Undoubtedly there were a load of very rare birds in 2021 and many long term blockers were unblocked, not least Varied Thrush, which presumably Dave did not see. The pandemic affected my personal birding as I was uneasy about car sharing and unwilling to drive longer distances on my own. As a result I did not see many of the available rarities. These days all the stars have to align before I make the effort.
I did manage to see Ring-necked Duck, Adult Rose-coloured Starling and Red-rumped Swallow in Greater Manchester but the top GM bird goes to the unexpected male Hen Harrier I found on my local patch.
Fairly local were a White-winged Black Tern and an uninspiring Blue-winged Teal, both at Northwich, and later in the year a Wilsons Phalarope at Burton Wetlands.
Further afield the Black-browed Albatross and White-tailed Plover were seen on the same day, both excellent experiences but neither British ticks. Nor was the equally charismatic Elegant Tern at Cemlyn. The east coast warblers and flycatcher escaped me and so did the Long-toed Stint when I drove close it whilst going on holiday, but that was before it had been identified. Fortunately it did the decent thing and stayed until I drove home. This laid to bed a long term bogey, having travelled years ago for an individual that turned out to be a hybrid and then for another in East Sussex that was never accepted (and I did not see it anyway). That leaves my bird of the year. I happened to be doing general birding around Eagland Hill when a text message came through that the Belted Kingfisher near Brockholes LWT Reserve had been refound after an absence of 11 days. I felt it would almost certainly be a fly through and carried on with my birding day for a while but it was only 18 miles away and nagged away until I succumbed and made the short journey. Amazingly, after I had negotiated the slope of death, it was still showing well and put to bed a dip at Shugborough Hall, Staffs some 16 years earlier. The combination of a historic dip, a wonderfully charismatic bird and the fact that it showed extremely well for over 3 hours made it my hands down my bird of the year.
I think it depends on your personal priorities to a large extent. I was lucky enough to see a few megas this year, it just fell right; I was already at Flamborough on the day the Taiga Flycatcher was found for instance. I got the feeling that some older birders got a few birds unblocked on their various lists this year, the Long-toed Stint, the Belted Kingfisher, Elegant Tern, Green and Two-barred Greenish Warblers and so on. The Stint twitch was the biggest crowd I've ever seen and a lot of guys were seriously emotional about that bird, you could tell.
On the East Coast, I think folk would say it had been pretty good for megas but Andy is right that it was poor for the volumes of birds. I got to Spurn for the Two-barred Greenish Warbler, which was lovely, but we only saw a couple of Goldcrests whereas you'd expect dozens and lots of other bits. There were some odd blips though, for instance I saw as many Little Stints this autumn in a couple of weeks as I'd ever seen before in total.
I do think we must be due a proper bumper October soon, for me the bird I am hoping to see again is Pallas's Warbler, they were pretty thin on the ground this year and last year I think; I've not seen one for years.
Not quite seeing it that way, Dave. This will be the first time for 15 years that I haven't seen a new bird in Greater Manchester (missed the swallow as I had a prior engagement). Looking more widely across the UK, I don't think it has been a rip-roaring success by any means. The East coast, for instance, had a very quiet Autumn, whilst Portland, Dorset (which I spent 6 days near to in September) was likewise decrying the lack of ANY sort of migration. Anyway, I suppose it is all a personal viewpoint in the end. Glad you've enjoyed it!
A strange year what with restrictions on travel, Covid problems, injections (for all sensible enough people to have them done) and of course our old friend the British weather. In January/February I spent most of my time in my bubble visiting local areas on the Fylde area for our exercise walks, the notable bird being a Tundra Bean Goose. Then in March, as we heard news that restrictions may well be lifted in April, a return to my normal area resulted in seeing a Brent Goose at Hollingworth Lake a Rock Pipit at one of our local reservoir`s and then a trip further afield a Ring necked Duck, all seen during exercise walks. A rare bird in Lancashire, a Pied billed Grebe, all the way from North America was seen on a fishing lake was well received. Now news began to filter out from Devon that a Northern Mockingbird had been seen in Exmouth, also the news that we could move about more freely from the 1st April. Would this bird stay around? A few days before freedom began, plans were made to go see it. On the 2nd April the Northern Mockingbird was seen and my first Lifer of the year added. A Lesser White fronted Goose was seen on the Fylde in amongst 400+ Pink footed Geese grazing on Pilling Marsh. With spring being in full swing our summer visitors began arriving at our local area`s and it felt really good to be able to go and admire them!
