Weekly birding round-up: 18 - 24 Apr 2025
After something of a pause to catch its breath, the year kicked back into gear this week with a decent flush of rarities found as the days wore on. One such was sufficiently rare to lure the first Shetland-bound twitchers of the year, testament to the calibre of the bird in question. There were, however, other birds of quality that didn’t require folk to go to such lengths in order to connect…
Shetland birder John Lowrie Irvine knows a thing or two about finding frighteningly rare warblers on his local patch, the isle of Whalsay. It’s John Lowrie who found Britain’s first Western Olivaceous Warbler on Whalsay in autumn 2023; and going a little further back, it was he who found a cracking male Ruppell’s Warbler on Whalsay in October 1990.
There have, of course, been other lesser warblers found by him down the years. The likes of Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, that sort of inconsequential, padding thing. In a nutshell, John Lowrie is prodigiously good at finding rare warblers.
And this week he went and did it again, with the discovery of Shetland’s third ever Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler in the plantation at Skaw on 19th. Only the ninth British record, the prior eight birds have been evenly split between spring and autumn arrivals – there, though, the similarities end, for as an immutable rule it’s only the autumn birds that hang around for longer than a day or two – the best spring bird being that which lasted two days on Calf of Man (Isle of Man) on 5th-6th May 2016.
Happily this week’s bird bucked the trend, staying put and showing well at times in the plantation until 24th. Whether it stays put long enough for your own correspondent to add it to his patch list is quite another story…
While the aforementioned warbler was sufficiently rare and settled to lure one or two twitchers from the British mainland to make the long journey north this week, there were other headline-standard birds that didn’t require such a considerable effort to connect with, should one have been so inclined.
One such was the female Baikal Teal found in Hertfordshire at Wilstone Reservoir on 20th-21st. Should this be accepted in the fullness of time – and it being a duck, there’s no cast iron guarantees as such – then it’ll be the first for the county.
As exercises in frustration go, a rare hirundine that passes through a site and is seen for a very short period of time takes quite a bit of beating.
First seen at 6:45am, the Crag Martin seen in Norfolk lately wasn’t hanging around – found at Winterton North Dunes on 23rd, it was gone by 7:10am, never to be seen again.
To put this into some county context, that’s a particularly bitter pill to swallow, for the mighty Norfolk has yet to score a Crag Martin, perhaps a surprising omission from the county list given we’ve now had 15 accepted birds in Britain as a whole. That may be set to change in the wake of this week’s bird, but for Norfolk’s dedicated county listers, the wait will be going on a while yet.
Birders in Hampshire, on the other hand, are no stranger to a White-throated Sparrow, the county having enjoyed three individuals to date, including the site faithful bird that returned to Old Winchester Hill between 5th November 2008 and 17th July 2011.
Therefore belated news this week that another had been seen on 21st at an undisclosed site in the county won’t have ruffled too many feathers. There’d been no sign of it there since the initial sighting, so all in all there’ll surely not be too much of a tang of sour grapes about this one.
Skua passage began to stutter into life this week, with Pomarine Skua just about making it into double figures. On 18th two passed Dungeness (Kent), and one Hope’s Nose (Devon); Portland (Dorset) notched up a bird on 19th, while Dungeness scored singletons again on 20th and 21st; one was also seen in Kent at North Foreland on 20th; while a bird was reported from Ballinard (Co.Waterford) on 22nd. The pace quickened slightly on 23rd with nine more birds logged in East Sussex and Kent.
Keen eyes turned out to sea did much better in Devon on 19th, for a Barolo Shearwater was seen from there at Prawle Point that day.
Cory’s Shearwater meanwhile were noted off Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire) on 18th, and St Mary’s (Scilly) on 20th.
A Balearic Shearwater was seen from Portland (Dorset) on 24th.
Ireland continued to boast Pacific Diver this week at Ballyhiernan Bay (Co.Donegal) on 18th-20th, and Achill Island (Co.Mayo) where two birds were again seen on 20th.
