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Weekly birding round-up: 30 May - 5 June 2025

The big one travels late and alone. We invoked that expression, beloved of the late Tim Cleeves, in last week’s concluding remarks, and how apt it was to prove to be in the days that followed. Though, strictly speaking, Shetland wasn’t wholly without other birding highlights during the week just gone. But really, the week was all about one bird. How could it possibly be any way else?

 

The moment the first image of the cracking adult male Pallas’s Reed Bunting found on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 2nd dropped on social media, birders’ jaws collectively dropped too. A mostly monochrome masterpiece, this was the stuff of birding legend, on Britain’s most hallowed individual birding isle. Those fortunate enough to be present on Fair Isle that day would hardly need telling that it doesn’t get much better than that – outrageous rarity, the isle and the bird more or less to yourselves… glorious.

Britain’s had four previous birds down the years, and two of them have been on Fair Isle, including Britain’s first, found on there on 29th September – 11th October 1976; this was followed, five years later, by our second record, a two-day individual on 17th-18th September 1981. As the decades have worn by, we’ve had two more birds, vying with one another in terms of inaccessibility where anyone of a twitching persuasion is concerned – one trapped and ringed at Icklesham (East Sussex) on 17th October 1990; and the other present offshore in sea area Dogger on 9th-10th June 2010.

The latter, we should note, was the first non-autumnal record of the species in Britain… and that first bird, way back in the mid-70s, nowadays sparks wistful dreams of how delightful a long-staying example would be. Was this week’s bird to be that unblocker?

Well, no.

It proved to be a skittish and elusive character on the day and, when the following day dawned wild and windy, there was no sign to be seen there of the bird. Nor, in deteriorating conditions, on 4th. Which isn’t necessarily to say it had bailed out… but probably is, really, as a blank was drawn on 5th too. Another Pallas’s Reed Bunting had fallen, and another rendered untwitchable by circumstances.

As a postscript, it’s worth mentioning that the Fair Isle Bird Observatory phoenix rebuild is now complete, and it’s open for accommodation bookings. As many a birder down the years who’s been staying on the isle when the big one has been found might attest, you’ve got to be in it to win it…

 

For those present on Shetland this week, either as residents or visitors, there was some pretty heavyweight compensation to be had, in the form of a very smart male Eyebrowed Thrush present on Yell at Gutcher on 1st-5th.

Only Britain’s fifth spring record of this attractive thrush, it brings back uncomfortable memories for your own correspondent of missing by minutes our last spring bird, one that spent a morning on Whalsay on 20th June 2015 – a morning usefully spent following my friend’s neighbour around her garden as she weeded the flower borders and tossed it worms to eat… suitably fuelled up, it departed in the afternoon and wasn’t seen again.

Happily for those on Shetland this week, our latest individual wasn’t for moving on so rapidly, and showed outrageously well at times as the days wore by.

 

We’ve already enjoyed Shetland’s first really big contribution to the spring show in the form of the Savannah Sparrow on Unst in May, but another Nearctic sparrow was waiting in the wings this week, albeit not one that’s set to feature in a public performance – a White-throated Sparrow was in song on 5th near Strathy (Highland & Caithness), but in an area with no general access, and with none to be arranged either. So that’s that.

 

A few more large shearwater sightings came this week, doubtless the vanguard of another mass arrival this coming summer into our waters. Great Shearwater were seen in Cornwall from Porthgwarra on 30th, and Porthcurno on 1st, and in Devon off Start Point on 5th; while a Cory’s Shearwater was seen from Seven Heads (Co.Cork) on 2nd.

Numbers of Balearic Shearwater picked up, with around 180 birds in total logged over the course of recent days, the largest count by some margin being 108 birds seen from Start Point (Devon) on 5th.

In Ireland the adult Pacific Diver remained at Ballyhiernan Bay (Co.Donegal) on 31st.

A White-billed Diver was seen from Lewis (Western Isles) on 5th, and another was reported off Troup Head (Aberdeenshire) on 5th.

Skuas continued their rather quiet progress past us for another week. Just four Long-tailed Skua were noted – from Bowness-on-Solway (Cumbria) on 30th, on 1st from North Uist (Western Isles), and Alkborough Flats NR (Lincolnshire), and at sea off Coll (Argyll & Bute) on 3rd. Pomarine Skua were altogether more numerous, with some 45 birds noted – the lion’s share of these being 17 birds seen from Whinnyrigg (Dumfries & Galloway) on 3rd.

Finally, intriguingly, a possible frigatebird sp was seen in Orkney on 3rd at Finstown, and on 4th passing Sanday. Easy to scoff and dismiss these reports though it might be, we’ve the salutary tale of the Orcadian White-chinned Petrel on 25th May 2020 to remind us that strange things can and do happen where seabirds are concerned, even in the far north.

 

A Night Heron in Norfolk kicks off the weekly long-legged beasties, being seen at Mundesley on 1st-3rd.

Suffolk was still the place for Purple Heron sightings – these came from Minsmere RSPB still on 30th-5th, and Carlton Marshes SWT on 31st still; though Norfolk enjoyed a bird at Hickling Broad NWT on 3rd; and another was seen on the Gann Estuary (Pembrokeshire) on 2nd.

And finally, what of Glossy Ibis? It all went rather quiet on that particular front for first half of the week… Three British sites provided sightings, at Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire) still on 30th-5th, at Fremington Pill (Devon) again on 30th, and at Breydon Water (Norfolk) again on 2nd-4th; while two were seen near the M11 outside Wicklow (Co.Wicklow) on 1st. On 4th three were again seen at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire), and one was found at Bowesfield Marsh (Cleveland), the latter remaining there the following day. On 5th the Sanday (Orkney) bird was seen again; and one was found in Lincolnshire at Whisby Nature Park.

 

Whether it feels like it or not to us, as far as the honkers and quackers are concerned it’s now officially summer. And how do we know that? Because the notable species are, err, notable by their absence.

Now committing the cardinal sin of hanging around too long (see also, Dutch Spectacled Eider), the drake Cinnamon Teal remained at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 31st-4th.

The recent female (or hybrid) Ferruginous Duck was still in Cambridgeshire at Ouse Fen RSPB on 31st; and the drake again at Draycote Water (Warwickshire) on 5th.

Three Ring-necked Duck were seen lately – one still in Devon on Beesands Ley on 1st; another on Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 3rd; and the Papa Westray (Orkney) bird again on 4th.

Lastly, a drake Surf Scoter was sitting pretty on Ronas Voe (Shetland) on 2nd-5th.

 

A fine week of waders more than makes up for a dearth of ducks, and how better to kick off their kind than with the Western Sandpiper still sitting pretty at Maidens (Ayrshire) on 30th-5th.

Nor was it the only notable sandpiper of the week. Ireland gave us a White-rumped Sandpiper at Ballagan Point (Co.Louth) on 2nd-4th, and another was found in the closing hours of daylight on 5th in Northumberland at Grindon Lough.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper were seen on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) on 1st-2nd, and the Ythan Estuary (Aberdeenshire) on 1st-2nd.

Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) and Papa Westray (Orkney) gave us island Pectoral Sandpiper this week on 30th; while another was reported from Anderby Creek (Lincolnshire) on 2nd.

Anderby Creek also supplied a Temminck’s Stint on 2nd; further birds were seen this week on 30th at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire), on 31st on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), and on 2nd at Meikle Loch (Aberdeenshire) – two birds were noted at the latter site the following day.

Aberdeenshire’s Ythan Estuary returned to the news on 2nd-4th with an American Golden Plover seen there; and another was at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 2nd.

In Co.Cork the Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Clogheen Marsh on 30th.

A Great Snipe was an excellent find on Papa Stour (Shetland) on 2nd.

A female Red-necked Phalarope was found in East Sussex at Cuckmere Haven on 4th; additional sightings on 5th came from Sidlesham Ferry Pool (West Sussex), and Boyton Marshes RSPB (Suffolk).

Finally, giving both male Pallas’s Reed Bunting and Eyebrowed Thrush in Shetland a run for their money this week in the looks department, if not that of outright rarity, a stonking summer-plumaged Grey Phalarope dropped in to Spiggie (Shetland) on 4th. This followed two seen from Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 30th.

 

Alas coming to nothing more substantial this week, a brief possible third-summer Audouin’s Gull was reported from Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 2nd.

Lodmoor RSPB (Dorset) was graced by a more substantial first-summer Bonaparte’s Gull on 31st.

White-wingers were reduced to Glaucous Gull still at Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire) on 30th, on Orkney at Loch of Harray on 1st, and on South Uist (Western Isles) still on 4th; and Iceland Gull at Girdle Ness still on 30th-3rd, on South Uist (Western Isles) on 1st, and on Lewis (Western Isles) on 4th.

In Ireland this week the adult male Least Tern was again seen near Portrane (Co.Dublin) on 1st and 4th-5th.

Northumberland’s returning adult female surinamensis American Black Tern remained at Long Nanny on 30th-5th.

A smart adult White-winged Black Tern was seen at Pulborough Brooks RSPB (West Sussex) on 3rd; another was seen on 3rd at Fowlmere RSPB (Cambridgeshire) followed, on 4th-5th by sightings at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB (Cambridgeshire) and, on 5th, by a bird at Dalkey and latterly on Broadmeadows Estuary (Co.Dublin).

And finally, a Whiskered Tern was settled at Helston Loe Pool (Cornwall) on 1st-4th.

 

No Booted Eagle this week? What’s that all about? Surely it’s going to pop out of the woodwork again someday soon. What would certainly be interesting would be if the large falcon, a Saker or hybrid, seen passing Nybster (Highland & Caithness on 3rd were to be pinned down somewhere…

Red-footed Falcon continued to feature this past week, with two birds seen at Stodmarsh NNR (Kent) on 30th, another at Bodmin Moor (Cornwall) on 2nd, one at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) on 4th, one in Wales at Cors Caron NR (Ceredigion) on 5th, and a possible male at Thorne Moors NNR (South Yorkshire) on 1st.

Confirmed Black Kite were seen lately in Kent at Seasalter and Elmley NNR on 1st, and at Buckton (East Yorkshire) on 1st; a probable was seen in Surrey at Pewley Down on 1st also.

Finally, a ringtail Montagu’s Harrier was seen on 30th over Scolt Head Island NNR (Norfolk).

 

Still another week went by without a blank where Hoopoe were concerned – single birds being present still at Glencaple (Dumfries & Galloway) on 30th-31st, in a garden in Haddenham (Cambridgeshire) on 1st, on 4th at Gosport Fort (Hampshire) and on Brownsea Island (Dorset), and on 5th at Frampton (Gloucestershire).

A regular Jackson Pollock of Bee-eater sightings were made during the course of the week, widespread and with no particular pattern or form. The week began with one in Dorset on 30th at Osmington Mills, followed by another on 31st at Howick (Northumberland). On 1st a bird was seen in East Yorkshire at Grimston, and a little later Spurn; this was followed on 3rd by another sighting at Spurn. Also on 1st, single birds were seen at West Runton (Norfolk), and Ramsgate (Kent). On 2nd, further birds were seen in Cornwall at Helston Loe Pool and Pendeen, and in Essex at Jaywick. On 4th, it was Lincolnshire’s turn, with sightings at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR and Anderby Creek.

A little over half of the week’s Red-backed Shrike sightings owed themselves to Shetland – seen there on 30th on Mainland at North Town, and on Fair Isle and Fetlar; on 31st on Whalsay; on 1st-2nd on Mainland at Pool of Virkie; and on 3rd-5th on Out Skerries. Away from here, birds were also logged on 31st in Ashdown Forest (East Sussex), at Old Hunstanton (Norfolk), and at Sammy’s Point (East Yorkshire); and on 3rd-4th on Bardsey (Gwynedd).

A Woodchat Shrike was seen in Cheshire & Wirral on 4th-5th near Daresbury.

The Pied Crow remained in Mervue (Co.Galway) on 1st-3rd.

It appeared to be the sunset of late spring Golden Oriole sightings, with half a dozen birds logged this week – on 30th at West Runton (Norfolk) and Church Norton (West Sussex); on 1st in Lerwick (Shetland); on 3rd on Unst (Shetland); on 4th on St Mary’s (Scilly); and on 5th at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk).

East Yorkshire served a succession of Red-rumped Swallow records, with a single bird seen on 31st at Bridlington, on 1st at Spurn, and on 2nd at Kilnsea and Flamborough.

In Cambridgeshire the singing Great Reed Warbler was heard again at Ouse Fen RSPB on 3rd; while the Hornsea Mere (East Yorkshire) bird was also still present on 30th-4th.

A singing Blyth’s Reed Warbler was found on 3rd at Berry Head (Devon), and another on 5th on Bardsey (Gwynedd).

The recent Marsh Warbler remained at Weybourne (Norfolk) on 30th-4th, and was joined in the dailies by further birds found at South Norwood CP (London) on 30th, Brindister (Shetland) on 31st, and on Fair Isle (Shetland), where numbers peaked with three present on the isle on 30th-31st. A further bird was reported from St Martin’s (Scilly) on 31st.

The singing Savi’s Warbler remained at Brading Marshes RSPB (Isle of Wight) on 30th, and another songster was found at Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire) on 30th-1st.

A dozen Icterine Warbler were logged during the week, most of these on Shetland, where numbers peaked with two on Fair Isle on 30th and 1st. Away from there, single birds were seen at North Foreland (Kent) on 30th, and at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 1st.

The female Subalpine Warbler sp found on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 29th remained there into the new week on 30th-31st, and proved to be, in the hand, a Western Subalpine Warbler.

The singing male white-spotted Bluethroat remained in Gloucestershire at Slimbridge WWT on 30th-5th; further birds this week were found on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 30th, where three were present; on Unst (Shetland) on 30th; and on Westray (Orkney) on 30th.

A Grey-headed Wagtail was lobbing around the Sumburgh quarry and Grutness area (Shetland) on 30th.

A handful of Common Rosefinch were noted during the week. Shetland landed birds on Fair Isle on 30th and 1st-3rd; on Whalsay on 30th; on Out Skerries on 1st-5th; and on Mainland at Westerwick on 5th; one was present on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 30th, joined by a second bird there on 31st; Bardsey (Gwynedd) landed a singing bird on 4th-5th; and a mainland bird was at Easington (East Yorkshire) on 2nd.

 

Yes, it’s still there. The drake Spectacled Eider remained in the Netherlands this week off Texel on 30th-2nd. An immature Lammergeier was seen on 2nd at Barendrecht.

A Steppe Eagle was seen in Belgium at Wodecq on 1st.

Britain was far from alone in enjoying a quality bunting this week – a male Red-headed Bunting was found in Germany on 3rd at Mulheim an der Ruhr.

Cementing the species’ status as enjoying an unprecedented spring in northwest Europe, another Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler was found this week, in Sweden at Mockelmossen on 29th-30th. The displaying Wilson’s Snipe remained at Storsjo on 30th-4th. Were this not a good enough week for Swedish birders, a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater dropped in to Drakamollan briefly on 4th.

Finland meanwhile had a singing Oriental Cuckoo at Kuhmo on 29th-31st.

In France the two adult Elegant Tern remained at Polder de Sebastopol on 2nd.

Down in Italy the Pacific Swift remained settled in Cornaiano on 30th-4th; and a White-rumped Swift was seen at Pescocostanzo on 2nd-3rd.

In Spain the Cape Gull remained at Laredo on 2nd-5th.

Finally, in Cyprus the Lesser Moorhen remained at Agia Varvara on 4th-5th.

 

It seems a bit churlish to still be hoping for a final big hurrah from the late spring, given we’ve been blessed with a male Pallas’s Reed Bunting in the past week, but y’know… something else would be nice, preferably something a little more widely accessible and appreciable?

And we’ve some precedent to conjure with. The coming week boasts a mighty three Cretzschmar’s Bunting, which never made anyone’s day the worse; Britain’s first Citril Finch; three Trumpeter Finch; Britain’s first Tree Swallow; and single White-throated Robin, Bimaculated Lark, and Britain’s first and only Sulphur-bellied Warbler, to pick but a few highlights from the distant and not-so-distant mists of time.

And yes, granted there is a bit of an island bias to that little lot. But still. Never say never.

Well, perhaps don’t get your hopes set too high if the first half of the week’s anything to go by. Lots of westerlies coming our way… But just maybe the end of the week shows a smidgin more promise?

 

Jon Dunn

6 June 2025

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

 

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