2004 rarities requiring a written description
2 April 2007 | Marek Walford
Work has started on the 2004 report. Each year several potentially good records are rejected simply because no details were received. The following table is an export from the County Database of all Berkshire rarities reported in 2004. If you were the finder of any of these birds and haven't done so already please submit a description to the Rarities Committee as soon as possible.
| Species | Site | Date | Count | Notes | Observer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bean Goose | Cold Harbour (Knowl Hill) | 14 Dec | 17 | 15ads & 2juvs contra statements by LGRE on the internet | C D R Heard |
| Bean Goose | Cold Harbour (Knowl Hill) | 13 Dec | 17 | One with ID '7U6' whatever this signifies. Best viewed from A4, behind BP garage. | G Brookes |
| Bean Goose | Cold Harbour (Knowl Hill) | 14 Dec | 17 | K E Moore | |
| Bean Goose | Coldharbour Farm | 14 Dec | 17 | c 13.00hrs - one with yellow neck collar 7U6 | A B Tomczynski |
| Bean Goose | Knowl Hill | 14 Dec | 17 | tundras | B D Clews |
| Pink-footed Goose | Cock Marsh | 15 Feb | 3 | seen heading over marsh towards LMGP | A Stevens |
| Pink-footed Goose | Jubilee River | 12 Feb | 3 | dark head/necked birds, possible this species, flying east 10.15am. | B D Clews |
| Pink-footed Goose | Junction A4/A404, Maidenhead | 17 Feb | 3 | overhead 07.20, possibly this species | D N T Rimes |
| White Stork | Bray | 31 Mar | 1 | seen flying towards south-east low over M4 at 1648hrs | B T Bennett |
| White Stork | Dorney Wetlands | 01 Apr | 1 | 1st-summer at 1220hrs, followed to Etonwick & watched circling over Windsor Racecourse until it flew away to the southeast of Windsor Castle; relocated flying eastwards over Wraysbury at 1320hrs on to Runnymede before drifting off low south of Egham, Surrey at 1340hrs. Age & plumage condition identified the bird as that which wintered near Ashford, Kent to which it returned a few days later. | C D R Heard |
| White Stork | Dorney Wetlands | 01 Apr | 1 | 1230-1245hrs over Berks and Bucks, then drifted SE | L J Finch |
| White Stork | Eton | 01 Apr | 1 | Circled Eton Bird Sanctuary for about 5 minutes. | B D Clews |
| White Stork | Jubilee River | 01 Apr | 1 | circling distantly well to SE (Windsor castle in same scope view!). Bird probably over N end of Windsor Gt Pk | M G McCarthy |
| White Stork | Jubilee River | 31 Mar | 1 | A friend at Jubilee River (standing on bridge 13) has just phoned me to report a White Stork flying West along the river. | D J Morris |
| White Stork | Windsor Racecourse | 01 Apr | 1 | over heading south-southeast at c1253hrs | D J Barker |
| Honey Buzzard | Cookham garden | 28 Aug | 1 | over 14.30, gliding S | B D Clews |
| Honey Buzzard | Streatley | 13 May | 1 | Soaring over view point c1/2 mile west of Streatley cross roads being mobbed by corvids then drifted north at 12:15 | R Addison |
| Honey Buzzard | Widbrook Common | 28 Aug | 1 | over 15.52, drifting SW | B D Clews |
| Goshawk | Bere Court | 01 Sep to 31 Oct | 1 | worrying pheasants, Buzzard size, long tail, per J Nettley | J Lerpiniere |
| Goshawk | Caversham | 03 Oct | 1 | low over house, further details available | T Barnes |
| Goshawk | Combe Hill | 13 Jul | 1 | moulting adult male flew off to Combe Wood | C D R Heard |
| Goshawk | Cookham Rise | 29 Feb | 1 | circling above own house in presence of 2 Buzzards and a female Sparrowhawk at 2.15, until departing north towards Marlow | B D Clews |
| Goshawk | Denford Park | 04 May | 1 | Seen in trees at fish hut in evening | R D Wilson |
| Goshawk | Moatlands Main Lake | 04 Apr | 1 | immature flew eastwards over MGP2 at 0910hrs | R J Burness |
| Goshawk | Nine Acre Wood | 23 May | 1 | Strongly suspected male seen flying to Nine Acre Wood. Powerful-looking with deep wing-beats and apparent large prominent chest but not seen well enough to remove any doubt. | G D Scholey |
