Present until the end of the review period, a White-tailed Lapwing at Blacktoft Sands RSPB, East Yorkshire, from 26th was the week's star bird and was widely appreciated. The first twitchable record since 2010, it feels likely to be same as the one-day bird at Stodmarsh NNR, Kent, on 2 June, although this may well be best left as idle speculation.
White-tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands RSPB, East Yorkshire (David Carr).
White-tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands RSPB, East Yorkshire (Peter Garrity).
In a bumper week for the species, a presumed Black-winged Pratincole was a brief visitor to Newstead & Annesley CP, Nottinghamshire, on 24th – a potential county first. Amazingly, a pratincole species at Idle Washlands, Nottinghamshire, from 30th is thought to involve a Collared – just a second county record if confirmed, after a one-day bird in June 1999. Quite the week ...
Another reported Black-winged Pratincole hawking insects over East Dean, Hampshire, on 24th evaded confirmation, while the juvenile remained in Shetland at Funzie, Fetlar, throughout.
Black-winged Pratincole, Houbie, Fetlar, Shetland (Alan Prescott).
Belated news emerged of a Semipalmated Plover sound-recorded over Lissagriffin, Co Cork, on 1st – thought to be different to the bird sound-recorded at the same site on 2 July. Norfolk scored a new Long-billed Dowitcher at Potter Heigham Marshes from 25th, with the Llanelli Wetland Centre WWT, Carmarthen, adult last noted on 28th. Lincolnshire's adult Pacific Golden Plover departed Frampton Marsh RSPB after 26th.
Long-billed Dowitcher (left), Llanelli Wetland Centre WWT, Carmarthen (Wayne Davies).
Pacific Golden Plover, Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire (Mark Leitch).
The Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin at Black Head, Cornwall, just made the review period, present for a second day on 23rd. Fair Isle scored a Booted Warbler on 27-28th.
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Black Head, Cornwall (Alex Mckechnie).
In a healthy showing of North Sea Fea's-type petrels, two were off the Cleveland and Durham coasts on 27th and 30th, with the former also noted past Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, during the evening. In a rare occurrence, the Scottish east coast struck Pterodroma gold too – another Fea's-type was tracked between Fife Ness, Fife, Fishtown of Usan, Angus & Dundee, and Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire – the first-ever record for all three counties.
Fea's type north past Whitburn at 18.50. Lovely 😍 pic.twitter.com/0Lc2dDq6YS
— Rob Stonehouse (@gatesheadandbey) August 27, 2021
A probable Yelkouan Shearwater was discovered via photographs taken from a pelagic off Berry Head, Devon, on 23rd – the site of Britain's first-ever record of the species back in July 2008. Another possible headed north past Whitburn CP, Durham, and a number of Northumberland sites on 29th.
In East Yorkshire, the Black-browed Albatross spent most of the week around the environs of at Bempton Cliffs RSPB and the wider headland, but also passed Sheringham, Norfolk, on 26th.
Black-browed Albatross, Bempton Cliffs RSPB, East Yorkshire (Mark Rayment).
The evening of 27th saw a Snowy Owl photographed near the summit of Ben Macdui, Moray & Nairn – the same mountainous region as a popular individual seven years ago. Elsewhere, the female remained on St Kilda, Outer Hebrides. A possible pale-morph Eleonora's Falcon at Tyneham, Dorset, on 23rd was followed by an unconfirmed report of a Bearded Vulture over Fernworthy Reservoir, Devon, on 27th.
The juvenile Black Stork was again mobile between Lincolnshire's two RSPB reserves (Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore) until 28th at least. In Shetland, a first-summer drake King Eider was noted at Basta Voe, Yell, on 30th.
Black Stork, Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire (Ian Bollen).
Last noted at Ainsdale, Lancashire, on 23rd, the Elegant Tern rocked up further north on the beach at Hodbarrow RSPB, Cumbria on 27th. A county first, it probably flew past Silecroft a day later before the trail again went cold.
Elegant Tern (centre), Hodbarrow RSPB, Cumbria (Gavin Thomas).
In Co Dublin, the Least Tern was again at Portrane Point on 24th. Nearby, the adult Forster's Tern lingered around Soldier's Point, Co Louth; one was reported in Portland Harbour, Dorset, on 24th. A distant Caspian Tern flew past Southwold, Suffolk, on the same date.
