Myrtle Warbler

Setophaga coronata (Linnaeus, 1766) (0, 27)

Photo © Matthew K. Naylor, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, 22 Oct 2024

STATUS

North America. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

Just four individuals have occurred on mainland Britain and apart from one on the east coast in Co. Durham the rest have all occurred in the west and the Northern Isles.

There have been seven spring occurrences during May and June. Two individuals have been found in January and one in February.

The 2024 individual has become the longest stayer in Britain.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1955 Devon Near Exeter, Newton St Cyres, male, 4th January to 10th February when found dead, photo.

(F. R. Smith, British Birds 48: 204-207, plates 25-28; M. Brooks-King, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 19545: 50; BOURC (1956), Ibis 98: 155; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 56: 204-217).

2). 1960 Devon Lundy, first-year, 5th to 14th November, trapped 8th November, photo.

(G. A. Pyman and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 54: 195; W. B. Workman, British Birds 54: 250-251;I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 56: 204-217; Davis & Jones, 2007).

3). 1968 Isles of Scilly Porthloo, St Mary's, first-winter, 22nd to 27th October.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 62: 486; J. N. Dymond and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 69: 359, corr.; G. J. Jobson, British Birds 71: 186).

4). 1973 Isles of Scilly Cromwell's Castle and near Great Pool, Tresco, 16th to 24th October, photo.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 67: 336; D. B. Hunt, Isles of Scilly Bird Report 1973: 23; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 71: 526, corr.; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 144).

5). 1976 Man, Isle of Calf of Man, 26th October.

(J. O'Sullivan and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 70: 440).

6). 1977 Fair Isle Pylie, male, 18th May.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 71: 526).

7). 1982 Outer Hebrides Newton, North Uist, 22nd to 23rd October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 524).

8). 1985 Man, Isle of Calf of Man, first-summer male, trapped, 30th May, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 580, plate 284; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 80: 566, corr.).

9). 1985 Isles of Scilly Peninnis/Carn Gwaval area, St Mary's, 7th to 22nd October, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 580, plates 21, 22 & 285; N. W. Addey, Isles of Scilly Bird Report 1985: 60-61; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 144).

10). 1985 Isles of Scilly Pelistry Bay, St Mary's, another, 10th October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 580; C. Todd, Isles of Scilly Bird Report 1985: 61-62).

11). 1994 Pembrokeshire Ramsey Island, 31st October to 4th November, photo.

(S. J. M. Gantlett, Birding World 7: 434-435, photos; Birding World 7 (12): 494, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 548, plate 194).

12). 1994 Avon Eastville Park, Bristol, 16th to 17th November, photo.

(S. J. M. Gantlett, Birding World 7: 434-435, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 548; J. P. Martin, A. J. Musgrove & R. M. Andrews, Avon Bird Report 1994: 112-114, photo).

13). 1995 Isles of Scilly Pool Road, Tresco, 4th to 15th October, photo.

(Birding World 8 (10): 370, 374, photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 525; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 144).

14). 1995 Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter, 13th October, photo.

(Birding World 8 (11): 411, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 525; Orkney Bird Report 1995: 69-70; Birding Scotland 2 (3): plate 59).

15). 1999 Fair Isle Smirri Geo, first-summer male, 3rd June; same, near Shop, 4th to 5th June, photo.

(C. Holt, Birding World 12 (6): 239, photos; Birding World 12 (12): 491, photo; C. Holt, Birding Scotland 2 (4): 185; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 562; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).

16). 1999 Outer Hebrides Grogarry, South Uist, 17th October, photo.

(Birding World 12 (11): 437, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 562; Birding Scotland 4 (2): plate 79; Birding Scotland 2: 185).

17). 2003 Orkney Dale, Costa, Evie, Mainland, 31st October to 6th November, photo.

(Birding World 16 (10): 413, photo; Birding World 16 (11): 450, photo; Birding World 16 (12): 524, photo; S. Williams, Birding Scotland 6 (4): 175-177, plates 156-158; British Birds 96: plate 419; Orkney Bird Report 2003: photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 619).

18). 2013 Devon Lundy, 28th October, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 647).

19). 2014 Co. Durham High Shincliffe, first-winter male, 26th January to 16th February, photo.

(British Birds 107: plate 105; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 627).

20.0). 2014 Orkney Scott's Haa, North Ronaldsay, female, 6th May, photo; also in Shetland.

(M. Warren & R. Brookes, Scottish Birds 34: 274-275, plates 256-259; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 627).

20.1). 2014 Shetland Haroldswick, Unst, female, 7th to 8th May, photo; same as Orkney.

(M. Warren & R. Brookes, Scottish Birds 34: 276-277, plates 260-262; British Birds 107: plate 198; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 627).

21). 2014 Shetland Virkie, Mainland, 29th September; same, Grutness, Mainland, 30th September to 1st October, photo.

(British Birds 107: plate 366; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 627, plate 374).

22). 2017 Pembrokeshire Skokholm, 2CY+, male, in song, trapped, 18th June, photo.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 617, plate 405).

23). 2019 Pembrokeshire Ramsey Island, 2CY, 31st May to 1st June, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 650, plate 398;  Scarce and Rare Birds in Wales 2019: photo).

24). 2019 Outer Hebrides Callernish, North Uist, 1CY, female, 15th to 16th October, photo.

(B. Rabbitts, Scottish Birds 40: 182-184, plates 136-139; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 650).

25). 2022 Shetland Ellister, Bigton, Mainland, 1CY, male, 5th to 7th October, photo.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 597).

26). 2022 Shetland Ireland, Mainland, 1CY, (probable female), 7th to 10th October, photo.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 597).

27). 2022 Isles of Scilly Old Town Bay, St Mary’s, 1CY, male, 24th to 28th November, photo.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 597).

P). 2024 Ayrshire Kilwinning, first-winter, male, 20th February to 17th April, photo.

(British Birds 117: plate 229; J. Crawford, Scottish Birds 44: 277-278, plates 220-222).

P). 2024 Hampshire Port of Southampton, female, disembarked RMS Queen Mary II, 30th May.

(birding information services).