Radde's Warblers are really chunky, characterful little birds with lots going on by way of interesting structure and plumage; outwardly rather subdued in dull light...
...but much more dazzlingly ochre and bronze with a bit of sun on them.
Of entirely esoteric interest, we were taken by events going on with the bird's tail. Anyone who's had the good fortune to handle a Radde's Warbler in autumn (when virtually all of those turning up in the UK are likely to be birds of the year) will be aware that they've got rather spectacularly spikey tail feathers. Today's bird was no exception, with the almost hook-tipped spikes on the right side of its tail very typical for youngsters of this species; however, the left side of its tail contained several much shorter, broader and blunter-tipped feathers - we're guessing that the bird had some sort of tail mishap a few weeks ago and that these noticeably differently shaped 'next generation' replacement feathers accord more with what we might see on an adult © Martin Cade:
But for the dogedness of our stalwart ringers at Culverwell we'd have been able to mention the odd little quirk of Kingfisher and Radde's Warbler - birds that travel something like 30 miles and 3000 miles respectively to get here - having been on 11 apiece in the all-time Portland ringing tally; as it was, Mark and Verity's unexpected catch (...has there ever been one trapped here in October before this?) kept Kingfisher one ahead for the time being © Martin Cade:
