August gearing up

A summer-plumaged STILT SANDPIPER graces the scrape between Low Newton-by-the-Sea and Newton Pool (Northumberland) for its second day, constituting the 393rd species recorded in Britain and Ireland this year. Meanwhile, the first juvenile BARRED WARBLER of the year has appeared on the Farne Islands, with the first MELODIOUS WARBLER of the autumn trapped and ringed on Bardsey Island (Gwynedd)..


On Orkney, a male BLACK-HEADED BUNTING remains for a second day on North Ronaldsay whilst in Shetland, a ROSE-COLOURED STARLING is by St Magnus Bay Hotel at Hillswick. A further ROSE-COLOURED STARLING appeared on the island of Lewis (Outer Hebrides), south of Stornoway at Marbhig gardens. Equally west, on Tiree (Argyll), an adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER appeared in Gott Bay, whilst the adult BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE continues for a fourth day in the Loch Stiapavat area at the NW end of Lewis.

An adult BONAPARTE'S GULL has been seen three days in a row on Crumbles Pond in Princes Park, Eastbourne (East Sussex) whilst the adult GULL-BILLED TERN was seen again north of Borth on the Dyfi Estuary at Ynyslas RSPB (Ceredigion).

The near-adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, present since May is still to be found on the fishing ponds in Lower Pennington Lane just 70 yards east of the corner of the lane close to the parking area whilst PURPLE HERONS include a near-adult south of the Osier beds east of the Old Bedford River 250 yards south of the bridge at Sutton Gault (Cambs) and a juvenile at Grove Ferry NNR, Stodmarsh (Kent).

An adult PECTORAL SANDPIPER is still to be found on the Ski Pool at Cliffe Marshes RSPB (Kent) whilst the adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER in full breeding plumage is still present with Black-tailed Godwits on the South Lake at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucs).

In Somerset, the drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK continues at Blagdon Lake (Somerset), with the GLOSSY IBISES still in residence at Marloes Mere (Pembs) and Walton Hall Marsh, The Naze (Essex).

IRELAND

In County Wexford, two BLUE-WINGED TEALS are present on the duck pond at Wexford Slobs Wildfowl Reserve today, with both the GLOSSY IBIS and Montagu's Harrier nearby at Tacumshin. Further north in County Dublin, the annual gathering of post-breeding ROSEATE TERNS gathers pace with 48 logged at Sandymount Strand this morning.