Weekly birding round-up: 15 - 21 Aug 2023
If you’d asked us not so many years ago whether there would ever be a confirmed booby sighting of any kind in Britain, we might have been forgiven for erring on the side of caution, and deploying the usual battery of caveats. The prospect of a week in which not one, but two booby species were recorded, and well-photographed at that, would have seemed preposterous. But here we are in the week just gone…
Almost incidentally, given how brightly that news shines, there were other more conventional rarities and scarcities on the move too – autumn is now officially under way. Strap yourselves in for three months of migration to come…
As we know from the very dying gasps of the week the preceded the one just gone, a (well, THE) Red-footed Booby saw out the evening of 14th perched on the top of the Bishop Rock Lighthouse off Scilly. And while that was justly huge cause for celebration for all concerned on board the Sapphire that evening, there will no doubt have been some amongst the hardcore listing fraternity for whom that emerging news caused a little angst…
Turns out they needn’t have worried for, this week, said Red-footed Booby proceeded to do the frankly unthinkable – it became twitchable. Who’d have thought? But there it was on both 15th and 16th, and then again on 20th and 21st. If you were prepared to roll the dice and go, maybe spend a few days on Scilly – hardly a great hardship, that – then you were in with a fighting chance of adding something that, for now at least, feels like a bit of a blocker to your British list.
Then again, for all we know, in these times of warming seas and climate change, it could easily transpire to follow in the footsteps of Brown Booby and prove, in time, to be at least semi-regular in these parts. On which subject…
The week was already crowned with the glory of Britain’s second Red-footed Booby, a bird that was practically an honorary first for Britain given the unsatisfactory circumstances that surrounded the actual first some years ago, when the icing on cake began to be seen tracking up the east coast of Scotland on 17th – a Brown Booby seen initially from Cramond Island (Lothian) in the morning, followed by a sighting from Fife Ness (Fife) heading north in the early afternoon and, latterly, by a probable seen heading north past Garron Point (Aberdeenshire) later in the day.
Were this not enough, what should pass Tarbat Ness (Highland & Caithness) in the afternoon of 18th but a Brown Booby? Scottish seawatchers were being spoiled rotten.
Norfolk was having a good week of it by this stage, as said Brown Booby came in the wake of a pale morph Eleonora’s Falcon found at Breydon Water on for 10 minutes in the early afternoon of 16th. There was a time, not so long ago, when that news might have elicited a stronger reaction than perhaps it did this week – how quickly we become blasé about these things…
Just a few weeks ago, the sighting of the first of the year’s Scopoli’s Shearwaters was major news. Even now, lest we get too complacent in the wake of so many subsequent records, even one bird is still properly exciting. But still, we’re almost expecting a weekly sighting now and for so long as there are shearwaters gathering over the warm waters around Scilly. Pelagics there scored single birds on 17th, 19th, and 20th; and a sighting of at least one more possible came from land on St Mary’s on 19th also. A final possible bird was reported from the Scillonian on 21st, the boat having quite a day for not-quite-proven birds what with the probable Swinhoe’s Petrel reported earlier that morning.
Seawatching off St Mary’s on 19th was doubly blessed with possibilities for, that morning, there was also a putative Barolo Shearwater seen there; this followed a bird noted from Elie Ness (Fife) on 17th.
Large shearwaters remained numerous enough off the English southwest and southern Ireland – approximately 10,000 Cory’s Shearwaters were reported across the week; and some 1,000 Great Shearwaters, of which 265 seen from The Lizard (Cornwall) on 18th were the highest single site count closely followed by 250 seen from Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 21st.
For still another week Balearic Shearwaters were very much an afterthought out there, with around 200 birds recorded; of these, 61 off Portland (Dorset) on 21st were very much the highest count of the week.
Numbers of Wilson’s Petrels finally took an appreciable tumble and, were it not for Scilly, would be almost absent for the first week in a good while. Irish sightings came from at sea off Slea Head (Co.Kerry) on 15th, and from Hook Head (Co.Wexford) on 18th. A possible bird was seen from Strumble Head (Pembrokeshire) on 19th, and a confirmed bird from Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 21st. And then there were the Scilly pelagics, notching up three birds on 15th, half a dozen on 19th, three again on 20th, and two more on 21st.
In Shetland Leach’s Petrels were seen at sea off Gletness on 16th and on Fair Isle on 17th, where two birds were trapped and ringed; elsewhere further reports came of a singleton off Titchwell (Norfolk) on 16th, and half a dozen birds off Ynyslas (Ceredigion) on 19th.
A probable Swinhoe’s Petrel seen from the Scillonian on 21st will, from the lack of expressed certainty, have doubtless been frustrating.
The week began exceptionally well for Red-footed Booby twitchers travelling on the Scillonian for, in the morning of 15th, they were graced by the presence of a Fea’s / Desertas Petrel. Nor was that all for their kind this week, as further sightings followed from Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 18th; on 19th from Start Point (Devon), and Galley Head and Mizen Head (Co.Cork); an additional possible bird seen from Cromer (Norfolk) on 20th, with a further possible reported from the Scillonian that afternoon; and one more seen from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 21st.
The week proved to be a fair one for Pomarine Skuas, with around 30 birds logged nationwide. Numbers of Long-tailed Skuas however were on the ascendancy, with at least 40 birds seen over the course of recent days – while many reports were of single birds, some multiples were also noted, with five birds seen from Sutton-on-Sea (Lincolnshire) on 18th the highest count.
Finishing off a classic week for British and Irish seabirds, the adult Double-crested Cormorant was once more seen in Co.Leitrim on 21st at Doon Lough.
Some variety materialised amongst the usual roster of long-legged beasties this week, in the form of a smart Squacco Heron found in Suffolk on 15th at Great Livermere Lake.
Sticking with the herons, a Night Heron was again seen in Norfolk at Cantley Beet Factory on 17th; and another was seen in West Yorkshire at Rodley NR on 18th-20th.
A juvenile Purple Heron was found on 20th at Leighton Moss RSPB (Lancashire & North Merseyside).
Our two recent Black Storks remained fairly site faithful in Kent and Lincolnshire – remaining, respectively, in the general vicinity of Capel Fleet on 15th-19th and Frampton Marsh RSPB on 16th-21st.
Kent also retained two Glossy Ibises at Dungeness on 15th, at least one of which was still there until 20th. Elsewhere two were seen over Romsey (Hampshire) on 15th; the regular bird remained at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB (Cambridgeshire) on 15th-21st; one was again seen at Aldeburgh Town Marshes (Suffolk) on 17th, with two there once more on 20th; and a final bird was seen in Essex at Blue House Farm EWT on 21st.
A Corncrake was found on 21st in Dorset at Little Minterne.
The Lothian coast remained the hotspot for quackers this week, headed up by the more-or-less reliable presence of the returning drake Stejneger’s Scoter off Musselburgh Lagoons on 15th-21st. Surely only a matter of time before one of its kind is also confirmed amongst the Velvet Scoters, a probable female White-winged Scoter was also seen from there on 18th, while the immature drake Surf Scoter was also still present there on 15th-21st.
Another Surf Scoter was found off Kilcummin Beach (Co.Kerry) on 18th.
Back at Musselburgh Lagoons, the second-summer drake King Eider remained to be seen there on 15th-21st.
Before we leave Scotland, an eclipse drake American Wigeon was seen on Westray (Orkney) on 15th.
A Ferruginous Duck was reported from Strumpshaw Fen RSPB (Norfolk) on 16th; and a female seen in Cambridgeshire at Needingworth on 19th.
In Suffolk the lingering drake Ring-necked Duck remained at Carlton Marshes SWT on 15th-21st; and the eclipse drake was again seen in Glamorgan at Llanishen Reservoir on 16th.
Ireland’s Black-winged Pratincole appeared to have wrapped up its long stay at Blanket Nook (Co.Donegal) this week, with no further sightings forthcoming from there. All was not lost for long-staying shorebirds, however, for the adult Hudsonian Godwit was still sitting tight on the grassy areas around the Sumburgh Airport runways in Shetland until 20th. At this rate there will be one or two birders with plans to visit Shetland in the coming weeks who fancy their chances of connecting with it upon arrival…
A Pacific Golden Plover settled on Holy Island (Northumberland) on 15th-18th. A further possible was briefly heard only at Hornsea Mere (East Yorkshire) on 18th.
An adult American Golden Plover remained on Myroe Levels (Co.Derry) on 15th, while another flew through Dundrum (Co.Down) on 17th. On 20th-21st additional birds were found in England at Glasson Marsh (Lancashire & North Merseyside) and Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk).
A Kentish Plover was found at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) on 18th.
A handful of Dotterel were now on the move – individual birds being seen this week at Porth Joke (Cornwall) on 17th, Blakeney Point (Norfolk) on 18th, and in off the sea at Horsey Gap (Norfolk) on 19th.
We anticipated there might be a fresh White-rumped Sandpiper found this week, and Northumberland duly produced, with an adult bird seen on 19th-21st at Boulmer and Longhoughton Steel; followed by North Uist (Western Isles) on 20th. In Orkney, meanwhile, the adult remained on Westray on 15th-16th.
Westray also sported a Pectoral Sandpiper on 15th. Additional birds this week were noted at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) still on 15th; at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) again on 16th-20th; at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 15th-18th still; and at Sandymount (Co.Dublin) on 18th-21st.
A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found on 20th at Blanket Nook (Co.Donegal).
The Long-billed Dowitcher remained on Sanday (Orkney) on 15th, while the Cley NWT (Norfolk) individual also remained present on 15th-20th.
Black-winged Stilts were a lingering presence for yet another week in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire – the somewhat fractured family party of five birds continued to frequent South Yorkshire’s Wombwell Ings and Edderthorpe Flash on 15th-21st; and numbers reported fluctuated at Frampton Marsh RSPB as the week wore on, but peaked with seven birds seen there on 15th.
Lincolnshire also accounted for a Red-necked Phalarope at RAF Wainfleet Range on 15th; another was inland at Kingsmill Reservoir (Nottinghamshire) on 19th; while a further bird settled at Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway) on 19th-20th. A final probable was seen at sea from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway (Highland & Caithness / Western Isles) on 21st.
A Grey Phalarope was seen from Aberystwyth (Ceredigion) on 17th. Their pace quickened again on 20th with single birds noted from Pendeen (Cornwall) and from the Scilly pelagic, two from Porthgwarra (Cornwall), and three seen from the Scillonian. On 21st the venerable Scillonian delivered two more birds, and a final singleton was seen from Mull (Argyll & Bute).
Back in the driving seat for their ilk again this week, a handful of Bonaparte’s Gulls head up the gulls’n’terns once more – the faithful bird remained at Oare Marshes KWT (Kent) on 15th-21st still; the recently found adult was still at Skerries (Co.Dublin) on 15th-18th; another Irish sighting came from Kinnegar Shore (Co.Down) on 19th; the Mull (Argyll & Bute) bird was again seen there on 20th-21st, and a final bird for the week was found on North Uist (Western Isles) on 20th.
A more or less daily succession of Sabine’s Gulls were once again noted in recent days – starting on 15th with one seen from Porthgwarra (Cornwall); on 16th two seen from St Mary’s (Scilly); on 17th an easterly record came from Canvey Island (Essex); on 18th, an inland bird was seen at Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire), and coastal birds at Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland) and Castlerock (Co.Derry); on 19th, Irish birds at Fanad Head (Co.Donegal) and Bunowen (Co.Galway), and an English bird off Whitburn CP (Co.Durham). On 20th their numbers blossomed, with 14 birds seen from Pendeen (Cornwall) alone… six from the Scillonian, four from the Scilly pelagic, three from Strumble Head (Pembrokeshire), and a singleton off Fanad Head (Co.Donegal). On 21st seven probable birds were reported from Cape Cornwall (Cornwall); and eight confirmed birds from Pendeen (Cornwall), and one from the Scilly pelagic.
A mere frosting of white-wingers this week comprised Glaucous Gulls still present on South Uist (Western Isles) on 16th-19th, and Yell (Shetland) on 17th.
In Dorset the first-summer Forster's Tern remained in Poole Harbour, being seen at Arne RSPB and Brownsea NT on 15th-21st.
19th was marked by an unconfirmed report of a Caspian Tern passing Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk), and a report of a Gull-billed Tern off Hook Head (Co.Wexford).
A small arrival of White-winged Black Terns graced us in recent days – the Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset) individual was still there on 15th, followed by additional birds at Rutland Water (Leicestershire) on 17th-18th, Benbecula (Western Isles) on 19th-21st, Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 20th, and Loch Ryan (Dumfries & Galloway) on 21st.
Finally, a possible Least Tern was present at Magilligan (Co.Derry) on 18th.
Aside from the obvious distraction in Norfolk, our weekly raptor returns were fairly thin on the ground – the sum total being a report of a Black Kite in Cambridgeshire at Somersham GPs on 16th, and a probable Montagu’s Harrier seen on 21st in Norfolk at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
With a flourish this week, autumn migration properly began – high pressure over Scandinavia ushering in a fair fall of passerines the length of the east coast from Suffolk to Shetland. All being well, it’s going to get busy in these parts from now until November…
Starting, as is our wont at this juncture, with scarce and rare warblers, several counties were graced with the milky-tea joy that’s Booted Warbler - individuals being found on 18th at Landguard NR (Suffolk) and Blakeney Point (Norfolk), and on 19th and 21st on North Ronaldsay.
Fair Isle (Shetland) scored a Blyth’s Reed Warbler on 18th-19th; and a Marsh Warbler on 16th-19th. Additional examples of the latter species were found at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 19th, and reported from East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow) on 15th and Birling Gap (East Sussex) on 18th. Unst meanwhile delivered a Blyth’s Reed Warbler skulking around Halligarth on 20th-21st.
That August classic, Greenish Warbler, was found this week at West High Down (Isle of Wight) on 15th-16th, Sumburgh (Shetland) on 19th-21st, and Papa Westray (Orkney) on 19th-20th. On 20th several more were uncovered in the wake of a day of heavy rain on 19th – in Shetland at Dalsetter and on Fair Isle, and at Nybster (Highland & Caithness). On 21st another was found at Cresswell Pond NWT (Northumberland), and a further bird on Unst (Shetland).
A little more variety came from Shetland with a couple of Arctic Warblers found on 20th – one apiece for Foula and Unst.
A Bonelli’s Warbler sp was seen briefly in Devon at East Soar on 17th.
A decent arrival of Icterine Warblers dropped in this week, particularly over the course of the weekend, and especially in Shetland – on 20th Fair Isle scored eight birds, while Whalsay landed four individuals, and Unst three. Overall, some 50 birds were recorded nationwide.
Melodious Warblers, meanwhile, were almost entirely the exclusive preserve of the ringers – individuals this week were trapped and ringed at Durlson CP (Dorset) and Calf of Man (Isle of Man) on 16th, Nanjizal Valley (Cornwall) on 17th, Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) and Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 18th, and Portland (Dorset) on 21st. On 20th one was found at Helston Loe Pool (Cornwall).
An Icterine or Melodious Warbler was seen on 19th at Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire).
Barred Warblers too were having a good week of it – some 20 birds were seen nationwide, with four on Unst at Norwick alone on 20th a notable haul.
Also turning up in some numbers, around 30 Red-backed Shrikes were noted in recent days, while Wrynecks also pushed well into double figures, with a shade under 40 birds seen and some sites attracting multiple examples of the latter species – three at Winterton Dunes NNR (Norfolk) on 19th, three on 21st at Landguard NR (Suffolk), and duos in Shetland at Mid Yell and on Unst at Baltasound and Norwick on 20th.
An Alpine Swift was found on 19th over Rathlin Island (Co.Antrim).
A Golden Oriole pitched down onto Unst (Shetland) on 21st.
A Bee-eater was heard only at Landguard NR (Suffolk) in the morning of 20th; and another flew over Drift Reservoir (Cornwall) in the morning of 21st.
A Hoopoe was seen on Sherkin Island (Co.Cork) on 21st.
A Rose-coloured Starling was found on 21st at Star Carr (North Yorkshire).
Dale Airfield (Pembrokeshire) held onto its Short-toed Lark on 15th-21st.
August Red-breasted Flycatchers are early birds, but not without precedent – Shetland’s first of the autumn was found at South Nesting on 20th.
A Blue-headed Wagtail was found on Out Skerries (Shetland) on 20th; while the adult male feldegg Black-headed Wagtail was still present at Myroe Levels (Co.Derry) on 20th-21st.
Surely just a shot across our bows, a handful of Common Rosefinches were seen this week – one on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 17th-18th, another on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 18th-19th and, on 20th, birds on Foula (Shetland) and at Flamborough (East Yorkshire).
Much further south, Ortolan Buntings were found at Ventnor Downs (Isle of Wight) on 15th, and Thorpeness (Suffolk) on 16th.
Let’s start the overseas news this week out on Cape Verde – here the Western Palearctic’s second ever White-faced Whistling Duck remained on Sal on 16th, while an Abyssinian Roller was found on Boa Vista on 20th.
Abyssinian Roller, Coracias abyssinicus photographed at Boa Vista, photo by Matt Doyle - the 1st record for Cape Verde pic.twitter.com/pk7Dbr4u92
— Tarsiger (@TarsigerTeam) August 21, 2023
Spain continued to taunt us with two more Bulwer’s Petrels seen from Estaca de Bares on the northern coast on 19th. A Western Reef Egret was present at Platja d’Aro on 16th.
In France an Elegant Tern was seen on 17th at Candillargues.
In Belgium a Pygmy Cormorant first seen on 12th remained at Natuurreservaat de Maat on 16th.
In the Netherlands the female White-headed Duck remained present at Brabantse Biesbosch on 15th-21st.
While of course in any average year seabirds would be far from done with us in the last week of August, given the events of recent weeks and, indeed, the week just gone we’d be wantonly negligent if we didn’t acknowledge their potential for delivering something extraordinary in the coming days.
Cornwall alone provides some eye-watering precedent – the Red-billed Tropicbird that passed Porthgwarra on 28th August 2015; the Band-rumped Petrel sp seen from Pendeen on 22nd August 2020; and of course the obliging Brown Booby that hung around St Ives and Godrevy on 26th-31st August 2019.
If we can tear our attention from the sea, we shouldn’t ignore the mounting potential for a really decent wader – the coming week has history of the calibre of the likes of Little Whimbrel and Long-toed Stint, after all. Not to mention a host of lesser mortals than that rarified stuff…
But if the week just gone taught us anything, it’s that autumn is under way and passerines are on the move too. More east coast Greenish and Arctic Warblers should be a foregone conclusion in the coming days. But what of the south coast… for if the last week of August is famous for anything, it’s traditionally the time for finding an Aquatic Warbler…
Jon Dunn
22 Aug 2023
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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