White-throated Sparrow - First for Cornwall

The long-awaited first Cornish record of a North American sparrow has finally happened!  John Fanshaw from Boscastle is the "hero" who found the bird and kindly informed local birders.  Found late on Saturday 1st May, John informed Derek Julian (Chairman CBWPS) of the remarkable find and by first light Sunday, a well organised twitch ensued.  The bird performed well to a small but steady trickle of visitors to John's manor.  On several occasions it sang in full view from a hawthorn tree.  At other times, it would be quite content to feed on the lawn.  Given that it appeared quite settled on the Sunday, it was all the more surprising that it disappeared overnight and could not be found on the bank holiday Monday.

Of note, this is the first record for the region, eg both Scilly and Devon have yet to record a North American sparrow.  The species breeds in Canada and new England and migrates south in the autumn to spend its' winter in southern and eastern USA.  There are over thirty records in the UK alone but the majority eminate from major ports eg Felixstow and Southampton.  The assumption is that the species has hitched a lift on the grain ships and been quite content to feed up and stay on board until nearby land is in sight.  Given that there are no major ports in Cornwall, one can only wonder exactly where this individual came from.  Any thoughts on the subject are welcome.

John Chapple's excellent video of the bird, including that fantastic mournful song, can be viewed here