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nemosia
21-Dec-09, 19:06
Huge thanks to Neil for the alert that a Little Bunting had been visiting his feeding station yesterday and today.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/nemosia/Caithness/LJ20091221-02.jpg

and for size comparison here it is with chaffinches

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/nemosia/Caithness/LJ20091221-05.jpg

A very nice early Christmas present.
Kenn
22-Dec-09, 10:38
A long way from it's breeding ground!
Any idea how often they turn up as I understand it's quite a rare visitor?
Thanks for sharing.
nemosia
22-Dec-09, 19:23
A long way from it's breeding ground!
Any idea how often they turn up as I understand it's quite a rare visitor?
Thanks for sharing.

Hi Lizz,

A few Little Buntings breed in NE Norway but most further East.

It is a scarce vagrant in the UK with the majority of records in September-October. There are four previous records for Caithness

10/10/76, 1 at Stirkoke
12/10/91, 1 at Noss Head
03/10/98, 1 trapped at Noss Fm
12/02/08, 1 trapped at Noss Fm
Liz
24-Dec-09, 14:12
Thanks for the photos Nemosia.

Must keep a look out at my feeding station.:D
kas
27-Dec-09, 22:44
I went out and saw it today, its a wee beauty with that chestnut face.
Again thanks to Neil and Di.
nemosia
16-Mar-10, 16:12
The Little Bunting is still at Rattar after 13 weeks. Here's a couple more photos from this morning.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/nemosia/Caithness/20100316-LJ-01.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/nemosia/Caithness/20100316-LJ-03.jpg
highlander
20-Mar-10, 13:05
Cant understand why they are classed as rare in caithness as i have been having flocks of them every year, i have not noticed them this week but was dozens of them since december, makes a lovely noise.
nemosia
20-Mar-10, 17:23
Cant understand why they are classed as rare in caithness as i have been having flocks of them every year, i have not noticed them this week but was dozens of them since december, makes a lovely noise.

You must be seeing flocks of some other species Highlander, Reed Buntings maybe.
highlander
20-Mar-10, 22:16
Oh right, i have been watching this beautys and looking up on RSPB site thinking it was the little buntings i was seeing, do you have a picture of the reed buntings?
nirofo
21-Mar-10, 02:27
Oh right, i have been watching this beautys and looking up on RSPB site thinking it was the little buntings i was seeing, do you have a picture of the reed buntings?

Here's a photo of a male Reed Bunting.

Reed Bunting male.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/nirofo/Birds/ReedBuntingmale.jpg

nirofo.
nemosia
21-Mar-10, 18:15
Stunning reed bunting photo, Nirofo. Thanks.
dafi
21-Mar-10, 22:42
here is a snap of a female reedbunting. There is an overall resemblenceto the little bunting. I would be intrested to hear what you think highlander.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee174/dafiduck/ORBREEDBUNTING01.jpg
Pterodroma
22-Mar-10, 12:05
Highlander - if the birds you have been watching are in flocks and making a lovely noise they may be Twite which is similar in size to Little Bunting and the flocks are really musical.

Pterodroma
Pterodroma
22-Mar-10, 12:09
Hi All

If anyone wishes to see the Little Bunting then send me a PM and I will arrange a visit. I do not guarantee success, but so far we have a 100% viewing rate for visitors.

Pterodroma
nirofo
22-Mar-10, 15:07
Highlander - if the birds you have been watching are in flocks and making a lovely noise they may be Twite which is similar in size to Little Bunting and the flocks are really musical.

Pterodroma


Here's a photo of a Twite for comparison.


Twite at drinking pool.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/nirofo/Birds/Twiteatdrinkingpool2.jpg

Twite drinking.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/nirofo/Birds/Twitebathing.jpg

nirofo.