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

 

Weekly birding round-up: 3 - 9 Jan 2023

The fireworks of the festive season were over as the week just gone began, though a few bright sparks remained in the birding firmament. While the English southwest appeared to the place to be as the week wore on, it was Wales that exploded into life as the week drew to a close.

 

We were spoiled rotten in 2022 with two settled drake Baikal Teals, one apiece in northern and southern England, in East Yorkshire and Somerset respectively – both remained present from January right the way through into March, affording the chance to put a firm, inky tick next to their name on many a British list.

Which was all very well and good, but I’m prepared to wager there will be many a Welsh birder who ticked one or the other of those 2022 birds that would have been stirring at the news this week that a drake had been found in Powys at Llangorse Lake on 9th. It’s always a different matter when a bird is closer to home, not to mention being a county first. Indeed, never mind a county first – this was a Welsh first record of Baikal Teal, a bird present at Connah’s Quay (Flintshire) on 14th-16th April 2008 having not made the grade.

Present at Llangorse Lake as the afternoon wore on, should the bird remain present into the coming week and beyond, it ought to be quietly popular.

 

Staying with the theme of species that proved, by the duration of their stays, to be crowd-pleasers during 2022, we segue seamlessly from Baikal Teal to Black-browed Albatross. The adult bird that remained so faithful to Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire) last summer was a highlight for many visitors to the reserve, avowed birders and non-birders alike.

There can’t be many birders so inclined who haven’t made the effort to connect with the species in the wake of that prolonged stay. There is, however, a world of difference between rocking up to a breeding seabird colony with a high expectation a Black-browed Albatross will be in its seething midst, and happening upon one by sheer chance and good fortune when you’re seawatching.

Heaven knows there are rarer seabirds nowadays on the British list that you might have a lottery-winning moment with, but it must be hard to beat the immense charisma of an albatross hoving into view.

And that’s exactly what happened this week in Cornwall, with a bird reported from St Ives at 2pm on 5th and, latterly, from across the bay at Godrevy Point as well.

A bird had been seen the previous week off the French Atlantic coast at Quiberon on 28th December – it seems entirely possible these are one and the same individual.

While the months of November-January are the fallow period for past records of Black-browed Albatross in Britain, they’re by no means entirely devoid of precedent. A prior January record came in 1990 when a bird was seen at sea in sea area Viking, 60° north. If one can make it up to Shetland at this time of year, Cornwall is definitely fair game. And it all just goes to show that seawatching is worthwhile whatever the time of year…

Apart from Cornwall’s startling opening salvo to the New Year’s seawatching season, the best of the seabirds was, of course, the steadfast Double-crested Cormorant still present on Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 4th.

Shetland made the running for White-billed Divers, with a bird seen in the traditional Mainland wintering quarters of South Nesting Bay on 5th, and another that day off Yell at Breckon.

A dozen Little Auks were logged during the course of the week, widely scattered down the east coast from Shetland to Kent. Three sites saw duos recorded – at Longhoughton Steel (Northumberland) on 3rd, off Lamb Holm (Orkney) on 5th, and at North Foreland (Kent) on 7th – while three birds were logged passing Lossiemouth (Moray) on 8th.

Two possible Great Shearwaters seen from Beesands (Devon) on 3rd were followed by sightings of a single bird off The Lizard (Cornwall) on 6th and 7th.

A handful of Leach’s Petrels were noted this week – single birds at West Bay (Dorset) on 3rd, and Severn Beach (Gloucestershire) on 4th; and, on 7th in Devon, one was reported from Dawlish Warren NNR, and another probable seen distantly at Berry Head.

Devon also played host to a few Pomarine Skuas - birds being seen off Shoalstone Point on 3rd, and Berry Head on 7th where two individuals were noted. Neighbouring Cornwall, meanwhile, gave us a singleton off Sennen Cove on 4th, and two from Pennance Point on 7th, one of the latter pair remaining off there on 8th also.

In Suffolk, a Long-tailed Skua was seen from Landguard NR on 7th.

Numbers of Glossy Ibises remained a shadow of their former resident selves. The preceding fortnight’s 15 birds represented half the number we’d become accustomed to reporting from Britain and Ireland as a whole regularly in recent months; and their numbers failed to rebound this week. Four remained in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven NNR on 6th-9th; two were still settled in Devon at Fremington Pill on 4th-5th; one was still to be found in Kent at Dungeness on 3rd, but was rejoined by a companion there on 8th; a single bird was again seen in Suffolk at Slaughden on 8th; two birds were seen in Cambridgeshire on 8th at Middle Fen and Berry Fen; and in Ireland, three birds remained on 8th at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford).

