Highland & Moray Birds

Hi all

River Warbler - Applecross. Behind the Heritage Centre near the cemetery at NG 712 458. The bird has been present since Sunday 28 June. although ID was only confirmed yesterday evening. Showing (and singing) very well from early morning throughout the day favouring the scrub and Sycamore trees in the immediate vicinity of the Heritage Centre. Al McNee and I only received the info yesterday and went to view the bird arriving at Applecross around 6pm. The bird didn't show immediately but did give very short burst of song for the next couple of hours showing very briefly when it flew from some scrub. At 10pm the bird started to sing continually for periods in excess of 1 minute and showed extremely well. Photo, video and sound recordings were made (poor to reasonable quality due to light). Although the light was by this time quite poor it was extremely confiding.
The bird was found by visiting birders who's details I hope Al will disclose later. Once ID was confirmed a call was made to Birdline Scotland.

Regards Dave Tanner and Al McNee

Singing and showing well this evening at 9.15 in scrub and sycamores behind Heritage centre.

http://www.virtual-bird.com/songs/locustella-fluviatilis.mp3

Still present today Saturday 4th.

(Originally posted on Highland and Moray Yahoo Group)

On Thursday 9 July, I did the gruelling 11-hour drive to Applecross village. Although the weather was inclement (intermittent rain and cold Northerly wind blowing), the singing male RIVER WARBLER was performing well in the two hours that I spent with it. From 0800-1000 hours, it was singing intermittently from the gorse bushes immediately behind the Heritage Centre, and occasionally visiting the tall sole Sycamore behind that building. After a week on site, the singing is becoming more sporadic and the bird never sang for more than five minutes in one phrase.

The views afforded by this bird are spectacular - it sits out in full view on either the gorse or Sycamore belting out its energetic mechanically rhythmic song. Despite such views, it was extremely difficult to see the barring on the undertail coverts, and for most of the time they looked a uniform brown. Its almost spider-like pale pink feet (and legs) could be easily seen, as well as the pale pink gape. The breast was largely defined by a uniform brown wash with some distinct streaking on the throat and upper breast. The lower underparts were paler and unmarked. The upperparts were concolorous brown and unstreaked.

DIRECTIONS

The best way to approach is from Lochcarron village, accessed north from the Kyle of Lochalshe road. From Lochcarron continue towards Shieldaig and continue on the mountain road for 11 miles to Applecross (passing the Ptarmigan population on your right). Once it meets the coast on the west side of the mountain, turn right and follow the bay around for 0.7 miles from where you will soon see the church and the Heritage Centre.

There was at least one full breeding-plumaged BLACK-THROATED DIVER offshore in the bay, as well as 37 moulting Common Eiders, several Red-breasted Mergansers, 9 Eurasian Curlew and 96 Oystercatchers.

At the Ptarmigan site, two summer-plumaged adult EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVERS were showing well.

PS Does anybody know the names of the finders of the River Warbler?

Lee G R Evans
British Birding Association
UK400 Club, Rare Birds Magazine, Ornithological Consultant and Conservationist
Discussion Forum/Email Group: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/UK400Club/
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Website Address: www.uk400clubonline .co.uk
Blog Sites: http://uk400clubrar ebirdalert. blogspot. com/ http://birdingamers ham.blogspot. com/ http://birdingtring reservoirs. blogspot. com/
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Chaffinch House
8 Sandycroft Road
Little Chalfont
Amersham
Buckinghamshire
England
HP6 6QL