Caspian Tern, Southwold, Suffolk (Andrew Moon).
A new adult Bonaparte's Gull pitched up at Belfast Lough RSPB, Co Antrim, from 29th. In Shetland, the first-summer lingered at Norwick, Unst, until 25th at least, with the regular adult still at Oare Marshes, Kent.
In Co Cork, the Walrus has made himself at home at Crookhaven, still present until 28th at least. One was reported at sea off Scilly on 23rd too, while, in Lepidoptera news, the first Camberwell Beauty of a potential influx reached Landguard, Suffolk, on 30th.
The pint of Murphy’s is so good in Crookhaven that even Wally the walrus wants in on the act! #cork #wildatlanticway pic.twitter.com/Q6i66dM9yd
— Éanna Ó Chuinn (@cnaideach) August 23, 2021
Scottish mainland
A decent week for scarce passerines perhaps peaked with a brief Greenish Warbler in campsite willows at Ardmair, Highland, on 28th, while a Citrine Wagtail at Cove on 26th was a notable Borders record. Skye, Highland, had a decent week – a Rosy Starling at Waternish Point on 25th and a Barred Warbler at Drumfearn on 27th. Another Barred was at Inverbervie, Aberdeenshire, while an unconfirmed Yellow-browed Warbler was reported at Argaty, Forth, on 28th.
Little Stint, Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire (Ron Macdonald ).
The evening of 26th saw a brief White-rumped Sandpiper in Aberlady Bay, Lothian, while Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpipers and Little Stints were at a number of coastal and wetland sites. A Pectoral Sandpiper visited Auchlossan, Aberdeenshire, on 29th. Tiree, Argyll, hosted a Pectoral Sandpiper at Loch an Eilein on 27th and three Little Stints at Hough. Two Eurasian Spoonbills remained at Findhorn Bay, Moray & Nairn.
Offshore, several sites scored flypast Pomarine Skuas and Long-tailed Skuas were off three – Fife Ness, Fife (two on 26th), Portree, Skye, Highland (27th) and Hound Point, Lothian (30th). Glaucous Gulls at Spey Bay and Lossie Estuary, Moray & Nairn, provided more of a wintry feel. Away from the ornithological action, 10 probable Long-finned Pilot Whales lingered off Barns Ness, Lothian, on 25th
Glaucous Gull, Lossie Estuary, Moray & Nairn (Jamie Green).
Northern Isles and the Hebrides
It was very much a familiar week for Shetland, with expected drift migrants supplementing those that had made it across last week. The Greenish Warbler remained at Ham, Foula, until at least 25th, while a Wryneck was a new arrival at Geosetter, Mainland, on 29th. Common Rosefinch made it to six localities, including four on Unst, Barred Warbler to four and a Marsh Warbler was at Camb, Yell, on 23rd. A small influx of Pied Flycatchers occurred, with eight sites reporting birds – including one photographed on a cruise ship off Lerwick on 24th – and Wood Warblers filtered through seven sites. The adult American Golden Plover continued to provide some Nearctic contrast at Sandwick, Mainland.
Arctic Warbler, Fair Isle, Shetland (Alex Penn).
Fair Isle welcomed its 21st record of Melodious Warbler, when a first-winter was trapped and ringed at the observatory on 24th. A decent supporting cast including two Arctic Warblers, Barred Warbler, at least two Common Rosefinches and a smattering of Pied Flycatchers and Wood Warblers. The island was also treated to an afternoon of Killer Whale watching on 23rd, when two pods (27 and 64) did two circuits close inshore.
Melodious Warbler, Fair Isle, Shetland (Daniel Gornall).
Autumn continued to make its presence known in Orkney, with Common Rosefinch on Papa Westray on 26th and a Barred Warbler on Westray on 26-27th. Another Barred Warbler at Lettan, Sanday, on 28th kept a Red-backed Shrike company and the Rosy Starling made another appearance at Stromness, Mainland, on 29th. A single Pied Flycatcher made it to Birsay, Mainland, on 27th. Passage waders involved four Little Stints at Loch of Swartmill, Westray, on 25th and two juveniles at Cata Sand, Sanday, on 27th. 12 Curlew Sandpipers were at the former site on 25-26th. Seawatching was headlined by 63 Sooty Shearwaters past Mull Head, Mainland, on the morning of 30th.
The American Golden Plover remained on North Ronaldsay until at least 27th. Terrestrial migrants included a Common Rosefinch (27-28th), Pied Flycatcher and Little Stint, while offshore movement saw Black-throated Diver and a handful of Sooty Shearwaters past most days.
American Golden Plover (left), Sandwick, Mainland, Shetland (Sam Northwood).
A quiet week in the Outer Hebrides materialised two Barred Warblers at Nask, Barra, on 28-29th. A Fin Whale moved north past Tiumpan Head, Lewis, on 24th.
Dan Owen
North-East England
Seabirds were a prominent feature in Northumberland during the week. Long-tailed Skuas passed six localities, including two past Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and East Chevington on Sunday. A possible Sabine's Gull flew south past Low Hauxley on 26th, with at least three Balearic Shearwaters tracked passing seven sites. Three Caspian Gulls were notable and the juvenile Yellow-legged Gull put in another appearance at East Chevington NWT.
Other new scarcities came in the form of a Temminck's Stint at Monks House Pool, Barred Warbler at St Mary's Island and a European Honey Buzzard reported at Branton GPs. One of last week's Barred Warblers remained on Holy Island on 23rd. Passage waders continued to arrive with a scattering of Little Stints, Curlew Sandpipers and Spotted Redshanks at coastal sites. A Garganey at Arcot Pond was new.
Little Stint, St Mary's Island, Northumberland (Alan Curry).
Durham's first Greenish Warbler of the year was found at Whitburn Coastal Park on 23rd, with other scarcities consisting of a Pectoral Sandpiper at Bishop Middleham and Barred Warblers at Cleadon and The Leas, South Shields. At least five Long-tailed Skuas were seen off Whitburn and Seaham, peaking with three off the former on 26th. Other Whitburn highlights included a European Storm Petrel, three Balearic Shearwaters, a couple of Pomarine Skuas and a Caspian Gull. Seaham and Ryhope also scored Poms. An inland Kittiwake graced Hetton Lyons CP on 29th, with a Garganey at Bishop Middleham two days previously. Curlew Sandpipers were at Ryhope and Boldon Flats.
South Gare, Cleveland, scored a northbound Cory's Shearwater on 30th, with Sabine's Gulls off Cowbar and Hartlepool Headland and Long-tailed Skuas off three localities. Hartlepool also produced a Balearic Shearwater and Red-necked Grebe, the former having earlier flown past Cowbar. A couple of Pomarine Skuas were off South Gare with another past Skinningrove. Three sites produced Garganey, including two at Saltholme RSPB. Two juvenile Black Terns, three Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper, two Spotted Redshanks, a Eurasian Spoonbill, two Ruddy Shelduck and a Great Egret were also at Saltholme.
Jonathan Farooqi
North-West England
Three Spoonbills were again at Hodbarrow RSPB, Cumbria, on 27th and a single paid a brief visit to Haverigg on 28th. South Walney NR saw both Curlew and Wood Sandpipers on 29th. In Lancashire, a rather lost looking Wryneck in the lobby of the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, made for one of the more interesting records of the week. Little Stints were at four coastal sites and Wood Sandpipers at two.
A lingering adult Black-necked Grebe remained at Woolston Eyes NR, Cheshire, until 30th, while a dispersing juvenile found its way to Marbury CP on 23rd. A juvenile Black Tern could be found there the same day and another flew east past Hoylake on 24th. A minimum of five Ruddy Shelduck could still be found on the Mersey Estuary with the juvenile drake in-situ at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB. A Pied Flycatcher was a decent record at Pickerings Pasture on 28th; Hilbre Island hosted the county's first Southern Migrant Hawker on 25-26th.
A painfully brief Wryneck was at Abram, Greater Manchester, and, although it wasn't seen since the initial sighting, should provide hope for inland patchers elsewhere in the region. Juvenile Black-necked Grebes were at High Rid Reservoir and Pennington Flash.
Dan Owen
Lincolnshire and Yorkshire
Frampton Marsh RSPB was one of the main benefactors of this week's Little Stint influx, with a peak of 21 there on 30th, in addition to several Curlew Sandpipers and a Wryneck – the latter one of three in the county this week, with others at Gibraltar Point NNR and nearby Freiston Shore RSPB. A Red-necked Phalarope was offshore at Freiston on 29th, with small numbers of Long-tailed Skuas also there.
