20180930 (1)_Melodious_Warbler
A welcome bird but with initial ID issues as it was put out as an Icterine Warbler (a congener and confusion species). We didn't look at the photos till the evening when the reidentification was announced, as we had been pursuing other birds all day.
Interestingly we found the bird superficially did resemble an Icterine Warbler, looking large-headed, with a pale wing panel and quite yellowy underparts (Melodies are often quite pale in autumn.) However, when we inspected the wing formula we immediately found the short P2 that is diagnostic of Melodious Warbler - game over. Photographed at Lunna, Shetland Mainland.
20180930 (1)_Melodious_Warbler
A welcome bird but with initial ID issues as it was put out as an Icterine Warbler (a congener and confusion species). We didn't look at the photos till the evening when the reidentification was announced, as we had been pursuing other birds all day.
Interestingly we found the bird superficially did resemble an Icterine Warbler, looking large-headed, with a pale wing panel and quite yellowy underparts (Melodies are often quite pale in autumn.) However, when we inspected the wing formula we immediately found the short P2 that is diagnostic of Melodious Warbler - game over. Photographed at Lunna, Shetland Mainland.