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Weekly birding round-up: 27 Sep - 3 Oct 2022

 

By the 25th September alert birders studying the North Atlantic surface pressure charts had noticed a low pressure system was forecast to cross the North Atlantic from Canada towards Iceland with a warm front reaching the west coast of Ireland and Britain on 30th September that showed potential to bring with it Nearctic landbirds.

The arrival here last week of the first Nearctic landbird of the autumn, the unforgettable Common Nighthawk inland in Wantage, Oxfordshire on 26th September, although a harbinger its arrival was presumably unrelated to the incoming tabbed system but now all eyes were looking west and they were not to be disappointed.

The fallout began on 28th September when a Swainson's Thrush was trapped and ringed on the Western Isles on Barra at Creachan (the second record for that island) and that was quickly followed by another Swainson's Thrush on the Shetland Isles, on Yell at West Yell on 29th September-1st October.

On 1st October expectant Irish birders on Loop Head, County Clare, found a Red-eyed Vireo in Kilbaha before discovering a Baltimore Oriole in the same garden! The Baltimore Oriole - the sixth for Ireland the first county record - remained until the following day when a second Red-eyed Vireo was found nearby; both vireos remaining until 3rd. Also on the Irish west coast was a Bobolink briefly at Garinish Point, County Cork on 1st October (the fifth record for Ireland) and a Red-eyed Vireo on Inishmore, County Galway on 2nd. In England a Blackpoll Warbler at Nanjizal, Cornwall on 2nd October may have earlier been heard calling there on 30th September. So a total of eight Nearctic landbirds for the week and nine for the autumn so far.

 

Once mythical, now expected, but always revered, two separate first-winter male Siberian Thrushes arrived on cue on the Northern Isles: the first sadly found freshly dead on Papa Westray, Orkney Isles on 27th September and the second available only to its finders at Mid Yell, Yell, Shetland on the evening of 1st October. The fourteenth and fifteenth records for Britain and including the seventh for Shetland where the first record only came in 2007; all have between 20th September and 15th October:

• 28th September 2007 Foula
• 25th September 2008 Fair Isle
• 15th October 2014 Scousburgh
• 5th October 2015 Fair Isle
• 6th October 2016 Unst
• 20th September 2017 Unst
• 1st October 2022 Yell

Like all the Siberian Blue Robins and Rufous-tailed Robins on the Northern Isles each of the Siberian Thrushes on Shetland has been a one-day bird; perhaps these forest dwellers just find the largely open habitat on Shetland incongruous.

 

Following strong northerly winds at the end of last week Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls arrived from the get-go with five found on 27th September: on Orkney (North Ronaldsay), the Western Isles (on St Kilda), and Shetland (Fair Isle, Unst, and Lunna, Mainland). By the end of the week 26 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls had been located, of which nineteen were on Shetland: two on both Unst and Yell, three on Foula, and 10 on Mainland. Elsewhere, one at Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire on 29th September was a first county record of this subspecies, and on Orkney further singles were on both Papa Westray and Sanday on 28th September, and Westray on 29th September, and a second bird arrived on North Ronaldsay on 2nd October. A Coues's Arctic Redpoll (subspecies exilipes) was reported at Boddam, Shetland on 3rd October.

 

A busy week for seawatchers with bird day totals including 32 Leach's Petrels (maximum counts of five passing both Hilbre Island, Wirral and St Ives, Cornwall on 27th September), 34 Long-tailed Skuas (maximum four Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire 27th September), 84 Pomarine Skuas (maximum nine Eyemouth, Borders 29th September), 268 Great Shearwaters (maximum 17 from Scillonian III 3rd October), 323 Cory's Shearwaters (maximum 161 Cape Clear, County Cork 3rd October), and 2,420 Balearic Shearwaters (maximum 458 Porthgwarra, Cornwall 30th September). Lingering longer were the Pied-billed Grebe still at Loch Feorlin, Argyll on 28th September, White-billed Diver on the Shetland Isles on 29th September, and the now adult Double-crested Cormorant still in County Leitrim at Doon Lough on 2nd October. A Little Auk reported at Chynalls Point, Cornwall on 30th September was most unexpected.

 

The juvenile Purple Heron remained throughout at Martin Mere, Lancashire, whilst 30 Glossy Ibises were recorded across nine counties including 10 in Cambridgeshire at Bluntisham on 1st October, up to four together in Hampshire at Hook-with-Warsash, and all in England except for up to four between Lady's Island Lake and Tacumshin, County Wexford. A migrant Corncrake was on Fair Isle, Shetland on 1st October.

 

Notable geese comprised a Snow Goose with Pink-footed Geese at Burton Mere, Cheshire on 27th September, with another amongst Svalbard Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock, Dumfries and Galloway on 2nd October, Todd's Canada Goose at Marshside, Merseyside on 28th September, Black Brant at Freiston Shore, Lincolnshire on 29th September, a Taiga Bean Goose in Highland at Udale Bay on 2nd October, and three Tundra Bean Geese : the summering bird in Worcestershire throughout, and in Ireland two relocating from Kilcoole, County Wicklow on 28th September to Lurgangreen, County Louth on 1st October.

The most popular duck was a juvenile male Blue-winged Teal in London at Fairlop Waters from 28th September-3rd October; an initial report that the bird was wing-clipped arose from misinterpretation of the a photograph of the birds half-spread wing where the protruding alula caused confusion. Elsewhere, an adult male American Wigeon was a site first at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire on 1st-3rd October with another at Inishmore, County Galway on 2nd October, three Ring-necked Ducks most notable of which was a mobile bird along the Exe Estuary on 28th September-3rd October, male King Eiders still in-situ in Lothian at Musselburgh Lagoons on 2nd October and on Shetland at Wester Quarff throughout, returning adult male Black Scoters in County Kerry at Rossbeigh on 29th September and at Cocklawburn, Northumberland on 1st-2nd October, and three scattered Surf Scoters.

 

The highlight amongst the waders was a Spotted Sandpiper at Farlington Marshes, Hampshire on 1st-3rd October albeit not broadcast until the last date. Otherwise the Baird's Sandpiper was still in Aberdeenshire at Meikle Loch on 29th September, with another at The Cashen, County Kerry on 1st October.

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles on 29th September, with another juvenile on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall on 2nd-3rd October, a Lesser Yellowlegs was at Saltholme, Cleveland on 2nd-3rd October, the German-ringed Kentish Plover remained at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset throughout and there were four Red-necked Phalaropes , six Buff-breasted Sandpipers , nine Dotterel , 10 American Golden Plovers , 22 Pectoral Sandpipers , and a total of 57 Grey Phalaropes.

 

The aged Forster's Tern was still was Soldier's Point, County Louth on 1st October; probably soon to depart to spend yet another winter in Galway Bay. Also in Ireland were the regular adult Ring-billed Gull in Blackrock, County Louth on 28th September, adult Bonaparte's Gull in County Cork at Whitegate again on 29th September, and the now adult Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in County Mayo at Cross Lough on 2nd October. In Britain an adult Iceland Gull on Westray, Orkney on 27th September, an exceptionally early first-winter Ring-billed Gull reported in Cornwall at Portscatho on 29th September, seven Glaucous Gulls - all bar one in Scotland and including at least four juveniles - and a good showing of Sabine's Gulls with 38 bird days including on 29th September four passing Hauxley, Northumberland and three from the deck of the Scillonian III, and the following day five logged at Bridges of Ross, County Clare.

 

The standout bird of prey was a white morph Gyr on the Western Isles at Loch Ordais, Lewis, following northerly winds on 27th September - fresh out of Greenland with the Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls. Also from the north was a Rough-legged Buzzard at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire on 1st October, whilst ultimately heading south were Pallid Harriers in Dorset at Hengistbury Head and Kent at Worth on 27th September, second-winter male again at Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall the following day, and juvenile at Monreith, Dumfries and Galloway on 30th September-3rd October, a juvenile Red-footed Falcon still in Norfolk at Hickling Broad on 27th September, and seven Honey Buzzards logged during the week including four together over Carlton Colville, Suffolk on 27th September.

 

The northern isles produced an excellent run of eastern species with Pallas's Grasshopper Warblers on Fair Isle, Shetland on 27th September-3rd October and St Kilda, Western Isles on 3rd October, a White's Thrush on North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 27th September with two Lanceolated Warblers there on 1st-2nd October, a Red-flanked Bluetail on Fair Isle on 29th September-1st October, and on Mainland, Shetland an Eastern Stonechat species at Quendale on 29th September-3rd October with a Dusky Warbler there on 1st-2nd October, a Pechora Pipit at Hillswick on 3rd October, Eastern Yellow Wagtails at Walls on 27th September, Brae on 2nd October, and Laxfirth on 3rd October, and a Great Grey Shrike at Hillswick on 28th September-3rd October that showed characters of Homeyer's Great Grey Shrike (subspecies homeyeri); a potential first British record.

A Red-throated Pipit was at Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire on 29th September with three Richard's Pipits, and 14 Olive-backed Pipits reported including two together on Shetland at Walls, Mainland on 1st October.

Additional rare and scarce warblers comprised a Melodious Warbler at Kynance Cove, Cornwall on 28th September, a Booted Warbler at Beachy Head, East Sussex on 29th September, Icterine Warblers in Norfolk at Blakeney Point on 29th September and Winterton the following day, five Blyth's Reed Warblers including a first-winter ringed at Spurn, East Yorkshire on 3rd October, six Radde's Warblers including five found on 29th September alone, and a total of 23 Barred Warblers.

Notable buntings comprised single Rustic Buntings on Holy Island, Northumberland on 29th September and Horsey, Norfolk on 1st-2nd October, Little Bunting on Shetland at Kirkabister on 29th September and St Martin's, Isles of Scilly on 3rd October, two Ortolan Buntings on Unst, Shetland, and a total of 25 Lapland Buntings.

Otherwise landbird miscellany included two Rose-coloured Starlings, three Hoopoes, five Red-backed Shrikes, nine each of both Bluethroat and Red-breasted Flycatcher, 10 Wrynecks (including one well inland at Draycote Water, Warwickshire on 28th September), and a total of 29 Common Rosefinches.

Mirroring events in Britain and Ireland Nearctic landbirds were discovered across in Iceland, Norway, and, of course, the Azores. On the Azores Corvo held a monopoly where discoveries comprised a Yellow Warbler and three Bobolinks together on 29th September, a Black-and-white Warbler on 1st October, and both American Redstart and Red-eyed Vireo on 3rd October, in Norway a Swainson's Thrush at Drange, and both Grey-cheeked Thrush and Red-eyed Vireo on Utsira were all discovered on 2nd October, whilst on Iceland a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Hallskot on 2nd October and an American Buff-bellied Pipit at Grímsey on 3rd October.

From the east came a Pechora Pipit to Norway on 27th September with a White's Thrush there on 29th, a Crested Honey Buzzard on Cyprus on 27th September, a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler in Belgium at Zeebrugge on 29th September, a Two-barred Greenish Warbler in Norway on 1st October, and a Pechora Pipit in France at Île-de-Sein on 3rd October.

Otherwise, a Moroccan Wagtail (form subpersonata) was reported in France in Gironde at Cap Ferret on 28th September, an Eleonora's Falcon in the Netherlands on Texel, Noord-Holland on 30th September, and on the Azores a Wood Duck on Flores on 29th September, and a booby species - either Red-footed or Brown - off Corvo on 2nd October where a Great Blue Heron remained throughout

 

In Kent up to four Queen of Spain Fritillary butterflies remained at Walmer until 2nd October, and in West Sussex up to three Long-tailed Blues were still in Worthing throughout. At sea off the western Isles both Humpback Whale and Fin Whale were near Tiumpan Head on 29th September.

 

With our weather dominated by a static low pressure centred around Iceland - and as a consequence winds now set from the southwest and west throughout Britain and Ireland until at least next weekend - we can hope for more Nearctic landbirds, and perhaps some exciting seawatching, but limited new arrivals from the east.

Historically the forthcoming week has produced a bounty of rarities including over the last 75 years 21 new species for the combined Britain and Ireland list; in order of appearance: Red-eyed Vireo, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Thick-billed Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eyebrowed Thrush, Veery, Ovenbird, Siberian Rubythroat, Semipalmated Plover, Cliff Swallow, Philadelphia Vireo, Indigo Bunting, Wood Thrush, Short-toed Eagle, Blue-winged Warbler, Canada Warbler, Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Siberian Accentor, and Least Bittern.

Firsts for Britain each day have included:

4th Grey Catbird South Stack, Anglesey, 2001 (had previously been recorded in Ireland)

5th Blackburnian Warbler Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, 1961

6th Thick-billed Warbler Fair Isle, Shetland Isles, 1955

7th Wood Thrush St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 1987

8th Alder Flycatcher Nanjizal, Cornwall, 2008

9th Siberian Accentor Scousburgh, Mainland, Shetland Isles, 2016

10th Philadelphia Vireo Tresco, Isles of Scilly, 1987 (had previously been recorded in Ireland)

Whilst standout firsts for Ireland have included:

4th Blue-winged Warbler Cape Clear, County Cork, 2000

5th Eastern Kingbird Inishmore, County Galway, 2012

6th Tennessee Warbler Inishbofin, County Galway, 2020 (had previously been recorded in Britain)

7th Least Bittern Farranfore, County Kerry, 2019

8th Canada Warbler Kilbaha, County Clare, 2006

9th Indigo Bunting Cape Clear, County Cork, 1985

10th Red-eyed Vireo Tuskar Rock, County Wexford, 1951

Of course the vast majority of these species are American and in this week in history a total of 243 Nearctic landbirds or 34 species have been discovered across Britain and Ireland, with all bar two of these since 1950. The species totals for 4th-10th October are:

Common Nighthawk 4

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 9

Black-billed Cuckoo 1

Belted Kingfisher 1

Alder Flycatcher 1

Eastern Kingbird 1

Philadelphia Vireo 3

Red-eyed Vireo 82

Cliff Swallow 1

Grey Catbird 1

Veery 2

Grey-cheeked Thrush 10

Swainson's Thrush 11

Hermit Thrush 2

Wood Thrush 1

American Robin 1

American Buff-bellied Pipit 20

White-crowned Sparrow 1

Bobolink 9

Baltimore Oriole 6

Ovenbird 2

Blue-winged Warbler 1

Black-and-white Warbler 4

Tennessee Warbler 1

Common Yellowthroat 2

American Redstart 1

Northern Parula 6

Blackburnian Warbler 2

Blackpoll Warbler 22

Myrtle Warbler 14

Canada Warbler 1

Scarlet Tanager 3

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 16

Indigo Bunting 1

Nearctic landbird discoveries in Britain and Ireland during 4th-10th October by ten year period

1942-1951: 2

1952-1961: 4

1962-1971: 16

1972-1981: 13

1982-1991: 58

1992-2001: 39

2002-2011: 43

2012-2021: 66

The last ten years saw more Nearctic landbirds discovered in this week than in any previous decade, although a preponderance of American Buff-bellied Pipits in recent years has acted as a driver for this. Hopefully the coming week will add significantly to the tallies.

Alder Flycatcher, Nanjizal Valley, Cornwall, (© Geoffrey Alan Clewes)

Another promising front for next weekend.

Last weeks wewther brought six american passerines to the Western Isles and Ireland
Swainson's Thrush (Barra)
Baltimore Oriole (Loop Head)
Three Red eyed Vireo's (Loop Head and Galway)
Bobolink (Cork)
Next weeks front will land Thursday pic.twitter.com/m2Fx5Ea2rK

— Peter Phillips (@leturkbirder) October 4, 2022

 

Chris Batty
4 October 2022

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

 

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