Once the mud settles, birders will look again on the previous seven days as one of many all-time nice birding spells in Britain and Ireland. Simply put, this week has produced the largest arrival of American landbirds throughout these isles in recorded historical past – in extra of fifty people of 15 species have been seen for the reason that remnants of Hurricane Lee swept throughout the Atlantic and crashed into south-western areas on Tuesday. And nonetheless, as I pen this text, an increasing number of megas are being discovered.
Exactly what brought about this week’s unprecedented fallout of American birds wants additional evaluation, however it seems that an ideal storm of heavy migration combining with the traditional monitoring of Hurricane Lee up the japanese seaboard of North America displaced massive numbers of birds – see this video from Maine final week – adopted by the quick-moving transition of ex-Lee throughout the Atlantic to Britain and Ireland.
Of course, it is very potential that the hallowed autumn of 1985 may need been equally good, maybe even higher, if birders had been out trying up the size and breadth of Britain and Ireland again then, somewhat than being almost solely targeted on the Isles of Scilly. But even accounting for a significantly better unfold of protection alongside the west coast between the Butt of Lewis and St Agnes lately, there may be absolutely little room for doubt {that a} single system has ever been this productive.
It’s not simply the variety of birds concerned, both – it is the distinctive calibre of rarity that it has produced. This week we have had a primary, a second and two thirds for Britain in Pembrokeshire alone, a primary and a second for Ireland, a serious inflow of American Cliff Swallows, flocks of vireos and a lot extra moreover.
The enjoyable began on the afternoon of nineteenth when an American Cliff Swallow was discovered at North Foreland, Kent. Although initially assumed to be a fowl that should’ve filtered down from late August’s massive arrival, with hindsight it appears simply as more likely to have been the frontrunner to this week’s ‘Yankmageddon’. Two extra adopted on twentieth, one on Scilly and one other at Kilbaha, Co Clare – the latter proved to be the long-awaited first twitchable Irish file and was loved by all of the nation’s high listers. Astonishingly, an extra six people had been present in Ireland by the tip of the week, with a single Welsh fowl at Sker Point, Glamorgan, on twenty second.
American Cliff Swallow, North Foreland, Kent (Alex Perry).
It was on the morning of twentieth that we acquired the first trace that one thing severe was occurring. A primary-winter male Blackburnian Warbler was discovered by Brian Power on Skellig Michael, a rock some 12 km off the Iveragh Peninsula in Co Kerry. This was a primary for Ireland, no much less, and clearly contemporary in. What else was Lee about to ship?
Blackburnian Warbler, Skellig Islands, Kerry (Brian Power).
The reply got here that night. At 6 pm, information broke of an Empidonax flycatcher on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire. Less than an hour later, Britain’s third Magnolia Warbler was found on the Pembrokeshire mainland at St Govan’s Head, its luminous yellow underparts positively glowing within the gathering gloom when it was first glimpsed by Toby Phelps. By this level it was clear that one thing particular was occurring, but few might have anticipated issues to go up one other gear the next day.
Magnolia Warbler, St Govan’s Head, Pembrokeshire (Will Bowell).
On Thursday Twenty first, no fewer than 9 mega alerts have been sounded for American landbirds. The first got here at 9.10 am within the type of a Bobolink on Skokholm, the place the ‘Empid’ was nonetheless current. Good-quality images of the latter made a compelling case for it being Britain’s third Alder Flycatcher, one thing which was later strengthened by biometrics when the fowl was trapped and ringed.
Bobolink, Skokholm, Pembrokeshire (Skokholm Warden).
Alder Flycatcher, Skokholm, Pembrokeshire (Skokholm Warden).
An hour later, information broke {that a} Black-and-white Warbler had been trapped on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd – though it disappeared not lengthy after ringing, disappointing would-be twitchers who made the journey throughout that afternoon. Extraordinarily, a second Black-and-white was trapped on Bardsey two days later on the night of Twenty third, whereas a 3rd particular person of this species was discovered on Tresco, Scilly, late on Twenty first.
Black-and-white Warbler, Bardsey Island, Gwynedd (Steven Stansfield).
