First record of Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina, first breeding record of Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus and first records of Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis, Olive Tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum and Goldcrest Regulus regulus, for Iraq

During a field trip 13 July 2013, 08.39 h, an eagle was observed in Penjween, Kurdistan,
northern Iraq at 35° 44′ 18′′ N, 45° 57′ 32′′ E. The eagle was soaring and moving northeast.
Photographs were taken (Plates 1–3) and later examined by Dick Forsman, Barak Granit,
Richard Porter, Hadoram Shirihai and Lars Svensson who confirmed that it was an adult
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina, the first record for Iraq (Salim et al 2012). The bird
had a relatively small bill and dark unbarred flight and tail feathers contrasting with
pale–medium brown upperwing and underwing coverts and head/neck. It had an obvious
white primary patch on its upperwing, two light ‘commas’ on the underwing and a white
‘V’ on the rump. The overall proportions and wing-formula are correct for Lesser Spotted
Eagle, with smaller bill, more slender wings and slightly longer tail than Greater Spotted
Eagle Clanga clang

EAGLE, L.S., First record of Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina, first breeding record of Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus and first records of Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus.