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UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert Monday 4th August

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Monday 4th August 2008, issued at 1500 hours and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (come and see us at Stands 53 & 54 at the Birdfair www.birdfair,org.uk) whilst utilising information gleaned from the Regional Birdlines, BirdGuides, local email groups & websites and individual observers.

The star bird throughout the weekend and today is an adult female LESSER GREY SHRIKE which is frequenting some Oak trees, brookside scrub, gorse clumps and fenceposts on Middlebere Heath in the valley just west of Wych Heath, by the Corfe River (at cSY 966 843). It represents only the 5th Dorset record, following singles near Hurn (shot) in September 1842, in Wareham Forest on 23 August 1965, briefly at The Nothe, Weymouth, on 18 October 1987 and at Stoford on 20 May 1989.

DETAILED DIRECTIONS

Leave the A351 just north of Corfe Castle at the Norden roundabout and follow the minor road to the left for 1.5 miles to Scotland Farm. Just beyond there, park sensibly and courteously at the entrance to the public bridleway at SY 961 841 and continue past the gate to the first stile. From here, follow the new fenceline NE and after 200 yards, start searching the fenceposts for the shrike. From the far end of the fence, a line of gorse goes away from you and on the dead gorse protruding is another favoured hunting post. If not here, the bird can be found in the bushes and Oak trees bordering the Corfe River, particularly where a new ditch is being dug out (eg in the area with the yellow mechanical digger). The bird is typically mobile and wide-ranging.

Nearby, the 7 immature Spoonbills remain at Middlebere, Poole Harbour, with 2 adult Roseate Terns on Brownsea Island and the eclipse drake Hooded Merganser at Radipole Lake RSPB (the latter now favouring the west side of the channel with roosting Tufted Ducks, viewable distantly from the Gurkha Restaurant car park – 40p for half-hour parking). Balearic Shearwaters continue to daily pass Portland Bill, and a Wood Sandpiper is present on the Tip Scrape at Lodmoor NR.

In Orkney, we had a ‘new’ TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL on Stronsay on 2nd (with just the adult male remaining on Fair Isle and female at Esha Ness Lighthouse) and an eclipse drake AMERICAN WIGEON at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) (on 2nd-3rd).

A handful of CORY’S and GREAT SHEARWATERS were noted off Cornwall and Scilly at the weekend, with a WILSON’S PETREL identified amongst 250 Storm Petrels from a short pelagic (3rd) and 61 ROSEATE TERNS counted from Long Nanny Burn in Northumberland.

The SHORELARK remains at Spurn Point (East Yorks), with a male RED-BACKED SHRIKE in Richmond Park (Gtr London) on 2nd.

The adult summer WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER appeared again at Cresswell Pond (Northumberland), with adult summer PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) and at Havergate Island (Suffolk) briefly. Adult PECTORAL SANDPIPERS remain at Gibraltar Point NR (Lincs) and Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk).

The pair of COMMON CRANES remain at Sleap Moor (Salop), with another two at Welney WWT (Norfolk), whilst in Avon the drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK continues at Chew Valley Lake.

A CASPIAN TERN flew north past Formby Point (Merseyside) at 1355 on 4th.

In IRELAND, the first BAIRD’S SANDPIPER of 2008 was discovered at Shanagarry Pools (Co. Cork), NNW of Ballycotton (2nd), whilst the first-summer drake KING EIDER remains at Lady’s Island Lake (Co. Wexford).

UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert 28th July 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.

UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert – 25 July 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.

Rare Bird Alert Monday 14 July 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).

Rare Bird Alert Friday 4th July 2008

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Friday 4th July 2008, issued at midnight and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers, www.birdguides.com and the Regional Birdline network, with additional information gleaned from the local email groups and websites.

On Orkney, a WHITE-BILLED DIVER in full breeding attire remains on South Ronaldsay for its third day, showing exceptionally well in Water Sound off Churchill Barrier No.4 and best viewed depending on tide either from the pier at Sands Hotel or the toilet block at the northern end of the barrier. Nearby, an adult summer ROSE-COLOURED STARLING continues to visit an Evie garden, taking advantage of a peanut feeder at HY 319 277, with another at St Margaret’s Hope. Also taking advantage of peanut feeders is the long-staying and rather gaudy male COMMON ROSEFINCH at the Tyndrum cafe in Forth, whilst that same county harbours 2 Spoonbills at Kinneil Lagoon.. On the Outer Hebrides, the female SNOWY OWL continues to be harassed by allcomers (both human and avian) at Aird an Runair, North Uist.

In Norfolk, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS in full breeding plumage continues to grace Cley Marsh NWT Simmond’s Scrape, along with 3 Eurasian Spoonbills and 6 Little Gulls, with the long-staying summering male RED-BACKED SHRIKE still at Sea Palling. In neighbouring Suffolk, the summering GREAT WHITE EGRET flew over Brantham this afternoon.

The first-summer drake Hooded Merganser (of unknown origin) continues to show well at Radipole Lake RSPB (Dorset), between the reserve’s Westham Bridge and the Gurkha Restaurant, with 65 Balearic Shearwaters off nearby Portland Bill prior to 1000 hours and a MELODIOUS WARBLER trapped and ringed in the Observatory Garden early morning..

The ever-present Lancashire GLOSSY IBIS was visible from the In-Focus shop at Martin Mere WWT Reserve this morning, with the BLACK GUILLEMOT still at Heysham Harbour mouth and a first-summer Eurasian Spoonbill still at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB (Cheshire).

A WHITE STORK (of possibly suspect origin) flew towards Pleasley Pit, Glapwell (Derbyshire) whilst an unseasonal first-summer GLAUCOUS GULL remains at Pensarn (Conwy) and a long-staying GREAT NORTHERN DIVER at inland Chasewater (Staffs)..

Cambridgeshire’s ‘resident’ RED-NECKED GREBE showed well in Dudney Creek at Grafham Water this morning in all its summer splendour, whilst in South Devon, a SLAVONIAN GREBE remains off Dawlish Warren NNR, on the Exe Estuary.

Further seabird activity included 3 CORY’S SHEARWATERS 40 kms south of The Lizard (Cornwall).

Large numbers of COMMON CROSSBILL continue to be seen throughout the country, with other evidence of return movement noted by Whinchat and Osprey.

Return wader passage has commenced, with adult Green Sandpipers, Whimbrels and Black-tailed Godwits at a number of inland localities, and a WOOD SANDPIPER at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucs). An adult PECTORAL SANDPIPER remained at Coedbach Marsh, Kidwelly (Carmarthen) until at least 3rd.

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PACIFIC SWIFT – East Yorks

Rare Bird Alert for Saturday 21st June

This is the UK400 Club Rare Bird Alert for Saturday 21st June 2008, issued at 2200 hours and published in association with Rare Bird Alert Pagers (see www.rarebirdalert.com for details) and utilising information gleaned from Regional Birdlines, www.Birdguides.com, local email groups and individual observers.

A first-summer male LESSER GREY SHRIKE remains for a second day SE of Eastfield Farm, 2 miles east of Hickling village (Norfolk) at TG 438 234 (Andy Kane). It is showing well on fence posts and in small Oak trees and is best accessed from the farm at the far end of Eastfield Road. The farmer has very kindly granted parking at the farm and after walking past the farm, continue east for 150 yards and then south for 250 yards to the isolated building. Special access is £1.00 per person.

Nearby, the long-staying male RED-BACKED SHRIKE continues in Clink Road, Sea Palling, showing well in bramble scrub and Willows west of the road, just beyond the last few cottages. On the north coast, 4 Eurasian Spoonbills (3 adults and an immature) remain on Cley NWT North Scrape.

Seabirds today included a CORY’S SHEARWATER off Kinnaird Head (Aberdeenshire) for 5 minutes this afternoon, 7 Balearic and 350 Manx Shearwaters off Portland Bill (Dorset) and 2 Sooty Shearwaters off Flamborough Head (East Yorks).

In Dumfries-shire, the rehabilitated COMMON CRANE continues to recover at Caerlaverock WWT after colliding with power lines last week, whilst in Forth, the male COMMON ROSEFINCH remains 5 miles NW of Crianlarich off the A82 at Tyndrum, where it is regularly visiting a bird feeder at the ”Real Food Cafe”.

The long-staying GLOSSY IBIS remains at Marshside Marsh RSPB (Merseyside), with a North American Green-winged Teal nearby at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB (Cheshire).

In Avon, an adult white-headed gull showing some characteristics of smithsonianus remains at Chew Valley Lake at Herriott’s Bridge, with the first-summer drake SURF SCOTER still off Dawlish Warren NNR (South Devon).

An adult ROSE-COLOURED STARLING was at Rhosneigr Golf Course (Anglesey) last night whilst shortly after dawn this morning, the singing male MELODIOUS WARBLER was controversially trapped and ringed a mile south of Oswaldtwistle near Jackhouse Reservoir (Lancs) and has not been seen or heard since.

In IRELAND, a drake LESSER SCAUP is at Kinnego Bay, Oxford Island NNR (Co. Armagh).

Citril Finch on Fair Isle

A male Citril Finch was found today on Fair Isle at the south end of The Haa, it has been singing and was present up to 7.55 PM when it flew off in the company of two Twite.

Fair Isle Information

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