Northern Mallorca in October (1 Viewer)

[AndyS56]

Just looking at the photos from my recent trip and would be grateful for your help/corrections. I'm pretty sure that 3 is a Purple Gallinule and that the last is a Night Heron.

TIA

Andy

 

[foresttwitcher]

2. Stonechat;
3. Purple Swamphen;
4. Spotted Flycatcher;
5. Black-crowned Night Heron.

 

[KGS]

1. Eleonora's Falcon

 

[njlarsen]

It might soon become important if 4 is the local balearica or a migrating northern ssp ?

Niels

 

[phil baber]

1. Eleonora's Falcon

Agreed. Nice capture! Agree with rest also. Balearic Spycatcher! B

 

[Brian J Small]

It might soon become important if 4 is the local balearica or a migrating northern ssp ?

Niels

It looks like a migrating striata to me. Don't balearica leave earlier than Oct?

B

 

[P.Sunesen]

It looks like a migrating striata to me. Don't balearica leave earlier than Oct?

B

Hi Brian,

What are the differences between the two subspecies?

Peter

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Hi Brian,

What are the differences between the two subspecies?

Peter

Hi Peter,

Have you seen this?

http://birdingfrontiers.com/2015/11/15/balearic-spotted-flycatcher-new-species/

Grahame

 

[Brian J Small]

What is interesting to me - and I have spoken to Michele Vigano and Andrea Corso about this after trip to Corsica this year- is that despite the idea that they are paler than striata, both balearica and tyrrhenica actually seem darker but warmer. This is largely due to the fact that not only is the whole bird warmer in hue, but that the fringes/edges to the tertials and coverts are a warmer cream colour - less the contrasting cream white of striata.

In general the streaking on the crown is softer, with less dark centres and less pale edges - see attached photo.

Brian S

PS - also forgot to mention the streaking on the neck side (below and behind the ear coverts) which on tyrrhenica at least is much more subdued.

 

[P.Sunesen]

What is interesting to me - and I have spoken to Michele Vigano and Andrea Corso about this after trip to Corsica this year- is that despite the idea that they are paler than striata, both balearica and tyrrhenica actually seem darker but warmer. This is largely due to the fact that not only is the whole bird warmer in hue, but that the fringes/edges to the tertials and coverts are a warmer cream colour - less the contrasting cream white of striata.

In general the streaking on the crown is softer, with less dark centres and less pale edges - see attached photo.

Brian S

Thanks!

Whether the general colour of balearica/tyrrhenica is darker or paler (Vaurie) than nominate striata has to be settled by comparing series of skins in the same state of abrasion and wear.
Some of the photographs in the article linked to are of very worn birds in (late?) summer making comparison to striata difficult.

I fully agree that the OP 1cy bird (with some still unmoulted juvenile body feathers) alone on the wing lenght is most probably a vagrant striata.

Such a notable difference in wing lenght should result in shorter primary projection, provided the whole bird isn't altogether noticeably smaller than striata......

Peter
http://www.erobertparker.com/bboard/showthread.php?t=220513

 

[Brian J Small]

Peter

Here is a link to a video of the same Tyrrhenian Spotted Flycatcher above - https://vimeo.com/149416581?utm_sou...vimeo-cliptranscode-201504&utm_campaign=28749

Brian

 

[Mike Montier]

Nice photos Andy and I agree with the identifications suggested.
I am a resident birder but by no means an expert on the finer points of plumage differences between striata and balearica Spotted flycatchers. All I can confirm is that balearica do appear much paler with more subtle streaking to the crown, warmer fringes to the tertials giving less contrast overall and little streaking on the breast.
When I visit the UK I am struck by how much darker striata appear with much more noticeable contrast overall. If I can find one that is, they are very common here. Striata do move through the island in spring and autumn but balearica stay to breed in huge numbers. Balearica arrive in mid April and depart mid September although a few linger into October. One was reported in Palma yesterday, sub species not known, so a few may overwinter. I hope this helps. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I have just found out that the overwintering Spotted flycatcher in Palma is a striata. Mike

 

[Motmot]

What is interesting to me - and I have spoken to Michele Vigano and Andrea Corso about this after trip to Corsica this year- is that despite the idea that they are paler than striata, both balearica and tyrrhenica actually seem darker but warmer. This is largely due to the fact that not only is the whole bird warmer in hue, but that the fringes/edges to the tertials and coverts are a warmer cream colour - less the contrasting cream white of striata.

In general the streaking on the crown is softer, with less dark centres and less pale edges - see attached photo.

Brian S

PS - also forgot to mention the streaking on the neck side (below and behind the ear coverts) which on tyrrhenica at least is much more subdued.

I don't know much about how tyrrhenica look but after handling hundreds of Spring balearica I can't agree with this. Balearica look definitely paler than striata, it's not a wrong idea but a fact.
Check these comparison pics, I don't think I'll need to state which one is which . Two first pics and next three show different pairs of birds.

 

[AndyS56]

Many thanks for your expertise. Just one more..for now.

TIA

Andy

 

[P.Sunesen]

Black Redstart.

Peter

 

[AndyS56]

Many thanks.

Andy

 

[AndyS56]

I've now moved on to butterflies. Just two... Any ideas?

TIA

Andy

 

[Stuart Darbyshire]

Red Admiral and Small Copper

 

[AndyS56]

Thanks

Andy