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The final part of our look back into the history books at those species which have made first time appearances in the County during the month of October.
1847 to 1899
1898 – RADDE'S WARBLER
An unusually strange and particularly powerful bird call heard from a hedgerow along the coast at North Cotes, on 1st October was followed, with the hedgerow beaten until the bird was flushed and shot. The owner of the voice proved to be a warbler. A much bigger bird was expected to come out as it had such a loud rasping note. It proved to be an immature Radde's Warbler, not only the first record for Lincolnshire but also for Britain. Easterly winds had predominated along the coast for some time. The second Lincolnshire record occurred 90 years later, when a first-winter bird was trapped at Crook Bank, Theddlethorpe at 10:00hrs on 16th October 1988. A detailed description and measurements were taken and in hand photographs were obtained. Prior to this birds capture a high pressure system had built over northern Europe, and there had been slack air or light easterlies over Britain and the north Sea, with low cloud and mist over the Lincolnshire Coast which brought a large arrival of thrushes, Robins and Goldcrests to Theddlethorpe Dunes. Since these birds there have been a further 6 records, starting with two birds which occurred during a large east coast fall of migrants in October 1990. A first-winter was present between Stonebridge car park Donna Nook and Pyes Hall from 21st to 22nd October and another was trapped at Crook Bank, Theddlethorpe on 24th October. Ten years later a further arrival of two birds was noted on 1st October 2000 when birds were found at Grainthorpe and Donna Nook with the latter bird remaining until 3rd October. These birds were part of a record tally of 30 during the autumn of that year in Britain. The remaining records were a bird which showed well and was superbly photographed at Horseshoe Point on 12th October 2006, and the most recent record at Donna Nook from 4th to 5th October 2007. First described by Gustav Radde in 1863 from Transbaikalia, this rather vivid and robust bird wandered through three generic names before Claud Ticehurst placed it firmly in Phylloscopus. Following the first British record in Lincolnshire and having the most restricted and southerly breeding range of all the warblers that stray west from Siberia, it remained a mythological being for over six decades, escaping even observatory hunters until 1961. On 3rd October, a bird trapped on Blakeney Point, Norfolk, was roosted in Richard Richardson’s aviary and was released the following morning in front of a few much-envied admirers. With the appearance of the second Dusky Warbler on Fair Isle, Shetland, only 11 days later (and the second and third Pallas’s Leaf Warblers already in the observatories’ bag), expectations of more sympatrically breeding vagrants from as far east as Lake Baikal were dramatically raised and never lowered. Over the following 44 years, Radde’s Warblers have been found increasingly and major influxes of up to 30 birds occurred in 1982, 1988, 1991 and 2000. None of these have been synchronised with exceptional arrivals of Dusky Warblers and, unlike the case with that species, there are no spring records of Radde’s while the first winter record was not until December 2005. Furthermore, although in 2000 it briefly went ahead of Dusky in grand-total terms, its records have collapsed in the last few years to an average of only six. In Fennoscandia and the rest of Europe, the long-noted southerly bias in its British occurrences is similarly evident and Radde’s Warbler has been found notably less frequently than Dusky Warbler. As the latter’s breeding area is at least three times as large as that of Radde’s and ranges at least 7° further north, the difference in status of these two warblers within Europe makes more sense than the overall similarity portrayed in the British record.
1892 – YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER
The first county record of this Siberian waif was a bird shot from a hedge near the sea-bank at North Cotes on 7th October 1892. On capture it was recorded as being 'the fattest little bird ever skinned'. The second record involved a bird found dead in a hedge near the sea bank on 19th October 1908 and occurred when there was a great migration of birds in progress at the time. There were Song Thrushes in thousands, hundreds of Robins and Goldcrests, and in less numbers Redwings, Blackbirds, Ring Ousels, Grey Crows (Hooded Crows), Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Twites, with a few Bramblings, Wheatears, Rock Pipits, Woodcocks, Merlins and Black Redstarts. A further 10 birds were recorded in the county up to 1932, and all from North Cotes, remarkably within a mile or so of the same spot. The earliest bird was obtained on 18th September 1915, with a further 3 September records, whilst the remainder all came from October. Even during the early 20th Century this species was receiving recognition that it had appeared so frequently that it may be considered almost a regular visitor to