Autumn 2016 - the Year of the SIBERIAN ACCENTOR
irruption
When news of a Siberian Accentor trapped &
ringed on Utsira (Norway) on 6th August 2011 hit the headlines, no birder could have
foreseen what was to follow just five years later in October 2016. With a protracted
period of strong East/NE winds starting late September and continuing well into
October, indications of something incredible happening began in Finland on 4th
October, when another Siberian Accentor was discovered, followed by several more
in Scandinavia over the next few days. It seems that because of a particularly
bumper breeding season in Arctic Russia, presumably due to a startling bloom in
insect matter, this tiny but beautiful Dunnock-like bird has irrupted. So much
so, that by 24th October, a staggering 153 had been discovered in Europe,
including 56 in Sweden, 45 in Finland, 10 in Denmark, 7 in Germany, 6 in
Estonia, 6 in Poland, 5 in Latvia, 5 in Norway, 3 in Lithuania and a single in
The Netherlands. With such a huge arrival, it was inevitable that the UK would
share in, that being achieved when a brightly marked individual was discovered
by Judd Hunt in a small quarry at Scousburgh (Shetland) on 9th October - the
first record for Britain & Ireland. As one would expect, that sparked off an
epic twitch, with no fewer than 177 observers connecting during its two-day
stay. However, for those with less money or time to spend on the hobby, the
prayers were answered on 13th October, when Spurn stalwart Lance Degnan
discovered a first-winter feeding at close range with up to 4 Dunnocks on hard
standing opposite Easington Gas Refinery in East Yorkshire. Being at such an
accessible location for many, this bird was a real top drawer, attracting over
4,000 observers in its week-long stay! In fact, the irruption proved remarkably
kind to the home range, Britain reaping 9 different records between 9th and 24th
October - truly sensational!
SIBERIAN ACCENTORS IN BRITAIN 4TH-24TH OCTOBER
2016
1) Scousburgh, Shetland, 9th-10th
October;
2) Easington Village, East Yorkshire, 13th-19th
October;
3) Huntscliff, Saltburn, Cleveland, 15th
October;
4) Hendon South Dock, Sunderland, County Durham,
16th-18th October;
5) Holy Island, Northumberland, 18th
October;
6) Troila Geo, Fair Isle, 20th
October;
7) Lund, Unst, Shetland, 22nd-24th
October;
8) Fair Isle, 22nd October;
9) Sandside Bay, Deerness, Orkney, 24th
October
