Weekly birding round-up: 26 Nov - 2 Dec 2024
Proving amply that the end of November certainly isn’t too late in the day for the tattered remains of autumn to throw another surprise our way, Shetland dominates the headlines this week.
With the benefit of hindsight, Britain’s first American Coot was more than a little bit of an anomaly. Found in Kent at Stodmarsh almost 30 years ago on 16th April 1996, it saw plenty of us coming fast out of the traps the following day to twitch it. While it could prove elusive in the channels that stretched away from the Lampen Wall, with patience many birders on the scene back in the day caught up with it – it stayed put for around a fortnight to the end of the month.
But the duration of the stay’s not the anomalous bit. It’s the location. For after that first bird, subsequent records moved obstinately north. Our next was a one-day bird in Cumbria at South Walney on 17th April 1999. After that, seven more British records, and all of them in Scotland, from one in Shetland first found on 30th November 2003; to our last, a bird found on North Uist (Western Isles) on 11th November 2016.
And indeed, those two counties have done well for themselves. What was assumed to be the same bird returned to Shetland in 2004 and 2005; while the Western Isles enjoyed their first bird in January-April 2004, followed by two more (on Benbecula and North Uist) respectively before their most recent bird.
Dumfries & Galloway, and Highland & Caithness have also got in on the Scottish American Coot show, with one record apiece in the interim. The clear moral of the story is that the Kentish bird was an outlier, and if anyone wants to twitch an American Coot these days, they probably need to gird their loins to head north of the border to do so.
And there’s a fresh opportunity, should that appeal, newly arrived this week. The indefatigable Phil Harris, always on the lookout for something out of the ordinary even at the most unpromising times of year in Shetland, found an American Coot on Loch of Spiggie as the week began on 26th, and there it remained until the close of the week on 2nd. Short of a big freeze closing the water on Spiggie, one would expect it to stay put for a while now, albeit it could sometimes prove a little elusive. There’s certainly better odds of seeing this bird than waiting for the next English record, anyway.
With the Shetland Mainland literally within sight just a few miles away, and the drake Bufflehead that arrived off Foula a fortnight ago clearly not averse to making a sizeable flight across open water, Shetland birders could be forgiven for feeling a little chastened that said bird hasn’t abandoned Foula just yet.
Some intrepid souls have made the journey to see this dandy and at times confiding bird, rather than waiting for it to come to them. For the rest of us, a blank day on 1st seemed like a glimmer of hope – had the bird ditched Foula’s Ham Voe and moved into the myriad lochs and lochans of Shetland’s West Mainland? But no. There it was again off Foula as the week drew to a close on 2nd. The wait goes on…
From their thousands to their hundreds, numbers of Little Auk contracted sharply on the preceding week, with some 175 birds in all logged over the course of the week just gone. Most were in their dribs and drabs, with only a few sites logging double figure counts and, of these, 25 seen from Whitburn CP (Co.Durham) on 28th were comfortably the highest tally.
A White-billed Diver was seen in Westray Sound (Orkney) on 28th, and another on 1st at Ross Back Sands (Northumberland).
Shearwaters of all kinds became positively rare, with just
Balearic Shearwater of the notables seen in any numbers, and those very low at that and all in Cornwall – Porthoustock registered one bird on 28th, and three the following day; while also on 29th a single bird was seen nearby in the county at The Lizard; on 1st two were seen from Trevose Head, and a singleton from East Pentire; and on 2nd, one from St Ives, and three from Pendeen.
Pendeen on 2nd also generated a report of a Yelkouan Shearwater - there really isn’t an ‘off’ month these days where sea-watching potential’s concerned.
Two Leach’s Petrel were seen on 2nd at St Ives (Cornwall).
Finally, Pomarine Skua clung on in the daily news reports, albeit also in reduced numbers. Two were seen on 28th in Norfolk off Cromer; single birds on 29th at North Foreland (Kent) and Ballycotton (Co.Cork); and singletons on 30th and 1st at Tarbat Ness (Highland & Caithness).
Our regular long-legged beastie, Glossy Ibis, barely managed to make it into double figures for Britain and Ireland as a whole this week. Three remained in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven NNR on 26th-2nd; in Norfolk, two were seen again on 28th at Burgh Castle and Breydon Water; one remained in Northamptonshire at Summer Leys NR on 28th-2nd; the Fremington Pill (Devon) individual was still to be seen on 27th-30th; and Somerset supplied sightings of a single bird at Chew Valley Lake on 27th-2nd still, on 30th near Westhay and at Ham Wall RSPB, and at the latter site again on 1st. In Ireland, two remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 26th.
We’ll start the honkers and quackers once more at Dunfanaghy (Co.Donegal) with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada. Here an interior Todd’s Canada Goose and two hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Geese remained present on 26th-1st, and a white morph Snow Goose too for good measure until 1st also. Two hutchinsii birds were present on 2nd at Elly Bay (Co.Mayo).
