Getting out while the weather is fine, I took a walk round Earshaigs. The road up was in very poor condition. On arrival, greeted by a couple of grey wagtails, which then seemed to follow me around a bit. More orange tips etc plus a number of peacocks along the side of the plantation.
On the way back noticed a bird moving in a fallen conifer and waited for it to show. The result was a clear view of a lesser whitethroat - a rarity for these parts but I'm convinced it was one. Got a good view of the white underparts and did not have the same characteristic headshape of common whitethroat. This is the first time I've seen a lesser whitethroat in the UK.
A few days after, saw a video on TV of some reed warblers and wondered momentarily if I could have been mistaken re lesser whitethroat. Although there was a pond nearby the reed warbler is not common here either, and what would it be doing in a conifer?
ReplyDeleteExamined pictures of both in RSPB book and still think lesser whitethroat was correct identification.