British Birding Association UK400 Club

The long-staying adult of unknown origin remains at Mere Sands Wood LWT, NW of Rufford (Lancs) and south of the B5246 Holmeswood Road. It can be viewed in its daytime roost spot from either Cyril Gibbon's Hide or from the second footbridge along the End Lane Trail. The bird is unringed.

 

CATTLE EGRET (63 recorded in past week)

In Cornwall, up to 19 remain between Drift and Sancreed near Treganhoe Farm and 11 on the Camel Estuary (viewed from the Tregunna Hide), with 6 still NNE of Saltash near Warleigh Point and another at Stithians Reservoir. In North Devon, at least 5 continue near Bideford and in South Devon, three remain on the Kingsbridge Estuary, 3 near Powderham Church and 1 at Axmouth (10th-17th). Three intermittently roost at Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset), with others at East Holme and at Corfe Mullen, and 2 still remain at East Lavant (Sussex), 1 at Piddinghoe (West Sussex) and another at Muchelney (Somerset). Elsewhere in the country, one remains in South Wales at Pennard (Swansea), with another near Higher Poynton (Cheshire), with one briefly at Wheldrake Ings YWT (North Yorks) on 10th, Skidbrook (Lincs) on 11th and another NE of Llandre (Powys) on 15th..

 

GREAT WHITE EGRET

A bird remains at Shapwick Heath (Somerset) at Noah's Lake, with an unringed adult at Cotswold Water Park (Wilts) on Pit 60 and others at Howden's Pullover (North Lincs) on 16th and at Bintree Mill (Norfolk) briefly on 17th..

 

WHITE STORK

A bird presumably from the free-flying collection at Harewood flew along the River Wharfe between Ilkley and Otley (West Yorks) on 9th and was then seen over Brockholes Quarry and Whalley (Lancs) on 16th, Rochdale (Lancs) on 16th, Stoke-on-Trent (Staffs) on 16th and over Westport Lake (Staffs) on 17th..

 

GLOSSY IBIS

Both overwintering birds remain, with the Coto Donanan-ringed (Spain) 2nd-winter at Howden's Pullover (North Lincs) and another 2nd-winter at Warton Bank, Lytham St Anne's (Lancs) (the latter relocating to Marshside Marsh RSPB on 9th-10th).

 

SACRED IBIS

The colour-ringed bird of unknown origin remains at Holkham Freshmarsh (Norfolk).

 

EURASIAN SPOONBILL

In Cornwall, 3 birds remain on the River Lynher and another on the River Camel, whilst in North Devon, 4 continue at Islay Marsh RSPB, Taw Estuary. Up to 9 continue at Middlebere and on Brownsea Island (Dorset), with 1-2 at Lodmoor RSPB (Dorset). A colour-ringed immature was at Keyhaven Marshes (Hants) on 11th-13th whilst elsewhere, one was at Cliffe Pools RSPB (North Kent) on 14th, one flew over Bishop Middleham (Durham) on 15th, an adult was at Breydon Water and Heigham Holmes (Norfolk) on 15th and another was on Bryher (Scilly) on 16th.

 

SNOW GOOSE

A blue morph adult Snow Goose remains with Pink-footed Geese in the Falside Farm/Kilconquhar Lake area of Fife (1st-10th), whilst the similarly-plumaged bird near Stranraer (Galloway) remained at Loch Connell on at least 12th. A white morph adult was still with Pink-footed Geese at Heigham Holmes (Norfolk Broadland) from 10th-17th..

 

ROSS'S SNOW GOOSE

In Norfolk, one of three overwintering adults this winter returned to Holkham Freshmarsh, where it could be seen daily with up to 3,000 lingering Pink-footed Geese from 3rd-14th, with another still lingering in the Heigham Holmes area of Broadland (until at least 17th).

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TUNDRA BEAN GEESE

One remained at Hornsea Mere (Lancs) until at least 17th.

 

FALCATED DUCK

A drake remains at Countess Wear Sewage Farm Lagoon (South Devon) (to 9th), with further drakes of suspect origin at Cop Mere (Staffs) and at Southfleet (Kent).

 

AMERICAN WIGEON

In what has been an exceptionally poor winter for this species just three remain, with single drakes on the Wick River (Caithness), Pollyvashir on the Isle of Man and in Angle Bay (Pembrokeshire).

 

GARGANEY

A sprinkling of early arrivals, with a drake exceptionally north on the Outer Hebrides (seen at Loch Fada, Benbecula, on 4th and on Loch Bee, South Uist, on 9th) and further drakes at Barnes WWT (London) (2nd-10th) and at Leg of Mutton NR (London) on 8th. A major arrival took place during 16th-17th, with over 25 recorded in Sussex and several penetrating further north and inland.

 

LESSER SCAUP

In Galloway, a drake remained at Soulseat Loch from 3rd-17th, with the Warwickshire drake at Alvecote Pools on 14th..

 

RING-NECKED DUCK

Single females remain at Bassenthwaite Lake (Cumbria) and Stithians Reservoir (Cornwall) and an adult drake at Foxcote Reservoir (North Bucks), with a 'new' drake at Rutland Water (Leics) on 9th.

 

KING EIDER

A first-winter drake remained in North Devon off the Skern at Northam Burrows throughout, whilst in Argyll, an adult drake was once again off Uisead Point on 1st-3rd. A further regular drake was off Ayrshire in Troon Harbour on 11th-12th.

 

SURF SCOTER

On the South Coast, single first-winter females remain off Dawlish Warren (South Devon) and between West Bexington and Abbotsbury (Dorset), whilst regular adult drakes include singles off Dornoch Pier (Sutherland), Lower Largo (Fife) and Ruddon's Point, Largo Bay (Fife). A new arrival involved a first-winter female off Ovingdean Beach (East Sussex) on 15th-17th.

 

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD

Two wintering birds remain on the Isle of Sheppey (Kent), with others at Sleddale (North Yorks) and at Scolt Head Island (Norfolk).

 

COMMON CRANE

The peak count in the Norfolk Broadland area/Stubb Mill roost in the past 10 days has been of 16 birds.

 

GREAT BUSTARD

A bird from the Salisbury Plain (Wilts) release scheme remains off the A429 Way at Foss Cross (Gloucs) at c.SP065092. From the Hare & Hounds Pub, go south west towards Calmsden to view the kale field on the left. The bird has been present since at least 29th February.

 

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

A trickle of migrants recorded from 3rd March, with a major arrival on 16th.

 

CURLEW SANDPIPER

The first of the year involved a winter-plumaged bird on the East Tilbury foreshore (Essex) on 8th.

 

TEMMINCK'S STINT

An overwintering bird remains on the Dumbles, Slimbridge WWT (Gloucs).

 

WILSON'S SNIPE

The overwintering bird on Lower Moors, St Mary's (Isles of Scilly), remained until at least 5th.

 

LESSER YELLOWLEGS

A first-winter remained at Montrose Basin LNR (Angus) until at least 11th.

 

SPOTTED SANDPIPER

An overwintering first-winter remains present at Lisvane Reservoir, Cardiff (East Glamorgan).

 

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER

The overwintering bird remains at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB, Topsham (South Devon).

 

GREY PHALAROPE

One was between Portobello and Seafield, Edinburgh (Lothian) on 16th.

 

BONAPARTE'S GULL

An adult was at the Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) on 16th.

 

RING-BILLED GULL

Long-staying regular individuals include adults at Westcliff Promenade, Southend (Essex) and Walpole Park Lake, Gosport (Hants), whilst a crop of new arrivals involved an adult at Llys-y-Fran Country Park (Pembs) (to 1st), a 3rd-winter in Penrhos Bay car park (Anglesey) (from 1st-17th), an adult at Strathclyde Country Park (Clyde) (1st-2nd, 8th & 15th-17th), a first-winter at Lamby Lake (Glamorgan) (1st-17th), a first-winter at Stithians Reservoir (Cornwall) on 6th & 9th, an adult at Boddington Reservoir (Northants) (7th & 9th) and a first-winter at Dale Seafront (Pembs) on 8th.

 

CASPIAN GULL

A large number of reports with Hole Haven Creek (Essex) yielding most individuals, but with 3 at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk), several at Chasewater (Staffs), a first-winter at Theale Moatlands Pit (Berks) on 1st-2nd, a 2nd-winter at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) on 1st, up to 2 at Stubber's Green (West Midlands), a 1st-winter at Harewood (North Yorks) on 3rd, up to 5 in the Dungeness Area (Kent), a 3rd-winter at Draycote Water (Warks) on 4th, a 1st-winter at Belvide on 5th & 8th, a 1st-winter on Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) on 5th-7th and two at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London).

 

FRANKLIN'S GULL

A 2nd-winter was in Portishead (Avon) on at least 15th-16th.

 

BLACK GUILLEMOT

In South Devon, one was present off of the River Otter NR on 3rd-4th.

 

In North Norfolk, three birds remained at Cley NWT from 1st-17th.

 

RICHARD'S PIPIT

In North Lincolnshire, an elusive individual remains on the seawall and adjacent saltmarsh at Howden's Pullover.

 

BOHEMIAN WAXWING

A spate of early spring occurrences, with 24 in Dunblane on 14th-15th, 3 in Perth on 15th-16th, 4 in Culthorpe, NW of Chesterfield (Derbyshire) on 15th-17th

 

BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER

In East Yorkshire, the bird still remains on the stream between Mill House and the wood at Watton; park in the layby by Tophill Low turning, cross the A164 and take the footpath along the stream to between road and wood. Keep to public rights of way.

 

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF

Up to 4 remain at Long Rock Pool, Marazion (Cornwall), with 2 at Darby Green Sewage Works (Berks/Hants bdr) and singles at Coldwaltham Brooks Sewage Farm (Sussex), Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset) (7th-9th) and West Stow CP (Suffolk) (8th-17th).

 

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER 

Six recorded, with 1-2 at Lower Nansloe Farm, Helston (Cornwall) and singles at Jarrow Cenetery (Tyneside), Bartonsham Sewage Works, Hereford (SO 522 388), Pottery Wood, Bovey Tracey (South Devon) (SX 813 774) and Plymouth Central Park (South Devon) (SX 474 558).

 

HUME'S LEAF WARBLER

Two birds remain, with singles at Norton Cemetery, Stockton-on-Tees (Cleveland) and in Tehidy Country Park, Camborne (Cornwall) (1st-4th).

 

PALLAS'S LEAF WARBLER

One remained with Firecrests and Goldcrests at Oakenwood SSSI (Dorset) until at least 7th, with another in Weymouth (Dorset) from 12th-16th.

 

NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE

Up to 18 individuals remain on winter territory, mainly in southern Britain.

 

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING

In Pembrokeshire, a first-winter remains in Haverfordwest, favouring gardens at the rear of Portgain, viewed from the access path on Jury Lane c.SM955155. There is ample parking behind the playing field on Jury Lane. Do not enter private gardens and respect residents' privacy. 

 

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW

One of the most popular vagrants of all-time, the adult male remained in Cley village (North Norfolk) until 12th..

 

LITTLE BUNTING

One was seen in setaside SE of St Mawes at Porthmellinhead, 6 miles SSE of Truro (Cornwall) on 12th.