Autumn hitting new highs

The foggy and drizzly conditions being currently experienced along much of the East Coast south of Spurn Point is currently grounding many thousands of migrants, particularly Ring Ouzels, Fieldfares, Redwings, Common Blackbirds, Continental Song Thrushes, Robins, Chaffinches, Bramblings and Common Starlings, as well as numerous Long & Short-eared Owls, Coal, Blue & Great Tits and other day-flying migrants. The first wave of Waxwings are also arriving, as well as a few Pallas's Leaf Warblers, many Yellow-browed Warblers and the odd PENDULINE TIT....


However, amongst all of this action, area host of rarities headlining on Shetland where today a CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING appeared at Virkie Willows and a SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT on Fair Isle - these two new additions furthering the list to 439. A LANCEOLATED WARBLER regrowing a lost tail also remains on Fair Isle (at Field) whilst at least 3 of the 5 recent OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS remain. A first-winter male PIED WHEATEAR was also newly found at Quendale

Further south, the EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER remains for a sixth day at Fife Ness (Fife) with a number of DUSKY WARBLERS and LITTLE BUNTINGS appearing at coastal sites, a RUSTIC BUNTING at Marsden Quarry, a BLUETHROAT at Easington Lagoons (East Yorks) and a number of RICHARD'S PIPITS.

OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS are occurring in ever-increasing numbers (following the influx in the Northern Isles last week) with 'new' birds at Holme Firs and Holkham Pines (North Norfolk), Corton Church (Suffolk) and in Gunners Park, Shoeburyness (Essex), with a confiding RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL in Stiffkey Meals (Norfolk) and the SIBERIAN STONECHAT still at Birling Gap, Beachy Head (East Sussex).

Along the South Coast, a dapper adult male ISABELLINE SHRIKE is in Portland Top Fields (Dorset), whilst on the Isles of Scilly, the AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT remains with LITTLE BUNTING and OBP on Bryher, a RADDE'S WARBLER is on St Agnes, PENDULINE TIT still on Tresco Great Pool and the 3 first-year RING-NECKED DUCKS on St Mary's at Porthellick.

An adult BONAPARTE'S GULL on Dawlish warren Beach (South Devon) is an excellent local record, with LESSER YELLOWLEGS' in South Devon and Lancashire and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS on North Uist and still at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucs)

The efforts of Hugh Delaney continue to impress on Inishmore Island (County Galway), his recent haul of finds including an OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT and DUSKY WARBLER there. A truly emerald isle.

HAMPSHIRE birder ARTHUR BETTS bales out after 91 years of service

Arthur (left) with partner-in-crime and long-time best birding-pal Chris Holt and Brian Fletcher

It is with very great sadness and many fond memories to learn of the passing away of ARTHUR BETTS, an unassuming but outstanding birder of his generation. He died peacefully in hospital; on 11 October at the grand old age of 91 years - a fantastic innings.

Arthur was a real gentlemen and one of life's great treasures. He was one of those born of the Golden Days of Scilly and served many an October on that outstanding archipelago. He was a life-long friend of mine, after I was first introduced to him whilst birding at Portland Bill in 1975. Portland was, in fact, one of his favourite birding sites in the UK and I was to spend many hours passing the time of day away with him there in my many visits on weekends throughout the early 1980's. He was an incredibly keen UK and WP lister and visited the majority of countries within the region and made it into the Top 100 of my lists as way back as 1985. Latterly, as mobility became an issue, he became keener on butterflies and orchids but maintained his passionate clinch on his local patch - Tweseldown near Church Crookham - near where of course that most famous of rares Dark-eyed Junco lingered for some considerable length of time.

Arthur was a wise mentor, a great friend, a true inspiration and a wonderful companion and I expect many of you will cherish the fond memories you had of him. Goodbye Arthur

Lee Evans

Coalition, just leave those BADGERS alone.....

