Teesmouth Bird Club

General Category => Identification Tips and Questions => Topic started by: RichardB on May 01, 2012, 08:05:45 PM

Title: Stonechat
Post by: RichardB on May 01, 2012, 08:05:45 PM
Nice pair of Stonechat near Bran Sands in and out of a bush. On one photo my autofocus let me down but did reveal the little  ?fledgling in the back of the bush. Anyone know what a fledgling Stonechat looks like or may this be something else. It is about the same size as the female that was sitting just infron. I have the original with the blurred female but seem to be struggling to get it down in size without losing all the detail.
Title: Re: Stonechat
Post by: Adam J on May 01, 2012, 09:20:46 PM
Hi Richard,

Certainly looks like a young stonechat with the gape flange being prominent around the bill in your photograph. Apparently Stonechats start nesting from late March onwards. The nesting attempt takes about 28 days from egg incubation to fledging of chicks.

Cheers,
Adam
Title: Re: Stonechat
Post by: IanF on May 01, 2012, 11:01:25 PM
Looks like one to me as well.

A pair at Dormans Pool are feeding young though I've not seen them yet so they may still be in the nest. Certainly fledgling Dunnocks around.

These are a couple of juveniles from previous years.