Every Cloud
I am not supposed to still be here, but my chopper was grounded by fog in Aberdeen this morning. I still had to check in for the flight at 09:45 hrs, so having climbed all the way up to the admin office in the top of the accommodation block, I decided just to pop up onto the access deck next to the helideck.
The helideck area has produced some good birds for me over the years, but has been devoid of birds this last three weeks. I was not hopeful, but as I reached the top of the stairs, I disturbed a bird that flew onto the edge of the helideck, perched briefly, then dropped down out of sight. I tried to locate it under the helideck, but to no avail.
The first thing I noticed when I spotted the bird were the distinctive white wing bars. When it perched with its back to me, I noted that it wasn't a Chaffinch, that its back/upper wings were greyish, and that there were no distinctive markings on its face. My viewing time had been very brief. Maybe, 5 seconds. I was thinking warbler, but knew something was not right.
Not finding the bird again, I headed into the accommodation to consult my Collins Guide. I was focused on having seen a distinctive white wing bar. The only thing remotely close in the warbler section was a Greenish Warbler, but it was not right. Face was not right and size was not right. I glanced briefly at flycatchers, but nothing stood out.
I headed back to the helideck in the hope of relocating the bird again. Reaching the same spot from where I had first seen it, I was delighted when the bird flew into view again. This time it landed on a handrail about ten feet from me. I started noting features, but the bird kept facing me this time. Black legs and beak, plain brown face, whiteish cream breast, throat and unders. Eventually, after what seemed an age, the bird turned and gave me a dcent and extended view of its wings. There was the greyish back, white wing bar, and blackish primaries. I had my first offshore Pied Flycatcher; a fine female specimen.
The bird flew off again, but when I returned for a third time with a friend, it was back in the same area, and again gave good close views. I returned for a fourth time later in the morning with a camera, but there was no sign.
Fog has now cleared in Aberdeen, so I should be off in a few hours, but it does seem that even fog has a silver lining. :t:
2018 List
1) Cormorant
2) Great Black-Backed Gull
3) Herring Gull
4) Kittiwake
5) Fulmar
6) Glaucous Gull
7) Gannet
8) Short-Eared Owl*
9) Iceland Gull
10) Red-Breasted Merganser
11) Black-Headed Gull
12) Starling
13) Guillemot
14) Robin
15) Grey Wagtail
16) Common Gull
17) Blackbird
18) Lesser Black-Backed Gull
19) Song Thrush
20) Woodcock
21) Curlew*
22) Woodpigeon
23) Redpoll*
24) Pied Wagtail
25) Long-Eared Owl
26) Carrion Crow
27) Meadow Pipit
28) Common Snipe
29) Great Skua
30) Sparrowhawk
31) Wryneck (d)
32) Swallow
33) Chiffchaff
34) Lesser Whitethroat
35) Spotted Flycatcher (d)
36) Kestrel*
37) Pied Flycatcher