the County, and would no doubt be found on any part of the east coast if carefully watched for. How true that statement would be in decades to come and some recognition should be given to the foresight of some of our forebears. The last individual obtained during this period was on 12th October 1932. It was in a thorn hedge close to the sea-shore. It was a rather dull-coloured bird, with little trace of the pale stripe on the crown and the eye stripes less yellow than usual. There was practically no migration in progress; the only other migratory birds seen were a few Rock-Pipits and a single Redstart, while a few Geese, Lapwings and Golden Plovers were passing over to N.W. The wind was light S.W. and the weather fine. It is interesting to note the comment regarding the paleness of the bird; dare it be said perhaps suggestive of Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler? After this individual there were no more records in the County until one was seen in the company of Goldcrests at the newly formed Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory on 7th October 1949.The next was again at Gibraltar Point on 28th September 1960 and was one of 10 birds during the decade, with 3 seen in 1967. Yellow-browed Warbler remained a very scarce visitor during the 1970s with 15 birds recorded in 6 years, but with 6 in autumn 1979. Since that year the species has been annual, and in total between 1960 and 2011 there were 494 records of Yellow-browed Warbler in Lincolnshire of which 313 occurred between 1998 and 2009. Since 1979 variation has ranged between two in 1997 and the exceptional 61 in 2005. It is also interesting to note that the 25 recorded in autumn 1988 (a record annual total at the time) has been exceeded in all but 3 years from 2003 to 2011. It is often difficult to judge numbers accurately as new arrivals can often mix with roving birds already present, but there are several instances of multiple birds being observed. There were up to 9 birds recorded at Saltfleetby in the autumn of 1985 for example, whilst highest day counts of 6 at Donna Nook on 5th October, 9 at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe on 7th October and 5 at Rimac on the same day all came from the record breaking year of 2005. As to be expected, the vast majority of the Counties records come from the coastal strip between Tetney and Gibraltar Point, with the Donna Nook area, Saltfleetby and Gibraltar Point being favoured locations. The first record for the Wash area was a bird at Frampton Marsh on 14th October 1988, and it has remained very rare in this area with another noted at the West Lighthouse at Sutton Bridge on 11th October 2011. At the opposite end of the County three have made it a far as Barton-on-Humber. It is very rare inland with just 10 records, the first of which was a bird seen at Normanby, near Scunthorpe from 20th to 21st October 1972. Others involve singles at Broughton, Grimoldby, Legbourne, Louth and Scopwick but with two each from both Deeping Lakes NR and Wragby. In addition there is one 'at sea' record on the Inner Dowsing Tower Lighthouse, 12 miles offshore from Mablethorpe (at 53° 20" N, 0°, 34" E) on 13th November 1986. Early autumn arrivals usually appear from the third week in September and this continues through October and into the middle part of November with some stragglers remaining until the end of that month. Particularly early individuals were noted at Gibraltar Point on 11th September 1990 and 12th September 2009 but the earliest ever was a bird at Donna Nook on 8th September 1993. There have been three birds seen outside of the main autumn period. In 2004 a bird was present in Louth from 4th to 10th March whilst later in the spring another was seen at Gibraltar Point on 20th April. The Louth bird was very much a surprise but showed very well and was much appreciated by local and visiting birders alike. The other bird was another excellent inland discovery, at Wragby on 19th March 2006. In a UK context the increase in records has been significant with for example 247 during 1960-1969; 759 in 1970-1979; 3206 in 1980-1989; and 3266 in 1990-1999. Into the new millennia and there were influxes of 825 birds on 2003 and a remarkable 1300 birds in 2005 alone. This increase may partly be due to increasing populations with its breeding range combined with the fact it breeds much closer to western Europe that most Siberian vagrants – up to 46,000 pairs in the Polar Ural Komi Republic region. Increased observer coverage along the coast over the decades must also be a contributing factor. The incidence of easterly winds in late autumn may be instrumental in pushing already westward-moving Yellow-broweds into Britain, but it seems possible that annual population cycles could also be significant. Arrivals in the north and east of Britain tend to be slightly earlier than those in the south and west, perhaps suggestive of some onward movement. It is still largely a mystery what happens after birds leave Britain. Some do spend the winter here and elsewhere in western Europe, but numbers are nowhere near comparable to those that are recorded in the autumn months.
1888 – TENGMALM'S OWL
On 22nd October a bird was shot on the sandhills near Saltfleet Haven. The bird perhaps arrived on the same North and North-west winds which brought the great flight of Woodcocks to the coast between Flamborough Head and Cromer on the night of 18th October and morning of 19th, and again on 22nd, along with large numbers of Short-eared Owls and other immigrants. The skin of the bird was examined on 5th November, and although the plumage was somewhat injured in the shooting, it was noted as being a very fine specimen and a mature bird, although the sex was undetermined. This is the only county record of this small unsociable nocturnal owl, which is a northern Holarctic species breeding from northern Scandinavia to eastern Siberia and from Belgium and Germany east to central Asia and western China. It also breeds in North America (where it is known as the Boreal Owl) and although largely sedentary and strictly nocturnal throughout its range, is prone to the occasional irruptive movements in late autumn/winter. There are at least 6 recognised races of the species, several of which overlap in range creating intergrades. Most British records are considered to relate to the nominate race which breeds across Europe and Central Russia. It was formally a much more frequent visitor to Britain with 50 records of Tengmalm's Owl Owl in Britain up to 1949. This included a small irruption in 1901 with 6 birds recorded between the end of October and middle of November from Shetland, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Suffolk (2) and West Midlands. Since 1950 it has become extremely rare with only 7 birds recorded since then (5 of which have come from Orkney) and including the remarkable set of records in the 1980s which involved 5 out of these 7 records. Three of these records particularly stand out. In 1981 the leg and ring of a Tengmalm's Owl (trapped as a nestling at Greften, Vang, Hedmark in Norway on 10th June 1980) was found at Fishburn, Co. Durham on 10th January. In 1983 a bird remained in the Warren area of Spurn Point, E Yorks, from 6th to 27th March roosting in buckthorn and elderberry bushes. Unfortunately news of its presence was suppressed (due to its roost site being very close to vital coastal services and the Spurn peninsula being at its most precarious position since 1960 following severe February storms almost severing the headland), and it was only witnessed by a select few. A small owl seen in the same area on 28th January 1983 may have related to this same bird. The last to be recorded in Britain was in Orkney in 1986 when one was present on Egilsay from 31st May to 1st June and found long dead on 25th June.
1881 – KENTISH PLOVER
On the 8th October an immature Kentish Plover was received in the flesh by a Derby taxidermist. This bird had recently been shot on the coast at Friskney, on the Wash and the description of the plumage and colour of the soft parts left no doubt as to the identification. It would appear that at the time the only records of the species close to the County were two birds recorded on the Yorkshire coast near the Humber in May 1809. Following this first record, it was then reported that between 1902 and 1905 one or more pairs nested on the shore at Humberston on the north-east coast and at least four clutches of eggs are known to have been taken. One of these was then in the possession of the City and County Museum at Lincoln with its identity confirmed at the British Museum. It was taken from a nest on June 1st 1903, however three other clutches, said to have been taken by collectors between 1902 and 1905, have not been traced. Strangely, the collectors did not see the birds although apparently they did not specially look for them being more interested at that time in the finding of the eggs. The facts surrounding these claims seem somewhat obscure, especially the fact that no birds were apparently seen, and this along with other questions surrounding the occurrence has led to the record being dismissed and only documented as an alleged occurrence for which the evidence is not convincing. Therefore, since the Friskney bird there have been a further 30 accepted records of Kentish Plover in Lincolnshire, with the second occurrence occurring in 1950. In that year, 3 birds were found at Gibraltar Point on 13th April with one of these remaining until 14th. The arrival times for those recorded in the County are April (4), May (12), June (9), July (1), August (3), October (1) and December (1). The December arrival was exceptional (but not totally unprecedented in UK terms) and involved a first-winter male which then went on to spend the winter on the Humber from 24th December 1989 until 1st April 1990 (and was almost certainly recorded on Read's Island on 19th November). It roosted at high tide on Read's Island and then moved to feed at low water with up to 200 Ringed Plovers at Barton foreshore. Bearing in mind the species breeding requirements, it is perhaps unsurprising that the majority of the Lincolnshire records of Kentish Plover originate from the wide open sandy beaches along the main coastal strip. Gibraltar Point has produced an impressive 14 records with 7 from Saltfleetby and singles at Donna Nook and Tetney. The exceptions to these (aside from the first county record from the Wash and the above wintering individual on the Humber) are two from North Killingholme Haven Pits (a female from 29th to 30th May 1977 and a male on 6th June 1982) and four rather unusual inland sightings. Three of these came from Wisbech Sewage Farm (21st May 1959, 26th May 1964 and 10th August 1966) and the other from Bardney Pits when a male was seen on 16th May 1978. In 1979, there was an extraordinary occurrence at Gibraltar Point. A pair of Kentish Plovers arrived and settled down to nest in an area of saltings and shingle slightly north of the main beach area, but nonetheless in an area where visitor access was unrestricted. A female was confirmed to be incubating two eggs on 30th June. The late date and the number of eggs involved may suggest that it was an inexperienced pair or perhaps that one or two earlier nesting attempts had been unsuccessful. Mindful of the significance of this event and the birds vulnerability to egg collectors the whole episode was kept so confidential by the wardens at the time that it is possible that only 2 – 3 people knew of the occurrence. There was not even any documentation in the log for that year other than occasional references to a male during June and July. In reality, there were three birds: the pair and a second male that was in attendance through much of the summer. Inevitably, the birds were discovered independently by a birdwatcher from Sheffield who wrote to the Observatory to report that he had identified a female Kentish Plover attending a clutch of 2 eggs on 8th July. He too was quickly encouraged into suppressing the information. It is known that the two eggs hatched but the resulting chicks were seen away from the nest on only one occasion before being lost – presumably predated by a local Magpie. This was the first (and only) nesting of Kentish Plovers in Lincolnshire and the last time that the species nested in the UK. An article in the Observer appeared on 18 Jan 1980, breaking the news of breeding by this pair of Kentish Plovers but the location information given was limited to ‘somewhere on the Lincolnshire/South Humberside coast’. The following year, a pair again appeared on 17th May, but only the female remained the next day. A total of 7 birds were recorded in county during the 1970s (including the exceptional breeding occurrence) with 13 seen in the 1980s, no doubt linked to the higher population levels of the species in Continental Europe during these decades. Severe declines since then (particularly since the mid-1990s) have been reflected in the County occurrences and this is now an extreme vagrant in Lincolnshire. The most recent record was a juvenile which frequented the beach in the general area between Saltfleet Haven and Rimac from 22nd to 25th August 2011 and was the first in the County for 15 years (since a female at Saltfleetby from 5th to 6th June 1996). Kentish Plover once bred along the coast of south-east England at sites in Kent and Sussex, such as Dungeness, Pegwell and Sandwich Bays and Rye Harbour, with up to 40 pairs during the period 1907 to 1911. Numbers declined through the 20th century with only sporadic breeding occurring in England with none since the pair at Gibraltar Point in 1979. Reasons for this loss have been attributed to a combination of persecution for eggs and skins, disturbance by shingle extraction and habitat loss due to coastal housing. However, this decline has been mirrored along the Atlantic and North-Sea coasts of Europe and it is likely that disturbance of coastal breeding sites by the ever expanding human population and its associated recreational activities is also a key contributing factor. Like similar beach nesting species, such as the Little Tern and the closely related Ringed Plover it would appear that human intervention and protection are the only ways to help such species from the disturbance of human pressures on the coast. Unlike the Little Tern and Ringed Plover however, for the Kentish Plover it would appear we have acted too late and it remains to be seen whether we will ever see this species nesting in Britain again. Kentish Plover has been a much more regular visitor to the neighbouring County of Norfolk although it is never known to have nested there. Interestingly, however, in 1977 (just two years before the Lincolnshire record) a pair remained at Salthouse for several weeks, but on each occasion that display commenced, the birds were attacked by extremely aggressive Ringed Plovers and subsequently no real nesting attempt was made. A colour-ringed Kentish Plover seen and photographed at Rye Harbour, Sussex on 25th March 2013 was tracked down to a German project. It had been originally ringed as a breeding adult at St Peter-Ording (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) in May 2009. It returned to the same site again in 2010, arriving on 14th April, but its nest was destroyed and it then moved 20km east to a possible alternative breeding site. It was seen there in June 2010 but then not since, so its arrival in Sussex was even more unexpected. Kentish Plovers have been being ringed along the Wadden Sea coast of Germany since the early 1990s and this is the second bird to be seen in the UK, following a female seen in 1994. This bird was ringed as chick in May 1993, also at St Peter-Ording, and was then seen at Spurn Point on 13th April 1994.There are just two other records of foreign-ringed Kentish Plovers in the UK: a French-ringed bird was shot in Avon in 1972 and a Dutch-ringed bird had its ring read in Kent in 1988.
1887 – RICHARD'S PIPIT
On 12th October 1887 an example of the Richard's Pipit was observed whilst driving along the road between Tetney and the coast. The specimen was not obtained but there appears to be little doubt in accepting this site record as involving this species. The second county record concerned a specimen shot on the sea bank in the parish of Marshchapel on 16th November 1912. It was in good condition, was very wild and was first observed running along the ground rather rapidly making it very conspicuous. Migration was practically over but a single Goldcrest was observed on the same day and a few Lapwings were coming in from the sea on a light east wind. There were no further records until 1951 when a bird was seen and permitted sustained observation on the saltmarsh between Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe on 6th October. Since then there have been around another 150 records of this large Pipit although it was a further 16 years until the next, when a bird made an extended stay at Huttoft Bank Golf Course from 29th October until 11th November 1967. Remarkably the following year the county total was more than doubled with an unprecedented influx of 10 birds which included 8 birds at Donna Nook with a peak of 5 there on 26th October. The species has become regular in autumn and the 1968 total of 10 was equalled in 1994, with other peak years being 9 in 1977 and 7 in 1992. Other years have produced between 1 and 6 birds, but none in 1996 was the first blank year since 1966 and thus brought to an end the impressive 30 year run of annual appearances for the species. Aside from the above 1968 birds at Donna Nook, other multiple gatherings include two at Donna Nook between 22nd October and 6th November 1977, with four present from 29th to 30th October, another at Donna Nook on 30th September 1979 increasing to