Red-Headed Bunting, Flamborough 23rd October 2023

I was back to work after Shetland, but mid to late October is very often the peak period for mega rarities; birders eyes remained fixed on the all important weather charts. And the forecast for 19th October onwards looked potentially impressive, with a prolonged period of easterlies predicted. The autumn had been exceptional for American birds - would the east now deliver too? The forecast included a ferocious storm ('Babet'), which delivered high winds and torrential rain for several days; if there were birds they would not be found until things calmed down. You have to wonder how anything survives these ferocious events, but it does.

On Friday 20th Shetland struck, initially unbeknown to most of us. An Olivaceous Warbler on Whalsey was initially identified as the rare but expected Eastern form, although some doubts were expressed in the evening. On Saturday morning, the bird was trapped and measured, confirming it as Britain's first-ever (but long anticipated) Western Olivaceous Warbler. As rare as rare can be. But I had work commitments on the Monday and travel options following Storm Babet were very limited. A Shetland trip would take a couple of days that I didn’t have, so this was one of those birds I could really do without. Of course the usual front runners booked-out the small remaining number of Sunday flights from Aberdeen, with the intention of staying on overnight. The bird itself was showing well that afternoon and I was gripped, even though this one lacks any of the pazaz of our recent American avian baubles. I kept re-running travel options, but none worked. I'd gone in to procrastination mode, so had to park the notion and accept it needed to stay several days for me to get there. As ever in this situation, news of continued presence the next morning was eagerly anticipated; if it had stayed it would be successfully twitched which only adds to the pain of being unable to go. When that news was negative on Sunday 22nd, I’ll admit to being relieved. I don’t want others to dip, I never do, but I was thankful to be free from the torture of being unable to go. That’s what listing does to you.

Meanwhile, on the same Saturday (21st) there was news of a Black-headed Bunting at Flamborough Head on the east coast. A moderately rare but unexceptional autumn rarity and it's presence seemed unremarkable. The expected deluge of rarities hadn’t materialised following Storm Babet, but there had been a decent arrival of commoner migrants and the bunting had presumably arrived with them. Over the course of the day, despite the olivaceous-coloured distraction from Shetland, questions began to emerge on the bunting’s identity and red-headed was mooted by some. Red-headed bunting is one of those species that must occur in the UK as a wild bird, but they are common in captivity and have a long history of escapees. As such it is not officially on the BOU list despite everyone believing wild birds do occur. The wild bird trade was banned in Europe in 2000 and records dried-up, confirming the regular escape situation. Since around 2005 there have been only a few records, none of which were widely twitched. And then separation of black-headed and red-headed buntings in autumn is exceptionally difficult. So it’s not overly surprising that no record has yet made the grade. Regardless, the species is very much on birders’ radars and I think we all anticipated going for the next one (preferably a singing spring male, but beggars can't be choosers). 

It soon transpired that the Norwegian Rarity Committee has recently completed a thorough review of their Red-headed Bunting records, including a review of identification criteria for autumn birds and also moult strategies. In short they have apparently concluded that several of their recent records should be considered wild birds. During the review process, they looked at other European records of both species, highlighting a Shetland (Skerries) 2010 bird that they believed could be categorically reidentified as red-headed bunting. On this basis, it is understood the BOU is currently considering acceptance of the 2010 bird as the first UK record. Of course there must have been many wild birds here, but the BOU process somewhat oddly requires a 'first' before others can be admitted. On the assumption of acceptance of the 2010 bird, the current Flamborough bird seems to be a shoe-in for BBRC acceptance, assuming identity is confirmed. The Norway experts have been sent photographs of the Flamborough bird and believe it comfortably identifiable as Red-headed, and DNA has been obtained so one way or another the identity will be confirmed. 

So this bird was worth seeing. I was still tied-up with commitments and work, so had to wait on the Sunday whilst others went. Unlike the Olivaceous Warbler I was relaxed on this one - it seemed likely to stay and even if it didn't there would be more. It's also a very uninspiring bird. Still, Flamborough is a lot easier than Shetland so not a tick opportunity to dismiss, but not one to fret over either. 

