Hawfinch is surprise talking point (article prepared for the Sunday Independent column)

If one species grabbed the birding headlines this Autumn, then the shy Hawfinch must be a candidate. The species is not a major rarity but more a scarce breeding resident in the UK.  The fascination though stems from its natural shyness.  The species prefers to feed and rest in tall trees, though can be seen feeding on the ground occasionally.  Most observations are usually from a distance or flyovers.  This Autumn has changed all that. An unusual eruption has occurred. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, have moved out of continental Europe.  The assumption is a healthy breeding season followed by a shortage of food, prompting a mass migration towards Britain and France.  UK birders have benefitted from a rare opportunity to see the species well in unfamiliar surroundings.

The Hawfinch invasion has been noted across the UK, most notably on the east and south coasts but also inland.  Cornwall has also done well with upwards of 150 sightings (some overlap). The maximum count was nine together in west Cornwall with many sightings of singles and pairs. The species is totally absent as a breeding bird in Cornwall with the nearest population in mid Devon (scarce).  Their preferred tree is the Hornbeam, which is also absent from Cornwall. This would explain their absence here as a breeding bird. The species breeds across Europe and temperate Asia. It is mainly resident in Europe, but many Asian birds migrate further south in the winter.

The Pacific Diver has returned to Mount's Bay, Cornwall for its 11th year.  This mega rare diver is one of only five species in the genera.  It has faithfully returned to the same wintering site every year since 2007.  There are less than ten UK records.  Birders travel from far distances to tick this species, even a group from Norway "twitched" it.  Sightings cannot be guaranteed though.  It usually stays well out in the bay and a telescope is a must for a decent view.   It breeds primarily in northern Canada and eastern Siberia and winters along the Pacific coast of North America.  Given where it breeds, this bird certainly puts in the miles.

New Hawfinch images

Several birders enjoyed the previous Hawfinch post, so here are four more of the best ones I took last week at Nanquidno.  I was lucky to get such unexpected close views.   The camera has recorded some intricate detail of this adult male, including the strange primary feathers and huge head.  According to the literature, the massive bill packs around 80 lb of pressure, just enough to crack open the sloe berry kernels, as shown below. 

Two Hawfinches at Ninestones

A Hawfinch has been wintering in the Upper Fowey Valley since at least December 2008, but today two were seen flying around the valley together. I managed to clinch a record shot of the more illusive female. The brighter and more contrasty male flew in calling and landed about 50 yards away for no more than a minute. The images have been cropped by 50% and the saturation tool also used to dull down the bright sky light in the background. Unbelieveably this is my first record of Hawfinch in (mainland) Cornwall having missed several in the past (including ironically a pair at St Clements last winter).
EXIF Data: Exposure: +0.3, White Balance: Cloudy, Focal Length: 850mm, ISO 400, Ap. F/5.6. Image taken in Aperture Priority.