Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Harry Hussey
This summary of unchecked reports covers the period from early February to early March 2022.
Headlines An American Robin in Sussex, Ross’s Gulls in North-east Scotland and Ireland and an Egyptian Vulture in Ireland topped the bill, with a supporting cast of four Red-breasted Geese, two Baikal Teals and multiple Lesser Scaups, including several small flocks. A shortlist of significant new arrivals included a Brown Booby in Cornwall and a Black-winged Stilt in Kent.
‘Grey-bellied Brant’ Branta bernicla ssp. Records from Co. Dublin (4), Co. Louth and Co. Wicklow. Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis Long-stayers Argyll to 28th February, Essex to 5th March, Lincolnshire to 21st February and Norfolk to 7th March. Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Long-stayers Islay (Argyll), to 7th March, and North Uist (Outer Hebrides) (2); singles in Co. Clare, Co. Galway, Co. Mayo and Co. Sligo. Ross’s Goose Anser rossii Long-stayer Millichen (Clyde), to 15th February; Ladybank/Freuchie (Fife), 26th February to 1st March; Newtonhill, 5th March then Loch of Skene, 6th March (both North-east Scotland). Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa Long-stayers Greylake (Somerset), to 7th March, and Tophill Low/Swine Moor (Yorkshire), to 8th March. American Wigeon Mareca americana Records from Dumfries & Galloway, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Outer Hebrides and Co. Clare. Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Long-stayer Oxfordshire to 6th March; Co. Tyrone, 17th–27th February. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Long-stayers throughout, with two in England, two in Ireland and up to 12 in Scotland, including groups of three together at several sites and up to four on Islay (Argyll). King Eider Somateria spectabilis Records from Lothian, Moray & Nairn and Shetland (3). Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Rossnowlagh (Co. Donegal), 14th–23rd February. White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi Long-stayer Musselburgh/Fisherrow areas (Lothian), to 7th March. Black Scoter Melanitta americana Berwick-upon-Tweed, 8th February, also Cocklawburn Beach (both Northumberland), 14th February to 7th March; Rossbeigh (Co. Kerry), 5th March.
American Coot Fulica americana Lady’s Island Lake (Co. Wexford), to 20th February. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Long-stayer Loch Feorlin (Argyll), to 5th March.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Cliffe Pools (Kent), 3rd March. White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus Long-stayer East Halton Skitter (Lincolnshire), to 6th March. American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica Porthgwarra (Cornwall), 9th February. Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus Galley Cove (Co. Cork), to 5th March. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Long-stayer Burnham-on-Sea/Stert Island (Somerset), to 27th February. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Fluke Hall (Lancashire & N Merseyside), to 7th March. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Long-stayer Eglwys Nunydd Resr (Glamorgan), to 17th February. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Long-stayers in Suffolk, Co. Galway and Co. Wexford.
Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia Long-stayer Cardiff Bay (Glamorgan), again 12th–19th February, then 7th March; Lytchett Bay (Dorset), 9th–10th February; Conwy (Denbighshire), 5th March; Harbour View (Co. Cork), 4th March. Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea Kinnaird Head (North-east Scotland), again 9th–27th February; Trevone (Cornwall), 9th February; Mutton Island (Co. Galway), 19th February to 9th March; Dublin Bay (Co. Dublin), 1st March. ‘Azorean Yellow-legged Gull’ Larus michahellis atlantis Long-stayer Mullet Peninsula (Co. Mayo), to 4th March. Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri Long-stayer Kinvara Bay (Co. Galway) to 8th March.
Pacific Diver Gavia pacifica Long-stayer Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir, to 27th February. White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Records from Northumberland (4) and singles in five Scottish recording areas. Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Perranporth (Cornwall), about 18th February when taken into care, later died. Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritus Doon Lough (Co. Leitrim), 14th February to 9th March. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Records from 19 English, six Irish, three Welsh and two Scottish recording areas.
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus Subadult, Ardmullen (Co. Roscommon), 26th February to 8th March. Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius Lough Boora (Co. Offaly), 6th March.
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon Long-stayer Samlesbury (Lancashire & N Merseyside), 10th–15th February.
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Long-stayers Weston Airfield (Avon) (3), to 7th March.
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Long-stayer West Runton (Norfolk), to 8th March.
Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei Long-stayers St Margaret’s at Cliffe (Kent), to 27th February and Eastbourne (Sussex), to 6th March. Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Records from Avon, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Devon and Co. Waterford. Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Long-stayers Fordwich (Kent), to 23rd February and Walthamstow (Greater London), 8th March; Hartshill (Warwickshire), 17th February. Rose-coloured Starling Pastor roseus Records from Cornwall and Forth. American Robin Turdus migratorius Long-stayer Eastbourne (Sussex), to 27th February. Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus Long-stayer Middleton-in-Teesdale (Co. Durham), to 28th February.
Early summer migrants
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Martin Mere (Lancashire & N Merseyside), 27th February. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Holkham (Norfolk), 1st March. Hoopoe Upupa epops Kircubbin (Co. Down) 16th–17th February. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Ballybunion (Co. Kerry), 14th February; Shapwick Heath (Somerset), 27th February; Beaumaris (Anglesey), 27th February. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Skewjack (Cornwall), 1st March; Topsham (Devon), 3rd March. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Stepper Point, 26th February, Perranporth, 26th February, and St Agnes (all Cornwall), 27th February; Salisbury (Wiltshire), 27th February.
