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Babbler, Abu Dhabi? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ChinaBirds
- Start date
dwatsonbirder
Well-known member
That looks a lot like a long billed reed warbler, with such a short primary projection and long bill! Im sure it isnt, as it'd be a western palearctic first and one of very few records anywhere in the world! Anybody else got any ideas?
dwatsonbirder
Well-known member
Ah yes, good call. I had overlooked that species!
Francesca1956
Well-known member
Hi Nick, looks like a Clamorous Reed Warbler to me, checked that photo I showed you in my photobook and looks the same. Sounded like one too. Good afternoon birding, enjoyed your company! The contract was completed, ha ha! Safe trip home tonight. And look forward to seeing your list. F
ChinaBirds
Nick Sismey
Thanks all and thanks Frankie, much appreciated. I would never had put that one down as a Warbler, shows how much I know :t:
Cheers
Nick
Cheers
Nick
It looks like a Clamorous Reed Warbler for me too...! But, what about the sibling species Indian Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus (stentoreus) brunnescens? It is considered like a different (sub)species in the updated MiddleEastern checklist by OSME (see: http://www.osme.org/orl/pass_v2.1.pdf) and it's said to breed from Arabia to central Asia and northern Indian Subcontinent; it's also said to be a migrant and it was claimed several times to be vagrant or migrant in the Middle East...
Anyone of you have the book "Reed and Bush Warblers" nearby? What do you think about its ID? Could be brunnescens be excluded by this photo?
Thans,
Igor Festari, Italy
Anyone of you have the book "Reed and Bush Warblers" nearby? What do you think about its ID? Could be brunnescens be excluded by this photo?
Thans,
Igor Festari, Italy
Tib78
Well-known member
Hello Igor,
I know nothing about the subspecific ID of Clamourous reed warbler but I do have 'Reed and Bush Warblers' to hand (what a truly excellent book by the way, don't hesitate to buy it!).
According to the distribution map, the CRW found in the Persian Gulf should belong to ssp brunnescens.
It is also said that brunnescens 'differs from western races by paler coloration and deeper bill with broader tip, giving them a rather Great reed Warbler-like appearance.' Indeed, there is a november adult from Oman depicted on the plate that could easily pass for a GRW (except for the weak super and short pp).
The subject bird doesn't really looks close to GRW but on the other hand the bill tip is quite thick and according to location, brunnescens is more likely.
I know nothing about the subspecific ID of Clamourous reed warbler but I do have 'Reed and Bush Warblers' to hand (what a truly excellent book by the way, don't hesitate to buy it!).
According to the distribution map, the CRW found in the Persian Gulf should belong to ssp brunnescens.
It is also said that brunnescens 'differs from western races by paler coloration and deeper bill with broader tip, giving them a rather Great reed Warbler-like appearance.' Indeed, there is a november adult from Oman depicted on the plate that could easily pass for a GRW (except for the weak super and short pp).
The subject bird doesn't really looks close to GRW but on the other hand the bill tip is quite thick and according to location, brunnescens is more likely.