Weekly birding round-up: 15 - 21 Oct 2024
What a week it was to be on Orkney… Often, at this time of year, somewhat in the reputational shadow of Shetland, every now and again it delivers in spades in its own right – and this was one such week, with North Ronaldsay enjoying the ultimate autumnal joy of megas from both east and west being found on the island. Nor was it entirely peaceful elsewhere – Scilly quietly reminded us that it’s far from done with the year just yet.
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Far from annual in these parts – and with the propensity for occasional longish barren spells with no records whatsoever – one can’t take an American Robin for granted. On the other hand, when one does turn up, they’re robust beasties, and prone to an extended stay, making them generally eminently twitchable.
Whether this week’s bird lures many admirers from further afield than within Orkney is a moot question. But for Orkney birders, with their last bird way back in the birding mists of time on 27th May 1961 at Grimsetter Aerodrome, the discovery of a bird on North Ronaldsay this week on 16th-18th will have been a clarion call to action, and a chance to add another American thrush besides Varied to their Orkney list…
(To say Orkney’s been a little spoiled in the thrush stakes lately would be something of an understatement, at least when viewed from an admittedly biased and jaundiced Shetland perspective!)
With a putative bird reported from Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 3rd, followed by a confirmed bird trapped and ringed in Belgium more recently at Het Zwin on 18th, the mounting potential for a definite Black-faced Bunting in Britain was surely there. All that said, they remain decidedly scarce fare on these shores – we’ve just nine accepted British records to the end of 2022.
Our last accepted bird came in 2022, in only the second year on record in which two individuals were found in Britain – a first-winter male trapped and ringed at Nanjizal (Cornwall) on 19th November, a little over a week after another had been found on Shetland on Foula. Our very first was, of course, the wintering bird that tucked in to Pennington Flash (Greater Manchester) on 8th March – 24th April 1994, attracting a great many admirers during its extended stay.
The latter was unprecedented at the time, and gave an atypically generous opportunity for birders active at the time to add the species to their lists. Our subsequent birds have mostly been offshore and, when actually on the British mainland, all one-day wonders.
(That or at a private site – our very last bird, presumably one to feature in the British Birds Rarities Report when it finally rolls off the press, was an individual trapped and ringed at an undisclosed site in Shropshire in early 2023…)
A first-winter bird trapped and ringed on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) this week on 19th has, being offshore, of course decided to settle in for a few days, remaining present on there on 21st, albeit mobile. Another, twitchable, mainland UK Black-faced Bunting would doubtless prove a popular draw for a new generation of birders.
And in the meantime, North Ronaldsay’s week had just got a little bit better…
Sometimes all the hard work, the miles put in, the freezing rain, the lashings of brambles, the wet feet, the sunburn, the sea-spray in the eyes, the blisters, the frustratingly brief and inconclusive views – in other words, the absolute bread and butter and joy of the would-be rarity-finder’s lot – sometimes all of that is for naught.
What you really should be doing is settling down outside a café for a restorative cuppa, and waiting for the dreamed-for mega to come to you. That’s how it works.
Well, it doesn’t really, does it, or else countless hundreds of birders who’ve scarfed countless thousands of scones and pasties outside the admittedly excellent cafés of St Mary’s would have added heaps of decent American vagrants to their self-found lists. Nope, that sort of luck is of the lottery winning calibre.
And just maybe John Gale will be buying a lottery ticket this week too, after a coffee break outside a café on St Mary’s on 20th was rudely interrupted by a flyover Common Nighthawk. The stuff of dreams come true for him but, alas, the bird couldn’t be relocated later that day nor the next, though a report of a possible on St Martin’s on 21st was tantalising.
Fay and I were having a coffee at Longstones on the Isles of Scilly sitting outside in the wind, and a COMMON NIGHTHAWK has just flow over us......At last found an American mega...I'm in shock! Hopefully it can be relocated.
— John Gale (@JohnGale8) October 20, 2024
With quality seabirds to report from both the north and south of Britain, the annual seabird season refused to lay down and die quietly. Starting in Shetland, a Brunnich’s Guillemot seen passing Fair Isle in the morning of 15th was a fine reward for dedicated sea-watching effort.
