Reed Bunting?

[JohnR]

Having a Venetian blind in the way does not improve my photography. Could this be a Reed Bunting pretending it's a finch? I haven't seen one since Minsmere in about 1962.

[Mark Colvin]

Hi John,

It sure is. It's a female in transitional winter to spring plumage.

Kind regards. Mark

[MikeOxon]

Interesting - we've had a couple of female Reed Buntings visiting our garden feeders over the last few weeks. In the past, we've only seen them during prolonged snow cover. We have several stands of bamboo in the garden and they seem to like those.

Here's a snap, taken though the window, showing her striking face pattern.

Abingdon, Oxon - 14th Jan 2013

Mike

[JohnR]

Hi John,
It sure is. It's a female in transitional winter to spring plumage.
Kind regards. Mark

I hope that she is a resident because there is a bamboo lined stream about 400 yds away where the the dragonflies hang out.