A few days ago some amazing news filtered through onto bird sightings pages of an American Robin which had been discovered in some gardens and adjacent fields at the end of a cul-de-sac in Eastbourne, Sussex. I was very keen to go as this was the first ever record for Sussex and only the 28th record for the UK in the history of British ornithology, with the last being in autumn 2018 in Devon. I had seen one a few years ago in Central Park, New York, but as this one had flown all the way across the Atlantic Ocean it felt rude not to go and see it.
American Robins are not in the same family as our familiar European Robin but are in fact thrushes, larger than a Redwing but slightly smaller than a Fieldfare. It it thought that the bird was named by early European settlers to the USA who saw a similarity between it and the Robin as they both have orange-red breasts. They are common in the USA where they can be found year round in most states but there is a strongly migratory population which breeds in the northern states and Canada and spends the Winter in southern states such as Texas, California and also Mexico. With a period of unusually cold weather in the southern USA this Winter at the same time as strong storms travelling across the Atlantic it is likely that this bird was pushed east and was caught up in such storms, and subsequently blown all the way across the ocean - a non stop flight of around 3,500 miles! Breeding plumage males are very handsome birds, having a jet black hood, a thick white eye ring, a slate blue/grey back and a deep pumpkin orange breast.
With the alarm having been set for 6:50 we arrived at the cul-de-sac that the bird was visiting around 8:15, joining a crowd of around 30 birdwatchers patiently waiting for a sight of the bird. Unexpectedly soon, within in just 10 minutes of our arrival there was a rush to one corner of the cul de sac as someone had spotted the robin feeding under a clump of ivy. It briefly ventured out into the open for 3-4 minutes, being joined by its European namesake, but all too soon disappeared into the depths of a bush. What followed was a rather agonising wait, as we knew the bird was in there but it stubbornly refused to come out for the next 40 minutes. The temperature was only around 5 degrees and a cold wind biting at our fingers and toes was slowly gnawing away at our resolve for standing still, everyone desperate for another more prolonged showing. It eventually appeared again but this time even briefer as it was chased away by a territorial blackbird.
The highly anticipated good view!
People started to slip away but after yet another 30 mins, the moment we were all waiting for finally happened when it from nowhere flew over our heads and landed in a small tree barely 15 metres away. Cue a quiet but rapid shifting of camera positions as it surveyed the scene before dropping into a cotoneaster bush to gorge on the bright red berries. It remained here in full view for at least 15 minutes, allowing everyone to take photos to their heart's content. When it was eventually spooked by a cat, we took that as our cue to leave and headed home very happy, with a stop for a well deserved breakfast of a delicious sultana cookie and some mulled apple juice from an excellent local farm shop. What an amazing day and a fantastic bird, long may it stay safe!
Also thank you to the very understanding residents of the cul de sac for allowing us to view the bird from there. If you visited too and haven't yet donated, please consider donating to the GoFund me page - search google for 'go fund me american robin Eastbourne', as they are raising funds for the local food bank.
Enjoying a berry...
Showing off its terrific orange breast
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