I found this bird at about 11.15 this morning and immediately thought the bird was a WRS. Trevor was nearby and had picked it up independently.
I watched the bird for 4 1/2 hours and in all that time I could not see a white 'rump' (uppertail coverts). I saw the bird fly seven times and watched it preening several times. Having seen lots of WRS before (in the UK, Canada and Mexico) I am aware the white uppertail is not always easy to see and I never had anything like fantastic, clear views but I still felt I should have been able to see it. In addition, the bird often looked rather leggy and sometimes the bill felt a little long and downcurved towards the tip - but perhaps I was just trying to find fault. I looked for a pale base to the lower mandible but couldn't see one, but at the distance I was watching this is perhaps not too much of a worry. The advanced state of moult would seem to sit well with WRS.
I have posted a few pics on my Donna Nook blog to illustrate the above. A few people have seen them and comments have ranged from 'I don't know what you're worried about' to more cautious responses. It has been suggested that the white uppertail feathers may just have been covered or hidden.
This all seems a bit odd because, frankly, WRS should not be a difficult bird to ID but when you spend 4 1/2 hours just trying to get that clinching feature and failing then it seems prudent to ask questions. Hopefully the bird will be there again tomorrow and my neurosis will be totally unjustified.
http://donnanookbirding.blogspot.co.uk/James
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