Additional HOUSE FINCH record

In addition to the Fair Isle record of 27-30 April 1966 that I previously listed, there has been an earlier record on the island of a yellow variant trapped on 25 May 1962 (Mike Pennington et al, The Birds of Shetland, page 533)

Adrian Webb very kindly provided this excellent selection of images of the current Land's End male.

PRATINCOLE time all over again

The gorgeous singing male WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT at Welney WWT (Gary Thoburn)

The confiding EURASIAN HOOPOE at Clayhanger Marsh (West Midlands), fabulously captured on film as it probed for food (Dave Hutton)

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Sunday 9 May, issued at 2200 hours, and published in close association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers whilst urilising additional information gleaned from Regional Birdlines, BirdGuides and individual websites and email groups.

The undoubted find of the day was that of yet another (or the same) ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE in Britain, repeating last year's performance in West Sussex and East Kent. The bird was discovered on the North Scrape of Frampton Marsh RSPB mid-afternoon (Lincs) and remained until dusk, affording excellent views from the reserve's East Hide.

In West Cornwall, an American HOUSE FINCH of unknown origin continues to sing in Swingates garden on the Land's End peninsula. It is of the orange-yellow variant, suggesting perhaps a first-summer and suggesting either an escapee or an individual which has acquired new feathers on this side of the Atlantic. The species is abundant in captivity in Britain and Europe and offered for sale for as little as £20 per pair, with a bird in this plumage most likely of captive origin. It commutes between the Land's End complex car park, the property on the north side of the road and the bird feeders in Swingates garden, and represents the second record for Britain following a female-type on Fair Isle from 27-30 April 1966. Please park in the complex car park (£4.00 per car) and walk back to view. There is absolutely no access to the garden unless specifically invited.

In the same vicinity, a PURPLE HERON was present briefly on Brew Pool, Sennen, before flying off SE, whilst the eighth local WOODCHAT SHRIKE of the spring involved a bird east of Skewjack Farm north of the B 3315 and a EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE discovered Swingates garden to its liking. A further WOODCHAT SHRIKE was on Scilly, near Pelistry Farm, St Mary's.

In the aftermath of the RED-RUMPED SWALLOW influx of last weekend, the long-staying bird is still at Meadowgate Lake, Rother Valley Country Park (South Yorks) whilst two very confiding birds remain for a second day by the dam at Arlington Reservoir (East Sussex).

An ORTOLAN BUNTING showed briefly this morning at Walney Island Bird Observatory Garden (Cumbria), following hard on the heels of the year's first at Portland Bill (Dorset) in recent days, whilst in South Wales, an adult ROSE-COLOURED STARLING lingered for at least its third day by the playing field at Flynnon-Wen at St David's (Pembrokeshire). A reeling male SAVI'S WARBLER near Leighton Moss RSPB (Lancs) is only the fourth of this species to be recorded this spring.

At Welney Refuge (Norfolk), the wide-ranging GREAT WHITE EGRET was present this morning whilst the long-staying male WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT remains on territory in the vicinity of the Lyle Hide, 450 yards north of the main information centre. Meanwhile, in North Norfolk, a COMMON CRANE has been present for the past week on Holkham Freshmarsh. The female MONTAGU'S HARRIER bearing the French wing-tags continues to cause havoc on the scrape at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk), taking concerning numbers of wader chicks on its frequent visits.

With the wind remaining in the Northeast, the first-summer male WOODCHAT SHRIKE extends its residency in Winterton South Dunes (Norfolk), showing extremely well on the isolated Birches and gorse scrub 350 yards south of the beach car park, whilst in the Midlands, a very confiding EURASIAN HOOPOE continues to delight a constant stream of admirers at Clayhanger Marsh (West Midlands) (see photographs above).

In the north of Scotland on the Shetland Islands, 3 DOTTEREL are at Mid Field on Ronas Hill, with a Garganey and Ruff on the Loch of Hillwell and two COMMON CRANES in the Baltasound area of Unst at Belmont, whilst further south, a BLACK STORK drifted across the Farr junction in the Findhorn Valley (Speyside) yesterday afternoon.

It has been a surprisingly slow start for the annual TEMMINCK'S STINT passage with just three birds on offer today - all together on the North Scrape on Cley Marshes NWT (North Norfolk). However, WOOD SANDPIPERS have been in reasonable supply, with 4 on the flooded paddocks at Cross Ness (London), 3 at Pulfin and High Eske NR near Beverley (East Yorks), 2 on the Spoonbill Flash at Fairburn Ings (West Yorks), 2 at Summer Leys NR (Northants) and others at Bothal Pond (Northumberland), North Cave Wetlands (East Yorks), Standlake Common NR (Oxon) and Wanslip Meadows (Leics). DOTTEREL today included four in a ploughed field near the Loch of Tankerness (Orkney Mainland) near Mill Sand (at HY 513 084), two on Pendle Hill (Lancs), three still on the SW slope of Brown Wardle Hill, Wintergrove Reservoir (Greater Manchester), four still showing well in the pea field at North Cotes (North Lincs) (at TA 363 014), two briefly on the limestone pavement at the Great Orme (Conwy) and a female on Blackcraig Hill (Ayrshire) and another five that flew west over Frampton Marsh (Lincs) early morning. The PECTORAL SANDPIPER was again at Top Tank on Saltholme Pools RSPB (Cleveland) this morning.

A summer-plumaged WHISKERED TERN visited Dungeness RSPB Reserve (Kent) yesterday whilst at the opposite end of the country, the very bright male IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF continues to hold territory at Walderslade Woods, 250 yards in from Chestnut Avenue. In what has actually been an excellent spring for this Mediterranean species, another singing male was present in Norfolk Breckland for several days recently.

An apparent pair of NORTH AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEALS arrived at Dynevor Pools (at SN 608 222) in Llandeilo (Carmarthenshire) today, with the pair of COMMON CRANES still dancing on the Pevensey Levels viewed from Herstmonceux Churchyard (East Sussex).

The first wave of EUROPEAN NIGHTJARS are now returning to Britain to breed, with a bird performing this evening in Regent's Park (Central London), but GOLDEN ORIOLES and EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARDS still remain very much in the minority. A pair of nesting PURPLE HERONS could represent one of the few breeding attempts if successful.

In IRELAND, the regular returning adult FORSTER'S TERN reappeared at the east end of Tacumshin Pools (County Wexford), with the PACIFIC DIVER again off the Martello tower at Finavarra Point (County Clare). Meanwhile, a drake Ring-necked Duck remains at Inch Island Lake (County Donegal), the long-staying GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK is still on Ballycotton Beach (County Cork), whilst a EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE made landfall on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork).

HOUSE FINCHES in captivity in Europe

Richard Bonser kindly emailed me the following email he received from Morten relating to House Finches in captivity in Continental Europe..........

My brother Jacob and I have been in the "cage bird business" for more than 20 years and have a reasonable knowledge about bird occurences in European bird shows. The American or Mexican House Finch is very common at the moment with probably thousands of bird in captivity in Europe. We both recently visited the colossal cagebird marked in Zwolle (The Netherlands) and House Finch was pretty commonly offered for sale or advertised there.

House Finch has, like the other carpodacus species, difficulties with keeping the red colour in captivity and therefore at least 90% are actually yellow variants. Jacob and I have both kept Pallas's Rosefinch, Common Rosefinch and 'Mexican' House Finch and if you don't feed them on a certain diet, they will lose the red colour and turn yellow or orange-yellow (Morten)

American HOUSE FINCH present for a sixth day

This orange-yellow variant HOUSE FINCH, superbly photographed by Steve Rogers, remains present today, still frequenting the Land#s End car park and Swingates area.

There are two theories on how House Finches get this particular plumage, one suggesting that in the West Coast of America, it is a colour morph. It seems far more plausible however that it is diet-related, as has been frequently proven by finch breeders in the UK. If House Finches do not get the correct nutrients in their diet at the critical time of moult, the replaced feathers newly acquired are yellow or orange-yellow rather than purple-based.

After much consultation, both with UK advisors and of those commentators in North America, the current feeling of the UK400 Club/BBA is that this Cornish male is more likely to be an escape than a natural or ship-assisted vagrant. Investigations are still ongoing of course and a further announcement will be made when a thorough review is made of all of the factors influencing this sighting.

Alex Lees has very kindly provided a wealth of additional information on House Finches and has pointed out that there are actually three records in The Netherlands rather than one as I stated previously.

HOUSE FINCH of unknown origin in West Cornwall

A singing male HOUSE FINCH (Carpodacus mexicanus) of the orange morph (frontalis) has been present on the Land's End peninsula (West Cornwall) since at least Tuesday 4 May. It is largely frequenting the private 'Swingates' garden just before the main Land's End complex and is generally very elusive and showing only from inside the grounds of the garden. It is good feather condition but is of unknown origin and provenance.

It represents only the second record of this North American passerine in Britain, following a female on Fair Isle (Shetland) from 27-30 April 1966 (Dymond 1991, The Birds of Fair Isle).

The UK400 Club accepted the Fair Isle occurrence on to Category E, believing it to be more likely of captive origin rather than a genuine vagrant. Although importation of birds from Mexico and elsewhere was rife in the 1960's, even now House Finches are commonly advertised for sale and kept fairly abundantly in captivity.

House Finches are predominantly sedentary but breed from Texas, through the western states, to British Columbia. In 1940, the species was introduced to New York from California (Aldrich & Weske 1978,
Origin and evolution of the eastern House Finch population. The Auk 95: 528-536) from where the species spread to many eastern areas from Arkansas to the Great Lakes. They winter within the breeding range as well as south to Mississippi and Alabama (Veit & Petersen 1993, Birds of Massachusetts) with ringing records in Massachusetts yielding movements to Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey. A further ringing programme in South Carolina saw movements to or from the more northerly regions, the maximum of which being 816 kilometres.

Aldrich & Weske noted that only 4% of their ringed birds moved as much as 200 kms but a much more recent study (that by Belthoff & Gauthreaux) found that female House Finches tended to migrate further than males (Proctor & Fisher 1999, Identification of House and Purple Finch and their separation from Common Rosefinch (Birding Scotland 2: 52-60).

There is also an additional House Finch record from The Netherlands - at Ijmuiden in January-February 1979 (Osieck in Birding World 1: 76-78)

CORNWALL is having an excellent spring

See Steve Roger's excellent Cornish blog here http://www.swopticsphoto.com/

He has detailed just two of the recent ornithological events to be staged in Cornwall, that of the first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW for the county and that of a vagrant sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE on The Lizard

EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE numbers holding up in the Home Counties despite the continued carnage in Malta - just when is this country going to be outlawed

It is very heartening to see these very same EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVES return to their breeding grounds year after year, even if the total population in the county numbers just above 10 pairs. They have been at this very low ebb now for at least ten years but are still remaining stable with little or no drop-off (bar the Totternhoe pair that have now gone). The same has gone for our tenuous population in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire and it gives me some encouragement that we could reverse the fortunes of this beautiful bird if we could stop the continual carnage of this species in Malta, Kuwait and parts of southern Spain and France. I am appalled that even in 2010, up to 2,500 Maltese hunters are still targeting this species and going all out to shoot every one that accidentally strays into their sights - why does the EU not just kick them out for blatantly flouting laws regarding the International protection of birds.

On a recent tour of southern Morocco, I made it clear to local residents how lucky and important it was that one particular area was attractive to large numbers of this summer migrant and was very pleased that the ecologists and conservationists there realised their plight. This one particular area is winter home to at least 400 Turtle Doves and they thrive on the uncultivated farmland there. I pray that it continues to do so, as the Turtle Dove is undoubtedly one of the most bird species to be cherished and needs all of the help it can get.

.......and makes landfall in The Netherlands only hours later

See http://www.lauwersmeer.com/php/fotokl.php?soort=vogel&vogelnr=261&taal=nl&land=all
This summer-plumaged PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER made landfall on the Lauwersmeer on 2 May, the same day that one had pitched down briefly at two sites in London. It certainly seems to be the same bird, making a remarkable coincidence of events......

Dutch Birding confirmed that their bird on timings alone could NOT be the London bird, being discovered just 56 minutes after the Barnes bird had flown west at 1037; furthermore, there does seem to be distinct differences in plumage. A remarkable coincidence of events, proving just how one can never be sure of anything with vagrancy

Apparent PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER pitches down briefly in London

This apparent PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER in full breeding plumage flew over Beddington Sewage Farm (Surrey) at 0830 hours (Johnny Allan, Peter Alfrey, et al) on Sunday morning and was then relocated by Wendy at Barnes WWT Wetland Centre less than an hour later, where it resided on a shingle island for just over an hour before being flushed by territorial Lapwings at 1037 and flew high west. As you can see from Andrew Moon's images above, an interesting individual with unusually excessive black on the lower underparts and flanks, but its long tibia, toe extension beyond the tail and relatively short primary extension beyond the exposed tertials, certainly implicate fulva, and most convincingly the fact that it is in such spanking and advanced breeding plumage (dominica AGP develops such summer attire several weeks later than its close counterpart, generally acquiring such feathering in the last week of May) (Lee G R Evans)

British Petroleum pledges 16 million dollars towards unprecedented oil spill clean up

BP has today pledged 16 billion dollars in an attempt to clean up what will inevitably turn out to be the worst oil spill and ecological disaster ever known. An Oil slick 160 miles long is now covering a massive part of the Gulf of Mexico and is threatening the lives of over 8 million nesting seabirds and shorebirds, as well as endangered alligators, dolphins and large turtles. With the oil now washing ashore in Louisiana, 14 turtles have already been picked up either dead or starving and President Obama has warned the American public that this is likely to be the worst environmental disaster in the region and of unprecedented proportions.

BP say it could take up to 90 days to build another well to take off the pressure on the leaking valve, caused after an explosion sank the working well just over a week ago. Oil will continue to seep into the ocean until the three massive holes are repaired.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in Cornwall and an influx of RED-RUMPED SWALLOWS

RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Marc Heath) and the Cornish BLACK-HEADED WAGTAIL and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Brian Field)

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Sunday 2 May 2010, issued at 2100 hours and published in association with RARE BIRD ALERT PAGERS whilst utilising additional information yielded from the Regional Birdlines, Birdguides and an array of websites and blogsites.

A charming singing male WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was located in a birder's garden at Boscastle (Cornwall) yesterday morning and remained present all day today, delighting over 100 observers sighting their first ever in the county. The bird is frequenting the grounds of Welltown Manor, where the owner has very kindly agreed to allow access, provided a donation is made to the Cornwall Bird & Preservation Society. A field has been made available just off of the B 3263 at SX 093 905 and from here walk along the road to the public footpath on the right, with the sparrow in the garden on the left. Please ensure to respect the privacy of residents and do not obstruct any access or footpaths.

Apart from the Nearctic sparrow above, it has been RED-RUMPED SWALLOWS that have made all of the headlines today with an incredible 8 birds located amongst the many hundreds of thousands of hirundines grounded by today's Arctic winds and torrential rain. Suffolk attracted four birds at just one site - the Loompit Lake at Levington Marina - whilst further singles were discovered at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring (Herts) (present from just 0600-0900 hours only), a bird for its second day at Gunwade Lake, Ferry Meadows Country Park (Cambs), one briefly over the Aveley Lagoons at Rainham Marshes RSPB (Essex) mid-afternoon and another at Brading Marshes RSPB (Isle of Wight).

In Kent, the very bright singing male IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF remains in Walderslade Woods (North Kent), showing very well as it displays in its small territory of wood between tow male colybitta Common Chiffchaffs. Half way along Chestnut Avenue in Walderslade, just north of the M2, park by the entrance to the woodlands and as you appear from the opposite side of the small plantation after 200 yards, the bird is moving between the edge of the wood and some smaller trees adjacent.

EURASIAN HOOPOES are also in vogue with one showing well yesterday in Kent just north of the M20 at Lenham Heath sheep fields and one still today in the West Midlands at Clayhanger Marsh in the field opposite the sewage works just west of Ford Brook. One still remains well to the north on Fair Isle as well. The long-staying male (WHITE-SPOTTED) BLUETHROAT was still singing by the Lyle Hide at Welney WWT (Norfolk) this morning (access £6.80 to non-members) whilst the first-summer male WOODCHAT SHRIKE continues for a fourth day at Winterton South Dunes (Norfolk), favouring the gorse bushes in the central valley 650 yards south of the car park, and the female is still at Bass Point (Cornwall). There was no news today on the first-summer male BLACK-HEADED WAGTAIL present for several days on the Trinity Pool at Sennen (West Cornwall).

In London, a breeding-plumaged Pluvialis plover, either PACIFIC or AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, staged at Beddington Sewage Farm until 0830 and then at Barnes Wetlands WWT from 0900, before being flushed off by territorial Lapwings at 1037. It had been showing well on the long shingle island visible from the Peter Scott hide.

An elusive BLACK STORK, present in the West Country for over a week, was seen again this morning, NE of Shaugh Priory by the Cadover Bridge at SX 555 646 (South Devon).

Two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS remained for a second day at North Cave Wetlands (East Yorks), favouring the SE corner of the island as viewed from the reserve's Turret Hide, whilst DOTTERELS today as we approach the peak of their spring migration through Britain included a pair on the Long Mynd (Salop) by the entrance gate to the Midland Gliding Club, a trip of 8 over Annesley Pit Top (Notts), two on the Cefn Cadlan, Llwyn-on Reservoir (Glamorgan) and two at Abbeystead (Lancs). A migrant STONE CURLEW visited Holy Island (Northumberland) today (in the cereal field at Chare Ends), whilst WOOD SANDPIPER numbers have slackened off with the change to NE winds although singles were noted at Lamesley Water Meadows (Co. Durham), Marshside RSPB (Lancs), Manby Flashes (Lincs), Nosterfield Pits (North Yorks), Old Moor RSPB (South Yorks) and Walmsley Sanctuary (Cornwall) today and a flock of 6 on Rush Hills Scrape at Hickling Broad (Norfolk) and party of 4 at Tealham Moor (Somerset). The first few TEMMINCK'S STINTS of May are arriving, with 3 together at Swaffham Prior Fen (Cambs) and further singles at Cley NWT (Norfolk) (on 1st) and Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk).

Two COMMON CRANES arrived at Otmoor RSPB (Oxfordshire) this morning and showed well throughout much of the day whilst the two beautiful adult summer PURPLE HERONS continue to display and gather nest material on the Denge Marsh at Dungeness RSPB (Kent), with another adult nearby at New Downs Scrape, Sandwich Bay. A GREAT WHITE EGRET was present at Berry Fen (Cambs) today, along with the long-stayer at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire), with another COMMON CRANE in fields east of Lady Anne's Drive, Holkham (Norfolk)

An adult drake BLUE-WINGED TEAL, perhaps the Cleveland bird, was discovered at Pepper Arden Bottoms (North Yorks) this morning.

In Northern Scotland, 1-2 adult WHITE-BILLED DIVERS remain off Burghead Maltings (Moray) and the usual adult off Kirkabister in South Nesting Bay (Shetland), with a lingering adult SNOW GOOSE with Pink-footed Geese at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) and a SNOWY OWL on Unst (Shetland) at Baltasound. A drake BLUE-WINGED TEAL was a nice find on Mull (Argyll) (at Loch na Keal) whilst the drake KING EIDER was seen again on the Aberdeenshire coast, again at Old Slains.

The two early ROSEATE TERNS at Dawlish Warren (South Devon) were still present today, with a pale morph ARCTIC SKUA briefly inland at King George V Reservoir (London) late morning.

The Home Counties have had a good day passage-wise with huge numbers of ARCTIC TERNS displaced, several BLACK TERNS, a few LITTLE TERNS and the odd SANDWICH TERN, along with OSPREYS and MARSH HARRIERS

The bad weather conditions displaced many northbound-migrating waders inland, particularly Whimbrels, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone, Red Knot and Dunlin, along with a few Pied Avocets (two at Audenshaw Reservoirs, Greater Manchester)

Large numbers of WHINCHATS are now passing through, along with the main push of GREENLAND WHEATEARS, whilst several late RING OUZELS are still to be found. The first SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS are now arriving

In IRELAND, a GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK remains present on the beach in front of the car park at Ballynamona (Co. Cork) whilst a HORNEMANN'S ARCTIC REDPOLL appeared again very briefly close to the pier on Dursey Island (Co. Cork). An elusive male presumed WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER was present at Knockadoon Head (Co. Cork) and a WOODCHAT SHRIKE on Dursey Island.

A PACIIFIC DIVER was offshore at Finvarra Point (Co. Clare) this afternoon

The male DOTTEREL remains on the summit of the Djouce Mountain (Co. Wicklow), whilst two EURASIAN SPOONBILLS were roosting on the saltmarsh at Timoleague (Co. Cork) this afternoon.

With a wave of earlier summer migrants than normal, total for year now reaches 320 species

The total number of species recorded in combined Britain and Ireland this year has now reached 320 species, with the addition of the following 18 since my last update in mid April -:

1) BLACK STORK (single vagrants in South Devon and Somerset);

2) Eurasian Honey Buzzard (3+ - slightly earlier than usual);

3) RED-FOOTED FALCON (male in Rutland on 27 April, early individual);

4) Common Quail (2 early calling birds);

5) Spotted Crake (5+, including a twitchable bird at Slimbridge);

6) Corncrake (1 in North Wales);

7) Pectoral Sandpiper (first spring migrant in Suffolk on 27 April);

8) Wood Sandpiper (23 birds, much earlier than normal);

9) Roseate Tern (5+, including some very early migrants at Dawlish Warren);

10) Black Tern (large arrival);

11) WHISKERED TERN (long-staying twitchable bird in Cornwall);

12) Common Swift (widespread arrival, in much larger numbers earlier than normal);

13) EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (7+, including two on Mull);

14) BLACK-HEADED WAGTAIL (twitchable male in Northumberland);

15) SAVI'S WARBLER (reeling male at Marazion Marsh, Cornwall, for several days);

16) WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER (5+ including a twitchable male in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset);

17) Golden Oriole (early migrants)

2010 total crashes through 300 barrier

The total of confirmed species now recorded in Britain and Ireland in 2010 has now reached 302 halfway through Week 15. The new additions include -:

1) Eurasian Hobby (an excellent crop of very early migrants);

2) Little Tern (an extremely early bird in East Sussex);

3) WRYNECK (2 migrants neither twitchable);

4) Whinchat (odd early arrival);

5) Garden Warbler (20+ reported, again very early);

6) Wood Warbler (singing male in Norfolk - again very early).

CANVASBACKS: a gallery of North American individuals, with comments from an observer very familiar with the species

Lee,

I spend much of every fall and early winter going over photos of hummingbirds, hoping to find a vagrant among them, which I can then drive out to band. I say this just to comment that ID by photo is something that is considerably different from ID in the field. Much can be hidden, or misrepresented in photos. In the photos of the apparent Canvasback, I see a narrow sliver at the base of the bill which appears only to be on the bird's left side, but not even in every photo. So, the photos do not assure me that this is a real marking, rather than just some stray reflection or other photographic effect. Shouldn't it appear in every photo of the bird's left side?

In any case, here along the Detroit River, we get a chance to view 5-10% of the world population of Canvasbacks every fall and winter (my all-time peak count has been 28,000). I confess I don't look at them all, but do look at them a lot. I have never seen anything except a completely black bill on Canvasbacks here. I have not seen a marking such as is apparent in only one of the British photos. I don't know if this helps any, but this is my perspective from someone who sees so many Canvasbacks each year that they're often ignored in pursuit of other species.

Here is a small sample of photos, from my website: http://www.amazilia.net/images/Birds/Waterfowl/Canvasback.htm. Note that a couple photos of females show a very narrow pale crescent of feathering at the base of the bill, which may or may not be analagous to what you're seeing on males...

Allen T. Chartier
amazilia1@comcast.net
Inkster, Michigan, USA

CANVASBACKS with pale on the bill

An adult drake CANVASBACK photographed in Maryland, USA, showing some paleness on the upper bill (Curtis Brant)

See putative CANVASBACK images here:

http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery9&start=37

For the second year running, this drake CANVASBACK has returned to Suffolk, in East Anglia (Britain). In every sense of the word, this is a typical drake Canvasback but my main reservation is the amount of pale bluish-white half-mooning on the upper surface of the upper mandible. I have always considered this feature to be associated with in-breeding and therefore suggesting that the bird is an escape; obviously in its ancestry, there are Northern Pochard genes.

However, I am keen to hear from birders in North America with experience of wild Canvasbacks. Do you see wild birds with this same feature and if so, what proportion of birds have this feature

Of the 5 or so Canvasbacks I have seen in Europe, four of them have shown some paling on the upper bill, suggesting this may well be a frequent feature. However, on the other hand, it could suggest that the majority of our birds are escapes

I would be very grateful for any comments

A remarkable early run of vagrants bolsters the 2010 total

The adult male LESSER KESTREL at Minsmere (Jan Hein Steenis) and ALPINE and PALLID SWIFT in Suffolk (Andrew Easton)

The total number of species recorded in Britain and Ireland as of today has increased to 282 species, quite exceptional in just three months. Near gale force southerly winds last week saw a record arrival of twitchable Alpine Swifts and amongst them a few Pallid Swifts. Most exceptional however was an overshooting adult male LESSER KESTREL in Suffolk.

The SEVEN new additions since my last update are -:

The aforementioned LESSER KESTREL, Yellow Wagtail (8 birds so far), Common Nightingale (a very early songster in Berkshire), Common Redstart (6+), FAN-TAILED WARBLER (an all-too brief stayer at St Margaret's-at-Cliffe, Kent), Sedge Warbler (45+) and TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL (a well-twitched female in Bedfordshire at The Lodge RSPB, Sandy)

WOODCOCK slaying

Appalling crimes committed by gamekeepers against WOODCOCKS

Unprecedented numbers of WOODCOCKS, in terms of modern-day counting, arrived in Britain this winter, following the longest and harshest winter in western Europe for at least 50 years. Woodcock are a fascinating, intriguing and delightful resident of the dark forests and I am appalled to hear the story of one estate in Lothian, Scotland. One keeper boasted of hastily arranging a hunt just a day before a National Ban on hunting was scheduled and glorifying in the fact that his 'men' had shot and killed 91 Woodcocks, many of which were too tired and exhausted to escape from the ground. The Woodcock corpses were later sold on to a butchers at just 47 pence per head.

What national body in this day and age allows the continual carnage of Woodcock? This is as bad as killing Song Thrushes in Malta as far as I am concerned and should be outlawed.

Lee Evans (with contribution from Sonia Graham)

Only the 6th GENUINE LESSER KESTREL in Britain since 1950

Jan Hein Steenis, Barry Reed and Bill Last were on site shortly after Andy Cook discovered the bird and were able to enjoy these crippling views before it spooked. Jan quickly managed these shots.

The LESSER KESTREL

Alan Shearman managed to get to the bird before it flew further inland and obtained these images as it perched on the fenceposts

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)