WP birds again

[Motmot]

Some birds for you to id.Hope you enjoy!

[Tim Allwood]

Hi there

this might narrow it down for a few of you following...or not!

nightingale
blue chaffinch?
semi-collared fly (tail not Collared and white med covs)
subalpine warbler
Icky warbler

[Jurij Hanžel]

3 Pied
4 Subalpine Warbler
5 Icterine warbler

[jurek]

trash night, spotted fly, semi-collared, subalpine, icterine

[Joern Lehmhus]

1.Nightingale
2. oups- a Phylloscopus?
3. Semicollared Flycatcher
4. Subalpine Warbler
5. Icterine Warbler

[Andrew Whitehouse]

1. Nightingale
2. Bonelli's Warbler sp.
3. Pied Flycatcher
4. Sardinian Warbler
5. Melodious Warbler

[Motmot]

Tim 2 OK
Jurij 2 OK
Jurek 1 OK
Joern 2 OK
Andrew 3 OK
Well done guys, all birds but one have been ided so far.

[CJW]

1. Sprosser
2. Bonelli's Warbler
3. Collared Flycatcher
4. Sardinian Warbler
5. Melodious Warbler

[tom mckinney]

1) Nightingale Lusciana megarhynchos

2) Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

3) Pied Flycatcher (possibly Ficedula hypoleuca iberiae?)

4) Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans

5) Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina

[James Lowther]

I reckon tom's got it spot on

[Runcorn Birder]

1 Nightingale
2 Female Greenfinch (it was the tail that made me go for that) ?
3 Pied Flycatcher (can't see reason for it not to be)
4 Subalpine Warbler (educated guess) ?
5 Icterine Warbler (sloping head) ?

[Motmot]

Chris 1 OK
Tom 4 OK
Runcorn 3 OK
Now you´ve got it!

[Runcorn Birder]

By a process of elimination then...

1 Nightingale
2 Willow Warbler
3 Pied Flycatcher
4 Sardinian Warbler
5 Icterine Warbler

[Motmot]

Runcorn 3 OK again

[Jules Sykes]

Hi
1. Nightingale
2. Willow Warbler
3. Pied Fly
4. Sardinian Warbler
5. Icterine Warbler

Probably why I never became a detective :C

[Motmot]

Jules same 3 OK

[Motmot]

All birds ided
1 Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos. Tim ided it
2 Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus. Tom ided it
3 Pied Flycatcher - Ficedula hypoleuca. Jurij ided it
4 Subalpine Warbler - Sylvia cantillans. Tim ided it
5 Melodious Warbler - Hippolais polyglotta. Andrew ided it

Some birds were really tricky, the Willow W. is very very eastern looking, kind of yakutensis or very drab acredula with just a touch of green on its rump. The Pied Fly had actual white on its median coverts (rare feature for hypoleuca) making it look similar to a Semicollared Fly, and the Melodious W had a distinctive wing panel making it look like an Icterine, not a rare design in spring birds. Here´s another pic of the Willow W.
More mistery birds soon

[Motmot]

More birdies for you. Good luck!

[Dave B]

More birdies for you. Good luck!
None of these are from my area, but to get the ball rolling, I'll try (without access to relevant field guides!):

1. A Sylvia . Spectacled?
2. Orphean
3. Baffling!
4. Whinchat
5. Black-eared? Wheatear

I'm about 20% sure on all of them!! Apart from no 3. I'm 100% on that one!

Dave

[James Lowther]

spectacled
western orphean
grasshopper
whinchat
northern wheatear

[tom mckinney]

1) Whitethroat Sylvia communis
2) Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis
3) Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
4) Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
5) Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica

[Jurij Hanžel]

1 Sylvia communis
2 Sylvia hortensis
3 Locustella naevia (the tail looks rather distinctive)
4 Saxicola rubetra
5 Oenanthe oenanthe

[Andrew Whitehouse]

1. Spectacled Warbler
2. Orphean Warbler
3. Grasshopper Warbler
4. Tree Pipit
5. Black-eared Wheatear

[Jurij Hanžel]

5 changing to O. hispanica

[Dave B]

Changing 4 from Whinchat to Meadow Pipit

[Motmot]

After all changes done
Dave B 3 OK
James 1 OK
Tom 4! OK
Jurij 3 OK
Andrew 2 OK

Well done, all but one ided

[Jules Sykes]

Is no. 1 a Rufous Bushchat of the Eastern race?

