A steady week

It's been a steady week with a few new birds and a growing number of long staying American vagrants mid-week. The 13th October had a pretty incredible list of birds that had accumulated on the island (see daily log below). New arrivals include a Gray-cheeked Thrush which appeared in exactly the same spot as a Swainson's Thrush a couple of days before (causing some initial confusion) and Scarlet Tanager on the 14th was also a new arrival. A probable Red-footed Booby on the 14th was also reported.  

Prothonotary Warbler (Vincent Legrand) 

Northern Parula (Vincent Legrand)

The first-winter female Cape May Warbler (David Monticelli above and Vincent Legrand, two photos below) was mist netted on the 16th as part of a long term Nearctic vagrant ringing study 

Gray-cheeked Thrush (Vincent Legrand)

Swainson's Thrush (Daniel Maurus) 

Daily Log:

17th October: 1 Cape May Warbler, 1 Northern Parula, 3 Red-eyed Vireos, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 4 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 Glossy Ibis, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Redwing (Sound recorded at night by Magnus Robb) 

16th October: 1 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Cape May Warbler 

15th October: 1 Grey-cheeked Thrush, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Northern Parula at Lighthouse, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 3 Glossy Ibis, 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 2 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Ring-necked Duck. 

14th October:  Probable Red-footed Booby off the Windmills , 1 Deserta's-type Petrel off Windmills, 1 Scarlet Tanager, 1 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Swainson's Thrush, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 1 Cape May Warbler, 

13th October: 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 1 Cape May Warbler, 2 Cliff Swallow, 1 Swainson's Thrush, 2 Northern Parula, Red-eyed Vireo in the village, 1 Alpine Swift, 2 Glossy Ibis, 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 4 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 1 Upland Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard 

Corvo Maps

Updated birding maps of Corvo by Vincent Legrand.

Prothonotary Warbler!

They don't get much more sought after than this- a male Prothonotary Warbler found today by Pierre-Andre Crochet in a small valley south of the Lighthouse Valley. This is the second for Corvo and the WP. The first was a female bird in 2019, for comparison See Here . 

The Cape May Warbler was also still present in the village today showing well. A superb duo of mega American wood warblers. The Northern Parula was also still present and there were a few Red-eyed Vireos, a Cliff Swallow and a Rough-legged Buzzard. 

What with the low latitude westerlies continuing until tomorrow at least, there could be another mega lurking. For more on rarities and weather on Corvo see pages 12 and 14 in the most recent review article HERE. 

Male Prothonotary Warbler (Vincent Legrand). 

First-winter female Cape May Warbler (Vincent Legrand) 

The Prothonotary Twitch. After a rather long nervous wait on some rather precipitous ledges the stunning bird finally showed well.   

Daily log:

12th October: Prothonotary Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula in lighthouse valley, 3 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Cliff Swallow, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard

11th October: Cape May Warbler still in village, 1 Swainson's Thrush at Fojo, 1 Northern Parula in Lighthouse Valley,  1 Indigo Bunting in do Vinte, 2 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Upland Sandpiper, 1 Buff-bellied Pipit, 2 Cliff Swallow, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Glossy Ibis  

A Fall and Cape May Warbler

A period of westerlies delivered the goods over the last week with the  8th and 9th October being red letter days (see daily log below). A small fall of American migrants on the 8th included American Redstart, 2 Cliff Swallows, a Bobolink, a Buff-bellied Pipit and several waterbirds but it was the following day that the serious quality arrived in the shape of a Cape May Warbler, found by Marten Muller, only the 3rd record for the Azores and the 7th for the Western Palearctic. There was also 2 Northern Parula and a Philadelphia Vireo found on the 8th.

A period of low/mid- latitude westerlies are predicted over the next few days, so another eagerly anticipated week lies ahead. 

DAILY UPDATES ON CORVO BIRDERS FACEBOOK PAGE

Cape May Warbler (Marten Muller)

American Redstart (Marten Muller)

Daily Log:

10th October: Upland Sandpiper, 1 Ring-billed Gull, 1 adult Kittiwake, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 White-rumped Sandpiper

9th October: 1 Cape May Warbler found by Marten Muller in the village, 1 Philadelphia Vireo in Upper Poco d'Agua, 2 Northern Parula one in Lighthouse Valley and one in Lapa, 2 Cliff Swallow, 2 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Upland Sandpiper

8th October: 1 American Redstart near Power Station, 2 Cliff Swallow, 1 Bobolink on Lighthouse Road, 1 Buff-bellied Pipit at reservoir, 2 Red-eyed Vireo, 5 Blue-winged Teal, 4 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 1 Northern Harrier,  

7th October:  1 Northern Harrier, 1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Deserta's/Fea's Petrel off windmills, 1 Surf Scoter, 2 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 Corncrake, 1 White Wagtail 

6th October: 2 Red-eyed Vireo , 1 Upland Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 1 Corncrake

Black-billed Cuckoo and Upland Sandpiper Top the Bill

The last few days have still been marked by low numbers of American vagrants but fortunately that included some quality birds. A Black-billed Cuckoo found in Da Ponte on 2nd October by Lorenzo Vanni is only the second record for Corvo and the first which has been photographed. The first record on the island dates back to October 2010, seen briefly by Vincent Legrand so the recent bird was a very welcomed overdue record (also a lifer for lead WP birder Pierre-Andre Crochet). It is perhaps surprising there have not been more Black-billed Cuckoos on Corvo considering this is the 25th record for the WP and the 5th for the Azores.  

The other highlights of the last few days included an Upland Sandpiper on 5th October and Red-eyed Vireo. 

A Green Heron , 2 Ring-necked Ducks and an Alpine Swift were found on the neighbouring island of Flores by Thierry Jansen on 5th October. 

 

Black-billed Cuckoo (Lorenzo Vanni) 

Red-eyed Vireo (Lorenzo Vanni) 

Upland Sandpiper (Lorenzo Vanni) 

 Daily logs: 

5th October: Upland Sandpiper in middle fields,  Deserta's/Fea's Petrel from windmills.

4th October: Red-eyed Vireo in Da Ponte, Wood Sandpiper in middle fields, Corncrake in middle fields. Also Grant's Storm Petrels calling at night in vicinity of Windmills.

3rd October:  Willow Warbler in Tennessee Valley, Snow Bunting at reservoir

2nd October: Black-billed Cuckoo found by Lorenzo Vanni in da Ponte, Corncrake in middle fields

All Quiet on the Western Front

After an explosive start to the season a somewhat high pitched ringing silence followed with the highlight of the week being a Northern Waterthrush found by Paul Doniol-Valcrove. 

Seven new birders arrived on the island on 1st October to join Pierre and Paul including an Italian team of four and three Azorean birders. Hurricane 'Sam' is active in the North Atlantic over the next few days and even though the system does not make landfall it is nonetheless a welcome addition to the dominant Azores high conditions over the last few days.  An eagerly anticipated week lies ahead.  

Northern Waterthrush (Paul Doniol-Valcroze) 

Tropical storm  'Sam' is set the bring westerlies on it's southern flank this week which could push birds into the Azores high

Daily log:

1st October: Nothing of note

30th September: 2 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 juv Ring-necked Duck plus the resident 19 Mallard/Black Duck hybrid flock (with one possible pure Black Duck)  in the caldera

29th September: Nothing of note

28th September: Northern Waterthrush at Lapa

27th September: Buff-breasted Sandpiper still present at the Reservoir

Welcome to Corvo 2021

Welcome to this year's autumn season birding on Corvo. Once again things have got off to an incredible start with a Warbling Vireo found on September 25th by Pierre-Andre Crochet and Paul Doniol-Valcroze. If accepted this will be a first for the Western Palearctic. The Western Palearctic's sixth Chestnut-sided Warbler (and third record for the Azores) was also found the same day. 

Previous to this epic opening first full day by the French team, Tim Collins and Mags Grindle from the UK spent 11th to 20th September on the island and highlights included a Yellow Warbler and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

The first main wave of birders will arrive next week. More information can be found on the Corvo Birders facebook page HERE

Birders are encouraged to use Ebird to record all bird species on the island including common birds and migrants (Hotspot map here) which will support the work of the local report writing team and rarities committees. Many thanks in advance! 

If you are visiting Corvo for the first time this year then maps of the birding locations and other information can be found in this Dutch Birding paper HERE. More information and access to previous reports and papers can be found HERE

Warbling Vireo, photos above and below (Paul Doniol-Valcroze). A first for the Western Palearctic and quite a challenging identification. Distinguished from Philadelphia Vireo by paler lores, more attenuated structure, less contrast between crown and upperparts and the yellow hues being concentrated more on the sides and underparts than the throat. If the wing formula can be seen then Warbling Vireo has a short p10 (outermost primary) which extends beyond the primary coverts (in Philadelphia p10 is often a 'remicle'). In addition to separation from Philadelphia Vireo there are also Eastern and Western Warbling Vireos, which could be a future split, with differences in vocalisations and Eastern being brighter and yellower toned. This bird appears quite bright and further expert comment would be much appreciated.  

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Paul Doniol-Valcroze)

Yellow Warbler (Tim Collins) 

Daily log:

26th September: 1 Willow Warbler 

25th September: 1 Warbling Vireo and 1 Red-eyed Vireo at Fojo, 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler at Poco d'Agua

24th September: 1 Wood Sandpiper

11th to 20th September: 1 Yellow Warbler at the Power Station from 11th to 14th, Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the reservoir on 18th, Lesser Yellowlegs at the Caldera from 16th to 18th, 4 Pectoral Sandpipers, a Spotted Sandpiper at the reservoir from 16th to 18th and up to six Glossy Ibis. There was also a report of two Grey Catbirds heard calling.