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

 

Weekly birding round-up: 18 - 24 Apr 2023

We anticipated that the week just gone would see a fresh surge of rarities onto our shores – the timing was good, and the conditions seemed propitious. Nonetheless, we may have somewhat underestimated just how good the penultimate week of April was going to be. A first for Britain? Check. Been a few months since one of those… A twitchable heavyweight county first? Yes, one of those too. Other rarities? Check. An ongoing influx of scarce herons? That also. It’s been a top drawer week all round.

 

We’ve been long-anticipating the discovery of Britain’s first Black-winged Kite in these quarters – with the species having become, if not ubiqituous in rural France in the last few decades, then certainly well-established with in excess of 1,000 breeding pairs, some within sight of the English Channel, it felt like a matter of when rather than if a bird would be found.

Nowhere would the anticipation have been, justifiably, higher than in Kent. On a clear day one can see cars moving along French roads there from Kentish clifftop vantage points, after all. It’s not a huge ask for a Black-winged Kite to drift across to see what prospects the Garden of England has to offer. If you’d taken a bet on where our first bird would be found, St Margaret’s Bay or Sandwich Bay would have seemed like a decent punt.

Not, perhaps, beside the A489 near Glanmule in rural Powys. Birds, of course, don’t read the script, no matter how hard we might wish them to. Yet there it was on 18th, the new week barely minted, and Twitter afire with the incontrovertible evidence of Britain’s first Black-winged Kite, a short video showing it hovering gloriously there. Any first for Britain carries with it that incomparable shock of discovery for the blessed finder, but surely for Martyn Owen on 18th the jolt will have been particularly acute. A stunning bird, and in the most unexpected of quarters.

Found mid-morning, it was visible for but a few minutes before it flew off to the west and then… nothing further was seen of it. Will it come out of the woodwork again in the days or weeks to come? If not, then when and where will our next bird be discovered. Kent? You wouldn’t necessarily bet on it on the basis of this week’s news.

 

Now’s a fine time of year for a wayward Nearctic passerine to be found as it does its best to answer the irrepressible urge to migrate northwards. We’ve a fine and venerable history of Nearctic sparrows, juncos and warblers found in the white heat of spring migration on this side of the Atlantic.

This week it was the turn of East Sussex, with an absolute cracker of a gambelii White-crowned Sparrow discovered at Hope Gap on 22nd, and still present there to the delight of local birders and those from further afield alike as the week drew to a close on 24th.

It almost goes without saying that this was a county first. To the end of 2021 we’ve just 12 accepted British records on the books – Shetland dominates that picture, with five historic records, including our last bird, the individual that settled on Unst on 5th-9th November 2021. The most southerly British record to date is the genuinely crowd-pleasing bird that was found in Norfolk at Cley on 3rd January 2008, and went on to spend 69 days there. No south coast records then… until this week.

 

We’ve enjoyed a superb winter for Isabelline Wheatears with not one but two wintering birds seen in the English southwest. That perhaps ought to relegate a spring bird to the main body of the passerine text, but try telling that to Norfolk this week.

The county boasts over half a dozen accepted records on the books, of which only the county first wasn’t an autumnal bird – that first being a one day bird at Winterton on 28th May 1977. This was a notable bird – effectively a first for Britain, back in the day. Only a bird shot on 11th November 1887 at Aigle Gill (Cumbria) pre-dates it.

Norfolk landed a second spring record this week in the form of a bird found at West Runton on 21st – frustratingly only to fly off inland. Fortunately it reappeared there the following day, and was still present over the weekend until 23rd – a most welcome bird for locals and Norfolk’s usual weekend birding visitors alike.

 

Of the four accepted British records of Elegant Tern to the end of 2020, Dorset’s done well for itself, boasting prior birds at Stanpit Marsh on 10th May 2005 and Brownsea Island on 21st-22nd June 2017. None of which should serve to diminish the impact of another record of this most, well, elegant of terns as the week drew to a close on 24th – a fine bird found at Lodmoor RSPB in the morning, albeit only in passing, for it flew off the reserve and wasn’t seen subsequently that day. One to keep a keen eye open for in the coming week, for sure.

 

White-billed Divers enjoyed another tremendous week in the waters of Scotland, with at least 25 birds logged. The peak count came from Moray where 13 birds were seen from Cullen on 19th, but other mounting aggregations elsewhere included four birds seen from Portsoy (Aberdeenshire) on 20th, and three off Norwick on the northern end of Unst (Shetland) on 21st. Away from this Scottish largesse, a single bird was seen off Pendeen (Cornwall) on 22nd.

Numbers of Pomarine Skua began to pick up a little, though we’re still nowhere near them streaming past our coast in great volume just yet. A singleton was seen from Bowness-on-Solway (Cumbria) on 19th; followed by three off Dungeness (Kent) on 21st, and two noted from Portland (Dorset) on 22nd. On 23rd the pace quickened slightly, with 13 birds seen nationally, of which the best single site count were trios noted in East Sussex at Birling Gap and Beachy Head.

A Leach’s Petrel was seen from Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 23rd.

A Balearic Shearwater was also seen on 23rd, at South Stack RSPB (Anglesey).

Finally, the adult Double-crested Cormorant was still present at Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 20th.

 

And still they came and, in some cases, continued to make themselves thoroughly at home. The spring 2023 influx of Night Herons continued apace for another week, with a combination of newly arrived and newly discovered individuals amounting to 36 birds logged across Britain and Ireland. Peak count remained the flock of seven birds still haunting their favoured garden near Drinagh (Co.Wexford) on 21st. Elsewhere in Ireland single site multiple birds were two at Sigginstown Castle (Co.Wexford) on 18th-19th, and three in Co.Cork at Skibbereen on 20th-22nd of which at least two remained on 23rd-24th. In Britain the influx reached north and west, with a singleton on St Kilda (Western Isles) on 18th followed by four there on 20th, and at least three still present by 22nd. While the Unst (Shetland) bird remained there on 18th-21st, no further Shetland records were forthcoming. Two birds were still to be found at Iford (Dorset) on 18th-20th; and two were seen at Lound Lakes SWT (Suffolk) on 24th.

Purple Herons continued to be less numerous altogether, though still very much a presence on these shores. Starting in Ireland, the Lough Gill (Co.Kerry) bird was again seen there on 20th. Cornish sightings came from near Gwenter still on 19th, at Croft Pascoe Pool on 21st, and at Gunwalloe on 23rd. A probable was seen in Somerset at Steart WWT on 18th; and a confirmed bird by Old Mill Grounds NR (Pembrokeshire) on 24th.

Numbers of Glossy Ibises remained static, with around 15 birds again logged across Britain and Ireland in recent days. Ireland continued to do well for itself – four birds were seen on 18th near Athlone (Co.Roscommon); three remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 18th-22nd rising to seven on 23rd; and singles were seen in Co.Wexford on 19th over Adamstown, and on 21st over South Slob. Single birds remained in England at Aldeburgh (Suffolk) on 18th-23rd; Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 18th-21st; and Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 19th-24th; a new single bird was found at Brading Marshes RSPB (Isle of Wight) on 21st; and two continued their residency at Dungeness (Kent) on 22nd.

 

Straight into the honkers and quackers section of proceedings, and nary a honker of interest was reported this week – a sure sign of the changing of the seasons. Some ducks, however, maintained interest.

Green-winged Teals remained at Campfield Marsh RSPB (Cumbria) on 18th, Boyton Marshes RSPB (Suffolk) on 20th-21st, and in Cheshire & Wirral at Frodsham Marsh again on 21st-24th. Another was found on 20th-24th at Idle Valley NR (Nottinghamshire); and another on 24th on Islay (Argyll & Bute) at Loch Gruinart RSPB.

A probable female Blue-winged Teal was found at Abbotsbury Swannery (Dorset) in the evening of 21st, but proved frustratingly elusive.

Norfolk’s recent party of Ferruginous Ducks put in another appearance on Filby Broad on 18th-20th, with three birds once more noted there, at least two, both drakes, still present on 21st-22nd, and a drake on 24th; a female was seen in flight over adjacent Ormesby Broad on 23rd; and the female was again seen at Aqualate Mere (Staffordshire) on 23rd also.

Ring-necked Ducks meanwhile took a distinct dive in recent days, with little more than a dozen birds reported. Starting in Cornwall, the female was still at Helston on 19th-23rd; in Devon sightings came from Slapton Ley on 18th and Beesands Ley again on 22nd; and a bird was found in Somerset at Portishead on 20th, while the Blagdon Lake individual was still to be seen there on 18th-20th. Moving north, in Herefordshire one was still present on Bodenham GPs on 22nd; other birds remained at Old Moor RSPB (South Yorkshire) on 19th-24th, Low Barns DWT (Co.Durham) on 18th-20th; and on the Forth & Clyde Canal (Clyde) in Maryhill on 21st again, and Bingham’s Pond on 23rd. Another was found on 23rd at Higham Lake (Northamptonshire), and a drake on 24th at Linlithgow Loch (Lothian). In Wales, a bird remained on Ynysfro reservoir (Gwent) on 18th-23rd; and in Ireland one was still to be seen on Lough Fea (Co.Monaghan) on 18th, and two birds at Ballynacarriga Lough (Co.Cork) on 24th.

Numbers of Lesser Scaups also dropped this week – leaving us with the first-winter drake still at Farmoor reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 18th-23rd, the drake still on Audenshaw reservoirs (Greater Manchester) on 18th-23rd, and the drake still present on Loch Gelly (Fife) on 18th-19th; and a drake found at Lough Gara (Co.Sligo) on 23rd.

A small scatter of drake Surf Scoters were seen over the course of recent days – one still off Llandulas (Conwy) on 21st, another off Prestonpans (Lothian) on 18th, and a bird off Burray (Orkney) on 18th.

A drake King Eider was noted passing Isle of May (Fife) on 21st, followed by a drake, presumably the same bird, also in Fife at Earlsferry on 23rd; and then, on 24th, a second-winter drake seen at Elie (Fife).

The unringed and fully winged drake Hooded Merganser remained intermittently available on Whinfell Tarn (Cumbria) on 18th-24th.

 

Black-winged Stilts continued to make the news, with more new faces augmenting those prior birds still on offer. Starting in Ireland, four were still to be seen at Ventry (Co.Kerry) on 18th-23rd, while the party of five birds remained on Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 18th-22nd, with two of them still present on 24th; the male was still at White’s Marsh (Co.Cork) on 18th-23rd; and another bird was found at Cooley Point (Co.Louth) on 22nd.

In Cornwall the female remained at Ruan Lanihorne on 20th, the female was still at Black Hole Marsh (Devon) on 18th-19th, and the male still on the Isle of Wight at Brading Marshes RSPB on 18th-21st. A bird was logged passing over Priory Marsh (Dorset) on 18th; another was reported over Frizington (Cumbria) on 18th also; two appeared at Keyhaven Marshes (Hampshire) on 21st; a female settled at Welney WWT (Norfolk) on 21st-22nd; and bird was found at Dungeness RSPB (Kent) on 22nd-24th. On 23rd, two birds were found at Brockhall GPs (Herefordshire); and later two at Loughor (Glamorgan) and Waungron (Glamorgan) also. On 24th it was the turn of Lodmoor RSPB (Dorset) to land a duo.

In the surest of signs that migration is stirring, more Dotterels were found this week. Single birds were logged at Zennor (Cornwall) on 18th and 21st; on 20th at RAF Wainfleet (Lincolnshire), Longstanton (Cambridgeshire), and Marloes Mere (Pembrokeshire); on 21st at Freiston Shore RSPB (Lincolnshire); and on 22nd-24th on Tresco (Scilly). Three birds were found at Termoncarragh Lough (Co.Mayo) on 21st, two at Dale Airfield (Pembrokeshire) on 22nd, and two on Mull (Argyll & Bute) on 23rd.

Kentish Plovers put in brief appearances at Elmley NNR (Kent) on 19th and Holkham Gap (Norfolk) on 20th.

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still present at Steart WWT (Somerset) on 18th. Another was found on 24th on Islay (Argyll & Bute) at Loch Gruinart RSPB.

All three of our recent Long-billed Dowitchers remained into still another week – at Cley (Norfolk) on 18th-23rd; at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire & Wirral) still on 19th-24th; and on Sanday (Orkney) still on 22nd.

 

Perhaps finally calling it a day this week, the lingering adult Ross’s Gull was again seen at Cairnbulg in Aberdeenshire on 19th, but wasn’t reported from the area thereafter.

In Cornwall a first-winter Bonaparte’s Gull was found at Marazion on 21st-24th; in Ireland, the adult remained in Co.Cork at Ballydehob on 19th-24th, and an adult was found at Ballycorboys (Co.Wexford) on 21st.

The adult Ring-billed Gull was once again seen on Loch Turret (Perth & Kinross) on 18th-24th.

Fifteen Glaucous Gulls were seen this week, and barely more Iceland Gulls, with almost 20 of the latter species reported. Winter definitely loosening its grip now… Two examples of the former species were noted passing through Scorton Quarry (North Yorkshire) on 19th, while two individuals of the latter species were found on Inisheer (Co.Galway) on 21st, but otherwise all records involved single birds.

An juvenile Kumlien’s Gull was found on 19th at Fanad Head (Co.Donegal).

We did well for Gull-billed Terns this week, with four sites registering a bird – one present on 19th-20th at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire & Wirral); another seen between St Mary's and Tresco (Scilly) on 20th; another at Misson (Nottinghamshire) on 22nd; and one on 23rd at Dinham Flats (Cornwall).

Hot on the heels of the recent bird in the north of the county at Sutton Bingham reservoir, Dorset birders got another bite at the Forster’s Tern cherry this week with a first-winter bird initially seen on 23rd at Lytchett Bay and, latterly, on Brownsea Lagoon. On 24th it was haunting Hamworthy Beach and Lytchett Bay once more. This came hot on the heels of news of the Irish adult again seen on 22nd in Co.Galway at Inishroo.

 

Away from the headlines, there was other raptor interest in the offing this week. We’ll start in North Yorkshire where the recent Black Kite continued to hang around the airspace over the National Bird of Prey Centre at Duncombe Park on 18th-24th – apparently not one of their birds. Additional birds were seen in recent days – on 19th at Castle Hill CP (Leicestershire) and Worth Marsh (Kent), with another possible bird on Portland (Dorset); on 20th at Cottam (Nottinghamshire); and a possible on 22nd seen flying inland at Grimsby (Lincolnshire).

The first-summer female Montagu’s Harrier remained on The Lizard (Cornwall) on 18th-23rd; a possible was seen at Maer Lake NR on 23rd.

In Shetland, a male Red-footed Falcon proved frustrating, being seen in a Scousburgh garden on 18th but not thereafter.

Shetland also retained its recent Rough-legged Buzzard at Burn of Fitch on 20th. Another was seen again on Orkney Mainland at Birsay Moors RSPB on 21st. In Aberdeenshire a bird was present on 19th at Glenshee Ski Centre, with another report from the county that day at Ballater. A probable bird was seen in Almer on 23rd.

 

All good things have, eventually, to come to an end, and thus it was this week with Alpine Swifts - arguably *the* birding event of the year wound down after weeks of unprecedented numbers of birds being seen across Britain and Ireland. In the week just gone only a handful of individuals were logged – on 18th in Wales on Bardsey (Gwynedd) and at Llanfairfechan (Conwy); on 19th at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire); and another reported on 20th at Barnham Brooks (West Sussex).

A possible, brief, Little Swift was reported from Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 21st.

