Thursday 19 April 2012

The Apuldrum Conundrum

Dorian Mason has obtained and kindly placed in the public domain a superb set of images taken in various lighting conditions of the Apuldrum Chiffchaff that I have copied here. Placed alongside them are images recently obtained of a singing Common Chiffchaff at Beachy and some images obtained by Mike Richardson of the Potteric Carr Iberian Chiffchaff in May 2010 the resemblance to which is regularly being referred to in descriptions of the Apuldrum Chiffchaff on the SOS website and Bird Forum. I have also added a couple of superb images of the Walderslade, Kent obtained by Nick Bond. As readers of Alan Dean's many contributions on viewing Chiffchaff images will know, all of the usual caveats apply here re the difficulties and dangers in assessing and making useful comparisons between images of Chiffchaffs... Unfortunately all remain silent in the photographs! As apparently there were many sound recordings being made at Apuldrum today, hopefully some will be publicly available soon...  

Apuldrum Chiffchaff (Dorian Mason)

Common Chiffchaff at Beachy 31/3/12

Iberian Chiffchaff at Potteric Carr (Mike Richardson)

Iberian Chiffchaff at Walderslade, Kent (Nick Bond)

Apuldrum Chiffchaff (Dorian Mason)

Common Chiffchaff at Beachy 31/3/12

Iberian Chiffchaff at Potteric Carr (Mike Richardson)

Iberian Chiffchaff at Walderslade, Kent (Nick Bond)
Apuldrum Chiffchaff (Dorian Mason)

Common Chiffchaff at Beachy 25/3/12
Common Chiffchaff at Beachy 31/3/12