HERMIT THRUSH on Barra

Graham Ekins obtained these absolutely stunning HERMIT THRUSH images when he and 15 others twitched this bird - one of two in the Outer Hebrides at the same time, the other on South Uist - at Castlebay on Barra.

And another selection of this October's Pick of the Best on Scilly - GARY THOBURN GALLERIES

Well worth the £7.80 boat trip to Bryher was this first-year SUBALPINE WARBLER - one of perhaps two birds that visited the archipelago this October.

The odd RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER made it to the islands, including this first-winter on the Garrison.

A great showing by these small Sibes - LITTLE BUNTING - with perhaps 5 or 6 birds in total. Two such individuals spent the best part of a week affording excellent views as they consorted with a flock of Meadow Pipits in a grass field just inland of Porthellick Bay

No visit to Scilly in October is complete without seeing the annual JACK SNIPE migration at Lower Moors and Porthellick. A good crop of cut-reeds ensured a bumper crop of occurrencies - peaking at 8 birds early in the month.

Highlights of a Scilly Autumn

For many visitors to Scilly this October, their only 'new bird' was this EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL from Siberia, typified by its very grey-and-white plumage tones, buzzing quality to its call notes and long hind-claw. Jim Lawrence obtained the large images and Keith Vinicombe the image on the roof. It was one of three flava wagtails that were present at the time, this bird eventually giving itself up for two days at Pelistry.

The undoubted star arrival of this autumn's Scilly season was this first-winter female BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR on the Garrison rocks on St Mary's. Supremo bird photographer Gary Thoburn captured these beautiful images of the bird as it flycatched from the rocky boulders, the bird remaining for just under a week. It had initially been found by Lee Woods and other Suffolk birders on the Thursday but its identification was not clinched until the Saturday. St Mary's also hosted a first-winter PIED WHEATEAR for a brief period and was photographed by Graham Etherington.

Late RED-FOOTED FALCON in Fife

Graeme Leckie photographed this juvenile RED-FOOTED FALCON at Fife Ness yesterday afternoon. He and Kris parked at Kilminning NO631088 and walked along the Fife coast path to the Fife bird club hide at NO638097 and the falcon was seen en-route at approximately NO636092 at 11:40. It was photographed and observed by Kris and Graeme as they were was returning to the car to get her walking poles!!!, but on return Graeme got a quick view of it at around 11:50, and that was the last time it was seen.

Dick Forsman kindly commented - ''Lee, this bird is a juvenile, and I think the intense tawny and buff coloration of the underparts rule out Amur, which should be more pied. The upperparts colour, as seen here, is highly susceptible to the angle of light, sometimes appearing grey, and the next moment Merlin-brown''

This is the second Red-footed Falcon I have been sent in a month - another individual being photographed very late in the New Forest in Hampshire.

AMERICAN KESTRELS in captivity

The bird has apparently escaped from Stonham Barns in Suffolk. I have now discovered that applications have been made for 481 American Kestrel rings in the UK (many more than I had thought from earlier enquiries) and that four birds escaped in the past twelve months, including birds from Durham, North Yorkshire and Cornwall.

AMERICAN KESTREL at Landguard

An apparent juvenile AMERICAN KESTREL has just been located at Landguard Nature Reserve in Suffolk. The bird is bearing a metal ring and follows an occurrence at Old Hunstanton in Norfolk some years ago, which was also ringed - but with a green metal one. It is therefore considered to be of suspect origin. It is present on the Common area and it is currently perching on brambles and gorse..

American Kestrels are not that common in captivity but there is some captive breeding programmes underway. Contacts to the Registry are currently being made to check to see if any American Kestrels have recently been lost.

The Identification of Northern Harrier/North American Hen Harrier

Alan Murphy has some absolutely stunning images of an array of NORTHERN HARRIER plumages at http://www.alanmurphyphotography.com/tax%20list/raptors/northernharrier%20tax.htm

AMERICAN BITTERN now at Walmsley Sanctuary CBWPS Reserve in Cornwall

Well this is how one really wants to see an AMERICAN BITTERN - stunning photographs taken this afternoon at Walmsley Sanctuary - perhaps the Trewey Common bird relocating.........

Just gone through my inbox and discovered why the AMERICAN BITTERN was not seen at Trewey Common today. These fantastic photographs taken today at Walmsley Sanctuary could explain why.

The reserve is generally strictly CBWPS members only with very limited parking. However, the local farmer has agreed to open up a field for parking at SW 988 742 which is on the SW side of the B3314 just before the traffic lights at Trewornan Bridge if travelling from Wadebridge.

The hide will not be unlocked until daybreak so please do not attempt to enter the reserve before someone from CBWPS arrives which should be at 06:30. Access to the reserve is across farmland, which will contain livestock so it is imperative that people follow on site instructions.

As one can see from the published images above, the bird was showing very well today and was reported as present from 11:00 to 14:00 at least (Dave Parker, CBWPS Website and Bird Recording Editor)

Cornish AMERICAN BITTERN and AMERICAN GREEN HERON on film

Two mega rare Nearctic Herons - Matt Deans took the exquisite Green Heron shots at Heligan and Phil Bishop the superb in-flight shots of the American Bittern

NORTH AMERICAN HEN HARRIER/MARSH HAWK in IRELAND - First Record

The bird was first seen on Saturday by Tom Kilbane (and possibly by others, it has transpired since). Tom contacted me on Saturday night to let me know that he had seen a very interesting looking harrier, resembling a ‘Marsh Hawk’ at the East end of Tacumshin that afternoon. We discussed the identification of hudsonia vs. cyaneus and I summarised some of the detail that might be required to eliminate the possibility of it being a tricky Hen Harrier, a few of which can strongly resemble hudsonia. We both felt it better not to put out any news on the bird until the ID could be confirmed, in case it proved to be just an unusually plumaged Hen Harrier.

I wasn’t free until Sunday afternoon and had been intending to have another look at the Carne Buff-bellied Pipit, but as the weather had become much better than had been forecast, I decided to visit Tacumshin. After around an hour and a half tramping I had pretty much put the harrier to the back of my mind and was walking the flooded areas beyond the east end pool in search of pipits when this amazing looking harrier suddenly got up from long grass just 25m away. At such close range it was immediately clear that this was not just a ‘rufous’ Hen Harrier and the impressions Tom had described to me were absolutely real. It alighted momentarily on a nearby fence post before drifting off over Sigginstown Island and it then dropped out of view some distance away, to the NE. Having managed to get some decent record shots I felt certain that the identification as hudsonia could be confirmed, so I phoned Tom with the exciting news. Shortly afterwards I phoned Noel Keogh, who I knew was in the area, and learned that he had seen the bird completely independently about an hour earlier, at ‘Forgotten corner’. Noel was sufficiently struck by the bird’s appearance to wonder if it might be a Pallid Harrier, though the Hen Harrier-like structure indicated otherwise. The bird reappeared at the east end just before dusk, by which time a small crowd of birders had gathered at the east end car park to see it. It was last seen out to the west, over ‘the patches’, in fading light.

Another great find by Tom, I’m grateful for his tip-off that put me in the right place the following afternoon! (Killian Mullarney)

Nearctic Harrier in SW Ireland

A juvenile NORTH AMERICAN HEN HARRIER (Circus hudsonius) (also known as Northern Harrier or Marsh Hawk) is present for a third day in County Wexford frequenting Tacumshin Lakes and its environs. Killian Mullarney has photographed the bird first highlighted by Tom Kilbane and a selection of his images can be browsed at www.irishbirding.com. The identification of this form has always been very complicated but images of this bird clearly show a bird with a contrastingly dark hood and the diagnostic underwing patterning that we have come to rely on more recently.

Interestingly, of the 7 records of this form I listed in 1990 (Evans, Rare Birds in Britain 1800-1990, page 103), only ONE now remains as acceptable - a juvenile that wintered on the Isles of Scilly from 22 October 1982 to 7 June 1983. As such, this is one real mega in terms of European appearances.

Next off, the AMERICAN BITTERN present at Trewey Common Pools, Zennor (West Cornwall), since at least last Monday failed to put in an appearance this morning, leaving 70 or more observers disgruntled. It had been seen by 430 observers since news of its presence was released on Thursday.

That other Nearctic heron, the AMERICAN GREEN HERON, continues its stay unabated though, showing well once again to allcomers at the Lost Gardens of Heligan SE of St Austell (Cornwall).

