Rarities and scarcities
The coldest January in a decade delivered plenty of birds from northern climes, including an influx of Iceland Gulls. Josh Jones reports.
There was no sense of the January blues, as lockdown birding efforts were rewarded with local finds, to join the list of wintering goodies.
The new year got off to a steady start, with coronavirus-related restrictions meaning that coverage was significantly reduced across both Britain and Ireland.
Nonetheless, a few excellent birds were found – not least the White-throated Sparrow in a garden at Orlestone, Kent
(see pages 9-10. Found around the turn of the year, it was first reported on 10th. The owners noted its continued presence on 13th, though not after that. It represents a first for Kent.
Nearctic visitors were generally well represented, with the drake Bufflehead still at Quoile Pondage, Co Down, to 8th and the female still along the Co Cork coast east of Kinsale. A drake at Coton Lake, Warks, on 27-28th could well be the Northern Irish bird relocating.
News was sparse on the Double-crested Cormorant in Co Kerry, but confirmation came on 17th that it was still roosting in its favoured spot by the estuary at Ballylongford. How many more of these ultra-rare American wanderers might have been found in a ‘normal’ winter, with birding remote westerly locations a possibility? Meanwhile, the Belted Kingfisher was still near Castletownbere on 5th, but subsequent searches have apparently drawn a blank.
Now into its 15th calendar year in the area, the drake American Black Duck was still to be found at Strontian, Highland, this month. Another was still near Belmullet, Co Mayo. Just 16 Green-winged Teal across Britain and Ireland was a low total by recent standards, as was four American Wigeon – two in Ireland and one apiece in England and Scotland.
The drake Ferruginous Duck remained at Blashford Lakes, Hants, while an apparent female was at Ouse Washes, Cambs, from 17th. Two drake Lesser Scaup were in Ireland: the lingering bird at Knockaderry Lake, Co Waterford, and a new individual at Ardcloony, Co Clare, on 22nd. None were noted in Britain. In contrast, it was another great month for Ringnecked Duck. Some 15 Irish and as many as 30 British sites produced records and, although some will involve the same birds moving around, it’s reasonable to conclude that at least 40 individuals were across these isles in January.
Two Irish counties – Mayo and Kerry – hosted new King Eider, with two still off St John’s Point, Co Donegal, and the regular drake again off Findhorn, Moray. Half a dozen Surf Scoter were seen in Scotland, including up to three off Dornoch, Highland. Three more were seen around the Welsh coast, with further threes in Counties Kerry and Meath, plus a single bird in Co Mayo.
Two Richardson’s Cackling Geese remained on North Uist, while a couple of Todd’s Canada Geese were on Tiree. Another of the latter was seen again at a couple of Northumberland sites on 29th. Black Brant were at a dozen English sites. An adult Lesser White-fronted Goose among Pink-footed Geese at Pilling Lane Ends, Lancs, on 31st transpired to be the same bird seen in North Yorkshire in September 2020, and is considered of dubious origin.
An apparent family party of Grey-bellied Brant touring the parks and playing fields of Dublin city gave local birders a bit of lockdown relief, with a superb adult Black Brant also in among the local Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Sadly, a nearby Darkbellied Brent Goose was never seen alongside the brants, which would have meant all the world’s Brent Goose taxa in one place.
As many as 25 sites logged Glossy Ibises during the month, with groups of four at Fremington Quay, Devon, and three at Earith, Cambs, among the high counts.
After being relocated on Boxing Day, the Sociable Lapwing remained in the Bude area of Cornwall throughout
January, although was only occasionally reported. The Kentish Plover at Burnham-onSea, Somerset, was similarly steadfast, remaining along the shore there all month. Far to the north, the juvenile Pacific Golden Plover was last reported from Findhorn Bay, Moray, on 12th.
In Ayrshire, the Spotted Sandpiper reappeared along the shore at Croy on 28th, more than three months after it had last been seen. Two lingering Long-billed Dowitchers were seen in January: the adult again at Anthorn, Cumbria, and the firstwinter still in the Scorton area of North Yorkshire. Also in the latter county, the Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Nosterfield LNR to 10th – others were still in Devon and Co Waterford.
Rare gulls were in short supply, but the long-staying Forster’s Tern was noted intermittently in Galway Bay – this now its 19th calendar year in the area. Six Ring-billed Gulls were seen in Britain, including old-aged adults back in Clyde, Pembrokeshire and Hampshire, plus a second-winter at Millbrook, Cornwall. Eleven were seen in Ireland, again almost all adults.
On New Year’s Day, news came to light of a male Eastern Black Redstart at Snettisham, Norfolk. It had been first seen the previous day and went on to linger there for a couple of weeks.
The adult Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Prestwick Carr, Northumberland, was seen again on 5th after a brief appearance back in November. It remained there for the rest of the month, but was reported only sporadically. Further south, the male remained at Carlton Marshes, Suffolk, all month.
A total of seven Dusky Warblers were on offer across England, including birds as far north as Lancashire and Cheshire. An individual at Nunnery Lakes, Norfolk, on 9th was a first for this productive reserve. Despite the cold weather, at least 30 Yellow-browed Warblers were noted across England, Wales and Ireland.
No fewer than four wintering Rosy Starlings were to be found, with that most regularly reported being the bird on Portland, Dorset – now in its fifth calendar month on site. A total of 10 Great Grey Shrikes was paltry by normal standards, most typically being found on heaths in southern England.
The only Coues’s Arctic Redpoll of the month was a smart bird at Ferry Meadows CP, Cambs. Seen and photographed for a matter of minutes on 24th, it wasn’t noted again.
In Surrey, the astonishing wintering bunting threesome – Rustic and two Littles – remained at Thursley Common all month. Another Rustic was found and photographed at an undisclosed location in Co Waterford on 21st, while a Little was discovered at Thurlestone, Devon, on 18th. Another Little was also still on Unst, Shetland. ■