Weekly birding round-up: 11 - 17 Apr 2025
While spring continued to tick along, and the Booted Eagle saga moved up the English east coast, the week wasn’t particularly marked by any significant movement of fresh rare birds our way.
The preceding week had finished with a distinct flourish in Kent, where at last there was a Booted Eagle that was well-photographed and undeniable. (The county does, after all, have some history in the regard of sightings that haven’t made the grade with the authorities down the years…). The new week began with the pale morph bird last seen heading away west from Ramsgate in the evening of 10th picked up again in the morning of 11th in much the same area. Happy days.
It remained in the vicinity for a little over an hour before drifting north, to be lost from view. Would it reappear nearby over the weekend?
Well, no. That northbound trajectory appeared to be a little more determined than Kent birders might have hoped, for it wasn’t seen again until 14th when what was presumably the same bird was seen coming in off the sea in Norfolk at Beeston Bump in the early afternoon. This wasn’t the outwardly good news one might hope for Norfolk birders – it wasn’t hanging around there either, for it was soon heading northwest over the sea again. Where next, we wonder?
The spring White-billed Diver show continued to gather a little head of steam this week, with numbers seen from Portsoy (Aberdeenshire) peaking at four birds there on 14th; while two were noted from Cullen (Moray) on 13th-14th; and singletons seen from Gullane Point (Lothian) on 12th, and Lewis on 13th-14th.
Ireland meanwhile was doing well for itself, with not one but now two Pacific Diver to be seen off Achill Island (Co.Mayo) on 11th-12th; a second-winter bird remained there on 15th-17th. An adult was seen on 17th in Co.Donegal in Ballyhiernan Bay.
Also in Ireland, the Double-crested Cormorant remained in Co.Sligo on Lough Gill on 15th.
A probable Barolo Shearwater was seen on17th passing Saltcoats harbour (Ayrshire).
A Balearic Shearwater was noted from Portland (Dorset) on 11th.
A vanguard few Pomarine Skua were also seen this week – two birds from the Scillonian on 11th, and two tracked past Splash Point and Beachy Head (East Sussex) on 12th.
Kicking off the long-legged beasties, Purple Heron really went for it this past week, with some 17 individuals reported, across southern counties from Scilly to Kent, inland over Stanborough Lakes (Hertfordshire) on 13th; in East Anglia at Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk) on 14th; in Wales at Dowrog Common (Pembrokeshire) on 11th; in Ireland at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 11th-12th still, and at Dungarvan (Co.Waterford) on 11th; at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 16th; and much further north in Shetland still around Boddam on 11th-17th.
Shetland also retained its recent Night Heron on Burra on 11th-14th; additional birds this past week were present on St Mary’s (Scilly) again on 13th, at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 11th-12th, and at Slapton Ley (Devon) again on 12th-14th.
Glossy Ibis numbers took a bit of a dive in recent days, with barely 15 birds noted nationwide, and just two present at Churchtown (Co.Wexford) on 11th, and two still at Langford Lowfields RSPB (Nottinghamshire) on 17th our only multiples at a single site.
We’ll start the honkers and quackers in Shetland, where the Ross’s Goose remained on Mainland near Toft on 13th before getting itchy feet, heading a little northwest towards Urafirth on 14th.
A Snow Goose was seen in Co.Sligo on 13th-14th at Maugherow.
The Black Brant appeared again at Kilnsea Wetlands NR (East Yorkshire) on 16th.
Numbers of Green-winged Teal fell, with eight birds recorded during the week – in Shetland still at Loch of Hillwell on 11th-12th; in Highland & Caithness at Alturlie Point on 12th-15th, and Tain Links still on 14th; at Tophill Low (East Yorkshire) on 11th; at Boldon Flats NR (Co.Durham) on 11th-16th still; at Little Woolden Moss (Greater Manchester) on 13th; at Marshside RSPB (Lanncashire & North Merseyside) on 16th-17th still; and in Co.Kerry at Killarney on 13th.
Northumberland supplied sightings of American Wigeon at Druridge Pools NR on 11th-13th, East Chevington NWT on 11th-17th, Grindon Lough on 13th, and Maiden’s Hall Lake on 11th. Our sightings away from here were in Lincolnshire, where one remained at Alkborough Flats NR on 11th-14th; Anglesey, where a bird appeared on Alaw Estuary on 15th-16th; and settled on Kelling Water Meadow (Norfolk), on 17th.
Two Ferruginous Duck remained at Napton Reservoir (Warwickshire) on 12th-14th, with at least one still present there on 15th; singletons were seen at Aston Lock’s NR (Warwickshire) on 11th-17th, and Holme Pierrepont (Nottinghamshire) on 12th-13th.
