UNPRECEDENTED INFLUX OF SIBERIAN ACCENTORS

CLICK ON LINK BY DUTCH BIRDING

YELLOW BROWED WARBLER-HOUGHTON GREEN POND

I was passing Warrington this morning so I called in to see the the Yellow browed warbler that Colin Davies had found on his patch on tuesday.I hadn't been to Houghton green pond for years and couldn't get over how it had changed.

HOUGHTON GREEN POND

I met up with Colin whist I was there and we soon heard the Yellow Browed warbler calling in some sycamore trees and then it flew into the willows in front of us and showed really well.

YELLOW BROWED WARBLER

This bird was a cracking find by Colin on his patch and it was nice to visit the site again after so many years.Other birds of note were Green Sandpiper and 16 Wigeon.

RSPB LAST CHANCE TO SECURE PROTECTION FOR BRITAINS SEABIRDS

The RSPB has warned that better protection at sea is critical if the decline of Britain's rarest seabirds is to be halted.CLICK ON LINK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK 5TH-11TH OCT 2016

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN 5th to 11th OCTOBER 2016

REVIEW OF THE WEEK CLICK ON THIS LINK
BY JOSH JONES

FINDERS ACCOUNT OF THE SIBERIAN ACCENTOR-SHETLAND

Finders-in-the-field: Siberian Accentor on Shetland, a British first CLICK HERE
By Hugh Harrop and Judd Hunt

SIBERIAN ACCENTOR-SHETLAND

Whilst out yesterday afternoon with Dianne shopping I got a phonecall off Simon Slade one of my birding mates and new straight away it was a mega bird.I couldn't believe it when he said"SIBERIAN ACCENTOR".I told Simon I would ring him back,I needed to get organised as twitch mode had set in.What a bird, a first for Britain I couldn't miss this,I rang my mate Sean Cole and before I had even said anything he had sorted a private flight out for us.HAPPY DAYS!Stress over.

The morning couldn't come soon enough and before I new it I was boarding the plane with Sean Cole,Adrian Webb and James Hanlon after news had come out that the bird was still there.TWITCH ON!The weather was clear all the way up to Shetland and we had great aerial views on the way.

FAIR ISLE

SEAN KEPT US ENTERTAINED ON THE FLIGHT!

Three hours later we landed at Sumburgh airport and piled straight into a taxi.On arrival Chris Batty put us straight on where the bird was,it had gone in some nettles.I must have waited nearly five minutes for the Siberian Accentor to appear it felt like a lifetime and then it flew up onto the quarry face,I couldn't believe what I was seeing,what a bird.I had spent the previous evening reading how it had never stopped feeding,it was going to be a clear night and it will be gone in the morning all that apprehension had gone,I had seen it!

MY FIRST VIEW OF THE SIBERIAN ACCENTOR 

The bird continued to show well for the next two hours while we were there down to a few metres at times constantly foraging for food.What a journey this bird had made!Siberian Accentor's breed in northern Siberia on both sides of the Urals,they are migratory, wintering in south east Asia,but to appear in a small quarry in Shetland was remarkable.

SIBETASTIC!

What a day!A great bird,great surroundings and nice to share the moment with so many fellow twitchers I have met and made good friends with over the years.

LOOKING FROM THE QUARRY TOWARDS ST NINIANS ISLE

A last look at the Siberian Accentor and we off to Sumburgh hotel for a pint and some food.

A MONSTER OF A SIBE ALWAYS DESERVES A CELEBRATORY PINT

THE BOYS HAD CLEARLY CELEBRATED THE NIGHT BEFORE AFTER THERE GREAT FIND

A quick check around Sumburgh farm and the near by quarries produced Lesser Whitethroat,Twite,Yellow Browed Warbler,Fulmar and a Goldcrest

 TWITE

 FULMAR

 GOLDCREST

LESSER WHITETHROAT

After a great day we headed for the airport,all happy with a cracking Sibe on are lists!

AN END TO A  PERFECT DAY!

FIRST FOR CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL-WESTERN SANDPIPER

Congratulations to my good friend Allan Conlin for finding Cheshire and Wirral's first Western Sandpiper at Hoylake and Meols from 19th-24th September 2012!This represents the 9th record for Britain.

WESTERN SANDPIPER 

PHOTOS TAKEN BY STEVE WILLIAMS

MEGA!FIRST FOR BRITAIN!SIBERIAN ACCENTOR

MEGA!SIBERIAN ACCENTOR-in 1st quarry on west side north of Mossy Hill; from A970 take road by yellow 'THRS' sign, drive to summit and then north to 1st quarry
PICTURE HERE