Weekly birding round-up: 20 - 26 September 2017
Funny thing, the weather forecast. We live on a planet ringed with satellites following every nuance and waft of the weather systems below them. There are teams of meteorologists using computers, algorithms and accumulated decades of experience to predict the weather in the coming days.
Yet even now Earth’s weather can do the very opposite of what those wise experts and their barrage of technology predicted it would do only a few days beforehand.
Hence a week before this current reporting period it looked like we were in for a continued battering of westerly winds this week. Then, suddenly, as this week began the synoptic charts told a very different tale of the days to come – easterlies were forecast, coming from far, far away.
Game on.
After a fortnight of Rarity Round Ups headlined by American superstars I wondered whether we’d get our hat trick this week with another Nearctic mega. Instead, the birding gods served us a timely reminder of not only what now constitutes a British rarity, but also the scale of mankind’s malign impact on the world’s flora and fauna…
For birders of a certain vintage Yellow-breasted Bunting was, if never quite what we’d dismiss derogatively as padding, then certainly not a mega rarity. They turned up every autumn in the northern isles and, some years, on the British mainland as well. I even had one I was watching walk between my feet in the Top Fields of Portland (Dorset) in 1993 – confiding as well as close to home.
Were I a young birder living in the county nowadays the prospect of adding Yellow-breasted Bunting to my Dorset list would be unthinkable. Since the early 1990s the species has spectacularly, catastrophically collapsed. What once was expanding its breeding range into Finland, and classified by Birdlife as of Least Concern, was then reclassified by Birdlife as Near Threatened in 2004, Vulnerable in 2008, and Endangered in 2013. This year there’s even talk of reappraising its status once again – the data may now support a further, miserable, elevation of Yellow-breasted Bunting to Critically Endangered.
That decline appears driven, in the most part, by human interventions during migration and in the species’ wintering areas. Birdlife estimates that the main threat is excessive trapping, with agricultural intensification in wintering areas compounded by habitat deterioration in some breeding areas too.
It’s a depressing picture – a story borne out by the abrupt cessation of the species turning up here as an annual autumn vagrant.
In short, they’ve become gaspingly rare nowadays on our shores – twenty years ago, there were seven birds logged here in 1997 alone; in the past decade there have been just six records… and since 2013, none whatsoever. Small wonder a new generation of birders want to see a British occurrence badly enough that they were prepared to charter an inter-island ferry this week from Shetland Islands Council to see the latest British Yellow-breasted Bunting, one present on Out Skerries (Shetland) from 20th-21st.
Barely an hour after news of the Yellow-breasted Bunting on Skerries had broken than Shetland did it again – this time on rarity-magnetic Unst where rarity-finder extraordinaire Brydon Thomason had just done it again – finding a female Siberian Thrush almost on his very doorstep in Baltasound.
Funnily enough, we’d been chatting on the phone less than 24 hours beforehand about the last Siberian Thrush on Unst, that seen there on 5th-6th October 2016.
Much less amusing is my personal track record with Siberian Thrush - if ever I had a nemesis, this is it. Of those previous 11 British records to date I’ve tried to see no less than five of them, on five different islands (St Agnes, Fair Isle, Foula, Shetland Mainland, and Unst, as you ask).
I’ve dipped the lot.
Hence, when news broke of this latest bird, I found myself feeling not even remotely tempted to drop everything and dash to see it. This latest bird is the sixth to be found in Shetland in the past decade, and makes the species annual in the archipelago since 2014 - they’re occurring with increasing frequency in recent years and, eventually, my path will surely cross one…
The week began with a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler (mostly) delighting all comers in Norfolk at Burnhan Overy Staithe. I say mostly as, unfortunately, footage emerged online of a mild confrontation between birders and staff from the Holkham Estate – an unedifying scrap of video that served as a timely reminder to us all that, while we’re out enjoying a day’s birding, we’re all ambassadors for birders as a whole, and should bear the Birdwatchers’ Code of Conduct in mind – that or just a bit of plain old common sense.
Dull but necessary reminder aside, the Norfolk Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler in question stayed put in its favoured patch of cover until 24th, whilst on 22nd a further bird was discovered in the species’ traditional autumn stronghold, Fair Isle and, on 26th, another possible bird was seen briefly on Holy Island (Northumberland).
