Arctic Warbler
Phylloscopus borealis (Blasius, JH, 1858) (11, 7)
Photo © Phil Woollen - Voe, Shetland, 5 October 2013
Ex BBRC species 31/12/2018
STATUS
Palearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Two of the most respected ornithologists of the day, along with members of the BOC misidentified the 1902 Orkney warbler which turned out to be the first for Britain.
RECORDS
1). 1902 Orkney Sule Skerry Lighthouse, male, killed, 5th September, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1902.115).
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 13: 12; W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1903: 22; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 82; W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1909: 114-115; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 408; Clarke, 1912; Witherby, 1920-24; Thom, 1986).
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1902) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIII. p. 12, at the 90th Meeting of the Club held on 22nd October 1902 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Howard Saunders, on behalf of Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, exhibited a specimen of a freshly-moulted male Phylloscopus viridanus [Greenish Warbler], which struck the lantern of the Suleskerry lighthouse on the 5th of September last. Suleskerry was a storm-swept rock nearly forty miles west of Hoy, and about 35 miles from the nearest point of Sutherland.
The bird was sent to Mr. Clarke in the flesh, and had been carefully compared with specimens in the British Museum. This was the second example recognized in Great Britain, the first having been obtained by Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh in Lincolnshire on the 5th of September, 1896.'
W. E. Clarke (1903) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XII. pp. 22-24, under 'Greenish Willow Warbler', says: 'A fine adult male example was killed at the lantern of the Sule Skerry Lighthouse on the night of the 5th September, and was forwarded to me in the flesh by Mr. J. Tomison, the keeper....The Scottish specimen is an unusually fine example, the wing measuring 2.6 inches, and is in brilliant plumage, having just completed the moult. In it the third primary is the longest, the fourth being next, while the second is intermediate between the sixth and seventh - a feature described as rare in the Catalogue of Birds (British Museum), Vol. V. p. 45, where that quill is said to be usually intermediate between the seventh and eighth. The figure of this species in Lord Lilford's 'Coloured Illustrations' is not satisfactory; the tarsus as there represented is much too short, the bill is neither long enough or sufficiently robust, and in colour the under surface is too yellow and lacks the greyish tint which is somewhat conspicuous on the flanks.
The figure in the Supplement to Mr. Dresser's Birds of Europe, (Plate 651, Fig. 1), is a little better in these respects, but the lower parts are too much washed with green. As compared with other British members of the genus, viridanus may be described as being stout-billed, long-legged, and short-toed. In other respects it is a decidedly green Willow Warbler, with a pale bar across the wing, a conspicuous superciliary stripe, and the under surface greyish white delicately washed with sulphur-yellow....The specimen is now in the British Collection in the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art.'
Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 82, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', as a Greenish Warbler.
Wm. Eagle Clarke (1909) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVIII. pp. 114-115, says: 'In the Annals for 1903, p. 22, I recorded the occurrence of the Greenish Willow Warbler (P. viridanus) at the Sule Skerry lantern on 5th September 1902; and on 22nd October 1902, the late Mr. Howard Saunders exhibited this specimen at the British Ornithologists' Club, and confirmed my identification (cf. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, XIII, 12).
Having had occasion to re-examine this specimen, I was convinced that a mistake had been made, and that the bird was a specimen of Eversmann's Warbler (P. borealis) - a conclusion with which Dr. Hartert entirely agrees. Mr. Saunders and myself were both mistaken, being misled by the fact that the bird had only a single wing bar. This conspicuous character is, however, shared by a considerable number of specimens of P. borealis, though the fact is not stated in any of the works on Palearctic birds to which I have access, and in most of them much importance is made of the double wing-bar which is more or less in evidence in the majority of examples of that species.
One now wonders if the specimen of P. viridanus obtained in North Lincolnshire by Mr. Caton Haigh, in the autumn of 1905, and also exhibited at the Ornithologists' Club, was really of that species and not P. borealis; the latter bird, from its being a summer visitor to northern Europe, is much the more likely to occur than its more eastern congener.'
H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 408, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', say: 'The specimen taken at the Suleskerry Lighthouse in 1902 now proves to be an example of Eversmann's Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis). Mr. Eagle Clarke obtained a similar bird on Fair Isle in 1908, and found that, although it only had a single wing-bar, it was a specimen of P. borealis.
The fact that this species sometimes exhibited this character had escaped the attention of Mr. Howard Saunders and himself when they identified the Suleskerry bird. It is possible that the only other British record for P. viridanus may also prove an error, and that the species may have to come off the British list (W. Eagle Clarke, Ann. S.N.H., 1909, p. 114).'
Clarke (1912 (2): 130-131) under 'The Birds of Fair Isle', says: '...I afterwards found that the warbler recorded for Sule Skerry as P. viridanus belonged to this species.'
2). 1908 Fair Isle No locality, male, obtained, 28th September, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1909.222.59).
(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1909: 1-2; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 2: 310; Clarke, 1912; Hartert et al., 1912; Witherby, 1920-24; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1909) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVIII. pp. 1-2, says: 'On the 29th of September last, while in a search of migratory birds at Fair Isle, I put up from a patch of potatoes, where it was hiding, a dark-coloured Willow Warbler, which I at once suspected belonged to some species I had never before seen in life. I was fortunate enough to secure the bird, and congratulated myself, as I contemplated its outstretched wings each with a conspicuous single bar and its well-defined, pale, superciliary stripe, on the capture of the third British example of the Greenish Warbler (Ph. viridanus).
On my return to Edinburgh, however, I was agreeably surprised to find that my bird was undoubtedly an example of Eversmann's Warbler (Ph. borealis) - a bird which had not hitherto been detected in Britain. The descriptions of this species are misleading , far too much importance being made of the so-called double wing-bar. The second bar is absent in some examples, while in others it is only present in the shape of a few flecks of greyish-white on the tips of the median wing coverts. A much safer guide is to be found in the wing formula. In this species the second primary quill is intermediate in length between the fifth and sixth, the third and fourth are equal and are the longest, the fifth is much shorter, and the sixth is considerably shorter than the fifth. In all these respects the Fair Isle specimen, which is a male, agrees with the descriptions, and the wing measures 2.55 inches.
In colour the upper surface is darker than that of our familiar Willow Warbler (P. trochilus), being dusky greyish-green; the eye-stripe is well defined, extends on to the nape, and is yellowish-white; the greater wing coverts are broadly tipped with greyish-white, forming a conspicuous wing-bar; the cheeks whitish, dappled with grey; the under surface whitish, greyer on the breast and flanks, and faintly washed with greenish-yellow. On examination, the contents of the gizzard were found to consist of a Phalangid, two Noctuid larvae, and the remains of Scatophaga stercoraria and Anthomyia phorbia and many fragments of other Dipterous insects. This species has only once before, I believe, been obtained in Western Europe, namely, at Heligoland on the 6th of October 1854.'
H. F. Witherby (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 310, says: 'On September 28th, 1908, while Mr. W. Eagle Clarke was pursuing his investigations (frequently referred to in these pages) of the migration of birds at Fair Isle, he put up out of a patch of potatoes a dark-coloured Willow-Warbler, which he at once suspected belonged to a species he had never seen before. He was fortunate enough to secure the bird, which proved to be an undoubted example of Eversmann's Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), a species which has not previously been detected as occurring in the British Isles.
This species has only once before occurred in Western Europe, viz., at Heligoland on October 6th, 1854. It summers in Finmark, Northern Russia and Siberia, and winters in Burma, Malaya, China, etc., and, as Mr. Clarke remarks, it would be interesting to know where the European contingent passes the winter, "for it is difficult to believe that there are no winter retreats for this species nearer than the eastern sections of Southern Asia" (cf. Ann. S.N.H., 1909, pp. 1 and 2).'
Clarke (1912 (2): 87) under 'A Year at Fair Isle' in George Stout's diary of 1908, says: '28th September - South-east, breezy; dull, cooler; wind more southerly at night. Foghorn at 7.30 pm. Phylloscopus borealis, a male, a beautiful specimen; it was found in turnips, and was very wild; its dark colour attracted attention.'
Further, pp. 130-131, under 'The Birds of Fair Isle', he adds: '...This I was fortunate enough to secure, though with difficulty, for it was extremely wild. It proved to be a male, and its stomach contained a Phalangid, two lepidopterous larvae, and the remains of various Dipterous insects.
At first this bird was thought to be new to the British avifauna, but I afterwards found that the warbler recorded for Sule Skerry as P. viridanus belonged to this species.'
Forrester & Andrews et al. (2007 (2): 1232) add: 'Specimen now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1909.222.59).'
3). 1913 Fair Isle No locality, obtained, 18th October.
(W. E. Clarke, Scottish Naturalist 34: 54; Eds., British Birds 7: 349; Witherby, 1920-24).
History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1914) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXIV. p. 54, says: 'The third British, and second Fair Isle example of this subarctic species was found on 18th October among a plot of turnips - a favourite resting-haunt of immigrants on passage. Unfortunately the sex could not be determined. The other, and first British, specimen was captured at the lantern of the lighthouse at Suleskerry, another remote Scottish island, on 5th September 1902.'
In an Editorial (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 348- 349, they say: 'The following interesting records have been published in recent issues of the Scottish Naturalist. All the references given refer to the volume for 1914....Eversmann's Warbler (Ph. b. borealis). - One on Oct. 18th, 1913, at Fair Isle - the third record for the occurrence of this bird in the British Isles (id., p. 54).'
4). 1922 Norfolk Blakeney Point, shot, 4th September.
(E. C. Arnold, British Birds 16: 162; J. H. Gurney, jun., British Birds 16: 231-232; S. H. Long & B. B. Riviere, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 11: 588; Witherby, 1920-24; Pashley, 1925; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 22: 46-47; Seago, 1977; Stoddart & Joyner, 2005).
History E. C. Arnold (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. p. 162, says: 'On September 4th, 1922, near Blakeney, I shot a small warbler in the scrub, a single slight wing-bar extending over three feathers only, having caught my eye at a distance of nearly twenty yards. This bird was kindly identified by Mr. Witherby, and, as I expected, it turned out to be an Eversmann's Warbler (Phylloscopus b. borealis). It is a typical specimen.
The first primary is no longer than the wing-coverts; the second comes between the 5th and 6th; the 3rd to 5th are emarginated on the outer webs and not the 6th; the wing measures 63 mm.; the eye-stripe is long and conspicuous, and the beak larger than that of an ordinary Willow-Wren. The wind was north-west with fog and fine rain in the morning. This is the first record for England, the three previous occurrences of the bird having been in the Orkneys and Shetlands.'
J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1923) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. pp. 231-232, in the Annual Report, says: 'An example of this northern Warbler, the first recorded for England, was shot on September 4th in the marrams near Blakeney, the wind being N.W.2, with drizzling rain, by Mr. E. C. Arnold (Brit. B., XVI. p. 162).'
Admitted by S. H. Long & B. B. Riviere (1924) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. XI. p. 588, under 'Additions to Part XI (Eighth List) 1919-23'.
Pashley (1925) says: '1922. September 4th. E. C. Arnold got an Eversmann's Warbler.'
H. F. Witherby (1928) in British Birds, Vol. XXII. pp. 46-47, in a Review of W. E. Clarke's 3rd ed. of Saunders's Manual of British Birds, says: 'For years Howard Saunders's Manual was the standard authority for British ornithology until his last (1899) edition became too out of date to be so regarded. The present edition we fear falls short in the accuracy sustained in Saunders's own two editions....here are many details in the book to which we take exception, and there are also certain records which do not appear to have been published previously, and it must suffice to refer here to a few of these items....the occurrence of Eversmann's Warbler in Norfolk in September, 1922, is omitted.'
Locally, Seago (1977) adds: 'Now at Castle Museum, Norwich', while Stoddart & Joyner (2005: 192) say: '...after a recent search, it cannot be found at the Castle Museum, Norwich.'
Comment Preserved by H. N. Pashley, Cley, Norfolk.
5). 1922 Fair Isle No locality, obtained, 27th September.
(E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 43: 68; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 17: 195; Witherby, 1920-24).
History E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1923) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLIII. p. 68, in the annual report, say: 'Eversmann's Warbler was obtained on Fair Isle on 27th September.'
H. F. Witherby (1924) in British Birds, Vol. XVII. p. 195, in a Review of the 'Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1922, including Migration', by Evelyn V. Baxter and Leonora J. Rintoul, says: 'One was obtained on Fair Isle on September 27th.
This is the fourth record for Scotland, and it will be remembered that Mr. E. C. Arnold obtained one in Norfolk on September 4th, 1922 (antea, Vol. XVI. p. 162).'
6). 1924 Northumberland Holy Island, male, 27th September.
(W. G. Watson, British Birds 19: 20; Bolam, 1932; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).
History W. G. Watson (1925) in British Birds, Vol. XIX. p. 20, says: 'Eversmann's Warbler (Phylloscopus b. borealis). - A male on September 27th.' It was accepted locally (Bolam 1932) and (Galloway & Meek 1978-83).
7). 1926 Fair Isle No locality, male, obtained, 27th September.
(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 47: 53; Eds., British Birds 21: 20; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 47: 135).
History J. H. Stenhouse (1927) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVII. p. 53, says: 'I revisited Fair Isle in the autumn of 1926, remaining on the island from 8th September to 6th October....There were few rarities: a male Eversmann's Warbler, Phylloscopus b. borealis, was obtained on the 27th [September].'
In an Editorial (1927) in British Birds, Vol. XXI. p. 20, they say: 'Fair Isle. - Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse records (Scot. Nat., 1927, pp. 53-4) the occurrence of the following scarce visitors to Fair Isle in the autumn of 1926: - Eversmann's Warbler (Phylloscopus b. borealis). - One on September 27th. This is the seventh recorded British occurrence.'
Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1927) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVII. p. 135, in the annual report.
8). 1928 Fair Isle No locality, male, obtained, 30th July.
(G. Stout, Scottish Naturalist 48: 164; Eds., British Birds 23: 43; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History George Stout of Fair Isle (1928) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVIII. p. 164, says: 'A male example of Eversmann's Warbler (Phylloscopus b. borealis) was obtained here on 30th July.'
[The skin, very badly damaged by shot, has been forwarded to the Royal Scottish Museum. The bird was in partial moult, the central tail feathers being in process of renewal. This is the fifth specimen of this northern species recorded from Fair Isle and the sixth in the British Isles. Even more noteworthy than its actual occurrence is the exceptionally early date: all the others were met with in September and October. - Eds.]
In an Editorial (1929) in British Birds, Vol. XXIII. p. 43, they say: 'Mr. G. Stout records (Scot. Nat., 1928, p. 164) that an example of Phylloscopus b. borealis was obtained at Fair Isle on July 30th, 1928. This is the eighth recorded occurrence in Great Britain and the fifth for Fair Isle. The date is exceptionally early, previous records having been for September and one October.'
9). 1930 Fair Isle No locality, male, obtained, 15th September, now at Natural History Museum, Tring (Acc. No. NHMUK 1931.2.1.1).
(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 51: 45; Eds., British Birds 25: 26; C. J. McInerny & R. Y. McGowan, Scottish Birds 44: in prep.).
History J. H. Stenhouse (1931) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LI. p. 45, says: 'At Fair Isle notes were taken during the period by Mr. George Stout, and it is from his diary, which has been forwarded to me, that the following details have been extracted....On the 15th [September], a male Eversmann's Warbler (Phylloscopus b. borealis), the sixth occurrence of this bird at Fair Isle, and the seventh in the British Isles, was secured.'
In an Editorial (1931) in British Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 26, they say: 'A male was obtained at Fair Isle on September 15th, 1930, the sixth occurrence of the bird there and the ninth in Great Britain (not seventh as stated) (J. H. Stenhouse, 1931, p. 45).'
10). 1931 Fair Isle No locality, obtained, 24th September, now at Natural Museums Scotland, Edinburgh (Acc. No. NMSZ 1931.103.6).
(G. Stout, Scottish Naturalist 52: 38; Eds., British Birds 26: 27; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; D. N. Shaw, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 2003: 116; C. J. McInerny & R. Y. McGowan, Scottish Birds 44: in prep.).
History George Stout of Fair Isle (1932) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LII. p. 38, says: 'We did not have many birds on Fair Isle this autumn, owing to too much westerly wind, but I observed a few unusual visitors....an Eversmann's Warbler.'
In an Editorial (1932) in British Birds, Vol. XXVI. pp. 27-28, they say: 'Mr. George Stout (Scot. Nat., 1932, p. 38) states - Other rare birds recorded are: an Eversmann's Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)...are also mentioned as having occurred, but no dates or particulars are given and it is a great pity that these interesting records are published in such an incomplete form.'
Pennington et al. (2004) says: 'The reference to five or six on Fair Isle in autumn 1931 (Baxter & Rintoul 1953) is a misinterpretation of the data given by Stout (1932), where he clearly stated that one occurred in October.'
11). 1932 Lincolnshire North Cotes, shot, 24th October.
(G. H. Caton Haigh, Transactions of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union 1932: 107-109; G. H. Caton Haigh, British Birds 26: 253; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).
History G. H. Caton Haigh (1932) in the Transactions of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, Vol. VIII. pp. 107-108, says: 'On 24th the flight still continued but was not very strong. A few Peewits, Larks, Fieldfares, Grey Crows, Rooks were going N.W.; in the hedges were Great Tits, Tree Sparrows and Wrens, and I shot an example of Eversmann’s Warbler. This bird is not known to have previously occurred in Lincolnshire.'
Further, p. 109, he adds: '...but the outstanding ornithological events of the year were the appearance of two birds new to the County list, namely the American Yellowshank and Eversmann’s Warbler. The latter however is a small and inconspicuous species which might easily escape observation. As I have previously remarked in these notes this part of the coast is becoming yearly less suitable as a haunt of birds owing to the increase of shore shooters and still more to the establishment by the Royal Air Force of an aerodrome and bombing school.'
G. H. Caton Haigh (1933) in British Birds, Vol. XXVI. p. 253, says: 'While hunting the old shelter hedges near the coast at North Cotes for Woodcock on October 24th, 1932, I detected a small leaf Warbler flying along in front of the beater and keeping close to the foot of the hedge. As this date was late for a Chiffchaff or Willow-Wren, I paid special attention to the bird and soon noticed that it had a conspicuous white eye-stripe. I shot the bird, which was unfortunately much shattered, but Gunn of Norwich contrived to make a recognizable skin of it.
It was forwarded to Mr. H. F. Witherby, who very kindly identified it for me as Eversmann's Warbler. It is the first Lincolnshire and the eleventh British example.
There was a certain amount of migration taking place, Hooded Crows, Rooks, Fieldfares, Larks and Lapwings travelling to N.W., and I noticed Great Tits, Wrens and Tree Sparrows in the hedges. The wind was light N.W. and the weather fine.'
1950-57 RECORDS
12). 1950 Fair Isle Upper Leogh, two, adults, 30th August.
(K. Williamson, British Birds 44: 121-122, 226; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1950: 12; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2: 196; Williamson, 1962; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).
History K. Williamson (1951) in British Birds, Vol. XLIV. pp. 121-122, says: 'Two birds watched on August 30th were distinctly larger than the many Willow Warblers which had been passing through for several days, and in fact their size and the more greenish (less brownish) olive tone of the upper-parts was strongly reminiscent of the Wood-Warbler (Ph. sibilatrix). The crown was rather browner than the mantle and the tail was brownish-olive without any greenish fringes. The rakish yellow superciliary stripe, extending almost to the nape, was as prominent as in the Yellow-browed Warbler and much more striking than in the Greenish Warblers trapped here. A dark stripe through the eye contrasted with this and the yellowish cheeks. The lores were a dark olive colour. A short yellowish-white wing-bar at the tips of the greater coverts was the main feature of the closed wing. There was a similarly coloured but much less obvious marking on the median coverts; this was present on both wings in the case of one bird, but was present on the left wing only in the other - the right wing, seen several times in close view, appeared to have lost all trace of it. It would be an exaggeration to call this marking a bar, since the whitish mark was apparently confined to one or two feathers only. The tips of the primaries, in the closed wing, showed as a dull brown without any indication of greenish or olive, suggesting that the wing-feathers were old and in consequence well worn, and the birds probably adult. The under-parts were dull whitish, the sides of breast and flanks having a marked greyish wash, and, when seen at close quarters, a faintly striated effect. The centre of breast and belly was yellowish tinged, and the under tail-coverts were also suffused with yellow. The beak appeared long and spear-like for a Phylloscopus, and was brownish-orange, darkest at the tip of the upper mandible. The legs were paler, brownish-flesh, and the inside of the mouth was orange.
