Throughout 2010 I managed to see 260 species in Britain. My highlights of the year were trips to Speyside, Scotland in April; Citrine Wagtail, Great Reed Warbler & Franklin’s Gull all new species for Derbyshire; Oriental Pratincole in Lincolnshire in May (my 2nd); Shetland in May – (a stunning summer plumaged Long-tailed Skua was holding […]
The first bird for 2011 was a Wood Pigeon, rapidly followed by Collard Dove, House Sparrow, Black-headed Gull, Starling and Blackbird all in the garden and so the new years Bird List began. Throughout the day a total of 67 species was seen. Highlights included – Yellow-legged Gull; Caspian Gull, Goldeneye and Yellowhammer all at
Sandhill Crane – A 3rd record for Britain. Sandhill Crane – Grus canadensis – Windwick, South Ronaldsay, Orkney – 26th September 2009 An adult Sandhill Crane was discovered in stubble fields in the area of Windwick on South Ronaldsay, Orkney on Tuesday 22nd September, the third record for Britain of this North American Crane. According
Apologies for the poor quality of these digiscoped images. The bird was at some distance when I was observing it. This gull was previously discovered at Stanton Harcourt Gravel Pit complex, Oxfordshire, during December 2007. Two local Derbyshire birders then discovered it in the day-time roost at Poolsbrook, Derbyshire on 16th February 2008. The bird was very distinctive
Locality – Porth Killier Bay, St.Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Age & Sex – 1st winter – possibly a small female. Observers – TD/RMRJ/RWK/DAN The following are slightly edited extracts from the rarities report submitted to the Isles of Scilly rarities panel. Also a selection of digi-scoped images taken at the time of finding the bird.
Brown Flycatcher – Muscicapa dauurica Flamborough Head, North Yorkshire – Old Fall Plantation – 4th October 2007. During the course of the day on 3rd October 2007, a Brown Flycatcher was discovered in the small copse at Flamborough Head known as The Old Fall Plantation. A mega eastern vagrant, breeding in the Himalayas, Southern Siberia, Mongolia
Pacific Diver – Gavia pacifica 1st winter – 3rd February 2007 – Farnham Gravel Pits, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. This bird, originally identified as a Black-throated Diver, was re-identified as a Pacific Diver a week or so after the bird was discovered. It was then released to the pagers on Monday 29th January 2007. This is a
A first record for Britain, what a bird.I doubt if anyone would have predicted this species as a potential addition to the British List? Photographs of this bird were originally posted to the internet as a Little Auk, on Tuesday 7th November. The bird was subsequently identified from the photos and when the news finally came out,
