Little Bunting at Adswood Tip from 24th April to 3rd May 1983 (a species new to Greater Manchester)

This article does not include the full, and very detailed analysis of the birds plumage, which despite being a credit to the observer was felt just a little too long for this section- Ian

Whilst bird watching on my local patch on 24th April I was walking over a scrubland area at 8.05am when a small bird flew up from the ground and perched in a small willow bush. I raised my binoculars and saw a bunting whose bright chestnut ear coverts were immediately obvious, even at a distance of 50 yards. I suspected the bird was a Little Bunting, but circled round in order to approach the bush with the sun behind me. Closer views were then obtained and I was able to satisfy myself as to the birds identification- at the same time the characteristic Robin- like "tick" calls were heard.

On the evening of the 24th the bird was caught and ringed by Mike Passant, a qualified ringing operative. During most of the bird's stay it favoured feeding on the ground at the base of a clump of willow bushes, usually in damp patches. The "tick" call was regularly heard and in addition, on at least three occasions, a warbling sub-song was heard- rather scratchy and similar to a Whitethroat.

This is the first record of a Little Bunting in Greater Manchester and during it's stay was seen by over 250 observers. There are about 300 British records of this species, mostly in September or October- spring occurrences are extremely rare.

G. Lightfoot