In early May a very smart Red Rumped Swallow was seen amongst the masses of hirundines at Audenshaw Reservoir near Manchester. Now the Northern Mockingbird was seen again, this time in Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland after leaving Devon. A good trip to see it in someone`s back garden on a very wet day was well enjoyed. A Red necked Phalarope was seen on the way back at a most unusual reservoir! Late May and a little holiday in Northumberland in glorious weather, had me watching, what I thought was a Black Tern at Beadnell, the bird later turned into an American Black Tern after some sharp eyed observer took some good photograph`s of it. A boat trip out to Coquet Island from Amble was excellent with lots of Roseate Terns seen on breeding territory. Towards the end of May a summer plumaged Franklin`s Gull had been visiting RSPB Swillington near Leeds. Unfortunately, an 8 hour stint waiting for the bird to show had us leaving without connecting. The gull was again reported a couple of days after, so as this very bird had been the last species that my dear departed friend Steve B missed out on. I went and didn`t intend to come home without seeing it, lots of walking, getting very wet had me watching the bird which was duly dedicated to Steve! On the last day of May a very smart Red Backed Shrike was seen on the Fylde.
In June Great Reed Warbler, River Warbler and a very smart Roller were seen adding to my rare bird tally. But the big news on the 28th June centred on a Black Browed Albatross that had been seen at RSPB Bempton Cliffs perching on the cliffs with the Gannet`s. Now my luck with seeing this species was not good at all, but you never get anything unless you try hard. A very early start on the 30th (an important meeting on the 29th could not be re-scheduled) had us arriving at Bempton and waiting for news. Then the Albatross was found and one of my Dream Birds was seen at very close quarters, what a bird! Into July a visit to see the Elegant Tern on Anglesey, Rufous Turtle Dove in Easington, Yorkshire, Pacific Golden Plover at Frampton, Lincolnshire. Could the rare birds start to dry up no not really. The Elegant Tern had relocated to Hightown, Merseyside in amongst masses of Sandwich Tern`s after a couple of trips we saw it quite well. At the end of August a White Tailed Lapwing arrived at RSPB Blacktoft Sands, Yorkshire (its still there as I write this) this sparked lots of interest amongst twitchers and normal birders alike.
September started badly for myself with a fruitless slog along Blakeney Point in Norfolk to dip a Sykess Warbler but it certainly got better when a Green Warbler was found near Buckton, Yorkshire. After having picked up an injured leg the day before the walk to see it was difficult but well worth the effort, another cracking bird. A couple of trips into North Wales resulting in a close look at a Squacco Heron at Gronant was also well received. An iffy looking stint in Nottinghamshire, then a Blue phase Little Egret rounded the month of nicely.
Traditionally, October is a good month to see rare birds in Britain and what happened on the 9th of the month certainly backed that theory up. A Long Toed Stint had been found at RSPB Swillington, near Leeds, Yorkshire the evening before. When positive news that the bird was still present we dashed over and in amongst the large crowds assembled there, we all had our first look at this Siberian beauty. I enjoyed watching the bird so much that I went 3 times in total! The more regular birds that are nearly always seen on the east coast in October were not being seen, mainly due to unfavourable winds during the month. But on the 16th a birder in the Spurn area in Yorkshire, took a photograph of what he thought was a Yellow Browed Warbler and showed it to more experienced friends, who duly proclaimed the bird to be a Two-barred Greenish Warbler. Another early start had us all arriving in the area and admiring another very rare bird, we hung around for quite a while and all had great views of this beautiful warbler.
As November dawned and the last of the rarer species began to dry up, again due to heavy rainfall and no easterly winds, thoughts of putting our optical equipment away were shattered! A well placed (No pun intended) fisherman/birder saw a Belted Kingfisher on the River Ribble near Brockholes, Preston on the 8th, after doubting his sighting himself he took some snaps on his mobile and let others know. There was a few people who ridiculed his sighting of an American Belted Kingfisher in little old Lancashire! The bird was not seen again until the 14th of the month when another single observer saw it and sent more convincing photograph`s to interested people. We went and missed the bird, well it was only in Preston! Would it be seen again and where did it keep disappearing to, was the question on everyone`s mind? The answer came on the 25th when the Belted Kingfisher was showing itself to all who went to see it. The short journey and the perilous decent to the river`s edge were made and this enigmatic bird was thoroughly admired for 45 glorious minutes.
I know its only the 7th of December and more rare birds could possibly turn up, but what a year its been for us all enjoying our feathered friends whether common or rare. Thanks to all finders of special birds, without your efforts I would not be writing this.
