What kind of flycatcher?

[Jacqui Jay]

I think this might be a semi-collared flycatcher as opposed to a pied flycatcher. Unfortunately, I didn't get a side shot but it is just possible to see a second wing bar. Also, the thin pale mark on the primary coverts reaches almost to the wing edge and the white on the outer tail feathers reaches round the tip. I would be grateful for any opinions on this. He/she was at Gibraltar Point yesterday.

Thank you
Jacqui

[Winterkoning]

Warm Welcome.......super photo,s

Sure someone will come to yoiur Rescue............Enjoy the Forum great place great people

Cheers Mike

[PeterB]

Google tells me it's a Female Pied Flycatcher, but this is way above my league.

I found a very similar picture here.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Nice pics by the way, where did you take them?

[PeterB]

Then of course I come across this:-

Rare Bird Alert - Gallery

Like I say, so far above my head it is dangerous. Can't wait to find out though.

[MIKE THROWER]

1st Winter PIED FLYCATCHER, FEMALE TYPE. note no throat stripes, cream/buff edges to feathers. Also no collar on bird and brown back , where as semi is grey to light brown backed.

[PeterB]

Given that Mike, is this bird ID'd as a Semi correctly identified?

Rare Bird Alert - Gallery

[MIKE THROWER]

I, personally, look at and I am sent many photographs and descriptions every day. This is basically an easy ID compared to what I have been through in the years. This is a female-type, first winter Pied Flycatcher. NOTE: Pale edges to wings and other feathers and no subsequent collar as would show on semi-collared. Sex unknown due to the uniformal plumage of first winter juveniles. There is a massive high pressure in northern Europe at the moment bringing in a movement of migrants which is hitting this low that is sitting over Britain, thus we get a fall. It is bringing common migrants such as Pied Fly, Spotted Fly, Redstart and the northern highlights of Yellow Browed Warbler, R/B Fly and Red Flanked Blue Tail, whereas Semi-Collared Flycatcher comes from the Turkey/Black Sea area and would be going against the wind or fall conditions. Only last night on a well known site I had to break someone's heart and tell them they had photographed a Garden Warbler instead of a Barred Warbler (photograph now withdrawn). Birding at this time of the year is very exciting and can also be heartbreaking. You can stand in the rain and mist praying and hoping that the one you have never seen will be on your coastline, but it turns up 200 miles north or possibly south. Do not get me wrong, I believe anything can turn up in this country. I have personally seen Red Eyed Vireo in Lothian and Snowy Egret in Scotland.

Mike Thrower & Kris Gibb
Birding Lothian

[astafjevs]

Do you mean the bird in the original post or the bird in Pete's link? I only ask because the second one wasn't taken recently and weather conditions might've been different?

Are there any accepted semi-collared records in the UK? My Collins guide suggests not. Is it wrong?

[PeterB]

Google lied to me!!!

[MIKE THROWER]

Originally Posted by astafjevs

Do you mean the bird in the original post or the bird in Pete's link? I only ask because the second one wasn't taken recently and weather conditions might've been different?

Are there any accepted semi-collared records in the UK? My Collins guide suggests not. Is it wrong?

Most are still under consideration, last being Norfolk. The original post is PIED FLY. I dont know if Peter's post was excepted, not botherd I didnt see it.