Weekly birding round-up: 28 May - 3 Jun 2024
Any week like the preceding one, featuring both a Western Palearctic first, and a national first for Ireland, was always going to be a very hard act to follow. As the sheer volume of recent overshooting Scandinavian migrants also diminished, there was a danger of a sense of vague anti-climax creeping in.
Then again, Shetland and Northumberland managed to keep things ticking over in recent days and, as we roll into June, we’re getting to the sharp, pointy end of spring migration when something else really substantial just might make landfall before we hit the summer doldrums… That, though, is for the weeks to come. What now of the week just gone?
It took almost 40 years from Britain’s first Marmora’s Warbler, the territorial male that settled on Yorkshire’s Midhope Moor on 15th May – 24th July 1982, to the point at which Shetland finally scored a bird – a fleetingly brief first-summer male that flashed through Unst on 14th May 2018.
In the interim, there’d been five more birds – for the most part displaying an easterly bias to their records, the only outlier being a first-summer male in Gwent at Blorenge on 3rd-15th June 2010. Of the seven accepted records, only two were one-day birds – the rest put in stays varying between two and, in the case of our first bird, seventy one days in duration.
This week’s first-summer male, found on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 29th, wasn’t going to threaten any records for length of stay but seemed happy to linger for a while, remaining on the island until 1st tucked into the Gully, and seemingly not dissuaded from its choice of territory by the minor indignity of being trapped and ringed on 30th.
Like buses, Marmora’s Warblers… Shetland waits nearly 40 years for one, and then two come along in relatively quick succession. A twitchable British mainland bird, needless to say, would prove popular with a new generation of birders.
Once the veracity of the sighting, and a subsequent lack of incriminating leg bangles had been established, there was little not to love about the adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron that remained steadfast and faithful to Belcarra (Co.Mayo) this week on 28th-3rd. A national first for Ireland, and sufficiently enticing to lure some British birders to make the journey west too.
Along now with Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron has to be, notionally at least, on the radar of rarity finders in Britain. However, given that Ireland’s one and only example of the former was seen a shade over 15 years ago now, and hasn’t heralded further sporadic records subsequently, we might have to assume that the wait for either to be found east of Ireland will be a long one.
We were blessed, last year, with a Bridled Tern that dropped in to Afon Wen (Gwynedd) on 6th-9th August – a brief visit, but long enough for those who so wished to connect, or at least to try to do so.
Last week, in France, the Bridled Tern was back at Ile aux Moutons on 23rd again. Might lightning strike twice again this summer, with another British foray?
On 1st, we had our answer – in the early evening, a Bridled Tern was present on Coquet Island RSPB (Northumberland). 2nd dawned, and the bird was still present – not always easy to see as the day unfolded, but still there as dusk gathered. And as the week drew to a close on 3rd, it came and went again throughout the day.
Coquet Island is no stranger to a Bridled Tern - it’s enjoyed visits in the summer of 1988, and again in August 1992. The former bird was seen, off and on, for a spell of almost 50 days. The latter, on the other hand, was just a one-day individual. How long the 2024 iteration hangs around remains, at the time of writing, to be seen.
When one turns up in a suburban garden, or tucked into a nice bosky nook on a westerly headland, particularly in the wake of an autumn that broke all the records for wind-assisted transatlantic vagrancy, it’s tempting to assume that an American warbler in spring in these parts has to be a formerly displaced migrant that’s successfully overwintered on the wrong side of the Atlantic.
Some birds, on the other hand, do themselves and their kind no favours whatsoever, not so much suggesting they might have hitched a lift across the Atlantic upon an eastbound vessel as wantonly and blatantly rubbing our noses in the fact.
Two such warblers jumped ship in Southampton (Hampshire) on 30th – female Common Yellowthroat and Myrtle Warbler respectively, both last seen heading west-north-west away from the RMS Queen Mary 2 and over the adjacent scrapyard. Next stop… well, who knows where, if anywhere.
The Queen Mary left New York on 23rd, so both birds have enjoyed presumably a few days, perhaps a full week, on board. One can only imagine what company they might have kept. Apart from the usual leathery suspects, maybe there were further choice passerines that jumped ship when land hoved onto the horizon west of Hampshire. Any American passerines found in the southwest in the coming week will surely have the faintest suggestion of ship-assistance hanging around them.
Hitherto, Myrtle Warbler has been entirely a stranger to Hampshire shores and, for what it’s worth, the only prior Common Yellowthroat to be seen in Hampshire was one aboard the MV Aurora in Southampton on 23rd September 2008. Another female, she’d been on the vessel since 19th, and had been fed. Who knows whether either of this week’s birds have survived on fat reserves alone, or have enjoyed the handouts of passengers or crew…
Pick of the seabird bunch this week was, once again, the adult Double-crested Cormorant still present on Colgagh Lough (Co.Sligo) on 29th-30th, and again on 2nd-3rd.
A White-billed Diver was seen in Thurso harbour (Highland & Caithness) on 30th, and another passing Unst (Shetland) on 3rd.
A handful of Balearic Shearwater were noted in recent days – two in Dorset off Portland on 28th, with two also seen that day from Start Point (Devon); one on 28th from the Scillonian; and another on 28th from Cape Clear (Co.Cork).
A Cory’s Shearwater was seen on 3rd from The Lizard (Cornwall).
Pomarine Skua became harder to come by – two were seen on 30th from North Uist (Western Isles), and another that day in Argyll & Bute from Port Appin. Ten Long-tailed Skua were seen from North Uist on 30th, following a single bird off there on 29th, and before another singleton off there on 2nd, and three on 3rd; another was reported on 29th from East Chevington (Northumberland); and one was seen on 1st passing Spurn (East Yorkshire).
Irish distractions aside, British birders had to make do with a Night Heron seen in flight in Somerset at Kilmersdon on 28th.
A Purple Heron remained in Kent at Stodmarsh NNR on 29th-3rd, with another seen again at Fairburn Ings RSPB (West Yorkshire) on 29th. In Norfolk, one was seen at Hickling Broad NWT on 30th, and another reported on 31st over Blakeney.
Glossy Ibis continued to be reported from far and wide this past week. Starting in Ireland, one was still to be seen at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) on 28th-30th, with a sighting again at Tacumshin on 1st; and another at Lurgangreen (Co.Louth) on 3rd. In Britain, Suffolk was busy with sightings at Hollesley Marshes RSPB still on 28th, Boyton Marshes RSPB again on 28th, and Minsmere RSPB on 30th and 2nd-3rd; while in Norfolk, sightings came from Cley NWT again on 28th and 2nd, Ken Hill Marshes still on 28th and once more on 2nd, and Stiffkey still on 31st. A bird was seen intermittently at Blacktoft Sands RSPB (East Yorkshire) on 30th and 1st; one remained at Alkborough Flats NR (Lincolnshire) on 30th-1st; and towards the south coast, one was seen again at Combe Valley CP (East Sussex) on 29th, and one again at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 30th. An Oxfordshire sighting came again at Otmoor RSPB on 1st-2nd.
A Corncrake was found at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 1st.
Unsurprisingly, the rarity duckpond was growing steadily quieter as we headed into summer. Just one notable honker to begin with, a Red-breasted Goose seen in Highland & Caithness at Laggan Lochs on 28th (with another, seen on 2nd with the local Canada and Greylag Geese at Middleton Lakes RSPB (Staffordshire), included for the sake of completeness).
The long-staying drake Black Duck remained on Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 31st-1st.
Also on Cross Lough, a drake American Wigeon was seen on 30th. The recent bird remained on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 29th-31st.
A Green-winged Teal were again seen on Unst (Shetland) on 28th, and another was found in Lincolnshire at Alkborough Flats NR on 31st.
Four drake Ring-necked Duck were logged in recent days. Birds remained on Loch of Hillwell (Shetland) on 29th-3rd; the Great Bernera (Western Isles) individual was still present there on 28th; in Wales the recent Llyn Brenig (Denbighshire) remained present on 29th-31st; and on the Devon/Cornwall border the drake was still to be seen on Lower Tamar Lake on 28th-2nd.
The first-winter drake Surf Scoter remained off Marazion (Cornwall) on 29th-30th.
And finally, an unconfirmed report came of a drake King Eider at Kyle of Lochalsh (Highland & Caithness) on 30th.
It was a much quieter week for notable waders, though try telling that to Staffordshire birders who were enjoying an adult American Golden Plover at Belvide Reservoir on 29th-2nd.
I gratefully recieved second helpings of the American Golden Plover at @WestMidBirdClub Belvide Reserve yesterday. It’s become one of my fav’ rare’s I’ve seen at the Reserve I think. Digiscoped footage at 300m (5040mm equiv) ???? pic.twitter.com/04TgavXGiX
— Rob Swift (@RobSwift5) June 2, 2024
On Orkney a Pectoral Sandpiper was seen on Westray on 30th.
Norfolk once again featured a flighty Black-winged Stilt, seen off and on at Potter Heigham Marshes on 28th-29th.
A Red-necked Phalarope dropped in to Sidlesham Ferry Pool (West Sussex) on 30th.
Finally, at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) the first-summer Lesser Yellowlegs was still to be seen on 28th-2nd.
A fine selection of terns were once again out there for the chasing, not least in Ireland – here the adult male Least Tern continued to hang around Portrane (Co.Dublin) on 29th-3rd, the Elegant Tern remained on Inis Doire (Co.Mayo) on 28th-1st, and a Caspian Tern was seen passing Rushbrooke (Co.Cork) on 28th.
Least Tern (Ireland’s 1st & Only from
— Vittorio Caschera (@Victor_Caschera) June 3, 2024
America) @ Portrane Beach, Co. Dublin on Bank Holiday 03rd, June, 2024.
I ? on 19th June 2021 but keeps returning with Little Terns in Summer ?? pic.twitter.com/uiZXRy1p3n
In Northumberland the adult surinamensis American Black Tern remained at Long Nanny on 29th-3rd.
American Black Tern in flight, Long Nanny. A beautiful, tiny bird but fast as anything! @NTBirdClub pic.twitter.com/Uj0WXRNojt
— Steph Murphy (@StephMurphy66) June 1, 2024
A Gull-billed Tern was seen again at Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset) on 2nd-3rd.
As for gulls, the adult Ring-billed Gull still in Perth & Kinross on Loch Turret on 28th-3rd was the best of them.
Glaucous Gull were noted on Shetland on Unst on 29th still, and Yell on 31st and 3rd; another was seen on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 29th also; and one again on Coquet Island (Northumberland) on 2nd-3rd. On 3rd one was reported from Low Hauxley (Northumberland), and another seen on Orkney at Skara Brae.
An Iceland Gull was seen on North Uist (Western Isles) on 28th and 31st.
Finally, a week without so much as a sniff of a Pallid Harrier. It’s only taken until June for that to happen in 2024…
Far rarer than the former species in Shetland, a Montagu’s Harrier found on Bressay on 28th and Fetlar on 29th was always going to attract local attention. Elsewhere, one over Cambridge city centre (Cambridgeshire) on 1st would have been a pleasant surprise; and the Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) bird remained there on 1st-2nd.
Suffolk scored a Black Kite on 29th, seen initially at Snape Warren and latterly at Aldeburgh; another was found at Pett Level (East Sussex) on 31st; one was lingering around Dungeness (Kent) at lunchtime on 2nd; and a further bird was reported on 29th at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire). On 3rd, birds were found at Broadstairs and Kingsdown (Kent), and St Columb Major (Cornwall).
The week was once more populated with a few Red-footed Falcon - starting in Kent, one remained at Worth Marsh on 28th-29th; one was seen coming in off the sea at Cley NWT (Norfolk) on 31st; sightings from Lincolnshire came on 28th at Saltfleetby Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, and on 29th at Anderby Creek; while a bird landing on the Northlink ferry from Shetland on 29th was a fine find at sea. On 2nd a first-summer male was seen briefly in Hampshire at Flexford and, on 3rd, a male was seen at North Foreland (Kent).
Like the very most pleasant of lingering hangovers, fair numbers of the prior weeks’ mass arrival of Red-backed Shrike remained in Britain during the week just gone, though clearly dispersing as the days passed and the sightings dwindled. Overall, some 60 birds were reported during the week – Fair Isle (Shetland) boasted 16 on 28th, while 8 were present on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 29th.
A Woodchat Shrike was found near St Buryan (Cornwall) on 1st.
Other summer colour this week came in the form of a handful of Hoopoe - birds seen at Abergwesyn (Powys) on 29th and 31st; Beeby (Leicestershire) on 29th; The Lizard (Cornwall) on 1st and 3rd; one was reported on 3rd at Eddleston (Borders); and in Wareham (Dorset) on 1st, the latter bird sadly being found dead…
…and also in the form of Bee-eater - one present at Dungeness (Kent) on 29th-30th found a friend there on 31st; while single birds were noted at Beachy Head (East Sussex) on 30th, and Fair Isle (Shetland) on 1st. On 2nd Kentish sightings came from Broadstairs, Kingsdown, Sandwich Bay, South Foreland, Southborough, and Weddington; and another was seen at Holme Pierrepont (Nottinghamshire). On 3rd birds were heard only at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire), and Broadstairs (Kent).
An Alpine Swift was seen at Kilcoole (Co.Wicklow) on 27th-28th.
A Red-rumped Swallow, meanwhile, was seen at West Rise Marsh (East Sussex) on 30th; a possible was on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 30th, and a further unconfirmed report came of a bird in Fife near Pittenweem on 31st.
Some 20 Golden Oriole were noted over the course of the week, spread widely from Scilly to Shetland and points in between.
A Short-toed Lark was found on the airfield on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 3rd.
Into the warblers, and a couple of intriguing reports to begin with that came to nothing further latterly – a report of a singing Iberian Chiffchaff in Hampshire at Woodgreen on 29th, and another reported on 3rd in Bath (Somerset & Avon); and an unconfirmed report of a possible Paddyfield Warbler at Merkinch LNR (Highland & Caithness) on 28th.
A Greenish Warbler was found in song on the Isle of Wight at Luccombe Down on 3rd.
