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| Myrtle warbler. Alas, examples seen in Britain are seldom as resplendent as this male photographed in Canada (photo: Cephas: Wikimedia Commons) |
This week's appearance of a myrtle warbler on Shetland has provided a reminder of the first accepted record of the species in Britain - a bird that turned up in a back garden of the School House in Newton St. Cyres, four miles from Exeter, in Devon.
The bird came to light on 4th January, 1955 as a blizzard swept over southern England, covering the ground with some three inches of snow.
During the afternoon, Mrs D. Cook was placing food on her bird-table for the benefit of the blue tits and other birds when she heard an unusual bird-note.
The next day, her son, David Cook, noticed on the table a strange bird which he was unable to identify.
In an account which appeared in British Birds, Raymond Smith writes that, on 8th January, David’s father, Dr. D. Cook, phoned him to say that his son had drawn his attention to this bird.
Mr Smith and his son, A.V. Smith, visited the garden and watched the bird visiting the bird-table regularly.
He writes: "It could be watched without glasses at distances down to less than three feet.
"It was at once apparent to us that the bird was of an unfamiliar species as it had areas of bright lemon yellow on each side of the body as well as a bright yellow rump and crown, while the fanned tail showed considerable areas of white.
He continues: "It was thought possible that it might be an American warbler, so full details were taken and sketches made.
"Later the same day, my son and I paid a visit to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, where through the kindness of Major A. B. Gay, ready access was given to the excellent collection of skins of American warblers and also to a copy of Audubon’s Birds of America.
"By means of the coloured plates in the latter, it was possible to identify the bird as a myrtle warbler - an identification afterwards confirmed by examination of the 14 skins of this species in the collection.
"From these, it was possible to pick out a male bird in winter plumage which was almost identical with the live bird feeding at the table four miles away."
The writer contuinues: "On arrival in the area, the warbler had established a defined territory based on the bird-table from which it ranged for distances of up to about 25 yards in very swift flight, returning immediately if any blue its ventured down to the table, driving them away unmercifully.
"On 11th January, it was seen to pull out a small feather from one, and on two other occasions actually to bear one to the ground.
"It took no interest in the several house sparrows and only occasionally in the local robins, but, at different times, it was seen by David Cook and others to chase away great tits, dunnocks, chaffinches and also a bullfinch and a pied wagtail.
"I again watched the bird on 12th January, this time being accompanied by E. F. Moore.
"On 13th January, a further fall of snow to a depth of four inches took place, but Mrs. Cook was at pains to keep the bird-table clear of snow and to put out food in order to encourage the bird to stay.
"It was on this day that Mrs. Cook placed on the table a piece of bread and butter on which marmalade was spread.
"To her astonishment, the myrtle warbler immediately took to the marmalade which it frequently sipped off the bread by bending down its head sideways.
"This affinity for marmalade persisted throughout its stay but to a diminishing extent, as, with the onset of milder weather it began to obtain most of its food in a more natural manner from the ground. while later still it spent a lot of time at a compost heap.
"At other times, it was also seen to eat suet and the fat from bacon-rind and, on one occasion, to take a small white moth.
"On 15th January, during wet weather, the yellow on the crown was completely exposed until the head began to dry off and it was apparent that the brown feathers were flattened aside in the open position by the moisture.
"It was noticed that the bird assumed a plumpish appearance when at rest, bu, when on the alert, it appeared slender.
In dry weather, the bird was seen by many observers to take insects in the air after the manner of a flycatcher, returning to the same perch or nearby.
The bird was always easily located as it frequently uttered a distinctive clear “chick” and this note was recorded by C. Rockett on a portable recorder.
"When in the vicinity of the table. the warbler frequently held its wings partially spread probably in threat display towards the blue tits, and, when it took flight, it immediately fanned the tail exposing the two triangular areas of white to the full.
"As time progressed, the bird extended its range up to about 50 yards from the table, and David Cook was able to watch the bird go to roost, usually in a small holly tree about 80 yards away.
"Here again, it was seen to chase the blue tits out of the same tree before retiring to roost.
"Although the bird latterlv reduced its visits to the bird-table, it always regularly paid a visit in the early morning."
What happened to the warbler? Alas, the story ends sadly.
"On 10th February when it paid this table visit, David noticed that it looked a little 'off colour', and, later in the morning, it was noticed that the blue tits were visiting the table in force without molestation, giving rise to the impression that the bird had gone.
"A search in the garden in the afternoon revealed the myrtle warbler lying dead underneath a tree only a few yards from the bird-table.
"The bird was outwardly in perfect condition and had clearly met its death from some internal cause and not from external injury.
"It was skinned and set up and is now on view at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter."
"An examination of the body after skinning by Prof. L. A. Harvey disclosed no apparent cause of death.
"There had been ten degrees of air frost on the previous night after a mild spell, and it may well be that death was due to a combination of some diet deficiency due to the bird being out of its normal element followed by a lowered resistance to withstand the sudden recurrence of a sharp frost.
"It was noted that the outer toe of the left foot was missing, but this injury did not appear to be of recent origin.
"One possible explanation of the intense antipathy of the myrtle warbler to the resident blue tits may be that a colour reaction was set up by the blues and yellows being of similar shades to those of male myrtle warblers in full plumage.
"Mrs. Cook lost count of the number of observers who watched the bird but at least 60, including P.V. D. Hollom, I. J.Ferguson-Lees, R. G. Adams, must have seen it, many of whom travelled considerable distances.
"On behalf of all these, I should like to express our gratitude to Mrs. Cook for her kindness in welcoming all and installing them in her warm dining-room where they watched the bird in comfort for many hours."
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| Also known as yellow-rumped warbler, the specimen, looking somewhat bedraggled, is now in Exeter's museum |
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