Weekly birding round-up: 22 - 28 Jun 2021
There’s rarely a dull moment in late June, and the week just gone certainly didn’t disappoint in that regard, not least on Fair Isle where the quality birds just keep on coming at a steady pace. That said, Fair Isle’s a long way from pretty much anywhere, so a high calibre and visually arresting bird in East Anglia was always going to tick some boxes.
While Scilly has been stealing the headlines lately, Shetland always has Fair Isle to rely upon and, this week, the incomparable island delivered what’s in danger of becoming the sort of regular annual event we could set our watches by – yet another midsummer Green Warbler.
It’s hard to believe, I know, that the sudden seachange in Green Warbler’s status as a British bird – after that first seeming blocker of a bird on St Mary’s (Scilly) in autumn 1983, a touch over 30 years elapsed before one was discovered on Foula (Shetland) on 31st May 2014. In a modest way, that bird opened the floodgates, as we’ve now six accepted British records to the end of 2019, of which half have been late spring or early summer individuals found in Shetland.
There the honours have been shared between Foula, Unst and Fair Isle – the archipelago’s three main outlying points – a distinction Out Skerries might fairly take some umbrage to, but as yet it’s the big three that have enjoyed a Green Warbler or two. ‘Or two’? Fair Isle, being Fair Isle, had another bird as recently as 16th June 2020…
And this week, Fair Isle asserted a little more dominance with the discovery of another example on there on 23rd – a really bright gem of a bird, trapped and ringed for good measure – a bird that takes the island’s Green Warbler tally to three birds, all of which have been found in the early summer in the past four years. While the wait for a mainland British east coast bird goes on – and will surely come to an end some year soon - if you wanna see one in the meantime, you know where you need to be and when…
To look at the bald stats, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Rollers aren’t all that big a deal in Britain – a smidgen over 300 past accepted records suggests they’re almost a frequent visitor. Except, of course, they’re really not…
Less than half of those have been post-1950, and a quick glance at the timeline for past records shows many a blank year in the past couple of decades. Drilling down to a county level, there’s plenty of counties that have gone many years since their last and, amongst them, there’s Suffolk – on the face of it, a county that’s been particularly blessed for Rollers, with 23 past birds on the books… but with a decade elapsed since the last, a one-day bird at Upper Hollesley Common on 13th June 2011, and a mere two other birds since 1980, you start to get the picture. Another bird was always going to prove locally popular, at the very least.
News broke of one this week at Lackford Lakes SWT mid-morning on 23rd, but it promptly went AWOL. Despondent Whatsapp messages began emanating from friends in the area…
And then RBA’s very own Dick Filby relocated it a couple of miles away from the original sighting, and all was well with the world as it showed well through the afternoon and evening – and remained in the area until 28th for good measure. Some absolutely stunning images ensued of this turquoise and chestnut beauty, though seeing the bird involved more than the usual rollercoaster of emotions – the busy A1101 road had to be negotiated and, in the absence of the (birding) police turning up in their hi-vis vests, that meant dodging speeding cars on blind corners.
As a footnote to this popular Suffolk bird, a further probable individual was reported from Brampton (Cambridgeshire) on 24th, but was less obliging and wasn’t relocated subsequently.
As I think we may have mentioned in these columns not so very long ago, we’ve had a few Pacific Swifts down the years since Britain’s first way back in 1981. They have, however, with the exception of the fleeting bird at Daventry reservoir (Northamptonshire) on 16th July 1995, all been found down the east coast of England.
That changed this weekend just gone with the discovery of a Pacific Swift in the late morning of 27th at Fall Bay (Glamorgan) – scything around with a gang of Common Swifts, Wales had got its first record of this white-rumped, sickle-winged wonder. Denmark might have scored four against them the night before in the Euros, but did it have a Pacific Swift? It did not.
Present for just a few minutes, this feels like it could be a massive Welsh blocker for years to come…
By this stage last year we were well under way with what would prove to be a summer of seabird madness, with some outrageous records on the year’s scorecard. This year, so far, has been a more subdued affair, though it’s definitely early days yet in this regard – plenty of time for some goodies to be found in the weeks to come. But what of the week just gone? There were some promising signs of change…
Almost a year ago to the day from when it was found in East Yorkshire at Bempton Cliffs RSPB on 2nd July 2020, what we might reasonably assume is one and the same adult Black-browed Albatross was seen again Bempton-bound this week in the early evening of 28th, noted from Flamborough Head passing Thornwick Bay low along the cliff edge. Will we be treated to more albatross action from the area in the days to come?
Scilly notched up a Wilson’s Petrel from a pelagic off St Mary’s on 24th; preceded by another bird further out at sea on 23rd, seen some 60 miles south of Cork (Co.Cork); and followed on 26th with one seen from the RV Celtic Explorer at sea off Co.Cork – with a Great Shearwater also noted from the vessel. Another Wilson’s was seen from a Scilly pelagic on 28th.
Two Leach’s Petrels were noted from Lewis (Western Isles) on 25th.
Fourteen Balearic Shearwaters were seen on 26th from Downderry (Cornwall).
White-billed Divers amounted to two Scottish sightings – in Orkney, the recent bird continued to linger off Brough of Birsay on 22nd; and another individual was seen from Embo (Highland) on 25th.
Finally, in Shetland, the adult Long-tailed Skua was seen again at Loch of Clumlie on 22nd, 27th and 28th, with another noted from Hoy (Orkney) on 26th.
Now a permanent summer fixture, a number of Glossy Ibises were logged this week. Single birds remained at Dungeness (Kent) on 22nd-26th; Lackford Lakes SWT (Suffolk) still on 24th-28th; Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire) on 22nd; Barney (Lincolnshire) on 22nd-25th. Other single bird sightings came from Lincolnshire at Kirkby-on-Bain GPs on 24th and Langford Lowfields RSPB (Nottinghamshire) on 27th; and two birds were seen at Ouse Fen RSPB (Cambridgeshire) on 24th. On 28th one was reported from Branston Fen (Lincolnshire), with one that day in Lincolnshire at Bardney Lock again.
A few Purple Herons were noted in recent days – one lingered in Suffolk at Minsmere RSPB on 24th-28th; one was seen in Lancashire on 24th at Fulwood, with another that day in Cambridgeshire at Witcham Gravel.
A first-summer Night Heron remained at Nanjizal (Cornwall) on 22nd, while another was seen briefly near Witham (Essex) on 24th. In the early hours of 23rd, noc-mig sound recording claimed another notable scalp, with a Night Heron heard passing over Filey (East Yorkshire).
On 28th a possible Black Stork was seen at Chatsworth House (Derbyshire).
In Shetland, the singing Corncrake remained settled at Rerwick on 22nd-23rd. A mainland Scottish bird was heard in Fife on 25th at Dunfermline.
Lastly, in Dorset a singing Spotted Crake was heard near Winkton overnight on 27th/28th.
For the second week running, the waters of the rarity duckpond continued to boast a reasonable variety of quackers, albeit not in great numbers given the time of year.
Starting in Ireland, the young drake Black Duck was still present on Cross Lough (Co.Mayo) on 22nd-27th; while a Green-winged Teal was seen on Kinsale Marsh (Co.Cork) on 25th.
An eclipse American Wigeon was seen in Cambridgeshire at Ouse Washes RSPB on 22nd.
In Cornwall, the drake Ring-necked Duck remained at Foxhole on 22nd-26th.
In Shetland a first-summer drake King Eider was an excellent and unexpected find from the Noss boat off Bressay on 23rd; while a drake was present at Blackdog (Aberdeenshire) on 26th-27th.
And finally, staying in Aberdeenshire, a drake Black Scoter was found on 26th-28th off Murcar golf course.
The most notable aspect of the week’s shorebirds had to be the scatter of Black-winged Stilts that cropped up in the daily news reports. The prior week’s bird remained at Marazion Marsh RSPB (Cornwall) on 22nd, while another was found in Kent at Worth Marsh on 22nd also. On 24th-26th another was seen in Devon at Velator NR; and two birds were found in Gloucestershire at Pilning Wetland on 25th-28th. Two birds settled in at Hickling Broad NWT (Norfolk) on 22nd-27th, sharing the site with the lingering Collared Pratincole until 26th; while two birds were found on 28th at Potter Heigham Marshes.
The Collared Pratincole was a bird that was attracting plenty of attention this week, and not always of a welcome nature – it was seen being attacked by two of the local Hobbies on 26th, an assault that forced it to the ground and, ominously, was the last that was seen of it there.
In Lancashire the first-summer American Golden Plover remained at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB on 22nd-27th, while another was present in Hampshire seen from Farlington Marshes HWT on 22nd-23rd and again on 27th.
The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again at Tacumshin (Co.Wexford) on 24th.
While the female Red-necked Phalarope remained in Northumberland at Grindon Lough on 23rd-27th, further individuals were seen this week on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 25th; at sea 20 miles west of Marloes (Pembrokeshire) on 23rd; and, on 28th, at Cley NWT and Salthouse (Norfolk), and Blashford Lakes HWT (Hampshire).
Locally a fairly significant rarity, we begin the gulls’n’terns this week with the discovery of a first-summer Bonaparte’s Gull up on Unst (Shetland). Shetland’s last example, also found on Unst, dates back to June 2015 so, with just four accepted records for the archipelago as a whole over the years, the bird seen hanging out with the local Black-headed Gulls at Norwick this week on 23rd-28th was sufficiently rare to galvanise some local birders into making the journey north through the islands. Another was seen on 26th in Ireland on Lough Beg (Co.Derry).
On 25th a Sabine’s Gull was seen from Lewis (Western Isles).
The Western Isles also accounted for most of our weekly tally of Glaucous Gulls - birds seen on Barra on 22nd and North Uist on 25th. A couple more were seen on 28th, one off Noss (Shetland) and the other from Bellurgan Point (Co.Louth).
Iceland Gulls were a little more numerous, but only just – birds were logged in recent days at Loch of Wester (Highland) on 22nd; on St Mary’s (Scilly) still on 23rd-28th; at Boddam (Aberdeenshire) on 24th; and on 25th at Eshaness (Shetland) and Boulmer (Northumberland).
Which brings us to terns and, of course, the rarest of the lot, the adult male Least Tern, still settled in Co.Dublin near Portrane on 22nd-28th.
Least Tern from Portrane Strand, Co. Dublin. Managed these views at dawn this morning. First for Ireland. pic.twitter.com/UXceFvgN3s
— BMcCloskey (@BMcCloskey_98) June 26, 2021
This wasn’t all Ireland had to offer – the adult Forster’s Tern was again seen in Co.Galway at Newtownlynch on 24th and Inishroo on 27th.
Caspian Terns, meanwhile, continued to show strongly in the daily news. One remained in East Yorkshire at Southfield reservoir on 22nd-24th and was seen again there on 28th; a Finnish-ringed bird lingered in Carmarthenshire at the National Wetlands Centre WWT on 24th-28th; two birds were seen at Lilbourne (Northamptonshire) on 25th; a single bird was seen on 25th-28th at Barton-upon-Humber GPs (Lincolnshire); and on 26th single birds were seen at Idle Valley NR (Nottinghamshire), in Lincolnshire at Read’s Island and South Ferriby, and a further possible bird was seen at Hoylake (Cheshire and Wirral).
The week drew to a close with more tern quality – an adult Gull-billed Tern found in Cornwall at Hayle Estuary RSPB on 28th.
After the excitement of the past week or so, normal midsummer service resumed for a while where raptors were concerned. Though we’re surely getting to the time of year when someone’s going to report a Booted Eagle or Eleonora’s Falcon…
Such fantasies aside, on Scilly the first-summer male Red-footed Falcon was again seen on St Mary’s on 24th-28th; while a male was seen coming in off the sea in Lincolnshire at Huttoft Car Terrace; and a female was seen again at Worth Marsh (Kent) on 26th.
The week began in Cornwall with another bird in off – this time a Black Kite seen heading inland at Mullion on 22nd. A further possible bird was seen at Carsington Water (Derbyshire) on 22nd; and one more was seen over Castle Woods (Dumfries & Galloway) on 23rd. On 27th possible birds were seen in Dorset at Spetisbury and Derbyshire at Ashbourne.
A juvenile Pallid Harrier was seen in East Yorkshire in the early afternoon of 26th at Southfield reservoir (East Yorkshire), and in the later afternoon at Hatfield Service Station (South Yorkshire). A probable Montagu’s Harrier was noted in Kent over Marston on 22nd. A ringtail of one or the other species was seen on 28th near Marsh Lane NR (West Midlands).
Finally, up on Shetland, a Snowy Owl was seen on Ronas Hill on 22nd and again on 26th.
Rather like the gulls’n’terns section, we need to kick of this part of proceedings by looking back to recent glories in Ireland – this time in Co.Mayo where, on 22nd, the first-summer male Red-winged Blackbird was seen intermittently at Annagh Marsh throughout the day of 22nd. Belated unconfirmed reports also surfaced this week of a bird elsewhere in Co.Mayo sometime in May, and several weeks ago in Cork (Co.Cork).
One or two Alpine Swifts were seen this week down in the English southwest – one on 23rd at Torpoint (Cornwall), and a possible bird at Teignmouth (Devon on 25th.
A Hoopoe was seen on 24th at Ashridge Golf Club (Hertfordshire).
Two Red-backed Shrikes were seen this week, at opposite ends of the country – one on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 22nd still, and the other down at Langdon Hole NT (Kent) on 23rd.
Golden Orioles were in ever shorter supply lately – possible birds were reported on 22nd from Farmoor reservoir (Oxfordshire) and Wickham Market (Suffolk); and one was present at Liphook (Hampshire) on 23rd.
A Short-toed Lark settled down on Lamba Ness on Unst (Shetland) on 22nd-26th.
Moving into the warblers, a number of singing scarce and rare birds either remained on offer or were found anew. Starting in Suffolk, the settled male Iberian Chiffchaff was still present at Foxhall Heath on 22nd.
Marsh Warblers were present on Unst (Shetland) still on 22nd-23rd; on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 22nd; and on St Agnes (Scilly) on 22nd-23rd. Opinion about the latter bird’s identity vacillated for a while between this species and Blyth’s Reed Warbler - but only one of the latter species was confirmed this week, this being the settled individual at Middleton Lakes RSPB (Staffordshire) still on 22nd-24th.
Both of Nottinghamshire’s recent Great Reed Warblers remained in throaty song at Besthorpe NWT on 22nd-27th and Misson on 22nd still.
The prior week’s Melodious Warbler remained in song in Worcestershire at Lickey Hills on 22nd- 23rd; another bird was found in song in Dorset at Middlebere on 24th-28th; and a final probable bird in song was present at Langdon Hole NT (Kent) on 28th. An Icterine Warbler was found in song in the Swinister Burn (Shetland) on 26th.
Around 20 new Rose-coloured Starlings found this week spoke of the dwindling irruption we’ve just enjoyed nationwide. More will, undoubtedly, remain to come out of the woodwork in the days and weeks to come…
The singing male Bluethroat remained at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucestershire) 22nd-28th.
A male Grey-headed Wagtail was seen at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) on 22nd; a male Blue-headed Wagtail was reported from Druridge Pools NR (Northumberland) on 24th.
A Common Rosefinch remained in song on Skye (Highland) on 22nd-23rd.
(Almost) last but not least, a Serin was seen in Lincolnshire on 25th at North Hykeham.
And finally, as many a news program has drawn to an end down the years, news of a Yellow-throated Bunting in a West Yorkshire garden on 24th broke, belatedly, and without great fanfare, on 28th. That’s all we know at this juncture. More, perhaps, anon…
Settled for another week, and showing no signs of moving on just yet, the immature male Walrus continued his latest sojourn in the pleasant surroundings of St Mary’s and St Martin’s (Scilly) this week. Small boat owners may have learned to view his substantial presence with justifiable caution as he seeks to haul himself on board their vessels, but for resident and visiting naturalists, he’s an irresistible attraction.
Overseas news this week has to start in Saudi Arabia where, on 26th, the Western Palearctic’s first, albeit rather tatty, White-throated Swallow was photographed at Skaka.
Meanwhile, in Israel, a White-backed Vulture was seen in the Judean Desert at the INPA vulture feeding station on 23rd-24th.
Coming much closer to home now, in Holland the country’s sixth Stilt Sandpiper was found on 27th-28th at Twisk; while a Pygmy Cormorant remained Retentiegebied Kristalbad on 23rd-25th.
A Little Swift was seen in Germany at Manelsloh on 22nd.
Poland got a Black Vulture at Warsaw on 22nd.
In France, two Lesser Flamingos were present at Tartuigiere on 23rd.
A Western Swamphen was found in Switzerland on 28th at Gletterens.
Finally, into Scandinavia where, in Norway, a Greater Sand Plover added to Europe’s good year for the species with another record, this time at Reve on 26th; and a Bimaculated Lark was seen in Finland at Morgonlandet on 22nd. Oh for a British bird…
The first week of July has much to conjure with where remarkable rarities of yore are concerned, and not least really mega seabirds – and especially ones that slipped through the net and eluded all but a very fortunate few. Who could forget the bittersweet envy elicited by the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross in Lincolnshire in 2007, or the Ascension Frigatebird on Islay in 2013?
However, decent shorebirds remain a somewhat more likely proposition at this juncture in the year. We’ve done well for Collared Pratincoles this year so far, but something a little scarcer wouldn’t go amiss now… the coming week boasts four past records of Black-winged Pratincole, so it’s not a completely unrealistic prospect in the days to come…
Jon Dunn
29 June 2021
Many thanks to all this week's contributors for your photos and videos
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