17 November 2009

A new bird for Devon – Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis) was found by John Walters while he was sketching Ring Ouzels at Scoriton, Dartmoor on Tuesday afternoon, 27 October. Despite several people trying to relocate the bird on Wednesday morning there was no sign of it. However, during the afternoon Mark Darlaston relocated the thrush in the same area as John had originally found it. The bird was feeding on hawthorn and rowan berries and loosely associating with three Ring Ouzels, Fieldfares and Redwings in a valley on the open moor. John's account of finding the bird follows, along with his sketches, as well as one by Mike Langman and two photos by Dave Stone.

John writes: "I have been visiting Scorriton Down over the last few years to watch the herd of farmed Red Deer there. On 21 October 2009 I was sketching them from the moorland edge near Chalk Ford. Thrushes were moving south over the Down in large flocks, at least 300 Fieldfares and 150 Redwings – the first big flocks of the autumn for me. After finishing sketching the deer I had an hour free so I went for a wander across the nearby moorland. Several flocks of Fieldfares were feeding on the wind-stunted thorns and looked stunning in the sunshine. I made a plan to return as soon as possible to sketch them.

I returned on 27 October and found some Fieldfares feeding in a berry-laden rowan by the River Mardle above the deer park. These were joined by Redwings, Bramblings and two superb Ring Ouzels. I was soon engrossed, sketching the ouzels as they craned their necks to pluck off the plump scarlet berries.

At 2.30pm a small flock of Redwings arrived, joining the ouzels at the top of the tree. I then found myself looking at a thrush which I couldn’t identify. As it sat with its back to me, my first thought was ‘do you get grey Fieldfares?’. It then turned side on and I could see a dark moustachial stripe and a scaly black breast – Black-throated Thrush? I'd made a quick sketch when a Sparrowhawk attacked the thrushes, sending them in all directions. I followed the thrush until it was out of sight at the other end of the deer park. It seemed a hopeless task to chase after it and anyway I was too engrossed in sketching the Ring Ouzels to leave at that point.

My suspicions about the bird were soon confirmed that evening: it was indeed a Black-throated Thrush. I phoned Mark Darlaston and Mike Langman, who informed me that it was a new bird for the county.

I didn’t have high hopes that the thrush would be seen again but Mark was more optimistic. This proved to be well-founded as he relocated the bird the following afternoon. I was relieved that Mike had managed to get some good sketches and Dave Stone some photos, as I had had only a short time to make a quick sketch before it was flushed the previous day. Mike thought it was a 1st winter male.

I returned with Mark and Charles Tyler on 29 October. There were large numbers of thrushes about, many more in fact than on the previous days, but they were all on the move. The Ring Ouzels had gone and it looked as though the Black-throated Thrush had gone with them."

Black-throated Thrush – Scorriton Down – © John Walters – 27 October 2009

Ring Ouzels – Scorriton Down – © John Walters – 27 October 2009

Recent sketches by John can be seen on his website at www.johnwalters.co.uk, where the 'Nature Notebook' section is updated frequently.

Black-throated Thrush – Scorriton Down – © Mike Langman – 28 October 2009

Black-throated Thrush – Scorriton Down – © Dave Stone – 28 October 2009