Autumn 2020 will go down in Northern Ireland birding as the best year ever for seeing or finding your own Yellow-browed Warbler. The status of this Siberian migrant has changed dramatically in the last twenty years. From been an extremely rare warbler with records every few years at best, it was removed as a rarity description species in 2018 as it was then an annual vagrant in NI. However the influx in 2020 has been unprecedented.
The first indications of the potential for the autumn came when Ric Else and Hazel Watson found a Yellow-browed Warbler on the 23rd September and another on the 30th September on Rathlin Island. Then from further afield, birders on Barra in the Western Isles reported 35 birds on the 2nd October and then a staggering 94+ birds on the 3rd October. Birds on the Western Isles of Scotland are likely to continue their migration by filtering down the west coast of Britain so surely some would hit our shores?
It was only a matter of time and as expected, Ric and Hazel started to find them on Rathlin. To date, it is estimated that at this stage over 30 birds have been reported including the following:
Rathlin Island – 22, Runkerry Wood – 3, Templecowey – 1, Kearney – 2, Browns Bay – 1, Jordanstown – 1, Gobbins – 1, Portrush – 1, Whitehead – 1, Comber – 1.
(The Rathlin number is the estimated minimum number of birds present. It is possible that up to 30 were actually seen with 8 alone on the 11th October. There are unfortunately no records from Copeland due to Covid restrictions closing the observatory this autumn).
A number of the above birds were seen in gardens, a brilliant garden tick for some! It is still not too late to find your own Yellow-browed Warbler. The best approach is to find some sycamores or willows close to the coast and listen out for their distinctive call! Thanks to all who have reported and shared the above sightings.
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Yellow-browed Warbler, Kearney - Garry Armstrong
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