JUNE'S MYSTERY BIRD ANSWERS

Another substantial return for the competition with 21 entrants this month and with some typically brain-teasing photos all but one entrant managed atleast one correct answer, a great effort by all involved.

Mystery Bird 17

Despite the quirky viewing angle of this bird, 19 entrants managed to identify it correctly with Dunnock and Grasshopper Warbler the two incorrect answers. On the face of it there wasn't much to go on and with it's rather streaky brownish upperparts and paler underparts either of the former species could well seem to fit the bill but most managed to gauge the overall jizz of the bird, more importantly recognise the characteristic shape of the cutting edges of the mandibles (just visible), put two and two together and come up with the correct answer- Corn Bunting! Well done.

Corn Bunting, Chat Moss- Ian McKerchar

Mystery Bird 18

Mystery bird 18 was an altogether different prospect and although 14 managed to correctly identify it 6 other incorrect species were offered, clearly this one had many confused! As always, it's important to study the images carefully and build up an overall view of what we can see, a rather plain, uniform grey/brown bird with prominent pale edges to the wing and tail feathers (or remiges and rectrices respectively for their correct terminology!), the primary extension is approximately equal to the length of the tertials, the bill, although mostly obscured, appears quite pointed at the tip atleast and the legs look particularly 'sturdy'. The following species were offered and can be discounted quickly by: Ring Ouzel (primary tips not edges pale, tail longer and more rounded shaped at it's tip), Black Lark (bill tip more bulbous shaped, primaries and secondaries all dark, not edged pale, flatter hind claw), Dipper (not as strongly pale edged to remiges and rectrices in juvenile plumage and none in adult, tail rounded at tip, primary extension much shorter), Black Redstart (would always show some rufous on the outer-tail, upper-tail coverts and rump, lacks pale edged remiges and legs never as sturdy looking,  European Robin (never pale edged remiges and rectrices, primary extension much shorter, some warmer brown on upper-tail coverts atleast, paler underparts, legs never as sturdy looking) and Corn Bunting (well...see mystery bird 17 above!). Infact, for such a plain bird with such strongly pale edged remiges and rectrices and a pointed looking bill there is really only one candidate, juvenile Starling and by a stroke of luck that's exactly what it is!

Juvenile Starling, Chat Moss- Ian McKerchar

Well done to everyone for atleast having a go (there's plenty out there who don't you know!), those lucky or skilful enough (you choose) to get both birds correct were Rob and Sonia Adderley, Kane Brides, Dave Broome, Henry Cook, John Frankland, Helen Garwood, Geoff Hargreaves, Craig Higson, Nick Hilton, Andy Isherwood, Dean MacDonald, Peter Rolph and Les Steele. Dave Broome keeps a clean score sheet yet again and now runs with 18 correct answers, while Craig Higson deserves a mention for not having dropped a point for 4 months (since he started in the competition) and Kane Brides and Rob and Sonia Adderley for continuing their run of 5 months worth of correct answers.