Northern Waterthrush
The Northern Waterthrush is a species of ground-feeding migratory New World warbler of the genus Parkesia. It breeds in the northern part of North America in Canada and the northern United States including Alaska and it winters in Central America, the West Indies and Florida as well as in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. It is a rare vagrant to other South American countries and to western Europe.
The Northern Waterthrush is typically found in swampy or wet woods, streamsides and lake shores and breeds mostly in coniferous forests with standing or sluggish water such as shrubby bogs and the edges of lakes. On migration, it may appear in any habitat but is more frequent in thickets along the edges of water. In winter in the tropics, it is often found in coastal mangrove swamps.
The Northern Waterthrush is a large New World warbler (and not a thrush despite the name). It has a length of 4.7 to 5.9 inches and a wingspan of 8.3 to 9.4 inches. On the head, the crown is brown with a white supercilium. The bill is pointed and dark. The throat is lightly streaked brown to black with heavier streaking continuing onto the breast and flanks. The back is evenly brown. Sexes are morphologically similar.
The Northern Waterthrush is a terrestrial ground feeder, eating insects, spiders, molluscs, worms and crustaceans as well as minnows found by wading through water.
The Northern Waterthrush is an exceptionally rare bird in the UK. This bird is a first record for Essex, only the third mainland record for the UK and the first UK record since 2011.
The UK’s first Northern Waterthrush was found on St. Agnes on the Isles of Scilly in September 1958. The Isles of Scilly have since hosted 4 more birds, most recently in September 2011. All previous UK records have been found in the autumn. Ireland has 2 records in September 1983 and August 2008, both on Cape Clear in County Cork.
This first Essex record was found on 3rd January 2024 on a garden pond in Heybridge near Maldon in Essex. The bird was found by Simon Wood, President of the Essex Birdwatching Society.
It was swiftly relocated the next morning at the nearby Heybridge Hall sluice and ditch where it attracted birders not just from Essex but from across the UK for a period of several weeks.
Date: 19th January 2024
Location: Heybridge, Maldon, Essex
The Northern Waterthrush is typically found in swampy or wet woods, streamsides and lake shores and breeds mostly in coniferous forests with standing or sluggish water such as shrubby bogs and the edges of lakes. On migration, it may appear in any habitat but is more frequent in thickets along the edges of water. In winter in the tropics, it is often found in coastal mangrove swamps.
The Northern Waterthrush is a large New World warbler (and not a thrush despite the name). It has a length of 4.7 to 5.9 inches and a wingspan of 8.3 to 9.4 inches. On the head, the crown is brown with a white supercilium. The bill is pointed and dark. The throat is lightly streaked brown to black with heavier streaking continuing onto the breast and flanks. The back is evenly brown. Sexes are morphologically similar.
The Northern Waterthrush is a terrestrial ground feeder, eating insects, spiders, molluscs, worms and crustaceans as well as minnows found by wading through water.
The Northern Waterthrush is an exceptionally rare bird in the UK. This bird is a first record for Essex, only the third mainland record for the UK and the first UK record since 2011.
The UK’s first Northern Waterthrush was found on St. Agnes on the Isles of Scilly in September 1958. The Isles of Scilly have since hosted 4 more birds, most recently in September 2011. All previous UK records have been found in the autumn. Ireland has 2 records in September 1983 and August 2008, both on Cape Clear in County Cork.
This first Essex record was found on 3rd January 2024 on a garden pond in Heybridge near Maldon in Essex. The bird was found by Simon Wood, President of the Essex Birdwatching Society.
It was swiftly relocated the next morning at the nearby Heybridge Hall sluice and ditch where it attracted birders not just from Essex but from across the UK for a period of several weeks.
Date: 19th January 2024
Location: Heybridge, Maldon, Essex
|
Also in: Latest photos
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |