Hermit Thrush

Highlight since the last post was a Hermit Thrush found by Paul French. A Western Palearctic lifer for many birders and also for top WP birder Pierre-Andre Crochet and only the 4th record for the Azores. Other new birds included an Indigo Bunting on 16th October and possibly a new Yellow Warbler on 17th.

A Barnacle Goose on 16th was a Corvo/Azores tick for many birders, with only 13 previous records on the Azores. This species is a national rarity for Portugal. 

25+ Short-finned Pilot Whales were off Lighthouse Valley on 17th. 

 Hermit Thrush (above and below) (Vingent Legrand)

Female Northern Parula (Vincent Legrand) 

Bobolink (Vincent Legrand) 

Barnacle Goose (Peter Alfrey) 

Short-finned Pilot Whales

Daily Logs: 

16th October

1 Hermit Thrush (Fojo), 1 Cliff Swallow, 1 Bobolink (near da Ponte), 1 Indigo Bunting (Poco d'Agua), 1 Red-eyed Vireo (Pico), 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Barnacle Goose (in Channel), 2 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Lapland Bunting, 1 Snow Bunting 

17th October

1 Yellow Warbler (Lapa), 1 Northern Parula (Lighthouse Valley), 1 Hermit Thrush (Fojo), 1 Buff-bellied Pipit, 2 Red-eyed Vireo (Da Ponte), 1 Northern Harrier, 2 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Barnacle Goose, 4 Snow Bunting 

A steady few days

It's been a relatively quiet period with no new arrivals although the weather has made birding difficult. The highlight has been the first calender year male Northern Harrier showing well between the Reservoir and Lapa and the Northern Parula at the Lighthouse Valley. There's also a few Red-eyed Vireos around and a Buff-bellied Pipit. 

 First calendar year male Northern Harrier (Vincent Legrand) 

 Buff-bellied Pipit (Vincent Legrand) 

Red-eyed Vireo (Vincent Legrand)

Lapland Bunting (Vincent Legrand) 

Daily logs:
13th October:
1 Northern Parula (Light House Valley), 1 Buff-bellied Pipit (Reservoir), 3 Red-eyed Vireos (1 Pico, 2 Village), 2 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Lapland Bunting (Cape Verde Farm), 3 Great Shearwater
14th October:
1 Buff-bellied Pipit (Reservoir), 2 Red-eyed Vireo (De Ponte), 2 Blue-winged Teal (Caldera), 2 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Redpoll sp, 1 Lapland Bunting (Reservoir), 1 Glossy Ibis and 1 Pintail (Caldera)
15th October : 1 Northern Parula (Lighthouse Valley), 1 Red-eyed Vireo (De Ponte), 1 Lapland Bunting (Middle Fields), 2 Semipalmated Plover (airfield)

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BIRD NEWS FROM AZORES

FLORES DOES IT AGAIN- CONNECTICUT WARBLER

Almost a year to the day, Thijs Valkenburg has found another first for the WP on the neighbouring island of Flores. Last year on 13th October Thijs and company found a Western Kingbird and yesterday (12th October) they caught a Connecticut Warbler while conducting a ringing project. Connecticut Warbler is a notoriously skulking species and like other members of the Oporornis genus are the most difficult american wood warblers to detect in the field. More ringing activity on Flores and Corvo could well reveal more elusive american species. 

Once again the potential of Flores for attracting new species for the Western Palearctic has been highlighted and while currently most birders travel to Corvo, the neighbouring and larger island of Flores will undoubtedly hold a different potential to Corvo. The larger size of the island means that larger numbers of birders would be required to cover it adequately. 

However the last week on Corvo has also been full on with new arrivals of Yellow, Hooded, Magnolia, Black-throated Green Warbler and Northern Parula in addition to White-eyed, Philadelphia and up to six Red-eyed Vireo with Buff-bellied Pipit, Northern Harrier, Bobolink and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Interestingly there have also been up to two Green Darners on the island, a vagrant dragonfly from North America. 

So far weather has not permitted Corvo birders to twitch Flores for the Connecticut Warbler and apprehension is currently high, for if history does repeat itself, like the Western Kingbird last year, the skulking Connecticut may never be seen again ? 

