Weekly birding round-up: 28 Feb - 6 Mar 2023
Another fairly quiet week just elapsed, truth be told, with late winter failing to spring any radical surprises upon us. Sure, a couple of good gulls were found in Scotland, but neither was wholly unexpected given the time of year and, given their location in the very north, were likely only to attract local birders – though for sure both were much appreciated in their respective counties. It remained for a certain dandy duck to prop up the headlines...
Proving to once more be a steadfast presence in Gwynedd this week, the cracking drake Baikal Teal remained at Forydd Bay on 28th-6th. At some point in the presumably not too distant future the urge to move on is going to overcome him – the burning question being whether he abandons these winter quarters in one fell swoop, or drops in somewhere else en route out of here.
Almost going a week without any news, the Double-crested Cormorant was again seen at Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 5th-6th.
In Shetland, the recent White-billed Diver remained on the waters between Unst and Yell, seen from the ferry between Sound Gruney and Unst on 2nd.
Also in Shetland inshore waters, two Little Auks were seen off Sumburgh on 28th.
Most of the recent usual Glossy Ibis suspects were still all present and correct this week – starting again in the south of England, the two Devonian birds remained at Fremington Pill on 3rd-4th; two were still in in Somerset at Ham Wall RSPB on 2nd, with three present there on 4th, and two still on 5th; two were again at seen at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 5th-6th; two were still present at Dungeness (Kent) on 5th; and one remained hanging around Aldeburgh (Suffolk) on 1st-6th.
In Ireland, three birds were still present at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 28th-6th; one was still present at Lough Aderra (Co.Cork) on 2nd; and another was seen at Claggan (Co.Mayo) on 28th.
Our weekly waddle with the honkers and quackers of note begins with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, and the interior Todd’s Canada Goose still present in Lancashire & North Merseyside at Banks Marsh NNR on 3rd-5th; another was seen on 6th on Tiree (Argyll & Bute); and another on 6th in Dumfries & Galloway at West Freugh Airfield. The popular hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose remained in Northumberland in the Beehive Flash general area on 28th-5th, with additional birds also seen this past week in Argyll & Bute near Campbeltown on 1st still, and on Islay on 1st-2nd. The Cackling Goose was seen again on North Uist (Western Isles) on 28th-4th.
The white morph Snow Goose remained in North Yorkshire at Thruscross reservoir on 1st-5th. On 4th the South Ronaldsay (Orkney) bird was again reported as still present, and another was seen in flight over Gartocharn (Clyde). On 5th a Cumbrian record came from Newton Marsh, followed on 6th by the white morph still at Longcroft.
The Red-breasted Goose remained on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 28th-4th.
Black Brant sightings in East Yorkshire came this week from Kilnsea Wetlands still on 28th-6th, and at Skeffling again on 2nd. Kentish sightings came from North Foreland on 28th-2nd, just around the coast at Margate on 2nd also, and at Foreness Point still and Lower Halstow on 6th. Essex gave us a bird at South Woodham Ferrers on 3rd-4th.
Two possible Grey-bellied Brants remained at Nairn (Highland & Caithness) on 28th-2nd, a further possible bird was seen in Co.Dublin at Kilbogget Park on 3rd and, on 4th, two probables were seen again at Lurgan Green (Co.Louth).
Two recent drake American Wigeons were still to be seen this week, respectively, at Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire) on 28th-6th and at Blagdon Hall (Northumberland) on 28th-3rd; absent from the news for a little while, the drake on Islay (Argyll & Bute) was also seen again this week on 2nd. An additional bird was found at Darnconner Quarry (Ayrshire) on 1st-3rd.
A shade over half a dozen Green-winged Teals were again seen across the region in recent days. Starting in Scotland, the Lewis (Western Isles) bird remained there on 28th-4th. The Manx bird was still present at Poyllvaaish (Isle of Man) on 3rd, and Knock Rushen on 5th. In England, Colt Crag reservoir (Northumberland) individual was still there on 3rd-4th, and a bird was found on 5th in Cumbria at Tindale Tarn. Irish sightings came from Larne Lough (Co.Antrim) still on 3rd-6th; in Co.Kerry at Blennerville on 1st-4th and Cahersiveen on 2nd; and at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) still on 2nd-6th.
Numbers of Ferruginous Ducks seen varied on Filby Broad (Norfolk) this week, with a peak count of three present there on 1st reducing to a daily singleton by 3rd-4th.
Ring-necked Ducks remained fairly omnipresent across Britain and Ireland, with around 30 birds noted once more this week. Again, Welsh sites proved fruitful for multiple birds, with duos seen on Rosebush reservoir (Pembrokeshire) on 28th-4th still, and on Lisvane reservoir (Glamorgan) on 1st-5th still. Ireland though had the highest counts, with four birds still present on Lough Fern (Co.Donegal) on 4th-5th, and five birds on 6th at Kilkee reservoir (Co.Clare).
A drake Lesser Scaup was found this week on Farmoor reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 2nd-6th and was destined to be locally popular. The females meanwhile remained on South Uist (Western Isles) still on 1st-5th, and at Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 1st-5th.
The drake White-winged Scoter was reported once more off Musselburgh (Lothian) on 4th.
The Welsh Surf Scoter hotspot of Llanddulas (Conwy) came up trumps this week with three birds seen there on 28th, and again on 5th. Elsewhere, two were present in Sound of Taransay off Harris (Western Isles) on 2nd; single birds in Argyll & Bute off Islay on 28th-1st still, Sound of Gigha on 1st, and Ballochry on 2nd; and the Benllech (Anglesey) bird again on 5th-6th.
Finally, in Redcar (Cleveland) the second-winter King Eider was still present on 2nd-6th, and the drake was still in Shetland’s Bluemull Sound on 2nd.
It was all fairly as you were where the waders were concerned again this week. In Gloucestershire the first-winter White-rumped Sandpiper remained at Slimbridge WWT 28th-6th.
In Norfolk, meanwhile, the first-winter Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at Cley on 28th-6th.
Finally, in Ireland the first-winter Greater Yellowlegs remained at Tallow Bridge (Co.Waterford) on 1st-4th.
Scotland landed another American Herring Gull this week, a fine chocolatey first-winter bird at Fort William (Highland & Caithness) on 3rd-6th. Cornwall’s Mousehole, meanwhile, accounted for a report of two probable birds on 1st, a second-winter and a third-winter respectively.
Apparent American Herring Gull at Fort William this morning. No references to hand, but seems to show all features I can remember. Dark, concolourous underparts, all dark tail, barred rear, bill and head ok. Lots of dodgy phone-scoped video to go through, but quick screenshots... pic.twitter.com/t8ImNAvqVl
— Matt Slaymaker (@WanderingBirder) March 3, 2023
Ushered in by a new cold snap, a Ross’s Gull was seen fleetingly from Kinnaird Head (Aberdeenshire) on 4th before heading west; it put in further appearances there on 5th, albeit still brief and/or distant.
Away from Scotland’s choice offerings, the best of the week’s gulls remained Ring-billed Gulls – and, once again, Ireland enjoyed the lion’s share of records. In Co.Kerry one remained at Tralee Bay Wetlands on 1st, with a bird also seen that day at Blennerville – the latter site gathering two birds on 3rd; Co.Cork meanwhile enjoyed sightings at Ring still on 28th-1st, and at Cuskinny Marsh NR on 2nd again; the Blackrock (Co.Louth) adult was again seen there on 4th-6th; a second-winter was present at Nimmo’s Pier (Co.Galway) on 4th; and the adult remained at Enniskillen (Co.Fermanagh) on 6th. Cornwall’s Hayle estuary continued to boast an adult on 28th-1st, joined there again by a first-winter individual on 1st.
Around 25 Glaucous Gulls were logged this week, of which the best count was two present at Graven in Shetland’s north Mainland on 3rd. Numbers of Iceland Gulls held much firmer, with some 55 birds seen. Of the latter species the peak single site count came this week from North Uist (Western Isles) on 3rd, where eight birds were seen.
