Apparent Stejneger's Stonechat

Luckily the Eastern Stonechat was still there today at Medmerry Rspb and got some better shots that support the initial impressions yesterday. Thanks to Josh Jones, Ed Stubbs and Chris Townend for discussions on this bird. Matt Eades has managed to collect a faecal sample so hopefully we can get some DNA information. Phenotypically the chestnut coloured unmarked rump and rather brown tones (variable in different lights) look good for Stejneger's so will be very interesting to see whether or not the DNA results support these impressions.

The purpose of my visit to the Selsey Peninsula was to look for migrant moths and look out for an Iberian-North African bird vagrant in the warm southerly airflow, I wasn't expecting a Sibe!  In birding for as long as you've got a plan and target, that is all that matters-  it gets you out in the field and you often find something that wasn't even on the radar. 

The moth trap blew over again on the coast but luckily I caught a few migrants at the campsite MV.  

 

The un-streaked warm chestnut coloured rump contrasting with the black tail is extremely striking (above and below) 

In this light (above and below)  the bird look more peachy and Maraus-like but the field impression was more like the pic below the one below 

Dark underwing coverts - another essential feature for 'Eastern Stonechat'. If proven to be a Stejneger's it will be a first for Sussex- fingers crossed. 

Migrants (or suspected migrants) in the MV at Stubcroft Farm Campsite included 3 Palpita Vitrealis (above), 1 Delicate, 1 Clancy's Rustic, 2 L-album Wainscot, 1 White-point, 3 Turnip moth, 5 Angle Shades, 1 Silver-Y and 4 Rusty-dot Pearl 

Delicate

Clancy's Rustic

I hadn't seen a Merveille du Jour a week or so ago and now I cant stop seeing them- at least six in the trap at the camp site last night and one even stowed away on my coat and I found it in the van this afternoon