Hippo identification
From a worried birdwatcher:
Following the rather public cock up of the Olive Tree Warbler identification on Shetland (http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/birdarchive06julaug.htm 16th August), I am hoping someone may be able to dispense some common sense advice on why the Hippolais on Cape Clear at present (http://www.birdsireland.com/pages/rare_bird_news/2006/september_photos1.html) is an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.
September 27th, 2006 at 11:24 am
well, its definitely not an icky - there’s no yellow on it anywhere -
icky should always show a yellow wash to de breast as far as I am aware,and the primary projection was too short for icky too, leg colour is also wrong - should be blueish grey for icky, and there’s no sign of a wing panel.
similarly wrong for melodious - not rounded head, primary projection
wrong, colour wrong etc. I think it says in de olde macmillan guide ‘if
you have a icterine with no colour on it then chances are you’ve mis-ID
it’
So thats why its not an icky, but i’m not so confident why it is an
eastern not a western! I’m confident its not a sykes as it looks feck all like de lerwick bird I saw - it was pale sandy brown, looked much more like an acro and pumped its tail constantly, calling too. This bird
did dip its tail, which is sposed to be diagnostic, but it weren’t doing it much. Apparently western should be bigger, browner - dis bird was fairly grey. I’m not too hot on olly as this is me first anywhere, and I don’t do feechas much!
i know you shouldn’t just go along with everybody else, but as far as it being an eastern not a western i’m going along with everybody else! Western would be a first irish, while this is the third eastern.
so now you know, sort of - do i win 5 pounds?
September 27th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
A vagrant species far outside its natural range has a limited chance of survival. Killing this particular bird will have no impact on the conservation of the species. For the definitive answer I suggest you collect this specimen and compare it to reference collections in the world’s finely stocked museums.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
that would be a tad illegal and i’d probly get lynched by twitchers too! besides it’s all wet’n'orrible out today.
September 27th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Collecting it as Consultant C suggested would achieve nothing; points off from Consultant C for giving bad advice.
September 27th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
I beg to differ! It would allow this individual being identified within our current taxonomic framework, thus solving the problem.
Emotive and legal issues can be ever so tiresome. They frequently stand in the way of the obvious solution. Common Sense ™ must be used to decide whether the best solution is viable.
September 27th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
if identification was actually an issue, which it isn’t except to de concerned birdwatcher (note: not even a birder, so obviously crap!) it could be solved simply by sticking up a net and trapping it, then checking the biometrics (thats measurements to you) against the known criteria. You could even take a feather for DNA analysis. Or you could just send de photos to a certain K Mullarney, Co. Wexford who will be decreeing on it any day now.
September 27th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
I have to agree with contributor Col on this - there is no need to kill it. Only by getting these chances to id things in the field is progress made. Attitudes like your belong in the Victorian era, when they also thought it was a good idea to send small boys up chimneys, and cover table legs lest men get excited.
September 27th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
in fairness i do think that table legs should be covered. At your age, at our age etc etc
September 27th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
well that has to be the dullest discussion for a long while! Birders (neh Twitchers) are tedious!