The rarest birds of a relatively quiet February, summarised by Lee Evans
THIS HAS BEEN one of the quietest starts to a ‘twitching’ year that I can remember, with just 259 species recorded in Britain and Ireland by the end of February. Nothing exceptional occurred within the weather systems, nor in terms of rarity sightings. One could say that the rarest birds were of doubtful provenance, with an adult Demoiselle Crane south-west of Cockermouth near Eaglesfield (Cumbria) being most controversial. This bird was first noted on 21st February, perhaps well out of kilter with usual migration dates of this species. In fact, this is the 23rd Demoiselle Crane to be recorded in Britain, all of which are considered to be of captive rather than wild origin. A 1992 Zoo Federation inventory revealed the presence of at least 67 in captivity in Britain, the vast majority unringed, with parties of up to six individuals escaping in the past. However, an exhausted adult that arrived in off the sea at Spurn Point (East Yorks) during a raging easterly gale with heavy rain on 13th September 1993 was most likely genuine. It was consequently rejected, however, after resorting to taking maggots from a fisherman’s bucket… Hooded Mergansers also featured in February 2016, with two adult females appearing in addition to Radipole Lake’s (Dorset) resident drake. One Lee Evans is the UK’S most well-known and fanatical ‘twitcher’, having recorded 585 species in Britain and Ireland, 863 in the wider Western Palearctic and 386 in just one calendar year in the UK. He has written many ornithological publications and runs numerous birding tours throughout the year, including custom-led trips. Visit bbabirding.blogspot.co.uk and uk400clubrarebird alert. blogspot.co.uk was discovered in Blair Drummond Wildlife Park on 2nd, where it remained intermittently until late March, while another joined wintering Goosanders at Corsham Lake (Wilts) on 23rd, staying until 27th and later moving north into the Midlands. There have now been no fewer than 82 Hooded Mergansers recorded in Britain, with the species appearing annually, but being so popular in collections, 90% or more most likely relate to escaped birds. However, since restrictions on hunting in North America have reversed a decline, numbers there have increased by 55% and vagrancy in locations such as Iceland, the Azores and in Portugal have risen dramatically. Our recent spate of March-june arrivals could well reflect these fortunes, with the chance of some being genuine migrants greatly increased. One can never know for sure, though. Lastly, true bird of the month was an exceptionally confiding Pallas’s Leaf Warbler at Portesham (Dorset) from 25th, the second to be discovered this winter, the bird still delighting large numbers of admirers into April. The adult Pacific Diver remained throughout in Mount’s Bay (Cornwall), commuting between Newlyn and just east of St Michael’s Mount, Marazion, while White-billed Diver numbers increased, including a moulting adult in Uig Harbour (Skye) from 28th. At least eight Cattle