Arctic Warbler? Shetland (1 Viewer)

[jtwood]

This shot was taken in the Shetland Islands in October in 2006 just come across it in my archives to-day There was a Arctic Warbler reported from this site at the time the photo was taken, Can anyone confirm the ID.
Many thanks Jim

 

[Phil Carter]

Looks good to me.

Phil

 

[James Lidster]

and me
James

 

[black kite 1964]

The bird looks like a classic artic warbler to me!:cat:

 

[john miller]

Snap
Arctic Warbler, 24th Sept 2006, geosetter Shetland.
The bird stayed around for some days after I took this shot.
Looking at your photo again, not sure if same bird, yours shown more of a wingbar

John

http://kellingnaturegallery.fotopic.net/

 

[Adam W]

The two birds look very different to me, the first one showing a much more prominant wing bar and all pale bill,wider super' behind the eye and a different feel altogether to the 2nd bird.

 

[jtwood]

Hi John
My shot was taken on the 30th September 2006 at Geosetter Snap again.
The birds look different but I fell they must be the same bird.
Jim

 

[JANJ]

A well know fact that images can´t always be trusted but given the fact that John's Arctic totaly lack white tips to greate coverts - while Jim's Arctic, taken 6 days later, clearly would make these two different individuals.

JanJ

 

[john miller]

My pics were taken in the first few days of a weeks holiday. the bird was there throughout the week and a friend came off Fair Isle and saw it after I left. Strange. Do not know if Shetland B Report suggests two birds.
Hugh Harrop was taking pics at same time, any comments from Shetland?

john

 

[jtwood]

Here is a Link to Shetland bird sightings 2006 http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/archives/birdarchive06sep.htm Only one bird reported with some good photo's of the bird by Hugh Harrop

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

John and Hugh's bird look like the same bird, but I agree that Jim's bird in question here definately looks like a different bird to me. Are they different ages? With John/Hugh's bird being a more worn adult and Jim's a 1cy? Or one just a more worn 1cy?

Jan

 

[HH75]

Hi Jim,
Another vote for Arctic Warbler, and I agree that it has to be a different bird to that reported prior to your sighting. The strong greater covert bar (not seen on the initial bird) and very obvious supercilium exclude the commoner Phylloscopus warblers, and, no doubt, you can see why it's not a Yellow-browed or Pallas's, so that leaves Arctic and Greenish. The latter would tend to show broader and more diffuse supercilia in front of the eye, often meeting on the forehead, greyer legs, shorter primary projection, look more compact in general and so on, as distinct from the supercilium narrowing in front of the eye, long primary projection, pale legs and so on on your bird. Two-barred Greenish Warbler, though an extremely rare vagrant to Britain, can be excluded on structure and also, on Two-barred Greenish, the greater covert bar extends to the innermost coverts (inner two or so not prominently tipped whitish on Arctic), there would be more of a median covert wingbar (though some Arctics, especially in autumn, show this), and the legs would tend to be greyer (lead coloured).
Regards,
Harry

 

[Hugh Harrop]

Hi Jim - no doubt about the ID - 100% Arctic Warbler.

Age - your bird photographed on 30 September is a classic first winter with nice fresh remiges. Compare the remiges on your bird to the worn feathers on the adult depicted in the photographs on the urls you have already provided and also those dated for 21 & 22 September 2006 at http://www.hughharrop.com/rarities.php?cat_id=2006.

Your first winter bird was only present for the one day; the adult was last seen on 27 September.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[john miller]

Which explains why I could not find it at the end of my week, but a mate saw an Arctic there a day or so later!!

John

http://kellingnaturegallery.fotopic.net/

 

[jtwood]

Thank you all for your input, It has been a very interesting journey, It illustrates what a small world we live in. When all the different threads come together to give a full picture of this bird and its predecessor.