Wryneck, Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire (Dean Eades).
In fact, several sites north to Saltfleetby produced Long-tailed Skuas, while a juvenile Sabine's Gull passed Huttoft Bank on 26th. On the land, Barred Warblers were at Saltfleetby NNR and Sandilands. The Glossy Ibis was still at Alkborough.
It was a busy week in the Spurn area, with at least one Cory's Shearwater offshore on 23-24th and a Sabine's Gull past on 26th, as well as numerous Long-tailed Skuas. A Greenish Warbler remained at Kilnsea to 25th, with Wryneck and two Barred Warblers also seen in the area, plus a Death's-head Hawkmoth trapped overnight on 24th.
Barred Warbler, Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire (Tony Dixon).
A juvenile Rosy Starling was reported at Watton NR on 24th, with a Black Kite over Great Cowden on 23rd. A 'white' Arctic Tern was very popular at Hornsea Mere. At Flamborough, Sabine's Gull and several Long-tailed Skuas were the offshore highlights, as well as 104 Sooty Shearwaters past on 26th, with Greenish, Icterine and Barred Warblers on the land.
Leucistic Arctic Tern, Hornsea Mere, East Yorkshire (Ian Howard).
Long-tailed Skuas were noted past four North Yorkshire sites, while two Greenish Warblers were at Filey on 23rd and a Barred Warbler was trapped there on 28th. Another Greenish lingered at Saltwick Nab for three days to 27th. Inland, singles of both Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper visited Nosterfield LNR.
Caspian Gull, Filey, North Yorkshire (Dan Lombard).
A nice selection of waders in South Yorkshire included Curlew Sandpiper at Wombwell Ings and Spotted Redshank at Old Moor RSPB, while the White-tailed Eagle lingered on the moors. West Yorkshire's Warley Moor Reservoir continues to attract decent waders, with Spotted Redshank and Red Knot this week. St Aidan's RSPB netted both Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, with another of the latter at Anglers CP on 27th. A juvenile Caspian Gull roosted at Eccup Reservoir on 23rd.
Josh Jones
West Midlands
The reporting week saw a trickle of waders through Staffordshire, with Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank at two sites plus a Curlew Sandpiper at Blithfield Reservoir on 25th. However, best find goes to a Purple Sandpiper at Blithfield Reservoir on 27th. A juvenile Black Tern was at Middleton Lakes RSPB on 26-27th with one at Blithfield on 29th. Over in Shropshire, The Mere hosted a Black-necked Grebe on 25th, while a juvenile Little Gull showed well. Single Wood Sandpipers were at Whixall Moss on 28th and Northwood Pool on 29-30th.
Spotted Redshank, Middleton Lakes RSPB, Staffordshire (Derek Lees).
A Wryneck trapped and ringed at Wolverhampton Racecourse, West Midlands, on 26th was a great local record, although predictably the bird melted back into the vegetation after release and there was no further sign. A juvenile Purple Sandpiper showed well on the dam of Edgbaston Reservoir from 29th, the site's second record, and a Wood Warbler was at Sutton Park NNR on 28th.
In Shropshire, a Black Tern was a Draycote Water on 30th, where the Ruddy Shelduck lengthened its stay. Four juvenile Little Gulls were present on 23rd. Wood Sandpipers were at Brandon Marsh NR, Warwickshire, from 26-28th and at Earlswood Lakes on 30th. Worcestershire was quiet, although the male Lesser Emperor remained at the North Pond at Ripple GPs on 23rd.
Dan Owen
East Midlands
Little Stints arrived into the country on a healthy broad front this week, so two through Ogston Reservoir, Derbyshire, were a welcome but perhaps not surprising record. A Eurasian Spoonbill was at Willington GPs on 25th. In Nottinghamshire, the female-type Golden Oriole reappeared at Idle Washlands on 30th. A juvenile Arctic Tern was at Hoveringham GPs on 25th and up to two Ruddy Shelduck visited the site sporadically. Little Stints peaked at four at Idle Washlands on 30th, headlining an impressive list of waders including Curlew Sandpiper, two Wood Sandpipers, three Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling and Red Knot.
Eurasian Spoonbill, Willington GPs, Derbyshire (Tony Davison).
Stanford Reservoir, Northamptonshire, has an impressive track record for Wrynecks, so the bird trapped and ringed on 28th was almost expected. It becomes the fourth ringed at the site and the third in the past two years! A Black-necked Grebe was at Boddington Reservoir on 25th, two juvenile Black Terns were at Clifford Hill GPs on 22-23rd and two Sandwich Terns flew through Irthlingborough Lakes on 28th.
An adult Glossy Ibis lingered at Rutland Water throughout the week, largely splitting its time between Lagoons 1 and 3. Two Black Terns remained, while two Little Stints were present on 29th and two Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper and Sanderling moved through. The Spotted Redshank continued at Eyebrook Reservoir.
Dan Owen
East of England
It was a relatively busy period in Norfolk, with seawatching proving fruitful. As many as three Cory's Shearwaters flew past north coast watchpoints, seven sites scored Sabine's Gull and Long-tailed Skuas were logged at seven locations. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Breydon Water on 23rd. Passerine action included Icterine Warbler, three Barred Warblers, two Greenish Warblers, three Red-backed Shrikes and six Wrynecks. A Montagu's Harrier flew over Warham Greens on 24th. An impressive influx of Little Stints into the region included up to 20 at Titchwell.
Red-backed Shrike, Gramborough Hill, Norfolk (Tony Sutton).
Six Suffolk sites scored Long-tailed Skua, with the same number hosting Little Stints. A Wryneck was at Hollesley Marshes RSPB from 27-28th and a Glossy Ibis settled in a Snape from 23rd. A Red-backed Shrike was a decent one-day bird at Over, Cambridgeshire, on 26th, while three sites in the county recorded Glossy Ibises.
Wryneck, Hollesley Marshes RSPB, Suffolk (John Richardson).
In Essex, the juvenile Purple Heron was reported at Bowers Marsh RSPB on 28th. On 30th, Canvey Island seawatchers were rewarded with a juvenile Sabine's Gull and an early Velvet Scoter. A Montagu's Harrier flew over Foulness Island on 30th.
Two Little Stints made it inland to Tyttenhanger GP, Hertfordshire, and a Eurasian Spoonbill visited Grovebury Sand Pit, Bedfordshire, on 23rd.
Ed Stubbs
South-East England
With the winds in the north-east all week it was no surprise that Kent enjoyed most of the action in the region, including some impressive seawatching returns. This included an incredible report of 51 Long-tailed Skuas into the Swale on 30th, with singles recorded at five other sites during the week. An adult Sabine's Gull was logged at multiple sites on 26th and Dungeness and Walmer both scored Sooty Shearwater. On 23rd, a White-winged Tern was an inland treat at Bough Beech Reservoir and Elmley hosted a Buff-breasted Sandpiper. A Black Kite flew over Conyer on 26th. A Eurasian Stone-curlew flew over St Margaret's at Cliffe on 24th, seven sites hosted Wryneck, a Red-necked Phalarope visited Stodmarsh on 26th, a European Honey Buzzard flew over Willop and a Glossy Ibis was at two locations. A busy week in all, with Pied Flycatchers at 15 sites and Little Stints at seven.
Wryneck, Sandwich Bay, Kent (Steve Reynaert).
The nationally touring flock of eight European Bee-eaters flew over Beachy Head, Sussex, on 26th, with a European Honey Buzzard over the same site the following day. Wrynecks were at Ashdown Forest, Church Norton, Sheepcote Valley and Tide Mills, while 15 sites scored Pied Flycatcher. Five Sussex locations hosted Little Stint, included five at Medmerry and up to four at Cuckmere Haven – a Temminck's Stint visited the latter site on 27th.
European Honey Buzzard, Beachy Head, East Sussex (Matt Eade).
In Hampshire, Hook-with-Warsash, Keyhaven Marshes, Portsdown Hill and Taddiford Gap all scored Wryneck. Some 12 locations hosted Pied Flycatcher, with Little Stint at five. The Pink-footed Goose continued in the north-east of the county. On the Isle of Wight, Wrynecks were at Brading Marshes and Mottistone Down and Pied Flycatchers were recorded at six sites.
