Review of rare birds in Berkshire in 2007

6th March 2008 (revised 21st May 2008) | Marek Walford

This report only covers the rarer species reported in Berkshire in 2007 (i.e. species occuring less than annually during the past five years). These records may not have been verified or subjected to scrutiny by the relevant rarities committee. Reports of possibles/probables have been excluded. Every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct but if you notice any mistakes please let me know.

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus

Gannet Sula bassana

The two juveniles were presumably the same birds that were seen flying south-west over Otmoor (Oxon) on 26th September, although there were no sightings in between.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

First and second records.

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret : Lower Farm GP (Photo: Marek Walford)

Great White Egret Egretta alba

Same as at Staines Moor (Surrey). Third record.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Second record and the first since September 1793 when two were shot on the Thames between Reading and Sonning.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

Spoonbill

Spoonbill : Lea Farm GP (Photo: Ashley Stow)

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus

Bean Goose Anser fabalis

Bean Goose

Bean Goose : Remenham (Photo: Ralph Watts)

White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

Ninth record.

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Duck : Dorney Wetlands (Photo: Marek Walford)

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck : Wigmore Lane, Theale GP (Photo: Marek Walford)

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis

First record for Berkshire. Poor weather and confusion with an aythya hybrid showing features of Lesser Scaup meant that the correct identification wasn't made until 30th.

Lesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup : Woolhampton GP (Photo: Nigel Rampton)

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus

Eighth record.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Avocet

Avocet : Woolhampton GP (Photo: Nick Montegriffo)

Dotterel Charadrius morinellus

Fifth record.

Knot Calidris canutus

Knot

Knot : Everlsey GP (Photo: Marek Walford)

Little Stint Calidris minuta

Little Stint

Little Stint : Everlsey GP (Photo: Martin Lenney)

Little Stint

Little Stint : Everlsey GP (Photo: Marek Walford)

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit : Theale GP (Photo: Marek Walford)

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus

Fifth and sixth records.

Pomarine Skua

Pomarine Skua : Queen Mother Reservoir (Photo: Marek Walford)

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus

Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus

Fourth record.

Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides

The record in November was the earliest ever return date, by one month. This reflected an arrival of first-winter birds in Herts and Dorset in October.

Kumlien's Gull Larus (glaucoides) kumlieni

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus

Presumably the same bird seen at Beddington SF and Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir on 1st. First May record and the latest ever.

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii

Little Auk Alle alle

The flock of eight birds on 14th November is the largest group of birds ever seen inland in the UK.

Little Auk

Little Auk : Queen Mother Reservoir (Photo: Mike McKee)

Hoopoe Upupa epops

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus (collybita) tristis

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana

Only the third record. The previous records being one at Silwood Park on 28th October 1958 and three shot at Cookham in the 1860s.

Ortolan Bunting

Ortolan Bunting : Wraysbury GP (Photo: Bill Haines)