Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler

This bird has certainly left a lasting impression on me, its' just another one of those species I was not expecting to see. I really like locustella warblers and so the chance to see this magical rare bird was a real treat indeed. Mostly people just glimpse these birds, however to get one in the hand in your own county is rather special.

I knew the species was a bit of a Shetland speciality, however when doing research I soon realised just how rare the species was away from Shetland! Providing the most recent 3 records are accepted here are all the British records of Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler away from Shetland.

1976 - Norfolk - Cley 

1985 - Northumberland - Farne Islands

1993 - Orkney - North Ronaldsay

1996 - Dorset - Portland

2001 - Norfolk - Blakeney Point

2001 - Northumberland - Newbiggin-by-the-Sea

2008 - East Yorkshire - Spurn

2009 - Outer Hebrides - St Kilda

2010 - Durham - Whitburn

2012 - Durham (also Cleveland) - Hartlepool 

2012 - Durham - Whitburn Coastal Park

2012 - Aberdeenshire - Mains of Slains

Now lets strip the ones that were not on the mainland; birds that were on an island and so harder to get than mainland birds:

1976 - Norfolk - Cley

1996 - Dorset - Portland

2001 - Norfolk - Blakeney Point

2001 - Northumberland - Newbiggin-by-the-Sea

2008 - East Yorkshire - Spurn

2010 - Durham - Whitburn

2012 - Durham (also Cleveland) - Hartlepool

2012 - Durham - Whitburn Coastal Park

2012 - Aberdeenshire - Mains of Slains

Away from Shetland, Durham is not the best county in the UK in which to see Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, not just mainland but the whole of the UK. Just gives me more appreciation of the event.

(PG Tips - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)

Until next time, Foghorn out!