The year began stormy in the north of the WP, with real crackers in Norway and on the Faroe Islands. Later in the month Ireland took centre stage, and there was intensive birding activity in the Middle East. Finally, there was noteworthy news from Switzerland and Croatia this month. Let’s quickly run through the highlights!

Azores

Snowy Egret and Wood Duck were still present on Terceira and São Miguel respectively.

British Isles

This month, most of the action took place in Ireland, with the fifth Irish American Coot discovered near Tacumshin on 5 January. A possible Vega Gull was seen by a single observer on 18 January in Galway, western Ireland. The photos look promising for the species, but the crucial wing pattern was not captured, making acceptance unlikely. Also in Galway, an American Herring Gull was present from 20 January, as well as a Pied Crow. Slightly further south, a female Redhead was discovered on 24 January at Lough Yganavan, where up to eleven (!) Ring-necked Ducks were also present. Photo analysis revealed that the bird – which remained until the end of the month – may already have been present on 25 October 2025. This constitutes the second record for Ireland and only the seventh for the WP. Some good advice from the finder, who tried to get the ID right: when googling “female Redhead” it is best to include the word “duck”…! A possible Holboell’s Red-necked Grebe was present in Somerset from 28 January. The long, sharp, yellow bill and the dark face are good indicators for this subspecies. A Killdeer near Southampton, England, from 21–27 January was beautifully photographed. The Great-tailed Grackle was still present near Southampton, while a second individual was discovered in Liverpool. Despite their uncountable status, both birds were heavily twitched.

Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus, Holbury, UK, 31 December (Hendrik Beukelman)

Northern Europe

On the Faroe Islands, the second WP record of Short-billed Gull took place on 4–5 January in Miðvágur. The bird was also observed on 14 and 25 January in Sørvágur. With this bird, the Faroes hosted their first-ever international twitch. Here is an article about the discovery and identification of the species. The first WP record was on the Azores in February–March 2003.

Short-billed Gull Larus brachyrhynchus, Miðvágur, Faeröer Isles, 5 Januari (Silas Olofson)

Just because it is worth studying, we have another picture for you, of the same bird.

Short-billed Gull Larus brachyrhynchus, Miðvágur, Faeröer Isles, 5 January (Silas Olofson)

Norway’s first Azure Tit was discovered near Brekstad on 5 January. This stunning bird attracted a lot of attention and remained until 11 January, when thawing set in.

Azure Tit Cyanistes cyanus, Brekstad, Norway, 9 Januari (Terje Kolaas)

The American Herring Gull, first seen in 2022, returned once again to Mandal, southernmost Norway, on 4 January. It still represents only the second record for the country. In Denmark, a Dusky Thrush showed well throughout the month in Copenhagen. An American Black Duck was seen on 17–18 January at Vesterenge.

The Netherlands

The Black-faced Bunting discovered on 15 December of the previous year in a garden on the isle of Texel, remained present all month.

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Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala, Texel (NH), 14 januari (Wim van Zwieten)

After the recent surge of occurrences of grackles in Western Europe, fanatic Dutch birders really got twitchy after the observation of an unidentified grackle. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a Carib Grackle, a bird believed to be ship-assisted or of non-wild origin.

Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris, Capelle aan den IJssel, 27 Januari (Wim van Zwieten)

The first Pine Bunting in The Netherlands since 2020 was discovered in a backyard in Eibergen, which earlier also harboured rarities as Alpine Accentor, Hoopoe and Corn Bunting, plus a fly-over of a Golden Eagle. Who would not want such a garden…?

Witkopgors Emberiza leucocephala, Eibergen, 11 January (Roland Wantia)

Central Europe

France’s first-ever Pacific Loon was discovered near Penvénan, Brittany, on 17 January and remained until the end of the month. Near Montpellier, an Allen’s Gallinule was found dead on 3 January, constituting the fifth record for France. A White-winged Finch in Le Havre on 10 January raises hopes for a first Dutch record. The Belted Kingfisher showed well throughout the month in Brittany, as did the Forster’s Tern until at least 17 January. A Northern Harrier was present near Bordeaux until at least 28 January. A pristine, unringed Baer’s Pochard had been present on Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, since 17 January. There is hope for a wild origin, but this seems unlikely given the species’ rarity and frequent captive keeping. On the other hand, the population has doubled in recent years, there is an accepted Lesser Scaup on the same lake, and stranger things have happened. If accepted, this would be the first WP record.

Eastern Europe

Azure Tit and Long-tailed Rosefinch are easy to see once on site in Yekaterinburg, Russia, which lies just within WP boundaries. The latter species appears to be expanding westwards, with regular records since 2023 in Izhevsk further west, including this month. This record in Kazakhstan lies just outside the WP, but provides inspiration for more records within WP limits.

Southern Europe

Is it still worth mentioning that the Cape Gull was again present this month in the harbour of Laredo, Spain? A possible Turkestan Short-toed Lark on Mallorca since 21 December would represent a new species for the Spanish list. Normally, Allen’s Gallinules recorded in Europe are dead or nearly dead, but the bird near Barcelona was successfully rehabilitated and released again. The Sardinian bird in Italy at the end of January had died, but the bird discovered on New Year’s Day in Sicily looked healthy for a change. This individual was observed until 6 January. Another bird was seen on Gavdos, a small island south of Crete, Greece. The main news from Croatia concerned the acceptance of Indian Peacock onto the official list, of course in category C. This immediately sparked discussion among WP twitchers as to whether C-category species should still be counted. The debate was quickly settled by one decisive argument: “C-species are actually a great excuse to spend a weekend drinking beer in a foreign city.”

North Africa

For the third consecutive year, a White-tailed Tropicbird was present in the colony of Red-billed Tropicbird on Ilhéu de Cima near Fogo, Cape Verde. On 17 January, no fewer than three Lesser Yellowlegs were present in a single puddle on Sal. The long-staying Western Willet once again swapped Boavista for Sal, where it stayed from 4–28 January, before returning to Boavista from 1 February. Black-headed Heron and Yellow-billed Egret were still present on São Vicente, where a Black Heron was also discovered on 25 January. After some searching, Sudan Golden Sparrows and a Red-billed Quelea were also relocated on the island. We remain at Cape Verde a little longer, where a Namaqua Dove was seen at the Tarrafal sewage ponds on Santiago on 13 January.

Middle East

On 22 January, a Chestnut-tailed Starling was still present in Hili Archaeological Park, UAE. If accepted as a wild bird, this would be the first record for the emirate. At Ajban Farms, a Wire-tailed Swallow was reported on 25 January. A Paddyfield Pipit was present at Wamm Farms until 18 January. During the monthly pelagic on 10 January, a Red-footed Booby was once again seen near the Dibba Fish Farms along the UAE’s east coast. Near Tanomah, Saudi Arabia, one of the three previously present Dark Chanting Goshawk was seen on 4 January. On 17 January, two Eastern Red-rumped Swallow were reported over East Khawr, Salalah, Oman. Near Salalah, Black Heron and Bay-backed Shrike remained until the end of the month. A Long-toed Stint reappeared here from 27 January. Muscat was delighted with its eighth record of Lesser Flamingo from 29 January onwards. Several Eversmann’s Redstart were still present, including in Kuwait, UAE and Oman. Fresh Forest Wagtails were discovered in the UAE and Oman. The Oriental Skylark used to be almost annual in winter in Israel, but in recent years the species seems to have become scarce in the WP. This winter was better, with records in Qatar, UAE and Oman. Siberian Pipits are being noted increasingly often in the WP in winter, with birds this month in the UAE and the second record for Saudi Arabia. Streak-throated Swallows were observed in the UAE, two birds along Saudi Arabia’s north coast, and one on Masirah, Oman. At the end of January, Iranian websites came back online. The most important bird news concerned two White-winged Larks observed near Taleghan on 28 January.

The Crytal Ball

In February everything can happen, with drifters from the south, like Grasshopper Buzzard, Hooded Vulture or Grey-headed Gull, most likely to show up in the southwest part of the WP.

Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis, Senegal, 26 February 2025 (Eduard Sangster)

Possible vagrants from the east include absolute stars like White-winged Lark, Pallas’s Gull or Red-throated Thrush.

Red-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 20 September 2023 (Eduard Sangster)

From the north we would be very happy with a smart Steller’s Eider or an Ivory Gull, although we also dream about Pine Grosbeaks and Snowy Owls.

Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri, Varanger, Norway, 25 March 2022 (Eduard Sangster)

But most likely we have to settle for something less special, like a group of noisy White-headed Long-tailed Tits or a Rough-legged Buzzard if we are lucky.

White-headed Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus caudatus, Mastenbroek, Netherlands, 23 January (Mick van der Toorren)

Just keep going outside you crazy birders!

We would like to thank all observers and photographers for their contributions to this report.

Eduard Sangster & Wim Wiegant