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Project Noah Nature School
Luscinia svecica
General opinion is that this is a first winter male but at this stage it is not possible to determine which sub-species it is. The normal Spanish population lives in the mountains and winters in Africa, but the coast where this was seen gets passage migrants and the occasional winter visitor from northern Europe.
Seen at coastal marshes, feeding in company with Chiffchaffs, Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails and a Stonechat.
It has proved impossible to narrow this down to a specific sub-species, of which there are at least 11, due to the wide variations of winter plumage throughout the species.
Spotted on Nov 27, 2011
Submitted on Nov 27, 2011
18 Comments
Beautiful pictures and lovely bird. I saw a few of them years ago in Sierra de Gredos.
Congratulations!
Looks like the same one, it is in my American book but I did not see any there. When I saw your e-mail address I thought you were in Kenya and there was nothing in their books!
@ Malcolm
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Commo...
This is the one I mean. It could be the same as your link.
It is a warbler
Had not heard of a Yellowthroat - is this what you mean http://www.dailypictures.info/free-pictu...
While we do not have a blue throat here,i am waiting to spot a yellow throat. This bird is lovely! Great Spot!
Added 3 more pictures to this spotting. I saw some more yesterday (4 Dec), these will be a separate spotting.
Malcoms right we have a slightly different varient of this bird here
Check this one http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/791...
it is a winter visitor here.
I have added some links to the references I used and I also had a discussion thread on Birdforum.
That's some interesting research Malcolm... I didn't know that it is sub-species of this bird..
Updated Notes section following sub-species research. I cannot upload the rest of the pictures until next week.
Lovely bird.
I can see that they are very similar... All these three bird are fantastic.....
You are a good photographer Malcolm ;)
It spends most of its time on the ground, either in thickets at the edge of reedbeds or on swampy ground in forests, where the colours are difficult to see. It can be easily mistaken for a robin or nightingale but the eyestripe is a giveaway and the female is much duller but still has the eyestripe. 3 pictures now up and a fourth pending.
Lovely bird.... This bird lives here too but i never seen one, I hope one day I will see this nice bird..... We are hoping for more pictures =)
Added a second picture, more to come I hope.
I know how you have it with that internet connection, I have it the same way...... You got the upload now and that's a beautiful bird.
Thank you, I've been trying to upload it since yesterday but my internet connection is on a go-slow - used up my monthly allowance and it hangs on uploads. Now I will try to fill out the other fields.
Nice picture Malcolm