The biggest news of this scorching hot month came from Iran, with an unexpected new species for the Western Palearctic. Elsewhere, the month delivered an impressive selection of megas, with highlights from Wales, Norway, Kazakhstan, Portugal, the UAE and Oman.

Overview

British Isles

Breaking news reached the British birding community on the morning of 6 June when Britain's first Western Reef Heron was found at Caernarfon, North Wales. The bird attracted huge numbers of birders over the following days before being relocated slightly farther north in Denbighshire. From 24 June onwards, it was back in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, where photographs revealed that it had already been present on 13 May, when it was captured on camera by a local dog walker.

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis gularis, Caernarfon, Wales, UK, 10 June (Tim Melling)

With several Western Reef Herons currently present in France, Spain and Italy, a first for the Low Countries now seems only a matter of time. Interestingly, the distribution of recent records suggests the species is by no means confined to coastlines and could just as easily turn up well inland.

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis gularis, Map of recent records (inset photo: Tim Melling)

A passing Pacific Swift was photographed over Bardsey Island, Wales, on 20 June. Two birds initially identified as Greenish Warbler were subsequently reassessed as Green Warbler: a singing bird in Norfolk on 16 June and a trapped individual on the Isle of Man on 20 June. The Least Tern returned also this year to the tern colony near Dublin, from 3 June onwards. Ireland's first Trumpeter Finch remained until 10 June. Surprisingly the bird reappeared on Shetland, where it was present from 28–30 June. Photo analysis confirmed that both records referred to the same bird. The female American Black Tern in Northumberland also lingered throughout June, where it had paired with an Arctic Tern. One egg hatched on 22 June, but sadly the chick survived only three days. The remaining two eggs were assumed to be infertile and were subsequently removed. The chick nevertheless constitutes the first documented hybrid offspring between these two species.

Northern Europe

A Bearded Vulture north of the Arctic Circle became reality on 16 June at Røst, off the Norwegian coast, dwarfing the local White-tailed Eagles. If accepted, it will constitute Norway's first record, following two previous Category E records. A ringed Cinereous Vulture was recorded in Denmark on 25 and again on 30 June. The bird proved to be a wild-fledged individual from Spain and, if accepted, will become the country's first. Following Denmark's first Song Sparrow just last month, a second was already reported on 22 June, when a singing bird was found at Læsten Bakker.

SOng Sparrow Melospiza melodia, Læsten Bakker, Denmark, 22 June (Tonny Christiansen)

The two Wilson's Snipes remained in the forests of central Sweden throughout the month. The reported bird in Iceland was re-identified as a Common Snipe.

The Netherlands

Things got really tough for the Dutch bird enthousiasts, with four extreme rarities each being observable for less than six hours only. The fourth Great Knot was found in Wevers Inlaag on Schouwen-Duiveland on 21 June. Luckily the same bird was relocated some 200 km north on the Isle of Texel, in July.

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Wevers Inlaag, 21 June (Maarten Sluijter)

Also short-lived was the visit of the fifth Egyptian Vulture, seen by a single observer in Ruinen on 29 June.

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, Ruinen, 29 June (Robert Middelveld)

Only the eighth Spotted Sandpiper - still amazingly rare in The Netherlands – visited the northern tip of the Isle of Texel on 15 June.

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia, Texel, 15 June (Jeroen de Bruijn)

A spectacular White-tailed Lapwing in Zevenhuizen, Zuid-Holland, also stayed just for a few hours, but was still seen by quite a lot of observers. It constitutes the twelfth record for The Netherlands.

White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, Zevenhuizen, 22 June (Chris van Rijswijk)

Central Europe

With the breeding range of the Red-necked Nightjar expanding in Spain, a singing bird south of Perpignan, France, came as little surprise. Another individual was found dead in the same area. These constitute the 14th and 15th French records. On the islands south of Brittany, the long-staying Bridled Tern and two Elegant Terns continued.

Eastern Europe

Two Steppe Whimbrels were found at Lake Sorkol, Zhanaqala, western Kazakhstan, on 15 June. The taxon alboaxillaris was declared extinct towards the end of the last century, only to be rediscovered in Mozambique a few years later. The global population is now estimated at fewer than 100 individuals. Its breeding range is thought to encompass the steppes of south-western Russia and possibly neighbouring Kazakhstan, while the birds winter along the coasts of East and southern Africa. In the field, alboaxillaris is distinguished by its almost entirely white rump, lower back and axillaries, slightly larger size and paler upperwings. Whether it deserves full species status remains a matter of debate, while some authors even question whether it represents a valid taxon at all, given the considerable variation shown by nominate Whimbrel.

Steppe Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus alboaxillaris, Lake Sorkol, Kazachstan, 15 June (Brian McCloskey)

The same group of observers dipped Black-headed Penduline Tit, a regular but scarce breeder in the Ural Delta, where hybrids with caspius Eurasian Penduline Tit are actually more numerous. However, while still just inside the WP, they did observe a flock of eight Pallas's Sandgrouse flying overhead on 17 June. Hardly a consolation prize!

Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Oeral River delta, 17 juni (Brian Mccloseky)

Southern Europe

Spain produced its fourth Spur-winged Lapwing of the year when one was found near Barcelona on 29 June. The White-backed Vulture that successfully crossed the Strait of Gibraltar last month (unlike a second bird that attempted the crossing) remained in Portugal from late May before moving into northwestern Spain near Alaxe in mid-June. Not far away, Portugal's second Hudsonian Godwit was found just south of Porto from 25-27 June, constituting the 12th record for the WP. Remarkably, it seems the same bird was relocated at Minsmere, Suffolk, on 1 July, almost directly opposite the Dutch coast.

Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica, Aveiro, Portugal, 26 June (Tiago Guerreiro)

A splendid breeding-plumaged Tibetan Plover was discovered just south of Naples on 26 June, representing Italy's third record.

North Africa

A Lesser Moorhen was present on Sal, Cape Verde, from 3–14 June. This constitutes the country's seventh record and only the 20th for the WP.

Lesser Moorhen Paragallinul angulata, Sal, Cape Verde, 3 June (Uwe Thom)

An American Coot was discovered at Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, on 24 June. It represents the first record for the Canary Islands and the sixth for Spain.

American Coot Fulica americana, Playa Blaca, Lanzarote, Spain, 24 June (Javier Garcia)

A reported African Openbill in Egypt turned out to be an AI-generated fake.

Middle East

The month's biggest surprise came from southern Iran, where an unringed Wattled Lapwing was found near Asaluyeh on 18 June. In Asia, the species is known only from captive birds in Dubai. If accepted, it will constitute the first WP record of this widespread African species— one that might more readily be expected in Mauritania or Egypt.

Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus, Iran, 20 June (Sepideh Moorchegani)

Seven Short-tailed Shearwaters remained in Kuwait Bay on 3 June, with a single bird still present by 10 June. A pair of  Black Drongo's was found nesting again in UAE, in Mushrif Park. A magnificent Red-footed Booby was observed on 25 May at the now-famous Dibba Fish Farms on the UAE's east coast.

Red-footed Booby Sula sula, Dibba fish farms, UAE, 25 May (Nasir Almehrzi)

What a bill, ladies and gentlemen!

Red-footed Booby Sula sula, Dibba fish farms, UAE, 25 May (Nasir Almehrzi)

Further inland, at Zakher Lake near Al Ain, a stunning breeding-plumaged Pheasant-tailed Jacana was discovered on 31 May. It is a vagrant in the UAE and a rare summer record anywhere on the Arabian Peninsula.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Zakher Lake, UAE, 31 May (Nasir Almehrzi)

Far offshore in Omani waters, four Black-bellied Storm Petrels and seven White-faced Storm Petrels were recorded on 22 June. These represent only the fifth and fourth records for Oman respectively.

Black-bellied Storm Petrel Fregetta tropica, off Oman, 22 June (Shaskiba Bandara)

At Raysut, Salalah, Oman’s second Banded Martin was found on 25 June. This is only the third record for the WP, following previous records from Egypt in November 1988 and Oman in November 2021.

Banded Martin Phedina cincta, Raysut Salalah, Oman, 25 June (Vilhelm Fagerström)

Crystal Ball

June’s Crystal Ball was quite spot on, with Western Reef Heron and Hudsonian Godwit both delivered. So what can we expect in July? It is prime time for rare waders and tropical seabirds, but also ducks and swifts are to look for. And don’t forget to think outside the box.

Not long ago, few birders would have circled July in their calendars. Nowadays, however, July is regarded as perhaps the finest month of the year for rare waders, particularly adults leaving their breeding grounds early. Regular vagrants such as Pectoral Sandpiper and Terek Sandpiper are always welcome, but July is also the month to look for Far Eastern overshoots, such as Siberian Sand Plover. No fewer than six of the 16 WP records have occurred in July, as have three of the six records of Grey-tailed Tattler, including the only Dutch record.

Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes, Étang de Thau, France, 17 February 2023 (Eduard Sangster)

Nearctic waders are also possible, like last July with Spain's first Eastern Willet, while July is by far the peak month for Stilt Sandpiper in the WP. This month can also produce tropical surprises at sea. Among the species to watch for are Bridled Tern, Elegant Tern, Brown Booby and Red-footed Booby. July also marks the beginning of the seabird season around the British Isles, with Barolo Shearwater and Scopoli's Shearwater featuring regularly. Every sea watcher dreams of a Cape Verde Shearwater, but occasionally July is also good for something more extraordinary. Witness last year's Soft-plumaged Petrel off the south coast of Cornwall, only the fourth record for the WP.

Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii, off Raso, Cape Verde, 9 May 2024 (Eduard Sangster)

And what about Trindade Petrel? Satellite tracking of birds breeding on Round Island, Mauritius, has shown that the species occurs regularly in Omani waters during the northern summer. Talking about extraordinary, across the Atlantic, July 2025 saw the first Juan Fernández Petrel ever recorded in the North Atlantic, off New York. This year's stronger-than-average El Niño conditions may further enhance the dispersal of tropical seabirds, making almost anything seem possible. Is there anything else to do besides scanning wader flocks and sea watching? Certainly - check the ducks! July has produced a surprising number of Redheads in the WP over the years, while the most recent Cape Teal occurred in Israel in July 1984. Swifts deserve careful attention too. July accounts for a substantial proportion of WP records of Pacific Swift, while African Palm Swift remains a realistic possibility in North Africa (no accepted WP records yet).

African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus, Jizan Lake, Saudi Arabia, 28 July 2022 (Eduard Opperman)

Finally, don't forget to think outside the box. One of last year's most remarkable discoveries was the first confirmed breeding record of Grey Hypocolius in Israel—and perhaps in the WP according to BWP - found on 2 July at the famous K20 site near Eilat. A pair successfully raised two juveniles and delighted observers throughout the month. With the Nitre Bushes once again laden with fruit, who's to say history won't repeat itself?

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

Eduard Sangster & Wim Wiegant