A Catch-up...
There has been a bit of an hiatus since my last post but hopefully now my posts will be more regular. This blog started as a weekly roundup of interesting sightings but after awhile I began only posting monthly (albeit eventually being more comprehensive) and then only quarterly before virtually petering out completely! I think trying to be comprehensive and include every bird species seen was my downfall, so to try and get back on track I will now revert to just covering the highlights, initially a catch-up from where I left off at the end of February 2019 and then hopefully a monthly review in 2020 (although I'm already behind schedule!).Highlights... 1st March to 31st December 2019
March...
Lingering over-wintering birds included at least three Scaup to the 18th, with two to the 20th and one to 24th; whilst the Cattle Egret roost numbered up to thirty throughout. Early spring passage produced a drake Garganey on the 28th; two Little Ringed Plovers on the 29th to the 31st; a Ruff on the 29th; an Osprey on the 31st; a Short-eared Owl on the 19th; a Merlin on the 22nd, a Firecrest on the 26th and a White Wagtail on the 21st.
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| Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury Swannery, March 2019 © Kevin Butler |
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| Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury Swannery, March 2019 © Kevin Butler |
April...
The best birds of the month were The Swannery's first ever documented Stone-curlew on the 10th; the third ever Temminck's Stint on the 20th (the Swannery's two previous records were in June 1993 and August 1996) and the first Ring-billed Gull since 2007 on the 3rd. |
| Stone-curlew, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2019 © Kevin Butler |
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| Temminck's Stint, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Ring-billed Gull, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
Other April highlights were another drake Garganey on the 16th and 17th; an Avocet on the 8th; further single Little Ringed Plovers on five dates over the month; two Arctic Terns on the 17th; a Fulmar on the 5th; at least 30 Cattle Egrets still lingered for much of the April (only dropping to single figures in the last week); a Great Egret on the 19th; another two Ospreys with one on the 4th and one on the 8th; a Garden Warbler on the 24th; a Redstart on the 20th; two Whinchats on the 19th; single Yellow Wagtails on six dates; two more single White Wagtails on the 2nd and 9th; a Tree Pipit on the 17th; whilst two Water Pipits on the 19th were the first for over ten years.
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Garganey (drake), Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2019 © Kevin Butler
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| Little Ringed Plover, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2019 © Kevin Butler |
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| Arctic Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Great Egret, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Water Pipit, Abbotsbury Swannery, April 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
May...
The best bird of the month was another Temminck's Stint that was present on the 15th. So a 23 year wait since the last and then two appear within a few weeks of each other! |
| Temminck's Stint, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2019 © Steve Groves |
Other May highlights included single Little Ringed Plovers on the 1st and 6th; Sanderlings peaked at an impressive nineteen on the 31st, after a few single figure counts earlier in the month; three (second calendar-year) Little Gulls on the 18th, with at least one to the 30th; single Roseate Terns on the 28th and 31st; an Arctic Tern on the 18th; a Black Tern on the 31st; a Gannet on the 8th; at least three Cattle Egrets lingering until the 12th; a Great Egret from the 26th to the 31st; an Osprey on the 4th; single Hobbies on the 1st, 2nd and 14th; a Garden Warbler on the 1st; at least two Spotted Flycatchers on the 4th; a Redstart on the 5th; single Whinchats on the 2nd, 7th and 20th; a Yellow Wagtail on the 13th and a White Wagtail on the 17th.
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| Little Gull (second calendar-year), Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Little Gull (second calendar-year), Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Roseate Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, 28th May 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Roseate Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, 31st May 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Arctic Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Black Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
June...
Bird of the month (and the year!) was a Dark-eyed Junco that was discovered in the car park on the 21st. It is the first ever American passerine for The Swannery and probably the most unexpected addition ever to The Swannery bird list. It was a new addition to The Fleet recording area too (and only the second American passerine following a Red-eyed Vireo near Lynch Cove in October 1995) and also only the fourth for Dorset. |
| Dark-eyed Junco (of the Eastern form - 'Slate-colored Junco'), Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © John Wall |
A Glossy Ibis from the 13th to the 26th June was the third occurrence of the species (following two that flew west in October 2015 and a flock of five that flew east in October 2017) but was the first to linger (apart that is from a bird in the 1970's that was questionably deemed to be an escape).
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| Glossy Ibis, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © Charlie Wheeler |
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| Glossy Ibis, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © Kevin Butler |
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| Glossy Ibis, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © Kevin Butler |
Glossy Ibis (video), Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © Steve Groves
Other birds of note in June were another drake Garganey on the 8th; single 'heard only' Cuckoos on the 10th and 24th; two Little Ringed Plovers on the 27th; further single Roseate Terns on the 18th and 26th; a Fulmar on the 4th; and a Great Egret from the 17th to the 22nd.