Connecticut Warbler (above and below)- a first for the Azores and the WP. Flores (Thijs Valkenburg)

 Prothonotary Warbler - last seen on 7th October (Paul French) 

 Magnolia Warbler (Paul French) 

Female Green Darner (Paul French). According to Dijkstra (2010) fromer occurrence in the Western Palearctic comprised six individuals on the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall in 1998 and one in Nantes, France in September 2003. 

 Daily logs:

7th October: 
1 Prothonortary Warbler (still at Cantinho), 2 Yellow Warbler (Cape Verde Farm), 1 Magnolia Warbler (Middle Fields), 1 male Hooded Warbler (Campsite), 1 Philadelphia Vireo (Middle Fields), 1 Scarlet Tanager (Village photographed by a local person)
8th October:
1 Black-throated Green Warbler (Upper Lapa), Northern Waterthrush (Reservoir), 1 Black-and-white Warbler (Cantinho), 3 Red-eyed Vireos (Da Ponte, Poco do Agua and Fojo), 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Upper Lapa)
9th October: 
1 White-eyed Vireo (Upper Lapa), 3 Red-eyed Vireo (Da Ponte, Upper Lapa), 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Poco do Agua) 2 Blue-winged Teal , 1 Garganey, 1 Glossy Ibis  (Caldera)
10th October:
1 Hooded Warbler (do Vinte), 1 White-eyed Vireo (Upper Lapa), 1 Buff-bellied Pipit (Caldera), 2 Red-eyed Vireo (Upper de Ponte and one De Ponte), 2 Semipalmated Plover (airfield)
11th October:
1 Yellow Warbler (Tamarisks), 1 Hooded Warbler (do Vinte), 1 White-eyed Vireo (Upper Lapa), 1 Bobolink (Lapa fields), 6 Red-eyed Vireo (3 Pico, 2 De Ponte, 1 Pig Farm), 2 Semipalmated Plover (airfield) 1 Osprey (over Campsite), 1 Common Swift (Village)
12th October:
 1 Yellow Warbler (Cape Verde), 1 Hooded Warbler (Do Vinte), 1 White-eyed Vireo (Upper Lapa), 1 Buff-bellied Pipit (Reservoir), 1 Northern Parula (Lighthouse Valley), 1 Northern Harrier (upper Reservoir), 2 Semipalmated Plover (airfield), 1 Blue-winged Teal (Caldera), 2 Pink-footed Goose (Windmills), 1 Gloosy Ibis (Caldera), 1 Common Swift (Village), 1 Osprey (over Reservoir)

THE AZORES RARE AND SCARCE BIRD REPORT 2016- OUT NOW

To order a copy please email littleoakgroup@btinternet.com 

Cost is £8 plus P&P 

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER !!

As starts to the season go, things dont get much better than what has happened over the last couple of weeks. Last week's, Cape May and Chestnut-sided Warbler were unbelievable topped by something even better- a first for the Western Palearctic, and top of the dream wish list; Prothonotary Warbler found by Jean-Pierre Jordan.

This is now the 25th species of american wood warbler recorded on Corvo (only Palm and Cerulean on the WP list have not recorded on the island). This is the third first for the WP american wood warbler following Yellow-throated Warbler and Prairie Warbler. A hybrid Golden-winged x Blue-winged 'Brewster's Warbler' was also a first for the WP.

 First-winter female Prothonotary Warbler (Paul French), above and below

  

Ovenbird (Paul French) 

Daily Logs:
29th September: Northern Waterthrush (Lower Lapa),
1st October: Northern Waterthrush (Upper Lapa)
2nd October: 2 Black-and-white Warbler (Cantinho)
4th October: 1 Prothonotary Warbler,  (Cantinho), 1 Bobolink (middle fields), 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin (Airfield),
5th October: 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 2 Black-and-white Warbler, 3 Red-eyed Vireo (Cantinho, Fojo and De Ponte)
6th October: 1 Ovenbird (Fojo), 3 Red-eyed Vireo (2 Fojo, 1 Poco d'Agua), 2 Black-and-white Warbler (Cantinho)

