Sunday 31 January 2016

Siberian Chiffchaff -Back Again

An early start this morning secured three noteworthy birds, the first was a drake Pochard, this is the first I have seen at the fen this year. The second I did not clinch but sounded like an interesting bird I would like to see. The third was given away by the classic peep call; a Siberian Chiffchaff, I was tipped off about its presence yesterday (thanks!). It is the same individual that I found on 23rd December and funilly enough is in almost exactly the same spot too, so where has it been for a month?!
The bird is far from a classic Sibe and shows far more of a yellow hue than I would expect, however current thinking is that the call is perhaps the one most important feature and this one certainly had the right call (thank god!). It was in company of a common chiffchaff too so it was good to compare the sounds. Unfortunately they were both calling from the same area when I was taking pictures so I'm pretty sure this is the right bird! The bird with the yellow vent/flanks is the bird that was peeping! As Justin also commented on- the front half looks good, the rear not so good! If it were not calling I'm not sure I would give it the time it deserves! There was no sign of it a few hours later, so has it gone for another month?





Friday 29 January 2016

Buzzard bugging me!

I think I do know the answer to the question I pose below, but this bird is bugging me now and I keep looking at the pictures and telling myself its just a common.....but theres that niggle of doubt that I want to put to bed!

Is this a common buzzard or an adult male rough leg?

Bird seen relatively briefly in poor weather conditions. I was first alerted to it when i saw it hovering very well, it then landed briefly where I took the first picture (poor but shows pale features, as well as reed in the way!). The bird then headed west, got mobbed by crows and didnt come up again in the hour I waited in sleet and northerly wind brr!
I do not know much about adult male rough legged buzzard plumage and cant find an awful lot in my books or on the internet hence asking here. To me there are a few pro RLB features and jizz was certainly very good for rlb, but I'm also well aware that I have seen everything from white buzzards right through to very dark individuals so they can throw up all sorts of odd plumages.
What do you think? I'd really like to know!