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| Garganey (drake), Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Little Ringed Plover, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Roseate Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Cormorants, nesting for the first time at Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2019 © Kevin Butler |
July...
Yet another new bird for The Swannery was found this month and like the Stone-curlew but not the Junco it had long been expected... a Night Heron. Unfortunately though it was seen only briefly on a couple of occasions on the 5th. |
| Night Heron, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Night Heron, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2019 © Kevin Butler |
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| Garganey (ad. female or juv.), Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Little Ringed Plover, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Knot, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Yellow-legged Gull (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Arctic Skua, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Osprey, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
August...
The best bird of the month was an Aquatic Warbler seen briefly on the 19th, the first, of this once regular migrant, for nineteen years.
Other sightings of note included three Little Ringed Plovers on the 6th; one or two Knots regularly; a Ruff one on the 13th; a Wood Sandpiper on the 2nd; regular juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls with at least three on the 1st; at least one Arctic Tern on the 16th; a Fulmar on the 28th; a Gannet on the 9th; a Cattle Egret on the 31st; a Great Egret on the 29th; one, sometimes two Ospreys regularly; a Hobby on the 2nd; single Grasshopper Warblers on the 18th and 23rd; a Garden Warbler on the 1st; two Spotted Flycatchers on the 21st/22nd; single Pied Flycatchers on the 10th/11th and 27th; a Redstart on the 20th/21st; regular Whinchats from the 22nd to the 27th with a peak of four on the last date; regular Yellow Wagtails with a roost of over 400 in the last week and regular Tree Pipits from the 12th to the 25th with a peak of over fifteen on the 21st.
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| Aquatic Warbler, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2019 © Charlie Wheeler |
Other sightings of note included three Little Ringed Plovers on the 6th; one or two Knots regularly; a Ruff one on the 13th; a Wood Sandpiper on the 2nd; regular juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls with at least three on the 1st; at least one Arctic Tern on the 16th; a Fulmar on the 28th; a Gannet on the 9th; a Cattle Egret on the 31st; a Great Egret on the 29th; one, sometimes two Ospreys regularly; a Hobby on the 2nd; single Grasshopper Warblers on the 18th and 23rd; a Garden Warbler on the 1st; two Spotted Flycatchers on the 21st/22nd; single Pied Flycatchers on the 10th/11th and 27th; a Redstart on the 20th/21st; regular Whinchats from the 22nd to the 27th with a peak of four on the last date; regular Yellow Wagtails with a roost of over 400 in the last week and regular Tree Pipits from the 12th to the 25th with a peak of over fifteen on the 21st.
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| Yellow-legged Gull, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Osprey, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Osprey, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Garden Warbler, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Pied Flycatcher, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Redstart, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2019 © Steve Groves |
In addition to the above sightings a flock of twenty-one White Storks flew west on the 24th but they were releases from a re-introduction project rather than wild birds. Nevertheless it was apparently a fantastic sight (as unfortunately I was elsewhere... As I was for the Ring-billed Gull, Night Heron and Aquatic Warbler too!).
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| White Storks, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
September...
This month saw the arrival of The Swannery's first White-winged (Black) Tern (a juvenile) on the 1st (the fourth new Swannery bird of the year!) and also The Swannery's third Caspian Gull (a first winter) on the 22nd. |
White-winged Tern (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019
© Kevin Butler |
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White-winged Tern (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019
© Kevin Butler |
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| Caspian Gull (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
Also of note were twenty Pale-bellied Brent Geese on the 11th/12th; a Common Scoter on the 5th; three Goosanders on the 27th; an Avocet on the 2nd; regular Knots peaking at over fifteen on the 1st; two Sanderlings on the 9th; a Curlew Sandpiper on the 24th; a Spotted Redshank on the 22nd; a Kittiwake on the 27th; a Little Gull on the 29th; single Yellow-legged Gulls on three dates; two Black Terns on the 24th; at least five Arctic Terns on the 29th; a Gannet on the 6th; regular Cattle Egrets peaking at seven on the 14th/15th; regular single Ospreys; singles of Hobby on three dates; a Grasshopper Warbler on the 30th; single Garden Warblers on the 8th and 14th; regular Firecrests with at least four on the 8th; three Spotted Flycatchers from the 6th to the 8th; a Pied Flycatcher on the 9th; regular Whinchats peaking at four on the 15th; a Blue-headed Wagtail on the 11th; regular Yellow Wagtails with the roost holding over fifty on several dates; two White Wagtails on the 10th and at least three on the 19th and a Tree Pipit on the 9th and two on the 13th.
