BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN 18Th-24TH SEPTEMBER-2019

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EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL-CEMLYN BAY-ANGLESEY-26TH SEPTEMBER 2019

A discussion started yesterday afternoon on the North Wales WhatsApp group that an interesting Yellow wagtail sp. had been found at Cemlyn Bay on Anglesey.

The bird had been photographed well yesterday afternoon, but no one had heard its call. News came out this morning that a birder had a sonogram of its call, and the bird was apparently perfect for Eastern!

I needed this bird for Britain, so travel arrangements were soon sorted out, and I was on my way with Fred Fearn, Malcolm Curtin, and Phil Woollen.

Views were not going to be great in a strong westerly wind

There had been no sign of the bird for over an hour on arrival, and the wind was making things difficult, but a little owl in a nearby gorse bush put on a good show, and a kingfisher was bombing around.

We then decided to move over to the road on the other side of the hill, where we connected with the Yellow Wagtail SP, and sat out on a fence post. The bird showed well for a few minutes but was distant, and then it flew back down into the field.  This bird is yet another that may have slipped by without the aid of the internet. The monochrome plumage, pale bill base, facial pattern, and strikingly long hind claw all pointed to an Eastern Yellow wagtail, but are insufficient to nail the identification fully. 

                                          
We waited around for a good hour, but the bird was so elusive, and due to the bird being in private fields, unless it flew right next to the road or over you and it called, these views would have to do. Thankfully, others did make the crucial voice recording, enabling sonogram confirmation of the identification within a few days of us seeing the bird.

Previous accepted records
2016-St Mary's Isles Of Scilly
Standing Stones field, St Mary’s, 1CY, 13th–17th October, photo, sound recording (M. Andrews, A. J. Livett et al.).

2016-Polgigga-Cornwall
Lower Bosistow, 1CY, 28th October, sound recording, photo (K. A. Wilson et al., per Cornwall Recorder).

2011-Shetland
Bruray, Out Skerries, first winter, 10th to 14th October, sound recording, photo.

2010-Devon
Colyton WTW, Colyford, first-winter male, 4th to 19th December, trapped 14th December, sound recording, photo, DNA analysis.

1909-Shetland-Fair isle
No locality, first-winter female, collected 9th October, now at the National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1910.132.15).

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AFTERNOONS BIRDING AT LEASOWE LIGHTHOUSE

I spent this afternoon birding the North Wirral coast. I parked up at Meols and headed towards the lighthouse. Swallows were passing over in good numbers as I headed towards Wrynecks Rise, and a female Stonechat put in an appearance before flying off.

Four Ravens flew over as I headed towards the pond, and a Migrant hawker dragonfly was seen as we walked along the nature trail.

Heading around the nature trail, it was very quiet.

 

With the high tide due in, I headed back to the coastal path where I connected with a Mediterranean gull that sat preening on the sea, close in with Black-headed gulls, and a juvenile Knot was casually feeding along the tide line.

Mediterranean Gull

Knot

As I walked back to the car, five Little egrets flew inland off the sea. A quiet afternoon's birding, but good to be out and about.

BIRDGUIDES PHOTO OF THE WEEK-11TH-17TH SEPTEMBER 2019

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BIRDGUIDES REVIEW OF RARE BIRDS THIS WEEK IN BRITAIN 11TH-17TH SEPTEMBER-2019

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CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

11th September 2019
Burton RSPB
Kestrel Over Wet Grassland
Snipe 40+ Main Scrape
Little Ringed Plover x1 Main Scrape
Barnacle Geese x5 Main Scrape
Ruff x4 Main Scrape
Dunlin x1 Main Scrape
Green Sandpiper x1 Reception Pool
Kingfisher Burton Mere
Chiffchaff By Willow Pool
Cetti's Warbler By Marsh Covert Wood
Buzzard Marsh Covert Wood
House Martins Railway Bridge
Raven Burton Point
Little Owl Tree Burton Point
Marsh Harrier Burton Marsh From Point
Great Egrets x4 Burton Marsh From Point
Swallows Over Burton Marsh From Point
Merlin Over Wet Grassland

Parkgate
7 Spoonbill on Bevyl Road Flash-Hen Harrier

Heswall
1900 Shelduck,14 Teal,Wigeon,2400 Oystercatcher,129 Grey Plover,300 Knot,1200 Curlew,5000 Redshank and a Greenshank 

Heswall Fields NT
240 Goldfinch

New Brighton
Pomarine Skua

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS

10th September 2019
Hilbre Island
2 Tree Sparrow,Black Tern and 335 Sandwich Tern with another 200 which flew past Red Rocks

(C)STEVE WILLIAMS

Burton RSPB

Great Egrets x4 Burton Marsh From Point
Barnacle Geese x5 Burton Marsh From Point
Swallows Burton Point
Chiffchaff Along Boardwalk
Buzzard Over Marsh Covert Wood
Cetti's Warbler Near Reception Pool
Great Egret Right Of Wet Grassland
Snipe 20+ Main Scrape
Little Stint Main Scrape
Ruff x5 Main Scrape
Little Ringed Plover x1 Main Scrape
Dunlin x1 Main Scrape
Sparrowhawk Over Main Scrape
Kestrel Over Wet Grassland
Wheatear Left Of Main Scrape
Hobby

Parkgate
6 Spoonbill on Bevyl Road Flash and a Marsh Harrier

Wybunbury-Lea Forge
Hobby-Chasing dragonflies