Without wishing to whip up mass hysteria, it felt like a powerful week for Waxwing, with no fewer than 446 experiences in complete. This contains a number of triple-figure flocks in Scotland, which for late October, must be thought of begin to the season forward. Other stand-out experiences embrace the sixth for Lundy, Devon, and one on St Agnes, Scilly, on Twenty ninth. Several birds made it to Ireland, too, whereas the irruption of Continental Coal Tits, Northern Bullfinches and Northern Treecreepers continued apace as properly.
Waxwing experiences throughout the week.
Waxwing, Dunblane, Forth (Anne Carrington-Cotton).
Waxwing, Spurn YWT, East Yorkshire (Jonathan Dodds).
Otherwise, all eyes have been on Flamborough Head this week. Monday began with a report of a attainable Bimaculated Lark over, although there was no additional signal of this true beast from the east. There are solely three earlier British information, with the final in 1976. Thankfully, the scraggy (obvious) Red-headed Bunting proved extra cooperative and continued to be reported round it is favoured hedge all through the week.
Red-headed Bunting, Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire (Ian Howard).
News of a Two-barred Warbler broke on Friday night, having been watched and reported by observers as a Yellow-browed Warbler till pictures have been reviewed. The chicken remained current for a lot of Saturday, and was positioned once more on Sunday, making for an unbelievable pair of megas lower than a mile aside!
Two-barred Warbler, Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire (Lee Johnson).
A fairly showy Grey-cheeked Thrush was on St Mary’s, Scilly, over the weekend, and was efficiently twitched, making for one more North American landbird to have been logged in Britaint this autumn.
Some 10 days after the unique pictures emerged, Kent’s juvenile Solitary Sandpiper was ultimately relocated at Stodmarsh NNR, on twenty sixth. The chicken was then current over the weekend, although gave observer’s the runaround. Given the final, and solely, county report hails from 1908, it was a most welcome Kent tick for a lot of. Incredibly, it is also been 12 years for the reason that final mainland British report, so was appreciated by others additional afield too.
Solitary Sandpiper, Stodmarsh NNR, Kent (Steven Clinch).
Solitary Sandpiper, Stodmarsh NNR, Kent (Brendan Ryan).
You additionally have to forged your thoughts again to 2011 for the final twitchable British Upland Sandpiper, when one was current on St Mary’s, Scilly, from 8-27 October. So it was a reduction for a lot of when the Cornish chicken had lastly been positioned at Sennen on twenty third. Thankfully the chicken remained trustworthy to a set few fields till Twenty eighth however turned trickier once more the following day. A attainable was additionally heard over Yeovil, Somerset, early on Twenty eighth.
Upland Sandpiper, Sennen, Cornwall (Peter Tongue).
Belated information of a feminine Black-throated Blue Warbler got here from Irish waters, with on aboard a ship c 225km off Mizen Head on 15 October. Amazingly, Inishbofin’s first-winter male Black-and-white Warbler caught round into the recording week, and was final famous on Twenty fifth. Shetland’s American Yellow Warbler was reported as much as twenty third.
A very furtive Oriental Turtle Dove was on North Ronaldsay from Twenty eighth, and is regarded as ssp meena.
A candidate Madeiran Storm Petrel was reported from Scillonian III while in Cornish waters on the morning of twenty third. American Cliff Swallows have been reported from Lizard village, Cornwall, on twenty fourth and Bangor, Co Down, on Twenty eighth although neither caught round.
An grownup feminine Great-tailed Grackle proved to be one of many speaking factors of the week. Photographs of an ‘uncommon chicken’ taken in Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire, have been initially posted on a Facebook web page asking for identification, however not like what number of of those conditions pan out, the chicken was actual and remained current for the remainder of the week. There is not any query as to how the chicken travelled throughout the Atlantic; as a result of chicken’s bodily functionality but in addition location, the chicken was undoubtedly ship-assisted. However, the confiding nature and ‘character’ proven by grackles meant the chicken was fashionable. This is the fourth report of Great-tailed Grackle for the Western Palearctic, following three earlier birds in Spain (two in 2014 and one in 2022), all of which have been additionally handled as ship-assisted.
Great-tailed Grackle, Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire (Simon King).
Great-tailed Grackle, Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire (John Hewitt).