And what of Ring-necked Duck? A mere 20 were seen this past week, which while down on recent numbers still represents a decent haul of their kind. Duos were present at Gouthwaite Reservoir (North Yorkshire) still on 11th-17th; at Blagdon Lake (Somerset) on 13th-14th; and at Littleborough Pond (Nottinghamshire) on 11th-15th.
Lesser Scaup inched back into double figures this week, with 10 birds recorded across Britain and Ireland. Numbers at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) peaked with three there on 14th, with two still present on 16th; two were present at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 11th-17th; single birds remained at Longham Lakes (Dorset) on 11th-17th, Whelford Pools (Gloucestershire) on 11th-17th, Hornsea Mere (East Yorkshire) on 13th-17th, and on South Uist (Western Isles) on 15th-17th; while another was found on 13th-15th at Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal).
In Scotland, two White-winged Scoter were again seen off Methil (Fife) on 12th, while a single drake was seen from Gullane Point (Lothian) on 12th also.
The drake Black Scoter was once more seen from Ruddons Point (Fife) on 17th.
Two Surf Scoter remained at Buckhaven (Fife) on 12th-13th, while the Llandulas (Conwy) individual was still present there on 12th, and the Broadsands (Devon) bird also still present on 11th. A final bird was seen heading up the English Channel on the morning of 12th, noted passing Birling Gap (East Sussex) and, latterly, Dungeness (Kent).
Finally, in Shetland our honorary quacker, the American Coot, remained on Loch of Spiggie on 11th-16th.
West Sussex continued to head up the weekly waders, with the Least Sandpiper still to be seen at Medmerry RSPB on 11th-15th.
A probable Pectoral Sandpiper was found on 16th at Marshside RSPB (Lancashire & North Merseyside).
Kent scored a female Black-winged Stilt at Dungeness RSPB on 14th.
A Dotterel was seen on 15th in Dumfries & Galloway at Merrick.
An adult American Golden Plover was found at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 17th.
Our only Long-billed Dowitcher this week was the Irish bird still present at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 11th-12th.
Finally, a possible Lesser Yellowlegs was reported from near Gedney Drove End (Lincolnshire) on 11th.
Pick of the gulls this week was the adult Bonaparte’s Gull still hanging around the Conwy Estuary (Conwy) on 11th-14th.
A little variety was added to proceedings by the Sabine’s Gull seen on 12th between Barra (Western Isles) and Oban (Argyll & Bute). A probable was seen from Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 16th.
White-wingers meanwhile grew ever scarcer. Glaucous Gull were seen on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 11th and 14th; at Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire) on 12th; at Thurso (Highland & Caithness) on 12th-15th; at East Chevington NWT (Northumberland) on 13th; and on Orkney at Hamnavoe on 16th.
Iceland Gull meanwhile were accounted for by birds logged at Carradale Bay (Argyll & Bute) on 11th; at Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire) on 11th-15th still; on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 12th and 17th; at Lerwick (Shetland) on 12th still; on South Uist (Western Isles) on 13th; at Potteric Carr YWT (South Yorkshire) again on 13th; and on Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 15th. A small flurry of birds were found on 16th – at St Aidan’s RSPB (West Yorkshire); near Crows-an-wra (Cornwall); at Newton (Northumberland); and at Sandymount (Co.Dublin).
Somerset landed a fine adult Whiskered Tern at Durleigh Reservoir on 11th-17th.
And in Dorset, the Forster’s Tern remained largely faithful to the lagoon on Brownsea Island on 11th-16th, with forays to Arne RSPB from time to time.
Finally, a White-winged Black Tern was reported from Monkstone Point (Pembrokeshire) on 17th.
Sightings of Pallid Harrier early this week came from Lincolnshire, where the second-summer male was again seen at Wolla Bank on 11th; and West Yorkshire, where a bird was noted at Walshaw Dean Reservoirs on 12th. On 17th a second-summer male was seen in Suffolk at Corton.
Black Kite continued their surely weekly appearances for the foreseeable, with a lingering bird in Kent around the Worth Marsh RSPB area on 11th-12th; one seen in Suffolk on 14th at Minsmere RSPB and Westleton Heath, with another Suffolk sighting at Benacre Broad on 15th; a Norfolk sighting on 14th also at Whitlingham CP; birds on 17th at Aldeburgh (Suffolk) and Abbot’s Cliff (Kent); and a possible reported on 11th from Thrybergh CP (South Yorkshire).
The 2025 Hoopoe show just kept on playing this past week, albeit in somewhat smaller numbers. Smaller is relative – there were still some 105 birds logged in Britain and Ireland over the course of the week. Surely some will have a crack at breeding somewhere this year?
