Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Iduna pallida (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833)
Photo © By Zeynel Cebeci - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39727692
STATUS
Eurasia. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Species not admitted nationally during the period covered (BOU 1971).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1915 Sussex Near St Leonards-on-Sea, male, shot, 20th May.
(T. Parkin, British Birds 9: 198; W. Ruskin Butterfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 198; BOURC (1918), Ibis 60: 237-238; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History Thomas Parkin (1916) in British Birds, Vol. IX. p. 198, says: 'Mr. G. Bristow, of St. Leonards, brought me in the flesh a Warbler which proved on examination to be the Olivaceous Warbler (Hypolais p. pallida). It was shot on May 20th, 1915, close to Holmhurst, on the outskirts of Hastings and St. Leonards. I am informed that on dissection it proved to be a male.'
Admitted nationally in the First List Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1918) Ibis 60: 237-238).
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (2): 24).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1920 Sussex Hollington, male, shot, 14th June; male, shot, 19th June, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.705).
(W. R. Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 160; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History W. R. Butterfield (1920) in the Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 160, says: 'Two males were shot at Hollington on June 14th and 19th Respectively. Both were shown to me in the flesh while still in fresh condition. This species has occurred only once before in Sussex.'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (2): 24-25) says: 'In 1920, on June 14th and 19th respectively, two more Olivaceous or Pallid Warblers, as they are sometimes termed, were shot at Hollington, also near Hastings. Whilst newly dead they were "vetted" by Mr. W. R. Butterfield who notified (Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 160) them as being of the Nilotic race, H. p. pallida. But since the 1915 example turned out to be H. p. elaeica, it is perhaps more likely that these also are of like persuasion. One of these birds, again from the Nichols collection, is in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton, and I only wish that some real plumage-expert, which I am not, would run it over. I asked Witherby to, but he could not. Incidentally, it is there dated June 16th (1920) with Pond Farm, St Leonards, as locality (Suppl. (1931) to 5th ed. (1927) Cat. B. Dyke Rd. Mus., B'ton, p. 305).'
Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a male specimen that was obtained at Ponds Wood, St Leonards, Sussex, on 19th June 1920, adding that it was bought at the sale of J. B. Nichols collection who had bought it from G. Bristow during June 1920.
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1951 Pembrokeshire Skokholm, adult, 23rd September to 3rd October, trapped 23rd September, photo.
(P. J. Conder, British Birds 45: 244; P. J. Conder, British Birds 46: 191-192, plate 27; Field Studies Council, Skokholm Bird Observatory Report 1951: 9; BOU (1971), Ibis 113: 142-145; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).
[M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 92: 595; BOURC (2000), Ibis 142: 177-179; D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers, British Birds 99: 464].
History P. J. Conder (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. p. 244, says: 'One caught on September 23rd which is apparently the second definite record for Great Britain.'
P. J. Conder (1953) in British Birds, Vol. XLVI. pp. 191-192, says: 'An Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais pallida) was caught in a trammel-net on September 23rd, 1951, on Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire. It remained on the island until the Observatory was closed on October 3rd. On September 23rd it was watched in the South Haven bracken for about 90 minutes, and the field-description which follows has been compiled from the notes of W. G. Bridges, David Boddington, P. J. Conder, Margaret Dun and John Peake. Superficially it resembled a Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), but was rather smaller. The upper-parts were a pale uniform grey-brown, with tail and wings slightly darker. The under-parts were a pale greyish-white, except for the chin and throat and under tail-coverts which, in the sunlight, appeared pale greenish-yellow. At about 10 yards, also in the sunlight, it was possible with binoculars to see the pale yellowish-green lores and a superciliary stripe which extended a short distance behind the eye. The pale brown bill was obviously large, and the fact that it was broad at the base was noticed at close quarters. The legs appeared bluish-grey. Under more cloudy conditions later in the day the yellow-ness of the chin and throat was not so noticeable, and the bluishness of the legs not so pronounced.
On examination in the hand this bird was judged to be an adult. At 1300 hours B.S.T. on September 23rd its weight was 12.3 grammes. The wing measured 66.0 mm. when in natural curve, and 67.0 mm..when straightened. The first primary was 8.0 mm. longer than the primary-coverts; the second primary was 3.0 mm. shorter than the third and fourth, which were equal and the longest; the fifth was 1.5 mm. shorter than the third and fourth; the sixth was 2.5 mm. shorter and the seventh 3.0 mm. shorter. The wing-formula can be seen in the photograph (plate 27, right) showing the spread wing and tail of this bird. The photograph also illustrates quite well another character of the species - the outer tail-feathers shorter than the others. During the first day or two on the island the bird was not shy, perhaps because it was tired, and occasionally it allowed observers to approach within two yards. It perched very often on the top of the bracken, where its habit of raising its crown and nape feathers was easily and frequently observed. After it had been about a week on the island, however, it was less easily approachable. It was heard by W. G. Bridges to use a note similar to the "churr" of a Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), but shorter and harsher. During the later days of its stay on the island it was more frequently heard to call "yilp", a sound very similar to a call of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), although quieter and higher pitched.'
[We have also received a detailed laboratory description of this bird which fully confirms the identification. This record was briefly mentioned last year (antea, Vol. XLV. p. 244), but fuller details are given here in view of its great rarity. - Eds.]
