Review of rare birds in Berkshire in 2003

29 January 2004 (revised 16 August 2006) | Marek Walford

This report only covers the rarer species reported in Berkshire in 2003. These records may not have been verified or subjected to scrutiny by the relevant rarities committee. Every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct but if you notice any mistakes please let me know.

Red-throated Diver

One at Queen Mother Reservoir from 10th to 13th February (J Simpson) and presumably the same bird at Wraysbury gravel pits from 14th to 27th February (R Innes) with visits to Queen Mother Reservoir on 21st and 22nd February.

Red-throated Diver: Wraysbury gravel pits (Photo: Mike McKee)

Great Northern Diver

One at Theale gravel pits on 2nd May (R H Stansfield). Adult in winter plumage at Queen Mother Reservoir on 17th May (J Simpson).

Fulmar

One found dead in Newbury on 9th July (P Bysshe).

Storm Petrel

One at Queen Mother Reservoir on 2nd Dec (C D R Heard) present for a few hours before being killed by a Peregrine.

Great White Egret

One at Theale gravel pits on 25th February (R Addison). Accepted by BBRC.

Spoonbill

Two first-summer birds flying over Finchampstead on 7th May (P Bright-thomas). One immature at Queen Mother Reservoir on 2nd November (A B Tomczynski) and reported on and off until 25th November.

Spoonbill: Queen Mother Reservoir (Photo: Jerry O'Brien)

Bean Goose

Seventeen flying over Queen Mother Reservoir on 24th February (C D R Heard). Five at Pingewood gravel pits on 25th and 26th February (M G McCarthy).

Bean Goose: Pingewood gravel pits (Photo: Mike McKee)

Eider

Female on Lea Farm pit, Sandford on 21st and 22nd April (K Butts).

Eider: Lea Farm pit, Sandford (Photo: Marek Walford)

Honey Buzzard

~~One over Crookham Common on 4th June (P Bysshe).~~

Black Kite

~~One reported on the pagers flying over Woodley on 25th April.~~

Red-footed Falcon

First-summer male at Pingewood gravel pits from 4th to 8th July (R Crawford).

Red-footed Falcon: Pingewood gravel pits (Photo: Jerry O'Brien)

Avocet

Singles at Queen Mother Reservoir on 25th Feb (J Simpson), the Jubilee River on 4th March (M Dowty) and Woolhampton gravel pits on 9th March (T G Ball). ~~Ten over Caversham on 8th August (T G Ball)~~ and nine at Queen Mother Reservoir on 29th November (C D R Heard).

Avocet: Woolhampton gravel pits (Photo: Jerry O'Brien)

Temminck's Stint

Two at Lower Farm gravel pit on 18th and 19th April.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Juvenile at Moor Green Lakes from 1st to 7th November (C Gent) and possibly the same bird at Slough sewage farm on 12th and 13th November (C D R Heard).

Pectoral Sandpiper: Moor Green Lakes (Photo: Mike McKee)

Grey Phalarope

First-winter at Queen Mother Reservoir from 15th to 20th November (C Lamsdell).

Grey Phalarope: Queen Mother Reservoir (Photo: Jerry O'Brien)

Pomarine Skua

Thirteen flying over Queen Mother Reservoir on 25th April (C D R Heard).

Arctic Skua

Juvenile at Queen Mother Reservoir on 19th and 20th October (M J McKee).

Arctic Skua: Queen Mother Reservoir (Photo: Mike McKee)

Long-tailed Skua

Juvenile at Queen Mother Reservoir on 17th August (C D R Heard).

Ring-billed Gull

~~Adult at Lower Farm gravel pit on 5th December (J Crispin).~~

Iceland Gull

Adult at Queen Mother Reservoir on 26th January (C D R Heard) and presumably the same bird there on 1st February, 2nd, 6th and 8th March and 31st December.

Glaucous Gull

Second-summer at Queen Mother Reservoir on 11th April (C D R Heard).

Alpine Swift

~~One reported on the pagers at Wraysbury gravel pits on 30th April.~~

Hoopoe

One at Sheepdrove Farm, Lambourn on 1st May (N Mandeville).

Wryneck

Singles at Bray gravel pit on 14th and 15th September (B Stacey) and at Lower Farm gravel pit on 27th and 28th September (R Haynes).

Waxwing

One reported in Wokingham on 10th January, two first-winters at the M4 Theale services on 27th January (C D R Heard), two adults and four first-winters in Bracknell from 7th to 24th February with eight there on 20th April (D Lloyd), two reported on the pagers in Slough on 10th February with eight there on 8th March and one on 23rd November.

Waxwing: Bracknell (Photo: Jerry O'Brien)

Yellow-browed Warbler

Singles at ~~Sandhurst on 25th October (T Crompton)~~, Theale gravel pits on 30th October (R J Burness) ~~and heard calling in McCilroy Park, Tilehurst on 14th December (M J McCarthy).~~

Bearded Tit

Male at Theale gravel pits from 30th December into 2004 (J Holt).

Bearded Tit: Theale gravel pits (Photo: Marek Walford)

Red-backed Shrike

Female at Greenham Common from 3rd to 6th August (J Crispin).

Red-backed Shrike: Greenham Common (Photo: Jerry O'Brien)

Great Grey Shrike

One at Brightwalton on 17th February (S Wilson).

Mealy Redpoll

Two at Thatcham Marsh on 25th October (A B Tomczynski).

Lapland Bunting

Singles at Queen Mother Reservoir on 4th October (A B Tomczynski) and Widbrook Common on 6th October (C D R Heard).

Snow Bunting

First-winter female at Queen Mother Reservoir on 2nd December (C D R Heard).

Snow Bunting: Queen Mother Reservoir (Photo: Rik Addison)