Weekly birding round-up: 23 - 29 Apr 2024
With the whole of Europe sitting beneath a morass of low pressure this week, the temperatures generally remained obstinately and unseasonably on the cool side. While migrant birds continued to filter through, conditions weren’t particularly conducive to there being a rush of outstanding rarities and scarcities. All that said, there were still some birds of note being found and, as we stand on the cusp of May, the action (and the weather) might reasonably be hotting up any day now.
Hitherto Cleveland’s enjoyed just the one previous Slate-coloured Junco, a one-day bird seen in Guisborough on 1st June 2017, so an obliging and settled second record was always going to be locally popular and, as we headed into the weekend during the past week, would doubtless attract some admirers from further afield.
Found this week in Hartlepool on 23rd, this smart bird remained faithful to its chosen garden until 27th, and was showing well at close range. With the recent garden Myrtle Warbler also fresh in our collective memory, one wonders what else the coming month might deliver in the nation’s gardens? With any luck someone at the RSPB monitoring their correspondence will have an eagle eye for the email asking ‘what’s this odd bird in my garden’…
Hampshire’s sixth ever Marsh Sandpiper, an adult bird at Normandy Marsh found in the preceding week, did the decent thing as the new week began, and extended its stay there until 25th.
For another week White-billed Divers were a daily fixture. Starting in Aberdeenshire, one was seen daily from Portsoy on 24th-27th. Moray supplied sightings from Roseisle on 23rd-29th, and Portnockie on 25th. One was seen again from Dunure (Ayrshire) on 26th. A bird was tracked along the English northeast coast on 24th, seen from Whitburn CP (Co.Durham), and latterly in Northumberland off Coquet Island and St Mary’s Island. Finally, a probable was seen in Scilly on 28th off St Martin’s.
A Pomarine Skua was seen off Lavernock Point (Glamorgan) on 23rd. Some passage began on 27th with seven birds noted from Dungeness (Kent), and singletons off Berry Head (Devon) and Portland (Dorset). On 28th, three were seen from Dungeness; and, on 29th, the pace quickened with a dozen birds seen off south coast vantage points between Cornwall and Kent.
The excellent recent run of Purple Heron continued for another week, with multiple daily sightings throughout. On 23rd one remained on St Mary’s (Scilly), with a further sighting on 23rd at Capel Fleet (Kent); one on 23rd-24th at Beesands Ley (Devon); and a bird on 23rd-27th at Llyn Coron (Anglesey). On 24th birds were seen at Llangorse Lake (Powys) again, and at Stoke Lagoon (Kent), Kingston (East Sussex), Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire); another on 24th-25th at Bembridge (Isle of Wight); and at Pagham Harbour LNR (West Sussex) again. The latter bird, and the Stoke Lagoon individual, were both noted again on 26th.
On 25th sightings came from Crows-an-wra and Relabbus (Cornwall), Yantlett Creek (Kent), Seasalter (Kent), Lodmoor RSPB (Dorset), and Goleen (Co.Cork), with another again seen near Malltraeth (Anglesey). On 26th a bird was noted at Afon Cletwr (Ceredigion), with additional birds seen in Hampshire at Lower Test Marshes HWT and Testwood Lakes HWT, and in Wiltshire at Cotswold Water Park, the latter bird remaining there the following day. On 27th a bird was noted coming in off the sea at The Lizard (Cornwall); another was seen on the Isle of Wight at Brading Marshes RSPB; one was seen in Northumberland near Cramlington; and a probable was reported from Somerset at Ham Wall RSPB. On 28th sightings came from the Isle of Wight at both Brading Marshes RSPB and Bembridge. Finally, on 29th a confirmed bird was seen at Ham Wall RSPB, additional birds again at Cotswold Water Park and Bembridge, and another at Docker Holiday Park (Lancashire & North Merseyside).
A Night Heron was found in Co.Mayo at Foxford on 24th; another was reported from Lower Tamar Lake (Devon/Cornwall) on 28th, and a probable was seen the same evening at Westbere GPs (Kent).
Glossy Ibis meanwhile clawed their way, just about, to double figures, the three still on the Somerset Levels at Ham Wall RSPB on 23rd-29th making up a third or so of their numbers. Individual birds were logged at Hollesley Marshes RSPB (Suffolk) still on 23rd-28th; Stiffkey (Norfolk) still on 25th-29th, and Snettisham CP again on 27th; at Allerton Bywater (West Yorkshire) still on 23rd-27th, and Fairburn Ings RSPB again on 27th; at Deeping Lakes LWT (Lincolnshire) still on 23rd-29th; at Middleton (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 23rd-29th; and at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 24th-25th still. On 29th additional birds were noted at Arundel WWT (West Sussex), and St Aidan’s RSPB (West Yorkshire).
The recent Corncrake continued to rasp on Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 23rd.
There was definitely a change in the air where our honkers and quackers were concerned this past week. Of the former, we’ve just the adult Red-breasted Goose still present in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh RSPB on 23rd-29th, and Freiston Shore RSPB on 27th also.
A drake Blue-winged Teal was a good Shetland bird, found at Scatness on 23rd.
Around a dozen Green-winged Teal were logged in recent days, with two birds seen on South Uist (Western Isles) on 24th and again on 28th.
In Kent, the drake Ferruginous Duck remained at Whetsed GPs on 23rd; a female was seen on Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk) on 25th-28th; and two birds were found on Napton Reservoir (Warwickshire) on 26th-28th.Ring-necked Duck numbers contracted sharply, with barely a dozen birds noted across Britain and Ireland this week. Lesser Scaup mirrored this sudden decline, with just a drake at Blanket Nook (Co.Donegal) on 23rd-27th to report.
The recent Surf Scoter off Roseisle (Moray) remained there on 23rd-24th, while the Suffolk first-winter drake was again seen off Walberswick on 26th-29th; and a bird was noted heading through Gosford Bay (Lothian) on 28th.
We’ll begin the weekly waders in Lincolnshire once more, where the recent female Black-winged Stilt remained at Frampton Marsh RSPB on 23rd-27th; another individual found in Hampshire on 27th at Hook-with-Warsash LNR; a female on 28th in Buckinghamshire initially near Hulcott and latterly at College Lake NR; and a final bird for the week on 29th at Bowers Marsh RSPB (Essex).
A Temminck’s Stint was found at the East Sussex end of Scotney GPs on 26th.
Also on 26th, a Pectoral Sandpiper was found in Suffolk at Cattawade on White Horse Marsh. Further birds were seen on 28th on Oronsay (Argyll & Bute), and on 29th at Blanket Nook (Co.Donegal).
A Dotterel passed north over Freswick (Highland & Caithness) on 27th; another was found in Suffolk on 28th-29th at Aldeburgh Town Marshes; and, on 29th, three were seen on Oronsay (Argyll & Bute).
In Norfolk the Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Cley NWT on 23rd-28th; while the Cuckmere Haven (East Sussex) individual was still present there on 25th.
Finally, the Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire) on 23rd-29th, in Co.Louth around Lurgangreen on 23rd-28th also, and at Swine Moor (East Yorkshire) again on 27th and 29th.
Two or three Bonaparte’s Gulls kick off the precious few decent gulls seen this past week – these being an adult at South Slob (Co.Wexford) on 25th; a first-winter in Dorset at Swineham on 26th and once more on 29th; and a first-winter reported from Penzance (Cornwall) on 23rd.
The adult Ring-billed Gull remained in Perth & Kinross on Loch Turret on 23rd, and again on 28th-29th; and a second-winter bird was seen at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) on 25th.
Five Glaucous Gulls were logged in recent days – on 23rd at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) and Loch Spynie (Moray); on 24th at Portballintrae (Co.Antrim); on 24th-29th on Lewis (Western Isles) still; and on 27th at Benbecula (Western Isles).
Iceland Gulls were similarly denuded, with just a few more of their ilk seen – on 23rd at Polgigga (Cornwall), and Boldon Flats NR (Co.Durham); on 24th at SAFC Academy Pools (Co.Durham) again; on 25th at Dalkey (Co.Dublin); and on 25th at Portballintrae (Co.Antrim) again. Matters improved slightly on 28th with two seen on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), two more on Isle of May (Fife), and a single bird at Quendale on Shetland Mainland.
An immature Kumlien’s Gull was again seen off Brora (Highland & Caithness) on 27th.
Late news on 29th concerned a probable first-winter Kelp Gull at Goldcliff Point (Gwent) in the evening of 26th – last seen flying east, it had been present there since 25th. Needless to say, that would have been huge, headline-grabbing news had it been confirmed at the time… and could yet be, should the bird be relocated in the days to come.
Interesting large Gull off Goldcliff Point with @Roadrunner_Phil yesterday evening. Larger and heftier than Herring and Lesser Black-backs with it. Jet black seemingly fresh primaries, very dark underwing, large white upper tail and broad black tail band. Opinions welcome! pic.twitter.com/eIFjt4Tg1w
— Lee Gregory (@BlaenavonNature) April 27, 2024
A significant weekly highlight for Western Isles birders was the discovery of not one, but two Gull-billed Tern on South Uist on 24th; they were seen again there on 27th; at least one of them remained present on 28th; and one was still to be seen there on 29th.
Finally, in Dorset the second-winter Forster’s Tern was wandering this week, seen at Hamworthy on 23rd, and Upton CP on 25th; and reported again from the latter site on 26th.
We’ve still not reached a point this year where a week goes by without a Pallid Harrier seen somewhere, and this past week was to prove no exception – birds being noted on 23rd at both Durness (Highland & Caithness), and East Coast NR (Co.Wicklow); and on 27th heading north over North Ronaldsay (Orkney).
The female Montagu’s Harrier continued to haunt St Mary’s (Scilly) on 23rd-27th, and St Martin’s on 28th; a male was seen at Pig Bush (Hampshire) on 23rd; and a ringtail was reported from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 24th.
Possible Red-footed Falcon this week were reported from St Agnes (Scilly) on 26th, and near Belford (Northumberland) on 23rd.
St Mary’s (Scilly) was also playing host to a Black Kite this week, seen around this isle on 23rd-25th, and Tresco on 24th. Another island bird was found on Lewis (Western Isles) on 26th, while a bird was reported from Horning (Norfolk) on 23rd, a probable at Forncett St Peter (Norfolk) on 27th, a possible on 28th over Penzance (Cornwall), and possibles on 29th at Bloxworth (Dorset), and High Littleton (Somerset). On 23rd an Irish bird was seen at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford).
Finally, an unconfirmed report of a Rough-legged Buzzard came from near Caldicot Level (Gwent) on 24th-25th.
Generally, the week just gone was a pretty quiet one for passerines, unsurprisingly given the generally unhelpfully cold and northerly inflected weather we endured.
A few migrants were trickling in – the first of which, for the purposes of the round up, were a rising tide of Wryneck - one trapped and ringed at Kelham Bridge NR (Leicestershire) on 24th; another found at Cley NWT (Norfolk) on 25th; another Norfolk sighting on 26th at Holme Dunes NWT; and Shetland birds on Mainland on 27th at Bakkasetter and Dalsetter. On 28th further birds were reported from Landguard NR (Suffolk) and Blakeney Point (Norfolk), and Shetland had another sighting, this time at Grutness. Finally, on 29th, further Shetland birds on Fair Isle and Out Skerries, sightings at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) too, and another Norfolk bird at Friary Hills NT.
A Bee-eater was found in Wales at Llangadwaladr (Anglesey) on 24th; another was reported from North Uist (Western Isles) on 29th.
A Hoopoe was on private land in Cornwall between Perranporth and Holywell on 27th, with another reported that day from The Gearagh (Co.Cork). On 28th a bird was found in Aberdeenshire at Girdle Ness.
A handful of Woodchat Shrike were noted in recent days – on Scilly on St Mary’s on 23rd-28th, and Tresco on 24th-28th; in Cornwall at Kenidjack on 23rd-26th still; in Lincolnshire at Anderby Creek on 25th-29th; and on 26th-28th at Sennen (Cornwall) still. A new bird was found on 29th near Angmering (West Sussex).
A Great Grey Shrike was seen on Unst (Shetland) on 24th-25th; another was reported on 27th from Aird of Sleat (Highland & Caithness).
A probable Alpine Swift was seen over Rhondda Fawr (Glamorgan) on 23rd.
Numbers of Golden Oriole contracted sharply compared with recent weeks, with one singing at Marton Mere LNR (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 23rd; reports daily from St Mary’s (Scilly) on 23rd-27th; a possible reported from near Veryan (Cornwall) on 23rd; and another singing bird reported from Bickenhill (West Midlands) on 26th. On 29th single birds were found at West Runton (Norfolk) and Kilnsea (East Yorkshire).
A Red-rumped Swallow settled over Worth Marsh RSPB (Kent) on 23rd-26th; and another was seen on 24th at Formby Point (Lancashire & North Merseyside).
The singing Savi’s Warbler remained at North Cave Wetlands YWT (East Yorkshire) on 23rd-29th; an unconfirmed report came of another in song near Ventry (Co.Kerry) on 25th.
An Iberian Chiffchaff was found in song at Snettisham CP (Norfolk) on 24th; another possible bird was reported from Merthyr Tydfil (Glamorgan) on 26th, and a further probable bird singing in Hampshire at Fishlake Meadows HIWWT on 27th-28th.
An Eastern Subalpine Warbler male was found at Holme NOA (Norfolk) on 28th-29th.
A male Bluethroat was present at Newport Wetlands NNR (Gwent) on 23rd, while the returning male was back singing at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 25th-28th again.
Blue-headed Wagtail just about scrambled into double figures again this week, with a northerly outlier being found on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 26th, and two present at Southwold (Suffolk) on 27th being the only multiple birds at a single site.
A possible male iberiae Spanish Wagtail was present at Thrybergh CP (South Yorkshire) on 28th.
The recent Richard’s Pipit remained on Bryher (Scilly) on 23rd; further birds this week were reported from Wigtown (Dumfries & Galloway) on 24th, at Patrington Haven (East Yorkshire) still on 25th, and at Stodmarsh NNR (Kent) on 27th; another possible was in Kent at Pegwell Bay on 27th also.
Serin this week had a distinctly northerly bias to their records – birds were seen on 24th at Carr Vale NR (Derbyshire); and on 25th at Holmpton (East Yorkshire), and Saltfleetby Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR (Lincolnshire).
Finally, a probable Ortolan Bunting was seen briefly on 29th at Queen Mother Reservoir (Berkshire).
Starting the overseas news in the Canary Islands, the African Crake remained on Lanzarote on 27th.
In mainland Spain, the Yellow-billed Egret remained at Embalse de Alcollarin on 26th.
Another Yellow-billed Egret was found on 17th in Cape Verde on Sao Vicente, with a Black Heron also seen there on the same date.
In Albania, a Western Reef Egret was found at Shengjin on 25th.
Further north, a Black-faced Bunting arrived on Aland (Finland) on 25th.
Sweden, meanwhile, held onto a Pygmy Cormorant at Skane Ian on 27th.
Here we go folks… April’s done with us, and May stretches ahead, full of promise and precedent alike.
Nearctic sparrows should remain in the back of our minds, with past records of White-throated, White-crowned and Song Sparrow all suggestive of that possibility.
Passerines from closer to home are, of course, more likely, and history tells us none more so for the first week of May than the various flavours of Subalpine Warbler. Particularly if one finds oneself in a coastal county this coming week, a self-found subalpine sp would be an excellent self-find.
Jon Dunn
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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