Isabelline adj. /pron: ɪzəˈbɛlɪn/

Siege of Granada 1492

The legend refers to Isabella of Castile and the eight-month siege by Ferdinand II of Aragon starting in April 1491. This siege ended in January 1492 and Isabella was said to have not changed her underwear until the siege ended - hence the colour of her underwear which then gave rise to the colour name isabelline. There are several birds given the descriptor isabelline: the term also refers to very pale palomino or cremello horses.

The dictionaries say it refers to a greyish-yellow colour, though it has also been used as the name for the colour of parchment or sand.

In this case I refer, of course, to the isabelline shrike. The bird in question has been referred to the subspecies larius isabellinus isabellinus or daurian shrike. Anyway it's UK lifer number 396 [ninth this year] and here it is taken between the bungalows on Flamborough Head on Tuesday 15th October.

Isabelline Daurian Shrike Isabelline Daurian Shrike Isabelline Daurian Shrike

I returned to Flamborough on Wednesday to find the olive-backed pipit but failed to see it or the bluethroat. Just chiffchaffs and goldcrests. So I went down to Bridlington harbour at high tide.

The turnstones were huddled together on a pontoon. Can you spot the 4 dunlin?

Turnstone

A few allowed a closer look.

Turnstone

As did this very bold herring gull.

Herring Gull

Finally an old friend, the long-staying feral barnacle goose. The men from the fishing boat offices were feeding it grain.

Barnacle Goose

264UK - isabelline font colour. Sort of dirty knicker colour in fifteenth century Spain. Who'd believe that, then?