20th February - Black-throated Thrush Wykeham Forest

As if the Moorhen wasn't mental enough, on returning from our walk up to Robin Hoods Bay, news broke of a Black-throated Thrush in Wykeham Forest. I tend not to twitch for various reasons and initially decided not to go.

I got up early today for work when news came through that it was still there. The temptation to call up before work was too much to resist now though, so I made the short 15 minute trip up there and luckily (given I didn't have much time) saw it relatively quickly. The bird was always distant but still gave nice views. It was associating with a small flock of Redwing and regularly commuting between the tree tops and the adjacent field (used for tree propagation, but currently empty).

This was an adult male which was looking quite dapper in the bright sunshine. This species breeds in coniferous forests in central Siberia, in some ways a little similar habitat to Wykeham Forest. Wintering occurs in northern India west to around the eastern edge of the Arabian peninsula. This bird stayed until mid afternoon before flying off never to be seen again.