UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert 28th July 2008
July 28, 2008
This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Monday 28th July 2008, issued at 1600 hours, and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers and in turn utilising information gleaned from the Regional Birdlines, BirdGuides, local email groups and websites and individual observers.
As predicted, more TWO-BARRED CROSSBILLS are arriving, with two birds (and adult female and juvenile) on Fair Isle today, feeding with 14 Common Crossbills on weeds at the base of Malcolm’s Head. A MARSH WARBLER at Spurn Point (East Yorks) (by Canal Scrape car park) was an early returning migrant.
Right on cue, an adult summer PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER is present on North Ronaldsay (Orkney)
In Northumberland, an adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER is present at Druridge Bay, elusively feeding amongst vegetation to the north of the causeway on the north side of Cresswell Pond NWT. Nearby, at high tide, there was a gathering of at least 11 ROSEATE TERNS at Alnmouth (the only migrants on the Farne Islands today being a Common Cuckoo and Garden Warbler following the weekend’s early
ICTERINE WARBLER).
Yesterday saw a GLOSSY IBIS in East Yorkshire (initially seen flying south at Spurn Point then later relocated at Patrington Haven and then Sammy’s Point, Kilnsea, whilst adult PECTORAL SANDPIPERS remain at Gibraltar Point NNR Jackson’s Marsh scrape (Lincs) and Holland Haven NR scrape (Essex) and a new one (or more likely a reorienting one) at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk). A further adult was present at Port Carlisle Harbour (Cumbria) for a second day.
The ‘resident’ drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK was showing in Stratford Bay, Chew Valley Lake (Avon) this morning, as was the male Hooded Merganser of unknown origin at Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset).
A CATTLE EGRET was present at Oare Marshes NR (Kent) briefly on Saturday.
Record-breaking Razorbill on Bardsey Island
July 28, 2008
A RAZORBILL has returned to its Welsh island home for its 41st consecutive summer, creating a new longetivity record for the species. Razorbill M23170 is the oldest known Razorbill in Britain, being originally ringed as a chick on the cliffs of Bardsey Island (Caernarfonshire) in 1967 (per Mark Grantham, BTO Ringing Unit).
Atlantic Puffins In Decline
July 26, 2008
There has been an alarming decrease in the population of Atlantic Puffins on the Farne Islands (Northumberland) this summer, with a comprehensive survey revealing the presence of just over 36,000 breeding pairs on the islands. This figure is down from 57,000, a reduction of nearly 37%.
There could be two factors influencing this dramatic fall in numbers of this endearing seabird -:
a) the fact that pairs are finding it increasingly difficult to find food in the North Sea, particularly Sandeels and small fish, at critical times during the breeding season
b) increasing winter storms associated with climate change preventing birds from feeding for lengthy periods and ultimately ending in the demise of many first-year birds and a proportion of adults
Atlantic Puffins have also shown decreases in other parts of the country, particularly in Wales, where the population at South Stack RSPB (Anglesey) for example is now almost extinct. Populations in Shetland and Orkney have also been affected.
In Norway, where the Rost population declined by 68% between 1969 and 1988, this was mainly due to a long run of breeding failures culminating from a dramatic decline in Herring populations, most likely due to overfishing (Anker-Nilssen 1987, Harris 1984).
The most recent population estimates for Atlantic Puffin were in the region of 550,000 breeding pairs in Britain (out of a total world population of possibly up to 4 million), with Iceland and Norway sharing the largest populations.
Those from the east coast of Britain winter largely in the North Sea whilst those from elsewhere disperse widely at very low densities over vast areas of ocean in the west Mediterranean sea area.
UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert - 25 July 2008
July 25, 2008
This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Friday 25 July 2008, issued at 1800 hours and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (www.rarebirdalert.com) and utilising information gleaned from BirdGuides (www.BirdGuides.co.uk), Regional Birdlines, local email groups and websites and individual observers.
With temperatures remaining high in the south (up to 82 degrees fahrenheit), the switch from NE to SE winds has failed to yield a noticeable arrival of new birds. However, returning waders are still the main event, and Black Terns (both adults and juveniles) have increased. Common Crossbills continue to arrive in numbers, with 100+ now present in Alice Holt Forest (Hants).
In Salop, a HOOPOE is present at Bishop’s Castle, in fields west of the A488 near Ransfords Equestrian Centre, whilst in the English Channel, an adult SABINE’S GULL in breeding plumage was seen from a boat for five minutes south of Seaton (South Devon).
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS remain near Darfield (South Yorks) at Edderthorpe Flash (with 3 Ruff), Gibraltar Point NR Jackson’s Marsh (Lincs) and at Holland Haven NR scrape (Essex) (view scrape from public hide, accessed from car park - £1 per hour), with the adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still on Cley NWT North Scrape (Norfolk). Many adult CURLEW SANDPIPERS are now appearing, with 3 far inland at Broom GP (Beds) for an hour or so this morning, along with a few WOOD SANDPIPERS.
The first-summer drake Hooded Merganser of unknown origin remains at Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset)
The long-staying male RED-BACKED SHRIKE remains in Sea Palling (Norfolk) whilst in Lancashire, the long-staying RED-BILLED CHOUGH remains at Warton Crags LWT.
The GLOSSY IBIS continues at Marshside Marsh RSPB, 3 miles NE of Stockport (Merseyside), with the rehabilitated COMMON CRANE still at Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway). In Orkney, the summer-plumaged WHITE-BILLED DIVER remains off St Margaret’s Hope pier in Water Sound.
Sadly a Dark-breasted Barn Owl found incubating eggs in Norfolk has been found dead. Whilst carrying out routine ringing of Barn Owl boxes in East Anglia, Colin Shawyer, of the Wildlife Conservation Partnership, caught a remarkably dark female which was already ringed. Amazingly this turned out to be a Dutch ring, and even more surprising was the fact that this bird was incubating three eggs. The bird was originally ringed (with ring 5377733) on 4th June 2007 as one of six chicks in a nest at Bingerden, near Doesburg, Overijssel, Netherlands (a detailed article on this occurrence can be found on the BirdGuides website).
In IRELAND, the first-summer drake KING EIDER remains at Lady’s Island Lake (County Wexford), at the south end at Rostoonstown, whilst a GLOSSY IBIS is still at Ennis (Co. Clare) feeding along the River Fergus in Willow Park.
Caspian Tern
July 23, 2008
The adult CASPIAN TERN, identified at Collingham GP shortly before mid-afternoon, visited the pit at regular intervals until 1948 hours this evening, providing many observers an opportunity of seeing this rare visitor from Scandinavia.
DIRECTIONS: At the north end of Collingham village just north of Newark-on-Trent, take Trent Lane westwards just before the pub and then turn right into Carlton Ferry Lane and park sensibly.
The adult BLACK STORK, seen previously in Kent and then earlier this week close to Braintree (Essex), circled low over Shoebury, Southend-on-Sea (Essex) this evening, perhaps indicating it may return back across the Thames Estuary, whilst in Hampshire, this weekend’s adult WHITE STORK.flew SW over Bitterne, Southampton, at 1400.
In Dorset, 2 GREAT WHITE EGRETS flew north past the East Cliffs at Portland Bill at 0830 hours this morning, whilst in West Sussex, an adult CATTLE EGRET reappeared in Pagham Harbour, where it visited the Breaches Pool briefly with Little Egrets. On the Somerset Levels, the single juvenile CATTLE EGRET continues to survive. A party of 11 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS dropped in to Breydon Water (Norfolk) early morning (but flew off at 0916), whilst others included 2 in Poole Harbour (Dorset) and another at Martin Mere WWT (Lancs). Five also remained at Cley NWT (North Norfolk), the same reserve still hosting an adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and adult PECTORAL SANDPIPER.
Further PECTORAL SANDPIPERS today including relocating adults at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) and Levington Creek (Suffolk), with others still present at Edderthorpe Flash (South Yorks) and Holland Haven scrape (Essex).
A drake LESSER SCAUP in eclipse plumage remains for a third day at Balgray Reservoir (Clyde).
LONG STAYERS
In Orkney, the long-staying summer-plumaged adult WHITE-BILLED DIVER remains in Water Sound, with the adult ROSE-COLOURED STARLING in gardens at Upper Siadar, Lewis (Outer Hebrides) and the eclipse drake Ring-necked Duck at Loch Gelly (Fife). The drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK remains at Chew Valley Lake (Avon) with the first-summer drake Hooded Merganser (of unknown origin) still at Radipole Lake (Dorset). The GLOSSY IBIS continues at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Lancs), with the pair of COMMON CRANES still present on Sleap Moor (Shropshire).
For the most detailed summary of Rare Bird News available, join the UK400 Club Online Rare Bird Alert email group. Rare Bird Alert Pagers, available on subscription only; for membership details, please visit www.rarebirdalert.com
Cattle Egrets breed in the UK
July 22, 2008
A pair of CATTLE EGRETS has successfully reared a single youngster in a Somerset heron/egret colony this summer, further enforcing the view that this species is on the verge of colonising Britain. Although Cattle Egrets have bred before in counties as far afield as Cornwall and Kent, this is possibly the first time a youngster has successfully fledged the nest (although a juvenile accompanied two adults in Dorset last year in late summer). With over 100 Cattle Egrets in Britain and Ireland last winter, it will be interesting to see how
many will appear in the forthcoming autumn. With the spread of Great White Egret on the close continent too, it must only be a matter of time before that species too becomes a resident.
The dramatic spread of the Little Egret in Britain and Ireland has been one of the ornithological events of the decade. Just ten years ago, 14 pairs were breeding, but now in 2008, the breeding population has soared to an incredible 623 pairs - at 55 different sites.
Is this all proof of global warming or is it just part of a natural cyclic variation in our bird populations?
Rare Bird Alert Monday 14 July 2008
July 14, 2008
This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Monday 14 July 2008, issued at 2100 hours, and produced in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (for membership information see _www.rarebirdalert.com_ (http://www.rarebirdalert.com) ) and _www.birdguides.com_ (http://www.birdguides.com) , whilst utilising the Regional Birdlines, local email groups and websites.
In ORKNEY, the long-staying and exceptionally beautiful adult summer WHITE-BILLED DIVER remains on South Ronaldsay in Water Sound off the west side of Churchill Barrier No.4, whilst at nearby Deerness, a ROSE-COLOURED STARLING is at Mull Head with 35 Common Starlings. Also in Scotland, the long-staying adult male COMMON ROSEFINCH continues to visit the peanut feeders at the ”Real Food Cafe” in Tyndrum, 5 miles NW of Crianlarich (Forth), with a drake SURF SCOTER in Dales Voe (Shetland). The rehabilitated COMMON CRANE continues at Caerlaverock WWT (Dumfries & Galloway) (viewed from Avenue Tower).
Newly discovered today was a summer-plumaged WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN in East Sussex, showing intermittently during the day at Rye Harbour NR, commuting between the Long Pits and Ternery Pool, whilst an adult WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER remains for a 3rd day at Minsmere RSPB beach (Suffolk).
A good number of EURASIAN SPOONBILLS continue to oversummer, with 7 in Poole Harbour (Dorset), 6 at Cley NWT North Scrape (North Norfolk) and singles at Kinneil Lagoons, Grangemouth (Forth), Inner Marsh Farm RSPB (Cheshire), Old Moor Wetlands NR (South Yorks), Leighton Moss RSPB (Lancs) and Isley Marsh RSPB, Taw Estuary (North Devon).
In East Norfolk, the male RED-BACKED SHRIKE remains by Clink Road, Sea Palling, with three more adult males still present on Dartmoor (Devon), whilst in Essex on 13th, an adult female WOODCHAT SHRIKE was present at the west end of Two Tree Island.
In Dorset, the first-summer drake Hooded Merganser remains with Mallard, Muscovy Ducks and Tufted Ducks at Radipole Lake RSPB between the Westham Bridge and the Gurkha Restaurant at SY 676 793, whilst up to 35 Balearic Shearwaters continue to be counted daily off Portland Bill.
Recent Sightings
In Cleveland, the adult TEREK SANDPIPER was still present on Seal Sands/Saltholme Pools until at least 13th, whilst in Suffolk, the LESSER YELLOWLEGS was again at Southwold Town Marshes (12th-13th).
Members area updates
July 11, 2008
Members please log in to check out new articles added to Lee’s diry notes, Citril Finch and new LGRE publication catalogue.
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