Wednesday 10 June 2009

Subalpine Warblers in Shetland - Spring 2009.



As there seems to be some confusion as to the races of, and how many Subalpine Warblers have been in Shetland this year - here's my take on it -

The first one was found at Scatness by PVH on 22/4/09 and remained there until the 25/4/09, this bird was considered to be a 'cantilans', tho' some information services carried the news as an 'albistriata' for reasons known only to themselves.
Photos here - http://shetlandmisfit.blogspot.com/2009/04/subalp-overdose.html
and here - http://www.robfray.co.uk/?p=368

The second Bird was found on Foula by GA on 17/5/09 and remained there until 19/5/09, the photos, taken by Russel Wynn, seem to indicate that this bird is a 'cantilans'.
Photos here - http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics09/subalp1-rw.jpg
and here - http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics09/subalp2-rw.jpg

A third bird was then found at Scousburgh by JND and was trapped and ringed in his garden - biometrics show this bird to be an 'albistiata'.
Photo by RR here - http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics09/subalp1-rr.jpg

On 21/5/09 a fourth bird was found on Fair Isle by DF, the photo on the Fair Isle website shows that this bird may be a 'moltonii', tho' i'm not sure whether the bird was ever heard to call or sing.
Photo by JAB here - http://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/Sightings/2009/Jack_Ashton-Booth/Sub-Alp%20EDIT%202.jpg

A fifth bird was then found by RMF, again at Scatness on 22/5/09 and was still present on 28/5/09. This bird was heard to make a rather Wren like 'trrrrt' on the 22nd (RMF, SJM) and on the 28th (SJM, JN), tho' the significance of this wasn't picked up on at the time. This bird is now considered to be of the race 'moltonii'.
Photos here - http://shetlandmisfit.blogspot.com/2009/05/another-subalp.html
and here - http://www.robfray.co.uk/?p=392

Finally (maybe ?), a sixth bird was found on Unst at Skaw on 1/6/09 (RB) and is still present at the time of writing, this bird was identified as a 'moltonii' from calls and song by MGP.
A good selection of photos and sound recordings appear on the 'nature-shetland' page here -
http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/latestbirds.htm

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