I'm not quite sure if Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (on Teesside) counts as a "Mega" these days, (though apparently Rare Bird Alert so considers it).

I have put details earlier of where to go on the "North East Invaded" thread for any Mancy birders who might venture forth.

Cheers,
Mike P.

- Sad to say it's tea time and no sightings today of the Sykes's Warbler. There is a thick belt of large bushes on the landward side of the dunes up at Druridge Bay Country Park and we speculated yesterday that if the bird got into that lot there would be little chance of further sightings.
Having said that, it could still be lurking somewhere close by....

Interestingly, another was found yesterday on Shetland.

Cheers,
Mike P

Sykes's Warbler - Druridge Bay Country Park. 16/08/2010

Directions for anyone interested:

Head north up the A1, exiting east (some 10 kms north of Morpeth) heading to Widdrington, there or just before there head north up the A1068 about 4 kms.

It is best to ignore the brown "Druridge Bay Country Park" sign, instead carry on another 600 metres or so and take the next right (east, directly towards the coast).
The sign here has disappeared but it does take you to Hadson Carrs at the northern end of the bay. Once you hit the coast after barely a minute, the narrow road takes you south. After several hundred metres look for cars parked on the verge.

This morning we arrived to find about 70 N. E birders some 40 metres off the the left seaward (dune) side all focused on an isolated Hawthorn. The bird gave jigsaw views but occasionally popped out into full view, though patience was needed to get it "full scope".
After 20 mins. it flew into a lower more open bush and provided an opportunity to see it almost continuously, though generally against the light and at the back of, or low down, in the bush. I managed about 20 seconds in full view at the front of the bush through the 'scope in a total of 50 mins.

As for the bird itself, its upperparts appeared as a quite uniform "milky tea" (with no contrast discernible in the tertial edgings or tips) and with silky whitish grey underparts. Legs darkish (apparently greyish, but not particularly noted by me as I was more focused on head and plumage during the brief opportunities afforded).
Its face had a mildly surprised look, - rather blank looking, but on a subsequent view possibly due to a change of viewing angle, it had a discernible supercilium, stronger before and to just above the eye. Its bill was slender, and longer than what I recall of Booted Warbler's bill (which also seems to me to generally suggest a hint of "upturn" which really isn't thereonce you check it critically). Also, its forehead was always seemingly flatter than my impressions of Booted warblers with their generally steeper look to the forehead.
Whereas of the Hippolais genus, Booted is often said to slightly recall Chiffchaff rather more than its congeners, there was no similarity at all to any phylloscopus with this bird. I felt it was more like a miniature Acrocephalus if anything.
Its carriage seemed consistently horizontal, with no tail cocking or flicking. At no stage whilst I was there did I hear a call.

My only experience of Sykes's Warbler is virtually worthless, - India in Feb 1996, when it was probably still regarded as "Rama" race of Booted Warbler.

As regards the identification, this should be confirmed with a series of photos, a factor which is becoming increasingly useful (Olive Tree Warbler and Amur Falcon spring to mind!) I suggest that it would still take a "bird in the hand" or much more field experience across the general body of British birders for a lone observer with no camera or previous field experience to get one of these past a rarities committee presently. Nevertheless it is probably one of those species which has been overlooked here in the past, and with 10 or a dozen British records (half of these from the northern isles), its field identification may well evolve in the way it did for Blyth's Reed warbler.
In many ways it is a parallel to Garden Warbler, a species with little by way of distinguishing features, but in this case there are a great many confusion species in several genera to be eliminated to arrive at a safe i/d.

- A good instructive bird, and if you go; -good luck!
Cheers,
Mike P.

White-tailed Plover

My history with this species is not good - never seen one anywhere in the world.

Mostly they are 1 day birds in UK, although one was in Warwickshire in 1984 for 2 days, but that was before my twitching days. After that there was a gap of 23 years till 1 appeared in 2007, first at Caerlaverock, then much nearer at Leighton Moss. I was well out of touch being away on holiday.

I expected another couple of decades or so till the next one, so it was some surprise when an even more accessible one turned up at Seaforth in May this year. I was on holiday again.

Since then what is probably the same bird has done the rounds, being seen for 1 day in Holland, 1 day at Rainham Marshes in Essex then 2 days at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire (where at last, and with some relief, I caught up with it ) and finally Dungeness today.

It travels so far each day who knows where it will turn up tomorrow. Back to Holland or up to GM?? Keep a special eye out at the GM wader hotspots - you just never know.

Cheers, John

Sorry Jon - and despite claims on other Websites I did not smuggle it back to Manchester in my boot!

Never seen such accomodating Whinchats, and had fun seperaiting the genuine Tree Pipits from tree perching Meadows!

