Abstract

It was, for the second year in a row, a record year for numbers of Ring-necked Duck in Britain. It was also a record year for Surf Scoter, Lesser Yellowlegs, Glossy Ibis and Purple Heron. Indeed, Glossy Ibis has now become so numerous in Britain that this is the last year the species will appear in these reports. Montagu’s Harrier, on the other hand, appears in this report for the first time – it was, with just nine individuals recorded, the worst year for the species in Britain since at least 2013. Other species recorded in significantly below-average numbers included ‘Black Brant’, Spotted Crake, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint and Rough-legged Buzzard.IntroductionThis is part 1 of the 22nd report on scarce migrant birds in Britain, covering the year 2022. As well as providing a summary of the basic data for each species in 2022, the report includes charts and maps for some species not covered in detail in recent reports, mainly showing geographical distribution and phenology of records between 2008 and 2022, and annual totals since 1990.The summary statistics in this report have all been updated, including for earlier years if additional information has come to light since the last report was published. Both annual variation and trends have been recalculated for the period 1990–2022. Variation is based on the calculation of coefficients of variation1 but is expressed in purely descriptive terms in four categories: low, moderate, high and very high. Increasing or decreasing trends since 1990 are cited only if statistically significant2.