17 January 2010

A January whitethroat caught on Sunday 17 January by Jon Avon is causing considerable interest.

Whitethroat in Kingsteignton Garden - Jon Avon - 17 January 2010

The first whitethroat record of 2010 was recorded in a Kingsteignton garden on Sunday 17 January by Jon during a routine garden ringing session.

Another view of the whitethroat showing that it is very good condition - Jon Avon - 17 January 2010

Prior to this, the earliest record in Devon was over 40 years ago on 14 March 1968. The majority of late whitethroat records in Devon are normally in late October with a mean latest date (1993 - 2003) of 24 October.

There was a very late autumn record in Devon on 26 December 1984. The whitethroat was discovered with 2 male blackcaps. It was in good condition and weighed 12.9 grams which was the equivalent of whitethroats ringed in early July at Slapton.

This story has produced some interesting discussion about the bird and whether it had just arrived after the very cold spell or had over-wintered here. Extracts of the discussion appear below in descending order:

• 20/1/2010 - Peter Dare Certainly a startling find in your nets! As to its origin, I would support your surmise that it probably came north from SW Europe with other migrants. As you will know, 2 British-ringed birds have been found in Iberia in January some years ago (Migration Atlas).

  As for wintering - the old Witherby handbook mentions an Essex record in Dec (1886) and there might be others more recently if one trawls through county reports or British Birds magazines. I suppose there is always the possibility of local wintering in some sheltered and secluded south coast site, such as beside the Dart and Kingsbridge estuaries or at a sunny undercliff location with plenty of thick scrub. If Dartfords can do it, then so might Whitethroats?

• 20/1/2010 - Jon Avon This bird is certainly causing some discussion! My hunch is that this bird has crossed the channel. Since Friday (15 January, 2010), siskins and goldfinches have been appearing daily in good numbers and after weeks of nothing (during the very cold spell - ed). Both these species winter down in Spain, Portugal , northern Africa - so l would suggest that there is certainly a noticeable northerly movement starting and this bird, for what ever reason, has been part of it.

  It may have been over-wintering in France but that's only another suggestion. If birds were over-wintering then I would have expected some to have been seen by twitchers at Dawlish Warren but I have seen no reports.

  The record is rare - there is the mention of one recovery in January in London. Dave Jenks phoned this information to me - I haven't had chance to check up on this myself.

  Just as an additional point of interest; I am also becoming more convinced that my garden is on a flight-line and it is picking up birds that fly up the Teign estuary as part of an (established) migration route. This may explain the large numbers passing through the garden (2000 birds in 2008-2009) and includes species such as redstart, sedge warbler, willow warbler, etc. More food for thought!

• 19/1/2010 - Pete Reay. Well done on the Whitethroat - a fantastic record! Amazing too that it was in such good condition. Surely though, it must have been a wintering bird rather than a first arrival? Has it been seen at all (associating) with the blackcaps, or was it just caught with them?