UK Bird Sightings
Highlights
A comprehensive round-up of birds seen in your area during October
It was like the ‘good old days’, with the South West really hogging the extreme rarities during October. Scilly produced a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, plus the Blue Rock Thrush and even a Chestnut-eared Bunting. But a field at Sennen, Cornwall, hosted a Buff-bellied Pipit and potentially the UK’s first Paddyfield Pipit!
CHANNEL ISLANDS
JERSEY: Thousands of Starlings, Woodpigeons, Linnets, Chaffinches, Siskins, Robins and Fieldfares arrived, with tens of thousands of Redwings, hundreds of Sky Larks and some Wood Larks. Grosnez logged 22 Velvet Scoters, many more Common Scoters, divers, Kittiwakes, a Sabine’s Gull, hundreds of auks and Sandwich Terns, 50 Mediterranean Gulls, skuas, shearwaters, thousands of dark-bellied Brent Geese plus 30 pale-bellied birds. Grouville Bay and the Wetland Centre logged 100 Grey Plovers, the odd Scandinavian Rock Pipit, a Water Pipit, Lapwings, Common Sandpipers, 80 Black Redstarts, hundreds of continental Robins and tens of Ring Ouzels and Mistle Thrushes. Les Landes had five Snow Buntings. A late Swift was seen (30th), with a Glossy Ibis (27th) and nine Cranes (28th). A probable Booted Warbler was at Victoria Tower (31st). A Bittern was at the Wetlands Centre (31st), where 20 Marsh Harriers roosted. Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owls and Barn Owls roamed the coast, with Long-eared Owls in wooded areas. Seven Spoonbills flew over Noirmont (3rd). Two Great White Egrets were over Victoria Tower (20th), with another over Noirmont (21st). About 130 Little Egrets, 11 Cattle Egrets and 26 Grey Herons roosted near La Sente Farm. An Alpine Swift flew around Saint Ouen’s Bay (2nd). A Tree Sparrow was a rare sighting at Victoria Tower (13th). Six Yellow-browed Warblers roamed Grouville Marsh, with hundreds of Chiffchaffs and a Dusky Warbler. A Richard’s Pipit was at Noirmont (from 28th). Bertram Bree
CORNWALL
HIGHLIGHTS: A Pink-footed Goose was at Morvah (9th-10th), with two at Maer Lake (12th) and four around Hayle (14th-28th). A Green-winged Teal was at Walmsley (17th). A Quail was at Porthgwarra (19th). Cattle Egrets included 42 at Walmsley. Great White Egrets were at Walmsley (4th), Porth Levan (10th) and Marazion (18th-31st). Spoonbills were at Hayle (3rd), Maer Lake (5th-12th) and The Camel (15th), with two on the Tamar Estuary (25th-31st). A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Mevagissey (13th). A Honey Buzzard flew through Cot (23rd). The last Osprey was at Fowey (27th). A Spotted Crake was at Porthgwarra (31st). A Dotterel was on The Lizard (31st). An Upland Sandpiper was at Windmill Farm (24th). A Hudsonian Whimbrel flew over Mousehole (11th). White-rumped Sandpipers were at The Lizard (15th-20th) and Marazion (16th). A Glaucous Gull was at Perranuthanoe (26th). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was at Crackington Haven (13th). A Wryneck was at Polgigga (10th). Red-eyed Vireos were at Church Cove (2nd-4th) and Porthgwarra (6th-13th). A Red-backed Shrike was at Kynance (15th-16th). The Hooded Crow remained around Trevose. A Greenish Warbler was at Cot (2nd), with a Subalpine Warbler there (17th-18th). Yellow-browed Warblers were noted throughout. A Radde’s Warbler was at Land’s End (20th). A Dusky Warbler was at Cawsands (13th). Barred Warblers were at Cot (12th) and Caerthillian (12th-16th). A Booted Warbler was at Caerthillian (14th). An Icterine Warbler was at Sennen Cove (17th), with a Melodious Warbler at Pendeen (14th). Blyth’s Reed Warblers were at Nanjizal (2nd and 20th). Rose-coloured Starlings were around Lizard Village (1st-3rd) and Penzance (27th). Five Red-breasted Flycatchers were noted (4th-28th). Nine Richard’s Pipits were seen in The Far West (2nd-31st). A Paddyfield Pipit was at Sennen (22nd-31st). An American Buff-bellied Pipit was at Sennen (23rd-31st). Olive-backed Pipits were at Nanjizal (16th and 23rd) and Gwithian (24-25th). Red-throated Pipits were at Nanjizal (2nd) and Porthgwarra (4th). A Hawfinch flew through Nanjizal (23rd). A few Snow Buntings included five at Porthgwarra (31st). Seven Lapland Buntings were logged (3rd-22nd). A Rustic Bunting flew over Porthgwarra and Nanjizal (28th). Little Buntings were at Nanjizal (23rd) and Porth Mear (28th). Seawatching produced 31 Sooty Shearwaters and 391 Balearic Shearwaters past Pendeen (4th), 50 Grey Phalaropes off Porthgwarra (8th), and a few skuas and six Sabine’s Gulls off Pendeen (4th). Sara McMahon
DEVON
LUNDY: Highlights included 500 Kittiwakes, a Common Rosefinch, three Firecrests, a Dotterel, Rose-coloured Starling, Great Skua, Balearic Shearwaters, three Arctic Skuas, a Great Northern Diver, 150 Blackcaps, 600 Meadow Pipits, a Red-eyed Vireo, 450 Redwings, 25 Ring Ouzels, two Merlins, a Hen Harrier, Jack Snipe, Richard’s Pipit, Barred Warbler, Pomarine Skua, Short-eared Owl, Isabelline Wheatear (first for Devon), 150 Goldcrests, a Quail, six Snow Buntings, two Yellow-browed Warblers, a Lapland Bunting, Little Bunting, two Black Redstarts, four Bramblings, three Peregrines and 1,600 Chaffinches.
NORTH DEVON: Bursdon Moor had a Hen Harrier. Braunton had a Spoonbill, Lapland Bunting, Hobby and Scaup. Instow had 20 Brent Geese. Bideford had 68 Mediterranean Gulls. Four Snow Buntings, an Arctic Tern and Lapland Bunting were at Skern. The Taw Estuary had two Spoonbills, a Glossy Ibis and three Greenshanks. A Lesser Yellowlegs was at Wrafton. Fremington had two Spotted Redshanks and a Glossy Ibis. Two Hen Harriers were on West Exmoor. Saunton had 150 Sanderling.
SOUTH DEVON: Berry Head had a Sabine’s Gull, 20 Pomarine Skuas, 21 Great Skuas, 86 Arctic Skuas, a Grey Phalarope, Hen Harrier, Red-throated Diver, six Balearic Shearwaters, 1,900 Kittiwakes, four Common Terns, 15 Puffins, four Firecrests, 35 Little Gulls, 120 Common Scoters, two Black-necked Grebes, 630 Redwings and two Yellow-browed Warblers. Torbay had a Yellow-browed Warbler, 22 Goosanders and 30 dark-bellied Brent Geese. Soar had a Merlin, 1,000 Swallows, four White Wagtails, 1,000 Meadow Pipits, 17 Stonechats, two Firecrests, a Peregrine, nine Ring Ouzels, a Yellow-browed Warbler, seven Black Redstarts, 500 Stock Doves, 4,550 Wood Pigeons and 700 Sky Larks. A Marsh Harrier was at Frogmore. Bowling Green Marsh had a Long-billed Dowitcher, Peregrine, four Bar-tailed Godwits, 30 Greenshanks, a Ruff, Whimbrel, Hobby, Curlew Sandpiper and Goldeneye. Prawle Point had a Black-throated Diver, seven Balearic Shearwaters, two Cattle Egrets, a Merlin, Pomarine Skua, six Arctic Skuas, two Great Skuas, four Balearic Shearwaters, six Puffins, 13 Common Scoters, two Great Northern Divers, 898 Kittiwakes, 1,295 Gannets, a Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warbler, Short-eared Owl, five Sooty Shearwaters and 2,000 Gannets. Slapton had a Marsh Harrier, two Pomarine Skuas, nine Arctic Skuas, 500 Kittiwakes, a Sooty Shearwater, Black-necked Grebe, two Scaup, six Common Scoters, a Great Northern Diver and six Firecrests. The Plym Estuary had a Yellow-browed Warbler. Dawlish Warren had 159 Sandwich Terns, a Black Tern, Curlew Sandpiper, Short-toed Lark, 374 Curlews, six Arctic Skuas and a Hoopoe. Topsham had six Cattle Egrets and a Marsh Harrier. Exmouth had a Yellow-browed Warbler, Long-eared Owl and two Purple Sandpipers. A Hen Harrier was at Emsworthy Mire. Brixham had a Great Northern Diver and 14 Arctic Skuas. Hallsands had a Yellow-browed Warbler, two Firecrests and two Black Redstarts. Avon Dam had 24 Ring Ouzels. Lannacombe Valley had two Firecrests and two Wood Larks. A Hoopoe was at Plymstock. A Great White Egret was on the Exe Estuary. South Brent had a Goshawk. Hopes Nose had a Short-eared Owl and Red-throated Diver. Woodbury Common had a Hen Harrier and Merlin. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Mount Gould, Plymouth. THURLESTONE BAY: Maxima included 15 Brent Geese, 32 Common Scoters, a Red-throated Diver, four Great Northern Divers, 400 Gannets, four Balearic Shearwaters, a Storm Petrel, Great White Egret, Merlin, Osprey, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, 13 Ringed Plovers, eight Dunlin, 32 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Curlews, three Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, Grey Phalarope, seven Greenshanks, 11 Turnstones, a Pomarine Skua, seven Arctic Skuas, two Great Skuas, 150 Kittiwakes, 19 Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Gull, Little Tern, Black Tern, four Sandwich Terns, 220 Sky Larks, a Wood Lark, Firecrest, Black Redstart, Yellow-browed Warbler and four Water Pipits. Harvey Kendall, Mike Passman (thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk)
DORSET
HIGHLIGHTS: A juvenile American Black Tern was at Longham Lakes (5th-27th at least), and also there were Garganey, up to two Scaup, a first-winter Ring-necked Duck, and up to two Great White Egrets. Lodmoor RSPB had a Gull-billed Tern, a juvenile Little Gull and up to five Great White Egrets (2nd), Grey Phalarope (4th-12th), and a first-winter White-rumped
Sandpiper (13th-15th). Cattle Egrets were at Abbotsbury Swannery (up to 21)and widespread other sites. A Sabine’s Gull was at Durlston CP (5th-6th). A Wryneck was at Portland (7th-9th & 14th-23rd), a Richard’s Pipit (9th), two Red-breasted Flycatchers (14th-15th), a Melodious Warbler (18th), and a Siberian Chiffchaff (24th). A Black Brant was at Ferrybridge (10th), with two there (12th). A Grey Phalarope was at Langton Herring (11th), with one at Brownsea Island NT (12th), plus two Curlew Sandpipers. Butterstreet Cove had a Richard’s Pipit (13th). Lyme Regis had two Grey Phalaropes (26th), and one was at Charmouth the same day. Hengistbury Head had a Ring Ouzel, a Short-eared Owl and a Black Redstart (24th). Mudeford Quay had a Grey Phalarope and a Little Stint (13th), a juvenile Sabine’s Gull (28th). A Serin flew over St Aldhelm’s Head (19th). Five Cranes were over Coombe Heath NR (21st).
ISLES OF SCILLY
HIGHLIGHTS: The Blue Rock Thrush remained (to 28th). A Cetti’s Warbler was at Porth Hellick throughout. A Rustic Bunting was at Longstone (1st). A Melodious Warbler was at Carn Leh (to 4th), with a Red-backed Shrike there (to 15th). A Dotterel was on the airport (to 9th). Tresco held a Short-toed Lark and Ortolan Bunting (1st). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was at Porth Mellon (2nd), Peninnis (3rd) and Lower Moors (6th-16th). Several Lapland Buntings, Snow Buntings, Wrynecks and Yellow-browed Warblers were logged. A Black-and-White Warbler was on St Martin’s and a White-winged Black Tern on Tresco (2nd). A Red-breasted Flycatcher on St Agnes and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper arrived (3rd). Several Pinkfeet visited. Six Spoonbills roosted near Samson (from 4th). A possible female Green-winged Teal was on Argimore Duck Pond. A Spotted Crake in Lower Moors (5th) was joined by another later in the month. A Honey Buzzard flew over St Agnes and St Mary’s, and a Red-backed Shrike was on Bryher (6th). A Long-eared Owl was on Bryher (7th), with a Red-backed Shrike on St Mary’s, a Richard’s Pipit on Tresco and a Red-throated Pipit on Peninnis. A Blue-winged Teal on St Agnes then moved to St Mary’s. A Red-eyed Vireo was near the Old Town church (8th-16th). A Buff-bellied Pipit was on St Martin’s and St Mary’s (9th). An Arctic Warbler was on St Agnes, a Short-toed Lark at Telegraph, and a Red-breasted Flycatcher and Swainson’s Thrush at Carreg Dhu Gardens (10th). A new Red-breasted Flycatcher was in the Dump Clump (11th) with a Blue-winged Teal, Red-eyed Vireo and Rustic Bunting all on Tresco. A Richard’s Pipit was on the Airport and a Little Bunting on Tresco (10th). A White-rumped Sandpiper was at Bant’s Carn (10th-16th). A Rose-breasted Grosbeak spent a few days on St Martin’s (from 13th), with a Little Bunting and American Golden Plover also there. A Subalpine Warbler was on St Agnes (13th-19th). A Red-eyed Vireo was at McFarland’s Down and Sunnyside (14th), when a Common Rosefinch was on St Agnes. A Mandarin was at Porth Hellick (16th). A new Red-throated Pipit was on Peninnis and a Garganey on Tresco (16th). A Spotted Sandpiper on St Agnes (18th) moved to St Mary’s. The Red-eyed Vireo on Porth Loo Lane (19th) may have been the Sunnyside bird. A Hawfinch was on St Mary’s (19th). The islands’ first (and UK’s third) Chestnut-eared Bunting was on Peninnis (20th). A Yellowhammer, Little Bunting, Hen Harrier, Waxwing, Water Pipit, Rook, Jackdaw, Short-eared Owl, Ring Ousel, Siskin and Brambling arrived (20th). A Citrine Wagtail was at Salakee and a Waxwing on St Agnes (21st). The Western Rocks held 11 Grey Phalaropes and a Red-necked Phalarope (22nd), when an Isabelline Wheatear was on Tresco and a Red-flanked Bluetail on St Agnes. A few Whooper Swans were noted (from 23rd), when a Blyth’s Reed Warbler was at Rose Hill. A Ring-necked Duck was on Tresco and a Pallas’s Warbler on St Agnes (24th). A Red-breasted Flycatcher was on St Agnes and a new Short-toed Lark and Lapland Bunting were found in the last week. A Rustic Bunting was on Tresco heliport (27th-28th). A Wryneck was on St Martin’s (29th). A Little Gull was seen from the Scillonian (30th). A Richard’s Pipit flew over Peninnis, with a Waxwing in Lower Moors and a Little Bunting at Porth Mellon (31st). Three Swallows remained. Will Wagstaff
WILTSHIRE
HIGHLIGHT: A Booted/Syke’s Warbler was ringed at Salisbury Plain Training Area West (19th). At present, it will probably remain as an Iduna species only, as the bird was not seen in the field and the biometrics remain inconclusive. Great White Egrets were at the Water Park, Coate Water and Cricklade. Two Black Redstarts were at Durlett Farm, Bromham, with another at Harepath Farm, Horton. The ringed White Stork from the release scheme remained at Durrington for at least three weeks. Merlins were at six sites. A late Hobby was at SPTA(C). A Marsh Harrier was at the Water Park and an early Hen Harrier at Swindon. Returning waders included a Jack Snipe and Green Sandpiper at Swindon STW and a Green Sandpiper at Langford Lakes. There were 250 Fieldfares at Pewsey and 326 Redwings at Swindon. Golden Plovers included 173 at Gore Cross and 200 at South Newton and Stoford. Bramblings were at SPTA(E) and Nightingale Wood. Crossbills were at Great Ridge Wood, Cranborne Chase, Groveley Wood and Stourhead. A Ring Ouzel was at Morgan’s Hill. House Martins and Swallows were present (to 20th). There was a sprinkling of Whinchats and Wheatears on the Plain. Rob Turner