Welcome to Corvo 2019

Corvo 2019 got off to a dramatic start with top Corvo rarity finders, Peter Stronach and Bob Swann arriving on the island for a tactical late September trip.  They arrived on Monday 23rd and by the end of the week had found two firsts for the Azores, both American wood warblers; Chestnut-sided and Cape May Warbler. 24 species of American Wood Warbler have now been recorded on Corvo. The only other wood warbler species on the Western Palearctic list (not been recorded on Corvo ) are Cerulean and Palm (via Netfugl) 

Chestnut-sided Warbler. The second record for Azores and the fifth for the Western Palearctic. (Photo: Peter Stronach) 

First-winter male Cape May Warbler. The first record for the Azores and the third for the Western Palearctic.  (Photo: Peter Stronach) 

The week ahead. Hurricane Lorenzo is set to arrive on the Azores this week before heading towards UK. The weather system is arriving from the south (not necessarily the best direction for american vagrants) but as it moves north it will drag a westerly airflow across the Atlantic to the Azores. 

Daily Logs: 

23rd September

3 Red-eyed Vireo (2 Lighthouse Valley, 1 De Ponte), 1 Sand/Bank Martin, 2 Barn Swallow ssp

24th September
1 Black-and-white Warbler , 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Barn Swallow ssp (Upper Lighthouse Valley), 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler, 1 Canada Warbler, 2-3 Red-eyed Vireo (Fojo)
25th September
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler, 1 Canada Warbler (Fojo), 2 Red-eyed Vireo (Lapa)
26th September
1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Blue-winged Teal, 3 Glossy Ibis, 1 Wheatear, 22 Mallard/Black Duck hybrid (Caldera), 2 Red-eyed Vireo (Do Vinte and Fojo)
27th September
1 Cape May Warbler (Upper Poco do Agua), 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler (Fojo)
28th September
1 Black-and-white Warbler, 3 Red-eyed Vireo (Pico)

For news from all the Azores islands: Aves dos Acores

Corvo 2018 – Another bonanza autumn on the Rock!

I managed to compile a summary of observations and a few descriptive stats for the past autumnal season on Corvo.

A summary table of all individual records is presented below. The table focuses on species/individuals of Nearctic origin. In addition to those records, quite an impressive tally of Palearctic species were also reported, including some incredible records such as a Red-breasted Flycatcher and multiple Yellow-browed Warblers…

This year, an estimated 100+ birders visited this tiny island from mid-September to early November. The first Nearctic waterbird species was found on 12/09 (White-rumped Sandpiper) and the last one on 03/11 (American Bittern), while for Nearctic landbirds the season was less protracted with the first species found on 04/10 (Northern Harrier) and last on 24/10 (Magnolia Warbler).

Overall, no less than 29 American landbird species were reported, with a total estimated 102 different individuals. Thus, in terms of species richness, 2018 was as good as 2017 – and together those are the best two years ever experienced on Corvo! In addition, 13 American Waterbird species were found during the autumn, with a total estimated 30 different individuals, which sets 2018 as an average year for waterbirds.

As can be seen from the two graphs below, most Nearctic landbird rarities were produced over the week 16-23 October. That week will probably remain in everyone’s memory (at least for those lucky birders present on the island!), particularly 16-17 October with 31 and 37 landbird individuals reported respectively, of which 22 and 20 were new findings for the day.

Daily totals of Nearctic individuals reported on Corvo (daily totals include both new birds for the day and birds found on a previous day and still present)

Cumulative plot of Nearctic landbird individuals discovered on Corvo, 4-29 October 2018 (n = 102 records)

Quality was also at the rendez-vous this year with a long list of extremely rare records for the Western Palearctic (WP): Blue Grosbeak (1st WP record); Eastern Wood Pewee (3rd WP record); Bay-breasted Warbler (3rd WP record); Wilson's Warbler (4th WP record; first for Azores); White-eyed Vireo (4th WP record); Lincoln's Sparrow (5th WP record); Wood Thrush (5th WP record); Yellow-throated Vireo (8th WP record), etc.

White-eyed Vireo, 4th WP record (all 4 records are from Corvo), 20 October 2018 (David Monticelli)

A more complete account is currently in prep for publication on Birdguides in the next days!

BIRDGUIDES ARTICLE HERE