Snow Buntings follow up
Info Post
I've received a number of helpful comments and ideas, particularly from Paul Grennard, regarding Snow B's and he put me on to a short note and some photo's by Martin Garner on 'Birding Frontiers' - just google 'snow bunting races' to get it. I've become convinced that the birds at St Davids Hd recently were ssp 'nivalis' (whereas others I saw on St Agnes in October were 'insulae'. The photo's in Martin's piece are really striking and I think, helpful. Martin also mentions the scary possibility of 'insulae' being 'split' one day. In a Pembs context, it would be great if our local ringers could help by getting their mitts on some Snow B's (migrants & wintering birds). Is there a possible tie-in with N Wales' colleagues? I know there are birds at Kimmel Bay for example, any results could be posted here (racing results - sorry). Secondly, I wonder if anyone is able to post good quality photo's (with age/sex). Snow B's are often very confiding and easy to photograph. As far as I can see, the likelihood is that birds of Icelandic origin, ssp 'insulae', greatly outnumber nominate 'nivalis' (Greenland to Russia) here in the west but it should be possible to know for certain and apportion some individuals, at least, to race. I reckon some 'nivalis' individuals really can stand out from the crowd.
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