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On 17th December, this striking-looking male
Siberian Stonechat was found at Bevercotes in North Nottinghamshire, close to
Phil's home. The strange bird was first seen by Bob Stevens in a heavy shower.
He thought it was very much like a Whinchat but Bob felt sure it was a
Stonechat. Aware of various identification pitfalls involved with Stonechat
races and unfamiliarity with foreign birds, Bob asked Phil to take a look.
Aware of a whole range of identification pitfalls
and recent reports of Continental birds showing pale rumps, Phil quickly
confirmed the identification as Nottinghamshire's first Siberian Stonechat and
one of less that a handful of winter records in the UK. As a result, this
plumage is rarely seen and depicted in field guides.
In snow showers, horizontal at times, the bird
rarely kept still, but showed a white rump bordered with some buff. The
completely unstreaked rump ruled out the British race of which two birds were
present on site for comparison. Together with black axillaries, the pallid
colour and a tail that lacked any white, it was narrowed down to belonging to
the race S. t. maura.
The amount of black on the face appears to be
unusual at this time of year, and the contrasting white throat even more so.
It is understandable that some would think it was
a Whinchat on first impression and it is also reminiscent of Fuertaventura
Chat, but the rump and tail pattern quickly eliminate these species.
All-in-all, it is a beautiful bird and may remain for the winter if it
survives the pre-Christmas cold spell and snow.
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