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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tmurray" data-source="post: 1820448" data-attributes="member: 80448">Hopefully this wont start a debate on why the news was not let out at the time but in the hope of nipping that in the bud I wil say that -Firstly the island An Dubh Óileain Mhór is private and we did not have the permission to allow/invite person on to it.Secondly most times i have been on An Dubh Óileain Mhór I have had to swim to it and thirdly and most importantly, An Dubh Óileain Mhór is part of an SPA and I was instructed by my boss that uncontrolled or 'heavy' pressure from visiting persons could result in breeding sites for various species (including annex I species) such as Storm Petrel and other species such as Manx Shearwater may result and therfore was not recommended...There now..... Am not a member of IBN and decided to use this forum as you can upload attachments, which I believe you cannot on IBN...?The record was published in the Mayo bird report for 2003, but has not I believe been accepted by IRBC.....? I was wondering if any useful opinions are available...Interestingly it turned up the same time (ish) as black lark on anglesey, caspian plover (finland I think...) and steppe grey shrike on the Isle of Man I think...On 20th June 2003 Colm Coney alerted me to a black and white wheatear he had seen not long after we made it to shore. When not mousing around under boulders  it was a nightmare to try and get a look at, but we did manage a few views thereafter. A couple of shots were obtained, it would be wrong to call them photographs, you see why.... Also I made a drawing and again I use the term lightly as drawing would be a bit flattering...... A scribble perhaps...Account - On the evening of June 20th 2003 myself and a group of ringers from the North Down ringing Group arrived on An Dubh Óileain Mhór in the Duvillaun island group, south of the Mullet peninsula off north west of Co. Mayo.  Later that evening after we set up camp and were planning the evenings work, when one of the group, Colm Coney spotted a dark wheatear further along the coast than our campsite.Aidan Crean, Colm Coney, George Hynes, Declan Coney and myself gathered our optics and started to look again for the bird.  We quickly relocated the bird again, and as it was back on to us it looked all black and it was suggested it might be a Black Wheatear, but that better views would be needed to rule out any other possibilities including an aberrant or melanic Northern Wheatear. The bird on the evening of the 20th looked very bedraggled and this added to the difficulty in getting good views, it was also very unapproachable and very wary adding to the difficulty of getting good views.  The following morning the bird was seen again, when it was watched bathing but it was not seen again until the evening of the 21st when I seen it well in flight flying past me at relatively close range.  The following morning, the 22nd it was again looked for unsuccessfully, until that evening Colm Coney and myself relocated the bird in the original location and on this occasion the bird was looking freshest and cleanest and our best views were obtained. It was not seen subsequently.BehaviourThe bird frequented a stretch of coast along the north shore of the island, this area consisted of a sod bank, topped by a grassy area onto a boulder beach/rocky coastline, the bird was not seen outside this area.  If favoured the area from the top of the bank to c. 50m inland and onto the boulder beach/rocky coastline area.  It fed in this area throughout and was seen to chase displace an adult male Northern Wheatear on at least one occasion out of this area.  It was very very difficult to approach at all times, when found we would watch and then walk towards it only for it to vanish, when we retreated it would reappear, this very illusive and secretive behaviour was consistent.  During observations it behaved as a typical wheatear, though it was not heard calling at any time.JizzJizz wise and posture it resembled a typical Wheatear, but it did give a leggy appearance at times and may have been longer legged than Northern Wheatear.  It also at times looked long tailed and also may have been longer tailed than Northern Wheatear.  It also seemed a little more stand-upish or upright at times.PlumageBy and large this was a black and white wheatear, the upperparts from the forehead (entire head) to the mantle were black, with the only real variation being the ever so slightly lighter primaries.  These at times appeared to be less black, probably a very dark brownish tone.  The black colour was rather jet black all over not glossy though.  When at rest it was generally possible to see the white rump, this was as it sometimes, or usually but not always, held it wings a little drooped. The tail was black and was rather proportionally long.  The rump was extensive clean white in pattern and colour, as with Northern Wheatear.  However it had clearly more extensive white than Northern Wheatear, extending further up the rump.  This was especially noticeable in flight, in particular on the evening of the 21st when I seen it well in flight, flying past me at relatively close range.  The inverted black ‘T’ was also similar in pattern to Northern Wheatear.  The terminal horizontal black band was also similar to that of Northern Wheatear, but the vertical black part was longer than Northern Wheatear.  The underparts were a contrasting lighter colour to that of the neat and clean-cut upperparts.  They were a lighter buffy to greyish white colour, this seemed to vary a little with light and perhaps conditions.  They looked greyish one evening when it was clear the bird had just bathed and looked bedraggled, they even looked marked but this was clearly unpreened or wet feathers.  In summary the underparts from the chin to belly were greyish white.The bare parts were black.This bird was identified generally by a process of elimination.  Northern Wheatear was ruled out as the bird was clearly not a variant or aberrant bird, Northern Wheatear was also eliminated on jizz and behaviour.  Species such as Pied, Hooded, White-crowned Black or Black-eared, were also ruled out on tail pattern and other features.  Mourning, White-crowned Black and Pied were also ruled on crown pattern.  Black Wheatear was eliminated on underpart pattern.  Hume’s Wheatear was ruled out as though a little differently built and proportioned to Northern Wheatear it did not appear to have the bull like appearance of Hume’s nor did it have the glossy plumage that species is described as having.  Overall all species can be ruled out on some and more features as summarised above, this leaves Eastern Pied Wheatear Oenanthe picata picata, The picata race is the closet to this bird, but is generally described as having whitish underparts, and this birds underparts were greyish-white.  However considering the primary pattern, it is quite likely that this bird was not a full adult and perhaps a first summer or similar and this accounts for this birds slight difference to the classic Oenanthe picata picata.  Though this is one of the species of wheatear I have not seen, though having limited literature to consult since I am now confident that the identification is correct.--------------------------------------------------------------------Though I would see if there is any enlightened opinions on this bird........Tony.</blockquote>

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