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| Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Common Scoter (duck), Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Goosanders ('redheads'), Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Knot, Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Curlew Sandpiper, Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Blue-headed Wagtail, Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
October...
There were no true rarities this month but there were still a number of notable sightings... the first Scaup of the autumn arrived on the 28th and was joined by two more on the 31st; there were two Avocets on the 31st; two Knots on the 21st; a Sanderling on the 5th; a Curlew Sandpiper on the 2nd; a Jack Snipe on the 2nd; single Grey Phalaropes on the 2nd and 11th; single Yellow-legged Gulls on four dates but with at least four on the 25th; the first Razorbill for five years on the 25th; a Gannet on the 26th; Cattle Egrets were regular peaking at twenty-three on the 30th; one or two Great Egrets were regular but there were three on the 22nd; two Merlins were around in the first week followed by a single on the 22nd; there were at least two Bearded Reedlings from the 22nd to the 27th; up to two Yellow-browed Warblers from the 22nd to the 27th; up to four Firecrests were regular; two Ring Ouzels on the 21st were the first since 2016; there was a Whinchat on the 24th; a Yellow Wagtail on the 3rd; a Brambling on the 21st; and a Yellowhammer on the 22nd.
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| Grey Phalarope, Abbotsbury Swannery, October 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Ring Ouzel, Abbotsbury Swannery, October 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
November...
The month's highlights were the fourth and fifth Caspian Gulls for The Swannery on the 5th and 15th respectively (the first was as recent as April 2018); and a 'new' Whooper Swan that joined the resident bird on the 18th to the 20th. |
Caspian Gull, (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, 5th November 2019
© Joe Stockwell |
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| Caspian Gull, (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, 15th November 2019 © Steve Groves |
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Whooper Swans, Abbotsbury Swannery, November 2019 © Joe Stockwell
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Other notable sightings were... A potential wild Barnacle Goose on the 1st; Scaup peaking at five on the 9th; a Long-tailed Duck on the 7th/8th; a Common Scoter from the 4th to the 17th; a Goldeneye (now sadly classed as noteworthy!) on the 1st, followed by two on the 17th; two Goosanders on the 13th; an Avocet on the 24th; a Jack Snipe on the 8th; an Arctic Skua on the 2nd; single Yellow-legged Gulls on the 9th and 11th; the now regular Cattle Egrets that peaked at twenty-four on the 19th; one or two Great Egrets throughout; single Merlins on three dates; single Siberian Chichaffs on the 4th/5th and 28th; at least two Firecrests throughout; a Water Pipit on the 5th/6th at least; single Yellowhammers on the 3rd and 17th; and the first Corn Bunting for at least fifteen years on the 6th.
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| Long-tailed Duck (juv.), Abbotsbury Swannery, September 2019 © Joe Stockwell |
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| Yellow-legged Gull (adult), Abbotsbury Swannery, November 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Common Scoter, (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, November 2019 © Steve Groves |
December...
There were no official rarities this month but a Red-necked Grebe on the 27th/28th at least was the first since 2005! |
| Red-necked Grebe Abbotsbury Swannery, December 2019 © Steve Groves |
Other highlights included three Scaup that lingered to the 5th, with singles on the 6th and 20th to the 24th; a Long-tailed Duck on the 12th; a Shag on the 21st; the Cattle Egret flock peaked at twenty-four on the 9th; and two regular Great Egrets.
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| Scaup (two 1cy ducks, one 1cy drake), Abbotsbury Swannery, December 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Scaup (adult drake), Abbotsbury Swannery, December 2019 © Steve Groves |
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| Great Egret, Abbotsbury Swannery, December 2019 © Steve Groves |
... So what a brilliant birding year The Swannery had in 2019... Four Swannery firsts... Stone-curlew, Dark-eyed Junco, Night Heron and White-winged Tern; two National Rarities... Dark-eyed Junco and Aquatic Warbler; ten County Rarities... two Temmincks Stints, Ring-billed Gull, Glossy Ibis, Night Heron, White-winged Tern, three Caspian Gulls and a Whooper Swan. Here's hoping that 2020 will be at least half as good!
Finally I'd like to say a big thank you to my colleagues Joe Stockwell, Kev Butler and Charlie Wheeler for finding many of the above birds and allowing me to use their images. A big thanks too to visiting birder Clive Thompson for finding the junco and to John Wall for the use of his photo of it. Also thanks to Swannery WeBS volunteers Alan Barrett and Nick Urch and other work colleagues and visiting birders that reported Swannery sightings.
Steve Groves.
Most enjoyable. Thank you.
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