Pale Northern Wheatear at Landguard

[ggregory71]

An interesting pale wheatear sp was on Landguard Common this morning. It was decided by the warden and recorder to trap it before definite identification was made and before the observatory would release the news about it. On trapping it was shown to be an unusually pale Northern Wheatear with a broader than normal dark tail band. The best in-hand feature was the grey axillaries and underwing coverts, broadly tipped white - these were very difficult to see in the field. It was certainly an 'educational' bird.
I do not know who called it in as a possible or probable Isabelline Wheatear - it was not through the observatory. Perhaps it might sometimes be better to wait a while before calling in news on the various bird-lines. I know people are keen to see good birds, but maybe we ought to achieve a balance between speedy reporting and confirmation of identity. I appreciate that it is not easy at times, and since it was a long time before the bird was trapped (it was actively feeding in many places on the common) I can understand why it was called in before trapping.

[dbradnum]

I think it's worked OK in this case, given that it went out as a possible - this sounds like a fair assessment. I just read the message as a 'heads-up', rather than taking any action based on it. Anyone that travels based on that type of flimsy news should expect the commoner species rather than a tick! Equally if I was within a few miles and at a loose end, I'd have popped in to have a look since it sounds interesting, and an opportunity to learn something....

[Phil Bishop]

Problem is, if it had been one, and no one put the message out because of doubt, then you end up with a lot of people moaning about suppression and so on.
Often it seems that its damned if you do and damned if you dont.
I would rather have a 'possible' message alerting me to the fact that there might be an interesting bird than have total silence. At least then I can make a judgement as to wether to travel, though of course being a working day and a hundred miles away meant that I had no chance of getting there in this instance.

[JoanT]

I think it's worked OK in this case, given that it went out as a possible - this sounds like a fair assessment. I just read the message as a 'heads-up', rather than taking any action based on it. Anyone that travels based on that type of flimsy news should expect the commoner species rather than a tick! Equally if I was within a few miles and at a loose end, I'd have popped in to have a look since it sounds interesting, and an opportunity to learn something....

Agree totally with that comment and sums up my views as well.

Joan

[paul Robinson]

"...we ought to achieve a balance between speedy reporting and confirmation of identity."

A lot of birders might see speedy reporting and confirmation of identity as two sides of the same coin. Surely confirming the identity yourself is part of the fun? If you end up seeing an unusual northern wheatear then you have been educated, as you say.

regards
Paul

[joshjenkinsshaw]

Any photos of the bird? Would be interested to see them

[daviddixon]

Pale Wheatear photographed at Bembridge Down, Isle of Wight on September 4, picture on Isle of Wight Bird sightings.

David

[speirs2]

Here are some pictures of the Landguard bird

[CJW]

Sorry if this sounds a bit well, arrogant, but I wouldn't have given that bird a second glance.

[calliope]

Sorry if this sounds a bit well, arrogant, but I wouldn't have given that bird a second glance.

certainly not unusually pale. Still if someone thinks they might have something I'd rather hear about it, labelled possible or whatever.

[Binocularface]

Sorry if this sounds a bit well, arrogant, but I wouldn't have given that bird a second glance.

Well I would have; anything that is slightly off the norm is worth at least a second glance! I wonder how many rare slip by on the IoM unnoticed ;)

[CJW]

I wonder how many rare slip by on the IoM unnoticed ;)

Probably shedloads.

[ggregory71]

The photographs do not really do the bird justice at all - in the field the bird was markedly paler than the nearby obvious Northern Wheatears and it was easy to pick out. Also the tail bar was significantly broader than that of those birds. This was clear in flight, and in the hand the pattern was far closer to that shown for Isabelline Wheatear in Svensson than that shown for Northern Wheatear. Further, the bird was several times chased away by at least one of the obvious Northern Wheatears, and these never did this amongst themselves.
Nevertheless, there were doubts about its identity and the best way to resolve them was by catching the bird. At least then the matter could be resolved.

[Bowland Birders]

certainly not unusually pale. Still if someone thinks they might have something I'd rather hear about it, labelled possible or whatever.

It looks like a quite straightforward Northern.

A couple of good Northern features can be seen clearly in the photos - buff lores and rufous-tinged ear coverts. This is nicely shown in at least the Collins guide, which the wheatear is looking at in the photos;)

What it not generally illustrated is the way that the gtr covs can sometimes look very plain like this on Northerns when the fresh fringes are not yet worn, making the wings look plainer.

Here is a similar Northern Wheatear from East Lancs from Sep 2008.

Thanks for the posting, always good to keep learning!

BR Mike

[bitterntwisted]

This is nicely shown in at least the Collins guide, which the wheatear is looking at in the photos;)

And they say the birds don't read the books.

[marklhawkes]

Sorry if this sounds a bit well, arrogant, but I wouldn't have given that bird a second glance.

Not at all wishing to sound arrogant either, but the fact the alula is the same colour as the coverts means this is a non-starter for Isabelline, without the need to trap it.....

[Vespa]

And they say the birds don't read the books.

If they'd just let go of the wing I'm sure it would point itself out ;)

[Gavin Haig]

Sorry if this sounds a bit well, arrogant, but I wouldn't have given that bird a second glance.

certainly not unusually pale.

It looks like a quite straightforward Northern.

Not at all wishing to sound arrogant either, but the fact the alula is the same colour as the coverts means this is a non-starter for Isabelline, without the need to trap it.....

Now look, you finders of 'odd' looking birds - when folks on here start expressing an interest in seeing pictures of the bird (for 'educational' reasons, blah, blah) you must NEVER, EVER acquiesce and post those photos.

You will only succeed in (a) giving lots of people the chance to help you feel a bit stupid, and (b) giving a few the unsolicited opportunity to 'teach' us all.

Unless, of course, that's what you want? ;)

[Jonny Crossbill]

No one likes an e-hero ;)

[ANdy5551]

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=151284

photos of a wheatear i saw in Hull yesterday, looks pale in comparison to this one

[Julian Thomas]

Sorry if this sounds a bit well, arrogant, but I wouldn't have given that bird a second glance.

Fair play, but the bolt-upright stance would be enough for me to look at it a second time, especially if it was paler than Northerns around it. It's all about search image - how individual birders pick out particular species (not just rarities). Not many of the criteria in that initial sift of the birds present at a site are at all conclusive, but some may be enough to make a bird interesting. Just so in this case, and further examination has proved the bird not to be what it might have been at first sight. In reality it's no different than the process every one of us goes through in the field countless times a year, hoping to find the unusual at whatever level.

[Periwinkle]

Not at all wishing to sound arrogant either, but the fact the alula is the same colour as the coverts means this is a non-starter for Isabelline, without the need to trap it.....


Nobody's perfect see here (http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5558&page=2).

[marklhawkes]

You can't use alula patterns to ID terns Peri you plumb ;)

Furthermore, slight difference in photo quality don't you think? Which is why being in the field is better than ID'ing from photos....

[edenwatcher]

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=151284

photos of a wheatear i saw in Hull yesterday, looks pale in comparison to this one

Has anyone actually looked at this!!!! (and its alula)

Rob

[Farnboro John]

I'm going to be a bit holistic here but all of these pictures show very warm browns not at all like the cold tones of the couple of Izzies I have seen in Britain. Wheatears come in dark normal and pale but all of them have these warm tones, especially on the flanks.

(ducking now)

John

[edenwatcher]

Agree about the warm tones.

Rob