Weekly birding round-up: 30 May - 5 Jun 2023
A great big lump of high pressure anchored itself this week over Britain and Ireland… not an entirely helpful place for it to be, but in the absence of the desired brisk south-easterlies had it been further east of us, determined birds were still getting through… and, amongst them, some genuine quality.
Think Great Snipe and, as a rule, one’s mind goes to those misty autumnal mornings when you walk outside in Shetland and the air feels rare – there’s promise hanging over the day ahead, and high hopes of something lurking in the wet ditches and long grass of the fields ahead of you. In a nutshell, one of these big beasts is definitely on the wishlist should the birding gods oblige.
Specifically, that fantasy is set firmly in September – it’s the traditional month for Great Snipe records in Britain. A little under 200 birds have been recorded in Britain post-1950, and around half of those were found in September. By the time you remove August and October birds, you’re not left with a great many historic Great Snipes to go around.
Which isn’t to say they never turn up in spring or early summer. One found this week at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 31st has its post-1950 precedents – 13 of them, most of which were found in Shetland and Orkney. Many of these were one-day birds, but of those found on the British mainland, a few did the decent and popular thing and hung around a few days – notably, and most recently, the bird at Cley (Norfolk) on 11th-16th May 2011.
And yes, any lingering Great Snipe at any time of year on the British mainland is going to be a popular draw, let alone a spring bird. This week’s individual was found at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 31st, remained there until 3rd, and at times showed well to a very appreciative audience.
Keeping the momentum going for a year that’s already been a classic one for Nearctic sparrows, it was the turn of Bardsey (Gwynedd) this week to score a fine White-throated Sparrow on 4th.
The island has a total monopoly on the species from a Gwynedd perspective, boasting the county’s first ever record, a long-stayer on 15th October – 7th November 1967, and the county’s only other subsequent bird, a one-day individual on 11th June 2010. Were another to occur in the county, wise money would have placed it on Bardsey, and so it proved this week. Alas, the bird wasn’t sticking around, and wasn’t seen subsequently there.
We love a county first in these parts and, with the brave new world of the shrike formerly known as Isabelline being split every which way, a female Turkestan Shrike in East Sussex at West Rise Marsh on 30th potentially, if accepted, represents a first for the county. Should it be accepted, it’s still only the ninth British record, so understandably for all it was only present in East Sussex for a day, it was duly attracting some interest.
Pick of the seabird crop this week were a couple of first-summer White-billed Divers seen off Sumburgh (Shetland) on 3rd.
Skua passage almost dried up entirely – half a dozen Pomarine Skuas were seen from Birling Gap (East Sussex) on 1st, with a single bird seen off South Uist the same day, but that was pretty much it for the week until 3rd, when one was seen from Dawlish Warren NNR (Devon), and 4th, when a final singleton was seen between Stornoway and Lewis (Highland & Caithness / Western Isles). On 5th a final single bird was seen from Long Nab (North Yorkshire).
Balearic Shearwaters continued to trickle past Portland (Dorset), with sightings of single birds there on 30th, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Another was seen off Annet (Scilly) on 1st.
After a fortnight of fairly intense Glossy Ibis action, things quietened down on that front in recent days. Which isn’t to say they were entirely absent, of course… One remained at Cantley Marshes RSPB (Norfolk) on 31st-5th, with three present there on 2nd, and two on 4th; one was still to be seen at Dungeness RSPB (Kent) on 31st; another was seen again at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London) on 1st; duos were noted over Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 1st and Berney Marshes RSPB (Norfolk) on 2nd; a single bird was seen on the north Kent coast at Seasalter on 3rd; and a flock of five birds were over Anchorsholme (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 3rd. On 4th a single bird was seen in Cambridgeshire at Fortrey’s Hall. One remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 5th, and a bird was seen again that day at Welney WWT (Norfolk).
Night Herons continued to be reported almost daily nationwide. As May drew to an end, single birds were seen on 30th at Sandbach Flashes (Cheshire & North Wirral) and on 31st at Rye Harbour NR (East Sussex); on 1st one was seen in Dorset at Lodmoor RSPB; a single bird was over Bude (Cornwall) on 3rd, and two were found in Ceredigion on 3rd at Ynys-hir RSPB. On 5th one was seen at Sparham Pools (Norfolk), while one remained near Earith (Cambridgeshire).
The Squacco Heron remained in North Yorkshire at Potter Brompton Carr on 30th-31st, with further subsequent sightings coming on 1st from Bank Island, and on 1st-2nd at North Duffield Carrs. Another was seen in Dorset near Wool on the River Frome on 30th.
The recent Purple Heron continued to be seen intermittently in Suffolk at Minsmere RSPB on 30th-1st; another was seen in North Yorkshire at Potter Brompton Carr on 2nd; another was seen at South Slob (Co.Wexford) on 4th; while in Norfolk on 5th sightings came from Potter Heigham Marshes and Hickling Broad NWT.
A Spotted Crake was heard at Wigan Flashes LNR (Greater Manchester) on 1st.
A couple of recent American Wigeons remained in Scotland and kick off the week’s brief quacker foray – these being drakes on Lewis (Western Isles) still on 31st-1st, and at Scatness (Shetland) still on 30th. Another was found on Orkney on Westray on 31st-2nd, and one was seen on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 4th.
A trio of Green-winged Teal sightings were made in recent days – at Middleton Lakes RSPB (Staffordshire) on 30th-31st and again on 4th; at Ladywalk NR (Warwickshire) on 1st-2nd; and in Highland & Caithness at St John’s Loch on 2nd.
In Ireland, the resident drake Black Duck was still present on Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 1st-4th.
In Norfolk, the female Ferruginous Duck remained on Hickling Broad NWT on 30th-5th; a female was still present at Potteric Carr YWT (South Yorkshire) on 30th-1st; and another was seen again at Colwick CP (Nottinghamshire) on 31st-5th.
St John’s Loch (Highland & Caithness) was enjoying a good week for Nearctic ducks, let alone at this time of year, for in addition to a Green-winged Teal it also sported a drake Ring-necked Duck on 2nd. Further examples of the latter species were seen lately in West Yorkshire at Fairburn Ings RSPB still on 30th-5th, and on South Uist (Western Isles) still on 31st. The female bird from weeks ago was again reported from Stodmarsh NNR (Kent) on 31st.
The drake King Eider remained on the Ythan estuary (Aberdeenshire) on 30th-3rd.
Female Surf Scoters were logged this week off North Ronaldsay (Orkney) still on 30th, and Ruddons Point (Fife) on 3rd.
We should probably start the week’s waders with Black-winged Stilts, for they continued to pop up all over the shop in decent numbers and were brightening many a local patch in recent days. May ended with two birds still present at Potter Heigham Marshes (Norfolk) on 30th; two settled still at Blue House Farm EWT (Essex) on 30th-31st; the male still present at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 30th-2nd; duos seen on 30th at Edderthorpe Flash (South Yorkshire) and Nosterfield LNR (North Yorkshire), and Staveley YWT (North Yorkshire) on 31st-2nd; two also in Suffolk at Shelley on 31st; and a probable over Crathie (Aberdeenshire) at night on 31st.
The opening days of June showed little sign of the pace of sightings abating. One remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 1st still, with another sighting at Ring Marsh that evening. Two were seen at Misson (Nottinghamshire) on 2nd-3rd; three present at Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk) on 2nd were down to two birds seen there on 3rd; two were found in Somerset on 2nd at Catcott Lows NR, with one bird at Steart WWT (Somerset) on 3rd-4th; two were seen on 4th at Old Moor RSPB (South Yorkshire); and two birds were found in Co.Clare at Ballymacrinan Bay on 3rd. On 5th two were present at Etton Maxey Pits (Cambridgeshire).
A fine adult American Golden Plover was found at Skaw on Whalsay (Shetland) on 30th; and a first-summer bird at Montrose (Angus) on 30th-31st.
Neartic sandpipers were well-represented this week. A White-rumped Sandpiper was present on the Bann estuary (Co.Derry) on 2nd-3rd…
…while Pectoral Sandpipers were present at Wedholme Flow (Cumbria) still on 30th, and Balormie Pig Farm (Moray) on 31st-1st still; and new birds found on 30th-31st at National Wetlands Centre WWT (Carmarthenshire), Sanday (Orkney) on 30th, and Meikle Loch (Aberdeenshire) and Blanket Nook (Co.Donegal) on 5th.
An adult Spotted Sandpiper was found on 5th at Upton Warren NR (Worcestershire).
Keeping with the Nearctic theme, in Norfolk the first-summer Long-billed Dowitcher was seen this week on 31st in flight past Titchwell RSPB.
Broad-billed Sandpipers weren’t quite done with us just yet this spring, with not only a bird settling for a few days on Inland Sea (Anglesey) on 31st-2nd, but also the startling news on 4th-5th that what’s presumably the bird seen over a period of some weeks last summer on Shetland Mainland was back again in the Levenwick area.
Numbers of Temminck’s Stints took another tumble, with barely double figures logged over the course of the week. In Norfolk two birds were seen on 30th at Stiffkey Fen, and on 30th-1st at North Point Pools; single birds were seen on 30th-31st at Keyhaven Marshes (Hampshire), on 30th-1st at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire), on 30th-1st at Rutland Water (Hampshire), on 2nd-3rd at Seaforth LWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside), on 2nd-3rd at Loch Tay (Forth),and on 4th-5th at Buckenham Marshes RSPB (Norfolk). On 4th two were seen at Worth Marsh (Kent). A further bird was reported from Westray (Orkney) on 1st.
Finally, a Red-necked Phalarope was seen on 31st at Freiston Shore RSPB (Lincolnshire).
Heading up the terns this week was the excellent news that the velvety loveliness that’s the adult surinamensis American Black Tern was back for another summer at Long Nanny (Northumberland) on 1st-5th.
A second-summer White-winged Black Tern was locally popular in Cambridgeshire on 2nd when it settled for a while at Paxton Pits in the afternoon following a morning sojourn at Grafham Water. Another was reported on 4th between Stornoway and Lewis (Highland & Caithness / Western Isles).
30th proved to be a good day for terns, with the recent south coast Forster’s Tern noted heading east past Hill Head (Hampshire), and a Gull-billed Tern seen near St Osyth (Essex). A further example of the latter was seen at Ring Strand (Co.Cork) on 5th.
Scotland gave us the best of a thin crop of decent gulls this week – these being Sabine’s Gulls seen a little way off Fair Isle (Shetland) on 30th, and reported from Kinnaird Head (Aberdeenshire) on 1st.
White-wingers, meanwhile, were reduced to a scatter of Glaucous Gulls. One seen in Clonakilty (Co.Cork) on 1st was the only non-Scottish bird reported – the balance being individuals seen on 1st on Yell (Shetland) and Westray (Orkney); on 2nd on Unst (Shetland) and at Burghead (Moray); and another reported on 3rd from Brodgar RSPB (Orkney), with one that day also on Barra (Western Isles).
Just a few Iceland Gulls, meanwhile, were reported all week – this being a juvenile on Lewis (Western Isles) on 4th, immatures on South and North Uist (Western Isles) on 5th, and a bird on Skye (Highland & Caithness) on 5th.
Scarce and rare raptors were in fairly short supply too this week. Perhaps best of them was a female Red-footed Falcon seen on 3rd-5th at Attenborough NR (Nottinghamshire).
A Montagu’s Harrier was found on 3rd at Bourne (Lincolnshire); and another was seen over Dersingham Bog NNR (Norfolk) on 4th.
Cornwall gave us a couple of Black Kite records – one seen on 31st at Chiverton Cross, one near Kilkhampton on 2nd, and another on 3rd at Wadebridge.
A possible Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on 5th at Willow Tree Fen LWT (Lincolnshire).
The male Snowy Owl was again seen on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 2nd.
While persistent north-easterlies on the eastern side of Britain weren’t ideal from the perspective of bringing swathes of late spring passerine action our way this past week, nor were they entirely unhelpful. Some birds found a way to reach us, and were found in their turn by those birders diligently working their local beats.
Starting with the warblers, there was yet more variety on offer this week. We’ll begin with a report of an Iberian Chiffchaff in Dorset at Ballard Down on 30th, and a possible heard in song on 4th-5th at Rhoscolyn (Anglesey)…
And move from there to a Greenish Warbler at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 3rd, and another at The Naze (Essex) on 4th.
In Norfolk the Great Reed Warbler continued to linger at Pensthorpe Water Fowl Park on 30th-5th; and another was intermittently reported from Stodmarsh NNR (Kent) on 31st-2nd. On 4th birds were found at Langford (Nottinghamshire) and on Calf of Man (Isle of Man). On 5th a final bird was found in song at Saltholme RSPB (Cleveland). Additional possible birds were reported from Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) again on 4th, and Ilkeston (Devon) during the preceding week.
Marsh Warblers were filtering in, with some 50 birds logged, for the most part down the east coast – the exception being a bird well inland at Poolsbrook Marsh (Derbyshire) on 2nd. Elsewhere, two were present at Chapel Six Marshes (Lincolnshire) on 2nd at least; and three birds at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 3rd.
Inevitably, there were going to be some Blyth’s Reed Warblers mixed up in that little lot. Birds were found on Barra (Western Isles) on 30th-31st; Papa Westray (Orkney) on 31st; Sumburgh (Shetland) on 1st; and at Invergowrie (Angus) on 2nd. Another probable was reported on 3rd from Peterculter (Aberdeenshire), and one (or a Marsh) on Bryher (Scilly) on 30th.
Sumburgh (Shetland) scored again on 2nd with an Eastern Subalpine Warbler found there; another was found in song on Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 30th.
The Western Subalpine Warbler remained on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 30th-4th.
A handful of Icterine Warblers were found this week – present on Isle of May (Fife) and Fair Isle (Shetland) on 31st; and on 3rd on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), Spurn (East Yorkshire), and Dursey Island (Co.Cork). On 4th further birds were uncovered at Melvich (Highland & Caithness) and Kilnsea and Spurn (East Yorkshire). The Kilnsea bird was trapped and ringed on 5th.
A Great Grey Shrike was reported on 3rd from Mull (Argyll & Bute).
Numbers of Red-backed Shrikes were half-decent by contemporary standards, with around 20 birds found this week, some of which stuck around a couple of days to the delight of local birders.
Similar numbers of equally pleasing Golden Orioles were seen and heard nationwide this week.
A Bee-eater was found on North Uist (Western Isles) on 31st; another was heard only at Grove Hill (Pembrokeshire) on 1st; and three birds seen at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 2nd-3rd.
A possible Alpine Swift was reported from Grimethorpe (South Yorkshire) on 2nd. On 5th, a possible Pallid Swift was seen at Idle Valley NR (Nottinghamshire).
Dorset landed a Hoopoe at Dancing Ledge on 1st, and another inland near Cerne Abbas on 3rd; while a further bird was seen in Cambridge (Cambridgeshire) on 3rd.
A Short-toed Lark was found on Great Saltee Island (Co.Wexford) on 30th, and another at Dale Airfield (Pembrokeshire) again on 4th.
Red-rumped Swallows were seen at Spiggie (Shetland) on 1st; Unst (Shetland) and Oakenholt (Flintshire) on 2nd; and at Sumburgh (Shetland) on 3rd. Another unconfirmed report came of a bird at Colintraive (Argyll & Bute) on 2nd, and one was reported from Low Newton-by-the-Sea (Northumberland) on 4th.
A report of a Rose-coloured Starling at Aylsham (Norfolk) on 30th was followed by confirmed birds on St Agnes (Scilly) on 1st-2nd; in Suffolk at Landguard NR and Felixstowe on 2nd; and on 4th-5th at Feock (Cornwall) and Chelmsford (Essex). Another was reported on 4th from Titchwell (Norfolk).
Bluethroats this week were seen on Isle of May (Fife) on 1st, where two females were found, and on 5th when another was trapped and ringed; and also on 1st at Liberton (Lothian) and on Papa Westray (Orkney).
North Ronaldsay (Orkney) got itself a Red-breasted Flycatcher on 31st and 3rd. Another was on Fetlar (Shetland) on 5th.
Further north and west still, a leucopsis Amur Wagtail was found on Foula (Shetland) on 3rd, only the second record of this White Wagtail subspecies for Britain following a bird at Seaham (Co.Durham) on 5th-6th April 2005.
Grey-headed Wagtails were seen this week at Holland Haven CP (Essex) on 30th-1st; Portland (Dorset) on 1st-2nd; Southwold (Suffolk) on 3rd; Balnakeil (Highland & Caithness) on 3rd; West Runton (Norfolk) on 4th, Fair Isle (Shetland) on 4th, where two birds were noted; and Red Row (Northumberland) on 5th. A Blue-headed Wagtail was found on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 30th, with additional birds on 4th at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB (Lancashire & North Merseyside) and Hollesley Marshes RSPB (Suffolk).
A Richard’s Pipit was noted passing over Constantine (Cornwall) on 30th. Fair Isle (Shetland) scored an Olive-backed Pipit on 4th.
In Kendal (Cumbria), the recent singing Common Rosefinch remained in its favoured garden on 30th-2nd – a ringed bird, it transpired this had been trapped and ringed on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 13th June 2022. Additional birds were found this week on Fair Isle, St Kilda (Western Isles), and Calf of Man (Isle of Man) on 3rd; Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 2nd; and Long Nab (North Yorkshire) on 4th.
Some great detective work by @JDriver_Pendle to identify the ringed Rosefinch singing in Kendal - here he is at time of ringing last spring @FI_Obs, looking a bit less dapper! https://t.co/i3R2gjz1R6 pic.twitter.com/tp2oKebtOw
— Alex Penn (@AlexPenn_1) June 2, 2023
The week was to prove a good one for Serin, with half a dozen birds logged. Cornwall did well, with sightings at Porthgwarra on 30th, and Trevassack Quarry and The Lizard on 31st; another was found in Kent at Langdon Hole on 3rd, and one on Portland (Dorset) on 4th; and further north, birds were found at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 1st, South Gare (Cleveland) on 2nd, Thorganby (Lincolnshire) on 2nd-5th, and Pennington Flash CP (Greater Manchester) on 5th.
Finally, a cracking singing male Rustic Bunting graced Fair Isle (Shetland) on 30th-1st; another probable was heard over Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 31st.
A drop in the endless westerly winds, and the first migrant I come across @FI_Obs this morning is a gorgeous male Rustic Bunting, singing away in the Haa garden. Class! pic.twitter.com/k69IalomjP
— Alex Penn (@AlexPenn_1) May 30, 2023
Still dominating, utterly, the overseas news this week, the Ancient Murrelet remained in Spain in the mouth of the River Odiel near Huelva on 30th-4th.
This little #krill munching awesome Ancient Murrelet is still hanging out on the Rio Odiel ! #mérguloantiguo #littlemurres #FlywayBirding #vagrant #JustifiedandAncient pic.twitter.com/q2sMK7k68j
— Inglorious Bustards (@Otis_inglorius) May 30, 2023
Gazing into the murky crystal ball of the coming week, it looks like there’s definitely a rarity bound our way. Could it be – possibly – easterlies by the weekend?
The coming week, the second in June, offers all sorts of delicious potential. It’s fairly hard to look beyond the sheer numbers of past Black-headed Buntings - tough cookies, and with some 20 past records for the coming week, offering a fair bit of precedent.
Jon Dunn
6 Jun 2023
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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