A probable BRIGHT GREEN WARBLER (Phylloscopus nitidus) is present in Church Cove on The Lizard (West Cornwall) today, showing intermittently in Elms at the seaward end of the cove opposite the Mariner's Cottage. It was found by Cambridgeshire artist Ben Green and Duncan Poyser late morning and showed again for 20 minutes early afternoon and again briefly to seven observers at 1645. It is calling quite often, is very yellow on the throat, on the face and in the supercilium but only has a faint single yellowish wingbar.
There is only one previous record of a definite BRIGHT GREEN WARBLER in Britain - a very yellow on the underparts first-winter that remained on The Garrison, St Mary's (Scilly) from 26 September until 4 October 1983 (and certainly not on Bryher as published erroneously in Russell Slack's new book). This bird showed well occasionally but was generally very elusive, frequenting the tall pines visible from the lower Garrison walls.
Also in the Southwest, the first BLACK-THROATED THRUSH for Devon involves a splendid first-winter male that has been showing well this afternoon in Rowan trees on Dartmoor at Scorriton Deer Park. The bird is present for its second day and was seen by just ten people and is associating with three Ring Ouzels (John Walters - finder, Mark & Bob Bailey, Mike Langman, Mark Darlaston, Pat Mayer, Andy Trout, Dave Stone, Ken Montanden and Andrew Cunningham). Park by the ' The Traveller's Arms' public house in Scorriton village and walk uphill west for 2.5 miles along the lane to the Deer Park. Turn right at the end of the lane at the metal gates into the Deer Park and continue for a further mile to the far end of the park and from the metal gate walk 400 yards up the valley and view the Rowan tree towards the River Mardle at SX 677 686 on Dartmoor itself. Be warned - it takes at least an hour to walk to the site. DO NOT APPROACH THE TREE CLOSER THAN 70 YARDS - the bird will not come in if birders are standing too close to the tree. The record shot above was taken by Dave Stone.
There is only one previous record of a definite BRIGHT GREEN WARBLER in Britain - a very yellow on the underparts first-winter that remained on The Garrison, St Mary's (Scilly) from 26 September until 4 October 1983 (and certainly not on Bryher as published erroneously in Russell Slack's new book). This bird showed well occasionally but was generally very elusive, frequenting the tall pines visible from the lower Garrison walls.
Also in the Southwest, the first BLACK-THROATED THRUSH for Devon involves a splendid first-winter male that has been showing well this afternoon in Rowan trees on Dartmoor at Scorriton Deer Park. The bird is present for its second day and was seen by just ten people and is associating with three Ring Ouzels (John Walters - finder, Mark & Bob Bailey, Mike Langman, Mark Darlaston, Pat Mayer, Andy Trout, Dave Stone, Ken Montanden and Andrew Cunningham). Park by the ' The Traveller's Arms' public house in Scorriton village and walk uphill west for 2.5 miles along the lane to the Deer Park. Turn right at the end of the lane at the metal gates into the Deer Park and continue for a further mile to the far end of the park and from the metal gate walk 400 yards up the valley and view the Rowan tree towards the River Mardle at SX 677 686 on Dartmoor itself. Be warned - it takes at least an hour to walk to the site. DO NOT APPROACH THE TREE CLOSER THAN 70 YARDS - the bird will not come in if birders are standing too close to the tree. The record shot above was taken by Dave Stone.
