Common Rosefinch   Carpodacus erythrinus

Scarce passage migrant

 

The first record is singles seen on 16th – 21st September, 1954 and 16th and 23rd September, 1966 (Jackson, 1966).

 

A couple of birds were then seen in August 1973 and ’74 and 3, including an adult male at the end of May 1987 and 4 birds on 22nd September, 1988.

 

In 1992, 3 immature/female and one male were observed on 4th – 7th September. These birds were reported by A. Isbister at Biggins to have been on Foula all summer. However, this could not be substantiated by visiting ringers who were over for a few days over the summer. But it is interesting to note, that this was the year birds were known to have bred at a few localities across Britain.

 

Since 1992 singles have been seen in the spring and autumn, the majority from August into early October. Between 10 and 25 birds have been recorded almost annually since 1996.

 

 

Click this link for photographs