TWITCHERS: A VERY BRITISH OBSESSION

2010 BBC Four documentary about twitchers featuring Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig, Twitchers: A Very British Obsession, Birdgirl cut. Filmed in Autumn 2009.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK-CHURCH ROAD-ST MARYS-ISLES OF SCILLY-20/12/2012

Well, where do I start? After the news broke, I was meant to travel with Stewart Pinner, but with all the flights fully booked, I was forced to wait for a 7:30am departure from Newquay on Thursday morning. I picked Higgo up from Birmingham at 12:30 am; he’d been visiting his parents and was heading back down to the Isles of Scilly, and we headed south, reaching Newquay Airport at around 4am. We grabbed a few hours’ sleep in the car, only to wake just after 7am to find thick fog had set in.

Six hours later and following a blown engine on the aircraft, the travel nightmare finally came to an end when I landed on St Mary’s just after 2pm. The Grosbeak had been showing earlier but had disappeared, before thankfully being refound in Joe Pender’s back garden, feeding on his feeders. The views I enjoyed from his kitchen window were absolutely crippling.

After such a frustrating journey, that moment made it all worthwhile. I was especially made up, having missed the St Agnes bird by just one day back in 2007 while driving home from a five-day stint on the Scillies. After plenty of handshakes and hugs, I departed just after 5:30pm and made it home shortly after midnight, a memorable 24 hours of birding that rounded off the year in style, with gripbacks in abundance.

(c) Joe Pender

(c) Joe Pender

There have been 23 records of this species in Britain and Ireland  

 

2007 Oct 23 to Oct 29 Isles of Scilly 1 7 days St Agnes, first-winter male, 23rd to 29th October, photo. 

2006 May 4 to May 5 Norfolk 1 2 days Holme, first-summer male, 4th to 5th May, photo. 

2005 Oct 8 Western Isles 

1 day Ardmhor plantation, Barra, first-winter male, 8th October, photo. 

2001 Oct 13 to Oct 14 Isles of Scilly 1 2 days St Martin's, first-winter male, 13th to 14th October, photo. 

2001 Oct 6 to Oct 9 Devon 1 4 days Lundy, first-winter male, 6th to 9th October, photo. 

2000 Sep 29 Co. Kerry 1 day Great Blasket Island, female, 29th September. 

1998 Oct 30 to Nov 1 Isles of Scilly 1 3 days Bryher, first-winter male, 30th October to 1st November, photo. 

1995 Oct 30 to Nov 1 Isle of Wight 1 3 days Ventnor, first-winter male, 30th October to 1st November. 

1993 Oct 12 to Oct 14 Isles of Scilly 1 3 days Tresco, first-winter male, 12th to 14th October, photo. 

1991 Nov 5 to Nov 6 Yorks 1 2 days Bridlington, first-winter male, 5th to 6th November, photo. 

1988 Sep 29 to Oct 11 Pembrokes 1 13 days Skomer, first-winter female, 29th September to 11th October. 

1987, Oct 10 to Oct 13 Guernsey 1 4 days No locality, 10th to 13th October. 

1987, Oct 9 to Oct 21 Isles of Scilly 1-13 days Tresco, first-winter female, 9th to 21st October. 

1987 Oct 7 to Oct 24 Co. Cork 1 18 days Cape Clear Island, juvenile female, trapped, 7th to 24th October, photo. 

1986, Oct 10 to Oct 25 Isles of Scilly 1-16 days Tresco, first-winter male, 10th to 25th October. 

1985 Oct 27 Devon 1 day Lundy, first-winter female, trapped 27th October. 

1985 Oct 9 to Oct 28 Isles of Scilly 1 20 days St Mary's, first-winter male, 9th to 28th October, photo. 

1985 Oct 3 Co. Wexford 1 1 day Near Kilmore, first-winter female, picked up injured, 3rd October, died 7th October, now at Natural History Museum, Dublin. 