In North Norfolk, the two first-winter GREY PHALAROPES remain on North Scrape at Cley NWT Reserve, along with the drake North American Green-winged Teal at Daukes Hide and at least 7 SHORE LARKS on the shingle ridge between Salthouse and Kelling Hard and 3 more by Cley North Hide. Further south and close to the border with Cambs, the very confiding GLOSSY IBIS continues in the field just SE of Welney village not far from the cattle pens just west of the Hundred Foot Drain, whilst the juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER reappeared at Cley Marshes NWT this afternoon on Pat's Pool. In neighbouring Suffolk, the 2nd-winter KING EIDER remains off Dunwich Cliffs.

PALLAS'S LEAF WARBLERS are now appearing again with one in the Long Bank Hedge, Beacon Ponds (East Yorks) yesterday afternoon followed by two together this morning in the wood at Berry Head (South Devon), another at the west end of Holkham Pines (Norfolk) and one still present in the Observatory garden at Portland Bill (Dorset).

The Isles of Scilly season is now drawing to a close with the last of the 600 or so of this autumn's birdwatchers now departing; avian remnants from last week's half-term being the DUSKY WARBLER in the Higher Moors clump area of St Mary's and the odd YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER.

In terms of this autumn's irruptions, that of the BOHEMIAN WAXWING remains in full swing, with somewhere in the region of 6,000 birds displaced in Scotland and more and more now dispersing further south. It really is going to be a nightmare for Bird Information Service operatives ! Some single flocks were noted at the weekend as containing over 2,000 birds - incredible numbers - and today flocks of over 1,000 are still being recorded in Aberdeenshire..

Several juvenile ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDS are still being seen, with up to 4 in the Sleddale area (Cleveland/North York Moors), two still in the Burnham Overy Dunes area (North Norfolk) and the one in the Holland Haven (Essex) area.

LAPLAND BUNTINGS too remain in abundance, with at least 60 in winter stubble between Chare Ends and the quarry at Holy Island (Northumberland), 12 in fields between Mwnt and Aberporth (Ceredigion) and 5 far west in stubble opposite Tehidy CP (Cornwall).

BEARDED TITS are also in irruptive mood, with 2 at Flamborough Head (East Yorks), 7 at Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire), at least 9 at Broom GP (Beds), 3 at Amwell NR (Herts) and a male at Carsington Water (Derbyshire).

A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER at Alexandra Park (London) was an excellent local record, the bird moving within a tit flock at the western edge of the reservoir as well as in the Conservation Area by the pool.

A female VELVET SCOTER remains inland on Filby Broad (Norfolk) whilst other scarce wildfowl include a drake AMERICAN WIGEON from the Swantail Hide at Wheldrake Ings YWT (North Yorks) and up to 3 FERRUGINOUS DUCKS at Chew Valley Lake (Avon).

In Scotland, a LITTLE EGRET is still showing well on the Starnafin Farm Pools at Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire), with a late GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) and another on the tarmac road at Halligarth, Unst (Shetland).

A very long-staying CATTLE EGRET in Cambridgeshire was today in fields south of the A47 between Guyhirn and Thorney Toll, whilst equally long-staying are GREAT WHITE EGRETS at the Idle Valley NR (Notts) and at Blashford Lakes HWT (Hants). Another CATTLE EGRET is still present today close to the Stonebridge car park at Donna Nook (North Lincs) in the cattle field by Marsh Lane.

A GREY PHALAROPE also continues inland at Rutland Water (Leics), frequenting the shoreline 500 yards west of Normanton Church, whilst the very long-staying first-winter LESSER YELLOWLEGS can still be located on the extensive flood meadows at Port Meadow, Oxford (Oxon). In North Lincolnshire, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER is showing well for a second day at Freiston Shore RSPB, with the juvenile in South Devon reappearing on the ebbing tide at the north end of the Exe Estuary 200 yards south of the Turf Hotel on the west shore once again.

Not much in the way of Rare Bird News other than the harrier coming out of IRELAND today but at least 1 GLOSSY IBIS remains at Tacumshin East End Pools (County Wexford). A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER was noted at Hook Head (County Wexford).

The AMERICAN BITTERN in West Cornwall

The American Bittern in flight and under concerted attack (Mark Stirland and Matt Deans - bottom)

There has been no sign of the American Bittern so far today at Trewey Common in West Cornwall, despite the presence of over 70 observers - so it looks as though it may have moved on.

I should just like to take this opportunity to thank Richie Moores for taking the time and energy to discuss this occurrence and for releasing the news at the outset - and for the farmer and his neighbours at Trewey Common who very kindly allowed access to their properties and fields - it was all very much appreciated.

