07/01/2015 Dusky Warbler - my first lifer of the year!

Wednesday 7th January 2015
West Sussex Birding with Paul

Paul and I arranged to "twitch" the Dusky Warbler at the Chichester Gravel Pits and, depending on the time available afterwards, to look for the Whooper Swans, the Bewick Swans and  Red Kites.

• On arrival at the gravel pits we were greeted with the news that the Dusky Warbler had been seen but had gone missing for nearly an hour.  Paul and I searched high and low for it for over an hour before sighting it -  thanks to an inspired piece of birding by Paul.  He knew that the only real way to find the bird was to listen for it's distinctive sound and then make the sighting.  Being "hard of hearing", I was unable to help but Paul, good detective that he is, was on to it and soon located the area where the warbler was calling from.  We then waited for the bird to show.  Ironically, I was the one to get the best view as I saw it clearly, albeit briefly, in my binoculars.   It eluded us for another 15 minutes or so before we got further views along with the dozen or so other birders who benefited from Paul's skills.  This time I got the glimpses and Paul, deservedly, got the better views.  Job done - another "lifer" and one closer to my target of 300.



Dusky Warbler
Library picture




 

• At Barnham Brooks we saw the 4 Whooper Swans among the Mute Swans.  On to the Burgh where we located the 39 Bewick Swans before driving round to the Triangle, just in time to see my first Red Kite of the year.

• Earlier at Widewater Lagoon, before picking up Paul at his house, there was not too much happening but I still added Little Grebe and Turnstone to my 2015 year list.

Additions to 2015 Year List:
Red Kite   (60)
Turnstone   (61)
Little Grebe   (62)
Dusky Warbler   (63)
Little Egret   (64)
Wren   (65)
Chiffchaff   (66)
Long-tailed Tit (67)

Additions to BUBO Life List:
Dusky Warbler   (280)



Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Bewick Swan
Whooper Swan
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Great Crested Grebe
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Wigeon
Mallard   (10)
Teal
Shoveler
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Cetti's Warbler
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow   (20)
Cormorant
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Wren
Blackbird
Chiffchaff
Starling   (30)
Red Kite
Turnstone
Little Grebe
Dusky Warbler
Little Egret


Interesting facts about the Dusky Warbler:

• Breeds in east Asia
• Migrates in winter to south east Asia
• Prone to vagrancy and it has wintered in UK
• Similar to Chiffchaff.  ID by prominent whitish supercillium and fine pointed bill.