Weekly birding round-up: 8 - 14 Dec 2020
In every sense the week just gone was a classic early December week for Britain and Ireland. Some cold bits, some wet bits, not a lot of new birds. But while we may be short of fresh headliners, there’s still some serious quality out there, from waders to wildfowl, passerines to Western Palearctic rares…
While technically not new – as we’re assuming this is the self-same bird last seen at Anglers CP in West Yorkshire on 10th November – the reappearance of the adult Franklin’s Gull in North Yorkshire this week was the most notable fresh sighting in recent days and, as such, rises to the top of the Round Up. Seen initially on 12th at North Duffield Carrs, the sighting was brief, leaving Yorkshire birders to wonder if this was going to be another fleeting encounter…
On 13th, those fears were proved to be baseless – the day dawned with the bird spending around an hour at Thorganby Ings before heading off to the north. Gone for good now? Nope… as in the afternoon there it was again, now at Ellerton Ings.
Those itchy feet just couldn’t be ignored though as, when the week drew to a close on 14th, there was no further sign of it. Where’s it hanging out in these blank periods? Surely it’s got some sort of a routine going on? So many questions… we’ll just have to see where it turns up next. If it turns up again…
Positive news from Co.Kerry was in fairly short supply this week, with the initial good news that the juvenile Double-crested Cormorant was still present on 9th near Ballylongford followed, in subsequent days, by ominous silence… until 14th, when the welcome announcement came to tell us that it was still on Ballyline River between Saleen Pier and Carrigafoyle Castle.
Tremendous news for local birders – and for now, as we rattle towards 2021, it remains to be seen who blinks first and moves on, this understated mega or the blingfisher in Co.Cork…
Frankly it wouldn’t feel like 2020 if we didn’t feature yet another potentially massive seabird in the weekly news round up although, in this latest incident, lack of complete certainty keeps the bird in question from ascending gloriously into the headlines…
And that bird was a possible adult Cape Gannet, seen in the late morning of 13th heading west past Wheelers Bay on the Isle of Wight. The waters of positive identification of an adult Cape Gannet are muddied by the potential pitfall posed by some sub-adult Northern Gannets retaining misleading black secondaries and tail feathers – hence, one must assume, the possible prefix attached to this record.
Yet Cape Gannet must be a strong contender for vagrancy into British waters one of these days. Breeding off the south and west coast of Africa, and wintering to the north, they surely mingle with wintering Northern Gannets, so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that one could tag on with some northbound birds heading towards Europe. And they’ve proven wandering ways – birds have been recorded as far afield as from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil and even Peru.
We’ve even a record from much closer to home – a bird said to have been shot on Bass Rock (Lothian) in May 1831, but whose provenance was deemed too uncertain for the latterday BOURC’s taste. Reviewing the record afresh in 2012, they concluded “Identification of the Cape Gannet remains accepted but the record was, once again, rejected. The Committee was content that Cape Gannet is a potential vagrant but noted that there are no currently accepted Western Palearctic records. The exact circumstances of the bird's shooting or capture are not described”.
One suspects that until such time as a candidate bird is well-photographed, with all features clearly recorded, putative Cape Gannets in British waters are going to remain possibles only…
Down in Cornwall this week the adult Pacific Diver remained off Penzance on 10th. A White-billed Diver was seen heading south past Boulmer (Northumberland) on 10th also.
A handful of Little Auks were noted this week – one off Harris (Western Isles) on 9th and, in Kent, single birds seen from Sandwich Bay on 11th and Deal on 12th.
A single Pomarine Skua was seen at St Andrews (Fife) on 11th, with another on 13th at Brora (Highland).
Glossy Ibises remained a feature of the news in recent days, with Cambridgeshire still a particular focal point for records – two were seen at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB still on 8th-11th, while three lingered at Earith Bridge on 8th-14th. Further east in Norfolk, three were seen at Sea Palling on 12th and, on 13th, a single bird over Blofield Heath.
Moving to the south coast, one remained at Dungeness (Kent) on 8th-10th, with a bird logged inland on 13th near Haysden Lake; the recent bird was again seen in West Sussex at Sidlesham on 12th-14th; one was seen over Rofford Marsh (Isle of Wight) on 10th; and the recent bird remained commuting between Stanpit Marsh and Hengistbury Head (Dorset) on 8th-14th.
The two settled birds were still to be seen at Newport Wetlands NNR (Gwent) on 8th-12th. Further British records this week came from Cowpen Marsh (Cleveland) on 10th and 14th, and Renhold (Bedfordshire) on 11th. The week’s only Irish record came from Hazelhatch (Co.Kildare) on 9th.
Finally, a Spotted Crake was reported from Forest Farm CP (Glamorgan) on 9th.
As usual, we’ll start the honkers and quackers with The Goose Formerly Known as Canada. In Northumberland, an interior Todd’s Canada Goose was seen at Hadston Carrs on 9th-14th, with another on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 14th; two hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Geese remained on North Uist (Western Isles) on 8th-9th, while another was seen on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 8th; and a Cackling Goose was seen at Hatfield Moors NNR (South Yorkshire) on 12th.
Norfolk dominated sightings of Black Brants this week, with records coming from Cley on 8th, Titchwell on 9th and 12th-14th, and north of Wells on 9th also. Elsewhere, a bird was seen at Skeffling (East Yorkshire) on 10th-14th; one of the recent birds was again noted on The Fleet (Dorset) on 12th; and on 13th, birds were seen in Essex on Mersea Island and in Co.Derry at Myroe Levels again.
Moving onto the quackers, the drake Black Scoter was again seen off the Northumbrian coast, at Cheswick on 9th-10th.
Of Surf Scoters, Scotland supplied four birds – two off Harris (Western Isles) on 9th; and the drake still off Musselburgh (Lothian) on 11th-12th, with a female bird there also on 12th. In Ireland, two remained off Laytown (Co.Meath) on 11th-14th.
In Wales, meantime, the first-winter drake King Eider was still present this week at Little Haven (Pembrokeshire) on 8th-12th.
In Co.Down, the smart drake Bufflehead remained settled at Quoile Pondage on 8th-13th.
Our only American Wigeons this week were a drake seen on the Orkney Mainland at Loch of Harray on 12th, and a drake in Highland on 13th off Drumancroy.
As we thought last week, the resident drake Black Duck is indeed still alive and well in Highland at Strontian, seen this week there on 9th.
Three settled Green-winged Teals remained available – birds on North Uist (Western Isles) still on 8th; at Longham Lakes (Dorset) still on 10th-14th; and at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) still on 11th. A final bird this week was in Highland at Tain Links on 14th.
The regular drake Ferruginous Duck was back at Blashford Lakes HWT (Hampshire) on 14th.
Rounding off the quackers, 19 Ring-necked Ducks were noted this week – numbers holding fairly steady compared with recent weeks, and with birds scattered across Britain and Ireland alike. Amongst the numerous single birds were a few duos – two females remained in Cornwall at Siblyback Lake for their seventeenth day on 8th, and were still present on 14th; the drake and female birds were still at Talley Lakes (Carmarthenshire) on 10th-11th; and two first-winter drakes remained at Moylan Lough (Co.Monaghan) on 9th.
We finish again with our honorary waterfowl – the popular Pied-billed Grebe was still present at Chelmarsh reservoir in Shropshire on 8th-14th.
Last reported heading away to the north on 6th, the Sociable Lapwing in Cornwall reappeared at Crows-an-Wra again on 9th.
Our other shorebird superstar, the Hudsonian Godwit, was still present on the Eden estuary (Fife) on 10th-13th.
Also making a periodic reappearance this week, in Somerset the adult Kentish Plover was once more seen on Stert Island on 9th-12th.
In North Yorkshire the first-winter Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Scorton GPs on 8th-14th.
Absent from the news for a while, in Devon the Lesser Yellowlegs was once again seen at South Efford Marsh on 11th-13th, while the recent bird was again seen on South Uist (Western Isles) on 14th, and the Nosterfield NR (North Yorkshire) bird remained there on 14th also.
We conclude in North Yorkshire where, at Filey Brigg, the previous week’s single Grey Phalarope was supplanted by two birds on the sea there on 8th-10th, with one again there on 12th also.
