pale songster for id please

[Lemars]

Evening all

I know I'm going to cringe and I suspect this site is making me lazy (but it is 10pm here (France) and I've already scoured the books).

Could anyone id this bird seen 6pm in my garden this evening, please ?

As usual, the distant photo-quality is poor, but the best I could manage.

C

[Gaza]

A Dunnock.

[Lemars]

Hi and thank you Gaza

You were quick !!!

We have several dunnocks around here and I even read a post a day or so ago (can't remember who posted) from someone who hadn't recognised one because it was up high.

Now I've done the same thing.

Thank you for being so prompt. I said I'd cringe, didn't I?

[Gaza]

Sounds about right Lemars

Usually ground feeders, but like to sing high in the trees!

[Adam Cheeseman]

I'd say it's possibly one of the Whitethroats as it appears to have a white throat and that this bird has white outer tail feathers, which dunnocks don't have. Can't see the back so can't make any more of that. The legs also seem yellowish which is wrong for dunnock.
Can you describe what the song was like? Any more detail on plumage, song or behaviour would help.

Cheers,

Adam

[Lemars]

Oh my Adam - now I'm confused.

You're right about those tail feathers from what I can see on my own photos.
The legs too, are certainly yellow (but someone posted today about the problems associated with depending on those).

I can't be sure about the song any more. I've listened to both dunnock and white-throat recordings since reading your post and simply don't have a good enough auditory memory.

I'd be inclined to say it's more like a dunnock. The only thing I can think to do now, is go out there at about the same time tomorrow and see if I can get a better photo (including a back view if the little blighter would oblige) maybe with a recording.

I must admit that I'm really quite familiar with dunnocks - and the feathers all seem too `smooth', somehow. Still, that's what we generally have here - I'd be delighted if it were a white-throated stranger !!!

We'll probably never know, but I'll see what transpires........................

C

[Dae]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with whitethroat and go with the first response of dunnock. The photo is quite grainy so I think color will be decieving. I don't really see any white throat on this photo though...

Dunnocks are quite loud songsters and for me most likely to be in a garden than a whitethroat. Hope you get to see more of him

[witham]

Although grainy I also think it's a Dunnock and from what I can see of the ear coverts they seem similar, is it's back Sparrow like as I'm sure you know the oldie fashioned name for a Dunock is Hedge Sparrow even though there are subtle differences, we have quite a few in the garden, their song is very melodic and there's one who sits in a Hawthorn tree with a robin and they have a 'sing off' bit like the X factor

[Adam Cheeseman]

Whe I first saw the photos I thought Dunnock, then I blew the pics up!
Must admit shape doesn't fit Whitethroat's but we are looking up at the bird from below. Not saying it is a Whitethroat just that it doesn't fit right for a dunnock unless of course we are looking a slightly leucistic individual, which may account for the outer tail feathers.

Cheers,

Adam

[aeshna5]

Looks like Dunnock to me. I wonder whether the white outer tail feathers is an optical illusion caused by reflection or something.