Record breaking numbers of YELLOW-BROWED
WARBLERS in UK
Not only are these birds exceptionally early but
today saw record numbers of this Siberian sprite arrive in Yorkshire, with no
less than 170 recorded, including 86 at Flamborough Head, 34 at Filey, 15 at
Spurn Point/Kilnsea and 14 at Buckton. Such an arrival this early is
unprecedented and suggests an exceptional breeding season. Massive numbers are
also arriving on Shetland, Fair Isle & Orkney (200+) and with numbers
elsewhere in Scotland and in Northeast England & East Anglia, totals are
approaching 400 individuals.
Elsewhere in Britain today, both the Landguard
NR ARCTIC WARBLER and Mount Batten (South Devon) LESSER GREY SHRIKE remain,
while new arrivals include a juvenile SABINE'S GULL all day at Upton Warren NR
(Worcs) (perhaps the bird from Queen Mother Reservoir yesterday), an ARCTIC
WARBLER on Shetland at Hoswick, RED-THROATED PIPIT on Lundy Island (North Devon)
and a very confiding SPOTTED CRAKE at Slimbridge WWT (Gloucs).
Shetland is producing birds as one would expect
this time in September, with Unst harbouring at least 3 LITTLE BUNTINGS, several
Common Rosefinches and a Barred Warbler (without mentioning yesterday's BLYTH'S
REED WARBLER at Uyeasound), with a PALLID HARRIER at Hillwell and a LITTLE
BUNTING at Scatness, while in Aberdeenshire, the SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER remains
on the Ythan Estuary. Out west, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER is on North Uist at
Berneray.
A RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER is on Holy Island
(Northumberland), while further south in East Yorkshire, the BLYTH'S REED
WARBLER was retrapped at Kilnsea and released in the Church Field and the
BLUETHROAT remained at Flamborough Head. Pretty quiet in East Anglia considering
light SE winds, with juvenile ROSE-COLOURED STARLINGS still at Dungeness
Observatory (Kent), Portland (Dorset) and Davidstow Airfield (Cornwall), this
latter site also hosting both the AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER. The adult DALMATIAN PELICAN has returned once more to the Restronguet
Creek (Cornwall) while other scarce waders include the LESSER YELLOWLEGS at
Colchester Hythe (Essex) and Fremington Pill (North Devon), the adult winter
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER in the Pennington area (Hampshire), HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL
still at Perranuthnoe (Cornwall) and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Marshside Marsh
RSPB, Southport (Lancs), Siblyback Reservoir (Cornwall), Bardney Pits (Lincs)
and Meare Heath (Somerset). A drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK remains at the Welsh Harp
Reservoir, Brent (Gtr London).
On the Isles of Scilly, a WOODCHAT SHRIKE
remains on Tresco, with 2 COMMON ROSEFINCHES still by Fraggle Rock on
Bryher.
Great report.
ReplyDeleteJohn.