Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola juncidis (Rafinesque, 1810) (0, 9)
Photo © By Imran Shah from Islamabad, Pakistan - Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75877708
STATUS
Eurasia. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Formerly known as the Fan-tailed Warbler.
March, May, June, August and September are the arrival months, so no real pattern emerging. Apart from the first individual arriving in North Norfolk the rest have all occurred on the south coast.
During 2025 the total now seen almost doubled with a single in Kent, and, breeding taking place in Suffolk, amounting to seven new birds!
BBRC RECORDS
1). 1976 Norfolk Cley Marshes, 24th August; presumed same, Holme-next-the-Sea, 29th August to 5th September.
(J. O'Sullivan and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 70: 435; J. N. Dymond, British Birds 71: 275-276; P. R. Clarke, British Birds 71: 276-277; C. Bradshaw, British Birds 96: 404; BOURC (2003), Ibis 145: 178-183).
2). 1977 Dorset Lodmoor, Weymouth, in song, 24th to 28th June.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 71: 518; M. Cade, British Birds 73: 37-38).
3). 2000 Dorset Portland Bill, 15th to 16th May, photo.
(P. Baker, Birding World 13 (5): 198-199, photos; Birding World 13 (12): 489, photo; British Birds 93: plate 186; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 94: 488).
4). 2000 Dorset Hengistbury Head, in song, 20th to 30th May, photo.
(P. Baker, Birding World 13 (5): 198-199, photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 591).
5). 2006 Kent Bockhill Farm, St Margaret's, 25th August, photo.
(Birding World 19 (8): 315, photo; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 735).
6). 2008 Kent Swalecliffe, 13th September, photo.
(Birding World 21 (9): 371, photo; British Birds 101: plate 342; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 577).
7). 2009 Kent Pegwell Bay, male, in song, 6th September to 16th December, photo.
(Birding World 22 (9): 364, photo; British Birds 102: plate 459; Birding World 22 (11): 449, photo; Birding World 22 (12): 504, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 616, plate 338).
8). 2010 Kent St Margaret's, male, in song, 28th March, photo.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 104: 606).
9). 2024 Kent South Foreland, 2CY+, 20th June, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 540).
P). 2025 Kent Foreness Point, male, in song, 2nd to 3rd July.
(birding information services).
P). 2025 Suffolk Walberswick, male, in song, 3rd to 21st August, photo, five: two adults and three juveniles, 22nd August, one, 23rd August, two, adults, 24th to 26th August, one adult, 27th August, three, 29th August, six: two adults, four juveniles, 30th August; one, 1st to 5th September, two, 13th and 19th September, one, 30th September, two, 6th October, three, 21st and 30th October to 9th November, one, 28th November.
(birding information services).
P). 2025 Kent Lydd Ranges, male, in song, 17th to 21st August.
(birding information services).