By recent standards, the past week was a quiet one for The Goose Formerly Known As Canada - with just a hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose still present on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 3rd to show for ourselves.

The Red-breasted Goose also remained on Islay on 3rd at Loch Gruinart RSPB.

In Forth, the white Snow Goose was still happily settled near Drymen on 3rd-7th, while a blue morph was reported from Ashton’s Callows NR (Co.Tipperary) on 4th.

Co.Dublin again supplied possible Grey-bellied Brants this week, with five birds seen in Dublin on 4th, and a single bird at Blackrock College on 8th.

Essex meanwhile proved to be an absolute hotbed of Black Brant sightings in recent days – a single bird being seen 3rd-5th at West Mersea again; at Hamford Water on 5th; and on 6th at Cudmore Grove CP, and Tollesbury. Along the coast in Suffolk, one was again at Felixstowe Ferry on 5th; further north, in East Yorkshire, a bird was present at Kilnsea Wetlands on 3rd and 6th, and at Skeffling on 8th; while in Hampshire another was still present at Farlington Marshes HWT on 7th-9th.

Lingering drake American Wigeons remained at Big Waters NR (Northumberland) on 3rd-4th, at Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset) still on 4th-9th, on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 3rd, and at Crook of Baldoon RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 9th; while new birds were found on Orkney’s Mainland at Loch of Ayre on 7th-8th, and at Fiskerton Fen (Lincolnshire) on 8th-9th.

Green-winged Teals just about scaled the dizzy heights of double figures. Starting in Scotland, birds remained on Sanday (Orkney) on 5th, Lewis (Western Isles) on 3rd-6th, Barra (Western Isles) on 7th, Tain Links (Highland & Caithness) on 9th, and at Alturlie Point (Highland & Caithness) on 3rd; a further Orcadian sighting came from Inganess Bay on Mainland on 7th, with one also seen on 7th-9th in Highland & Caithness at Loch Eye. England gave us the bird again in Northumberland at Colt Crag reservoir on 5th-9th, another in Cornwall at Stithians reservoir on 5th-7th, and a Suffolk bird in an area with no general access at Sturmer Mere on 9th. Ireland’s only sightings lately came from Co.Cork, at Timoleague on 6th and The Gearagh on 9th.

Norfolk’s Ferruginous Duck population was still going strong this week, with the full complement of three birds once again present on Filby Broad on 5th and 9th, with one or two also noted on adjacent Rollesby and Ormesby Broads as the week wore on.

The week was a good one again for Ring-necked Ducks, with some 30 birds logged across Britain and Ireland as a whole. Of these, several sites hosted multiple birds, not least Siblyback Lake (Cornwall), where two birds still present on 5th rose to a trio present there on 6th-7th. Elsewhere, duos were seen at Filby Broad (Norfolk) again on 6th; Standlake (Oxfordshire) still on 5th-7th; Blagdon Lake (Somerset) still on 3rd-8th; and at Talley Lakes (Carmarthenshire) still on 7th.

The drake Lesser Scaup remained at Oxford Island NR (Co.Armagh) on 5th, while the female was still out on South Uist (Western Isles) on 6th-7th.

In Cleveland the second-winter drake King Eider remained present around Redcar on 3rd-9th, while a drake was again seen off Yell (Shetland) at Gutcher on 3rd.

Cream of the scoters were, comfortably, the White-winged Scoters still present in Ireland and Scotland respectively – the first-winter female still off Achill Island (Co.Mayo) on 3rd-9th, and the drake once more proving fairly reliable in Lothian in Gosford Bay on 3rd, and around Fisherrow on 5th-9th.

Hot on the heels of the probable bird seen at Ross Back Sands in the dying days of 2022, a confirmed drake Black Scoter was seen this week in Northumberland off Holy Island on 8th.

Scottish Surf Scoters were seen in Lothian off Gullane Point again on 5th still, and off Islay (Argyll & Bute) still on 3rd; a Welsh bird was again seen in Colwyn Bay (Conwy) on 7th; and an Irish bird at Marlogue (Co.Cork) on 7th.

Finally, in Co.Mayo the drake Hooded Merganser remained at Rosduane on 3rd-8th.

The best of the week’s waders was, by some margin, the showy Greater Yellowlegs still present near Lismore (Co.Waterford) on 6th-9th.

British birders meanwhile could still draw some solace in the form of the Long-billed Dowitcher in Norfolk at Cley NWT on 3rd-9th.

Small numbers of Grey Phalaropes were again blown close to shore this week – single birds being seen on 3rd at Chesil Cove (Dorset) and Salthouse (Norfolk); on 4th from Pendeen (Cornwall); and on 7th from Cooden (East Sussex), St Gothian Sands LNR (Cornwall), and St Mary’s (Scilly). On 8th two were seen at Gothian Sands LNR, and single birds at Chesil Cove, Keyhaven (Hampshire), and Splash Point (East Suessex). The week finished with a flourish on 9th with birds still at Chesil Cove and Gothian Sands LNR, one on the sea off Stag Rocks (Northumberland), and another on Stithians reservoir (Cornwall).

Anyone down in the English southwest this week had a mouthwatering array of gulls on offer, albeit some were a little more accommodating than other. Sightings of the recently found first-winter American Herring Gull in Cornwall were frustratingly transitory, for all it was present at Newlyn on 5th and 6th. Days passed before it was again seen in Penzance at Wherrytown Beach in the early afternoon of 9th – before flying off towards Newlyn, only to return to Wherrrytown Beach later in the afternoon.

Easier by some margin was Devon’s best gull, a second-winter Laughing Gull found initially at Beesands Ley on 4th, and remaining in the area throughout the week until 9th. The first for Devon for a couple of years, this was to prove a popular bird with locals and visiting birders alike.

In Co.Antrim the adult Bonaparte’s Gull remained steadfast at Ballygalley on 3rd-8th; and a first-winter was found on 7th passing St Combs (Aberdeenshire).

Speaking of locally popular birds, an adult Sabine’s Gull found I Hampshire on 8th at Budds Farm sewage works was an unexpected midwinter treat that did the decent thing by remaining there on 9th too.

Hampshire also supplied a Ring-billed Gull again at Blashford Lakes HWT on 7th-8th. In Cornwall, the adult remained at Lelant Saltings still on 4th-7th. The adult was again seen in Scotland at Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) on 6th-9th; while in Ireland, the adult remained at Blackrock (Co.Louth) on 4th, an adult was seen at Nimmo’s Pier (Co.Galway) on 8th, and another was present at Cuskinny Marsh NR (Co.Cork) on 7th.

Some 30 Glaucous Gulls were seen this week nationwide, with a few sites achieving multiple birds – duos seen on Yell (Shetland) on 5th, on Barra (Western Isles) on 7th, and on Unst (Shetland) on 8th. Iceland Gulls were again slightly more numerous, with around 45 birds noted nationwide and, amongst their number, three were seen on Unst (Shetland) on 6th, and duos at Scrabster harbour (Highland & Caithness) on 7th, and on Yell (Shetland) on 8th. On 9th three of the former species, and two of the latter, were present on North Uist (Western Isles) at Rubh’ Arnal.

Also on Shetland’s Unst this week, the juvenile Kumlien’s Gull was again seen there at Uyeasound on 8th. Also seen on 8th were an adult in Cambridgeshire at Melbourn, and an adult again in Co.Kerry at Tralee Bay Wetlands, the former bird still present in the area on 9th.

Continuing to delight in Norfolk, the juvenile female Pallid Harrier remained around the Warham Greens area on 3rd-9th.

Also in Norfolk, a possible Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on 3rd at Buckenham Marshes RSPB. Confirmed birds this week were seen at Hothfield Common (Kent) on 5th, and up in Orkney again on Mainland at Loch of Brockan on 6th.

The week began well in Ireland, where the country’s first ever Penduline Tits were still present at The Gearagh (Co.Cork) on 3rd, with two of the initial trio being seen there that day. Only one was confirmed the following day but, on 6th and 8th all three were again noted there, with at least two still present on 9th. In Somerset, two remained at Steart WWT on 3rd, and a single bird was again seen in East Sussex at West Rise Marsh on 9th.

Those considering heading down to Devon for the wintering Isabelline Wheatear this week were given additional impetus when the recent probable Eastern Yellow Wagtail at the same site, Colyford Common LNR, was confirmed. Both birds were present until 8th, with the wheatear at least still present on 9th, and at times were giving unprecedented combo views...