1983 Oct 19 to Oct 20 Co.Cork 1 2 days Firkeel, first-winter male, 19th to 20th October. 

1983 Oct 14 Gwynedd 1 1 day Bardsey, first-winter male, trapped, 14th October. 

1983 Oct 10 Co.Cork 1 day Bull Rock, first-winter male, 10th October. 

1983 Oct 10 to Oct 19 Isles of Scilly 1 10 days St Agnes, first-winter male, 10th to 19th October, taken by a cat. 

1983 Oct 9 to Oct 15 Co. Cork 1 7 days Cape Clear Island, first-winter male, 9th to 15th October, photo. 

1983 Oct 7 to Oct 8 Western Isles 1 2 days Newton, North Uist, first-winter male, 7th to 8th October, died in care 8th October. 

1979, Oct 12 to Oct 29 Isles of Scilly, 18 days St Mary's, first-winter, 12th to 29th October, photo. 

1979, Oct 11 to Oct 12 Co. Cork 1 2 days Cape Clear Island, first-winter female, 11th to 12th October. 

1976, Oct 20 to Oct 26 Isles of Scilly 1 7-day Tresco, immature female, 20th to 26th October, photo. 

1976, Oct 16 to Oct 31 Isles of Scilly 1-16 days St Mary's, female, 16th to 31st October, photo. 

1975 Dec 20 to 1976 Jan 4 Essex 1 16 days Leigh-on-Sea, immature male, 20th December to 4th January 1976. 

1975 Sep 26 Sark 1 1 day Banquette Valley, 26th September. 

1967 Oct 5 Pembrokes 1 day Skokholm, adult female, trapped, 5th October. 

1966 Oct 6 to Oct 11 Isles of Scilly 1 6 days St Agnes, female, 6th to 11th October, trapped 6th. 

1962, Oct 7 to Oct 8, Co. Cork 1 2 days Cape Clear Island, first-winter male, 7th to 8th October. 

LITTLE SWIFT THE PROMENADE-NEW BRIGHTON-THE WIRRAL 22/06/2012

I had just finished a session in the garden when my phone rang. It was Phil Woollen, and his words stopped me in my tracks: Mark Turner had a possible Little Swift at New Brighton. Holy shit!

What followed was pure pandemonium. I bolted from the house and headed straight up the M53, making frantic calls as I went. There was no news yet on the bird services, so I rang Dan Pointon to give him a heads-up while I was still on the line. Moments later, the mega alert went out.

I made it to New Brighton in record time and was met by Mark, who wasted no time in putting me straight onto the bird. Despite the rain, or perhaps because of it, the Little Swift was showing unbelievably well, kept low by the conditions. At times, it buzzed right around our heads before heading out into the middle of the Mersey, then looping back to fly along the beach below us. Absolutely incredible.

This was a bird I’d long dreamed of seeing, having missed the famous Norfolk individual back in 2005. To finally connect with one like this was something special. A Little Swift is a widespread resident of Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia, making its appearance on the river Mersey almost beyond belief.

The year was already shaping up to be a remarkable one for gripbacks, long may it continue.

Photos of the Little Swift by Phil Woollen

TWITCHERS FOR BBC

 

Legendary White-throated Robin Twitch

 

SLATY BACKED GULL-RAINHAM MARSHES-LONDON 17/02/2011

After finally connecting with the Oriental Turtle Dove, we all celebrated with a whisky from the Doc’s hip flask at 8:00 am—a perfect start to the day. Our next target was the Slaty-backed Gull at Rainham Marshes. Arriving in London around 10:30 am, it was clear we were late to the party; birders were leaving, including Dan Pointon, who had been searching since first light.

As we set up our scopes and scanned toward the tip, Chris Batty came running past, shouting that the gull was now on Wennington Marsh. A stampede ensued! I rang Dan while sprinting across the marsh; he had just walked back from the site and had no idea the bird had moved. Pushing through the crowd of at least 100 birders, I finally spotted Dan on top of the hill and gave one last sprint. There it was, perfectly still in his scope!

The Slaty-backed Gull sat serenely in the middle of the marsh, preening occasionally and lifting its head to glance around. We were ecstatic—after another frustrating day in January spent scanning in vain, we finally had the bird in the bag. Native to eastern Siberia and northern Japan, this species winters along the coasts of Japan, Korea, and China, making it an exceptionally rare vagrant to Western Europe. Seeing it in the flesh, so far from its normal range, was a truly unforgettable experience.

We enjoyed half an hour of superb views before heading back to the car, whisky in hand once again, to toast the success. Now, all that remained was to wait and see if the BBRC would accept the record.

