Weekly birding round-up: 8 - 14 Feb 2022
Love was very much in the air during the week just gone. Love, specifically, for yet another hot American bird that’s wintering an ocean away from home. With a certain kingfisher still happily tucked away in the north of England, this week’s star bird on the English south coast, together with a new arrival in Ireland, were spreading the love – while quality birds from recent days and weeks remained in Scotland and Wales too. Love was, as they say, all around us.
As the embers of autumn 2021 were dimming, Orkney’s Varied Thrush reignited the year for many an intrepid birder – for a few days, British birding social media was afire with triumphant images of this strong contender for bird of the year.
All of which said, Orkney was a step too far for some – too time consuming, too expensive, or simply too far from home to countenance. A bird, then, to be enjoyed vicariously by some of us.
The birding gods were clearly keen to redress the balance with a Nearctic thrush in a more accessible location, somewhere on the British mainland, for this week news broke of an American Robin in Eastbourne (East Sussex). Found on 8th, not only was this in an eminently twitchable – even by public transport – location, but the bird proved to be immensely obliging, showing reliably well there until the close of the week on 14th.
If that weren’t enough, with the wintering Hume’s Warbler also still tucked into the mild Sussex coastal microclimate of Eastbourne, the American Robin had rare company, and the makings of a grand day out were there.
With fewer than 30 accepted prior British records American Robins, their obvious aesthetic charms notwithstanding, continue to exert a potent draw. They’ve an established history of wintering once they make it here, with a number of those prior records involving long-staying birds – giving some hope that this individual may yet chose to linger in the area for some days or even weeks to come.
Glancing at those past records, there’s an unbroken line of southern coastal counties that have enjoyed past birds stretching from Scilly to Dorset, but this week’s individual marks the first record for East Sussex. Sussex birders may be forgiven for wondering what’s next in the pipeline, given Pulborough (West Sussex) delivered last year’s formerly Devonian Northern Mockingbird for a day on 8th April 2021, whilst a wintering White-throated Sparrow remained at the time happily ensconced at Barcombe Cross (East Sussex).
Maybe a wintering Nearctic warbler of some description? Stranger things have happened… Those of us of a certain vintage will remember events of winter 1989 when neighbouring Kent landed the astonishing double of Golden-winged Warbler and Common Yellowthroat.
While much British attention was focused on East Sussex in recent days, Ireland remained a slumbering giant to the west. Still harbouring American Coots and a Northern Harrier as reminders of a notable autumn for Nearctic vagrancy, the feeling that something else might yet come out of the woodwork was hard to shake.
In the last hours of daylight in the afternoon of 14th, news broke of something that fitted the mega bill nicely – Ireland’s third (or fourth) Double-crested Cormorant in Co.Leitrim at Doon Lough.
In the light of events in 2021, that’s not quite the startling news it until comparatively recently once was. Ireland’s first dates back to late 1995, a bird that settled at Nimmo’s Pier (Co.Galway) from 18th November 1995 – 6th January 1996 but, after that, Irish birders had to wait until 29th September 2020 for so much as a sniff of another bird – and that was one reported a month later as having been on a boat 149 miles off the Co.Kerry coast.
News began to tentatively emerge of another, actually in Co.Kerry later in November 2020 and, before too long, in December the cat was out of the bag – one was present near Ballylongford, and there it obligingly stayed until 30th May 2021.
A six month stay, albeit in turbulent times, allowed space for Irish birders to catch up with it – but this latest bird, further north, may yet attract a new tranche of admirers if it proves to stick in the days to come.
Sure enough, last seen in Lancashire at Roach Bridge on 4th, the male Belted Kingfisher was back there again this week on 10th-14th. It’s already been said in the context of the ongoing Baikal Teals, but bears repeating – don’t let complacency get the better of you. There’ll come a time when it does a final bunk and then, sure as raptors are illegally killed in the British countryside, there won’t be another one for many years to come.
Enjoy it while you can.
If England was feeling the love for those two Nearctic passerines this past week, Wales still held onto some quality rarities of its own – not least the perpetually pleasing Pacific Diver still present in Glamorgan at Eglwys Nunydd reservoir on 8th-14th.
Four White-billed Divers were logged this week – most of them in Scotland, but one remaining off Stag Rocks (Northumberland) on 9th-12th. Scottish birds were seen from Sandhaven (Aberdeenshire) on 12th, Papa Westray (Orkney) again on 9th, and off Unst (Shetland) on 11th.
Single Little Auks were noted over the course of recent days from Redcar (Cleveland) on 8th, Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 9th, Stag Rocks (Northumberland) on 11th, and Achabeag (Highland) on 13th.
Finally, two Pomarine Skuas were seen from Berry Head (Devon) on 8th; and one more from North Foreland (Kent) on 13th.
Numbers of Glossy Ibises held true for another week, with some 80 birds noted nationwide over the course of recent days. Honours were widely spread once again, with one of the more notable flocks remaining in the north of Scotland on Westray (Orkney), where nine birds were still to be seen on 8th-14th; while in the south of England, the flock of 11 birds were still present on the Isle of Wight at Brading Marsh RSPB on 9th-13th.
No such largesse was found in East Anglia, though both Suffolk and Norfolk logged single birds – but in the west of England there were still lingering flocks to be found. 10 birds continued to roam around the Exe Estuary in Devon on 9th, while in Cornwall a peak count of nine birds was seen at Chapel Amble on 9th.
Ireland didn’t scale such dizzy heights, but smaller flocks were out there for the finding. Four remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 8th-13th, while three were present at Lough Aderra (Co.Cork) on 10th.
Starting the honkers and quackers with negative news, for once – in the absence of any sightings of the Red-breasted Goose on Islay (Argyll & Bute) since 27th January, we can’t lay unequivocal claim to there being four birds present in Britain this winter – but we can, at least, be sure there are three individuals present still on the English east coast. This week sightings came from the South Fambridge area of Essex still on 8th-14th; Cley and Blakeney Freshmarsh (Norfolk) still on 8th-14th; and at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) again on 10th-14th.
In Scotland, the somewhat mobile adult Ross’s Goose was again seen in the Milngavie area of Clyde on 12th-14th.
In Moray, the three white morph Snow Geese remained around Loch Spynie on 8th-13th; three birds also remained at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 8th-14th; sightings of a single white morph in the English northwest came from Marshside RSPB on 9th and Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB (Lancashire) on 11th; one was still present on North Uist (Western Isles) on 14th; and one remained in Ireland at Lissadell (Co.Sligo) on 11th-14th.
A handful of Black Brants were recorded this week. Starting in the north, East Yorkshire sightings came from Skeffling on 9th and 11th, and Kilnsea on 10th; one was again seen in Essex at Blue House Farm EWT on 10th; two were off Reculver (Kent) on 13th; and on the south coast, birds were noted at Emsworth (Hampshire) on 8th, and The Fleet (Dorset) on 11th.
Two possible Grey-bellied Brants were once more seen at Kilbarrack (Co.Dublin) on 11th; and one on 12th-14th at Kilcoole (Co.Wicklow).
Onto The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, single interior Todd’s Canada Geese were present on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) still on 9th, at Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) still on 8th-13th, and on 13th at Mersehead RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway); and hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Geese on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 8th again, at Lissadell still on 12th-14th and Ballintemple (Co.Sligo) on 13th, and Annagh (Co.Mayo) on 13th. Two Cackling Geese remained on North Uist (Western Isles) on 10th, preceding a Richardson’s Cackling Goose there on 13th.
And so to the ducks, where we can only kick off with the recent drake Baikal Teals - both still present, intermittently, this week in Somerset and East Yorkshire respectively. The former bird, at Greylake RSPB, was seen on 8th-14th, though not reported on 9th; while the latter individual was seen on 8th-12th, but also went unseen on 9th.
In Ireland, the drake Black Duck was again seen on Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 8th-13th.
Drake American Wigeons remained at Idle Valley NR (Nottinghamshire) on 8th-14th, Crook of Baldoon RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 8th and Ballyallia Lake (Co.Clare) on 11th. A further possible bird was reported from Marshside RSPB (Lancashire) on 9th.
Eleven Green-winged Teals were reported this week. Two were still present on Barra (Western Isles) on 11th; and single birds were noted on North Uist (Western Isles) on 10th, Tain (Highland) on 9th-13th still, Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) again on 11th, Colt Crag reservoir (Northumberland) still on 10th-11th, Priory CP (Bedfordshire) on 8th-14th still, Castle Espie WWT (Co.Down) still on 10th-14th, Termoncarragh Lough (Co.Mayo) and East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow) on 13th still, and Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) still on 14th.
The recent impressive numbers of Ring-necked Ducks were maintained for another week, with around 55 birds in all noted across Britain and Ireland and, once again, some impressive flocks amongst their number. Six remained in Glamorgan at Margram Opencast on 9th-14th; trios were seen on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 9th and Dozmary Pool (Cornwall) on 10th; and, in Ireland, five birds apiece were logged at Lough Gara (Co.Sligo) still on 12th and Lough Yganavan (Co.Kerry) still on 9th.
Double figures of Lesser Scaup were again recorded this week across Britain and Ireland. Scotland remained the national hotspot for the species, with trios remaining on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 8th-13th (rising to four birds present on 14th) and Woodend Loch (Clyde) on 8th-14th; three on South Uist (Western Isles) on 13th; and single birds still on Benbecula (Western Isles) on 11th-13th and at Auchincross (Ayrshire) on 9th-12th. English birds remained on Tresco (Scilly) on 9th and in Dorset at Abbotsbury on 9th-14th. The drake was still present at Oxford Island NNR (Co.Armagh) on 12th-13th.
From Oxford Island in Co.Armagh to Dorchester in Oxfordshire next, where a drake Ferruginous Duck was found on 8th-14th on Allen Pit.
Back to Scotland, the drake White-winged Scoter was once more seen in Lothian off Musselburgh on 9th; and a drake Black Scoter was found off Berwick-upon-Tweed (Northumberland) on 8th, prefacing sightings in the county on 14th from firstly Cocklawburn Beach and, latterly, off Stag Rocks again.
Surf Scoters were in fairly short supply, with seven birds seen – on 8th-11th off Musselburgh (Lothian), with two again there on 14th; off Barra (Western Isles) still on 11th; in Wales off Old Colwyn (Conwy) on 9th still, and Pendine (Carmarthenshire) on 10th; and off Tresco (Scilly) on 8th-11th still. On 14th a drake was found in Co.Donegal at Rossnowlagh.
In Highland, the drake King Eider remained off Nairn on 8th-14th.
Finally, honorary waterfowl - American Coots were still present this week on Lady’s Island Lake (Co.Wexford) on 8th-13th and Lough Yganavan (Co.Kerry) on 9th-12th; and the male Pied-billed Grebe was still present on Loch Feorlin (Argyll & Bute) on 11th.
In terms of rarity alone, the White-tailed Lapwing still present in Lincolnshire in the East Halton Skitter area this week on 8th-14th has, of course, to head up the shorebirds section of the round up.
However, for sheer novelty, the most notable bird this week was the American Golden Plover found on 9th in Cornwall at Porthgwarra.
Lingering in Somerset, meanwhile, the German-ringed Kentish Plover was again seen from Burnham-on-Sea on 8th-14th.
Marking a return to these quarters, the first-winter Long-billed Dowitcher was once more seen in Lancashire at Fluke Hall on 8th and 12th-13th.
Finally, all three of our recent Lesser Yellowlegs were reported again this week – one still present at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 8th-14th, another in Ireland at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) still on 10th, and the final bird still present on 13th at Rahasane Turlough (Co.Galway).
Whilst, for Scottish birders thus inclined, this week’s American Robin in southern England could scarcely have been further away, there was some considerable compensation on offer closer to home – this being the adult Ross’s Gull found the previous week, still present this week at Kinnaird Head (Aberdeenshire) on 9th-14th. Adding further lustre to the week, another bird was seen, in Cornwall on the beach at Trevone in the morning of 9th, but sadly not again subsequently.
Adult Bonaparte’s Gulls were found further south – one in Dorset at Lytchett Bay on 9th-10th, and another at roost in Cardiff Bay (Glamorgan) on 12th-13th.
Numbers of Ring-billed Gulls were picking up a little, or at least, they were in Co.Kerry, where the peak count from Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre came on 12th when four birds were present there – two adults, and two first-winters. This had been preceded by an adult and a first-winter lingering there on 8th-11th; while 12th was also marked by sightings of a single adult at adjacent Blennerville, and a first-winter a little further afield at Cromane Point. Further single birds this week were seen at Blackrock (Co.Louth) still on 8th-11th; at Holyrood Park (Lothian) on 8th-14th; and at Blashford Lakes HWT (Hampshire) still on 8th-13th. Another probable bird was seen at St Aidan’s RSPB (West Yorkshire) on 9th, and yet another probable bird at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 14th. As the weekend wore on, Co.Cork came to the fore, so to speak, with four birds present in Cork Harbour on 13th.
As for white-wingers, barely 30 Glaucous Gulls were logged this week, and around 60 Iceland Gulls - only the latter species afforded any sort of notable single site tally, with four birds seen on Skye (Highland) on 12th.
The recent juvenile Kumlien’s Gull remained on Barra (Western Isles) on 11th-13th, with two birds (an adult and a third-winter) seen on North Uist on 13th. Adults were seen on Skye (Highland) on 8th; and in Co.Kerry at Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre on 11th and at Blennerville on 12th. The third-winter bird was again seen in Cambridgeshire at Heydon on 9th-12th.
Still present in Ireland, and still the best of the week’s raptors, the juvenile Northern Harrier was still present in Co.Offaly at Lough Boora Parklands on 8th-13th.
A possible Rough-legged Buzzard was seen distantly on Anglesey at Aberffraw on 10th.
With the notable newly-discovered exception in East Sussex, it was pretty much business as usual this week where passerines of note were concerned. Best of the rest was, once again, the smart wintering Red-flanked Bluetail still present in Co.Durham at Bowlees on 8th-14th. Presumably this is going to become a semi-regular occurrence in Britain now they’re turning up with such regularity every autumn.
Of the wintering scarce and rare warblers, the Eastbourne (East Sussex) Hume’s Warbler was, understandably, the most popular individual this week, allowing for a nice double with the nearby American Robin on 8th-14th. Not a million miles away in Kent, the other Hume’s Warbler at Bockhill Farm Wood remained present on 8th-12th also.
Kent’s recent Dusky Warbler also put in an appearance again at Fordwich on 10th-12th.
Overwintering Yellow-browed Warblers remained at Milton CP (Cambridgeshire) still on 11th-13th, St Austell (Cornwall) on 11th-14th, and at Dungarvan (Co.Waterford) still on 9th-13th.
In Somerset, the three settled Penduline Tits remained at Weston Airfield on 8th-14th.
The West Runton (Norfolk) Short-toed Lark was seen again on 8th-14th.
In a poor winter for them, just two Great Grey Shrikes were logged this week – one still in Denbighshire at Llyn Brenig on 9th-11th, and another in Derbyshire at Bonsall Moor again on 11th-12th.
Speaking of poor winter showings, four Waxwings were reported from Nethy Bridge (Highland) on 9th and again on 12th and 14th. An unconfirmed report of a single bird came from rarity central (East Sussex’s Eastbourne) on 14th. Given Sussex’s rich form, if it was a Cedar we’d not be that surprised…
Cornwall this week gave us both the Rose-coloured Starling still present at Lower Boscaswell on 9th, and a Richard’s Pipit at Skewjack on 10th.
The female Serin continued to be seen at Maple Cross (Hertfordshire) on 8th-13th.
And finally, we conclude the British and Irish side of things where we began it, in East Sussex, where the Little Bunting last reported from Poundgate on 21st November 2021 was once more seen there this week on 11th-14th.
Keeping in the spirit of rare Nearctic passerines engendered by the week’s leading headline bird in the UK, we have to start the overseas news in Belgium – where a Song Sparrow was uncovered at Belgischedreef on 14th, the second national record. Also in Belgium this week, the first-winter Ross’s Gull remained at Nieuwpoort on 8th.
In neighbouring Holland, the Western Swamphen remained at Het Nieuwe Waterschap on 12th-14th, and the resident Pygmy Cormorant was still at Utrecht on 8th-14th.
A White-headed Duck, found in Denmark on 14th at Selsø Sø, had been present in Germany on 12th January – 3rd February at Grober Binnensee.
Poland, this week, landed a big one – the country’s first ever Bimaculated Lark, near Lezajskby on 10th.
In Sweden, the wintering male Siberian Rubythroat was still enduring at Vargön on 13th.
Casting our net a little further afield before going for the furthest reaches, in Spain the Sociable Lapwing remained in Extremadura near Puebla de Allcollarin on 11th still.
Finally, heading much further afield, out on the Azores a Belted Kingfisher remained on Terceira on 11th-12th; and, in Cape Verde, the Allen’s Gallinule was still going strong on Sal on 10th.
Argh. Another week, another storm… or rather, two of them. At the time of writing, two storms are set to come piling into Britain and Ireland in quick succession this coming week – Storm Dudley mainly sweeping into northern parts on Wednesday night and Thursday, followed closely by Storm Eunice on Friday.
Apart from power cuts, fallen trees, probably some flooding and other assorted general misery (wind speeds up to 90mph, ushered by a 200mph jet stream straight outta Newfoundland, apparently), what could they mean for us at this point in the year?
Some sort of storm-driven large rarer gull feels, once more, like a distinct possibility. Maybe an American Herring Gull or, with four historic records for the coming week, perhaps a Thayer’s Gull? Granted, neither have the pin-up looks of an American Robin. But we wouldn’t complain, right?
Jon Dunn
15 February 2022
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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