The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Hi
I realise that I am not a very experienced birder. But,last Sunday I visited Chambers Wood to see the Redpoll which was showing well on the Feeders even though there was lots of activity around the Bird Ringing Team. However, On the photo Album, Dean calls it a 'Redpoll' - Russell calls in a 'Lesser Redpoll', both very good photo's. I am confused!!!(Does'nt take much) My Collins Bird Guide speaks of a 'Common Redpoll' and makes nothing of the 'Lesser' other Books that I have call the 'Mealy Redpoll' common? Which have I seen?
Malcolm.

The taxonomic split of the Redpoll species has been changed a few times over the years.

The Redpoll that we normally get in Lincolnshire is the Lesser Redpoll. More rarer is the confusingly named 'Common Redpoll' which is by no means common in Lincolnshire. The Common Redpoll is what older bird guides would class as 'Mealy Redpoll' - slightly larger and greyer than the Lesser Redpoll.

Alan