Beskrivelse: Winter solistice, the darkest day of the year. Snow showers. ISO 500, 1/100sec, handheld.
Possibly the same bird as in Estonia, Haapsalu, which has not been seen for a few days until the same species appeared in UTÖ 150km WNW.
Gad vide om det er skov(steppe?) brande, der er den udløsende faktor for denne - og andre (Øland) forekomster af denne art i disse dage. Vel de første vestlige observationer i umindelige tider. Tid for en DK obs? Gad vide, hvad der udløste invasionerne i de gode gamle dage, hvor der jo sås utrolige mængder - ornitolog tætheden taget betragtning. Der var dog givetvis flere Steppehøns - og vel antageligt også flere skyde villige jægere til at dokumentere fundene.
Because of the dark red eye I think it is an 'ino'.
'ino' is a color abberation, cf. this article:
http://www.vogelringschier.nl/DB28%282%2979-89_2006.pdf
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Klik på linket under billedet af hættemågen, så kommer Knud Flensteds fortræffelige artikel frem: http://www.fugleognatur.dk/gallery.asp?mode=ShowLarge&ID=16411
vh/Peter
Peter,
thanks for reminding of that article. Maybe I should point out that the original and longer English version was published in Dutch Birding, 28(2), 78-89, 2006 and written by Hein van Grouw. Reading it carefully I noticed that I should also reread the paper carefully and update the types of the color forms on my color web page ;-)
After years of searching for albinos, I have now seen 4 birds which I consider albinos. They were all white and had red eyes. (Domestic pigeon in Reykjavik, Common Buzzard at Gevninge and these two Finnish birds - wagtail and robin).
Seeing the red eye in the wagtail and robin was an interesting experience. It appeared black from many directions, but from a suitable direction the eye flashed bright orangish red. Something I have never seen in "normally colored" birds. The apparently bad eye sight of the albinos could explain why these birds appear so tame - the wagtail was "tame" when alone, but very wary when in a flock. The robin, which was alone, was on a gravel road, and hopped directly towards me down to a distance of about 4 meters without apparently seeing me. Note that both these birds are clearly juveniles, which is sort of expected.
regards
Harry
Hi Harry,
Continuing your line of thinking I find it unlikely that the adult very white Common Buzzard seen at Gevninge during several years was/is an albino.
Much more likely a leucistic bird.
Have you seen photos where the eye is undoubtedly red ?
Regards
Peter
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Beskrivelse: This is the second Little Bustard in Finland within 2 weeks! Both birds, separated by 33 kms, are males, but from plumage differences appear to be different individuals. This bird has been a difficult one to relocate because it moves within several kms and likes to lay down on the ground for extended periods. During those times it dissapears completely and absolutely into the stubble field. More pictures of both birds at my web page.
Beskrivelse: The bird was originally reported on July 18 as a Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides). The following morning the true identity was revealed. It was a Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchuc). The status of this individual is uncertain at present. The three previous European records have all been considered of captive origin. The bird was very timid and it was visible for fleeting moments only. The picture is a collage of 100% crops of two photographs.
Beskrivelse: Photographed at approx 04:00-05:30 in heavy rain, effective exposure 1/50-1/80
The status of this rather long distance interafrican migrant is unclear. The bird has no rings and the wings appear to be in good shape, so no direct suggestions of captive origin. Could this bird have arrived into europe from Africa in flocks of white storks with which it is said to associate with?
Hi Harry!
In Tanzania I've seen flocks of thousands of white storks mixed up with hundreds and hundreds of abdim's storks. So they migrate together, that's for sure. The possibility of one lost abdim's following the whites to Europe is not at all impossible I would say.
Is it new to WP?
Silas
Silas,
Thanks for your comments. If this is accepted by the Finnish Raritees commitee as a wild bird, which I think is indeed possible, then it would be the first record for WP. Outside Africa there are records at least from Yemen and Oman.
Regards
Harry
Hi Harry !
I definately support the possibility of a wild origin.
As Silas mentions, the two species associates frequently in the savannah biome south of Sahel. As Abdim´s Stork is a intra-african migrant with annual (west) south-north long-distance movements, then we have to ask the question (since we can´t prove the opposite unless tagged): why not ?
In the Western Albertine Rift, there is massive north-south and to a lesser extent south-north migration (i have had migration of 30.000+ south in 4 days in October and 15.000+ due north in late March-April in western Uganda) which is annual (but rarely there are birders to count them). Some of those will move north and then west but the psssibility of one moving north with White Storks are perfectly possible.
By the way, if one draws a line due north from say northern Tanzania one (bird) will end up in - Finland !
Whatever happens, Harry - great observation ! Congs.
Lars
Titel: Species uncertain. Identification help requested.
Beskrivelse: This bird was found on June 05, at Lågskär, Åland, Finland. It was ringed and reported as an Iberian Chiffchaff. This identity has been questioned. More information, discussion, links to additional phots and sound recordings in the netfugl forum on identification/fuglebestemmelse.
The two birds although territorial are not at a nest. The birds visited this tree once every 30 minutes - if you look carefully you can see that it is the same tree. From the behaviour it appeared that this previously unknown pair was already calling for the young birds! This is one of my most heart-warming finds in Finland.
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