Black eared wheatear from Corsica (2 Viewers)

[Val35]

I've been going through old pics from last spring and found this black-eared wheatear from Cap Corse on 02/04...I couldn't really observe the bird properly back then because it was raining quite a lot but managed those two (very bad) pics.
I find it quite pale and wonder if it can be eastern BEW...this species has been recorded in Corsica at least once and on this rainy day, the bushes were full of passerines, including at least two eastern subalpine warblers, indicating some eastern flux.

I'd like to have an opinion on it

 

[aeshna5]

Looks good for EBE Wheatear to me.

 

[Val35]

Thank you very much ! As this is a rare record, I'd like to have a few more confirmations

 

[rosbifs]

The black does seem to extend above the bill but I'm not sure I'd rely on the colouring too much...

How will you present your case for the defence?

 

[Val35]

The black does seem to extend above the bill but I'm not sure I'd rely on the colouring too much...

How will you present your case for the defence?

Actually I think that black extends above the bill and eye...Other features that make me think me think of EBE Wheatear are : overall pale color, greyish tinge on the cap...

 

[kuzeycem]

Probably unidentifiable. Mask of both taxa vary in extent with age and this bird looks impossible to age from these photos. Not to mention the actual extent of the mask being very hard to understand from these 2 photos. Are you sure these are the same birds?

 

[Val35]

Probably unidentifiable. Mask of both taxa vary in extent with age and this bird looks impossible to age from these photos. Not to mention the actual extent of the mask being very hard to understand from these 2 photos. Are you sure these are the same birds?

Seems like adult male in spring to me, no ?
Same bird yes, 100% sure.