The birds haunted an enclosed cabbage-patch, seeking small green caterpillars (? Barathra brassicca), one of which was battered on the wall before being swallowed, or catching flies above the tops of the plants. A bird once flew nearly 30 ft. upwards to take a tipulid, but sallies were normally confined to a low level.
A caterpillar of the Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassica) was taken on one occasion, but the bird apparently found it distasteful, as it discarded it. When moving from place to place on the tops of the cabbage plants the birds kept up a constant flicking of the closed wings in typical phylloscopine fashion, but when resting between energetic bouts of food-seeking the wings were held still. In form they appeared to be slenderer birds than Willow-Warblers, and they had a habit - which I have not seen in other leaf-warblers - of stretching out their necks and at the same time twisting their heads to one side, as though alertly following some movement among the plants. In this way they adopted some quite unusual postures - the type of extravagant posturing, in fact, that one only expects to find in an Audubon painting!
Another feature was the unkempt appearance of the head - the feathers of the crown were often lifted, giving the impression of a tiny crest, and the chin-feathers were ruffled, giving a bearded effect. These may seem to be small points, but I think they are important; the field identification of Phylloscopus sp. must always rest on small differences, and so marked were these behaviour traits during our two hours' observation that they are probably characteristic of the species. Once or twice the birds called to each other, a hard "zik", and on being disturbed by a cat one bird scolded with a more emphatic version of the same note, a repeated "tehik". They were watched by Ian Munro, David Nicoll and Drs. J. A. R. Miles and J. C. D. White and myself.'
K. Williamson (1954) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. II. p. 196, says: '...Adults, two of which were seen together at Fair Isle on August 30th 1951 [sic], are a brighter, greyer-green than young birds...'
Williamson (1962: 33) in his Identification for Ringers: Phylloscopus, also states '...many times from Britain especially at Fair Isle (Shetland) (ads. 30.VIII. but mostly 1st w....'
14). 1951 Fair Isle Near Mires, first-year, 27th August.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (4): 14; K. Williamson, British Birds 45: 231).
History K. Williamson (1951) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. I (IV). p. 14, says: 'One, - a bird of the year, judging by the grey-green tinge of the upper-parts, - was in a potato rigg near Mires on August 27th. It showed a single whitish wing-bar on the major coverts and a faint touch of white on the median coverts of one wing. It gave good views as it perched on a wire fence, but was very restless, continually turning about or hopping to a new position.'
K. Williamson (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. p. 231, says: 'One, believed to be a bird of the year, on August 27th.'
15). 1951 Northumberland Holy Island, 9th to 12th September.
(N. W. Cusa, British Birds 45: 414-415; G. W. Temperley, Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham & Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society 10: 145; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).
History N. W. Cusa (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. pp. 414-415, says: 'On September 9th, 1951, I saw a small bird in a sycamore spinney on Holy Is., Northumberland, which had a superficial resemblance to a Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), but bore a distinct pale transverse bar on its closed wing. It was therefore examined very carefully.
The following description is as detailed as could be obtained: - Crown, mantle and rump uniformly greenish-brown. Stripe, from base of upper mandible over eye to hind border of ear-coverts, pale creamy white, sharply demarked and bounded below by an olive brown stripe from gape, across lores, closely embracing the eye and passing backwards for the full length of the pale stripe. Under-parts pale greenish-yellow, paler on throat and belly being there scarcely more than off-white. Wings and tail rather darker than mantle, greenish rather than brownish. Distinct pale, creamy-white transverse bar on wings arising from pale tips to greater coverts. No second pale bar visible. Legs brown; bill brown; eye dark.
