• No news currently, check back later
• Why not check out our great value bird news subscriptions

 

Weekly birding round-up: 10 - 16 May 2022

Now this felt a bit more like it. A week studded with migrant birds of all complexions, from the return of still more breeding birds, to a scatter of scarcities and lost Nearctic waders and, above all, some decent rarities putting a drift of stardust over the whole thing. Spring finally had a spring in its step.

 

While Blue Rock Thrushes are familiar enough to those who’ve been birding in southern Europe, they remain stubbornly, obstinately rare on these shores. Many of us will remember all too clearly the blind panic Britain’s third – and the first really accessible – bird engendered when it was found on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 14th October 1999. Great news for those present on the archipelago in what was to prove to be one of the golden autumns – but a bit of a sickener for those of us who’d just returned to the British mainland and the demands of real life.

We didn’t, in the event, have to wait too long to lay the ghost to rest. A couple of records later and we were treated to the wintering adult male that settled in Stow-on-the-Wold (Gloucestershire) on 14th December 2016 – 4th April 2017. Throw in a couple more birds in 2019, in Orkney and Scilly respectively, whose stays both extended into double figure days, and we’ve been given ample opportunities in living memory to catch up with the species in Britain.

But that’s not to say we’re dealing with lots of birds. Just nine accepted records reside on the books for Britain, and only five of those are in the current century. And, to date, the east coast of Britain remains terra incognita to Blue Rock Thrushes. That, however, was set to change this past week with the discovery of a male bird in Essex on The Naze on 12th. Found in the early afternoon, it was from the off a mobile and elusive bird and, by mid-afternoon, there was no further sign of it on site. Arguably bird of the spring so far, and gone in the blink of an eye…

 

Blue Rock Thrushes have something in common with our second headlining bird this week, insofar as at the turn of the century they both had a mere handful of prior British records. Brown Shrikes, on the other hand, have surged in numbers thereafter, with 39 accepted British records to the end of 2020. Those who dropped everything to fly to Whalsay (Shetland) for the adult male cristatus bird that hung around Skaw on 19th-24th September 2004 may have rued the financial outlay in the years that followed…

But that’s the nature of twitching. You never know how things will play out with any bird, and need to treat every bird like it might be the last chance you’ll get. Who could have foreseen that less than 20 years later we’d be getting an adult male cristatus Brown Shrike found in spring in East Yorkshire on Spurn on 14th? More to the point, who’d have predicted that a spring record would be far from anomalous in East Yorkshire – this week’s bird comes hot on the heels of a female on Flamborough on 12th-14th May 2020, and a singing male at Great Cowden on 11th May 2019.

Spring records, then, are not out of the question, but that takes nothing away from the thrill of seeing one of these former megas. Maybe they’re commoner now than once they were, but they’re still absolute belters.

 

The birding attractions of East Yorkshire didn’t stop there, as the adult Black-browed Albatross was still putting in stints at Bempton Cliffs RSPB in the past week, being noted there again on 12th-16th.

This may have been the rarest seabird on offer in recent days, but it wasn’t the biggest news. That honour had to go to Long-tailed Skuas, with a sudden rush of passage of them past North Uist (Western Isles) in particular – of the 400 birds noted nationally this week, almost all of them were seen from here, with a peak count of 320 coming on 13th.

Pomarine Skuas were on the move too, albeit in somewhat more muted numbers – around 200 were logged nationwide this week.

Eyes looking out to sea picked up some White-billed Divers too – birds were noted from Brora (Highland) on 10th-11th, the Whalsay ferry in Shetland on 12th, and a possible bird off Boulmer (Northumberland) on 14th. On 15th the pace quickened in Shetland, with an adult and an immature seen around the southern end of Mainland between Compass Head and Boddam; and further Scottish sightings from Lossiemouth (Moray) and Lewis (Western Isles). Four probables were reported passing Inverbervie (Aberdeenshire) on 15th – one confirmed bird went by there in the early morngin of 16th.

Finally, a probable Balearic Shearwater was seen from Hilbre (Cheshire & Wirral) on 13th, followed by one from Exmouth and at least two from Dawlish Warren NNR (Devon) on 15th.

 

Still showing no signs of abandoning us any time soon, Glossy Ibises continued to be reported in numbers for still another week – around 30 birds were reported, with small flocks amongst their number – four birds at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 11th-13th rose to five present there on 14th, with four still present on 16th; and four at Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 10th was back up to five birds on 14th.

Minsmere RSPB also hosted a Purple Heron on 12th-13th, hot on the heels of one seen flying through Lound Lakes on the Suffolk/Norfolk border on 12th. On 15th fresh birds were found at Dungeness RSPB (Kent) and Clogheen Marsh (Co.Cork); and on 16th one was seen at Blacktoft Sands RSPB (East Yorkshire).

A Night Heron was seen at Woon Gumpus (Cornwall) on 10th.

In Norfolk, the recent Corncrake continued to be heard at Welney WWT on (Norfolk) on 12th-16th, with three birds noted there on 13th.

 

Still fewer honkers and quackers of note were recorded this week – with one notable exception, of which more anon.

Starting with geese, the steadfast Red-breasted Goose was still present in Norfolk at Blakeney on 10th-16th; while, in a twist in the tale, two birds were seen on 15th at Minsmere RSPB and Carlton Marshes SWT (Suffolk) and, in between those sightings, over Old Hall Marshes RSPB (Essex).

In East Yorkshire, the Black Brant was hanging on at Kilnsea on 10th-16th.

A handful of Green-winged Teals were noted in recent days. One remained at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 10th-16th; while in Scotland, birds were seen on Foula (Shetland) on 12th, at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 13th-16th, at Arturlie Point (Highland) on 14th-16th, and on Orkney Mainland at The Shunan on 15th-16th.

In Co.Mayo, the drake Black Duck was once more seen on Cross Lough on 14th.

Drake American Wigeons were seen on 15th at Loch of Wester (Highland) and Lough Beg (Co.Derry); and on 16th, one was found in Norfolk at Potter Heigham Marshes.

Ring-necked Ducks? Just a drake still at Blairdrummond GPs (Forth) on 15th. Apart from him, nothing to see here, move along…

…to North Yorkshire, where a drake Ferruginous Duck was found on 16th at Castle Howard.

In Scotland, the drake King Eider was once more seen on the Ythan estuary (Aberdeenshire) on 11th. In not entirely unrelated news, elsewhere in Scotland breeding Eiders are being wiped out by avian flu, while dead Gannets are floating at the foot of gannetries from Troup Head to Hermaness NNR – a national development that, for now, it appears DEFRA isn’t in a great hurry to recognise – we’re seeing a paltry reaction to date. Or should that be a poultry reaction…

A drake Surf Scoter was seen off Lewis (Western Isles) on 13th.

And now we’re back to where we began the week in the headlines – Essex. Putting all the usual jaded cynicism about the species in Britain to one side, the discovery of a drake Hooded Merganser at Abberton reservoir on 11th was comfortably the biggest duck news of the week. The good news – it appeared to be un-ringed and fully winged. And maybe the fact it swiftly moved on was good news too – a bird with some natural migratory instincts, perhaps.

Finally our honorary wildfowl, the adult Pied-billed Grebe, was still very much in residence in Argyll & Bute at Loch Feorlin on 14th.

 

Norfolk continued to dominate the Black-winged Stilt scene this week - Hickling Broad NWT remained the epicentre of activity, with never less than two birds logged there and, on 12th and again on 16th, a peak count of four birds; while two were seen again at Potter Heigham Marshes on 12th. Away from Norfolk, a single bird was seen passing Goldcliff Point (Gwent) on 10th; three in Essex at Vange Marsh RSPB on 14th; and three birds in Nottinghamshire on 15th noted at Langford Lowfields RSPB in the morning and Cromwell Quarry in the afternoon. On 16th one remained in Nottinghamshire at Misson; and two were in South Yorkshire at Potteric Carr YWT.

An American Golden Plover was seen on Fleetwood Golf Course (Lancashire) on 13th before being flushed by golfers.

A female Kentish Plover was found at Pegwell Bay (Kent) on 5th.

Just shy of 20 Dotterels were noted nationwide this week. Six remained on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 10th-12th, with four still present on 14th; four remained near Thornham (Norfolk) on 10th; two were present in Shetland at Bakkasetter on 10th-11th; Kent scored duos on 13th at Langdon Hole and Old Romney; and three were noted on 13th at Corserine (Dumfries & Galloway).

