tower, plus a very confiding Song Thrush around.
With (contented) birders incl. Hugh M., David C. and Peter J.

Regards,

Freddy

Black Redstart still showing well this afternoon but it was almost like I was looking at a different bird to yesterday. It could have been the light or the fact that I was only using binoculars, I had biked up without my scope, but it did not appear to show any red on the underparts and Mick Paine who was also there this afternoon and yesterday felt the same. Two photos, on Birdguides, taken by Dave Goddard do not seem to show any red on the underparts. Could there be two birds?
Both Peregrines flew in whilst I was there, calling loudly. The female landed on the nesting platform with the male on a gargoyle above her.

_________________
Regards,

Andy.

Black Redstart last seen about 14:30 Monday afternoon - only briefly for me
Male Peregrine showing well - female gone on fly about

Clearly 2 different birds from the photos -- those from the 30.1 do not show a dark facial mask indicative of a male as do those from 31st -- the underparts colour is also different in tone as well as colour

Had a look at the bird today and have posted some poor digiscopes on the birdforum thread-best i could get at the range i'm afraid. I would like to know why this isn't ochuros, which can show a faint white wing panel, any thoughts?

Paul

My best guess as to the race of the bird I saw on the 30th Jan, is "ochruros", and as Paul said above, that race can show a good White wing flash.

Ref: Handbook of Bird ID, Beaman & Madge. P.605

However, there does appear to be two different birds!

David Jenkins

Very brief view just after I arrived at 8-50 this morning then nothing for half an hour then I left. Possibly disturbed by the builders. For what it's worth there seemed very little red under the tail and none on the belly. Cheers. Rick

Am going tomorrow (if weather is tolerable), and will report back if I see anything!

_________________
Follow Me on Twitter!

Lincolnshire Bat Group members Ian Nixon, Kevin Johnson and Bill Meek all saw a black redstart today at Lincoln Castle when we emerged from a bat hibernation survey under the old jail.

The bird appeared to be a female and it only to had red on the tail, not the belly and did not look like the birds in the Album. This ties in with earlier comments on this post about there being two birds around in the cathedral this winter.

The bird was feeding around the south side of the Crown Court, the builders' yard and the west end of the old jail. To see the bird here, you may have to pay at one of the gates.

Nick