I went to work on Monday 23rd already knowing the bunting was still present. It had been difficult to see on the Sunday but seemed to be performing better, today - perhaps due to lower numbers of people. Following my meetings I was on my way at 11.30, but was quickly stopped by an M62 incident and lost an hour. I eventually got to the Flamborough North Landing car park at 3.15 and walked the 15 minutes to the favoured area. There were half a dozen birder present who told me it had been showing intermittently and, after about 15 minutes, it appeared with several Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings in a hawthorn bush. It continued to show in the same area for the next 30 minutes and so showed well. Red-headed Bunting pencilled-in. It's a remarkably tatty bird, with missing tertials and greater coverts. That is usually taken as a sign of captive origin, but apparently the Norway review found that it is normal for immatures to commence a partial moult on migration and it's therefore common for them to look pretty grim in October. Have we been writing-off  other birds on this basis too?

After the recent run of dazzling Yanks, the eastern offering this autumn is decidedly drab by comparison. Had it lingered the Shetland Western Olivaceous Warbler was similarly dull toned. There's nothing like subtle beauty.

Shetland 2023

After the invasion of American birds last week it was fair to say that Shetland was very much an off-on affair. In the end, just a couple of days before we were due to head up, Shetland started to turn up a few decent birds, in particular a Veery and a Tennessee Warbler. The scene was set and me, Malc, Andy and Paul Baker were in. Andy headed up directly a couple of days earlier to see his pal Dougie, with the rest of us driving up to Aberdeen on Sunday 1st for the overnight ferry. This was the first time I had elected to take my car over, mainly as I incorrectly had assumed I would be able to get off anytime, and to allow me to take more work paraphernalia.

Monday 2/10. We disembarked the Northlink ferry and immediately headed north to Lunna Kirk on north-east Mainland. The VEERY was still present and immediately showed well in the line of sycamores. A little cracker of a bird and only my second in the UK, the first being a Western Isles twitch to the isle of Muck in 2011. How time flies.

Veery

Moving on to Brae, we managed a brief flight view of the RIVER WARBLER in flight and then using a thermal, but not the sort of views you’d want if a new bird. Heading south we tried and failed for a long staying Citrine Wagtail near Lerwick, but had better luck with a Bluethroat nearby before dropping the bags at our Cunningsburgh digs. Then on to  Wester Quarff where the EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER showed quickly and finishing up with nice views of  a Short-toed Lark at Scat Ness. Other bits and jobs included a couple of groups of Barnacle Geese and - unusually on Shetland, a Kestrel. The newly built expansive Viking wind farm now dominated central Mainland, and I have mixed views of its presence here. 

Eastern Subalp. Identified from call apparently. Slightly annoying as a Western would have been helpful on the listing front.

Short-toed Lark

Barnacle Geese

Tuesday 3/10. A generally migrant less day where we birded not enough and saw even less. The limited highlights were both Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Orca on, Hoswick. We missed a Rustic Bunting but flushed a Jack Snipe whilst searching, and had distant views of a harrier species which must have been the roaming Pallid.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Weds 4/10. A day of mostly missing birds but came good later-on. We tried early morning for the River Warbler but without success, then spent ages failing to see the tame Olive-backed Pipit at Voxter (although a Great-spotted Woodpecker was entertainingly out of place). The weather was much improved today, so we decided on an assault up Ronas Hill for the resident male Snowy Owl which had been seen yesterday. No joy with the owl, but I do love being up in this stunning remote place so it was enjoyable anyway. A couple of Mountain Hares were the only living creatures we saw up there. We then had several brief but largely unsatisfying views of a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Ronas Voe. We headed back to Voxter where the Olive-backed Pipit had returned and showed incredibly well. The day ended up with nice views of both Red-breasted Flycatcher and Barred Warbler in Hoswick.

