Buntings
Cirl Bunting - It's a trip to South Devon if you want to see these. A small population of (c) 1,000 prs hang out between Exeter and Plymouth. Worth the trip though. Pretty easy to find and they're very distinctive.
Above - A good place to see them is Broadsands car park. This male was singing from the top of a hedge. Right - There's a large flock at RSPB Labrador Bay where they forage for seeds in the roadside stubble fields.
Corn Bunting - Very plain in appearance, so easily overlooked. Very similar looking to female Reed Buntings, but noticeably larger when seen together and have much chunkier bills. They're our largest bunting in fact. Their population has declined heavily in the last couple of decades or so. Once a common farmland bird, now noteworthy. Has a distinctive call, which is often described as sounding like jangling of keys.
Venus Pool, Shrops. January.
Reed Bunting - Fairly widespread but favouring wetland areas, especially reed beds. The male is particularly distinctive in his breeding plumage, with a jet black head, but for the white moustache. Fairly approachable. Sadly an easy target for cats at our garden bird table in Winter, as they'll just sit there and eat for minutes on end.
WorcsWT Upton Warren, Worcs.
Upton Warren, Worcs
RSPB Lakenheath
Female at WMBC Ladywalk, Warks.
Whixall Moss, Shrops. Winter.
Snow Bunting - Gorgeous little birds. One of my favourites. Quite approachable too. Many breed in Scotland but can be seen on the english coastline in Winter. North Wales, Deeside and North Norfolk being popular hotspots for them.
1-3 - New Brighton, Wirral. January
4 - Holme Dunes, Norfolk. November
Yellowhammer - Farmland hedgerow bird primarily. The male is stunning, especially in breeding season. Often seen and heard singing on the top of a hedge or hedgerow tree. Also in decline.
Venus Pool, Shrops.
Weeting Heath - June.
Paxton Pits, Cambs. May
Female at Venus Pool, Shrops - January