Budleigh Beach - Snow Buntings

A visit to see the Snow Buntings at Budleigh before the rain set in this morning proved rather instructive. The two birds look quite different and at first glance appear to be a male and a female. However, close scrutiny of the photos I took of the 'female' when it stretched its wings show that it is in fact a male. The border between the black and the white on the underside of the primaries is very distinct (this would be diffuse on a female). Both birds present appear to be first-winters judging by the rather narrow, pointed tail feathers (these would be more rounded on adults).