Birding in August
 

August is the month when things start to liven up again, with sea-watching coming into its own, and waders not far behind. The right winds on the east coast could bring a fall of early passerines, with the odd rarity in the mix.
 

Wader movements are most evident in early August, many being adults in fading summer plumage, although juvenile birds will become much commoner as the month progresses. Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank are regular at the coast, with groups of Black-tailed Godwit appearing at almost any wetland site. August rarities could include a Stilt Sandpiper or Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, along with more regular Pectoral Sandpipers and a few White-rumped Sandpipers.
 

Pec Sands can turn up just about anywhere, this adult being at Druridge, Northumberland
photo © Darren Robson
 

Seabirds will become more apparent at the coast, with Manx Shearwaters, and the odd Sooty Shearwater, being visible if the winds are right. In southwest England Great Shearwaters and Cory’s Shearwaters may be seen from long established watchpoints, such as Pendeen Watch or Porthgwarra. Skuas, particularly Arctic Skua and Great Skua will be with them, and the scarcer Pomarine Skua and Long-tailed Skua will be more regular from the favoured headlands. August is the month that many watchers make their annual pilgrimage to one of the top Irish coastal headlands or get themselves onto a pelagic out of the Isles of Scilly, where Wilson’s Petrels are now almost guaranteed amongst the Storm Petrels. Late month is best for finding a Fea’s Petrel or perhaps a Little Shearwater from the Irish or Cornish coast.
 

Views such as these of Cory's Shearwaters in the British Isles are usually only possible from a pelagic
photo © Bryan Thomas
 

Prolific numbers of Great Shearwater are possible from western Irish headlands in August
photo © Bryan Thomas
 

A pelagic trip from the Isles of Scilly in August now almost guarantees Wilson's Petrel
photos © Bryan Thomas
 

Skuas can challenge even the best birders but views of Long-tailed Skua such as this juvenile make the task that bit easier
photos © Dean Eades
 

Fea's Petrel, to many it's The seabird to get on their British Lists, a week or two spent at the Bridges of Ross in Ireland will give you the best possible chance to connect with the enigmatic bird
photos © Glen Tepke
 

Late August can be good for drift migrants, notably Barred Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Wryneck and Red-backed Shrike together with Greenish Warblers. An east coast site can provide multiple sightings of each of these if the conditions are right, these birds often being easier to catch up with now, rather than later in the autumn. Rarer warblers, such as Booted Warbler or maybe even a Skyes’s Warbler may appear in one of these falls, being a signal of hastening movements of displaced passerine. The south coast may provide a few more Aquatic Warblers than recent years, as they have been very scarce, together with a few Melodious Warblers
 

Juvenile Red-backed Shrikes are a nice find for any local patch worker
photo © Dave Kelsall
 

Melodious Warbler © Mike Malpass
 
Blast from the past

August 2004 will be remembered by many for the Great Knot in Lancashire but a repeat performance in 2007 is not likely
photo © Mike Malpass
 
 

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