Barred Warbler

Olive-backed Pipit

Thursday 5/10. News from Bressay late in the afternoon of the preceding day dictated today's movements - we were off to Bressay and, specifically, the Gorie Plantation. There had been an arrival of Redwings, and as we arrived a Magpie flew from the plantation - a major Shetland rarity. We were tipped-off to head inside and take up a quiet position. Incredibly, for the third time in four years, Shetland kindly delivered me a showy White's Thrush. This one was a little trickier to see than the previous too, requiring us to lie-down and peer under the spruce. With patience, however, the bird did show well. I suspect this will remain one of my favourite species for many years to come, and it's hard to believe now just how long it took me to see one. We moved on to Quendale, where a Garden Warbler in the iris beds looked out of place and the long-staying Marsh Warbler showed briefly. A flock of Barnacle Geese were see nearby, before we dropped Paul off at the ferry terminal.

White's Thrush. Not my photo's but don't know who's - sorry 

Friday 6/10 was a write-off with gale force winds and heavy rain.

Saturday 7/10 saw us drop Andy at the airport, leaving me and Malc for the remainder of the trip. We weren't sure how much longer to stay and the forecast was dire, but this is Shetland and anything could happen. We spent the morning watching commoner waders in the southern bays, before happening on the Cattle Egret near the Sumburgh Hotel. A walk towards Quendale Bay yielded spectacular views but only a Lesser Whitethroat and more Barnacle geese. It seemed bird-less, so when news of the continued presence of a Red-flanked Bluetail on Yell was too tempting to miss. It took a little while to see, but eventually good views were had. Late in the day we called-in to Wester Quarff where another Barred Warbler showed very well.

Red-flanked Bluetail

Sunday 8/10 was another grim day, but five Snow Buntings at Scatness were enjoyable. We bumped in to old pal Rich Fray, who has lived in Arizona for 15 years and was over with his wife visiting brother Rob. Nice to catch up in a very odd location.

Snow bunting

Monday 9/10 was Malc's birthday. We attempted to get to Fair Isle and try and finally get him Lancey, but there wasn't a viable transport option. We chose not to go to Fetlar for Mark Sutton's White-crowned Sparrow, so ended up at Lunning where the Siberian Stonechat showed very well. 

Siberian Stonechat. Seemingly of the commoner 'meena' species.

Cetacean news had us heading west, spending a few hours looking at nothing near Brae. It transpired we'd gambled on the wrong place, so more news had us scrambling to the remote western headland of Esher Ness. We arrived just in time to see the '27's' ORCA pod in the bay at Steerness, then getting ahead of them as they passed below us on the cliffs at Esher Ness lighthouse. Another fantastic encounter with the same animals I've seen on each of the last two autumns. And another animal I will never tire of, and a very nice compensation birthday present for Malc. 

Tuesday 10/10 and Wednesday 11/10. I'd had a sore throat the day before, so today's positive covid test didn't feel much of a surprise. Two days in bed followed, but at least the weather was terrible and there were no birds for me to miss.

Thurs 12/10 was out last day. We were booked on this evening's ferry and I was ready to leave. I felt improved but not exactly firing on all four cylinders so tried to do some work calls. Midway through one of these, Malc starting yelling from the next room. There was clearly a bird of note, and that turned out to be an American YELLOW WARBLER at Hoswick, just down the road. I've seen two Yellow Warblers in Ireland before (both on the same day in 2008), but it remains a massive rarity. We were down there in no time, but the bird had disappeared and it took some time to relocate, eventually showing quite well in a patch of rosebay willowherb, even flycatching from a telegraph pole. After the American warbler packed September it was quite incredible to add this to the list - it's hard to imagine 2023 will be beaten for American landbirds, and excellent end to the trip. Malc was over the mmon as we headed back to the house to pack up before heading to the ferry terminal for the overnight crossing. 

Yellow Warbler - again not my shots and duly borrowed