ICELAND and two different RING-BILLED GULLS in Cork today (Ronan MacLaughlin)
This drake GARGANEY has wintered in County Cork (Ronan MacLaughlin)
The FORSTER'S TERN and adult RING-BILLED GULL in Galway (Ron Marshall)
London's first-ever DUSKY WARBLER - brilliantly photographed by Andrew Moon
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The recent COMMON CRANE in Sussex (Les Bird).jpg)
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A most confiding drake American Wigeon at Caerlaverock (Tristan Reid).jpg)
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A PIED-BILLED GREBE was discovered by Davey Farrar at Lough Gur (County Limerick) on Saturday 20 February and relocated and confirmed by him on Thursday 25 February. It represented the fifth record for Ireland, with the last individual in Britain now as long ago as May 2002 !
Despite exhaustive searching today, the bird has not been seen again.
DIRECTIONS: Lough Gur can be accessed by turning off the N20 at Charleville and continuing through Kilmallock and Bruff. The lake is signposted from Bruff and once at the site, take the woodland walk to your left leading down the east side of the shore, pass Crannog Island and then keep walking until the ''Beware of the Bull'' sign. The bird was keeping to the vegetated edge of the small island but was typically elusive.
In West Yorkshire, a 3rd-winter RING-BILLED GULL remains for a third day at Sands Lane GP (SE 217 196), between Mirfield and Ravensthorpe SE of Shepley Bridge - a rare opportunity to catch up with this species in the county.
The flock of 22 TAIGA BEAN GEESE continue to graze close to the road between Coxwold and Byland (SE 546 776) (North Yorkshire), with 7 still roaming Shetland and 73 still in the Slamannan area (Forth), whilst TUNDRA BEAN GEESE include 7 at Brook's End, Birchington (North Kent), 7 at Keyhaven Marshes (Hants) and a singleton with Greylag Geese at Charlecote GP (Warks).
A very confiding drake AMERICAN WIGEON has been showing all week on the Whooper Pond near the centre at Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway) whilst elsewhere in Scotland, the female RING-NECKED DUCK is still on Ancum Loch, North Ronaldsay (Orkney), an adult drake LESSER SCAUP is on Hogganfield Loch (Clyde), 3 SNOW GEESE are on the Cromarty Firth (Inverness), two KING EIDERS are off Burghead (Moray) and two drake SURF SCOTERS are in Largo Bay (Fife).
The juvenile ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD is still taking advantage of the abundance of Field Voles on Thorpe Marshes, NW of the A143 east of Haddiscoe (Norfolk), with another nearby on Haddiscoe Island (Suffolk), viewed from Waveney Forest.
An elusive LITTLE BUNTING is with Chaffinches at Polbathic (Cornwall), favouring setaside fields opposite Sconner Farm on the A374 at SX 366 564, with another on Lundy Island (North Devon) in recent days and the long-staying garden-feeder at Dunnet (Caithness).
The adult Red-breasted Goose of unknown origin remains with Dark-bellied Brent Geese north of Powderham church (South Devon), the adult female SURF SCOTER nearby off Dawlish Warren (South Devon), adult drake LESSER SCAUP and drake NORTH AMERICAN BLACK DUCK on Colliford Lake (Cornwall) and 2 CATTLE EGRETS at Brew Farm, Sennen (Cornwall).
The long-staying first-winter GREAT WHITE EGRET was at Peterstone Wentlooge (Gwent) again today, with the adult drake LESSER SCAUP again on the East Lake at Cosmeston Lakes CP (Glamorgan), the juvenile BLACK KITE of unknown origin at Gigrin Farm, Rhayader (Powys) and a first-winter female LESSER SCAUP on Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir (Glamorgan). In North Wales, the lone SHORE LARK remains on the beach by the end of the boardwalk between Point of Ayr and Gronant (Clwyd)
After a dearth of sightings throughout much of January, February has seen an influx of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, with twitchable birds today in Dalton-in-Furness (Cumbria) (3 on King Street), Newcastle-upon-Tyne (7 in the swimming pool car park at Byker), Tamworth (Staffs) (3 in Shelton Street), in Carlton Colville (Suffolk) (2 near the Veterinary Centre), at West Mersea (Essex) (two in the British Legion car park on Barfield Road) and a singleton in Central London by the Total Garage forecourt in Regents Park Road, Finchley. A further singleton was in the back garden of 56 Lower Brook Street, Long Eaton (Derbyshire).
Both the RED-NECKED GREBE and the drake RING-NECKED DUCK remain at Pugney's Country Park (West Yorks), with drake American Green-winged Teals at Tain (Inverness), Druridge Pools (Northumberland) and at Eyebrook Reservoir (Northants), a SLAVONIAN GREBE at Feckenham Wylde Moor (Worcs) (access from Moors Lane) and an adult RED-NECKED GREBE on Langold Lake (Notts).
A NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE is present for a third day close to the A607 at Welbourn (Lincs) (in fields opposite the pond at the road junction).
In North Norfolk, an immature Glaucous Gull has been moving between Cromer and Cley, with a first-winter Black Redstart on West Runton undercliff, 135 Snow Buntings in Salthouse Beach car park, 2 Black Brants at Wells Pitch & Putt course, 16 SHORE LARKS at Holkham Gap and the adult white morph GREATER SNOW GOOSE south of Holme Broadwater. A single TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE can still be found at Welney Refuge (with 3 COMMON CRANES nearby at Lakenheath Fen)
An adult EURASIAN SPOONBILL is at Lodmoor (Dorset) today, with up to 6 at Isley Marsh RSPB, Yelland (North Devon) and 8 at Middlebere, Poole Harbour (Dorset), and a mobile bird in Suffolk. At least five more are wintering in Cornwall. A COMMON CRANE flew north over Stotfold (Beds) at 1416 hours yesterday afternoon and was seen again today east of the A1 just north of Biggleswade.
An EGYPTIAN GOOSE is an exceptional record for Shetland with one still remaining at Seafield, Lerwick, frequenting the rocks brtween Tesco and Wishart House (first record for the archipelago and first located at Oraquoy on 23 February)
Relating back to IRELAND, the drake GARGANEY photographed above remains at Harbour Point, Little Island (Co. Cork), both adult and first-winter RING-BILLED GULLS at Cuskinney Marsh, Great island (Co. Cork), the COMMON CRANE at the west end of Kilcolman Reserve (Co. Cork), an adult EURASIAN SPOONBILL in Cromane Harbour (Co. Kerry) and the adult winter FORSTER'S TERN in Galway Harbour off Mutton Island causeway.
Despite exhaustive searching today, the bird has not been seen again.
DIRECTIONS: Lough Gur can be accessed by turning off the N20 at Charleville and continuing through Kilmallock and Bruff. The lake is signposted from Bruff and once at the site, take the woodland walk to your left leading down the east side of the shore, pass Crannog Island and then keep walking until the ''Beware of the Bull'' sign. The bird was keeping to the vegetated edge of the small island but was typically elusive.
In West Yorkshire, a 3rd-winter RING-BILLED GULL remains for a third day at Sands Lane GP (SE 217 196), between Mirfield and Ravensthorpe SE of Shepley Bridge - a rare opportunity to catch up with this species in the county.
The flock of 22 TAIGA BEAN GEESE continue to graze close to the road between Coxwold and Byland (SE 546 776) (North Yorkshire), with 7 still roaming Shetland and 73 still in the Slamannan area (Forth), whilst TUNDRA BEAN GEESE include 7 at Brook's End, Birchington (North Kent), 7 at Keyhaven Marshes (Hants) and a singleton with Greylag Geese at Charlecote GP (Warks).
A very confiding drake AMERICAN WIGEON has been showing all week on the Whooper Pond near the centre at Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway) whilst elsewhere in Scotland, the female RING-NECKED DUCK is still on Ancum Loch, North Ronaldsay (Orkney), an adult drake LESSER SCAUP is on Hogganfield Loch (Clyde), 3 SNOW GEESE are on the Cromarty Firth (Inverness), two KING EIDERS are off Burghead (Moray) and two drake SURF SCOTERS are in Largo Bay (Fife).
The juvenile ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD is still taking advantage of the abundance of Field Voles on Thorpe Marshes, NW of the A143 east of Haddiscoe (Norfolk), with another nearby on Haddiscoe Island (Suffolk), viewed from Waveney Forest.
An elusive LITTLE BUNTING is with Chaffinches at Polbathic (Cornwall), favouring setaside fields opposite Sconner Farm on the A374 at SX 366 564, with another on Lundy Island (North Devon) in recent days and the long-staying garden-feeder at Dunnet (Caithness).
The adult Red-breasted Goose of unknown origin remains with Dark-bellied Brent Geese north of Powderham church (South Devon), the adult female SURF SCOTER nearby off Dawlish Warren (South Devon), adult drake LESSER SCAUP and drake NORTH AMERICAN BLACK DUCK on Colliford Lake (Cornwall) and 2 CATTLE EGRETS at Brew Farm, Sennen (Cornwall).
The long-staying first-winter GREAT WHITE EGRET was at Peterstone Wentlooge (Gwent) again today, with the adult drake LESSER SCAUP again on the East Lake at Cosmeston Lakes CP (Glamorgan), the juvenile BLACK KITE of unknown origin at Gigrin Farm, Rhayader (Powys) and a first-winter female LESSER SCAUP on Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir (Glamorgan). In North Wales, the lone SHORE LARK remains on the beach by the end of the boardwalk between Point of Ayr and Gronant (Clwyd)
After a dearth of sightings throughout much of January, February has seen an influx of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, with twitchable birds today in Dalton-in-Furness (Cumbria) (3 on King Street), Newcastle-upon-Tyne (7 in the swimming pool car park at Byker), Tamworth (Staffs) (3 in Shelton Street), in Carlton Colville (Suffolk) (2 near the Veterinary Centre), at West Mersea (Essex) (two in the British Legion car park on Barfield Road) and a singleton in Central London by the Total Garage forecourt in Regents Park Road, Finchley. A further singleton was in the back garden of 56 Lower Brook Street, Long Eaton (Derbyshire).
Both the RED-NECKED GREBE and the drake RING-NECKED DUCK remain at Pugney's Country Park (West Yorks), with drake American Green-winged Teals at Tain (Inverness), Druridge Pools (Northumberland) and at Eyebrook Reservoir (Northants), a SLAVONIAN GREBE at Feckenham Wylde Moor (Worcs) (access from Moors Lane) and an adult RED-NECKED GREBE on Langold Lake (Notts).
A NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE is present for a third day close to the A607 at Welbourn (Lincs) (in fields opposite the pond at the road junction).
In North Norfolk, an immature Glaucous Gull has been moving between Cromer and Cley, with a first-winter Black Redstart on West Runton undercliff, 135 Snow Buntings in Salthouse Beach car park, 2 Black Brants at Wells Pitch & Putt course, 16 SHORE LARKS at Holkham Gap and the adult white morph GREATER SNOW GOOSE south of Holme Broadwater. A single TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE can still be found at Welney Refuge (with 3 COMMON CRANES nearby at Lakenheath Fen)
An adult EURASIAN SPOONBILL is at Lodmoor (Dorset) today, with up to 6 at Isley Marsh RSPB, Yelland (North Devon) and 8 at Middlebere, Poole Harbour (Dorset), and a mobile bird in Suffolk. At least five more are wintering in Cornwall. A COMMON CRANE flew north over Stotfold (Beds) at 1416 hours yesterday afternoon and was seen again today east of the A1 just north of Biggleswade.
An EGYPTIAN GOOSE is an exceptional record for Shetland with one still remaining at Seafield, Lerwick, frequenting the rocks brtween Tesco and Wishart House (first record for the archipelago and first located at Oraquoy on 23 February)
Relating back to IRELAND, the drake GARGANEY photographed above remains at Harbour Point, Little Island (Co. Cork), both adult and first-winter RING-BILLED GULLS at Cuskinney Marsh, Great island (Co. Cork), the COMMON CRANE at the west end of Kilcolman Reserve (Co. Cork), an adult EURASIAN SPOONBILL in Cromane Harbour (Co. Kerry) and the adult winter FORSTER'S TERN in Galway Harbour off Mutton Island causeway.