Greenish Warbler
Phylloscopus trochiloides (Sundevall, 1837) (4, 7)
Photo © Rob Stonehouse
Ex BBRC species 31/12/2005
STATUS
Eastern and Central Palearctic. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
The second record in 1902 at Suleskerry Lighthouse was reidentified as an Arctic Warbler.
Records as per BOU (1971). Again this species has become so numerous in Britain that it has been taken of the BBRC rarities list from 2006.
RECORDS
1). 1896 Lincolnshire North Cotes, adult female, shot, 5th September.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 6: 8; G. H. Caton Haigh, Zoologist 1896: 436-437; J. Cordeaux, Naturalist 23: 15; Cordeaux, 1899; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 3: 297-298; K. Williamson, Scottish Naturalist 62: 18-20; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1896) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. VI. p. 8, at the 37th Meeting of the Club held on 21st October 1896 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh exhibited a specimen of Phylloscopus viridanus shot by himself on the 5th of September at North Cotes, Lincolnshire. This Asiatic species was new to Great Britain, but had occurred three times on Heligoland.'
G. H. Caton Haigh of Grainsby Hall, Great Grimsby (1896) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XX. pp. 436-437, says: 'During the afternoon of Sept. 5th I shot a specimen of Phylloscopus viridanus in a hedge near the sea-bank at North Cotes, on the Lincolnshire coast. According to Herr Gätke, this species has appeared three times on the island of Heligoland, but has not occurred elsewhere in Europe. It is a native of Central Asia, breeding in Turkestan and wintering in India. In general appearance it closely resembles our common Willow Wren, but has a conspicuous wing-bar formed by the yellowish buff tips of the greater wing-coverts. It is also somewhat greener on the upper parts, and less yellow beneath. It further differs in the proportionate lengths of the wing-feathers, and in the colour of the legs, which are almost as dark as in the Chiffchaff. The specimen obtained by me proved to be a female, and, I believe, adult. The weather prevailing at the time of its appearance was such as usually results in a great immigration of small birds. The wind backing to the east on the night of Sept. 3rd, and blowing a fresh breeze from that quarter on the 4th and 5th, with heavy rain commencing to fall on the afternoon of the 4th, and lasting without intermission for twenty-four hours. On the 5th all the hedges near the coast were full of small birds, including Pied Flycatchers in considerable number, Redstarts, Whitethroats, Garden Warbler, &c. I have only to add that Mr. Howard Saunders and Dr. R. B. Sharpe kindly examined and identified the bird for me, and it was subsequently exhibited at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club on Oct. 21st.'
John Cordeaux of Great Cotes (1897) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XXIII. p. 15, says: 'Greenish Tree Warbler. Sept. 5th. Shot by Mr. Haigh from the 'great hedge' at North Cotes on the Lincolnshire coast. It is new to Britain, but has occurred three times on Heligoland. This specimen was exhibited by Mr. Haigh at the meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, October 21st, 1896. My son, Captain W. Wilfrid Cordeaux, writing from India, says - "I know P. viridanus well in Kashmir and the Punjab, and have watched it in the willows of Suru, besides the grey-white river tumbling and roaring from the snow".' Cordeaux (1899) p. 4, adds: '...on dissection proved an adult female [Zool., 1896, pp. 436-7]. It is figured in Lord Lilford's Birds of the British Islands, Vol. III. plate 33. This is the first British example of this Asiatic warbler.'
H. F. Witherby (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. pp. 297-298, says: 'It will be remembered that in Vol. II. p. 408, we quoted Mr. W. Eagle Clarke's verdict (cf. Ann. S.N.H., 1909, p. 114) that the second recorded British example of the Greenish Willow-Warbler (Phylloscopus viridanus), viz., the bird obtained at the Suleskerry Lighthouse, on September 5th, 1902 (cf. Bull. B.O.C., XIII. p. 12; Ann. S.N.H., 1903, p. 22), had proved to be after all an example of Eversmann's Warbler (P. borealis). It seemed doubtful then whether the first (and now only) British example of Phylloscopus viridanus, viz., that obtained by Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh, on September 5th, 1896, had been correctly identified. In order to clear up any doubt in the matter, Mr. Caton Haigh has very kindly sent me this bird for examination, and I find that it is an undoubted example of Phylloscopus viridanus.
If a Willow-Warbler with one or two wing-bars is found in the British Isles it is certain to be a rare visitor, but the species to which it belongs should not be decided by this character. The wing-bar in the Greenish Willow-Warbler is formed by the tips of the greater wing-coverts being yellowish-white. Eversmann's Warbler has a similar wing-bar, and very often (but not always) an ill-defined second wing-bar which is formed by the tips of some of the median wing-coverts also being of a yellowish-white. It will be readily understood that these tips to the feathers are liable to become worn off when the plumage is abraded, and therefore they would be an unreliable character in some stages of plumage, even if they were not variable.
There need, however, be no more difficulty in distinguishing the two species in question than the Chiffchaff and Willow-Warbler, since their wing-formulae (and especially the length of the first primary) are perfectly different....I should mention that Mr. Caton Haigh had noticed the length of the bastard-primary and had always felt sure that his bird was correctly identified.'
Kenneth Williamson (1950) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXII. pp. 18-20, says: '...The previous records are of a female shot at North Cotes, Lincolnshire, on 5th September 1896 (G. H. Caton Haigh, Bull. B.O.C., 6: 8).'
2). 1945 Shetland Skaw, Whalsay, adult, shot, 12th September.
(S. Bruce, British Birds 39: 153-154; K. Williamson, Scottish Naturalist 62: 20; Thom, 1986).
History Samuel Bruce (1946) in British Birds, Vol. XXXIX. pp. 153-154, says: 'On September 12th, 1945, I observed a small green warbler feeding busily in a cabbage patch surrounded by a dry-stone dyke near Skaw on Whalsay. On getting a very close view of it perching on top of a cabbage, I noticed that it had a single light wing-bar. It was feeding on insects under the cabbage leaves and was very restless, but not shy. It somewhat resembled a Willow Warbler but carried its tail higher off the line of the back; the head was set more erect, and it looked shorter than a Willow Warbler. Knowing that it was something unusual, and being unable to identify it for certain in the field, I obtained it and preserved the skin. The specimen has a yellow eye-stripe and a single yellow wing-bar on each wing; it has olive-green upper-parts and light under-parts, almost white under the belly. Wing length 59 mm.; wing formula 3rd to 6th emarginated; 2nd primary between 7th and 8th. Upper mandible of bill dark; lower mandible yellow-horn. Unfortunately the organs were damaged and I was unable to sex it.
This is apparently the first occasion on which the Greenish Warbler has been recorded in Scotland and is the second record for the British Isles. Both Messrs. G. Theo Kay and George Waterston have examined the skin and have confirmed the identification.'
[This bird was exhibited by Mr. Waterston at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club on 21st November 1945.]
Kenneth Williamson (1950) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXII. p. 20, after writing on the 1949 spring Fair Isle individual, added: 'The Whalsay specimen of the Greenish Warbler, which I have been able to examine through the courtesy of Mr. Samuel Bruce of Lerwick, who collected it on 12th September 1945, shows some slight plumage differences from the Fair Isle bird. The upper-parts are more uniformly greenish-olive, darkening on the head; the under-parts are more suffused with yellowish, the throat and breast pale greenish-yellow and the belly and vent creamy. The supercilium and wing-bar are yellower and the latter less obvious than in the Fair Isle bird owing to abrasion, a fact which suggests that the specimen, which is unsexed, is an adult bird. The outer webs of the emarginated portions of the 2nd to 6th primaries are whitish, and the outer webs of the outermost tail-feathers brownish-white. The wing measures 59 mm.'
3). 1949 Fair Isle Gully, adult, trapped, 2nd to 3rd June, photo.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1949: 8, 12-13, plate 13; K. Williamson, Scottish Naturalist 62: 18-20; K. Williamson & V. M. Thom, British Birds 49: 42; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).
History Kenneth Williamson (1950) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXII. pp. 18-20, says: 'Occurrence. - A Phylloscopus with a single white wing-bar was seen in the Gully trapping-area by Kenneth Williamson and John Peterson on the morning of 2nd June. It was captured, and proved to be the Greenish Warbler - the second known occurrence of this bird in Shetland, and only the third for the British Isles. The previous records are of a female shot at North Cotes, Lincolnshire, on 5th September 1896 (G. H. Caton Haigh, Bull. B.O.C., 6: 8), and of one collected by Mr. Sam Bruce at the Skaw of Whalsay on 12th September 1945. The present specimen was ringed D8140 and released in the Gully, where it was watched for notes on field-marks and habits.
