Tuesday 29 October 2013

Hermit Thrush at Porthgwarra, Cornwall

Following the St Jude's storm this week, there have been several top North American vagrants in the UK and Ireland including Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Cape Clear, Mourning Dove in Highland, American Robin on Scilly, Yellow-rumped Warblers on Lundy and Galway and finally this morning at around 10.20am, this stunning Hermit Thrush.  This is the first record for mainland Cornwall and the ninth for the UK.  This is also the first for the British mainland.  Around 75 birders were present today.  The bird favoured the elm tree copse next to the toilet block at Porthgwarra.  It was seen feeding on the ground in the leaf litter as well hovering to take berries from the elder flower tree. 

Previous records for UK and Ireland:

Fair Isle - 1975
St Mary's, Scilly - 1984
St Agnes, Scilly - 1987
Tresco, Scilly - 1993
Fair Isle - 1995
Fetlar - 1998
Galley Head - 1998
Cape Clear - 2006
Barra - 2010
South Uist - 2010

Hermit Thrush at Porthgwarra, copyright Steve Rogers.

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