Rare birds in Schleswig- Holstein and Hamburg 2020 – annual report of the AK-SH/HH

Abstract

This is the fifth annual report of the Avifaunistic Commission of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg (AK-SH/HH). It lists records of regional rare bird taxa in the responsibility of the AK-SH/HH, and those of national rarities processed by the DAK (German Avifaunistic Commission). A total of 148 records of 59 taxa were dealt with by the two commissions, of which 116 were accepted in category A.

Extraordinary in 2020 were two additions to the avifauna of the reporting area: Germany’s first Siberian Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus and two Bonelli’s Eagles Aquila fasciata (4th and 5th German records), both in May. The French satellite-tagged eagle was found in the field after its whereabouts were communicated by the ringing project staff.

Once again two returning Black Scoters Melanitta americana showed at known sites. The increasing employment of sound recording devices resulted not only in the first nocmig record of a Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, but produced also an extraordinary total of 11 Olive-backed Pipits Anthus hogdsoni, the latter all on the island of Sylt. Among birds of prey, three species had their best showing in a single year so far: Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus and Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina (6 individuals each), and Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (3). Other species with good numbers include Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, ‚Siberian Chiffchaff’ Phylloscopus collybita tristis, Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus and Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla. The only observation of a European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus represents the first summer record of this species. Further interesting findings were the first Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis since 2013, an Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris (6th record) and a Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica (7th). Just one sighting of Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris confirms the rarity of this newly assessed species.