Some 20 Hoopoes were logged this week, a most welcome harbinger of spring wherever one was found.

Similarly joy-inducing, an adult male Golden Oriole settled around Crows-an-wra (Cornwall) on 19th-24th.

Cornwall and Scilly continued to do well for themselves where Woodchat Shrikes were concerned. Starting on Scilly, birds were seen on St Mary’s on 20th-24th, Gugh on 18th-23rd, and St Martin’s on 19th-21st still. Cornwall, meanwhile, held birds at Porthgwarra on 18th still, Cogden Beach on 20th, and Treeve Common on 21st-23rd. In Ireland, birds remained on Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 18th-22nd and at Cleaboy (Co.Waterford) on 20th.

A few island Wrynecks filtered in – on 19th birds were seen on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) and Papa Westray (Orkney); and another was found on 20th on Skomer (Pembrokeshire).

The recent Waxwing was again noted in Aviemore (Highland & Caithness) on 21st.

A Penduline Tit was found on 22nd-24th at Oare Marshes KWT (Kent), joined by a second bird there on 23rd. Another was found on 24th significantly further north, at Seamer Tip Pools (North Yorkshire).

A Red-rumped Swallow was discovered at Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 22nd.

The recent singing Savi’s Warbler was reported again at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire & Wirral) on 18th.

A Melodious Warbler was found on the Isle of Wight near Brook Chine on 22nd.

As anticipated in our predictions last week, it was high time for some Subalpine Warbler sp action. A male Western Subalpine Warbler was reported briefly at Sammy’s Point (East Yorkshire) on 18th. Another Subalpine Warbler sp thought probably to be Western was found in Co.Cork at Ballynacarriga on 19th, and another such candidate at St Just (Cornwall) on 24th; and a probable Eastern Subalpine Warbler on 20th in a garden bird bath at Penmaenmawr (Conwy).

In Suffolk the Eastern Yellow Wagtail remained at Carlton Marshes SWT on 22nd.

Some 15 Blue-headed Wagtails were logged this week, with Tresco (Scilly) enjoying the best of their number, with five birds seen there on 21st.

A probable male Spanish Wagtail was seen on 21st at Elton reservoir (Greater Manchester); a probable Ashy-headed Wagtail was seen on 23rd at Spurn (East Yorkshire).

A possible Richard’s Pipit was on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 18th, while the Tawny Pipit remained on there on 19th-20th. Another Richard’s was seen at Scarborough (North Yorkshire) on 22nd, and a probable Tawny Pipit on 24th at Flamborough (East Yorkshire).

Portland (Dorset) was doing well for Serin this week, with two at West Cliffs on 18th, and single birds on 19th in the Obervatory garden and at Weston. A further possible bird was heard only at Oxwich (Glamorgan) on 22nd.

Finally, in Cornwall, the male Little Bunting was singing at Boscregan Farm on 21st still.

 

Overseas news proved thin on the ground lately. The main point of interest was in Israel, where the deepening Swinhoe’s Petrel story continued to intrigue – no fewer than 13 individuals of this nominally Pacific species were seen off Eilat on 20th.

In Sweden the Baltimore Oriole was still present in Förslöv on 21st, and the male Siberian Rubythroat still at Trollhattan on 19th.

 

What does the past 50 years tell us about the last week of April? In a nutshell, that almost anything is possible at this stage in the spring migration game, which is hugely encouraging. We’ve precedent for passerines from all points of the compass, including a fairly recent first for Britain – the Red-winged Blackbird on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 29th April – 14th May 2017.

The week just gone proved a good one for terns, and it’s to the somewhat more realistic prospects of one of their kind that the murky RBA crystal ball turns this week. The coming days have some fair precedent for Whiskered Terns, with a dozen past birds by way of precedent. An achievable prospect for anyone with an area of freshwater on their local patch.

 

Jon Dunn
25 Apr 2023

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

 

Share

Tweet  

 

 

Latest photos

Register free to upload

Latest articles