[Motmot]

Hi Jules, sorry but no.

[Jules Sykes]

Hi Jules, sorry but no.

I'm not chuffing surprised with my track record of photo id's. Great respect for the birders who can do the business on them though.

[tom mckinney]

Hi Eduardo,

Any chance you could tell us which one hasn't been ID'd correctly...?

Tom

[Motmot]

Hi Eduardo,

Any chance you could tell us which one hasn't been ID'd correctly...?

Tom

Sure,

1 Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
2 Western Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis)
3 not ided
4 Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
5 Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)

[tom mckinney]

Number 3 not Grasshopper Warbler?

Now I'm really stuck!

[Jules Sykes]

Lanceolated Warbler possibly?

[Motmot]

No, not Lanceolated. Tip: I´m sure there are plenty of this in Valencia

[Jules Sykes]

No, not Lanceolated. Tip: I´m sure there are plenty of this in Valencia

Didn't think so myself looked too long winged for Lancy (nearest thing to Grasshopper Warbler) just the streaky undertail coverts are a bit puzzling. If you think there are plenty in this area then that's my second guess out of the window.

[Motmot]

Another pic of the bird. Now it´s easy!

[Jules Sykes]

Corn Bunting?

[Dave B]

Another pic of the bird. Now it´s easy!

Juv Red Crossbill

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Juvenile Serin by the looks of it.

[jurek]

red crossbill

[Motmot]

Juvenile Serin by the looks of it.
Yep, that´s the weirdo. Well done

[Jurij Hanžel]

Got any more???

[Motmot]

Here´s a few new more for you to id. Hope you enjoy!

[Dimitris]

3rd Quail
2nd Moustached Warbler(?)
3rd Sedge Warbler(?)
4th Chiff Chaff?(looks brightly couloured)

I'm leaving the first juv Sylvia(?)....

Dimitris

[tom mckinney]

1 Reed Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
3 Quail
4 Wood Warbler
5 Zitting Cisticola

[RJElse]

1:Reed Warbler
2:Moustached Warbler
3:Quail
4:Icterine Warbler
5:Pallas's Gropper

[Motmot]

You´re good with quails! Check the rest though

[dan pointon]

1: Savi's Warbler
2: Zitting Cisticola
3: Quail
4: Bonelli's Warbler
5: Aquatic Warbler

[Dimitris]

1st)Marmora's Warbler???
2nd)Sedge Warbler?(I'm sticking with this)
4th)Melodius Warbler??
5th)Ziting Cisticola??

[JWN Andrewes]

Savi's
Pallas's Gropper
Quail
Wood
Aquatic

[Jurij Hanžel]

Savi's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Quail
Wood Warbler
Aquatic Warbler

[Andrew Whitehouse]

1. Great Reed Warbler
2. Sedge Warbler
3. Quail
4. Melodious Warbler
5. Aquatic Warbler

[Motmot]

You´re getting very close! Only one species hasn´t been ided yet
dwayne950 4 ok!
Dimitris 0 ok
JWN Andrewes 3 ok
Jurij 2 ok
Andrew 2 ok

[dan pointon]

Gis' a clue which ones Motmot!!!!!

[Motmot]

Clues???
You have plenty of those there! ;)

[dan pointon]

So is it No.5 that no-one's id'd yet, this is the conclusion i've come to through process of elimination and some guesswork??

Dan

[Motmot]

So is it No.5 that no-one's id'd yet, this is the conclusion i've come to through process of elimination and some guesswork??

Dan
You ided it. 5 is Aquatic Warbler

[Dimitris]

This is fun Motmot thanks.Do you have any more?

Thanx,

Dimitris

[Jurij Hanžel]

You´re getting very close! Only one species hasn´t been ided yet
dwayne950 4 ok!
Dimitris 0 ok
JWN Andrewes 3 ok
Jurij 2 ok
Andrew 2 ok

Dimitris has 1 point because of the Quail.

I believe there is a mistake in the scoring (unless I'm missing something):

JWN Andrewes has 3 correct, of which 4 (all but the Gropper) are the same as mine. Two are for sure correct (Aquatic & Quail). The difference between us lies in the Gropper. Therefore it can be assumed the Gropper is correct, because he has 3 pts and I 2.
If Savi's were correct, I would now have 3 pts. As I don't have 3, Savi's must be wrong.

If Savi's is wrong, dwayne950's Zitting Cisticola must be correct for him to have 4 points. Therefore P's Gropper can't be right and JWN Andrewes would have only 2 pts and vice versa, if the Gropper were corect, the Cisticola would be wrong and dwayne would have only 3 points.

Do you see what I'm aiming at?

[dan pointon]

Yep, i see your point Jurij, the only conclusion i came to from the confirmation of No.5 was that the Savi's was wrong, i didn't look in to it any further than that, but having read your point and looked back there is definitely something a miss. Can you enlighten us Motmot???

Dan

[Jurij Hanžel]

However, I edited my post only 22 mins before Motmot posted the scores, it may well be that the page wasn't refreshed for a long time, and my old ID of #5 was still there. That would explain everything and Savi's would be OK.

[Motmot]

You´re all right! Dimitris had Quail and probably I scored Jurij before changes done. Ok I´ll give you more info.
1 Savi´s
2 Zitting
3 quail
4 not ided
5 Aquatic

[Jurij Hanžel]

Might as well try the obvious, but probably wrong, Willow Warbler.

[Motmot]

No Willow sorry.
Another clue: after checking all answers Dimitris gets half point extra. Now it´s easy.

[Jurij Hanžel]

Assuming he got the half point because he changed his answer later on, I'd say Chiffchaff.

[Motmot]

It´s not "Chiffchaff", the bird hasn´t been ided yet

[dan pointon]

The only thing i can offer is Icterine Warbler, though i think that's been mentioned. Motmot, is the fact that you put Chiffchaff in inverted commas some sort of hint?

By the way, have you got any more?!!!

Dan

[dbradnum]

Iberian Chiffchaff.

[Motmot]

Now all ided
1 Savi´s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
2 Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
3 Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
4 Iberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus)
5 Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola)

[Motmot]

A few more for you. Good luck!

[Jurij Hanžel]

1 Cetti's Warbler
3 Whinchat
4 a Lark probably, I'd say Crested
5 Goldfinch?

[RecoveringScot]

2: Woodpigeon

[dan pointon]

1) Cetti's Warbler
2) Woodpigeon
3) Bluethroat
4) Crested Lark
5) Chaffinch

Really hard set Motmot, especially no.4!!!!

Dan

[Motmot]

Jurij 3 ok
Dan 2 ok

[dan pointon]

Try again then!!!!

1) Cetti's Warbler
2) Woodpigeon
3) Whinchat
4) Crested Lark
5) Goldfinch

[Andrew Whitehouse]

1. Cetti's Warbler
2. Woodpigeon
3. Red-breasted Flycatcher
4. Crested Lark
5. Goldfinch

[Motmot]

Dan 4 ok
Andrew 3 ok

[dan pointon]

Is Jurij's 3 just out of the answers he gave? Because he didn't answer number two, which would mean that it has got to be Nightingale he got wrong, is this assumption correct?

Dan

[Motmot]

Is Jurij's 3 just out of the answers he gave? Because he didn't answer number two, which would mean that it has got to be Nightingale he got wrong, is this assumption correct?

