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Weekly birding round-up: 31 Oct - 6 Nov 2023

Storm Ciarán crashed into Britain this week, with southern parts taking the full brunt of the storm as it came in off the Atlantic, and northern areas catching the whiplash southeasterlies on the other side of an intense area of low pressure. The auguries for a late surprise, from west or east, weren’t half bad, but in the event it was, from a strictly birding perspective, a spell of weather whose bark was worse than its bite – good numbers of displaced Leach’s Petrels being notable, but no genuinely outstanding new passerine to rock the twitching boat.

 

No outstanding new passerine, but there was slightly belated news of a passerine that’s certainly notable – though slightly less so in the county in which it was found.

Late October is absolutely prime time for a Siberian Rubythroat in Britain – or rather, in Shetland. The two are virtually synonymous where the species is concerned.

When Britain’s second record was found on 19th October 1997, at Osmington Mills in Dorset, this was a long 22 years after the British first, a young male bird that settled on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 9th-11th October 1975. At this stage too early to discern any great pattern of vagrancy, but as the new century unfolded and the species began to turn up with something approaching regularity, it quickly became clear that the Dorset bird was something of an anomaly, for Shetland was THE place to see a British rubythroat…

We’re pushing on towards 20 British records of Siberian Rubythroat and, apart from that Dorset bird, our only other non-Shetland records have been a first-winter female at Fullwell (Co.Durham) on 26th-28th October 2006, and a female on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 6th-7th November 2019.

So Shetland seems utterly dominant where the species is concerned, depressingly so for those mainland-based birders who would love to catch up with what remains, for many to this day, one of the mythical Sibes. That’s an impression that this week’s headlining bird did nothing to diminish – belated news came, as the week began on 31st, of a female bird found on 30th on Foula, Shetland’s isolated westerly outpost, and still present there on 31st. But not thereafter, though it’s fairly academic as all but Shetland’s most recently arrived resident birders will have caught up with at least one bird in the past 20 years, and the vast majority of this year’s autumn visiting birders are long gone now.

 

If Brunnich’s Guillemots can be said to follow a pattern in Britain, apart from mostly washing up either moribund or stone-cold dead on a beach, it’s being found in the proper depths of winter, in the shivery December-February window.

November birds just aren’t that common. We’ve a mere four prior records on the books, in Shetland, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and Lothian, the Shetland bird enjoying the distinction of being one of the first properly twitchable latter-day individuals of the species, hanging around in Lerwick harbour from 30th November – 20th December 2005.

(Then, of course, there was the Portland harbour (Dorset) bird of 19th-31st December 2013, a bird that ticked literally all the boxes for many of our tribe – an unblocker, in a readily accessible southern English county, reliable throughout its stay, and at times quite outrageously confiding. That, though, was a December bird, and it’s November we’re concerned with here, not sheer twitcher gratification).

Back in the here and now, another Scottish county can lay claim to a November record, this being Borders where, this week on 3rd, a bird settled for a few hours on the sea off St Abb’s Head NNR, a superb find for David Lewis.

 

The week began with belated news of a rarity and, rather neatly, it ended on that note too as, some hours after night had fallen on 6th, news emerged of a drake Barrow’s Goldeneye on Loch Ryan (Dumfries & Galloway) in Wig Bay in the late morning of the same day.

Too late for locals to scramble for it, and by the time this week’s Round Up goes live we’ll know whether or not it’s still there for both them and those from further afield. As, after all, Barrow’s Goldeneye is a significantly rare beast in these parts – just three accepted records sit on the books.

The first of those was found at almost the very same time of year, present in Irvine (Ayrshire) on 4th November – 28th December 1979. The wait for the next record was a long one, and the bird in question was a spring find, seen in Aberdeenshire on the Ythan Estuary on 13th-22nd May 2005, and latterly on Loch of Strathbeg on 23rd May – 23rd June. The last bird was another November drake, at Callender and Loch Venachar (Forth), on 19th November 2006 – 27th April 2007.

There are some consistent factors in all of this – all drakes, and all prepared to hang around for at least a few weeks. So with any luck this week’s bird is set to remain with us for the foreseeable…

 

It’s the Rarity Round Up writer’s lot to hope that there aren’t any last minute megas in the news just as the finishing touches are being put on another week’s report. The sorts of things that necessitate late fettling and rewrites… One, like a Barrow’s Goldeneye, is all very well, but to follow that in a matter of just minutes with another, like this week’s Little Crake, is apparently Fate’s idea of a little joke.

Anyway, enough carping about bird news coming in right to the wire. Because we certainly can’t complain about a bird as decent as a November Little Crake, let alone one in an inland county like Buckinghamshire. News also emerged of this bird after dark on 6th, seen and photographed during the day at Linford NR – a site that’s usually permit-only access, though happily as the new week dawned and the bird remained present at first light on 7th, general access had been arranged for an absolute bargain of a mere fiver.

Buckinghamshire, not entirely surprisingly given its location, sits in a black hole of a few counties in central southern England that have never been graced by a Little Crake. This bird, if remains settled at Linford NR into the weekend, is destined to be popular at a local level at the very least.

 

Once more this week, we had a Brown Booby put in an appearance, albeit a fairly fleeting one – the recent adult female bird reappeared off the northeast coast for a few hours, being seen on 2nd off Hartlepool Headland and South Gare (Cleveland) again, and also at Filey Bay (North Yorkshire).

In Ireland, meanwhile, the adult Pacific Diver remained reliable at Crookhaven (Co.Cork) on 31st-4th still.

White-billed Divers remained the exclusive preserve of Scotland this week, with a succession of sightings as October gave way to November. On 31st one was reported from the Sound of Ulva off Mull (Argyll & Bute), with additional sightings that day in Lothian from Ferny Ness and Yellow Craig also. A bird was again seen from Burghead (Moray) on 2nd, with Aberlady and Gullane Bay (Lothian) enjoying a single bird also on 5th. Calm conditions on 6th revealed another in the regular wintering site of South Nesting Bay (Shetland).

If the week was notable for any seabird, it was certainly Leach’s Petrel, with many birds driven close to land by the force of Storm Ciarán. At least 700 birds were logged in recent days, with Dungeness (Kent) alone notable for amassing 203 birds on 2nd.

It’s taken weeks – months, even – for Cory’s Shearwater numbers to finally recede into single figures, but that’s finally happened in the past week. One was tracked heading west along the north Norfolk coast on 31st, seen from Cromer and Cley; and on 4th single birds were seen from Mousehole (Cornwall), The Lizard (Cornwall), and Selsey Bill (West Sussex), with two also that day off St Abb’s Head (Borders).

Great Shearwater were altogether more numerous – around 780 birds were logged this week, with a peak count of 227 coming from Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 4th.

Just a shade over 30 Balearic Shearwaters were noted lately, a significant contraction on the week before, with a peak count of eight birds in Dorset at Kimmeridge on 4th just beating seven seen from Berry Head (Devon) on 1st.

A little under 60 Pomarine Skua were noted nationwide this past week, with half a dozen off Pendeen (Cornwall) on 2nd the only notable single site tally; Long-tailed Skua remained in short supply, with singletons seen on 1st from Mizen Head (Co.Cork), on 2nd from Bull Point (Devon), and on 4th from Dungeness (Kent) and Southwold and Sizewell (Suffolk), and two birds on 2nd from Southwold (Suffolk). A further probable of the latter species was seen in Norfolk passing Happisburgh on 5th.

Finally, 60 Little Auks were seen this week, a comparatively decent showing again on the English east coast, with a peak count of five seen from Sheringham (Norfolk) on 1st.

 

The week began with a couple of recent Squacco Heron still sitting tight in the English southwest – one still in Somerset at Ham Wall RSPB on 31st-2nd, and news also that the juvenile remained at its undisclosed site somewhere in Cornwall on 31st.

Much less secret squirrel altogether, the juvenile Purple Heron continued to show beautifully well for birders in Gloucestershire at Whelford Pools on 31st-6th, while our other recent juvenile remained at Marazion Marsh RSPB (Cornwall) on 2nd.

At least 40 Glossy Ibises were seen in the past week, with new birds coming to light still, and some sites holding multiple individuals. Co.Wexford was the week’s hotspot, with six birds seen at Lady’s Island Lake on 1st and five at Tacumshin on 3rd. English counties meanwhile gave us trios lingering still at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 31st-6th, and Dungeness RSPB (Kent) on 31st-5th; and three seen over Hollesley Marshes RSPB and Sudbourne Marshes (Suffolk) on 5th. In Wales, two birds settled at Llanengan (Gwynedd) on 1st-5th, and two were seen passing Aberystwyth (Ceredigion) on 5th. On 6th the tally at Dungeness had risen to four birds, while three were seen that day in Devon at Fremington Quay.

Lastly, a Spotted Crake was logged over Comberton (Cambridgeshire) in the early morning of 31st.

 

And so to the honkers and quackers and, if we’re honest, a somewhat unexceptional week with no really striking surprises amongst them until, of course, the eleventh hour when news broke, after dark on 6th, of the Barrow’s Goldeneye in Dumfries & Galloway.

Starting with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, a minima Ridgway’s Cackling Goose was found in Northumberland at Budle Bay on 31st; the hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose was still present at Lissadell (Co.Sligo) on 4th, with two birds on Islay (Agryll & Bute) on 4th; and an interior Todd’s Canada Goose on 4th near Temple (Lothian). What the recently announced initiative by the American Ornithological Society to re-name those birds whose English names include long-dead people’s surnames might mean for the myriad flavours of The Goose Formerly Known As Canada is debatable… perhaps, like the redpolls, it might be more straightforward to stop splitting hairs and simply refer to the lot of them as one thing... Canada Goose has a nice, clean ring to it.

In Moray a white Snow Goose was again seen in Findhorn Bay on 31st; two birds, one blue morph and the other white, were found in Co.Wexford on 31st at Lady’s Island Lake, and were still around at South Slob on 2nd. On 6th a final bird for the week was seen on Hoy (Orkney).

The week proved a good one for Red-breasted Goose, with several birds seen. In Scotland, sightings came from near Nairn (Highland & Caithness) on 2nd and again on 5th-6th, and on Islay (Argyll & Bute) again on 4th. English birds were in the Budle Bay (Northumberland) area still on 31st-6th, and in Norfolk at Warham Greens and Stiffkey on 4th-6th.

Finishing off the honkers, a Black Brant was seen in Butterstreet Cove (Dorset) on 5th.

While there was to be no repeat of the prior week’s Lesser Scaup largesse, that’s not to say there still weren’t plenty to go around lately. Starting in Cornwall, two lingered at Dozmary Pool on 31st-5th, with a female still present on 6th; and in Devon the drake remained at Northam Burrows CP on 1st-6th. In Pembrokeshire a female / first-winter drake was found at Bosherton Lily Ponds on 31st-1st, while another was to be seen on Loch Leven (Perth & Kinross) on 31st also. On 6th a bird was found in Clyde at Lochwinnoch RSPB. Finally, in Ireland a drake settled on Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 1st-5th, and another was seen on 5th-6th on Stoneyford Reservoir (Co.Antrim).

Ring-necked Duck numbers held firm, with some 20 birds noted across Britain and Ireland. Peak counts were three birds on Dozmary Pool (Cornwall) on 3rd, and three on Carrowmore Lake (Co.Mayo) on 3rd also.

In Ireland, the Ferruginous Duck was still present at Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 31st-2nd; a female was seen passing Landguard NR (Suffolk) on 1st; and a drake arrived in Dorset at Lodmoor RSPB on 31st-1st, relocating to nearby Radipole Lake RSPB on 1st-2nd.

In East Yorkshire, a Blue-winged Teal remained at Tophill Low NR on 1st-5th; another was seen on 5th-6th in Cambridgeshire at Berry Fen.

East Yorkshire’s American Wigeon on Beacon Ponds NR on 31st-3rd was one of over half a dozen noted this past week. Additional birds were seen on Foula (Shetland) still on 1st-4th; Islay (Argyll & Bute) still on 3rd-6th; on Orkney’s Mainland at Loch of Ayre on 31st-5th; at Cors Ddyga RSPB (Anglesey) on 2nd; and at Tophill Low NR (East Yorkshire) on 5th-6th, and Banks Marsh NNR (Lancashire & North Merseyside) and Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) on 5th. An additional probable bird was seen at Termoncarragh Lough (Co.Mayo) on 4th still, with a confirmed bird in Co.Mayo at Corragaun Lough on 6th.

Seven Green-winged Teal were logged lately - one remained on Lewis (Western Isles) on 3rd, with additional Scottish sightings coming from Sanday (Orkney) on 1st, and South Uist (Western Isles) on 2nd-3rd; one was still at Hayle Estuary RSPB on 31st-6th; another was found at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 4th; on 6th a bird was seen at Marshside RSPB (Lancashire & North Merseyside); and yet one more on 5th at Morton Lochs NNR (Fife).

In Cornwall the recent juvenile Surf Scoter remained at Helston Loe Pool on 31st-2nd, and another was noted passing Pendeen on 1st. Irish birds were seen on 5th-6th at Balbriggan (Co.Dublin) and Ahanesk (Co.Cork); and birds in Scotland on 5th at Tentsmuir Point NNR (Fife), and on 6th off Ruddons Point (Fife).

Finally, the immature drake King Eider was seen off Lewis (Western Isles) on 31st still, but not thereafter.

 

Pick of the week’s diminishing crop of waders was the Solitary Sandpiper in Kent, still to be seen and sometimes now very well indeed at Stodmarsh NNR on 31st-3rd.

A Spotted Sandpiper was reported passing Victoria Park, Belfast (Co.Antrim) on 2nd. Another was found in Dorset at Bramble Bush Bay on Studland on 5th.

Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) landed itself a White-rumped Sandpiper on 6th, with another also found that day in Ireland at Lacken Strand (Co.Mayo).

In Co.Cork, the Baird’s Sandpiper was again seen on Muckross Estuary at Clonakilty on 2nd-3rd.

Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) retained its Long-billed Dowitcher on 1st-5th; the juvenile remained at Cuckmere Haven (East Sussex) on 31st; and a juvenile in Cornwall was seen at Amble Marshes NR and then Walmsley Sancturary CBWPS again later on 4th.

In Somerset, the regular wintering, German-ringed, female Kentish Plover was back again on Stert Island on 3rd-5th.

American Golden Plovers pushed towards collective double figures again this week, with a couple of sites offering multiple birds – duos being seen on the Cashen Estuary (Co.Kerry) on 2nd, and at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 4th. Singletons were seen at Colliford Lake (Cornwall) still on 31st; in Lancashire & North Merseyside again on 3rd at Banks Marsh NNR and Marshside RSPB; on Lewis (Western Isles) on 3rd; on 5th at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) and Lurgangreen (Co.Louth); and on 6th at Lacken Strand (Co.Mayo).

Given the past week’s weather, it wasn’t too much of a surprise that a decent haul of Grey Phalaropes were to be had again – some 35 birds were noted nationwide.

Finally, it fell to Essex to provide most of our sightings this week of Lesser Yellowlegs - at Abbotts Hall Farm on 31st; at Abberton Reservoir again on 1st; and at Old Hall Marshes RSPB on 3rd. Eventually, on 5th, the Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) bird put in another appearance, while another was reported that day from Benbecula (Western Isles).

 

A trio of adult Bonaparte’s Gull were to be seen this week – one off Stag Rocks (Northumberland) on 31st, another on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 2nd, and a final bird on 5th at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford).

Sabine’s Gulls more or less mirrored Grey Phalaropes this week, with some 30 birds in all seen around our coastline. Dungeness (Kent) proved a reliable vantage point in the southeast, with two birds seen from there on 2nd and 3rd; but it was Mizen Head (Co.Cork) that took the laurels this week with four birds noted off here on 1st.

White-wingers faded almost into obscurity again this week, with just a scatter of Glaucous Gull for starters – birds seen on 31st at Stag Rocks (Northumberland) and Sker Point (Glamorgan); on 2nd on Unst (Shetland) and Islay (Argyll & Bute); on 3rd at Gilston (Moray); on 4th on Lewis (Western Isles); on 5th at Lenadoon (Co.Sligo), Peterhead (Aberdeenshire), Elwick (Northumberland), and Boldon Flats NR (Co.Durham); and one more reported on 6th from Dungeness (Kent) – and fewer still Iceland Gulls, with just birds seen at Hornsea (East Yorkshire) on 31st, Portland (Dorset) on 3rd, Walmer (Kent) and Sizewell (Suffolk) on 5th, and passing Whitburn CP (Co.Durham) on 6th.

A White-winged Black Tern was found on 5th-6th in Co.Cork at Ballin Lough.

Providing a final touch of variety to proceedings, a possible surinamensis American Black Tern was seen on 4th at Newhaven (East Sussex), and another possible adult on 5th-6th at Sizewell (Suffolk).

 

Starting the week’s raptors, in Co.Wexford the recent juvenile Northern Harrier was again seen at North Slob WWR on 31st-1st, and Wexford Wildfowl Reserve again on 5th; and a probable juvenile was seen at Portmore Lough RSPB (Co.Antrim) on 1st.

Norfolk gave us a second-winter female Pallid Harrier at Warham Greens on 3rd-6th, perhaps also accounting for the bird seen in the morning of 3rd at Waxham. Another possible ringtail was seen on 6th at Ladywalk NR (Warwickshire).

In East Yorkshire the Rough-legged Buzzard remained a fixture around Stone Creek on 31st-6th; additional birds were seen in Shetland on 1st on Unst, and Mainland at Maywick.

 

The week was again a decent one for Pallid Swifts, with a scatter of east coast birds seen from Suffolk to Orkney. Starting in the south, in Suffolk sightings came on 31st in the morning at Benacre, and in the afternoon at Kessingland; in Norfolk, birds were seen at Sheringham on 1st, in off the sea at Blakeney Point on 3rd, around Holkham on 4th, and at Taverham on 5th; in Dumfries & Galloway at Dumfries on 1st-2nd; and in Orkney on Westray on 3rd-4th. On 5th another probable was seen at Whitburn (Co.Durham); and on 6th a probable in Norfolk at Winterton.

Late Hoopoes remained this week near Waxham (Norfolk) on 1st, and at Bardney (Lincolnshire) on 31st-2nd; additional birds were seen in flight at Highcliffe (Dorset) on 3rd and Beyton Green (Suffolk) over the A14 on 3rd also; and one was reported as heard only in Devon at Holbeton on 2nd.

The Wryneck was again seen on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) on 3rd and 5th.

The week proved to be a good one for Great Grey Shrikes, with some birds seen back at regular wintering sites in addition to coastal, newly arrived individuals. One remained at Stone Creek (East Yorkshire) on 31st-3rd; a bird was found at Cas na Smorrach (Moray) on 31st; one was present at Lower Kilminning (Fife) on 1st; on 3rd, one was seen coming in off the sea at Long Nanny (Northumberland), another was trapped and ringed at Lytchett Bay (Dorset), a bird had arrived at Lynford Arboretum (Norfolk), and one was found in the vastness of Kielder Forest (Northumberland); one was back at Backwater Reservoir (Angus) on 4th, and another found that day at Strath of Kildonan (Highland & Caithness). On 5th another Scottish bird was seen at Clashindarroch (Aberdeenshire).

Waxwings? Yes, lots of them again this week. It’s shaping up to be an excellent early winter period for them. No berry is safe this side of Christmas.

Three Pallas’s Warblers were seen lately – one trapped and ringed at Hilbre (Cheshire & Wirral) on 4th; another on Tory Island (Co.Donegal) on 2nd; and one in Flintshire at Talacre Warren on 31st.

Just shy of 40 Yellow-browed Warblers were seen this week, marking the anticipated contraction in their numbers at this juncture in the year. One to look out for now, along with Dusky Warbler, at your local sewage works…

Speaking of Dusky Warblers, birds remained this week on St Agnes (Scilly) on 31st, and at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 31st-5th; and further birds were seen at St Abb’s Head (Borders) on 1st, Bryher (Scilly) on 3rd, and at Skirza (Highland & Caithness) on 4th.

Five widely separated Barred Warblers were seen this week – one trapped and ringed in Orkney on North Ronaldsay on 3rd, and another on 6th, with additional Orcadian birds on 5th on Westray and on Mainland still at Deerness; and the other down in East Sussex at Beeding Hill on 31st.

On St Mary’s (Scilly), the obliging recent Grey-cheeked Thrush stuck around until 4th.

A Red-flanked Bluetail proved to be a very confiding and popular local draw in Aberdeen (Aberdeenshire) on 31st-3rd.

In Shetland meanwhile a Bluethroat was to be seen at Brow Marsh on 4th.

A Red-breasted Flycatcher was present on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 1st, and another on Berry Head (Devon) on 6th.

A probable Eastern Stonechat sp was seen briefly at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 3rd.

Also in the realms of the putative, a possible Pied Wheatear was reported from Newbiggin (Northumberland) on 2nd, but couldn’t be subsequently relocated.

A Black-bellied Dipper was found on Unst (Shetland) on 3rd, with another reported on Mainland Shetland at Brig o’ Fitch on 5th.

A possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail was found on 5th-6th in Aberdeenshire at Rattray Head.

A Richard’s Pipit was found on Rum (Highland & Caithness) on 4th, and another in Cornwall at St Buryan on 5th.

North Ronaldsay (Orkney) held onto a Red-throated Pipit for much of the week, the bird being found on 31st and seen again there on 1st, and once more on 4th.

In addition to the hornemanni Arctic Redpoll still present on Unst (Shetland) on 31st, exilipes birds peaked on the island with three present on 2nd; elsewhere in Shetland, the latter, grubbier subspecies was found on Bressay on 31st-1st, and on Mainland at Brae and Brake on 1st. A possible exilipes bird was seen in Nottinghamshire at Newstead on 2nd; another on South Uist (Western Isles) on 3rd; and one was trapped and ringed at St Cyrus (Aberdeenshire) on 5th.

A Serin was noted at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 3rd, and another found in Cornwall near Sennen on 5th.

Half a dozen Little Buntings were logged in Britain this week – one still present in Scilly on Tresco on 1st, with another seen on St Mary’s on 31st-5th; one still at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 3rd; and birds in Shetland on Fair Isle on 31st, Unst on 2nd-3rd, and on the outskirts of Lerwick on 6th. An Irish bird was seen on Tory Island (Co.Donegal) on 6th.

Finally, in East Yorkshire the first-winter male Red-headed Bunting remained at Flamborough on 31st-2nd.

 

Close to home, the recent Yellow-browed Bunting remained in the Netherlands at Oost-Vlieland on 31st.

Not a million miles away either, in Denmark the Blyth’s Pipit remained at Grenen on 2nd while, in Sweden on 6th, a stonkingly smart Amur Wagtail was present at Svensksudsviken.

Down in Spain, the recent Common Nighthawk was still to be seen at Vigo on 31st, but the biggest news of the week was the Dwarf Bittern at Ceuta on 5th.

In Italy, Linosa’s fine recent run of form continued with an American Buff-bellied Pipit on 2nd, a national first record for the species.

And finally, closer to France than England, but still close enough, on Jersey on 6th an immature South Polar Skua was found and, later, taken into care.

 

Early November, and it’s certainly not too late for some excellent wayward vagrant bird action. In fact, precedent tells us there’s ample scope for something truly untoward if only the birding gods look favourably upon us…

The coming week features some birds of the highest quality. Back in 1958, there was the American Purple Gallinule picked up moribund in the gutter on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 7th November, and sadly destined to succumb to the effects of its long journey by 9th. A fate and dates shared by another bird almost half a century later – a Magnificent Frigatebird picked up exhausted near Whitchurch (Shropshire) on 7th November 2005 survived in care only until 9th.

On a less morbid note, there’s the Long-billed Murrelet found off Dawlish (Devon) on 7th-14th November 2006; the Green Heron that settled at Red Wharf Bay (Anglesey) on 7th-20th November 2005; and the wandering Chinese Pond Heron found in Hampshire on 13th November 2004, and also seen in Norfolk.

History also tells us it’s still American passerine o’clock – there are ample Nearctic warblers on the books, plus American Robin, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Slate-coloured Junco and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Oh, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, one of the biggest vagrant bird stories of the lost year of 2020. Sensibly kept under wraps at the time for all the right reasons, Britain’s first settled on Barra (Western Isles) on 12th-28th November. The next, wherever it’s found, will be warmly received.

 

Jon Dunn
6 November 2023

 

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

 

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