The general impression was of a bird about the size of a Willow Warbler, if anything rather larger and slimmer, with a much more distinct pale superciliary stripe and with a pale wing bar. From below the wings seemed larger relatively to the tail than in the Willow Warbler but not so much so as in the Wood Warbler (Ph. sibilatrix). It was completely silent.
It moved about among the foliage much as does the Willow Warbler but at times it sat motionless watching for insects which it sometimes took on the wing in a hovering, fluttering flight. It constantly half-opened its wings and it slightly raised its crown feathers at times. Once it descended to the ground.
The bird was seen by Mr. A. H. White on September 11th, and by Mr. and Mrs. White on September 12th, and their description of the bird is as follows: - "It was a slim bird, slightly larger than a Willow Warbler. The upper-parts were greenish, wings and tail being dark green; pale creamy eye stripe; under-parts very pale yellow or white; upper breast with no visible streaks; greater coverts and primaries tipped very pale yellow or white; secondary webs showed pale yellow or white; legs, bill and eye dark in colour. In behaviour it was silent and shy. On quiet approach it would always fly to trees more remote, although already in high canopy. On several occasions it lifted its tail and half opened its wings". These descriptions appear to fit Eversmann's Warbler (Ph. borealis).'
16). 1951 Norfolk Blakeney Point, 21st September.
(Anon., Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk 1951: 27; R. A. Richardson, British Birds 45: 242; L. P. Alder, British Birds 45: 415; Seago, 1977).
History Anon (1951) in the Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk, p. 27, square bracketed the record.
L. P. Alder (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. p. 415, says: 'While working the suaeda bushes near Blakeney Point, Norfolk, on September 21st, 1951, a Phylloscopus was disturbed, and subsequently a satisfactory view was obtained. The following features were noted. The size appeared slightly larger than a Willow Warbler (Ph. trochilus). A prominent sulphur-yellow superciliary stripe was broadest above the ear-coverts and extended almost to the nape. Below this was a dark streak in front of and behind the eye. The crown was olive-green while the mantle was dark brownish-green with the wings and tail dark brown. Across the former a narrow but noticeable pale yellow bar was observed. There was no contrast in colour between the rump and mantle. Although the whole of the under-parts were not seen thoroughly they appeared whitish on the sides. The legs were brownish and paler than the bill which was noticeably long. This description corresponds with that of an Eversmann's Warbler (Ph. borealis). Some of the features mentioned above were also confirmed by O. D. Hunt, C. M. James, P. le Brocq and A. W. Wolton.
[We have submitted the above notes to Mr. Kenneth Williamson who states that in his opinion the bird observed by Mr. Cusa was a bird of the year, as "wings greenish, rather than brownish" suggests little wear; the notes by Mr. and Mrs. White confirm this. He adds that raising the crown feathers into a little crest is a good field character. He suggests that the Norfolk bird was an adult in worn plumage, and points out that the eye-stripe as described, coupled with the wing-bar, is diagnostic. Mr. Alder's record was enclosed in square brackets in Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk, 1951, p. 27, as, at that time, it was uncertain that it was sufficiently authenticated. An Eversmann's Warbler was identified at Fair Isle on August 27th. - Eds.]
17). 1954 Fair Isle Vaadal, first-winter, trapped, 2nd September.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2: 196; K. Williamson, British Birds 48: 132-133; Williamson, 1965).
History K. Williamson (1954) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. II. p. 196, says: 'A bit of bird observatory history was made at Fair Isle in mid-afternoon of September 2nd when an Eversmann's Warbler Phylloscopus b. borealis was caught in Vaadal Trap. It is very likely the first of its kind to be caught, ringed and released in Europe...Adults, two of which were seen together at Fair Isle on August 30th 1951 [sic], are a brighter, greyer-green than young birds...'
K. Williamson (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 132-133, says: 'On 2nd September 1954 I put a small Phylloscopine warbler into the Vaadal Trap at Fair Isle. When I took it from the catching-box I was immediately impressed by the unusual length and paleness of the superciliary stripe, and a glance at the wing confirmed that this was the first Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) we have trapped.
