Portugall - STTs. Eh?

Short-toed Treecreeper, Portugal, Oct.2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Short-toed Treecreeper, Portugal, October 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Short-toed Treecreeper, Portugal, October 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Seeing a Treecreeper in Colyton today reminded me I wanted to post these shots of a Short-toed Treecreeper from my Portugal trip. I'm pleased with them because they just about show the features which distinguish it. Above, you can just see the short toe which gives the bird its name, and 2 above the white spots on the primary tips which are diagnostic. The bill is also fairly long and the underparts tinged with brown. It's a species which could turn up in Devon as they're just across the Channel in France. But without trapping, ringing and photographing it you'd be a brave birder to claim one!                                                                                                                                             

Short-toed Treecreeper, Portugal, October 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Short-toed Treecreeper, Portugal, October 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Can I also add that I correctly identified this bird before I looked at the distribution maps and realised that only STTs occur in southern Portugal...Honestly, I swear! ( In certain parts of Europe, different forms occur very close to one another ).                                                                               

Short-toed Treecreeper, Portugal, October 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )