As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 14 January 2019

Why the arrival of this bird on the North Wales coast is causing excitement


Birdwatchers have gathered to try to catch a glimpse of the rare visitor
By
18:07, 8 JAN 2019
UPDATED21:38, 8 JAN 2019
A rare bird with a wintering population of about 400 has been spotted by sharp-eyed watchers on the Denbighshire coast.
There are only between 19 and 44 pairs of black redstarts to be found breeding in the UK and approximately 400 wintering birds between October and March.
The bird, which was spotted near Rhyl harbour on Tuesday, was formerly considered a member of the thrush family but has since been classified as an Old World flycatcher.
Keen ornithologists made the trip to see the unusual find, which likes to winter in coastal regions.
Amanda Fiddler said she made the trip with Warrington's New Cut Heritage Trail Bird Club, after seeing news of the bird on social media.
She said: "I've only ever seen one before, and I saw on Facebook it was here. It's out on the twitchers' network now."
Around half a dozen birdwatchers managed to get down to Rhyl's harbourside to see the bird, including Terry Egan, also from the Warrington club.
He said: "It's nice to see one, and especially when you see it within a few minutes of arriving."
The black redstart is a robin-sized bird with black, grey, red, orange and white plumage and, despite its limited numbers, can be found in various parts of the UK all year round.
According to the RSPB, it is on the red list of birds of conservation concern, and is also a Schedule 1 species according to the Wildlife and Countryside Act. This means "it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb at, on or near an 'active' nest".
They typically forage for insects, spiders, worms, berries and seeds and tend to look for mainly urban areas like Greater London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Ipswich when breeding.
Some pairs have been spotted at cliff sites, power stations and coastal areas between Suffolk and Dorset.
In winter, you will find them in coastal areas of Ireland, Wales, England and the east of Scotland.

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