Abbotsbury Swannery Bird Sightings - June 2023...

Rarities...

Potentially the rarest bird of the month, in a British context, was a putative Eastern Common Tern that was seen briefly on the 4th and 9th (Steve Groves). I say potentially, as so far all claims of this form submitted to the British Birds Rarities Committee have not been accepted as such. It was quite possibly the same individual seen briefly at the Swannery in May 2022 and also, at least once each summer from 2013 to 2018. 

Putative 'Eastern Common Tern', Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2023 © Steve Groves.

Note the apparent all-dark bare parts and the lack of contrast between upper-parts and under-parts. 'Western Common Terns'  with relatively dark bare-parts are regularly encountered at the Swannery but they never show the distinctive 'jizz' of this individual.

A less controversial rarity sighting though was a Golden Oriole (a female/1st calendar male) that was seen flying north on the 2nd (Joe Stockwell). This constitutes only the third site record of this official 'scarce migrant' and the first for over twenty years. The previous records were in May 1990 - a 1st calendar-year male; and in June 1992 - an adult male and an accompanying female (or 1st cy male).

Other highlights...

Waterfowl...

The only species of any note were all of captive or at least naturalised origin, namely Barnacle Goose - with two from the 1st to the 4th, and six on the 8th; Bar-headed Goose - one throughout; Swan Goose - one and a hybrid throughout; and Egyptian Goose - two on the 7th.

Waders...

Most noteworthy were two Avocets on the 1st and a Spotted Redshank on the 25th.

Record shot of the Spotted Redshank, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2023 © Steve Groves.

Peak counts of the other species were... six Oystercatcher, two Lapwing, five Grey Plover, one Bar-tailed Godwit, four Black-tailed Godwit, two Turnstone, eighty Sanderling, thirty Dunlin, two Common Sandpiper, two Green Sandpiper, and fifteen Redshank.

Gulls & terns...

There were no gulls of any note but the terns were much more obliging... in addition to the aforementioned 'Eastern Common Tern' there was a Black Tern on the 4th (Kev Butler), the first since September 2019! And single Roseate Terns on the 11th, 13th and 14th; while three Little Terns were also seen on the 13th. Of the two regular species... Sandwich Terns peaked at fifteen and (Western) Common Terns at one hundred and twenty.

Black Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2023 © Steve Groves.

Black Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2023 © Steve Groves.

Roseate Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2023 © Steve Groves.

Other water-birds...

The only species of note (both being former rarities) were singles of Cattle Egret and Great Egret on the 9th and 21st respectively. 

Raptors...

An Osprey seen most days from the 1st to the 7th was the only species of any real note, but there were also regular sightings of Sparrowhawk,  Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel and Barn Owl.    

Other land-birds...

Of the more noteworthy non-passerines, Swifts were regular, with a peak count of one hundred on the 1st; and single Cuckoos were noted on the 5th and 7th. 

The only noteworthy passerines were a Yellow Wagtail on the 6th; two or three Spotted Flycatchers from the 6th to the 7th; a Common Crossbill on the 12th; a Nuthatch on the 29th; and at least four Corn Buntings throughout.

Corn Bunting, Chapel Hill, adjacent to Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2023 © Steve Groves.

And that's it for this post except to thank my colleagues, Joe Stockwell, Charlie Wheeler and Kev Butler for all their sightings and the WeBS counters Alan Barrett, Ian McLean and Nick Urch. 

July 2023 highlights to follow soon...

Abbotsbury Swannery Bird Sightings - May 2023...

Highlights...

Disappointingly, after April's excitement, there were no national, county or even any site rarities in May but there were nonetheless a few noteworthy sightings...

The over-wintering Common Scoter that lingered until the 23rd was the only Anatid of any note.

Female Common Scoter (2cy), Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Steve Groves.

Of the fifteen species of wader seen, most notable were three Ruff, with a male on the 17th and single Reeves on the 3rd and 30th; also, single Knots on the 27th, 29th and 30th; and regular double figure counts of Sanderlings, peaking at over 100 together on the 31st.

Male Ruff, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2023, Steve Groves.

