I travelled to Pembrokeshire yesterday to see just one of the unprecedented infux of American landbirds since 20th September. The Magnolia Warbler found by local birder Toby Phelps at Saint Govan's Head is the third record for the UK, one of fifteen (so far) different species recorded across UK & Ireland, with multiple sightings of some.
I arrived at Saint Govan's Head shortly after midday and made my way around the large hawthorn north of the car park. There was a path through the scrub with about twenty birders crammed into a small area. The toggers at the front were well placed! The Magnolia Warbler appeared almost immediately flitting about, but with branches frequently obscuring the views as well as negotiating other birders, my only views were a second or two as the bird zipped about. I crept around the edge of the glade to the vantage point in the photo above. Sitting patiently, waiting, the Magnolia Warbler appeared several times, but again only for a couple of seconds, until eventually it was out in the open in the middle of the glade for several seconds. Fantastic!
I was also hoping to see the Canada Warbler only a few miles away, amazingly also found by Toby Phelps on 23rd September. First for the UK, with one in Ireland in 2006. However, that wasn't seen. I learnt today that it has been seen again!
The third of the trio of vagrant American warblers in Pembrokeshire was a Bay-breasted Warbler on Ramsey Island RSPB, found by Assistant Warden Alys Perry. The second for the UK, after one in 1995. Again, not seen yesterday, but seen again today! With the next boat not until Saturday there could be a repeat of last Saturday when some saw all three warblers in a single day! That is if they stay...
Photo by Dave Hutton | Photo by Will Bowell
Previous records:
1981 Isles of Scilly - St Agnes, 27th to 28th September.
2012 Fair Isle, male, 23rd September.
No comments:
Post a Comment