Further Snow Goose were logged this week over Stronsay (Orkney) on 26th; in Aberdeenshire at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB on 27th still; in Clyde and Ayrshire around Barr Loch, Lochwinnoch RSPB, and Kilnbirne Loch on 26th-30th; at Montrose Basin (Angus) on 2nd; and in Lancashire & North Merseyside still at Martin Mere WWT on 27th-1st.
A Red-breasted Goose was found on 2nd at Rockcliffe Marsh (Cumbria).
In East Yorkshire a Black Brant seen at Kilnsea on 28th again; and another in Essex at West Mersea still on 1st. A possible Grey-bellied Brant was seen in Co.Dublin at Blackrock on 28th.
American Wigeon remained to the fore – one still present in Shetland at Loch of Hillwell on 26th-2nd; one in Orkney on Mainland at Loch of Ayre on 27th-28th, with a second bird present on 27th; the Otterston Loch (Fife) bird still present on 29th-2nd; one still at Newshot Island (Clyde) on 29th-30th; Northumberland sightings at Shotton Pools on 26th still, and Blagdon Hall again on 29th; one at Bubwith Ings (North Yorkshire) on 30th-2nd; a well-received Welsh individual at Kenfig Pool NNR (Glamorgan) on 28th-29th; and a female on 2nd at Termoncarragh Lough (Co.Mayo).
Lingering Green-winged Teal remained in Cornwall at Hayle Estuary RSPB on 26th-1st; Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 26th-1st; at Sandbach Flashes (Cheshire & Wirral) again on 28th-1st; and in Scotland at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 28th, Loch Fleet (Highland & Caithness) on 28th, and on Lewis (Western Isles) on 27th. Cumbria added further sightings at Ulpha Meadows CWT on 27th, and Heversham on 29th.
In Essex the drake Canvasback was once again seen at Abberton Reservoir on 26th-30th.
London’s juvenile female Ferruginous Duck remained settled at Tooting Bec Common on 26th-2nd; while in Warwickshire the drake remained on Draycote Water on 26th-2nd, and the drake at Napton Reservoir on 29th. Another drake was seen in Hertfordshire at West Hyde GPs on 30th-2nd, with a further Hertfordshire sighting on 2nd at Batchworth Lake; while erstwhile stronghold Filby Broad (Norfolk) generated a report of two birds again on 26th, followed by a confirmed female there again on 1st-2nd.
Approaching 30 Ring-necked Duck were seen across Britain and Ireland this week, with Ireland contributing heavily to this total – nine birds were present on Lough Gara (Co.Sligo) on 30th; three at Ardcloony (Co.Clare) still on 26th; and two at Coonagh (Co.Limerick) on 2nd. Two were seen in England at Blagdon Lake (Somerset) on 28th.
Eight or nine Lesser Scaup were logged this week – confirmed birds at Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire) still on 26th-2nd; Barleycroft Lake (Cambridgeshire) still on 29th-1st; on Otterston Loch (Fife) still on 29th-2nd; at Ardcloony (Co.Clare) still on 26th-2nd; at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) still on 27th; on Abberton Reservoir (Essex) on 1st; one at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 1st-2nd; another at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 2nd; and a possible at Lea Marston (Warwickshire) on 30th.
Finally, around a dozen Surf Scoter were again noted around Britain and Ireland. Three remained in the Druridge Pools NR area of Northumberland until 30th, with at least two still there on 2nd; and duos off Dornoch (Highland & Caithness) on 28th-1st, Inch (Co.Kerry) on 27th still, and off Ben Head (Co.Meath) on 1st. Single birds were seen in Britain from Roseisle (Moray) on 30th-1st still; in Colwyn Bay (Conwy) on 27th-2nd still; and off Studland (Dorset) on 28th-2nd. Irish singletons were present at Tramore Strand (Co.Kerry) on 26th, and Bremore Point (Co.Dublin) on 30th.
Into the waders, where the recent White-rumped Sandpiper continued its residency at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 28th-30th; while another was to be seen in Lothian at Barns Ness on 29th-30th.
An American Golden Plover was again seen on Barra (Western Isles) on 26th.
In Somerset the female Kentish Plover remained at Burnham-on-Sea on 30th.
The Norfolk Long-billed Dowitcher was still present at Cley NWT on 26th; while the lingering Devon individual was still to be seen at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB on 26th and Powderham on 28th again.
A Grey Phalarope was seen from South Uist (Western Isles) on 1st, and another on 2nd at Lisvane Reservoir (Glamorgan).
Highlight of the gulls by some margin this week was the adult Laughing Gull seen passing Maidens (Ayrshire) on 26th; the last for the county lingered for over 50 days at Ardrossan in early 2006, but this latest bird wasn’t to prove so obliging.
Meanwhile, on the Isle of Wight, a Bonaparte’s Gull was reported from Alverstone Mead LNR on 26th.
