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I think we've got a pair of black redstarts!

Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,576
in Wildlife gardening
We've been wondering what the little dark bird was who sometimes appears, but stays close to the bushes and is hard to see - and two appeared today, and I'm pretty sure they are actually black redstarts! 😃

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,848
    They are lovely birds but shy.  We had a pair in our last garden and there are more here but they never come near the feeders, even in winter, preferring to flit around the terracotta tiled roof of the annex and the old ruined farmhouse which is, presumably, were they are nesting.

      

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,197
    Lucky you @Slow-worm and try and get some pictures please.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,576
    Sheps said:
    Lucky you @Slow-worm and try and get some pictures please.
    I'll have to dig my camera out, my phone cam is awful at mid range. 
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,587
    You will know if they are black redstarts, they have a reddish/orange tail, that moves up and down. Start is an old word for tail.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,576
    Yes I've been looking online for info, but they've been in the shadiest bits of the garden, so they're really well camouflaged. Some photos of them have quite muted reds, even the males. I'll go out with the binoculars tomorrow - that's almost guaranteed them not showing up! 😄
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,587
    The tails aren't very red @Slow-worm they are more a dull colour, difficult to describe. Females are brown with the same tail colour.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,155
    I had them at my old house. When their babies hatched they were very noisy and agitated if I went too near when they were having flying lessons.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,768
    This is a photo I took near us last year



    Dunnocks are a similar size & shape, but without the red on the tail of course.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,576
    @VictorMeldrew brilliant photo! 
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