If a day trip to Devon wasn’t your thing, and you were more a day on the north Norfolk coast kinda birder, you still had good passerine options this week – specifically, the Hume’s Warbler still present at Brancaster on 3rd-9th. Kent, meanwhile offered the potential for both a Hume’s Warbler still in Dover on 3rd-9th, and a Pallas’s Warbler still at Swalecliffe on 3rd-9th.

Wintering Yellow-browed Warblers remained at Lochend Park (Lothian) on 3rd-8th; Earls Barton GPs (Northamptonshire) on 3rd-8th; Donnington Bridge (Oxfordshire) on 3rd-9th; and at Kenfig NNR (Glamorgan) on 3rd-7th. Another was heard only in Cornwall at St Hillary on 3rd.

Some 85 Waxwings logged nationwide this week spoke volumes of the tapering influx of late 2022. The best of this diminished number were a flock of 20 or so birds seen at Floodplain Forest NR (Buckinghamshire) on 5th.

Wintering Great Grey Shrikes were still in very short supply. Birds remained in Kent at Hothfield Common on 4th-8th, and in Hampshire at Pig Bush on 5th-9th; and another Hampshire sighting came on 6th at Shatterford.

The Rose-coloured Starling was once again seen in Somerset at Wiveliscombe on 8th-9th.

In Co.Antrim the Arctic Redpoll remained at Dunsilly on 3rd-9th, while another exilipes bird was found on Unst (Shetland) on 8th.

Finally, in Cornwall, a female Serin was found on 8th near Sennen, and the recent Little Bunting seen between Cot Valley and Boscregan had found itself company there on 6th, with two birds noted there that day. A final possible Little Bunting was reported on 9th as having made a brief appearance at Patrington (East Yorkshire).

 

For a second consecutive Round Up we’ll start our overseas news out in Israel, where the country’s tenth Pied Bushchat was found near Ma’or on 5th-9th; and the African Crake was once again seen in Eilat on 8th.

Drawing a little closer to home, an Allen’s Gallinule was found in Italy at Folce Polcevera on 5th, the ninth national record of the species. With another reported recently in Morocco at Tangier, maybe we’ll have one or two more making it across the Mediterranean in days to come. Lest we forget, all three of Britain’s past records owe themselves to the late winter window of January – March – neatly matching the latter stages of the species’ dry-season migration away from their West African breeding grounds. The chances of one being found in anything but a moribund state are, of course, vanishingly slim.

Slightly belated news came this week of a national first record, for France – a Dwarf Bittern found on the Atlantic coast of southern France at Guéthary on 1st. Only the twelfth record for the Western Palearctic, alas it was in a bad way, having been hit by a car – and subsequently died in care. Also present in France this week, the Forster’s Tern remained at Port du Korejou on 3rd, and the Eastern Long-legged Buzzard at Thibie on 7th-8th.

In Sweden, the Baltimore Oriole was still to be seen at Förslöv on 4th-6th.

Finally, in Iceland, a drake White-winged Scoter was seen on 3rd at Hofuoborgarsvaeoi.

 

The coming week looks set to be something of a classic. A classic, that is, in the sense of what passes for winter in these parts, rather than a week of stunning birding conditions.

Yep. That means westerlies. Lots of ‘em. And doubtless rain too, lots of it.

And what might that portend? Paraphrasing slightly, you may not be able to polish a bird, but you might just be fortunate enough to pick out a decent gull in the week to come. For starters, the past 50 years give us half a dozen past accepted records of American Herring and Laughing Gulls for the coming week, and with recent records of both fresh in our minds, another of either species feels distinctly possible.

Statistically, a Bonaparte’s Gull a little more so – eleven past records involving eight birds owe themselves to the days ahead. Of course, if you really want to shoot for the stars, we have to mention the Slaty-backed Gull found at Rainham Landfill (London) on 13th January 2011, and the Vega Gull found at Duncannon (Co.Wexford) on 10th January 2016.

National firsts, the pair of them, and as such no star to steer us by for the coming week. But the moral of the tale is that we’re now firmly in the heart of gull season. There’s a fair chance of something good out there, if not this coming week, then sometime soon. It’s all about the gull.

 

Jon Dunn
10 Jan 2023

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

 

Share

Tweet  

 

 

Latest photos

Register free to upload

Latest articles