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Weekly birding round-up: 09 - 15 May 2025

The past week had the distinct feel of spring starting to get up a good head of steam, with vagrant birds from east and west alike, not to mention the ongoing influx of Red-footed Falcons, and a strong supporting cast of other displaced migrants besides.

 

He’s only gone and done it again… Unst’s one-man rarity-finding machine struck again in Shetland this week on 12th, with Britain’s fourth (and Shetland’s third) Savannah Sparrow found by who else but David Cooper?

And what a fine bird this one was, the joy of a spring bird only slightly tempered by the short duration of its stay. By the evening of 12th it was feeding actively on the heathery banks that flank Unst’s northerly outpost at Skaw and, with clear skies overnight, the suspicion was always that it wouldn’t linger – and sure enough, it didn’t. One then for those who were able to react quickly – and their reward was a marvellously confiding and extremely dapper bird.

Speaking of islands that are inextricably linked in our minds with particular individuals who regularly turn up the rarity goods, our next headline bird takes us to the Western Isles and Barra, where Bruce Taylor’s persistence was once again repaid amply with the discovery on 15th of a fine singing Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler.

A first record of its kind for not only Barra, but for the Western Isles as a whole, it takes our annual tally to two birds following that found on Whalsay (Shetland) on 19th-23rd April. There’s only been one prior year in which this still highly sought-after rarity has occurred more than once, this being 2014 when a spring bird at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea (Northumberland) on 3rd May was followed by an autumn individual in Scalloway (Shetland) on 10th-13th October. With the remainder of spring and an untouched autumn still lying ahead of us, will this be the first year we surpass that?

There can’t be many weeks, let alone individual days, during the spring when the finder of a bird of the unquestionable calibre of an Oriental Turtle Dove finds it overshadowed at a local level by a passerine from the opposite side of the world. However, that was what happened this week, with news breaking more or less simultaneously of David Cooper’s Savannah Sparrow in Shetland up on Unst, and of a meena Oriental Turtle Dove in Shetland’s South Mainland that Paul Harvey had bumped into in a newly tilled field at Hillwell.

(Paul can be excused for not dashing off to see the sparrow, and for taking his time to be sure of the dove’s identity, being in the perhaps unique position of having already seen two of Britain’s prior Savannah Sparrows and, by mid-evening on Unst, three of the now four records!)

Speaking of Unst, it features in the Oriental Turtle Dove’s story, for it soon transpired that the bird had been seen previously both in Hugh Harrop’s garden, from whence it had flown to the tilled field where Paul encountered it, and some days previously up on Unst at Norwick.

Shetland’s done well for Oriental Turtle Dove down the years – this week’s bird being the fifth record for the archipelago as a whole, and the last occurring as recently as 2022; indeed, there have now been four records in the past decade. This week’s bird remained settled at Hillwell until 15th.

It wasn’t all about the Scottish islands this week. Belated news came on 15th of a Solitary Sandpiper on St Mary’s the previous day, seen at Porth Hellick Pool in the evening of 14th. But with no further sign of it there on 15th, alas.

 

Skuas continued to make their way northwards this past week, with a steady if unremarkable passage of Poms heading up the English Channel as the days wore on – around 100 birds were noted. Mixing things up though, the first Long-tailed were also noted – birds being seen off North Uist (Western Isles) on 10th, with two seen, and on 11th with a singleton there; and also on 11th in the English Channel, where a single bird was seen from Selsey Bill (West Sussex) and Dungeness (Kent). On 15th, further Long-tailed Skua were seen passing Whitburn CP (Co.Durham), and Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland).

Scotland supplied a handful of White-billed Diver - individuals being seen from Portsoy (Aberdeenshire) again on 13th; from the ferry off North Uist (Western Isles) on 10th; off Mull (Argyll & Bute) still on 11th; and in sheltered waters off Unst (Shetland) on 13th-15th. A probable was seen off Horden (Co.Durham) on 15th.

The Pacific Diver remained in Co.Cork at Toormore on 14th.

Finally in Ireland the adult Double-crested Cormorant was again seen on Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 11th, and on Lough Gill (Co.Sligo) again on 15th.

Ireland stars with the opening bird of the weekly long-legged beasties, in the form of a Squacco Heron found at Clogheen Marsh (Co.Cork) on 13th.

A handful of Purple Heron were again noted during the week – in Suffolk at North Warren RSPB still on 9th-11th, and Carlton Marshes SWT on 10th-14th; in Somerset at Shapwick Heath NNR still on 9th-15th; in West Sussex at Pulborough Brooks RSPB on 10th; and on Tresco (Scilly) on 9th.

