Birdwatch

Analysis: Rarities and scarcities

December proved to be a dynamic month across Britain and Ireland with new goodies still being unearthed well into the winter.

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Changeable weather throughout made December a relatively dynamic month for birding across Britain and Ireland, with the protracted autumn season continuing to throw up exciting arrivals.

Northern Ireland’s first Bufflehead – a fine adult drake – was discovered at Quoile Pondage, Co Down, on 5th. Footage posted on Facebook saw the identifica­tion confirmed, and thankfully, the bird stuck around until the end of the year. Another Bufflehead – this time a female – was photograph­ed flying past Aghada in Cork Harbour on 20th. The county’s third, it was latterly relocated near Kinsale in early 2021. (See page 10.)

Meanwhile, the Belted Kingfisher lingered south-west of Castletown­bere throughout December, although it did go missing for more than a week over Christmas – but was back again on 28th. Bar any sort of extreme weather, it’s likely it’ll be around now until spring.

In contrast, the Double-crested Cormorant wasn’t seen in the Ballylongf­ord area of Co Kerry after 22nd – although you would bet on it most likely still being there. It could be mobile and very elusive at times, and was best tracked down at its roost site near Carrig Island.

Other Irish news this month included a first-winter drake American Black Duck at Cross Lough on The Mullet, Co Mayo, with a Richardson’s Cackling Goose also there. A whitemorph Gyr Falcon was at nearby Termoncarr­agh Lough on 6th, while the Galway Bay Forster’s Tern was seen at Nimmo’s Pier the same day, with 6th also producing the first sighting of the returning Pacific Diver at Crookhaven, Co Cork.

One of the standout sightings of the month was an American Bittern at Fiskerton Fen, Lincs. Although found on 29 November, it was apparently seen on the reserve until 1st – although not again. If accepted, this would be a county first.

Even the capital had its own mega ‘Yank’, with news of a Darkeyed Junco in a private Chiswick garden filtering out on 1st (see page 8). The bird had been present a week and remained in the area for a few days at least.

The long-staying Eurasian Crag Martin remained on the southeast Kent coast until 4th – it was last seen at Samphire Hoe CP on 2nd, but was noted again at its Kingsdown roost site two days after that. As many as 25 sites continued to hold Swallows, with birds as far north as Moray and Aberdeensh­ire in the first week of the month, and one seen in Devon as late as 27th.

Shropshire’s bird of the year – the Pied-billed Grebe at Chelmarsh Res – remained there until 17th, after which wasn’t seen again. The Cornish Pacific Diver tends to be reported in ebbs and flows, and that was typical of December 2020 – regularly seen until 10th, it wasn’t noted again by the end of the year. Another Pacific Diver was seen near Cairnryan, Dumfries and Galloway, on 12th, but not again since.

Back in Cornwall, the young Sociable Lapwing remained mobile with Northern Lapwings in the general vicinity of Crowsan-Wra, not far from Land’s

End airport, until 10th. Widely assumed to have vacated west Cornwall for good, it was a pleasant surprise when it reappeared 110 km to the northeast at Bude on 26th, making for a fine Boxing Day walk find for one fortunate observer. Here it lingered to the year’s end.

There was, however, no sign of the first-winter Hudsonian Godwit at the Eden Estuary, Fife, beyond 17th – apparently the godwit flock was somewhat reduced after this date and the likelihood is that this bird is lurking undetected somewhere on the British mainland.

Another quality winter wader was the Kentish Plover at

Burnham on Sea, Somerset, which is in the area for its second winter running. A first-winter Spotted Sandpiper visited a puddle on the Co Dublin coast at Bremore for four days from 3rd, while the Pacific Golden Plover remained at Findhorn Bay, Moray and Nairn, until at least 28th – a rare wintering record of this species in Britain.

Meanwhile, the Long-billed Dowitcher remained at Scorton, North Yorks, to 14th, with the Cumbrian bird again at Campfield Marsh RSPB intermitte­ntly from 15th. North Yorkshire also held onto its Lesser Yellowlegs – the adult was at Nosterfiel­d LNR all month. Also reliable was the first-winter at Killongfor­d, Co Waterford, but the one in the Cley area of Norfolk disappeare­d after 6th, while others in Devon and on South Uist were reported only intermitte­ntly. More unusual for mid-winter was a Wood Sandpiper at Old Moor RSPB, South Yorks, from 6th.

The adult Franklin’s Gull seen at North Duffield Carrs, North Yorks, on 12th and at nearby Thorganby Ings the following day is most likely the bird seen in West Yorkshire in the autumn, although it’s done well to avoid detection for so long in a wellwatche­d county.

Just a couple of Bonaparte’s Gulls were seen in December; both were adults. One was at Otter Ferry, Argyll, on 17-18th and another was at Rosslare, Co Wexford, on Christmas Day. Six of seven Irish Ring-billed Gulls were adults, the sole first-winter being on The Mullet, Co Mayo. Regular adults were back at Llys-y-Fran Reservoir, Pembs, and Hayle Estuary, Cornwall; an adult was briefly at Lytchett Bay, Dorset, on 27th and a second-winter was similarly fleeting at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, on 10th.

A reasonable influx of Iceland Gulls materialis­ed, with 165 sites recording the species across Britain and Ireland during December. Most were in the north and west, as well as coastal spots in the east, but birds only began to penetrate inland in the final third of the month. Sample counts included at least six in the Scrabster area of Caithness and up to four at Dungeness, Kent.

Pallid Harrier isn’t a species normally associated with Shetland in December, yet a bird flew south through Kergord valley on 10th. Somewhat more expected was the continued presence of the female Snowy

Owl on St Kilda, Outer Hebrides. It’s proving a poor winter for Rough-legged Buzzards, with perhaps just four birds reported during the month, including sightings on the North York Moors and in Suffolk.

The Eastern Yellow Wagtail continued to show very well at Steart WWT, Somerset, until 20th, while the adult male was reported regularly from Carlton Marshes, Suffolk, until the year’s end. A highly unusual winter record of a Tree Pipit came from Thursley Common, Surrey, on 17th, while three Richard’s Pipits were seen: a reliable bird at Sidlesham, West Sussex, from 4th, as well as others at Nanquidno, Cornwall, on 17th and at Egypt Bay, Kent.

In a continuati­on of the bumper autumn for the species, 13 Dusky Warblers were unearthed around

Britain. The first for Cambridges­hire was at Aldreth from 11-16th, with other notable finds including one at Astbury Mere, Cheshire, on 20th and another at Ainsdale, Lancs, on 9th. Elsewhere, three were in Kent and two in Cornwall. The month’s only Pallas’s Warbler was trapped and ringed on St Mary’s, Scilly, on 6th, but an impressive 85 sites scored Siberian Chiffchaff.

A Hoopoe was at Portskewet­t, Gwent, from 7-9th, while there were five Rosy Starlings spread across England and Wales. The long-staying adult was still at Amlwch, Anglesey, all month, with a first-winter still on Portland, Dorset, throughout, as well as others in Devon, Cornwall and Cumbria.

It’s been a poor winter for Great Grey Shrikes so far, with as few as a dozen birds scattered

across England and Scotland.

The male Red-breasted Flycatcher lingered at Church Cove, Cornwall, until 6th, before finally moving on.

Probably the most eyebrowrai­sing occurrence of the month was a hat-trick of Siberian buntings at Thursley Common, Surrey. While singles of Rustic and Little Buntings have been present here for some time now (the latter since mid-October), just about everyone was nonetheles­s taken by surprise when a second Little was photograph­ed alongside the first on Christmas Eve. All three remained in the vicinity into 2021.

In total, there were seven Little Buntings around the country, with two in Shetland, one on Scilly and another at Abereiddy, Pembs, on 14-15th The Nottingham­shire bird lingered at Langford Lowfields RSPB until 23rd. Fife’s first Rustic Bunting away from the Isle of May was at Kingsbarns on 7th.

Twenty-four sites held Glossy Ibises, with Cambridges­hire the epicentre of this winter’s spread of birds. Threes were at Sea Palling, Norfolk, and Earith, Cambs. A Common Crane over Lucan, Co Dublin, on 5th was a great Irish record.

It’s shaping up to be another fruitful winter for Ring-necked Duck, with more than 30 sites across Britain and Ireland logging the species, involving more than 40 birds. Threes were at Cotswold Water Park, Glos, and Talley Lakes, Carmarthen, with several sites scoring twos. In contrast, just a single Lesser Scaup was found: a first-winter drake at Knockaderr­y Lake, Co Waterford, on 30th. The only confirmed Ferruginou­s Duck was the regular drake at Blashford Lakes, Hants.

At least 11 American Wigeon were seen, four of which were in Scotland. Eleven Green-winged Teal was a very modest total by recent standards; in some recent years up to three times this many have been present in midwinter. The American Black Duck soldiered on at Strontian, Highland.

A dozen or so Surf Scoter were widely scattered, with perhaps the most unusual records including a drake off Ragwen Point, Carmarthen, on 24th and two off the Co Meath coastline. Another young female was found off Kirkwall, Orkney, on New

Year’s Eve, while the young drake lingered in Pembrokesh­ire and the adult drake did the same in Moray.

As many as three Richardson’s Cackling Geese were on Islay, Argyll, with two still on North Uist, Outer Hebrides. Five or six Todd’s Canada Geese were to be found around England and Scotland, the former including a bird in Northumber­land from 9-14th which seemingly moved south to north-west Norfolk from 15-23rd. The only Snow Goose of likely wild origin was the intermedia­te morph in Highland, last noted at Nigg Bay on 6th. Big numbers of Russian White-fronted Geese remained at large, with several flocks into the hundreds in Kent, Essex and Suffolk, as well plenty well inland across southern England.

Numerous Great Northern Divers remained at inland waterbodie­s after late

November’s influx, including 25 or more in the English Midlands. This included an extraordin­ary nine together at Rutland Water on 23rd. Undoubtedl­y most stunning, though, was a leucistic bird – entirely white in plumage, with a pinkish bill – at Salcombe, Devon, for much of the month. ■

 ??  ?? The male Belted Kingfisher remained in situ in Castletown­bere, Co Cork, suggesting that it could well stay put until the spring.
The male Belted Kingfisher remained in situ in Castletown­bere, Co Cork, suggesting that it could well stay put until the spring.
 ??  ?? The Lothian White-winged Scoter was elusive, seen on just two dates late in the month.
The Lothian White-winged Scoter was elusive, seen on just two dates late in the month.
 ??  ?? In Kent, the Eurasian Crag Martin continued at Samphire Hoe into the first few days of December.
Two Eastern Yellow Wagtails were wintering in Britain: in Somerset and Suffolk.
In Kent, the Eurasian Crag Martin continued at Samphire Hoe into the first few days of December. Two Eastern Yellow Wagtails were wintering in Britain: in Somerset and Suffolk.
 ??  ?? This spectacula­r leucistic Great Northern Diver appeared at Salcombe, Devon, in midDecembe­r, lingering until the end of the year.
This spectacula­r leucistic Great Northern Diver appeared at Salcombe, Devon, in midDecembe­r, lingering until the end of the year.
 ??  ?? The first-winter male Rustic Bunting at Thursley Common, Surrey, proved a popular draw throughout the month.
The first-winter male Rustic Bunting at Thursley Common, Surrey, proved a popular draw throughout the month.
 ??  ?? In Cornwall, the adult male Red-breasted Flycatcher lingered at Church Cove until 6th, but wasn’t seen after that.
In Cornwall, the adult male Red-breasted Flycatcher lingered at Church Cove until 6th, but wasn’t seen after that.

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