The temptation of two mega lifers in Gwent, an Iberian Chiffchaff and a Marmora's warbler was too much so I left Wantage on Friday evening with a plan to spend the night at my mums in Cardiff then make an early start. Upon leaving Wantage a barn owl was sat in the middle of the road only flying when I drove quite close to it (Initially I thought that somebody had left an ornament in the road). Just after joining the M4, a hobby flew across in front of me ; a good start to the trip.
On Saturday morning, I arrived at the Blorenge, a region of hilly moorland, at about 5.30am and there was already a large group of birders present. As I approached the car park, I saw (and heard) the warbler in gorse at the side of the road. Marmora's warblers are usually found in Sardinia, Corsica and a small region of the Italian mainland. However, a small population does migrate from the Northern coast of Africa. Very rarely a vagrant bird will turn up in the UK ; only 5 have been confirmed to date. In contrast, the similar Balearic warbler is resident on the Balearic Islands (now excluding Menorca) and so would be highly unlikely to end up here.
The warbler was circling the car park, singing on top of gorse bushes and especially liked prominent Holly and Hawthorn bushes. At 6.30, I drove to Chepstow to pick up Jenx and returned to the Blorenge. By now, the numbers of birders had swelled to well over a hundred. The bird was still showing well but has stopped circling the car park possibly because a long line of birders was cutting a swathe through it's territory. Other birds of interest were several whinchats and tree pipits, and 3 cuckoos.
On Saturday morning, I arrived at the Blorenge, a region of hilly moorland, at about 5.30am and there was already a large group of birders present. As I approached the car park, I saw (and heard) the warbler in gorse at the side of the road. Marmora's warblers are usually found in Sardinia, Corsica and a small region of the Italian mainland. However, a small population does migrate from the Northern coast of Africa. Very rarely a vagrant bird will turn up in the UK ; only 5 have been confirmed to date. In contrast, the similar Balearic warbler is resident on the Balearic Islands (now excluding Menorca) and so would be highly unlikely to end up here.
The warbler was circling the car park, singing on top of gorse bushes and especially liked prominent Holly and Hawthorn bushes. At 6.30, I drove to Chepstow to pick up Jenx and returned to the Blorenge. By now, the numbers of birders had swelled to well over a hundred. The bird was still showing well but has stopped circling the car park possibly because a long line of birders was cutting a swathe through it's territory. Other birds of interest were several whinchats and tree pipits, and 3 cuckoos.
Next stop was Cadeira beeches in Wentwood. The Iberian Chiffchaff was easy to find about 100 yards south of the Car Park. We actually heard its distinctive song well before seeing it. This species is usually seen in Iberia and northwest Africa and until 2007 had only been confirmed 11 times (BTO birdfacts).
Got back to Wantage in time to see the Wales rugby match v the Springboks. I hope they win - I am still reeling from Cardiff City's playoff defeat to Blackpool.
Marmora's warbler at Blorenge, South WalesMarmora's warbler : UK lifer 267
Iberian Chiffchaff : UK lifer 268
.JPG)
