Cumnock birder Jim Woods dies suddenly

I was extremely saddened today to hear of the death of Cumnock birder Jim Woods. He died yesterday morning, quite unexpectedly of a heart attack. I am sure that all in the Ayrshire birding community who knew Jim will share my sadness at the loss of one of that county's best bird photographers, quite apart from the enthusiasm and sense of fun which he always brought to local birding.

In terms of rarity finds, Jim will be best remembered for his August 1990 adult Caspian Tern at Doonfoot but for me, I shall always remember his keenness on the Isles of Scilly, a location he visited, often with his family members, each October. He was particularly helpful to me, and regularly supplied me with his latest bird and natural history images. I last saw him in October last year when he was over the moon at coinciding with the Alder Flycatcher twitch.

The funeral is at Ayr Crematorium on Monday 20th July, at 1.15 pm for anyone who would like to attend,

Lee G R Evans

Sussex RED-BACKED SHRIKE present for second day

The male RED-BACKED SHRIKE was seen again this morning 1100hrs by Mike Tucker at Cissbury Ring on the lower slope near the northern car park, frequenting the open scrub 150-200 m east of the car park at approximately map reference 140084.

I spent an hour searching the area without any further sightings although it was very windy in the area (Bernie Forbes).

LOCAL MEGA - TEREK SANDPIPER on the WIRRAL

At 0640 hours this morning (following the first report yesterday afternoon), a TEREK SANDPIPER was observed roosting with Common Redshanks on the Dee Estuary at Heswall, opposite Heswall Fields NT.

DIRECTIONS: Use the public car park off Banks Road near the Sheldrake Restaurant and then walk north along the shoreline to view or search the saltings.

WILD BOAR populations at large in Britain

Hi Lee,

You may find the research on this website of interest;

http://www.britishwildboar.org.uk/

Thanks,

Ben Miller

New Website for BBA members to sell and exchange birding items

See http://birdreportexchange.blogspot.com/

British Birding Association members can now benefit from this new service I am providing so that birders can offer for sale or exchange unwanted items, such as optics, photogrpaphic equipment and most importantly, bird books, reports and periodicals

Email LGREUK400@aol.com with enquiries

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN present for a fourth day

This moulting adult WHITE_WINGED BLACK TERN (photographed here by Richard Bayldon) is frequenting Ferry Lagoon and the adjacent Windsurfing Pit at Fen Drayton GP for its fourth day today.

377 and rising

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER, Needs Ore Point, Hampshire, 21 June 2009 (Caroline & Alan Dawson)

CASPIAN TERN, adult, Welney Refuge, Norfolk, 5 July 2009 (Chris Upson)

Five new species have occurred since my last update in June (see below) bringing the total number ofd bird species recorded in Britain and Ireland in 2009 to 377.

WILSON'S PETREL (SW Approaches, off Scilly - typical record)

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER (adult summer in Northumberland)

SABINE'S GULL (midsummer record in County Cork)

CASPIAN TERN (several records involving at least 3 different individuals and a twitchable adult in Norfolk)

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER (photographed individual in North Devon and Hampshire)

FRANKLIN'S GULL on Orkney

The FRANKLIN'S GULL was seen up to at least 21.00 hrs when it was on the beach at Howes Wick HY512006, but had been in fields around the church at HY510008 (Keith Hague)

EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR on NORTH RONALDSAY

This male EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR was trapped and ringed today in Holland House Garden, North Ronaldsay (Orkney).

It has been an exceptional year for this species on the island in 2009 (see http://northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/

for details)

The RIVER WARBLER at Applecross - photographed by JOSH JONES

Rare Waders dominate the headlines, whilst the RIVER WARBLER sings on

A moulting adult STILT SANDPIPER remains for a third day at Starnafin Farm RSPB, Loch of Strathbeg (Aberdeenshire), showing well from the main centre hide there. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER is also feeding on the same pool, with 4 Little Gulls in the vicinity and a juvenile White-tailed Sea Eagle from the recent reintroduction scheme.

In Northumberland, an adult summer PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER was discovered at East Chevington NWT late afternoon feeding on the South Pool. It then flew south but was soon relocated nearby and showed well for the remainder of the evening. Access South Pool from the A1068, 700 yards north of the B1330 junction.

Meanwhile in NW Scotland, the male RIVER WARBLER continues to sing sporadically from the single Sycamore tree and adjacent gorse clumps immediately behind the Heritage Centre just under a mile north of Applecross (Highland Region) (at NG 712 458). The GREAT WHITE EGRET is also still present on Orkney, where it is favouring the east shore of Graemeshall Loch. Elsewhere on Orkney, the male EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR remains in Holland House Garden on North Ronaldsay and the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE is again at the north end of Eves Howe Loch, Braebuster.

An adult summer WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN (present at Cley Marshes NWT, Norfolk, on 8th) graced both the Ferry Lagoon and Windsurfing Lake at Fen Drayton GP (Cambs) for its second day today, whilst at Cley NWT Reserve itself, the summer-plumaged adult BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER continues to show very well on North Scrape, along with 1-2 adult Continental Black-tailed Godwits and up to 9 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS (including one multi-ringed Dutch bird) on Pat's Pool.

Another long-staying GREAT WHITE EGRET remains at Hen Marshes, Walberswick (Suffolk), whilst the 'barking' male LITTLE BITTERN continues its summer residency at Loxton Marsh on Walton Heath (Somerset) (another male LITTLE BITTERN was present on the Isle of Wight on 28-29 June). A CATTLE EGRET was an unexpected find on the silt pool at Middleton Hall (Warks)

A female RED-FOOTED FALCON was seen briefly over Loompit Lake, Trimley Marshes SWT (Suffolk) (Gerald Jobson)

A party of 7 ROSEATE TERNS is still present at Dawlish Warren NNR (South Devon), whilst the breeding pair is still at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) and at least two adults on the Patch at Dungeness (Kent).

The COMMON CROSSBILL irruption continues in earnest with more and more parties now penetrating further south, after initially making landfall in the Northern Isles, with an impressive 60 or more on St Mary's (Isles of Scilly).

The drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK is still present at Chew Valley Lake (Avon), whilst two RUDDY SHELDUCK remain at Montrose Basin LNR (Angus).

A single CORY'S SHEARWATER flew north past Church Point, Newbiggin (Northumberland) this evening, whilst a couple of adult LONG-TAILED SKUAS appeared in the North Sea. BALEARIC SHEARWATER sightings are also now increasing and are appearing daily at Portland Bill (Dorset) and Porthgwarra (Cornwall).

Despite favourable conditions, the only news from IRELAND today is of a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on Lady's Island Lake (Co. Wexford).

Additional Details on the Aberdeenshire STILT SANDPIPER

Hi Lee, There are quiet a few photographs taken today I believe, so hopefully someone will send you some through (I have a couple of very blurry record shots, but I won't be able to get them off my camera until this evening).

The bird is viewable from the RSPB Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve visitor centre, near Crimond. Full details of how to reach the site can be found at:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lochofstrathbeg/directions.asp .

The Visitor Centre is open daily from 8am - 6pm, although we have been leaving the centre open until dark and unlocking it at first light since Friday. We will go back to the normal opening hours from Monday, but if anyone requires access outside of these hours, they should contact the reserve on 01346 532017 during office hours and it may be possible to arrange something.

The bird was found by myself on Thursday evening, sometime around half past six I recall. I was on a day off, but had called into the Visitor Centre briefly on my way to try a seawatch off the north end of the reserve and had a quick scan. I picked up the bird through binoculars and initially thought it was a juv Spotted Redshank, due to the dark colouration and long legs and bill. I quickly realised that it was too small, the wrong build etc and, through the telescope, it was obviously an adult Stilt Sandpiper. After contacting the Site Manager (Dominic Funnell), we began to get the news out to the information services and local birders and arrange for extended opening hours for the Visitor Centre. Around 30 birders visited on the Thursday evening, most from Aberdeenshire, but one from Inverness (and a birder who was claiming to have twitched it from Luton, but admitted that he was actually heading home on the Aberdeen flight already when the news came through!). Since then there has been a steady stream of visitors, many who have tied a visit in with a trip to see the River Warbler in Highland.

The bird itself has generally been showing well and is a very smart individual in full breeding plumage. On Thursday evening, birders watching the Stilt Sand, found an adult Pectoral Sandpiper alongside it, and both birds can often be seen in the same scope view. Visiting birders have also found a Little Egret, whilst Dominic had an adult Long-tailed Skua go north off the north end of the reserve today. Other sightings include an immature White-tailed Eagle, four Little Gulls and two Marsh Harriers.

Following last year's Upland Sandpiper, the Loch of Strathbeg has really started to get noticed as an excellent birding site, and must surely be considered one of the best (the best in our opinion) birding site on the Scottish mainland.

David Parnaby Visitor & Publicity OfficerLoch of Strathbeg & Grampian Reserves
RSPB Loch of Strathbeg Nature Reserve, Starnafin Farmhouse, Crimond, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, AB43 8QN. Telephone: 01346 532017 mobile: 07702237301
Find out what's been seen at Loch of Strathbeg, visit: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lochofstrathbeg/sightings.asp

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

WEXFORD MEGA - STILT SANDPIPER

An adult STILT SANDPIPER is present for its second day at The Cull in County Wexford at Blackstone/Seafield. It represents the 371st species recorded in Britain and Ireland this year.

MARSH WARBLER in OXFORDSHIRE

OTMOOR RSPB (OXFORDSHIRE) (1500-1700 hours)

Phil Barnett 'phoned me last night informing me that he had just discovered a singing MARSH WARBLER at Otmoor RSPB reserve - a mega rare bird in the county and the perhaps the first record in over 20 years. As it was nearing 2100 hours, I decided to wait and visit today. Hearing it was still present late morning, I ventured out from the car park in the searing heat of the afternoon sun. It was a long walk too - taking me about 20 minutes to cover the mile or so walk out to between the first and second screens. Roger Wyatt had been on site since early morning and as I joined him, he explained that the bird had only given brief glimpses throughout all of the intervening period. The bird was commuting between the reedbed just over the raised bank and the dense hedgerow bordering the main footpath about equidistant between the two observation screens. It was singing as soon as I arrived and in fact continued almost non-stop until I departed. Unlike the Hertfordshire bird I had seen and heard this week, this bird had a full repertoire and was mimicking a whole host of species including Sedge Warbler, Goldfinch, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wren, Great Tit and Common Blackbird. The song was also typically loud and was delivered from quite high in the hedgerow.

Seeing the bird was a different matter though and for much of the time, it afforded just brief glimpses, mainly in flight. At one stage however it moved to near the top of the hedge and I was able to get full views of it for about a minute. It then flew over our heads and into the reedbed. Little detail was noted however, other than it being a very pale brown in colour on the upperparts and being bright orange-yellow on the lower mandible.

A single 'purring' EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE was present in the hedgerow 300 yards west of the car park, whilst 2-4 HOBBIES were hunting for dragonflies and other insects over the main marsh continuously. At least 15 post-breeding Lapwings overflew the lagoons whilst Sedge Warbler, Western Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Bullfinch and Yellowhammer were all recorded.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

Otmoor RSPB is not signposted and is a difficult reserve to find..It is best accessed from the B4027, easily reached from the main A40 roundabout in Headington, at the eastern end of the city. Taking the road towards Horton, turn left (signposted Beckley) on to Woodperry Road after 0.5 miles and continue for 0.7 miles into the village. Turn right on the High Street at the 'Abingdon Arms' public house and then turn left after 100 yards on to Otmoor Lane. The latter road is in a serious state of disrepair and ridged high in the middle and requires extreme attention and care. Continue for 1 mile to where a gate enters the reserve car park proper.

From here, follow the RSPB trail for 1700m. After you pass the first screen, the track bears sharp right. From here, continue for 200 yards from where the bird can be heard.

PREVIOUS MARSH WARBLER RECORDS FOR OXFORDSHIRE
(Acknowledgements: Brucker, Gosler & Heryet 1992, Birds of Oxfordshire, and Ian Lewington, pers. comm.)

The Marsh Warbler bred in Oxfordshire intermittently until 1960, with William Warde Fowler describing the progress of a small colony of up to four pairs in an Osier bed near his home in Kingham from 1890 until 1904 when the habitat was destroyed. One of the interesting discoveries he made during this period was of a Common Cuckoo's egg in one nest in 1898; the first time the Marsh Warbler had been recorded as a host species in Britain. Breeding was not noted again in the county until 1920, but from then until 1947 single nests were found in 11 summers along the Thames and Kennet river valleys and at Sandford Sewage Farm. There has been only one record of breeding since then, in 1960, when a pair reared a single youngster. A juvenile was also ringed at Sonning Gravel Pits in 1964.

There have been just four records prior to this one since 1965 -:

1) A singing male in South Oxon on 28 May 1973 (P.D.Goriup)

2) A singing male at Radley GP from 6-14 June 1981.

3) A singing male at Somerton on 8 June 1983 (Andy Collins)

4) A singing male at Otmoor NR on 29 June 2000 (Jon Baker)