British Birds VOLUME 85 NUMBER 5 MAY 1992

Seasonal reports Autumn 1991 Part 2: passerines

Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp

This report includes some unchecked reports, as well as authenticated records

Southern jewels July is not noted for its movements of Dungeness (Kent) on 27th were followed by passerines, and rarities tend to receive even singles at Rye Harbour (East Sussex) and more attention than usual. The outstanding Formby (Lancashire) on 28th July. Another feature of an otherwise quiet start to the six reports followed in August, and eight autumn was the continued influx of Bee- more in September, seven of which were eaters Merops apiaster. For the last ten years, together at Lochar Water (Dumfries & annual occurrences have averaged 20 indi­ Galloway) on 12th. This brought the total for viduals, but this number had already been July-September to over 50, and, although seen during May and June. Thirteen more there will have been some duplication as were reported during 1 st-5th July, with three groups moved around the country, 1991 will south over Flamborough Head (Humber- almost certainly exceed the record year of side), four in Essex, two at Elvaston Quarry 1988, when 31 were accepted. (Derbyshire), and singles in East Sussex, Winds during July had remained mostly Kent, West Sussex and Suffolk. On 10th July, between southwest and southeast (more singles were at Spurn (Humberside) and frequently than is usual for July), and with Titchwell (Norfolk), with two at Blakeney temperatures some 2°C above average this no (Norfolk), and the next day at Stronsay doubt encouraged more southern exotica to (Orkney), when there were also five at Old reach our shores. Three Woodchat Shrikes Hall Marsh (Essex). Perhaps these last five Lanius senator, eight widely scattered Alpine were the same as those seen at Cliffe (Kent) Swifts Apus melba, from Cornwall to Orkney, on 21 st July, when there was also one at a Black-headed Bunting Emberiza Sandwich Bay (Kent). Five going north over mtlanocephala in Co. Clare on 17dijuly and a

[Brit. Birds 85: 201-210, May 1992] 201 202 Autumn 1991: passerines

Roller Coracias garrulus in Holkham Pines (Suffolk) on 19th July was unseasonal, but (Norfolk) on 29th were among them. hinted at the good numbers to come, and, Of the commoner species, large move­ on the same day, an early Wryneck Jynx ments of Swifts A. apus were particularly torquilla appeared at Weir Wood Reservoir noticeable early in the month, with 1,700 (East Sussex). Yellow Wagtails Motacilla over Climping Beach (West Sussex) on 4th flava were also on the move, with flocks July, 25,000 passing south over Spurn during passing through Dungeness. A Serin Sainus 7th-8th, and on the next day in Lincolnshire serinus in Nottinghamshire on 27th July was 1,000 per hour over River Witham and that county's first, and one in Bedfordshire 15,000 over Gibraltar Point. During 9th-15th on 30th was only the second. Nottingham­ July, 300 flew south daily past Whitburn shire then chalked up its second addition (Tyne & Wear). within a few days, with an Alpine Swift at Crossbills Loxia curvirostra were reported Flintham on 2nd August, the same day as a from many areas, including almost daily at Roller appeared in Dyfed. Flamborough Head, 36 at Holkham NNR on The first half of August, however, re­ 3rd July, 30 at Landguard (Suffolk) on 19th, mained generally quiet for landbirds. The 45 at Holme (Norfolk) on 20th and 12 at weather was unhelpful, to observers at least, Rutland Water (Leicestershire) on 31st. A being mostly hot and sunny, and reports total of 355 was counted at Gibraltar Point from different areas of the country used during July, and many other coastal such terms as 'very average' and even observations from Scilly to Fair Isle indicated 'mediocre'. Westerly winds and some local­ fresh arrivals. ised heavy thunderstorms set the weather Siskins Carduelis spinus, too, were on the pattern, and from 17th August a north­ move much earlier, and in larger groups than westerly airflow became established across is usual. Records from Orkney included Britain and Ireland. only their second and third breeding Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludkola records, and there were influxes into Lin­ are typical of August, and they showed well colnshire, with 25 at Gibraltar Point on 11th this year, with 25 reports, the first from the July, a noticeable movement through Wor­ Lizard (Cornwall) on 12th August. The cestershire on 22nd, and flocks of over 100 in majority were in southwest England, as Tyne & Wear. Many other counties, expected, but one at Donna Nook on 21st particularly along the English south coast was a good Lincolnshire record. reported unprecedented numbers for July. On 20th August, an anticyclone moved A post-breeding flock of 71 Mistle through the English Channel into Germany, Thrushes Turdus viscivorus at Billinge Hall introducing a southerly airflow and rising (Greater Manchester) on 21 st July was a good temperatures. This, combined with a deep local record at least, as was a showy Savi's area of low pressure to the south of Ireland Warbler Locustella luscinioides in North­ on 22nd August, brought the first real amptonshire, which gave many observers movement of Scandinavian drift migrants, unusually prolonged views. A Shore Lark with single Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria, Eremophila alpestris at Lowestoft North Denes on Stronsay and Fair Isle, followed by seven others between 23rd and 31st August. A Woodchat Shrike in Scilly was new on 22nd, as was a Greenish Warbler Phyllosco- pus trochiloides on the Fame Islands (North­ umberland), narrowly beating three more in Shetland on 26th. Five Wrynecks and 11 Icterine Warblers Hippolais wkrina appeared before the end of the month. Of the common migrants, there were 'hundreds of Wheatears' Oenanthe oenanthe on Jersey on 23rd August, 7,000 Swallows Hirundo rustka south over Gibraltar Point on 24th, and, the next day, Dungeness, Sand­ wich Bay and Gibraltar Point all received their first autumn falls, with Reed Warblers A. scirpaceus, Yellow Wagtails and Willow Warblers P. trochilus featuring prominently. 99. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, September 1991 (David Knight)