| Rough-legged Buzzard | Brimpton area | 13 Feb to 22 Feb | 1 | identified as a light variant male also seen on Feb 18 | G E Wilson |
| Spotted Crake | East Berks | 10 Sep | 1 | C D R Heard | |
| Spotted Crake | East Berks | 09 Sep | 1 | juvenile | C D R Heard |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 17 May | 1 | probably a bright male | C D R Heard |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 17 May | 1 | K E Moore | |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 18 May | 1 | f | J O'Brien |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 17 May | 1 | f | J O'Brien |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 17 May | 1 | B T Bennett | |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 17 May | 1 | D J Barker | |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 17 May | 1 | B M Archer | |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 17 May | 1 | M J Taylor | |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 17 May | 1 | A B Tomczynski | |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 18 May | 1 | 100yds west of ridgeway car parking | G Randall |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 18 May | 1 | 100 yds West of car park, North side of Ridgeway. | R A Haynes |
| Dotterel | Bury Down | 18 May | 1 | Ad F | C Wilkinson |
| Dotterel | West Ilsley | 17 May | 1 | female | P Adam |
| Dotterel | West Ilsley | 17 May | 1 | female | S P Adam |
| Dotterel | West Ilsley | 18 May | 1 | Still present (per Jon Holt) | R Ness |
| Dotterel | West Ilsley | 17 May | 1 | still there. | S Ricks |
| Dotterel | West Ilsley | 17 May | 1 | female | L Forster |
| Dotterel | West Ilsley | 18 May | 1 | Still present and showing extremly well | R Addison |
| Dotterel | West Ilsley | 18 May | 1 | just N of Ridgeway c.50yds from car'pk | M G McCarthy |
| Dotterel | West Ilsley | 17 May | 1 | female | V Forster |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 30 Aug | 1 | ad, same bird as at Staines Reservoir last week | C D R Heard |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 27 Aug | 1 | B T Bennett | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 26 Aug | 1 | J Andrews | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 26 Aug to 31 Aug | 1 | found by K. Spring | R Crawford |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 31 Aug | 1 | Roosting at back of pit | A D Bassett |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 28 Aug | 1 | M F Walford | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 01 Sep | 1 | T G Ball | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 02 Sep | 1 | On drained pit | D D Callam |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 02 Sep | 1 | M G McCarthy | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 28 Aug | 1 | B T Bennett | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 02 Sep | 1 | R Crawford | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 02 Sep | 1 | M J & L J Finch | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 27 Aug | 1 | R C Watts | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 02 Sep | 1 | 8th Day | K Spring |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 27 Aug | 1 | A B Tomczynski | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 03 Sep | 1 | 9th Day | K Spring |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 01 Sep | 1 | 7th day | K Spring |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 31 Aug | 1 | 6th Day NE corner | K Spring |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 30 Aug | 1 | 5th Day | K Spring |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 29 Aug | 1 | 4th Day | K Spring |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 28 Aug | 1 | 3rd Day | K Spring |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 27 