Yellow-browed Warbler - 2016 Skokholm

Phylloscopus inornatus 

One around the Farm on 5th October made its way into the Wheelhouse Heligoland and was ringed (OP et al.). An unringed bird at the Well four days later was trapped in the Stream Net, fortunately so as it showed that a bird at the Wheelhouse on the 10th was a third individual. The Wheelhouse bird was ringed and retrapped the following day when it was found to have increased in weight from 5.8 to 6.4g. A single was again logged on the 12th, probably the bird which first arrived on the 10th. The fourth of the autumn around the Cottage on 29th October made its way into the Library Net, the added ring again showing it to be different to the unringed bird which appeared the following day; this single on 30th October becomes the latest Island sighting. Five birds in an autumn is a new record, up on the four of 2015 and 2013; it takes the Skokholm total to approximately 32 birds, although recent ringing has shown that records on consecutive dates assumed in the past to be the same individual may have actually been more than one bird.

Skokholm Annual Report 2016

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1994

Rare autumn visitor

Yellow-browed Warblers were recorded in 15 years between 1959, when they first occurred at Skokholm on 2 October, and 1992. Single birds have occurred at the Smalls, South Bishop, Skokholm, Skomer, the Gann, St Bride's, Manorbier, Castle Pill and Strumble Head, with two at the latter locality on 30 October 1986 and at Caldey on 14 October 1989. Dates of occurrence span 25 September to 19 November, with 70% falling between 2 October and 27 October. All were juveniles of the nominate Siberian race, presumably displaced by weather systems when heading towards wintering areas in south Asia.

Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire