Review of the Week: 2nd-8th June 2005

White-rumped Sandpiper: Bowling Green Marsh, Devon. (Photo: Paul Bowyer)	White-rumped Sandpiper: Bowling Green Marsh, Devon. (Photo: Andrew Cunningham)

This week was quieter than recent weeks, allowing rarity-chasers time to catch their breath before the next mega arrives. It was a good week for rare waders, with a Spotted Sandpiper at Stanpit Marsh (Dorset) from Sunday 5th-6th, a White-rumped Sandpiper at Bowling Green Marsh (Devon) from Friday 3rd-5th, and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) on Sunday 5th. A Red-necked Phalarope was on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 8th, a Dotterel at Spurn (E. Yorks) from 4th-5th and Temminck's Stints were noted in Kent, Norfolk, East Yorkshire and Aberdeenshire. In Norfolk the Collared Pratincole remained at Blakeney Freshmarsh.

Tawny Pipit: Minsmere, Suffolk. (Photo: Andrew Easton)	Tawny Pipit: Minsmere, Suffolk. (Photo: Kelvin Lewis)
Bee-eater: Carnsore Point, Co. Wexford. (Photo: Paul and Andrea Kelly)	Bee-eater: Carnsore Point, Co. Wexford. (Photo: Tom Shevlin)
Bee-eater: Shoreham-by-Sea, W. Sussex. (Photo: Andre Pickett)	Bee-eater: Shoreham-by-Sea, W. Sussex. (Photo: Tim Corke)

A Black-headed Bunting was reported from Hillsborough (Co. Down) on Friday 3rd. A female Sardinian Warbler was at Lerwick (Shetland) from Thursday 2nd-4th, and female Subalpine Warblers were at Durlston CP (Dorset) on 3rd, Toab (Shetland) on 6th and last week's female remained on Fair Isle (Shetland) to 5th. An obliging Tawny Pipit was at Minsmere (Suffolk) on 8th and Rose-coloured Starlings were at Whitburn (Durham) on 2nd, Spurn (E. Yorks) on 7th and East Prawle (Devon) from 7th-8th, plus last week's Rose-coloured Starling was at Flamborough Head (E. Yorks) to 6th. Seven Marsh Warblers were along the east coast and Northern Isles, an Icterine Warbler remained on Fair Isle, and 3 Common Rosefinches included one at Fontburn Reservoir (Northumberland). Around 9 migrant Golden Orioles were reported and a Wryneck was at Portland (Dorset) on 3rd, with one on Bardsey (Gynedd) on 8th. A male Bluethroat was at Cumbernauld (Clyde) on 4th, with a female on Fair Isle, and Grey-headed Wagtails were on Fair Isle and at Flamborough Head. Hoopoes were reported in Shropshire and Nottinghamshire and Bee-eaters included the two birds at Shoreham-by-Sea (W. Sussex) to 2nd, with perhaps the same over Titchfield Haven (Hants) on 3rd and a single at Carnsore Point (Co. Wexford) on 4th. There were 10 well-scattered Red-backed Shrikes, and Woodchat Shrikes were in Moray/Nairn, Devon, Kent, Scilly and Dorset. A Red-rumped Swallow was over Whalsay (Shetland) on 4th with presumably the same on Fair Isle from 5th-6th. A Dartford Warbler at Blacka Moor (S. Yorks) was only the 4th record for Yorkshire and in Bedfordshire the Great Reed Warbler remained at Willington GPs, as did the Short-toed Lark at Blakeney Point (Norfolk) to 2nd.

Woodchat Shrike: Cliffe, Kent. (Photo: Mike Buckland)	Woodchat Shrike: Slapton Ley, Devon. (Photo: Gary Thoburn)
Red-backed Shrike: Whitburn, Durham. (Photo: Alan Gilbertson)	Red-backed Shrike: Dunwich Heath, Suffolk. (Photo: Tony Teperek)
Short-toed Lark: Blakeney Point, Norfolk. (Photo: Mick Green)	Short-toed Lark: Blakeney Point, Norfolk. (Photo: Josh Jones)
Gull-billed Tern: Shoreham-by-Sea, W. Sussex. (Photo: Ewan Urquhart)	Gull-billed Tern: Shoreham-by-Sea, W. Sussex. (Photo: George Spraggs)

A Gull-billed Tern was at Traught Lough (Co. Galway) from 6th onwards, and on the south coast the Gull-billed Tern was at Shoreham-by-Sea (W. Sussex) from 2nd-6th and on 8th, with presumably the same bird accounting for sightings at Abbotsbury and Brownsea Island (Dorset) on 7th. The 2nd-summer Bonaparte's Gull was seen again on S. Uist (Outer Hebrides) and the American Herring Gull remained at Dingle (Co. Kerry). 1st-summer Ring Billed Gulls were in Co. Kerry and on the Outer Hebrides and Caspian Gulls in Cambridgeshire and North Yorkshire. A Sabine's Gull was reported from Loch Ness (Highland) on 4th. A Great White Egret was at Tacumshin on 4th, a Black Stork was reported over Burton Marsh (Cheshire) on 7th and White Storks were seen over Norfolk and Kent. A Purple Heron was still at Cley (Norfolk) on 4th, one was at Minsmere from 7th-8th and another was seen over Killingholme Haven (Lincs) on 8th.

Lesser Scaup: Shrewsbury, Shrops. (Photo: Steve Evans)	Lesser Scaup: Shrewsbury, Shrops. (Photo: Steve Evans)
Surf Scoter: Blackdog, Aberdeenshire. (Photo: Chris Jones)	King Eider: Collafirth, Shetland. (Photo: Dougie Preston)

A Snowy Owl was still on S. Uist on 6th and Black Kites were seen in Devon, Ayrshire and Hampshire, with at least one mobile bird in Cornwall. A male Red-footed Falcon was at Hickling Broad (Norfolk) on 3rd and a female from 4th onwards at the same site was joined by a second bird on 5th. A White-tailed Eagle was reported in Lincolnshire on 6th and a Rough-legged Buzzard was again at Loch of Strathbeg (Aberdeenshire). The drake Barrow's Goldeneye continues to find the Loch of Strathbeg to his liking, where a Spotted Crake has also been calling through the week. King Eiders were in Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire and Shetland, and a drake Lesser Scaup in Shrewsbury (Salop) from 6th onwards. Two Surf Scoters were in Aberdeenshire, Ring-necked Ducks on Scilly and in Co. Armagh and a Green-winged Teal in Argyll.

Dotterel: Aberdeenshire. (Photo: Chris Jones)	Dotterel: Aberdeenshire. (Photo: Chris Jones)
Marsh Harrier: Minsmere, Suffolk. (Photo: Tony Mills)	Hobby: Elmley, Kent. (Photo: Ben Clifton)
Woodlark: W. Sussex. (Photo: Tony Mills)	Dartford Warbler: Blacka Moor, S. Yorks. (Photo: Ben Clifton)
Crested Tit: Speyside, Highland. (Photo: Steve Round)	Crested Tit: Speyside, Highland. (Photo: Dean Eades)
Slavonian Grebe: Highland. (Photo: Steve Round)	Slavonian Grebe: Highland. (Photo: Dean Eades)
Sanderling: Holy Island, Northumberland. (Photo: Chris Cook)	Curlew Sandpiper: Hauxley NR, Northumberland. (Photo: Darren Haley)