Weekly birding round-up: 30 Jul - 5 Aug 2024
Such a brilliant time of the year, this, for the potential represented by shorebirds on the move. While the Northumbrian star of the prior week was still (just about) hanging on as the new week dawned, this week it was the turn of Co.Cork to enjoy a mega wader. Good things, sometimes, come in small packages… And the same can justly be said of rare seabirds. Here too, Ireland was on absolute fire this week.
The week came screaming out of the autumn wader passage traps again with the discovery of an adult Red-necked Stint at Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 31st – confirmed on 1st, still present briefly in the morning of 2nd, and seen again there on 5th.
No stranger to a rare wader, Ballycotton. And no stranger to a Red-necked Stint - Ireland’s first, and second, records owed themselves to this legendary site. Both adults, seen on 2nd-5th July 1998 and 31st July – 1st August 2002, Ballycotton has ample pedigree. And Ireland has only five past records, the last at Ballinskelligs (Co.Kerry) in 2011. This week’s bird, in anyone’s book, was a stellar find.
The week began strongly with the leschenaultii Greater Sand Plover still present at Newbiggin (Northumberland) on 30th – not seen there thereafter, this had been the wader that got autumn passage underway. More was to follow this week, and we’ve still potentially productive weeks stretching ahead of us. Game on…
There’ll come a point when a Brown Booby doesn’t make the grade for a headliner bird… but that time isn’t quite now, yet.
In the evening of 1st, news that a possible Brown Booby had been seen heading south past North Foreland (Kent) was followed, around an hour later, by news that it was settled on the sea off Kingsdown. An hour later, it was gone, never to be seen again this week.
Sea-watching in Ireland in particular this week was enjoying a purple patch, a run of rare form that peaked in the late afternoon at Bridges of Ross with the enormous prize of a South Polar Skua picked up passing west – a bird that looks set fair to be Ireland’s first land-based record, and was the cherry on the cake of what had already been an extraordinarily memorable sea-watch…
And best of all yesterday was when this South Polar Skua flew west past the bridges of Ross!!! Picked up by Ger Murray and very well called by @BMcCloskey_98 whom got footage of the bird. A team effort while watching and afterwards from the 8 observers! Screengrabs by Brian. pic.twitter.com/SiLy54U2Rr
— Cian Cardiff (@cianbirder) August 4, 2024
Nor was the South Polar Skua the only rarity that was moving off Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 3rd, for no fewer than three Barolo Shearwaters were noted passing west off there during the course of the day – one mid-morning, one shortly after midday, and another mid-afternoon.
Another BAROLO!!! Absolutely insane stuff. The Bridges of Ross is on fire ?? This time found by Noel Keogh. Some stills from a short bit of video I managed. pic.twitter.com/d7s9K8o2JW
— BMcCloskey (@BMcCloskey_98) August 3, 2024
(These came hot on the heels of a probable Scopoli’s Shearwater seen from Bridges of Ross the previous day, on 2nd).
But getting back to those Barolo Shearwaters. One bird alone would have made the day of those present, but three? Outrageous! And the best, as we’ve just seen, was still to come in the late afternoon.
Wilson’s Petrel enjoyed another strong showing, with 140 birds seen in Britain and Ireland. The waters off Scilly again were a rich hunting ground, accounting for at least 130 birds this week, with 10 seen on 2nd alone incredibly supplanted by the tally from the pelagic of 4th – a mind-boggling total of 105 birds being logged that day.
Cornish observers enjoyed singletons in Falmouth Bay on 31st, and off Pendeen on 3rd; and two from Porthgwarra and The Lizard apiece on 5th. Five were seen frin the Scillonian on 5th. Sea-watchers in Ireland, meanwhile, were reaping the rewards for their patience – on 2nd, single birds were seen from Loop Head (Co.Clare) and Valentia Island (Co.Kerry); also on 2nd, two birds were noted from Annagh Head (Co.Mayo), followed by a single bird off there on 3rd; three were seen from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 3rd; three from Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 4th; while on 5th the pace picked up in Ireland, with nine seen passing Annagh Head (Co.Mayo), and four from Galley Head (Co.Cork); and singles from Brandon Point (Co.Kerry), and Loop Head (Co.Clare).
A Leach’s Petrel was seen at sea between Ullapool and Stornoway (Highland & Caithness) on 1st.
A Fea’s Petrel sp was seen from Porthgwarra (Cornwall) in the evening of 4th. On 5th, additional birds were seen off Pendeen (Cornwall), and Annagh Head (Co.Mayo).
The biggest shearwater prize in British waters was, once again, a Scopoli’s Shearwater, and with some inevitability this was seen off Scilly, from the pelagic of 4th. On 2nd, a probable was seen from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare); another probable was seen on 4th from Porthgwarra (Cornwall); and a two probables off Porthgwarra on 5th.
