Weekly birding round-up: 12 - 18 Apr 2022
Another week gone, and a long Easter weekend within it. The weather played ball for all concerned – those who wanted to sit and bask in the sun could do so… and for birders of a more active persuasion, there were migrants starting to pop up all over. Social media began to groan with the weight of local patch-found Ring Ouzels, Pied Flycatchers and reeling Grasshopper Warblers. And sure enough, there were scarcities and downright rarities coming in with those commoner migrants. But this week, it was Scilly’s turn to roar into life with our biggest bird.
What have Cliff Swallow and Crag Martin got in common, apart from the obvious shared hirundine connection? Approximately a dozen accepted British records apiece is what. But there the similarities end, for the distribution of said records is far from alike.
Cliff Swallows, an ocean away from their Nearctic home, have been found from the southern English coast up to Highland, with a handful of east coast records in their number. Scilly dominates the picture, with half a dozen of the 13 accepted national records to the end of 2019 to its credit. Crag Martins, on the other hand, not uncommon across southern Europe, have penetrated as far north in Britain as Orkney and Shetland, but Scilly? It’s never had one.
Were we running a book of overdue additions to the Scillonian bird list, the odds on a Crag Martin would surely have been pretty short. A matter of when, rather than if. Finally, this week, that changed – and not without prior warning of quality southern incoming, for St Mary’s had landed a luminous male Spanish Wagtail on 13th. News broke of a Crag Martin on Bryher in the morning of 17th and, just a few minutes later, that was followed by the belated revelation that one – presumably the same bird – had been seen on Tresco on 14th. Were the bird on Bryher not to have been seen again, that might have been the cause of some quiet anguish… but, happily, the bird continued to show well at times throughout the day and into 18th, much to the delight of those birders present in the archipelago this week.
With just an absent blip on 17th, Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire) remained home for the returning Black-browed Albatross throughout the past week until 18th. As the tempo of spring picks up, and fresh rarities come barrelling in, it will doubtless be supplanted from the headlines but be in no doubt – having an accessible Albert on the British mainland will always be a big deal.
The same can fairly be said for the steadfast Belted Kingfisher on the River Darwen at Roach Bridge (Lancashire) – settled birds of this quality come along once in a birder’s lifetime. That said, both this and the albatross aren’t always a foregone conclusion, and some folk have taken several attempts to finally catch up with either bird. Their ongoing presence, and the extended opportunity to finally unblock them, is especially welcome. Happily for kingfisher pilgrims this week, the bird remained on site throughout the week until 18th.
Albatross aside, the pick of the seabirds on offer this week was, once again, the Double-crested Cormorant in Ireland. Still present on Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 14th-16th, it relocated just a few miles in the afternoon of 16th to the significantly larger waterbody of Lough Gill that straddles the Co.Leitrim and Co.Sligo border.
White-billed Divers continued to be seen in fair numbers off the Scottish coast in recent days – in Moray, one was still to be seen from Burghead on 15th, whilst two lingering off Cullen on 14th-15th rose to four birds there on 16th, with at least one still present on 17th; in Aberdeenshire, one off Portsoy on 15th-18th was beaten by three individuals seen nearby from Findlater Castle on 16th; and, in Highland, one remained off Embo on 12th.
A few Pomarine Skuas continued to trickle up the English Channel this week – the floodgates are still to open for them. Single birds were noted on 12th from Mounts Bay (Cornwall), Selsey Bill (West Sussex), and Beachy Head and Splash Point (East Sussex); Dungeness (Kent) notched up a single bird on 13th, while another was seen from Selsey Bill on 14th; one was logged from Ventnor (Isle of Wight) on 15th; and, on 18th, a bird was seen from Dungeness again.
Our long-legged beasties reflected the arrival of southern passerines this week, with the usual host of Glossy Ibises augmented with a little fresh variety.
A Night Heron seen in the north at Alnmouth (Northumberland) on 13th was followed by another in the far south, at Nanjizal Valley (Cornwall) on 15th. Neither was available for mass consumption, but a Purple Heron that dropped into Ham Wall RSPB on the glorious Somerset Levels was more obliging on 15th-16th – and may have accounted for the probable bird seen in flight there on 17th – and the bird seen on 18th at Shapwick Heath NNR. Another was found on 18th in Kent at Stodmarsh NNR.
And Glossy Ibises? So, so many of those still present in Britain and Ireland - this week, at least 70 birds. Decent flocks continued to be encountered – the Isle of Wight gave us eight over Bembridge on 14th, while eight were seen over Scotney GPs (Kent) that day too; numbers on the Somerset Levels rose to at least seven birds at Ham Wall RSPB on 18th; and, in Ireland, seven lingered at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 14th-16th.
Our two recent Spotted Crakes were still present at Wheldrake Ings YWT (North Yorkshire) on 15th and in Devon at Exminster Marshes RSPB on 12th-14th, with another found in Orkney on North Ronaldsay on 14th.
Corncrakes, meanwhile, were also on the move – on 13th, one was reported from Rathlin Island (Co.Antrim), and another was heard rasping away on Tory Island (Co.Donegal); and another singing bird was noted on Barra (Western Isles) on 16th.
The honkers and quackers commence, once more, in Norfolk where the Red-breasted Goose took a spin out to Cley again on 12th before settling back at Blakeney on 14th-18th.
Just one Snow Goose was logged in recent days, the northbound Whalsay (Shetland) trio having last been seen in flight there on 11th – this being the white morph again in Lancashire at Banks Marsh NNR on 15th-16th and Marshside RSPB on 17th-18th.
Similarly denuded, just one Black Brant was noted this week – still present in Essex at South Fambridge on 13th-14th.
The Goose Formerly Known As Canada continued to feature in modest numbers. Three Cackling Geese were still present on North Uist (Western Isles) on 12th; and two hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Geese were present on 14th on Inishgalloon (Co.Mayo).
Onto the quackers, and staying in Co.Mayo a moment, the drake Black Duck remained on Cross Lough on 16th.
In Co.Wexford, the drake Blue-winged Teal was still at Tacumshin on 14th-17th while, in Cambridgeshire, the female remained at Berry Fen on 12th-18th.
Sally, the female probable Cinnamon Teal, remained settled in Buckinghamshire at Marlow on 12th-16th. On the plus side, it’s been a good winter for Nearctic wildfowl. On the downside, well, they’re a popular species with the duck-fancying fraternity, vying with Hooded Merganser for ornamental duckpond space.
A handful of Green-winged Teals were logged this week – three in England, at Lytchett Bay (Dorset) still on 12th-18th, at Druridge Pools NR (Northumberland) on 16th-17th still, and at Black Hole Marsh (Devon) on 18th; one in Scotland at Loch of Kinnordy RSPB (Angus) on 17th-18th; and birds in Ireland at East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow) still on 14th, and Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 14th-18th.
A couple of female possible American Wigeons cropped up in the news in the early part of the week – at Port Meadow (Oxfordshire) on 12th, and in Suffolk at Southwold again on 14th. Drakes were seen in Scotland at Garlieston (Dumfries & Galloway) still on 12th, Loch Spynie (Moray) on 15th and again on 18th, and Auchincross Loch (Ayrshire) on 15th-16th.
Numbers of Ring-necked Ducks present in these parts showed no signs of abating any time just yet, with some 35 birds again tallied nationally over the course of the week. Absent from the news the preceding week, the highest count was, once more, the half dozen birds on the former opencast site at Margram (Glamorgan) on 12th-16th.
Lesser Scaups continued to delight for another week too. A fine drake was seen in Somerset at Chew Valley Lake on 13th-18th, while the Abberton reservoir individual remained in Essex on 12th-14th. The week began in Scotland with three birds in the Western Isles on South Uist’s West Loch Ollay on 12th, and one on Loch Bee on 12th-14th for good measure; while two birds remained at Woodend Loch (Clyde) on 12th-18th. The week drew to a close on 18th with still more birds – two found in Staffordshire at Tucklesholme Quarry SWT.
The drake King Eider continued to hang around Loch Fleet (Highland) on 13th-18th, while the first-winter drake remained off Musselburgh (Lothian) on 12th-18th.
The latter site also held onto its recent trio of Surf Scoters on 12th-18th; and another trio of birds was noted in recent days in Sound of Gigha (Argyll & Bute) on 13th-14th. In Lothian, a drake was seen at Ferny Ness on 17th, with another that day noted at Blackrock (Co.Dublin).
The prior week’s Black-winged Stilt remained in Carmarthenshire at National Wetlands Centre WWT on 12th-16th, and was joined in the news by a pair of birds seen in Suffolk at Botany Marshes RSPB on 13th. Absent from Carmarthenshire on 17th, a bird was found on Anglesey at Cors Ddyga RSPB and then, on 18th, another sighting came Marshside RSPB (Lancashire & North Merseyside). Here’s hoping we’re in for another good year for this colonising wader.
Staying in Suffolk a moment, the Pacific Golden Plover stayed settled at Carlton Marshes SWT on 12th-18th.
Norfolk, meanwhile, was graced by a male Kentish Plover seen at Cley NWT on 12th.
Dotterels continued to filter into Britain and Ireland in modest numbers this week – one was on Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 12th; on 13th, two were seen at Burwell (Cambridgeshire), and four at St Boswells (Borders); on 16th two were seen in Gloucestershire at Cleeve Hill; and on 18th, one was found on Anglesey at Traeth Penial.
A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen on the Ythan estuary (Aberdeenshire) on 15th; and another on 17th-18th at Wedholme Flow (Cumbria).
Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) landed itself a Temminck’s Stint on 18th.
In a good week for Lesser Yellowlegs sightings, Co.Cork served up birds at White’s Marsh on 13th and Rosscarbery on 16th-18th. One remained in Co.Wexford at Tacumshin on 12th-18th. British sightings came from Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) still on 12th-18th, and on Fair Isle (Shetland) again on 15th-17th.
Finally, a Grey Phalarope was seen from Lundy (Devon) on 12th.
Interesting gulls continued to fade away this week as spring tightened its grip on the region. Best of the bunch by some margin were the two adult Bonaparte’s Gulls at South Slob (Co.Wexford) on 17th, while one was seen earlier in the day at nearby Tacumshin again; and, on 18th, a second-winter was seen back at South Slob.
Our only Ring-billed Gull was a first-winter bird at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 13th.
Once again, numbers of Glaucous Gulls were subdued, with a shade under 25 birds noted in recent days, of which only one site (Orkney’s Birsay on 17th) managed two birds – outnumbered by a nonetheless falling national tally of some 45 Iceland Gulls.
A couple of familiar Kumlien’s Gulls provided a little variety – these being the juvenile bird still present on Barra (Western Isles) on 16th, and the third-winter still in Cambridgeshire at Smithey Fen on 12th – and one more juvenile was found on 17th at Kenmare (Co.Kerry).
Best of the raptors this week was the ringtail Pallid Harrier seen heading over Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 13th.
For numbers though, nothing better illustrated the quickening pulse of migration than Black Kites, with a few reported as the week wore on. Our first was seen in Co.Cork at Knockadoon Head on 12th, with another reported that day from Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk); one lingered in Essex at Stanway Green on 13th-14th, with another sighting on 14th over Colchester; and another Norfolk record came from Winterton on 13th. On 17th one was showing well at Dungeness (Kent) and, latterly, presumably the same bird was seen over Bockhill Farm and North Foreland. Also on 17th, Dorset sightings came from Portland and Weymouth; and a probable bird was reported from Roydon Common NNR (Norfolk). The pace picked up further on 18th, with a succession of sightings along the Suffolk coast; one over Beddington Farmlands (London); another in Essex over Mistley; a Northumbrian bird at Widdrington; and a final possible bird in Surrey at West Molesley.
An unconfirmed report of a Rough-legged Buzzard came from Irby in the Marsh (Lincolnshire) on 18th.
Out on the Western Isles, the female Snowy Owl was again seen on St Kilda on 12th, while another was found on Orkney at Eday on 17th.
The week’s passerines begins, once again, with an Iberian Chiffchaff in northern England – hot on the heels of that reported at Sinfin Moor (Derbyshire) and the bird trapped and ringed at Hoylake (Cheshire) in the previous week, one was found in song in recent days at Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria) on 14th.
More colourful warbler fare came in the form of male Western Subalpine Warblers found, on 12th, on Galley Head (Co.Cork) and, on 14th, on The Lizard (Cornwall). Further Subalpine Warbler sp were found on 15th in Ireland on the Saltee Islands (Co.Wexford) and Cape Clear (Co.Cork).
While these restless birds were on the move, the wintering Hume’s Warbler in Eastbourne (East Sussex) was showing no sign of abandoning its winter quarters just yet, and was heard in song there still on 16th-18th; the Bockhill Farm (Kent) bird remained present on 17th also.
A Yellow-browed Warbler was found at Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset) on 17th.
Lingering Dusky Warblers remained in Norfolk still near Stiffkey on 12th-18th, and at Walthamstow Marsh NR (London) on 12th-17th also.
Back on Great Saltee (Co.Wexford), a female Woodchat Shrike was seen on 15th-16th; another bird was present on Tresco (Scilly) on 14th-18th; and a final individual was found on 18th on The Lizard (Cornwall).
Northumberland got a couple of Great Grey Shrikes on 14th, near Holywell and at Alnwick Moor – the latter bird remaining there until 17th. Further sightings this week came from familiar quarters – at Backwater reservoir (Angus) still on 12th-18th; at Sparham (Norfolk) still on 12th-13th; and at Comberton (Cambridgeshire) still on 15th.
On 17th a probable Great Spotted Cuckoo was seen coming in off the sea at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire), and appeared to land – but wasn’t seen subsequently, so didn’t get to share the headlines with the Black-browed Albatross after all.
Alpine Swifts were found on 12th at Seaford Head (East Sussex) and at Goldcliff Pools NR (Gwent), and on 18th at the irrepressible Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire).
Scilly’s big hirundine day on 17th was further gilded by the discovery of a Red-rumped Swallow over Tresco; while another was seen that day at Margrove Ponds NR (Cleveland). On 18th further birds were seen over Colt Crag reservoir (Northumberland) and Hunmanby Gap (North Yorkshire).
An early Wryneck was found on Toe Head (Co.Cork) and another was reported on 17th from a Betley (Staffordshire) garden but, if the week belonged to any spring migrant it was surely Hoopoes - some 30 birds were logged this week, including a singing bird at Twelveheads (Cornwall) on 12th.
That said, we didn’t do so badly for Blue-headed Wagtails either, with some 15 birds noted in the course of the week. Several sites notched up multiple birds, and none did better than Holkham Freshmarsh (Norfolk), where four individuals were seen on 15th.
A female feldegg Black-headed Wagtail was reported from Gwenter (Cornwall) on 16th, but the week’s wagtail highlight was across the water on Scilly – an outrageously colourful male iberiae Spanish Wagtail present on St Mary’s on 13th-16th, its identity confirmed by a sound-recording.
A Richard’s Pipit was found on 17th at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire), with another on 17th-18th at the edges of Brogborough Landfill (Bedfordshire).
Back in Cornwall, the Rose-coloured Starling was still to be seen at Lower Boscaswell on 13th.
Heading up country, an unconfirmed report came of a Waxwing in Devon at Abbotskerswell on 13th.
Across in Kent, a female Red-breasted Flycatcher spent the day at Dungeness on 13th.
Fair Isle was on fine form on 15th with, in addition to Lesser Yellowlegs, Hoopoe and a couple of Arctic Redpolls, the week’s first Short-toed Lark.
Those hornemanni Arctic Redpolls on Fair Isle were seen there on 14th-15th (with one remaining on 17th), but were preceded in Shetland by two in the west Mainland at Clousta on 12th.
These frosty finches found their southern counterpoint in the news this week in the form of some sunny Serins in the south of England – one on 14th at Foreness Point (Kent); another the following day in Dorset at St Aldhelm’s Head; and, on 17th, birds seen at Selsey Bill (West Sussex) and over St Catherine’s Point (Isle of Wight).
An Ortolan Bunting was seen heading east on 18th at Climping (West Sussex).
Last but not least, a Little Bunting at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 12th was followed, on 13th-16th, by two birds present there.
For a second consecutive week, our overseas news commences in Spain where an impressive trio of birds demanded attention – the Black-and-white Warbler still near Sant Joan de Mediona on 15th-17th; a Cream-coloured Courser at Aguilas on 15th-17th; and a Greater Sand Plover at San Juan de la Arena on 14th-18th.
That said, for sheer rarity there was no ignoring the belated news of a Red-footed Booby seen off Italy’s Ischia on 9th.
In Sweden, the male Siberian Rubythroat remained at Vargön on 12th-17th, while the Stejneger’s Scoter was still in Skåne län at Mellbystrand on 13th.
Finally, in Holland a Pygmy Cormorant was seen on 15th-18th at Dwingelderveld; and the Western Swamphen remained at Het Nieuwe Waterschap on 18th.
That’s us rattling through the latter half of April, albeit with falling temperatures marking the end of the warm spell that swept us into the Easter weekend. The coming week looks interesting – maybe not the warmest, but the charts indicate sustained easterlies coming straight across the North Sea at us.
Is it too much, or too early to hope for something really juicy? This week, back in 2008, saw the arrival of both Black and Calandra Larks in Norfolk and Shetland respectively on 20th April.
Of course, we’re more likely to land something conventionally Scandinavia-bound. But we can dare to dream.
Jon Dunn
19 April 2022
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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