100. Radde's Warbler PhyUoscopus schwarzi, Priory Country Park, Bedfordshire, October 1991 (David Kramer) 101. Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatacUs, Cocknage Wood, Staffordshire, October 1991 (Oxford Hepes) 204 Autumn 1991: passerines

an Arctic Warbler P. borealis at Hartlepool (Cleveland), Icterine Warblers at Filey (North Yorkshire) and Spurn, and a Blyth's Reed Warbler A. dumetorum at Hauxley (Northumberland). On a more sober note, but of much more importance than these strays, were Bearded Tits Panurus biarmicus making news by ex­ tending their normal East Anglian strong­ hold. Four at Mugdrum Island (Fife) from 22nd to 24th August were the first in Scotland since 1972; they also bred in the London area and, for the first time, in Avon.

September—full of eastern promise Sunny and very warm weather dominated die first week of September and new arrivals had a real eastern flavour. Seven more Icterine Warblers in the first two days came in with Greenish Warblers to Norfolk and Many coastal observatories, however, noted Grampian, a Lesser Grey Shrike L, minor in a dearth of the last species, and also of Norfolk, two Bonelli's Warblers P. bonelU in Goldcrests Regulus regains, which were to Ireland—where there are still fewer than 20 remain scarce all autumn. records—and two Booted Warblers H. cali- More landfalls occurred on 26th August, gata, at Spurn (plate 106) and North with Penduline Tit Remiz pendulmus, Ortolan Ronaldsay (Orkney). Another Bonelli's Bunting E. hortulana and Marsh Warbler A. Warbler at Southwell (Dorset), a Red- pahistris in Kent and a Red-headed Bunting throated Pipit A. cervinus in Dyfed and two E. bruniceps in Dorset. Swallows moved over Yellow-breasted Buntings E. aureola on Fair Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), 5,000 in all, Isle were reported on 6th, followed by the on 27th, and good numbers of Yellow autumn's third Roller on 8th, at Orfordness Wagtails were reported from many locali­ (Suffolk). There were also eight Ortolan ties. Our resident population of Starlings Buntings during 7 th-11 th. Sturnus vulgaris has decreased these last few A southwesterly airflow covered Britain years, but 6,000 arriving at Gibraltar Point and Ireland during 13th-21st September, helped to swell the numbers. but, despite this, the emphasis continued From 26th August, the area of high from the east, no doubt encouraged by a pressure over Germany moved northeast to high-pressure area which developed over settle over northern Scandinavia and thus Greece and moved quickly north to brought a shift of interest from the southeast Germany. Assisted by these conditions came of England to the northeast. Between 28th Red-rumped Swallow and Richard's and 31st August, a Tawny Pipit Anthus Pipit A. novaeseelandiae to Norfolk, two Arctic campestris, two Red-backed Shrikes L. col- Warblers to Fair Isle, where Yellow- lurio, two Barred Warblers and an Ortolan breasted Buntings had increased to Bunting appeared at Flamborough Head, three, and Short-toed Lark Calandrella

102. Top left, juvenile Rose-coloured Starling Stumus roseus and Starling 5. vulgaris, St Mary's, Stilly, October 1991 (Steve Young) 103. Top right, juvenile Red-backed Shrike Lanius isabellinus, West Bexington, Dorset, September 1991 (Barry Mitchell) 104. Centre left, Desert Warbler Sylvia nana, Isle of Wight, November 1991 (David M. Cottridge/Avian Photos) 105. Centre right, Stonechat Saxicola torquata of eastern race maura, Gugh, Scilly, October 1991 (David Tipling/Avian Photos)

106. Bottom, Booted Warbler Hippolais pallida, Spurn, Humberside, September 1991 (Steve Young)

—CS The inclusion of plates 102-109 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from Carl £eiss—Germany.

Autumn 1991: passerines 207

brachydactyla to Humberside. Several hundred for instance, and there were 200-300 on most Meadow Pipits A. pratensis moved south days from 20th September to the end of the over Whitburn on 15th and 100 Sedge month at Dungeness. Warblers A. schoenobaenus landed on Lundy. On 21st September, a deep depression Appearing in strength, too, were Rose- tracked northeastwards between Scotland coloured Starlings Stumus roseus, with seven and Iceland, bringing extremely windy con­ arriving between 15th September and the end ditions to Britain and Ireland, and with it of the month, scattered between Uist more transatlantic visitors. Britain's earliest (Western Isles) and Scilly. Two more arrived Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus ar­ in Scilly during October (plate 102), together rived in Scilly on 22nd, the same day as a with three in Scotland, one at Spurn and two Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus in Co. Cork. more in southwest England, to make this a Also in Ireland was a Lesser Grey Shrike at bumper autumn for this once extreme rarity. Dungarvan (Co. Waterford), from 21st-24th Greenish Warblers, Arctic Warbler September (plate 99). Rare migrants were and Little Buntings E. pusilla on 17th arriving by now from both east and west, September made an impressive trio in the with Greenish Warblers in Scilly on 22nd, Northern Isles, but were overshadowed by another in Kent on 23rd, the first of two the arrival that day of a Bobolink Dolkhonyx Citrine Wagtails M. citreola in Shetland, oryzivorus in Devon (plate 107), Britain's first Olivaceous Warbler H. pallida in Scilly and mainland record. Also making history was Rustic Bunting E. rustica on North Ronald- Bedford-shire's first Penduline Tit, found say. Exceptionally, five Pechora Pipits A. on 18th September at Priory Country Park. gustavi arrived in the Northern Isles in just Siskins were still abundant, with good three days, during 20th-22nd September. numbers reaching Cornwall, 300 at Trevail A passage of 20,000 House Martins Delichon urbica headed south over Sandwich Bay on 23rd September, and on 25th a Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus was found dead on North Ronaldsay. A rapidly developing cyclone to the west of Ireland on 27th September moved into the Bay of Biscay on 28th, dragging strong easterlies and stormy weather across Britain and, with it, ten Barred Warblers, seven Wrynecks and six Red-backed Shrikes L collurio to Norfolk; 5,000 House Martins moved south in less than an hour over the Parrett Estuary (Somerset) and 1,100 were grounded by heavy rain at Barn Elms Reservoir (London).

107. Top, Bobolink Dolkhonyx oryzivorus, Soar Warren, Devon, September 1991 (David Tiploig/ Avian Photos) 108. Centre, Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus momatus, Scilly, October 1991 (ft. C. Kilgour) 109. Bottom, Nutcracker Nucifiaga caryocatactes, Cocknage Wood, Staffordshire, October 1991 (Steve Young) 208 Autumn 1991: passerines Over 30 Yellow-browed Warblers P. over Scandinavia, the resulting easterly tnomatus and 20 Red-breasted Flycatchers airflow brought movement from a different Ficedula parva arrived during 28th-30th Sep­ quarter. Thrushes were much in evidence on tember, with 18 of the former and 12 of the 9th, widi enormous numbers of Redwings T. latter between Holy Island (Northumber­ iliacus arriving in Orkney, together with land) and Gibraltar Point, together with six Olive-backed Pipit A. hodgsoni and Rustic Wrynecks and three Great Grey Shrikes L Bunting on North Ronaldsay. A Pied excubitor. A White's Thrush ^oothera daumaWheatea r 0. pleschanka was found in arrived on 27di to tantalise many observers Shetland and a Desert Wheatear 0. deserti in Highland, a Great Reed Warbler A. in Dorset, with another in Lincolnshire the arundmaceus was in Shetland the same day, following day. Redwings continued to pour and the first Lanceolated Warbler L. lan- in, with 25,000 on Fair Isle on 10th, together ceolata came to Fair Isle on 28th. A male with 600 Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla, Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus showing and there were 8,000-10,000 Redwings at characteristics of the southeastern race St Abbs (Borders). During 12th-16th, a samamiskus appeared at Southwold (Suffolk) remarkable series of sightings occurred, with on 29th, and during 28th-30th September Isabelline Shrike L. isabellinus, Eye- eight Stonechats Saxicola torquata of the browed Thrush T. obsctmis and Isabelline eastern race mtmmlstgnegeri arrived. Wheatear 0. isabellina in Scilly, three Red- eyed Vireos, in Cleveland, Co. Wexford Rich autumn fruits and Lothian (only Scotland's third), Pine October is, for rarity-seekers, the most Buntings E. leucocephalos on North Ronaldsay exciting period of the year, and many and at Flamborough, Gray-cheeked observers make their own temporary, south­ Thrushes in Co. Clare and Scilly, Paddy- westerly dispersal, mostly in the hope of field Warbler A. agricola in Co. Cork, meeting transatlantic visitors coming the Desert Warbler S. nana in Humberside, other way. Certainly the weather pattern Citrine Wagtail in Orkney, Pied Wheat- was in their favour, for during lst-6th ear in Shetland and a Nutcracker Nucifiaga October a series of lows moved quickly caryocatacUs in Staffordshire (plates 101 & 109). between Newfoundland and Iceland and During 5th-15th October, a remarkable 19 birds caught up in the southern fringes of the Radde's Warblers P. schwarzi were reported, rapidly moving airstream were deposited including one inland at Bedford's Priory in Britain and Ireland. Cornwall had the Country Park (plate 100), 12 Richard's first to arrive, with a Red-eyed Vireo on Pipits, 26 eastern Stonechats (plate 105), 2nd, and a Nashville Warbler Vermivora nine Pallas's Warblers P. proreguhts, over 130 ruficapilla, a potential first for the Western Yellow-browed Warblers (plate 108), two Palearctic, reported in Cot Valley on 3rd. Dusky Warblers P. foscatus, eight Short- Another Red-eyed Vireo reached Suffolk toed Larks and 11 Olive-backed Pipits. on 6th, when a Tennessee Warbler V. From mid October, the airflow shifted peregrina was reported from Highland, and on around to the northwest, and a very exciting 7th a Swainson's Thrush C. ustulatus period came briefly to an end, except for rail landed in Scilly, with a Bobolink there the commuters on 17th, when a Yellow-billed next day. Cuckoo was found on Oxted Railway With a low developing in the Bay of Station platform (Surrey). It was taken into Biscay on 9th October, and high pressure veterinary care and later released. Fieldfares T. pilaris had been slow in coming, but they were to feature prominen­ tly in a massive movement of thrushes on 20th October, which was particularly notice­ able in the midland counties of England. From Mayfield (West Midlands) 1,700 Red­ wings and over 2,000 Fieldfares were re­ ported, with similar numbers of Fieldfares from Leicestershire, but these numbers were totally eclipsed by the 20,000 Redwings and 10,000 Fieldfares in a massive movement over Grafham (Cambridgeshire), Equally impressive were 37 Shore Larks arriving at Autumn 1991: passerines 209

Hornsea (Humberside) to bring the total 15th heralded a substantial arrival in reported in the month to over 70, Orkney over the next few days, with 23 in Another easterly surge arrived on our Kirkwall, 22 in Stromness and 14 in Fins- shores during 25th-31st October, with De­ town. Over the next ten days, reports of sert Wheatear on Fair Isle, Isabelline Waxwing flocks became more widespread, Shrike in Humberside, Pied Wheatear in with the largest concentrations in Scotland Lothian, Dusky Thrush T. naumanni in and the north of England, and, by 24th, 120 Dyfed, and Desert Warbler in the Isle of had gathered in Aberlady village (Lothian), Wight (plate 104). Orkney's first Isabelline and there were flocks of 80 in Berwick Shrike appeared on North Ronaldsay (what (Northumberland) and Pitlochry (Tayside) a fantastic autumn that island had), and and 140 in Edinburgh (Lothian) by the end there was another Nutcracker, this time in of November. Smaller groups were being Kent. A further 21 Pallas's Warblers ar­ seen farther south, mainly in single figures, rived, mainly in eastern Britain, seven more but 25 were at Snettisham (Norfolk) and 15 Dusky Warblers and four Red-throated at Gibraltar Point, both on 21st. Pipits (to add to the six earlier in the Three more Desert Wheatears appeared month), making this October one of the best in November, on 5th at Fleetwood (Lan­ ever for eastern vagrants. cashire), and on 24th at Dover (Kent) and on An area of high pressure over Spain at die Guernsey, but perhaps the most unlikely end of October brought mild southerly record, in name at least, was the immature winds across the Continent, and with it a male Mugimaki flycatcher F. mugimati at Little Swift A, affinis to Fair Isle on 1st Stone Creek (Humberside) on 16th-17th November, and a Desert Warbler to Seasal- November, a remarkable record in what ter (Kent) on 3rd. On this day and the next, proved to be an outstandingly rich autumn. you could actually choose which of three Desert Warblers to see in Britain, with the earlier arrivals still lingering on at Flambor- ough Head and in the Isle of Wight. Colder air spread from the west oh 2nd November, lasting until 9th, which surpris­ ingly brought two more transatlantic visi­ tors, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus kdovkiamts, the first since 1988, to Bridlington (Humberside) on 7th and a Chimney Swift Chaetura pekgka to St Andrew's (Fife) on 8th. By mid November, many of the new reports hinted at winter around die corner, with about 44 Shore Larks taking up resi­ dence, ten widely scattered Great Grey Acknowledgments Shrikes, Arctic Redpoll C. homemanni on This summary was compiled from contributions Fair Isle, and the first Waxwings Bombydlta From: B. Condoumi, M. Dryden, J. Holloway, A. garrulus, with singles on North Ronaldsay Jewels, I. Kinky, E. R, Meek, P. Murphy, R. F. and Fair Isle on 8th. Two more in Evie on Porter, M. Waller; and published information 210 Autumn 1991: passerines including that in the newsletters of the Bristol copies of all the records reported to its phone Ornithological Club, Buckinghamshire Bird Club, service 'Twitch-line', and to Birding South West. Derbyshire Ornithological Society, Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society, Fife Bird Club, La Societe Guernesiaise, Leicestershire and Request Rutland Ornithological Society, Leigh Ornitholo­ We seek to make these quarterly summaries gical Society, London Natural History Society, as comprehensive as possible. Please send Shetland Bird Club, Shropshire Ornithological all reports to us at the address below, or Society, South East Scotland Bird Bulletin, Sussex telephone BN on the numbers listed each Ornithological Society, West Midlands Bird Club, Cape Clear Bird Observatory, Fair Isle Bird month on the inside front cover. The next Observatory, Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory and 'Seasonal report' will cover winter 1991/92 Whitburn Bird Observatory. We are especially (November to March). Records should be grateful to National Bird News, which supplied submitted now, please. Barry Nightingale & Keith Attsopp, 7 Bbomsbury Close, Wobum, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS