Weekly birding round-up: 22 - 28 Feb 2022
No new birds of note this past week, but that’s a matter of semantics really, for the headlining bird, while not newly arrived on these shores, had reappeared after an absence of almost two months, and is a rarity of the very highest calibre. And pause, just a moment, to look at those three headlining birds. What a trio at this point in the year…
There’s absolutely no doubt what the bird of the week has to be – the welcome reappearance of the Egyptian Vulture in Ireland’s Co.Roscommon proving extremely popular with a host of admirers, not least due to it obligingly sticking around near Ardmullen from 26th until dusk on 28th.
Last seen in the area on 31st December, we speculated at the time that this was unlikely to be the last we heard of the bird but, of course, some notably foul storms have blown through the region in the intervening weeks, and it might not have been such a surprise after all had it either moved on or succumbed. But no – turns out it’s made of stern stuff, and with Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Harrier, Ross’s Gull, and American Coot all still present in Ireland this week, there were the makings of some big, glorious days of Irish birding for those prepared to put the time and miles in.
Also still proving a potent draw in Ireland this week until a certain vulture changed everyone’s priorities, the Double-crested Cormorant remained in Co.Leitrim at Doon Lough until 28th.
To the continued delight of a steady stream of admirers – to which, at this rate, your own correspondent may be added in the days to come should it continue to stick around long enough to coincide with a trip south – the American Robin remained throughout the week in Eastbourne (East Sussex) until 27th. Was no news as the week closed on 28th bad news? Watch this space.
Heading up the seabirds in terms of rarity alone, the Pacific Diver remained at Eglwys Nunydd reservoir (Glamorgan) this week on 23rd-27th.
Stealing the show, however, in terms of numbers were White-billed Divers, with some half a dozen birds noted in Scotland and northern England, and a further report coming from much further south in Co.Cork for good measure. One remained in Shetland in the traditional wintering site of South Nesting Bay on 25th; on 26th, one was again seen from Papa Westray (Orkney). A bird was seen from Port Ellen on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 25th. 25th was also marked by sightings from Northumberland, off Stag Rocks and Cocklawburn Beach, with one still off Stag Rocks on 27th-28th. Finally, a probable was seen from the ferry in Baltimore harbour (Co.Cork) on 24th.
A scattering of Little Auks were recorded in recent days – rather like the banana bills, most of them in Scotland but with an Irish outlier – this being a bird seen in Co.Kerry between Inch and the mouth of the Annascaul river on 25th. Scottish birds were logged on 22nd from Thurso (Highland) and Troon (Ayrshire), with two birds seen at the latter site; and from Skye (Highland) on 24th and 25th.
Devon provided our only Pomarine Skuas, with two again seen from Shoalstone Point on 22nd, and one still there on 23rd.
Numbers of our favourite long-legged beasties held firm in Britain and Ireland for another week, with around 80 Glossy Ibises again noted across the region. All the usual big flocks were still present amongst them – on Orkney, nine birds were again seen on Westray on 25th-27th; Cornwall’s Chapel Amble held onto nine birds on 23rd-26th still; and the 11 birds remained on the Isle of Wight at Brading Marsh RSPB on 22nd-27th.
A Night Heron was reported ‘recently’ from Lerwick (Shetland), but couldn’t be relocated on 27th.
In an otherwise generally quite quiet week for bird news, we could rely upon the honkers and quackers for volume and rarity alike. Starting with the honkers, our recent largesse of Red-breasted Geese continued apace, with the two east coast regulars reported more or less daily – from north Norfolk between Cley, Blakeney Freshmarsh and Salthouse on 22nd-28th still, and around the North and South Fambridge area of Essex on 22nd-28th also – and the Islay (Argyll & Bute) individual again on 28th.
In Scotland, presumably the same Ross’s Goose seen lately in Clyde was found in Fife with Pink-footed Geese near Freuchie on 26th and 28th, and around Balmalcolm on 27th.
Trios of Snow Geese remained around Loch Spynie (Moray) on 23rd-27th and Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 23rd-28th. Single birds were seen in Lancashire at Marshside RSPB and Banks Marsh NNR on 23rd-27th, on North Uist (Western Isles) on 22nd still, and in Co.Sligo at Lissadell still on 25th-28th.
In Dorset, sightings of Black Brant came again from The Fleet at Ferrybridge on 23rd and Wyke Regis on 26th; two birds were still off the north Kent coast at Reculver on 24th-25th; one was across the Thames Estuary in Essex at South Fambridge again on 26th-28th, with another sighting on 27th from Mersea Island again; a bird remained in East Yorkshire at Skeffling on 24th-25th and Kilnsea Wetlands on 27th; and, on 27th, south coast sightings came from near Emsworth harbour (Hampshire) and Thorney Island (West Sussex).
