Recent reports P. F. Bonbam These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records The previous summary {Brit. Birds, 65: 267-268) covered most of the rarities and scarce migrants in March. Here we deal with the departure of certain winter visitors and the arrival of spring migrants in that month, and with all reports for April. After a cool, wet start to March, high pressure set in over the Baltic and persisted from 14th to 25th. This brought mainly light southerlies and a series of exceptionally warm days from 15 th to 21st, afternoon temperatures of 65°-7o°F being recorded daily in the south-east. Many summer visitors arrived during this period, but it was not to last and April was a month of cool, windy, unsettled weather dominated by deep depressions until nth and by a very large anticyclone to the west of the British Isles from 12th to 28th. On 29th-3oth a slow-moving shallow depression coincided with a large increase in the numbers of certain summer migrants.

DIVERS, SHEARWATERS, GANNETS, SKUAS, GULLS AND AUKS In Cornwall, maxima of 20 Great Northern Divers Gavia immer were recorded in Mount's Bay on 5 th March and off Looe on 7th, and up-Channel passage of Black- throated Divers G. arctica at Dungeness (Kent) reached the unusually high total of }4 on 26th April. The regular spring movements of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus off St Ives (Cornwall) began about 5 th March and up to 240 per hour were reported during that month, but on 8th April these numbers were completely over- shadowed by a total of 7,860 in only two hours. (On the same seawatch, 160 Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis, 500 Gannets Sula bassana, 740 Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla and 800 auks were also counted.) Smaller numbers of Manx Shearwaters were recorded at several other western headlands during March and April, but nine off the Calf of Man on 26th March were very early for that area. A Sooty Shear- water P. griseus passed Ilfracombe (Devon) on 5 th April and two Cory's Shear- waters Calonctris diomedea were seen at Dungeness on 16th. Among many reports of Gannets away from their breeding stations were two unusual ones: four headed north over Carlton (Nottinghamshire) on 6th April and an adult was seen on the 'Scrape' at Minsmere (Suffolk) on 24th. The first Great Skua Stercorarius skua reported during March appeared off Hartle­ pool (Co. Durham) on 11th; then during the last week there were scattered sightings of up to three at several localities. In April the largest movements were noted at Portland (Dorset), especially during 4th-8th when 43 were recorded; at most other seawatching stations there were very few indeed. The earliest Arctic Skuas S. parasiticus were singles off Brean Down (Somerset) and Ilfracombe on 27th March; there was then a gap in the reports until mid-April when two were seen in Shetland. After 19th April Arctic Skuas were more widespread, and the largest total to our knowledge was 53 up-Channel at Birling Gap (Sussex) on 30th. On this last date three Pomarine Skuas S. pomarinus were seen at Portland and one at Ilfracombe. There were no reports of the really rare gulls. In England south of the Tees, however, there were at least 20 Glaucous Gulls Icarus hyperboreus and 16 Iceland Gulls L. glaucoides, and ten Mediterranean Gulls L. melanocephalus were scattered between Northumberland and Cornwall. Little Gulls L. minutus were reported from some 20 localities in March and from rather more in April, by far the heaviest passage being 204 (152 adults, 52 immatures) south in two hours at Freshfield (Lancashire) on 25th March. In Northumberland single Little Auks Plautus alle were found dead at Chevington on 5 th March and at Holy Island on 7th, and the latest in Shetland was seen at Hascosay on 14th, while one stayed at Marazion (Cornwall) from 21st February to 16th March. A Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle was reported at St Ives on 26th March.

311 3I2 Recent reports

HERONS TO SWANS An adult Purple Heron Ardea purpurea at Church Norton (Sussex) on 12th April and a Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus at Lodmoor and Radipole Lake (Dorset) from 22nd to 25th were followed by immature Little Egrets Egretta gar^etta in the Lea valley (Essex/Middlesex) on 2C)th-30th and at Cley (Norfolk)—possibly the same one—from the evening of 30th until 7th May. There was a White Stork Ciconia ciconia near Banchory (Kincardineshire) on 16th April and an unusual record of five flying north over Polegate (Sussex) on 25th. Spoonbills Platalea kucorodia stayed at Arne (Dorset) from 16th to 20th April and at Minsmere from 30th April until 2nd May. Surface-feeding ducks in April included a Green-winged Teal Anas crecca carolinensis at Lightshaw Hall Flash (Lancashire) on 19th and 20th, a Blue-winged Teal A. discors at Minsmere from 27th to 29th and an American Wigeon A. americana at Loch of Auchlossan (Aberdeenshire) on 1st. (Arrivals of Garganey A. querquedula and other common migrants are dealt with in a separate section on pages 314-316.) The Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina was last included in these sum­ maries some months ago {Brit. Birds, 65: 89-90, covering September 1971-January 1972); since then this species has occurred in 17 counties west to Glamorgan and north to the Tees and the total number of individuals exceeds 40, even allowing for some duplication between near-by localities. There seem to have been slightly more females than males. Some were said to have been very tame, especially in the west, but many others were as wary as other diving ducks and the evidence seems to point to a sizable influx from the Continent last autumn, birds subsequently wandering over the Midlands and East Anglia. In contrast, only four Ferruginous Ducks Aythya nyroca were reported, two in January (Brit. Birds, 65: 183), one in Derbyshire in February and one in Hertfordshire in March. Ring-necked Ducks A. collaris were found in April at Cottington (Kent) on 9th and at Luton Hoo Park (Bedford­ shire) on 16th, the latter staying until 7th May. An adult drake Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata remained at Penychain, Pwllheli (Caernarvonshire), from 18th to 23 rd April and another was reported in Co. Kerry on 22nd-23rd; and, to complete a formidable list of rare ducks newly arrived in April, there were two more drake King Eiders Somateria spectabilis, at Coquet Island (Northumberland) on 1st and nth and at Portstewart (Co. Londonderry) on 2nd and 3rd. Two Smews Mergus albellus in Shetland in mid-March, and singles on the Rivers Don and Ythan (Aber­ deenshire) on 31st March and nth April respectively, were unusually far north and also very late, but the latest of all was one at Blagdon Reservoir (Somerset) until 21st April. Ninety Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis at Spurn (Yorkshire) on 26th April were a record number for the county, and a flock of 66 Bewick's Swans Cygnus bemickii heading north-east over the Calf of Man on 20th March was quite unprecedented there.

RAPTORS, CRAKES AND WADERS To the series of records of Red Kites Milvus mihus in March (Brit. Birds, 65: 268) should be added one found dead at Wells (Norfolk) on 23rd. Three April reports— at Banbury (Oxfordshire) and at Wellesbourne and Whitnash (both Warwickshire) —very probably concerned one individual. A Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus came in from the sea at Stoke Point (Devon) on 22nd April, and a female Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus was seen at Southport (Lancashire) on 30th. A very early Osprey Pandion haliaetus was flying north over the River Taw near Eggesford (Devon) on nth March; later records of passage migrants came from Sevenoaks (Kent) on 26th March, Bough Beech Reservoir (also Kent) on 31st, Acton Burnell (Shropshire) on nth April (two), Ruxley (Kent) on 27th and Eshaness (Shetland) on 29th. At Loch Garten (Inverness-shire) the male returned to the eyrie on 31st March and the female on 8th April; the first egg was laid on 21st. Apart from the one in Norfolk in March (Brit. Birds, 65: 268), the only reports of Recent reports 313 Spotted Crakes Peruana por^ana were of singles at Cassiobury Park, Watford (Hert­ fordshire) from mid-February to early April, at Maple Cross (Hertfordshire/ Middlesex) on 5 th March, and at Ynys-hir (Cardiganshire) in late Match and early April. The scarcer migrant waders were so few that all reports may be listed as follows: single Kentish Plovers Charadrius akxandrinus at Dawlish Warren (Devon) on 7th April, at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 16th, at Havergate (Suffolk) during 27th-2cjth and at Ferrybridge (Dorset) on 29th-; oth; two Dotterels Eudromias morinellus at Holkham (Norfolk) on 22nd April; a Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola on the Ouse Washes (Cambridgeshire/Norfolk) on 30th April; a Little Stint Calidris minuta overwintering at Rainham (Essex), singles at Sandwich Bay on 3rd March and at Minsmere on 19th April, and three at Slimbridge (Gloucestershire) on 25th April; two Tem- minck's Stints C, temminckii at Kingsmoor (Somerset) on 23rd March; and a Curlew Sandpiper C.ferrugima at Havergate on 27th April. Up-Channel movement of Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica at Dungeness reached a remarkable total of 3,853 on 26th April, the same day as the large passage of Black-throated Divers (see above). Some high counts of Black-tailed Godwits L. limosa were 580 at Shotton (Flintshire) on 20th February, 158 inland at Wet Moor (Somerset) on 28th March, 260 on the 'Scrape' at Minsmere on 5th April and 22 unusually far north at Hillwell (Shetland) during 23rd-3oth April. Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta were, as usual in spring, rather widely scattered along the south and east coasts in small numbers; the one Bristol Channel report was of a single at Steart (Somerset) on 26th March.

OWLS TO BUNTINGS This section deals with near-passerines and passerines, other than the species listed in the final section on the commoner migrants and summer visitors, A Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca remained in the Isles of Scilly from March (Brit, Birds, 65: 268) until 27th April, being seen on Tresco as well as on St Martin's; there was also a male on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 26th-27th April and up to five on Fetlar (Shetland) during that month. An extremely early Alpine Swift Apus melba was reported at Wells on 2nd April; and Hoopoes Upupa epops were seen at Hartlepool on 15th March, at Tuddenham Heath (Suffolk) on 19th, at Lydd (Kent) from 4th to 9th April, at Surlingham (Norfolk) on the latter date, at Studland (Dorset) during the first week of April, at Humberston (Lincolnshire) on 14th, at Beddington (Surrey) on 16th, at Bray (Berkshire) on 17th, at Blakeney Point (Norfolk) on 20th and at Portland on 30th. Other southern visitors in April were a Crested Lark Gakrida cristata at Steart on 8th, a White-spotted Bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula at Shellness (Kent) and a Bonelli's Warbler Pbylloscopus bomlli at Beachy Head (Sussex) on 9th, a very early Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana singing at Cliffe (Kent) on 18th, a Serin Serinus serinus at Portland on 22nd or 23rd, and a female Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus at Frittenden (Kent) on the latter date. A Richard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae at Swanscombe (Kent) from 15 th to 17th April may have overwintered in western Europe, since this species is extremely rare here in spring. A Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris that arrived at Wraysbury Reservoir (Middlesex) last December (Brit. Birds, 65: 136) remained in that area until 1st April, the only inland report to reach us. This species was generally late in leaving the east coast, several regular localities reporting small numbers right through to the last week of the month; the largest April flock appears to have been 63 at Seal Sands, Teesmouth, from 9th to 13th. On the other hand, numbers of Twites Acanthis flavirostris and Snow Buntings Pleetrophenax nivalis fell rapidly after mid-March. Inland reports of Snow Buntings came from Titterstone Clee Hill (Shropshire) on 16th March (two) and from Milton (Staffordshire) on 22nd (one), and a very late bird was seen at Lihou (Guernsey) on 14th April. The second half of March also saw the final departure of many of the Waxwings Bombycilia garrulus that had wintered in Britain; 314 Recent reports at least 100 'were still widely scattered at the start of that month, but by early April they were much reduced in numbers and largely concentrated in eastern Scotland. Single Lapland Buntings Calcarius lapponicus were reported at five east coast localities during April, and there was one on Lundy (Devon) on 23rd. Some other odds and ends were Woodlarks Lullula arborea on Fair Isle on 27th March and 6th April; a high total of at least 21 Water Pipits Anthus s. spinoletta at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 28th March and up to three at Doonfoot (Ayrshire) at about that time (there are less than five Scottish records of this subspecies); and vagrant Hawfinches Coccothraustes coccothraustes in Shetland at Lerwick from 4th April (found dead on 18th) and trapped on Fair Isle on 12th.

