V British Birds Editorial Board R. J. Chandler M. A. Ogilvie R. J. Prytherch J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants R. J. Chandler (to 31st May), Don Smith, and Roger Tidman (from 1st June) Art Consultants Robert Gillmor and Alan Harris Volume 84 1991 British Birds Ltd Editorial Staff Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (Managing Editor), David A. Christie (Assistant Editor), Mrs Sheila D. Cobban (Personal Assistant to Dr Sharrock) & Mrs Sue Holden Circulation Staff Mrs Erika Sharrock (Circulation Manager), Mrs Alison Gathercole & Mrs Bonny Shirley Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman), Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Catley, Peter Clement, A. R. Dean, Pete Ellis (from 1st April), S. J. M. Gantlett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, J. H. Marchant, & K. E. Vinicombe (to 31st March); Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Behaviour Notes Panel Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons Identification Notes Panel Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, T. P. Insltipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, & K. E. Vinicombe (from 1st April) British Birds Volume 84 (1991) Main contents JANUARY 1 European news 24 PhotoSpot 31 Desert Warbler Hadoram Shirihai, David. Cottridge and Alan Harris 27 Birdcraft 3 Clothing Dr M. A. Ogilvie FEBRUARY 41 Identification of Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni exilipes Peter Lansdown, Mck Riddi- ford and Dr Alan Knox MARCH 83 History of the Pochard breeding in Britain Dr A. D. Fox 98 Seasonal reports: Autumn 1990, part 1 Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp APRIL 121 Long-tailed Skuas in Britain and Ireland in autumn 1988 Peter J. Dunn and Erik Hirschfeld 137 Seasonal reports: autumn 1990, part 2 Keith Allsopp and Barry Nightingale 145 Identification pitfalls and assessment problems 10 Night Heron Peter Lansdown MAY 161 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley, Norfolk Mariko Parslow-Otsu 1 7 1 World status of the Red Kite: a background to the experimental reintroduction to Eng- land and Scodand Dr Ian M. Evans and Dr M. W. Pienkowski 188 Red-necked Grebe breeding in England Mariko Parslow-Otsu and G. D. Elliott JUNE 204 Birdcraft 4 Recording rare and unusual seabirds Peter Lansdown and Peter Harrison 206 Bird Photograph of the Year Dr R. J. Chandler , Dr J. T. R. Shamrock and Don Smith 226 European news JULY 245 Identification of Soft-plumaged Petrel J. W. Enticott 267 Binoculars and telescopes survey 1991 Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and Ms L. W. Shamrock AUGUST 298 ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’ Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris, Keith Shackleton and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 308 Obituary: Eric Hosking OBE, Hon. FRPS (1909-1991) Guy Mountfort 316 Seasonal reports: winter 1990/91 Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp 329 Status of seabirds in northern Norway T. Anker-Nilssen and R. T. Barrett SEPTEMBER 349 Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1989 Robert Spencer and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 37 1 Morocco David Fisher and Lionel Maumary OCTOBER 401 The ‘British Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year 402 Eastern vagrants in Britain in autumn 1 988 Norman Elkins 405 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith 423 Identification of Spectacled Warbler Hadoram Shirihai, Alan Harris and David Cottridge 43 1 Status of Spectacled Warbler in Britain Peter Lansdown and the Rarities Committee 432 Viewpoint: Birds and some political influences Sir Derek Barber NOVEMBER 449 Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1 990 Michael J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee DECEMBER 527 Identification of brown flycatchers Dr C. Bradshaw, P. J. Jepson and Dr N J. Lindsey 547 PhotoSpot 32 Marsh Owl Lionel Maumary 549 Seasonal reports: spring 1 99 1 Keith Allsopp and Bony Nightingale 555 Studies of West Palearctic birds 190 Swallow Dr Angela K Turner WINNER, BIRI) ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR 1991 (see pages 298-307): Rooks (John Davis) Volume 84 Number 1 January 1991 European news PhotoSpot: Desert Warbler Birdcraft: clothing Product reports • Mystery photographs • Monthly marathon Notes • Reviews • News and comment • Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith Art Consultants Robert Gillmor 8c Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw (co-opted), Alan Brown, G. P. Catley, Peter Clement (co-opted), A. R. Dean, S. J. M. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, J. H. Marchant, 8c K. E. Vinicombe; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons; identification Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1991 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085 Bird news for ‘ Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings); Luton (0582) 490049 (office hours) News items for ‘ News and comment’ Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon PE18 9BS Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN. Phone: Totnes (0803) 865913 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £38.40, IR£42.35 or $69.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £31.20, IR£34.80 or $54.00; personal: airmail outside Europe £52.50, IR£58.35 or $94.00. Single back copies £4.00, IR£4.50 or $7.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made direcdy into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearctic. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequences of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1984): names of plants follow Dony et at. (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers); names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1977, The Handbook of British Mammals). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should be inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed m England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford OPEN MON - SAT 9 am - 6 pm 204 HIGH STREET BARNET, HERTS. EN5 5SZ focus OPEN EVERY WEEKEND 9 am - 4 pm 081-449 1445 081-441 7748 FAX: 081-440 9999 ICBP WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1991 THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS 5? AT THE BRIARFIELDS HOTEL MAIN ROAD, TITCHWELL, NORFOLK PE31 8BB. 0836 311398 LEMSFORD SPRINGS FIELD DAYS SUNDAY DATES 13 JAN. 10 FEB. 10 TILL 4 EACH DAY The ideal opportunity to test, compare and purchase from our full range of equipment at this compact well managed reserve near Welwyn Garden City, Herts. For further information and directions contact ‘In focus’. LEE VALLEY WINTER BIRDWATCH SUNDAY 6 JAN. 10 TILL 4 ‘In focus’ will be attending this leading Herts/ Essex Birdwatching Event with their full range of optical equipment for demonstration and sale. Other attractions include: Guided Walks, Ringing Demonstrations and the RSPB Bird Bus. For further information contact ‘In focus’. REGIONAL FIELD WEEKENDS “WINTER 90/91” CHEW VALLEY LAKE, BLACKTOFT SANDS, AVON HUMBERSIDE SAT. 5th, SUN. 6th JAN. SAT. 16th, SUN. 17th FEB. RSPB DUNGENESS, RSPB LODMORE, KENT DORSET SAT. 16th, SUN. 17th MARCH SAT. 23rd, SUN. 24th MARCH PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO VISITORS WITH AN INVITATION BETWEEN 10AM AND 4PM ON EACH DAY The ideal way to test optics for birdwatching is to watch birds! These Field Weekends at well- known Reserves around the country will enable our customers to choose and select from our complete range of equipment under field conditions. You are invited to apply in writing or by phone for an invitation and information pack to any of the above events indicating your preferred day and time of attendance. ‘in focus’ IN NORFOLK ‘in focus’ are pleased to offer our customers an improved and more regular facility on the North Norfolk coast. Our showroom in Briarfields Hotel offers extensive views over the Norfolk countryside and will be open every weekend with our full range of binoculars, telescopes, tripods and accessories. For hotel bookings - 0485 210742 BAUSCH & LOMB .£ Elite 8x42BGA 589 00 Elite 10x42B 569.00 Elite 10X42BGA 589 00 Custom 8x36 189.00 Custom 10x40 199.00 800mm Mirror Lens 25x and 42x and Photokit 299 00 Elite Scope 22x60 279.00 Elite Scope 15x-45x60 329.00 LEICA £ Trinovid 8x20BC 199.00 Trinovid 10x25BC 211.00 Trinovid 8x20BCA 211.00 Trinovid 10x25BCA 223.00 Trinovid 7x42BA 559.00 Trinovid 8x42BA 559.00 Trinovid 10x42BA 559.00 CARL ZEISS £ Dialyt 8x20B 215.00 Dialyt 10x25B 225.00 Dialyt 8x20BGA 245.00 Dialyt 8x30BGAT 419.00 Dialyt 7x42BGAT 489.00 Dialyt 10x40BGAT 499.00 Dialyt 10x40BT 489.00 Dialyt 8x56BGAT 570.00 15x60 Porro GAT 789.00 Accessories: Rainguard 5 00 Eye Cups (Set) 10.00 Eye Cups Hand (Set) 10 00 Lanyard 4.00 Wide Lanyard 10.00 Spare Case 24.00 NIKON £ 7x20CF 75.00 9x25CF 79.00 8x23CF 85.00 10X25CF 89.00 8x20DCF 135.00 10x25DCF 150.00 9x30DCF 249.00 12x36DCF 279.00 8x40DCF 539.00 8x30CF 229.00 10x35CF 249,00 6x-12x24DCF 329.00 Fieldscope II from 289.00 Fieldscope ED II 20x60 499.00 20x 45x60 569.00 15x 20x 30x 40x or 60x 65.00 Hoya Multi Coat Filter 20.00 Rubber Hood 10.00 Photo Kit 157.00 Spotting scope 20x60 GA 199.00 Spotting scope 20x-45x60 GA SWIFT 259.00 £ Triton 8x40 89 95 Triton 10x50 99 95 Osprey 7.5x42 . 149.00 Audubon 8.5x44 199 00 Audubon 7x35GA 329.00 Viewmaster 149.00 15x -45 x^oom 49 00 20x 20.00 ROSS £ Cavendish 8x42B 139 95 Hanover 10x42B 149.95 Regent 8x42B 1 69 95 Kensington 10x42B 179.95 QUESTAR £ Field Model 3’/2" Broad Band Coating. Supplied with 50x-80x Hood, Case 1900 00 30x SOx 120.00 80x-130x 120.00 Porro Prism 140.00 OPTOLYTH £ Alpm 8x30BGA 205.00 Alpin 8x40BGA 225.00 Alpin 10x40BGA 230.00 Alpin 10X50BGA 241.00 Touring 8x30BGA 388.00 Touring 7x42BGA 398 00 Touring 10x40BGA 398.00 TBS80 Body 350 00 TBG80 Body 350.00 20x WA 100.00 30x WA 64.00 40x 65.00 22x-60x Zoom 150.00 Soft Case 29.00 Hard Case 35.00 OPTICRON £ HR 7x42 MC 143.00 HR 8x42 MC 145.00 HR 10x42 MC 150.00 HR 10x50 MC 167.00 Minerva 8x40MC 170.00 Minerva 9x35MC 169.00 Minerva 10x42 MC 175.00 HR Body 80 249.00 HR Body, 22x and Case .159.95 HR GA, 22x and Case 169.95 HR 45°, 22x and Case 1 99.95 HR Body. 20x-60x, Case .199.95 HR GA, 20x-60x, Case 209.95 HR 45°, 20x-60x, Case . 229.95 30xWA 32.00 27x-80x Zoom 76.00 25x or 40x 30 00 Classic IF60 118.00 !8xWA 23.00 25x 23.00 Zoom 18x-40x 50.00 Classic IF 75mm 137.00 22xWA 23.00 30x 23.00 Zoom 22x-47x 50 00 Piccolo Body 128.00 Eye Pieces from 29.00 Photo Kits from 28 00 Cases for Scopes 15.00 Macro Monocular 50.00 OBSERVATION BINOCULARS £ Opticron 20x80 345.00 Opticron 30x80 345.00 KOWA £ TS601 179.00 TS602 179.00 20x WA 54,00 20x-60x Zoom 94.00 Case 19.95 TSN-1 295.00 TSN-2 295.00 TSN-3 555.00 TSN-4 555.00 20x WA 89.00 25x 59.00 30x WA .109 00 40x 59.00 20x-60x Zoom 139.00 Photo Kit 99 00 Case for TSN 22.50 Skua Case 39.00 Rear Dust Dome 15.00 Spare O.G. Cover TSN 6.00 27x WA (Screw fit) 59.00 CARL ZEISS JENA £ Deltrintem 8x30 64.95 Dekarem 10x50 99.95 Notarem 8x32 149.95 Notarem 8x32BA 139.95 Notarem 10x40 179.95 Notarem 10x40BA 199.95 Turmon 8x21 44.95 MIRADOR £ 8X40B 110.00 10x40B 114.00 10x50B 122.00 Merlin 60mmx25 97.00 Merlin '8x 40x60 129.00 Merlin 75mmx30 119 00 Merlin 22x-47x75 157 00 Case tor Merlin 16.00 CENTURY £ 60mm GA Body 165.00 20x-45x Zoom 60.00 20x30x40x 20.00 Case 15.00 BRESSER £ Action 8x40 69 00 Action 10x50 79.00 Linear 8x42 119.00 Linear 10x42 124.00 HABICHT £ 10x40 Diana 349.00 7x30SLC 315.00 8x30 SLC 325.00 New scope, phone for details ‘in focus’ EQUIPMENT CARE PLAN This exciting new scheme enables our customers to purchase in total confidence, at a cost of just El 0.00, any new equipment can be covered by our “CARE PLAN” for a period of three years from purchase date. In the event of that equipment failing for whatever reason it will be rectified without question by ourselves at no charge. Ask for details. BUSHNELL £ Spacemaster Body GA .165 00 Spacemaster Body 145 00 15x-45x Zoom 70 00 22xWA 32.00 SIGMA £ APO-Photd Lenses 400mm F5.6 Oly .Min, Nik, Can, Pk .289 95 Min, Nik, Auto focus 349 95 Canon EOS .399.95 Oly, Min. Nik, Can. Pk 389.95 Min, Nik, Auto focus .399.95 500mm f7.2 Canon EOS 449.95 VELBON £ D400 39.95 D500 NEW FLUID HEAD 59.95 D600 TRIPODS 69.95 CULLMANN £ Hide Clamp 49.95 Shoulder Pod . .24.95 QR System 9.95 QR Plate 4.95 SLIK £ Master D2 ...72.95 MANFROTTO £ 190 Base . 40.00 45.00 .. 50.00 ...55.00 128 Head 45.00 200 Head ...50.00 Tripod Strap ...10.95 Spare QR Platform 5.95 MINOLTA 7x42 BGA .199.00 10x42 BGA .229.00 ACCESSORIES £ Car Window Mount ...22 00 Universal Mount .2200 Hide Clamp 38 00 Rainguards from 3 50 Pentax Cleaning Kit 3 99 Tripod Strap 695 4 00 PERSONAL CALLERS Can choose and select from our comprehensive range of equip- ment. Compare Zeiss with Leitz and Bausch & Lomb, Kowa with Nikon and Optolyth We are a completely independent company, whose only concern is that our customers select the correct instrument for their personal needs. PHONE ORDERS Discuss your requirements with our technical staff and orders placed with Access or Visa Cards will be despatched same day. MAIL ORDER Just add £2 to help towards P&P and insurance and your order will be sent the same day as we receive your cheque. All equipment is supplied on 14 days approval upon receipt of full remittance SECONDHAND Instruments are always available. Turnover is fast so we do not pnnt a list. Phone for information. PART EXCHANGE Top prices paid for good condition Bins and Scopes. HOW TO FIND US We are 10 mins from M25 and AIM motorways and 15 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. TELESCOPES AND TRIPOD OUTFITS If you purchase a scope and tripod at the same time we can offer you a very special price! PHONE FOR A QUOTE INTEREST FREE CREDIT ON SELECTED Zeiss, Leitz. Kowa and Nikon products Phone or write for details. BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES REPAIRED ON THE PREMISES / LARGE RANGE OF BARBOUR JACKETS FROM STOCK / WE ALSO STOCK PENTAX AND ADLERBLICK BINOCULARS (D775) 1 ORNITHOLIDAYS 1991 MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS Holidays Organised by Birdwatchers for Birdwatchers Twenty-six years’ service to birdwatchers & naturalists Programme will include: Kenya Botswana Namibia Tanzania Madagascar The Seychelles Venezuela The Galapagos Brazil Chile Costa Rica Arizona & New Mexico Yellowstone Nat Park Canadian Rockies Thailand Israel Cyprus N.E. Greece Turkey Yugoslavia Austria - The High Alps Lake Neusiedl Arctic Norway The Camargue Aiguamolls (Spain) Andorra The Spanish Pyrenees The Canary Islands Majorca Write or ’phone for a brochure to: ORNITHOLIDAYS DEPT. 2, 1-3 VICTORIA DRIVE, BOGNOR REGIS, WEST SUSSEX, P021 2PW Tel: 0243 821230 (D720) ATOL LICENCE No.743 w ABTA Cygnus WlUUfe Ji Sunbird The best of bird watching tours Pallas's Fish Eagle at Bharat pur, India. Come with us and see why Sunbird was voted the best of the major birdwatching holiday companies in the survey by British Birds magazine. Choose from 35 friendly small-group tours in six continents with our team of professional leaders: Bryan Bland, David Fisher, Tom Gullick, Steve Rooke and Don Turner. For a copy of our 1991 brochure giving details of all our destinations please contact Sunbird, P.O. Box 76b, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 IDF. Telephone 0767 682969 Fax 0767 692481 (D746) IV National Bird News 0898-884-500 Holiday Information For sale and wanted Audio newsletter Voice activated Conservation news Plus much, much more A percentage of all profits goes to conservation projects ” So fast. So simple. So try it! ” FOR THE FASTEST DAILY RARE BIRD NEWS ANYWHERE TWITCH-LINE 0898 884 501 The original voice-activated rare bird news-line. News items are repeated after the headlines summary, each followed by a tone. Responding to the tone gives full directions and site details. 44p/min peak/std. 33p/min cheap rate, inc. VAT Conservation Concepts Ltd. P.O. Box 29, Boston, Lines PE21 ONL TWITCH-LINE THE PETRELS: Their Ecology and Breeding Systems John Warham The Petrels or tubenosed birds, include the shearwaters, alba- trosses and the storm, diving and gadfly petrel families. As a group they enjoy worldwide distribution and often form an important component of the marine communities of which they form a part. The long distance migrations and colonial breeding habits of many of the species pose fascinating questions in biology and much can be learned from comparative work on species from different parts of the world. This well illustrated general introduction to the petrels forms an accessible and invaluable ref- erence to both the scientific and lay ornithologist. December 1990, 448 pages, £28.50 , ISBN: 0. 12.735420.4 Academic Press 24-28 Oval Road London NW1 7DX (BB 1) Telephone: 071-267-4466 (D778) NATURETREK BIRDING TREKS & TOURS in NEPAL- KASHMIR LADAKH - ZANSKAR BHUTAN - CHINA INDIA - INDONESIA MALAYSIA - TURKEY GREECE - CYPRUS KENYA - TANZANIA COSTA RICA - ETHIOPIA BOTSWANA - ZAMBIA AUSTRALIA - MALAWI NAMIBIA - MOROCCO RWANDA - ZAIRE GALAPAGOS NEW ZEALAND NEWFOUNDLAND Independent Travel ■ Tailor-made § Tours • Private Safaris ■ Flights For our brochure/expert advice phone 0962 733051 40 THE DEAN, ALRESFORD, HANTS. S024 9AZ • 49 TRINIDAD and TOBAGO Stay at the famous Asa Wright Nature Centre for 6 nights. Have four tours, to the famous Caroni Swamp, Nariva Swamp and two tours of your choice. Fly to the island of Tobago and stay at the Grafton Beach Resort with 2 tours for another 6 nights. Cost of Holiday per person with flights included £1,300 subject to flight availability. Charlotte Nanton, Suite 53, Terminal House, Station Approach, Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 8AS Telephone: 0932 244140 845580 vi London Camera Exchange SOUTHAMPTON 0703 221597/335363 10 High Street, Southampton SOI ODH ZEISS WEST Dialyt 8 X 20B £215.00 Dialyt 10 X 25B ...£225.00 Dailyt 8 X 20BGA £245.00 Dialyt 8 x 30BGAT Phone Dialyt 7 X 42BGAT Phone Dialyt 10 x 40BGAT.... Phone Dialyt 8 x 56BGAT Phone LEICA 8 X 20BC £199.00 8 X 20BCA £211.00 10 X 25BC £211.00 10 X 25BCA £223.00 New Models 7 X 42BA ) 8 x 42BA }. Phone 10 X 42BA J OPTOLYTH Alpin8 X 30GA £205.00 Alpin 8 x 40GA £225.00 Alpin 10 X 40GA £230.00 Alpin 10 X 50GA £246.00 Touring 8 x 30BGA.... Phone Touring 10 X 40BGA.. Phone Touring 7 X 42BGA.... Phone TBG 80= £350.00 TBS 80 £350.00 20 X WA £100.00 30 X £64.00 40 X £65.00 22 X -60 X Zoom £150.00 Cases from £29.00 KOWA TSl 601 Body £179.00 TS2 602 Body £179.00 20 X WA £54.00 20X -60 x Zoom £94.00 TSN1 £295.00 TSN2 £295.00 TSN3 £555.00 TSN4 £555.00 20 X WA £89.00 20 X -60 x Zoom £139.00 25 X £59.00 30 X WA £109.00 40 X £59.00 Photo Kit £99.00 OPTICRON Minerva 9 X 35 £169.00 Minerva 8 X 40 £170.00 Minerva 10 X 40 £175.00 HR 7 X 42MC £143.00 HR 8 X 42MC £145.00 HR10 X 42MC £150.00 HR10 X 50MC £167.00 HR Body 60mm £148.00 HR Body 60mm 45° ..£168.00 HR Body 60mmGA...£164.00 20X-60X Zoom £76.00 22 X WA £32.00 Classic IF 60mm £99.00 18x £23.00 25 x £23.00 25 X HPX £26.00 18 x -40 x Zoom £59.00 Classic EF 75mm £137.00 22 X WA £23.00 30 X £23.00 30 X HP £26.00 22 x -47 x Zoom £59.00 Case for HR £16.00 Photo Kit £32.00 Opticron Tripod £59.95 CARL ZEISS JENA Jenoptem8 X 30 £49.95 Jenoptem 10 X 50 £69.95 Deltrintem 8 X 30 £64.95 Dekarem 10 x 50 £99.95 Notarem8 X 32B £129.00 Notarem 10 x 40B... .£169.00 Notarem 10 X 40 BGA £189.00 BAUSCH AND LOMB Elite 8 x 42BGA £599.00 Elite 10 x 42BGA £599.00 Custom 8 X 36B £189.00 Custom 10 X 40B £199.00 SWIFT Audubon 8.5 X 44. ...£199. 95 Audubon 7 X 35 £329.95 MIRADOR Merlin 25 X 60 £97.00 Merlin 18 X 40 X 60 .£129.00 NIKON 8X 30 £199.00 9 X 30 £239.00 Fieldscope II £269.00 Fieldscope ED2 £489.00 ED2 20 X 45 X 60 £569.00 SWAROVSKI 8 X 20B £215.00 8 X 30SLC £325.00 8 X 30ZCF £330.00 10 x 40B Phone 10 X 40BGA Phone BRESSER Action 8 X 40 £69.00 Action 10 X 50 £79.00 Diorit7 X 42 £186.00 Diorit 10 x 42 £199.00 SIGMA 400mm f5.6 MF (most fittings) £199.95 400mm f5.6 APO MF (most fittings) £289.95 400mm f5.6 AF (Min, Nik, Pen) £229.95 400mm f5.6 APO AF (Min, Nik, Pen) £349.95 400mm f5.6 APO AF (CAN) £399.95 500mm f7.2MF APO £389.95 500mm f7.2MF APO (Min, Nik) £399.95 500mm f7.2AF APO (CAN) £449.95 TOKINA 400mm f5.6MF £209.95 TAMRON 500mm f8 Mirror (all fittings) £220.00 90mm f2.5 Macro (all fittings) £199.00 We are a major photo- graphic retailer and carry in stock a large range of cameras, lenses and accessories (new and second hand), including long telephoto lenses ideal for wildlife photography. We can advise you on all your photographic and optical needs. Phone now and ask for Richard or Trevor. A full range of tripods and photographic equipment also stocked Why not give us the opportunity to impress you with our PRICES & SERVICE MAILORDER WELCOMED PART EXCHANGE AVAILABLE They are the BEST -that’s GUARANTEED We will attempt to encourage you with our low prices, high trade-ins and friendly, knowledgeable service. Talk to A. R. Hawkins about Binoculars! (PHONE USE OR By return despatch and knowledgeable advice with your order. WORLD CLASS BINOCULARS/TELESCOPES FROM A. R. HAWKINS THE SPECIALISTS - CALLERS WELCOME - OR ORDER BY PHONE OR POST IN COMPLETE CONFIDENCE. PITSFORD RESERVOIR Nature Reserve SUNDAY 20th JANUARY - Open 10am to 4pm ALSO SUNDAY 10th MARCH - Open 10am to 4pm A.R. HAWKINS will be at Pitsford Reservoir Nature Reserve, where at your leisure you can test and purchase instruments is to look at birds in their natural habitat! Pitsford Reservoir is five miles from Northampton. Travel along the A508 to Brixworth then turn off to Holcot. We are in the Fisherman’s Lodge at the end of the causeway. RICHARD W. JARVIS The well-known local wildlife artist/illustrator will also be in attendance at Pitsford Reservoir with his original paintings 1 ARhawkins N’PTON LTD. DEPT BB, 9 MAREFAIR NORTHAMPTON NN1 1SR TELEPHONE 0604/39674. (D774) PRISMATIC TELESCOPE THE INCOMPARABLE rarErr 0 Mi □ BYBUSHnELL DIVISION OF BAUSCH AND LOMB IN A WORLD OF ITS OWN SPACE AGE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE IN THE CONSERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT. ARGUABLY THE TELESCOPE DEMANDED BY BIRD WATCHERS. LARGE 60mm OBJECTIVE LENS. BODY CAN BE SUPPLIED WITH CHOICE OF 15x, 20x, 22 W/A, 25x, 60x AND 15x-45x EYEPIECES. INCOMPARABLE!! ASK FOR A TEST. STOCKED BY MOST QUALITY ‘BIRD WATCH SUPPLIERS’. J. J. VICKERS AND SONS LTD. Sole U.K. Importer of BUSHNELL — DIVISION OF BAUSCH AND LOMB PRODUCTS FOR NEAREST STOCKIST CONTACT: g J. J. VICKERS AND SONS LTD. UNIT 9, 35 REVENGE ROAD g LORDSWOOD, CHATHAM, KENT ME5 8DW (Phone 0634 201284) Q viii RARE BIRD NEWS Hear it first on BIRDL'NE 0898 700 22! the ORIGINAL rare bird neiasline now in its 5th year News you can trust from the team you km HIE HAS BEEN Ml IMPORTANT SUB TO CONSERVATION SINCE 19SS CALLS COST 33p/MIN CHEAP RATE, 44p/MIN PEAK/STD, INC VAT BIRD INFORMATION SERVICE, STONERUNNER, COAST ROAD, CLEYNEXTTHESEA, HOLT, NORFOLK, NR25 7RZ IX D765 As convincing k as Nature Ilk itself. The excellence of optical design engineered into the Touring range of binocu ars, further enhances the reputation of Optolyth Optik as manufacturer of optical equipment that is second to none. Unioue natural colour reproduction, whilst retaining maximum light transmission, coXd with extra sharpdefinition, ensure total performance under all conditions. There are three sizes to choose from, catering for all Pr°^^°n® .Ifhase^Now mandatory 30 year quarantee makes them a once in a lifetime purchase. Now available directly through mail order or through selected dealers nationwide. 8 x 32BGA £358. 7x*2BGA £398. 10x40BGA £398, Inclusive of soft leather case & rainguard Phone now on 0582 26522 for further information or write to: ■aSHSfni| OPTICRON |U|SQ11|I PO Box 370. Unit 21 Titan Court, La porte Way, Luton, Beds JJ-U4 8YR • __ Germany X British Birds VOLUME 84 NUMBER 1 JANUARY 1991 European news This twenty-eighth selection includes records from 26 countries. We are pleased to be able to draw attention to the addition of Egypt to the list of countries represented. New contacts in unrepresented West Palearctic countries will be very welcome. The official correspondents whose detailed six-monthly reports are summarised here are acknowledged at the end. This feature is intended as a news service; anyone requiring further information or quoting records in other publications should refer to the literature of the relevant country. If you have made observations in any of the countries included here, and do not know to whom records should be sent, we suggest that you send a copy of your records to the relevant ‘European news’ correspon- dent listed at the end of this summary; for countries not included here, we suggest that you send them to British Birds , and we shall do our best to pass them on to the appropriate person. Records awaiting formal verification by national rarities committees are indicated by an asterisk (*). Unless otherwise stated, all records refer to single individuals Ostrich Struthio camelus EGYPT First report for about five years: male in Wadi Allaqi (east of Lake Nasser), in January 1990 (first confirmed record within Western Palearctic since 1982). (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news' sum- mary.) Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus EGYPT First suggestion of breeding since 1935: pair displaying on Great Bitter Lake during June-July 1989. Black- necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis TUN- ISIA First breeding record: several present [Brit. Birds 84: 1-12, January 1991] 1 A 2 during summer and one pair with one young at Garaet Kelbia on 7th July 1990. Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus padficus EGYPT First record: off Port Said, on 10th March 1989. (This species has not pre- viously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Poland First record: single found dead on Hel Peninsula on 1st April 1990. Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus EGYPT Second record for Egyptian Red Sea: near Suez on 14th July 1989 (third record for Red Sea). Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa ESTONIA Second record: Pamu on 26th November 1989 (first was in November 1983, Brit. Birds 77: 233). Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo LATVIA Amendment to first breeding record: inspec- tion in January 1990 of nesting colony on Lake Lubana indicated that 16 nests were used, not five (Brit. Birds 83: 8). Second breeding record: two nests in West Latvia in 1989. UKRAINE Census: 22 pairs in 1990 in Western Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk Region (recolonisation in 1989, after break of 105 years, Brit. Birds 83: 8). Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus FRANCE Second record (first this century): Camargue on 24th March 1990* (cf. recent records in Austria and Cyprus, Brit. Birds 82: 321; 83: 222). Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africa- nus EGYPT First record since 1903: eight on Lake Nasser, 50 km south of Aswan on 21st March 1988. (This species has not pre- viously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens EGYPT Highest-ever count: 64 in Abu Simbil area, on 17th June 1990 (previously con- sidered rare passage visitor, now apparently regular summer visitor to southern part of Lake Nasser). FRANCE Second record: Marais d’Olonne, Vendee, on 30th April 1990*. (Cf. recent records in Israel and Austria, Brit. Birds 83: 8, 223.) Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax FAROE is- lands Second record (first this century): adult found dead at Hoyvik on 13th April 1990*. Little Egret Egretta garzetta CZECHOSLOVAKIA European news First breeding record in western Slovakia: three nests with young on Dunaj River, near Komarno, in 1989 (sixth breeding record in Czechoslovakia); first breeding record in Moravia was in 1988 (Brit. Birds 83: 9). Yellow -billed Stork Mycteria ibis EGYPT Highest-ever count: 1 14 in Abu Simbil area, on 17th June 1990 (previous highest count was 21 in November 1984). (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘Euro- pean news’ summary.) Black Stork Ciconia nigra BYELORUSSIA Cen- sus: 1,007 occupied nests found during 1985-89. Ukraine Census: 130-150 pairs in Western Ukraine during 1983-87 (main con- centration in Volyn Region and L’vov, Rovno Region). White Stork Ciconia riconia AUSTRIA Range extension: at least six new breeding sites in mountain region, southwestern Lower Aus- tria in 1989 and 1990. Czechoslovakia Small decreases: in Czech republic, 929 nests in 1987, 922 in 1988 and 915 in 1989 (cf. counts in Czech republic in 1984-86, Brit. Birds 81: 15); Slovak republic, 1,176 nests in 1968, 1,124 in 1974 and 1,020 in 1984. Marabou Leptoptilos crumeniferus FRANCE Vag- rant: Parc Regional du Languedoc in April 1990 and on lie de Re on 12th May 1990 (cf. records in Spain in 1987, 1988 and 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 9, 223). Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia AUSTRIA Ab- sence: for first time, no breeding record in 1990. ITALY First breeding record: two pairs in Comacchio Valley in May 1989. African Spoonbill Platalea alba FRANCE Second and third records: Dombes, Ain, during 13th-24th April 1990* and adult at Boismont, Somme, from 16th May 1990 onwards* (first was in September 1987; cf. other recent records in Austria and Spain, Brit. Birds 82: 322; 83: 9, 223). Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber TUNISIA First successful breeding attempt since 1974: about 3,000 young at breeding colony in southern Chotts in 1990 (a second breed- ing colony, with 1,200 nests, failed because of predation by foxes Vulpes vulpes). Ruddy Shelduck Tadoma ferruginea SWEDEN Possible influx: unknown (but unusually high) number at scattered localities in southern Sweden in July and August 1990 European news 3 (‘perhaps escapes, but wild origin more likely considering the high number and geographic pattern’). Shelduck Tadoma tadorna JORDAN First breeding record: adult with 15 ducklings at Azraq on 24th May 1990. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors EGYPT First record: dead male for sale in bird-market at Port Said during winter 1989/90. Pintail Anas acuta TUNISIA Breeding record: nest with eight eggs at Garaet Kelbia on 26th June 1990 (last breeding attempt ap- parently in 1963). (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris JORDAN First breeding record: pair with seven well-errown youne at Azraq on 23rd July 1990. Red-crested Pochard Netta rufitia MOROCCO Largest-ever winter concentration: 232 in Larache marshes on 26th December 1989 (160 still present in January 1990, Brit. Birds 83: 223-224). Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Denmark Third record: male at Hjarbaek Fjord, Jut- land, during 18th February to mid April 1990. FINLAND First record: male in Pori during 20th April-3rd May 1989. King Eider Somateria spectabilis NETHERLANDS Third and fourth records: female at IJmuiden, Noordholland, on 8th April 1989. and immature male at Komwerderzand, Friesland, during 7th-9th October 1989 4 (probably same individual at Harlingen, Friesland, during 4th-30th April 1990, plates 1 & 2) (second was in December/January 1981/82, Brit. Birds 75: 269; former first, in January 1966, is now rejected). Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica CZECHOSLOVAKIA First record: male on Ohre river, near Kadan, northern Bohemia, on 21st November 1987. NORWAY Correction: third record was during 26th-28th December 1986 {Brit. Birds 82: 323). Goldeneye Bucephala clangula NETHERLANDS Breeding: annually in Gelderland since 1985, with five pairs in 1989 (cf. recent events in Belgium and Denmark, Brit. Birds 78: 650; 82: 15, 323). Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatus Fin- land First and second records: male at Dulunsalo during 22nd-24th May 1989, and male at Naantali during 29th October to 13th November 1989 (cf. first and second Norwegian records in 1985 and 1986, Brit. Birds 81: 15; 82: 15-16). Smew Mergus albellus Byelorussia Second breeding record: two nests at Beloe fish- breeding farm, Zhitkovichi district, Gomel region, in May 1989 (10-12 pairs breeding in 1990; first breeding record was in 1988, Brit. Birds 83: 224; cf. first breeding in Czechoslo- vakia in 1984, Brit. Birds 80: 10). Red-breasted Merganser Mergus senator EGYPT First record since 1953: four males at Zaranik, North Sinai, on 12th January 1990. NETHERLANDS Breeding: annually in Zeeland since 1977, with about ten pairs in 1989. Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis FINLAND First record: male at Siikajoki on 8th July 1989. ITALY First record: pool of Molentargius, Sardinia, from 17th December 1987 to 10th January 1988. NORWAY Third record: two adult males at Engasjyen, Rana, Nordland, during 1 6th-2 1 st May 1988 (record — of group of two adult males and first-year female— on 30th October 1988, Brit. Birds 83: 224, becomes fourth). White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala GREECE Highest-ever numbers: 423 at Visto- nis Lake on 27th January 1990 (cf. 405 in February 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 16). SPAIN Range expansion: nest with eggs at Campil- los Lagoon, where perhaps up to three breeding pairs (first breeding in Malaga province; cf. previous expansion and in- creases, Brit. Birds 83: 10). European news Honey Buzzard Pemis apivorus HUNGARY Census: 300-350 pairs in 1989. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus FRANCE First proved breeding record: three young hatched in Pyrenees-Atlantiques on 21st July 1990 (cf. prediction of future breeding, Brit. Birds 77: 587). SPAIN First proved breeding in Andalucia: three young reared from nest in Donana National Park in spring 1986 (cf. range expansion and in- crease in numbers, Brit. Birds 77: 587). Black Kite Milvus migrans Hungary Census: 160 pairs in 1989. YUGOSLAVIA First breeding record for Slovenia: nest with one young at Lesce, near Bled, on 2nd July 1990. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla HUN- GARY Census: 25 pairs in 1989. Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus ESTO- NIA First record: adult near Moisakiila, Viljandi District, on 30th June 1990*. Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus MOROCCO Second record: Boumalne du Dades in April 1989* (first was over 30 years ago in Western Sahara). (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘Euro- pean news’ summary.) Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus HUNGARY Census: 40-50 pairs in 1989. UKRAINE Cen- sus: 25-30 pairs in Western Ukraine during 1982-85. Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus HUNGARY Census: 1,000 pairs in 1989. Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus HUNGARY Census: 100 pairs in 1989. Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates MOROCCO High count: up to five in usual area of Sous Valley in winter 1989. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Goshawk Accipiter gentilis HUNGARY Census: 1,500 pairs in 1989. Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus HUNGARY Cen- sus: 600 pairs in 1989. Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes HUN- GARY Census: five to ten pairs in 1989. Buzzard Buteo buteo HUNGARY Census: 2,500 pairs in 1989. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rujinus MALTA First record: Comino Island in October 1989 5 European news (cf. other 1989 records of one in Gibraltar and two in Sweden, Brit. Birds 83: 10, 224). Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina HUN- GARY Census: 150 pairs in 1989. Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca ESTONIA Dele- tion: 1985 record of A. h. adalberti [Brit. Birds 79: 287) not now accepted. HUNGARY Cen- sus: 27 pairs in 1989, with highest-ever breeding success (21 young fledged). Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Hungary Census: two pairs in 1989. JORDAN First breeding record: pair with nest in eastern desert on 5th May 1990. UKRAINE Census: six or seven pairs in Western Ukraine during 1982-86. Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii JORDAN First to fourth records: one in southern desert on 13th April 1981, pair on 3rd April 1986, possible immatures on 24th April 1987 and 22nd April 1988. (Record in 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 224, now becomes fifth record.) Sixth record and first proved breeding: pair plus fledged immature at same site during 14th- 16th April 1990. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus HUNGARY Census: ten pairs in 1989. UKRAINE Census: 12-14 pairs in Western Ukraine during 1982- 86. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni SPAIN Popula- tion estimate: 4,000-5,000 pairs in 1989 (more than 80% in Extremadura and Anda- lucia). Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus DENMARK Spring influx: about 50 at Skagen and about 30 at Zeeland during May 1990. FRANCE Spring influx: many, including up to 19 together at Ancelle, Hautes-Alpes, on 13th May 1990, and up to 50 near Gap, Hautes- Alpes, on 27th May 1990. HUNGARY Census: 1,500 pairs in 1989. UKRAINE Census: 15-20 pairs in Western Ukraine during 1982-85. Hobby Falco subbuteo Hungary Census: 600- 700 pairs in 1989. Saker Falco cherrug Hungary Census: 65 pairs in 1989, with highest-ever breeding success (92 young fledged). Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix NETHERLANDS Continuing decline: 44 males in 1988 and 31 in 1989 (cf. 3,000 in late 1950s, 450 in 1976 and less than 100 in 1982, Brit. Birds 77: 235). Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus GREECE Newly discovered population: on Mt Athos, Chal- kidiki. Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo NETHER- LANDS First record: two adults near De Peel at Heusden, Noorbrabant, from second half of August to 12th September 1989 (only other West European records during 1977- 89 were in Denmark, Finland and France, Brit. Birds 72: 591; 76: 568; 79: 287; 80: 11-12; 81: 332). Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus NETHERLANDS Fourth-best year this century: 22 breeding attempts (ten in Flevoland, 12 in Delta area, southwestern Netherlands), at least seven young fledged, in 1990. YUGOSLA- VIA First breeding record for Slovenia: two pairs with young at Secovlje Salinas during June-July 1990. Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta EGYPT First con- firmed breeding: six nests at Zaranik, North Sinai, during May -July 1990. Stone-curlew Burfiinus oedicnemus GERMANY, EAST Apparently extinct: pair near Leipzig in 1987, but none found since. Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor FINLAND Second record: one (killed by Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus shortly after being found), Kullaa on 25th September 1989 (first was in October 1893). Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola FIN- LAND Second to fifth records: single adults at Salo during lst-3rd August 1989, Siuntio on 4th August 1989, Jarvenpaa during 7th-8th August 1989, and Kemio during 20th-22nd August 1989 (first was in May 1984, Brit. Birds 77: 588). NORWAY Third record: adult at Molen, Larvik, Vestfold, on 3rd June 1985 (first and second were in June 1976 and June 1978, Brit. Birds 72: 591). Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius MOROCCO First record: four at Merzouga in Tanuarv 1990*. Lesser/Greater Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus/C. leschenaultii GERMANY, EAST Vag- rant: Langenwerder, near Wismar, in Au- gust 1986. NORWAY Fifth record: adult at Nordkapp, Finnmark, during 22nd-23rd June 1988 (earlier records were of indeter- minate individuals in 1970 and 1971, a Lesser Sand Plover in 1973 and a Greater Sand Plover in 1984, Brit. Birds 73: 258; 78: 341). Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus JORDAN 6 Third and fourth records: two at Azraq on 20th April 1990, and 12 on 26th April 1990 (first and second were in 1969 and 1987). American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica SWEDEN Fourth record: Ledskar, Uppland, in mid October 1989*. (Corrections: after revision of P. dominica and P. fulva records, that in September 1981, Brit. Birds 75: 570, becomes first, and those in June 1986 and July 1986, Brit. Birds 80: 324, become second and third.) Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva EGYPT First record: Gebel Asfar on 21st April 1990. Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus ITALY First record: near Fontanetto Po, Vercelli, Piedmont, on 9th September 1989 (the only other recent West European re- cords were in West Germany in September 1978 and Belgium in April 1988, Brit. Birds 72: 277; 82: 18). Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria AUSTRIA Second record: Rheindelta, Vorarlberg, on 20th March 1990 (first was in April 1982, Brit. Birds 75: 570). White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura Tunisia Second record: Nouail on 29th November 1986. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Netherlands First record: Oostvaarders- plassen, Flevoland, during 1 1 th- 1 3th June 1989*. SWEDEN First record: at Halsnas, Oland, on 3rd August 1990*. (Compared with Britain and Ireland, where there have been 56 records during 1958-89, very few have been discovered on the Continent; ‘European news’ has noted only the first in Austria in 1985, the first in Norway in 1987 and the third in France in 1988, Brit. Birds 80: 324; 82: 325.) Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis SWEDEN Fourth record: single in summer plumage at Sandbyborg, Oland, on 17th July 1990* (the previous three were in 1985-86, Brit. Birds 80: 1 1 ; the only other recent Continental re- cords have been in Austria in 1984 and 1985, Denmark in 1986, the Netherlands in 1987 and Belgium in 1988, Brit. Birds 80: 324; 81: 333; 82: 325). Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos EGYPT First record: Wadi El Natron during late May 1990. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata NETHERLANDS First record: Philippine, Zee- European news land, during 14th-21st September 1989 (cf. first Belgian record in September 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 225). Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus JORDAN Second record: Azraq on 23rd July 1990 (first was in 1965). Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopa- ceus ITALY Second record: Natural Reserve of S. Severa, Rome, Latium, on 27th August 1988. Asiatic Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus FRANCE First record (and first for Western Palearctic): in Baie de Somme, Somme, during 5th-7th May 1990*. Woodcock Scolopax rusticola canary islands First breeding on El Hierro: nest with four eggs in mixed pine forest on 21st June 1989. Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris GREECE Porto Lagos on 19th April 1987, and Aghios Mammas Lagoon, Chalkidiki, on 16th July 1987. Tunisia Metbassetta during 26th November to 1st December 1986 and Sebkha Menzel Dar Bel Ouaar on 29th December 1989. (We are publishing all records received of this species.) Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis LATVIA Increased breeding: at least ten pairs observed and four nests found at fish-ponds near Lake Lubana during summer 1990 (first breeding record was in 1974; cf. other evidence of range expansion into Finland and Poland, Brit. Birds 71: 584; 81: 18; 82: 326). Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca FRANCE Third record: Chalamont, Ain, on 26th April 1990* (first and second were in August 1987 and November 1989, Brit. Birds 81: 383; 83: 225). Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus JORDAN First record: Azraq on 22nd June 1990. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia FINLAND Second record: Oulunsalo from 14th May 1989 for about a week (first was in June 1982, Brit. Birds 75: 571). ITALY First record: Dora Baltea River, Aosta, on 19th April 1986. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor NOR- WAY Second and third records: adult female at Sandblostvagen, Fraena, More & Roms- dal, on 11th May 1984, and adult at Nesheimvannet, Farsund, Vest-Agder, on 26th July 1988 (first was in May 1980, Brit. Birds 75: 27). European news Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus BYELORUS- SIA First record: single in Minsk on 15th June 1989. Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus FINLAND Third record: adult at Pattijoki on 30th May 1989 (first and second were in May 1984 and May 1988, Brit. Birds 77: 588; 82: 326). GREECE Severe decline: largest colony (c. 5,000 pairs), at Alyki Lagoon, Pieria, failed completely to nest in 1989 and 1990, owing to very low water levels. LATVIA Second record: two at Lake Pape on 14th May 1990 (first was in 1970). Laughing Gull Larus atricilla DENMARK Cor- rection: third record was in 1988, not 1987 (Brit. Birds 82: 19). Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan NETHERLANDS Correction: second record was on 10th (not 20th) June 1988 (Brit. Birds 82: 327). Little Gull Larus minutus EGYPT Highest-ever count: 50,000 at the northern Delta Lakes during winter 1989/90. Bonaparte’s Gull Larus Philadelphia DENMARK First record: August 1988 (Brit. Birds 82: 19), see plates 3 & 4. FRANCE Third record: adult on Ouessant, Finistere, on 15th February 1990* (second was in October 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 334). MOROCCO First and second records: Melilla in May 1983* and Oued Sous estuary in February 1990*. NETHER- LANDS Date extension: June 1988 individual stayed until 28th January 1989 (Brit. Birds 82: 327). SPAIN Third record: first-winter at Gijon, Asturias, on 21st January and 7th March 1990* (first and second were in 1982 and 1986, Brit. Birds 81: 18). Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus JORDAN First record: Aqaba on 30th March 1989 (presumed same as Eilat, Israel, individual, Brit. Birds 82: 327). Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides POLAND Third record: adult on Vistula River near Nies- zawa on 19th January 1990 (second was in January 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 226). Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii NETHERLANDS First breeding records: Hoogse Platen, Zee- land, in 1982-85, female hybridising with Common Tern S. hirundo (at least one young successfully reared in 1984). Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus FRANCE Third record: Banc d’Arguin/Arcachon, Gironde, on 27th May 1990* (first and second were in July 1986 and July 1987, Brit. Birds 80: 326; 7 81: 334). NETHERLANDS First records: two at Temeuzen, Zeeland, during 4th-8th July 1989; presumably same individuals at Cam- perduin and IJmuiden, Noordholland, on 24th July, and at Philipsdam, Zeeland, from 29th July to 1st August 1989. (There were nine records in Britain & Ireland during 1958-89, but the only other report in ‘Euro- pean news’ concerns the first Danish record in July 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 19.) Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus UKRAINE Census: 5,000 pairs in Western Ukraine during 1986-87 (main concentration in Ter- nopol Region and L’vov, Ivano-Frankivsk Region); breeding population expansion during 1983-90 (cf. expansion in Poland in 1986 and Byelorussia in 1987-88, Brit. Birds 80: 12; 83: 226). African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris EGYPT First confirmed breeding: ten to 15 pairs nesting near Abu Simbil in June 1989 and June 1990 (species seen regularly on the Nile near Kom Ombo in early 1990, but not during summer breeding season). Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus NORWAY First record this century: adult female at Rinnleiret, Verdalen, Nord- Trondelag, from 20th July to at least 18th August 1990* (last previous record was on 3rd January 1889). (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Stock Dove Columba livia JORDAN First re- cord: five at Shaumari during 4th- 10th November 1988 (1989 record becomes second, Brit. Birds 83: 226). Pink-headed Turtle Dove Streptopelia roseo- grisea EGYPT First confirmed records outside Gebel Elba region: seven at Abu Simbil on 7th November 1989 and five on 14th April 1990. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto MOROCCO Continued expansion: up to ten in Larache and up to 20 in Casablanca during spring 1990 (cf. earlier colonisation, and range expansion in Spain, Brit. Birds 82: 20; 83: 226). Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius MOROCCO First breeding record: Sous Valley during spring 1990*. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca DENMARK Influx: at least seven individuals during January- 8 European news April 1990* (cf. influx in Sweden in November-February 1989/90, Brit. Birds 83: 226). Long-eared Owl Asio otus EGYPT First breed- ing record: nest with chicks near Bilbis in the eastern Delta in spring 1990 (species is rare winter visitor to Delta region). White-rumped Swift Apus coffer NORWAY Second record: two at Eftang, Larvik, Vest- fold, on 15th June 1986 (first was in May 1984; range expansion noted in Spain dur- ing 1979-86, Brit. Birds 80: 13, 326). Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis JOR- DAN First and subsequent records: one in Aqaba on 17th April 1979; others in same area in 1984, 1985 and 1986 (these predate the records given previously, Brit. Birds 83: 227). Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus SPAIN First record: adult at Delta del Llobre- European news gat, Barcelona, on 15thjune 1989* (cf. three British records in June-July 1989 and first Danish record in June 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 13, 471). Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus BYELORUSSIA First and second records in southwestern region: near Brest, in March 1988 and June 1990; first breeding record in extreme southeast — Komarin — was in 1980 (cf. range expansions in Austria, Czechoslo- vakia and Poland, Brit. Birds 74: 261-262; 76: 275; 81: 19). Dunn’s Lark Eremalanda dunni EGYPT Second record and first proved breeding: ten 35 km southwest of El Arish, North Sinai, in January 1990; at least four males singing, defending territories and carrying food on 8th May 1990 (first record was single north of Nekhl, North Sinai, on 17th March 1981). SPAIN First record: Mojacar, Almeria, on 16th April 1989*. (Cf. influx into Israel in winter 1988/89 and subsequent breeding, Brit. Birds 82: 328; 83: 14.) Thick-billed Lark Rhamphocoris clotbey JOR- DAN First proved breeding record: four (including a pair) at Qasr Hrana on 24th April and adult with juvenile on 22nd June 1990. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra NETHERLANDS Second record: Texel on 16th May 1988 (first was in October 1980; re- cords in 1960 and 1977 are now rejected, Brit. Birds 75: 270). Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla EGYPT First regular breeding records: large numbers holding territories, displaying and carrying food in various locations (concen- trated along Wadi El Arish) in Northern Sinai, during June 1989, and May and July 1990 (only previous evidence of breeding was of female with large incubation patch at Wadi El Natron). Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens NORWAY First record: Molen, Larvik, Vest- fold, during 7th-23rd November 1987 (cf. only other vagrant noted in ‘European news’ was first Swedish record in April 1986, Brit. Birds 80: 13). Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludi- cola EGYPT First record: Suez in May 1990. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica France Breeding records: nests at two or three places in Var departement in 1990, following breeding records in Herault, Cor- 9 sica, Var and attempt on Aveyron in 1989 (cf. increase of migrants in spring since 1988, e.g. Brit. Birds 82: 20-21). Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii Netherlands First record: first-year female trapped and collected at Westemschouwen, Zeeland, on 13th November 1983 (the only previous Continental records noted in ‘European news’ were five in Finland, all in October/ November, one in 1974, three in 1986 and one in 1988, Brit. Birds 83: 14). Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni NORWAY Correction: 1981 record was eighth, not fourth (Brit. Birds 83: 227). POLAND First winter record: Rewa in Puck Bay on 24th February 1990. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola JORDAN Possible breeding: pair at Samra sewage- lagoons, Zerqa, on 7th June 1990. White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys JORDAN First record: Aqaba on 9th April 1990 (origin uncertain) (cf. first Israeli record in nearby Eilat in April 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 21). Wren Troglodytes troglodytes EGYPT First con- firmed record: Gebel Asfar on 5th January 1990. JORDAN First proved breeding record: adult with juvenile at Dibbin Forest on 13th July 1990. Dunnock Prunella modularis JORDAN First re- cord this century: Shaumari on 8th Novem- ber 1988 (records noted earlier become second and third this century, Brit. Birds 83: 227). Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes UKRAINE First record: Luga Ruva, Volody- myr Volynski, Volyn Region, on 13th May 1990. Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka FRANCE First and second records: single males at Vendoeuvre s/Barse, Aube, on 29th April 1990*, and on Ouessant at end of May 1990*. UKRAINE First record in western region: male in Shack National Park, Volyn Region, on 25th May 1990. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti NETHER- LANDS Second record: Oud-Alblas, Zuidhol- land, during 24th-26th April 1989. Eastern Pied Wheatear Oenanthe picata EGYPT First record: one, with characters of the opistholeuca phase, 80 km west of Safaga, on the Red Sea, on 5th February 1989. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) 10 Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus NETHER- LANDS Fourth record: Roermond, Limburg, during 5th-7th May 1989 (third was in September-October 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 350). Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus JORDAN Second record: Shaumari during 8th- 10th November 1988 (second and third records become third and fourth, Brit. Birds 83: 228). Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata SWEDEN Third record: Alvik, Norrbotten, 22nd June to at least 18th July 1990 (pre- vious records were of individuals found dead in 1939 and 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 337). Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida FRANCE Third record: near Montpellier, Herault, on 13th April 1990*. NORWAY First record: adult at Herdlevaer, 0ygarden, Hordaland, on 11th July 1988. Upcher’s Warbler Hippolais languida EGYPT First record: Wadi Rish, North Sinai, on 4th May 1990. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ sum- mary.) Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta PO- LAND Third record: male singing at Boro- wiec in southeast Poland on 26th May 1990 (first and second were also of singing males, in May 1986 and May 1987, Brit. Birds 80: 328; 82: 22). Desert Warbler Sylvia nana ITALY Second record: Isle of Linosa, Sicily, on 23rd April 1988. Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis MALTA Third record: one ringed in November 1989. Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus juscatus EGYPT First record: Na’ama Bay, South Sinai, on 12th- 13th October 1989. Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli NORWAY Third record: adult at Utsira, Rogaland, on 12th May 1988. Goldcrest Regulus regulus EGYPT First record since 1968: two at Mersa Matruh in October 1989. JORDAN Second record: Dibbin Forest on 16th February 1990 (first was in 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 229). Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus LATVIA Possible breeding record: male singing in limited territory during 10th- 11th May 1990 (the only breeding record was in 1893). Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata EGYPT European news First breeding records: Rafah, North Sinai, on 9th June 1989; others breeding at same locality in May 1990. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitor- quata ITALY First record: one ringed on Capri on 22nd April 1988 (the only other recent West European records were in France in April 1980 and Malta in September 1982 and April 1985, Brit. Birds 75: 573; 76: 569; 79: 290). Blue Tit Parus caemleus JORDAN First docu- mented occurrences and first breeding re- cord: recorded every April at Dibbin Forest since 1984; other sightings in same locality in October 1989, February and June 1990, with some fledged young in June. Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria NETHER- LANDS First record: wintering on high build- ing in Amsterdam during 13th November 1989 to 11th April 1990 (cf. Belgian records in March 1986, winter 1986/87, December 1987, March 1989 and November 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 229). Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus NETHERLANDS Colonisation: breeding annual since 1981, and rapidly becoming established with 55 pairs in 1989 (cf. earlier increases there and in Belgium, Latvia, Spain and Sweden, Brit. Birds 82: 22; 83: 16, 229). Nile Valley Stmbird Anthreptes metallicus EGYPT First record outside Nile Valley and Delta: male at Hurghada, on the Red Sea, on 1 2th- 1 3 th April 1990 (approximately 150 km outside species’ normal range). (This species has not previously been men- tioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Jackdaw Corvus monedula JORDAN First re- cord: 50 at Ajlun on 27th March 1988 (1989 record becomes second, Brit. Birds 83: 229). Raven Corvus corax NETHERLANDS Reintro- duction: successfully reintroduced since 1969; more than 30 ‘wild’ breeding pairs in 1990 (last breeding record probably in 1927)(cf. reintroduction into Belgium, Brit. Birds 73: 578). Spodess Starling Stumus unicolor FRANCE First breeding records outside Corsica: pre- sence in Aude in 1989 was followed by breeding in two or three villages in Aude departement in spring 1990. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) 11 European news Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis EGYPT First breeding record: several males singing near group of large nests in Eucalyptus trees at El Arish on 1 1th July 1990 (presence at El Arish in July reported previously). Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus EGYPT Second record: ten near Nuweiba, South Sinai, during 30th October to 3rd November 1987 (first record was also at Nuweiba). Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica JORDAN First and second records: two at South Shuna on 19th March 1989, and pair nest- building at Kafrein on 1st May 1990 (both localities are in Jordan valley) (cf. establish- ment in Israel, Brit. Birds 82: 354). Brambling Fringilla montifringilla J OR DAN First record: two at Shaumari during 7th- 10th November 1988 (first and second records become second and third, Brit. Birds 83: 229). Siskin Carduelis spinus JORDAN First record: Shaumari on 7th November 1988 (records in 1989 and 1990 become second and third, Brit. Birds 83: 229). Redpoll Carduelis flammea ESTONIA Deletion: first two breeding records from 1987 (Brit. Birds 81: 338) rechecked and not accepted. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera SWE- DEN Potential eruption: as in recent years, flocks on the move in east-central Sweden in July 1990, appearing in unusually high numbers also in southern Sweden. Crossbill Loxia curvirostra FAROE ISLANDS Irruption: from 4th June 1990 (even bigger than last one, in June/July 1985, Brit. Birds 79: 291). MALTA Irruption: up to 50 in one locality in early July 1990 (last recorded influx in 1979). SWEDEN Erruption: massive westerly and southwesterly movement throughout Sweden in July and August 1990, and many left the country at Falsterbo (more than 1,000 daily during 16th-20th August 1990). Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta EGYPT Third and fourth records: subadult near El Arish, North Sinai, on 1st November 1989, and two adults flying about 20 km south of El Arish on 28th April 1990 (several sparrow-like nests found on large acacia tree at Wadi Rish, North Sinai, in May 1990 probably belonged to this species). (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘Euro- pean news’ summary.) Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus FAROE ISLANDS Fourth record (first in spring): adult male trapped on Nolsoy on 3rd-4th June 1990. NETHERLANDS Continued colonisation: 15 breeding pairs in 1989 and probably more in 1990, ‘especially successful in Flevoland’ (first breeding was in 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 338). Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus FIN- LAND First record: female at Kustavi during 25th-27th April 1989. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis NETHERLANDS Fourth record: Griend, Fries- land, on 10th June 1989 (third was in April 1977, Brit. Birds 71: 587; no others have been reported in Europe in recent years, apart from 16 in Britain & Ireland during 1958- 89). Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana NETHER- LANDS Decrease: only 33 breeding pairs in 1989 (cf. decrease in Austria and Norway, Brit. Birds 72: 280; 76: 276). Ukraine Census: 300 pairs during 1983-88 in Western Ukraine. Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia MALTA Third record: one ringed in August 1989 (the only other recent vagrant records were in Finland in May 1981 and a report of five in Poland in August 1982, Brit. Birds 75: 30; 76: 576). Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica SPAIN First record: male ringed at Los Palacios, Sevilla, on 21st December 1987. Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola DENMARK Second record: Christianso, on 19th June 1990* (first was in August 1984, Brit. Birds 79: 292). SPAIN Second record: male at Belchite, Zaragoza, on 7th Novem- ber 1987 (first was at Chipiona, Cadiz province, on 3rd October 1969). Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea FINLAND Second and third occurrences: Ylitomia during 3rd-7th May 1989, and Utsjoki on 23rd May 1989 (considered to be escapes, as was first, in May 1982, Brit. Birds 78: 644). NETHERLANDS Second record: male at Am- sterdam during 10th-23rd March 1989*. (Cf. first Danish and Swedish records in August 1987 and April-May 1989, Brit. Birds 81: 22; 83: 17). Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus ITALY First record: one ringed in Massaciuccoli Lane, 12 European news Tuscany, on 18th September 1989 (cf. only other recent Continental records, in Norway in November 1977 and in France in October 1987, Brit. Birds 71: 257; 81: 339). Northern Oriole Icterus galbula NETHERLANDS Correspondents AUSTRIA Hans-Martin Berg, Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Vogelkunde, c/o Naturhistoris- ches Museum Wien, A-1014 Wien 1, Burgring 7, Postfach 417 BYELORUSSIA M. E. Nikiforov, Lab. Ecol. Terrestrial Animals, Inst. Zoology, Byel. Acad. Sci., Skoriny St 27 220733 Minsk CANARY islands Keith Emmerson & Dr Aurelio Martin, Departamento de Biologia Animal (Zoologia), Universidad de la Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife CZECHOSLOVAKIA Dr Karel Stastny, Institute of Applied Ecology and Ecotechnology, Agriculture University in Prague, 281 63 Kostelec n.c.lesy DENMARK Brian Rasmussen, Kastanie Alle 27, DK-3250 Gilleleje EGYPT Sherif Baha El Din, Executive Business Service, Cairo Marriott Hotel, PO Box 33, Zamalek, Cairo Estonia Dr Vilju Lilleleht, Institute of Zoology and Botany, 21 Vanemuise St, SU-202400 Tartu FAROE ISLANDS Soren Sorensen, Bratskowej 5, DK-2720 Vanlose, Denmark FINLAND Hannu Jannes, The Finnish Ornithological Society, Zoological Museum, P. Rautatiekatu 13, SF-00100 Helsinki 10 FRANCE Dr Philippe J. Dubois, 29 rue Saint-Didier, 95810 Epiais-Rhus GERMANY, EAST Dr W. Eichstadt, Specker Horst, Post Kargow, DDR-2061 GREECE George I. Handrinos, 50 El Venizelou Str, 166 75 Glyfada HUNGARY Zoltan Waliczky, 1039 Budapest, Juhasz Gy. u. 15. VII. 60 ITALY Marco Gustin, Stazione Romana, Osservazione e Protezione Uccelli, via Palo Laziale 2, 00055 c/o Bosco WWF di Palo Laziale, Ladispoli, Roma JORDAN Ian J. Andrews & Dr Peter F. Sherrington, c/o British Embassy, PO Box 87, Amman Latvia Dr Janis Baumanis, Laboratory of Ornithology, Miera 3, 229021 Salaspils MALTA Joe Sultana & Charles Gauci, The Ornithological Society, PO Box 498, Valletta MOROCCO Michel Thevenot, Laboratoire de Biogeographie et Ecologie des Vertebres, Case 100, Universite de Montpellier 11, F-34060 Montpellier Cedex, France NETHERLANDS Drs. Arnoud B. van den Berg, Duinlustparkweg 98 2082 EG Santpoort-Zuid NORWAY Andrew W. Clarke, Gronlia, Kyrresvingen 21, 3190 Horten POLAND Dr Tadeusz Stawarczyk, Wroclaw University, Museum of Natural History, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wroclaw SPAIN Dr Eduardo de Tuana A., Sociedad Espanola de Omitologia, Facultad de Biologia, PI. 9, 28040 Madrid SWEDEN Johan Elmberg, Vintergatan 15, S-902 54 Umea TUNISIA Thierry Gaultier, INRST/CBRG Unite d’Omithologie, BP 95, 2050 Hamman-Lif UKRAINE Igor Gorban, Pushkin St. 103, L’vov 290057 YUGOSLAVIA Iztok Geister, 64202 Naklo, Pokopaliska pot 13 No information was received from Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany (West), Gibraltar, Iceland, Israel, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania or Switzerland. First record: immature female ringed at Vlieland, Friesland, during 14th-20th Octo- ber 1987 (cf. only other recent Continental record, in Norway in September 1986, Brit. Birds 82: 24). Product reports Items included in this feature have been submitted by the manufacturers or their agents. The reviews are the personal opinions of the reviewers; they are not the result of technical tests, [Brit. Birds 84: 12-13, January 1991] Product reports 1 3 but are assessments made after use in appropriate conditions (e.g. in the field). Neither British Birds nor the individual reviewers can accept responsibility for any adverse consequences of opinions stated, and items are accepted for review on this understanding. We aim, however, to be helpful both to our readers and to manufacturers of goods used by birdwatchers. Eds Freshold Optical Support Most telescope-users cany tripods to provide a stable image. Modem binoculars are generally lightweight, but, if you have ever sat in a hide and compared the hand-held image with that achieved by resting your binoculars on solid wood, you may have yearned for a binocular support. The Freshold optical support attempts to service this need. It is basically an inverted ‘V’ that rests across your chest, supported by a neck strap. Binoculars are held in a vice-like grip at the top of this V. Each arm consists of two inter-sliding tubes with a quick-release lever for adjusting the length. The grip holds anything up to 65 mm in diameter, with a powerful spring. When scanning from a fixed position, the support can be very useful, and the image is clearly sharpened, although the benefit is less than that achieved by a tripod. So far, so good, but in practice only a small proportion of my time in the field is spent scanning with binoculars. Generally, I am either on the move, or scanning with a mounted telescope, or mixing binoculars and telescope. The support can be kept in position whilst walking, but is cumbersome. The manufacturer suggests slinging the support over your shoulder with binoculars still in the vice grip, but they are not then ready for instant use, as demanded by a birdwatcher. Whilst seawatching, many people scan with binoculars and, having spotted something, quickly switch to a telescope. The support definitely improves binocular efficiency, but is awkwardly positioned between chest and telescope. The resulting loss of dexterity with the telescope is irritating. For anyone without a telescope, however, the support would be a significant help. The binocular support is, unfortunately, awkward to use when looking upwards, so is of limited use in woodland. It was, however, valuable when scanning for Houbara Bustards Chlamydotis undulata in desert, for raptors over distant woodland, and for a Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides singing in a large reed-bed. I found it of most use when carried detached from binoculars and brought into play when the situation demanded. The weight (500 g) is hardly noticeable. Design is good; a modification (promised by the manufacturer) will make it easier to focus binoculars without the support partially closing (a problem experienced primarily by spectacle-wearers) . The greatest value will be for specialised use (as described above), for anyone wishing to survey one spot continuously for a long period, and for disabled, elderly or incapacitated birdwatchers who find it difficult to hold binoculars steady. David Britton Mystery photographs ■fl A small bird flashes A O quickly past on spread wings, its tail frequently man- oeuvred to parallel the gusty wind. The initial observation is too brief to give a sharp impression of it, and, as the underparts are in sha- dow, their colour cannot be accu- rately determined. It is apparently a hirundine, of which there are seven regular species to take into consideration in the Western Palearctic. The seemingly sooty underparts might suggest a Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris, but the outer tail feathers are elongated, which is a feature found only on Swallow Hirundo rustica and Red- rumped Swallow H. daurica. Swal- low usually has white underparts (although certain individuals and subspecies can show a more or less strong reddish tinge) with contrasting dark (red) throat patch bordered by a dark (violet-blue) band, but the mystery bird seems to lack that contrast on its underparts; furthermore, the elongated outer tail feathers of this bird appear slightly incurved (not straight) and too short and thick for Swallow. Judging from our quick impression, it is probably not a Swallow, but then there are (rare) hybrids between Swallow and House Martin Delichon urbica to consider; these could exhibit long outer tail feathers and plain underparts. In fact, this bird’s build is more like that of a House Martin than that of a Swallow, with rather broad, triangular wings that are held out from the body, rather than the Swallow’s narrow, often backswept wings. One feature, however, immediately rules out the hybrid theory: the undertail-coverts are black, a feature unique to Red-rumped Swallow. The individual shown last month (plate 304, repeated here) was photographed by Amoud van den Berg in the Netherlands in October 1989. Although Red-rumped Swallow’s tail-streamers are slightly incurved and both shorter and thicker than Swallow’s, care should be taken with recently fledged juvenile Swallows and adult Swallows returning early in the season (and still growing their tail feathers) when assessing this character. The underparts of Red-rumped Swallow are clearly orange- white, perhaps with small dark streaks (Swallow is always unstreaked below); the pale underparts are also squared off at the rear, emphasising the black undertail-coverts, which are further isolated by the pale rump ‘wrapping around’ onto the vent. The upperparts are very dark purple- 14 [Brit. Birds 84: 14-15, January 1991] also7X42B/GAT* ..particularly useful in confined habitats, such as woodland or forest: for seawatching or raptor-watching. . . ’ (British Birds Vol 79 No. 6 June 1986) Zeiss - a tradition of excellence. The preferred binocular of experienced birdwatchers worldwide. Unsurpassed in quality and performance. Excellent image contrast; superior light transmission at dawn and dusk; genuine “B” special eyepieces with unrestricted viewing for spectacle- and non -spectacle wearers alike; true close focusing (5m). For brochure and nearest stockist please contact: Sturdy and dependable. Available with or without rubber armour. Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd PO Box 78 Woodfield Road Welwyn Garden City Herls AL7 1LU Telephone (0707)331144 Germany (D607) xi Kay Optical (Established 1962) 1st Floor, 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey Phone:081-648 8822 ’29? Mon.-Fri. 9am to 5pm Sat. 9am to 11.30am Lunchtime 1pm to 2pm) r Sales and Repairs of BINOCULARS, TELESCOPES, TRIPODS, etc. at one of the best centres in the country Advice and test facilities for a range of the best equipment. ★Competitive prices ★Long-established workshop ★Callers welcome. ★Phone/mail order service ★Price list and map sent upon request. BINOCULARS ZEISS £ 10 x 25 Dialyt 236 8 x 30 BGAT Dialyt Phone 10x40 BGAT(P) Dialyt 495 7 x 42 BGAT (P) Dialyt 485 8 x 56 BGAT Dialyt Phone 15 x 60 BGA Porro Phone LEICA 8 x 20 Trinovid 199 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 21 1 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 211 1 0 x 25 BCA Trinovid 223 7 x 42, 8 x 42, and 1 0 x 42 559 BAUSCH & LOMB 8 x 42 BA Elite 589 10x42 BA Elite 589 OPTOLYTH 8 x 40 Alpin 225 10 x 40 Alpin 230 10x50 Alpin 230 1 0 x 40 BGA Touring Phone 7 x 42 BGA Touring Phone 8 x 32 BGA Touring Phone FALCON roof prism 1 0 x 40 or 8 x 40 rubber-covered 110 SWIFT 81/2 x 44 HR5/Audubon 200 NEW 7 x 35 roof prism Audubon 329 ZEISS (Jena) 8 x 30 Deltrintem 65 8 x 32 BA Notarem 1 40 1 0 x 40 BA Notarem 200 PYSER ROSS 8 x 42 ZCF Regent 1 70 1 0 x 42 ZWCF Kensington 1 80 NIKON 8 X 23 waterproof 1 57 1 0 x 25 waterproof 1 57 9 x 30 roof prism 248 6-12x24 DCF zoom 329 OPTICRON 8x42 HR II 10x42 HR II 10x50 HR II 8 x 42 Dioptron (HRI) 10 x 42 Dioptron(HRI) 10 x 50 Dioptron (HRI) 9 x 35 BCF Minerva 8 x 40 BCF Minerva 10 x 40 BCF Minerva 7 x 35 Elite 9 x 35 Elite VIXEN (Observation) 20x80 20 x 100 TELESCOPES NIKON 20 x 60 Fieldscope II 20-45 x zoom Fieldscope II 20 x 60 Fieldscope ED II 20-45 x zoom Fieldscope ED II 30 x, 40 x, 60 x eyepiece Camera adaptor (optical) KOWA TSN-1 body (45°) TSN-2 body TSN-3 body (45°) TSN-4 body 25 x or 40 x eyepiece 20 x (WA) eyepiece 30 x (WA) eyepiece 20-60 x zoom eyepiece 60x eyepiece 77x eyepiece OPTOLYTH TBS 80 body (45°) TBG 80 body (straight) TB eyepieces from BAUSCH & LOMB (new) 15-45x60 Elite * SWAROVSKI AT 80’ 145 150 155 110 110 120 169 170 175 147 186 345 750 269 333 479 549 75 159 295 295 555 555 59 89 109 139 89 99 350 350 64 299 OPTICRON (with cases) HR 60mm with 22x (WA) 1 60 HR 60 mm with 20-60x zoom 200 HR 60mm rubber, with 22x (WA) 170 HR 60mm rubber, with 20-60x 21 0 HR (45°) with 22x (WA) 200 HR (45°) with 20-60x 230 Separate eyepieces from 20 CLASSIC “IF” 75mm body 137 60mm body with 25x 1 00 Eyepieces, from 23 Zoom eyepieces 59 SPACEMASTER With 15-45x EP 215 VIEWMASTER 60mm, 45", with 20-60x EP 199 CENTURY 60mm, rubber-armoured, with 20x eyepiece and case 170 30x or 40x eyepiece 20 20-45x zoom eyepiece 52 GREENKAT 60mm, SGN-3, for angled and straight eyepiece. 1 55 20x, 30x, 40x, 50x eyepieces, each 25 PICCOLO 60mm body 128 Zoom eyepiece 76 Other eyepieces from 20 SOLIGOR CAMERA LENSES etc. Ask for details of the full range. TRIPODS etc. Slik D2 73 Slik SL 67 105 Manfrotto 144/200 103 Manfrotto 1 44/1 28 98 Manfrotto 1 90/200 91 Universal clamp 22 Hide clamp, new type 38 Car window mount 22 Shoulder pod 30 ADLERSCOPE 72' Phone for details of these new scopes ^PACKAGE DEALS: Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought -^REPAIRS carried out in our own workshops (Our policy is to get your optics bird-watch operational with minimal delay) ★SHORT-TERM INTEREST-FREE CREDIT available (three payments) j lext ★FIELD DAYS when you can try and buy our binoculars, telescopes, tripoas, etc. are given below. Repairs “ can also be quoted for and taken in. ★PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE in the Chichester area of W. Sussex, on the B2145 into Selsey. SUNDAYS 27th JANUARY and 24th FEBRUARY (10.30am to 3.30pm). ★WARNHAM NATURE RESERVE on SUNDAY 13th JANUARY (10.30am to 3.30pm). This splendid little reserve is opening specially for this field day and is just off the A24 (northern roundabout for Horsham) on the B2237. We are only 15 minutes’ drive from the M25 (e.g. via the A3 and then the Merton Turn-off) or 2 minutes’ walk from Morden tube. Parking: 1st left past our entrance (50 yds). (D772) xii 15 Mystery photographs black with a contrasting pale (orange to orange-white) rump and neck- collar. A hybrid Swallow X House Martin could show a contrasting pale rump, but this would probably be white or buff and not orangy as on Red- rumped Swallow (see, for example, Brit. Birds 66: 398-400, plate 60). Erik Hirschfeld c/o IAL, PO Box 144, Manama, State of Bahrain 6. Mystery photograph 163. Identify the species. Answer next month. (The inclusion of this plate in colour has been subsidised by a donation from ZEISS West Germany) Sponsored by Monthly marathon Yes, we admit it, plate 237 in the October 1990 issue was an absolute stinker. It was named by entrants as: Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena (43%) Red-breasted Merganser Mergus senator ( 1 9%) Black-necked Grebe P. nigricollis ( 1 2%) Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis (10%) with a few votes each for Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata , Black-throated Diver G. arctica , Great Northern Diver G. immer , Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus , Slavonian Grebe P. auritus, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Scaup Aythya mania , Puffin Fratercula arctica , and one vote for the non-West-Palearctic Little Penguin Eudyptida minor. Although the majority of competitors misidentified that diving bird, the correct species did receive the most votes. It was indeed a Red-necked Grebe, photographed in Glamorgan in February 1979 by Howard Nicholls. 16 Monthly marathon The next stage in this competition appears as plate 7. The winner will be able to choose a SUNBIRD birdwatching holiday (worth well over £1,000) in Africa, Asia or North America. Before sending in your answer, please read the following rules very carefully. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. RULES 1. Only current individual subscribers to British Birds are eligible to take part. Entrants should give their name, address and BB reference number on their entry. Only one entry is permitted per person each month. 2. Entries must be sent by post, each one on a separate postcard, and be received at the British Birds Editorial Office (Monthly marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3Nj) by 15th of succeeding month. Every care will be taken, but, even if negligence is involved, no responsibility can be accepted for non-delivery, non-receipt or accidental loss of entries. 3. All 'BB' subscribers are eligible, excepi members of the Editorial Board and staff of British Birds , Directors and members of staff of SUNBIRD/WINGS Holidays, and Directors and members of staff of our printers, Newnorth Print Ltd. (Members of ‘BB’ Notes Panels, the Rarities Committee, and other voluntary contributors — including bird-photographers, even if one of their photographs is used in the competition — are eligible unless proscribed above.) 4. To win, a British Birds subscriber must correctly identify the species shown in ten consecutive photographs included in this competition. The ‘Monthly marathon’ will continue until the prize has been won. 5. In the unlikely event of twro or more ‘BB’ subscribers achieving the ten-in-a-row simultaneously, the competition will continue each month until one of them (or someone else!) achieves a longer run of correct entries than any other contestant. 6. In the event of any dispute, including controversy over the identity of any of the birds in the photographs, the decision of the Managing Editor of British Birds is final and binding on all parties. 7. No correspondence can be entered into concerning this competition. 8. The name and address of the winner will be announced in British Birds. 7. Fifth ‘Monthly marathon’ (sixth stage: photograph number 55). Identify the species. Read the rules (above), then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 28th February 1991 Notes Cormorants drinking in flight In November 1984, at the Bharatpur Reserve in India, we watched Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo of the Asiatic race sinensis drinking while in flight. The air temperature at the time was about 30°C and there was no wind. The Cormorants circled the open-water areas and descended in a long, shallow glide to within a few centimetres of the surface, before dipping their partly open bill in the water in the manner of a skimmer Rynchops ; they continued to glide in this fashion for about 20 m, before starting to flap their wings to rise above the trees, raising their heads while flapping, apparently to swallow the water. Over 20 individuals were involved within a period of 30 minutes or so, and some repeated the procedure several times. At no time did we see the Cormorants drop their feet as if to land on the water. We have never seen this behaviour by the nominate race P. c. carbo , and BWP (vol. 1) makes no reference to drinking by this species. S. J. Sutcliffe and A. C. Sutcliffe Skomer Island , Marloes, Haverfordwest, Dyfed Wigeon head-shaking while feeding J. B. Higgott (Brit. Birds 80: 626) described Garganeys Anas querquedula and Teals A. crecca head-shaking while dabbling. In 1983-85, I studied the feeding behaviour of breeding Wigeons A. penelope in Hordaland, western Norway; observations were made from vantage points about 200 m from the lakes, using 8 X 40 binoculars and a 25-40 X telescope. After having dabbled in typical fashion in shallow water, the ducks sometimes shook their heads; their feeding behaviour was characterised by rapid head-plunging, and it occurred most regularly as the ducks foraged along the shore among patches of aquatic vegetation (e.g. water lobelia Lobelia dortmanna and the moss Fontinalis antipyretica) . In some cases, Wigeons tried to get rid of small pieces of vegetation hanging from their bills as they brought their heads out of the water. When the ducks left, I collected some of the moss and found that it contained several insect groups, mainly mayflies (Ephemer- optera) and caddis-flies (Trichoptera). The Wigeons may have been taking freshwater invertebrates, which are reported to be a superior source of high-quality protein, calcium for forming egg-shells and other nutrients necessary for egg-production (e.g. Sugden 1973; Swanson & Meyer 1973; Driver et al. 1974). Odd W. Jacobsen Department of Animal Ecology, Museum of Zoology, University of Bergen, N-5007 Bergen, Norway REFERENCES Driver, E. A., Sugden, L. G., & Kovach, R. J. 1974. Calorific, chemical and physical values of potential duck foods. Freshwater Biol. 4: 281-292. Sugdf.N, L. G. 1973. Feeding ecology of Pintail, Gadwall, American Wigeon and Lesser Scaup ducklings in southern Alberta. Can. Wildl. Ser. 24: 9-43. 17 18 Notes Swanson, G. A., & Meyer, M. I. 1973. The role of invertebrates in the feeding ecology of Anatinae during the breeding season. Waterfowl Hab. Manage. Symp.: 143-185. Moncton, New Brunswick. Dr K. E. L. Simmons has commented as follows: ‘The action which Mr Jacobsen describes for the Wigeon, and earlier J. B. Higgott for the Garganey and Teal, would seem to be simply the typical anatid comfort movement named “head-shake” by F. M. McKinney (1965, Behaviour 25: 120-222) or, possibly, as neither Mr Jabobsen nor Mr Higgott clearly describes the movement, the more complex one he called “head-flick”, both of which function to remove foreign material and surplus water from the bill (as well as serving as display actions in particular circumstances). In 1979 {Brit. Birds 72: 563-569), I listed lateral head-shaking as one of the five methods used by grebes (Podicipedidae) to drain water from the bill, especially after diving, and further commented: “Lateral head-shaking (with the bill inclined somewhat down) or latero-vertical head-flicking would appear to be the main response by ducks to water on the head and bill (see McKinney 1965); I recently confirmed this for surfacing Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula and Goldeneyes Bucephala clangula , though such movements seem to be relatively infrequent.”.’ Eds Pair of Mallards eating cherry blossom On 29th April 1988, in Kensington Gardens, London, I watched a pair of Mallards Anas platyrhynchos busily eating fallen petals of pink cherry Prunus blossom from the grass in a railed-off shrubbery. R . H . Kettle 75 Dupont Road, London SW20 8EH Petals are not normally eaten by any birds, even omnivorous species such as the Mallard (though see the recent comment concerning House Sparrows Passer domesticus by Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Brit. Birds 83: 333). Eds Prey-capture technique of Peregrine Of three hunting methods of Peregrines Falco peregrinus described by N. Baker (Brit. Birds 80: 424-425), one involved a falcon passing very slowly through the midst of a flock of Starlings Stumus vulgaris and emerging with prey. On 4th September 1982, at Start Point, South Devon, during dry overcast conditions with a light wind, I watched a Peregrine fly purposefully towards the lighthouse, but, instead of an expected pursuit, it positioned itself around the landward side of the light, just below its skyline. A flock of pigeons Columba livia , approaching from the sea, soon passed just below the light, apparently unable to see the waiting raptor. The Peregrine simply lowered itself, with body horizontal, very slowly through the flock as it passed, emerging with a pigeon grasped in one foot. The flock flew on without deviation and with only a minimal, temporary change of formation, virtually as if nothing had happened. The Peregrine flew to nearby cliffs with its victim. Despite having witnessed very many pursuits by Peregrines, using varied techniques and with varying success, I have never before, nor since, seen such amazing behaviour. VlC TUCKER Periglis, 4 Clovelly View, Tumchapel, Plymouth, Devon PL9 9SY Derek Goodwin has commented: ‘Except for the Starling/Peregrine observation referred to, I have not read of such tactics, which would seem to rely on the Peregrine not being recognised as such. The remarkable, and to me very surprising, success of this is clearly evinced by the lack of escape or panic reactions by the pigeons.’ Eds Oystercatcher with breast pierced by bill At 09.30 GMT on 7th October 1984, B. J. Clements, M. G. Wells, I. Wells and I were walking along the Notes 19 Fig. 1. Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus with breast pierced by bill, Kent, October 1984 (J- D. Feamside ) shore from Shellness towards Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, when our attention was drawn to a bird fluttering on the sands. Through binoculars, we saw that it was an Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus , obviously in some distress, as it stumbled, jerking its head and flapping its wings. We quickly caught and examined the wader and found that its lower mandible had passed through the skin of its breast, causing it to hold its head lowered in a permanently bowed posture with the bill almost closed (fig. 1). We released the bill with some difficulty; it was intermediate between the pointed and the blade-tipped bill types, the upper mandible being squarish-ended and the lower sharply pointed. We could imagine only that the Oystercatcher had suffered some accident while preening and that the tip of the bill had pierced the skin and subsequently been driven through the breast. Presumably, this could not have happened very long before we found the bird, as it would have been impossible for it to feed; its plumage was in a bad condition and the bird appeared to be weak. We released the Oystercatcher and it made off across the sand, but it was too weak to fly. A similar injury to a Rook Corvus frugilegus has been reported (Brit. Birds 55: 46), but the individual concerned had apparently suffered for some time. J. D. Fearnside 18 Wilcot Avenue, Oxhey, Watford WD1 4 AT A field character for identification of Collared Flycatcher in female and non-breeding plumages The capture of a first-winter Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis on Fair Isle, Shetland, on 8th October 1986 (Brit. Birds 81: 586) and observation during the next five days of three separate Pied Flycatchers F. hypoleuca (one of which was trapped and photographed) led me to suspect that a hitherto undescribed character existed for the field identification of Collared Flycatcher in female and non-breeding plumages. To verify this character, I studied all skins of Collared, Pied and Semi-collared Flycatchers F. semitorquata in the British Museum (Natural History), Tring. The character comprised the length, and more particularly the shape, of the white primary bar formed by that part of the primary bases visible on 20 Notes 8. First-winter Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis, Shetland, October 1986 (N. J. Riddi- ford). Note the club-shaped white primary bar, ending just short of the leading edge of the wing 9. First-winter Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypo- leuca, Shetland, October 1986 (N. J. Riddi- ford). This individual showed practically no white primary bar. Better-marked birds show a roundish blob at the base of the inner primaries or, at best, a short, thin, dagger-shaped bar the folded wing beyond the primary-covert tips (see plate 8). An interspecific difference in the number of primaries showing a white base to their outer webs has already been described by Svensson (1984), who found that, whereas white bases extended only to the 6th or 7th primaries (sometimes 5th) on Pied Flycatcher, on Collared they were visible to the 3rd, 4th or 5th primaries (see plates 10 & 11). Lohrl et al. (1976) also referred to a ‘white area on the primaries’ on some (but not all) female and young Collared. In the field, these visible white primary bases appear as a white line or bar (depending on the width of the white bases). Unfortunately, this character alone is of doubtful use in the field, as the termination of the line or bar in relation to primary number is extremely difficult to judge. Fortunately, however, not only does the length of the white line or bar differ between the two species, but so, too, does its shape. On individuals in female/non-breeding-male plumage, I found that, whereas on Pied the amount of visible white was greatest on the outer webs of the innermost two or three primaries (8th, 9th and 10th) and progressively narrower descendently (plate 11), on Collared the width of visible white increased descendently from the innermost to its greatest amount on the outer webs of the 7th or 6th (plate 10) before narrowing rapidly to terminate on 5th, 4th or 3rd. On some Pied, the primary ‘bar’ is not readily viewable in the field, and when visible appears on the closed wing as a short thin line (see plate 9); the best-marked individuals show a short, thin, dagger-shaped bar broadest immediately below the greater-covert bar and tapering to a point well short of the leading edge of the wing. The shape of the white primary bar on the closed wing of the Collared trapped on Fair Isle was by contrast longer, and club-shaped, starting relatively narrowly below the Notes 21 10. First-winter Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis, Shetland, October 1986 (N. J. Riddi- ford). Visible white bases extend to the 4th and are broadest on the middle pri- maries 11. First-winter Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, Shetland, October 1986 (N. J. Riddiford). Visible white bases extend only to the 6th and are broadest on the innermost primaries greater-covert bar and broadening markedly before ending abruptly close to the leading edge of the wing (plate 8). Although the majority of the museum specimens were males in breeding plumage, the collection also included female and non-breeding- plumage male skins of 20 Collared, 26 Semi-collared, 162 Pied of the nominate race hypoleuca , six Pied of the race speculigera and three of the race iberiae. My findings were as follows: PIED FLYCATCHER All 162 nominate Pied had white at the base of the inner primaries, but on most no white at all was visible on the closed wing as the outer secondaries overlapped the inner primaries (perhaps more so on museum skins, but in nature, too, the outer secondaries overlap the inner primaries in a normally-folded closed wing). Those Pied with visible white primary markings had a line of white bordering the inner primary coverts or, on the best- marked individuals, a roundish blob or irregular spot at the base of the inner primaries. On all three female/non-breeding iberiae , a race which tends to have more white in the wing, white visible bases frequently extending to the 5th or 4th and occasionally the 3rd primary (Curio 1960), the white was still broadest on the inner primaries and thus appeared as a tapering dagger mark or line. Adult male speculigera showed a larger white primary patch than equivalent-age/sex nominate hypoleuca , but the six females/first-year males did not: one first- year male showed broader white bases, but ending on the 6th primary; the others were as nominate hypoleuca. COLLARED FLYCATCHER It was not possible to judge the exact shape of a white primary bar from skins, but 17 (85%) of the 20 female/non-breeding specimens shared with the Fair Isle individual clearly visible white bases to 4th or 3rd primary and greatest amount of white on the middle primaries, particularly on 6th. One of the three specimens which lacked those features (having visible white to 7th primary only) also had no white band on the feathers of the back of the neck (the white band being a diagnostic ‘in-the-hand’ character for Collared: Svensson 1984): it was labelled iF. albicollis , Egypt, 2/V/09’. Egypt is not part of Collared's breeding range, but both Collared and eastern populations of Pied migrate through the eastern Mediterranean (Lohrl et al. 1976) and my opinion is that this specimen is a migrant Pied wrongly identified/labelled. If so, this would bring the percentage of Collared skins showing the characteristic white primary-bar length and shape to 90%. SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER All ages/sexes of Semi-collared Flycatcher tend to be intermediate in plumage characteristics between Collared and Pied, and the same applied to the white primary bases. On skins, the primary bar was generally broader than that of Pied. On 14 (54%) of the 26 female/non-breeding specimens the shape of the white was nearer to 22 Notes 12. Adult female Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, Powys (Breconshire), May 1974 ( Graham F. Date). A well-marked female, showing a roundish blob or irregular spot at the base of the inner primaries that on Pied (white primary line or sharply tapering bar), and on ten (38%) it resembled that on Collared, but with a shorter, more oblong-shaped bar. A further two (8%) possessed a primary' bar as long as on Collared, but lacked the distinctive club shape, the width of the white on the middle primaries being equal to or slightly narrower than the white on the innermost primaries; thus, in the field, the bar would probably appear oblong-shaped or slightly tapering. Breeding-plumage male Collared and some Semi-collared are readily identifiable in the field (although there are a few breeding-season male Collared in ‘female’ plumage in the British Museum collection). In-the- hand identification of other plumages depends on the patterning of individual feathers at the back of the neck, the number of primaries with white at the base of the outer webs, the colour tone of the upperparts, and subtle differences in wing formulae (see Svensson 1984). Spring Semi- collared of both sexes show a diagnostic white median-covert bar (Svensson 1984), but this is of no value for identification in autumn or winter. The patterning on the neck feathers is occasionally of help in the field, as breeding females and autumn males can show a light grey neck band or collar (Lbhrl et al. 1976), but many individuals do not. Colour tone, too, can be misleading. Though Collared and Semi-collared are usually greyer on the upperparts and Pied browner (Svensson 1984), this is not always the case (Lbhrl et al. 1976), and direct comparison of tones is often not available when a single ‘suspect’ individual is under scrutiny. Certainly, the Fair Isle Collared, although considered (without direct comparison) marginally greyer than Pied, still had a distinct brownish tinge; and many of the British Museum Collared and Semi-collared specimens were similarly brown-tinged (though most were about 100 Notes 23 years old and may have suffered from ‘foxing’). A contrastingly bright pale grey rump identifies some Collared in female-type plumage (Lohrl et al. 1976), and a greater extent of white in the tail is a useful feature for male Semi-collared in ail plumages (Svensson 1984). Unfortunately, female Semi-collared and many Collared do not possess such straightforward identification characters, and there is little in the literature to help with these. The character of a more pronounced white primary bar on Collared has already been published by Lohrl et al. (1976), and Svensson (1984) describes the difference for birds in the hand. It is not, however, sufficient to judge a species in the field on the existence or otherwise of a primary bar, nor to make a value judgment of the relative length of the bar. Yet this is potentially the major field character available to an observer who suspects a brighter or greyer individual to be Collared. My researches indicate that the length and shape of the white primary bar may be of considerable help in field identification. Lohrl et al. (1976) found that this bar was completely lacking on some female-type Collared. British Museum skins suggest, however, that, if the primary bar extends virtually to the leading edge of the wing and is club- or flask-shaped, bulging on the middle primaries , the species is Collared. If the bar is non-existent, or is merely a short rounded blob at the base of the inner primaries or a short tapering dagger-shaped bar or line, it is probably Pied (i.e. not ruling out a small percentage of female Collared). If the bird has an obvious, relatively long primary bar (to beyond the middle primaries) which is not club- shaped and does not bulge on the middle primaries, appearing oblong- shaped or slightly tapering , Semi-collared may not be ruled out (and would be extremely likely within its areas of occurrence). Using the combined criteria of primary-bar length and shape, no Pied Flycatchers would be misidentified as Collared and (with the proviso that sample sizes for Collared and Semi-collared were small) Semi-collared would probably not be misidentified as Collared. A small proportion of Collared (10% from skins) might be overlooked as Pied or Semi-collared. Nevertheless, observers using this new character would be advised to approach the identification of a possible Collared Flycatcher with great care and caution. Accurate assessment of the length and shape of the white primary bar is practicable only given good, prolonged views at close quarters, and where possible, particularly for individuals seen outside their normal range, the character is best used in conjunction with other identification features (though not all female-type Collared show any). I am extremely grateful to the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, for access to skins and to the staff of the Bird Room there for their considerable help. Nick RiDDlFORD Fair Isle Bird Observatory, Fair Isle, Shetland ZE2 9JU REFERENCES Curio, E. 1960. Die systematische Stellung des spanischen Trauerschnappers. Yogelwelt 81: 113-121. Lohrl, H., Carlson, R. G., & Peach, A. N. H. 1976. Studies of less familiar birds. 179. Collared Flycatcher. Brit. Birds 69: 20-26. Svensson, L. 1984. Identification Guide to European Passerines. 3rd edn. Stockholm. Letter Spread-wing posture of Cormorants and Shags Just outside our house, at Anstruther, Fife, we have often seen Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis and Cormorants P. carbo surface on the sea, holding in their bills large flatfish, at times amazingly wide, which, after much neck-stretching and repeated diving, eventually go down the throat. Almost immediately that the fish has been swallowed, the bird seeks out a rock or shelf to clamber on to; and, as soon as it is out of the water, it opens its wings in the characteristic posture, as wide as possible, stretching and vibrating them for quite a considerable time thereafter. We have often seen similar behaviour by these species out at sea, where no handy rocks are available: having swallowed their catch, they sit as high in the water as possible, flapping their wings vigorously, and also hold them wide open for quite some period of time. The real purpose of this spread-wing posture is, we believe, to persuade the no doubt very spiky and uncomfortable fish to pass down to the stomach, the spreading of the wings allowing as much room as possible between the bones of the breast and the alimentary tract; the vibrating movements would then shake the fish down, slowly but surely. The typical posture often adopted by these species, with wings spread wide and held still for long periods, may be related to this. Chris Smout and Anne-Marie Smout Chesterhill , Shore Road, Anstruther, Fife KY10 3DZ Spread-wing postures by large birds are discussed in some detail by Dr K. E. L. Simmons in The Sunning Behaviour of Birds: a guide for ornithologists (1986). Eds PhotoSpot 31. Desert Warbler In the semi-arid desert of the Southern Arava in Israel, there is no relief, even in winter, from the eye-aching glare of the sand and the heat of the sun beating mercilessly onto the back of your neck. Suddenly, you hear a strange call and turn to see a quick movement — something scurrying out across the sand before swiftly returning to shadow and cover. A mouse, perhaps? You are just about to dismiss it, when it happens again. This time you have a Desert Warbler Sylvia nana in full view, its true character revealed as it feeds quietly, unconcerned by your presence. The Desert Warbler does not show sexual dimorphism and there is very little variation in plumage related to age characters, features shared within the genus Sylvia only by the Garden Warbler S. borin. The adults moult completely in late summer, when the juveniles body-moult, and both 24 [Brit. Birds 84: 24-26, January 1991] PhotoSpot 25 13 8c 14. Desert Warbler Sylvia nana of nominate, eastern race, Israel, March 1988 ( David M. Cottridge). (The inclusion of these plates in colour has been subsidised by a donation from ZEISS West Germany) 4 26 PhotoSpot arrive on the wintering grounds in fresh plumage. At this time, the whole of the upperparts are uniform greyish-sandy brown, relieved only by ill- defined dark centres to the tertials. Each feather of the short, dark-brown primary projection is narrowly tipped white. The underparts are whitish, slightly sullied buff; the lores are greyer, and their upper edge is whitish, forming a short, broad supercilium from eye to bill. The ear-coverts match the nape, and are framed by slightly lighter grey feathering. The rump, uppertail-coverts and closed tail contrast strongly with the rest of the plumage, being a warm rufous-orange. Only the two central tail feathers are so coloured, the remainder being dark sooty-brown. The outermost two feathers on each side are edged and tipped whitish. At close range, the colour of the iris is yellow (see Brit. Birds 81: 325), the inner orbital ring blackish, the outer orbital ring yellow, and the (feathered) eye-ring whitish. The bill is delicate and short, blackish-brown, except for the base of the lower mandible, which is yellowish-horn. The legs, too, are yellowish- horn. The Desert Warbler behaves very like the Spectacled Warbler S. conspicillata , making frequent runs out over the sand before returning to cover. It may stay hidden for long periods in the same bush, whereas on other occasions it may be very ‘showy’ for some minutes before becoming elusive again. The tail is often held horizontal, in line with the back, or slightly cocked. It is a quiet bird, occasionally uttering a ‘tuc tuc’ recalling Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca or other calls recalling Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta. The song is distinctive, rather like that of Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda. The North African race deserti has more-rusty upperparts and the tail and rump are brighter orange than those of the eastern races nana and theresae. To assist in our studies of the genus, we would be most grateful for any photographs of Sylvia warblers, or information, particularly on moult, ageing and habitats. Hadoram Shirthai, David Cottridge and Alan Harris ‘ The Sylvia Project \ PO Box 4168, Eilat 88102, Israel g>ebentp-fibe ptarg ago... ‘Unlike most species of duck, Sheld-drakes are not clumsy on land. They assembled on their leking-ground about 1 1 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Some bathed and then sat apart preening themselves. Others began to play at once . . . When close together, the wings were raised and arched, yet pressed close to the body. Then the neck was suddenly thrust out horizontally, and the drake which first got his thrust home would throw up his head vertically. This seemed to signify that he had scored a point . . . Sometimes these combats took the form of duels, but frequently there was a general melee , when it seemed as if “ Everybody had won and all must have prizes.” The entertainment was entirely lacking in hatred or any uncharitableness. It was a beautiful game to watch and in addition very amusing. The Sheld-drake’s upper mandible curves upwards. When the brilliant red bill is wide open, as the birds rush squealing at each other, their whole expression is irresistibly funny.’ {Brit. Birds 10: 212, January 1916) The Best Buys and the Brightest... Va alue and quality are two reasons Wildlife and Bird Watching rated these Nikon Binoculars and Fieldscopes among the best in their classes. For instance, Bird Watching awarded the Nikon 8 x 30ECF WF binoculars a full five stars, their highest value-for-money rating. What’s more, they acclaimed the 8 x 30s “Excellent in every way optically— very sharp and bright.”* That’s because they share the Nikon heritage of optical excellence. So take a look through the leaders today. *By courtesy of EMAP Pursuit Ltd.: Quoted from an article BEST BUYS IN BINOCULARS, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Bird Watching, May 1990. And, BEST BUYS IN TELESCOPES, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Bird Watching, June 1990. By courtesy of BBC Publications; JUST THE BEST, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Wildlife, March 1989. Nikon (D747) NIKON U.K. LTD. (United Kingdom) 380 RICHMOND ROAD, KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES. SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (081) 541 4440 FAX: (081) 541 4584 Somerton Foto Ltd. (The Republic of Ireland) TEL: (01) 773173 xiii B irdwatching Holidays Worldwide Birdquest’s 1991 programme of 37 different tours spans all seven continents. Whether you are interested in such classic destinations as Turkey, India and Kenya, in travelling to areas that are off-the-beaten^track like Madagascar, Costa Rica and Antarctica, or in pioneering journeys to places visited by few if any other birdwatchers such as Arctic Siberia and Vietnam, Birdquest have something special to offer you. Join one of our friendly, professionally^guided, small group tours for an unforgettable holiday and see for yourself why Birdquest are acknowledged to be ‘First in the Field’. Siberian White Cranes - see them on their breeding grounds in the arctic tundras of Siberia during another world first from Birdquest! For our brochure please contact: Birdquest Ltd., Two Jays, Kemple End, Birdy Brow, Stonyhurst, Blackburn BB6 9QY. Tel: 0254-86317. Fax: 0254-86780. (D769) xiv Birdcraft The aim of this occasional series is to pass on tips which may improve readers’ fieldcraft when birdwatching. For each topic, the authors will have not only drawn on their own experience, but also summarised advice gleaned from other specialists. 3. Clothing Be dull and quiet. Every birdwatcher should have these two aims as he or she gets dressed to go out in the field. The equally practical requirements of most birdwatchers are that their clothing combines warmth, comfort, waterproofing and lightness in weight; four conditions that are by no means easy, or cheap, to achieve. The following remarks refer in the main to clothing suitable for average British weather, which therefore excludes long, hot summer days when one wears the minimum necessary for decency and comfort. Leaving aside undergarments — including string vests and long johns for really cold conditions — and assuming a shirt of some kind, the next layer is likely to be one or more sweaters. Remember that two thin sweaters, which trap a layer of air in-between, are warmer than the equivalent thickness in a single garment, and wool is a lot warmer than man-made fibre. Wearing two sweaters gives the added advantage of being able to moult gradually as one warms up. Trousers should preferably be windproof and, unless waterproof over- trousers are worn, should dry quickly after getting wet. Jeans are good in this latter respect, though perhaps not very windproof, while corduroy and tweed, which keep out the wind, can take an age to dry. For outer garments, the principal requirement is for a coat or jacket of some kind, plus optional over-trousers, hat and gloves. Jackets come in a very wide variety of types and many people may have two quite different ones rather than one all-purpose garment. Manufacturers often claim the ultimate weatherproof jacket has arrived, but so far only at the more expensive end of the market. Lightweight waterproof jackets, of nylon or similar material, usually with matching over-trousers, have the great advantages of being compara- tively cheap, of being light in weight, and of rolling up small enough to fit into a large pocket or knapsack. They are, though, best considered as clothing for showery days, quickly donned and as quickly shed, but suspect in fiercer elements. Check, among other things, for short zips or fasteners at the foot end of over-trousers, which can greatly aid their donning or removal over boots. Among the disadvantages of this kind of garment are: a fairly short life as truly waterproof; a lack of virtually any insulating properties in cold 27 [fln/. Birds 84: 27-30, January 1991] 28 Birdcraft: clothing weather; any sweating by the wearer can make them as wet inside as out; they are often brightly coloured, though this can be avoided; and, most seriously, they can be very noisy when in motion. This last is one of the more infuriating aspects of birdwatching in a group. The ‘swish swish’ as nylon over-trousers rub together and arms swing against sides can successfully mask all but the loudest bird calls as one tries to listen during a woodland walk. So do test garments before purchase. Velcro fastenings on anoraks and jackets can also sound amazingly loud when ripped apart, the same applying to similar fastenings on haversacks and camera bags. Zips can be nearly as bad, though it is usually possible to operate a zip quietly if one tries. Heavier jackets, often advertised as thomproof, and aimed at the country dweller and sportsman, with Barbour the accepted brand leader, are excellent wear for birdwatchers, too. They keep out the wind and rain as well as thorns, can be exceptionally hard-wearing, have ample pockets, which lightweight garments may not, and are universally dull in colouring. Look for high standards of finish at seams and pockets, good- quality lining, and an ability to be periodically re-waterproofed, by re- waxing. Zips should have a storm-flap and there should be adequate cuff closures. Over-trousers in thomproof material are also available, but they can be heavy for lengthy wear and also take up quite a lot of room when not in use. In between the lightweight nylon and the heavy thomproof wear come the latest ‘breathable’ materials and special proofings that are completely waterproof yet also allow air to pass sa that sweat no longer accumulates inside. Goretex is the commonest brand-name material, though there are others, including Sympatex and HydroDry. Most, including Goretex , are still relatively expensive, but worth it if you can afford it. Rather too many makes are of brightly coloured material and advertised as for hill-walkers, for whom this may be a safety feature. Even some dull-coloured garments may have a contrasting liner which will show when the collar is folded down, or the jacket worn with the front open. In a survey a few years ago of coats and jackets worn by British Birds readers (Brit. Birds 79: 198-202), the following manufacturers’ jackets were rated highly: Barbour, Berghaus , Peter Storm , Fjallraven , Mascot, Sprayway and Britton, though there were many others with very satisfied wearers. Hats are a matter for individual choice and often highly individual in style. Hoods may come attached, or as extras, to jackets, both light and heavyweight. They do prevent the discomfort of rain down the back of the neck, but will restrict hearing and, to some extent, sight. Regarding woolly hats, head-scarves and caps, 1 would query only why a birder, otherwise suitably dressed in greens or browns, so often wears a brightly coloured woolly hat. Considering that the first thing a bird will see is the top of the head as it is lifted carefully over a seawall, dyke or hedge, it is perhaps surprising how frequently it is topped by a red or white pom-pom. Other needlessly colourful appendages to birdwatchers can include bright red or blue knapsacks and the recent vogue for rainbow-striped straps for tripods. Birders should also remember that if they strip off their 29 Birdcraft: clothing outer garments on becoming too warm, the white T-shirt that was previously concealed beneath will announce their presence for miles around. Gloves, when worn, should also be subdued in colour and should not be so bulky that quick focusing of binoculars or telescope becomes difficult. Damart , and others, offer mitts with the fingers cut off, which are advertised as suitable for shooters needing to have control of a shotgun trigger; they are just as suitable for birdwatchers’ needs. Last, but certainly not least, one comes to the feet. Footwear falls into three kinds: trainers, walking boots or stout shoes, and wellingtons. Some birders possess all three and wear the most appropriate for the conditions likely to be encountered. Others wear only one kind regardless and, furthermore, may hold strong views as to the suitability of their choice and the equal unsuitability of anything else. Trainers are probably the commonest footwear in the country, certainly among the younger generations. They are light in weight, comfortable to wear all day every day, not prohibitively expensive if one avoids designer brands, and if, after walking through a bog, they look as if you have just walked through a bog, few eyebrows will be raised when you then wear them in the home, college, or even office. They are not, of course, waterproof, can be uncomfortable over hard ground, and probably wear out more quickly than other footwear. Many birders are quite happy to put up with wet feet, at least temporarily, for the benefits of lightness for all-day wearing and the ability to run in pursuit of the elusive. Except when wet, they are quiet, too. Leather walking boots need proper breaking-in, but will then protect the feet against hard ground and stones as well as give support to the ankle, will remain comfortable for long periods, and should last for many years. There is an enormous range of makes on the market at equally varying prices, with Brasher , Timberland and Scarpa included among the best known. Some wearers of walking boots will happily wade through water (the more expensive makes have waterproof linings, nowadays of Goretex) but others may prefer to find a way around, which can cause problems in a group in which both tendencies occur. Brightly coloured knee socks between boots and plus-fours are to be avoided, which means I have encountered them. Occupying a kind of half-way house between trainers and walking boots come trail boots. These have heavy cleated soles suitable for most types of terrain, yet with upperparts that make them look like trainers. They are light in weight and extremely comfortable to wear, but they are not, of course, waterproof. Another hybrid type of boot resembles a rubber shoe but with a light canvas extension laced up the calf. Suede desert boots (or safari boots) come into the same category: lightweight, comfortable, ankle-supporting and cheap. I have often met birdwatchers who eschew wellingtons in favour of walking boots on the grounds of the weight of the former, and their relative discomfort when worn all day. While this was undoubtedly so 30 Birdcraft: clothing when all wellingtons were comparatively hard and unyielding, they are now available made of much thinner, more flexible rubber, with the green ‘Hunter’ wellingtons by Dunlop widely worn, as are Barbour s similar green or dark blue wellingtons. They are both lighter and fit more closely to the leg than the traditional rubber boot, though the buckle and strap at the top seem fairly pointless, as well as providing an unnecessary jingling accompaniment if left unfastened. They seem not to be noticeably less resistant to brambles and other thorns, perhaps because of their flexibility, but some thin-soled makes are unsuitable for hard ground. Other disadvantages of wellingtons include problems of temperature regulation, so that feet once cold tend to stay cold, while in hot weather they can be a bit hot and sweaty. A major advantage, which outweighs these for many wearers, is that one does not have to bother to look so often where one is putting one’s feet and can wade on where others hesitate. The message which I hope has come through this brief review is to dress comfortably for whatever conditions are likely to be encountered, but do remember also to dress quietly and discreetly. Be more like a Dunnock Prunella modularis than a Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. M . A . O GIL VIE Glencaim, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay PA49 7UN Reviews The Birds of North-East Scotland. Edited by S. T. Buckland, M. V. Bell and N. Picozzi. North-East Scotland Bird Club, Aberdeen, 1990. 473 pages; 16 black-and-white plates; 200 line-drawings; 258 maps. £19.95. As the first completed Atlas project for a Scottish area and the first year-around Atlas in Britain, we have here a mine of information and standard of data presentation which will inspire other local-atlas organisers. Covering Grampian Region, excluding Moray District, it refers to an area of extremely varied habitat and remoteness, ranging from the tops of the Cairngorm Mountains to coastal sand-dunes. To have completed a year-around Atlas in such a region with limited observers must have been a daunting task, and the effort and commitment of the participants cannot be overestimated. It is based on survey work for 1981-84, with many additional data from 1975-88. Even more remarkable than the fieldwork achievement is the depth of analysis and the methods used in presenting the results. Rather than the usual tetrad system, data were collected on homogenous habitat within each of 395 sites (but 10-km square boundaries were used to enable comparison with BTO surveys). This has enabled species maps to be prepared, each one showing distribution (with maximum counts) and the usual three-dot system for breeding categories. There are also histograms illustrating monthly records and bird-days, a circular ‘clock’ of altitudinal distribution of a species throughout the year, and Reviews 31 bar diagrams which attempt to relate bird distribution to habitat data. All of this information is very clearly presented and does not require the reader to understand fully the statistical analyses involved in data interpretation (which is explained in the introductory text, together with a series of maps of semi-natural habitats and other physical/land-use data). Chapters are included also on some of the important habitats and their associated birds. This book is a landmark in the presentation of Atlas data. It is a tremendous example of the combination of professional expertise and amateur fieldworkers producing a major work of reference on the status and distribution of birds; it will form the basis for detailed studies of individual species and assessment of the effect of habitat change in northeast Scotland. It must encourage observers that their records, however casual, are — if placed into context and given systematic interpretation — invaluable in providing essential guidance to species and habitat conservation. Anyone interested in Atlas work or bird distributions should read or acquire this work, and it is essential for birdwatchers resident in northeast Scotland or regularly visiting the area. Allan W. Brown Shorebird Studies Manual. By John Howes. Illustrated by David Bakewell. Asian Wetland Bureau, Malaysia, 1989. 362 pages; 8 maps, several hundred black-and-white line-drawings, 36 black-and-white photographs, 23 tables. Paperback $15.00. This manual has grown out of the wide-ranging shorebird research carried out by members of the Asian Wetland Bureau. While it is aimed primarily at researchers in Asia, its appeal is much wider. The introductory chapters are Asian-oriented, with discussion of the migration and conservation of Asian waders, and a guide to Asian shorebird families. More general chapters follow, which include descriptions of plumage and moult, suggestions for note- taking and field-observation equipment. Further topics include descriptions of methods of the field study of shorebirds and their ecological requirements, including field surveys and censuses, the use of radar to track shorebirds, methods of trapping, ringing and other marking techniques, and studies of feeding behaviour and prey items. A series of appendices lists organisations involved in shorebird studies worldwide, provides a distributional list of Asian shorebirds, and gives examples of the various recording forms used by AWB. The newcomer to wader studies will find a great deal of useful information here within one cover, supported by comprehensive sets of references. With the wide range of topics covered, even the most committed of wader enthusiasts must learn from the Manual. It can be recommended to all those who have more than a passing interest in waders. R. J. Chandler Jim Flegg’s Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. By Jim Flegg. Photographs by Eric and David Hosking. New Holland, London, 1990. 256 pages; over 400 colour plates. Hardback £16.95, paperback £9.95. This collaborative work by influential characters of British ornithology follows the traditional field-guide format. Painted illustrations are, however, replaced by photographs, to produce ‘a comprehensive guide’ with ‘full details of plumage’ and ‘photographs in typical stance’. How do they fare? In the introductory chapters on biology and habitat, Jim Flegg’s eloquent writing gives a nicely balanced view of our environment. There is, however, a noticeable error in the topography chart of the head. Eighty per cent of the book is taken up by the species accounts and photographs. Some of the choices of species are eccentric: why are Radde’s Phylloscopus schwarzi and Dusky Warblers P. fuscatus (both shown as wintering in Turkey!) in the ‘regular' accounts, but Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos in the ‘vagrants’, and Olive-tree Warbler Hippohis olivetorum , Thekla Lark Galerida theklae and Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka, all European breeders, not mentioned at all? The novel seasonal-abundance indicators have their drawbacks, with Fieldfare Turdus pilaris and Redwing T. iliacus being shown as uniformly abundant throughout 32 Reviews the whole year, whilst, according to the maps, Black Tern Chlidonias niger is unlikely to be found in Britain. The most important test of a field guide is whether you can identify birds from the combination of illustrations and text. Sadly, with this book, you can’t. Whilst many of the photographs are excellent, in most cases they do not show all the distinctive identification features of the birds. A considerable number of the smaller passerines are shown in flight — technically superb but useless for identification — whilst most raptors, seabirds and gulls are shown perched. For the majority of species, only one photo is included, even if there are age or sexual differences in plumage (contrast this with either the Audubon Master Guides or the Delin/Svensson guide, both of which sacrifice compactness for greater detail, and because of this are of much more value). The text is sketchy and lacks adequate, up-to-date detail. Try identifying either Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla or Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta from text or photographs. Similarly, the separation of more common species (e.g. the godwits Limosa or Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus and Chiffchaff P. collybita) is just as unclear, and I’m almost sure the photo of Greenish Warbler P. trochiloides shows a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata. The text with good illustrations would have been adequate. The photos, in a coffee-table format, would have been excellent. Together, however, they produce a book of limited value to either the beginner or the more experienced birder. Colin Bradshaw Population Trends in British Breeding Birds. By John H. Marchant, Robert Hudson, Steve P. Carter and Phil Whittington. British Trust for Ornithology, Tring, 1990. 300 pages; 106 line-drawings. Paperback £12.00. Knowledge of population trends of birds is essential in a conservatjon-conscious age. Birds are said to be good environmental barometers. Birdwatchers noticed a decline in the numbers of Peregrines Falco peregrinus. This proved to be due to persistent pesticides which were a potential threat to human beings as well as to bird-life. The general idea is that monitoring should detect adverse trends before -they are so bad as to be glaringly obvious and perhaps too far advanced to be easily changed. We need to assess the effectiveness of existing conservation efforts and to plan new ones which might include further study of causes of declines. Unless a barometer is read frequently, it will not be much use. When the storm arrives unpredicted, it is rather late to take any precautions. This book is a reading of the barometer of the fortunes of some British breeding birds. Rare species and seabirds are excluded. For about a hundred species, the text averages rather over a page. Sixty more are included at four to a page. The distinction depends on whether some sort of population index over time can be constructed from British Trust for Ornithology data. The cover blurb claims the first definitive insight into the health of our breeding bird populations. This seems negligent of previous reviews published in 1926, 1944 and 1967-68. Most of this book is also a review of the literature on population changes. The coverage looks good. There are over 600 references, which is nearly twice the number available for all breeding species 20 years ago. The major new contribution to knowledge derives from the Common Birds Census (from 1962) and its sister the Waterways Bird Survey (from 1974). Each year, breeding birds are mapped and counted by volunteers on some 300 plots. Indices of change are calculated from year-on-year counts on plots recorded in adjoining years. The methods and some of their problems are introduced in three chapters. Some concerns about the meaning of these indices remain. For birds such as Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis or Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix , they are based on rather few plots with a bias away from the major habitats or areas of distribution of the species. In other cases, such as Buzzard Buteo buteo, Raven Corvus corax , Bam Owl Tyto alba , Whinchat Saxicola rubetra and Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, there are too few data and the small percentage of plots occupied is plotted against date. Such tenuous data should really carry ‘an official health warning’. The text rightly ignores them when other evidence is conflicting, as for the Sand Martin Riparia riparia. Observers chose to start and stop their own plots. They might start on places that were more interesting than the average countryside or be more inclined to stop if their plot Reviews 33 became less interesting. The effects of bias in plot selection are not known. The index for Lapwings Vanellus vanellus on farmland, for instance, nearly doubled from 1963 to 1970 and then showed a remarkable stability from 1970 to 1985, followed by a decline of about 50% to 1988. Just what does this mean about Lapwing numbers in Hritain, or in southeast England from which most of the coverage derives? It could be true that Lapwings are nowjust slightly scarcer than they were in 1963 (which was just after two cold winters), with increases in northwest England making up for losses elsewhere. I would not like to bet on it. Not knowing how confident we can be in the different plots is a problem. The book contains no formal statistics to indicate confidence in trend lines or changes inferred from them. I have no doubt that it risks misinterpretation as a result. Setting aside concern over the meaning of the data plots, there are many patterns which invite further question and investigation. Several species are thought to have been influenced by drought in the Sahel, but they show a wide range of population trends. Why? There is a group of birds for which cold winters are important, but they too show varying long-term patterns. One would like to know whether they have any trends concealed by the effects of winter weather. Suggestions of decline in a group of seed-eating farmland birds is the most obvious adverse trend that requires further investigation, and perhaps action. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus , Linnet Carduelis cannabina and Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra seem to be in decline, while Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinel/a, Greenfinch Carduelis chloris and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs have maintained their numbers. On the whole, this is an important and interesting book which should be widely, but carefully, read. It is a major tribute to the many volunteers who have contributed so much fieldwork through the BTO. Much of interest could be found by future explorers in the resulting data-banks. At the same time, there is no reason to be complacent about existing monitoring practices. Evidence on the decline of the Peregrine was vigorously challenged by vested interests in the chemical industry. Conservation cannot afford to allow such delaying tactics by providing anything less than a sound case for itself. Coi.TN J. Bibby Protecting Internationally Important Bird Sites: a review of the EEC Special Protection Area network in Great Britain. By David A. Stroud, G. P. Mudge and M. W. Pienkowski. 'Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, 1990. 230 pages. Paperback £17.00. Picture this: a network of internationally important bird habitats stretches from Ireland to Greece and from Spain to Scotland, specially protected by agreement between the member states of the EEC. These places are safe havens for scarce breeding birds, and migrants in their dioves can rely on them as re-fuelling stops in their journeys from country to country. Beyond the core of special sites, all types of birds are boosted by ecologically sound land-use practices. This image is no mere flight of ornithological whimsy, but the very stuff of the EEC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds, adopted by the European Council of Ministers on 2nd April 1979. The Directive emphasises the need to conserve bird habitats as a means of maintaining bird populations. This is to be achieved both by the establishment of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds throughout the EEC and by ‘wider countryside conservation measures to complement the network of sites. Member states are obliged to comply with the Directive, but, although some, such as Denmark and Belgium, were quick to take its principles to heart, others, including the I'nited Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, still appear to be very reluctant participants in the SPA league. More than 22% of top-performer Denmark's land surface is now included in SPAs, compared with around 1% of the I K and a miniscule portion of the Irish Republic. 1’his review, from three of the ornithologists in the NCC Chief Scientist’s Directorate, was made necessary, say its authors, by the rate of habitat destruction, previous damage and current threats to birds in Britain. It gives a clear explanation of the workings of international legislation affecting birds and provides a detailed account of how the NCC selects sites for nomination as potential SPAs. It then sets out proposals for a greatlv expanded suite of SPAs in Britain and describes urgent priorities for conservation action and research. 34 Reviews By listing all the SPA and Ramsar sites proposed and designated in the UK up to the time of publication, the review shows how much the UK still needs to do to meet its bird- protection obligations within the EEC. There are serious shortfalls, for example, in the amount of breeding habitat for Merlins Falco columbarius , Dotterels Charadrius morinellus and Black-throated Divers Gavia arctica currently included in British SPAs. As the Government prepares to carve up the NCC into bite-sized national chunks (all the easier for ministers to swallow), this publication is a timely reminder of the great value of retaining an m/emational perspective in bird conservation. Kenny Taylor The Kestrel. By Andrew Village. Illustrated by Keith Brockie. T. & A. D. Poyser, London, 1990. 352 pages; 32 black-and-white plates; 32 line- drawings. Hardback, £18.00. In this account, Dr Andrew Village deals with the Kestrel Falco tinnunculus in a series of succinct chapters covering kestrels as a group, diet and hunting, moult, territory and densities, nest sites and breeding, movements and population turnover, mortality and population regulation. These are largely based on his studies in southern Scotland and two farmland areas in eastern England. Some prominence is given to work in the Netherlands, but otherwise there is rather little outside these areas, although the title leads one to expect a more wide-ranging account. Perhaps those with a major interest in a species are not the best reviewers of books about it. If the author’s and reviewer’s interests differ (the case here), the reviewer is bound to feel some dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, some sections of this book strike me as disappointing, in particular those on diet, hunting and the energetics involved; although the description of the mechanics of hover-hunting is fascinating. Largely, my reaction resulted from the author’s unusual approach in measuring diet, by giving the percentage of pellets containing various items rather than enumerating numbers and weights. Fine, but he does not say how this translates into the actual value of prey taken; nor does he test the probability suggested (Appendix 1) that the percentage calculated, which is presumably open to the same problems that he describes for enumeration, reflects the days on which prey types were eaten. Prey items do not have the same value; lacking some form of conversion, I found it difficult to reconcile many aspects of the discussion of diet, hunting success, the management of hunting ranges, seasonal variations in prey and hunting behaviour and the energetics involved with the data in tables 3, 4 and 6. But much that follows hinges on these observations. Similar problems emerge with breeding performance. Dr Village devotes two chapters to this and the timing of breeding, w hich he found closely connected (fig. 61), arguing that they are mainly linked to and vary with food supply. But the relationship between timing, performance and food should have been most sharply defined in the Scottish grassland area and apparently did not exist (table 45). Something here needed greater clarification, for this is one of his major themes. A striking omission is of any detailed discussion of population changes over the past 40 years, although the literature indicates that these have been marked throughout Europe. Dr Village considers all attempts to quantify Kestrel populations — except his own — unreliable, because of a negative correlation between study area size and population density. So far as the British counts are concerned, I wish I felt more confident that this correlation did not arise from his method of treating the data. Examination of the original papers, however, suggests it was not how their authors used them nor meant them to be used. In addition, w hile discussing the possible effect of pesticides on breeding densities, Dr Village does not consider that of the major contemporary changes in habitat and cropping in farmland. These were far more likely to affect Kestrels, taking their prey from the ground, than, for example, Sparrowhawks Accipiter aims. Such changes presumably caused the differences in population density in his two farmland study areas, but he gives very little detail of the actual composition and distribution of the habitat and cropping in these. Despite my criticisms, this book is a valuable and important reference for the detailed accounts of the author's studies in Scotland and eastern England and his ideas on the population ecology of Kestrels. But it is not a monograph. Michael Shrubb Short reviews Harriers of the British Isles. By Roger Clarke. (Shire Publications, Princes Risbor- ough, 1990. 24 pages. Paperback £1.95) This is a good introduction to the group. It covers the main points of biological interest and is splendidly illustrated. Hen Harriers receive disproportionate attention, and some aspects of the other two species could have been more thoroughly researched. A section on comparisons between the species would have been a welcome addition to an other- wise well-written account. [John Day] The Glorious Grouse: a natural and un- natural history. By Brian P. Martin (David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1990. 224 pages. £17.95) The first half of this book by the features editor of Shooting Times is concerned with the background to the Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus as a sporting bird. It quotes verbatim, often at length, from articles in country magazines and old sporting books. The natural history chapter briefly addres- ses most aspects and is culled mainly from general references and the practical booklet on grouse management by two of the ‘boffins’ (sic p.105) at the Institute of Ter- restrial Ecology, Banchory. Sadly, their re- cently published findings on grouse disease are not mentioned. Strong pleas are made to estates to respect the law concerning birds of prey, all of which are protected. On the contentious issue of public access to ‘grouseland’, he favours controls and on p. 212 suggests selling permits stating dura- tion and purpose of visit. The book is liberally illustrated with i.a. Thorburn prints and old adverts for Burberrys. The photo- graphs are evocative and often provide interesting social comment. The book pre- sents a reasonably balanced account and should be enjoyed by the lovers of country books and sportsmen at which it is aimed. [N. PlCOZZl] Connecticut Birds. By Joseph D. Zeranski and Thomas R. Baptist. (University Press of New England, Hanover, 1990. 328 pages. £24.70) More than three-quarters of a cen- tury after The Birds of Connecticut (Sage, Bishop & Bliss, 1913), status and history are given for each species recorded in the state. Species not ‘collected’, or adequately photo- graphed are treated as ‘hypothetical’, even if well described by several observers. The current Connecticut list includes 380 spe- cies (of which 13 are ‘hypothetical’ and four are extinct); a further 44 species, not accepted for various reasons, are listed in an appendix. ALSO RECEIVED: Whales. By Peter Evans. (Whittet Books, London, 1990. £6.95) Sea Otters. By John A. Love. (Whittet Books, London, 1990. £8.95) Behavioural Ecology of the Galah Eolophus roseicapillus in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. By Ian Rowley. (Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton (NSW), 1990 AI39.60) Announcements ‘BB’ and National Bird News We are pleased to announce that the telephone bird-news-line organisation set up to support conservation, National Bird News, has offered its help to BB. National Bird News currently runs ‘Twitch-line’, ‘BTO News Line’, 4CBP World Bird News and ‘Butterfly Line’, profits going to the BTO, the ICBP, the British Butterfly Conservation Society, the RSPB and other conservation bodies. All bird news which reaches National Bird News is being made available to British Birds completely free. Our two organisations also plan to co-operate in other ways in the future. By phoning these numbers, you not only get the information that you want, but also help conservation: National Bird News 0898-884 500 Twitch-line 0898-884 501 BTO News Line 0898-884 503 ICBP World Bird News 0898-884 504 Butterfly Line 0898-884 505 (44p/min. peak/std; 33p/min. cheap rate, inch vat) 35 36 Announcements Send in your 1990 records now If you have not already done so, now is the time to submit all your relevant 1990 records. The names and addresses of the County/Regional Recorders were listed last year (Brit. Birds 82: 38-40). Bird Photograph of the Year This year is the fifteenth in the competition’s history. We are delighted that ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ is once again sponsored by two long-standing friends of British Birds , the publishing firms Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd and William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd, both very well known for their high-quality natural history books. The rules are as follows: Up to three colour transparencies, each taken during 1990, may be submitted by each photographer. Transparencies should not be glass-mounted. They will be judged not only on technical excellence, but also on originality, scientific interest, aesthetic appeal and artistic composition. Preference will be given to photographs taken in the West Palearctic (Britain and Ireland, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East), but those of species on the West Palearctic list taken anywhere in the world are also eligible. Photographs must not have been submitted for publication elsewhere (though, of course, the copyright remains with the photographer and use subsequent to publication in British Birds is unrestricted). The photographs by winner and runners-up may be used at the discretion of the judges in or for the promotion of British Birds or the competition. A brief account (not more than 200 words) should be enclosed with each, giving the circumstances in which obtained, the method used, technical details (focal length of lens and make of camera and film), locality, date and photographer’s name and address. Transparencies will be returned only if accompanied by a suitable SAE. Entries are accepted only on the above conditions. The judging panel will consist of Dr R. J. Chandler, Eric Hosking, DrJ. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith. Past winners of this competition have been Michael C. Wilkes (1977), Peter Lowes (1978), Dr Edmund C. Fellowes (1979), Don Smith (1980), Richard T. Mills (1981), Dennis Coutts (1982), David M. Cottridge (1983), John Lawton Roberts (1984), C. R. Knights (1985), Alan Moffett (1986), Dr Kevin Carlson (1987), Bob Glover (1988) and Hanne Eriksen (1989 & 1990). The 1991 awards (cheque for £100 and engraved salver for the winner, cheques for £40 and £25 for the second and third and £25-worth of Collins books and £25-worth of Christopher Helm books for each of the top three photographers) will be presented at a Press Reception in London in May or June. The runners-up will be welcome to attend the award presentation. The closing date for entries is 31st January 1991. Transparencies should be clearly marked ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ and sent to Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs The closing date for submission of prints for the thirty-first annual selection is 31st January 1991. Photographers may submit as many black-and-white prints as they wish. The following details should be written on the back of each print: photographer’s name and address, species, county (or country, if taken abroad), month, year, and technical details, such as make and size of camera, make and focal length of lens, type of film material, exposure and approximate distance from the subject. Prints will be retained in the editorial office as part of the reference collection and for possible use in the journal unless a request for return is noted on the back of each print and a suitable stamped addressed envelope is supplied. Entries should be addressed to ‘Best recent work’, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MKt4 3NJ. Bird Illustrator of the Year We are delighted that this year’s competition will again be sponsored by Kowa telescopes. Amateur and professional artists are invited to submit four line-drawings suitable for reproduction in British Birds (pen-and- ink or scraperboard, but not pencil or wash). The subjects should be birds recorded in the West Palearctic (Europe, North Africa and the Middle East). Exact size is important: drawings should be the following precise sizes (width X depth in cm): (a) 18.6 X 20.8, (b) 16.35 X 6.9 and (c) 8.1 X 6.0, for publication at two-thirds of those dimensions (the largest drawing (a) may, if preferred, be submitted at 24.8 X 27.75, for publication at half-size). Each set of four telescopes Announcements 37 drawings must include at least one each of a, b and c. Entries will be judged as sets. Drawings based on published photographs or drawings are ineligible. The announcements of the previous winners (Brit. Birds 72: 403-409; 73: 380-384; 74: 275-278; 75: 304-308; 76: 288-291; 77: 283-288; 78: 317-322; 79: 319-325; 80: 351-361; 81: 299-305; 82: 339-346; 83: 255-261) included suggestions intended to help future entrants. Entries need not be mounted, but should have a generous ‘handling margin’ around each drawing. The judging panel will consist of Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris, Keith Shackleton and I)r J. T. R. Sharrock. The winner will receive £100, a Kowa TSN-3 20-60X zoom telescope and an inscribed salver; the second-placed artist £40 and a TSN-1 20x W Kowa telescope; and the third- placed artist £25 and a TS-601 20x W Kowa telescope (all three telescopes with cases). All three artists will also be invited to attend the award presentation at a Press Reception at The Mall Galleries in London, where a selection of the drawings will be on display. All artists whose work is displayed will also be welcome to attend the reception, which in previous years has provided a very happy occasion for meeting many of our top bird artists. The winners’ entries will also be displayed in the annual exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists at The Mall Galleries. Previous winners have been Crispin Fisher (1979), Norman Arlott (1980 & 1981), Alan Harris (1982), Martin Woodcock (1983), Bruce Pearson (1984), Ian Lewington (1985), Chris Rose (1986), David Quinn (1987), Martin Hallam (1988), John Cox (1989) and Gordon Trunkfield (1990). It is one of the main aims of this British Birds competition to encourage and advance the careers of bird artists. The Editorial Board and the competition’s judges are delighted to note that the previous winners have become highly successful freelance artists or otherwise employed in posts associated with wildlife. Entries will remain the copyright of the artists, but are accepted on the understanding that they may be reproduced free in, or on the cover of, or for the promotion of British Birds. If accompanied by a suitable stamped addressed envelope, all drawings will be returned to the artists, but any selected for possible use by British Birds may be retained for up to 12 months after the award presentation. Each drawing must be marked clearly on the back with the artist’s name and address (and date of birth if aged under 21, see ‘The Richard Richardson Award, below), the identity of the species, and any other relevant information about the illustration. The closing date will be 15th March 1991; the set of four drawings should be sent to ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. The PJC Award A handsome trophy, the PJC Award, is presented annually, in memory of the late Pauline Jean Cook, to the artist whose single drawing submitted for the ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ competition is selected by the judges for its individual merit. The holder of the PJC Award also receives an inscribed book as a permanent symbol of the achievement. The current holder is Andrew Stock (Brit. Birds 80: 250-251; 83: 255-261). The Richard Richardson Award To encourage young, up-and-coming bird artists, a special award (a cheque and a book to the total value of £60) will be presented for the best work submitted for the ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ competition (see above) by an artist aged under 21 years on 15th March 1991. The winner’s entries will be displayed in the annual exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists at The Mall Galleries. Previous winners have been Alan F. Johnston (1979), Andrew Stock (1980), Darren Rees (1981), Keith Colcombe (1982 & 1984), Gary Wright (1983), Ian Lewington (1985), Timothy Hinley (1986), Andy Birch (1987), John Cox (1988), Stephen Message (1989) and Antony Disley (1990). This award is in memory of the famous Norfolk ornithologist and bird-artist, the late R. A. Richardson. The rules for entry are exactly the same as for ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year and entries by persons under 21 will automatically be considered for both awards. Front-cover designs for sale. The original unframed drawings of the pictures on the front cover of BB are for sale each month in a postal auction. The pictures are usually 1 '/> or two times the published size. These sales help not only the artists, but also BB , since the artists 38 Announcements donate 20% to the journal. It is also a way for BB readers to acquire — for themselves or as a present for a friend — top-class art at very- reasonable prices. During the past year, successful postal bids have ranged from £50 to £155; the average has been £88. Why not send in your bid each month? If you are successful (if your bid is the highest, and it exceeds the artist’s reserv e price) you will be asked to pay the sum you bid, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Send your name, address and telephone number and your bid (no money at this stage), to arrive before the last day of the month, to Cover Bid, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK+4 3NJ. Photographs and drawings may be for sale Many of the photographers and artists whose pictures appear in British Birds welcome the opportunity to sell their work. Anyone who wishes to obtain either photographic prints or original drawings is welcome to write (making an enquiry about availability, making an appropriate offer, or seeking the price) to the photographer or artist concerned, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. We will forward all such letters, as a service to our readers and contributors. Free subscriptions for County/Regional Recorders We are pleased, once again, to have been able to giv e free subscriptions to the County/Regional Recorders, as our way of saying ‘Thank you to them for the hard work which they contribute to British ornithology in their ‘free time’. Free advertising for subscribers For a limited period, individual personal subscribers may use the classified advertising pages Free of Charge for advertisements selling single ornithological items (a pair of binoculars, a telescope, a book, a volume of magazines, etc.). Send your advertisement (not more than 30 words), quoting your personal BB Reference Number , to Free BB advertising, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Books in British BirdShop New this month: *Coates The Birds of Papua New Guinea *Downer & Sutton Birds of Jamaica: a photographic Jield guide *Fjeldsa & Krabbe Birds of the High Andes *Goodman & Meininger The Birds of Egypt * Howes Shorebird Studies Manual *johnsgard Bustards, Hemipodes and Sandgrouse: birds of dry places *Johnsgard Hawks, Eagles and Falcons of North America *Langrand Guide to the Birds of Madagascar * Lloyd, Tasker & Partridge The Status of Seabirds in Britain and Ireland *N'CC/RSPB Red Data Birds in Britain * Newton & Olsen Birds of Prey *Perrins The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Birds **RAOU The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds * Richardson Birds of the Ended Arab Emirates *van Rhijn The Ruff * War ham The Petrels: their ecobgy and breeding systems Special offer marked **. Please use the British BirdShop form on pages xv and xvi. News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Scaly-sided Merganser study The Scaly- sided Merganser Mergus squamatus, with a population estimated at only around 1,000 birds, is one of the world’s rarest wildfowl. It breeds in the mountainous forests of the Bikin River system in the Ussuri region of the Soviet Far East, where numbers are believed to have fallen by 90% between 1960 and 1975. The reason for its decline and present rarity are not fully understood, but are thought to include the loss of suitable hollow trees for nesting, poaching and gene- News and comment 39 ral disturbance. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, as part of their Threatened Species Programme, has started to prepare a conser- vation action plan for the merganser and, to this end, Dr David Bell (on loan from the Gloucestershire Trust for Nature Conserva- tion) visited the Ussurian Taiga primary forest wilderness this year. He accompanied Dr Vladimir Bocharnikov of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and the two succeeded in trapping a merganser (the first time this has been done) and fitting it with an artificial transmitter — the aim being to see whether radio tracking could work with this species. The results were very promising and, if funds are forthcoming, David hopes to return next year to set up a full research programme. Sadly, the marvellous unspoilt forests where the mergansers live (alongside the Siberian tiger Panthera tigris altaica and many other rare animals and plants) are the subject of provisional logging consents granted to South Korean companies, despite vehement opposition from Soviet biologists. We hope the plan for the merganser will come in time to save the species, but we must wait and see. Fairer deal for pests We welcome propo- sals from the Government which would amend the law relating to the shooting of 13 species of bird categorised as ‘pests’ (listed in Part II, Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981): Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus Jiiscus, Herring Gull L. argentatus , Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus , ‘Feral Pigeon’ (feral Rock Dove) Columba livia, Woodpigeon C. palumbus. Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto, Jay Garrulus glandarius , Magpie Pica pica , Jackdaw Corvus monedula, Rook C. frugilegus , Crow [Carrion and Hooded] C. corone, Starling Stumus vulgaris and House Sparrow Passer domesticus. All species, except Woodpigeon, will be re- moved from the list, which means that it will be legal to kill them only under licence. Similar conditions apply to Woodpigeons, except that they can be shot (without a licence) outside the close season, which will be defined as 1st March to 30th November. General licences (which would run for 12 months) would be issued to those indi- viduals who can give good reasons for the control of a species. The sale of dead Feral Pigeons will be prohibited except under licence. Changes to the status of the Feral Pigeon might seem slightly odd-ball to some, but, since it is the scientific name that identifies a species in court, these changes are vital to protect the wild Rock Dove. All the proposals are designed to bring British law into line with the 1979 EC Birds Directive. Good news for these species, many of which are often described as pests without any proper evidence. Computed wildfowl The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has recently taken delivery of a new and powerful Digital MicroVax computer. It was purchased with consider- able financial help from Digital and the NCC. The main advantage over their old computer will be a saving in time. It formerly took 24 hours to go through 30 years’ worth of data to show that Pochards Aythya ferina were declining in Britain. The same analysis now takes only a few minutes. The Trust will now be in a position to get to more facts, quickly. It is a vital benefit to conservation in a rapidly changing world and the information gained will help to safeguard both populations of birds and key wetland sites. One new task for the compu- ter will be to use satellite imagery to investigate the effect of climate on some geese. Previous Trust research has shown that if adult geese have good plant growth to feed on in spring they produce more gos- lings. Past satellite pictures of the breeding grounds will enable the Trust to correlate extent and duration of snow cover with number of young reared. From this informa- tion, the Trust then hopes to build up a computer model of the relationship between weather and population growth. All clever stuff; keep the computer busy! If the caption fits . . . Can you think of an apt, humorous caption to accompany the photograph of Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus in plate 1 5 on page 40? A small prize will be sent to the winner. Send your suggestions on a postcard to If the caption fits, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. 40 If the caption fits . . . 15. IF THE CAPTION FITS . . . Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus, Netherlands, January , 1988 (Mike Weston) Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 10th November to 17th December 1990 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus Slim- bridge (Gloucestershire), 7 th- 1 1 th December. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Oxford Island, Lough Neagh (Co. Armagh), 8th to at least 12th Decem- ber. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Bel- fast Lough (Co. Down), 27th November to at least 12th December. Laughing Gull Larus atricilla Whitburn (Tyne & Wear), 9th December. Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan Exe Estuary (Devon), 7th December. Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea Barmston (Humber- side), 24th November; adult, Omeigh Island, Connemarra (Co. Galway), 12th December. Ivory Gull Pagophila ebumea Lerwick (Shetland), 10th December. Little Auks Alle alle Large numbers along the east coast of Britain throughout December, including 1,800 past Sheringham (Norfolk) on 10th Decem- ber, and 3,500 past Whitburn on 12th December. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus One found dead at The Lodge, Sandy (Bedfordshire), 6th December (had been dead for three to four days). Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Macroom (Co. Cork), 17th November (potential first for Ireland). Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Good numbers, parti- cularly in north of England and Scotland, with up to 100 at Guisborough (North Yorkshire), 50 at Washington (Tyne & Wear), 120 at Dunfermline (Fife), 250 in Aberdeen (Grampian), 270 in Edin- burgh (Lothian) and 160 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Tyne & Wear). Small flocks only in Dublin and Bangor (Co. Down), but 39 at Coleraine (Co. Londonderry), 1st December. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Southwold (Suf- folk), 29th November to 5th December. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera Singles at Lyndhurst (Hampshire), Derwent Dale (South Yorkshire), near Stamford (Northamptonshire), Mundford (Norfolk), Ludlow (Shropshire) and Sandringham. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus Good numbers in eastern Britain including up to 44 at Kirkby Moor (Lincolnshire), up to seven at Guisborough. up to 35 at Chopwell Wood, near Newcastle-upon- Tyne, up to 12 at Brandon (Suffolk), five in Hamsterly Forest (Co. Durham), two at Stamford, and up to 20 at Market Rasen (Lincolnshire). We are grateful to the National Bird News ‘Twitch-line’ for supplying information for this news feature British BirdShop ALL LISTED BOOKS ARE POST FREE TO ‘BRITISH BIRDS’ SUBSCRIBERS Recordings Please add £1. 75 p & p per order Please tick / Kettle British Bird Songs and Calls (2-cassette pack) £ 1 3.99 EH Kettle More British Bird Sounds (1 cassette) £5.99 EH Mild Soviet BiMSongs (2 cassettes) £19.95 EH Books and other items are included in British BirdShop only if they are approved by British Birds and considered to be generally reliable, good value and useful additions to a birdwatcher’s library. Any item ordered through British BirdShop which fails to meet your approval can be returned and your money will be refunded without question. It is our aim to provide British Birds subscribers with the best and most reliable service possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by the Natural History Book Service. All correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, c/o NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN. Books All listed books are POST FREE. Newly listed books and special offers marked * Ali & Ripley A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (OUP) £22.50 EH Ali & Ripley Compact Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. 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Zoom 601 . NEW 60 X & 70X ,.£54 •£94 (D771 ) gu 365024 British Birds Established over 80 years The quality independent monthly magazine for the serious birdwatcher. FOR ADVERTISING DETAILS SANDRA BARNES 0621 815085 XVII 1991 birding breaks^ Short breaks up to a week - * Tunisia in January * Morocco in March * Sweden - Lake Hornborga in April, Oland Island in June and Falsterbo in September * Spain - Extremadura in April, Pyrenees in May and the Sierra de Guadarrama in June * Hungary in October Plus two weeks in New Zealand in November - and weekends in France and the UK. V BRANTA 1 HOLIDAYS 1 1 Uxbridge Street, London W8 7TQ 071-229 7231 (Day) 07 1 -639 1 257 (Evening) (D759) FOCALPOINT ALL LEADING INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE FROM STOCK RUN BY BIRDERS FOR BIRDERS NIKON - new SPOTTING SCOPES WE OFFER: *AII leading instruments in stock *Good range of used equipment *Easy access from the M56/M62/M6 ‘Excellent viewing facilities WE ARE MOVING!!! from Monday 28th January 1991 we shall be at UNIT 8, MARBURY HOUSE FARM, BENTLEYS FARM LANE, ‘Opportunities for part exchange HIGHER WHITLEY, WARRINGTON, CHESHIRE WA4 4QW *Access/Visa/Mastercard/Connect VA/ , r. j 1 1 cz i , i a A cco i j ‘Personal export scheme & VAT free exports We are now very easy to tind M56 Jet 1 0, A559 towards *, r .. r , in . , , , L Northwich turn right at The Birch and Bottle into Bentleys Farm . .,n orma lon f*jc “ . PsamPs P lno c e9L lane, we are on the left after 1 mile - tel. 0925 73399 ^ ™ 5'3°pm' Saturday 9.30am to 4.00pm. KOWATS1 in Stock!!! Sundays and Bank Holidays. Phone for prices, package deals and special offers! 3ue New KOWA TSN eyepieces 30x WA £109, 60x £89, 77x £99. leather eyepiece case £9.95, photo adapt case £14.95 BIRDGUIDES 1991 Tour brochure available NOW from Peter Wolstenholme, 31 South Park Rd, Gatley, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 4AL. Tel. 0614z8 2175 or 0263-740634 (school holidays). 14COGSHAU. LANE COMBERBACH NORTHWICH CHESHIRE CW96BS Tel: 0606 8910981 xviii ( VISIT WILD RUSSIA^) New areas of the Soviet Union are being opened to tourists. Be among the first to dis- cover the natural wonders of the world’s largest country. Fully inclusive holidays will be led by ex- perienced experts on the birds of the USSR this spring and summer. Several exciting desti- nations will include Russian forests, Caucasus, Central Asian mountains and deserts, the Altai, high Arctic latitudes of Taimyr and un- inhabited western coasts of Kamchatka penin- sula. Among the species we will see are the Red-Breasted Goose on its breeding grounds, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper on migration, the Caucasus, Altai and Himalayan Snowcocks and of course the Ibisbill. Several tours will he led by Dr Algirdas Knystautas, the author of The Natural History of the USSR and The Birds of the USSR. For information, please contact us at any time (24 hour, answer machine): RUSSIAN NATURE TOURS Achterom 3 1 1621 KR Hoorn Netherlands ph. 02290-19883 fax 02290-19969 (D779)^ Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be PREPAID and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Telephone 0621 815085 Rates (including 15% VAT) £2.76 a line — average of 6 words £9.20 a centimetre — min. 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words is £1 .00 extra per insertion Replies should be sent to the above address Series Discounts 3 insertions for the price of 2 6 insertions for the price of 4 Copy Date February Issue January 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment British Birds is most grateful to those companies which support the magazine by their sponsorship: British Birds has over 10,000 subscribers: a total of around 40,000 readers in 63 coun- tries, and 99.6% of them keep their copies of BB’ permanently, for future reference. Germany Sponsors of ‘ Monthly marathon ’ Sponsors of the Rarities Committee Sponsors of ‘ Bird Photograph of the Year ’ Christopher Helm and Collins i Sponsors of ‘ Bird Illustrator of the Year’ telescopes HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGIjXND Tjr Beautiful Georgian Hotel jMrUL Excellent Food & Accommodation LAWNS Holt, Norfolk. MJCfTT.I (02631713390 Mm _ _ ... 3 crowns commended CLEY 5 miles Bargain Breaks (BB525) WEST SUSSEX, Pagham Harbour/Selsey. Beau- tiful Georgian Farmhouse, with purpose built B&B accommodation. All facilities provided. Warm, friendly atmosphere, children welcome. Open all year. Tel: 0234 602790. (BB530) EXMOOR. Peaceful s/catering c/heated holi- day homes in Natural Trust Village. Marshes, woods and moorland — rich in birdlife. Reduced spring/autumn terms. Open all year. Stamp to Sheila Wright, Pack Horse, Allerford, nr Mine- head. Tel: 0643 862475. (BB466) xix To advertise phone 0621 815085 EXMOOR for country and animal lovers. Farm- house accommodation, bed and breakfast and evening meal, dr selhcatering cottage. Details from: French, Brendon Barton, Lvnton, Devon. Tel: 059 87 201. (BB389) B&B IN PURBECK from £1 1 per night. EM opt. Family residence, 1.5 miles south of Wareham. Home from home, ‘Hyde Hill’, 64 Furzebrook Road, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5AX. Tel: 0929 552392. (BB380) CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2). Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB441) ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St. Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds over- looking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB442) NORFOLK, CLEY-NEXT-SEA 1 MILE. Flint- stones Guest House, Wiveton Holt. Full C/H, H&C, tea/ coffee making facs. Col. TV all rooms. Evening meal optional. Open nearly all year. Please ring for brochure. Sorry No Smoking. Tel: 0263 740337. ' (BB486) NORTH NORFOLK — Glavenside guest house in Letheringsett, 5 miles inland from sea at Blakeney, Cley and Salthouse. River Glaven works adjoining mill & flows through 4 acres of garden on its way to sea at Cley. Tel: Holt (0263) 713181. (BB261) Churehwood V&ll/y * Varied Birds and Wildlife * Quiet Coastal Country Setting * Comfortable Quality Log Cabins * E.T.B. Graded VVVV (Very Good) Colour brochure: Churehwood, Wembury Bay, Near Plymouth, Devon PL9 0DZ. telephone: (0752) 862382 (24 hr) SEATON, DEVON. Axe estuary walking distance. Ground floor flat in lovely listed building, sleeps 2/ 4, magnificent views, unspoilt quiet cliff top po- sition. Cliff top walks. Beach 100 yds. Adj. parking space. l!/2 miles from picturesque Beer. Let throughout the year. Tel: 0272 332629. (BB582) PENZANCE. Excellent B/B. Ideal situation for travel to Isles of Scilly. Tel: (0736) 60881. ‘The Victorian House’. (BB559) GARA MILL, Slapton, Devon. Self-catering for 2- 7 in secluded four acres overlooking river and woods. Eight detached cedar lodges plus 2 CH flats in 16th c. cornmill. Near Slapton Ley. TVs. Dogs welcome. Free brochure: (0803) 770295. (BB568) RAME HEAD, CORNWALL. Superb Napol- eonic fortress overlooking own private beach, lawns & cliffs on spectacular migratory Rame Peninsula. Seawatch, migrants, waders (SSSI), tennis, golf, etc: Idyllic retreat for S/C house parties up to 20. Gas C.H., flag-stoned floors, king-sized beds, en suite bathrooms. Guided out- ings/cuisine if required. Tel: 0752 822864. (BB558) CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed- rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071- 431 2942. (BB496) FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re- serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mrs J. Suther- land, Ross Farm, Belford, Northumberland NE70 7EN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB560) OLD HUNSTANTON, NORFOLK Overlook- ing the Wash. Fully equipped holiday cottages, col TV, gas or CH. Close beach, available all year. Mrs Lindsay, 4 Marks Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9SH. Tel: Upper Warlingham (0883) 622013. (BB542) WEYMOUTH, Birchfields Licensed Guest House, close to RSPB reserves. BB from £10. Evening meal optional. Ideal winter/spring breaks. Parties welcome. For details phone 0305 773255. (BB548) VISIT BEMPTON and Flamborough Head for the best in sea bird watching. Spring and A migs. S breeding. Stay at the Flaneburg Hotel, Flam- borough. BB from £17. Full restaurant facilities. Tel: (0262) 850284. (BB516) N. W. NORFOLK COAST - Snettisham. Pretty cottage (Tourist Board ‘Commended’ - 4 key). Sleeps 4. Ideally situated close to major bird re- serves. Averil Campbell. Tel. 0485 541179. (BB485) NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Licensed Guest House run by birders for birders. Jean 8c Tony Bellars, Haydn House, Avenue Road, Hunstan- ton. Tel: 0485 5331 15. (BB497) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi-pension (Private bath) from £38.00. De- tails, brochures, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB526) CAIRNGORMS — Nethybridge, Spey Valley. Choice of converted smithy and cottages. Very comfortable and well furnished. Mrs C. Patrick, Chapelton Place, Forres. Tel: 0309 72505. (BB518) GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, forests and sea. Speciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High quality self-catering houses, cottages, flats. De- tails G. M. Thomson 8c Co, 27 King Street, Cas- de Douglas. 0556 2973. (BB479) xx To advertise phone 0621 815085 SEE PUFFINS, skuas, seals and a lot more. Pri- vate boat takes you among otherwise inaccessible colonies. A nature-lover’s dream. Full board in castle, or stay in self-catering cottages. Send for details: Balfour Castle, Shapinsay, Orkney. Tel: 085 671 282. (BB524) ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into two warm, comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Cal- gary. Tel: 068 84 265 or (0453) 833323. (BB567) SPEY VALLEY. Maureen and Larry once again invite guests to sample their highland hospitality. Set in five acres, our home has uninterrupted views of the Cairngorms. Bird register available. Good home cooking and a warm welcome await you. D/B/B £120.00 p.w. (All rooms en-suite). Brochure: Maureen Taulbut, ‘Braes of Duthif, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND. (BB450) ISLE OF ISLAY, HEBRIDES. Five superbly equipped cottages, open throughout year. Per- fect situation with views, minutes to charming village. Short drive to R.S.P.B. reserve at Gruinart. Brochure: Mrs Sarah Roy, Lorgba Holiday Cottages, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyll. Tel: 049 685/208. (BB416) SPEY VALLEY, Beautiful secluded informal country hotel under new management, 2 miles from village of Carrbridge. Excellent birdwatch- ing amidst moorland, forests, rivers and lochs. Home cooking, full central heating, drying room. Ospreys and Crested Tits local. Hotel geared to birdwatchers. Terms from £145 per week D/B/B. Brochure from Yvonne Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inver- ness-shire. Tel: 047 984 278. A warm welcome guaranteed. (BB494) CAIRNGORM - Area of outstanding natural beauty with something for everyone. Steam rail- way. Wildlife Park. RSPB Reserves. S/C. Brochure, Cottage Care, Dulnain Bridge PH26 3LS. Tel: 0479 85322 (BB571) OSPREY VISITORS to Loch Garten 8c Aber- nethy? Locheil GH offers BB: £10.50; DBB: £16.50; or self-eater Cottage (sleeps 6) rental £20 nightly, and Chalet (sleeps 4) £16 nightly. For details 8c 150 birdlist, walks, slide-talks etc. write: Locheil, Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire. Tel: 047 983 603. (BB564) ELLARY ESTATE— MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of self-catering cottages and chalets situ- ated on the shores of Loch Caolisport. While you are at Ellary you are free to go wherever you please. There are hill walks, many lochs and burns where you can fish, numerous wildlife, birds, flowers, etc. The perfect location for the true country lover. For full colour brochure please write to: The Booking Office, Ellary 7, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8PA. Tel: 08808 232/ 209 or 054685 223. (BB583) WALES COTTAGES IN ESTUARYSIDE NATURE RE- SERVE. Centre of peaceful Pembrokeshire with its mild climate, lovely scenery 8c spectacular coast. How would you like to wake to the song of the curlew and sit up in bed and look far down the river? To let mid-September to mid-April. June 8c Joe Folder, Tything Barn, West Williamston, Carew, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire SA68 0TN. Tel. (0646) 651452. (BB602) 17th CENTURY CHARACTER COTTAGES in picturesque setting, fantastic views. Sleeps 2-12. Self-catering. 2 miles Symonds Yat with pere- grines, buzzards. Open fire and central heating. H. Smith, Old Kilns, Howie Hill, Ross-on-Wye. Tel: 0989 62051. (BB522) RED KITE COUNTRY— Tregaron— Guest- House standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Ynys-hir RSPB reserves. Parties wel- come. WTB — 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 298380 or 298905. (BB495) ANGLESEY. Superb beachside hotel with mag- nificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanists in area noted for its lakes, reserves and coastline of outstanding beauty. Come to ‘High- ground’ AA/RAC listed, licensed, for warm wel- come, excellent food and accommodation. Brochure: Mrs Karen Hayter, Highground, Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY. Tel: 0407 860078. (BB580) OVERSEAS FRENCH PYRENEES. Rose covered cottage set in magnificent unspoilt wooded valley. Excellent walking, wildlife, birds of prey 8c flowers. Or- ganic fruit and veg. available. Tel. John and Rose Gunning on 01033 61665127 or 61667619. (BB499) BED AND BREAKFAST for Birdwatchers near the Oostvaarders plassen, Z. Fleveland in the Netherlands. FI. 30. — a night P.P. Address: E. Oosterbeek. Bosgouw 267. 1352 G X Almere. Tel: (0) 3240-14407. (BB520) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY - NOVEM- BER TO EASTER. Specializing in bird vocaliza- tion and initial discoveries of rare species, Wish-List Guide Service improves birders’ cost per species ratio. A canoe is available for float trips on the Rio Grande River. Scott Rea, Gen- eral Delivery, Mission, Texas 78572, U.S.A. (BB480) xxi To advertise phone 0621 815085 SPAIN Mancha Sc Central Sierras Dohana Sc South-West Pyrenees Sc Ebro Delta April, May, June 1991 Tom Gullick lives in Spain. He will show you the rarest birds in the most beautiful and remote areas. Expect to see 5 different eagles, 3 vultures, 2 bus- tards, 2 sandgrouse, White-headed Duck, Gallinule, Eagle Owl, Black Stork, with many ducks, waders and passerines on migration. Also Lam- ergeier, Wallcreeper, Dupont’s Lark, Alpine Accentor, Black Woodpecker, Snowfmch, Ptarmigan, Capercaillie on Pyrenees Tour. 1 1 & 8 day tours 3-4 persons only, by Range Rover. 13 years and over 1,000 days of field experience in Spain. Tom Gullick, c/ o Mrs M. Parker, 5 Tile Bam Close, Famborough, Hants. GU14 8LS. Tel: 0252 547213. (BB447) POLAND ACCOMMODATION (Farmhouse/ camping) and expect guidance arranged in Notecka Forset/Biebrza Marshes. Write for de- tails to Zbigniew Lisiewicz, UL. Grunwalszka 476/18, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland. (BB597) 1 10(LDDIn4S Tie Travel Agency for Bird Watchers Low Cost Airfares & Car Hire... Worldwide 1991 RETURN FARES FROM: SPAIN ...£59 INDONESIA £539 GREECE .-. £115 HONG KONG £499 AUSTRIA ... X99 MALAYSIA £485 CANARIES — £129 THAILAND £415 TURKEY...- £139 CANADA.. £229 MOROCCO — £123 USA .£199 ISRAEL J^I69 TRINIDAD....- - £409 GAMBIA.... £258 COSTA RICA. £509 ICELAND.- -...£220 VENEZUELA £409 KENYA...... _£389 ECUADOR £495 S. AFRICA. £586 BRAZIL ..._ £535 INDIA -£3S2 ARGENTINA £615 NEPAL ......£469 AUSTRALIA £539 CHINA -....-£475 NEW ZEALAND - £599 JAPAN ...... ,-...-£605 Contact us for your quote with Dates of Travel. i a rwi 6-20 MARCH '91 P'lQQ lb 1 1 jPi 1 Israel 1 or 2 w eeks from dUJOO HONGKONG "™IL £975 Simply brilliant! Do your own thing (car hire at group rates), or join minibus excursions with expert leaders. Find out all that's going on at the evening meetings. Discover for yourself the friendly, fun-filled, inexpensive birding holidays that everyone's talking about! Get full details /VOW SUNBIRDER, PO Box 76, Sandy, Beds SG19 IDF. Tel: 0767 682969 /od CZECHOSLOVAKIA 14 DAYS -MORAVIA £680 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER TURKEY 1 8 DAYS CENTRAL & EASTERN £999 1 1 DAYS BOSPHORUS MIGRATION £685 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER Enquiries to: CHRIS L. SLADE, 8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull, West Midlands B92 9EL Tel: 021 -742 5420/021 -705 5535 TAKING BIRDWATCHERS TO EUROPE AND BEYOND SIBERIA • NEPAL • GAMBIA SPAIN • MAJORCA • KENYA BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS IN SMALL GROUPS WITH EXPERT LEADERS * FREE Comprehensive Travel and Birding Information folder for your destination when you book with us. 0305-761300 ?JL or DICK FILBY0603- 619409 A BT/ ^6282^ 1 ! FREE BROCHURE, PHONE OR WRITE TO: 0723 891715 (DAY) 0532 586555 (EVENING) 59 HUNGER HILLS DRIVE, LEEDS LS18 5JU (BB579) (BB491) To advertise phone 0621 815085 Visiting AUSTRALIA? Coming to Sydney on holiday or business? Guided day and half-day trips for birdwatchers. Specialising in individuals and small groups. If you have special needs then let us know. Enquiries to: Mr R. L. Morrow Babbler Bird Excursions 2 Wentworth St, Randwick 2031 NSW, Australia (BB354) WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE? We specialise in Birdwatching, Nature Photography, Trekking, Wildlife Safari, Caving and White-Water Rafting holidays NEPAL • INDIA • BHUTAN MALAYSIA • INDONESIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA Send fora brochure now! Footprint & Adventures W 5, MALHAM DRIVE LAKELANDS LINCOLN LN6 0XD Tel: (0522) 690852 (BB531) NATURE BREAKS BIRDWATCHING TOURS Exciting falls of migrants occur in the Aegean in Autumn. But what species? And how many? By staying on the two most perfectly situated islands we will be the first birders to find out! Anything could turn up! For details of how you can enjoy this and many other birding adventures just ring (0742)334171. GOSTOURS l 29 Marchwood Road Sheffield S6 5LB , V (BB566) BIRDWATCHING ADVICE LINE Planning A Birdwatching Trip Abroad Thomas Cook Travel Agents Offer You: An Advice Line 051-931 5074. Ask for Keith Hiller Experienced Birdwatcher. Details available include Worldwide Airfares, Pkg Hols., Car Hire, Visas, Health, Accomm. Individuals or Groups catered for. (BB527) LOSEHILL HALL NATURE BREAKSI 1991 A crrnTTT Introduction to Birdsong 10-12 May Nature Walks 17-19 May, 17-24 Aug Wildflowers 31 May-2 Jun Medicinal Uses 5-7 Jul Looking at Lichens 20-22 Sept Advanced Fungi 13-15 Sept ALSO for ’91 Botanical Illustration, Nature Photography... and others. Further details (s.a.e. please) from - Peter Townsend, Principal, Peak National Park Study Centre, Losehill Hall, Castleton Derbyshire S30 2WB Tel: Hope Valley (0433) 20373 (BB570) SITUATIONS VACANTT WARDEN, CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVA- TORY required for 1991 season (Mid March to Mid November). Class A ringer and qualified mist netter required. Wage £131.85 per wk gross (less national insurance contributions) and ac- commodation. Further details from The Manx Museum 8c National Trust, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: 0624 675522. (BB604) GIBRALTAR POINT NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE 1) Contract assistant warden required for one year, April 1991 to March 1992 with responsibility for shorebird protection, £55.00 per week + full board. Also shorebird warden at Donna Nook reserve, £80.00 per week. 2) Field Station assistant required March to November inc. for general duties, £55.00 per week + full board. Apply: Gibraltar Point Field Station, Skegness, Lines. PE24 4SU. Tel: 0754 2677. (BB588) xxiii To advertise phone 0621 815085 COURSES SKOKHOLM ISLAND, off the Pembrokeshire Coast. Courses in .Art, Birdwatching, Photogra- phy. Thousands of Puffins, Manx-shearwaters, Guillemots, Razorbills and other birds. Send SAE to Dept BB, 7 Market Street, Haverfordwest, Dyfed SA61 INF. (BB545) BIRD REPORTS BIRDS IN CORNWALL 1989. £3.80 inclusive p/p from Stanley Christophers, 5 Newquay Road, St Columb Major, Cornwall, TR9 6RW. (BB477) BIRDS OF OXON, 1989 £4 inc p&p, from R. Overall, 30 Hunsdon Road, Iffley, Oxford 0X4 4JE. (BB521) HERTFORDSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1989, £3.50 inc. p&p, from L. Smith, 24 Mandeville Rise, Wel- wyn Garden City, Herts AL8 7JU. (BB523) GWENT BIRD REPORT 1989. Many articles, new county records. £3.35 from Jerry Lewis, Y Bwthvn Gwyn, Coldbrook, Abergavenny, Gwent. Past reports also available. (BB565) ESSEX BIRD REPORT 1989. 190 pages plus colour plates. £4.50 inc. p&p. J. Howard, 6 St Brides Court, Colchester, Essex C04 4PQ. (BB584) OUTER HEBRIDES BIRD REPORTS for 1986/8. £1 including postage from Peter Cun- ningham, Aros, 10 Barony Square, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis PA87 2TQ. (BB600) BOOKS BOOKS - PRIVATE SALE. SAE. N. Gartshore, Minsmere, Westleton, Saxmundham, IP17 3BY. (BB587) BIRD BOOKS. New Nats., bought/sold, want lists welcome, catalogues issued. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherways, Freshfield, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel: 07048 71115. (BB586) The original BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 159 diary pages. Send £5.95 to: ^ Coxton Publications, Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, 2 Beverley, N. Humberside HU17 8RP £ BIRD BOOKS, 1838-1989. SAE for 700 item cat- alogue. Crack Books, Sawmill Cottages, Burton- in-Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancs. (BB563) Britain 's leading ornithological booksellers now available: Lan grand A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF MADAGASCAR £35 plus £2 postage Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Mail order catalogue available on request HENRY SOTHERAN LTD 2 Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London W1X 2DP Tel: 071-439 6151 (BB581) ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the ‘Let’s look at . . .' series, Majorca, SW Spain. The Camar- gue, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Eastern Austria, South Morocco, North East Greece, Vancouver and The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland and Arctic Norway. The Gambia, North West Turkey and Northern India, £3.50 per copy and Australia £4.00 per copy. Ornitholidays, 1-3 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex P021 2PW. (BB262) COLLINS N.N. SERIES. .Also free book search any subject. State wants to Morley, P.O. Box 5, Withernsea HU 19 2AG. Tel. 0964 612847. (BB508) RARE AND SECONDHAND books on birds, natural history, gardening and field sports bought and sold. Peter Blest, Wateringbury, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622 812940. (BB222) ‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804. (BB490) SUBBUTEO NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS LTD Wide selection of ornithological and natural history titles available from stock, also travel books & maps. Mail order catalogue on request. Personal callers welcome. Low postage rate Dept BB, Ffordd y Llan, Treuddyn, Nr. Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN Tel: (0352) 770581 (24 hours). Fax: (0352) 771590 (BB438) XXIV To advertise phone 0621 815085 PERSONAL BIRDING CANADA or United States? For info, checklists, etc., write Dunnock 2409 Spey- side, Dr., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5K 1X5. (BB569) FOR SALE FOR SALE - Individual BB subscribers can adver- tise here FREE (up to 30 words, selling a single item, e.g. binocular, book, set of journals). Quote your BB Ref. No. and address envelope to ‘ Free BB Advertis- ing’. (BB753) TAPE RECORDER. Sony Professional WM06C, ideal for bird recording. Excellent condition, vir- tually unused. £170. Tel. Paul (0282) 416720. (BB572) CLOSE FOCUS Specialists in Optical Equipment for all those who wish to Photograph & Observe Wildlife. We Offer special DISCOUNTS for “Kitting Out” the overseas traveller and those preparing for a photo-holiday. TELEPHONE NOW for Free Advice & Quotation. Our range includes: Sigma Lenses • Tamrac Photographic bags & vests • Slik Tripods • Cullman Flash • Nikon Binoculars & Telescopes • Kowa Telescopes • Zeiss Binoculars • Leica Binoculars TELEPHONE: (0462) 892017 ANYTIME Post & Packing Free on all orders over £100 Access & Visa MANFROTTO TYPE 200 FLUID PAN 8c TILT HEAD. Three spare QR platforms. Mint. £25. Tel. Farnham (0252) 713926 evenings. (BB589) BRITISH BIRDS. Volumes 1986-1989 with index. Offers. Tel. Eddie (0384) 231 129. (BB590) LEITZ 8 X 40 green rubber armoured with leather case, v.g.c. £325. Adlerscope 80 with 25X, 40X, 8c zoom, optically excellent, £250. Telephone: (0209) 210060. (BB591) BB VOL. 76: 5, 7, 11 and Bird Study Vols 26-31, 25: 3/4, 20: 4, offers. Have you BB Vol. 69 (any), Vol. 78: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, Vol. 81: 2, 12? John, 0535 44880. (BB594) BIRD MIGRATION VOL. 1 & 2 1958-1963. 10 issues (all published). Over 600 pages. £16 inc. p&p. Tel. 0483 766517. (BB595) HERTEL AND REUSS TELESCOPE - 60 X 25 -60. Very good condition with leather case. £50. Tel: 0572 755564 (evenings). (BB596) “WINTERING ATLAS” (Lack) and ‘Tracks and Signs” (Brown et al.), both in excellent condi- tion. £25 the pair, inc. postage. Phone 0590 683241 after 6pm. (BB598) BIRDS OF GALWAY - a review of recent records and field studies by Tony Whilde. Avail- able from Ann Fleming, 62 Devon Park, Salthill, Galway, Ireland. £4.50 inc. p&p. (BB601 ) BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUP- PLIED. (BB. Bird study, County Reports, etc.), David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon. (BB493) “BIRDCATCHER” - program for recording bird sightings on Amstrad PCWs and PC1512/1640. User friendly. State computer model. £18 or SAE details. Davis 8c Makohon, 12 St. Mary’s Close, Albrighton, Wolverhampton, WV7 3EG. (BB478) TWITCHING Vol. 1 No’s 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. Birding World Vols. 1 & 2 odd issues 1983 8c 1984. BTO Bird Study Vols 18-31. Excellent condition - offers. Also wanted, Isles of Scilly Bird Reports 1979, 1983, 1984. 0522 754373 (BB573) IBIS, the last 10 years, 1981 Vol. 123 to 1990 Vol. 132 inclusive. Mint condition, unbound, includ- ing supplements. Offers to John Davies, 31 Easter Warriston, Edinburgh EH7 4QX, tele- phone 031-552 3563. (BB574) BRITISH BIRDS 1984 - 1989, unbound, in mint condition. Sensible offers to B. Craven, tel. 0566 773353. (BB576) PARABOLIC REFLECTOR specially de- signed for recording birdsong. Hand or tripod mounting. £40.00 incl p&p. SAE details, Richard Margoschis, 80 Mancetter Road, Ather- stone CV9 1NH. (BB514) CARRY YOUR TRIPOD in comfort with the Tri- pod Tamer Shoulder Strap, £8.50 including postage from Vital Equipment, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd LL29 8AT (S.A.E. for details). (BB550) BRITISH BIRDS 1970 - 1990, unbound, com- plete except 1971 index. Offers to Pamela Bell, tel. 0228 31561 (daytime, weekdays). (BB578) THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES - Ban nerman 8c Lodge. Complete set (12 vols). Mint condition. Cellophane wrapped. £360 o.n.o. P. 8c p. extra. Tel. 071 546 8357 (evenings). (BB577) PENTAX 135mm - 600mm zoom lens. f6.7, ex- cellent condition inc. own case, £300 o.n.o. Tel. 021-458 7132. (BB575) WANTED BOOKS BY LARS JONSSON. Birds of The Mediterranean and Alps’. ‘Birds of Field and Water’ Dinnington 568139. (BB519) T. & A.D. POYSER. With D.W.’s. Scarce Migrant Birds of Britain 8c Ireland. Flamingoes, and the Natural History of Cape Clear Island. Tel: (0737) 763281 evenings. (BB592) SECONDHAND 30 X LENS for Nikon Field- scope II. Tel: 0755 30249 (evenings). (BB593) British Birds Volume 84 Number 1 January 1991 1 European news 12 Product reports Freshold Optical Support David Britton 14 Mystery photographs 162 Red-rumped Swallow Erik Hirschfeld 1 5 Monthly marathon Notes 17 Cormorants drinking in flight S.J. Sutcliffe and Mrs A. C. Sutcliffe 17 Wigeon head-shaking while feeding Odd W. Jacobsen 18 Pair of Mallards eating cherry blossom R. H. Kettle 18 Prey-capture technique of Peregrine Vic Tucker 18 Oystercatcher with breast pierced by bill J. D. Feamside 19 A field character for identification of Collared Flycatcher in female and non-breeding plumages Nick Riddiford Letter 24 Spread-wing posture of Cormorants and Shags Professor C. Smout and Mrs A.-M. Smout 24 PhotoSpot 31 Desert Warbler Hadoram Shirihai, David Cottridge and Alan Harris 26 Seventy-five years ago . . . 27 Birdcraft 3 Clothing Dr M. A. Ogilvie Reviews 30 ‘The Birds of North-East Scotland’ edited by S. T. Buckland, M. V. Bell and N. Picozzi Allan W. Brown 31 ‘Shorebird Studies Manual’ by John Howes Dr R. J. Chandler 31 ‘Jim Flegg’s Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe’ by Jim Flegg, Eric Hosking and David Hosking Dr Colin Bradshaw 32 ‘Population Trends in British Breeding Birds’ by John H. Marchant, Robert Hudson, Steve P. Carter and Phil Whittington Dr Colin J. Bibby 33 ‘Protecting Internationally Important Bird Sites: a review of the EEC Special Protection Area network in Great Britain’ by David A. Stroud, G. P. Mudge and M. W. Pienkowski Dr Kenny Taylor 34 ‘The Kestrel’ by Andrew Village Michael Shrubb 35 Short reviews Announcements 35 ‘BB’ and National Bird News 36 Send in your 1990 records now 36 Bird Photograph of the Year 36 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs 36 Bird Illustrator of the Year 37 The PJC Award 37 The Richard Richardson Award 37 Front cover designs for sale 38 Photographs and drawings may be for sale 38 Free subscriptions for County/Regional Recorders 38 Free advertising for subscribers 38 Books in British BirdShop 38 News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett 39 If the caption fits . . . 40 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Front cover: Ptarmigan (Cairngorms) {Dave Pullan): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see pages 37-38 for procedure) Si ' I Volume 84 Number 2 February 1991 Identification of Arctic Redpoll Notes • Letters • Product reports Monthly marathon • Mystery photographs Reviews • News and comment Recent reports isrmsn mras Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith Art Consultants Robert Gillmor & Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw (co-opted), Alan Brown, G. P. Catley, Peter Clement (co-opted), A. R. Dean, S. J. M. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, J. H. Marchant, 8c K. E. Vinicombe; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons; identification Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1991 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085 Bird news for ‘ Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings); Luton (0582) 490049 (office hours) News items for News and comment’ Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon PE18 9BS Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN. Phone: Totnes (0803) 865913 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £38.40, IR£42.35 or S69.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £31.20, IR£34.80 or S54.00; personal: airmail outside Europe £52.50, IR£58.35 or $94.00. Single back copies £4.00, IR£4.50 or $7.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearctic. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequences of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1984): names of plants follow Dony et at. (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers); names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1977, The Handbook of British Mammals). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should be inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford OPEN MON - SAT 9 am - 6 pm focus OPEN EVERY WEEKEND 9 am - 4 pm 204 HIGH STREET BARNET, HERTS. EN5 5SZ 081-4491445 081-441 7748 FAX: 081-440 9999 HE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS AT THE ICBP WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1991 BRIARFIELDS HOTEL MAIN ROAD, TITCHWELL, NORFOLK PE31 8BB. 0836 311398 /ISFORD SPRINGS LD DAYS gDAY DATES 10 FEB.. dARCH. 10 TILL 4 EACH DAY leal opportunity to test, compare and rase from our full range of equipment at ompact well managed reserve near yn Garden City, Herts. For further nation and directions contact In focus’. 3RUARY SPECIAL EE TRIPOD WITH ANY W SCOPE! any new scope over El 40 and we will give -REE of charge a Velbon 350 tripod, lal price £40.00 or pay the balance for choice of tripod or hideclamp. REGIONAL FIELD WEEKENDS “WINTER 90/91 " ‘in focus’ IN NORFOLK RSPB BLACKTOFT SANDS, HUMBERSIDE SAT. 16th, SUN. 17th FEB. RSPB DUNGENESS, RSPB LODMORE, KENT DORSET SAT. 16th, SUN. 17th MARCH SAT. 23rd, SUN. 24th MARCH PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO VISITORS WITH AN INVITATION BETWEEN 10AM AND 4PM ON EACH DAY The ideal way te test eptics for birdwatching is tc watch birds! These Field Weekends at well- kncwn Reserves arcund the country will enable our customers to choose and select from our complete range of equipment under field conditions. You are invited to apply in writing or by phone for an invitation and information pack to any of the above events indicating your preferred day and time of attendance. 'In focus’ are pleased to offer our customers an improved and more regular facility on the North Norfolk coast. Our showroom in Briarfields Hotel offers extensive views over the Norfolk countryside and will be open every weekend with our full range of binoculars, telescopes, tripods and accessories. For hotel bookings - 0485 210742 kUSCH & LOMB .£ te 8x42BGA 589.00 te 1 0x42B 569.00 te 1 0x42BGA 589.00 istom 8x36 189.00 istom 10x40 199.00 istom 10x40 BGA.. 219.00 0mm Mirror Lens 25x and 42x d Photokit 299.00 te Scope 22x60 269.00 te Scope 15x-45x60 319.00 !ICA E novid 8x20BC 199.00 novid 10x25BC 211.00 novid 8x20BCA 211.00 novid 10x25BCA 223.00 novid 7x42BA 559.00 novid 8x42BA 559.00 novid 10X42BA 559.00 kRL ZEISS £ alyt 8x208 215.00 alyt 1 0x25B 225.00 alyt 8x20BGA 245.00 alyt 8x30BGAT 399.00 alyl 7x42BGAT 469.00 alyt 1 0x40BGAT 499.00 alyt 1 0x40BT 489.00 alyt 6x56BGAT 570.00 1x60 Porro GAT 789.00 oessories: tinguard 5.00 ie Cups (Set) 10.00 'e Cups Hand (Set) 10.00 inyard 4.00 ide Lanyard 10.00 >are Case 24.00 KON £ 20CF 69.00 25CF 79.00 23CF 85.00 IX25CF 89.00 20 DCF 135.00 IX25DCF 150.00 30DCF 249.00 1x36 DCF 279.00 40DCF 539.00 :30CF 229.00 ix35CF 249.00 ;-12x24DCF 329.00 eldscope II 20x60 285.00 eldscope II 20x-45x60 329.00 eldscope ED II 20x60 475.00 ix -45x60 545.00 Sx 20x 30x 40x or 60x 65.00 oya Multi Coal Filler 20.00 ubber Hood 10.00 lotoKit 157.00 sotting scope 20x60 GA... 199.00 sotting scope 20x-45x60 GA 259.00 ‘in focus’ EQUIPMENT CARE PLAN This exciting new scheme enables our customers to purchase in total confidence, at a cost of just £10.00, any new equipment can be covered by our “CARE PLAN” for a period of three years from purchase date. In the event of that equipment failing for whatever reason it will be rectified without question by ourselves at no charge. Ask for details. SWIFT £ Triton 8x40 89.95 Triton 10x50 99.95 Osprey 7.5x42 149.00 Audubon 8.5x44 199.00 Audubon 7x35GA 329.00 Viewmaster 149.00 15x -45 x Zoom 49.00 20x 20.00 ROSS £ Cavendish 8x42B 139.95 Hanover 10x42B 149.95 Regent 8x42B 169.95 Kensington 10x42B 179.95 QUESTAR £ Field Model 3’/2' Broad Band Coating. Supplied with 50x-80x Hood, Case 1900.00 30x-50x 120.00 80x-130x 120.00 Porro Prism 140.00 OPTOLYTH £ Alpin 8x30BGA 205.00 Alpin 8X40BGA 225.00 Alpin 10x40BGA 230.00 Alpin 10x50BGA 241.00 Touring 8x30BGA 388.00 Touring 7x42BGA 398.00 Touring 10x40BGA 398.00 TBS80 Body 350.00 TBG80 Body 350.00 20x WA 100.00 30x WA 64.00 40x 65.00 22x-60x Zoom 150.00 Soft Case 29.00 Hard Case 35.00 OPTICRON £ HR 7x42 MC 143.00 HR 8x42 MC 145.00 HR 10x42 MC 150.00 HR 10x50 MC 167.00 Minerva 8x40MC 170.00 Minerva 9x35MC 169.00 Minerva 10x42 MC 175.00 HR Body 80 249.00 HR Body, 22x and Case 159.95 HR GA, 22x and Case 169.95 HR 45°, 22x and Case 1 99.95 HR Body, 20x-60x, Case 199.95 HR GA, 20X-60X, Case 209.95 HR 45”, 20x-60x, Case 229.95 30xWA 32.00 27x-80x Zoom 76.00 25x or 40x 30.00 Classic IF60 118.00 18xWA 23.00 25x 23.00 Zoom 18x-40x 50.00 Classic IF 75mm 137.00 22xWA 23.00 30x 23.00 Zoom 22x-47x 50.00 Piccolo Body 128.00 Eye Pieces from 29.00 Photo Kits from 28.00 Cases for Scopes 15.00 Macro Monocular 50.00 OBSERVATION BINOCULARS £ Opticron 20x80 345.00 Opticron 30x80 345.00 KOWA £ TS601 179.00 TS602 179.00 20x WA 54.00 20x-60x Zoom 94.00 Case 19.95 TSN-1 295.00 TSN-2 295.00 TSN-3 555.00 TSN-4 555.00 20x WA 89 00 25x 59.00 30x WA 109.00 40x 59.00 20x-60x Zoom 139.00 Photo Kit 99 00 Case for TSN 22.50 Skua Case 39.00 Rear Dust Dome 15.00 Spare O.G. Cover TSN 6.00 27x WA (Screw fit) 59.00 CARL ZEISS JENA £ Deltrintem 8x30 64.95 Dekarem 10x50 99.95 Notarem 8x32 149.95 Notarem 8x32BA 139.95 Notarem 10x40 179.95 Notarem 10x40BA 199.95 Turmon 8x21 44.95 MIRADOR £ 8X40B 110.00 1 0x40B 114.00 1 0x50B 122.00 Merlin 60mmx25 97.00 Merlin 18x-40x60 129.00 Merlin 75mmx30 119.00 Merlin 22x-47x75 157.00 Case for Merlin 16.00 CENTURY £ 60mm GA Body 165.00 20x-45x Zoom 60.00 20x30x40x 20.00 Case ...15.00 BRESSER £ Action 8x40 69.00 Action 10x50 79.00 Linear 8x42 119.00 Linear 10x42 124.00 HABICHT £ 10x40 Diana 349.00 7X30SLC 315.00 8x30 SLC 325.00 New scope, phone for details BUSHNELL £ Spacemaster Body GA 165.00 Spacemaster Body 145.00 1 5x-45x Zoom 70.00 22xWA 32.00 SIGMA £ APO-Photo Lenses 400mm F5.6 Oly .Min. Nik, Can, Pk 289.95 Min, Nik, Auto focus 349.95 Canon EOS 399.95 Oly, Min, Nik, Can, Pk 389.95 Min, Nik, Auto focus 399.95 500mm (7.2 Canon EOS 449.95 VELBON £ D400 39.95 D500 NEW FLUID HEAD 59.95 D600 TRIPODS 69.95 D700 79.95 CULLMANN £ Hide Clamp 49.95 Shoulder Pod 24.95 QR System 9.95 QR Plate 4.95 SLIK £ Master D2 72.95 MANFROTTO £ 190 Base 40.00 190B Base 45.00 144 Base 50.00 144B Base 55.00 128 Head 45.00 200 Head 50.00 Tripod Strap 10.95 Spare QR Platform 5.95 MINOLTA 7x42 BGA 199.00 10x42 BGA 229.00 ACCESSORIES £ Car Window Mount 22.00 Universal Mount 22.00 Hide Clamp 38.00 Rainguards from 3.50 Pentax Cleaning Kit 3.99 Tripod Strap 6.95 Lanyards from 4.00 PERSONAL CALLERS Can choose and select from our comprehensive range of equip- ment. Compare Zeiss with Leitz and Bausch & Lomb, Kowa with Nikon and Optolyth We are a completely independent company, whose only concern is that our customers select the correct instrument for their personal needs. PHONE ORDERS Discuss your requirements with our technical staff and orders placed with Access or Visa Cards will be despatched same day. MAIL ORDER Just add £2 to help towards P&P and insurance and your order will be sent the same day as we receive your cheque. All equipment is supplied on 14 days approval upon receipt of full remittance. SECONDHAND Instruments are always available. Turnover is fast so we do not print a list. Phone for information. PART EXCHANGE Top prices paid for good condition Bins and Scopes. HOW TO FIND US We are 10 mins from M25 and A1 M motorways and 1 5 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. TELESCOPES AND TRIPOD OUTFITS If you purchase a scope and tripod at the same time we can offer you a very special price! PHONE FOR A QUOTE INTEREST FREE CREDIT ON SELECTED Zeiss, Leitz, Kowa and Nikon products Phone or write for details. BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES REPAIRED ON THE PREMISES LARGE RANGE OF BARBOUR JACKETS FROM STOCK WE ALSO STOCK PENTAX AND ADLERBLICK BINOCULARS (D786) l MAIL ORDER SPECIALISTS P/P & INS. FREE BINOCULARS BAUSCH & LOMB LEICA ZEISS ADLERBLICK HABICHT OPTICRON CENTON BUSHNELL NIKON SWALLOW MIRADOR BRESSER FOCALPOINT Please note our change of address from Comberbach just 2 miles to Higher Whitley - we are now very easy to find!! Tel. 0925 73399 DIRECTIONS M56 Jet 10takeA559 towards Northwich for 1 mile to the Birch & Bottle. Turn right into Bentleys Farm Lane, we are on the left after 72 mile. KOWA TSN-1 or 2 .