Some amazing late rarities were enough to break the UK year record, reports Lee Evans

FOUR ADDITIONAL SPECIES in November took the total recorded in Britain and Ireland in 2016 to a recordbreaking 458. Among those four was the first-ever Masked Wagtail – showing well for all-comers in the small, picturesque village of Camrose, NNW of Haverfordwest, in far southwest Wales from at least 26th into December. This black-and-white wagtail from central Asia has only been recorded in the Western Palearctic on 12 occasions before, mostly in Kuwait (six) and Israel (three), and is seemingly wintering. Other undoubted highlights of November included Suffolk’s first-ever Cliff Swallow from 4th-6th, showing very well, often around the Minsmere RSPB visitor centre. Also, there was the UK’S 13th-ever Dusky Thrush affording excellent views in Beeley Village in the Derbyshire Dales, from 25th until at least 8th December. And now for the remainder of November’s rare bird news. David Roche seems to have discovered yet another wintering ground of White-billed Divers, when first finding three feeding birds off Mull Head, Papa Westray (Orkney) on 12th, immediately rising to six next day and then a remarkable 13 by 5th December; proving how deep water and sharply rising cliffs play a role in the wintering choices of this high Arctic species. Some very late Cory’s Shearwaters were present Lee Evans is the UK’S most well-known and fanatical ‘twitcher’, having recorded 588 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 in the North Sea, including a bird seen at several locations off of the north Norfolk coast on 1st, while in East Sussex, the immature Red-footed Booby picked up exhausted at St Leonards Beach, Hastings, on 4th September was finally flown to the Caribbean for release. The adult Dalmatian Pelican remained on the Camel Estuary at Rock (Cornwall) until 7th, before moving back to the Restronguet Creek at Devoran, near Truro, where it was last seen on 19th prior to a severe drop in temperature. A couple of Night Herons were seen in November, with an adult in Bradgate Park (Leics) on 5th and a juvenile on Sanday (Orkney) on 24th. Cattle Egret numbers continued to increase, with up to seven wandering birds in Co. Cork and at least another three in Co. Wexford in Ireland, the six at Burton Mere (Cheshire)/marshside Marsh RSPB (Lancs), four to six at Frampton Court Sailing Lake (Gloucs). There were at least 15 elsewhere, including three at Gapton Marshes, Breydon Water (Norfolk) from 13th, two at Skidbrooke (Lincs) from 1st-21st, long-staying birds at Dungeness (Kent), Nene Washes RSPB (Cambs) and Chew Valley Lake (Avon) and a returning adult at Iken (Suffolk) from 16th. Pembrokeshire’s wintering Squacco Heron was relocated in gardens NW of Saundersfoot at Pentlepor from at least 13th-19th while more than