Blue Rock Thrush, escaped cage bird or genuine wild bird? After the accepted record of Chinese Pond Heron who can take the chance!
Leaving much later than normal, it wasn't surprising to hit a bit more traffic on route. Most of the traffic was around the town centre. We still made the 100 mile trip in good time, and after several trips around the car park we finally managed a parking space and headed off towards Fisher's Close.
As expected plenty of birders were already present, and the bird had been seen 10 minutes prior to our arrival.We decided to split up, Brian headed off along the surrounding roads, while I stayed with the masses in case it re-appeared.
An hour or so later Brian managed to re-locate the bird on a chimney in Maugersbury Park. I joined the masses and headed towards the cul-de-sac, but on arrival the bird had disappeared, Then suddenly it popped up on the roof of a neighbouring house. It stayed in this area for at least 30 minutes, flying from rooftops to chimney pots of the surrounding houses.
The bird disappeared and so did the majority of the birders. As they headed back towards Fisher's Close, we decided to stay put and hope it returned, as luck would have it we were soon rewarded with cracking views as it foraged among the rooftop moss.
Escape or wild it was still well worth a trip to see the bird, and if it is deemed genuinely wild by the BBRC in the future, it was even more worth while!
