05/02/2015 Two male Serins - Shoeburyness in Essex

Thursday 5th February 2015
Gunners Park, Shoeburyness, Essex


Made the 90 minute journey to Southend on Sea to twitch the 2 male Serins that had been in the area for the last couple of days.  I just couldn't resist the chance to see these lovely birds - for the first time in my life.  I arrived just on 12.00 in glorious weather; dry and cold but with lots of sunshine.

The actual sighting was almost "pantomimish". Two of us were watching the pond and surrounding wooded area where the birds had been seen earlier.  The 2 birds were actually right behind us,  only a couple of metres away, feeding in the scrub on the other side of the path.  I think we must have heard them screaming at us "we're behind you!".  Anyway we got to get some excellent views as the birds moved around.  Being males the colours were vivid, giving the impression of a very handsome species. 



Serin
Library picture


I signalled to a couple of other birders who had drifted off earlier looking for the birds,  Unfortunately when they arrived they were too keen and tried to get too close, causing the birds to fly further away.  The birders followed - again too aggressively - with the inevitable outcome that the birds flew away, round the corner, to a different part of the reserve.  

By way of a side show, a Stonechat and a Great Spotted Woodpecker added to the experience.



My UK Life List now has grown to 283 edging  me closer and closer to the magical figure of 300. 



Addition to 2015 BUBO UK Bird List:
Serin   (148)

Addition to BUBO UK Life List:
Serin   (283)



RSPB - facts:
Serins are small finches with short stubby bills and forked tails. Both sexes have streaky yellow brown upper parts, paler streaked under parts and lemon yellow rumps. Males have bright yellow heads with darker patches on the crown and below the eye, females and juveniles are much duller. They have been recorded annually in the UK in small numbers since the 1960s and have bred sporadically since the 1970s (Devon, Dorset, Sussex, East Anglia and the Jersey) but no more than one or two pairs a year.