At the opposite end of the country, keen eyes looking to sea from south Devon picked out a Yelkouan Shearwater off Berry Head on 20th.
Cornwall, meanwhile, produced a Barolo Shearwater on 18th off Cape Cornwall, and a Fea’s Petrel sp from The Lizard on 19th – the latter bird coming the day after a Fea’s Petrel sp had been seen from the Scillonian in the afternoon of 18th.
A probable Scopoli’s Shearwater was seen off Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 20th.
Co.Kerry laid claim to the highest counts of Cory’s Shearwater, with 1,100 birds logged from Deelick Point on 21st – overall, in Britain and Ireland, around 5,200 birds were seen this week. Great Shearwater meanwhile were firmly the preserve of Ireland, with a mighty 4,000 seen from Loop Head (Co.Clare) on 17th comfortably the best of the 7,500 birds noted across Britain and Ireland as a whole – that is, until 21st, when everything changed… Deelick Point alone logged a colossal 35,000 birds that morning (seemingly a new Irish day count record for the species, by a significant margin), while Mullaghmore Head (Co.Sligo) and Annagh Head (Co.Mayo) each tallied 5,000 birds.
Balearic Shearwater, on the other hand, were strangers to such largesse. The merest handful of them were seen in the early part of this week – singletons off Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 15th and 18th, and Portland (Dorset) on 16th, 17th, and 18th; and two seen from Dawlish Warren NNR (Devon) on 15th. On 20th, some modest improvement – six seen from Berry Head (Devon); eight from Selsey Bill (West Sussex); seven from Dungeness (Kent); and trios from Cape Cornwall, Sennen and Porthgwarra (Cornwall). The pace quickened a little on 21st, with Start Point (Devon) notching up 20 birds that day.
Single Leach’s Petrel were noted off Benacre (Suffolk) on 15th, Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 17th, Dungeness (Kent) on 20th, and Porth Ysgaden (Gwynedd) on 21st.
Another week, another putative Brown Booby - we’re practically coming to expect them nowadays. This week’s candidate was a probable immature seen from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway (Highland & Caithness / Western Isles) on 15th.
A White-billed Diver was seen passing St Abb’s Head (Borders) on 19th.
Another late autumn portent, Little Auk were seen passing Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 20th, and Rattray Head (Aberdeenshire) on 21st.
Sixteen Pomarine Skua were seen across the region this week, with a few sites managing multiple birds – duos seen from the Scillonian on 16th, off Tankerton (Kent) on 17th, and on 20th from Hope’s Nose (Devon). A handful of Long-tailed Skua were also noted – single birds off Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 17th, Druridge Bay (Northumberland) on 18th, North Queensferry (Fife) on 19th, and Fife Ness (Fife) on 20th; and two seen from Long Nab (North Yorkshire) on 15th.
Finishing the seabirds with a flourish, a Black-browed Albatross was seen passing Dun Na Mbo (Co.Mayo) in the morning of 21st.
A couple of Purple Heron open the week’s long-legged beasties – one settled at Wood Lane NR (Shropshire) on 17th-19th; and another seen on 17th at Ouse Fen RSPB (Cambridgeshire).
A probable Night Heron was noted over St Mary’s (Scilly) on 16th.
Glossy Ibis just about scraped into double figures, with 10 birds logged. Three remained in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven NNR on 15th-17th, and two at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 16th-19th. Elsewhere, single birds were seen in England at St Gothian Sands LNR (Cornwall) again on 16th-17th; Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 15th-17th still; Dungeness (Kent) still on 15th-20th, with two present there on 20th; at Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk) on 21st; and at Summer Leys NR (Northamptonshire) on 15th-21st still; and one in Ireland at Lough Atalia (Co.Galway) on 15th still.
In Pembrokeshire the recent Little Crake remained at Bosherston Lily Pools on 15th.
Scilly gave us Spotted Crake on St Mary’s at Porth Hellick on 15th-16th, and at Lower and Higher Moors on 15th-21st.
The week began with a Corncrake on St Kilda (Western Isles) on 15th; followed, in Co.Durham on 18th, by a probable at South Shields and a confirmed bird at Castle Eden NNR; and ended with a bird on the Isle of Wight on 21st at Luccombe Down.
