Recent content by Paul Collins

Exactly! If I had just been shown the 3rd photo and without any context given, I would have assumed a phylloscopus warbler. By the way I think yours is dusky, and it does show how similar they are in my opinion, even though face to face they're pretty different.

Yes I thought Japanese bush warbler is the default. But I thought the last photo could be something else because the head angle , supercilium, eye stripe and lighting in the photo were leading me astray to Arctic warbler. Thank you both.

Hi all, A friend of a friend sent me these pictures taken today in Tokyo. I don't have any details on location or behaviour, just these 3 shots. Pic 1 looks like Japanese Bush Warbler to me. Pic 2 could be the same bird. Pic 3 could be another Japanese Bush Warbler, but at a first glance I...

Interesting about the shrikes. Ive only visited Tokyo once but what I’ve seen in a few bird guides and eBird is of bull-headed shrikes being less common in the centre.

Thank you all, I keep learning new things here. The two birds were together. I’d seen illustration and photos of female grey bunting which didn’t quite match but this illustration seems a much better fit. I agree I don’t see reed bunting here, but unsure of asiatic variations and if they’d differ.

Chestnut-Eared sounds possible, why not Black-Faced? Not sure about exact part of Tokyo - but I think near a river if that is any help. Bull-headed shrike were seen there too, which as far as I know are more likely further out of the city than in the centre.

Hi, 2 buntings sent from a friend in Tokyo this week. The first I think is a Grey Bunting. The second I'm a bit stumped on - female reed, black-faced? Grey Bunting? Reed / Black-Faced? not convinced. Thanks, Paul

Ah yes I see what you mean about tail barring. Thank you both!

Hi, A friend of mine photographed this approachable buzzard in Westhay, Somerset Levels (UK), I think in the last month or so. I was struck by the head and wondered could this be a rough-legged buzzard, or is it a transitioning common buzzard? I've no first hand experience of Rough-Legs but it...

Ok we’re in agreement, thank you!

Not my area of strength but maybe Long-Billed Pipit, seen that day? Also saw African Rock Pipit

Aha good start, there were a few pipits that day so I’ll take a look in that guide section. Thanks

Hi, Maybe the title of this thread will be enough to confirm an ID! I saw this owl one hot June day in Bitez, near Bodrum (South-West Turkey). I think this is a Little Owl (maybe A.N. indigena) but, since reading "Owls Of The World" am confused whether the similar Lilith's Owl's range extends...

Hi, Maybe the title of this thread will be enough to confirm an ID! I saw this owl one hot June day in Bitez, near Bodrum (South-West Turkey). I think this is a Little Owl (maybe A.N. indigena) but, since reading "Owls Of The World" am confused whether the similar Lilith's Owl's range extends...

Hi, I saw this presumed warbler on a visit to the Karoo National Park in South Africa, late August 2016. This photo has always had me stumped as I recall seeing a Namaqua Warbler at the same time, which this doesn't appear to be. Unless it's a skulking tree-dwelling pipit, I'm a bit stumped...