On 29 November, Britain gained yet another remarkable visitor when the country’s first Masked Wagtail (Motacilla alba personata) was identified in the small village of Camrose, Pembrokeshire. A truly extraordinary long-distance vagrant, this bird originates from regions as far afield as Kazakhstan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
Although not yet treated as a full species, remaining lumped with White Wagtail as a subspecies, this was very much a case of “insurance birding”. After two weeks on night shifts, I finally had a day off and wasted no time in making plans.
Setting off on Friday evening, I made good progress through the night, arriving in Camrose at around 1am. A few hours’ sleep in the car later, first light revealed the star of the show: the wagtail feeding unconcernedly on the main road, before flying onto a nearby garden lawn.
The bird showed superbly, seemingly unfazed by the small gathering of birders watching this eastern delight. Its striking head pattern left no doubt as to its identity, and it’s no surprise that the wagtail went on to feature in several national newspapers, bringing a rare moment of mainstream attention to an already exceptional record.
After enjoying prolonged views, I began the journey back north through Wales, where the day continued to deliver. No fewer than 21 Red Kites were counted drifting over the valleys while driving—an uplifting sight in its own right.
Then, as if the day needed no further highlights, news broke at around 10am of 50+ Waxwings feeding around a football pitch at St Asaph. A slight detour was all it took, and soon I was watching these ever-popular winter visitors at close range.
Always stunning birds to see, the Waxwings provided a fitting end to a thoroughly memorable day, proof that even on limited time and little sleep, British birding can still deliver something truly special.
