UK Bird Sightings

A comprehensive round-up of birds seen on your patch during January

Highlights

The rarest birds in the region in January were all long-stayers, including the now resident Hudsonian Whimbrel in Cornwall, the Eastern Black Redstart at Mousehole and the returning Pacific Diver off Penzance (both Cornwall), as well as the Desert Wheatear still on the beach at Thurlestone, Devon.

AVON

HIGHLIGHTS: Twelve Great White Egrets commuted between Chew and Blagdon reservoirs. Two Cattle Egrets were near Wick. PORTISHEAD AND CLEVEDON: Purple Sandpipers were seen on just four bird-days. One or two Black Redstarts were regular in both towns. A Great White Egret remained on the Blind Yeo at Clevedon. A Little Gull appeared on several dates at Portbury Pools. SEVERNSIDE: An American Wigeon visited sites around Littleton and Oldbury (2nd). Maxima were 560 Black-tailed Godwits, 255, Knot and seven Jack Snipe. A Red Kite passed through (25th) as did a Short-eared Owl (21st). A Water Pipit spent much of the month at Pilning Wetlands. A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Avonmouth (6th-7th). WESTON-SUPER-MARE: An Eider spent the month at the Marine Lake. Weston’s highlights included a Common Scoter (7th), Purple Sandpiper (16th) and seven Waxwings (24th). Uphill held six Short-eared Owls. One or two Dartford Warblers were at Sand Bay (18th-28th). Two Black Redstarts were at Uphill, with another at the Police Station. THE RESERVOIRS: Unusually, Bewick’s Swans stayed into the New Year, with three at Blagdon (1st) joining five more at Chew Valley Lake (to 31st). A Long-tailed Duck spent the month at Barrow Gurney. A Ring-necked Duck was at Chew Valley Lake. Six Red-crested Pochards were at Chew (24th) with three at Barrow Gurney (25th). Scaup at Chew reached an unprecedented 14, with birds occasionally commuting to Blagdon. Two Common Scoters were at Chew (17th) with the male remaining (to 31st). Goosanders included 25 at Blagdon, 17 at Chew, 30 at Newton Park and 18 on the Blind Yeo at Clevedon. A Slavonian Grebe was at Chew (13th). Black-necked Grebes there increased to six. Last month’s Little Stint remained at Blagdon (to 13th). Chew and Blagdon had two Jack Snipe each. The gull roost at Chew logged a Ring-billed Gull, two Yellow-legged Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls, a Caspian Gull and a Kumlien’s Gull. A Water Pipit was at Chew all month. OTHER SITES: A Smew was at Chipping Sodbury Common (2nd). A Mandarin was at Saltford. Red Kites flew over Bristol (25th) and Oldbury Power Station (27th). A Goshawk was at Freshford (9th). Golden Plovers at Marshfield peaked at 500. Bradley Stoke hosted 15 Waxwings all month, with reports of up to 20 birds at other sites around Bristol, largely featuring supermarkets. Oldbury Power Station had two Black Redstarts. Jane Cumming

CHANNEL ISLANDS

JERSEY: Sorel held 35 Choughs. Le Pulec had a Common Sandpiper, 50 Rock Pipits, four Black Redstarts and 50 Turnstones. St Ouen’s logged 50 Great Black-backed Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 150 Herring Gulls, two Bitterns, a Short-eared Owl, 20 Marsh Harriers, six Buzzards, Bearded Tits, 17 Wigeon, 50 Shovelers, 40 Pochards, four Little Grebes, 150 Lapwings, 20 Golden Plovers, Water Pipits, a few Jack Snipe, 200 Snipe, 50 Teal, 50 Tufted Ducks, two Gadwall and 20 Cormorants. A Rose-coloured Starling was at Les Quennevais. Petit Port had 40 Curlews, a Whimbrel, 150 Oystercatchers and a few Purple Sandpipers. There were 20 Mediterranean Gulls, 500 Black-headed Gulls and 200 Herring Gulls at Havre des Pas. The Spoonbill remained at Icho Tower. Pontac held 30 Mediterranean Gulls and hundreds of Herring Gulls. At Happy Hens, there were three pale-bellied and 100 dark-bellied Brent Geese, with a further 1,500 birds around the coast. Eight Cattle Egrets roamed the island. Divers, gulls and Sandwich Terns passed St Catherine’s breakwater all month. Woodcocks were widespread. Hundreds of Redwings were noted. The Peregrines frequented St Thomas’ Church in St Helier. Bertram Bree

CORNWALL

HIGHLIGHTS: An American Wigeon was on the Tamar Estuary (12th-28th). The Green-winged Teal remained on the Hayle Estuary, with another at Walmsley (5th-8th). The Lesser Scaup remained on Dozmary, visiting Siblyback (2nd). Two Long-tailed Ducks were at St John’s Lake for most of the month, with another off Pendower (2nd-14th). A few Velvet Scoters were in the Carrick Roads and Mounts Bay, where the Pacific Diver remained. A Bittern was at Marazion (2nd-20th). Cattle Egrets included 17 at Penpol Creek (1st) and 12 at Looe Pool (31st). A Great White Egrets was at Gwithian (28th). Four Spoonbills were around the Tamar Estuary and one on Hayle throughout, with four on the Camel and at Walmsley (24th-30th). Black-necked Grebes peaked at 29 in the Carrick Roads (24th). The Hudsonian Whimbrel remained at Perranuthnoe. A Little Gull was at Swanpool (27th). Ring-billed Gulls were on the Gannel (1st-24th), Marazion (2nd-13th) and Hayle (27th-28th). Caspian Gulls were at Marazion (1st-7th), Padstow (13th), Hayle (15th) and Mousehole (27th). A Yellow-legged Gull was off Padstow (13th). A possible American Herring Gull was at Mousehole (25th). Two Iceland Gulls roamed the Far West. A Kumlien’s Gull was at Mousehole (8th and 25th) and St Buryan (13th). Glaucous Gulls were at Drift (18th), Mousehole (25th) and St Ives (27th). Three Waxwings were in Saltash (17th-20th), one in Tremaine (19th) and four in Camborne (24th). Three Short-eared Owls were at Bartinney (3rd-16th), with singles at Rosenanon (13th), Crugmeer (18th) and St Agnes Head (21st-22nd). Six Woodlarks were at Nanquidno. A few Yellow-browed Warblers, Water Pipits and Black Redstarts were noted throughout the County. The Eastern Black Redstart remained at Mousehole (1st-31st). Lapland Buntings included 15 at Camborne (22nd-28th). Two Little Buntings were at Nanjizal (3rd-24th) and two more at Sennen (23rd). Sara Mcmahon (01752 242 823)

DEVON

NORTH DEVON: Braunton logged a Firecrest, Black Redstart, Yellow-browed Warbler, 1,000 Golden Plovers, a Marsh Harrier and Common Sandpiper. Hartland Point had 50 Red-throated Divers. The Taw Estuary held 20 Eiders, a Long-tailed Duck, Greenshank, nine Spoonbills and 2,500 Golden Plovers. Bursdon Moor had a Marsh Harrier, two Hen Harriers and a Merlin. Red Kites were at Barnstaple, Clovelly and Filleigh. Two Snow Buntings and seven Eiders were at Northam. Morte Point had 16 Great Northern Divers, 12 Eiders and a Great Skua. Ilfracombe had three Purple Sandpipers, two Red-throated Divers and a Black-throated Diver. A Glaucous Gull was at Roadford Reservoir. SOUTH DEVON: Topsham had a Yellow-browed Warbler, Long-tailed Duck, Spotted Redshank and three Mediterranean Gulls. Exmouth had two Firecrests, a Slavonian Grebe and seven Purple Sandpipers. Slapton had a Cirl Bunting, Bittern, Scaup, ten Goldeneyes, a Black-necked Grebe, Red-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver. Torbay had a Yellow-browed Warbler, Peregrine, Great Northern Diver, Mediterranean Gull, Black Redstart, Firecrest, Siberian Chiffchaff, Surf Scoter, 300 Common Scoters, 11 Velvet Scoters, 36 Turnstones, 900 Guillemots, 50 Razorbills, 21 Cirl Buntings, and two Red-necked, three Black-necked, 125 Little and 134 Great Crested Grebes. Exminster Marshes had 14 Barnacle Geese, an American Wigeon, Marsh Harrier, Scaup, 257 Pintails and two Spoonbills. The Teign Estuary had a Water Pipit. Wistlandpound Reservoir had a Great White Egret. Budleigh had a Spotted Redshank, American Wigeon, Long-tailed Duck, Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest and Bonaparte’s Gull. Soar had three Black Redstarts, 25 Cirl Buntings, a White Wagtail and 307 Skylarks. West Charleton Marsh had two Cirl Buntings, a Greenshank and Bittern. Bowling Green Marsh had the American Wigeon and 550 Avocets. Plymouth had two Waxwings, six Ring-necked Parakeets, a Black Redstart and four Mediterranean Gulls. Saltram had two Cattle Egrets. The Kingsbridge Estuary had nine Red-breasted Mergansers, a Hen Harrier, Bittern and Siberian Chiffchaff. Otterton had 250 Common Scoters, two Long-tailed Ducks, a Great Northern Diver and seven Eiders. Two Hen Harriers were at Hexworthy, Dartmoor. Buckfastleigh had three Siberian Chiffchaffs. Staverton and Cornworthy had Yellow-browed Warblers. Matford, Exeter had an American Wigeon. Brixham had two Cattle Egrets, a Surf Scoter, nine Velvet Scoters, seven Purple Sandpiper and four Cirl Buntings. The Exe Estuary logged a Bonaparte’s Gull, Yellow-browed Warbler, four Slavonian Grebes, four Jack Snipe, 200 Pintails, 50 Red-breasted Mergansers, 60 Knot, 20 Sanderling and 100 Bar-tailed Godwits. Soussons, Dartmoor had a Great Grey Shrike. Waxwings were at Exeter (nine), Chudleigh Knighton (13), Peter Tavy (30), Heathfield (eight), Yarner Wood (13, plus a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker), Plymstock (one) and Holsworthy (12). Teigngrace had 15 plus three Cattle Egrets. A Glossy Ibis was at Bickington. Newton Abbot had two Siberian Chiffchaffs. Aveton Gifford held three Common Sandpipers, a Water Pipit and Black Redstart. Trinity Hill, Axminster had a Little Bunting. THURLESTONE BAY: Highlights included a Desert Wheatear, two Cattle Egrets, a Goosander, three Brent Geese, 20 Common Scoters, three Red-throated Divers, two Black-throated Divers, two Great Northern Divers, a Slavonian Grebe, 70 Gannets, five Little Egrets, a Fulmar, Merlin, two Peregrines, 29 Oystercatchers, eight Ringed Plovers, seven Golden Plovers, three Black-tailed Godwits, two Purple Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, 45 Snipe, three Greenshanks and 20 Turnstones. There were 11 Kittiwakes, three Mediterranean Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, Glaucous Gull, 165 Razorbills, five Guillemots, three Firecrests, 50 Chiffchaffs, three Siberian Chiffchaffs, a Yellow-browed Warbler, five Water Pipits, 100 Redwings, 55 Fieldfares, 250 Chaffinches, four Bramblings, 450 Linnets, two Cirl Buntings and four Black Redstarts. Harvey Kendall and Mike Passman (thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk)

DORSET

HIGHLIGHTS: A Whooper Swan was at West Bexington (23rd) and Abbotsbury (24th). A White-fronted Goose was at Bockhampton (8th). Fourteen Barnacle Geese were in Poole Harbour (26th). Black Brants were at Arne, Ferrybridge,

Langton Herring and Middlebere. Poole Harbour held a Smew (8th-31st). A Black Guillemot was in Portland Harbour (25th). Cattle Egrets were at seven sites. A Great White Egret was at Studland (3rd and 9th), with three at Longham Lakes. A Goshawk was at Arne Moors (19th). Lytchett Fields hosted the Lesser Yellowlegs throughout, and a Green-winged Teal (1st-14th). Abbotsbury noted Richard’s Pipits on several occasions. Waxwings were at Canford Heath (16th), Charmouth (19th) and Bridport (23rd). Tricketts Cross reported a Ring Ouzel (17th). Cogden Beach, East Holme, Gillingham, Loud’s Mill, Lytchett Heath, Poole and Studland all recorded Yellow-browed Warblers. Great Grey Shrikes were at Canford Heath, Hartland Moor, Slepe Heath and Wareham Forest. The Rose-coloured Starling remained in Dorchester. Exceptional Starling murmurations were seen over the Studland area. CHRISTCHURCH HARBOUR AREA: Birds noted included Barnacle Geese, Velvet Scoters, Eiders, Pintails, Red-throated Divers, Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Dunlin, a Spotted Redshank, Snipe, a Jack Snipe, Sandwich Tern, Little Gulls, a Water Pipit and Firecrests. DURLSTON: Common Scoters, Red-throated Divers, Great Northern Divers and Great Skuas passed. THE FLEET: There were Brent Geese, Scaup, Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks and Goosanders. Thirty Chiffchaffs were at Abbotsbury Sewage Farm (7th). POOLE HARBOUR: There were Barnacle Geese, Brent Geese (including pale-bellied birds), Wigeon, Teal, Eiders, Common Scoters, Goldeneyes, Goosanders, Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebes, Black-necked Grebes, a Bittern, Spoonbills, Marsh Harriers, Hen Harriers, Merlins, a Kestrel, Peregrine, Lapwings, Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Purple and Green Sandpipers, Spotted Redshanks, Greenshanks, Jack Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, Redwings, Firecrests and Crossbills. PORTLAND/WEYMOUTH: Highlights of the month were Scaup, Eiders, Common Scoters, Goosanders, Red-throated, Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes, a Manx Shearwater, Bitterns, Purple Sandpipers, a Jack Snipe, Great, Pomarine and Arctic Skuas, a Little Gull, Short-eared Owls, Water Pipits and a Siberian Chiffchaff. OTHER SITES: There were six Red Kites over Upton/broadstone and three over Sturminster Marshal GP. Golden Plovers at Maiden Castle peaked at 2,500 (19th). Black Redstarts were at ten sites. Siberian Chiffchaffs were at Barleycrates, Blacknor, Poole, Norden, Sherborne and West Bexington. Thirty Lesser Redpolls were at Upton CP (20th). Robin Trundle

ISLES OF SCILLY

HIGHLIGHTS: The two Black-necked Grebes remained in the harbour throughout. Three Slavonian Grebes were between St Mary’s and St Martin’s. A few Little Egrets are wintering. Three Spoonbills were near Samson. Three Black Redstarts were at Hugh Town. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was again at Porth Hellick (1st). A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Lower Moors (1st-3rd). A Firecrest was in Porth Loo Lane and a Waxwing flew over Parting Carn (3rd). A Mediterranean Gull and nine Great Northern Divers were between the islands (5th). A Kingfisher was around St Mary’s. A Shoveler commuted between Porth Hellick and Newford Duck Pond (from 7th). Four Firecrests were at Telegraph (7th), with another at Rocky Hill (8th). Two Whimbrels were with Curlews at Pendrathen (8th). A Glaucous Gull flew over Hugh Town (14th) and was in Porth Cressa (20th). Mediterranean Gulls were in the Roads (17th) and at Porth Loo (20th). A Jack Snipe was at Porth Hellick and a Firecrest in Holy Vale (19th). A Lapwing was on the Garrison (22nd), with 30-40 on the Airport (26th-27th) and 35 at Watermill (28th). A boat trip around the islands (22nd) found a Brent Goose, two Slavonian Grebes, ten Grey Plovers, four Purple Sandpipers, ten Great Northern Divers and two Spoonbills. Four Golden Plovers were on the Airport (26th). The Cetti’s Warbler reappeared on the Porth Hellick loop trail (28th and 30th). Will Wagstaff

Desert Wheatear, Thrurlstone, Devon, January