White Throats ?

[Chocky]

Captured this pair of little birds today . I a, presuming they are a pair as there stayed with each other all the time and flew backwards and forwards together all day.
The size of a sparrow but they don't have the same colouration on the face a s a whit Throated Sparrow.
I have never seen this bird before but some one must have.

[rolf]

Don't think It's a whitethroat Chocky, would appear to be wrong colouring.

Perhaps a Grasshopper warbler, but possibly too late in the year.

[Chocky]

I don't have any books . I did make a video of the male it might help,it is much clearer.
There were only two and this afternoon I went back and they were still there so being on my own I was able to sneak up on them and capture a few shots. The male has a blackish tail.
I'll sort the video ut later it's only about 25 seconds

[andy b]

hi chocky,
the birds you have captured are infact two stonechats.
they are lovely little birds. you do tend to see them in pairs. they often perch up obligingly to give good views. you can attract them closer to you by gently tapping two small stones together, as this mimics a sound they make!!
regards, andrew.

[Chocky]

Brilliant . Yes they did make the sound of stone being tapped together. Thank you I'm so pleased. I have neve r seen them before. I'll put the video up later. Am at my sons' so things are a little slower that normal. (different computer)

[rolf]

Never seen a Stonechat, where were they Chocky?

Thanks Andrew for the ident.

[Chocky]

Oh I found them at the far side of Horseshoe lake Yately Park . Just the pair. we spooked then not realizing they were there so i went back in the afternoon and got some footage . Lovely little birds, about the size of a Sparrow but cuter

[andy b]

as the name suggests they are members of the chat family. this includes the robin, redstarts and whinchats. they are all similarly shaped and sized.
the whinchat is very similar to the stonechat but the whinchat has a striking eyestripe and is more common around coastal areas. the male stonechat is a very handsome fellow. he has a striking black head. stonechats perch up on grass stems or walls then flit down to the ground for food before returning to perch again. these birds could still be on passage to warmer climes

[Chocky]

Thanks for that. I can't upload the video . Y=This computer won't accept the format for some reason