At 10.54 am, a full 45 minutes after Bardsey’s Black-and-white, one other Welsh island received in on the motion – this time it was Ramsey Island off the St David’s Peninsula with Britain’s second Bay-breasted Warbler. Gallingly for the large crowds gathered down the highway on the Magnolia Warbler twitch, boat crossings weren’t potential because of climate circumstances and the closest birders might get was to gaze longingly at Ramsey from the mainland – it was even potential to see a gathered crowd on the island watching the fowl! Fortunately, the Bay-breasted lingered till Saturday and the RSPB kindly managed a profitable twitch to the island throughout a short respite within the climate. There was no signal of the fowl on Sunday.
Bay-breasted Warbler, Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire (Tom Hines).
The afternoon of Twenty first produced additional high quality finds within the type of a Tennessee Warbler on Barra, Outer Hebrides, and two completely different Baltimore Orioles on Inishbofin, Galway. A 3rd oriole was then discovered on Rathlin Island, Co Antrim, early on twenty second, whereas Inishbofin struck once more with Ireland’s second Tennessee Warbler later that day. Inishbofin is quickly establishing itself as Ireland’s premier hot-spot for American landbirds and additionally lays declare to the one earlier Irish file of Tennessee in October 2020 – a fowl that wasn’t twitchable because of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. This 12 months’s fowl lingered till the tip of the evaluation interval and was a really welcome grip-back for all the highest Irish listers.
Baltimore Oriole, Inishbofin, Galway (Peter Phillips).
Tennessee Warbler, Inishbofin, Galway (Brian McCloskey).
For apparent causes, there have been loads of birders in Pembrokeshire on the morning of Saturday Twenty third: the Magnolia was nonetheless displaying and each the Bay-breasted and Alder Flycatcher have been being twitched. One can solely think about the pandemonium, then, when Toby Phelps clapped eyes upon Britain’s first Canada Warbler only some kilometres alongside the coast from the place he’d discovered the Magnolia Warbler some 60 hours earlier! It was solely 9 am and a few birders have been already eyeing up a four-tick day in south-west Wales, whereas Toby had made not one however two finds of a lifetime within the area of some days.
Canada Warbler, St Govan’s Head, Pembrokeshire (James Thorpe).
By this level, it is honest to say that full and utter bedlam had set in. All sense of actuality had been misplaced. What was subsequent?! We did not have to attend lengthy to search out out. Shortly earlier than 11 am, Britain’s second Philadelphia Vireo was recognized on Barra, terribly within the firm of two Red-eyed Vireos. In reality, we have got this far into the article with out even mentioning ‘REVs’, so it is value declaring that a vastly spectacular 19 have been discovered – and no fewer than 4 of those have been on Barra! Away from the Scottish hot-spot, most of them (9) have been in south-west England, with 5 in Ireland together with two on Clare Island, Co Mayo, and, unusually, just one in Wales (at Sker Point, Glamorgan).
Philadelphia Vireo, Castlebay, Barra, Outer Hebrides (Bruce Taylor).
Red-eyed Vireo, Clare Island, Mayo (Josh Jones).
Red-eyed Vireo, Sker Point, Glamorgan (Tate Lloyd).
The Philadelphia was shortly adopted by a number of additional mega alerts. At 11.35 am, Britain’s first Northern Parula since 2010 was discovered on St Martin’s, Scilly, with an Ovenbird on Rum, Highland, at 12.07 pm and the week’s second Empidonax flycatcher at Cilan Head, Gwynedd, at 12.46 pm. This final fowl was nonetheless across the following day, however was proving extraordinarily elusive in difficult climate circumstances and a particular identification hasn’t but been prompt.
The carnage continued on twenty fourth, with two new American Cliff Swallows in Co Cork and a frightfully elusive New World warbler species on the unremarkable location of Baglan Energy Park close to Port Talbot, Glamorgan. Surreally, this fowl transpired to be Wales’s second Magnolia Warbler of the week (and solely Britain’s fourth ever). If birds of this high quality are being present in effectively away from the possible headlands, one has to surprise how far more is on the market to be discovered. No doubt there shall be loads extra discoveries all through the approaching week. Finally, information from Barra on the night of twenty fourth involved the island’s second Tennessee Warbler of the week. The sea change in standing of this species is tough to familiarize yourself with – or, maybe extra precisely, it is fairly wonderful that Britain by some means went 25 years with out one and has now had six in 4 years.
Oddly, given the deluge of American landbirds, it was a reasonably subdued week for wader arrivals. A juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper at Meols on 20-Twenty first was a welcome discover for Wirral birders, whereas one other was discovered on Tiree, Argyll, on twenty second and the Barra fowl reappeared. White-rumped Sandpipers have been at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire, and Seafield, Co Clare, whereas Pectoral Sandpipers have been at a really modest 25 websites and Semipalmated Sandpipers at three. Seven Buff-breasted Sandpipers included a brand new fowl in Shetland and two flying in off the ocean on the Magnolia Warbler twitch in Pembrokeshire. A juvenile Spotted Sandpiper was at Howth Head, Co Dublin, for a day on Twenty third, whereas at the very least 9 Lesser Yellowlegs was a strong displaying. Typically for the time of 12 months, nearly all of the week’s 10 American Golden Plovers have been within the far north and west.
Baird’s Sandpiper, Tiree, Argyll (Jim Dickson).
Spotted Sandpiper, Howth Head, Dublin (Josh Jones).
Lesser Yellowlegs, Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire (Ian Bollen).
That solely 40 British websites between Unst and St Agnes produced Yellow-browed Warbler sightings this week was a superb indication that it hasn’t been the very best September to be birding on the east coast, and there is no suggestion within the forecast that issues are going to enhance on that entrance, at the very least earlier than the arrival of October. Still, three Lanceolated Warblers managed to sneak in (North Ronaldsay, Orkney, scored one on 18th and two made it to Fair Isle, Shetland), as did Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers to Foula and Noss, Shetland. Fair Isle additionally scored an attractive male Red-tailed Shrike from Twenty third – undoubtedly one of many best-looking rarities to be discovered this week, regardless of all of the dashing Americans – and a Rustic Bunting, whereas a Red-throated Pipit was on the Shetland Mainland at Quendale. There was additionally a scattering of the anticipated scarcities throughout the Northern Isles, however those that selected to vacation in Shetland this week could be forgiven for feeling considerably short-changed.
Red-tailed Shrike, Fair Isle, Shetland (Alex Penn).
In reality, barely bizarrely given the circumstances, it was Ireland that was the place to be if Palearctic vagrants have been your factor. A memorable double whammy at Brownstown Head, Co Waterford, involved each Paddyfield Warbler and Black-headed Bunting solely metres aside, giving many Irish birders a two-tick day. The warbler lingered all week, however the bunting wasn’t seen past twentieth. Meanwhile, in Co Cork, an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was a shock discovery at Mizen Head on Twenty first, the place the Western Bonelli’s Warbler lingered from the earlier week. Even extra of a shock was the calling Iberian Chiffchaff on the identical headland on 22-Twenty third – a superb autumn discover and solely the second Irish file after a one-day fowl in June 2010.
Other new finds this week included a first-winter Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Salthouse, Norfolk, for an hour on Twenty third, a short Squacco Heron at Polgigga, Cornwall, on 18th and a Whiskered Tern at an undisclosed website in Kent. What was presumably the identical wide-ranging Pallid Harrier toured Mainland Shetland between Tingwall and Quendale, with one other seen twice six days aside at Snettisham, Norfolk, and additional cellular birds in Essex and on the Isle of Wight. An interesting-looking juvenile at Insh Marshes RSPB, Highland, transpired to be a Hen × Pallid Harrier. Autumn Red-footed Falcons are a uncommon prize in Britain, so this week’s two have been to not be sniffed at. A confiding fowl at Eglingham, Northumberland, from nineteenth was adopted by one other over South Foreland, Kent, on Twenty third.
Whiskered Tern, Cross-at-Hand, Kent (Mark Lopez).
Red-footed Falcon, Eglingham, Northumberland (Tom Tams).
Other scarcities of notice this week included Purple Herons in Kent, Cornwall, Lancashire and Co Cork, a first-winter Woodchat Shrike at Marazion, Cornwall, that was a helpful pit-stop for Scilly-bound birders, an especially confiding Red-backed Shrike at Landguard NR, Suffolk, from Twenty first, a brand new Red-flanked Bluetail in Shetland on 18th (the East Yorkshire fowl was nonetheless current to Twenty first), a dozen Red-breasted Flycatchers and eight Melodious Warblers, the final together with a well-twitched fowl at St Ann’s Head, Pembrokeshire.
Woodchat Shrike, Marazion Marsh RSPB, Cornwall (Martin Webb).
Meanwhile, a number of long-staying rarities continued to be reported. These included the Double-crested Cormorant in Co Leitrim, the Forster’s Tern at Poole Harbour, Dorset, Bonaparte’s Gulls in Co Antrim and Co Cork, Stejneger’s Scoter and King Eider in Lothian and the Brown Booby at South Gare, Cleveland, whereas the elusive Black Stork at Frampton Marsh RSPB reappeared after every week’s absence from twenty second. Frampton additionally hosted a Blue-winged Teal on 20-Twenty first; the 2 in East Yorkshire continued to commute between Tophill Low and Watton nature reserves, whereas one other was reported at Frankfield Loch, Clyde, on Twenty first.
Brown Booby, South Gare, Cleveland (Lee Johnson).
There was nonetheless life within the seawatching season, with three Fea’s-type Petrel sightings from Irish headlands and huge numbers of Great Shearwaters in south-western areas (comparable to 2,000 previous Lizard Point, Cornwall, on twentieth). Excellent numbers of Balearic Shearwaters have been seen in south-west England, together with a powerful 1,041 previous Berry Head, Devon, on twentieth, whereas Sooty Shearwater made its manner on to many a coastal patchbirder’s 12 months listing this week. However, Cory’s Shearwater numbers do appear to be dropping off eventually. Blustery circumstances produced a small inflow of Leach’s Storm Petrel sightings to Liverpool Bay, with birds passing the Wirral and north-east Welsh coastlines as they reoriented. A handful of storm-blown Grey Phalaropes included well-liked birds at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, West Bromich, West Midlands, and Elton Reservoir, Greater Manchester.
In Warwickshire, the Ferruginous Duck turned up once more at Draycote Water, whereas the week’s two Ring-necked Duck have been each in Glamorgan. Four new American Wigeon confirmed up this week, with birds on Inishmore, Co Galway, and at Banks Marsh, Lancs, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, and Berry Fen, Cambs. Three Scottish websites scored Surf Scoter, with one in Ireland at Brandon Bay, Co Kerry.
Ferruginous Duck, Draycote Water, Warwickshire (Nick Truby).
Western Palearctic
With the identical climate system that produced the spoils in Britain and Ireland having handed via the Azores 24 hours beforehand, it was no shock to see that Corvo was suffering from American landbirds this week. The roll name included Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Tennessee and three Black-and-white Warblers, 4 Ovenbirds, Northern Parula, American Redstart, three Common Yellowthroats, Baltimore Oriole, at the very least 5 American Cliff Swallows and a number of Red-eyed Vireos. Elsewhere within the archipelago, a Northern Parula was on Pico and a Short-billed Dowitcher on Terceira. There should be many tons of of American landbirds throughout the islands in the mean time.
A Red-eyed Vireo on Ouessant on Twenty third was the one American passerine in France; nevertheless, Belgium scored closely with its first Black-and-white Warbler at Zeebrugge on twenty fourth. Much additional east, a Stilt Sandpiper was photographed close to Tallinn, Estonia, on twenty second.
An astonishing 19 South Polar Skuas have been logged off the Spanish seawatching mecca of Estaca de Bares, Galicia, over the weekend, with a Zino’s Petrel passing there on nineteenth. Further south, a White-backed Vulture spent two days at Casares, Andalucia, whereas the American Cliff Swallow continued on Fuerteventura. In Cape Verde, the White-faced Whistling Duck remained on Sal.
Perhaps probably the most eye-opening file of the week, nevertheless, was Georgia’s first Three-banded Plover on the Chorokhi Delta close to Batumi – comfortably the furthest north this African species has been seen within the area.
