Autumn well and truly underway

East, Southeast winds on Monday and Tuesday of this week have seen a good arrival of drift migrants, with several still being available today, even though the wind has now switched to the west. Seawatching was also highly productive today in Ireland and the South West.

 

Newly discovered this Friday were a WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER on Scilly (in pines at Content/Telegraph, St Mary's), a SUBALPINE WARBLER at Landguard (Suffolk), a GREENISH WARBLER in Norfolk (at Winterton South Dunes) and another in Suffolk (at Southwold Sewage Works), an ARCTIC WARBLER on Foula (Shetland) at Hametoun, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS in Cornwall at Croft Pascoe Pool and a CATTLE EGRET at Draycote Water (Warks) (commuting between Toft & Biggin Bays).

 

In Gloucestershire, the county's first-ever MARSH SANDPIPER (a juvenile) remains for its second day with Greenshank and Ruff on the flash north of Splatt Bridge, Frampton-on-Severn, while in Kent, a particularly showy MELODIOUS WARBLER continues for a third day in Denge Marsh Gully at Dungeness.

 

The best part of 30 GREAT WHITE EGRETS are still to be seen, including at least 9 on the Shapwick Heath NNR (Somerset), with the GLOSSY IBIS still showing well at Saltholme/Dorman's Pool on Teeside (Cleveland). A female FERRUGINOUS DUCK is at Island Mere on the Minsmere RSPB reserve (Suffolk) with the odd SPOTTED CRAKE still being seen, the one at Rutland Water (Leics) affording the best views.

 

PECTORAL SANDPIPERS remain at Shibdon Pond, Gateshead (Tyne & Wear), Freiston Shore (Lincs) and at Charlton Mires (Northumberland), with a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE on the ARC Pit at Dungeness (Kent) (3rd day) and a juvenile TEMMINCK'S STINT at Grafham Water (Cambs) (from the Valley Creek hide).

Bertha is fast approaching.....

With autumn well under way, the remnants of Hurricane Bertha are about to make landfall in the Western Approaches.....

 

Up to 100 birdwatchers amassed on Porthgwarra (Cornwall) this morning - seawatching by early evening producing 9 Cory's, 5 Greats, 11 Sooty & 5 Balearic Shearwaters off there. A single WILSON'S PETREL was recorded off Scilly, along with good numbers of both Great & Cory's, while seawatching in County Cork resulted in more of the same (eg, 37 Greats, 15 Cory's past Galley Head).

 

Meanwhile, the moulting adult STILT SANDPIPER continues to show very well at Cresswell Pond (Northumberland), with juvenile CITRINE WAGTAILS at Grindon Lough (Northumberland) briefly and on Bardsey Island (Gwynedd) for a second day.

The long-staying BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE remains at Purl's Bridge RSPB Reserve (Cambs) on the Ouse Washes, favouring the area north of Steven's Hide and south of the railway viaduct, the best part of a 3-mile walk from the information centre. Other long-stayers include the adult BONAPARTE'S GULL at Oare Marshes (Kent), PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON at Seeswood Pool, Nuneaton (Warks) but sadly, it seems that South Devon's Ross's Gull has died.

Second-summer Black-crowned Night Heron, Seeswood Pool, Warks, July 2014 (James Packer)

A 'new' PECTORAL SANDPIPER was discovered at Pulborough Brooks RSPB (West Sussex) this morning (viewable from the Jupps Watchpoint) (and where the family party of 5 BLACK-WINGED STILTS remain) while the adult continues at Fishtail Lagoon on Pennington Marshes (Hants). The 2nd/3rd-summer LONG-TAILED SKUA was seen again today in the Selsey area, visiting Medmerry RSPB around midday (West Sussex).

2nd/3rd summer Long-tailed Skua off Church Norton, Pagham Harbour, early August (David Campbell)

SPOTTED CRAKES remain at Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) and Rainham Marshes RSPB (Essex/London) while the post-breeding influx of French GREAT WHITE EGRETS continues and 8 or more GLOSSY IBISES remain in residence.

Spotted Crake at Titchwell RSPB (Penny Clarke)

The 3 adult EUROPEAN BEE-EATERS continue to visit the nest on the Isle of Wight, while the summering male RED-BACKED SHRIKE continues at Quainton Hill (Bucks) and an ALPINE SWIFT was seen briefly at St Margaret's-at-Cliffe (Kent).

European Bee-Eater, Wydcombe Estate NT, Niton (Chris Bromley)