Further southern colour was on the move too - Bee-eater were seen at Rhosneigr (Angelesey) on 11th, at Rodley NR (West Yorkshire) on 13th, and at Astley Green (Greater Manchester) on 16th.
Drabber, but lovely in their way, Wryneck continued to check in in small numbers – birds were noted on 11th at Dungeness (Kent) and Ventnor (Isle of Wight); on 12th-13th at Bishopstone Glen (Kent); on 14th at Horsey (Norfolk); and on Bryher (Scilly) on 16th.
In East Sussex the first-summer female Woodchat Shrike remained at Newhaven on 11th; another was found on Bryher (Scilly) on 17th.
Also on 11th, a Great Grey Shrike was seen at North Warren RSPB (Suffolk).
The Short-toed Lark remained on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 11th-17th.
Red-rumped Swallow were seen this week at Portland (Dorset) on 11th; St Mary’s (Scilly) on 12th, where two were present; at Dungeness (Kent) on 13th; and near Beeston Bump (Norfolk) on 14th. A probable was seen at Elton Reservoir (Greater Manchester) on 16th.
A Yellow-browed Warbler was reported from Derby (Derbyshire) on 12th followed, on 16th, by a singing bird at Marden Quarry (Northumberland), and another at Flamborough (East Yorkshire).
There was clearly something in the air on 16th, for a Pallas’s Warbler was found singing in Kent at Cliftonville.
A singing Savi’s Warbler settled in to Marazion Marsh RSPB (Cornwall) on 12th-17th.
A male Western Subalpine Warbler was found on 14th at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire); another was found on 15th on Shetland at Dalsetter, was trapped and ringed there the following day, and remained present on 17th as the week drew to a close.
A male cinereocapilla Ashy-headed Wagtail was found on 11th on St Mary’s Island (Northumberland).
A probable Blyth’s Pipit was seen on 12th at Dersingham (Norfolk), while a Red-throated Pipit was reported from Brean Down (Somerset) on 12th also.
Serin enjoyed a good week, with approaching double figures seen across southern England. On 12th and again on 13th singletons were seen coming in off the sea at Selsey Bill (West Sussex); further birds on 12th were found in Kent at Dungeness and Lydd, and on St Mary’s (Scilly); on 13th birds were seen at Porthgwarra (Cornwall), Hill Head (Hampshire), and Covehithe (Suffolk); and on 17th one was seen at Dungeness (Kent).
Obstinately, stubbornly, the drake Spectacled Eider remained in the Netherland for another week off Texel on 11th-16th.
In Denmark the first-winter male Indigo Bunting remained at Tjæreby on 11th-17th.
Iceland’s drake White-winged Scoter was still present off Reykjavik on 11th-16th.
An Elegant Tern was seen at Polder de Sebastopol (France) on 12th-16th; and a Mourning Dove at Arques-la-Bataille on 17th.
The second-winter Cape Gull remained in Spain at Laredo on 16th.
In Italy, an Atlas Wheatear was seen on 14th on Pantellaria.
A personata Masked Wagtail was seen in Ukraine at Kryvyi Rih on 12th.
On Cyprus the Lesser Moorhen remained at Agia Varvara on 11th-17th; and a White-eyed Gull at Paphos harbour on 17th.
Nice comparison of lesser and common moorhen in Cyprus today. pic.twitter.com/WNXNsPR2qB
— kevin smith (@kevjsmith3) April 18, 2025
In Morocco a Lesser Moorhen remained at Souss-Massa NP on 16th-17th.
In Kuwait, Pied Bushchat were seen on 16th at Abo Halifa, and on 17th at Hadiya; while the Indian Pond Heron remained at Sulaibikhat on 16th.
Finally, out on the Azores, a Great Blue Heron was seen on Sao Miguel on 14th.
May’s drawing ever closer, the sharp, pointy bit of spring when all being well the really big birding guns start firing. But let’s not write April off just yet. There’s still almost a fortnight of the month to play with, and time yet for it to spring a surprise upon us.
History alone tells us all sorts of possibilities open up at this juncture from the coming week in years gone by. We’ve records of Brown-headed Cowbird and Eastern Phoebe from the west, and the likes of Black Lark and Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin from the east. Also our one and only Moussier’s Redstart to date, bringing us approximately back to where the Round Up began…
Let’s try to keep it real though. Western Subalpine Warbler was a decent shout last week and, with half an eye to Kent lately, it’s a good time now for Black-winged Stilt to pitch delicately down on our shores. One to look out for in the week to come.
Jon Dunn
18 Apr 2025
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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