Little Stint (left) and Wood Sandpiper, Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire (Steve Laycock).
Chobham Common, Surrey, hosted a Wryneck from 30th and two Arctic Terns were at Frensham Great Pond on 28th. In Berkshire, a Pied Flycatcher visited Lavell's Lake LNR on 26th and an Arctic Tern was at Theale GPs from 26th. On 24th a Wood Warbler was at Brickhill Woods, Buckinghamshire, while Oxfordshire enjoyed Little Stint at Farmoor on 28th and Common Quail at Churn on 23rd.
In London, a Wryneck was a prize find at Alexandra Park on 28th. It joined a Pied Flycatcher there – one of six sites in the capital to hose the species this week. An adult Iceland Gull was reported at Beckton on 23rd, a European Nightjar was at Dagenham Chase on 29th, Walthamstow Wetlands hosted an Arctic Tern on 24th and a European Shag was at Erith on 28th.
Ed Stubbs
South-West England
Scilly started to show some form on the passerine front with a Citrine Wagtail, Greenish Warbler, Bluethroat and Wryneck on St Mary's and Red-backed Shrike on St Martin's. Further Wrynecks were on Bryher, Tresco and St Martin's. The Lesser Yellowlegs on Tresco lingered; unfortunately the St Mary's Glossy Ibis died in care. Just a couple of Wilson's Storm Petrels were seen from the Scilly pelagics this week, along with a Sabine's Gull, several Great Shearwaters, Fin Whales and Humpback Whales.
Greenish Warbler, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (Kris Webb).
Both Land's End and Nanjizal Valley, Cornwall, scored Melodious Warblers early doors, while a fly-over American Golden Plover was seen at the latter site, as well as St Leven on 29th. An early Olive-backed Pipit was briefly at Perranporth the same day. There was a decent arrival of Wrynecks into the county with nine localities producing the species, including three trapped and ringed at Nanjizal on 27th. St Agnes Head held a Barred Warbler the same day.
A European Honey Buzzard flew over St Ives at the start of the week and a White-tailed Eagle cruised over Newlyn seven days later. What was likely the same one or two Glossy Ibis were seen at six sites although never settled. Foxhole's drake Ring-necked Duck reappeared at the end of the week – almost two months to the day after it was last seen. Seabird highlights came in the form of a Sabine's Gull and Grey Phalarope from the Scillonian. A possible Greater Short-toed Lark over St Anthony Head and an Icterine/Melodious Warbler at Bude remained unconfirmed.
Sooty Shearwater, at sea, Cornwall (Matthew Barfield).
A Melodious Warbler at Soar on Wednesday was the Devon's highlight. Wrynecks were at four localities and released White Storks were at Whitleigh and Hemyock. Soar also produced a Eurasian Dotterel, although it was only heard in flight. A few Little Stints and Wood Sandpipers were scattered across the county and a Sanderling was inland at Portworthy on 26th. A couple of Eurasian Spoonbills and a Garganey lingered at Exminster Marshes RSPB.
A brief juvenile White-winged Tern at Ferrybridge, Dorset, on 25th was a smart find. It was seen at Lodmoor RSPB shortly after, with the reserve also producing a Temminck's Stint later in the week. A Melodious Warbler was trapped and ringed on Portland on 23rd and Red-backed Shrikes were at West Bexington and Arne RSPB. Four localities hosted Wrynecks including several on Portland, and a European Honey Buzzard flew over Morden Bog NNR. Small numbers of Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints were found at wetland and coastal sites.
Wryneck (left), Church Knowle, Dorset (James Leaver).
A Temminck's Stint at Cotswold Water Park was the best of the week in Gloucestershire. A Little Stint and three Curlew Sandpipers were new at Slimbridge WWT, joining the long-staying Eurasian Spoonbill, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks and Garganey.
Two Wrynecks were found in Somerset during the week – at Simonsbath on 25th and Minehead on 30th. An immature Purple Heron frequented Catcott Lows NR from 26th and a Pectoral Sandpiper was at Berrow on 29th. A Eurasian Stone-curlew was flushed from the beach at Wall Common; four Little Stints and a Curlew Sandpiper were there too. Highlights at Chew Valley Lake included three Black Terns and a lingering Black-necked Grebe.
In Wiltshire, a Wryneck was trapped and ringed on Salisbury Plain on 29th with a Pied Flycatcher at Pewsey Downs NNR the same day.
Jonathan Farooqi
Wales
A busy Welsh week by all accounts, a probable stork species headed over Cardiff, Glamorgan, on 23rd and a probable adult Purple Heron flew west over Beaumaris, Anglesey, on 26th. Two Glossy Ibises visited Llanelli Wetland Centre WWT, Carmarthen, from 25th, with a pair of Common Cranes at Cors Ddyga RSPB, Anglesey, the previous day.
Glossy Ibis, Llanelli Wetland Centre WWT, Carmarthen (Tommy Evans).
Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, held two Melodious Warblers on 23rd, with others at Grassholm, Pembrokeshire, Great Orme, Conwy, and Soldiers' Point, Anglesey. An Icterine Warbler visited Skomer, Pembrokeshire, on 28th; the Black Kite overhead on 23rd is likely the one sighted over Whitesands Bay the following day. Bardsey also hosted a brief, probable Citrine Wagtail on 27th alongside no fewer than three Wrynecks, with a further two on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire. A European Honey Buzzard overflew Bangor, Gwynedd, on 23rd, with a juvenile Black Redstart again at Llwyn-on Reservoir, Glamorgan.
The Ruddy Shelduck at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB made a brief visit across the Clwyd boundary on 25th. Meanwhile, a Little Stint was somewhat out of place on Grassholm, Pembrokeshire, with others at Llyn Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, Goldcliff Pools, Gwent, and Conwy RSPB, Conwy, the latter alongside a Garganey. Cors Ddyga RSPB, Anglesey, held a Wood Sandpiper and Curlew Sands were at three sites.
A pelagic off the Pembrokeshire coast scored a Wilson's Storm Petrel on 29th; Black Terns were at Llandegfedd Reservoir, Gwent, and Burry Port, Carmarthen.
Black Kite, Skomer, Pembrokeshire (Edward Betteridge).
Ireland
Bird of the week in Ireland was a Greenish Warbler on Great Saltee, Co Wexford, on 27th. A few drift migrants also made it to south-west Co Cork, with Icterine Warbler (27th) and two Wrynecks (30th) on Dursey Island. A Black Kite over Garinish Point on 30th was almost certainly the same as that photographed on Cape Clear on 24th.
With Ireland in the midst of a blocking high, seawatching was deathly quiet this week – though a Cory's Shearwater did manage to fly past Fanad Head, Co Donegal, on 28th. A Pectoral Sandpiper dropped in at Sutton, Co Dublin, on 23rd, but waders were rather more Palearctic in their flavour – with Wood and Curlew Sandpipers, as well as Little Stints, providing the bulk of notable news.
An adult Rosy Starling was at Coleraine, Co Derry, on 26th, with the Co Waterford bird still at Dungarvan on 27th. The Ring-billed Gull was still in residence at Blackrock, Co Louth.
Josh Jones
Western Palearctic
The first Greenish Warbler for Greece found its way into a mist-net at Antikythera on 29th, the same day Romania's second-ever Eastern Orphean Warbler was trapped and ringed at Chituc. Meanwhile, an Eastern Bonelli's Warbler was at Al-Abraq, Kuwait, on 23rd. Last week's regional highlight – the Pallas's Fish Eagle at Volma, Belarus – remained in situ.
Pallas's Fish Eagle, Volma, Minsk Oblast (Dmitry Yakubovich).
Hauke-Haien-Koog, Germany, continued to host an Oriental Pratincole and three Long-billed Dowitchers, while the nation's unprecedented Pygmy Cormorant influx reached three figures. In the Channel Islands, a trio of Kentish Plovers were at Les Ecrehous, Jersey, on 25th and a juvenile Black-winged Stilt visited St Ouen's Pond.
An adult Franklin's Gull was at Höfn, Iceland, on 25th, the Latvian-ringed immature Lesser Spotted Eagle was again near Slutarp, Sweden, and an Elegant Tern continued near Chipiona, Spain. In The Netherlands, the Pygmy Cormorant remained near Utrecht and the released Bearded Vulture hung on at Ede.
Kentish Plovers, Les Ecrehous, Jersey (Nicolas Jouault).
