Weekly birding round-up: 1 - 7 Feb 2022
The new month opened with, if not a whimper, then not really a bang either, with not a whole lot of new birds to be seen in the past week. Not that this was for want of collective trying, but there’s no getting away from the fact that February is a pretty peaceful month, on the whole. If there was to be anything notable and new, an Arctic gull always felt favourite, and so it proved…
Of all the gulls I’d love to find for myself, Ross’s Gull is right up there at the top of the list. Other gulls in non-adult plumage might represent more of a satisfying cryptic crossword-worthy identification challenge… and it’s hard to overstate the satisfying visceral impact of a fly-by Sabine’s Gull of any age during a seawatch… but truly, if parked on top of a headland looking out to sea, there’s only one gull I daydream about seeing wafting towards me, and that’s a Ross’s Gull.
It’s not just the dainty, dovelike jizz – there’s a salty steel to any animal that’s come down from the wilds of the high Arctic, let alone a waif-life gull. There’s just something that little bit extra about Ross’s Gulls…
So, I can well imagine how exciting it must have been to find an adult bird this week off Kinaird Head (Aberdeenshire) on 6th. I’ve rehearsed the moment enough times in my imagination, after all. And, given the bird was only seen briefly and not thereafter, I can also envisage the sense of loss that comes with such a fleeting encounter.
Aberdeenshire’s certainly no stranger to the species, with nine accepted records on the books to date; and February’s second only to January in terms of the peak time for birds to be found here – in some years we’re blessed with multiple records, and hence there’s certainly no saying that statistically that’s it for 2022. One to continue to watch out for in the weeks to come…
For the first half of the week, at least, the male Belted Kingfisher in Lancashire at Roach Bridge continued to give visitors to the River Darwen at least a sporting chance of seeing it on 1st-4th.
But after that, it had done one of its characteristic will o’ the wisp disappearing acts, and vanished into the Lancastrian ether. Is that game over for the winter? It seems unlikely, on the whole.
Finally, drawing a satisfying line under the headlines, both of our recent drake Baikal Teals were, more or less, still present, though both birds were prone to playing hard (or harder) to get…
For the most part, the Greylake RSPB individual in Somerset was the more reliable beast, being reported more or less daily on 1st-7th. The East Yorkshire bird, on the other hand, forsook Tophill Low NR this past week, being seen instead at Swine Moor again on 2nd-3rd and then, after a leave of absence, back again on 7th.
Rather like the aforementioned kingfisher, Baikal Teals don’t come along that often, let alone prove to be at least semi-reliable. They’re another one to make an effort for this winter. The next opportunity might be some time in coming…
Still top of the seabird class this week, the confiding Pacific Diver remained in Glamorgan at Eglwys Nunydd reservoir on 1st-7th; meanwhile, in the far north, the regular adult White-billed Diver was seen again in South Nesting Bay (Shetland) on 2nd.
Four Little Auks were seen on 4th from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare); and two from Anstruther (Fife) on 6th.
Finally, a possible Pomarine Skua was seen from North Foreland (Kent) on 5th.
With some 80 birds logged over the course of the past week, Glossy Ibises remained omnipresent across much of Britain and Ireland. While Shetland proved too much for those that made it there in recent weeks, Orkney is proving a more clement and conducive winter home – nine birds remained on Westray on 3rd-6th; while off the south coast, the flock of 11 birds were still happily settled at Brading Marsh RSPB (Isle of Wight) on 1st-7th.
Nor were these the only chunky flocks seen in Britain – 10 birds lingered in the Exminster Marshes area of Devon on 1st-5th; nine were hanging around the environs of Chapel Amble (Cornwall) on 1st-4th still; the regular Devonian site of Fremington boasted six birds on 4th; and further half dozens were present at Ouse Fen RSPB (Cambridgeshire) on 2nd-5th, and around Pagham Harbour (West Sussex) on 1st-7th.
Ireland held some smaller flocks – trios noted on 2nd in Co.Wexford at Tacumshin and Cahore, with the former site rising to four birds on 7th.
Norfolk birders could have been forgiven for feeling a little left out thus far this winter with Red-breasted Geese above and below the county in Lincolnshire and Essex, but that omission was set to be put right this past week with the discovery of an adult bird at Cley on 3rd – one of the two birds that had been seen earlier in the winter period down in Essex. It shifted to Blakeney Freshmarsh as the day wore on and, during 4th-7th, maintained that slightly mobile disposition. Nonetheless, a potent draw for birders both local and, over the weekend, from further afield too. Nor was this the only sighting of the week – the adult was again seen in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh RSPB on 3rd; while down in Essex sightings of the Norfolk bird’s erstwhile companion came from South Fambridge on 4th and 6th-7th, and Wallasea Island RSPB again on 5th.
Pleased to finally catch up with the RB goose properly today. What a bird!!!
— Henry Wyn-Jones (@hwjwildlife) February 5, 2022
(Sound on to appreciate it’s greatness) pic.twitter.com/aqsZkIXPai
In Scotland, the adult Ross’s Goosecontinued to hang around the Millichen area (Clyde) on 1st-7th.
Meanwhile, in Moray, three white morph Snow Geese remained around Loch Spynie on 2nd-7th; Cheshire continued to hold a single bird at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB on 1st-2nd and Frodsham on 3rd; and three white morphs remained at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 1st-2nd.
Mersea Island (Essex) gave us a Black Brant on 1st again, and also on 6th; one was seen on The Fleet (Dorset) on 1st and 6th also; one was seen in Kent on 7th on the beach at Swalecliffe; and a further probable bird was at Kilnsea Wetlands (East Yorkshire) on 4th presumably was the selfsame bird as that confirmed at Skeffling on 6th.
Of The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, an interior Todd’s Canada Goose was again seen at Marshside RSPB (Lancashire) on 2nd, while the two probable birds remained at Doonbeg (Co.Clare) on 4th still.
Doonbeg also held a Cackling Goose on 4th; while two were seen on North Uist (Western Isles) on 2nd.
Obvious ducky distractions in Somerset and East Yorkshire aside, the week was a little quieter than of late where quackers were concerned, with even the White-winged Scoter in Lothian leaving it until 6th-7th to put in an appearance off Musselburgh. Indeed, we only had a couple of British Surf Scoters for most of this week, seen off Tresco (Scilly) still on 2nd and once more on 7th, and Musselburgh (Lothian) on 4th-6th still; that is, until 7th, when there was one bird again seen off Barra (Western Isles), two individuals once more at Musselburgh, and five birds were seen from Gilman Point (Carmarthenshire). Two were noted in Ireland still near Laytown (Co.Meath) on 6th.
In Highland, the drake King Eider remained off Nairn on 1st-7th. There’s bound to be some still in Shetland too, but the islands haven’t had much of a break from storms this past week, so the viewing conditions have been less than conducive to say the least.
The week again boasted a trio of American Wigeons - one still in Scotland at Crook of Baldoon RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 3rd-4th; one in England at Idle Valley NR (Nottinghamshire) still on 1st-7th; and the Irish bird still present at Ballyallia Lake (Co.Clare) on 2nd.
Just eight Green-winged Teals were reported this week, a noticeable drop on recent weekly tallies. These were single birds at Belvide reservoir (Staffordshire) still on 1st-3rd and Middleton Lakes RSPB again on 7th; Venus Pool NR (Shropshire) on 5th-6th; Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 5th again; on 7th at Priory CP (Bedfordshire), and still present on Barra (Western Isles); at Castle Espie WWT (Co.Down) on 2nd-6th still; at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) on 1st still; and at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) still on 6th.
If the week was notable for anything on the rarity duckpond, it was once more Ring-necked Ducks, with a solidly impressive 50 or so birds logged across Britain and Ireland. Marking a change, the highest count came neither from Cornwall nor Co.Sligo – instead, this week, a flock of six birds appeared near Kenfig Hill, at Margam Opencast, on 3rd-7th, further burnishing Glamorgan’s exceptional winter birding performance this year – they’ve been present there early January. Ireland, meanwhile, scored five birds at Lough Yganavan (Co.Kerry) on 6th. Betcha there’s still some more out there, overlooked, amongst the Tufties in Britain and Ireland…
Around a dozen Lesser Scaups were noted in recent days – these being the first-winter drake still on Tresco (Scilly) on 2nd; the first-winter female again in Dorset at Abbotsbury on 1st-5th; the drake still in Ayrshire at Auchincross on 1st-7th; the female still out on South Uist (Western Isles) on 2nd-5th, Benbecula supplying sightings on 1st-5th also; a drake at Oxford Island NNR (Co.Armagh) on 1st and again on 6th; and two first-winters on Woodend Loch (Clyde) on 2nd-7th, with a possible drake also present there on the last date. Three remained on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 7th also.
