Tale of a Yellow - browed Warbler

We walked to Brixham today, but before we set off from Broadsands we looked for the Yellow-browed  Warbler. It has been reported as being there all week. We found it in a little flooded area at the back of the car park. There were three birders there already. The bird showed straightaway. It is a nice little bird but I am not one really for twitching. I just go along with the official birdwatcher. I am though interested in the folklore and interesting bird stories to be found in Birds Britannica by Mark Cocker, and Richard Mabey.It concentrates on social history and on the cultural links between humans and birds. I like it because of the humorous stories like this one. ‘The yellow-browned warbler has made an extraordinary journey  from Siberia, blown off course. The exhaustion entailed in these distances has resulted in some exceptional behaviour, like the one that landed near Start Point, Devon, on HMS Africa on 10 May 1911. A young rating showed exemplary naval discipline when the bird  perched on his head during morning prayers.’  All of these anecdotes and stories are verified in a meticulous bibliography.
Two rare vagrant warblers in one week. The official birdwatcher tells me this is the weather’s doing, on the cusp of autumn and winter. See extra. These two were delighted to see this tiny bird. The official birdwatcher is on the right. My camera isn’t good enough to get a good picture of the bird,  and these warblers are constantly in motion.
After a drink at the Venus Cafe we carried on to Berry Head, returning via Brixham and admiring the Christmas lights.