Thanks Mike for the feedback much appreciated! And thanks for the details on the differences between the two, they are incredible to see in the hand and it always amazes me the measurement process to eliminate or confirm species as well as other traits. Fair isle is truly a magical place and I think about it everyday! Glad you enjoyed the report and thanks for your comments! Kev P.s if you would like any other photos that are more instructive let me know and lll email them
- Just to say how much I enjoyed Kevin Kelly's account of his Fair Isle trip and his "punch by punch" account of his daily lifer tally. I never got round to visiting Fair Isle (either for a stay or a twitch), so this account was probably as close as I'll get. The photo I enjoyed most was the excellent one of the Thrush Nightingale in the hand. Quite apart from the plumage distinctions from Nightingale, it's really informative and worth noting the diagnostic wing formula so perfectly portrayed in this shot. The vestigial first primary - shorter than the longest primary coverts, and the wing point formed clearly by the 3rd primary (i.e. the second of the obvious long ones). Nightingale has the first primary longer than all the primary coverts and wing point formed generally by 3rd (but sometimes with 4th level).
Cheers Kevin, Regards, Mike P.
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