Weekly birding round-up: 16 - 22 Nov 2021
In an otherwise fairly quiet week of British and Irish birding, it fell to one notable new arrival and two recent arrivals to make up the headlines. That said, away from the headlines, there was a lingering Little Auk in Dorset that was to prove popular and, for those in the right place at the right time, a noticeable arrival of Lesser Scaups and Dusky Warblers.
Until almost the eleventh hour this week it looked like the headlines would be dominated entirely by the prior week’s two big ticket Irish arrivals but then, after darkness had fallen on 22nd, came the news that a Killdeer had been found by a crofter the previous day on Tiree (Argyll & Bute), and was still present late on 22nd.
They’re a classic late autumn / early winter arrival, but they’re far from annual – a glance at the stats tells us there are plenty enough blank years to teach us not to take one for granted.
And just 60 accepted British records to the end of 2020… By any standards, then, a Killdeer is a good find. Moreover, in Argyll & Bute a Killdeer is a properly decent bird – this week’s individual is just the fourth for the county. The first, present on Colonsay on 7th-8th January 1984, was almost 40 years ago… and the second and third records, on Oronsay in October 2006 and Islay in January 2011 respectively, were both one-day birds.
Not annual in a British context then, and not easy in an Argyll & Bute context either. With news of this week’s bird breaking late on 22nd, it remains to be seen if the bird remains to be seen during the coming week…
Very much holding its own in the headlines still, the juvenile Northern Harrier remained throughout the current week at Lough Boora Parklands in Co.Offaly until 21st. Great news for Irish birders, of course – while, for British birders, the wait for another accessible, lingering individual on the British mainland goes on… The memory of the birds in Cambridgeshire in autumn 2013, and Norfolk over the winter of 2010/11, is starting to dwindle in our birding rear view mirrors.
The same could fairly be said for American Coot - the last mainland British example was the wintering bird on Loch Flemington (Highland) between 4th January – 18th April 2014, but that was a few years back and right up in Scotland. For a gettable English example, we need to go right back to the Stodmarsh (Kent) bird of April 1996.
As we said last week, damningly, Ireland’s last three American Coots were all found in November, and all went on to overwinter. The bird found last week at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) may not, on the showing of the week just gone, be set to follow in their footsteps – present there still on 16th-19th, but not reported thereafter.
For the first few days of the week, it looked like we were finally calming down on the Little Auk front, with mere dozens reported, of which one lingering in Weymouth (Dorset) until 22nd was deservedly the most popular – at times an outrageously confiding individual, sparking fond memories of the Dorset Brunnich’s Guillemot of December 2013. Then, on 20th, Fife roared back into the daily news with 693 birds seen from Fife Ness, by some comfortable margin the lion’s share of the 1,400 birds noted nationwide over the course of the week as a whole.
Speaking of Brunnich’s Guillemots, a probable bird was seen for just a few seconds passing the bow of the Stornoway-Ullapool (Western Isles / Highland) ferry in the morning of 19th.
The adult Pacific Diver was seen again in Crookhaven (Co.Cork) on 18th-22nd. Surely we’re due a Cornish bird any day now…
A handful of White-billed Divers were seen this week – in Shetland, one passing Unst on 19th, the regular bird again in South Nesting Bay on 21st, and another seen at the latter site also on 21st; in Orkney, where two were seen from Papa Westray on 21st; and in Highland, where one was noted from Skye on 21st. On 22nd further birds were seen from the Scottish mainland at Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire) and Eyemouth (Borders).
In Norfolk on 21st sightings of a single Leach’s Petrel came in the morning from Cley and in the early afternoon from Sheringham. The pace quickened on 22nd with eight more birds seen, most of them from the north Kent coast, but with outliers off Lowestoft (Suffolk) and Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire).
22nd was proving a potent day to be seawatching further north still – a Fea’s / Desertas Petrel was seen early that afternoon heading north past Flamborough (East Yorkshire).
Finally, some 50 Pomarine Skuas were noted in recent days, with a peak count of 10 past Chapel Point (Lincolnshire) on 21st. Single Long-tailed Skuas were logged in East Yorkshire from Spurn on 17th and Flamborough on 19th, and off Point Lynas (Anglesey) on 21st. Two of the latter species were seen from Flamborough on 22nd.
