Ireland Bird - Willow Warbler? (1 Viewer)

[lassa8]

Finally getting around to organizing some photos I took in Ireland back in late April 2008.

Wondering if I might get any thoughts on this one? We were on the west coast of Ireland, probably between Doolin and Limerick not too far inland from the coast.

I'm wondering if it's a Willow Warbler because I think I make out light brown legs and I believe a Chiffchaff would have black/darker? I can't find my old field guide and I haven't been in Europe for over a decade, so I'm a bit rusty. No recollection on behavior.

 

[Scridifer]

I would say Chiffchaff.

Chris

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

This is not an definitive answer, just alert more to look at this bird more closely:
I find this a very hard Willow/Chiff (so I would like to learn from others here), but I see:
-feet colour, which is 80% Willow Warbler-colour (I hope thats understandable)
-a head pattern that is slightly better for Willow with an appearant dark frame surrounding the rear ear-coverts bordering them from below. I know, head pattern is not easy judged here, and its wihin variation for Chiffchaff. Lower eye-ring is present, but weak, so useless for id, I think.
Yes I know pp seems to be short, but I think, this can be just an impression from this angle.

Conclusion? More pictures please, or are you sure, Chris? I have learned much from your answers before, and I would like to learn here, too.

 

[Scridifer]

This is not an definitive answer, just alert more to look at this bird more closely:
I find this a very hard Willow/Chiff (so I would like to learn from others here), but I see:
-feet colour, which is 80% Willow Warbler-colour (I hope thats understandable)
-a head pattern that is slightly better for Willow with an appearant dark frame surrounding the rear ear-coverts bordering them from below. I know, head pattern is not easy judged here, and its wihin variation for Chiffchaff. Lower eye-ring is present, but weak, so useless for id, I think.
Yes I know pp seems to be short, but I think, this can be just an impression from this angle.

Conclusion? More pictures please, or are you sure, Chris? I have learned much from your answers before, and I would like to learn here, too.

Far from certain Alexander, especially from these angles! Of course more shots would help if there are any.

Chris

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Thank you, Chris!

 

[lassa8]

Thank you for the replies!

It looks like I do have one additional photograph of this bird.

 

[HH75]

Hi there,
One of the problems with such an active ID section on this forum is that a response can be buried underneath a deluge of other posts. Accordingly, I would already have agreed with Alexander on Willow Warbler based on the original pics, but, from the last image, I would be very satisfied with this as an identification, due to the facial pattern (stronger eyestripe than one tends to get on Common Chiffchaff, less obvious eyering), hint of a more 'primrose yellow' wash to the face and upper breast, apparently relatively long primary projection, paler legs (though some Chiffchaffs can have paler legs) and so on.
Regards,
Harry