TIREE: News broke late on Tues 15th Sept of a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax flaviventris) in a garden at Balephuil – found by John Bowler. This is the first ever record of this species in Britain & the Western Palearctic. Initial fears of a mega twitch were allayed due to reduced numbers of available places on ferries and planes and allowed careful management of viewing to be organised along Covid-19 guidelines for social distancing. Up to 80 birders arrived Wed- Fri and all were well behaved and no stress was caused to the bird which regularly posed well within 2 metres of the many photographers! Around £1,000+ has been collected for some Tiree covid related projects – BACS transfers can be made to the Just Giving Link is below https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ybflycatchertiree
MULL: A juvenile Turtle Dove was at Caliach on 16 Sep (Ewan Miles, Iolo Williams) and this or another was at Arinagour COLL on 17 Sep (David Jardine) – also a Lapland Bunting on Coll on 18 Sep (David Jardine).