Taxonomic. - The bird was taken to the laboratory for examination. The wing measured 62 mm. and the weight was 6.68 gm.
Wing-formula. - The 3rd to 6th primaries were emarginate; 1st primary 6 mm. longer than longest primary covert; 2nd primary 8 mm. shorter than 3rd and 2 mm. shorter than 7th; 4th primary longest with 3rd and 5th very slightly shorter; 6th primary 3 mm. shorter. Soft parts. - The bird had the stout, rather flattish bill characteristic of the sub-genus Acanthopneuste, with nasal hairs reaching beyond the distal ends of the nasal grooves. The bill measured 6 mm. from the feathers and was dark brown above. The lower mandible was yellow-brown distally, becoming orange at the base. The tarsi and toes were purplish-horn, soles brownish-orange. Iris dark brown.
Plumage. - Mantle olive-green, head and tail browner. A streak from bill through eye and lores brownish, surmounted by a strong yellowish superciliary stripe. Yellow ring round eye. Cheeks and ear-coverts yellowish. Breast pale yellow, becoming whitish on belly and vent, but with a slight yellowish tinge. Flanks greyish-white. Axillaries and under-wing coverts pale yellow. Outer webs of brown flight-feathers fringed green. Greater coverts greyer brown each with a whitish spot at tip of outer web, forming a white wing-bar. Outer web of outer tail-feathers brownish-white.
Race. - The wing-formula, in which the second primary falls between 7th and 8th (and is much nearer to the 7th) establishes the race as Ph. t. viridanus. According to C. B. Ticehurst, 'A Systematic Review of the Genus Phylloscopus' (London 1939), all other races except Ph. t. plumbeitarsus have the 2nd primary falling between 8th and 9th, or shorter. Ph. t. plumbeitarsus has a second slight wing-bar on the median coverts except in very worn plumage, and as there is a complete moult in the early spring this additional bar would have been evident in D8140 had it belonged to this race.
Field-characters and behaviour. - Immediately upon release the bird flew to some willows and began to feed briskly. It moved from the willows to the stony bed of the stream and hopped about there for some time before going to a heather-covered slope above to continue its quest for food. Occasionally it took small dipterous flies with deft "flycatcher" sallies, presenting an orange gape as it snapped them up. It also resorted to sandy and stony banks bare of vegetation. It was seen on one occasion to pick up a small worm and beat it vigorously against a stone whilst eating it. It wiped its bill regularly with quick motions against stones, heather-stems or willow-twigs. The bird seemed much attracted to the immediate vicinity of the water. A restless flickering of its wings and tail accompanied its movements on the ground and in the willows. Its flights from place to place were short and very erratic, but on one long flight down the Gully on 3rd June the bird proceeded in shallow undulations. When confined in the trap-funnel on the 2nd it gave a marvellous exhibition of superbly controlled flight, persistently hovering for several seconds at a time in front of the catching-box, often turning in the air as it did so. The white wing-bar, though so slight when the bird was held in the hand, was an excellent field-mark and could be distinguished in 9 x 35 glasses at a range of 30-40 yards. The yellowish breast was not very obvious except at close quarters and in good light, the bird usually presenting the impression of a small Phylloscopus with greenish upper and dull whitish underparts. The olive-green mantle made a slight but quite noticeable contrast with the brown of head and tail, and when a good close view was obtained the upper tail-coverts were seen to lack the greenish tinge and the outer webs of the outer tail-feathers appeared dusky-white. The yellowish supercilium and cheeks contrasted well with the dark eye-stripe. The legs appeared to be black.
Summary. The distinct dark eye-stripe offset by the clear yellowish cheeks and superciliary band, the white wing-bar, blackish legs, and contrast between greenish mantle and brown tail were the most distinctive features in the field.'
4). 1949 Yorkshire Spurn, trapped, 21st August.
