Weekly birding round-up: 28 Nov - 4 Dec 2023
After a brief hiatus, 2023 kicked back into gear this past week with a couple more quality passerines coming to the fore, and both of them county firsts at that. One can’t shake the feeling that 2023 is going to keep on punching right until the very last.
It’s one of the curious quirks of the British list that, with a dozen birds on the record, there still hasn’t been a White-crowned Sparrow confirmed anywhere south of Norfolk. Not even Scilly, which is manifestly no slouch when it comes to the Nearctic passerine, has landed one to date.
That was all set to change this week with the breaking news that there was a White-crowned Sparrow in Cornwall at Rosudgeon on 2nd. Not by any means an easy bird to see with restricted viewing possibilities in a residential area, birders’ patience was set to be rewarded the following day with occasional views and then, on 4th, it was a little easier in a neighbouring garden on seed.
Clearly a Cornish first, the bird was destined to be at the very least locally popular. Remarkably, it’s the fourth individual of its kind to be seen in Britain this year, following the spring bird at Seaford Head (East Sussex) in April, a singing bird in Aberdeenshire at Girdle Ness in June, and yet another in Shetland on Fetlar in October.
If birders in the English southwest had been champing at the bit and wondering when it would be their turn for a crack at the White-crowned Sparrow whip, spare a particular thought for birders in Dorset who’ve been wondering when the county’s first Isabelline Wheatear might be found. Together with Hampshire, Dorset was sandwiched between southern coastal counties that had all enjoyed at least one individual to date.
With over 50 accepted birds nationwide now on the books, the wait was beginning to feel a little agonised. Surely one was imminent one of these years? The good news, this week, was that the county’s duck was set to be broken, with a bird photographed on Swyre Head on 2nd.
There was bad news too – reported initially as a bog standard Northern Wheatear, the penny didn’t drop until early evening, after dark had fallen. And, on 3rd, while its identity might have been resolved, there was no further sign of the bird.
Seabird activity was waning hard this week, with relatively little to report upon on the whole.
Starting in the northern isles, Shetland gave us a White-billed Diver seen off Vaila on 30th, while five birds were once more seen from Orkney’s Papa Westray on 1st.
Shetland also enjoyed the lion’s share of the week’s 85 or so Little Auks - 50 birds being seen from Sumburgh on 28th.
Further south, a Great Shearwater was seen from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 3rd.
Some 30 Glossy Ibises were again logged across Britain and Ireland in recent days, with the usual recent sites once more providing sightings of multiple birds – in Kent, two were noted at Dungeness on 29th; three remained at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 28th-3rd; three were seen at Fremington Pill (Devon) on 28th; two remained at Stanwick GPs (Northamptonshire) on 28th-1st; three were seen at Westhay Moor NNR (Somerset) on 3rd; and two were seen at St Aidan’s RSPB (West Yorkshire) on 3rd. In Ireland, Co.Wexford’s Tacumshin held onto four birds on 28th-1st, with three still present there on 3rd.
And so to the honkers and quackers which, like Eastenders at this time of year, were starting to build to a fine winter denouement of colour, intrigue and mild drama. Starting with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, two hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Geese were seen on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 28th, and one at Ballygilgan NR (Co.Sligo) again on 3rd. An interior Todd’s Canada Goose was seen on 3rd at Anthorn (Cumbria).
The week was a good one for Red-breasted Geese, with sightings in three counties, all warmly received by local observers. In Essex, the recent bird was still present on Dengie Marshes on 28th-30th, with a further sighting on 3rd at Bradwell-on-Sea; one was again seen in Northumberland at Budle Bay on 30th-2nd; and Lancashire & North Merseyside was blessed with a bird at Banks Marsh NNR on 2nd-4th.
In Essex, the recent Black Brant remained at West Mersea on 28th; another was seen on 28th at Dungarvan (Co.Waterford); a bird was haunting the Kilnsea area of East Yorkshire on 29th-3rd; and one was seen on the north Kent coast at Tankerton on 1st.
In Co.Wexford the two Snow Geese, one blue morph and the other white, were still to be seen at Tacumshin on 28th.
Numbers of Green-winged Teal moved towards double figures this week, with nine birds noted across the region. In England, the settled bird remained on Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) on 28th-4th; one was still at Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire) on 28th-3rd; another at Lunt Meadows LWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 28th-4th still; and a bird found at Colt Crag Reservoir (Northumberland) on 1st. Scottish island birds were seen on Orkney’s Sanday still on 28th; South Uist (Western Isles) still on 1st; and Lewis (Western Isles) still on 2nd-3rd; and one was on the Lossie Estuary (Moray) on 2nd-4th. A Welsh bird was present at Marloes Mere (Pembrokeshire) on 28th-3rd.
Seven American Wigeon were a good return for the week as a whole. Scotland enjoyed the best of it, with four birds seen here – one at Loch of Ayre on Orkney still on 28th-29th; one still present on St John’s Loch (Highland & Caithness) on 28th; the female still present on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 29th; and a drake still at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 28th-3rd. A drake was present in Northumberland at Big Waters NR on 29th-2nd; the drake was again seen at Banks Marsh NNR (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 4th; and the drake remained on Inishmore (Co.Galway) on 1st.
The drake Canvasback remained obstinately settled in Essex on Abberton Resevoir on 28th-3rd.
In Norfolk a Ferruginous Duck was still to be seen on Filby Broad on 29th-30th; a drake was seen at Misson (Nottinghamshire) on 28th and 2nd-4th; and a probable juvenile at Cotswold Water Park (Gloucesterhsire) on 30th.
Some 25 Ring-necked Ducks were logged across Britain and Ireland as a whole this week. Some sites again held multiple birds – three near Kilkee (Co.Clare) on 2nd still; two in Co.Clare at Ardcloony on 29th; two in Somerset still at Shapwick Heath NNR on 28th and Westhay Moor NNR on 29th-2nd; two on 3rd in Co.Waterford at Knockaderry Reservoir; and two on 4th on Loch Leven (Perth & Kinross).
The English southwest remained a hotbed of Lesser Scaups for another week, with five birds sitting on the Devon/Cornwall border at Lower Tamar Lakes on 29th-2nd; a drake on the River Torridge (Devon) at Tapeley on 28th; two still at Slapton Ley (Devon) on 2nd rising to four there on 3rd, and back to two on 4th; and a probable bird on Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 28th-1st. In Scotland, the female was still on South Uist (Western Isles) on 29th-3rd, and a female / first-winter drake was found on Ryat Linn Reservoir and Waulkmill Glen Reservoir (Clyde) on 2nd-3rd.
Pick of the week’s seaduck was the White-winged Scoter again seen on 1st in Brandon Bay (Co.Kerry).
Surf Scoter meanwhile made it into double figures, with 11 birds noted in recent days. Ireland was particularly blessed in this regard – one remained in Co.Meath at Gormanstown on 1st; a juvenile was found at Belmullet (Co.Mayo) on 1st; two were seen on 1st at Inch (Co.Kerry); one was seen at Aghada (Co.Cork) on 2nd; and another on 2nd at Bremore Point (Co.Dublin). The two drakes remained off Dornoch (Highland & Caithness) on 28th-2nd; two lingered in the Feock / Restronguet Creek area of Cornwall on 29th-3rd; and the drake was again seen off Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) on 4th.
Notable waders continued to dwindle in numbers and variety this week. We’ll start in Dorset, where the juvenile American Golden Plover was still at Lodmoor RSPB on 28th-29th; and a further probable bird was seen on 29th at Kidwelly Quay (Carmarthenshire).
In Somerset, the Kentish Plover was still present at Burnham-on-Sea on 29th.
Our only Long-billed Dowitcher this week remained at Cuckmere Haven (East Sussex) on 28th-30th.
Two Grey Phalarope were seen this week – one on the dubious margins of King George V Reservoir (London) on 28th-29th, and the other off Pendeen (Cornwall) on 29th.
The Spotted Sandpiper was again seen at Looe (Cornwall) on 28th.
Our recent three Lesser Yellowlegs were again seen lately – one still in East Yorkshire at Swine Moor on 29th-1st; the Lincolnshire bird still at Frampton Marsh RSPB on 28th-4th; and the Suffolk individual still present at Southwold on 28th.
Ireland was enjoying the best of a still fairly quiet time on the gull front. In the weeks and months to come this section of proceedings will, of course, get a lot livelier, but for now it was relatively peaceful. First up was the adult Bonaparte’s Gull at Ballyconneely (Co.Galway) on 2nd-3rd…
…while adult Ring-billed Gulls were seen at Belmullet (Co.Mayo) on 1st, and Black Rock (Co.Louth) again on 2nd.
A shade over a dozen Glaucous Gulls were seen this week, with a couple of sites providing multiple birds – two on Whalsay (Shetland) on 28th; and two at Machrihanish (Argyll & Bute) on 28th also.
