America to Africa?

A Myrtle Warbler, found at the southern tip of Europe at the end of February prompted musings as to where it had wintered and where it may be going.

Myrtle Warbler: Gibraltar, 27 February- 3 March 2021

ON 27 February a Myrtle Warbler was unexpectedly discovered at Europa Point in Gibraltar – one of the southernmost points of Europe. It was still present the following day, feeding in aloe, with the pollen that would soon cover the bird’s facial feathers suggesting it was new to the site. Presumably, this bird was heading north after wintering in Africa, having likely crossed the Atlantic in autumn and filtered down through western Europe.

Perhaps this extraordinary story of vagrancy and migration will add another chapter – it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the bird should migrate further north and be found somewhere like Britain later in the spring.

Another ‘America to Africa’ case emerged on 4 March when, amazingly, it was revealed that a Yellow-crowned Night Heron had been photographed at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in mid-January. With Portugal and the Azores both hosting birds in June 2020, it seems possible the Egyptian individual may have been one of those. ■

The Europa Point Myrtle Warbler fed in aloe, hence the red tones to the feathering around the face.