Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla tschutschensis Gmelin, JF, 1789 (1, 36)

Photo © Rob Stonehouse - Prestwick Carr, Northumberland, 15 December 2019

STATUS

Eastern Russia, North-east China and Alaska. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

Yellow Wagtail was recently split (2019) into two species Eastern and Western Yellow Wagtail, both now being polytypic.

The 1908 record recently diagnosed as of this species is still awaiting formal acceptance. The second record (2009) occurred a century later, not far from the first in the Northern Isles. Since identification has improved more records have been forthcoming, but call is still needed to be certain.

As the 2019 Norfolk individual stayed to attain breeding plumage it was identified as the nominate sub-species M. t. tschutschensis.

A review was carried out by Alexander Hellquist (British Birds 119: 601-603) and records amended.

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BBRC RECORDS

P). 1908 Fair Isle Locality unknown, first-winter male, collected, 4th November, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1910.126.10).

(K. Williamson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 48: 360; Andrews, I. J., Riddington, R., Harvey, P. V., Miles, W. T. S. & Nason, R. J., 2026).

1). 1909 Fair Isle Locality unknown, first-winter female, collected, 9th October, now at National Museums Scotland (NMSZ 1910.132.15).

(K. Williamson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 48: 360; K. Williamson, British Birds 48: 400; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007; J. M. Collinson, S. Waite & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 106: 36-41, plates 36-38).

2). 2009 Shetland Burravoe, Yell, 1CY, 4th October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 612; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

3). 2010 Devon Colyton WTW, Colyford, 1CY+, male, 4th to 19th December, trapped, 14th December, photo, sound recording, DNA analysis.

(J. M. Collinson, S. Waite & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 106: 36-41, plate 42; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 638; British Birds 109: plate 233; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

4). 2011 Shetland Bruray, Out Skerries, first-winter, 10th to 14th October, photo, sound recording.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 638, plate 328; British Birds 109: plate 232; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

5). 2016 Isles of Scilly Standing Stones field, St Mary's, 1CY, 13th to 17th October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 620; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

6). 2016 Outer Hebrides Balivanich, Benbecula, 1CY+, 23rd October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

7). 2016 Cornwall Lower Bosistow, 1CY, 28th October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 610; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

8). 2018 Shetland Haroldswick, Unst, 1CY, 3rd October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 611-612; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

9). 2018 Isles of Scilly Great Pool and Borough Farm, Tresco, 1CY, 10th to 14th October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 611, plate 346; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

10). 2018 Isles of Scilly Riding Stables and Airfield, St Mary's, 1CY, 14th to 18th October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 611; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

11). 2018 Shetland Sumburgh, Mainland, 1CY, 8th to 13th November, again, 2nd to 4th December, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 612; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

12). 2018 Isles of Scilly Pelistry, Kittydown and other sites, St Mary's, 1CY, 14th November to 3rd February 2019, photo, sound recording; presumed same, Lower Moors, St Mary's, 17th April 2019, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 639; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

13). 2019 Anglesey Plas Cemlyn, Cemlyn, 1CY, 25th to 27th September, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 639; Scarce and Rare Birds in Wales 2019: photo; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

14.0). 2019 Suffolk Corporation Marshes, Dunwich, 1CY, 25th October to 19th November, photo, sound recording, DNA analysis.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 640; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

15). 2019 Suffolk Havergate Island RSPB, 1CY, 12th to 14th November, again, 4th to 13th February 2020, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 640; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

16). 2019 Northumberland Prestwick Carr, 1CY, 14th December to 26th February 2020, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 640, plate 390; P. Cassells & M. J. Carr, Birds in Northumbria 2019: 16-21; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; Birds in Northumbria 2020: photo; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 602; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

17). 2019 Norfolk Sedgeford, 1CY, male, 23rd December to 1st March 2020, photo, sound recording, M. t. tschutschensis.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 640, plates 106 & 287; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; K. Forbes & J. R. McCallum, Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 2019: 53-61, photo; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

18). 2020 Caernarfonshire Bardsey Island, 1CY, 3rd to 6th October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

19). 2020 Highland Kildonan , Eigg, Lochaber, 1CY, 27th to 30th October, photo, sound recording.

(J. Chester & R. McMillan, Scottish Birds 41: 357-359, plates 247 & 248; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

20). 2020 Suffolk Dunwich, 1CY, 4th to 16th November, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

14.1). 2020 Suffolk Dunwich, 2CY, male, 5th to 16th November, photo, sound recording; presumed same, Carlton Marshes, 24th November to 31st January 2021, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616, plate 425; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 591; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

21.0). 2020 Norfolk Kelling, 1CY, 6th to 12th November, photo, sound recording; also seen Kent.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

21.1). 2020 Kent Worth Marshes, 1CY, 20th to 25th November, photo, sound recording; same as Norfolk.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; Kent Bird Report 2020: photo; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

14.2). 2020 Suffolk Carlton Marshes, 2CY, male, 24th November to 31st January 2021, photo, DNA analysis; presumed same as Suffolk 2020.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

22). 2020 Somerset Steart, 1CY, 25th November to 20th December, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 616; Somerset Birds 2020: photo; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 602).

23). 2021 Shetland Noss, Spiggie, Mainland, 1CY, 29th September to 2nd October, photo, sound recording.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 602, plate 458; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

24). 2022 Shetland Walls, Mainland, 1CY, 26th to 27th September, photo, sound recording.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 721; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

25). 2022 Shetland Brae, Mainland, 1CY+, 2nd October, photo, sound recording.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 591; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

26). 2022 Isle of Wight East Cowes, 1CY, 27th October to 8th November, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

27). 2022 Yorkshire Kilnsea, 1CY, 27th to 28th October, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

14.3). 2022 Suffolk Carlton Marshes SWT, 4CY, male, 3rd November to 2nd May 2023, photo, sound recording; presumed returning individual.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 721; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

28). 2022 Caithness Loch of Wester, 1CY, 22nd November to 14th December, photo, sound recording.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 721; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

29). 2023 Shetland Haroldswick, Unst, 1CY, 26th to 30th September, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

30). 2023 North-east Scotland Rattray Head, 1CY, 5th to 7th November, photo.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

31). 2023 Isles of Scilly Longstone, Parting Carn and Tremelethen, St Mary's, 1CY, 3rd to 11th December, photo, sound recording.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 721; Isles of Scilly Bird and Natural History Review 2023: photo; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

32). 2024 Fair Isle Naavasgill, 1CY, 1st October, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

33). 2024 Suffolk Walberswick NNR, 1CY, 16th October, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

34). 2025 Lincolnshire Winteringham, 2CY, 19th to 24th February, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

35). 2025 Hampshire Warblington, Havant, 2CY, 3rd to 12th March, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

36). 2025 Somerset Sparkhayes Lane, Porlock, 1CY, 7th to 9th October, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).

37). 2025 Outer Hebrides Village, Hirta, St Kilda, 1CY, 15th October, photo, sound recording.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 601).