The possible Grey-bellied Brant was again seen at Tornagrain (Highland) on 23rd; and, on 27th, a possible bird was seen at North Bull Island (Co.Dublin).
Moving onto The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, an interior Todd’s Canada Goose, perhaps that seen earlier in the winter on Yell, was something to shout about at Twatt (Shetland) on 22nd; the Scottish mainland scored a bird at Wick (Highland) on 24th. In England, one was again seen at Banks Marsh NNR (Lancashire) on 23rd. On North Uist (Western Isles), an hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose was present on 22nd-24th, with two birds present on 23rd at least; one remained on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 27th; and additional birds were seen in Co.Sligo, where one remained at Lissadell on 23rd-27th, and two were present at Ballintemple on 25th-27th.
Onto the quackers, both of our drake Baikal Teals remained available this week at, respectively, Swine Moor (East Yorkshire) still on 22nd-28th and at Greylake RSPB (Somerset) on 22nd-27th.
Drake American Wigeons were seen in England in recent days at Idle Valley NR (Nottinghamshire) still on 22nd-25th, Big Waters NR (Northumberland) still on 22nd-28th, at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) on 26th-28th, and at Crook of Baldoon RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) still on 27th. In Ireland, one remained at Ballyallia Lake (Co.Clare) on 26th.
Eight Green-winged Teals were logged this week – at Priory CP (Bedfordshire) still on 23rd-28th and at Smithey Fen (Cambridgshire) on 28th; in Scotland at Ladybank (Fife) still on 22nd-28th, Tain (Highland) still on 22nd-23rd, at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) still on 24th-25th, and on the Ythan estuary (Aberdeenshire) on 28th; at Castle Espie WWT (Co.Down) still on 22nd; and at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) still on 27th. A further probable bird was seen on 27th in Co.Kerry on Isknagahinny Lough.
Around 35 Ring-necked Ducks were logged across Britain and Ireland again this week, with the largest tally being, once more, the half dozen birds still present in Glamorgan at Margram Opencast on 24th-26th.
Trios of Lesser Scaups were again noted in Scotland on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 25th-27th, at Woodend Loch (Clyde) still on 26th-27th, and on South Uist (Western Isles) still on 27th. Single birds were still to be seen at Abbotsbury (Dorset) on 22nd-27th and Tresco (Scilly) on 23rd.
Co.Tyrone’s first Ferruginous Duck remained at Ballysaggart Lough on 22nd-27th; and the other recent drake was still on Allen Pit (Oxfordshire) on 22nd-28th.
The drake Black Scoter was again seen from Cocklawburn Beach (Northumberland) on 27th.
Some 10 Surf Scoters were seen in recent days and, amongst them, several sites recorded a couple of birds – two at the regular locale of Musselburgh (Lothian) on 25th-28th, two off Llandulas (Conwy) on 24th-27th, and two off Pendine (Carmarthenshire) on 26th. The latter site boasted three birds on 27th.
In Lothian, the first-winter drake King Eider was still to be found off Seafield on 23rd-28th.
Finally, of the honorary waterfowl, the American Coot was still present on Lough Yganavan (Co.Kerry) on 22nd.
For yet another week, the cream of the shorebird crop was the White-tailed Lapwing still present in Lincolnshire in the East Halton Skitter area on 22nd-28th.
In Co.Cork the Semipalmated Plover was still present at Crookhaven on 22nd-23rd.
In Somerset, the German-ringed Kentish Plover was still loitering off Burnham-on-Sea on 22nd-27th.
Norfolk’s recent Dotterel continued to hang around with the Golden Plovers around Holme Dunes and Titchwell RSPB on 22nd and Burnham Overy Marshes on 25th.
In Lancashire the Long-billed Dowitcher put in another appearance at Fluke Hall on 25th-28th.
Suffolk’s Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Minsmere RSPB on 22nd-28th.
And finally, a Grey Phalarope was present in Northumberland at Dunstanburgh Castle on 25th-28th.
Best of the gulls were, once more this week, both of the recent Ross’s Gulls, still present at Kinnaird Head (Aberdeenshire) on 22nd-27th and Mutton Island (Co.Galway) on 22nd-28th also – both, understandably, proving popular.
The bulk of our sightings of Ring-billed Gulls once again came from Ireland where, once more, the best site for them remained Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre (Co.Kerry) – two birds, an adult and a first-winter, were seen here again on 23rd-27th. Co.Cork, meanwhile, supplied an adult at Ring on 22nd still, and a first-winter in Cork Harbour on 25th. In Cornwall, the adult bird remained on the Hayle estuary on 22nd-27th; in Lothian, sightings came from Holyrood Park still on 22nd-27th, and Penicuik on 22nd and 28th; and a first-winter was found at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 27th.
