Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow, Haddenham, 13th April 2014 © Ian Dickerson
'This is a female tree sparrow. I know this because she is having an affair with one of our  house sparrows.' ID

Nightingale

Nightingale, Paxton Pits, 12th April 2014 © Jim Lawrence

Wren

Wren, Fowlmere RSPB, 11th April 2014 © Robert Skeen

Linnet

Linnet, Fowlmere RSPB, 11th April 2014 © Robert Skeen

Moorhen

Moorhen, Fowlmere RSPB, 11th April 2014 © Robert Skeen

Black Redstart

Male Black Redstart, Undisclosed Site, 10th April 2014 © Peter Beesley

Greylag Goose

Leucistic Greylag Goose, Fowlmere RSPB, 10th April 2014 © Brian Wallace

Dunnock

Dunnock, Fowlmere RSPB, 10th April 2014 © Brian Wallace

Osprey

Osprey, Heathfield, 10th April 2014 © James Hanlon
A garden tick for James - now his 8th raptor species. Ed

Skylark

Skylark,Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, 9th April 2014 © Nigel Sprowell

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff, Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, 8th April 2014 © Colin Brown

Blackcap

Male Blackcap, Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, 8th April 2014 © Colin Brown

Linnet

Female Linnet, Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, 8th April 2014 © Colin Brown

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler, Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, 8th April 2014 © Colin Brown

Grey Heron

Grey Heron, Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, 8th April 2014 © Garth Peacock

Greenfinch

Male Greenfinch, Girton, 8th April 2014 © Garth Peacock

Goldfinch

Goldfinch, Girton 8th April 2014 © Garth Peacock

Garganey

Garganey, Ouse Washes RSPB, 7th April 2014 © James Hanlon

Abberrant Meadow Pipit

Abberant Meadow Pipit, Ouse Washes RSP, 7th April 2014 © James Hanlon
'After doing some reading up at home I was happy the bird was an aberrant meadow pipit, one of the ‘funny’ ones occasionally misidentified as red-throated pipit and regularly attributed to the claimed Irish & Hebridean race whistleri, but possibly just an erythristic (excess red pigment) form of nominate pratensis. Among the features which indicate this bird is a meadow pipit are the small pale bill, virtually complete white eye-ring only broken marginally at either end (more obviously in front of the eye in rock/ water-types), clean cut black streaking below, heavily streaked mantle, streaked crown, indistinct supercilium and pale legs. Its call seemed less squeaky than a normal mipit's and it didn't call on take-off. It shows moult contrast on the greater coverts but I think this can be shown by both young and older birds, rendering ageing perhaps unsafe at this time of year. Of note is the fact that the pinky-buff of the underparts is echoed throughout the bird's plumage forming the ground colour of the mantle and also showing through on the grey of the head. Could this be more suggestive of a pigment condition perhaps? Personally I'm not sure I buy the whistleri theory - only a tiny proportion of whistleri look anything other than nominate pratensis and some individuals seen elsewhere (eg here) have been in heavy moult and perhaps more local in origin than from the Celtic West. 'Whistleri' is however a good search term for Googling if you are wanting to see more pics of these birds. There is a marked peak in records in March and April and this bird fits the pattern neatly - what are they and where have they come from? We may yet find out.'JH
For more information, please refer to James' blog  - http://jameshanlonbirder.blogspot.co.uk - ED

Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting, Ouse Washes RSPB, 7th April 2014 © James Hanlon