Very interesting paper that Julian...[ta for posting and adding more to the discussion]...:t:
http://username-beast.blogspot.com/
http://username-beast.blogspot.com/
I'm good thanks Alan..
For a fairer comparison I've used a photo where the Whitburn bird has its primaries fully open, to the point of separating. Look at the relative lengths of the outer three primaries.
I was intrigued by the radically different apparent exposed lengths of the greater underwing coverts (the feathers that overlie the primaries anyway) between these two birds. A feature? Age? Moult? Nonsense?
cheers, a
I was intrigued by the radically different apparent exposed lengths of the greater underwing coverts (the feathers that overlie the primaries anyway) between these two birds. A feature? Age? Moult? Nonsense?
cheers, a
Hopefully this works big file (bigger than birdforum limit and Google Docs hosting limit so I'm winging this!) (excuse the pun just noticed)
courtesy of Ross Ahmed
Birds I took in Spain in May (adult, spring...relevant??) show the scaling that is apparently made up of a dark base with a pale fringe?
I wouldn't normally quote the competition but I note that RBA have just added their daily summary that reads "the only new rarity today was a smart Pallid Swift at Whitburn"
Here is a very standard Common Swift showing paler bases - which has to be purely a reflection effect
http://wapedia.mobi/thumb/82ed508/sv/fixed/470/352/ApusApusKlausRoggel02.jpg?format=jpg
theres ongoing debate on the Norfolk thread at the moment and suggestion that Common and Pallid may not be separable in the field
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2280932&postcount=13859
theres ongoing debate on the Norfolk thread at the moment and suggestion that Common and Pallid may not be separable in the field
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2280932&postcount=13859
When you need to be 100% sure in the context of a vagrant,I'd agree. You'd want to verifiably record most of the features and nothing contradictory.
One is an upperwing and the other an underwing... might explain it (but the primary lengths are the primary lengths whether seen from above or below ) )