Dan

He changed Nightingale x Cetti´s

[dan pointon]

4) Thekla Lark

[Motmot]

No Thekla sorry

[MSA]

So we've got -
1. Cettis
2. Woodpigeon
3. Whinchat
4. Crested Lark

....anyone remember playing "mastermind" with the coloured pegs?

I'll say 5. is a young Siskin, based on bill shape mostly!

[Motmot]

We have
1 Cetti´s
2 Woodpigeon
3 Whinchat
4 not ided
5 Goldfinch
No mastermind needed ;)

[MSA]

Give me real-life birds any day of the week - much easier!

OK, 4 is a Short-toed Lark.

[dan pointon]

So Motmot, what's the solution???

Dan

[Motmot]

Sorry for being late (been out a few days on a pelagic)
MSA is right, photo 4 is Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)

[dan pointon]

Do you have any more Motmot???

Dan

[Motmot]

There you go, a few more toughies ;)

[Jules Sykes]

Might as well have the first bash.
1. Northern Wheatear
2. Collared Dove
3. Tree Pipit
4. Mallard
5. Chiffchaff

[jurek]

Black-eared Wheatear, Collared Dove, Olive-backed, Pheasant, Eastern Bonelli's ?

[ed keeble]

Black-eared Wheatear, Collared Dove, Olive-backed, Pheasant, Eastern Bonelli's ?

I will go with the crowd on Photo 1-3 and 5 (once the crowd has formed) but on 4 I suspect Bee-eater: though whether European or (given the strong greens) Little Green I'm hard pushed to say.

[jurek]

True, 4 changed to common bee-eater :)

[Motmot]

Jules 2 ok
Jurek 2 ok
White-back 2ok

[Jules Sykes]

Might as well have the first bash.
1. Northern Wheatear
2. Collared Dove
3. Tree Pipit
4. Mallard
5. Chiffchaff

One more go
1. Black-eared Wheatear
2. Collared Dove
3. Tree Pipit
4. RB Merganser
5. Wood Warbler

[RockyRacoon]

1: Black-eared Wheatear
2: Collared Dove
3: Olive-Backed Pipit
4: Black-Crowned Night Heron
5: Chiffchaff

[Motmot]

Jules 2 ok
Jake 1 ok

3 birds have been correctly identified so far

[James Lowther]

black wheatear, collared dove, tree pipit, shelduck (??!!), western bonelli's warbler

[Dave B]

There you go, a few more toughies ;)

1. Flied Piecatcher
2. Collared Dove
3. Tree Pipit
4. Bee-eater
5. Western Bonelli's

[Ghostly Vision]

1 Northern wheatear
2 Collared dove
3 Meadow pipit
4 R B merganser (can't possibly be a Bee-eater?)
5 Eastern bonelli's

This can't be 100% based on your marking above, but it's worth a shot. I thought 5 was Western BW, but the marks say otherwise!

Sean

[James Lowther]

Hmmmm,
intriguing
Ignoring what i said earlier....
I reckon Dave is right insofar as;

1=NOT northern or black-eared wheatear
2=collared dove
3=tree pipit
4=bee-eater
5=WBW

[ed keeble]

4 R B merganser (can't possibly be a Bee-eater?)

Sean

trust me on this one...those reptilian eyelids don't belong on a duck

[Harry Hussey]

1)(Western) Black-eared Wheatear
2)Collared Dove
3)Meadow Pipit
4)European Bee-eater
5)Western Bonelli's Warbler

[dan pointon]

1) Pied Wheatear
2) Collared Dover
2) Tripit
4) R B Merg - i have no idea!
5) WBW - i'll go with GV on this as i know he's had experience ID'ing these!!!

Dan

[Motmot]

Dave B. 4 ok!
Sean 2 ok
James 4 ok well done trusting Dave!
Harry 3 ok
Dwayne 3 ok

Well done guys, there´s only one left

[Motmot]

Big help, bird is NOT a Wheatear

[Motmot]

1 not ide
2 Collared Dove - Jules ided it
3 Tree Pipit - Jules ided it
4 European Bee-eater - white-back ided it
5 Western Bonelli´s Warbler - James ided it

Here´s the Bee-eater for you to check.

Who´ll get the last one?

[dan pointon]

Woodchat Shrike???

[Motmot]

That´s the bird, Lanius senator! An adult male, check this beauty

[dan pointon]

Cracking bird, i'm just pleased I got it right!!! Keep 'em coming Motmot they're really good.

Dan

[Motmot]

A few more birds to id. Hope you´ll enjoy them.
Good luck again!

[dan pointon]

1) Icterine Warbler
2) Nightingale
3) Chiffy
4) Short Toed Treecreeper
5) Stone Curlew

[James Lowther]

1) Melodious Warbler
2) Nightingale
3) Radde's warbler???
4) Short Toed Treecreeper
5) Stone curlew

[Motmot]

Dan 1 ok
James 3! ok

[ESTEBANNIC]

Hola Eduardo !

My guess:
1)Radde's warbler
2)Rufous bush chat
3)Chiffchaff
4)Emberiza sp??
5)Scop's Owl

Saludos
Steve

[desgreene]

1.Melodius Warbler
2. Great Reed Warbler
3.Chiffchaff
4. Stonechat
5. Stone Curlew

(Edited to add suggestions for 1,3 & 5).

[RockyRacoon]

Melodius Warbler,
Great-Reed Warbler, (that's copying /agreeing with desgreene) :s
Chiffchaff,
House Sparrow?,
Stone Curlew,

[Motmot]

Steve 0 ok (sorry buddy!)
desgreene 3 ok
Jake 3 ok

Well done everyone! Tip: all birds have been identified but one

[Harry Hussey]

1)Melodious Warbler
2)Nightingale
3)Chiffchaff
4)Short-toed Treecreeper
5)Stone Curlew

[ed keeble]

1)Melodious Warbler
2)Nightingale
3)Chiffchaff
4)Short-toed Treecreeper
5)Stone Curlew

I'm not that great at logic games, but if Steve got 0 (sorry Steve) then 3 can't be a Chiffchaff...

[Harry Hussey]

Hmm,
In that case, could I go for Great Reed Warbler for No.2 and Willow Warbler for No.3?
Harry

[Motmot]

No problem Harry, after changes 3 ok

[Harry Hussey]

I hate logic problems! Then No.3 must be Radde's Warbler, and No.4 is the one that nobody correctly IDd, so I'll go with...Rock Sparrow?
Harry

[ed keeble]

I hate logic problems! Then No.3 must be Radde's Warbler, and No.4 is the one that nobody correctly IDd, so I'll go with...Rock Sparrow?
Harry

stick with the logic Harry-

if desgreen and jake each got three right and chiff is wrong

then the 3 which they got right must be Melod... GRW... Stone Curlew..

that just leaves you with the Raddes-ish one and the St Treecreeperish one to fret about.

[Harry Hussey]

stick with the logic Harry-

if desgreen and jake each got three right and chiff is wrong

then the 3 which they got right must be Melod... GRW... Stone Curlew..

that just leaves you with the Raddes-ish one and the St Treecreeperish one to fret about.
Exactly, I was sticking with Melodious, Great Reed and Stone Curlew, and going for Radde's (as James had 3 right despite going for Nightingale for no.2 and ST 'creeper for no.4 (which must be wrong) ) and Rock Sparrow as the solution to no.4, which must also be the only one that nobody has gotten right....

[Motmot]

:clap: Now it claps!
And you hate logic problems? ha ha

1 Melodious W. James ided it
2 Great Reed W. desgreene ided it
3 Radde´s W. James ided it
4 Rock Sparrow Harry ided it
5 Stone Curlew Dan ided it

[ed keeble]

Exactly, I was sticking with Melodious, Great Reed and Stone Curlew, and going for Radde's (as James had 3 right despite going for Nightingale for no.2 and ST 'creeper for no.4 (which must be wrong) ) and Rock Sparrow as the solution to no.4, which must also be the only one that nobody has gotten right....

beautiful

[ESTEBANNIC]

:( wow! thought this was easier....... dislexic me!!!!

