I was sat at home this afternoon when news came out that a American Redstart had been found on Barra on the Outer hebrides.There hasn't been one of these species seen in the Britain since 1985 which was at Winchester.
I got on the phone straight away to Dan Pointon and my lift was sorted.The evening was spent restless as usual sorting all my gear out and it was soon time to meet up with my team of Simon Slade,Fred Fearne and Malc Curtin.The ferry was due to leave Uig on the Isle of Skye at 9am so we all met up at 10.00pm and started the long journey north in torrential rain.
We arrived at Uig at 6.30am and waited around for the ferry office to open.News came out around 7.30am that the bird was still there,smiles all around,lets get on the ferry!Time soon passed and the ferry docked and we were off!We all headed for a Mcbrayne breakfast before settling down for a seawatch for the next hour and an half.The first bird we managed to pick up in the distance sat out on rocky outlet was a White tailed eagle.
RECORD SHOT OF WHITE TAILED EAGLE PERCHED UP ON TOP OF A ROCK
Other birds of note were Razorbill,Great Skua,Red Throated diver,Kittiwake,Fulmar,Storm petrel,Gannet,Grey Phalarope and 2 Leach's Storm petrel.
KITTIWAKE
GOOD NUMBERS OF MANX SHEATWATERS WERE SEEN ON THE CROSSING
THE TEAM ENJOYING A GOOD SEAWATCH
We soon arrived at Lochmaddy and started the hours drive down to Eriskay.We left the car at the ferry terminal and went over as foot passengers to Barra.
TWITCH ON!
A quick seawatch produced 2 Red throated divers,Eider,Black gullimot and Shags.
RED THROATED DIVER
SHAGS AND EIDER
On arrival on Barra,Steve Nuttall,Belvides finest had sorted us all out with a bus to take us to the bird.
WERE OFF!
MALC AND FRED JUST CANT WAIT!
It wasn't long before being on site that the American Redstart flicked up at the back of the church in some sycamores.The bird then eventually gave it self up and showed really well feeding and calling for the rest of our stay.
WHAT A LITTLE BEAUTY!
It had took us nearly 16 hours to get to Barra to see the bird but it was all worth it now after connecting.
ME AND SIMON SLADE ON SITE
We spent the next four hours just chilling watching the bird before leaving it behind and heading back to ferry.
A VIEW LOOKING OVER BARRA
The ferry crossing back to South Uist was a happy one now ever one had seen the bird.
ME,MALC AND FRED ON THE FERRY BACK FROM BARRA
WHAT AN END TO A PERFECT DAY!
The evening was spent in the Lochmaddy hotel having a few celebratory beers,absolutely shattered.We all had a toast to Pete Antrobus in the pub who I had spent his last twitch with for the Black billed cuckoo on North Uist last year,it was great all his close friends were all together remembering him and I no if he was still with us he would be fuming that we had gripped back another bird on him.
After a much needed sleep we got on the ferry at 7.00am and arrived back home for me to be on my night shift for 7.30pm!Good going that hey!
Previous American Redstart records:
1985 Oct 13 to Oct 15 Co.Cork 3 days Galley Head,13th to 15th October.
1985 Oct 4 to Oct 6 Hants 3 days Winchester College Water Meadows, first-winter male,4th to 6th October.
1983 Oct 13 to Oct 24 Cornwall 12 days St Just,first-winter male,13th to 24th October.
1982 Nov 7 to Dec 5 Lincs 29 days Gibraltar Point, first-winter,probably male,7th November to 5th December, trapped 8th November.
1982 Nov 1 Argyll 1 day Portnahaven,Islay, female or immature,1st November.
1968 Oct 13 to Oct 14 Co.Cork 2 days Cape Clear Island,male,13th to 14th October.
1967 Oct 21 Cornwall 1 day Porthgwarra,first-winter male,21st October.
