A nice flock of Lesser Redpoll on Stones Island at Carsington Water has been present for several days and, helpfully, mainly feeding low down on Rosebay Willow-Herb seeds enabling decent views. There are at least 40, and with them there has been a single Mealy Redpoll although I couldn't find it this morning. The Mealy Redpoll is now considered a separate species (Acanthis flammea) from the British Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret) so it's worth looking for. Separating the various species and races of Redpoll is quite a challenge, the starting point is a thorough knowledge of the structure and plumages of the Lesser Redpoll.
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