BLYTH’S PIPIT! With the numbers and array of
species present this week we always knew something big could be on the cards.
And so this evening it came true, when a large Pipit species was found by Assistant
Warden Mark Carter on Pen Cristin. First distant views of a pale sandy bird gave
impressions of Tawny Pipit but those niggling doubts refused go away. With pale
lores and distinct mantle streaking thoughts were turned to the possibility of
an even rarer Pipit. With the wardening team reconvening with scopes, cameras,
and reference material the bird was finally pinned down to the grassy slopes,
and began to show rather well. All the salient plumage features, including
call, were ticked off and Britain’s first ever spring record of Blyth’s Pipit was confirmed.
Bardsey’s
first (and only) Blyth’s Pipit was found in 2005, then the first record for
Wales, with today's bird becoming the third record for Wales, following one in
Pembrokeshire in autumn 2014.
The short hind claw is visible in this image
the neat and evenly streaked mantle is clear in this image
Note the short de-curved hind claw
Short compact appearance
note the horizontal stance, the bird was never bold and upright as Richard's Pipit
the weak malar stripe and very light breast streaking
and the even and neatly streaked crown
Playing
second fiddle today was our lingering male Eastern
Subalpine Warbler still finding the South End gorse to its liking.
In a
decent arrival of passerines overnight three Wood Warblers would have been far and away the day’s highlight
before the aforementioned Pipit. Further warblers recorded include 19 Sedge Warblers, one Reed Warbler, 20 Whitethroats, five Garden
Warblers, 39 Blackcaps, 18 Chiffchaffs,
eight Willow Warblers, seven Goldcrests,
and the male Firecrest still singing
at Nant.
A Common Redpoll put in a brief
appearance at Cristin, with 22 Lesser
Redpolls and 13 Siskins also noted. The Narrows excelled again for waders as one Ringed Plover, 20 Purple Sandpipers, five Dunlins, two Bar-tailed
Godwits, 20 Whimbrels, and 17 Turnstones fed at high tide whilst
sea-watching produced counts of one Arctic
Skua, 34 Common Scoters, and one Sandwich Tern.
The Short-eared Owl was seen again at Ty
Pellaf, with further highlights from the day including one Tree Pipit one Kestrel, three
Sand Martins, 403 Swallows,
50 House Martins, one, 24 Wheatears,
one Song Thrush, 24 Spotted Flycatchers, one Rook, and a surprisingly female Red-veined Darter at the Schoolhouse.
female Red-veined Darter
Nice one guys, great find!!!
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