Oman had a flying start in February. The string of megas confirmed that, after November, February is the best month for birding in this country. It was also interesting birding in the southwest of the WP this month, as well as on the Azores, where several rare non-passerines were recorded. Finally, February was characterized by a number of long-stayers. Let’s go through everything together...

Azores

In Terceira, a Least Sandpiper was seen from 6–27 February. At Praia da Vitória, no fewer than 21 Ring-billed Gulls were counted. Also still present on Terceira this month were the Snowy Egret and the Killdeer. The Great Blue Heron remained on Faial. On São Miguel, an American Bittern was seen on 17 February. Also on São Miguel, a Royal Tern was recorded again on 27 February, following earlier observations in late December. The absolute Azores highlight this month took place on Pico on 28 February, when a Swallow-tailed Kite was seen. Previous WP records were on Fuerteventura in March 1993 (initially placed in Category D) and on the Azores in August 2008 and March 2021. An observation from March 2005 on Flores, Azores, by a single Brazilian observer, was not accepted but may be reconsidered by the Portuguese committee.

Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus, Pico, Azores, 28 February (Pedro Silva)

Britsish Isles

Great Britain was entertained this month by a broad influx of perhaps several tens of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese. Heavy snowfall in continental Europe likely triggered this influx. A possible Stejneger’s Scoter in Scotland would represent only the second British record. Remarkably high numbers of American ducks were recorded on the British Isles this month, including a Redhead, more than sixty Ring-necked Ducks, over twenty Lesser Scaup and American Wigeon, several Buffleheads, and a few Hooded Mergansers. Ireland hosted an impressive list of long-stayers: the female Redhead, an immature male Harlequin Duck, a Black Scoter, two Pacific Divers, an American Coot, an adult Double-crested Cormorant, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, two Northern Harriers, and the Pied Crow in Galway. Both Great-tailed Grackles remained in England this month, as did a White-winged Scoter in Scotland and a Pacific Diver in Cornwall.

Northern Europe

The Short-billed Gull on the Faroe Islands had not been seen since 25 January but was rediscovered on 1 March. Experience learns that bad weather and low water levels are favourable conditions for a successful twitch of this mega. The Azure Tit near Brekstad, Norway, reappeared from 16 February onwards. The American Herring Gull was still present in the Norwegian harbor of Mandal. Near Blekinge, Sweden, a Siberian Accentor was discovered on 6 February. Excluding the 2016–2017 influx of 72 birds, this constitutes the twelfth Swedish record.The Dusky Thrush and Stejneger’s Scoter remained in Denmark. Long-stayers in Iceland included two White-winged Scoters and a Baltimore Oriole. Not a rarity in Iceland, but this exceptional (non-AI) photograph shows a hybrid King Eider × Common Eider.

The Netherlands

A decision has been made: the Spectacled Eider will be returned to its original location near Texel this March. Release in the Bering Sea was considered, but proved unfeasible due to regulations from multiple countries, the presence of avian influenza, and the risk of infection of the population despite quarantine requirements for the Texel bird. Since its capture on the 28th of December, the bird has recovered well. Its worm infection has been treated and the bird’s weight increased from 800 grams to a healthy 1350 grams. It only ate seafood and no breeder food, which is an indication of a wild origin. The belly feathers are also almost waterproof again, which is now the last condition for release. A note for the few international twitchers who have not yet seen this bird: according to Dutch rules, this bird is no longer countable because it has spent a significant amount of time in captivity. The Masked Bunting on the isle of Texel remained faithful to the garden in which it was discovered last December. Although the bird was difficult to observe most of the time, it was seen for brief moments nearly every day.

Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala, Texel, Netherlands, 20 February (Anco Euser)

This month enjoyed the presence of some exciting rare dabbling ducks, including Baikal Teal, Falcated Duck and American Wigeon.

Falcated Duck Mareca falcata, Zoetermeer, Netherlands, 21 February (Jill Heeres)

The twelfth Pygmy Cormorant for the Netherlands remained for its fourteenth month at the same location in Lelystad.

Central Europe

No records yet in the Netherlands, but already the 25th and 26th records for France: from 15 February onward, an American Herring Gull stayed south of Bordeaux. In the same harbour, several several other noteworthy gull species were recorded this month. The other American Herring Gull was seen briefly on Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, Bretanny. French long-stayers included a Belted Kingfisher and a Pacific Diver in Brittany, as well as a male Northern Harrier near Bordeaux, all present until the end of the month. Germany’s fourth Stejneger's Scoter was discovered on 20 February near Zingst along the northeastern coast, but was not seen afterwards. The reported American Robin in Belgium proved to be fake news.

Southern Europe

Housewife hoax, exasperating escape, or glorious garden find? That is always the question when photos of a super-rarity surface from a city garden. Such was the case on 19 February, when photos emerged (via a Dutch observer) of an adult male Summer Tanager, seen on 1 February in Porto, Portugal. On 20 February, the bird was relocated and remained through the end of the month. Showing no signs of captivity, it is expected to be accepted as the fifth WP record, following earlier records in England (ringed September 1957) and the Azores (October 2006, 2010, and 2011).

Summer Tanager Piranga rubra, Porto, Portugal, 22 February (Klaus Drissner)

The Cape Gull remained in Laredo, Spain, through the end of the month. Cyprus recorded its fifth Masked Wagtail from 21–23 February.

North Africa

On Santiago, Cape Verde, live Allen’s Gallinules were discovered on 19 and 20 February. Both Yellow-billed Herons were still present on the same island. Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde, in February offers the best chance in the WP to see a Black-capped Petrel. Five fly-bys were recorded at this lookout point this month. The island-hopping Western Willet was again present on Boavista.On São Vicente, an immature Black-headed Heron, a Black Heron, and a Yellow-billed Heron all remained, as did Sudan Golden Sparrows and a single Red-billed Quelea.On Madeira, a Sora was seen on 21 and 23 February. A Hooded Vulture was recorded at Cap Blanc, Mauritania. Perhaps even more interesting was a Greater Blue-eared Starling seen in Banc d’Arguin. This location lies exactly on the WP sensu BWP boundary: the mainland falls outside the WP limits, but the adjacent sea lies within them. If this bird briefly crossed over the sea strip, it would – if accepted – represent a new species for this region. As is well known, Mauritania lies outside the greater WP boundaries. Morocco’s first Eastern Yellow Wagtail was discovered on 27 February in Boumalne Dades.

Middle East

Sensational news came from Oman when, on 5 February, a record of a Slaty-breasted Rail was submitted to the Omani rarities committee. The bird had been discovered on 3 February in a hotel garden in Salalah and constituted the first record for the WP! Fortunately, the bird remained and was last observed on 8 February.

Slaty-breasted Rail Lewinia striata, Salalah, Oman, 3 February (Romuald Cisakowski)

On 4 February, a Red-footed Booby landed on the (not very large) boat of birders during a pelagic trip from Mirbat. This was only the sixth record for Oman.

Red-footed Booby Sula sula, Mirbat, Oman, 4 February (Rik Vetter)

A Streaked Shearwater showed well during Mirbat pelagics on 9 and 26 February. This represents the fourth record of this Pacific species for the sultanate and only the tenth for the WP.

Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas, Mirbat, Oman, 9 February (Jonathan Janse)

... and, because it’s such a stunner, we have another photo for you ...

Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas, Mirbat, Oman, 9 February (Jonathan Janse)

A skulking African Crake was seen on 11 February in Mirbat Park.

African Crake Crecopsis egregia, Mirbat Park, Oman, 11 February (Hans Zweekhorst)

In the same park, a Bay-backed Shrike remained until at least 25 February. The Black Heron previously present at Mughsail was rediscovered in Salalah from 13 February onwards. Only the second Amur Falcon for Saudi Arabia was recorded on 4 February near Jizan. On 8 February, a Black Drongo was seen in Al Marmoom, UAE. Near Abu Dhabi, a Wire-tailed Swallow was recorded on 22 February. Where do all those Iranian Wheatears winter? In the southern Gulf states, there are only a handful of records each winter. The future of the Basalt Wheatear looks bleak, with again no records this winter in Israel. Prospects are unlikely to improve, since this taxon has been lumped by Avilist. Spring migration is already underway in Israel by late February, with spectacular numbers over the weekend of 20–21 February, including 4,000 Steppe Eagles. Along the Caspian Sea, higher-than-usual concentrations of White-winged Larks were recorded this winter, including a group of 250 birds in Azerbeidzjan and even a group of 1000 individuals in Kazachstan. Could this finally be the year the species appears outside Scandinavia, the region where this vagrant is most often recorded in the WP?

The Crystal Ball

What can we expect in March? This month is often good for a late northern winter mega, such as a Slaty-backed Gull or a Glaucous-winged Gull.

Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens, Rausu, Japan, 28 February 2018 (Eduard Sangster)

March is also regularly productive for vagrants from southeastern regions, such as a White-winged Lark, which is currently wintering in large numbers around the Caspian Sea.

White-winged Lark Alauda leucoptera, Korghalzyn, Kazachstan, 16 May 2022 (Eduard Sangster)

Vagrants from Africa also tend to turn up in March. Think, for example, of a Bateleur or a Black-headed Lapwing, with the WP’s only record dating back to 1869 on the border of Jordan and Israel.

Black-headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus, Richard Toll, Senegal, 21 February 2025 (Eduard Sangster)

As usual, it will probably remain a matter of dreaming, and we will already be more than satisfied in March with the first signs of spring activity, such as loudly displaying Black-tailed Godwits or a group of Yellow Wagtails in a field of blooming tulips.

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

Eduard Sangster & Wim Wiegant