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Weekly birding round-up: 22 Dec 2020 - 4 January 2021

For the most part, and making a significant change on most recent winters, many of us actually got a prolonged cold snap over Christmas this year, albeit one broken by Storm Bella barrelling in on Boxing Day, bringing strong winds, rain and flooding – what’s fast-becoming traditional weather in these parts at this time of year.

While new rarities might have been thin on the ground, that’s not to say there weren’t good birds still out there and, amongst the ducks in particular, fresh faces were being discovered – including our first contentious quacker of 2021…

 

Last seen in Cornwall at Crows-an-Wra earlier in the month on 9th, what should pop up a few miles further up the county at Bude on Boxing Day but the recent Sociable Lapwing - a fine belated Christmas present for Cornish birders who’d not felt inclined to head west for it during the first stage of its winter tenure in the county.

Better still, it proved to be obliging, hanging around Bude Marshes and showing well daily right up to 4th – a fabulous start to many a year list in Cornwall, one suspects.

 

What an autumn and early winter it’s been for Buffleheads in Ireland – there are three birds on the books, in the form of one in Co.Clare on 29th November, the drake found at Quoile Pondage (Co.Down) on 5th December, and a fly-by female or first-winter drake at Aghada (Co.Cork) on 20th December.

The Co.Down drake has chosen to linger at Quoile Pondage, and remained there throughout the festive period, and was still present in recent days until 3rd at least. That was not, however, the end of the Bufflehead story for, back in Co.Cork, a female or juvenile drake was found east of Kinsale at The Cush on 2nd, remaining there on 3rd also.

While it’s tempting to put two and two together and say this must, surely, be the same bird last seen at Aghada on 20th, there’ve clearly been several birds blown across the Atlantic in late 2020 and, with news coming from Norway this week of yet another female-type bird in Rogaland at Harvalandsvatnet on 3rd, one wonders about whether the Co.Cork two-bird theory is so far-fetched after all…

 

Also bouncing back into the headlines for one more showing, Ireland’s two other recent big American imports were both present during the past fortnight albeit, in the case of the Co.Kerry Double-crested Cormorant, only in the news on one day – being seen at Carrig Island again on 22nd.

The Co.Cork Belted Kingfisher was, however, made of more obliging stuff, being seen at Dunboy still on 22nd-30th. Will either pop out of the woodwork in the days and weeks to come to get Ireland’s 2021 rarity account off to a flying start?

 

As we’d expect at the changing of the year, notable seabirds were in fairly short supply during the past fortnight. It fell to the divers to provide the nearest thing to a white Christmas, with a handful of White-billed Divers seen in the northern isles – one was off South Ronaldsay (Orkney) on Boxing Day, while Shetland’s reliable bird in South Nesting Bay had a companion on 30th-31st, with at least one more individual on 30th off Unst in the rich fishing grounds of Bluemull Sound, and one still in South Nesting Bay on 4th.

Some 20 Little Auks were seen over the past two weeks – for the most part down the entire the length of the eastern side of Britain, from Shetland to Kent, with three notable western exceptions logged off Little Ormes Head (Conwy) on 27th. They were almost the highest single site tally of sightings dominated by single birds – beaten only by a count of four birds off Foreness Point (Kent) on Christmas Eve.

As we approached year end, a couple of final Leach’s Petrels for 2020 clocked in – single birds seen from Langstone Harbour (Hampshire) on 27th and St Ives (Cornwall) on 28th.

Finally, a scatter of Pomarine Skua sightings came in during recent days. The recent bird seen in Devon off Brixham remained settled and noted more or less daily there from 22nd-3rd, while further sightings elsewhere were more transitory. On 23rd one was seen in Kent at Dungeness; Christmas Eve was marked in Norfolk with sightings of a single bird from Cromer, Happisburgh, Mundesley and Walcott, while a further probable bird was seen in Northumberland at Druridge Pools that day also; one was seen from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 27th; and reports from Suffolk came from Covehithe on 30th and Thorpeness on 2nd. On 4th, three birds were seen in Essex from Canvey Island.

 

A decent showing of Glossy Ibises provided some exotica for British and Irish birders alike over the festive period, with a fair few of them showing some fidelity to their adopted wintering quarters. Starting in southern England, the regular quartet remained at Fremington Pill (Devon) on 24th-29th, with just one bird still present on 2nd; the single bird in Poole Harbour (Dorset) was seen regularly at Stanpit Marsh and Hengistbury Head on 22nd-3rd; one remained tucked in at Brading Marsh RSPB on the Isle of Wight on 22nd-2nd; in West Sussex, the recent individual was still hanging around Sidlesham on 24th-4th; in Kent, the Dungeness bird was still to be seen there on 27th-3rd, while a further bird was seen in the north of the county around Haysden Lake on 1st-4th, and one more was found on 4th in Staffordshire at Alrewas – both welcome reminders that where these birds are concerned, any inland freshwater could come up trumps for local patch-workers.

Cambridgeshire remained busy where Glossy Ibises were concerned lately – three birds were still to be seen at Earith Bridge on 22nd-24th, with two still present there on Boxing Day, and three there again on 3rd; two were seen at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB on 22nd, with four birds present there on 3rd; and one was settled at Chesterton Fen on 24th-4th.

One pioneering bird had made it to Scotland, seen at Crook of Baldoon RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 22nd. The two settled Welsh birds remained at Newport Wetlands NNR (Gwent) on 2nd. Irish sightings, meanwhile, came from Termoncarragh Lough (Co.Mayo) on 23rd, and Pilmore Strand (Co.Cork) again on 27th-28th.

 

Christmas was coming when we last reported on the honkers and quackers, and that’s traditionally said to mean that the goose (news) was getting fat. In the event, the juiciest news turned out to be a duck in Suffolk, more of which anon…

Starting then with The Goose Formerly Known as Canada, the interior Todd’s Canada Goose was once more seen in Norfolk around Thornham on 22nd-23rd; while another was once more on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 22nd-30th.

A hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose remained at Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 22nd-1st; while two were still present on North Uist (Western Isles) on 1st-2nd.

North Uist also held onto a Snow Goose on those dates.

Black Brants put in a good account of themselves lately, particularly in Essex – here one lingered around Mersea Island on 26th-28th, with two birds present there on 29th; one was again seen at Old Hall Marshes RSPB on 27th-30th; and a further sighting came on 1st at Maldon. Further north, one was mooching around Kilnsea on 22nd-27th and Sammy’s Point (East Yorkshire) on 2nd-4th; and one was again seen in Norfolk at Titchwell RSPB on 22nd-23rd. On the south coast, a bird settled at Birdham (West Sussex) on 28th-4th, and two were again seen in Dorset at Rodden Hive on 28th, with three again on The Fleet on 4th. Irish examples were logged at Myroe Levels (Co.Derry) on 23rd still and, in Co.Dublin, at Blackrock on 27th-28th and nearby Cabinteely on 27th-30th.

Cabinteely also had the distinction of hosting five possible Grey-bellied Brants on 27th-31st. Presumably these five birds – two adults, and three juveniles – were the selfsame party that had been seen on 22nd-24th at Kilcoole (Co.Wicklow) a little way to the south. A further possible adult bird was seen on 23rd at Wester Dalziel (Highland) and then, on 4th, at Castle Stuart once more.

Ireland enjoyed the lion’s share of American Wigeons lately, with three birds recorded – drakes at Termoncarragh Lough (Co.Mayo) on 22nd-23rd, Shannon Harbour (Co.Offaly) on 25th-26th, and at Drumgay Lough (Co.Fermanagh) on 31st. Scotland and England enjoyed one drake apiece – at Loch Watten (Highland) again on 31st, and Big Waters NR (Northumberland) still on 31st also.

In Co.Mayo, the young drake Black Duck remained at Cross Lough on 22nd-1st.

Some 20 Green-winged Teals were reported in the past fortnight, marking the species as an eminently possible find almost anywhere in Britain and Ireland presently. One remained at Courtmacsherry (Co.Cork) on 30th following a report of five birds there the previous day; while Loch of Skaill on the Orkney Mainland also enjoyed multiple birds, with two individuals seen there on 30th.

Speaking of multiples, numbers of Ring-necked Ducks seen lately also blossomed – just shy of 40 birds were reported and, amongst them, several sites enjoyed two or three individuals at once. Three birds lingered on Talley Lakes (Carmarthenshire) on 22nd-2nd; and duos were logged at Radley GPs (Oxfordshire) on 22nd-1st still, on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 22nd-31st still, on Cameron reservoir (Fife) on 27th-2nd, on Siblyback Lake (Cornwall) on 25th-31st still, at Slapton Ley (Devon) on 1st, and at Upper Lough Erne (Co.Fermanagh) on 4th.

It was, perhaps, no great surprise then that a Lesser Scaup should also be found – one was sharing Knockaderry reservoir (Co.Waterford) with a Ring-necked Duck on 30th-3rd.

In Hampshire, meanwhile, the regular drake Ferruginous Duck was still to be seen at Blashford Lakes on 22nd-2nd.

We did particularly well for King Eiders lately, with half a dozen birds seen – recent birds remained at St John’s Point (Co.Donegal), where two females lingered on 30th-2nd, and Little Haven (Pembrokeshire) where the young drake was still to be found on 30th. A female was seen in Orkney at Bay of Kirkwall on 31st, whilst another female was present off Foula (Shetland) on 1st-3rd. Last of all, the drake was once more seen in Burghead Bay (Moray) on 1st-3rd.

Around a dozen Surf Scoters were noted in the past fortnight – peak counts came from Mornington (Co.Meath) on 30th where three birds were seen, and off Reenroe (Co.Kerry) on 1st where another three birds were logged.

Rarer scoters were, of course, available – the drake White-winged Scoter was once more seen from Musselburgh (Lothian) on 22nd-27th, while the drake Black Scoter was still present off Goswick (Northumberland) on 22nd-24th.

To finish the ducks, we find ourselves just a few days into the new year and I’m already carping about Hooded Mergansers - so much for that particular new year’s resolution… A female was found in Suffolk at Staverton Pools on Boxing Day, remaining there until 3rd. In the absence of obviously clipped wings or a ring on her leg, that’s probably more than sufficient to ensure a smooth passage through the records committee. The only potential fly in the ointment being that this is Suffolk, after all, a county that’s no stranger to escaped Hooded Mergansers…

Who can forget Elvis, the wandering drake that’s haunted Ipswich, off and on, for many months now, occasionally popping into the local shops presumably in search of a nice bit of bread?

Certainly not the thoughtful staff of Ipswich Borough Council who, earlier in 2020, decided to provide him with a mate purchased from Anglian Waterfowl and Poultry for Valentine’s Day – the photo of wildlife team leader Dave Dowding holding Priscilla, a female Hooded Merganser, in Christchurch Park shortly before releasing her to a new life in Ipswich, sadly doesn’t reveal the state of her wings or leg jewellery.

Nor is it clear whether Priscilla is still in Christchurch Park, or whether she’s followed her putative mate’s wandering ways. Christchurch Park is a mere 15 miles from Staverton Pools – not a huge distance by any stretch of the imagination or, indeed, wings should Priscilla still have a full set. The Staverton Pools bird may yet prove to be Priscilla, queen of the deserted duck-pond…

It’s worth noting, in passing at this juncture, the simply splendid array of waterfowl listed on Anglian Waterfowl and Poultry’s website – doing no favours whatsoever for future East Anglian records of Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Black Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Baikal Teal, Falcated Duck, King Eider… And that’s just one ornamental wildfowl supplier – others are, of course, available nationwide…

I’m not sure what the going rate for a Hooded Merganser is, but presumably a quick FOI request would let Ipswich council tax payers know how much of their hard-earned was spent on releasing a non-native duck into their midst last year…

We conclude our regular dabble with our honorary waterfowl – the popular Pied-billed Grebe was reported once more from Chelmarsh reservoir in Shropshire on 22nd, but wasn’t seen there again subsequently.

 

Events in Cornwall notwithstanding, it was a fairly peaceful time for shorebirds in the past couple of weeks. That said, while the recent Hudsonian Godwit hasn’t been seen again lately, Scotland still had the young Pacific Golden Plover present at Findhorn Bay (Moray) on 24th-28th.

South Uist (Western Isles) provided variety, with an American Golden Plover seen on 29th and 4th at Balgarva.

In Somerset, the adult Kentish Plover was once more noted on Stert Island on 22nd-25th and again on 2nd, being seen in between times on the beach at Burnham-on-Sea on 29th-31st.

The adult Long-billed Dowitcher remained in Cumbria at Campfield Marsh RSPB on 22nd-28th.

Lesser Yellowlegs continued to be seen around the region – the Irish bird still present at Killongford Pools (Co.Waterford) on 22nd-1st; the Scottish bird again seen on South Uist (Western Isles) on 23rd; and English individuals still present at Nosterfield NR (North Yorkshire) on 22nd-1st and, in Devon, at South Huish Marsh on 23rd, and back at South Efford Marsh and the tidal road at Aveton Gifford on 29th-4th.

A probable Spotted Sandpiper was seen on the Add estuary at Crinan Ferry (Argyll & Bute) on 4th.

Grey Phalaropes were, for the time of year, relatively numerous – not least at Filey (North Yorkshire) where one lingering on 22nd had risen to two birds on 26th and three on 28th-30th – dropping back to one bird again on 1st-2nd. Elsewhere, individuals were seen on Christmas Eve at Margate (Kent), and Church Point and Druridge Links (Northumberland); on Christmas Day in Norfolk at Eccles; on 27th at Burghead (Moray) and Brighton Marina (East Sussex); on 27th-30th at Freiston Shore RSPB (Lincolnshire); on 28th off Southwold (Suffolk); on 2nd past Flamborough (East Yorkshire); on 3rd near Flint (Flintshire) on the River Dee; and on 4th at Cramond Island (Lothian) and Blackhall Rocks (Co.Durham).

 

While the past fortnight may not have caught fire with new rarities, it certainly flared into life where white-wingers were concerned – with the cold snap and persistent northerlies came decent numbers of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls alike. Of the 90 or so Glaucous Gulls logged, our peak counts were seven birds at Easkey (Co.Sligo) on 30th, and five apiece for North Uist on 24th and Lewis (Western Isles) on 29th.

As for Iceland Gulls, some 140 birds were noted nationwide and, of them, our peak count was of seven individuals in Scrabster harbour (Highland) on 22nd – though the south wasn’t doing so badly for itself either, as the four birds seen at Dungeness (Kent) on 26th bears witness.

Inevitably, there were a few Kumlien’s Gulls seen also – the adult remained on Omey Island (Co.Galway) on 28th-2nd; a mobile second-winter was lobbing around Cambridgeshire on 30th-3rd, but was seen more regularly at Dernford Farm reservoir on 31st-1st and again on 3rd; an adult was seen at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) on 2nd; and a third-winter was identified at Gorton Lower reservoir (Greater Manchester) on 3rd. A further possible juvenile was seen on the Ogmore estuary (Glamorgan) on 4th.

While they’ve become a scarcer winter commodity in recent years than they had been hitherto, Ring-billed Gulls enjoyed something of a renaissance in the past fortnight, with 14 birds in all recorded. Of these, Ireland had some two-thirds of them – at Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre (Co.Kerry) on 23rd-2nd still; at Belfast Waterworks (Co.Antrim) again on 24th-2nd, and Whitehead on 3rd; at Bray (Co.Wicklow) on 24th-30th; in Limerick (Co.Limerick) on 29th; at Nimmo’s Pier (Co.Galway) still on 29th; at Clonakilty (Co.Cork) on 1st; and on 2nd at Ennis (Co.Clare) and Woodstown (Co.Waterford). English examples were seen at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) still on 22nd-4th; at Millbrook Lake (Cornwall) on 1st; and at Lytchett Bay (Dorset) on 26th-27th and Blashford Lakes (Hampshire) on 2nd-4th. Scotland’s sole bird was present at Strathclyde CP (Clyde) again on 2nd-4th.

Ireland provided the week’s rarer fare still – an adult Bonaparte’s Gull at Rosslare (Co.Wexford) on 25th was a fine Christmas present; and the regular Forster’s Tern was once more seen in Co.Galway on 3rd, this time in Oranmore Bay, notching up another year on its long stay this side of the Atlantic.

