MEGA - GREAT BLUE HERON
December 8, 2007
Following on from a Tri-colored Heron Egretta tricolor very recently on Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), the UK has finally yielded its first-ever naturally-arriving GREAT BLUE HERON Ardea herodias. Discovered by Ashley Fisher mid afternoon, the bird - a juvenile - showed well throughout the rest of the available daylight on Lower Moors pools, St Mary’s (Isles of Scilly) until dusk, delighting the 15 or so resident birdwatchers.
Read the full story in Rare Bird Alert Issue 39
UK 2006 Year List Record Matched
October 16, 2007
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.
Birders needed for 2007-11 BTO Bird Atlas
September 21, 2007
This is an opportunity for birders of all ages and levels of skill to make a contribution to producing the BTO Bird Atlas.
The fieldwork for this exciting and important project starts on 1st November 2007 and there are two main ways in which you can take part.
- By agreeing to visit one or more tetrads (a square of 2 km by 2 km) twice each for two hours each time, and recording the birds that you see. This is called a ‘Timed Tetrad Visit’ (TTV).
- By submitting ‘Roving Records’. These could be observations from your garden or from an area you visit regularly. They could also be from a birding trip or of a single bird that you happen to see - e.g. a barn owl when you are driving. Some of you may already be submitting records to BirdTrack. All BirdTrack records will automatically be included in the data for the atlas so there will be no need to submit the same record twice.
The records can all be submitted on-line - which is encouraged - or by returning completed recording forms.
All the information, including explanations of how to carry out a TTV and frequently asked questions, is available on the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Website (www.bto.org or at www.birdatlas.net)
If you register on-line the system will tell you the name of your regional organiser for that Tetrad, the regional organiser will automatically receive an e-mail and will contact you to confirm that the Tetrad(s) are booked in your name.
Sign-up for the BTO Bird Atlas Here
Chris Hudson, British Trust for Ornithology
Dark Eyed Junco
July 16, 2007
The most remarkable record over the weekend was
Birders watching the
Norfolk Dark Eyed Junco
Log in to download the full report from the members area
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL
April 23, 2007
The main news of the past week was the rediscovery of the long-staying 3rd-summer GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Beddington Sewage Works (Surrey), dropping in for just 45 minutes roosting on one of the bunds before continuing east with a large passage of immature Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gary Messenbird and Johnnie Allan). It is likely that the bird will move east towards Holland, possibly stalling at Dungeness, Cley North Scrape or Beacon Ponds, Kilnsea, on route.
BLUE ROCK THUSH in Wales and Recent Sightings
April 11, 2007
A male BLUE ROCK THRUSH was discovered this afternoon in the picturesque Elan Valley, 4 miles SW of Rhayader (Powys). Initially seen at around 1.30pm, it showed well until 6.00pm, feeding in Caban Quarry. Park in the nearby visitor centre car park and walk 200 yards to view the quarry.
Also new in was a male WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER on Lundy Island (North Devon), showing well in Millcombe Valley, whilst a MARBLED DUCK with Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler remains for its 3rd day just west of Frampton-on-Severn at Saul Warth (Gloucs) (Park at Cadbury Bridge and walk south along the canal footpath to view the flooded meadows at SO 744 081 - do not leave the towpath).
A singing male PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER remains for at least its 4th day a mile NE of Snodland (Kent) and a mile south of Wouldham in the area of the ponds (TQ 716 626) but is extremely elusive and difdficult to view.
On the Isle of Lewis (Outer Hebrides), an adult WHITE-BILLED DIVER remains off Port Skigersta, Butt of Lewis, with 3 Iceland Gulls still present in Stornoway Harbour. Nearby, one drake LESSER SCAUP remains on Benbecula at Coot Loch. Elsewhere in Scotland, a confiding first-winter drake LESSER SCAUP remains this evening in Edinburgh (Lothian) north of Holyrood Park on St Margaret’s Loch (NT 275 738), with the ever-present drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYE at Loch Venachar (Forth) (either at the dam or just west of the Yacht club). Just one male Capercaillie is visiting Loch Garten (Speyside) at present (access daily from 0530-0900 hours) with a lone first-year White-tailed Sea Eagle with 4-5 Golden Eagles in Findhorn Valley (Speyside).
In the South West, the long-staying first-winter LAUGHING GULL remains on pools north of Matford Roundabout (pre-roosting on the Exe Estuary just north of the playing fields), SPOTTED SANDPIPER on the Hayle Estuary, Red-necked Grebe at Stithians Reservoir (Cornwall) and Yellow-browed Warbler near Love Lane, Penzance (Cornwall), whilst Portland Bill (Dorset) has finally yielded some impressive falls of common migrants in recent days (1,000+ Willow Warblers, 750 Common Chiffchaffs, 75+ Northern Wheatears and smaller numbers of Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart and Tree Pipit).
American Green-winged Teals remain at Tain Sewage Works (Highland), Eyebrook Reservoir (Northants) and Marshside Marsh (Merseyside), whilst Ring-necked Ducks include a splendid drake between Swadlincote and Newhall on Nadin’s Pond (SK 282 195) (park in the layby at the end of William Nadin Way by the Bison Concrete entrance and walk north) and female at Bough Beech Reservoir (Kent).
A transitional-plumaged Lapland Bunting remains at Flamborough Head (East Yorks) north of the golf course in the first ploughed field, whilst a Northern Grey Shrike remains west of Tain (Highland) between Edderton and the B9176 on roadside wires at cNH 672 828.
Two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS remain, with singles on the Stour Estuary at Mistley Walls (Essex) and Oare Marshes NR (North Kent), whilst in London, the first-winter GREY PHALAROPE remains at Cross Ness, favouring the inlet 100 yards east of the incinerator and golf centre.
In Norfolk, a group of 9 Shorelarks remain on Cley Beach adjacent to Arnold’s Marsh, whilst a fall of over 25 Ring Ouzels took place today, including 10+ at Hunstanton/Holme, 6 at Kelling Quags and 4 at Burnham Overy Dunes.
The White Stork of suspect origin and bearing a yellow ring flew south over Spurn Point (East Yorks) and east over Donna Nook (North Lincs) early afternoon, whilst the Common Crane remains in Angus.
Black-necked Grebes in full breeding attire remain an attractive aside with up to 9 still at Staines Reservoirs (Middlesex), up to 16 at Hilfield Park Reservoir (Herts) and pairs at the Ouse Washes RSPB (Cambs), Abberton Reservoir (Essex) and Hanningfield Reservoir (Essex).
In IRELAND (all news kindly provided by Eric Dempsey of BINS), the female LESSER SCAUP has reappeared on Clea Lakes (Co. Down), with the adult Ring-billed Gull, 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls and up to 15 Iceland Gulls all still at Belfast Lough RSPB and Whitehouse Lagoon. A 3rd-winter Kumlien’s Gull continues on Belfast Lough at Kinnegar Shore, as does the drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYE at Quoile Pondage NR (Co. Down), whilst recent sightings include LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at Dundalk Docks (still present on 9th) and Lough Beg (Co. Derry) (10th), adult LAUGHING GULL at Blennerville Marsh (10th), 2nd-winter NORTH AMERICAN HERRING GULL at Blennerville (9th), Temminck’s Stint at Dundalk Docks (7th-8th) and LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Rosscarbery (Co. Cork) (still on 8th).
Ruddy Ducks
March 24, 2007
RUDDY DUCK
Following a four month campaign, led by Community Action Party leader Councillor Peter Franzen, an Extraordinary Meeting of Wigan Council was held on 21st March 2007 to debate the issue of the proposed cull of the Ruddy Duck population on Wigan and Leigh flashes.
At the meeting, in an amazing display of cross party unity, the following motion was passed unanimously:
QUOTE
“This Council requests DEFRA to reconsider its decisions permitting the culling of the Wigan Ruddy Duck population in Wigan and elsewhere in Britain that could adversely affect the Wigan Ruddy Duck population, and calls for the implementation and completion of a proper examination of the validity of the claimed reasons for the cull and an investigation of all the up to date scientific information including the research and observations of internationally renowned bird expert Tom Gullick, the County Bird Recorder for Greater Manchester, Judith Smith, the Leigh Ornithological Society, the RSPCA, Animal Aid and other wildlife organisations.”
UNQUOTE
Wigan Council´s Chief Executive will now write to DEFRA advising them of the Council´s request
Wigan Council also voted to recommend the Council´s ruling Cabinet to reverse its decision to allow the cull on Council owned land at least until the end of the breeding season and to obtain further evidence and advice on the matter.
Councillor Peter Franzen said:
QUOTE
Thanks to “People Power” and the support of conservationists and animal welfare groups we have saved the Wigan Ruddy Duck population at least until September 2007 and hopefully beyond.
The decision of Wigan Council to request DEFRA to reconsider its policy and in particular to conduct a proper examination and consider up to date expert advice on the matter is a significant victory for the campaign to save the Ruddy Duck not only in Wigan but also nationally.
It is now up to us all during the coming months to put pressure on The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to reverse their policy of exterminating Britain´s Ruddy Ducks.” UNQUOTE
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