A very low return for the day, only 5 birds from 6 nets over 5 hours is a bit disappointing but at least we caught a little gem. The last time we processed any of this type of Redpoll was in Gedser, Denmark a few years back.
Conveniently, we also got one of the more usual Redpoll captures so the two could be compared side by side. The Mealy is a completely different colour tone being white and grey rather than the much warmer toned buff and brown of the Lesser.
Size difference is noticeable here although there is considerable overlap in the
biometrics of both species.
As noticed previously in Denmark, Mealy eye often appears slightly smaller and
less centrally placed than the eyes of Lesser Redpoll.
Total: 2 (3)
Dunnock - 0 (1)
Lesser Redpoll - 1
Mealy Redpoll - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 0 (2)