Quote Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak View Post
I am known for my interest in wildlife but equally I will put my hand in the air and say I'm not a bird spotter or good at identifying small birds, I can do the usual lap wings and plovers, oyster catchers and skylarks, wood peckers, ring ouzel and some birds of prey, these are things I should know as an ML.

but today whilst driving along the Strines road on one of the bends, wooded but with a rocky stream some thing caught my eye and I do have a keen eye in the hills for spotting things, why? because it was different...very different. initially my head said Robin because I saw a flash of bright red but straight away discounted this as I was looking at its bottom and it was slightly longer also .the bird was dark with a hint of white edgeing on its wings and then it was off, I never really saw it's beak unfortuanately but its head was dark (Black).

Now I've poured over my two bird books and can only come up with one bird and it says it's pretty rare or at least scarce.

I reckon it was a Black Redstart...any thing else come to mind.?
Think more likely a redstart Ian. Black redstart are like robins but as near as damn it a stealth dark grey all over

Black redstart at RSPB web

And redstart