WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER, PALLID SWIFT and ARCTIC REDPOLL 17.10.13
One of my relatives found a Western Bonelli's Warbler at Hartlepool Headland earlier in the week. A handily timed teacher strike gave me the opportunity to go and see it. Almost as soon as we arrived at Hartlepool it was on view and continued to show well for the next three hours or so.
We then went to Saltholme but received news that a Coue's Arctic Redpoll at South Gare. That also showed well as soon as we got there. Then we got a text about a Pallid Swift at Hartlepool, so we rushed back to the Headland. That was the third bird to give brilliant views, feeding at about rooftop height. There is now some discussion on birdforum to whether the bird is a Pallid Swift or not, but I'm still leaning towards Pallid with my photos (below) and the views we got in the field. Also seen at various sites were half a dozen Mealy Redpolls and the same number of Brambling.
Note: After some internet debate the Pallid Swift has been reconfirmed (Common fully eliminated).
Western Bonelli's Warbler
Pallid Swift (?)
Coue's Arctic Redpoll (compare the rump to the Mealy Redpoll below. the Arctic is the left hand bird in all three photos)
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