Show your support for a Marine Bill now
August 23, 2007
Please sign The Wildlife Trusts’ animated petition and forward it to all your friends and colleagues.
In 2005 - after years of lobbying by The Wildlife Trusts and partners - the UK Government finally promised a Marine Bill to provide better protection for our seas and sea life. But we’re still waiting for it. In July 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown failed to include the Marine Bill in his list of priorities for the coming year.
Now we want the Government to renew their commitment to our seas by including the Marine Bill in the Queen’s Speech in November. We have until October to make our case. We mustn’t let the Marine Bill drift away. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to save our seas.
To see
Bernard the Gurnard, please visit www.wildlifetrusts.org and click on the ‘The Petition Fish
Make Bernard’s day - tell the Government you want a Marine Bill now!
UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert 21st August 2007
August 21, 2007
This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday 21st August 2007, issued at 2200 hours and produced in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (see www.rarebirdalert.com_ (http://www.rarebirdalert.com) for membership details).
Fresh NNE winds and overcast skies produced a small ‘fall’ on Blakeney Point (Norfolk) this afternoon, with at least 2 GREENISH WARBLERS found (in the Plantation and near Long Hills), an Icterine Warbler, a Barred Warbler and several Pied Flycatchers. James McCallum stumbled upon a GREAT SNIPE as he searched Yankee Ridge for incoming migrants, and this bird disappeared towards Long Hills at 1645. Both species take the 2007 total to 400 species!
Elsewhere in Norfolk, a juvenile MARBLED DUCK was seen just briefly early morning at Cantley Beet Factory Lagoons (favouring the easternmost bed) and the adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was again on Breydon Water (along with 5 Eurasian Spoonbills, 18 Mediterranean Gulls and Curlew Sandpiper).
Two Wrynecks appeared in Suffolk, with singles in Minsmere RSPB car park and at Landguard NR, with Trimley Marshes SWT Reserve producing Garganey, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Black Tern. Two Wood Sandpipers remained at Boyton Marshes RSPB and seawatching produced excellent numbers of Arctic Skuas, a few Pomarine Skuas, 15+ Sooty Shearwaters and a lone Storm Petrel (off
Titchwell Beach).
Two juvenile WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERNS arrived in the Southeast today, with singles at Bough Beech Reservoir (Kent) and Weir Wood Reservoir, whilst further GREENISH WARBLERS included singles at Skaw, Unst (Shetland), on Fair Isle and on Inner Farne (Northumberland). An adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was discovered on Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour (Dorset), whilst nearby a YELLOWLEGS
species (perhaps more likely a Greater) was again in Brand’s Bay, Poole Harbour.
On Anglesey, the long-staying BLACK STORK spent much of the morning on the Alaw Estuary, whilst an adult summer Sabine’s Gull was again off Little Orme (Conwy), feeding with Black-legged Kittiwakes off Rhos-on-Sea promenade. A further resplendant Sabine’s Gull spent the morning well inland at Rutland Water (Leics), feeding with Black-headed Gulls distantly off the North Arm (John Wright, Steve Lister).
In addition to the aforementioned Greenish Warbler, Fair Isle today held first-winter CITRINE WAGTAIL, Red-backed Shrike and Common Rosefinch, whilst Baltasound, Unst, produced an adult ROSE-COLOURED STARLING. Spurn Point (East Yorks) held Wryneck and 2 Grasshopper Warblers
A Pectoral Sandpiper appeared briefly on the River Thames foreshore, NE of Coalhouse Fort (Essex), whilst a GREAT WHITE EGRET was new in at Blithfield Reservoir (Staffs) (in Blithe Bay until 1635 when flew off NW). Both juvenile PURPLE HERONS remained at Frensham Little Pond (Surrey) and Otmoor RSPB (Oxon) respectively, with the West Yorkshire GREAT WHITE EGRET still in residence at Swillington Ings. The juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON continues to afford exceptional views in Alexandra Park, Hastings (East Sussex), as does the SQUACCO HERON at Fenland Fisheries, NE of Earith (Cambs) and the first-summer GLOSSY IBIS at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside).
A MELODIOUS WARBLER remains for a second day south of Flamborough Head Lighthouse (East Yorks) whilst the ever-present BLACK KITE was again at Nocton Heath Ram Farm (Lincs) (at TF 017 634).
A juvenile dark morph LONG-TAILED SKUA dropped in to Queen Mother Reservoir (Berks) briefly (1206-1218) before drifting off slowly WSW (Chris Heard), with 2 birds seen off Canvey Seafront (Essex), whilst 15,500 Little Gulls were estimated to be present on Hornsea Mere (East Yorks). In Essex, the adult Ring-billed Gull has returned for its 10th consecutive winter at Westcliff-on-Sea promenade.
The first-summer Black-throated Diver continues its residency on Draycote Water (Warks) (John Oates et al).
In IRELAND, the adult BONAPARTE’S GULL and adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER remain at Shannon Airport Lagoons (Co. Clare), with an adult ROSE-COLOURED STARLING at Ennis. Bridges of Ross seawatching has resulted in sightings of FEA’S SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL (Richard Taylor et al) (west at 1225 on 21st) and an extremely early Little Auk & 2 Grey Phalaropes on 19th, with a WILSON’S PETREL off Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) on 17th.
Highlights 16th-20th August
The Celtic Pelagic trips west of Scilly yielded at least 6 WILSON’S PETRELS and 4 Great Shearwaters over the weekend, with a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER on the Pool of Virkie (Shetland) (16th), LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the Taw Estuary, Barnstaple (North Devon) (16th), moulting adult WILSON’S PHALAROPE on pool between Catterick Racecourse and A1 (North Yorks) (18th-19th), WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Canvey Point (Essex) (18th) and GULL-BILLED TERN west past Salthouse (Norfolk) on 20th. A LITTLE SHEARWATER was reported off North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 19th.
RUDDY SHELDUCKS continued to arrive, with 3 juveniles at Holland Haven scrape (Essex) on 18th moving later in the day to Tollesbury Creek.
Lifelists updated
August 17, 2007
The UK400 Club UK and Ireland Combined Life List Totals
As at 14th August 2007
The following list have been updated
UK400 Life Lists updated to include the following
LITTLE SHEARWATER, west past St Ives Island at 1430 hours on 15th August
AUDOUIN’S GULL, Seaton Common, South Devon, 14th August
UK & IRELAND YEAR LISTING 2007
Please log in to download the latest version, non members please contact BBA for membership details.
Rare Bird Alert August 17
August 17, 2007
This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Friday 17th August 2007, issued at 2100 hours, and produced in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (visit Marquee 4 stands 52-53 at the British Birdwatching Fair this weekend).
On the Isles of Scilly, the adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER remains for its third day on Porthellick Pool, St Mary’s, whilst in Norfolk, the adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER appeared again on the rising tide at Breydon Water for the 4th consecutive night. Meanwhile in County Durham, the moulting adult WILSON’S PHALAROPE continues on Castle Lake at Bishop Middleham (NZ 329 308).
A juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON is performing extremely well for its 5thday in Alexandra Park, Hastings (East Sussex), favouring the extreme northend of the park on the small pond immediately NE of Buckshole Reservoir. It is an extremely fresh bird, with juvenile ‘barbed’ feathers protruding from thecrown. Access from the end of Vale Road (TV 805 111).
A GREAT WHITE EGRET was on view at Bough Beech Reservoir (Kent) from late morning to 1410, whilst a female Red-necked Phalarope is present at a private marsh in the north of the county. The 2nd-summer BLACK STORK was once again on Anglesey, favouring the Alaw Estuary, 3 miles east of Holyhead, throughout the morning.
An adult summer Sabine’s Gull flew north with Black-legged Kittiwakes past Flamborough Head (East Yorks) at 1810 this evening, whilst the moulting adult WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN remains at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) (best viewed from Soper Hide)
Long-stayers include the first-summer GLOSSY IBIS at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside), the first-summer COMMON CRANE at Otmoor RSPB (Oxon), the GREAT WHITE EGRET at Swillington Ings (West Yorks) and the SQUACCO HERON at Fenland
Fisheries, Earith GP (Cambs) (TL 392 764). The BLACK KITE continues at Nocton Heath (Lincs), with the first-summer Black-throated Diver still on Draycote Water (Warks).
It has been a quiet week in IRELAND, the only report today being of a Cory’s Shearwater past Galley Head (Co. Cork) this evening.
LITTLE SHEARWATER
August 16, 2007
It was a red-letter day in Cornwall yesterday with a LITTLE SHEARWATER passing close inshore off St Ives Island at 1430 hours. The bird was initially picked up by Lancashire birder Pete Morris, and as it swiftly swept west across the field of view, other birders including Royston Wilkins and Brian Mellow managed to get on to it. Dave Holman and Christine Stean, although on site, failed to get good enough views of it as it rounded the corner of the bay.
It represented the 398th species of the year. Later on in the afternoon, the moderating NW winds produced a close-in WILSON’S PETREL (Brian Mellow, Mashuq Ahmad and Royston Wilkins) flying west at 1705 hours, with the total haul off Pendeen Watchpoint during the day including 17 Great Shearwaters, 5 Cory’s Shearwaters, 44 Balearic Shearwaters, 33 Sooty Shearwaters, 1,500+ Manx Shearwaters, 332 Storm Petrels, a possible Wilson’s Petrel at 3.35pm, 25 Arctic Skuas, 6 Great Skuas, 6 Common Scoter and 3 Atlantic Puffins (per John Swann).
Elsewhere in the country, an adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER returned for a second evening over the high tide roost at Breydon Water (Norfolk), whilst a WILSON’S PHALAROPE showed well throughout the day at Bishop Middleham (County Durham) just south of the village at the east end of Castle Lake and viewable from the track beyond the castle leading to the sewage farm (cNZ 326 306).
The first-summer LESSER GREY SHRIKE remains in residence on Fair Isle (Shetland), with the non-breeding SQUACCO HERON still showing well at Fenland Fisheries, NE of Earith (Cambs) (at TL 392 764), the GREAT WHITE EGRET still at Swillington Ings SE of Leeds (West Yorks) (on St Aidens Flash) and the adult-type WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN on Abberton Reservoir (Essex) (from Tony Soper Hide accessed from reserve). A further GREAT WHITE EGRET flew in off the sea at Dungeness (Kent) at 0915 this morning and rested on the shingle beach for half an hour before flying off at 0950.
Once again, AUDOUIN’S GULL evaded the masses. Yesterday’s 2nd-summer/3rd-winter at Seaton (South Devon) failed to show up today despite being present until dark on 14th. The bird was discovered late morning by local birder Steve Waite, roosting with large numbers of gulls forced inland by the inclement weather at Seaton Common. Most keen Devon birders were either at work or seawatching at Berry Head or Prawle at the time of its finding and it was a real lottery as to who would make it.
The only place the bird could be seen was from the hide at Seaton Marshes, where it remained in view from 1130 until 1327. At that time, the bird tucked itself into a tussock of grass and sat down out of view, and was only seen again briefly at 1347 hours, when the whole gull flock took flight and dispersed. During this period, just 24 Devon birders connected - Steve, Mark Bailey, Ernie Davis, Dave Hopkins, Reg Harding, Dave Stone, John Gale, Doug Cullen, Andrew Cunningham, Alan Bundy, Dave Hellier, Phil Abbott, Gavin Haig, Matthew Knott included. Despite extensive searching, it was not seen again all afternoon/evening until Stuart Piner and Dan Pointon relocated it at dusk, roosting on warehouses by the Lifestyle Leisure Fun Pool Complex in Seaton. The bird was kept under observation (and photographed) from 2055-2108 but then disappeared as darkness arrived.
In IRELAND, an adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Tacumshin Pools (Co. Wexford) was new in.
UK Lifelists Updated
August 13, 2007
The UK400 Club UK and Ireland Combined Life List Totals updated to include…
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER, Oare Marshes NR, Kent, 10th-11th August
BLACK STORK, Alaw Estuary, Anglesey, 31st Jul
Please log in to download the latest version, non members please contact BBA for membership details.
Rare Bird Alert Monday August 13
August 13, 2007
This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Monday 13th August 2007, issued at midday and produced in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (subscription enquiries at 01603 457016; visit Marquee 4 stands 53-54 at this weekend’s British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water Egleton Reserve).
In Cambridgeshire, a non-breeding plumaged SQUACCO HERON continues for at east its third day at Fenland Fisheries, about a mile NNE of Earith. It favours he fishing pit to the east of the track at TL 392 764, where it can be seen ishing from the numerous lilypads on the lake. In Earith village, follow signs or the Industrial Estate. Drive to the left of the office/warehouse uildings and continue on a very rough gravel track north past the entrance to the isheries for just over half a mile. Note that this is a seriously rough track nd to prevent damage to your vehicle underside, it is advisable to park by the ndustrial park and walk.
In Avon, the first-summer drake Ferruginous Duck remains at Chew Valley Lake, avouring the Stratford Bay, whilst in Lincolnshire, the summering BLACK KITE ontinues at Nocton Heath, 2.75 miles WSW of Nocton (Lincolnshire).
Weekend News
The undoubted highlight of the weekend was an adult SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER hich graced Oare Marshes NR (Kent) with its presence from 10th-11th August. The bird showed extremely well on the East Flood, affording the many visiting birders with superb views from the road, with additional site ‘notebook padders’ in the form of 4 Garganey, 2 adult Little Stints and a moulting adult Curlew
Sandpiper.
Following this was Oxfordshire’s first-ever twitchable PURPLE HERON - a fresh-plumaged juvenile favouring the pools and triangular patch of reeds at the south end of Pinkhill NR at the west end of Farmoor Reservoir. This bird was initially discovered on 6th August but not positively identified until 11th and showed well on several occasions on 12th.
Right on cue came our first AQUATIC WARBLERS of the autumn, with singles trapped and ringed at South Milton Ley (South Devon) and Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset) on 12th (following a bird at Hope Point, St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, Kent, on 6th), whilst the first BARRED WARBLER of the autumn involved a juvenile on Brownsman Island, The Farnes (Northumberland), from 10th-12th.
A 2nd-summer WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN was present at Abberton Reservoir (Essex) on at least 11th-12th, with another at Loch of Tankerness (Orkney) on 8th-9th, with a GREAT WHITE EGRET at New Swillington Ings (West Yorks) from at least 10th-12th and a Kentish Plover at Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch Harbour (Dorset) on 10th.
A party of 6 RUDDY SHELDUCKS of presumably continental origin arrived at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) on 10th and then moved overnight 78 miles inland to Paxton Pits NR (Cambs), where they paused just briefly. Next day (12th), they had moved a further 80 miles to the west to Kinsham Pits (Worcs).
Elsewhere on 11th, a juvenile Spotted Crake was seen briefly in Farlington Marsh reedbed (Hants), an Icterine Warbler drifted to Fair Isle (Shetland), a Woodchat was at Durlston CP (Dorset), a Red-backed Shrike was at Filey NCCP (North Yorks) and the LESSER GREY SHRIKE still on Fair Isle.
The Anglesey BLACK STORK flew east over Aber (Gwynedd) at 1145 hours on 11th and west over Mynydd Mechell, SSW of Camaes, at 1415 hours on 12th, whilst the summering GLOSSY IBIS was still present at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside) and the first-summer COMMON CRANE at Otmoor RSPB (Oxon).
A trickle of Cory’s Shearwaters flew west off Pendeen Watchpoint (Cornwall) on 12th, with the odd adult Long-tailed Skua reported off the East Coast.
In IRELAND, recent highlights include adult BONAPARTE’S GULL and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at Shannon Airport Lagoons (Co. Clare), adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the Rogerstown Estuary (Co. Dublin) and SQUACCO HERON at Lough Beg at Mullagh
(Co. Derry).
Lee G R Evans
British Birding Association
UK400 Club, Rare Birds Magazine, Ornithological Consultant and Conservationist
Discussion Forum/Email Group: _http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UK400Club/_
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UK400Club/)
Email Address: LGREUK400@aol.com
Website Address: _www.uk400clubonline.co.uk_
(http://www.uk400clubonline.co.uk/)
6th August 2007 - Rare Bird Alert
August 6, 2007
This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Monday 6th August 2007, issued at 1800 hours and produced in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (the Premier Paging Service, available on subscription from Brian Egan, membership enquiries 01603 457016) and utilising the expertise and knowledge of the Regional Birdline operatives.
A EUROPEAN ROLLER is present for its 5th day on the Gower peninsular in South Wales, favouring wires by Bryn Farm (SS 529 933) by the Cilonen Road about a mile SE of Wernffrwd (West Glamorgan). Not that far away in Ceredigion, an adult GULL-BILLED TERN remains for a 4th day on the Dovey Estuary at Ynyslas. This latter bird is typically erratic in its appearances and is best seen either on a rising or just ebbing tide. It visits the saltmarsh and often flies immediately over the car park.
On Anglesey, the 2nd-summer BLACK STORK remains for its 9th day on the Alaw Estuary, 3 miles east of Holyhead. Park ONLY in Llanfachraeth village, walk west along the narrow lane by the pub, cross the bridge and then follow the footpath west for 0.25 miles to view the opposite side of the estuary. Do not approach this bird as it easily flushes and then often does not return for four hours. A separate BLACK STORK was reported SE of Swindon (Wilts) flying over Liddington at 1256 hours.
A juvenile MARSH SANDPIPER, first discovered by Bob Burgess on Friday, constituted the first OXFORDSHIRE record. It visited an extensive area of floodwater immediately east of Abingdon GP and sewage works on 3rd-4th in accompaniament of a single juvenile Common Greenshank, then was relocated on Sunday 5th at Farmoor Reservoir/Pinkhill Scrape.
In Avon, the first-summer drake Ferruginous Duck continues at Chew Valley Lake (favouring Herriott’s Bridge Pool), with the eclipse drake Ring-necked Duck on nearby Barrow Gurney No.3 Tank, whilst the ever-present first-summer GLOSSY IBIS continues at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside) (today best viewed from Sandgrounders Hide). A further summering drake Ring-necked Duck is at Loch Gelly (Fife).
The first-summer LAUGHING GULL present in South Devon since early spring continues to survive, this weekend favouring Topsham and the adjacent Exe Estuary, whilst at the opposite end of the country, the first-summer HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL remains on Walney Island (Cumbria).
In the Northern Isles and Scotland, the long-staying first-summer BONAPARTE’S GULL remains at Ardvule Point, South Uist (Outer Hebrides), with at least 2 summering Surf Scoters still off Blackdog Sands (Aberdeenshire).
A Honey Buzzard has been lingering in the Benacre Broad area (Suffolk) for at least 5 days, whilst activity at breeding sites such as Wykeham Forest (North Yorks), Clumber Park (Notts) and Great Ryburgh (Norfolk) has intensified as the young birds in the nest are being fed. It is pleasing to see that the Digby Fen RSPB (Lincs) Montagu’s Harriers have done so well, with all 6 birds (adult pair and 4 juveniles) still showing well, whilst nearby, the adult BLACK KITE remains in summer residence at Nocton Heath (Lincs).
Weekend highlights included a BLACK KITE seen at various locations in North Kent, a female RED-FOOTED FALCON south over Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory (Kent), a summer-plumaged WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN at East Chevington North Pool (Northumberland) and a Pectoral Sandpiper on Fair Isle (Shetland). Seawatching produced 47 Balearic Shearwaters off Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 4th, with 2 Cory’s Shearwaters past there on 5th, and WILSON’S PETREL off Strumble Head (Pembs) on 5th.
In IRELAND recently, the SQUACCO HERON was seen again (5th) at Lough Beg (Co. Derry), at the south end at Mullagh sandpits to the east of the farm, with an adult SPOTTED SANDPIPER at Doonbeg Bay (Co. Clare) (4th-5th). The regular adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER is at Shannon Airport Lagoons (Co. Clare), whilst Bridges of Ross has already yielded at least 4 WILSON’S PETRELS this autumn (with singles reported on 26th July & 5th August). Apparently, 1-2 FEA’S SOFT-PLUMAGED PETRELS have also been reported from there in the past two weeks.
Please note that there is now less than a month to vote on EURASIAN EAGLE OWL status in the UK. Please register your vote at the UK400 Club email group exit poll.
Lee G R Evans
British Birding Association
UK400 Club, Rare Birds Magazine, Ornithological Consultant and Conservationist
Discussion Forum/Email Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UK400Club/
Email Address: LGREUK400@aol.com
Website Address: www.uk400clubonline.co.uk
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