Weekly birding round-up: 19th Dec 2023 – 1st Jan 2024
A decidedly stormy festive period unfolded over the past fortnight, with extensive high winds and heavy rain. Not an awful lot of fun for anyone concerned, whether that was birds or their observers, or the general public as a whole. But there was joy to be found out there, and if not under the tree on Christmas morning then certainly in the dampness of Somerset.
Nobody needs telling that finding a Baikal Teal is the birding equivalent of something genuinely useful falling out of a cracker at the Christmas dinner table. With just 10 accepted birds on the British books to the end of 2021, it’s a properly rare quacker.
And definitely one that retains the element of surprise. We may all harbour a sneaking suspicion that, one of these days, we’re going to bump into a Ring-necked Duck or a Green-winged Teal, but a Baikal? Nope.
So one can only imagine just how chuffed Rob Williams was last week when he found a drake Baikal Teal on 28th at Greylake RSPB (Somerset). Not a county first, of course – that honour goes to the bird present at the same site on 29th December 2021 – 14th March 2022. It’s a striking coincidence that this latest Somerset record is at the selfsame site, and found on almost the very same date too – perhaps this is the same bird, returning for another winter? Certainly it’s looking settled there, being seen more or less daily up to and including 1st.
Seabirds, as we might reasonably expect, were a fairly quiet bunch lately, with the confirmed presence of the Double-crested Cormorant still present on Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 24th-29th the rarest of the lot.
In Shetland the recent White-billed Diver was once more seen off Vaila on 23rd; while four birds were once more seen from Orkney’s Papa Westray on 23rd, with one present off there on 28th; and a single bird was seen from Corsewall Point (Dumfries & Galloway) on 28th.
Shetland had the best of the 35 or so Little Auks logged over the festive period – a count of 11 coming from Fair Isle on 27th.
Devon supplied a few sightings of Balearic Shearwater - singletons from Berry Head on 28th and 30th, and one off Seaton on 29th. A Great Shearwater was seen from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 31st.
A handful of Leach’s Petrels were also seen – single birds from Severn Beach (Gloucestershire) on 23rd and, on 27th, off Splash Point (East Sussex) and Selsey Bill (West Sussex).
Finally, around a dozen Pomarine Skua were noted during the fortnight across the southern English coastal counties from Suffolk in the east to Cornwall in the west. All single birds, bar duos seen in Devon at Hope’s Nose on 27th, and Berry Head on 30th.
Around 35 Glossy Ibises were logged across Britain and Ireland in recent days, with several of the usual sites once more providing sightings of multiple birds – in Kent, five were noted at Dungeness again on 21st, with four still present there on 1st; three remained at Titchfield Haven NNR (Hampshire) on 21st-28th; three were still to be seen at Fremington Pill (Devon) on 22nd-29th; three at Westhay Moor NNR (Somerset) on 1st still; and three were still in Co.Wexford at Tacumshin on 26th. Two birds were noted over Paxton Pits NR (Cambridgeshire) on 21st.
And so to the honkers and quackers, which provided a Quality Street-like assortment of seasonal variety, and perhaps one or two lingering examples that nobody can bring themselves to partake of...
Starting with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Geese were seen at Lissadell (Co.Sligo) on 26th-27th, Ballintemple (Co.Sligo) on 30th, Lunt Meadows LWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 23rd-1st; and Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 1st. An interior Todd’s Canada Goose was seen at Rosewell (Lothian) on 29th.
The fortnight was a good one for Red-breasted Geese, with widespread sightings, albeit no particularly startling new surprises. Starting in Scotland, the bird remained on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 25th. The Northumbrian individual was still present at Budle Bay on 23rd and again on 1st. The Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) bird proved steadfast there on 19th-1st, and the Essex bird similarly settled at Bradwell-on-Sea on 20th-1st. Norfolk held a more mobile bird, seen on 22nd at Cley NWT; on 23rd at Bayfield Brecks; on 26th at Holt; and on 28th-1st back at Cley NWT.
In Aberdeenshire the white morph Snow Goose was still present at Loch of Skene on 22nd-30th; another was seen on 30th-1st on North Uist (Western Isles); and a white morph on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 1st.
Black Brants were fairly thin on the ground lately, with birds seen at Fleet Head (Essex) on 24th; Spring Vale (Isle of Wight) on 29th; and Birchington (Kent) still on 30th.
Sticking with Kent, the Lesser White-fronted Goose lingered on Sheppey at Harty Marshes on 23rd and Shell Ness on 24th, before crossing the Swale back to Oare Marshes KWT again on 28th, and then back to Sheppey on 1st at Swale NNR.
Over a dozen Green-winged Teal were a solid showing over the course of the fortnight, with a few new faces to be seen amongst more settled fare. Starting in England, birds remained on Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) on 19th-1st, Hill Court Farm NR (Worcestershire) on 19th-29th, Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire) on 20th, Lunt Meadows LWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 19th-1st, and Roosecote Sands (Cumbria) on 19th-26th; another Cumbrian sighting came from Westfield Point on 29th; and a Dorset bird was found at West Knighton on 23rd-29th; and on 1st, one was again seen at Colt Crag Reservoir (Northumberland) and another at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leicestershire). In Scotland birds remained at Tain Links (Highland & Caithness) on 20th-24th, and Barra (Western Isles) on 19th-28th; and additional birds were found at Loch Eye (Highland & Caithness) on 29th, and Loch Spynie (Moray) and Cotehill Loch (Aberdeenshire) on 1st. In Ireland one was found on 29th-1st at Akeragh Lough (Co.Kerry), and the bird remained at Ballygilgan NR (Co.Sligo) on 30th.
Half a dozen American Wigeon had a strongly Scottish bias to their number, with four sightings there – at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 19th-26th; at Loch Spynie (Moray) on 25th-27th; at Newshot Island (Clyde) on 28th-1st; and on Lossie Estuary (Moray) on 29th. In England one remained at Nene Washes (Cambridgeshire) on 23rd and again there on 1st, and one was again seen at Big Waters NR (Northhumberland) on 26th.
The drake Canvasback remained present in Essex on Abberton Resevoir until 1st, surprising almost nobody at this point.
Norfolk’s drake Ferruginous Duck was intermittently seen on Filby Broad on 20th-1st, with a female also present there on 1st; the drake remained in Nottinghamshire at Idle Valley NR on 26th-1st; and the female in Cambridgeshire at Longstanton Lagoons on 23rd-29th.
Some 35 Ring-necked Ducks were logged across Britain and Ireland as a whole during the Christmas period. Some sites boasted multiple birds –three at Dozmary Pool (Cornwall) on 21st, and three at Thornton Reservoir (Leicestershire) on 1st; two at Ham Wall RSPB (Somerset) on 29th-1st; two at Round Lough (Co.Cavan) on 30th; two on Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 24th-29th; and two on Mill Lough (Co.Fermanagh) on 29th.
The fortnight was exceptional for Lesser Scaup, with 14 birds logged in Britain, and an Irish bird at Knockaderry Reservoir (Co.Waterford) still on 20th-1st. The best of British were the five birds still present on the Devon/Cornwall border at Lower Tamar Lakes on 20th-1st. Single birds meanwhile were seen in England at Northam Burrows CP (Devon) on 21st-1st still, at Slapton Ley (Devon) on 1st still, and at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) still on 20th-1st; in Wales at Penberry Reservoir (Pembrokeshire) on 19th-1st still, and Bosherston Lily Ponds (Pembrokeshire) on 22nd-1st still; and in Scotland at Littleton Reservoir (Clyde) on 22nd-26th still, South Uist (Western Isles) on 20th-30th still, and on Orkney at Loch of Harray on 23rd. A probable was seen in Clyde on 31st at Lochwinnoch RSPB on Barr Loch, and a further bird was reported on 1st from Auchenreoch Loch (Dumfries & Galloway).
There was an unconfirmed report of a female King Eider on Loch Ryan (Dumfries & Galloway) on 19th.
Numbers of Surf Scoter in Cornwall off Feock peaked with three juveniles seen there on 26th; while a possible was seen in Devon at Morte Bay on 26th also; and a bird on 1st at Ferny Ness (Lothian).
As we might expect, a quiet fortnight for shorebirds, though there was some lingering quality seeing out the old year and heralding the new.
In Somerset, the returning, regular female Kentish Plover was still present at Burnham-on-Sea on 20th-1st.
An American Golden Plover was again seen on 1st at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve (Co.Wexford).
The Long-billed Dowitcher put in another appearance at Cuckmere Haven (East Sussex) on 29th and 31st-1st.
A handful of Grey Phalarope were seen this lately – two past St Ives (Cornwall) on 21st; two reported from Pilning Wetland (Gloucestershire) on 23rd; and one seen at Fort George (Highland & Caithness) on 26th.
All three recent Lesser Yellowlegs were again seen lately – one still in East Yorkshire at Swine Moor on 19th-1st; the Lincolnshire bird still at Frampton Marsh RSPB on 19th-1st; and the Suffolk individual still present at Southwold on 20th-1st.
Cornwall was blessed lately with a small arrival of Bonaparte’s Gulls. A first-winter at Hayle Estuary on 24th was followed, on 28th-29th, by a bird at Penzance; further sightings at Hayle on 29th and 31st; and two birds seen at Marazion on 29th, and again on 31st-1st. So, certainly two birds involved, at least. In Ireland the first-winter was once more seen at Rathlin Island (Co.Antrim) on 20th-23rd, and the adult at Ballygalley (Co.Antrim) again on 31st-1st.
Cornwall’s Hayle Estuary RSPB also continued to sport a Ring-billed Gull on 19th-31st; another sighting came briefly at Marazion on 28th. One remained at North Bull Island (Co.Dublin) on 22nd; and another at Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) on 22nd-31st again. On 1st Co.Cork gave sightings at Ring and Rosscarbery, and an unconfirmed report came of a bird in Kent on the sea off Foreness Point that afternoon.
White-wingers were the closest many of us were getting to a white Christmas this year. 35 Glaucous Gulls were seen, with peak counts of three on Lewis (Western Isles) on 29th, and two on Unst (Shetland) on 29th; and 40 Iceland Gulls were noted, with four on Westray (Orkney) on 19th the best of them.
Westray also continued to play host to the recent third-winter Kumlien’s Gull, still to be seen on there on 19th-1st, with an additional adult seen intermittently there on 20th-1st also.
Finally, Cambridgeshire’s Grafham Water – no stranger to a rare gull – supplied a sighting of a possible first-winter Franklin’s Gull in the late afternoon of 1st, though it flew off east. One to watch for in the days to come.
Pick of the festive raptors was, in Co.Wexford, the juvenile Northern Harrier once again at Tacumshin on 29th.
This aside, it fell to British Pallid Harriers to do most of the heavy lifting. In Norfolk, the second-winter female remained around Warham Greens on 19th-1st; while in Wales sightings of the recent juvenile came again from Llanrhidian Marsh (Glamorgan) and National Wetlands Centre WWT (Carmarthenshire) intermittently on 19th-31st.
Probable Rough-legged Buzzards were seen at Baston (Lincolnshire) on 20th, and King’s Lynn (Norfolk) on 26th; a confirmed bird around Rosedale Abbey (North Yorkshire) on 26th and 1st; and another reported on 31st near Peebles (Borders).
While not always reliably confiding, the extended tenure of the male Black-throated Thrush in East Yorkshire at Tophill Low NR meant viewers had at least a sporting chance of enjoying good views during 19th-1st.
On the subject of thrushes, an American Robin at an undisclosed site somewhere in Highland & Caithness on 20th would warrant headline status but for the general lack of further detail. After the autumn of Nearctic vagrancy the country enjoyed, the discovery of one of these colourful thrushes wasn’t entirely a surprise. A settled bird in a convenient location would be a popular start to the new year for many.
A couple of late Hoopoe also provided colour – one still at Newhall (Derbyshire) on 22nd-23rd, and another at Caerwys (Flintshire) on 28th.
Speaking of colour - Waxwings… Still present in their hundreds, and delighting observers wherever they were found.
It took a fortnight for Great Grey Shrikes to scale the dizzy heights of half a dozen birds. When your own correspondent started doing the weekly Round Up, way back when, wintering birds were often in double figures nationwide. Not any more… English birds were seen near Doddington (Lincolnshire) on 19th and 30th-1st, on Ramsley Moor (Derbyshire) on 19th-1st, near Methwold (Norfolk) again on 28th-29th, and on 31st at Budby Common (Nottinghamshire). In Wales one remained near Llyn Brenig (Denbighshire) on 26th-1st. Scottish sightings came from near Tomintoul (Moray) on 25th and 1st, and near the Don Coyote Outdoor Centre in Borders on 28th-30th.
A couple of Penduline Tit filtered through to our reedbeds lately – one at Lough Beg (Co.Cork) on 23rd, and another heard only at Oare Marshes KWT (Kent) on 30th.
In Norfolk the recent Pallas’s Warbler remained at Warham Greens on 19th-26th.
Settled Yellow-browed Warblers remained at Broadsands (Devon) on 19th-1st and Ferring Rife (West Sussex) on 19th-20th. In Dorset one was found in a garden in Walditch on 25th, with a further possible in a Poole garden the following day also.
An even more unexpected Christmas Day find in the English southwest was the Red-breasted Flycatcher found on 25th in Devon at Exminster Marshes RSPB.
On 1st a Richard’s Pipit was again seen outside Awre (Gloucestershire).
A probable exilipes Arctic Redpoll was again seen at Fontburn Reservoir (Northumberland) on 26th.
One of the most extraordinary birding events of the year – and this was a year characterised by several such – has to be the discovery of a flock of Little Bunting in Cornwall at Tremethick Cross. As many as nine birds were present there in the run-up to Christmas, with numbers in the past fortnight peaking at six birds on 22nd, and at least two birds still there throughout the period until 1st.
Our overseas news this past fortnight had something of a seabird theme going on. We start with Pacific Diver - one remained in Denmark at Hanstholm Havn on 23rd, while Israel’s first ever record was found at Eilat on 29th-30th.
Staying at the WP’s extremities, a Double-crested Cormorant was on Faial (Azores) on 28th, and a Magnificent Frigatebird was seen at sea off Lanzarote (Canary Islands) on 21st.
An Abyssinian Roller was found on Sal (Cape Verde) on 31st.
Closer to home now, a second-winter Forster’s Tern was seen in France at Greves de Goulven on 23rd, and two Ross’s Geese, one Canadian-ringed, in Belgium at Bunkerweiden on 23rd.
In Spain, a Plain Swift was seen at Cabo de Penas on 27th.
And finally to Morocco where, on 20th-22nd, a White-throated Bee-eater was near Dakhla; on 22nd-23rd, also near Dakhla, a Allen’s Gallinule; and on 1st, also near Dakhla, an African Crake.
The first week of January, while perhaps not considered prime time for birds to be on the move, nonetheless boasts some pedigree where rarities are concerned down the years. Setting aside the background noise of the usual contingent of gulls of all shapes and sizes, a few more notable rarities stand out from recentish times - White-crowned Sparrow and Naumann’s Thrush in particular catch the eye. The former seems decently attainable… the latter’s blocker status intensifies with every passing year.
But if we’re to ignore the obvious allure of the gulls, and cast our mind back a few weeks to the influx of American birds to our shores, one historic bird from the coming week does stand out – the Sora found dead at Aberdovey Golf Course (Gwynedd) on 7th January 1932. Yes, a long time ago, and it was dead, but we know that Sora can successfully winter here – we need only look to the bird in Devon’s Stover CP on 18th January – 5th April 2000 for proof of that.
So, to start the year’s wildly optimistic predictions with a flourish, let’s hope someone finds one of these skulkers in a damp bosky pond margin near them someday soon…
Jon Dunn
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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