The female Ferruginous Duck was again seen at Aqualate Mere (Staffordshire) on 4th and 6th.
Moving to honorary waterfowl, the adult Pied-billed Grebe, was still present on Loch Feorlin (Argyll & Bute) on 1st; the American Coot was still to be seen on Lough Yganavan (Co.Kerry) on 6th and, on 7th, one was found in Co.Wexford at Lady’s Island Lake.
The resolute (or should that be ‘resident’?) adult White-tailed Lapwing remained in Lincolnshire in the East Halton Skitter area this week on 1st-7th.
In Co.Cork, the Semipalmated Plover was still present at Crookhaven on 2nd-5th.
Glamorgan continued to go from strength to strength this week with the Pacific Diver at Eglwys Nunydd reservoir joined at the site by a Spotted Sandpiper on 6th-7th.
Lesser Yellowlegs continued to be seen in recent days at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 1st-7th, at Rahasane Turlough (Co.Galway) on 2nd-6th, and at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) still on 7th.
And, last of all, a Grey Phalarope was seen from Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire) on 6th.
While recent winds from the north paid rare dividends in Aberdeenshire this week, the winter remains somewhat underwhelming where the commoner white-wingers are concerned – neither Glaucous Gulls and Iceland Gulls are setting the world on fire just yet, with a mere 35 of the former and 50 of the latter species respectively noted this past week, and no notable single site aggregations to report apart from five of the latter species at ever-reliable Killybegs (Co.Donegal) on 6th.
The recent juvenile Kumlien’s Gull remained on Barra (Western Isles) on 1st-6th, while an adult was seen on Orkney on Westray on 2nd.
Some, though not all, of the usual suspects amongst our regular
Moving onto Ring-billed Gulls were seen again in recent days. Starting in Scotland, the adult remained at Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) on 2nd-3rd, and the Lothian adult was still present at Holyrood Park on 1st-7th, also presumably accounting for the bird seen on the sea at Joppa on 2nd. In Hampshire, the adult was once more noted at Blashford Lakes HWT on 3rd-7th, and Tidpit Down on 5th; and, in Cornwall, the adult was again seen on the Hayle estuary on 2nd-7th. Irish sightings came on 6th, from Cork (Co.Cork) and Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre (Co.Kerry) again.
Once more comfortably representing the best of the raptors this week, the juvenile Northern Harrier was still present in Ireland at Lough Boora Parklands (Co.Offaly) on 1st-6th.
A Rough-legged Buzzard came late to the weekly party on 7th at Bransdale (North Yorkshire).
Passerines of note this week noticeably dwindled, with a number of recent rare and scarce stalwarts conspicuous by their absence from the daily news reports.
Perhaps the most crowd-pleasing of what was left, outwith the headlines, was the wintering Red-flanked Bluetail still present in Co.Durham at Bowlees on 1st-7th, allowing some birders heading north to score a magnificent double with the Lancashire Belted Kingfisher.
Down in the southwest, the American Buff-bellied Pipit, unreported for much of the week, was again seen on 5th at Prawle Point (Devon); while a Richard’s Pipit was seen on 5th also at Steart WWT (Somerset).
Wintering warblers remained, up to a point, a thing for another week. Best of them were both recent Hume’s Warblers, still being seen intermittently at Bockhill Farm Wood (Kent) on and at Eastbourne (East Sussex) throughout the week.
Overwintering Yellow-browed Warblers continued to come out of the woodwork, with the St Austell (Cornwall) bird still present on 1st-5th joined in the area by a second bird on 2nd, and news of another garden bird emerging from Plymouth (Devon) on 5th-6th, having been present there for several weeks beforehand. Elsewhere, birds remained at Hook-with-Warsash (Hampshire) on 2nd, Weston-super-Mare (Somerset) on 3rd-4th, Milton CP (Cambridgeshire) on 1st-6th, and in Ireland at Dungarvan (Co.Waterford) still on 2nd. A final probable bird was reported on 2nd from Winchester (Hampshire). Seven or eight birds in total, then – we had worse weeks for the species at the height of last autumn…
There was no news of the Pallas’s Warbler in Oxfordshire at Abingdon sewage works this week, but another, mobile, bird was reported from Brancaster Staithe (Norfolk) on 1st.
