My only experience of them ' in the wild ' was one in a hedge at Arne about 36 years ago!
tom willis said
Tue Jun 28 10:12 AM, 2011
Cheers Mike!
Yeah, that must be what I saw - definitely had the big beak and the red flash across the eye, although I didn't recall it being as patterned on the wing/breast.
Thank you very much, T
Mike Chorley said
Fri Jun 24 9:38 PM, 2011
Hi Tom
Try Common Waxbill - introduced African species. Breeds in Portugal, in reedbeds etc.
tom willis said
Fri Jun 24 9:32 PM, 2011
Hi
Been meaning to ask this for a couple of weeks since I returned from a holiday in Portugal. We didn't take a bird book with us (foolish error!) and I resorted to scribbling down notes on bits of paper to ID when I got home. Think I've worked out all but one and I could do with some help if possible. The bird I'm after was small and brown (ha), sparrow-sized, but it's distinguishing feature was a really quite chunky red beak. I've tried googling but no joy. I saw it in a reserve close to the sea with reedbeds and marshes. I tried to record the song on my phone but all you can hear on the recording is the wind unfortunately. Any ideas?
I got distracted from looking at it when I spotted a pair of woodchat shrike and got very excited by those instead.
Maybe a juvenile?
My only experience of them ' in the wild ' was one in a hedge at Arne about 36 years ago!
Yeah, that must be what I saw - definitely had the big beak and the red flash across the eye, although I didn't recall it being as patterned on the wing/breast.
Thank you very much, T
Try Common Waxbill - introduced African species. Breeds in Portugal, in reedbeds etc.
Been meaning to ask this for a couple of weeks since I returned from a holiday in Portugal. We didn't take a bird book with us (foolish error!) and I resorted to scribbling down notes on bits of paper to ID when I got home. Think I've worked out all but one and I could do with some help if possible. The bird I'm after was small and brown (ha), sparrow-sized, but it's distinguishing feature was a really quite chunky red beak. I've tried googling but no joy. I saw it in a reserve close to the sea with reedbeds and marshes. I tried to record the song on my phone but all you can hear on the recording is the wind unfortunately. Any ideas?
I got distracted from looking at it when I spotted a pair of woodchat shrike and got very excited by those instead.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated!