Birding Opportunity (Initial Sighting)

Sighting Ref :

IB62935

Sighting Date :

13 Nov 13

Common Name :

Birding Opportunity

Scientific Name :

Initial Sighting

Location :

North Bull Island

County :

Dublin

Number Seen :

Principal Observer(s) :

Niall T Keogh, Matt Silk Not Specified

Reported By :

Not Specified

Comments :

I accompanied Matt Silk on his PhD fieldwork rounds of Bull Island this morning in the hopes of connecting with the apparent Grey-bellied Brant (seemingly an adult male). Thankfully it showed up as expected at its favoured haunt in the North lagoon, opposite the Kilbarrick Road junction (best on a dropping tide in the morning). Attached are a series of digi-scoped pics taken in dull conditions, cropped only. First things first...this bird is quite striking! Readily picked out among the flock of hrota, even at a distance. In fact, views of this bird at a distance with the scope, through binoculars or with the naked eye at close range gave the impression of a bold, black & white Black Brant type. This was emphasised when the bird was face on, with the upperpart & flank colours 'doubling up' somewhat. On closer inspection with the scope & particularly when the bird was side on, it became slightly more subtle but still easy enough to pick up on a scan. Neck collar: Quite bright & thick on the sides, meeting weakly in the front (bottom only), nowhere near as extensive on the back of the neck as in some Black Brants. Certainly at the upper end of how prominent a hrota neck collar can be to my eyes. Upperparts: Distinctly darker than accompanying hrota and suggestive of nigricans but still displaying a clear contrast between the upperparts & neck. Large dark centres to the upperpart feathers, with weak grey fringing. Looking quite 'smooth' above. A cold black-brown, lacking the blue tones of bernicla. Underparts: A ghostly impression of a Black Brant pattern on the flanks & belly (in its simplest form a slanted white isosceles triangle border by dark). The side of the chest is about as dark as the upperparts with the belly fading more grey-brown (contrasting with the black chest/neck). Some moulting/worn hrota present at the time were comparable in darkness with this bird on the belly but nowhere near as neat or well defined. Dark colouration on the belly extended beyond the legs & onto the vent although sometimes difficult to see when side on. Not as extensive as most nigricans but certainly outside the range of hrota in my experience. The upper rear of the flanks showed three well defined vertical grey bars. So all in all, a distinctive, readily identifiable individual. Not a typical hrota nor a typical nigricans. Can a hybird hrota x nigricans be excluded here or at the end of the day, is that what we are simply dealing with when it comes to Grey-bellied Brant as a whole? NTK

Photos :

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