Sunday, December 18, 2022
Monday, December 12, 2022
A Baltic Drifter in a Scottish Freeze-Britain’s first Stejneger’s Scoter delivers a winter twitch to remember
I couldn’t make it north the following morning, so Sunday became an exercise in patience and second-guessing. By mid-afternoon, there was no sign of the bird, but with a day off looming and unfinished business gnawing away, the decision was made. Early Monday morning, Pete Sutton and I pointed the car north and committed.
The journey was an ordeal in itself. Freezing fog clung stubbornly to the landscape, roads glazed with ice, snow drifting across lanes. First light found us on the A702 towards Edinburgh, the thermometer reading a brutal –16°C. This was proper winter birding.
Then, finally, a shout. The bird was there—right at the back of a drifting group of Common Scoters. At least seven Drake Velvet Scoters lay asleep nearby, their bulk and pale wing panels offering just enough comparison. For a moment, everything hinged on a subtle movement: the Stejneger lifted its head, then tucked it back in again. I stayed on it, heart racing, and when it lifted its head once more, the identification locked into place before the group drifted frustratingly further offshore.
Standing next to me was Simon Slade, another good friend who had already connected earlier. Together we tried to relocate the bird, but it vanished into the grey distance. After an hour of fruitless searching, we made the call to move on—there was still another rarity down the road.
At Haddington, the consolation prize proved anything but. A male Black-throated Thrush gave a stunning performance in its favoured yew tree, glowing softly in the winter light. This striking Turdus breeds across northern Scandinavia and Siberia, wintering mainly in south-east Europe, the Middle East and parts of central Asia. In Britain, it is a scarce but regular winter visitor, typically arriving during cold continental spells—often lingering just long enough to remind us how far east its origins lie.
It was only my second Black-throated Thrush for Britain, the last having been back in Derbyshire in February 2007, and it rounded off the middle part of the day beautifully.
We returned to Gullane Sands for the final hours, but the Stejneger’s Scoter refused to reappear as the sun dipped low and the cold deepened once more.
A historic bird, savage conditions, and a day that will linger long in the memory. Some ticks are easy; the best ones rarely are.
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Sunday, December 04, 2022
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
SUMMARY OF DAILY BIRD NEWS
Nov 30th
2 Whooper swan-In flooded field off Stone childs lane-Scholar Green
Hawfinch-Female at old hall site behind ranger's office-Marbury Country park-Cheshire
Eurasian Bittern-Parkgate
Glossy Ibis-Evening roost-Burton RSPB
Snow Bunting flew east at 9am - Hoylake.
Snow Bunting still this afternoon - Leasowe.
16 Light-bellied Brent Geese on Dee Sailing Club causeway this morning - Thurstaston.
Nov 29th
Hawfinch-Female at old hall site behind ranger's office-Marbury Country park-Cheshire
7 Eider (incl ad drake),298 Pale-bellied Brent Geese,12 Purple Sandpiper, ad win Mediterranean Gull - Hilbre.
Snow Bunting moving between Leasowe Gunsite and Leasowe Lighthouse.
Nov 28th
Hawfinch-Female at old hall site behind ranger's office-Marbury Country park-Cheshire
Black Redstart at Lifeboat Station,Velvet Scoter and a Long-tailed Duck offshore - Hoylake.
Glossy Ibis flew into roost late afternoon - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Bittern and 10+ Marsh Harrier late afternoon - Parkgate.
MEGA NEWS
MYRTLE WARBLER-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly
Nov 27th
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
Black Redstart at Lifeboat Station,3 Velvet Scoter among thousands of Common Scoter on the sea at high tide - Hoylake.
c30 Gannet off Leasowe Gunsite.
Bittern flew to roost late afternoon - Parkgate.
Glossy Ibis flew south at dusk from flash - Denhall Quay.
Great Egret seen flying from Hoylake Langfields.
MEGA NEWS
MYRTLE WARBLER-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly
Nov 26th
Long-tailed Duck,15 Red-throated Diver and thousands of Common Scoter off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.
Glossy Ibis which flew towards Burton - Denhall Quay.
4 Water Pipit by Neston Old Quay.
2 Ring Necked Parakeets-Clayhill business park-Neston
7 Egyptian geese-Budworth Mere-Northwich
Eurasian Penduline Tit-Access arrangements: access for non-permit holders tomorrow between 07:30 and 16:00 only, donation bucket onsite. Follow Thelwall Lane to end, past the yellow barrier for c 100m then park carefully along track. Access No 4 Bed via gate (53.3844, -2.5359), then follow track north-east for 100m then north for 300m until gap in trees at 53.3894, -2.5371. View only from bund and do not enter the wetland. Follow any further onsite advice, wellington boots essential. Note track is in poor condition, drive slowly-Bird hasen't been looked for since Wednesday.
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
MEGA NEWS
MYRTLE WARBLER-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly
Nov 25th
Eurasian Bittern-Again flew across Old Baths car park and landed in vegetation by Parkgate promenade-Parkgate
Glossy Ibis-Main scape-Burton RSPB
Long Tailed duck-Offshore-Hoylake
2 Whooper swan-For 12th day in flooded field off Stone childs lane-Scholar Green
Adult Kittiwake-Pickerings Pasture
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
2 Goldeneye and 2 Red Breasted merganser-west Kirby Marine Lake
2 Goosander-Fishing lake-Meols
MEGA NEWS
MYRTLE WARBLER-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly
Nov 23rd
Great Egret flew north over West Kirby Marine Lake then seen flying east along Hoylake Prom,also on WKML were Guillemot,17 Goosander,2 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Goldeneye.
110 Pink-footed Geese,288 Pale-bellied Brent Geese,1750 Shelduck,feral Ruddy Shelduck,2000 Pintail,2300Wigeon,3 Red-breasted Merganser,Great Egret,46 Little Egret,4 Marsh Harrier,Merlin,250 Skylark over high tide - Riverbank Road, Heswall.
5 Marsh Harrier,4 Great Egret,40+ Shoveler and 200+ Teal - Parkgate.
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
Penduline Tit and Siberian Chiffchaff-Woolston Eyes
Water Pipit-Phalarope Pool-Frodsham Marshes
Nov 22nd
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
Penduline Tit and Siberian Chiffchaff-Woolston Eyes
Velvet Scoter-Female Type-Hoylake
Black Redstart by Lifeboat Station this morning - Hoylake.
2 Goldeneye (pair),2 Red-breated Merganser and 23 Goosander (another record high) - West Kirby Marine Lake.
Bittern flew into to roost by Old Baths - Parkgate.
Eider (fem),Red-throated Diver,fem/juv Velvet Scoter and thousands of Common Scoter off East Hoyle Bank at low tide - Hoylake.
Glossy Ibis flew in late afternoon - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Siberian Chiffchaff and 1 Crossbill over flying east - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Nov 21nd
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
17,000+ Knot (15,000 roosting and 2,000+ flew towards West Kirby) - Heswall Shore.
2 Goldeneye,Red-breasted Merganser and 15 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.
MEGA NEWS
Nov 20th
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
Great Northern Diver-one flew east along River Mersey then panded off Marsh Farm, Frodsham Marsh-Lapland Bunting-over and Short Eared owl-Hale
820 Shelduck,740 Pintail,770 Teal,Great Egret,5 Marsh Harrier,890 Lapwing, 131 Golden Plover,3800 Oystercatcher,10000 Knot,3600 Dunlin,580 Curlew, 630 Redshank,3 Greenshank over high tide - Heswall Shore.
Nov 19th
Caspian Gull-3rd-winter again on sandbanks west of old Runcorn Bridge-Widnes
Short eared Owl-Frodsham Score
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
Siberian Chiffchaff-Adult trapped and ringed on No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes
European Shag-Juvenile-Pickerings Pasture
5 Spotted Redshank,2 Ruddy Shelduck,Western Cattle Egret,Great White Egret and Glossy Ibis came into roost late afternoon - Burton Mere Wetlands.
5 Eider - Hilbre.
15 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.
Grey male Hen Harrier - Parkgate.
MEGA NEWS
BLACK FACED BUNTING-Nanjizal-Cornwall
Nov 18th
Great Northern Diver-Juvenile-Redes Mere
Common Scoter-Drake on Bollinhurst Reservoir-Disley
Ruddy Shelduck-Widnes
Glossy Ibis came into roost late afternoon, 6 Jack Snipe flushed by ponies - Burton Mere Wetlands.
10 Goosander but flushed by wind surfer - West Kirby Marine Lake.
3 Little Gull over River Mersey - New Brighton.
650 Pintail, 900 Teal, 450 Lapwing, 120 Golden Plover, 5000 Knot, 180 Black-tailed Godwit over high tide - Heswall/Thurstaston.
Nov 17th
5 Western Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis-Burton RSPB
Nov 16th
Lapland Bunting-Flew inland over Frodsham Score and Ruddy Shelduck
Great Northern Diver-Redes Mere
589 Great Crested Grebe - Meols Shore.
11 Goosander - West Kirby Marine Lake.
Short-eared Owl - Parkgate.
Ruddy Shelduck,Western Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis - Burton Marsh, then flew to Burton Mere Wetlands.
c10,000 Knot, the first big flock of the autumn - Thurstaston.
MEGA NEWS
PURPLE GALLINULE-Dunster Beach-Somerset and Bristol
Nov 15th
Great Northern Diver-Redes Mere
Short Eared Owl-Denhall Quay-Little Neston
Short-eared Owl - Denhall Quay.
Firecrest and 5 Western Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Nov 14th
Siberian Chiffchaff caught and ringed,Woodcock on main island,Lapland Bunting briefly on Middle Eye - Hilbre.
Great Northern Diver-Redes Mere
Caspian Gull-3rd-winter again on sandbanks west of old Runcorn Bridge-Widnes
Nov 13th
Great Northern Diver-Redes Mere
6 Water Pipit-Neston Marsh
Short eared Owl-Chelford
Water Pipit-Carr Lane Pools
Ring Ouzel-one flew over Hale Head in two hours; also 5,249 Fieldfares-Hale
Nov 12th
Western Cattle Egret-Four roosted and 33 Little egrets
Greater White Fronted Goose-One from Old Baths car park-Parkgate Marsh
Eurasian Penduline Tit-1st-winter trapped and ringed on No 3 Bed and subsequently released near Sybil Hogg Hide-Woolston Eye
Glossy Ibis over this morning and flew east, also 3 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
16 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.
Merlin,10+ Marsh Harrier,4 Great Egret,2 Goosander which flew out of estuary, Cetti's Warbler and a Water Rail (heard) late afternoon-Riverbank Road, Heswall.
MEGA NEWS
Nov 11th
Glossy Ibis late afternoon,also 5 Cattle Egret and 3 Green Woodpecker - Burton Mere Wetlands.
A small amount of visible migration included a flock of 20 Common Redpoll, and 7 Dark-bellied Brent Geese with Shelduck on Dawpool Bank this morning-Thurstaston.
170 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew up river to roost off marsh-Riverbank Road, Heswall.
Nov 10th
Western Cattle Egret-Four-Burton RSPB
Caspian Gull-3rd-winter again on sandbanks west of old Runcorn Bridge-Widnes
Nov 9th
Juv Shag on breakwater - Leasowe.
5 Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
15 Great Egret and a grey male Hen Harrier - Burton Marsh.
Hen Harrier and a Twite-Burton Marsh
Glossy Ibis this morning before flying off towards Burton Marsh and 5 Western Cattle Egret - Burton Mere Wetlands.
Arctic Tern on pontoon then seen flying over,and a juv Kittiwake - West Kirby Marine Lake.
5 Purple Sandpiper - New Brighton Marine Lake.
MEGA NEWS
WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Musselburgh-Lothian
Nov 8th
Caspian Gull-3rd-winter again on River Mersey-Little gull,Adult Yellow Legged Gull and 4 Great White egrets
Glossy Ibis,Red Kite,Barn Owl,at least 1 Cattle Egret and several Marsh Harriers,Starling murmuration (c15,000) spectacular just before dusk coming to roost in reedbed - Burton Mere Wetlands.
WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Musselburgh-Lothian
Nov 7th
Siberian Chiffchaff-Leasowe Lighthouse.
4 Western Cattle egret and a Spotted Redshank
MEGA NEWS
WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Musselburgh-Lothian
Nov 6th
2 Jack Snipe-Whitley Reed
Siberian Chiffchaff-At the brickworks-Leasowe Lighthouse.
2 Water Pipit-Carr lane pools-Hale
Western Cattle Egret and Great White Egret-Burton Rspb
Western Cattle Egret-Sandbach Flashes
MEGA NEWS
WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Musselburgh-Lothian
Nov 5th
Caspian Gull-3rd-winter showing well east of white bridge-Pickerings Pasture
Water Pipit-Carr lane pools-Hale
Western Cattle Egret-Burton Rspb
Sandwich Tern,12 Gannet,6 Guillemot,3 Razorbill and 2 Red-throated diver - Hilbre.
Siberian Chiffchaff still by path to duck pond next to Lingham Lane - Leasowe Lighthouse.
MEGA NEWS
identification of individual present between 29 September-22 October confirmed by DNA Analysis
WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Musselburgh-Lothian
Nov 4th
Hen Harrier,Western Cattle Egret and Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB
1100 Pink footed Geese,112 Little Egret,Barn Owl at first light then 760 Pintail,225 Wigeon,735 Teal,4200 Oystercatcher,630 Lapwing,78 Golden Plover,107 Grey Plover,1800 Knot,4600 Dunlin,580 Curlew,1150 Redshank,4 Greenshank, Kingfisher at high tide - Heswall Shore.
Siberian Chiffchaff (seen and heard) by path to duck pond next to Lingham Lane - Leasowe Lighthouse.
Nov 3rd
10 Goosander-West Kirby Marine lake
Curlew Sandpiper- Burton Mere Wetlands.
295 Brent Geese (8 dark-bellied),Arctic Tern and 5 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.
Siberian Chiffchaff (seen and heard) by path to duck pond next to Lingham Lane-Leasowe Lighthouse.
Mega News
WHITE WINGED SCOTER-Musselburgh-Lothian
Nov 2nd
Mega News
BAND RUMPED STORM PETREL-Lizard Point-Cornwall
Nov 1st
Curlew Sandpiper-Burton RSPB
Twite-One with Common linnet flock near the lifeboat station-Hoylake
200+ Brent Geese - Hilbre.
50+ Great Crested Grebe on sea off Leasowe.
10 Goosander and 2 Rock Pipit - West Kirby Marine Lake.
MEGA NEWS
WILSON'S SNIPE-St Mary's-Isles Of Scilly