Admitted nationally in their Fifth Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1971) Ibis 113: 142). However, after considerable debate the record was found to be not acceptable (BOURC (2000) Ibis 142: 177-179).
D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers (2006) in British Birds, Vol. XCIX. p. 463, in a review of certain rarities during the period 1950-57, found this record to be unacceptable.
0). 1956 Dorset Portland Bill, trapped, 16th August.
(K. D. Smith, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 158; K. D. Smith & J. S. Ash, British Birds 51: 28; A. J. Bull et al., Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 78: 46; W. R. P. Bourne & K. D. Smith, British Birds 53: 312-313; Prendergast & Boys, 1983).
[M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 92: 595; BOURC (2000), Ibis 142: 177-179; D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers, British Birds 99: 464].
History K. D. Smith (1953) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. III. p. 158, under 'Autumn Birds (1956) at Portland Bill, Dorset' says: 'Olivaceous Warbler, one Hippolais pallida opaca, August 16th, was compared with skins at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.), and then released in a London park.'
K. D. Smith & J. S. Ash (1958) in British Birds, Vol. LI. p. 28, say: 'One self-trapped on 16th August (full details of this record will be appearing in British Birds in a separate note).'
W. R. P. Bourne & K. D. Smith (1960) in British Birds, Vol. LIII. pp. 312-313, say: 'An Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais pallida) was caught in a funnel trap at Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset, shortly after noon on 16th August 1956. It was examined in the observatory then by the undersigned and also by Dr. J. S. Ash, E. G. Darton, K. V. Edwards, Dr. K. B. Rooke and G. E. C. Waterhouse. In general appearance it was a slender, medium-sized warbler with a remarkably broad and flattened bill and a tail that was almost square except for shorter outermost feathers; it had pale brown upper-parts with a faint whitish superciliary stripe extending just behind the eye, and dirty white under-parts. Its alarm note was a rather loud sparrow-like "chut" or "chek" repeated two to six times; it reminded W.R.P.B. of a very loud, abrupt Icterine Warbler's (H. icterina) call and he has since heard Olivaceous Warblers utter it in Cyprus, whilst K.D.S had heard the same note used singly by this species in Eritrea. The following is a summary of the laboratory description:
Upper-parts: crown, mantle and rump greyish-brown with a faint olive tinge; an indistinct pale creamy-buff supercilium (more noticeable at a distance); upper wing-coverts with brown centres and indistinct buff edges; primaries and secondaries with darker centres and distinct pale greyish-buff edges (most marked on inner secondaries); tail brown with narrow pale outer margins to outside feathers and almost square except that outer feathers were 3 mm. shorter. Under-parts: throat, sides of breast and flanks dirty whitish tinged yellowish-buff; belly and vent a very pale huffish-white; axillaries and under-wing-coverts brownish-white; no trace of lemon yellow on the under-parts. Soft parts: bill dark horn with yellow on lower mandible; prominent orange-yellow gape; two stout rictal bristles; legs variously described as "lead grey", "bluey-grey" and "slate blue", appearing darker brownish-slate in poor light; iris dark brown. Measurements: wing 64 mm. (straightened), tail 47 mm., tarsus 20.5 mm., exposed culmen 10.25 mm., whole bill to skull 13.5 mm. and 5 mm. wide at the base; weight 11.2 gm. (at 1800 GMT). Wing-formula: 3rd and 4th primaries longest, 5th - 1 mm., 2nd - 5 mm. and falling between 6th and 7th; 1st 4 mm. longer than its coverts; 3rd, 4th and 5th emarginated.
There was a considerable drop in length between the 5th and 7th primaries with a more uniform gradation from the 7th to 10th, so that the wing had a slightly concave trailing edge with the 3rd to 6th primaries extending well beyond the line of the tips of the inner primaries or secondaries. The rounded contour of the tips of the primary coverts (innermost shorter than next) was noticeable and agreed well with the figure in The Handbook (plate 38) and with the photograph of the Skokholm bird of 1951 (Brit. Birds, 46: plate 27b). The bird fed quite readily on mealworms and there seemed no difficulty about keeping it in captivity overnight. It was therefore decided to take it to the British Museum (Natural History) by the first train on the following morning, with the aim of confirming the identification against skins and also, if possible, of determining the race (and thus the area of origin). At the British Museum the bird was seen by a number of people. On plumage it was thought to agree with the western Mediterranean race (H. p. opaca), but Mr. Kenneth Williamson (in litt.) has since pointed out that the measurements show it to have been of the Balkan race (H. p. elaeica) and that it was doubtless in first-winter plumage. After examination the bird was released in Richmond Park. It flew away vigorously and immediately started to feed in the typical manner of a Hippolais in the upper foliage of some birch trees. In the field it seemed very much paler, almost bleached; it looked rather uniform above and showed hardly any yellow below. It was very shy and was soon lost to view.'
After considerable debate the record was found to be not acceptable (BOURC (2000) Ibis 142: 177-179).
D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers (2006) in British Birds, Vol. XCIX. p. 463, in a review of certain rarities during the period 1950-57, found this record to be unacceptable.
