Weekly birding round-up: 10 - 16 Dec 2024
To say it’s mid-December, we might be forgiven for expecting the headlines being a little on the light side where outstanding rarities are concerned. Yet 2024 remained the gift that keeps on giving, with a couple of presumably returning birds of the highest calibre dusting the week with some star quality.
Having flirted off and on with observers in the preceding week, the Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland became somewhat more reliable in the week just gone after a stuttering start that saw it present at East Chevington NWT on 10th, but absent again on 11th.
On 12th-15th it was still to be seen there (and nearby), and understandably drew a steady stream of admirers for first, or indeed second or third helpings of this terrific bird. It remains to be seen how long this unexpected stay turns out to be – maybe, in the absence of a cold snap, it will make it into the New Year in Northumberland? And then again, as it was nowhere to be seen on 16th, maybe not.
A few seconds of the Grey-headed Lapwing at East Chevington. Like some mad plover x Stone-curlew mashup #NEbirding
— Mark Eaton (@markaeaton.bsky.social) 14 December 2024 at 17:10
[image or embed]
Also proving tempting for some, the American Coot remained settled this week in Shetland on Loch of Spiggie, albeit having to weather some turbulent times over the weekend as the islands were battered by some persistent and snorty northwesterlies.
Present there on 10th-14th, the loch’s big enough and has enough sheltered nooks and crannies around the shore to provide plenty of cover for the bird to find succour in even the wildest of weather. All that said, the loch’s shallow enough to readily freeze over in colder conditions, so a prolonged stay throughout the winter ahead is far from guaranteed.
Speaking of rarity events that might be anticipated, but are far from guaranteed, a return to Somerset by the drake Baikal Teal first found at Greylake RSPB on 2nd January 2022 this week is welcome, albeit far from a foregone conclusion.
That first winter saw it remain at Greylake until 14th March 2022. It was back again last winter, first found on 28th December 2023, and settled there until 15th March this year. Found there again this week on 12th, a little earlier than hitherto on 12th December, we can hopefully look forward to regular reports of it there until March 2025. It was certainly still present there this week until 16th, anyway.
Ignored by the mainstream media when they were being seen in their multi-thousands just a few weeks ago, it took some moribund Little Auk crashing into coastal gardens in eastern England this week for the BBC to mention them in the same news bulletins that covered the unfolding events in Syria and Ukraine. Compared to prior weeks, numbers were well down – overall, around 600 birds were logged nationwide in recent days, of which 350 off Isle of May (Fife) on 13th made up a significant proportion of their number.
In Ireland, the adult Pacific Diver was once again seen at Crookhaven (Co.Cork) on 11th.
A White-billed Diver was seen in the traditional wintering quarters of South Nesting Bay (Shetland) on 14th, while another sighting came from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 11th.
A late Cory’s Shearwater seen in Kent passing Foreness Point on 12th. A Leach’s Petrel was also seen in the county off North Foreland on 10th.
Glossy Ibis made up our long-legged beasties again this week, in most of the anticipated places. Three remained in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven NNR on 11th-15th; in Norfolk, sightings of singletons came from Breydon Water on 11th and Stiffkey on 13th, while two were again at Burgh Castle on 12th; one remained in Northamptonshire at Summer Leys NR on 10th-16th; Somerset sightings this week came from Chew Valley Lake on 10th and 15th-16th, and near Pedwell on 13th-15th; and on 16th again in Oxfordshire at Otmoor RSPB, and down in Devon once more at Fremington Pill; while in Ireland, two remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 12th-15th, and one was again seen in Co.Galway at Lough Atalia on 12th.
Alas not coming to anything more concrete, a wholly unconfirmed and slightly belated report emerged this week of an American Purple Gallinule said to have been seen on 12th in Devon wandering around on the grass at The Skern at Northam Burrows CP at high tide. While no further detail was forthcoming, with the Somerset bird of November 2022 very much in mind, this report from Devon sounds entirely plausible at face value. Imagine that as one final, massive roll of the dice for 2024…
Kicking off the honkers and quackers for another week, The Goose Formerly Known As Canada supplied hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose sightings in recent days on Islay (Argyll & Bute) still on 11th, and at Dunfanaghy (Co.Donegal) still on 12th.
Dunfanaghy also retained its recent Snow Goose on 12th-14th. Further examples this week were seen in Scotland at Montrose Basin (Angus) still on 13th, and Glen Moidart (Highland & Caithness) on 14th. English birds were present in Lancashire & North Merseyside at Martin Mere WWT again on 13th, Banks Marsh NNR on 15th, and Marshside RSPB on 16th; and in East Yorkshire, where two birds were kicking around Tophill Low NR on 10th, near Beverley on 13th, and at Swine Moor on 14th-16th.
Scotland continued to supply sightings of Ross’s Goose this week – at Kildonan (Argyll & Bute) on 10th still; near Raith Reservoir (Ayrshire) on 11th-14th; and at Machrihanish (Argyll & Bute) on 13th.
In Cumbria, the Red-breasted Goose was once more seen at Rockcliffe on 15th.
A Black Brant was seen down in Kent at Leysdown-on-Sea on 10th.
Norfolk enjoyed another sighting of the recent adult Lesser White-fronted Goose at Lynn Point on 13th.
Onto the quackers, and we’ll start in East Yorkshire where a possible Blue-winged Teal was noted passing Flamborough on 12th.
Green-winged Teal comfortably sailed into double figures this week, with 17 birds logged in Britain and Ireland in recent days.
Less numerous, but generally more settled, seven American Wigeon were also on offer. In Scotland, birds remained on Shetland at Loch of Hillwell on 10th-14th; on Orkney at Loch of Ayre on 10th-11th; at Crook of Baldoon RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 11th; at Newshot Island (Clyde) on 14th; and at Otterston Loch (Fife) on 14th. England had just the one bird, present still at Blagdon Hall (Northumberland) on 10th; while the recent Welsh individual remained at Kenfig NNR (Glamorgan) on 14th-16th.
A quartet of recent Ferruginous Duck were to be seen again throughout this week. The London juvenile female relocated to Wandsworth Common again on 10th, but was back to Tooting Bec Common by 16th; the first-winter drake was still in Hertfordshire around the West Hyde GPs and Batchworth Lake area on 10th-16th, with company on the latter date – there were three at Batchworth Lake on 16th, two first-winter drakes and an adult drake; one remained in Lincolnshire at Tallington Lakes on 11th-15th; and the Warwickshire drake remained at Draycote Water on 10th-15th.
The week was another strong one for Ring-necked Duck, with some 40 birds seen across Britain and Ireland as a whole. Ireland, in particular, was creaking at the seams with them – 10 birds were present on Lough Gara (Co.Sligo) on 11th still; four were on Rostaff Turlough (Co.Mayo) on 13th; three on Knockalough Lough (Co.Clare) on 10th still; two on Brierfield Turlough (Co.Roscommon) on 12th still; and two present at Coonagh Wetlands (Co.Limerick) on 11th still. In Carmarthenshire, two remained at Llyn Pencarreg on 10th-15th; and two were present at Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 16th.
Ireland was also doing well for Lesser Scaup - birds were noted this week in Co.Wexford, where two were present at Tacumshin on 11th-14th; a female was on Lough Clubir (Co.Cork) on 14th-16th; on Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 15th still; at Ardcloony (Co.Clare) still on 16th; and a probable on Rostaff Turlough (Co.Mayo) on 13th. Settled British birds remained at Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire) still on 10th-16th; Barleycroft Lake (Cambridgeshire) still on 13th; at Blagdon Lake (Somerset) still on 10th-16th; and at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) on 12th-15th.
A shade over a dozen Surf Scoter were again noted around Britain and Ireland. At least two remained in the Cresswell Pond NWT area of Northumberland until 14th; a duo was noted in Fife at Leven on 10th and Methil Point on 11th; two were still off Dornoch (Highland & Caithness) on 16th; and two were seen at Rhos Point (Conwy) on 11th.
Finally, on Foula (Shetland) the lingering drake Bufflehead had sensibly headed inland onto the island’s freshwater lochans on 11th-14th, but was back on the sea in Ham Voe by 16th.
If we discount Northumberland’s Grey-headed Lapwing, this was an otherwise very peaceful week indeed on the shorebird front.
Starting in Somerset, the female Kentish Plover remained at Burnham-on-Sea on 10th-16th.
In Suffolk the recent White-rumped Sandpiper remained at Minsmere RSPB on 10th-11th.
The Long-billed Dowitcher also remained at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB (Devon) on 12th-15th; while the Norfolk bird was again seen at Cley NWT on 16th.
Lastly, a Grey Phalarope was seen on 14th at Lossiemouth (Moray).
We did a little better than of late for Ring-billed Gull this week and, while four Ring-billed Gulls doesn’t have quite the same ring about it as five gold rings, it’s certainly better festive tidings than the famously stringy seasonal claim of a partridge in a pear tree. Said birds were in Cork (Co.Cork) on 13th-14th; Galway (Co.Galway) on 14th-15th; at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) on 11th still; and on the Hayle Estuary (Cornwall) on 10th and 15th again.
Nothing says Christmas quite like a wreck of storm wrecked deal seal along the North Sea coast, at least not if you’re a Glaucous Gull - one of some 16 birds seen across Britain and Ireland as a whole this week found a delightful carcass at Old Hunstanton (Norfolk), and lingered upon those choice pickings on 12th-16th. In Cambridgeshire the recent second-winter bird had no such ripe, Stiltonesque delights upon which to feast, but continued to find the surroundings of Cottenham to its liking on 10th-15th.
Iceland Gull more or less crept into double figures this week. Duos were seen at Loch Oire (Moray) on 11th, and Mutton Island (Co.Galway) on 12th; and singletons at South Shields (Co.Durham) on 11th; near Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire) on 12th; at Waxham (Norfolk) on 12th-13th; at Cresswell Pond NWT (Northumberland) on 12th; on Unst (Shetland) on 14th and 16th; on Rum (Highland & Caithness) still on 15th-16th; and in Limerick (Co.Limerick) on 16th.
A handful of Pallid Harrier continued their good work brightening mid-December for their admirers in England, Wales and Ireland this week. Starting in Norfolk, the female was seen again at North Point Pools on 13th, and at Warham Greens once more on 14th; the second-winter male was still to be seen in Pembrokeshire at Dowrog Common on 10th; and a juvenile was seen in Co.Cork at Ballyvergan Marsh on 11th-13th still, and on 13th at Ring.
A Black Kite was reported on 16th from St Minver (Cornwall).
Lastly, a Rough-legged Buzzard was reported on 14th at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk).
Late Hoopoe continued to show in South Yorkshire at Rossington intermittently on 11th-14th; with further sightings coming from Tenby (Pembrokeshire) on 11th-12th, in north Kent again at Seasalter on 14th-16th; and up in Aberdeenshire on 12th near Stonehaven.
Cumbria supplied all the precious few Waxwing reports of the week – these being on 10th, when two were reported from Cockermouth, and a singleton at Kendal.
In Staffordshire the wintering Great Grey Shrike was once more being seen in Cannock Chase on 11th-16th. Another was reported from Ashdown Forest (West Sussex) on 10th; and a final bird for the week was seen on 13th at Dallowgill Moor (North Yorkshire).
Noted here for the sake of completeness, a Pied Crow was seen in Cornwall at Torpoint on 12th and 16th.
More satisfying by far, the birding gods gave your own correspondent the small satisfaction of that greatest rarity of all, a correct prediction this week – huge thanks to Cambridgeshire stalwarts Rachel Lennard and Hannah Bernie for manifesting the predicted Penduline Tit, found by them at Ouse Fen RSPB on 13th – the first for the county in a decade, and only the sixth record ever. The recent Cheshire & Wirral individual was again seen at Woolston Eyes NR on 12th and 14th.
I can't quite believe it! I've been talking about finding a Penduline Tit for weeks, and then today I actually did!!! ?????? Lifer!! At RSPB Ouse Fen, a team effort with Hannah Bernie. Video by Stuart Short @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
— Rachel Lennard (@birdergirl.bsky.social) 13 December 2024 at 16:44
[image or embed]
Numbers of Yellow-browed Warbler held firm with some 15 individuals noted, and with most of those in the English southwest still – away from here, birds were seen on 15th at Ouseburn (Northumberland); on 15th-16th in St Albans (Hertfordshire); and on 16th near Boultham Mere LWT (Lincolnshire). One shared Newlyn with a Hume’s Warbler on 10th-15th; while the Dungeness (Kent) Hume’s remained present there this week on 10th-13th, and a final possible bird was heard only near Wiveton (Norfolk) on 12th.
Cambridgeshire’s good showing wasn’t all about the Penduline Tit this week - a Pallas’s Warbler was found in the county at Ferry Meadows CP on 14th.
An eastern stonechat sp made a brief appearance at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR (Lincolnshire) in the morning of 16th.
A possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail on 15th at Hamford Water (Essex) was also a timely reminder to keep an eye and an ear peeled for such things.
Argyll & Bute’s recent Common Rosefinch remained at Lephenstrath Bridge on 10th.
Last, but never least, a Little Bunting was seen near Boscathnoe Reservoir (Cornwall) on 12th-16th.
Our overseas news was precious thin on the ground this week. We’ll start in the Azores again, where the recent Willet continued to find Terceira very much to its liking still on 14th-16th, with a Little Blue Heron also there on 16th for good measure; and a female Hooded Merganser was seen on Flores on 15th.
An African Crake was found on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands on 16th.
Somewhat closer to home, in Portugal the Yellow-crowned Night Heron was still to be seen at Quinta do Lago on 10th.
In Germany the Sandhill Crane remained at Gross Heseper Moor on 14th-15th.
Finally, a ray of hope for us in Belgium, where a Dusky Thrush was a fine find at Uitkerke on 15th.
Here we go, heading into the final week before Christmas lands upon us. What could possibly be found to disrupt all those well-laid family plans this coming weekend?
At the time of writing, the coming week looks set to feature plenty of westerlies. Lovely, wet, grey westerlies. That feels neither particularly conducive to a white Christmas nor something terribly exciting coming our way at this point in the year.
But let’s keep the faith. What could be more festive or thrilling than a lovely mud-brown first-winter American Herring Gull?
Jon Dunn
17 Dec 2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
Share
