Weekly birding round-up: 31 Jan - 6 Feb
On the whole, and not entirely unexpectedly, another fairly quiet week for birders in Britain and Ireland as we push through the latter stages of winter. The days are drawing out now, but spring is still beyond touching distance for a little while yet, so we shouldn’t have been too surprised at the general lack of startling news. We’ve been a little spoiled thus far this year...
It’s very much the time of year for a Ross’s Gull or two, and where more likely for an Arctic stray to be found than in northern Scotland where, for much of this week, the temperatures might have made it feel right at home.
Found on South Uist (Western Isles) at Ardivachar on 5th, this latest bird was, as ever with these dainty gulls, an absolute peach and, judging by the images posted online, giving appropriately superlative views too. Alas, there was no further sign of it there the following day.
Justly staying in the headlines, frankly, until it’s no longer there to be seen, the pale morph Booted Eagle remained throughout the week in Cornwall in the Marazion Marsh RSPB area right the way through until 6th. At this rate your own correspondent may find himself bumping into it in a few weeks time…
Our weekly seabird sojourn begins once more in Ireland, where the adult Double-crested Cormorant was again to be found on Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 2nd and 5th.
Cornwall meanwhile continued to hold onto its recent adult Pacific Diver, still lingering on the sea around Mousehole on 31st-4th.
Its bulky counterpart, White-billed Diver, was to be seen this week in two of the usual quarters – once more in South Nesting Bay (Shetland) on 31st, and also on 31st off Westray (Orkney). Two more were seen from Portsoy (Aberdeenshire) on 5th.
Cornwall enjoyed a small run of Pomarine Skua sightings in recent days – individuals seen from Newquay and Swanpool on 31st; and in Mount’s Bay on 1st and off Mousehole on 2nd.
Our long-legged beasties – and our headlines – would have been greatly enlivened this week had the reported American Bittern said to have been fighting a Eurasian Bittern in a ditch at Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 2nd only coalesced into a more concrete sighting. As it was, there was no further sign of the bird in question.
Some 20 Glossy Ibis were again seen this week, with the usual sites still offering small parties of birds, two of which locales did the somewhat unexpected and exceeded their regular quota – Hampshire’s Titchfield Haven NNR held three birds through the week, but supplied four individuals on 2nd; while the two birds at Deeping Lakes LWT (Lincolnshire) rose to four individuals present on 1st. Elsewhere duos were seen in Somerset at Ham Wall RSPB still on 31st-1st, and in the vicinity of Chew Valley Lake still on 31st-5th; in Cambridgeshire at Peakirk on 3rd; and in Kent at Oare Marshes NR on 5th.
A return to quiet recent form for The Goose Formerly Known As Canada saw a couple of individuals logged during the past week. In Lancashire & North Merseyside an interior Todd’s Canada Goose was present at Banks Marsh NNR on 1st-2nd; while in Co.Donegal, the hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose was once more seen at Dunfanaghy on 31st.
In Shetland, the recent Ross’s Goose remained settled on Mainland at Scatsa throughout the week until 6th; while another was still hanging around with the Canada Geese in the Raith Reservoir area of Ayrshire on 1st-4th.
Two Snow Goose were again seen in East Yorkshire at Swine Moor on 2nd; and in Scotland, sightings in Angus came from Mains of Usan on 31st and 6th, and Montrose Basin on 2nd; and on Orkney at Kirkwall on 5th.
Essex gave us sightings of Black Brant at Great Wakering on 1st, Copt Hall Marshes on 2nd-3rd (with two birds present there on 3rd), and Mersea Island on 5th-6th; while in Norfolk, one was again seen near Thornham on 31st-6th.
Also in Norfolk, the flock of 24 Lesser White-fronted Geese from the Swedish reintroduction scheme continued to delight at Snettisham RSPB on 31st-6th; while the bird of presumed dubious origins was again seen in Kent at Swale NNR on 2nd.
Marking a welcome return to the news, the drake Baikal Teal was once more seen in Somerset this week at Shapwick Heath NNR on 1st.
Numbers of Green-winged Teal remained fairly static, with around a dozen birds reported over the course of recent days. A little over half a dozen American Wigeon were noted nationwide – one in Shetland still around Quendale on 31st-6th; the Orkney bird still at Loch of Ayre on 31st; sightings from Dumfries & Galloway at Creetown on 31st, and Crook of Baldoon RSPB still on 31st also; the drake still at Newshot Island (Clyde) on 31st-6th; a bird was found on 6th at Loch Spynie (Moray); one seen again in Northumberland at Blagdon Hall on 2nd-4th; and the Welsh individual still settled at Kenfig Pool NNR on 31st-6th.
In Essex, the drake Canvasback was remained at Abberton Reservoir on 31st-3rd.
London held on to its female Ferruginous Duck at Tooting Bec Common on (London) on 31st-6th still; a drake remained in Lincolnshire at West End GPs on 4th.
Ring-necked Duck remained numerous, with around 40 birds logged over the course of the week. Lough Gara (Co.Sligo) retained three birds on 4th; and three remained on Brierfield Turlough (Co.Roscommon) on 5th; while duos were noted at Dozmary Pool (Cornwall) on 31st-5th still; Roadford Reservoir (Devon) on 31st still; Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 31st still; at Bodenham Lake (Herefordshire) on 31st; at Gouthwaite Reservoir (North Yorkshire) still on 1st-6th; and on Loch Scarmclate (Highland & Caithness) on 6th.
The week was an excellent one for Lesser Scaup, with 11 confirmed birds seen and one further contender also reported. Duos remained at Loch Leven (Perth & Kinross) on 2nd still, and Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 1st-5th; singletons were seen at Cheddar Reservoir (Somerset) on 31st, Longham Lakes (Dorset) still on 31st-6th, Northam Burrows CP (Devon) still on 3rd, at Carsington Water (Derbyshire) on 2nd-6th, on Abberton Reservoir (Essex) still on 1st-5th, and on South Uist (Western Isles) still on 2nd-5th. A further possible reported from Lough Ennell (Co.Westmeath) on 2nd-5th had firmed up by 6th into a confirmed bird; and an additional possible was seen at Sprotbrough Flash YWT (South Yorkshire) on 3rd.
In Northumberland, the drake Black Scoter was still to be seen from Cheswick Sands and Goswick on 31st-5th; while a drake was again seen at Inch (Co.Kerry) on 2nd.
In Scotland, sightings of drake White-winged Scoter came from Gullane Point (Lothian) on 31st-6th; and another off Methil Harbour (Fife) on 1st-6th.
I could only manage extreme record shots of the White-winged Scoter off Gullane Point this am, but at least it was something having been far too distant when first found last week. @birdinglothian pic.twitter.com/dqiOUZioWV
— KGbirder (@KGbirder) February 6, 2025
Fifteen Surf Scoter were logged during the week, the peak counts of which was again the three birds seen from Roseisle (Moray) on 1st-4th.
On Shetland, the drake Bufflehead remained faithful to the south Mainland, mainly being seen on Loch of Hillwell until 6th.
Nearby, the lingering American Coot was still anchored on Loch of Spiggie until 6th also.
Somerset continued to be the centre of the shorebird universe for British birders this week, with the county’s first Least Sandpiper remained at Steart WWT on 31st-6th and, nearby, the wintering female Kentish Plover was still to be seen at Burnham-on-Sea on 2nd and 5th-6th.
Switching our gaze west, in Devon the Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Exminster Marshes RSPB on 31st-6th; while in Ireland one remained at The Cull (Co.Wexford) on 6th.
Cornwall gave us sightings of Grey Phalarope this week at Penlee Point on 30th-4th; Roskilly on 2nd; and Mousehole on 4th.
With the notable exception of a pristine Arctic waif in the Western Isles this week, the gulls were generally a fairly quiet lot lately.
Our principle interest came in the form of Ring-billed Gull, most of which were still to be seen in Ireland, the exceptions being the adult bird again at Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) on 3rd and 6th, and an adult at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) again on 6th. Irish sightings came from Cork (Co.Cork) still on 31st-6th; at Blackrock (Co.Louth) still on 2nd; in Galway (Co.Galway) still on 1st; in Co.Kerry at Blennerville still on 1st and Tralee Bay Wetlands again on 2nd; and in Co.Fermanagh at Enniskillen still on 1st.
Numbers of Glaucous Gull contracted to around a dozen birds reported during the week, while around 30 Iceland Gull were logged – a couple of sites boasted three individuals of the latter, namely Loch Oire (Moray) on 2nd, and Lewis (Western Isles) on 2nd also.
Kumlien’s Gull meanwhile were noted in Cheshire & Wirral still at Widnes on 1st-6th; at Helmsdale (Highland & Caithness) still on 31st; in Shetland on Mainland at Ireland again on 3rd, and on Unst still on 3rd also; and in Co.Donegal at Rosnakill on 1st, and Ballyhoorisky Point on 2nd.
Finally, a possible American Herring Gull was seen at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) on 1st.
Our supporting cast of raptors, away from the headlines, this week once again comprised the trio of wintering Pallid Harrier we’re used to hearing about in recent weeks – the juvenile still in Co.Cork at Ballyvergan Marsh on 2nd-3rd; the second-winter male still in Pembrokeshire at Dowrog Common on 31st-5th and Cilau Moor on 6th; and the adult female still around Warham Greens (Norfolk) on 31st-6th.
We’ll kick of the passerines again this week in Northumberland, where the American Pipit remained at Ross Back Sands on 31st-6th.
Heading south through England, in Cheshire & Wirral the recent Penduline Tit remained at Woolston Eyes NR on 31st…
…while Great Grey Shrike remained at Hatfield Moors NNR (South Yorkshire) on 2nd-6th, and in Essex at Copt Hall Marshes on 1st-4th.
The wintering Yellow-browed Warblers remained at Hallow (Worcestershire) on 31st-3rd, but the winter stronghold of its kind continued to be the English southwest. In Cornwall, one remained at Perranuthnoe on 1st; another was at Newlyn on 4th; and two were seen at Torpoint on 3rd. Devon enjoyed a bird at Exminster still on 1st; and one was again seen in Somerset at Taunton on 3rd-5th.
In Co.Galway the Pied Crow remained settled at Barna on 2nd-5th.
A Waxwing was seen in Aberdeenshire at Huntly on 2nd.
In Cornwall a Serin was noted at St Buryan on 1st.
The recent Little Bunting remained at Send (Surrey) on 31st-5th.
And finally, a White-throated Sparrow was reported on 4th in Castlebar at Turlough Park (Co.Mayo).
Inevitably, we begin the overseas news with confirmation that the drake Spectacled Eider was still to be seen this week off Texel (Netherlands) on 31st-6th.
In Germany the recent Sandhill Crane was still to be seen at Georgsdorf on 1st-2nd; with a simultaneous sighting of a bird way to the east in the country at Neuholland on 1st-6th also; and one again at Gross Heseper Moor on 5th-6th. An ocularis East Siberian White Wagtail was seen on 3rd-4th at Pareyer Luch; and the Western Orphean Warbler remained at Eching on 5th.
In southern France, the male Moussier’s Redstart remained at Frontignan on 1st; and the juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle at Clos des Enganes still on 1st also. A dead American Purple Gallinule was found at Chatelaillon-Plage on 6th.
In Spain, the recent second-winter Cape Gull remained at Larendo on 3rd; while in Portugal the Yellow-crowned Night Heron was still present at Quinta do Lago on 3rd.
Much further afield, in Israel the Eastern Red-rumped Swallow remained at Eilat on 31st-6th.
In Kuwait, the Indian Pond Heron remained at Sulaibikhat on 1st.
On Cape Verde, two Black-capped Petrel were seen from Santo Antao on 31st.
Finally, out on the Azores, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was seen on Pico on 2nd; and the Willet remained on Terceira on 5th.
While there may be some signs of life breathing back into the land now, with some daffodils and snowdrops doing their thing, from a birding perspective we’re still very much in the grips of winter as we head into the coming week and towards mid February.
A look at past rarity records very much supports that – there’s a feeling of general doldrums going on, albeit there are one or two spicy records on the books that tell us one can never wholly relax – to whit the Common Yellowthroat found in Gwent at Newport on 10th February 2012, and the moribund Allen’s Gallinule picked up (literally) on Portland (Dorset) on 10th February 2002.
Really though, we’re still more likely than not to rely on gulls to do the heavy lifting this coming week. The days ahead have strong Ross’s Gull representation, with 10 past records on the books and, while the week just gone boasted one of these diamond-tailed beauties, nobody’s going to grumble about another, particularly if it’s found accessibly further south than the Western Isles – Glamorgan has some form in that regard, with two birds (in 2002 and 2014 respectively) on the books.
Jon Dunn
7 Feb 2025
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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