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Plates 1-4: WHISKERED TERNS, Willington GP, Derbyshire, 25-27 April (Glyn Sellors)

Plates 5-8: first-summer PURPLE HERON, Crossness LNR, London, 26-27 April (John Archer)

Plates 9-10: BLACK-WINGED STILT at Maxey GP, Cambs, 25 April (Will Bowell)

Plates 11-13: male BLACK-HEADED WAGTAIL, Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, 25 April (Ben Lewis)

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Monday 27 April, issued at 2100 hours

A male WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER remains for a second day at Uskmouth RSPB (Gwent) but remains typically elusive (park in the RSPB visitor centre car park) whilst a female WOODCHAT SHRIKE was on gravestones in Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth (South Devon) throughout the day. A female MONTAGU'S HARRIER was seen at various locations on St Mary's (Scilly) with one of this weekend's RED-RUMPED SWALLOWS at Far Pasture NR near Gateshead just ENE of Rowlands Gill (Durham) briefly this morning and again this evening (another was at Atwick, East Yorks, for its second day).

Five of this weekend's unprecedented arrival of WHISKERED TERNS moved from Staffordshire south to Leicestershire, where from late morning until mid-afternoon they were feeding over the South Arm, with a further adult at Diddington Pit, Paxton Pits NR (Cambs) from mid-afternoon until mid-evening.

A first-summer PURPLE HERON flew west over Cley Marshes NWT and ESE over Salthouse and Kelling Quags (Norfolk) early morning, where the drake North American Green-winged Teal remains on Simmonds Scrape and the first-summer Eurasian Spoonbill in dykes west of West Bank. Meanwhile, the London first-summer PURPLE HERON returned to Cross Ness LNR, visiting once more the Great Breach Lagoon.

A WRYNECK was newly discovered, showing well by the path north of the eastern car park at Westleton Heath (Suffolk) this morning

Eight rather late BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were in Sycamores behind the bus stop on Askew Road West in Teams, Gateshead (Durham) with another two in Chapeltown, Leeds (West Yorks)

1-2 CATTLE EGRETS remain at Plex Moss (Lancs), in fields along Plex Moss Lane between the caravan park and the farm.

A DOTTEREL remains for a second day alongside the path next to the Beacon Stones at Axletree Edge (Grtr Manchester) at SD 983 139 (take Pennine Way south for 800 yards from the first car park on the A672) witrh a further three

Male BLACK-HEADED WAGTAILS appeared at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) on Saturday (25th) and on Holy Island (Northumberland) yesterday (26th)

The near-resident drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK remains at the north end of Wimbleball Lake (Somerset) (assuming this is the Chew bird) whilst in NE Scotland, the two SNOW GEESE remain with Pink-footed Geese at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire)

In IRELAND. the male WOODCHAT SHRIKE continues to show well in bushes in the boggy field between Ballydwan and Stradbally (Co. Waterford).

WHISKERED TERNS IN DERBYSHIRE - SOME BEAUTIFUL IMAGES OBTAINED BY DAVE HUTTON

An unprecedented arrival of WHISKERED TERNS

A strong SSW current at the latter part of last week heralded the arrival of an astonishing single flock of 11 WHISKERED TERNS Chlidonias hybridus into Derbyshire - the largest single flock ever to be recorded in Britain and Ireland (the previous highest was of four birds - at Doncaster Lakeside and Potteric Carr in South Yorkshire on 16 May 2004 and at Woolston Eyes and Ashton's Flash, Cheshire, on 19-20 May 2005 (the latter also flew over Keele Services, Staffs, on 20 May).

The eleven birds (virtually all full breeding-plumaged adults) arrived mid-afternoon on Willington GP (Derbyshire) on Friday 24 April, where they soon settled on posts and could be seen very well from the footpath adjacent. At least eight (perhaps 10) remained overnight and afforded good views for a constant stream of admirers throughout the rest of the day (see Phil Jones' photographs above).

Early on 25 April, a further adult was discovered at Frampton Sailing Lake (Gloucestershire), where it remained until disturbed by yachts at 1215 hours. A couple of minutes later it relocated to neighbouring Saul Wharf and Water Meadows but flew off high south heading towards 100 Acre Flash. Nearly three hours later, it did appear at 100 Acre but flew south towards Slimbridge WWT reserve proper at 1618 and was then relocated on the reserve South Lake. After a short while, it flew off and was not seen again.

Meanwhile, eight of the 11 at Willington GP were still present early morning on 26 April and stayed on site until just after 1000 hours, when both a Peregrine and a migrant Hobby passed over. The Hobby separated and spooked the flock and unfortunately six of the group flew up high and headed for the river course. Two adults then remained and continued to show well for the rest of the day.

Five of these eight then relocated 20 miles south to Croxall Lakes NR (Staffs) late afternoon, whilst the missing single was just a short way away at Long Eaton GP (Derbyshire), commuting between Pits 1 and 2.

Perhaps two of the original flock were then discovered late afternoon (1700 hours onwards) in NE England - at Back Saltholme Pools (Cleveland). The birds were found by John Dunnett just before 1730 and commuted between Back Saltholme and East Saltholme Pools until 2050, when a Peregrine stooped at them and they disappeared. It represented the first county record (per Martyn Wilson). Three photographs are published above (Martyn Wilson)

The five Staffordshire birds appeared in South Arm III at Rutland Water (Leics) late morning on 27 April (where they were viewed from the cycle track on the Hambleton Peninsula and Lapwing Hide) whilst a single breeding-plumaged adult visited the Diddington Pit at Paxton Pits NR (Cambs) from mid-afternoon. The former flew south at 1655 hours with the latter still there mid-evening.

A further adult was discovered in NORTHERN IRELAND, where it frequented Quoile Pondage NR (County Down) and was watched from the Castle Island Hide on 26 April.

Ageing of Hampshire WHITE-THROATED SPARROW - finite detail

Tristan Folland has very kindly emailed me these close-ups of the Old Winchester Hill tail feathers and upperwing feathers

North American expert Peter Pyle commented

''Hi Lee -The added detail showing brown and worn primary coverts, outer primaries, and rectrices makes me entirely confident that this is a first-cycle individual. Cheers, Peter''

Ageing of WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

First-winter male WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, Old Winchester Hill, Hampshire, April 2009 (Chris Upson)

Hi Lee,

I’ve been away and am just catching up on e-mails ... by now you may well have received good feedback, but I’ll provide a couple of comments just in case. Generally I wouldn’t put much stock in head pattern for ageing, and prefer to look first at tail condition in spring, but the photos you’ve posted don’t show it clearly enough. But with this bird, you’re fortunate to know you’re seeing the same individual now as in fall, and in that case I agree that the transition from buffish to whitish head stripes makes it almost certain this is a first-winter bird. For reference, here is my White-throated Sparrow ID page (http://www.migrationresearch.org/mbo/id/wtsp.html; see http://www.migrationresearch.org/mbo/id/index.html for other species if interested).

All the best,

Marcel Gahbauer
Migration Research Foundation
Calgary AB / Montreal QC
www.migrationresearch.org
marcel@migrationresearch.org

Putative GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL this winter

Gary Messenbird obtained these excellent photographs of the bird at Beddington Sewage Farm two days ago.

This winter this bird was at the following locations -:

Queen Mother Reservoir, BERKSHIRE, 3-4 February, 26 March and several dates throughout April (CDRH, et al)

Calvert Landfill and Sailing Lake, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, 1-2 March (TW, LGRE, WC)

Willen Lake South Basin, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, 8-9 March (RH, SN)

Stewartby Lake, BEDFORDSHIRE, 9-10 March (MJP, RN, KO, PW, et al)

Westmill Tip, Amwell, HERTFORDSHIRE, 15 March (BR)

Rainham Marsh RSPB, ESSEX, 12 & 16-21 March (HV, et al)

Beddington Sewage Farm, SURREY, 21-22 April (JA, PA, GM)

The recent first-summer AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at Breydon Water, Norfolk

This problematic plover was present at Breydon Water (Norfolk) from 6-16 April. I eventually saw it on 15 April and concluded like many others had done so before me (including Lee Gregory, Brian Small and Baz Harding) that it was an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER.

A summary of the criteria used to come to this conclusion has been published on Surfbirds, in the Rare Bird Information Discussion section.

Dave Holman and Christine Stean very kindly supplied me the images above and this short note accompanying it.

Sorry for delay, as promised have attached some of our American Golden Plover photos.

As I explained to you I went down the uncertainty road on the first day (6th) when I saw the bird a couple of times in misty conditions and generally resting; I think that I phoned it out as an either/or. On the 7th the visibility was better but the bird was quite distant and generally resting mostly with its left side on view. The bird held its left wing slightly loose so it was hard to assess length of wing and the general shape of the bird often took on a rather rounded look. I Queried the apparently short tertials but AG was becoming firmly in the Pacific camp so I phoned it out as a probable Pacific. On the 9th I again watched it rather more closely but still viewing its left side, I was feeling far less comfortable about its ID. Finally I returned on the 12th and had much better views of the bird both feeding and resting but often viewing its sleeker right side. I watched it with Peter Allard and we both were happy that it was in fact an American Golden Plover. As we were about to leave it flew off calling twice a rather slowed down Spotted Redshank like "Chu--wit" which I have heard from American GP in the past.

Hope pics are of use.

Regards

Dave Holman

Arctic Gull rears its ugly head again - this time at Beddington Sewage Farm, Surrey

What is considered to be the juvenile 'white-winged gull' first seen at Queen Mother Reservoir (Berkshire, England) in February and then subsequently at Stewartby Lake (Bedfordshire) and Willen Lake (North Buckinghamshire) in early March and at Rainham Marsh (Essex) on 12 & 16-18 March reappeared at QMR two nights ago and was at Beddington Sewage Farm (Surrey) today (see images linked with the thread below)

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=139630

This individual has dramatically changed its plumage between February and now and after writing it off as a hybrid back then (probably with North American Herring Gull influence), its appearance now far more resembles GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL.

I would be most grateful if those of you very familiar with GWG would have a look at today's images and comment on whether this resembles West Coast birds at this time of year. It has always seemed too small in terms of structure and jizz

This winter has seen an exceptional influx of Arctic gulls into Western Europe, including record numbers of both Iceland and Glaucous Gulls in Iberia, the majority of which arrived just after a fierce winter storm arrived from the NW Atlantic (it also displaced several Snowy Owls and Gyrfalcons, Ivory and Ross's Gulls and a number of North American ducks, a Killdeer and an American Coot. We have already had an adult Glaucous-winged Gull in Cleveland in early January.

Looking forward to any feedback

Many many thanks

Lee G R Evans

Hi Lee,

Here is my comments and shots (click on them for better sized images)

http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/

Peterwww.peteralfreynature.co.uk

The following comments were kindly received

Not a safe candidate for a pure G-w in my opinion. Structurally it's too Herring-like, particularly how flat the skull looks with the crown feathers flattened, and it appears to have at least faint barring across the inner rectrices, Phil Pickering, Lincoln City, Oregon

Lee, If I saw that bird here where Glaucous-winged is common, I would NOT identify it as a Glaucous-winged particularly at this time of year. The structure is off, plumage is off, fading state seems off…everything seems off from a central California perspective. I would say it is a hybrid of some type. Regards, Alvaro Jaramillo
chucao@coastside.net
Half Moon Bay, California

The Beddington bird's plumage looked impressive at first glance for 1st-winter Glaucous-winged but Peter Alfrey's larger photos seem to portray a slighter bird and bill perhaps indicating (as has been suggested) some sort of hybrid? http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/

Plumage looks decent for Glaucous-winged but structurally less convincing (especially size and shape of bill): http://surfbirds.com/albums/showgallery.php/cat/601

Hybrid American Herring x Glaucous-winged we'd expect to show more of a dark tail band?
Southern California has also had a bit of a white-winged gull event winter this year too with excellent numbers of Glaucous and significantly more Glaucous-wingeds than usual. Seawatching reports this week have revealed flights of Glaucous-wingeds heading north.
Best, Andy Birch
Los Angeles

Wary NORTH AMERICAN WOOD DUCK on Shetland

A drake NORTH AMERICAN WOOD DUCK was discovered this afternoon on Brow Loch on Shetland (Rob Fray et al). It is particularly wary and is consorting with Tufted Ducks. It represents the third record for Shetland following single drakes shot dead at Sae Water, near Voe, on 30th October 1977 and on Fair Isle on 27th November 1979 (Pennington et al, The Birds of Shetland).

April is a classic month for transatlantic wildfowl vagrancy in Britain and Shetland in recent years has attracted a drake Hooded Merganser and often gets Ring-necked Ducks.

What I am trying to find out from a North American perspective is the propensity of Wood Ducks in spring to migrate. Do places like Nova Scotia get overshoots in spring? Is April a month when you would expect Wood Ducks to be returning north? I know that vagrant Wood Ducks are regular on Bermuda in autumn and often remain for the winter departing in spring.

I have previously accepted just ONE record of Wood Duck in Britain - a drake that paused briefly by a North Sea oil rig on 2nd November 2003. There have been many other records but because this is a particularly popular species in captivity and attempts at introduction have been made, virtually all have been dismissed as escapes. In contrast, natural vagrants have occurred in Iceland (at least 4 records) and on the Azores (several) so it is almost certain that natural vagrants are occurring in Britain.

I am also interested to know the most recent population estimates on North American Wood Duck and percentage increases/decreases year-on-year since 2000 if this is known

Looking forward to any correspondence/discussion

The big 300 reached today

Recent Images: Red-rumped Swallow at Watermead Park, Leicester (Ian Merrill); adult Bonaparte's Gull at Farmoor Reservoir (Nic Hallam) and White-throated Sparrow at Old Winchester Hill (Chris Holt & Stevie Evans)

Well a particularly productive last 7 days has seen the total number of species recorded in Britain and Ireland rise to an impressive 300 species by 15 April. The 16 new additions are as follows -:

Montagu's Harrier - 3+ records
Hobby - numerous arrivals
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER - first-summer at Breydon Water, Norfolk
PECTORAL SANDPIPER - very early individual at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire
CASPIAN TERN - exceptionally early vagrant in County Wexford
Arctic Tern - large passage overland
Little Tern - English Channel passage
European Turtle Dove - 2+
European Nightjar - exceptionally early bird back on territory
Common Swift - remarkably early number of birds
WRYNECK - migrants in Kent and Suffolk
Whinchat - 3+ (early)
SAVI'S WARBLER - reeling birds back on territory
Garden Warbler - early arrival in Dorset
Wood Warbler - very early bird in Devon
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW - first-summer male in Hampshire (present since November 2008)

13th-ever STONE CURLEW in Northants today

Well done David for finding the STONE CURLEW at Earls Barton GP today (see my photographs above), only the 13th ever in Northants, 5 in the 19th century between 1850 and 1898, then interestingly the next record was of one shot at Earls Barton on 10th April 1945 but kept alive for several weeks with a broken wing. Next one at Lutton on 3rd May 1963. Then one at Ecton SF in 1950. Next one at Lutton on 3rd May 1963. One found dead near Aldwincle, stuffed, and in the possession of D J Watkins-Pitchford (BB)in 1976. Then two in 1989, at Clifford Hill GP on 28th April and at Stanwick GP on 16th July. Again at Earls Barton GP on 8th August 1994 (unpublished) (Bob Bullock)

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF TAXONOMY

On behalf of the UK400 Club, I did a thorough review of the Chiffchaff complex in the mid 1990's and as a result, recognised four distinct species - COMMON (colybitta), IBERIAN (ibericus), SIBERIAN (tristis) and MOUNTAIN/CAUCASIAN (lorenzii). More recently, CANARY ISLANDS CHIFFCHAFF (canariensis) was recognised. My decisions were largely based on scientific work carried out by George Sangster and Andreas Helbig.

For reasons unknown, no other authorities to date have treated tristis as a separate species even though the differential of mitochondrial DNA of 1.7-2.0% is much higher than the 0.4% divergence of Pine Bunting vs Yellowhammer. Siberian Chiffchaff is highly distinct from the other chiffchaffs in many respects including plumage and most importantly songs and call. I am pleased to report however a new paper by Arnoud B van den Berg & The Sound Approach in Dutch Birding 31: 79-85, documenting further results of research in this species.

They have concluded that Siberian Chiffchaff shows a slight morphological variation, becoming browner and less olive from west to east, and that some western individuals can approach some abietinus in appearance. Arend Wassink has spent a lot of time studying tristis in southern Kazakhstan and has concluded that any chiffchaff producing a typical tristis call SHOULD be a tristis, providing that plumage and bare-part coloration is within the typical variation of that species.

There is no genetic proof that western tristis are hybrids/intergrades and therefore more closely related to abietinus than to eastern tristis. Although just a few birds were sampled, Helbig and others in 1996 only found evidence of gene flow between nominate collybita and abietinus, and NOT between tristis and abietinus. Therefore, the idea that there is a wide zone of hybridization between tristis and abietinus (a theory put forward by several interested commentators on the complex) must be regarded as hypothetical. It is presumably based upon the cline in colour within the range of tristis, or perhaps upon the incidence of mixed-song which, by definition, is more likely to occur in western areas where abietinus may turn up.

Arend Wassink has put together an excellent selection of images taken in Kazakhstan showing the variations within tristis plumage (taken of birds in the hand). Classic individuals are those as plumaged in plate 71 (page 80) and to which the UK400 Club uses as a baseline for acceptance.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW highlights

WHITE_THROATED SPARROW IMAGES (top, Gary Thoburn; bottom two, Richard Ford)

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday 15 April 2009

The first-summer male WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, initially discovered by Park Rangers on 7th November 2008, is still present today at Old Winchester Hill (Hampshire). The bird is frequenting two dense areas of Hawthorn and Elder scrub literally just south of the main car park and is generally elusive. It does seem to call frequently and this seems to be the best way of detecting it (it makes a Robin-like 'seeep' call and occasionally launches into its solemn and quiet song). It spends most of its day walking on the ground feeding in the undergrowth but at intermittent periods, it climbs up through the scrub and perches high on the flowering Blackthorns. A few hours on site should result in a sighting.

DIRECTIONS

The main car park is situated on Hayden Lane at SU 643 214. Park carefully and courteously in the car park (capable of holding 40 vehicles) and follow any on-site instructions provided by the rangers.

David Mead (of Portsmouth RSPB) was responsible for finally getting the news of this bird out by independently locating the bird whilst searching the site for migrant Ring Ouzels. Heather Rowe also saw it shortly later, followed by their birding associate Kevin McCoy. News then filtered through to BirdGuides and Birdnet. The original finders (reserve wardens) had been advised by English Nature not to release the news because they were fearful of the influx of visitors its news release would have. When first found, the bird was quite tawdry and remarkably approachable. It was artificially fed at the car park and kept alive during this winter's severe weather (two weeks of hard-packed snow and ice) by regular feeding. Although it may have arrived unaided across the Atlantic Ocean, I suspect it pitched up in the English Channel on a vessel, most probably at the time when another first-winter made landfall at Cape Clear Island in County Cork last autumn.

Elsewhere, a HOOPOE was found this morning at Landguard NR (Suffolk) (where nearby, a WRYNECK roosted last night close to Kessingland Sluice - its second day) with another briefly at Barnham (Suffolk), a BLACK KITE flew north over Lancing (West Sussex) and a WRYNECK is on North Ronaldsay (Orkney)

The rather golden-spangled first-summer AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER continues to show very well in the NE corner of Breydon Water (Norfolk)

The male SNOWY OWL is once more at Balranald RSPB, North Uist (Outer Hebrides), where it is favouring the barren coastline at Aird an Runair this week

A surprising number of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still around including 40 on West End Road, Laughton (Lincs), 20 at Jesmond Dene, Newcastle (Northumberland), 4 on the A38 Sutton Road in Mansfield (Notts) and over 270 birds over the holiday weekend.

The drake RING-NECKED DUCK remains at Loch Ruthven RSPB and adjacent small lochans (Speyside) (with another, a female, at Swineham GP, Wareham, Dorset), whilst a drake LESSER SCAUP is at Vale of Coustry on the Quarry Loch (NS 733 996), Blair Drummond (Forth) (park by the A811 by the church and walk through Cutmill Brae to view). A further drake LESSER SCAUP is at Hornsea Mere (East Yorks) with another at Cardiff Bay Wetlands (South Wales). Two late SNOW GEESE remain at the Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire).

EURASIAN SPOONBILLS include one at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB (Cheshire) with the long-staying GREAT WHITE EGRET still at South Gilmourton Pools (Clyde) (NS 660 397) (and another at Ynys-Hir RSPB, Ceredigion) and 6 CATTLE EGRETS still present on the Hayle Estuary (Cornwall). Further CATTLE EGRETS remain at Yelland (North Devon), on the Nevern Estuary at Newport (Pembs)

In IRELAND, both immature KING EIDERS remain in Drumcliff Bay, Lissadell (Co Sligo) with 36 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS still in front of Belfast City Hall, Donegal Square (Co. Antrim).

RECENCIES

An adult BONAPARTE'S GULL has been gracing Farmoor Reservoirs (Oxfordshire) since Friday 10 April and was still returning to roost last night (Nic Hallam et al).

A RED-RUMPED SWALLOW remained for several days at Watermead Country Park (Leics) (10th-12th) before relocating to Upper Bittell Reservoir (Worcs) from 0940-1025 on 13th (and followed reports of two others), whilst ALPINE SWIFTS occurred at five locations over the Bank Holiday weekend (including two that lingered for over an hour in Lincolnshire and West Sussex).

A LITTLE BUNTING was at Old Lodge car park, Ashdown Forest (East Sussex) from 10-13 April.

A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was at Heybridge Basin GP (Essex) on 12, with a few WHITE STORKS of unknown origin at a variety of locations.

There has been a multitude of WHITE-BILLED DIVER claims in Northern Scotland including a total of 7 different birds off of their normal haunt at Ness, Lewis (Outer Hebrides) (Martin Scott/Tony Marr) and reports of up to 7 different birds in the Gruinard Bay area.

Total Now at 283

Whilst I was away in Israel, this superb first-summer GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO remained in West Cornwall (near St Just) for a week (Brian Field)

During my absence in these past few weeks, the spring migration has got well underway, with the total number of species now recorded in Britain and Ireland in 2009 surging forward to 283 species.

The additions are as thus -:

PACIFIC DIVER (a regularly returning bird seen just briefly in Pembrokeshire)
PURPLE HERON (an adult in Suffolk)
GLOSSY IBIS (one in Ireland)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (a drake in County Clare)
BLACK KITE (at least one authenticated report)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (an early bird on Cape Clear, Ireland)
Common Cuckoo (13+)
ALPINE SWIFT (3+ including a twitchable bird in Cornwall)
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (brief fly-through in NE England)
Common Nightingale (early returns)
BLUETHROAT (brief bird in Berkshire)
Grasshopper Warbler (numerous)
Sedge Warbler (many)
Western Reed Warbler (several)
WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER (singing male in 60 Foot Cover, Porthgwarra, Cornwall)
Common Whitethroat (several)
Pied Flycatcher (several)