TWO BARRED WARBLER-ST ALDHELM'S HEAD-DORSET

News came out this afternoon that an Arctic warbler that had been present since Sunday in Dorset had been re-identified as a Two-barred warbler. This was a good grip back for me as I should have gone to see the one in 2006 at Filey in North Yorkshire, but the species was only a subspecies of Greenish warbler then, how I've regretted that decision over the years!. Anyway, after Christmas, the British Ornithologists' Union will adopt the International Ornithological Congress list, and the Two-barred warbler will be elevated to full specific status. CLICK ON THE LINK.

I was on nights when the news came out, so thankfully I got an early start the next morning at 7.00am and started the long journey south, getting news from my mate Dan Pointon that the bird was still present as I reached Stafford on the M6. The traffic wasn't too bad on the way down, and I arrived on site just before midday.

I was absolutely shattered on arrival, but walked down to the quarry where I got brief views of the bird. I got myself in position and just waited instead of joining the scrum as the bird was doing a circuit with two Chiffchaffs. It didn't take long before the bird showed really well in a sycamore tree.

The bird was constantly on the move, flitting around at the tops of the trees and was joined by a Firecrest at one point.

Two-barred Warbler

After I had gained good views of the bird, I left the melee of birders in deep mud tripping over scopes and shouting, Where is it!

Birders on site

There are four previous records of Two-barred Warbler

2006-Filey,North Yorkshire-16th to 18th October.

2003-Samson Hill,Bryher,Isles Of Scilly-27th to 28th September.

1996- Holkham Meals,Norfolk-15th to 16th October.

1987-Gugh,first-winter,Isles Of Scilly-22nd to 27th October.