On the 19th of November last year, a Shore Lark was found at Staines reservoir but was only seen briefly before it disappeared until the 24th, when it was refound on the causeway. The bird was photographed by visiting birders the next day, and the discussions began that the bird could be Nearctic in origin. As discussions continued and more people saw the bird, it was widely agreed the bird was a member of the Nearctic clade of Horned Lark subspecies.
I ummed and ahhed about going as not many of the lads were up for it only being a subspecies saying it will never go on the list! I eventually cracked by the 28th as it was still showing well every day and decided to go the next morning. I arrived at first light and spent the whole day looking for the bird, but it had gone! GUTTED!
Thankfully though, on Monday the bird amazingly reappeared and was refound on the causeway and showed well until sunset. I was working the next day but sorted a day leave out for Wednesday.
I picked up Malc Curtin from Northwich and headed south, arriving at Staines reservoir for first light. The weather was dreadful when we arrived—gusts of forty miles an hour winds, and it was absolutely throwing it down. We waited for the rain to settle down, then we headed out onto the causeway. There were only us two around on arrival, so we walked down the causeway and searched for the bird. After an hour of looking, things weren't looking to good, but then the bird flew right in front of me and started to feed on the grassy verge.
AMERICAN HORNED LARK
I managed to get a few photos of the bird in driving rain and a howling wind, which we could hardly stand up in. Anyway, thankfully the bird was seen! The bird had a striking appearance, most noticeably the warm, rufous flanks, vinous wing coverts, dark upper parts, and whitish supercilium.
This is perhaps the third American Horned lark for Britain, following birds on Scilly in October 2001 and South Uist in October 2014 (the latter particularly similar in appearance to the Staines bird), though no Nearctic taxon of this species has been formally admitted to the BOU's British list.
A DRENCHED MALC CURTIN
After good views of the bird, we headed back to the car for a brew and a bit of heat. Being so close to Wraysbury, we called in at Magna Carter Lane and managed to see two ring-necked parakeets briefly before they flew.
Heading back north, news came out that the 1st winter Spotted Sandpiper was still showing well in Nottingham at Holme Peninsula, so we called in to see it.
The spotted sandpiper showed really well, and the added bonus was a long-tailed duck.
A great day birding and hopefully a future armchair tick in the bag. I'll wait and see!