(R. Chislett, Naturalist 75: 11-12; G. H. Ainsworth & R. Chislett, British Birds 43: 209; Chislett, 1952; Chislett, 1958; Mather, 1986).
History R. Chislett (1950) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LXXV. pp. 11-12, says: 'A Greenish Warbler was seen, caught, and ringed at Spurn on August 21st by G. H. Ainsworth. Careful notes were taken, and verified by H. O. Bunce, D. F. Walker, C. Milner, W. D. Hincks and Dr. Butler, of Manchester University, who drew an outline of the flattened wing - the 2nd primary equalled the 7th in length. The bird was first seen taking flies on the cottage sycamores. Features notes include a single whitish-yellow wing-bar, emargination of the 3rd to 6th primaries; brown tarsi, and a frequent double note (ssee-ssee) quite unlike any note of the Willow Warbler, of which latter species none was seen that day. Detailed notes were made by C. Milner before checking by reference to the Handbook. It was the first record for Yorkshire; and apparently the second for England, one having occurred at North Cotes, Lincolnshire, on the south side of the Humber on September 5th, 1896. A third occurred in Shetland on 12/9/1945.'
G. H. Ainsworth & R. Chislett (1950) in British Birds, Vol. XLIII. p. 209, say: 'A specimen was captured on August 21st and ringed by G. H. Ainsworth, with wind direction south-east. This form of Phylloscopus has not been recognized at Spurn before; but one of the three other known British occurrences was taken just across the Humber at North Cotes, Lincolnshire, on September 5th, 1896.'
Accepted locally (Chislett 1952: 92) and by Chislett (1958: 24) who says: 'A small warbler with a whitish-yellow wing-bar was caught on 21st August, 1949.' Further, p. 63, he adds: 'It was first found in the Cottage sycamores by G. H. Ainsworth and was maneuvered into the trap. A detailed description was taken including a single whitish yellow wing-bar, emargination of the 3rd to 6th primaries; second primaries equal to seventh in length; tarsi brown. A double note "ssee ssee" was uttered frequently. These details were verified at the time by H. O. Bunce, D. F. Walker, C. Milner and Dr. W. D. Hincks and his entomological party who were there.'
1950-57 RECORDS
5). 1950 Fair Isle Quoy, first-winter, trapped, 19th September.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (7): 9-10; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1950: 11-12; K. Williamson, British Birds 44: 120-121, 226; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History K. Williamson (1951) in British Birds, Vol. XLIV. pp. 120-121, says: 'A bird of this species recorded on September 19th appeared very grey in the field, and was at first mistaken for a Northern Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus acredula) until the single wing-bar was seen. The upper-parts appeared to be a uniform olive-grey, with the tail and primaries darker. The under-parts were a uniform greyish-white, as were also the wing-bars and superciliary stripes. The bill seemed small for the size of the bird, and the pale colour of the lower mandible was clearly seen on one occasion. The bird was stockily built, and appeared slightly smaller than a Willow Warbler.
When discovered, it was feeding among the turnip-plants, rarely appearing among the upper leaves, and rarely remaining motionless. It flew only occasionally, usually to pass round the observers and settle in the crop behind them. These skulking habits led to its capture in a net. In comparison with the other two Phylloscopi with wing-bars observed here during the Autumn, the Eversmann's (Ph. borealis) and Yellow-browed Warblers (Ph. inornatus), some distinctive points were noted. The most important field-character of the bird was its general greyness, contrasting with the greenish hue of the other two species. In size it was intermediate, in behaviour more active than borealis but less so than inornatus which it resembled, however, in its habit of remaining largely concealed among the roots. The single wing-bar was conspicuous when the wing was seen clearly and it was whitish in contrast with the yellowish bars of the other species. The eye-stripe, although very prominent, was less so than in Eversmann's and the Yellow-browed Warblers.
The bird was watched by Ian Munro, Dougal Andrew, M. J. Wotton, Pamela McMorran and M. Abraham, and the above notes were compiled by Ian Munro in consultation with the other observers. The bird was examined in the hand by K.W. The unabraded greater coverts and practically unworn remiges and rectrices indicate that it was a first-year bird. The outermost greater covert had a small light tip on the outer web, and the next four had broader white tips on the outer webs. Upper mandible dark brown, lower light pinkish-brown. Tarsi dark greyish-brown. The yellow in the supercilium and yellowish wash on the underparts were only faintly indicated and apparently not obvious in the field.
Diagnosis of race is based on wing-formula (2nd primary between 7th and 8th) combined with single wing-bar. Wing 57 mm., bill from skull 11.5 mm., tarsus 20 mm.
This is the second occurrence of the species on Fair Isle. For observations on the bird of June 2nd-3rd, 1949, see Scot. Nat., Vol. LXII. pp. 18-20. There have now been four records of this species in Britain since 1945, a fact which may suggest that the westward extension of its range, noted by C. B. Ticehurst (A Systematic Review of the Genus Phylloscopus, p. 138) is still proceeding.'
6). 1951 Norfolk Blakeney Point, 6th September.
(P. W. P. Browne & A. Hitchon, British Birds 45: 413-414; Seago, 1977).
History P. W. P. Browne & A. Hitchon (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. pp. 413-414, say: 'On September 6th, 1951. there were some 20 Willow-Warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) in a small clump of coniferous and deciduous trees near the western end of Blakeney Point, Norfolk. We watched them for about an hour (1400 - 1500 hours G.M.T.) and, after a while, noticed that one had a pale wing-bar. It fed on outer branches and we had it under intermittent observation for ten minutes. The range was c.12 yards, binoculars 7 x 50 and 8 x 30, sky overcast, light fair and "all-round". The bird disappeared several times, but was picked out again immediately it came back into view, for it "looked different" from the Willow Warblers : in general it was paler and browner. The size was about as Willow Warbler. It was certainly not "distinctly larger" (as K. Williamson describes Eversmann's Warblers (Ph. borealis) seen at Fair Isle in 1950 (antea, Vol. XLIV. p. 121), leg colour pinkish-brown (as Willow Warbler again), behaviour similar too, possibly slightly more active. The differences in appearance, compared with Willow Warblers present, were as follows: -
(i) Single wing-bar, easily visible through binoculars on both wings, but not long or bright. Colour not determined, except that it was pale. (ii) Superciliary stripe narrower than with Willow-Warbler, but nevertheless brighter, paler, contrasting markedly. (iii) Underparts paler than the Willow Warbler, almost whitish on belly, otherwise washed very pale yellow, and tinged brown or grey-brown on sides of breast. This latter feature noticed independently by each of us.
We watched the trees carefully for about half-an-hour the next day (c. 1400 hours G.M.T.) but could not find the bird.'
[Mr. Kenneth Williamson states that the distinctive points noted by the observers are diagnostic of the Greenish Warbler (Ph. trochiloides), particularly as Willow Warblers were present for comparison. - Eds.]
7). 1954 Caernarfonshire Bardsey, in song, 16th to 17th June.
(R. Thearle, British Birds 47: 408; R. Thearle, Bardsey Observatory Report 1954: 24-25; Jones & Dare, 1976; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).
History R. Thearle (1954) in British Birds, Vol. XLVII. p. 408, says: 'On June 16th, 1954, while I was walking past one of the withy beds on Bardsey Island, Caernarvonshire, my attention was caught by an unfamiliar song, and when I found the bird I could see at once that it was a Phylloscopus. My first impression was of a rather pale-breasted Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus). The bird was very active and extremely elusive, creeping about under the canopy, and although I spent most of the day in the area I had only comparatively few good views of it. This in spite of the fact that it was singing continuously all the morning; the afternoon and evening were wet and windy and it sang only spasmodically. It was seen once early the following morning, but it was a day of sea mist and drizzle, and although I visited the spot several times during the day it was not seen or heard again.
The song, which was of short duration, was a loud, hurried, high-pitched warble and almost recalled the Wren's (Troglodytes troglodytes) song in its vehement delivery. I wrote it down as "Weedle-weedle-weed-lee-tuee-tuee-tuee" or "Trittit-trittit-tuee-tuee-tu-tu-tuee". It was not stereotyped, but varied slightly almost every time it was repeated, and the bird was always concealed just under the canopy near the top of one of the elder, blackthorn or willow trees that made up the withy bed. The notes that follow were made partly by watching the bird through binoculars and partly by stalking to within six feet or so of it and using the naked eye; often, when I thought I had stalked right up to the bird, it commenced singing some yards behind me. No call-note was heard.
