Weekly birding round-up: 29 Oct - 4 Nov 2024
We rattled out of October and into the closing chapters of the autumn this week, November beginning with a bang in southern England. Whoever said this time of year was a damp squib? Fireworks came early this weekend for those quick off the mark…
Those of us of a certain vintage will remember all too vividly the late autumn of 1999, when a pale morph Booted Eagle first found earlier that year in Ireland in early February, turned up on 25th October at Drift Reservoir (Cornwall). It had been seen a month earlier, in late September, at St Margaret’s Bay (Kent), presumably taking a look at the English Channel and not fancying it much. Then again, by this stage it had already crossed the Irish Sea, so the prospect of open water wasn’t that big a deal for it.
But to Cornwall it had gone, and to Cornwall many of us followed in November, with varying degrees of success. Second bites at the cherry followed in early 2000, most notably when it settled for a few days at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset). On 22nd June 2000 it made a further sea crossing, apparently the same bird turning up on North Ronaldsay (Orkney).
It had made quite a journey by the time of this final sighting in Britain and Ireland as a whole. And quite a journey was to follow as BOURC embarked upon determining which category of the British list this bird should reside within. And their conclusion? Not one that was to prove terribly popular with those who’d seen it…
BOURC decided that the bird should sit in Category D, an wasn’t eligible as a first for Britain – there was plumage damage that was considered abnormal for the time of year when the bird was initially found; the arrival date in Ireland was considered too early for a genuine vagrant; the arrival in Ireland would have involved a long sea crossing, considered atypical for Booted Eagle; the duration of the bird’s stay in Britain and Ireland was just too long for a genuine vagrant bird of prey; and finally, there were a few known Booted Eagle in captivity, so… well, this point was a bit vague, and frankly if presence in captivity was so damning, why were so many vagrant wildfowl given the benefit of the doubt?
Further birds were claimed in the years that followed, with confident claims coming from Devon (2001), Kent (2002, 2007, 2009, and 2014), Suffolk (2010 and 2021), Hampshire (2010), Lincolnshire (2013), West Sussex (2013), and Norfolk (2015). None made the grade in the final reckoning.
And that brings us to 2024. 20th May saw a dark morph logged from Sennen, Cape Cornwall and Morvah Quoit (Cornwall); a probable dark morph was seen in Devon at Ashburton on 8th June; and a dark morph was reported back in Cornwall on 2nd September at Nanquidno. Through October, a pale morph was seen in Cornwall, starting at Nanquidno on 10th, and ending with a report at Porthgwarra on 20th.
And so to this past week – on the wings of recent sightings of birds at Snellegem (Netherlands) on 24th October, and in the Channel Islands on Alderney on 25th October, a dark morph bird turned up over Warburg NR (Oxfordshire) on 31st; and was seen latterly in the morning of 1st with Red Kites at Remenham Hill (Berkshire).
On 2nd, it was back at Remenham Hill/Aston in the morning and, later in the morning, near Henley-on-Thames (Oxfordshire). For those who rolled the dice and moved quickly, there was a half-decent chance of connecting and, to their evident delight, for those for whom the gamble paid off, the bird was seen, albeit sometimes fairly distantly. No confirmed sightings followed on 3rd.
It's not going to win any photo competitions, but when your luck is in, you can't complain. This is the dark-phase Booted Eagle in the Thames Valley near Henley today. Jammed in on it as driving along the valley and 3 biders had just located it! pic.twitter.com/0jRGgB7T91
— Graham Etherington (@BritishBirder) November 2, 2024
Which brings us back to BOURC, and their reasons for booting the 1999/2000 Booted Eagle. Whether that bird ever gets a reprieve as Britain’s first record is decidedly moot, but it’ll be fascinating to see which of the five reasons for its Category D status are applied, if any, to the 2024 birds. Watch this space.
Last seen at Donna Nook (Lincolnshire) on 26th, the recent Black-faced Bunting put in a reappearance there this week on 29th. Has it completely gone now, or will it pop back out of the woodwork again in the days and weeks to come?
And more to the point, where else will a wintering Black-faced Bunting be found in the next few months? Given their relative abundance in Europe so far this autumn, one at a feeding station or stumbled upon on weedy margins of farmland on somebody’s local patch this winter doesn’t feel too much of a shot in the dark.
Another week, another Nearctic passerine. Granted, this autumn’s not been able to hold a candle to 2023, but we all suspected last year was a once in a lifetime birding event. Normal service has resumed this year, which isn’t to say we’ve done badly – far from it, as the Slate-coloured Junco found near Helston (Cornwall) on 31st was the seventh species of Nearctic landbird to be found in Britain so far this autumn.
With the notable exception of the Fea’s Petrel sp seen from North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 2nd, our seabirds finally calmed down somewhat this week.
Which isn’t to say the large shearwaters were absent at last – far from it, as both species were logged in their collective hundreds or thousands. Just no Scopoli’s, for a change… Around 900 Cory’s Shearwater were noted during the week, 500 being seen from the Scilly pelagic of 29th. Great Shearwater were again more numerous, some 18,500 birds being recorded in Britain and Ireland as a whole – of these, 6,000 seen at sea north of Coll (Argyll & Bute) on 4th were the highest single tally.
A mere 25 Balearic Shearwater were seen over the week, Dorset’s Portland proving the most reliable site for them, with a peak count of nine birds there on 29th.
A few east coast Leach’s Petrel were found this week – singles off Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 2nd and 3rd, another seen from Southwold (Suffolk) on 2nd also, and one on 4th off Canvey Island (Essex).
Around 20 Pomarine Skua were seen this week, and just two Long-tailed Skua, the latter off Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 2nd.
Numbers of Little Auk began to pick up – just shy of 70 birds were logged nationwide, with Sumburgh (Shetland) claiming the best of them, with 14 birds seen from there on 4th.
A probable White-billed Diver was seen at Gullane Point (Lthian) on 29th; a confirmed bird off Fetlar (Shetland) on 3rd; and another at Portknockie (Fife) on 4th.
The sum total of our long-legged beasties this past week were Glossy Ibis, with 15 birds logged over the course of recent days. In Britain three remained in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven NNR on 30th-1st; two were at Breydon Water (Norfolk) on 2nd; and single birds were seen at Summer Leys NR (Northamptonshire) on 29th-4th still; Cotswold Water Park (Wiltshire) again on 30th and 3rd; at Westhay Moor NNR (Somerset) on 1st-3rd; at Benacre (Suffolk) on 31st; at Fremington Pill (Devon) still on 29th-4th; at Deeping Lakes LWT (Lincolnshire) again on 29th and 3rd-4th; and in Norfolk at Hickling Broad NWT on 29th-30th and Loughlin’s Marsh RSPB on 30th. In Ireland, two remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 31st-4th.
On Scilly, the Spotted Crake remained on St Mary’s at Lower Moors on 29th-1st.
Our honkers and quackers this week begin with some examples of The Goose Formerly Known As Canada. Starting with interior Todd’s Canada Goose, a probable was seen at Budle Bay (Northumberland) on 29th, and two confirmed birds at Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 30th. Cross Lough on 30th also supplied a hutchinsii Richardson’s Cackling Goose; while also on 30th a Lesser Canada Goose was seen in Co.Mayo at Inishkea South.
Sightings of Snow Goose came from Lancashire & North Merseyside at Martin Mere WWT again on 29th-30th and on 3rd-4th; Dumfries & Galloway at Mersehead RSPB still on 30th; and in Lincolnshire, where two birds were seen on 3rd over Chowder Ness and then, on 4th, at Read’s Island again.
In southern England, Black Brant were noted at Hayling Island (Hampshire) on 29th, and West Mersea (Essex) on 1st-4th.
The Red-breasted Goose was still on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 30th-3rd.
Back to Cross Lough (Co.Mayo), the resident Black Duck continued his tenure on 30th-1st.
The Blue-winged Teal remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 30th-1st.
American Wigeon this week were logged at Freiston Shore RSPB (Lincolnshire) on 29th; at Wheldrake Ings YWT (North Yorkshire) again on 31st; at Loch of Hillwell (Shetland) on 1st still; on 2nd-4th at Blagdon Hall (Northumberland); on 2nd-4th at Loch of Ayre (Orkney) still; and on 4th at Otterston Loch, Dalgety Bay (Fife).
Scotland proved a stronghold once more for Green-winged Teal, not least in Highland & Caithness, where two were again seen at Tain Links on 31st, and one at Loch Fleet on 30th still; while a possible bird was at Loch Leven (Perth & Kinross) on 2nd, and another at Morton Lochs (Fife) on 2nd-3rd; on 3rd, birds were seen at Meikle Loch (Aberdeenshire), and Balmore Pond (Clyde), the latter bird remaining there on 4th. English examples were seen at Broom GPs (Bedfordshire) again on 30th; at Welney WWT (Norfolk) on 1st-2nd again; on 3rd-4th at Farleton (Cumbria); on 3rd-4th at Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire); on 3rd at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB (Cheshire & Wirral); and at Hayle Estuary RSPB (Cornwall) again on 3rd-4th. One was seen in Ireland at Kilpedder (Co.Wicklow) on 3rd.
In Essex, the drake Canvasback was still present on Abberton Reservoir 31st-4th.
In a busier week for Ferruginous Duck, London stands out, with a female/juvenile drake seen initially at Wandsworth Common on 29th, and latterly at Tooting Bec Common on 1st-4th. Sightings of drakes came from Warwickshire at Napton Reservoir on 29th-2nd, and Draycote Water again on 1st-4th. A drake was also noted at Baston & Langtoft Pits (Lincolnshire) on 2nd.
Seventeen Ring-necked Duck were logged over the course of the week, with several sites enjoying multiple birds – three were present on Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 31st; and duos on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) still on 30th-3rd, and on Loch Leven (Perth & Kinross) on 2nd.
Loch Leven also supplied a Lesser Scaup on 2nd again; while the drake remained on Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire) on 29th-4th. A further possible was on Loch Insh (Highland & Caithness) on 2nd; a female on 3rd-4th at Otterston Loch (Fife); one on 4th at Beesands Ley (Devon); two more birds on 4th at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford); and a probable at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) on 4th.
Drake White-winged Scoter remained in Angus in Lunan Bay on 29th-3rd; Gosford Bay (Lothian) on 3rd; and another was seen in Co.Kerry at Inch on 30th.
A drake Stejneger’s Scoter was in Lothian at Craigielaw on 4th.
Inch was most notable, however, for numbers of Surf Scoter there – no fewer than eight birds were seen there on 30th. Further Irish examples were logged this week at Brandon Bay (Co.Kerry) on 31st; Long Strand (Co.Cork) on 1st-3rd; Ben Head (Co.Meath) on 2nd; and Baldoyle Bay (Co.Dublin) on 30th-4th. Scottish birds were seen at Roseisle (Moray) still on 29th-3rd; and Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire) on 2nd. Elsewhere, one was still in Colwyn Bay (Conwy) on 29th-4th; one was seen passing Sizewell (Suffolk) on 2nd; and three at Druridge Pools NR (Northumberland) on 3rd-4th.
Where waders were concerned, the week was once again all about the White-rumped Sandpipers. Two remained on North Uist (Western Isles) on 1st; two were on Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 30th-2nd; and three were on Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 3rd-4th. Singletons were seen at Pilning Wetland (Gloucestershire) on 31st; on Bann Estuary (Co.Derry) on 1st; on 1st-2nd at Ballycotton (Co.Cork) still; on 2nd-4th at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford), on 2nd-3rd on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire), and on 2nd-4th at Northam Burrows CP (Devon); on South Uist (Western Isles) on 3rd. Final birds were seen at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 2nd and 4th, and on 4th on Roe Estuary (Co.Derry).
A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported from Cors Ddyga RSPB (Anglesey) on 29th; and additional birds were seen at Steart WWT (Somerset) on 2nd-4th, and near Eysey (Wiltshire) on 31st-4th, the latter bird gilding a local lily in the form of a Lesser Yellowlegs present in the same area on 29th-4th.
Further Lesser Yellowlegs this week were seen on Tresco (Scilly) still on 30th-3rd; at Buckenham Marshes RSPB (Norfolk) still on 29th; while an unconfirmed report of a bird in Norfolk came from Loughlin’s Marsh RSPB on 31st.
In Fife, the Spotted Sandpiper remained at Cameron Reservoir on 31st-2nd.
The week was a busy one for Long-billed Dowitcher, with half a dozen birds involved – at Cley NWT (Norfolk) still on 29th-4th; at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London) on 30th-31st; on Bowling Green Marsh RSPB (Devon) on 30th-4th still; on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 30th-4th still; at Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 1st-3rd; and at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) still on 1st-4th.
American Golden Plover also kept the dailies busy, with 10 birds logged over the course of the week. In the Western Isles, sightings came from Barra on 30th-4th still, and Berneray on 30th also. English birds were noted at Predannack Head (Cornwall) on 29th; The Lizard (Cornwall) on 31st; at Breydon Water (Norfolk) again on 2nd; at Anthorn (Cumbria) on 31st-2nd; and at Sennen (Cornwall) on 3rd-4th. Irish sightings came from Blennerville (Co.Kerry) still on 29th; Ballycotton (Co.Cork) again on 2nd-3rd; and Clonakilty (Co.Cork) on 3rd still.
A very few Grey Phalarope were seen this week – one from Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 30th; another at Shanagarry (Co.Cork) on 2nd; and a final bird at Hunstanton (Norfolk) on 3rd.
Onto the gulls next. A Sabine’s Gull was seen at Chanonry Point (Highland & Caithness) on 1st; and another on 4th at Spurn (East Yorkshire).
Adult Bonaparte’s Gull were noted at Loch Fleet (Highland & Caithness) again on 29th and 3rd-4th, and in Northumberland at sea off Inner Farne on 30th.
A Ring-billed Gull was seen on Mutton Island (Co.Galway) on 2nd.
A poor, though granted it’s still early days, week for white-wingers gave us Glaucous Gull at Fort William (Highland & Caithness) on 29th, passing Sumburgh (Shetland) on 31st, and in Donegal Bay (Co.Donegal) on 3rd; and Iceland Gull at Black Middens (Northumberland) on 2nd, at Applecross (Highland & Caithness) on 3rd, and a final probable at St Andrews (Fife) on 4th.
The week’s fabulous Booted Eagle notwithstanding, recent days were in their own right pretty damn good as a whole for rare raptors. Starting in Ireland, both recent male Northern Harrier were again seen at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 30th, with at least one of them still present in the area until 4th.
Both of our recent Pallid Harrier were also still available – the female was still present in the Warham Greens area of Norfolk on 29th-4th; while the second-winter male bird remained in Pembrokeshire at Dowrog Common on 30th. A new juvenile was found in Devon at Cadover Bridge on 2nd-4th.
A putative sanctijohannis Rough-legged Hawk was seen in Cornwall at Polgigga and Sennen on 3rd, with the bird lingering in the Sennen area on 4th.
Finally, a Black Kite was seen on Skokholm (Pemrbokeshire) on 1st, and another on 4th at Great Yarmouth (Cornwall).
There was a distinct feeling of the autumn waning during the past week, with the serious business of getting somewhere warmer for the winter largely done and dusted for many birds. Accordingly, numbers and species variety thereof were generally beginning to decline.
Later travellers included a handful of Dusky Warblers - lingering birds remaining at Levenwick (Shetland) on 30th, St Martin’s (Scilly) on 31st, Hook Head (Co.Wexford) on 29th-30th, and on Mizen Head (Co.Cork) on 29th-31st – with two birds noted at the latter site on 29th. A possible new bird was found on 4th at Soar Mill Cove (Devon).
Also hanging on from the prior week, the Radde’s Warbler remained on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 29th-2nd.
Some stripy variety was injected into these settled warblers with the discovery of a few fresh Pallas’s Warbler - birds being discovered in recent days on Lundy (Devon) on 29th; Beachy Head (East Sussex) on 30th; The Naze (Essex) on 31st; on 2nd at Easington (East Yorkshire), and Pendeen (Cornwall); and on 3rd at Waxham (Norfolk), Donna Nook (Lincolnshire), Spurn (East Yorkshire), and The Naze (Essex).
Needless to say, still hundreds of Yellow-browed Warbler out there. Local patches should be on high alert for these in the weeks to come as they filter their way through the country or attempt to dig in for the winter.
A late Blyth’s Reed Warbler was found on Achill Island (Co.Mayo) on 31st.
On St Mary’s (Scilly), the recent Melodious Warbler was again seen on 29th-30th.
Norfolk provided Barred Warbler sightings at North Point Pools on 29th, and Beeston Bump on 29th-1st; another was on North Uist (Western Isles) on 3rd-4th. An Irish bird was found on 3rd-4th at Ballymacormick Point (Co.Down).
In Cornwall the recent Red-backed Shrike remained at Marazion Marsh RSPB on 29th-30th. A further bird was found on 4th at Garinish Point (Co.Cork).
The Great Grey Shrike remained at Cannock Chase (Staffordshire) on 29th-30th, while the Lake Vyrnwy RSPB (Powys) individual remained there also on 30th.
A decidedly late Wryneck was seen on Portland (Dorset) on 1st.
Scottish examples of Hoopoe were seen in Highland & Caithness at Back of Keppoch on 30th, and Gills on 1st-2nd; and at Trinafour (Perth & Kinross) on 31st-2nd. A Welsh bird was found on 2nd at Broadstreet Common (Gwent); the mobile Scillonian bird remained on Bryher (mostly) on 30th-4th; on 3rd one more was found at Hendon (Co.Durham); one was reported from Norfolk at Burston on 3rd, followed by one in the county on 4th at Haddiscoe, and another on 4th near Hollingworth (Greater Manchester).
Two Waxwing were reported from Crathie (Aberdeenshire) on 30th.
Up on Shetland, a Short-toed Lark was found near Setter Marsh on 3rd-4th.
A possible Red-rumped Swallow at Dingle Marshes SWT (Suffolk) on 29th was followed by birds at Spurn (East Yorkshire) on 30th, and St Mary’s and Bryher (Scilly) on 1st-2nd.
A Pallid Swift was seen at Donna Nook (Lincolnshire) on 4th, and another bird that day had penetrated further north and west, being found on Lewis (Western Isles).
The week was a good one for Rose-coloured Starling, with settled birds still present at The Lizard (Cornwall) on 29th-4th, and in Devon again at Colyford Common LNR on 29th and Seaton Marshes on 31st; with another Devonian sighting at Whitford on 30th-31st. An adult arrived in Lerwick (Shetland) on 29th-1st; one was at Tenby (Pembrokeshire) on 31st; and a final bird at St Margaret’s at Cliffe (Kent) on 1st-2nd.
Two Bluethroat remained on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 29th; another was present on Foula (Shetland) on 3rd.
The recent Red-flanked Bluetail remained at Bempton Cliffs RSPB (East Yorkshire) on 29th, followed by a late flourish for the Scilly faithful in the form of a bird on St Mary’s on 30th-31st.
On St Agnes (Scilly), a Red-breasted Flycatcher remained present on 29th-30th. On 3rd birds were found on Great Ormes Head (Conwy), and Inishmore (Co.Galway).
An eastern stonechat sp, thought potentially to be Amur, was found on 3rd-4th at Trimley Marshes SWT (Suffolk).
The smart female Desert Wheatear remained a popular draw at Beachy Head (East Sussex) on 29th-4th.
A probable Blyth’s Pipit was logged on Papa Westray (Orkney) on 29th.
A possible Tawny Pipit was noted over Dodinghurst (Essex) on 30th.
A Richard’s Pipit was reported from Dorman’s Pool (Cleveland) on 30th. Confirmed birds were seen on Scilly on St Agnes and St Mary’s on 1st; at Ryhope (Co.Durham) on 2nd; at Welwick Saltmarsh YWT (East Yorkshire) on 2nd-3rd; at West Rise Marsh (East Sussex) on 3rd-4th; and near Chineham (Hampshire) on 4th.
A Olive-backed Pipit was found at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 31st.
A possible Red-throated Pipit was noted over Bridport (Dorset).
The final dribs and drabs of the autumn’s Common Rosefinch were represented by birds present this week in Shetland in Lerwick on 29th-30th, and the Western Isles on Barra on 30th still, and on Harris on 2nd.
Scilly accounted for Serin on Tresco again on 1st, and St Mary’s on 2nd. Another was found on The Lizard (Cornwall) on 2nd.
An Ortolan Bunting was also seen on Scilly this week, on Bryher on 30th.
Scilly again supplied Little Bunting, with one trapped and ringed on St Mary’s on 30th, and two present there on 2nd-4th; another was present in Kent at Reculver on 29th; one was at St Abb’s Head (Borders) on 3rd; and an unconfirmed report came of a bird at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 29th.
In the Booted Eagle Berkshire had already enjoyed a stunning county bird this week. If only the probable Rose-breasted Grosbeak seen in flight from a train at Reading on 30th had been confirmed, we’d have been on for an unprecedented Berkshire double whammy in the headlines.
Some food for late autumn thought was just (well, a little way away) across the water from British birders this week, with several birds of varying degrees of interest to whet our appetites.
Starting in Denmark, the Grey-necked Bunting remained at Sortemosen on 29th. Sweden meanwhile scored a female White-winged Scoter on 3rd at Hemmeslov. Norway, however, sent us news of at least 502 Pine Grosbeak seen heading west at Krogvannsfjell on 2nd.
Germany’s Heligoland landed itself a Taiga Flycatcher on 31st-3rd; on the mainland, the Northern Mockingbird remained settled at Feldflur Rheidt Am Schfott on 31st-3rd.
France enjoyed some late migrant action, with a Swainson’s Thrush on Ouessant on 30th; a Grey-headed Lapwing was found at Plan de la Garde on 30th, and a national first; and the Eastern Imperial Eagle remained at Lac du Der on 31st-3rd.
Looking further east, a Menetries’s Warbler was trapped and ringed in Hungary at Lake Fehér on 1st, a national first; and a Siberian Accentor was trapped and ringed on 29th in Belarus at Vysokaye.
In Iceland, the White-winged Scoter remained off Reykjavik on 30th-2nd while, more thrillingly, a drake Spectacled Eider was seen there on 30th.
In Spain the Common Yellowthroat remained in Galicia at Burela on 1st-3rd; and a Rough-legged Hawk at Iriote on 3rd. Portugal enjoyed a Rough-legged Hawk at Ponta d’Erva on 29th-3rd; and the Yellow-crowned Night Heron remained at Quinta do Lago on 3rd.
And so to the Azores. News from Flores concerned an Ovenbird on 29th; Rough-legged Hawk on 29th; Northern Harrier on 29th-2nd; Hudsonian Whimbrel on 30th; Great Blue Heron on 30th-3rd; Semipalmated Plover on 31st; Slate-coloured Junco on 3rd-4th; two Common Nighthawk on 3rd; and Northern Waterthrush on 3th. Meanwhile, a Double-crested Cormorant was on Faial on 30th-3rd.
So that’s us into early November, and what does the week ahead hold in store for us – birding fireworks, maybe?
We can but hope and, if the week just gone is anything to go by, perhaps with a tiny bit of optimism. November shouldn’t be written off as October’s poor cousin…
It’s not too late for an American warbler, as past records for the coming week of American Redstart and Black-and-white Warbler both stand testament. Likewise, single 21st century records of both White-crowned and White-throated Sparrow tell us other passerines are, if we’re very lucky, available.
These feel a shade unlikely though, particularly with the wind coming our way off the near continent this week. Another Desert, or a Pied Wheatear is surely a formality? And with thrushes coming our way now, it feels like time for a Black-throated Thrush to make landfall.
Jon Dunn
5 Nov 2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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