The Bullfinch

Today I was working in the study and what looked like a parrot fly by; it was a relatively large jet black bird with a bright peach chest. I thought I had missed it and grabbed the camera to look but found nothing. When I went to another room I saw it again at the top of the ash trees at the back of the garden. Thankfully this time it was busy eating, so I managed to get a few pictures.

It was a Bullfinch. A very tropical looking and lesser-spotted bird. It is currently Amber status with the RSPB and it is the first time I have seen one in the UK. They are normally spotted in orchards, and on the edge of woodlands. They like to eat the buds of trees, which are softer than seeds, and as it sat in an ash tree and sycamore tree in our garden, it gradually chomped its way through all the winter buds which have come out waiting for spring.

The call of the bird is quite unusual, with two sharp notes and then a long, sad sounding note. I did not see the female but from checking it is essentially the same bird, but drained of the bright colours (light brown replaces peach).

(RSPB Illustration)