Mega Overload: unprecedented fall of American landbirds
The sun is beginning to set on day two of what will go down as one of the most memorable couple of days in British and Irish birding history.
Kent had already claimed it’s first Cliff Swallow on Tuesday and was being watched by a number of birders on Wednesday morning when the next mega alert sounded. What followed over the preceding hours was a spew of uber rare North American landbirds, country firsts and mega blockers came one after the other. Here is a brief summary of events as they unfolded over Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st September.
Wednesday 20th September
10:53am Mega Co.Kerry BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER Skellig island, on Skellig Michael
A first for the country – unfortunately for Irish birders the location and brevity of stay meant it was one that got away from all but the lucky few who were on the island.
1:15pm Mega Scilly CLIFF SWALLOW St.Mary’s at Hugh Town at Little Porth
The first British record since 2019 and only the 14th ever, six of the previous thirteen had been on Scilly.
2:26pm Mega Co.Clare CLIFF SWALLOW Kilbaha at Keating’s Bar
Ireland’s second ever, at a location used by birders to celebrate many a rare bird over the years, and this one was no exception...
Here's the 1st!! pic.twitter.com/mIfLUFLKvC
— David dack (@Davedack81) September 20, 2023
6:03pm Mega Pembrokes TYRANT FLYCATCHER sp. (Empidonax sp.) (possibly Acadian Flycatcher) Skokholm at The Gap
Whatever it turns out to be it's a Welsh first for sure, but as the evening wore on identification leaned towards Alder Flycatcher. If confirmed as an Alder, it would be just the third for Britain following birds in 2010 on Blakeney Point, Norfolk, and 2008 at Nanjizal in Cornwall.
7:07pm Mega Pembrokes MAGNOLIA WARBLER St.Govan’s Head east of car park in valley.
Britain’s third ever, Wales’s second first of the day and a major blocker from the 1980’s had been found. Would it stick overnight and what would tomorrow bring for new birds?
Thursday 21st September
07:02am - much to the delight of the many birders who travelled overnight to be at St.Govan’s Head, the Magnolia Warbler was still present.
9:12am Mega Pembrokes BOBOLINK Skokholm
By the standards of the previous day Wales’s fourth ever Bobolink hadn’t exactly read the script but the day was just getting started…
10:06am Mega Gwynedd BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER Bardsey Island at obs garden this morning
Nice of north Wales to get in on the action! Not quite a Welsh first but with just the one record from 1980 it will be a much sought after bird for many birders who keep a list for Cymru.
10:55am Mega Pembrokes BAY-BREASTED WARBLER Ramsey Island
Back in south west Wales, Britain’s second ever Bay-breasted Warbler is found on Ramsey Island. The only previous record was a one-day bird in 1995 at Land’s End. For the hundreds of birders already in Pembrokeshire there was a sting in the tail. RSPB Ramsey Island posted the following update on their Twitter feed “No boats today or tomorrow due to weather and swell conditions. Will do our best for a boat on Saturday morning if conditions allow. More details to follow” – ouch.
12:38pm Mega W.Isles TENNESSEE WARBLER Barra at Nask 100yds SW of A888 turn-off by 1st cattle grid in rough grassland
The news came just two days after a Tennessee Warbler was last seen on St.Kilda, is this a new bird or the St.Kilda one ‘on the move’?
1:02pm Mega Co.Galway BALTIMORE ORIOLE Inishbofin
Back in Ireland, just the fourth record of Baltimore Oriole for the country is found.
4:17pm Mega Scilly BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER Tresco below Abbey by turn off from Abbey Drive to gardens
Not to be outdone Scilly got in on the warbler action with the eight record of Black-and-white Warbler for the archipelago, the third for Tresco and the second ‘humbug’ to be found during the day!
WOW - what a crazy few hours. With Red-eyed Vireos being found in Cornwall, Scilly, Devon, and Barra, and an American Buff-bellied Pipit on St.Kilda, it would be pretty amazing if another gem isn't discovered soon. What and where the next mega is going to be is anyone's guess, what is for sure is that the last 24 hours has been one which will be talked about for years to come.
21 Sept 2023
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