The following description is taken from my field notes and from notes made by Mr. Alan Till, who watched the bird for a short while on the evening of June 16th. The bird was about the size of a Willow Warbler, although none was present for comparison; in fact no Phylloscopi had been seen on the island for nearly a fort-night. The upper parts were olive-brown in colour, the tail and wings being slightly darker, and the bird seemed duller, less green in hue than trochilus. The closed wing showed a single, narrow, whitish wing-bar, which was clearly visible at close range on both wings. The under parts appeared off-white, with no yellow tinge discernible. The prominent superciliary stripe was buffish white and did not extend back as far as the nape; it contrasted strongly with the dark stripe through the eye. The head-pattern was altogether more striking than in trochilus or collybita. Neither Mr. Till nor I managed to get a good view of the bird's legs, and their colour was not determined. This description appears to fit the Greenish Warbler (P. trochiloides).'
[When in Finland last year I heard the song of the Greenish Warbler, agreeing well with the description given here, and in particular I recorded a Wren-like character of part of it. - P.A.D.H.]
8). 1955 Fair Isle Gully, adult, 15th to 24th July, trapped 15th July, retrapped 23rd July.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1955-56: 18; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 7-8; K. Williamson & V. M. Thom, British Birds 49: 42-43; Dymond, 1991).
History K. Williamson (1956) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report, p. 18, says: 'A Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus, the third at Fair Isle and ninth for the British Isles lived in the Gully between July 15th and 24th, and was trapped on three occasions.'
K. Williamson & V. M. Thom (1956) in British Birds, Vol. XLIX. pp. 42-43, say: 'A Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus) was caught in the Gully Trap at Fair Isle on the morning of 15th July 1955 and was present during the next nine days, being recaptured on the 17th and 23rd, after which it was seen no more. The upper-parts were a greyish olive-green, greyest on head, nape and rump, with the green most marked on the edges of the flight-feathers in the closed wing. The underparts were whitish with some streaky yellow markings on the breast (not visible in the field), the under tail-coverts and bend of the wing pale yellow, and the axillaries and under wing-coverts yellowish-white. There was a greyish suffusion on the flanks. The tail-feathers were brownish-olive, except for the smoky-white outer pair, and the central pair showed dark "fault-barring" perhaps indicative of recent moult of these feathers. The wing-feathers showed more wear than the tail, abrasion being most marked in the right wing. The yellowish-white tips to the inner webs of the greater coverts and the long and almost straight superciliary stripe, extending nearly to the nape, were very prominent features in the hand and in the field. The bill, broad at the base, was dark brown on the upper and yellowish on the lower mandible; the tarsi were purplish-brown and the irides dark brown. The measurements were: chord of wing 58 mm., tail 43 mm., bill from skull 12 mm., tarsus 19 mm. Its weight when trapped at 0640 hours on 15th was 7.75 gm. and when recaptured at 0940 hours on 17th, 7.68 gm. - exactly 1 gm. heavier than the example trapped here on 2nd June 1949. On 23rd July it weighed 7.39 gm. In the wing-formula the 3rd to 6th primaries showed emargination and the 1st primary was 7 mm. longer than the primary coverts; the 4th and 5th were equal and longest, and the 2nd primary fell just short of the 8th.
On the basis of C. B. Ticehurst's study of this group (A Systematic Review of the Genus Phylloscopus, London 1935) there can be little doubt that the bird was an adult female of the western form viridanus. The wing-formula of 2nd primary = 8th/9th is unusual in viridanus and practically confined to females, which in the Phylloscopi generally exhibit a more rounded wing than males (op. cit., pp. 20-21).
The typical race has a longer bill and much longer 1st primary, and since there is a complete prenuptial moult in this species plumbeitarsus would almost certainly show some evidence of a second wing-bar on median coverts in July. The intergrade forms ludlowi and obscuratus are also precluded on bill-length and wing-formula. In the field the head, nape and rump were the greyest part of the plumage, the folded primaries only showing green. The underparts showed no yellow. The creamy eye-stripe extended well to the rear of the eye in an almost straight line. The bird indulged in a continuous restless flicking of the tail and loosely-closed wings when seeking insects among the heather or the saplings in a small sycamore plantation, and a good deal of its time was spent in flycatching.
