Flamborough Bunting

Together with Vicky and Luna, I headed over to Flamborough for a clifftop walk this morning, and to check out the bunting found at North Marsh by Simon Gillings yesterday. The latest gen was that it was probably a Red-headed Bunting, a super-rare species that is not yet on the British list. It has occurred before, but records currently reside on Category D, which relates to presumed escapes. This is understandable as many records related to adult males at odd times of the year, and during a period when the cagebird trade in Europe was very active. The fact that this bird had turned up on the same hedge as a Siberian Stonechat and a Little Bunting surely give it reasonable credentials? If not a Red-headed, it will be a Black-headed, which is still pretty rare but not in the same league as a Red-headed.

I didn't feel very optimistic about seeing the bird, and the thought of chaotic twitching scenes filled me with dread, but nevertheless, we headed along the clifftop in the bright morning sunshine to give it a go. Four Whooper Swans whooped past south over the golf course, pursued by a late Swallow. Several Rock Pipits were flitting about the cliffs too. News from departing birders wasn't great; the bunting had been flushed and had been lost, as it flew off across a large stubble field. 

Shortly after arriving at North Marsh, I saw two birders running across the stubble field. They were far too old and had far too much clobber to be doing this for fun; the bunting must have been refound. A few tense minutes later, and I had joined perhaps 30 birders in the corner of the field. The Bird Observatory had got permission from the farmer and were managing access - great stuff. After about 15 minutes of seeing Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Chaffinches hopping up into a hedge out of a grassy field, I began to wonder is it genuinely had been seen. Just as I had that thought, a pale bird hopped up on to the brambles, and there it was! Views were great of this rather large and non-descript bunting, lit perfectly by the autumn sunshine. It shortly caught the attention of a local Yellowhammer which chased it out of sight. A few minutes later and it reappeared again right on the top of the hedge, allowing me to get a bit of shaky footage. 

 

My experience of this species in first calendar year plumage is precisely zilch, so I won't be adding much to the identification discussion! The bird did look large-billed to me, with quite a streaked crown joining the streaking on the greyish mantle. The rump had a greenish-yellow tone and there was a pale yellow wash on the vent. The bird was weirdly tatty missing all bar one of its greater coverts and quite a lot of inner primaries too. Not sure what is going on with it! Anyway, it was good to see and hopefully those with more experience will confirm the identification.  

I had a quick look for the Siberian Stonechat but it had unfortunately disappeared for a bit. Whilst waiting a stunning female Hen Harrier flew past at very close range flushing a single Stonechat, but the Sibe didn't appear. It was time to go and hook up with Vicky, so I left the scene, very surprised and more than a little bit stoked to have seen the bunting, whatever it turns out to be.