Mark Newsome
Born to seawatch...
I've been having a few niggling doubts over the identification of the Hume's Leaf Warbler at Norton, Cleveland...
Although it was calling very much like a Hume's when I saw it, some features seemed open to question. Eg:
The extensive pale base to the lower mandible.
The very dark contrasting centres/bases to the greater coverts.
The very broad supercilium even in width along its length, not peaking infront of the eye and tapering off like typical Hume's.
The fairly dull pinky-brown legs.
The rather bright olivey upperparts (although it distinctly changes colour according to whether in bright sun or in cloud, as photos show).
It called frequently when I was there - always a fairly typical 'chee-ulp' with a downward inflection (but its a while since I heard Hume's!). But... apparently it has also been heard to sound very much like a Yellow-browed too.
A decent range of photos are available on the gallery of Teesmouth Bird Club website:
http://www.teesmouthbc.com/tbcweb/2008part1/scarce/2008scarce1.htm
Now I'm not saying it isn't a Hume's, I've only watched it on the one day for an hour or so. But I'd like other birders thoughts and opinions on plumage variations between the two species. Has anyone had experience of Hume's sounding similar to YBW?
Cheers.
(IanF - hope you don't mind me borrowing one of your excellent pics to illustrate a point! Thanks.)
Although it was calling very much like a Hume's when I saw it, some features seemed open to question. Eg:
The extensive pale base to the lower mandible.
The very dark contrasting centres/bases to the greater coverts.
The very broad supercilium even in width along its length, not peaking infront of the eye and tapering off like typical Hume's.
The fairly dull pinky-brown legs.
The rather bright olivey upperparts (although it distinctly changes colour according to whether in bright sun or in cloud, as photos show).
It called frequently when I was there - always a fairly typical 'chee-ulp' with a downward inflection (but its a while since I heard Hume's!). But... apparently it has also been heard to sound very much like a Yellow-browed too.
A decent range of photos are available on the gallery of Teesmouth Bird Club website:
http://www.teesmouthbc.com/tbcweb/2008part1/scarce/2008scarce1.htm
Now I'm not saying it isn't a Hume's, I've only watched it on the one day for an hour or so. But I'd like other birders thoughts and opinions on plumage variations between the two species. Has anyone had experience of Hume's sounding similar to YBW?
Cheers.
(IanF - hope you don't mind me borrowing one of your excellent pics to illustrate a point! Thanks.)
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