£295.00 TSN-3 or 4 .£555.00 20 x WA ...£89.00 30 x WA Now In Stock .£109.00 25x, 40 x ...£59.00 60 x NEW superb! ...£89.00 77 x NEW ...£99.00 20-60 x Zoom .£139.00 PHOTO ADAPTOR ...£99.00 SKUA ‘STAY ON THE SCOPE’ CASES latest Mklll ...£39.00 Leather eyepiece case £9.95 Leather Photo adaptor case . ...£14.95 50p in stamps (NOT cheque) for binocular or telescope information pack (state which) TRY & BUY! DEMONSTRATIONS OF TOP BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES ON NATURE RESERVES Sunday 3rd February 1991 with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at MARTIN MERE, near Southport, Lancashire (M6, Jet 27). Sunday 17th Febmary 1991 with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire (M5 Jet 13) We shall have all the leading instruments in each price bracket for you to field test’. Please phone if you wish us to bring a specific item. NEW NIKON TELESCOPES SPOTTING SCOPE RA+20X £199 or with 15x-45x 300M e/p £265 FOCALPOINI (D781) UNIT 8, MARBURY HOUSE FARM, BENTLEYS FARM LANE, HIGHER WHITLEY, WARRINGTON, CHESHIRE WA4 4QW. Telephone 0925 73399 Fax 0606 892207. 24hr answerphone on old 0606 891098 *MANY OPENING SPECIAL OFFERS* TELESCOPES NIKON KOWA QUESTAR OPTOLYTH BUSHNELL SWIFT OPTICRON CENTURY BAUSCH & LOMB Full range of accessories to suit all models. OPEN MON-FRI 9.30-5.30 SAT 9.30-4.00 CLOSED SUNDAYS & BANK HOLIDAYS T W I C K E R S WORLD The natural world For twenty years we have pioneered wildlife, cultural and wilderness travel to the four corners of the globe. Our experience is unrivalled. Our 1991/2 Natural World brochure with details of over 100 journeys and expeditions is now available. Contact us for your copy now. 22 Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NW Telephone 081-892 8164 24 hour brochure service 081-892 7851 Fax 081-892 8061 ABTA No 60340 a OPTOLYTH As convincing as nature itself Other quality pocket size binoculars available direct from Opticron. Porro prism 7 x 24 MCF £77 8 x 24 MCF £78 10 x 24 MCF £79 Roof prism 8 x 25 DCF.GA £75 10 x 25 DWCF.GA £78 New design, new performance from Optolyth Optik of Nuremberg, Germany. Tough, lightweight and superbly engineered pocket binoculars that incorporate; Full 'B' specification eyepiece system for spectacle wearers. High light transmission and pin sharp definition for accurate observation whatever the conditions. Large depth of field for ease of use, and dose focus down to only 4m/ 1 2ft. Complete with soft leather pouch and 30 year guarantee. Available exclusively through Opticron via mail order and selected dealers throughout the U.K. Access and Visa welcomed. 8 x 22 B only £199 10 x 25 B only £215 For further information on our range of quality binoculars for the birdwatcher and naturelover alike please contact; OPTOLYTH West Germany OPTICRON PO Box 370, Unit 21 Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Beds LU4 8YR Tel: (0582) 26522. Fax: (0582) 23559 D787 A totting ORNITHOLIDAYS 1991 MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS Holidays Organised by Birdwatchers for Birdwatchers Twenty-six years’ service to birdwatchers & naturalists Programme will include: Kenya Botswana Namibia Tanzania Madagascar The Seychelles Venezuela The Galapagos Brazil Chile Costa Rica Arizona & New Mexico Yellowstone Nat Park Canadian Rockies Thailand Israel Cyprus N.E. Greece Turkey Yugoslavia Austria - The High Alps Lake Neusiedl Arctic Norway The Camargue Aiguamolls (Spain) Andorra The Spanish Pyrenees The Canary Islands Majorca Write or ’phone for a brochure to: ORNITHOLIDAYS DEPT. 2, 1-3 VICTORIA DRIVE, BOGNOR REGIS, WEST SUSSEX, P021 2PW Tel: 0243 821230 (D720) ATOL LICENCE No.743 W ABTA PT<® portman travel group and AEROUNEAS ARGEA/r/A/AS 20 DAYS - ARGENTINA - 1 1 th OCT ’91 ca. £2,400 With superb scenery and over 950 species recorded, Argentina offers some of the finest bird- ing in South America, from the majestic Andean Condor to the spectacle of millions of Magellanic Penguins. We are pleased to offer a tour which will visit the Andes, subtropical and temperate forest, high plains and saline lakes of the Altiplano, arid scrub- land of the Chaco, grasslands and marshes of the Pampas, esturial mudflats, Patagonian coast, wilderness of Tierra del Fuego and an optional 7 day extension to Lago Argentino and Iguazo Falls. Limited to 16 participants, it will be led by Diego Gallegos-Luque, one of Argentina’s leading birders, and BBRC member Alan Brown. For full details and bookings write to: W&l Greg Fitchett,Portman Travel Group, IabtaI St. John’s Rd, Edinburgh EH 12 7SJ. ABTA 49661 Phone: 031-334 9181 TRINIDAD and TOBAGO Stay at the famous Asa Wright Nature Centre for 6 nights. Have four tours, to the famous Caroni Swamp, Nariva Swamp and two tours of your choice. Fly to the island of Tobago and stay at the Grafton Beach Resort with 2 tours for another 6 nights. Cost of Holiday per person with flights included £1,300 subject to flight availability. Charlotte Nanton, Suite 53, Terminal House, Station Approach, Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 8AS Telephone: 0932 244140 845580 IV London Camera Exchange SOUTHAMPTON 0703 221597/335363 10 High Street, Southampton SOI ODH ZEISS WEST Dialyt8 x 20B £215.00 Dialyt 10 x 25B £225.00 Dailyt8 X 20BGA £245.00 Dialyt 8 x 30BGAT Phone Dialyt 7 X 42BGAT Phone Dialyt 10 X 40BGAT.... Phone Dialyt 8 X 56BGAT Phone LEICA 8 X 20BC £199.00 8 X 20BCA. £211.00 10 X 25BC £211.00 10 X 25BCA £223.00 New Models 7 x 42BA ] 8 X 42BA j. Phone 10X42BA J OPTOLYTH Alpin8 x 30GA £205.00 Alpin 8 X 40GA £225.00 Aipin 10 X 40GA £230.00 Alpin 10 X 50GA £246.00 Touring 8 X 30BGA.... Phone Touring 10 x 40BGA.. Phone Touring 7 x 42BGA.... Phone TBG 80= £350.00 TBS 80 £350.00 20 x WA £100.00 30 X £64.00 40 X £65.00 22 x -60 X Zoom £150.00 Cases from £29.00 KOWA TS1 601 Body £179.00 TS2 602 Body £179.00 20 X WA £54.00 20 X -60 X Zoom £94.00 TSN1 £295.00 TSN2 £295.00 TSN3 £555.00 TSN4 £555.00 20 X WA £89.00 20 x -60 X Zoom £139.00 25 X £59.00 30 X WA £109.00 40 X £59.00 Photo Kit £99.00 Minerva 10 x 40 £175.00 HR 7 X 42MC £143.00 HR 8 X 42MC £145.00 HR10 X 42MC £150.00 HR10 X 50MC £167.00 HR Body 60mm £148.00 HR Body 60mm 45° ..£168.00 HR Body 60mmGA...£164.00 20X-60X Zoom £76.00 22 X WA £32.00 Classic IF 60mm £99.00 18X £23.00 25 X £23.00 25 X HPX £26.00 18x -40 x Zoom £59.00 Classic IF 75mm £137.00 22 X WA £23.00 30 X £23.00 30 x HP £26.00 22 X -47 X Zoom £59.00 Case for HR £16.00 Photo Kit £32.00 Opticron Tripod £59.95 CARL ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 8 X 30 £49.95 Jenoptem 10 x 50 £69.95 Deltrintem 8 X 30 £64.95 Dekarem 10 X 50 £99.95 Notarem8 X 32B £129.00 Notarem 10 x 40B....£169.00 Notarem 10 X 40 BGA £189.00 BAUSCH AND LOMB Elite 8 X 42BGA £599.00 Elite 10 X 42BGA £599.00 Custom 8 X 36B £189.00 Custom 10 X 40B £199.00 SWIFT Audubon 8.5 X 44. ...£199. 95 Audubon 7 X 35 £329.95 MIRADOR Merlin 25 X 60 £97.00 Merlin 18 X 40 X 60. £129.00 OPTICRON Minerva 9 X 35 £169.00 Minerva 8 X 40 £170.00 SWAROVSKI 8 X 20B £215.00 8 X 30SLC £325.00 8 X 30ZCF £330.00 10 X 40B Phone 10 X 40BGA Phone BRESSER Action 8 x 40 £69.00 Action 10 X 50 £79.00 Diorit 7 X 42 £186.00 Diorit 10 X 42 £199.00 SIGMA 400mm f5.6 MF (most fittings) £199.95 400mm f5.6 APO MF (most fittings) £289.95 400mm f5.6AF (Min, Nik, Pen) £229.95 400mm f5.6 APO AF (Min, Nik, Pen) £349.95 400mm f5.6 APO AF (CAN) £399.95 500mm f7.2 MF APO £389.95 500mm f7.2 MF APO (Min, Nik) £399.95 500mm f7.2AF APO (CAN) £449.95 TOKINA 400mm f5.6 MF £209.95 TAMRON 500mm f8 Mirror (all fittings) £220.00 90mm £2.5 Macro (all fittings) £199.00 NIKON 8 X 30 £199.00 9 X 30 £239.00 Fieldscope II £269.00 Fieldscope ED2 £489.00 ED2 20 x 45 X 60 £569.00 A full range of tripods and photographic equipment also stocked Why not give us the opportunity to impress you with our PRICES & SERVICE They are the BEST - that’s GUARANTEED We will attempt to encourage you with our low prices, high trade-ins and friendly, knowledgeable service. We are a major photo- graphic retailer and carry in stock a large range of cameras, lenses and accessories (new and second hand), including long telephoto lenses ideal for wildlife photography. We can advise you on all your photographic and optical needs. Phone now and ask for Richard or Trevor. MAIL ORDER WELCOMED PART EXCHANGE AVATTJIRT.r (P749) American Express/ Access/Visa/Credit Charge. Post & Packing please add £2.50 Prices correct 1.1.91 — Subject to availability — Open 6 days 9am-5.30pm ZEISS WEST BINOCULARS ADLERBLICK — Multi-coated 8 x 20 B and Pouch £205 8 x 42 £169 10 x 25 B and Pouch £219 10 x 42 £179 8 x 30 B and BGA £400 10 x 50 £189 8 x 56 BG AT & Case £575 8 x 42 Armour £184 7 x 42 BG AT & Case £489 10 X 42 Armour £194 10 x 40 BGA CF & Pouch £499 10 x 50 Armour £209 15 x 60 BGA £839 RUSSIAN BINOCULARS ZEISS EAST BINOCULARS 7 x 35 £26 8 x 30 Deltrintem £59 7 x 50 £29 10 x 50 Jenoptem £75 8 x 30 £25 10 x 50 Dekarem £90 8 x 40 £29 8 x 32 Notarem £119 10 x 50 £29 10 x 40 Notarem £169 12 x 40 £32 8 x 32 Notarem Armour £139 20 x 60 £69 10 x 40 Notarem Armour £179 Trinovid 8 X 20 £199 7 x 50 Binoctem £81 Trinovid 10 X 25 RC £211 8 x 50 Octarem B, or BGA £180 Trinovid 7 x 42 BA £559 12 x 50 Dodecarem B, or BGA £220 7 x 40 BGA £170 SWIFT Supplied with case & straps Grand Prix 8 x 40 £89 County 10 x 40 £94 Triton 10 x 50 £99 Red Spot 8 x 40 £114 Red Spot 10 x 50 £124 Saratoga 8 x 42 £149 Newport 10 x 42 £159 Trilyte 8 x 40 £99 Trilyte 10 x 40 Armour £129 Osprey 7.4 x 42 £149 Audubon 8.5 x 44 Please Phone Trilyte 7x42 1 £129 Trilyte 8 x 42 J- NEW £134 Trilyte 10 x 42 J £139 Viewmaster Body 45% £149 20x Eyepiece £29 Zoom £49 ROSS -LONDON Cavendish 8 x 42 £139 Hanover 10 x 42 £149 Regent 8 x 42 £169 Kensington 10 x 42 £179 BUSHNELL Spacemaster body £140 Spacemaster II Body £160 Spacemaster Armoured £160 Spacemaster Waterproof & 15x-45x £299 15x-45x Zoom £70 22x Wide Angle £44 25x, 40x, 60x Lenses £38 Trinovid 8 x 42 BA £559 Trinovid 10 x 42 BA £559 Armoured £12 extra PENTAX Highly recommended Ultra Compact 8 x 24 £69 Ultra Compact 10 x 24 £79 Compact DCF II 7 x 20 £84 Compact DCF II 9 x 20 1 A C7 £89 Roof Prism DCF 8 x 42 £169 Roof Prism DCF 10 x 42 DISCOUNT £189 Armoured DCF 7 x 50 _ £99 Armoured DCF 8 x 40 "ENTAX £99 Armoured DCF 10 x 50 £104 Armoured DCF 12 x 50 £109 KOWA TELESCOPES TSN1 & TSN2 Body £295 TSN3 & TSN4 Body £555 20x Wide £89 30x Wide £109 25 x and 40x £59 60x £89 Photo Adapter £94 TS601 &TS602 £179 25 x and40x £47 601 Zoom £94 TSN Zoom £139 77 x £99 20x Wide £54 Cases from £21 SPECIAL OFFERS Kowa Roof Prism 8 x 42 & 10 x 42 SRP £250 £175 Habicht 7 x 50 SLM SRP £445 £300 Zeiss 8 x 32 Notarem Armour £115 Swift Trilyte 8X4 £75 Habicht 10 x 50 SLM SRP £475 £375 Zeiss 10 x 40 Notarem Armour £165 Professional Retail Photographers or 68-70 St. Thomas Street • SCARBOROUGH • von idu • Tel. 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ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION (12 ISSUES): £21 (£26 overseas/£45 airmail) SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER (4 month trial subscription): £7 (£9 overseas) To: BIS, Stonerunner, Coast Road, Cley next the Sea, Holt, Norfolk, England NR25 7RZ I enclose | [ £21 [ [ £26 | | £45 [ j £7 [ | £9 (cheques to Birding World) Name Address Postcode . Telephone (D789) Cygnus wildlife cMoliAcujA' jjM QvubAM 1991 Destinations include: KENYA, CYPRUS, SRI LANKA, TANZANIA, NORTHERN INDIA, ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA, TIGER SPECIAL, SWITZERLAND, VENEZUELA, SOUTHERN ARGENTINA, TEXAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAJORCA, GAMBIA, SIKKIM, DARJEELING AND ASSAM, ETHIOPIA, AUSTRIA, COSTA RICA, HUNGARY, SOUTHERN INDIA, CAMARGUE, POLAND, ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS INTERESTED IN AN ESCORTED BIRDWATCHING AND WILDLIFE HOLIDAY TO ONE OF THE EXCITING DESTINATIONS LISTED ABOVE? THEN PLEASE READ ON: We have over 10 years experience in operating birdwatching tours and cater for all levels of exper- tise. 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I need to purchase from a reputable dealer. I need friendly expert advice from specialists, I need lots of time to choose. I need a free safe car park -at the door. I need a centrally located showroom. I need a wide range of accessories and tripods. I need to buy a bird book, video, and audio- cassette I need a first class after sales service. I need FOCUS OPTICS! Friendly advisory service always available with no obligation! Leading §) specialists in quality BINOCULARSand TELESCOPES OPTOLYTH .. 225.00 Alpm 10x40 BGA . 230.00 Alpin 10x50 BGA .. 243.00 .. 398.00 .. 440.00 Scop* 30x75 . 340.00 TBS 80 body ... 350.00 TBG80 body 20xWA 350.00 ... 100.00 ZEISS WEST WE STOCK ALL ZEISS MODELS. Wide range of accessories. Phone for prices. LEICA Trinovid 8x20 BCA Trinovld 10x25 BCA 7x42 BA 8x42 BA.. 21 1 .00 223.00 559.00 559.00 20x30x40x... $5.00 22x 60x zoom 150 00 10x42 BA 559.00 KOWA HABICHT Comport 8x20 B Com for Comport Traditional 8x30 WM.... 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Telescopes include Free Case) 15x20x22x WA 25x40x 30.00 20x-60xzoom 76.00 Soft padded case 11.00 Universal Mount 24.50 Car Window Mount 25.50 Hide Clamp Mk II 40.00 Tripod Strap 6.75 BUSHNELL Spacamaster 60mm body 140.00 Spacemaster 60mm body RA 159.00 Spacamaster with zoom WP 332.00 15x-45xzoom 79.00 SWIFT Osprey 7.5x42 149.00 Audubon R.P. 7x35 BGA 329.00 Audubon 8.5x44 199.00 BRESSER Action 8x40 GA 69.00 Action 10x50 G A 79.00 Roof Prism Linear 8x42 RA 119.00 P:of Prism Linaar 10x42 RA 124.00 Luchs 10x42 189.00 Add £8 for rubber armoured MIRADOR Merlin 60mm body 79.00 Merlin 75mm body 107.00 1 2 / 1 5x 18/22x 25/30x 25.00 18x-40x/22x-47x zoom 59.00 ZEISS JENA Binoctem 7x50 93.00 Oeltrintem 8x30 65.00 Oekiram 10x50 102.50 Roof Priim Notoram 10x40 RA.. 207 00 MANFROTTO 144 Buie 144 Basic Black 190 Mini pro 190 Mini pro Black. 055 Black 128 Mini vidao haad 200 Compact vidao haad.. Tripod Strap Tripod Can Quick ralaan platform . 50.00 55 00 40.00 4500 75 00 45 00 50 00 11.00 14 00 5.50 27.95 6995 72.95 7 50 14.95 6 50 39.95 14.95 25.95 34.95 9.95 5.75 OPTIMA Super 60mm RA body 160.00 15x20x30x40x 25.00 20x-45x zoom 65.00 QUESTAR Field model 3% inch with Broad Band Coating and choice of 32mm or 24mm eyepiece, plus Photo Adaptor and case. QUOTATION ON REQUEST SLIK Tripod 1000 G Tripod 88 Tripod 02 Tripod Strap Casa 02 ate Quick ralaasa post ON/88 ate.. CULLMAN Clamp magic 2 Way Video Head Shoulder Pod Chast Pod magic Quick Camara Ralaasa Q.R. Platform LENS CARE CALOTHERM PRODUCTS Claaning Kit 2.75 Da-luxa Kit 4.75 BOOKS 8i VIDEOS OUR RANGE IS ALWAYS INCREASING-sendNOW for our latest Price List, or better still, why not visit our showroom and browse! COUNTRYSIDE VIEWING Our showroom is set in seven acres of private grounds in the very heart of our beautiful Warwickshire countryside. Testing facilities are probably the best in the country. Viewing from the showroom is across a large pool with its various bird visitors and to more distant views of the countryside. Why not try the unhurried experience of testing the latest optical equipment in a relaxed atmosphere with experts who care! Ample free and safe parking. FOCUS OPTICS Church Lane. Corley. Coventry CV7 8BA S'JKI, Telephone:0676-40501&42476 Fax:0676-40930 ACCESSORIES: Wide range of eyecups, rainguards, lens caps, lanyards, cases etc. USEO BARGAINS: Guaranteed secondhand equipment at bargain prices. EXPORT FACILITIES: Personal and postal export orders welcomed. PACKAGE DEALS: Attractive discounts. Phone for quotations. MAIL ORDERS: Insured postage and packing FREE OF CHARGE (U.K.only). Goods are despatched promptly upon receipt of full remittance. Use your ACCESS or VISA card to order by telephone. E&0E (D785) IX “First, and most important, this telescope is optically magnificent, with phenomenal clarity and a superbly large field of view. If you are a birder who is seeking the best possible telescope . . . the optical gain is significant, especially in the worst viewing conditions. It is an elite instrument, to be treasured by those fortunate enough to own one.” Dr J T R Sharrock, testing the Kowa TSN-3 with x20W eyepiece, Officially appointed distributor for Kowa Telescopes PyserLtd., FircroftWay, Edenbridge, KentTN8 6HA. British Birds VOLUME 84 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 1991 ;ri h\ (NATURAL HISTORY 18 FEB 1991 PRESENTED TR5NG LIBRARY Identification of Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni Peter Lansdown, Nick Riddiford and Alan Knox There are two races of Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni : C. h. hornemanni from northern Greenland and Ellesmere Island to Baffin Island, and C. h. exilipes from the northern extremes of Fenno-Scandia, the USSR, Alaska and mainland Canada. The former is the larger and whiter race and, in the hand, its longer wings (80-91 mm compared with 71-79 mm for the latter) are diagnostic (Knox 1988). There are four races of Redpoll Carduelis Jlammea : C. f. flammea (colloquially known as ‘Mealy Redpoll’) from Fenno-Scandia, northern USSR, Alaska, north mainland Canada and Newfoundland; C. f. rostrata from eastern Baffin Island and southern Greenland; C. f islandica from Iceland; and C. f. cabaret (colloquially known as ‘Fesser Redpoll’) from central and western Europe including Britain and Ireland (Knox 1988). C.f ‘ holboellii ’, a synonym of C. f jlammea , was previously thought to have been another race, but has been shown to comprise long-billed individuals of C. f jlammea (Troy 1985; 41 [Brit. Birds 84: 41-56, February 1991] 42 Identification of Arctic Redpoll Herremans 1987; Knox 1988). C. f rostrata is the largest race, and is generally dark brown, with heavy and extensive streaking. C. f cabaret is the smallest race, and is also dark and heavily streaked. C. f flammea is intermediate in size, though nearer the latter. Compared with C.fi rostrata and C. f. cabaret , it is generally paler and greyer brown, and is less well marked. C. f islandica is between C. fi rostrata and C. f flammea in size, although closer to the former. It has a wide range of plumage variability, from dark individuals with streaked rumps through to pale ones with rumps which are pure white. In Iceland, most individuals can be assigned to either the dark or the pale form (Knox 1988). Away from the breeding grounds, most of the dark individuals are almost indistinguishable from C. fi rostrata , and many of the pale ones are not separable from exilipes or pale C. f flammea. We wish to stress that identification of most exilipes to the positive exclusion of C. f. islandica is not recommended. The detailed characters of and variation within C.fi. islandica are beyond the scope of this paper, but the existence and potential pitfalls of this race should not be ignored. Excluding C. f islandica , confusion between Arctic Redpoll and Redpoll is likely to occur only between exilipes and C. f. flammea. Both these races occur in Britain: C. f. flammea each year in reasonable, but varying numbers, and exilipes almost annually, but rarely exceeding ten in any one year. In late summer, the adults of both species of redpoll undergo a complete moult, and the juveniles a partial one. This is the only moult each year, and the appearance of all redpolls alters subsequently, as paler feather edges wear and the dark feather centres become more prominent. Selective feather loss also occurs in spring. Progressive darkening, which is often considerable, is particularly obvious on the upperparts, tail, wings and flanks. With some individuals, clear white rumps can become noticeably streaked by the following summer. Pale exilipes are at their most visually striking in autumn. The difference in appearance between exilipes and C. f. flammea decreases as feather wear progresses. It is crucial, therefore, that time of year is taken into consideration in the identification process. It is important to note that most of the discussion which follows relates to individuals in fresh plumage in autumn and early winter. Only typical examples of exilipes and C.fi. flammea can be separated in the field, and this is particularly so with lone migrants. Both species are variable in their degree of paleness or darkness, and there is an overlap of most characters on darker exilipes and paler C. f. flammea. Even some C. f. cabaret can be paler than usual and have light rumps. A dark exilipes would probably escape detection in a party of C. f. flammea\ similarly, a pale C. f. flammea amongst darker members of the same race and/or C. f. cabaret could well be mistaken for exilipes. Caution is the watchword, and it has to be accepted that many birds will be unidentifiable. Nevertheless, ‘classic’ exilipes and C.fi. flammea present few identification problems, providing that they are studied closely and carefully, and it is such individuals upon which this paper concentrates. We present here a summary of the identification and separation 43 Identification of Arctic Redpoll features of exilipes and C. f flammea, both in the hand and in the field. The paper would not have been written but for the stimulus engendered by an influx of the two forms into Britain in 1984. Fair Isle, Shetland, particularly produced sufficient records of both species to permit detailed study by NJR. Other sources are the publications of Svensson (1984), Troy (1985), Molau (1985), Knox (1988) and Herremans (1989). AGK has also studied exilipes and C. f flammea on the breeding grounds in northern Finland and C. f islandica in Iceland during fieldwork studies of redpoll taxonomy. A later section of this paper summarises current views on this subject in more detail. Distinguishing characteristics Size and shape Arctic Redpoll of the race exilipes possesses a noticeably larger bulk than C.f cabaret , and is very slightly larger than C.f flammea. It shows a greater tendency to puff out its feathers than C. f flammea , thus exaggerating the rather subtle size difference. At such times, the head looks disproportion- ately large and broad. As with other redpolls, the feathers of the underparts may cover both the legs and the leading edge of the wing. On exilipes especially, this emphasises the birds’ roundness and paleness, and gives exilipes a bull-necked appearance. On trapped birds, external measurements can separate exilipes and C. f flammea with a high degree of accuracy (see Appendix and Herremans in press). Bill The recommended bill-length measurement is from the feathering to the tip (Svensson 1984). Bill length of exilipes is, on average, shorter than that of C. fl flammea , though a considerable overlap occurs. Bill length varies not only between males and females, but also between adults and the shorter-billed first-years. Additionally, adults are marginally longer-billed in summer than in winter. Molau (1985), measuring in summer, gave exilipes bill length as 7. 8-9. 5 mm for males and 7. 2-9. 3 mm for females; for C. fl flammea he gave bill lengths as 8.4-12.4 mm and 8.7-11.9 mm respectively. Molau (1985) reported bill depths (measured at the base) as 6. 3-7. 5 mm for exilipes and 5. 8-7. 3 mm for C.f flammea , so exilipes has, on average, a marginally deeper bill. The ratio of bill depth to bill length may be useful: Molau’s sample had a ratio of 1:1.25-1.41 for exilipes and 1:1.44- 1.74 for C.f. flammea (see Molau 1985 for further details). Some exilipes trapped by NJR on Fair Isle in 1984 had a ratio of less than 1:1.25. Knox (1988), however, gave independent measurements for bill length and bill depth, and the ratios from the original data give no clear-cut distinction between exilipes and C.f. flammea (Knox unpubl.). In the field, many exilipes appear to have a tiny bill, which is shorter and more conical than that of C.f. flammea. C. f. flammea often has an upper mandible which is slightly arched near the tip, but some short-billed individuals show only a barely perceptible curve. While there is much variation, exilipes normally has a straight culmen, though longer-billed individuals show a slight curve near the tip. 44 Identification of Arctic Redpoll 16. Male, probably adult, Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 17. Adult male Redpoll C.f flammea 18. Male, probably first-summer, Arctic Redpoll 19. Male, probably first-summer, Redpoll C. f C. h. exilipes flammea All Finland, May-June 1984 (Alan G. Knox ) Furthermore, some exilipes display the slight overlap of the upper mandible beyond the lower, which has been claimed to be typical of C.f. flammea. We consider that both culmen shape and tip profile are of little use in the identification process. Any dark on the bill of exilipes is normally restricted to a small area on the culmen near the tip and a thin line along the gonys. C.f. flammea shares the lower-mandible markings, but the entire culmen often shows a thick, dark line. Bill colour is variable, however, and is unreliable for separation. Head It has been suggested that forehead colour differs between the species: whitish or buff-white on exilipes (though sometimes buff-brown), and brownish-buff on C.f. flammea. Some exilipes do show a continuous whitish band from rear supercilium across the forehead to rear supercilium. Most first-years, however, and at least some adults, possess dark grey centres to the forehead feathers, which become quite marked by late spring. Conversely, some C. f. flammea possess a white forehead (Enemar & Nystrom 1981). So, whilst this feature can be an identification pointer, it should not carry much weight. The red crown patch is, on average, slightly longer on males than on females, and generally a little longer on C.f. flammea than on exilipes. The difference is not great, and crown-patch length is of little identification 45 Identification of Arctic Redpoll value. The only exception is the uniquely short crown patch of a few exilipes. Neither the intensity of the red in the crown nor the incidence of orange or yellow are of any use in identification. Similarly, the black eye- stripes, lores and chin hold no useful separation characters for the two species, both of which also possess white or whitish supercilia. Many adult and some first-year exilipes look white-headed, being whitish on the sides of the ‘face’ and neck, usually with no more than a few, isolated pale grey flecks. There is a thin, ghostly pale grey or grey-brown surround to the ear-coverts. The pale grey or grey-brown hindcrown feathers are edged with white, and there is an obvious broad, whitish shawl across the nape, contiguous with the sides of the neck. In fresh plumage, the feathers vary from white with a few grey flecks to grey or grey-brown conspicuously edged with white. It is this shawl that gives many exilipes a frosty-headed appearance. On some adult and most first- year exilipes , however, the whole head can be buff-white or even quite rich buff. The head pattern rarely approaches that of C. f flammea , which is normally much more contrasting. C. f flammea has a whitish fore-face, gradually darkening to coarse streaking or a grey-brown or brown smudge on the rear ear-coverts and a grey-brown or brown hindcrown and nape. The feathers on the hindcrown are edged with buff or pale brown. The nape is paler and contrasts against the comparatively dark mantle. Although a lighter shawl is noticeable, it is not so conspicuous as on exilipes. Upper body There is a gradation in the mantle and scapular pattern of exilipes. Some are entirely greyish-white with isolated, dark feather centres. Others have the scapulars and sides to the mantle tawny-brown streaked with black which contrasts with a central white panel with two rows of dark streaks. Whilst some C. f. flammea can resemble exilipes on the mantle and scapulars, and display two broad, occasionally white or whitish braces, the majority are tawny-brown, heavily streaked with black. The back of exilipes is white, buff-white or even buff, with disjointed, greyish-brown streaks, in which the pale is broader than the dark. On C.f. flammea , the back is pale buff with heavier marking, in which the streaks predominate because of the broader, dark brown feather centres and narrower pale edgings. The upper body is one of the areas most affected by wear, and the pale edges of the feathers rapidly abrade, often to leave only dark centres by early summer. Rump and tail The most widely quoted character of exilipes is its unstreaked, white or whitish rump. Most adult males, a few adult females and some first-year and second-year males have the rump flushed with rosy-pink. The colour is always most intense in summer. Some first-years have a pale grey wash on the lower rump. Many, but not all, adult female and immature exilipes have lightly streaked rumps. Out of 147 females and immatures trapped in north Sweden in summer, 59 were marked in this way (Molau 1985). This streaking is most obvious in summer, when abrasion has worn pale 46 Identification of Arctic Redpoll feather edges to expose and emphasise any dark feather centres. These darker feathers tend to be distributed mostly on the upper rump, and are often visible only in the hand. Svensson (1984) recommended at least 10 mm of unmarked rump for an individual to be identified as exilipes, but many are in the region of 16-22 mm. C. f flammea has a greyish-white or buffish-white to pale buff rump, usually entirely streaked with grey-brown. In the field, the rump of C. f flammea looks paler than the rest of the upperparts, and can appear white in flight. Rump pattern is variable, however, and some adult male C.fi flammea have a completely unstreaked white lower rump, sometimes as deep as 10 mm, with the remainder only sparsely streaked. Certain characters of exilipes , such as its greater breadth across the lower back and its habit of drooping its wings and puffing out its feathers, often make the white rump surprisingly conspicuous at rest. Conversely, the rump is sometimes difficult to see on C.fi flammea. The shortest uppertail-coverts of exilipes are pale grey, broadly edged with white. The longest are medium to dark grey with greyish-white edgings, which are sometimes tinged buff. All the uppertail-coverts of C.fi. flammea are dark grey-brown with buff-brown edgings, or buff-brown inner edges and greyish-white outer edges, looking generally brownish. Both species have very dark, grey-brown uppertails. Fresh tail feathers of many exilipes have broad, off-white to greyish-white edges (giving a striped look to the tails of better-marked individuals), whereas those of C. f. flammea have narrower, off-white to buffy -white edges. Adult males of both species have paler edgings than those of the respective females and first-years. Tail length is sometimes of value in the separation of the two species, owing to the longer tail (on average) of exilipes. Upperwings Both species possess very dark, grey-brown to blackish wings, with wing- bars formed by pale tips to the greater and median coverts. They also have pale edgings and tips to the tertials. When fresh, the greater-coverts bar of exilipes is broad, widening inwardly from about 3-5 mm, and is white, sometimes with a buff or buffy-white tinge. That of C. f. flammea is generally narrower, and widens more perceptibly inwards to its greatest width on the innermost coverts. It is occasionally white, as on exilipes , but is normally off-white or pale buff. The shorter median-coverts bar of exilipes is about 2 mm wide when fresh, and white with a slight buff tone. That of C. f. flammea is very narrow and buffy-white. Occasionally, the median-coverts bar of exilipes can be equally inconspicuous. The tertials of exilipes are broadly edged and tipped white. Any buff tinge, if present, is confined to the shortest tertial. The tertials of C. f. flammea are more narrowly edged and tipped buffy-white. The wing-bars and tertial edgings suffer considerable wear, and may disappear completely by late spring. Many exilipes have conspicuous white outer webs to the primaries and secondaries, and these form a large, white panel on the closed wing. A few C. f. flammea possess white or whitish edges to the primaries (and sometimes the secondaries), but these are normally fine and relatively inconspicuous. On neither species do the pale edges of the secondaries 22. Adult female (left) and male, probably first- 23. Male, probably adult, Arctic Redpoll C. h. summer (right), Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes exilipes (left) and female, probably first-summer, Redpoll C.f. jlammea (right) 20. Adult female (left) and male, probably first- 21. Male probably adult, Arctic Redpoll C. h. summer (right), Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes exilipes (left) and female, probably first-summer, Redpoll C. f. Jlammea (right) 24. Long-billed (‘ holboellii") adult female (left) 25. Male, probably adult, Arctic Redpoll C. h. and more typical adult male (right) Redpoll C.f exilipes (left) and female, probably first-summer, Jlammea Redpoll C.f. Jlammea (right) All Finland, May-June 1984 (Alan G. Knox) extend to the greater-coverts bar. This results in the better-marked exilipes showing a distinct blackish oblong across the base of the secondaries on the closed wing. 1 he pale fringes to the wing feathers are lighter on males ol both species than on the females and first-winters. 1 he wing lengths ol exilipes and C. f jlammea are much the same, but for both sexes of both species are greater on adults than on first-winters. The bill/wing-length ratio may, however, be a useful feature in the hand, exceeding 8.0 on all but six of 219 exilipes in north Sweden, but being less than 8.0 on all but 48 of 733 C. f Jlammea (Molau 1985). Outside the | l lie inclusion ol plates 20- 1 1 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from ZEISS Germain] 26. Male, probably adult, Arctic Redpoll C. h. 27. Adult female Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes exilipes Both Finland, May-June 1984 {Alan G. Knox ) 28. First-winter male Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 29. First-winter female Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes Both Fair Isle, Shetland, October-November 1984 (K. Osborn) breeding season, when the bills of redpolls are a little shorter, this ratio should be applied with caution; the point of distinction will clearly be higher than 8.0. Underparts On exilipes , the throat is usually white or, occasionally, pale buff. The centre of the breast is whitish, sometimes with a buffish wash or flecked with grey. The sides of the breast are off-white to pale buff, sparsely and thinly streaked with grey. C. f flammea has a buff-white or greyish-white 30. First-winter male Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 31. First-winter male Redpoll C. f Jlammea 32. First-winter male Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 33. First-winter male Redpoll C. f flammea All Fair Isle, Shetland, October-November 1984 (K. Osborn) 38. Adult female Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 39. Long-billed (‘ holboellii) adult female Redpoll C. f. jlammea 40. Male, probably first-summer, Arctic Red- 41. First-summer male Redpoll C. f. jlammea poll C. h. exilipes All Finland, May-June 1984 {Alan G. Knox) Identification of Arctic Redpoll 5 1 throat and breast, the latter finely streaked with grey in the middle and heavily marked with broad, dark grey streaks at the sides. The pink on the underparts of exilipes is often confined to the centre of the breast, whereas the reddish colour of C. f. flammea is usually more extensive and may cover the entire breast, flanks and cheeks. On all redpolls, the colour becomes stronger in late winter and early spring, as abrasion removes the light feather edges. Any reddish colour on the underparts of exilipes is normally a softer, pinker shade than on C. f. flammea. All these features show much individual variation. The sides of exilipes are white, with a slight buffy tone on the upper flanks. The central flanks are usually marked with two broken lines of thin, greyish streaks, with isolated flecks on the upper flanks. The streaks do not always lie in neat rows. Some of the most striking exilipes are completely unmarked on the upper and central flanks. The lower flanks are normally unmarked and thus join up with the white rump and combine with it to give a ‘wrap-around’ appearance. The flanks of C. f. flammea are buffy-white, sometimes dirty-white. There are usually quite heavy streaks from the sides of the breast to the dark outermost uppertail- coverts. Some individuals, particularly in autumn and early winter, are less well marked and resemble exilipes. Both species possess a white belly. This is unremarkable on most exilipes , especially the adults, on which it simply completes the white underparts. On C.f. flammea , it contrasts against the buffy or dirty tones of both the breast and the flanks. Individuals of the race exilipes often appear to have longer, thicker, shaggier white tarsal feathering than that of C. f. flammea. Both species have white undertail-coverts. On some exilipes , they are entirely unmarked, but most show long, narrow, dark grey streaks on the longest feathers. The longest undertail-coverts of C.f. flammea have broad, dark, lanceolate central streaks, giving them the appearance of being bordered with white, rather than white with a thin, dark central line. Though an overlap in streak-width occurs, the extremes are diagnostic. In Swedish Lapland, the streaks on the longest undertail-covert averaged a maximum of 1.3 mm wide for 211 exilipes and 3.8 mm wide for 636 C.f flammea. Only five flammea possessed a streak less than 2 mm wide (Molau 1985). Though this is normally of use only in the hand, careful field observation of an obliging individual can sometimes enable the undertail- covert pattern to be seen. There must, however, be no doubt that it is the longest undertail-covert that is being studied. General appearance Some adult exilipes , particularly males, and a few first-years and second- years, are indeed the ‘frosty snowballs’ of the field guides, but only a few exilipes can be identified on this alone. The paleness of exilipes is heightened in flight, when the back and rump look particularly white. The habit of exilipes of puffing out its feathers contributes to the frosty look. C.f. flammea is usually darker and more heavily streaked, and is more contrasting. It rarely looks especially pale, except perhaps in flight, when the rump can 42. Adult male Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 43. Adult male Redpoll C. f. flammea 44. Adult male Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 45. Adult male Redpoll C.f flammea 46. Adult female Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 47. Long-billed (‘ holboellii) adult female Redpoll C.f flammea All Finland, May-June 1984 {Alan G. Knox) also7X 42B/GAT* . .particularly useful in confined habitats, such as woodland or forest; for seawatching or raptor-watching. . . ” (British Birds Vol 79 No. 6 June 1986) Zeiss - a tradition of excellence. The preferred binocular of experienced birdwatchers worldwide. Unsurpassed in quality and performance. Excellent image contrast; superior light transmission at dawn and dusk; genuine “B” special eyepieces with unrestricted viewing for spectacle- and non-spectacle Wearers alike, true For brochure and nearest stockist please contact: close focusing (5m). Sturdy and dependable. Available with or without rubber armour. Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd ZEISS PO Box 78 Woodfield Road Welwyn Garden City Herts. AL7 1LU Telephone (0707)331144 Germany XI (D607) People who know the country, know why they need Barbour* COUNTRY CLOTHING Our new Country Clothing brochure is available now. For your free copy please write to - Dept.D33, J. Barbour & Sons Ltd., Simonside, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE34 9PD. (D784) Xll 53 Identification of Arctic Redpoll appear quite white. Both sexes of both species become paler with age. Some first-year exilipes are as dark as many C.f. flammea. It is worth noting that extralimital occurrences are thought to involve predominantly first- years. Voice Arctic Redpolls of the race exilipes are less vocal than C. fi flammea. Compared with the call of C.f. flammea , that of exilipes in north Sweden has been described as a coarser ‘cherp-cherp’ more resembling the call of a House Sparrow Passer domesticus (Molau 1985). One individual on Fair Isle had a distinctly higher-pitched call than that of C. f. flammea. Other calls appeared variable, and some could not be differentiated from those of C.f. flammea. The calls of some exilipes in Britain have been noted as stronger, louder, slower and lacking the tinny quality of C. f. flammea. Herremans (1989) found that the flight call of exilipes comprised notes which were disyllabic, or nearly so. The call was described as higher-pitched than that of C.f. flammea with a less rapid delivery and a narrower frequency range. The flight call of C. f. cabaret is higher-pitched than that of exilipes. The perching call of exilipes was described as ‘pwljeeu’: hesitating, hoarse and with a descending final syllable. That of C.f. flammea (and the similar C.f. cabaret) was described as ‘pweet’: a pure whistle rapidly increasing in pitch (Herremans 1989). This proposed difference requires confirmation. No difference was noted between the alarm calls of the two species. Behaviour On Fair Isle, it was noted that exilipes moved more actively when feeding than C. f. flammea , but more information is needed to establish whether this is a consistent and reliable difference. Redpoll taxonomy Over the years, there have been widely differing interpretations of redpoll taxonomy, varying between Coues’s (1862) recognition of seven species and Salomonsen’s (1951) acceptance of just one. Both the British Ornithologists’ Union and the American Ornithologists’ Union currently recognise two species: C. flammea and C. homemanni. Four recent papers are at variance on taxonomy. Molau (1985) suggested that C. h. homemanni and exilipes evolved independently from C.f. rostrata and C.f. flammea respectively. He proposed that the first two should be recognised as separate species, C. homemanni and C. exilipes , in addition to C. flammea and C. islandica. Troy (1985) considered that C.f flammea and exilipes represented the extremes of a single, highly variable species, C. flammea. While agreeing in general with Molau (1985) and Knox (1988), Herremans (in press) has suggested that the redpolls should be split into four species: C. homemanni, C. exilipes, C. flammea and C. rostrata. Knox (1988) recommended that two species should be recognised: C. flammea and C. homemanni, in accord with widespread current practice. We follow the latter view here. There have been many reports in the literature of individuals with 50. Adult male Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 51. Adult male Redpoll C. f flammea 52. Adult female Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 53. Female, probably first-summer, Redpoll C.f. flammea All above, Finland, May -June 1984 ( Alan G. Knox ) 54. Arctic Redpoll C. h. exilipes 55. First-winter male Redpoll C. f. flammea Both Fair Isle, Shetland, October-November 1984 (K. Osborn) plumage apparently intermediate between that of C. f flammea and exilipes (e.g. Payn 1947; Salomonsen 1951; Harris et al. 1965). These birds have usually been assumed to be hybrids, and the supposed interbreeding of the two forms constitutes the main argument in favour of the single- species theory. Despite the large areas of sympatry, there are, however, as yet, no reported instances of mixed breeding. The supposed ‘intermedi- ates’ are now believed to be part of the normal (but overlapping) range of variation in the two species (Molau 1985; Knox 1988). It is for this reason that the darker examples of exilipes and the paler examples of C.f. flammea present special problems in identification, and it is often only the well- marked individuals of either that may confidently be assigned to species. 55 Identification of Arctic Redpoll Identification summary All of the characters listed above for the separation of exilipes and C. f. flammea are variable, but we consider that the following bear closest examination. In the field, the paler examples of exilipes will show a generally light appearance; a white-headed look with a pale nape; a white (sometimes buff) background colour to at least the centre of the mantle and to the full width of the back; an extensive, generally unmarked, white rump; a short conical bill; sparsely marked underparts, with only thin streaking on the flanks, rarely extending onto the lower flanks; a lack of strong buff tones to the lower breast and flanks; and a thinly-streaked or unmarked longest undertail-covert. In the hand, exilipes can often be identified by a bill depth/length ratio of 1.4 or less; a bill/wing-length ratio of more than 8.0; a white rump, unmarked, or only lightly flecked, for at least 10 mm; and the longest undertail-covert being either unmarked or with a central streak less than 2 mm wide. Some exilipes resemble C. f. flammea in the field and many will fail on at least one of these features. Any individuals with only relatively pale rumps are best left unidentified unless other characters are critically examined. Acknowledgments We wish to thank P. Bristow for his heading line-drawing and for reading and commenting on an early draft of the text; D. A. Christie and Per Alstrom for translations of Molau’s paper; D. J. Britton and P. V. Harvey for reading and commenting on an early draft; and K. Osborn for the series of photographs which he made available. The last two also provided most helpful and active assistance during the 1984 influx on Fair Isle. The study on Fair Isle was part of the work of Fair Isle Bird Observatory. Marc Herremans kindly provided the summary of part of his work which appears as the Appendix to this paper. References American Ornithologists’ Union. 1983. Check-list of North American Birds. 6th edn. Baltimore. British Ornithologists’ Union. 1971. The Status of Birds in Britain and Ireland. Oxford. Coles, E. 1862. A monograph of the genus Aegiothus with descriptions of new species. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 13: 373-390. Enemar, A., & Nystrom, B. 1981. Om grasiskans Carduelis flammea bestandsvaxlingar, fbda och hackning i fjallbjorkskog, sodra Lappland. Var Fagelv. 41: 315-322. Harris, M. P., Norman, F. I., & McCoee, R. H. S. 1965. A mixed population of redpolls in northern Norway. Brit. Birds 58: 288-294. Herremans, M. 1987. Het voorkomen van ‘landsnaveltypes’ holboellii in de invasie Grote Barmsijzen Carduelis f. flammea in 1986/87. Oriolus 53: 149-153. 1989. Vocalizations of Common, Lesser and Arctic Redpolls. Dutch Birding 11: 9-15. In press. Taxonomy and evolution in redpolls ( Carduelis flammea-homemanni group, Fringillidae); a multivariate study of their biometry. Ardea 78. Knox, A. G. 1988. The taxonomy of redpolls. Ardea 76: 1-26. Moeau, U. 1985. Grasiskkomplexet i Sverige. Var Fagelv. 44: 5-20. Payn, W. A. 1947. Redpolls from Norway. Bull. B.O.C. 67: 41. Sai.OMONSEN, F. 1951. The Birds of Greenland. Pt III. Copenhagen, Einair, Munksgaard. SVENSSON, L. 1984. Identification Guide to European Passerines , 3rd edn. Stockholm. Troy, D. M. 1985. A phenetic analysis of the redpolls Carduelis flammea flammea and C. homemanni exilipes. Auk 102: 82-96. Peter Lansdown, 197 Springwood, Llanedeym, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF2 6UG Nick Riddiford, Fair Isle Bird Observatory, Fair Isle, Shetland ZE2 9JU Dr Alan Knox, Technical Centre, Buckinghamshire County Museum, Tring Road, Halton, Buckinghamshire HP22 5Pf 56 Identification of Arctic Redpoll Appendix. Identification of redpolls using biometrics Although there is broad overlap in the measurements of most redpoll taxa, many Mealy Redpolls C.f jlammea can be separated from the smaller pale redpolls (C. h. exilipes and pale Icelandic birds) by a function which maximises the differences between several measure- ments (fig. 1; for further details see Herremans in press). Maximum wing-length (method 3 of Svensson 1984), tail-length (with callipers between central rectrices at base to tip of longest rectrix), bill-length to the feathering and bill-depth at the feathering (both according to Svensson 1984) were used here, but it is likely that analyses using further variables or more critical measurements would result in even better separation. Only measurements from individuals with typical plumage were used; 20 apparent unknowns (3.8% of the total C.f jlammea and C. h. exilipes sample) were omitted. Their identity is discussed in Herremans (in Fig. 1. Plot of separation of redpolls: Carduelis jlammea jlammea (F), C. homemanni exilipes (E) and pale Icelandic redpolls (P), showing sample means ( + ), centroids (95% prediction for the position of the population mean) and ellipses predicting 95% of the population. Sample sizes: C.j jlammea, including lholboellii\ N = 253 males and 185 females; C. h. exilipes, N = 47 males and 37 females; P = pale Icelandic redpolls, N = 21 males and 5 females The first axis, which accounts for 95% of the separation, is derived as follows: CV1 = (—0.00436 X wing) + (0.0136 X tail) — (0.063 x bill-length) + (0.126 X bill-depth). For CV1: C.j jlammea — 0.45-0.70 C. h. exilipes = 0.63-0.81 It can be predicted that less than 1% of C.j. jlammea will have CV1 > 0.68 and less than 1% of exilipes (or other pale birds) have CV1 < 0.64; these values can be used as identification limits. The second axis has little additional power (5%): CV2 = (0.013 X wing) + (0.0067 X tail) + (0.0146 X bill-length) — (0.01 X bill-depth). These results show that groups defined on plumage tend to be separated biometrically, which suggests a non-random assortment of genes responsible for the features. The pale individuals tend to be long-tailed and with short, deep bills, and this places them to the right of the figure. Pale redpolls from the north Atlantic (pale Icelandic birds and nominate homemanni) would be located in the upper right, although the large dark birds from Iceland (some looking quite like C.j. jlammea) would also appear there. The valid application of these methods for identification depends on the use of similar measuring techniques. Ideally, this should be confirmed by obtaining comparable average values for at least one reference group (e.g. C.j. cabaret : males: wing =71.1 mm, tail = 52.3 mm, bill-length = 9.0 mm, bill depth - 6.0 mm; females: wing — 69.4 mm, tail = 51.5 mm, bill-length = 8.8 mm, bill depth = 5.8 mm). Marc Herremans, Primes Lydialaan 65, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium Notes Night Herons and Little Egrets preying on fish while flying In the late afternoon of 13th June 1987, during a visit to the northern shore of Manyas Golu, northwest Turkey, Per-Anders Bertilsson, Rolf Simonsson and I observed large numbers of herons catching fish from the surface of the lake while flying. The wind was strong from the north, and about 35 Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax, about 30 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and a few Grey Herons Ardea cinerea were flying over the water surface against the wind. The Night Herons flew at approximately 10 m above the surface, hovered and then stooped down towards the water; alighting with folded wings for about two or three seconds, they took a fish, which they then swallowed while flying up to a height of 10 m, before repeating the behaviour. Most of their fishing attempts seemed successful. If they came too close to the shore, they would change direction and let the tail-wind sweep them out 200-300 m, before continuing the activity. The Little Egrets flew at only 2-3 m above the surface, occasionally approaching it with stretched necks and picking up a fish while still in flight; we never saw them land on the .surface. They did not seem to make so many attempts to catch fish as the Night Herons. The few Grey Herons that were around did not attempt to catch any fish during our half-hour stay at the site. We could not determine the species of fish being caught. According to Hancock & Kushlan (1984, The Herons Handbook ), Night Herons have been recorded feeding by hovering, diving and swimming, but this behaviour has apparently not previously been recorded for Little Egrets. Erik Hirschfeld c/o IAL, PO Box 144, Manama, State of Bahrain Grey Heron catching, killing and swallowing Hoopoe During the late morning of 9th October 1987, in an open area on Masirah Island, Sultanate of Oman, I noticed two Grey Herons Ardea cinerea with two Hoopoes Upupa epops feeding near them in the grass. Suddenly, one of the herons struck at a Hoopoe, catching it from behind and holding it in the tip of its bill. The second heron gave chase and they both flew out to a barren stony area nearby, the Heron-plus-Hoopoe combination making a sadly comic sight as the Hoopoe produced normal flight actions of its wings as though in free flight. I returned quickly to my vehicle, carefully approached the birds, and photographed them from about 15 m (plate 56). The heron at first seemed content to allow its prey to struggle vigorously, the latter thereby damaging itself, occasional shakes of the heron’s head contributing to this. As the Hoopoe weakened, the heron became more active, frequently repositioning its victim and shaking it around, often by the neck or the wing-roots. Occasionally, the heron dropped the Hoopoe on the ground and looked at it closely, before picking 57 58 Notes 56. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea with recently captured Hoopoe Upupa epops, Sultanate of Oman, October 1987 ( Conrad Greaves) it up again with a striking action. Some ten minutes after the initial capture, the heron flew to a nearby pool and thoroughly soaked the Hoopoe by frequently immersing it. After several minutes of dunking the Hoopoe and repositioning it in its bill, the heron swallowed it head first. Later on the same day, I watched Grey Herons catch and eat a Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis and a Redshank Tringa totanus. A week earlier, I had photographed a Grey Heron with what I identified as a Ruff Philomachus pugnax in the soaked stage, prior to being swallowed. All the victims that I observed appeared perfectly fit at the time of capture, but, while feeding, seemed unaware of the danger posed by the herons. Conrad Greaves 12 Manor Drive North, Acomb, York Y02 1RY Grey Herons stealing fish from Cormorants and from Bittern On 4th October 1987, at Ladywalk Nature Reserve, Hams Hall Power Station, Warwickshire, Dave Long and John Price saw a Grey Heron Ardea cinerea fly across the main pool and land on the back of a Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo as it surfaced just ahead with a large fish in its bill; the Cormorant submerged, leaving the heron swimming in deep water. In December 1987 and January 1988, 1 saw three successful attacks, the heron seizing a large, Notes 59 senseless fish which appeared on the surface after the Cormorant had submerged; on one occasion, the heron was largely submerged itself before the fish appeared and it released its grip on the Cormorant. The successful herons flew to the bank to swallow the fish, and on two occasions flew from the bank to make their attacks. I can find no reference to kleptoparasitism by Grey Herons on Cormorants. During the period of attacks, up to 38 Cormorants and 16 Grey Herons were present by the main pool. On 20th February’ 1988, at the same site, I saw a Bittern Botaurus stellaris catch a medium-small fish. Within a few seconds, a Grey Heron appeared in flight from 20-25 m away and briefly hovered over the Bittern, with its legs down. The Bittern dropped the fish and quickly jumped 1 m to one side. The heron landed, threatened it and picked up the fish. By this date, there were only two or three Cormorants daily, compared with an average of over 20 in January, so there were fewer opportunities of stealing from them. If Grey Herons are present in a Bittern territory of limited size, they clearly intimidate and harass the smaller species. At Ladywalk, I have heard of or seen only two instances of a Bittern driving off herons, but the reverse has been seen on about 20 occasions. In addition, this particular Bittern, on at least 15 occasions, emerged from the reeds at a spot where a Grey Heron had been standing until a few minutes previously. Brian L. Kington 22 Burman Drive, Coleshill, Birmingham B46 3NB Talon-linking and cartwheeling display of Booted Eagles In bright, clear weather on the morning of 7th September 1987, some 4 km north of the Donana reserve in southwest Spain, I was watching a group of seven Booted Eagles Hieraaetus pennatus flying above matorral scrub dominated by yellow cistus Halimium adjacent to eucalyptus plantations near the marisma edge. There was a minimum of five pale-phase individuals and one, or probably two, dark-phase. Observations earlier in 1987 indicated that a pale-phase pair had attempted unsuccessfully to breed in the area, having abandoned a nest 0.5 km away. From begging calls, I deduced that some of the Booted Eagles were juveniles. At 11.32 hours (local time), two pale-phase individuals were repeatedly flying very close together. Neither had heavily marked underwing-coverts which can characterise juveniles but their plumage appeared fresh, with no signs of current moult; from a marked size difference, I considered them to be a male and a female. Between passes, the male called, and the female may also have been calling. On three occasions, the female extended both legs to coincide with the male’s approaches: on the first, withdrawing them as the male completed his pass, and, on the second, rolling to present her talons while upside-down. On the third occasion, the two individuals linked talons and performed cartwheels with beating wings, wing-beating beginning promptly after talons were linked; disen- gagement was graceful, and, when the eagles headed off, their wingbeats appeared rapid, with wings incompletely extended. The pair flew off, 60 Notes initially close together, but soon parted to mix with other Booted Eagles. During the display, loss of height appeared slight. Before and after this display, Booted Eagle activity in the area was conspicuous. Twenty-two minutes earlier, a dark-phase eagle, circling in low flight, made a number of pecks at its outstretched talons, apparently eating a small prey, and then gave a small dive. Moments before, a pale- phase gave three typical display dives; and, 42 minutes after, a pale-phase eagle made at least 12 consecutive display dives. Fifty-two minutes later, a passing Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca in nearly full-adult plumage was attacked from considerable height by a pale-phase Booted Eagle and, after changing course towards the marisma, w as the target of four further dives by the same or another Booted Eagle. It is possible that feeding or mock- feeding on the wing has a display function; it is more conspicuous to the observer than the more usual ground-feeding or perch-feeding. While attacks on Imperial Eagles by Booted in Donana are commoner than the reverse, Imperial Eagles are often not attacked. Leg-dangling by Booted Eagles is seen in Donana in the context of apparent advertisement flights, and such behaviour has been reported for this species in other areas; its occurrence prior to the wheeling display suggests that it may indicate an invitation to link talons. Following display dives involving apparent mates, the pair typically keeps somewhat apart from other Booted Eagles; it is intriguing that this was not the case after the cartwheeling display. Further observations in spring and summer may clarify whether mutual cartwheeling by Booted Eagles involves members of a pair, as is so with some other raptor species. From the absence of previous accounts, this display by Booted Eagles would seem to be uncommon. These observations were made during tenureship of an honorary research fellowship with Aberdeen University, a post-doctoral fellowship from the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencias, and with financial support from CAYCIT project 944. A. M. Jones RSPB Highlands Office, Munlochy, Ross & Cromarty IV8 8ND Dr K. E. L. Simmons has commented as follows: ‘In compiling the Social Behaviour account for Booted Eagle in BWP 2, I found no definite record for what I called “Talon- grasping” and “Mutual-cartwheeling” for this species, only of “Talon-presentation” (by a female) — although Talon-grasping was known for the closely related Bonelli s Eagle H. fasciatus and occurs also, with or without Mutual-cartwheeling, among some of the Aquila eagles. Whether such behaviour is ever a true display between birds of opposite sexes (paired or pairing) remains, however, to be fully established by much further observation.' Eds Woodcock mobbing Nightjar At 20.45 GMT on 22nd June 1987, at Bucklebury Common, Berkshire, I was watching a male Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus hunting low over open heath when a Woodcock Scolopax rusticola flying about 10 m above it changed direction, dived and flew at the Nightjar twice, causing it to take evasive action. The Nightjar escaped into some silver birches Betula pendula, and the Woodcock landed about 5 m away to join another Woodcock, possibly its mate. N. Cleere 25 Bedford Close, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6SU Notes 61 Stock Doves preyed on by grey squirrels and brooding young squirrel From 1981 to 1983, I studied Stock Doves Columba oenas nesting at Wytham W ood, Oxfordshire. Most nested in wooden boxes with internal dimensions of 45 X 27 X 19 cm, and with a 9-cm-diameter entrance hole in the front. The boxes were 3-8 m above the ground on vertical trunks of large trees. A few nests in natural tree hollows were also studied. Over the three years, a total of at least 25 pairs nested in the study area, laid 69 clutches (134 eggs) and produced 75 fledglings. Hatching success was 67% and fledging success 83%. Most egg losses (19% of 134 eggs) were due to nests being abandoned, possibly as a result of a \isit by a predator, but 7% of eggs and 9% of 90 young were directly preyed upon and two incubating adults were killed. Grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis were probably the main predators; they used the nestboxes as dens in winter and some even raised litters in them, but they abandoned the boxes in spring before the doves nested. Characteristic squirrel damage during incubation included smashed or missing eggs, often accompanied by tufts of feathers from the incubating bird (two of which died, but were not eaten). Squirrel predation on nestlings typically involved the eating of parts of the body, especially the head and neck. In all these instances, squirrel hairs were found stuck to the sides of the box and around the entrance hole. On 1st September 1982, I found an adult Stock Dove on a nest which had held two eggs the previous day; it was in a state of shock, and was incubating the one remaining egg plus a naked, blind, but apparently healthy young grey squirrel aged about one week (calculated from weights given in Shorten, 1951, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 121: 427-459). I shifted both the adult dove and the remaining egg to a nearby nestbox and left the squirrel, but on my next visit, three days later, both dove and squirrel were dead. I presume that the adult grey squirrel had been disturbed at its own previous nest, and while searching for a new site had entered the nestbox; the dove had somehow driven it off, leaving the helpless young behind in the bird’s nest. Hugh Robertson Ecology Division, DSIR, PO Box 30379, Lower Hutt, New Zealand Nightjar giving contact call after alighting on perch On 24th June 1987, at Snelsmore Common, Berkshire, I saw a territory-holding male Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus land on overhead electricity wires and immediately give the ‘co-ic’ contact call; it then remained silent for several minutes before flying off. BWP (vol. 4) states that this call is usually given only in flight, although it has been recorded just before take-off. N. Cleere 25 Bedford Close, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6SU Bee-eaters taking earthworms on the ground Although pellets and gizzard samples of several species of bee-eater (Meropidae) have revealed flightless prey such as spiders, caterpillars, ground beetles, driver-ant soldiers and the remains of small lizards, most records of wild bee-eaters taking flightless prey are circumstantial or evidential rather than observational (Fry 1984). Airborne spiders and caterpillars are often taken by other aerial foragers, such as swallows (Hirundinidae) and swifts 62 Notes (Apodidae)(e.g. Fischer 1958; Turner 1981, 1989; Earle 1985; Herholdt 1987), but flightless prey such as ants and beetles are probably taken from the ground or other surface. Bee-eaters have been seen to come to the ground mainly to ingest grit, and this behaviour might be mistaken for ground foraging (Fry 1984). The following observ ation is probably the first confirmed record of Bee-eaters Merops apiaster foraging on the ground. The Bee-eater is a winter (austral summer) visitor to Bloemfontein, South Africa. In 1987, the first arrivals were seen on 23rd September, when 1 1 flew over suburban gardens towards the city-centre roost. On 25th September, an unseasonal spell of cold and rainy weather started, and during 25th-28th some 130 mm of rain fell (the long-term mean for September is only 20.8 mm). This cold weather had a depressing effect on the number of aerial insects available during this period, and several other aerial foragers were affected (for instance, several Little Swifts Apus ajfnis were found starving or dying on 28th). At 10.30 hours on 27th September, six Bee-eaters were observed on telephone wires in a suburban garden (itself unusual, as Bee-eaters normally only fly over the gardens to and from roost). After about ten minutes, two of them flew down to the lawn and started pecking at earthworms, which had left their flooded burrows and were crawling about on the lawn. All six Bee-eaters fed on the earthworms for about 30 minutes before returning to the wire and later flying off. The observations were made with binoculars from 15-20 m. Some of the Bee-eaters had difficulty in dealing with the larger worms, which tended to curl around their bills, but most of the worms were easily swallowed. Lea & Gray (1935) listed earthworms as prey of the Rainbowbird M. omatus, although they did not mention how these were caught. Continuous rainy periods can also induce ground foraging by species such as the South African Cliff Swallow Hirundo spilodera (Earle 1985). It seems that only extraordinary circumstances cause Bee-eaters to forage on the ground, but the fact that they can successfully do so indicates that they are quite adaptable. Roy A. Earle National Museum, PO Box 266, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa REFERENCES Earle, R. A. 1985. Foraging behaviour and diet of the South African Cliff Swallow Hirundo spilodera (Aves: Hirundinidae). Navors. nas. Mus., Bloemfontein 5: 53-66. Fischer, R. B. 1958. The breeding biology of the Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica (Linnaeus). N. Y. State Mus. Sci. Serv. Bull. 368: 1-141. Fry, C. H. 1984. The Bee-eaters. Calton. Herholdt, J.J. 1987. Aspects of the breeding biology and social behaviour of the Horus Swift Apus horus. Mirafra 4: 28-33. Lea, A. M., & Gray, J. T. 1935. The food of Australian birds. Emu 25: 63-98. Turner, A. K. 1981. Lepidopteran larvae in the diet of the Swallow. Bird Study 28: 65. 1989. A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World. London. Crested Larks nesting on roofs In the 1980s, following a long decline, the number of breeding pairs of Crested Larks Galerida cristata in Czechoslovakia has increased owing to the species’ newly acquired habit of nesting in towns. A minority of pairs continue to nest, as they did before, in open, sparsely vegetated country, on town lawns, by roadsides Xotes 63 57-59. Nest sites of Crested Larks Galeiida cristata on flat roofs, Czechoslovakia [Josef Chytil) or along railway tracks, but the majority now nest on roofs of buildings. I have studied these latter since 1984 in Prerov, central Moravia. Nests have been found on various types of flat roofs, all of which were gravelled, on buildings ranging from one-storey warehouses and supermarkets to 14- storey residential blocks (plate 57). In most cases, nests are located against low vertical walls on roofs, such as those of air-shafts, aerial pedestals, lift machine-rooms and so on (plates 58 & 59). Roof nesting would seem to remove the main disadvantage of breeding in towns, namely disturbance by people. An interesting change of diet is connected with this change in nesting sites: I have many times observed fledglings 64 Notes being fed on remains of bread rolls, biscuits and salami. BWP (vol. 5) makes no mention of Crested Larks nesting on roofs, but it does state (page 151) that this species roosts regularly on flat roofs of buildings in East Germany. JOSEF CHYTIL Biosphere Reserve Palava , Nam. 32, 692 01 Mikulov, Czechoslovakia Nuthatch attacking Nuthatch corpse During late February to early March 1988, I watched and photographed the visitors to a bird table and peanut feeder in my parents’ garden in Highcliffe, Dorset. On 28th and 29th February there had been very' few, brief visits by Nuthatches Sitta europaea, but on the next day these increased considerably. At about 08.00 GMT on 1st March, I found a dead Nuthatch on the concrete behind the house about 5 m from the feeder. A short while later, a Nuthatch landed close to the corpse, hopped up to it and began rapidly stabbing at the head with its bill; this continued for a couple of minutes, then it flew off. A few minutes later, the Nuthatch returned and resumed the attack. I moved the corpse on to the grass below the feeder, intending to photograph any subsequent attack. The Nuthatch duly returned, found the moved corpse and continued to stab at its head (plates 60 & 61), flying away and returning again every few minutes. In the meantime, this and another Nuthatch were periodically visiting the feeder, now less than half- full, whereas for the previous two days it had been full and was visited only by tits Parus and Greenfinches Carduelis chloris. I cannot be sure whether only one or both Nuthatches attacked the corpse, but there was only one at any one time. The corpse was initially in fresh condition, but after four ‘attack visits’ hardly any feathers were left on the head. Peter Gasson 77 New court, High Road, Cowley, Middlesex UB8 2LW Several species are known to feed on carrion, such as road-casualty corpses, and sparrows and finches may visit and remain with the corpse of a presumed mate. Derek Goodwin has commented that, in this instance, the Nuthatch was presumably reacting to the corpse as if to a live but helpless rival. Eds 60 &c 61. Nuthatch Sitta europaea attacking corpse of another Nuthatch, Dorset, March 1988 (Peter Gasson ) Xotes 65 Magpie killing Sparrowhawk At 07.20 GMT on 10th May 1988, while observing from 40 m a flock of up to 40 House Martins Delichon urbica feeding over a shallow pool at Bough Beech Reservoir, Kent, I was suddenly distracted by a male Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisns flying through the flock, having apparently captured prey. Simultaneously, the raptor was chased by two Magpies Pica pica , and I then noted a wing with the characteristic hirundine shape droop downwards between his tarsi as he weaved at about 1 m above the grass. The Magpies continued to harry the hawk, and a House Martin flew out of the melee as they appeared to close on the raptor. The affray had by now reached a corner of the meadow bordered by 2-m hedgerows, and the raptor was tumbled to the ground by a joint attack. A group of Starlings Stumus vulgaris joined the affray, which continued on the ground. A single Magpie and up to six Starlings then moved back 1-2 m and watched as the Sparrowhawk remained locked in combat with the remaining Magpie. I mistakenly believed that the struggle was over the Sparrowhawk’s prey, having dismissed the possibility that the House Martin was the raptor s victim. The Starlings left the area and the watching Magpie moved about 10 m away. It then became clear that the other Magpie was in fact attacking, and dominating, the hawk, which it finally held to the ground by standing on him, and it continued to strike at the hawk’s head with its bill. The latter fanned his tail and made violent efforts to extricate himself, but the Magpie again managed to mount the prone raptor and began pulling small white feathers from his head or neck region. There was another violent struggle, and I thought the Sparrowhawk had released himself, but the Magpie regained its foothold. I was then joined by R. K. Coles and, as we climbed the fence to try to rescue the hawk, the Magpie flew off. We ran about 80 m to where the raptor lay; he looked moribund, having apparently lost an eye and some blood. RKC gathered the bird, noted a strong heart beat, and hence removed him to a car and wrapped him in a woollen garment with the intention of taking him to a local bird-care specialist; unfortunately, the Sparrowhawk showed no signs of life within a few minutes of being placed in the vehicle. A. F. J. Cox Domus, Femdale, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3RU Derek Goodwin has posed a question relating to human rather than avian behaviour: ‘Would they have tried to rescue a crow (Corvidae) being killed by a hawk?’ Eds Jackdaw attacking Woodpigeon At about 12.30 GMT on 26th April 1984, I was sitting in my vehicle at the side of the road watching a loose flock of about 70 Woodpigeons Columba palumbus feeding with a few Rooks Corvus frugilegus and Starlings Stumus vulgaris on floodmeadows bordering the River Cuckmere in East Sussex. Suddenly, two Jackdaws Corvus monedula flew down and landed near a group of pigeons. After a few seconds, one of the Jackdaws hopped rapidly up to the nearest pigeon and tore a beakful of feathers from its neck, near the white neck patch; the pigeon immediately flew off, leaving its assailant to sort through the feathers, which it did by holding each one in turn with its claw and examining it 66 Notes minutely with its bill. The Jackdaw, perhaps having found no mites or other food items among the feathers, then moved away and began feeding in the grass. After a short pause, an opportunistic Starling collected a large beakful of the feathers and flew off, presumably to add them to its nest lining. It seems unlikely that the Jackdaw intended to kill the Woodpigeon. Had it in fact seen a prey item crawling among the pigeon s neck feathers, or was this perhaps an advanced case of defending a feeding territory? A LAX Bow LEY 2 Flint Cottages, Jevington, East Sussex Roosting behaviour of Carrion Crows on ground Carrion Crows Cori'us corone are well known to roost communally, although normally in trees; little has apparently been published on their general behaviour when roosting on the ground. From October to March during the six winters 1981/82 to 1986/87, I studied the communal roosting behaviour of Carrion Crows in an area of lightly timbered arable farmland near Ringwould, Kent. Crows congregated at some 18 places: one of these was a wood of about 75 ha; the others, all ground sites, were grouped around it, none more than 2 km distant. The wood and two nearby fields were the most regularly frequented. In the first two winters, these central fields appeared to be commonly used for roosting, the others acting chiefly as preliminary' gathering sites, although their functions were evidently interchangeable. Latterly, other sites may have been so used. The wood, a conspicuous landmark lying within one angle of a crossroads and near a railway line used as a flight line, seemed to sene as a major assembly point where crows gathered constantly, but whether many, or any, remained to roost there is doubtful. Crows arrived, singly or in parties, in the central area from about 90 minutes before sunset until some 40 minutes after. In the morning, they had disappeared by first light, but then, as in the evening, they could be heard calling in flight or be discerned against the sky when it was too dark to see them on the ground. Most crows moved to the centre by stages, first alighting at one or more of the outer fields. Initially, they tended to scatter on the ground, a fewT perhaps foraging. Later, they formed a rough line, side by side, sometimes along the crest of a ridge, always well clear of hedges or other ground cover. More than 100 regularly gathered on each of the central fields in the first winter, and some 230 in the second; incoming individuals, of which some arrived after dark, tended to call once or twice as they approached a group on the ground, the latter always being silent. In later winters, fewer were present, with no more than 90 congregating at any one place: they lined up as described above, but were restless, shifting and reforming the line; eventually they departed, usually in the direction of the wood, sometimes calling as they did so. On the ground, the crows were sometimes disturbed by people, dogs and so on. In such instances, or when they seemed nervous or restless, they moved to an elevated spot, such as high branches of trees or telephone poles, calling loudly as they rose from their perches (similar behaviour sometimes preceded changes from one assembly place to Xotes 67 another). Afterwards, they dropped back to the ground nearby or flew elsewhere, most commonly to the wood. They circled over this with clamorous cries or called from the treetops. Apart from these noisy displays, they also called as the) flew towards the wood, scarcely deviating if anybody was close to their flight path. They left the trees in silence, sometimes as late as 40 minutes after sunset, turning back and calling if anyone was nearby; occasionally they were just visible against the sky, making their way, bird after bird, from one treetop to another, towards that edge of the wood which faced a favourite assembly and, presumably, roosting field. At two other spots, crows rose from the ground when it was too dark to see them, in one case some 30 m away: only their calls as they flew to nearby trees alerted me to their presence, and their cries continued until my departure. Most of the ground near the wood was probably used for roosting at some time. There was never any indication that groups were settling to roost in the wood or in other trees in the area. With one exception, all my observations were made from outside the wood, where visibility was best. On the only occasion when I followed the crows into the trees, they did indeed fly before me, calling loudly; a Magpie Pica pica called quietly, but no other species reacted. Apart from this, there was no apparent regular disturbance or human intrusion. In Scotland, Picozzi (1975) found that crows of hybrid origin (C. c. corone X C. c. comix) also circled over the roost wood; neither calling nor perching prominently are mentioned, but these crows were not apparently subject to disturbance (N. Picozzi in lift.). Ground roosting is common in Scotland (Hollom 1962) and has been recorded in Nottinghamshire (Bell 1968), in both instances in the cover of tall vegetation. Ogilvie & Ogilvie (1984) found that Jackdaws C. monedula roosted on the sea shore with Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus. Around Ringwould, Carrion Crows were sometimes found on the same bare fields as Lapwings Vanellus vanellus , Skylarks Alauda amensis and Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis. The cryptic coloration of the last three left them barely discernible in poor light, while the crows were still conspicuous. The Lapwings formed a line in the same way as the crows did. The latter, when alarmed, tended to fly away; the other three rose, too, but usually returned to the ground nearby. In complete darkness, the black-plumaged Carrion Crows may have been no more vulnerable than are habitual ground-roosting species such as Skylarks (Green 1985) and many other ground-feeding birds (Bacon 1985). J. M. Stainton Dove Cottage, Ringwould, Deal, Kent CT14 8HR REFERENCES Bacon, P.J. 1985. ‘Roosting’. In Campbell, B., & Lack, E. (eds.), A Dictionary of Birds. Calton. Bell, B. D. 1968. Hooded and Carrion Crows roosting in reeds. Brit. Birds 61: 529-530. Green, R. E. 1985. ‘Lark’. In Campbell, B., & Lack, E. (eds.), A Dictionary of Birds. Calton. Hollom, P. A. D. 1962. The Popular Handbook of British Birds. London. Ogilvie, M. A., & Ogilvie, C. G. 1984. Jackdaws roosting on the shore with Oystercatchers. Brit. Birds 77: 368. Picozzi, N. 1975. A study of the Carrion/Hooded Crow in north-east Scotland. Brit. Birds 68: 409-419. Letters The introduction of the Chukar In ‘Points of view’ (Brit. Birds 79: 656- 657), Derek Goodwin drew attention to the dilution of the British population of the Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa by hybrids between this and other species of Alectoris. In his fears for the survival of a pure British stock of Red-legs he is almost certainly right. Some 30 years ago, those of us who took part in partridge shoots in East Anglia became aware that the ‘bags’ were beginning to include a number of Red-legged Partridges which were markedly different from the familiar rufa , being slightly larger, blue-grey (instead of red-brown) on the back, and with less chestnut on underparts and flanks. It transpired that they were hybrids produced on a game farm by crossing Red-legs with another species of Alectoris , probably the Chukar A chukar , as Mr Goodwin suggests, although the exact parentage was not revealed. They had been given the ‘trade name of ‘Ogridge’. The object of the introduction was to boost, for shooting purposes, the stock of wild partridges, which had been declining for a number of years. The hybrids have proved to have a number of advantages over pure Red-legged Partridges. They tend to wander less from where they have been turned down and they happily frequent open woodland and its edges, so adding variety to a pheasant shoot; being larger, they are probably somewhat hardier, but they fly no better than pure Red-legs. At first, it was thought that these hybrid partridges could not reproduce themselves nor interbreed with rufa , but this seems to be incorrect. As time passes, more and more of these hybrids are being released on shoots in Britain, and in many places they already outnumber pure Red- legs. Scientifically, this is obviously a sad and bad situation, but it is probably now quite irreversible: many shoots are finding the hybrids quite satisfactory and are increasing the number of them that they turn down each year, even though pure Red-leg stock is still available from game farms. Here in East Anglia, at any rate, the pure Red-legged Partridge stock is being swamped. W. H. Payn River Close, lxworth, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 2HT Reaction of Blackcap to sudden noise Dr A. P. Radford (Brit. Birds 80: 249) reported a female Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla on its nest reacting to a sudden noise (a loud shot from a nearby field) by hanging upside-down from the side of the nest. Dr M. A. Ogilvie and Dr K. E. L. Simmons questioned whether the proximity of the observer to the nest (1.5 m) could also have influenced the behaviour, and the editors welcomed further comparable records. Having hand-raised and kept more than 1,000 Blackcaps in various experimental conditions, and having searched for and regularly checked 68 The Best Buys and the Brightest. . . V; alue and quality are two reasons Wildlife and Bird Watching rated these Nikon Binoculars and Fieldscopes among the best in their classes. For instance, Bird Watching awarded the Nikon 8 x 30ECF WF binoculars a full five stars, their highest value-for-money rating. What’s more, they acclaimed the 8 x 30s “Excellent in every way optically— very sharp and bright.”* That’s because they share the Nikon heritage of optical excellence. So take a look through the leaders today. *By courtesy of EMAP Pursuit Ltd.: Quoted from an article BEST BUYS IN BINOCULARS, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Bird Watching , May 1990. And, BEST BUYS IN TELESCOPES, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Bird Watching, June 1990. By courtesy of BBC Publications; JUST THE BEST, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Wildlife, March 1989. Nikon NIKON U.K. LTD. (United Kingdom) 380 RICHMOND ROAD, KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (081) 541 4440 FAX: (081) 541 4584 Somerton Foto Ltd. (The Republic of Ireland) TEL: (01) 773173 xm (D747) Kay Optical (Established 1962) st Floor, 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey Phone:081-648 8822 Mon.-Fri. 9am to 5pm Sat. 9am to 11.30am [Lunchtime 1pm to 2pm) Sales and Repairs of BINOCULARS, TELESCOPES, TRIPODS, etc. at one of the best centres in the country Advice and test facilities for a range of the best equipment. ★Competitive prices ★Long-established workshop ★Callers welcome. ★Phone/mail order service ★Price list and map sent upon request. 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TRIPODS etc. Slik D2 73 Siik SL 67 105 Manfrotto 144/200 103 Manfrotto 1 44/1 28 98 Manfrotto 1 90/200 91 Universal clamp 22 Hide clamp, new type 38 Car window mount 22 Shoulder pod 30 ★PACKAGE DEALS: Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought ★REPAIRS carried out in our own workshops (Our policy is to get your optics bird-watch operational with minimal delay) ★SHORT-TERM INTEREST-FREE CREDIT available (three payments) 'Next ★FIELD DAYS when you can try and buy our binoculars, telescopes, tripods, etc. are given below. Repair can also be quoted for and taken in. ★PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE in the Chichester area of W. Sussex, on the B2145 into Selsey on SUNDAYS 24th FEBRUARY (1 0.30am to 3.30pm), 31st MARCH and 28th APRIL (1 1 ,00am to 5.00pm). ★SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at WOODS MILL, Henfield, W. Sussex (A2037) on SUNDAY 10th MARCH (1 0.30am to 4.00pm). We are only 15 minutes’ drive from the M25 (e.g. via the A3 and then the Merton Turn-off) or 2 minutes’ walk from Morden tube. Parking: 1st left past our entrance (50 yds). (D782) XIV Letters 69 over 1,000 Blackcap nests during the past 20 years, we are fairly familiar with this species’ behaviour (see Berthold & Querner, 1984, Vogelwarte 32: 304-305; and Berthold, Proc. XIX Int. Om. Congr.). During the course of our experiments, it became clear to us that Blackcaps are sensitive to strange, rather than to loud, noises. They can easily be kept, for instance, in absolutely healthy condition in climatic chambers with a constant sound level of 75-80 decibels, but they may become extremely nervous upon hearing only a soft scratching noise. We also occasionally observe over- excited behaviour from individuals that are to be trapped in their cages. They sometimes react with ‘proteanic’ behaviour: they slouch, hang their heads and stretch out their wing and tail feathers; distress calls are occasionally uttered (as described in detail by Howard, 1909, The British Warblers) . Our findings suggest that the reaction of Dr Radford’s Blackcap could well be due to the fact that he invaded what the bird perceived as a critically safe area. To test this, we did a few simple experiments in which we fired a shotgun (calibre 20/70) in the vicinity of six nests on which Blackcaps were incubating eggs (as in Dr Radford’s observation). We chose nests where the sitting adults could be seen from a safe distance (previously checked) before the shot was fired; females were incubating on three nests and males on the other three, and we varied the distance of firing between 10 m and 60 m. All three females that were irradiated acoustically from 10 m, 20 m and 60 m, respectively, remained on their nests and were not disturbed. All three males, however, treated from 15 m, 20 m and 40 m, respectively, left their nests. The first male flew away and began to sing after 20 seconds, and the third entered and remained in the vegetation below the nest. The second male was virtually in shock: when the shot was fired, at 20 m, he ‘exploded’ off the eggs, but remained hanging, head downwards, on the nest wall; he was motionless for about seven seconds, before flying away. On the next day, this male was seen incubating again. From these few observations, it is clear that individual Blackcaps can indeed undergo a form of shock upon hearing a sudden noise, but, in a corresponding situation, others may behave as if totally undisturbed. It may also be that males are more sensitive to sudden noises than are females. P. BERTHOLD and U. Querner Max-Planck-Institut fur Verhaltensphysiologie, Vogelwarte, Schloss Moggingen, D-7760 Radolfzell, Germany Red-backed Shrikes with white primary patches The note by Harrop (1990) on a male Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio with a white primary patch, following an earlier discussion (Doherty 1983) and editorial comments, prompts me to hypothesise on the possible origin of this ‘morph’, usually regarded as an extreme of individual variation within the species (Dean 1982). The occasional occurrence of a white primary patch on otherwise 70 Letters typical male Red-backed Shrikes was recognised by German authors some 90 years ago (Kollibay 1904; Schiebel 1906). As stated by Bub (1981), individuals with an extensive white patch at the base of the primaries have been recorded in many parts of the species’ breeding range (e.g. in Greece, Hungary, Germany, on females as well as on males, and Sweden). Such males not infrequently occur also in Finland (K. Mullamey, quoted in A. R. Dean’s comment, Brit. Birds 83: 123), in Poland (Chylarecki 1988), and probably in the European part of Russia, where otherwise typical males with a white patch have been photographed (e.g. Steinbach 1984). Rather than describe all such individuals, especially from the eastern part of the species’ breeding range, we should instead try to establish the frequency of this feature in breeding populations of Red-backed Shrikes in various countries. In particular, it is possible that individuals with a white primary patch are more frequent in eastern populations, as all the records suggest. Red-backed Shrikes are known to hybridise extensively with white-patched Isabelline Shrikes L. isabellinus of the race phoenicuroides in Kazakhstan and in Iran (Panov 1983), producing mixed populations with intermediate characters. Although such zones of hybridisation are usually narrow, some genes can penetrate far into populations involved (see Barton & Hewitt 1989 for an excellent review). It is quite possible that genes determining the expression of a primary patch typical of L. i. phoenicuroides are present in populations of otherwise typical Red-backed Shrikes, far from the hybridisation zone. Though frustrating to bird- watchers, it is clear that, in cases of closely related and hybridising forms (semispecies) such as L. collurio and L. i. phoenicuroides , the issue of species boundaries is sometimes controversial (but see Short 1969). Examples of populations of mice (Mus musculus/M. domesticus complex) having the nuclear genome of one species and mitochondrial genes of the other (Ferris et at. 1983) are known. Phenotypic characters produced by only one or two genes may show a more discontinuous pattern, simplifying field identification (Short 1969: page 95). Thus, on the basis of one related set of morphological characters (body colour), we may classify, say, a crow as a ‘Hooded Crow’ Corvus corone comix , despite the fact that it may actually possess a few per cent of the genome (not expressed in the phenotype) of the closely related Carrion Crow C. c. corone. This does not mean that white-patched Red-backed Shrikes are ‘hybrids’ in the usual sense, but rather that such individuals may have some genes typical of phoenicuroides , though the majority of the genome is collurio. The presence of these ‘strange’ genes in a given population is not a consequence of recent hybridisation events, but rather an outcome of a diffusive process of gene flow. The term ‘hybrid’ would perhaps be more appropriate for individuals showing a more balanced mixture of morpho- logical characters of both parental species, and originating from the centre of a zone of hybridisation. It would be interesting to test the hypothesis that the frequency of Red- backed Shrikes with a white primary patch gradually increases eastwards, towards the zone of hybridisation with Isabelline Shrikes of the race phoenicuroides. Przemyslaw Chylarecki Ornithological Station, 80-680 Gdansk 40, Poland Letters 71 REFERENCES Barton, N. H., & Hewitt, G. M. 1989. Adaptation, speciation and hybrid zones. Nature 341: 497-503. Bub, H. 1981. Kennzeichen und Mauser europaischer Singi’dgel, 2. Teil: Stelzen, Pieper und Wurger. Wittenberg Lutherstadt. Chylarecki, P. 1988. Red-backed Shrikes with white primary patch. Not. Om. 29: 219-221. [In Polish, with English summary] Dean, A. R. 1982. Field characters of Isabelline and Brown Shrikes. Brit. Birds 75: 395-406. Doherty', P. A. 1983. Red-backed Shrike with white primary patch. Brit. Birds 76: 457-458. Ferris, S. D., Sage, R. D., Huang, C. M., Nielsen, J. T., Ritte, U., & Wilson, A. C. 1983. Flow of mitochondrial DNA across a species boundary. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 80: 2290- 2294. Harrop, A. H. J. 1990. Another Red-backed Shrike with white primary patch. Brit. Birds 83: 123. Kollibay, P. 1904. Die Vogelfauna der Bocche di Catarro. J. Om. 52: 80-121, 457-506. Panov, E. N. 1983. Die Wurger der Palaarktis. Wittenberg Futherstadt. Schtebel, G. 1906. Die Phylogenese der Fanius-Arten. J. Om. 54: 1-77, 161-219. SHORT, F. F. 1969. Taxonomic aspects of avian hybridization. Auk 86: 84-105. Steinbach, M. W. 1984. The World of Forest Birds. Moscow. [In Russian] Dr Alan Knox has commented as follows: ‘The suggestion that the white primary patches seen on some Red-backed Shrikes result from the spread of genes from the zone of hybridisation with Isabelline Shrikes is quite reasonable, though there may be alternative explanations. A similar situation appears to occur with Pied Oenanthe pleschanka and Black- eared Wheatears 0. hispanica: the black-throated form of the Black-eared Wheatear becomes commoner as the zone of hybridisation with Pied Wheatear is approached; on the other side of the zone, the pale-throated form of the Pied Wheatear may be an expression of genes from the Black-eared Wheatear (J. Haffer, 1977, Bonn. Zool. Monographien no. 10).’ Eos Jackdaws stealing food from breeding Guillemots and Puffins Hans Olsthoorn (Brit. Birds 80: 117-118) recorded Jackdaws Corvus monedula stealing fish from breeding Guillemots Uria aalge at Bullers of Buchan (not ‘Bachun’ as stated), Grampian. Similar behaviour has also been docu- mented on Skomer, Dyfed, where Jackdaws rob both Guillemots and Puffins Fratercula arctica (Birkhead, 1973, Nature in Wales 13: 163-164). Of 175 Jackdaw ‘patrols’ noted by Dr Birkhead, 161 involved single Jackdaws, with 1 1 of two individuals and one each of groups of three, four and five. The Jackdaw usually edged forward along the ledge and pounced whenever prey was dropped or mishandled. This strategy succeeded in only three of the 175 attempts; in another ten, Jackdaws gleaned pieces of abandoned fish. The strategies and low success rate are therefore closely in accord with those found by Mr Olsthoorn in Grampian. Euan Dunn Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford 0X1 3PS The best food-plant for birds? Having experimented for many years by planting a variety of shrubs to attract hungry birds, I find by far the best to be the Himalayan honeysuckle or flowering nutmeg Leycesteria formosa. The flowering period is July to October. Its long, dangling white-and-purple flower clusters produce a heavy crop of small, dark reddish-purple fruits from September onwards, which are irresistible to finches, thrushes, tits 72 Letters and warblers. The shrub is very easy to cultivate, grows up to 2 m in height, and will attract far more birds than the usual barberry Berberis or cotoneaster Cotoneaster. Guy MOUNTFORT 8 Park Manor, St Aldhelms Road, Poole, Dorset BH13 6BS This plant is established in the wild in some areas, having been planted by gamekeepers for the benefit of Pheasants Phasianus colchicus. Eds Product reports Items included in this feature have been submitted by the manufacturers or their agents. The reviews are the personal opinions of the reviewers; they are not the result of technical tests, but are assessments made after use in appropriate conditions (e.g. in the field). Neither British Birds nor the individual reviewers can accept responsibility for any adverse consequences of opinions stated, and items are accepted for review on this understanding. We aim, however, to be helpful both to our readers and to manufacturers of goods used by birdwatchers. Eds Greenkat SGN-3 60mm Prismatic Spotting Scope First impressions are of a medium-weight (1.2 kg), well-designed telescope, specifically regarding ergonomics and aesthetics. The very attractive finish soon, however, began to show signs of wear and tear. Three eyepieces were supplied: 20 X, 30 X and 40 X (50 X and 60 X are also available), and a close-focus lens; a camera adaptor is also available. One immediate attraction of this telescope is the revolving eyepiece, giving not only the choice of two magnifications, but also two viewing angles: straight through and 45°. For most raptor-watching, 45° is preferable, but not everybody will feel comfortable with this viewing angle, so this form of optical pluralism may appeal to many. I found, however, that it involved having to take my eye away from the eyepiece to revolve the lenses (thereby inevitably moving the telescope slightly) and then having to refocus on the distant dot. I used the 20 X as the straight-through eyepiece and, initially, the 40Xat 45°. The 40 X had such a tiny field of view and depth of field, however, and gave such a striking bright blue outline to nesting White Stork Ciconia ciconia and yellow trailing edge to Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina, albeit towards the sun, that within a few days I had to change to a combination of 20 X and 30 X. I am curious as to what the 50 X would be like. The 20 X is good, although, since it is a standard eyepiece (not wide- angle), it has a rather narrow field of view; it performed admirably under quite varied conditions, as did the 30 X. In direct comparison with a Kowa Product reports 7 3 TS-602 20 X WA, I found the Greenkat to be the better, although I prefer the Kowa because of its wide angle and rubber eye-cup. The Greenkat eye- pieces are very small and, while no doubt good for spectacle-wearers, I was always conscious of trying not to poke my eye out. Focusing was relatively easy using the camera-lens-type ring, although on occasions I did find that, after transport, the ring had turned right past infinity through closer focus, giving rise to a confusing and frantic readjustment. I am extremely dubious about ‘stick-on-goodies’. The close-focus lens screws onto the objective lens, using an irritating, time-consuming and easily obstructed fine thread; but it proved to be surprisingly good, focusing down to 3.5 m. Its use does, however, prevent the extension of the sunshade hood. Retailing at £155, plus £25 for each eyepiece (I can recommend only the 20 X and 30 X), I have a feeling that this attractive telescope may easily find its niche; indeed it may be the perfect tool for the artist and could even prove to be ubiquitous on bird reserves every Sunday afternoon of the year. I wish to thank Jan Lontkowski and Tadeusz Stawarczyk for their suggestions and co- operation during the field trials of this telescope. Monthly marathon The black-tailed passerine on the wires (plate 288 in the November 1990 issue) inspired a wide range of answers: Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti (54%) Blackstart Cercomela melanura (14%) Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca ( 1 2%) with fewer votes for Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava , Redstart Phoenicians phoenicurus, Stonechat Saxicola torquata , Isabelline Wheatear 0. isabellina, Wheatear 0. oenanthe , Pied Wheatear 0. pleschanka, Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata , Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata , Menetries’s Warbler S’, mystacea, Riippell’s Warbler S. rueppelli , Arabian Warbler S. leucomelaena, Barred Warbler S. nisoria , Whitethroat S. communis , Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inomatus, and Bonelli’s Warbler P. bonelli. Most entrants got it wrong. The bird was a Blackstart, photographed in Israel, in January 1990 by David Odell. Amazingly, only two competitors now lead the field, with all of the first four answers right: K. Mauer (Netherlands) and Jouni Riihimaki (Finland). This fifth competition now progresses to its seventh stage, with plate 62. The winner will be able to choose a SUNBIRD holiday in Africa, Asia or North America. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. James T. Cullen Sponsored by 74 Monthly marathon 62. Fifth ‘Monthly marathon' (seventh stage: photograph number 56). Identify the species. Read the rules on page 16 of the January 1991 issue , then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th March 1991 Mystery photographs Judging the size of an isolated bird is difficult, but comparison with the grass leads to the conclusion that last month’s mystery bird (plate 6 in colour, repeated here in black-and-white) is ‘sparrow- sized’, though noticeably slim, small-headed and long-tailed. The bill is conical, which suggests a sparrow Passer , finch (Fringillidae), bunting (Emberizidae), or perhaps even a lark (Alaudidae), but the plumage is very bland. The bird has an obvious eye-ring in an otherwise unmarked ‘face’. Its crown is slightly streaked, and there is a suggestion of a hood, with a pale throat. The mantle is heavily streaked with blackish lines, and the wing feathers have dark centres with pale edges of a similar colour to that of the mantle. The underparts are unstreaked, while the tail shows no evidence of white on the outer feathers. All in all, not a lot to go on — but enough to rule out any regular visitor to Western Europe. Could it be a rare sparrow or lark? The combination of bill shape, the Mystery photographs 7 5 bird's structure (especially the tail length), the eye-ring, and the streaked upperparts and unstreaked underparts rule out all those found in the Western Palearctic. The only finches that come close to this in general appearance are the rosefinches Carpodacus : the structure is just about right, but none has an eye-ring, Sinai Rosefinch C. synoicus is not so streaked above, while Great C. rubicilla , Scarlet C. erythrinus and Pallas’s Rosefinches C. roseus are all streaked below. The bill shape, long tail and well-proportioned body suggest a bunting, and this is indeed the case. Only two species show the distinctive features of absence of white on outer tail feathers, a prominent eye-ring, streaked upperparts and unstreaked underparts: these are Red-headed Emberiza bruniceps and Black-headed Buntings E. melanocephala. All other vaguely similar buntings have white outer tail feathers; Ortolan E. hortulana , Cretzschmar’s E. caesia and Grey-necked Buntings E. buchanani also show prominent pale moustachial stripes, while Cinereous Bunting E. cineracea is greyer and less streaked above, and paler below, with some greyish- yellow on the throat. Unfortunately, in this plumage, it is often difficult to progress farther. Both Red-headed and Black-headed Buntings have basically grey-brown plumage, with unstreaked sandy underparts becoming distinctly yellow on the undertail-coverts. Black-headed tends to show chestnut tones on the mantle and rump (though these can be absent, or present only on the mantle), while Red-headed, if anything, shows olive tones. In addition, Black-headed typically shows whitish edges and tips to both the median and the greater coverts, giving it a more distinctive pattern of wingbars than Red-headed, which, as on our mystery bird, usually shows just greater-covert fringes of a similar tone to that of the mantle. I photographed this Red-headed Bunting in Kazakhstan, USSR, in June 1985. Red-headed Buntings are kept as cagebirds (though not commonly nowadays), but, given their distribution — breeding in Soviet Central Asia and wintering in India — they could conceivably turn up as genuine vagrants in Western Europe. Colin Bradshaw 9 Tynemouth Place , North Shields, Tyne & Wear NE30 4BJ 76 Mystery photographs 64. Mystery photograph 164. Identify the species. Answer next month Announcement Books in British BirdShop New this month: *Birkhead The Magpies *Duff, Hatton, et al. Not BB V *Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World 2nd edn. *Voisin Herons of Europe Please use the British BirdShop form on pages xv and xvi. Reviews Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland. By J. N. Dymond, P. A. Fraser and S. J. M. Gantlett. T. & A. D. Poyser, Calton, 1990. 366 pages; many maps, diagrams and line-drawings. £19.00. What value lies in the scores of county bird reports, and reports of the British Birds Rarities Committee, which annually list thousands of dates and places relating to occurrences of rare and scarce birds the length and breadth of the British Isles? They are a source of data which need analysis and, without it, are of rather limited interest. Here is a thorough presentation Reviews 77 of facts relating to some 45,000 records of more than 300 species from such sources between 1958 and 1985. The authors must, right away, be congratulated on their meticulous collation of data, which must have been an epic task. I spotted one important omission, the Warwickshire spring male Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria in 1979, but I can’t believe much else has escaped the net. The book combines the scope of two earlier Poyser volumes, Scarce Migrant Birds in Britain and Ireland (Sharrock 1974) and Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland (Sharrock & Sharrock 1976), and thus brings such interesting species as Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva and Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana into the same volume as the out-and-out rarities. Indeed, this is one of the major plus points of the book, for it is often the status of ‘lesser rarities’ like these that is most difficult to assess. The authors have, probably wisely, stuck to the officially recorded opinions on all records, although one might guess that they would have liked to have argued with a few decisions. In appearance, the new book looks much like its 'Rare' predecessor, with similar maps and diagrams and line-drawings. Many of the latter are, in fact, repeated from the earlier book, but there is a fine set of new ones too. The text includes brief details of distribution and a scanty identification summary, with useful pointers towards more detailed references. But what of the analysis? The presentation (aided by the typically excellent Poyser production) is clear enough, but the text is usually brief and rarely attempts to probe into the underlying reasons for the patterns of occurrence so finely presented. It is an oddly frustrating book, difficult to get into for more than a few minutes at a time, but maybe it is too full of facts to be digestible for much more than that. There is little indication of changing status abroad; little or no link is made between rarity reports and weather conditions that may have had a crucial influence. Such analysis in a comprehensive book would perhaps be asking for too much — but, unless it is attempted somewhere, we return to the original question. What is the point of it all? In fact, with many species revealed as being most often reported in the south (or east) ‘as would be expected’ for birds from the south (or east), one wonders whether there is much more to be said than such simplistic comments anyway? Perhaps that is often all there is to it? But surely there is a little more to the annual magic of ‘expected’ semi-rarities, and more surprising vagrants, on the Norfolk coast, or the Isles of Scilly, or Fair Isle? But rarities have a fascination, a kind of addiction, that makes seeing the records in print — even those that we knew all about before, and especially, perhaps, those we saw ourselves (or narrowly missed) — an end in itself, without the need to delve too deeply into underlying causes. The book is great browsing — dare I say dipping? — material, and as such will be warmly welcomed. Rob Hume Where to Watch Birds in Scotland. By Mike Madders and Julia Welstead. Christopher Helm, London, 1989. 368 pages; 70 line-drawings; 48 maps. Paperback £10.95. I must start by declaring an interest. The authors sent me the draft account on Islay and took full note of comments that I made. They similarly consulted local experts on virtually all the sites described. This is not to detract from their own detailed knowledge and the hard work they have put into writing this book, but to emphasise that, by consulting so widely, they have produced by far the best guide yet written about birdwatching sites in Scotland. It is authoritative, up to date, and full of detailed and helpful information accompanied by clear and equally helpful maps. At the end of the book, there are lists of local recorders, local bird reports, and a complete systematic list of Scottish birds. I could actually end this review here, coupled with a strong exhortation to buy this book, which I regard as indispensable for birdwatchers, whether visiting or living in Scotland. Instead, I am going to grumble, not at the authors, but at the publisher. The eight other volumes in Christopher Helm’s ‘Where to Watch’ series cover groups of English counties, from the six of the West Midlands to a mere two, Devon and Cornwall, plus a volume devoted to Wales. An average 60 sites are given full treatment in books of between 245 and 316 pages. Over 450 English and Welsh sites have been described in some 2,200 pages. 78 Reviews Compared with this lavish treatment, Scotland, with an area equivalent to the total of the areas covered by all the other volumes put together, has been allotted 368 pages into which the authors have managed to squeeze 120 birdwatching sites, allowing each barely half the space of more fortunate regions. They have appended nearly 90 additional sites, but merely in tabular form, rather than the full paragraph of other volumes. And, to add insult to injury, there are numerous almost blank pages where site accounts end near the top of a page. Line-drawings are scattered through the book, but none is placed in one of these empty spaces. By simply reducing existing line-drawings, or omitting the occasional one, I reckon I could save the equivalent of 30 pages, currently blank, or 10% of the total devoted to site accounts. That’s another 12 full accounts. They might be at the expense of some of the quite pleasant line-drawings, but the book would have been that much more informative and useful. Good birdwatching sites in Scotland are both numerous and rich in species. On a comparison with the volumes on English counties, Scotland should have been covered in at least three volumes. What a pity the authors were not allowed to write the fuller account that the country and its birds deserve. M. A. O GIL VIE Short reviews Livre Rouge des Oiseaux Nicheurs d’ Al- sace. (Centre d’Etudes Ornithologiques d’ Alsace, Bitche, 1989. FI 20.00) Few regions of France have been as little explored by British birdwatchers as Alsace, but this northeastern comer of the country has a rich and varied avifauna, thanks to a wide variety of habitats, ranging from the Rhine to the mountains of the Haut-Vosges. Some 187 species nest, or nested until recently, in this region, but the Livre Rouge concerns itself with only just over 80 species — the declining or vulnerable ones, and those which have already been lost. There are many parallels with Britain — Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, Wryneck Jyrtx torquilla and Corncrake Crex crex losing ground (though not Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio) — making this a fasci- nating study. A selection of excellent colour plates adds to the appeal. [David Tomlinson] Where to Watch Birds in Catalonia: in- cluding Barcelona, Costa Brava, Ebro Delta, Andorra & Pyrenees. Edited by Josep del Hoyo and Jordi Sargatal. (Lynx Promocions S.A., Barcelona, 1989. 308 pages. £16.95) Each of the 15 chapters deals with a specific area, for which several itineraries are suggested. There is very use- ful information on the habitats and birds to be found, where to go (with maps), how long is needed for each itinerary and even details on where to stay, good places to eat and points of local interest. There is a speciality section, with precise details on sought-after species such as Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponti and Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria, and complete checklists of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. An excellent guide to the region. [Steve Rooke] Mediterranean Wildlife: the rough guide. By Pete Raine. (Harrop Columbus, Brom- ley, 1990. 376 pages. Paperback £7.95) This guide covers the southern parts of the countries on the northern side of the Medi- terranean (southern Portugal to western Turkey), the Mediterranean islands, Morocco and Tunisia. It describes a selec- tion of sites in each country reasonably well, detailing the likely plants, animals and birds at each and providing some notes on access and accommodation, and, often, a map. Most of the information seems reasonably reliable though there are a few misleading statements (e.g. for Angelohori in Greece ‘Slender-billed Curlew is regularly seen in winter and on passage’ and for Lake Douyet in Morocco ‘The deeper waters are fre- quented by ruddy shelduck, gadwall and Cape shoveler’!). Worth consulting prior to a trip, especially for countries lacking more detailed guide books. [David Fisher] List of Dutch Bird Species 1990. By A. B. van den Berg. (Van den Berg, Santpoort- Zuid, 1990. 50 pages. Paperback fl5) All 428 species recorded in the Netherlands be- tween 1800 and 1st October 1990 are listed in this information-packed typewritten booklet. English (as well as Dutch and Short reviews 79 scientific) bird names are given, and there checklist can easily be used for reference by are English translations of Dutch explana- British birdwatchers, tions of categories and so on, so this detailed ALSO RECEIVED: Three Degrees West: a walk through Britain’s local and natural history. By Stephen Sankey. (John Donald Publishers, Edinburgh, 1990. 204 pages. Paperback £12.50) ^ehentp-ftbe pears* ago... There is a polyglot Starling in this garden. Sometimes he rehearses a recitation from memory. At other times he improvises according to his fancy, and now and then he hits an unexpected nail on the head with remarkable success. Thus the other morning I awoke to a reiterated whine, a long shrill splinter of sound, that gave me an odd feeling of discomfort before I could follow the train of memories that it recalled. Then I remembered the alarm note of the Lapland Bunting ( Calcarius l. lapponicus) on the Lower Yenesei, and the Starling’s chance whistle brought up vividly the recollection of long rambles over the tundra, of which it was so frequently the accompaniment.’ From Notes on the Lapland Bunting on the Yenesei River. By Maud D. Haviland. (Brit. Birds 9: 230, February 1916) News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ British Birdwatching Fair, August 1990 Writing his weekly column in The Times before the first national Birdwatching Fair, Simon Barnes cheerfully described the forthcoming event at Rutland Water as ‘an amphibian. It walks hand in hand with conservation groups and also swims freely in the capitalistic waters of Britain.’ Un- doubtedly, in encompassing a wide range of interests and activities, the British Bird- watching Fair meant different things to 9,000 different people. On a baking August weekend, serious birders met serious bird- ers, and new converts easily satisfied their material needs with a plethora of optical equipment, books, clothing and wildlife holidays. Commercial interests raked in tidy sums of money, children rushed about playing WATCH and YOC games, and even conservation talks, debates, and an exten- sive lecture programme held inside swelter- ing marquees gained the attention of enthu- siastic devotees. Although commerce and sheer enjoyment were much in evidence, the serious purpose of the event should not be forgotten. Raising funds for the protection of the Coto Donana was the prime objective and, thanks to generous sponsorship from the In Focus optical company and efficient organisation, £10,000 was raised. The British Birds stand, manned daily by Ali Breach, Sheila Cobban and Erika Shar- rock, included a mystery photographs com- petition with daily prizes of bottles of champagne. The three winners were S. Thomson of Middlesex, J. Harrison of Staf- ford, and A. Hudson. ZEISS West Germany , sponsors of the Rari- ties Committee, instituted their own daily prize draw open to everyone who purchased a pair of their binoculars during the Fair. The three winners of 6 X 20B miniature binoculars were A. Lawson of Kent, Mr Charlesworth of South Humberside and B. Nicholson of Sheffield. Both organisers, the Leicestershire and Rutland Trust for Nature Conservation and the RSPB East Midlands Office, worked hard to ensure the success of an event which looks certain to become a permanent feature of the birdwatchers’ calendar. If you missed it in 1990, make a note in your diary now for 80 News and comment this year’s Birdwatching Fair: 30th August to 1st September 1991. Further details available from the RSPB East Midlands Office, Lincoln (0522) 535596. ( Contributed by Derek Niemann) BIY reception The annual presentation of the Bird Illustrator of the Year awards took 65. Bird Illustrator of the Year winner, Gordon Trunkfield, receiving his awards from Keith Shackleton, competition judge and Past President of the Society of Wildlife Artists; London, July 1990 {Pyser Holdings) place at a Press reception at the Mall Galleries in London on 26th July 1990 (plates 65-67). The winner and runners-up received not only their engraved salver/ inscribed books and cheques, but also tele- scopes presented by the competition spon- sors, Kowa telescopes. 66. The Richard Richardson Award winner, Antony Disley, receiving his prize from Kamol Komolphalin, President of the Bang- kok Bird Club; London, July 1990 ( Pyser Holdings) 67. BIRD ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR, 1990. Left to right, Richard Tilt ( Pyser ), Keith Shackleton (judge), Antony Disley (Richard Richardson Award winner), Robert Gillmor (judge), Mark Hulme (3rd BIY), Gordon Trunkfield (winner BIY), Alan Harris (judge), Nik Borrow (2nd BIY), Andrew Stock (PJC Award winner), Mr Y. Koyama ( Kowa telescopes), David A. Cook (presenter) and MrJ. Nishi ( Kowa telescopes), London, July 1990 {Pyser Holdings) News and comment 81 Aid for Choughs The 60 pairs of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax which breed on the Isle of Man are to be the centre of attention of a scheme designed to maintain and increase their numbers. The sum of £40,000 has been awarded by Manx Airlines, spread over the next ten years, to a plan devised by the Nature Conservancy Council. The ‘Manx Chough Project’, as it will be known, will develop work already carried out by the NCC on Islay and Colonsay. The grant will go towards maintaining buildings that are associated with the traditional agriculture (which is based on stock-rearing) so that their otherwise temporary use as nest sites will become permanent. We hope that the project achieves its aim ‘to increase signi- ficantly the number of breeding pairs of Choughs on the Isle of Man’, all thanks to Manx Airlines, the Manx Ornithological Society, the Manx Museum, the WWF and any other sponsors that may help. No fairer deal for pests No sooner do we acknowledge and indeed welcome an appa- rent move to bring our ‘pest bird’ legislation in line with the EC Birds Directive (Brit. Birds 84: 39) than the Government, clearly bowing to pressure from landowners, sportsmen and farmers, decides not to proceed . . . They argue, instead, that there are no conserva- tion reasons for changing our laws and, by some twist of logic we fail to understand, that our traditional practices are fully in line with the spirit of the Directive. We beg to differ, and hope this is not the last we have heard on this issue. Meanwhile, we can still kill, say, a Carrion Crow Corvus corone be- cause it does damage — which is fair enough; but we can also kill it simply because it is a Carrion Crow — which, surely, is all wrong. News from Spain Our thanks to David Simpson of Branta Holidays, who has writ- ten to tell us that the absurd birdwatching ban imposed by the authorities in the Madrid area (Brit. Birds 83: 391) has now been lifted. Writing from the Costa del Sol, Andy Paterson has given us the good news that the ponds at the mouth of the Guadalhorce (between Malaga and Torremolinos) — one of the few standing freshwater sites on the coast of Andalucia — now have reserve status and are rigorously protected. He goes on: ‘Entry is now by permit and people without have been turned off. . . Access permits, which should prevent any difficulty with the police, are being issued free and I have been assured . . . that any ornithologist who writes . . . and mentions my name will be given one.’ Andy recommends applying well in advance, and points out that he cannot obtain permits directly for prospective visitors. Permits are obtainable from D. Manuel Romero, Agen- da de Medio Ambiente (Malaga), Edificio Malaga, Calle Molina Larios, 29015 Malaga, Spain. Blue light for wildlife Police officers from 38 different forces and representatives from 14 statutory and non-Govemment organisa- tions met in Durham during 5th-7th Octo- ber 1990 to discuss wildlife legislation and the role of the police in enforcing it. The conference, a welcome initiative by the RSPB and the Royal Society for Nature Conservation, was primarily for the benefit of police wildlife liaison officers. Topics discussed included crimes against badgers Meles meles, birds of prey persecution, plant protection, wildlife smuggling and the legal protection given to habitats. Acknowledging their prime responsibility for enforcing wild- life laws, the police nevertheless pointed out that the co-operation of other bodies was absolutely essential if ‘conservation crimi- nals’ are to be brought to justice. Speakers presented a gloomy picture of offences against badgers and birds of prey. Chief Inspector Kevin Degenhardt of the RSPCA spoke of particularly depressing cruelty against badgers, carried out in the name of ‘sport’ by some psychologically disturbed individuals. Alan Griffiths of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was at least able to strike a more positive note when promising more Government resources for the investigation of illegal poisoning — good news for birds of prey, the frequent victims of this totally irresponsible activity. Addres- sing the wildlife liaison officers, Assistant Chief Constable Terry Rands described the impact the ordinary bobby could have when he quoted Edmund Burke: ‘Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little. * BB readers can help by reporting suspicious incidents to the police; by pressing Chief Constables for action if the local force has not appointed a wildlife liaison officer; and by knowing and understanding the law — explanatory leaflets are available from RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. (Contributed by Andy Jones) Peter Robinson Our congratulations to the Andy Jones mentioned above, who has 82 News and comment succeeded Peter Robinson as Chief Investi- gations Officer in the Species Management department of the RSPB. Peter led the RSPB team for 16 years in the difficult and often highly complex investigations field, with vision, more than a little flair and a great dedication — not to mention a lot of success. His friends and his closest col- leagues would argue for hours about whether they were most impressed by his work-rate or his (almost) invariable sense of humour, but there is no disagreement about the mark he made. If his professional foes are breathing a sigh of relief, they had better think again: he leaves behind him an efficient and highly motivated team to carry on the good work ... If we envy him his early and thoroughly well-deserved retire- ment to the Scillies, we can still wish him well! British Ecological Society Awards Among the 12 grants awarded by the British Ecolo- gical Society and the Coalboum Trust Fund in November 1990, the former’s Small Grants included two of particular ornitholo- gical interest. Dr Juliet Vickery, of the School of Biological Sciences at the Univer- sity of East Anglia, has been awarded £500 towards the study of food piracy by the Great Frigatebird Fregata minor and its im- pact on eight species of breeding seabirds on Henderson Island (Pitcairn Islands). Dr T. K. Shrestha has been awarded the same amount for his study of an endemic and declining Nepalese bird, the Spiny Babbler Turdoides nipalensis. English bird names Debate may be going on behind closed doors in Britain, following the BOU’s attempts to muzzle its own Records Committee (Brit. Birds 82: 334-335), but there is no such inhibition on the other side of the Atlantic. The American Birding Association’s journal, Birding, has devoted a lot of space recently (in its October 1989 and October 1990 issues) to the debate on the proposed new names (Brit. Birds 81: 355-377; Ibis 130: Supplement), within its ‘Point/ Counterpoint’ opinion/correspondence col- umn. The views expressed are balanced, reasoned and well worth reading, regardless of which side of the fence your own inclina- tions lie. New County Recorder B. N. Rossiter, West Bam, Lee Grange, Ordley, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 1SX, has taken over from Mike Hodgson as County Recorder for Northumberland. Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 18th December 1990 to 17th January 1991 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records American Wigeon Anas americana Pair, Cas- tle Cauldwell (Co. Fermanagh), 16th Janu- ary; single males at Ballycotton and Ballin- tubrid (both Co. Cork) from November 1990 to at least 14th January. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Auchenreoch Loch (Dumfries & Galloway), 13th to at least 16th January. Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Ballycotton, 9th to at least 16th January. Franklin’s Gull Lams pipixcan Brighton (East Sussex), 29th December. Bonaparte’s Gull Larus Philadelphia Ply- mouth (Devon), 7th- 13th January. Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis At least 19 in Ireland and at least 19 in England. Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides Adult of North American race kumliem , Galway City Rub- bish Dump (Co. Galway), 13th January. Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea Adult, Nim- mo’s Pier, Galway, 6th to at least 13th January. Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri Adult, Strang- ford (Co. Down), 6th January; probably same, Millisle (also Co. Down), 12th- 16th January. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca Wainfleet All Saints (Lincolnshire), 27th December to 17 th January. Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Peak of 90, Carrickfergus (Co. Antrim), 11th January. 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Sponsors of the Rarities Committee Germany Sponsors of ' Monthly marathon ’ Christopher Helm and zfr Collins T ^ Sponsors of ‘Bird Photograph of the Year ’ Sponsors of Bird Illustrator of the Year’ telescopes HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND ’JTjf. Beautiful Georgian Hotel witlt, Excellent Food & Accommodation iia LAWNS Holt, Norfolk. LfCTTFl (0263)713390 MM ■——— 3 crowns commended CLEY 5 miles Bargain Breaks (BB525) FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Reserve and The Fames. Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mrs J. Suther- land, Ross Farm, Belford, Northumberland NE70 TEN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB560) GRACIOUS GEORGIAN HOUSE in private grounds. Central to the Yorkshire Dales, Gouth- waite, Scar and Angram reservoirs. High stan- dard of accommodation. Private bathrooms. Interesting home cooking. Friendly quiet atmo- sphere. Residential licence. Ideal birdwatching area. Sae: brochure: Mrs P. B. Garforth, Grass- fields Country House Hotel, Pateley Bridge, Har- rogate. Tel: Harrogate 711412. (BB621) xvi 1 CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed- rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071- 4S1 2942. (BB496) WEST SUSSEX, Pagham Harbour/ Selsey. Beau- tiful Georgian Farmhouse, with purpose built B&B accommodation. All facilities provided. Warm, friendly atmosphere, children welcome. Open all year. Tel: 0234 602790. (BB530) EXMOOR. Peaceful s/catering c/heated holi- day homes in Natural Trust Village. Marshes, woods and moorland — rich in birdlife. Reduced spring/ autumn terms. Open all year. Stamp to Sheila Wright, Pack Horse, Allerford, nr Mine- head. Tel: 0643 862475. (BB466) EXMOOR for country and animal lovers. Farm- house accommodation, bed and breakfast and evening meal, or self-catering cottage. Details from: French, Brendon Barton, Lynton, Devon. Tel: 059 87 201. (BB389) B&B IN PURBECK from £1 1 per night EM opt. Family residence, 1.5 miles south of Wareham. Home from home, ‘Hyde Hill’, 64 Furzebrook Road, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5AX. Tel: 0929 552392. (BB380) CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2) . Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB441) ISLES OF SOLLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St. Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds over- looking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB442) YORKSHIRE DALES (GRASSINGTON). BB & EM. Eileen & Allan invite you to share their idyl- lic 17c. riverside cottage. Private fishing. (Bird- watching courses.) Brochure (0756) 752463. (BB607) LAKE DISTRICT - RYDAL. Two cottages, sleep 6 each, weekly lets. Fisher Hoggarth, 52 Kirk- land, Kendal. Tel: 0539 722592 in office hours. (BB609) NORTH NORFOLK COAST, Burnham Overy Staithe, Domville Guest House B&B + EM (opt), double/twins (2 en suites) singles (4). TV lounge. Close to major reserves. For details ring (0328) 738298. (BB612) NORTH NORFOLK — Glavenside guest house in Letheringsett, 5 miles inland from sea at Blakeney, Cley and Salthouse. River Glaven works adjoining mill & flows through 4 acres of garden on its way to sea at Cley. Tel: Holt (0263) 713181. (BB619) OLD HUNSTANTON, NORFOLK Overlook- ing the Wash. Fully equipped holiday cottages, col TV, gas or CH. Close beach, available all year. Mrs Lindsay, 4 Marks Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9SH. Tel: Upper Warlingham (0883) 622013. (BB542) WEYMOUTH, Birchfields Licensed Guest House, close to RSPB reserves. BB from £10. Evening meal optional. Ideal winter/spring breaks. Parties welcome. For details phone 0305 773255. (BB548) Churehwood Valley * Varied Birds and Wildlife * Quiet Coastal Country Setting * Comfortable Quality Log Cabins * E.T.B. Graded VVVv (Very Good) Colour brochure: Churehwood, Wembury Bay, E Near Plymouth, Devon PL9 0DZ. ‘Telephone: (0752) 862382 (24 hr) VISIT BEMPTON and Flamborough Head for the best in sea bird watching. Spring and A migs. S breeding. Stay at the Flaneburg Hotel, Flam- borough. BB from £17. Full restaurant facilities. Tel: (0262) 850284. (BB516) NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Licensed Guest House run by birders for birders. Jean & Tony Bellars, Haydn House, Avenue Road, Hunstan- ton. Tel: 0485 533115. (BB497) PENZANCE. Excellent B/B. Ideal situation for travel to Isles of Scilly. Tel: (0736) 60881. ‘The Victorian House’. (BB559) RAME HEAD, CORNWALL. Superb Napol- eonic fortress overlooking own private beach, lawns & cliffs on spectacular migratory Rame Peninsula. Seawatch, migrants, waders (SSSI), tennis, golf, etc: Idyllic retreat for S/C house parties up to 20. Gas C.H., flag-stoned floors, king-sized beds, en suite bathrooms. Guided out- ings/ cuisine if required. Tel: 0752 822864. (BB558) NORFOLK, C LEY-NEXT-SEA 1 MILE. Flint- stones Guest House, Wiveton Holt Full C/H, H&C, tea/ coffee making facs. Col. TV all rooms. Evening meal optional. Open nearly all year. Please ring for brochure. Sorry No Smoking. Tel: 0263 740337. (BB640) SIBTON (NR MINSMERE), Sibton WTiite Horse Inn. A charming 16th century freehouse in 3 acres, en suite accommodation available in modern block, bed & breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or rest, meals avail. Tel: Peasenhall 337. (BB528) IRELAND IRISH COTTAGE Magnificent situation on Dingle peninsula, Kerry. Sea and mountain birds, unspoilt beaches, countryside full of flow- ers, quietness. Mod cons, sleeps 4. £94-£154 weekly plus electricity. Gerrards Cross (0753) 883082. (BB617) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi-pension (Private bath) from £38.00. De- tails, brochures, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB526) xviii To advertise phone 0621 815085 SPEY VALLEY. Maureen and Larry once again invite guests to sample their highland hospitality. Set in five acres, our home has uninterrupted views of the Cairngorms. Bird register available. Good home cooking and a warm welcome await you. D/B/B £120.00 p.w. (All rooms en-suite). Brochure: Maureen Taulbut, ‘Braes of Duthil’, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND. (BB450) ISLE OF ISLAY, HEBRIDES. Five superbly equipped cottages, open throughout year. Per- fect situation with views, minutes to charming village. Short drive to R.S.P.B. reserve at Gruinart. Brochure: Mrs Sarah Roy, Lorgba Holiday Cottages, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyll. Tel: 049 685/208. (BB416) OSPREY VISITORS to Loch Garten 8c Aber- nethy? Locheil GH offers BB: £10.50; DBB: £16.50; or self-eater Cottage (sleeps 6) rental £20 nightly, and Chalet (sleeps 4) £16 nightly. For details & 150 birdlist, walks, slide- talks etc. write: Locheil, Boat of Garten, In- verness-shire. Tel: 047 983 603. (BB564) CAIRNGORMS — Nethybridge, Spey Valley. Choice of converted smithy and cottages. Very comfortable and well furnished. Mrs C. Patrick, Chapelton Place, Forres. Tel: 0309 72505. (BB518) GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, forests and sea. Speciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High quality self-catering houses, cottages, flats. De- tails G. M. Thomson 8c Co, 27 King Street, Cas- de Douglas. 0556 2973. (BB479) SEE PUFFINS, skuas, seals and a lot more. Pri- vate boat takes you among otherwise inaccessible colonies. A nature-lover’s dream. Full board in casde, or stay in self-catering cottages. Send for details: Balfour Castle, Shapinsay, Orkney. Tel: 085 671 282. (BB524) ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into two warm, comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Cal- gary. Tel: 068 84 265 or (0453) 833323. (BB567) ORKNEY ISLES; Glen, Rackwick, Isle of Hoy. Small hill farm adjacent to RSPB Reserve, ornithologist’s paradise; sea birds, moorland, meadow, birds of prey. Bed and breakfast. 1 double, 1 twin; evening meal optional. Special rate for 3 days. DBB £40 per person. Also self- catering chalet. Tel: Rendall 0856 79262. (BB614) ELLARY ESTATE— MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of self-catering cottages and chalets situ- ated on the shores of Loch Caolisport. While you are at Ellary you are free to go wherever you please. There are hill walks, many lochs and burns where you can fish, numerous wildlife, birds, flowers, etc. The perfect location for the true country lover. For full colour brochure please write to: The Booking Office, Ellary 7, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8PA. Tel: 08808 232/ 209 or 054685 223. (BB583) NETHY BRIDGE - S/C cottages in the Aber- nethy Forest. Sleeps 4-8 from £100 p.w. Something to suit everyone in our colour brochure. Cottage Care. Tel. 0479 85322. (BB606) GALLOWAY. Country cottage, sleeps 4. Mid- way Glen Trool/coast. 0808 880709. (BB608) ISLE OF GIGHA, Argyllshire. For a holiday sur- rounded by natural beauty, sandy beaches, ex- otic gardens, birds, wild flowers, good food and comfortable accommodation. Also self catering accommodation. Please contact Mrs. Mc- Sporran, Post Office House 058-35 251. (BB620) SPEY VALLEY, Beautiful secluded informal country hotel, 2 miles from village of Car- rbridge. Home cooking, full central heating. All rooms en-suite. Perfect base for birdwatchers and walkers. Discount available for parties. Terms from £160.00 per week DB&B. Brochure from Mrs Y. Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel: 0479 84278. (BB642) WALES 17th CENTURY CHARACTER COTTAGES in picturesque setting, fantastic views. Sleeps 2-12. Self-catering. 2 miles Symonds Yat with pere- grines, buzzards. Open fire and central heating. H. Smith, Old Kilns, Howie Hill, Ross-on-Wye. Tel: 0989 62051. (BB522) RED KITE COUNTRY— Tregaron— Guest- House standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Ynys-hir RSPB reserves. Parties wel- come. WTB — 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 298380 or 298905. (BB495) ANGLESEY. Superb beachside hotel with mag- nificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanists in area noted for its lakes, reserves and coastline of outstanding beauty. Come to ‘High- ground’ AA/RAC listed, licensed, for warm wel- come, excellent food and accommodation. Brochure: Mrs Karen Hayter, Highground, Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY. Tel: 0407 860078. (BB580) OVERSEAS FRENCH PYRENEES. Rose covered cottage set in magnificent unspoilt wooded valley. Excellent walking, wildlife, birds of prey 8c flowers. Or- ganic fruit and veg. available. Tel. John and Rose Gunning on 01033 61665127 or 61667619. (BB499) xix To advertise phone 0621 815085 WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE? We specialise in Birdwatching, Nature Photography, Trekking, Wildlife Safari, Caving and White-Water Rafting holidays NEPAL • INDIA • BHUTAN MALAYSIA • INDONESIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA Send for a brochure now! Footprint & Adventures w 5, MALHAM DRIVE LAKELANDS LINCOLN LN6 0XD Tel: (0522) 690852 (BB531) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS TAKING BIRDWATCHERS TO EUROPE AND BEYOND SIBERIA • NEPAL • GAMBIA SPAIN • MAJORCA • KENYA BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS IN SMALL GROUPS WITH EXPERT LEADERS FREE BROCHURE, PHONE OR WRITE TO: 0723 891715 (DAY) 0532 586555 (EVENING) 59 HUNGER HILLS DRIVE, LEEDS LS18 5JU (BB491) CZECHOSLOVAKIA 14 DAYS -MORAVIA £680 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER TURKEY 18 DAYS CENTRAL & EASTERN £999 1 1 DAYS BOSPHORUS MIGRATION £685 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER Enquiries to: CHRIS L SLADE, 8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull, West Midlands B92 9EL Tel: 021 -742 5420/021 -705 5535 (BB603> T [OiudWn^S he Travel Agency for Bird Watchers Low Cost Airfares & Car Hire... Worldwide 1991 RETURN FARES FROM: SPAIN £59 INDONESIA .... £519 GREECE ....£115 HONG KONG.... .... £499 AUSTRIA £99 MALAYSIA .... £464 CANARIES ... .... £129 THAILAND .... £385 TURKEY £139 CANADA £199 MOROCCO .. .... £123 USA £193 ISRAEL ....£169 TRINIDAD ....£360 GAMBIA £258 COSTA RICA.... .... £509 ICELAND ....£220 VENEZUELA .... .... £407 KENYA £323 ECUADOR £495 S. AFRICA.... .... £575 BRAZIL £539 INDIA ....£362 ARGENTINA .... .... £615 NEPAL ....£469 AUSTRALIA £539 CHINA ....£475 NEW ZEALAND .. £599 JAPAN £605 Contact us for your quote with Dates of Travel. * FREE Comprehensive Travel and Birding ^formation folder for your destination when you book with us. 0272-259999 ?JL or DICK FILBY 0603 -619409 ABrA 65077 (BB623) Visiting AUSTRALIA? Coming to Sydney on holiday or business? Guided day and half-day trips for birdwatchers. Specialising in individuals and small groups. If you have special needs then let us know. Enquiries to: Mr R. L. Morrow Babbler Bird Excursions 2 Wentworth St, Randwick 2031 NSW, Australia (BB354) BIRDWATCHING ADVICE LINE Planning A Birdwatching Trip Abroad Thomas Cook Travel Agents Offer You: An Advice Line 051-931 5074. Ask for Keith Hiller Experienced Birdwatcher. Details available include Worldwide Airfares, Pkg Hols., Car Hire, Visas, Health, Accomm. Individuals or Groups catered for. (BB527) SITUATIONS VACANT GIBRALTAR POINT NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE 1) Contract assistant warden required for one year, April 1991 to March 1992 with responsibility for shorebird protection, £55.00 per week + full board. Also shorebird warden at Donna Nook reserve, £80.00 per week. 2) Field Station assistant required March to November inc. for general duties, £55.00 per week + full board. Apply: Gibraltar Point Field Station, Skegness, Lines. PE24 4SU. Tel: 0754 2677. (BB588) XX To advertise phone 0621 815085 PERSONAL BIRDING CANADA or United States? For info, checklists, etc., write Dunnock 2409 Spey- side, Dr., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5K 1X5. (BB569) COURSES SKOKHOLM ISLAND, off the Pembrokeshire Coast. Courses in Art, Birdwatching, Photogra- phy. Thousands of Puffins, Manx-shearwaters, Guillemots, Razorbills and other birds. Send SAE to Dept BB, 7 Market Street, Haverfordwest, Dyfed SA61 INF. Tel: (0437) 765462. (BB545) BIRD REPORTS SEABIRDS OF BISCAY 90. Birding voyages Ply- mouth-Santander. £3.50 inc p&p. SEBA, West Lodge, Puddington, Wirral L64 5ST. (BB616) BIRDS OF OXON, 1989 £4 inc p&p, from R. Overall, 30 Hunsdon Road, Iffley, Oxford OX4 4JE. (BB521) HERTFORDSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1989, £3.50 inc. p&p, from L. Smith, 24 Mandeville Rise, Wel- wyn Garden City, Herts AL8 7JU. (BB523) GWENT BIRD REPORT 1989. Many articles, new county records. £3.35 from Jerry Lewis, Y Bwthyn Gwyn, Coldbrook, Abergavenny, Gwent. Past reports also available. (BB565) ESSEX BIRD REPORT 1989. 190 pages plus colour plates. £4.50 inc. p&p. J. Howard, 6 St Brides Court, Colchester, Essex C04 4PQ. (BB584) SUSSEX BIRD REPORT 1989 — Just published. Send £4.00 to ‘S.B.R. 1989’. Lorrimer, Main Road, Icklesham, Winchelsea, E. Sussex TN36 4BS. (BB618) BIRDS IN DURHAM 1989. £3.57 incl, p&p, from David Sowerbutts, 9 Prebends Field, Giles- gate Moor, Durham DH1 1HH. (BB615) BOOKS BIRD BOOKS. New Nats., bought/sold, want lists welcome, catalogues issued. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherways, Freshfield, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel: 07048 711 15. (BB586) BIRD BOOKS, 1838-1989. SAE for 700 item cat- alogue. (’rack Books, Sawmill Cottages, Burton- in-Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancs. (BB563) Britain ’s leading ornithological booksellers now available: Langrand A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF MADAGASCAR £35 plus £2 postage Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Mail order catalogue available on request HENRY SOTHERAN LTD 2 Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London W1X 2DP Tel: 071-439 6151 (BB605) SUBBUTEO NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS LTD Wide selection of ornithological and natural history titles available from stock, also travel books & maps. Mail order catalogue on request. Personal callers welcome. Low postage rates Dept BB, Ffordd y Llan, Treuddyn, Nr. Mold, Qwyd CH7 4LN Tel: (0352) 770581 (24 hours). Fax: (0352) 771590 (BB438) BIRDWATCHING IN CRETE. 2nd Ed. with cor- rections. £3.50 inc. p&p. Stephanie Coghlan, 25 Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield HD5 8TA (BB61 1) BOOKS ON BIRDS, MAMMALS, ETC., BOUGHT & SOLD. Also Field Sports, Big Game, Travel, Science, the Arts, etc. Catalogues issued. David Grayling, Crosby Ravensworth, Pen- rith, Cumbria CA10 3JP. 09315 282. (BB613) REGULAR CATALOGUES of secondhand and antiquarian books on all aspects of Natural His- tory and Countryside. Litde Holcombe Books, 52 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, Burv, Lancashire BL0 9AQ. Tel: 0706 825322. (BB622) The original BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 1 59 diary pages. Send £5.95 to: „ Coxton Publications, * Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, 5 Beverley, N. Humberside HU17 8RP 5 xxi To advertise phone 0621 815085 ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the Let s look at . . series, Majorca, SW Spain. The Camar- gue, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Eastern Austria, South Morocco, North East Greece, Vancouver and The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland and Arctic Norway. The Gambia, North West Turkey and Northern India, £3.50 per copy and Australia £4.00 per copy. Ornitholidays, 1-3 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex P021 2PW. (BB262) ‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804. (BB490) FOR SALE FOR SALE - Individual BB subscribers can adver- tise here FREE (up to 30 words, setting a single item, e.g. binocular, book, set of journals). Quote your BB Ref. No. and address envelope to ‘ Free BB Advertis- ing’. (BB753) BIRD BOOKS mainly British (1812-1982). Small selection includes Bannerman, Yarrell, run of North Staffs Field Club Transactions; reasonable prices. List from: Nightingale, 102 Denmark Street, Diss, Norfolk IP22 3LF. (BB639) BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUP- PLIED. (BB. Bird study, County Reports, etc.), David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon. (BB493) PARABOLIC REFLECTOR specially de- signed for recording birdsong. Hand or tripod mounting. £40.00 incl p&p. SAE details, Richard Margoschis, 80 Mancetter Road, Ather- stone CV9 1NH. (BB514) CARRY YOUR TRIPOD in comfort with the Tri- pod Tamer Shoulder Strap, £8.50 including postage from Vital Equipment, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd LL29 8AT (S.A.E. for details) . (BB550) BIRDS OF GALWAY - a review of recent records and field studies by Tony Whilde. Avail- able from Ann Fleming, 62 Devon Park, Salthill, Galway, Ireland. £4.50 inc. p&p. (BB601) R.S.P.B. BIRDS MAGAZINE. Complete run from Vol. 1 No. 1, January 1966 to date + 9 binders. Offers: Williams - 0228 31561 (office hours). (BB637) NIKON FIELDSCOPE ED 1, 20 x 60, mint con- dition, best offers. Phone Demi Pangalos 071-247 2772 (day) or 081-997 1212, after 7.30 pm. (BB635) ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TURKEY BIRD REPORTS Nos 1-4 (covers years 1966-75). Offers. Cannings, 51 Fontmell Park, Ashford, Middx. 0784 253909. (BB625) SHARROCK - SCARCE MIGRANT BIRDS IN BRITAIN 8c IRELAND 1974 - inkmarks on con- tents page, bookplate, otherwise near fine. £35 inc. p&p. Tel. 0483 766517. (BB624) UHER 4400-S, stereo portable 4-speed t/recorder, v. good condition. Tapes, mains adaptor/charger, manual/circuit. £155 ono. (0734) 782709. (BB610) British Birds 1955-1984 (bound and loose) Bird Study 1956-1983 BTO News No’s 1-150 Orvx Vols 5-23 Birds (RSPB) 1966-1977 Surrey B C Reports 1974-8 All in good condition and available for any reason- able offer. The buyer collects or pays carriage. Please telephone for further details 0952 660024 (evgs). (BB641) TAMRON 500mm f8 £170, Sunagor 400mm f6.3 £40, Dufay 200mm f4.5 £40, Ricoh 50mm f2 £20, Panagor macro converter £30, Universal clamp £10. All o.n.o. Phone 0202 722014 after 6 pm. (BB634) 300mm f2.8 FD CANON LENS with 1.4x or 2x converter (RRP £2000+) £600. Ed Mackrill 0754 85367. (BB632) TELESCOPE Optolyth TBS body, 30x eye piece, soft case. All in mint condition. Any offers? Tel. 0235 535720. (BB631) BIRDS OF AFRICA vols 1-3, absolutely mint, £160. 0932 241675. (BB629) KOWA TSN3 with 20-60 zoom eye-piece. Mint condition. Still in box. Best offer over £500. Con- tact Giles Feltham 071-231 2726. (BB628) FOR SALE. Bird Study Vols 18-30 (1971-83). £2 per volume + postage. Tel 0277 823007. (BB627) OPTOLYTH 22 x 60 GA spotting scope with leather case. Good condition, £100.00. Tel: Mansfield 811597. (BB626) DISCOVERER ZOOM TELESCOPE, Cobra tri- pod, window mount, hardly used. £150.00. Tel: 081-644 4818. (BB643) TAMRON SP 300mm LENS. £50.00. B. J. Hill. Tel: 0278 784161. (BB644) WANTED BOOKS BY LARS JONSSON. Birds of The Mediterranean and Alps’. ‘Birds of Field and Water’ Dinnington 568139. (BB519) WANTED. B.W.P. Vol. Ill, R.S.P.B. edn., in ex- change for std edn plus fee. 0328 711337. (BB636) LARS JONSSON. ‘Birds of Wood, Park and Gar- den.’ ‘Birds of Meditteranean and Alps.’ 0633 619807. (BB633) xxu ‘BIRDS OF GUYANA’ Dorothy Snyder (1966). Contact Whittlesey, Cowley Lodge, Blundells Road, Tiverton, Devon. (BB630) University Microfilms International reproduces this publication in microform: micro- fiche and 16mm or 35mm film. For information about this publication or any of the more than 13,000 titles we offer, complete and mail the coupon to: University Microfilms International, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, Call us toll-free for an immediate response: 8G0~52i~304< Or call collect in Michigan, Alaska and Hawaii: 313-761-4700. University Microfilms International (D525) British Birds Volume 84 Number 2 February 1991 41 Identification of Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni exilipes Peter Lansdown, Nick Riddiford and Dr Alan Knox Notes 57 Night Herons and Little Egrets preying on fish while flying Erik Hirschfeld 57 Grey Heron catching, killing and swallowing Hoopoe Conrad Greaves 58 Grey Herons stealing fish from Cormorants and from Bittern Brian L. Kington 59 Talon-linking and cartwheeling display of Booted Eagles Dr A. M. Jones 60 Woodcock mobbing Nightjar N. Cleere 61 Stock Doves preyed on by grey squirrels and brooding young squirrel Hugh Robertson 61 Nightjar giving contact call after alighting on perch N. Cleere 61 Bee-eaters taking earthworms on the ground Dr Roy A. Earle 62 Crested Larks nesting on roofs Dr Josef Chytil 64 Nuthatch attacking Nuthatch corpse Dr Peter Gasson 65 Magpie killing Sparrowhawk Dr A. F. J. Cox 65 Jackdaw attacking Woodpigeon Alan Bowley 66 Roosting behaviour of Carrion Crows on ground Miss J. M. Stainton Letters 68 The introduction of the Chukar Major W. H. Payn 68 Reaction of Blackcap to sudden noise Professor Dr P. Berthold and U. Quemer 69 Red-backed Shrikes with white primary patches Przemystaw Chylarecki 71 Jackdaws stealing food from breeding Guillemots and Puffins Dr Euan Dunn 71 The best food-plant for birds? Guy Mountfort 72 Product reports Greenkat SGN-3 60mm Prismatic Spotting Scope James T. Cullen 73 Monthly marathon 74 Mystery photographs 163 Red-headed Bunting Dr Colin Bradshaw Announcement 76 Books in British BirdShop Reviews 76 ‘Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland’ byj. N. Dymond, P. A. Fraser and S. J. M. Gantlett Rob Hume 77 ‘Where to Watch Birds in Scotland’ by Mike Madders and Julia Welstead Eh M. A. Ogilvie 78 Short reviews 79 Seventy -five years ago . . . 79 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch 82 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawing: 41 Arctic Redpolls ( P . Bristow) Front cover: Redwings ( Stephen Message): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see pages 37-38 in January issue for procedure) Volume 84 Number 3 March 1991 Pochards breeding in Britain Autumn 1990: non-passerines Monthly marathon • Notes • Letters • Mystery photographs Reviews News and comment • Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. A* Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock . Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith Art Consultants Robert Gillmor 8c Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colm Bradshaw (co-opted), Alan Brown G. P. Cadey, Peter Clement (co-opted), A. R. Dean, S. J. M. Gantlett, C D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume, J. H. Marchant, 8c K. E. Vinicombe; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) , . « T Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons; identification Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1991 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your Addresses envelope correctly. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication DrJ. T. R. Sharrock Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085 Bird news for ‘ Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings); Luton (0582) 490049 (office hours) News items for News and comment ’ Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon PE 18 9BS Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN. Phone: Totnes (0803) 865913 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £38.40 IR£42.35 or $69.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £31.20, IR£34.8U or $54.00; personal: airmail outside Europe £52.50, IR£58.35 or $94.00. Single bac copies £4.00, IR£4.50 or $7.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Pdearctic ^Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten lute pacLg and Zide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue t style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequences of birds follow The ^British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1984): names of plants foUow (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers); names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1 , e an ° British Mammals). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorud recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-qua ity tracing paper drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering shou d l^nfd Kghliy in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of ntain papers (bu, no, notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston. Bedford OPEN MON - SAT 9 am - 6 pm 204 HIGH STREET BARNET, HERTS. EN5 5SZ in focus OPEN EVERY WEEKEND 9 am - 4 pm 081-4491445 081-441 7748 icbp world FAX: 081 -440 9999 environment PARTNER 1991 THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS 5? AT THE BRIARFIELDS HOTEL MAIN ROAD, TITCHWELL, NORFOLK PE31 8BB. 0836 311398 LEMSFORD SPRINGS FIELD DAYS SUNDAY DATES 10 MARCH. 14 APRIL 1 0 TILL 4 EACH DAY The ideal opportunity to test, compare and purchase from our full range of equipment at this compact well managed reserve near Welwyn Garden City, Herts. For further information contact ‘In focus1. PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY SUN 21 APRIL SUN 1 9 MAY 10-4 In focus’ are pleased to offer our customers in the South and West the opportunity to test compare and purchase from our full range of equipment at this famous Dorset bird observatory. Phone for details. REGIONAL FIELD WEEKENDS SPRING 1991 RSPB DUNGENESS RSPB LODMOOR KENT DORSET 16-17 MARCH 23 - 24 MARCH CHEW VALLEY LAKE RUTLAND WATER AVON EGLETON RESERVE 6-7 APRIL 27 - 28 APRIL PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO VISITORS WITH AN INVITATION BETWEEN 10AM AND 4PM ON EACH DAY The ideal way to test optics for birdwatching is to watch birds! These Field Weekends at well- known Reserves around the country will enable our customers to choose and select from our complete range of equipment under field conditions. You are invited to apply in writing or by phone for an invitation and information pack to any of the above events indicating your preferred day and time of attendance. .£ SWIFT £ .589.00 Triton 8x40 89.95 .569.00 Triton 10x50 99.95 589 00 149 00 .189.00 Audubon 8.5x44 199.00 ..219.00 Audubon 7x35GA 329.00 ..269.00 .149.00 ..289.00 49 00 ..319.00 20x 20.00 .339.00 QUESTAR £ Field Model 3V2" Broad £ Band Coating. Supplied with .199.00 50x-80x Hood, Case .1900 00 P11 00 30x-50x ....120.00 ....120.00 .223.00 Porro Prism ....140.00 ..559.00 OPTOLYTH £ ..559.00 Alpin 8x30BGA ...205.00 ..559.00 Alpin 8x40BGA ....225.00 Alpin 10X40BGA ....230.00 £ Alpin 10x50BGA ....241.00 ..215.00 388 00 ..225.00 ...398.00 ..245.00 ..398.00 ..399.00 TBS80 Body ....350.00 .469.00 TBG80 Body ...350.00 ..499.00 20x WA 100 00 .489.00 30x WA 64.00 ..570.00 40x 65.00 .789.00 22x-60x Zoom . .150.00 Soft Case 29.00 5.00 35.00 ...10.00 OBSERVATION ...10.00 BINOCULARS £ 4.00 Opticron 20x80 ...345.00 ...10.00 Opticron 30x80 ...345.00 ...24.00 KOWA £ TS601 ....179.00 £ TS602 ....179.00 20x WA 54.00 ....79.00 20x-60x Zoom 94.00 ...85.00 .19.95 . .89.00 TSN-1 . ...295.00 .135.00 TSN-2 ...295.00 .150.00 TSN-3 ...555.00 .249.00 TSN-4 ...555.00 ..279.00 20x WA 89.00 .539.00 25x 59.00 .229.00 30x WA 109 on ..249.00 40x 59.00 ..329.00 20x-60x Zoom .139.00 ...265.00 Photo Kit 99.00 ...329.00 Case for TSN 22.50 ...475.00 Skua Case 39.00 Rear Dust Dome 15.00 65.00 Spare O.G. Cover TSN .. 6.00 20.00 59.00 10.00 OPTICRON £ HR 7x42 MC ....143.00 ‘in focus’ NEW SHOWROOM MAIN STREET, TITCHWELL, NORFOLK. From and including Easter weekend we will be open Fri-Mon. 1 0am - 6pm, Fri, Sat, Sun. 1 0am - 4pm, Mon. Our new showroom offers unrivalled views over Titchwell Marsh and will be stocked with our full range of binoculars, scopes, tripod, and accessories plus a full selection of used equipment. Phone 0836 311398 BAUSCH & LOMB LEICA CARL ZEISS Accessories: NIKON Spotting scope 20x60 GA... 199.00 Spotting scope 20x-45x60 GA 259.00 HR 8x42 MC 145.00 HR 10x42 MC 150.00 HR 10x50 MC 167.00 Minerva 8x40MC 170.00 Minerva 9x35MC 169.00 Minerva 10x42 MC 175.00 HR Body 80 249.00 30xWA 32.00 27x-80x Zoom 76.00 HR Body, 22x and Case 159.95 HR GA, 22x and Case 1 69.95 HR 45”, 22x and Case 1 99.95 HR Body, 20x-60x, Case 199.95 HR GA, 20x-60x, Case 209.95 HR 45”, 20X-60X, Case 229.95 25x or 40x 30.00 Classic IF60 118.00 18xWA 23.00 25x 23.00 Zoom 22x-40x 59.00 Classic IF 75mm 137.00 22xWA 23.00 30x 23.00 Zoom 22x-47x 50.00 Piccolo Body 1 28.00 Eye Pieces from 29.00 Photo Kits from 28 00 Cases for Scopes 15.00 Macro Monocular 50.00 CARL ZEISS JENA E Deltrintem 8x30 64.95 Dekarem 10x50 99.95 Notarem 8x32 1 49.95 Notarem 8x32BA 139.95 Notarem 1 0x40 1 79.95 Notarem 10x40BA 199.95 Turmon 8x21 44.95 MIRADOR £ 8X40B 110.00 1 0x40B 114.00 10x508 122.00 Merlin 60mmx25 97.00 Merlin 18x40x60 129.00 Merlin 75mmx30 119.00 Merlin 22x-47x75 157.00 Case for Merlin 16.00 CENTURY £ 60mm GA Body 165.00 20x-45x Zoom 60.00 20x30x40x 20.00 Case 15 00 BRESSER £ Action 8x40 69.00 Action 10x50 79.00 Linear 8x42 119.00 Linear 10x42 124.00 MINOLTA 7x21 BGA 69.00 8x22 BGA 79.00 10x22 BGA 99.00 7x42 BGA 199.00 10x42 BGA 229.00 ROSS £ Cavendish 8x42B 139.95 ‘in focus’ CARE PLAN Enables our customers to purchase in complete con- fidence. At a cost of just £10.00 any new equipment can be covered by our ‘Care Plan’ for a period of three years from purchase. In the event of equipment failing for whatever reason it will be rectified without question by ourselves at no charge. Ask for full details. IRELAND 4 DAY FIELD EVENT AT OXFORD ISLAND, LOUGH NEAGH, CO. ARMAGH Fri 3, Sat 4, Sun 5, Mon 6 May. Our full range of equipment for test and purchase. Phone (Sun- day viewing only) for details. Hanover 10x42B 149.95 Regent 8x42B 169.95 Kensington 10x42B 179.95 HABICHT £ 10x40 Diana 349.00 7X30SLC 315.00 8x30 SLC 325.00 New scope, phone for details BUSHNELL £ Spacemaster Body GA 165.00 Spacemaster Body 145.00 1 5x-45x Zoom 70.00 22xWA 32.00 VELBON £ D400 39.95 D500 NEW FLUID HEAD 59.95 D600 TRIPODS 69.95 D700 79.95 CULLMANN £ Hide Clamp 49.95 Shoulder Pod 24.95 QR System 9.95 QR Plate 4.95 SLIK £ Master D2 72.95 MANFROTTO £ 190 Base 40.00 190B Base 45.00 144 Base 50.00 144B Base 55.00 128 Head 45.00 200 Head 50.00 Tripod Strap 10.95 Spare QR Platform 5.95 ACCESSORIES £ Car Window Mount 22.00 Universal Mount 22.00 Hide Clamp 38.00 Rainguards from 3.50 Pentax Cleaning Kit 3.99 Tripod Strap 6.95 Lanyards from 4.00 PIRSONAL CALLERS Can choose and select from our comprehensive range of equip- ment. Compare Zeiss with Leitz and Bausch & Lomb, Kowa with Nikon and Optolyth We are a completely independent company, whose only concern is that our customers select the correct instrument for their personal needs. PHONE ORDERS Discuss your requirements with our technical staff and orders placed with Access or Visa Cards will be despatched same day. MAIL ORDER Just add £2 to help towards P&P and insurance and your order will be sent the same day as we receive your cheque. All goods supplied on 14 days approval upon receipt of full remittance. SECONDHAND Instruments are always available. Turnover is fast so we do not print a list. Phone for information. PART EXCHANGE Top prices paid for good condition Bins and Scopes. HOW TO FIND US We are 10 mins from M25 and A1 M motorways and 1 5 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. TELESCOPES AND TRIPOD OUTFITS If you purchase a scope and tripod at the same time we can offer you a very special price! PHONE FOR A QUOTE INTEREST FREE CREDIT ON SELECTED Zeiss, Leitz, Kowa and Nikon products Phone or write for details. MARCH SPECIAL FREE TRIPOD WITH ANY NEW SCOPE! BUY ANY NEW SCOPE OVER £140 AND WE WILL GIVE YOU FREE OF CHARGE A TOP QUALITY TRIPOD. NORMAL PRICE £40 OR PAY DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR CHOICE OF TRIPOD OR CLAMP. 1 THE RUFF: Individuality in a Gregarious Wading Bird Johan G. van Rhijn The Ruff is a fascinating species, whose elaborate breeding behaviour has capti- vated Ornithologists for decades. Here, strands of evidence for all aspects of the Ruffs life, in and out of the breeding season come together to give a thought provoking insight into this impor- tant area of biology. Specialists and birdwatchers alike will have much to learn from this intriguing story and the insights it provides. Illustrated by Ian Willis. January 1991, 224 pages, £18.50 , ISBN: 0.85661.062.3 T & A D POYSER 24-28 Oval Road London NW1 7DX (BB 2) Telephone: 071-267-4466 (D794) AUTHORISED SWAROVSKI OPTIK DEALERS AS AT JANUARY 1991 AVON: London Camera Exchange, BATH. 0225 462234. Ace Cameras, BRISTOL, 0454 325302. BEDFORDSHIRE: John Eastaff. KEMPSON HARDWICK. 0234 740834. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: Reed Photography, AYLESBURY. 0296 25118. CAMBRIDGESHIRE: John Bradshaw, PETERBOROUGH. 08326 376. CHESHIRE: Focalpoint, NORTHWICH. 0606 891098. CORNWALL: Roy Dutch Photo, ST. AUSTELL. 0726 72 960 John Fry. TRURO. 0872 73 452. Springfield Firearms, ST. AUSTELL. 0726 72 733. Kernow Scopes. WADEBRIDGE. 0208 812883. CUMBRIA: J.N. Murray MPS, KESWICK. 07687 72049. I.L. & J.L. Robson, CARLISLE. 0228 24993. DEVON: J & A Cameras. BIDEFORD. 0237 421791. Practical Optics, BARNSTAPLE. 0271 72 681. Castle Camera Centre, TORQUAY. 0803 295802 London Camera Exchange. PAIGNTON. 0803 553077. London Camera Exchange, PLYMOUTH. 0752 664894 DORSET: N.R. Green. PARKSTONE. 0202 744997. ESSEX: E.J. Markham & Son, COLCHESTER. 0206 572646. HAMPSHIRE: London Camera Exchange, SOUTHAMPTON. 0703 221597 London Camera Exchange, WINCHESTER. 0962 66203. HERTFORDSHIRE: In-Focus, BARNET 081 449 1445 Clarkes Camera Centre. ST ALBANS. 0727 52991. HUMBERSIDE: Tom Dennis Cameras, SCUNTHORPE. 0724 867 302. H Ravenscroft (Photo). CLEETHORPES. 0472 342007 Hilton Photographic, HULL. 0482 25223. KENT R E Cranfield (Discovery). CANTERBURY. 0227 458 333. The Pantiles Camera Company. TUNBRIDGE WELLS. 0892 27 082 Chris Potter Guns, TUNBRIDGE WELLS. 0892 22 208. Ronald White. MAIDSTONE 0622 754506 Owen Photographic. BROMLEY. 081 460 0156. The Camera Shop. HYTHE. 0303 266706. LANCS: Optima Leisure. BOLTON. 0204 380040. Lamberts (Lancaster) Ltd.. LANCASTER. 0524 37384 LEICESTERSHIRE: Youngs of Leicester. LEICESTER 0533 544 774 LONDON: Harrods Limited. 071 730 1234. Wallace Heaton. 071 629 7511. Vic Odden. 071 407 6833. Capt. O M. Watts. 071 493 4633. R.G. Lewis. 071 242 2916. R G. Lewis. 071 387 0676. MERSEYSIDE: Scope City, LIVERPOOL. 051 709 4149. NORFOLK: Norwich Camera Centre, NORWICH 0603 612 537. NORTHANTS: A.R. Hawkins. NORTHAMPTON. 0604 39 674. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: London Camera Exchange. NOTTINGHAM. 0602 417 486. OXFORDSHIRE: Morris Photographic. OXFORD. 0865 244434 Banbury Gunsmiths. BANBURY. 0295 265819. SHROPSHIRE: Crewe Camera Exchange Ltd.. SHREWSBURY. 0743 4964. SOMERSET London Camera Exchange. TAUNTON. 0823 259955. SOUTH WALES: D.J. Lilt, NEWPORT. 0633 843 252. SUFFOLK: Charles Frank Ltd.. SAXMUNDHAM. 0728 603506. SURREY: Banstead Photographic. BAN STEAD. 0737 350409 Jack Harley Ltd . CRANLEIGH 0483 272698. KayOptical.MORDEN.08l 648 8822 Photo Saunders. KINGSTON. 081 546 9544. High Street Radio & Photo, CROYDON 081 688 9015. London Camera Exchange, GUILDFORD. 0483 504040. Cobham Cameras. COBHAM. 0932 63743. Reids of Haslemere. HASLEMERE. 0428 51432. SUSSEX: Westmin Photographic. EASTBOURNE 0323 410414. F A. Anderson. BRIGHTON. 0273 23066. WARWICKSHIRE: Aquila Optical. STUDLEY. 052 785 2357. WEST MIDLANDS: Focus Optics. COVENTRY. 0676 40 501 . Bell & Jones, WEST BROMWICH. 021 553 0820. Bell & Jones. DUDLEY 0384 236 758. YORKSHIRE: John H. Preston, HARROGATE 0423 503 187. Walkers Studios, SCARBOROUGH. 0723 365 024. The Shooting Lodge, SKIPTON 0756 795825. Risbeys Photo Video, DARLINGTON. 0325 381067 Sheffield Photographic Centre. SHEFFIELD. 0724 667 077. Harnett & Co.. HALIFAX. 0422 80132. Coverdale & Fletcher Ltd.. YORK. 0904 31245. York Camera Mart, YORK. 0904 30770. CHANNEL ISLES: Johnson & Johnson. ST. HELIER. JERSEY 0534 32411. Gruts. ST. PETER PORT, GUERNSEY 0481 710 956. SCOTLAND: JRS Photo. PERTH 0738 24326. Ritchies Countrywear. GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY. 0479 2183. R. Macleod & Son. TAIN. 0862 2171. W.J.F. Maclean, OBAN. 0631 63274, Sports in Scotland Limited, INVERNESS. 0463 222757. NORTHERN IRELAND: John Gould & Son (Bangor) Ltd . COUNTY DOWN. 0247 271091. OPTIK The natural choice. (D802) n It wasn't the first time Melissa had i noticed Giles. But then he has the gj kind of style that immediately sets j| him apart from the crowd. Rugged |§ yet sophisticated, and with a taste §f for the country life, he was down as m quite a catch in every girl ’s book. ‘When he invited me to Lake Vyrnwy in picturesque mid-Wales I just couldn't resist. Of course I’d heard all about his reputation, Aneyefor the birds someone said. And how right they were. ‘He whispered, ‘Come closer, and then we shared our first magic moment, high, in the hills above the tranquil lake - the first annual visit of a Glaucous Gull. “Such a change I thought, tomeeta man so well equipped for the great outdoors.” With acknowledgements to the RSPB end Severn- Trent Water BHITISM MUSEUM ^THRY) ((T9 TRADITIONAL BINOCULAR SL BINOCULAR Twelve models in the range Ten m°bels in the range (8 x 56 model shown) (10 x 40 9reen rubber armoured model shown) SLC BINOCULAR Six models in the range x 30 model shown) For further information and a full colour brochure please write to: SWAROVSKI UK LIMITED All Swarovski Optik products are One The Boulevard, Blackmoor Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire WD1 8YW. manufactured in Austria and carry a full warranty. Telephone: 0923 816366. Fax: 0923 816005. Telex: 24958 SWARO G. (D724) iii Greenkat Ltd Suppliers of Quality Optics 26a St Dunstans Hill, Cheam, Surrey. Tel: 081 644 3131/8222 High resolution optics give a sharp and clear image. Easy barrel focusing. Extendable deep lens hood. Compact stylish design incorporating the unique twin turret head allowing both angled and straight viewing. 60mm objective and a choice of x20, x30, x40, x50 and x60 eyepieces. Extra close focus lens and camera adaptor available. Weight: 1 .3kg (with 2 eyepieces). Length: 300mm. srp £155.00 Body. £25.00 Eye Piece Ten yeer cjusrsntee As reviewed in August ‘90 issue Birdwatching and February ‘9 1 issue British Birds. ( D80 1 ) ORNITHOLIDAYS 1991 MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS Holidays Organised by Birdwatchers for Birdwatchers Twenty-six years’ service to birdwatchers & naturalists Programme will include: Kenya Botswana Namibia Tanzania Madagascar The Seychelles Venezuela The Galapagos Brazil Chile Costa Rica Arizona & New Mexico Yellowstone Nat Park Canadian Rockies Thailand Cyprus N.E. Greece Turkey Yugoslavia Austria - The High Alps Lake Neusied! Arctic Norway The Camargue Aiguamolls (Spain) Andorra The Spanish Pyrenees The Canary Islands Majorca Write or ’phone for a brochure to: ORNITHOLIDAYS DEPT. 2, 1-3 VICTORIA DRIVE, BOGNOR REGIS, WEST SUSSEX, P021 2PW Tel: 0243 821230 (D796) ATOL LICENCE No.743 w ABTA IV National Bird News 0898-884-500 Holiday Information For sale and wanted Audio newsletter Voice activated Conservation news Plus much, much more A percentage of all profits goes to conservation projects So fast. So simple. So try it! FOR THE FASTEST DAILY RARE BIRD NEWS ANYWHERE TWITCH-I LINE 0898 884 501 The original voice-activated rare bird news-line. News items are repeated after the headlines summary, each followed by a tone. Responding to the tone gives full directions and site details. 44p/min peak/std. 33p/min cheap rate, inc. VAT Conservation Concepts Ltd. P.O. Box 29, Boston, Lines PE21 ONL TWITCH-1 LINE V (D755) ADLERBLICK GO GREEN RUBBER ARMOUR NOW ALSO AVAILABLE ALSO NOW WITH GREEN MULTI-COAT LENSES MINIMUM ADVERTISED Models available* Price (inc VAT) 8 x 24 M/C £149.95 10x30 M/C £159.95 8x42 M/C £169.95 10x42 M/C £179.95 10x50 M/C £198.95 8x42 M/C Rubber Armoured* £187.95 10 x 42 M/C Rubber Armoured* £197.95 1 0 x 50 M/C Rubber Armoured* £21 7.95 * New Soft touch rubber armour finish. Short Focus. BAk4 Prisms. Lightweight, Rainguard available. For details of your nearest stockist, contact: THE EXCLUSIVE IMPORTERS — J. J. VICKERS AND SONS LTD. UNIT 9, 35 REVENGE ROAD, LORDSWOOD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, CHATHAM, KENT ME5 8DW TEL: 0634 201284 BIRD WATCHING REVIEW (April 89) impresses with clear natural coloured image in all light conditions Focus down to 13ft Light and comfortable to use Excellent depth of field Contender for mid price honours HEARTILY RECOMMENDED MANUFACTURER'S WRITTEN QUOTE Adlerblick binoculars have mutli-coating on all surfaces including prism reflecting surfaces — they are superior especially in light transmission — Green multi-coat achieves approx 99 4% transmission at each surface 7 x 50 also available. (D797) THE GOOD BRDWATCHERS GUIDE essential for EVERY birdwatcher- • more than 2500 BIRDWATCHING SITES in England, Scotland and Wales— directions, location, grid references and birds to look for. From Shetland to the Scillies, Sandwich Bay to St Kilda. • more than 3000 PLACES TO STAY, EAT AND TAKE REFRESHMENT including hotels, inns, pubs, guesthouses, farmhouses, self-catering cottages, youth hostels and bunkhouses. All specially selected and convenient to the grouped sites. • full SPECIES LISTS FOR ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES AND BRITISH ISLES • hundreds of INFORMATION AND VISITOR CENTRES • the weather, month by month, and THE BIRDS, DAY BY DAY, FOR 1 990 • expert advice and suggestions on BOOKS, BINOCULARS, TELESCOPES AND TRIPODS. and much, much more!! • a packed 450 pages • THE COMPREHENSIVE POCKET GUIDE TO BIRDWATCHING IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES ISBN 0 951 30701 0 £9.95 (includes postage UK and Europe) Available from FICEDULA BOOKS, PO BOX 10, LLANDRINDOD WELLS, POWYS LD1 5ZZ (D799) vi Kay Optical (Established 1962) 1st Floor, 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey Phone:081-648 8822 * NEW HOURS: MON - SAT 9 am - 5 pm (Mon - Fri: Lunch 1 to 2 pm) r Sales and Repairs of BINOCULARS, TELESCOPES, TRIPODS, etc. at one of the best centres in the country Advice and test facilities for a range of the best equipment. ★Competitive prices ★Long-established workshop ★Callers welcome. ★Phone/mail order service ★Price list and map sent upon request. BINOCULARS ZEISS £ 1 0 x 25 Dialyt 236 8 x 30 BGAT Dialyt Phone 10 x 40 BGAT(P) Dialyt 495 7 x 42 BGAT (P) Dialyt 465 LEICA 8x20Trinovid 199 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 21 1 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 211 1 0 x 25 BCA Trinovid 223 7 x 42, 8 x 42, and 1 0 x 42 559 BAUSCH & LOMB 8 x 42 BA Elite 589 10x42 BA Elite 589 SWAROVSKI 8 x 30 SLC II 325 OPTOLYTH 8 x 40 Alpin 225 1 0 x 40 Alpin 230 1 0 x 50 Alpin 230 1 0 x 40 BGA Touring Phone 7 x 42 BGA Touring Phone 8 x 32 BGA Touring Phone FALCON roof prism 1 0 x 40 or 8 x 40 rubber-covered 1 1 0 SWIFT 81/2 x 44 HR5/Audubon 200 NEW 7 x 35 roof prism Audubon 329 ZEISS (Jena) 8 x 32 BA Notarem 1 40 1 0 x 40 BA Notarem 200 PYSER ROSS 8 x 42 ZCF Regent 1 70 1 0 x 42 ZWCF Kensington 1 80 NIKON 8 X 23 waterproof 1 57 1 0 x 25 waterproof 1 57 9 x 30 roof prism 248 OPTICRON 8 X 42 HR II 10x42 HR II 10x50 HR II 8 x 42 Dioptron (HRI) 10 x 42 Dioptron(HRI) 10 x 50 Dioptron (HRI) 9 x 35 BCF Minerva 8 x 40 BCF Minerva 10 x 40 BCF Minerva 7 x 35 Elite 9 x 35 Elite VIXEN (Observation) 20x80 20 x 100 TELESCOPES NIKON 20 x 60 Fieldscope II 20-45 x zoom Fieldscope II 20 x 60 Fieldscope ED II 20-45 x zoom Fieldscope ED II 30 x, 40 x, 60 x eyepiece Camera adaptor (optical) KOWA TSN-1 body (45°) TSN-2 body TSN-3 body (45°) TSN-4 body 25 x or 40 x eyepiece 20 x (WA) eyepiece 30 x (WA) eyepiece 20-60 x zoom eyepiece 60x eyepiece 77x eyepiece OPTOLYTH TBS 80 body (45°) TBG 80 body (straight) TB eyepieces from BAUSCH & LOMB (new) 15-45x60 Elite PICCOLO 60mm body 145 150 155 110 110 120 169 170 175 147 186 345 750 265 333 475 545 75 159 295 295 555 555 59 89 109 139 89 99 350 350 64 299 128 76 Other eyepieces from 20 OPTICRON (with cases) HR 60mm with 22x (WA) 1 60 HR 60 mm with 20-60x zoom 200 HR 60mm rubber, with 22x (WA) 170 HR 60mm rubber, with 20-60x 21 0 HR (45”) with 22x (WA) 200 HR (45°) with 20-60x 230 Separate eyepieces from 20 New 80mm HR body only 249 30 x (WA) eyepiece 32 27-80x zoom eyepiece 76 CLASSIC “IF” 75mm body 137 60mm body with 25x 1 00 Eyepieces, from 23 Zoom eyepieces 59 SPACEMASTER With 15-45x EP 215 VIEWMASTER 60mm, 45°, with 20-60x EP 199 CENTURY 60mm, rubber-armoured, with 20x eyepiece and case 1 70 30x or 40x eyepiece 20 20-45x zoom eyepiece 52 GREENKAT 60mm, SGN-3, for angled and straight eyepiece. 1 55 20x, 30x, 40x, 50x eyepieces, 6dch 25 SOLIGOR CAMERA LENSES etc Ask for details of the full range. TRIPODS etc. Slik D2 73 Slik SL 67 105 Manf rotto 1 44/200 1 03 Manfrotto 1 44/1 28 98 Manf rotto 190/200 91 Universal clamp 22 Hide clamp, new type 38 Car window mount 22 Shoulder pod 30 Zoom eyepiece ★PACKAGE DEALS: Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought ★REPAIRS carried out in our own workshops (Our policy is to get your optics bird-watch operational with minimal delay) ★SHORT-TERM INTEREST-FREE CREDIT available (three payments) FIELD DAYS: Alternative venu< ★PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, W. Sussex on SUNDAYS 31st March, 28th April and 28th May (1 0.30am to 4.00pm) 3S at which you can try and buy our equif ★WARNHAM NATURE RESERVE just off the A24 (northern roundabout for HORSHAM) on the B2237 on SUNDAYS 14th April, 5th May and 2nd June (10.30am to 4.00pm) jment (and also hand in repairs) “ ★SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at WOODS MILL, Henfield, W. Sussex (A2037) on SUNDAY 10th March (10.30am to 4.00pm) n We are only 15 minutes’ drive from the M25 (e.g. via the A3 and then the Merton Turn-off) or 2 minutes’ walk from Morden tube. Parking: 1st left past our entrance (50 yds). (D795) vii OPTOLYTH As convincing as nature itself Other quality pocket size binoculars available direct from Opticron. Porro prism 7 x 24 MCF £77 8 x 24 MCF £78 10 x 24 MCF £79 Roof prism 8 x 25 DCF.GA £75 10 x 25 DWCF.GA £78 New design, new performance from Optolyth Optik of Nuremberg, Germany. Tough, lightweight and superbly engineered pocket binoculars that incorporate; Full 'B' specification eyepiece system for spectacle wearers. High light transmission and pin sharp definition for accurate observation whatever the conditions. Large depth of field for ease of use, and close focus down to only 4m/ 1 2ft. Complete with soft leather pouch and 30 year guarantee. Available exclusively through Opticron via mail order and selected dealers throughout the U.K. Access and Visa welcomed. 8 x 22 B only £199 10 x 25 B only £215 For further information on our range of quality binoculars for the birdwatcher and naturelover alike please contact; OPTICRON PO Box 370, Unit 21 Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Beds LU4 8YR Tel: (0582) 26522. Fax: (0582) 23559 (D787) spotting OPTOLYTH West Germany British Birds VOLUME 84 NUMBER 3 MARCH 1991 History of the Pochard breeding in Britain A. D. Fox The Pochard Aythya ferina is essentially a breeding bird of freshwater habitats of the steppes, where it may nest even in very temporary saline, brackish or soda waters (Cramp & Simmons 1977). In the last 150 years, however, it has expanded its summer range into north and west Europe, this being initiated perhaps by drought in its shallow breeding lakes in Central Asia. Bezzel (1969) mapped the expansion into Sweden and Finland in the middle of the nineteenth century, reaching Denmark, the Netherlands and southern Bavaria at the turn of the century. By the early 1900s, the species had spread to Britain, France, most of Central Europe and the northern USSR, and since the Second World War has extended throughout Germany and the Low Countries. In recent years, the increasing creation of lowland artificial waters, such as gravel-pits and reservoirs, with e atrophic water quality, dense submergent vegetation and emergent flora has further encouraged its expansion and consolidation of the breeding range to the present day. Intriguingly, the Pochard seems to have been breeding in Britain for many years before the arrival of several other expanding sub-arctic duck species (Sharrock 1976). Up to 1840, its distribution appears to have been largely restricted to East Anglia, but breeding first occurred in Yorkshire 83 [Bril. Birds 84: 83-98, March 1991] 84 Pochards breeding in Britain in 1844 and in Hertfordshire about 1850 and the expansion has continued from that time. Even today, however, the species’ breeding distribution in Britain remains scattered, confined largely to the south and east. The adoption recently of 300 pairs as the cut-off definition of ‘rare breeding’ by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel brought information relating to the Pochard into the Panel’s annual reports for the first time (Spencer et al. 1988, 1989); the 1986 breeding population in England and Wales was reported as 98-139 pairs, and that in 1987 in England, Wales and Scotland as 87-117 pairs. Methods The present account extends the countrywide analysis of Sharrock (1976) for Britain; no attempt has been made to assess the situation of Pochard in Ireland, reviewed by Hutchinson (1979) and recently updated (Hutch- inson 1989). County avifaunas and annual bird reports were consulted in order to compile a national perspective for the years 1983-86, and this information forms the basis for the estimates of the total number of breeding Pochards presented here. Since 1954, the numbers of ducks, geese and swans have been counted in every month from September to March at as many coastal and inland localities as possible in Britain and Ireland under the Wildfowl (now Wildfowl and Wetlands) Trust’s National Wildfowl Counts scheme (Owen et al. 1986). Counts are carried out on the Sunday nearest to the middle of the month, and population trends calculated after the methods of Owen et al. (1986). The present analysis is based on the March counts during 1970-88; although count data are available from the 1960s, the small sample sizes in that decade preclude confidence that the trends accurately reflect changes in the population. The March count is thought to represent the breeding population of Britain and adjacent breeding areas of the Continent. The September counts used by Fox (1988) for Gadwall Anas strepera are not thought to be such a good reflection of summering Pochard numbers because they are inflated by moulting individuals from often distant breeding areas (Fox & Salmon 1988). Countrywide analysis of count data has been supplemented by analysis of trends for southeast and east and central England (as defined by Owen et al. 1986), where the majority of the breeding population occurs. Results The distribution of breeding Pochards in Britain is shown in fig. 1 . The concentration in the south and east is conspicuous, reflecting the species’ stronghold in ‘fleet’-type habitats of coastal areas (Sharrock 1976) and the distribution of more-recently utilised nesting habitat on gravel-pits and reservoirs of lowland Britain. This is evident in the percentage of the total March Pochard count that comes from gravel-pits, which has increased from 18% in 1971 to 36% in 1988 (r = 0.73, PCO.001). Numbers using reservoirs have fluctuated over the same period and show no general trend. In Britain, local avifaunas suggest a continued but modest increase in numbers, which is reflected in the March trend data from National 85 Pochards breeding in Britain Wildfowl Counts (fig. 2). Such slow expansion is in contrast to the stability or slight decline in num- bers in midwinter over the same period (Fox & Salmon 1988). Southwest England and South Wales In the extreme west of England, the Pochard remains a scarce breeding species, with no records during 1983-86 from Cornwall, Devon or Dorset. There is only one con- firmed record from Cornwall, in 1977 ( Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society Annual Reports ), and breeding was suspected from Devon only late last century, at Slapton Ley, with no records since (D’Urban & Matthew 1895; Devon Bird Reports ). In Somerset, the Pochard was unknown as a breed- ing species to Smith (1869), who even then wrote of its being pinioned and kept in captivity; the species apparently first bred in 1936 (Witherby et al. 1939), but the Avon Reservoirs now form the stronghold of the species in that region, although successful breed- ing attempts vary from nine broods totalling 38 ducklings (1983) to just one young at Chew Valley Lake in 1986 (Avon Bird Reports) . In Glouces- Fig. 1. Minimum numbers of pairs of sum- mering Pochards Ay thy a ferina by county/ region/country in Britain, 1986. Data from local bird reports tershire, the species is a scarce and irregular breeder, nesting on gravel- pits (Swaine 1982; Gloucestershire Bird Reports). In Dorset, the species seems to have bred annually in the vicinity of Poole Harbour at the end of the last century, as well as near Swanage (in 1876) and around Wareham (in 1877)(Mansel-Pleydell c. 1890). Breeding apparently continued until the middle of the present century, and up to three pairs nested at two sites during 1973-77. Nesting attempts in the 1980s were thwarted by flooding at Radipole Lake, and there have been no recent records (Prendergast & Boys 1983; Dorset Bird Reports) . In Wiltshire, one or two pairs have bred regularly at Corsham Lake since 1978, and one to four pairs at Steeple Langford since 1979; since 1979, the species has also bred at three other sites in the county (Buxton 1981; The Hobby). In South Wales, Pochards are scarce breeders, although pairs often stay late into the summer at Llangorse Lake (Breconshire Birds) and breeding has been more or less annual at Oxwich National Nature Reserve in West 86 300 Pochards breeding in Britain Fig. 2. Population trends (upper) and March count totals (lower) of Pochards Aythya ferina in Britain, 1970-87. Trend index is set at arbitrary value of 100 for March 1971 Glamorgan (Lovegrove et al. 1980). The most important breeding haunt remains Witchett Pool in Dyfed, where the species has nested since at least 1936. Access to this latter site is limited, making an accurate picture difficult to determine, but one to ten pairs have been present and attempted to breed at least since the early 1970s; during 1986-88, two to six pairs have been present, but no proof of breeding has been obtained, 68. Male Pochard Aythya ferina , West Sussex, April 1986 ( David Tomlinson) 87 Pochards breeding in Britain perhaps owing to predation by minks Mustela vison , which has affected the Mute Swan Cygnus olor , the Canada Goose Branta canadensis and other waterfowl populations at the site (D. Roberts in lift.). In addition, individuals have summered on and off at Llyn Pencarreg since 1968, and at Talyllychau, where breeding was proved in 1972 (D. Roberts in litt.). In the 1980s, the species bred with some regularity only at Oakley, Worcestershire ( West Midland Bird Reports). Southeast England March count data for 1970-87, and the population trends calculated from them (fig. 3), suggest little change over this period. It is unclear when Pochards first bred in Hampshire, but Witherby et at. (1939) recorded the species as breeding locally but regularly in the county. ‘A handful’ have bred since, peaking at 19 pairs in 1966 and 1971 (Cohen 1963; Cohen & Taverner 1972); the majority of these have been in the Test Valley south of Stockbridge, and it has been suggested that this population originates from escaped Pochards from the Leckford wildfowl collection which have reared full-winged young. In Sussex, a few Pochards summer and breed annually (Shrubb 1979); the most regular site is Chichester Gravel-pits, where breeding occurred in almost every year during 1977-84, and has been attempted (but invariably failed through changes in water levels) at Bewlbridge Reservoir ( Sussex Bird Reports ). Fig. 3. Population trends (upper) and March count totals (lower) of Pochards Aythya ferina in southeastern England (as defined by Owen et al. 1986), 1970-87. Trend index is set at arbitrary value of 100 for March 1971 In Surrey, Pochards remain scarce breeders: nesting was first proved at Bam Elms Reservoirs in 1927, and attempts followed there and at two other sites in the 1930s. Pinioned stock in the Inner London parks gave rise to many summering individuals in Surrey, but regular breeding never became established. The species bred at Thorpe Gravel-pits during 1960- 68 and regularly nested at Papercourt Gravel-pits in the late 1970s, raising up to three broods in 1976. There were no records during 1982-85 inclusive, but two sites held broods in 1986 (Surrey Bird Reports) . 88 Pochards breeding in Britain In London, a pair of Pochards produced five ducklings in Regent’s Park in 1877, and other sites were colonised earlier this century (e.g., Gunnersbury Park in 1931 and Osterley Park in 1932: Glegg 1935). A feral pair was introduced into St James’s Park in 1912, a further three individuals were set free there in 1930, and in 1932 a pair bred and its unpinioned offspring disappeared. In 1938, a brood of seven ducklings was reared (Homes 1957), and after that there was a marked increase from 1954, building to ten pairs in Regent’s Park in 1967 (Montier 1977). Fifteen pairs were nesting in St James’s Park in 1969 and the species began to appear in the outer areas of London, conspicuously using gravel- pit sites (such as six pairs in one stretch of the Colne Valley in 1973: Montier 1977). By 1986, 55 pairs were recorded breeding at 14 different sites, the strongholds remaining St James’s Park and Regent’s Park, where 27 broods were reported. Also of considerable importance is the Walthamstow Reservoir complex, which, together with other Lea Valley sites, contributes the majority of the remaining broods, including up to 18 in 1981 (. London Bird Reports) . The Thames Marshes and the valley of the Stour in Kent represent one of the most important breeding areas for the Pochard in Britain. The species is thought to have first bred on the Thames Marshes in 1907, at Walland Marsh in 1908 and in the Stour Valley (at Stodmarsh) in 1934 (Harrison 1953). The county population was considered to number 25 pairs by the early 1940s (Gillham & Homes 1950), and this continued to expand and reached a peak during the mid-1960s, when there were perhaps 60 pairs on the North Kent Marshes; these included maxima of 20 pairs at Stoke in 1956 and 28 between Cliflfe and St Margaret’s Bay in 1965 {Kent Bird Reports). On the Isle of Sheppey, breeding was first proved in 1956, numbers expanding to 24 pairs in 1964, but subsequently showing some decline. South of the Swale, Pochards bred in 1961 and the expansion here mirrored the ensuing decrease on Sheppey. On the Medway, up to 17 pairs have bred at Chetney since 1961, up to four pairs at Kingsnorth from 1969, and up to 18 pairs have attempted to breed (up to eight successfully) at Stodmarsh (Harrison et at. 1973; Taylor et at. 1981). There is no doubt that the shallow reed-fringed coastal dykes of the North Kent Marshes are of considerable importance for their breeding Pochards, but there is little indication of any change in the last 20 years or so. It has been considered that this population has expanded from the small numbers of irregular breeders present after 1945 (Gillham & Homes 1950; Harrison 1953; Parslow 1973). Numbers of breeding Pochards in Essex have shown some signs of an increase in recent years. About 15 pairs nested at Old Hall Marshes, Tollesbury, from at least 1886 and these continued to form the nucleus for the species during 1950-67, although breeding had been recorded from seven other sites (Hudson & Pyman 1968). Breeding numbers have since undoubtedly increased, with up to 46 broods reported in 1981, including 20 on Langenhoe Marshes. More recently still, control of access and sympathetic management have greatly enhanced the Old Hall site and numbers there have risen. There seems little doubt that the richly 89 Pochards breeding in Britain vegetated fleets of the Essex marshes have always been of considerable importance for breeding Pochards and that numbers there have increased in very recent years. Given the variable observer coverage, which must affect any analysis of past information, assessment of the changes in the breeding population are difficult. The efforts put into the Atlas (Sharrock 1976) clearly had an influence in Essex (as well as in Norfolk), the years 1968-72, when Atlas fieldwork took place, showing inflated numbers of breeding pairs above an otherwise stable or very slightly increasing trend in other years (fig. 4). The most recent increase may therefore result partly from better census information rather than represent a real expansion. Breeding began at Great Meadow Pond in Windsor, Berkshire, in 1907 and continued until 1915, when modifications to peripheral habitats made the site unsuitable; two pairs bred again at this site in 1957. In 1923, breeding began at Blenheim, Oxfordshire, and reached a maximum of seven pairs in 1935. During 1975-85, there were only six cases of brood- rearing from four different sites in Berkshire and three in Oxfordshire (all from Dorchester Gravel-pits). The Pochard has therefore shown little evidence of any major expansion to the present in counties with increasing areas of gravel-workings (Radford 1966; Birds of Berkshire^ Birds of Oxfordshire). In Hertfordshire, nesting Pochards have been established at Tring Reservoirs since about 1850 (Mead & Smith 1982), with 50-60 claimed pairs in 1887 (Sage 1959); since then, there has been a dramatic decline, with just three broods raised in 1986 (Hertfordshire Bird Report ), although several other sites have become established more recently. Breeding in the Lea Valley became regular over 20 years ago, and in the 1980s Mead & Smith (1982) described the species as ‘in the process of becoming fully established’. Pochards have certainly increased in Hertfordshire in recent years, with six to eight successful pairs during 1986-88; this is due in no small part to the provision of shallow base-rich waters in the form of gravel-pits (such as at Amwell, Maple Cross and Stockers Lake) and reservoirs (as at Hilfield Park) throughout the county (Mead & Smith 1982). 