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August is a month renowned for its seawatching and wader passage and this is reflected in the list of August firsts. Not a single passerine has been added to the County list in August. Once again, some of those species listed have seen some remarkable changes in fortune since their first records, whilst some top class rarities also feature. So, on with the review…………..
2008 – AUDOUIN'S GULL
A third summer in progressive moult to adult plumage was seen and photographed on the beach at Huttoft Car Terrace on the evening of 15th August before it soon flew off to the south and was not seen again that day. Thinking the opportunity had passed to see this MEGA in the county, the bird was relocated at 15:30 on 17th August at Chapel Point a short distance to the south of Huttoft. It was resting on the beach but then flew out to sea and was lost to view before being seen out on the sea at 20:15 where several people managed to catch up with it around dusk. On 18th August the bird was then re-found at 11:20 about 2 miles north of Chapel Point where it showed well on the beach until 12:00 before again flying out to sea, although it was seen again later that afternoon. The bird proceeded to show intermittently and would disappear for extended periods out to sea. It was last seen about a quarter of a mile south of Chapel Point on 23rd August where it was watched loafing on the beach with Sandwich and Common Terns between 06:30 and 08:00 when it was then disturbed by a dog walker and flew out to sea where it was eventually lost from view never to be seen again. This was only the fifth British Record of this Mediterranean species, but the first that has lingered for any length of time and was therefore widely twitched and popular bird. The previous British records were a 2nd-summer at Dungeness, Kent from 5th to 7th May 2003, a 2nd-summer at Beacon Ponds Kilnsea, E Yorks on 1st June 2005, a second bird for Dungeness with a 2nd-summer on 16th May 2007 and an adult or third-summer at Seaton Marshes, Devon on 14th August 2007 (almost a year to the day before the discovery of the Huttoft Bird).
1985 – CORY'S SHEARWATER
At 17:45hrs on a sunny 14th August, with a light on-shore south-easterly wind an approaching bird was seen at some 150m distance from Saltfleetby gliding in the manner of a shearwater close to the surface of the sea. As the bird glided past, occasionally flapping in the light breeze, it then banked and moved further out to sea whilst continuing with its journey southwards, but not before a distant, but valuable record photograph had been taken. Comparison of the notes and photographs clinched the identification as a Cory's Shearwater – the first authenticated county record. Still an extreme rarity in the county further records include a bird seen heading northwards at Huttoft on 20th August 1988, a bird which flew north off Skegness on 22nd August 1995 and a somewhat out of place bird in the Wash which drifted slowly north close inshore past Witham Mouth and Freiston Shore on 13th September 2009, at one point even landing on the sea. The most recent sightings are a bird which flew slowly south past Trusthorpe between 10:00 and 10:45 on 10th October 2011 and a bird which flew south past Gibraltar Point at 1345 on 24th September 2012. In a British context this species has traditionally been a rare visitor but with periodic late-summer movements in the South-western approaches. A huge influx of 17,250 occurred in 1980, which included an astonishing 10,940 past Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork on 16th August. Smaller influxes have occurred in subsequent years and there are fairly regular movements in July/August off south-western Britain and southern Ireland although these are weather dependant. Small numbers are occasionally reported from around the British coast, and it is just about annual in the North Sea, but remains rare with Flamborough Head accounting for a good proportion of the sightings.
1981 – GREATER SANDPLOVER
During very high tides at Northcotes Point on the morning of 7th August large numbers of mixed flocks of waders were landing on the upper part of the beach, bordering the dunes on the few remaining exposed areas of shingle. Among these was a Charadrius type plover. The bird flew off after just 30 seconds of observation, but despite this and the inclement weather enough detail was seen to confirm the identification as a Greater Sandplover. Although assumed to have departed this bird returned to the same area later in the day where it was watched for 20 minutes in the company of 45 Dunlin and 25 Ringed Plover on a muddy pool, partially filled with overnight rainwater, adjacent to the RAF Camp. It was unfortunately not seen again. This was the same bird that had remained on mudflats opposite the Crown and Anchor Inn, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire from 29th July to 6th August 1981 and which was seen by up to 350 observers during its stay. This remains the only Greater Sandplover seen in the County although there has been one record of a Lesser Sandplover; at Rimac from 11th to 15th May 2002.
1979 – GREAT WHITE EGRET
The first County record involved an adult bird seen by several observers during its stay at Messingham Sand Quarries near Scunthorpe on 7th and 8th August. This bird had previously been seen near Whitby, N Yorks on 15th July and was then later seen at Hickling Norfolk from 10th-18th August 1979. A bird is alleged to have been killed in the county during the early nineteenth century but no date or locality has been traced, unless the record refers to one said to have been shot in the fens in the mid-1830s and preserved in one of the Lincolnshire collections. A mounted specimen in Louth Museum may have been obtained locally. It was another 14 years before the next bird was found in the county. This involved an adult which graced the Mere at Gibraltar Point from 11th to 12th July 1993. The bird showed very well, often feeding at close range until it finally departed to the south-west on 12th. Despite an increase in UK sightings another 9 years passed before the third record – a bird seen at Holbeach Marsh on 19th October 2002. What was probably the same bird was then well twitched as it frequented the saltmarsh and creeks around Grainthorpe Haven from 28th October to 4th November, 11th to 27th November and 31st December 2002 with a sighting at nearby Tetney on 18th December presumably involving the same bird. The following year there were four widely scattered records of one day birds across the County (in March, May, August and November) and from 2006 (a year which included a popular long staying bird at Humberston Fitties from 13th to 21st September) the species has become an almost annual visitor to the County. 2009 saw multiple records both inland and on the coast, although it is likely that this involved wandering individuals. Inland localities accounted for sightings during the early months of the year with then two coastal records in the spring. On 12th September two birds were found roosting with Little Egrets at the Witham Mouth with these birds most likely accounting for a wide spread set of records from around the Wash into November, whilst a further 4 inland sightings in October and November completed the years tally. Just two records occurred in 2010 (in March and October), and then widespread reports occurred again in 2011 with eleven sites recording birds during the year. Most birds were seen briefly or for short periods and again may therefore be accounted for by wandering individuals although a long-staying wintering bird at Kirkby-on-Bain at either end of the year was appreciated. From being an extreme rarity, the increase in sightings in recent years (in line with the national trend) looks set to continue with annual records now expected. Will Great White Egret eventually become such a familiar bird in the county as its smaller cousin?
1974 – AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER
An adult 'Lesser Golden Plover' was discovered at Wisbech Sewage Farm on 10th August although the bird spent most of its time on the Norfolk side of the sewage farm complex. From the description obtained it was later identified as being of the Nearctic race and therefore became the first County record of what we now familiarly know as American Golden Plover. (The Lesser Golden Plover group were split by the BOURC in 1986 into American and Pacific Golden Plovers). There have now been an impressive total of 17 American Golden Plovers recorded in Lincolnshire split between 12 adults and 5 juvenile/first-years. Arrivals have been March (1), May (1), July (6), August (1), September (3), October (4) and November (1). Remarkably four of the July records relate to birds found on the same date – 24th July. Perhaps this should be officially declared American Golden Plover day in Lincolnshire. Plover enthusiasts and most local patchworkers cannot resist the challenge when being presented with a flock of European 'Goldie's' to try and pick out one of their American cousins, and such tactics have certainly reaped rewards in the County. A cluster of sightings (6 of the 17 birds seen) come from around the Wash, whilst an equally impressive 5 birds have been found at inland locations. Of those seen inland they include the only multiple sighting for the County (when a moulting adult in fields by the River Trent at East Butterwick from 6th to 9th September 2007 was joined by a second bird on 7th and 8th September) and also the latest record, when a juvenile was present at Fillingham Lake on 4th and 5th November 2008. The remaining records include 3 birds from the Humber area (all summer adults and again the reward for hours spent scanning flocks of returning Golden Plovers) and 3 birds from the coast which includes the amazing circumstances of an adult bird seen at Tetney on 27th July 1986 at the same time the counties first Pacific Golden Plover was present at the same site. The two spring records concern a moulting adult in the Wash at the Witham Mouth on 10th March 1996 (with the same at Butterwick Marsh on 24th March) and a 1st-summer bird in fields at Huttoft Bank on 9th May 1998. Modern field guides seem to have efficiently dealt with the separation of the three 'golden' Pluvialis, but we should not be complacent as they remain a challenge to find and identify, especially as apparent hybrids between European Golden and one or other of the 'Lessers' have been reported emphasising the importance of a detailed description and/or photographs to support any claim. This species was dropped from the national rarities list at the end of 2005 but this has not lessened the enjoyment and satisfaction of picking one of these birds out from its commoner congeners.
1967 – GULL-BILLED TERN
An adult bird seen by two observers at Gibraltar Point on 30th August was the first record for the County in a year which produced a record 17 birds in Britain. Most sightings of Gull-billed Terns during the 1960s and 1970s were as a result of birds seen from seawatches, and records submitted to the Rarities Committee during this period suffered from a rather high proportion of rejections, as Sandwich Tern still posed a trap for the unwary. Since this period, numbers recorded have decreased, largely no doubt as a result of a declining European population but perhaps also linked to increased observer awareness and better optics, as not many of those accepted in recent times have been as a result of a flyby bird during a seawatch. This aside, however, there were a further four accepted records prior to 1980. The second record involved an adult which flew south at Donna Nook on 4th August 1969 and which was followed by a long-staying first-winter bird in 1972. This Gull-billed Tern remained at Covenham Reservoir from 16th September to 14th October, and although it could disappear for long periods over adjacent fields it also showed very well over the reservoir. This bird remains the only twitchable and widely available Gull-billed Tern to be seen in the County and at the time was only the 9th bird to be seen in Britain since 1940 which had stayed long enough to allow anyone other than its finders to enjoy such a sight. This bird was then followed by a further two brief sightings, with an adult present at the mouth of the River Witham in the Wash on 7th September 1975 and another at Trusthorpe on 3rd September 1978. As Lincs birders were perhaps pondering the thought as to whether this species would ever make another appearance in the county, 35 years after the last sighting, an adult bird was found by some visiting birdwatchers at Kirkby Gravel Pits at 3.15pm on 18th June 2013. It only stayed briefly on the LWT Reserve Pit before flying off but was then seen again late that evening between 9.15 and 9.25pm on the same pit resting on an island or occasionally flying along the northern end of the reserve before being lost to view as it headed off low south. Despite further searching the same evening and the following day the bird was not seen again. Therefore, Gull-billed tern remains a highly prized and much sought after species for most County listers, and another long stayer would be very well received.
1963 – SOLITARY SANDPIPER
On 10th August 1963, at the Sugar Beet Factory Settling Ponds, Bardney, brief views were had of a wader, which was later identified as a Solitary Sandpiper after the bird had been watched at a range of 15 yards. The bird was present for three days and during that time was seen by several observers. Throughout the birds stay it remained by a small stagnant pool to which it always returned when flushed. The bird would tolerate observers for quite long periods but was sometimes nervous and was then noted to 'bob' in the manner of a Redshank, running into cover. This also occurred on one occasion when a Grey Heron flew over the pool. When feeding it was noted to move in the manner of a Green Sandpiper (often standing motionless for a considerable time) and was only once seen feeding with another wader, a Redshank. It fed chiefly by taking insects from the surface of the water, but occasionally pulled a worm out of the mud in the manner of a Snipe and was heard to call several times both on the ground and in flight. On 12th August an attempt was made to trap the bird, but this was unsuccessful and only served to unsettle it, and it was last seen that evening, calling continuously as it flew over the ponds in semidarkness. This was only the eight British record of this American wader which is still an extreme rarity in the UK, with a total of just 36 records accepted up to the end of 2011. Fifty years on this year, this remains the only Lincolnshire record.
1957 – WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
On the morning of 17th August 1957, at Grantham Sewage Farm, a strange tern was discovered amongst a small party of immature and moulting adult Black Terns. The bird was watched for the next hour, sometimes as close as 20 yards, and was identified as a White-winged Black Tern, presumably an adult in moult, the first record for Lincolnshire. The bird was then seen by several observers during its stay until 21st August. Interestingly, what was probably another White-winged Black Tern was seen at Bardney (by one of the observers who saw the Grantham bird) on 18th August 1957. This bird however, was in almost complete winter plumage and it was felt impossible to be absolutely certain that it was not a Whiskered Tern. The second County record occurred just a year later when a bird was present at Killingholme from 24th to 26th August 1958, with the third just a few weeks later when a bird made an extended stay at Wisbech Sewage Farm from 21st September to 7th October. In the continuation of a remarkable run of records for the County the fourth record occurred just nine months after the Wisbech bird and formed the first spring record of this species when one was seen at Grantham Sewage Farm (the second record for the site in 2 years) on 3rd June 1959. In total there are 32 records (of 33 birds) for Lincolnshire, with arrivals of birds in May (5), June (4), July (3), August (14), September (6) and October (1). The earliest spring sighting concerned a bird at Anderby Creek from 15th to 17th May 1970, while the latest autumn arrival was a juvenile/1st-winter at Covenham Reservoir on 1st October 2004 (although the latest date for the County concerns the above Wisbech bird which remained off passage until 7th October). The earliest of the autumn birds was seen at Welland Bank Pits on 12th July 2003, however a juvenile at Messingham Sand Quarries on 25th July 1994 was the earliest ever record of a juvenile in Britain. Some years have produced multiple sightings, but 1970 has been the most productive year with 4 records (1 in spring and 3 in autumn). There is a clear predominance of sightings from inland water bodies (22 out of the 33 birds seen) with 8 of these from Covenham Reservoir, making this the most productive site for this species in the County. Of those birds aged there is a split of 13 adults against 20 juveniles, which is perhaps unsurprising bearing in mind the predominance of autumn records. This species has been unpredictable with its length of stay with birds being seen between one and three days the most common, with spring birds not having a tendency to hang around very long – which is a shame, as a summer plumaged White-winged Black Tern is a stunning bird. However, some of the autumn birds (with no breeding pressures and therefore no doubt in less of a hurry to move on) have made more prolonged stays and there are six records of birds remaining for around 2 weeks with the longest stayers involving a bird at Bardney from 23rd August to 7th September 1966 (15 days) and the above 1958 Wisbech bird at 16 days. Although now dropped from the National Rarities list, a WWBT always remains a delight to catch up with.
1954 – MARSH SANDPIPER
On 8th August 1954, several observers observed a Marsh Sandpiper in the Welland Estuary near Holbeach St. Mark's. The bird was resting at high tide on mud in loose association with Redshanks, Greenshanks, Black-tailed Godwits and other species, and it was under observation for about forty minutes before it flew off up the estuary. It was rather shy and it was unable to be watched at ranges less than 60 yards but in excellent light and critical comparisons were able to be made with the Greenshanks in the same area. This was the first Lincolnshire record of this species and only the sixth for Britain. The second county record occurred 33 years later, exactly to the day, when a bird was found early morning amongst other waders spread out on the mudflats exposed by the falling tide at Witham Mouth in the Wash on 8th August 1987. It was initially seen at about 200 yards range and then took flight with an estimated 1000 other waders when an Arctic Skua approached and could then not immediately be relocated. The bird was however seen again the following day and then on several subsequent dates, including very well at close range on 13th and finally 15th August, the last date that it was seen. There have been a further two birds seen in the County. A superb summer plumaged adult was found at Bardney Pits on 18th May 1992. It subsequently flew off but thankfully had returned by early morning of 19th May when it was subsequently seen by large numbers of observers. The most recent bird in the County, occurred in 2011 when an adult was found at Alkborough Flats on the evening of 11th July. Initially found feeding in an area within an inundation area with Redshanks, the bird was very distant but then did show much closer from the hide until dusk. It was still present at first light the following morning (12th July) but at 06:00 it took flight with 2 Greenshanks and disappeared across the Trent where it then took up residence at Blacktoft Sands RSPB Reserve (Yorks) until 3rd August. It was however seen once more at Alkborough during this period (on 21st July) when it was seen flying around the site calling with Greenshank before soon returning again to Blacktoft. Remarkably, however, the bird did put in another appearance in Lincolnshire when, on 4th August (the day after it was last seen at Blacktoft), it made an appearance at Boultham Mere. Unfortunately this was all too brief as it spent around 3 minutes from 12.30pm circling the Mere, calling on 3 separate occasions, but never landing and was lost to view as it headed over the surrounding trees to the west never to be seen again. Formally a very rare vagrant to Britain (with just 6 records to 1949), numbers have increased since the mid-1970s in line with a marked range extension into northern and eastern Europe resulting in a further 131 birds seen up to the end of 2011. In 1986 one out of place individual in Denmark actually copulated with a Redshank and could have posed some identification headaches if this had come to fruition.
1950 – MEDITERRANEN GULL
On 6th August 1950 a Mediterranean Black-headed Gull was observed on the shoreline at Gibraltar Point associating with Sandwich Terns and Kittiwakes. An adult in moult, the bird was observed in good light at 50 yards range for about half an hour. On the following day (7th August), at 17.30 the same bird was again seen from a range of 40 yards in company with a large flock of Kittiwake resting on the sand where it was noted the moult was more advanced than the previous day. Eventually it flew off out to sea with a solitary Kittiwake and was not seen subsequently. It was another 15 years before the second County record when a bird was seen on the coast (very close to the location of the first sighting) at Skegness on 6th October 1965. This was quickly followed by the third record the following year with one observed following the plough at Gunby on 30th July 1966. From then on this species began to be recorded more frequently in the County with a further 4 birds seen by the end of the decade (one in 1968 and 3 in 1969). Sightings of this species became almost annual in the 1970s, and numbers increased in line with the national trend. Although there were some blank/poor years, there were peaks of 6 in 1975, 7 in 1976 and 10 in 1979. The 1980s saw an average of 12 birds per year, with a low of 5 in 1981 and then peaks of 16 in 1983, 18 in 1987 and 22 in 1988. During the early years of the decade there was a fairly even split between adult and immature birds being recorded but during the last few years' immature birds predominated. Coastal birds also predominated in the early 80s but from the middle part of the decade there was a more even split between coastal and inland records, with an increase in records of birds being found at inland winter gull roosts. Into the 1990s and this saw further increases with an average of 32 birds per year with a low of 8 in 1991 to peaks of c.50 in 1995 and 57 in 1999. The increase in sightings of immature birds reported continued whilst inland and coastal record peaks switched almost year on year. By the end of the decade there had been almost 500 records of Mediterranean Gull in the County. In 1991 an adult, presumed male, first seen in the gull colony at Messingham Sand Quarries on 1st April, went on to rear 3 hybrid young with a Black-headed Gull, fledging on 2nd July and last seen on 15th with the adult last seen on 13th. This formed the first breeding record for the County. The male bird then returned to the same colony for the next 3 years. In 1992 it again paired with a Black-headed gull with one juvenile hybrid seen but this may not have survived whilst in 1993 one hybrid chick was again raised (with another adult Mediterranean Gull present possibly also paired to a Black-headed Gull), whilst 1-2 hybrid young from previous years were also seen between March and July. In 1994 (the final year the male bird was seen in the colony) 2 hybrid chicks were hatched but were deserted, although 1-2 hybrids from previous years were again present and were recorded again at Messingham in 1995 and 1996. Hybrids were also recorded around this time at Holbeach Marsh in 1994 and Kirkby Pits in 1995. During recent years a distinct peak in records has emerged for the period May to August and which includes dispersing juveniles during the early autumn from the Continent. This area may be the origin of the majority of birds seen in the County (as opposed to British breeders) as witnessed by ringing recoveries of birds from Denmark, Holland and Belgium, with one particular Belgian ringed bird returning to the Chapel Point area for 5 consecutive winters up to 2010. Up to 100 birds per year may be recorded now, although numbers are not always easy to assess as birds can be highly mobile as they move between sites around the County. In 2009, birds lingered during the breeding season at 5 sites at least, and 10 birds at Bonby Carrs on 14th July represented the first double figure count for the County. 2011 saw the fifth year that birds had either held territory or summered in the Black-headed Gull colony at Whisby Pits (including a pair which mated then left), but we still await the counties first pure breeding of this species. However, I suspect we will not have long to wait based on recent trends. In a national context the first confirmed breeding record was in 1968 in Hampshire, and there has been a phenomenal increase in the breeding population since the early 1970s and especially since the mid-1990s. Until recently Hampshire remained the most important county for the species (Kent has now taken on that mantle) but the main UK breeding population (650 pairs in 2009) is still largely concentrated along the south coast of England between Dorset and Kent although the species is gradually spreading northwards and it seems year on year new counties are receiving their first breeding records. Mediterranean Gull is yet another species which has seen a remarkable change in fortunes and is firmly here to stay.
1827 – COLLARED PRATINCOLE
The first county record of this species was a bird shot near Branston Hall, Lincoln on 15th August. There is a report of another bird killed on Brumby Common during the mid-nineteenth century but specific details are lacking. The next county record followed 146 years later when an adult flew over Gibraltar Point on 21st May 1973 whilst a further single flew east past Trent Falls on 11th July 1977 (which was later seen at Spurn, E Yorks from 12th-19th June 1977), and another adult was at Skidbrooke on 11th July 1981. It was another 28 years before another graced the County when an adult was found on the newly created wetland at Frampton Marsh on the afternoon of August 8th 2009 before flying off south-east. It returned to Frampton Marsh for 3 hours the following afternoon (August 9th) hawking insects over the scrape and reedbeds before flying off north never to be seen again. The most recent record is of a bird found shortly after 9am on 27th April 2011 at Rosper Road Pools near North Killingholme, which then went on to show rather well until 7th May 2011 and was much appreciated by local and visiting birders alike. It is presumed to be the bird seen at Spurn on April 24th, and again at Spurn on April 29th in between morning and evening sightings at Rosper Road. After departing this site it was then seen at Gibraltar Point the following day (8th May – forming the second reserve record of this species) and then relocated at Dungeness, Kent on 10th May continuing its reorientation south. In addition a pratincole not assigned to a specific species was seen at Barrow Haven on 11th August 1980. The only other pratincole species seen in Lincolnshire is the famous Oriental Pratincole seen at Frampton Marsh RSPB from 9th to 18th May 2010. We still await the Counties first Black-winged…..
Looking forward to looking back – In the next reviews we'll look back at two of the most anticipated months in the birding calendar. The list of firsts recorded in September and October is epic and include an impressive haul of British firsts, some first class rarities, some fascinating historical accounts and of course a few surprises. Not to be missed……………..
Matthew
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