Away from Yorkshire’s headline bird, the cream of the week’s gull crop was, once more, the adult Ring-billed Gull in Cornwall at the traditional site of Hayle Estuary RSPB still on 8th-14th, with a supporting cast of a second-winter bird on the Isle of Wight at Rofford Marsh on 10th and, in Ireland, individuals at Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre (Co.Kerry) on 10th, and Nimmo’s Pier (Co.Galway) on 12th-14th.
Cornwall also supplied our only Kumlien’s Gull this week – an adult bird seen at Sennen Cove on 10th.
Numbers of Iceland Gulls stayed fairly static, with around 60 birds logged, of which a count of six birds between Scrabster and Thurso (Highland) on 11th, and five at Sheep’s Head (Co.Cork) on 10th-11th were the peak counts.
Glaucous Gulls also stayed fairly constant, with some 35 birds seen nationally though, in northern Scotland, there were signs that more were on their way – three were seen on North Uist (Western Isles) on 10th while, on 11th in Shetland, three arrived on Fair Isle with a further pair seen on Mainland at Scatness. On 14th, five were present on North Uist.
Our only Rough-legged Buzzard this week was one seen again on 8th at Little Balloch Hill (Moray).
In Shetland, the wandering Pallid Harrier (or hybrid) continued to haunt Central Mainland, being seen at Kergord on 10th.
Out on St Kilda, the female Snowy Owl was still in residency on 12th.
Still topping the passerines section, and (with any luck) set to do so for the foreseeable future, the Belted Kingfisher in Co.Cork appeared to still be happily settled at Dunboy on 12th-14th.
Somerset’s small flock of Penduline Tits remained at Steart WWT, with three seen daily on 8th-10th and then, on 11th-12th, the original full count of four birds once more logged; and three again there on 13th.The other recent bird was again seen at Langford Lowfields RSPB (Nottinghamshire) on 8th, but not thereafter.
Steart WWT also held onto its Eastern Yellow Wagtail on 8th-14th, while the other recent bird was still present in Suffolk at Carlton Marshes SWT on 10th-14th.
The previous week’s Richard’s Pipit seemed settled at Sidlesham (West Sussex) still on 8th-14th; another was seen in Kent at Halstow Marshes on 12th-13th.
Back in Somerset, Steart WWT’s excellent run was augmented by a possible Red-throated Pipit there on 11th.
If the week’s passerines were notable for anything, it had to be the fresh flush of Dusky Warblers that were found in recent days. Kent scored two new birds – one apiece for Dungeness on 11th-14th, and Minster Marshes on 11th-14th; an inland bird appeared at Aldreth (Cambridgeshire) on 11th-14th; a bird was found in the southwest at Exwick (Devon) on 12th-13th; and a further probable was reported from Dorset at Bere Regis on 12th. One remained at Ainsdale NNR (Merseyside) for its eleventh day on 9th, and was still present there on 12th; while other settled birds remained at St Erth (Cornwall) on 8th-14th, and St Mary’s (Scilly) on 10th.
11 Yellow-browed Warblers were logged this week, with one bird at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) still on 8th-14th joined in the area by a second individual on 11th-12th. Elsewhere, single birds were seen on Scilly on St Mary’s on 8th-14th and St Martin’s on 8th-14th; at Helston (Cornwall) on 11th-12th; at Totnes (Devon) on 11th; in Somerset at Ham Wall RSPB on 13th; in Dorset on Portland on 8th-13th still; at Blashford Lakes HWT (Hampshire) on 11th-12th; and in London at Walthamstow reservoirs still on 8th-14th, and Tottenham Marshes on 12th.
A reasonable haul of Great Grey Shrikes were seen this week – birds remained at Crabtree Hill (Gloucestershire) on 8th-12th; on Thursley Common NNR (Surrey) on 8th-12th; in Devon at Soussons Plantation on 8th-12th; in Derbyshire on Beeley Moor on 12th; in Angus again on 13th at Backwater reservoir; and in Hampshire at Slufters Inclosure and Suffolk again at Upper Hollesley Common on 14th. Further sightings came from Meltham (West Yorkshire) on 10th, and Oknell Plain (Hampshire) on 12th.
Elgin (Moray) held the best of the week’s modest numbers of Waxwing, with a flock of seven birds on 8th rising to 10 birds by 12th there, and a flock of some 20 birds seen on 13th over Mundole. In Kent, one was heard in Canterbury again at Westgate on 9th, while one was seen the previous day on St Mary’s Island. One bird in Aberdeen (Aberdeenshire) on 9th was followed by three in the city on 12th. One more bird was seen in North Yorkshire at Hunmanby Gap on 12th-14th, a bird was reported from Wakefield (West Yorkshire) on 13th, and a final singleton was seen on 14th in Norfolk at Heydon.
In Gwent, the Hoopoe was still be seen at Portskewett on 8th-9th, with another probable bird in a Woburn (Bedfordshire) garden on 10th, and a final possible bird reportedly flushed near Pointz Castle (Pembrokeshire) on 14th.
Our two recent reliable Rose-coloured Starlings were still to be seen throughout this week, on Portland (Dorset) on 8th-14th and at Amlwch on Anglesey on 8th-13th.
A possible male Two-barred Crossbill was seen on 12th in Strawberry Lee Plantation (South Yorkshire).
Finally, in Surrey the Rustic Bunting and Little Bunting both remained around Thursley Common NNR on 8th-14th, while the Little Bunting remained at Langford Lowfields RSPB (Nottinghamshire) on 8th-14th also. Further Little Buntings were found in Shetland on Mainland at Weisdale kirk on 9th, and on Unst at Halligarth on 10th; and in Pembrokeshire on the margins of Traeth Llyfn beach on 14th.
Firmly kicking off the overseas news was belated news this week of Algeria’s first African Crake photographed at Daïra de Kerzaz at the end of November – only the fourteenth record for the Western Palearctic.
Belated News; African Crake photographed at Daïra de Kerzaz end of November 2020, photo by Mabrouk A. - the 1st record for Algeria and, 14th record for Western Palearctic pic.twitter.com/W1bVpn2KRF
— Tarsiger (@TarsigerTeam) December 11, 2020
Staying in the WP’s outer limits, in Israel a Bataleur remained at Bet Nir on 9th…
…while in Kuwait, the recent White-breasted Waterhen was still present at Jahra East outfall on 10th, and two Indian Rollers were seen at Sulaibaya on 8th.
The Azores continued to produce some Nearctic goodies – the Belted Kingfisher remained on Pico on 8th; a Northern Harrier and the Azores’ first White-winged Scoter were seen on Terceira on 8th; and a Great Blue Heron was found on Sao Miguel on 11th.
1st-winter drake American White-winged Scoter (ssp deglandi) photographed at Baía de Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira by Ruben Coelho - the 1st record for Azores and 25th for WP pic.twitter.com/Nmn7pa7UMI
— Tarsiger (@TarsigerTeam) December 8, 2020
Returning closer to home, the Pygmy Cormorant remained in Germany on 8th-14th at Dubbelausee; and, in Holland, a Blyth’s Pipit was found on 10th at Kwade Hoek.
Finally, a drake Stejneger’s Scoter was found off Sjælland on 13th.
4th. or 5th. Danish Stejneger’s Scooter found today at Høve Strand, Sjælland by Sebastian Klein.@LeeEvansBirding @Club300_SE @TarsigerTeam @dutchbirding pic.twitter.com/vwUQA6XtKu
— Rasmus Strack (@RasmusStrack) December 13, 2020
We’re now firmly into the winter territory where, short of us all putting in some serious Cormorant-scrutinising, our expectations of what the birding gods have in store for us should be justly modest. It is a quiet time of year, after all…
Looking at historical records doesn’t provide much succour either – perhaps our best bet lies with gulls and hoping for something interesting blowing in off the Atlantic – maybe a Laughing Gull or, if you prefer to go large on your order of rare bin bag botherers, an American Herring Gull. Rarer options seen in the past this week include Thayer’s and Glaucous-winged Gulls too.To the harbours, the landfills, and the industrial unit roofs…
Jon Dunn
15 December 2020
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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