A probable Night Heron was logged over Aldershot (Hampshire) on 10th.

Numbers of Glossy Ibis stayed fairly static, with some 15 birds noted in Britain and Ireland as a whole again. Our only site to feature more than a singleton was Burgh Castle (Norfolk), where two were seen on 10th.

A mobile Black Stork was seen on 14th initially in West Sussex at Pulborough Brooks RSPB, then latterly over Steyning and Devil’s Dyke before moving into East Sussex at Beachy Head.

Vocal Spotted Crake this week were heard at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 10th, and at Marton Mere LNR (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 12th.

Once again, almost a blank week for honkers – just the one Snow Goose, this being seen on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 13th-14th; and the Black Brant again at Easington (East Yorkshire) on 14th.

But another Argyll & Bute island boasted something much more interesting on 9th – a drake Wood Duck. No need to reprise our recent thoughts / tirade (delete as applicable) about the inequalities of the authorities’ dealings with ducks, as we covered this only a fortnight ago – but suffice to say, there’s some precedent for other BBRC-friendly colourful quackers being found at this time of year. Which is all very well unless the quacker in question happens to be either a Wood Duck or a Cinnamon Teal, in which case BBRC won’t be getting their teeth into it as things stand.

Speaking of which, the recent female Cinnamon Teal in Northumberland at Buston Links turned out, after all, to be a Shoveler hybrid; while the drake, of presumed unsullied genes, was still present in Scotland at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 9th-15th.

In East Yorkshire, the female Blue-winged Teal remained present at Tophill Low NR on 10th.

Northumberland accounted for American Wigeon at Druridge Pools NR on still on 9th-11th, and Hauxley NR on 12th-15th; and a further drake was present at Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 11th-14th.

A Green-winged Teal was present at Musselburgh Lagoons (Lothian) on 14th; and another on 15th at Baleshare (Western Isles).

In Warwickshire the drake Ferruginous Duck lingered at Draycote Water on 9th-13th.

Our sole Ring-necked Duck this week was a drake on Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) again on 10th.

Up in Shetland the two recent Surf Scoter lingered off Fetlar on 10th-12th still; additional birds this week were seen in the Western Isles off Benbecula on 11th and North Uist on 12th; at Buckhaven (Fife) still on 9th; past Maidens (Ayrshire) on 15th; and at Bundoran (Co.Donegal), where two were present on 12th.

Last but not least, a drake King Eider was seen on Loch Carron (Highland & Caithness) on 9th.

The week proved to be an excellent one for shorebirds, headed up by a mobile Collared Pratincole on the English south coast, seen initially at Farlington Marshes HWT (Hampshire) on 11th, and latterly at Medmerry RSPB (West Sussex) briefly on 13th.

Neartic sandpipers meanwhile were well represented. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at an undisclosed site in Lincolnshire near Killingholme Haven on 12th, with another on Papa Westray (Orkney) on 14th, and positive news of a bird in Lincolnshire on 15th at East Halton Marshes; while a White-rumped Sandpiper was on the Bann Estuary (Co.Derry) on 11th.

Temminck’s Stint continued to pour in, with 45 birds logged over the course of the week. Notable counts were four birds present at Trimley Marshes SWT (Suffolk) on 12th, and five at Cley NWT (Norfolk) on 12th-13th rising to 13 birds there on 14th; 10 remained at the latter site the following day.

The week was a terrific one for American Golden Plover, threatening double figures. Birds were noted at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 9th-11th; on Lewis (Western Isles) on 11th and 14th; on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 11th-15th; in Northumberland seen from Holy Island and Beal Point on 11th-14th; on Orkney’s Sanday on 12th; at Paull Holme Strays (East Yorksghire) on 13th; at Watsness (Shetland) on 13th; and on 14th at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire).

A male Kentish Plover moved down the east coast, from Tyninghame Bay (Lothian) on 9th to Kilnsea Wetlands NR (East Yorkshire) on 10th, and Pegwell Bay (Kent) on 11th with a further report there a few days later on 14th.

Some 35 Dotterel were noted in recent days – peak count were nine birds at Beal (Northumberland) on 10th-11th; closely followed by seven seen in North Yorkshire at Ingleborough on 9th still.

In the southwest, single Black-winged Stilt were seen at Par (Cornwall) on 9th, and at Seaton Marshes (Devon) still on 10th-11th; and in the east, singletons were seen in Essex at Bowers Marsh RSPB on 12th, and in Kent at Cliffe Pools RSPB on 14th.

North Yorkshire’s Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Nosterfield LNR on 9th-11th. Additional birds this week were seen at Roonagh Lough (Co.Mayo) on 9th, on North Uist (Western Isles) on 11th-12th, and somewhere undisclosed on Orkney near Finstown on 15th.

Ever quieter on the bin bag botherer front, with just a handful of white-wingers of various complexions to report upon. Glaucous Gull were seen in Scotland at Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire) still on 10th, and South Uist (Western Isles) on 11th-15th…

… while Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire) still held an Iceland Gull on 10th-14th; further sightings came from North Uist (Western Isles) on 11th, 12th, and 15th; and Mull of Galloway (Dumfries & Galloway) on 12th.

A couple of Kumlien’s Gull put in another appearance – at Aber Ogwen (Gwynedd) on 11th, and on Unst (Shetland) again on 11th-12th.

A Sabine’s Gull was seen on 14th from the ferry between Lochmaddy and Uig (Western Isles).

Finally, a Whiskered Tern injected some colour into proceedings at Dungeness RSPB (Kent) on 13th, and Worth Marsh RSPB on 14th.

The juvenile pale morph Booted Eagle continued to light up the skies in East Anglia this week, with a succession of sightings most welcome wherever it hove into view. We start in Norfolk, where it was seen at Martham on 9th, and on 10th at Horsey and West Somerton. It was seen again in Suffolk heading south over Carlton Marshes SWT on 11th, with another report from there on 13th; while a wholly unconfirmed report came again from Kent on 10th at Grove Ferry NNR.

At least 35 Red-footed Falcon were seen during the week, with a number of sites holding onto multiple birds – not least Suffolk’s Carlton Marshes SWT, where six remained on 9th. Cornwall was having a fine time of it too, with numbers at Croft Pascoe Pool peaking with three there on 10th; and duos seen at Gwendreath on 9th-14th, and Nanquidno on 11th-15th. Two also remained at Swaffham Prior Fen (Cambridgeshire) on 9th-11th; and two were seen at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) on 14th, rising to four present there on 15th.

Wales dominated sightings of Black Kite, with one seen in Gwynedd on 11th at Aberdaron and, on 12th, at Bardsey; and a further sighting coming from Anglesey at Soldiers’ Point on 13th. Away from here, another was seen in Devon at Scadson Plantation on 13th, and a further bird reported from Blackwater (Cornwall) on 15th.

Anglesey also enjoyed a ringtail Montagu’s Harrier at Rhoscolyn on 11th; another was seen on 11th near Kilnsea (East Yorkshire); and final birds for the week on 15th near Cratfield (Suffolk), and at Axmouth (Devon).

A little over a dozen Hoopoe were noted through the course of recent days, with several vocal singing birds on offer – not least a popular individual in Cheshire & Wirral at Newchurch Common on 9th-15th.

A little over a dozen widely spread Bee-eater were also seen this week – trios at Preesall Hill (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 9th and South Uist (Western Isles) on 11th; two on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 15th; and singles at Voy (Orkney) on 9th, Cley (Norfolk) on 10th, Dungeness (Kent) on 11th, Fair Isle (Shetland) on 11th-13th, St Agnes (Scilly) on 13th, Pegwell Bay (Kent) on 13th, Freuchie (Fife) on 14th, Poolewe (Highland & Caithness) on 14th, and Lochinver (Highland & Caithness) on 15th.

Away from Scilly, where St Mary’s continued to bow under the weight of Golden Oriole, birds were seen this week on Barra (Western Isles) on 9th; at Pendeen (Cornwall) on 9th and 12th; at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 10th; reported at Errew (Co.Mayo) on 10th-11th; at Rhoscolyn (Anglesey) on 13th; on 14th at Bembridge Airfield (Isle of Wight) and Marazion (Cornwall); and on 15th on Westray (Orkney).

Wryneck meanwhile were seen on 9th at Indian Queens (Cornwall) and Tetney Lock (Lincolnshire).

In Co.Galway, the Pied Crow remained at Mervue on 9th.

Six Woodchat Shrike were logged lately – birds at Coward’s Marsh (Dorset) on 9th-10th; at Burnham Overy Dunes (Norfolk) on 9th; at Chitterne Down (Wiltshire) on 10th-13th; on Great Skellig (Co.Kerry) on 13th; on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 14th; and at Brading Marshes RSPB (Isle of Wight) on 15th.

Red-backed Shrike were noted on 9th at Spurn (East Yorkshire), and reported still the same day on Kelling Heath (Norfolk); and at Cranmere (Shropshire), also on 9th. A small arrival on 14th comprised birds on Bryher (Scilly), at Quendale (Shetland), and Kilnsea (East Yorkshire).

The Short-toed Lark remained on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 9th; and a large lark sp., thought to be either Calandra or Bimaculated, passed over Winterton Dunes NNR (Norfolk) in the morning of 11th.

Scilly scored Red-rumped Swallow on 9th over St Agnes and St Mary’s; another was seen a few days later on 13th at Calf of Man (Isle of Man); and on 14th birds were found on Fair Isle (Shetland), and Portland (Dorset).

A singing Iberian Chiffchaff was found in Aberdeenshire at St Cyrus on 12th-13th. How quickly they’ve transited from mega to anticipated spring annual on these shores…

A Western Bonelli’s Warbler seen briefly again at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 9th.

In Cambridgeshire the singing Great Reed Warbler remained at Ouse Fen RSPB on 9th-15th; he was joined in song by birds at Hornsea Mere (East Yorkshire) on 11th-15th, and on Great Saltee (Co.Wexford) on 11th.

A possible Blyth’s Reed Warbler was heard at Pardshaw (Cumbria) on 9th.

The singing Savi’s Warbler remained at Marazion Marsh RSPB (Cornwall) on 10th.

Also in Cornwall, a possible Icterine Warbler was reported from Park Head on 9th.

Subalpine Warbler sp were seen this week on Foula (Shetland) on 10th, and at Mirfield (West Yorkshire) on 11th. An Eastern Subalpine Warbler was found on Out Skerries (Shetland) on 11th; and a Western Subalpine Warbler was trapped and ringed at Calf of Man (Isle of Man) on 15th.

An unconfirmed report of an American Robin on Lewis (Western Isles) on 9th came to nothing further.

The singing male white-spotted Bluethroat remained in Gloucestershire at Slimbridge WWT on 9th-15th; further birds were seen on Papa Westray (Orkney) on 12th, and in the more sensitive bit of Hillwell (Shetland) on 14th.

Grey-headed Wagtail this week were seen at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 11th, West Runton (Norfolk) on 12th, Bryher (Scilly) still on 15th, and Cley NWT (Norfolk) on 13th where a male and a probable female were present.

More exciting by far than the various flavours of Yellow Wagtail, a Tawny Pipit was found in Cornwall on 12th at North Predannack Downs; and a fine Red-throated Pipit on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 14th-15th.

Up on Unst (Shetland) the recent Serin was seen again on 9th; a bird was seen coming in off the sea at Selsey Bill (West Sussex) on 11th, followed by a settled male there on 12th-13th.

And finally, meaning our predictions last week of both a far-fetched sparrow and a Rustic Bunting came true this week, a Rustic Bunting was found on 15th on St Kilda (Western Isles).

For once, duck news from the Netherlands didn’t concern the Spectacled Eider this week (but where IS it?!), as a drake Falcated Duck was found on 9th at Nieuwe Driemanspolder.

Most of the week’s news hailed from much further afield…

On Cape Verde, a Willet was on Boa Vista on 9th.

Out on the Azores, a Snowy Egret was present on Faial on 10th.

In Morocco, a White-backed Vulture and four Ruppell’s Vulture were seen at Jbell Moussa on 11th.

A Lappet-faced Vulture was found in Israel at Ein Avdat NP on 9th.

And lastly, on Cyprus the Lesser Moorhen remained at Agia Varvara on 11th-14th.

We concluded last week’s Round Up with a namecheck of past American sparrows that had dropped in during years past, and that didn’t end too badly for us, did it?

The week ahead, it’s worth noting, is every bit as good where that sort of mouth-watering precedent is concerned - White-throated Sparrow flirts with double figures, boasting eight birds on the books; while we’ve also been graced by three White-crowned Sparrow, and a single Song Sparrow. Keeping it American a moment longer, there are also half a dozen historic Slate-coloured Junco on the books for the week ahead – so there’s plenty of reason to remain cautiously optimistic that the Fates might smile on us for a second week on the trot where a northbound Nearctic waif might be concerned.

Maddeningly, however, the week seems set to be dominated by a persistent outbreak of northerlies. It’s going to take a determined passerine migrant of any stripe to hit the east coast. The week ahead boasts no fewer than 40 Thrush Nightingale found down the years, but whether one can slip through that wall of northerlies is moot.

Maybe we need to think more along the lines of something a little better equipped to deal with a headwind. Terns are made of sterner* stuff than sprossers…

Will this week be the one when the adult male Least Tern returns to bother the Little Terns around Portrane (Co.Dublin)? While his prior annual arrivals were in June, he was back last year on 21st May, so it’s certainly not out of the question.

 

Jon Dunn

16 May 2025

Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos

 

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