Rarity Round-up
Pallid Harriers hogged the headlines in month of buntings and sparrows
The ‘best’ rare birds seen in the UK and Ireland during September
Remember September 2017? One of the big twitches of the year took place, with birders rushing to Shetland, and specifically Out Skerries, the tiny group of islands to the east of the rest of the islands. The reason: a juvenile Yellow-breasted Bunting had turned up. There have been more than 200 accepted records of this widely distributed Eurasian bunting in the UK, mostly on Shetland, and at one stage it was just about annual. But this once abundant bunting has undergone a catastrophic population decline (largely through hunting for food in China) of more than 95% in 20-30 years, and it is now officially listed as Critically Endangered. Understandably, it was thought the Out Skerries bird last year would be the last of its kind in these islands. Hence the tickers’ rush. So, it was with some considerable surprise that this September (22nd) a juvenile Yellow-breasted Bunting was found at Vats-houll on Whalsay, the fair-sized eastern Shetland island closest to Out Skerries. It was still present the next day, but not relocated on 14th. And while on the subject of rare buntings, or at least bunting-like birds, on Shetland, one of the other main stories of the month was the presence of two closely related North American sparrows on the remote, westernmost Shetland isle of Foula. A White-throated Sparrow was found there on 7th, though it did a disappearing act the next day, reappearing again on 18th. On 30th, a first-winter White-crowned Sparrow was also on the island (with birds present into early October, at least). These three seed-eaters from east and west proved to be the comfortable highlight of September’s Shetland offerings. In days gone by, there would have been more excitement about the five Blyth’s Reed Warblers in the archipelago over the first few weeks (with one on Foula staying to 19th). But this species doesn’t have quite the rarity value it once had. That said, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler performing (off and on) at Lowestoft, Suffolk on 30th, was a different level of rare. A Booted Warbler was also there on 6th).
Foula did also produce a Buff-bellied Pipit (1 October). And on Fair Isle, Shetland, a couple of Lanceoated Warblers were trapped and ringed (5th and 11th). A third Lancy was trapped and ringed on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, where there have been fewer than half a dozen ever. Two Arctic Warblers were also on Fair Isle and another on North Ronaldsay, and one was also at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire (5th to 6th). Pallid Harriers Another bird which is nowhere near as rare as it once was is Pallid Harrier. There may have been more than half-a-dozen juveniles reported across the country during the month (as well as the odd apparent hybrid, such as the bird tracked and photographed across north Norfolk on 7th). A juvenile was on Fair Isle, Shetland, but more popular were the ‘showy’ individuals at Welney WWT, Norfolk (from 13th) and Therfield, Hertfordshire (from 18th). Interestingly, two juveniles were seen over the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire (next door to Welney) on 17th. One of these two birds was undoubtedly the ‘regular’ Welney harrier, and the other could well have been the juvenile which settled in Hertfordshire the next day. We are entering an era when Pallid Harriers are seen with more regularity than Montagu’s Harriers, particularly in autumn.
Storm-blown birds
September is, of course, traditionally a time of high winds. And the first ‘named storm’ of the autumn duly appeared with the name of Ali, at the end of the third week. The most widely notable effect was the appearance of more than 100 Grey Phalaropes, mostly in the southern half of the UK, with a very decent proportion turning up inland (Grey Phalaropes, of course, winter out at sea). Inevitably, many of these birds were fearless, and some remarkable close-up photographs appeared online. Another consequence of Storm Ali was the bringing of large numbers of shearwaters close to land, especially Cornwall. Indeed, the 20th saw a remarkable 2,400 Great Shearwaters past Horse Point, St Agnes, Scilly and 2,000 past Porthgwarra, Cornwall. On the same day, there were reports of Little (aka Barolo) Shearwater flying past Heysham and Rossal Point, Lancashire. These followed one seen off South Uist, Outer Hebrides on 16th, which would be just the fifth Scottish record.
Best of the rest
The American White-winged Scoter remained off Musselburgh, Lothian throughout the month. The Stilt Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire, stayed until 4th, while the Long-billed Dowitcher at the same site, stayed throughout the month, and well into October. About 30 Ortolan Buntings were reported, mainly in the south of England, during the month. Noc-mig recordings produced several more records, as is becoming expected in early September, these days. About 50 Common Rosefinches were recorded during the month, with most concentrated in the Northern Isles (particularly Shetland) and the east of Scotland and northern England, and south-west of England. There was also a good spread of 70-odd Wrynecks reported, with the vast majority across the southern half of England and Wales, though there were a smattering on the east coast of the northern English counties. Talking of good numbers, the British Cattle Egret flock record was well beaten in early October with 105 roosting on Canada Lake, Shapwick Heath NNR, Somerset! And the month contained the usual range of beautiful American waders, including a very good spread of Pectoral Sandpipers and some confiding birds, including a beautiful Baird’s Sandpiper at Dale, Pembrokeshire. Final word should go to one of the most twitched species of September. Not a bird though, but a Beluga (the white Arctic whale, not the type of sturgeon…) found feeding in the Thames off Gravesend, Kent, late in the month. Let’s hope it made safely back to the open sea.