Lesser Whitethroat - 2014 Siberian subspecies

In October a bird looking a close match for a Siberian Lesser Whitethroat S. c. blythi was found at the Farm on the 3rd (RDB). It appeared to have a shorter than average primary projection, the browner crown and nape typical of the race and when later trapped the wing was found to be rounded, with a second primary roughly equal in length to the seventh, and the tail exhibited a white tip to the penultimate feather and a brighter white outer feather. A feather has been sent for DNA analysis which will hopefully confirm this as the first Siberian Lesser Whitethroat for Skokholm. The bird was present from the 3rd until the 5th. The final record of the year on 30th October also looked like a good candidate for S. c. blythi, however it soon entered the Bracken and was not trapped to allow for a close inspection of wing formula and tail pattern (GE).

Source: Skokhom Annual Report 2014

DNA from the feather confirmed the identity, and the record was subsequently accepted by WBRC.

Marsh Warbler - 2017 - 2nd for Pembrokeshire

One trapped in the Well Heligoland on 2nd June was the first for Skokholm and the first spring record for Pembrokeshire (RDB et al.). Along with differences in structure and plumage, the wing formula confirmed the identification; in the hand the second primary, which had a shorter notch than a Reed Warbler, was longer than the fourth primary and the end of the emargination of the third primary fell level with the tip of the eighth rather than the tenth.

The only other Pembrokeshire record was found on Skomer Island by Dave Boyle on the late date of 2nd November in 2009; singles on Skokholm between the 21st and 22nd September 1995 and on Skomer on 23rd September 1993 were both rejected by the Welsh Records Panel.

From the Skokholm Annual Report 2017

Ortolan Bunting - 2016 Skokholm

Emberiza hortulana Scarce - 51 previous records of 68 birds over 77 dates, with a maximum of four but only 7 in spring

Earliest 29th April 1987 Latest 15th November 2010 (17th August 2016)

1936-1976: 6 trapped

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A vocal bird on and around Home Meadow on the 17th was the first August record since 25th August 1975 and the earliest autumn record to date (GE, RDB et al.); the five other August birds occurred on either the 27th or 28th in 1970, 1966, 1959, 1957 and 1947. This was the third consecutive year with a sighting, the other observations this decade coming on 20th May 2015, 4th September 2014 and 15th November 2010. The majority of previous records have occurred in September.

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From the Skokhom Annual Report 2016

Richard's Pipit - 2016 Skokholm

Anthus richardi 

Rare logged in 16 previous autumns and two springs with peak daycounts of four in 1968 and 1970

A vocal bird on 21st October circled North Plain and then Orchid Bog before heading east (GE, RDB); it seemingly continued for the mainland as it could not be located on the Neck. This was the first Island record since another east bound flyover found on 15th September 2014. The only other records this century were on the 4th and 5th October and 10th November 2001 and on 2nd May 2000.

From the Skokholm Annual Report 2016

Yellow-browed Warbler - 2016 Skokholm

Phylloscopus inornatus 

One around the Farm on 5th October made its way into the Wheelhouse Heligoland and was ringed (OP et al.). An unringed bird at the Well four days later was trapped in the Stream Net, fortunately so as it showed that a bird at the Wheelhouse on the 10th was a third individual. The Wheelhouse bird was ringed and retrapped the following day when it was found to have increased in weight from 5.8 to 6.4g. A single was again logged on the 12th, probably the bird which first arrived on the 10th. The fourth of the autumn around the Cottage on 29th October made its way into the Library Net, the added ring again showing it to be different to the unringed bird which appeared the following day; this single on 30th October becomes the latest Island sighting. Five birds in an autumn is a new record, up on the four of 2015 and 2013; it takes the Skokholm total to approximately 32 birds, although recent ringing has shown that records on consecutive dates assumed in the past to be the same individual may have actually been more than one bird.

Skokholm Annual Report 2016

Wood Sandpiper - 2016 Skokholm

Tringa glareola -Scarce not recorded every year

A juvenile at North Pond on 9th August was two days later than the first of last season. It remained at the same site until the 14th but was not seen subsequently. A six day stay equalled birds logged in May 1994 and September 1972, the only longer residency being 11 days in August 1955 (a bird which was coincidentally the first Skokholm record). Although down on the four birds of 2015, singles in 2014 and 2005 are the only other records since one in 2003. There have now been birds in three consecutive years, a regularity which on Skokholm has only occurred before in the periods 1994 to 1996, 1971 to 1973 and 1962 to 1964. There are now records in 27 of 87 recording years.

Skokholm Annual Report 2016

Long-billed Dowitcher - 2017 Skokholm

Limnodromus scolopaceus

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A vocal flyover on 1st November looked to be landing on North Pond but pulled up and banked

sharply towards South Pond (RDB). A similar descent was made over South Pond, with the bird

spiralling in with dangling legs, however it again pulled up before heading east and away from the

Island. The high pitched kwip-ip alarm and then straight kwip flight call were both indicative of Long-billed Dowitcher; Short-billed Dowitcher typically give more Turnstone-like notes. The record was accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee as the fourth for Pembrokeshire.