In Somerset, the three recent Penduline Tits were still settled at Weston Airfield until 7th.
Norfolk’s Short-toed Lark was again noted in flight at West Runton on 4th.
Four stalwart Great Grey Shrikes were logged in recent days – near Comberton (Cambridgeshire) still on 1st; on 2nd at Wistow (North Yorkshire) and in Glen Feshie (Highland) still; on 2nd-7th in Denbighshire at Llyn Brenig still; and on 7th at Killington (Cumbria) again.
For yet another week, Waxwings failed to scrape into double figures. A flock of three, lingering in Grantown-on-Spey (Highland) on 1st-7th, were the best of the slim national pickings. Elsewhere, two were present in Elgin (Moray) on 2nd-6th, and single birds were seen on 1st-2nd in Suffolk at Bucklesham, on 2nd in Aviemore (Highland), and on 3rd at Kirkton (Moray).
Finally, both recent Serins remained to be seen this week – one still present in Devon at Axmouth on 2nd, and the female still inland at Maple Cross (Hertfordshire) on 2nd-7th.
The overseas news starts, for a second consecutive week, with lost lapwings and, of those, the best in recent days was the discovery in Israel on 2nd of the country’s fifth record of Red-wattled Lapwing.
Red-wattled Lapwing, Hoplopterus indicus photographed at Nahal Tirza, Jordan Valley by Shraga Strazs - 5th record for Israel pic.twitter.com/AjDJ9iHHE7
— Tarsiger (@TarsigerTeam) February 2, 2022
Back in Spain, meanwhile, Sociable Lapwings continued to be seen on the Ebro Delta at La Tancada still on 2nd-7th, and in Extremadura near Puebla de Allcollarin on 2nd-4th still.
In Holland this week the Western Swamphen remained at Het Nieuwe Waterschap on 4th, and the resident Pygmy Cormorant was still at Utrecht on 1st-4th.
Belgium’s first-winter Ross’s Gull remained at Nieuwpoort on 1st-7th.
In Norway, meanwhile, the third-winter Glaucous-winged Gull was seen again, at Graelvosen on 31st-5th.
Sweden’s overwintering male Siberian Rubythroat was still going strong at Vargön on 2nd-7th, surviving the worst the Swedish winter can throw at it.
Finally, heading much further afield, out on the Azores a Wood Duck was present on Sao Miguel on 2nd; and, on 2nd-6th, an Allen’s Gallinule was seen on Sal (Cape Verde).
Flushed with the modest success of predicting a Ross’s Gull - but not rushing to buy any lottery tickets just yet, as there did feel a certain inevitability about a rare Arctic gull last week – it’s time to have a little ponder about what the second week of February might herald.
The week begins with a conveyor belt of brisk westerlies heading across the north Atlantic towards the northern half of Britain and Ireland; and, conversely, the southern half of the region being whipped by spinning westerlies that owe their origin to Spain and northwest Africa. By the weekend, we could have southerlies on our hands. Conceivably something for everyone there, then…
A couple of significant rarity anniversaries in the coming week offer straws for the terminally optimistic to clutch at. Twenty years ago, on 10th February 2002, a moribund Allen’s Gallinule was picked up, literally, on Portland (Dorset)… while eight years ago, on 8th February 2014, Ireland’s first Slaty-backed Gull was found in Galway (Co.Galway).
Why single those two longshots out? Well, the past few weeks have been marked by several wayward Allen’s Gallinules, including one only this past week on Cape Verde, so there’s a timely reminder that if we’re really, really fortunate there may yet be a chance to drop absolutely everything and hit the road running were one to be found again on our shores…
And as for the gull, with Norway recently blessed with a Glaucous-winged Gull, we shouldn’t forget the outside chance of a large Pacific gull turning up close to home at this point in the year. Keep checking those gull flocks. You just never know.
Jon Dunn
8 February 2022
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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