Just how many Red-flanked Bluetails have been in the UK this year?

Having seen my first exactly a week today and then a more showy bird a day later at St Mary’s Island, I thought I would take a look at how many Red-flanked Bluetails have been seen in the United Kingdom so far this year. I will also include Southern Ireland due to its geographical location being near the UK. I have compiled all the records below showing county/region, relative site, date (first sighting), and number seen at that location on that date. I will give a total tally at the end of the blog post, throughout the list I will start with the first record and work my way up until today.

Shetland - Fair Isle – 27/09/2010 – (2)

Suffolk - Croton – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Norwick,Unst – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Fife – Fife Ness – 28/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Isle of Whalsay – 30/09/2010 – (1)

Suffolk – Pakefield – 30/09/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Geosetter – 08/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Tresta – 08/10/2010 – (1)

Northumberland – Newbiggin – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Northumberland – St Mary’s Island – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Wells – 09/10/2010 – (1)

Cleveland – Saltburn – 10/10/2010 – (1)

Orkney – Queenamidda – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Burnham Overy Staithe – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Weybourne – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Lothian – Scoughall – 11/10/2010 – (1)

Norfolk – Waxham – 12/10/2010 – (1)

Co.Cork – Cape Clear – 12/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Kergord – 14/10/2010 – (1)

Shetland – Boddam – 15/10/2010 – (1)

Borders – St Abb’s Head – 16/10/2010 – (1)

So with all of those records I make it that there has been 21 Red-flanked Bluetails in the UK so far this year, and 1 in Ireland. No doubt more will appear before the year is out.

(Red-flanked Bluetail - St Mary's Island - © Craig Shaw)

Until next time, Foghorn out!