Analysis: Western Palearctic

There was much to discuss among Western Palearctic birders in February, with a wide range of eye-catching records including a regional third and a surprise Scot in France. Sam Viles rounds up the action.

There was much to discuss in February, with a wide range of eye-catching records including a regional third and a surprise Scot in France.

AScottish Crossbill at Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines, on the outskirts of Paris, France, on 21st was by far the most eyeopening news of February, with a detailed assessment including photographs, bill measurements and sound recordings. The first record away from Scotland, it must surely put the cat among the pigeons when it comes to potential vagrants much closer to home in Britain and Ireland – microphones at the ready, anyone?

In the Camargue, a Lesser Flamingo was at Croix du Pilou from 27th, while elsewhere a young drake King Eider was at La Fumée, a Lesser Scaup was at Poses and a Pygmy Cormorant lingered at Marais de Buisson Gros. The first Bonaparte’s Gull for the Channel Islands – a firstwinter – was at L’Eree, Guernsey, from 8th.

A Nearctic warbler is a remarkably rare event in Iberia and even more so in February, making Gibraltar’s first-ever

Myrtle Warbler at Europa Point on 27-28th even more notable (see page 9). In Spain, an apparent adult Vega Gull was photographed at San Vicente de la Barquera on 7th, but unfortunately wasn’t to be relocated. Lesser Flamingos were at Marismas del Odiel and San Pedro del Pinatar, with a first-winter American Herring Gull at Langre on 28th and the regular adult still at Lires Fish Farm. Another was at La Laja, Tenerife, on 22nd, with the young Allen’s Gallinule still at Los Espinales, Gran Canaria.

In the North African enclave of Cueta, a Pied Crow was at Punta Blanca on 25th. Longstayers provided the best action in the Azores: the female Belted Kingfisher at Lajes do Pico, Pico, and the Pied-billed Grebe at Lagoa das Furnas, São Miguel.

A dapper Variable Wheatear at Kabd Reserve on 28th was just the third record of this Central Asian breeder for both Kuwait and the Western Palearctic. Belatedly reported,

Turkey’s first Striped Crake was found dead on the Bodrum Peninsula on 11 December. Three Crested Honey Buzzards over Eilat, Israel, were new, while the long-staying Three-banded Plover, Kurdish Wheatear and Wilson’s Phalarope remained in situ. Two Grey Hypocolius were fresh arrivals.

Denmark’s Sandhill Crane reappeared at Gravlev from 17-19th, while last year’s satellite-tagged Bonelli’s Eagle resurfaced over Tevring on 14th. A Stejneger’s Scoter was still off Rørvig, with a Black Scoter lingering off Tisvilde Hegn. Sweden’s Baikal Teal was still at Knivsta until 9th. Elsewhere, an Oriental Turtle Dove, Black-throated Thrush and Alaskan Yellow Wagtail remained.

In Germany, a Dusky Thrush at Mitteldorf from 27th was a smart find. Meanwhile, a Spotted Sandpiper was at Kitzeberg and a Pygmy Cormorant lingered at Alfhausen, with the Moosburg White-headed Duck moving to Ingolstadt from 27th.

A drake Baikal Teal was at Pakosław Res, Poland, from 21st, with the nation’s fourth Oriental Turtle Dove at Karłowice and a Ring-billed

Gull at Warsaw on 12th. Austria’s second Lesser Short-toed Lark remained at Hohenau an der March until 6th; the Dark-eyed

Junco held on at Helluvatn, Iceland, throughout. In

The Netherlands, a Blackthroated Thrush continued at Hoograven, with the Verse Meer Brünnich’s Guillemot last recorded on 2nd. ■

The region’s third Variable Wheatear was found at Kabd Reserve in Kuwait on the last day of the month. All Western Palearctic records of the species have been in spring in the Gulf state.

This first-winter Allen’s Gallinule at Los Espinales, Gran Canaria, was part of a January influx of the African rallid to the Canary Islands. It lingered until 8 February.