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Weekly birding round-up: 1 - 7 Aug 2023

Summer doldrums can certainly be a thing in the birding world, but this week wasn’t beset by them – the seawatching season continued to deliver, recent British and Irish rarities remained in situ, and there was new rare blood in Wales and Scotland.

 

The week had already been a good one for seabirds by the time Monday 7th dawned, and the Scilly pelagic season could already be counted as a resounding success given the multiple sightings of Scopoli’s Shearwater racked up in the past fortnight and a certain South Polar Skua as the icing on the cake, but there was always the distinct possibility that something rarer yet would be found… this was Scilly, after all, and the waters around it were promisingly (if unsettlingly) warm.

News broke in the early afternoon of 7th of something more special still – Britain’s second ever Red-footed Booby had been found just a mile or so southwest of Bishop Rock. Cue some drama at sea…

Our first record was the ill-fated bird that was picked up exhausted on the beach at St Leonards-on-Sea (East Sussex) on 4th September 2016. A bird that, despite all the odds, stayed alive in care during the days and weeks that followed… a recovery that was to prove ultimately fruitless as it was destined to die in quarantine in the Cayman Islands after being flown there in mid-December.

The decision to export it left a bad taste in the mouth of those birders at the time who’d have preferred it was released in Britain. For those on the Scilly pelagic on 7th, Britain’s second Red-footed Booby will have been as sweet as a first for Britain.

 

We’ll never know for sure, of course, but there’s got to be a sneaking suspicion that the Bridled Tern found in Gwynedd in the morning of 6th at Afon Wen was one and the same as the black-and-white tern seen offshore from Pendeen (Cornwall) in the morning of 31st.

Then again, as we’ve seen in France lately, there’s Sooty Tern over the not so very distant horizon too, so perhaps best to park such glib speculation and focus on the definite. The latter being the positive news that the Gwynedd Bridled Tern remained at Afon Wen into the late afternoon of 6th, and was still present there as the week drew to a close on 7th.

It was going to be a win for Gwynedd birders had their bird had proved to be Sooty after all – the wait for another, in the wake of a bird killed at Barmouth Golf Course on 17th August 1909, has been a long one. That this week’s bird was Bridled was marginally better still, as this was a county first.

 

The height of summer isn’t, as a rule, the time we expect a top quality quacker to hove into the headlines, but that’s exactly what happened this week with the belated news emerging in the morning of 6th that a drake Harlequin Duck had been seen the preceding day at the entrance to Loch Fleet (Highland & Caithness).

Happily for locals, the bird was still present there later in the afternoon of 6th. There was, however, no sign of it there as the week drew to a close on 7th.

 

If the week drew to a close with news of a mega seabird at sea off Scilly, that’s only fitting really as that’s how it started too. As the new week dawned on 1st, with it came the news that a skua seen the previous day from the Scilly pelagic of 31st had been positively identified as a South Polar Skua – Britain’s fourth ever of its kind.

Those prior birds were decades ago – from the first, found in Dorset in the winter of early 1996, and via two subsequent birds on Scilly in 2001/2 and in Glamorgan in 2002 that were both taken into care. Another British bird has been a long time coming. Not that it wasn’t recently predicted – hats off to Alex Lees for a nailed-on premonition.

And ultimate kudos to Bob Flood for his gripping, forensic analysis of the bird in question on 31st. That’s an account that makes the hairs go up on every reading.

Could another be on the cards in the days to come? Or is something rarer still waiting in the wings? Time and the Scilly pelagics will tell.

 

Even by the high standards of recent weeks, the past week’s seabird section is something of a glittering, stellar affair in every conceivable way short of a British or Irish first.

Let’s start with Scopoli’s Shearwater - in the wake of the preceding week’s multiple bird arrival, at least one or two were still swirling around in British waters. A probable was seen from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 2nd, and additional birds were noted on the Scilly pelagics of 6th and 7th, with two seen in the evening of the latter date.

Needless to say, these came on the coat-tails of the immense arrival of Cory’s Shearwaters here lately – magnificent numbers continued to be logged this week, particularly at the start of the week – 4,000 were seen from the Scillonian and Porthgwarra (Cornwall) alike on 1st, while the latter site scored an impressively precise 5,536 birds the following day.

Great Shearwaters were less numerous again, with around 1,900 noted over the course of recent days – the best tally being 1,200 from the Scillonian on 1st.

Around 115 Balearic Shearwaters seemed, by comparison, very modest indeed, and included no particularly notable single site counts.

It almost goes without saying that, with the week’s seawatching observer effort and conditions, a Fea’s / Desertas Petrel or two would be picked up – Porthgwarra (Cornwall) proved to be the place to be, with sightings there on 1st, 2nd and 4th.

As for Wilson’s Petrels, it was to prove to be another solid week, with at least 95 birds logged in Britain and Ireland. Notable sightings included 17 birds from the Scilly pelagic of 3rd, 10 seen from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 2nd, 11 from Pendeen on 5th, and a Welsh record coming from Strumble Head (Pembrokeshire) on 3rd.

At sea Leach’s Petrel sightings came a couple of miles off Unst (Shetland) on 3rd; from the ferry between Cairnryan (Dumfries & Galloway) and Belfast again on 3rd also; and on 6th from the ferry between Lochmaddy (Western Isles) and Uig. Another was seen from North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 4th, and one on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 6th.

Numbers of Pomarine Skuas approximately halved compared with the preceding week, with some 40 birds in all seen – peak counts being quartets noted on 5th from Penlee Point (Cornwall) and Dawlish Warren NNR (Devon).

Single Long-tailed Skuas were noted from Strumble Head (Pembrokeshire) on 1st and 3rd; Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 1st; on 2nd from Fife Ness (Fife), and Dalkey and Skerries (Co.Dublin); from Old Portlethen (Aberdeenshire) on 4th; from Whitburn CP (Co.Durham) and Toe Head (Co.Cork) on 5th; and Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 6th. Two were seen on 6th from Thorpeness (Suffolk), and one more south of Baltimore (Co.Cork) on 7th.

After an absence of over three months the adult Double-crested Cormorant made a welcome return to the dailies this week, being seen at Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 1st and 6th; it was last reported from there back on 27th April.

 

In the wake of the recent Black Stork seen over Wymeswold (Leicestershire) on 27th July, it or another put in an appearance on 1st at Osmotherley (North Yorkshire).

After many weeks of fewer than double figures of Glossy Ibis being reported nationwide, the week just gone marked a change in that with a flock of 18 birds seen over Lancing (West Sussex) on 4th. Other familiar faces continued to be seen in England – two at Dungeness (Kent) still on 3rd-6th; two still at Aldeburgh Town Marshes (Suffolk) on 1st-6th; and one still tucked into Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB (Cambridgeshire) on 1st-7th. In Co.Wexford two were again present at Lady’s Island Lake on 4th-5th, with three there once more on 6th.

Night Herons remained this week on 1st at Fishlake Meadows HIWWT (Hampshire), and The Gearagh (Co.Cork); while a probable flew over Craven Arms (Shropshire) on 7th.

 

With the obvious exception of in Highland & Caithness this week, the quackers of note were still a fairly muted affair – though Lisvane Reservoir (Glamorgan) was having a good spell, with the lingering drake Ring-necked Duck still present there on 1st-4th joined in the news by a female present on 2nd-3rd. The Carlton Marshes SWT (Suffolk) drake was also still present there on 1st-7th.

In Scotland the second-summer King Eider was still to be seen at Musselburgh Lagoons (Lothian) on 1st-6th.

The recent female Surf Scoter was again seen off Kinnaber (Angus) on 3rd.

 

Bumped from the headlines by new rarity blood, Ireland’s long-awaited Black-winged Pratincole continued to extend its residency at Blanket Nook (Co.Donegal) until 7th; joined there by a bonus Baird’s Sandpiper on 5th.

In Shetland, despite being present in an area with high levels of human disturbance courtesy of a busy adjacent airport (and one thoughtless birder who was seen flushing it the length of the beach at Grutness before it departed for the remainder of that particular day), the adult Hudsonian Godwit remained more or less present in the Grutness area throughout the week on 1st-7th.

The Pacific Golden Plover remained on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 1st, and was again seen there on 7th.

The adult American Golden Plover remained on Myroe Levels (Co.Derry) on 1st-5th; another was found at Blakeney Point (Norfolk) on 2nd.

In Kent two juvenile Kentish Plovers were present at Pegwell Bay on 4th.

The breeding party of Black-winged Stilts in Kent were reunited this week with all six birds again seen together on 2nd at New Downs; five remained in the Eddersthorpe Flash vicinity (South Yorkshire) until 6th; while numbers seen at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) fluctuated daily, with a peak count this week of nine birds still present on 2nd. A single juvenile was seen fleetingly at Buckenham Marshes RSPB (Norfolk) on 7th.

Temminck’s Stints were found this week on 2nd at Low Newton-by-the-Sea (Northumberland) and, on 4th, at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire).

The week proved a busy one Pectoral Sandpipers. One remained in Norfolk at North Point Pools on 1st, with a brief sighting at Lynn Point on 1st also; another was reported that day from Musselburgh Lagoons (Lothian). On 2nd a bird was present at Alturlie Point (Highland & Caithness); one settled at Oare Marshes KWT (Kent) on 2nd-3rd. Sightings of a bird came from Co.Louth at Lurgangreen on 3rd, and Seabank on 3rd-4th and again on 7th. One remained in Cambridgeshire at Ouse Washes RSPB on 4th. A Cornish bird arrived on the Camel Estuary around Walmsley Sanctuary CBWPS area on 4th-7th. The week’s final bird was found on 6th-7th at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside); with a possible on 6th on Anglesey on the Alaw Estuary.

In Co.Wexford a White-rumped Sandpiper was seen at Tacumshin on 7th.

A possible Marsh Sandpiper was reported from Cliffe Pools RSPB (Kent) on 4th.

In Norfolk the Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Cley NWT on 1st-7th; in Orkney, one was seen on Sanday on 3rd-7th.

A probable Wilson’s Phalarope was seen going north past Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 1st.

Three Grey Phalarope were noted from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 5th; another was seen from the Scilly pelagic of 3rd; and a final bird south of Baltimore (Co.Cork) on 7th.

And finally, a Red-necked Phalarope put in a brief appearance at Abbotsbury Swannery (Dorset) on 5th.

 

Two of our recent adult Bonaparte’s Gulls were again seen in the past week – these being the stalwart at Oare Marshes KWT (Kent) on 1st-5th still, and the Argyll & Bute individual again on Mull on 1st-2nd. Another bird was found on 6th on Orkney’s Sanday.

A scatter of Sabine’s Gulls were again noted lately – Cornish sightings coming from Pendeen on 3rd, 5th and 6th, and East Pentire and St Ives on 5th; a Kentish record off North Foreland on 3rd; North Sea sightings from Long Nab (North Yorkshire) on 2nd and Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 5th; and Irish birds from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 5th and 6th, with two birds seen on the latter date, and south of Baltimore (Co.Cork) on 7th.

Precious few Glaucous Gulls were seen this week – one still on Barra (Western Isles) on 4th-5th, and additional birds seen at Timoleague (Co.Cork) on 2nd, and Newbiggin (Northumberland) on 4th. The recent Iceland Gull remained on Barra on 4th-6th, while a moribund bird was present at Ireland on Shetland Mainland on 7th.

Starting the terns in Ireland again this week, the adult male Least Tern back at Portrane (Co.Dublin) on 3rd and again on 6th.

Co.Wexford meanwhile continued to sport a Caspian Tern, seen at Tacumshin again on 4th-5th and Lady’s Island Lake on 5th. In Norfolk the yellow-ringed bird continued to haunt Potter Heigham Marshes and Hickling Broad NWT on 1st-3rd. A further bird was tracked heading west along the north Kent coast past Herne Bay and Seasalter in the late afternoon of 6th.

In Dorset the first-summer Forster's Tern was still hanging around Arne RSPB on 1st-7th.

 

A couple of Montagu’s Harrier enlivened the area around Blue House Farm EWT (Essex) on 1st-7th, with at least one seen there daily. Another bird was further inland near Wallington (Hertfordshire) on 2nd-6th again; and a final bird on 6th at St Olaves (Norfolk).

 

The weekly passerines were a quiet bunch again, albeit with one or two green shoots not of spring, but autumn…

A Wryneck was seen at Brading Marshes RSPB (Isle of Wight) on 3rd.

On North Ronaldsay (Orkney) the Red-backed Shrike remained present on 2nd-7th; another was seen on Foula (Shetland) on 4th and 7th; and a bird was found in South Yorkshire at Auckley Common on 6th-7th.

Shetland also scored a Greenish Warbler, trapped and ringed on Fair Isle on 2nd.

A Red-rumped Swallow was reported from Dorset at Higher Woodsford on 7th.

A Bee-eater was seen on the Isle of Wight at Ventnor on 6th, and another on 7th at Elton Reservoir (Greater Manchester).

The feldegg Black-headed Wagtail was again seen briefly at Myroe Levels (Co.Derry) on 3rd.

A Common Rosefinch was found on Foula (Shetland) on 4th.

 

The Netherlands goes to the top of the overseas class this week, with the recent female White-headed Duck still present at Brabantse Biesbosch on 2nd-6th, and a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater found at Fochteloo on 5th.

In Germany, the female Steller’s Eider remained at Eider-Sperrwerk on 4th.

A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was found in Poland at Biala Olecka onn 3rd-5th.

In Denmark the Steppe Grey Shrike was still present at Hirtshals on 2nd-6th.

A very wayward Brown Booby was found in Finland on 7th six miles south of Helsinki.

Norway meanwhile gave us notice of the autumn ahead in emphatic fashion with a Common Yellowthroat found on 7th on Værøy.

France this week gave us Sooty Tern at La Palmyre still on 1st-6th, and a Western Reef Egret on 3rd at Etang de Scamandre.

Finally, and we’ll doubtless be hearing plenty more from the archipelago in the months to come, a Least Sandpiper was found in the Azores of Terceira on 3rd.

 

Fair to say then that, on the basis of the week just gone, August has already got off to a flying start. What might we dare to hope for in the week to come?

While waders are on the move now, it’s simply impossible in the immediate aftermath of a fortnight that’s delivered Scopoli’s Shearwaters, South Polar Skua and Red-footed Booby to shift our attention away from the seabird possibities.

A recent Brown Booby seen from Spain’s Estacia de Bares, and a very lost bird near Helsinki (Finland) on 7th both serve as a timely reminder that other booby species are available – and the coming week features the historic precedent of the (extant) bird that fired a shot across our bows, the juvenile that settled on the Lours des Mers fishing boat south west of Co.Kerry’s Skellig Islands on 13th-14th August 2016.

Or maybe we should put another seabird on our collective radar, one that’s more of a blocker than Brown Booby… boasting two prior August records to its name, off Pendeen (Cornwall) on 18th August 2013, and Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 28th August 2015, Red-billed Tropicbird is no stranger to warm waters, but a perennially knotty one to catch up with in a British context… and, as those present at Pendeen in 2013 could attest, a species that can land one in hot water should others present nearby not also see the bird in question.

 

Jon Dunn
1 Aug 2023

Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos

 

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