Dusky Thrush, Beeley 29th December 2016

The thirteenth UK record of Dusky Thrush turned up in a small Derbyshire village at the beginning of December. This Siberian stray was found by Beeley resident Rachel Jones, who posted photos on the internet. Needless to say, news spread quickly after breaking on Sunday 4th December. I didn't fancy being in a throng of birders during that first week as hundreds descended on the village. I was planning to go the second weekend, but the bird wasn't seen for a few days & when it reappeared I couldn't go. The week before Christmas was very busy at work, so I hoped the bird would stay until after Christmas, when I was on holiday. Fortunately, the Dusky Thrush remained, so I popped over to Beeley this morning.

I arrived on site early afternoon. I did see a couple of birders whilst finding a parking space, but none once I'd exited the car. The reports recently referred to a field on the right along Pig Lane. I started walking along the lane wondering which field? Still no birders. I expected at least a small crowd! I noticed a couple of birders with 'scopes positioned in the middle of a field on the right, so made my way over to them.

They were indeed on the Dusky Thrush. Excellent views were obtained through the 'scope as the bird foraged, at first in the open further up the field, but then closer as it flew down the field to the fence line on the left with trees & bushes, probably about 50yds distance. One of the birders departed leaving just me & another birder enjoying prolonged, repeated views in bright sunshine. As a few more birders arrived, the crowd grew to about a dozen.

Video by Pete Hines

Cattle Egret, Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB 19th November 2016

There's been several Cattle Egrets at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB for a while now, I think six is the maximum count. I visited the reserve this afternoon with old friend Mark Wotham.

The Cattle Egrets were on view from the Reception area, a few in the traditional pose of perching on top of cattle. One bird was a bit closer off to the left of the main scrape/lagoon. Good views of this bird until it flew back to area behind the lagoon where the other Egrets were with the cattle. We only managed to see four birds for certain & that was only because three were atop cattle & another flew up in the same area.

Lots of other birds about, mainly Teal with some Wigeon on the main pool as well as Black-tailed Godwits, Little Egrets of course, several Whooper Swans mixed in with Mute Swans in the distant fields towards Shotwick Lake, skeins of hundreds of Pink-footed Geese flying out to the estuary marshes. As we made our way along the boardwalk several flocks of mixed passerines including Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch & Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

As we continued along the path towards Inner Marsh Farm Hide there were a couple of birders peering into the bushes where a roosting Long-eared Owl has been seen recently. After some hard looking I managed to pick out the bird deep in the bush, only really having a view of part of it through a small gap!

Just about in the centre of the photo. The light was going by this time, although the photo makes it looks lighter. Loads of Starlings were coming into roost in the reedbed as we made our way back along the boardwalk, to the sound of a screeching Water Rail, with the light rapidly failing.

Siberian Accentor, Easington 15th October 2016

The second record of Siberian Accentor in the UK was found by local birder Lance Degnan at Easington in East Yorkshire, not far from Spurn, last Thursday 13th October 2016. This followed hot on the heels of the first record on Shetland last Sunday 9th October 2016 found by local birders Judd Hunt & Hugh Harrop. The Shetland bird only stayed two days, so it was somewhat of a relief when the Easington bird was still present this morning. Incredibly, the third record appeared today, Saturday 15th October 2016, at Saltburn in Cleveland found by local birder Damian Money.

I arrived at Easington late morning & strolled along Vicars Lane to the vantage point. There was a steady stream of birders in both directions as I approached. A small crowd was looking over the fence into an open area where the Siberian Accentor was feeding intently. At times the bird came very close to the admiring onlookers, too close for me to focus my bins at one point.

This Siberian waif moved around the whole area, but was closest in the near left corner. The bird was on show just about the whole time I was present. The surrounding trees & bushes were dripping with Goldcrests.

A big thank you to the Spurn Observatory staff/volunteers for organising everything so well. Since most if not all birders would have visited Spurn after seeing the Siberian Accentor, including me, I doubt there's ever been so many birders at Spurn in one day.

Video by Pete Hines

Eastern Crowned Warbler, Bempton 5th October 2016

Photo courtesy Dave Carr @birdphotos007

The fourth record for the UK of Eastern Crowned Warbler was identified at Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve by Dave Aitken & Trevor Charlton, in a small copse close to the car park, yesterday Tuesday 4th October 2016.

News broke early yesterday evening, so this morning I made my way over there, arriving mid morning. There was a small crowd of birders staking out the copse & I gained very brief views almost immediately, but the bird disappeared. A couple of hours later & the Eastern Crowned Warbler reappeared in glorious sunshine in the exact part of the copse I'd been positioned at for nearly all of the two hour wait. It performed for several minutes only a few feet away, so close on a few occasions I was unable to focus my bins.

I spent a short time below the copse & had reasonable brief views at the right hand end, but looking right into the sun.

Crippling views were obtained of this striking east Asian passerine over several minutes from both the left & right ends above the copse. I was positioned primarily near the left hand end, looking down the bank & through a small gap in the foliage with the sun behind. Many other birds were repeatedly using this area including Yellow-browed Warblers (2+), Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Blackcap, Robins, Wrens, Tree Sparrows.

Photo courtesy Dave Carr @birdphotos007

A couple of great photos by John Pringle: Photo 1, Photo 2
More great photos by Steve Williams: Photo 1, Photo 2

Previous records:
2009 Durham, Trow Quarry, South Shields, first-winter, 22nd to 24th October (D. Holden, M. Newsome et al.).
2011 Hertfordshire, Hilfield Park Resr, first-winter, 30th October, trapped (J. Fearnside et al.)
2014 Cleveland, Hunley Golf Course, Brotton, first-winter, 30th October to 1st November (I. Kendall et al.).

Brünnich's Guillemot, Anstruther 27th September 2016

A Brünnich's Guillemot was found in Anstruther harbour by visiting birders Alan Lauder & Ken Shaw on their way to the Isle of May last Sunday 25th September 2006.

I made the long drive north yesterday morning after hearing the bird was still present, arriving on site late afternoon. Having parked at the eastern end of the harbour I checked the outer harbour with no joy & couldn't even see any other birders. As I made my way around to the inner harbour my attention was drawn towards a bird on the water close to some moored boats & upon lifting my bins proved to be the Brünnich's Guillemot. I continued around the harbour & onto the pier & obtained excellent views as the bird seemed to be gaining shelter from the wind between the moored boats whilst it preened.

Although I hadn't seen any other birders, very quickly the ranks swelled to about half a dozen. The Brünnich's Guillemot drifted out of view, but was relocated after a long wait very close into the pier a bit further along.

A very big thank you to the guy who saved my 'scope when it blew over in a gust of wind just as the bird surfaced underneath one of the double-hulled boats. Brilliant catch sir!

Lesser Grey Shrike, Plymouth 21st September 2016

An adult Lesser Grey Shrike was found at Plymouth by local birder Duncan Leitch on Monday 19th September. I set off for Plymouth early on Wednesday morning, arriving on site early afternoon.

Vagrant Shrikes often stick around for a while & this bird was no exception. Located along the coastal path between Mount Batten & Jennycliff, only half a dozen birders were on site when I arrived. The Lesser Grey Shrike was on view immediately & for the whole time I was there. It perched repeatedly on the same bush, sallying forth to hunt insects every so often, but always returning to the same spot.

Views were excellent, only spoiled by the slightly poor light conditions with the sun not right behind the bird, but just off to the left. A minor quibble. A lot of the habitat is not viewable from the path, so it was fortunate to be able to obtain such good, close views from along a small path/tunnel through the brambles. Unfortunately, only a few birders could fit in at one time, maybe four, but viewing from the main path through the brambles & birders was possible. The bird was viewable from further down the path looking back, but into the sun & further away.

Being a popular footpath, many people passed by & were interested to find out what all the fuss was about. After managing to see the bird they were intrigued with photos & a little background information.

Western Swamphen, Alkborough 4th September 2016

Last Tuesday, 30th August 2016, a Western Purple Swamphen appeared at Alkborough Flats NR in Lincolnshire. It turns out this is the same bird which graced Minsmere RSPB in Suffolk for a few days a couple of weeks back. I was unable to get time off work to go for that bird & then it did a Friday bunk anyway, so fortunate to have a second chance & a lot nearer home. If accepted as a wild bird, the Minsmere record would be a first for the UK.

Having decided against going yesterday because of what looked like a shedload of rain expected, I set off early this morning & arrived at the Whitton Road car park about 9.30am. As I walked along the path towards the reserve there were a few birders not far ahead of me who had all stopped to look over the reserve & could see the Western Swamphen as it moved to and fro along the edge of the very distant reedbed to the right of the main lagoon in front of a smaller square lagoon behind.

On the left you can see the hide & a small crowd of birders behind on the track. I made my over to their location & joined about 20/30 birders (numbers fluctuated constantly). The Western Swamphen appeared sporadically as it wandered about on the far edge of the lagoon, giving very good, repeated views if rather distant.

Just as I was leaving the site a small film crew arrived & asked everyone if they minded being filmed, which they didn't, but quite a few hastily departed. I spoke with one of the crew & he told me they were from "The One Show" with Mike Dilger & that the film would be broadcast sometime in the next two weeks.

Video by Pete Hines of the bird at Minsmere