Marmora's Warbler and Iberian Chiffchaff Gwent

The discovery on Thursday of a Marmora's Warbler, only the 5th for Britain, at Blorenge, near Blaenavon, Abergavenny set the wheels in motion for a twitch to South Wales. We set off at 1am on Saturday morning and arrived on site at 4:00. Almost immediately we heard the bird, but it took until about 4:45 for us to see it. We stayed until 8:15, during which time the sun came out and the bird performed very well, it was seen singing, displaying and carrying nest material, sometimes quite close. Other birds at the site included four Cuckoos, Whinchats, Tree Pipits and Stonechats.

We also called in at Wentwood forest just south east of Abergavenney, to see my second Iberian Chiffchafff in a week! We left Wentwood at 10:15 and arrived back in St Helens at 13:30.

The scene at 7am (left). The dark thing on top of the bush (right) is the Marmora's Warbler at a distance of about 150m. It did come a lot closer than this, and possibly I could have got better photos, but although it showed very well at times, it was usually only for about 30 seconds, and I preferred to spend that time watching rather than photographing. The bird is of the Sardinian race which some authorities consider a seperate species to the Balearic race which is now known as Balearic Warbler. I have seen both races before abroad, but it was a UK lifer (377).