Overshooting Spanish steppe Kestrel causes a major stir

The ALPINE SWIFT invasion - this bird photographed by Brian Field as it drifted back and forth over Marazion Marsh RSPB in West Cornwall

Essex bird photographer Andy Cook could hardly believe his eyes when he came face-to-face with a stonking adult male LESSER KESTREL at Minsmere RSPB reserve (Suffolk) yesterday afternoon. The bird was hopping from fence post to fence post in fields along the access road and was showing unbelievably well. Andy raced back to the RSPB shop and centre and got hold of Birdline Wales operative Alan Davies, who just happened to be by the centre at this time, and showed him pictures of the bird he had just found.

Minutes later and Alan and others were watching it - still showing to 65 yards in the field. News was then quickly relayed to RBA, sparking a major invasion of twitchers from all around. First on the scene were many daytrippers at the reserve, including a 52-strong coach party from the Midlands, and then, shortly later, many of those that were already in the county, due to the continued presence of both Alpine and Pallid Swifts.

Sadly, the commotion caused by incoming twitchers inadvertently frightened the Kestrel and it took flight. LGRE and others intercepted it as it flew north along the access road and made its way slowly west towards Westleton and as a female Common Kestrel set off in hot pursuit after it, it slank away to the north and went out towards Westleton Heath. Fortunately, one intrepid soul later relocated it, where it had taken refuge at the edge of Scottshall Covert at cTM 463 685, and here it was to remain until dusk, roosting in a dense Holm Oak at 1845 hours. By this time, 350 or so observers had connected.

It was a beautiful adult male and represented the first record in Britain since the immature male on the Isles of Scilly in 2002 (on St Mary's from 13-21 May - British Birds 95: plates 226 & 227 and 96: plates 342-343).

The bird roosted overnight and was present again today in exactly the same area, delighting a further 300 or so observers, often perching on gorse clumps, dead Elders and the Holm Oaks. Andy Cook obtained some absolutely stunning images when first found, whilst Jan Hein Steenis and others also managed to get good shots before it flew.

The population of Lesser Kestrel in Europe has undergone some recent dramatic increases following a very successful nestbox campaign in both southern France and in Spain. Previous to this, the species had been in serious decline. The bulk of this population migrates north from wintering grounds in Senegal and The Gambia from late February, with mid to late March being the peak arrival of this species (the Minsmere bird therefore fitting very neatly into this arrival pattern).

Lesser Kestrel is a mega-rare vagrant to Britain with perhaps only six authenticated records since 1950, including a first-summer male at St Ives Island, Cornwall, on 30 May 1968, a male on Fair Isle on 23 June 1987, a male found dead in an outbuilding at Dover, Kent, on 20 April 1989 and a male over Hampstead Heath, London, on 31 May 1992.

Suffolk certainly has been the centre of attention in the past few days with a long-staying PALLID SWIFT attracting large crowds at Kessingland, often flying in the company of an ALPINE SWIFT over the caravan park, sewage works and allotments since Thursday morning. A record gathering of ALPINE SWIFTS in the county has also seen two long-staying birds lingering over the promenade between the Claremont Pier and the CEFAS Laboratories complex, often showing down to just a few yards overhead and frequently roosting on the buildings.

The first TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL in Bedfordshire since January 1890 involves a female consorting with up to 43 Common Crossbills at The Lodge RSPB, Sandy. Initially found and photographed by Alan Crofts and Mike Lawrence on Saturday as it came in with the flock to drink at the main pond, it has been ranging the main heath north of the shop and gatehouse and showing intermittently in the tall conifer trees and isolated stands of deciduous trees. Again, a presumed migrant reorienting from an unknown wintering area, perhaps in Britain.

So, with such mouthwatering birds to enjoy, what else has Britain currently to offer -:

A FAN-TAILED WARBLER put in another repeat brief performance at St Margaret's-at-Cliffe (East Kent), pausing briefly on the clifftop near Bockhill Monument before bounding off north, whilst the three overwintering PENDULINE TITS are now performing daily, frequently visiting the bumper crop of Bulrush 75 yards west of the Hanson Hide along the boardwalk Willow Trail on the ARC Pit Reserve at Dungeness.

It really has been ALPINE SWIFTS which have been breaking all of the records and making headlines, with twitchable individuals in addition to the 3 of 7 recorded this past week in Suffolk being at Marazion Marsh RSPB (West Cornwall), in the Seaton area (South Devon), at Radipole Lake and Lodmoor (Dorset), at Crossness LNR (London) and in North Norfolk at both Cromer and Hunstanton. Over 25 birds in all were considered to have been involved in the influx.

A GREAT WHITE EGRET is today at Blacktoft Sands RSPB (East Yorks) (showing from the gate at Ousefleet Hide), whilst the CATTLE EGRET continues for a third day by the River Frome at Wareham (Dorset)

A migrant drake RING-NECKED DUCK remains for a second day at Kenfig Pool NNR (Glamorgan) (from South Pool Hide), the drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK is at Chew Valley Lake (Avon) (along with the first-winter drake LESSER SCAUP), the very confiding adult drake AMERICAN WIGEON on the Whooper Pond at Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway) and several GREEN-WINGED TEALS including the regular bird at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics). The dapper drake BUFFLEHEAD was still present on The Fleet at Abbotsbury Swannery (Dorset) on 28th.

At Dunnet Bay in uppermost Northern Mainland Scotland, the male LITTLE BUNTING (now in song) continues to visit the feeding station in a birder's garden, whilst nearby a first-year drake KING EIDER was off Castlehill, with two other drakes still consorting with Common Eiders off of the Roseisle Beach car park west of Burghead (Moray)

The adult BONAPARTE'S GULL was still visiting the north end of the River Taff by the Sailing Club Activity Centre in Cardiff Bay (Glamorgan) as recently as yesterday, with the LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER widely ranging Lancashire and the Northwest visiting Marshside Marsh RSPB on 28th, a cracking white morph male GYRFALCON on Rhossili Down, on the Gower Peninsula (West Glamorgan) on 27th, a lingering PURPLE HERON at Dyfftyn Mill (Pembs) until at least 27th, an early BLACK KITE over Unthank Road, Norwich (Norfolk), on 26th (Clive Byers) and a RED-RUMPED SWALLOW at Sennen Cove (Cornwall) on 25th.

Migrant activity has been in full swing with an excellent number of northbound OSPREYS, several EURASIAN HOOPOES including well-watched birds at Portland and Langton Herring (Dorset), many FIRECRESTS and BLACK REDSTARTS, with an exceptionally early singing male COMMON NIGHTINGALE for its second day at Searles Farm Lane GP (Berkshire), the odd early COMMON REDSTART and a number of early SEDGE WARBLERS.

The wintering SHORE LARKS remain in Holkham Bay (North Norfolk) (13-18 birds), with two more migrants at Skateraw (Lothian).

The adult winter PACIFIC DIVER continues to be the greatest attraction in IRELAND, where it continues to show well off Finavarra Point (Co. Galway), with the adult FORSTER'S TERN still lingering on Claddagh Beach, Galway Harbour, and the PIED-BILLED GREBE occasionally showing at Lough Atedaub (Co. Clare). A HOOPOE was west of Ballycotton at Churchtown South on 27th.

WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLES continue to increase and expand their range in Holland

In 2006 White-tailed Sea Eagles started to breed in The Netherlands (in the Oostvaardersplassen near Lelystad). This pair bred successfully at the same location from 2006 to 2009. The same pair is present again this year, whilst other pairs are present at a few other locations too. Mating has been seen in the Lauwersmeer area, and whilst 3 birds are still present in Biesboschand, news was forthcoming today that there is a breeding attempt at Zwartemeer north of Zwolle.

It is likely that the White-tailed Eagle will increase rapidly in The Netherlands during the years to come. A rapid increase was also noticed in Denmark, after the first breeding took place in 1995. This population increased to 22 pairs in 2008. There is a similar situation in the western states of Germany: in Schleswig-Holstein 7 pairs in 1990 increasing to 63 pairs in 2009, in Niedersachsen 0 pairs in 1990 and 22 in 2007. The total population in Germany increased from 127 in 1980 to an almost unbelievable number of 570 pairs in 2007 (information from several sources).

Despite the enormous increase in numbers and the rapidly expanding range there are still plans to reintroduce the White-tailed Sea Eagle into East Anglia! The nearest pairs in The Netherlands are now at a distance of about 230 kilometers (or 150 miles) from the East Anglian coast. This distance is exactly the same as the distance between the nearest pair in Germany and the place where the first pair bred in The Netherlands.

I sincerely hope that the natural range-expansion of the White-tailed Sea Eagle will not be disturbed and spoilt by the unnecessary and irresponsible reintroduction project in East Anglia. Hopefully this project will be cancelled soon. (contributed by Trinus Haitjema of Estonia)

SEMICOLLARED FLYCATCHERS arriving in force in SE Europe

A record influx of SEMICOLLARED FLYCATCHERS is currently being witnessed in SE Europe (Italy, etc), exceptionally early and perhaps a signal that the first wave of Pied Flycatchers expected here (mid April) may well be worth more serious scrutiny

Spring now livening up, with revised total now hitting 275

Recent days have seen a wave of fresh arrivals of trans-Saharan migrants moving north, with the total number of species now recorded in Britain and Ireland as high as 275 species. The 11 new additions are as follows -:

1) LITTLE BITTERN - a male briefly in Easebourne, Sussex;

2) PURPLE HERON - a showy individual in Carmarthenshire all day today;

3) Osprey - over 35 migrant birds in the past 5 days;

4) Stone Curlew - at least 25 birds back in Breckland and a single in Ireland;

5) EURASIAN DOTTEREL - very unusual March occurrence in Scotland on Tiree, Argyll, with European Golden Plovers;

6) PALLID SWIFT - one photographed in South Wales on 21 March;

7) ALPINE SWIFT - bumper influx in recent days involving at least 10 individuals, including one in Ireland;

8) RED-RUMPED SWALLOW - early migrant in West Cornwall;

9) House Martin - at least 15 reported;

10) RUSTIC BUNTING - photographed female in birder's New Forest garden constituting first Hampshire record;

11) WHITE STORK - presumed genuine spring migrant in Ireland

This weeks Irish Rarity Gallery

The PACIFIC DIVER off County Clare last weekend (Dermot Breen), and Lough Atedaun PIED-BILLED GREBE and Galway Harbour FORSTER'S TERN (Matthew Deans)

As Week 10 comes towards a close, the first OSPREY makes 263

The exceptionally confiding drake LESSER SCAUP at Hogganfield Loch (Mike Thrower)

The bird of the moment - drake BUFFLEHEAD on The Fleet (Dorset) (Alan Lewis)

The best Norfolk has to offer at present: ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD, juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL and SHORE LARKS (Adam Hartley)

A total of 263 species has now been recorded in Britain and Ireland this year, with a trickle of incoming spring migrant additions (Northern Wheatear, European Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, White Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Little Ringed Plover and Common Tern), an Atlantic Puffin at Portland Bill, an early Osprey at Hornsea Mere and the Dorset BUFFLEHEAD and Lincolnshire AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER.

The star attraction of the past week has been the beautiful drake BUFFLEHEAD on The Fleet off Langton Herring (Dorset). The bird is associating with Red-breasted Mergansers and after first being seen at West Bexington and Abbotsbury last Sunday, has spent all of its time on The Fleet between Herbury Gore and the end of Lighthouse Road south of Langton Herring. It represents the 10th considered 'genuine vagrant' Bufflehead in Britain since 1950. It is the first record for Dorset.

An adult winter BONAPARTE'S GULL has also been a crowd-puller, returning for a second successive spring to the River Taff in Cardiff (Glamorgan), showing very well opposite the slipway of the Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre in Jim Driscoll Way. Two wintering LESSER SCAUPS are nearby, with an adult drake on the Eastern Lake of Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, south of Penarth, and a female at the south end of Eglwys Nunnydd Reservoir.

In Somerset, a CATTLE EGRET remains in Sharpham Park, with up to 3 GREAT WHITE EGRETS in the Shapwick Heath area, the 3 first-winter GLOSSY IBISES at Ham Wall RSPB, with the drake LESSER SCAUP still on Bodmin Moor at Dozmary Pool (Cornwall) and an adult drake RING-NECKED DUCK on Roadford Reservoir (Devon). A drake LESSER SCAUP visited Chew Valley Lake (Avon) on Sunday and Monday, whilst the juvenile PALLID HARRIER reappeared at Mulfra Hill, Zennor, on 9th (Roy Phillips).

One of last autumn's bumper crop of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS has reappeared at Banks Marsh (Lancs), favouring the pool opposite Old Hollow Farm (view from the seawall)

In North Norfolk, a juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL has been favouring Sheringham seafront throughout most of the past week, often roosting on the beach breakwater groynes, with 50+ Snow Buntings still in Salthouse Beach car park, 40 Twite at Titchwell RSPB and 3 adult Black Brants at Wells Harbour. A lone ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD is still present on Thorpe Marshes, between Haddiscoe and St Olaves

In North Wales, the three drake SURF SCOTERS were located offshore today at Old Colwyn (Conwy) (best viewed from the A55 Rainbow Footbridge at SH 877 786), with the long-staying SHORE LARK nearby between the Point of Ayr and Gronant Beach (Clwyd). In Mid Wales, the juvenile BLACK KITE of unknown origin is still visiting Gigrin Farm Feeding Station, Rhayader (Powys), along with 175 Red Kites, 45+ Common Ravens and 70 Common Buzzards.

A TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE remains with Pink-footed Geese on Cockerham Moss (Lancs), with 2 along Plex Moss Lane (Lancs), with the drake AMERICAN WIGEON again at Martin Mere WWT (from the Ron Barker Hide).

A few BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS linger, including the Finchley (London) first-winter, six in Plover Road, Ipswich (Suffolk), the four opposite the health centre by the Shelton Street/Hockley Road roundabout in Wilnecote, Tamworth (Staffs), four in Panton Street, Cambridge (Cambs) and several small flocks in Scotland.

NORTHERN GREY SHRIKES remain on territory in the Clocaenog Forest, at Dalton Crags (Cumbria), at Waddington Fell (Lancs) (SD 716 459), near Usk Reservoir (Powys), on Teifi Marshes NR (Pembs), near Welbourn (Lincs) and in the New Forest at Burley (Hants) (Burbush Hill car park).

In Scotland, an adult drake AMERICAN WIGEON continues to afford exceptional views on the Whooper Pond at Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway), as does a drake LESSER SCAUP at Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow (Clyde), the 3 SNOW GEESE remain with Pink-footed and Greylag Geese at the NE end of Nigg Bay (Highland), adult RING-BILLED GULL at Dingwall Leisure Centre, an adult BONAPARTE'S GULL at Thurso River Mouth (Caithness) and drake KING EIDER off Roseisle car park (Moray). Meanwhile, the LITTLE BUNTING is still visiting the feeding station in Dunnet (Caithness)

On the Outer Hebrides, the resident male SNOWY OWL was showing well today at Borve, Lewis, sheltering by the pine plantation north of the A857 at NB 426 579.

Migrants today include perhaps 8 Northern Wheatears, a few Little Ringed Plovers, a trickle of Sandwich Terns, the odd Garganey, numerous Black Redstarts and Firecrests, a European Barn Swallow at Wroot (Lincs), Red Kites and the first OSPREY of the year, at Hornsea Mere (East Yorks)

Both Hooded Mergansers of unknown origin remain, with the adult drake at Radipole Lake (Dorset) and a first-winter drake at Saltholme Pools RSPB (Cleveland), whilst a Golden Eagle roams Luccombe Down on the Isle of Wight for a second day.

A drake RING-NECKED DUCK remains at Lough Gara (Co. Sligo), with 1-2 SMALL CANADA GEESE (hutchinsii) with Barnacle Geese at Ballintemple/Raghley (Co. Sligo), a vagrant CANADA GOOSE (parvipes) at Trawbega Bay (Co. Donegal), a female Ruddy Shelduck still at Culleenemore Strand, Sligo Harbour (Co. Sligo) and the drake NORTH AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at Sruhill Lough (Co. Mayo). Up to 3 RING-BILLED GULLS remain in Cork at Cuskinny Marsh, with the adult FORSTER'S TERN at Mutton Island Causeway, Galway Harbour. The Lough Atedaun (Co. Clare) PIED-BILLED GREBE was present until at least Wednesday.

There has been no sign of the Clare PACIFIC DIVER this week despite searching, although up to 86 Black-throated Divers were located offshore, several Red-throated and several hundred Great Northerns.

Spring is in the air - 254 species now recorded in 2010

The total number of species now recorded in Britain and Ireland in 2010 has now risen to 254 species, with the addition of six new species in the past week.

1) PIED-BILLED GREBE: only the 6th for IRELAND and the first twitchable in over ten years, frequenting Lough Gur in County Limerick since 25 February;

2) Sooty Shearwater: off Dungeness, Kent, 27 February;

3) Manx Shearwater, off Dungeness, Kent, 27 February;

4) Little Ringed Plover: two early migrants with singles in Middlesex and Notts;

5) AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: in Lincolnshire;

6) European Turtle Dove: wintering individual in garden in County Cork

Wintering EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE in Ireland

This EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE was discovered in IRELAND in late January and was still to be found this past weekend, frequenting a private garden at Ardralla, Church Cross, Skibbereen (County Cork). It represents the first of the year in Britain and Ireland (per Elaine Draper)

First PIED-BILLED GREBE since 2002

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

The recent COMMON CRANE in Sussex (Les Bird)

A most confiding drake American Wigeon at Caerlaverock (Tristan Reid)

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.

HOOPOE - 251

Considering the continuing winter weather, it was with great surprise to hear of the first EURASIAN HOOPOES this week, with perhaps two individuals arriving - one in West Cornwall (Cape Cornwall on 21st February) and another on Scilly (on St Mary's today)

The adult drake BAIKAL TEAL remains in County Wexford today, along with the long-staying North American Green-winged Teal and GLOSSY IBIS and the LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER discovered at the weekend

Shetland TAIGA BEAN GEESE

Mariko Parslow, who spent many years studying Bean Geese in the Yare Valley and at staging posts along their return route in spring, kindly commented on the possible Middendorffi on Shetland I flagged up a few weeks ago. This is what she said...

Dear Lee

I saw your recent posting hinting that the Shetland Bean Geese might have been Anser fabalis subsp. middendorffii, which I used to study closely in 1980s. In this subspecies, (or may it be a species) the ratio between upper bill length: skull length is 1.15 ~ 1.30: 1.0, whereas in Anser fabalis subsp. fabalis it is 0.95~1.05: 1.0. (say about same length). The bill depth at the base of the bill is about a half of upper bill length in subsp. middendorffii, whereas less than that in subsp. fabalis. This has been published in Japanese Journal of Applied Biology in ca. 1983.

Among the photograph on your web page and those in the Shetland link, none shows such an individual which fits in this criteria of subsp. middendorffii. The photo on your website shows a family of subsp. fabalis, i.e. probable parents plus semi-adults nearly a year old, and other photos in Shetland links show various semi-adults of all subsp. fabalis.

Shetland is not very much out of way, when the Scottish wintering population of subsp. fabalis migrates back to its breeding range in South Sweden.

Yours, Mariko Parslow

GYRFALCON captures IVORY GULL

See Newfoundland blog - http://peregrineprints.com/ind__WhatsNew.htm

Wexford BAIKAL TEAL - a new bird

Killian Mullarney, the finder of this week's Tacumshin Baikal Teal, has kindly summarised a remarkable series of events at Tacumshin this year. It appears that a drake hybrid Baikal Teal has metamorphised into a pure drake Baikal Teal !

This incredible and almost unbelievable chain of events is equally mirrored by the fact that both the hybrid Baikal Teal from the Midlands and the yellow-ringed drake Falcated Duck from Northamptonshire have both ended up wintering in this area.

Hi Lee

While I can understand your assumption that the Baikal Teal I found at Tacumshin today was a 'reappearance' of the bird claimed there last month, there are strong grounds for concluding that last month's claim was based on a misidentification of a Baikal Teal-like hybrid, which I relocated at Tacumshin last weekend, and photographs of which are at:

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/20551/Clarification_Required.html

The original observation, on 5th January, was identified retrospectively, the observer having assumed at the time that he was looking at the (ringed) adult male Falcated Duck, that had been present earlier in the winter (but which had actually been shot on the North Slob several weeks previously). The observer had very good, close-range views of the bird, and went to the trouble of taking field notes, even though he was mainly concentrating on counting wildfowl at the time. He registered a strong head pattern and a narrow white vertical stripe at the stern. However, he did not notice any white bar on the side of the breast, long, pennant scapulars or any sort of supercilium. When he saw my video-grabs of the hybrid I saw last weekend, he agreed that it looked like the same bird. Today, he came to see the Baikal Teal. He has written to me this evening to let me know that even though he is not 100% certain what he saw on 5th January, he is inclined to think it was the hybrid, not the actual Baikal.

Had I not seen the hybrid with my own eyes last weekend I'd have found it hard to believe there wasn't just one bird, but sometimes strange coincidences happen! Incidentally, it seems very likely that the hybrid is the same individual photographed at Stanwick Lakes in October 2009:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8209127@N04/3984332115/in/pool-hybridbirds/

It is tempting to speculate that this bird is a hybrid Baikal Teal x ?. I'll be trying to relocate the hybrid at Tacumshin in the coming days.

Incidentally, we had good looks at the Baikal's legs on three or four occasions when it walked out onto the mud. It is unringed.

All the best,

Killian

Recent Gallery

County Galway has celebrated the wintering presence of this adult FORSTER'S TERN and adult RING-BILLED GULL for many years (Sean Nixon)

Glyn Sellors captured this beautiful WAXWING on film as it fed on berries in Boston (Lincs) - one of over 60 birds seen this week in Britain

Suffolk's star performer of the winter months - a gorgeous BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Levington Marina - whilst WAXWINGS continue to invade (Lee Woods)

A return to form for SHORE LARK - these two at East Tilbury (Essex) recently (Pete Merchant)

The female PENDULINE TIT at Groive Ferry NNR (Kent) (Marc Heath)

The drake AMERICAN WIGEON on the Whooper Pond at Caerlaverock WWT (Chris Baines)

Drake BAIKAL TEAL in Ireland

In SE IRELAND in County Wexford, the drake BAIKAL TEAL has reappeared, showing well for much of the day in 'Forgotten Corner' at Tacumshin. Nearby, the first-winter GLOSSY IBIS is still present, showing between Forgotten Corner and the East End.

In County Galway, the adult winter FORSTER'S TERN and up to 5 Sandwich Terns remain in Galway Bay, adjacent to the Mutton Island causeway, with 1-2 adult RING-BILLED GULLS at Nimmo's Pier slipway.

Much farther north, in County Donegal, the adult drake DRESSER'S or NORTH AMERICAN EIDER remains with 314 Common Eiders in Glassagh Bay, just SW of Fanad Head.

The best that Britain has to offer this weekend in terms of fresh content is the London/Essex DUSKY WARBLER and a LITTLE BUNTING in Cornwall.

The DUSKY WARBLER is frequenting the scant vegetation at the eastern flank of the Relief Channel to the NE of Lockwood Reservoir as well as the dense scrub at the south end of Tottenham Marshes Common and is best accessed from Ferry Lane in Walthamstow. A permit must be obtained from the Fishermen's Lodge on the south side of the A503 (£1.00 charge) and from opposite the Ferry Boat Inn, cross the road and walk north on the east side of the reservoir to the gate in the NE corner at RQ 356 907 - a 25 minute walk each way.

A LITTLE BUNTING, discovered yesterday, is present in setaside opposite Sconner Farm, off of the A374, east of Polbathic on the River Lynher valley.

And now for a summary of the rest of the news........

At least 5 CATTLE EGRETS remain in Cornwall, with 3 near Truro on the Tresilian River, 1-2 at Brew Farm, near Sennen (SW 371 251) and another on the Camel Estuary at Wadebridge, whilst GREAT WHITE EGRETS continue to be found at Cardiff (Glamorgan) (today at Newport Wetlands NNR, Gwent), on the Harbridge Water Meadows, Ibsley (Hants), at Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset), on Worth Marshes, Sandwich Bay (East Kent) and at Pitsford Reservoir (Northants).

Three SNOW GEESE are wintering with Pink-footed Geese and Icelandic Greylag Geese in the Cromarty Firth, with the regular adult with Greylag Geese in Argyll and the four adult Lesser Snows with Greylag at Leighton Moss RSPB (Lancs). A further wintering adult Greater Snow is with Pink-footed Geese in the Choseley and Holkham areas of North Norfolk.

Hard packed snow and ice in Scandinavia is forcing many early returning TAIGA BEAN GEESE to make new arrangements, with at least 7 staging in Shetland and 22 in Yorkshire, in fields between Byland and Coxwold. A large number (93+) also remains in the Yare Valley (Norfolk), with 63 still at Slammannan (Forth). TUNDRA BEAN GEESE are also well represented, with several small groups on Shetland, and parties of 19 at Trimley Marshes SWT (Suffolk) and 9 at Keyhaven Marshes along Iley Lane (Hants). The only SMALL CANADA GEESE outside Ireland this winter are 1-2 on Islay (Argyll), with Barnacle Geese in the Loch Gruinart area, with 15 BLACK BRANTS to choose from and the adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE of unknown origin still on the Exe Estuary at Dawlish Warren (South Devon).

The adult drake NORTH AMERICAN BLACK DUCK reappeared this week on Bodmin Moor (Cornwall), showing well with Mallard at the north end on the Loveney Reserve, whilst the drake AMERICAN WIGEON at Caerlaverock WWT has been giving a fine performance on the Whooper Pond (see the excellent images above). A number of drake NORTH AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEALS continue, with performers at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) and Budds Farm Sewage Treatment Works (Hants), with the drake LESSER SCAUP at Colliford Lake (Cornwall) and the first-winter female at Eglwys Nunnydd Reservoir (Glamorgan) and RING-NECKED DUCKS at Loch Evelix (Highland), Pugney's CP (West Yorks), Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park (Cleveland), Whitlingham Country Park Great Broad (Norfolk) and Llyn Pencarreg.. Bob Proctor recorded two KING EIDERS in Burghead Bay (Moray) on 18 February, both sub-adults, with SURF SCOTERS including two drakes still in the Sound of Taransay (Harris), two drakes in Largo Bay (Fife), 1-2 drakes in North Wales off Pensarn (Clwyd) and the long-staying adult female off Dawlish Warren (South Devon).

The juvenile BLACK KITE of unknown origin continues to feed with Red Kites at the Gigrin Farm centre, Rhayader (Powys), with 3 wintering juvenile ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDS still taking advantage of the bumper surplus of Field Voles on the Suffolk/Norfolk border at Thorpe and Gedgrave Marshes. Sadly, the first-winter male GYRFALCON on Islay (Argyll) died of starvation.

A vagrant adult COMMON CRANE favoured sheep fields in the Lewes Brooks area, commuting between either side of the Ouse river SE of Southease, accessed from the A26 (East Sussex), whilst first-winter LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS remain at Burton Marsh (Cheshire) (since 14 February) and at Maer Lake, Bude Marshes (Cornwall).

White-winged gulls remained remarkably scarce, particularly Iceland Gulls, whilst the adult male SNOWY OWL reappeared on Lewis (Outer Hebrides) on 17 February.

Up to 18 SHORE LARKS remain in Holkham Bay (North Norfolk), with 2 more at Snettisham RSPB (Norfolk), with up to 60 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in the belated influx and larger numbers of BLACK REDSTARTS in winter than usual. The first-winter female BLACK-THROATED THRUSH continues to make frequent visits to the front gardens in Mires Road in Newholm village, just west of Whitby (North Yorks), with a EURASIAN PENDULINE TIT briefly at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London) on 15 February, two days after the ringed female was last reported at Grove Ferry NNR (Kent).

No less than 16 NORTHERN GREY SHRIKES remain on winter territory, including four in Wales, with the first-winter ROSE-COLOURED STARLING still in Kendal (Cumbria) and the wintering LITTLE BUNTING in the private garden in Dunnet (Caithness).

MIDDENDORFF'S-TYPE BEAN GEESE on Shetland

On Saturday 13 February, Juan Brown obtained an excellent selection of shots of a party of 7 'Bean Geese' that were present at Sandwick, in South Shetland - see http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/latestbirds.htm

At least two of the flock showed characteristics commonly associated with MIDDENDORFF'S BEAN GOOSE (Anser fabalis middendorfi), being proportionately larger and heavier, with a much longer, deeper-based bill and a longer neck, and restricted orange. New research into the Bean Geese has found in isotope analysis that middendorfi is actually the most divergent clade of the group and probably best treated as a separate species.

With much of Scandinavia and Western Russia still covered in up to three feet of hard, lying snow and ice, recent migrational movements by many hundreds of wintering TAIGA BEAN GEESE in the south has been disrupted and consequently many have been forced further west to Britain, hence these flocks on Shetland and others in East and North Yorkshire.

This Shetland flock of 7 certainly contains TAIGA BEAN GEESE-types and I suspect that all 7 are of just one species. Perhaps the variation of Taiga Bean Geese is still poorly understood.

MIDDENDORFF'S BEAN GOOSE breeds in the taiga of eastern Siberia, mainly east and north of Lake Baikal, from the Khatanga to the Kolyma regions, and extending to the Pacific coast of Russia as well as to the Altai and northern Mongolia. These birds winter primarily in eastern China and Japan, as well as in South Korea. The population of this form is in steep decline, with perhaps no more than 10,000 birds surviving (Lee Evans).

........And yet another GARGANEY

In addition to the birds in Britain, and the male near Ennis, there was a drake GARGANEY at Carrigrennan, near Little Island, in Cork Harbour on 7th Feb, seen by Brian Lynch. This bird has been seen for 3-4 years running now, always around February, and, while it is possible that it may not be wild, it is unringed, fully winged, isn't especially tame and none are held, as far as I know, at Fota Wildlife Park (Harry Hussey)

GARGANEY 'reinstated'

Following my announcement relating to the Dorset drake GARGANEY (now considered to be most likely of captive origin), M.Chase, John McLoughlin, Ross Ahmed and Rare Bird Alert have very kindly provided details of a drake at Brandesburton GP (East Yorks) on 17-19 January 2010 and on Hornsea Mere (East Yorks) on 7 February 2010 and a further drake in Staffordshire at Branston GP on 31 January 2010 - so the total of species for the year has finally reached 250. Richard Bonser further commented ''There is also a drake Garganey at Ballyallia Lake, Ennis, County Clare from 8th until at least 15th February''

First DUSKY WARBLER of 2010 and first for London

Local patchworker Lol Boldini located a DUSKY WARBLER in allotments opposite Lockwood Reservoir (London) on Sunday and the bird was still present and showing intermittently all afternoon today. This is the first Dusky Warbler ever recorded in the London Area and was excellently photographed by Roy Woodward this evening (see above). It is favouring the scrub on the east side of the Flood Relief Channel at Tottenham Marsh.

It replaces Garganey as the 249th species of 2010, the former having to be deleted as the recent drake in Dorset is now widely regarded as being a long-term escape from a nearby collection.

Winter Quail report

A 'Quail' has been present at Portland Bill (Dorset) since early January 2010 (John Lucas et al) and after a concerted effort this past week, was relocated and photographed in flight (Martin Cade).

In light of recent events on the Isle of Portland, in terms of released game species including Grey Partridge and Common Pheasant, the possibility that Common (or the difficult-to-distinguish Japanese Quail) have been released cannot be ruled out and for that reason, the record cannot be accepted as such.

When investigated, the vast majority of 'winter' Quail records have proved to be unacceptable in Britain, with Japanese Quail very commonly kept in captivity and often released into the wild

For further information, click http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm

This unseasonal drake GARGANEY was present on the River Stour at Shapwick (Dorset) on 10 February and photographed by Peter Coe.

With the finding of a drake GARGANEY in Dorset during the week, and confirmation of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, with a bird for a second day at Maer Lake, Bude Marshes, in North Cornwall, the total number of species recorded in Britain and Ireland this year is just nudging 250 at 249.