Weekly birding round-up: 10 - 16 Aug 2021
That’s the second week of August under our belt and, for the most part, it was a fairly peaceful one. Unless, that is, you happened to be in Shetland – which, to be honest, is still a little early in the autumn for most folk – or riding the lazy Atlantic swell a few miles off Scilly…
For many a British birder, Black-winged Pratincole fell years ago, early on in a twitching career. There have been, after all, 40 accepted records to the end of 2019, several of which have done the decent, obliging thing and hung around for a few days making catching up with one, if you were so inclined, more or less a formality.
It’s a slightly different story if you’re a Scottish birder, for north of the border there have been just five past records. Aberdeenshire’s had two birds, both one day individuals, on 3rd June 2015, and 11th July 1976; Angus enjoyed a three day bird, a juvenile present on 14th-16th August 1996; one spent five days on Lewis (Western Isles) on 2nd-6th August 2012; and then there was the first of them all, a bird present for two days on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 18th-19th May 1927.
The latter bird is recorded, rather euphemistically, as ‘secured’ on 19th May – a polite way of saying it was shot, and to this day resides in the drawers of the National Museums of Scotland. Maybe it would have gone on to stay a while longer than the two days it managed – we’ll never know.
What’s certain is that seeing another in Shetland seemed like a very distant pipedream indeed as the years and decades rolled by. Almost a century had elapsed before, this past week, news emerged on 11th that a visitor to Fetlar on 10th had photographed a Black-winged Pratincole standing in the road. Little did Alan Prescott know what a stir his photo would cause when, the following day, his emails to let news providers know he’d found something interesting were picked up.
Nothing less than Shetland’s second ever Black-winged Pratincole and, as the first local birders scrambled to get onto Fetlar, the welcome news came that the bird was still present, showing well there until dusk, albeit somewhat mobile around the Houbie area.
It remained there until 13th showing, at times, excruciatingly well. A little basic field-craft and good fortune meant some were lucky enough to enjoy the surreal experience of the bird running up to them, too close to focus upon. Others were treated to views of it in typical, dashing pratincole flight. One such flight saw it relocate on 13th, moving down the island to Aithness and, on 14th-16th, it was still present in the general Funzie area.
It’s certainly possible that this may be the bird seen lately in Norway in Giske, on the west coast. Having made it that far, it’s not inconceivable the bird moved southwest towards Shetland. Whether that’s the case or not, Shetland’s second and Scotland’s sixth Black-winged Pratincole was a popular local draw this past week.
For a little while this week it was beginning to look like the adult Black-browed Albatross in East Yorkshire at Bempton Cliffs RSPB might have packed its bags for 2021 – days passed with nary a sniff of it there before, on 13th-16th, it was back again. The Albert show isn’t over just yet…
Speaking of spectacles, the Scilly pelagics were going from strength to strength this week where records of Wilson’s Petrel were concerned. The week began with a bang with at least 20 birds logged on 10th; followed, in subsequent days, by counts of eight birds on 12th, five on 13th, seven on 14th, six on 15th, and a single bird on 16th. If ever there was a compelling case made that one needs to head out to sea for a good chance of encountering a Wilson’s Petrel in August, this was it – and the Irish were reinforcing that message with two seen at sea off Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 10th, and four from a pelagic trip at sea off Great Blasket (Co.Kerry) on 14th.
Such sightings, off the English or Irish southwest, are almost par for the course – but seeing Wilson’s Petrel in Scottish waters remains a more uncharted territory, let alone off Shetland. That said, they’re out there – as proved by a pelagic trip off northwest Shetland on 10th, which turned up a single individual.
A Leach’s Petrel was seen from the Ullapool – Stornoway ferry (Highland / Western Isles) on 10th; and one more was trapped and ringed overnight on 14th at Craig David Croft (Aberdeenshire).
Large shearwaters were not, for the most part, recorded in significant numbers this week – a grand total of some 70 Great Shearwaters off Britain and Ireland as a whole was dominated by a tally of 47 birds noted from Mizen Head (Co.Cork) on 12th; while of around 30 Cory’s Shearwaters nationwide, 10 were seen from Cape Clear (Co.Cork) alone on 12th.
Balearic Shearwaters continued to be recorded in fair numbers, with around 1,000 birds tallied over the course of the week. Of these, the highest single site count came from Porthgwarra (Cornwall) where, on 11th, 105 birds were seen.
Skuas were fairly subdued this week, with around 25 Pomarine Skuas noted nationally in recent days, of which six seen from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 13th were the only single site count to exceed a single bird; while just nine Long-tailed Skuas were seen – one from the Scilly pelagic of 10th; one off the Skellig Islands (Co.Kerry) on 10th; on 12th in Co.Cork at Mizen Head and Crookhaven; on 15th off Vatersay (Western Isles); on 16th from Sheringham (Norfolk), Church Point (Northumberland) and Filey (North Yorkshire); and in Shetland, the summering bird still present at Dalsetter on 11th-14th.
And finally, for the second consecutive week a possible Brown Booby was reported from Northumberland, in this instance a sub-adult bird seen passing Bamburgh on 11th.
We’ll kick the long-legged beasties off this week with Black Storks, plural. The previous week’s individual that ended up in Lincolnshire remained in the area in recent days, being seen at Frampton Marsh RSPB and Freiston Shore RSPB on 12th-16th; while a bird seen in flight in Suffolk on 12th at Snape Maltings presumably accounts for the mobile individual seen wandering around multiple locations in Suffolk and Essex on 14th-15th. All of this was preceded by a possible bird seen from a moving vehicle in Surrey at Esher on 11th.
Intrigue continues to stalk the summering population of Glossy Ibises in eastern England – a flock of five was seen at Welney WWT (Norfolk) on 13th, and Ouse Washes RSPB (Cambridgeshire) also on 13th. Settled individuals lingered in Norfolk at Ken Hill Marsh on 10th-15th; in Lincolnshire at Alkborough Flats NR still on 10th-13th; near Kingfishers Bridge NR (Cambridgeshire) again on 10th; and in Kent again at Dungeness 12th. Further birds were found in recent days in Kent at Oare Marshes KWT on 13th and 15th, and nearby Faversham Creek on 14th; in Suffolk on 13th at Dingle Marshes and on 14th-16th at Minsmere RSPB; and in Norfolk at Snettisham CP on 14th.
A juvenile Purple Heron was seen in Essex at Bowers Marsh RSPB on 14th-15th.
Well, we almost did it – a week very nearly passed in which despite our best efforts casting stale bread upon the waters of the rarity duckpond, there wasn’t a honker or quacker of note to be seen. Almost, but not quite – there was a report of a possible drake Black Scoter off Withernsea (East Yorkshire) on 12th that gave us a little glimmer of interest.
Then came news that the young drake King Eider was still present on Unst (Shetland) on 15th…
…and that a female or juvenile drake Ferruginous Duck was present at Draycote Water (Warwickshire) on 16th, having also been seen there briefly a week past.
Moving swiftly on to the week’s doings amongst the shorebirds, where there was, sure enough, plenty happening.
Starting with Pacific Golden Plovers, all three recent adults remained settled for the week just gone – two birds together in Lincolnshire still at Frampton Marsh RSPB on 10th-15th, with one still present on 16th; and, in Norfolk, the adult still present at North Point Pools on 10th-15th.
In the northwest, an American Golden Plover was seen in Cheshire at Frodsham Marsh on 14th-15th, while another was found in Orkney on North Ronaldsay on 14th-16th, and one flew over Nanjizal Valley (Cornwall) on 16th. A possible Pacific or American Golden Plover flew over Holkham (Norfolk) on 13th.
Norfolk continued to hold its adult White-rumped Sandpiper at Snettisham RSPB on 10th-16th, while the adult remained at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 10th still.
