Plumage: Head with short supercilium extending slightly beyond eye, with pale 
brown eyestripe and lores, eyestripe also extending only slightly to the rear of the 
eye (c.1/3 of the way along the ear coverts). Underparts entirely clean, almost 
silky white, with some traces of buff on the flanks. Upperparts, ground colour 
of crown, nape, mantle, back and rump (as well as wings) pale sandy-brown, 
warmest in tiie rump and lower back (both observers attempted to describe 
accurately the upperparts without using the new well known ''milky-tea" 
colloquialism but agreed that this was a good description). Most wing feathers 
with pale fringes, broadest on greater coverts, and narrower on tertials, slight 
indication of a small pale panel formed by pale fringes to inner secondaries and 
third tertial, but not as pronounced as in other Hippolais. Approximately five 
primary tips projected beyond tertials. Tail very slightly darker than rest of 
upperparts, with whitish tips to all feathers, and with white fringes to outer pair. 
Pale greyish remiges to all feathers visible on the undertail. 
Call: None heard. 
Discussion 
The most critical points of identification have been much discussed since 
Wallace (1964), most recently and notably by Harrap (1988), Harris et al. 
(1989), Alstromeffl/. (1991), and Parmenter&Byers (1991). Mostauthors 
note the species' similarity to a Phylloscopus (Bonelli's Warbler P. honelli 
has proved to be a troublesome pitfall on a number of occasions), while 
the smaller, eastern race of Olivaceous Warbler H. p. elaeica, of v^hich an 
example was present, was carefully eliminated during our identification 
(a recent bird on Shetland was also the subject of much debate in this 
respect; c.f . Osbom 1993). Most authors have also pointed to a possibility 
of confusion with Paddyf ield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola, based on the 
similarities in facial pattern. However, some contradictions of the facial 
features of Booted Warbler became apparent through a perusal of the 
literature. Thus, while the shadow above the supercilium, emphasised 
by Bushell (1984) as an identification feature, is useful, it is not always 
present, as noted by Alstrom et al. (1991). Similarly, the relative darkness 
of the lores and eyestripe is somewhat variable (Cramp 1992). The 
propensity, of vagrants at least, to seek out low vegetation, or even feed 
on the ground, has been noted (MD and pers. obs.) and it therefore came 
as a surprise to find this bird flitting actively, even in the canopy of trees, 
occasionally making flycatching sallies on their edge. However, the 
catholicity of this species' habitat requirements and thus feeding behaviour 
has been thoroughly detailed by Cramp (1992). The timing of this record 
accords reasonably well v^dth the known migration period of the nominate 
race caligata (Cramp 1992). 
There are two previous records listed for Turkey: one at Ardesen on 9 
September 1976 (Beaman 1986) and one at Rize on 20 August 1988 
(Kasparek 1992; Kirwan & Martins in prep.). This latter record has been 
formally accepted by the German rarities committee. Three other 
8 
