In a previous Blog Post, I belatedly reported on the twitch for the Coverack Rufous Bushchat on the Lizard on 23 Aug 21. This was one of four UK Ticks that turned up in 2020 which I didn't go for: as I couldn't justify it with the ongoing problems with C19. I was pleased to have another chance the following year with another Rufous Bushchat. There were still three other big twitches that I turned down in 2020: the Tiree Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1st UK record), the Yell Tennessee Warbler (6th UK record) and the County Durham Taiga Flycatcher (4th UK record). The first two were the most problematic for me, as they involved travel to more remote locations, especially the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
By Autumn 21, most of the UK population had been double vaccinated, ignoring the covid deniers. I was still very cautious of indoor mixing and I was wearing masks at all times when indoors. But I was more confident of outdoor mixing, albeit I was still socially distancing more than most. My interest was piqued when I saw that another Taiga Flycatcher had been found at the Foghorn Station at Flamborough in the early afternoon of 16 Oct 21. I decided to wait & see if it was seen the following day: but it wasn't. That saved me a long drive to Yorkshire. On 4 Nov 21, a Taiga Flycatcher was found in the wood at South Landing: presumably the same individual. It was seen over the next two days and when it was still there on the morning of Sunday 7th, I finally convinced myself to face the long drive to Flamborough.
I arrived at the South Landing car park in the mid-afternoon and quickly received an update from Birders in the car park that the Taiga Flycatcher was on view and there was also a Red-flanked Bluetail on the same path. I walked into the wood and quickly found a small group of people. This was for the Red-flanked Bluetail. I saw it quickly & left immediately, as I was aware that the Taiga Flycatcher was only showing on & off. I was starting to worry that if the sun started to drop on the wood, the insect movements would quieten down & the Taiga Flycatcher might disappear for the day. I didn't fancy the night sleeping in the car & having to ring work to say I needed a day of emergency unpaid leave. I carried on & was soon in the area of the Taiga Flycatcher. Fortunately, I saw it after a few minutes for a short view & some initial photos.
Taiga Flycatcher: They are a cold grey colouration without any of the warmth of Red-breasted Flycatchers
Taiga Flycatcher: They have an all dark bill, whereas Red-breasted Flycatchers will generally have a pale base to a dark bill
This was followed up about twenty minutes later with another longer duration of views, but it was a bit more obscured.
Taiga Flycatcher: Again there is none of the warmth of a Red-breasted Flycatcher
Taiga Flycatcher: The black extends onto the upper tail coverts and rump with a paler back. Red-breasted Flycatchers have pale backs with darker rump & uppertail coverts, which are not as black as the black on the tail
Another thirty minutes of waiting & it hadn't shown again and the wood was starting to cool down. I checked if the Red-flanked Bluetail was still on view, but it too had disappeared, so I didn't stay around. I still had a six hour drive to get home.
Taiga Flycatcher: The first UK record of Taiga Flycatcher was found at Flamborough: it stayed from 23-26 Apr 03. But it wasn't as well twitched as it should have been as Taiga Flycatcher was still regarded as the Eastern subspecies of Red-breasted Flycatcher in those days
I think it will be a lot harder to see another Yellow-bellied Flycatcher or Tennessee Warbler. However, I twitch Birds because I would like to see them in the UK & usually there is something to be learnt on the identification front. Also, as it is an occasional change from my local Birding, as I rarely go Birding outside of the ten miles from my home patch. I don't twitch because I feel I must keep up or ahead of other twitchers. Therefore, I won't lose any sleep, if I never get the chance to see either of these species in the UK.
