TROW QUARRY - Site Instructions

DIRECTIONS: Trow Quarry is near South Shields east of the A183 coast road and accessed from The Leas. Park by the pub just north of Trow Lea and walk south into the overgrown quarry at NZ 383 665.

The bird arrived with a Yellow-browed Warbler this afternoon and was photographed mid-afternoon

MEGA: EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER in COUNTY DURHAM

See http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=225010&d=1256240551

Dougie Holden photographed an EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER in Trow Quarry at Whitburn (Durham) this afternoon - the first record for Britain and Ireland

More information to follow - high cloud in area at moment with a light to moderate SW wind

RED-FLANKED BLUETAILS continue to invade

In addition to two first-winters on Shetland and another trapped and ringed in Durham at Whitburn, three further and well-twitched RED-FLANKED BLUETAILS have appeared further south.

Two different birds were trapped at Spurn Point (East Yorkshire) over the past weekend, the first time that two individuals have appeared at the same site in Britain at the same time. The first on Saturday 17 October - a first-winter thought to be a female - was at Kew Villa and seen by many. The second - a second first-winter but most likely a male - was present from Saturday afternoon but only seen by a woman day-visitor. The next day it was elusive and seen on and off in the morning at various places about the Point and then went missing until late on Sunday afternoon when it was found in the Heligoland trap and caught (see two in-hand pictures above). The bird was still present about the Point yesterday 19 October (information and pictures by kind courtesy of Dave Hursthouse).

A first-winter female (fabulously depicted above by Sean Nixon) appeared at Minsmere Sluice Bushes (Suffolk) in the middle of last week and has remained on site ever since, moving about the tracks inside the Sallow clumps 50 yards south of the Sluice gates.

It is assumed that these late-arriving Red-flanked Bluetails are originating from populations much farther east in Siberia rather than from Estonia and Scanadinavia.

Remarkable relocation of three individual GLOSSY IBISES in Warwickshire

Three of this summer's invasive juvenile GLOSSY IBISES from the Coto Donana (SW Spain)reached WARWICKSHIRE in recent days but most remarkably all three appeared on consecutive days. All had moved up from Avon and Somerset, where they had been present at Chew Valley Lake (26 September) and Catcott Lows NR (from 3 October) respectively.

The initial bird 'EPJ on white ring' appeared at Fisher's Mill GP at 1310 on 17 October and was present on and off until 1805 hours when it flew north (G. Williams et al).

This was followed next day (18 October) by first-winter 'L9M' but present on the same pit until 0900 hours (Mike Doughty).

The very next day (19 October), a third unringed individual appeared on the very same pit, later relocating to the neighbouring Drayton Bassett North Pit - an exceptional set of circumstances.

Source of information: the excellent http://tamevalleybirding.blogspot.com/

Photographs above: Plate 1 Bob Duckhouse; 2-3 L.Johnson and 4: Bob Duckhouse

Nice video and shot of the BROWN SHRIKE

Paul Bowyer kindly provided this close-up image of the Middlesex BROWN SHRIKE and this link to his video at :
http://www.ukbirds.net/video/brownshrike.wmv

BROWN SHRIKE still present

A staggering 2,375 observers have now twitched this 'Class 1' vagrant and after 9 days the bird is still present at the north end of Staines Moor (Middlesex).

Andrew Moon took the wonderful selection of images above - Andrew himself being one of the first observers to suspect the bird's true identity.

First LITTLE BITTERN in Leicestershire for 55 years !!

See http://www.lros.org.uk/News.htm

Jim Graham found and photographed this juvenile LITTLE BITTERN at Cossington Meadows LRWT Reserve (Leics) yesterday afternoon (two of Jim's images published on the above website).

The bird was showing extremely well on the side of the river before flying to roost on the Reedbed Pool (SK 595 139).

Disappointingly, the bird could not be found this morning. To get to the site, park on the north side of Syston Road and take the riverside path north through the two metal gates. The pools are on the right after 200 yards.

The last Little Bittern in Leicestershire was in 1954 - a bird shot dead at Thornton Reservoir on 21 August Prior to that it was mid November 1867 !

'Long-billed' Starling in Norfolk

This ridiculously long-billed COMMON STARLING was photographed today in Wells Harbour (Norfolk) where this region has seen an influx of over 60,000 immigrants in the past week. Despite its deformity, Mark Stirland reported it to be in surprisingly good form, and mastering the trick of pinching the biggest chips !

Today's Headlines

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Friday 16 October 2009 issued at 2100 hours and published in association with RARE BIRD ALERT PAGERS whilst utilising additional information gleaned from the Regional Birdlines, BirdGuides, the Irish Birdnet and BINS, an array of websites and web-blogs and individual observers.

The first-winter BROWN SHRIKE remains for its 6th day at the north end of Staines Moor (Middlesex) (see separate entries for detailed directions and identification of this educational individual) whilst in Suffolk, the first-winter female RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL remains at Minsmere Sluice Bushes for its third day. Patience and commonsense is required to see this beauty, the bird favouring the second clump of Sallows and scrub 45 yards south of the sluice. It favours the tracks inside the bushes on which to come out to feed and if not harried and cut off at every angle, will show very well at just a few yards range.

In Shetland, the long-staying LANCEOLATED WARBLER remains on Out Skerries, along with an ARCTIC WARBLER, whilst the first-winter TAIGA FLYCATCHER is still showing well around the manure pile at the farm at the north end of the road at Gloup on Yell. On Fair Isle, the BLACKPOLL WARBLER is still present (in the Haa crop), along with single RUSTIC and LITTLE BUNTINGS and a BLUETHROAT, and the WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER in the Ellister garden at Maywick..Two HORNEMANN'S ARCTIC REDPOLLS remain at Saxa Vord, Unst, with 8 Northwestern Redpolls at nearby Haroldswick.

A juvenile SPOTTED SANDPIPER continues to show well at Garths Ness, the burn also being shared by a BLUETHROAT In neighbouring Orkney, an adult ROSE-COLOURED STARLING remains on Shapinsay.

On the Isles of Scilly pride of place goes to RADDE'S WARBLERS, with well-watched individuals by Little Arthur Farm on St Martin's and between Carreg Dhu Gardens and the back of Holy Vale on St Mary's. The St Martin's Radde's is also within short walking distance of an occasionally-showing LITTLE BUNTING, whilst a typically mobile RED-THROATED PIPIT continues to range widely over St Mary's. A WRYNECK is in gorse near the airfield turning circle on St Mary's. A RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER remains in the Parsonage on St Agnes, along with a juvenile ROSE-COLOURED STARLING in the Coastguards Cottages area, with up to 8 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS scattered about the archipelago. Tresco harbours a COMMON ROSEFINCH still, with a further juvenile ROSE-COLOURED STARLING on Bryher. A herd of 10 adult Whooper Swans remains on Porthellick Pool, St Mary's, along with 2 Jack Snipes.

On the Isle of Man, a WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER was trapped and ringed at the Calf of Man Bird Observatory yesterday afternoon, this same locality harbouring 2 Yellow-browed Warblers today.

Two juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS are again at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB (Cheshire) with a further juvenile on the River Lune by Crook Farm near Cockersand Abbey (Lancs) at SD 430 546 (from the A588 take Moss Lane west for 1.5 miles before forking right to the car park beyond Lighthouse Cottage). A juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER is present for a fourth day on the Eden Estuary at Guardbridge (Fife), whilst the long-staying adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS continues to consort with Common Redshanks at Aberlady Bay (Lothian). A LITTLE AUK offshore near Strathbeg RSPB was one of the first this autumn (following a few in Roseisle Bay, Moray, this past week) whilst 23 Bearded Tits were an unusual sight at Newburgh (Aberdeenshire)..

A first-winter RICHARD'S PIPIT remained for a second day in the 'Bombhole' area at South Gare (Cleveland) this morning whilst a small influx of SHORE LARKS include 6 in the Thornham Point/Titchwell area (Norfolk) and a single at Felixstowe Ferry Golf Links (Suffolk). Both the GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK and the RICHARD'S PIPIT remain at West Runton (Norfolk), frequenting the massive stubble field NW of the derelict barns.

In Oxfordshire, Britain's second-ever AZOREAN YELLOW-LEGGED GULL continues to wander between Didcot Landfill and ploughed fields to the north of the neighbouring B4016 (afternoon's are best), with the landfill also harbouring three different Caspian Gulls, 8 Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult Baltic Gull.

There are two different drake AMERICAN WIGEONS currently in Dumfries & Galloway - one at Mersehaed RSPB and another in the SW corner of Castle Loch NR - whilst the juvenile GLOSSY IBIS continues to show very well in the damp field east of the B9033 by the Corralhill turning (NK 047 613) near Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire).

A GREY PHALAROPE remains on the Freshwater Lagoon at Titchwell Marsh RSPB (Norfolk) for a second day (best viewed from Island Hide) whilst seawatching today in the fresh northerly winds produced 3-4 juvenile LONG-TAILED SKUAS, 170 Great Skuas, 15+ Pomarine Skuas, a LEACH'S PETREL, several SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 50+ Manx Shearwaters, 3 ATLANTIC PUFFINS and 1,200+ Little Gulls at assorted locations from Holme east to Sheringham..

At Slimbridge WWT (Gloucs), the highly mobile juvenile GLOSSY IBIS was on the 100 Acre Pool this morning, along with the 3 'near-resident' CATTLE EGRETS, with two more long-staying CATTLE EGRETS still at Pennington Marshes (Hants). A further CATTLE EGRET is around Denge Marsh (Kent), whilst the juvenile GLOSSY IBIS was again at Maxey GP (Cambs) this afternoon, with 5 again at Catcott Lows NR (Somerset).

A juvenile BLACK-THROATED DIVER is just off the dam at Chasewater (Staffs) with an adult summer RED-THROATED DIVER for a second day showing down to a few yards in Chelmsford Central Park (Essex).

Following the remarkable flock of 8 GREAT WHITE EGRETS that followed the North Norfolk coast on Wednesday, additional long-staying birds include two at Leighton Moss RSPB (Lancs) and singles at Meare Heath (Somerset) and a 'new' bird on the large washland pool close to the car park at Lakenheath Fen RSPB (Suffolk). One was also reported at Brandon Marsh NR (Warks) this morning.

Three juvenile RUDDY SHELDUCKS continue to commute between Lodmoor and Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset), whilst the drake LESSER SCAUP remains in Toft Bay, Draycote Water (Warks) and the eclipse drake KING EIDER at the River Witham Mouth, 2.2 miles SSE of Fishtoft (Lincs).

A party of 6 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS continue to commute between the Isles of Scilly and Copperhouse Creek, Hayle Estuary (Cornwall).

Good numbers of RING OUZELS are now coming through, along with excellent numbers of inland SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPITS, whilst several flocks of COMMON SCOTERS have been displaced inland in recent days.

In IRELAND, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER continues for a third day at Garinish Point (Co. Cork), with a LITTLE BUNTING still in the Beet Field above the West Bog on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) and the long-staying ARCTIC WARBLER trapped and ringed yesterday in Nordle Wood.

The long-staying juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER remains at Carrahane Strand (County Kerry), whilst the AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT is still near Liscannor at Clahane Strand (County Clare).

STAINES MOOR BROWN SHRIKE - typical views

Bob Duckhouse has very kindly provided these two images of the Staines Moor BROWN SHRIKE and these are fairly typical of the sort of views one can expect.

