British Birding Association UK400 Club

This is the British Birding Association Rare Bird Alert for Friday 29th February 2008, issued at 2100 hours and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (www.rarebirdalert.com) and utilising additional information gleaned from Birdguides, the Regional Birdline network, local email groups and websites and individual observers.

 

At the end of a very mild week (and in fact one of the warmest Februarys on record), it came as no surprise to see a number of early migrants recorded, including large numbers of Pied Avocets, numerous Eurasian Curlews, Sand Martins, a single House Martin in Cornwall, the odd Northern Wheatear and a Little Ringed Plover in Hampshire (266th species of the year). Associated with this influx were a few northbound wildfowl, including North American Green-winged Teals at Barton-upon-Humber (North Lincs), Elton Hall Flash, Sandbach (Cheshire) and Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) and a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS in Derbyshire/Yorkshire. The latter, first seen SE of Chinley on a millpond south of the river relocated today to Ardsley Reservoir, just south of Leeds (West Yorkshire) (although it is unknown at present whether either or both are ringed, the possibility remains that they could be genuine vagrants). A first-winter female SURF SCOTER off West Bexington/Abbotsbury Swannery (Dorset) is presumably the bird that wintered off Dawlish Warren (South Devon) whilst a first-winter drake KING EIDER in North Devon (present since 18th and the first county record) continues to roam the Skern, between Northam Burrows and Instow.

 

Two ROSE-COLOURED STARLINGS were located this week, with first-years in Haverfordwest (Pembs) (in the back garden of 44 Portfield) (since 24th) and at East Cowes (Isle of Wight) (present since October 2007), whilst a HOOPOE was an early migrant at Polgigga (Cornwall) on 25th. Two PENDULINE TITS, also present since last November, put in another brief appearance at Minsmere RSPB West Hide (Suffolk) on 26th.

 

It has been a good week for rare 'Leaf' warblers with a very vocal PALLAS'S LEAF WARBLER at Oakenwood SSSI in Moreton Forest (Dorset) since 24th (James Lowther et al) (park along the minor road at SY 808912 and walk north for 400 yards to Oakers Wood House. Turn left for 200 yards to the crossroads, then walk right for a further 200 yards to view the Holly trees and clumps to the right of the track at SY 809 918) (the bird is consorting with 2 Firecrests and 3 Goldcrests) and HUME'S LEAF WARBLERS still at Norton Churchyard, Stockton-on-Tees (Cleveland) (from the A19, take the A1027 ring road west to the first roundabout and then turn left to the green and right - NZ 443 221) and at Tehidy Country Park, north of Cambourne (Cornwall) (west of car park in scrub by the first pond behind the cafe - accessed from South Drive - cSW 649 432). YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS include singles SE of Dartmoor (South Devon) just south of Bovey Tracey by Pottery Road at Pottery Wood (at SX 813 774 near Pottery Pond), at Plymouth Central Park (South Devon), at Lower Hansloe Farm, Helston (Cornwall), at Bartonsham Sewage Works, Hereford and at Jarrow Cemetery (Tyneside).

 

The Donana-ringed 2nd-winter GLOSSY IBIS continues to attract admirers at Howden's Pullover, NNW of Saltfleet (North Lincs), with an elusive RICHARD'S PIPIT in this area, whilst a 'new' CATTLE EGRET this week is one SW of Swansea (Glamorgan) east of Southgate at Pennard (in field just east of Hunt's Farm; use the NT car park and walk to SS 568 869). The large flock of 18 still continues near Treganhoe Farm, between Drift and Sancreed (West Cornwall), whilst 3 continue to roost each evening at the north end of Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset). In the north, one still remains north of Macclesfield (Cheshire) north of Higher Poynton and west of Middlewood Road by New House Farm at SJ 941 845.

 

In Wales, a 2nd-winter RING-BILLED GULL remains at Penrhos Coastal Park car park in Bedmannarch Bay (Anglesey), with a confiding first-winter still SE of Cardiff (Glamorgan) just SE of the A48/A4161 roundabout opposite the landfill site at Lamby Lake (ST 217 784). Others this week included an adult at Boddington Reservoir (Northants) and a first-winter at Stithians Reservoir (Cornwall).

 

A highly mobile GREAT WHITE EGRET reappeared at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve (Lancs) today, with long-stayers including singles at Thorpeness Meare (Suffolk), Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset) and at Holkham Grazing Marshes (Norfolk). The Hampshire bird has returned to Cotswold Water Park Pit 95 where it spent much of last summer.

 

A total of 33 COMMON CRANES remain present in Britain with still in Scotland (3 SE of Thurso, Caithness, at Hastigrow in ploughed fields north of the B876 near Sackville House at ND 255 618 and 3 more NE of Elgin opposite the old airfield (NJ 293 665), 1 still with Whooper Swans at Welney WWT (Norfolk) and 26 in Norfolk Broadland, roosting in Brayden Marshes reedbed.

 

The North American WILSON'S SNIPE continues to survive on Lower Moors Pool, St Mary's (Scilly), with the first-winter LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER still at Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham (South Devon) and first-winter LESSER YELLOWLEGS and Pied Avocet at Montrose Basin LNR (Angus).

 

LESSER SCAUPS in situ include a drake on Coot Loch, Benbecula (Outer Hebrides) (NF 770 510), a drake at Stourhead NT (Wilts), a first-winter drake at Toft Bay, Draycote Water (Warks) and a female on Shetland, whilst the only drake AMERICAN WIGEON reported this week was that at Poyllvaaish on the Isle of Man.

 

The three SHORE LARKS have reappeared at the end of East Bank, Cley NWT (Norfolk), with a more reliable individual still with Skylarks on the saltmarsh at Rye Harbour NR (East Sussex), whilst LAPLAND BUNTINGS include up to 5 in stubble at Trevose Head (North Cornwall) (opposite Coastguard Cottages at SW 855 764), up to 3 SSE of Buckden (Cambs) in stubble west of Stirtloe Sewage Works, 5 at Worth Marshes, Sandwich Bay (East Kent), up to 8 at Thornham (Norfolk) and singles at Sturt (Hampshire) and at Salthouse (Norfolk). The only BOHEMIAN WAXWING reported in recent days is the bird opposite Woodlands Evangelical Church in Woodlands Road, Allestree (Derbyshire).

 

The adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE is still present with Dark-bellied Brent Geese at West Wittering (West Sussex).

 

A juvenile ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD continues to range between Burnham Norton seawall and Scolt Head Island (North Norfolk)

 

In IRELAND, a RICHARDSON'S CANADA GOOSE remains with Barnacle Geese at Ballintemple (Co. Sligo), whilst two female SURF SCOTERS remain in Galway Harbour off Silver Strand. A FORSTER'S TERN has been present at Killyleagh (Co.Down) since 24th, with the regular adult still in Galway Harbour, commuting between Claddagh Beach and Doorus Pier. Two NORTH AMERICAN HERRING GULLS remain in Galway Harbour, most regularly in the Fish Dock, whilst Nimmo's Pier holds 3 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 juvenile Kumlien's Gulls and at least 20 Iceland Gulls. A scattering of CATTLE EGRETS continue, including 4 near Cobh (Co. Cork), and the female LESSER SCAUP remains at Clea Lakes.

 

In County Cork, the long-staying AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT continues to show very well 2 miles SW of Youghal at Red Barn Strand (south of the slipway on the beach; from Youghal take the R633 west and take first left to the Quality Hotel).