White crowned sparrow at Cley!

[Stephen R]

Wow, did anyone think that was going to happen?
I think this is the third occurence of one in britain?
Photos on surfrares.
cheers

[Bobolink44]

Very nice, who has managed to see this bird?

[Josh Jones]

I think this is the third occurence of one in britain?

Not sure anyone thought with certainty "there will be a White-crowned Sparrow at Cley this week"!!! Cracking find.

Previous records:

2003 Dursey Sound (Cork) 20 - 27th May
1995 Seaforth 2nd October
1977 Hornsea Mere 22nd May
1977 Fair Isle 15th - 16th May
1948 at sea (onboard SS Nova Scotia)

[Bobolink44]

Thanks for the data. Does anyone recall reading in BB back in the late 80s a letter to the editor about someone aboard a liner from NY that had a few nearctic migrants on board that included White-crowned Sparrow. It was interesting because at least one of the Sparrows apparently stayed on board all the way up the Solent and hopped off and flew strongly towards one of the Southampton parks. Of course the letter was published months after the occurence and no one ever saw it on land.

[AndyB]

Thanks Stephen. For anyone interested in subspecific identification of White-crowneds, attached is a video grab of a western bird that doesn't show the black supraloral of nominate form (as Cley bird shows). Also note the more orange-colored bill compared to the Cley bird's more pinkish bill. These birds are also browner below than nominate.

White-throated Sparrow seems to have a pattern of winter records from northern Europe but according to Josh's info this is the first winter record of White-crowned, so an extra surprise. I would have to defer to an east coast US birder (not many US birders on this forum yet but hope to change that) but according to the range maps in Sibley and Byers, this species seems to be scarce along the eastern seaboard (no doubt a reason for the paucity of vagrant records in Europe) and its winter range only seems to just reach a few north eastern states (New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland etc). Hopefully, someone can correct me if I'm wrong on range. Perhaps this bird arrived the previous autumn and worked its way east before being found like the winter Norfolk Black and White Warbler from 80s? Or it hopped off a boat. Either way, great bird and great way for the listers to start 2008.

[AndyB]

Oh, and yes I think I do remember reading that letter Bobolink. Being an ex-Southamptonian, I was always a little gripped off by the White-throated Sparrow(s) that were "rescued" from one liner in port and put in the small public aviaries in Sothampton City Centre for several years!

[Josh Jones]

Perhaps this bird arrived the previous autumn and worked its way east before being found like the winter Norfolk Black and White Warbler from 80s? Or it hopped off a boat. Either way, great bird and great way for the listers to start 2008.


Thanks for the pic Andy. I suspect this bird perhaps did arrive last autumn (whether it did so on a boat or not is anyone's guess!), but hopefully now it has found a source of food it won't budge - certainly one I am keen to see.

[Bobolink44]

Video just posted by red-eyed video here (http://surfbirds.com/video2/view_video.php?viewkey=8416a242f40fb7d7f338&page=1&viewtype=&category=mr). Nice to see the crowds. I see in just a few hours this video had scored a ton of views!

[Red-eyed Video]

I see in just a few hours this video had scored a ton of views!

Goodness me, It is popular! Now more than 500 hits in little over 24 hours. :)

[AndyB]

Now 5th most popular video after just 24 hours. Number 1 after 45 days is still Pechora Pipit. Link to most viewed here (http://surfbirds.com/video2/video.php?category=mv&viewtype=)

[Colin Key]

Saw this on the front page of the BBC News website this morning.

Cracking bit of video Dave; if I thought it was going to be a "stayer" I might even go (or rather "come") for it. Isn't the internet a wonderful thing!:biggrin:

Colin

[greenwithensbirder]

glad to see this 'thread' is not turning out like the bird forum one:realmad:
hope all that go have a great time:smile:

[AndyB]

glad to see this 'thread' is not turning out like the bird forum one:realmad:
hope all that go have a great time:smile:

Oh dear. very active thread - quite a lot of anger ranging from who's car was blocking a driveway through too intrusive watermarks on Surfbirds photos. Would be interested to know if they ever do find the car owner. Some fantastic photos of the crowds. Looks like quite a bruiser to see!

[Colin Key]

glad to see this 'thread' is not turning out like the bird forum one:realmad:
hope all that go have a great time:smile:

Well, I have been seriously looking at available flights on the net but after reading some of that I think I would pay NOT to be there.

Colin :realmad:

[Stephen R]

Well, I have been seriously looking at available flights on the net but after reading some of that I think I would pay NOT to be there.

Colin :realmad:

Trust me, i was there today it isnt half as bad as it sounds. Great views, big turnover in crowd numbers, lovely looking bird and nearly £2,500+ raised for cley church i believe they said.
Proper trip report on my blog, http://on-firecrestsbirdingblockbuster.blogspot.com/
cheers

[Colin Key]

Like your blog Stephen, and a nice little report on the WC Sparrow. Unfortunately a fractured bone in my elbow has grounded me for at least two weeks, so my chances of coming to see the bird are slim at the moment.

Cheers,

Colin

[Red-eyed Video]

Unfortunately a fractured bone in my elbow has grounded me for at least two weeks, so my chances of coming to see the bird are slim at the moment.

Cheers,

Colin

Ooh! Sorry to hear that, not funny at all. :eek:

[Colin Key]

The ironic thing is that I tripped up over the leg of someone else's tripod, and I was stone cold sober (I understand that if you fall when you are p****d and more "limp" then you have less chance of doing any serious damage!).

Colin :beer:

[Stephen R]

Like your blog Stephen, and a nice little report on the WC Sparrow. Unfortunately a fractured bone in my elbow has grounded me for at least two weeks, so my chances of coming to see the bird are slim at the moment.

Cheers,

Colin

Thanks for the kind words colin, i have managed to salvage some record shots and i posted them on the blog.
I hope you get well soon that does sound rather nasty. (it's worth it though!)

[Bobolink44]

Nice shots Stephen, congrats. Might be quite a while before we get another of these in the UK.

[Colin Key]

Nice shots Stephen; I especially liked shot #4 in your sequence. Pleased that you managed to retrieve them from your Dad's camera!

Colin:smile:

[Stephen R]

cheers colin,

According to RBA they have raised about £5000, surely this is some kind of record?

[Colin Key]

That is excellent news Stephen and, yes, I reckon it probably is some kind of a record for voluntary donations at a twitch. Am I correct in thinking that it is going to the local church?

I remember the biggest twitch I have ever attended, it was the "First" American Coot at Stodmarsh near Canterbury in Kent about (guess) 16 years ago. I think that on the second day (after word was spread) there were about 2,000 people there and the only person to make any cash was a local farmer who opened up one of his fields as a parking area. I went on three consecutive days (mainly for the entertainment) but was never asked for a cent as a donation towards the local church, the reserve, or anything else.

I would have been happy to donate a "fiver" at the time, but there was no way of doing so.

Cheers,

Colin

[AndyB]

very impressive amount - I notice a number of photographers are mentioning next to their photos that % of photo sales proceeds are going back to the community. That kind of spirit will go along way towards getting birders a good name for once.

[Stephen R]

That is excellent news Stephen and, yes, I reckon it probably is some kind of a record for voluntary donations at a twitch. Am I correct in thinking that it is going to the local church?

Yeah it's going to the cley church restoration fund.