MAGNOLIA WARBLER-St GOVAN'S HEAD-PEMBROKESHIRE-21ST SEPTEMBER 2023

The arrival of American landbirds this week has been on a different level. Many of us have been watching the developing Hurricane Lee on the eastern seaboard of the US, and it definitely looked like business. But no one anticipated what was to come. We are in unchartered territory. Really, it's better to read Birdguides weekly summary than me even attempt to do the events justice, but I will borrow their phrase 'Yankmageddon'.

Hurricane Lee is on its way to hit the UK mainland 

On the morning of the 20th of September, the first clue of what was to come hit, a  Blackburnian warbler on a remote and inaccessible Irish island. 

Late in the morning, a photo appeared on my WhatsApp group, Magnolia warbler.". One of these near-mythical birds that a handful of birders had seen—this was game-on, wherever it was. Moments later, the location came through—mainland, near Pembroke in South Wales. After that, it was a case of making plans and heading off for the next morning

I picked up Sean Cole on the M5, and we arrived at the car park on St. Govan's Head around 10:00 am and hastily walked the 500 m or so to the valley. The bird showed within moments. There's no better addition to the list than an American warbler. We soaked it in, with the bird showing intermittently but well for the next hour and a half. How easy was that? 

Magnolia Warbler

As we watched the Magnolia Warbler, another photo appeared on the Whatsapp group Bay-breasted Warbler" on Ramsay, just 20 miles away. WTF—that's even rarer than the Mag!!! Panic amongst the crowd was quickly tempered when it became apparent there was no chance of boats today or tomorrow due to swell after the storm. As we stood in the crowd, Adrian Webb booked me and Sean seats on a boat for Saturday morning. We'd have to wait 48 hours and make the return journey to South Wales if the bird decided to linger. Roll on Saturday!