Blackpoll Warbler - 2008 - first for Pembrokeshire
Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 9:11AM While on a few days break at Marloes, Pembrokeshire, I visited the nature reserve at Marloes Mere on Tuesday 7th October during some bad weather,with some strong westerly winds and heavy rain showers, observing from the Mark Britton hide. While watching some goldcrests, chiffchaffs and willow warblers, feeding in willow scrub close to a pond, I noticed a warbler I did not recognise. It was slightly larger than a willow warbler and slower in movement, spending lengthy periods sat in one place.
The bird had a yellowish wash to the neck and breast with a paler belly. I then decided to go back to the B&B to get my scope and camera. Through the scope I noticed faint streaking either side of the breast, heavy streaking on the rear neck and mantle with some streaking on the crown. Also very obvious were the pale-edged secondaries, primaries and tail feathers, and also the distinct double wing bar, which can be seen in the photos. In flight the tail showed white edges. The bird gave a brief meadow pipit-like call, but higher pitched and shorter.
The overall back and head colour was olive, greyer on the shoulders. I photographed the bird by simply placing a compact canon camera on the eyepiece of a Kowa 30X80. The pic of the rear of the bird, although poor, shows the extent of the streaking on the mantle just about, also some of the shots show the bird had pale flesh-coloured feet.
I observed the bird between 11:00 ann 15:00 on and off, and the next day the bird could not be re-located, probably due to a clear night and fine sunny conditions on the 8th. Unfortunately no-one else was around to see the bird.
As a fairly experienced birder I realised this may have been an American vagrant, and after checking my limited bird identification books, the nearest I can come up with is a possible female or immature blackpoll warbler.
Mark Spirito
Pembrokeshire Bird Report 2008
Post-script: the photos clearly showed an immature/female blackpoll warbler - the first for Pembrokeshire and has been accepted as such by BBRC.
Rarity in Blackpoll Warbler 