Bridges of Ross, as we’ve seen in the headlines, was having a heck of a week. It also yielded one of the week’s highest single site tallies of Cory’s Shearwater, 1,120 birds being logged there on 2nd, supplanted for the Irish winner’s laurels only by Galley Head (Co.Cork), which managed 1,550 birds on 5th. Overall, Britain and Ireland accounted for around 12,300 birds during the course of the week. Great Shearwater didn’t scale those dizzy heights, with some 650 birds noted across the region – of these, the best counts were 150 birds in Falmouth Bay (Cornwall) on 31st, and 140 from the Scilly pelagic of 3rd.
Similar numbers of Balearic Shearwater were also seen, with Berry Head (Devon) accounting for a large proportion of the approximately 750 birds logged across the region as a whole – 350 birds were seen off here on 1st.
Around 30 Pomarine Skua in British and Irish waters as a whole this week included two off Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 2nd, four off Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 3rd, and five seen from Annagh Head (Co.Mayo) also on 3rd.
Long-tailed Skua, meanwhile, were limited to single birds seen from Seaton Snook (Cleveland) on 1st, Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 2nd and 4th, Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 3rd, and Toe Head (Co.Cork) on 4th; two birds were noted off Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 4th; and on 5th singletons were seen from Porthgwarra, Galley Head, and Brandon Point (Co.Kerry).
In Ireland the first-summer Pacific Diver remained in Co.Clare, being seen off Coolsiva Pier on 30th-31st, and from Black Head on 1st.
Just one Purple Heron provides a little variety to the scarcer long-legged beasties this week – this being the juvenile still hanging around Exminster Marshes RSPB (Devon) on 30th-4th.
A Night Heron was found at Potter Heigham (Norfolk) on 5th.
Lingering Glossy Ibis continued to be seen at Worth Marsh (Kent) on 30th still; at Breydon Water (Norfolk) again on 30th-31st and 3rd; at Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire) again on 2nd-3rd; at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) again on 1st; at Deeping Lakes LWT (Lincolnshire) still on 30th-5th; at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) again on 5th; and at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) still on 4th. Additional sightings this week came from Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 1st; Hook-with-Warsash LNR (Hampshire) on 30th-2nd; on 3rd at Ouse Washes RSPB (Cambridgeshire), Trimley Marshes SWT (Suffolk), and over East Chevington NWT (Northumberland); and on 4th -5th in Suffolk at North Warren RSPB.
Chief amongst the notable quackers this week was the drake Stejneger’s Scoter, still sitting off Musselburgh Lagoons (Lothian) on 30th-4th.
The Blue-winged Teal again reared its head at Tophill Low (East Yorkshire) on 31st-3rd.
Drake Ferruginous Duck were still to be seen this week on Willen Lake (Buckinghamshire) on 30th, and again on 4th-5th; and at Draycote Water (Warwickshire) still on 30th-1st and once more on 5th.
The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on Llyn Brenig (Denbighshire) on 30th-3rd; while there was an unconfirmed report of a further bird at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire & Wirral) on 1st.
And finally, a honker – though surely doing itself no favours by hanging out with the local Greylags in North Kent at this time of the year, the adult Lesser White-fronted Goose was again seen at Swale NNR on 30th.
This was, as we’ve seen in the headlines, already a good weekly show for waders in Britain and Ireland courtesy of the lingering Greater Sand Plover and the discovery of a Red-necked Stint. There was a solid supporting cast in the wings too…
The discovery of an adult Pacific Golden Plover somewhere felt a little overdue, given we’re now into August – and, finally, Longhoughton Steel (Northumberland) obliged, with an adult bird seen here on 2nd.
The recent American Golden Plover remained on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 1st-5th; additional birds this week were found at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) on 31st-1st; and in East Yorkshire on the River Humber at Kilnsea on 31st and 2nd, and Easington on 5th.
American Golden Plover 200m West of the bridge/windmill at Blennerville Co.Kerry today. Vocal throughout. @ZEISSBirding 2 Little Terns also pic.twitter.com/WZnvLDYYF0
— Stephen King (@StephenKing855) July 31, 2024
The Humber Estuary also held a White-rumped Sandpiper at Spurn on 30th, 2nd-3rd, and again on 5th. Further examples of this classic late summer vagrant were seen at in Norfolk at Titchwell RSPB on 31st and once more on 5th; and Snettisham RSPB on 4th where two birds were again seen, and on 5th three were again noted; at Portrane (Co.Dublin) on 4th; and in Co.Wexford at Tacumshin on 3rd-4th, and Lady’s Island Lake on 4th.
An adult Baird’s Sandpiper was present at Newport Wetlands NNR (Gwent) on 2nd-4th, at times delivering outstanding views.
Pectoral Sandpiper remained at Blue House Farm EWT (Essex) on 30th-1st, and at Myroe Levels (Co.Derry) on 30th. Additional birds were found at Parkgate Marsh (Cheshire & Wirral) on 1st-5th; Lynn Point (Norfolk) on 1st; and at Alkborough Flats NR (Lincolnshire) on 3rd-5th.
Scilly scored an adult Spotted Sandpiper on St Mary’s on 5th.
A Semipalmated Sandpiper was found in Pagham Harbour (West Sussex) off Church Norton on 3rd-5th.
The recent Temminck’s Stint was seen again at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) on 30th; and another settled at Blue House Farm EWT (Essex) on 2nd-5th.
A juvenile Black-winged Stilt was seen at Cliffe Pools RSPB (Kent) on 30th-31st; and Cuckmere Haven (East Sussex) on 1st-2nd.
The long-staying Lincolnshire Lesser Yellowlegs made it into another month, starting August at Frampton Marsh RSPB still on 1st; while the recent Scottish bird remained at St Andrews (Fife) on 30th-2nd.
A Grey Phalarope was seen passing Annagh Head (Co.Mayo) on 5th.
Finally, a Red-necked Phalarope dropped into Middleton Lakes RSPB (Staffordshire / Warwickshire) on 2nd.
This was a good week for a wayward American gull, with several of their kind to report upon. Pick of the bunch was the Franklin’s Gull found on Lewis (Western Isles) on 31st.
This coincided with a sighting of a possible adult Laughing Gull at sea from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway (Highland & Caithness) on 31st.
Meanwhile in Kent, the adult Bonaparte’s Gull remained settled at Oare Marshes KWT on 30th-5th; another probable was seen at Welwick Saltmarsh YWT (East Yorkshire) on 1st.
The adult Ring-billed Gull remained at Blackrock (Co.Louth) on 4th-5th.
A Sabine’s Gull was seen from Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 2nd; while two were reported from Pendeen (Cornwall) the same day. On 5th additional birds were seen from the Scillonian, and Annagh Head (Co.Mayo).
Yell (Shetland) gave us our only Glaucous Gull of the week, a second-summer bird at Vatsetter on 3rd-4th.
The week got a little busier for Caspian Tern again, with several sightings in recent days – one noted at Tophill Low NR (Northumberland) on 2nd; and birds on 3rd off Hill Head (Hampshire), and at Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk).
The adult female surinamensis American Black Tern was again seen on Coquet Island (Northumberland) on 2nd-4th.
A possible juvenile White-winged Black Tern was reported at Skinflats Lagoons RSPB (Forth) early in the morning of 4th, but couldn’t be relocated. On 5th, a confirmed bird was found at Laytown (Co.Meath).
Finally, in Ireland the adult Least Tern was still present at Portrane (Co.Dublin) on 3rd.
Putative Montagu’s Harrier were livening their observers’ week up lately – a probable first-summer male passing over Cambourne (Cambridgeshire) on 31st; and a possible male also reported over Adwick Washlands RSPB (South Yorkshire) on 3rd. A confirmed bird was seen passing west over Ouse Washes RSPB (Cambridgeshire) on 4th; and a male was reported from Shotton Pools (Northumberland) on 5th.
A possible Black Kite was seen on 1st on Anglesey at Llanerchymedd; a further bird was seen in Devon at Aveton Gifford on 1st, and reported again from there the following day.
Lewis (Western Isles) was enjoying a good week, with not only a one-day Franklin’s Gull, but also a more settled Alpine Swift, present on the island on 1st-5th.
A Woodchat Shrike was seen on The Lizard (Cornwall) on 1st.
An unconfirmed report of a Red-backed Shrike at Lilbourne (Northamptonshire) on 2nd came to nothing further.
An Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, found in London recently, was an exercise in frustration for all concerned – reported belatedly, having been found initially on 29th at Cudham, there was no further sign of it subsequently despite repeated efforts. Maybe for the best, as it was in an area with no general access anyway…
A possible Marsh Warbler was reported from Foula (Shetland) on 1st.
Foula, however, officially kicked autumn off with a Barred Warbler on the isle on 5th.
Lastly, a Blue-headed Wagtail was seen at Titchwell RSPB on 3rd.
Food for thought for British birders this past week came on two fronts – most significantly in the Netherlands, where a Red-wattled Lapwing settled at Oranjezon on 31st-2nd, and Buren on 4th – the second Dutch record. It doesn’t seem too much to ask for that to make the crossing into Kent or East Anglia…
Further north, and perhaps mostly of interest to Shetland birders, a Brown Booby set off from a boat it had spent a few days upon on 2nd, some way southeast of Faroe.
In Norway the recent Song Sparrow remained at Steinkjer on 30th.
The Pygmy Cormorant was still present in Denmark at Slotsmosen on 30th-31st; and a Sandhill Crane was seen at Bygolm Vegle on 3rd-4th.
Finally, in Israel a Basra Reed Warbler was found at Eilat on 31st.
Invoking the 2011 Ballinskelligs (Co.Kerry) Red-necked Stint in last week’s concluding remarks seemed to do the trick this week in Co.Cork, so let’s see what else can be manifested by summoning memories of past birds in the week to come…
Fewer than 40 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper have been recorded in Britain and Ireland as a whole over the years, but four of them owe themselves to the coming week – one in Surrey at Staines Reservoir on 6th August 1976; a long-staying bird in Co.Wexford on 6th-21st August 1994 at Tacumshin; and two-day birds at Drift Reservoir (Cornwall) on 6th-7th August 2004, and at Oare Marshes KWT (Kent) on 10th-11th August 2007.
The coming week has form, then…
Jon Dunn
6 Aug 2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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