60 n 50- 40- 30- 20- 10- •• •• •• 1950 1955 1 1960 1 — 1965 Breeding Atlas fieldwork —I 1 — 1970 1975 1980 — f 1984 Fig. 4. Numbers of breeding Pochards Aythya ferina in Essex (1951-84) and Norfolk (1953-77), based on accounts in local bird reports 90 Pochards breeding in Britain East and Central England Trends and total counts for this region (fig. 5) show some signs of a recent up-tum during 1970-87. This compares well with the pattern in nesting numbers in Essex and Norfolk (fig. 4). In Suffolk, Pochards have bred regularly at a number of Breckland meres (such as Livermere and Barton Mere), as well as at artificial waters such as Lackford Pits and on the River Lark, perhaps as far west as Barton Mills (Payn 1978). In the late 1930s up to eight pairs nested at Minsmere, and since 1970 the species has bred at an increasing number of coastal resorts, although this expansion may have been overstated (Payn 1978; R. B. Warren in litt.). The recorded population in the five seasons up to 1987 stands at four to 13 successfully breeding pairs noted at four to seven sites, although the between-year variation almost certainly reflects observer coverage rather than real fluctuations in the population (R. B. Warren in litt.). Fig. 5. Population trends (upper) and March count totals (lower) of Pochards Aythya ferina in eastern and central England (as defined by Owen et at. 1986), 1970-87. Trend index is set at arbitrary value of 100 for March 1971 In Norfolk, the species is known to have bred at Scoulton Mere since 1815, while breeding has occurred at Stanford since 1836 (Seago 1977 and in litt.). The Brecklands remain the stronghold of the species, with up to 12 sites occupied since 1977. In the Broads, nesting first occurred in 1928 and has been annual since 1956, having been recorded from 17 different sites since 1977. Up to 49 pairs were present in the Flegg Broads group (Filby, Rollesby and Ormsby Broads) alone in early summer 1984. In the north of the county, Riviere (1930) recorded Pochards nesting at Cley in 1923-24 and 1929, while more recently one or two pairs have bred at Holkham Lake (M. J. Seago in litt.). Elsewhere in Norfolk, breeding has occurred at Swanton Morley Gravel-pits (1983-85), Colney/Bawburgh Gravel-pits (1984-85), Sparham and Pensthorpe. The present breeding population is thought to be just under 100 pairs, slightly fewer than the approximately 91 Pochards breeding in Britain 100 pairs at the maximum during the early 1980s, but breeding at several sites is sporadic, and in recent years some of the most important resorts have not been visited during the appropriate season (M. J. Seago in litt.). In Cambridgeshire, the stronghold of the Pochard is the Ouse Washes, where conditions of flooding have varied greatly in the past. In recent years, the conservation organisations have been able to manage the wetland to offer suitable breeding habitat for this and other species; as a result the Pochard has summered annually since 1975, and has bred successfully in all but five years up to 1987. During this time, breeding has also been recorded from the Nene Washes (one nest with six eggs in 1980). In Northamptonshire, one or two broods occur in most years, centred on a number of gravel-pits and reservoirs, most regularly summering at Ditchford Gravel-pits (R. W. Bullock in litt.). The Pochard remains a rare breeder in Bedfordshire, first recorded nesting in 1896, but with only eight confirmed records between 1945 and 1977; since then, breeding has been proved at five sites (all mineral pits or ornamental waters) in every year except 1984, 1987 and 1988 (P. Trodd in litt.). In the West Midlands, breeding was recorded as far back as 1866 (Norris 1947), but the species has never been common and widespread, with Harrison et al. (1982) considering it a regular breeder at only two sites: Alvecote Pools and Chesterton Mill Pool. At the former locality, the species has bred since at least 1950, raising up to nine broods totalling 30 young (1969). Lord & Munns (1970) considered the population to be between two and 20 pairs, while during the Atlas work breeding was confirmed or suspected in ten and six 10-km squares respectively, so there appears to have been little change in the status of the species in the last few years (West Midland Bird Reports). A female with three young at Wanlip Gravel-pits, Leicestershire, in 1962 was the first confirmed breeding for the county; this was followed by records from Burley Fishponds in 1974 (Hickling 1978), with two pairs there in 1976. Nesting has occurred at Rutland Water more or less regularly since 1981 (two broods seen in 1984 and 1985), at Swithland Reservoir in 1985 and 1986, and at Groby Pool in 1985 (Leicestershire Bird Reports) . In Nottinghamshire, breeding was considered probable occasionally during 1946-49, but in more recent years a regularly nesting population has developed, numbering between three and nine successful pairs in any year (Birds of Nottinghamshire). Breeding was recorded in Derbyshire in 1941, but the species is not regular there, with recent nesting records only in 1972, 1976 and 1988 (Frost 1978 and in litt.). In Lincolnshire, Pochards have been recorded breeding at least since the 1950s until the present day at the so-called LNER railway pits in Lincoln (Lincolnshire Bird Reports) . Between 1981 and 1987, three to six pairs reared young along the South Humber Pits, this constituting the stronghold of a county population raising up to 15 broods (1985) (data from Lincolnshire Bird Reports) . Odd pairs bred sporadically in Yorkshire before the turn of the century, 92 Pochards breeding in Britain but Hornsea Mere has long been a regular site in the county. By 1980, 32 pairs were proved nesting in the county, 22 broods comprising 87 ducklings (Mather 1986). By 1986, breeding had been reported from a wide range of sites, and, while interpretation of reports is difficult owing to incomplete coverage of all known haunts in any one year, it is considered that the Pochard is increasing in Yorkshire as a nesting species (G. Bennett in litt.). Northwest England and North Wales The Pochard has not been recorded as a breeding species in North Wales away from Anglesey, where five to 12 pairs nest annually on suitable waters (Lovegrove et al. 1980; Cambrian Ornithological Society Bird Reports). In Shropshire, the species regularly attempts to breed at Venus Pool, although success is variable owing to predation. This is the only regular breeding site in recent years, although a female with three young was seen on the Severn at Lower Brompton in June 1986 (J. Sankey in litt.). In Cheshire, Pochards were first proved nesting in 1932, at a mere in the south of the county (Bell 1962). By 1980, the appearance of nine broods at three different sites was considered ‘a welcome improvement on past performances’, and the present nesting population (after a poor season in 1982) is generally of the order of six to ten pairs, based mainly at the stronghold of Woolston Eyes ( Cheshire Bird Reports). Breeding occurred at two sites in Greater Manchester in 1985, but not in other recent years ( Birds in Greater Manchester). In Lancashire, the stronghold of the species is the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss, where breeding has been regular for many years; generally three to ten pairs (maximum in 1979) have bred since 1969, rearing as many as 25 young. Individuals regularly summer elsewhere in the county, but breeding at other sites remains sporadic, although one brood was seen at Marton Mere in 1978 {Lancashire Bird Reports) . The generally oligotrophic waters of upland northwest England provide modest wintering habitat for Pochards, but in most instances are not suitable as breeding areas. The species bred in Cumbria in 1926-27 (Witherby et al. 1939), while a pair bred on a water in the southern Lake District in 1979 and another raised four young the following year in the eastern Lakes; there have been no breeding records since (Birds in Cumbria). Tees, Tyneside and Northeast England In Northumbria, Pochards were said to have bred at a considerable number of places following initial colonisation at the end of the nineteenth century (Galloway & Meek 1978). After 1945, the species was not proved breeding until the early 1960s, when a pair bred at Pallinsbum and two pairs raised young at Gosforth Lake. Two to four waters supported a small breeding population of Pochards in the 1970s. Throughout most of that decade, single pairs nested successfully at Gosforth Park, with two there in 1978. Since 1977, the most consistent site has been Holywell Pond, where between one (1977) and eight broods Pochards breeding in Britain 93 69. Pochards Aythya ferina, Greater London, December 1982 {R. J. Chandler) (1980) have been raised in all years except 1982, when there were no breeding records published ( Birds in Northumbria). Interestingly, a brood of eight ducklings was reduced to a single juvenile by pike Esox Indus , a fish species frequently implicated in the poor breeding success of the Pochard. There are also records of one or two broods from other sites, such as Seaton Sluice and Avcot Pond. A female Pochard raised two ducklings at the Washington Waterfowl Park in 1981, the first proved breeding in Durham since 1963, but there have been no records subsequently (Birds in Durham). There appear to be no historical records of Pochards breeding in Teesdale during 1962-73 (Birds of Teesdale) or in Cleveland during 1974-86 (Cleveland Bird Reports). Southwest Scotland In the Solway area, the Pochard was claimed to have bred in considerable numbers at the beginning of the twentieth century, but the population had declined by the 1920s (Berry 1939). The species was first recorded breeding in Dunbartonshire in 1920, and in Ayrshire and Renfrew in 1926 (Baxter & Rintoul 1922; Berry 1939). It first bred at Loch Lomond as recently as 1977 (Mitchell 1984), but remains an occasional and irregular breeder in Dumfries and Galloway, with only one record during 1981-87 at Cade Loch (Shimmings 1987). The Pochard was known to breed at Loch Bhassapol on Tiree from 1891, with several pairs present until at least 1913, but none since (Boyd 1958; Sheppard et al. 1988). It has not been known to nest on Islay (Booth 1981), although two or three individuals often summer there (Elliott 94 Pochards breeding in Britain 1989), and, although one pair bred in mid Argyll in 1983, it remains a very scarce breeding species (Argyll Bird Reports ). Southeast Scotland The Pochard colonised Perthshire in 1886 and Lindores Loch, Fife, in 1892 (McGowan 1988). In Fife, the species has bred regularly over the last 20 years at Kilconquhar, Morton Lochs and Lochore Meadows (Smout 1986), having abandoned its founder site as a result of disturbance. Berry (1939) knew the species to have bred in the Braes of Donne in 1879, and it spread subsequently to Loch Leven, southern Fife and the Lothians. In the Borders, it was also known from about 1878 (Berry 1939) and was considered to be expanding from the first decade of the present century untij the late 1930s. Thom (1986) recorded 26 pairs in 1976 at the two main Perthshire sites, and these areas undoubtedly contribute the major proportion of the 30-40 pairs nesting in Scotland at present. Northeast Scotland Pochards were first recorded nesting in Morayshire at Loch Loy in 1848, and by 1885 had spread to Loch Spynie and Loch Nabo. From this nucleus, the species spread to Easter Ness over the following 30 years, establishing nesting pairs at Loch Flemington by 1895 (Berry 1939). In recent years, it has not bred at Loch Flemington and remains scarce in Easter Ness. On Speyside, the Pochard is a rare breeding species, with records from Loch Inch in 1914 and a female with four young at the same site in June 1978 (Dennis 1984). In Grampian, the species apparently first bred in 1939 (Berry 1939). In recent years, two pairs have bred at Loch Sand and up to eight pairs bred at Kinnordy, Angus, in 1983 ( Scottish Bird Reports). The status of the Pochard in Orkney in the latter part of the last century is unclear, but it is known that it bred on Hoy in 1895 and, by 1927, was believed to breed on Sanday and Mainland, with several pairs involved (Baxter & Rintoul 1953; Booth et al. 1984). Lack (1943), quoting G. J. Arthur, stated that a number of pairs had bred on Mainland for at least 20 years and he considered that the species was increasing. Breeding was recorded in only two years during 1973-82, and it would seem that, on the islands, as elsewhere in the Highlands, the Pochard has declined as a breeding species. Northwest Scotland The species nested near Achnasheen in 1921 (Berry 1939) and bred in northeast Skye during the Atlas period ( 1968-72) (Sharrock 1976), but, owing to its habitat requirements, it is highly sporadic on the mainland in the Highlands. Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1887) described the Pochard as breeding at many localities in the Tongue area, and the species had colonised Loch Watten in Caithness by 1921 (Berry 1939). Pochards were considered to have first nested in the Outer Hebrides at 95 Pochards breeding in Britain Rodel, South Uist, in 1892, but the birds concerned were thought to have been escapes from Lord Dunmore’s wildfowl collection. Millais (1913) stated that they bred on Balranald and North and South Uist, but J. W. Campbell (unpublished MS held at Slimbridge) was sure that the claim of continued breeding made by Baxter & Rintoul (1953) was not correct. Furthermore, apart from an instance of possible breeding in 1911, Cunningham (1983) considered that the species bred only exceptionally in the Outer Hebrides, in spite of the suitability of the habitat there. Discussion It would appear that the Pochard colonised Britain in the early part of the nineteenth century, and by 1840 was still rare and perhaps confined to East Anglia; it first bred in Scotland in 1871 and had spread to Caithness by 1921. The species has clearly increased considerably in breeding numbers and extended its breeding range in Britain and Ireland since the middle of the last century, although it remains largely confined to eastern Britain. There are suggestions of a slight decline this century in Scotland, but otherwise the population does seem still to be increasing, albeit at a slower rate than earlier. The more recent continued increases are undoubtedly due to the provision of suitable habitat in lowland Britain. Part of this colonisation has been aided by artificial introductions, a factor thought to be particularly important in Hampshire. Generally, the species is considered to have spread naturally within eastern Britain, and this pattern seems to be continuing. Colonisation is, however, frequently sporadic and breeding productivity low in relation to numbers of summering adults. It is likely that the species’ breeding distribution will always be restricted in Britain, since it is rarely found nesting above 300 m and has a clear preference for base-enriched waters with abundant emergent and submergent vegetation (Sharrock 1976). Considering the recent proliferation of suitable waters in the form of reservoirs and gravel-workings, it is perhaps surprising that the nesting Pochard population has not shown the concurrent considerable expansion described for the Gadwall (Fox 1988). Most Ay thy a species, however, use more stable (i.e. more predictable and perhaps vegetationally stable) wetlands than do dabbling ducks (Johnson & Grier 1988). Generally, the Pochard might not be expected to be opportunistic in colonising newly created sites, but rather to utilise established suitable wetlands to which it becomes site-loyal. Its sporadic breeding is likely to be a result more of fluctuations in breeding success at suitable sites than of dramatic changes in the distribution of the species. Interestingly, some observers have suggested at least four common reasons for the variable nature of breeding at many sites: disturbance, water-level fluctuations, nest-site competition, and predation. The Pochard does appear to be a shy species, intolerant of water-based leisure sports, activities which are often characteristic during the summer of sites which are less disturbed in winter and accordingly hold wintering concentrations of this duck. It has also been suggested (e.g. P. Trodd in litt.) that competition, particularly with the aggressive Coot Fulica atra , for nest sites within reedbeds and 96 Pochards breeding in Britain other emergent vegetation may likewise be a problem. Finally, the picture emerges from many sites that, although broods frequently appear, their subsequent survival rate is poor; several bird reports suggest that pike or mink have been involved in the loss of ducklings, but direct evidence is often lacking (as at Witchett Pool: D. Roberts in litt.). This account of nesting Pochards in Britain is not intended to be exhaustive, but it does highlight areas where our knowledge of its breeding status is scanty. This is particularly true in Scotland, where the actual numbers of pairs nesting are very poorly monitored (a similar situation exists in Ireland). As a result of extensive searches through county bird reports and avifaunas, supplemented by further details provided by correspondents, the total number of nesting Pochards in Britain in 1986 was estimated to be a minimum of 370-395 pairs (about 330 in England, 15 in Wales, and 25-50 in Scotland). Although it is pleasing to see that the numbers are not so low as the figures given by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel may suggest (Spencer et al 1988, 1989), it is nevertheless hoped that the inclusion of the Pochard among species considered by the Panel, together with fieldwork associated with the new ‘BTO breeding atlas’, will focus attention on this attractive duck. For the meantime, the Pochard remains one of our rarer breeding waterfowl species and, as such, requires an appropriate level of monitoring and protection. Acknowledgments This work was supported as part of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust contract with the Nature Conservancy Council, which has supported the National Wildfowl Counts scheme for many years. The analysis would not have been possible without the active involvement of all the counters who have contributed March counts to the database, and my thanks go to all of them and to all the observers who take the trouble to submit their breeding-bird records to local recorders. Thanks in particular go to George Bennett, Bob Bullock, Roy Frost, Dilwyn Roberts, Jack Sankey, Michael Seago, Paul Shimmings, Paul Trodd, Peter Walton and R. B. Warren for details of breeding Pochards in their respective counties. Dr Myrfyn Owen and David Salmon have given support and encouragement, Dave Fletcher supplied literature sources, and Dr Mike Pienkowski commented on earlier drafts. Hearty thanks to them all! Summary The Pochard Aythya ferina appears to have colonised Britain as a breeding species during the early part of the nineteenth century, and Ireland in the early part of the twentieth century. During the initial stages of colonisation, expansion appeared rapid and may have been assisted by feral and escaped birds. Other authors consider that there was something of a decline during the early part of the twentieth century in Scotland, but during the last 50 years the species appears to have continued to consolidate its position in eastern England, the area of initial colonisation. The minimum total number of nesting Pochards in Britain in 1986 was estimated to be 370-395 pairs (about 330 in England, 15 in Wales, and 25-50 in Scotland). Analysis of National Wildfowl Count data for the Pochard in March suggests that the breeding and near-breeding population in Britain has remained stable over the last 27 years, with some sign of an increase during the 1980s. 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The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 1. Oxford. CUNNINGHAM, W. A. J. 1983. The Birds of the Outer Hebrides. Perth. DENNIS, R. H. 1984. A Status and Guide to the Birds of Badenoch and Strathspey. Inverness. D’Urban, W. S. M., & Matthew, M. A. 1895. The Birds of Devon. 2nd edn. London. ELLIOTT, R. E. 1989. Birds of Islay. Bromley. Fox, A. D. 1988. Breeding status of the Gadwall in Britain and Ireland. Brit. Birds 81: 51-66. , & Salmon, D. G. 1988. Changes in the non-breeding distribution and habitat of Pochard, Aythya ferina in Britain. Biol. Conserv. 46: 303-316. Frost, R. A. 1978. Birds of Derbyshire. Buxton. Galloway, B., & Meek, E. R. 1978. Northumberland’s Birds. Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Northumberland 44: 1-51. Gillham, E. H., & Homes, R. C. 1950. The Birds of the North Kent Marshes. London. Glegg, W. E. 1935. A History of the Birds of Middlesex. London. Harrison, G. R., Dean, A. R., Richards, A. J., & Smallshire, D. 1982. The Birds of the West Midlands. Studley. Harrison, J. M. 1953. The Birds of Kent. London. Harrison, J., Humphreys, J. N., & Graves, G. 1973. Breeding Birds of the Medway Estuary. Chester. Harvie-Brown, J. A., & Buckley, T. E. 1887. A Vertebrate Fauna of Sutherland, Caithness and West Cromarty. Edinburgh. HlCKLING, R. A. O. 1978. Birds in Leicestershire and Rutland. London. Homes, R. C. 1957. The Birds of the London Area since 1900. London. Hudson, R., & Pyman, G. A. 1968. A Guide to the Birds of Essex. Essex Birdwatching and Preservation Society. Hutchinson, C. D. 1979. Ireland's Wetlands and their Birds. Dublin. 1989. Birds in Ireland. Calton. Johnson, D. H., & Grier, J. W. 1988. Determinants of breeding distributions of ducks. Wildl. Monogr. 100: 1-37. Kennedy, P. G., Ruttledge, R. F., & Scroope, C. F. 1954. Birds of Ireland. Edinburgh. Lack, D. 1943. The breeding birds of Orkney. Ibis 1943: 1-27. Lord, J., & Munns, D. J. 1970. The Atlas of Breeding Birds of the West Midlands. London. Lovegrove, R. R., Hume, R. A., & Maclean, I. 1980. The status of breeding wildfowl in Wales. Nature in Wales 17: 4-10. McGowan, R. Y. 1988. Early records of Pochard breeding in Fife. Scot. Birds 15: 90. Mansel-Pleydell, J. C. c.1890. The Birds of Dorsetshire. London. Mather, J. R. 1986. The Birds of Yorkshire. London. Mead, C., & Smith, K. 1982. The Hertfordshire Breeding Birds Atlas. Tring. Millais, J. G. 1913. British Diving Ducks. London. Mitchell, J. 1984. The birds of the Endrick Mouth, Loch Lomond. Scot. Nat. (1984): 3-47. Montier, D. J. 1977. Atlas of Breeding Birds of the London Area. London. Norris, C. A. 1947. Notes on the Birds of Warwickshire. Birmingham. Owen, M., Atkinson-Willes, G. L., & Salmon, D. G. 1986. Wildfowl in Great Britain. 2nd edn. Cambridge. Parr, D. 1972. Birds in Surrey, 1900-1970. London. Parslow, J. 1973. Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. Payn, W. H. 1978. The Birds of Suffolk. Ipswich. Prendergast, E. D. V., & Boys, J. V. 1983. The Birds of Dorset. Newton Abbot. Radford, M. C. 1966. The Birds of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. London. 98 Pochards breeding in Britain Riviere, B. B. 1930. A History of the Birds of Norfolk. London. Ruttledge, R. F. 1966. Ireland’s Birds. London. Sage, B. L. 1959. A History of the Birds of Hertfordshire. London. Seago, M. J. 1977. Birds of Norfolk. Norwich. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Tring. Sheppard, K. B., Green, M., Knight, A. C., & Stroud, D. A. 1988. The breeding birds ofTiree and Coll, with special emphasis on breeding waders. Nature Conservancy Council Chief Scientists Directorate commissioned research report. No. 827. Peterborough. Shimmings, P. 1987. Breeding Waterfowl at Castle Loch Local Nature Reserve 1981-1987. Report to South West Scotland Region, NCC, Balloch. Shrubb, M. 1979. The Birds of Sussex. London. Smith, C. 1869. The Birds of Somersetshire. London. Smout, A.-M. 1986. The Birds of Fife. Edinburgh. Spencer, R., & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. 1988. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1986. Brit. Birds 81: 417-444. & 1989. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1987. Brit. Birds 82: 477-504. Swaine, C. M. 1982. Birds of Gloucestershire. Gloucester. Taylor, D. W., Davenport, D. L., & Flegg, J. J. M. 1981. The Birds of Kent. Meopham. Thom, V. 1986. The Birds of Scotland. Calton. WlTHERBY, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., TlCEHURST, N. F., & TUCKER, B. W. 1939. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. 3. London. Dr A. D. Fox, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust , Slimbridge, Gloucester GL2 7BT Seasonal reports Autumn 1990 Part 1: non-passerines Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp This summary includes some unchecked reports, as well as authenticated records July began cool, with ground frosts reported from several parts of Britain, and for the first ten days the weather was unsettled, with winds mainly from the northwest. The second half of the month was mostly sunny and warm, with below-average rainfall. [Brit. Birds 84: 98-105, March 1991] 99 Autumn 1990: non-passerines The start of August was exceptionally hot , with sei’eral places in the first few days with temperatures over 32°C, breaking many long-term records. On 15th , there was a marked change , as a deepening depression moling northeast across Scotland brought rain and strong winds to much of the British Isles. September was dry and was dominated by northerly uinds until 17th , when it became more unsettled and showery , uith severe gales in the north. For much of October, a series of depressions brought westerly winds to most parts, but from 12th the wind veered to the south, and by 1 7th to the east, remaining so until the last few days of the month, which saw a return to westerlies. November started uith northeasterly uinds, but from 8th the uinds moved around to the south, with mild temperatures, but by mid month there was a much colder northwesterly airstream, uith the first snow of winter in some northern areas. 70. Adult Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus (and second-summer Herring Gull Larus argentatus), Ramone Head, Portrush, Co. .Antrim, September 1990 (Anthony McGeehan ) Whilst, generally, seabird passage was un- eventful, the numbers of Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus (plates 70 & 76) and Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa were notable. Eight of the former appeared in July, five between 21st and 31st, followed in August by four at Bridges of Ross (Co. Clare) on 15th and a single the next day at Ramore Head (Co. Antrim). Between 26th and 30th August, a further 26 appeared along the coastline from Humberside to southeast Scotland, whilst inland records included six over Wilstone Reservoir (Hert- fordshire) on 17th. In September, a deepening depression on 5th approached the north of Scotland from the west, bringing strong winds to all north- ern areas. This promptly brought hundreds of Leach’s Petrels to western coasts, includ- ing 264 off Co. Clare on 5th, 144 off Co. Donegal and 214 off Merseyside on 6th, and 900 off Co. Antrim on 7th, when there were also 75 off Clwyd and 40 off Dyfed. A second deep depression moved east from Iceland into the Norwegian Sea from 18th to 20th September, bringing with it severe gales in the north, with 100-mph (160-kph) winds recorded in Orkney on 19th. This brought the next wave of Long-tailed Skuas — 150 altogether in September, including 42 off Lothian/Borders between 15th and 30th, and seven off Lynn Point (Norfolk) on 19th, when there were 16 off the Irish coasts (plate 70). In fact, numbers in Irish waters this autumn were to double their previous 25- year total. More Leach’s Petrels appeared between 19th and 22nd September, includ- ing 1,100 off Merseyside, and there was a very7 early Little Auk Alle alle at Cunnings- burgh (Shetland) on 22nd. Other travelling companions were Sab- ine’s Gulls Lams sabini, with 19 past Bridges of Ross on 5th, nine past Ramore Head on 7th, and ten past St Ives (Cornwall) on 19th, the same day as 150 Storm Petrels Hydro- bates pelagicus were driven into Scalloway Harbour (Shetland). Turning inland, July had started in spec- tacular fashion, with a Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva on Lady’s Island Lake (Co. Wexford) on 1st and a Great White Egret Egretta alba at Welney (Norfolk) on 2nd. On 3rd, an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica was at Sidlesham Ferry (West Sussex) and a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia, to prove quite scarce this autumn, at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxford- shire). News was also received from Cum- bria of the first breeding in that county of Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis. Summering Brent Geese Branta bernicla lingered in Chichester Harbour (West Sussex), and on 8th July an early Storm Petrel passed Selsey Bill (West Sussex). A Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus was an unusual visitor to Spurn (Humberside) on 9th, but more typical were 26 Pomarine Skuas Stercorarius pomarinus which passed Bowness-on-Solway (Cum- bria) between 8th and 11th July. An anticyclone over the English Channel 100 on 12th July moved northeast into the North Sea. Large numbers of Common Sandpip- ers Actitis hypoleucos appeared, including 60 at Anthorn (Cumbria) and 19 at Minsmere (Suffolk) on 14th, and a Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus was seen at Kelling Quag (Norfolk) on 12th. A Stilt Sandpiper Micro- palama himantopus arrived at Cliffe (Kent) and three White-rumped Sandpipers Calidris fuscicollis showed, with the first on 13th in Cleveland, and there was a second Pacific Golden Plover, this time on the Ouse Washes (Cambridgeshire) on 15th. The same day, a Caspian Tern Sterna caspia arrived at Dungeness (Kent), with another at Sale Water Park (Greater Manchester) the next day. Other good inland records included a Red-footed Falcon at Langley Mill (Derbyshire), and a Great Northern Diver Gavia immer at Rutland Water (Leices- tershire) on 17th; there was another at Grutness (Shetland) on 15th and six off Fetlar (Shetland) by the end ofjuly. With an area of high pressure to the north of Scotland, winds became easterly, bringing an early Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea to Spurn on 22nd. Many localities reported the first move- ments of Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus and Wood Sandpipers T. glareola, whilst more unexpected were another Pacific Gol- den Plover, at Pilling (Lancashire), and a Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus in Humberside. Sea passage had been unexcit- ing, but six Pomarine Skuas flew past Flamborough Head (Humberside) on 22nd July, with reports from seven other East Coast localities between 21st and 26th. A Black Stork Ciconia nigra in Humberside on 24th July was the start of an interesting sequence, with it, or another, in North- amptonshire on 27th, and the same in Suffolk on 28th, where it wandered for most of August. July’s fourth Pacific Golden Plover showed at Stanpit Marsh (Dorset) on 25th, when a count of 1,050 Redshanks Tringa totanus at Spurn caused much less excitement but was of interest nonetheless. The showing of the larger shearwaters was disappointing by their own recent stan- dards, but, as a depression to the southwest of England moved closer, 60 Cory’s Shear- waters Calonectris diomedea flew past Porth- gwarra (Cornwall) on 27th July, with 1,172 past there and 527 past Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) the next day. A Stone-curlew on Lady’s Island Lake on 28th was a rare Irish visitor, as was a White- winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus at Lough Neagh (Co. Armagh) on 29th. Autumn 1990: non-passerines August was quiet for many coastal sta- tions, with little visible movement at sea. At Spurn, the biggest ‘auk day’ was 30th, with a count of 20, the Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis maximum was 1,200 on 13th, and, similarly, Arctic Skuas Stercorarius para- siticus reached a peak, with 155 on 20th. Great Shearwaters Puffinus grains numbered just over 100 in the whole of the British Isles in August, of which 68 were off Cornwall between 15th and 19th, and 21 off Downpat- rick Head (Co. Mayo) on 16th. Seven Cory’s Shearwaters were seen in the North Sea between 5th and 8th August, with another six between 16th and 19th, and there were 14 off the southwest coast of England between 13th and 19th. Ruddy Shelducks Tadoma ferruginea were noted in Orkney and at Staines Reservoir (Surrey) on 5th, with others towards the end of August, and there were two more Pacific Golden Plovers, in Clwyd on 3rd and at Cley (Norfolk) on 7th. Nearctic visitors included a Stilt Sandpiper at Trimley (Suffolk) on the same day, a Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopa- ceus at Frodsham (Cheshire) on 8th (plate 77) and a Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla at Oldbury (Avon) on 12th. The same day brought Purple Herons Ardea purpurea to Burnham Norton (Norfolk) and Portland (Dorset), and Little Egrets Egretta garzetta , which had numbered 16 in July, increased to 50 in August, including 1 1 in Brand’s Bay (Dorset) on 22nd. The 15th saw a Cory’s Shearwater off Skokholm (Dyfed) and a Wilson’s Petrel Oceanites Oceanians off Bridges of Ross, while on 17th a total of 2,796 Storm Petrels went west past Cape Clear Island. A Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus at Church Wilne Reservoir on 18th was only the second Derbyshire record, but a Wil- son’s Phalarope P. tricolor in Cornwall the same day (plate 79) was a more regular visitor to that county. On 19th August there were 450 Black Terns Chlidonias niger passing Dungeness, and a Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris went past Skokholm, whilst 100 Arctic Skuas went south past Seaton Sluice (Northumberland) on 20th. Meanwhile, on the Duddon Estuary (Cumbria), Red- breasted Mergansers Mergus senator had increased to 281. Visitors from farther afield included a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes at Staines Reservoir on 21st, a Long-billed Dowitcher at Draycote Water (Warwick- shire) on 23rd and a Bonaparte’s Gull Lams Philadelphia at Torpoint (Cornwall). Six White-rumped Sandpipers (plates 72 & 73) 101 Autumn 1990: non-passerines were also seen during August, three arriving between 20th and 29th. Seabirds became more evident from 25th August, with nine Manx Shearwaters Puf- finus puffinus of the race mauretanicus, 29 Great Shearwaters, 10,000 nominate Manx Shearwaters and 4,200 Storm Petrels off Cape Clear Island, and a Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis there the next day. Ruffs Philomachus pugnax were noticeable on this day, too, with a good passage through northwest England, and numbers reaching 117 on Fetlar by the end of the month. Greenshanks Tringa nebularia also showed well, with 20 at Blithfield Reservoir (Staf- fordshire) on 28th August and 29 at Tyning- hame on 24th, a record Lothian count. There was also a strong passage through Shetland, together with good numbers of Spotted Redshanks T. erythropus , although these were reported as scarce elsewhere. Cape Clear Island recorded 3,196 Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus during August, with 516 on 27th, the same day as a White- winged Black Tern in Essex, with another in Kent on 28th. August ended with an American Golden Plover on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), a Black-browed Albatross off Ramore Head and a Black Stork in the Teme Valley (Shropshire/ Powys), with the earlier Suffolk individual still showing at Benacre. The hot, dry summer had caused low water levels and large muddy margins, ideal for Litde Stints Calidris minuta and Curlew Sandpipers, both of which passed through in good numbers during the first half of September. Of the latter, there were 33 at Rutland Water on 9th, 60 on the Inner Solway (Cumbria) mid month, and 13 Little Stints at Ogston Reservoir (Derbyshire) on 16th. A Long-toed Stint C. subminuta also found conditions favourable on South Uist (Western Isles), where it stayed during 4th- 7th September. Purple Sandpipers C. mari- tima made rare inland appearances in Bed- fordshire, only their second ever, and in Derbyshire, and a Semipalmated Sand- piper showed at Ogmore Estuary (Mid Glamorgan). Off Cape Clear Island on 11th, 500 Sooty Shearwaters mingled with 15,000 Manx Shearwaters, the same day that a lone Cory’s Shearwater was seen from Birsay (Orkney). A total of 13 Pectoral Sandpipers C. melanotos followed the 1 5 seen in August, and Buff-breasted Sandpipers Tryngites subruficollis, scarcer these last few years, had a better showing, with eight. Five Baird’s Sandpipers Calidris bairdii (plate 7 1 ) scattered throughout September was about an average number, and there were three more American Golden Plovers, all in the Northern Isles. A count of 1,006 Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus on the Leicestershire waters on 16th September was their highest for five years, and 2,187 Teals Anas crecca on Rut- land Water the same day was a site record. The first Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus re- turned to Shetland on 20th and an early Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius was on the Calf of Man the next day, followed by a scattering around the coast during the next week. A Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melano- leuca on the Shannon Estuary (Co. Clare) on 30th September was the first Irish record for seven years. A widespread arrival of Long-eared Owls Asio otus was quite a feature in October, with one at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 4th, followed by up to four at Southwold (Suffolk) and one at Spurn on 13th. There were singles in Scilly on 17th and at Sandwich again on 19th, two more at Spurn on 21st, with up to seven there on 23rd, three on Fair Isle (Shetland) the same day and one on Lundy on 22nd. Little Auks showed well, too, with 12 between 3rd and 7th October, 71 between 20th and 21st, including 53 from North Ronaldsay, and eight between 30th and 31st. Wader-roost numbers increased as ex- pected, with counts of 10,000 of both Oys- tercatchers Haematopus ostralegus and Bar- tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) on 6th. More surprising on 7th was the return of the Terek Sand- piper Xenus cinereus to the Blyth Estuary (Northumberland), where it had stayed throughout the previous winter. A series of depressions, crossing the Atlantic during the first half of October, brought with them several interesting Nearctic visitors, including a Sora Porzana Carolina to Skomer (Dyfed) on 7th. The first 102 Autumn 1990: non-passerines of eight Long-billed Dowitchers for the month, in total 14 for the autumn, appeared at Droitwich (Worcestershire) on 9th, an upsurge for this species, whereas a Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria on North Uist (Western Isles) on 20th lived up to its name and remains a scarce vagrant. A welcome and well-watched visitor to Scilly was the Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda , which graced the airfield on St Mary’s for several days, but a Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri at Par (Cornwall) on 9th was more fleeting. Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis were pas- sing through, with 249 southwest over Eddleston (Borders) on 10th October, 110 on Fair Isle on 12th and eight on Lundy on 14th. A Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria appeared at Welney on 15th, staying until 30th. A total of 37 Woodcocks Scolopax rusticola passed through Spurn between 18th and 21st, there were 100 on Fair Isle on 22nd and 150 there on 29th. There were 7,000 Brent Geese passing Landguard (Suffolk) on 21st, on a day when Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus counts in Borders/ Lothian included 17,500 at Aberlady Bay, 21,000 at Westwater and 10,030 at Hule Moss. A total of 800 Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa had gathered on the River Orwell (Suffolk) on 22nd, when 25 Pomar- ine Skuas flew past Hound Point (Lothian). The 23rd October was a good raptor day, with a White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla at Spurn, nine Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus at Gibraltar Point, together with four Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus, with two also at Sandwich Bay. The theme continued with a Red Kite Milvus milvus at Walberswick (Suf- folk) on 24th and another ten Sparrow- hawks at Gibraltar Point on 27th. A Buzzard Buteo buteo, at Minsmere on 28th, was a Suffolk rarity and coincided with five Rough-legged Buzzards B. lagopus in Bri- tain between 20th and 27th. At Loch of Harray (Orkney), a wildfowl count on 30th of 9,200 Wigeons Anas penelope , 2,245 Pochards Aythya ferina , 1,640 Tufted Ducks A. fuligula, 1,205 Mute Swans Cygnus olor, 1,127 Greylag Geese Anser anser and 679 Whooper Swans must have been quite a sight. Requiring fewer fingers, but still impressive, was the count of raptors passing over Spurn on 31st — two Hen Harriers, 11 Sparrowhawks, 23 Kestrels Falco tinnunculus, a Buzzard, two Merlins F. columbarius and a Rough-legged Buzzard. Following last year’s Double-crested Cormorant Phalacro- corax auritus in Cleveland came another, arriving in Scilly on 1st November, following several days of strong westerlies, and staying until 4th November. The 15,000 Pink- footed Geese at Montrose Basin (Tayside) on 2nd November found four Snow Geese Anser caerulescens in their midst, and there was another at Martin Mere (Lancashire) the same day. The first week of November also saw a remarkable movement of Little Auks down the east coast of England, with 232 on 3rd, including 100 at Sheringham (Norfolk), over 1,800 on 4th, including 1,500 off Flamborough Head, and 600 flying past there the next day. Nine passed St Ives on 18th, together with 19 Black-throated Di- 1 vers Gavia arctica. On 20th a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen over Massingham Heath (Norfolk). Finally we were left to ponder on the origin of the Greater Flamingos Phoenicop- terus ruber which wandered around eastern England during October and November. Does news of a record-breaking year for the breeding population in southern Spain throw any light on the question? Please note that records for the ‘Seasonal report’ covering winter 1990/91 (November to March) should be sent to Barry Nightingale by mid April. Thank you. f The inclusion of plates 71-79 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from ZEISS Germany] 71. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii , Annachie Lagoon, St Fergus, Grampian, September 1990 ( S . A. Reeves) 72. White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis, Sidlesham Ferry, West Sussex, August 1990 (David Tipling ) 73. White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis , Whitburn Steel, Tyne & Wear, August 1990 (Mike Watson) 74. Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus, Bridlington, Humberside, September 1990 ( Ralph & Brenda Todd) 75. American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, October 1990 (R. J. Watts) 76. Juvenile Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus, King George V Reservoir, Chingford, Greater London, September 1990 ( Dave Odell) # “IS IT MOUSTACHED, OR IS IT A SEDGE?” Not easy in the distance of a grey dawn on a dirty day, is it? But, before you tell the ‘Rarities Committee’, you do need to be 100% sure that it is the rare Moustached Warbler you’ve spotted, rather than the very similar Sedge. Apart from the fact that you want to drink in every detail of a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. Which is clearly why the readers of “British Birds” voted Carl Zeiss the most popular binoculars, the most highly rated, the most satisfactory and the top binoculars of the future. 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Best prices guaranteed, and discount for RSPB members on SELECTED ITEMS. Huge range of binos and scopes in stock. Part exchange welcomed. Fast Mail Order service. Exclusive repair service for most optical equip- ment. Wide range of optical ac- cessories, tripods also car- ried. Major stockists of video camcorders and, of course, still cameras. Opening hours: Mon to Sat, 9am - 5.30pm. xi Fieldscope II 8 x 40DCF WP Vn alue and quality are two reasons Wn<. e and Bird Watching rated these Nikon Binoculars and Fieldscopes among the best in their classes. For instance, Bird Watching awarded the Nikon 8 x 30ECF WF binoculars a full five stars, their highest value -for-money rating. What’s more, they acclaimed the 8 x 30s “Excellent in every way optically— very sharp and bright.”* That’s because they share the Nikon heritage of optical excellence. So take a look through the leaders today. *By courtesy of EMAP Pursuit Ltd.: Quoted from an article BEST BUYS IN BINOCULARS, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Bird Watching, May 1990. And, BEST BUYS IN TELESCOPES, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Bird Watching, June 1990. By courtesy of BBC Publications; JUST THE BEST, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Wildlife, March 1989. Nikon NIKON U.K. LTD. (United Kingdom) 380 RICHMOND ROAD, KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (081) 541 4440 FAX: (081) 541 4584 Somerton Foto Ltd. (The Republic of Ireland) TEL: (01) 773173 xii (0747) 77. Adult Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus (with Redshanks Tringa totanus and Dunlin Calidris alpina), Frodsham, Cheshire, August 1990 (Stei'e Young) 9 78. Male American Wigeon Anas americana , Seaforth, Merseyside, September 1990 (Steve Young) 79. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor , Hayle, Cornwall, August 1990 ( David Tipling) Monthly marathon With the same issue containing a ‘Mystery photographs’ text and photographs relating to Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus (Brit. Birds 83: 561-564, plates 302 & 303), was plate 306 a simple problem, or a trap? Clearly, quite a number of entrants thought the latter: Mediterranean Gull (59%) Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius ( 1 6%) Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus ( 1 2%) with fewer votes each for Red-necked Phalarope P. lobatus, Great Black-headed Gull L. ichthyaetus, Laughing Gull L. atricilla , Franklin s Gull L. pipixcan , Bonaparte’s Gull L. Philadelphia , Ring-billed Gull L. delawarensis, Common Gull L. canus and Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. No trap. It was a Mediterranean Gull, photographed by Steve Young in Merseyside in May 1990. Of the two leading competitors (Brit. Birds 83: 73), only Jouni Riihimaki identified the bird in plate 306 correctly. He needs to be successful with five more hurdles, without a single stumble, to win the competition and his prize of a SUNBIRD birdwatching holiday of 80. Fifth ‘Monthly marathon’ (eighth stage: photograph number 57). Identify the species. Read the rules on page 16 of the January 1991 issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th April 1991 Sponsored by 106 Monthly marathon 107 his choice in Africa, Asia or North America. If he fails just once, the competitors in the chasing pack will get their chance. A sadly high proportion of entrants are not taking full account of the detailed rules of this competition (Brit. Birds 84: 16). In your own interests, please read them carefully before sending in your entries. We do not want anyone to be disqualified, but in fairness must enforce the rules strictly and impartially. Send each entry' in separately; on a postcard; with your name and full address; with your BB reference number; and post it in plenty' of time, so that it arrives on or before the closing date. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. Notes Unusual concealment behaviour by Coot On 27th June 1986, while walking along the bank of the Union Canal close to Winchburgh, Lothian, I watched a single adult Coot Fulica atra disappear underwater about 1 m from the water’s edge and about 20 paces ahead of me. As I walked slowly past the spot where it had submerged, I kept looking for the Coot to reappear, looking behind me and over the whole width of the canal, but it did not show anywhere and I walked back to the same place. There I saw the Coot’s bill protruding above the water, with the mandibles open and the nostrils just clear of the surface, every other part of the bird, including the head, being out of sight below water. Aquatic plants were emerging several centimetres above the water surface around the Coot, which may have been able to use its wings or feet to brace against these plants and thus hold itself submerged. The Coot remained in this position as I stood on the bank 1 m away; then, as I leaned closer over it, it jerked right under the water with a sudden audible movement, and moments later resurfaced about 15 m away, from where it swam farther from me, this time on the surface. The Coot had remained concealed and motionless for approximately two minutes before I alarmed it. Such concealment behaviour has been observed for the Moorhen Gallinula chloropus and is described in The Handbook: ‘Birds which have dived when startled frequently remain almost submerged, preferably under cover of bank or among plants or surface debris, exposing first beak only, and sometimes little more, or gradually showing head . . . and remaining thus till danger appears to have passed’, and there is ‘some controversy about whether birds submerge thus by holding onto underwater parts of plants or not.’ I have found no record of this behaviour for the Coot; BWP (vol. 2) states only that Coots make little use of cover when swimming or diving (p. 600), and that in potential danger they may either seek cover or flee to open water (p. 606). H. E. M. Dott 12/26 Ethel Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5NA 108 Notes Winter plumage of Gull-billed Tern BWP (vol. 4) states that winter- plumaged Gull-billed Terns Gelochelidon nilotica have a mainly white head. This is acquired after a post-breeding moult which starts in late July to mid August and is completed by late September to mid October. The crown becomes black again after a pre-breeding moult which normally commences from mid February (a few from late December) and is completed by the end of March. Small parties of Gull-billed Terns winter around Bahrain and I was surprised to see several with a completely black crown in November and December 1989. Out of 347 individuals, 27 exhibited a completely black ‘cap’, just as in summer plumage. Out of 15 seen at very close range, one showed a few white feathers admixed in the black forehead, but this was impossible to see more than 75 m away with a 20 X telescope. Apparently, some adults do not moult their head feathers completely during the autumn. Erik Hirschfeld c/o IAL, PO Box 144, Manama, State of Bahrain Erik Hirschfeld’s findings are comparable with those concerning wintering hooded gulls (e.g. Black-headed Lams ridibundus). His note is of especial value because of the precise statistics quoted. Iain Robertson has commented that ‘many (sorry, no statistics) wintering Gull-billed Terns in East Africa have full black crowns in mid December, January and February.’ Eds Skylark using car as refuge from Merlin The notes on a Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis and Skylarks Alauda aruensis using human beings as refuges from attacks by Merlin Falco columbarius (Brit. Birds 79: 592; 82: 179; 83: 427) reminded me of a similar incident a few years ago on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. A female Merlin was chasing a Skylark over the artillery ranges, climbing and diving in hot pursuit towards where I was standing by the open door of my car. Suddenly, the Skylark dived between my leg and the door and under the car, brushing my leg as it passed; the Merlin sheered off. When I looked under the car, the Skylark was resting on its breast, panting and looking at me with a beady eye. After about five minutes, it flew into a tussock of rough grass. Geoffrey L. Boyle Strawberry Lee, White Street, West Lavington, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 4LW Grey Wagtail repeatedly flying at car mirror At 15.30 GMT on 2nd December 1984, at Ibsley, near Ringwood, Hampshire, we watched a Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea fly at a wing mirror of a car parked by the River Avon and fly back to the river, only to return to the wing mirror after about five minutes. During our stay of approximately 30 minutes, the wagtail made about eight visits to the car; it flew not only at the one wing mirror, but also at our own car’s wing mirror and at that of a car that drew up alongside the river to park (plates 81 & 82). Similar behaviour was reported for a Grey Wagtail in Dorset, which was apparently ‘conditioned to regard a car with a wing mirror as embodying another wagtail’ (Brit. Birds 58: 222-223, 350). M. D. Simmonds 70 Portchester Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire P02 7JB Notes 109 81 8c 82. Grey Wagtail Xlotacilla cinerea visiting car wing mirror, Hampshire, December 1984 (M. D. Simmonds) Instances of birds displaying at their own reflections are not unusual (e.g. the Goldcrest Regulus regulus photographed by J. D. Bakewell, Brit. Birds 79: 276, plate 152), but the photographs of this Grey Wagtail are valuable documentation. Eds Starlings using human being as refuge from Sparrowhawk The notes on a Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis and Skylarks Alauda aruensis using human beings as refuges from attacks by Merlins Falco columbarius (Brit. Birds 79: 592; 82: 179; 83: 427) recalled the following. On a wintry day in the late 1940s, when farming in Gloucestershire, I was working near a tractor and trailer by a high hedge and a manure heap when I was suddenly enveloped by a small flock of Starlings Stumus vulgaris. They descended on my head and shoulders like a swarm of bees, and I had to strike them off in order to protect my face; some landed on the ground at my feet, struggling as though incapable of flight, kicking their legs and seeming completely disorientated. Simultaneously, I noticed a female Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus flying away across the field with a Starling in its grasp. Presumably, it had ‘hedge-hopped’ into the flock, causing them to flee to the nearest available cover, which just happened to be myself. T. O. James Charity Farm, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 3EQ Letter The occurrence of ‘Russian’ Bean Geese in Britain In reply to Andreas Noeske (Brit. Birds 83: 556-560), we should like to comment as follows: 1. We agree that the Bean Goose Anser fabalis shows clinal variation and that subspecific identification is difficult. These points were emphasised in our note (Brit. Birds 81: 68-70). 2. Our note reported bill shapes and patterns and measurements of three Bean Geese which had been shot in Lancashire. This information was 110 Letter compared with that published in BWP, whose data appear to differ from those quoted by Litzbarski and cited by Noeske. 3. The measurements of one female specimen are typical of A.f. serrirostris. but are not at all typical of A.f. fabalis or A.f. rossicus when compared with BWP data (table 1). 4. We agree that one should not claim a lone ‘Siberian' Bean Goose on the strength of one biometric parameter. In fact, we measured and described several parameters, concluding that the bird was ‘closest to serrirostris or an intergrade between rossicus and serrirostris.' On the basis of the information available to us, this finding seems reasonable and certainly not ‘dubious or ‘misleading’, as claimed by Noeske. Philip H. Smith and W. D. Forshaw School of Natural Sciences , The Liverpool Polytechnic, Byrom Street . Liverpool 13 3AF Table 1. Mean measurements (and ranges) in mm of adult female A. fabalis sspp. from ‘BWP’ compared with ‘Specimen 3’ of Smith 8c Forshaw (1988) fabalis rossicus serrirostris Specimen 3 Wing 460 433 449 440-444 (434-488) (405-458) (420-491) Tail 132 119 — 129 (127-137) (106-130) Bill length 60.0 54.6 63.3 63 (55-66) (49-60) (58-69) Bill depth 6.2 7.5 9.3 9 (5. 3-7.0) (6.9-8. 6) (8.1-11.3) Tarsus 76.7 73.9 — 80 (73-80) (69-79) Toe 82.7 74.7 — 80 (78-84) (70-81) No. of homy teeth visible 26-27 23 — 23 on bill Mystery photographs The weak bill, small head, short neck, plump body, long tail and (presumably) short legs of last month’s mystery bird (plate 64, repeated here) instantly identify it as a pigeon or dove. Most readers will have progressed farther immediately, by noticing the bird’s dark-centred wing-coverts, scapulars and tertials and multi-striped neck patch, which narrow the choice to Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur or Rufous Turtle Dove S. orientalis. It is an adult, since juveniles of both species lack the neck patch. Separation of Turtle Dove and Rufous Turtle Dove of the East Asian nominate race is straightforward, given good views of an adult at [Brit. Birds 84: 110-112. March 1991] rest. Some individuals of the West Asian race S. o. meena are, however, less easy to separate from Turtle Dove. The area of bare skin around the eye is quite extensive on Turtle Dove, whilst Rufous Turtle Dove has none or very little. Whereas Turtle Dove has small dark centres to the scapulars and tertials, those of Rufous Turtle Dove are comparatively large. The same applies to the dark centres to the wing-coverts, but, in addition, those of the common species are pointed in shape and generally sharply defined, whilst those of Rufous Turtle Dove are more rounded in shape and less clear-cut against the pale fringes. Turtle Dove’s wing-covert fringes are uniformly coloured, but those of Rufous Turtle Dove are thinly tipped with off-white, which creates pale wing-bars. Turtle Dove’s primaries are very indistinctly pale-tipped and 84. Rufous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis, Sweden, March 1987 ( Stefan Lithner ) 112 Mystery photographs this is least obvious on the outer primaries, whilst Rufous Turtle Dove’s primaries are more clearly pale-tipped and most prominently so on the outer primaries. The extent of the mystery bird’s bare skin around its eye, the detailed pattern of its scapulars, tertials and wing-coverts and the insignificant pale tips to its primaries identify it as a Turtle Dove. It was photographed by Dr Kevin Carlson in Portugal in May 1988. It is not possible, from a single black-and-white photograph, to observe the other important characters with which to separate the two species. Additionally to those covered above, an adult Rufous Turtle Dove can be positively identified by close attention to size and structure, jizz in flight, colour of nape and hindneck, colour of mantle and of lower back and rump, colour of central rectrices, pattern of outer web of outer rectrices, colour of breast and colour of fringes to scapulars and tertials. Other useful features which are not applicable to all individuals are colour of bare skin around eye, number of black stripes in neck patch, colour of pale surround to tail and colour of belly and of undertail-coverts and vent. The ground colour of the neck patch, once thought of as a major character, is of limited value in the separation process. It is wholly white on most Turtle Doves, but on a number of individuals it is both pale blue and white and on some it is entirely sky-blue. On most Rufous Turtle Doves, the neck-patch ground colour is grey-blue, although some meena possess a little white too. The identification of Rufous Turtle Dove and its separation from Turtle Dove has been discussed in an excellent paper by Erik Hirschfeld and Lars Svensson in the Swedish journal Var Fagelvarld (44: 145-152). This subject is also due to be covered fully in British Birds in a forthcoming paper by Mark Beaman and Steve Madge. Peter Lansdown 197 Springwood, Llanedeym , Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF2 6UG 85. Mystery photograph 165. Identify the species. Answer next month Announcements Rarities Committee; new members As previously announced (Brit. Birds 83: 413-414), three vacancies will arise on the Rarities Committee* from 1st April 1991. In addition to the Committee’s three nominations, two further independent nominations were received by the closing date of 31st December 1990. In consequence, a postal vote has been conducted, each county/regional bird recorder and bird observatory voting for three members (using a 3-2-1 points system). The candidates, and votes cast by the closing date of 15th February, were as follows: Dr Colin Bradshaw (North Shields, Tyne & Wear) 118 Peter Clement (Wisbech, Cambridgeshire) 69 Pete Ellis (Sandwick, Shedand) 97 Brian Rabbitts (Bumham-on-Sea, Somerset) 47 Grahame Walbridge (Portland, Dorset) 60 The three new members elected to serve from 1st April are, therefore, Dr Colin Bradshaw, Peter Clement and Pete Ellis. *The Rarities Committee is sponsored by ZEISS Germany. Books in British BirdShop Special offer exclusive to ‘British Birds’: The photographic guide North Atlantic Shorebirds by Richard Chandler (reviewed Brit. Birds 83: 248-249) is available for £9.95 (saving £3.00 on the full price), post free via British BirdShop. New this month: *Alerstam Bird Migration *Lovegrove The Kite's Tale: the story of the Red Kite in Wales *Sibley & Ahlquist Phylogeny and Classification of Birds *Sibley & Monroe Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World Please use the British BirdShop form on pages xiii & xiv. i£>ebentp-ffoe pcarg ago... ‘ARCTIC SKUA SOARING IN PURSUIT OF TERNS. Early in September, 1915, I watched an Arctic Skua ( Stercorarius parasiticus) attacking some Common Terns in Blakeney Harbour, in a distinctly unusual manner. The Terns, gradually mounting to a great height in the air, were closely followed by the Skua, till they reached such an altitude that they resembled nothing so much as a flock of Rooks mobbing a Kestrel. Presently, soaring round and round and gradually moving inland, they vanished out of sight. I have never seen a Skua chase Terns at any great height before, and Edward Ramm, the famous gunner, who was with me at the time, was as interested as I was in the sight. Clifford Borrer.’ (Brit. Birds 10: 275, March 1916) Reviews The Kite’s Tale: the story of the Red Kite in Wales. By Roger Lovegrove. RSPB, Sandy, 1990. 147 pages; 21 colour plates; 2 black-and- white plates; 23 line-drawings; 7 maps; 20 tables. £14.95. This book provides a popular account of the history of the Red Kite Milvus milvus in Britain, and of the 100-year conservation effort in Wales. It describes how, at the hand of man, the kite declined from being ‘the commonest and most familiar bird of prey in Britain’ to being one of the rarest, with less than a dozen individuals left in mid Wales in the early 1900s. 113 114 Reviews We probably owe the continued presence of the kite in Britain to the efforts of a few dedicated people. But, according to the author, kite protection over the years has been plagued by ‘bitter divisions, acrimonious clashes of personality, jealousies, intrigue and deception’. One wonders how much this book will add to the acrimony, considering the enormous extent to which it relies upon the work of others, notably the one person in Wales who has collected almost all the hard data. Moreover, readers may have some difficulty in tracing the original sources, because some of the main scientific papers drawn upon are attributed to the wrong journal. This aside, the book makes fascinating reading. For most of this century, kite protection was dominated by a few individual people, who operated a ‘hands-off policy steeped in secrecy. Practically nothing of significance was learned about the species, and it remained as scarce as ever. Then, from 1960, with the involvement of the Nature Conservancy and the appointment of a scientific field officer, proper record-keeping, observation and scientific study began. Conservation became more firmly based, and, with continued nest protection, the bird began to increase, reaching 69 pairs in 1989. In the environment of mid Wales, Red Kites will probably never achieve a high breeding success. Population increase is all the time being slowed by continued egg-collecting and, more importantly, by the continued use by a minority of farmers of poisoned meat baits. In 1989 alone, ten kites are known to have died in this way. With the new reintroduction programme for England and Scotland, the Red Kite is again in the limelight, and the publication of this book is timely. It seems to have been prepared hastily, however, and is not without small errors and inconsistencies. Nonetheless, it is nicely produced, enjoyable, and illustrated by some excellent photographs and evocative line- drawings . I . N E W T O N Birds by Night. By Graham Martin. Illustrated by John Busby. T. & A. D. Poyser, London, 1990. 227 pages; four black-and-white plates; 56 line-drawings. £18.00. The subject of this book is quite hard to define. Light levels at any one place can vary about a thousand-fold in daylight and a further million-fold between twilight and a dark moonless night. Modem human beings tend to be rather unaware of true night: it takes about 40 minutes for the eyes to become accustomed to it and few people venture that far from artificial lights. A lot of birds can and do do various things, from migrating to feeding or singing, in what we would regard as the dark. Such activities may be necessary if there is insufficient time to feed during the day, for instance, among waders, because of tides or disturbance. Occasional night feeders may be less good at night than by day and may have to switch from the use of sight to the use of touch, taste or sound. Such birds tend to avoid flying other than in the open. Night singers in thick vegetation tend to keep still. Rather few birds are substantially nocturnal, and the book is half read by the time they appear. The author’s own subject is the avian eye, but he is interested in other senses. Touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing and echo-location are all discussed. Swiftlets and the Oilbird Steatomis caripensis use sonar to get about in totally dark caves, but Oilbirds are no better at it than some blind human beings, and birds cannot compete with bats in acuity of this sense. Contrary to popular belief, the sight and hearing of owls are not much better than are ours. The ability to locate prey or get about by smell and taste is altogether much more foreign to our understanding, and has not been well studied in birds. A problem with senses is that we are not very good at understanding how we use our own. Knowledge plays an important part. Analogies are drawn with the ability of birdwatchers to leam how to detect birds, and with driving at night. People habitually drive in a way which relies on more information than can be seen. A bird studying us would no doubt find our motorway driving an extraordinary feat. In the same way, it is easy to be amazed about what birds can do with senses that do not seem good enough. As a whole, this book is a rather miscellaneous collection of examples of birds doing various things at the darker end of the natural range of light levels. The story is mainly descriptive, with few linking ideas. The emphasis is on the senses used. Traditional Poyser buyers will enjoy a quick read, but I suspect that few will return for further studv. Colin j. Bibby Reviews 115 Latvijas Ligzdojoso Putnu Atlants 1980-1984. By J. Priednieks, M. Strazds, A. Strazds and A. Petrins. Edited by J. Viksne. Latvian Ornithological Society. Salaspils, 1989. 297 pages; 208 line-drawings; 208 maps. Hardback, no price given. This is the Latvian Breeding Bird Atlas, resulting from fieldwork carried out during 1980-84. The results are plotted, using the standard 10x10 km squares as a basis, and the standard European Ornithological Atlas Committee grades and categories of evidence (as in The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland , 1976). The survey was carried out by a total of 130 ornithologists, who achieved a remarkable 95% coverage (although many of the 701 squares which were surveyed were visited only once). This book, which shows the results of the survey, follows the now-familiar pattern, with, apart from introductory sections, maps of Latvia with unsurveyed squares shown shaded grey, and the three categories of breeding evidence for those which were surveyed being shown with three sizes of dot (in green). There is accompanying text, and a decorative drawing illustrating each species. Throughout the book, the text is given in Latvian, Russian and English. It is, therefore, very easy for British birdwatchers to make full use of this Atlas. Design and layout do full justice to the fieldwork achievements. Latvia is about one-fifth the size of Britain and Ireland, but includes 12,400 rivers and over 2,250 lakes. Forests (mostly pine Pinus, birch Betula and spruce Picea ) make up 40.5% of the area, 38% is agricultural land, and 10% is bogland. This habitat distribution is, naturally, reflected in the bird distributions. Whereas Skylark Alauda arvensis was the most widespread species in Britain and Ireland during our 1968-72 survey, that species is third in the Latvian sequence, being exceeded by Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs (97%) and Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita (94%). With eight species of owl, nine species of woodpecker, Woodlarks Lullula arborea in over 40% of the squares, and 19 species of w arbler, for example, Latvia has much to offer the visiting birdwatcher. J. T. R. Sharrock BirdBASE: the information centre of Western Palearctic birds. Compiled by John Tucker &: Peter Tucker. (5.25 in. or 3.5 in. computer disc.) Nature Base, Oxford, 1990. £49.95. This computer database runs on a PC compatible personal computer. It comes on a neatly packaged disc plus a brief eight-page manual, simple installation instructions, a list of alternative English bird names, and card overlays for the function keys on your keyboard. To enter the database, one types the letters ‘BB’ (!); thereafter one uses function keys, plus a minimum of others. The claimed 20,000+ items of information on the 867 species in the West Palearctic are certainly very comprehensive. For each species, a first screenful displays such items as World and Euring numbers, British wintering and breeding statistics as appropriate, legal status, whether on British Birds Rarities Committee or Rare Breeding Birds Panel lists, and so on. A single key press produces a second screen, giving page numbers of references to the species in BWP, field and identification guides, atlases, British Birds back to 1965, and so on. Lists of species fulfilling selected criteria can be readily compiled, for example those on the BBRC list and in the British Birds ‘Mystery photographs’ series. This search facility is quite powerful; its usefulness depends upon the imagination of the user. Searching through indexes for particular species, compiling lists of birds and finding information relating to them, rarely takes more than a few seconds, the actual speed depending on the model of computer being used. Information can be called up on the screen or directed to a printer. One can not add new data to the database, though perhaps updates will be offered when BWP volume 6, or a new identification guide, is published. One can, however, compile one’s own life, country, county, garden or even ringing list, as well as species lists for two holidays in each of the years 1980 to 1996, and put short entries into ten spare data fields, though, since these cannot be labelled, one would have to keep a note of what each contained. I am not a great lister, one for Islay and one for my garden is all I keep; both are already on my computer, as I suspect many people’s are, but they cannot be transferred directly into this database. Instead, each species has to be called up in turn, for the various ticks or other 116 Reviews information to be added to a possible maximum of 72 items, by scrolling through all 867 looking for those one has seen. Even once all the data are in, adding the latest holiday list still has to be done the same laborious way. It is a pity that there is not an easier data entry method, so that, by typing in one’s holiday list using a simple word-processor, the entries would be added automatically to the database under the required heading. Equally useful would be the ability to export selected lists to a word-processor, for instance using the database to list in Voous order the English and scientific names, plus Euring numbers, of those species needed for a local bird report. Alas, one can only print out such a list. Seen purely as a convenient information file on West Palearctic birds, this database has many merits, including those of comprehensiveness and ease and speed of use. As a personal data file, however, I suspect that many users would find the data entry and updating a bit cumbersome, though the lists once compiled can be called up as easily as can any other data. M. A. OGILVIE Short reviews Bird Flight: an illustrated study of birds’ aerial mastery. By Robert Burton. (Facts on File Ltd, Oxford, 1990. 160 pages. £14.95) This is a very attractive and accurate presentation of the current propagated theories. This subject, of both popular and academic interest, has, however, not been resourced sufficiently to unlock fully the secrets of slow-speed, unsteady aerodyna- mics with vorticity control, which the birds efficiently and instinctively manipulate. The true merit of the book is the pageant of superb flight photographs, showing great artistry by both bird and cameraman, again demonstrating the scientific advances achieved in commercial photography. [Keith Allsopp] The Curlew. By Gerry Cotter. (Shire Publi- cations, Princes Risborough, 1990. 24 pages. Paperback £1.95) A review of the Curlew Numenius arquata , its distribution, breeding, feeding, migration and predators, with maps culled from the BTO atlases. Written in ‘essay’ style, it will introduce new bird- watchers to one of our familiar waders, but what a shame that the pronounced sexual dimorphism is neither clearly explained nor shown; basic facts such as this make bird- watching so much more enjoyable. [Ian Bainbridge] The Red Kite in Wales. By John Evans. (Christopher Davies, Swansea, 1990. 64 pages. Paperback £4.95) A brief history, and where to see Red Kites Milvus milvus in Wales. Many curious statements are con- trary to the evidence: for example, that Spanish-breeding Red Kites are mainly mi- gratory; that loss from many areas was due to severe weather rather than to persecution; and that the relict range is good habitat. Nevertheless, this is a convenient introduc- tion for those wishing to see kites without disturbing them (although a reminder of the illegality of disturbing breeding birds would have been wise). For more information, turn to Roger Lovegrove’s compilation (The Kite’s Tale , 1990), pending a full treatment. [Mike Pienkowski] The Black Eagle: a study. By Valerie Gargett. (Acorn Books, Randburg, RSA, 1990. 280 pages. £35.00) Parts of this classic 21 -year study of Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii in Zimbabwe have been published in the literature, but here is the whole story of this remarkable co-operative venture in a single book. Full of data, very well written and superbly illustrated, this is a ‘must’ for all raptor researchers and enthusiasts — and ought to be read by all field ornithologists. Highly recommended. [Mike Everett] Hickling Broad and its Wildlife: the story of a famous wetland nature reserve. By Stewart Linsell. (Terence Dalton, Lavenham, 1990. 171 pages. £18.95) This is a fascinating account of the evolution of an internationally famous reserve. Not only is it a natural history, but it is also an intriguing social history of this important wetland. A ‘must’ for anyone interested in East Anglia. [Andy Lowe] Short reviews 117 The Golden Eagle. By John Love 8c Jeff Watson. Shire Publications, Princes Risbor- ough, 1990. 24 pages. £1.95) Yet another valuable mini-monograph in this excellent series. As one would expect from these authors, a concise, authoritative and up-to- date summary, which is easily the best handy reference work available on the Gol- den Eagle Aquila chrysaetos. Recommended. [Mike Everett] Seabirds of the Northern Hemisphere. By Alan Richards. (Dragon’s World, London, 1990. 192 pages. £19.95) This attractive book covers seabirds which breed mainly on either (or both) the Pacific or Atlantic coasts of North America and those which breed around the coasts of Britain and Western Europe, or occur as non-breeding visitors to all or some of these areas. A superb selec- tion of 160 colour photographs and a com- prehensive and authoritative text will appeal more to the generalist than to the seabird- identification enthusiast. Pelagic species are poorly represented and most non-breeding species, and some breeding ones, are with- out any photographs. [B. A. E. Marr] News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ ICBP spells it out When 380 conservation experts from 56 countries met at the 20th World Conference of the International Council for Bird Preservation (in Hamilton, New Zealand, in November 1990), they made plain some stark facts. Two-thirds of the world s 9,000 bird species are in decline and over 1,000 are threatened with possible extinction. Habitat loss is the greatest problem, particularly for the birds of wetlands and of tropical forests. Lest anybody should think the problems are confined to birds, the ICBP also pointed out that other immedi- ately threatened taxa include 90,000 insect species, 35,000 plants and 500 mammals. Particular ‘hotspots’ are identified as In- donesia (126 threatened birds), Brazil (121), China (81) and Peru (71). Further alarming statistics are that longlines, driftnets and the other paraphernalia of modem commercial fishing kill over one million seabirds world- wide every year; and that over half of the 7,000,000 birds caught for the international cagebird trade each year die during capture or transportation. The ICBP calls for inter- national action on a massive scale, involving governments and the ‘private sector’, if countless further catastrophes are to be avoided. Many of the world’s birds face an uncertain future; the truly sickening part about it all is that we have a fairly good idea of how to go about improving things. All that is lacking is the international will. New RSPB campaigns In early summer 1991, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will mount a campaign to put a stop to the appalling losses caused by the trade in wild birds within the UK and the European Community: more of this anon. In spring, a report will be published drawing attention to the continuing persecution (through deli- berate killing, poisoning and nest-robbing) of birds of prey in the UK — something that all too many landowners, sportsmen, far- mers and others deny is even going on. During 1989, the RSPB alone confirmed enough reports to make a nonsense of these complacent statements — 292 incidents in- volving 13 raptor species, of which 167 involved shooting, trapping or poisoning and 125 the theft of eggs or young. The figures surely represent only the tip of an iceberg of illegality. During this campaign, the RSPB will continue to press for a ‘cause or permit’ clause to be introduced into the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act — already the subject of a Private Member’s Bill in the Commons in December 1990. Such a clause would greatly increase the liability of land- owners for illegal acts carried out on their land. If some of them were to begin to shoulder some of the blame, we might, at long last, see some moves in the right direction. We shall return to this subject, too. ‘BB’ trip to NZ As a prelude to the 118 News and comment 86. The ‘BB’-SUNBIRD trip to New Zealand: Betty Ball, David Bradley, Diana Bradley, Denis Blamire, Bob & Marion Chadwick, David Fisher (leader), Ray Hannikman, Andreas Helbig, I. G. & Fran Kennon, Ev Knights, Pamela Lind and Ken Sutton, watching the world’s rarest wader, the Black Stilt Himantopus novaezelandiae , from a hillside overlooking its breeding grounds on a braided river valley, November 1990 (J. T. R. Sharrock) International Ornithological Congress in Christchurch (see below), BB linked up with the bird-tour company SUNBIRD for a two- week trip around New Zealand (plate 86), in search of albatrosses, penguins and endemic species such as Blue Duck Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus, Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis , Rock Wren Xenicus gilviventris and Stitchbird Notiomystis cincta. IOC in NZ Almost 1,500 delegates attended the XX International Ornithologi- cal Congress held in Christchurch, New Zealand, during 3rd-8th December 1990. The programme of papers was as packed as at other recent Congresses, with from six to nine simultaneous sessions, plus films, poster papers, and short and long excur- sions from which to choose. Organisation (not least the feeding of the 1,500 in the space of 1!4 hours at lunchtime every day) was immaculate, and our New Zealand hosts could not have been more friendly or helpful. Even the most dedicated lecture-attender could listen to only a fraction of the material on offer, but the flavour can perhaps be given by the briefest of summaries of a couple of contributions picked at random. Work by M. Eens & Ms R. Pinxten showed that male Starlings Stumus vulgaris with long, complex songs, incorporating many phrases of mimicry', were more successful both at attracting females and at rearing young than were those with shorter, less complex songs. In a completely different field, studies by Dr A. V. Andors suggest that the Eocene fossil Giant Groundbird Diatryma was not a fast- running predator related to the cranes, but a slow-moving herbivorous browser related to the ducks, geese and swans. Forget those evocative reconstructions of Diatryma mun- ching up miniature, primitive horses! The poster papers, housed in a giant marquee crowded and filled with deafening animated discussion, were equally varied. As one example: Randall Breitwisch’s work in Keny'a on oxpeckers Buphagus which communicate with zebras (but seldom with giraffes, impala or Cape buffaloes) by a stereotyped display of exaggerated hopping on the animals’ rumps. The zebras respond by elevating their tails and also appear to signal their readiness to be cleaned by assuming a rigid stance when the birds land. Shades of cleaner-fish and client-fish. Fascinating stuff, but the main purpose of the IOC is to provide a legitimate excuse for professional and serious amateur birdwatch- ers and ornithologists to get together to discuss their work and to make and renew' friendships. In that, the XX IOC was a great success. The next one? Vienna, Austria, during 21st-27th August 1994, with the EGI’s News and comment 119 Director, Dr Christopher Perrins, as Presi- dent. For full details, write to the Secretary, XXI International Ornithological Congress, Interconvention, Austria Center, A- 1450 Vienna, Austria. BTO Annual Conference The 1990 BTO .Annual Conference at Swanwick will, unfor- tunately, probably be best remembered for the weather and its effects on those attend- ing: the sounding of the fire alarm at 3 a.m. on the first night followed by a walk, in nightwear, through the snow to the lecture hall; the power-cuts; the cutting-off of water supplies; the inability of the domestic staff and the milkman to reach the Centre; and the inability of some snow-bound lecturers to reach the Centre. The main theme of the conference was based on the BTO’s various long-term studies: CBC plots, CES ringing studies, and the Waterways Surveys. Each topic was dealt with by a professional BTO staff member and an amateur fieldworker — each short talk being more interesting and infor- mative than many I have heard at previous conferences. Johan Bekhuis summed up similar work in the Netherlands and put all such work into a European context. More exotic birdwatching was dealt with by John Lawton Roberts in his account of Bulgarian birds and by Gordon Trunkfield, co-opted at the eleventh hour to replace a missing speaker, on the birds of Florida. Special mention must be made of David Harper, who, on Saturday night, with the aid of Robert Gillmor’s quick sketches of Mistle Thrushes, composed a delightful and eru- dite talk on the relative importance of sex and food availability. The British Birds mystery photographs competition, one of some four or five quiz- zes at the conference, was won by Tom Cadwallender, who was presented with the traditional bottle of champagne. ( Contributed by Erika Shamrock ) YNU Committee Centenary This year, the Protection of Birds Committee of the York- shire Naturalists’ Union celebrates its centenary — 100 years of positive action for the county’s birds, which actually stemmed from even earlier efforts which had culmin- ated in the very first protective legislation anywhere in the UK to cover birds other than sporting species: the Seabirds Preser- vation Act of 1869. The Committee’s achievements are legion: we cannot detail them here, but we can pay tribute to a splendid record which deserves to be better known outside Yorkshire. May the good work continue! Going to Hong Kong? Want to see Spoon- billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer , Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor , Saun- ders’s Gull Lams saundersi . . . ? The WWF Hong Kong Mai Po Marshes Nature Re- serve welcomes visitors (avian and human) from around the world. Access to the reserve is, however, restricted. Permits are essential , and can be obtained beforehand from the Agriculture and Fisher- ies Department, 393 Canton Road, Kow- loon, Hong Kong. They are issued free of charge, but applications must be made at least two weeks in advance. When applying give details of the date(s) of your visit, your name, passport number, purpose of visit, and membership of conservation organisa- tions, and so on. Membership of the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong is a prerequisite for use of any of the birdwatching hides on the reserve. Applications can be made to WWF Hong Kong, GPO Box 12721, Hong Kong, or by signing up in the Peter Scott Field Studies Centre or the Education Centre in the reserve. The minimum membership fee for one year is HK$120, which goes towards meeting the running costs of the reserve. Accommodation is now available in the Field Studies Centre just outside the re- serve. Charges range from HK$100 to HKS250 per night. Simple meals can also be ordered in the centre. There are limited bed spaces (maximum 11), so bookings should be made well in advance, especially for the spring migration. ( Contributed by Michael Lau, Mai Po Reserve Manager, WWF Hong Kong ) Asian Waterfowl Census Christian Peren- nou of the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau has written to thank BB readers for offering to help with this regular census. The 1990 Asian Waterfowl Census report has now been published and is packed with information on counts carried out from the Persian Gulf to the Far East. It is available from IWRB, Slimbridge, Gloucester Gi.2 7BX, price £8.00 (including p&p). More Tristan stamps We were very pleased to hear again from the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha, Mr B. E. Pauncefort, following the short item we wrote last June 120 News and comment (Brit. Birds 83: 251). In collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature, the island is to issue a new set of four postage stamps featuring rare and endangered birds: we gather that these will include the Gough Island Moorhen Gallinula comeri and the Gough Bunting Rowettia goughensis. In view of the considerable time-lag involved in corres- pondence with Tristan da Cunha, Mr Paunce- fort suggests that anyone interested in further details of the new issue should get in touch with WWF, Panda House, Weyside Park, Godaiming, Surrey GU7 1XR, or Colin Freeman at the Crown Agents Stamp Bureau, Old Inn House, 2 Carshalton Road, Sutton, Surrey SMI 4RN. Meanwhile — we thank the Administrator for his and the islanders’ good wishes to BB , which we warmly reciprocate on behalf of all our readers. BTO’s turn? By a quite extraordinary twist of fate, the discovery of a dead Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s HQ at Slimbridge last autumn has been followed by the finding of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus which perished at the RSPB’s headquarters at Sandy, Bedfordshire, in December 1990. One’s first reaction is to say to the BTO ‘Beat that!’ — but perhaps a more noble sentiment is to hope that they won't! More sillies Once again, our thanks to all those who have sent us the fruits of their searches for good misprints. We especially liked Honeybuzzers and Grey Phaleuropes in the Jersey Freestyle newspaper (the latter a good Euroname that the BOU might like to consider?) and Black Tiled Godwits (a race of Marbled, maybe?) in Bird Watching. It was good to hear from Erik Hirschfeld in Bahrain again and to learn of the Secret Ibises at the A1 Areen Wildlife Park. Come to think of it, that bird on the cover of Ibis always did look a bit sinister . . . Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 18th January to 14th February 1991 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii First- winter, Echnaloch Bay, Burray Isle (Orkney), 9th February. American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Mar- ton Mere, Blackpool (Lancashire), 2nd- 13th February. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Hayle Estuary (Cornwall), 8th February; Tanner’s Creek, Lymington (Hampshire), 12th February. Lesser Scaup Aythya affirns Male, Hillsbor- ough Lake (Co. Down), 27th January to 2nd February. Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Imm- ature or female, the Wick River, Wick (Highland), 7th-13th February. Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Male, Lower Largo Bay (Fife), 13th February. Bonaparte’s Gull Earns Philadelphia Adult, Devils Point sewage outfall (Devon), 8th- 10th February. Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus Adult, Wilstone Reservoir, Tring (Hertfordshire), 9th- 10th February. Thayer’s Gull Larus thayeri First-winter, Gal- way City Rubbish-dump (Co. Galway), to at least 20th January (from 5th January); first- winter, Auld Bridge and Ayr Harbour (both Strathclyde), 7th-13th February. Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides Single adults of North American race kumliem , Ballycotton (Co. Cork), 26th January; Killybegs (Co. Donegal), 2nd February. Briinnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia Sule Skerry (Orkney), 25th January. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Cobh (Co. Cork), 23rd-24th January (fifth and first winter records for Ireland). Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Two, Farling- ton Marshes (Hampshire), 24th January to 12th February. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera Male, Harwood Forest (Northumberland), 10th February. 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Telescopes include Free Case) 15x20x22x WA 25x40x 30.00 20 x 60x zoom 76 00 Soft padded case 11.00 Universal Mount 24.50 Car Window Mount 25.50 Hide Clamp Mk II t.... 40.00 Tripod Strap 6.75 BUSHNELL Spacem aster 60mm body 140.00 Spacemaster 60mm body RA 159.00 Spacemaster with zoom WP 332.00 15x-45xzoom 79.00 SWIFT Osprey 7.5x42 149.00 Audubon R.P. 7x35 BGA 329.00 Audubon 8.5x44 199.00 BRESSER Action 8x40 GA 69.00 Action 10x50 G A 79.00 Roof Prism Linear 8x42 RA 119.00 Roof Prism Linear 10x42 RA 124.00 Luchs 10x42 189.00 Add £8 for rubber armoured MIRADOR Merlin 60mm body 79.00 Merlin 75mm body 107.00 12/15x 18/22x 25/30x 25 00 18x-40x/22x-47x zoom 59.00 ZEISS JENA Binoctem 7x50 93.00 Deltrintem 8x30 65.00 Dekarem 10x50 102.50 Roof Prism Notarem 10x40 RA.. 207.00 OPTIMA Super 60mm RA body 160.00 15x20x30x40x 25.00 20x-45x zoom 65.00 QUESTAR Field model 3)4 inch with Broad Band Coating and choice of 32mm or 24mm eyepiece, plus Photo Adaptor and case QUOTATION ON REQUEST MANFROTTO 144 Bij.c 144 Btsic Black 190 Mini pro 190 Mini pro Black 065 Black 126 Mini vidao haad 200 Compact vidao haad Tripod Strap Tripod Cata Quick relent platform 50 00 55 00 40.00 45.00 75.00 4500 50.00 11 00 14 00 550 27.95 69.95 72.95 7.50 14.95 6.50 39.95 14.95 25.95 34.95 9.95 5.75 SLIK Tripod 1000 G Tripod 88 Tripod 02 Tripod Strap Casa 02 etc Quick release post ON/88 etc.. CULLMAN Clamp magic 2 Way Video Head Shoulder Pod Chest Pod magic Quick Camera Release Q.R. Platform LENS CARE CALOTHERM PRODUCTS Cleaning Kit 2.75 De luxe Kit 4.75 BOOKS 8i VIDEOS OUR RANGE IS ALWAYS INCREASING-sendNOW for our latest Price List, or better still, why not visit our showroom and browsel Our showroom is set in seven acres of private grounds in the very heart of our beautiful Warwickshire countryside. Testing facilities are probably the best in the country. Viewing from the showroom is across a large pool with its various bird visitors and to more distant views of the countryside. Why not try the unhurried experience of testing the latest optical equipment in a relaxed atmosphere with experts who care! ^ Ample free and safe parking. FOCUS OPTICS Church Lane. Corley. Coventry CV7 8BA gSS!,6J!l, Telephone:0676-40501 & 42476 Fax:0676-40930 ACCESSORIES: Wide range of eyecups, rainguards, lens caps, lanyards, cases etc. USED BARGAINS: Guaranteed secondhand equipment at bargain prices. EXPORT FACILITIES: Personal and postal export orders welcomed. PACKAGE DEALS: Attractive discounts. Phone for quotations. MAIL ORDERS: Insured postage and packing FREE OF CHARGE (U.K.only). Goods are despatched promptly upon receipt of full remittance. Use your ACCESS or VISA card to order by telephone. E&OE (D800) XV MAIL ORDER SPECIALISTS P/P & INS. FREE BINOCULARS rOCALPOINT Please note our change of address from Comberbach just 2 miles to Higher Whitley - we are now very easy to find!! Tel. 0925 73399 BAUSCH & LOMB LEICA ZEISS ADLERBUCK HABICHT OPTICRON CENTON BUSHNELL NIKON SWALLOW MIRADOR BRESSER 50p in stamps (NOT cheque) lor binocular or telescope information pack (state which) DIRECTIONS m M56 Jet 10 take A559 towards Northwich for 1 mile to the Birch & Bottle Turn nght into Bentleys 1) Farm Lane, we are on the JL left after 7 i mile. KOWA TSN-1 or 2 .£295.00 TSN-3 or 4 £555.00 20 x WA £89.00 30 x WA Now In Stock .£109.00 25x, 40x ...£59.00 60 x NEW superb! £89.00 77x NEW £99.00 20-60 x Zoom .£139.00 PHOTO ADAPTOR £99.00 SKUA 'STAY ON THE SCOPE’ CASES latest Mklll ...£39.50 Leather eyepiece case £9.95 Leather Photo adaptor case . ...£14.95 TRY & BUY! DEMONSTRATIONS OF TOP BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES ON NATURE RESERVES Sunday 1 7th March 1991 wrth the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at MARTIN MERE, near Southport. Lancashire (M6, Jet 27). Sunday 24th March 1991 with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbndge. Gloucestershire (M5Jct 13) We shall have all the leading instruments m each pnee bracket for you to ‘field test' Please phone if you wtsh us to bnng a specific item. NEW NIKON TELESCOPES SPOTTING SCOPE RA+20X El 99 or wrth 15x-45 x 300M o'p E265 FOCALPOINI (D804) UNIT 8, MARBURY HOUSE FARM. BENTLEYS FARM LANE. HIGHER WHfTLEY, WARRINGTON, CHESHIRE WA4 4QW. Telephone 0925 73399 Fax 0606 892207. 24hr answerphone on old 0606 891096 ‘MANY OPENING SPECIAL OFFERS' TELESCOPES NIKON KOWA QUESTAR OPTOLYTH BUSHNELL SWIFT OPTICRON CENTURY BAUSCH & LOMB Full range of accessories to suit all models. OPEN MON FBI 9 30-5 30 SAT 9 30-4 00 CLOSED SUNDAYS & BANK HOLIDAYS Cygnus Wildlife Jioiidcuyi hks would be a useful addition to it luggage. We also stock a compre- isive range of natural history titles associated subjects. »v titles are constantly being added to stock so please send for our latest catalogue >etter still pay us a visit. We know you won’t disappointed. Friendly advisory service always available with no obligation! Leading | specialists in quality BINOCULARSand TELESCOPES :eiss west (E STOCK ALL ZEISS I0DELS. fide range of accessories, hone for prices. .EICA inorid 8x20 BCA 211 00 novid 10x25 BCA 223.00 7x42 BA 559.00 8x42 BA 559 00 10*«2 BA 559.00 IABICHT impact 8x20 B . 2-5.00 •editionel 8*30 WM 340 00 -Kfitionxl 7x42 WM 320.00 iana' 10x40 WM 365 00 L. Rangi 7x42 395 00 L. Rang# 10x40 440.00 -C Rang* 8x30 325.00 r 80 Body 53 5 00 xEP 69 95 JIKON <20 CF II .. 69.95 atarprodl 10x25 »of Priam 10x25 F .152.00 .152 00 •orting 7x35 CF .120.00 8x30 ECF 230.00 10x35 ECF 245.00 -of Ph*n 9x30 0CF... 254 00 Hcbtopa Mk II 20-45x60 329 00 ED Mk II 20 4 5 x 60 545. 0C *20*30x40 x 60* tach 65.00 othngitopa 20 x 60 RA 199 00 20-45x60 RA 259 00 OPTOLYTH Alpm 8*40 BGA 225.00 Alpm 10x40 86 A AJpm 10*50 BGA 230 00 243.00 398.00 440.00 340.00 Scope 30*75 350.00 TB6 80 body 350.00 100.00 20*WA 20x30*40* 65.00 22x 60* room 150 00 KOWA TS601 body TSS02 body 20x**A 25x40* - 20x 60* loom Com for 60) & 602 TSN-1 body TSN-2 body TSN -3 body TSN -4 body 20xWA 30xWA 25x40x 2th 6 Ox zoom Com for TSN 1&2 Skua com lor TSN O.G. Covor for TSN Eyapwca domo for TSN Pilot o adaptor 179.00 179.00 54.00 47.00 94.00 19.95 295.00 295.00 555 00 555.00 89.00 109.00 59.00 139 00 22.50 39.00 495 14.95 99 00 ADLERBLICK Mulncoet 8x42 169.95 Muf ticoit 10*42 179.95 Mult.coet 10x50 198 95 Add £15 for rubber armoured Muiticoet Adi toe op* 45c72mm body 254.95 25* tp 73.95 Zoom tytpitct 20-60* 99.95 OPTICRON Compact 7i24 Compact 8*24 Compact 10x24 Oioptron 8x42 Oioptron 10x42 Oioptron 10x50 H R. 8x42 HR 10x42 - HR 10x50 Minanm 8**0 Mmarva 9*35 Minarvx 10x40 ...... Elita 9x35 77.00 78.00 80 00 113 00 115 00 127.00 145.00 150 00 167.00 170.00 169.00 175.00 BAUSCH & LOMB Custom 7 x 26 .........187.00 Custom 8*36 - .....197.00 Custom 10x40 RA. 227.50 Elite 8x42 RA 599.00 Elite 10x42 RA 599.00 Elite Telescope 22x60 269.00 Elite Telescope 15-45x60 319.00 TELESCOPES 99.95 138.00 25/30* HEP 26.00 59.00 H R. 22x60 159.95 H.R 20 60*60 199.95 H R. 22*60 RA 169.95 H.R. 20 60x60 RA 209.95 HR. 22x60 45° 199.95 H.R 20 60x60 45° 229.95 (H.R. Telescopes include Free Case) 15x20*22xWA 25x40* 30.00 20* -60* room 76.00 Soft pedded case 11.00 Universal Mount 24.50 Car Window Mount 25.50 Hide Clamp Mk II 40.00 Tripod Strap 6.75 BUSHNELL Spacamaeter 60mm body 140.00 Specemaeter 60mm body RA Spacemarter mth room WP..„ 159.00 332.00 79.00 SWIFT Osprey 7.5x42 Audubon R.P. 7*35 BGA 149.00 329 00 199.00 BRESSER Action 8*40 GA 58 50 65 50 Roof Frartl Linear 8*42 RA Roof Prism Linear 10*42 RA Luchs 10*42 120.00 125.00 189 00 Add £8 for rubber armoured MIRADOR . 79.00 . 107.00 12/15* 18/22* 25/30* 23.00 59.00 ZEISS JENA Bmoctem 7*50 .. Deltrintem 8*30 93 00 65.00 Oekerem 10*50 102 50 Roof Prism Notarem 10*40 RA.. 207 00 OPTIMA Super 60mm RA body 15x20*30*40* . 160.00 25.00 20x-45x room . 65.00 MANFROTTO 144 Basic. 50.00 144 Banc Black 55 00 190 Mini pro 40.00 190 Mini pro Black 45.00 055 Black. 75.00 1 28 Mini indao hand 45.00 200 Compact mdao haad 50.00 Tripod Strap 1 1 .00 Tripod Com 14.00 Quick ralaaM platform 5.50 27.95 69.95 72.95 7.50 14.95 6.50 QUESTAR Field model 3K inch with Broad Band Coating and choice of 32mm or 24mm eyepiece, plus Photo Adaptor and case. QUOTATION ON REQUEST SUK Tripod 1000 G Tripod 88 i Tripod 02 .... Tripod Strap Case 02 etc .. Quick releasa post ON/88 etc.. CULLMAN Clamp magic 39.95 2 Way Video Head 14.95 Shoulder Pod 25.95 Chest Pod magic 34.95 Quick Camera Release 9.95 Q.R. Platform 5.75 LENS CARE CALOTHERM PRODUCTS Cleaning Kit 3.00 De luxe Kit 5.00 BOOKS 8i VIDEOS OUR RANGE IS ALWAYS INCREASING-sendNOW for our latest Price List, or better still, why not visit our showroom and browse I Our showroom is set in seven acres of private grounds in the very heart of our beautiful Warwickshire countryside. Testing facilities are probably the best in the country. Viewing from the showroom is acrott a large pool with its various bird visitors and to more distant views of the countryside. Why not try the unhurried experience -of testing the latest optical equipment in a relaxed atmosphere with experts who caret Ample free and safe perk ing. Church Lane. Corley. Coventry CV7 SBA -<***«, Teiepbeao: 0676-40501 S4247S Fax: 0676-40036 ACCESSORIES: Wide range of eyecups, re inguard j, lens caps, lanyards, cases etc. USED BARGAINS: Guaranteed secondhand equipment at bargain prices. EXPORT FACILITIES: Personal and postal export orders welcomed. PACKAGE DEALS: Attractive discounts. Phone for quotation*. MAIL ORDERS: Inaorad postage and packing FREE OF CHARGE (U.K.only). Goods are despatched promptly upon receipt of full remittance. Uee your ACCESS or VISA card to by telephone. E&OE ~4Qfi22) A superb image Officially appointed distributor for Kowa Telescopes Pyser- SGI Ltd., Optical Equipment Division, Fircroft Way, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 6HA. BIY competition sponsored by Kowa telescopes. Guillemots Uria aalge ( Darre \ Kowa TSN Fluorite lens scope, available angled or straight. “First, and most important, this telescope is optically magnificent, with phenomenal clarity and a superbly large field of view. If you are a birder who is seeking the best possible telescope . . . the optical gain is significant, especially in the worst viewing conditions. It is an elite instrument, to be treasured by those fortunate enough to own one.” Dr J T R Sharrock, testing the Kowa TSN-3 with x20W eyepiece, British Birds June 1990. BRIT !?r MUSEUM (N/TJaCL HISTORY) -2 APR 1991 :£.D TRiNG LIBRARY BIRDUNE 0898 700 222 News you can trust from the team you know CALLS COST 33p/MIN CHEAP RATE. 44p/MIN PEAK/STD, INC VAT !RD INFORMATION SERVICE, STONERUNNER, COAST ROAD, CLEY NEXT THE SEA, HOLT, NORFOLK, NR25 7RZ (D827) A COMPLETE CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Second Edition R. Howard and A. Moore This book represents a complete revision of the authors’ previous authoritative work, incorporating all the significant changes to bird taxonomy which have occurred in the last six years, and remains the only single volume work to list subspecies. Despite the fact that opinions will continue to vary on the details of avian classification, lists such as this provide a baseline reference to scientific and English names, taxonomy and distribution for both the professional ornitholo- gist and taxonomist, and the amateur. The current list, by building on, and amending, the classic listings of Peters and his succes- sors, may well be the last and most finely developed list in the traditional mould and hence a prime reference for years to come. March 1991, c. 640 pages, £29.50 (tentative) ISBN: 0. 12.356910.9 Academic Press 24-28 Oval Road (D8i 4) London NW1 7DX (BB 3) Telephone: 071-267-4466 AUTHORISED SWAROVSKI OPTIK DEALERS AS AT JANUARY 1991 AVON: London Camera Exchange. BATH 0225 462234 Ace Cameras BRISTOL 0454 325302 BEDFORDSHIRE: John Easiatl KEMPSON HARDWICK 0234 740634 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: Reed Photography AYLESBURY 0296 25118 CAMBRIDGESHIRE: John Bradshaw PETERBOROUGH 06326 376 CHESHIRE: Focalpomt NORTHWICH 0606 891098 CORNWALL: Roy Dutch Photo. ST AUSTELL 0726 72 960 John Fry. TRURO 0872 73 452 Springfield Firearms, ST AUSTELL 0726 72 733 Kernow Scopes. WADEBRIOGE 0208 812883 CUMBRIA: J N Murray MPS KESWICK 07687 72049 I.L &J.L. Robson CARLISLE 0228 24993 DEVON: J & A Cameras BIDEFORD 0237 421791 Practical Optics BARNSTAPLE 0271 72 681 Castle Camera Centre TORQUAY 0603 295802 London Camera Exchange PAIGNTON 0603 553077 London Camera Exchange PLYMOUTH 0752 664894 DORSET N R Green. PARKSTONE 0202 744997 ESSEX: E J Markham & Son COLCHESTER 0206 572646 HAMPSHIRE: London Camera Exchange SOUTHAMPTON 0703 221597 London Camera Exchange WINCHESTER 0962 66203 HERTFORDSHIRE: In-Focus BARNET 081 449 1445 Clarkes Camera Centre ST ALBANS 0727 52991 HUMBERSIDE: Tom Dennis Cameras SCUNTHORPE 0724 867 302 H Ravenscrott (Photo). CLEETHORPES 0472 342007 Hilton Photographic. HULL 0482 25223 KENT R E Cranfield (Discoveryi CANTERBURY 0227 458 333 The Pantiles Camera Company TUNBRIDGE WELLS 0892 27 082 Chris Potter Guns. TUNBRIDGE WELLS 0892 22 208 Ronald White MAIDSTONE 0622 754508 Owen Photographic BROMLEY 081 460 0156 The Camera Shop. HYTHE 0303 266706 LANCS: Optima Leisure BOLTON 0204 380040 Lamtjerts (Lancaster) Ud LANCASTER 0524 37384 LEICESTERSHIRE: Ybungs ot Leicester LEICESTER 0533 544 774 LONDON: Harrods Limited 071 730 1234 Wallace Heaton 071 629 7511 Vic Odden 071 407 6833 Capt O M Watts 071 493 4633 R G Lewis 071 242 2916 R G Lewis 071 387 0676 MERSEYSIDE: Scope City LIVERPOOL 051 709 4149 NORFOLK: Norwich Camera Centre NORWICH 0603 612 537 NORTH ANTS: A R Hawkins NORTHAMPTON 0604 39 674 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: London Camera Exchange NOTTINGHAM 0602 417 486 OXFORDSHIRE: Morns Photographic. OXFORD 0865 244434 Banbury Gunsmiths BANBURY 0295 265819 SHROPSHIRE: Crewe Camera Exchange Ud SHREWSBURY 0743 4964 SOMERSET London Camera Exchange. TAUNTON 0823 259955 SOUTH WALES: D J Utt. NEWPORT 0633 843 252 SUFFOLK: Charles Frank Ud SAXMUNDHAM 0728 603506 SURREY: Banstead Photographic, BANSTEAD 0737 350409 Jack Harley Ud CRANLEIGH 0483 272698 Kay Optical. MORDEN 081 648 8822 Photo Saunders, KINGSTON 081 546 9544 High Street Radio & Photo CROYDON 081 688 9015 London Camera Exchange GUILDFORD 0483 504040 Cobham Cameras. COBHAM 0932 63743 Reids ot Haslemere. HASLEMERE 0428 51432 SUSSEX: Westmin Photographic. EASTBOURNE 0323 410414 F A Anderson. BRIGHTON 0273 23066 WARWICKSHIRE: Aquila Optical. STUDLEY 052 785 2357 WEST MIDLANDS: Focus Optics COVENTRY 0676 40 50L Bell & Jones. WEST BROMWICH 021 553 0820 Bell & Jones. DUDLEY 0384 236 758. YORKSHIRE: John H Preston. HARROGATE 0423 503 187 Walkers Studios. SCARBOROUGH 0723 365 024 The Shooting Lodge. SKIPTON 0756 795825 Risbeys Photo Video. DARLINGTON 0325 381067 Sheffield Photographic Centre. SHEFFIELD 0724 667 077 Harnett & Co., HALIFAX 0422 80132 Coverdale & Fletcher Ud . YORK 0904 31245 York Camera Mart. YORK 0904 30770 CHANNEL ISLES: Johnson & Johnson, ST HELIER. JERSEY 0534 32411 Gruts. ST PETER PORT. GUERNSEY 0481 710 956. SCOTLAND: JRS Photo, PERTH 0738 24326 Ritchies Countrywear, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY 0479 2183 R. Madeod & Son. TAIN. 0862 2171 W.J.F. Maclean. OBAN 0631 63274 Sports in Scotland Limited, INVERNESS 0463 222757 NORTHERN IRELAND: John Gould & Son (Bangor) Ud . COUNTY DOWN. 0247 271091 OPTIK The nutunil choice. (D802) vi L With acknowledgements i RSPB and Severn ■ Trent H The natural choice. “Itn so glad we did. SL BINOCULAR TRADITIONAL BINOCULAR SLC BINOCULAR Twelve models In the range Ten modds in lhe ran9a s" models in lhe ran9a >56 model shown) ftO x 40 green rubber (8 x 30 model shown) armoured mode I shown) All Swarovski Opllk products are manufactured in Austria and carry a lull warranty For further information and a full colour brochure please write to: SWAROVSKI UK LIMITED One The Boulevard, Blackmoor Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire WD1 SYW. Telephone: 0923 BI6366. Fax: 0923 916005. Telex: 24958 SWARO G. It wasn t the first time Melissa had noticed Giles. But then he has the kind of style that immediately sets him apart from the crowd. Rugged yet sophisticated, and with a taste for the country life, he was down as quite a catch in every girl 's book. ; ' • When he invited me to Lake Vyrnwy in picturesque mid • Wales I just couldn 't resist. Of course I d heard all about his reputation. An eye for the birds someone said. And how right they were. ‘He whispered. Come closer, ' and then we shared our first magic moment, high in the hills above the tranquil lake - the first annual visit of a Glaucous Gull. ‘ ‘Such a change I thought, to meet a man so well equipped for the great outdoors.” (D724) vii National Bird News " Are pleased to welcome The B.B.R.C.’s own hotline of accepted records now available All profits from this line go direct to British Birds. 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INCLUDING ALL THE VERY LATEST NEWS ON THE GULF OIL SPILL DISASTER AND HOW THE I.C.B.P. TEAM IS HELPING WITH THE CLEAR UP. ALL PROFITS FROM THIS LINE GOES TO THE I.C.B.P. 0898-884-505 BUTTERFLY LINE THE BRITISH BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SOCIETY'S INFORMATION SERVICE GIVI UP TO DATE NEWS ON BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR CONSERVATION. LEAVE YOUR O' CONSERVATION SIGHTINGS ON .. 044-2824407. ALL PROFITS FROM THIS SERVICE GO DIRECT TO BBCS For more information on these conservation lines send a S. A. E. to National Bird News. Eatile House. Redstone Ind. Est. Boston. Lincolnshire. PE21 SAL - Calls arc charged at 35p per min cheap rale / 44p standard-peak rate inc\ AT (D81 viii i British Birds VOLUME 84 NUMBER 4 APRIL 1991 Long-tailed Skuas in Britain and Ireland in autumn 1988 Peter J. Dunn and Erik Hirschfeld fZT.bvHr-i During the late summer and autumn of 1988, many British and European North Sea sites recorded large r-than-usual numbers of Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus. The influx was first noted in the northern isles of Scotland and in Denmark, after which a gradual spread occurred into the North Sea. The major movement was between early September and mid October, with a total of at least 2,333 records for dates between 28th August and 2nd November 1988 (the earlier occurrences reflect normal passage and have not been included in the figures, although they are mentioned in the text). Within this total, 1,224 Long-tailed Skuas were seen in British waters, 1,042 around other European coasts, and 67 from offshore North Sea platforms and vessels (fig. 1 & table 1). Just why the influx occurred can only be speculation, as account has to be taken of a particularly complex theory as to why Long-tailed Skuas occur in the North Sea at all. [Brit. Birds 84: 1 2 1 - 1 36, April 1991] 121 122 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 Total Code Area individuals % adult No. unaged A Shetland/Orkney 248 82% 36 B Scotland: east coast 126 71% 4 C Northumberland/Durham/Cleveland 167 86% 0 D N Yorks/N Humberside 478 47% 29 E S Humberside/Lincs/Norfolk 98 54% 1 F Suffolk to Kent 20 15% 15 G South coast & Cornwall 41 24% 25 H West coast/Irish Sea 46 63% 7 I Offshore North Sea 67 — 67 J Sweden: Baltic coast 27 3% 2 K Sweden: west coast 221 38% 7 L Denmark: east coast 162 66% 0 M Denmark: west coast 464 52% 63 N West Germany 44 — 44 O Netherlands 109 66% 3 P Belgium 16 6% 4 Fig 1 & table 1. Records of Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudns from main coastal regions or countries, 28th August to 4th November 1988 Records were gleaned from reports and a request in Birding World , from material supplied by the ‘Monthly reports’ team of British Birds , and from individual approaches made to the relevant county and European recorders. Most records received were from well-known seawatch sites, although some may have been omitted. Many reports were separated into adults (including sub-adult and adult winter) and immatures. Breeding, migration and food The Long-tailed Skua breeds in the Arctic, at both mainland and island sites, mainly within the area bounded by 33°F and 55°F (0°C and 13°C) 123 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 July isotherms (fig. 2). The most westerly populations in the Old World are in Norway, where between 1,000 and 10,000 pairs breed, with one to 100 in Spitsbergen, 1,500 or fewer in Finland, tens of thousands in the USSR, and an estimated 10,000 pairs in Sweden; the fluctuations depend on the available food supply (Furness 1987; Cramp & Simmons 1983). Breeding also occurs in Greenland and arctic America, but these populations are not thought to reach European waters in any large numbers. Breeding success is dependent on the abundance of rodents, with lemmings (Cricetidae) forming up to 99% of the diet in Europe, and the skuas may even abstain from breeding in years of low rodent numbers (Andersson 1971, 1976). Lemming numbers fluctuate on an approximate three-yearly cycle; after a peak in 1985 (Fox & Aspinall 1987), 1988 continued the cycle, being an exceptional year (Mills 1988). Long-tailed is the most highly oceanic of all the northern skuas, with a mass departure from the breeding grounds starting in late August, which is usually complete by early September, accounting for the large numbers seen in the North Atlantic from that time (Sharrock 1974). The northern European breeders are joined in the Atlantic by the Canadian and Greenland populations, to follow a common route southwards (Sharrock 1974). The wintering areas are not fully known, but are thought to be in the Southern Hemisphere, probably with Arctic Skuas S. parasiticus in the southwest Atlantic and perhaps as far as South America, south of about Fig. 2. Breeding range and possible migration routes of Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus (after Cramp & Simmons 1983) 124 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1 988 87. Adult Long-tailed Skua Stercoraiius longicaudns, Merseyside, October 1988 (5. White) 35°S. Another important wintering area was discovered by Lambert (1980), who saw several hundred daily off the coast of Namibia, Southwest Africa. Long-tailed Skuas are rarely observed feeding during migration, but this is the least piratical of the northern skuas and is thought to obtain its own food by hovering and taking items from the water. On the breeding grounds, its food consists chiefly of small rodents, other small mammals, birds, fish, insects and berries, but the data available suggest that the diet while on passage comprises insects, marine fish, offal and carrion (Cramp & Simmons 1983). Lambert (1980) noted that those wintering off Namibia pirated fish from Arctic Sterna paradisaea and Common Terns S. hirundo and from Sabine’s Gulls Lams sabini. Normal occurrence in British and Irish waters Spring sightings of Long-tailed Skuas in Britain and Ireland are virtually confined to the northwest isles of Scotland and the west coast of Ireland, as would be expected (Davenport 1981, 1984, 1987; Hope Jones & Tasker 1982), and very few have been recorded from North Sea sites. This species’ autumn migration has been the subject of much speculation, but is probably best explained by Sharrock (1974). This last author suggested that most Long-tailed Skuas from the western European populations returned to the Atlantic over the north of Britain, but that some delayed their migration to feed in the rich waters of the North Sea; during this period they would venture farther south when rough weather disturbed their feeding grounds, so that those seen off the east coast of Britain may have been positively seeking calmer waters in which to feed, rather than having been windblown. After having fed in the North Sea, these birds would then move back north and enter the Atlantic over the north of Britain. This would explain the paucity of records in the English Channel bottleneck, between the coasts of southern England, Belgium and France, and in the Irish Sea. On the British east coast, the largest numbers of Arctic, Pomarine S. pomarinus and Great Skuas S. skua usually occur during strong northeast to northwesterly winds. In contrast, Long- tailed Skuas may be seen along the East Coast in weather ranging from strong winds to (more often) calm conditions; their streamlined shearwater-like structure suggests that they are not windblown so much as their larger relatives. 125 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 The first documented ‘wreck* of Long-tailed Skuas in British waters occurred off the Yorkshire coast between 7th and 19th October 1879, but only 30 individuals were reported, compared with 5,000-6,000 Pomarine Skuas during the same period, and these were probably weakened birds which had been deprived of food during the stormy conditions (Sharrock 1974). Autumn 1988 records The observations received have been divided into those from coastal regions of Britain (fig. 3) and those from neighbouring European coastal countries (fig. 4). The histograms used to illustrate each regional pattern are based on the data available for the period from 28th August to 4th November inclusive, as July and early-August records are not unusual. It is thought that the main change in physical appearance of September and October Long-tailed Skuas occurs after the October of the second calendar-year (Cramp & Simmons 1983). For the purpose of this paper, therefore, ‘adults’ include those said to be sub-adult (i.e. 2nd-summer, 3rd-summer and adult), while those termed ‘immature’ include juveniles and first-summers. These terms are often misused, and it is possible that some immatures were overlooked owing to the difficulty of identifying them in flight, although many were seen with adults. Britain and Ireland SHETLAND AND ORKNEY (fig. 3a) The first autumn records were of single adults ofTFetlar, Shetland, and off Stronsay, Orkney, on 16th September. From that date, Long-tailed Skuas were seen regularly around Shetland, numbers varying between one and five per day, with a significant increase of passage on 20th, when approximately 20, mostly adults, were seen off Melly on the west coast of Mainland, with ten off Sumburgh Head the next day. Very few immatures were recorded during the period. Numbers gradually dwindled to ones and twos in late September to early October. Although no specific figures were received from Fair Isle, 19 bird-days were recorded between 18th and 30th September. None was aged, and the maximum was seven on 24th. It was Orkney, however, that had the bulk of the early records. On 18th September, approximately 63 individuals were seen throughout the archipelago, including 39 off North Ronaldsay and 20 flying west in two hours at Brough of Birsay, Mainland. This passage continued the next day, with a further 43 off North Ronaldsay and 24 at Brough of Birsay. All but six of the total were aged as adults. By 20th September, the majority had moved on, the last being seven on 27th. Between 18th September and 2nd October, some 248 Long-tailed Skuas were recorded in the whole region, at least 203 (82%) of which were adults. SCOTTISH MAINLAND: EAST COAST (fig. 3b) There were a few early records from the eastern Scottish coast, which came on typical dates: one at Girdle Ness, Grampian, on 7th September and three at Hound Point, Lothian, on 14th. The period from 20th September to early October, however, brought larger numbers than normal. There were no days with large numbers in Grampian, but there was a scattering of records which were above the annual average. Most came from the seawatch site at Girdle Ness; two adults flying north on 1st October and another three moving north the following day were the highest counts. A team of Dutch scientists, however, came across a remarkable flock of 32 Long-tailed Skuas some 20 miles (32 km) off Aberdeen on 21st September: the flock consisted of 18 adults and 14 immatures, in company with 20 Pomarine, 15 Arctic and 24 Great Skuas (Camphuysen & den Ouden 1988). Farther south, in Lothian, numbers of Long-tailed Skuas gradually increased from 20th ] (a) SHETLAND/ORKNEY n=248 peak 18-20/9 - 20- | | Immature Unaged f Adult 19 ' — . 1 1 T , , ¥ - — 1 o ( (1 (b) SCOTTISH EAST COAST n=126 peak 21-23/9 ISO -I /d) NORTH YORKSHIRE/NORTH HUMBERSIDE n=478 peak 30/9-2/10 100 - r-> 50- 40 - 30 - (c) NORTHUMBER- LAND/DURHAM/ CLEVELAND n= 167 peak 24-26/9 15-| 10 1 I 2 (g) ENGLISH SOUTH COAST AND CORNWALL n=41 peak 12-14/9 40-1 30 20- (h) ENGLISH WEST COAST .AND IRISH SEA n=46 peak 6-8/10 n 0 127 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 September, with highest daily counts being seven at Hound Point on 30th September and 12th October and seven at South Queensferry also on 12th. Again, the majority were adults: of approximately 70 recorded in Lothian, only 14 were specifically aged as immatures. The last were two flying past Hound Point on 28th October. Adults were again predominant in this whole region, comprising 71% of the total of 126 individuals reported. By the middle of October, however, the proportion of adults had declined to 56%. NORTHUMBERLAND (INCLUDING TYNE & WEAR), DURHAM AND CLE\TLAND (fig. 3c) The first Northumberland record for 1988 was of an adult and an immature some six miles (10 km) off Tynemouth on 17th September. From 23rd September, seawatchers at Seaton Sluice recorded Long-tailed Skuas on most days until the end of the month, with a maximum of five on 24th, 25th and 30th. October records were more scarce, with individuals recorded on 1st, 2nd, 4th, 9th, 16th and finally on 19th, the maximum daily count being three at Seaton Sluice on 2nd. Of the 45 individuals recorded in Northumberland, 34 (75%) were aged as adults. Two distinct periods of movement were recorded in Durham. At Whitburn, 17 Long-tailed Skuas were seen on 29th and 30th September and four the next day. This was followed by 12 on 11th October. A total of 57 individuals was recorded in the county', of w hich 44 (77%) were adults. A Long-tailed Skua appeared in Cleveland on 20th August, when an adult fed in the Tees estuary. The main movement, however, started later, on 24th September at Hartlepool, when 19 adults flew north, followed by singles seen each day until 28th. Another surge, comprising 13-17 probable adults, passed Hartlepool on 29th September. October records consisted of single individuals on nine days and a maximum of three off Hartlepool on 8th, the last being seen on 23rd. A total of 67 was recorded in the county, of which 63 (94%) were said to be adults. In the region as a whole, most of the total of 169 Long-tailed Skuas recorded were seen between 24th September and 2nd October, with adults accounting for 86% of reports. NORTH YORKSHIRE AND NORTH HUMBERSIDE (fig. 3d) Most records came from the seawatch sites of Filey (20), Hornsea (94) and Flamborough Head (367), with other records from Spurn Point (17), Kettleness (eight) and Staithes (two). Most of the Flamborough records were in late September and early October, with the majority between 21st September and 2nd October. As usual, there were August and early-September records at most sites, with 26 individuals at Flamborough, 17 at Hornsea and three at Filey during that period. The main movement, however, began on 23rd September, when 41 Long-tailed Skuas were seen at Flamborough, followed by 32 on 24th, 12 on 25th and two on 26th. A further 43 were seen on 29th and 31 on 30th September. In October, there were 33 individuals on 1st and 15 on 2nd, but numbers gradually decreased over the next few days until 8th October, when 25 passed the Head, with 15 on 9th. Later peaks comprised 16 on 11th, 22 on 18th, 13 on 29th and 16 on 30th. The last was a late single on 2nd November. Up to 29th September, most were passing south, while those later mostly moved north. Because of the distance it protrudes into the North Sea, Flamborough Head has a great effect on local seawatching (fig. 5). Not only are larger numbers of seabirds seen from the headland, but its position influences observations at sites both to the north and to the south (Dunn & Lassey 1985). Hornsea is situated south of the headland on the sheltered curving coastline of Bridlington Bay, so southerly movement past Flamborough Head is often deflected out of view from the sea-level watchers at Hornsea. Bridlington Bay itself is a good feeding ground for many seabirds, especially gulls, terns and skuas, and this probably accounts for the 35 Long-tailed Skuas seen at Hornsea between 23rd September and 2nd October, corresponding with the first peaks of birds flying south at Flamborough. Between Fig. 3. Numbers of Long- tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus in eight areas of Britain and Ireland during 28th August to 4th November 1988, displayed within three-day periods (28th- 30th August at left) 128 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 WM 88. Adult Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus, Merseyside, October 1988 ( Stne Young ) 6th and 31st October, Hornsea recorded a further 45 Long-tailed Skuas, this movement being noted also at Flamborough. Many of the Hornsea skuas, however, were still moving south, unlike those at Flamborough, and may have involved individuals deflected by the headland back into Bridlington Bay to feed. Numbers of Long-tailed Skuas at Filey were much smaller than at Flamborough Head and Hornsea, but the year 1988 was nevertheless a record one for the site. The passage pattern there is significant, however, because Filey is situated north of Flamborough Head. The peak at Filey came between 23rd September and 2nd October, in accordance with large movements at sites to the north and at Flamborough, but only one individual (an adult lost in fog) was recorded after 2nd October, even though Filey was well watched. This may indicate that the second wave of birds, which were heading north, was deflected out of range of Filey by Flamborough Head. Singles were seen at Spurn Point on nine days during the period August to October, four of these on normal August dates. The highest daily counts were of two on 26th August and six on 2nd October. During the period 21st September to 2nd October, approximately 265 Long-tailed Skuas were noted in the region, of which 57% were adults, with similar proportions between 6th and 11th October. In contrast, between 15th October and 1st November, 92% were immatures, mostly seen from Flamborough and moving north. (P. A. Lassey in liU.) SOUTH HUMBERSIDE, LINCOLNSHIRE AND NORFOLK (fig. 3e) South Humberside and Lincolnshire had a good number of records totalling 67 individuals, compared with previous annual maxima of 13 in 1975, ten in 1979 and 12 in 1985. Again, the first records for the year were not unusual: two on 20th August, followed by singles at three sites on 13th and 14th September. The first large movement was noted at Huttoft on 24th September, when 17 Long-tailed Skuas passed, with a further nine on 29th and five on 1st October. During the first five days of October, 26 were noted along this w hole coastline, with a maximum of nine at Mablethorpe on 2nd. The last were six on 11th and two on 12th October at Huttoft. Of the total of 67 individuals recorded, 43 (64%) were adults. By the time the skuas had reached the north Norfolk coast they seemed to have dispersed into the North Sea, as numbers had dramatically decreased, although still making a record year for Norfolk. There were the usual records of singles from Titchwell, Blakeney and Cley in August and also singles in September, apart from six at the River Ouse mouth on 12th (which flew up the river) and another six at Cley on 16th. October sightings were scarce, with singles at Gorleston on 4th, Cley on 7th and 8th, and three at Blakeney on the last date. A total of 36 Long-tailed Skuas was recorded in Norfolk, of which 22 (61%) were thought to be adults. The main passage in the region as a whole came between 24th September and 2nd October, 84% of individuals being adults. There was an isolated peak during 12th- 14th September which involved a large number of immatures (88%); this corresponded with a similar peak in Cornwall, but did not fit any pattern elsewhere on the East Coast. 129 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 SUFFOLK TO KENT (fig. 3f) Few large numbers were recorded on the southeast coast of England. There was only one report received from Suffolk, a single off South wold on 25th September. A number of Long-tailed Skuas were seen flying west up the River Thames, with a maximum of seven at Tilbury, Essex, on 25th September, and singles were recorded at Southend Pier and Canvey Island, also Essex. Kent probably had up to 25 in total, which was estimated to be at least ten times the annual average (D. L. Davenport in lift.). Most records received were of unaged individuals (70%); of those aged. 50% were adults. The peak was between 24th and 26th October. SOUTH COAST AND CORNWALL (fig. 3g) Very few Long-tailed Skuas were reported from the English south coast west of Kent: singles at Hope Nose Point, Devon, on 19th and 30th August, another at Durlston Head, Dorset, on 25th September, and three more at Hope Nose Point on 11th October. The seawatch sites in Cornwall, however, had a record year for this species, with a total of 36 individuals from four sites between 2nd September and 7th October, although some duplication is likely. The largest number were offPendeen on 13th September, when 1 1 flew west, but these do not fit in with the pattern on the east coast of Britain. Only those recorded from St Ives were aged: eight (57%) of the total of 14 were adults. WEST COAST AND IRISH SEA (fig. 3h) There were scattered records on the west coast of England in late September: singles at Hilbre and Seaforth, both in Merseyside, and at Workington, Cumbria, with two at Fleetwood. Lancashire, on 24th and at Hilbre on 26th. Largest numbers were in early October, with up to 17 recorded on 7th in the Mersey estuary, seen from New Brighton, Merseyside, and Seaforth; these sites are on opposite banks and some duplication was probable, but the observers were careful to age most birds and this, along with times, separated the records. A single was seen at the Calf of Man, Isle of Man, on 6th, and two were at South Walney, Cumbria, on 8th October. At New Brighton, three immatures were noted out of a total of 12 individuals, whereas the proportion at Seaforth was four out of 17. The peak for the region was between 6th and 8th October and involved 33 individuals, 75% being adults. IRELAND Exceptional numbers were reported from Ireland during the autumn. Sites such as Bridges of Ross, Co. Clare, had four on 2nd September and seven on 28th, with a further seven on 7th October. Two were seen at Ramore Head, Antrim, on both 12th and 28th September. INLAND BRITAIN The earliest inland record was of an individual at Upton Warren, West Midlands, on 13th August. A number of sightings followed during September, probably of birds crossing from the East Coast to the West (thus accounting for the West Coast numbers). Singles were first recorded at two London reservoirs on 15th and 16th September, followed by Northumber- land’s first-ever inland record of Long-tailed Skuas, two adults and an immature flying west over Kielder Forest on 18th. The largest number seen together was nine, consisting of eight adults and an immature which briefly visited Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, West Yorkshire, on 23rd September. There were three singles in October: at Drakelow Wildfowl Reserve, Derbyshire, on 9th; one which died at Tring, Hertfordshire, on 15th; and another at Belvide Reservoir, Staffordshire, on 24th. 130 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 (a) BALTIC COAST OF SWEDEN n=27 90 -| (b) WEST COAST OF SWEDEN n=221 peak 27-29/9 n 60 - Immoture Unaged 30 - n r (c) EAST COAST OF DENMARK (d) WEST COAST OF DENMARK (e) NETHERLANDS n=109 peak 6-8/10 6 T (f) BELGIUM n=16 peak 12-14/9 -i — r Fig. 4. Numbers of Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus in six areas of northwest Europe during 28th August to 4th November 1988, displayed within three-day periods (28th-30th August at left) 131 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 Other countries FINLAND No exceptional numbers were reported, with only 20 noted in the south (van der Ham 1989). NORWAY Although no specific records were obtained, a total of approximately 150 Long-tailed Skuas was noted off southern Norway during the autumn of 1988 (van der Ham 1989). SWEDEN (figs. 4a & 4b) Sweden has two distinct coastlines, the Baltic coast and the west coast at the Kattegat; there was a significant difference between the records from these two areas. The Baltic coast (fig. 4a) produced 27 individuals (only one adult) between 30th August and 21st October, far more than in normal years. There were two peaks: 21st-23rd September and 12th- 13th October. The west coast, from the Norwegian border to and including the Kullen peninsula (fig. 4b), recorded 221 individuals between 14th August and 30th October. These numbers built up in four peaks: 24th-26th and 27th-29th September, and 30th September to 2nd October and 7th- 1 1th October. The percentages of adults for each of these peaks were, respectively, 49% and 49% and then decreasing to 23% and 10%. Most of the skuas were seen from seawatch sites during strong westerly winds, migrating south along the west coast to Kullen. where they headed west to avoid the Oresund, the narrow strait joining the Baltic with the Kattegat. Resting individuals were recorded at several places, but especially in Laholmsbukten, where flocks of up to 36 were seen during late September and early October. Many of the resting skuas were not shy, and in at least two cases they could be hand-fed. DENMARK (figs. 4c & 4d) Denmark is best treated as two separate coastlines: the east coast from Skagen to the Baltic, and the west coast bordering the North Sea. On the east coast, 165 Long-tailed Skuas were recorded between 18th August and 14th October (fig. 4c). Many of the birds seen from the Swedish west coast, however, probably pass Skagen on their way into and out from the Kattegat, and some duplication may occur. Numbers built up during four periods: 21st-23rd and 24th-26th September, and 30th September to 2nd October and 9th- 11th October. The proportion of adults were, respectively, 81%, 93%, 61% and 77%. The west coast had larger numbers, totalling 478 between 17th August and 2nd November (fig. 4d). The first large counts were on dates similar to those in Orkney, with 37 during 18th- 20th September, of which 84% were adults. The largest numbers were during 24th-29th September, with 177 individuals seen, of which 60% were adults. The next large movement occurred during 6th-8th October, when 92 were seen, but the percentage of adults had dropped to 39%. The final peak was during 9th- 1 1th October, when 42% of the 52 individuals recorded were adults. WEST GERMANY Unfortunately, no detailed records were received, but the influx was recorded along the North Sea coast, with a total of 44 Long-tailed Skuas noted ( Limicola 2: 239-240). THE NETHERLANDS (fig. 4e) A total of 113 Long-tailed Skuas was recorded between 16th August and 15th November. The last record was of a dead bird, the latest live individual being seen on 29th October. Small numbers were present during 1 5th-2 1 st September; there were then two peaks, during 24th-26th and 27th-29th September, totalling 15 and 13, respectively, of which 73% and 69% were adults. Most of the Dutch records, however, were during the period 6th-8th October and involved 58 individuals, 72% being adults. This latter proportion of adults seems higher than for the same period in Britain and Scandinavia, and may have involved some of the skuas that had originally passed south in the North Sea in late September and were making their way back north, (van der Ham 1989) now 132 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 BELGIUM (fig. 4f) Very few Long-tailed Skuas were recorded from Belgium, probably indicating that they did not pass through the English Channel. There were 17 between 17th August and 8th October, with the largest count of eight, all immatures, during 12th- 14th September. The only adult seen was on 22nd August, a normal date. NORTH SEA, OFFSHORE During autumn 1988, at least 67 Long-tailed Skuas were recorded in ship-based and platform-based observations, including those seen off Aberdeen, Grampian, which greatly exceeded normal numbers (Blake et at. 1984; Tasker et al. 1987). Most were in September with maxima of five at ‘Forties D’ and at ‘Iolair on 19th (the same individuals?) and five near ‘Thistle’ on 24th. Nos. left of line = Nos. right of line = 23rd September-2nd October 6th-31st October (% adults in parentheses) Fig. 5. Suggested pattern of movement of Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus past Flamborough Head, North Humberside, during autumn 1988 133 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 Weather As mentioned earlier, the Long-tailed Skua, because of its streamlined shearwater-like structure, is the least affected of the northern skuas by adverse weather conditions, although a period of rough seas which disturb the feeding areas would make it move to calmer waters. The species is recorded at English east-coast sites in any weather conditions, as shown bv the following data on wind directions at Flamborough in 1988 on days when large counts were made there: 23 Sep 24 Sep 29 Sep 30 Sep 1 Oct 2 Oct 8 Oct 9 Oct 18 Oct WSW NW NW-S WSW SE Just before the first large numbers reached Orkney (18th September), high pressure was present to the west of Britain and a low lay north of Iceland (fig. 6). Between these two systems, there was a cold front to the north of an occluded front. These fronts began to converge over the northern Scottish isles, bringing rain and 20-mph (32-kph) northwest winds to that area. This would probably help to direct the Long-tailed Skuas, seeking food, down towards the North Sea and away from the wind and rain coming in from the Atlantic. With the fronts passing by 20th September, and the w ind dropping to a moderate southwesterly, the skuas in the northern parts of the North Sea would probably have started seeking calmer waters in which to feed, at which time they were seen from the North Sea coastal sites. Fig. 6. Weather situation in North Atlantic at midday (12.00 GMT) on 16th September 1988 (from Yorkshire Post, 17th September 1988). Broken line indicates position of front ‘A’ on 17th September Sandeel situation Since 1983, there has been a rapid decline in the recruitment rates of sandeels Ammodytes around Shetland, and juvenile fish were exceptionally rare in 1988. There has been a reduction in the spawning stock in recent years, but data from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland (DAFS) suggested that stocks in 1988 were similar to those of the 134 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 89. Adult Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus, Merseyside, October 1988 {S. White) mid 1970s and it was the opinion of the DAFS that overfishing of sandeels had not caused the poor recruitment or the recent reduction in spawning stock. Other suggestions were that the sandeels had changed the times of their breeding season or were not now surfacing in Shetland waters (Allsopp & Dawson 1988; Tasker 1988). Young sandeels form a large proportion of the diet of Shetland’s seabirds when feeding their young. In 1988, the Arctic Tern population in Shetland had failed to breed owing to lack of suitably sized fish. Other species which feed on sandeels were similarly affected, and numbers of young produced by Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla , Puffins Fratercula arctica and Arctic Skuas were also low. By contrast, species with more catholic tastes, such as Gannet Sula bassana , Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and Shag P. aristotelis , all had normal breeding success in Shetland in 1988 (Allsopp & Dawson 1988). The low availability of sandeels could have been one of the factors influencing the migration of Long-tailed Skuas as they left their breeding grounds. With a mass departure into the North Atlantic, they would obviously feed at sea, either on sandeels or by parasitising the young Arctic Terns or Kittiwakes. With these being absent or present only in small numbers around Shetland, the skuas may have moved farther south than normal, into Orkney, in search of food; and, after a brief period of three days or so and with the prevailing weather conditions, they then moved into the North Sea. Discussion As 1988 was a ‘lemming year’, the breeding success of most tundra- nesting birds, including Long-tailed Skuas, should have been good. Ihis would have resulted in large numbers of juveniles, and possibly a delay in the departure from the nesting sites because of the abundance of food. In Scandinavia, however, the breeding success of Long-tailed Skuas in summer 1988 apparently was poor (N. A. Andersson and S. Svensson in lift.). Nevertheless, the high proportion of immatures recorded in the Baltic suggests that breeding success must have been good somewhere. Scandinavian Long-tailed Skuas do not migrate through the Baltic to any great extent; rather, they are thought to pass over the fjells direct into the Atlantic (Cramp & Simmons 1983). The Baltic is used as a major flyway for many Siberian tundra species on their way to and from breeding 135 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 grounds, and the unusually large number of Long-tailed Skuas in the Baltic parts of Sweden and Denmark during autumn 1988 suggests that eastern populations of the species were involved, although most would probably have left the nesting grounds for the Atlantic via the Barents Sea. The presence of these eastern breeders in the seas between Iceland and Scandinavia apparently coincided with bad weather, which, together with a lack of food, brought them off course. They poured into the North Sea and the Skagerrak/Kattegat until they were able to leave the area in calmer weather around mid October. The many observations of tired, resting birds in Sweden, despite the weather not being unusually hard, indicate that many of the Long-tailed Skuas experienced a lack of food, possibly a result of the sandeel shortage. As records from the well-watched areas of the English Channel, the Netherlands and Belgium were comparatively few, it is possible that the majority of the skuas chose to leave the North Sea north of Shetland to disperse normally into the Atlantic. This would account for the late peaks in Denmark and the Netherlands and the subsequent northerly passage at Flamborough Head. Both in Denmark and at Flamborough, these influxes showed a higher proportion of immatures, indicating that young left the breeding grounds later. The high proportion of adults in October in the Netherlands may have involved some of those from the September peaks moving back north away from the Channel. Some of the late-September skuas were also seen to fly inland, following rivers, and appeared on inland waters in Britain. This indicates that Long- tailed Skuas crossed Britain into the Irish Sea, thus accounting for the record numbers and high proportion of adults on the English west coast in early October. These individuals were probably heading back north past Ireland and back into the Atlantic. Acknowledgments Many thanks must go to the readers of Birding World who sent us records of Long-tailed Skua sightings from their areas; to Keith Allsopp and Barry Nightingale of British Birds' ‘Monthly reports’; to P. A. Lassey, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and H. J. Whitehead for their help; and to Dr P. D. Goriup for commenting on the first draft. For records and information (and with apologies for any omissions) we thank: M. Andersson, N. A. Andersson, A. Armstrong, A. Ball, G. R. Bennett, K. Biledgaard, A. J. Booth, C. Booth, B. Breife, A. Broome, G. P. Catley, S. M. Christophers, H. Christophersen, B. M. Clarkson, W. F. Curtis, D. L. Davenport, J. B. Dunnett,J. N. Dymond, T. Eriksen, G. Fahlberg, K. Fischer, C. J. Francis, R. Fray, P. Grantz, Dr M. Griffin, P. S. Flansen, M. Hario, D. Hatton, J. Hillgard, M. S. Hodgson, J. F. Holloway, J. Hollyer, B. Jakobsen, R. Key, I. Kinsey, P. Murphy, K. M. Olsen, K. Pedersen, R. Perkins, E. V. Rasmussen, M. J. Seago, M. S. Scott, K. Shaw, M. Smith, S. Svensson, M. J. Tarrant, T. Fyrberg, N. van der Ham, A. J. Wallis, A. W. Wells, and S. White. Summary In late summer-autumn 1988, unusually high numbers of Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus were recorded in the North Sea area and to a lesser extent on other British coasts. First indications of an influx were noted in Shetland and Orkney in the third week of September, with numbers building simultaneously on the west coast of Denmark. A few days later, they were also noted on the Scottish and English east coasts and the Swedish west coast as the skuas appeared to move south and east in search of shelter/food. Thereafter, numbers in Shetland and Orkney declined, while several sites in the North Sea and the 136 Long-tailed Skuas in autumn 1988 Skagerrak/Kattegat experienced new peaks. In most areas, the main peaks occurred during the period 24th September to 2nd October, when adults accounted for at least 80% of records. Numbers then began to decline until 6th October, when some sites recorded a second wave of Long-tailed Skuas as inexperienced immatures appeared in the North Sea. This second wave was noted mainly on the west coast of Denmark and at Flamborough Head, North Humberside, with smaller numbers in Sweden and the Netherlands: apart from in the Netherlands, immatures featured greatly in this latter movement, accounting for 58% of the individuals involved. References Ai.LSOPP, K., & Dawson, I. 1988. July reports. Brit. Birds 81: 606-607. Andf.RSSON, M. 1971. Breeding behaviour of the Long-tailed Skua. Omis Scand. 2: 35-54. 1976. Population ecology’ of the Long-tailed Skua. J. Anim. Ecol. 45: 537-559. Bi.ake, B. F., TASKER, M. L., et at. 1984. Seabird distribution in the Xorth Sea. Nature Conservancy Council, Huntingdon. Camphuysen, C. J., & DEN Ot’DEN, J. E. 1988. Opmerkelijke concentratie jagers in zeevoglerijk zeegebied ten oosten van Aberdeen (Scotland), September 1988. Sula 2: 91-92. CRAMP, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 3. Oxford. Davenport, D. L. 1981 . The spring passage of Pomarine and Long-tailed Skuas ofT the South and West coasts of Britain. Irish Birds 2: 73-79. 1984. Large passage of skuas ofT Scotland and Ireland in Mav 1982 and 1983. Irish Birds 2: 515-520. " 1987. Large passage of skuas ofT Balranald, North List, in Mav 1986. Scot. Birds 14: 180- 181. Dunn, P. J., & LASSEY, P. A. 1985. Little Gulls in Yorkshire. Naturalist 1 10: 91-98. Filey Brigg Ornithological Group. Bird Reports for 1977-1987. Fox, A. D., & Aspinai.L, S. J. 1987. Pomarine Skuas in autumn 1985. Brit. Birds 80: 404-421. Furness, R. W. 1987. The Skuas. Calton. HoPEjONES, P., & TASKER, M. L. 1982. Seabird movements at coastal sites around Great Britain and Ireland 1977-1980. Nature Conservancy Council, Aberdeen. Lambert, K. 1980. Ein Lberwinterungsgebiet der Falkenraubmowe Stercorarius longicaudus Vieill. 1819, vor Siidwest-mid Siidafrika entdeckt. Beitr. Vogelk. 26: 199-212. Mills, S. 1988. BBC Wildlife (Dec. 1988): 659. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1974. Scarce Migrant Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. TASKER, M. L. 1988. Shetland’s seabird problems. The Seabird Group Newsletter 53: 1-3. , Webb, A., et al. 1987. Seabirds in the North Sea. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. VAN DER Ham, N. F. 1989. Influx of Long-tailed Skuas in the Netherlands in autumn 1988. Sula 3: 128-133. Peter J. Dunn, 16 Southwold Rise, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YOll 3RB Erik Hirschfeld, c/o I.A.L., PO Box 144, Manama, State of Bahrain g>rtjentp-ftoe pears; ago... ‘BREEDING-HABITS OF THE WRYNECK. The following notes of observations made by me on some Wrynecks {Jynx t. torquilla) in a garden at Orpington, Kent, may be of interest. In 1913 the Wry necks arrived on April 15th, as the year before, and almost immediately started to look at a nest-box eight foot up in a birch tree. They laid seven eggs between the 1st and 10th of June, four of which hatched between the 18th and 22nd. and the young flew on Julv 12th. In 1914 the Wry necks were first seen on April 13th, and nested in the same box as the year before. Eight eggs were laid about the beginning ofjune and hatched on the 20th. while the young flew on July 10th.’ (Brit. Birds 9: 299-300, April 1916) Seasonal reports Autumn 1990 Part 2: passerines Keith Allsopp and Baiiy Nightingale This summary includes some unchecked reports, as well as authenticated records Transatlantic vagrants July began with unsettled westerly weather until 9th; a change to very warm anticyc- lonic conditions then occurred, which per- sisted until 26th, when once more an Atlan- tic cyclone brought a brief rainy period. The high pressure to the south reasserted its influence by 31st, keeping the south of England anticyclonic throughout August and into September, except for 15th and 19th, when cyclonic weather (which had been regular in Scotland over the same period) intruded from the north. More unsettled westerlies arrived on 5th Septem- ber, being replaced on 7th by an anticyclone whose centre drifted eastwards from the Atlantic across Scotland, bringing in some warm Continental air on its southern flank. On 18th, a very vigorous depression de- veloped, bringing gales and a blast of cold northerly air. On an associated front trailing back across the Atlantic to North America, wave depressions travelled rapidly across the Atlantic, arriving in the Western Approaches on 20th, 21st and 25th. The discovery of a Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons in Kenidjack Valley, St Just (Corn- wall), on 20th heralded arrivals of Red-eyed Vireos T. olivaceus in Cot Valley (Cornwall) on 21st, Dursey Island (Co. Cork) on 23rd and in the Isles of Stilly on 25th, and an Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus on Dursey Is- land on 24th (plates 95 & 96). High pressure cut the front in mid Atlantic on 25th and this anticyclone drifted southeastwards from the northwest into the Continent by 28th, bringing dry, bright weather. Behind it, another transatlantic front had developed, which crossed Shetland and Ireland on 29th and England by 30th. Further Red-eyed Vireos were found at Dunquin (Co. Kerry) on 29th, Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) and Spurn Point (Humberside) on 30th and a Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus on Fair Isle (Shetland) also on 30th. Until 11th October, pressure remained high to the south, and a westerly flow was maintained across Britain and Ireland, with low- pressure systems tracking eastwards close to northern Scotland. Transatlantic fronts again occurred on 5th and 6th, and another on 10th, with discoveries of a Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata at Sumburgh (Shet- land) and a Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus on Cape Clear Island on 6th, another in the Isles of Scilly on 7th, a Red- 137 [Brit. Birds H 4: 137-145, April 1991] 138 Autumn 1990: passerines eyed Vireo at Belmullet (Co. Mayo) also on 7th, another Swainson’s Thrush, on Cape Clear Island on 8th, followed by one in the Isles of Scilly on 10th, together with a Black- billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. A dead Gray-cheeked Thrush was found at Slimbridge (Gloucestershire) on 14th. From 12th, an anticyclone to the east over the Continent became increasingly influential and the depressions moving in from the Atlantic became slow-moving across Britain and Ireland as air pushed in from the south and east. On 18th, a large block of easterly air flooded over the North Sea and across Britain and Ireland. The flow continued until 24th, when Atlantic air prevailed and diverted the stream northwards and estab- lished westerlies until the end of the month. Conditions for transatlantic crossings were still favourable and further Red-eyed Vireos were found on Lundy Island (Devon) on 16th and at Seaburn (Tyne & Wear) on 27th, another Gray-cheeked Thrush in the Isles of Scilly on 19th, a Swainson’s Thrush at Galley Head (Co. Cork) on 21st, a Blackpoll Warbler in the Isles of Scilly on 22nd and a Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia at Lerwick (Shetland) on 3rd Novem- ber (plate 97). Near-passerines A concentration of 10,000 Swifts Apus apus at Spurn Point on 1st July was unlikely to have been a migration, but a mass feeding flight near the convergence zones of a small depression nearby in the North Sea. Their departure in early August was unhindered by the weather. Only two Alpine Swifts Apus melba were reported, on Guernsey (Channel Islands) on 13th August and at St Margarets Bay (Kent) on 4th October. Eight Bee-eaters Merops apiaster were seen, mainly in hot anticyclonic weather in mid July, but one spent 22nd-31st October in the Isles of Scilly. Hoopoes Upupa epops were relatively scarce vagrants, with some 14 scattered reports, and Wrynecks Jynx torquilla (plate 103) were also scarce, with only about 25 of the 70 records from the expected East Coast areas, more occurring across southern Eng- land. Larks to wagtails The ten Short-toed Larks Calandrella brachy- dactyla which arrived between 28th Septem- ber and 21st October, from Shetland to the Isles of Scilly, all came on southerly winds. A Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne mpestris was seen on Great Saltee Island (Co. Wexford) early in October and five reports of Red-rumped Swallows Himndo daurica came in the same month on the East Coast from Orkney south to Norfolk, with another in Essex from 1 1th to 14th November and two together in Co. Down during 7 1 h - 9 1 h November, one staying until 18th. An early Richard's Pipit Anthus novae seelandiae was found on 21st July on Lundy Island, well before an influx recorded from 16th September on east to southerly winds, predominantly from Nor- folk to Shetland, and on through October, with a clutch of records from southwest England, involving 45 birds in all. Tawny Pipits Anthus campestris , with 1 1 reports, arrived typically from the south, on frontal systems, with most in southern England. A feature of the autumn was the unusual numbers of Olive-backed Pipits Anthus hodg- soni , with over 40 involved, eclipsing the 20 seen in 1987. The first arrived on Fair Isle on 23rd September on a band of easterly winds coming from northern L’SSR. About 15 more arrived on Fair Isle and in Orkney and Shetland until 6th October, during mainly unsettled cyclonic weather, with the centres of the lows close to the islands. From 13th to 16th, several arrived in southwest Britain and Ireland on frontal systems with south- Autumn 1990: passerines 139 on the Norfolk and northeast English coasts on fronts associated with the easterlies and southeasterlies from 18th to 27th (plate 104). This pattern indicates a very wide dispersal initially into Western Europe, with a concentrating response to move along weather fronts. Three Pechora Pipits Anthus gustain were also affected in the same way, with one on St Kilda (Western Isles) on 23rd September, one at Scalloway (Shetland) on 25th, and one at Land's E.nd (Cornwall) on 20th October. An early Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus was found at Red Rocks (Merseyside) on 16th September during anticyclonic easterlies, followed by a further ten reports, mainly from southern England and Ireland, until the end of October, often on anticyclonic southeasterlies. Just three Citrine Wagtails Motacilla citreola , from simi- lar origins as the previous three species, arrived: on Fair Isle on 27th August and 1 1th September and at Quendale (Shetland) on 29th. Waxwing to flycatchers The easterlies which swept across the North Sea on 18th October initiated an invasion of Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus (plate 93) along the East Coast from Norfolk to Shet- land. There were 40 on Fair Isle, and, by the end of the month, several hundred had been reported, mainly in small flocks, except for 130 at Inverness (Highland) on 3rd Novem- ber. There was only one Thrush Nightin- gale Luscinia luscinia, on Cape Clear Island on 26th October, and only 1 1 Bluethroats L. svecica , mainly in September. Two Isabelline Wheatears Oenanthe isabellina were found after the mid-October easterlies, in the Isles of Scilly on 18th (plate 100) and at Kilnsea (Humberside) on 21st. A Pied Wheatear 0. pleschanka, part of the same movement, was at Holme (Norfolk) from 19th to 21st; earlier, one had been found at Newhaven (East Sussex) on 7th July (plates 98 & 99). A Desert Wheatear 0. deserii was another late- October record, on 27th-28th on Galley Head (Co. Cork) (plate 101). The easterly flow out of Russia across Northern Scandi- navia probably brought the White’s Thrushes Zoothera dauma to Sumburgh Head on 22nd September. Eyemouth (Borders) on 26th. where one was picked up dead, and Stronsav (Orknev) on 3rd October. A Black- throated Thrush Tardus nificollis atrogularis on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) during 26th-28th September and one of the red-throated race nificollis at Easington (Humberside) on 7th October w ere also fellow-travellers. An Eye- browed Thrush Turdus obscums on Fresco (Isles of Scillv) on 21st October, however, arrived w ith the huge influx of Fieldfares T. pilaris and Redwings T. iliacus arriving after the onset of easterlies on 18th. A Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola on Cape Clear Island on 8th October probably came with the Lanceolated Warblers L. lanceolata found on Fair Isle on 23rd and 30th. but one on Bardsey Island (Gwynedd) on 18th October belonged to the later movement. About 30 Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludicola mainly showed their usual early-autumn passage (plate 102), but included two inland in Buckinghamshire on 2nd and 26th August and another at Etwall (Derbyshire) from 29th September to 7th October. Three Booted Warblers Hippolais caligata were reported at Kilnsea on 16th and 17th September, on Dursey Island on 9th October and on (he Inner Fame (Northum- berland) on 19th. Most of the 37 reports of Icterine Warblers H. icterina were from East Anglia and the English south coast between 12th August and 23rd October, and all of the 21 Melodious Warblers H. polyglotta were in the south and west of Britain and Ireland over the same period. A notable record was of a Ruppell’s Warbler Sylvia meppelli on Whalsay (Shetland) from 3rd to 19th October, after southeasterly winds. From mid August into October, some 60 140 Barred Warblers S. nisoria were found, from Essex northwards on the East Coast, with a good proportion in Orkney and Shetland. Greenish Warblers Phylloscopus trochiloides were early vagrants along the East Coast, most of the 14 reports being in late August to early September, as expected, and three Arctic Warblers P. borealis were found, on Fair Isle on 26th August, on St Kilda on 26th September and in Shetland on 6th October. Not quite a bumper year for Pallas’s Warb- lers P. proregulus : they started to arrive on 14th in Shetland and then from 18th on the East Coast north of Spurn Point, with the later of the 24 records being in the south in early November. This was the year of the Yellow-browed Warbler P. inomatus , with about 200 reported. They began arriving on 11th September on the East Coast, with subsequent records from Kent to Shetland and across to southwest England and Ire- land, as they continued to appear during October. Radde’s Warblers P. schwarzi and Dusky Warblers P. fuscatus mainly arrived together on the East Coast in the strong easterly flow, during 17th-24th October, with 12 of the former and 17 of the latter, three of which were found in November. The three Bonelli’s Warblers P. bonelli were on the Isle of Grain (Kent) on 26th August, in the Isles of Scilly on 19th October and at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 25th. Firecrests Regulus ignicapillus were not very' numerous, with peak counts of 15 on Cape Clear Island and at Dungeness in October. As expected, with regular high-pressure periods in south- east Europe from late September to late October, Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva were regular vagrants, with 45 reports scattered around the coasts of England, Wales and Scotland, but only one from Ireland. Autumn 1990: passerines Treecreepers to buntings Short-toed Treecreepers Certhia brachydac- tyla were found in Kent, at St Margarets Bay on 14th October, at Dungeness on 18th and later on 11th November, and at Sandwich Bay on 7th November. A party of five Penduline Tits Remiz pendulinus was at Titchfield Haven (Hampshire) on 23rd October, following a single at Cley (Norfolk) on 13th and three on the Isles of Scilly on 17th. Migrant Red-backed Shrikes Ixmius collurio were not very common, only 30 being seen, but the easterlies after 18th October brought some 40 displaced Great Grey Shrikes L. excubitor on to the East Coast, after two normal wintering individuals had already returned to their commons in south- ern England by 14th. Apart from two north- ern records, from Spurn Point on 10th August and Heysham (Lancashire) on 8th October, the other 12 records of Serins Serinus serinus were on the English south coast. There was a good influx of Arctic Redpolls Carduelis homemanni . first to Shet- land and in the Western Isles, involving about ten from 21st September to 6th October, followed by a further six in North Norfolk and Orkney from 18th to 29th. Starting back in the spring, Crossbills Loxia cunnrostra (plate 91) began arriving from the Continent. The flock sizes increased through the months and, by late August, groups of over 200 were being seen on f air Isle and in Orkney. Thereafter, the migra- tion declined, with fewer reported arrivals into October. Accompanying them were a number of Two-barred Crossbills Loxia leucoptera which were discovered in the flocks feeding inland (plate 92). By November, some 16 had been seen, but there were probably many more. Parrot Crossbills L. pytyopsittacus became evident later, after the October easterlies from 18th, with small numbers along the East Coast initially and then larger flocks of over 20 being found at inland sites by mid November (plate 90). A singing Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythri- nus at Spurn Point on 1st and 2nd July was a late spring vagrant. Typical autumn indi- viduals began to appear on Fair Isle and in Shetland by 20th August, and by early October some 40 had been recorded, latterly in southwest Britain and Ireland. Apart from two records in Scotland, the other 21 Orto- lan Buntings Emberiza hortulana were in the south of England, including six at Land- guard Point (Suffolk) on 23rd September. Of the 13 Rustic Buntings Emberiza rustica seen, [The inclusion of plates 90-104 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from ZEISS Germary ] ?0. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus, Chopwell Woods, Tyne & Wear, November 1990 {Michael K. Watson ) 91. Female Crossbill Loxia curvirostra , Isle of May, Fife, July 1990 [H. Riley) »2. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera with Crossbills L. curvirostra ), Sandring- am, Norfolk, October 1990 {Steve Young) 93. Waxwing BombyciUa garrulus, Guisborough Cleveland, November 1990 (M. N. Sidwell) 94. Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica , Tresco, Isles of Scilly, October 1990 (Stei'e Hinton) 95 8c 96. Above and below left, Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus , Dursey Island, Co. Cork, September 19' (Anthony McGeehan) 97. Below right, Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia, Lerwick, Shetland, November 1990 ( Dennis Coui '‘IS IT MOUSTACHED, OR IS IT A SEDGE?” Not easy in the distance of a grey dawn on a rty day, is it? But, before you tell the ‘Rarities Committee’, iu do need to be 100% sure that it is the rare oustached Warbler you’ve spotted, rather than the ry similar Sedge. Apart from the fact that you want to ink in every detail of a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. Which is clearly why the readers of “British rds” voted Carl Zeiss the most popular binoculars, e most highly rated, the most satisfactory and the p binoculars of the future. They can obviously recognise a unique imbination of clarity, huge field of view and xellent close-up focus, when they see it. Even the most sceptical consumer advice agazine doesn’t demur, making them ‘Best on Test’ id excellent all round, if money is no object! Quite. But then money has never been the iject at Carl Zeiss. For 100 years the aim •s been simply to produce the best noculars at any price. That’s why Carl Zeiss binoculars The mark of rl Zeiss quality are virtually hand-made. Typically containing 200 mechanical parts, 18 optical components honed by over 1500 precision operations and prisms ground to an accuracy of 0.00003mm. It’s also why Carl Zeiss scientists devote their lives to the delicate interaction of eye and optical instruments. Creating innovative technology like phase-corrected prisms for better image contrast and multi-layer T’coating for markedly superior light transmission (90% or more), giving unsurpassed brilliance and contrast. Yet they’re not above considering the most practical details too. Hence sensible ideas like special high eye-point eye-pieces (to German DIN standards) and computer-calculated eye to lens distances, which allow the same full field of vision with spectacles as without. There’s even an olive green model to blend with your natural habitat! All done with a thoroughness of craftsmanship that justifies a 30-year Germany guarantee. Carl Zeiss THE DEFINITIVE BINOCULAR For literature, list of stockists, or advice on any aspect of binocular use, please contact: Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd., Dept BB, P.0. Box 78, Woodfield Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL7 1LU. (D807) IX A JLJL tour’s success is judged by the quality of each participant s experience. We take pride in our guides' abilities to find birds and show them to all in the group. Our itineraries of over 65 birding tours worldwide are designed to seek out area specialties, rarities, and hard-to-find birds. Our guides know their areas thoroughly and, together with our entire staff, work hard to ensure that your tour is the best possible. Ask your friends who have traveled with us — if they’ve been with us once, it’s almost certain they'll go again. Write or call for our catalog. P.O. Box 160723-C, Austin. Texas 78716; Phone: 512-327-4953; Fax: 512-327-9231 Jan Erik Pierson John Rowlett Rose Ann Rowlett Bret Whitney John Coons John Arvin Dave Stejskal Chris Benesh field guides INCORPORATED (D81 2) g x Kay Optical (Established 1962) 1st Floor, 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey Phone:081-648 8822 * NEW HOURS: MON - SAT 9 am - 5 pm (Mon - Fri: Lunch 1 to 2 pm) r Sales and Repairs of BINOCULARS, TELESCOPES, TRIPODS, etc. at one of the best centres in the country Advice and test facilities for a range of the best equipment. ★Competitive prices ★Long-established workshop ★Callers welcome. ★Phone/mail order service ★Price list and map sent upon request. BINOCULARS ZEISS £ 10 x 25 Dialyt 236 8 x 30 BGAT Dialyt Phone 10 x 40 BG AT (P) Dialyt 495 7 x 42 BGAT (P) Dialyt 465 LEICA 8x20Trinovid 199 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 21 1 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 211 1 0 x 25 BCA Trinovid 223 7x42. 8x42, and 10x42 559 BAUSCH & LOMB 8 x 42 BA Elite 589 10x42 BA Elite 589 SWAROVSKI 8 x 30 SLC II 325 OPTOLYTH 8 x 40 Alpin 225 1 0 x 40 Alpin 230 10x50 Alpin 241 1 0 x 40 BGA Touring Phone 7 x 42 BGA Touring Phone 8 x 32 BGA Touring Phone FALCON roof prism 1 0 x 40 or 8 x 40 rubber-covered 1 1 0 SWIFT 81/2 x 44 HR5/Audubon 200 NEW 7 x 35 roof prism Audubon 329 ZEISS (Jena) 8 x 32 BA Notarem 1 1 5 1 0 x 40 BA Notarem 1 60 PYSER ROSS 8 x 42 ZCF Regent 1 70 1 0 x 42 ZWCF Kensington 1 80 NIKON 8 X 23 waterproof 1 57 1 0 x 25 waterproof 1 57 9 x 30 roof prism 248 OPT1CRON 8 x 42 HR II 10x42 HR II 10x50 HR II 8 x 42 Dioptron (HRI) 10 x 42 Dioptron(HRI) 10 x 50 Dioptron (HRI) 9 x 35 BCF Minerva 8 x 40 BCF Minerva 10 x 40 BCF Minerva 7 x 35 Elite 9 x 35 Elite FUJINON (new) 8 x 40 BFL TELESCOPES NIKON 20 x 60 Fieldscope II 20-45 x zoom Fieldscope II 20 x 60 Fieldscope ED II 20-45 x zoom Fieldscope ED 30 x, 40 x, 60 x eyepiece Camera adaptor (optical) KOWA TSN-1 body (45°) TSN-2 body TSN-3 body (45°) TSN-4 body 25 x or 40 x eyepiece 20 x (WA) eyepiece 30 x (WA) eyepiece 20-60 x zoom eyepiece 60x eyepiece 77x eyepiece OPTOLYTH TBS 80 body (45°) TBG 80 body (straight) TB eyepieces from BAUSCH & LOMB (new) 1 5-45 x 60 Elite PICCOLO 60mm body Zoom eyepiece 145 150 155 110 110 120 169 170 175 147 186 179 265 333 475 545 75 159 295 295 555 555 59 89 109 139 89 99 350 350 64 309 128 76 20 OPTICRON (with cases) H R 60mm with 22x ( WA) 1 60 HR 60 mm with 20-60x zoom 200 HR 60mm rubber, with 22x (WA) 170 HR 60mm rubber, with 20-60x 210 HR (45*) with 22x (WA) 200 HR (45 ) with 20-60x 230 Separate eyepieces from 20 New 80mm HR body 249 30 x (WA) eyepiece 32 27-80x zoom eyepiece 76 CLASSIC “IF” 75mm body 137 60mm body with 25x 1 00 Eyepieces, from 23 Zoom eyepieces 59 SPACEMASTER With 15-45x EP 215 VIEWMASTER 60mm, 45', with 20-60x EP 199 SWAROVSKI (new) AT 80 body 535 22x (WA) eyepiece 70 20-60x zoom eyepiece 1 60 Special case 91 GREENKAT * Price increase due 60mm, SGN-3, for angled and straight eyepiece. 1 55 20x, 30x, 40x, 50x eyepieces, each 25 SOLIGOR CAMERA LENSES etc. Ask for details of the full range. TRIPODS etc. Slik D2 73 Slik SL 67 105 Manfrotto 1 44/200 1 03 Manfrotto 144/128 98 Manfrotto 1 90/200 91 Universal clamp 22 Hide clamp, new type 38 Car window mount 22 Shoulder pod 30 Other eyepieces from ★PACKAGE DEALS: Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought ★REPAIRS carried out in our own workshops (Our policy is to get your optics bird-watch operational with minimal delay) ★SHORT-TERM INTEREST-FREE CREDIT available (three payments) FIELD DAYS: Alternative venues at which you can ★PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, W. Sussex on SUNDAYS 28th April, 26th May and 30th June (f 0.30am to 4.00pm) try and buy our equipment (and also hand in repairs) ” ★WARNHAM NATURE RESERVE just off the A24 (northern roundabout for HORSHAM) on the B2237 on SUNDAYS 14th April, 5th May and 2nd June (10.30am to 4.00pm) E3 We are only 15 minutes’ drive from the M25 (e.g. via the A3 and then the Merton Turn-off) or 2 minutes’ walk from Morden tube. Parking: 1st left past our entrance (50 yds). (D817) xi THE CHOICE OF THE ELITE MADE BY LEICA Take a look on the wild side through the ‘new’ eyes of Bill Oddie Whenever I’m doing a serious study, I take my new Leica 10 x 42’s. Their timeless design and superior optical performance initially took me by surprise, but like most innovations I immediately enjoyed the benefits and I soon wondered how I ever got along without then The picture really is brilliantly sharp and bright. The extra close focus is tremendously useful too . . . especially if you are a naturalist who not only watches approachable birds, bu also butterflies, dragonflies, bats et al. Another good point is the independent 'personal eye setting. Simply lock in the number, and you never need worry about it ‘slipping’ during use. Overall the new waterproof Leica 10 x 42's are as you would expect - brilliant and a bit more besides. The freedom to see. For further information on Leica products tick the appropriate box and send the coupon to Leica, P.O. Box 10, Buntingford, Herts SG9 9BT. Name Address 1 Telephone Telephone and service enquiries (0908) 666663 LBB4/9 (D829 Leica BinocularsD Leica R5D Leica R6D Leica M6D Leica ProjectorsD Xll 100. Isabelline VVheatear Oenanthe isabellina, St Mary ’s, Isles of Scilly, October 1990 ( Steve Seal) 101. Desert VVheatear Oenanthe deserti , Galley Head, Co. Cork, October 1990 ( Richard T. Mills) 102. Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola, Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, August 1990 ( David Tipling) 103. Wryneck Jynx torquilla , Penninis, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, October 1990 ( Alan J. Shearman) 104. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni , Woodhorne Church, Northumberland, October 1990 (. Michael K. Watson) 145 Autumn 1990: passerines all in October, nine were in southwest Britain and Ireland (plate 94), in contrast to the 25 Little Buntings Emberiza pusillo found, of which 12 were in Shetland, on Fair Isle, in Orkney and in the Western Isles, and a further six on the northeast English coast, all from late September to early November. Other rare buntings included a Pine Bunt- ing Emberiza leucocephalos at Bamburgh (Northumberland) on 21st and 22nd Octo- ber and Yellow-breasted Buntings Emberiza aureola on Lundy Island on 2nd July, on Fair Isle on 27th and 28th August and again on 9th to 14th September and at Spurn Point on 17th October. Identification pitfalls and assessment problems* This series, which started in January 1983 (Brit. Birds 76: 26-28), is not intended to cover all facets of the identification of the species concerned, but only the major sources of error likely to mislead the observer in the field or the person attempting to assess the written evidence. The species covered are mostly those which were formerly judged by the Rarities Committee*, but which are now the responsibility of county and regional recorders and records committees; other species, both rarer and commoner than those, are also featured sometimes, as in this case. 10. Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorcix Night Herons breed in North and South America, Africa and Asia, but of most interest to British and Irish observers is that they breed, albeit locally, in most central and southern European countries and in the Netherlands. A total of 406 Night Herons has been accepted as having occurred in Britain and Ireland up to the end of 1989 (Brit. Birds 83: 443), with 86 during the last five of those years. Individuals have appeared in every month, and the peak period, which accounts for over half of the records, is from early April to mid June. Most spring records have come from central and southern England, whilst most autumn sightings have been made in the eastern half of England. Night Heron is described and illustrated in all European bird guides, and is a straightforward species to identify, given good views. In such circumstances, in a British context, juvenile and first-year Night Herons are likely to be confused only with Bittern Botaurus stellaris or with juvenile and first-year Purple Heron Ardea purpurea , whilst second-year and adult Night Herons are likely to be confused only with Grey Heron A. cinerea. The most striking character with which to separate juvenile Night Heron from Bittern or Purple Heron is the prominent whitish spotting on its mantle, scapulars and upperwing-coverts. As Night Heron retains its juvenile wing feathers until the following summer, the whitish spotting on the upperwing-coverts (though not on the fresh mantle feathers and *This paper, like those earlier in the series (Brit. Birds 76: 26-28, 78-80, 129-130, 203-206, 304- 305, 342-346; 77: 412-415; 78: 97-102; 81: 126-134), is a publication of the Rarities Committee, which is sponsored by ZEISS Germany. 1 46 Night Heron identification pitfalls scapulars) of a first-year individual remains the outstanding feature with which to eliminate the other two species. The most obvious characters for distinguishing second-year and adult Night Herons from Grey Heron are the former’s black mantle, the black on the majority of its scapulars, and its uniformly grey wings, though the latter feature is of value only in flight, when Grey Heron’s contrasting black primary coverts, primaries and secondaries would be visible. When a good view is obtained of an adult Night Heron, particular attention should be paid to the extent of white on the forehead and above the eye, which is best recorded by means of a simple sketch. This is the only field character by which to separate the European race nycticorax from 105. Juvenile Night Heron Nycticorax nycti- corax, Avon, November 1971 {Brit. Birds 65: 326) (R. D. Belt) 106. Below, first-summer Night Heron Nycti- corax nycticorax , Co. Cork, June 1988 ( Irish Birds 4: 84 ) {Richard T. Mills) i 147 Sight Heron identification pitfalls the American race hoactli. It is usual for hoactli to have a greater depth of white on the forehead than does nycticorax , but a thinner and less conspicuous spur of white extending over the eye. Night Herons are quite commonly kept in zoos and bird-gardens, the most famous example in Britain and Ireland being the well-established colony of free-flying birds of the American race hoactli in the grounds of Edinburgh Zoo. Thankfully for bird recorders, individuals from this colony do not seem inclined to wander far very often. A juvenile/first- winter in \\ iltshire, then Somerset, from late 1987 to at least April 1988 was, however, apparently an Edinburgh bird (Brit. Birds 82: 511), and a juvenile in Lincolnshire from November 1988 into 1989 had certainly come from that source (Brit. Birds 82: 511). Conversely, a juvenile in Lincolnshire from December 1979 to January 1980 had originated in the USSR (Brit. Birds 73: 494). In each case, it was the bird's ring or rings that enabled its origin to be established. A good view of a standing Night Heron will reveal the presence or absence of a ring or rings, any details of which (type, colour, which leg and, if possible, number) should be included in the descriptive notes. Identification and record-assessment problems usually arise only when poor views are obtained. A Night Heron often spends the daylight hours on a branch of a bush or tree in a densely vegetated marsh, and is observed only in flight at dusk. These mainly crepuscular habits and the generally inaccessible habitat contribute to the higher-than-average 107. Bittern Botaurus slellaris , Netherlands, December 1977 (P. Munsterman ) 148 Night Heron identification pitfalls number of Night Heron records which involve comparatively poor views and a consequently poor description. This is reflected in the BBRC s acceptance rate of less than 92% during the last decade. This is a low figure considering the ease with which the species ought to be identified and documented. In the case of a flight view at dusk, when no plumage colour or pattern is discernible, it is, first, essential to establish that the bird is a heron at all, rather than a Tawny Owl Strix aluco , a large gull Larus , a crow (.on'us or whatever. Under such conditions, it is very difficult to judge a bird s size, and attention should be concentrated on its structure. The stout, dagger- shaped bill and projecting toes of Night Heron are sufficient to identify it as one of the herons. These characters, plus the stocky build and short, broad, rounded wings, give Night Heron a distinctive flight silhouette. Grey and Purple Herons are much larger and rangier, with longer bills, longer, more-bowed wings, obvious projection of foot and leg beyond the tail, and slower wing-beats. Bittern is also larger than Night Heron, with a more obvious foot-projection, slower wing-beats and a steadier-looking flight. Fortunately, Night Heron is often vocal in flight. The call, a single croak, is not unlike that of a Raven Corvus corax. As with all species, Night Heron is sometimes so imperfectly seen that insufficient objective characters are noted to confirm the record. It is a fact of life that a gap exists between ‘knowing’ w hat a poorly seen species was and being able to express on paper enough to convince a records-vetting panel. A careful observer will realise this, demand of himself or herself the standard he or she would expect from others, and acknowledge philosophically that some sightings should not result in firm claims. Acceptance of the principle of ‘the one that got away by both observers and records committees is a vital ingredient in the confidence we enjoy in published bird records. PETER Lansdown 197 Springii'ood, Llanedeym, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF 2 6 1 6 Mystery photographs -j irp Last month’s mystery photograph (plate 85, repeated here) shows a wader with a long, straight bill and comparatively plain plumage. Only a small number of waders in the Western Palearctic show this combination of features, these being the godwits Limosa , the larger Tringa sandpipers (or ‘shanks’), dowitchers Limnodromus and perhaps snipes Gallinago. The mystery bird’s build is quite distinctive: it is fat, small-headed and extremely long-billed. Compared with snipes, its plumage is fairly plain, especially around the head. This combination leads to the conclusion that we are looking at a dowitcher. The larger [Brit. Birds 84: 148-150. April 1991] Mystery photographs 149 Tringa are slimmer and more attenuated at the rear end, and their bills appear to be shorter and thinner (although they show considerable overlap with dowitchers in bill measurements, Tringa sandpipers are bigger, and their bills therefore look proportionately shorter). All Western Palearctic snipes show very prominent head markings and scapular/ mantle lines, and all are much darker than the mystery bird. Godwits are larger and slimmer, with stout-based bills and long legs, and, in most stances, appear long-necked. When identifying waders, ageing is usually a vital part of the process. The bird in the photograph is showing its upperparts and tail feathers to advantage, but is obscuring its underparts, which makes ageing rather more difficult. The broad, pale edges to most of the wing feathers, which look in excellent condition, show, however, that the mystery wader is either a juvenile or a fresh-plumaged summer adult; the relatively small size of the lower scapulars and the broad, bright fringing on the coverts indicate that it is most likely a juvenile. Without doubt, the most immediately obvious feature is the length of the bill, which is twice as long as the head. According to much of the literature, this ratio is diagnostic of Long-billed Dowitcher L. scolopaceus. Let us, however, look in a little more detail. The bird shows very distinctive patterning on the tertials, scapulars and greater coverts, with pale (although not white) fringes and several zigzag markings in the centres of the tertials — almost tiger-stripes. The tail shows black and white bars, the white bars being noticeably broader than the black ones. These two features lead us to the inescapable, and correct, conclusion that, despite the length of the bill, this is a juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher L. griseus. Had the photograph been in colour, this identification would have been made more easily, as the fringes and tiger-stripes are a rich, pale, orange colour, giving the upperparts a very warm look. Juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher shows very thin, pale and precise 150 Mystery photographs fringes to tertials and greater coverts, producing a much more uniform, greyer appearance than that of juvenile Short-billed. There is a less obvious difference in tail-feather pattern: dowitchers with black bars obviously twice as wide as the white ones are Long-billed, while those with white bars wider than the black ones are Short-billed; individuals with intermediate stages of barring, however, cannot be assigned to one species or the other. Juvenile Long-billed is washed with grey on the underparts, with a hint of buff on the head, neck and breast, while Short-billed is a much brighter orange-buff below. There are also differences in call w hich are said to be diagnostic: Long-billed has a strident ‘keek’ or sometimes ‘keek-keek’, while Short-billed has a mellow ‘tu-tu-tu’ like Greenshank T. nebularia. In winter plumage, the two species are much more difficult to separate, although both tail pattern and call are constant features. Separation by bill length is fraught with problems (as on this individual) because of the degree of overlap and the difficulty in making accurate assessments in the field. Asiatic Dowitcher L. semipalmatus is far easier to rule out. It is much larger than either of the American species and is more reminiscent of a godwit. It has an all-dark bill, whereas the bird in the photograph clearly has the proximal two-thirds pale. Its upperpart patterning is like that of Long-billed Dowitcher, with fine, pale fringes, and its tail is dull brown with thin white bars. I photographed this juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher at Point Pelee, Canada, in August 1988. Colin Bradshaw 9 Tynemouth Place, North Shields, Tyne & Wear NE30 4BJ 109. Mystery photograph 166. Identify the species. Answer next month Notes Lesser Kestrel hunting bats Since autumn 1981, 1 have observed Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni actively hunting small bats, probably Pipistrellus, in Torremolinos, Malaga, Spain. The attacks, all apparently unsuccessful, appear to take place only in autumn and spring, when the bats often fly around in broad daylight up to one hour before sunset. Surprisingly, there are no records from the winter period, when small bats can be seen even in the middle of the day. There seem to be two methods of hunting. The first, observed both in the morning and in the evening, is to dive in among bats feeding close against buildings, where insects presumably congregate. The second type of attack, which I have seen on three occasions, all during the same afternoon, involves the falcon approaching from behind a bat that is usually flying higher and straighter (which makes me suspect a different species, though one not appreciably larger); as soon as the falcon gets to within 1 m or so, the bat carries out very swift evasive action, in which the falcon cannot follow. Cases of Lesser Kestrels chasing bats, although scarce and always unsuccessful, have also been recorded at Anteguera, Malaga (M. Rendon in litt.). A. M. Paterson Edificio San Gabriel, 2-4° -A, C/. Escritor Adolfo Reyes, 29620 Torremolinos (Malaga), Spain Kestrels F. tinnunculus have been recorded killing a long-eared bat Plecotus in North Yorkshire in August 1975 (Brit. Birds 70: 499-500) and regularly catching and killing small bats at sunset in Sudan in December-February 1983/84 (Brit. Birds 79: 431-432). Eds A flight characteristic of recently fledged Lapwings Prater, Marchant & Vuorinen (1977, Guide to the Identification and Ageing of Holarctic Waders) and Cramp & Simmons (1983, BWP vol. 3) described field characteristics for distinguishing juveniles from adult Lapwings Vanellus vanellus , the most obvious being the buff fringing on the wing-coverts of juveniles. This feature, however, varies much between individuals, is of doubtful reliability, and cannot be seen quickly in the field when the birds fly off. During studies of breeding Lapwings in Scotland, we noted an additional, previously unreported characteristic useful in identifying recently fledged juveniles. In the last week before fledging, and during the next week or two, the primary coverts of Lapwings are not fully grown and in flight the primary feather sheaths are visible as a broad off-white patch with scalloped edges running transversely across the dorsal surface of the base of the primaries. As soon as fledged Lapwings raise their wings, this patch is conspicuous. Even at several hundred metres’ range, one can easily distinguish and count fledged young and adults on the breeding grounds when they fly off, by the presence or absence of the patch. It is absent on older juveniles and adults. Of six recently fledged juveniles in Central Scotland during 1984-86, two lost the white patch by three weeks after 151 152 Notes fledging and the rest by six weeks after. This method could be useful for observers comparing the breeding success of different populations. Hector Galbraith and Adam Watson Chief Scientist Directorate, Nature Conservancy Council, 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 2 AS Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Hill of Brathens, Banchory, Kincardineshire Kingfisher eating reed stem On the morning of 29th September 1987, at Fowlmere Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire, I noticed a juvenile King- fisher Alcedo atthis fishing about 10-15 m away in front of the main hide. Its first attempt resulted in an old reed stem Phragmites being lifted from the water, brought back to the perch and being battered on the wood; the Kingfisher finally let the stem fall. About three minutes later, it brought back a small fish, which it battered and swallowed. One minute later, it dived and took out another reed stem 3-4 cm long; it battered this on the perch and proceeded to swallow the whole stem. A little while after this ‘meal’, the Kingfisher flew off out of view. Gary PlLKlNGTON Chapel Cottage, Welcombe and Marsland RSNC Nature Reserve, Gooseham Mill, Morwenstow, near Bude, Cornwall EX23 9SP House Martins roosting in oak trees On 7th June 1987, while watching some of the local breeding population of House Martins Delichon urbica above a line of mature oaks Quercus in Billericay, Essex, I noticed the following. Shortly before dark, in overcast and windy conditions with a hint of rain in the air, a single House Martin attempted to land on an outer sprig of oak some 10 m up. It soon returned and successfully settled, looking outwards; it assumed a roosting-like posture, fluffing its contour feathers, and, apart from several brief spells of head-scratching and preening, remained motionless. Through a 20 X telescope I could detect no parasitic activity or clumsy movements, and I concluded that the martin was fit. It had landed at 19.55 GMT, and total darkness prevailed at 20.30 hours. That night it rained heavily. At 19.30 GMT on 8th August 1987, as darkness was falling on a breezy and rainy night, five or six House Martins dashed low over the oaks (closely followed by several much larger bats) and dived into the treetops, but I could not tell whether or not they settled; minutes later, another House Martin alighted on an outer sprig; 15 minutes after this, darkness had fallen. John H. Smart 34 Ty elands, Billericay, Essex CM 12 9PA Previous notes {Brit. Birds 71: 89; 73: 414-415; 76: 455) have described House Martins roosting in trees while on passage. Eds Blue Tit eating frog tadpoles At about 10.00 GMT on 26th March 1988. at West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset, I saw a Blue Tit Parus caeruleus standing on water vegetation surrounding a mass of spawn of the common frog Rana temporaria on a pond. It was investigating the mature spawn and was seen to swallow a small, elongated black object. Through binoculars, I Notes 153 saw that the tit was attempting to catch young tadpoles in its bill; the tadpoles were just beginning to emerge from the spawn in the free- swimming stage. I saw the Blue Tit swallowr at least three mobile tadpoles before it flew off. A. P. Radford Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3EG Differing reactions of Rooks and Jackdaws to intruding Raven At about 11.00 GMT on 9th April 1988, at West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset, I saw a Raven Cowus corax fly towards and perch at the top of a tree in an active rookery occupied by about 30 pairs of Rooks C. frugilegus. The Rooks, many of which had young in the nest, showed no apparent concern at the Raven s presence. This was not, however, so with the local Jackdaws C. monedula , five or six of which, giving alarm calls, very soon surrounded and lunged at the Raven, forcing it to fly off; the Raven was followed closely by calling Jackdaws for about 200 m before the mobbing subsided. Jackdaws breed in the area, but not, so far as I know, in the trees of the rookery itself. At this rookery, breeding Rooks readily tolerate visiting Jackdaws, either singly or in flocks, but should, for example, a Buzzard Buteo buteo or a Kestrel Falco tinnunculus fly near, the mobbing response of the local Rooks is noisy and belligerent. Similar differing behaviour by Rooks and Jackdaws towards a Raven flying low over the rookery was noted on 10th April 1988, this time at 07.00 GMT. It seems strange that, on both occasions, the nesting Rooks ignored the Raven, in contrast to the aggressive reaction of the smaller Jackdaws. A. P. Radford Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3EG Migrating Chaffinch repeatedly rising from sea surface to land on boat At 08.30 GMT on 6th March 1987, from a fishing boat 19.8 km off the coast of Blanes, northeast Spain, we saw a female Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs approach from some distance and then attempt to settle on the cables which attached the dragnet to the stem of our vessel. Instead of landing, however, it dropped into the sea. As the boat continued, we moved farther and farther away from the bird, by now lost in the waves. To our amazement, when we were about 60 m away, it suddenly took off from the water, flew towards the boat, again tried to land on the cables, but once more fell into the water, this time being washed over by a couple of waves. The boat continued its travel, but, after about 80 m, the Chaffinch once again took off from the water and made towards us, at last landing on the deck of our boat. At close range we noticed that its breast feathers were waterlogged. For the next half-hour, the bird stayed with us, eating bread crumbs tossed to it, until it was accidentally disturbed and flew off. The weather was cloudy, with a little fog, and we recorded 88 passerines of 1 1 different species; six individuals landed on our boat, showing signs of exhaustion. Victor Estrada and Enric Badosa C/Craywinckel, 24, 3° 2°, 08022 Barcelona, Spain Letters Nearctic- wader distribution in Britain Various reasons are often offered for the disproportionate numbers of records of Nearctic wader vagrants in eastern coastal regions of Britain. Dymond et al. (1989) treated the subject superficially, missing an opportunity to summarise the possible mechanisms by which rarities arrive in Britain. For two wader species (Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii and Pectoral Sandpiper C. melanotos) which breed in both northeast Siberia and North America, they followed Sharrock (1971) in indicating the possibility of eastern records being due to arrivals from the east, although these may come on a route taking them close to the North Pole (Elkins 1988). The similar autumn distribution of some of those species which breed only in North America (e.g. White-rumped Sandpiper C. fuscicollis ) was explained by the possibility of movements within the Palearctic of individuals which had crossed the North Atlantic in previous years (Sharrock & Sharrock 1976). Increasing evidence is available for this (e.g. many are adults; records are frequent in late summer; and individuals are being observed more often farther east within Europe). There are other species for which the appearance in eastern areas invites no explanation, but these must include wandering and overwintering individuals. It is likely that some species may travel with north Canadian congeners which normally winter in western Europe and northwestern Africa, and thus may not necessarily make landfall in the expected sites in southwestern Britain. I have already discussed the difficulties in analysing falls of Nearctic waders (Elkins 1988), but would like to offer another theory for the eastern sightings of supposed transatlantic vagrants, and one which apparently has not been put forward previously. With their remarkable endurance and often high-altitude flight, many waders approaching from the west may overshoot the western seaboard of Britain (perhaps invisible below cloud) and make their appearance farther east. This contrasts with exhausted Nearctic landbirds, which probably arrive at very low levels and land at the first possible opportunity (Elkins 1979). It is, however, not easy to explain the abundance of waders on the east coast of Britain compared with the smaller numbers at equally well- watched inland sites. Norman Elkins 18 Scotstarvit View, Cupar, Fife KY15 4DX REFERENCES Dymond, J. N., Fraser, P. A., & Gantlett, S. J. M. 1989. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton. Elkins, N. 1979. Nearctic landbirds in Britain and Ireland: a meteorological analysis. BrU. Birds 72: 417-433. 1988. Recent transatlantic vagrancy of landbirds and waders. Brit. Birds 81: 484-491. Sharrock, J. T. R. 1971. Scarce migrants in Britain and Ireland during 1958-67. Part 5, Pectoral Sandpiper, Sabine’s Gull and American landbirds. Brit. Birds 64: 93-113. & SHARROCK, E. M. 1976. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. 154 Letters 155 Peregrine’s selection of individual birds as prey I recently commented that \ . . it is not just the sick, injured, slow or inexperienced birds that attract the attention of a passing Peregrine [Falco peregrinus], but also any singularly different, or solitary individuals. This phenomenon may apply also to other raptors, but it seems poorly reported in the extensive literature.’ (Brit. Birds 83: 552). My final sentence was perhaps unjustified: T. M. Martin has drawn my attention to statements by J. A. Baker in his The Peregrine (1967), including ‘The bird out of place is always the first to die ... the odd, and the sick, and the lost.’ P. I. Morris Caughall Farm Cottage, Caughall Road, Upton-by -Chester, Cheshire CH2 4BW Reviews The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook and Diary 1991. Edited by John E. Pemberton. Buckingham Press, Maids Moreton, 1990. 320 pages; 7 black- and-white plates; 18 line drawings. Paperback £9.50. As in previous years, this excellent annual is full of useful facts. Although most of the information is available in other publications, here it is conveniently collected together in one volume. The serious birdwatcher will find at least one copy of the yearbook indispensable, but probably will not need to buy a copy every year. At £9.50 (£8 for members of certain clubs and societies), it is, however, excellent value for money. Most birdwatchers should find something to interest them in the articles, such as ‘The birds of the North Sea' by Sandy Anderson, w ith its stories of some of the birds found at sea: the magnificent white Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus on drilling rig ‘Kingswood U.K.' on page 213, the Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris, probably ‘Albert from Hermaness, and a possible Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus on oil platform ‘Indefatigable’. There is a useful up-to-date species list. I recommend the Yearbook to everyone interested in birds and birdwatching. Dave Odell The Birds of the United Arab Emirates. By Colin Richardson. Hobby Publications, Dubai & Warrington, 1990. 204 pages; over 100 colour plates; 280 line-drawings; 79 distribution maps. Paperback £15.00. This is not a field guide or a handbook, but it is very nearly everything else. Few books on any subject can be so crammed with useful information but also look so attractive. There is a month-by-month outline of the highlights likely to be seen. Double-page-spread colour photographs of typical habitats give a good idea of the region’s variety, and these incorporate notes on the typical birds. A 26-page section, with very clear maps and evocative landscape drawings, gives details of choice sites and what is likely to be seen at each. A checklist gives the English and scientific names and status codes of birds recorded in the UAE. After all that, we reach the main section of the book: species-by-species accounts of status, with maps showing distribution (in red) and status throughout the year indicated diagrammatically by different shading and easy-to-understand symbols on special charts. Most species also have a line-drawing by Bill Morton, with the bird of the race and in the plumage most likely to be seen in the area. There are also three sections containing 101 colour photographs, showing most of the typical birds, photographed in the UAE. Design is first class, and this is an easy book to use, with excellent cross-referencing. This guide is full of clever ideas for the display of information visually. It is clearly an essential purchase for anyone interested in or likely to visit the UAE, and future authors of bird guides for other areas would be very foolish not to refer to this volume and use it as a model. Highly recommended. J. T. R. Sharrock Short reviews The Butterflies of Great Britain and Ire- land. Edited by A. Maitland Emmet and the late John Heath. (Harley Books, Great Horkesley, 1990. 380 pages. Paperback £24.95) This is a paperback version of volume 7, part 1, of The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (reviewed Brit. Birds 83: 34), with minor revisions. This first-class book is, therefore, now available at half its original price. The Colour Guide to British Birds and their Eggs. By Frances Fry. (Nimrod Press, Alton, 1990. 279 pages. £15.00) Another field guide? Forget it! Species are grouped not in systematic order but as ‘Land Birds’, ‘Waterside Birds’ and ‘Water and Sea Birds’. Proof-reading must have been car- ried out by someone unfamiliar with the subject (e.g. Bums for Burn; Gooder for Gooders; Wimbrel for Whimbrel) and even the handwritten labels include ‘maler stripe’. Bird names often include wrong use of capitals and hyphens. The paintings give general impressions, rather than detailed plumage; for a field guide, it is unfortunate that the paintings may omit vital field characters which are also not mentioned in the brief texts. The scale may be wrong as well, with, for example, Peregrine Falco peregrinus shown smaller than Hobby F. subhuteo. There are paintings of eggs along- side the birds; and not a scientific name in sight. This is one of those books which should never have been published: the beginner would be confused, at best, and often misled; no-one other than a novice would consider buying it. A Birder’s Guide to Southern California. By Harold Holt. (American Birding Asso- ciation, Colorado Springs, 1990. 238 pages. Paperback $9.95) The first in a new series of ABA ‘Birdfinding Guides’. Any birdwatcher planning to visit this area would be mad to do so without acquiring this guide to the prime birdwatching sites, described and clearly mapped, with details of the birds likely to be seen. Bill Oddie’s Colouring Guide to Birds. By Bill Oddie. (Piccolo, London, 1991. 31 pages. Paperback £2.99) Aimed at children aged six years and over. Colour photographs of 14 familiar, colourful birds, with a gene- ral, informative text, and the facing page making this bird book ‘different’: outlines by Bill Oddie for colouring in (the children usually being able to use the colour photo- graph as reference). A good idea; well executed. Birds of America. By Frank Shaw. (Dra- gon's World, London, 1990. 320 pages. £25.00) A big, glossy book, with small painted portraits (usually only adult sum- mer male) and a few short lines of text. Useless for birdwatchers; presumably de- signed for looking impressive on a book- shelf. Vogels Nieuw in Nederlands. Edited by Amoud B. van den Berg, Andre J. van Loon and Gerald J. Oreel. (Zomer & Keuning, Ede, 1990. 144 pages. Paperback Dutch Guilder 34.90) Unfortunately for British birders, the text is wholly in Dutch (apart from very basic English summaries). This book — ‘Birds New to the Netherlands’ in translation — will, however, be of consid- erable interest to rarity-oriented readers, since it contains accounts of 41 recent rarities, mostly additions to the Dutch list, accompanied by colour photographs of the individuals concerned. These demonstrate very clearly the improvement in photo- graphic equipment and in rarity-watchers photographic expertise, in comparison with our own Birds New to Britain and Ireland (1982), which covered the period up to 1980. ALSO RECEIVED Grasshoppers and Allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland. By Judith A. Marshall and E. C. M. Haes. (Harley Books, Great Horksley, 1990. 254 pages. Paperback £15.95)(Reviewed Brit. Birds 82: 85) Managing Waterfowl Populations: proceedings of an IWRB Symposium held at Astrakhan, USSR, 2-5 October 1989. Edited by G. V. T. Matthews. (IWRB, Slimbridge, 1990. 