COMMON CROSSBILL invasion taking place

Adult male Common Crossbill, Shetland, June 2009 (Rob Brookes)

Since the middle of June 2009, large numbers of COMMON CROSSBILLS have been arriving in the Northern Isles, occurring in small parties on Shetland, Fair Isle, Orkney and on the Outer Hebrides. This replicates the vast numbers I witnessed in Scandinavia recently and suggests 2009 may be an irruption year.

Such irruptions generally involve up to 30 Two-barred Crossbills, these often appearing from mid-July.

RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR record reviewed and retained

After reviewing the record of a first-winter RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR shot near Killingworth (Northumberland) on 5 October 1856 (see Melling 2009, British Birds 102: 110-115), the circumstances surrounding the find were not considered fraudulent and the occurrence is fully upheld as a genuine occurrence. It remains the sole British record of this species which is restricted to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.

MARSH WARBLER in OXFORDSHIRE - assorted images

Nigel Forrow very kindly supplied these superb photographs of the long-staying singing male MARSH WARBLER at Otmoor RSPB.

RIVER WARBLER still present

This singing male RIVER WARBLER (superbly photographed by Lynne Demaine) is still present just north of Applecross (Highland Region), favouring the Sycamore by the Cemetery just behind the Heritage Centre (at NG 712 458).

Meanwhile, Cley Marsh NWT's (Norfolk) purple patch continues, with a WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN over Pat's Pool and Simmonds Scrape early afternoon (the two-day Buff-breasted Sandpiper has moved on but up to 8 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS and 5 Limosa Black-tailed Godwits continue).

In Somerset, the male LITTLE BITTERN is still on territory 4 miles west of Glastonbury at Walton Heath (ST 460 395) and in Orkney, the GREAT WHITE EGRET is still at Graemeshall Loch.

RIVER WARBLER still singing

In Highland Region, the singing male RIVER WARBLER remains for at least its second week in Applecross, singing frequently and showing well in scrub by the cemetery on the north side of the heritage centre at NG 712 458.

On Orkney, a GREAT WHITE EGRET remains at Graemeshall Loch, favouring the East Bay.

With cold weather and heavy rain in the far Arctic, large numbers of adult waders are on the move south, with Common Greenshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlins and Wood Sandpipers appearing at many sites. Pride of place however goes to a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER present for a second day at Cley Marshes NWT (on North Scrape).

Two RUDDY SHELDUCKS remain at Goldcliff Lagoons (Gwent), whilst it has been the best summer for many years for COMMON QUAIL.

The highlight over the past weekend was of an adult CASPIAN TERN which graced Welney WWT Refuge (Norfolk) on several occasions, before moving north to the Ouse river at Wiggenhall St Germans, SW of King's Lynn. A further CASPIAN TERN was also seen on the Ythan Estuary (Aberdeenshire).

ESCAPED UNRINGED BLACK KITE IN HAMPSHIRE

The Hawk Conservancy Trust lost the Black Kite on 27 April.

Although I was told that the bird carried a white plastic ring, they have now confirmed that the ring had been taken off. So it is unringed.

The sightings I have noted of Black Kites (including some that were reported as probable) are: 11/5 nr Lymington; 12/5 Embley Wood, Romsey17/5; West Wellow / Ower; 19/5 M3 southwest of Hook; 11/6 Ower; 23/6 Crampmoor, Romsey (Keith)

RIVER WARBLER IN SCOTLAND

River Warbler - Applecross.

Behind the Heritage Centre near the cemetery at NG 712 458. The bird has been present since Sunday 28 June. although ID was only confirmed several days later. Showing (and singing) very well from early morning throughout the day favouring the scrub and Poplar trees in the immediate vicinity of the Heritage Centre. Al McNee and I only received the info at the end of June and went to view the bird arriving at Applecross around 6pm. The bird didn't show immediately but did give very short burst of song for the next couple of hours showing very briefly when it flew from some scrub. At 10pm the bird started to sing continually for periods in excess of 1 minute and showed extremely well. Photo, video and sound recordings were made (poor to reasonable quality due to light). Although the light was by this time quite poor it was extremely confiding.

Regards Dave Tanner and Al McNee