Bygone birding (6): A rare find on the Lincolnshire Coast

From The Zoologist, 1896


During the afternoon of Sept. 5, I shot a specimen of Phylloscopus viridanus (Greenish Warbler) in a hedge near the sea-bank at North Cotes, on the Lincolnshire coast.

According to Herr Gatke, this species has appeared three times on the island of Heligoland, but has not occurred elsewhere in Europe. It is a
native of Central Asia, breeding in Turkestan and wintering in India.

In general appearance, it closely resembles our common Willow Wren, but has a conspicuous wing-bar formed by the yellowish buff tips of the greater wing-coverts. It is also somewhat greener on the upper parts, and less yellow beneath.

It further differs in the proportionate lengths of the wing-feathers, and in the colour of the legs which are almost as dark as in
the Chiffchaff.

The specimen obtained by me proved to be a female, and, I believe, adult.

The weather prevailing at the time of its appearance was such as usually results in a great immigration of small birds.

The wind backing to the east on the night of Sept 3rd, and blowing a fresh breeze from that quarter on the 4th and 5th, with heavy rain commencing to fall on the afternoon of the 4th, and lasting without intermission for twenty-four hours.

On the 5th all the hedges near the coast were full of small birds, including Pied Flycatchers in considerable number, Redstarts, White
throats, Garden Warblers, etc.

I have only to add that Mr. Howard Saunders and Dr. R. B. Sharpe kindly examined and identified the bird for me, and it was subsequently exhibited at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club on Oct 21.

G. H. Caton Haigh
Grainsby Hall
Great Grimsby