Slaty-backed Gull

Me, knackered after running halfway around the reserve

Birders on site

ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE-41 THE LEYS-CHIPPING NORTON-OXFORDSHIRE

Tuesday 15th December

A first-winter Oriental Turtle Dove that first appeared in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, in mid-December 2010, was relocated on Saturday morning in a different garden. The bird had been feeding alongside Collared Doves and Woodpigeons on seed scattered on the lawn, often coming within just 10 feet of the window—an incredible opportunity for close-up observation. Native to East and Southeast Asia, this species breeds across Russia, China, Japan, and Korea, and winters in Southeast Asia.

The homeowner generously allowed public access on Tuesday, 15 February, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, for a small fee of £5 per person.

I made plans to meet up with Phil Woollen, Malcolm Curtin, and Mark Payne and aimed to arrive at first light. Upon arrival, we found around 300 twitchers already on site, so we joined the queue and prepared for what promised to be a memorable day of birding.

It was going to be a long day

The bird made a brief appearance before flying off with two Collared Doves. We spent the next nine hours walking the streets of The Leys, expecting it to return at any moment, but it simply didn’t happen. Despite the extreme generosity of many local residents, who kindly allowed us into their back gardens for a better view, the dove failed to reappear for the rest of the day.

Needless to say, we were gutted—sometimes even the rarest and most eagerly chased birds can be frustratingly elusive. Still, the experience of being part of such a remarkable twitch and witnessing the dedication of fellow birders made it a day to remember. 

Wednesday 16th Feb

While out with the family in Llandudno, the mega alert went off twice. The Slaty-backed Gull had reappeared at Rainham Marshes—a bird I had dipped on back in January—and the Oriental Turtle Dove was reportedly showing well. However, the owners had stated that no one would be allowed into the garden until Friday, which made the whole situation incredibly frustrating.

Determined not to miss it, I quickly arranged a team for the following morning, consisting of Pete Antrobus, Malc Curtin, and Doc Brewster, to maximise our chances of connecting with this elusive visitor.

Thursday  17th February

I drove to Pod’s house, who was taking the wheel today, and we picked up Malc and Doc Brewster before setting off south. We arrived just after 7:00 am and were the first birders on site. At first, it didn’t look promising—the family apparently wasn’t letting anyone in, and the curtains were firmly shut.

Pod and I decided to walk down the road and check a few other gardens, but came up empty-handed. On returning, we couldn’t believe it: Doc and Malc had somehow managed to get inside the house. Malc later explained he’d tried to phone us, but thanks to a poor O2 signal, we never received the call—classic!

Thankfully, the bird was right there in the kitchen as we entered. The owner’s wife was calmly eating her toast, with the children getting ready for school, completely unaware of the chaos happening around them. At last, after all the waiting and uncertainty, we finally had excellent views of the Oriental Turtle Dove. 

 Oriental Turtle Dove

PIED BILLED GREBE HOLLINGWORTH LAKE-GREATER MANCHESTER 10/11/2010

With two Pied-billed Grebes earlier in the year in Ireland, the possibility of one turning up on the mainland seemed real, and thankfully, it has! The bird was originally discovered by an RSPB group three days ago. Initially thought to be a Red-necked Grebe, photographs later confirmed the correct identification.

I made my way to Hollingworth Lake with Malc Curtin, as everyone else had seen the bird the previous day while we were at work. On arrival, we connected with the grebe straight away. While the bird was not particularly showy, it was a valuable addition to the list, and I was surprised it had been misidentified; the differences with a Red-necked Grebe are clear.

This marks the first sighting of a Pied-billed Grebe on the UK mainland since 2001, when one was at Upper Tamar Lake, Cornwall/Devon from 8th January to 24th February. A rare and exciting record for Greater Manchester!

Pied Billed Grebe

Hollingworth Lake

Me on site

Barolo Shearwater-Meols-14th September 2010

Where do I even start? After a well-earned lie-in following a night shift, Allan Conlin phoned with thrilling news: a Wryneck had been found on the North Wirral coast. I got myself ready and soon arrived on site. The bird was flighty at first, but we eventually located it sitting low in a bush, allowing us some good views.

