Western Palearctic
Finland scored a mega Pacific gull during a lively month in the region, which saw a scattering of goodies in Scandinavia and a gallinule influx in the Canaries. Sam Viles reports.
A Sandhill Crane graced Denmark and Sweden, the region’s fourth Streakthroated Swallow was seen in Turkey and Iceland scored a WP second.
The 10th for the region, Finland’s second Slatybacked Gull proved popular at Kuusankoski from 23-25th. Denmark’s second Sandhill Crane photographed at Vordingborg on 2nd started the year with a bang. It proved to be a mobile customer, last reported heading south-west over Liseleje on 31st. The story didn’t end there – a Swedish newspaper cutting revealed that the “odd crane” had first appeared in a shed at Åsele, Sweden, on 12 October.
The Western Palearctic’s third Red-breasted Nuthatch was a remarkable if elusive find at Sólbrekka, Iceland, on 23th, while the Dark-eyed Junco remained at Helluvatn. A new White-winged Scoter was off Reykjavík from 6-9th; the regular drake was still off Njarðvík.
Back in Sweden, a new Oriental Turtle Dove was at Tavleliden and the Alaskan Yellow Wagtail lingered at Trelleborg, with a returning drake Stejneger’s Scoter back off Båstad from 8th. In neighbouring Norway, what is perhaps the country’s first Bufflehead – a first-winter female – was at Harvalandsvatnet on 3rd, while a first-winter American Herring Gull was at Honningsvåg.
More at home in the Indian subcontinent, Turkey recorded its first-ever Streak-throated Swallow over Milleyha on 11th, just the fourth for the Western Palearctic. A remarkable Allen’s Gallinule influx to the Canaries saw individuals on all four major islands, while the Belted Kingfisher remained on Lanzarote. In mainland Spain, a Sociable Lapwing was at Fraga and the adult American Herring Gull held on at Lires.
A healthy portion of Azorean Double-crested Cormorants remained on offer, including birds at Madalena, Pico (four), Hora, Faial (two), Mosteiros, São Miguel (two), and Praia, Terceira. In Cape Verde, a returning Whitetailed Tropicbird was on Ilhéu de Cima from 25th, while a Blackcapped Petrel was off Fogo on 29th – the sixth consecutive year one has graced the archipelago.
An intriguing Baikal Teal influx included a first-winter drake at Jamnik Fishponds, Poland – a national first – alongside drakes at Uppsala, Sweden, from 16th, and Sint-Agatha-Rode, Belgium. Romania’s first Ring-billed Gull was a long way east at Bucharest on 23rd, topped by a Siberian Northern Shrike at Minsk, Belarus, on 10th. Poland’s Azure Tit was still at Pruszków until 8th, a Siberian Accentor was at Pultusk from 18-21st and a Black Scoter lingered off Łukecin.
Austria’s first Siberian Rubythroat was soundrecorded at Bernhardsthal on 10th; the country’s second Lesser Short-toed Lark was at Hohenau an der March at the month’s end. In The Netherlands, a Brünnich’s Guillemot spent the month at Verse Meer. Belgium’s fifth Spotted Sandpiper was at Lac de l’Eau d’Heure on 31st. A new Wallcreeper was at Sainte-Anne-surVilaine, France, from 13th, with an American Herring Gull at Audierne and a Pygmy Cormorant near Vauvert. An American Golden Plover was at Oulad Ghanem, Morocco, on 19th, while the Tunisia’s second Lesser Flamingo was also recorded. The Israeli Baleleur resurfaced over Gal On from 6-8th, although elsewhere it was much the same: Wilson’s Phalarope at Kfar Ruppin, Grey Hypocolius at Atlit, Lesser White-fronted Goose at Meitsar and Greater Painted-snipe at Gan Shmu’el. Two Kurdish Wheatears are wintering in the country, along with a Basalt Wheatear at Nahal Karots. ■