Rare Bird Alert weekly round-up: 20 - 26 Feb 2013

The week's highlights:
Drake Harlequin Duck still on the Western Isles
Pied-billed Grebe still in Somerset
Pine Grosbeak departs
American Coot in Galway
Two Black Ducks in Cork
Northern Harrier still in Wexford
Pacific Diver reappears in Cornwall

It was very much a case of ‘as you were’ this week. The anticyclone over Scandinavia remained very slow-moving although the nearer of its two centres gradually drifted southwest into the North Sea as the week wore on. The weather was therefore remarkably stable though it remained very cold, particularly over southern Britain where a stiff and bitter northeasterly wind set in, bringing a thick and persistent layer of cloud, scattered snow flurries for most and light coverings for some. The sunniest skies and the highest temperatures recorded were in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Headline birds
In ‘Oscars week’, the prize for ‘best actor’ went to the gorgeous first-winter drake Harlequin Duck at Balranald, North Uist, Western Isles, still there and apparently showing well to 26th. With nice weather and a terrific back-up cast on the red carpet including Kumlien’s Gull, Richardson’s Canada Goose, Lesser Snow Geese and Ring-necked Duck, this was clearly the place to be.

The ‘best supporting actor’ gong went to the dapper Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset to 26th, doubtless entertaining a steadier stream of visitors than the Harlequin Duck. Given this species’ propensity for long stays, however, there may not be much cause to hurry - this bird could linger in this increasingly high-profile wetland complex for months if not years!

Meanwhile, the Pine Grosbeak at North Collafirth, Shetland was still present on 23rd, though often elusive, but didn’t turn up for its award on 24th (or indeed subsequently) despite extensive searching. Given the (relatively) milder temperatures in northern Scotland, it has presumably detected the imminence of spring and headed east.

Elusive as ever was the adult Pacific Diver in Mount’s Bay, Cornwall. Seen on 22nd and 23rd, it promptly disappeared again but is doubtless still present somewhere nearby.
The remaining ‘A list’ birds were in Ireland - the Northern Harrier at Tacumshin, Wexford, the American Coot at Murloch, Galway and the 2 Black Ducks at Mizen Head, Cork.
There were a couple of exciting birds in Europe this week. Firstly, and intriguingly, a Paddyfield Warbler was trapped in France, a clear echo of the bird which wintered at Pagham Harbour, Sussex from January to March 2012. Quite what Paddyfield Warblers are doing in winter in western Europe is an interesting question but this is clearly a species which is ‘on the up’. Also exciting was the discovery of a Sandhill Crane amongst up to 35,000 Common Cranes in the stunning setting of Laguna de Gallocanta, south of Zaragoza, Spain. Presumably this is one of the recent British birds now on its way back north. Sadly, it won’t be coming back to Britain but observers at the traditional crane stopover sites in northern Europe should certainly be on the lookout for it in the coming weeks. Sweden’s Lake Hornborga in a month’s time must be a good bet.