There will, surely, be more before we’re done with autumn. And there will be Lanceolated Warbler too…
I know, I know, there have been well over 100 past records of Red-eyed Vireo, so it’s hardly mega rare stuff. Then again, nor is Wilson’s Petrel these days, but they are periodically elevated into our headline section and, as this is the third consecutive week we’ve an American passerine or two to shout about, here are this week’s newly arrived Red-eyed Vireos.
(Alright, I just like ‘em! They look otherworldly and, well, rare… And you’d be a liar if you said your heart wouldn’t quicken just a little any day you saw one, and that’s more than can be said for some Western Pal passerines that are considerably rarer in the UK than these little corkers…)
Actually, that’s almost 200 accepted British and Irish records of Red-eyed Vireo up to the end of 2015, to which we add this year’s duo to date – found on 24th on St Agnes (Scilly) and in the lush depths of Porthgwarra (Cornwall) – the latter a particularly attractive site where the species is concerned with several past records there alone. Scilly as a whole, meanwhile, remains the Brtish stronghold with fifty accepted records to date. Both these latest birds remained just briefly, being present on 25th but not thereafter – typical for the species as one day stays are common and they don’t tend to stick around for long.
Given the recent upsurge generally in records of North American passerines in Scotland the relative paucity of Red-eyed Vireos north of the border seems a little peculiar. We’re surely due more Scottish records fairly shortly…
Ifs, buts and maybes were the order of the day this week at sea. Or rather, in the vast gulf that separates a ‘probable’ from a nailed-on definite record. We’ve all had those birds, though few of us will have had ones of quite the magnitude (and hence, frustration) of Yelkouan Shearwater or Swinhoe’s Petrel. Pity then the seawatchers on the Lizard (Cornwall) early in the morning of 21st when said probable shearwater passed by, and those out off Staffin Bay (Highland) in the afternoon of 25th when their path crossed that of a probable Swinhoe’s. Both records so near, and yet… not quite making the jump to definite calls for either. Big calls, both.
As was, once upon a day, Fea’s Petrel - now annual and practically expected, the latest of this year’s offerings passed Toe Head (Co.Cork) at lunchtime on 23rd.
Generally the seawatching was a lot more peaceful this week than of late, as we might reasonably expect – certainly the numbers of large shearwaters fell off a cliff, with just a couple of Great Shearwater to report: off Lamorna Cove (Cornwall) on 20th, and Toe Head (Co.Cork) on 23rd.
Balearic Shearwaters kept coming, albeit in modest numbers with just shy of 100 birds logged in the course of the week – as usual with a south-westerly bias, notable exceptions being those seen off Hynish, Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 22nd and, in the North Sea, Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 23rd. While most records involved small numbers, Berry Head (Devon) returned 25 on 24th.
Compared to recent weeks Leach’s Petrels were mostly conspicuous by their absence – singles were noted on 21st in Cornwall off Pendeen and the Lizard; four were seen from Hynish, Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 22nd, with a further Cornish single noted from the Scillonian on 22nd also; and one was seen off Harris (Western Isles) on 25th.
Small numbers of Pomarine Skuas continued to move past our coast during the course of the week: on 20th one passed Bardsey (Gwynedd) with a subsequent single and a duo past there on 22nd and 24th respectively; on 21st two passed Berry Head (Devon), with a single off there on 24th; elsewhere on 21st single birds were noted from the Uig-Lochmaddy ferry (Highland), Kinghorn (Fife), Trevose Head (Cornwall) and Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) – with one more past the latter site on 23rd.
On 22nd sightings came in from Ireland: three seen from St John’s Point (Co.Down); two from Mizen Head (Co.Cork); and a single off Spiddal (Co.Galway). A further single was seen in Scottish waters on 22nd in Dunnet Bay (Highland). On 23rd singles were logged off Arbroath (Angus), Helvick Head (Co.Waterford), and Flamborough (East Yorkshire), with another off the latter on 25th. Singles were reported on 24th and 25th past Canvey Island (Essex).
Long-tailed Skuas crept, just, into double figures this week with 10 birds in all seen: singles off Porthgwarra (Cornwall) and Portland (Dorset) on 20th, with one off Portland on 21st also; off Chapel Point (Cornwall) on 22nd; on 23rd from Toe Head (Co.Cork) and Whitburn CP (Co.Durham); on 24th from Frinton-on-Sea (Essex), Flamborough (East Yorkshire) and Goswick (Northumberland) – the latter bird remaining until 26th; and, on 25th, from Donna Nook (Lincolnshire).
