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Remiz pendulinus
These birds are resident in the marshes but are difficult to see and even more difficult to photograph well.
Coastal marshes
The White-crowned Penduline Tit has a black band around the head running through the forehead, eyes and nape, with a small white crown patch in front of a grey patch on the head, and a pale buff back with just a hint of Chestnut near the nape. The Penduline Tit (Eurasian) has an overall white/pale grey head with a small black patch on the lores/eyes/ears, and a rich chestnut nape and back. Until recently all the Penduline Tits in Eurasia were lumped together as a single species.
Please be sure to check current distribution lists and photograph locations before making suggestions, and ensure that you always supply reference sources with the suggestion that can be used to validate it.
Here are some links to reliable sources and distribution lists: http://www.birdforum.net/opus/
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementsche...
Hi neilsfish - that's an interesting call for an ID especially with such restricted views. Can you provide support for it or explain why you say it's not R pendulinus? The species you have suggested is not recorded west of Iraq according to Oiseaux.net ( http://maps.oiseaux.net/white-crowned.pe... ) whereas Malcolm's name is found in the area he spotted it. That would be a huge extension to known range. Looking forward to your comments.