On one occasion it was seen to take a moth. Its flight was slow and fairly direct. When alarmed, it gave a musical disyllabic call-note "chee-wee".
This is the third occurrence at Fair Isle, birds having been recorded on 2nd-3rd June 1949 (Scot. Nat., Vol. LXII. p. 20) and 19th September 1950 (antea, Vol. XLIV. p. 120); and it marks the eighth appearance of the species in the British Isles in the past ten years.'
9). 1955 Isle of May No locality, first-winter female, 27th August to 3rd September, trapped 27th August, 1st and 3rd September.
(A. G. S. Bryson, British Birds 49: 43-44; W. J. Eggeling, Scottish Naturalist 68: 44; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 69: 175; W. J. Eggeling, Scottish Birds 8: 118; Eggeling, 1985).
History A. G. S. Bryson (1956) in British Birds, Vol. XLIX. pp. 43-44, says: 'On 27th August, 1955 a Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides) was trapped on the Isle of May by Miss F. E. Crackles and Lt. Col. H. G. Brownlow, and examined by the three of us.
It was not seen before it was caught but was watched in the field on various dates thereafter by several observers up to 3rd September. It was retrapped on two of these dates and its weight was recorded as follows: 27th August, 6.8 gm.; 1st September, 7.6 gm.; 3rd September, 8.2 gm. This increase is probably the replacement of weight lost on passage presumably over the North Sea.
In the hand the bird was like a Chiffchaff (Ph. collybita) but it had a well defined wing-bar and its under wing-coverts were silky white instead of yellow. Its lower mandible was yellowish orange. The emargination of the 6th primary was only slight. This emargination was distinct on one wing but less distinct on the other. In the field the wing-bar was hard to see but the general colour relative to the Willow Warblers (Ph. trochilus) was greyer. The wing-bar and the relative length of the 2nd primary (— 8th and =7th/8th) indicate that the bird was of the race Ph. t. viridanus.
This is the first recorded occurrence of the species on the island.'
[Mr. Bryson has also sent us the full description taken when the bird was first trapped and this fully confirms the identification. - Eds.]
10). 1956 Caernarfonshire Bardsey, trapped, 11th September.
(W. M. Condry et al., Bardsey Bird Observatory Report 1956: 18; Jones & Dare, 1976; Roberts, 1985; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).
History W. M. Condry et al. (1956) in the Bardsey Bird Observatory Report, p. 18, says: 'W. M. Condry took a bird of this species by hand from the wall of the Withy trap on 11th September at 17.15 hours. Resembling a pale, sleek Chiffchaff, P. collybita, it had a prominent long, pale superciliary stripe and a wing bar formed by the outer five greater coverts, which were creamy-yellow tipped (1st only slightly). Olive-green to grey-brown upperparts, being greyer on crown, primaries and secondaries, and tail feathers. Underparts white with a very slight yellowish tinge, which was more marked on the underwing at the carpal joint. Legs and feet greyish brown. Noticeably pale lower mandible dull yellowish, tinged horn at the tip. Wing formula similar to Chiffchaff. Wing length, straightened: 56.25 mm. It was released in bright sunlight in the Withy trap; the long superciliary stripe and wing bar were visible without glasses at ten yards. The upperparts appeared more greenish than in the hand and the pale underparts were very noticeable.
The bird was seen in the hand by R.W.A., D. and W. M. Condry, E. R. Corté, J. G. Nandris, C. M. and M. P. M. Richards, M. J. Southam and W. B. Workman.'
Roberts (1985: 77) states that it was trapped on the 17th September, 1956.
11). 1957 Kent Dungeness, first-winter, trapped, 17th September.
(H. E. Axell, British Birds 51: 125-126; E. H. Gillham, Kent Bird Report 1957: 34; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).
