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Rare Bird Alert for the UK October 30th

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday 30th October 2007, issued at 2100 hours, and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (www.rarebirdalert.co.uk) and utilising information gleaned from Regional Birdlines, Birdguides, local email groups and individual birders.

On the Isles of Scilly, the WILSON’S SNIPE (first photographed on 3rd October) remains on Lower Moors Pool, St Mary’s, with a first-winter LAUGHING GULL over Hugh Town and in The Roads at dusk. A Richard’s Pipit was seen on St Mary’s Airfield, with several Yellow-browed Warblers scattered about the islands and the juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill still on Tresco Great Pool. On St Agnes, there was no sign of the first-winter male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK today at Grinlington Farm and environs nor of the DUSKY WARBLER present since Friday.

There was a distinct Nearctic flavour to sightings today, with a juvenile LESSER YELLOWLEGS on Minsmere scrape (Suffolk), 2 juvenile SURF SCOTERS just north of Knoll Beach car park in Studland Bay (Dorset) and an adult drake LESSER SCAUP at Woolhampton GP (Berkshire), the latter present for a third day and difficult to separate from a Lesser Scaup-type drake hybrid on the same pit. In South Devon, the juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER remained at Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, whilst in South Wales, the juvenile SPOTTED SANDPIPER was still at Lisvane Reservoir, north of Cardiff (at ST 189821) and first-winter WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER for a second day on Kenfig Pool (Glamorgan) (the latter showing down to 20 yards on the East Shore but blind in its right eye and limping; access from visitor centre down to east shore, then walk right along shore crossing 3 stiles for 600 yards).

A late first-winter Red-backed Shrike was discovered at Abbotsbury Swannery (Dorset) today, with Richard’s Pipit at Culverwell, Portland (Dorset), PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER near Easton Bavents, Southwold (Suffolk) and a continuing COMMON ROSEFINCH at Pitton, on The Gower (at SS 423 875).

In North Norfolk, the adult white morph ROSS’S SNOW GOOSE was again with Pink-footed Geese on Holkham Freshmarsh, with an adult Lesser White-fronted Goose of perhaps suspect origin with Greylag Geese and 2 Northern Grey Shrikes in Burnham Overy Dunes. The extremely elusive Wells Woods OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT of recent days (27th-29th) was not seen today, neither was the exceptionally late (but heavily retarded) first-winter Spotted Flycatcher (NOT considered to be of the eastern form neumanni). Three GREAT WHITE EGRETS remain (roosting each evening with up to 272 Little Egrets at Bone’s Drift), with one adult today south of the A149 at Stiffkey Fen and another again at Wells East Hills. The ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD and 3 Hen Harriers remain distantly at Lodge Marsh, Wells East Hills, with a BLACK BRANT in Wells Channel. In neighbouring Suffolk, a juvenile SABINE’S GULL remains for a second day in fields between East Lane and the Martello tower at Shingle Street.

On the Isle of Sheppey in North Kent, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDS are present on Harty Marshes, including the regular adult on Eastchurch Marshes, and NORTHERN GREY SHRIKES at Cannock Chase (Staffs) (500 yards north of the trig point at Haywood Warren SJ 996 192), Thursley Common King’s Ridge (Surrey), Wishmoor Botton (Berks), SW of Petworth (West Sussex) at Lavington Common (SU 948 190), 4 miles north of Gloucester (Glos) near Ashleworth Ham NR at Hasfield Ham and in the New Forest (Hants) at Bratley Plain (SU 225 097) and Leaden Hall (SU 208 147).

In Scotland, 294 Taiga Bean Geese remain at Luckenburn Farm, near Slamannan (Forth), with a juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER still at Aberlady Bay (Lothian), returning adult Ring-billed Gull at Stromness Harbour (Orkney) and male PINE BUNTING, male EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER and Bluethroat on Fair Isle (Shetland).

The Black Kite of suspect origin (paired with a Common Buzzard and perhaps of dubious parentage) continues its residency north of Ram Farm, Nocton Heath (Lincs) (TF 017 634).

Visible migration at South Coast localities this morning saw well in excess of 35,000 Woodpigeons depart to the south, including 22,880 past Seaton (South Devon), 11,000+ past Portland Bill (Dorset), 31,000 past Dawlish Warren (South Devon), 4,500 past Hengistbury Head (Dorset) and 3,000+ at Farlington (Hants), whilst numbers of Siskin, Chaffinch, Brambling and Lesser Redpoll remain high throughout the country.

In IRELAND, 4 ARCTIC-TYPE REDPOLLS remain for at least a second day near Loop Head (County Clare), with recent sightings including adult BONAPARTE’S GULL at Ardmore Bay (County Waterford) on 28th-29th and 3 North American Green-winged Teals at Inch Lake. A RED-RUMPED SWALLOW was on Tory Island (County Donegal) on 27th.

UK Rare Bird Alert October 23rd

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday 23rd October 2007, issued at 2200 hours and produced in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (www.rarebirdalert.co.uk) and utilising information gleaned from the Regional Birdlines, www.Birdguides.com, the local email groups and individual observers.

A first-winter ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK remains for a second day on St Agnes (Scilly), feeding with Chaffinches in the sunflower fields between Barnaby Lane and Covean, whilst on neighbouring St Mary’s, BLACKPOLL WARBLERS continue to survive in Pottery Lane (Garrison) and in the Higher Moors Pumping Station Clump. The second of two WILSON’S SNIPES on Lower Moors this October remains today, showing well in front of the hides (an adult from 3rd-20th October and a second individual from 20th-23rd October – Tony Duckett, James Lidster, Pete Aley, Ashley Fisher, et al). The Rosehill GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH was still present on 22nd, whilst Red-breasted Flycatchers remain in Lower Moors and in Carreg Dhu Garden, near Longstone. On Tresco, an extremely confiding first-winter BLYTH’S PIPIT continues at Old Grimsby (in fields by the School and on the adjacent playing field), with the BLYTH’S REED WARBLER still ‘tacc-ing’ in Green Bay, at the south end of Bryher.

In East Yorkshire, an extremely elusive first-winter RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL remains for its 4th day at Flamborough Head, frequenting the Old Fall Hedgerow and Plantation. Wherever it goes, the bird is constantly harassed by resident Robins and as a result, is extremely mobile and elusive and covering a wide circuit. Park in the designated car park just west of the Old Fall Hedgerow (£2 parking fee). Further north, a GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK was present SE of Saltwick Nab today (North Yorks), at cNX 929 093.

With continuing SE winds, Rough-legged Buzzards have been arriving in small numbers from Scandinavia, along with increasing numbers of Chaffinches, Bramblings, Siskins, Mealy Redpolls, Woodpigeons, Blackbirds, Fieldfares, Redwings and Goldcrests. Much rarer are the PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLERS, of which 16 or more have arrived in recent days, including 2 on Scilly and singles at Holland Haven (Essex), Hartland Point (North Devon), Kenidjack Valley and Lizard Church & Soap Coves (Cornwall), Reculver Blue Dolphin Caravan Park (North Kent), Thorpeness and Landguard NR (Suffolk) and at Beachy Head (East Sussex), and DUSKY WARBLERS (singles on Fair Isle and in Cot Valley, Cornwall).

A LITTLE BUNTING was with House Sparrows at Milton, Tiree (Argyll) today, with 2 ROSS’S SNOW GEESE at Montrose Basin LNR (Angus), a juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at Aberlady Bay (Lothian) and Bluethroat on Fair Isle. A late PECTORAL SANDPIPER was with European Golden Plovers for a 2nd day 5 miles south of Mallaig (Highland) just south of Traigh Golf Course.

In South Wales, the long-staying juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER remains on Pickle Ridge Ponds, adjacent to the Gann Estuary (south of Dale, Pembrokeshire), with a juvenile COMMON ROSEFINCH showing well for a 2nd day on The Gower just SW of Pitton on the NW side of Mewslade Valley.

An adult white morph ROSS’S SNOW GOOSE remains with up to 78,000 Pink-footed Geese in North Norfolk, showing again today on Holkham Freshmarsh, with a Barred Warbler just inland of Thornham feeding in Elders near Ringstead Road at TF 724 420.

A very late juvenile PURPLE HERON remains at Ashcott Corner NR, Shapwick Heath (Somerset), with a drake LESSER SCAUP nearby at Blagdon Lake and another near Mere (Wilts) at Stourhead NT. The huge success of Rainham Marsh RSPB (Essex/London) continues, with both CATTLE EGRET and GREAT WHITE EGRET on the Aveley Lagoon environs again today. Further GREAT WHITE EGRETS include long-staying adults at Leighton Moss RSPB (Lancs) and Mockbeggar Lake (Hants), whilst the ever-present GLOSSY IBIS continues at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside).

Although there was no sign today of the BLYTH’S PIPIT near Sennen (Cornwall) (present on 20th-22nd), the Richard’s Pipit was still present and the juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was again in fields south of the A30 and east of the B3284 at SW 778 488 (3 miles north of Truro). Another Richard’s Pipit was at Walney Island (Cumbria), whilst juvenile ROSE-COLOURED STARLINGS remained on Lundy (North Devon) and St Agnes (Scilly) and 40 or so Yellow-browed Warblers were between Shetland and Scilly.

A BAR-HEADED GOOSE considered to have arrived with Siberian Barnacle Geese has been present at Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway) since early October. There is also a lone RICHARDSON’S CANADA GOOSE in with the 27,000 wintering Barnacle Geese.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Scilly represents the 430th species of 2007

A DUSKY WARBLER at Ballycotton (Co. Cork) is the current talking point in Ireland, with the GREAT WHITE EGRET still at Lough Beg (Co. Derry). Rare wildfowl, indicating the arrival of the Irish winter, include SURF SCOTER at Blanket Nook, Ring-necked Duck on Inch Island Lake and drake LESSER SCAUP on Lough Fern (Co. Donegal).

UK Rare Bird Alert October 19th

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Friday 19th October 2007, issued at 2200 hours, and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (for enquiries, visit www.rarebirdalert.com) and utilising additional information gleaned from the Regional Birdlines, Birdguides, the local email groups and individual observers.

As one would expect in mid October, the Isles of Scilly continue to steal the headlines. Although the Wilson’s Snipe departed on 16th, the two nearctic BLACKPOLL WARBLERS remain – with birds showing well along Pottery Lane on the Garrison and at the Higher Moors clumps. The extremely elusive GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH was reported again shortly after first light, in the field just beyond Rose Hill Studios on Porthloo Lane, whilst the rather showy first-winter BLYTH’S PIPIT remains by the school in Old Grimsby, Tresco. Bryher still has its BLYTH’S REED WARBLER at the south end, whilst the LITTLE BUNTING continues by the Incinerator and new arrivals included 3 Red-breasted Flycatchers and a Richard’s Pipit.

Yesterday’s juvenile Leach’s Petrel at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) relocated to Draycote Water (Warks) overnight and remained present until dusk.

The bonanza of GREAT WHITE EGRET sightings continues, with a ‘new’ bird at Rainham Marshes RSPB (London/Essex) this morning and a further bird at Cley, Salthouse, Sheringham and Holkham Freshmarsh this afternoon. Further long-stayers include singles at Leighton Moss RSPB (Lancs) and Mockbeggar Lake (Hants). CATTLE EGRETS are also unusually numerous, with two birds today at Grove Ferry (Kent) and another at Rainham Marshes RSPB (for its 4th day and favouring the cattle field immediately west of the Aveley Pools).

A juvenile LITTLE BITTERN showed extremely well in reeds adjacent to the coastal footpath at Titchwell Marsh RSPB (Norfolk) for an hour this afternoon giving rise to the possibility that this spring’s barking adult male there actually attracted a mate!

Other fresh arrivals today included a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Berry Head (South Devon), a PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER and Red-breasted Flycatcher at Church Cove on The Lizard (Cornwall), a Red-backed Shrike at Winterton North Dunes (Norfolk) and a Lapland Bunting at Audenshaw Reservoirs (Gtr Manchester).

Shetland has finally lost its spark with today’s highlight a HORNEMANN’S ARCTIC REDPOLL on Bressay (at Brough) whilst a LITTLE BUNTING showed well in a garden at South Glendale, South Uist (Outer Hebrides) (recent days saw a BLYTH’S PIPIT at Sumburgh, RADDE’S WARBLER at Toab, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Quendale and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Virkie).

Pick of the Rest

A juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER continues to show well in SW Wales, consorting with Ringed Plovers on Pickle Ridge Pools and adjacent beaches, Gann Estuary, just north of Dale (Pembs), with 2 juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers still at Tophill Low Reservoir (East Yorks), GLOSSY IBIS at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside), PURPLE HERON at Meare Heath (Somerset), adult BLACK KITE of unknown origin at Nocton Heath (Lincs) and Barred Warblers at St Mary’s Island (Northumberland), Scalby Lodge Pond, Scarborough (North Yorks) and Bardsey Island (Gwynedd). The 25 Eurasian Spoonbills remain on Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour (Dorset), with a BLACK BRANT on The Fleet (Dorset) and Green-winged Teal at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB (Cheshire).

Another AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT was identified in Scotland on 18th – at Torlum Machair, Borgh Point on Benbecula (Outer Hebrides) (Steve Duffield).

In IRELAND today, highlights include an ISABELLINE SHRIKE at Mizen Head (Co. Cork) (with recent sightings of Woodlark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, LITTLE BUNTING and RED-THROATED PIPIT there) and continuing GREENISH WARBLER at Dunnycove Bay, 4.5 miles south of Clonakilty (Co. Cork). An Icterine Warbler was on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) until at least 18th.

A juvenile SURF SCOTER is with Common Scoters on Lough Swilly at Blanket Nook (Co. Donegal) and a female Ring-necked Duck on Lough Foyle (Co. Derry). The resident SNOWY OWL continues on The Mullet (Co. Mayo).

Western Palearctic Ruddy Shelducks – British occurrencies

Keith Vinicombe has very kindly provided the most recent information regarding Ruddy Shelduck status in NW Europe and further east (although 2007 statistics from Holland and Switzerland are eagerly awaited).

KEV is a prime advisor to the UK400 Club on vagrant wildfowl occurrencies in Britain and his eticulous work has been very much appreciated over the past 30 years. Together, we have carefully vetted all of the records and the UK400 Club treatment is a result of his extensive studies.

Ruddy Shelduck A major influx of at least 59 Ruddy Shelducks into Britain and Ireland occurred in 1892, with others at that time reaching as far west as Greenland. This influx has always been considered to relate to wild birds and the species resides on Category B of the British List (species seen in an apparently wild state only before 1950). The numerous records since then are treated by the BOURC as relating to escapes. While many undoubtedly are, there is a strong pattern of late summer occurrences (mainly July-August) and many, if not most of those records, relate to small flocks, a classic characteristic of an irruptive vagrant.

In 1994, there was a major irruption into north-western Europe, involving as many as 351 birds, including about 262 into Fenno-Scandia. This is thought to have involved birds that moved out of south-east Europe and/or south-western Asia in response to drought. There were about 55 seen in Britain that year, including flocks of up to 12. Despite this, the BOURC refused to admit Ruddy Shelduck into Category A, one of the reasons being the existence of a feral population based on the Askania-Nova steppe reserve in Ukraine, but this site is very close to the species’ natural range. Since then, small flocks of Ruddy Shelducks have continued to occur in late summer, but there have been further important developments.

One is the establishment of another feral population based on Moscow Zoo, which reached 294 in January 2004, and another feral population based on lakes and reservoirs in northern Switzerland, which reached 280 in August 2003. Most significant is the establishment of a moult migration to Eemmer, Utrecht, the Netherlands, which reached 430 in July 2006. There is a widespread belief that these birds come from a large feral population in Germany, but there is a snag to this theory: there is no large feral population in Germany! Contemporaneous counts confirm that they do not come from Switzerland.

The Dutch do not know where these birds come from but the prevailing view is that they are wild. Intriguingly, there has recently been some evidence of a regular passage through northern Italy, thought to involve birds travelling to and from Switzerland and perhaps originating in the Balkans.

Interestingly, it is now known from ringing recoveries that the feral population in Ukraine is mixing with wild birds in southern Russia, the population of which has increased significantly in recent years. This is supported by the fact that only 80-90 pairs nest at Askania-Nova whereas up to 2,000 may be present in winter.

Bearing in mind that (1) there are now over 700 Ruddy Shelducks moulting in western Europe every summer and (2) the barriers between wild and feral birds in the natural range are breaking down, there is no reason why Ruddy Shelduck should not be added to the British List. Even if, for the sake of argument, the birds that reach these shores are feral, then they are clearly countable as Category C vagrants.

See British Birds (1999) 92: 225-255 and an update in Birdwatch (2004) 141: 42-44.

UK 2006 Year List Record Matched

2006 Year List record now matchedWith the addition of LEAST SANDPIPER (juvenile photographed at Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, on 13th October) and North American WILSON’S SNIPE (on Lower Moors Pool, St Mary’s, Scilly) on 11th to at least 15th October), the total number of species now recorded in Britain and Ireland in 2007 has reached a remarkable 427 species, equalling the previous record high achieved only last year.

Updates October 15th

The UK400 Club UK and Ireland Combined Life List Totals as at 15th October 2007 including the following

WILSON’S SNIPE, Lower Moors, St Mary’s, Scilly, 10th-15th Oct
RED-THROATED PIPIT, Flamborough Head, East Yorks, 13th October
AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT, Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon, 6th-9th October
BLYTH’S REED WARBLER, Red Rocks NR, Merseyside, 7th-9th October
BLYTH’S REED WARBLER, Flamborough Head, East Yorks, 6th-9th October
SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, Foula, Shetland, 5th October
ASIATIC BROWN FLYCATCHER, Flamborough Old Hall Plantation, East Yorks, 3rd-4th October
EURASIAN EAGLE OWL, Species upgrade from Category E to I (1st October 2007)
BLYTH’S REED WARBLER, Gramborough Hill, Salthouse, 30th September

Official UK400 Club / BBA submission form

Submission form updated, download the latest version here

Rare Bird Alert October 15th

This is the UK400 Cub Rare Bird Alert for Monday 15th October 2007, issued at 1600 hours, and produced in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (www.rarebirdalert.com) and utilising further information gleaned from Regional Birdlines, www.Birdguides.com, the Irish Birdnet, local email groups and individual observers.

With a major clearout on Shetland at the onset of an Atlantic front, all major activity reverts to the Isles of Scilly. The star attraction continues to be the North American WILSON’S SNIPE. Present early mornings in front of the Lower Moors hides, the bird then retreats to the quiet, sedge-filled surroundings of the adjacent Stepping Stones Field, where it is incredibly difficult to observe and out of view for 90% of the time. It occasionally returns to the pool prior to dusk, but does roost there each evening.

A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was a new but all-too-brief fresh transatlantic arrival this afternoon, pausing briefly to refuel on Porthellick Beach, St Mary’s. The GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH remains on Porthloo Lane, but is remarkably elusive, being glimpsed mainly in flight perhaps three times a day (in the vicinity of the first few fields beyond Rose Studios) whilst the GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK commutes between the Golf Course and the Airfield and the extremely confiding (and incidentally only easy bird to see) juvenile WOODCHAT SHRIKE continues to refill its larder in the bracken stone-wall hedgerows behind Carn Vean Tearooms adjacent to Green Lane.

There are two similarly marked first-winter BLACKPOLL WARBLERS on St Mary’s – one in Sallows and Willows at the Higher Moors Clump and another in gardens, tall Elms and dense shrubs along Pottery Lane on the quayside Garrison. Both birds can involve considerable time for connection.

A RUSTIC BUNTING is a new addition at the far end of McFarlane Down, Pungies Lane, St Mary’s, with a LITTLE BUNTING in fields opposite the Incinerator also newly discovered.

St Agnes offers a juvenile ROSE-COLOURED STARLING on Periglis Beach, with the elusive BLYTH’S REED WARBLER still on Bryher (in Green Bay area) and a highly mobile GREAT WHITE EGRET occasionally seen over Tresco (on route to feeding/roosting areas on the Eastern Isles). There are up to 15 Yellow-browed Warblers on the archipelago, at least 1 Lapland and Snow Bunting, a lingering Osprey, several Black Redstarts, 600+ Siskins and a field-full of over 1,200 Chaffinches on Tresco.

At the extreme opposite end of the country, Shetland continued to be bombarded by mouthwatering vagrants all weekend (check out the Shetland website to be ‘gripped off’ by Hugh Harrop’s outstanding images). Pride of place (as always) was the spectacular WHITE’S THRUSH, present at Sumburgh Farm on 13th, with runners-up in the form of a very showy PECHORA PIPIT at Toab and yet another RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL (first-winter) at Scatness (13th-14th). Also on 14th, a RUSTIC BUNTING and DUSKY WARBLER were at Sumburgh Farm, obliging PADDYFIELD WARBLER and LITTLE BUNTING at Quendale Burn, GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK at Toab, PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER at Sumburgh Head and ever present KILLDEER again at Pool of Virkie. The drake Ring-necked Duck remains at Loch of Tingwall whilst well-marked ARCTIC REDPOLLS (probably HORNEMANN’S) continue with Twite flocks at Collafirth, Northmavine, and in West Yell. On Unst, the BLYTH’S REED WARBLER and 12 Northwestern Redpolls remained at Norwick (14th), with a Rufous Nightingale trapped at Northdale, with 3 OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS on Foula.

Most unusual was an adult male RED-FOOTED FALCON at Tarbat Ness Lighthouse (Highland) until 0920 hours this morning (Dave Tanner), with a PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER trapped and ringed at The Naze (Essex), a European Serin over Stanpit Marsh (Dorset) and a Wryneck present for its 2nd day at Warham Greens (Norfolk). A first-winter LESSER GREY SHRIKE was reported from Dersingham Bog NR this morning (at cTF 665 285) as was the HUME’S LEAF WARBLER again from Holkham Pines. The juvenile/first-winter Red-necked Phalarope survives on Kelling Water Meadows, with a fair number of Yellow-browed Warblers, Ring Ouzels and Bramblings still at coastal localities.

Further north, a moulting adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER remains for a third day in the Spurn/Kilnsea area (East Yorks), with PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Tophill Low Reservoir (East Yorks) (2 juveniles) and a GREAT WHITE EGRET at Rutland Water Egleton Reserve (Leics).

A very confiding juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER is present for a second day on the Gann Estuary, just north of Dale (Pembrokeshire), whilst the adult WHITE-BILLED DIVER in absolutely pristine summer plumage remains in residence off Selsey Bill (West Sussex) (please note that this bird frequents sea surfaces between 500 and 1500 yards offshore – a 60X lens is recommended for viewing). At the other end of the telescopic spectrum, a juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER shows down to 3 feet just north of White’s Creek in Pagham Harbour (access from Pagham Lagoon car park; walk north for half a mile to view spartina at edge of muddy foreshore track to North Wall).

A CATTLE EGRET is present for a second day at Seaton Marshes (South Devon), although there is no sign tofday of yesterday’s first for Berkshire – at Lower Farm GP until dusk. The Mockbeggar Lake (Hants) GREAT WHITE EGRET continues to prosper, as does the 2nd-winter GLOSSY IBIS at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside). Up to 252 Taiga Bean Geese have returned to Luckenburn Farm, Slamannan (Forth). A drake LESSER SCAUP is at Blagdon Lake (Somerset), whilst an adult blue morph LESSER SNOW GOOSE is with 15,000 Pinkfeet at Aberlady Bay (Lothian).

From the island of IRELAND, weekend highlights include LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Clonakilty (Co. Cork), BLYTH’S REED WARBLER and RED-RUMPED SWALLOW at Mizen Head (Co. Cork), DUSKY WARBLER on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and GREAT WHITE EGRET at Lough Beg and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at Shannon Lagoons (Co. Clare). At least 1 AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT continues at Liscannor.

Rare Bird Alert October 12th

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Friday 12th October 2007, issued at 2200 hours, and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (www.rarebirdalert.com) and utilising information gathered from local email groups, regional Birdlines, Birdguides and individual observers.

A North American WILSON’S SNIPE is present for a second day at Lower Moors, St Mary’s (Isles of Scilly), showing intermittently in front of the two hides (mornings seem best). The bird is a well-marked individual and has been excellently photographed (see James Lidster’s images on the RBA website) and represents the latest in a line of records from this archipelago.

With increasing numbers of birders on the islands (at about 300-strong now) and a change to light SE winds, a noticeable increase in rarities occurred today. The first-winter BLACKPOLL WARBLER which initially arrived on the Garrison on Tuesday (9th) showed well again today in Sallows at Porthellick Pool and in Elms just west of Carn Friars Farm, whilst a BLYTH’S REED WARBLER was present for a second day on Bryher (showing occasionally and calling intermittently). A GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH was reported very briefly from fields near Rocky Hills (per Mark Palmer), whilst the juvenile WOODCHAT SHRIKE remains at Carn Vean and incoming vagrants included a PENDULINE TIT on Lower Moors briefly (James Lidster), a GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK by the Hospital, Hugh Town, and a RED-THROATED PIPIT over Longstones. Up to 10 Yellow-browed Warblers are present on the islands, with a LITTLE BUNTING briefly at Borough Farm, Tresco (and another on the Wingletang, St Agnes) and a Common Rosefinch at Troy Town, St Agnes. A GREAT WHITE EGRET flew over Tresco early morning, with a long-staying Osprey lingering off Porthellick Pool, whilst there was no sign of yesterday evening’s showy RADDE’S WARBLER on St Agnes.

In neighbouring Cornwall, a RADDE’S WARBLER in Nanquidno Valley was typically elusive, with newly arrived RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS discovered at Kenidjack Valley and at Polgigga. The Spotted Crake remains at Marazion Marsh RSPB, with a juvenile Red-backed Shrike at Botallack and a handful of Yellow-browed Warblers at scattered localities.

At the other end of the country, Shetland continued to dominate. With up to 10 roving car loads of rarity finders, the autumn haul continued to increase. A PADDYFIELD WARBLER continues to show very well in Iris beds at Quendale Burn, with a HORNEMANN’S ARCTIC REDPOLL nearby and PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER, Red-breasted Flycatcher and DUSKY WARBLER at Sumburgh Head. A very confiding PECHORA PIPIT was on wires at Toab (see Mark Reeder’s superb images), along with a GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK and 8 Lapland Buntings, whilst a BLYTH’S REED WARBLER and juvenile Red-backed Shrike are in Helendale, Lerwick. The MELODIOUS WARBLER is still at East Voe of Quarff whilst Yellow-browed Warblers today included 7 at Helendale, 2 at Wester Quarff, 2 at Geosetter and singles at Sumburgh Head, Gulberwick, Hoswick, Grutness, Boddam, Quendale, West Yell and Seafield, Lerwick. On Unst, a DUSKY WARBLER was at Norwick and a PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER at Ungirsta, Haroldswick, with a further DUSKY WARBLER (and LITTLE BUNTING) on Out Skerries and a freshly arrived LESSER YELLOWLEGS on Foula. Fair Isle has OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT, Richard’s Pipit, Bluethroat and GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK.

A RED-THROATED PIPIT visited Flamborough Head (East Yorks) today, whilst Oxfordshire’s first-ever AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT was relocated at Port Meadow, Oxford, where it was seen briefly with Scandinavian Rock Pipits (this bird had performed exceptionally well at Farmoor Reservoir on 6th-9th – Nic Hallam et al).

A CATTLE EGRET was seen several times during the day at Chew Valley Lake (Avon), with another briefly at Bewl Water (East Sussex) late morning. GREAT WHITE EGRETS remained in Norfolk and Lancashire (Leighton Moss) with another on South Uist at Stoneybridge (Outer Hebrides).

An adult WHITE-BILLED DIVER in absolutely pristine full summer plumage remains offshore at Selsey Bill (West Sussex) (ranging from 700-1,000 yards offshore and feeding at low tide on Crabs and Flatfish on the seaward side of the sandbar) (present since 2nd October and clearly lingering) with a juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER showing to just a few feet in White’s Creek, on the east side of Pagham Harbour (West Sussex). Further late PECTORAL SANDPIPERS include pairs at Tophill Low Reservoir (East Yorks) and Portmeadow Floods, Oxford (Oxon), with a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Paull Holme Strays, Hull (East Yorks).

A total of 41 Eurasian Spoonbills includes 26 on Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour (Dorset) and 15 on the River Taw at Isley Marsh (North Devon), with a drake LESSER SCAUP on Blagdon Lake (Somerset), the GLOSSY IBIS still at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside) and the white morph LESSER SNOW GOOSE at West Caister (Norfolk). The juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER continues at Branston Island, 2 miles NW of Bardney (Lincs), whilst the Easington (East Yorks) DUSKY WARBLER remains for a third day.

A phenomenal total of 1,100 Tree Sparrows flew south at Spurn Point (East Yorks) today, with bumper numbers of Chaffinch, Brambling and redpoll moving south throughout the country, and up to 600 Siskin new in on Scilly. At least 20 Northern Grey Shrikes are scattered throughout.

In IRELAND, the big talking point is BLYTH’S REED WARBLERS, with Dave Suddaby discovering a bird on The Mullet (Co. Mayo) and Killian Mullarney another in Cork – at Mizen Head. The latter, discovered yesterday, was successfully twitched by at least 16 Irish birders today (see http://www.birdsireland.com/pages/rare_bird_news/2007/october_photos.html for Killian’s images)

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