After soaking in the moment, Allan and I decided to try a seawatch off Meols Promenade. Scopes set up, we quickly connected with our first Leach’s Petrels of the year, followed by a Black Tern. Then came the moment that sent my heart racing: Allan shouted, “OH SHIT!”

“What have you got?” I asked.

“LITTLE SHEARWATER!”

I managed to get on the bird immediately and could hardly believe my eyes. Watching it glide past was utterly surreal—I was in complete shock! Thankfully, Allan had seen this species recently in Lanzarote, so he was able to pick it up while I was distracted on the phone, constantly calling out details about the bird’s jizz as it passed. It was one of those magical birding moments you never forget.

Historical Context: Little Shearwater is extremely rare in the UK. If accepted, this will be only the second record for Cheshire and Wirral, the first being at Rostherne Mere in 1977 (June 29th–July 2nd). That bird was initially thought to be a Manx Shearwater until it became sick and was subsequently examined; it now resides in Manchester Museum.

This sighting was a reminder of the thrill of seabird watching: patience, teamwork, and a little luck can deliver experiences you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Me And Al After Our Great Find

EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER OLD FALL PLANTATION-FLAMBOROUGH HEAD-EAST YORKSHIRE 01/09/2010

Just as I was leaving work this afternoon, the pager went off: “Eastern Olivaceous, Flamborough Head!” Adrenaline kicking in, I quickly made arrangements and picked up Malc Curtin along the way. The drive northeast was swift, and within three hours, we arrived on site, but the bird proved elusive.

After a tense twenty-minute wait, the warbler finally revealed itself, flitting among the branches of an apple tree. We were rewarded with superb views, noting its strikingly long bill and pale plumage. Witnessing this bird was thrilling—it’s notoriously tricky to pin down in Britain, and this sighting marks the first record for East Yorkshire.

Birders On Site

There are 18 previous records of this species in Britain and Ireland

 

2009 Jun 21 Shetland 1 day Plantation and Chalet, Fair Isle, 21st June, trapped, photo. 

2008, Sep 23 to Sep 25, Shetland 3 days Harrier, Foula, first-winter, 23rd–25th September, photo. 

2008 May 17 Dorset 1 day Portland BO, 17th May, trapped, photo. 

2006 Sep 24 to Oct 1 Co.Cork 8 days Cape Clear Island, 24th September to 1st October, photo. 

2003 Aug 31 Dorset 1 day Portland, first-winter, trapped, 31st August, photo. 

2002 Aug 24 Essex 1 day Dengie, trapped, 24th August, photo (Birding World). Pending / not submitted 

2002, Aug 18 to Aug 28 Shetland 11 days Sandwick/Hoswick, Mainland, adult, 18th to at least 28th August, trapped 18th August, photo. 

2000 Sep 13 to Sep 21 Aberdeens 9 days Collieston, 13th to 21st September, trapped 15th September, photo. 

1999 Sep 18 to Oct 9 Co.Cork 22 days Cape Clear Island, first-winter, trapped, 18th September to 9th October. 

1999 Jul 4 to Jul 5 Dorset 2 days Portland Bill, 4th to 5th July, trapped 4th July. 

1998 Sep 24 to Oct 8 Isles of Scilly 15 days St Agnes, 24th September to 8th October, photo. 

1995 Aug 12 to Aug 13 Suffolk, 2 days Benacre, 12th to 13th August, photo. 

1995 Jun 5 to Jun 13 Shetland, 9 days Fair Isle, 5th to 13th June, trapped 5th June, photo. 

1985, Oct 17 to Oct 27 Isles of Scilly, 11 days St Mary's, 17th to 27th October, photo. 

1984, Oct 16 to Oct 26 Isles of Scilly, 11 days St Mary's, 16th to 26th October, photo. 

1977 Sep 16 Co. Cork 1 day Dursey Island, trapped, 16th September, photo. 

1967 Sep 27 Kent 1 day, Sandwich Bay, trapped, 27th September. 

1967 Sep 24 to Sep 26 Fife 3 days 

Isle of May, trapped, 24th to 26th September, when killed by Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1968.73).

Watching this elusive species finally appear was a reminder of why birding combines patience, persistence, and a bit of luck—moments like this are what make the chase so exhilarating.

