Weekly birding round-up: 17 - 23 Dec 2024
T’was the week before Christmas, but never mind all that traditional nonsense about creatures not stirring… the author of that seasonal whimsy had clearly no idea what this week in 2024 would look like in Britain with a putative British first to be seen, not to mention the lingering presence of a presumably returning British first from the previous year. Quiet it certainly wasn’t, at least in terms of calibre of rarities seen, for all that in general we weren’t talking about great numbers of anything.
Just when we’re packing up for the year, settling down for the long haul through to spring, Cornwall goes and springs another surprise upon us. And, of course, it had to be another outstandingly rare seabird. Really, anything goes these days.
Still, given the absolute rarity of Cape Verde Shearwater in the northeast Atlantic, one wouldn’t have put money on one being found up here, let alone almost at the turn of the year. Records from the European mainland are like hen’s teeth – though, perhaps indicating which way the straws are blowing in the wind, they’re both of them pretty recent: both from Spain, one this year seen off Lekeitio on 15th September, and another last year on 5th October 2023 from Spanish heavyweight seawatching site Estaca de Bares.
Which brings us to this week, and Pendeen, where one lucky observer was treated to a Cape Verde Shearwater passing close inshore on 19th. Apparently the bird wasn’t photographed or filmed, so whether it can make the grade with the committee powers that be remains a matter of conjecture. Time will tell.
One or two things are for sure… these days, with the world’s oceans heating and seabird distributions shifting fluidly above those warmer waters, there’s manifestly no off-season for seawatching here with a sense of purpose and cautious anticipation. That, and the fact that surely it’s just a matter of time before another Cape Verde Shearwater crops up in the years to come, and maybe in front of folk with cameras at the ready.
The other main highlight of the pre-Christmas week was, of course, the Grey-headed Lapwing still present in Northumberland around East Chevington NWT on 10th. Not that it proved particularly settled or steadfast, with several blank periods on the slate during the days it was present on 19th-23rd.
Such here today gone missing tomorrow antics have meant that seeing it is far from a foregone conclusion at the first time of visiting – some birders have taken a few goes before it’s finally given itself up to them. Will it make it into the New Year? It’s apparently got nowhere better to be at this time of year, so just maybe it will.
However, were we of the betting inclination, the sensible money would remain on the Shetland American Coot sitting tight on Mainland’s Loch of Spiggie throughout the festive period and into January. This week it was reported, off and on, through to 23rd.
Our opening headline bird, the Cape Verde Shearwater that ignited a Cornish seawatch on 19th, wasn’t the only notable shearwater to be reported this week – albeit there weren’t many of their ilk in general being seen…
The supporting cast involved three Balearic Shearwater noted off The Lizard (Cornwall) on 18th; and single Great Shearwater seen from Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 17th, and Pendeen (Cornwall) on 19th and 22nd.
Numbers of Little Auk continued to contract, with some 210 in all being noted across the week. Peak count was comfortably the 107 birds seen from Fife Ness (Fife) on 21st.
Our sole notable skua was a Pomarine Skua seen from Towan Head (Cornwall) on 19th.
Very little change to report on the long-legged beastie front this week, with most of the usual Glossy Ibis being seen in the most of the usual places. Starting in Hampshire, three remained at Titchfield Haven NNR on 17th; while in Lincolnshire two were still to be seen at Deeping Lakes LWT on 18th-21st. Singletons were seen in Norfolk at Stiffkey on 17th-22nd still, and Burgh Castle on 19th; one again in Somerset at Chew Valley Lake on 19th-22nd; one still in Northamptonshire at Summer Leys NR on 17th-23rd; and one in Devon still at Fremington Pill on 18th-21st. A further single bird was seen in Warwickshire at Brandon Marsh NR on 19th.
Kicking off the honkers and quackers for another week, The Goose Formerly Known As Canada gave us the hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose still present on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 19th, and a Cackling Goose reported from Ballygilgan NR (Co.Sligo) on 20th.
The recent Ross’s Goose remained in Ayrshire near Raith Reservoir on 19th-20th, in the unlovely company of Canada Geese.
Scottish Snow Geese were seen at Barr Loch (Clyde) on 18th, and Lochwinnoch RSPB (Clyde) on 19th and 22nd-23rd; at Kilbirnie Loch (Ayrshire / Clyde) on 21st-23rd; at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) still on 18th-23rd; and at Montrose Basin (Angus) on 23rd again. English sightings involved two again in the Swine Moor area of East Yorkshire on 17th-23rd, and a singleton in Lancashire & North Merseyside at Martin Mere WWT again on 19th-20th, and Banks on 23rd. In Ireland, one remained at Dunfanaghy (Co.Donegal) on 19th.
The possible Grey-bellied Brant continued to hang around Co.Dublin, being seen at Blackrock again on 20th.
Into the quackers, and the drake Baikal Teal remained at Greylake RSPB (Somerset) on 17th-18th before apparently doing a bunk – surely it will reappear here in due course...
Numbers of Green-winged Teal settled down to some 15 reported nationwide this week. Again, more observer effort between Christmas and New Year will, inevitably, yield more sightings, and of more birds too.
Scotland held the most American Wigeon again this week, albeit a couple of recent birds were conspicuous by their absence. Still to be seen was one at Crook of Baldoon RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 20th-23rd; while further sightings came from Stenhouse Reservoir (Fife) on 17th-19th, Black Cart Water (Clyde) on 20th, and on 23rd again on Shetland at Loch of Hillwell, and on Orkney at Loch of Ayre. In England, one remained at Bubwith Ings (North Yorkshire) on 17th, and another at Blagdon Hall (Northumberland) still on 22nd-23rd; while the recent Welsh bird remained at Kenfig NNR (Glamorgan) on 17th-21st.
Three recent Ferruginous Duck were again logged this week – the juvenile female again in London at Tooting Bec Common on 17th-22nd; the Batchworth Lake (Hertfordshire) bird again on 21st-23rd; and the regular drake still in Warwickshire at Draycote Water on 17th-23rd.
Numbers of Ring-necked Duck were well down, with a mere 20 or so individuals noted – surely more a reflection of birders putting in some family time rather than a truly spectacular clear-out this early in the winter period; that and a general dearth of reports from Ireland, which of course was doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the preceding week, with over 20 birds recorded there alone. Our sole multiple sighting this week were two birds at Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset) on 18th.
Some half a dozen Lesser Scaup were noted in recent days. Starting in Staffordshire the drake remained at Belvide Reservoir on 17th-23rd; the female was again seen at Blagdon Lake (Somerset) on 18th and 22nd-23rd; and a first-winter drake in Cambridgeshire at Ouse Fen RSPB on 18th. Fife gave us sightings of a female at Otterston Loch again on 19th, The Wilderness on 20th, and Angle Park GP on 23rd. Meanwhile in Ireland the female remained at Lough Clubir (Co.Cork) on 18th-19th.
Similar numbers of Surf Scoter were seen – two at Druridge Bay (Northumberland) still on 17th; two still off Dornoch (Highland & Caithness) on 20th; and one still off Peterhead (Aberdeenshire) on 19th.
Finally, on Foula (Shetland) the lingering drake Bufflehead was still to be seen on 18th-23rd.
The weekly waders remained slim pickings, as one would expect in late December. We’ll start in Somerset, where the female Kentish Plover remained at Burnham-on-Sea on 19th-23rd.
In Suffolk the recent White-rumped Sandpiper popped up again at Minsmere RSPB on 20th and 22nd.
Both recent Long-billed Dowitcher were once more logged this week – one remained at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB (Devon) on 17th-22nd, and Exminster Marshes RSPB again on 23rd; while the Norfolk bird was still to be seen at Cley NWT on 17th-21st, and Holkham Freshmarsh on 23rd. Another for the week was logged at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 23rd.
Finally, a Grey Phalarope was seen on 19th at Maidens (Ayrshire); and two on 22nd passing St Ives (Cornwall).
Some variety this week on the gull front, with an adult Bonaparte’s Gull seen in Co.Antrim at Carnfunnock Bay on 21st-22nd.
Ireland accounted for three Ring-billed Gull records this week – one again in Cork (Co.Cork) on 19th-22nd; a sighting at Blackrock (Co.Louth) again on 21st; and one at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) still on 23rd.
A little bit of a sea-change occurred this week amongst the white-wingers, with Iceland Gull overtaking their bulkier cousins for the first time this winter period. Starting with Glaucous Gull, some 15 birds were noted over the course of the week, with two seen on Lewis (Western Isles) on 18th. Around 20 Iceland Gull were noted nationwide – with three seen in Orkney at Westray on 20th; two at sea off Foula (Shetland) on 17th; and two on Skye (Highland & Caithness) on 21st.
A possible Kumlien’s Gull was seen on Westray (Orkney) on 20th; adult birds were found on 22nd at Tralee (Co.Kerry), and Bigton (Shetland).
Not a lot to report at all where rare raptors were concerned – we’ve just the lingering juvenile Pallid Harrier in Co.Cork again at Ballyvergan Marsh on 19th-23rd, and the female again in Norfolk at Warham Greens on 23rd to detain us briefly…
Northern England was representing itself well for winter Hoopoe this week, with not only the individual still in South Yorkshire at Rossington off and on during 17th-23rd, but also a bird near Holmesfield (Derbyshire) on 20th. Meanwhile, down in Kent one remained on the north coast at Seasalter on 17th-22nd.
Just one Waxwing this week was a bird found on 23rd at Muir of Ord (Highland & Caithness) on 23rd.
Our only confirmed Great Grey Shrike was once more the individual seen in Cannock Chase (Staffordshire) on 17th; while another was reported from Batford Springs NR (Hertfordshire) on 17th.
The recent Pied Crow plot thickens, a little, this past week, with news that two were seen in a Dorset garden at Chickerell earlier in the month on 6th… While in Cornwall this week, sightings of a single bird came again at Torpoint on 17th, at Kenidjack on 19th, and at Polgigga on 23rd, presumably all relating to the same bird?
Which begs the question of their origins. Like so many birds, they’re kept in captivity, but we’re not hearing of these birds bearing aviculturists’ rings… And Pied Crow, a sub-Saharan African native, is certainly renowned as a ship-borne vagrant elsewhere in the world. If seeing ship-assisted birds floats your boat, so to speak, it seems like there’s a chance to connect with Pied Crow in Britain again this winter.
Both of our recent Penduline Tit were once more seen this week – one still in Cheshire & Wirral at Woolston Eyes NR on 17th, and the Ouse Fen RSPB (Cambridgeshire) bird again on 18th.
Yellow-browed Warbler numbers dipped just a little, down to 12 individuals reported over the course of the week, and almost half of them away from the southwest of England – birds remained in St Albans (Hertfordshire) on 17th-23rd, and at Boultham Mere LWT (Lincolnshire) on 17th; while further birds were found on 17th at Ouseburn (Northumberland) and Crewe Business Park (Cheshire & Wirral).
In Essex, the recent putative Eastern Yellow Wagtail was once more seen at Hamford Water in the morning of 23rd.
Finally, the Little Bunting remained near Boscathnoe Reservoir (Cornwall) on 17th-22nd.
Precious little novel to report from overseas this week, though a Reed Cormorant in Egypt at Abu Simbel Airport Bay Bridge Marsh on 22nd was notable.
Similarly distant for us in the UK, in the Azores the Willet remained settled on Terceira on 21st-22nd, while a Double-crested Cormorant remained on Faial on 21st.
In Germany the Sandhill Crane remained at Gross Heseper Moor on 17th-21st; and the Northern Mockingbird at Feldflur Rheidt Am Schafott on 23rd.
Another near Continent echo of what might come to pass for us if we’re lucky came from France, where a Sociable Lapwing was found at Cabano dis Eigo on 19th.
Well, that’s a wrap for another year, with the Rarity Round Up returning with a sugar hangover and bleary eyes in the early New Year. By that stage we’ll know just how good you were in the past year, judging by the birds that the fates conspired to bring you over the next few days…
The closing days of December and opening salvoes of January can be a fruitful and productive time, perhaps reflecting the increased observer effort applied by birders either keen to escape the stultifying post-turkey atmosphere at home, or filled with renewed vigour at the prospect of a new year and everything being a tick once more.
The record books show a few tasty rewards for those who got out of the house and into the field, and some of their kind away from the usual coastal hotspots, showing that rarities can and do turn up in unexpected inland locations from time to time. No Christmas gift could possibly better the Siberian Thrush found in Great Yarmouth (Norfolk) on Christmas Day 1977; but the coming week also boasts Slate-coloured Junco found on Christmas Eve 2011 at Hawkhill Inclosure (Hampshire), Blyth’s Pipit at Gringley Carr (Nottinghamshire) on 28th December 2002, Crested Lark in Devon at Exmouth way back on 29th December 1958, and Mourning Dove in Shetland on Boxing Day 2015.
With a nod to recent rare waders close to home and in France, we can also look to two historic records of Sociable Lapwing, and the White-tailed Lapwing found in Lincolnshire on New Year’s Eve 2021 at East Halton. Decent waders can and do happen at this time of year.
With that in mind, let’s hope for a festive Killdeer somewhere. The coming days boast seven historic records, a decent showing that provides a tiny glimmer of hope for an optimistic punt.
And, in the meantime, wishing you all a happy Christmas, and a healthy and rarity-filled New Year ahead. Thanks from us all for all the birds you keep on finding.
Jon Dunn
24 Dec 2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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