Your WORST identifiable photos (8 Viewers)

[Welsh Peregrine]

This year?

 

[Richard Prior]

Back home from a family Christmas and into the archives... Less convinced that this one is identifiable. Again, it is over 30 years ago & my only sighting of the species. Is it identifiable by anyone?

All the best

Paul

Two replies to your post Paul but nobody actually stating what the species is to enlighten us lesser mortals -sometimes Birdforum takes on the air of a private gentlemens’ club! It’s a Sandgrouse sp I reckon.

 

[Farnboro John]

Two replies to your post Paul but nobody actually stating what the species is to enlighten us lesser mortals -sometimes Birdforum takes on the air of a private gentlemens’ club! It’s a Sandgrouse sp I reckon.

I refrained because I'd identified a few already and I figured this one was do-able by a cross-section of at least the twitching community - but I didn't want anyone thinking I was baffled..... No intention to condescend, honest!

John

 

[Farnboro John]

This year?

No, and for now I'm not giving the date. The game is to identify the bird, not track down the record. 😇

John

 

[Richard Prior]

I refrained because I'd identified a few already and I figured this one was do-able by a cross-section of at least the twitching community - but I didn't want anyone thinking I was baffled..... No intention to condescend, honest!

John

No problem John, so if the UK twitching community found it easy and if it is a sandgrouse it must be Pallas’! By the way, did anyone hear anything more after the claimed fly by flock in the Netherlands a few weeks ago?

 

[Farnboro John]

No problem John, so if the UK twitching community found it easy and if it is a sandgrouse it must be Pallas’! By the way, did anyone hear anything more after the claimed fly by flock in the Netherlands a few weeks ago?

I think they were reidentified as Starlings

John

 

[Richard Prior]

I think they were reidentified as Starlings

John

As the Italian officer in AlloAllo used to say “Woddamistakatamake”!

I was about to blunder ahead and say Orphean Warbler for your photo but looking at American birding sites I now reckon Northern Mockingbird is the identity

 

[Farnboro John]

As the Italian officer in AlloAllo used to say “Woddamistakatamake”!

I was about to blunder ahead and say Orphean Warbler for your photo but looking at American birding sites I now reckon Northern Mockingbird is the identity

Both wrong but Orphean Warbler is closer.

John

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Had it been this year I’d have said Mockingbird; if it hadn’t been eliminated I’d have looked into Orphean. Time to look again!

 

[Maffong]

I'm seeing a White-tailed Eagle, a Pallas's Sandgrouse, a Cape May Warbler, a Quail and an Eastern Subalpine Warbler (?)

 

[Paul Chapman]

I've got a few, and I'll push them out one at a time so there's no doubt about which we are talking about. In fact perhaps it would be a good thing if the congregation identifies each before I move on to the next. First up:

View attachment 1421729

All the images are in Britain.

John

I simply do not know Sylvia tail patterns well enough at all. I would be guessing on rarity really. A lot of white there. Still looking for references.

All the best

Paul

 

[Maffong]

Here are three of myworst pics, I've got a few more that are on other hard drives

 

[Farnboro John]

I simply do not know Sylvia tail patterns well enough at all. I would be guessing on rarity really. A lot of white there. Still looking for references.

All the best

Paul

Well I'm almost relieved, sometimes I feel your birding is so well structured and your knowledge so comprehensive as to put me to shame... it is a Sylvia, unless the taxonomic shysters have changed that all round recently without me noticing.

John

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Here are three of myworst pics, I've got a few more that are on other hard drives
View attachment 1421747
View attachment 1421746
View attachment 1421745

I am going to go Nightjar, Golden Oriole and Purple Heron.

 

[Xenospiza]

I am going to go Nightjar, Golden Oriole and Purple Heron.

#2 is something else, but I think it's unidentifiable until I know what it is. Rose-coloured Starling perhaps?

 

[HH75]

Well I'm almost relieved, sometimes I feel your birding is so well structured and your knowledge so comprehensive as to put me to shame... it is a Sylvia, unless the taxonomic shysters have changed that all round recently without me noticing.

John

Of the species recorded in Britain, only Blackcap and Garden Warbler are still in the genus Sylvia, the rest are now in Curruca...

 

[Farnboro John]

Of the species recorded in Britain, only Blackcap and Garden Warbler are still in the genus Sylvia, the rest are now in Curruca...

Thanks Harry! All to note.....

John

 

[Farnboro John]

If nobody gets that one this evening I'll disclose it tomorrow. Meanwhile here's another:

 

[Xenospiza]

If nobody gets that one this evening I'll disclose it tomorrow. Meanwhile here's another:

The first one might be Eastern Subalpine Warbler. My books fail to show tail patterns.
The second one is very identifiable! How many torches were involved?

 

[Farnboro John]

The first one might be Eastern Subalpine Warbler. My books fail to show tail patterns.
The second one is very identifiable! How many torches were involved?

Spot on, in flight in the Portland top fields in 2014.

Only a couple but one bloke had a spotlight almost like a yellow 55 gallon oil drum!

John