Submission No 248: White Wagtail Motacilla alba, Narran Nature Reserve, Lake Clear, NSW 20 November 1997.

Verdict: Not Accepted

This submission relates to a sighting of a bird considered to be an immature White Wagtail Motacilla alba on the edge of thick scrub bordering lignum adjacent to Clear Lake located within the Narran Nature Reserve, northern NSW. The lake being very shallow with extensive areas of mudflats at the time of the sighting provided good habitat for a wagtail.

Although the bird was only in view for a period of about 30 seconds several key features were noted and brief field sketches were taken. The initial impression was that this bird was rather pipit like. Size was estimated to be slightly smaller than a Richard's Pipit Anthus noveaseelandiae with a "longish" tail which was noted to have a vigorous 'bobbing' action. The bird is described as having "upperparts pale greyish-brown, prominent pattern on wings, generally greyer colouration above, fairly uniform back, crown darker than face, which was lightly striated in appearance, but lacking any strong markings, whitish below with a prominent breast band, circling low on the breast, diffuse, dark grey and about 7-8mm wide". The observer was also fairly certain that this bird had a "pale whitish" eyebrow. White-fronted Chat being eliminated primarily by its smaller size. After consultation, the observer felt that Black-backed Wagtail M. lugens could be ruled out by the lack of any strong markings on the face, in particular the a lack of a line through the eye.

Most committee members concurred that this record may well refer to the sighting of a wagtail, however it was felt that the brevity of the observation unfortunately has resulted in an absence of sufficient precise detail. In particular, a more detailed description of the head and facial markings is needed before a positive identification can be made.

References and Bibliography

• Bird Migration Research Centre. 1983. Bird Banding Manual, Identification Guide to Japanese Birds, Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, Shibuya, Tokoyo.
• Carter, M. et al. 1995. White Wagtails Motacilla alba in Victoria. Australian Birdwatcher 16: 21-33.
• Howell, S.N.G. 1990. Identification of White & Black-backed Wagtails in Alternate Plumage. Western Birds 21: 41-49.
• Morlan, J. 1981. Status & Identification of forms of the White Wagtail in Western North America. Continental Birdlife 2: 37-50.
• Roberson, D. 1982. Black-backed Wagtail Motacilla lugens / White Wagtail M alba. Birding 15: 127-129.
• Sharpe R.B. 1885. Catalogue of the Passeriformes in the collection of British Musuem, Vol 10: 482-6, British Museum, London.
• Shigeta, Y. 1995. White & Japanese Wagtails 1, Birder 9: 48-53.
• Shigeta, Y. 1996. White & Japanese Wagtails 2, Birder 10: 46-52.
• Wild Bird Society of Japan. 1982. A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan, Wild Bird Society of Japan, Tokyo.

Tony Palliser
Chairman Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)