Rare Birds Day by Day

Steve Dudley, Tim Benton, Peter Fraser, John Ryan

• Publisher: T & AD Poyser
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN:
  9781408137956
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781408137949
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Zoology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Covering 282 rare species and sub-species (plus records for a further 18 Category D species) found in Britain and Ireland, around 20,000 individual records of rare birds are listed in diary style, with each individual bird appearing on the date on which it was originally found, along with all the other rare birds found on that date between 1958 and 1994.

Rare Birds Day by Day follows three earlier Poyser titles looking at scarce and rare birds recorded in Britain and Ireland, Scarce Migrant Birds in Britain and Ireland (Sharrock, 1974), Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland (Sharrock & Sharrock, 1976) and Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland (Dymond, Fraser & Gantlett, 1989). Like these previous books, this latest rare bird title has been brought to you by well-known and experienced British birders and rare bird finders.

This book, however, differs markedly from the earlier volumes, in that it moves away from the traditional presentation of species in systematic order. Each record is listed in county order and is accompanied by the finding site, number of birds (for multiple records) and length of stay (for those birds remaining for more than one day).

This new and novel way of presenting rare bird data will prove fascinating to anyone with an interest in finding and watching rare migrant and vagrant species. It will also prove a valuable and fun tool for the keenest rarity hunters, enabling them to use the book as a rare bird predictor, by following closely the birds found on each date over the 36 years covered by the book.

The book is enlivened with illustrations by Dave Nurney, most of them specifically prepared for this volume.

OCTOBER

1 October

species 43, individuals 84

A good start to what most birders see as the most exciting month, with more rare birds found in October than at any other time of the year. The Pied-billed Grebe is only the fourth British record, whilst the Glossy Ibis is the first of five Scottish records since 1958. Six Olive-backed Pipits include only one away from the Northern Isles, which also claim one of the greatest prizes, a Siberian Thrush, which attracted many admirers from the south during its eight day stay. With the Scilly season around the corner, an increasing number of birds are beginning to be found by those choosing to stay on the islands before the crowds arrive next week.

White-billed Diver

ORKNEY, Birsay (1984)

Pied-billed Grebe

KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE, Carlingwark Loch (1975 until 8 October)

Black-browed Albatross

CORK, Cape Clear Island (1967)

Little Shearwater

YORKSHIRE, Flamborough Head (3) (1978)

Glossy Ibis

ARGYLLSHIRE, Tiree (1958 until 26 October)

Red-breasted Goose

YORKSHIRE, Spurn (1978)

Blue-winged Teal

WESTMEATH, Denararagh (2) (1975)

Black Kite

CORNWALL, Hayle Estuary (1983); ESSEX, Ongar (1980)

Semipalmated Sandpiper

CORNWALL, Torpoint (1988 until 15 October)

White-rumped Sandpiper

ANTRIM, Duncrue Street Marsh, Belfast (1978); CORK, Shanagarry Marsh (1966 until 2 October), Lissagriffin (1976 until 2 October), Kinsale Marsh (1993 until 10 October); KERRY, Akeragh Lough (1960 until 15 October); OUTER HEBRIDES, North Bay (1991 until 3 October)

Baird’s Sandpiper

CORNWALL, Crowdy Reservoir (1989 until 11 October); MAYO, Learn Lough (1980)

Great Snipe

KENT, St Margaret’s (1983); ORKNEY, North Ronaldsay (1994)

Long-billed Dowitcher

DERRY, Bann Estuary (1988 until 1 January 1989); DUMFRIES-SHIRE, Caerlaverock (1985 until 9 October); LONDON/MIDDLESEX, Staines Reservoir (1977 until 15 October); ROSCOMMON, Lough Funshinagh (1963 until 10 October)

Dowitcher sp.

CORNWALL, Stithians Reservoir (1977 until 3 October)

Lesser Yellowlegs

CORNWALL, Calenick Creek (1975 until 22 October); OXFORDSHIRE, Stanton Harcourt (1970 until 17 October)

Spotted Sandpiper

CORK, Cape Clear Island (1983 until 15 October)

Wilson’s Phalarope

CORK, Clonakilty (1977 until 8 October); LANCASHIRE, South Walney (1989); SOMERSET, Durleigh Reservoir (1967 until 4 October)

Gull-billed Tern

CORNWALL, Stithians Reservoir (1987); GLOUCESTERSHIRE, Frampton-on-Severn (1967); KENT, Shellness (1960)

White-winged Black Tern

NORFOLK, Cley (1973 until 10 October); SOMERSET, Chew Valley Lake (1983)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

SCILLY, St Agnes (1980 until 11 October)

Red-rumped Swallow

HERTFORDSHIRE, Hilfield Park Reservoir (1966)

Olive-backed Pipit

ORKNEY, Stronsay (1990); SHETLAND, Fair Isle (1990 until 2 October & 1992 until 15 October), Whalsay (1993); YORKSHIRE, Filey (1993)

Pechora Pipit

SHETLAND, Fair Isle (1994 until 9 October)

Red-throated Pipit

CHESHIRE, Red Rocks (1993 until 2 October); DORSET, Lodmoor (1992 until 2 October); KENT, Elmley (1994); SHETLAND, Out Skerries (1976 until 3 October)

Siberian Stonechat

CORNWALL, Porthgwarra (1985 until 4 October); NORTHUMBERLAND, Low Hauxley (1978); ORKNEY, Stronsay (1992 until 4 October)

Black-eared Wheatear

CORNWALL, Porthgwarra (1971 until 2 October)

White’s Thrush

SHETLAND, Seafield (1993)

Siberian Thrush

ORKNEY, North Ronaldsay (1992 until 8 October)

Subalpine Warbler

EAST LOTHIAN, Tyninghame (1987)

Greenish Warbler

HAMPSHIRE, Hengistbury Head (1985 until 3 October)

Arctic Warbler

NORFOLK, Great Yarmouth (1988 until 2 October); SHETLAND, Unst (1978 until 2 October), Dal...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Copyright page
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Introduction
• Country index
• Country map
• Acknowledgements
• JANUARY
• FEBRUARY
• MARCH
• APRIL
• MAY
• JUNE
• JULY
• AUGUST
• SEPTEMBER
• OCTOBER
• NOVEMBER
• DECEMBER
• Monthly species totals
• Species list
• References and bibliography