Weekly birding round-up: 6 - 12 June 2025
What a week! A triumph of quality over quantity, as numbers of general migrants dwindled to almost nothing, wintering wildfowl had firmly abandoned us, and summer breeders had settled down to the serious business at hand… but the headline birds just kept a-coming, with one in particular, on the east coast of mainland Britain, proving a popular draw.
In terms of amenability, there was no bird this week that could touch the singing male Song Sparrow seen on Flamborough Head (East Yorkshire) on 8th and 10th – on the British mainland, for starters, and more or less twitchable being seen there on two dates in the week.
Not a county first, it comes a long time after the one and only prior Yorkshire record, a spring bird trapped and ringed at Spurn on 18th May 1964. This week’s bird then was one for an entirely new iteration of keen Yorkshire listers and, for that matter, for some from further afield besides. The last mainland bird was that seen in Lancashire & North Merseyside’s rather constrained circumstances of Seaforth on 15th-17th October 1994.
To get a showy summer male, then, was a particular highlight of the week just gone. Curiously this week, it came after an unconfirmed report of a bird on the beach at Kerrera (Argyll & Bute) on 7th. Easily dismissed, that… right up until it’s followed a day later by a nailed-on bird elsewhere.
Speaking of Argyll & Bute, it was making the news lately with another bird that was at the outset but a caveated report, but one in this particular instance that firmed up into something gloriously concrete…
Initially reported as a probable Blue-cheeked Bee-eater on Iona in the evening of 9th, fortune favoured the brave birder that travelled out there on spec in the morning of 10th… for there the bird was, emphatically and magnificently, and very much a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in all its glory.
And there it remained for a few hours before, agonisingly, flying off in the late morning, never to be seen again. A county first, there and gone in almost a heartbeat.
Which brings us neatly, on the subject of county firsts, to news from Kent in recent days. A county first is all very well and good, but from a birder’s perspective it’s ideally somewhere that the bird in question can actually be seen.
Alas, this week for Kent birders, that wasn’t how the narrative was to play out. News broke on 11th of a Western Orphean Warbler near Cliffe at an undisclosed site with no general access – a singing bird, no less, that was noted for an hour that morning. But there the story ends, for now at least…
A case once more of being in the right place at the right time this week for those blessed to be present on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 8th, where a fine Scops Owl was trapped and ringed. Photos of the bird in question show a typically startled-looking individual in front of the iconic Fair Isle coastline – a classic image in the making, and surely a strong contender for a British Birds cover in due course…
While recent twitchable birds may have slightly dimmed the blinding lustre that the potential of an Eleonora’s Falcon once cast on the daily news, there’s still no denying that any example of their kind on these shores is a mega bird. Far from annual, still with an iconic reputation, they’re a raptor to reckon with.
Adding to Norfolk’s already excellent year for mega birds of prey, a dark morph individual was seen heading west over the beach at Walcott on 10th. Alas not seen again subsequently, it will nonetheless now be on many a Norfolk birder’s radar as we head into the weekend…
The closing headline bird of the week snuck in on 12th, seen over the ternery off Newburgh (Aberdeenshire) in the late morning and through the afternoon – an adult Bridled Tern.
Bridled tern. Ythan estuary @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdGuides pic.twitter.com/LOj6OSLp50
— Pete Winn (@PeterWinn18) June 12, 2025
It seems a fair assumption to think this may be one and the same individual that was seen last year on 1st-15th June hanging around Coquet Island RSPB (Northumberland), back for another midsummer sojourn on the north-east coast of Britain. Could it push further north still? Or will it settle for a few days around the Ythan Estuary area? Time will tell.
While numbers of passage skuas were dwindling to almost nothing this week, with a mere handful of Pomarine logged; and just two Long-tailed off Silecroft (Cumbria) on 8th, and one seen in Bressay Sound (Shetland) on 12th – at least numbers of Balearic Shearwater were still looking respectable – around 140 were noted over the course of the week, with a peak count of 45 made from Portland (Dorset) on 7th.
An adult White-billed Diver settled on the sea off Foula (Shetland) on 9th-10th.
A possible Brown Booby was seen distantly off Leasowe (Cheshire & Wirral) on 11th.
It fell once more to a handful of Purple Heron to enliven the long-legged beastie news this week, and provide variety for our daily staple diet of Glossy Ibis - sightings came from Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) still on 6th; Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) on 7th; Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire) on 8th; near Out Newton (East Yorkshire) on 9th; and on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 11th-12th.
The star of the show, however, this week came lately, a Squacco Heron at Reach (Cambridgshire) on 11th.
And then we have Glossy Ibis. Lincolnshire proved fairly busy for them, with one again seen at Deeping Lakes LWT on 9th and 11th-12th, and further sightings at Stallingborough on 6th-12th, and Whisby Nature Park on 6th-7th; birds remained at Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire) on 6th-12th, and Bowesfield Marsh (Cleveland) on 6th-7th; in the north, one was still on Sanday (Orkney) on 6th; a sighting came from North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 8th; and on 7th a mobile bird was spanging around Shetland’s South Mainland; while in Ireland, one was present at Lough Atalia (Co.Galway) on 7th.
Honkers and quackers? Well yes, still just about.
A Snow Goose was present on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 7th.
In Aberdeenshire the drake Cinnamon Teal remained at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB on 6th-10th.
An American Wigeon was seen briefly on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 11th.
Breaking that Scottish wildfowl monopoly, the recent female (or hybrid) Ferruginous Duck remained in Cambridgeshire at Ouse Fen RSPB on 6th-10th, and the drake was still present at Draycote Water (Warwickshire) on 6th-10th also.
Waders again proved to be an absolute delight in the past week, with settled quality still on offer, and some fine new birds to add to the mix. We kick off in Ayrshire where, at Maidens, the long-staying Western Sandpiper remained present on 6th-12th.
Also proving settled for a while yet, the recent White-rumped Sandpiper remained in Northumberland at Grindon Lough on 6th.
In Norfolk a Pectoral Sandpiper settled in to Hickling Broad NWT on 7th-10th; another was found on 11th at Hodbarrow RSPB (Cumbria).
Back to Scotland, a fine Broad-billed Sandpiper was present on the Ythan Estuary (Aberdeenshire) on 11th-12th.
Co.Antrim meanwhile landed itself a cracking adult Stilt Sandpiper at Portmore Lough RSPB on 11th, and then at Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 12th.
More distant photos of the stilt sandpiper. pic.twitter.com/kWSTnw6SdS
— Northern Wildlife Pix (@NrthWildlifePix) June 11, 2025
Our sole Temminck’s Stint this past week was one present at Shotton Pools (Northumberland) on 6th.
The week was a busy one for Red-necked Phalarope starting, on 6th, at Whisby Nature Park (Lincolnshire); on 8th two birds were seen in Essex at Bowers Marsh RSPB and Old Hall Marshes RSPB; on 8th singletons were noted in Hampshire at Farlington Marshes HWT, and in Nottinghamshire at Attenborough NR; on 9th an Irish sighting came from Kilcoole (Co.Wicklow); while one was present on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 11th.
And so to the gulls, where our only white-winger was the Iceland Gull still in Aberdeenshire at Girdle Ness on 8th-9th.
A Bonaparte’s Gull graced North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 11th; while the first-summer bird remained in Cornwall at Hayle Estuary RSPB on 12th.
Terns kept up their end of the summer bargain this week, not least in Ireland where the adult male Least Tern was again seen near Portrane (Co.Dublin) on 10th.
Northumberland’s summering adult female surinamensis American Black Tern remained at Long Nanny on 6th-12th.
In Cambridgeshire the recet White-winged Black Tern remained at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB on 6th.
Finally, in Cornwall at Helston Loe Pool the recent Whiskered Tern was supplanted by still another rare tern – a Gull-billed Tern dropped in there on 6th-7th. Another of the latter species was reported on 12th at Tallymore Farm NR (Norfolk), while a further bird was found that afternoon on North Uist (Western Isles).
Outwith the headlines, the pick of the week’s raptors was a fine chance discovery of a Pallid Harrier up on Unst (Shetland) on 11th. We’re becoming well accustomed to autumnal birds now, and even wintering individuals, but summer birds remain a scarcer proposition entirely – at least, for now…
A Montagu’s Harrier was found on 8th in Devon at Cold East Cross.
In Ceredigion the recent Red-footed Falcon remained at Cors Caron NR on 7th-9th; in Essex, a first-summer female was present at Abberton Reservoir on 8th, with a probable reported on 8th also at Wallasea Island; a bird was reported in Corwall at RNAS Culdrose on 8th, seen from a moving vehicle; another was seen in Lincolnshire near Leadenham on 10th-11th; and on 11th a bird was present in Kent near Golden Green.
A Black Kite was seen in Hampshire on 8th at Acres Down; and an unconfirmed report came of a further bird in Fife at Kincardine on 9th.
Finally, a male Snowy Owl was reported from Eday (Orkney) on 10th.
We continue to not miss a weekly beat where Hoopoe are concerned – this week’s sightings coming from a Madeley (Shropshire) garden on 7th (with a further report from here on 12th besides) and on Brownsea Island (Dorset) again on 8th, with another reported from Somerset on 10th in Bath.
While a considerably rarer specimen of their tribe was on offer in Scotland this week, nobody would ever say no to a regular Bee-eater, and sightings of their kind lately came from Holland Haven (Essex) on 7th, Portland (Dorset) on 8th, and on 11th at Dungeness (Kent) and Bebington (Cheshire & Wirral), with two reported from the latter site. Things got a little livelier on 12th, with three seen at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire), and two at Flamborough; two at Gibraltar Point NNR and Red Hill NR (Lincolnshire); and singles in Kent at Dungeness, and in Suffolk at Kessingland.
The recent Woodchat Shrike remained in Cheshire & Wirral on 6th-12th near Daresbury.
Red-backed Shrike meanwhile were seen at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB (Cambridgeshire) on 7th-9th; and in Shetland at Loch of Spiggie on 7th, Fair Isle on 9th, Fetlar on 10th, and on Mainland at Ocraquoy on 12th. A final bird was reported on 12th from Cumbria at Rydal Water.
In Co.Galway the Pied Crow remained at Mervue on 8th.
Golden Oriole this week were noted from Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 6th, Ladyburn Lake (Northumberland) on 6th, on the Isle of Wight at Tennyson Down on 9th, and on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 12th.
A Crag Martin was reported from Marton Mere LNR (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 9th, but wasn’t relocated subsequently.
In Fife, a singing male Iberian Chiffchaff set up shop in Tentsmuir Forest on 8th-12th.
East Yorkshire’s recent singing Great Reed Warbler remained at Hornsea Mere on 6th-12th; another was reported from Somerset at Ham Wall RSPB on 6th; the Ouse Fen RSPB (Cambridgeshire) bird was reported as present still on 12th; and one pitched down onto Fair Isle (Shetland) on 12th also.
As we now expect at this juncture in the year, a few Blyth’s Reed Warbler checked in – birds being found offshore in Scotland on North Uist (Western Isles) on 6th, on St Kilda (Western Isles) on 7th, and on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 8th-9th. Another probably, heard only, was reported from Southwold (Suffolk) on 9th.
Marsh Warbler were also heard in vibrant song at a few sites this week – on Shetland Mainland at Heylor on 6th-7th; in Norfolk near Cley on 7th-12th; and at Bowesfield Marsh (Cleveland) on 8th-9th. Another possible was heard in London at Fairlop CP on 8th.
Shetland offered a few Icterine Warbler lately – one still on Unst on 6th; a singing bird on Whalsay on 6th-7th; and a singing bird in a Hillwell garden on Mainland on 10th.
The wonderful sound of a migrant Icterine Warbler singing in our garden at Hillwell, Shetland yesterday morning. #FirstBirdOfMyDay @WriterHannahBT @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdTrack @ScottishBirding @NLFerries @Britnatureguide pic.twitter.com/JAKhNgBFB8
— Hugh Harrop Wildlife (@HughHarrop) June 11, 2025
A Melodious Warbler was present on Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 6th.
A female Eastern Subalpine Warbler was trapped and ringed on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 6th, and remained there until 10th; a first-summer male was trapped and ringed at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 11th.
On Shetland the Eyebrowed Thrush finally bid Yell adieu, last being see on there on 7th.
A fine adult Rose-coloured Starling was seen in Norfolk at Melton Constable on 6th, followed by another on 11th at Dungeness (Kent).
The singing male white-spotted Bluethroat remained in Gloucestershire at Slimbridge WWT on 6th-11th; another was present on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 9th.
A Serin was found at Dungeness (Kent) on 12th.
A singing male Common Rosefinch was holding court in a garden near Muir of Ord (Highland & Caithness) on 6th.
Also in song, somewhere in Highland & Caithness this week, was the recent male White-throated Sparrow still on 10th. All we can for certainty is that it’s somewhere near Strathy, and that no access will be arranged to see it. Probably for the best in terms of angst expressed in some quarters that it’s ‘only’ White-throated and not a Fox Sparrow…
Lastly, an Ortolan Bunting was present in North Yorkshire at Wykeham Forest on 11th.
Interesting news this week from Scandinavia where, in Sweden, the recent displaying Wilson’s Snipe remained at Storsjo on 8th-12th, and another displaying male was logged on 8th-12th at Kallkallhult. A Dalmatian Pelican dropped in to Andsjon on 9th-10th.
In Iceland, a meena Oriental Turtle Dove was found on 8th at Olafsvik.
In the Netherlands a Pygmy Cormorant was present at Natuurpark Lelystad on 7th. Eternally your own correspondent’s favourite prediction for turning up one of these days at Dungeness or Minsmere… Also in the Netherlands this week, the seemingly resident drake Spectacled Eider found no good reason to forsake Texel, and remained off there still this week on 6th-11th.
In France, the two Elegant Tern remained at Polder de Sebastopol on 11th; and the Western Reef Heron at Les Aresquiers on 12th.
Italy’s territorial Pacific Swift remained settled in Cornaiano on 6th-12th.
And finally, in Kuwait a Himalayan Vulture was seen at Jahra Pools on 11th-12th.
We can speculate to our heart’s content about all manner of late arrivals for which the third week of June is justly renowned – it’s a great week for Black-headed Bunting and Roller, for example – but really, on the basis of recent years, there’s only one game in town in the coming weeks, starting now…
The burning question being, will the returning Pacific Swift be found again in Shetland this summer?
Found at Sumburgh on 19th June 2022, it was back there on 2nd July 2023, and at nearby Virkie on 15th July 2024. Surely a repeat in 2025 isn’t out of the question – unless it’s currently enjoying the delights of northern Italy… There’s also the intriguing report of a white-rumped swift sp this past week at St Aidan’s RSPB (West Yorkshire) on 11th…
So the line in the sand is now drawn – we’re heading into the period when it’s turned up during the past three years. Eyes to the skies!
Jon Dunn
12 June 2025
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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