Northern Eider ssp. Borealis ??? (1 Viewer)

Hello All,

Your views and comments would be most welcomed on a Borealis type Eider at Seahouses, Northberland 02.06.12 ...

The link has images of the smart looking bird ...

http://birdingthedayaway.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/northern-eider-ssp-borealis-seahouses.html

Regards

Mick ...

Nice pictures and one that looks better for borealis than most 'sailed' Eiders. You might like to have a look at this thread:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=36213

Certainly would fit in well in Iceland - have just got back from spending a month in Reykjavik and made sure to have a good look at the Eiders up there. If anything the bill colour is on the orangier-side of things compared to many of the birds in that area, and if the sails are present as you describe then it seems as good a candidate as you're likely to get. I found that the sails on many birds in Iceland were not as obvious as would be liked for an out-of-range bird, and, as you describe varied in their conspicuousness even on the same individual.

Having said all that, I believe - and the thread Andrew has linked too discusses it further - there are lots of borealis-types summering in Scotland and people aren't particularly certain what's going, so it is very difficult to claim anything as a nailed on borealis....

Matt

Thanks Andrew & Matt, very interesting indeed ...