Thrush Nightingale

Jean Farmer · #1 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 03:44 PM

Has anyone ever seen or heard a thrush nightingale ? I moved here when I married 44 years ago, and in that time I have never heard this bird. I first heard it 3 years ago. It has a long and varied song. From all the photos I,ve seen I think it is a thrush nightingale,but I,m laughed at when I meantion it as there have only been 20 recorded in Europe.
Last year I did a 15 minute tape recording, hanging out of the bedroom window when it was blowing a gale! so it is a bit distorted.The said bird was 30 ft away hidden in the top of a cuppressus macracarpa.
The last time I heard it was in the last half term (June ? )

Hedge Witch · #2 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 03:55 PM

Whereabouts in Britain are you? If anybody had seen/heard it, they may be able to confirm the location.

Adam Cheeseman · #3 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 04:16 PM

The only ones I'm aware of on the British mainland this year was a bird that was ringed on MOD land in Wiltshire, a bird that stayed for a day on Portland Bill, one briefly at Dungeness, and one or two that passed through the Spurn Point area. Others passed through the Scottish islands.

Their song is different to that of a Nightingale, but probably not to the inexperienced.

If you are sure it was a Nightingale sp., I would have to say that I think it would be the normal species and not a Thrush Nightingale. However, your description of it being in the top of an conifer leads me to think it is more likely a Song Thrush.

Cheers,

Adam

Jean Farmer · #4 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 04:18 PM

I,m in Warwickshire.

Jean Farmer · #5 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

The only ones I'm aware of on the British mainland this year was a bird that was ringed on MOD land in Wiltshire, a bird that stayed for a day on Portland Bill, one briefly at Dungeness, and one or two that passed through the Spurn Point area. Others passed through the Scottish islands.

Their song is different to that of a Nightingale, but probably not to the inexperienced.

If you are sure it was a Nightingale sp., I would have to say that I think it would be the normal species and not a Thrush Nightingale. However, your description of it being in the top of an conifer leads me to think it is more likely a Song Thrush.

Cheers,

Adam

Thanks Adam.It was definateley not a song thrush.I have seen it singing in an ash tree.It,s about the size of a robin.It was here from about mid April. It would sing most of the day, peaking between 2p.m -5p.m
Jean

ChrisJB · #6 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 06:46 PM

You aren't anywhere near Kineton are you? I believe the woodlands around there hold Nightingale (but not Thrush Nightingale).

Regards, Chris

Jean Farmer · #7 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 06:55 PM

No Chris, I,m not near Kineton.
Regards,
Jean

John · #8 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 10:50 PM

As a one off there is always a chance that a Thrush Nightingale could turn up anywhere but the fact that you have heard it for three years makes me believe that there is no chance of it being a Thrush Nightingale.

You have to remember that rare birds such as a Thrush Nightingale are lost. For the most part because they are so lost the chances of them surviving a return to their usual migratory route are minimal. Given the slight chance of that happening the chances that they would then return annually to the same spot is as near as impossible as you can get.

One other point. There are a lot of patch birders in Warwickshire and if a bird that rare had been in this area over the last three years I can assure you it would have been found, ID'd and the news released. That hasn't happened which also suggests to me that we are talking more about a bird that is either a resident bird or one of the usual migrant birds.

One other point.You mention that the bird was a similar size to a Robin. Thrush Nightingale is 16.5cm as opposed to the Robin at 14cm.

There is always a chance that it could be a Nightingale. There are one or two areas in Warks that could turn up one. What makes you think it isn't a Nightingale?

BTW what area do you live in. I don't want to know an address but just a feel for where you are.

John

Jean Farmer · #9 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 02:51 PM

I,ve got an old interactive AA cd rom which I,ve been playing whilst also playing my tape of the "said bird" I think it must be an ordinary Nightingale.Do you know whether a Nightingale is a resident ?
Regards,
Jean