A mere five Iceland Gulls were noted – birds on the Lossie Estuary (Moray) still on 28th; one on Yell (Shetland) on 28th; a bird seen from Papaa Westray (Orkney) on 1st; one lingering on Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) on 1st-3rd; and one seen at Enniskillen (Co.Fermanagh) on 3rd.
In Co.Louth, the recent juvenile Kumlien’s Gull was again seen at Dundalk on 29th, 2nd, and 4th.
Potentially the best of the week’s raptors, had it only been confirmed, was the report of a possible dark morph Eleonora’s Falcon at Myroe Levels (Co.Derry) on 30th.
That aside, it was Pallid Harriers that provided the weekly entertainment. The second-winter female remained in Norfolk at Warham Greens on 28th-1st and again on 4th; while Glamorgan gave sightings of a bird, firstly on 30th in the morning near Penclawdd and latterly that afternoon at Llanrhidian Marsh, and again at the latter site on 2nd.
As we’d expect as we head into December, numbers of notable passerines were dropping by the day. But not, happily, dwindling to nothing – there was still some good quality on offer and being found anew this week.
An unconfirmed report came of a late Wryneck at Seaford Head (East Sussex) on 28th.
More seasonal fare came in the form of a quarter of Great Grey Shrikes. One was seen on 28th at Loch Loyal (Highland & Caithness); another remained on 29th-3rd at Ramsley Reservoir (Derbyshire); one was reported on 1st at Rhandirmwyn (Carmarthenshire); and the bird remained at Black Down NT (West Sussex) on 2nd.
Waxwings continued to delight wherever they were found. And that was all over the shop… our Waxwing winter continues apace.
A few Yellow-browed Warblers were noted this week – one remained on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 29th-1st; another in the archipelago on Bryher on 29th and 4th; a lingering bird found at Broadsands (Devon) on 1st-3rd; and one mixed into a tit flock at Drift Reservoir (Cornwall) on 4th.
Devon also held onto its recent Pallas’s Warbler at Dawlish Warren NNR (Devon) on 28th; another was found on 3rd at Elmley NNR (Kent).
In Cornwall, a Dusky Warbler was seen at Drift Reservoir on 1st-4th.
A Barred Warbler was present on 28th-29th at Easington (East Yorkshire).
Carlton Marshes SWT (Suffolk) was something of a hotbed for Eastern Yellow Wagtails this week, with the male still present there on 30th-1st, and a first-winter bird also until 2nd.
The recent Richard’s Pipit was again seen in Somerset at Huntspill on 3rd.
A possible exilipes Arctic Redpoll was briefly seen at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 29th; a probable on 3rd at Fontburn Reservoir (Northumberland); and a confirmed bird was found on Unst (Shetland) on 1st.
Bringing the week to a conclusion with a flourish, on Flamborough the first-winter male Red-headed Bunting was still to be seen on 28th-29th…
…and, on Bryher (Scilly), the female Cape May Warbler made it into December, being seen on the island still on 28th-4th.
Our overseas news was not entirely, but certainly notably, dominated by buntings this week. Kicking off in Israel, the country’s third-ever Black-faced Bunting was trapped and ringed at Rubin Wetland on 29th.
In Austria, meanwhile, a first-winter male Chestnut Bunting found at Mieming on 30th-3rd was the first national record.
In France, a Cream-coloured Courser was seen on 1st at Hyeres.
Denmark’s third Pacific Diver was found at Hanstholm Havn on 2nd-3rd; and a Hooded Merganser at Gavno on 3rd.
Finally, out in the Azores, an American Coot was present on Terceira on 29th.
Readers will hardly need telling that winter’s now upon us – we’ve had some hard frosts and snow in the past week, after all. The coming week seems set to start cold too, but with low pressure inching in from the Atlantic, it’s set to get milder and wetter as the week unfolds.
Last week we pondered the possibility of still more American passerines coming out of the woodwork after the remarkable events of the past couple of months in that regard – and, while this week’s Cornish sparrow wasn’t the warbler we dared to invoke, it was nonetheless Nearctic, and surely isn’t the last passerine from that neck of the woods to be seen during the winter period. There’s another surprise in store, surely…
But this coming week, let’s set our sights a little lower. With winds coming in from the near continent for much of the week, it feels like a propitious time to check your local reedbeds for a wayward Penduline Tit - one of those more unusual scarce species that can just as readily turn up at an inland location as in a coastal county.
Jon Dunn
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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