In Cambridgeshire the Kumlien’s Gull was once more haunting Dernford Farm reservoir on 28th-2nd and again on 5th, and Smithey Fen on 4th; with a second-winter also seen in Shetland’s Bluemull Sound on 2nd, perhaps also accounting for the second-winter that followed a whelk boat into Cullivoe (Yell) on 5th; the juvenile remained on Unst at Easter Loch on 5th.
Finally, the adult Forster’s Tern was again seen in Co.Galway this week, on this occasion at and around Nimmo’s Pier again on 3rd-6th.
Nothing to see here this week. Moving swiftly on…
Kicking off the passerines once more with wintering warblers of note, Hume’s Warblers remained in Kent at Folkestone still on 28th-5th and at Elmstone on 6th, and in Somerset at Compton Dando on 28th-6th.
In Nottinghamshire the Pallas’s Warbler remained popular near Attenborough NR on 28th-6th, a draw made that little bit more attractive as it was in song there too. The Willington (Co.Durham) bird was still present on 1st; and another possible bird was heard only in the grounds on Manchester (Greater Manchester) Cathedral on 28th.
A Yellow-browed Warbler was reported from Morton Lochs NNR (Fife) on 5th.
Some 65 Waxwings nationwide weren’t many birds on the whole – the highest count being 40 birds seen in Aberdeenshire at Bridge of Don on 4th; Ireland’s sole birds were three still in Bangor (Co.Down) until 5th, with at least two of them still present on 6th.
By recent standards this was a good week for Great Grey Shrikes, with four birds seen lately – the Harwood Forest (Northumberland) bird still on 28th-5th, the Shatterford (Hampshire) individual still on 3rd-5th, the Langdale Forest (North Yorkshire) bird again on 4th, and a new bird in Bedfordshire near Eyeworth on 5th.
The recent Hoopoe was once more seen at Marloes (Pembrokeshire) on 4th.
In Cornwall, the Isabelline Wheatear remained at Holywell Bay on 2nd.
Suffolk’s Eastern Yellow Wagtail remained at Carlton Marshes SWT still on 28th-5th.
All of our recent trio of Richard’s Pipits were still available this week – the bird still at Awre (Gloucestershire) on 28th-5th, the Scillonian bird still on St Mary’s on 28th-5th, and the Wyke Regis (Dorset) bird still on 4th.
Finally, in Cornwall the two Little Buntings were still present between Cot Valley and Boscregan on 28th-5th, and the single bird was still present near Metherell on 6th; while the recently trapped bird remained in Hertfordshire at Stanborough Reedmarsh on 5th-6th.
Further afield, a good proportion of recent rarities remained on station for another week. Starting in France, the Eastern Long-legged Buzzard was still present at Thibie on 5th, and the Sociable Lapwing lingered at Lacassagne on 28th.
Belgium’s Pine Bunting remained at at Korbeek-Dijle on 5th and, absent from the news for a while, the Moustached Warbler was again seen at De Gavers on 4th-6th.
In the Netherlands the japonicus Asian Buff-bellied Pipit was still to be seen at Polder Nieuw-Bonaventura on 1st-6th.
Germany scored a Sandhill Crane on 28th at Kakernehl.
In Sweden, the Baltimore Oriole was again seen at Förslöv on 5th.
In Spain, the Black-faced Bunting remained at Sèquia Nova de Silla on 28th-6th.
Portugal held onto its Sociable Lapwing at Chainha on 1st-4th.
In Israel the Black-faced Bunting remained at Ma’ayan Zvi on 2nd, with the Masked Wagtail still at Ma’ayan Tzv on 28th also.
Did we mention spring was coming last week in the closing remarks here? That sort of temerity this early in the season is rewarded, of course, by a whole-hearted return to winter, with an Arctic maritime airmass sweeping down from the north as the new week begins, ushering in a cold spell that’s likely to include a drop of snow for good measure.
So we’ll park dreams of Great Spotted Cuckoos for a while yet, and cast our eyes north once more. We’ve already had one southern English Ross’s Gull lately, the all-too-fleeting inland bird in Dorset last month, but a further bird and preferably a lingering one would be most welcome. The coming week boasts half a dozen historic records, involving five birds, of which three were seen in Devon. Devonian birders, you know what’s expected of you.
Jon Dunn
7 Mar 2023
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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