Weekly birding round-up: 12 - 18 Dec 2023
As we come towards the end of yet another year that's had more than its fair share of remarkable individual birds and, indeed, birding events as a whole, it's almost breaking precedent to report that this was a fairly quiet week. But there it was. There's time yet, of course, for 2023 to spring another surprise upon us. Maybe something from the autumn's unprecedented Nearctic passerine arrival is waiting in the wings...
We might have assumed it was gone, but the White-crowned Sparrow popped up again at Rosudgeon (Cornwall) on 13th. While residents would perhaps prefer a little peace and quiet over the festive period, one wouldn't entirely bet against it still being in the lush garden cover the area provides, and the coming new year may yet elicit a little fresh attention should it prove to still be around.
On the plus side this week, we've a honker of note in the headlines - a Lesser White-fronted Goose found, on 16th, in Kent at Oare Marshes KWT. Geese don't feature in the headlines that often... Those of us of sufficient vintage may harbour fond memories of seeing the species way back in the mists of time on the other side of the Swale, on Sheppey, in the early months of 1994 - two birds were seen that year, overlapping one another by a day - an adult on 23rd January - 6th March, and a sub-adult on 5th-13th March.
Lesser White-fronted Goose is no stranger to Kent, certainly. There are three accepted records sitting on the books to date, the two aforementioned birds, and the county's first, an adult at Cliffe on 10th March 1984.
Perhaps the only fly in the ointment this week is that the species is also no stranger to the duck'n'goose fancying fraternity, and so the possibility of a wandering, free-flying escape isn't out of the question. Maybe this week's bird, hanging around with Greylags in the area until 18th, isn't all it seems, one way or another.
A bit like the Essex Canvasback, you pays your money and makes your choice - either give it the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise, or treat all vagrant wildfowl with the deepest of suspicion. The latter, surely, risks throwing the rubber duck out with the bathwater.
There was to be no repeat of the previous week's startling seabird news lately, with very much a return to seasonal form on the cards instead.
Pretty much the sum of it were two White-billed Divers seen off Yell (Shetland) on 12th.
A tiny bit of variety came in the form of a few Little Auk on 17th - one seen from Ballycotton (Co.Cork), and two from Fife Ness (Fife).
Two probable Great Shearwaters were also seen from Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 17th.
The final pre-Christmas leftover was a Pomarine Skua seen feeding in Tor Bay (Devon) from Berry Head on 18th.
Where long-legged beasties are concerned, Glossy Ibises are now a de rigeur presence in winter - and, with breeding now confirmed in Britain, it just remains to be seen whether they go down the Great White Egret route of ubiquity, or the Purple Heron path of remaining regular visitors, but only sporadic breeders here. But we're getting ahead of ourselves and looking forward to next summer...
In the here and now this past week some 20 birds were noted across Britain and Ireland, with several sites still holding onto multiple individuals. In Devon, three birds remained at Fremington Pill on 13th-14th at least; two were settled on the Somerset Levels at Westhay Moor NNR on 12th-16th still; three remained at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 15th-16th; three were still present at Dungeness (Kent) on 12th-16th; and, in Ireland, three remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 13th.
As is our usual wont, we'll start the honkers and quackers again with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada - an interior Todd’s Canada Goose was seen at Cauldhall (Lothian) on 13th; a Lesser Canada Goose at Stittenham (Highland & Caithness) on 15th; and a Cackling Goose at Dunfanaghy New Lake (Co.Donegal) on 16th.
Red-breasted Geese remained well-represented for another week - one was settled in Lancashire & North Merseyside at Martin Mere WWT on 12th-17th; another remained in Essex at Bradwell-on-Sea still on 14th-18th; the Northumberland individual was still to be found at Budle Bay on 14th-17th; and one was found outside Stiffkey (Norfolk) on 17th, seen on 18th at Cley.
The recent Black Brant was still present at Dungarvan (Co.Waterford) on 14th, and another was seen that day at Sandy Point (Hampshire).
A possible Grey-bellied Brant was present in Dublin at Kilbogget Park (Co.Dublin) on 12th.
A white morph Snow Goose was seen on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 13th; and another on 18th at Ladybank (Fife).
Numbers of Green-winged Teal again nudged towards double figures this week. Settled birds remained in England at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) on 12th-17th; at Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire) on 12th-18th; at Lunt Meadows LWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 12th-16th; and at Calstock Wetlands (Cornwall) on 13th-17th. A fresh bird was found at Hill Court Farm NR (Worcestershire) on 16th-18th, with another on 16th-18th at Roosecote Sands (Cumbria). In Scotland, one remained on Barra (Western Isles) on 14th, a bird was found on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 13th, another was found on Loch Spynie (Moray) on 15th; and a final bird for the week at Loch Lomond RSPB (Clyde). A bird was reported from Whitford (Flintshire) on 13th; while in Co.Antrim one remained at Belfast Lough RSPB on 13th.
Scotland dominated sightings of American Wigeon, with birds remaining at Loch of Ayre on Orkney still on 13th, and on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 13th also; and another to be seen on the Lossie Estuary (Moray) on 15th-16th. On Anglesey, the drake remained at Malltraeth on 12th; and another was seen on Nene Washes (Cambridgeshire) on 16th-17th.
The drake Canvasback continued its tenure in Essex on Abberton Resevoir on 12th-18th.
The female Ferruginous Duck remained at Cotswold Water Park (Gloucestershire) on 12th-14th, with one still present at Filby Broad (Norfolk) on 18th also. A drake was present at Thorpe Park (Surrey) on 17th.
A shade below 20 Ring-necked Ducks noted across Britain and Ireland this week included, in their number, some multiples - three birds were to be seen in Co.Clare at Ardcloony on 15th; two in Cornwall at Dozmary Pool on 12th-17th; and two in Somerset at Meare on 17th.
Lesser Scaups continued their excellent recent run of form for another week. Starting on the Devon/Cornwall border at Lower Tamar Lakes, five birds remained here on 12th, with three of their number still present on 15th, and five again recorded there on 18th; while in Devon the drake was still to be found at Northam Burrows CP on 12th. In Somerset, the drake remained at Chew Valley Lake on 12th-16th. In Pembrokeshire the recent bird remained at Bosherton Lily Ponds on 13th-17th, with another present for over a fortnight until 18th at Penberry Reservoir. A female was seen at Littleton Reservoir (Clyde) on 13th; while the drake remained at Knockaderry Reservoir (Co.Waterford) on 14th-15th. A final probable first-winter drake was still present for its sixth day at Misson (Nottinghamshire) on 17th.
Two Surf Scoter remained in Co.Meath at Gormanstown on 13th-16th. Cornwall's two recent juvenile birds were still in the Feock area on 13th-18th; and single birds were found on 13th in Devon in Croyde Bay, and in Scilly off Tresco on 15th-16th.
Really ever diminishing returns amongst the waders now, but a few Nearctic scarcities remained scattered around the country to entertain local birders...
Starting in East Sussex, the Long-billed Dowitcher was once more to be seen at Cuckmere Haven on 13th-18th.
All three of the recent Lesser Yellowlegs were again seen lately – one again in East Yorkshire at Swine Moor on 15th; the Lincolnshire bird proving reliable at Frampton Marsh RSPB on 12th-17th; and the Suffolk individual still present at Southwold on 14th-18th.
In Somerset, the Kentish Plover was still present at Burnham-on-Sea on 13th-18th.
A Grey Phalarope was seen on 16th at Portmuck (Co.Antrim).
Pick of the week's gulls was an adult Bonaparte’s Gull seen at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) on 14th.
In Co.Louth the Ring-billed Gull remained at Blackrock on 13th-16th, while the adult in Cornwall was still present on Hayle Estuary on 13th-16th. As the week drew to a close, another was found on 18th at North Bull Island (Co.Dublin).
A handful of Glaucous Gulls were seen this week - single birds at Finstown on Orkney Mainland on 14th-18th; on Shetland Mainland at Loch of Spiggie on 14th, and on Yell on 15th; and one a little further south at Budle Bay (Northumberland) on 15th-16th. On 16th the pace quickened, and the spread of sightings expanded, with birds seen on Islay (Argyll & Bute), on the Teifi Estuary (Pembrokeshire), at Fenham Flats (Northumberland), and south at Landguard NR (Suffolk). One remained at Killybegs (Co.Donegal) on 17th, while another was found on 18th in Ireland at Cathersiveen (Co.Kerry).
