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FACT FILE House Crow Corvus splendens Size: 40cm Relatives: A member of the crow family Conservation status: IUCN Least Concern Known urban locations: In almost any town or city in southern Asia and increasing elsewhere Interesting fact: There have been reports of brood parasitism by Great Spotted Cuckoos on House Crow populations in Israel These crows flock in huge numbers and can be aggressive PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID LINDO birdwatching.co.uk 101





Working on the background The subject matter in photography is vitally important, but to get truly memorable shots, you have to consider what’s going on behind, says Rob Read... Birds are such an interesting their effects can soon wear off of aperture, focal length, and IMAGE SPEC and engaging subject, and and the impact of the photograph proximity to your subject (see my this fascination for our wanes over time, not a great recipe article in last November’s issue Camera: Nikon D850 feathered friends often tempts for consistently creating of Bird Watching). The wider the Focal length: 500mm us to try and fill as much of the compelling images. It can be lens aperture (represented by the Exposure: 1/2,000 sec; f/7.1; ISO 800 frame as we can with them. I am difficult to make one close portrait smaller f-stop numbers), the longer as guilty of this as the next person, of a Robin look different from the focal length, and the closer you approach and paying more and for a long time my goal was the next, unless we add other are to your subject, the shallower attention to the things that always to get as close as I could for elements, and/or space, to the the depth of field will be. Coupled surround your subjects can that frame-filler. Indeed, I could photograph to contextualise it and with a background that is a good improve the quality and aesthetic become so focused on filling the give it greater depth. Paying more distance from the subject, this will of your images no end, and result frame with the subject, that the attention to the other elements of enable you to keep it out of focus in a more varied portfolio. other elements of the photograph the frame can result in a more and create good separation became secondary at best, and unique and engaging image. between it and your subject, The three Ps completely ignored at worst. concentrating the viewer’s I have talked before about depth attention in the right place. If the But it takes a lot of trial and error As much as these close portraits of field and how this can be background is a natural uniform in the field to start piecing this provide an initial visual ‘rush’, controlled through a mixture colour, then this will help create part of the photography jigsaw clean, simple, and effective together. And, of course, birds are PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB READ This female Tufted Duck is beautifully images. But this formula is well eternally unpredictable in their framed in the reflection of the tree on known and, although the results behaviour. It therefore may take a the opposite bank. Without the reflection, are pleasing, it’s nothing new bit of practice, planning, patience, I would not have pointed my lens at this bird. and the images don’t stand out and luck to start getting pleasing from the crowd, in many cases. results. Working locally will help with this no end, as there is no Taking a step back from the substitute for knowing a location subject affects perhaps the most and its bird population well. important element of depth of field control – proximity to the Intimate knowledge of where subject. Even with a long focal the light falls at certain times length and a wide aperture, the of the day, the common habits further the subject is away from of the birds, times of the tides, the camera, the greater the depth how the changing weather of field becomes, bringing the conditions affect the location, background into play, even if it even the time of year, are all things is a long way behind the subject. that will help you plan your If your subject is close, but the approach and visualise images in distance from it to the background your mind, well before you press is minimal, then a similar the shutter button. situation arises. In these circumstances, more of the Every location and its bird viewer’s attention will be drawn to population will be different, but the other elements of the frame, all will provide the opportunity to but careful consideration for these create images that put the subject can work to your advantage. into context or fill the other parts Taking a more open-minded of the frame with elements which add interest and depth. Reflections IMAGE SPEC are a great example of this and something I have been working Camera: Nikon D850 with in recent months. The very Focal length: 500mm nature of reflections in most Exposure: 1/1,000 sec; f/7.1; ISO 1,000 circumstances demand that the subject is close to water or other reflective surface, removing the 104 August 2022

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR The lovely golden reflection was cast by the foliage of Photography Q&A a willow catching the morning sun. It provided an area In association with of colour which the Tufted Ducks on the lake would drift in and out of. Persistence was rewarded with this composition; the reflection is as important as the birds. QI have noticed some cameras have touch-screen displays, but others don’t – is there any actual advantage to these? I suspect they would be hard to use with cold fingers. A Webley, Motherwell AThat’s a great question. Touch-screen displays are a little bit like Marmite. Some photographers love being able to control their settings exclusively through a screen, while others prefer the traditional ergonomics of their camera’s wheels and dials. The removal of physical controls can cut down on size and weight, which helps camera brands to manufacture camera bodies that are amazingly small and light. Some cameras are now exclusively controlled via their touchscreen, with only a shutter release button to press. Some models with touchscreens also allow you to press the area you’d like to focus on. Another benefit is for people who are used to using smartphones for creating photography. A touchscreen will feel more instantly familiar to them than using manual controls, which can take some getting used to. Some photographers like to really get to know their camera inside out, building up muscle memory so they can instinctively find the setting they need— without having to look down at a touchscreen. Different photographers will have different preferences and different needs, which may sometimes change based on the job at hand. These days, many camera brands have a ‘best of both worlds’ approach. They’ll manufacture cameras that feature both a touchscreen and manual controls to give you the option to use either system. If it’s a nice day and you have plenty of time, you can look down and use the touchscreen. If it’s freezing outside and you have cold fingers—as you mentioned—then you’ll want to use those manual controls to get the shot as quickly as possible. At the end of the day, a touchscreen is by no means essential. It’s just another way to change your settings. Whichever way you prefer to control your camera settings, there are many different options out there to choose from. If it’s a deciding factor between two models, and you think you’d mostly use manual controls, then we’d recommend picking whichever one costs less. You can always put the money towards something more useful instead, like another lens. birdwatching.co.uk 105

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR Great White Egret. The white plumage and mirror reflection work well against the reflection of the darker bankside vegetation. possibility of isolating the subject Most of you will know of my of these lakes, the morning sun IMAGE SPEC from its background and ensuring fondness for Tufted Ducks by reflects on the fresh spring foliage that it (the background) becomes now, and I’m fortunate to have of a willow on the opposite bank, Camera: Nikon D800E an integral part of the photograph. plenty of them to photograph creating a wonderful golden Focal length: 500mm As photographers, we should on the lakes that are close to my reflection on the water’s surface. Exposure: 1/8,000 sec; f/5.6; ISO 1,000 constantly look at other ways to home. I know their habits and the An elevated duck feeding platform draw attention to the subject and lakes they frequent well, having is located in an ideal position to of this liquid gold – I have spent make best use of the opportunities photographed them in almost enable me to photograph the hours doing it and have hundreds that present themselves. every conceivable way. On one Tufties as they drift in and out of photos! My favourite was taken this spring and features two males The post and rail fence and who drifted into perfect positions tree provide an interesting to create this balanced image. Without the reflection, this photo backdrop to these flying would not work at all. Canada Geese giving them a sense of place. Focusing The Great White Egret was taken on another Hampshire pond I know well, its elevated banks providing the opportunity to cut out the distracting line of the far bank and skyline, and concentrate solely on the bird’s white plumage and its mirror-like reflection. This contrasts most effectively with the much darker reflections IMAGE SPEC Camera: Nikon D850 Focal length: 500mm Exposure: 1/2,000 sec; f/5.6; ISO 1,000 106 August 2022

IN ASSOCIATION WITH Canada Geese. The trees in the background provide interesting colour and texture to this image. IMAGE SPEC their reflections on the water to photography. Digital photography photographers I work with agree frame swimming geese and Mute provides us with the never-ending Camera: Nikon D850 Swans from a distance with the ability to experiment. that creating effective images Focal length: 500mm birds relatively small in the frame. Exposure: 1/1,000 sec; f/5.6; ISO 1,000 The images ‘borrow’ some of the Regular failure is inevitable, of birds in the context of their compositional rules from but I always think you learn of the bankside foliage. landscape photography, a mix of more from your mistakes that environments is the most difficult On another local lake, the skills I really enjoy employing. the successes, plus nobody will Looking at images from other ever see your failures…! skill of all. BW winter sun rises at the only end genres of photography is an which is relatively open and free interesting way of inspiring Next time I’ll take a look IMAGE SPEC of large trees. This results in that a different approach to bird at creating images which give delicious winter dawn sunlight subjects more space and room Camera: Nikon D850 hitting the water not long after it to breathe. All the top bird Focal length: 500mm breaks the horizon. Not only does Exposure: 1/8,000 sec; f/5.6; ISO 1,000 this create great opportunities for backlighting, its warm light also This image against a plain blue sky lacks any illuminates the trees and other interest compared to the two other images features on the opposite bank, (above, and left) of these Canada Geese in flight. features I have deliberately used as backdrops for Canada Geese which often fly around between lakes early in the morning. I love experimenting with the textures of the trees and the shapes of some of the other background elements to add interest. Contrast the two images shown with the geese taken against the blue sky at the same location. I know which images are more interesting to my eye. I have used the same trees and birdwatching.co.uk 107

GEA FINDER The best optics and outdoor products tried & tested for you BINOCULARS BRESSER WAVE 10X50 £175 Reviewed by Matt Merritt W hen it comes to and not a great deal of woodland, moderately stiffly, taking 2.25 5m, and while it felt rather closer binoculars for then the extra reach provided by anti-clockwise turns from close than that to me, you’re not really birding, 8x42 (or 10x magnification can come in focus to infinity. So, focus is easy going to be buying these with thereabouts) remains the default handy. Or, if you like to read rings to find and maintain. bug-watching in mind. size, because it generally offers on birds, it can be invaluable. a good balance of magnification, Close focus is quoted as being The eyecups are covered in hard field of view, size and ease So, the first thing to say about of handling. these affordable bins from Bresser Easy to grip pale grey is that they banish the memory rubber armouring... But, while smaller sizes (usually of those pre-1980s monsters. At PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT MERRITT 8x32) have become more popular 758g, they’re heavier than 8x42s, in recent years, often because they of course, but really not that much tend to offer better close focus, heavier, and they really feel very larger sizes generally haven’t. well balanced in the hand. Maybe a lot of us are deterred by memories of hefting around huge, Stay focused heavy 10x50s passed on to us by parents and grandparents, when They look smart, with easy to we first started out birdwatching. grip, pale grey rubber armouring, and a wide (1.5 fingers) focus But there are good reasons to wheel. I’d have preferred it to have opt for larger bins, in some a bit more texture, for easy use circumstances. If your local patch when wearing gloves; but it’s big contains mainly wide-open vistas enough to minimise problems, such as saltmarshes, for example, and it moves very smoothly and 108 August 2022

TRIED & TESTED GEAR The eyecups are SHORTS comfortable in extended use... SMARTWOOL MERINO MEN’S 10” SHORTS, £64.99 rubber, but were comfortable in SPECS extended use, and twist up and Reviewed by David Chandler down to three positions – they Eye relief: 18.2mm stayed in place well, too. They Field of view: 91m @ 1,000m Smartwool started out in 1994 offer 18.2mm of eye relief. Close Focus: 5m and claim to be “built on the Weight: 758g desire to be comfortable on The dioptre adjustment is Length x width x depth: outdoor adventures”. They a twist-ring on the right barrel, 170mm x 135mm x 63mm create “Merino wool clothes and although it isn’t click-stopped, RRP: £175 designed to help you go far it’s stiff enough to stay in place Supplied with: Fabric case, and feel good”. They say well in extended use. neoprene strap, rainguard, that each Merino fibre “helps tethered objective lens covers regulate body temperature, Impressive in hand Web: bresseruk.com transports sweat away as a vapour, and cancels out odours”. So what about the optics? Well, VERDICT as you might expect with 50mm When the sun shines, some of us wear shorts. objective lenses, the image For well under £200, These ones are recycled, and a new addition to the produced is bright, and does well these are seriously Smartwool range. They’re a mix of polyester (86%) in low-light conditions. The colour impressive binoculars, and elastane on the outer – “a lightweight, stretch- is impressively natural, and the offering good – often woven fabric that’s great for moving”, and image is very sharp, too, although very good – optical responsibly sourced merino wool (54%) and there’s some fall-off towards the performance in a polyester on the inside – which is “breathable, edge, but this softness is never well-designed package. thermoregulating and soft”. They have “low-profile, really distracting. If you want a bit of extra non-chafing strategically placed seams, designed magnification for certain with movement in mind” and the exterior has a Field of view, at 91m@1,000m, circumstances, these durable water-repellent finish. is obviously narrower than you’ll are a very affordable be used to if you’re an 8x42 way of getting it; I can At this price you expect quality, and that’s what user, but it never feels restrictive imagine many birders you get. These shorts weigh just 164g – very light, or claustrophobic. investing in some as and pack up small. I’d say the fit is tailored – these a ‘second pair’. look pretty smart and I found them very comfortable There is a certain amount of to wear. My waist measurement put me right at the colour fringing – against bright OPTICS top of one size range – the next size up was a better sunshine I detected a thin purple fit. These are not short shorts – on me, they finish halo, but again, it wasn’t HANDLING just above the knees. The fabric is soft and smooth, distracting. In fact, I had to and there’s a nice amount of stretch in it – they do go looking for it. VALUE allow unrestricted movement and I didn’t experience any chafing – strategic or otherwise! All of the There’s a good neoprene strap OVERALL pockets are mesh pockets – two normal hand that goes even further to make pockets and a zip-up rear pocket. The hand pockets light of the weight, a standard are easy to access and a good depth. The rear pocket rainguard, and removable tethered is a reasonable depth but might benefit from being a objective lens covers, plus a touch wider. There are no cargo pockets on the legs functional fabric case. so if you’re looking for lots of pocketing these aren’t for you. The waist fastens with poppers. This might sound like a weak point but I’ve been wearing them quite a bit with no sign of any problem. The belt loops accommodate a 4cm wide belt but you may not need one – you can cinch the waist with a draw tape. Washing them is easy – the label suggests a 30° wash. Available in muted colours – black, bourbon, dune or black plaid, S-XXL. The Smartwool product range is extensive and includes T-shirts, base layers, hoodies, and plenty of socks. View the range at: smartwool.co.uk VERDICT High quality, lightweight shorts that are comfortable to wear, great for moving about in, and easy to wash. I’ve been wearing them a lot. I like them a lot. birdwatching.co.uk 109