History H. E. Axell (1958) in British Birds, Vol. LI. pp. 125-126, says: 'On 17th September 1957, a first-winter Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides) was trapped at Dungeness Bird Observatory, Kent, by Mr. and Mrs. N. Westwood, and brought to me. As they persuaded the bird across brambles into one of the Heligoland traps in the Moat, they were impressed by the paleness of the under-parts, contrasting with olive-green upper-parts, and by a long, whitish eye-stripe; a short bar on the closed wing was seen through binoculars as the bird paused momentarily. In shape, there was no perceptible difference from a Chiffchaff (Ph. collybita). No note was heard. A contrastingly lighter and brighter lower mandible was noticed when the warbler was in the catching-box. In the hand, a detailed examination was made and the bird was weighed and measured.
The full description has been sent to the Editors of British Birds with this note and it seems necessary to give here only the most significant features. The upper-parts were olive-green, brighter than those of a freshly-moulted Willow Warbler (Ph. trochilus). The short wing-bar was formed by yellowish-white tips to the outer webs of the first five greater coverts, the largest (central) tip being just over 2 mm. deep. There was no suggestion of any pale tips to the median coverts, and it should be added here that I could find no trace of abrasion on any of the wing or tail feathers (see discussion in next paragraph). The generally very pale under-parts and the long stripe (actually yellowish-white) from the base of the upper mandible above and well beyond the eye have already been mentioned. The wing (flat) measured 58.5 mm.; the 1st primary was 6 mm. longer than the primary coverts; the 4th primary was longest, with the 2nd 9 mm. shorter and' falling between the 8th and 9th (this and the small wing suggest that the bird was a female); the 3rd was 1 mm. shorter than the longest, and the 5th and 6th were 0.5 mm. and 2.0 mm. shorter respectively; the 3rd to 6th primaries were emarginated on the outer webs. Other measurements: bill (from skull), 12.5 mm.; tail, 43.5 mm.; tarsus, 18.5 mm.; weight (when trapped at 16.00 G.M.T.), 7.4 gm. The upper mandible was dark brown and the lower a pale orange-brown, rather bright; iris very dark brown; tarsus grey-brown and soles of feet dirty greenish-yellow; inside mouth mainly yellow. In the field, when released, the bird lost much of the rather bright olive-green appearance it had had in the hand, but was still greener than a Chiffchaff or a Willow Warbler.
It did not appear grey, as K. Williamson has described some birds of the European and W. Asian form, Ph. t. viridanus (the only race so far recorded in the British Isles), e.g. antea, Vol. XLIV. pp. 120-121 (first-winter bird), and Vol. XLIX. pp. 42-43 (adult).
C. B. Ticehurst, in his A Systematic Review of the Genus Phylloscopus (London, 1938), describes one of the E. Asian races, Ph. t. plumbeitarsus, as greener than viridanus and as having a nearly similar wing-formula, but it seemed that races other than viridanus must be ruled out on the combination of wing formula with the lack of any trace of a (second) wing-bar on the tips of the unabraded median coverts. H. G. Alexander (antea, Vol. XLVII. pp. 294-295) refers to individuals of viridanus "with olive-brown or even almost olive-green mantle" and directs attention to "the great variety of this species".
This is a first record for Kent.'
E. H. Gillham (1957) in the Kent Bird Report, Vol. VI. p. 34, says: 'A bird of this species, new to the County list, was trapped at Dungeness on Sept. 17. For full details see H.E.A. in B. B. 51: 125-6.'
NOT PROVEN
0). 1948 Fair Isle No locality, trapped, autumn.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1954: 10).
[Pennington et al., 2004].
History K. Williamson (1954) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report, p. 10, in a table of previous occurrences states that one was trapped in 1948.'
Not accepted locally (Pennington et al. 2004).
0). 1957 Yorkshire Spurn, caught, 20th April.
(R. Chislett, Naturalist 83: 66; Mather, 1986).
[Wilson & Slack, 1996].
History R. Chislett (1958) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LXXXIII. p. 66, says: 'A phylloscopine warbler was caught at the Chalk-Bank-North Trap, Spurn, on April 20th by J.K. and Mrs. Fenton and A. Archer was Chiffchaff-like, with dark legs, but had a single conspicuous wing-bar. Whilst being taken to the Cottage in a gathering cage for detailed examination, and inspection by others present, the bird escaped. It was considered to be Greenish Warbler rather than Arctic Warbler in view of the dark legs.'
Not accepted locally (Wilson & Slack 1996).
