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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