STAINES MOOR BROWN SHRIKE - additional map

The BROWN SHRIKE is on Staines Moor at TQ 034 735, midway on the above map between the two footbridges (FB) immediately SW of 'Bone Head'

BROWN SHRIKE still on site

The first-winter BROWN SHRIKE is still present this morning (photograph above showing the richness of the crown taken by Richard Bayldon).

For the benefit of our international visitors, I have placed above two maps showing the location in better detail.

Leave the M25 at Junction 14 (and remember if driving down from the north keep to the right lane until you have passed the new Heathrow Terminal 5 exit) and at the roundabout take the 'Stanwell Moor village' exit. Follow the road into the village and at the public house and very sharp bend, turn right on to Hithermoor Road. Find somewhere sensible to park after about 200-300 yards down, making sure not to block any entrances to garages, parking spaces, etc, and then continue on foot to the footpath leading down the NW side of King George VI Reservoir. After 250 yards, veer off right and continue along a narrow trail for a further 150 yards to a boardwalk and stile. This brings you out on to the north end of Staines Moor, where the Brown Shrike has a larder and territory in the scattered bushes on the north side of the river up as far west as the bridge. View only from the south side of the river to avoid upsetting or disturbing the bird (Lee Evans)

The GREAT WHITE EGRET invasion continues - record flock observed in North Norfolk

This incredulous flock of EIGHT EUROPEAN GREAT WHITE EGRETS flew east over Alex Lees and other observers at Cley Coastguards (Norfolk) at 0828 hours yesterday morning before continuing further east and coasting Sheringham Golf Course (0846), Beeston Bump (0853) and Mundesley (0932)

For a detailed account, see http://www.freewebs.com/punkbirder/

PADDYFIELD WARBLER trapped and ringed at Snettisham Pits, NORFOLK

Trapped and ringed by myself this afternoon at Snettisham Coastal Park, Norfolk.

I put a two shelf net across the small reed channel hoping to catch the 10 Bearded Tits that had been calling all morning, these pass through regularly each Oct / Nov.

On the last net round of the session I walked up to the net to see a small bird in the far end, thinking it was a Beardie I was chuffed with the decision to put up the net. on reaching the bird I immediately realised in was no Beardie and in fact was a warbler. I knew immediately that it was something very different with the overall colour of the bird being a sandy buff and rufous mix, with a stonking supercilium. My mind was racing a bit as I tried to put a name to it, Desert Warbler came to mind, but not with that supercilium.... I don't know how or why but then Paddyfield popped into my head. The bird was extracted and I finished the net round, and with about 10 birds to process I contacted Jim Scott at RSPB Snettisham to provide pictorial literature, Sue Bryan and John Middleton (ringer) and my father. All the other birds were processed prior to this bird allowing 25 minutes for the additional experience and checker to arrive. the bird was ringed measured and a description taken along with biometrics and a series of photos.

It was confirmed as a PADDYFIELD WARBLER - only the third county record*. The bird was released at 2.15pm and promptly flew back to the reed channel.

Wing 57mm
Wing Point 3-4
Emarginated 3/4/5
notch on 2nd P 13.5mm
notch on P2 = 6mm shorter than SS
notch on P3 = SS
P1 = longest PC

Bill to feather 10.7mm
Bill to skull 13.9

*Previous Paddyfield Warbler records in Norfolk - 1) A first-weinter trapped and ringed in a hedgerow between Weybourne and Sheringham on 24 September 1993 and 2) a bird at East Hills, Wells, on 23 September 1996

Trevor Girling

EYEBROWED THRUSH on NORTH RONALDSAY

The first twitchable EYEBROWED THRUSH in Britain for 14 years ! This beautiful first-winter (photographed above by Adrian Webb) showed well from midday on Monday 5 October until mid-morning on Tuesday 6 October before becoming elusive and finally leaving to the south with large numbers of Redwings just after midday. Just a handful of twitchers connected, with an equal number left disappointed. The video below was taken as the bird fed by the track leading up to the Observatory - very gripping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5n7atzFm_o

Middlesex BROWN SHRIKE video footage

Click here http://thefinancialbirder.piczo.com/wednesday14thoctober2009?cr=4&linkvar=000044 to see some reasonable footage of the Staines Moor BROWN SHRIKE (Jeff Goodridge).