Around 35 Marsh Warbler were noted this past week, many in song. Fair Isle (Shetland) held the lion’s share, with 10 birds logged on there on 28th.
The settled Great Reed Warbler remained in song at Ouse Fen RSPB (Cambridgeshire) on 28th-3rd, while the recent bird was again reported from The Naze (Essex) on 29th, and a Welsh bird was found in song at Borth Bog (Ceredigion) on 1st.
The Savi’s Warbler meanwhile remained in song at North Cave Wetlands YWT (East Yorkshire) on 28th-3rd.
A Melodious Warbler was found on Foula (Shetland) on 3rd.
Some 50 Icterine Warbler were logged this week, with Fair Isle alone holding 10 birds on 28th-29th.
Five Rose-coloured Starling were seen this week – one lingering at Tayinloan (Argyll & Bute) on 29th-31st; in Highland & Caithness, birds near Arivegaig on 28th, and Clachtoll on 28th; on 1st-3rd at Currock (Cumbria); and on 2nd-3rd at Aberystwyth (Ceredigion). A ringed, escaped, bird was also seen on 2nd at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire).
Bluethroat numbers melted away this week as swiftly as they’d previously come – just four birds were seen… One remained on territory at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 28th-2nd; and migrants were seen on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 28th-30th, at Hendon (Co.Durham) on 29th, and at Sumburgh (Shetland) on 31st.
Also in Shetland this past week, still more Thrush Nightingale were found – one at Norwick on Unst on 29th, and a bird on Noss on 3rd.
The recent singing first-summer male Red-breasted Flycatcher remained at Ballater (Aberdeenshire) on 28th-3rd; another was found in song on the Scottish mainland near Carron Valley Reservoir (Forth) on 28th-3rd; and one more dropped in to Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 28th-29th.
A male Blue-headed Wagtail remained at Aldeburgh Town Marshes (Suffolk) on 28th-1st; and a Grey-headed Wagtail was seen at Norby (Shetland) on 28th.
A possible Citrine Wagtail was flying around Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 29th.
Maywick (Shetland) enjoyed a flyover Red-throated Pipit on 28th. A Richard’s Pipit was also found in Shetland this week, at Noness on 3rd.
Some half a dozen Common Rosefinch were seen this week – on Shetland on Foula on 28th, and Fair Isle on 28th-29th; reported from Muir of Ord (Highland & Caithness on 28th; on Barra (Western Isles) on 29th; reported from St Mary’s (Scilly) on 1st; and at Blakeney Point (Norfolk) on 1st.
Serin in recent days were seen at Tankerton (Kent) on 28th, and Tide Mills (East Sussex) on 30th.
An Ortolan Bunting was noted on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 29th.
Finally, a female Rustic Bunting was present on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 28th-29th, trapped and ringed there on the former date.
Close-ish to home this week, in the Netherlands a first-summer drake Canvasback was seen at Middentocht on 31st-3rd.
France enjoyed Elegant Tern at Le Grand Bastit on 31st, and Polder de Sebastopol on 2nd.
In Finland, a Sociable Lapwing was found at Loviisa on 1st; while a Wilson’s Snipe has been displaying at Mielikkojarvi Iintutorni since 22nd May, and remained present there on 3rd; and a Crested Honey Buzzard was found on 2nd at Konnunsuo.
Sweden meanwhile had a Pygmy Cormorant at Kullens Havsbad on 28th.
Denmark enjoyed a Steppe Eagle at Skagen on 1st-2nd.
Poland scored a male Red-headed Bunting at Hel on 2nd.
A Calandra Lark settled in Germany at Riedgraben Rottenburg on 29th-2nd.
And in Israel the Yellow-billed Stork was still present at Eilat on 28th.
The first week of June is under way, and that’s traditionally a time when exciting things can happen.
Let’s look back to 1966, and the female Eastern Towhee trapped and ringed on Lundy (Devon) on 7th June. Given what jumped ship in Southampton this week, maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised if something really silly is found in the coming days…
Ah yes, Lundy… it’s the place to be in early June. How could we forget our one and only Sulphur-bellied Warbler, a one-day bird on Devon’s finest rarity outpost on 8th June 2021?
Other islands are, of course, available at this time of year. Fair Isle has traditionally done well in the coming week. Britain’s first Citril Finch went down in birding folklore when Tommy Hyndman found it in his island garden on 6th June 2008. And then there’s the Bimaculated Lark, owing itself to further back in the mists of time, found on there on 8th June 1976.
This is all properly rarified stuff. We’d never say that the likes of Cretzschmar’s Bunting nor Moltoni’s Warbler were exactly commonplace, but both statistically at least have turned up in the coming week with rather more frequency – three times and four times respectively. As such, either feels like a fair punt at this time of year.
Jon Dunn
4 June 2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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