NEW PRODUCTS GEAR WishList BIRDS CAN FLY More stuff to spend your TILLEY ULTRALIGHT LARGE SWIFT T-SHIRT, £25 hard-earned cash on CAPE SUN HAT, £50 Stretch the Swift season by wearing one on a WORDS DAVID CHANDLER This is for “long adventure days in the sun”; 96% T-Shirt. It’s a simple design – a Swift flying on of it is recycled nylon, and for some stretch, the rest stone blue, sand or white fabric. The fabric is DEXSHELL THERMLITE is elastane. It’s an ultra-light, UPF50+ packable hat certified organic cotton, the printing is low waste, SOCKS, £30 that dries quickly, has a water-repellent finish, mesh there’s no animal testing, it’s GM free and made to let some air in, and a reflective bungee windcord. in a renewable-energy-powered factory. All that These are waterproof socks for when it’s cold. And it’s “responsibly made in China”. We certainly for £25. XS-XXL. A women’s relaxed fit version Their inners are made from lightweight merino wouldn’t want a hat that had been irresponsibly is available in stone blue or white (sizes 8-18). wool and a breathable Porelle membrane keeps made now, would we? In taupe, olive or black, S-XL. Other Birds Can Fly products include Hen Harrier uk.tilley.com and White Stork garments. birdscanflystore.com the water out. They “are great for just about any cold weather NIKON P3/P7 PROSTAFF TRUE UTILITY TI POCKET activity”. Maybe that BINOCULARS, MULTI TOOL, £39.99 includes the kind of FROM £149/£199 things you might do in You never know when you might need spring- If these are contenders, loaded pliers when you’re birding. Not to mention them. When it’s cold and you’ll need to decide if a saw, wire cutters, an awl, a screwdriver, a knife, wet that is. You could have a you’re more “serious and (this last one might see more use than the pair in olive green, or something hobbyist” than “first-time awl), a bottle opener. They are as functional as the more exotic in tangelo red. binocular user”. The P7s are for the real thing and are easy to get at. The blades and S-XL. Lifetime guarantee. serious hobbyist. The P3s are aimed at tools are made of titanium nitride coated stainless the other one. Both are compact, lightweight, tough Outdoor247.co.uk and waterproof with wide fields of view and at least steel and the handle and scales are 15mm of eye-relief. Both are available as an 8x30, anodised aluminium. It’s for just PLASTIC-FREE SPONGE 10x30, 8x42 or 10x42. But the P7 is better. And it in case. 103x36x20mm. CLOTHS, £8 has oil and water-repellent coating on the external 168g. glass surfaces and a locking dioptre. nikon.co.uk. trueutility.com Wash-up with these and you won’t create micro- plastic pollution. These natural, sponge cloths are a mix of plant-based cellulose and cotton, printed with water-based inks. There are four designs in the pack, they can be washed and re-used repeatedly, and when they are falling apart they can be composted. And you can use them for things other than washing-up, if you like. Or even if you don’t like – those jobs still need to be done. 17.2x20cm. shopping.rspb.org.uk MIDGE SOLUTIONS COUNTRY INNOVATION TORQ EXPLORE FLAPJACK, MOZZIE MAGIC, INSECT SHIELD T-SHIRT, £37 FOR 20 £8.10 FOR 75ML £30 Lifting binoculars uses calories, so the heavier There’s no DEET or artificial chemicals A new T-shirt from CI that helps to foil nasty, your binocular the more of these you’ll need. They in it. The key repulsive ingredient biting insects. The blurb says “wear as a base are “energy-enriched, soft, syrupy and deliciously is “naturally-sourced Eucalyptus layer or on its own” – I don’t recommend the tasty”. That should do the job then. They are also latter – who knows where you might get bitten. organic and vegan-friendly. Choose from apple Citriodora Rich Botanic Oil”, which And they probably wouldn’t let you in the tea strudel, carrot cake, ginger cake, black forest, contains plenty of PMD. I don’t know Bakewell slice, and banana cake. You can even what that is but it’s “the single most room. Joking aside, this create a mixed box. Don’t eat them all at once effective repellent found in nature”. T-shirt has a tailored though. Some for sharing? Maybe? torqfitness.co.uk The other repulsive ingredients are fit and there’s “Insect Lemongrass Oil and Bog Myrtle Oil. Shield Technology” It also contains grape seed oil and in the fabric, which natural skin lotion – for soft skin. Spray bottle or lotion bottle available. keeps on working even after midge-solutions.co.uk it’s been washed. UPF 50+. S-3XL. countryinnovation.com 110 August 2022

TRIED & TESTED GEAR Book Review John Miles takes a look at the latest releases... BOOK OF THE MONTH HOW BIRDS LIVE TOGETHER MARIANNE TAYLOR, PRINCETON, HB, £25 This is a book about how birds live in flocks, when breeding, feeding or roosting. It’s very glossy, with coloured pictures on every other page and the odd double page spread. The real classics here are seabirds, on cliffs, islands and even in the forest when it comes to Marbled Murrelets! But you also have waders flocking for protection, and winter flocks of tits, teaming up to find food. Even birds of prey such as harriers, or Red-footed Falcons (while nesting) are covered, and there is plenty for everyone to digest here. CALL OF THE WHEN THERE REED WARBLER WERE BIRDS CHARLES MASSY, ROY AND CHELSEA GREEN, LESLEY ADKINS, SB, £18.99 LITTLE BROWN BOOK, HB, £25 It’s not even a bird book, as such, and a lot of the writing Here’s a book full of historic is centred on Australia, so why bird information. It’s a are we reviewing it? Well, it’s social history of Britain that one of those books that can, covers the connections and hopefully will, change the between people and birds, world, especially in the way but of course that has changed through the people farm; talking as it ages. So, it covers many does about the creation of and varied aspects of habitats by regenerative farming, followed by a birds and birding, such as mass of wildlife (including birds like the Australian the dawn chorus, shooting, cage birds, Reed Warbler) entering the farm. It can actually taxidermy, nests and eggs, food and much more. increase stock numbers, remove nitrates, One amazing quote came from Dumfries where chemicals and wormers, the very things that upset Short eared Owls numbered between 500 and the balance of nature. Destined to be a classic. 4,000 pairs in a vole year, in 1890! What a sight! Best of all there are quotes from all around Britain, making it a very interesting read. THE CORNCRAKE FRANK RENNIE, WHITTLES PUBLISHING, SB, £18.99 Have you ever tried to see a Corn Crake? Not easy at all. Well, think of writing a book on a species you can hardly lay eyes on! Frank Rennie is fortunate enough to live on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, and has many sightings of this mysterious bird to his credit, but also has done a great job bringing together all the written material about this species, from as far apart as Russia and France. There’s information about their wintering grounds in Africa, too. Habitat-wise, this bird is facing real problems and ‘global warming’ is affecting it, too. Time to read about yet another bird we stand to lose. birdwatching.co.uk 111



UKBIRDSIGHTINGS The best rare birds seen all around Britain in May COMPILED BY MIKE WEEDON Eleonora’s Falcon, Worth Marsh, Kent, 29 May ANDREW JORDAN MEGA EXPLOSION Raptor madness! Falco-mania hits Kent, vulture down south, eagles up north... After four relatively quiet this Mediterranean island falcon (which photographed perched in a bush or two! months for the UK’s rare famously has a late breeding season, feeding Naturally, this sparked one of the great bird chasers, 2022’s rarity its young on south-bound passerine migrants, ‘floodgates’ finally broke caught on the wing). And the accepted twitches of recent times, with the vast in late May. And they records have invariably been fly-over birds. majority of the nation’s listers never having smashed open, allowing a The magnificent Eleonora’s was even seen one of these majestic falcons ‘over here’. rush of just the sort of extreme rarities we They have now. Apart from apparently like to call ‘megas’. IS YOUR AREA COVERED? turning up for a while at Stodmarsh on the day it was first seen (26th), the Eleonora’s Top of the list was a bird which, though If your county doesn’t currently feature in Falcon generally hung around the Worth technically not the rarest, had until May this UKBS and you’d like to supply a regular Marsh area, until 4 June. There were also year been ‘untwitchable’: Eleonora’s Falcon. report, email matthew.merritt@ at least one first-summer female Red-footed Initially photographed at Sandwich Bay, Kent, bauermedia.co.uk for details of how you Falcon and several Hobbies, sharing the large, as a showy Hobby (26th), the photos were can help. You can send rare bird photos aerial insect feast, there. soon re-identified as being of a pale-morph, to [email protected] second-summer Eleonora’s Falcon. There have Please send unprocessed JPEGs at 300dpi While we are talking about extremely rare only been eight accepted British records of birds of prey, there were two other birds of this ilk seen during the month, at opposite birdwatching.co.uk 113

PHIL PALMER ends of the country. Firstly, on 22nd, Unmasked wagtail Clockwise from above It spent nearly two weeks on the an Egyptian Vulture was seen (and American Black Tern, island of Skokholm, Pembrokeshire photographed) over Devon and Even rarer than either of these Long Nanny, (17th to 29th). Cornwall. Aha, you may think, walloping great birds of prey is the Northumberland, the Irish Egyptian Vulture (last altogether smaller Masked Wagtail. May The pleasantly named Praze- reported on 6 May at Athlone, Co. The only accepted UK record was the an-Beeble, Cornwall, had an even Roscommon) had finally crossed the individual which spent nearly a month Lesser Grey Shrike, better-looking Roller from 23rd (to sea back to the UK. But, that bird at Camrose, Pembrokeshire, in Norwich, Norfolk, well into June). Also very handsome was/is an adult, and the Cornish November and December 2016. There 28 May was a Blue Rock Thrush at The Naze, individual showed signs of being a have now been two, after one of these Essex on 12th. A Little Swift was sub-adult: two birds! Will this new white-masked, black-hooded beauties Black-browed Albatross, seen off and on over Eltham, London, bird appear again, or will the adult was in the Spurn area (East Yorkshire), Bempton Cliffs, on 26th and 27th. A River Warbler head west to Great Britain? Time at Sammy’s Point and Kilnsea East Yorkshire, was found at Out Skerries, Shetland, will tell. Wetlands, on 18th. Unfortunately for May on 17th. some, Masked Wagtail is currently Meanwhile, in northern Scotland, regarded as a subspecies (M. a. Grey-headed Wagtail, That leaves little room to talk for the second ‘summer’ running, a personata) of White Wagtail West Runton, Norfolk, about the White-tailed Lapwing which Short-toed Eagle appeared, as if by (Motacilla alba); with a breeding 15 May ‘reappeared’ (some speculated it could magic. Late last July, one of these range from northern Iran across to even be a new individual) at Hickling reptile-catching specialists was Kazakhstan and western China. Greater Sand Plover, Broad NWT, Norfolk (at the same photographed hunting over an Tramore, Co. Waterford, time a Caspian Tern was there!), ‘undisclosed site’ in Sutherland. This Megas keep coming 2 May on 23rd to 25th, then was back in year, a little to the south, at Lairg Lincolnshire, at Rimac on 26th to (24th), and Strath Brora (from 28th As is often the case in a month of Masked Wagtail, 27th (and Saltfleetby, 28th); before into June), Highland, probably the ‘megas’, we are left with little space Easington, heading west to Bickershaw CP, same individual reappeared. to do justice to all the rarities in the East Yorkshire, Greater Manchester (29th) and country; so here is a summary of the May Woolston Eyes NR, Cheshire (31st), Assuming it is the same bird as last best of them. A female of one of the before flying more than 60 miles year, there have been fewer than half black-eared wheatear species was on south to Sandwell Valley RSPB, a dozen Short-toed Eagles ever in the St Mary’s, Scilly, on 2nd. There was West Midlands, 1 June, after which UK. This bird is the first ‘twitchable’ a male Moltoni’s Warbler (the sort of the trail went cold… Scottish individual. Some birders subalpine warbler which come from were even able to proudly claim to somewhere in the Mediterranean Needless to say, the Black-browed have seen three species of eagle in between Eastern and Western Albatross continued to enjoy the a single morning in May! Subalpine Warblers’ populations). cliffs of and waters off Bempton, East Yorkshire, into June. 114 August 2022

UK BIRD SIGHTINGS MAY birdwatching.co.uk 115 GRAHAM CATLEY STEVE GANTLETT JOHN HEWITT STEVE GANTLETT LUKE GERATY

UK BIRD SIGHTINGS MAY SOUTH WEST Common Tern, Black Tern, Osprey (11th) Divers, five Fulmars, 14 Manx Shearwaters, Spotted Flycatchers were at eight sites and 38 Garden Warblers. Hobbies were 44 Gannets, a Spoonbill, Great White Egret, and Cuckoos at 19. A Ringed Plover and the Highlights In association with at all the reservoirs, four Little Egrets, two Red Kites, an Osprey, usual Ruddy Shelduck were at Langford 15 Oystercatchers, a Ringed Plover, 20 Lakes. Ring Ouzels were at Sherrington and Top rarity OTHER SITES: Quails were at Compton Dando Sanderling, 15 Dunlin, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, Upton Cow Down. Quails were at SPTA(E), (subject to (7th-8th) and Marshfield (from 23rd). Two 21 Whimbrels, a Common Sandpiper, Chitterne and Downton. A Honey Buzzard ‘acceptance’) of Mandarins were at Wickwar. Two Cranes Greenshank, eight Turnstones, an Arctic flew over Devizes. A Lesser Spotted the region during May was a visited Nailsea Moor (19th). In Bristol, an Skua, 16 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull, Woodpecker was at Castle Combe. Nightjars subadult Egyptian Vulture seen Osprey flew over Horfield (7th), a Golden two Sandwich Terns, a Cuckoo, ten Swifts, were at Longleat, Shear Water and Westbury. by lucky observers over Oriole was at Henbury (20th) and a a Grasshopper Warbler, Black Redstart, A Yellow-legged Gull was at Shrewton. Devoran, Cornwall on 22nd. Nightingale at Shirehampton (19th). Cirl Buntings at two sites, and a Turtle Dove, Rob Turner A ‘reported’ Long-legged The last Redwing was at Yate (8th). a very scarce spring migrant and probably Buzzard seen at a few sites Jane Cumming the first record for ten years. SOUTH EAST on The Lizard, Cornwall, would Mike Passman have been even bigger news CHANNEL ISLANDS Highlights In association with if ‘confirmed’. Early in the month ISLES OF SCILLY a female black-eared wheatear JERSEY: Grouville logged Cuckoos, six Cirl A Little Swift on St Mary’s, Scilly, was not Buntings, six Great Northern Divers, Great HIGHLIGHTS: A Red-rumped Swallow was over over Eltham, identified to species. Crested Grebes, 12 Ringed Plovers, 150 St Martin’s with three more over the Garrison south-east London, on 27th Oystercatchers, Grey Plovers, Bar-tailed (1st) and one over Tresco (2nd). A Golden was overshadowed by events AVON Godwits, Gannets, Manx Shearwaters, Oriole was on Gugh (2nd), with reports from further east in Kent, where the Balearic Shearwaters, Razorbills and Puffins. many locations thereafter. One of the Cattle UK’s first properly ‘twitchable’ CLEVEDON-WESTON-SUPER-MARE: A Brent Goose Sorel had Choughs, Peregrines, Ring Ouzels Egrets was still on Tresco (2nd) where two Eleonora’s Falcon (a pale- was at Sand Point (3rd) and Clevedon-Yeo and Wheatears. Corbiere had a Montagu’s Scaup spent the first few days of the month. morph second-summer male) (14th). Clevedon-Yeo had four White Wagtails Harrier, 60 Manx Shearwaters and Balearic A Garganey was on the Great Pool, Tresco was seen at Sandwich Bay (1st), 35 Ringed Plovers, 42 Whimbrels, Shearwaters, and two Red-throated Divers. (2nd-10th), then on Porth Hellick (11th-15th). and Stodmarsh (26th) before 17 Bar-tailed Godwits and two Greenshanks. An Osprey flew over Les Landes. settling at Worth Marsh into A Purple Sandpiper was at Battery Point, A Wood Warbler was at Innisidgen, a early June. Portishead (to 8th). There were 105 The Ecrehous Reef had a Black Tern, Dotterel on Shipman Head Down, Bryher and Kittiwakes, two Arctic Skuas and 49 two Roseate Terns, 100 Common Terns, a Black-eared Wheatear on the Golf Course BEDFORDSHIRE Gannets off Anchor Head (10th), with 60 Sandwich Terns, 12 Purple Sandpipers, (3rd). The wintering Siberian Chiffchaff was 31 Manx Shearwaters (11th). Ringed Plovers and Curlews. Firecrests and in Sally Port (8th). A Corn Bunting was at HIGHLIGHTS: Broom GP had a Glossy Ibis a Wood Warbler were in Saint Catherine’s Porth Hellick and an Osprey over St Mary’s (3rd and 29th), with three (5th), a Wood Sand Point had six Guillemots (10th), Woods. Cattle Egrets flew over Saint (9th). A Little Grebe was on the Abbey Pool Sandpiper (2nd) and Black Tern (6th). 60 Gannets (16th), a Fulmar (25th), two Saviours. A Honey Buzzard flew over (10th). A Green Sandpiper was on Lower Garganeys were at Coronation Pit (two Arctic Skuas (26th), two Wood Warblers, La Coupe. A possible Black Kite flew Moors (12th). A Firecrest was in Holy Vale on 4th), Priory CP (2nd) and Meadow Lane 22 Whitethroats and 15 Spotted Flycatchers. over Gorey mid-month where a possible (15th). Hawfinches were in a Hugh Town GP (16th). A Ring Ouzel was at Blows Down Clevedon (2nd) produced ‘flocks’ of Little Rose-coloured Starling was noted. There garden (16th) and over Carn Friars (20th). (1st-2nd). Gulls, Arctic Terns and Black Terns. A Glossy were 20 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news Ibis passed Sand Point and Clevedon (17th). Saint Aubin’s Harbour. A Rose-coloured Starling was around the please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to A Short-eared Owl was at Bleadon Levels airport (19th) and on St Martin’s (20th-21st). 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile (8th). Uphill had a Blue-headed Wagtail. The Wetland Centre had a Great White A Tawny Pipit was on the Airport (19th) phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone Egret, Spotted Redshank, four Black-tailed and St Martin’s (21st-22nd). Fifteen Great company access charge. Service provided SEVERNSIDE: Northwick Warth held a Godwits, a Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Northern Divers were near Annet (19th). by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please Garganey, Wigeon, Brent Goose (also seen Common Sandpiper, Snipe, Lapwings, A probable Grey-headed Wagtail was at call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333970. at Oldbury), Pectoral Sandpiper (to 5th), five Oystercatchers, Ruff, Wheatears including Carn Friars (20th-21st), with another on www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk Grey Plovers, 25 Whimbrels (plus 42 at ten Greenland-race birds, Yellow Wagtails, Bryher (20th). A Great Crested Grebe was twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia Oldbury), 13 Black-tailed Godwits, two Ruff, White Wagtails, Skylarks and 150 Sand on the Great Pool, Tresco (20th). A Wood facebook.com/robinchittenden7 seven Sanderling, 245 Dunlin, a Snipe, Martins. Sandpiper was on Lower Moors (22nd) and Spotted Redshank, five Greenshanks, two Bertram Bree then Porth Hellick (23rd-25th), with another BERKSHIRE Wood Sandpipers, a Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, on the Great Pool, Tresco (27th-29th). 21 Yellow Wagtails and eight Tree Pipits. DEVON HIGHLIGHTS: A Red-footed Falcon was at Severn Beach had 40 Ringed Plovers and A Black-headed Bunting was on Bryher Woolhampton GP (11th-14th). A Red-necked 80 Bar-tailed Godwits. There were 50 HIGHLIGHTS: Slapton Ley had a Black-crowned (23rd- 29th). Short-toed Larks were on Phalarope was at Theale GP (30th). Two Kittiwakes at Oldbury (4th). Night Heron and Ring-necked Duck (1st-4th), Shipman Head Down (23rd-26th) and Avocets were at Theale GP and then and four Cattle Egrets. A Hoopoe was in a St Mary’s Airport (24th-29th). A Honey Sulhampstead Abbots (1st). Cattle Egrets Three Eiders hung around Severnside, Hartland garden (2st). A Glossy Ibis was at Buzzard flew over St Mary’s (24th), were at Theale GP (1st-2nd, 16th and 24th), where a Marsh Harrier was seen several Velator (3rd). A Serin was at Orcombe Point when three Bee-eaters and a Quail were on and Padworth (24th). Bar-tailed Godwits were times. New Passage had a Little Gull, (7th). An Alpine Swift was at Plymstock Bryher. Red-backed Shrikes were at Porth at Lower Farm (2nd-4th) and Sulhampstead Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, (11th). Lundy had a Bluethroat (13th), Hellick (25th) and at Helvear, St Mary’s Abbots (3rd). Two Hoopoes were in a 75 Arctic Terns, 52 Black Terns, the odd Hawfinch (13th), Golden Oriole (24th-27th) (28th). A Purple Heron was on the Abbey Southcote garden (6th). Common, Sandwich and Little Tern, two and Osprey (27th). White Storks flew over Pool, Tresco (29th). Fulmars, a Shag and two Arctic Skuas. Kingsteignton (14th) and Silverton (19th). A Marsh Harrier was at Moor Green Lakes Oldbury held a Grasshopper Warbler, A Bonaparte’s Gull was at Exmouth A Redwing was on Tresco Heliport (30th). and Swallowfield (17th). Two Garganeys were 15 Sedge Warblers and 16 Reed Warblers. (17th-19th). A Woodchat Shrike was at Four Bee-eaters flew over the Garrison before at Fobney (2nd) and one at Lower Farm (3rd). Ingsdon Hill (17th). Four Bee-eaters flew stopping at Porth Loo (30th), where a Hen Wood Sandpipers were at Lea Farm (8th), past Trentishoe (29th). Harrier was also noted. Three Bee-eaters Moor Green Lakes (9th) and Lower Farm flew over the Garrison and seven Great (26th). Queen Mother Reservoir had a Ring THE RESERVOIRS: Chew held five Garganeys, THURLESTONE BAY: Maxima included 16 Northern Divers were near Annet (31st), Ouzel (2nd), Turnstone (10th) and Common three Black-winged Stilts (19th), Ringed Shelducks, a Goosander, two Great Northern when the first pelagic trip of the year Scoter (30th). A Scaup was at Lavell’s Lake and Little Ringed Plovers, 17 Black-tailed produced 12 Storm Petrels and a Sooty (16th), Lower Farm (19th-20th) and Godwits, a Sanderling, 2,000 Swifts (12th), Shearwater. Thatcham (24th). three Arctic Terns, a Sandwich Tern, Will Wagstaff Elaine Charlson Sign up to WILTSHIRE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE #My200BirdYear HIGHLIGHTS: A Channel Wagtail was at HIGHLIGHTS: A Common Rosefinch, a county SPTA(E) and a White Wagtail at Stoford. first was at Eaglestone, MK (30th). A Hoopoe BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Whimbrels were at Aldbourne and Langford was at Hedgerley (23rd). A Honey Buzzard Lakes, with Curlews at SPTA(E) and flew over Jubilee Wood (5th). A distant Blakehill. Wood Warblers were at Morgan’s ringtail harrier, probably Montagu’s or Pallid, Hill and Franchises Wood. A Pied Flycatcher flew over Pitstone Hill (12th). A Bittern was at was at Morgan’s Hill and a Redstart at Wapseys Wood (28th). Wood Sandpipers Franchises Wood. Great Ridge Wood held 31 Crossbills, 17 Firecrests and 65 Siskins. Swifts arrived (2nd). 116 August 2022

COMPILED BY GORDON HAMLETT were at Linford GP (4th and 8th) and Foxcote Eleonora’s Falcon, Reservoir (15th), where there were four Worth Marsh, Kent, Sanderling (11th). 29 May Two Avocets were at Floodplain Forest (9th). A Black Tern was at Startop’s End Reservoir (10th). Tree Pipits flew over Millfield Wood (2nd) and Ivinghoe Beacon (3rd). A Wood Warbler was at Iver (2nd). A Black Redstart was at New Bradwell (10th). FOXCOTE RESERVOIR: There were two Red-crested Pochards (6th), a Dunlin (11th), Curlew (22nd), Green Sandpiper (15th) and five Arctic Terns (3rd), with six (9th) and one (11th). LINFORD GP: There was a Great White Egret (8th), Garganey (4th and 8th), Green Sandpiper (4th-8th), nine Arctic Terns, and two Ringed Plovers (12th-13th). LITTLE MARLOW GP: There was a Great White Egret (16th), two Ringed Plovers (14th), with four (15th) and 18 (11th), a Dunlin (2nd), with five (11th), a Whimbrel (4th), with three (5th) and a Little Gull (11th). OTHER SITES: A Great White Egret was at ANDREW JORDAN Weston Turville Reservoir (5th). Linford Reservoir had a Ruddy Shelduck (4th) and Spoonbills (15th-16th and 21st). Hill Head/ HERTFORDSHIRE Chilworth (2nd-3rd) and Betchworth (9th), Greenshank (12th). A Garganey was at Brownwich had a Roseate Tern and three with singles at Milford (10th), Wisley Airfield College Lake (4th) with two at Floodplain Pomarine Skuas (9th), nine Arctic Skuas, a HIGHLIGHTS: A Glossy Ibis was in the Lee (11th), Tice’s Meadow (18th), Holmethorpe Forest (11th). Two Ringed Plovers were at Great Skua (2nd), Little Gulls (2nd and 9th), Valley at Hall Marsh Scrape (3rd). Amwell Sand Pits (19th) and Newchapel (21st). Floodplain Forest, with two at Linford 18 Arctic Terns (15th), four Eiders, seven had a Wood Sandpiper (2nd), with two Holmethorpe Sand Pits had a Wood Reservoir, three at Passenham Quarry and Common Scoters and a Velvet Scoter (12th-13th), six Arctic Terns and two Sandpiper (14th-16th). Tice’s Meadow had a one at Stony Stratford. Two Dunlin were at (1st-3rd and 19th). A Black-throated Diver Sandwich Terns (3rd) and a White-fronted Honey Buzzard (4th), a Wood Sandpiper and College Lake (19th-20th), with one (21st). Six was off Solent Breezes (16th). A Garganey Goose (7th and 23rd). A Smew was on two Whimbrels (2nd), Sandwich Tern (15th) Curlews were at Gallows Bridge, with four at (14th), Wood Sandpiper (2nd-3rd) and Cattle Seventy Acres Lake (15th). Two and Spoonbill (29th). Island Barn Reservoir Shabbington (3rd) and one at Ickford (8th). Egret (18th) visited the Posbrook Floods. Black-necked Grebes were at Rye Meads had a Kittiwake (4th), Arctic Tern (6th) and Four Arctic Terns were at Bradwell New (24th). A Stone-curlew was east of Baldock two Sandwich Terns (19th). A Sandwich Tern Workings (11th). Three Ring Ouzels were LANGSTONE HARBOUR: Farlington Marshes (21st-22nd). A Pied Flycatcher was at How flew over Enton Lakes, Tuesley (4th). at Ivinghoe Beacon (1st-4th). Grasshopper had two Spoonbills, a Garganey (3rd), Wood Wood (6th). Ring Ouzels were at Hitchin Hawfinches were at Leith Hill (7th) and Warblers were at Weston Underwood (2nd), Sandpiper (6th), Curlew Sandpiper (26th), Lavender Farm (1st-2nd), St Albans (2nd) Merrow (12th). Frensham Great Pond had Finemere Wood (15th) and Upper Ray Ruff (4th-5th) and Cattle Egrets (2nd and and Therfield Heath at Church Hill (3rd). two Arctic Terns (10th). A Wood Warbler Meadows (22nd). Two Quail were at 27th). A Red-breasted Merganser was Stanborough GP had a Ring Ouzel (2nd), was at Ash Ranges (28th). An Osprey Whaddon (27th). Yellow Wagtails were at 11 over-summering in Langstone Harbour. Wood Sandpipers (2nd & 7th) and two was at Thursley Common (12th). sites, including eight at Rowsham (23rd). Up Sandy Point had a Common Rosefinch Garganey (8th). A Black Tern was at to four Spotted Flycatchers were at 11 sites. (29th), seven Pomarine Skuas, 17 Arctic Startop’s End Reservoir and Wilstone SUSSEX Jo Orchard (www.bucksbirdclub.co.uk) Skuas, two Roseate Terns (25th), an Reservoir (10th-12th). A Garganey was Arctic Tern (2nd) and four Black Terns (9th). at Wilstone Reservoir (4th). EAST SUSSEX: White-tailed Eagles were over HAMPSHIRE The Black-throated Diver remained Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news Patcham (2nd) and Lewes (two on 6th). to 14th). A Great Northern Diver was also please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to White Storks flew over Weir Wood Reservoir BLASHFORD LAKES: Ibsley Water had a seen (15th). 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile several times, with 17 over Lewes (18th). Long-tailed Duck (from 27th) and phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone Rye Harbour had a Glossy Ibis (8th), Red-crested Pochard (10th and 26th-30th). OTHER SITES: Iberian Chiffchaffs were in company access charge. Service provided White-winged Black Tern (11th) and Black There were 10 Dunlin and two Turnstones Otterbourne (from 8th) and at Bordon (6th). by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please Kite (15th). Cuckmere Haven had a Purple (12th). Six Hobbies were seen. What was Red-footed Falcons were at Furzy Brow call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333970. Heron and two Curlew Sandpipers (8th). presumably the regular Ferruginous Duck (21st) and Beaulieu Road Station (27th). www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk Beachy Head had a Golden Oriole (14th), was at Ellingham Pound (23rd). Black Kites were at Fishlake Meadows twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia Red-rumped Swallow (14th) and two (27th), Otterbourne (28th) and Martin Down facebook.com/robinchittenden7 Bee-eaters (20th). A Honey Buzzard flew LYMINGTON-MILFORD: Waders included (29th). Hoopoes were at Braishfield (6th) and over Weir Wood Reservoir (20th). Two a Stone-curlew (28th), Temminck’s Stint Longparish (11th). A Golden Oriole was in Old KENT Golden Orioles were at Winchelsea (21st). (8th), Red-necked Phalarope (26th), three Basing (14th). The Whooper Swan visited Wood Sandpipers (9th), plus another (15th), Alresford Pond (1st), before being seen again HIGHLIGHTS: An Eleonora’s Falcon was at WEST SUSSEX: White Storks flew over three Curlew Sandpipers and the last Spotted in Winchester (6th-10th). A Short-eared Owl Sandwich Bay and Worth Marsh (26th-31st), Pulborough Brooks (1st & 4th), Crawley Redshank (9th). Pennington had a Garganey was at Gander Down (14th). Fishlake with a Red-footed Falcon there. The (2nd), Billinghurst (seven on 8th) and (6th & 8th) and Hen Harrier (3rd). A Meadows had Ospreys (9th & 28th-30th) Eleonora’s was also at Stodmarsh (26th). Tangmere (28th). Pulborough Brooks had a Short-eared Owl was at Oxey Marsh (11th). and five Great White Egrets. A Turtle Dove Pegwell Bay had Kentish Plovers (5th & Temminck’s Stint (4th). A Serin came off the Sixteen Eiders were offshore, with an Arctic flew over Timsbury (27th). Lower Test had 25th), plus Spoonbill (25th). A Caspian Tern sea at Rustington (8th). Two White-tailed Skua (11th). Milford-on-Sea and Hordle two Cattle Egrets (31st). Weston Shore had was at Swalecliffe (18th-20th), with it, or Eagles were at Pulborough Brooks (17th & picked up 52 and 22 Pomarine Skuas (9th). two Spoonbills (17th). Netley had a Roseate others, at Tankerton (20th), Pegwell Bay 28th), with singles at Amberley Wild Brooks Both sites recorded a Roseate Tern (9th). Tern (10th) and Arctic Skua (11th). Stokes (23rd-27th), Stodmarsh (26th), Collard’s (9th & 20th), Ardingly (19th), Fontwell Milford had 12 Arctic Skuas and three Little Bay had three Pomarine Skuas (9th), when Lake (26th) and South Foreland (27th). (22nd), Chichester (22nd) and Ferring (24th). Gulls. Hordle had 22 Arctic Terns. another was at Lepe. Lepe had a Honey A Sardinian Warbler was at South Foreland Pagham Harbour had Ashy-headed Wagtail Buzzard (18th). (28th-29th). (10th). A Honey Buzzard flew over Arundel TITCHFIELD HAVEN-WARSASH: Hook-with- Tom Jordan (14th). Bee-eaters were at Angmering (three Warsash had a Great Reed Warbler (24th), SURREY on 27th) and Pulborough Brooks (27th). Goldeneye (29th), Little Gull (12th), four Arctic Terns (2nd) and an Osprey (1st). HIGHLIGHTS: Two White Storks were at Titchfield Haven had two Roseate Terns (29th), two Glossy Ibises (30th) and two birdwatching.co.uk 117

UK BIRD SIGHTINGS MAY EAST ANGLIA Female Dotterel, Ringstead, Norfolk, Highlights In association with May The White- tailed Lapwing, at Hickling Broad NWT, Norfolk (on 23rd to 25th), would have arguably the main story of the month from the region. However, a male Blue Rock Thrush at The Naze, Essex (12th) had already stolen its thunder. Other popular birds in Norfolk included a Great Warbler at Wild Ken Hill and a Lesser Grey Shrike at Horsham St Faith late in the month. CAMBRIDGESHIRE RICHARD BROOKS HIGHLIGHTS: Grafham Water had a Great Reed Flycatchers, two Cetti’s Warblers, nine Garganeys and a Cattle Egret. Holland Haven Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Warbler (31st), Great Skua (1st), Little Tern Common Sandpipers, a Pomarine Skua, had two Purple Sandpipers, a Wryneck, Turnstones and Whimbrels, two Arctic Terns, (3rd), Black Tern (4th) and two Sandwich Red-throated Diver, 58 Kittiwakes, a Little Richard’s Pipit and Montagu’s Harrier. two Little Terns, Little Gull, two Cattle Egrets, Terns (17th). A Bonaparte’s Gull was at the Tern, 11 Fulmars, 637 Brent Geese, a Wigboro Wick had nine Red Kites, a Wood a Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Ouse Washes (26th). A Squacco Heron was Red-rumped Swallow, 1,126 Swallows, Sandpiper and Whinchat. A Spotted 73 pairs of Lapwings, 123 pairs of at Smithy Fen (17th), with a Temminck’s 108 Swifts and a Common Rosefinch. Flycatcher and Hen Harrier were at Colne Redshanks, nine pairs of Avocets, breeding Stint there (10th). Two Black-winged Stilts Point. An Osprey flew over Howlands Marsh. Little Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers and were at Ouse Fen (19th). A Temminck’s Stint METROPOLITAN ESSEX: King George V Ten Nightingales and four Turtle Doves were Marsh Harriers, two Red Kites, two was at Northstowe (10th-12th), with a Little Reservoir had a Red-necked Grebe, Osprey at Wrabness. Hobbies, a Short-eared Owl, good numbers Stint there (15th). A Little Stint was at Etton and Red-backed Shrike. A Glossy Ibis was at of Bearded Tits and Cetti’s Warblers, and Pits (21st). Dernford Farm Reservoir had a Hall Marsh. A Great White Egret was in the MID-ESSEX: Abberton Reservoir had two Spotted Flycatchers. Temminck’s Stint (17th), Black Tern (3rd) and Ingrebourne Valley. A Spotted Redshank, Spoonbills, two Black-winged Stilts, two three Wood Sandpipers (8th). Three Glossy Bar-tailed Godwit and Greenshank were Black Terns, a Little Gull, Hooded Merganser SE ESSEX: A Black Guillemot was off Gunners Ibises flew over Godmanchester GP, with two at Goosefields, with a Greenshank and and Goldeneye. A Golden Oriole was in Friday Park and Shoebury. Great White Egrets were at Ouse Fen (18th-21st), seven at Berry Fen Common Sandpiper at Dagenham Chase. Woods nearby. Nightingales had an excellent around South Fambridge. Two Spoonbills (from 27th), five at Fen Drayton Lakes (from Walthamstow Wetlands had a Greenshank, season. Mersea had a White Stork, 31 Brent were at both Bowers Marsh and Wallasea, 25th) and one at Burwell Fen (23rd-27th). Whimbrel and two Arctic Terns. Little Egrets Geese, a Great White Egret, Grey Plovers, where there were 16 pairs of Med Gulls, a Four Kittiwakes were at Shropshire’s had a good season there and at Warren Whimbrels and Knot. An Osprey flew over Black-winged Stilt and Osprey. A Garganey Reservoir (1st). Gorge. Wanstead Flats had a Black-necked Wivenhoe. Two Bearded Tits were at was at Blue House Farm. There were 450 Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news Grebe. Gallions Reach had a Goshawk and Heybridge GP. Old Hall had a Broad-billed Brent Geese at Canvey. Bowers Marsh had a please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to Osprey. Another Goshawk was around Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, three Wood Goldeneye and four Spotted Redshanks. Two 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile Epping Forest. Sandpipers, Spoonbill, two Temminck’s Little Gulls were at West Canvey Marsh. A phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone Stints, two Great White Egrets, two Hoopoe was on Wakering Stairs (28th). A company access charge. Service provided NE ESSEX: The Naze had a Blue Rock Thrush, Spoonbills and two Cattle Egrets. Savi’s Warbler was at a private Thameside by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please a county first, Redwings, Fieldfares, seven site. Turtle Doves were at four sites. A call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333970. Spotted Flycatchers, a Firecrest and RAINHAM MARSHES: Highlights included 13 Pectoral Sandpiper was at East Tilbury. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk Whinchat. Walton Marshes held two Bar-tailed Godwits, one or two Grey Plovers, Howard Vaughan twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robinchittenden7 ESSEX FRINTON-ON-SEA: Highlights included a Nightingale, two Cuckoos, two Spotted Great Reed Warbler, Cattle Egret, Ken Hill Marshes, Kelling Water Meadow, Snettisham, Norfolk, Norfolk, 18 May STEVE GANTLETT STEVE GANTLETT 118 August 2022

COMPILED BY GORDON HAMLETT Caspian Tern, Ouzels, 302 Brent Geese, 60 Swifts, 50 Roseate Terns (from 19th). Three Hickling Broad, Norfolk, Swallows, 25 House Martins, two Arctic Black-winged Stilts were at Lackford Lakes Terns, 57 Little Terns, eight Common Terns, (30th). Purple Herons were at Lound Lakes 22 May 117 Sandwich Terns, three Common (12th), Minsmere (12th-13th and from 29th), Sandpipers, three Turtle Doves, five Cuckoos, Kingsfleet (26th) and Walberswick STEVE GANTLETT six Wheatears, eight Stonechats, 11 Fulmars, (26th-27th). A Red-rumped Swallow flew ten Great Crested Grebes, 520 Common past Kessingland (12th), with two at Dunwich NORFOLK Maxima included two dark-bellied Brent Scoters, three Spoonbills, a Gannet, Sooty Heath (13th). Golden Orioles were at Dunwich Geese, 279 Shelduck, seven Pintails, Shearwater, Kittiwake, Spotted Redshank, Heath, Minsmere and Leiston (14th). HIGHLIGHTS: Hickling Broad had the wandering 14 Shovelers, 14 Pochards, 21 Tufted Duck, Greenshank, Jack Snipe, White Wagtail, A Bee-eater was over Sizewell Hall (8th), with White-tailed Lapwing (23rd-24th), a Caspian three Garganeys, a Curlew Sandpiper, Garganey, Water Rail, White-tailed Eagle, five over North Warren, Sizewell Hall and Tern (19th-26th, also seen at Martham Ruff, Snipe, two Spotted Redshanks, Hobby, Peregrine, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Minsmere (15th), one over Shingle Street and Broad, Breydon Water and Reedham Ferry), 43 Oystercatchers, 32 Curlews, Redstart, Raven, Whinchat, Golden Oriole Bawdsey (15th), two over Boyton Marshes a Great Northern Diver (23rd), Red-throated 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Bar-tailed and Siskin. (16th), three over Walberswick (21st) and Diver (21st) and Purple Heron (1st and 20th). Godwits, 51 Whimbrels and 19 Dunlin. Butley (22nd) and 17 at Fressingfield (15th). Five Black-winged Stilts there were also seen NOA REDWELL MARSH: Highlights included three A Serin was at Landguard (7th). A Pied at Potter Heigham Marshes (5th-19th) and NOA HOLME BIRD OBSERVATORY: Maxima Yellow Wagtails, two Snipe, a Mediterranean Flycatcher was at Westleton (3rd). Wood Sculthorpe (23rd). Another was at Denver included ten Black-tailed Godwits, five Ruff, Gull, six Avocets, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, Warblers were at Aldeburgh and Sizewell Sluice (to 8th). Potter Heigham Marshes had two Mediterranean Gulls, eight Chiffchaffs, five Common Sandpipers, a Fulmar, Hall (4th) and Eastern Bavents (5th). a Savi’s Warbler (5th-6th). American Wigeon two Willow Warblers, seven Blackcaps, ten Wheatear, 42 Sand Martins, a Turtle Dove, were there (16th) and at Horsey Mere (8th). Sedge Warblers, six Reed Warblers, seven Great White Egret, Hobby, three Cuckoos and A Red-footed Falcon was at Boyton Seven Dotterel were near Ringstead Lesser Whitethroats, four Whitethroats, two a Barn Owl. Marshes (24th). Black Kites flew over Orford (2nd-10th). Grasshopper Warblers, ten Yellow Wagtails, and Boyton Marshes (6th) and Wangford 12 Avocets, three Little Ringed Plovers, 13 CLEY AREA: Highlights included a Little Stint, (14th). A Montagu’s Harrier flew over A Pectoral Sandpiper was east of Wells Whimbrels, two Dunlin, 20 Golden Plovers, Blue-head Wagtail, Short-eared Owl, three Lakenheath Fen (9th). Honey Buzzards flew (6th). Up to three Temminck’s Stints were two Tree Pipits, eight Red Kites, two Ring Garganeys, a White-tailed Eagle, two Wood over Snape Warren (11th), Elmsett (21st) at seven sites. A Lesser Grey Shrike was by Sandpipers, a Caspian Gull, Cattle Egret, and Carleton Coleville (27th). A Pectoral Norwich Airport (27th-28th). A Great Reed Red-rumped Swallow, Honey Buzzard, Turtle Sandpiper was at Hollesley Marshes Warbler was at Snettisham Coastal Park Dove, Golden Oriole and Curlew Sandpiper. (1st-5th). Two Temminck’s Stints were at (from 16th). A Citrine Wagtail flew over Pete Allard, Sophie Barker (www.noa.org.uk) Havergate Island (7th), with others at Trimley Thornham Point (16th). Tawny Pipits were and Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird Marshes (11th) and Minsmere (24th). Six over Weybourne Camp and at Salthouse news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to Glossy Ibises were at Minsmere throughout, (6th), and at West Runton (11th). A Common 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile with others at Hollesley Marshes (21st-22nd) Rosefinch was at Waxham (18th). Five phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone and over Reydon (30th). Two Red-breasted Red-rumped Swallows were logged. Hoopoes company access charge. Service provided Geese were at Carleton Marshes (15th). were at Snettisham CP (3rd) and Holt (2nd). by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please A Glaucous Gull flew past Lowestoft (19th). A Serin was at Gaywood (30th). Many call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333970. A Slavonian Grebe remained at Alton Water. Golden Orioles passed through, including www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news five at West Runton (20th). twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to facebook.com/robinchittenden7 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile A Wryneck was at Holkham (2nd). phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone Winterton had a Shore Lark (2nd) and Pied SUFFOLK company access charge. Service provided Flycatcher (16th). A Wood Warbler was by Birdline East Anglia. For enquiries please at Trimingham (6th). Black Kites were at HIGHLIGHTS: A Lesser Yellowlegs was at Buss call 0330 333 6946 or 07941 333970. Felbrigg Hall (13th) and Sparham (19th). Creek Marsh (3rd-8th). Minsmere had a www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk Montagu’s Harriers flew over Lakenheath Ring-necked Duck (2nd), American Golden twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia Fen and Honing (9th), and Titchwell (12th). Plover (5th) and American Wigeon (13th) and facebook.com/robinchittenden7 Six Honey Buzzards were noted. The Red-breasted Goose remained at Blakeney Spoonbill, (to 16th), as did the Dusky Warbler at Cley, Norfolk, Stiffkey Fen (to 6th). Glossy Ibises included four at Welney. An Iceland Gull flew past 10 May Cley (29th). BREYDON WATER: Highlights included a White STEVE GANTLETT Stork (3rd), Little Gulls (2nd and 18th), seven Spoonbills, three Black Terns (7th) and a Little Stint (14th). Breeding birds included Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Bittern, Peregrine and Avocet. There were three Great White Egrets, Red Kites, four Mediterranean Gulls, 75 Common Terns, a Short-eared Owl, 14 Cetti’s Warblers and two Wheatears. birdwatching.co.uk 119

UK BIRD SIGHTINGS MAY MIDLANDS Arctic Tern, Kingsbury Water Park, Highlights In association with Warwickshire, 3 May The region had a smattering of rare and ‘scarce’ birds (which equate to rarities for most local birders), including Alpine Swift, Bluethroat and the odd Black Kite. An Iberian Chiffchaff was singing at The Wrekin, Shropshire, on 9th. DERBYSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: A Black Kite was at Beeley Moor (9th). The Carsington Great Northern Diver remained (to 6th) with the Red-necked Grebe there (to 12th). A Quail was at Elton Common (26th). Seven Ruff were at Sinfin Moor Wetlands (6th), then at Egginton (7th), along with a Green Sandpiper. Two Ruff were at Ramsley (22nd). Cuckoos were at more than 100 sites. Derby city centre had a Black Redstart (from 19th). Calke Park had a Brambling (8th). BARROW-ON-TRENT: There were seven MARK PRIEST Shelducks, a Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper, two OTHER SITES: Whimbrels were at Ashbourne Eiders (7th), a Corn Bunting (2nd), two Ouzels were around Warren Hills (1st-2nd). Common Sandpipers, a Little Gull and Airfield and Screetham Lane. Crowden had a dark-bellied Brent Geese (1st), two There was a report of around 12 Bee-eaters two Arctic Terns. Ring Ouzel and Merlin. Two Ospreys flew Common Scoters, 16 Whimbrels, two at Stonebow Washlands, Loughborough over Derby, with singles over Froggatt and Little Gulls, seven Arctic Terns, five (18th). Sawley Bridge Marina had three BEELEY MOOR: There was a Hobby, Woodcock, High Bridge GP. Lathkill Dale had 12 Grey Sandwich Terns (3rd), two Arctic Skuas Cattle Egrets (10th). Cuckoo, three Tree Sparrows and a Crossbill. Wagtails and 12 Redstarts. A Cattle Egret (3rd) and a Whinchat. was at Long Eaton GP. Longdendale had a NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CARR VALE: Highlights were an Osprey, Hobby, Common Scoter. A Merlin was at Mermaid’s Lydney had a Little Tern (1st), Arctic Skua four Oystercatchers, a Little Ringed, Ringed Pool. (12th) and 12 Whimbrels. A pale-bellied HIGHLIGHTS: A Glossy Ibis at Stanwick GP (to Plover, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Brent Goose was at Aylburton Warth (27th). 27th) visited Summer Leys (14th). Five Cattle Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Wheatear, Padley Gorge had four Ring Ouzels and a An Iceland Gull was at Newnham (16th). A Egrets were regular at Stanwick GP, with Grasshopper Warbler, Marsh Tit and Willow Wood Warbler. Snake Pass had 15 Golden Great White Egret was at Walmore Common. singles at Summer Leys on four dates. Honey Tit. Plovers and two Dunlin. A Marsh Harrier was Buzzards flew over Byfield (15th) and at Whiteley Nab. Woodhead Reservoir had a SLIMBRIDGE WWT: Highlights included an Hartwell (31st). A White-tailed Eagle flew CARSINGTON WATER: Highlights included six Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Osprey (15th), Green-winged Teal (9th-19th), over M1 junction 15A (21st). White Storks Shelducks, a Red Kite, Osprey, Hobby, Sanderling, Dunlin, two Woodcocks, three Garganeys, 21 Grey Plovers, three were at Barnwell (5th-11th) and over Earls Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel and eight Arctic Terns. Golden Plovers, eight Whimbrels, 42 Barton GP (5th). A Black Redstart was at Sanderling, Dunlin, five Black-tailed Godwits, Foremark Reservoir had a Marsh Harrier Bar-tailed Godwits, two Temminck’s Stints Little Brington (5th). a Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Redshank, and four Peregrines. (16th), a Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Knot, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Steve Thorpe 49 Sanderlings, five Turnstones, a Spotted A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Earls Barton Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Arctic Tern, Redshank, Greenshank, Arctic Skua (2nd), GP (11th). Little Terns visited Ditchford GP Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher. GLOUCESTERSHIRE Little Gull, seven Mediterranean Gulls, a Little (3rd) and Daventry CP (23rd). A Curlew Tern (1st and 4th), Sandwich Tern (16th), Sandpiper visited the DIRFT Pools (1st). A EREWASH MEADOWS: There were two Red COTSWOLDS: A Honey Buzzard flew over Arctic Tern, Arctic Skua (1st), three Ring Ouzel remained at Honey Hill (to 2nd). Kites, a Hobby, Grey Partridge, Ringed Withington (27th). Quails were at Middle Spoonbills, a Short-eared Owl, Grasshopper Six Sandwich Terns flew through Stanwick Plover, Common Sandpiper, Whinchat and Duntisbourne (26th) and Tresham (29th). Warbler and five Whinchats. GP (3rd). Two Avocets toured Stanwick, Grasshopper Warbler. Grasshopper Warblers were at Gretton (4th) Clifford Hill, Earls Barton and Ditchford (7th), and Stratton (5th). The Cotswold Water Park UPPER SEVERN VALE: Coombe Hill Meadows and one was at Warmington GP (9th). OGSTON RESERVOIR: Best birds were a Bittern, had two Avocets, eight Ringed Plovers, two had a Curlew Sandpiper (10th-11th), Wood Common Scoter, three Red Kites, Osprey, Sanderling, two Turnstones, three Common Sandpiper, Spoonbill (9th), a Little Tern and CLIFFORD HILL GP: There was a Turnstone, Hobby, seven Oystercatchers, a Little Ringed Sandpipers, a Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit Cattle Egret (11th), two Great White Egrets, a Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, two Ruff, three Plover, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, (5th), Greenshank, Black Tern (1st) and Grasshopper Warbler and Whinchat. An Ringed Plovers, three Dunlin, two Common Sanderling, Dunlin, Redshank, Common seven Hobbies. The Shorncote area Osprey was at Twyning (6th). A Grasshopper Sandpipers, four Wheatears, including two Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, three Arctic had a Short-eared Owl (5th), Whimbrel Warbler was at Bentham (29th). A Bar-tailed Greenland-race birds, two Whinchats and Terns, a Whinchat and Wheatear. and Mediterranean Gull. A Firecrest Godwit (2nd) and Whinchat (13th) were at two Hobbies. was at Westonbirt. Witcombe Reservoir. Two Corn Buntings RAMSLEY: There was a Hobby, two Ruff, two were at Upham Meadow (17th). DIRFT POOLS: There was a Grey Plover, Cuckoos, a Wheatear, Grasshopper Warbler, FOREST OF DEAN: Crossbills included 30 at Andy Jayne (01452 506 502) Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Sanderling, 46 Tree Pipit, Redstart, eight Whinchats, a Oakhill Wood and 20 at Edge Hills. Breeding Ringed Plovers, six Dunlins and a Wheatear. Stonechat, Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Goshawk, Woodcock, Nightjar, Wood LEICESTERSHIRE Lilbourne Meadows had a Wood Sandpiper, Flycatcher. Warbler, Firecrest, Pied and Spotted Turnstone, Greenshank, two Ringed Plovers Flycatchers, Redstart, Stonechat and Tree HIGHLIGHTS: Eyebrook Reservoir had a and a Garganey. WILLINGTON GP: There were five Little Egrets, Pipit were all present. Slavonian Grebe (to 7th), Spoonbill (9th-11th) a Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Hobby, three Little and an Osprey (9th). Watermead CP had ten EARLS BARTON GP: There were three Ringed Plovers, a Ringed Plover, five Dunlin, LOWER SEVERN VALE: Frampton Pools and Saul Arctic Terns and a Red-crested Pochard Garganeys, a Red-crested Pochard, Osprey, a Turnstone and Grasshopper Warbler. Warth logged six Hobbies, seven Grey (11th). Stanford Reservoir had 14 Arctic several Hobbies, a Marsh Harrier, three Plovers, three Whimbrels, 50 Sanderling, two Terns (2nd) and 17 (7th). A Black Tern was Spotted Redshanks, four Turnstones, six WYVER LANE: There was a Hobby, two Turnstones, an Arctic Tern, Little Gull and there (30th). Saddington Reservoir had two Bar-tailed Godwits, two Whimbrels, Jack Oystercatchers, a Woodcock and Arctic Grasshopper Warbler. Between Purton and Arctic Terns (2nd), with two more at Snipe, a Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Tern. Berkeley Shore, sightings included two Cropston Reservoir (3rd). Up to three Ring Sanderling, 12 Dunlin, five Ringed Plovers, 120 August 2022

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UK BIRD SIGHTINGS MAY four Ruff, three Common Sandpipers, two a Scaup, three Common Scoters, 17 WALES Northern Diver. Ospreys were twice over Mediterranean Gulls, an Arctic Tern and Oystercatchers, 24 Avocets, a Grey Plover, Bridgend. Great White Egret. 40 Ringed Plovers, eight Little Ringed Highlights In association with Paul Roberts Plovers, five Whimbrels, two Bar-tailed HOLLOWELL RESERVOIR: An Osprey was regular. Godwits, a Little Stint, two Turnstones, ten The chief rarity RADNORSHIRE There was a Jack Snipe, two Arctic Terns, a Sanderling, 40 Dunlin, two Common for Wales Whinchat and three Common Sandpipers. Sandpipers and a Wood Sandpiper. during May was a lingering male WYE VALLEY: Hobbies were at Builth Road, Moltoni’s Warbler on the Llanelwedd and Glanwye. Lesser PITSFORD RESERVOIR: There were three There was a Great White Egret (20th), Pembrokeshire island of Whitethroats were at Bronydd, Cwmbach Bar-tailed Godwits, a Sanderling, Turnstone, two Marsh Harriers, three Mediterranean Skokholm. Also in and Llanelwedd Quarry. Broods of Mandarins four Dunlin, two Common Sandpipers and a Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls (17th and 27th), Pembrokeshire, a Dark-eyed were on the Wye at Erwood and Aberedw, Black Tern. four Arctic Terns, regular Cuckoos, four Junco was in a private with Goosander families at Rhayader, Hobbies, two Nightingales and Wheatears garden (aren’t they always?) Newbridge, Brynwern and Llanstephan. STANFORD RESERVOIR: Two groups of Arctic (9th and 20th). at St Ishmael’s. Llowes had eight Dunlin, three Redshanks Terns totalled 22. There was a Black Tern, and a Bar-tailed Godwit, with Sanderling, two Red-crested Pochards, two OTHER SITES: Two Mandarins were at ANGLESEY Turnstone and Black-tailed Godwit Mediterranean Gulls, a Marsh Harrier, Banthorpe GP (12th). Fort Henry Ponds had caught on camera traps. There were six Garganey, Greenshank, Dunlin, Common two Mandarins, three Shovelers and 27 HIGHLIGHTS: Cemlyn had a Citrine Wagtail records of Whimbrel from nocturnal Sandpiper, Whinchat and White Wagtail. Gadwall. Two Shelducks were at Leighfield (8th), the second for Anglesey, a Wood migration recordings, and two diurnal Fishponds (7th). Nineteen Red Kites were Sandpiper (3rd), Redstart (5th), ten White records. Cors y Llyn had a Grasshopper STANWICK GP: There was a Hawfinch, 17 near Uppingham (19th). Curlews were at a Wagtails, an Arctic Skua and Red-throated Warbler, Willow Tit and six Redpolls. Yellow Arctic Terns, a Garganey, Yellow-legged Gull, regular breeding site. Barn Owls were at Diver (7th), an Osprey (8th), Great Northern Wagtails were at Glanwye, Clyro, Glasbury five Hobbies, a Great White Egret, three three nest boxes. Little Owls bred at Diver (16th), Hen Harrier (18th), Little Stint and Llowes. Turnstones, a Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, Barrowden and Normanton. Marsh Tits were (20th), Cuckoo (23rd), Little Gull (30th), Dunlin and three Common Sandpipers. at Leighfield. A Redstart was in Tunneley Roseate Tern (31st), a Yellow Wagtail, OTHER SITES: Grasshopper Warblers were at Wood (to 14th). Three Grey Wagtails were in Whinchat, Mediterranean Gull, Merlin Craig Goch, Llaithddu, Nantmel, Llyn Heilyn THRAPSTON GP: There were three Garganeys, Exton Park. Spotted Flycatchers were at and Ruff. and Newchurch. Llandrindod Lake had three three Whimbrels, a Dunlin, Common Exton Park, Ridlington, Preston and Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, Green Sandpiper and Hobby. Leighfield Fishponds. South Stack had a Bee-eater (21st), three Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Terry Mitcham Hooded Crows, a Spotted Flycatcher, Tern, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, OTHER SITES: Boddington Reservoir hosted Whinchat, Cuckoo, Hen Harrier, Osprey, Red Green Woodpecker, Marsh Tit and two Tree three Black Terns and a Hobby. Ditchford GP STAFFORDSHIRE Kite, and 5,418 Manx Shearwaters in three Sparrows. Yellow Wagtails were at had a Bar-tailed Godwit and Peregrine. A hours (27th). The Alaw Estuary held a Curlew Presteigne, Burfa, Evenjobb and New Radnor. Red-crested Pochard visited Wicksteed Park. HIGHLIGHTS: Belvide Reservoir had a Savi’s Sandpiper (18th), Little Stint (20th), 43 Lesser Whitethroats were at Evancoyd, Nant A Caspian Gull was at Daventry CP. Warbler (3rd-5th), Ferruginous Duck Bar-tailed Godwits, 119 Dunlin, 114 Ringed Glas and Old Radnor. Harrington Airfield had a Short-eared Owl (22nd-30th), two Scaup (1st-4th), good Plovers, 20 Whimbrels, 17 Sanderling, a (14th) and Redstart. Two Whimbrels flew numbers of Arctic Terns, two Bar-tailed Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, a Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were at over the Brampton Valley, with another over Godwits (2nd), a Black Tern (2nd), Whinchat Merlin and Cuckoo. Penybont, Burfa and Presteigne. Nightjars Daventry. Ospreys were at Biggin Lake, (3rd), several Little Gulls, a Manx Shearwater were at Abbey Cwm Hir, New Radnor, Walgrave and Blatherwycke Lake. (3rd-4th), Cattle Egret (7th), Little Terns (8th Cors Ddyga had a Great White Egret, two Newchurch and Bwlch y Sarnau. Whinchats were at four sites and and 12th), Osprey (8th), Wood Sandpiper Bitterns, a Red Kite, Osprey, Wood Llanbwchllyn had a Reed Warbler, Marsh Tit, Wheatears at ten. Two Arctic Terns (9th) and Garganey. Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff and Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Ducks and a visited Ringstead GP. Garganey. The Skerries held a Roseate Tern Little Owl. Llyn Heilyn had a Hobby, Bob Bullock (01604 627 262) Middleton Lakes had a Glossy Ibis (9th), (12th), 4,000 Arctic Terns and 700 Puffins. Peregrine, Kestrel, four Greenshanks, a White-tailed Eagle (15th-21st), Wood A Pomarine Skua was off the Anglesey Whinchat, Common Tern, four NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Sandpipers (1st-3rd and 15th), two coast (31st). Oystercatchers and a Dunlin and Redshank. Turnstones (3rd), a Whimbrel (4th) and Little Ken Croft A Long-eared Owl was in a Knighton garden. HIGHLIGHTS: A Roseate Tern was at Lound Tern (8th). The White-tailed Eagle was also A Hawfinch was in a Cascob garden. (9th). Collingham had a Curlew Sandpiper, seen at Dosthill and Drayton Bassett CEREDIGION Pete Jennings (01588 680 631) Pectoral Sandpiper and Temminck’s Stint. (17th-21st). Blithfield Reservoir had an Three Black-winged Stilts were at Langford Osprey (1st), Slavonian Grebe (1st-3rd), HIGHLIGHTS: Ynyslas had a Great Northern NORTH WEST (15th), with another Idle Washlands Curlew Sandpiper (3rd), two Wood Diver and Black-throated Diver (5th), and a (16th-17th). A Red-necked Phalarope was at Sandpipers (3rd), two Little Terns (3rd) and Pomarine Skua (13th). Great Skuas were at In association with Attenborough (28th). A Ring-necked Duck Arctic Terns. Aberystwyth (6th) and Morfa Bychan (14th). was at Holme Pierrepont (28th). Ynys-hir held three Wood Sandpipers (8th), a Highlights Tom Shields Branston GP had Wood Sandpipers Lesser Yellowlegs (10th), Little Stint (1st-2nd and 11th), a Blue-headed Wagtail (30th-31st) and a Little Ringed Plover (31st). The RUTLAND and Sanderling (2nd), Arctic Terns (2nd-4th), A Hooded Crow was at Nanteos Park near White-tailed an Osprey (5th), Spotted Redshank (8th), Aberystwyth (13th). A Black-headed Wagtail Lapwing tour of Britain HIGHLIGHTS: Rutland Water had a Great Whimbrel (8th), Garganey (9th-11th) and a was at Cors Caron (28th). continued with its appearance in Northern Diver (to 9th), Glossy Ibis (28th), Russian White-fronted Goose (20th-21st). A the region (at Woolston Eyes White-rumped Sandpiper (21st-22nd), Red-breasted Merganser was at Stanley Pool OTHER SITES: There were 13 Choughs at Borth NR, Cheshire) on 31st. Another Temminck’s Stints (6th and 9th-10th), a (2nd-3rd). Aqualate Park had a Little Gull and (2nd). Between Llanrhystud and Llanon, interesting wader in Cheshire, Sandwich Tern (2nd) and Little Tern Arctic Tern (2nd). there were eight White Wagtails, 23 this time from the west, was a (4th-5th). Wheatears and 25 Whimbrels (3rd). A Spotted Sandpiper at Radford Meadows had a Wood Sandpiper Whimbrel was at Llandwyryfon (18th and Doddington Pool on 14th. RUTLAND WATER: Maxima included 18 (4th). Berry Hill Fields had a Ring Ouzel (5th). 24th). A Garganey was at the Teifi Marshes. Shelducks, three Mandarins, 207 Gadwall, Doxey Marshes had a Cattle Egret (5th) and Five Common Sandpipers were at Ynyslas CHESHIRE three Pintails, two Garganeys, eight Osprey (17th). An Osprey was at Rudyard (4th). Cors Caron had two Greenshanks (5th), Shovelers, 30 Pochards, 187 Tufted Ducks, Reservoir (6th). Whitemoor Haye had two a Marsh Harrier (10th) and two Hobbies HIGHLIGHTS: A Dotterel was at Congleton nine Little Egrets, 14 Water Rails, 134 Coots, Arctic Terns (7th). A Kittiwake was at (11th). Another Hobby was at Llangeitho (3rd-4th). A Spotted Sandpiper was at Westport Lake (8th). (13th). Doddington Pool (14th-15th). Hale had two John Davis Little Stints, Spoonbills (2nd and 14th-17th), Sign up to ([email protected]) up to three Channel Wagtails (3rd-8th), a Garganey (7th), Curlew Sandpiper #My200BirdYear EAST GLAMORGAN (22nd-26th) and two Little Gulls (22nd). Frodsham Marsh had a Spotted Redshank BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIGHLIGHTS: Eight Black Terns flew down river (3rd-8th), Wood Sandpiper (6th), Garganey towards Cardiff Bay (4th), with four down (6th-13th), 12 Bar-tailed Godwits (6th), a channel at Lavernock (14th) and one (15th). Ruddy Shelduck (8th), Little Gull (8th) and A Bittern and Red-crested Pochard were at Osprey (13th). Kenfig Pool. An Arctic Skua and 20 dark-bellied Brent Geese were off Nash Point. Leasowe had a Garganey (2nd-3rd), Ring Sker had 50 Arctic Terns and a Great Ouzel (2nd), Osprey (5th), Pied Flycatcher (11th), two Whinchats (11th) and a Curlew 122 August 2022

COMPILED BY GORDON HAMLETT Sandpiper (17th). Neumann’s Flash and Grasshopper Warbler was at Bitterns, Alkborough Flats, GRAHAM CATLEY Marbury CP both had an Arctic Tern (2nd). A Altrincham ETW. Lincolnshire,May Whimbrel was at Chelford (2nd). Burton Mere NORTH EAST Wetlands had four Wood Sandpipers PENNINGTON FLASH: There was a Black Tern Rimac had a Golden Oriole (24th) and the (3rd-6th), two Spotted Redshanks (3rd-28th), (4th), Little Gull (3rd-4th), three Sandwich In association with touring White-tailed Lapwing (26th-28th). four Ruddy Shelducks, two Spoonbills, a Terns (4th), two Sanderling (10th-11th), two Frampton Marsh had a Golden Oriole (30th), Little Gull (3rd), Garganey (4th-6th), Osprey Turnstones (11th), three Whimbrels, 37 Highlights Temminck’s Stints (12th and 21st-22nd) and (6th), Spotted Flycatcher (17th), Cattle Egret Arctic Terns (2nd), a Garganey (24th) and a a Pectoral Sandpiper (13th-18th). The (19th) and Quail (24th). Hobby. East Yorkshire Ring-necked Duck remained at Baston Pits once again (to 3rd). Honey Buzzards were there (12th) Parkgate Marsh/Gayton Sands had a OTHER SITES: Osprey were at Diggle (3rd) and dominated the and at Fulbeck (16th). A Glossy Ibis was at Spoonbill (9th-30th) and three Ruddy Castleshaw Reservoirs (29th). Quails were region’s news, with the UK’s Alkborough Flats (7th-20th), with two (19th) Shelducks (22nd). Acre Nook Sand Quarry on Chat Moss (10th-18th), Ashton-in- second Masked Wagtail in the and three (20th). A Purple Heron was there had a Wood Sandpiper (2nd-3rd) and Black Makerfield (22nd) and Little Woolden Moss Spurn area (Sammy’s Point and (20th-22nd). Tern (16th). A Ring Ouzel was at Mow Cop (27th). A late Fieldfare was noted (21st). Two Kilnsea,18th & 19th), Brown (3rd). Ospreys were at Weaverham and Sandwich Terns flew through Bickershaw CP Shrike at Spurn YWT. And, of FRAMPTON MARSH: There were four Spotted Ashton’s Flash (12th), Winsford (13th), (1st), with two at Hollingworth Lake (1st and course, the Black-browed Redshanks (2nd), a White-fronted Goose Dutton (16th), Kingsley (18th), Meols (21st), 4th). A Garganey was at Lightshaw Hall Albatross was at Bempton Cliffs. (2nd-23rd), two Little Stints (2nd), a and Wallasey (30th). Curlew Sandpipers Flash (17th). Two Common Scoters were on The White-tailed Lapwing came Common Scoter (4th), three Garganeys (7th), were at Heswall (15th), Hoylake (16th-17th) Greenbooth Reservoir (27th). up from Norfolk via Rimac, Lincs; four Wood Sandpipers (8th and 13th), two and Meols (17th). A Quail sang at Mollington and the American Black Tern was Little Gulls (9th), a Curlew Sandpiper (21st). Pickerings Pasture had 16 Kittiwakes Audenshaw Reservoirs logged 11 Arctic back at Long Nanny, (20th-23rd) and three Spoonbills (31st). (22nd). Terns (3rd), two Avocets (2nd), a Bar-tailed Northumberland. Godwit (2nd), Sanderling (3rd), with six GIBRALTAR POINT: There was a Jack Snipe, two WOOLSTON EYES: The wandering White-tailed (10th), two Black-necked Grebes (5th), two LINCOLNSHIRE Spotted Redshanks, a Spoonbill, Short-eared Lapwing was on Number 4 Bed (31st). There Turnstones (10th and 22nd) and three Owl, Long-eared Owl, Firecrest, three Ring were 12 Black-necked Grebe broods, with a Whooper Swans (17th). High Rid Reservoir HIGHLIGHTS: A Rustic Bunting was at Ouzels, a Water Pipit, Little Gull and Crossbill minimum of 18 young. Ringing on No1 bed had four Arctic Terns (2nd). Ring Ouzels were Horseshoe Point (15th). There was a Kentish (1st), a Nightingale and two Hawfinches included a Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, at Blackstone Edge (2nd) and on Caddishead Plover at Tetney (17th). A Little Bittern was (3rd), a Hen Harrier and Redstart (4th), a Treecreeper, Stock Dove, Blackcap, Moss (4th). at Grimsby (26th). A Savi’s Warbler was at Wood Warbler (8th), Turtle Doves (9th and Yellowhammer, Long-Tailed Tit and Song Wolla Bank (12th). Gibraltar Point (13th) had 23rd), Ospreys (11th and 21st), a Pied Thrush. Sightings included a Cuckoo, three A Wood Warbler sang in Salford (5th). three Red-rumped Swallows, a Red-footed Flycatcher and Montagu’s Harrier (12th), a Arctic Terns and a Raven (2nd). Wood Sandpipers were at Kersall Wetland Falcon and an Alpine Swift, which had been Crane (16th), Serin (22nd), Black-throated (4th) and Little Woolden Moss (11th-12th). seen earlier at Anderby Creek. One Diver (26th) and Great Northern Diver (30th). A count on No2 bed (24th) included two Other Manchester Mosslands records Red-rumped Swallow remained (to 14th). Cetti’s Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 19 included two Whinchats, three Grasshopper Also there were Golden Orioles (14th and OTHER SITES: A Wood Warbler was at Trent Blackcaps and 16 Chiffchaffs. No3 bed Warblers, seven Wheatears, 35 Whimbrels, a 20th), a Broad-billed Sandpiper (15th), Port (14th). A Scaup was at Baston Pits records included nine Arctic Terns, a Cuckoo, Greenshank, three Hobbies and a Marsh Purple Heron (16th-17th), Bonaparte’s Gull (20th-28th). A Spoonbill flew over two Mediterranean Gulls, a Hobby, two Harrier. A Black Redstart sang in Manchester (20th), Bee-eater (24th) and Pectoral Mablethorpe (26th). Wood Sandpipers were Marsh Harriers, 120 Black-headed Gull nests Centre. Sandpiper (29th). in the colony, 34 Reed Warblers, 19 Dr Paul Brewster (01606 590 491) Chiffchaffs, five Cetti’s Warblers and two Rustic Bunting, Sedge Warblers. NORTH LANCASHIRE Horseshoe Point, Lincolnshire, No 4 bed records included a Whimbrel, HIGHLIGHTS: A probable Slavonian Grebe was 15 May two Yellow Wagtails, a Common Sandpiper, off Heysham (10th). There was a Puffin there Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Snipe, (2nd), with three (14th). GRAHAM CATLEY Oystercatcher, three Common Terns, two Wheatears, 120 Gadwall, 34 Dunlin, 450 HEYSHAM BIRD OBSERVATORY: There were just Swifts, two Hobbies, 200 House Martins, 199 Arctic Terns recorded, including 116 150 Sand Martins, 100 Swallows, a (2nd). Sandwich Terns peaked at 51 (9th) Sanderling and Yellow-legged Gull. when a Little Tern was seen. There were Dave Steel Pomarine Skuas (11th, 12th and 27th), Great Skuas (4th and 25th) and a disappointing CUMBRIA total of 13 Arctic Skuas. There was a Black Guillemot (27th), Marsh Harrier (3rd) and HIGHLIGHTS: The Pectoral Sandpiper remained dark-bellied Brent Goose (5th). A fall (3rd) at Campfield Marsh, with a Wood Sandpiper included a Redstart and 11 Whinchats. There there (3rd). A Spotted Sandpiper was at Port was an Osprey (2nd), Spotted Flycatcher Carlisle (11th-13th). Six Dotterel were at (16th) and a Shag throughout. Cross Fell (7th). A White Stork of unknown origin was at Ulverston (16th), where a LEIGHTON MOSS: There were four Bittern and Spotted Crake flew over (20th). A five Marsh Harrier nests. Ospreys were seen Rose-coloured Starling was at regularly. One spent 45 minutes re-arranging Seascale (16th). A Black Kite flew over sticks on the newly erected platform, though Egremont (25th). this was subsequently taken over by a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls. Mediterranean GREATER MANCHESTER Gulls peaked at seven. There was a Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Whimbrel, Spoonbill, HIGHLIGHTS: The wandering White-tailed Little Gull, Whinchats (4th and 15th), a Lapwing was at Bickershaw CP (29th-30th). Cuckoo, and Red Kite (28th). A Spotted Sandpiper was at Elton Reservoir (13th-15th). A Turtle Dove was in gardens in OTHER SITES: Red Kites flew over Lancaster Grimeford Village (29th-31st). A Hooded (1st), the M6 near Lancaster University Crow was in Standish (8th-15th). Little Terns (15th) and Brookhouse (29th). Pairs of were at Audenshaw Reservoirs (2nd and Hobbies were at sites in Bowland and North 22nd) and Pennington Flash (2nd). Fylde. Two Green Sandpipers were along the Audenshaw had a Spoonbill (28th). Lancaster canal just north of Carnforth (4th). A Wood Sandpiper and 94 Whimbrels were ELTON RESERVOIR: There was a Turnstone at Wenningfoot (3rd). A Wood Warbler was in (12th-13th), Sanderling (26th), Little Gull Over-Wyresdale (8th). A Yellowhammer was (2nd) and four Arctic Terns (1st). at Aldcliffe (4th). Jon Carter and Pete Marsh MERSEY VALLEY: Seven Whimbrels and two White Wagtails were on Carrington Moss. A birdwatching.co.uk 123

UK BIRD SIGHTINGS MAY GRAHAM CATLEY Purple Heron, Harthope Valley (24th). A Honey Buzzard Sanderling (13th), three Turnstones, and Alkborough Flats, was at North Seaton (24th). An Alpine Swift Wood Sandpipers (1st-10th and 15th). JOHN HEWITT Lincolnshire, was at Gosforth Park (26th). Long-tailed Kittiwakes were noted (1st and 2nd). May Skuas were at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Sandpiper (2nd), American Golden Plover Howick (29th). There were three Little Gulls on the Main Red-rumped Swallows, (4th) and Red-necked Phalarope (9th-18th). Lake (3rd), with one (5th-17th), an Iceland Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, Maiden’s Hall Lake had a Lesser Yellowlegs EAST YORKSHIRE Gull (6th) and Caspian Gull (24th). A May (7th), Wood Sandpiper (7th), Temminck’s Sandwich Tern was at the Main Lake (4th). Stint (16th-19th) and Ruddy Shelduck. Low HIGHLIGHTS: The Black-browed Albatross Arctic Terns peaked at six. The last at Baston Pits (8th), Willow Tree Fen (9th), Newton-by-the-Sea had a Pectoral Sandpiper remained at Bempton Cliffs. A Red-rumped Wheatear was noted (11th) and Whinchat Saltfleet (16th), Manby Flashes (22nd-24th) (12th-14th), Glossy Ibis (12th-13th), Swallow was at Flamborough (12th). (17th). Grasshopper Warblers were at and two at Anderby Creek (22nd). A Redwing Temminck’s Stint (18th) and Red-rumped two sites. was at Huttoft Bank Pit (21st). Swallow (18th and 25th). FLAMBOROUGH: There was a Great Northern Chris King (Bradford OG) and Paul Morris Josh Hedley Diver (5th), ‘Blue’ Fulmar (7th), Golden Oriole Boulmer had a Great Northern Diver and (13th), Blue-headed Wagtail (17th), Stone SCOTLAND NORTHUMBERLAND Little Gull (14th), plus a Pallid Swift (18th). Curlew (17th), Hooded Crow (18th), Quail Holy Island had a Grey-headed Wagtail (15th) (19th), Woodchat Shrike (from 23rd) and a 1H2 iDgechemlbiegr hts In association with HIGHLIGHTS: Red-rumped Swallows were over and Red-spotted Bluethroat (16th-17th). A Bee-eater (31st). Holy Island (1st) and Budle Bay (5th). Long Red-spotted Bluethroat was at Howick Easily the most Nanny had an American Black Tern (16th). A female Bluethroat was on the Farne HORNSEA MERE: There was a Spoonbill (17th), exciting news (13th-31st), Roseate Tern (13th), Red-rumped Islands (15th-17th). Druridge Pools had up to two Great White Egrets (26th) and five from Scotland Swallow (13th-14th), two Great Northern four Temminck’s Stints (15th-23rd). Hobbies (28th). was of a Short-toed Eagle at Divers (14th), up to seven Little Gulls Lairg and Strath Brora, Highland (23rd-30th), a Curlew Sandpiper, and two Hoopoes were at Blyth (16th), Percy Main SPURN: Britain’s second Masked Wagtail was from 24th (to June), Scotland’s Red-breasted Geese of unknown origin Cricket Club (18th) and Killingworth at Kilnsea Wetland and Sammy’s Point first of this southern European (30th). The American Wigeon remained at (20th-22nd). A White-tailed Eagle flew up the (18th). A Brown Shrike was in the triangle species. A River Warbler was on Cresswell Pond (to 7th), with a Spoonbill (14th), where there was a good candidate for Out Skerries, Shetland. there (2nd-7th). a Spanish Wagtail (16th). Beacon Ponds had a Temminck’s Stint, Wood Sandpiper and ARGYLL Grindon Lough had a Green-winged Teal two Curlew Sandpipers. A Stone-curlew was (2nd), Spotted Redshank (2nd-4th), Wood on the Humber shore (24th). A Nightjar was ISLAY: A Dark-eyed Junco was at Kildalton in Church Field (17th). There were at least 12 (7th). A Hawfinch was at Glenegedale (19th). Brown Shrike, sightings of Red-rumped Swallow, though The Oa had a Wryneck (31st), Ring Ouzel Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, how many birds were involved is open to (2nd) and Iceland Gull (17th-27th). A Velvet May speculation. A Wryneck was seen (1st). Scoter was at Easter Ellister (12th). Ospreys A Bee-eater flew south (23rd). Grounded were at Loch Gorm (5th and 17th), where a JOHN HEWITT migrants included 48 Wheatears, Crane was reported (14th and 17th). A Marsh 13 Spotted Flycatchers, nine Ring Ouzels, Harrier was at Glenegedale (4th) and Saligo two Hawfinches, two Turtle Doves and a (16th). Two dark-bellied Brent Geese were at Wood Warbler. Loch Indaal (8th), with 32 Great Northern Divers there (1st). OTHER SITES: North Cave Wetlands had two Garganeys (1st), a Great White Egret (2nd), A good passage of Whimbrels totalled Black-necked Grebe (3rd) and nine 493 birds. Loch Gruinart logged nine Mediterranean Gulls. Ulrome had a Velvet Black-tailed Godwits, 85 Bar-tailed Godwits, Scoter (2nd) and Great Northern Diver (27th). 240 Ringed Plovers, 290 Dunlin, a Little A Dotterel was on Sunk Island (7th). Egret (1st-9th), two Tree Sparrows (9th-12th) Blacktoft Sands had a Garganey (12th), two a Garganey (10th), Yellow Wagtail (18th) and Spoonbills (25th) and a Montagu’s Harrier two Gadwall (18th). Fifteen Corncrakes (26th). A Temminck’s Stint was at Grimston were noted. (15th). A Purple Heron was near Tophill Low (21st). Quails were near Weel (19th) and TIREE: A Stone Curlew at Balinoe (11th) was Patrington (25th). Bempton had a Bee-eater the first for Tiree. Balephuil had a Common (18th) and Grey-headed Wagtail (19th). Rosefinch (20th), Red-breasted Flycatcher Ian Marshall (01482 627 446) and (24th), Redstart, Garden Warbler, 28 John Hewitt (07952 293 060) Common Redpolls and a Bullfinch. Balevullin had a Blue-headed Wagtail (18th-19th), Wood WEST YORKSHIRE Sandpiper and Glaucous Gull. Loch Bhasapol had two Garganeys and a Scaup. A Golden BRADFORD: A Cuckoo and Ring Ouzel were at Eagle was at Milton, a Coot at Heylipol Hazelwood Moor and a Lesser Whitethroat at Church, Iceland Gulls at Loch a’ Phuill and Barden (1st). Two Cuckoos were at Sconse Kilmoluaig and Lesser Whitethroats at Lane (2nd), with others at Harden Moor Balephuil and the Glebe. (12th), Soil Hill (17th) and Glovershaw (18th). A Pied Flycatcher and Redstart were at St Scarcities included five wandering Ives (2nd), with others at Riddlesden, Ogden Canada Geese, three pale-bellied Brents, two and Barden Bridge mid-month. A Tree Pipit Barnacle Geese, a Gadwall, Sandwich Tern, was at Nan Scar (8th). A Hobby flew over six Woodpigeons, four Cuckoos, 11 House Otley (11th). Grasshopper Warblers were at Martins, two White Wagtails, two Whinchats, Ogden (8th) and Soil Hill (17th). Two a Grasshopper Warbler, a pair of Ring Ouzels were at Hebers Ghyll (17th). Whitethroats, six Blackcaps, three Fly Flatts had a Sanderling (6th), Whinchat Chiffchaffs, 13 Spotted Flycatchers, a (18th), Turnstone (29th) and Black-tailed Goldcrest and six Goldfinches. Godwit (30th). A Wood Warbler was at St Ives (18th). Wader maxima included 250 Dunlin, 350 Ringed Plovers, 450 Sanderling, 65 LOWER AIRE VALLEY: There were eight Whooper Whimbrels, five Black-tailed Godwits, Swans (6th), a Cattle Egret (1st and 8th), 47 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Knot and four Crane (7th), Great White Egret (2nd) and Purple Sandpipers. Great Northern Divers Osprey (27th-28th). Waders included a Ruff were widespread around the coast. Seven (3rd), two Greenshanks (2nd), Whimbrels on Whooper Swans remained. There were five days, a Bar-tailed Godwit (1st-2nd), 150 Corncrakes by the month’s end. Peter Roberts and John Bowler ([email protected]) 124 August 2022



UK BIRD SIGHTINGS MAY Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail, (28th) were at the Eskmouth. An Balevullin Beach, Tiree, Argyll, unidentified harrier flew over Musselburgh 18 May racecourse (4th). TYNINGHAME: Tyninghame Bay held a Little Gull (8th), Curlew Sandpipers (10th-11th and 25th), three Whooper Swans (11th), a Blue-headed Wagtail (17th) and two Little Stints (19th-22nd). Five Wood Sandpipers were near East Links Park (17th). A Yellow Wagtail (24th) and a Quail (29th) were at the Ware Road. Scoughall had an Arctic Tern (2nd), Hooded Crow (4th), Greenshank (10th) and Little Gull (18th). OLIVER SMART OTHER SITES: Wood Warblers were at Vogrie CP (1st and 21st-22nd) and Woodhall Dean CENTRAL REGION Temminck’s Stints, a Jack Snipe, Dunlin, Spotted Flycatchers also there. A Hawfinch (8th). A Ring Ouzel was at North Berwick Little Ringed Plovers, Ringed Plovers, 23 was at Rossie House (22nd). A Common Law (14th). A Whinchat was at Pathhead HIGHLIGHTS: A Wood Sandpiper and three Black-tailed Godwits (21st), a Ruff, Little Rosefinch was at Kilminning (15th). (14th). A Reed Warbler was at Duddingston Sanderling were at the head of Loch Tay Gulls, Pochards, Garganeys, a Barnacle Dave Heeley ([email protected]) Loch (24th). A Swift (4th), Tree Pipit (9th) (5th). White-tailed Eagles patrolled Goose, Whimbrels, a White Wagtail, Ospreys and six Reed Warblers (29th) were at Balquhidder (5th) and Tyndrum (15th). Some and a Marsh Harrier. Fife Ness logged Great, LOTHIAN Blindwells. A Wood Sandpiper (14th), Little 220 Kittiwakes were off Skinflats (14th), with Arctic and Long-tailed Skuas, Manx Ringed Plover (22nd) and Quail (24th-25th) three Little Gulls there (23rd). An Avocet was Shearwaters, Red-breasted Mergansers, HIGHLIGHTS: The King Eider remained off were near Mount Lothian. An Osprey was at at Powfoulis TB (24th). First dates included Red-throated, Black-throated and Great Musselburgh. A Wryneck was at Seafield Bavelaw (17th), with a Red Kite near Penicuik Common Tern and Swift (1st) and Spotted Northern Divers, Common and Velvet Pond (1st). A Honey Buzzard flew over (27th). Cramond had a Marsh Harrier and Flycatcher (17th). Scoters, Little Gulls, Knot, Purple Sandpipers, Dunbar (14th). Two Bluethroats were at 50 Manx Shearwaters (26th), and four Sanderling, Whimbrels and a Black Tern. Skateraw (16th). A Kentish Plover was at Twite (30th). CLACKMANNANSHIRE: Two Whimbrels were on Aberlady Bay (17th). A Gull-billed Tern Jim Nicholson Longcarse (1st), when 75 Black-tailed A Barnacle Goose was at Angle Park. A roosted on Gosford Sands (17th-19th). There Godwits and a Reed Warbler were on Mandarin Duck was at Morton Lochs (22nd). were reports of a Night Heron at Cammo TAYSIDE Tullibody Inch. Bearded Tits were on Garganeys were at The Wilderness and (22nd) and a Blyth’s Reed Warbler at Tullibody Inch (13th and 28th). There were Morton Lochs. A Ring-necked Duck visited Cottyburn (22nd). HIGHLIGHTS: Loch of Kinnordy had a 90 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ringed Plover and the The Wilderness (21st). A Scaup was on Green-winged Teal (1st-3rd) and Wood Dunlin at Blackdevon Wetlands (21st). Kilconquhar Loch. A Quail called at ABERLADY: There was a Short-eared Owl and Sandpiper (4th). Three Cranes were at Kingsbarns. Kinghorn recorded 69 Manx two Cuckoos (3rd) and two Little Terns Montrose Basin (4th), plus a Ruddy Shelduck FALKIRK DISTRICT: Four Scaup and three Shearwaters (14th). Ospreys were at (18th). A Wood Warbler was at Archerfield (5th-6th). A Red-spotted Bluethroat was at Whimbrels were at Kinneil (1st). Skinflats Mountcastle and in the Eden Estuary. A Red and a Whinchat in Muirfield Dunes (8th). East Haven (17th). A Wood Sandpiper was at Pools had 20 Gadwall, 70 Black-tailed Kite flew over Auchtermuchty. A Hen Harrier A Little Stint was at Kilspindie (26th). Hatton (7th). Murton GP had a Garganey Godwits, a Whimbrel, seven Wheatears and came in off the sea at Kinghorn (6th). Five Manx Shearwaters flew past Gullane (12th). Four Little Gulls were off Seaton four Reed Warblers (14th), and two Marsh Hobbies were at Kilmany, Kilminning Point (29th). Cliffs, Arbroath (15th). Harriers (26th). and Tentsmuir. BARNS NESS: There was a Tree Pipit (5th), WESTERN ISLES STIRLING DISTRICT: A Ring Ouzel was on A Temminck’s Stint was at The Spotted Flycatcher (5th-6th), two Wood Dumyat (1st), when two Ptarmigan were on Wilderness. The Eden Estuary and Tentsmuir Sandpipers (6th) and a Whinchat (7th). A HIGHLIGHTS: A Broad-billed Sandpiper was at Meall an t-Seallaidh (1st). A Black Grouse Point held Curlew Sandpipers. Wood Glaucous Gull (1st-5th) and two Long-tailed Loch Paible (19th-21st). The Snowy Owl was was at Harperstone, Sheriffmuir (7th). Three Sandpipers were at Luthrie and Holl Ducks (1st-4th) were in White Sands Quarry. on Beinn Scolpaig (8th-15th) before Whimbrels flew over East Frew, Thornhill Reservoir. Luthrie also held Common Skateraw had three Barnacle Geese (9th). relocating back to St. Kilda (from 22nd). Two Carse (7th). The Ring-necked Duck remained Sandpipers. Kinghorn logged Pomarine, Two Channel Wagtails and a Blue-headed Red-rumped Swallows were in Daliburgh at Blairdrummond Ponds (to 15th). Eleven Arctic and Long-tailed Skuas, and a Roseate Wagtail joined the Yellow Wagtails there (19th-22nd), with one remaining (to 28th). Wood Warblers were around Brig o’ Turk Tern. A Long-tailed Skua was at West (27th). Two Brent Geese were at the A Rustic Bunting was in Castlebay (26th). (18th). A Pied Flycatcher was at Auchlyne, Weymss. An Iceland Gull roosted at Leven Dry Burn (29th). An Ortolan Bunting was in a Fivepenny Glen Dochart (22nd), when a Hooded Crow river mouth. garden (4th-5th). was in Lochearnhead. Six Cuckoos were on GOSFORD BAY: There were 650 Velvet Scoters Sheriff Muir (29th). Black Guillemots were at Pathhead and (2nd), two Surf Scoters, three Manx OTHER SITES: Three Garganeys remained on Neil Bielby Ruddons Point. A Short-eared Owl was on Shearwaters and two Arctic Terns (8th). A the Lomond Hills (18th), and one came in off Wood Sandpiper, Cuckoo and Tree Pipit were Benbecula. Surf Scoters were off New Tolsta FIFE the sea at Crail. Kingsbarns had a Ring Ouzel. at Ferny Ness (14th). A Great Skua was at Garden Warblers were at Kilminning and Gosford Sands (18th). A Mediterranean Gull (13th) and Stinky Bay (21st-28th). HIGHLIGHTS: Letham pools held Wood Balcomie, with Lesser Whitethroats and was at Seton Burn (19th). Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, White-billed Divers were at Aird an Runair MUSSELBURGH: There were two Surf Scoters (1st-7th), four Scaup (3rd), 43 Manx (6th), Skigersta (15th), the Butt (23rd) and Shearwaters (26th), a Black Guillemot (30th), 51 Black-tailed Godwits (4th), with four (25th- Stockinish (23rd). A Leach’s Petrel was off 27th), three Little Ringed Plovers, a Wood Sandpiper (15th-17th), Curlew Sandpipers Aird an Runair (26th). Hobbies were at (17th and 25th-26th), an Avocet (18th-19th), Ruff (20th). A Cuckoo (5th), Tree Pipit (6th), Bayhead (13th) and Bornish (24th). A Crane Yellow Wagtail (8th), Little Ringed Plover (9th), two Little Gulls (16th) and an Osprey was at Skigersta (19th). Five Dotterels were on Baleshare (to 2nd) and one at Balranald (29th-30th). A Little Ringed Plover was on St. Kilda (17th-18th). A Spotted Redshank was on Benbecula (17th). Some 330 Long-tailed Skuas and over 100 Pomarine Skuas passed Aird an Runair (13th), with 33 of the latter and 15 of the former there (25th). A Little Gull was at Sign up to Balranald (10th). A Ring-billed Gull was at #My200BirdYear Stinky Bay (27th-30th). Turtle Doves were on BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Barra and in Balivanich. Both Grey-headed and Blue-headed Wagtails were on St. Kilda, where there was a Bluethroat (28th). A Rose-coloured Starling was on Barra (25th). Golden Orioles were there (16th) and in South Glendale (21st). Steve Duffield (www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk) BW 126 August 2022

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ever... John Hague – Thursday 7 October 1999 A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME RUSH AROUND SCILLY PROVED TO BE AS MEMORABLE AS IT WAS MANIC... Ithink if you asked a lot of birders what the JOHN HAGUEcan still relive in my mind.f llfhdd best year on Scilly was, then 1999 wouldDAVID CHAPMAN/ALAMY*With lifers in mind, I headed back to St Agnes feature high on many lists. The events of birders arriving, from all points, too. The Thursday 7 October 1999 will live with me in the hope the White’s would be refound (or at forever... I hope. We were booked on for our least get Radde’s back). As I admired a Monarch Scillonian listing wildly as birders rushed for a usual week from Saturday, but with a bit of wiggle Butterfly by the post office, a shout went up from room I had two further days free in the run-up. the lighthouse. Had the White’s been found? view of the eagle next day, was something. I did A White’s Thrush on St Agnes got me excited but I sprinted uphill and as I asked where it was, none of my party 'needed' it, so I was sweating. the few birders there, pointed skywards. \"Eagle! get the White’s Thrush, but, oh that Thursday! When a Siberian Thrush turned up on Gugh, Short-toed Eagle!\" was the shout. What was said suddenly it was go-go-Gugh! A quick change next was nigh on unrepeatable, but I was soon About John of flights from the helicopter to Skybus from on the CB radio to alert birders on Gugh and Newquay (easy in those days) and I was getting St Mary’s, which was where the eagle was headed. Photographer, birder, writer, sometime picked up at Scilly o’clock for a 9am flight. stand-up and occasional radio guest based in Carl and Richard were day-twitching, but Neil I was by now using the radio to direct birders, Leicestershire. Full-time community psychiatric and I were staying on. as best I could, until it was lost from view to us. nurse. Twitter @thedrunkbirder By now, birders were coming off Gugh battered. Surprisingly, our Twin Otter was full of The scene was described as \"like a herd of Want to tell us about your Best twitchers, we had a boat waiting on arrival and Wildebeest heading across the Mara\" by one Birding Day Ever? Email us at were headed for St Agnes. There was an organised bloodied birder. They had crashed through [email protected] flush for the White’s Thrush so (safe in the brambles to get to the highest point. and we’ll tell you how knowledge the Sibe Thrush was still present), I tried for that. No sign of the White’s in a couple of By now, elated (and, incidentally, with a attempts, so I headed to Gugh, for the Siberian Radde’s Warbler on my list) I headed back to Thrush, ignoring another lifer (Radde’s Warbler) Mary’s and a shower. Neil was busy trying to get on the way. beds for birders now desperate to get over as the eagle was settled on the eastern isles, when Tony On Gugh, I soon had flight views of the superb informed him an Upland Sandpiper was now on immature male Siberian Thrush and even the airfield. Not even having time to dry, I slung jammed in on it perched in a hedge just in front of on clothes and ran to the airfield for an American us. A real once-in-a-lifetime experience, and one I wader, this time. Bliss! The evening was a blur with birds pretty much St Agnes, Scilly 130 August 2022