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White or Pied wagtail? - Lancashire, UK. (1 Viewer)

NickPatel92

Well-known member
Hi,

I know i'm probably going to be told all the details on how a White wagtail in Lancashire in October is really UNLIKELY, but just to be sure, i thought i'd post it anyway. This bird was amongst Pied wagtails, including some very light grey Pied wagtails (but they were definitely Pied, because of their grey flanks - this Bird has v.little flank colour). From a distance it was really White in colour. I was thinking maybe an Adult Winter/1st-Winter Female Alba/Yarrellii?

BY THE WAY - THE FIRST PIC IS OF A DEFINITE PAIR OF PIED - MALE ON LEFT, FEMALE ON RIGHT!!!

Thanks a lot.
 

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Its a Pied - nice dark rump showing on the 3rd pic

I'm not too sure... In pic three the rump looks darker grey than the mantle and back, then it's the uppertail coverts that appear black. Granted in the first pic the flanks look grey washed, but in other they don't...

So, let's assume that its an adult bird (can't see any moult contrast on the coverts and nice clean white based to the face), and most likely an adult female, why isn't it an adult female alba going into winter plumage?
 
Female Alba wouldn't show, especially at this time of year as much black on crown. Aswell as what has been said the messy black area around the ear coverts and linking the cap and bib is a pied feature.
 
Also Nick, I have seen you at Leighton Moss photographing Bearded Tits a few weeks back. I was there also photographing them. So nice to meet you and happy birding!
 
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