Friday 29 April 2011

After last week's Eastern Subalpine Warbler (S.c.albistriata) was found in the field and then avoided the nets and the trap in the obs garden, a male Western Subalpine Warbler was found in the trap whilst trying to catch a Sedge warbler this morning. 

A glorious sunny day heralded a few scarcities and good numbers of common migrants. As well as the male Subalpine Warbler at Cristin, a dark bellied Brent Goose, Bar Tailed Godwit and the first Cuckoo of the year were also seen. Whimbrel numbers continued to increase, with today’s total coming to thirty six birds: seven Ring Plovers, five Dunlins, a Common Sandpiper and a couple of Curlews were also on the wader front. Counts of common migrants came to: 107 Swallows, six Sand Martins, fifty five Wheatears, three Grasshopper Warblers, sixteen Sedge Warblers, three Blackcaps, five Whitethroats, seven Chiffchaffs and eleven Willow Warblers. A Redwing and a Song Thrush were at nant, and a single Rook flew by with twenty six Carrion Crows in the north west fields.

Western Subalpine Warbler (c) Steve Stansfield

The red throat on the bird is less saturated and more salmony coloured than the eastern bird last week which was deeper port wine coloured; in addition the moustacial stripe is weaker and the colour on the underside extends onto the belly and flanks, see Ben's image below of the eastern for comparison. 
Eastern Subalpine Warbler (c) Ben Porter (20 April 2011)
Poplar Hawkmoth; also Pale Pinion and Angle Shades trapped today.

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