dusky thrush

[rossy]

article in yesterdays manchester evening news, page 5 if you google it up, that a dusky thrush, was in britain, and the chap has only just had his photos developed, extremely rare bird, think that was one that has slipped under the radar, rossy.

[RoyW]

Seen and photographed by a non birder:
New Page 3

[Wild-Woman]

Wow! Imagine the twitch that would have caused!

[htcdude]

Does anyone know how many have been sighted in the UK?

Great looking bird hope it makes it's way down here!

Nige

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by htcdude

Does anyone know how many have been sighted in the UK?

I think there is roughly about 11 since the 1950's. Not a common bird thats for sure.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

I think there is roughly about 11 since the 1950's. Not a common bird thats for sure.

Think it's less than that Dogghound - eight records since 1905, last one in 1979 according to Manchester Birding Forum. It was found just a few miles down the road from my house!

Cheers
Jonathan

[BucksMike]

I think this bird has been around in the Greater Manchester area for some time now certainly since December. Has been kept very quiet though as it is in private land. A certain bird site and certain people who may or may not be telling people what they have seen are involved

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Think it's less than that Dogghound - eight records since 1905, last one in 1979 according to Manchester Birding Forum.

There are eight accepted records for the UK, the last being on Skomer in early December 1987 (The 1979 record was the last, and only other one, in the West Midlands).

Originally Posted by BucksMike

I think this bird has been around in the Greater Manchester area for some time now certainly since December. Has been kept very quiet though as it is in private land. A certain bird site and certain people who may or may not be telling people what they have seen are involved

There have apparently been at least two other sightings (which have been kept quiet), but my understanding is that these were at different sites. It is understandable that news about rarities like this is not always broadcast, because they are sometimes seen in areas that cannot accommodate the large number of twitchers that would turn up (eg. this would be likely to attract over a thousand on a Saturday morning if it news that it was present was released on the Friday).

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by BucksMike

I think this bird has been around in the Greater Manchester area for some time now certainly since December. Has been kept very quiet though as it is in private land. A certain bird site and certain people who may or may not be telling people what they have seen are involved

If your talking about the Leigh dusky thrush, I'm not sure where you're getting your information from but it's probably incorrect. The bird was seen for approx. 30 mins by a non-birder, no-one else saw it, the bird has been ID'd on photographs only. Why (or how?) could anyone surpress a bird they hadn't seen? Information was released when the bird was ID'd from the photographs and the area has subsequently been searched.

Cheers
Jonathan

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

If your talking about the Leigh dusky thrush, I'm not sure where you're getting your information from but it's probably incorrect. The bird was seen for approx. 30 mins by a non-birder, no-one else saw it, the bird has been ID'd on photographs only. Why (or how?) could anyone surpress a bird they hadn't seen? Information was released when the bird was ID'd from the photographs and the area has subsequently been searched.

Cheers
Jonathan

Take a look at the "rare bird sightings" section on Birdforum Jonathan. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if the Leigh bird isn't the only midlands record of Dusky Thrush that the BBRC end up considering for this winter.