Into the RBA heronry this week and we find the juvenile Purple Herons still at Leighton Moss RSPB (Lancashire) and Ruan Lanihorne (Cornwall) until 25th and, in Shropshire, the adult American Night Heron still at Dingle Gardens (Shropshire) until 25th at least.
The latter now even boasts its own Twitter account @ShrewsburyHeron, though it’s yet to scale the giddy heights of popularity attained by some escaped animal celebs of late - @BronxZoosCobra being the gold, 160,000 follower standard to match. Even a huge parrot (boasting “whiskers, boom sac and a powerful bill”) @spokesbird has proven inexplicably popular lately – but with just two followers to date perhaps a wild American Night Heron lacks a certain something where social media is concerned… That or it’s just not as cool as a Kakapo.
Speaking of escaped creatures, let’s get this week’s White Stork and nonsense out of the way. Presumed escapes remained at Pagham Harbour (West Sussex) on 20th, and ‘new-in’ at Rhees Green (Norfolk) on 21st-25th. Hard to pass any judgements one way or another on the two seen passing over Newdigate (Surrey) on 22nd, or that seen on 26th over Old Durfold (West Sussex).
Our only Glossy Ibis this week concerns a probable over Newport (Gwent) on 20th.
Is there a collective noun for a lot of Cattle Egrets? Perhaps it’s a herd of them… There were certainly plenty this week, anyway, starting in Dorset on 20th with two birds at Lodmoor RSPB and a single seen at Abbotsbury – the latter being seen again there on 25th. One at Chew Valley Lakes (Somerset) on 20th increased to two on 22nd-23rd, back to one by 24th and up to two birds again on 26th. Singles were at Pagham Harbour (West Sussex) on 20th and, on 20th-26th, Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire) and Stiffkey (Norfolk). And that’s just getting those that were around on day one of the week behind us…
Three remained at South Efford Marsh on 21st, reducing to a single bird by 25th; two were at Steart WWT (Somerset) that day, down to one by 24th-26th. A single on 21st at sea on a fishing boat 15 miles south-west of Fastnet Rock (Co.Cork) hinted at some movement – and chunky numbers, whether homegrown or immigrant, were seen elsewhere shortly afterwards. In Lancashire four were at Marshside RSPB on 21st, with five birds there on 23rd – on the intervening day five were seen at Southport Marine Lake. Five more were seen in Cornwall on 21st at St Clement, reducing to a pair there on 22nd-26th; and a single bird was seen in Nottinghamshire on 21st at Kingsmill reservoir.
A further small flock of five birds was noted on 22nd at Otterhampton Marsh (Somerset); on 23rd one was at the Barnes WWT site in London, while on 23rd-26th three were in Lincolnshire at Saltfleetby NNR. Back in Dorset two were at Longham Lakes on 24th, while on 25th two passed over Stanpit. Elsewhere on 25th singles were noted at Hedge End (Hampshire), Hayle (Cornwall) and Warham Greens (Norfolk). On 26th one had reached as far north as Musselburgh Lagoons (Lothian).
Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) has been the stronghold of late for our national count of Great White Egrets, and this week was to prove no exception to that recent rule – numbers were up though from 13 there last week to a peak of 16th on 24th. Overall national numbers seemed up on the last fortnight with around 80 birds logged from 21 counties, with a discernible modest influx of fresh blood on 24th in Kent – five were seen that day at Sandwich Bay while seven were noted a little way inland at Grove Ferry.
Spoonbills too remained in large numbers, not least in their Poole Harbour (Dorset) stronghold – counts seemed to increase incrementally by the day and, on 26th, the peak tally of 56 birds came from Middlebere Farm, representing a shade over half of the national estimate of 90 birds this week. Away from Dorset flocks remained in single figures at best – six at Cley (Norfolk) on 22nd, and parties of five birds at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 20th-23rd, Dogmael’s Quay (Pembrokeshire) on 24th, and Upton Warren NR (Worcestershire) on 24th-25th being most notable.
We retained last week’s Spotted Crakes at Doonfoot (Ayrshire) and Hornchurch (London) until 26th, with new birds found on 22nd at Newport Wetlands (Gwent) and Beddington sewage farm (London), and further one reported heard that day in Essex at Stow marsh. One was seen on 25th at Cley (Norfolk) while on 26th a further bird was found at Rye Meads RSPB (Hertfordshire).
Migrant Corncrakes were found in Shetland on Out Skerries on 23rd and in the capacious iris beds of Quendale on 25th.
The Common Crane remained at Loch of Hillwell (Shetland) all week.