Aug | 1 | Seen by Richard Crawford and me about 1 min flew to N E corner | K Spring |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP | 26 Aug | 1 | K Spring | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP (N) | 28 Aug | 1 | D N T Rimes | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP (N) | 28 Aug | 1 | M D Budden | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP (S) | 27 Aug | 1 | M J Taylor | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP (S) | 28 Aug | 1 | K E Moore | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Burnthouse Lane GP (S) | 31 Aug | 1 | K E Moore | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Pingewood GP | 27 Aug | 1 | also on Sep 2 | G E Wilson |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Pingewood GP | 28 Aug | 1 | D J Barker | |
| Arctic Skua | Queen Mother Res | 22 Sep | 1 | Present till dusk. Per Andy Tomczinsky Permit holders only. | D K Parker |
| Arctic Skua | Queen Mother Res | 23 Sep | 5 | whilst watching the bonxie with four others, we saw the bonxie fly up high towards some bird flying by which appeared at first glance as large gulls. One of the other birders shouted skuas! I looked at them above the bonxie and realised they were all skuas. One of the others said they were arctics to which I agreed. They flew as a lose flock high above the perimeter embankment from the west side , south then S.E. towards Wraysbury reservoir. | A B Tomczynski |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 24 Sep | 1 | Still present | A D Bassett |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 23 Sep | 1 | juv | J O'Brien |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 24 Sep | 1 | juv | J O'Brien |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 25 Sep | 1 | juv | J O'Brien |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 26 Sep | 1 | juv | J O'Brien |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 25 Sep | 1 | juv. | G Randall |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 23 Sep | 1 | The same bird as I id'd late last night in the gloom on size, jizz, shape and got it wrong! Good to see it in daylight. Some consolation in others taken so long to nail it down to bonxie this am, and seeing five(!!) real arctic skuas pass by in the same field of view. | A B Tomczynski |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 22 Sep | 1 | 18.46hrs to dark, originally misidentified in very poor light and other side of reservoir as arctic. Also saw the following day. | A B Tomczynski |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 23 Sep | 1 | A juv first seen but not identified by DKP | D J Barker |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 24 Sep | 1 | Still | R Addison |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 22 Sep to 26 Sep | 1 | juvenile found as a skua sp. by D Parker, later identified as an Arctic skua by 2 separate observers. A variety of opinions then circulated, including Brown Skua (S. antarctica) but finally identified on Sept 23rd by CDRH et al as a juvenile Great Skua, all the more remarkable given the breeding failure of this species in the Northern Isles this summer. Sadly found dead by CDRH on the northeast shore at mid-morning on Sept 27th (skin now with LGRE). | C D R Heard |
| Great Skua | Queen Mother Res | 26 Sep | 1 | SHOWING VERY WELL ON THE WATER AND FLYING AROUND 9.30 -10.30 AT LEAST | R C Watts |
| Ring-billed Gull | Queen Mother Res | 11 Apr | 1 | 2nd-winter in roost with Lesser Black-backed Gulls but less than 40 Common Gulls | C D R Heard |
| Ring-billed Gull | Queen Mother Res | 26 Jul | 1 | possibly roosting here regularly but only arriving after dark; same bird as at Little Marlow GP during July 2004 | C D R Heard |
| Ring-billed Gull | Queen Mother Res | 24 Jul | 1 | C D R Heard | |
| Ring-billed Gull | Queen Mother Res | 21 Jul | 1 | 2nd-summer in roost | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Black Swan Lake | 17 Jan | 1 | 2nd winter | K E Moore |
| Caspian Gull | Black Swan Lake | 16 Jan | 1 | 1 1w | M F Walford |
| Caspian Gull | Black Swan Lake | 17 Jan | 1 | 1w - west or w/south of B.S.Lake | G Randall |
| Caspian Gull | Bray GP | 28 Jan | 1 | 1 3rd-winter 1305 to 1320hrs when it flew off to the south | D J Barker |
| Caspian Gull | Burnthouse Lane GP | 21 Nov | 1 | 1 ad | M F Walford |
| Caspian Gull | Burnthouse Lane GP | 21 Nov | 2 | ad + 1w - On middle pit ... adult is umissable, massive bill (pix to follow) | P Bright-Thomas |
| Caspian Gull | Burnthouse Lane GP | 22 Nov | 1 | K Spring | |
| Caspian Gull | Burnthouse Lane GP | 23 Jan | 1 | 1ad | R Crawford |
| Caspian Gull | Burnthouse Lane GP | 23 Nov | 2 | ad + 1w - showing well on middle pit. Both very obvious individuals. | M G McCarthy |
| Caspian Gull | Burnthouse Lane GP (S) | 30 Dec | 1 | 1st winter PROBABLE | K E Moore |
| Caspian Gull | Colebrook Lakes | 13 Mar | 4 | Between: 10:50-11:50. | G Harland |
| Caspian Gull | Colebrook Lakes | 17 Mar | 7 | Between: 10:50-11:50. | G Harland |
| Caspian Gull | Dinton Pastures CP | 15 Jan | 1 | 1w - Very obvious, clearly marked bird at southern end of BSL. Spent half hour+ washing and generally being aggressive to other gulls. Large individual, bill has a distinct white fleck on each side of the upper mandible near the tip, which was all dark, becoming paler towards the base. Flew off 14:19 towards tip, but may have gone to Lea Farm Lake/Scrape. | F J Cottington |
| Caspian Gull | Dinton Pastures CP | 15 Jan | 1 | 1w - On Black Swan Lake (per FJC) | P Bright-Thomas |
| Caspian Gull | Dinton Pastures CP | 17 Jan | 1 | 1st winter on Black Swan lake | A B Tomczynski |
| Caspian Gull | Dinton Pastures CP | 16 Jan | 1 | 1w - Saw bird fly in from East of DP, landed in long bay, visible from angler's car park end of BSL. Flew off at 14:13 & seen to drop down on to tip | F J Cottington |
| Caspian Gull | Dinton Pastures CP | 17 Jan | 1 | 1 1st-winter found by FC | D J Barker |
| Caspian Gull | Eversley GP | 15 Mar | 1 | B Harland | |
| Caspian Gull | Eversley GP | 17 Mar | 1 | B M Archer | |
| Caspian Gull | Eversley GP | 13 Mar | 1 | 2nd winter | I H Brown |
| Caspian Gull | Eversley GP | 15 Mar | 1 | G Harland | |
| Caspian Gull | Hurst | 21 Nov | 1 | Ad - Reported to me. In field atend of SandfordLane, opp Jolly Farmer pub. Flew off towards tip | F J Cottington |
| Caspian Gull | Hurst Landfill | 27 Nov | 1 | Ad - Flew back on to 'Lea Farm Lake' to drink & wash. Still present at 11:50. | F J Cottington |
| Caspian Gull | Lea Farm Pit | 27 Nov | 2 | Ad & 1w - Adult still nearest to Lodge Wood. 1st W located on lake briefly. | F J Cottington |
| Caspian Gull | Lea Farm Pit | 06 Dec | 1 | ad (f?) - Another new adult bird, smallish, with unusually brightly coloured bill (like YLG), but dark eye and cachinnans wing pattern. | P Bright-Thomas |
| Caspian Gull | Lea Farm Pit | 24 Nov | 1 | 1w - Probably not the BHL bird ... also two probable adults here recently | P Bright-Thomas |
| Caspian Gull | Moatlands GP | 17 Feb | 1 | I thought it a probable 1st W | A B Tomczynski |
| Caspian Gull | Pingewood Road Lake (E) | 03 Mar | 1 | same as at Smallmead 1000-1030hrs | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 01 Jan | 1 | 1st-winter at 0835-0850hrs, same bird as on Dec 31st 2003 | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 24 Nov | 1 | another(?) 1st-winter 1040-1151hrs | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 25 Nov | 2 | 1 adult & 1 heavily-marked 1st-winter, again in roost | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 27 Nov | 5 | comprising 1 2nd-winter 1410-1430hrs & again at 1510hrs; 2 adults, 1 still re-growing P10, from 1510hrs, & 1 probable female with a prominent white tip to closed wing, in roost; and 2 1st-winters in roost, 1 large & 1 heavily-marked | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 05 Dec | 2 | an adult & a well-marked 1st-winter; the adult probably being the same as that seen on 27/11/04 | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 10 Dec | 1 | an adult, probably the same as that seen on 27/11 & 5/12/04. A remarkable slump in sightings since last month, so was the Nov influx partly composed of passage birds? | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 23 Nov | 3 | possibly the same 1st-winter bathing, then flew off towards northeast at 1130hrs + another 2, an adult & a heavily-marked 1st-winter, in roost | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 15 Oct | 2 | 1st-winters, a male & female, presumably siblings, flew in together from the north at 1420hrs & present until 1600hrs at least. The birds seen this month & at least 1 more 1st-winter in early Nov represent the most pronounced influx since Nov/Dec 1998 (most welcome after finding none earlier in the autumn when up to 3 were reported together at Staines Res. | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 03 Nov | 1 | 1st-winter with damaged tip to right wing, in roost | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 04 Jan | 1 | as 1/1 | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 04 Nov | 1 | 1st-winter with undamaged wing-tip, bathing 1125-1230hrs | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 20 Nov | 1 | 1st-winter 0925-0937hrs then flew off northwards | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 03 Jan | 1 | as 1/1 | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Queen Mother Res | 08 Oct | 1 | juvenile moulting to 1st-winter | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Searle's Farm Lane GP | 17 Jan | 1 | ad - On sailing pit with 400+ Lesser Black-backs, 11 Herring Gulls and 1 Yellow-legged Gull | P Bright-Thomas |
| Caspian Gull | Searle's Farm Lane GP (S) | 22 Nov | 1 | adult PROBABLE | K E Moore |
| Caspian Gull | Smallmead Farm GP | 05 Mar | 1 | ad - on area adj to M4 with LBBGs | M G McCarthy |
| Caspian Gull | Smallmead Farm GP | 30 Dec | 1 | adult PROBABLE | K E Moore |
| Caspian Gull | Smallmead Farm GP | 10 Feb | 1 | ad - on the land by the motorway | J P Holt |
| Caspian Gull | Smallmead Farm GP | 23 Jan | 1 | ad - Smart bird, with greenish fine-tipped bill, probably different to either of the Sandford birds from December. Obviously several about just now, but also now many white-headed Herring Gulls. | P Bright-Thomas |
| Caspian Gull | Smallmead Farm GP | 11 Feb | 1 | ad - on pit 0915-0940 at least | M G McCarthy |
| Caspian Gull | Smallmead Farm GP | 02 Mar | 1 | adult, probably male, at rubbish tip 1152-1219hrs | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Smallmead Landfill | 10 Feb | 1 | 1st-winter 1430-1525hrs | C D R Heard |
| Caspian Gull | Sunnymeads GP | 04 Jan | 1 | presumed female | C D R Heard |
| Iceland Gull | Lower Farm GP | 02 Mar | 1 | ssp Kumlienii | J Crispin |
| Iceland Gull | Queen Mother Res | 12 Feb | 1 | adult winter in roost, same bird as dec 31st 2003 | C D R Heard |
| Iceland Gull | Queen Mother Res | 28 Apr | 1 | 1st-summer, flew in from west with Lesser Black-backed Gulls at 1954hrs & joined roost | C D R Heard |
| Iceland Gull | Queen Mother Res | 05 Dec | 1 | adult winter 1240-1250hrs, then flew off towards north-west & seen at Hedgerley the following day by LGRE. The earliest ever return date | C D R Heard |
| Iceland Gull | Queen Mother Res | 24 Feb | 1 | adult winter in roost | C D R Heard |
| Iceland Gull | Smallmead Landfill | 28 Apr | 1 | 1st-summer (LATE RECORD) | B T Bennett |
| Iceland Gull | Smallmead Landfill | 28 Apr | 1 | 1st-summer (LATE RECORD) | P M Cropper |
| Iceland Gull | Smallmead Landfill | 28 Apr | 1 | 1st-summer (LATE RECORD) | K Spring |