For the record, accepted as Eastern by the Rarity Committee

Thanks for having a look at this, Mark. I only have two poor photos taken from distance and heavily cropped. See below. I've seen a lot of Chiffchaffs in the last few weeks and it didn't 'seem' like a Chiffy (not very objective!). It was flighty (moving from tree to bush) but it didn't have any jerky movements or do any tail flicking. I thought of Eastern Olly with the pale tail edges, but it didn't have the characteristic downward pumping of the tail.

Many thanks Mark

I'm still puzzling over these pipits seen on 2 November. Could this bird be Buff-bellied?

Hi Mark & Tommy, I really appreciate you taking the time to look at these questions. I find pipits so challenging but I love them. The challenge for me is understanding the range of plumage for each species and looking through the Oriental Birds website, for instance, this can be very wide. A few years ago I saw the BBPs at Hamraniyah Nursery and they certainly aligned with the classic description. Your reply really helps to bring clarity.

Thanks Mark, that was my first thought when I saw it but the white throat caused me to doubt.

Many thanks Peter, I appreciate your advice. I think all the rest are probably Red-throated but Bird 2 and 6 are quite pale in comparison to the others and less streaked? Kind Regards, Steve

Thanks Mark and Tommy

Thanks Tommy, I’ve never seen one with white rings around the eyes before.

Thanks Mark

Thanks Tommy, I think you are probably right. I was thrown by no red on the legs or bill - the legs were yellow/ green as was the bill, but the setting sun and possibly mud on both legs and bill could cause this? It also looked heavier than usual, but there were no others around to compare.

Thanks Mark

Many thanks Mark

Hi Reza, I think they are Ferruginous Ducks, Regards, Steve

Please add me in place of Stewart: 1. Huw Roberts 2. Oscar Campbell 3. Simon Lloyd 4. Graham Talbot 5. Khalifa Al Dhaheri 6. Ahmed Al Ali 7. Steve Taylor 8. Vlad Sladariu 9. Letitia Negulescu 10.Howard Heaton Thanks, Steve

Thanks Peter!

Many thanks Peter

Thanks Tommy, I realised as soon as I posted it!

That's brilliant and really helpful, William. I'm planning a trip to Namibia later this year so I'll be on the look out for the Tractrac. Many thanks, Steve

Thanks for taking the time to look at these, Mark, I really appreciate it.