The farmer and birdwatching friends of Richie's parents initially first noticed the 'bittern' at the beginning of last week, when it was to be seen commuting between the two ponds at the entrance to the farm. Richie was told about the bird on a family visit and checked it out on Thursday and was afforded several flight views of it. He managed a few flight shots of the bird concerned and emailed them around a close circuit of friends - it appeared to be an American Bittern.

It was eventually decided to release the news but on the pretense that some proper organisation was sought and arranged as this was a sensitive site and disturbance was likely to reap the twitch redundant. As such, Paul Freestone was contacted and filled in on the details. Parking was organised in Zennor (the nearest village) in an effort to prevent birders from parking by its favoured ponds rather than for other reasons.

As it was, the bird was still present on Friday morning but frustratingly Paul and others moved in at the site in the half-light rather than waiting for better conditions. Although the farmer had given them (18 birders in all) permission to walk around the pools, the fact that they left the road prior to 0800 hours meant that views were far from satisfactory. As a result, they misadvertently walked past the bird and it flew out of the sedgebed from behind them in very poor light at 0807 hours. It then darted out across the road and away over towards an area of gorse and was quickly propelled by a gale force southerly wind blowing behind it. It then flew into cover and disappeared (sheltered) and in very poor weather conditions was then flushed from bracken at about 0930. It then flew even further away and again was propelled by the fierce wind and ended up crash-landing in another area of bracken much further north. After a long search, it was eventually relocated but then flew east towards Zennor and disappeared behind the hillside, never to be seen again that day. I arrived on site at about 1230 hours and searched, along with 35-40 others, right up until dark without success. I soon realised its roost spot but did not see the bird return before dark - I feared the worst.

Allan and I decided to remain on site all night and I was up pre-dawn when the first of Saturday's twitchers began gathering on the road. By 0830 hours, the crowd had swelled to 140 observers. We waited patiently and carefully scanned its roost-area of sedges - Colin and a few others having glimpsed what may have been it lifting off of the main pool at around 0715 in the dark - presumably after a pre-dawn feeding session. By sheer amazement and completely of its own accord, the AMERICAN BITTERN flew from the sedges close to the road at 0855 hours and flew SSE over the line of pine trees. It appeared to come down in an area of gorse nearby where two pools had been illustrated on google earth. As Andy Clifton, Matt Mulvey, John Lees, Andy Horscroft and I attempted to locate the pools, the bird appeared from the gorse and flew up high, circling us overhead before flying strongly south and high down the main road. It then changed direction and flew east and as it was starting to lose height, an adult Peregrine took up pursuit and began attacking it. It took several lunges at the bird, at one point 'bashing' it on the crown, and then the bittern turned over, extended its long hind toe and grappled in mid-air with the attacker. The Peregrine fought ever more ferociously and as it was upside down forced the bittern down towards a line of garden pine trees and then as two Carrion Crows also came in to pursuit, the American Bittern crashlanded into the conifers of the Old Chapel House in the tiny hamlet of Carnaquidden. Jon Chappell managed to capture part of the attack on video - see link here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npNnfHKsa40

There was some concern for the welfare of the bird so the small number of us present entered the hamlet and were very kindly and warmly welcomed by the residents. They were as excited about the appearance of the Bittern as we were and very kindly allowed us full access in an attempt to relocate the bird. It had last snuck down out of view in the pine at 0912 but despite an exhaustive search, we found no further evidence of it. After several hours, the crowd dissipated but at around 1320 hours, it flew from the pines and headed strongly north. It was not seen again before dusk.

Sunday morning dawned to the tune of a further 175 birder turn-out and after an hour or so after daylight, one individual was nominated and carefully walked around the edge of the sedge-bed and eventually it flew. The American Bittern flew out of the sedges and this time, perhaps remembering its altercation with the Peregrine, thought better of high-flying and landed in the line of firs behind the pool. Everyone managed to see the bird in flight and a lucky few saw it perched in the pine but for the remainder of the morning, it did not show - and later flew off south. At around 1615 hours, it was seen to return to the pool but there was no further sightings before dark. At around 1120 hours, the bird had been flushed from the Plantation.