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Skokholm Annual Report 2017

Common Rosefinch - 2015 Skokholm

Carpodacus erythrinus Llinos Goch

Rare 24 previous records including 11 in spring and all singles except for three on 11th October 2001

Earliest 3rd May 1970 (11th June 2015) Latest 12th October 1995

1 trapped

1936-1976: 4 trapped, 2011-2014: 4 trapped, 1 retrapped

A brown bird found outside of the Cottage on 11th June was the first spring record since 2013 and maintained the annual status of a species which has been logged in each of the last five years (RDB, GE); there were recent singles between the 5th and 10th September 2014, on 8th June 2013, between the 27th and 29th August 2012 and between the 2nd and 11th September 2011. Prior to these the most recent record was on 25th May 2003. Interestingly the last three spring records have all been one day birds whereas the last three autumn records have all lingered. This year’s bird was subsequently trapped in the Wheelhouse Heligoland and became the fifth to be ringed in five years, one more than marked during the first incarnation of Skokholm Bird Observatory.

Photos on Skokholm blog

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Skokholm Bird Observatory Annual Report 2015 (Richard Brown & Giselle Eagle)

Red-breasted Flycatcher - 2015 Skokholm

Ficedula parva Gwybedog Brongoch

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A first-winter found in the Courtyard on 6th October was later trapped in the Wheelhouse Heligoland

but not seen the following day (BB et al.). It spent much of the 6th flycatching from the Elders and occasionally plucking Cross Spiders Araneus diadematus from their webs.

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Remarkably the bird was controlled eight days later in a pub garden at Kilbaha, Loop Head, County Clare, Ireland (328km at 288 degrees westnorthwest); this was only the third time that a movement between Britain and another country has been recorded for this species. There have now been seven Skokholm birds in the past four years.

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Skokholm Bird Observatory Annual Report 2015 (Richard Brown & Giselle Eagle)

Barred Warbler - 2015 Skokholm

Rare Autumn Migrant 19 previous records

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A juvenile found in the Courtyard on the morning of 24th September appeared exhausted, feeding clumsily on Elderberries before returning to the same sunny branches where it regularly lost its balance and sat with its wings drooped (RDB et al.). Telescope views revealed that the bird was wearing a metal ring, however with it appearing so weak, no attempt was made to catch it and discover its provenance. Happily the bird appeared to perk up before disappearing over the westerly wall, not to be seen again.

More on Skokhom blog

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This was the first record since a bird on 8th September 2013 and only the 20th for Skokholm. Of the 18 other individuals, one was in the 1950s (the second for Wales on 12th September 1956), five were in the 1960s, one was in the 1970s, one was in the 1980s, eight were in the 1990s and two were in the first decade of this century.

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Skokholm Bird Observatory Annual Report 2015 (Richard Brown & Giselle Eagle)

Long-billed Dowitcher - 2015 Skokholm

Vagrant - no previous island records

A vocal juvenile which circled North Plain in heavy drizzle on the evening of 20th September was seen and heard sufficiently well to confirm the identification before it roosted on the back of North Pond 50 (RDB, GE, BB, et al.). The bird was seen in flight and heard several times the following morning, although it did not settle and good views seemed unlikely. However the arrival of a juvenile Dunlin appeared to relax the dowitcher and they fed together during the afternoon of the 21st. It was not seen to leave North Pond for the next three days and generally fed alone from the 22nd. There was no sign of it on the 25th following a calm and clear night.

Phot (c) Richard Brown from Skokholm blog 

This was the first record for Skokholm and only the third for Pembrokeshire following first-winter birds at the Gann between 12th December 1987 and 3rd January 1988 and between 1st January and 23rd March 2013 (Rees, 2014).

Skokholm Bird Observatory Annual Report 2015 (Richard Brown & Giselle Eagle)

Red-necked Phalarope - 2015 Skokholm

Vagrant - no previous island records

Two summer plumaged birds found on North Pond during 9th June were the first record for Skokholm and the first spring record for Pembrokeshire (SWR, PTI, RDB et al.). They were still present the following day but were not seen on the 11th.

Photos etc on Skokholm blog

The four previous Pembrokeshire records were a first-winter shot on a farm pond near St Twynells in c.1900 (the specimen was confirmed as this species in 1928), singles off St Ann’s Head on 19th September 1950 and at the Gann on 16th September 1957 and most recently a juvenile on a slurry pond at Haroldston West on the 4th and 5th October 1983 (Rees, 2011).

Nationally 2015 was an exceptional year for passage records of this species and it proved a record breeding year in Shetland.

Skokholm Bird Observatory Annual Report 2015 (Richard Brown& Giselle Eagle)