The Iberian site was odd, you needed to take the path south parallel to the road for about 100 - 150 yeards then left in to the wood for a dozen yards or so.

We only found the spot thanks to someone being on site and even then more by luck than skill.

Succesfull trip to Gwent, both Marmora's and Iberian Chiffchaff performed well.

Macaronesian (Barolo's) Shearwater on Lundy. First heard Saturday night and again last night, but it's extremely unlikely that it will be seen. After the brilliant Petrels Night and Day book, I wonder how many more are going to be found in the future?

You can hear the Lundy bird here:

http://www.lundybirds.org.uk/audio/B00h26m11s07jun2010.mp3

-- Edited by Tom McKinney on Monday 7th of June 2010 08:15:35 PM

Damn ......

cheers
jason

Tom McKinney wrote:

---

Sure is worth it Jase. Actually I was Norfolk at the time, and it took just under 7 hours to get from Stiffkey to Blaenavon in scorching sun - nice. Though at least the new twitch-mobile has a/c. Home to Glossop was just over three hours.

With your driving you could probably do Aberdeen to Blaenavon and back to Aberdeen in just over five hours and still have an hour at the bird

---

Ah well looks like its gone, thank god!! No thinking about planning a raid. I'll settle for the Long-tailed Skua again i think, cant get enough of a good thing.

cheers
jason

Sure is worth it Jase. Actually I was Norfolk at the time, and it took just under 7 hours to get from Stiffkey to Blaenavon in scorching sun - nice. Though at least the new twitch-mobile has a/c. Home to Glossop was just over three hours.

With your driving you could probably do Aberdeen to Blaenavon and back to Aberdeen in just over five hours and still have an hour at the bird

Probably go tomorrow for this - got kids today!

perhaps just as well I saw the leighton moss bird albeit at distance but at least I didn't have to contend with a steel fence and heat haze

Tom McKinney wrote:

---

Mr Hines's PC is currently at the garage, so he won't be able to post to tell you that he spent a couple of hours this afternoon peering through the fence at a distant shimmering blob that was probably the plover. What made things even more frustrating was that the bird was often strolling about at point blank range from one of the hides stuffed full of delighted Seaforthers.

If you don't have a permit then unless the bird moves closer, this is going to be a very disappointing showing from a fantastic bird. Apparently the place where it first turned up would have been great for viewing from Crosby, so let's hope it shifts back to there.

-- Edited by Tom McKinney on Thursday 27th of May 2010 05:03:33 PM

---

Spent 4 hours peering through the said fence (with Mr Hines for a short while)...the bird appearing periodically from out of the scrape/inlet area and into full view. Saw it about 8 times in total and as the afternoon wore on the heat-haze gradually lessened and the light got better allowing decent views (enough to get all the features at least) in the end.......Beltin

White-tailed Plover at Seaforth (permit only), initially not visible from Crosby Marine Park but apparently flew north towards CMP at 12.30

Take a large step-ladder or scan from the roof of your car in the Lands End car park!

HOUSE FINCH CORNWALL LANDS END.

House finch carpodacus mexicanus North and middle America apparently Generally sedentary but dispersal takes place in winter.

All info from Finches and Sparrows Clement Harris and Davis.


Keep Birding

a brilliant record! what a shame the finder sat on the news till dark?!

On second thoughts, it's late November so forget that...
The mild weather's confusing my internal calendar

Paul Heaton wrote:

---

Rob one has to keep a sense of anticipation about life, anything can turn up anywhere in all types of weather, you need a night out young man, get yourself down to Bolton on 11th December.

Stay positive and keep adding to that mega wigan list.

---

You are right Mr Heaton, anything can turn up anywhere... But if it turns up in Greater Manchester we'll probably never know about it, many Manky Birders seem to have somewhat abandoned this fine county of late

Paul Heaton wrote:

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Excellent point Tony, I too feel this weather will blow something into GM this weekend.

Keep Birding

---

I can tell you something it is going to blow in... RAIN, and lots of it!

Check out all the lakes - there seem to be Pacific Divers popping up in the south-west - hopefully they'll get blown this way by the weekend

Simon Warford wrote:

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Mr Riggers, my feet are getting itchy, when are we goin to Pegwell Bay?? Zitting Cisticola awaits, its been there 3 months so im sure it wont have been mis- identified Dont be sneaking off mid-week you know you wont see it without me

---

Sorry Mr.Warfy, are you sure?

Happen you are not as lucky as I thought!

Pete 499 that is mega news, I am sure you remember Chris Heyworth my twitching buddy he is chasing the 500 club as well, he is about 12 off it, he left me behind at the 430ish club,

I wish you all the best with the 500, hope it is a big biggy!

Keep twitching

Make certain they have got the ID right Warfy, bit of a slip up today in Scotland with a Barred Warbler, that was something else for a while!

Keep Birding