AMERICAN BITTERN - additional information and guidance

I just need to reiterate that there has been no question of suppression here. The bird in question was first seen by local farmers, then walkers and then the parents of today's birder. It has been present for at least four days and can be extremely confiding and approachable - it was just being treated as a ''Bittern'' before it was checked out this evening. During the search, it was inadvertently flushed and did leave the pool, but presumably will return overnight.

This is a bird that many of us will want to see and it is likely that it will stay here for a considerable time if not flushed repeatedly or pestered. Therefore I expect everyone to be on their best behaviour and keep others in check - I do not want a repeat of the selfish behaviour that saw the departure of the Eurasian Bittern at Beeston Common a few years back. This latter bird had been kept from the pagers for over a week before being leaked. The news was released and within hours it was flushed away for good by careless and very inconsiderate people trying to take close-up photographs. The American Green Heron at Heligan has also suffered occasionally from the same behaviour during its long stay.

MEGA - AMERICAN BITTERN in West Cornwall

A confiding bittern species which has been wandering about the grass and a small pool at Trewey Common for the past four days was photographed today and appears to be an AMERICAN BITTERN. The site is particularly sensitive and prone to disturbance so any visiting birders need to be sensible and give the bird some space.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS: the location is 3.5 miles north of Penzance and a mile south of Zennor and east of the minor road inland of the coast road at SW 459 366. Park carefully in Zennor village and follow the B3306 southwest for a quarter of a mile and then turn left and walk uphill for about 0.75 miles to view. PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE ROAD AT TREWEY COMMON - THIS IS ESSENTIAL

428 and counting but pace slows right down

Since my last update, just four new species have occurred in Britain and Ireland -:

PIED WHEATEAR (singles on North Ronaldsay and on St Mary's, Scilly)

EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (at Pelistry, St Mary's, Scilly - KEV et al)

GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH (photographed bird present just one evening on St Martin's, Scilly)

SCANDINAVIAN ARCTIC REDPOLL (a first-winter on Shetland)

This takes the total to 428 species, just 6 short of the 2009 total

SOCIABLE PLOVERS

Follow the migrations of the SOCIABLE PLOVER - BirdLife International have proffered a task of supporting and protecting the highly endangered global population of this beautiful and enigmatic species and require your help

Click here for more details - http://www.amazing-journey.org/

An exceptional late COMMON CUCKOO in the New Forest, Hampshire

Martin Bennett discovered and photographed this juvenile COMMON CUCKOO in the New Forest - a very late individual. The separation of this species from the two species of Oriental Cuckoo in Asia is very difficult but both generally lack the prominent white tips to the primaries.

Thousands upon thousands of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS flocking to Britain

Birdline Scotland featured an incredible 4,000 or more BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS yesterday evening, heralding one of the earliest and largest invasions of this species in modern times. Quite the reason for such an explosion is unclear at present but it will be interesting to know the ratio of young against adult-type birds in the flocks. The largest single flock reported yesterday was of 220+ birds in Orkney, whilst today we are looking at 480+ in Pitlochry and 320 in Aberfeldy.

To get a more accurate assessment of the records and to learn perhaps of more in your region, Birdline Scotland is constantly updated with the latest sightings - phone 09068 700234 for details (please note that this is a premium-rate line).

The superb portraits above were all taken by ace photographer Morris Rendall and represent a fraction of the 400 or so birds currently ranging the Orkney Islands.

Record-breaking RED-FLANKED BLUETAILS

Today saw the 30th RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL of the autumn appear - on Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire - smashing all previous annual totals of the species in Britain by over 50%. This follows the 750 or so singing males located in Finland this summer and continues the remarkable westerly expansion in range of this delightful robin.

Top bird photographer Penny Clarke snapped this beauty at Waxham - one of five individuals to reach Norfolk this autumn (see many more images of this bird and other Norfolk Bluetails at Penny's highly enjoyable website).

BOHEMIAN WAXWING invasion

Quite exceptional numbers (for late October) of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are pouring in to Scotland and northern Britain today leading to fears over their survival. Perhaps 4,000 or more birds have arrived thus far, which is truly staggering for so early in the autumn. Some 25% or more appear to be first-winters, perhaps indicating a bumper breeding season, but with reports of exhausted birds in Orkney gardens today, the reasons for their arrival is perplexing to say the least. The Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles logged over 500 birds today which again is of some concern. Quite why large numbers are heading to the far west of Scotland so early is very mysterious in itself and begs the question of whether or not flocks are heading out into the Atlantic (where they are likely to perish). Pete Merchant kindly provided the images.