Hi all,
As promised,here it is!
Wednesday 4th of October dawned just like any other day,albeit with it being October there was always the chance of something being found.The previous day had seen gale force winds from the west and lots of rain,and there had been a Red-eyed Vireo in Co.Waterford the previous weekend(which I had seen)and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak reported on the Blaskets(which are not logistically feasible to twitch),but still we weren't prepared for the events that were about to unfold...
The phone rang that morning,can't quite remember what time,but it would have been early enough.Phil Davis was on the other end:"What's he calling me for early on a Wednesday morning?Must be a rarity?",I asked myself.I'll never forget his opening sentence(or at least the main thrust of it):"There's a Blue-winged Warbler on Cape!",to which I replied "What the f£$k is that??"(at the time I hadn't any North American field guide,and it was a first for the Western Pal,so wasn't in the European guides)
When I composed myself I vaguely remembered reading that it sometimes hybridised with Golden-winged Warbler(which I had only heard of due to the bird in the UK in 89),but hadn't a clue what it looked like!I immediately got a taxi to the other side of town,where Phil and Denis O'Sullivan would be coming through from East Cork.On the way,we picked Nick Robinson up.
When we arrived in Baltimore we had to wait for the ferry,and met up with other birders in a local pub.Tensions were running high,and all we could talk about was "The Bird"!When the boat was ready to leave we got a phone call from another birder,and we kept the boat there until he arrived(he was nearly there when he rang).
On the boat,all sorts of rumours started to spread:the bird had been chased by a Sparrowhawk,it was flighty etc.,and then it began to rain.Someone on board had a field guide with a picture of the species,but I was told that it would be bad luck if I looked at it!While I don't believe in such nonsense,it's amazing what you'll do to try and increase your chances!
On arrival the bird had gone to ground,and had only been seen by the few birders that were staying on the island.There then followed a miserable hour standing around Cotter's Garden in the rain,with only a Chiffchaff in all that time.Some birders then had to leave(we had arranged to stay the night,as there would be no later ferry off),and shortly afterwards it stopped raining...
Almost immediately,Nick spotted it feeding low down in Japanese Knotweed in the top corner of the garden.A quick head movement and then I lifted my bins to my eyes:STUNNING!!
I hadn't hoped that the bird would be THAT nice as well as being so rare!It then showed well all evening,devouring grubs that it seemed to have no difficulty in finding,and flicking its tail open occasionally like a Reed Bunting.A few British birders chartered a boat over later(after having been on Scilly earlier that day and flown to Cork airport,then hiring cars),and actually jumped off the ferry before it had properly docked,then they ran up the hill(we could see all this from where we were).
As luck would have it,they also chartered a boat back off that night,so we were able to go back with them.The bird stayed until the 10th(and yes,the birders that had missed it that day due to having to return all saw it eventually),and led to the biggest ever twitch in Ireland to date.Those of us that saw it will always remember where we were in Oct.2000!
Harry
Great story Harry. Not a twitcher myself, but you described your expidition with your mates so well it gives me an insight into the "fever". I can certainly think of less healthy escapades with a gang of Irish lads!!!
I have never twitched, but in seventh grade, my Geography teacher told a story about how he and his friends drove three hours to see a great Snowy Owl, and then drove back home, and I was like, "Man, I can't wait until I can drive."
I only time I've ever came close to twitching was when I got my mom to drive me 30 mins to see a Mew Gull when I was about 13. I am not adverse to this sort of thing though. My lifelist should be as fat as possible, especially since I can't manage to keep on any weight.