Weekly birding round-up: 5 - 11 Nov 2024
While autumn was generally winding down this week, birds continued to filter into and through Britain and Ireland – migration not being wholly done with us just yet. And while at least some of us cast an apprehensive glance across the Atlantic this week in the light of the news, a bright, brash American export was about to pop up in the headlines much closer to home.
Though 2023 is no reliable yardstick by which to measure any autumn in terms of American passerine vagrancy, the distinct impression remains that proceedings in that regard this year have been a relatively poor affair – not a lot of birds really, and not a great variety of species of which to speak.
That said, there have been some birds found, and to their number can be added another this week, in the somewhat unlikely surroundings of inland West Yorkshire – just outside Halifax, at Shelf, where news emerged of a Scarlet Tanager, at first reported tentatively in the early evening of 10th as present in a garden at an undisclosed location and then, as the evening wore on, with much more accuracy.
Said to have been in the area for at least a couple of days beforehand, the initial burning question was whether or not it would still be present as dawn broke on 11th. Happily for those who’d gone for it, there it was, and there it remained off and on throughout the day, albeit judging by reports from the field the views to be had weren’t always the best in the understandably constrained circumstances of a village cul-de-sac.
That the bird was still there was the good news. The slightly unsettling side to all of this is the location. Inland West Yorkshire not, with the greatest of respect to it, being renowned as a magnet for Nearctic vagrancy. Then again, we know that American passerines can and do turn up on the east coast, so why not further inland on the eastern side of the Pennines? It’s not completely beyond the bounds of possibility, after all.
It’s worth noting however that no prior Scarlet Tanager in Britain has been found away from the western seaboard. Scilly lays claim to four birds; Cornwall to two; and the Western Isles to one. Still, there has to be a first that breaks the mould if it’s ever going to happen. And, at the time of writing, there’s been no suggestion that the bird appears to be ringed, which one would assume a captive-bred example would probably be, so it deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Not the rarest passerine of Yorkshire’s autumn period – a certain Pale-legged Leaf Warbler wears those laurels – but by any standards a damn rare bird from a British perspective. A top Shelf bird, anyway.
From birds in unexpected places to one that, quite frankly, North Ronaldsay (Orkney) is approaching monopoly status for – this week’s Eyebrowed Thrush. Found on the island on 7th, and seen again there on 9th, this is North Ronaldsay’s fourth record of the species, and all four of those have come since the turn of the century.
And to put that into some perspective, there are just 22 accepted birds on the British list up to the end of 2022 (and one more, also seen in Orkney, waits in the wings from October 2023); 11 of those accepted individuals have been seen since the year 2000; and Fair Isle (Shetland) hasn’t had a sniff of one since a one-day bird on 4th October 1992.
North Ron owns Eyebrowed Thrush these days.
Orkney’s North Ronaldsay continued to go from strength to strength this autumn as a whole, and this week in particular – not content with yet another headline bird in the form of the Eyebrowed Thrush, it also pulled a passing Brown Booby out of the hat on 8th.
(© George Gay)
Speaking of erstwhile unthinkable rarities, in Ireland this week a Pacific Diver was seen in Co.Clare on 9th-10th off Black Head.
Eyes cast out to sea this week may have been mainly counting Great Shearwater, but a few White-billed Diver were also on the cards – one was seen from Lewis (Western Isles) on 9th, another passing Sumburgh (Shetland) on 10th, and a final bird on 11th off Whalsay (Shetland).
Ireland also accounted for the bulk of said Great Shearwater in recent days – some 5,850 birds in all were logged in Britain and Ireland as a whole this week, with 2,000 seen in Donegal Bay off Mullaghmore Head (Co.Sligo) on 8th. Scottish vantage points were also proving fruitful – Shetland’s Sumburgh Head was notching up unprecedented daily sightings for November, while 1,409 birds were seen passing Barra (Western Isles) in one hour alone on 5th.
It was a very different story for Cory’s Shearwater, with barely any birds at all reported. St Mary’s (Scilly) gave us a peak count of three birds off there on 8th; one was seen from the Scillonian on 10th; and away from Scilly, just one bird was seen, off Lewis (Western Isles) on 8th.
A solitary Balearic Shearwater was seen off Portland (Dorset) on 11th.
A handful of Leach’s Petrel were found this week – one seen on 7th in Dungarvan Harbour (Co.Waterford); another from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway (Highland & Caithness / Western Isles) on 8th; one from Seasalter (Kent) on 10th; and a final ill-fated bird that ended up inside a Herring Gull on 8th at Penzance (Cornwall).
Little Auk continued to trickle past northern Britain, with 40 birds noted across the course of the week. No site surpassed five birds – Fife’s Isle of May getting five on 6th, and Fife Ness five birds on 7th.
Skuas were notable by their absence – a Pomarine was seen from Great Ormes Head (Conwy) on 8th, and another at Greatham Creek (Cleveland) on 10th; followed, on 11th, by 21 birds seen along the English east coast, with a fine haul of 10 logged from Cromer (Norfolk). A Long-tailed Skua was seen from Hartlepool (Cleveland) on 9th.
Finally, back in Ireland the resident Double-crested Cormorant remained on Doon Lough (Co.Leitrim) on 9th-11th. One day that bird will be gone, and the species will return to being the stuff of legend on these shores…
A little variety came into the weekly long-legged beasties this week in the form of a Purple Heron at Cotswold Water Park (Wiltshire) on 5th and once more on 10th; and another sighting at Sharpham (Somerset) on 10th…
…but mainly, as usual, it was all about the Glossy Ibis. Numbers remained essentially unchanged, with 17 birds logged during the week. In Britain three remained in Hampshire at Titchfield Haven NNR on 5th-7th; two were again seen at Breydon Water (Norfolk) on 7th, with at least one present on 5th-10th; two were at Deeping Lakes LWT (Lincolnshire) on 5th-7th, with a singleton still present on 10th; and single birds were seen at Summer Leys NR (Northamptonshire) still on 5th-11th; Cotswold Water Park (Wiltshire) on 5th; Westhay Moor NNR (Somerset) on 6th-9th still; at Fremington Pill (Devon) on 5th-11th still; over Grimsbury Reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 10th; and at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 11th. In Ireland, one was seen again at Lough Atalia (Co.Galway) on 8th-9th; one at The Gearagh (Co.Cork) on 11th; and in Co.Wexford, two birds were present at Lady’s Island Lake on 8th, and Tacumshin on 9th-11th.
Starting the honkers and quackers with The Goose Formerly Known As Canada, an interior Todd’s Canada Goose was found at Malin Head (Co.Donegal) on 9th.
Scottish Snow Geese remained at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 6th, and Mersehead RSPB (Dumfries & Galloway) on 7th-9th; with two seen in Ayrshire at Ballochmartin Bay on 6th; and two at New Pitsligo (Aberdeenshire) on 10th. In Lancashire & North Merseyside the recent bird remained at Martin Mere WWT on 5th; while two were seen at Swine Moor (East Yorkshire) on 10th-11th.
In Essex, the recent Black Brant remained at West Mersea on 9th, with a second bird also now present; another was seen on the north Kent coast at Seasalter on 10th. A possible Grey-bellied Brant was found on 10th at Lurgan Green (Co.Louth).
A startling piece of belated goose news this week relates to seven Lesser White-fronted Geese seen to come in off the sea at Flamborough (East Yorkshire) on 9th. Where had those come from?
The Blue-winged Teal remained at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 9th. Green-winged Teal meanwhile scaled the dizzy heights of double figures, with 13 birds logged across Britain as a whole.
American Wigeon continued to be well-represented this week – birds were noted at Loch of Hillwell (Shetland) still on 5th-11th; Loch of Ayre (Orkney) on 5th still; at Otterston Loch (Fife) on 5th-11th still; at Blagdon Hall (Northumberland) on 5th-11th still; and at Bank Island (North Yorkshire) again on 10th. A further bird was found on 7th at Frampton Marsh RSPB (Lincolnshire); and on 10th-11th, another near Rhyl (Denbighshire).
London’s recent juvenile female Ferruginous Duck remained settled at Tooting Bec Common on 5th-11th. In Warwickshire the drake remained present on Draycote Water on 5th-11th, and the drake at Napton Reservoir still on 10th. In Lincolnshire, one was again seen at Baston & Langtoft Pits on 7th, while Tallington Lakes held the drake on 6th-9th.
Twenty three Ring-necked Duck were logged over the course of the week, and once again some sites were blessed with multiple birds. Duos were seen at Brierfield Turlough (Co.Roscommon) on 6th-9th; Knockalough Lough (Co.Clare) on 8th; Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 10th; Portworthy Pits (Devon) on 7th-9th; on Barra (Western Isles) on 7th-10th; and on Tiree (Argyll & Bute) still on 11th; while three were present on Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 10th.
The week proved, once more, a good one for Lesser Scaup. Settled individuals remained on Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire) on 5th-11th; on Otterston Loch (Fife) on 5th-11th; at Beesands Ley (Devon) on 6th-11th; at Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 7th-10th; and two on Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) on 5th-11th. Fresh birds were found coming in off the sea at Mellon Udrigle (Highland & Caithness), and in Cambridgeshire at Barleycroft Lake on 10th .
https://x.com/rachel_lennard/status/1855662913530245134The recent second-winter drake White-winged Scoter in Shetland had moved from the sheltered waters off Wadbister this week to the more turbulent seas of Bluemull Sound on 5th. The Inch (Co.Kerry) drake remained there on 11th; in Lothian, the drake continued his residency in Gosford Bay on 6th-11th; and the drake was seen in Lunan Bay (Angus) on 11th.
Three Surf Scoter also lingered in Lothian’s Gosford Bay this week on 5th-8th, with at least on still present by 10th. Additional birds lately were seen off Roseisle (Moray) on 6th-10th; at Druridge Pools NR (Northumberland), where three were seen intermittently on 6th-11th; in Colwyn Bay (Conwy) on 5th-11th still; off Par (Cornwall) on 9th-11th, and Carlyon Bay on 11th; on 10th at Ben Head (Co.Meath), and Raghly (Co.Sligo) again; and on 11th at Inch (Co.Kerry), where at least five birds remained.
And finally… It’s been a while, but no round up feels wholly complete without a Hooded Merganser to wryly cock an eyebrow at. A female / juvenile drake was found on 11th in Wiltshire on the pleasant surroundings of the lake at Ramsbury Manor Park.
Onto the weekly waders, where White-rumped Sandpiper continued to be seen in appreciable numbers. In the Western Isles, four were seen on North Uist on 6th; two on South Uist on 8th; and one on Benbecula on 6th. Singletons were seen at Northam Burrows CP (Devon) still on 5th-10th, and again at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) on 7th-11th. In Ireland, one was present at Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 5th-11th still; two at Inch Island Lake (Co.Donegal) on 7th; three still at Lough Beg (Co.Derry) on 6th, reducing to two there by 7th; and one at Cahore Marsh (Co.Wexford) had risen to two present there by 11th.
The recent Pectoral Sandpiper remained at Steart WWT (Somerset) on 6th-8th, and near Eysey (Wiltshire) on 5th still.
In Fife, the Spotted Sandpiper remained at Cameron Reservoir on 6th-9th.
Back in Wiltshire, the recent Lesser Yellowlegs remained near Eysey, albeit proving elusive, on 6th.
Five Long-billed Dowitcher were once again seen in recent days. The regular remained at Cley NWT (Norfolk) still on 5th-10th; one was again seen at Cliffe Pools RSPB (Kent) on 5th; the Devon bird remained at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB on 5th-6th; one was still to be seen up on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 6th-11th; and in Ireland, one remained at Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 8th.
American Golden Plover almost made it into double figures, with seven or eight birds logged over the course of the week. One was seen in Cornwall at Gwenter on 6th, and Sennenon 6th-8th; the Western Isles had sightings on Benbecula on 6th-10th still, and Barra on 8th-10th; and one was present at the Ythan Estuary (Aberdeenshire) on 7th-9th. In Ireland, sightings came from the Blennerville (Co.Kerry) area on 5th-9th, and Carrahane Strand again on 10th; Ballycotton (Co.Cork) on 5th-8th still; Clonakilty (Co.Cork) on 5th-7th; and a probable at Sandymount (Co.Dublin) on 6th.
The returning, German-ringed female Kentish Plover was once again seen at Burnham-on-Sea (Somerset) on 10th. Another sighting this week came on 11th in Devon near Bantham.
A probable Wilson’s Snipe teased on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 5th-6th.
Finally, a Grey Phalarope settled a while at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 8th-9th; a further bird was seen passing Fife Ness (Fife) on 10th; and one more past Sheringham (Norfolk) on 11th.
A couple of Sabine’s Gull kick off a generally rather peaceful week again on the gull front – individuals were seen at St Ives (Cornwall) on 8th, off Mullaghmore Head (Co.Sligo) on 8th also, and from Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland) on 11th.
The adult Bonaparte’s Gull was once more to be seen at Loch Fleet (Highland & Caithness) on 6th-8th, while another was present in Cornwall at Penzance on 6th-7th.
A second-winter Ring-billed Gull was found in Co.Cork at Schull on 7th; the adult remained at Blennerville (Co.Kerry) on 10th.
Six Glaucous Gull were seen this week, albeit one some way offshore from Shetland on 7th from MV Zephyr; the balance were individuals seen on Yell (Shetland) on 7th, North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 8th, Isle of May (Fife) on 5th, Great Cumbrae (Ayrshire) on 7th, and Whitburn CP (Co.Durham) on 10th.
An Iceland Gull was found on 9th on Shetland Mainland at Isbister.
With no further Booted Eagle excitement forthcoming this past week, it was back to recent raptor stalwarts to enliven the dailies. Starting in Ireland, one of the recent male Northern Harrier was once again seen at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 5th, 9th, and 11th; and, on 10th-11th, a further second-winter male was discovered at Ballyvergan Marsh (Co.Cork).
Two of the recent Pallid Harrier were seen lately – the female was still present in the Warham Greens area of Norfolk on 5th-11th, while the juvenile remained in Devon at Cadover Bridge on 5th-10th.
The putative sanctijohannis Rough-legged Hawk was still to be seen in Cornwall around Sennen on 5th-8th. A Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on 10th at Trimley Marshes SWT (Suffolk).
Starting the passerines with warblers once more, casting our eyes beyond the still plentiful Yellow-browed Warbler, there was plenty of other action to be had – not least on Portland (Dorset), where Pallas’s Warbler peaked on 6th with three birds present that day. Elsewhere, further examples of Pallas’s Warbler were noted at Donna Nook (Lincolnshire) still on 5th; Ramsgate (Kent) on 6th-9th; back in Dorset at St Aldhelm’s Head on 9th; and on 10th in Aberdeenshire at Balnagask.
In East Yorkshire, a Hume’s Warbler was seen at Easington on 5th-7th; another in Cornwall at Pendeen on 10th-11th; and a possible on St Mary’s (Scilly) on 11th.
East Yorkshire also enjoyed a Dusky Warbler on 6th at Bempton; while another was seen this week at Skewjack Pool (Cornwall) on 9th-10th.
On 5th two putative Blyth’s Reed Warbler were seen – one at Severn Beach (Gloucestershire), and the other on St Mary’s (Scilly).
A late Barred Warbler was trapped and ringed at Hoylake (Cheshire & Wirral) on 6th, remaining around its favoured garden until 8th. Additional birds were noted at Ballymacormick Point (Co.Down) on 5th still; on North Uist (Western Isles) on 8th still; and on Shetland Mainland near Ollaberry on 7th.
Northumberland landed itself a very decent late autumn surprise in the form of a one-day Lesser Grey Shrike at Amble on 5th.
Cumbria had to make do with a Great Grey Shrike near Sunbiggin Tarn on 6th-8th; the Cannock Chase (Staffordshire) bird remained there on 11th; one was present on 10th at Egleton NR (Leicestershire); and another was seen on a camera trap at Carlton Marshes SWT (Suffolk). Others, surely, will be arriving for the winter soon enough…
Had some interesting videos from trail cams at Carlton marshes this week, first up is this totally unexpected Great Grey Shrike on my raptor cam on petos marsh @SWT_NE_Reserves @suffolkwildlife pic.twitter.com/rv8PCUem5S
— Gavin Durrant (@GavinDurrant1) November 10, 2024
Proving November still isn’t too late for a tardy Wryneck, a bird was seen this week in Cornwall at Kimmeridge on 9th-10th.
On Scilly, the recent Hoopoe remained on Bryher on 6th-7th; on 7th additional English examples were found in Suffolk at Bungay, and in South Yorkshire at Rossington. In Scotland, one was near Culloden Viaduct on 11th. An Irish example was seen in Co.Kerry at Spa on 5th-6th.
A probable Pallid Swift at Middle Hope (Somerset) on 7th was followed by a confirmed individual on Islay (Argyll & Bute) on 9th, and this in turn followed by another probable, at Nethy Bridge (Highland & Caithness) on 10th.
A Penduline Tit was found in Cheshire & Wirral at Woolston Eyes NR on 9th-11th.
Three Waxwing were seen in Lerwick (Shetland) on 6th.
Shetland also retained its recent Short-toed Lark at Loch of Spiggie on 5th-11th still.
The Rose-coloured Starling remained on The Lizard (Cornwall) on 5th, and at St Margaret’s at Cliffe (Kent) on 5th-10th.
A Bluethroat was found on Sanday (Orkney) on 11th.
Two widely separate Red-breasted Flycatcher were logged lately – one on Scilly on St Mary’s on 6th-11th, and the other up on Barra (Western Isles) on 6th-7th.
A putative Eastern Black Redstart was seen on Galley Head (Co.Cork) on 7th.
The eastern stonechat sp, thought potentially to be Amur, remained at Trimley Marshes SWT (Suffolk) on 5th-11th.
While the fine female Desert Wheatear remained popular at Beachy Head on 5th-6th, East Sussex raised its game a little further this week with a smart female Pied Wheatear also present in the county at Seaford Heaad on 8th-11th.
A little over half a dozen Richard’s Pipit were seen this week, with St Mary’s (Scilly) getting two birds on 9th. Singletons were noted at Welwick Saltmarsh YWT (East Yorkshire) again on 5th; at Winterton North Dunes and Weybourne Camp (Norfolk) on 5th; at Great Ormes Head (Conwy) on 7th; at Land’s End (Cornwall) on 9th; on 10th at Sunderland Point (Lancashire & North Merseyside); and on 11th at Saltholme RSPB (Cleveland).
An Olive-backed Pipit was found on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 5th, while the irrepressible North Ronaldsay (Orkney) scored a Red-throated Pipit on 8th.
Well, that's a wrap - the FIBO 2024 season is over, with a bang of thrushes and an Olive-backed Pipit. It's been a wonderful year - check out our summary here, and thank you for following all our updates: https://t.co/2m3gIzPQeZ.
— Fair Isle Bird Observatory (@FI_Obs) November 5, 2024
Bye for now!
- Jonnie F pic.twitter.com/40YxMnUs7m
A Common Rosefinch was found on Shetland Mainland at Isbister on 9th.
Serin continued to crop up this week – in Suffolk at Corton on 5th-6th and Benacre on 6th; on Tresco again on 7th; and at St Margaret’s at Cliffe (Kent) on 9th. A final possible bird was in Dorset at Butterstreet Cove on 11th.
St Mary’s (Scilly) held onto its two recent Little Bunting on 5th-9th; another was seen on Shetland at Pool of Virkie on 5th; while one remained in Norfolk near Holme on 4th-7th; and a final bird was on St Agnes (Scilly) on 11th.
Our overseas news has to commence once again with the species that’s enjoying a bit of a moment this late autumn period – yet another Black-faced Bunting this week, this time in Sweden at Brantaror on 7th. Also in Sweden, the White-winged Scoter remained on 6th at Hemmeslov.
Germany’s Northern Mockingbird remained settled at Feldflur Rheidt Am Schfott on 5th-9th, while a Sandhill Crane arrived at Gross Heseper Moor on 6th, remaining there until 11th.
In France the Hudsonian Whimbrel was still present at Salin-de-Giraud on 5th.
In Spain the Common Yellowthroat remained in Galicia at Burela on 7th. A Blyth’s Pipit was trapped and ringed at Cobas on 6th.
In Portugal the Yellow-crowned Night Heron was still settled at Quinta do Lago on 5th-9th.
Finally, to the Azores, where Flores held an Ovenbird still on 5th; Hudsonian Whimbrel still on 5th; and also two Semipalmated Plover on 5th.
Mid November is coming up and there’s no disguising the fact that we’re firmly scraping the barrel of autumn by this juncture. Sure, there have been some notable birds found in the coming week in years gone by – the Barra (Western Isles) Ruby-crowned Kinglet in 2020 comes firmly to mind – but birds of that calibre are like hen’s teeth at this time of year.
We probably need to set our sights a little lower. Statistically the week’s still very much the domain of a Desert Wheatear, with 29 accepted British records to date, but it’s worth noting that the coming week’s weather has a decidedly cooler flavour…
A great big lump of high pressure over us as the week begins augurs settled conditions, at least to begin with, but as the days unfold it looks like we’re in for an Arctic blast. Snow may even be coming to northern Scotland. And maybe an appropriately snowy bird too? The coming week boasts four past northern Scottish records, involving five birds, of Ivory Gull. Is it too early in the winter period for one? Maybe not.
Jon Dunn
12 Nov 2024
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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