Weekly birding round-up: 11 - 17 Apr 2023
Spring seemed to pause and take stock a little in the week just gone – which isn’t to say that there weren’t birds on the move, nor some quality scarcities amongst them, just that with the exception of belated news of a Nearctic passerine in Shetland, we were a little short of fresh rare blood. The week ahead will surely fix that…
Finally, one of the perennial ‘waiting-in-the-wings’ firsts for Britain has fallen. Long-predicted it may have been but that certainly doesn't take away any of the gloss from this terrific find.
We all thought it had happened a couple of days ago, when on Sunday 16th, breaking rarity news on the RBA app flashed up – ”Suffolk probable Black-winged Kite reported Kirton in hedge by A14 eastbound before Kirton turning [seen from moving car]” . But, those last four words “seen from moving car”, are so often the beginning and end of many a rare bird story.
On this occasion however, it was to be an amuse-bouche for a full on Michelin-starred, main course mega-find.
Found east of Newtown in Powys on Monday 18th, it was seen for just five minutes before departing west. Unlike Sunday’s brief encounter, the finder Martyn Owen, was in a position to grab some video of the bird hovering its way into the record books.
Just a Black-winged Kite in Wales found just now by my old pal @UK_Eagles123 OMG!!!!! @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK @LeeEvansBirding pic.twitter.com/MdDxx2mv8U
— Richard Moores (@RDMECOLOGY) April 18, 2023
Frustratingly for Shetland birders this week, news of a recent Slate-coloured Junco on the west side of Mainland at Stove didn’t emerge until after the event, with searches for the bird on 11th yielding no convincing sightings. Present in the area for its fourth day on 10th, this will be Shetland’s sixth record of the species, all of which have been found in spring.
It is, however, by some margin the earliest record for the islands, with all five prior birds being discovered in May, the earliest of which were Shetland’s first, present on Foula on 1st May 1966, and another on Out Skerries on 1st-9th May 2003. The latter was the only prior record to hang around, the others all being one-day birds. Had this week’s bird only been known about sooner, it might have proved locally popular.
White-billed Diver action this week picked up significantly with 11 birds seen in Scotland from Cullen (Moray) alone on 14th-15th; half a dozen birds remained there on 16th, and one at least still on 17th. Duos were seen in Moray off Roseisle on 14th and 17th, Lewis (Western Isles) on 14th, and near Portsoy (Aberdeenshire) off Findlater Castle on 16th; and a single bird from Brora (Highland & Caithness) on 11th.
A Pomarine Skua was seen at Criccieth (Gwynedd) on 11th; another was seen at sea off Mull (Argyll & Bute) on 13th; and a final bird for the week was seen on 17th from the ferry between Ardrossan and Brodick (Ayrshire).
Finally, the adult Double-crested Cormorant was still present at Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 13th.
The prior week’s arrival of Night Herons showed absolutely no sign of abating during the week just gone – indeed, in Ireland, what had gone before was just window-dressing for what was to unfold near Drinagh (Co.Wexford) where numbers rose on 13th to seven birds and, by 14th, were up to eight birds. In a garden. Just imagine that outside your window anywhere in Britain or Ireland. Some 40 birds were recorded across Britain and Ireland as the week wore on. Further multiple birds remained in Britain at Ossett (West Yorkshire) until 16th and Iford (Dorset) until 15th, both of which retained two birds; while Tresco (Scilly) hosted three birds on 16th. In Ireland at Sigginstown Castle (Co.Wexford) on 16th two birds were seen; and in Co.Cork three birds were noted at Mizen Head on 11th.
Purple Herons were somewhat less numerous. Birds remained at South Slob (Co.Wexford) on 11th and Ruan Lanihorne (Cornwall) on 11th-15th. Additional birds were seen near Gwenter (Cornwall) on 12th-14th, and on 13th at Cockey Down (Hampshire) and Seamere Fen (Norfolk). On 15th birds were logged on St Agnes (Scilly) and over Baltimore (Co.Cork). A probable was seen at East Chevington NWT (Northumberland) on 13th.
A fairly muted showing of Glossy Ibises returned just 15 birds logged across Britain and Ireland in recent days. Starting in Ireland, four were still at Lough Aderra (Co.Cork) on 15th, and three remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) until 15th with one still present there on 17th. Three were also still being seen at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 11th-15th with two still present on 16th, while additional British birds remained at Aldeburgh (Suffolk) on 11th-17th, Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 11th-16th, over Sharpham (Somerset) on 15th, and at Dungeness (Kent) where two birds were still present on 11th-17th.
Finally, a Corncrake had made it to Tory Island (Co.Donegal) on 16th.
The honkers and quackers with begin with just one of the former notable, in East Yorkshire, where the Black Brant was still present at Kilnsea Wetlands NR on 12th-15th and Sammy’s Point on 16th.
A handful of Green-winged Teals were seen this week in the north of England – one still at Campfield Marsh RSPB (Cumbria) on 13th-16th; another at Heswall (Cheshire & Wirral) on 14th; one at Nosterfield Quarry (North Yorkshire) on 15th; and, back in Cheshire & Wirral on 17th, a final sighting at Frodsham Marsh. On 16th, southern England got a look in with a bird found at Boyton Marshes RSPB (Suffolk).
Some 30 Ring-necked Ducks were again seen across Britain and Ireland, with a few sites still hosting multiple birds. Best of these was Kilkee reservoir (Co.Clare), where five birds remained until 14th. Duos, meanwhile, were seen at Meikle Loch (Aberdeenshire) on 11th, in Glamorgan on Lisvane reservoir still on 11th-16th (with three again present here on 17th), at Standlake (Oxfordshire) still on 11th-17th, and at Ballyallia Lake (Co.Cork) on 15th.
Lesser Scaups continued to keep us busy, with half a dozen birds seen. In Scotland, the female remained on South Uist (Western Isles) on 11th-13th; a female was on Lochwinnoch RSPB (Clyde) on 12th-17th; and a drake at Loch Gelly (Fife) on 14th-17th. A drake pitched into Audenshaw reservoirs (Greater Manchester) on 13th-17th; the first-winter drake was again at Farmoor reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 13th-17th; and the female still at Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 12th-16th.
The drake Surf Scoter remained off Ruddons Point (Fife) on 11th-15th, with two still on the sea off Llandulas (Conwy) on 11th-15th also, and the female still in Cork Harbour (Co.Cork) on 17th. Two ranged from Musselburgh to Ferny Ness (Lothian) on 15th-17th, while the drake White-winged Scoter was again off the former site on 15th also.
A drake Hooded Merganser was present at Whinfell Tarn (Cumbria) on 14th-17th.
Ireland’s dominance in the shorebird stakes continued more or less unchallenged this week with unprecedented numbers of Black-winged Stilts still on offer. Half a dozen remained at Ventry (Co.Kerry) on 11th-13th with four still present on 16th, while the party of five birds were still present on Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 11th-17th. Single birds meanwhile were seen on Ringarogy Island (Co.Cork) on 11th, at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 11th-13th still, at Lisselan (Co.Waterford) on 11th-17th still, and at White’s Marsh (Co.Cork) on 12th-17th still.
In Cornwall single birds remained settled at Maer Lake NR on 11th-14th, and Ruan Lanihorne on 11th-16th, and two birds were seen at Amble Marshes on 13th-15th. The love began to spread on 16th, with birds found further east too – at Black Hole Marsh (Devon), Blashford Lakes HWT (Hampshire), and Brading Marshes RSPB (Isle of Wight). All three of the latter birds remained as the week drew to a close on 17th.
While all stilts are, by definition, elegant birds, the female in Devon was showing particularly exquisite taste, having chosen to settle on what these days is, sadly, a rarity in itself – a local authority-owned and managed reserve. Anyone who’s paid a visit to the sites encompassed in the East Devon District Council-managed Seaton Wetlands complex owes a debt of gratitude to the council’s staff who work so hard to manage the reserves. This week’s stilt surely knew she was onto a good thing here.
Two Dotterels were trapped and ringed on Bardsey in the evening of 15th, and remained on the island the following day. Another was noted in flight over St Mary’s (Scilly) on 17th.
A male Kentish Plover proved popular at Summer Leys NR (Northamptonshire) on 11th-14th.
A Pectoral Sandpiper was found at Steart WWT (Somerset) on 12th-17th.
All three of our recent Long-billed Dowitchers remained on offer for another week – at Cley (Norfolk) on 11th-17th; at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire & Wirral) again on 13th; and on Sanday (Orkney) on 11th-14th.
The adult Lesser Yellowlegs was still to be seen at Budleigh Salterton (Devon) on 11th-15th.
The best of the gulls this week remained the adult Ross’s Gull in Aberdeenshire, still present in the Kinnaird Head area on 11th-17th.
In Cornwall the first-winter Bonaparte’s Gull was still on the Hayle estuary on 11th-12th, with an adult seen in Co.Cork at Ballydehob on 13th-17th.
A Sabine’s Gull was seen off Strumble Head (Pembrokeshire) on 13th.
Numbers of Glaucous Gulls remained subdued, with barely double figures recorded for a second consecutive week. Iceland Gulls, while more numerous, weren’t setting the world on fire either, with a little over 25 birds logged nationwide.
An adult Kumlien’s Gull was seen in Stokes Bay and latterly from Hill Head (Hampshire) on 14th.
Finally, the adult Gull-billed Tern was still hanging out at South Huish Marsh (Devon) on 11th-13th.
The pick of the week’s raptors has to be the female Pallid Harrier seen going west at Stiffkey (Norfolk) in the evening of 12th.
A ringtail Montagu’s Harrier was found on The Lizard (Cornwall) on 14th, and seen again there on 17th.
In Shetland the recent Rough-legged Buzzard continued to haunt the central mainland this week, being seen regularly at Burn of Fitch on 11th-15th. A probable was seen in flight on Orkney Mainland at Birsay Moors RSPB on 15th.
A Black Kite was reported over Duncombe Park (North Yorkshire) on 17th.
A report of a probable Black-winged Kite on the A14 west of Kirton (Suffolk) on 16th came, alas, to nothing further. In light of today's breaking news the observer will no doubt wishing they weren't in a moving car when the sighting was made.
With around 20 Alpine Swifts recorded again in Britain and Ireland this week, the species was plainly not going to vanish from our radars or consciousness just yet. A couple of sites hosted more than one bird at a time – Beeston Bump (Norfolk) on 11th had two birds, as did Dawlish (Devon) again on 12th, and Cromer two on 15th.
A reasonable showing of Hoopoes were being seen lately, with lingering birds augmented by a few new finds. We began the week with birds still present on Colonsay (Argyll & Bute) on 11th-14th, on Portland (Dorset) on 11th-17th, near Beeston Bump (Norfolk) on 12th, in Rhoshirwaun (Gwynedd) still on 13th, and at East Runton (Norfolk) for its fifth day still on 13th. Additional birds were found this week at Crosshaven (Co.Cork) on 11th-13th, Kilmore Quay (Co.Wexford) on 13th, St Martin’s (Scilly) on 13th-14th, near Lough Gill (Co.Kerry), near Lewes (East Sussex) on 14th, reported from Rodmell (East Sussex) on 14th, at Whetsted GPs (Kent), Wyverstone (Suffolk), and Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 15th and, on 17th, on Portland, at Swanage (Dorset), at Brading (Isle of Wight), and near Bisterne (Hampshire) in an area with no general access.
Scilly was the place to be for Woodchat Shrikes, with three at least present on St Mary’s as the week wore on, and additional birds found on St Martin’s on 13th and 17th, and Gugh on 16th. Another was seen on Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 14th-15th. On 14th the Nanjizal Valley (Cornwall) bird was still present and, on 15th-16th, it or another was seen nearby at Polgigga. On 16th birds were found at Porthgwarra (Cornwall), and Filey (North Yorkshire), the Cornish individual remaining there the following day.
The wintering Great Grey Shrike remained in Kent at Hothfield on 11th-16th, and another was reported from near Brighton (East Sussex) on 16th.
A Waxwing was heard only in flight over Aviemore (Highland & Caithness) on 13th.
The first Golden Oriole of the spring checked in at Garretstown (Co.Cork) on 17th.
A possible Short-toed Lark was heard on Tresco (Scilly) on 17th.
A Red-rumped Swallow was found at Conwy RSPB (Conwy) on 11th-12th, with another at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 12th.
The Savi’s Warbler remained in song at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire & Wirral) on 11th-14th.
In Suffolk the Eastern Yellow Wagtail remained at Carlton Marshes SWT on 11th-17th. Blue-headed Wagtails this week were found inland at Clifton Pits (Worcestershire) on 11th; on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 14th; at Paxton Pits NR (Cambridgeshire) on 15th; on 16th at Waungron (Glamorgan), Lundy (Devon), Steart WWT (Somerset), and Pilling Lane (Lancashire & North Merseyside); and on 17th on Portland (Dorset), and Lundy still.
A Richard’s Pipit was seen at Patrington Haven (East Yorkshire) on 14th, while the Tawny Pipit was again seen on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 13th and 16th.
Next a break from Kent’s recent dominance, and just one Serin was seen this week – at Durlston CP (Dorset) on 11th – until the weekend when, on 15th, birds were found at Tintagel (Cornwall), Portland Bill (Dorset), and Widewater Lagoon (West Sussex).
Finally, in Cornwall, a Little Bunting was seen near Cot Valley at Boscregan Farm on 17th.
We’ve had our share of influxes lately, and all proved popular - Alpine Swifts, Night Herons, and Black-winged Stilts come straight to mind. There’s one species, though, that were (distant) history to repeat itself and a small arrival occur on our shores, would blow all that’s gone before clean out of the water. Two Pallas’s Sandgrouse in Finland at Saarijarvi on 15th were a reminder that another British or Irish bird, just one, would be warmly received.
Two Pallas's Sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus photographed at Saarijärvi, photo by Hannu Tammelin - 8th record for Finland pic.twitter.com/9Jhr6JGDME
— Tarsiger (@TarsigerTeam) April 15, 2023
Sweden, in addition to the Baltimore Oriole still present in Förslöv on 11th-16th and the male Siberian Rubythroat still at Trollhattan on 11th-15th, had a Stejneger’s Scoter at Tonnersa on 14th-16th.
The bulk of the overseas news however was just that, properly overseas. Starting in Israel, the Yellow-billed Stork remained present at Ma'ale Gilboa fishponds on 11th-17th.
A Pied Crow was seen at Laghouat (Algeria) on 13th.
On Cape Verde, an African Crake and an Intermediate Egret were on Santiago on 14th.
Way out on the Azores, a Hooded Merganser was present on Flores on 13th, and additional colour came in the form of a Wood Duck on Sao Miguel on 16th.
As we pass into the latter half of April, with migration getting into full swing, the gamut of passerine possibilities opens up still further given a helpful push from the south or east.
A Subalpine Warbler of one flavour or another doesn’t feel out of the question at this juncture; perhaps a Red-throated Pipit, or a Rustic Bunting might brighten somebody’s day.
Better still, few would say no to a rare lark, with 2008 sticking in the mind for giving us both a Calandra Lark on Fair Isle on 20th-22nd, and a Black Lark in Norfolk at Winterton Dunes on 20th-21st. A mainland example of either would go down very well indeed.
Jon Dunn
18 Apr 2023
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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