Bonelli`s warbler, willow warbler or Chiffchaff?

[thom_vee]

Hi Folks I saw this bird yesterday while out birding. I thought it was a bonelli`s warbler and posted it on flickr forums to try and get a confirmation. However, the experts on there seem to be finding it difficult. Anybody over here got a proper ID?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2704246588_d25efe1731.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2703424629_2cc68974c6.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2703424437_22a719fbf1.jpg

[Joe stockwell]

i would have said that it was a wood warbler, but it does look very pale and the size of the image doesnt help cirtainly not bonellis though

where abouts was this picture taken and is it possible to get a larger one?

[thom_vee]

i would have said that it was a wood warbler, but it does look very pale and the size of the image doesnt help cirtainly not bonellis though

where abouts was this picture taken and is it possible to get a larger one?
It was seen in bristol yesterday on open countryside. Here`s a link (http://www.flickr.com/groups/wilduk/discuss/72157606381701382/) to the discussion that happened on flickr forums (with pics). More information is there. Click on the pics there to access bigger sizes.

[Colin Key]

This is certainly not a Bonelli's Warbler; under those lighting conditions the throat and breast of Bonnelli's would have been almost pure white.

It looks like Willow Warbler to me; primary projection does not seem long enough for Wood Warbler. Leg colour is difficult to establish in these small images, but there are some features (darkish upper breast) which could make this a Chiffchaff

Colin

[Bobolink44]

Yes, I'd agree Willow. I'd expect Wood to have brighter throat and breast and stronger supercilium. Definitely not Bonelli's.

[chris butterworth]

Just seen the photos Thom, and I'd (definitly) say 1st year Willow. Wood Warbler would be 'longer' and brighter with a much longer primary projection and I wouldn't expect a Bonelli's to show yellow like this one. 1st year Willows are one of those birds that can look like half a dozen other species ( Dunlin being another!)
Chris

[pbright_thomas]

Hi Thom,

the pics look like Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff, and my bet would be a juvenile of the latter, which can be confusingly dissimilar to adults. Although I have found little reference to it in ID books, at this time of the year I have several times seen in Southern England phylloscopus warblers that look greyish on the head and mantle, and whitish below, reminding me of Bonelli's Warbler - a rarity anywhere and extremely rare inland (if indeed any such records are valid).

The most recent of these, two or three years ago, was seen alongside adult Chiffchaff and juvenile Willow Warbler, appearing slightly smaller than either, with intermediate leg colour, clean white below, with a yellow wash around the face, and with a pronounced greyish cast to mantle nape and centre of crown. But it didn't show especially bright green fringes to wing or tail feathers, and wasn't "open-faced" enough for Bonelli's, having a weak supercilium and weak eye-stripe extending forward to bill.

Having observed a number of such birds, always around this time of year, I conclude that juvenile Chiffchaffs can have this greyish cast and be cleaner-coloured below than the rather buffy-yellow adults. Look around, I bet you can find another.

Regards, Paul

[marklhawkes]

i would have said that it was a wood warbler, but it does look very pale and the size of the image doesnt help cirtainly not bonellis though

Wood Warblers are notable for being very short tailed, which gives them a compact and squat appearance.

[Rachel Brooksbank]

I cant work out how to post my message other than this. We were walking in North Wales Gwynedd on Sunday between Capel Curig and Ogwen Cottage in the mountains near water. We saw 4 large buzzard like birds. We see buzzards all the time so are used to them. But these had white tails, otherwise the size of a buzzard. We have ospreys near by. Which i would be inclined to think they were, didnot see white underneath though. Rachel