SYKES`S WARBLER DRURIDGE BAY-NORTHUMBERLAND 16/08/2010

News of a Booted Warbler in Northumberland had me holding out hope; it could be a Sykes’s Warbler, a lifer I’d been chasing for a long time. By late afternoon, good photos confirmed the identification, and the Mega alert finally went off… at 10:00 pm. Unfortunately, I was stuck at work on a night shift. I felt gutted, thinking the bird would vanish overnight.

After a few frantic phone calls, a kind nurse offered to cover my early shift so I could leave at 7:00 am. With fingers crossed, I waited for confirmation. Thankfully, the bird was still present by morning, so I set off on the long journey northeast.

I arrived at Duridge Bay at 10:30 am, and luck was on my side; the Sykes’s Warbler appeared almost immediately. It was a cracking record for the mainland, and the bird gave fantastic views while on site. 

After soaking in the moment and chatting with fellow birders, I began the long journey home, content with adding another rare British species to my list. It was truly a privilege to see such a rare species on the mainland, and the experience reminded me why birding is such a thrilling mix of patience, persistence, and luck.

Pictures kindly given to me by Tom Tams

There have been 12 previous records of this species in Britain and Ireland

 

2009 Sep 29 to Sep 29 Co. Durham 1 day or Booted Warbler: Marsden Quarry, 29th September. 

2008 Sep 25 Shetland 1 day Sumburgh Head, Mainland, probably first-winter, 25th September, photo. 

2003 Oct 4 to Oct 8 Shetland 5 days Baltasound, Unst, 4th to 8th October, trapped 5th October, photo. 

2003 Sep 29 to Oct 1 Orkney 3 days North Ronaldsay, 29th September to 1st October, trapped 29th September. 

2002 Aug 31 Sussex 1 day Beachy Head, 31st August, photo. 

2002 Aug 26 Orkney, 1 day North Ronaldsay, trapped, 26th August, photo. 

2002 Aug 23 Norfolk 1 day, Sheringham, 23rd August, photo. 

2000 Jul 1 Dorset 1 day Portland Bill, trapped, 1st July, photo. 

1993, Oct 22 to Nov 9, Shetland, 19 days, Seafield, Lerwick, Mainland, adult, 22nd October to 9th November, trapped 24th October, photo. 

1990 Oct 17 Co. Cork 1 day Cape Clear Island, 17th October, photo. 

1977 Aug 20 to Aug 27 Shetland 8 days Fair Isle, first-winter, 20th to 27th August, trapped 20th August, photo. 

1959, Aug 29 to Aug 31, Shetland 3 days, Fair Isle, adult, 29th to 31st August, trapped 29th August. 

MARMORA`S WARBLER-BLORENGE-GWENT 03/05/2010

As I was starting my three-day break in Norfolk, the MEGA alert went off just as I was getting onto the A14. A quick turnaround later, and I was driving back south, according to the sat nav, only an hour and forty minutes away from a truly rare bird. Dan Pointon had tried to call me an hour earlier, but my phone had been on silent!

Making good time, I soon reached the base of a steep mountain track. The climb was endless, requiring first and second gear for most of the way. At the top, Dan was already on site and guided me into the car park. Frustratingly, the bird could be heard singing for the next fifteen minutes, hidden deep in the undergrowth. Then, suddenly, it appeared, flying right in front of us and perching briefly on a stone wall. What a view! The bird then moved to a nearby holly bush, singing its heart out in full view, allowing us to admire this incredible rarity.

Marmora's Warbler

Me and Dan On Site

Marmora’s Warbler is a Mediterranean species rarely seen in Britain. Before this sighting, there had been only five previous records:

2001 May 29 Suffolk 1 day Sizewell, male, 29th May, video, photo. 

2001 May 12 to May 18 Norfolk 7 days Scolt Head, in song, 12th, 18th May.

1993 May 23 to May 27 Borders 5 days St Abb's Head, male, in song, 23rd to 27th May, 

1992 Jun 8 to Jun 9 Yorks 2 days Spurn, in song, 8th to 9th June, trapped 8th June, photo. 

1982 May 15 to Jul 24 Yorks 71 days Midhope Moor, male, in song, 15th May to 24th July 

Thanks to a keen birder doing a Whinchat count in the area, the Marmora’s Warbler was found and treated us to unforgettable views. After soaking in the sighting, we continued east to Norfolk, elated by this rare encounter.