For the Wednesday Walkers

["martin butterfield" <>]

Many thanks Geoffrey.  I hope we will see at least the bird in pics 3 and 4 tomorrow.  It flew over Julian R and myself last Thursday and we both were struck by how clear and clean it looked (as the images show).  For once a bird did look as though it had just emerged from a field guide (that hadn't been used much in the field).

 

Martin

On Feb 19, 2008 2:32 PM, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:

The first 2 pics below are the 'dark' morph F adult and pale morph M adult from last year at FSP.  They seem to have drifted off in recent months.  Pics 3 & 4 are of the small LE that is now regularly around the wetlands.  The point is that 3 & 4 closely resembles 2.  If they are different birds the similarity is remarkable.  I would still call 3 & 4 the young bird on the grounds (1) it seems distinctly smaller to me (2) when perched it allows a close approach (12m  -  haven't tried any closer)  (3)  it gives a continual complaining call, although whether this is really complaint or something else I don't know.

 

  

 

Another distinction although a bit subtle is that according to the books the pale morph juv has a kind of background rufous wash on its head and neck.  I think I can see this (presumed juv on right in second set of pics, adult M on left).