Pallas's Warbler © Jerry O'Brien
Berkshire's amazing end to 2012 and start of 2013 continued with another rarity. At Queen Mother Reservoir the Buff-bellied Pipits remained and were showing well between QMR and Horton GP's regularly, and at Eton Wick a small flock of overwintering Chiffchaffs contained at least one Siberian Chiffchaff. Then on January 3rd Berkshire birder Ian Paine found Berkshires first Pallas's Warbler at Moor Green Lakes near Eversley.
Having never seen Pallas's Warbler and eager to do so I arrived at Moor Green Lakes on a cold overcast winters day, grabbed my gear and headed off towards the River Blackwater in search of it. A good number of birders were gathered in groups along the Blackwater and viewing the trees either side of the river but the Pallas's hadn't been seen for the last few hours. A couple of tit flocks passed through the trees and a number of Goldcrests were also visible but no sign of the Pallas's. Seeing a few familiar faces along the footpath I stopped to chat and try and get an idea where the bird had last been seen, with little news I continued along the footpath eventually finding Jerry O'Brien.
Pallas's Warbler © Jerry O'Brien
Standing next to the river it soon got incredibly cold and the longer the wait the colder it got, a good few hours passed but the bird didn't reappear. So my first attempt ended in nothing more than near frostbite and trench foot, a horribly cold day with no further sightings by the time I left.
I returned a few times and despite having the briefest of views on one occasion I still hadn't had a really good look at it so planned to go again.
Pallas's Warbler © Jerry O'Brien
Amazingly the bird was found still on site giving me another chance to see it once the weather cleared up a bit.
I returned to Moor Green Lakes and made my way along the River Blackwater spotting a few birders further along the footpath, they were looking down towards the rivers edge which was an encouraging sign. My pace quickened as I approached them with me arriving just at the right time as on the other side of the river, in a small bush, there sat the Pallas's.
It was lit beautifully by the sun as it perched at the top of the dense vegetation at the side of the river, from here it hopped in and out bushes and began to drop down towards the waters edge. Searching for insects it showed for a good five minutes or more, often disappearing deep in to the vegetation and then reappearing in a different spot. The yellow central crown-stripe and supercilium, black eye-stripe, bold wing bars and yellow rump all showing incredibly well, a really cracking little bird.
It was lit beautifully by the sun as it perched at the top of the dense vegetation at the side of the river, from here it hopped in and out bushes and began to drop down towards the waters edge. Searching for insects it showed for a good five minutes or more, often disappearing deep in to the vegetation and then reappearing in a different spot. The yellow central crown-stripe and supercilium, black eye-stripe, bold wing bars and yellow rump all showing incredibly well, a really cracking little bird.
Pallas's Warbler © Jerry O'Brien
Unfortunately I didn't get any photos but Jerry O'Brien has very kindly given me the nod to use some of his fantastic photos of the Pallas's. Cheers Jerry.
Jerry's reports on the Pallas's are below
More of Jerry's amazing photos can be found at his "Birds of Berkshire" website and his rare birds in Berkshire wordpress site here
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