Numbers of Temminck’s Stints held steady this week, with a good spread of records once more. Norfolk remained a stronghold, with two birds again at Cley on 10th and 14th-15th, and daily sightings at Hickling Broad NWT on 10th-15th peaked with three individuals there on 10th. Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) landed two birds on 12th, with one remaining until 15th there. Further single birds were noted at Northstowe (Cambridgeshire) on 10th-12th; Letham Pools (Fife) on 10th-15th; Seal Sands (Cleveland) on 10th; Egleton NR (Leicestershire) still on 10th-11th; Smithey Fen (Cambridgeshire) on 10th; Trimley Marshes SWT (Suffolk) on 11th; Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) on 11th-13th; Worth Marsh (Kent) on 13th; and Old Hall Marshes RSPB (Essex) on 14th, where two birds were found. On 15th, sightings came thick and fast, headed by four birds seen at Druridge Pools NR (Northumberland), and three at Goldcliff Pools NR (Gwent); and singles in East Yorkshire at Grimston and Spurn; and near Ladybank (Fife). On 16th two more birds arrived at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire), and singles at Collingham Pits (Nottinghamshire) and Maiden’s Hall Lake (Northumberland).

Numbers of Pectoral Sandpipers began to rise this week, with one site even managing two birds – a duo being noted at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 14th, following a single bird there the preceding day, and with two still present on 16th. Elsewhere, singletons were found at Old Hall Marshes RSPB (Essex) on 10th-14th; Collingham Pits (Nottinghamshire) on 11th; Summer Leys NR (Northamptonshire) on 11th-12th; Low Newton-by-the-Sea (Northumberland) on 12th-14th; Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) on 13th-15th; and Cowpen Marsh (Cleveland) on 15th. On 16th two probables were reported from Summer Leys NR, and a confirmed bird at Staveley YWT (North Yorkshire).

Spring Pecs may be a fairly predictable commodity, but Baird’s Sandpipers at this time of year are a different matter entirely. Of the 467 British and Irish accepted records to the end of 2019, a mere seven were found in May. Congratulations then to Peter Stronach for finally laying a ghost to rest and finding his first self-found British bird at this time of year on 15th at Balnakeil (Highland).

A Broad-billed Sandpiper put in a brief appearance at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) in the evening of 15th before flying on north.

Surely winning every plaudit going for aesthetics alone, spring Spotted Sandpipers have got it all going on. The week was marked by a small and welcome flurry of records – in Carlisle at Bowness Marsh on 11th-13th; at Elton reservoir (Greater Manchester) on 13th-15th; and Doddington Pool (Cheshire) on 14th-15th.

A quartet of widely scattered Lesser Yellowlegs were logged in recent days – one remaining on Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 10th-12th; a Welsh bird at Ynys-hir RSPB (Conwy) on 10th; a Scottish bird at Meikle Loch (Aberdeenshire) on 13th-14th; and a possible English bird at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) on 14th.

The female Red-necked Phalarope remainned at Grindon Lough (Northumberland) on 11th-16th; another bird was seen in Dorset at Studland Heath NNR on 11th.

 

Fairly slim pickings this week on the gull front – with Bonaparte’s Gulls being the best of the bunch. An adult was found on 10th at Washington WWT (Co.Durham); and another in Cork at The Lough (Co.Cork) on 15th.

Both the regular white-wingers remained subdued, but still present in small numbers – around a dozen each of Glaucous Gulls and Iceland Gulls were logged. Variety, once more, came in the form of the juvenile Kumlien’s Gull still present on Barra (Western Isles) on 10th-15th; and another seen on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 11th and 15th.

Predicting a decent tern in the prior week’s closing remarks felt a bit like shooting fish in a barrel – for once even this wayward seer could hardly fail to call it. Sure enough, a spanking adult White-winged Black Tern started the week at Rye Harbour NR (East Sussex) on 11th.

Moreover, the adult surinamensis American Black Tern that spent a couple of months in Northumberland last summer was back there again this week at Long Nanny on 13th-16th and, with any luck, settling in for another summer on these shores.

The coming weeks will tell whether the Least Tern is coming back for another summer in Co.Dublin – one would assume it’s likely – and who’s to say the Cayenne Tern of 2020 won’t show up again in Co.Wexford? But oh for another regular Lesser Crested Tern… the days of Elsie’s tenure on the Farne Islands (Northumberland) are fading into the mists of time, and the species if beginning to feel decidedly blockerish for those who weren’t birding at the time.

 

Our raptors this week were considerably enlivened by a small arrival of Red-footed Falcons - always a pleasure, wherever they’re found. First past the post was a first-summer female that lingered a few days in Berkshire at Woolhampton GPs on 12th-16th; followed closely by a male bird at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 13th, and a first-summer male at Greylake RSPB (Somerset) on 14th.

Black Kites continued to filter through too – birds being noted in recent days at Bosporthennis Common (Cornwall) and Saughtree (Borders) on 10th; at Pegwell Bay (Kent) on 11th; on 12th at Bartinney Downs (Cornwall) and Margate (Kent); Felbrigg Hall NT (Norfolk) on 13th; Wrentham (Suffolk) on 14th, with an unconfirmed report from over Cley and Blakeney (Norfolk) that day also; and Rye Harbour NR (East Sussex) on 15th. On 16th one was tracked along the Kent coast from Littlestone-on-Sea to Worth Marsh and Stonar Lake, while another had wandered as far north as Mull (Argyll & Bute).

A probable female Pallid Harrier was seen at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 11th. Inland Pallid / Montagu’s Harriers were seen on 12th at Ivinghoe Beacon (Buckinghamshire) and on 13th at Hoveringham GPs (Nottinghamshire).

Cut and dried Montagu’s Harriers, meanwhile, were logged on 10th-16th still in Cornwall at Bosporthennis Common; on 12th at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk); and on 13th in Kent at Weddington.

In the Western Isles the female Snowy Owl remained on North Uist on 10th-15th.

 

And so to the passerines and plenty of variety of all shapes, sizes, colours and hues of rarity. Starting once more with the warblers, the singing male Iberian Chiffchaff remained settled on his territory in London in Regents Park on 10th-16th, while the probable bird remained in Hampshire near Otterbourne on 10th-11th.

The wintering Dusky Warbler was once more seen at Stiffkey (Norfolk) on 14th.

A Savi’s Warbler was singing in Lincolnshire at Wolla Banks on 12th.

Singing may be a little generous to describe the sound of a Great Reed Warbler at full throttle, but that was what birders at Idle Valley NR (Nottinghamshire) were treated to on 15th and, on 16th, the favour passed to those present at Snettisham CP (Norfolk) where another bird was found in full voice.

A Marsh Warbler was found on 15th in Thurso (Highland).

A probable Icterine Warbler was heard in song on 15th in Norfolk at Thornham Point.

A Western Subalpine Warbler was trapped and ringed on Calf of Man (Isle of Man) on 14th.

And so to the colourful stuff, and little can hold a candle to the lysergic loveliness of Bee-eaters. The week began tamely with one reported, heard only, in West Yorkshire at Hebden Bridge on 10th, followed by single birds seen on 13th on Portland (Dorset) and at Poulton-le-Fylde (Lancashire) on 14th. Then, on 15th, it all kicked off in Suffolk where a party of five birds was seen at Sizewell, North Warren RSPB and Minsmere RSPB in the morning… and a party of 17 birds on wires at Fressingfield in the late afternoon. Two were seen the following morning over Boyton Marshes RSPB (Suffolk); and one in Kent at South Foreland.

We did well for Golden Orioles too, with some 25 individuals seen – all bar one, at Craig David Croft (Aberdeenshire) on 14th, in England. A handful of sites scored more than one bird at a time – two were present at Bockhill Farm (Kent) on 13th, two at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 14th, and two at Foreness Point (Kent) on 16th.

Hoopoes continued to turn up, with birds found more or less daily as the week wore on: at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 10th; on 11th at Longparish (Hampshire) and Coverack (Cornwall); on 12th at Maughold (Isle of Wight); on 12th-13th at Charminster (Dorset); on 14th at Hawkinge (Kent) and May Beck (North Yorkshire); on 15th at Nanjizal (Cornwall); and on 16th at Blyth (Northumberland).

A Wryneck was present on Great Saltee (Co.Wexford) on 14th-15th; another was found on 16th on North Ronaldsay (Orkney).

A supporting cast of scarce shrikes backed up the week’s headlining Brown Shrike - a Woodchat Shrike at Steart WWT (Somerset) on 14th-15th; and Red-backed Shrikes on 11th at Chingford (London) and near Freckleton (Lancashire), and on 16th on Fair Isle (Shetland).

Once more notable in the daily news reports, we did well again for Red-rumped Swallows this week. With such ably mobile birds there may have been some duplication of records at east coast sites, but somewhere in the region of 20 birds were reported. Amongst these, some sites enjoyed multiple birds – duos were seen at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) on 13th and Dunwich Heath NT (Suffolk) on 13th also; and three were present at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 13th.

13th was proving a good day to be skywatching in Lincolnshire for, first thing in the morning, an Alpine Swift was seen heading south over Anderby Creek and, latterly, Gibraltar Point NNR. Another was seen that day at Fens Pool NR (West Midlands); and these were preceded by one on 11th at Plymstock (Devon).

A Bluethroat was found on Lundy (Devon) on 13th, followed by another at the opposite end of the country on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 15th, and another on 15th-16th on Brownsman (Northumberland). On 16th they began to up the ante, with birds found at Howick (Northumberland); Holy Island (Northumberland); on the Isle of May (Fife); on Fair Isle, Foula and Out Skerries (Shetland), with two present on the former island that day; and Skateraw (Lothian), where two birds were also present.

The southern tip of Shetland’s Mainland landed a Red-breasted Flycatcher, found on 16th at Grutness; later in the day, a second bird was found a little to the north at Bigton; and a further bird made landfall to the south, on Fair Isle.

While a probable Citrine Wagtail, reported from Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) on 13th, failed to materialise into anything more concrete, two confirmed examples were uncovered on 16th – one at Spurn (East Yorkshire), and the other over Thornham RSPB (Norfolk).

Meanwhile, we were treated to Yellow Wagtails of various flavours once more this past week…

A male iberiae Spanish Wagtail was found on 16th at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire). A male cinereocapilla Ashy-headed Wagtail was a brief visitor to Pagham Harbour (West Sussex) on 10th; Grey-headed Wagtails were seen at West Runton (Norfolk) on 11th-15th (with two birds present there on 15th rising to three present on 16th), Minnis Bay (Kent) on 13th-14th (with two birds present on 14th), Kirkwall (Orkney) on 14th, Holy Island (Northumberland) on 15th, and Happisburgh (Norfolk) on 16th where two birds were noted. A further possible was present on 16th at Druridge Pools NR (Northumberland).

Two Blue-headed Wagtails were present at Kelling Water Meadow (Norfolk) on 10th, with single birds seen latterly at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 11th, on Bardsey (Gwynedd) still on 11th, at Saltfleet Haven (Lincolnshire) on 13th, on Portland (Dorset) and at Hesketh Bank (Lancashire) on 14th, on Lundy (Devon) on 15th, and at West Runton (Norfolk) and Druridge Pools NR (Northumberland) on 16th.

A Tawny Pipit was present at West Runton (Norfolk) on 11th.

The only Serins reported this week were the female again out on Great Saltee (Co.Wexford) on 10th, and a bird at Lady’s Island Lake (Co.Wexford) on 16th; while a Common Rosefinch was found on Great Saltee on 15th.

It falls to Lincolnshire to finish the week with something of a flourish – an outrageously smart male Rustic Bunting found on 15th at Horse Shoe Point.

 

There were a couple of echoes elsewhere in Europe of notable birds seen in Britain this week. For our Hooded Merganser, Iceland had a Wood Duck at Efri Þverá on 11th; while our Brown Shrike had its Dutch counterpart in a male Turkestan Shrike at Hargen aan Zee on 14th. Elsewhere in the Netherlands the Western Swamphen remained at Het Nieuwe Waterschap on 10th, and a Short-toed Eagle was seen flying over Sallandse Heuvelrug on 15th.

In Germany a White-tailed Plover was seen on 10th at Illerstausee.

Poland’s first Trumpeter Finch was found at Wrocanka on 15th.

In Sweden, a Least Sandpiper was seen on 13th-14th at Klingavälsån – the first record for the country.

Denmark scored an immature Egyptian Vulture at Moen on 15th; the country’s first Moltoni’s Subalpine Warbler at Blavand on 15th also; and a Steppe Eagle at Skagen on 16th.

Finally, to Spain, where the lagoons were fairly bursting with life this week. On 11th a Lesser Flamingo was seen at Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, and two more at Laguna de Petrola; and on 13th a Western Reef Egret was found at Laguna de la Algaida.

 

At this point in mid-May some birds feel almost like a foregone conclusion should the winds waft them our way from south-eastern Europe. Another White-winged Black Tern is surely imminent; another Red-footed Falcon may be hawking insects over a wetland near you someday soon; and who’d bet against a coastal patch-worker stumbling across an Eastern Subalpine Warbler in the coming days?

But we’ve already had at least one of each of those this spring. Some variety would be nice… so how about a Thrush Nightingale or a Lesser Grey Shrike? Either a distinct possibility at this juncture…

 

Jon Dunn
17 May 2022

Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos

 

Share

Tweet  

 

 

 

 

 

Latest photos

Register free to upload

Latest articles