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Weekly birding round-up: 2nd - 8th Jan 2024

Is there such a thing as a quiet week for bird news these days? Once upon a time early January was the preserve of Great Grey Shrikes, some white-winged gulls, and a scattered handful of scarce American ducks. 2024 is barely out of the starting blocks and already it’s galloping, with yet another mega American warbler on the cards. And that’s just for starters…

 

The autumn of 2023 will live long in the memory for its unprecedented arrival of Nearctic warblers to our shores. Whether we ever experience the like again remains to be seen, and only the passage of time will tell on that front. In the here and now, in the immediate winter aftermath of that remarkable event, there was always the lingering suspicion that there had to be one or two startling birds yet to be discovered, tucked away somewhere insect-rich and comfortable.

After all, we’ve ample precedent of American warblers being found overwintering in unlikely British quarters. Not huge numbers, of course, but some serious quality amongst them. Golden-winged Warbler on a Kent housing estate, anyone?

Of course, what’s actually out there and what gets found are very different things. A wintering Nearctic passerine is every bit as likely to be somewhere random as at a locality in the west of Britain with an illustrious pedigree for vagrancy. A generous slice of luck is required for said bird to cross paths with someone who actually knows what they’re looking at.

Happily for hundreds of our tribe this week, exactly that serendipitous conjunction of bird and birder occurred when Simon Wood found Britain’s eighth Northern Waterthrush in his Heybridge (Essex) garden on 3rd. One can only imagine the rapid progression from initial glimpse to utter euphoria, via consternation and doubtless expletives too.

The bird remained in the area in the days that followed, at times showing well, and delighting a steady stream of admirers. A bird of this calibre, in south-eastern England, was always going to prove popular – and, given the residential area in which it was found, this seems an opportune moment to remind birders heading there in the week to come to please use nearby carparks and not the residential streets themselves for parking.

It’s not the first east coast Northern Waterthrush - that accolade goes to a two-day bird at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 22nd-23rd October 1988 – and nor is it our first wintering example of its kind, for our last British bird spent 214 days tucked into the comfortable surroundings of Lower Moors on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 16th September 2011 – 16th April 2012.

But enough of what this week’s bird isn’t. What it emphatically is is a properly rare American passerine, a magnificent garden tick for Simon, readily twitchable for the rest of us, delighting all comers throughout this week until 8th, and a timely shot across our bows…

…the incredible autumn of 2023 may not be done with us just yet. What else is out there, waiting to be found?

 

The new year began with a drake Baikal Teal lingering in Somerset at Greylake RSPB until 1st, but as the week just gone unfolded there was no further news of it there. What none of us would have expected was a second Baikal to be found in the same county a few days later…

Had it been a drake at a different location, the suspicion would naturally have been that this was the selfsame bird exhibiting some itchy feet. But no. This week’s individual was a female, found at Catcott Lows NR (Somerset) on 6th, where it continued to show through the afternoon.

And nor was that all. The week still had another trick up its sleeve…

On 7th news came of yet another bird – a first-winter drake at Stoneybreck Lake (Co.Durham). Unlike the latest Somerset bird, it didn’t vanish into the ether overnight, and remained present there as the week drew to a close on 8th.

 

Curiously, while Ireland boasts a dozen past Pied-billed Grebe on the record books, the species has yet to occur in Co.Galway. Or rather, that was the case until the week just gone, when a bird was found on Inishmore on 7th, remaining present there as the week came to a close on 8th.

One for the county listers, for sure. And surely a bird that’s set to linger there for a while? As such, it might be popular with Irish birders from further afield than Co.Galway, for it’s been a decade since the last individual was seen, on Achill Island (Co.Mayo) back in the winter of 2013/14.

 

Very quiet indeed at sea this week, with British and Irish waters barely ruffled by notable birds…

Most of the action, such as it was, came in the form of Little Auks. Single birds were seen off Stag Rocks (Northumberland) on 3rd; Kirkwall (Orkney) on 4th; in Lerwick (Shetland) on 6th; and off Alturlie Point (Highland & Caithness) on 6th. Two were also seen on 6th from Sumburgh (Shetland). Five were noted from Unst (Shetland) on 7th, and a single bird from Papa Westray (Orkney). On 8th, eight birds were seen at sea off Sumburgh (Shetland).

A Leach’s Petrel made it up the English Channel as far as Hampshire, being seen at Pennington Marshes on 3rd.

Three southern English counties scored Pomarine Skua this week – single birds being seen in Devon off Shoalstone on 2nd; and in Kent from Tankerton on 6th, Herne Bay on 7th, and Birchington on 8th. On 7th two were seen from Canvey Island (Essex).

 

Glossy Ibises remained fairly omnipresent in Britain and Ireland during the course of the week, with many of the regular sites still holding multiple birds. Starting in Ireland, three remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 2nd-7th, while two were noted at Lough Girroga (Co.Clare) on 6th. Britain continued to hold around 25 birds – three in Devon still at Fremington on 6th; three in Somerset at Westhay Moor NNR on 2nd-8th still; three in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven NNR on 5th-7th still; and four in Kent at Dungeness on 5th-6th.

 

The bulk of the week’s birding action was, as we’d anticipate, on the rarity duckpond, with both honkers and quackers once again well represented.

Starting with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, two hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Geese were seen on The Mullet (Co.Mayo) on 2nd, while one remained at Lunt Meadows LWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 4th-8th.

Red-breasted Geese continued their strong winter showing in recent days. Individuals remained at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 2nd-8th; in Northumberland around Budle Bay on 3rd-7th; in Norfolk around Cley NWT on 2nd-5th and at Warham Greens on 7th; and at Bradwell-on-Sea (Essex) on 4th-8th.

Scotland gave us Snow Geese this week – white morphs were recorded at Dingwall (Highland & Caithness) on 5th-7th; on North Uist (Western Isles) on 6th-7th still; and at Milnathort (Perth & Kinross) on 6th-7th. A blue morph was present in Wrexham on 6th-8th near Holt.

A Black Brant was seen at Skeffling (East Yorkshire) on 3rd and again on 6th; while another lingered off the north Kent coast at Birchington on 6th; and one was seen at Bradwell-on-Sea (Essex) on 7th.

North Kent had rarer fare on offer too, as the Lesser White-fronted Goose was still to be seen at Swale NNR on 3rd.

And so to the quackers where, events in Somerset notwithstanding, Ireland was quietly coming to the fore again.

Pick of the crop there was the juvenile female White-winged Scoter seen from Inishmore (Co.Galway) on 6th-8th.

Two Surf Scoter remained off Inch (Co.Kerry) on 5th, while a juvenile continued to linger off Feock (Cornwall) on 5th-7th, and a drake in Cork Harbour (Co.Cork) on 6th-8th.

Also in Ireland, positive news of a long-staying stalwart – the drake Black Duck still present on Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 2nd.

Britain continued to do well for American Wigeon this week – birds lingered at Newshot Island (Clyde) on 2nd-8th; on the Lossie Estuary (Moray) on 4th-8th; in Northumberland at Blagdon Hall on 3rd-8th and Big Waters NR again on 6th; and a possible female was seen at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) on 2nd. In Ireland a bird was seen on Inishmore (Co.Galway) on 8th.

Hayle certainly retained its recent Green-winged Teal on 2nd-8th. Additional birds this week were logged at Campfield Marsh RSPB (Cumbria) on 2nd; Colt Crag Reservoir (Northumberland) on 2nd still; South Uist (Western Isles) on 3rd-7th; Eyebrook Reservoir (Leicestershire) on 2nd-3rd still; Cotehill Loch (Aberdeenshire) on 3rd-4th; in Devon at Yelland on 3rd-6th; at Lunt Meadows LWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 2nd-8th; on Barra (Western Isles) on 6th still, with a new bird on the island on 8th also; on 6th in Bournemouth (Dorset) and Rossleague (Co.Cork); and on 6th-7th at Avon Tyrrell (Hampshire). On 8th one was near Berry Fen (Cambridgeshire), and in Co.Kerry the bird remained at Akeragh Lough.

Needless to say, the drake Canvasback remained present in Essex on Abberton Resevoir until 7th, perhaps eliciting a little more interest from visiting birders who’d made the effort to come to the county for the week’s main event. No sign of it on 8th. Has it truly moved on?

In Norfolk, both recent Ferruginous Duck were seen on Filby Broad on 2nd-6th, with at least one still present there on 7th; the drake was seen again in Nottinghamshire at Misson on 2nd; and the the female in Cambridgeshire at Longstanton Lagoons on 2nd-5th still.

The week proved to be a busy one for Ring-necked Ducks, with a shade over 20 birds noted across Britain and Ireland. Among their number were multiple birds at some sites – two settled together at Lisvane Reservoir (Glamorgan) on 4th-8th; two were still in Somerset at Ham Wall RSPB on 6th-7th; and in Ireland, two were present at Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) still on 2nd, and two also at Round Lough (Co.Cavan) on 2nd still.

Lesser Scaup continued to delight in some numbers this week. Once again, five birds were seen on the Devon/Cornwall border at Lower Tamar Lakes on 3rd-5th, with three still present on 6th-7th; the drake remained at Northam Burrows CP (Devon) on 3rd-7th; the drake still at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 4th-8th; Pembrokeshire’s recent birds remained at Penberry Reservoir on 3rd-6th, and Bosherston Lily Ponds on 3rd-8th; the female lingered a while yet on South Uist (Western Isles) on 3rd-7th; the drake remained at Knockaderry Reservoir (Co.Waterford) still on 3rd-6th; and a new drake was found in Co.Armagh at Lough Neagh on 3rd.

 

The week was, unsurprisingly, fairly quiet for shorebirds, albeit with a couple of fresh faces to keep us on our toes…

In Somerset the steady female Kentish Plover was still present at Burnham-on-Sea on 2nd-8th.

A Dotterel was found in Kent at Scotney GPs on 3rd, and remained there on 7th.

The Long-billed Dowitcher was once more noted at Cuckmere Haven (East Sussex) on 4th-8th.

A Grey Phalarope was seen at Shepperdine (Gloucestershire) on 4th.

All three recent Lesser Yellowlegs were again seen lately – in East Yorkshire at Swine Moor on 2nd-7th; in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh RSPB on 2nd-8th; and in Suffolk at Southwold on 3rd-7th. A little further excitement on this front came in the form of a bird seen on the Wyre Estuary (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 5th at Fleetwood. Alas, the latter bird wasn’t to be seen in the area subsequently.

 

Cornwall’s recent duo of first-winter Bonaparte’s Gulls continued to show regularly Marazion until 6th; on 7th one was still present there, and another at Hayle Estuary RSPB, the latter bird remaining at Hayle on 8th; while the adult remained at Ballygalley (Co.Antrim) on 2nd-6th still.

Ring-billed Gull sightings continued to be relatively few and far between. Lingering birds remained at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) on 2nd-8th, and Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) on 4th-7th; and another was seen at Nimmo’s Pier (Co.Galway) on 5th.

Some 20 Glaucous Gulls were seen this week, with just one site enjoying more than a single bird, this being North Uist (Western Isles) on 6th. Iceland Gulls were a little more numerous, with around 35 birds noted, and several sites enjoying multiples – two were seen at Finstown (Orkney) on 5th; two at Corbally Road Reservoir (Co.Antrim) on 2nd; two on North Uist (Western Isles) on 6th; two on Yell (Shetland) on 8th; and three at Scrabster Harbour (Highland & Caithness) on 5th.

Highland & Caithness was also blessed with an adult Kumlien’s Gull, seen at Helmsdale on 5th-7th; while the third-winter bird remained on Westray (Orkney) on 4th.

 

Pallid Harriers continued to crop up pretty much daily for another week. In Norfolk, the second-winter female remained around Warham Greens on 3rd-8th. Wales was busier still, with sightings of a juvenile coming from National Wetlands Centre WWT (Carmarthenshire) still on 2nd-3rd and 7th; Llanrhidian Marsh (Glamorgan) on 4th and 6th-8th again; and Castlemartin Corse (Pembrokeshire) on 5th-6th. News of a further bird, present in Ireland at Ballynamona (Co.Cork) on 7th, revealed it had been in the area since early November 2023.

A Rough-legged Buzzard was seen in Highland & Caithness around Loch Killin on 2nd-3rd.

Finally, an intriguing albeit unconfirmed report emerged of a white Gyr present on St Agnes (Scilly) on 5th… said to be present there at this stage for its twenty-second day.

 

Best of the non-headlining passerines was once more the male Black-throated Thrush in East Yorkshire at Tophill Low NR this week on 2nd-8th; another was reported from an unknown garden location near Sheffield (South Yorkshire) on 2nd.

A few of our recent handful of Great Grey Shrikes were still to be seen lately – birds present near Tomintoul (Moray) on 2nd-5th; on Ramsley Moor (Derbyshire) on 4th-8th; at Doddington (Lincolnshire) on 2nd-5th; still near Don Coyote Outdoor Centre (Borders) on 7th-8th; and at Budby Common (Nottinghamshire) again on 4th-7th.

Waxwings, meanwhile, continued to delight with small flocks spread far and wide, and incrementally moving south and west still.

The settled Yellow-browed Warbler remained at Broadsands (Devon) on 2nd-4th; while two birds were seen well inland at Oakthorpe Flash (Leicestershire) on 4th, with at least one bird present there on 3rd-8th.

In Gloucestershire the recent Richard’s Pipit was again seen outside Awre on 3rd-8th, while the bird on The Lizard (Cornwall) was once more seen there on 6th.

A probable exilipes Arctic Redpoll was noted at Strath Avon (Moray) on 2nd; and a possible at Aviemore (Highland & Caithness) on 5th.

Finally, the recent gathering of Little Bunting in Cornwall at Tremethick Cross continued to yield birds this week, with a peak count of three confirmed there again on 3rd, and at least two still present as the week drew to a close on 8th.

 

Overseas news was quieter this week, with just the recent two Ross’s Geese, one Canadian-ringed, still present in Belgium at Klemskerke on 4th, eclipsed only for Belgian birders by the country’s second ever Blue Rock Thrush found at Durbuy on 4th. The last record was back in 1877, so this was a decidedly big deal.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands the previous winter’s Siberian Buff-bellied Pipit returned to Polder Nieuw-Bonaventura on 7th.

 

While the coming week’s a class act for rare gulls, with a couple of outstanding comparatively recent records - Slaty-backed Gull at Rainham Landfill (London) on 13th-14th January 2011, and Vega Gull at Duncannon (Co.Wexford) on 10th-13th January 2016 – the coming week surely continues to offer some American promise.

Dare we tempt Fate and invoke the prospect of another Nearctic passerine? A couple of American Robin and a White-throated Sparrow from the past half century in the coming week suggest it’s not out of the question – that sparrow, seen at Shadoxhurst (Kent) on 10th-17th January 2021, is another reminder that these things needn’t be expected anywhere that would, in migration periods, be considered an auspicious location for their kind.

But what else might have blown over and, hitherto, gone overlooked? The coming week provides some more historical memory-joggers – a couple of Pied-billed Grebe, and the Snowy Egret seen on Arran (Argyll & Bute) on 13th January – 28th March 2002. Maybe it’s time to give the local Little Egrets more than their usual cursory glance?

 

Jon Dunn

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

 

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