four on 1st October and 3 on developing foreshore at Pye's Hall on 30th September 2010. Two birds have also been seen together on several other occasions. Early autumn arrivals occur from the third week in September but peak passage is usually during October and up to the middle of November with occasional stragglers until the end of the month. A rather early individual was seen at North Cotes on 13th September 1981, but the earliest ever was a bird seen at Saltfleetby on 15th August 1975 – an exceptional date for the species. A late individual was seen at Donna Nook on 7th December 1984 whilst the first occurrence of the species wintering in the County was an individual present in the vicinity of Skidbrooke and Donna Nook from 19th December 1992 until 10th January 1993, and which survived despite some very severe frosts during the period. Subsequent to this another was present along the sea embankment between Howden's Pullover and Donna Nook from 12th January to 12th April 2008, and with a 91 day residency was the longest staying individual recorded. Another bird was present at Gibraltar Point from 9th to 22nd December 2011. There have been just four spring records as follows; Donna Nook on 9th May 1985, Witham Mouth in the Wash on 14th April 1995, Sea View Farm and Rimac on 16th April 1998 and Gibraltar Point from 18th to 19th May 2004. Without doubt the north-east coast has produced the most records of this species and the Donna Nook area in particular producing a significant number of sightings. The strip of coast between Mablethorpe and Chapel St Leonards has hosted several individuals and it has become fairly regular at Gibraltar Point. There are at least seven records from the Wash, which included up to two birds seen intermittently at the Witham Mouth/Frampton Marsh from 17th October to 1st November 1998. Although occasionally showing very well they often gave birders the run around as they flighted between each side of the river. There are also four records from the Humber bank, all of which have been observed at East Halton. Inland records are exceptional with only four noted; the first was right on the county boundary at Wisbech sewage farm on 7th October 1968 and was followed by a bird at Cadney Reservoir on 14th October 1988, one flying south-west over Bagmoor Lake, near Winterton on 21st October 2003 and a first-winter on the Trent foreshore at Alkborough Flats from 12th to 13th October 2008. Richard's Pipit has been an annual visitor to Britain since the formation of the BBRC in 1958, but with a notable annual increase in records since 1966. In the period 1966 to 2003, 27 years have recorded more than 50 birds per year, and this figure has been attained every year since 1987. A record 140 in 1968 was not beaten for 20 years, but since 1988 over 100 per annum has not been unusual and over 150 were seen in both 1995 and 2001. All of these pale into insignificance however, against the record breaking year of 1994 when an amazing 350 were recorded. As to be expected from an eastern vagrant, Shetland, Scilly and the east coast of Britain account for the majority of records. Occasionally occurring in small parties up to 11 were recorded on North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 27 September 1992. British birds are undoubtedly reversed migrants, and the orientation of a German-ringed vagrant, recovered in the same autumn in south-western France, would appear to conform with a great circle route movement out of central Siberia. Regular wintering in southern Spain dates back several decades and it is possible birds have wintered in the Sahel zone of West Africa, whilst in January 1995, there were as many as 16 at the Oued Massa in southern Morocco. In more recent decades small wintering population have been regular in the Camargue, southern France and in Italy, suggesting that the species have established a regular wintering range in the Western Palearctic
1870 – LITTLE CRAKE
On 9th October, a specimen of this extremely rare crake was flushed from a small patch of reeds near the stream at Great Cotes. A perfect view of the bird was obtained both on the wing and on the ground. It flew past and round within a few feet of the observer before dropping into the reeds. It was only just missed being captured by hand. [The bird was observed by Cordeaux and is clearly documented in his Birds of the Humber District as being observed in the year 1870. However, most published information, most notably which in The Birds of Lincolnshire and South Humberside list the year of occurrence as 1869]. The second county record did not come to light until 45 years after its occurrence. In 1955 the skin of a female Little Crake was presented to the City and County Museum. It had been caught by a dog at Spanby, near Threekingham, south of Sleaford in 1910. Small crakes which were thought to be this species were seen at Tetney in October 1888, 1907 and 1930, at Gibraltar Point on 16th August 1953 and Wrangle on 17th August 1978. Little Crake has a fragmented breeding range from Spain and France in the west, across Europe and into Kazakhstan. It winters mainly in Africa, south of the Sahara. In both its summer and winter range it is more numerous in the east. It is a very rare and irregular vagrant to Britain with 108 accepted records up to the end of 2011 of which 70 were prior to 1949. This is no doubt reflected by the species decline in Western Europe, mainly as a result of habitat destruction. It has proven to be a rather early migrant with several of the more recent records occurring in March and early April as well as perhaps a more expected scatter of occurrences through the remainder of the spring period. A further autumn peak seems to be quite later in the season with birds in October and even into early November accounting for several occurrences. There have even been some exceptional winter records. In typical crake fashion birds can be very elusive and skulking in their chosen habitat. However, this certainly does not mean that it is a shy species. Several birds have been very obliging and co-operative, the most famous of which was an exceptionally tame first-winter female which frequented a ditch at Cuckmere Haven, Sussex in March 1985. Visiting birders began to throw it worms and it eventually became so tame that it would stand on peoples' hands to be fed!
1867 – BLACK REDSTART
The first documented Lincolnshire record of this species was that of a male, taken at Gedney Drove End, in the south of the County on 25th October 1867. This was then followed by a further seven birds which were observed on the north-east coast between 1902 and 1915, all during the month of October. In addition a bird appeared 'at sea' on the Inner Dowsing Lightship on 14th April 1905. There were no further records until a bird was seen inland at Limber in late March 1933. The species remained scarce in the county with 1 to 4 birds per annum in the 1950s, but a gradual increase was noted during the 1960s from just two records in 1960 to a peak of 13 in 1964 with 9 birds in both 1968 and 1969. Seasonal patterns also became well established with spring passage commencing from the middle of March, often peaking towards the end of the month into early April with stragglers extending into May and early June. Early autumn arrivals appeared in September but with a peak arrival between October and mid-November. Autumn 1968 produced 9 autumn records including 4 at Donna Nook on 19th October. The majority of sightings were coastal, particularly in the autumn period, but inland passage birds were noted at both seasons. These patterns of occurrence set the trend for the species in the County and subsequent years have conformed to this pattern in respect of passage birds. Perhaps partly as a result of increased observer coverage the Black Redstart has become a regular feature of spring and autumn passage in the County, albeit in relatively small numbers. The 1970s saw peaks of 20 in 1975, 22 in 1976 and 37 in 1979. Notable spring arrivals included 11 in both 1974 and 1976, 13 in 1975 and 17 in 1979 whilst peak autumn occurrences were 11 in 1976 and 20 in 1979 (the latter all between 9th September and 24th October and including 7 at Donna Nook on 13th October). The 1980s brought a peak for this species in the County from 20 in 1980 to around an exceptional 50 in 1987, but four other years produced between 37 and 40 individuals. Spring passage was most pronounced with 26 in both 1985 and 1986, 30 in 1983 and a record 37 in 1987, 35 of which were in a very concentrated period between 3rd March and 5th April and included 10 at Donna Nook and 6 at Gibraltar Point both on 5th April. Peak autumn arrivals were 17 in 1982 and 20 in 1988, both coinciding with some significant arrivals and continental and Siberian vagrants following periods of easterly winds. A decline in the number of passage birds was noted from the mid-1990s. Following a peak of 41 in 1993 numbers began to drop off (apart from a notable 38 in 1996) with lows of 18 in 1995 and just 15 in 1999. Peak spring passage involved 28 in 1996 (but with a low of just 8 in 1999), with an autumn peak of 14 in 1993 but just 2 recorded in 1995. The general paucity of records continued into the new millennium but recent years do seem to have seen somewhat of resurgence in numbers. There were 20 birds in 2000 but still generally low numbers during the middle part of the decade and just 12 birds were noted in 2008. However, there were then 46 in 2009, a record 55 in 2010 and 42 in 2011. Spring birds included as few as 4 in 2000 and 7 in 2008 but then 31 in 2009, 26 in 2010 (including 14 at Gibraltar Point during April) and 25 in 2011. Autumn records included lows of 8 in 2003 and 5 in 2008, but then 29 in 2010 including 5 at Gibraltar Point and 7 at Donna Nook. Let's hope that this recent trend of increased passage birds similar to those experienced during the species peak in the 1980s continues. Between the 1950s to 1970s some late autumn birds were seen up to the end of November, however there appear to be no records beyond then until a bird was discovered at Trusthorpe on 26th December 1980 which then went on to spend the winter there until last seen on 2nd March 1981. There were 3 other December records in the 1980s, but the only other wintering bird was a female at Freiston Shore from 30th November 1986 to 3rd January 1987. Since these first records there have been at least another dozen or so birds recorded in the months of December to February and mostly at inland localities. In 2010 two wintering birds were seen around Lincoln Cathedral between 21st January and 3rd March. One of these was a typical all-grey cairii type bird of the gibraltariensis group (those typically occurring in Britain) but the other appeared to be of the paradoxus type showing some rufous feathering on the underparts. The possibility of this bird being a Black Redstart x Redstart hybrid was considered, but a recording of the birds territorial song ruled this out. Apart from the red belly feathering of this scarce form, the rest of the birds characters matched a first-winter male European Black Redstart. There have been previous county and British records of 'Red-bellied' Black Redstarts (see below) but apparently up to 8% of specimens from central Europe show a tinge of rufous on the belly and vent and evidence suggests that male European Black Redstarts do occasionally show varying degrees of rufous feathering within their grey underparts. The first breeding record of Black Redstart for the County was a pair which nested at Scunthorpe Steelworks in 1970, with breeding again confirmed here in 1974. A new decade brought a peak for breeding activity in the County. Single pairs bred at Grimsby Docks, Immingham Docks and South Killingholme Oil Refinery (all in 1980), five pairs bred along the Humber bank in 1981 (raising 17 young) with two pairs the following year. A pair bred again at Scunthorpe in 1984, while in 1986 breeding was noted at this site, along the Humber Bank and inland at Spalding Sugar Beet Factory (raising a total of 9 young). The most successful year was 1987 with 6 pairs breeding, including a pair at Scunthorpe Steelworks, three pairs along the Humber Bank around Grimsby and two pairs at Spalding Sugar Beet Factory. Four pairs were confirmed the following year with 2 pairs at Grimsby Docks and 2 pairs at Spalding Sugar Beet Factory. To conclude a superb decade for breeding records 3 pairs again bred at Grimsby Docks in 1989 raising 3 broods. There were just 4 confirmed breeding records in the 1990s with two pairs at Grimsby Docks in 1990 and 1992, a pair in Boston in 1993 and a pair at Scampton in 1998. Since then there have been only a further 3 breeding records with singles in 2000, 2001 and 2010 (although the latter pair failed). Additional pairs have been strongly suspected of breeding (but not proven) in 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004 (two sites), 2005 and 2008. Also males holding territory in suitable locations have been recorded a few times over the last 20 years or so, but a general decline in breeding birds in the County is clearly evident, although breeding pairs in industrial areas are probably under recorded due to public access issues. There are a few records in some years of birds appearing in July and August at various locations around the County. They could perhaps relate to dispersed local breeders or could just of course by early returning migrants. There are previously four accepted British records of 'Eastern Black Redstart' Phoenicurus ochruros ochruros/phoenicuroides two of which came from Lincolnshire - a male at Saltfleetby from 15th to 17th October 1978 and a male ochruros at Donna Nook on 21st October 1988. However, following a BOURC review, these (along with the others on Scilly in October 1975 and Kent in November 1981) have all been rejected as it was found that none fully excluded the possibility of a Black Redstart x Common Redstart Ph. phoenicurus hybrid. It is highly likely that some of these records may have actually been the real thing rather than hybrids; however the lack of documentation on these birds means they’ve been removed from the statistics unfortunately. However, almost as soon as Eastern Black Redstart had been removed from the British list was it knocking at the door once more with two very promising candidates seen in autumn 2011 - a bird at Foreness Point, Kent from 11th to 17th November and the second on Holy Island, Northumberland from 16th to 21st November. In fact it would seem that autumn 2011 was a bit of an influx year in Western Europe with at least one bird in Germany from 13th to 17th October and an exceptional five birds reported from Sweden in addition to the two birds in the UK. Prior to these birds, accepted records of Eastern Black Redstart within Western Europe have occurred in Sweden (1986), Belgium (1993), Germany (1995), Sweden (2000), The Netherlands and Guernsey (both in 2003) and Sweden (2005). Interestingly the bird on the Channel Islands in 2003 which was found on 28th October, was trapped on 30th and its biometrics indicated that it was typical of the central Asian form phoenicuroides. Caution should rightly be exercised however – see notes on the wintering Lincoln bird in 2010 above. Black Redstart is another species that has received much attention from taxonomists with some authorities concluding that Eastern Black Redstart, phoenicuroides (and rufiventris) were the most divergent subspecies in the Black Redstart complex, and that they appear to be more closely related to Hodgson’s Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni than Western Black Redstart gibraltariensis (and aterrimus) and as such may warrant full species status. However, for now, BBRC is working on a set of robust identification and assessment guidelines by which these ‘eastern’ Black Redstarts can be safely diagnosed in a British context. New claims are welcome, preferably those supported by good photographs; any ringer handling a potential ‘eastern’ Black Redstart should collect any feathers lost during processing for molecular analysis. Any images of birds felt to resemble ‘eastern’ Black Redstarts, even if these are suspected to be hybrids or variants, are welcomed.
1863 – ROLLER
The first County record of this spectacularly flamboyant species occurred 150 years ago this year. An immature bird was shot at Keddington near Louth in October 1863. This was followed by a further 3 late 19th/early 20th Century records (with a further 2 probables during the same period). The second bird was shot at Elsthorpe Grange, near Bourne on 10th May 1871 and was then followed by a bird shot at Marshchapel in 1900, and one seen near Louth on 29th August 1901, with presumably the same bird recorded as still being present on 26th September. In addition, a bird shot at Muckton Wood, near Louth on 27th October 1883 was recorded as being an Indian Roller C. benghalensis, but seems more likely to have been a European Roller in immature plumage. Another Roller is also said to have been seen at Gautby, near Horncastle a few years prior to 1900. From these early historical records, it would appear the Louth area is a good one to search for a vagrant Roller in the county! The first modern day record for the county has a remarkable circumstance surrounding the occurrence. In 1962 a bird was shot in mistake for a Jay(!) at Grainthorpe on 13th June. The skin was retained by the 'observer'. Twenty one years later Lincolnshire birders finally had the chance to get to grips with this species in the County. On a grey overcast 2nd October 1983, a bird was disturbed sitting close to the track, by a break in the hedge, along the Viking Way adjacent to Highall Wood, just north-east of Woodhall Spa. It flew off to a post 100m away in a fence dividing two fields of grass and scrub. The striking colours were obvious as it flapped away Jay-like, to the fence. It was 17:45hrs and for the next half hour it was watched feeding from the fence posts. The bird would fly down to the ground to feed before returning to the post, before it finally flew off into Highall Wood. Thanks to prompt reporting of the birds presence, this immature, then went on to entertain several hundred observers in the same area during its extended stay until 19th October. After a gap of 25 years this spectacular species did finally make reappearance in the County but it was all too shorter stay and witnessed by just one lucky observer. On 28th May 2008 at Donna Nook a bird flew in from the north alighted briefly then continued south again in the direction of North Somercotes but unfortunately could not be relocated. The European Roller breeds from Iberia and Morocco eastwards through the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and the Middle east, north into Eastern Europe and east to the Russian Steppes. It winters in East Africa. In Britain, it is a very rare vagrant, with rarely more than two or three a year, mostly in late spring and summer with fewer autumn records into October. It has declined considerably over much of north-central Europe, and no longer breeds in Sweden or Germany. Climatic changes have been blamed, but habitat loss and modern farming practices would also seem to be major contributing factors. Despite such a worrying decline, the species is still almost annual in Britain and has a wide geographical scatter of records. The English east coast counties provide the most however (suggesting an easterly rather than southerly origin for the bulk of vagrants) with neighbouring Counties of Yorkshire and Norfolk having received almost 5 times the number of birds that have been recorded in Lincolnshire. This includes some recent long staying and widely twichable birds in both counties, so to say another in Lincs would be welcome is perhaps an understatement!
1847 - HOUBARA BUSTARD
The bird was shot in a stubble field at Kirton Cliff, near Kirton-in-Lindsey on 7th October. It was not seen until it was flushed and took flight just 20 yards away where it was promptly shot. The condition of the bird was noted as being perfect and on examination it was found to be a male and its crop was full of caterpillars, beetles and small snails. The bird was initially thought to be a Little Bustard but on examination was later identified as a Houbara. Further study revealed the bird to be of the former Asian subspecies, C. u. macqueenii, and which has now been split as a full species, Macqueen's Bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii. There was also suggestion at the time that the bird may have escaped from a collection but on investigation there appeared to be no evidence for this and there was no reason to suspect this was the case and the specimen should only be considered as a wild bird. This was the first British record of this species and the specimen was retained in York museum. There have only been a further 4 British records of this endangered North African/Asian species which has been heavily persecuted by Arab Falconers resulting in drastic declines taking place between Morocco and Pakistan.. Three of these records were during the late nineteenth century when the species was more numerous; a bird killed at Marske-by-the-Sea, Cleveland on 5th October 1892, a very approachable immature male at Spurn, E Yorks from 17th to 18th October 1896 (shot on the latter date) and an immature female shot at St. Fergus near Aberdeen on 24th October 1898. The final record, and the only 20th Century specimen, formed one of the most outstanding ornithological events of the 1960s when a local farmer discovered an immature bird in a mustard field at Hinton, near Walberswick, Suffolk on 21st November 1962. The bird spent much of its time feeding and resting in the mustard field and other adjoining fields during its extended stay until 29th December. This bird was enjoyed by over 140 eminent birders (and was superbly photographed by Eric Hosking), often being seen at just a few yards distance, wandering by onlookers cars as it walked along the lane to access fields. A further bird made it to Sweden in October 1974, but as time progressed, and bearing in mind the species precarious status, thoughts of this species making a re-appearance in Western Europe looked very slim. That was until the events that unfolded in Belgium in 2003. This remarkable record concerns an exhausted first-winter bird which was picked up at Lombardsijde-Nieuwpoort on 19th January. It was taken into care until 18th March when it was flown to Saudi Arabia, where it was fitted with a radio tag and released at Taif on 7th April. The bird's transmitter was found in Saudi Arabia in the first week in September and it is thought the bird might have been killed by hunters – a said demise for a magnificent bird. The occurrence of this bird does however perhaps keep alive a glimmer of hope that this species may once more make a re-appearance in Britain.
Matthew
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