Poss Pine Bunting in flight, Spurn, UK (1 Viewer)

[timmyjones]

Had this bunting u-turn at Spurn on 7th October with a Yellowhammer, frustratingly I couldn't subsequently relocate it along with a few others so all I have to go on are these 4 flight shots and the call seemed a little harsher than the accompanying Yellowhammer more akin to Corn Bunting.


Pro Pine Bunting features seem to be;
-pale/white ear covert pattern with smaller pale spot at rear of ear coverts
-dark/brown eye stripe and broad malar stripe
-pale throat with seemingly dark tips to throat feathers
-pale/white underparts with streaking extending down flanks
-really pale/white undertail covert area
-seems to show white area in primaries that would relate to the shafts?! (last 2 photos)
-no yellow in plumage (with thanks to Photoshop as well)
-white/pale underwing coverts


Anti Pine Bunting features seem to be;
-slightly smaller than accompanying Yellowhammer
-short tail compared to Yellowhammer
-early date?


Struggling to find any flight pictures online of Pine Bunting so if anyone knows of any, get in touch!

Opinions welcomed!

(And no I'm pretty sure it's not a Rustic Bunting looking down!)

 

[phil baber]

I can see where you're coming from Tim. And, am salivating, a bit.
But, that tiny, needle-bill makes me think of Siskin, or maybe Redpoll?
That, and the deeply notched tail?
I do reckon it is one, or the other...

 

[Tib78]

Opinions welcomed!

Submit it to the BBRC!

 

[Andy Adcock]

Looks like PB, Reed Bunting is most likely tho.....submit it and see.


Andy

 

[Maffong]

Looks pretty to me, but I#m no expert

Maffong

 

[FaroeRagnar]

Looks like PB, Reed Bunting is most likely tho.....submit it and see.


Andy

Why would it be a reed bunting if we exclude "possibility"

Looks quite interesting with the seemingly male-patterned face


Also the date isn't too early since it can be seen from mid october as a vagrant in western europe, but it is a rare bird

 

[Andy Adcock]

Why would it be a reed bunting if we exclude "possibility"

Because it's common and Pine Bunting is EXTREMELY rare here.

Without a better photo can Rustic Bunting be excluded, another far more likely possibility statistically?

Someone needs to re-find it.

Andy

 

[Mark Lew1s]

It was seen on October 7th so that's unlikely. I guess the call rules out rustic bunting.