It took a little effort to warm to the idea of twitching a very attractive lifer in a public zoo, and beside a children’s play area just before Christmas, but after a couple of hours’ deliberation I opted to go. The location was only 36 miles from home, and the entry cost would most likely be less than that of reaching any alternative future occurrence.

A Black-throated Thrush had first been reported here on RBA three days earlier. Though not re-found on Thursday (12th) on which I kept an eye open, it had “shown well” on and off a day later when I wasn’t paying attention. This was a first record for Bedfordshire, yet another instance of an autumn or winter scarcity from a nearby county that seemingly in Oxon fears to tread. So on rising today the more usual Saturday morning option of checking out Farmoor Reservoir slipped down my to do list.

The Whipsnade Black-throated Thrush © and courtesy of Mark Rayment

The first RBA pictures (see here) were persuasive in reaching that decision. This one (above) taken on 13th is rather better, and I believe has since won BirdGuides photo of the week. The taiga breeding Black-throated Thrush inhabits coniferous forests across European Russia eastward through central Siberia and towards north-western Mongolia. Further non-breeding populations occur from the Middle East through central Asia to western China. They may winter between and around those core ranges and when vagrants stray to western Europe it is usually in carrier flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare.

BTT is one of a closely related group of Asian thrushes including Naumann’s, Red-throated and Dusky (see here) Thrushes in which inter-breeding commonly occurs. This can complicate identification of individuals and especially first winter birds that might turn up further afield. But no such issues were likely with today’s quest, an adult male and that made connecting with it an even more exceptional opportunity. All ways up this was a must see.

I contacted Ewan who as it happened was just setting off himself and so he collected me from home. We arrived at Whipsnade ZSL Park at 9:30am in heavy rain and most of the vehicles in the car park looked like they contained birders. There had been just several observers on site a day earlier but there was now clearly going to be quite a crowd. A lot of those present headed inside at the opening time of 10am but electing to avoid a drenching ourselves we chose to wait for news to go out. That took just 20 minutes by which time the rain was already easing.

It transpired that first sighting had come from Friday’s location, upon our arrival at which the conditions had turned sunny and cold. Before too long a mass movement occurred to another place but when we got there it was clear nobody knew where the bird might actually be. So we retraced our steps then a friend of Ewan’s, who has very kindly allowed me to use the pictures in this post, arrived and they decided to stake out that spot where a Rowan tree would offer further good opportunities. But then most people present rushed off again.

Something like how I saw the bird today © and courtesy of Adrian Webb

I eventually decided to follow and this time it was plain the crowd was on their target. Before too long I was directed to a “very pale shape” in some more berry bearing trees in the middle distance, and that indeed was the Black-throated Thrush. Having thus gained acceptable views I called Ewan and when he arrived the bird was showing better still if some way off. I was surprised by just how well it stood out amongst the Redwings feeding on the berries there.

An adult male such as today’s bird is unmistakable, with a grey back, white belly, and a pitch-black throat and chest. The contrast between that black and the relatively unmarked underparts was very noticeable at the range I observed today’s bird. And there it perched for long periods amongst the more hyperactive Redwings, serenely surveying the space before it. Occasionally it dropped down to ground level amongst some miniature railway sidings before being lost to view again.

Adult male Black-throated Thrush © and courtesy of Mark Rayment

In the circumstances things not unnaturally became a little fraught at times. Two things that I can do without on twitches are individuals who must not have their line of sight obstructed however accidentally, and others who wish to steward and judge their less well positioned birders’ behaviour. I myself neither intentionally block others or reproach people who might get in my way, nor see why non-birders should not be inconvenienced briefly at the crucial moments. At one point it became necessary to stand up for myself against the self-righteous puritans. All that’s ever needed is a polite request.

By early afternoon most of the birders at the railway sidings had moved on, presumably satisfied with their views. But conditions were now bitterly cold with a biting wind. So we returned to the first location where Ewan’s friend and some other photographers were still staking out its favourably lit Rowan in the hope of gaining some good shots. But the BTT had not returned there, so we repaired to the warmth of the nearest cafeteria then the tropical butterfly house, before heading on home.

This was another immensely satisfying day, producing as it did my fourth bird life list addition of early winter. November and December so far have been quite a contrast to what was a frustrating autumn and hence I keep on chipping away. Black-throated Thrush is not a lifer I could have imagined gaining before this particular one materialised so close to home, but it will do nicely thank you. After all, one never knows what the next bird might be and hence I continue to evolve and progress.