News yesterday afternoon of a Booted warbler in Northumberland had me praying it could be a Sykes`s Warbler as I hadn’t had a lifer for so long. After good photos of the bird were gathered thankfully the Mega alert went off but this wasn’t until 10.00pm and I was at bloody work doing a nightshift. I was gutted and new the bird would probably go over night.Anyway after a few phone calls Dianne said she would come in for me at 7.00am and I would go on news on my own as everybody was working. Thankfully at 7.00am the bird came out on the pager so I started the long journey Northeast. I did really well and arrived at Duridge Bay at 10.30am and didn’t have to wait long before the bird showed. This was a cracking record for the mainland and the bird showed really well whilst on site.
Anyway after viewing the bird and speaking to some of the lads on site I started the long journey home contented that I had seen another cracking bird for Britain.
There have been 12 previous records of this species in Britain and Ireland
2009 Sep 29 to Sep 29 Co.Durham 1 day Or Booted Warbler: Marsden Quarry, 29th September.
2008 Sep 25 Shetland 1 day Sumburgh Head, Mainland, probably first-winter, 25th September, photo.
2003 Oct 4 to Oct 8 Shetland 5 days Baltasound, Unst, 4th to 8th October, trapped 5th October, photo.
2003 Sep 29 to Oct 1 Orkney 3 days North Ronaldsay, 29th September to 1st October, trapped 29th September.
2002 Aug 31 Sussex 1 day Beachy Head, 31st August, photo.
2002 Aug 26 Orkney 1 day North Ronaldsay, trapped, 26th August, photo.
2002 Aug 23 Norfolk 1 day Sheringham, 23rd August, photo.
2000 Jul 1 Dorset 1 day Portland Bill, trapped, 1st July, photo.
1993 Oct 22 to Nov 9 Shetland 19 days Seafield, Lerwick, Mainland, adult, 22nd October to 9th November, trapped 24th October, photo.
1990 Oct 17 Co. Cork 1 day Cape Clear Island, 17th October, photo.
1977 Aug 20 to Aug 27 Shetland 8 days Fair Isle, first-winter, 20th to 27th August, trapped 20th August, photo.
1959 Aug 29 to Aug 31 Shetland 3 days Fair Isle, adult, 29th to 31st August, trapped 29th August.