Leucistic Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus

On the banks of the Garnock River.
June 6^th and 10^th, 2011

Following our very early warm, dry and sunny Spring in April we had a May which brought double the usual rainfall.

We had gone back to the site several times to see if the bird had come back, as had been suggested by Alan Spellman, who told us that the Mull bird had returned to the same site for a second year. However, by late May, we were beginning to give up hope.

On 6th June we went back after an absence of a week, and while I was walking around the river trying to photograph baby Long-tailed Tits against the light, Duncan saw a White Willow Warbler from the bridge. It was singing, but although it was feeding, it didn't seem to be gathering food.

I caught up with it and took the photos on this page. Comparing the photos today with those I took last year, it would appear to be the same bird. We watched for about half an hour, during which time it was feeding voraciously, but again, not obviously gathering food.

Curious and interesting.

Watch this space.

Photos from 2010.
More photos from 2010.

June 10th 2011

We went to the bridge in the afternoon but didn't see him, nor did we hear any Willow Warbler song.
After dinner, we went back and played a short burst of a Willow Warbler tape. He appeared almost instantly, singing and flicking his wings and tail. Then he began feeding, again not food gathering. A normal-coloured Willow Warbler was in the area, with no obvious interaction between them.

And on 10th June 2011, way up on the top of the trees: