NORTH EAST
Highlights
The best rare bird in the North East region (in a month with plenty of superb rare birds) was a Taiga Flycatcher, at South Shields, Co. Durham, which as usual with this species proved a bit of an ID challenge. This will be surely be the first accepted UK record since 2009.
LINCOLNSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: The wandering Bearded Vulture was in the Cowbit area (7th-9th). A Great Snipe and Wryneck were at Sandilands (2nd), with a Richard’s Pipit there (13th). Gibraltar Point had a Red-breasted Flycatcher (3rd and 11th), Siberian
OTHER SITES: Great White Egrets were at Chapel St Leonards, Huttoft Bank Pit, Thoresby Bridge, West Ashby, Messingham, Woodhall Spa, Anderby Creek, Boultham Mere, Far Ings, Riseholme, Marston and Trent Port. A Tundra Bean Goose was at Deeping Lakes (22nd), with 13 at Frampton Marsh (28th). A Slavonian Grebe was at Covenham Reservoir (14th-16th). A Long-tailed Duck was at Saltfleetby (from 26th). Two Cranes flew over Marton (31st). Lapland Buntings were at Anderby Creek (6th), Freiston Shore (15th) and Tetney Marshes (30th). Josh Hedley
NORTHUMBERLAND
BERWICK: A Greenland-race Wheatear was at Little Beach, Berwick (1st). Two Black-throated Divers were at Meadow Haven (1st). Willow Warblers were at Spittal (5th) and Flagstaff Park (8th). A Yellow-browed Warbler was at the Tennis Courts (8th). A Sandwich Tern was at
EAST YORKSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Black Kite and Red-flanked Bluetail were at Flamborough (1st), when a Lesser Yellowlegs was at Blacktoft Sands. A Dusky Warbler was at Buckton (from 13th). Flamborough had an Olive-backed Pipit (14th), three Dusky Warblers (16th) and a Radde’s Warbler (18th). An American Wigeon was at Hornsea Mere (19th) and Tophill Low (22nd). Green-winged Teal were at North Cave Wetlands, and Blacktoft Sands (31st).
FLAMBOROUGH: There was a Raven and two Barred Warblers (1st), a Little Bunting, two Caspian Gulls and 15 Yellow-browed Warblers (2nd) and a Great Grey Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Firecrest and Pomarine Skua (3rd). Three Hawfinches were seen (5th), with a Nightjar, Red-backed Shrike and two Bearded Tits (6th) and 19 Bean Geese (10th). Two Grey Phalaropes and four Velvet Scoters were offshore (11th), with two Great Northern Divers (12th), a Long-tailed Duck (21st) and Black-throated Diver (27th). There were 62 Twite
SPURN: The Kilnsea Wetlands area had some tremendous duck counts with 1,620 Teal, 950 Wigeon, 84 Pintail, 37 Shoveler and a Garganey (from 11th). A Dotterel was in an adjacent field (7th) but in general wader passage petered out but did include late sightings of both Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank. Visible migration was at its best on 6th with 1,600 Meadow Pipits, 94 Rock Pipits, 665 Sky Larks, 1,425 Goldfinches, 1,608 Linnets and 122 Reed Buntings, while other good counts later in the month included 128 redpolls, 56 Twite and16 Crossbills. East winds early month brought a Western Bonelli’s Warbler to Easington (4th) while Kilnsea had at least two Red-flanked Bluetails, Red-throated, Olive-backed and Richard’s Pipits, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler and Little Bunting. There were good numbers of common migrants too including 2,755 Redwing, 940 Song Thrushes, four Ring Ouzels, 260 Chiffchaffs, 62 Stonechats, 61 Redstarts, three Black Redstarts, three Firecrests and two Hawfinches. A second wave of east winds mid-month saw the arrival of more goodies including Nightingale, Pallas’s and
Radde’s Warblers, 14 Woodcock, Turtle Dove and the year’s first Little Auk.
OTHER SITES: Four Yellow-browed Warblers were at Grimston (2nd), with three at Sewerby (18th), two at Withernsea (5th) and singles at Stone Creek and Patrington (3rd) and Holmpton (5th). A Little Bunting was at Barmston (2nd). A Hawfinch was at Withernsea (3rd). A Crane was at Leven Carrs (4th). A Great White Egret and four Garganeys were at Blacktoft Sands (2nd). Great White Egrets were at Grimston (27th) and Tophill Low. A Great White Egret and 11 Twite visited Sunk Island (18th).
A Black-necked Grebe was at Southfield Reservoir (5th). Fraisthorpe had 12 Twite (6th) and a Velvet Scoter (8th). Bempton had five Yellow-browed Warblers (1st), a Red-breasted Flycatcher and Firecrest (4th) and a Hawfinch (9th). A Slavonian Grebe and Black-throated Diver were at Ulrome (10th). A Nightjar was at Out Newton (15th). A Pallas’s Warbler was at Holmpton (16th). Forty Twite were at Barmston (26th). Ian Marshall (01482 627 446), John Hewitt 07952 293060
WEST YORKSHIRE
LOWER AIRE VALLEY: A Great White Egret was present on a several days. A Cattle Egret was seen (13th). A few Whooper Swans passed through. The Pinkfeet departed (1st), though at least 1,200 more passed through on eight other days. Two Egyptian Geese were seen. A Mandarin was at Astley Lake (2nd and 11th). A Scaup was at Skelton Lake (9th). A Common Scoter was on the Main Lake (4th and 7th). A Hen Harrier flew over (4th), as did a Merlin (10th). A Short-eared Owl was seen (11th).
Nine Sanderling flew through (24th), a record autumn flock. A White Wagtail was at Lemonroyd (25th), our latest ever. Four Sand Martins over the Visitor Centre (16th) equalled the latest date, set 60 years ago. The first Water Pipit returned (18th). A Ring Ouzel flew over (18th). Two Ravens over the Dragline (24th) were an addition to the year list. Paul Morris
ABERDEENSHIRE
ABERDEEN: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Donmouth (1st), when a Red-necked Grebe was at Girdle Ness. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the City centre (2nd and 4th). A Citrine Wagtail was by the Beach Ballroom and a Pallas’s Warbler at Girdle Ness (6th). A Yellow-browed Warbler and Jack Snipe were at Nigg Bay (7th). A Hoopoe was near Pittodrie Stadium (9th-12th). Waxwings were seen from mid-month.
FORVIE SANDS: There were two Parrot Crossbills with 40 Common Crossbills at Cotehill (1st). A Richard’s Pipit was there (30th). A Rustic Bunting and Little Bunting were at Kirkton, Collieston (2nd), with a Pallas’s Warbler there (14th). A Ring Ouzel was at Hightown, Collieston (2nd). Seven Yellow-browed Warblers and a Hawfinch were seen (3rd). There were two Rustic Buntings in the same area (4th), with one staying (to 6th). A Hobby was between Collieston and Hackley Bay and a Slavonian Grebe on Sand Loch (4th). A White-billed Diver flew past Collieston (20th).
LOCH OF STRATHBEG: A Great White Egret was seen throughout.
NORTH SEA: A Little Bunting landed on board a vessel in the North Sea, 165 miles East of Aberdeen (6th). Other migrants on board were Blackcap, Brambling, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Robin, Song Thrush, Starling, Wheatear, Woodpigeon and Wren. Most moved on after being given food and water.
OTHER SITES: Three Yellow-browed Warblers were at Rattray (1st). Cruden Bay had six Yellow-browed Warblers, a Lapland Bunting and two Crossbills (2nd). Two Yellow-browed Warblers were at Longhaven, four at Balmedie CP and one at Stonehaven. Two Barred Warblers were in an Inverbervie garden (2nd), when a Red-backed Shrike was at Rattray. There was an Olive-backed Pipit at Blackdog, and an Olive-Backed Pipit plus Barred Warbler at Rattray (4th). A Ring Ouzel was at the Bullers of Buchan (4th).
At Rattray (6th), there was a Reed Warbler and Blue Tit, which is much rarer than Yellow-browed Warbler here. A Little Bunting was at Troup Head (7th). Seven Cranes flew over Gourdon (7th). Two Little Auks and a Red-throated Diver were off Aberdour Beach (7th). A Booted Warbler was at Cruden Bay (10th). A Surf Scoter was at Blackdog (13th), when a Rough-legged Buzzard was at Crovie. Hoopoes were at Rora (20th) and Clatt (25th). Snow Buntings were at Cairnbulg (20th). A Smew was on Loch Kinord and a Scaup on Loch Davan (29th). Mike Chandler
ARGYLL
ISLAY: Seven Yellow-browed Warblers were at The Oa (5th). The long-staying Hoopoe remained at Bridgend (to 23rd). Loch Gruinart had a Wood Sandpiper (12th), Yellow Wagtail (20th), a Sabine’s Gull, Iceland Gull, Cackling Goose and Green-winged Teal (26th), a Black-headed Bunting (28th), and a Little Gull two Yellow-browed Warblers and a Todd’s Canada Goose (31st). The Rose-coloured Starling was still in Bowmore (25th). An
American Wigeon was at Loch Skerrols (27th).
Tiree: A Dusky Warbler at Balephuil (14th) was the first record for Argyll. Ring-necked Ducks were at Loch a’ Phuill (2nd), and Loch Bhasapol (11th-15th and 30th). A Little Egret was at Milton (26th). Seventeen Yellow-browed Warblers included five at Balephuil (3rd-11th). A Ring Ouzel was at Balephuil (15th), with Siberian Chiffchaffs there (11th-12th and 19th). A Spotted Flycatcher was at Cornaigmore (9th). Lesser Whitethroats were at Meningie (11th) and Scarinish (15th).
A White-tailed Eagle was at Ruaig (1st). Record counts included four Coal Tits at Scarinish and six Blue Tits at Balephuil. An Osprey was at Sorobaidh Bay (12th). Kestrels were at Baugh and Vaul. A Mistle Thrush was at Balephuil. Two Snow Buntings were at Traigh Bhi. Woodpigeons were at Ruaig and Balephuil. Barn Owls were at Balephuil and Kirkapol, with a Short-eared Owl at Balephuil.
Commoner migrants included 15 Common Redpolls, four Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, 14 Blackcaps, 12 Goldcrests, five Siskins, 13 Greenfinches, ten Dunnocks, four Wheatears, 62 Goldfinches, seven Bramblings and two Swallows. There were peaks of 3,000 Redwings and 400 Fieldfares. Waders included six Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Grey Plovers, a Knot, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, 34 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2,450 Golden Plovers.
Seawatching produced three Sooty Shearwaters, three Pomarine Skuas, two Arctic Skuas, nine Great Skuas and two Common Scoters (9th). Scarcer waterfowl included a Little Grebe, Coot, two Long-tailed Ducks, two Shelducks and a Scaup. There were 31 Pinkfeet and 12 Pale-bellied Brent Geese. A heavy passage of Barnacle Geese and Greenland Whitefronts occurred on and off all-month, with 200 Whooper Swans (22nd). Mark Shields and Dr John Bowler ( john.bowler@rspb.org.uk)
CENTRAL
HIGHLIGHTS: Slavonian Grebes were on Skinflats (4th) and the estuary at Kinneil (18th). A Spoonbill was at Powfoulis (21st) and Skinflats (25th). A Richardson’s Cackling Goose was at Skinflats (15th), then on the Bandeath peninsula (22nd-28th).
CLACKMANNANSHIRE: A Scaup and two Black-tailed Godwits were on Cambus Village Pools (2nd). Two Grey Plovers were at Longcarse (8th), with two Bearded Tits in the area. Eight Great Crested Grebes and two Gadwall were on Gartmorn Dam (10th), when 628 Teal were at Tullibody Inch. A Whimbrel was at Cambus Village Pools (18th). There were 54 Whooper Swans over the Blackdevon Wetlands (22nd).
FALKIRK DISTRICT: There were 75 Bean
SKINFLATS POOLS: Highlights included 37 Pintails, 45 Grey Plovers, two Curlew Sandpipers, six Gannets, a Barnacle Goose, three Jack Snipe, 12 Twite, 88 Whooper Swans, two Scaup, a Merlin, 282 Golden Plovers and a Rock Pipit.
STIRLING DISTRICT: A Gannet was on the B826 between Thornhill and Doune (3rd). A Hen Harrier was at Buckieburn Reservoir (4th). A Scaup was at the head of Loch Tay (4th) with 21 Whooper Swans flying over there (5th). Two Long-eared Owls were at Argaty (6th), when Fieldfares were in the Tyndrum area (6th). There were two Great Crested Grebes on Loch Coulter (10th).
Twelve Whooper Swans, a Greenland Whitefront and 17 Barnacle Geese were on the Bandeath peninsula (22nd). There were 755 Canada Geese, two Barnacle Geese, 689 Pinkfeet and seven Whooper Swans on the Blackdub Floods (28th), when a Pintail was by the Eas Gobhain, Callander.
UPPER FORTH ESTUARY: A co-ordinated count (18th) produced 46 Great Crested Grebes, a Slavonian Grebe, 51 Cormorants, 682 Shelducks, 120 Wigeon, 816 Teal, 81 Pintails, a Scaup, two Eiders, 56 Red-breasted Mergansers, 334 Oystercatchers, seven Grey Plovers, 234 Golden Plovers, 839 Lapwings, 304 Dunlin, 1,332 Black-tailed Godwits, 32 Bar-tailed Godwits, 380 Curlews and 1,855 Redshanks. Neil Bielby
FIFE
HIGHLIGHTS: Kilminning logged a Siberian Thrush, Common Rosefinches, Short-eared Owls, Hawfinches, Bramblings, Lesser Redpolls, Crossbills, Redstarts, Chiffchaffs, Siberian Chiffchaffs, a Garden Warbler, Barred Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Willow Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Goldcrests, Woodcocks, Jack Snipe, Ring Ouzels, Spotted Flycatchers, a Greenshank, Black-throated Diver, Grey Wagtails, Grey Plovers, Siskins, Northern-race Bullfinches, 14 Twite, Mealy Redpolls, a Merlin, good numbers of winter thrushes and a Red-backed Shrike.
Good numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers were noted. A Glossy Ibis visited Tayport (16th). Fife Ness had an Arctic Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Radde’s Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff and Short-eared Owl. Ferry Hills recorded Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Skuas, Great Skuas, all three divers, Whooper Swans, Taiga Bean Geese, Brent Geese, 110 Kittiwakes, Little Gulls, a Merlin and nocturnal White-fronted Geese. Valleyfield Lagoons held Bar-tailed Godwits, Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshanks and Slavonian Grebes.
Significant movements of Pinkfeet included 4,000 at Crombie. Whooper Swans were at, or over, ten sites. Skeins of Barnacle Geese included 350 at Kilminning and 2,281 at Boarhills. Brent Geese were at Kilrenny Mill, Outhead, Tayport and over Ferry Hills. There were 14 Red Grouse on the Lomond Hills. Cameron Reservoir, the Eden Estuary and Kilconquhar Loch held Scaup. Two Surf Scoters were at Kinshaldy (21st). Slavonian Grebes were off East Weymss, Leven, Kinshaldy and Dalgety Bay. Eighteen Sooty Shearwaters passed Crail (13th). Eleven Little Egrets were on the Eden Estuary.
Two White-tailed Eagles were at Kinshaldy. Marsh Harriers were at Newburgh (two) and Rossie Bog (three). A Hen Harrier was at Cameron Reservoir. Merlins were at Charlottetown, Ferry Hills, Pathhead, Morton