Samamisicus Common Redstart in the UK

[Bertram Bree]

I am interested in the Eastern race of Common Redstart 'samamisicus' as I am unsure of the number of records of this race in the UK and the peak time to record this race in the UK. I wondered if there are any photographs available of
autumn plumaged males taken in the UK. Any details of interest.Nice birding.
Bertram BREE in Jersey, the sunniest and most southerly of the British Isles, but not part of Great Britain or the UK. The biggest tax planning centre in the British Isles.

[Colin]

Hi Bertram,
Firstly on behalf of all of the Moderators and the Admin staff, welcome to Bird Forum. I cannot help with the photographs but there was one reported on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire last Saturday(25th). It had been there for a few days and kept to one of 4 trees situated very close together and was therefore easy to locate so I was told. I went there without this knowledge to look for Ring Ouzels on Sunday and found two but did not find the Redstart. There were some other birders who also had no luck and the concensus of opinion was that it had moved on.

[Jasonbirder]

This is not a current rundown but as far as I know (and with thanks to LGRE!)
Up to 1992
10 records all between 10th september & 26th October
Mainly Norfolk/Suffolk/East Yorks
Sorry I don`t have more uptodate info
I beleive the race is known as Ehrenburg`s Redstart
I think the key seperating features are darker upperparts and a prominent white wing patch

[Darrell Clegg]

I seem to remember one here in Cornwall - possibly the Pendeen area about 10 years ago. I didn't see it but I think there was a photo of it in Birding World.

Darrell

[Michael Frankis]

Weren't some reviewed and rejected fairly recently, because someone discovered that hybrid Common Redstart x Black Redstart was discovered to look very similar, and couldn't be excluded for at least some of the existing records?

Michael

[Harry Hussey]

Hi Michael,
You're thinking of claims of "eastern" Black Redstart(races such as semirufus),which hybrid Redstart x Black Redstart can closely resemble.
Harry H

[Jane Turner]

I think a lot don't get formally reported too. I recall watching one, an immature male, on Fair Isle. It was feeding next to two Yellow-browed Warblers on a cliff face. Would have been early October.

I might have got round to grilling it properly but got distracted by a loud shout of Eye-browed Thrush!