tsawong

Robin...a lot of them

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29/05/2009 00:01

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[ Last edited by tsawong at 29/05/2009 00:01 ]

HKBWS Bonnie

A lovely "Christmas" bird~

kmatthew

Robins are actually much harder to see in the summer during breeding season, thats why people think there are more robins in the winter during christmas!!

tsawong

I would like to share the following photos.  Sorry I cannot do it in one batch due to limit on submission per day.

Great Tit

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30/05/2009 20:59

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Blue Tit

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Long Tailed Tit (photo not so good quality)

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Coal Tit (photo not so good quality)

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[ Last edited by tsawong at 30/05/2009 21:02 ]

ajohn

The last 2 photos are another Blue Tit rather than Coal Tit. Note the green back, yellow underparts and blue wings/tail

tsawong

Thanks for pointing out.  We bought a book in London and tried to match the bird that we saw.  We were misled by the key description of 'Coal Tit' that has 'white patch from rear crown to nape'.  Blue Tit looks very different.  This is another photo of Blue Tit.

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31/05/2009 22:58

We also took photos of the followings.  Hope we got them right.  Please do not hesitate to tell us if otherwise.  Thanks in advance.

Chaffinch

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31/05/2009 22:58

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Goldfinch (not very good quality)

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Dunnock

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and a lot of Blackbirds

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[ Last edited by tsawong at 31/05/2009 22:58 ]

ajohn

the whipatch on the nape is a key feature for distinguishing Coal Tit from Marsh/Willow tits.  Blue and Great Tit also show a pale (not usually pure white) patch on the nape.

It's great to see these UK garden birds - I miss seeing some of these species since I moved to HK!

ajohn

Quote:

Original posted by kmatthew at 29/05/2009 17:17
Robins are actually much harder to see in the summer during breeding season, thats why people think there are more robins in the winter during christmas!!

As I understand it, the association with Christmas is actually a joke. When Christmas cards were first invented, the postmen wore a red jacket - so some cards were designed to show a robin taking the role of postman delivering the card.
I think it also helps that the splash of colour and song brightens the dull winter days.