Weekly birding round-up: 22 - 28 Oct 2024
That’s the final full week of October done and dusted, with just the pocket change of a handful of days of the month still to come. The week just gone served well to prove that autumn’s not finished with us yet, for all we’re arguably now into the home straight before winter. That old birding chestnut of the big one travelling late and alone was happily disproved in recent days, with Lincolnshire and Glamorgan getting their share of the recent hot bunting action...
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Well, we did wrap up last week’s headlining Black-faced Bunting by musing that a twitchable UK mainland bird would doubtless be a popular draw for a new generation of birders, but little did we know that in a matter of mere days’ time there would not be one, but two further individuals found in Britain, and both on the mainland.
The present week got under way with news that the prior week’s bird, up on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), was still present on the island, albeit rather mobile, on 22nd-28th. The news mainland birders were waiting for, however, broke on the evening of Friday 25th – albeit some hours after the event, for it transpired a Black-faced Bunting had been seen for twenty minutes in the morning of that day at Donna Nook (Lincolnshire). A nervous overnight wait would ensue…
Saturday morning dawned and, with it, emerging news that the bird was still present, and had been trapped and ringed. It went on to be seen, off and on, throughout the morning and afternoon that followed. Nor was 26th completely done with us, for ringers elsewhere in Britain were in for a surprise all their own – another Black-faced Bunting was trapped and ringed at Oxwich (Glamorgan).
For both counties, these represented first records of the species – given Black-faced Bunting’s rarity to date, not a particularly surprising observation. That we should get three birds of a species of this calibre in the space of a little over a week certainly is notable… somewhat reminiscent of the multiple arrival of Siberian Accentor, back in the day. You certainly wouldn’t bet against another in the coming week – for synchronicity’s sake, after recent birds in Scotland, England and now Wales, one needs to penetrate further west and be the national first for Ireland.
The Americans kept on coming this week, with Red-eyed Vireos found in Dorset and North Wales – more of which anon – and an American Pipit over the weekend up on Shetland, found on Mainland on 26th at Rerwick, and seen again there at the close of the week on 28th.
Far from the first of its kind this autumn – thank you, St Kilda (Western Isles), for your prior multiple arrival - American Pipit is, nonetheless, still a bird of some quality, with a smidgen over 60 records nationally on the books to the end of 2022. Shetland’s no stranger to those – with 16 accepted birds to date, it accounts for a quarter of past British records and, to those, we can add another this week.
Scilly’s seabird season extends, these days, right the way into October. After last year’s excellent run of records, we should hardly need reminding of that statement of fact, but this week served a timely reminder, were one needed, with a remarkable four Scopoli’s Shearwater picked out from around 1,100 Cory’s Shearwater during a pelagic on 23rd; and at least two birds again on 27th.
Those 1,100 Cory’s made up the bulk of the 1,900 or so of their kind noted nationwide this week. Great Shearwater meanwhile showed no sign of continuing the preceding week’s record-breaking numbers, with a little shy of 1,500 birds recorded across the region. A substantial proportion of these were made up by the 1,000 birds seen on 28th from Mullaghmore Head (Co.Sligo).
Around 100 Balearic Shearwater were noted, coming in dribs and drabs for the most part. The best count this week came from Cornwall where, on 24th, 39 birds were logged from Porthoustock.
A Leach’s Petrel was seen off Bryher (Scilly) on 25th.
A White-billed Diver was seen on 22nd at Brora (Highland & Caithness); and another on 27th passing Lossiemouth (Moray).
Perennially strong Little Auk vantage point, Fife Ness (Fife), notched up a couple of birds there on 24th. Another was seen from Unst (Shetland) on 28th.
Skua sightings were very much in abeyance now, with barely a handful of Pomarine Skua noted across the week – singletons on 24th in Cornwall at Porthoustock and Pendeen, in Devon off Dawlish Warren NNR, and in Co.Galway off the Inishmore ferry; another on 28th at St Ives (Cornwall); and a probable on 25th seen from Bryher (Scilly) – and just a trio of Long-tailed Skua to gild the lily: single birds seen from Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 22nd, North Queensferry (Fife) on 25th, and off Calf of Man (Isle of Man) on 28th.
Again finishing the seabirds with a flourish in Ireland, the regular Double-crested Cormorant was once more to be seen at Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 26th.
Several Purple Heron were found this week in the English southwest – one present in Cornwall at Drift Reservoir on 25th-76th, with further Cornish sightings coming from Porthgwarra on 27th and a probable at Pendeen on 27th also; another in Dorset at Wyke Regis on 25th. Further reports came from Cotswold Water Park (Wiltshire) on 23rd, and Bossington (Somerset) on 26th; and a final bird for the week was found in London on 27th at Ponders End Lake.
Glossy Ibis continued to be decently represented, with settled birds proving steadfast in Britain and Ireland alike. Three remained in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven NNR on 22nd-27th, while two were to be seen in Kent at Dungeness on 22nd-23rd. Further British examples remained at Summer Leys NR (Northamptonshire) on 22nd-28th; Fremington Pill (Devon) on 23rd-24th again; and at Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk) on 22nd-28th still; while another was seen at Cotswold Water Park (Wiltshire) on 22nd and again on 28th. Two remained in Ireland at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 26th-28th.
A Spotted Crake remained on Scilly on St Mary’s at Lower Moors on 25th-28th; while another was found on 26th in North Yorkshire at Kettleness.
Lastly, a Corncrake was seen on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) on 24th.
The mounting sense of the turning seasons continued to deepen amongst the honkers and quackers this week, with growing numbers of individuals and notable species alike. Starting with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, in Shetland a Cackling Goose was in the South Mainland around the Loch of Spiggie area on 22nd-23rd. An interior Todd’s Canada Goose was found in Ireland at Shalwy (Co.Donegal) on 22nd.
Snow Geese were keeping us busy once again this week. Starting in Scotland, two were again seen at Mersehead RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 24th; sightings in Aberdeenshire came from Loch of Strathbeg RSPB on 23rd-24th, and Cairnbulg on 24th; while a bird was seen again at Findhorn Bay (Moray) on 23rd-24th. In England two were still in Lincolnshire near Immingham on 22nd; and in Lancashire & North Merseyside sightings came from Marshside RSPB on 23rd-28th, and Myerscough on 23rd.
A couple of Black Brant sounded a warning shot for more to follow in the weeks and months ahead – this week, individuals were seen at The Naze (Essex) on 23rd, and Slaughden (Suffolk) on 25th.
A Red-breasted Goose was again seen on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 23rd.
In Essex, the drake Canvasback was still present on Abberton Reservoir 22nd-24th.
Numbers of Lesser Scaup began to pick up again, seemingly nowadays a reliable feature of late autumn. An unthinkable prospect, that, just 30 years ago… This week one remained on Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire) on 22nd-28th; one on Islay (Argyll & Bute) still on 23rd-25th; and one in Ireland at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) still on 22nd-27th, with a second bird there on 25th-28th also. Further Irish sightings came from Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 22nd-23rd; Larne Lough (Co.Antrim) on 23rd; and Lough Elia (Co.Roscommon) on 25th.
Fourteen Ring-necked Duck were logged over the course of the week, with several sites scoring duos – at Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 22nd-23rd; on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) still on 22nd-28th; and on Lough Gara (Co.Sligo) on 26th.
A female Ferruginous Duck was seen on 27th at Ouse Washes RSPB (Cambridgeshire).
American Wigeon remained at Loch of Hillwell (Shetland) on 23rd-27th, and on Orkney Mainland at Loch of Ayre again on 24th. Additional birds were noted at Wheldrake Ings YWT (North Yorkshire) on 23rd-26th; and Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire); with another reported on 25th from Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB (Lanchashire & North Merseyside); and a final bird on 28th on The Mullet (Co.Mayo).
The drake Black Duck remained on Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 28th.
Ireland gave us our only Blue-winged Teal of the week at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 26th-27th.
A Green-winged Teal was seen at regular site Tain Links (Highland & Caithness) on 22nd-28th, with a second individual there on 28th also; with further birds seen on 23rd at Murkle (Highland & Caithness); Alturlie Point (Highland & Caithness) on 27th still; on Loch Fleet (Highland & Caithness) on 28th; on 25th at Welney WWT (Norfolk); on 27th at Broom (Bedfordshire) and Grindon Lough (Northumberland); and on 28th at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire).
The week proved to be an excellent one for scoter, with Norfolk leading the pack with a sighting of the drake Black Scoter off Holkham Gap on 24th; while the drake White-winged Scoter was still off Bamburgh (Northumberland) on 22nd-26th, and a drake was found in Angus on 27th-28th in Lunan Bay.
Lastly, Surf Scoter remained at Roseisle (Moray) on 23rd-27th still, and in Colwyn Bay (Conwy) on 22nd-28th; and in Ireland, two were off Inch (Co.Kerry) on 26th, with a singleton seen from Bundoran (Co.Donegal) on 26th-27th also.
Moving onto the weekly waders, a decent arrival of White-rumped Sandpipers were the most notable event of recent days. In the Western Isles two were seen on Barra on 25th and North Uist on 26th, with one seen on Benbecula on 27th, before numbers on North Uist jumped to five there on 28th; while two birds were present at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 26th also, dropping to one bird on 27th. Singletons meanwhile were seen on South Uist (Western Isles) on 22nd still; on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 24th and 26th; at Snettisham RSPB (Norfolk) on 24th; at Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 27th; and at Budle Bay (Northumberland) on 28th. A further possible bird was noted at North Queensferry (Fife) on 26th.
In North Yorkshire the Pectoral Sandpiper remained at Nosterfield LNR on 22nd-26th; and another was found this week at Welney WWT (Norfolk) on 26th.
In Fife, the Spotted Sandpiper remained at Cameron Reservoir on 22nd-28th.
Scilly held on to its recent Lesser Yellowlegs on Tresco on 22nd-28th, joined there by a second individual on 22nd-24th. A report of another in Lancashire & North Merseyside at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB on 22nd was followed by a confirmed bird at Banks Marsh NNR on 23rd; and another was to be seen this week in Norfolk at Buckenham Marshes RSPB on 23rd-28th.
Staying in Norfolk a moment, a Kentish Plover was found at Holme Dunes NWT on 22nd.
The Western Isles did well for sightings of American Golden Plover lately – on North Uist on 23rd; Barra on 24th-27th; and Benbecula on 25th-26th. An additional British sighting came from St Martin’s (Scilly) on 23rd where a possible was seen. Ireland meanwhile was keeping busy – birds were logged this week at Clonakilty (Co.Cork) still on 24th-27th, and at Ballycotton on 27th; in Co.Wexford at Bannow Bay on 23rd, and Tacumshin on 26th; at Carrahane Strand (Co.Kerry) still on 25th; and on Achill Island (Co.Mayo) on 28th.
Dotterel remained at Cooley Point (Co.Louth) on 22nd-25th, and Bryher (Scilly) on 22nd-27th. Another was seen on 22nd in Lincolnshire near Baston & Langtoft Pits.
Cambridgeshire again supplied a sighting of a Black-winged Stilt at Berry Fen on 23rd.
Long-billed Dowitcher remained this week at Cley NWT (Norfolk) on 22nd-28th; Bowling Green Marsh RSPB (Devon) on 22nd-28th; and up on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 24th-27th. A further first-winter bird was found on 27th-28th at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford); and a final possible bird on 28th at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall).
Fair numbers of Grey Phalarope were seen lately, notably in the English southwest, where eight birds were seen from the Scillonian near Wolf Rock on 23rd, three from Pendeen (Cornwall) on 24th, one from Killigerran Head (Cornwall) on 25th, and two from St Mary’s (Scilly) on 26th. Away from the region, a singleton was seen from Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 26th.
The southwest of England also supplied us with what few Sabine’s Gull were to be seen this week – two off Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 24th, and a single bird seen from St Mary’s (Scilly) on 25th.
The week was productive, once more, for Bonaparte’s Gull - adults were seen off Bamburgh (Northumberland) on 22nd-23rd; at Loch Fleet (Highland & Caithness) again on 24th; over Hempstead (Norfolk) on 25th; and near Larne (Co.Antrim) again on 27th-28th.
The adult Ring-billed Gull was again seen at Blackrock (Co.Louth) on 25th; and an adult at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) again on 28th.
Glaucous Gull remained in Orkney and Shetland this week on, respectively, Mainland at Ring of Brodgar on 25th-26th, and Unst at Uyeasound on 25th-28th. Another Orcadian bird was seen on Sanday on 23rd, and one on 28th at Bay of Skaill; and a bird was seen in Aberdeenshire at Kirkton of Culsalmond on 25th.
On 28th an Iceland Gull was reported from Galway (Co.Galway).
We can start the week’s notable raptors in Ireland, where a male Northern Harrier remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 26th-27th, joined by the other recent male there on 27th also.
In Norfolk the wintering adult female Pallid Harrier was seen intermittently in the Warham Greens area on 22nd-27th; and the dapper second-winter male bird remained in Pembrokeshire at Dowrog Common on 22nd-26th also.
A Rough-legged Buzzard was reported on 24th from Brierley Hill (West Midlands). On 27th, birds were seen at Glenarm and Larne (Co.Antrim), following one seen in the county at an undisclosed coastal site the previous day.
Into the passerines, and we’ll kick them off with Dusky Warbler, which enjoyed a late autumn flourish this week with a small flurry of birds found. In Ireland, settled birds remained at Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 22nd, and Brownstown Head (Co.Waterford) on 22nd also; further Irish sightings came from Co.Cork on Cape Clear on 24th and Mizen Head on 26th-28th, and at Hook Head (Co.Wexford) on 26th-28th. One settled on Papa Westray (Orkney) on 23rd-26th; and further British birds were seen on St Martin’s (Scilly) on 24th, at Trimingham (Norfolk) on 25th, and at Levenwick (Shetland) on 27th-28th. Final putative birds were reported from Rainham Marshes RSPB (London) on 25th, and Grimston (East Yorkshire) on 28th, the latter heard only.
Portland (Dorset) gave us a Radde’s Warbler on 22nd. Another was found on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 27th-28th.
Portland enjoyed a better week still for Pallas’s Warbler, with individuals trapped and ringed there on both 23rd and 26th. Other individuals elsewhere this week were seen on Bardsey (Gwynedd) on 25th, and Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 26th.
In Co.Cork the Iberian Chiffchaff remained on Mizen Head on 22nd and, after an absence of a few days, was seen again there on 26th.
While Yellow-browed Warbler remained for another week ubiquitous, it was about time we had their later-travelling cousin, Hume’s Warbler, turn up – and so it proved this week, with a bird found on the Isle of Wight at Ventnor on 26th followed, on 27th, by birds found on Dursey (Co.Cork), and at Tresinwen (Pembrokeshire).
A probable Melodious Warbler was seen on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 28th.
On North Ronaldsay (Orkney), the recent Booted Warbler remained in residence on 24th-27th.
A probable Marsh Warbler tucked into Bryher (Scilly) on 21st-23rd.
Wrapping up the weekly warblers, a handful of Barred Warbler were logged in recent days – individuals at Killybegs (Co.Donegal) on 22nd-25th; Beachy Head (East Sussex) on 23rd; and in Shetland in Lerwick on 25th, and on Out Skerries on 25th also.
A couple of late Red-backed Shrike checked in – one seen at John Muir CP (Lothian) on 23rd-27th, and another at Marazion Marsh RSPB (Cornwall) on 26th-27th.
A lovely frosty grey Woodchat Shrike was found on Scilly on St Mary’s on 24th.
In Dorset the Isabelline Shrike sp remained at Gillingham on 22nd-26th. Judging by posts on social media, birders have proven more assiduous than local dog owners when it comes to scooping poops in the area…
A Great Grey Shrike remained at Cannock Chase (Staffordshire) on 22nd-28th; another was found on 25th at Martin Mere WWT (Lancashire & North Merseyside); and a final bird at Lake Vyrnwy RSPB (Powys) on 28th.
In Norfolk two Penduline Tit were seen at Weybourne on 25th.
A Hoopoe was in Highland & Caithness at Arisaig on 25th; while Scillonian sightings came this week from St Mary’s on 22nd-25th, Tresco on 22nd, and Bryher on 27th-28th.
Scilly also accounted for Wryneck on St Mary’s and Tresco on 22nd. Additional birds this week were seen at Pendeen (Cornwall) on 26th-27th, Wyke Regis (Dorset) on 26th, Two Tree Island (Essex), and St Merryn (Cornwall).
A Bee-eater was seen on 27th at an undisclosed location in Suffolk.
The first hints of Waxwing on the move continued this week, with reports of a probable at Chesham (Buckinghamshire) on 24th, and four further possible birds that day in Aberdeenshire at Ellon, followed by a confirmed bird on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 25th; and another report of a bird on 27th at Anlaby (East Yorkshire).
A possible Short-toed Lark was reported over Walthamstow Wetlands LWT (London) on 26th.
A handful of Red-rumped Swallow were once again seen this week – two on 22nd at Cromarty (Highland & Caithness); and singles at Donmouth and Collieston (Aberdeenshire) on 22nd, Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 23rd, and on 28th in North Yorkshire at Long Nab and Cayton Bay.
Also in East Yorkshire, the recent Red-flanked Bluetail remained at Bempton Cliffs RSPB on 22nd-28th.
Bluethroat this week were the sole preserve of Shetland – two were present on Fair Isle on 23rd-26th, with one still present there until 27th; while a singleton remained on Unst on 25th.
A fine Desert Wheatear was a classic and popular late-autumn find on the south coast at Beachy Head on 22nd and, after going AWOL on 23rd, was seen again on 24th-28th.
A handful of Red-breasted Flycatchers continued to delight this week, with birds being logged on Scilly on St Mary’s on 24th-26th, and St Agnes on 26th-28th; on Lundy (Devon) on 24th; near Loch of Swannay on Orkney Mainland on 25th; on Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 26th-28th; and on Mizen Head (Co.Cork) on 27th.
The possible Black-headed Wagtail remained on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 22nd.
Shetland also gave us one of the week’s Olive-backed Pipit, present in Lerwick still on 22nd-25th. Additional birds were found on Inishmore (Co.Galway) on 23rd-25th; on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 24th; and a possible was over Morgan’s Hill (Wiltshire) on 24th.
Flyover Red-throated Pipit were logged this week on Bryher (Scilly) on 24th, and on Portland (Dorset) on 25th.
Bardsey (Gwynedd) got a flyover Richard’s Pipit on 22nd. This was followed by birds seen in recent days near Beal (Northumberland) on 24th; on 25th at Winterton North Dunes (Norfolk) and Saltholme RSPB (Cleveland); on 26th on Dursey (Co.Cork); on 27th at Boulby (Cleveland); and on 28th at Grimston (East Yorkshire), and on Bardsey (Gwynedd).
The Lizard (Cornwall) retained its juvenile Rose-coloured Starling on 24th-27th. Further birds this week were seen at Pendeen (Cornwall) on 22nd, at Deanston (Forth) on 23rd, on 27th at Bockhill Farm (Kent) and Carrigaline (Co.Cork), and on 28th in Devon initially in Seaton and latterly at adjacent Colyford Common LNR.
Common Rosefinch this week included an excellent Surrey record photographed near Pyrford on 23rd. Birds in more anticipated quarters were seen on Shetland on Fair Isle on 22nd-25th and on Mainland at Turriefield on 25th; and on Scilly on St Mary’s on 24th and 26th-27th, and St Martin’s on 26th. Final birds were seen in Cornwall at Porthgwarra on 27th, and on Barra (Western Isles) on 28th.
The week was notable for an arrival of Serin on our shores, not least in Scilly where sightings involved two on Tresco on 23rd-27th, and two on St Mary’s on 24th, and one at least on St Mary’s on 23rd and Tresco on 28th. Two were seen at Pendeen (Cornwall) on 24th, and one on Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 26th-28th.
A Parrot Crossbill was identified from sound recordings at Gibraltar Point NNR (Lincolnshire) on 26th.
Scilly provided sightings of Little Bunting on St Agnes on 22nd, and St Mary’s on 24th; another was to be found on 23rd on Hengistbury Head (Dorset).
Finally, on 26th Anglesey’s second Red-eyed Vireo was found on Anglesey at Breakwater CP. The first record for the island dates back to the turn of the century, a one-day bird at South Stack on 4th October 2001. Another was overdue, and duly proved popular this week over the weekend, augmented on 27th by a bird trapped and ringed in Dorset at Durlston CP.
The opening bird of the overseas account this week relates to a bird seen earlier in October – and what a bird it was. Photographed off Cap Ferret in France on 10th October, the Western Palearctic’s first record of Barau’s Petrel. Needless to say, that’s a mind-boggling record – a bird that owes its origin to the Indian Ocean, with the species’ main breeding site being the French overseas territory of Réunion. Quite what that’s doing in the Bay of Biscay is anyone’s guess, but serves to remind us that with seabirds almost anything seems possible.
Belated news; Barau´s Petrel, Pterodroma baraui photographed at Cap Ferret by Guillaume Rey on 10th October 2024, confirmed from photos by Bob Flood and Hadoram Shirihai - the 1st record for France and Western Palearctic - More photos - https://t.co/c4HzfBnACA pic.twitter.com/LsY2XowBnN
— Tarsiger (@TarsigerTeam) October 23, 2024
Additional, more contemporaneous French news this week concerned a Siberian Pipit on Île d'Yeu on 22nd; an Arctic Warbler on Ouessant on 25th; and the Eastern Imperial Eagle still at Lac du Der on 24th.
The week was a good one for misplaced raptors generally. Starting on the Channel Islands, a dark morph Booted Eagle came in off the sea on Alderney on 25th.
In Sweden, the Lesser Kestrel remained at Torhamns Udde on 24th; the Asian Desert Warbler remained on Öland on 24th still; and a Black-faced Bunting was present at Havringe on 26th-28th.
A Booted Eagle was seen in the Netherlands at Snellegem on 24th. The Netherlands also scored a Crag Martin on Texel on 25th, and a Blyth’s Pipit at Ameland on 23rd-25th.
In Norway, an Oriental Turtle Dove was present at Kjerkevagen on 22nd-24th.
Denmark meanwhile was graced by a Grey-necked Bunting at Sortemosen on 28th.
In Iceland, the White-winged Scoter remained off Reykjavik on 25th.
Germany’s Northern Mockingbird remained settled at Feldflur Rheidt Am Schfott on 23rd-25th.
Spain also enjoyed significant Western Palearctic news this week in the form of the Western Palearctic’s first mainland Tennessee Warbler, found on 27th in Asturias at Cabo Peñas; and then a Common Yellowthroat, in Galicia, at Burela on 28th.
In Italy a Moussier’s Redstart was present on Linosa on 25th-26th.
Providing additional incentive to rarity hunters across Europe this week beyond that coming from Britain, another Black-faced Bunting was found in recent days – in Albania at Orikum on 23rd.
Heading further afield and offshore, in Cape Verde an African Swamphen was found on Sal on 24th.
And finally, gritting our teeth for yet another week, it’s all the way across the Atlantic to the Azores for another American migration update. On Corvo the American Goshawk remained present on 23rd-24th; two Black-throated Blue Warbler on 22nd-24th; American Redstart on 23rd; Northern Parula on 22nd-24th; Common Yellowthroat on 22nd; Blackpoll Warbler on 23rd; Red-eyed Vireo on 22nd-24th, with two birds present on 24th; and Philadelphia Vireo on 23rd-24th.
Also on the Azores, Flores boasted Rose-breasted Grosbeak on 23rd; Indigo Bunting on 23rd; Yellow-billed Cuckoo on 23rd; American Redstart on 23rd; American Kestrel on 24th; on 26th, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, and Rough-legged Hawk; and on 27th, a new American Goshawk. The Double-crested Cormorant remained on Faial on 24th-25th; and Terceira scored a Myrtle Warbler on 23rd. A Rough-legged Hawk was seen on 26th on Sao Miguel.
We tip over the Rubicon this week from October into November, with the clocks having changed and there being, perhaps, a chillier note in the air. Winter is coming…
Autumn isn’t over yet though, so let’s not wish our birding year away too quickly. The coming week can deliver birds of significant heft and star value – the likes of the Long-tailed Shrike that settled on South Uist (Western Isles) on at least 3rd-4th November 2000, or the Masked Shrike that found St Mary’s (Scilly) on 1st November 2006; or, from the west, the likes of the Grey Catbird on Cape Clear (Co.Cork) on 4th November 1986, or the Mourning Dove on Inishbofin (Co.Galway) on 2nd-15th November 2007.
Of course, unthinkably longshots all. What’s more likely in the coming week? We surely stand a chance of further Hume’s Warbler, and now’s a classic time for a rare wheatear, another Desert perhaps, or a Pied…
Jon Dunn
29 Oct 2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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