Penwortham, Preston

Andy Voisey · Status: Offline

RE: Penwortham, Preston

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

- A small correction to my earlier post-

I could pick out the Portland bird from a 100 yards away on song, not on its call; ( I'm not that good).

Incidentally, I did once hear the Durham bird call, and it was distinctly different from that of Chiffchaff. Brian Small considers the call as diagnostic and describes it well as a rather sad "siu" with a down slurred inflection.

Whilst revisiting the topic here, just to add a little spice to proceedings, the Durham bird was reported by some observers to throw into its vocal repertoire a few "chiff chaff" phrases from time to time, so an element of mixed singing doesn't constitute a "knock out blow" to the bird's credentials. According to Small, the main things to focus upon appear to be firstly call and then strength and consistency of song. Based on the photos, in my view, plumage of the Penwortham bird seems to pass muster. In good light the legs look quite pale, in evening shade they appear almost black at the front, so there is no substitute for close first hand scrutiny in the field with some recording of the vocals invaluable to assist any submission.

colin davies · Status: Offline

I also saw the Potterric Carr bird, and a few days later another in Wentwood Forest in South Wales. Yesterday I went to see the Telford bird which provided a useful comparison with the Higher Penwortham bird. The attached photo is from Telford, and there are a couple of videos here and here.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

Re: Likely Iberian Chiffchaff.

I just had a peek at the photos on this thread. Obviously one has to bear in mind the factor of light contrasts, with some shots giving the bird a quite brown overall tone but others giving the impression of greener shades with a promising suffusion of a yellow wash along the flanks. The breast could ideally look a little yellower, but again this could give different impressions according to the angle of the light, (it does look a bit too brown on some shots). The bird consistently shows a relatively strong supercilium, an eye ring seemingly more obvious as a crescent below the eye, a dagger like bill ( which may or may not be significant,) which matches that of our Durham bird of April 24th 2013. This latter individual was accepted as a first county record and was part of a national influx of 5 birds arriving between 17th and 25th April. So the timing looks OK as well.

I saw the Portland bird of June 1999, which could be picked out on call from 100 yards away;- if the vocals of the current candidate are as described therefore, full notes and descriptions should give this one a good send-off.

I have never heard an Iberian singing in Madrid, despite being primed to find one,- the only Chiffchaffs which I saw last week were like our own familiar ones and were also strangely silent.

Were this Penwortham bird in Greater Manchester, I should be down there hoping to see it.

Regards,

Mike P.

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Always a sticky wicket with these things.....I luckily managed to see the Potteric Carr bird in 2010. I don't know what it is, but something isn't quite right with this Lancs individual and where there's doubt etc.......

The Telford bird seems far more convincing based on what I recall previously...then again others may have their own views.

Interesting bird nonetheless whatever it is!

colin davies · Status: Offline

Here are a couple of my photos from yesterday everning. It seems to be generally regarded as an atypical chiffchaff at the moment, but if it is then in my opinion there are plenty of things atypical about it, not just the song. For example I heard it call like an Iberian chiffchaff and not like a collybitta. There is also the yellow in the eyestripe and the pale underparts with the clean yellow undertail coverts. Whatever, it was a great little bird and very educational.

-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 11th of April 2016 10:07:40 PM

steven burke · Status: Offline

i went down on Saturday evening 9th for a couple of hours, the chiffchaff in question was very busy moving around a lot with another chiffchaff, chasing it at times & when it eventually stayed still long enough for any decent pics i managed the ones attached.
i see its still not proven to be an Iberian if it is a great lifer for me also, but if not ah well still lovely to watch & listen to the song.

-- Edited by steven burke on Monday 11th of April 2016 12:38:18 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Early this morning, myself and Simon Gough, only around 5 other birders present.

Iberian Chiffchaff - if proven to be one then an absolute quality Lifer!

Myself and Simon witnessed this bird singing so as not to confuse it with the other 3 Chiffchaffs around just to confuse matters. It's song was absolutely fantastic, starting off as if it was going to be Chiff...chaff but became a quick single toned repeated Chiff, and then to a melodic end burst. Managed a few shots of the bird so make of it what you will.
2 characteristics that were noted were its fine, almost pointed bill, and as mentioned in the Collins guide, a well defined supercilium with a bright yellow bit infront of the eye so I've enlarged an image to show that feature. As Sid says, whatever the outcome, it was a superb little bird.

Other birds...
- 15 Corn Bunting in the field/hedge at the side of the wood and a single Tree Sparrow

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 10th of April 2016 07:30:19 PM

sid ashton · Status: Offline

I was alerted to the presence of a possible Iberian Chiffchaff yesterday by Ian's text service and which was eventually being reported on various news services/forums where doubt was being cast as to whether or not it was Iberian. At Higher Penwortham this morning I watched and listened to a Chiffchaff, in perfect light conditions for more than an hour. On occasions it was directly over my head and in my opinion, for what it's worth I was watching the Iberian "variety". Whatever it is eventually shown to be it was a smashing little singer and the experience was well worth the trip.