Many thanks Rob- i'll try that.
A stunning finale to 2008 on for the patch today.
the big highlights were:
At leat four and probably five Siberian Thrushes including a stunning male feeding on berries in full sunlight, and further up, in the gorge next to the top waterfall, a grottier, but probably adult male, a first winter male and a female, plus another bird that flushed at the same time that I got nothing on at all.
Two separate female Fukien Niltavas, both showed a great deal better that the male that showed very briefly at the beginning of the month.
Two Verditer Flycatchers, three Grey-headed Flycatchers, the White-throated Fantail, a Blyth's Leaf Warbler, four Hartert's Warblers, a Besra and a Red-flanked Bluetail all showed well, but agin no sign of the possible Pale Blue Flycatcher - perhaps my first big bird of 2008!
The other highlights were a possible Chinese Leaf Warbler. These are a nightmare to separate from Lemon-rumped,and Gansu Leaf Warbler, and all are closely related to Pallas' Leaf Warbler, of which we must have seen 20 birds today.
The bird in question gave excellent views for three or four minutes as it hovered and picked food from a bamboo stem repeatedly in good light just 6 or 7 metres away. It gave a small high-pitched call note very unlike the typical "chwee!" of Pallas'.
The most distinctive feature was the grey tone to the whole head with a faint pale crown stripe, which was thinnest at the forecrown. It also showed a thin, clear dark-grey, almost black eyestripe of even width, and did not show the small dark hook down onto the ear coverts which Robson shows for Lemon-rumped. It also showed a washed-out whitish supercilium without a hint of the yellow or ginger (in front of the eye) of Pallas', but had slightly mealy cheeks.
The pale rump was washed with a creamy tinge and the tertials were clearly edged white, but not nearly so heavily as a Yellow-browed. The overall tone of the wings was a drab greyish green but certainly greener than the head. The bill had a dark upper mandible and pale lower with a dark tip. The feet were not noted.
Any commets would be most welcome.
However, my best bird of the day and a top contender for patch bird of the year was the Lesser Shortwing that caught, bisected and consumed an earthworm longer than twice its own length. Normally an incredibly shy bird, this one was obviously too intent on the worm to bother about us and I first caught a glimpse of it in deep shadow behind a half-screen of leaves as it first went for the worm, flipping over a leaf as it pounced.
However, the worm was obviously too big, and it leaped back as the worm wriggled vigourously. After a few seconds staring at the worm, short supercilia fully expanded in its excitement, it plunged in again, showing us its distinct white throat set against darker neck sides and breast, and the deep brown, chestnut-tinged upperparts.
This time it suceeded in nipping the worm in two and hopped back to gulp down its prize, before returning again to seize and swallow the final segment. Best views in all my time on the patch- just stunning!
When followed by first the female Niltava, giving great close views, then the male Sibe Thrush (a pristine male which showed everything from the glittering white super to the white-tipped undertail coverts), then the next Niltava and finally the party of Sibe Thrushes, it was a day that will stay long in the memory.
We followed this up with a couple of hours at Long Valley in the evening, where highlights included a hunting male Japanese Sparrowhawk,Lesser Coucal moulting into adult plumage, Grey-headed Lapwing (rare at Long Valley), a very briefly seen Ruddy-breasted Crake along with 3 Black-winged Stilts, and well over 100 Wood Sandpipers at the HKBWS ponds, and a probable Yellow-streaked Warbler that called helpfully ( a bunting-like "tic" that is thinner than Dusky) and showed pale upperparts, slender bill and legs and even a faint yellow wash on the lower belly. I'm just waiting to see the pix from one of HK's gang of top notch photographers to confirm it. I'll try to remember to post a link.
Cheers
Mike
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