What is arguably essentially the most outrageous report of the week got here within the type of an arrival of Lesser Scaup into Cornwall on Twenty ninth. A pair have been positioned at Dozmary Pool, with the feminine apparently being a unique chicken to the possible reported earlier within the week. Later that afternoon information of a flock of 10 got here from Drift Reservoir – doubling the earlier report British depend. The 4 drakes and 6 females have been reportedly feeding actively, and had probably not lengthy touched down after the transatlantic flight.
Not to be outdone, two Greater Scaup (juvenile drake and juvenile feminine) have been additionally current with the flock – and seem like good candidates for the American subspecies nearctica. Hopefully the birds stick round and proceed to moult, however obvious head form and coarse vermiculation moulting by way of on the drake’s mantle are good clues – you’d additionally assume the entire flock arrived collectively. The slighter build recommended in photos is one other pointer. Open wing pictures may additionally assist in additional identification.
10 Lesser Scaup and two Greater Scaup (fourth from proper and much proper), Drift Reservoir, Cornwall (Reuben Veal).
Eight Lesser Scaup and two Greater Scaup (right-hand pair), Drift Reservoir, Cornwall (Reuben Veal).
Three Richardson’s Cackling Geese have been round; two at Coul Point, Islay, and one at Ballygilgan NR, Co Sligo. Four Snow Geese have been reported, and each Red-breasted Geese remained. A Black Brant was mingling with Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Ferrybridge, Dorset. Two Todd’s Canada Geese have been reported in Scotland.
Both Blue-winged Teal have been reported as soon as extra from Tophill Low NR, East Yorkshire, on twenty third, however only one remained by way of till the week’s finish. Just two American Wigeon featured on the FowlGuides newspage this week, with lingering birds at Beacon Ponds, East Yorkshire, and Islay, Argyll. Ring-necked Duck have been reported from 16 websites. Ireland’s feminine Ferruginous Duck was reported once more from Inch Island Lake, Co Donegal, on Twenty eighth. Five Green-winged Teal have been reported this week, together with two juveniles on St Mary’s, Scilly.
A attainable drake White-winged Scoter in Brandon Bay, Co Kerry, on Twenty fifth was confirmed with pictures the next, this following on from Ireland’s first simply final yr off Achill Island, Co Mayo. An immature drake King Eider off Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, on Twenty seventh was new-in. Surf Scoter had a good exhibiting, with six new birds together with a female-type logged previous Selsey Bill, West Sussex, on Twenty eighth and once more on Twenty ninth, plus a juvenile on Helston Loe Pool, Cornwall, on Twenty ninth.
14 websites recorded Cory’s Shearwaters and it is outstanding to assume for the reason that species was solely recorded on a Scilly pelagic in October for the primary time in 2022. This complete additionally contains two previous Selsey Bill, West Sussex, over the weekend. Away from the South-West and English Channel, a single Great Shearwater was logged previous Aberdeenshire on Twenty seventh.
Notable Pomarine Skua passage was famous previous south Cornwall with peak counts of 30 previous Swanpool on twenty sixth and 43 previous Maenporth inside 35 minutes on Twenty seventh. Some 17 Little Auk experiences have been acquired by way of the week, and Grey Phalaropes remained scattered across the coast.
The Double-crested Cormorant continued at Doon Lough, Co Leitrim, evidently. Seven Scottish websites reported White-billed Divers, together with adults lingering in Lothian and Moray, and one other comparatively sensible chicken off St Abbs Head NNR, Borders, on Twenty eighth. The solely English report of the week involved one other grownup once more off Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, on twenty third.
South Uist hosted a juvenile Squacco Heron from twenty third, simply the sixth Scottish report and second for the Outer Hebrides following one again in 1913. Somerset’s juvenile continued to oblige at Ham Wall RSPB. Two lingering juvenile Purple Herons continued to be reported, with birds at Marazion Marsh RSPB, Cornwall, and Whelford, Gloucestershire.
Purple Heron, Whelford, Gloucestershire (Chris Teague).
In Ireland, the juvenile Northern Harrier was reported from three websites in Co Wexford from 24-Twenty seventh and images taken seem to match the Co Mayo chicken current earlier within the autumn. Pallid Harriers have been scattered throughout 5 websites. Notable experiences included a possible grownup male over Kessingland, and sadly an injured juvenile feminine that was taken into care on Inishbofin, Co Galway, and later died. Seven Rough-legged Buzzards is arguably sufficient to proclaim a small arrival in recent years. The ‘crowd favorite’ was the showy juvenile at Stone Creek, East Yorkshire, which remained twitchable all through the week.
Rough-legged Buzzard, Stone Creek, East Yorkshire (Glyn Sellors).
Wader of the week goes to a first-winter Stilt Sandpiper at Crook of Baldoon RSPB, Dumfries & Galloway, between 27 and Twenty eighth. The showy juvenile Spotted Sandpiper held out at Lough Gill, Co Kerry, and the juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was reported once more from Ballycotton, Co Cork, on Twenty eighth following every week’s absence. Three lingering Baird’s Sandpipers remained in Ireland, and all 4 Lesser Yellowlegs reported additionally involved lingering birds. Five Long-billed Dowitchers have been break up between three in England and two in Ireland. In Cornwall, a flighty possible Pacific Golden Plover was ultimately confirmed as one at Colliford Lake on Twenty ninth. Of the 13 American Golden Plovers reported, a respectable seven have been new birds, in the meantime simply three Pectoral Sandpipers have been on supply. A Eurasian Dotterel was at Sennen, Cornwall.
An grownup Bonaparte’s Gull at Portree, Highland, from Twenty seventh was the primary report for Skye. A attainable first-winter American Herring Gull was reported at Belfast Lough, Co Antrim, on twenty first. A attainable second-winter Franklin’s Gull was reported off Falmouth, Cornwall, from 27-Twenty eighth however evaded affirmation. Cornwall’s third-winter Azores Gull settled round Sennen, offering a bonus for any Upland Sandpiper twitchers. Another was in Dingle Bay, Co Kerry, on Twenty fifth. Seven Glaucous Gulls and 6 Iceland Gulls have been reported, and 5 Sabine’s Gulls have been alongside England’s south coast.
Reports of confirmed Pallid Swifts hailed from 16 websites, together with two Scottish birds. This additionally contains two exhibiting concurrently at two websites in Lincolnshire on the afternoon of Twenty ninth. Meanwhile unsorted Common/Pallid Swifts have been additionally reported from an additional 16 websites.
Pallid Swift, Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire (Colin Bradshaw).
It was a barely quieter week for Shore Larks, with simply 4 reported alongside the east coast, none of which lingered. Of the 4 Red-throated Pipits reported this week, just one, on St Agnes, hung round previous the preliminary report. A possible was additionally heard over Seaforth LWT, Lancashire, on Twenty ninth. Olive-backed Pipits have been on St Mary’s and Fair Isle and 5 Richard’s Pipits have been reported. Fair Isle’s Black-bellied Dipper remained all week. Four Wrynecks and eight Hoopoes have been reported by the week’s finish.
Identification of a male ‘Eastern Stonechat‘ at Brotton, Cleveland, was resolved by evaluation of a video posted on-line, with intensive white within the tail confirming the chicken as a Caspian Stonechat. Further pictures taken confirmed the true extent of white current, critically within the outermost tail feathers, with >50% white narrowing the chicken right down to ssp hemprichii.
Caspian Stonechat, Brotton, Cleveland (Martyn Sidwell).
Flamborough’s obvious Siberian Stonechat was nonetheless reported till Twenty fifth, and a brand new chicken was at Corton, Suffolk, from 24-Twenty fifth. A feminine Pied Wheatear was at Burrafirth, Unst, on twenty sixth – the second on the island this autumn! A brand new Red-flanked Bluetail was in Lerwick, Shetland, on twenty fourth with final week’s chicken lingering at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, all through the week. Two Bluethroats have been on Shetland.
Siberian Stonechat, Corton, Suffolk (Chris Darby).
Pied Wheatear, Burrafirth, Unst, Shetland (David Cooper).
The first Hume’s Leaf Warbler was a short and elusive customer to Filey, North Yorkshire, on twenty sixth. No fewer than 15 Pallas’s Warblers have been scattered alongside the east coast, and all proved fashionable. The week additionally noticed three Radde’s Warbler reported, together with the Isle of Man’s first trapped and ringed at Calf of Man on Twenty fifth. Nine Dusky Warblers have been on supply.
Pallas’s Warbler, Bempton Cliffs RSPB, East Yorkshire (Ian Howard).
An elusive Paddyfield Warbler was discover on St Mary’s, Scilly, although went on to present temporary views. A candidate first-winter Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat was at Boulmer, Northumberland, on 27-Twenty ninth, with one other attainable reported at Landguard NR, Suffolk, on Twenty eighth. At least 12 obvious Siberian Lesser Whitethroats have been additionally recorded. The six Barred Warblers have been all in routine locales, bar one briefly at Polemere, Shropshire, on Twenty ninth.
Red-breasted Flycatchers have been recorded on St Mary’s and St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, with one other on Achill Island, Co Mayo, on twenty fourth being the primary island report.
Red-breasted Flycatcher, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly (Joel Knapp).
A male Eurasian Penduline Tit was discovered at Portbury Wharf, Somerset, on Twenty ninth.
Four new Great Grey Shrikes have been reported throughout the week, however just one proved twitchable. The first-winter Lesser Grey Shrike lingered on Islay, while a late first-winter Red-backed Shrike was on Barra.
There was only one Rosy Starling to report on this week, with a juvenile frequenting a backyard in Trefin, Pembrokeshire between 18-23 October.
Five Coues’s Arctic Redpoll was a good tally in late-October, and hopefully signifies just a few extra are but to reach. This comes as a wholesome arrival of Mealy Redpoll was loved alongside the east coast, with a notable depend of 171 on Fair Isle – an incredible depend for early within the season.The week’s sole Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll was a lingering chicken on Unst, Shetland.
Coues’s Arctic Redpoll, North Ronaldsay, Orkney (Tom Gale).
Three Common Rosefinches have been found this week, together with two in Ireland, with singles on Tory Island, Co Donegal and Cape Clear, Co Cork. Brief European Serins have been reported in Kent and Essex. A Rustic Bunting was reported on St Agnes, Scilly, on twenty fourth solely. The island additionally had a glut of Little Buntings, with a powerful 4 at Troytown Farm. Others have been reported on St Mary’s and Bryher. Away from the standard spots, one in Bedfordshire on Twenty ninth was a powerful discover and simply the second county report.
The spectacular run of American bugs on the Isles of Scilly once more will get an honourable point out, as amazingly as much as 5 American Painted Lady butterflies are actually on St Mary’s. Two Green Darner dragonflies additionally remained on the island.
Western Palearctic
Iceland loved it is first vagrant wheatear species, with a first-winter male Pied Wheatear at Garður on Twenty eighth. A Black-faced Bunting at Snöan on twenty sixth turned Sweden’s fifth report, in any other case an Eastern Black Redstart was at Ottenby on Twenty eighth. The grownup meena Oriental Turtle Dove remained. In Norway, a first-winter Brown Shrike was photographed in a backyard at Kirkenær.
Pied Wheatear, Garður, Suðurnes (Alex Máni Guðríðarson).
A primary for Denmark got here within the type of a juvenile feminine Northern Harrier at Vejlerne on twenty sixth, whereas a big pipit species at Skagen was confirmed because the nation’s fifth Blyth’s Pipit after 10 days.
The Netherlands recorded it is third Yellow-browed Bunting with a showy individual at Oost-Vlieland. An Eastern Black Redstart was additionally performing properly at Egmond aan den Hoef.
France additionally recorded a Yellow-browed Bunting, with one at Groix on Twenty seventh. A Chimney Swift was additionally on the Finistère coast on twenty sixth. Several Lesser Scaup have been additionally reported, with the most important flock consisting of 4 birds. Sadly, the second Yellow-billed Cuckoo of the autumn was additionally discovered lifeless at Île de Sein in recent days.
A male Eyebrowed Thrush was photographed on Sicily on Twenty seventh, and an Oriental Turtle Dove at Larnaca sewage works was the fifth report for Cyprus.
A Common Nighthawk turned an everyday function of the Vigo nightlife from twenty third, and the Belted Kingfisher remained at Lekeito. A primary-winter Franklin’s Gull was in Cantabria from Twenty eighth.
Male Sudan Golden Sparrow remained on Gran Canaria. It was introduced that each Sudan Golden Sparrows recorded on the Canary Islands this summer time/autumn have been admitted to Category A on the Spanish checklist this week.
A primary-winter Rose-breasted Grosbeak close to Esmoriz on Twenty seventh was the primary report for mainland Portugal.
Nearctic motion on the Azores was headlined by the fifth Western Palearctic report of Eastern Wood Pewee on Corvo. A Grey Catbird on the island on twenty sixth is simply the second report for the Azores, different highlights included Wood Thrush, Least Bittern, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler and Northern Waterthrush. The grownup Yellow-crowned Night Heron additionally remained on Corvo.
