Any ideas? Surfbirds ID Pic (1 Viewer)

[dan pointon]

Just seen this on the Surfbirds ID discussion gallery, top pic. Anyone got any ideas?

http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery28

Cheers

 

[Dougie Preston]

Sorry mate, I can't even figure out if the bird is facing us or not!!!

Strange black pattern though for a British song bird (looks warbler to me), or is it shadows.

 

[nickderry]

looks like a magpie, but then again there is no indication of scale.

 

[dan pointon]

looks like a magpie, but then again there is no indication of scale.

Possibly, though can't see much white. Tail looks short though, could it all just be down to angle? Surely the observer would recognise a Magpie?

 

[bitterntwisted]

Need more pixels,... could be a sylvia sp.?

 

[TWM]

Stonechat?

 

[Capercaillie71]

If that's a magpie, it's sitting on an unusually isolated fairly big branch. It looks like a small branch to me.

Could it be a Swallow, or House Martin?

 

[deborah4]

sorta looks very c. Whitethroatish, from front (looking at obvious white throat/buffish chest/bill/headshape - but from very odd angle (hence short tail)

 

[Jane Turner]

My best guess, assuming its not an escape is Stonechat, but I'm miles from being convinced.

I too see Sylvia features... melanistic Whitethroat?

For when the page moves.

 

[Steven Astley]

I reckon looks like a Coal Tit. Whatever it is we will never know but I suppose that won't stop most of the ID addicts from inflicting unnecessary brain damage on themselfs.

 

[nickderry]

I see my magpie suggestion hasn't convinced anyone, I've done a little sketch of the bird in the same position, and then turned it around, can anyone see the magpie now?

 

[dan pointon]

I see my magpie suggestion hasn't convinced anyone, I've done a little sketch of the bird in the same position, and then turned it around, can anyone see the magpie now?

Looks good I have to say! I couldn't see the Magpie because I had the bird down as facing us, that upper white patch being the throat. Jane how do you get a single pic like that on Surfbirds?

 

[Jane Turner]

Looks good I have to say! Jane how do you get a single pic like that on Surfbirds?

Depends on your browser... but right click it and see if you get an option like show properties, or copy address.

 

[nickderry]

I right clicked and saved to my images, then played in paint

 

[tim.birdboy]

I see my magpie suggestion hasn't convinced anyone, I've done a little sketch of the bird in the same position, and then turned it around, can anyone see the magpie now?

My first impression was Magpie as well, and your great sketches confirm it. I also agree with others on the tail, that it's just the bad angle of the photo. Again, great sketches!

 

[Steven Astley]

I see my magpie suggestion hasn't convinced anyone, I've done a little sketch of the bird in the same position, and then turned it around, can anyone see the magpie now?

:clap: :clap: :clap: Good stuff Nick saved the thread descending into pages and pages of mind numbing guesswork, hopefully.

 

[deborah4]

doh .. just as I was sketching a Whitethroat comparison too!!! Funnily enough, started to have a Magpie feel once I'd started

 

[J Jones]

doh .. just as I was sketching a Whitethroat comparison too!!! Funnily enough, started to have a Magpie feel once I'd started

yeah, Magpie for me too. Too black-and-white for a sylvia.

 

[nickderry]

If you keep staring at it, you can make it switch between whitethroat (or spectacled warbler) and magpie, quite fun, bloody hell I need to get a life!

Great sketch Deborah, and I love your life list! Didn't Haze get split into several Air Wicks? I can't keep up with air freshener taxonomy!

 

[deborah4]

Didn't Haze get split into several Air Wicks? I can't keep up with air freshener taxonomy!

Indeed, Nick ... have 'had' Haze Friesa but can't count it as it's still under consideration with the AW Committee

Just didn't get the Magpie until I actually sketched it from the photo, then it was the posture that shouted Magpie! Must get more practice ...