Monday 22 October 2012

Hibernicus Coal Tits in Wales?

Following on from the 'hibernicus' Coal Tit thread, a good candidate occured today in Pembrokeshire. This quote, which includes interesting notes about the Scilly records, is by Mike Y-P on their blog http://pembsbirds.blogspot.co.uk/ :-

I didn't see Byron's Snow B on the Head this morning but there was a Coal Tit. A close look revealed a dullish olive-green back and mantle warm buff tones on flanks and a creamy yellow suffusion most noticeable in the cheeks. Birds showing these characteristics arrived on St Agnes in the Scilly Isles on October 10th following north-westerly winds. There were at least 20 on St Agnes where they are far, far rarer than the Grey-cheeked Thrush which was present three days before, in fact the last record anywhere in Scilly was 2008. They caused quite a stir and lots of speculation about their provenance since the yellow suffusion in the cheeks is indicative of the Irish race 'hibernicus' (check The 'Collins Guide' or 'Svensson'). So to find a similar bird on a North Pembrokeshire headland today is perhaps predictable but nevertheless quite exciting.

As well as this, Steve Stansfield sent me two pictures of what I think is a good candidate on Bardsey taken in April 2004. Any opinions? I've sent the photos off to some Irish birders for their opinion. A first confirmed Welsh record of this form?




2 comments:

  1. First reply from Dave Sudderby, who lives in Co. Mayo, Eire says 'this Coal Tit wouldn't look out of place on the Mullet!'. Nice one.

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  2. Worth checking the orme for these marc! Lovely!

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