Mike Buckland

@mcbuckland.bsky.social

Birder

@mcbuckland.bsky.social

The Yellow Wagtail at Cley this pm. Superficially striking in its grey & white plumage, was its back a little too brown & the face pattern a little soft for Eastern? All its flight calls sounded Western & the odd more buzzy note was often in alarm. My sonograms seem to bear this out. #UKBirding

The grey and white Yellow Wagtail at Cley this afternoon. A smart and striking bird but was the back a little too brown washed and the face a little too soft? Hard to judge the hind claw as it fed in wet grass. Eastern and Western seem to overlap in most / all plumage features so the call is all important.The grey and white Yellow Wagtail at Cley this afternoon. A smart and striking bird but was the back a little too brown washed and the face a little too soft? Hard to judge the hind claw as it fed in wet grass. Eastern and Western seem to overlap in most / all plumage features so the call is all important. This sonogram, recorded on my iPhone15, over the background chatter and gravel crunching seems to show a simple (Western) pattern without the saw-like tail produced by the more buzzy call of Eastern. This was the most buzzy call I recorded. An alarm call made when the Wagtail was flushed and chased by a Meadow Pipit. Despite the more buzzy note apparent in the sound recording the sonogram looks much the same as the flight calls. Assuming this isn’t a limitation of the recording device then the pattern seems to better fit a Western Yellow Wagtail, perhaps a Grey-headed?
@mcbuckland.bsky.social

The Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler at Gibraltar Point showed well on & off all afternoon yesterday, but was frustratingly silent throughout, often alongside a YBW and several Chiffchaffs. It was astonishing how its subtle colour tones became increasingly pale and grey as the afternoon wore on. #UKBIrding

An Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler feeding in a Cornus bush at Gibraltar Point. Subtle grey, green and yellow tones became progressively pale and grey with the afternoon light. An Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler feeding in a Cornus bush at Gibraltar Point. Subtle grey, green and yellow tones became progressively pale and grey with the afternoon light. The pale head and face with distinct white eye ring were always evident. An Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler feeding in a Cornus bush at Gibraltar Point. Subtle grey, green and yellow tones became progressively pale and grey with the afternoon light. This image shows well its very white face and eye rings.