Iberian Chiffchaff

The day started early and well with 11 White-beaked Dolphins slowly moving east at the Point and then a good steady movement offshore of Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, Little Gull, Kittiwake, Red-Breasted Merganser, Common Eider, Curlew, Dunlin, Arctic Skua, Sandwich Tern and our first Little-ringed Plover of the spring.  

Kittiwakes with Herring Gulls

Four Little Gulls

After finishing the sea watch at 11:00 I decided to wander around the power station perimeter as Owen had recorded at least seven Black Redstarts at the Point. My wanderings resulted in four Black Redstarts, three Wheatears and four male Stonechats. When I was by the switch station I heard Brents calling and just offshore was a large flock moving east, I estimated at least 500 birds.

A section of the c.500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese passing east at the Point.

I got back home at 13:00 and had just finished my brunch when Martin rang me and told me that 'a Siberian Chiffchaff had been located in a private garden at the point', or at least that is what I though he said. On arriving back at the Point, I was pleased to understand that I had misheard Martin and it was an Iberian Chiffchaff which performed very well to a small group of locals and visitors. Luckily the Iberian Chiffchaff occasionally called and sang and recordings were taken. It was feeding voraciously darting and flitting around the garden. It had been present the previous late evening and excellent persistence by Dave Bunney who tentatively identified the bird as a probable Iberian Chiff and the news was broadcast. Many thanks to Dave for allowing us to view from his garden boundary and also to Sheila for great coffee and to Martin for calling me.

Iberian Chiffchaff

Iberian Chiffchaff

Iberian Chiffchaff