Spot the Yellow-rump

A record shot that gives other record shots a bad name: Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata ) 16/2/14

...it's in there somewhere.

A successful and knackering trip up to Durham yesterday to see the American warbler causing a bit of a stir in a small village in the middle of nowhere.

Picking up Tony W around 4.30am, we followed signs for THE NORTH and watched the sun slowly rise in tandem with the motorway junction numbers until we until we reached the magic ‘61’ and pulled off into the village of High Shincliffe just short of Durham. Arriving at 8.45am, straight away we found the masses around 80 strong and only had to wait a moment for the Yellow-rumped Warbler (aka Myrtle Warbler) to flick into view in a nearby tree. Although, often against the light, it was a lovely looking bird, as most American Wood Warblers are, even as a first winter. Its markings were nice and clear, including rump, wing bars and the pale yellow markings on the flank. Although it often disappeared from view into dense scrub, it was very active, often in an attempt to avoid a territorial Robin. Overall, a stocky, healthy-looking bird, it called frequently, a sharp, liquid ‘chup’ and looked comfortable in this random roadside location overlooked by the houses where it was (remarkably) first seen. As well as having good views on and off for an hour the scrubby border was also visited by a Siskin and two Tree sparrows - the latter itself nearly a twitchable rarity down here these days.

YRW on fat balls put out for it

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), High Shincliffe, Durham

While in the area we took the opportunity to look for Willow Tit, a bird that has largely disappeared from southern England. Getting some directions from a local birder to a reliable site just up the road we headed there and although we heard some birds calling, unfortunately they never left the cover of an impenetrable tangle of damp woodland scrub. However, the calls at least gave me good context for future trips I hope. The same site also had an impressive flock of 16+ Bullfinches which was a lovely sight to behold.

After that we hit the road again for THE SOUTH and a couple of hours later finished off the day at Holme Fen in Cambridgeshire where we had superb views of several Short-eared owls hunting as the sun was setting over the expanse of flat, peat-rich fens. There was no sign of the wintering Great Grey Shrike but a couple of Lesser Redpolls, some Goldeneye and a shrieking female Tawny Owl meant we hit the last stretch home feeling tired but pretty happy. Thanks to the people in the village and those involved in making this happen.

Some rubbish footage taken while the bird was calling frequently, it can be heard several times but is clearest a second from the end, in amongst the sweet din of a dunnock's song and the distinct 'clicking' calls of Homo sapiens.

Footnote: seems we were lucky - there was no sign of the bird today apparently!