Black Redstart (female)

Black Redstart (female) Phoenicurus ochruros

I am so excited - I discovered a rarity this afternoon.

I had no idea what this was when I spotted it on the beach this afternoon. I knew it wasn't one of the regular birds and ended up taking 24 shots of it. It took me two hours to identify it but have now confirmed that it is a female black redstart.

I found out that between 2000 and 2010 there were just 35 sightings in Fife.

Size: Noticeably smaller than a rock pipit (there was one feeding on the same beach).
Habitat: Seashore, feeding on insects amongst the seaweed and rocks.
Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.
Date: 12/Jan/2012



A Front View can be seen here.

and a Rear View here.