2005 – Rarity Round-up

JANUARY

January got off to a slow start. The only birds of note were several Waxwings at Wigton ( Cumbria), a Rough-legged Buzzard in the Whitley Bay area (Northumberland), the Taverner’s Canada Goose at Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway) and the Long-staying Common Crane at Newton Arlosh ( Cumbria).

FEBRUARY

February was a very quiet month, with no scarcities or rarities seen!

MARCH

March got off to a pleasant start on the 3rd with a relatively confiding Green-winged Teal on Bassenthwaite Lake (Cumbria). On the 6th I managed reasonable views of a Great Grey Shrike at Haverthwaite (Cumbria). Then on the 8th a confiding Black Redstart at Workington ( Cumbria) was pleasant.

APRIL

On the 1st news broke of a Belted Kingfisher in Staffordshire, this was no April fools joke as photographic evidence proved later that day. The following day I was onsite looking for the bird, with c4000 other birders! The bird was nowhere to be seen. Later that afternoon it had been reported in East Yorkshire, so we headed across, but no sign there either! Amazingly this bird was relocated at Peterculter (Aberdeenshire) on the 5th and I was getting stunning views on the 6th! However I only managed some rather poor record shots!

MAY

May was another quiet month (mostly due to my workload rather than a lack of birds!). However a trip to Talkin Tarn ( Cumbria) on the 29th to show Irish Birder Harry Hussey some woodland birds that do not occur commonly in Ireland was well worth it when we found a Black Kite.

JUNE

June was yet another quiet month, however a trip at the months end to Newbiggin-by-the-sea (Northumberland) for only my second Pacific Golden Plover was superb!

JULY

July started with yet another Pacific Golden Plover, this time at Port Carlisle ( Cumbria) on the 2 nd. This bird found by Darren Robson was also observed by me and others at Anthorn and Bowness Viaduct. Next was a trip to The Skerries ( Anglesey) to see a stunning Sooty Tern on the 9th. A trip to Leighton Moss RSPB ( Lancashire) on the 16 th for my 2nd Caspian Tern was well worth it!

AUGUST

On the 14th I decided to walk the Wampool ( Cumbria) with Craig Shaw, I had found in recent years that this was a fairly reliable site in late summer for Yellow-legged Gull; we were not disappointed as we found a cracking adult! However the best was yet to come, as we found a 1st summer American Golden Plover.

SEPTEMBER

I started September with nice views of the American Golden Plover at Anthorn ( Cumbria) on the 4th. Then a visit to St Abbs Head (Borders) on the 10th was successful as Tim Drew and myself found a fairly confiding Bittern. The following day we found several Barred warblers, several Yellow-browed Warblers, Icterine Warbler and a Marsh Warbler! On the 11th I was working in Northumberland, so a slight detour en-route saw Tim Drew and myself watching my 3rd Baird’s Sandpiper at Boulmer (Northumberland). On the 17th I managed excellent views of a juvenile White-winged Black Tern at Lamington ( South Lanarkshire). The last scarcity of the month was a very confiding juvenile Red-necked Phalarope at Leece ( Cumbria).

OCTOBER

October started with a cracking Paddyfield Warbler at Torness (Lothian) found by Dave Allen. Then nice views of a very flighty Hoopoe at Boulmer (Northumberland). On our way South for our autumn holiday in Cornwall on the 28th, we stopped off at Featherstone ( Yorkshire) for nice views of my 1st Laughing Gull, the bird was a 2nd winter.

NOVEMBER

On the 1st I took a day trip to St Mary’s (Isles of Scilly) and got amazing views of the long-staying Blackpoll Warbler. On the same day I saw my 2nd Sora Rail and found a Blyth’s Reed Warbler. Also in the same area was a cracking Yellow-browed Warbler.

On the 2nd a trip to the Hayle Estuary (Cornwall) gave nice views of Spoonbill, Green-winged Teal and my 3rd Franklin’s Gull, the latter being a 1st winter bird. On the 3rd I managed amazing views of a 1st winter Laughing Gull on Tolcarne Beach ( Cornwall). Also on the beach were three Grey Phalarope. Later that evening I was amazed when a 2nd winter Laughing Gull landed on the beach in front of me! A trip to the Hayle Estuary on the same day was excellent with really close views of a Long-billed Dowitcher. On the 4th I managed views of yet another Laughing Gull at Polgigga ( Cornwall), this time an adult bird. On the 5th a day trip to St Agnes (Isles of Scilly) was really successful with amazing views of Solitary Sandpiper. Also on the boat from Hugh Town to St Agnes I saw another 3 Laughing Gulls. On the 7th I had another look at the 2nd winter Laughing Gull at Newlyn ( Cornwall). Then on the same day I headed North, with a detour for another 2 Laughing Gulls at Newquay ( Cornwall). A trip to Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey was amazing with excellent views of Green Heron! A few days later a mammoth trip to Great Wood CP (Hertfordshire) for Grey-cheeked Thrush and then on to Channel View Farm ( Somerset) for an Upland Sandpiper was well worth the journey!

DECEMBER

December was relatively quiet month as would be expected, with no scarcities of note.

OVERVIEW

Although 2005 was a relatively slow starting year, it soon picked up. There were many highlights such as Belted Kingfisher, Sooty Tern, Paddyfield Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, 9 Laughing Gulls, Grey-cheeked Thrush and Green Heron. Although personal highlights would have to be finding American Golden Plover, Long-billed Dowitcher and Blyth’s Reed Warbler. The total for the year was a respectable 255 species!