The BROWN SHRIKE in MIDDLESEX

Local birdwatcher John Gates discovered a 'Red-backed Shrike' on Staines Moor (Middlesex) late morning on Sunday 11 October. It was favouring the scattered bushes at the north end of the moor and was showing quite well. News of its presence was quickly circulated and during the afternoon some 40 or so observers connected, although wet conditions set in curtailing any close inspection. A few observers including Andrew Moon, Pete Naylor and Franko Maroevic commented on its 'odd appearance'.

With much better weather conditions on Monday morning, the bird was seen well and was still frequenting the same area of Hawthorn scrub close to one of the small bridges over the river. A few more people noted some irregularities in its plumage and after a meticulous study of its key components, Chris Heard re-identified the bird as a first-winter ASIATIC BROWN SHRIKE Lanius cristatus mid-afternoon. This incredible and very dramatic news was quickly relayed to the Information Services and by nightfall, 56 observers had managed to make it. The bird roosted in a dense isolated clump just 25 yards NE of the bridge at 1827 hours.

Despite a full moon and a calm starlit night, the Brown Shrike remained for a third day and after the early morning mist had given way to clear skies and warm autumn sunshine, some 560 observers made their way to the site. It showed well on and off throughout the day and was photographed (see Mike Lawrence's images above) and videoed. I spent some six hours watching it, particularly as it was such an educational individual. Views ranged from 35 yards to 130 yards, the bird frequently catching Wasps and Beetles during the observation period and occasionally disappearing inside the foliage to rest.

It was still present on Wednesday 14 October when a further 350 observers visited.

IDENTIFICATION

A very educational bird in first-winter plumage. Although superficially resembling a first-winter Red-backed Shrike, differed mainly in its structure and general tones of plumage. The dark mask around the eye was extensive and eye-catching, extending well beyond the eye and onto the ear-coverts, with a pale line above the mask and just above the bill-base. The crown was noticeably warm brown and relatively unmarked (particularly at distance), this shading continuing down on to the mantle (the dark barring only being noticeable at closer ranges). The upperwings lacked the white primary flash of the 'isabellinus-types' and were pale buff-fringed on the greater coverts and on the inner wing linings, whilst the tertails were significantly dark, the longest two exhibiting a blackish subterminal bar. Most noticeable was the short primary projection, with just FIVE tips generally visible (unlike the typical 6-7 of Red-backed) and emargination on the third to fifth primaries. On a rear view, the primary tips reached ONLY midway up the uppertail-coverts, giving it a significant structural difference in appearance to a typical Red-backed Shrike. Furthermore, when viewed splaying the tail, the outer tail feather was very noticeably much shorter, with the darker central feathers contrasting with the brighter (more rufous) and shorter t5 and t6 and very obviously graduated in shape. At all times, the tail appeared very slim and long, the length being accentuated by the short primary extension. The tips of the central feathers appeared very pointed. The uppertail-coverts were very slightly warmer brown that the rest of the upperparts.

The underparts were off-white and distinctly marked with crescentic barring, quite extensive on the flanks and breast-sides. Apart from some warmth at the rear of the ventral region, there was no warmth (cream or buff-washing) to the underparts - a feature associated with the majority of Brown Shrikes.

The legs and feet were distinctly pale grey with something of a bluish tint whilst the stout bill was pale greyish based along much of the length of the lower mandible, and then tipped dark. The upper mandible was also darker towards the tip.

