PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLER-RSPB-BEMPTON CLIFFS-EAST YORKSHIRE

An elusive Phylloscopus warbler had been present at Bempton Cliffs RSPB, East Yorkshire, since Wednesday, initially identified as an Arctic Warbler. As observations continued, opinion shifted towards a possible Eastern Crowned Warbler. Further careful fieldwork by local observers—most notably the collection and analysis of sound recordings—eventually confirmed the bird’s true identity as a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus tenellipes).

News of the confirmed identification broke too late for immediate travel, so plans were made for an early start the following morning. Owen, Jenna, and I left at 05:30, arriving on site shortly before 09:00, where a sizeable crowd had already gathered. We joined the line of observers peering into low vegetation—a challenging prospect given the bird’s skulking behaviour and the density of cover.

After a brief initial appearance in the hedgerow, the warbler moved steadily to the right before lifting into a nearby tree, showing momentarily, and then dropping into the Dell. A quick relocation followed, and after a tense wait, the Pale-legged Leaf Warbler finally emerged, giving prolonged and excellent views that allowed many present to connect fully with this exceptional bird.

 This was the first live record of Pale-Legged Leaf Warbler for the Western Palearctic.

Species account

The Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus tenellipes) is an Old World warbler in the family Phylloscopidae, first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1860. It breeds in Manchuria and winters in South-East Asia.

Adults measure approximately 12 cm in length. Upperparts are brownish, with a contrasting greyish-brown crown and nape. The whitish supercilium is striking, extending well behind the eye but not reaching the forehead. The dark brown eye-stripe broadens behind the eye, while the cheeks are pale brown and mottled. The throat is whitish, with white undertail coverts contrasting against paler olive-brown rump and uppertail coverts, notably lacking any greenish tones. The underparts are whitish, washed pale brown across the breast and belly.

British context

The Bempton bird constitutes the second British record. The first involved a bird found dead after striking a lighthouse window on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, on 21 October 2016; its identity was confirmed by DNA analysis.

A further claim from Portland, Dorset, on 22 October 2012 could not be fully substantiated, as the bird remained silent and Sakhalin Leaf Warbler could not be conclusively ruled out. A full discussion of both records was subsequently published in British Birds.

The Yorkshire bird is the second record for Britain, following one found dead after hitting a window at the lighthouse on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, on October 21, 2016. DNA confirmed the identification of this bird.

                     St. Agnes' bird, which was sadly found dead.

A write-up on both birds was published in the British Birds Journal. Click on the image below.

After securing further views of the warbler through the morning, we returned to the car park, where a Yellow-browed Warbler provided a final flourish. On the journey home, we made a brief stop at Stamford Bridge, where a Hoopoe was showing superbly in a front garden—an unexpected and welcome addition to an already memorable day.

A superb day’s birding, and a pleasure to catch up with so many familiar faces. Shetland next week—bring on the mega!

ISLES OF SCILLY PELAGICS-SOUTH POLAR SKUA

With five sightings of South Polar Skua being seen off the Isles of Scilly in the last couple of months, my good friend John Pegden organised three pelagics to try and see this species, and twelve of us finally agreed to go across.

I met up with Dan Pointon, Mark Sutton, and John Pegdan, and we headed down late morning. The journey down was full of optimism and conversation that we could see this rare bird. It was better to be out at sea than sit at home thinking what if!. Anyway, we called in at Cape Cornwall late afternoon, and we all got great views of a Melodious warbler, only my fourth for Britain. 

Melodious Warbler

Cape Cornwall in the evening sun

The evening was spent in Penzance at the local curry house after a long drive south.

We were all up at 6.30am and made our way down to the quay in Penzance, where the dawn sun greeted us behind St. Michael's Mount.

The Scillionian 

All ready for the Pelagics

The crossing over to the Isles of Scilly produced 5 Cory's Shearwater, 2 Great Shearwater, a Juvenile Sabine's Gull, and a Sooty Shearwater.

Here are the summaries of what we saw over the next few days:

Day 1 Pelagic

14 miles SW of St Mary's: 170 Cory Shearwaters, 10 Great Shearwaters, 2 Great Skuas, 12 European Storm Petrels and 250+ Short-Beaked Common Dolphins

Heading out of St Mary's

Great Shearwaters breed on Nightingale Island, Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha, and Gough Island. It is one of only a few bird species to migrate from breeding grounds in the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere.

No South Polar Skua was spotted this evening as we passed the Bishop Rock lighthouse on our way back. We will try again tomorrow.

Day 2 Pelagic

Today, Dan, Neil, and I spent the morning walking around St. Mary's. We saw 2 Great White Egrets and 2 Common Rosefinches.

Dan and Neil 

Dan found two Common Rosefinches by St. Mary's airport, which showed well. We left St. Mary's at 1pm for the next Pelagic.

Adrian getting the bread in for the Pelagic from the local Co-Op

At sea, various locations: 15 Great Shearwaters, Sooty Shearwater, 2 European Storm Petrels, 4 Great Skuas and a Balearic Shearwater

Great Skua

Coming back into St Mary's

The evening was spent with my mate Higgo, who lives on the islands, having a few beers and a catch-up.

Day 3 Pelagic

Wolf Lighthouse and return: 2 juvenile Sabine's Gull, Arctic Skua, 80 Cory’s Shearwater, 20 Great Shearwater, Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, 3 European Storm Petrel, 40 Short-Beaked Common Dolphin.

Wolf Lighthouse

Juvenile Sabine's gulls breed in the Arctic, and they migrate south to the Southern Hemisphere in the autumn, covering up 24,000 miles per year—the longest migration of any gull

Well, after three days of pelagics, we headed home with no sighting of a South Polar Skua. We did have a feeding group of >300 large shearwaters just west of the Wolf, seemingly an equal split of Cory's/Great, from the Scillonian on the way home back to Penzance.

Pelagic's already booked for next year. WE'LL BE BACK!

MORNING STROLL

If you are a naturalist, you can honestly claim that Norfolk has a lot to offer. I adore the county! During my brief stroll this morning, I noticed a variety of insects and birds in the early morning light.

Common Blue

Comma

Large White

Brown Argus

Common Darter

Small Copper

Common Field Grasshopper

Red Admirals are in good numbers this autumn in Norfolk

Goldcrest

Red Kite

Common Buzzard