It proved to be a young bird of the year in the dark greenish-olive plumage and with remiges and rectrices unworn and the two wing-bars unabraded: these were formed by pale creamy tips to the outer greater coverts, and yellow spots on the inner median coverts. The tips of the primary coverts were black. The outline of the head was more like a Sedge Warbler's (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) than a Willow Warbler's (Ph. trochilus) with its strongly-made bill. The superciliary stripe differed from that of other British Phylloscopi not only in its remarkable length, reaching almost to the nape, but in the fact of its becoming paler behind the eye. The legs and lower mandible were pale brown, the upper mandible dark brown. The measurements were: chord of wing 65 mm., bill from skull 13 mm., tarsus 20 mm., tail 48 mm., and the bird weighed 8.98 gm. The 1st primary was as long as the primary coverts and the 2nd 5 mm. shorter than the 3rd and 4th, which were equal and longest; the 5th, 6th, and 7th primaries were respectively 1 mm., 6.5 mm. and 10 mm. shorter, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th were emarginate on the outer webs.
It is perhaps worth noting that this wing-formula is substantially the same as in many juvenile Willow Warblers trapped in the autumn of 1954, except that these have the 1st primary from 4-6 mm. longer than the primary coverts. It was not possible to observe the bird closely in the field following its release, but field-characters of this species have already been given in some detail (antea, Vol. XLIV. pp. 121-122).
There are now ten records of the appearance of this bird at Fair Isle, mostly on dates in the second half of September and first half of October.'
18). 1954 Fair Isle Taft, trapped,, 21st September.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1954: 4; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2 (5): 196; Williamson, 1965; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007; C. J. McInerny & R. Y. McGowan, Scottish Birds 44: 121, corr.).
History K. Williamson (1954) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2 (5): 196, says: ‘On September 21st I found another young bird in the roots at Taft and had the pleasure of showing it to Horace Alexander, whose field experience of the Phylloscopi was thereby increased to the staggering total of 28 species. We had the good fortune to watch this bird and a young Willow Warbler moving about the same crop, and perching side by side on a wire fence.’
K. Williamson (1954) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report, p. 4, says: 'More species of a north-eastern origin reached Fair Isle than in any previous autumn...Other birds which probably had a similar origin were...two Eversmann's Warblers...'
P. E. Davis (Williamson 1965) states '...two different individuals occurred in September 1954.'
Comment However, BBRC state that this second individual lacks a precise date, there is no description and it was not published in British Birds. Since then SBRC (2024) have accepted the record.
NOT PROVEN
0). 1922 Norfolk Cley-next-the-Sea, seen, 18th September.
(Pashley, 1925).
[Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 1999].
History Pashley (1925) says: '1922. September 18th. Mr. Holte Macpherson tells me that he saw a bird that was the counterpart of the specimen of Eversmann's Warbler taken by Mr. Arnold on the 4th. Mr. Macpherson saw and examined this bird and is convinced that the one he saw was an Eversmann's Warbler.'
Further, under 'List of Cley Birds', he does not list this record.
Comment No supporting identification details. Not acceptable.
0). 1943 Fair Isle No locality, seen, 26th April.
(G. Waterston, British Birds 38: 229; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
[Dymond, 1989, 1991; Pennington et al., 2004].
History G. Waterston (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 229, under 'Notes from Fair Isle, 1939-45', says: 'Arctic Warbler - G.S. saw one on 26th April 1943, which he identified by its distinct double wing bar and its characteristic skulking habits. G.S. has obtained this bird previously in late summer, and several in autumn, and knows it well.'
Locally, Dymond (1991) and Pennington et al. (2004) both find the record unacceptable.
Comment G.S. = George Stout, an islander.
0). 1953 Northumberland Holy Island, 16th May.
(G. W. Temperley, Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham & Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society 11: 34-35).
[G. W. Temperley, Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham & Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society 11: 34-35].
History G. W. Temperley (1953) in the Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham & Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society, Vol. XI. pp. 34-35, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'On May 16th on Holy Island, in the trees near the lough, a small warbler was watched for a considerable time. Its olive-brown back, olive-buff throat, yellow eye-stripe, single yellow wing-bar and yellowish brown legs were noted. It was about the size of a Willow Warbler which it resembled in its feeding habits. It was thought to be of this species, but no confirmation was obtainable. (E.K., B.L.).'
