Birdwatch

Analysis: Western Palearctic

Kuwait stole most of the headlines this month, with a brace of Forest Wagtails among the many highlights in the Middle Eastern country.

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December was rather quiet in most of the Western Palearctic, although Kuwait enjoyed a purple patch. Two Forest Wagtails at Jahra Pools on 7th were the undoubted highlight, representi­ng only the second and third individual­s seen in the Western Palearctic. The one previous occurrence was also in Kuwait, at Al Abraq in November 2006. The nation’s hot streak continued with a first-winter Brown-headed Gull at Jahra Pools on 22nd – a national first and just the second for the Western Palearctic, after another youngster in Israel back in 1985.

The list of Kuwaiti goodies continued: an Ashy Drongo – the country’s fourth and either the fifth or sixth for the region – was at the private Sabriya Oil Field from 4th, an adult Masked Wagtail – the country’s seventh record – was at Jahra Pools from 5th, two Indian Rollers were still at Sulaibiya Pivot Field and the White-breasted Waterhen made a reappearan­ce at Jahra East on 10th. The country’s long-staying Lesser Flamingo was back at Sulaibikha­t Bay from 20th. Not bad for midwinter …

Israel’s first Wilson’s Phalarope was a surprise find at Sde Eliyahu, close to the Jordanian border, from 18th – a long way from home. Continuing the Nearctic flair were the country’s third American Golden Plover at Eilat the following day and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Ein Hamifratz on the same date, another a national third. Elsewhere, the immature Bateleur lingered over Tsor’a, a Basalt Wheatear was at Samar from 20th, a Greater Paintedsni­pe was at Gan Shmu’el fishponds from 14th and a Lesser White-fronted Goose was at Meitsar from 29th. Israel’s third and fourth Eastern Redrumped Swallows were at Eilat

and Atlit respective­ly towards the month’s end, the latter joined by a Grey Hypocolius

In south-west Germany, a firstwinte­r female White-headed Duck at Stausee Altheim, Landshut, from 21st was especially notable and continues the impressive influx into eastern Europe this winter. Meanwhile, a Pygmy Cormorant was again near Alfhausen.

Belated news of Algeria’s first African Crake was received; found exhausted in late November, it taken into care near Kerzaz in the far north-west of the country. Lebanon’s first White-eyed

Gull – a second-winter – was photograph­ed on 31st.

In the Azores, a young White-winged Scoter was an impressive find at Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, on 8th – a first for Portugal, no less.

There was a strong December showing of Great Blue Herons for the archipelag­o, with no fewer than three individual­s: one found freshly dead at Paul da Praia, Terceira, on 12th was complement­ed by one very much alive at the same site on 21st. Another was at Lagoa das Furnas, São Miguel, on 11th. A Northern Parula at Madalena, Pico, was an unseasonal surprise.

On Pico, the female Belted Kingfisher was again reported from Lajes do Pico throughout, while São Miguel’s Green Heron was still to be found around Povoação until 7th at least. A juvenile Northern Harrier was at Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, on 8th.

Spain’s first Bimaculate­d

Lark at Sa Barrala, Mallorca, at the month’s end was notable, although, depressing­ly, the country’s third White’s Thrush was mistaken for a Eurasian Woodcock and shot at Mallabia on 25th. A Brown Booby flew west past Malpica on 7th and an Eastern Yellow Wagtail was at the Ebro Delta on 29th. Sociable Lapwings were still at Cabeza del Buey until 29th and at Aitona from 15-20th, with another at Fraga on 31st, while the regular adult American Herring Gull was again noted at Lires Fish Farm on 8th. The first Pine Bunting for the Balearic Islands – an attractive male – was at Orient, Mallorca, from 6th; the first modern-day Great Bustard for the archipelag­o was on Formentera from 26th.

In Sweden, an Asian Desert Warbler was at Torngård, Öland, from 1-6th. A new Blyth’s Pipit was on the outskirts of Umeå, the Alaskan Yellow Wagtail lingered at Trelleborg, and a male Black-throated Thrush was at Klusån on 22nd, with a male Eastern Black Redstart at Gotland on 25th.

Finland’s second Richardson’s Cackling Goose was at Maaviiki from 1-9th, while an Oriental Turtle Dove was noted at Keikyä, Sastamala, on 4th. An Azure Tit was on garden feeders at Pruszków, Poland, on 27th – the country’s first since 2004. A first-winter Franklin’s Gull was at Kviljo-odden, Norway.

A drake Stejneger’s Scoter was off Høve Strand, Denmark, from 13th. The Faroes’ first Pied-billed Grebe was at Eiði from 16th, while a Grey-bellied Brant at Trongisvág­ur from 6th is the first Brant of either form for the archipelag­o. Low Countries highlights were in short supply: a Brünnich’s Guillemot was at Verse Meer, The Netherland­s, from 30th, a Black-throated Thrush was at Hoograven from 4th and a Blyth’s Pipit was at Havenhoofd from 5th. ■

 ??  ?? One of many excellent Kuwaiti records in December, this Forest Wagtail was one of two that visited Jahra Pools on 7th.
One of many excellent Kuwaiti records in December, this Forest Wagtail was one of two that visited Jahra Pools on 7th.
 ??  ?? The Faroe Islands scored its first-ever record of Pied-billed Grebe when one pitched up at Eiði during the middle of the month.
The Faroe Islands scored its first-ever record of Pied-billed Grebe when one pitched up at Eiði during the middle of the month.
 ??  ?? This splendid Azure Tit, the 37th record for Poland but the first for 16 years, spent three days at Pruszków from 27 December.
This splendid Azure Tit, the 37th record for Poland but the first for 16 years, spent three days at Pruszków from 27 December.
 ??  ?? An incredible example of extreme vagrancy, this Wilson’s Phalarope at the famous Kfar Ruppin fishponds in Israel from 18-22nd was unsurprisi­ngly a national first.
An incredible example of extreme vagrancy, this Wilson’s Phalarope at the famous Kfar Ruppin fishponds in Israel from 18-22nd was unsurprisi­ngly a national first.

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