PREVIOUS RECORDS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND

There are six accepted records of this species that winters in the Indian subcontinent and SE Asia and breeds from the Ob River basin in Siberia east to the Sea of Okhost and Kamchatka, North Japan and throughout much of Eastern China, including a well-twitched adult in North Yorkshire last autumn.

1) An adult at Scatness (Shetland) from 30 September to 2 October 1985 (British Birds 81: 586; 86: 600-603, plates 224-225; Scottish Bird Report 1987: 49; 1992: 70; Ibis 133: 219);

2) A first-winter female trapped and ringed on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 21 October 2000 (fully documented by Hywel Maggs & Deryk Shaw in Birding World 13: 420-422);

3) A first-winter retrospectively identified on Bryher (Scilly) on 24-28 September 2001 (fully documented by Marcus Lawson in Birding World 14: 427-431);

4) An adult male trapped and ringed at Skaw on Whalsay (Shetland) on 19-24 September 2004 (fully documented by Brian Marshall in Birding World 17: 390-391);

5) An adult at Flamborough Head (East Yorkshire) on 24-25 September 2008 (British Birds 102: 587);

6) An elusive first-winter at Vallay Strand Plantation, North Uist (Outer Hebrides) on 18 and 23-24 September 2008 (British Birds 102: 587, plate 385).

There is one additional record from IRELAND - an adult female at Bellyferriter (County Kerry) from 22 November to 10 December 1999 (fully documented in Birding World 12: 485-486).

DIRECTIONS

Leave the M25 at Junction 14 and at the roundabout take the Stanwell Moor village turning. At the pub junction, turn right on to Hithermoor Road and park sensibly and courteously after 250 yards. Continue on foot to the bridleway leading down the NW side of King George VI Reservoir and after 250 yards, veer right through the gate to Staines Moor. After 100 yards, cross the boardwalk and bridge on to the moor, from where the shrike can be viewed looking north across the river at TQ 034 733 just NW of the first bridge.

Total now reaches 420 species

A further 16 species have appeared in Britain and Ireland in the past two weeks pushing the total number of species now recorded in 2009 to a very impressive 419 species minimum. The most recent additions include -:

1) OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT (several on Shetland)

2) PECHORA PIPIT (at least 7 recorded on Shetland)

3) AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT (singles on Foula and in County Clare)

4) CEDAR WAXWING (the first for Ireland on Inishbofin Island, County Galway)

5) RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL (the first two of what will presumably be another wave of this ever-increasing vagrant with singles in Shetland and in Suffolk)

6) PIED WHEATEAR (a first-winter male at Horsey, Norfolk)

7) VEERY (two birds on Shetland)

8) EYEBROWED THRUSH (the first for many years on North Ronaldsay, Orkney)

9) BLACK-THROATED THRUSH (the first today on Shetland)

10) PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER (one on St Kilda)

11) LANCEOLATED WARBLER (several on Shetland)

12) RADDE'S WARBLER (five recent records including one on Scilly)

13) WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER (one on Shetland)

14) BROWN SHRIKE (up to three different birds including a well-twitched first-winter at Staines Moor)

15) RED-EYED VIREO (one on Orkney Mainland)

16) BLACKPOLL WARBLER (one in SW Ireland in County Cork)

CEDAR WAXWING IN COUNTY GALWAY - FIRST RECORD FOR IRELAND

Anthony McGeehan and Criag Nash discovered this first-winter CEDAR WAXWING on Inishbofin Island (Co. Galway) at lunchtime today, feeding in Willows at the east end of the island. It was typically mobile but was later relocated and photographed feeding on Blackberries and remained in this area until at least 1830 hours this evening.

There are just two British records: an adult on Noss (Shetland) on 25-26 June 1985 and a first-winter with Bohemian Waxwings in Nottingham city centre (Notts) from 20 February to 18 March 1996.

Melanistic Alba

This melanistic alba wagtail was photographed in Suffolk last week by Steve Morgan