Review of the Week: 16th-22nd June 2005

Paddyfield Warbler: Unst, Shetland. (Photo: Micky Maher)	Paddyfield Warbler: Unst, Shetland. (Photo: Micky Maher)

A scattering of late overshoots made for an interesting selection of rarities during the week. A Paddyfield Warbler was at Skaw, Unst (Shetland) on Wednesday 22nd and an Arctic Warbler on Fair Isle the same day. Although not unprecedented, June Paddyfield Warblers are quite a rarity, with just two previous arrivals during the month, one of which was the infamous Landguard (Suffolk) bird in 1998. During the last few years, Arctic Warblers have been a feature of the mid-summer period, so this year's sighting continues an emerging trend of late overshoots. A Blyth's Reed Warbler was also present on Fair Isle during the week, present in the observatory garden on Thursday 16th.

A Pallid Swift was on Bryher (Scilly) on Monday 20th. The majority of sightings of this tricky-to-identify species have been in the autumn (when late swifts are more carefully scrutinised), though a small number of spring and summer records have been detected by diligent observers in recent years suggesting that it is a species easily overlooked at such times of the year. There were several reports of brief quality 'rares', including a Lesser Kestrel in Suffolk and Scops Owl on North Ronaldsay (Orkney). The Great Reed Warbler was reported again from Conwy RSPB (Conwy) on 18th, a Siberian Stonechat was reported at Start Point (Devon) on 18th and a Sardinian Warbler was seen briefly at Farlington Marshes (Hants) on 17th. The Black-headed Wagtail was last reported from West Charleton Marsh (Devon) on 18th.

Terek Sandpiper: Cemlyn, Anglesey. (Photo: March Hughes)	Red-necked Phalarope: Fetlar, Shetland. (Photo: Micky Maher)

A supporting cast of scarcities also featured. On Shetland a Common Rosefinch was on Unst on 22nd, Icterine Warblers were on Fair Isle on 16th and Noss on 22nd and a Grey-headed Wagtail was on Fair Isle on 16th. A Marsh Warbler was at Dungeness (Kent) on 20th and a probable at Osmington Mills (Dorset) from 19th-20th. Red-backed Shrikes were in Ayrshire, Derbyshire and Dorset, and 4 migrant Golden Orioles were noted in addition to 6 birds at Hockwold Washes (Suffolk). A splash of colour was provided by several all-too-brief Bee-eaters which included one at Necton (Norfolk) on 17th, one at Portland (Dorset) briefly on 17th and 18th, Skye (Highland) on 17th and Landguard (Suffolk) on 20th. In Grimsby (Lincs) a Rose-coloured Starling was reported during the week.

Collared Pratincole: National Wetlands Centre, Carmarthen. (Photo: Jeff Slocombe/Colin Gittins)	Collared Pratincole: National Wetlands Centre, Carmarthen. (Photo: Barry Stewart)
Collared Pratincole: National Wetlands Centre, Carmarthen. (Photo: Marek Walford)	Collared Pratincole: National Wetlands Centre, Carmarthen. (Photo: James Packer)

A Terek Sandpiper was on Unst (Shetland) on Friday 17th with one at Cemlyn (Anglesey) from Tuesday 22nd onwards. In Carmarthenshire the Collared Pratincole continued to entertain visitors to the National Wetlands Centre and the Black-winged Stilt was last reported on St. Mary's (Scilly) on 17th with perhaps the same bird then at Pennington Marshes (Hants) on 21st and Dungeness RSPB (Kent) from 22nd onwards. Red-necked Phalaropes were at Welney (Norfolk) and North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 16th.

Snowy Owl: Lewis, Outer Hebrides. (Photo: Paul Godolphin)

A Caspian Tern over Horsey and Berney Marshes (Norfolk) on 19th was relocated at Hickling Broad (Norfolk) on 21st. A Snowy Owl was on South Uist (Outer Hebrides) on 16th and Black Kites were reported in Yorkshire, Hampshire and Devon. An influx of Red-footed Falcons included singles on 18th at Whitburn (Durham), St. Levan (Cornwall) and Martin Down (Hants), with others at Linlithgo (Lothian) on 16th and Middleton (Lancs) on 21st and the long-staying Hickling Broad (Norfolk) bird was last reported on 21st. In Aberdeenshire the Rough-legged Buzzard was still present on 22nd.

Night Heron: St. Mary's, Scilly. (Photo: Martin Goodey)

Common Crane: Unst, Shetland. (Photo: Micky Maher)	Great White Egret: Scalloway, Shetland. (Photo: Dougie Preston)

Two Black Storks were reported over Lindfield (W. Sussex) on 21st, and two were still in Somerset for much of the week with others in Suffolk and Worcestershire. A Great White Egret was at Scalloway (Shetland) on 18th and a Night Heron on St. Mary's (Scilly) from 20th-22nd. A Purple Heron was at Minsmere (Suffolk) on 18th. Wilson's Storm-petrels were noted from Scilly pelagics with 2 on 18th and one on 22nd and a Cory's Shearwater off Pembrokeshire on 19th. A Long-tailed Skua passed Crammond (Lothian) on 21st and Pomarine Skuas were seen in Anglesey and Cornwall.

Ring-necked Duck: Avonmouth, Somerset. (Photo: Paul Bowerman)

The Lesser Scaup was in Shrewsbury (Shropshire) to at least 21st and Ring-necked Ducks were seen in Somerset, Scilly and Co. Armagh. Three American Wigeon included drakes in Angus/Dundee, Outer Hebrides and Roscommon, a drake Green-winged Teal was in Argyll, King Eiders in Ayrshire, Shetland and Aberdeenshire and three Surf Scoters were noted in Aberdeenshire. A feature of the last week or so has been a widespread arrival of Quail with a number of birds reported - please note that tape-luring of these birds is illegal.

With July fast approaching we are clearly due for a scatter of rare waders!

Long-eared Owl: Cambs. (Photo: Will Bowell)

Med Gull: Hayling Island, Hants. (Photo: George Spraggs)	Ring-billed Gull: Dingle, Kerry. (Photo: Paul and Andrea Kelly)
Common Sandpiper: Enochhu, Perth/Kinross. (Photo: Fraser Simpson)	Little Egret: Morfa Madryn, Conwy. (Photo: Peter Latham)
Woodlark: Lincs. (Photo: Russell Hayes)	Tree Pipit: Errwood Res, Derbys. (Photo: Sue Tranter)
Dipper: Angus/Dundee. (Photo: Roy Adamson)	Goosander: Hartington, Derbys. (Photo: Steve Lobley)