Just returned from golfing/birding trip to the algarve with my wife. On looking through her photographs I noticed what appears to me to be a Lesser Whitethroat which I understand is relatively rare in this part of the world. I will happily give more information on when and where but have posted photographs for anyone to check my id.
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Lesser Whitethroat (?) - Algarve (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Larkrise
- Start date
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
I think it's a female Sardinian warbler, which is presumably regular down there- there's no 'mask' as you'd see on Lesser Whitethroat.
Cheers
Richard
Cheers
Richard
James Lowther
Well-known member
i agree it's definitely not a lsr whitethroat.
sardinian warbler seems a good bet.
James
sardinian warbler seems a good bet.
James
Thanks for the replies Richard and James. I thought it highly unlikely that we had seen a real rarity for the Algarve but I couldn't convince myself that it was a female Sardinian either - it just seemed a bit different to the sardinians we had seen on many occasions and I was perhaps letting the lack of a red/brownish red eye ring or red orbital ring lead me away from a more likely candidate.
Have since shown photographs to a couple of birding pals and each suggested lesser whitethroat on initial inspection but weren't 100% sure!
Thanks again
Have since shown photographs to a couple of birding pals and each suggested lesser whitethroat on initial inspection but weren't 100% sure!
Thanks again
Georg Schreier
Georg
Hello,
the bird you photographed is a juvenile Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans) a frequent passage migrant in coastal areas during September and October. When not familiar with this bird, it is often confused with a Lesser Whitethroat, which is a mega rarity here with less then 5 records for this country.
Regards, Georg
the bird you photographed is a juvenile Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans) a frequent passage migrant in coastal areas during September and October. When not familiar with this bird, it is often confused with a Lesser Whitethroat, which is a mega rarity here with less then 5 records for this country.
Regards, Georg
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Subby
I would be interested to know where you saw the bird, if you don't mind sharing.
Thanks
I would be interested to know where you saw the bird, if you don't mind sharing.
Thanks
Thanks Georg - I am certainly not familiar with juvenile subalpine and can see why it is possible to confuse with lesser whitethroat - thank you for your reply. Birdforum members to the rescue again!
Mick - the bird was seen adjacent to the old hide overlooking the lake in between the 8th and 17th tees on San Lorenzo golf course - part of the Rio Formosa nature reserve. This is a superb location with purple gallinules everywhere and almost guaranteed little bittern plus other good birds about.
Mick - the bird was seen adjacent to the old hide overlooking the lake in between the 8th and 17th tees on San Lorenzo golf course - part of the Rio Formosa nature reserve. This is a superb location with purple gallinules everywhere and almost guaranteed little bittern plus other good birds about.
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Subby
Sadly nothing exciting to speak of at San Lorenzo, when we were there on a very windy Sunday 12 October. As you say the last couple of years we;ve had little bittern male and female, no problem plus lots of passerines in the woods.
Even the estuary drew a blank with only distant views of waders.
We were however greatfull that it stayed dry that day, as the Portugese Masters final day, only a couple of K's up the road, was abandoned due to heavy rain and water logged greens. The trophy being awarded to the leader, Alexander Lévy.
We did however get cracking views of crested tits.
Thanks for the update.
Sadly nothing exciting to speak of at San Lorenzo, when we were there on a very windy Sunday 12 October. As you say the last couple of years we;ve had little bittern male and female, no problem plus lots of passerines in the woods.
Even the estuary drew a blank with only distant views of waders.
We were however greatfull that it stayed dry that day, as the Portugese Masters final day, only a couple of K's up the road, was abandoned due to heavy rain and water logged greens. The trophy being awarded to the leader, Alexander Lévy.
We did however get cracking views of crested tits.
Thanks for the update.
