Cretzschmar's Bunting, Bardsey Island 18th June 2015

The sixth record for the UK (the first outside northern Scottish islands) & first record for Wales, of Cretzschmar's Bunting was found on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd by visiting birder Elfyn Lewis on 10th June 2015.

The initial twitch failed to locate the bird. Since four of the previous five records remained only a few days, the exception being the first record on Fair Isle in June 1967 which stayed 11 days, it was a surprise when the first summer male Cretzschmar's Bunting was relocated on Sunday. This eastern Mediterranean vagrant was not only still present, but was repeatedly coming to seed in the Lighthouse compound. Since I was in Norfolk over the weekend, a bit knackered from my travels & no boats on Wednesday due to weather conditions, I didn't make my first trip to Bardsey Island at the end of the Llŷn Peninsular in North Wales until Thursday.

My deliberations before the weekend & dithering after were also due to the uncertainties over being able to make it over to the island with only one boat, skippered by Colin Evans of Bardsey Island Boat Trips, licensed to land & a capacity of twelve passengers. Images of birders camped out through the night on the quay at Porth Meudwy like queuing overnight for Zeppelin tickets in the 70's, sprung to mind. However, the situation improved considerably when booking became possible from the comfort of one's armchair by phone via Lee Evans. One call later, from aforementioned armchair, I was booked on the second boat at 6.30am Thursday morning. It's always fun visiting islands & especially new ones.

It was still dark when I departed from home to make the 2hrs 20mins drive. As we set off from the quay at Porth Meudwy Colin informed us the bird was still present.

Upon landing about 30mins later we were guided by Bardsey Bird Observatory staff around to the lighthouse where a group of birders were gathered, poised with 'scopes & cameras at the ready.

We waited for an hour until just before 8am for the bird to drop in from the left. The grey (concrete) area in the centre, level with the drainpipe, was the area seeded & this is where the bird landed & spent a few minutes feeding before flying away the same way it arrived. A further wait of 1hr 30mins until the bird returned at about 9.30am, landing on the wall & perching for a short while, giving excellent views, before again briefly feeding on the seed & exit stage left. I exited stage right & sauntered down to the quay to catch the 10am return boat.

Many thanks to the Observatory staff for being so helpful, Colin Evans for working so hard to get us all over to Bardsey & Lee Evans for making it easier.

A couple of great photos by Ben Porter: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3 

Video by Pete Hines

Previous records:

1967 Fair Isle, male, 10th to 20th June, trapped on 14th (G. J. Barnes, R. H. Dennis, W. N. Landells et al.).

1979 Fair Isle, male, 9th to 10th June (N. R. Jones, W. E. Oddie, I. S. Robertson et al).

1998 Stronsay, male, 14th to 18th May (W. Barkley, J. F. Holloway, S. J. Williams et al.).

2008 Sangar, North Ronaldsay, first-winter male, 19th to 21st September (P. J. Donnelly et al.).

2014 Fair Isle, 27th April to 2nd May (D. Shaw et al.).

Blyth's Reed Warbler, Blakeney Point 14th June 2015

It had been many years since I'd been out birding with old friend Pete Walton, so we headed over to Blakeney Point on Sunday morning to see the Blyth's Reed Warbler. Pete had also been on Blakeney Point the previous day to see the Paddyfield Warbler, so we were both making the same trek on consecutive days. Fortunately, the Blyth's Reed Warbler was located a little closer at Halfway House & the tide was out, so we could walk along the lower beach from Cley beach car park much more easily than struggling through shingle.

When we arrived on site there was a small group of birders waiting for the Blyth's Reed Warbler to appear.

 

This involved patiently waiting for the bird to briefly show sporadically as it made a little circuit of the suaeda.

Pete looks quite pleased? He's seen a few Blyth's Reed Warblers in Norfolk previously. Bit of a bonus with an adult Laughing Gull drifting west past Cley beach car park as we arrived back from the Point.

Paddyfield Warbler, Blakeney Point 13th June 2015

With news of a singing Blyth's Reed Warbler in Essex at Holland Haven the previous day, I set off early Saturday morning & arrived on site, near Clacton-on-Sea, mid-morning.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of the bird, but a Paddyfield Warbler on Blakeney Point, Norfolk which had been present since the previous Thursday was still present, so I made my way from Clacton-on-Sea to Cley-next-the-Sea arriving at Cley beach car park late afternoon.

The tortuous three mile walk along the shingle bank as far as Long Hills was grueling. I could see one remaining birder on site as I approached. He was viewing the Paddyfield Warbler as it made its way along the edge of the suaeda next to the shingle bank. It was difficult to see, but provided different aspects before briefly being in the open & displaying its gorgeous rich, rufous colours. It popped out of cover again briefly before flying over to the deeper suaeda. A bit of waiting and a few brief glimpses in flight, it then reappeared on the edge of the beach before again working its way over to the suaeda within the rope boundary protecting breeding birds. So, having had satisfactory if brief views I headed back along the beach. Fortunately, the tide had receded exposing the lower beach which was much easier to walk along.

Upon arrival in Norwich at my friend Peter's house news of a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Halfway House on Blakeney Point emerged.

Hudsonian Whimbrel, Church Norton 10th June 2015

The ninth occurrence of Hudsonian Whimbrel in the UK was discovered by local birder George Kinnard at Church Norton, located at the south-east corner of Pagham Harbour LNR in West Sussex, on Tuesday 9th June 2015. Details of the find can be viewed at Rob's Birding Blog. This transatlantic vagrant has only recently been split from Whimbrel & is the first twitchable bird since the split.

Departing from home early the following morning, I arrived on site mid-morning. Walking along the path from the car park to the harbour, a group of birders were to the right viewing the Hudsonian Whimbrel. However, before I could set up my 'scope it flew, only a short distance though, relocating to the mud bank beyond the hide. It remained on show for the whole time I was there, giving pretty good extended views, if a little distant.

This particular individual was quite distinct from the accompanying Whimbrel, with a striking head pattern, longer bill & generally more sandy/buff, the breast suffused buff rather than white. Apart from the initial flight views, the rump was only viewed when the bird flicked its wings a couple of times, displaying sandy/buff tail & rump.

Red-necked Phalarope, Burton Mere 3rd June 2015

The appearance yesterday of a summer plumage female Red-necked Phalarope at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB reserve had me arriving on site mid-morning today.

The Red-necked Phalarope was immediately on view upon entering the reserve. It was viewable for the whole time I was there on the Main Scrape in front of the Reception Hide. She was chased regularly by Avocets & took flight several times, but never going far. There's a small influx at present with 7 birds being seen in the UK yesterday. Quite a rare bird in Cheshire & Wirral, but there's now been a few records in the last couple of years.

The first bird I ever twitched was a Red-necked Phalarope on the River Birket behind Leasowe Lighthouse in September 1971.