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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Recent content by smiths

  1. S

    hello, birders, I took a bird with some strange features. A hybrid of Motacilla alba with Motacilla cinerea or a strange Motacilla cinerea only?

    They are jet-black (with white outer web) in all White Wagtails.
  2. S

    hello, birders, I took a bird with some strange features. A hybrid of Motacilla alba with Motacilla cinerea or a strange Motacilla cinerea only?

    Uppertail coverts are grey rather than black. This rules out any race of White Wagtail.
  3. S

    How can I tell the difference between Eurasian teal female and American Teal female ?

    There is a useful difference in the pattern of the tertials according to the recent (and excellent) Identification Guide to the Ducks of Japan, although I have not checked this against an extensive series of photographs yet myself. There are also subtle differences in overall colour, head...
  4. S

    A bit of a strange pipit

    Meadow pipit for me too. The flank streaking and the dark malar patch are both too weak for a worn red-throated pipit, and I would also expect more of a tawny wash on throat and ear coverts in a spring bird of that species.
  5. S

    Unknown call, Ochil Hills, Scotland

    This is most likely a Jay. Especially during the breeding season they imitate other species, including Scops Owl: https://xeno-canto.org/718151
  6. S

    2 Warbler Sound IDs (Garden Warbler vs Blackcap, Cettis) plus Scoter

    Garden warbler, Cetti's warbler and common scoter indeed.
  7. S

    UK, Horsell Common, Surrey bird call identification

    At 41-44 seconds there are some clicking sounds added to the 'pew' calls, which I have never heard from Bullfinch. Perhaps it is a Jay mimicking the call of Bullfinch?
  8. S

    White or Pied Wagtail (UK)

    Like Alex, I would not exclude yarrellii here. In fact, there is a hint of a few grey stripes on the belly. If these are not the mere product of noise reduction in the photograph, they are strongly indicative of yarrellii. As for the Evans & Cade paper, keep in mind that some of the birds in...
  9. S

    Raptors - Samarkand, Uzbekistan

    Photo #1 shows a female Lesser Kestrel, in my opinion: long P10, plain head lacking dark eyestripe, white 'flash' at base of outer primaries (contrasting strongly against the dark primary coverts). Photo #2 could be either kestrel species... Bird #6 gives me mainly the impression of a dark...
  10. S

    Can I just confirm ID please?

    No; kittiwakes retain their juvenile plumage until spring. They do not moult into a 1st-winter plumage. The term 'first winter' should refer to plumage, not time of year. It is used to indicate that the bird is no longer juvenile. A bird can be in 1st-w plumage already in August, i.e. summer...
  11. S

    Blue-winged vs Cinnamon Teal

    First photo (255163a) shows a Green-winged teal, judging from the head pattern and the typical sliver of white below the tail side.
  12. S

    Can I just confirm ID please?

    Yes and no. Kittiwakes do not have a separate 1st-winter plumage.
  13. S

    Whitethroat? Warbler? Oman Feb 2024

    I agree with Menetries's Warbler. Lesser Whitethroat is easily excluded by the reddish leg colour, the typical cocked up tail, complete white eye ring (not just below eye as in Lesser WT), black tail feathers, lack of dark ear coverts and so on...
  14. S

    Saunders's vs Little Tern Id help please, Muscat, Oman, Mar 23, 2024

    For the Common Terns? The head pattern, with extensive black nape and rear crown, as well as the typical, downward black 'curl' reaching below eye level. Bill shape, with rather strong base and straight lower mandible, helps to separate from White-cheeked tern.
  15. S

    Saunders's vs Little Tern Id help please, Muscat, Oman, Mar 23, 2024

    Hi bhutjoe, the first two photos (or rather, one photo uploaded twice) show a (presumed second calendar year) Little Tern. Saunders's Tern is actually easy to exclude, based on the pattern of the inner primaries, the head pattern, the colour of the outer primaries and the colour of the greater...
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