[Motmot]

New birds, not hand held this time. Good luck!

[Bluetail]

1) Green Sandpiper
2) Black-tailed Godwit
3) Greylag Goose
4) Long-tailed Cormorant
5) Northern Wheatear

[Simon G]

1) Common Sandpiper
2) Black-tailed Godwit
3) Lesser White-fronted Goose
4) Pygmy Cormorant
5) Northern Wheatear

[dan pointon]

1) Some sort of wildfowl - not sure
2) Black T Godwit
3) Greylag Goose
4) Pygmy Cormorant
5) Northern Wheatear

[Motmot]

Jason 1 ok
Simon 2 ok
Dan 2 ok

[Dave B]

Jason 1 ok
Simon 2 ok
Dan 2 ok

1. Little Bustard
2. Black-tailed Godwit
3. White-fronted Goose
4. Pygmy Cormorant
5. Isabelline Wheatear

[Motmot]

1. Little Bustard
2. Black-tailed Godwit
3. White-fronted Goose
4. Pygmy Cormorant
5. Isabelline Wheatear

Wow!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: All 5 ok in one shot!
Amazing Dave!

[Dave B]

Wow!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: All 5 ok in one shot!
Amazing Dave!

It helped to have others eliminate a few first!

[dan pointon]

Never the less Dave, that's pretty good going!!!!!! Any more Motmot?!

[Ghostly Vision]

1. Little Bustard
2. Black-tailed Godwit
3. White-fronted Goose
4. Pygmy Cormorant
5. Isabelline Wheatear

Ah, man - that's what I was going to say!

No actually my guesses would have been

1 little b
2 Black t g
3 Greylag
4 Pygmy c
5 northern w

Let's have more, motmot - please.

I might have a few to tempt everyone with shortly........

GV

[Motmot]

Here´s a new edition WP bird quiz.
Hope you enjoy!

[Jane Turner]

1. Melodious Warbler
2. Willow Warbler
3. Short-toed Treecreeper
4 Swallow
5 - I thought it was a yellow-browed W on the thumbnail, but I switch to Serin!

[Jurij Hanžel]

Melodious Warbler
Iberian Chiffchaff
Treecreeper
Swift
Serin

Thanks for the new lot, Motmot! Your quizzes are always very nice.

[The Analog Kid]

Just quickly guess....
1-Melodious Warbler
2-Icterine Warbler
3-
4-Common Swift
5-Citril Finch

[Motmot]

Sorry guys but I posted pic three previously on this quiz, it´s a Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia). Let´s change it for this new one:

[Frenchy]

1 Melodious wblr
2 Iberian chiffchaff (just for the laugh)
3 A foot
4 Common swift
5 wild left field stab at Chestnut-sided warbler

[Motmot]

Three birds have been ided so far.

[jurek]

melodious, iberian chiff, treepit, swift, treepit

[Jurij Hanžel]

Would hate to see this quiz drift into oblivion. Could you please give us some clues (i.e. correct answers per person), Motmot?

[Motmot]

Jane 2 ok
Jurij 3 ok
Net 1 ok
Frenchy 2 ok
Jurek 2 ok

[Jurij Hanžel]

3 *stabbing wildly* Dupont's Lark
4 Pallid Swift

[The Analog Kid]

1 Melodious Warbler
2 Iberian chiffie
3 Short-toed Treecreeper
4.Pallid Swift
5.European Serin

[Motmot]

Jurij 3 ok
Net 4 ok!

[lou salomon]

changing net-falcos's no. 4 into alpine swift?
if that's right - i'd never have got the STT foot.

[Motmot]

Lou also 4 ok! ;)

[Motmot]

1 Melodious W
2 Iberian Chiffchaff
3 Short-toed Treecreeper
4 Not ided
5 Serin

[lou salomon]

young house martin

[Motmot]

Well done, it´s a House Martin trapped on Oct 8th, a first winter. Here´s the little fellow: