PACIFIC SWIFT – East Yorks
Three lucky observers censusing breeding Little Terns at Beacon Lane Ponds, Kilnsea (East Yorks), witnessed a PACIFIC SWIFT flying strongly south with an early returning passage of Common Swifts this afternoon (1543-1544). It flew over the ponds and then headed south towards the Observatory and Warren area. Despite alerting Observatory staff immediately, nobody else on the peninsular was able to relocate the bird.
Elsewhere today, the LESSER GREY SHRIKE remains in Norfolk Broadland, favouring the Oak trees and fenceposts SE of Eastfield Farm, east of Hickling village (please place £1.00 per person in bucket as access has been specially arranged and granted by the farmer), whilst nearby, the adult male RED-BACKED SHRIKE continues on Clink Road, Sea Palling. A EUROPEAN BEE-EATER flew north over Belton Common this afternoon, whilst the two ringed ROSEATE TERNS continue to visit Arnold’s Marsh, Cley NWT.
The two CATTLE EGRETS remain at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucs) (visible from the Holden Tower), along with the first-summer RING-BILLED GULL and 2 presumed wild Egyptian Geese, whilst in neighbouring Avon, the adult gull resembling smithsonianus continues at Herriott’s Bridge, Chew Valley Lake.
A WHITE STORK of unknown origin was present at Tophill Low Watton NR (East Yorks) this afternoon, with the regular pair of HONEY BUZZARDS and NORTHERN GOSHAWKS showing well from the Raptor Watchpoint at Wykeham Forest (North Yorks).
The long-staying singing male RED-BACKED SHRIKE is still present in the picturesque Shopham Bridge river valley, 2 miles SSE of Petworth (West Sussex) (SU 983 184)
In Scotland, the adult male COMMON ROSEFINCH continues to visit the feeders intermittently at the ”Real Food Cafe”, Tyndrum, just off of the A82 5 miles NW of Crianlarich (Forth).
A EUROPEAN BEE-EATER was at Brandon Marsh NR (Warks) this morning, being seen in flight and heard over the golf course and visitor centre on two occasions.
In Cheshire, the breeding pair of BLACK-WINGED STILTS at Neumann’s Flash lost their one surviving youngster (of three) due to predation on Friday evening.
A summer-plumaged RED-NECKED GREBE has spent the day on Staines Reservoirs North Basin (Surrey).
Large numbers of irrupting COMMON CROSSBILLS continue to be seen throughout the country.
In IRELAND, an adult summer LAUGHING GULL flew north towards Elly Bay from Aghleam Bay on The Mullet (Co. Mayo) at 1720, the adult FORSTER’S TERN remains at Tacumshine (Co, Wexford), whilst a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and Cory’s Shearwater flew south past Bridges of Ross (Co. Clare).
