Dusky Stunner!....Tuesday 8th December 2016.

After the very kind offer from birding mate Tim Cowley to go and see the recently discovered Dusky Thrush at Beeley in rural Derbyshire,this was our destination this morning.
 After finishing my 12 hour nightshift i travelled home as quick as i could to find Tim already waiting for me,so i grabbed my gear and off we went.
 The journey was fairly quick and it wasn't too long before we arrived in the rural village only a stones throw from Chatsworth house.We managed to eventually find a parking place and got the gear together and saw a group of birders already assembled and hopefully watching THE bird.
 We were greeted by many familiar faces,Steve Exley,Mick Turton,Ian Smith,Pete Wragg and Jonnie Fisk....it was like a Spurn birders day out.
 Thankfully we saw the bird straight away as it fed on apples low down in the grass in the small orchard,a fantastic start and great relief for myself and Tim.After a few minutes of watching the bird it was gone,but at least we had seen it.
 Now it was a waiting game until the bird appeared again and a welcome bacon buttie and hot coffee certainly warmed us up and made the wait more bearable in the cold.
 The thrush was then spotted again at the back of the orchard but was obscured at first,it then flew in and began to feed on the apples still hanging in the trees giving some nice views at last.
 What a stunning bird with its striking super's,pale throat,spotted breast,rufous edged tertials and rump.It again flew off after eating it's fill of apple and we saw it once more again briefly,but i was so pleased we managed to see the bird successfully.
 This is the first sighting of this siberian breeding species for myself and the thirteenth record for Britain.
 A big thanks again to Tim for another perfectly executed twitch and we travelled home happy to have seen this beauty,now for some sleep.

First Winter Female Dusky Thrush.

First Winter Female Dusky Thrush.