Abstract

This report summarises the non-passerine scarce migrant birds recorded in Britain in 2019. For most species, 2019 was an average year, though totals for some species originating in North America were higher than average. White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis had its best year to date (51 individuals, up from a poor showing of just eight in 2018) and both American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica and Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris had their second-best year (37 and 48 individuals respectively). Other species that put in a strong showing included Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (31 individuals/5th-best year), White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii (37/4th) and Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (69/5th). Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus enjoyed a slight resurgence (17/24th) in its final appearance in this report; future records will be assessed by BBRC. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes (12/5th) appears in the Scarce Migrants report for the first time. Among those species faring less well in 2019, Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis (7/12th) had yet another poor year and from 2020 it returns to BBRC for review. Totals for ‘Black Brant’ Branta bernicla nigricans (5/24th) and Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis (11/38th) were also disappointing, though these numbers do not include returning individuals. Red-footed Falcon Falco verpertinus had another disappointing year (11/29th), though this was an improvement on its 2018 showing (10/33th). Numbers of Spotted Crakes Porzana porzana (28/27th) were poor, though this excludes potential breeders.