White Crowned sparrow-Cley-Norfolk-19/01/08
There have only been three previous sightings of this North American species in Britain. The first was a bird trapped on Fair Isle in 1977, followed by a brief sighting in Yorkshire by three individuals a week later that same year. The third sighting occurred in Merseyside in 1994. This recent sighting in Norfolk marks the first time more than a handful of people have observed the bird in the UK. The bird frequented a seeded driveway just down from the Three Swallows pub in Cley.
I visited the site on Saturday afternoon and didn't have to wait long before the bird made a great appearance alongside a flock of resident house sparrows.
Black Duck-Marloes-Pembrokeshire-17/03/08
Jason Atkinson and I left immediately after hearing that this bird had been found. We picked up Dan Pointon on our way and drove the four hours to the most westerly point of Wales. After arriving, we searched for about half an hour in the flooded area where the female bird had been reported. Luckily, the bird eventually appeared alongside a male Mallard emerging from the reeds.
Me on site
On our way back, we made a quick stop in Haverfordwest, where we saw a stunning Rose coloured starling coming into its summer plumage in someone's back garden.
Serin-Portland Bill-Dorset-28/04/08
Dan Pointon and I drove down to Portland Bill in Dorset to try and see this bird, which had been showing for the last couple of days. Upon arrival, we met some birders staying at the observatory, who informed us that the bird tended to show better in the mornings and became very elusive in the afternoons. Unfortunately, we didn't realize this until we arrived just after 3:00 PM.
After nearly three hours of searching the surrounding fields with no sign of the bird, we returned to the observatory feeling disappointed. I told Dan I would take one last look at the observatory quarry before we left. While walking down the path, I heard the bird singing, so I called Dan.
Once we located where the bird was singing, we were thrilled to finally get some excellent views. After 36 years of birding and missing many sightings of this elusive species, it was a huge relief to finally add it to my British list.
Great Snipe-The Snook-Holy Island-Northumberland-02/06/08
Organized flushes were being set up for this bird, so Malc Curtin and I headed there for 6:00 PM. As we arrived, about seven people walked across the Snook while we took our positions in the sand dunes, waiting for the bird to take flight from its cover. As they moved through the area, we were thrilled to get excellent views of the bird when it finally took off. Both Malc and I were delighted to see it.
Thrush Nightingale-Dunwich Heath NT-Suffolk-07/06/08
I travelled for this bird straight after work. It took us just over three hours to drive to the site, and when I arrived, I received some disappointing news about the bird. I spoke with a birder, who had been on site since 6:00 AM and hadn't seen the bird either. After searching the area for about an hour and a half with no luck, I decided to do another loop around the site. As I was walking near the toilet block, a bird suddenly flew right in front of me and began to sing in the undergrowth. At last, I had finally seen it; the bird then showed very well.
(C)J.Lawrence
Audouin's Gull-Wolla Bank-Lincolnshire-19/08/08
The news about the bird broke the day before, but due to work commitments, I postponed the long journey until the next day. Unfortunately, there was negative news from the afternoon sighting. I went anyway the next day with Mark Payne and Dan Pointon, and upon arrival, we found hundreds of birders searching for the bird, but it couldn’t be relocated. After two hours, it was finally found a mile away. We quickly drove to the beach, where a birder put me straight on the bird through their scope. What a bird! It was just loafing on the incoming tide, preening.
Me on site
This was only the fourth record for Britain, and after narrowly missing last year's sighting in Devon, this made up for it!
Greater Sand Plover-Ythan Estuary-Aberdeenshire-13/09/08
This bird came out on the pager in the afternoon, so I made arrangements to go up with Malc Curtin and Adam Archer the following morning. The good news as I finished my night duty at 8.00am in the morning was that the bird was still showing well in a ploughed field with Ringed Plover. I picked Malc and Archie up at 9.00am and started the long drive north. At 3.00pm, we arrived at the car park on the Ythan estuary and met up with some birders who said the bird was still showing well. On arrival, we were put straight onto the bird as it scurried around the field. What a sight and relief after such a long drive. We watched the bird for the next hour before a Kestrel came along and flushed it.
This was only the fourth record for Scotland, the last one being seen at Tyninghame in Lothian from the 6th-7th June 1999.
Ortolan Bunting-Soldier's Point-Holyhead-16/09/08
Whilst Malc Curtin and I were at Spurn in East Yorkshire looking for a mainland Mega-Pallas Grasshopper warbler, it came through on the pager that an Ortolan bunting was showing well with Meadow pipits on Anglesey. I arrived the next morning with Mark Powell and got cracking views of the bird. Another bird I had dipped so many times over the years.
Brown Shrike-Flamborough Head-East Yorkshire-25/09/08
This bird was reported late on the pager, so I made plans to go with Malc Curtin and Mark Payne at first light. This was the first record of this species on the mainland of Britain and only the fourth record overall, with the last one occurring in the Shetlands in 1985. We hoped it would stay around.
Upon our arrival, we were amazed by the large turnout of birdwatchers—there must have been at least 500 of us. We made our way to the field where the bird had been seen the night before and stood there waiting for it to appear as the sun rose. After half an hour, the bird finally appeared on the other side of the bushes. We moved to the road and soon saw it sitting and preening itself in the sunlight. This was an incredible sighting for the mainland, and we were all made up to have seen it.
Birders On Site
Arctic Warbler-Outer Skerries-Shetland-27/09/08
During our annual birding holiday in Shetland, a new bird was reported on the pager that I needed to see. My friends, Malc Curtin and Mark Payne, joined me as we took the ferry to the island, which I had never visited before.
When we arrived, we weren't sure where the bird had been seen. After a few hours of searching, I met another birder who had just seen it. He kindly shared its location with us, and we set off to find it. Fortunately, Mark discovered the bird in someone's backyard. The bird showed really well, and it was another bird for the Life list
We eventually found the bird in this garden
A 1st For Britain-Alder Flycatcher
and a Red Eyed Vireo-09/10/08
An Alder Flycatcher was spotted in Nanjizal Valley near Lands End in Cornwall, marking a first for Britain! The birding community was buzzing. The quick responders were already on their way, and by the time I returned his call, Malc Curtin was in Cheltenham with Jason Atkinson and Pete Antrobus. After making a few phone calls, I organized our team, which included Phil Woolen, Mark, and Ash Powell. I set off at 11:30 PM and picked Ash up in Plymouth at 3:00 AM. We arrived at the designated parking field around 5:30 AM. There were quite a few other cars there already, but not as many as I had expected! many as I had expected! many as I had expected!
As dawn broke, a large group of birders made their way across the fields to the designated spot and waited. For once, there was little talking, and with limited mobile reception, even the phones were quiet. There were a couple of nail-biting moments when someone claimed to have seen the bird, but nobody else saw it—then there was silence. As the sun rose and began to warm the bracken, we continued to watch and wait.
Suddenly, a shout went up that the bird had been found. This caused a surge of adrenaline, and soon, everyone caught sight of the little empidonax flycatcher as it flitted around the bracken-covered hillside. For the next two hours, we enjoyed watching it as it moved about and provided us with fantastic views.
While we were observing the bird, Malc Curtin called to inform me that a Red-eyed Vireo was still present on the Garrison at St. Mary's in the Isles of Scilly. We managed to arrange a flight over and successfully saw the bird, making it a two-tick day for us. I returned home at 2:00 AM, feeling utterly exhausted!
Britain's First Alder Flycatcher
(C)M. Malpass
Two Lifers In A Day
Azorean Yellow legged Gull--Sennan-Cornwall-12/10/2008
While I was walking on the beach at Sennan Cove, I noticed a bird reported on the pager, which was apparently visible behind Sennan Church in a field. I quickly returned to my car and was able to find the bird right away as it sat in the middle of the field preening. This 2nd-winter Azorean yellow-legged gull has been present in the fields around Sennen and Trevorian in West Cornwall for over six weeks, often moving among Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls. It is a very distinctive bird, displaying many traits common to immature North American Herring Gulls, and the newly acquired feathers on its upper body further confirm its identification. This sighting marks the first record of the species in Britain and was initially identified by two of the country’s leading gull enthusiasts.
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Steppe Grey Shrike -Grainthorpe Haven-Lincolnshire and Two Barred Crossbill-Bilsdale-N.Yorks-08/11/2008
What a day Friday, November 7th, turned out to be! The pager went off twice around teatime, reporting two lifers for me. I arranged to pick up Malc Curtin, Mark Payne, and Jason Atkinson at 4:00 AM to arrive there for first light.
Upon arrival at Grainthorpe Haven, the wind was bitter, but fortunately, the Shrike was showing exceptionally well. Good news soon came through on the pager that the Two-barred Crossbill was also showing well in North Yorkshire. We quickly set off again, and after a two-mile trek across the moors, we reached the farmhouse where the bird was reported to have been sighted. However, when we arrived, the bird had just flown away.
We waited for an hour and a half, and then the bird finally appeared in a tree at the back of the garden. I spotted it right away. The crossbill then flew over the farmhouse and landed in a conifer tree, providing us with great views. What an amazing day—a fantastic end to another successful day of birding!
A great year birding and some top birds!