Dartford Warbler - Sylvia undata
Sunday November 26th 1995 Pim Wolf discovered a Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata at Westkapelle (Zeeland). He was testing his knowledge on plumages of Dunnocks Prunella modularis, when he stucked on a bird with a red eye! A small crowd was present quickly, but the bird was not seen after 4:00 PM that day. Luckily, the bird stayed till next Sunday December 3rd (I saw it on Monday November 27th). There was some discussion if it was a male or a female, but it was accepted in 1996-1997 as an adult female. After the release of the Sound Approach's Catching the Bug it was made obvious the two races of S undata can be identified in the field (see the plate on page 47). Closer inspection of the available pictures of the 1995 bird reveals it could be better regarded (i.e. my personal opinion) a juvenile dartfordiensis as the underparts are apricot-buff below and the upperparts look brownish.
Between 27 November and 3 December 1995, Westkapelle Zld; © Diederik Kok.
Between 27 November and 3 December 1995, Westkapelle Zld; © Diederik Kok.
Between 27 November and 3 December 1995, Westkapelle Zld; © Diederik Kok.
1 December 1995, Westkapelle Zld; © Erik Sanders.
This record was only the second (but the first to be photographed!) for the Netherlands (cf Dutch Birding 19: 221-224, 1997). The first was a male at Hoophuizen (Gelderland) between April 1st and April 3rd 1959 (cf Limosa 32: 185-188, 1959).
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