Subject: Warbler ID please [Print This Page] Author: wgeoff Time: 14/10/2010 16:54 Subject: Warbler ID please
Can somebody give me some help on this warbler, seen on the South Peninsular grasslands of Po Toi this morning. It seemed quite large in flight but I don't think its an Oriental Reed?
The head pattern seems to fit Paddyfield Warbler but I've never seen this species before so I don't know if the rest is right Author: Jonathmartinez Time: 14/10/2010 18:26
i go for Paddyfield Warbler. Nice dark wings and tail feathers contrasting well with the mantle color,pale fringe on tertial. The head pattern is perfect, supercilicium broader behind eyes bordered below by dark eyestripe, the bill seems to show dark tip, with dark upper mandible and pinkisk lower. Long and nice rounded tail... Author: lpaul Time: 14/10/2010 20:29
Looks like an Oriental Reed warbler to me. Author: wgeoff Time: 15/10/2010 07:21
Jonathon has listed all the reasons why it could be a Paddyfield Warbler but the master has spoken. Author: ajohn Time: 15/10/2010 08:10
I agree with Paul. The bird looks too bulky and heavy-billed for a small acro, and you noted it seemed large in flight.
The plumage pattern seems perfectly normal for Oriental Reed, and the behaviour suggested from these photos (i.e. staying in the open long enough to photograph it several times) also supports that species. Author: wgeoff Time: 15/10/2010 09:12
Thanks to all for their comments.
I had thought the supercillium too long behind the eye, the throat and upper breast rather too cleanly white and the tail too dark and oddly shaped for an Oriental Reed.
I should have looked in the Photographic Guide where there are some very similar photos of Oriental Reed. I'm not too experienced with Oriental Reed on Po Toi - one of the problems of patch birding.
And I put the bird's static behaviour entirely down to my excellence at pishing. Author: Jonathmartinez Time: 15/10/2010 09:46
i should have note the heavy bill. Ok i will review my acrocephalus lesson :-) Author: tmichael Time: 15/10/2010 20:56
It's an interesting point, that Geoff seems to be making, that they are not very regular on Po Toi/and or not common there.
I suppose that'd be expected of a wetland species, and I guess heaviest migration in this species is in autumn, when conditions won't usually force down large numbers in a place like Po Toi. I suppose a typhoon in the last few days of September, which certainly used to see heaviest passage, might be interesting (but also destructive of course).
They are, I believe, fairly widespread on migration though, and I had a few at the top of Mount Austin when I watched that "hot-spot" regularly.
Mike Turnbull Author: Jonathmartinez Time: 15/10/2010 22:12
i also get a few sighting of Oriental RW during migration in Hunan on totatlly unexpected area as well as hill with bushes or small patch of wood in suburban Yueyang even have fiew Square Kilometer of reedbed very close to the place... Author: wgeoff Time: 16/10/2010 06:10
I see one or two a year, mostly in spring, quite rare in autumn - see this chart
This shows how much we need a proper wetland feature on Po Toi. I tried to create one a few years ago where there used to be paddyfields but it's too much effort for one person to maintain. It would open up a new set of species.
[ Last edited by wgeoff at 16/10/2010 08:12 ] Author: tmichael Time: 16/10/2010 21:14
What about Black-browed Reed? Aren't they a bit commoner, and what's the pattern there?
Interestingly in the bigger picture I don't think I've seen it at Mt Austin or in Sai Kung, but I have seen it in LTV, where I think it's occurs occasionally in very small numbers, doesn't it?
Mike Turnbull Author: ajohn Time: 16/10/2010 21:52
Black-browed seems to be more wetland-dependent than Oriental. Even in the Deep BAy area, Black-browed is rarely seen away from reedbeds or grasses close to water. Oriental is fairly regularly seen in bushes, trees, etc. even in relatively dry locations. This also relates to the fact that Oriental is also more 'showy' than the other reed warblers (as I mentioned before).
I would expect Black-browed to be harder to see away from the Deep Bay area than oriental. Even at sites like Long Valley, I don't remember seeing many Black-browed in the past. Author: tmichael Time: 17/10/2010 00:43
I think we're in broad agreement John, but I reckon I've seen quite a few at Long Valley - in suitable tall grassy clumps - and that more than one or two occur each year at Po Toi.
Mike Turnbull Author: wgeoff Time: 17/10/2010 07:27
Black-browed Reed Warbler is much rarer on Po Toi than Oriental Reed Warbler - no records in spring, only a few in autumn
including this bird seen last November
Paul Leader also had one on 23rd October 1997 in his original survey of Po Toi but these are the only records to my knowledge.
The reason there are no spring records is probably because Black-browed Reed does not winter in The Philippines (whereas Oriental Reed does), and most of the birds seen on Po Toi in spring are from The Philippines.
If I had a Black-browed Reed in spring, it would be worth looking at carefully as a possible Streaked.
[ Last edited by wgeoff at 18/10/2010 18:27 ]
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