We're all used to rapid news and instant access these days. However there are times when news has to be suppressed from the masses and that's perfectly understandable. Covid-19 was always likely to increase the possibility of news being kept away from the mob, either legitimately or as an easy excuse for the haters. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and so it very nearly transpired.
But if you're going to suppress something then do it properly. Total silence is the only way it can work. Telling anyone, even a single person, always seems to ensure word will be leaked. Those bloody twitchers are always listening....
I was at work as usual on the morning of Tuesday 15th September the rumors started. Whispers of 'something big' on a Scottish island. The Whatsapp groups went into overdrive. It soon became clear there was something going on, there was just too much chat, and the hounds had a scent that they weren't going to back-off from. As the day progressed the chatter did not relent: 'it' was a first for the UK, 'it' was in Argyll, then on Tiree and then - by default - in a very specific garden (one with a history of good birds). There was nothing solid, not even a species-name, but 'it' was real. All lines of investigation were interrogated and picked to death. Rumours of New World warblers began to circulate and after last weekends perfect weather system it seemed a good bet if 'it' was real. But cards were being held very tightly. Then Canada Warbler was mooted. The drums beat louder by the hour, loudly enough for the vanguard - the birding ultras - to book flights to Tiree on the basis of a possible rarity. Fair play, you mad bastards.
Eventually, well in to the evening, news of a 'first' were indeed confirmed; Yellow-bellied Flycatcher . On Tiree, in the exact garden predicted early in the day. So much for total suppression. It seemed that locals were apparently fearful of a mass invasion in these Covid times, and of course that was understandable. Yet it was also nonsense. Tiree, according to the council website, is open for tourists. In fact September is their busiest month and there are hordes of surfers there. Why would birders visiting a garden and remaining outdoors be unacceptable? Not only that, there has never been an invasion of birders onto a Scottish island for a rarity, and there was never going to be one for an Empidomax flycatcher, no matter how rare. Eventually it transpired that it wasn't locals, it was RSPB head office who apparently advised their employee (the finder) that he had to suppress the news for fear of damaging local relationships. Allegedly his job was threatened (really?! That would make a fun tribunal). It seems the email correspondence was shared and hence the news slowly seeped out to the ever-listening listers. Locals, in fact, were perfectly happy for birders to visit. So via the excellent Whatsapp listers group ('mega chasers'), we all agreed to go on a charm offensive, to give the many haters no reason to have yet another go at twitchers. Strict covid measures for us all, to follow all rules (even wearing masks outside) and to raise funds. Absolute best behaviour, although it really should always be that way anyway There was never going to be a big crowd by virtue of location, so thankfully it was entirely possible and - to date - has worked very well. Massive positive vibes and words of thanks from locals on Twitter have kept the haters at bay. As predicted in 'Twitching' magazine in 1987, "Rare Birds are Good News".
Anyway, on to my own personal mini adventure...
Accessing an island at short notice is always a challenge, although Tiree is simpler than most. By the time news was confirmed on the Tuesday evening of course there were no available schedule flights for the following day, and work commitments were are issue. Similarly Thursday looked a challenge, but there was a glimmer. I took a punt and opted for a Friday flight in the hope it would remain. Malc did the same. It was only Tuesday though, and these flycatchers don't have a good track record of protracted stays. I didn't like it. Inevitably, when the option of a Thursday charter from Oban was offered we cracked and were in. We could retain the Logain air flights as a backstop or retain the credits. Meanwhile, the Wednesday ultras scored and perhaps a dozen people made it. Fair play to them. Happily they reported a warm welcome and bent over backwards to ensure the locals were reassured and a sensible access procedure was in place.
With positive news on the Wednesday we were on for Thursday 17th.
The long drive north began at 2am from the traditional Cherry Corner meeting place, and we steamed up the road in my impressive rental Skoda (an awesome car!). By 8am we were breakfasting in Witherspoons (filth) in Oban and staring anxiously at phones for news. It was light, but there was radio silence. The first Whatsapp messages were negative. It looked bad. We had until 9am to cancel the charter plan or incur full costs. At 8.40 there was still no news. We headed to the airport to meet the crew and make a collective decision (surely we had to go over??). At 8.45, whilst driving, the positive news came through. There was a collective cheer in the car. I actually punched the air for an Empidomax flycatcher. Blimey.
Our charter flight with Hebridean Airways was efficient, although a little disappointing that we had to bring bins or a camera, not both. The flight departed at 10.15 (early), and we soared over Mull in beautiful weather, arriving on Tiree at 10.45-ish. A new island for me and very lovely it is too. Our pre-booked taxi (bus) was waiting and by just after 11am we were on site.
Perhaps 10 birders were there and we waited our turn. Apparently it had last been seen 30 minutes previous and was looking very ill - far less active than yesterday. Had it dropped off it's final perch as we travelled?
There was an anxious twenty minute wait before a perfectly healthy looking bird popped up at close range Thank the birding gods. The views were stupendous and there were no issues with crowds. The finder was very welcoming and grateful for everyone's consideration.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher OML, and probably/possibly my 550th too, depending on which way the BOU/IOC cookie crumbles. And it was a real cracker of a bird too. The ID is pretty straightforward for an empid, with the shape and eyering meaning it's a Least or Yellow-bellied. The yellow tones on the underparts, warmth to the green upperparts and all orange lower mandible mean it's clearly not a Least.
My only regret is the lack of a camera. It showed outrageously well on glorious sunshine, and at one point I watched it alone at about 15 feet range for several minutes. I managed a few phone shots but that was it.
Mark Sutton's were a little better....
And, as ever, Chris Griffin nailed it.
After that we retired to the beach and enjoyed the sunshine for a couple of hours before the flight. It was absolutely stunning, and a real pleasure to see reams of waders; Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, and Turnstones on the beach with Curlew, Lapwing and Golden Plover en masse in the fields. The seaweed jumped with alba wagtails and a few Wheatears. A ringtail Hen Harrier was a nice bonus.
Back to the airport for 5pm before a breathtaking flight back over Mull to Oban. The weather was so glorious that even the pilot took photos, and descended between the mountains in full 'pleasure flight' mode. Back in the car at 6.15, we stopped only at the famous Green Wellie services and I was home just shy of midnight. Splendid.
