British Wallcreeper reports (1 Viewer)

[chris murphy]

Evenin' all

I was looking at the thread where people list their hopes for 2007. Understandably, many wish for a UK Wallcreeper (myself included). This got me thinking (dangerous, I know), what became of the two most recent reports of Wallcreeper? One, I believe, was supposed to have overwintered in a midlands quarry somewhere in the late '90's, but does anyone know what became of this report, and were there ever any pictures taken, field notes published etc? The other one was reported flying in off the sea at Dungeness in 1995 (I think) and to the best of my knowledge, this was rejected. I've never seen one before and so can't comment directly, but from what I've heard of the species, they're pretty unmistakable in flight, so this rejection puzzles me a little.
If anyone's got any info about these it'd be good to hear, my curiosity tends to get the better of me at this time of year.
Cheers
Chris

 

[bartooon]

I don't think there has been one at Dungeness. I believe the one you refer to as coming in off the sea was at St Catherines Point on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight. That was back in May 1985. I know the guys that saw it - they were there doing a sea watch when it was pickedd up coming straight towards them and up into the Gore Cliffs behind them, never to be seen again.

Have a look at http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob14820.htm or this might prove useful (from www.wpbirds.com):-

9 records - 9 individuals until 2001:


01. 08 May 1872, Subden, Pendle Hill, Lancashire, age unknown
02. spring 1886, Winchelsea, East Sussex, age unknown
03. September 1901, Mells, Somerset, age unknown
04. 24 April 1920 , near Dorchester, Dorset, age unknown
05. June 1938, Rottingdean, East Sussex, age unknown
06. 19 November 1969 - 18 April 1970, Worth Matravers, Dorset, male
07. early November 1976 - 06 April 1977, Cheddar, Somerset, age unknown
01 November 1977 - 09 April 1978, Cheddar, Somerset, age unknown
08. 06 April 1977 - 10 April 1977, Ecclesbourne Glen, Hastings, East Sussex, age
unknown
09. 16 May 1985 , St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, male

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Also one shot in the Channel Islands (I forget which one) a couple of years back - can you believe it! I remember the Dungeness bird being reported, but don't recall which year or season, and I don't think it was ever accepted so it's either been booted or is still pending. If memory serves it was seen coming in off at Lydd. An accessible long stayer would be hugely (and widely) appreciated.

James

 

[dave44]

The Dungeness Wallcreeper was seen coming in off the sea from the seawatching hut on the 2nd November 1995 by two long term, very good Dungeness birders. Unfortunately they didn't see some pretty crucial details, like any colour at all or the bird's bill so, so unsurprisingly the record was rejected.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Also one shot in the Channel Islands (I forget which one) a couple of years back - can you believe it!
James

I've had a check - it was shot on Alderney on 19th December 2004.
And it looks like my memory's not seving me as well as I'd like over the Dunge bird.

James

 

[Gomphus]

Interesting, I remember the rumours of a Wallcreeper in a midlands quarry quite a few years ago, does anyone know any more about this story, I'd forgot about it till now!

 

[Merlin]

Chris
I saw the Cheddar bird in 76 and 77, I worked in Italy in 74 and spent a lot of my time(unsuccessfully) looking for a Wallcreeper in the Aosta valley.
Back in England I worked near Cheddar and must have passed the bird hundreds of times before the information 'got out'. Then I saw it many times after. I have also seen it albeit distantly many times at Neuswanstein Castle in Germany plus the bird at Esneux in Belgium and the one in the middle of Amsterdam a few years ago.
Going to Les Baux on the 17th of Feb, hopefully to see this amazing bird.
regards
Merlin

Evenin' all

I was looking at the thread where people list their hopes for 2007. Understandably, many wish for a UK Wallcreeper (myself included). This got me thinking (dangerous, I know), what became of the two most recent reports of Wallcreeper? One, I believe, was supposed to have overwintered in a midlands quarry somewhere in the late '90's, but does anyone know what became of this report, and were there ever any pictures taken, field notes published etc? The other one was reported flying in off the sea at Dungeness in 1995 (I think) and to the best of my knowledge, this was rejected. I've never seen one before and so can't comment directly, but from what I've heard of the species, they're pretty unmistakable in flight, so this rejection puzzles me a little.
If anyone's got any info about these it'd be good to hear, my curiosity tends to get the better of me at this time of year.
Cheers
Chris