Saturday 14 October 2017

St Agnes - Eastern ? Orphean Warbler

I had to return... This time with the big lens and even though the Orphean Warbler was unlikely to show within 80-100m at least a few better record shots may have been possible? Here's the business end of the roadside gallery...



Just as well I got the early boat as at least I inherited the pole position spot to sit once spider had 'gone birding' and left his roadside web!  I reckon he'd slept there all night? A long wait then followed until 11.30 when it finally broke cover (the Orphean Warbler - not spider - !!)  destined to put on a distant but prolonged show...



Eating Coprosma berries...


And occasionally showing quite well despite being a dot in the viewfinder!!


A flash of the undertail...


And more flight shots giving a tantalising glimpse of the predominately white outer tail feathers!




And undertail chevrons...




A few more moments in the open - it was on show for an amazing 15 minutes...






It showed again just after midday and then briefly at 2.10 but that was that! It's clearly not that faithful to this hedgerow and given the number of berried Coprosmas, could be anywhere!!

And this image taken the previous day and not analysed in close up by Ash Fisher and Bob Flood provided the impetus to at least keep Eastern Orphean Warbler in the picture. As for the decision, let's wait for BBRC to have their say!