I have spotted my 500th bird after 40 years

FRIDAY October 14 became a very special day for me, since after 40 years in pursuit of rare birds, I achieved the much prized sighting of my 500th bird in Britain: in effect it means crossing the magic threshold to join the elite.

The day started at 3am from here in Stoke Golding in pursuit of a Siberian accentor at Easington, Humberside.

Fortunately this early start proved to be crucial as the bird appeared at first light, thus enabling us to be at the front of a crowd which built up to several hundred during the course of the early morning.

Further, it’s worth mentioning that as birders arrived from the length and breadth of Britain, the crowd was handled most efficiently by both police and local organisers, most of the latter being associated with the Spurn Point Bird Observatory.

Having been successful on most “twitches” there have however been some disappointments over the years.

For instance it took three attempts to see killdeer having “dipped out” on Anglesey and Breydon Water near Yarmouth, though finally connecting with a pristine plumaged spring bird at Blakeney Harbour.

Also of note, in terms of distance travelled, was a “dip out” concerning a royal tern at Musselborough lagoons near Edinburgh, a species always difficult to pursue as they are inclined to move on at an instant.

Since however this one in question had still been present until late one summer evening, we decided to venture on a totally nocturnal journey. Though, as planned, we arrived well in time for first light the following morning, sadly it had departed.

A significant number of the rarer vagrants have been encountered during 26 years of consecutive late Octobers spent on the Isles of Scilly though must admit that I draw a line when it comes to twitching Shetland, despite the fact that it is now at least considered to be on a par with Scilly regarding the enterprise in question.

Incidentally whilst on my way down to Penzance, intending to board the ferry the following morning, I did a slight detour to see the Dalmatian pelican which had been around for some time at the Camel Estuary.

Also whilst on Scilly I saw two birds which may be raised to full status, namely; eastern yellow wagtail and Caspian stonechat. Unfortunately the bird which would have caused yet another twitch of mammoth proportions, a leaf warbler, associated more with north-east China, was found freshly dead on St Agnes in the lighthouse garden beneath the conservatory window.

Also a dusky thrush, seen and photographed by one lucky, though extremely proficient and intrepid observer on Peninnis Head, St Mary’s, left the rest of us somewhat gutted.

I did at least, however, have the consolation of having previously seen one in a cemetery at Margate in yet another scenario similar to that at Easington.

It hasn’t indeed just been a case of chasing rare birds as I’ve been a regular contributor, in terms of sightings, to the West Midlands Bird Club Annual Report. Further, for a period of 25 years I’ve carried out, on behalf of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust of Slimbridge, monthly national wildfowl and wader counts in the Upper Tame Valley, more specifically between Elford and Whitemoor Haye. In fact the latter is now a series of lakes opposite The National War Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire. David Abbott Stoke Golding