Once again this year, May produced several mega-rarities, as well as a few intriguing patterns. But are they real patterns, or merely coincidences? Finally, we discuss the African Funnel and the Great American Depression.

Overview

British Isles

Approximately 820 km west of Ireland, an American Kestrel was observed from a Dutch research vessel on 23 May. The bird rested on the ship during the afternoon and was not seen again the following day.

American Kestrel Falco sparverius, 820 km west of Ireland, 24 May, compilation (Karein van Bijssum)

On 29–30 May, the first Trumpeter Finch for Ireland was photographed on Great Saltee Island. Last year, the male Least Tern returned to its colony near Dublin on 17 May, but this year the little entrepeneur did not return until 3 June, marking its sixth consecutive year at the colony. The female Black Tern of the American subspecies surinamensis also returned to her well-known tern colony in northeast England. Like two years ago, she has paired with an Arctic Tern. The first-ever spring record of Northern Parula in the WP occurred on Fair Isle, Shetland, from 23–26 May. The White-winged Scoter in Fife, Scotland, has been showing exceptionally well in recent weeks and is associating with a Common Eider.

White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi, Fife, Scotland, 20 May (Talia Porter)

Northern Europe

The prediction in the previous WP Recap wasn’t published yet, when a Pallas’s Sandgrouse was reported from Finland on 2 May. As is often the case with this species, the magic was reserved solely for the discoverer - a non-birder in this case. He managed to film the bird with a mobile phone in the vast forests of southeastern Finland near Ilomantsi. All five WP records since 1990 have come from Finland (1992, 2010, 2023, and 2026) or Ukraine (2009). Only the Finnish bird from 29 July–2 August 2010 proved twitchable.

Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Ilomantsi, Finland, 2 May (Joonas Halonen)

At Lågskär, Lemland, the second Green Warbler for Finland was recorded on 15 May. The first, in 2012, was also found on this small island in the Baltic Sea. Both Swedish Wilson’s Snipes returned on 2 May to exactly the same locations as last year, near Storfors and Storsjö. On Stora Fjäderägg, a Black-throated Accentor was trapped and ringed on 14 May. A fun fact: this was Sweden’s second spring record, following the first Swedish record in 1988, which was also ringed on the same Baltic island. For those interested in ringing, moult, or ageing birds, the Facebook page of The BirdStudio is highly recommended.

Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis, Stora Fjadderagg, Sweden, 14 May (Noel Hohental, The BirdStudio)

In Norway, east met west with a Black-faced Bunting at Vagsvollmarka from 11–17 May and a White-throated Sparrow at Myken on 18 May. Iceland was in American mode, featuring its seventh American Coot at Sandgerði from 1–12 May, an American Black Duck nearby on 23 May, and a claim of an American Kestrel in Flói Nature Reserve on 2 May.

The Netherlands

The biggest surprise in The Netherlands was the discovery of the eighth White-troated Sparrow for the country at a holiday park in Scharendijke on 28 May. Sadly enough the park was inaccessible, and the bird could not be relocated. As they say in The Netherlands, "luckily, we still have the photos".

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis, Scharendijke, the Netherlands, 22 May (Nicole Hambach)

No less than four Bearded Vultures were recorded in May. One undertook a remarkable journey and was observed by many birders across the west and north of the country on 26 to 30 May. It was found exhausted on the island of Ameland, where it was taken into care. Another bird was seen on 1 and 2 May in the southwest. Remarkably, two more Bearded Vultures carrying a radio transmitter crossed southeastern parts of the country on 25 and 29 May, but were not observed by any birder.

Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus, Grote Keeten, the Netherlands, 28 May (Arnoud van den Berg)

A sensational group of 53 Griffon Vultures flew over Tilburg and the region of Amersfoort on 25 May. One day before, this group was seen near Geel in Belgium. Following tropical temperatures this represents one of the largest gatherings of vultures ever recorded in the Low Countries.

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus, Baarn, the Netherlands, 25 May (Marten Miske)

Central Europe

Along the Baltic coast, an Audouin’s Gull was reported from the German island of Greifswalder Oie on 24 May. Analysis showed that this was a different bird from the recent Dutch record. Also on the Baltic coast an African Chaffinch was observed at Geltinger Birk on 1 May. A Demoiselle Crane was seen at Barnbruchwiese on 2 May and appears to have a strong case for acceptance as Germany’s second record. On the islands south of Brittany, a Bridled Tern and up to two Elegant Terns remain present. The area also hosted France’s 21st(!) Least Sandpiper from 19–21 May. It does make one wonder why the Netherlands still lacks a single record. We may have the African Funnel effect, but it is fair to conclude that we are also situated within the Great American Depression.

Eastern Europe

The steady expansion of Pygmy Cormorant in Europe has now reached Poland. In 2025, the species bred successfully in the country for the first time, with no fewer than ten pairs at Czupryński Pond near Kraków. Cetti’s Warbler is also continuing its range expansion, as evidenced by records from Poland and Lithuania. A claim of Grey-crowned Goldfinch from Kazakhstan on 17 April 2025, just within WP boundaries, proved to be a false alarm. As a result, no new Avilist species was added to the WP sensu BWP. This year, at least one Black-headed Penduline Tit was again observed at the mouth of the Ural River within WP boundaries. Pure individuals occur regularly in this area, alongside hybrids that interbreed with the Caspian subspecies of Eurasian Penduline Tit. It therefore remains unclear why Black-headed Penduline Tit is not included on the WP sensu BWP list, according to the author of this standard work on Kazakhstan’s birds, who argues that it should be added.

Southern Europe

On 20 May, the first Kurdish Wheatear for Italy was discovered near Lecce, only the second European record ever. Spain recorded its third Spur-winged Lapwing of the year on 22–23 May near Aranjuez. There is only one previous Spanish record, and the status of the species in Spain has not yet been determined. Up to three Elegant Terns remained at Salinas de Pinet, south of Alicante. The striking Lesser Flamingo was still present on Lesvos, Greece.

Northern Africa

One of the two Masked Boobies present on Brava, Cape Verde, appears to be paired with a Brown Booby. This does not seem to be a new development, as two hybrid birds are also present within the Brown Booby colony. The second Semipalmated Plover of the spring on Sal, Cape Verde, was discovered on 13 May.

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus, Sal, Cape Verde, 13 May (Uwe Thom)

The hanta virus tragedy aboard the polar vessel Hondius deeply affected the birding community last month. For birders already in Cape Verde for the cancelled West African Pelagic, a highly photogenic Black-capped Petrel near Fogo on 7 May undoubtedly provided some welcome distraction.

Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata, along Fogo, Cape Verde, 7 May (Jaap Gijsbertsen)

And another one, since they are so cool ...

Balck-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata, along Fogo, Cape Verde, 7 May (Jaap Gijsbertsen)

Another excellent Black-capped Petrel was seen off Madeira on 14 May. On Madeira itself, a Green Heron was recorded on 21 May. Between 1–12 May, no fewer than 25 Rüppell’s Vultures were counted migrating northward at Jbel Moussa, Morocco. Two White-backed Vultures were fitted with transmitters. One of the birds has since reached Spain and Portugal, but the other didn't make it across the Strait of Gibraltar and has drowned. On 9 May, the second Bateleur for Tunisia flew past El Haouaria, Cap Bon. The first record dated back to 1990.

Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus, Cap Bon, Tunesia, 9 May (Mohamed El Golli)

A belated observation from the same location involved a presumed immature Tawny Eagle on 18 April. This would be a first record for Tunesia. Identification proved difficult, but several characters seem to exclude both Imperial Eagles and other related species. 

presumed Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, Cap Bon, Tunesia, 18 April (Mohamed El Golli)

Just south of Cairo, Egypt, two Three-banded Plovers were discovered at Lake Qaroun on 26 May.

Middle East

Following last year, Short-tailed Shearwaters are again appearing in notable numbers in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. On 7 May, two birds were seen in Kuwait Bay, increasing to 24 individuals by 12 May. This represents only the fourth record for Kuwait and the seventh for the WP sensu BWP.

Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris, Kuwait, 11 mei (Omar Alshaheen)

And another one ...

Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris, Kuwait, 11 May (Omar Alshaheen)

The first Laughing Gull for Israel was reported near Haifa on 7 May. Just north of Tel Aviv, a Basra Reed Warbler was ringed on 22 May. So far, there has been no sign of the Grey Hypocolius, which stole the show last year with a successful breeding record near Eilat.

Crystal Ball

Just like in May, nearly everything is possible in June. Historically, June is a good month for Asian overshooting megas such as Sulphur-bellied Warbler, with only two Western Palearctic records, both in June, as well as Long-toed Stint, Pallas's Reed Bunting, White-throated Needletail, Pacific Swift, and Himalayan Vulture.

Sulphur-bellied Warbler Phylloscopus griseolus, Tien Shan mountains, Kazakhstan, 12 May 2022 (Eduard Sangster)

From the south, we hope for a vagrant such as Tristram’s Warbler, a species that is remarakably rarely seen outside its normal range, with this French record being one of only four European records ever. Many birders would also be delighted to see a Moltoni’s Warbler at their home patch. A Yellow-billed Egret, with only one European record in Spain in April–May 2024, would not be implausible either, given the increasing number of records in Cape Verde. Considering recent French records it is likely a Western Reef Heron will show up at the North Sea countries in the near future. And while still editing this column, indeed one has already shown up in Wales, making it the first for Britain. Congrats!

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, Muscat, Oman, 24 November 2021 (Eduard Sangster)

Also Yellow-billed Kite is a genuine possibility in June. The goodies could, of course, also come from the west, as June is a notably good month for White-throated Sparrow, Tree Swallow, and Hudsonian Godwit, although the latter now seems possible in almost any month.

Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica, Churchill, Canada, 12 July 2024 (Eduard Sangster)

And, of course, we would also be very happy with a wandering Sandhill Crane.

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

Eduard Sangster & Wim Wiegant