This afternoon I decided to check the polders of the Biesbosch, a sort of a local patch for years. After the regular sightings of Tundra Beans, Hen Harriers and White Egrets, I got a walk to the observation shack of polder Maltha.
About hundred meters before the shack, I noticed a strange call, resembling the first part of the call of a Siskin. But after a quick walk on the dike, it seemed clear to me: a continuously calling Siberian Chiffchaff, say tristis! The bird was foraging in some small shrubs, while calling the typical 'whiee', whithout any variation. Observing the plumage, it turned out to be a classical greyish bird, with black legs, buff-brownish cheeks et cetera. Here some pics.
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| tristis - Brabantse Biesbosch, polder Maltha, 24/11/2011 |
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| tristis - Brabantse Biesbosch, polder Maltha, 24/11/2011 Note the paler cutting edge of the bill. |
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| tristis - Brabantse Biesbosch, polder Maltha, 24/11/2011 |
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| tristis - Brabantse Biesbosch, polder Maltha, 24/11/2011 |
Almost exactly one year ago, my friend Peter Verhelst and I found a tristis near Maastricht. That bird had the same plumage and call and also disappeared after some minutes. Either leaving us without a voicerecording. It is still circulating in the second round of the CDNA. I think the commission won't accept sightings whithout a good voicerecording because some Dutch papers about the variability of tristis stress the importance of their voice.
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| tristis - Maastrich, Pieterplas, 23/11/2010 (Peter Verhelst) |
