ML617483892

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Showing characters of Desert Lesser Whitethroat S.C. halimodendri The bird was found at about 10:30 on 29th October 2018 Initially when seen sitting out in the open in bright sunlight appeared to be a small, pale, lesser whitethroat type Sylvia warbler. Bill appeared to be small and dark, resulting in the impression of a large head. In flight bird appeared long tailed, showing extensive white on outer-tail. It quickly disappeared into thick bushes on the edge of gardens and showed occasionally partially obscured by vegetation at about head height feeding actively and flicking wings and tail. At this time, it was heard to call, a soft purring rattle, a bit long tailed tit like although this call wasn’t heard again. After 2 or 3 minutes the bird disappeared into gardens but was relocated by DMF later in the day and remained in the area until 4th November. I watched it for a total of about 40 minutes over this period and obtained the following composite description and recorded its harsh rattling tit like call Description: Head: Forehead and crown mid brownish-grey merging gradually into paler sandy brown on crown. Hindneck sandy brown. Lores appeared to be the same shade as the forehead and from most angles, clearly paler than the ear coverts which were a darker brownish grey. Fine white crescent below eye. Upperparts: Rest of upperparts pale sandy brown in direct sunlight and a little browner (but not rufous) in the shade Flight feathers darker with fine pale leading edges. Alula feathers contrastingly dark Primary projection clearly shorter than length of exposed tertials Tail: Similar colour to upperparts. Obvious extensive white on outer-tail feather especially when flying directly away from observer and when cocked when landing Underparts: Very pale pinkish buff in strong sunlight, looking slightly darker and contrasting more with white throat in shade. Soft parts: Bill small fine and all dark. Legs: dark, Eye: Iris dark Voice: When first found the bird gave a soft short purring rattle vaguely like the churr of long tailed tit. On 3/11/18 it was giving a loud harsh rattling call which was taped. This call appears to match known halimodendri and can be heard on Xeno Canto XC441399.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D

ISO

400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1500 sec

Dimensions

1435 pixels x 957 pixels

Original file size

1.03 MB