Reader poll: Rarity of 2015 - The Results
The votes have been counted and we have the results in our Rarity of 2015 reader poll
First place: Acadian Flycatcher, Dungeness, Kent (21% of votes)
The one-day first for Britain topped our poll with 21% of the votes. Found by local birder and avid Dungeness patch worker Martin Casemore it was seen by hundreds over a seven hour period on 22nd September. Although many were happy with the id in the field it wasn’t until 2nd October that the results of DNA sampling confirmed 100% that Martin had landed himself an unbelievable first for Britain and by the results of our poll made a lot of birders very happy indeed!
Second place: Wilson’s Warbler, Lewis, Western Isles (12% of votes)
There can be no doubt that if Tony Marr had found the Wilson’s Warbler on the mainland rather than at the northern tip of Lewis on Western Isles the Acadian Fly would be picking up the silver medal. The fact that it made second in our poll ahead of some other top birds, that were seen by many more people, is testament to the everlasting appeal of north American warblers when it comes to British birders. No doubt there are many who never saw the bird but still gave it their vote. A very worthy runner-up.
Third place: Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Bardsey, Gwynedd (11.5% of votes)
The stunning Cretzschmar’s Bunting that graced Bardsey in June was only the fifth British record and crucially the first away from the Northern Isles. So a shorter twitch for many but even away from its ‘northern stronghold’ the species was determined to make landfall on another [beautiful] island and ensure it wasn’t all plain sailing for those wanting to connect. The staff at Bardsey Bird Obs went above and beyond the call of duty to accommodate everyone and for those who made the journey all but a very small few came home with a new bird in their notebooks and more happy memories from 2015.
Fourth place: Hudsonian Godwit, Meare, Somerset (11% of votes)
2015 will be remembered by many as the year a number of blockers fell by the way side and Tom Raven got the ball rolling back in April when he found a Hudsonian Godwit at Meare in Somerset. When the 30 year wait for this species was finally broken it was well and truly broken too, present over a number of days at a site with good access and with the bird showing well at times it was the perfect way to end the drought.
Fifth place: Black-browed Albatross, Minsmere, Suffolk (7% of votes)
In fifth place is a bird that only a handful of people actually saw but the fact that it has polled fifth is still no surprise. Black-browed Albatross, or for that matter any albatross species, will no doubt be right up there on most birders most wanted list. Of course most will imagine seeing one effortlessly cruising past a headland in a howling gale not sat on the water on a scape at Minsmere RSPB! When Peter Hobbs heard RSPB volunteer Ian Salkeld calmly say the words “albatross by the two swans” he cannot in his wildest dreams have thought that’s what he would actually end up looking at seconds later would be a Black-browed Albatross. But as we now know from the gripping set of images Peter managed to capture Ian had simply called it as he had seen it - A Black-browed Albatross sat with Mute Swans on a scrape at Minsmere. Although one of the most bizarre rarity events of the year it sums up perfectly why we love birding and rare birds… You just never know.
The rest of the results
6. Citril Finch
7. American Bittern
8. Harlequin Duck
9. Crag Martin
10. Chestnut Bunting
11. Great Blue Heron
12. Fea’s Petrel
13. Red-billed Tropicbird
14. Hudsonian Godwit (Galway)
15. Cedar Waxwings
16. Brown Shrike
17. Slaty-backed Gull
18. Western Rufous Turtle Dove
19. Thick-billed Warbler
Thank you all for taking the time to vote, hopefully we will have as many wonderful birds on which vote this time next year!
Rare Bird Alert
05 January 2015
