Weekly birding round-up: 14 - 20 Feb 2023
After the last minute hijinks that enlivened the preceding week, we could have been forgiven for hoping that last week would continue in a similar vein. Surely that Dorset Ross’s Gull was going to hang around and please all and sundry?
Alas not. So the week charted a more familiar, quieter, February course after all. That is, until the weekend and the discovery of a fine thrush in Yorkshire.
2022 finished strongly where Black-throated Thrush was concerned, with sightings in Lothian and Forth alike in the course of December. However, 2023 didn’t quite pick up where December had left off, with just one bird reported, around Newark-on-Trent (Nottinghamshire) for three days on 9th-11th in an area with no general access.
That changed this week with another English bird found, and this one at a site with no such viewing restrictions – in a field in Wykeham Forest (North Yorkshire) on 19th-20th, and at times showing well there too.
To say they’re almost annual in Britain is to understate their quality as a local find – after a heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s when at least one bird was found annually, they’ve become a little less reliable since the turn of the century, with five blank years in that period.
From a Yorkshire perspective, that picture’s very much mirrored. After the county first, in Sheffield Botanic Gardens in January 1987, three more birds came in quick succession to the end of 1995 – but after that 12 years elapsed before the next record, at Buckton on 25th-27th March 2007.
Thereafter just two more birds, in 2010 and 2017 respectively – which just goes to show that even Yorkshire birders, far from hard-done-by where rarities on the whole are concerned, have to wait their turn for one of these dapper thrushes. This week’s smart male was justly warmly received, and a cracking local find by Jason Higgins.
After a spell of periodic sightings at Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) lately, the Double-crested Cormorant was being reported daily from there this week on 14th-17th.
Shetland gave us a couple of White-billed Diver sightings in recent days. A bird was seen on 15th down at Boddam in the south Mainland, while on 18th another was seen at sea two miles southwest of Unst.
Scilly, meanwhile, served some variety in the form of a pale morph Long-tailed Skua off St Mary’s on 18th.
A slight return to something approaching form for Glossy Ibises this week, with a couple of the recent small flocks again noted in Britain and Ireland alike. Best of these were the quartet once again at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 18th, and the trio once more in Ireland at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 18th-19th.
Elsewhere in England, duos remained at Fremington Pill (Devon) on 16th; Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 14th-19th rising to three birds on 20th; and Dungeness (Kent) on 15th-18th, the latter site’s tally rising to four birds on 19th. In Suffolk, a single bird was again seen at Slaughden on 16th, and at Aldeburgh on 17th and again on 19th-20th. A single bird was seen in Somerset on 20th over Congresbury.
As ever, we kick off the scarce and rare honkers and quackers with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada. On Islay (Argyll & Bute), an interior Todd’s Canada Goose was seen on 15th, followed by a hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose still on 18th. Further hutchinsii birds were logged on The Mullet (Co.Mayo) again on 18th, and North Uist (Western Isles) on 18th. A further possible interior Todd’s Canada Goose was found on 20th near Port Logan (Dumfries & Galloway).
Speaking of The Mullet, both the blue and the white morph Snow Geese were still present there on 16th. Additional sightings of individual birds came from South Ronaldsay (Orkney) still on 19th, Ince Marsh (Cheshire) on 19th, and near Anthorn (Cumbria) on 20th.
Returning to Islay (Argyll & Bute), the Red-breasted Goose remained there on 16th-18th; while another was seen in Cumbria near Silloth on 15th-17th.
Black Brants were represented by the Farlington Marshes HWT (Hampshire) bird still present there on 16th, and a bird on the north Kent coast at Whitstable on 20th.
A probable Grey-bellied Brant was seen in Co.Down at Killough on 15th.
Which brings us to the last of the notable honkers – following the report of a Lesser White-fronted Goose in Flintshire at Oakenholt Marsh on 18th, a bird was seen in the afternoon of 19th with Pink-footed Geese at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire & Wirral).
Onto the quackers next. Drake American Wigeons lingered in Somerset at Shapwick Heath NNR still on 14th-19th, in North Yorkshire at Hellifield Flash still on 17th, and at Big Waters NR (Northumberland) on 19th. An additional drake was found at Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire) on 20th.
Numbers of Green-winged Teals nudged towards double figures again this week. The Western Isles held birds on Barra on 14th, Lewis on 15th, and North Uist on 17th still; Shetland turned up a bird on Unst on 18th; while on the Scottish mainland birds remained at Tain (Highland & Caithness) on 14th-20th, and Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 15th-19th. In England, the Stanpit Marsh (Dorset) bird was still present there on 15th, another was found at Two Tree Island (Essex) on 15th, and a third bird was seen at Port Carlisle (Cumbria) on 19th. Wales scored a bird at Cors Ddyga RSPB (Anglesey) on 17th. Ireland’s only reports concerned the individual still on Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 19th, and a bird on Larne Lough (Co.Antrim) on 20th.
Three Ferruginous Ducks remained on Filby Broad (Norfolk) on 14th-20th.
Another good week for Ring-necked Ducks elapsed, with around 30 birds again logged across Britain and Ireland. The largest aggregation this week were three females found on Cloonacleigha Lough (Co.Sligo) on 17th; two birds remained at Standlake (Oxfordshire) on 14th-20th; two were present still at Lisvane reservoir (Glamorgan) on 19th, with two seen at Talley Lakes (Carmarthenshire) still on 19th also; two birds were seen on Rosebush reservoir (Pembrokeshire) on 14th; and two were found on 20th at Keohane Quarry (Co.Cork).
The three recent stalwart Lesser Scaups were all still present and correct for another week – these being the bird still on South Uist (Western Isles) on 18th-20th, that on the Somerset Levels at Ham Wall RSPB still on 14th-20th, and the drake still on Staines reservoir (Surrey) on 14th-20th.
A good week for the rarer scoters provided both the first-winter female White-winged Scoter still present off Achill Island (Co.Mayo) on 16th-20th, and the drake in the Musselburgh area of Lothian on 14th-15th as well; and, in Northumberland, the drake Black Scoter showing off Stag Rocks still on 15th-16th and again on 19th off Bamburgh Castle.
Rather a quieter time, however, for Surf Scoter - in Wales the single bird remained off Benllech (Anglesey) on 14th, and the two drakes were still hanging around off Llanddulas (Conwy) on 14th-20th; and, in Scotland, one remained off Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 18th.
It just took a rare still day and a boat in the right place to log a lingering drake King Eider offshore in Shetland, seen north of Fetlar on 14th. Both second-winter drakes were present further south, these being the individuals off Musselburgh (Lothian) on 14th, and Redcar (Cleveland) on 14th-20th.
Finishing with a little flourish, the female / first-winter drake Harlequin Duck became a little more reliable once more, being seen off Barra (Western Isles) again on 14th-18th.
Pick of the week’s waders was, by some margin, a new Nearctic species for the year – a first-winter White-rumped Sandpiper found on 14th-20th at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire).
In Norfolk, the first-winter Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Cley on 14th-20th.
Completing the Nearctic hat-trick, in Ireland the first-winter Greater Yellowlegs was still present at Tallow Bridge (Co.Waterford) on 14th-20th.
Greater yellowlegs videos from this afternoon at Tallowbridge, Waterford. Can be heard call in the second video, and some bad language also ?? #waders pic.twitter.com/41qdRZ7xHb
— Cian Cardiff (@cianbirder) February 20, 2023
Lastly, a Grey Phalarope was seen in a private area of the docks at Port Talbot (Glamorgan) on 17th.
Our second report of a Glaucous-winged Gull for the month (and the year, for that matter) came this week, raising the possible adult at Killybegs (Co.Donegal) on 4th with a probable first-winter seen passing Pendeen (Cornwall) on 18th. Third time lucky, maybe?
Cornwall was generally having a good week of it, with a fresh first-winter American Herring Gull settling on the Hayle Estuary at Lelant on 15th-20th, joining the lingering adult Ring-billed Gull also present there until 20th.
A successful afternoon in West Cornwall: American Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull and Iceland Gull at Hayle and another in Newlyn Harbour. pic.twitter.com/5gM9kV6Zzv
— Oli Mockridge (@YeovilBirder) February 19, 2023
The balance of the week’s Ring-billed Gulls were in Ireland – adults at Enniskillen (Co.Fermanagh) still on 18th, Blackrock (Co.Louth) still on 18th-19th, and Blennerville (Co.Kerry) on 19th; and the second-winter still present on Achill Island (Co.Mayo) on 16th-20th.
Numbers of Glaucous Gulls took a bit of a tumble, with a shade over 25 birds logged – the best of which were duos noted on 14th at Chasewater (Staffordshire), on 14th-15th at Draycote Water (Warwickshire), on 15th on Harris (Western Isles), and on 16th and 20th on Unst (Shetland).
Similarly, Iceland Gulls were down too, with approximately half the prior week’s total logged in recent days. Of the 40 or so birds seen, the best single site counts came from North Uist (Western Isles) where seven birds were seen on 18th, and in Lerwick harbour (Shetland) again on 16th where half a dozen birds still lingered.
Just two Kumlien’s Gulls were noted recently – these being the adult again in Cambridgeshire at Smithey Fen on 15th-19th and back at Dernford Farm Reservoir on 20th, and another on Orkney’s Westray on 20th.
Finally, the adult Forster’s Tern in Co.Galway was again seen near Kinvarra, at Traught Beach on 19th.
In Norfolk, the juvenile female Pallid Harrier remained in the Warham Greens on 15th-120th – sightings are starting to become a little more sporadic lately, and it’s no longer being reported daily.
In Orkney, a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on 14th-16th at Birsay Moors RSPB.
Lastly, we’ve an unconfirmed report of a Snowy Owl seen on the beach at Bridgend on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 17th.
Away from the headlines, the cream of the passerine crop has to be the Eastern Yellow Wagtail again at Carlton Marshes SWT in Suffolk, and showing well at times this week on 14th-20th. First seen there back in early November last year, it’s made sporadic appearances thereafter, so would have been locally popular this week once it deigned to put in a somewhat more reliable appearance.
Down in Cornwall, the Isabelline Wheatear was still to be seen at Holywell Bay on 15th and again on 19th-20th.
All three recent Hume’s Warblers remained available this week – starting in Kent, the Folkestone individual was seen on 14th-19th, and the Dover bird on 14th-17th also; while in Somerset, after a few blank days, the Compton Dando bird was again seen on 18th-20th, and one of the week’s only Yellow-browed Warblers was found not a million miles away in the county on 14th at Trym; the other of the latter species for the week was seen in Cornwall at St Buryan on 19th.
In Co.Durham the Pallas’s Warbler remained at Willington on 14th-20th.
A Penduline Tit was found in Somerset at Ham Wall RSPB on 19th-20th, joined by a second bird there on the latter date; while also on 20th, the two recent birds were again seen at West Rise Marsh (East Sussex).
Some 60 Waxwings were reported as a whole nationwide, with a flock of 28 at Balerno (Lothian) on 17th the largest aggregation.
An unconfirmed report of a Hoopoe in a Marloes (Pembrokeshire) garden on 16th wasn’t followed by any further positive news.
Our only Great Grey Shrike reports came from Hampshire, around Shatterford still on 14th-20th and now singing there, and at Beaulieu Road Station on 15th.
Richard’s Pipits remained at Wyke Regis (Dorset) on 14th-18th, and on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 15th-19th; while the Gloucestershire bird was again seen near Awre on 20th.
Absent from the news for a while, the hornemanni Arctic Redpoll was again seen at Tarmon (Co.Mayo) on 15th, while a new bird was filmed in a Kergord (Shetland) garden on 18th.
Finally, in Cornwall the two Little Buntings were still present between Cot Valley and Boscregan on 15th-18th.
Our overseas news starts far away this week where, in Kuwait, the Western Palearctic’s sixth ever Ashy Drongo was present at Salmiya on 18th.
Ashy Drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus photographed at Salmiya, photo by Arto Halttunen - 5th for Kuwait and 6th for Western Palearctic pic.twitter.com/Yvuhxtiwbl
— Tarsiger (@TarsigerTeam) February 18, 2023
In Israel the Pied Bushchat was still present on 14th at Ma’or, while the Three-banded Plover remained at Hazore’a fishponds on 15th-20th.
At least one Black-capped Petrel was seen daily on 17th-19th in Cape Verde offshore from Santo Antão, with two birds confirmed from there on 20th.
A Semipalmated Plover was present on Tenerife (Canary Islands) on 14th.
In Spain, the second ever Black-faced Bunting remained a popular bird at Sèquia Nova de Silla, drawing twitchers from all over Spain through the course of the week until 20th.
A Sociable Lapwing was present in Portugal at Chainha again on 18th-20th.
In France the Grey-tailed Tattler remained at Etang de Thau on 14th-20th. The Eastern Long-legged Buzzard was still lingering at Thibie on 14th; the Forster’s Tern still at Plage du Lividic on 20th; and a Sociable Lapwing was seen at Lacassagne on 18th-19th.
The Netherlands’ first japonicus Asian Buff-bellied Pipit remained at Polder Nieuw-Bonaventura on 15th-19th still.
Finally, in Sweden the male Siberian Rubythroat was still showing in Trollhattan on 14th-19th, and the settled Baltimore Oriole was also still present, at Förslöv on 14th-19th.
Well, we came close last week with a prediction – an American Herring Gulls, sure enough, just not in Ireland. But what of the week to come?
If records from the last half century tell us anything about the last week of February, it’s probably that we should temper our expectations – I’m not sure if there’s historically a quieter week in the year, but the coming week has to be right up there.
Which isn’t to say it’s completely bereft of promise. Once again, we should probably turn our attention to the bin bag botherers, and think gulls. Bonaparte’s and Ross’s are running pretty much neck and neck with one another, with nine and seven accepted British and Irish records respectively in the past 50 years for the coming week.
Ditto American Herring Gull, with eight accepted birds to the week’s credit. But if there’s one thing even more likely to get an ardent laridophile’s juices flowing than a first-winter American Herring Gull, it’s got to be the questionable aesthetic charms of a Thayer’s Gull.
The coming week boasts three accepted records – in Co.Cork on 21st February – 5th March 1990; in Co.Donegal on 22nd February – 10th March 1998; and on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 27th February – 25th April 2014. That’s ample enough precedent. Time to pay closer attention than ever to the salubrious delights of docks, landfills, pig farms, etc.
Jon Dunn
21 Feb 2023
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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