Numbers of White-billed Diver at Portsoy (Aberdeenshire) peaked with three birds present on 18th; two were seen from Lewis (Western Isles) on 21st; and singletons at South Nesting Bay (Shetland) on 20th, Gullane Point (Lothian) on 21st-22nd, and Cullen (Moray) on 18th-20th still.
An excellent week for long-legged beasties is headed by the male Little Bittern found in Dorset at Stour Valley NR on 22nd.
A Night Heron was again reported from Scilly on Tresco on 20th; at least two were seen on 22nd at Brading Marshes RSPB (Isle of Wight).
Purple Heron meanwhile calmed down a bit this week, with some half a dozen birds recorded – on Shetland around Boddam and latterly Brow Marsh on 18th-23rd; at Worth Marsh RSPB (Kent) on 19th; at Pett Levels (East Sussex) still on 19th-21st; at Croft Pascoe Pool (cornwall) again on 21st; on Anglesey at Cors Erddreiniog on 21st; at Rosscarberry (Co.Cork) on 21st; and on 24th at Carlton Marshes SWT (Suffolk), and a probable on St Mary’s (Scilly).
A Black Stork was seen briefly in Hampshire at Beaulieu Road Station on 19th.
Numbers of Glossy Ibis reported continued to contract, just about scraping into double figures in recent days. Our only site to boast multiple birds was Ring Marsh (Co.Wexford), where two remained on 19th-21st.
Corncrake were reported from Great Ormes Head (Conwy) on 18th; Tory Island (Co.Donegal), where two were noted on 19th; and Rathlin Island (Co.Antrim) on 21st.
A Spotted Crake was found on 22nd at Flamborough (East Yorkshire).
Credible honkers are getting ever thinner on the ground now as we push towards May. Snow Goose were seen at Yellow Strand (Co.Sligo) on 19th; and on Angesey on the Alaw Estuary on 22nd…
…while the recent Black Brant continued to be seen in the general Beacon Ponds and Kilnsea Wetlands NR area this week on 18th-24th.
Numbers of Green-winged Teal rallied, with 10 birds again recorded during the week. American Wigeon meanwhile were ever scarcer – birds were seen in Norfolk at Cley on 18th and Salthouse on 21st-24th; and at East Chevington NWT (Northumberland) still on 18th-24th.
A female Ferruginous Duck remained near Napton Reservoir (Warwickshire) on 18th.
Ring-necked Duck held firm for another week with ‘just’ 20 again seen across the region as a whole. Duos were once more noted at Gouthwaite Reservoir (North Yorkshire) still on 18th-19th, and at Blagdon Lake (Somerset) again on 19th.
At the present rate, Lesser Scaup may yet usurp Ring-necked Duck in the daily reports, for 11 were seen during the past week, and several sites enjoyed multiple birds. Duos were seen at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) still on 18th-24th; at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) still on 18th-24th; at Currgraig (Co.Waterford) on 18th; and at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) still on 20th. Single birds were seen at Longham Lakes (Dorset) still on 18th-22nd, at Whelford Pools (Gloucestershire) still on 18th, and at Tophill Low NR (East Yorkshire) on 19th.
In Scotland, two White-winged Scoter were again seen in Fife off Buckhaven on 19th, and East Wemyss on 20th; while a single drake was seen from Gullane Point (Lothian) on 21st again.
The drake Black Scoter was once more seen from Ruddons Point (Fife) on 18th, with a probable off there on 19th; while a distant drake was seen from Fisherrow (Lothian) on 22nd.
Two Surf Scoter were seen from Methil (Fife) on 20th-21st; single birds were seen at Cockenzie (Lothain) on 22nd, Vatersay (Western Isles) on 19th-21st, Llandulas (Conwy) still on 18th, and off Three Beaches Headland (Devon) on 21st-23rd still.
Finally, in Shetland our honorary quacker, the American Coot, remained on Loch of Spiggie on 18th.
After an absence of a few days, the recent Least Sandpiper was again to be seen at Medmerry RSPB (West Sussex) on 21st-22nd.
A Pectoral Sandpiper was found on 23rd at Belfast Lough RSPB (Co.Antrim).
Dotterel began to filter through, with a trip of seven birds logged at Colne Point (Essex) on 20th, five at Everleigh (Wiltshire) on 22nd, and three around Tebay (Cumbria) on 23rd; and singletons seen on 18th near Masham (North Yorkshire), on 19th in Cornwall at Sennen, on 21st at Ouse Washes RSPB (Cambridgeshire), and on 22nd-23rd at Slieve Donard (Co.Sligo).
In Co.Wexford the Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Tacumshin on 18th-21st.
Kicking off the gulls this week, in Wales the adult Bonaparte’s Gull hung around Llanon (Ceredigion) on 18th-24th; while another adult was seen in East Yorkshire at Hornsea Mere on 20th.
A couple of Ring-billed Gull were also seen – the adult again at Loch Turret (Perth & Kinross) on 19th-20th; and the first-winter bird still at Cork Lough (Co.Cork) on 21st.
A mere handful of Glaucous Gull were seen in recent days – birds at Horsey (Norfolk) on 18th; Flamborough (East Yorkshire) and Cullernose Point (Northumberland) on 20th; at Dunnet Bay (Highland & Caithness) and Budle Point (Northumberland) on 21st; and on 23rd on Ugie Estuary (Aberdeenshire) and Lewis (Western Isles).
As for Iceland Gull, precious few of them too – birds being seen on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 18th and 21st; at Haverton Hill (Cleveland) on 18th-19th still; at St Aidan’s RSPB (West Yorkshire) on 18th still; on North Uist (Western Isles) on 18th; and at Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire) on 20th-24th still. On 23rd birds were seen on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) and Spey Bay (Moray); a final sighting came on 24th from Quendale (Shetland).
A juvenile Kumlien’s Gull was seen at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 21st; the Aber Ogwen (Gwynedd) juvenile was again seen there on 23rd.
And so to terns. Variety came in the substantial form of a Caspian Tern at Swalecliffe (Kent) on 21st.
In Somerset the adult Whiskered Tern remained at Durleigh Reservoir on 18th-19th.
Finally, in Dorset the Forster’s Tern was again seen in Poole Harbour from Middlebere Lookout on 22nd, and at Lytchett Bay on 23rd.
Kicking off the raptors this week is the here today, gone tomorrow pale morph Booted Eagle, seen again fleetingly in Norfolk on 20th going west over Glaven Valley.
In Cumbria, a Pallid Harrier was logged at Wedholme Flow on 20th.
A few Black Kite were also noted in recent days – on 19th on St Mary’s (Scilly) and at St Levan (Cornwall); on 19th-20th at Wood Lane NR (Shropshire); and on 23rd at Out Newton (East Yorkshire).
Our weekly Hoopoe account finally settled down this past week, to a mere 18 birds noted over the course of recent days. That’s still a lot of Hoopoe - just not triple figures for the week, which means it feels on recent showings like we’ve been short-changed.
A couple of Bee-eater were also seen lately – at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 18th, and at Sheepcote Valley (East Sussex) on 20th; while another was seen on 22nd near Ballymena in Co.Antrim. On 24th the week drew to a close with another found in Ireland at Knockastoller (Co.Donegal).
A definite Wryneck dropped in to Bryher (Scilly) on 18th-21st; another possible was reported from London at Tottenham Cemetery on 19th; and a frther report came from Shropshire’s Long Mynd on 20th.
On Scilly the Woodchat Shrike remained on Bryher on 18th-20th; a female was found in Cornwall at Polgigga on 24th.
A probable Great Grey Shrike was seen at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 21st.
The Short-toed Lark remained on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 18th-22nd; and another was found on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 23rd-24th.
Red-rumped Swallow were seen this week on 19th at Beachy Head (East Sussex) and Conwy RSPB (Conwy); on 22nd at North Foreland (Kent); and on 24th on Lewis (Western Isles).
An Alpine Swift was present at Dungarvan (Co.Waterford) on 24th.
Yellow-browed Warbler enjoyed their spring resurgence with three birds noted lately – at Stowmarket (Suffolk) on 19th; on 22nd at Tilgate Forest (West Sussex), and Beddington Farmlands (London); and on 22nd-24th at Flamborough (East Yorkshire).A probable Iberian Chiffchaff was heard in song in Somerset on 20th near Coleford.
The singing Savi’s Warbler remained at Marazion Marsh RSPB (Cornwall) on 18th-24th; another was heard at Attenborough NR (Nottinghamshire) on 18th-20th; a possible at Holywell Pond (Northumberland) on 18th; and another reported in song at Millhouses (South Yorkshire) on 21st.
In Shetland the Western Subalpine Warbler remained at Dalsetter on 18th. Shetland also scored some Eastern Subalpine Warbler on Foula on 21st, at Scatness on 22nd, and on Fair Isle on 23rd. Another of the latter species was at Filey (North Yorkshire) on 20th-23rd; and Subalpine Warbler sp at Dobwalls (Cornwall) on 21st, and Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 24th.
A female Bluethroat was seen on 20th at Keyhaven (Hampshire).
A cinereocapilla Ashy-headed Wagtail was found on 18th at Flamborough (East Yorkshire).
A hornemanni Arctic Redpoll came to Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 20th-21st.
A Common Rosefinch was found on 24th at Langham (Norfolk).
Widely scattered Serin were seen this week, from Scilly to Shetland. Scillonian birds were noted on St Mary’s on 18th, and Tresco on 20th; while a Shetland bird appeared on Unst on 24th. On 22nd individuals were seen in Devon at Berry Head, and West Sussex at Selsey Bill; on 23rd another at Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire); and on 24th on Portland (Dorset).
Finally, an Ortolan Bunting was found on 20th at Seaford Head (East Sussex).
Just when we dared to hope the drake Spectacled Eider might have abandoned the Netherlands and headed our way, there it was again off Texel on 22nd. Damn. A drake Falcated Duck added to the Dutch wildfowl wonderland at Het Scheur on 19th. The Netherlands also enjoyed an Eastern Imperial Eagle at Leusden on 21st.
In Belgium a Bonelli’s Eagle was seen at Meeuwen Military Base on 19th.
The Elegant Tern remained at Polder de Sebastopol (France) on 19th; and a Western Reef Heron was logged on 23rd at Les Aresquiers.
The second-winter Cape Gull remained in Spain at Laredo on 18th still.
Up in Iceland the White-winged Scoter was still present off Reykjavik on 23rd.
On Cyprus the Lesser Moorhen remained at Agia Varvara on 18th-24th.
In Morocco the Lesser Moorhen remained at Souss-Massa NP on 21st; while a Kittlitz’s Plover was to be seen at Lac Dayet Srijj on 18th.
In Kuwait the Indian Pond Heron remained at Sulaibikhat on 21st.
The final week of April offers a few choice historic morsels with which to daydream. Not least the Red-winged Blackbird on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) found on 29th April 2017; but also other Nearctic gems like Brown-headed Cowbird, and Song and White-crowned Sparrows.
If you prefer your rarities from this side of the Atlantic, there’s Spectacled Warbler, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, and Black Lark.
All heady stuff. You don’t need telling now that we’re right in the spring hotzone.
Three historic records of Calandra Lark for the coming week signal that their time is upon us for the coming month or so. One some day or week soon would be neither entirely unexpected, nor unwelcome.
Jon Dunn
18 Apr 2025
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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