Staying in Suffolk, the Pectoral Sandpiper was lingering at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 10th-15th; one was again seen in Cleveland, this time at South Gare on 12th; and further birds were found in Ireland at Blanket Nook (Co.Donegal) on 14th, and Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 16th.
A couple of Temminck’s Stints were seen this week – on 13th, one was present at Pulborough Brooks RSPB (West Sussex) and, on 14th, another was seen at Langford Lowfields RSPB (Nottinghamshire). On 16th one was also found at Burwell Fen (Cambridgeshire).
The adult Long-billed Dowitcher remained in Cheshire & Wirral, seen again this week at Frodsham Marsh on 10th-16th, with another adult turned up at the WWT National Wetlands Centre (Carmarthenshire) on 15th-16th.
The recent Lesser Yellowlegs remained on Tresco (Scilly) on 10th-12th, and was seen again there on 16th.
The Black-winged Stilt was still to be seen in Somerset at Steart WWT on 10th.
Steart WWT also accounted for a Red-necked Phalarope on 10th; while a Grey Phalarope was seen from the Scilly pelagic on 13th.
Both of our recent star terns remained in Britain and Ireland for another week, delighting both those who’d yet to make a long journey to see either and those for whom each is a welcome boost to their local patch’s usual summer goings on.
Starting in Lancashire & Merseyside, the adult Elegant Tern was at Formby Point again on 10th and once more on 12th-16th, though it could prove elusive at times.
Meanwhile the adult male Least Tern remained at Portrane (Co.Dublin) on 12th-14th.
Staying in Ireland a moment more, the adult Forster’s Tern was still present at Soldier’s Point (Co.Louth) on 15th.
Sea-watching at Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) yielded the best of the week’s gulls, with 10 Sabine’s Gulls seen from there on 13th; one more this week was noted in Yell Sound (Shetland) on 10th; two were seen on 14th from Melmore Head (Co.Donegal); and, most popular of all, an adult bird was seen on 16th at Cley NWT (Norfolk).
Staying in Shetland, the second-winter Bonaparte’s Gull was still present on Unst at Norwick on 13th-16th; and in Kent the adult bird was still present at Oare Marshes KWT on 10th-16th.
An adult Ring-billed Gull was seen at Blackrock (Co.Louth) on 15th-16th.
We came close to a week without a white-winger but no, it wasn’t to be… an Iceland Gull was seen at Longhoughton Steel (Northumberland) on 10th.
Speaking of absences, where had all the Booted Eagles gone this week? Not so much as a wholly unconfirmed report of a possible bird was there to be had in recent days.
Thank goodness for Montagu’s Harriers then… a possible male was seen in Devon at Togley on 10th, while a juvenile bird was seen in London over Beckton on 12th.
And a Black Kite - one was seen on 16th at Kirkgunzeon (Dumfries & Galloway).
The female Snowy Owl was still to be found on St Kilda (Western Isles) on 16th.
The week’s raptors finish with a fine flourish as, in Co.Mayo, the adult Egyptian Vulture was once more seen this week soaring northeast over Shanvolahan in the mid-afternoon of 11th. It’s not for pinning down, this mobile bird…
We invoked the first glimmers of autumn passage last week, with a handful of scarce warblers on the move. We start this week with warblers once again, with Shetland raising its game a touch above the scarce – with the discovery of a Booted Warbler on Fair Isle on 11th-12th.
Orkney brought a Blyth’s Reed Warbler to the party on North Ronaldsay on 12th; while Marsh Warblers were found this week on Papa Westray (Orkney) on 11th, and Unst (Shetland) on 11th, with another probable bird seen on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 13th.
Back on Shetland, Greenish Warblers were found on Noss on 10th and Out Skerries on 13th.
Out Skerries was enjoying a good week, with two Icterine Warblers present on there on 13th. Further birds were seen this week at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 10th and on the Shetland Mainland at Hoswick on 13th; a final unconfirmed report came of one in Suffolk at Minsmere RSPB on 13th.
A Melodious Warbler was trapped and ringed in Nanjizal Valley on 11th; another was trapped and ringed on Portland (Dorset) on 15th, with another seen on 15th in Gwynedd at Porth Meudwy.
Back to Out Skerries yet again for a Barred Warbler on 13th-14th; preceded in Shetland by one still on Unst on 12th, and one on Fair Isle on 10th rising to two there on 12th; and further examples found this week in Kent at Abbot’s Cliff on 10th and on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 10th-12th.
A Red-backed Shrike was present on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 10th—13th, with a second bird present on the island on 11th-12th; and two were seen on Whalsay (Shetland) on 13th.
Another early hint of autumn trickled in – a Wryneck was seen in Cornwall at Porthgwarra on 12th.
Absent from the news for a while, a mobile flock of eight Bee-eaters cropped up again on 12th, bouncing around the Easington and Kilnsea area. A further possible bird was heard only in Orkney at Dounby on 13th.
On 14th, an Alpine Swift was seen on the Isle of Wight at Culver Down.
After the sustained irruption earlier in the summer, the lingering presence of Rose-coloured Starlings should come as little surprise, even now. Once again, those seen in recent days were of a northerly and westerly distribution. In Scotland, one remained on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 13th-16th; one was seen on Harris (Western Isles) on 12th; and on 14th one was found in Highland at Stoer. In northern England, one was seen in Lancashire at Newton-with-Scales on 14th, whilst another was reported from Brinsworth (South Yorkshire) on 11th. Finally, Irish sightings came on 14th-15th from Dungarvan (Co.Waterford), and on 14th ar Ballycastle (Co.Mayo), the latter site holding two birds.
The male Blue-headed Wagtail was still present at Pilning Wetland (Gloucestershire) on 12th.
We’ll start the overseas news is Germany where numbers of Pygmy Cormorants lately allow for some pleasant daydreams, once more, of just how good one would look at Minsmere or Dungeness… 32 birds have been logged in Germany recently and, on 12th, 10 remained near Ebergoetzen alone. German birders were also treated to a Western Swamphen at Der Spieß - An der Spießbrücke on 13th-14th.
A little closer to home, the Pygmy Cormorant was still present at Plas Laagraven in Holland on 11th-12th; and a Greater Sand Plover was seen on 10th on Texel.
In France, two Lesser Flamingos were present on 12th at Cabane d'Azemard; and an Elegant Tern was seen on 10th still at Baisse de Quenin.
In Spain, a Brown Booby was seen passing Lira on 11th.
Moving into Scandinavia, in Norway, the Sandhill Crane remained at Porsanger on 10th; and, in Sweden, an immature Lesser Spotted Eagle was present on 8th-11th at Kvarngatan.
Finally, much further afield, on 15th a Hoopoe Lark was found in Turkey at Ceylanpinar.
It goes without saying that the coming week will be dominated by decent seabirds and shorebirds – a Fea’s-type Petrel being practically a nailed on certainty in the days to come, while a fresh example of one of the Nearctic trinity of Baird’s / Semipalmated / White-rumped Sandpiper ought to be in the offing too, but for a second week running, my wandering eye falls upon the outside chance of a warbler…
Not of a Nearctic origin this time, though of course we’ll never turn our nose up at anything of that ilk – nope, the third week of August is traditionally right in the heart of when Aquatic Warblers might be hitting southern reedbeds.
Two operative words there – traditionally, and might. Once upon a day, decades ago, they were almost bread-and-butter birds in mid to late August – many’s the birder who, en route to a pelagic on the venerable Scillonian, bobbed into Marazion to tick an Aquatic. They’re found much less regularly these days, testament to a global population in decline. Formerly struck off the BBRC’s register in 1983, so regularly were they being found, they returned as a BB rare in 2014 and, to this day, a mere handful are found annually – hence the ‘might’, couching the prediction in caveats.
Get yourself to a coastal reedbed, preferably one with some adjacent Juncus rushes, and maybe you could find yourself face to face with one of these attractive, lemony tiger-striped warblers this week…
Jon Dunn
17 Aug 2021
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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