UKBIRDSIGHTINGS
The best rare birds seen all around Britain in June
relatively recently split (from Greenish) Warbler is still very rare, but records are increasing rapidly; times are a- changing.
June is a good month for rarer warblers, and further evidence came with a River Warbler also on Fair Isle, a Booted Warbler at Bakkasetter (1st) and Fair isle (30th), a singing Moltoni’s Warbler in a garden in Lerwick, and a Paddyfield Warbler at Virkie (all Shetland). There was also a singing Great Reed Warbler at Carlton Marshes, Suffolk, and a singing Western Bonelli’s Warbler at Reculver, Kent (24th).
The ‘big one’
All this, of course, is partly to put off the story of the ‘ big one’, the immature Lammergeier (or Bearded Vulture if you prefer), once again seen over British airspace. Photos proved it was the same bird that was over Alderney etc, except the individual seen over Balsall, West Midlands (26th), then over Derbyshire (where it apparently lingered in the Peak District), was lacking a few tail feathers since its last appearance...
This species is still not on the
British List, the bird seen by the Severn Bridge, then down in Cornwall etc having been placed in Category E (ie the reject pile!) by the BOURC, who decide the fate of potential new British birds. Will this latest individual make it? Only time will tell. Still, it would be a nice bird to see, tail or no tail…
More rare passerines
Other rare passerines (apart from warblers) included a Calandra Lark on Fair Isle; Rustic Buntings at Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, Pogigga, Cornwall and on Foula, Shetland; and a Black- eared Bunting in a garden in Wester Ross (Ross and Cromarty). A White-throated Sparrow in a garden at Cwrtnewydd, Ceredigion on 24th, was also a bit special.
Meanwhile, Rose- coloured Starlings were turning up all over the place, including some delightful pink-and-black individuals. How many of these beauties will stay for the summer is anyone’s guess, but I guess if there is a ready supply of deluxe fat balls on offer, some may linger for some time yet.
Clockwise from above left: Red-footed Falcon, Cothelstone Hill, Somerset, 20 June
Lesser Grey Shrike, Maywick, Shetland, June
Alpine Swift, Winterton, Norfolk, 28 June
Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Far Ings, Lincolnshire, June
Asian Desert Warbler, Holy Island, Northumberland
Terns and gulls
Rare ‘seabirds’ included a Sooty Tern at Cemlyn, Anglesey, the touring, red-ringed Caspian Tern (mainly at Potter Heigham Marshes, Norfolk), and Gullbilled Tern at Dungeness, Kent.
There were one or two Bonaparte’s Gulls around, and a Laughing Gull at Belvide Reservoir, Staffordshire (from 28th), was a great find.