Glaucous Gull proved to be in somewhat short supply this week, only nudging towards low double figures. Lingering birds in Kent and Cambridgeshire proved locally popular, at Dungeness on 26th-2nd, and Cottenham on 29th-1st respectively.
Iceland Gull were scarcer still – birds being seen only at Whitburn CP (Co.Durham) on 26th, in Lerwick (Shetland) on 29th, from Rathlin Island (Co.Antrim) on 1st, and off Ramore Head (Co.Antrim) on 2nd.
Adding a little variety, an adult Kumlien’s Gull was at Helmsdale (Highland & Caithness) on 29th-1st.
Ballyvergan Marsh (Co.Cork) continued to hold both its recent rare harriers, in the form of the second-winter male Northern Harrier still present on 27th and 30th-2nd, and the juvenile Pallid Harrier again on 27th and 1st.
In Norfolk the female Pallid Harrier remained in the Warham Greens area on 26th-2nd, while the second-winter male was again to be seen intermittently in Pembrokeshire at Dowrog Common on 26th-30th.
A Rough-legged Buzzard was seen in North Yorkshire near Danby on 29th.
Lastly, a Black Kite was reported from Minster (Kent) on 28th.
The passerines kick off with the Hoopoe again in South Yorkshire at Rossington on 30th-1st.
Reports of Waxwing continued to trickle in… on 27th a single bird at Ripley (Derbyshire), two at Hill of Fearn (Highland & Caithness), and seven at Melton (Suffolk); and three on 30th over Orford (Suffolk).
A Penduline Tit was reported, heard only, at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) on 26th.
A late Red-rumped Swallow spent a couple of days at The Spinnies NWWT (Gwynedd) on 29th-30th, followed on 2nd by a bird found on Anglesey at Beaumaris.
A more unseasonal report came of a Red-backed Shrike at Llanelly Hill (Gwent) on 26th.
More substantial were a couple of settled Great Grey Shrike - one at Cannock Chase (Staffordshire) still on 26th, and another also on 26th still at Hatfield Moors NNR (South Yorkshire).
Approaching 30 Yellow-browed Warbler were logged over the course of the week, predominantly in the English southwest – exceptions to that rule being birds at Ffynon Saint (Gwynedd) on 26th; near Skegness (Lincolnshire) on 30th; and those found on 1st at Arklow (Co.Wicklow), Ballyvergan Marsh (Co.Cork), and Marloes (Pembrokeshire).
A trio of Hume’s Warbler were also found. One in Dorset’s Weymouth at Rodwell Trail on 27th-28th; another elusive bird in Norfolk at Titchwell RSPB on 29th-30th; and a bird at Dungeness Bird Observatory on 1st-2nd, trapped and ringed on the latter date.
A Pallas’s Warbler was found in Essex at The Naze on 30th-1st, swiftly followed by another on 1st at Kingsdown (Kent).
On St Mary’s (Scilly) the lingering Dusky Warbler remained on the isle on 29th-2nd.
St Mary’s also accounted for a flyover probable Serin on 26th, and a Little Bunting again on 26th also.
Quite a few familiar faces made up the overseas news this week. However, there were a couple of birds, near and far from home, that give food for thought…
A mere hop across the English Channel, a Black-winged Kite was seen on Jersey on 1st.
Much, much further afield, but so long and so keenly anticipated on our home shores, a Willet was found in the Azores on Terceira on 1st. A third record for the Azores, and only the sixth for the Western Palearctic as a whole.
Belgium scored a White-rumped Swift on 1st at Houtave.
In Germany, the Sandhill Crane continued to haunt the Gross Heseper Moor area until 30th, while the Northern Mockingbird was still to be seen at Feldflur Rheidt Am Schafott until 30th also.
Poland’s second ever Ivory Gull remained at Wladyslawowo on 27th-28th.
In Norway, both of the recent Oriental Turtle Dove were still settled at Osthassel on 27th.
In Portugal the Yellow-crowned Night Heron was still to be seen at Quinta do Lago on 29th.
Finally, on the Azores a Double-crested Cormorant remained on Faial on 24th.
Ah, here we go, the closing straight of the year – December. Traditionally that’s a quiet time, of course, but as ever in these quarters blind optimism is the watchword, and over a century of accumulated bird records our unreliable guide to what might (but probably won’t) be found in the week to come.
A quick look at the coming week’s weather, for what it’s worth…
Brr. It’s looking pretty chilly out there, with either end of the week featuring feisty northerlies, with the merest hint of ameliorating westerlies for a day or so in the middle. Basically, our thoughts turn to the Arctic now.
Thirteen historic records of Gyr Falcon, 10 of Ivory Gull, six of Snowy Owl, two of Ross’s Gull, and one of Brunnich’s Guillemot respectively for the week give a flavour of what might come blowing our way. Potentially also some Arctic Redpoll, if we care about those any more…
Jon Dunn
3 Dec2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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