Thursday, 18 April 2013
Putative nominate Coal Tit in Gorseinon
This bird appeared briefly at the bird feeder outside the kitchen window this morning and its colder tones instantly struck me as 'Contintental'. I took a few quick shots through the window and I've not seen it since. Distinctly steely grey on the mantle with little or no hint of green, flanks lacking the richer brown suffusion of britannicus and displaying a tiny crest. If this were the south-east it would probably go straight into the book as the nominate form, but I'm not sure how uncommon it is in Wales. I've only looked in the Collins guide so far and I've not had the chance to look up how frequent ater is in Wales, so any comments on id or status would be welcomed.
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11 comments:
There was a similar bird at my late mother's feeder, also in Gorseinon, back in January. Possibly the same? To be honest I am not a believer in "Continental" Cole Tits, birds showing some or all of the features seem to be fairly common here in Kent I do wonder whether all populations throw up a few like this.
There was a similar bird on my late mothers feeder, also in Gorseinon, back in January. Maybe the same? I am afraid I am not convinced by "Continental" Coal Tits as birds showing some or all of the characteristics seem to be fairly common here in Kent, I do wonder whether such birds occur occasionally in all populations, mind you with that long run of east winds.........
Thanks Paul. I'm still open minded at present, though I doubt if this is the same as the bird at your late mother's place as I'm pretty sure this is a 2cy bird (you can see contrast in the older juv. outer greater coverts). I think your suggestion that some British birds could look like Continental birds is perfect valid as this is the case with other species, such as Swallow (there's a red-breasted bird returned again to a Carmarthenshire site this week). Of course there's unlikely to be a definitive answer here but I was hoping others might look at their local Coalies and point out whether or not they have similar birds. This one certainly is very different from our resident pair. If it reappears and breeds we'll have the answer, but if it disappears it will provide food for thought.
Not sure what you mean about the ageing? I did a trawl of photographs and there seems to be great variation in plumage tones in "Continental" birds, of course this could be due to photographic effects, particularly in the amount of buff on the flanks.
Owen Leyshon and David Walker, both very experienced ringers/birders at Dungeness, agree this ticks the Continental box. Owen has also emailed the images to others who agree with this opinion.
I still have no idea if P.a.ater is a regular winter or passage bird?
As far as I am aware there has only ever been a single recovery of a continental ringed Cole Tit in Kent
I'm sure you're right Paul.
Owen informs me that at Dungeness numbers are unpredictable, with sometimes good numbers (50+ I think he said) in autumn but with far fewer in the spring. I know they ring quite a few, but I've no idea what recoveries they have had?
My point is that with only one Continental ringed bird they cannot be sure they are from the Continent hence my original comments, the ID criteria it could be a case of self fulfilment.
Still not sure why the ageing of the Gorseinon bird means it cannot be the same as the January one?
Hi Paul, is self fulfilment a bad thing then? ;)
Re age of bird: I realise that I misread you comment and thought you were referring to the previous January - my mistake sorry, the age of the bird is now irrelevant.
I'm assuming your observations of Continental type birds are during the summer months and not just the passage/winter periods? I have no idea if there are lookalikes in the British breeding population and I can only go on the literature I have available, plus opinion of those with more experience. Of course just because it's in a book doesn't mean it's fact and although I'm still open minded, the more I look at the photo, the more I think it looks Continental - all those Coalies streaming out of Scandinavia have to be going somewhere!
Cheers, Barry
Barry,
An en mind is a good thing. I notice some were claimed in east Kent today. Odd ones pretty much all year. I think the best you can say about all these races/sub spp is "shows all the features of" SATFO. Interesting bird non the less, more so if it hangs around.
Thanks For the debate Paul - all food for thought, though no clear outcome as suspected - SATFO it will have to be.
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