Peak counts of the other waders were... Oystercatcher 6; Grey Plover 6; Ringed Plover 12; Whimbrel 2; Curlew 1; Bar-tailed Godwit 2; Black-tailed Godwit 3; Turnstone 10; Dunlin 15; Common Sandpiper 3; Redshank 15; and Greenshank 3.

Turnstones, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2023, Steve Groves.

Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit (2cy), Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2023,
Steve Groves.

Grey Plover, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2023, Steve Groves.

There were no gulls or terns of any real note except for a few Little Terns, with a single on the 6th, and three on the 18th. Unfortunately, nowadays, this species is a bit of a novelty on the West Fleet.

As for Raptors, single Ospreys were seen most days from the 9th to the 13th and again from the 21st to the 28th; one or two Marsh Harriers were around from the 2nd to the 10th; and Red Kites were seen virtually daily, with good counts of 10+ on the 3rd, 80+ on the 12th and 50+ on the 21st. One, occasionally two, Barn Owls were seen regularly too, but the only Hobby sightings were of singles on the 7th and 27th.    

Noteworthy passerine migrants and their ilk included single Cuckoos on four dates, single Garden Warblers on the 2nd and 3rd; a single male Lesser Whitethroat on territory from the 7th to the 13th; a comparatively good passage of Spotted Flycatchers from the 21st to the 30th (with at least three together on the 23rd); a Whinchat on the 13th; single Yellow Wagtails on the 6th, 12th and 26th; a White Wagtail on the 2nd; and at least four Corn Buntings for much of the month.

Corn Bunting, Chapel Hill, above Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2023, Steve Groves.

And that's it for this post except to thank my colleagues, Joe Stockwell, Charlie Wheeler and Kev Butler for their sightings. 

Abbotsbury Swannery from Linton Hill, May 2023, Steve Groves.

June 2023 highlights to follow soon...

Abbotsbury Swannery Bird Sightings - April 2023...

As I have fallen behind in my posts this year I shall endeavour to catch up by just publishing the monthly highlights for the rest of the year.

Rarities...

The first County Rarity of April was the Crane that Joe Stockwell noted flying west on the 6th. This constitutes the third site record (during my 34-year tenure), with the previous records being six south on the 29th September 2021 (Joe Stockwell) and two southeast on the 20th April 2015 (yours truly). There is however an earlier record for 'Abbotsbury' of a single on the 14th June 1983.

There were potentially two National Rarities seen but neither are likely to be submitted as such...

On the evening of the 21st I had a frustratingly brief view of what appeared to be a female Blue-winged Teal, on the Decoy Pond, before it simply swam out of sight behind some reeds. Even though a thorough search was conducted it was not seen again. Despite getting some poor quality images, the likelihood of it being (an escaped) Cinnamon Teal can probably not be safely ruled out. Either way it also had a little brown along the 'cutting edges' on the base of its bill, indicating the presence of at least some Shoveler genes. The latter is a common hazard in Blue-winged Teal identification but if the only obvious flaw, then actually deemed acceptable by some. I doubt however that the British Birds Rarity Committee would agree, especially as the photographs leave a lot to be desired!       

Female Blue-winged Teal? Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Steve Groves.

Arguably the best bird of the month was the Bluethroat that I found in Bum Point Reedbed on the evening of the 29th. Although still present the following day, it was, as is the norm, very elusive. As it was a female (albeit a well marked one) it could not be reliably identified to form. A pity as the white-spotted Continental taxa is now considered a national rarity, while the red-spotted Scandinavian form is 'only' a county rarity.  White-spotted Bluethroats actually nest in reedbeds but Red-spotted Bluethroats, although favouring willow scrub, still use reeds on passage and in winter. So habitat preference doesn't really help. This was only the second confirmed record of the species in the Swannery recording area, although not surprisingly for such an inveterate skulker, there have also been a number of extremely brief putative sightings. 

Bluethroat, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Joe Stockwell.

Other highlights...

A female Garganey was present on the 21st and 22nd (just to confuse the Blue-winged Teal issue even more!).

Female Garganey, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Steve Groves.

The over-wintering Common Scoter lingered all month (not exactly a rarity but a noteworthy record for the Swannery, where they are less than annual).

Female Common Scoter, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Joe Stockwell.

Single Little Gulls were noted on the 27th (3cy) and 28th (2cy); single Yellow-legged Gulls on the 11th (3cy) and 27th (2cy); and five Arctic Terns dropped in briefly on the 12th.

Little Gull (2cy), Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Joe Stockwell.

Little Gull (2cy), Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Joe Stockwell.

Single Ospreys were seen on the 5th and 23rd; while a Merlin was noted on the 20th. Less common passerine migrants included singles of Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and White Wagtail, four Yellow Wagtails and at least five Garden Warblers.

Female White Wagtail, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Steve Groves.

Female White Wagtail, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2023, Steve Groves.

And that's it for this post except to thank my colleagues, Joe Stockwell, Charlie Wheeler and Kev Butler for their sightings. 

May 2023 highlights to follow soon...

Abbotsbury Swannery Bird Sightings - March 2023...

 Highlights...

There were no site firsts or national rarities this month but there a were a couple of county rarities in the form of two new in Whooper Swans. Also noteworthy for the site were a pair of Garganey, singles of Common Scoter, Goldeneye and Water Pipit and at least forty-four Cattle Egrets (a former rarity but now relatively abundant). 

Whooper Swans, Abbotsbury Swannery, March 2023, Steve Groves.

The Month's Bird News In Full...

More details of the above highlights and the rest of this month's sightings...

Brent Goose... Two (of the Russian form bernicla) lingered briefly on the 13th.

Canada Goose... Present throughout. Twenty-three were counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 12th.

Greylag Goose... One lingered from the 20th to the 22nd.

Greylag Goose, Abbotsbury Swannery, March 2023, Steve Groves.

Black Swan... One was regularly encountered.

Mute Swan... Present throughout. Three-hundred-and-ninety-two were counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 12th.

Whooper Swan... The resident (presumed escape) was present throughout and was joined by two (presumed wild) birds from the 18th to the 20th.

Whooper Swans, Abbotsbury Swannery, March 2023, Joe Stockwell

Shelduck... Present throughout. The highest counts were of thirty-plus on the 15th and 26th.

Garganey... A pair were present on the 28th.

Shoveler...  Present throughout. The highest count was of eighty-five on the 5th.

Gadwall...  One on the 9th and two on the 10th. 

Wigeon... Regularly encountered. The highest count was of ten-plus on the 8th.

Mallard... Present throughout. One-hundred-and-fifty-two were counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 12th.

Pintail... Regularly encountered. The highest count was of sixty-eight on the 19th.

Teal... Present throughout. The highest count was of one-hundred-and-fifty-plus on the 10th.

Pochard... Present throughout. Forty-two were counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 12th.

Tufted Duck... Present throughout. Sixty-five were counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 12th.

Common Scoter... A second-calendar-year female was present from the 20th to the 26th.

Goldeneye... The second-calendar-year male that arrived in February, lingered to the 6th.

Red-breasted Merganser... Present throughout. The highest count was of twenty-three-plus on the 10th.

Pheasant... Present throughout.

Red-legged Partridge... One was noted on the 6th.

Domestic/Feral Pigeon... Present throughout.

Stock Dove... At least one was present on the 26th.

Woodpigeon... Present throughout. 

Collared Dove... Present throughout.

Water Rail... Present throughout.

Moorhen... Present throughout. Nine were counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 12th.

Coot... Present throughout. One-hundred-and-seventy were counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 12th.

Little Grebe... Present throughout. The highest count was of eleven on the 4th. 

Great Crested Grebe... Present throughout. The highest count was of eleven-plus on the 26th. 

Oystercatcher...  At least four were present throughout. 

Lapwing... Present from the 1st to the 15th. The highest count was of five-hundred-plus on the 4th.

Golden Plover... Noted regularly from the 17th to the 24th. The highest count was of one-hundred-and-twenty on the 19th.

Grey Plover... One was present on the 16th (the first since September 2022).

Ringed Plover... One was present on the 26th.

Whimbrel... One was present on the 27th (the first since August 2022).

Curlew... One or two were noted regularly but four were seen on the 28th.

Black-tailed Godwit... One on the 26th was followed by twenty-seven on the 29th.

Dunlin... Noted regularly. The highest count was of five on the 10th.

Snipe... Present throughout. The highest count was of nine on the 29th.

Common Sandpiper... At least one of the two over-wintering birds was noted regularly.

Redshank... Present throughout. The highest count was of twenty-plus on the 21st.

Kittiwake... One (second-calendar-year) was present on the 29th.

Black-headed Gull... Present throughout. The highest count was of four-hundred-and-thirty on the 12th.

Mediterranean Gull... Present throughout. The highest count was of three-hundred-plus on the 15th.

Common Gull... Present throughout. The highest count was of one-thousand-plus on the 12th. 

Great Black-backed Gull... Present throughout. The highest count was of twenty-plus on the 31st.

Herring Gull... Present throughout. The highest count was of four-hundred-plus on the 5th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull... Regularly encountered. Counts of ten-plus were recorded on four dates.

Sandwich Tern... The first of the year was seen on the 18th and there were then regular sightings with counts of over twenty from the 25th.

Sandwich Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, March 2023, Steve Groves.

Cormorant... Present throughout. The highest count was of thirty-four on the 22nd. Individuals of both the coastal carbo, and inland sinensis forms were noted.

Cattle Egret... Present throughout. The highest count was of forty-four-plus on the 13th.

Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury Swannery, March 2023, Steve Groves.

Grey Heron... Single figures were seen regularly.

Little Egret... Present throughout. The highest count was of nine plus on the 24th.

Sparrowhawk... One was noted on the 22nd and two on the 26th.

Marsh Harrier... One or two, were seen regularly.

Red Kite... Single figures were seen regularly.

Buzzard... Single figures were seen regularly.

Barn Owl... One was noted on the 13th.

Little Owl... One was heard regularly at the adjacent Grove Lane, from the 10th to the 28th.

Tawny Owl... At least one was heard regularly.

Kingfisher... One was noted on the 7th. 

Great Spotted Woodpecker... One or two were regularly encountered.         

Green Woodpecker... Singles on the 1st and 23rd.              

Kestrel... Single figures were seen regularly.

Peregrine... Singles were seen on the 23rd and 29th.

Magpie... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Jackdaw... Present throughout.

Rook... Present throughout.

Carrion Crow... Present throughout.

Raven... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Coal Tit... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Blue Tit... Present throughout.

Great Tit... Present throughout.

Skylark... Present throughout.

Sand Martin... The first two of the year were seen on the 17th and there then regular sightings. The highest count was of seven on the 29th.

Swallow... Four (the first of the year) were seen on the 29th.

Cetti's Warbler... Present throughout.

Long-tailed Tit... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Willow Warbler... The first of the year was noted on the 27th.

Chiffchaff... Single figures were regularly encountered until the 17th when at least thirty were present. There were then regularly double figure counts with the highest count of fifty plus noted on the 27th.

Blackcap... Singles were noted on the 19th and 23rd.

Firecrest... One or two were seen regularly.

Goldcrest... Present throughout.

Wren... Present throughout.

Treecreeper... One or two were seen regularly.

Starling... Double figures were regularly encountered in the first half of the month but there were only single figures thereafter.

Song Thrush... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Mistle Thrush... A pair were seen regularly on the outskirts of the recording area.

Redwing... One on the 9th only.

Blackbird... Present throughout.

Robin... Present throughout. 

Stonechat... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Wheatear... At least three were seen on the 15th and one on the 19th.

House Sparrow... Single figures were regularly encountered around the cottages at adjacent Grove Lane.

Dunnock... Present throughout.

Grey Wagtail... One on the 2nd only.

Pied Wagtail... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Meadow Pipit... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Water Pipit... Singles on the 2nd and 8th.

Rock Pipit... One or two were regularly encountered.

Chaffinch... Present throughout.

Greenfinch... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Linnet... Single figures were regularly encountered.

Goldfinch... Present throughout.

Siskin... Singles were noted on four dates.

Reed Bunting... Present throughout.     

And that's it for this post except to thank my colleagues, Joe Stockwell, Charlie Wheeler and Kev Butler for additional sightings; and Alan Barrett, Ian McLean and Nick Urch for carrying out the WeBS. 

April 2023 bird news to follow soon...