There was definitely a sense of winter’s imminence this week with mounting numbers of species and volume thereof to be seen amongst the honkers and quackers. And what could say winter more than The Goose Formerly Known As Canada? A Cackling Goose was found on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 16th.
Scotland also gave us Snow Geese at Mersehead RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 15th-21st still, and Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire) on 15th-19th. One remained in the English northwest at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside) on 15th-21st; in Lincolnshire two were again seen at Read’s Island on 15th, over Huttoft Bank on 17th, and at Immingham Grange on 21st; while two were roaming the Holkham Freshmarsh area of Norfolk on 16th.
Moving on to the quackers, the drake Canvasback was still present on Abberton Reservoir (Essex) on 16th-20th.
Drake Ferruginous Duck were seen at Draycote Water (Warwickshire) on 15th-18th, and at Willen Lake (Buckinghamshire) again on 18th.
In Staffordshire the drake Lesser Scaup remained on Belvide Reservoir on 15th-21st, while a probable was seen in Shetland on Loch of Vatster on 15th, and a drake at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) on 21st.
Numbers of Ring-necked Duck surged this week, with over a dozen noted across the region. In Ireland, duos were present on Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) on 19th, and Lough Fea (Co.Monaghan) on 19th; and a drake on Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 17th. Two settled on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) on 16th-17th; and single birds were seen on Lewis (Western Isles) on 17th and 21st; on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 19th-20th still; at West Knighton (Dorset) on 19th-21st; at Llyn Tegid (Gwynedd) on 19th; at Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset) on 19th again; on Drift Reservoir (Cornwall) on 19th; and at Hereford Quarry (Herefordshire) on 20th.
Numbers of American Wigeon also rose in recent days, augmenting the settled bird still in East Yorkshire around Kilnsea Wetlands NR on 15th-21st. Fresh birds were seen on 15th at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire), Bank Island (North Yorkshire) on 19th-20th, on Orkney Mainland at Loch of Ayre on 19th-20th, and on Shetland Mainland at Loch of Hillwell on 19th-21st. A further possible female was seen in Cornwall on 15th at Hayle Estuary RSPB.
Suddenly, there were Green-winged Teal too – birds logged this week at Baron’s Haugh RSPB (Clyde) on 15th; on 18th at South Ferriby (Lincolnshire) and near Carmacoup (Isle of Man); on 18th-20th at Alturlie Point (Highland & Caithness); on 20th at Loch Fleet (Highland & Caithness); and on 21st on South Uist (Western Isles).
In Ireland, the stalwart drake Black Duck was again seen at Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 19th.
Scottish examples of Surf Scoter were seen at Roseisle (Moray) on 16th-21st still, and in Gosford Bay (Lothian) on 19th still; while one was again off Old Colwyn (Conwy) on 19th-21st.
In Shetland the second-winter White-winged Scoter remained, intermittently, in the voe at Wadbister on 15th and 18th; while a drake was seen off Bamburgh (Northumberland) on 19th.
Finally, an honorary wildfowl – a possible Pied-billed Grebe was reported from Grove Ferry NNR (Kent) on 16th, but wasn’t seen subsequently.
To waders next, and fairly slim pickings on that front. Starting with Dotterel, single birds lingered on Tresco (Scilly) on 16th, and at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) again on 15th; while a further bird was seen on 19th-21st at Cooley Point (Co.Louth); and back on Scilly, a single bird was on Bryher on 20th-21st.
A juvenile American Golden Plover remained at Clonakilty (Co.Cork) on 15th-21st; an adult was present at Breydon Water (Norfolk) on 15th-17th; and on 21st birds were found in the Western Isles on South Uist and Benbecula, and at Portstewart (Co.Derry).
The Pectoral Sandpiper remained at Nosterfield LNR (North Yorkshire) on 17th-21st; another was present at Exminster Marshes RSPB (Devon) on 20th.
A White-rumped Sandpiper was found on 21st on South Uist (Western Isles).
The settled Spotted Sandpiper remained at Cameron Reservoir (Fife) on 15th-21st.
In Devon the recent Long-billed Dowitcher turned up again at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB on 18th-21st; the North Ronaldsay (Orkney) individual was once more seen on the island on 15th; and one was back in Norfolk at Cley NWT on 15th-21st.
A Lesser Yellowlegs was bouncing between Bryher and Tresco (Scilly) on 15th-21st; while the Essex bird was again to be seen at Vange Marsh RSPB on 18th.
A Black-winged Stilt was once more seen at Berry Fen (Cambridgeshire) on 20th.
Finally, two Grey Phalarope were seen from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 17th; a singleton from the Scillonian on 19th; one from Wicklow (Co.Wicklow) on 19th; and single birds on 20th at Tramore (Co.Waterford), and Lissagriffin (Co.Cork). On 21st final singletons were logged from the Scillonian, Annagh Head (Co.May), Bryher (Scilly), and Deelick Point (Co.Kerry).
The week proved to be a good one for Bonaparte’s Gull with, in addition to the semi-regular adult again seen in Co.Antrim at Ballygally again on 17th, additional adults seen on 19th at Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) and on Donemark Estuary (Co.Cork), with the bird again in Co.Cork at Bantry on 20th.
Ireland also gave us most of our weekly Sabine’s Gull - three seen from Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) on 17th, and two also that day at Garinish Point (Co.Cork); and a single from Annagh Head (Co.Mayo) on 21st; while two were also noted this week in Cornwall off Clodgy Point on 19th.
Bridges of Ross (Co.Clare) also scored a Glaucous Gull on 17th; and another was reported from Llanuwchllyn (Gwynedd) on 18th. The third-winter individual remained on Unst (Shetland) on 21st.
Finally, an Iceland Gull was again seen at SAFC Academy Pools (Co.Durham) on 17th; while another was present at Larne Lough (Co.Antrim) on 19th; and a bird in Aberdeenshire on 20th on Deveron Estuary.
The pale morph Booted Eagle was once again reported from Cornwall this week, belatedly at Numphra Downs on 19th, and on 20th from Porthgwarra.
Our excellent autumn run of Northern Harrier got a little better this week with the discovery of a new ringtail at Lady’s Island Lake (Co.Wexford) on 19th. A male was again seen at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 17th and 19th.
In Norfolk the wintering adult female Pallid Harrier continued to haunt the Warham Greens area on 15th-21st; meanwhile, the smart second-winter male bird remained in Pembrokeshire at Dowrog Common on 15th-20th.
A Rough-legged Buzzard was found on 20th at Fakenham Marshes (Suffolk).
As is our wont at this time of year, the passerines kick off with the warblers and, with some synchronicity in a week that featured not one but two headliners on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), it’s to North Ron we go for our opening bird of the main text – the Booted Warbler still present on there on 18th – while a Melodious Warbler was also trapped and ringed on there on 15th.
Up on Shetland, a Paddyfield Warbler was once more to be seen on Unst on 17th.
Unst also retained its recent Greenish Warbler on 15th-19th.
Fair Isle, meanwhile, enjoyed an Arctic Warbler on 17th; another was present at Saltwick Nab (North Yorkshire) on 17th-19th.
Dusky Warbler were seen in some numbers, not least on Whalsay (Shetland), where the first of their kind in over a decade were found on 20th, when two birds were present on the island. These were preceded by birds at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire) on 16th-17th, Burnmouth (Borders) on 18th, and Blackhall Rocks (Co.Durham) on 19th. In Ireland, one remained at Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 15th-19th, and another was found at Brownstown Head (Co.Waterford) on 16th-21st.
Nor were Radde’s Warbler missing – a handful were seen this week, including a westerly outlier trapped and ringed on Portland (Dorset) on 17th. Elsewhere, birds were found at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 16th, Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 17th-19th, at Skirza (Highland & Caithness) on 18th, and on Isle of May (Fife) on 20th.
Almost 20 Pallas’s Warbler were seen across the region this week, while many hundreds of Yellow-browed Warbler continued to be recorded, brightening many a birder’s daily walk, and cropping up in unexpected, inland places.
In Ireland, the recent Iberian Chiffchaff was still to be seen at Mizen Head (Co.Cork) on 15th-21st.
Numbers of Barred Warbler were dwindling this week, not quite making it into double figures. Birds were logged on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) and at Saltholme RSPB (Cleveland) on 15th; at Barns Ness (Lothian) on 16th still; on 17th on Shetland Mainland at Grutness, and on Barra (Western Isles); on 18th on Muckle Roe (Shetland); on 19th on Shetland Mainland at Sullom Voe, and at Skateraw (Lothian); and on 21st on Papa Westray (Orkney).
Shrikes next, and foremost among them were a couple of Isabelline Shrike sp - one in Kent at Sandwich Bay on 18th, and another in Dorset at Gillingham on 19th-21st.
Some half a dozen Great Grey Shrike were seen this week, with some fresh faces bolstering settled birds at Davidstow Airfield (Cornwall) on 15th-17th, and West Canvey Marsh RSPB (Essex) on 15th still. New birds were found at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 15th; in Shetland at Quendale on 17th-19th, Bressay on 19th, and reported at Sullom on 19th also; and at Cannock Chase (Staffordshire) on 19th.
While it’s not been a classic autumn by recent standards for Red-flanked Bluetail, we’re still notching up regular birds – one was seen this week at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire) on 16th-21st.
The week was a decent one for northerly Bluethroat, with five birds noted – on Unst (Shetland) on 15th-19th still; on Whalsay (Shetland) on 16th; on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 18th-21st; on Papa Westray (Orkney) on 17th; and on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 17th also.
The eastern stonechat sp remained on Holy Island (Northumberland) on 15th-19th; and another was found in Cornwall at Porthgwarra on 16th-21st.
An Isabelline Wheatear was a fine find in Aberdeenshire at Collieston on 19th.
While their numbers were now dropping, we still enjoyed a dozen Red-breasted Flycatcher across Britain and Ireland this week, the sole Irish bird being one that made it as far west as Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 15th-16th.
A probable Eastern Yellow Wagtail was found on Fetlar (Shetland) on 16th; while further possible birds were noted at Walberswick (Suffolk) on 16th and Fair Isle (Shetland) on 18th.
A Blue-headed Wagtail was reported from Walthamstow Wetlands LWT (London) on 20th; and a possible Black-headed Wagtail on Fair Isle (Shetland) still on 21st.
Around a dozen widespread Richard’s Pipit were again logged over the course of the week. Of more pressing interest for those present on Scilly, the Blyth’s Pipit remained on Bryher on 15th-19th.
Just a trio of Olive-backed Pipit were found lately – one in a Hillwell (Shetland) garden on 16th, another at Holme Dunes NWT (Norfolk) on 17th, and a final bird on the outskirts of Lerwick (Shetland) on 21st.
A Red-throated Pipit flew over Knockadoon Head (Co.Cork) on 17th.
The Lizard (Cornwall) held onto its juvenile Rose-coloured Starling on 15th-19th. Another was found on 20th at Coltishall (Norfolk).
On St Mary’s (Scilly) the Short-toed Lark remained steadfast on 15th-17th.
A handful of Red-rumped Swallow sightings were made this week – on 17th at Flamborough (East Yorkshire); on 18th at Kettleness Point (North Yorkshire); on 19th at The Naze (Essex), and on 20th at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire).
A Golden Oriole was seen on Shetland Mainland at Brae on 18th; with another sighting coming from North Mainland at Ronas Voe on 21st.
Porthgwarra (Cornwall) scored a Penduline Tit on 17th.
Southern counties were still enjoying a little Wryneck love this week, with a handful of birds logged – on Scilly on St Mary’s on 16th-21st with two birds present on the latter date, and St Agnes on 16th-17th; in Cornwall near Kennack Sands on 15th; and a final bird reported from Pegwell Bay (Kent) on 16th.
Also on Scilly, a Hoopoe remained on Tresco on 15th-21st, and Bryher again on 20th-21st. Additional birds this week were seen at Aird-Dhubh (Highland & Caithness) on 17th, Balintore (Highland & Caithness) on 17th-19th, Boddam (Shetland) on 17th-18th, and Ashmanhaugh (Norfolk) on 18th-19th. A further bird was reported from Pulborough Brooks RSPB (West Sussex) on 15th.
Common Rosefinch remained rather subdued – one was present on Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 15th, with two present there on 16th; also on 16th single birds were noted on Yell (Shetland) and at Holme Dunes NWT (Norfolk); one was present on Shetland Mainland at Maywick on 17th; another was seen on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 17th-21st; and a flyover bird was noted on Portland (Dorset) on 18th.
A couple of Ortolan Bunting were seen this week – one on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 16th, and another on Lundy (Devon) on 17th-18th.
For the most part, our Little Bunting this week had a predictably eastern bias, the exception being a bird on Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 15th. Away from Wales, birds were found in East Yorkshire at Flamborough on 15th-17th, Spurn on 16th, Bempton Cliffs RSPB on 15th and 18th, and Kilnsea on 20th; on Shetland at Toab on Mainland on 15th, and on Unst on 15th and 17th; and on Orkney’s Papa Westray on 19th.
Still, surely, high on the daydreaming wishlist of many a British birder, a twitchable mainland male Siberian Rubythroat would tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people. Close, this week, but still no cigar, for just the bird in question was found on Germany’s Heligoland on 19th-20th. Only the third German record, it’s worth noting that Heligoland is pretty much bang on the same line of latitude as Bempton Cliffs RSPB, a British site with something of a recent pedigree for a decent eastern vagrant. We can only live in hope. It’s going to happen one of these years.
Heligoland also scored a White-throated Needletail on 20th. In mainland Germany the Northern Mockingbird remained settled at Feldflur Rheidt Am Schfott on 16th-20th.
An Asian Desert Warbler was found in Sweden on Öland on 16th-20th. A Lesser Kestrel was found at Torhamns Udde on 20th.
Up on Faroe, a Blackpoll Warbler was found on Sandoy on 16th-17th.
Further north still, on Iceland a Hermit Thrush was found at Porlakshofn on 20th.
A Grey-cheeked Thrush was found in France on Ile de Sein on 21st. On 20th, the Eastern Imperial Eagle was again seen at Lac du Der.
On the Canary Islands, a Yellow-throated Vireo was a window-strike casualty on Tenerife on 16th.
And so, with a deep breath, to the Azores and, in particular, Corvo. Pick of a busy week was the American Goshawk present there on 18th-20th, but it was far from alone – it shared the island with Grey-cheeked Thrush on 16th-17th; Common Yellowthroat on 16th, rising to two there by 18th; Red-eyed Vireo on 17th, with three present on 18th, and two on 19th; two Indigo Bunting on 17th; Blackpoll Warbler on 17th-20th; Chimney Swift on 18th; Green Heron on 18th; Rough-legged Hawk on 18th; Bobolink on 18th; Black-and-white Warbler on 18th; American Redstart on 18th-20th; Northern Parula on 18th; and Scarlet Tanager on 19th. On 20th we could add Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Great White Egret, and a mounting tally of Red-eyed Vireo that had risen to half a dozen birds.
Also on the Azores, a Common Yellowthroat remained on Flores on 17th. Additional birds present on there on 20th amounted to two Rough-legged Hawk, two American Great White Egret, and single Great Blue Heron and Semipalmated Plover.
The final week of October’s beckoning now – a time when some really tasty vagrants have made it our way in the past. The Cape May Warbler found on Unst (Shetland) on 23rd October 2013 stuck around long enough to make it twitchable, inducing private plane charters such was the bird’s allure. Britain’s second Chestnut-eared Bunting didn’t hang around quite so long, but nonetheless held on within walking distance of Sumburgh Airport (Shetland) on 23rd-25th October 2012, long enough to induce one or two folk to make the necessary effort.
Both Shetland birds. What of elsewhere? Scilly was graced with a Scarlet Tanager on St Mary’s on 22nd October 2011, while no fewer than three Ovenbirds have been found in the past during the coming week – a dead bird in Devon on 22nd October 1985; a moribund bird on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 25th-28th October 2004; and a more recent individual on Barra (Western Isles) on 23rd-24th October 2011.
The coming week certainly seems bookended by westerlies. Will they bring something interesting our way? The coming week will tell…
Jon Dunn
22 Oct 2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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