rspb trip to titchwell yesterday, about 1400 hrs swallows settled in front of the new hide when i noticed a swallow with a complete red breast, it was different from our common bird and i first thought it was the american barn swallow dark type which i have seen many times before. the head was also darker than ours it was a real rich purple and a slightly lighter shade, 2 tones. discussed it with the head birder at titchwell looked through several books decided it was not barn swallow the red was not dark enough also the red extended into the tail. the red was pillerbox red is the nearest shade of red i can think of. there were 6 observers but no photographs, the warden thought it was either savignii or transitiva although that looks too dark on the small picture in the collins guige. with my immediate departure to scotland i have not got time to look into this further till i return early may, but anyone with any experience of these 2 races i would appreciate your comments. we have a rarities form to fill in and have 2 experienced birders among the 6 observers, both never seen a bird like that in this country. i will fill in the rarities form on my return but would really like comments from graham or anyone else that has seen similar. many thanks
terry whalin