And so to our long-legged beasties, where Glossy Ibises remained a reliable presence across the southern half of Britain and Ireland. The 32 birds in all recorded held some small flocks amongst them, notably the half dozen still present in Cambridgeshire around the Berry Fen area still until 22nd and, in Devon, two birds at the regular site of Fremington rising to four present on 17th-21st. Irish birds were seen near Waterford (Co.Waterford) still on 16th-19th, where two birds remained; at Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 16th; in Co.Wexford at South Slob on 20th, Tacumshin on 20th-21st with two birds there on 22nd, and Rosslare Back Strand on 21st; and in Co.Cork at Courtmacsherry, where two birds were seen in flight on 22nd.
Starting the honkers and quackers once again in Essex, both recent Red-breasted Geese remained at Dengie Marshes on 16th-22nd, while up on Islay (Argyll & Bute) the bird remained on 18th-19th.
Essex sightings of Black Brant came on 18th from Benfleet Creek, on 18th-19th at Mersea Island, and on 22nd from Leigh-on-Sea; while in Dorset two birds haunted The Fleet on 19th-20th, with one seen from Ferrybridge on 21st.
An adult Grey-bellied Brant was seen on 22nd at Lurgangreen (Co.Louth).
Three white Snow Geese remained in Moray at Loch Spynie on 17th still and Clochan on 20th-21st; one was seen in Forth at Grangemouth on 20th; and on 21st single birds were present on South Uist (Western Isles), by Skinflats Lagoons RSPB (Forth), and at Formby Moss (Lancashire).
Islay (Argyll & Bute) brings us back to The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, where the hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose remained on 16th-19th. Interior Todd’s Canada Geese were seen this week at Budle Bay (Northumberland) again on 17th-21st; Rockcliffe Marsh (Cumbria) again on 18th; on Barra (Western Isles) on 20th; near Banks (Lancashire) on 21st; and on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 22nd; a further probable bird was seen on Yell (Shetland) on 22nd. On 21st, two Cackling Geese were found on North Uist (Western Isles).
All of which leads us to the quackers where, this week, one of the more notable birding events was an arrival of Lesser Scaups into Britain and Ireland. The Islay (Argyll & Bute) first-winter drake remained at Loch Skerrols on 18th, but was joined there on 21st by two more drakes and, on 22nd, by still another drake besides. In Ireland, a drake was found on Cloonacleigha Lough (Co.Sligo) on 20th-21st, and another drake was seen on Lough Sheelin (Co.Cavan) on 21st; back in Scotland, another drake was seen on Lewis (Western Isles) on 21st also, and a juvenile was present on 21st-22nd on South Uist (Western Isles). Finally, on Scilly, the first-winter drake remained on Tresco on 20th.
(In the context of such a Nearctic flavour it’s worth noting, merely as an aside, you understand, that a first-winter drake Wood Duck was seen this week on 15th-17th at Whitburn (Co.Durham)…)
Moving swiftly on, then. A shade over 30 Ring-necked Ducks were logged in recent days, with the flock of eight birds at Dozmary Pool (Cornwall) still on 16th-18th the highest single site tally; three birds were again on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 19th, but apart from them it was all duos or single birds elsewhere.
The female Ferruginous Duck remained at Belvide reservoir (Staffordshire) on 16th, and presumably also accounts for the bird seen at Marsh Lane NR (West Midlands) on 20th-21st; the drake was again seen in Hampshire at Blashford Lakes on 21st; and a drake was reported from Staines reservoir (Surrey) on 21st.
In Bedfordshire, the drake American Wigeon was again noted at Marston Vale Millennium CP on 16th; and the drake was again seen at Udale Bay RSPB (Highland) on 21st.
Numbers of Green-winged Teals held firm again this week, headed by the two birds still present at Courtmacsherry (Co.Cork) on 18th; single birds were seen at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) still on 19th, Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 16th, East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow) still on 20th, Barra (Western Isles) still on 20th, and on the Lossie estuary (Moray) on 16th still. More were found on 21st in the Western Isles on North Uist and South Uist, and one more in Cambridgeshire at Ouse Washes RSPB.
Scotland’s duo of rare scoters remained present and correct this week – in Moray, the drake Black Scoter was still to be seen off Lossiemouth on 16th-20th, while in Lothian, the drake White-winged Scoter remained off Musselburgh on 16th-22nd.
Varying hauls of Surf Scoters were seen over the days off Musselburgh, with a peak count again of three birds on 17th and 21st-22nd. Overall, 11 birds were again logged nationwide this week.