 

A handful of frosty Rough-legged Buzzards were seen this week – at Scaut Hill (Moray) on 23rd; on Orford Ness (Suffolk) on 30th-3rd; and at Doodfield (Greater Manchester) on 30th. A further possible bird was seen from a moving car at Cambourne (Cambridgeshire) on Christmas Eve.

 

With the settled Belted Kingfisher in Co.Cork bumped back into the headlines to start the year, we kick off the passerines section with what’s already in danger of becoming (hateful expression though it is) old hat – this being a lingering example of that former recent mega and already rapidly-approaching-merely-rare-or-whisper-it-scarce-status bird, Eastern Yellow Wagtail - the bird remained through Christmas and into the New Year at Carlton Marshes SWT (Suffolk), still present there until 3rd.

That may have been split from Yellow Wagtail, but for now phoenicuroides / rufiventris Eastern Black Redstart isn’t following suit from Black Redstart… British birders had a shot across their bows in recent days with news of an Eastern Black Redstart found on Sweden’s Gotland on Christmas Day, but of course we see news of many a bird in Scandinavia that never reaches here. Then again, the winter of 2016/17 is still fresh enough in our memories – a winter that featured two long-staying, overwintering Eastern Black Redstarts in Britain – one in Cornwall at Mousehole, and the other in Cleveland at Skinningrove – and a handful of further records in the early winter period elsewhere in Britain for good measure.

So maybe we could dare to hope for a repeat after all…

Sure enough, just a few days later on 31st came news of a first-winter male phoenicuroides / rufiventris Eastern Black Redstart at Snettisham RSPB (Norfolk). The Cornish and Cleveland birds stayed for months on end well into spring 2017, so there’s a fair chance that this latest individual, still present on 4th, will be in it for the long haul.

Richard’s Pipits remained in Kent at Halstow Marshes on 23rd-1st and at Sidlesham (West Sussex) still on 24th-4th.

In the headlines had it only been confirmed, a probable male Black-throated Thrush was seen at Beddington (London) on Christmas Day, but not again subsequently.

Half a dozen of our recent Dusky Warblers were still present and correct in recent days – these being the birds at Ainsdale NNR (Merseyside) on 22nd-2nd; Astbury Mere (Cheshire) on 22nd-3rd; Exwick (Devon) on 24th-31st; Dungeness (Kent) on 30th-4th; on 1st-3rd again at Minster Marshes (Kent); and on 1st at St Erth (Cornwall). A further new bird came out of the woodwork this week in South Yorkshire, seen in Doncaster on 30th.

If the cold weather was flushing out another Dusky, it was definitely bringing more Yellow-browed Warblers to the fore – some 25 birds were logged over the fortnight. They have the feeling of Blackcaps in the 1970s and early 80s – a scarce and notable wintering bird back then, but one set to become regular and even commonplace in the decades that followed.

Conversely, we didn’t do so well recently for Great Grey Shrikes - birds were seen again at Upper Hollesley Common (Suffolk) on 22nd-25th, Slufters Inclosure (Hampshire) again on Christmas Eve, at Crabtree Hill (Gloucestershire) still on Christmas Day, at Soussons Plantation (Devon) again on 28th, and still present at Backwater reservoir (Angus) on 3rd. Further sightings came from Ash Common (Surrey) on 26th-28th; Midhope reservoir (South Yorkshire) on 30th; in Woolmer Forest (Hampshire) on 1st; and reported from Boreham (Essex) on 3rd.

Waxwing numbers held firm, with a generally unremarkable 40 or so birds recorded nationwide. Of these, Moray had the best of it, with a lingering flock of 11 birds still in Elgin on 22nd-4th, and 10 birds along the coast at Forres on 22nd. Further south, a settled bird at Kelling Heath (Norfolk) on 30th-3rd was notable.

Our two recent reliable Rose-coloured Starlings remained at Amlwch on Anglesey on 23rd-4th and, after vanishing from the news for a few days, on Portland (Dorset) still on 31st-4th.

A Black-bellied Dipper was found on Shetland on the flanks of Ronas Hill on 3rd.

A probable first-winter male Two-barred Crossbill was seen in Gravelpit Wood (Hertfordshire) on 2nd-3rd.

Finally, in Surrey the Rustic Bunting and Little Bunting both remained around Thursley Common NNR on 22nd-4th, with the latter joined by a second Little Bunting on 24th-4th. How many are lurking out there nationally, unseen? Birds we know about were seen again on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 22nd-28th and at Langford Lowfields RSPB (Nottinghamshire) on 23rd still.

 

With plenty of variety on offer lately, it’s hard to know quite where to begin with the overseas news. I’ll start, obliquely, close to home with a little misty-eyed, painful reminiscence – I left Fair Isle in 2012 just a few hours before assistant warden Jason Moss found Britain’s second Magnolia Warbler, an achingly beautiful bird on the cliffs at Lerness. The discovery of that bird was, naturally, relived the last time I saw Jason – in a bar in Barcelona that could, mercifully, numb the pain with a steady flow of mojitos. Jason’s Spanish tenure continues to this day and, on 31st, he added a first for Spain to his rarity-finding honours in the form of a Bimaculated Lark on Mallorca at Salobrar de Campos.

Other news from Spain was a mixed bag. On the one hand, a Sociable Lapwing at Fraga on 31st-3rd was a good bird; but that was tempered by news that Spain’s third White’s Thrush had been shot during a Woodcock hunt at Mallabia on 26th.

Denmark’s second Sandhill Crane was found on 2nd at Vordingborg – a timely reassurance for British birders who missed either the Shetland or Orcadian birds that, one day, there may yet be another example to go for. Denmark also enjoyed a drake Stejneger’s Scoter at Sjaelland on 22nd-1st.

As we’ve already seen, it wasn’t just Norfolk that was enjoying an Eastern Black Redstart lately – that bird had been preceded by one in Sweden on Gotland on Christmas Day.

Norway, meanwhile, got itself a female Bufflehead at Harvalandsvatnet on 3rd.

On 22nd the Pied-billed Grebe remained on Faroe at Eiði on Eysturoy.

Holland landed a Brunnich’s Guillemot on Zealand on 30th-3rd.

Germany’s Pygmy Cormorant remained at Dubbelausee on 24th-3rd; while a White-headed Duck was found at Ausgleichsweiher on 2nd-3rd.

An Azure Tit was a fine garden bird in Poland at Michalowice-Wies on 27th-2nd.

Pushing further afield, in the Azores the Belted Kingfisher remained on Pico on 23rd, with a Northern Parula present on 29th-30th and a Wood Duck also on Pico on Christmas Day. The Great Blue Heron remained on Terceira on 27th.

Heading east through the Mediterranean, on Cyprus a Turkestan Shrike was seen in Paphos on 30th-1st.

In Israel, the Greater Painted Snipe remained at Gan Schmu’el fishponds on 23rd-25th. An Asian Red-rumped Swallow remained at the IBRCE in Eilat for its 15th day on 25th; another was seen at Atlit on 26th, with a Grey Hypocolius also present at Atlit on 26th-28th. A warriae Basalt Wheatear was found north of Eilat on 22nd.

Last, but far from least, a Brown-headed Gull was found in Kuwait at Jahra Pool on 22nd-23rd – a national first, and only the second record for the Western Palearctic.

 

With birding opportunities, sensibly, limited once more to periods of daily exercise for many of us, one might think the chance of finding something out of the ordinary was curtailed. However, given the time of year being naturally quiet anyway, I prefer to look at the weeks to come as a time of modest birding opportunity.

Looking at the past fortnight, there are some green shoots of birding hope on the near horizon. Any patch of freshwater or flooded fields nearby must be a magnet for birds and birders alike – recent strong numbers of Green-winged Teals and Ring-necked Ducks offer potential, as do the continuing surprise finds of Glossy Ibises here and there.

But this week, in what must be a first for the Round Up, I’d love to exhort folk to look and listen for a local Yellow-browed Warbler - there’ve been dozens seen in the past fortnight, and if your local patch hasn’t already had one in the past, now’s the time to put that right.

 

Jon Dunn
5 January 2021

Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos

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