The epidimology of Bovine Tb and its vectors are complex and mired with political and emotional input and I certainly do not want to bring those factors into this group but I would make the following points:


1) Bovine TB has natural reservoirs in some parts of the country and they are not exclusively in badgers. It is a disease that can affect and be carried by all mammals including us. Culling a single species seems strange when it is well known that deer, foxes, hares, domestic cats and dogs etc etc also carry BTb.

2) Following restocking post F&M BTb made a huge stride north. This may have been as a result of a unrecognised movement of wildlife carrying the disease but is more likely to have been a result of farmers restocking with infected animals from the south west.

3) The constant shuttling of animals around the country does not help, but farmers love their marts (see the current "The mart's the heart" campaign being run by Farmer's Weekly).

4) None of the research that has been done on culling has ever involved free shooting which is what is now being proposed. It is very likely the the perturbation effect noted in the RBCT will be even worse with this method. In the RBCT it was found that the slight reductions in BTb in the cull area were substantially outweighed by increases in neighbouring zones appaently caused by dispersing animals.

5) The cost of the cull is increasing day on day and will mostly be born by the taxpayers.

6) Finally, Scotland which is officially BTb free has achieved that status by enhanced levels of testing, biosecurity and movement controls. Not a single badger or any other wild mammal was killed to achieve this.

I am afraid that the proposed cull will be a waste of time, money and wildlife brought to us by the department that was wanting to experiment with buzzard control a few weeks ago.

Andy Riches
Scottish Badgers Advisory Group

Panic ensues along North Norfolk coast as immature EGYPTIAN VULTURE flys in off the sea at Cley

A third-year Egyptian Vulture that escaped from a private raptor breeding centre in Wales on 25 September created pandemonium yesterday after it was watched flying in off the sea at Cley NWT (North Norfolk). The bird followed the coastline along and was quickly intercepted over Blakeney, Stiffkey, Holkham Park and Burnham Norton before it eventually made landfall in a field near Burnham Thorpe. Sharp-eyed observers Richard Millington and Mark Golley almost immediately realised all was not right with the ''under-carriage'' as it soared around with 2 Marsh Harriers and it soon became apparent that it was bearing a bell and metal rings.


It then transpired that the same bird had been present on The Lizard at St Keverne (Cornwall) for at least two days and had presumably got caught up in the deep Atlantic depression that tracked eastwards across the country and had somehow been swept with the tightening isobars to Norfolk.

The bird's owners are keen to recapture it so any updates on its location will be welcomed

BLACK SKIMMER in SOUTH AFRICA

Ralph Hobbs has very kindly provided me a link to Trevor Hardaker's account of the finding of the first-ever BLACK SKIMMER in South Africa -

http://birdingafricacapetownpelagics.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/black-skimmer-new-for-africa-found-at-rietvlei-cape-town/

It is perhaps very likely that this record relates to a BLACK SKIMMER seen flying south past Annagh Head on the Mullet Peninsular (County Mayo, Ireland) on 10 August

EASTERN KINGBIRD in IRELAND

A North American EASTERN KINGBIRD was found and identified by Hugh Delaney this lunchtime as it was flycatching from a stone wall on Inishmore Island (County Galway). It was very close to Kilmurvey Wood and showed well until early evening. It is the first record for Britain and Ireland.


On the Isles of Scilly late this afternoon, a SYKES'S BOOTED WARBLER was identified on Tresco, in vegetation and bushes by the workers' chalets at the far end of Back Lane in Old Grimsby, whilst in west Cornwall, no less than 7 RED-RUMPED SWALLOWS were together feeding over Marazion Marsh

PALLID HARRIER in South Yorkshire

Last night, Joan, Anna and I travelled north to FIRSBY RESERVOIR, just NNE of Ravenfield (South Yorkshire), to see a ringtail harrier that had been roosting each evening in setaside adjacent to the reservoir for three weeks. We joined about 35 predominantly Yorkshire birders and at 1740 hours, we enjoyed excellent views of the bird as it flew in to roost. It paraded in front of us for about five minutes before dropping out of sight onto the ground. Doncaster birder JUSTIN CARR, who was standing beside me, obtained this excellent series of flight shots as it wheeled round, enabling a detailed examination of the bird.

In terms of jizz and structure, the bird fitted PALLID HARRIER to a T and from the plainness of the general plumage, it had to be a female of at least three years old. At the time, I was concerned about the underwing pattern (seemed rather Hen Harrier-like), but Dick Forsman put my mind at rest later after I sent him the images.

Although we can never be sure that this female has not got some second or third generation Hen Harrier genes, the fact that it has just FOUR fingered primaries and a wing point formed bu just three primaries immediately suggest PALLID HARRIER. It has a neat, thin, pale collar extending from the nape to the throat, fine streaking on the breast-sides, saturated streaking on the upper breast and streaking on a white base.

It has strongly marked secondaries with no prominent dark trailing edge, some clear 'boomerang' like pale areas at the primary bases and primary barring concentrated along the middle section of the feather tract. the dark tips to the primaries are also much reduced.

A great local find and a great bird, departing the roost-site at 0720 hours this morning (but not returning this evening)

I would like to thank Dick Forsman, Chris Heard, Andrew Holden, John Hewitt, Dave Hirsthouse, Andrew Stoddart, Mark Golley and Dani Velascuo for invaluable help in assessing the plumage and identification.

DIRECTIONS: In Ravenfield village,walk east along Garden Lane for 600 yards to the sharp corner before heading north along Arbour Lane for about three quarters of a mile to the end. Skirt the south side of the reservoir to watch from the gate on the east side.

Another fast-tracking depression and another mega

Following yet another fast-tracking depression across the Atlantic, a MYRTLE WARBLER has made landfall in IRELAND at Dursey Island in County Cork - the 420th species to be recorded in Britain and Ireland this year - just 2 below par of last year's record-breaking total


More to follow I'm sure

''The Badger Cull'' from a respected farmer's point of view

Badger cull: not in this farmer's name


I farm in the cull area, and I know that killing badgers will not stop bovine TB -- the answer lies in better farming practices

Steve Jones
guardian.co.uk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/28/badger-cull-bovine-tb

Friday 28 September 2012

The government justifies a badger cull by claiming it's to help farmers.

I have 35 years' livestock management experience, and I live in the heart of the Forest of Dean -- the cull area -- and I disagree. Killing badgers isn't the long-term or sustainable solution to bovine TB control that farmers so desperately need. Shooting badgers is politically motivated, not scientifically driven, and farmers need to realise they're being sold a lame duck.

Over the years, I have managed some of the highest-yielding dairy herds in the world with consistently high levels of hygiene and disease resistance. Meticulous biosecurity and sympathetic animal husbandry are the key to stamping out TB in cattle, not shooting British wildlife.

Farmers vilify badgers but TB is mainly transmitted cow to cow. So the solution to eradicating TB lies with farmers themselves who must accept responsibility for a disease that is all too easily spread back and forth within and between herds due to poor management, lax biosecurity and substandard animal care. A slow response in tackling the disease compounds the problem, which can therefore soon reach epidemic proportions. I have seen it many times with mad cow disease, foot and mouth and now bovine TB. Alas, the farming industry prefers to scapegoat badgers rather than tackling these fundamental problems.

Water troughs are a reservoir for TB because they are rarely cleaned out. It's not uncommon for trough water to be left stagnating through the winter, collecting dead birds, rodents and various bacteria, only to be drunk by cattle in the spring. Badgers also use these troughs but it's unfair to isolate badgers when the culprit is the bacteria soup itself. Making troughs badger-proof is not rocket science, but more fundamental is the adoption of better hygiene standards by the agricultural industry.

Lax biosecurity on farms is also a major factor. Cows infected with TB should be quarantined immediately, but they rarely are. Every farm should have isolation areas to separate these animals and prevent cross-infection, but they rarely do. Biosecurity is often ignored by farmers and poorly enforced by Defra. Infected cows can be left unquarantined on farms for weeks. Before a single badger is shot, the farming industry should get its house in order.

We also need to improve cattle welfare. Farm animal stress caused by pain and suffering can reduce an animal's immunity and make it more susceptible to diseases like bovine TB. On too many farms, there are high levels of lameness, mastitis and rough animal handling. The average incidence of lameness in our national herd is a shameful 22%.

This is lazy husbandry. We have a wealth of veterinary knowledge to eradicate disease, and in countries with more advanced control measures there are very low incidences of bovine TB.

So as Defra ministers sign the death sentence for thousands of England's badgers, my message to them is this. Not in my name. Not in my name should you hoodwink the public into thinking that killing badgers will help struggling farmers, because you are betraying farmers with this unscientific policy. If you really wanted to help farming, you would help it reform and modernise, you'd actively support rather than hinder badger vaccination, you'd take the fight to Europe to green-light cattle vaccination. But instead, it's far cheaper and easier to just let farmers kill badgers.

More than 120,000 people so far have signed an e-petition calling for the government to kill the cull. For the sake of democracy, science, animal welfare, conservation and farming, I hope they listen.

E-petition at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257

190 comments so far on the Guardian website

Still Open for comments. Sign in at

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Scottish GOLDEN EAGLE suffers a cruel slow death

Details of a GOLDEN EAGLE picked up in Deeside - disgraceful

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/325140-conservationists-appalled-by-eagle-death

A Middle Eastern perspective on rapyor persecution at Gamla

I added a link to some new Wildlife footage taken last spring in Gamla nature reserve in northern Israel.


This footage is part of a local conservation project and a documentary film highlighting the plight of declining Israeli raptors is included -:
http://youtu.be/VODZsJ-Ov7Y


Enjoy!

Best regards,

Yuval Dax
Production, Videography

Most intense September storm in 30 years wreaks havoc in Northern England and produces a flood of LOCUSTELLAS...

The most intense September storm in over 30 years has wreaked havoc in the northern half of Britain as well as bringing in a flood of locustellas and other rare birds to the country.......


PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS today were discovered at three widely spaced localities on the East Coast following the two days of torrential rain and strong easterly winds that bought serious flooding to Yorkshire and the closing of the A1.

First to be located was a first-winter at Hartlepool Headland in Cleveland (Chris Bell, Tom Francis, Richard Taylor, et al) but which quickly flew to dense cover and was lost. Next off, one was trapped at Whitburn Coastal Park in Tyne & Wear and after being released at 1350, reappeared several times during the afternoon around the smallest mound. The best was then left to last with a very confiding individual in Aberdeenshire, favouring a tiny copse besides the road to Collieston at Whinnyfold.

LANCEOLATED WARBLERS too were caught up in the conditions, with a second individual trapped and ringed on Fair Isle (Shetland) and another on North Ronaldsay (Orkney). Fair Isle also hosts a bag of other goodies including a PADDYFIELD WARBLER, BLYTH'S REED WARBLER, an OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT, 3 LITTLE BUNTINGS, 3 Barred Warblers, Richard's Pipit and up to 27 Yellow-browed Warblers whilst Foula (Shetland) has two different BLYTH'S REED WARBLERS, a long-staying SYKES'S BOOTED WARBLER, OBP, Richard's Pipit and Common Rosefinches (it also hosted a BLTYH'S PIPIT on Monday).

Kenny Buchan watched a FEA'S SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL pass south off Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire) late morning, whilst Northumberland down to North Lincolnshire shared in the feast of rare waifs that were blown onshore including an ARCTIC WARBLER on Holy Island, GREENISH WARBLERS at Filey NCCP, Old Fall Plantation at Flamborough Head and at Spurn Point, the odd elusive LITTLE BUNTING here and there, numerous RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS and two juvenile Red-backed Shrikes, an Icterine Warbler and a bag of Yellow-browed Warblers. Most odd was an adult BAIRD'S SANDPIPER making landfall on Brownsman (the Farne Islands).

At the opposite end of the country on SCILLY, the 35 or so birders now instilled on the islands are starting to reap rewards, with an AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT showing well around the lighthouse rocks on Peninnis Head (St Mary's), a first-winter CITRINE WAGTAIL on the Great Pool (Tresco), a very confiding ORTOLAN in Hugh Town, a BARRED WARBLER & Wryneck by the Airfield and an AQUATIC WARBLER still opposite the Porthloo Duck Pond.

Portland has an ORTOLAN in the field opposite the Observatory, with the juvenile SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER still at Lodmoor (Dorset), the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER on Davidstow (Cornwall) and Spotted Crake at Marazion Marsh RSPB (Cornwall).

The BOOTED WARBLER remains elusively just south of Gun Hill, Burnham Overy Staithe (Norfolk), where elsewhere along that coastline ROSE-COLOURED STARLING and Red-breasted Flycatcher are at Holme, Richard's Pipit at Sheringham and Yellow-browed Warblers are scattered in various localities.

The GREATER YELLOWLEGS has reappeared once more at Loch of Starthbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire)

Watch this space - this is just the start........

WHITE'S THRUSH on Inner Farne all day

See images at http://farnephoto.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/whites-thrush.html

First of the autumn and yet another mega

Megas starting to roll in

Shetland has today quickly returned to form with Southeasterly winds raging.....




Fair Isle has a MAGNOLIA WARBLER this evening, showing very well to around 38 observers at Meoness in very windy conditions, whilst Foula in the west of the main Shetland islands has a SWAINSON'S THRUSH and a SYKES'S BOOTED WARBLER. Fair Isle also has a LANCEOLATED WARBLER whilst throughout the archipelago are a supporting cast of many scarcities, including major falls of Yellow-browed Warblers.

Further south, the pickings have been contrastingly leaner, with a BOOTED WARBLER at Burnham Overy Staithe (North Norfolk) being the pick of the bunch

Starting to hot up.....and Species List is now 412

With a touch of east in the wind, newly arrived LANCEOLATED WARBLER and PECHORA PIPIT on Out Skerries (Shetland) this afternoon take the total of birds recorded in Britain and Ireland this year to 412 species...


Other additions during the past week included the second-earliest ever RED-EYED VIREO on Unst (Shetland) and an AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT on North Uist (Outer Hebrides)

Lots and lots of Nearctic waders scattered across the UK (and Ireland) including the two long-staying SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (on Tresco and at Lodmoor), a juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPER at Meols/Hoylake (Wirral) and at least two SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS (in Ceredigion and in East Lothian). No less than 9 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at various sites, 2 different WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, over 25 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a single LESSER YELLOWLEGS.

Two BLYTH'S REED WARBLERS discovered this afternoon (on Unst and on Sanday) plus first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn at Holme (Norfolk), where also a Red-breasted Flycatcher

Looks set to be an interesting weekend......

BAILLON'S CRAKE giving itself up

I returned once more to RAINHAM MARSH RSPB today to have another look at the BAILLON'S CRAKE - to date having been seen by just over 2,100 observers...


By some surprise, it was its best day so far for viewing duration. Prior to my arrival at 1100 hours, it had performed almost non-stop from 0630 to 0830 hours - the longest period it has ever shown since its discovery some 14 days ago. After this time, it had reverted back to its normal behaviour, offering observers very fleeting glimpses as it moved quickly across the muddy parches on the reedy island.

Although I had been in the hide for over three and a half hours without seeing the bird, at 1505 hours Barrie Hamill suddenly exclaimed that there it was - right out in the open at the back of the main pool. It then spent the next ten minutes walking from right to left, every now and then climbing up on to the reeds to preen. It afforded some outstanding views, allowing several in the hide an opportunity to take pictures. It was a real good showing - the bird now being quite extensively slate grey on the underparts and around the face. This was the first time I had seen it wander so far to the left - its normal behaviour being to skulk in the island area just right of middle hide.



Also at Rainham today were the juvenile MARSH HARRIER, 1 HOBBY, 9+ Little Egrets and several Common Greenshanks. A first-winter DARTFORD WARBLER was still on the reserve, but very elusive.

Special Weekend Viewing will be operative again tomorrow and Sunday, the gates and hide being accessible from 0600 hours.

More direction on SEMIPALMATED/WESTERN SANDPIPER identification with specific reference to the Hoylake juvenile WESTERN

I've quickly put up a page of some juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers photographed in southern Ontario and New York State that can be viewed here:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpawli10/

These birds are pretty bright overall (to be expected for mid-August), and show some range of plumage and bill length/shapes that are typically encountered on the eastern Great Lakes.

Jim Pawlicki
Buffalo, NY

I think commentators are being a bit too black and white by characterizing female Semi bills as long and straight, since there is incredible variation in Semi overall bill shape and bill tips, as this photo of a bunch of "typical" Semis in spring shows.

http://www.kevinkarlsonphotography.com/gallery/v/Shorebirds/Sandpipers/Peep/Semipalmated+Sandpipers+and+Sanderling_+May_+NJ+web.jpg.html.

The center bird is one of the troublesome Semis that show a long, drooping, fine-tipped bill that I never saw while working in the Alaskan Arctic for four years. This is an Eastern trait, and the bird behind the Sanderling is another female with a fine, drooping tip. The bird three from the left in the rear has a ridiculous drooping tip for a Semi, and not too long either. While I agree that more female Semis have long, straight bills, this sample group shows how many can show the long, fine, drooping tip as well, and often more fine-tipped than male Westerns. Several of the reported Semis from Great Britain look like Westerns to me, and this photo may shed some more light on their structural differences as well.

Kevin Karlson

For the sake of comparison, here are links to ID photo galleries for both Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers that appear in our online field guide that we've created (www.birdfellow.com). There are several images of juveniles in each gallery. I would direct your attention to images #18-30 in the Western Sandpiper gallery. These juveniles were all photographed during September. I think most of you will agree that many look just like the birds in the photos that Lee has shared. As you scroll through the thumbnails, click on the thumbnail of the image that you want to see and it will fill the larger featured image box on the right hand side of the page. By rolling your mouse cursor over the feature image, the caption will appear. If you then click a second time on the larger feature image on the right it will be enlarged to full size.

One thing to pay attention to is how much lighting and angle affect the apparent contrast between the scaps and coverts. Though rusty margins are evident on the scaps of all of these Westerns, the degree of contrast is highly variable in this series of images.

http://www.birdfellow.com/birds/semipalmated-sandpiper-calidris-pusilla#/idPhotos

http://www.birdfellow.com/birds/western-sandpiper-calidris-mauri#/idPhotos

I hope that you find these galleries useful.

Dave Irons
Content Editor www.birdfellow.com

TUNDRA PEREGRINE on Orkney

An apparent juvenile TUNDRA PEREGRINE has been present on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) for a few days, most likely associated with the arrival of large numbers of Nearctic waders. See images at http://northronbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/


Debate continues to ensue over the identification of Hoylake's 'peep' - favoured mostly as WESTERN SANDPIPER by North American experts but still possibly a long-billed juvenile female SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. The bird mainly shows at high tide and is very mobile, moving in tandem with the large flocks of feeding Dunlin on the Dee. Barry Barnacal has some excellent photographs of the bird

Back to BLUE-WINGED TEAL HYBRIDS for a minute

For photographs of an apparent Blue-winged Teal x Northern Shoveler in North America, go to

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36088296@N08/5569061482/in/set-72157630054609698


and the photographs that immediately follow.

Steve Mlodinow

Separating WESTERN and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS

Seconding Kevin M's and Alvaro's comments, I would agree that the Outer Hebrides bird is a clear example of a juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPER. Here on the eastern Great Lakes it would certainly stand out based on plumage alone, regardless of bill/size shape.


As an example there is an excellent comparison photo of juveniles of these two species standing next to each other on the Point Reyes Bird Observatory "Los Farallones" blog here (scroll down to last photo in entry):

http://losfarallones.blogspot.com/2012/09/another-fogged-in-day-on-farallones.html

Jim Pawlicki, Buffalo, NY