Isabelline Wheatear. Paphos Headland, Cyprus. 7-5-96

   
         
       
         
   
 

Here you can see how a master craftsman works. On the left is a rough sketch and on the right is the finished masterpiece. What a difference! Note how I failed to observe any of the clinching features, such as the two-tone supercillium, upper-tail pattern and contrast in the remiges. Nontheless, I did manage to notice that it had a 'vertical stance' as opposed to lying on the floor in a horizontal stance - a real conclusive ID feature. I'm not too sure this would have been accepted by many rarities committees, but I promise you it was one; I mean look, it says it's an Isabelline on the sketch so it must be.