26 August 2009

Gavin Haig captured these shots of an Ortolan Bunting at Beer Head during a 'migrant hunt' on 22 August.

Gavin writes: "The Saturday morning migrant hunt at Beer Head looked like it was going to be a quiet affair, with just a handful of Wheatears and a few Yellow Wagtails by 07:00. However, on arriving at a spot we call 'The Dell' it was evident that there was a bit of life in the bushes – two Spotted  Flycatchers, a Chiffchaff and a Garden Warbler were encouraging, and several Linnets, Greenfinches and Goldfinches gave us something to pick through.

Five of us had arrived independently to bird Beer Head that morning and we had quite coincidentally all gathered as a group at this point. Without warning, an obvious bunting appeared in the grass on the opposite slope, and scope views proved it to be an Ortolan –  a lifer for one of our number and a Devon tick for two others! To say we were chuffed would be understating things a bit! The bird stayed for about 15 minutes, allowing a few digiscoped record shots, before flying out of view. Unfortunately it was not seen again.

This is Beer Head's second Ortolan  Bunting (following the first in August 2006) and is ample evidence of the rewards to be had from bashing a local patch."

A slightly fuller account of the finding can be read on Gavin's blog.

Ortolan Bunting – Beer Head – © Gavin Haig – 22 August 2009