Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Harry Hussey

This summary of unchecked reports covers the new arrivals in the period from early February to early March 2014. Headlines In a period largely devoid of exciting new rarities, a Yellow-rumped Warbler in Co. Durham stood out, along with a variety of large , including a Slaty-backed in Co. Galway in February, an in Argyll and three others in Ireland. New Ross’s Gulls appeared in Lancashire & N Merseyside and Glamorgan, while there were no fewer than three in Ireland, and an unseasonal Fea’s Petrel flew past Spurn.

Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Long- stayers in Co. Cork, Denbighshire (up to eight stayers: Islay (Argyll), up to three to 27th to 9th March), Dorset, Co. Down (to 23rd February, two to 4th March, one to 8th; February when joined by a female) and Outer Ballyconnell (Co. Sligo), to 9th March. Red- Hebrides. New arrivals in Co. Clare, Cornwall, breasted Goose Branta ruficollis Southerness/ Fife, Lothian and Co. Sligo. Mersehead (Dumfries & Galloway) long- stayer to 17th February. American Wigeon White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Off Anas americana Long-stayers in Co. Armagh, Unst/Fetlar (Shetland), up to three between Co. Donegal, Gwent, Highland, Co. Leitrim 7th February and 7th March; Lewis (Outer and Orkney. Also: Outer Hebrides, 9th Hebrides), 7th February; Sandside Bay February to 9th March; Cumbria, 22nd (Highland), 7th–11th February; Scapa Flow February; Co. Sligo, 25th February. Black (Orkney), three, 17th February; South Duck Anas rubripes Long-stayers: Loch Ronaldsay (Orkney), 17th February Sunart/Strontian (Highland), to 7th March; intermittently to 8th March; Gruinard Bay Termoncarragh Lake (Co. Mayo), to 20th (Highland), two, 24th February. Zino’s/Fea’s February. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Petrel Pterodroma madeira/feae Spurn Saltholme (Cleveland), 11th February; (Yorkshire), 10th February. Presumed Threave (Dumfries & Galloway), 15th Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus, February and 1st March. Lesser Scaup Aythya previously reported as Squacco Heron A. affinis Long-stayers: Dozmary Pool ralloides, at Saltwood (Kent), present to 8th (Cornwall), to 9th March; Cosmeston Lake March. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Long- (East Glamorgan), to 16th February; Loch stayers: Steeple Claydon (Buckinghamshire), Watten (Highland), to 4th March; Tittesworth to 24th February; Hillsborough (Co. Down), Resr (Staffordshire), to 3rd March. Also: to 8th March. South Uist (Outer Hebrides), 9th February; Angliham (Co. Galway), 16th February; Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps North Dunfanaghy (Co. Donegal), 18th–26th Uist (Outer Hebrides), long-stayer to 9th February; St John’s Loch (Highland), 24th March. Black Kite Milvus migrans Glanmire February to 1st March. King Eider Somateria (Co. Cork), 2nd March. American Coot Fulica spectabilis Long-stayers: Cahermore (Co. americana Loch Flemington (Highland), Cork), to 9th March; Ruddon’s Point/Largo long-stayer to 9th March. Bay (Fife), to 9th March (two on 6th); Eyebroughy/Fidra/Gullane Bay (Lothian), American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica two to 16th February, at least one to 9th Porthgwarra (Cornwall), 1st March. Lesser March; Blacksod (Co. Mayo), to 9th March. Ye l l ow l e g s Tringa flavipes Lepe CP Also: Bluemull Sound (Shetland), two, (Hampshire), long-stayer to 6th March. 10th–18th February. Common Scoter Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis North Uist, Melanitta nigra Hilbre Island (Cheshire & long-stayer to 9th March. Long-billed Wirral), a whopping 27,000 on 3rd March. Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Penning - Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Long- ton/Keyhaven Marshes (Hampshire), long-

240 © British Birds 107 • April 2014 • 240–241 Recent reports stayer intermittently to 8th March. and 4th March. Red-flanked Bluetail Tar siger cyanurus Shire Valley (Gloucester shire), long- Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri Long-stayers: stayer to 9th March. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus Nimmo’s Pier (Co. Galway), to 16th February, hodgsoni Leiston (Suffolk), 15th February. Buff- Mullet Peninsula (Co. Mayo), to 23rd bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens Burton Marsh February. Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus (Cheshire & Wirral), long-stayer to 15th philadelphia Long-stayers: Dawlish Warren February. (Devon), to 26th February, and Cardiff (East Glamorgan), sporadically 9th February to 9th Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera Long- March. Also: Thurso (Highland), 25th–27th stayers: Forest of Dean (Gloucestershire), 12 February; Loch Caolisport (Argyll), 2nd–9th to 1st March, dwindling to one on 9th; March. Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea Long- Hemsted Forest (Kent), 19th February and stayers: Kinsale (Co. Cork), to 9th March; 9th March; Postensplain (Shropshire), three Ringsend (Co. Dublin), 7th–27th February, to 24th February; Broomhead Resr (York- presumed same as North Bull in January. shire), seven to 2nd March, six to 9th. Also: Also: Leighton Moss (Lancashire & N Broughton (Lincolnshire), 9th February to Merseyside), 9th February; Aberavon 9th March; Nercwys Mountain (Denbigh - (Glamorgan), 9th–16th February; Lady’s shire), three, 17th February; Leith Hill Wood Island Lake (Co. Wexford), 20th February. (Surrey), 26th February. Parrot Crossbill Laughing Gull atricilla Ballycotton (Co. Loxia pytyopsittacus Long-stayers: Holt Cork), long-stayer to 2nd March; Marazion (Norfolk), up to 16 to 24th February, eight to (Cornwall), 17th–19th February. Franklin’s 8th March; Budby Common (Nottingham - Gull Larus pipixcan Canna (Highland), long- shire), 14 to 10th February; Mayday Farm stayer to 20th February. Slaty-backed Gull (Suffolk), 16th February. Also: in Suffolk, Larus schistisagus Galway (Co. Galway), 8th King’s Forest, 20th February, Ashby Dell, four, February. American Herring Gull Larus 21st February, and Clowes Wood, six, 22nd smithsonianus Campbeltown (Argyll), 15th February, then eight on 23rd; Waveney Forest February to 9th March; Mullet Peninsula, (Norfolk), 18, 22nd February, eight to 2nd 17th February to 5th March; Cruisetown March; Sandy (Bedfordshire), five, 2nd Strand (Co. Louth), 2nd March; Portmagee March. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Lea (Co. Kerry), 9th March. Marsh (Lincolnshire), 28th February to 9th March. Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus Exnaboe coronata High Shincliffe (Co. Durham), 27th (Shetland), 14th February. Gyr Falcon Falco January to 16th February. rusticolus Quarff (Shetland), 27th February.

Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Dungeness (Kent), two, 15th February to 3rd March, one to 9th; Shapwick Heath (Somerset), 16th February. Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Folke stone (Kent), long-stayer to 22nd February; Petersfield (Hampshire), 15th February. Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei Long-stayers: Ramsgate (Kent), Dungeness and Coleshill (Warwickshire), all to 9th March. Dusky Warbler Simon Knight Phylloscopus fuscatus Great Barr 105. Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata, High Shincliffe, (West Midlands), 25th February Co. Durham, January 2014.

British Birds 107 • April 2014 • 240–241 241