Yell (Shetland) did well for Iceland Gulls, with three birds present there on 15th. Orkney had a bird at Finstown on Mainland on 14th-17th, another seen on Papa Westray on 15th, and one from Westray on 17th; and another Scottish bird was seen at Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) again on 14th and 16th. An English example was present at Chasewater (Staffordshire) on 13th-18th, with another at North Shields (Northumberland) on 16th-18th, and an adult bird at Stubber's Green (West Midlands) on 18th.
Finally, on Orkney the Kumlien’s Gull was again seen on Westray on 12th, 15th, and 18th.
The best of the week's raptors was, once again, seen in Co.Wexford where the juvenile Northern Harrier popped up again at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve WWR on 12th, and South Slob again on 17th and 18th.
Pallid Harriers once again put in a solid shift, particularly in Wales. Here one was again seen at Llanrhidian Marsh (Glamorgan) on 15th and 17th, while a juvenile was also seen on 15th and 17th at the WWT National Wetlands Centre (Carmarthenshire). In Norfolk, the second-winter female remained around Warham Greens on 12th-18th.
Lastly, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen at Cowpen Marsh (Cleveland) on 13th; and a probable in Norfolk on 16th at Flitcham.
Pleasingly, the male Black-throated Thrush found as the prior week drew to a close at Tophill Low NR (East Yorkshire) was to prove a thoughtful creature, sticking around there as the new week began, and seen intermittently on 12th-18th, though often elusive.
The Hume's Warbler in Devon at Clennon Valley Lakes remained present on 12th-13th.
Yellow-browed Warblers were sticking around on St Mary's (Scilly) on 13th-18th, and Broadsands (Devon) on 12th-18th still. Additional birds were seen in Bristol (Somerset & Bristol) at Clifton on 13th-14th, Ferring Rife (West Sussex) on 14th-18th, and Littleton Brick Pits (Gloucestershire) on 16th.
A late Pallas's Warbler was found on 18th in Norfolk at Warham Greens.
Great Grey Shrikes meanwhile remained at Ramsley Reservoir (Derbyshire) on 14th-17th still, and near Tomintoul (Moray) on 13th; another was found in Scotland on 17th at Loch Kinord (Aberdeenshire).
A Hoopoe was seen at Swadlincote (Derbyshire) on 17th.
Waxwings? Check. Who's going to find one of them outside their house on Christmas morning?
A Richard’s Pipit was seen on The Lizard (Cornwall) on 13th and again on 18th.
A Serin was found in Essex at St Osyth on 16th.
Two exilipes Arctic Redpoll were seen on 13th at Otterburn (Northumberland).
Finally, two Little Bunting were reported on 16th from Cornwall at Tremethick Cross, firming into at least four birds present there on 17th, and an unprecedented report of eight birds there on 18th.
Our overseas news was a generally very peaceful affair this past week. We start close to home in France, where the Cream-coloured Courser remained at Hyeres on 15th still.
On the Canary Islands an Allen's Gallinule was taken into care on La Palma on 12th.
Finally, out in the Azores, a Great Blue Heron was present on Sao Miguel on 12th, and a Green Heron on Faial on 18th.
And that's it for another year - the Rarity Round Up is heading home for Christmas, trusting it's been good this year and isn't on the naughty list, and hoping for a decent present under the tree or in whatever habitat it so desires. We're not choosy like that.
A Christmas cracker, no less. The Round Up will be sleeping off the mince pies until it returns on January 2nd with a bumper, festive fortnight edition - could we be in for a really good bird during that period, or will it all be turkey?
But what of tradition? Those hoping for a white Christmas - or, in the case of first-winter birds, a muddy brown one - could do far worse than start to focus with real intent on gulls. The coming fortnight boasts a good haul of Ivory and Ross's, fair numbers of American Herring and Laughing, a handful of Thayer's, and a Glaucous-winged too.
Bin bag botherers aside, one species traditionally stands out for the coming fortnight - and that's Little Bustard, with 21 records on the books over the decades. They've ample precedent for winter wandering, and are always warmly welcomed when they do so.
But whatever does or doesn't arrive in the coming fortnight, the news will be coming daily to you via the usual RBA channels, and the Round Up will be back to summarise it all at the start of 2024. For now, wishing you all a happy Christmas, and a healthy and bird-filled New Year.
Jon Dunn
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
Share
