Recent Reports
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Recent reports K. Allsopp andR. A. Hume These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records Dates in this report refer to September unless the east, but unsettled westerly weather pre otherwise stated. dominated. From 18th, the Continental high During the first half of the month, pressure pressure declined and a series of vigorous remained high over the Continent, with the depressions crossed the country, bringing Atlantic depressions tracking to the north of periods of strong westerly winds and heavy the British Isles. For short periods, the rain. weather was influenced by air moving from Passerines In addition to the records reported last month for the first few days of easterly weather in September, there was a further Arctic Warbler Phylkscopus borealis at Hauxley (Tyne & Wear) on 4th, a Greenish Warbler P. trochikides at Wells (Norfolk) on 1st, and yet another River Warbler Locus- tellajhiviatilis, this time on Great Saltee (Co. Wexford) on 5th. A few Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria were reported along the British east coast, with six at Wells on 1st; Icterine Continued... 545 546 Recent reports a Short-toed Lark Calandrella tinerea. The following days brought a Pallas's Grass hopper Warbler Locustella certhiota on 21st, three Yellow-browed Warblers Phyttoscapus inornatus and a Richard's Pipit Anthus nonae- seelandiae on 22nd, a Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza. aureola on 23rd, and a Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyamrus on 30th. By this time, the southwest had become the centre of attention, the strong westerlies bringing a Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus Warblers Hippolais icterina were present at Landguard Point (Suffolk) on 5th and 9th; and there was a Serin Serinus serinus at Dungeness (Kent) on 8th. The numbers of commoner migrants were generally low in most East Coast areas. The next influx started after 12th on the English south coast, with a Melodious Warbler H. polyglotta at Portland Bill (Dorset), and Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludkola at Lodmoor (Dorset) and Dungeness on 20th. Tawny Pipits Anthus campestris were found at Colne Point (Essex) and at Dungeness on 13th, where another Barred Warbler arrived together with a Bluethroat Luscinia svecica. americanus to St Mary's (Scilly) on 23rd, Red- On the same day, a Bonelli's Warbler Phyl- eyed Vireos Vireo olivaceus to Cape Clear loscopus bonelli was discovered at Landguard Island (Co. Cork) on 24th, two to St Mary's Point. On 17th, the action moved north to on 27th, another to Prawle Point (Devon) Fair Isle, when a slow-moving weather front also on 27th and one to Hook Head (Co. opposing a light anticyclonic westerly air Wexford) at about the same time. Also movement from Scandinavia grounded a on 27th, a new recruit for the British List Pallas's Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi and arrived on St Agnes (Scilly) in the shape of the long-awaited Magnolia Warbler Den- droica magnolia. A near miss, unfortunately, was a Purple Martin Prague subis sighted in the Western Approaches off Ushant (France) on 25th. The area was not without its eastern rarities either, with a Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola on St Mary's on 25th and a Booted Warbler on St Agnes on 28th. Earlier, on 24th, there were an estimated ten Icterine Warblers and three Red-breasted Recent reports 547 Flycatchers Ficedula parva in Scilly, and, on Blacktoft (Humberside) continued its purple 26th, three Rose-coloured Starlings Sturnus patch when a Hudsonian Godwit Limosa roseus. The latter species had also been seen haemastica arrived during late September, on Guernsey (Channel Islands) earlier in the staying long enough for many to observe it. month. Elsewhere, few rarities had been Late August records from Ireland were of a reported, but included two Richard's Pipits Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla at at Cley (Norfolk) on 26th, a Thrush Night Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) on 15th and a ingale Luscinia luscinia on Lundy (Devon) Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes at Bann and a Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus Mouth (Co. Derry) on 24th. Early arrivals of agricola near Tynemouth, both late in the Buff-breasted Sandpipers Tryngiks subrufi- month. The most spectacular concentrations collis were given last month, additional of migrants reported were of Swallows reports of singles coming from Crowdy Re Hirundo rustica at Dungeness where 45,000 servoir (Cornwall), the Isles of Scilly and, on were estimated moving on 22nd, and 20,000 12th, from Perry Oaks (Middlesex). Other on 30th. early September records were of another Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii at Birds of prey Crowdy Reservoir and two Wilson's Phala- On 13th, 15th and 23rd, Honey Buzzards ropes Phalaropus tricolor at Loch of Kin- Pernis apivorus were noted at Dungeness, nordy (Angus) on 13th. The probably displaced from the Continent, and strong westerlies in late September brought Cornwall was again favoured, with Red- another spate of reports. More Wilson's footed Falcons Falco vespertinus on the Lizard Phalaropes arrived, with singles at Land's on 1 lth and St Mary's on 2nd October, and a Goshawk Accipiter gentilis on the Lizard on 19th. Wading birds Only moderate concentrations of European birds were reported and Dunlins Calidris alpina were particularly scarce inland and sometimes outnumbered by Litde Stints C. minuta and Curlew Sandpipers C.ferruginea. End (Cornwall), on St Mary's, in Guernsey A few Dotterels Charadrius morinellus were and at Frodsham (Cheshire), and additional reported, coinciding with the passerine dis Baird's Sandpipers at Davidstow (Corn placements: four on Redhill Aerodrome wall) on 22nd and at Marazion (Cornwall) (Surrey) on 29th August, ten on 2nd at on 29th. That favoured county also held Porthgwarra (Cornwall) and one at three Lesser Golden Plovers Pluvialis Overstrand (Norfolk) on 13th. A Great dominica at Stithians Reservoir from 23rd and Snipe Gallinago media on Fair Isle on 22nd a Lesser Yellowlegs at Wadebridge from was the only eastern rarity reported, western 27th. More widespread were Pectoral Sand vagrants providing the most excitement. pipers Calidris melanotos: at Cantley 306. Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper Calidrisferruginea, Dyfed, September 1981 (Peter M. Harris) 548 Recent reports (Norfolk), Rutland Water (Leicestershire) Inland, a Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucor- and Dunstable (Bedfordshire), but most koa was found at Staines (Surrey) on were in the far west, with four in Cornwall 12th. On 12th and 13th August, 2,000Cory,s and four more on the Isles of Scilly from 20th Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea were onwards. Storm-blown Grey Phalaropes counted off Cape Clear Island, but shear Phalampus fulicarius numbered 200 at Bryher water movements in the North Sea area have (Isles of Scilly) on 23rd, and, later, 12 were not been notable. In the Channel, however, found in Falmouth Bay (Cornwall), two in Dungeness reported a record 39 Sooty Guernsey on 29th, one at Walton-on-the- Shearwaters Puffinus griseus on 26th. One Naze (Essex) on 26th, and a couple inland in Long-tailed Skua Siercorarius longicaudus was Oxfordshire. Late Red-necked Phalaropes seen at St Ives on 27th. P. lobatus were also seen, at King George V Reservoir (Essex) and Titchwell (Norfolk), Landguard Point both on 27th, and at Pett Level (East Sussex) on 3rd October. Derek Moore has asked us to draw attention to the fact that Landguard Common and Ducks and seabirds Point is a Suffolk Trust for Nature Conserva tion nature reserve and not a 'public open Single vagrant Nearctic ducks are now space' as we noted incorrectly (Brit. Birds 74: regular, but flocks, albeit small, are special. 404). He also commented: 'I am pleased to One of Blue-winged Teals Anas discors at St report that during the stay of the Lark Ives (Cornwall) numbered five by 3rd Octo Sparrow [Chondesies grammacus] behaviour of ber, after two arrived on 24th, and other twitchers was exemplary.' flocks, of American Wigeons A. americana, were noted at Skewjack (Cornwall), four on 26th, and at Hayle (Cornwall), six on 26th Latest news increasing to nine by 4th October. Seabird In first half of November: American Bittern records were rather sparse, but a Sooty Tern Botaurus lentiginosus at Magor (Gwent); Sterna juscata was claimed at Redcar (Cleve and—deja vu from September 1956?— land) on 12th and a Black-browed Alba Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa latirostris on tross Diomedea melanophris at St Ives on 25th.Hol y Island (Northumberland). .