Pale looking Lesser Whitethroat.....? (1 Viewer)

KenM

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2017

• #1

First image taken two years ago in September (N.E.London) taken to be nominate S.curruca. the rest of the images are of a different bird, taken last week in the same place. Because the 2nd bird was brightly lit, I've darkened it a touch, however it is still quite Pallid. Comments please.

Cheers

 

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  P1160007 (2) A Grdn. Lesser Whitethroat 18.9.15 for comp..jpg

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  P1570486.jpeg Grdn.LW 3..jpeg

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  P1570498.jpeg Grdn.LW 1. comp..jpeg

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  P1570502.jpeg Grdn.LW.7..jpeg

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lou salomon

the birdonist

• Sep 24, 2017

• #2

did you hear it call? anyway, won't be possible to ID it to subsp. from these pics, imo.

 

S

Simon Wates

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2017

• #3

The first image is over saturated so its richness of tone isn't reliable for comparison. FWIW the rest look like subsp. curruca to me - as I remember them anyway

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2017

• #4

It didn't call, here is another shot of last weeks bird if it's of any help?

Cheers

 

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  P1570490.jpeg Grdn.LW.2..jpeg

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S

Simon Wates

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2017

• #5

Its a very nice bird Ken - and I'm waiting to find one down here where they are very rare indeed - only 5/6 records. IIRC the other races have a paler nape comparing with the crown.

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2017

• #6

Yes thanks Simon, I seem to be attracting odd looking Lesser Whitethroat sps, particularly over the last few years between mid-September and the beginning of October. This (last weeks) bird struck me as looking somewhat paler than most.

cheers

 

Hotspur

James Spencer

• Sep 25, 2017

• #7

You need the tail pattern to do them from photos. Blythi are now known to be pretty regular from mid-autumn onward with halimodendri a rare vagrant.

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2017

• #8

Hotspur said:

You need the tail pattern to do them from photos. Blythi are now known to be pretty regular from mid-autumn onward with halimodendri a rare vagrant.

Click to expand...

Yes, FWIW here's one from the same site last year, I believe the tail pattern supports ''Eastern'' Lesser Whitethroat (white margins to the 1st/2nd and white tip to 3rd rectrice). Don't know whether this form is occurring more frequently because of increased observer coverage, or a real surge from the East during this period, I also had a ''Desert'' type during Oct '14 (basically looked like a Desert Warbler with a grey cap), and this is in a land locked county....strange times!

Cheers

 

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  P1410231.jpeg LW tail 1..jpeg

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  P1410232.jpeg LW tail 2..jpeg

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