| Thursday 16th March 2023 | ||
The influx of Alpine Swifts gathered pace with 12 today comprising singles in Argyll, Conwy, Devon, and Gloucestershire, two in Cornwall, and in Ireland three each in County Cork, County Dublin, and County Waterford: 19 have now been located since 13th March. An associated arrival was a Red-rumped Swallow in Cornwall at Walmsley Sanctuary. Rarities elsewhere comprised the American Herring Gull still in Highland, Ross's Gull still in Aberdeenshire, Baikal Teal in Gwynedd, Hume's Warbler in Kent, Pallid Harrier, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Ferruginous Duck all in Norfolk, Coues's Arctic Redpoll and King Eider both in Cleveland, Richardson's Cackling Goose in Northumberland, Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Suffolk, and Lesser Scaup in Oxfordshire. Scarcities included Rough-legged Buzzard (Orkney), Little Bunting (Hertfordshire), Richard's Pipit (Gloucestershire), Ring-billed Gull (County Cork), Surf Scoter (Conwy), two Green-winged Teals, three each of Snow Goose and Great Grey Shrike, seven Waxwings, 11 Ring-necked Ducks, and a total of 13 Glossy Ibises. Incoming summer migrants included seven Swallows, four Garganey, three Willow Warblers, Swift, and House Martin. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||