More Bird Photographs Needed

[regionalphotos]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Hi Paul,

Yes we want it plus any others you may have!

OK I'll try to locate it tomorrow night and then post into this thread to verify the identification.

Paul

[regionalphotos]

Originally Posted by regionalphotos

OK I'll try to locate it tomorrow night and then post into this thread to verify the identification.

Paul

Here goes with the image.



I have tried to identify this bird from my guides and Lesser Whitethroat is the best match I could find. I will bow to others experience if I am completely wrong .

Paul

[SteveHL]

There's a Spotted Flycatcher here:
Regards

[John]

Originally Posted by regionalphotos

Here goes with the image.



I have tried to identify this bird from my guides and Lesser Whitethroat is the best match I could find. I will bow to others experience if I am completely wrong .

Paul

Hi Paul

Is this the only photo you have. Do you have a side shot.

I can't make out what should be dark ear coverts on this bird. One of the diagnostic features for a Lesser Whitethroats opposed to a common. The breast looks a bit buffy to. I think I can also see the makings of a slight white eye ring.

From the small amount we can see I would go for a Common Whitethroat but I am open to be proved wrong - again.

John

[Wilf]

Originally Posted by regionalphotos

Here goes with the image.



I have tried to identify this bird from my guides and Lesser Whitethroat is the best match I could find. I will bow to others experience if I am completely wrong .

Paul

Paul,
I think this is a female Common Whitethroat, the cap has a brownish appearance. Lesser Whitethroats have a grey cap and clean paler breast.

[regionalphotos]

Originally Posted by John

Hi Paul

Is this the only photo you have. Do you have a side shot.

I can't make out what should be dark ear coverts on this bird. One of the diagnostic features for a Lesser Whitethroats opposed to a common. The breast looks a bit buffy to. I think I can also see the makings of a slight white eye ring.

From the small amount we can see I would go for a Common Whitethroat but I am open to be proved wrong - again.

John

Here are 3 other shots taken at the same time but not processed in any way - it could be the processing that has been applied that is confusing the issue.





The reason I went for Lesser Whitethroat was because of the call and the grey/brown legs rather than yellow/brown legs ;-)

Best Wishes

Paul

[regionalphotos]

Wilf,

Please see my reply to John.

I am quite willing to accept that my ID is incorrect because I'm more of an insect and flower man than birds ;-)

Best wishes

Paul

[Wilf]

Hello Paul,

After seeing the extra shots I think your identification is nearer than mine, can't be certain though. It still appears to have a buff colour tint to the breast which is a characteristic of the Common Whitethroat.

[John]

Originally Posted by Wilf

Hello Paul,

After seeing the extra shots I think your identification is nearer than mine, can't be certain though. It still appears to have a buff colour tint to the breast which is a characteristic of the Common Whitethroat.

I'm the same Wilf. This bird has thrown me. I still can't see the dark ear coverts on this bird but the eye ring doesn't seem present in the first new image. The buff underparts isn't Lesser Whitethroat but virtually the rest of the plumage is.

I am now siding with Lesser Whitethroat with the new pictures but those underparts are really throwing me.

John

[regionalphotos]

Originally Posted by John

I'm the same Wilf. This bird has thrown me. I still can't see the dark ear coverts on this bird but the eye ring doesn't seem present in the first new image. The buff underparts isn't Lesser Whitethroat but virtually the rest of the plumage is.

I am now siding with Lesser Whitethroat with the new pictures but those underparts are really throwing me.

John

Hi Wilf / John,

Firstly what I was seeing was a small group of birds and while I can say 2 of the shots are the same bird I cannot guarantee the other 2 are. So what I'm thinking is did I come across a family group with adults and Juveniles.

Now in 'The Complete Guide to the Birdlife of Britain and Europe' it shows both the males and Juveniles as having a white eye-ring and the Juveniles as having a slightly buff breast below the vivid white throat. So could my original image be Juvenile? Also this guide shows the adults as having a browner colouring in summer as compared to the spring with the adult male in spring not having the ear patches. Then to add a little more confusion it references an Eastern race as 'Paler head and back, but grades into western form so not reliably identifiable in the field' and the picture doesn't show the dark ear patches.

Refering to the large format 'Collins Bird Guide' I become more convinced thst the first image I posted is a juvenile because again the dark cheek or ear patches aren't shown. Again this guide refers to an eastern subspecies that is browner but tends to allocate these to Central Asia, Europe, Turkey, and West Siberia.

Could I be getting nearer the mark?

BTW, should we start a new thread rather than hi-jacking this one?

Best wishes

Paul