COMMONER MIGRANTS AND SUMMER VISITORS We conclude with an analysis of the arrivals of some summer visitors in March and April. Dates of influxes apply mainly to England and Wales, particularly to the south and east, and as always are subject to "weekend bias', though this has been allowed for to some extent. Garganey Anas querquedula Very early and widespread. A female at Sevenoaks from 29th February to 2nd March, a male at Bough Beech Reservoir from 3rd to 5th and a pair at Sutton-at-Hone (also Kent) on 5 th. Small numbers from 9th, rather more from 16th; five pairs at Stodmarsh (Kent) on 24th, and 13 drakes and seven ducks counted on the Somerset levels on 31st. Small arrivals in April. Hobby Falco subbuteo One at Grove Ferry (Kent) on 13th April, two at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 16th and one or two at five other places during 19th-30th. Corncrake Crex crex The first at Castle Caldwell (Co. Fermanagh) on 13th April and singles on Lundy on 16th and 18th, on Fair Isle on 20th and on North Uist on 27th were the only reports. Little Ringed Plover Cbaradrius dubius A trickle from 12th March and a small influx on 24th-25th, but few more until a general arrival from 4th April. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus One wintering at Rame Head (Cornwall) stayed into March. Singles at Dungeness on 14th and on Lundy on 18th-19th; a few during 31st March-22nd April and many parties of up to 30 during 23rd-29th. Main influx on 30th, when 194 at Ame and a total of 160 at five localities in Somerset. Common Sandpiper Tringa hypolucos A few wintering birds stayed into March. First migrants from 30th and especially around 8th-9th April, but few subsequently until influxes during 28th-3oth. Greenshank T. nebularia Because of the number wintering, it is impossible to tell which were new arrivals, though there were certainly no marked influxes. In War­ wickshire three at Brandon on 26th March and one at Ladywalk on 31st were very unusual so far inland in that month. Still scarce everywhere by the end of April. Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Recorded in Breckland (Norfolk/Suffolk) from 19th March and in Wiltshire from 6th April; no other reports. Black Tern Chlidonias niger Very scarce this spring. One at Farmoor Reservoir (Berkshire) on 14th April, but no more until a small passage on 29th-30th. Common Tern Sterna hirundo A few on the south coast at the end of March; one dead at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset) on 31st. A trickle throughout April, increasing from 22nd; counts of 200 at Arlington Reservoir (Sussex), Dungeness and Minsmere by 29th-3oth. Ar-ctic Tern S, paradisaea Very few reports, none before 22nd April; maxima of 50 at Dungeness on 25 th and 30 at Arlington Reservoir on 29th. Roseate Tern S, dougallii Singles in the Hayle estuary (Cornwall) and at Portland on 30th April, Recent reports 315 Little Tern S. albifrons Late arrival. One in the Hayle estuary on 7th-8th April, but no more until about 23rd. Many reports in the last -week; maxima, 22 at Dunge­ ness on 28th and 34 at Hengistbury Head (Hampshire) on 30th. Sandwich Tern S. sandvkensis Two heading north, overland, at Ottery St Mary (Devon) on 14th March, then a few from 18th and especially from 26th. Major in­ fluxes during first and third weeks of April; 1,000 at Minsmere by 30th. Turtle Dove Streptopelia tttrtur Extremely late arrival. One at Slimbridge on 1st April (very early), later found dead; three at Dungeness on 13th, singles elsewhere on 16th, 17th and 29th and four on 30th. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Singles in Kent at Canterbury on 19th March and at Tenter- den on 22nd, one at Plymouth (Devon) on 21st and another in from the sea there on 26th, all very early. In April one at Minsmere on 2nd, steady arrival from 9th. Swift Apus apus Rather late, but very sudden, arrival. Two at Tankerton (Kent) on 16th April, one at Oxford on 23rd, a few during the last week and a massive influx on 30th. Wryneck Jynx torquilla One at Lound (Nottinghamshire) on 23rd April was the only report. Swallow Hirimdo rmtica One reported in Lincolnshire on 18th March, but locality unknown. A few during 23rd-29th, more from 30th and notable arrivals about 3rd, 6th-7th, ioth-i3th and 30th April. House Martin Delichon mbita One at Leybourne (Kent) on 27th March; occasional stragglers during ist-3rd April (though 25 on Lundy on the latter date) and from 7th, with small arrivals on 8th and from nth. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Two at Staines Reservoirs (Middlesex) on nth March; a few during i6th-20th and then a pattern of arrival rather similar to Swallow, but involving greater numbers and more evenly spread. Forty at Chew Valley Lake at the end of March was a high number so early. Ring Ouzel Tardus torquaius From 16th March, few at first but increasing after 23rd; 19 at Llanbedr Hill (Radnorshire) on 25th. Scarce on passage in April but well-established in breeding areas by mid-month. Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Rather early. One at Sand Point (Somerset) on 8th March; a trickle on I3th-i4th, more I5th-i7th and then large influxes i8th-20th, 24th-27th and 31st. April reports not analysed. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Very scarce in April. Early singles at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) on 2nd and at Sandiacre (Derbyshire) on 6th, then only nine more during nth-3oth. Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Singles in March at Slapton (Devon) on 18th, at Plymouth on 21st and at Hornsea Mere (Yorkshire) on 26th. Small but steady passage throughout April. Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Few records. Very early ones reported in March at Otham (Kent) on 13th and at Canterbury on 23rd, then in April at Dungeness on 9th and at Minsmere on 12th; a trickle from 16th. Grasshopper Warbler LocusfeUa nasvia Rather modest, but continuous, passage from 6th April. Savi's Warbler L. Imcinioides Two singing at Minsmere from 13th April and three or four there during i6th-30th. No reports from Kent. Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus A few reported from 17th April. Sedge Warbler A. scboenobaenus Singles at Cliffe on 26th March and at Minsmere on 2nd April, then steady but small arrivals from 9th, with a sudden increase on 30th. 316 Recent reports Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla The many winterers confuse any picture of migration; no clear influx until 9th April when at least 30 apparently new arrivals reported from 14 localities. Many more during I2th-i6th and on 30th, but little movement in between. Garden Warbler S. bortn Very early ones at Sevenoaks on 28th March and at two other places in Kent on 3rd-4th April, followed by small numbers from 9th. Whitethroat S. communis One in full song near Cambridge on 22nd March (very early), one at Chillington (Staffordshire) on 9th April and small numbers from 13th. Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca Reported in small numbers from 18th. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus An early one at Sand Point on 9th March, singles on 19th, 21st and 23rd, and a small arrival during 25th March-2nd April; larger influxes around 3rd and from 9th. Maximum at Dungeness of 450 on 13th. Chiffchaff P. collybita Winterers make assessment of arrivals difficult; one at Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch (Hampshire), on 1st March said to have been a migrant, and a trickle of'first dates' during 9th-i7th. Very large influxes i8th-2ist, 24th-26th and from 31st (cf. Wheatear); April reports not analysed. Wood Warbler P. sibilatrix Rather late. Three near Bristol on nth April and two at Exeter (Devon) on 19th; a few more from 28th. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Extremely scarce in April. Singles at Stafford on nth (early), at Kenn Moor (Somerset) on 17th, at Bar Hill (Cambridgeshire) on 23 rd and at Radipole Lake on 30th. Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Very scarce this spring. One reported at Plymouth on 22nd March (very early) and a few others from 16th April. Tree Pipit Ant bus trivialis A total of 16 reported at four localities during 19th- 21 st March, then three singles until 8th April when a steady arrival began. White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba Passage commenced as early as 4th March but was on a very small scale until the second week of April; reports received from at least 50 localities, with no marked peaks. Yellow Wagtail M. flava Rather late arrival; small numbers from 19th March to 9th April, a large influx on 9th-ioth and increases during 16th- 19th and at the end of the month. Five single Blue-headed Wagtails M. f. flava from 22nd April. Red-backed Shrike hanius collurio A female in Buckinghamshire on 19th April was the only report.