Rare birds in Schleswig- Holstein and Hamburg 2017 – Annual report of the AK-SH/HH

Abstract

The 2017 report is the second annual publication of the Avifaunistic Commmision of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg (AK-SH/HH). In addition to species under the responsibility of the AK-SH/HH (regional rarities), species dealt with by the DAK (German Avifaunistic Commission; national rarities) are also listed therein. For the calendar year 2017, 192 reports of 59 taxa were processed (AK-SH/HH and DAK), of which 166 were accepted in category A. The first record of a Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani for the region (3rd for Germany) was outstanding. Observations of Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis and Radde‘s Warbler P. schwarzi each constituted second records for the region, while two Hume’s Leaf Warblers P. humei were the third and fourth records. Further fourth records involved Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus, Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea, Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae and Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor. An observation of a Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla was the fifth record. The well-known Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris was observed again in 2017 (on 71 days) in the Rantumbecken on Sylt. OIive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni stood out with a particularly high number of records (20 for Germany, with eleven in our region). Also, there was an unusually strong influx of Parrot Crossbills Loxia pytyopsittacus in the winter of 2017/18, with 36 records and a minimum of 158 birds in our area. Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus was recorded three times, after the species had been last seen in 2012. Finally, there was a remarkable influx of Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus and Iceland Gull L. glaucoides to the coasts of Western and Central Europe, which had been also noted in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg (17 and 7 records, respectively).