Isabelline Shrike overwintering in Spain

[Brian S]

There is an Isabelline Shrike in Spain at the Guadalhorce river mouth, Málaga.

First found on 1st February it was still present on 5th. The photographs clearly illustrate that it is of the form isabellinus, with a strong (burnt-) orange wash to the cheeks, chest and flanks - the photo of the bird in flight also shows this wash extending to the undertail coverts (though mostly on the feather bases). The supercilium is also washed orange. I would age this bird as an adult and the strength of the colour makes me believe it to be a male.

http://cocn.tarifainfo.com/galeria/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=4

http://cocn.tarifainfo.com/galeria/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=5

http://cocn.tarifainfo.com/galeria/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=3

http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsr000.htm

An interesting element of the images is how much they can differ from each other through photographic/light effect. The image at Rare Birds in Spain is very much more washed out and greyer, with the underpart colour more subdued, than the others – but I suspect the three taken on 5th Feb are more correct.

A very nice bird to have overwintering.

Brian S

[Colin Key]

Brian,

I am getting some non-birdy images on your first three links (cetaceans).

Colin

[Colin Key]

Those "tarifainfo" links are constantly changing their content.

[Brian S]

Colin

That they are constantly changing is a pain.

Below are pics posted on Euro gallery.

Brian S

[Colin Key]

Thanks Brian, what a cracking bird. Those two shots are much better than the very undersaturated photo on Rare Birds Spain.

My wife asked me why I was plotting a route to Malaga on my Tom Tom SatNav!

Colin

[Colin Key]

Not seen again since it was ringed yesterday (Yahoo WestPalBirds):

The Isabelline Shrike at the Río Guadalhorce (Málaga) was present until
yesterday when it was ringed. Not seen by myself late this afternoon but the
weather is vile,winds E-5/6, no sun and a lot cooler. Feeding will have been
difficult today for it and if I was a shrike I'd be looking for a more
sheltered area.

Regards

Andy Paterson

If the act of ringing this bird (why?) has moved it on I will be a bit pi$$ed-off as I was seriously thinking of going for it.

Colin :hmpf:

[JanJ]

..and ringed.

http://www.anillamiento.net/guia/categories.php?cat_id=2387

JanJ

[Brian S]

JanJ

Thanks for this link. Interestingly, the photos show clear crescental marks on the underparts and cheeks, plus a moult contrast in the wing. New secondaries and primaries (some with white at the base) contrast with older (juvenile?) feathers; the greater secondary coverts are all new, but the greater primary coverts show a moult contrsat generally matching the primaries; the tertials are new; the alula is old also. So, bang goes my adult male theory!

Shrike moult is quite odd. Worfolk (Dutch Birding 2000) describes four moult strategies for adults, but here is probably best fits an advanced 1st-winter with suspended moult. Hopefully, those that know more than me will help.

Brian S

[Colin Key]

Well, Andy's Blog ( http://andys-birds.blogspot.com/2008/02/isabelline-shrike-guadalhorce-mlaga.html ) states that the ringing of this bird was not the reason for it "moving on" and that it was probably more to do with the inclement weather (which is pretty awful at the moment).

BUT, I do wonder why this "one off" was caught and ringed at all - surely this cannot possibly provide any scientific data and just causes distress to the bird (and to interested birders)?

Colin.

P.S. I am a BIG non-ringer. :nah: