Rarity Round-Up
Among the ‘new’ birds of December was a sensational looking Great Northern Diver
The ‘best’ of the rare birds seen in the UK during December
After all the excitement of November’s ‘first’ for the UK (the Ruby- crowned Kinglet on Barra, Outer Hebrides), it was too much to ask for December to produce more of the same. Instead, the year rather drifted to a more sedate conclusion, rare bird-wise. There were still plenty of rare birds around, though, but not so many ‘new’ ones and nothing really sensationally rare.
One of the rarest ‘new’ birds was an American Bittern, at Fiskerton Fen, Lincolnshire. This ‘first’ for the county was actually a November arrival, having been seen from 29 November to 2 December; but, like the aforementioned kinglet, news was not released until after the event (actually about a week after its departure), for lockdown reasons.
After the long-staying (and rather flirtatious, with female Bitterns) male American Bittern at Carlton Marshes, Suffolk, in the spring and summer of 2018, not so many listers will be as upset by missing the Lincs bird. But, doubtless several ‘Lincolnshire listers’ will feel differently about this...
Another November-arriving, ‘suppressed’ bird was a Darkeyed Junco, which spent a week in a garden in Chiswick, west London (to 1st). Juncos do love turning up in gardens, it seems, but rarely become twitchable and also rarely linger.
Also arriving late in November, the first-winter Sociable Lapwing remained at Crows-an-Wra in south-western Cornwall, being seen in the area until 10th. On Boxing Day, it was relocated a bit further north- east at Bude (also Cornwall).
Among the ‘ best’ new birds of December was a beautiful male Eastern Black Redstart at Snettisham RSPB. First seen on 31st, it was still present a couple of weeks into January. At one stage Eastern Black Redstarts looked like becoming a regular feature of UK winters, after particularly strong showings in 2016 and 2017. But, perhaps it was a false dawn, and they will remain very rare (and very desirable) visitors.
In Northern Ireland, a drake Bufflehead was found at Quoile Pondage (5th into January), coinciding with a ‘mini-invasion’ of these small North American ducks on the island of Ireland. As usual, though, with this species, questions will have to be asked (and answered) about the wild or otherwise origin of the birds.
Lingerers and long-stayers
One of the weirdest stories (in a good way) of the end of 2020 into 2021, was the concentration of eastern buntings at the unlikely spot of Thursley Common, Surrey. The story so far: a Rustic Bunting arrived there to join a Little Bunting in late November and throughout December.
But around Christmas time, they were joined by a second Little Bunting and the three eastern buntings were even photographed feeding together (and were seen frequently, well into January).
How many of these rare buntings are scattered across the rest of the UK is anyone’s guess. And with current restrictions on movement (of people, not buntings) we will probably never come close to knowing.
A Franklin’s Gull at various sites in North Yorkshire (starting at North Duffield Carrs, on 12th), then East Yorkshire, was thought likely to be the bird seen in West Yorkshire back in September.
The Crag Martin (which first appeared in November) on the white cliffs of Kent ( between Kingdown and Samphire Hoe), was last seen on 4th. Fife’s juvenile Hudsonian Godwit (around the Eden Estuary), was last reported on 21st. The next day (22nd) was the last day the Pied-billed Grebe was reported at Chelmarsh Reservoir, Shropshire.
The Eastern Yellow Wagtail remained in place at Steart WWT, Somerset, at least into the second week of 2021. The Alaskan Yellow Wagtail also saw in the New Year at Carlton Marshes, Suffolk.
Meanwhile, the regular returning adult Pacific Diver once again appeared in the sea near Penzance. Arguably even more exciting was a nearly wholly white Great Northern Diver off Salcombe, south Devon, in the second half of the month and into 2021.
Finally, mention must be made of a bit of a decent end of year influx of European (aka Russian) White-fronted Geese at several sites across the country, as well as a decent surge of Iceland Gull records (and a few Kumlien’s Gulls) in the Christmas period and into the New Year.
The start of 2021 was marked by another national lockdown (in England) and consequent restrictions of movement and inevitably limited reporting of rare birds, so as not to encourage birders to wander far. So, after a relatively quiet December, January will probably follow suit. See next month’s instalment!