EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER at Dungeness - 25th May 2025 - Rarity finder

Discovery of an 

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 

at Dungeness, 25th May 2025

During one of my regular patrols/ censuses of the Dungeness Bird Observatory Recording Area, (at around 0940), I was alerted to an unusual song at the southern end of the DBO "trapping area".  At a distance, I first thought it might just be an odd sounding Lesser Whitethroat, but as I got closer the more it reminded me more of Bonelli's Warbler.  

Remaining hidden from view at first, the bird continued to sing at regular intervals, allowing me to track it along the outskirts of the tree line.  I began recording the song and tried (through the intermittent phone signal), to send it to get a second opinion.

Finally, after 5-10 minutes I glimpsed the bird and recognised it as a Bonelli's type.  

It showed for about a minute whilst exploring some of the less foliated branches, and that's when I managed to grab the images and video shown here, whilst simultaneously trying to send messages interested parties in a dead signal zone. 

 

Once relatively satisfied with the photos captured, I repeated the message whereupon several locals responded that they were coming out to join me.

Having had recent experience of P. Bonelli in Spain (Mar-Apr, 2025),this bird didn't sound quite like a Western that I had first assumed it would be.  On listening to examples of both species on the Collins Bird Guide app I realised that it was in fact a match for EASTERN BONELLI’S WARBLER (Phylloscopus Orientalis).

Two of us followed the bird as it completed a small loop of the area, during which time it gave up nothing more than the occasional glimpse, although crucially, on several occasions, it did make the diagnostic chip call.

After ten minutes without managing any further photographs, we had followed the bird back to the original spot, where Industrious local birder Martin Casemore, joined us.  Further audio recordings were made.  The bird had been singing regularly since discovery, and after once again checking the songs of both Bonelli and Orientalis we all agreed on the identification.

I hadn't realised (until Martin mentioned), that this would be the first record for Kent.

A short time later I departed for the Bird Observatory, leaving two of the local birder to keep tabs on the bird.  On gaining some mobile signal I discovered that the world had already been alerted to the bird's presence.

Back at base, I uploaded my best photo and the video to Twitter, to illicit further confirmation/ opinion.  With restored internet access, I listened to more examples of both Bonelli's Warbler species on xeno-canto and ebird and any remaining doubt evaporated. 

Link to the recording at: xeno-canto:  

After about an hour, I returned to the trapping area expecting to find birders with SD Cards packed full of amazing photos, but instead discovered 20-30 people searching for the temporarily missing bird, and without a single satisfactory photo amongst them.  It was soon heard again, back at the original spot, and although elusive, favoured that area for the rest of the day.

Photos would continue to be difficult to capture, so I had been very lucky indeed to capture anything at all.  There seems to have only  been a very short period of time where it had showed well enough to capture the media seen here.

After a short while taking in the scene, and with everyone focused on the EBW, I went for a walk in the hope of locating a Western Bonelli's Warbler, or some other interesting lost migrant.  No such luck of course.

Many hundreds of twitchers came and went throughout the day, it's impossible to say how many.  I returned again in the evening, but it had become even harder to see.  Most of those gathered, many who had traveled long distances, seemed disappointed with the views, or lack of.

There was no sign of the bird the following day.