Numbers of white-wingers again remained fairly static, with just a little rise in the overall tally of Iceland Gulls largely driven by numbers recorded at Killybegs (Co.Donegal), where 18 birds were logged on 23rd. Overall, some 40 Glaucous Gulls and 90 Iceland Gulls were recorded across Britain and Ireland this week. Inevitably, it was Killybegs that also supplied the best tally of the former species too, with seven birds logged there on 23rd, though run close by Lewis (Western Isles) on 28th, with five birds that day in Stornoway harbour.
Adult Kumlien’s Gulls were noted in recent days in Newlyn (Cornwall) still on 22nd-27th; on Skye (Highland) on 22nd; and at Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre (Co.Kerry) on 24th. The juvenile bird remained on Barra (Western Isles) on 22nd-27th; and the third-winter bird was again seen in Cambridgeshire at Dernford Farm reservoir on 24th, Ouse Washes RSPB on 25th, and at Smithey Fen again on 27th.
Finally, in Co.Galway the adult Forster’s Tern was once more seen in the Kinvarra and Newtownlynch area on 23rd-27th.
In Ireland the juvenile Northern Harrier remained present in Co.Offaly at Lough Boora Parklands on 22nd-28th.
A Rough-legged Buzzard was reported from Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 23rd; and a confirmed sighting came from Lincolnshire on 28th at Fulletby.
Could the heavy rains of the past couple of weeks have really displaced the recent Belted Kingfisher from Lancashire? An intriguing report of a possible bird came from Staffordshire – a county with some history for the species, after all – on 22nd, seen by non-birders at Barton Marina.
In Co.Durham, the wintering Red-flanked Bluetail remained tucked into Bowlees on 24th-28th.
The Eastbourne (East Sussex) Hume’s Warbler continued to be seen there on 22nd-28th, while the Bockhill Farm Wood (Kent) bird was once more reported on 25th-27th.
Sightings of Yellow-browed Warblers dried up, with just the St Austell (Cornwall) bird again seen on 23rd-26th.
Back in Kent, the Dusky Warbler was once more seen at Fordwich on 22nd-23rd.
In Somerset, the three Penduline Tits remained at Weston Airfield until 28th.
The West Runton (Norfolk) Short-toed Lark was still present on 23rd-27th.
Only two Great Grey Shrikes were seen this week – these being the faithful bird in Denbighshire at Llyn Brenig on 25th-28th still, and one at Comberton (Cambridgeshire) again on 27th-28th.
In Highland, the recent quartet of Waxwings remained at Nethy Bridge on 22nd-25th, while the trio remained in Nairn on 22nd-23rd. Further sightings this week came away from Highland – single birds at Wangford (Suffolk) and Guisborough (Cleveland) on 22nd, and Alford (Aberdeenshire) on 26th-28th; and in Moray, two birds on 23rd at Tomdow, and two still in Elgin on 28th. On 27th 15 birds were reported northwest of Alford at Lumsden (Aberdeenshire).
The Hoopoe was again seen at Duxford (Cambridgeshire) on 27th-28th.
Cornwall’s wintering Rose-coloured Starling remained at Lower Boscaswell on 22nd-25th.
Finally, in East Sussex the Little Bunting was still present at Poundgate on 22nd-27th.
We’ll start the overseas news once more this week on the Dutch/Belgian border where, at Emmadorp, the Song Sparrow remained on 22nd-28th. Also in Holland this week, the Western Swamphen remained at Het Nieuwe Waterschap on 23rd-26th, and the Pygmy Cormorant was still hanging around Utrecht on 23rd-27th.
Germany made the news in recent days with a Sandhill Crane at Freyenstein on 23rd-26th; and a meena Western Rufous Turtle Dove at Schonberg Nordost on 23rd-27th.
The male Siberian Rubythroat remained in Sweden this week on 27th at Vargön.
Cyprus, meanwhile, landed itself a White-crowned Black Wheatear on 27th-28th near Paphos.
In Spain the White-tailed Lapwing remained at Món Natura-La Tancada lagoon on 22nd-28th.
Finally, in the Canary Islands, the Semipalmated Plover was still present on Tenerife on 23rd.
March! There’s a month to conjure with. Not renowned for outrageous rare birds, granted, but a month in which it feels like winter is fading and the promise of spring is blossoming. And with spring comes the irresistible urge to migrate…
A hint of southerlies could work small wonders for us, then. Past records for the coming week of Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow and Great Spotted Cuckoo all hint at the changing of the seasons round about now. None will set the world on fire, but all are solid gold patch magic if they turn up on your doorstep.
But really, the first week of March remains, on the whole, something of a birding doldrums, a quiet time in which we shouldn’t expect too much. With 11 past records of American Herring Gull for the days to come, and in the wake of recent strong westerlies, there’s got to be a decent chance one’s lurking out there somewhere for the finding…
Jon Dunn
1 March 2022
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
Share