Snow Geese now are set to be a fixture of the coming weeks, with some of last week’s new arrivals lingering in Aberdeenshire: a white bird was seen at Loch of Skene on 20th with Pink-footed Geese; one was noted with its common brethren at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB on 21st and 24th again; and a white morph was seen on 22nd and again on 26th at Rattray Head.
Also a predictable autumn and winter feature are American Wigeons - the eclipse drake remained at Rutland Water (Leicestershire) until 25th, while new birds were discovered on 24th at Loch Gilp (Argyll & Bute) and on Westray at Loch of Swartmill (Orkney), on 25th on Unst at Uyeasound (Shetland), and on 26th on Walney Island (Cumbria) and North Uist at Ailodair (Western Isles) – the latter record being of two drakes together.
A couple of familiar spatula faces in these columns popped up again this week – the drake Black Duck again seen in Highland at Strontian on 20th, and the drake Ferruginous Duck back once more at Blashford Lakes HWT (Hampshire) on 24th-26th.
Having been refound last week, the queen King Eider continued to hold court in Wales on 22nd-25th at Ynyslas (Ceredigion).
A Surf Scoter was reported on 22nd in Northumberland at Bamburgh; a female was seen on 25th in Co.Kerry at Rossbeigh.
Once again we need to devote the opening salvoes of the shorebirds account to Dorset, where the county’s birders continued their remarkable recent run of outstanding Nearctic wader records.
Top billing goes to the juvenile Stilt Sandpiper found initially at Lytchett Fields RSPB on 21st and then, latterly, at Arne RSPB on 24th-26th. This, presumably, is the same bird as that seen earlier in the month at Lodmoor RSPB – working on completing its tour of the county’s RSPB reserves, it’s probably due to drop into Radipole shortly.
The Spotted Sandpiper remained at Abbotsbury all week (as did the Cornish bird at Crowdy reservoir), while the Baird’s Sandpiper was still nearby on the Fleet until 22nd. A further juvenile Baird’s was noted on 24th at The Cull (Co.Wexford).
Dorset had one more Nearctic wader trick up its sleeve, however – a Lesser Yellowlegs at Stanpit on 23rd-26th. This autumn it’s the county that just keeps on giving – leaving me wondering if there’s a rare peep still to come on the Fleet or in Poole Harbour in the next few weeks.
Sticking with Lesser Yellowlegs, the week served up three more birds in addition to the Dorset individual: on the Lurgies in the Montrose Basin (Angus) still on 22nd; in Carmarthen at the National Wetland Centre on 20th, and on 20th-26th at Cross Lough and on 26th at Termoncarragh Lough (Co.Mayo).
Previous headline waders remained for another week in Ireland – the adult Semipalmated Plover still on Achill Island (Co.Mayo) on 23rd-24th, and the juvenile Hudsonian Whimbrel again at Easkey (Co.Sligo) until 25th.
Further lingerers abounded this week – starting with Long-billed Dowitchers, the adult remained a fixture at Oare Marshes KWT (Kent) until 26th, while the juvenile was still to be found in Lincolnshire at Saltfleet until 26th also. One was seen again in Co.Kerry at Carrahane Strand on 22nd.
Three American Golden Plovers heralded another week on our shores: the juvenile still on Holy Island (Northumberland) on 20th; the adult still at Myroe (Co.Derry) until 23rd; and the juvenile still on Scilly on St Mary’s until 26th. Further juveniles were seen on North Uist at Baleshare (Western Isles) on 22nd-24th and Crookhaven (Co.Cork) on 23rd; and an adult was on Lewis at Shawbost (Western Isles) on 26th.
St Mary’s held onto it’s recent juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper until 21st only, while in Ireland an adult White-rumped Sandpiper was at Black Rock (Co.Kerry) on 21st-25th.
Baleshare on North Uist (Western Isles) continued to command the lion’s share of Buff-breasted Sandpipers with five birds there still on 20th and again on 26th. Davidstow airfield (Cornwall) added to last week’s singleton with a second bird present there from 20th onwards, while one remained at Sennen Cove until 25th. One was on North Bull Island (Co.Dublin) on 20th; further single birds were on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 21st and South Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 22nd-23rd; at Banks Marsh (Lancashire) on 23rd, with a further possible bird that day in Pembrokeshire at Dale airfield; and in Ireland still on Valentia Island (Co.Kerry) on 24th-25th and in Co.Cork at Bottlehill on 25th-26th.
A settled Pectoral Sandpiper remained at Pulborough Brooks RSPB (West Sussex) on 20th, joined from 22nd-26th by a second bird there; and further lingerers were at Abberton reservoir (Essex) until 26th and Moor Green Lakes LNR (Berkshire) until 23rd. One stayed at Potter Heigham (Norfolk) on 20th-25th. A probable bird was reported from Dungeness RSPB (Kent) on 21st, with definite birds that day in South Yorkshire at Hatfield Moors and in Co.Kerry on Blasket Island. Two were seen on 23rd at Crookhaven (Co.Cork), with a single bird on 25th at Rahasane Turlough (Co.Galway) and one more that day in Suffolk at Minsmere RSPB.
Dotterel were seen in small numbers this week – Cornwall laid claim to two birds in flight over St Levan on 21st, with one that day also at Polgigga in flight; while on 24th one was at Davidstow airfield and, on 25th, another was seen at Crowdy reservoir. On 24th singles were at Alston reservoirs (Lancashire), on Skye (Fife) and, on 24th-25th, two were on Anglesey in the area of South Stack RSPB. On 26th one was on St Martin’s (Scilly) and one was seen near Sennen (Cornwall).
Another good showing this week of Red-necked Phalaropes began with two settled birds from the previous week – that at Covenham reservoir (Lincolnshire) stayed until 24th, while the Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) individual stuck around until 25th. Meanwhile new birds were found across the country – on 21st-25th birds were settled at Farmoor reservoir (Oxfordshire) and WWT National Wetland Centre (Carmarthen), while one at Arne RSPB (Dorset) on 21st-26th shared the site with a Grey Phalarope for good measure. On 22nd birds were found at Cley (Norfolk) and Covehithe broad (Suffolk); on 23rd-24th one was to be seen in the latter county at Walberswick. Back in Lincolnshire another bird was at Alkborough Flats on 23rd-24th, and one was found at Fail (Ayrshire) on 25th-26th.
Around 50 Grey Phalaropes were seen this week – still a chunky tally, but down considerably on the previous week’s 250 birds. Peak count came at sea on 21st from a pelagic off Scilly with 15 birds recorded, while smaller but still notable counts came from Chapel Point (Cornwall) on 22nd and Old Head of Kinsale (Co.Cork) on 23rd, with five birds respectively seen at each site; and in Dorset on 23rd when four birds were seen at Rodden Hive.
Finally, an honourable mention must go to the possible longipes form of Oystercatcher seen this week on 23rd-26th at Sandwick (Shetland) – reminding me of the questing thirst for knowledge encapsulated by the late, great Martin Garner – his thoughts on identifying these ’Siberian Oystercatchers’ first alerting me to them some years ago. It was good to catch up with this juvenile bird this week, and remember Martin fondly.
Numbers of our other pelagic flotsam and jetsam, Sabine’s Gulls, contracted sharply this week with many fewer seen than of late – barely double figures of this charismatic pelagic wanderer compared to the several hundreds of recent reporting periods. On 20th-21st one was in Wales on the beach at Llanrhystud (Ceredigion); on 21st one was seen from Berry Head (Devon) while another was noted in West Yorkshire at Anglers CP and Wintersett reservoir. One off Mizen Head (Co.Cork) on 22nd was the prelude for the week’s largest tally the following day, with a strongly Irish flavour – four were noted from Toe Head (Co.Cork), two from Helvick Head (Co.Waterford), and singles from Carnsore Point (Co.Wexford), Tiree (Argyll & Bute) and off the Scillonian. On 24th two were seen on Bardsey (Gwynedd) with one juvenile there until 26th, and one was off Warden Point (Kent) on 24th also. On 25th one was noted from Flamborough (East Yorkshire) and, finally, on 26th birds were seen at Lunan Bay (Angus) and Avonmouth (Somerset).
A juvenile Bonaparte’s Gull was found in the Western Isles on Lewis on 21st-23rd, while the regular wintering adult was seen once again in Devon at Dawlish Warren NNR on 23rd and again on 26th.
Just one Ring-billed Gull was logged this week, the second-summer individual again at Doorly Park (Co.Sligo) on 22nd.
Still precious few white-wingers were seen this week – a solitary Glaucous Gull being seen again on Unst (Shetland) at Belmont on 23rd and it or another at Lamba Ness on 26th, and a second-winter at Dingwall (Highland) on 26th; and three Iceland Gulls - one in Devon at Berry Head on 24th, and one at Machrihanish (Argyll & Bute) on 24th rising to two birds there the following day.
We enjoyed another scattering of interesting terns again this week, healdined by the juvenile Whiskered Tern in South Yorkshire at Broomhill Flash on 25th – a scarce Yorkshire bird and one for the county listers.
An adult White-winged Black Tern found the Budle Bay area (Northumberland) to its liking on 24th-26th while in Ireland the adult Forster’s Tern was once again seen from Soldier’s Point (Co.Louth) on 20th.
Our swoop through the week’s raptor sightings begins in Ireland once more where the adult female Snowy Owl remained in Co.Mayo on Tarmon Hill until 24th at least.
Given the easterly winds we’d enjoyed it was surely just a matter of time before we scored a Pallid Harrier or two – and sure enough, a probably juvenile at Hunley Hall golf course (Cleveland) on 21st was followed the next day by a more unequivocal report of a juvenile at Apsley (Hertfordshire) – surely a particularly fine Herts tick.
p>Meanwhile Honey Buzzards were still on the move – on 21st at Great Ryburgh (Norfolk); on 22nd over Finstown (Orkney), Spurn (East Yorkshire), Blackgang (Isle of Wight) and Gidea Park (London); two were over Dungeness RSPB (Kent) on 23rd, while on 24th single birds were seen over Aldeburgh (Suffolk) and Winterton (Norfolk). On 26th one was seen heading south over Sandwich Bay (Kent).
Our headlines this week say it all – American exotica aside, our autumn finally rolled up its sleeves and got down to business with realising some eastern promise. Big ticket items aside, there was a good scattering of other passerine variety… though not the sheer volume we’ve come to associate with the really immense falls of recent years. Not yet, anyway…
That said, the numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers seen this week do tell a tale of birds moving in the east and heading our way. 220 or so were seen the previous week, but this week our national tally had increased to some 650 birds – representing an almost threefold increase, and once more penetrating both far to the west and inland. The Sibes are coming.
Sure enough, as we anticipated last week, in the vanguard of this movement of warblerage were Blyth’s Reed Warblers and Arctic Warblers. More on the former in due course, but sticking for a while with the phylloscs, those Arctics: one reported in Fife at Fife Ness on 21st was followed by one trapped and ringed on 25th on the Isle of May and still present on 26th – with one on 26th also at Whitburn CP (Co.Durham).
Their close cousin, Greenish Warblers were turning up in more numbers this week – one in Norfolk at Sheringham in an area with no public access on 20th was followed by some more accessible birds: on 21st at Ryhope (Co.Durham), and on 24th a probable in Norfolk at Cromer backed up with one trapped and ringed on Portland (Dorset) and another individual at Martin’s Haven (Pembrokeshire). The Portland bird was still present on 25th with another reported from Southwell on 26th briefly.
Rarer phylloscs were in the offing too – last week’s Western Bonelli’s Warbler on St Abb’s Head (Borders) remained there until 24th, while another was trapped and ringed on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) on 24th also.
Better yet came in the form of Radde’s Warblers - an elusive probable bird on the Naze (Essex) was followed by an unequivocal Radde’s in East Yorkshire on Spurn on 24th-25th.
Back then, to Blyth’s Reed Warbler, and Skokholm – a possible candidate was reported from here on 24th – a good day being had on the island, clearly. On 25th one was on Fair Isle (Shetland) and one was trapped and ringed on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 26th.
Fair Isle also provided that classic autumn acro this week - Marsh Warbler, present there until 26th, while another was at Spurn on 22nd-24th.
Speaking of autumn classics, numbers of Barred Warblers picked up a little again this week – we’re far from influxes just yet, but the records are still individually manageable: on Fair Isle on 20th-23rd; Sandwick and Unst’s Norwick (Shetland) and Papa Westray (Orkney) still on 20th; at Marske (Cleveland) on 21st-22nd and Kilminning Castle (Fife) on 21st-26th; trapped and ringed at Nigg Bay (Aberdeenshire) on 22nd, and in Shetland on Fetlar and at Northdale on Unst on 22nd also, and on 23rd at Boddam and Wester Quarff.
Skokholm’s good day on 24th also included a Barred Warbler, trapped and ringed and still present the following day. Another was found on 24th on Barra (Western Isles). Two more cropped up on Shetland on 25th, at Geosetter and on Bressay, and two were found that day in Northumberland, on Inner Farne and at Low Newton-by-the-Sea; and one was on Scilly on Bryher. On 26th one on Out Skerries (Shetland), another was at Barns Ness (Lothian) in the evening, with probable birds that day at the Naze (Essex) and Donna Nook (Lincolnshire).
A Icterine Warbler was trapped and ringed in Cornwall’s excellent Nanjizal Valley on 24th, while another was on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 24th-25th and one was at Sumburgh (Shetland) on 26th. A bird in Shite Lane on Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 24th-25th was initially thought to be this species too before being reappraised as a Melodious Warbler - other Melodies were found on 24th on Barry’s Head (Co.Cork) and on the Lizard (Cornwall).
Pipits were clearly on the move this week too, with hints of what might be should the floodgates open: Richard’s Pipits were logged on 24th in Somerset at Wain’s Hill and Clevedon, and on 25th at Spurn (East Yorkshire); and on 26th at Hemsby and Happisburgh (Norfolk), Out Skerries (Shetland), and on North Ronaldsay (Orkney). A possible Olive-backed Pipit on St Mary’s airfield (Scilly) on 21st was followed with definite OBPs on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 24th-26th and Fair Isle on 26th, and another possible at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 26th also.
A Bluethroat remained on Fair Isle on 20th, with more or less daily reports of the species on the isle thereafter. Further Shetland Bluethroats were on Unst at Baliasta on 21st, and at Sumburgh on 24th. Further singles were seen on 26th on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) and at Dartmouth (Devon).
Classed, for the purposes of this Rarity Round Up, with Yelkouan Shearwater and Swinhoe’s Petrel as a record that’s not quite definitive enough to elevate it to the headlines is the eastern Stonechat sp. seen on North Ronaldsay on 26th – either Siberian or Stejneger’s. The former is, relatively speaking, fairly numerous in the record books – but the latter is still properly rare. We’ll see how this one pans out in the coming days…
Surely one of the most charming of the scarce passerines, it’s always a good day when you find a Red-breasted Flycatcher. (Better yet if it’s Taiga, and those autumn flycatchers really do bear a close second look…) One remained at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) on 20th-21st, with further birds at Sumburgh (Shetland) on 24th-26th and Holkham Pines (Norfolk) on 24th-25th; on Orkney on 25th on North Ronaldsay and Burray, and on Shetland that day on Noss and Whalsay; while on 26th two were on nearby Bressay and one was on Fetlar. Elsewhere the east coast enjoyed a small arrival on 26th with birds found at Fair Isle, Murcar (Aberdeenshire), Spurn (East Yorkshire) and Waxham (Norfolk) – with one pioneering bird found at Rame Head (Cornwall).
A juvenile Woodchat Shrike was on Orkney’s Papa Westray on 25th, while a Great Grey Shrike was on Fair Isle that day also.
A handful of Red-backed Shrikes turned up this week – the settled bird remained in Aberdeenshire at Girdle Ness allotments until 26th, while one remained at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire) until 24th. Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) held one on 20th-24th, while another lingered a while at Wormwood Scrubs (London) on 23rd-24th, much to the delight of those for whom this is their local patch. One was at Dungeness (Kent) on 24th, while on 25th further individuals were seen at Troon (Ayrshire) and Kilnsea (East Yorkshire). On 26th birds were found on Filey and at Robin Hood’s Bay (North Yorkshire).
Wrynecks had another quietish week by their usual autumn standards – sightings came from Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 21st and 24th-26th; St Mary’s (Scilly) on 21st-26th; on 21st from Crowdy reservoir (Cornwall) and Loch na Keal (Argyll & Bute); on 23rd from St Agnes (Scilly), Cornwall’s Skewjack, South Efford Marsh (Devon), Portland (Dorset), Keyhaven (Hampshire), Pagham Harbour (West Sussex) and Llandegfedd reservoir (Gwent) – the Keyhaven bird still being present on 24th. 24th also saw birds found on Gugh (Scilly) (until 26th) and at Land’s End (Cornwall), while on 25th further sightings came from Botallack (Cornwall), Goodrington (Devon) and Fair Isle and on 26th from Blakeney Point (Norfolk) and Adwick Washland RSPB (South Yorkshire).
Last week’s Golden Oriole was seen again on Whalsay (Shetland) on 20th.
At least three Bee-eaters were seen wandering around various islands in the Scilly archipelago on 24th-25th, providing welcome southern glamour to the early autumn proceedings there.
A probable Red-rumped Swallow was reported from Abbotsbury (Dorset) on 25th – though, in a word of caution, the hybrid lovechildren of Swallows and House Martins remain a trap for the unwary.
No such worries with Hoopoe identification – one remained on Papa Westray (Orkney) on 20th, with another that day at Patrington (East Yorkshire) and a further bird on 23rd at Pegwell Bay (Kent) and, on 26th, one at Filey Dams YWT (North Yorkshire).
Four juvenile Rose-coloured Starlings were seen this week – at Kendal (Cumbria) still until 21st; Lodmoor RSPB (Dorset) on 23rd-24th; at Marazion (Cornwall) on 24th; and at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) on 26th – with an adult seen on Bryher (Scilly) on 23rd.
A hornemannii Arctic Redpoll was seen on Unst (Shetland) on 24th by the roadside on the way to Skaw, while a finch of a very different origin was at Heacham (Norfolk) on 22nd – a Serin, with another possible individual heard on Portland (Dorset) on 24th.
Three Common Rosefinches remained on Fair Isle on 20th-21st, with one still present on 22nd; elsewhere in Shetland birds were reported from Norwick on Unst on 20th-21st and Unst’s Baltasound area on 21st-25th; from Boddam on 20th; two birds on Fetlar on 22nd and a single that day at Toab; and two birds were at Leebotton on 24th-25th. North Ronaldsay (Orkney) had a bird present on 25th, while one remained on St Agnes (Scilly) on 20th. Elsewhere birds were found at Kilminning Castle (Fife) on 22nd and, on 25th, on Portland (Dorset), Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) and Crook Ness (North Yorkshire). On 26th one was at Murcar (Aberdeenshire).
Two Little Buntings began this week on Out Skerries (Shetland) on 20th, with one still present (or maybe newly arrived) there on 25th. Other Shetland birds were seen at Sumburgh on 24th-25th with two confirmed there on 26th (also accounting, presumably, for the nearby Grutness sightings on 25th-26th), Uyeasound on Unst on 25th also, and Boddam, Kirkabister, Wester Quarff, Bressay, and Norwick and Skaw on Unst on 26th. Off Shetland one was at Jackies Beach (Co.Durham) on 25th, and one was on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 26th.
A probable Ortolan Bunting was over Pen Anglas (Pembrokeshire) on 25th, with another on North Ronaldsay on 26th.
Western Europe, quietly, mirrored what was turning up on the British eastern seaboard this week – a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler was trapped and ringed on 20th in Belgium’s East Flanders, while in Norway a Black-throated Thrush at Hornoya on 21st was followed shortly afterwards on 25th by a female Siberian Thrush at Ebergan.
Poland meanwhile provided us this week with a Spur-winged Plover at Strzelno on 24th, while on 25th the Hudsonian Whimbrel remained in Spain in Cantabria at Parque Natural Marismas de Santona.
With every passing week now the possibilities for what might be in the pipeline for British and Irish birders grow exponentially more exciting…
Any wind direction with an ‘east’ in it will do the trick at the moment, providing us with everything from bread’n’butter Arctic and Blyth’s Reed Warblers to the more sought-after Sibes – it’s absolutely prime time, as we’ve seen this week, for Pallas’s Grasshopper warbler and its diminutive, creeping cousin, Lanceolated Warbler - a shoo-in on Shetland, but surely more are there to be found on the east coast of mainland Britain?
Thrushes will be starting to move too and, with them, the chances of some of their rarer brethren – we’ve enjoyed a Siberian Thrush already this past week, and 2017’s first White’s is only a matter of time, but where’s our next Red-throated? The sumptuous first-winter male that haunted The Naze (Essex) in late September and early October 1994 has yet to be repeated…
The opening days of October serve us a (rather sad) reminder that some really monster smaller stuff can be on the move too, in the form of two rare chats found dead on arrival: a Siberian Blue Robin on Foula (Shetland) on 1st October 2011, and a Rufous-tailed Robin picked up dead on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 2nd October 2010. Either, with a pulse, would be very welcome indeed.
If all else fails, we can always look west with our fingers firmly crossed – the coming week boasts a strong previous showing of Red-eyed Vireos and a host of American warblers of various flavours. Returning to our earlier theme of mid 1990s records that have never been subsequently repeated, the eye is drawn inexorably to the Bay-breasted Warbler videoed at Land’s End (Cornwall) on 1st October 1995. An incredible record in every sense…
Will we ever see it’s like again?
Jon Dunn
27 September 2017
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