Two of our recent King Eiders were again noted this week – these being the first-winter drake again off Musselburgh on 16th-17th, and the drake still off Hopeman (Moray) on 16th-18th.
Last but not least, our honorary wildfowl, the male Pied-billed Grebe on Loch Feorlin (Argyll & Bute) was once more seen there on 18th.
With no reports of the resident adult White-tailed Lapwing at Blacktoft Sands RSPB in East Yorkshire on 15th it was tempting to wonder if it had moved on at long last – but no, there it was again this week on 17th-22nd. At this rate it’s starting to look like a wintering attempt…
In Ireland, the adult Semipalmated Plover was still present in Co.Cork at Crookhaven on 18th-22nd.
Ireland also racked up three American Golden Plovers this week – one on 16th-20th at Ballycotton (Co.Cork); one on 19th at Ballylongford (Co.Kerry); and a final bird on 20th at The Cull (Co.Wexford). An English bird was found on 20th-22nd at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall).
The Pectoral Sandpiper remained this week in Devon at South Huish Marshes on 16th-20th.
On St Mary’s (Scilly) the juvenile Spotted Sandpiper was still to be seen at Porthloo on 16th-19th.
The Lesser Yellowlegs was still present at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 19th-20th; and another was seen again on 21st at Rahasane Turlough (Co.Galway).
Just three Grey Phalaropes were seen in the first half of this week, though one of those was a lingering bird, present still at Whixall Moss (Shropshire) on 16th-20th. The balance were individuals seen at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 17th and Cley (Norfolk) on 20th. On 21st that all changed with a surge of records – 25 birds seen down the east coast, with a count of 14 from Fife Ness (Fife) the highest tally.
Pick of an otherwise quiet week once more for gulls, a first-winter Laughing Gull was seen in Hampshire on the morning of 18th over Tweseldown Hill.
In Northumberland, the adult Bonaparte’s Gull remained at Stag Rocks on 16th-17th.
In Ireland, the adult Ring-billed Gull was still present at Blackrock (Co.Louth) on 18th-20th.
A Sabine’s Gull was seen in Kent on 21st at Shell Ness; the following day, another was seen in Norfolk off Winterton.
Around a dozen Glaucous Gulls were seen this week, while Iceland Gulls were only a little more numerous, with some 20 birds noted nationwide. A cold spell in the week to come could augur some more white-wingers, but it’s early days yet in the course of the winter that lies ahead.
In Cambridgeshire, a third-winter Kumlien’s Gull was found on 21st in the pig fields at Heydon.
A possible second-winter American Herring Gull was seen on Jura (Argyll & Bute) on 22nd.
The returning adult Forster’s Tern remained at Co.Galway’s Kinvarra on 16th-21st.
A possible Gyr was seen this week in Cornwall at Trerulefoot on 18th.
In Suffolk, a Rough-legged Buzzard was found on Orford Ness on 16th; and another was seen over the weekend on 21st in Northumberland north of Harwood Forest. On 22nd, further reports came from Kent at Chetney Marshes and Samphire Hoe CP; and Highland, where a probable bird was seen in Glen Kyllachy.
Out on St Kilda (Western Isles), the female Snowy Owl was settling in for another long winter residency on 16th still.
The week’s passerine highlight had to be the arrival of Dusky Warblers into the English southwest in recent days. The week commenced with birds still present at Stiffkey (Norfolk) and Porthgwarra (Cornwall) still on 16th, with another seen on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 16th-19th. A second probable bird was seen fleetingly on St Mary’s on 17th, while one was present at Nanjizal Valley (Cornwall) on 17th-20th. None of this prepared us for 20th though, for that day saw three more at Porthgwarra, and three on Tresco (Scilly). One remained at Porthgwarra on 21st, while another was present on 20th-21st on The Lizard (Cornwall). How many were buried deep in other lush corners of Scilly, or verdant Cornish valleys? A final bird was found in the east on 22nd at Holkham Pines (Norfolk).
Cornwall’s valleys certainly harboured more than Duskies this week - Radde’s Warblers were found on 17th in Cot, and on 19th at Nanjizal.
10 Yellow-browed Warblers seen this week nationwide were, by the muted standards of the preceding autumn weeks, a good haul. Two Pallas’s Warblers were noted, one still present at Waxham (Norfolk) on 16th, and another in Weymouth (Dorset) on 21st.
A Barred Warbler was found in Norfolk on 22nd at Waxham.
Whether the skulking Blyth’s Reed Warbler found on Shetland at Boddam on 21st was newly arrived or only now coming out of the woodwork is a moot thing – but either way, it’s a late bird.
Sticking with Shetland for a moment, the Black-throated Thrush remained on Whalsay at Skaw on 16th.
Norfolk scored an elusive Red-flanked Bluetail on Blakeney Point on 22nd.
A Bluethroat was trapped and ringed in Cornwall at Nanjizal Valley on 18th.
A couple of late Red-breasted Flycatchers were found on the south coast this week – one at Portland in the Obs garden on 18th-19th, trapped and ringed there on 19th; and one at Dungeness (Kent) on 20th.
The female Pied Wheatear lingered a while longer in Co.Durham at Whitburn on 16th-17th.
A Red-throated Pipit was a good late, westerly find at Mizen Head (Co.Cork) on 18th. A possible Olive-backed Pipit was noted at Burnham-on-Sea (Somerset) on 20th.
Richard’s Pipits, meanwhile, were logged at Kingston Seymour (Somerset) on 16th, Cadgwith (Cornwall) on 17th, and Heacham (Norfolk) on 22nd, with a further probable bird over East Wretham (Norfolk) on 16th.
In a sign that early winter was consolidating its grip on the country, numbers of Great Grey Shrikes rose a little further this week. Birds remained at Waxham (Norfolk) on 16th-22nd, Backley Bottom (Hampshire) still on 16th-21st, and Llyn Brenig (Denbighshire) on 17th-22nd, with two birds at the latter site on 21st. Further sightings came from Strathy (Highland) on 16th and near Comberton (Cambridgeshire) on 19th-22nd, with a further probable seen in flight at the traditional wintering grounds of Crabtree Hill (Gloucestershire) on 17th.
A Red-backed Shrike meanwhile was found in Gwynedd near Machroes on 21st.
A few Waxwings were noted in recent days – single birds over the Kielder Forest (Northumberland) on 16th, at Reay (Highland) on 20th, and at Toft (Cheshire) on 20th; and seven passing over Wray Castle (Cumbria) on 16th.
The juvenile Rose-coloured Starling remained this week at Lower Boscaswell (Cornwall) on 22nd; another individual was present in a private garden in Morfa Nefyn (Gwynedd) on 20th-22nd.
Four Serins were seen this week – one, a female, on the Gann estuary (Pembrokeshire) on 16th, another on The Lizard (Cornwall) on 20th, and two in Norfolk near Horsford on 17th-18th.
Finally, in East Sussex, the Little Bunting remained at Poundgate on 16th-21st, and a probable bird was heard only over Nanjizal Valley (Cornwall) on 20th.
Not a great deal of earth-shattering news to get through overseas this week, though British birders would be delighted were we to ever get a settled male Siberian Rubythroat like the one Swedish birders continued to enjoy this week at Vargön on 17th-21st. Sweden’s recent Steppe Eagle also remained near Stora Ek on 17th-19th.
Norway’s meena Western Rufous Turtle Dove remained on 21st at Hegevika; and the recent Brown Shrike at Lista on 21st.
Denmark scored an Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Skallingen on 20th.
In Belgium, the country’s first Western Swamphen remained in rude health at Het Vinne on 18th-19th.
Holland’s first Eastern Olivaceous Warbler continued its long residency at Nieuwvliet-Bad on 17th-20th – if only all national firsts were this obliging. The settled Pygmy Cormorant was still present at Utrecht on 19th-20th.
In France, a Sociable Lapwing remained at Chemin du Grand Badon on 18th.
Finally, to the Azores, where on 16th Terceira held onto four Great Blue Herons and a Snowy Egret, the latter still present on 18th; another Snowy Egret lingered on Sao Miguel on 17th-19th.
At the time of writing it’s looking like the coming week may feature a cold snap with northerlies of one flavour or another dominating the forecast. Time then to wrap up warm and think about something rare from those quarters.
Is the final week of November too early for an Arctic gull? Three past records of Ivory Gull for the week ahead suggest not…
Nine historic records of Gyr give more concrete cause for optimism – the coming week’s been fruitful for them. But standing on the cusp of the traditionally best month of the year for them, and with Dan Brown’s fly-by probable bird of this past week a timely shot across our bows, a spell of northerlies just might herald a Brunnich’s Guillemot. Another confiding bird like the one that settled into Dorset in 2013 would undoubtedly be popular.
Jon Dunn
16 Nov 2021
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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