melodious warbler lancs

[greenwithensbirder]

ok

its now well known that the bird has not been seen since it was rung this am.
if you live in dorset then its not a biggee but up north this bird is a mega and especially inland.
so why was the bird rung?

maybe craig bell could answer?



WHY WAS THIS BIRD TRAPPED AND RINGED????

[Colin Key]

Why is any rarity trapped and ringed? Totally pointless from a scientific/ornithological point of view, I can only assume it is the trophy-hunter mentality of the "net-tickers". So very, very often the bird in question is never seen again and thereby prevents others from enjoying it.

The last time this occurred for me was with the overwintering male Isabelline Shrike in Spain which was showing well and posing for photographers until it was trapped, molested and ringed - then it disappeared.

Colin :hmpf:

[Colin Key]

Nice juicy "ding dong" argument taking place on DudeForum at the moment: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=116774

Colin :laugh:

[Bobolink44]

With the ID from birders in the field having gone a few rounds of debate, you might be interested to see the photos. Anyone get a recording of the song they can post?

http://mikewatsonsdiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-diary-june-2008.html
http://billaspinsnatureblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/melodious-warbler-jackhouse-reservoir.html

Couple of Melodious with wing panels:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93372558@N00/148892655/
http://www.birdlist.co.uk/images/MelodiousWarbler2.jpg

According to the abstract of this article, Icterine's are getting phased out by Melodious and their wing lengths are getting shorter??
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3677124

[Colin Key]

I have looked at these photos (thanks for the links Bobolink) without reading very much about this bird (just the vitriolic comments relating to its ringing) so I am coming in "cold". It is a pity that two of Mike Watson's excellent photos (photographing warblers being a nightmare) have branches concealing the extent of the bird's primary projection. I am familiar with Icterine, but more so with Melodious (very common here and I have had them in my garden this weekend) and to me this bird is almost certainly a Melodious. The illustration of an adult in breeding plumage shown in Collins BG is rather atypical because I often see a more obvious wing panel than that picture shows, and sometimes (I stress sometimes) it looks as distinct as that on a typical Icterine.

Colin

[Red-eyed Video]

Nice juicy "ding dong" argument taking place on DudeForum at the moment: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=116774

Colin :laugh:

We must be a placid lot in Northants. An Icterine Warbler was trapped and ringed on June 14th, the second county record and the first since 1947. It was singing prior to being ringed and was never seen again after release.

The news broke 3 days later and as far as I know the ringers have not been named and shamed or received death threats. :SLEEP: