RARITY PREDICTOR

Spring allows an extra level of outrageousness to any rarity predictions. But these three rarities have at least turned up in March before. Will they this year?

LESSER KESTREL

During last spring’s lockdown (from March), an adult male Lesser Kestrel took up residence on St Mary’s, Scilly (for more than a month). What chance an accessible one of these rare (c. 35 accepted UK records) southern European falcons turning up for all to see?

LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE

Once upon a time, this small, rare goose was a just about annual visitor to Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire. Nowadays they are pretty darn rare, again. The origins of any bird are always questioned, especially as there is a recently established population of naturalised birds on the near continent (eg Netherlands).

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL

The big pale gull which accompanies salmon fishing Grizzly Bears in all those North American nature documentaries, the Glaucous-winged Gull is a Pacific species. There have been six records of these big brutes in the UK (though some are of the same bird). Check all big, ugly, pale gulls again, in March!