Birding in July
 

White-rumped Sandpiper, Norfolk © Kit Day
 

Mid-summer is upon us and whilst many birders may have turned to watching butterflies and dragonflies before autumn bird migration starts in earnest, there’s still plenty of birds to be on the lookout for. Waders and terns are already on the move, and amongst them a mega rarity may well turn up almost anywhere. Whilst coastal counties stand the best chance of stealing the show, the list of past inland rarities is not a short one.

Black-tailed Godwits are on the move, including many adults still in summer plumage, along with some early juveniles. Be on the lookout amongst the juvenile Ringed Plovers and Little Ringed Plovers for a Kentish Plover, especially on the south or east coasts. Scarcer species such as Pacific Golden Plover, American Golden Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper or Long-billed Dowitcher are likely to turn up too, and whilst they are possible at virtually any wetland site, east coast locations tend to hold the bulk of the records. The headline bird this month could well prove to be a Red-necked Stint, Lesser Sand Plover, or even another Great Knot.
 

Lesser Sand Plover, Lincolnshire © Mike Malpass
 
Terns are very much the order of the month, with large numbers of Black Terns occurring some years, as well as the occasional White-winged Black Tern or Caspian Tern, and even a Gull-billed Tern or two. The most optimistic tern watchers may be hoping for a Lesser-crested Tern, an Elegant Tern or possibly even another Aleutian Tern to further brighten the long (and hopefully sunny) summer days.
 

Gull-billed Tern, Cornwall © Dick Filby
 

Black Tern, Yorkshire © Dave Mansell
 

Raptors are a summer treat and there are several places to watch Honey Buzzards from. This year a new addition to the raptor viewing opportunities is the RSPB Digby Fen watchpoint in Lincolnshire for Montagu’s Harriers. Open daily, it is signed off the A153 north east of Sleaford.

 

male Montagu's Harrier © RSPB
 

Be sure to keep an eye overhead, enjoying the Swifts that are here so briefly, and hoping you are the lucky one to find that they are joined by an Alpine Swift, or, better still, a Pacific Swift - half the accepted records of this mega have been in July. Meanwhile, coming back down to earth, an evening stroll through the summer fields still offers a great chance to hear a singing Quail, although you are highly unlikely to see it.

Back on the rarity theme, as our climate changes we may start to see an increase in the occurrence of Black Storks, Rollers and Black-headed Buntings over what we have had in recent years, and it seems likely that we will get more Great White Egrets and Cattle Egrets too.

 

Alpine Swift, Wirral © Steve Young
 

If you haven’t already done so, then July is your last chance of the year to watch the fantastic spectacle of a seabird colony in full swing, it’s truly unforgettable and never under-rated by any visitor. However be sure to visit early in the month, as by the end of July the seabirds will be dispersing and it will be time to turn your thoughts to sea-watching. The south coast is the place to search through passing Manx Shearwaters for Balearic Shearwaters. The European Storm Petrels will be on the move too, as well as the first Pomarine Skuas and Long-tailed Skuas of the autumn.
 

Lesser Crested Tern , Norfolk © Kit Day
 
Pelagic fans may well be tempted to the Isles of Scilly in advance of the main season in August, and whilst there they may find an early scarce passerine, such as a Rose-coloured Starling or even a Red-backed Shrike. Indeed, by the month’s end the very first passerine movements will start to become evident across the country, with birds being mainly failed breeders joined by a few early fledged birds of the year, as a vanguard of the migration to come. Another sure sign of migration are the Sand Martins which by late July start to appear at their long established staging posts. This year however with the wet summer there have been many colonies washed out, they may be on their way south much earlier than usual - and one can dream of finding a Crag Martin amongst them.
 

Rose-coloured Starling , Devon © Kit Day
 

Be sure to get out and enjoy birding the long summer evenings - you never know what you may find!


....... and then call in your news to the RBA hotline on 0207 038 2820.  Many thanks!