230 pages. Paperback £12.00) Rainforest Requiem: recordings of wildlife in the Amazon rainforests. Recorded by Richard Ranft. (Mankind Music, in association with the British Library National Sound Archive, London, 1989. Compact disc £11.95; cassette £6.95) 156 Announcements Avian Photos On 1st September 1990, three well-known bird-photographers, Dave Cottridge, Tim Loseby and David Tipling, joined forces to form Avian Photos. Between them, they aim to photograph almost all the major rarities which occur in Britain, and Avian Photos will provide birders with the opportunity to buy prints and high-quality slide duplicates. Avian Photos also already offers for sale a slide selection entitled ‘The Commoner British Passerines’, covering over 80 species, and further sets will be made available in due course. For a catalogue or further information, please write (enclosing a SAE) to either David Tipling, 6 The Ridgeway, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 4NQ; Dave Cottridge, 6 Sutherland Road, Tottenham, London N17 0BN; or Tim Loseby, 34 Meteor Road, West Mailing, Kent MF.19 6TH. We are delighted to announce that Aiian Photos has offered to provide British Birds with prints and transparencies for use in ‘Seasonal reports' and the annual ‘Report on rare birds’, continuing the tradition of support for BB given over many years by other professional bird- photographers, such as Eric & David Hosking, Dennis Coutts and many others. We welcome this co-operation and wish Avian Photos every success in their enterprise. Rarities Committee phone-line The National Bird News phone-line 0898-884-522 features the latest decisions taken by the British Birds Rarities Committee. Phone nowi Profits are donated to BB. (33p per min. cheap rate; 44p peak & std rate inch VAT.) Binding — new address Chapman Brooks Bookbinders Ltd have asked us to draw attention to their new address and phone number. BB issues for binding should be sent to: Chapman Brooks Bookbinders Ltd, 17b Industrial Park, West Homdon, Brentwood, Essex C.M13 3HI.; telephone: Brentwood (0277) 810722. ‘The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds’ The first volume of this RAOU/OUP handbook can be ordered now at the prepublication price of £95.00 (POST FREE to BB subscribers through British BirdShop), a saving of £30.00 on the full price. This special reduced offer closes on 31st May 1991. Please use the British BirdShop form on pages xiii & xiv. ‘Not BB V’ The latest issue of this opprobrious, almost-annual, satirical publication is now for sale at a laughable price. Well worth it, though, if you want to know what Melissa really thinks about Giles, or want to ‘improve’ your rarity descriptions. Available through ‘British BirdShop’ (see pages xiii & xiv). Books in British BirdShop The following SPECIAL OFFERS are available for British Birds subscribers: International Bird Identification. Save £1.00 North Atlantic Shorebirds. Save £3.00 Best Days with British Birds. Save £2.00 The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 1. Save £30.00 Please use the British BirdShop form on pages xiii and xiv. 157 News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds' Eric Hosking As this issue went to press, we learned of the sad death of Eric Hosking OBE. We send our sympathy and condo- lences to his widow and family. A full obituary will appear in due course. Wilf Nelson Rhum Bursary On Septem- ber 1989, Wilf Nelson suffered a fatal fall while carrying out routine survey work as NCC warden on the Island of Rhum NNR. Wilf had already contributed a great deal to nature conservation, both on Rhum and elsewhere, in his short career, and such was the widespread feeling of loss amongst his many friends and colleagues that a memo- rial fund was established. This fund, which is still open for donations, now stands at around £6,000 and, with the support of Wilfs widow, Rosemary', it was decided to establish a bursary' which will be used to support small research/survey projects cen- tred on Rhum. Applications for financial support can be made for individual projects to be carried out during 1991. Preference will be given to studies on the natural environment of Rhum, particularly its wild- life, but consideration will also be given to projects dealing with conservation manage- ment, including education and interpreta- tion. It seems likely that around £500 will be available for dispensing during 1991. A brief summary of the project proposal and esti- mated costs should be sent to the Chief Warden, Island of Rhum, Highland, and should arrive by 31st March 1991. Award for Chinese ornithologists On 1st December 1990, Zhang Yin-sun and He Fen-qi were announced as the winners of the 1990 Forktail-Leica Conservation Award. This announcement was made at the AGM of the Oriental Bird Club which was held at the Royal Zoological Society Meetings Rooms, Regent’s Park, London. The award, which goes to the best conservation-based study of an oriental bird species or habitat, is worth £500 and is funded by the camera/ binocular manufacturers, Leica. Zhang Yin- sun and He Fen-qi, both of the Department of Zoology, Academia Sinica, Beijing, plan to study the breeding ecology of the Relict 158 Gull Lams relictus , which was not recognised until 1971, and is still extremely poorly known. In 1987, Zhang Yin-sun found one of the largest breeding colonies, near Ordos in Inner Mongolia, the only known location for the species in China. R&M Conference 1991 Over 350 bird- ringers gathered at Swanwick, Derbyshire, over the weekend of 4th-6th January 1991 for the 23rd Annual Ringing and Migration Conference, which produced an excellent and varied programme. Instead of the usual Friday evening travelogue, we had Paul Green s account of ringing in Malaysia, which refreshingly involved detailed studies of a few species of birds rather than just a catalogue of all the exotics he had trapped. The AGM of the ringing scheme occupied the first part of Saturday morning, when ringers got the chance to quiz the BTO officers and staff on such perennials as mist- net (non-) supplies and ring prices, plus almost-as-long-running topics such as the impending move to Thetford. Perhaps only this last looks like being resolved satisfactor- ily before the next AGM. The main overseas speaker wras Joe Sul- tana of Malta. Bird ringing in that country began 25 years ago, when British ringers went there to train Maltese, among them Joe, in the necessary' skills. Now' in the Ministry of Environment, he gave a some- what depressing account of the massive trapping and shooting of migrants that occurs in Malta, despite laws to control it. This theme continued after lunch with an account by Graham Tucker of the hunting of migrants throughout Europe. Things became a little more cheerful with analyses of movements of different migrants at bird observatories, including Red-backed Shrike Lamus collurio and Wryneck Jynx tor- quilla, and further improved with Phil Bren- nan’s description of running a ringing and migration station at Loop Head in Co. Clare. The day concluded with Kevin Baker as part knockabout comedian, part instruc- tor in the finer arts of ageing and sexing birds, an oddly successful combination. Sunday was devoted to seabirds, includ- Sews and comment 159 ing ringing studies of Lesser Black-backed Gulls Lotus Juscus in northwest England and Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus in Cam- bridgeshire by Ian Spence and Jeff Kew, respectively. Adrian del Nevo had some cautiously optimistic things to say about the numbers of Roseate Terns Sterna dougaUii. Pat Monaghan, in her absorbing account of the collapse of the breeding populations of Arctic Terns 5. paradisaea and Kitti wakes Rissa tridactyla in Shetland, pointed out firmly that our present state of knowledge is far short of being able to prove a link with sandeel fishing, whatever one’s theories or suspicions. Finally, Robin Sellar made a brave attempt at showing us that Cormor- ants Phalacrocorax carbo are interesting enough to overcome the undoubted hard- ships and unpleasantnesses of ringing them at the nest. The BE Mystery Bird Photograph Com- petition was less well supported than usual, perhaps because it turned out to be a difficult one, with no-one succeeding in identifying all five species correctly. Dave Hodson, Paul Roper and Adam Wilson managed four of them, the first-named winning the bottle of champagne on a draw. {Contributed by MAO) Largest birdwatching hide in Europe? The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has built at its various centres a number of impressive hides over the years. The latest, at Martin Mere, Lancashire, is the ‘Swan Link Hide’ designed to give watchers good views of the wintering Bewick's Cygnus columbianus and Whooper Swans C. cygnus (895 and 472 counted respectively on 4th January 1991). The hide measures 72.8m in length and the staff at Martin Mere are wondering if this is a record for the largest birdwatching hide in Europe, worthy of inclusion in The Guinness Book of Records. If you know of a larger hide, then please write to Sharon Ament, Wild- fowl and Wetlands Trust, Martin Mere, Burscough, Ormskirk. Lancashire L40 OTA. Storms destroy hide The severe storms which lashed the East Coast on the night of 7th 8th December 1990 destroyed the sea- watch hide of the Filey Brigg Ornithological Group. The hide and its contents were swept out into Filey Bay. The FBOG would like to replace the hide. If you have any thoughts, ideas or any other offers of help, please write to Peter Dunn, 16 Southwold Rise. Southwold, Scarborough YOU 3RB. A short while after the storm, the door of the hide came ashore, complete with new Yale lock which had been fitted only the previous week, and the lock still worked! Perhaps Yale hold the key to FBOG’s problem. Would they like to sponsor a new hide? New County Recorder Ken Bruce, Mal- laig, Wellington Street, Glencaple, Dumfries DG l 4RA, has taken over from Dr E. C. Fellowes as County Recorder for Dumfries & Galloway (Nithsdale, Annandale & Eskdale). Changes of address of County Recorders Brian Rabbitts, County Recorder for Somer- set, now lives at Flat 4, Osborne House, 15A Esplanade, Bumham-on-Sea, Somerset TA8 i BG; P. W. Ellicott, County Recorder for Devon, now lives at 34 Maple Road, St Thomas, Exeter, Devon EX4 1BN. Sponsored by Monthly marathon This issue went to press before the closing dates for the receipt of entries relating to the sixth and seventh stages (plates 7 & 62) in the current, fifth ‘Monthly marathon’. The answers will be revealed in the June issue. The ninth puzzle picture appears below. The winner of the ‘Marathon’ will be able to choose as his/her prize a SUNBIRD birdwatching holiday in Africa, Asia or North America. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. 160 Monthly marathon 110. Fifth ‘Monthly marathon' (ninth stage: photograph number 58). Identify the spe- cies. Read the rules on page 16 of the January 1991 issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th May 1991 Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This nummary covers the period 15th February to 7th March 1991 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Holyhead, Anglesey (Gwynedd), 24th February to at least 6th March. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Two, Hayle Estuary (Cornwall), throughout period; River Yar (Isle of Wight), 1st March; Bally- cotton (Co. Cork), to at least 2nd March; Dungarvan (Co. Wexford), to at least 6th March; River Yealm (Devon), 3rd-6th March. Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus Individual of nominate North American race, known as ‘Whistling Swan’, South Slob (Co. Wex- ford), late February to at least 2nd March. Snow Goose Anser caerulescens Peterhead (Grampian), 23rd February to 4th March; two, North Slob (Co. Wexford), to 6th March; Lough Foyle (Co. Londonderry), 7th March. Laughing Gull Larus atricilla First-winter, River Tyne, South Shields (Tyne & Wear), 20th February; adult, Gipsy Green, South Shields, 20th February. Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Steady influx in Ireland, particularly in Northern Ireland where minimum of 250 in early March and largest flock of 90 in Belfast (Co. Down); scattered throughout England, with 1 10 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Tyne & Wear) on 24th February, 60 at Colne (Lancashire) on 27th February, and 80 at Bradford (West Yorkshire) on 5th March. Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanru Up to three, Wells Wood (Norfolk), to at least 6th March; three, Churchwood RSPB Reserve, Canterbury (Kent), 3rd March, with singles on 4th and 6th March. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus Four, Woodhall Spa (Lincolnshire), 3rd March; at least seven, Castle Eden Dene Nature Re- serve, Peterlee (Co. Durham), 29th February to at least 6th March. We are grateful to the National Bird News ‘Twitch-line’ for supplying information foi this news feature British BirdShop ALL LISTED BOOKS ARE POST FREE TO -BRITISH BIRDS’ SUBSCRIBERS Recordings Please add £ 1 . 75p&p per order Please tick / Kettle British Bird Songs and Calls (2-cassette pack) - £13.99 EH Kettle More British Bird Sounds ( 1 cassette) £5.99 EH Mild -SonrtZlirrf Song* (2 cassettes) £19.95 EH Books and other items are included in British BirdShop only if they are approved by British Birds and considered to be generally reliable, good value and useful additions to a birdwatcher s library. Any item ordered through British BirdShop which fails to meet your approval can be returned and your money will be refunded without question. It is our aim to provide British Birds subscribers with the best and most reliable service possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by the Natural History Book Service. All correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, c/o NHBS, 2 W ills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN. Books All listed books are POST FRFE. Newly listed books and special offers marked * Alerstam Bird Migration (CUP) £55.00 E Ali & Ripley A Pictorial Guide to the Birds oj the Indian Subcontinent ( OUP) £22.50 E Ali & Ripley Compact Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Nf.w, REVISED EDITION (OUP) £75.00 E Avery & LesMe Birds and Forestry (Poyser) £18.00 CH Bergier & Bergier.4 Birdwatchers' Guide to Morocco (Prion) Paperback £8.75 E Birkhead The Magpies (Poyser) £18.00 EH ^British Birds/IBCF. International Btrd Identification (USUALLY £10.50) (delays possible) Paperback £9.50 E Campbell & Lack A Dictionary of Birds ( Poyser) £49.50 EH •Chandler North Atlantic Shorebirds (Macmillan) EXCLUSIVE REDUCED PRICE (usually £1 2.95) £9.95 E Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1 £80 EH vol. 2 £80 EH vol. 3 £80 EH vol. 4 £80 EH vol. 5 £80 EH Duff, Hatton, Stirrup & Williams Sot BB V Paperback £2.50 EH Dymond, Fraser & Gantlett Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) £19.00 E Elkins Weather and Bird Behaviour (Poyser) £17.00 EH Farrand Audubon Master Guide to Birding vol. 1 £10.95 EH vol. 2 £10.95 EH vol. 3 £10.95 EH vols. 1-3 £30.95 E Fjeldsa & Krabbe Birds of the High Andes (Apollo) £85.00 EH Fry, Keith & Urban The Birds of Africa (Academic Press) vol. 1 £81 .00 EH vol. 2 £81 .00 EH vol. 3 £76.50 EH Ginn, Mcllleron & Milstein The Complete Book of Southern African Birds (Struik) £78.00 EH Gooders Where to Watch Birds in Britain and Europe (C. Helm) Paperback £9.95 EH Goodman & Meininger The Birds of Egypt (OUP) £70.00 EH Grant Gulls: a guide to identification ( Poyser) £ 1 7.50 EH Harris, T ucker & Vinicombe The Macmillan Field Guide to Bird Identification (Macmillan) £14.95 EEl Harrison Seabirds: an identification guide Revised edn. (C. Helm) Best Bird Book of 1983 £21.95 EH Harrison Seabirds of the World: a photographic guide (C. Helm) Paperback £15.95 EH Hayman, Marchant & Prater Shorebirds: an identification guide to the waders of the World (C. Helm) Best Bird Book of 1986 £22.95 □ Hollom The Popular Handbook of British Birds 5th edn. (Witherby) £14.95 EH Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 2nd edn. (Academic Press) Hardback £22.50 EH Howes Shorebird Studies Manual (Asian Wetland Bureau) £15.95 EH Hume, Wallace, Rees, Busby & Partington Birds by Character: the feldguide to jizz identification (Macmillan) Paperback £7.99 EH Hardback £12.95 EH Johnsgard Bustards, Hemipodes and Sandgrouse: birds of dry places (OUP) (due mid summer) £65.00 EH Johnsgard Hawks, Eagles and Falcons of North America (Smithsonian) £32.50 EH Kear Man and Wildfowl (Poyser) £17.00 EH Langrand Guide to the Birds of Madagascar (Yale UP) £35.00 EH Lloyd, Tasker & Partridge The Status of Seabirds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) £20.00 EH Lovegrove The Kite’s Tale: the story of the Red Kite in Wales (RSPB) £14.95 EH Please use the British BirdShop form on page xiv to complete your order. xiii British BirdShop (continued) ALL LISTED BOOKS ARE POST FREE TO ‘BRITISH BIRDS’ SUBSCRIBERS Please tick s Madge & Bum Wildfowl: an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the World (C. 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Free copies of the NHBS catalogue are available on request: tick this box U Binders The British Birds Binder (holds 1 2 issues & index) . .£6.95 □ Ties Ties, with Red Grouse emblem in white, £6.95 each: Blue □ Green □ Brown □ Maroon □ PRICES VALID DURING APRIL 1991 for all special offers (and for overseas customers only also during the following month). Other prices quoted are subject to any publishers increases. oTcheWS and POs pay J to the NHBS. Payment can be made in USS at current exchange rate. Please allow 28 day, delivery in UK, longer if abroad. NHBS Giro a/c no. 202 9200. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ BB ret Name Address Ref. No. You can also pay using these credit cards: Total £ Cheque/PO enclosed O Giro payment made D If your address for credit card purposes is different from that above, gi\e it here VESA 80 | Expiry date [ JE You can phone in your credit card orders, but please quote your BB ref. no. as tel. Totnes (0803) 865913 well as vour credit card no. ( Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN XIV XV T W I C K E R S WORLD The natural world The Sonepur Mela, Bihar — India’s oldest elephant fair An original 15 days visiting India's oldest elephant fair, at Sonepur, Delhi. Jaipur. Agra, Patna. Calcutta and Bombay De luxe accommodation, fine food and a fresh approach to sightseeing, revealing the drama, colour, architectural and cultural splendours of India, make for a stimulating tour. One exclusive departure only, escorted from London, 15 Nov 1991 Price from £2095 full board. Wildlife of India & Nepal The first wildlife tour of the sub-continent. Escorted from From £2445 for 22 days. 22 Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NW Telephone 081-892 8164 24 hour brochure service 081-892 7851 Fax 081-892 8061 ABTA No 60340 London, 6 Nov 1991 Bird Life of Mountain and Upland DEREK RATCLIFFE Presenting various bird species from an ecological and conservation standpoint, this is the first book to relate bird distribution and abundance to various environmental influences; such as climate, topography, geology, soil type and human land use. £19.50 net HB 0 521 33123 4 280 pp. 1991 Bird Life Series Bird Migration THOMAS ALERSTAM Translated by DAVID A. CHRISTIE The aim of this book is to give a general overview of bird migration; one of the most astonishing feats in the natural world. The contents include life histories and migratory habits, the course and timing of flight journeys, and the methods used for navigation - a process by no means fully understood. £55.00 net HB 0 521 32865 9 400 pp. 1991 Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK. (D823) XVI WHAT . . . WHERE . . . WHEN? The BIRDS of the United Arab Emirates Colin Richardson A guide to the status and distribution of all the species that occur in the UAE. • Complete sx'stematic list of over 360 species • 100 original colour photographs • 280 original monochrome sketches by Bill Morton • Two-colour breeding distribution maps • Migration timing charts • Complete 'Birders Guide' to Dubai and the Emirates with detailed site guides, maps and bird lists • Habitats and monthly summaries \ow available from Subbuteo Natural History Books, Treuddyn, Clwvd CH7 4LN and all good booksellers £15-00 OCTOBtR 1990 204 pp 2 M x 152 mm ISBN 1872819 002 (Post tree to B.B. subscribers) Hobby Publications, 11 Walton Heath Road, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 bHZ, U.K. (D826) Cygnus wildlife 199f Destinations include: Austria Hungary (May & August) Camargue Switzerland Poland Tanzania Arizona & California Massachusetts Kenya Southern Argentina Gambia (November & Xmas) Ethiopia Southern India MASSACHUSETTS: 25 August - 8 Septem- ber. Witness the Autumn Migration in New England during it’s peak time. As well as for- est and marsh birdwatching, a pelagic excur- sion offers excellent chances of viewing Hump-backed and Minke whales - TOUR LEADER MARTIN SUTHERLAND - Contact the Cygnus office for a copy of 1990 tour re- port. ABTA 62948 CYGNUS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS, 57 FORE STREET, KINGSBRIDGE, DEVON TQ71PG Telephone 0548 856178 FAX: 0548 857537 (D818) TRINIDAD and TOBAGO Stay at the famous Asa Wright Nature Centre for 6 nights. Have four tours, to the famous Caroni Swamp, Nariva Swamp and two tours of your choice. Fly to the island of Tobago and stay at the Grafton Beach Resort with 2 tours for another 6 nights. Cost of Holiday per person with flights included £1,300 subject to flight availability. Charlotte Nanton, Suite 53, Terminal House, Station Approach, Shepperton, Middlesex TW1 7 8AS Telephone: 0932 244140 845580 XVII 'i A N MAIL ORDER SPECIALISTS P/P & INS. FREE BINOCULARS BAUSCH & LOMB LEICA ZEISS ADLERBLICK HABICHT OPTICRON CENTON BUSHNELL NIKON SWALLOW MIRADOR BRESSER FOCALPOINT Please note our change of address from Comberbach just 2 miles to Higher Whitley - we are now very easy to find!! Tel. 0925 73399 DIRECTIONS M56 Jet 10 take A559 towards Northwich for 1 mile to the Birch & Bottle. Turn right into Bentleys Farm Lane, we are on the left after V2 mile. KOWA TSN-1 or 2 .£295.00 TSN-3 or 4 .£555.00 20 x WA ...£89.00 30 x WA Now In Stock .£109.00 25x, 40 x ...£59.00 60 x NEW superb! ...£89.00 77 x NEW ...£99.00 20-60 x Zoom .£139.00 PHOTO ADAPTOR ...£99.00 SKUA ‘STAY ON THE SCOPE’ CASES latest Mklll ...£39.50 Leather eyepiece case £9.95 Leather Photo adaptor case . ,..£14.95 50p in stamps (NOT cheque) for binocular or telescope information pack (state which) TRY & BUY! DEMONSTRATIONS OF TOP BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES ON NATURE RESERVES Sunday 19th May 1991 with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at MARTIN MERE, near Southport, Lancashire (M6, Jet 27). Sunday 26th May & Monday 27th May 1991. WIRRAL COUNTRYSIDE FAIR, Roydon Park, Frankby, Wirral (M53, Jet 3). We shall have all the leading instruments in each price bracket for you to ‘field test’. Please phone if you wish us to bring a specific item. NEW NIKON TELESCOPES SPOTTING SCOPE RA+20x £199 or with 15x-45x 300M e/p £265 FOCALPOINI (D824) UNIT 8, MARBURY HOUSE FARM, BENTLEYS FARM LANE, HIGHER WHITLEY, WARRINGTON, CHESHIRE WA4 4QW. Telephone 0925 73399 Fax 0606 892207. 24hr answerphone on old 0606 891098 •MANY OPENING SPECIAL OFFERS* TELESCOPES NIKON KOWA QUESTAR OPTOLYTH BUSHNELL SWIFT OPTICRON CENTURY BAUSCH & LOMB Full range of accessones to suit all models. OPEN MON-FRI 9.30-5.30 SAT 9.30-4.00 CLOSED SUNDAYS & BANK HOLIDAYS YOSEMITE & THE SOUTHWEST v 8 Days $895.00* write: Cal Nature Tours S.V.L. 7310, Victorville, CA 92392 TEL (61 9) 241 2322 FAX (61 9) 241 3135 *Per person, double occupancy (D790) xviii Binoculars & telescopes for bird watching, nature, yachting and marine observation We are stockists of : Optolyth Opticron Ranger Tokina Aico Minolta Solus Kenko Swallow Hilkinson Bausch & Lomb Alderblick Benbo Manfrotto Slik Tripods and Monopods Hide clamps & car windowclamps 33 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5NW Tel: 0792-469502 (D821) Fax: American Express/Access/Visa/Credit Charge. Post & Packing please add £2.50 Fax: 0723 363334 Prices correct 1.1.91 — Subject to availability — Open 6 days 9am-5.30pm 0723 363334 ZEISS WEST BINOCULARS 8 x 20 B and Pouch. o .£205 10 * 25 B and Pouch a .£219 8 x 30 B and BGA A -£385 8 x 56 BG AT & Case T .£535 7 x 42 BG AT & Case L £450 10 x 40 BGA CF & Pouch ...... E £480 15 x 60 BGA £780 ZEISS EAST BINOCULARS 8 x 30 Deltnntem £59 10 x 50 Jenoptem £75 10 x 50 Dekarem SPECIAL £84 8 x 32 Notarem £119 10 x 40 Notarem SPECIAL £155 8x32 Notarem Armour £ 1 39 10 x 40 Notarem Armour SPECIAL £165 7 x 50Binoctem £81 8 x 50 Octarem B, or BGA £ 1 80 12 x 50 Dodecarem B. or BGA £220 7 x 40 BGA £170 SWIFT Supplied with case & straps Grand F*rix 8 x 40 £89 County 10 x 40 £94 Triton 10 x 50 £99 Red Spot 8 x 40 £114 Red Spot 10 x 50 £124 Saratoga 8 x 42 £149 Newport 10 x 42 £159 Trilyte 8 x 40 £99 Trilyte 10 x 40 Armour £129 Osprey 7.4 x 42 £149 Audubon 8.5 x 44 SPECIAL £169 Trilyte 7x42 1 £129 Trilyte 8x42 1 NEW £134 Trilyte 10X42 J £139 Viewmaster Body 45% Angle £149 20x Eyepiece £29 Zoom 15x-45x £49 ROSS - LONDON Cavendish 8 x 42 £139 Hanover 10 x 42 £149 Regent 8x42 £ 1 69 Kensington 10 x 42 £179 BUSHNELL Spacemaster Body £140 Spacem aster II Body £160 Spacemaster Armoured £160 Spacemaster Waterproof & 1 5 x -45 x SALE 15x-45x Zoom £70 22 x Wide Angle £44 25x, 40x, 60x Lenses £38 ADLERBLICK — Multi-coated 8x42 10X42 10% 10 x 50 DISCOUNT 8 x 42 Armour ON 10 x 42 Armour ADLERBLICK £194 10 x 50 Armour £209 .£169 ..£179 .£189 ..£184 RUSSIAN BINOCULARS 7 x 35.... 7 x 50.... 8 x 30.... 8 x 40.... 10 x 50.. 12 x 40.. NEW MODELS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ..£26 ..£29 ..£25 ..£29 .£29 ..£32 20 x 60 £69 LEITZ Trinovid 8 x 20 £199 Tnnovid 10x25 BC £211 Tnnovid 7 X 42 BA £559 Tnnovid 8 X 42 BA £559 Tnnovid 10 X 42 BA £559 Armoured £ 1 2 extra PENTAX Highly recommended Ultra Compact 8 x 24 £69 Ultra Compact 10 x 24 £79 Compact DCF II 7 x 20 £84 Compact DCF D 9 x 20 10% £89 DISCOUNT ON Roof Prism DCF 8 x 42.. Roof Prism DCF 10 x 42 Armoured DCF 7 x 50 ... £169 £189 ..£99 Armoured DCF 8 x 40 £99 Armoured DCF 10 x 50 £104 Armoured DCF 12 x 50 £109 Armoured DCF 16 x 50 £119 KOWA TELESCOPES TSN1 &TSN2 Body TSN3&TSN4 Body 20 x Wde c 25x and 40x ““ 60x A TS601 &TS602 I 25 x and 40x 60 1 Zoom E 30 x Wide TSN Zoom 77 x Photo Adapter. 20 x Wide Cases from s A L E SPECIAL Spacemaster Waterproof 15x-45x Zoom, incl. case etc £275 SKUA CASES IN STOCK (D820) gj 365024 British Birds Established over 80 years The quality independent monthly magazine for the serious birdwatcher. Unlike most magazines British Birds does not have a short life. It is not read and thrown away like a newspaper or glossy bookstall magazine. A staggering 99.6% of readers keep their copy of British Birds permanently. British Birds subscribers not only keep their copies permanently, they devote more two days a week to birdwatching and are prepared to spend to support their hobby. then than (0805) xix When did I last see a Golden Oriole? How many Pectoral Sandpipers have I seen? What species have I seen in Britain? BIRD RECORDER HAS THE ANSWERS! I Bird Recorder is the established, user friendly computer diary for UK and world * * bird watchers for use with IBM ® Compatible PCs. * ORGANISATION OF ALL INFORMATION ON YOUR TRIPS AND SPECIES SIGHTINGS. * AUTOMATIC UPDATING OF UP TO 255 LISTS OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING. NO FIXED USTS. * CHOICE OF WESTERN PALEARCTIC OR FULL WORLD SPECIES DATABASES. WESTERN PALEARCTIC £37.50 FULL WORLD £50.00 For overseas orders please add £3.00 p&p Please make cheques payable to WCPS. Allow 10 days for delivery. CONTACT: WILDLIFE COMPUTING AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES, 6, Fiddlers Lane, East Berghott, COLCHESTER C07 6SJ. Tel: 0206 298345. (D81 3) Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be PREPAID and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Telephone 0621 815085 Rates (including 15% VAT) £2.88 a line — average of 6 words £9.78 a centimetre — min. 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words is £1 .00 extra per insertion Replies should be sent to the above address Series Discounts 3 insertions for the price of 2 6 insertions for the price of 4 Copy Date May Issue April 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment British Birds is most grateful to those companies which support the magazine by their sponsorship: British Birds has over 10,000 subscribers: a total of around 40,000 readers in 63 coun- tries, and 99.6% of them keep their copies of ‘BB’ permanendy, for future reference. Germany Sponsors of ‘ Monthly marathon ’ Sponsors of ‘ Bird Illustrator of the Year ’ Sponsors of the Rarities Committee Sponsors of ‘Bird Photograph of the Year telescopes Christopher Helm and Collins ins? HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND Beautiful Georgian Hotel ExceDent Food & Accommodation Holt, Norfolk. (0263)713390 3 crowns commended FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Reserve and The Farnes. Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mrs J. Sutherland, Ross Farm, Belford, Northumberland NE70 7EN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB560) GRACIOUS GEORGIAN HOUSE in private grounds. Central to the Yorkshire Dales, Gouth- waite, Scar and Angram reservoirs. High stan- dard of accommodation. Private bathrooms. Interesting home cooking. Friendly quiet atmo- sphere. Residential licence. Ideal birdwatching area. Sae: brochure: Mrs P. B. Garforth, Grass- fields Country House Hotel, Pateley Bridge, Har- rogate. Tel: Harrogate 711412. (BB621) xx EXMOOR. Peaceful s/ catering c/heated holi- day homes in National Trust Village. Marshes, woods and moorland — rich in birdlife. Reduced spring/ autumn terms. Open all year. Stamp to Sheila Wright, Pack Horse, Allerford, nr Mine- head. Tel: 0643 862475. (BB719) COUNTRY COTTAGES at Ellingham between Alnwick and Belford, sleep 6. Fully equipped, self-catering, available Easter to October. W7ell placed for Holy Island, Fame Islands, Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty. SA.E., Lady Gadsden, 606 Gilbert House, Barbican, London EC2Y8BD. (BB717) NORTH NORFOLK COAST, Burnham Overy Staithe, Domville Guest House B&B + EM (opt), double/twins (2 en suites) singles (4). TV7 lounge. Close to major reserves. For details ring (0328) 738298. (BB612) RYE. 10 minutes to hide. Cottage £120.00 Tel: 081-467 0937. (BB646) NEAR SLAPTON LEY, southern tip of Devon. Charming Country cottage. Seaviews, oak panelling, beams, woodburner, dishwasher, microwave. ‘Birdwatcher discount. Tel: 0752 862522 (evenings). (BB648) CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2) . Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB662) ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St. Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds over- looking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB664) B&B IN PURBECK from £1 1 per night. EM opt. Family residence, 1.5 miles south of Wareham. Home from home, ‘Hyde Hill’, 64 Furzebrook Road, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5 AX. Tel: 0929 552392. (BB380) LAKE DISTRICT - RYDAL. Two cottages, sleep 6 each, weekly lets. Fisher Hoggarth, 52 Kirk- land, Kendal. Tel: 0539 722592 in office hours. (BB609) EXMOOR for country and animal lovers. Farm- house accommodation, bed and breakfast and evening meal, or self-catering cottage. Details from: French, Brendon Barton, Lynton, Devon. Tel: 059 87 201. (BB389) YORKSHIRE DALES (GRASSINGTON). BB & EM. Eileen & Allan invite you to share their idyl- lic 17c. riverside cottage. Private fishing. (Bird- watching courses.) Brochure (0756) 752463. (BB607) SIBTON (NR MINSMERE), Sibton White Horse Inn. A charming 16th century freehouse in 3 acres, en suite accommodation available in mod- ern block, bed & breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or rest, meals avail. Tel: Peasenhall 337. (BB528) WEST SUSSEX, Pagham Harbour/Selsey. Beau- tiful Georgian Farmhouse, with purpose built B&B accommodation. All facilities provided. Warm, friendly atmosphere, children welcome. Open all year. Tel: 0234 602790. (BB530) OLD HUNSTANTON, NORFOLK Overlook- ing the Wash. Fully equipped holiday cottages, col TV, gas or CH. Close beach, available all year. Mrs Lindsay, 4 Marks Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9SH. Tel: Upper Warlingham (0883) 622013. (BB666) WEYMOUTH, Birchfields Licensed Guest House, close to RSPB reserves. BB from £14. Evening meal optional. Ideal winter/spring breaks. Parties welcome. For details phone 0305 773255. (BB678) BIRDWATCHERS travel many miles in the pursuit of their hobby. Over half of British Birds subscribers use hotel or guest house accommodation. Phone 0621 815085 for advertising details. (BB681) VISIT BEMPTON and Flamborough Head for the best in sea bird watching. Spring and A migs. S breeding. Stay at the Flaneburg Hotel, Flam- borough. BB from £17. Full restaurant facilities. Tel: (0262) 850284. (BB516) NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Licensed Guest House run by birders for birders. Jean & Tony Bellars, Haydn House, Avenue Road, Hunstan- ton. Tel: 0485 533115. (BB497) NORTH NORFOLK — Glavenside guest house in Letheringsett, 5 miles inland from sea at Blakeney, Cley and Salthouse. River Glaven works adjoining mill & flows through 4 acres of garden on its way to sea at Cley. Tel: Holt (0263) 713181. (BB619) RAME HEAD, CORNWALL. Superb Napol- eonic fortress overlooking own private beach, lawns & cliffs on spectacular migratory Rame Peninsula. Seawatch, migrants, waders (SSSI), tennis, golf, etc: Idyllic retreat for S/C house parties up to 20. Gas C.H., flag-stoned floors, king-sized beds, en suite bathrooms. Guided out- ings/ cuisine if required. Tel: 0752 822864. (BB558) WEST SUSSEX, Black Mill House, Aldwick, Bog- nor Regis. Visit Arundel Wildfowl Trust, Chich- ester and Pagham Harbours. Family run Hotel. Sea 300 yds. Enclosed garden. Games room, lounges, P/Bs, cocktail bar, restaurant. Tele- phone, tea/coffee, colour TV all rooms. Short breaks from 2 days £52-£66, D.B/Bkfst. Members SEE Tourist Board (3 crowns) - own car park. Brochure. Tel: 0243 821945. (BB652) GARA MILL, Slapton, Devon. Self-catering for 2- 7 in secluded four acres overlooking river and woods. Eight detached cedar lodges plus 2 CH flats in 16th c. cornmill. Near Slapton Ley. TVs. Dogs welcome. Free brochure: (0803) 770295. (BB568) xxi CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed- rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071- 431 2942. (BB496) NORFOLK, CLEY-NEXT-SEA 1 MILE. Flint- stones Guest House, Wiveton Holt. Full C/H, H&C, tea/coffee making facs. Col. TV all rooms. Evening meal optional. Open nearly all year. Please ring for brochure. Sorry No Smoking. Tel: 0263 740337. (BB640) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi-pension (Private bath) from £38.00. De- tails, brochures, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB526) ISLE OF ISLAY, HEBRIDES. Five superbly equipped cottages, open throughout year. Per- fect situation with views, minutes to charming village. Short drive to R.S.P.B. reserve at Gruinart. Brochure: Mrs Sarah Roy, Lorgba Holiday Cottages, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyll. Tel: 049 685/208. (BB416) GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, forests and sea. Spe- ciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High quality self-catering houses, cottages, flats. Details G. M. Thomson 8c Co, 27 King Street, Casde Douglas. 0556 2973. (BB479) ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into two warm, comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Cal- gary. Tel: 068 84 265 or (0453) 833323. (BB567) ORKNEY ISLES; Glen, Rackwick, Isle of Hoy. Small hill farm adjacent to RSPB Reserve, ornithologist’s paradise; sea birds, moorland, meadow, birds of prey. Bed and breakfast. 1 double, 1 twin; evening meal optional. Special rate for 3 days. DBB £40 per person. Also self- catering chalet. Tel: Rendall 0856 79262. (BB614) ISLE OF GIGHA, Argyllshire. For a holiday sur- rounded by natural beauty, sandy beaches, ex- otic gardens, birds, wild flowers, good food and comfortable accommodation. Also self catering accommodation. Please contact Mrs. Mc- Sporran, Post Office House 058-35 251. (BB620) SPEY VALLEY, Beautiful secluded informal country hotel, 2 miles from village of Carr- bridge. Home cooking, full central heating. All rooms en-suite. Perfect base for birdwatchers and walkers. Discount available for parties. Terms from £160.00 per week DB&B. Brochure from Mrs Y. Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel: 0479 84278. (BB642) SPEY VALLEY. Maureen and Larry once again invite guests to sample their highland hospitality. Set in five acres, our home has uninterrupted views of the Cairngorms. Bird register available. Good home cooking and a warm welcome await you. D/B/B £120.00 p.w. (All rooms en-suite). Brochure: Maureen Taulbut, ‘Braes of Duthil’, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND. 047984 395. (BB713) BENBECULA OUTER HEBRIDES. Fully equipped, except linen, luxurious 3 bedroomed bungalow, 1 en-suite, sleeps 6. Central to amenities and bird reserves. Mrs Shepherd 0870 2235. (BB654) WALES RED KITE COUNTRY— Tregaron— Guest- House standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Ynys-hir RSPB reserves. Parties wel- come. WTB — 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 298380 or 298905. (BB495) ANGLESEY. Superb beachside hotel with mag- nificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanists in area noted for its lakes, reserves and coastline of outstanding beauty. Come to ‘High- ground’ AA/RAC listed, licensed, for warm wel- come, excellent food and accommodation. Brochure: Mrs Karen Hayter, Highground, Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY Tel: 0407 860078. (BB716) IRELAND CO. CORK - IRELAND’S TOP RARE BIRD COUNTY. Plover Cottage: Fully modernised self-catering, open fire, C.H., sleeps 4, Tourist Board Approved. Available all year. Situated on tidal estuary in village. Central for all West Cork sites; Old Head of Kinsale to Galley Head. Bally- cotton and Cape Clear easy day trip. Bird info., guide book and maps provided. Good Game and Sea Fishing. Peter Wolstenholme, Court- macsherry, Co. Cork, Ireland. Tel. 010 353 23 46239. (BB663) OVERSEAS FRENCH PYRENEES. Rose covered cottage set in magnificent unspoilt wooded valley. Excellent walking, wildlife, birds of prey 8c flowers. Or- ganic fruit and veg. available. Tel. John and Rose Gunning on 01033 61665127 or 61667619. (BB499) SOUTH-WEST BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada. Bed 8c Breakfast, field trips; 200+ local species, B.C. total 400+. Write/phone for brochure, checklist: D. Solecki, 3672 West 1st Avenue, Van- couver, B.C., Canada V6R 1H2 (604) 736-9471. (BB712) XXII BED AND BREAKFAST for Birdwatchers near the Oostvaarders plassen, Z. Fleveland in the Netherlands. FI. 30. - a night P.P. Address: E. Oosterbeek. Bosgouw 267. 1352 G X Almere. Tel: (0) 3240-14407. (BB520) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS TAKING BIRDWATCHERS TO EUROPE AND BEYOND SIBERIA • NEPAL • GAMBIA SPAIN • MAJORCA • KENYA BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS IN SMALL GROUPS WITH EXPERT LEADERS FREE BROCHURE, PHONE OR WRITE TO: 0723 891715 (DAY) 0532 586555 (EVENING) 59 HUNGER HILLS DRIVE, LEEDS LS18 5JU (BB708) UttolOwciS The Travel Agency for Bird Watchers Low Cost Airfares & Car Hire... Worldwide Telephone us for your quote, any destination, we offer the widest range of airfares. CURRENT RETURN FARES FROM: FLORIDA £215 CALIFORNIA £265 TEXAS £280 TRINIDAD £359 VENEZUELA £389 COSTA RICA ... PHONE THAILAND £359 AUSTRALIA £685 TORONTO PHONE KENYA £389 MALAGA £99 TENERIFE £129 SWEDEN £188 Always phone us for the very latest prices/offers. ANTARCTICA WINTER 91/2 3 Flight Cruises from London on sale soon including : Argentina, Patagonia and the Falklands. Prices from : Approx. £2500 pp. * Discounts on Package Holidays and Cruises. Save £££s - Ask for Leaflet! MON • FRI CREDITCARDS ACCEPTED orDICKFILBY 0603-619409 0272-259999 If A B T A 65077 (BB710) OVER HALF of British Birds subscribers travel abroad birdwatching each year, averaging 19 days per trip. To reach this audience, phone 0621 815085 for advertising rates. (BB682) CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1 4 DAYS - MOFIAVIA £680 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER TURKEY 1 8 DAYS CENTRAL & EASTERN £999 11 DAYS BOSPHORUS MIGRATION £685 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER YNYS ENLLI (BARDSEY) a rare island and N.N.R. off the Lleyn peninsula, Nort Wales. Watch and help research island birds (Shearwa- ter, Chough, Peregrine) at Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory. Crossing and accommodation for 1 week (£62 Adults) excluding food. Self catering. Island food store. Details from: S. Baber, 38 Walthew Avenue, Holyhead, Gwynedd, LL65 1AG (0407 762633). (BB685) DIVISION OF NICK'S TFtAVEL 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ BIRDWATCHING ABROAD? WE OFFER THE LOWEST QUOTATIONS FOR ALL BIRDING HOTSPOTS, INSUR- ANCE AND DISCOUNT CAR HIRE ALSO ARRANGED. Enquiries to: CHRIS L. SLADE, 8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull, West Midlands B92 9EL Tel: 021 -742 5420/021 -705 5535 SPECIALIST ADVISOR - ANDY HOWES 0533 881318 (EVES) RING US LAST YOU’LL BE SURPRISED (BB715U Visiting AUSTRALIA? Coming to Sydney on holiday or business? Guided day and half-day trips for birdwatchers. Specialising in individuals and small groups. If you have special needs then let us know. Enquiries to: Mr R. L. Morrow Babbler Bird Excursions 2 Wentworth St, Randwick 2031 NSW, Australia (BB354) BIRD REPORTS SEABIRDS OF BISCAY 90. Birding voyages Ply- mouth-Santander. £3.50 inc p&p. SEBA, West Lodge, Puddington, Wirral L64 5ST. (BB616) SUSSEX BIRD REPORT 1989 — Just published. Send £4.00 to ‘S.B.R. 1989’. Lorrimer, Main Road, Icklesham, Winchelsea, E. Sussex TN36 4BS. (BB618) xxiii BOOKS Britain s leading ornithological booksellers where you can find our comprehensive range of new and secondhand books and reports on birds and natural history, including all new tides as they are published. Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Mail order catalogue available on request HENRY SOTHERAN LTD 2 Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London W1X 2DP Tel: 071-439 6151 (BB718) THE DOTTEREL, Snow Bundng (Wethersole Thompson). New Naturalists for sale. All very good condition. 0245 267771, office hours. (BB723) A BIRDWATCHERS GUIDE TO NEPAL, by Carol Inskipp, £8.75. Prion Ltd. Essential for trav- ellers to Nepal. From bookshops or NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon. Tel: (0803) 865913. (BB706) SUBBUTEO NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS LTD Wide selection of ornithological and natural history titles available from stock, also travel books & maps. Mail order catalogue on request. Personal callers welcome. Low postage rates Dept BB, Ffordd y Llan, Treuddyn, Nr. Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN Tel: (0352) 770581 (24 hours). Fax: (0352) 771590 (BB438) ‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 ONJ. Tel: 0829 51804. (BB490) REGULAR CATALOGUES of secondhand and antiquarian books on all aspects of Natural His- tory and Countryside. Litde Holcombe Books, 52 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancashire BL0 9AQ. Tel: 0706 825322. (BB622) The original BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 159 diary pages. Send £5.95 to: _ Coxton Publications, ™ Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, m Beverley, N. Humberside HU17 8RP ® THE AVERAGE British Birds reader will spend over £100 on bird books yearly. They could be buying your books. To advertise, ’phone 0621- 815085. (BB683) BIRDWATCHING IN CRETE. 2nd Ed. with cor- rections. £3.50 inc. p&p. Stephanie Coghlan, 25 Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield HD5 8TA. (BB61 1) BOOKS ON BIRDS, MAMMALS, ETC., BOUGHT & SOLD. Also Field Sports, Big Game, Travel, Science, the Arts, etc. Catalogues issued. David Grayling, Crosby Ravensworth, Pen- rith, Cumbria CA10 3JP. 09315 282. (BB613) Please order all your BIRD BOOKS from ‘BRITISH BIRDSHOP’ Please use the form on the cut-out page in this issue. The purchase of books and recordings through ‘British BirdShop’ subsidises every subscription, and adds extra pages and extra photographs to every issue of British Birds (BB677) BIRD BOOKS. Ne,w Nats., bought/ sold, want lists welcome, catalogues issued. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherways, Freshfield, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel: 07048 71 1 15. (BB714) OUT OF PRINT POYSER TITLES FOR SALE. Hen Harrier, Ducks of Britain and Europe, Wild Geese, Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Goose, Popu- lation Ecology of Raptors. Brand new. 0245 267771 (office hours). (BB720) VIDEOS 1989/90 RARE BIRD VIDEO with the best quality, most rarities and a full, money-back guarantee. £20 from Alan Shaw, Holmfields, Breach Lane, Melbourne, Derby. (BB672) XXIV PERSONAL BERDING CANADA or United States? For info, checklists, etc., write Dunnock 2409 Spey- side, Dr., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5K 1X5. (BB569) FOR SALE FOR SALE - Individual BB subscribers can adver- tise here FREE (up to 30 words, selling a single item, e.g. binocular, book, set of journals). Quote your BB Ref. No. and address envelope to ‘Free BB Advertis- ing’. (BB753) BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUPPLIED. (BB. Bird study, County Reports, etc.), David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon. (BB493) OPTOLYTH 30 x 80 BGA telescope, as new. £200 plus p&p. Phone 0369 6347. (BB692) OPEN REEL TAPE DECK. Philips four track tape recorder complete with tapes, vgc. Tel. 0484 665651. (BB693) BRITISH BIRDS Vols 63-67, 1970-1974, un- bound, missing 63(2), 66(2). Extra: 66(5-8, 10- 11), also 60(6) and 61(12). Cheap to good home! Alan Knox, 0296 661853. (BB694) BIRDING WORLD Vol. 2, Nos 1, 2, 3. Dave 0633 619807. (BB696) “PTAKI POLSKI” (Birds of Poland) (see review BB Oct. 1990). Two copies available. Offers? Tel: (0522) 685177. (BB697) BB Nov 79, Nov 80, £2 each. BBJul 82, Jun 87, Aug 87, Oct 87, Sep 88, Oct 88, £1.50 each. Bird reports: Shetland 78, Cornwall 81, Fair Isle 79, £2.50 each. Telephone 0395 273426. (BB698) “BIRDCATCHER-PC”: New version for ALL PC COMPATIBLES Program for recording bird sightings. User friendly. BIRDCATCHER still available for Amstrad PCWs. State computer model, £18 or SAE details. Davis and Makohon, 12 St Mary’s Close, Albrighton, Wolverhampton WV7 3EG. (BB707) BRITISH BIRDS SUBSCRIBERS spend between £300 and £1,000 a year on bird- watching equipment. They could be buying your equipment. To advertise, ’phone 0621 815085. (BB684) 600mm f4.5 FD CANON LENS with 1.4x con- verter. £500. Ed Mackrill 0754 85367. (BB71 1 ) WILDFOWL AND SHOREBIRDS - the excel lent identification guides published by Christo- pher Helm, both unused, £15 each. Phone 0642 603353. (BB721) CARRY YOUR TRIPOD in comfort with the Tripod Tamer Shoulder Strap, £8.50 including postage from Vital Equipment, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd LL29 8AT (S.A.E. for details) . (BB670) ESTUARY BIRDS OF BRITAIN & IRELAND by Prater (1981), £15 excellent. Birds of the West Midlands by Harrison/Dean/Richards/Small- shire (1982), £15 excellent. Other titles avail- able. Telephone 0395 273426. (BB699) IREDALE, Birds of New Guinea and Birds of Paradise, 3 volumes in D/W’s, very good to near fine condition. £380 inc. p&p. Tranter, phone 0902 753388 after 7pm. (BB701) LIMITED EDITION COLOUR PRINTS BY JON HOLT. Recent rarities American Bittern and Harlequin Duck. Signed and numbered by artist, £16 + £2.80 p&p. Tel. 0628 72875. (BB702) BIRDWATCHING MAGAZINE. Vols 1 and 2 in binders, £10, carriage £5 extra or buyer collects. Webster, 17 Prendce Court, Northampton NN3 4XS. (0604) 647668. (BB703) JONSSON “BIRDS OF MOUNTAIN RE- GIONS”. Offers, M. B. Gray, 26 Chaucer Rd, Bath BA2 4QX. 0225 315879. (BB704) PAIR CARL ZEISS 7 x 42 BGAT, 8 months old, £400 or will swop for good condition Zeiss 10 x 40 BGAT. Tel. 0742 540531 (BB705) AVIAN PHOTOS - DAVE COTTRIDGE, TIM LOSEBY, DAVID TIPLING 6" x 4" colour prints of rare birds in Britain including Autumn Scillies 1990. Penzance Black Kite, Dungeness Short toed Treecreeper, Snowy Owl, Blackpool Bittern, Wick Harlequin Duck and many more. £1.20 each + 30p p&p. Duplicate slides £1.50 each + 30p p&p. Includes birds of Israel, com- mon British passerines. Orders over £10.00 post free. Send S.A.E. for cata- logue to: David Tipling, 6 The Ridge- way, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 4NQ. Tel: 0732 365280. (BB709) WANTED DESPERATELY WANTED. Sandgrouse number 1. Name your price to Erik Hirschfeld, c/o IAL, P.O. Box 144, Manama, State of Bahrain. (BB695) WANTED. Birding World Vol. 1 Number 3, will pay £20. ‘Twitching’ Vol. 1 complete, will pay £60. Jim Schofield - phone 0282 842511 day, 061- 681 3989 evenings. (BB722) British Birds Volume 84 Number 4 April 1991 121 Long-tailed Skuas in Britain and Ireland in autumn 1988 Peter J. Dunn and Erik Hirschfeld 136 Seventy-five years ago . . . 137 Seasonal reports Autumn 1990, part 2 Keith Allsopp and Barry Nightingale 145 Identification pitfalls and assessment problems 10 Night Heron Peter Lansdown 148 Mystery photographs 165 Short-billed Dowitcher Dr Colin Bradshaw Notes 151 Lesser Kestrel hunting bats A. M. Paterson 151 A flight characteristic of recently fledged Lapwings Hector Galbraith and Dr Adam Watson 152 Kingfisher eating reed stem Gary Pilkington 152 House Martins roosting in oak trees John H. Smart 152 Blue Tit eating frog tadpoles Dr A. P. Radford 153 Differing reactions of Rooks and Jackdaws to intruding Raven Dr A. P. Radford 153 Migrating Chaffinch repeatedly rising from sea surface to land on boat Victor Estrada and Enric Badosa Letters 154 Nearctic-wader distribution in Britain Norman Elkins 155 Peregrine’s selection of individual birds as prey P. I. Morris Reviews 155 ‘The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook and Diary 199L edited by John E. Pemberton Dave Odell 155 ‘The Birds of the United Arab Emirates’ by Colin Richardson Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 156 Short reviews Announcements 157 Avian Photos 157 Rarities Committee phone-line 157 Binding — new address 157 ‘The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds’ 157 ‘Not BB V’ 157 Books in British BirdShop 158 News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett 1 59 Monthly marathon 1 60 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 121 Long-tailed Skuas ( P . J. Dunn); 137 Red-breasted Flycatcher ( Alan Harris); 138 Alpine Swift (Dan Powell), and Tawny Pipit ( Phil Jones); 139 Pied Wheatear ( Dan Powell), and Pied Wheatear (R. A. Hume); 140 Penduline Tit (Dan Powell). Front cover: Moorhens (David Mitchell): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see pages 37-38 in January issue for procedure) S • / Volume 84 Number 5 May 1991 BRITISH MUS_ (NATURAL HISTORY) 0 7 MAY 1991 PRESENTED TRING LIBRARY I Bean Geese in the Yare Valley World status of the Red Kite Red-necked Grebe breeding in England Mystery photographs - Monthly marathon Notes • Letters • Reviews News and comment • Recent reports British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith Art Consultants Robert Gillmor 8c Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Catley, Peter Clement, A. R. Dean, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gantlett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume 8c J. H. Marchant; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons; identification Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, T. P. Inslapp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c K. E. V ini combe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1991 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes a j Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your riUlll CiJoCiS envelope correctly. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085 Bird news for ‘Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings); Luton (0582) 490049 (office hours) News items for ‘News and comment ’ Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon PE 18 9BS Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, NPIBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN. Phone: Totnes (0803) 865913 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £38.40, IR£42.35 or $69.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £31.20, IR£34.80 or $54.00; personal: airmail outside Europe £52.50, IR£58.35 or $94.00. Single back copies £4.00, IR£4.50 or $7.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearctic. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequences of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic ( 1 984) : names of plants follow Dony et al. (1 980. English Names of Wild Flowers); names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1977, The Handbook of British Mammals). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should be inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed m England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford. OPEN MON - SAT 9 am - 6 pm in focus 204 HIGH STREET BARNET, HERTS. EN5 5SZ 081-4491445 081-441 7748 FAX: 081-440 9999 (24 HOUR) ICBP WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1991 NEW SHOWROOM OPEN 7 DAYS 9 am - 6 pm each day MAIN STREET TITCHWELL, NORFOLK PE31 8BB PHONE 0485 210101 THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS LEE VALLEY FIELD DAYS SUNDAY DATES lOam^pm 1 2th MAY. 9th JUNE. 1 4th JULY These summer field days at Fishers Green will help our customers choose their eqiipment under field conditions at this popoular birdwatching site. Lee Valley rangers will be on hand to help enhance your birdwatching day. Phone for details. PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY SUN 19th MAY. 10am -4pm ‘In focus’ are pleased to offer our customers in the South and West the opportunity to test compare and purchase from our full range of equipment at this famous Dorset bird observatory. Phone for details. REGIONAL FIELD WEEKENDS SPRING 1991 NEW SHOWROOM OXFORD ISLAND LOCH NEAGH, CO. ARMAGH FRI 3rd, SAT 4th, SUN 5th, MON 6th MAY HAUXLEY, NORTHUMBERLAND SAT 22nd, SUN 23rd JUNE BLACKTOFT SANDS HUMBERSIDE SAT 18th, SUN 19th MAY DUNGENESS KENT SAT 29th, SUN 30th JUNE PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO VISITORS WITH AN INVITATION BETWEEN 10AM AND 4PM EACH DAY The ideal way to test optics for birdwatching is to watch birds! These Field Weekends at well- known Reserves around the country will enable our customers to choose and select from our complete range of equipment under field conditions. You are invited to apply in writing or by phone for an invitation and information pack to any of the above events indicating your preferred day and time of attendance. OUR NEW SHOP IN NORFOLK OFFERS UNRIVALLED VIEWS OVER TITCHWELL MARSH AND WILL BE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK. CUSTOMERS CAN SELECT FROM OUR FULL RANGE OF EQUIPMENT. MEDWAY ESTUARY BIRD BONANZA 11th and 12th MAY We are pleased to support this bird watching event at the Riveside Country Park near Gillingham. Our full range of equipment will be available for demonsration and purchase. For full details contactt ‘In focus’ BAUSCH & LOMB .£ Elite 8x42BGA 605.00 Elite 10X42BGA 605.00 Custom 8x36B 189.00 Custom 10x40 BGA 219.00 Elite 22x60B 269.00 Elite 22x60 BGA 289.00 Elite 1 5x-45x60B 319 00 Elite 15x-45x60BGA 339 00 LEICA £ Trinovid 8x20BC 199 00 Tnnovid 10x25BC 226.00 Trinovid 8x20BCA 226.00 Trinovid 10x25BCA 239.00 Case for Mini 15.00i Trinovid 7x42BGA 628.00 Trinovid 8x42BGA 628.00 Trinovid 10x42BGA 628.00 CARL ZEISS £ Dialyt 8x20B 215.00 Dialyt 10x25B 225.00 Dialyt 8x20BGA 245.00 Dialyt 8x30BGAT 399.00 Dialyt 7x42BGAT 469.00 Dialyt 10x40BGAT 499.00 Dialyt 1 0x40BT 489.00 Dialyt 8x56BGAT 570.00 15x60 Porro GAT 789.00 Accessories: Rainguard 5.00 Eye Cups (Set) 10.00 Eye Cups Hand (Set) 10.00 Lanyard 4.00 Wide Lanyard 10.00 Spare Case 24.00 NIKON £ 7x20CF 69.00 9x25CF 79.00 8x23CF 85.00 10x25CF 89.00 8x20DCF 135.00 10x25DCF 150.00 9x30DCF 249.00 12x36DCF 279.00 8X40DCF 539.00 8x30CF 229.00 1 0x35CF 249.00 6x-12x24DCF 329.00 Fieldscope II 20x60 265.00 Fieldscope II 20x-45x60 329.00 Fieldscope ED II 20x60 475.00 20x-45x60 545.00 15x 20x 30x 40x or 60x 65.00 Hoya Multi Coat Filter 20.00 Rubber Hood 10.00 Photo Kit 157.00 Stay On Case 45.00 Spotting scope 20x60 GA... 199.00 Spotting scope 20x-45x60 GA 259.00 SWIFT £ Triton 8x40 89.95 Triton 10x50 99.95 Osprey 7.5x42 149.00 Audubon 8.5x44 199.00 Audubon 7x35GA 329.00 Viewmaster 149.00 15x -45 x Zoom 49 00 20x 20.00 QUESTAR £ Field Model 3'/2" Broad Band Coating. Supplied with 50x-80x Hood, Case 1900.00 30x-50x 120.00 80x-130x 120.00 Porro Prism 140.00 OPTOLYTH £ Alpin 8x30BGA 205.00 Alpin 8x40BGA 225.00 Alpin 10x40BGA 230.00 Alpin 10x50BGA 241.00 Touring 8x30BGA 388.00 Touring 7x42BGA 398.00 Touring 10x40BGA 398.00 TBS80 Body 350.00 TBG80 Body 350.00 20x WA 100.00 30x WA 64 00 40x 65.00 22x-60x Zoom 150.00 Soft Case 29.00 Hard Case 35.00 OBSERVATION BINOCULARS £ Opticron 20x80 345.00 Opticron 30x80 345.00 KOWA £ TS601 179.00 TS602 179.00 20x WA 54.00 20x-60x Zoom 94.00 Case 19.95 TSN-1 295.00 TSN-2 295.00 TSN-3 555.00 TSN-4 555.00 20x WA 89.00 25x 59 00 30x WA 109.00 40x 59.00 20x-60x Zoom 1 39 00 Photo Kit 99.00 Case for TSN 22.50 Skua Case 39.00 Rear Dust Dome 1 5.00 Spare O.G. Cover TSN 6.00 27x WA (Screw fit) 59.00 OPTICRON £ HR 7x42 MC 143.00 HR 8x42 MC 145.00 HR 10x42 MC 150.00 HR 10x50 MC 167.00 Minerva 8x40MC 170.00 Minerva 9x35MC 169.00 Minerva 10x42 MC 175.00 HR Body 80 249.00 30xWA 32.00 27x-80x Zoom 76.00 HR Body, 22x and Case 159.95 HR GA, 22x and Case 169.95 HR 45”. 22x and Case 199.95 HR Body. 20x-60x, Case 199.95 HR GA, 20X-60X, Case 209.95 HR 45”. 20x-60x, Case 229.95 25x or 40x 30.00 Classic IF60 118.00 18xWA 23.00 25x 23.00 Zoom 22x-40x 59.00 Classic IF 75mm 137.00 22xWA 23.00 30x 23.00 Zoom 22x-47x 50.00 Piccolo Body 128.00 Eye Pieces from 29.00 Photo Kits from 28.00 Cases for Scopes 15.00 Macro Monocular 50.00 CARL ZEISS JENA £ Deltrintem 8x30 64.95 Dekarem 10x50 99.95 Notarem 8x32 149.95 Notarem 8x32BA 139.95 Notarem 10x40 179.95 Notarem 10x40BA 199.95 Turmon 8x21 44.95 MIRADOR £ 8X40B 110.00 10x40B 114.00 10x50B 122.00 Merlin 60mmx25 97.00 Merlin 18x -40x60 129.00 Merlin 75mmx30 119.00 Merlin 22x-47x75 157.00 Case for Merlin 16.00 CENTURY £ 60mm GA Body 165.00 20x-45x Zoom 60.00 20x30x40x 20.00 Case 15.00 BRESSER £ Action 8x40 69.00 Action (0x80 79.00 Liftear 8x42 119.00 Linear 10x42 124.00 MINOLTA 7x21 BGA 69.00 8x22 BGA 79.00 10x22 BGA 99 00 7x42 BGA 199.00 10x42 BGA 229.00 ROSS £ Cavendish 8x42B 139.95 ‘in focus’ CARE PLAN Enables our customers to purchase in complete con- fidence. At a cost of just £10.00 any new equipment can be covered by our ‘Care Plan’ for a period of three years from purchase. In the event of equipment failing for whatever reason it will be rectified without question by ourselves at no charge. Ask for full details. Hanover 10x42B 149.95 Regent 8x42B 169.95 Kensington 10x42B 179.95 HABICHT £ 10x40 Diana 372.00 7x30SLC 321.00 8x30 SLC 331.00 New scope, phone for details BUSHNELL £ Spacemaster Body GA . 165.00 Spacemaster Body 145.00 15x-45x Zoom 70.00 PPyWA 3p nn VELBON £ D400 39.95 D500 NEW FLUID HEAD 59.95 D600 TRIPODS 69.95 D700 79.95 CULLMANN £ Hide Clamp 49.95 Shoulder Pod 24.95 OR System 9.95 4.95 SLIK £ Master D2 72.95 MANFROTTO £ 190 Base 40.00 190B Base 45 00 144 Base 50.00 144B Base 55.00 128 Head 45.00 200 Head 50.00 Tripod Strap 10.95 Spare QR Platform 5.95 ACCESSORIES £ Car Window Mount 22.00 Universal Mount 22.00 Hide Clamp 38.00 Rainguards from 3.50 Pentax Cleaning Kit 3.99 Tripod Strap 6.95 Lanyards from 4.00 PIRSONAL CALLIRS Can choose and select from our comprehensive range of equip- ment. Compare Zeiss with Leitz and Bausch & Lomb, Kowa with Nikon and Optolyth We are a completely independent company, whose only concern is that our customers select the correct instrument for their personal needs. PHONI ORDBRS Discuss your requirements with our technical staff and orders placed with Access or Visa Cards will be despatched same day. MAIL ORDIR Just add £2 to help towards P&P and insurance and your order will be sent the same day as we receive your cheque. All goods supplied on 1 4 days approval upon receipt of full remittance. MCONDHAN3 Instruments are always available. Turnover is fast so we do not print a list. Phone for information. PART IXCHANOK Top prices paid for good condition Bins and Scopes. HOW TO FIND US (BARNIT) We are 10 mins from M25 and AIM motorways and 15 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. HOW TO FIND US (NORFOLK) We are 500 yds east of the RSPB Reserve at Titchwell on the A149 between Hunstanton and Bran- caster, and we have our own pri- vate car parking. TILISCOPBS AND TRIPOD OUTFITS If you purchase a scope and tripod at the same time we can offer you a very special price! FHONI FOR A QUOTI INTEREST FREE CREDIT ON SELECTED Zeiss, Leitz, Kowa and Nikon products Phone or write for details. WSA SPRING SPECIAL FREE TRIPOD WITH ANY NEW SCOPE! BUY ANY NEW SCOPE OVER £140 AND WE WILL GIVE YOU FREE OF CHARGE A TOP QUALITY TRIPOD. NORMAL PRICE £40 OR PAY DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR CHOICE OF TRIPOD OR CLAMP. (D833) 1 OPTOLYTH As convincing as nature itself 10 x 25 B Other quality pocket size binoculars available direct from Opticron. Porro prism 7 x 24 MCF £77 8 x 24 MCF £78 10 x 24 MCF £79 Roof prism 8 x 25 DCF.GA £75 10 x 25 DWCF.GA £78 SPONSOR^ SEE ^N0 TEST Z.Z. D - - - •SSSS3S5 «*%£$£»* kingsbury^ ^^-r^prrcfor^^ order and selected -trrenXT^Access and Visa welcomed. 8 x 22 B only £199 10 x 25 B only £215 10CM- rspb Trrzn. dealers For further information on our range of quality binoculars for the birdwatcher and naturelover alike please contact; OPTICRON PO Box 370, Unit 21 Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Beds LU4 8YR Tel: (0582) 26522. Fax: (0582) 23559 OPTOLYTH West Germany ition by Martin Haywood Harris. 0734 68977 National Bird News “ Are pleased to welcome “ The B.B.R.C.’s own hotline of accepted records now available All profits from this line go direct to British Birds. “ Find out which records have been accepted” 0898-884-522 N.B.N. 0898-884-500 FOR THE FASTEST RARE BIRD NEWS ANYTIME ANYPLACE ANYWHERE "TWITCH-LINE 0898-884501” Responding after the tone in the headlines gives full site and direction details, so you nly listen to what you want to hear.A large proportion of all monies recieved by lational Bird News and Twitchline are donated direct to named conservation bodies, itch as the BTO, the WWF, the ICBP, the BBCS ,the RSPB and to British Birds.If ou have any rare bird news ring our HOTLINE on 0205-358050. TWITCH-LINE 0898-884-501 BTO 0898-884-503 BTO NEWSLINE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY’S INFORMATIVE AND UP TO DATE NEWS LINE FOR THE DEDICATED AND ACTIVE BIRDWATCHER. ALL PROFITS FROM THIS SERVICE GO DIRECT TO THE BTO. 0898-884-504 I.C.B.P WORLD BIRD NEWS :ALL THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BIRD PRESERVATIONS NEWSLINE FOR UP X> DATE BIRD AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS WORLDWIDE. INCLUDING ALL THE VERY -ATEST NEWS ON THE GULF OIL SPILL DISASTER AND HOW THE I.C.B.P. TEAM IS IELPING WITH THE CLEAR UP. ALL PROFITS FROM THIS LINE GOES TO THE I.C.B.P. 0898-884-505 BUTTERFLY LINE THE BRITISH BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SOCIETY’S INFORMATION SERVICE GIVING UP TO DATE NEWS ON BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR CONSERVATION. LEAVE YOUR OWN C ON S e'| RV ATI O N SIGHTINGS ON .. 044-2824407. ALL PROFITS FROM THIS SERVICE GO DIRECT TO BBCS I-or more information on these conservation lines send a S. A. Id lo National Bird News, Ladle House, Redstone Ind. Lst. Boston. Lincolnshire. PL21 SAL ( alls are charged ,n Op pci min cheap rale l ip standard peak rate iik A \l iii (D81 5) Kay Optical (Established 1962) 1st Floor, 89(B) London Road, Morden, Surrey Phone:081-648 8822 * NEW HOURS: MON - SAT 9 am - 5 pm (Mon - Fri: Lunch 1 to 2 pm) r Sales and Repairs of BINOCULARS, TELESCOPES, TRIPODS, etc. at one of the best centres in the country Advice and test facilities for a range of the best equipment. ★Competitive prices ★Long-established workshop ★Callers welcome. ★Phone/mail order service ★Price list and map sent upon request. BINOCULARS ZEISS 10 x 25 Dialyt 8 x 30 BGAT Dialyt 10x40 BGAT (P) Dialyt 7 x 42 BGAT (P) Dialyt LEICA 8 x 20 Trinovid 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 1 0 x 25 BCA Trinovid 7 x 42, 8 x 42, and 1 0 x 42 BAUSCH & LOMB 8 x 42 BA Elite 1 0 x 42 BA Elite SWAROVSKI 8 x 30 SLC II OPTOLYTH 8 x 40 Alpin 10 x 40 Alpin 10 x 50 Alpin 10x40 BGA Touring 7 x 42 BGA Touring 10x42 HR II 150 OPTICRON (with cases) 10x50 HR II 155 HR 60mm with 22x (WA) 160 8 x 42 Dioptron (HRI) 110 HR 60 mm with 20-60x zoom 200 10 x 42 Dioptron(HRI) 110 HR 60mm rubber, with 22x (WA) 170 10 x 50 Dioptron (HRI) 120 HR 60mm rubber, with 20-60x 210 9 x 35 BCF Minerva 169 HR (45’) with 22x (WA) 200 8 x 40 BCF Minerva 170 HR (45’) with 20-60x 230 10 x 40 BCF Minerva 175 Separate eyepieces from 20 7 x 35 Elite 147 New 80mm HR body 249 9 x 35 Elite 186 30 x (WA) eyepiece 32 FUJINON (new) 27-80x zoom eyepiece 76 8 x 40 BFL 179 CLASSIC “IF” 75mm body 137 TELESCOPES 60mm body with 25x 100 NIKON Eyepieces, from 23 20 x 60 Fieldscope II 320 Zoom eyepieces 59 20-45 x zoom Fieldscope II 388 SPACEMASTER 20 x 60 Fieldscope ED II 572 With 15-45x EP 220 20-45 x zoom Fieldscope ED II 630 VIEWMASTER 30 x, 40 x, 60 x eyepiece 75 60mm, 45‘,with 20-60x EP 199 Camera adaptor (optical KOWA 157 SWAROVSKI (new) TSN-1 body (45°) a o Q. C a o o 295 AT 80 body 535 TSN-2 body § m® 295 22x (WA) eyepiece 70 TSN-3 body (45°) — © "O 555 20-60x zoom eyepiece 160 TSN-4 body o « >,© 555 Special case 91 25 x or 40 x eyepiece 5.c © - a-o 59 GREENKAT 20 x (WA) eyepiece g * oa 89 60mm, SGN-3, for angled and 30 x (WA) eyepiece & 10 o 5*0 © 109 straight eyepiece. 165 20-60 x zoom eyepiece 139 20x, 30x, 40x, 50x eyepieces, 60x eyepiece S o > c 89 each 25 77x eyepiece Ik CD O O 99 SOLIGOR CAMERA LENSES etc. OPTOLYTH Ask for details of the full range. TBS 80 body (45°) 350 TRIPODS etc. TBG 80 body (straight) 350 Slik D2 75 TB eyepieces from 64 Slik SL 67 107 BAUSCH & LOMB (new) Manfrotto 1 44/200 105 1 5-45 x 60 Elite 315 Manfrotto 1 44/1 28 100 15-45X60 BGA Elite 332 Manfrotto 1 90/200 93 PICCOLO Universal clamp 22 60mm body 130 Hide clamp, new type 38 Zoom eyepiece 77 Car window mount 22 Other eyepieces from 20 Shoulder pod 30 £ 236 Phone 505 475 199 226 226 239 628 599 599 332 225 230 241 Phone Phone FALCON roof prism 1 0 x 40 or 8 x 40 rubber-covered 1 1 0 SWIFT 81/2 x 44 HR5/Audubon 205 NEW 7 x 35 roof prism Audubon 329 ZEISS (Jena) 8 x 32 BA Notarem 1 1 5 1 0 x 40 BA Notarem 1 60 PYSER ROSS 8 x 42 ZCF Regent 1 74 1 0 x 42 ZWCF Kensington 1 84 NIKON 8 X 23 waterproof 1 57 1 0 x 25 waterproof 1 57 9 x 30 roof prism 248 OPTICRON 8x42 HR II 145 ★PACKAGE DEALS: Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought ★REPAIRS carried out in our own workshops (Our policy is to get your optics bird-watch operational with a minimal delay) ★SHORT-TERM INTEREST-FREE CREDIT available (three payments) FIELD DAYS: Alternative venues at which you can try and buy our equipment (and also hand in repairs) ' ★ PAG HAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, W. Sussex on SUNDAYS 28th April, 26th May, 30th June and 28th July (1 0.30am to 4.00pm) ★WARNHAM NATURE RESERVE just off the A24 (northern roundabout for HORSHAM) on the B2237 on SUNDAYS 5th May, 2nd June and 14th July (10.30am to 4.00pm) We are only 15 minutes’ drive from the M25 (e.g. via the A3 and then the Merton Turn-off) or 2 minutes’ walk from Morden tube. Parking: 1 st left past our entrance (50 yds). (D838) IV Kii^euni j 0 7 MAY 1991 PRESENTED TRiNG LIBRARY For all the latest bird news in your area phone your Regional 0898 Birdline 7001™ Simply the best way to plan your days birdwatching. All the latest bird news around your region. SUPPORTING LOCAL CONSERVATION Available 24 hrs a day News is regularly featured from all die main reserves, observatories and birdwatching sites. PO BOX 481 LONDON SE208LZ REGIONAL BIRDLINES ARE CHARGED AT 33p PER MIN CHEAP RATE AND 44p AT ALL OTHER TIMES (D844) Visiting the Warwickshire '91 SPRING BIRDfAIR ? Then why not take the opportunity to visit our extensive showroom and superb viewing facilities. FOCUS OPTICS are only minutes away from the Kingsbury Water Park, along the B4098 Coventry Road. We look forward to Friendly advisory service always available with no obligation! * seemg you. PRICE CHANGES : Due to the recent rise in VAT, all prices illustrated may vary. Leading | specialists in quality BINOCULARSand TELESCOPES ZEISS WEST WE STOCK ALL ZEISS MODELS. Wide range of accessories. Phone for prices. LEICA OPTOLYTH Alpin 8x40 BGA 225.00 Alpin 10x40 BGA._ 230.00 ADLERBLICK Multicoat 8x42 169.95 MUticoat 10x42 - 179.95 Trinovid 8x20 BCA Trinovid 10x25 BCA 7x42 BA 8x42 BA 211.00 223.00 559.00 559.00 10x42 BA 559.00 HABICHT Compact 8x20 B .. 215.00 Traditional 8x30 WM .. 340.00 Traditional 7x42 WM .320.00 'Diana’ 10x40 WM .. 365.00 _ 395.00 . 440.00 . 325.00 AT 80 Body . 535.00 22xEP . 69.95 NIKON 7x20 CF II . 69 95 Waterproof 10x25 Roof Prism 10x25 F Sporting 7x35 CF ...152.00 ...152.00 ...120.00 8x30 ECF 10x35 ECF. Roof Prism 9x30 DCF._ Fieldscope Mk 41 20-45x60 ED Mk II 20-45x60... 15x20x30x40x60x each Spotting scope 20x60 RA 20-45x60 RA . 230.00 . 245.00 . 254.00 . 329.00 . 545.00 . 65.00 . 199.00 . 259.00 1 i 398.00 440.00 Scope 30x75 340.00 TBS 80 body 350.00 TBG 80 body 350.00 20xWA 100.00 20x30x40x 65.00 150.00 KOWA TS601 body 179.00 TS602 body 179 00 20xWA 54.00 25x40* 47.00 94.00 Case for 601 8t 602 19.95 TSN-1 body 295.00 TSN-2 body 295.00 TSN-3 body 555.00 TSN-4 body 555.00 20xWA 89.00 30xWA 109.00 25x40x 59.00 139.00 Case for TSN 1&2 22.50 Skua case for TSN 39.00 O.G. 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E&OE VI (D837) British Birds VOLUME 84 NUMBER 5 MAY 1991 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley, Norfolk lUii'n Ihmflhm ■■■ >.• \ 1 1 1 1 \ Mariko Parslow-Otsu The only British wintering grounds for Bean Geese Anser fabalis of the western race fabalis to have been permanently occupied for many years lie in the Yare Valley, east Norfolk. The discovery of some individuals carrying coded blue neckbands in November and December 1987 provided the first evidence of the origin of at least part of this population. The geese had been banded earlier that year at a moulting site in Vasterbotten, Sweden (L. von Essen in litt.). This paper puts on record something of the history, recent status and population ecology of the Yare Valley Bean Geese. Winters referred to by a single year figure are dated by their December. Bean Geese in Britain The species was evidently common in Britain in the early part of the nineteenth century, but declined in the latter half. In recent times, there have been only two regular wintering localities, both involving the race fabalis: the Yare Valley, and the Dee Valley in southwest Scotland (Owen 161 [Brit. Birds 84: 161-170, May 1991] 162 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley et al. 1986). Since the 1950s, they have steadily declined at the latter site, and, since 1977, their occurrence has become erratic and numbers have not exceeded 40. Watson (1986) attributed their virtual disappearance to marshland reclamation. Since about 1980, a new site has gradually become established in the Central Region of Scotland. At least until 1984, the geese were noted only in September-October (Watson 1986), but from 1986 a flock of just over 100 has stayed longer. For example, up to 116 were present from late September 1989 to February 1990 (J. Simpson in litt.). None has been seen bearing a neckband, so the flock appears to belong to a different sub- population from the Norfolk geese. It arrives appreciably earlier in the autumn. In December 1987, six had colour rings and were from a captive- breeding/release scheme in south-central Sweden which started in 1974 (C. Mitchell in litt.). These birds apart, the only previous British recovery of a Bean Goose from its breeding range was a first-year shot in Northumberland in January 1954 which had been ringed in Jamtland, Sweden (Hoglund 1956). (Hoglund, 1962, reported that a second individual from the same brood was shot at Thisted, Denmark, in November 1959, thus providing a first link between the Bean Geese found in England and those in northwest Jutland: see later.) An orange-neckbanded Bean Goose seen in the Yare Valley during cold weather in January 1982 (RSPB Strumpshaw Reserve records) had probably been banded on migration in south Sweden. Small numbers of Bean Geese, often involving the Russian subspecies rossicus , occasionally occur in various parts of Britain, especially following hard weather on the Continent. Maps of the species’ recent distribution are provided by Owen et al. (1986) and Lack (1986), the latter, though, conveying an exaggerated impression of its normal status in Britain and Ireland. The Yare Valley population Maximum numbers of Bean Geese in the Yare Valley in each winter since 1939 are shown in fig. 1. Those up to 1981 are derived from Seago (1977) and the annual Norfolk Bird Report and those for 1982-89 mainly from personal observations. From 1957, an attempt has been made to distinguish late arrivals, normally as a result of cold-weather influxes, from the usual (or ‘core’) population present. It is impossible to compensate for possible bias due to different counters. (In the last few winters, I have noted a tendency by most other observers to undercount the numbers present.) Nevertheless, the general pattern is clear: a decline from the 1940s to a low in the 1960s; and an increase from about 1969 to the present day. It is uncertain whether the blank years of 1947, 1951, 1953 and 1954 were because there were no geese or no observers, but the former seems the most likely. Assuming this to be so, the decadal means were: 1940-49:159 1950-59:60 1960-69:43 1970-79:104 1980-89:311 When numbers were low in the 1950s and 1960s, arrivals were frequently as late as January and never earlier than December. From 163 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley 0 50 100 150 200 1 I I I I 1939 IIIIIIIIIIIUIIIHIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIII INIIIIIMIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lINHHUlHIIIHIIIHIIHIIimillllll 250 iiMmaiiiNiiiHiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 1944 niiiimiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiii imiimiiifliiiHiiiiiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiii iiHiimiiiiiimiiiiiiiniii 1949 IIHIINIII imimiiiHiiiiiiiiiii iiiimiiimii 300 350 I I 400 I 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 IIHIIIIIIIHIIIIIII !□□□ !□□□□ □□□□□□□□□□□□ □□□□□□□□ !□□□□□□ 00 D000000000 □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 000000 I00D0000000000000 D000000000000 I000D00000000000 ODD 00D00D0 Key: I = Normal (core) population 0 = Additional numbers arriving late, normally after hard weather. (NB: There is insufficient information during 1939-56 to differentiate ‘normal’ and ‘hard-weather’ populations.) 1 = In 1981/82, an early cold winter, there is insufficient information to separate the normal population from the hard-weather influx (which occurred sometime between 17th November and 1st January). Fig. 1. Maximum numbers of Bean Geese Anser fabalis of the race fabalis in the Yare Valley, Norfolk, during 1939/40 to 1989/90 about 1971, as the population increased, first arrivals were in late November and became steadily earlier in the month. Over the last eight years, the timing of arrival of the first geese and the main influxes has varied. First arrivals have been as early as 24th October (1982: 18 individuals), and as late as 6th December (1986: three), but were most 164 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley frequent around 10th- 18th November. The bulk of the population usually arrived in the period from the end of November to mid December. Three arrival-phases are detectable in most years. The first is comprised mainly or wholly of those which have failed to breed (i.e. no or few families present); the population usually stabilises for a short period and is then followed by a second phase of arrivals (which may include more family groups). A further influx may occur at times of hard weather. Departures are usually completed between 18th February and 8th March, but may be earlier in mild winters (see below). The marshes utilised by the geese lie between Norwich and the western end of Breydon Water. Three are currently of greatest importance. Cantley Marsh is the preferred site, its slight hollows and more extensive patches of sedge Juncus and reed Phragmites enabling the feeding geese to remain surprisingly well hidden, and thus feel more secure. Buckenham Marsh, which is contiguous with Cantley, was formerly the favoured, traditional site; but in 1978-79 it was partly ploughed, flattened and re- seeded, and, being too flat and open, is now resorted to mainly when the flock is disturbed from Cantley. Finally, Haddiscoe Island, which lies about 7 km to the east of the other two, tends to be utilised late in the season, when the main flock breaks up into smaller ones prior to departure; its use may also be influenced by the end of the inland shooting season on 31st January. All three are extensive (100-600 ha) grazing marshes. In recent years, sheep have partly replaced cattle and, especially on Buckenham Marsh, more intensive sheep grazing has led to a shorter sward more suited to Wigeon Anas penelope (Allport 1989). Other smaller areas of grazing marsh in the valley are used occasionally by the geese. Up to seven Russian Bean Geese were present in 1987/88; they did not mix with fabalis and were otherwise unrecorded. Other wild geese using the Yare Valley in the last three winters included Whitefronts Anser aUrifrons (maxima 250-310 in each year), which frequently mix with the Bean Geese, and Pinkfeet A. brachyrhynchus (maximum 60 in 1988/89). Substantial numbers of feral Canada Geese Branta canadensis and Greylag 111. Bean Geese Anser fabalis in wintering habitat in Yare Valley, Norfolk, January 1990 (M. Parslow-Otsu) Bean Geese in the Yare Valley 1 65 Geese Anser anser and up to 12 feral Barnacle Geese B. leucopsis were also recorded. Disturbance from shooting is absent or light over much of the area most used by the geese. Other human disturbance on the ground is relatively small. The Bean Geese are, however, like other geese, much perturbed by light aircraft, and in recent years flocks were frequently disturbed by regular low-flying helicopter traffic. The main roost of the Bean and White-fronted Geese is a small wooded lake on a private estate. When this freezes or is disturbed by shooting, Surlingham Broad — a Norfolk Naturalists’ Trust reserve — provides an alternative. Numbers and neckbanded individuals from 1987/88 to 1989/90 The numbers of Bean Geese in the Yare Valley in 1987 were the highest for at least 50 years and occurred during a winter which was mild, at least in Britain and the Low Countries (there was a short cold spell in southern Scandinavia in December). Numbers were slightly lower in the next two winters, which were even milder. (All three winters followed a remarkably similar pattern, with brief cold spells in northwest Europe in November or early December, but generally mild weather through the remainder.) In 1987, the first four Bean Geese (including one neckbanded individual) arrived on 10th November (G. Allport in lift.). By 28th, 32 (nine with neckbands) were present, and by 8th December 342 (22 with neckbands). Only 12 juveniles were among those present on that date, and only two (perhaps four) further juveniles were located later in the winter (i.e. only 3. 0-3. 8% young). Peak counts of fabalis Bean Geese were 404 on 14th December, 397 on 18th January, 420 (and possibly an additional 48) on 3rd February, and 400 on 11th February. The main departure appears to have occurred by 18th February, and the last to be seen was a flock of 29 (none neckbanded) which flew off seawards, high to the northeast on 1st March. In 1988/89, local observers reported that ten Bean Geese had arrived by 18th November and 138 the next day. Of 210 on 7th December, 18 carried neckbands. Numbers reached 356 by 17th December and 370 on 5th January (the season’s peak), by which time 21 of the previous winter’s neckbanded individuals had been recorded. The one which failed to appear (male H-21) was believed dead, as his mate (H-ll), which always accompanied him in 1987/88, returned alone. Incredibly, the pair was seen together again in northwest Denmark on 28th March 1989 (Vejleme Field Station records). Only one juvenile was present among the first 210 geese to arrive, and a total of only 13 was seen subsequently (3.8% young). The main departure took place early — between 24th and 31st January, with the last 46 in the Yare Valley on 12th February. First arrivals in 1989 were on 15th November (17), with 101 the next day, 227 by the end of the month, 310 by 15th December and a peak of 360 on 27th January. There were 14 neckbanded individuals, all but one of which had arrived by mid December. As in the previous winter, one particular individual (male H-26) arrived with his unbanded mate much later than the others, on 12th January. All the neckbanded geese had been present in the previous two winters, and, as then, none was accompanied 166 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley by juveniles. The total number of juveniles was again low, with a maximum of only 16 (4.4%). After an exceptionally mild winter, departure was again early: there were still 310 on 3rd February, 182 on 5th, and, of the last 120 on 9th, 110 were watched flying off northeast at 07.30 GMT as if migrating. That evening, I followed them via the night ferry to Esbjerg. Observations in Denmark, February 1990 Having watched Bean Geese departing northeast from Norfolk in spring, Denmark had seemed a possible destination. This was confirmed when 15 of the 22 neckbanded birds noted in the Yare Valley were located at Vejleme, a nature reserve northeast of Thisted in northwest Jutland, in February and March 1988. At least four of the Norfolk birds plus the ‘missing’ H-21 were seen there in March 1989 (Vejleme Field Station records). From 11th February 1990, 1 searched all known Bean Goose sites on the Jutland peninsula and in Schleswig-Holstein for the neckbanded birds. Some 2,500 fabalis Bean Geese were examined, but the Norfolk geese at first eluded me. One individual, H-26, the independently minded, late arriver in Norfolk, and which had departed on 6th February, was located (with his unbanded mate) in a flock of 500 Bean Geese at Vejleme on 14th February. By 23rd, he had moved to Lake Vullum, 10 km northwest, where about 700 Bean Geese were feeding and roosting. Suddenly, on 25th, the remaining 13 neckbanded geese which had wintered in Norfolk joined the flock. Where they had been in the interim remains unknown, but there are probably still some areas in Jutland that these geese have found but ornithologists have not. Six other geese from the same neckband series were also found in northwest Jutland, including three of the eight ‘missing’ individuals which had wintered in the Yare Valley in the previous two seasons. Population ecology: preliminary thoughts Thirty-six individuals were caught and neckbanded from among a moulting flock of about 300 non-breeding or failed-breeding geese in Vasterbotten on 15th July 1987. At least ten were back at this same remote north Swedish site in summer 1988 and at least eight in 1989, but no additional Bean Geese were banded (L. von Essen & A. Andersson in litt.). The Swedish Sportsmen’s Association will eventually publish a detailed analysis of results; meanwhile, the following summary and thoughts on the population ecology of the Yare Valley population are based mainly on my own observations on the banded and other Bean Geese in Norfolk and northwest Denmark. As already mentioned, no fewer than 22 of the 36 wintered in the Yare Valley in 1987/88 (additionally, one was known to have been shot in Denmark, and eight others were recorded in Denmark or southern Sweden, where some wintered). Of these 22, all but one reappeared in Norfolk in 1988/89, while the missing bird was located in northwest Jutland in March 1989. This individual apart, fidelity by the neckbanded geese to the Yare Valley from one winter to the next was total. In 1989/90, Bean Geese in the Yare Valley 167 112. Bean Geese Anser fabaks in wintering habitat in Yare Valley, Norfolk, January 1990 (M. Parslow-Otsu) only 14 of them returned, but three of the missing individuals were seen in northwest Denmark in February. The indications, from this small neckbanded sample, are that the Bean Geese associated with the Yare Valley have a relatively low mortality rate. Of the 22 present at the beginning of the 1987/88 winter, all are known to have been alive 15 months later; 27 months later, in February 1990, at least 17 of them (77%) were still alive. The annual survival rate among Bean Geese marked in Finnmark, northern Norway, and wintering in southern Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands was 77% — itself re- garded as high among Anser populations which are hunted in winter (Tveit 1984). It seems likely that many of the Yare Valley Bean Geese in these three winters derived from this Swedish moulting flock. Other individuals must have been involved, however, since, at least in 1987/88, total numbers were higher than at the moulting site (and some geese from the same neckbanded group were known to have wintered elsewhere), and a few families occurred. Later, in 1989/90, at least three of the Yare Valley neckbanded birds were known to have wintered elsewhere. Further evidence that the Yare Valley population is not entirely a closed one is provided by the yearly counts themselves and the proportion of juveniles in the population (table 1). Immigration clearly occurred in 1987, for example, when the increase on the previous year’s maximum far exceeded the numbers of juveniles present. Table 1 indicates that productivity among the Yare Valley population has slumped in the last three or four years. Among the ‘core’ population in 168 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley Table 1. Numbers of juvenile Bean Geese Anser fabalis of the race fabalis in the Yare Valley, Norfolk, in winters 1983/84 to 1989/90 PHASE 1 refers to first arrivals; PHASE 2 to main flock (includes PHASE 1 birds); PEAK to maximum count (usually later in winter, often following hard weather, too late reliably to differentiate all juveniles). — denotes no information Winter Total PHASE 1 No. juv % juv Total PHASE 2 No. juv % juv Total PEAK No. juv % juv 1983/84 175 42 24.0 198 _ _ 236 _ 1984/85 167 17 10.2 297 83 27.9 375 — — 1985/86 221 7 3.2 275 36 13.1 340 — — 1986/87 214 18 8.4 237 20 8.4 312 — — 1987/88 210 0 0 397 12 3.0 420 14-16 3. 3-3. 8 1988/89 210 1 0.4 356 13 3.6 370 — — 1989/90 172 4 2.3 326 13 3.9 360 16 4.4 Decembers 1983-86, juveniles totalled 181 out of an accumulated total of 1,007 individuals in the four years (mean 18.0% juveniles p.a.), while in the three Decembers 1987-89 there were only 38 juveniles in a total of 1,079 (mean 3.5% juveniles p.a.). From about January onwards, it becomes difficult reliably to age all fabalis Bean Geese in the field. Some yearlings can still be recognised, however, and, at Vejleme in February 1990, two flocks totalling 575 geese contained a minimum of 67 first-years (11.7%): a much higher proportion than in the Yare Valley. This suggests that, at least during the last three mild winters, although numbers have been high in the Yare Valley (and the ‘core’ population at its highest-ever levels), most adults with families have stopped at an earlier stage in their journey. Discussion Historically, the Bean Goose population in northwest Jutland has fluctuated in parallel with the Yare Valley one, albeit at a higher level, reaching a similar low point in the 1940s-60s, with a slight increase after 1974 (Moller 1978). The declines in Denmark and Britain coincided with a drastic contraction in the breeding range in central Sweden and Norway, which was possibly caused by increased human disturbance and persecution, but also agricultural change (Melquist & von Bothmar 1984). Large numbers of fabalis Bean Geese winter in eastern Denmark (Madsen 1986), and some of these pass through the Vejleme area on migration. But, at least in February 1990, they did not mix with the flocks containing neckbanded geese. In Skane, southern Sweden, up to 25,000 fabalis are found in mild winters (and 60,000 pass through on autumn migration, some to Denmark) (Nilsson & Persson 1984). Up to four of the H-series neckbanded geese have been recorded there, but none of those which have visited the Yare Valley. In the last three mild winters, only 800-2,400 fabalis have been found in the Netherlands/northwest Germany, and none of these bore blue neckbands (Ganzenwerkgroep Nederland/ Belgie 1990; L. van den Bergh in lift.). Bean Geese became fully protected in Britain under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. Elsewhere in Europe, restrictions have been 169 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley introduced to limit spring shooting — in Denmark as early as 1955 (Meltofte 1981) — but the species remains legal quarry in most countries. In Sweden and Denmark, large numbers are shot in autumn and early winter. Jonsson et al. (1985), for example, found that, in a sample of 200 Bean Geese shot by rifle in southern Sweden at the end of the local hunting season, 62% of adults and 28% of yearlings carried one to 12 shotgun pellets in their tissues. Mortality from shooting among Bean Geese wintering in these (and other European) countries is inevitably higher than in Norfolk, where, to date, every single neckbanded bird that has arrived in each of the last three winters has made it back at least as far as Denmark the following spring. Observations of the neckbanded geese have indicated a strong link between the Norfolk and northwest Jutland populations, but none with the Netherlands, while separation between the populations wintering in northwest and eastern Denmark is also probable. In contrast to the large numbers wintering from southern Sweden through eastern Denmark to Poland and eastern Germany, the total numbers of fabalis Bean Geese wintering in northwest Denmark and Britain are small. Vejleme, one of the main sites for Bean Geese in northwest Jutland, has been a national nature reserve since 1960. In Britain, although the species may no longer be shot, there is little protection of its habitat. Two of the main Yare Valley feeding sites have no protected status, and the welcome low-intensity grazing regimes of the current farmers cannot necessarily be relied upon to continue. The third, Buckenham Marsh, while notified as an SSSI, is a second-choice site, owing partly to topography and partly to overgrazing. The fortuitous appearance of the Bean Geese carrying neckbands greatly facilitated work in progress on the behaviour of individual geese, as well as establishing the migration link with northwest Jutland and providing additional clues on population structure. The capture of Bean Geese in the Yare Valley would be extremely .difficult, and it is much to be hoped that additional neckbanding can be carried out in the same region of northern Sweden in the future. I suspect that a similar exercise slightly farther south in eastern Norway would throw light on the origin of the small Scottish wintering population. Acknowledgments For assistance in the Yare Valley, I am most grateful to staff at the RSPB’s Strumpshaw Reserve, especially N. Baskerville, for help with dawn counts, and A. T. Prescott, who went so far as to use his annual leave to assist me in Denmark; the RSPB kindly met part of our ferry costs. My thanks are also due to G. Allport; to Bean Goose colleagues throughout Europe whom I badgered by telephone until I at last discovered whose neckbanded birds I was watching, and especially to A. Andersson and L. von Essen in Sweden, whose birds they were; to the Danish Miljeministeriet and J. P. Kjeldsen and staff of the Vejleme Ecology Field Station for accommodation and other help; to Dr A. D. Fox for comments on an earlier draft of the paper; and, finally, to my husband, for letting me take the car to Denmark for nearly a month. Summary Over the last 50 years, the only permanent British wintering locality for Bean Geese Anser fabalis of the race fabalis has been the Yare Valley, Norfolk. After declining to a low point in the 1960s, numbers increased, reaching a record high of 420 in 1987/88. In that winter, 22 170 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley individuals appeared which had been neckbanded in northern Sweden; of these, 21 and 14, respectively, returned in the next two winters. The occurrence of the same neckbanded geese in northwest Denmark in late winter/early spring, after their departure from Norfolk, and subsequently of some of the ‘missing’ Norfolk individuals, established a close link between the two regions. At least in part, the population utilising the two areas seems distinct from the much larger one wintering elsewhere in Europe. To date, the survival rate of the neckbanded birds wintering in the Yare Valley has been high compared with other Bean Goose populations. Despite the increased population in the Yare Valley, the proportion of juveniles in the three years from 1987/88 was extremely low (mean 3.5%) compared with the preceding four winters (mean 18%); all three winters were mild and it is possible that most geese with families stopped at an earlier stage in their migration. Although Bean Geese are protected from shooting in Britain, their main feeding sites and roost in the Yare Valley have little formal protection or management. References Allport, G. 1989. Norfolk’s Bean Geese and their management. RSPB Conservation Review 3: 59-60. Ganzenwerkgroep Nederland/Belgie. 1990. Ganzentellingen in Nederland en Belgie in 1987/88. Limosa 63: 71-79. Hoglund, N. H. 1956. Svenskajagareforbundets viltmarkningar 1945-54. VUtrevy 1: 162-224. 1962. Svenskajagareforbundets viltmarkningar 1959 och 1960. Viltreiy 2: 153-194. Jonsson, B., Karlsson, J., & Svensson, S. 1985. Incidence of lead shot in tissues of the Bean Goose ( Anser fabalis) wintering in south Sweden. Viltreiy 13: 259-271. Lack, P. (ed.) 1986. The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton. MADSEN, J. 1986. Danske Rastepladser for Gass: Gasetallinger 1980-83. Kobenhavn. Melquist, H., & VON BoTHMAR, R. 1984. Effects of haymaking on Bean Goose, Anser fabalis , breeding habitats in Sweden. Viltreiy 13: 49-58. Meltofte, H. 1981 . Jagtalige forstyrrelso af Svomme- og Vadefugle. Foredrag ved den 3 Nordiske Omithologiske Kongres: 21-35. M0LLER, A. P. (ed.) 1978. Nordjyllands fugle: deres yngleudbredelse og traekforhold. Klampenborg. NlLSSON, L., & Persson, H. 1984. Non-breeding distribution, numbers and ecology of Bean Geese Anser fabalis in Sweden. Viltreiy 13: 107-170. Owen, M., Atkinson-Willes, G. L., & Salmon, D. G. 1986. Wildfowl in Great Britain. Cambridge. Seago, M. J. 1977. Birds of Norfolk. Norwich. Tveit, G. 1984. Autumn migration, wintering areas and survival of Bean Geese Anser fabalis marked on the moulting grounds in Finnmark, North Norway. VUtrevy 13: 73-81. Watson, D. 1986. Bean Geese in South-West Scotland. Scot. Birds 14: 17-24. Mariko Parslow-Otsu, Orchard Cottage ', Cranes Lane, Kingston, Cambridge CB3 7NJ pear# ago... ‘An immature example of the White-tailed Eagle ( Haliaetus albicilla ) was trapped on February 9th, 1916, by a keeper on Manton Warren, not far from the Scawby gull-ponds. ... A Rough- legged Buzzard ( Buteo l. lagopus) was shot in the same locality on November 12th, 1915. 1 have examined these specimens, which were exhibited, both under wrong names, in aid of the Red Cross Society, in an inn not far from the place of their capture. ’(Brit. Birds 9: 319-320, May 1916) A background to the experimental reintroduction to England and Scotland Ian M. Evans and M. W. Pienkowski In 1989, the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) started a joint experimental programme to re-establish the Red Kite Milvus milvus in its former range throughout Britain. This followed a long period of detailed assessment by the NCC and the RSPB as to the desirability and practicality of such a project. It also followed the collaboration of these and other organisations in reintroducing the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla to Britain, a project which has now achieved all its early targets. The purpose of this paper is to set the context for this programme by reviewing the Red Kite’s world status; outline the features to be considered before embarking on a reintroduction programme; and summarise progress so far. Historical status The Red Kite was formerly common throughout Europe. During the nineteenth century, it inhabited the area now covered by Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, European USSR, the Netherlands (although rather rare), parts of north Africa, Siberia and ‘the greatest part of Asia’ (Morris 1904), although the last is perhaps rather sweeping. In Britain, it was said to have ‘swarmed in the streets of London’ in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (literature quoted by Nisbet 1959) and was protected by legislation on account of the cleaning benefits of its scavenging habit. More recently, the geographic range (fig. 1) was described by Walters Davies & Davis (1973) as extending north from Iberia, through southern and eastern France and Germany to southern Sweden. It extended eastwards as far as the western Soviet Union, from the Baltic Republics in the north to the Balkans and the Caucasus in the south. Within this range, the distribution was rather fragmented, since it was absent from most of 171 [Brit. Birds 84: 1 7 1 - 1 87, May 1 99 1 ] 172 World status of the Red Kite Fig. 1. World distribution of Red Kite Milvus milvus, reproduced from Cramp & Simmons (1980, The Birds of the Western Palearctic, vol. 2), by kind permission of Oxford University Press. RED = breeding distribution; GREY = winter distribution southern Poland, Czechoslovakia, eastern Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and northwestern Germany. Outside Europe, populations survived in parts of northwestern Africa and in the Canary and Cape Verde Islands. The northern breeding popula- tions (with the exception of those in Britain) are mainly migratory and winter in the Mediterranean area. In recent years, however, increasing [A donation from ZEISS Germany has subsidised the inclusion of fig. 1 in colour] “IS IT MOUSTACHED, OR IS IT A SEDGE?” Not easy in the distance of a grey dawn on a dirty day, is it? But, before you tell the 'Rarities Committee’, you do need to be 100% sure that it is the rare Moustached Warbler you’ve spotted, rather than the very similar Sedge. Apart from the fact that you want to drink in every detail of a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. Which is clearly why the readers of “British Birds” voted Carl Zeiss the most popular binoculars, the most highly rated, the most satisfactory and the top binoculars of the future. 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Yet they’re not above considering the most practical details too. Hence sensible ideas like special high eye-point eye-pieces (to German DIN standards) and computer-calculated eye to lens distances, which allow the same full field of vision with spectacles as without. There’s even an olive green model to blend with your natural habitat! All done with a thoroughness of craftsmanship that justifies a 30-year Germany guarantee. Carl Zeiss THE DEFINITIVE BINOCULAR For literature, list of stockists, or advice on any aspect of binocular use, please contact: Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) Ltd., Dept BB, P.0. Box 78, Woodfield Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL7 1LU. (D307) viii World status of the Red Kite 173 numbers of individuals have remained in Sweden and Germany through- out the year (see also Cramp & Simmons 1980). The decline in the abundance of the Red Kite during the nineteenth century has been attributed mainly to human persecution. To some extent, this continues today, despite legal protection. As a consequence, this species is rare over much of its present range, and it is considered vulnerable in world terms. It is one of three British species on the World Checklist of Threatened Birds (Collar & Andrew 1988). It has been given protection under Annex 1 of the EEC Bird Directive, Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the Berne and Bonn Conventions. This legal protection (and in some cases physical protection of nest sites) has been beneficial, since it has halted the decline in several countries and encouraged some recovery of range. In Britain, such measures have allowed the small remnant of British Red Kites in Wales to increase and expand in range slightly. Low breeding productivity, however, partly caused by egg-collecting, and illegal poisoning remain problems in Wales (see below). Present status In the past, there have been few attempts to census the entire world population of the Red Kite. Recently, Meyburg & Meyburg (1987) assessed the status of raptor populations in countries bordering the Mediterranean, whilst Gensbol (1986) has covered the Western Palearctic. In a number of areas (e.g. Wales, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Corsica), regular monitoring has meant that the population status is relatively well known. In many others (e.g. mainland France and Germany), however, only rough estimates can be made, whilst in the rest (e.g. Morocco and the USSR) quantitative data are lacking. We sent requests for information to ornithologists in all countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East where Red Kites were thought to have bred or wintered in relatively recent years. Contributors were asked to provide recent information on the actual number of breeding pairs in their country as well as recent and past population trends. A literature survey was also undertaken. The results of the review are given below and breeding aspects summarised in table 1. This can be viewed against the distribution map reproduced from Cramp & Simmons (1980) in fig. 1 . In order to aid identification of patterns of change, the review below is ordered approximately geographically. We have tried to minimise breaks in the list where the distribution is fairly continuous. To do this, we start in the northwest, and proceed eastwards across central Europe, south- wards to the Mediterranean, and finally westwards to Iberia and the Atlantic islands. NORWAY There have been no breeding records this century, although apparently there was a very small population in the county of Ostfold up to about 1880. The species has remained a rare visitor. There has, however, been a marked increase in the number of records in recent years, with three to four annually. These birds are probably from Denmark or Sweden (Geoffrey Acklam in litt.). 174 World status of the Red Kite SWEDEN Since the early 1970s, the population in the south has increased steadily. By 1980, there were 50 pairs, of which 42 were successful, and, in 1981, 54 pairs, of which 49 were successful (Svensson 1982). By 1986, the population had increased three-fold, to 150 pairs (Sylven 1987), and, by 1989, to over 200 pairs. Productivity has been estimated at 1.98 young per successful pair and 1.54 per territorial pair (Magnus Sylven, Roy Dennis in litt. and verbally). DENMARK The large population of Red Kites was exterminated at the turn of this century, but breeding was occasionally attempted between 1920 and 1970. During the 1970s, the species returned as a regular breeder. Only 10-15 pairs have become established, breeding annually during 1980-89, mainly in southeast Jutland (Hans Erik Jorgensen in litt.). Breeding success ranges from 53-63% of nests in the core area of southeastern Jutland to more than 50% in other areas. An average brood size of 2.1 young from a total of 54 successful nests has been recorded (Jorgensen 1989). BRITAIN & IRELAND Formerly bred in every county, but during the nineteenth century relentless persecution exterminated this species from England, Scotland and Ireland. Only a small remnant group of approximately 12 individuals survived in the more remote parts of mid Wales. This population has, as a result of nest protection, increased very slowly up to the record level of 69 territorial pairs (of which 52 actually nested and 32 fledged young) in 1989, and 62 nesting pairs producing 70 fledged young in 1990 (P. E. Davis in litt. and verbally). Before 1980, almost all the known breeding was confined to an area of about 70 X 45 km in mid Wales (Davis & Newton 1981). Since 1981, the population has expanded slightly outside this area. Recolonisation of former haunts is, however, continually hampered by the illegal use of poison baits and to some extent by the destructive practice of egg-collecting. The productivity during 1951-80 was notoriously poor, with, on average, only 0.54 young per territorial pair. This is equivalent to 0.66 young per nesting pair and 1.34 young per successful pair (n=676). During 1964-80, mean clutch and brood sizes of 2.20 and 1.35 respectively were recorded, and only 40% of all nests fledged young (Davis & Newton 1981). Recent breeding statistics for 1985-89 indicate that productivity has remained around these levels (P. E. Davis in litt.). FRANCE Thiollay & Terrasse (1984) estimated 2,300-2,900 pairs in 1979-82. No more-recent survey has been undertaken for the whole of France. The main breeding areas for the Red Kite in 1982 were Lorraine (740-790 pairs), Franche-Comte (700-1,000 pairs), Champagne- Ardenne (480-550 pairs) and Midi-Pyrenees (800-1,000 pairs). Smaller populations are also found in the Massif Central, Auvergne and Burgundy. Recent estimates are 400 pairs in Franche-Comte ( Atlas du Jura by Joveniaux et al., cited by Dr J. Francois in litt.) and 100 pairs in the Haute-Loire, Auvergne (Bernard Joubert in litt.). In Champagne-Ardenne, the large population appears to have decreased in the last five to seven years; this is thought to be related to habitat loss and increased cultivation. Many winter roosts have also disappeared in this region; this has been attributed to successive cold spells and a decline in refuse dumps. In Champagne, Red Kite productivity of 1.51 young per breeding pair and 1.86 young per successful pair has been recorded from 53 occupied nests in 1971-82 (Christian Riols in litt.). Poisoning, both legal and illegal, is the main form of persecution and can occur on a very large scale. For instance, a plague of voles (Microtinae) led to a poisoning campaign over 150,000 ha in southeastern Haute-Mame, one of the best areas for birds of prey in northeastern France. Also, in the western part of Marne department, raptors are still poisoned, trapped and shot despite legal protection: the Red Kite is the most vulnerable species (Christian Riols in litt.). In a recent detailed study of the population of the Red Kite on Corsica, Patrimonio (1990) reported a stable population of 100-180 pairs on the island. The use of strychnine baits against foxes Vulpes vulpes, however, poses a threat, although the bird is protected by law. Average clutch size was 2.85 eggs per nest; 46% of eggs produced fledged young. Productivity was, on average, 1.94 young per successful pair and 1.27 per breeding pair (n=22). NETHERLANDS There have been only two recent breeding records. One was in 1976, when a 175 World status of the Red Kite pair was said to have reared two young, but the report was not properly documented. Two nests were discovered in 1977: one was successful, probably leading to the rearing of two young, while the other was destroyed at the egg stage (Edward van IJzendoom in litt.; Scharringa 1978). Incidental breeding cannot be ruled out in the future, as individual kites are often seen in spring near the eastern and southern borders, presumably having strayed from breeding areas in Germany or Belgium. BELGIUM Red Kites ceased to breed from around 1921 until 1973, when breeding was confirmed again. Since then, the population has increased from one to ten pairs in 1973-78 to 15-20 pairs in 1979-89, but has remained stable for several years. The main breeding areas, which are comparatively small, are in the east and southeast. Outside these areas, breeding is irregular and scattered. Productivity is good, with 2.32 young per successful pair (n=19) recorded during 1985-88 (Rene de Liedekerke in lift.). LUXEMBOURG Since the 1940s, numbers increased steadily to 12-15 pairs, with a maximum of 20 recorded in one year. It is now thought that the population has reached its upper limit, although possibly some expansion may still occur (David Crowther in litt.). WEST GERMANY After a decline in the 1960s, the population recovered in the mid 1970s to early 1980s. During this time, Rheinwald (1982) estimated the population at 2,000 pairs. The present population is estimated at 1,700-2,200 pairs, of which the majority are found in Lower Saxony and Hesse (600-800 pairs each), although Bavaria, Baden- Wurttemberg, Rhineland and Westphalia also hold 100-200 pairs each (Alistair Hill in litt.). The population is now declining, which Hill associates with changes in rubbish-disposal methods. The substantial reduction in the number of overwintering kites, which were very numerous at tips during that part of the year, has coincided with a reduction in the number of rubbish tips. Increasing numbers of kites are now migrating to wintering areas around the Mediterranean (Alistair Hill in litt.). east GERMANY Previous estimates of 1,200-1,400 pairs (Ortlieb 1980) have now been revised to 2,500 pairs in 1986 (Dr Werner Eichstadt in litt.). Stubbe & Gedeon (1989) studied a total of 491 pairs in 1988, of which 72% bred. A total of 645 young fledged from 57% of the nests, giving an average productivity of 2.31 young per successful pair and 1.82 per nesting pair. The density of pairs ranged from 0 to 69.2 per 10 km2. POLAND There is currently an estimated population of about 300 pairs, distributed mainly in the west and northwest, the highest concentration probably being in western Pomerania, with about 60 pairs. Red Kites are only scarce breeders in eastern and central Poland, and absent in the mountainous southern regions. Numbers have increased considerably since the nineteenth century. Present trends indicate an increase in some western regions, whilst in others numbers remain stable (Dr Tadeusz Stawarczyk in litt.). USSR The Red Kite is included in the Red Data Book of the USSR, but it lacks an accurate population census. In the Baltic Republics, it is a very rare breeder: in Latvia, only two or three pairs are thought to breed, although this has not been documented recently (Dr Janis Baumanis in litt.); in Lithuania, there are only one or two breeding pairs; while, in Estonia, it is only an occasional visitor, with two records in 1980-89. Farther south, in Byelorussia, the Red Kite is also rare, breeding in the western and central parts of the region; the exact number of pairs is, however, not known (Vilju Lilleleht in litt.). On the eastern seaboard of the Black Sea, only a few isolated pairs are thought to survive in the Caucasus. In the USSR as a whole, it is estimated that no more than 100 pairs survive, but this estimate is almost certainly the least reliable of those given here. CZECHOSLOVAKIA Red Kites have been recolonising western areas (Bohemia and Moravia) since 1975, where they bred in the nineteenth century. The breeding population has now increased to 20-25 pairs in 1989. Southern Moravia is the main breeding area, holding about ten pairs (Dr Karel Stastny in litt.). Switzerland A survey of Red Kites during the breeding seasons of 1985-87 showed a 176 World status of the Red Kite considerable increase compared with estimates in 1972-76. There was an approximately 40% increase in the number of occupied 10 X 10 km squares, and a corresponding increase in range, especially in the western part of the Swiss Plateau. The breeding population now stands at an estimated 235-300 pairs, an increase of 55-100%. Northern Switzerland remains the principal breeding and wintering area, but Red Kites are also occurring more frequently on the plateau in winter, probably as a result of two new roosts on the southern border of the breeding range, first discovered in the winter of 1987/88 (Mosimann & Juillard 1988). AUSTRIA After a lack of breeding records in the 1950s and 1960s, Red Kites have returned as regular breeders, probably by immigration from Germany or Switzerland. Numbers are still very small, at only two to four pairs (Hans-Martin Berg in litt.). HUNGARY Last proven breeding was in the early 1970s at Hansag, in the northwest, near the Austrian border. Since then, the species has become extremely rare also on migration (Zoltan Waliczky in litt.). ROMANIA No information since Cramp & Simmons (1980), who referred to about ten pairs, although the population status in the rest of the Balkans suggests that the species no longer breeds in this region of Europe. BULGARIA There is no recent proof of breeding, and the only breeding-season records were in 1894, 1940, 1960, 1962 and 1969. Persecution and the felling of lowland forest are thought to be the causal factors for this absence (John Lawton-Roberts verbally). YUGOSLAVIA Red Kites were formerly distributed throughout the north and in Macedonia. There was, however, a marked decline at the turn of the century, and the last record of breeding was in the Sava Valley in 1968. Recent sightings were near Apatin in northwest Serbia in 1979 and near Pancevo, in the Belgrade area, in April 1980 (Vasic et al. 1985). ITALY This declining breeding population was estimated by Meyburg & Meyburg (1987) to be in the region of 150-300 pairs. The population is confined mainly to southern Italy (Marco Gustin in litt.), with no more than ten pairs in Molise region, 16 in Abruzzo and some tens of pairs in Basilicata region (Dr Massimo Pellegrini in litt.). The most northerly population is found in Monti della Tolfa in central Italy. The breeding status of this small, geographically isolated group of three or four pairs has been particularly well studied in recent years. Productivity is low, with mean clutch and brood sizes of 1.92 and 1.08 respectively, 0.6 young per breeding pair and 0.77 young per successful pair (Area 1989). This compares with 2.5 young per breeding pair in Sicily (Massa 1980). Persecution (illegal hunting and nest robbery) by man is said to be mainly responsible for the decline in the breeding status of this species, although habitat change is another contributory factor. This decline is not confined just to the mainland. In Sicily, a population of 80-100 pairs was the healthiest in Italy ten years ago. Since then, numbers have declined to 40 pairs (Iapichino & Massa 1989), and now 25-30 pairs (Bruno Massa in litt.). In Sardinia, some ten to 20 pairs remain (Schenk 1981), but the decline continues. In addition to those breeding, many Red Kites from central Europe winter in the country, with roosts in Sicily of up to 40 individuals (Galea & Massa 1985), and in central Italy of up to 30 in Lazio (Area 1989) and 40 in Abruzzo, where rubbish tips are an important food source (Dr Massimo Pellegrini in litt.). ALBANIA No information is available since Cramp & Simmons (1980), but, in view of trends in surrounding areas, it is likely that few if any breeding pairs are left. GREECE Red Kites were formerly not uncommon winter visitors from October to March in north and central Greece (Lambert 1957). Now, they occur only irregularly during migration and rarely as winter visitors. Extremely few are involved. It is considered unlikely that breeding ever occurred (George I. Handrinos in litt.). MIDDLE EAST There is no recent proof of breeding in Turkey, although a few summer records of individual birds were reported during the late 1970s and 1980s in northern and World status of the Red Kite 177 northeastern Turkey (R. F. Porter verbally). Red Kites are rare winter immigrants, with a few on passage in Turkey and northwestern Iran. Records from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and northern Arabia do occur, but rarely (H. Shirihai in prep.). CYPRUS Red Kites are classified as accidental visitors, only two of the 13 claimed records of which have been accepted (C. J. L. Bennett in litt.). ISRAEL Red Kites are extremely rare winter visitors, mainly with flocks of Black Kites M. migrans. In the last 40 years, only seven individuals have been positively identified, mostly during 1978-89. One has appeared regularly at Gevulot and one or two in the Hula Valley in the winters of 1983/84-1988/89. The species was described as a very common migrant and winter visitor, and to some extent breeder, in the latter half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of this century. It is possible, however, that such reports were incorrect (H. Shirihai in prep.) EGYPT Red Kites occur as rare migrants in very small numbers. For example, the numbers counted at Suez in autumn 1981 and spring 1982 were 11 and five respectively (Mullie & Meininger 1985). ALGERIA There has been no recent proof of breeding, although Red Kites bred in Ksar el Boukhari and Djebel Dekma in the nineteenth century. The species is now a very rare visitor in both summer and winter (Ledant et al. 1981). TUNISIA During the past 15 years, no breeding pairs of Red Kites were discovered and only one individual was recorded in summer, in an oak forest in the northeast (Khoumirie) on 2nd June 1975 (Thierry Gaultier in litt.). Apart from this summer record, the species regularly winters in North Africa in small numbers and is reported annually on spring migration at Cap Bon, where fewer than 20 individuals are seen in any one year. MALTA The species occurs as a rare and irregular passage migrant. During migration counts in 1969-73, only two individuals (both on autumn passage) were seen, on 19th August 1970 and 27th September 1971 (Beaman & Galea 1974). Up to 1989, only about 15 occurrences have been recorded for the islands (Joe Sultana in litt.). SPAIN Cramp & Simmons (1980) cited estimates of 3,000 and 10,000 pairs, but Meyburg & Meyburg (1987) considered that the population was considerably smaller, at about 1,000 pairs. Current estimates of a stable population of 3,000 pairs are, however, more soundly based (Dr Eduardo de Juana in litt.). Within this stability, the number of pairs breeding in any year oscillates considerably (e.g. in Navarra: Aldasoro 1985). There are major regional variations. For instance, in Catalonia in the northeast, Red Kites are resident breeders and scarce autumn and spring migrants (Muntaner 1985). The breeding distribution is rather fragmented and present population trends are unconfirmed, but thought to be stable. The illegal use of poison, forbidden since 1983, is probably the main reason for the species’ absence from large areas of this region, although shooting, electrocution and egg-collecting are frequent and must also be detrimental to the population. Muntaner (1985) considered that the Catalonian population is probably buffered by immigrants from Aragon, where the species is considerably more abundant. The status on the Balearic Islands is not known precisely. On Mallorca, Red Kites were formerly widespread, but within a few years had become restricted to a remote mountain region owing to human harassment, and are now seriously threatened. On Menorca, the population is thought to be stable, but its size has not been surveyed; it is considered to be common on the island (Muntaner 1981), and in 1974 R. J. Prytherch & R. Brock (in litt.) estimated at least 100 pairs and possibly twice that number. PORTUGAL The Red Kite has been one of the most persecuted raptors in this country. This has probably been the main cause of the species’ marked decline in the past few decades, although since 1974 the species has been given full legal protection. Other closely related species such as the Black Kite have not been adversely affected, since most raptors are shot in the hunting season and this affects mainly resident species (Palma 1985). The current size 178 World status of the Red Kite of the breeding population of the Red Kite seems to have stabilised at about 100 pairs according to observations made by CEMPA in 1985-89 (Dr A. M. Teixeira in litt.). This compares with population estimates of 100-120 pairs during 1978-84 (Rufino et al. 1985). MOROCCO The Red Kite is one of the raptors on which there is least information. There is, however, no doubt that it still inhabits the forests of the Rif, pre-Rif and western Middle Atlas, albeit in reduced numbers. There have also been several reports of individuals observed in summer in eastern Morocco, the Central Plateau and the central High Atlas (Thevenot et at. 1985). The breeding population is estimated at no more than 20 pairs (Bergier 1987) and is probably declining. Breeding has not been proven in the last ten years (Michel Thevenot in litt.). A small number of European Red Kites also overwinter. According to migration counts at Gibraltar, 100-200 are seen making the annual trip during the main passage times of late February to early June and mid August to mid October (Bergier 1987). The future of the Red Kite is rather uncertain. Although, like all Moroccan raptors, it is fully protected by law, this is often ignored, and direct killing (trapping, hunting and destruction of nests) still remains one of the principal causes of decline of many raptor species. The use of toxic chemicals is perhaps the most serious threat to the survival of Red Kites, since strychnine is officially used in massive doses in campaigns against carnivorous mammals, while Parathion is used against House/Spanish Sparrows Passer domesticus/ hispaniolensis and Starlings Stumus vulgaris (Thevenot et al. 1985). CANARY ISLANDS Lack & Southern (1949), in their survey of Tenerife, observed several Red Kites, mainly in the mountains and sometimes near the coast. By the late 1960s, however, the species had been exterminated in the archipelago (Aurelio Martin in litt.). CAPE VERDE ISLANDS The Red Kites on these islands have been described as a distinct subspecies, M. m. fasciicauda Hartert 1914, which resembles the normal Red Kite except that it has a barred tail (C. J. Hazevoet in litt.). Bourne (1955) did not record Black Kite, but described how it resembled fasciicauda, which he reported to be abundant everywhere, especially in the towns and along the shore. Black Kites have increased considerably and nowadays fasciicauda is very rare, as a result of factors which have not been fully elucidated. Persecution may have been a factor in the decline of fasciicauda in the past, but is not a problem nowadays, since there are very few firearms on the Cape Verde Islands. Nest robbery by children may have been another factor, since it is presently proving detrimental to both the Buzzard Buteo buteo and the Bam Owl Tyto alba (C. J. Hazevoet in litt.). C. J. Hazevoet (in litt.), during four prolonged visits in 1986-89, saw only one Red Kite on the island of Santo Antao and occasional individuals showing the rather puzzling characteristics of both Black and Red Kites on the islands of Santiago and Maio. Apart from such birds, only Black Kites were seen. C. J. Hazevoet also received details of birds that were alleged Red Kites, but photographs showed them to be either Black Kites or hybrids. As breeding has not been proved for many years, the population size of the Red Kite is very hard to judge, since M. m. fasciicauda may in fact be itself an early sign of interbreeding. C. J. Hazevoet considers that the Red Kite is gravely threatened and, at most, only a few pairs survive, Santo Antao being its last relative stronghold. Pros ana cons of reintroduction projects IUCN (1987) used the term ‘translocation’ to define the movement of ‘living organisms from one area with free release to another.’ This includes introductions, reintroductions and restocking. An introduction is the release of either captive-bom or free-ranging wild-bom animals into an area outside their original range. Such releases often disrupt natural populations, and the NCC, voluntary conservation organisations and international conservation bodies all discourage these. Reintroduction (a term widely accepted despite its doubtful etymology) is a translocation that releases animals of any origin into an area within their original geographic range. Restocking is a sub-set of this, usually relating to 179 World status of the Red Kite releases in an area in which some of the original population remains. Reintroduction schemes are potentially valuable conservation tech- niques for several reasons: 1. They can restore important elements lost from the wildlife resource. 2. This is particularly valuable in the case of populations of relatively small size and/or distribution. The best way of enhancing the long-term prospects of survival of such populations is by extending their range. Populations of birds of prey are extremely vulnerable to sudden unpredictable changes in the environment. For example, Peregrines Falco peregrinus were wiped out across most of the North American continent (as well as large parts of Europe) before the effects of certain agricultural chemicals were realised (e.g. Newton 1979). 3. Re-established populations can act as ‘flagships’ to encourage land-use and other practices which favour conservation of habitats, but which are difficult to popularise solely in their own right. 4. Such exercises provide important cases of positive conservation measures. These counter the negative image into which conservation bodies tend to be forced when undertaking the crucial role of resisting habitat damage. 5. For similar reasons, such operations tend to draw in partners, and the relationships built up may help in more difficult situations. 6. Such projects tend to draw in tremendous popular support and publicity for conservation and the participating bodies. The public knowledge of the White-tailed Eagle programme is amazingly widespread amongst people with only a passing interest in nature conservation. There are, however, counter-points. Enthusiasm on the part of individuals or groups with a less rigorous approach tends to generate a plethora of proposals for reintroduction or release schemes. As well as the resource problem, ensuring that such projects are properly managed and monitored, there are more fundamental difficulties. Even for reintroduc- tion and releases, conditions may have become unsuitable. At best, this may mean wasted effort; at worst, releases could severely damage populations still present. In between is a continuum of problems including unreasonable pressures on source populations and poor survival of released birds. To overcome some of these problems, and to stress the need for careful advance consideration and detailed monitoring, the UK Committee for International Nature Conservation set up a working group on introduc- tions, which reported in 1979. The recommendations of this report have been adopted by both the NCC and the RSPB as a set of criteria to test for suitability of proposed programmes. These criteria have appeared in various forms with slightly different wording. They can, however, be summarised as follows: 1. There should be good historical evidence of former natural occurrence. 2. There should be a clear understanding of why the species was lost to the area. In general, only those lost through human agency and unlikely to recolonise naturally within a reasonable time should be regarded as suitable candidates for reintroduction. 3. The factors causing extinction should have been rectified. 4. There should be suitable habitats of sufficient extent to which the species can be reintroduced. 5. The individual organisms taken for reintroductions should be from a population as genetically close as possible to that of the native population. 6. Their loss should not prejudice the survival of the population from which they are taken. Newton (1988) considered in detail the question of reintroductions 1 80 World status of the Red Kite of raptors. Red Kites are one of the few species of British birds which may fulfil the criteria. There is clear evidence of recent natural occurrence. The factors leading to the loss are well understood, and have largely been corrected by modem legislation and public attitudes. The continued illegal laying of poison baits does, however, raise some concern in certain areas, including the relict range in Wales. In the assessment of the NCC and the RSPB, there were areas of suitable (and more productive) habitat for reintroduction elsewhere in Britain. Preliminary results (see below) indicate that this was correct, in that young kites have fared well against natural hazards. In the areas chosen, illegal persecution was thought to be low. Despite this, there is a risk in the initial period, when wide wandering by immatures is to be expected. During this period, one kite each in Scotland and England (out of six and five, respectively, released in 1989) was killed by illegally laid poisons. The one from England had unfortunately strayed into the Welsh borders, an area with a high incidence of poisoning, as noted above. The reintroduced kites are from parts of Europe where the conservation authorities and ornithologists consider that the removal of young will not prejudice the source populations. Until recent human intervention, the range of Red Kites was more continuous, and it is unlikely that there are relevant genetic differences between the Continental and the British stock: they are similarly sized and look the same. The criteria allowing reintroductions were therefore fulfilled, but is such an attempt worthwhile? The Red Kite’s prospects The long-term existence of any species is dependent upon maintaining as wide a distribution as possible. Once populations are fragmented or restricted, they become increasingly vulnerable to local pressures which may result in extinction. The geographical review in this paper gives several examples of local extinctions and re-establishments. The more that fragments are isolated, the less likely is recolonisation. The geographical review above indicates, also, that the existing range of Red Kites is even more fragmented than that shown in fig. 1 . In particular, the large area marked in the USSR includes few Red Kites, and even the Spanish population is much more fragmented than shown. The world population of Red Kites, which is currently estimated at between 11,000 and 13,000 breeding pairs (table 1), suffered major declines in range, in continuity of range, and in numbers in the nineteenth century. Today, most of the population, comprising 10,000-12,000 pairs, breeds in Spain, France and Germany. The numbers in these countries appear to have been fairly stable in recent years, although there have been some local declines and perhaps some increases. There have been increases or recolonisations in at least parts of neighbouring countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria. In some of these, available habitat may now be full. The outlook farther east and south is bleak. There must have been major range losses, fragmentation and declines in numbers in the USSR, World status of the Red Kite 181 Table 1. Summary of world breeding status of the Red Kite Milvus milvus Under ‘Extinction’, XIX = nineteenth century. Productivity per breeding pair is the more useful measure of numbers reared, but is less widely available than the mean number of young per successful pair, which tends to underestimate the real extent of differences, as total failures are not included. ESTIMATED TREND PRODUCTIVITY POPULATION (pairs) per per successful breeding (no. Area Extinction 1970s 1980s (+» o, -) pair pair nests) Sweden * 50 >200 + 2.0 1.5 Norway 1880s 0 0 0 Denmark 1910s return 10-15 + 2.1 (54) Scotland XIX 0 0 0 England 1920 0 0 0 Wales — 40 50 0 1.3 0.6 (676) Ireland XIX 0 0 0 Netherlands 1850s 0-2 0 0 Belgium c.1921 1-10 15-20 0 2.3 (19) Luxembourg — 12-15 12-15 0 France — ? 2,300-2,900 - & 0 1.9 1.5 (53) Corsica 1.9 1.3 (22) Germany, W ** 2,000 1,700-2,200 0 Germany, E — 7 2,500 7 2.3 1.8 (491) Poland — 7 300 0 (+ in W) USSR — 7 <100 7— Czechoslovakia — 20-50 20-25 0(?+ in W) Switzerland — 90-150 235-300 + Austria 1950 return 2-4 ?+ Hungary 1970s 4-5 0 — Romania ?1970s c.10 ?0 — Bulgaria 7 0 0 0 Yugoslavia 1960s ?0 ?0 — Italy — 7 150-300 — 0.8f 0.7| Albania 1960s ?0 ?0 — Greece — 0 0 0 Middle East (see text) — 0 0 0 Cyprus — 0 0 0 Israel — 0 0 0 Egypt — 0 0 0 Tunisia — 0 0 0 Malta — 0 0 0 Algeria XIX 0 0 0 Morocco — 7 ?20 - Spain — 7 3,000 0 Portugal — 100-120 100 ?ott Canary Is. 1960s 0 0 - Cape Verde Is. — 7 ?<20 - * Formerly extended farther north ** Decline to 1960s t Productivity figures refer only to northern Italy; productivity 2.5 young per breeding pair on Sicily; most of population is in south Italy tt Following a large decline the Middle East and countries bordering the Mediterranean. Continued persecution, and possibly habitat loss, is probably responsible for the 182 World status of the Red Kite demise of this species in the southern and eastern regions of its range. Breeding has long ceased in Turkey, northern Iran and Syria, and few if any pairs survive in the Balkans. The fact that the Red Kite was said formerly to be a common winter visitor to Greece (Lambert 1957), Israel (Shirihai in prep.) and Egypt (Morris 1904) also suggests that the eastern population was once considerably larger than it is today. The populations in mainland Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, Mallorca and northwestern Africa have been much reduced and continue to decline. The Portuguese population has possibly stabilised, but at a much reduced level. On the Canary Islands, the Red Kite is now extinct, while on the Cape Verde Islands it is gravely threatened and possibly interbreeding with Black Kites. Corsica remains one of the last strongholds in the region (Patrimonio 1990) outside Spain. To put the world Red Kite population into perspective, it is perhaps worth comparing it with the British population of the Buzzard Buteo buteo. This was estimated as 12,000-15,000 pairs by Taylor et al. (1988), even though the species is persecuted in some areas. Persecution of Red Kites in their wintering quarters is perhaps of great concern, especially for those breeding in northern Europe, since they may again be migrating to the Mediterranean area in large numbers as a result of changes in the methods of rubbish disposal, especially the decline in numbers of rubbish tips. This will expose them to hunting pressures in southern Europe and may have serious consequences on the north European — and therefore world — population. We should, therefore, not be complacent and assume that the fortunes of the Red Kite will continue to improve in northern Europe; nor should it be forgotten that populations in West Germany and parts of France are now in decline. Furthermore, the political changes in eastern Europe are likely to lead to an intensification of agricultural methods there. Farmland with a high proportion of traditional manage- ment appears to be particularly important to Red Kites (and, indeed, other vulnerable birds), notably in eastern Germany. Census and subsequent monitoring of the Spanish, French and German populations would, therefore, be especially valuable. The survival of the British population in central Wales, and its slow increase this century to over 60 nesting pairs, is a tribute to the sustained efforts of many farmers and conservationists in that area. The slow rate of increase, however, can be attributed to three factors. One is the use of poison baits (Davis & Newton 1981) — which is a threat both in Wales and in other areas, especially around the Mediterranean. In Wales, this is probably not usually directed at kites but against crows Corvus and foxes. Being carrion feeders, however, the kites suffer. In 1989, at least 11 kites were killed in Wales by this activity, which accounted also for the failure of at least three nests; many other deaths are likely to have remained undetected. Secondly, breeding productivity in Wales is one of the lowest recorded, and is coupled with one of the highest nest-failure rates (Davis & Newton 1981). This is thought to be related to the less productive environment than in the habitats used by Red Kites in France, Germany, Sweden, ADLERBLICK GO GREEN RUBBER ARMOUR NOW ALSO AVAILABLE ALSO NOW WITH GREEN MULTI-COAT LENSES MINIMUM ADVERTISED Modelsavailable* Price(inc VAT) 8 x 24 M/C £149.95 10 x 30M C £159.95 8 x 42M C £169.95 1 0 x 42 M C £179.95 1 0 x 50 M C £198.95 8 x 42 M/C Rubber Armoured* £1 87.95 1 0 x 42 M C Rubber Armoured* £1 97.95 10 x 50M C Rubber Armoured’ £217.95 ' New Soft touch rubber armour finish. Short Focus. BAk4 Prisms. Lightweight. Rainguard available. For details of your nearest stockist, contact: THE EXCLUSIVE IMPORTERS — J. 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Naturally I arranged the best seats in the house, and with our compact Swarovski 8x20 binoculars we captured every telling moment ol a wonderful performance. • A truly memorable premiere; and yes , for us, a truly memorable first The natural choice. 7 was sure she d got me down as the complete outdoors type - expecting a brisk walk o ver the moors and into the local for a swift one with the lads before closing time to be the extent of my imaginative proposals tor a date. But there was a new production of a particularly lavourite play that I was looking forward to seeing, so imagine my delight when she agreed to accompany me for the opening night. All Swarovski Oplik products are manufactured in Austria and carry a lull warranty The pocket-sized Habicht 8 x 20 B binoculars represent the latest in state-of-the-art technology. Features include an integral focussing system, hermetically sealed against dust and moisture, and a wide field of view with high resolution image. 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Telephone 0925 73399 Fax 0606 892207. 24hr answerphone on old 0606 891098 SUPERB VIEWS! TELESCOPES NIKON KOWA QUESTAR OPTOLYTH BUSHNELL SWIFT OPTICRON CENTURY BAUSCH & LOMB + Full range of accessories to suit all models. OPEN MON-FRI 9.30-5.30 SAT 9.30-4.00 CLOSED SUNDAYS & BANK HOLIDAYS THE WEST MIDLAND BIRD CLUB Presents... i 91 SPRING FAIR ^ _ • • • Ml • • • SUPPORTED by AOUITA OPTICAIS KINGSBURY WATER PARK BROOMEV CROFT ENTRANCE WARWICKSHIRE leave M42 at Junction 9 SUPPORTED birdwa(ching MAGAZINE SATURDAY & SUNDAY 18th & 19th MAT 1991 xii (D832) World status of the Red Kite 1 83 Denmark, Belgium and Spain. The third factor, egg-collecting, has possibly been reduced by nest-protection schemes, although it remains remarkably persistent. Although there has been some expansion of the range within Wales, there are no realistic prospects of the kites reoccupying other parts of Britain naturally in the foreseeable future. Illegal poisoning in the area around the kites’ range in Wales is probably a major limitation to further spread. The prospects of sufficient of the small number of surplus young moving beyond this area to start a distant re-establishment are very low. So far, it has not happened, apart from unsuccessful nesting attempts in Devon, Cornwall and Cumbria, one of which was 12 years ago and the others over 60 years ago. There would be major benefits in Britain in re-establishing Red Kites through their former range. These would include the return of a formerly widespread and important element of the wildlife; the opportunity for many people to see this most attractive raptor; the public support generated; and the encouragement of land-use practices sympathetic to wildlife. The most important contribution, however, would be to enhance the chances of world survival of this attractive species. There have been major declines in range and numbers at the other side of its range. In Britain, in collaboration with conservationists elsewhere in Europe, we now have the chance both to contribute to the survival of this rare species, and to benefit from its eventual wider presence in Britain. Progress to date In 1987-88, NCC and RSPB work in Wales, in conjunction with Dr Nick Fox, established that some of the many eggs which would not normally result in fledged kites could be incubated artificially. Kites from this source could therefore be used for a reintroduction programme, without any adverse effect on the size of the Welsh kite population. This action depends, of course, on the help and co-operation of Welsh farmers and conservationists. It provides an opportunity to build on their efforts over the years. Ideally, there would be arguments for providing all the individuals for the reintroduction from within Britain (i.e. from Wales). Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide enough reared birds to do this in the most effective way. In view of the world importance of widening the distribution of this species through its former range, however, Swedish conservation- ists agreed to supply further young birds from their small but expanding population. In 1989, ten young kites were collected under special licence from nests in Sweden, transported to Denmark and then flown from Copenhagen to Britain by RAF Kinloss. These kites were reared in Scotland and England at locations being kept secret in order to minimise disturbance to the birds. They were joined by a young kite from Wales. This was fewer than had been hoped, partly because of the disruption caused by the illegal poisoning of kites in Wales in 1989. All the young developed well and were duly released. They flew 184 World status of the Red Kite British airways' Assisting Nm-ur '-ONSEHVATtO In 1990, with the participation of conservation authorities in Spain, 11 young kites from nests in Navarra were imported in late May, with the help of British Airways’ ‘Assisting Nature Conservation’ programme. They were reared in England with two young hatched from Welsh eggs which otherwise would have been likely to die. These were released on 114. Below, Red Kite Milvus milvus being released in England, July 1990 ( S . Moore ) strongly, catching flying insects within a few hours of release. As expected, they eventually dispersed widely, and were tracked using radio- transmitters and wing-tags. As noted earlier, two eventually strayed into areas where illegal poisoning activities were taking place, and died as a result. The case of an English-released kite which had moved to the Welsh borders resulted, in June 1990, in the successful prosecution of five gamekeepers and two suppliers of poison. The remaining kites continued to thrive, returning occasionally to the rearing areas. It is thought that all nine survived the winter. 113. Left, nestling Red Kite Milvus milvus , Spain, about to be transported to Britain, May 1990 (M. W. Pienkowski) 185 World status of the Red Kite 10th and 19th July, after the completion of growth and the quarantine period. A further 19 kites imported from Sweden in June were released in Scotland during 25th July to 2nd August. All these kites were fitted with wing-tags and radio-transmitters. At the time of writing, in September 1990, this year’s young have rapidly become independent, and a small proportion have embarked on flights of over 100 km. Most are, however, in the general vicinity of the release areas, and have been joined by some of the one-year-old kites, which have returned after dispersal. These preliminary results indicate that the Red Kite is a suitable candidate for reintroduction, and that such a scheme is potentially practicable. The team of ornithologists responsible has dealt with the technical and legal aspects of importation, rearing and release. One can divide such a reintroduction programme into several critical stages: 1. Collecting, importing, rearing and releasing the birds; 2. Checking that the birds survive reasonably well on their own; 3. Checking that the birds reach maturity and breed; and 4. Checking that the population becomes self-supporting. After more than two years of detailed investigation, consideration and planning, and the first two years of importations, we have reached both the first stage, of successfully releasing birds to the wild, and the second stage, of these reaching individual independence. This establishes the potential for the later stages. A much longer programme remains ahead if we are to be successful. If all goes well, we shall need to release enough young birds over several years to establish nucleus populations, and to continue monitoring beyond this time. We need to persist to be successful. Our White-tailed Eagle programme in western Scotland passed the third stage only after more than ten years. This project illustrates the need to avoid a parochial or nationalistic approach to conservation. For species in which individuals require large breeding or feeding territories, population sizes will always be relatively small and vulnerable. Effective conservation planning needs, therefore, to be at least at a national and often a European scale. We are helping each other to ensure the survival of this species for the long-term future. Large numbers of young kites are required each year for a viable programme. It is because of the importance of widening its distribution through its former range that Swedish and Spanish conservationists have agreed to help. The young kites move around widely in their first few months. Indeed, sightings of the released individuals may be expected anywhere in Britain. All sightings of Red Kites are useful in helping us to assess the present position, and, therefore, further needs. Details of the birds, their locations, and the colour and markings of any wing- tags are very helpful. Please send (as quickly as possible) any records in England to Dr Mike Pienkowski, JNCC, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough PEI 1JY, and in Scotland to Roy Dennis, RSPB, Munlochy, Ross & Cromarty IV8 8ND. Acknowledgments This is a joint NCC/RSPB programme. Apart from the authors, the Project Team has 186 World status of the Red Kite included R. F. Porter, Dr L. A. Batten, G. D. Elliott, R. H. Dennis, Dr N. Fox, Dr I. Newton, P. Walters Davies, P. E. Davis, Dr A. J. Watson, Dr L. Jones-Walters, Mrs S. Garnett, Dr K. Smith and J. Spencer. A large number of people and organisations have already helped in the project; for reasons of site-security, it is not yet possible publicly to acknowledge their help. We are nonetheless extremely grateful, and hope to be able to say so more directly at a later date. We should like to thank all those who have contributed information; most of them have been acknowledged individually in the text. Others include: Lars Norgaard Andersen, Dr Eric Bignal, Frederic Bouvet, Chalabi Bouzid, Henrik Dissing, Dr Philippe J. Dubois, Dr Jean Francois, Ted Green, Dr James Kirkwood, Roger Lovegrove, Gemant Magnin, Chris Monk, Ros Ottoway, Alison Stattersfield, David Stroud and Dr Niklaus Zbinden. We are grateful to the organisations helping in the provision of kites: WWF-Sweden, the Swedish National Environmental Protection Board, the Spanish Instituto Nacional para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza, the Servicio de Medio Ambiente of Navarra, the Royal Air Force and British Airways’ ‘Assisting Nature Conservation’ programme. We thank our colleagues in the project team for their comments on drafts of this paper. Summary The world status of the Red Kite Milvus milvus is reviewed. The species has declined throughout its range over recent centuries. Its range and numbers continue to decline in much of eastern and southern Europe and in north Africa. The total population is now only 11,000-13,000 pairs, mostly in Spain, France and Germany. There have been increases or recolonisations in neighbouring countries. It is likely that the future of Red Kites will depend increasingly on western Europe. Although conditions in much of Britain appear to be suitable again for Red Kites, the productivity of the relict population in Wales is low, and poisoning remains a problem. Natural recolonisation from this source is unlikely. The Red Kite is, however, one of very few bird species which fulfil the conservation criteria for reintroductions. The NCC and the RSPB started an experimental reintroduction programme in England and Scotland in 1989. Preliminary results indicate that conditions are suitable; the young kites rapidly became independent and most survived their first winter. The programme will need to continue for several years. References Arca, G. 1989. II nibbio reale Milvus milvus nei monti della Tolfa (Lazio settentrionale). Avocetta 13: 1-7. ALDASORO, J. E. 1985. Navarra. Atlas de Aves Nidijicantes (1982-1984). Pamplona, Caja de Ahorros de Navarra. Beaman, M., & Galea, C. 1974. The visible migration of raptors over the Maltese Islands. Ibis 116:419-431. Bergier, P. 1987. Les rapaces diumes du Maroc. Annales du C.E.E.P. 3. Aix en Provence. Bourne, W. R. P. 1955. The birds of the Cape Verde Islands. Ibis 97: 508-556. BOUVET, F. 1985. The status of the Bearded Vulture in Corsica. In Newton, I., & Chancellor, R. D. (eds.), Conservation Studies on Raptors, ICBP Technical Publication 5: 129- 130. Collar, N. J., & Andrew, P. 1988. Birds to Watch: the ICBP world checklist of threatened birds. Cambridge. Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1980. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 2. Oxford. Davis, P. E., & Newton, I. 1981. Population and breeding of Red Kites in Wales over a 30- year period. J. Anim. Ecol. 50: 759-772. Galea, C., & Massa, B. 1985. Notes on the raptor migration across the Central Mediterranean. In Newton, I., & Chancellor, R. D. (eds.), Conservation Studies on Raptors, ICBP Technical Publication 5: 257-261. GensbjOL, B. 1986. Collins Guide to Birds of Prey of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. London. Iapichino, C., & Massa, B. 1989. The Birds of Sicily. BOU check list, 11. London. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. 1987. Translocation of Living Organisms: introductions, re-introductions, and re-stocking. Gland. J0RGENSEN, H. E. 1989. Danmarks Rovfugle. Copenhagen. Lack, D., & Southern, H. N. 1949. Birds of Tenerife. Ibis 91: 607-626. 187 World status of the Red Kite Lambert, A. 1957. Birds of Greece. Ibis 99: 43-68. Ledant, J. P., Jacob, J. P., Jacobs, P., Malher, F., Oc.hando, B., & Roche, J. 1981. Mise a jour de l’avifaune algerienne. Le Gerfaut 71: 295-398. Massa, B. 1980. Ricerche sui rapaci in un'area campione della Sicilia. Naturalista Sicilia 4: 59- 72. Meyburg, B.-U., & MEYBURG, C. 1987. Present status of diurnal birds of prey in various countries bordering the Mediterranean. Instituto Nazionale di Biologia della Selvagina. XII. Bologne. Morris, F. O. 1904. .4 History of British Birds, vol. 1. Fifth edn. London. Mosimann, P., & JuiLl-ARD, M. 1988. Brutbestand und Winterverbreitung des Rotmilans Milvus milvus in der Schweiz. Om. Beobachter 85: 199-206. Mullie, W. C., & Mf.ININGER, P. L. 1985. The decline of bird of prey populations in Egypt. In Newton, I., & Chancellor, R. D. (eds.), Conservation Studies on Raptors , ICBP Technical Publication 5: 61-82. Muntaner,J. 1981. Le statut des rapaces diumes des Baleares. Rapaces Medit err anees. Annales du CROP 1: 62-65. 1985. The status of diurnal birds of prey in Catalonia, Northeastern. In Newton, I., & Chancellor, R. D., Conservation Studies on Raptors , ICBP Technical Publication 5: 29-43. New ton, I. 1979. Population Ecology of Raptors. Berkhamsted. 1988. Reintroduction, and its relation to the management of raptor populations. In Proc. of the International Symposium on Raptor Reintroduction , 1985. Institute for Wildlife Studies, Areata, California. Nisbet, I. C. T. 1959. The kites of sixteenth-century London. Brit. Birds 52: 239-240. Ortlieb, R. 1980. Der Rotmilan. Wittenberg Lutherstadt. Palma, L. 1985. The present situation of birds of prey in Portugal. In Newton, I., & Chancellor, R. D., Conservation Studies on Raptors , ICBP Technical Publication 5: 3-14. Patrimonio, O. 1990. Le Milan Royal ( Milvus milvus) en Corse: repartition et reproduction. Travaux Scientifiques du Parc Naturel Regional et des Reserves Naturelles de Corse. Rhfjnwald, G. 1982. Brutvogelatlas der Bundesrepublik Deutschland- Kartierung 1980. Schriftenreihe des Dachverbandes Deutscher Avifaunisten. Rufino, R., Araujo, A., & Abreu, M. 1985. Breeding raptors in Portugal: distribution and population estimates. In Newton, I., & Chancellor, R. D. (eds.), Conservation Studies on Raptors , ICBP Technical Publication 5: 15-28. Scharringa, C. J. G. 1978. European news. Brit. Birds 71: 255. SCHENK, H. 1981. Lista Rossa degli Uccelli della Sardegna. Parma. SHIRIHAI, H. In prep. Birds of Israel. Stubbe, M., & Gedeon, K. 1989 . Jahresbericht zum Monitoring Greijvogel und Eulen der DDR 1. Sylven, M. 1987. Verksamheten inom Projekt Glada 1986. Var Fagelv. 46: 137-143. Svensson, L. 1982. European news. Brit. Birds 75: 28. Taylor, K., Hudson, R., & Horne, G. 1988. Buzzard breeding distribution and abundance in Britain and Northern Ireland in 1983. Bird Study 35: 109-118. Thevenot, M., Bergier, P., & Beaubrun, P. 1985. Present distribution and status of raptors in Morocco. In Newton, I., & Chancellor, R. D. (eds.), Conservation Studies on Raptors , ICBP Technical Publication 5: 83-101. TfflOLLAY, J. M., & TERRASSE, J. F. (eds.) 1984. Estimation des effectifs de rapaces nicheurs diumes et non rupestres en France. Fonds d’intervention pour les rapaces. La Garenne-Colombes. UK Committee for International Nature Conservation. 1979. Wildlife Introductions to Great Britain. Report by the Working Group on Introductions. London. Vasic, V., Grubac, B., Susie, G., & Marinkovic, S. 1985. The status of birds of prey in Yugoslavia, with particular reference to Macedonia. In Newton, I., & Chancellor, R. D. (eds.), Conservation Studies on Raptors, ICBP Technical Publication 5: 45-54. Walters Davies, P., & Davis, P. E. 1973. The ecology and conservation of the Red Kite in Wales. Brit. Birds 66: 183-224, 241-270. Dr Ian M. Evans and Dr M. W. Pienkowski, Chief Scientist Directorate, Nature Conservancy Council (now Joint Nature Conservation Committee), Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough PEI 1JY Red-necked Grebe breeding in England Mariko Parslow-Otsu and G. D. Elliott The Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena occurs widely in the Holarctic, breeding from Sweden, Finland and northern Russia, south into Denmark, Germany, the Balkans and the Ukraine, east to the Kirghiz Steppes, and then (as a much larger, longer-billed subspecies) from eastern Siberia, Manchuria and Japan across northern North America (Vaurie 1965). The northwest European population appears to fluctuate in numbers, but in recent years there have been increasing records of this species summering in western Europe, with breeding records from France in 1978 and Belgium in 1979 (Devillers et at. 1988). In Britain, records of summering individuals and pairs increased from about 1980, since when attempts at breeding have been suspected at a site in Scotland on up to five occasions and eggs were laid but failed to hatch in 1988 (Anon 1989; Spencer et at. 1990). A single Red-necked Grebe in breeding plumage was first noted at a site in Cambridgeshire during the summer of 1987. It remained from 7th June until 30th August and defended a territory — part of a bay in a flooded gravel-pit — against Great Crested Grebes P. cristatus. The next year, a similar individual, presumed from its behaviour to be the same as in 1987, returned to the same bay on 31st March. From its especially dark face it was nicknamed ‘Sooty’. It was joined by a second, whiter-faced individual on 7th April — perhaps the same as one seen on the Ouse Washes, a few kilometres away, from 30th March to 6th April. By 11th April, the pair was already building a platform of aquatic vegetation anchored amongst the upright stems of a partially submerged small willow Salix some 30 m from the shore. On 14th, one was watched sitting tightly on the platform throughout a three-hour period of observation and could have been incubating. By the time of the next observations, from 22nd April to 1st May, however, the pair’s attachment to the platform was weaker, though they continued to visit, repair and 188 [Bnt. Birds 84: 188-191, May 1991] 189 Red-necked Grebe breeding in England occasionally sit upon it. During 2nd-5th May, they built a new platform in another small emergent willow 15 m from the first, where copulation took place on 5th. On the morning of 8th May, one grebe was again sitting tight on the original platform. Soon after midday, it was surprised by a passing horse and rider, left the nest hurriedly, and the single egg was taken almost immediately by a Magpie Pica pica. Between 23rd April and 8th May, many birdwatchers and amateur photographers approached close to the nest platforms. The species was not (and surprisingly is still not) on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Acts, so has no legal protection from intentional disturbance. With the co-operation of the owners, the RSPB arranged for the site to be wardened from 9th May. The pair was again seen copulating on 9th, but visited the nest only infrequently after lorries dumped rubble nearby, causing the sitting bird to leave the nest. An egg had possibly been laid, as egg-covering behaviour took place before it departed, but there was certainly one egg on 10th and three by 14th. Observation of the nest contents was difficult, but this appeared to be the final clutch size. (The egg taken by the Magpie was the first of this clutch, not a separate clutch as reported by Spencer et al. 1990.) Incubation was shared equally by both birds and the nest was added to daily. On 9th June, 30-31 days after the first of the three eggs was laid, the nest was swamped during a period of high winds, and the eggs were lost. It seems unlikely that they would have hatched after this length of time: the usual incubation period for Red-necked Grebes is 20-23 days and is thought to begin with the first egg (Cramp & Simmons 1977). As they were not recovered for examination, the explanation for the long incubation remains unknown. Both Red-necked Grebes continued to show some interest in the nest after this failure and in late June even built another platform 600 m away; but activity gradually dwindled. The pair stayed on the flooded pit until 7th July, and ‘Sooty’ remained until 3rd September. ‘Sooty’ returned for a third summer in 1989 (20th March to 23rd August) and a fourth in 1990 (29th March to 21st August). In 1989, it built a nest platform, but no mate appeared. In 1990, it wandered more frequently to other flooded pits in the immediate area before settling into and defending its usual territory. It did not, however, build a nest platform until a second bird arrived between 9th and 13th May. Display took place, and a platform was built, but courtship activity soon diminished. On 28th May, the new arrival was reported sick, apparently choking and being pecked at by the other so that it was driven ashore. It swam out again and soon after was noticed dead on the water (R. Frost verbally). The body, partly eaten by a crow, was later recovered by Bruce Martin. A post- mortem examination by the Cambridge Veterinary Investigation Centre failed to reveal the cause of death. The gonads were absent, but the bird was believed to be male. From its behaviour, ‘Sooty’ had been considered to be the male. In all four summers, it was aggressively and noisily territorial, frequently threatening and attacking single or pairs of Great Crested Grebes which 190 Red-necked Grebe breeding in England tried to enter its part of the bay. Its mate in 1988 occasionally joined in during threat displays, but played only a supporting role. On 14th May 1988, it was involved in a 50-minute battle with a pair of Great Crested Grebes nesting in the same bay, during which it was locked together with one of them for 14 minutes and was held under water for over a minute, during which it must nearly have drowned. Undeterred by the experience, its pugnacious behaviour continued. It once swam 100 m to the Great Crested Grebes’ nest, seemingly seeking another fight, and increased its aggression when the latter hatched their young. The following year, when it arrived especially early, it managed, by patrolling the entrance and through persistent aggression, to prevent any Great Crested Grebes at all from nesting in the entire bay — an area totalling some 2 ha. In 1990, it ceased defending the territory on the death of its partner, moving to the centre of the lake to moult, so allowing a late-nesting pair of Great Crested Grebes to move in. According to Cramp & Simmons (1977), intraspecific antagonistic behaviour involves especially the male; inter- specific encounters are not mentioned. Unfortunately, observations of mating were inconclusive in determining the sexes. During copulation in May 1988, ‘Sooty’ was in the male’s position on just three of the five occasions that it was possible to observe the respective positions of each individual. Reversed mounting, at least early in the season, is on record (Cramp & Simmons 1977). The gravel-pit used by the Red-necked Grebes was large (40 ha) and open, with a limited number of peninsulas forming some small bays. It was a relatively young water (flooded in about 1986) and contained large populations of small fish. Dip-netting in the bay in summer 1988 showed three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and many small rudd Scard- inius erythrophthalmus and roach Rutilus rutilus to be present. Small fish seemed to make up most of the birds’ diet. To 1990 the lake had not been used by anglers and, so far as is known, has not been stocked with fish, such as large pike Esox Indus. The water surface was open, with very limited areas of emergent vegetation comprising a small number of mainly scattered semi-submerged willow bushes and an area of very sparse common reed Phragmites australis. Competition for nest sites was intense, with the few willows the only ones available. As well as defending territory against Great Crested Grebes, the Red-necked Grebes were seen successfully to defend their nest platforms from Coots Fulica atra, which, however, frequently stole nest material from them and vice versa. Little Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis nesting in the same bay in 1988 were tolerated. The Scottish breeding record for 1988 involved nest-building in willow growing in about 1 m of water in a secluded bay in a larger water. The first egg was seen on 19th June and two were present the following day. The grebes were then observed incubating until at least 26th June, but by 30th the nest was empty (Anon. 1989). It is encouraging that two breeding attempts by Red-necked Grebes should occur in Britain in the same year. Unfortunately, both were unsuccessful, but, if the trend for this species to summer here continues, it seems likely that further attempts will follow. To judge from the sites chosen to date, shortage of habitat will not be a limiting factor. 191 Red-necked Grebe breeding in England Summary During the summers of 1987-90, what seemed to be the same individual Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena defended a territory against Great Crested Grebes P. cristatus at a flooded gravel-pit in Cambridgeshire. In 1988, a mate appeared, eggs were laid, but failed to hatch after being incubated beyond the normal period. A different partner appeared in 1990, but died before eggs were laid. The 1988 attempt coincided with one in Scotland (Anon 1989) and together these were the first recorded instances of breeding by Red-necked Grebes in Britain. References ANON. 1989. Red-necked Grebe breeding in Scotland. Scot. Birds 15: 133. Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1977. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 1. Oxford. Dfatllers, P., Roggeman, W., Tricot, J., del Marmot, P., Kerwijn, C., Jacob, J.-P., & Anseljn, A. 1988. Atlas des Oiseaux nicheurs de Belgique. Bruxelles. Spencer, R., & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. 1990. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1988. Brit. Birds 83: 353-390. VAURIE, C. 1965. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Non-passeriformes. London. Mariko Parslow-Otsu, Orchard Cottage , Cranes Lane , Kingston , Cambridge CB3 7NJ G. D. Elliott , RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 2DL Mystery photographs gC/C Two waders feeding: with their bills under water, one of the AUU major identification features of any bird is lacking, making plate 109 (repeated here) an interesting mystery photograph. So, where do we start? The photograph does not give a good impression of size, and the leg length is almost as uncertain as that of the bill. Fortunately, the plumages are clearly shown. Both birds have an obvious supercilium, and side-by-side comparison leaves little doubt that they are the same species. 192 Mystery photographs The small, neat, unworn upperpart and wing-covert feathers are the mark of juveniles. A more careful look at the pattern of most of the visible feathers shows a further feature: a conspicuous pale edge with a thin dark line forming an inner margin to the pale fringe. This feather pattern is the key to the identification, since it is shared by only three juvenile waders, all species of Calidris. It rules out other wader species that have a similar supercilium, such as Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica. The species having this plumage pattern are Knot C. canutus , Tem- minck’s Stint C. temminckii , and Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea. A vaguely similar pattern, though much fainter, is shown by juveniles of the various ringed plover species in the genus Charadrius , but the absence of a white hind-collar is sufficient to rule out that possibility. So, which one of the three species are they? Temminck’s Stint is small, has a virtually unpattemed head, plain white flanks, and proportionately longer tertials, almost reaching to its wing tips. Moreover, Temminck’s Stint rarely wades in open water, preferring muddy, vegetated ground. Thus, Temminck’s Stint may be ruled out. Curlew Sandpipers and Knots share many plumage characters, and in many ways are remarkably similar at all times of the year. As juveniles, both have fairly obvious supercilia. Apart from size, bill length and shape, the main distinguishing features of the two species are the streaked upper breast and the spots and chevrons on the flanks of Knot (Curlew Sandpiper being nearly unmarked beneath in comparison). Additionally, juvenile Curlew Sandpiper has noticeably darker upperpart feather centres than Knot. Thus the mystery birds are juvenile Knots. This excellent mystery photograph was taken by Hans Schouten in the Netherlands in autumn 1985. R. J. Chandler 116. Mystery photograph 167. Identify the species. Answer next month Bird Recording Services ALL THE BIRD SONGS OF EUROPE ON 4CDs Jean C. Roche / Sittelle 1990 / 91 A new ID guide with incomparable laser sound quality and instant access to species. Songs & calls or 396 breeding & migrant birds of Britain & Western Europe in systematic order. 99 species 199 tracks per CD. No announcements but detailed 16 pp booklet with each CD. NOW ONLY £49.95 (inc.p&p Britain & Europe)!! (was£60) The phenomenal demand for this set has enabled B.R.S. to obtain further stocks at this reduced price which we in turn are passing on to all our customers. 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Available either as cassette £7.95 or CD £12.99. Please note there are no announcements but many of the main bird species that can be heard are listed in the insert / booklet. Nocturnal & Diurnal Birds of Prey Jean C. Roche / Sittelle 1991 Sound guide to the diurnal raptors (from eagles to falcons) & owls of Europe. 40 species. Announced. One C-70 cassette. Mono. £795 Bird Songs of Israel & the Middle East Krister Mild 1990 114 species on 2 C 90 cassettes. With accompanying booklet & seasonal check-list of Israeli birds 1980-1989 £24.95 SPECIAL OFFER British Bird Songs & Calls + More British Bird Sounds Ron Kettle (ed) 1987 + 1990 161 species of the most commonly found birds in the British Isles-in systematic order-3 cassettes. Announced. £21.00 Sounds of Migrant & Wintering Birds C. Chappuis 1989 Songs & calls of Western European birds-147 species on 2 cassettes with explanatory booklet. £12.95 Southern African Bird Calls Len Gillard. Revised & enlarged 1985/87. 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Charlotte Nanton, Suite 53, Terminal House, Station Approach, Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 8AS Telephone: 0932 244140 845580 CRETE Small groups led by Bobby Tulloch Departures October 1991 & April 1992 for autumn and spring migrations Ardross, Comrie, Perthshire PH6 2JU. Tel: 0764 70107 (D841 ) XIV Sponsored by Monthly marathon This issue went to press before the closing dates for the receipt of entries relating to the sixth and seventh stages (plates 7 & 62) in the current, fifth ‘Monthly marathon’. The answers will be revealed in the June issue. The tenth puzzle picture appears below. The winner of the ‘Marathon' will be able to choose as his/her prize a SUNBIRD birdwatching holiday in Africa, Asia or North America. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. 117. Fifth ‘Monthly marathon’ (tenth stage: photograph number 59). Identify the species. Read the rules on page 16 of the January 1991 issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th June 1991 193 Notes Kestrel concealing and retrieving half-eaten prey At 11.05 GMT on 10th February 1988, at Hemingford Grey, Cambridgeshire, we found a male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus feeding from a freshly killed Starling Stumus vulgaris on our lawn, 13 m from the house and 2 m from a garden shed. He fed undisturbed until 11.35 hours, then dragged the half-eaten carcase 10 m across the open grass to the edge of a small pond, through some low vegetation, and to the shelter of some small logs and larger bog plants, where he left the remains. The Kestrel then flew to the roof of the shed, surveyed the pond for flew out of the garden. At 14.47 GMT, he returned and landed on the shed roof, where he remained for two minutes; he then flew directly to the pond, retrieved the carcase and dragged it 2 m to the water’s edge, where he began feeding again. The Kestrel fed continuously from 14.52 to 15.39 hours, when he stopped, flew up towards the shed, over a hedge and out of the garden. I examined what was left of the Starling: both wings (more or less intact), both feet and legs, a small part of the skull and bill, and a quantity of small feathers. J. F. SlMS and L. M. SlMS 4 Pound Road, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon PE 18 9EF Caching by Kestrels is well known and well documented, but the interest of this note is that the return visit was seen and timed. Eds Stone-curlew swimming On 6th June 1988, I was observing Stone- curlews Burhinus oedicnemus at a breeding site near Korba, Tunisia. Walking close to the edge of a saline pool, I was surprised to see an adult Stone- curlew plunge-dive awkwardly into the shallows some 8 m from me. As part of its ‘distraction display’, and showing no fear, it swam towards me, until, on touching bottom, it submerged, continuing to walk towards me with only head and neck above water, recalling a Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis. The Stone-curlew then moved away from me, and, as I approached the water, it moved rapidly to dry land nearby. P. F. Whitehead Moor Leys, Little Comberton, Pershore, Worcestershire Snipe feeding on teasel On 19th March 1988, as I walked along the inner verge of Rochestown Marsh, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, I noticed a large bird perched on top of a teasel Dipsacus fullonum. Closer inspection showed it to be a Snipe Gallinago gallinago , which was using its bill to prise out seeds from the teasel head. The bird had great difficulty in manoeuvring its bill while keeping its balance on the teasel head, which was about 1 m high. As I approached closer, the bird took off. On examining the seedhead, 1 observed holes larger than those which hold the seeds, apparently made by the Snipe trying to force the seeds out. The only other bird species 194 Notes 195 which I have observed feeding on teasel seeds is the Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, and certainly never any species of wader. Brian FORRISTAL 7 Glen Terrace, Waterford City, Ireland We should welcome reports of any other similar observations of this extraordinary behaviour. The flowerheads and seedheads of the teasel often contain a veritable menagerie of invertebrates; perhaps insects, rather than seeds, were the attraction in this instance. Eds Cuckoo attacking Woodpigeon At about 04.30 GMT on 5th June 1988, near Triscombe, Taunton, Somerset, I saw a male Cuckoo Cuculus canorus , which had been singing nearby, fly at a Woodpigeon Columba palumbus , which was singing near the top of a Scots pine Finns sylvestris. The pigeon was struck by the Cuckoo and at once flew off; it was closely followed by its aggressor for about 100 m, but then returned to perch on a second pine about 100 m from the first tree, and resumed singing. After about a minute, it was again flown at by a Cuckoo, presumably the same individual. It flew away once again, but this time there was no pursuit by the Cuckoo. The Woodpigeon did not return, but the Cuckoo perched in a nearby silver birch Betula pendula and sang for about three minutes. A. P. Radford Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3EG Derek Goodwin has questioned whether the Woodpigeon’s partly grey plumage might have supplied some stimulus suggesting a rival Cuckoo. Eds Call of migrant Wryneck At 07.30 GMT on 6th September 1987, at Langdown Cliffs, near Dover, Kent, while J. R. Chantler, K. J. Hall and I were watching a migrant Wryneck Jynx torquilla, I heard a distinctive, yet unfamiliar call: a short, soft trill, best transcribed as ‘z-e-e-p’, with a decided thrush-like quality. It was with surprise, therefore, that I realised that the Wryneck had made this call, and several subsequent ones, as I was familiar only with that species’ falcon-like ‘kee-kee-kee-kee . . .’ song. BWPv ol. 5 states that migrant Wrynecks are silent, and also that young in the nest ‘give various, clear trilling, tinkling, or bibbering “tsi”, “zi”, metallic-sounding “sit”, or “tsijek” sounds’. These transcriptions are similar to my interpretation of the Dover individual’s call, which would suggest that it was a first-year still calling as it would have done in the nest about two months previously. P. J. Chantler 66 Hunter Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent TN24 0RT Dr K. E. L. Simmons has commented that, since post-fledging care is normal for the Wryneck (as it is for all woodpeckers), this may have been an individual from a late-hatched brood still calling ‘for its parents’. Eds Great Spotted Woodpecker exploiting foraging Lesser Spotted Wood- peckers Between 10.40 and 11.18 GMT on 9th December 1987, at Hinchinbrook Country Park, Cambridgeshire, we watched a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos minor foraging close together through 196 Notes the lower tree canopy of a plantation of ash Fraxinus excelsior and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Both were very vocal and showed alarm at the presence nearby of a female Great Spotted Woodpecker D. major. One of the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers started to concentrate its foraging efforts on one particular spot on a branch: almost immediately, the Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over and dislodged it from its position, chipped at the same point previously favoured by the Lesser Spotted, and appeared to extract a prey item; it then flew to another tree, where it perched, but was not seen to forage. The Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers became very vocal and aggressive towards the larger species. After the initial displacement, the Lesser Spotted returned to the same tree and flew around the Great Spotted Woodpecker, calling loudly and making aggressive pecking gestures towards it. Both Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers resumed foraging through the plantation, and one began to chip at a particular position. Again, the Great Spotted flew across, dislodged it, and took over the extraction: this time, both Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers mobbed the Great Spotted, which abandoned the position and flew back to its perch; the Lesser Spotted inspected the branch, but did not resume foraging there. Both Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers flew on to the next tree: once again, as one started to chip at one spot, the larger woodpecker supplanted it, this time extracting a prey item. This exploitation by the Great Spotted Woodpecker was observed on two more occasions that morning. The Great Spotted maintained a discreet distance, following the two smaller woodpeckers as they foraged through the plantation, but it was not seen foraging itself. The day was one of bright sunshine, with a hard overnight frost clearing slowly by midday. Paul N. Johnson, Patrick Knight and Peter Bonus The Stewards House , Sunderland Farm, Docking, Norfolk PE31 8PF Great Spotted Woodpeckers are normally aggressive towards other Dendrocopos species, both in breeding and in winter feeding territories, and at feeding stations will fly at and chase off other birds, including Lesser Spotted and Grey-headed Woodpeckers Picus conus (see BWP vol. 4). The above observation is of interest in view of the persistent and habitual use of exploitation apparently as a main foraging method. Eds Great Spotted Woodpecker robbing Nuthatch and being robbed by grey squirrel On the afternoon of 22nd September 1986, near Orpington, Kent, Eric Knowles and I watched a Nuthatch Sitta europaea with a hazelnut in its bill. It stuck the nut in a crevice in a large branch of an oak Quercus and struck it repeatedly, pausing every few seconds to look around nervously. Suddenly, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major flew into my field of view and supplanted the Nuthatch. The woodpecker looked around for a moment and then, with three quick blows, broke open the nut; it was just starting to eat it piecemeal when a grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis rushed up the branch, supplanted the woodpecker and, with its teeth, pulled the nut from the crevice, sat up and ate it. Derek Goodwin 6 Crest View Drive, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent BR5 1BY Letters Shearwaters, sirens and halcyons Dr Bourne’s reply {Brit. Birds 83: 555- 556) to my letter on this subject (83: 334-335) invites further comment. In referring to Sir D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson’s book, he might usefully have added that it identified several Greek names (quite different from Halcyon) as referring to shearwaters. Shearwaters sing by night; Sirens sing by day (further confirmed by the ‘earliest representations’ referred to by Dr Bourne). Why then should shearwaters have inspired this myth? Dr Bourne avoids this question, but he suggests that rock-nesting seabirds might have provided the (presum- ably visual) inspiration. Perhaps so, but shearwaters do not sit out on rocks during the day. In English etymology, we differentiate clearly between the mythical Halcyon and the real Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. In classical Greek, this was not so: the same basic word was used to denote both. Why should this have been the case if those responsible for creating the myth did not perceive some connection between the two? And is it really conceivable that the Greeks could have used this same word to denote also a third bird — the shearwater — without leaving any discernible trace in the literature? Aristotle may have confused myth with reality, but he certainly was not referring to any shearwater in the three passages mentioned by Dr Bourne (in two of which, incidentally, Aristotle did refer to sea-nesting). The scope for confusion between Halcyon and Kingfisher was there from the start and did not arise ‘after some 3,000 years of ill-informed comment’. What the Turks may have picked up from the Greeks 2,000 years later seems irrelevant for these purposes, and, in any event, there is no evidence to support, and hard Turkish etymological evidence to refute, Dr Bourne’s surmise. Nor is it true that ‘Yelkouan ... is still . . . the Turkish vernacular . . . name of the species’ (i.e. the proposed Puffinus yelkouan). The Turkish word means nothing more specific than ‘shearwater’. ‘Yelkouan Shearwater’, therefore, means ‘Shearwater Shearwater’ in English and ‘Yelkouan Yelkovan’ in Turkish. Surely, knowing this, we should try to avoid such an inelegancy by considering other possibilities, such as Mediterranean Shearwater (its former association with a different species must now be nearly forgotten), Mediterranean Manx Shearwater (cumbersome but usefully indicating the close relationship), or even Acerbi’s Shearwater (commemorating the Italian chap who first applied the scientific name in 1827)? Dougal G. Andrew Muirfield Gate , Gullane, East Lothian EH31 2EG It is kind of my old friend Dougal Andrew to demonstrate so elegantly that a Scottish lawyer can find almost anything he wishes in a disputable classical text. I would have preferred to avoid the addition of shearwater to the name yelkouan as a collective term for the main Turkish species as I tried to explain to him, and to continue to use the names ‘Balearic’ and ‘Levantine’ for races recognisable in the field, but I was out-voted. 197 198 Letters ‘Yelkouan Shearwater’ is a name designed by a committee; two cheers for Democracy! W. R. P. Bourne RFA Sir Percivale, Gulf of Oman Correspondence on this subject is now closed. Eds Cirl Bunting song types K. E. Vinicombe’s note on the double song of the Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus {Brit. Birds 81: 240-241) prompts me to record the following. On various visits to France and Spain during the months of April and July-September, I have given more than cursory attention to 26 singing male Cirl Buntings. The majority of these produced both the songs described by Mr Vinicombe. Certainly, most songs were the ‘typical’ version, but my impression was that the proportion was something like 60% ‘typical’ to 40% ‘variant’, although I am unable to back this up with hard data. I have wondered why, in view of its apparent regularity, the variant song is omitted from the standard field guides. I put this down to the difficulties of phonetic transcription and to a general lack of interest in vocalisations among many birdwatchers, but this may be unfair. Perhaps the species is continuing to develop its song? J. M. PlNDER 29 Thick Hollins, Meltham, Huddersfield HD7 3DQ Trees, gardens and birds Alan Mitchell’s letter {Brit. Birds 83: 291) spoilt a good point by overkill. Introduced trees can be useful to wildlife, and the cypresses that seem to have replaced privet Ligustrum ovalifolium as Britain’s favourite hedge do provide nest sites; but how does that make them ‘the two trees most valuable’ for garden birds? Holly Ilex provides equally good cover for nests, as well as berries, albeit it is slower-growing. The real worry about Mitchell’s letter, however, is that it will be used by landscapers and planners keen to claim their place on the green bandwagon without changing their priorities, which too often involve wasting public money on excessive tidying and gardening to the detriment of birds and other native wildlife. If Mitchell seriously believes that native trees are useless to our birds because they are not in leaf until May, how have the birds been managing all these years before gardeners planted exotic conifers? The most important point about gardens as bird habitats is that most of them support only a limited percentage of our native avifauna, though a few species can occur at high densities. Just how limited was brought home to me when I surveyed a variety of urban areas in Lothian in 1986 {Scot. Birds 15: 170-177). Post-war housing estates with small gardens, which are the sort of places in which most of us now five, held only five really common breeding species. High-rise blocks without individual gardens were even worse, with an average density of under one pair of breeding birds per hectare. Even Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens — where a total of just under 30 species reached a combined density of nine territories per hectare — had no buntings or warblers and a very limited range of finches, despite lots of cypresses and other specimen trees. Letters 199 Rather than campaigning for yet more Leyland cypress (X Cupressocy- paris leylandii), which is hardly under threat, we should be educating local authorities in the value of those habitats that do hold the birds for which all but the most informal and ‘weedy’ gardens are unsuitable. Most British towns have places, often where industry has finished, where birch Betula , brambles Rubus , nettles Urtica and willow-herb Epilobium have colonised and where a whole range of wildlife, including birds, thrives. Some of these sites will be lost to redevelopment, but some, such as old railways and canals, are ideal for public recreation. If at least some parts of public parks could also be allowed to ‘go to seed’, we could have more birds as well as butterflies and wild flowers (and reduce the poll tax!). S. R. D. da Prato 38 Carlaverock Grove , Tranent, East Lothian EH33 2EB ‘Variety is the spice of life’, and also the characteristic of the constituents of a good bird garden. Between them, the suggestions made by Paddy Ashdown, Alan Mitchell and Stan da Prato would provide all the necessary requirements for excellent artificial wildlife-habitat. We also received a letter from P. F. Whitehead emphasising the need for (and listing) a wide variety of trees and bushes. Eds Reviews Birds and Forestry. By Mark Avery and Roderick Leslie. Illustrated by Philip Snow. T. & A. D. Poyser, London, 1990. 299 pages; 38 black-and- white plates; 20 line-drawings. £18.00. The very title of this book provokes mixed reactions. In a world where natural resources are fast disappearing, we all recognise the environmental benefits of growing trees. Yet none of us approves of the new forests covering a unique habitat such as the Flow Country. Birds and Forestry attempts to resolve this dilemma. The authors come from either side of the debate, yet manage to find genuine common ground, proposing practical solutions to long-standing conflicts. By doing so, they largely succeed in undermining the entrenched positions taken up by many birdwatchers and foresters. One thing is clear: the forestry industry in the United Kingdom is not going to go away. That would be uneconomic, impractical, and, from an environmental standpoint, undesirable. So, if forestry is going to continue, we must ensure that the potential harm to our birdlife is minimised. Avery & Leslie are honest enough to admit to the gaps in our knowledge, especially where the birdlife of mature forests is concerned. It seems that few ornithologists find it worthwhile to study forest avifauna. This book goes a long way to filling these gaps, with clear, readable chapters on ‘Birds in forests’, ‘Forest management’, ‘The effects of afforestation on upland birds’, and ‘Money and power in the uplands’, a fascinating look at the vested interests involved. The heart of the book is a comparison between the relative ecological ‘value’ of forests, and of the upland habitats they usually replace. To many people, this is a one-sided contest — surely the rich avifauna of a Scottish moor far outweighs the forest ecosystem? As with most environmental issues, however, the answer is: ‘That depends.’ A habitat such as the Flow Country is certainly richer than the new forests, but the same cannot be said for all of Britain’s uplands. The moral is clear: forestry should not be condemned out of hand — it rather depends where you put it. A forest may appear to be a sterile, lifeless monolith, yet closer examination reveals surprisingly diverse bird communities. But we need to take a more long-term approach when assessing forest ecosystems. Over a life of 60 years from planting to harvest, they pass through a variety of valuable habitat stages, each suiting different species. Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus and Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia nest in young plantations; Long-eared Owl Asio otus 200 Reviews and Goshawk Accipiter gentilis in more mature forest. In any one year, a forest may appear to support few breeding birds: but, over its whole life, it plays host to a very varied avifauna. In an intriguing gaze into the crystal ball, the authors suggest potential colonisers for future forests — including the northern owls, Waxwing Bomby cilia garrulus, Greenish Warbler PhyUoscopus trochiloides, and even Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martins (currently extending its range to within sight of the Channel). They lay down a challenge to the dedicated ‘forest- watcher’ — search the vast plantations for new British breeding species. In general, Avery & Leslie have done a fine job in cutting through the hysteria and prejudice surrounding the subject. The book might serve as a model for examining other areas where birds and man come into conflict — tourism, farming and industry, for example. Under its new owners, Academic Press, the Poyser stable appears to be continuing its famous high standards. There is even a minor improvement: brief biographies of the authors. At £18.00, Birds and Forestry represents remarkable value for money. A book to read, to debate, on occasions to disagree with, and to re-read, for many years to come . STEPHEN Moss Rare Birds in Britain 1989-1990 (video). By Alan Shaw. Alan Shaw, Derby, 1990. 1 hour. £20.00. This videotape features a total of 50 rarities and semi-rarities in Britain between August 1989 and October 1990. Highlights are, perhaps, sequences of Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanm of the nominate race, Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis , Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Ancient Murrelet Synthliborampkus antiquus, Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris, Tree Swallow Tachydneta bicolor and Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons. The standard and length of sequence vary enormously from species to species, as is inevitable with rarities observed in varying conditions. Most sequences have natural sound, this being especially welcome in cases such as Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala and Savi’s Warbler Locustella lusdmoides. The commentary gives not only the name of the species, the place and the date, but also comments on interesting aspects of behaviour (a very welcome feature) and, increasingly towards the end of the tape, draws attention to identification details (an aspect which could be developed with benefit, to make future tapes even more useful). J. T. R. Sharrock Announcements Has that rarity been accepted? As briefly noted last month (Brit, Birds 84: 157), the latest decisions made by the Rarities Committee* are now available on the National Bird News phone-line 0898-884-522f . Updated by the Committee’s Chairman, Peter Lansdown, immediately that decisions are made, you now do not have to wait for the annual published report in November to find out the up-to-date accepted records. We are delighted to be able to make this service available to subscribers. Phone in regularly! NBN is donating profits from this line to subsidise British Birds. *The British Birds Rarities Committee is sponsored by ZEISS Germany. fCalls are charged at 34p per min. cheap rate; 45p peak & std rate inch VAT. Books in British BirdShop The following special offers are available for British Birds subscribers: International Bird Identification. Save £1.00 North Atlantic Shorebirds. Save £3.00 Best Days with British Birds. Save £2.00 The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 1 . Save £30.00 Please use the British BirdShop form on pages xv and xvi. News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ ‘Euro Bird Week’ An international meet- ing for European birders is being organised by Belgian BircUng Magazine, Dutch Birding and the German magazine Limicola on the famous bird island of Texel, Noord- Holland, the Netherlands, from Saturday 12th October to Sunday 20th October 1991. The aim of this meeting is to stimulate contacts between European birders for the exchange of knowledge on bird identifica- tion. All birders are invited to come to Texel, an island well-known for its geese, shorebirds, migrant passerines and rarities. During the day, participants will be able to go out birding (there will be walkie-talkies available, plus information boards). During the evening, there will be lectures and a mystery-bird competition. There will also be a small subsidiary meeting, open only to invited delegates, concerned with the work of European rarities committees and identi- fication matters. For information about accommodation, please contact: VW Texel, Groeneplaats 9, 1791 CC Den Burg, Netherlands; telephone 010-31-222014741. For general information, please write to: Dutch Birding, Postbus 75611, 1070 AP Amsterdam, Netherlands. Parish-bashing Sponsored birdwatches — finding as many species as possible in a defined area in a day — are in vogue. Birders in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire can help their local Wildlife Trust on any day in May 1991 in a ‘down-market’ big-day bash: stick to your own parish, and no cars or other motorised vehicles allowed (only push-bikes, canoes, etc.) — a far cry from the Borsches , helicopters and CB radios of some such events. The money raised will help to fund the Trust’s conservation work on Bam Owls Tyto alba. Anyone interested in partici- pating or sponsoring should phone Tim Pankhurst on Bedford (0234) 364213. Perhaps other local trusts, clubs and societies will copy this petrol-saving, local- patch-scouring, fund-raising exercise? News of Jo All those who had contact with Jo Hemmings when she was Natural History Editor with Croom Helm Ltd will be pleased to know that she has written to say that she is ‘now the proud mother of two boys, having given birth to Oliver in September . . .’ Jo is now Natural History Editor with the London publishers George Philip Ltd. ‘Irish Birding News’ The second issue of this new birders’ journal (the first was published in September 1990) has just reached us. It is very nice to see an original design for a birdwatching magazine (with — or without — permission, so many seem to be modelled directly on British Birds , which is flattering, but soon becomes rather boring); Irish Birding News is full of original ideas for layout and design, most of which work, and some of which don’t, but all of which make it look lively and new. Apart from ‘Recent Reports’ compiled by Victor Cashera (nine pages), there are ‘Predictions for additions to the Irish list’ by Kieran Grace, listing Irish observers’ guesses as to what will come next (the top two predictions being Frank- lin’s Gull Larus pipixcan and Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus, both long overdue); site guides to Moy Valley, Co. Mayo, by Bob Chapman and to the north coast of Northern Ireland (in relation to searching for Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus) by Anthony McGeehan; rarity write-ups on autumn 1990 Irish rarities: Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapiUus, Booted Warbler Hippolais ccdigata and Olive- backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni on Dursey Is- land, Co. Cork, and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola and Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus (discovered simul- taneously!), Gray-cheeked Thrush C. mini- mus, Olivaceous Warbler H. pallida. Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia and Olive- backed Pipit on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork; a note on an influx of Little Gulls Larus minutus on the north Wicklow coast in early 1990 by Major R. F. Ruttledge; and discussion of the identification problems presented by the four Irish divers Gavia by Pat Smiddy. This 50-page issue includes a good smattering of black-and-white photo- graphs. The subscription rate for Irish Birding News is IR£ 10.00 per annum for 12 issues (or £11.00 sterling for UK subscribers; £12.00 sterling elsewhere), available from BINS Ltd, 46 Claremont Court, Glasnevin, Dublin 11, Ireland. 201 Request Photographs of 1990 rarities needed. Colour prints, black-and-white prints and colour transparencies are needed to illustrate the Rarities Committee’s next report. Please send prints or slides (as soon as possible) to Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham Bedford MK44 3NJ. Thank you. Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 9th March to 11th April 1991 These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records Black-browed Albatross Diomedea mela- nophris Hermaness, Unst (Shetland), from 23rd March. Great White Egret Egretta alba Lynher Estu- ary (Cornwall), 30th March. Snow Goose Anser caerulescens White-phase individual at Lough Foyle (Co. London- derry) stayed to 7th April. Surf Scoter Melamtta perspicillata Two males, Dundrum (Co. Down), 24th March; two males, Skerries (Co. Dublin), 7th April. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopa- ceus Individual acquiring summer plumage, BP Pools, Belfast Lough (Co. Down), 24th March to at least 7th April (perhaps indi- vidual which was present prior to Christmas 1990). Laughing Gull Larus atricilla Shoreham (West Sussex), 6th April. Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis Spring passage of five together at BP Pools, Belfast Lough, 6th-7th April (no change in remain- der of Irish total of about ten). Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius Spurn (Humberside), 10th April. Alpine Swift Apus melba Monmouth (Gwent), 11th April. Hoopoe Upupa epops Ballycotton (Co. Cork), 14th March. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera Female at Goudhurst (Kent), 23rd to at least 31st March; male at Clocaenog Forest (Clwyd), 13th-26th March; long-staying female at Lynford Arboretum (Norfolk) stayed to at least 10th April. Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Dolgellau (Gwynedd), 5th-9th April. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Chippenham (Wiltshire), 28th March to 9th April. We are grateful to the National Bird News ‘Twitch-line’ for supplying information for this news feature. 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Post & Packing please add £2.50 Fax: 0723 363334 Prices correct 1.4.91 — Subject to availability — Open 6 days 9am-5.30pm 0723 363334 ZEISS WEST BINOCULARS 8 x 20 B and Pouch O 10 x 25 B and Pouch 8x30BandBGA Q 8 x 56 BG AT & Case 7 x 42 BG AT & Case R 10 x 40 BGA CF & Pouch AV ZEISS EAST BINOCULARS ^ 8 x 30 Deltrintem V 10 x 50 Jenoptem A 10 x 50 Dekarem 8 x 32 Notarem 10 x 40 Notarem -q 8 x 32 Notarem Armour D 10 x 40 Notarem Armour 7 x 50Binoctem U 8 x 50 Octarem B, or BGA 12 x 50 Dodecarem B, or BGA T" 7 x 40 BGA SWIFT Supplied with case & straps Grand Prix 8 x 40 County 10 x 40 1A Triton 10 x 50 Red Spot 8 x 40 I T Red Spot 10X50 Saratoga 8x42 p Newport 10 x 42 L-' Trilyte 8 x 40 Trilyte 10 x 40 Armour Osprey 7.4 x 42 Audubon 8.5 x 44 X Trilyte 7 x 42 T Trilyte 8 x 42 1- NEW O Trilyte 10 x 42 J Viewmaster Body 45% Angle 20x Eyepiece Zoom 15x-45x xr ROSS -LONDON Cavendish 8 x 42 A Hanover 10 x 42 Regent 8 x 42 rp Kensington 10 x 42 *■ BUSHNELL Spacemaster Body Spacemaster II Body A Spacemaster Armoured Spacemaster Waterproof & 1 5 x -45 x -»y 15x-45x Zoom IN 22 x Wide Angle _ 25 x, 40x, 60 x Lenses ADLERBLICK — Multi-coated 8X42 10 x 42 10% 10 x 50 DISCOUNT ■ 8 x 42 Armour ON 10 x 42 Armour ADLERBLICK • 10 x 50 Armour RUSSIAN BINOCULARS 7 x 35 ... 7 x 50... 8 x 30... 8 x 40 ... 10 x 50. 12 x 40. 20 x 60. NEW MODELS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED KOWA TELESCOPES TSN1 &TSN2 Body. TSN3 & TSN4 Body . 20 x Wide 25x and 40x 60x TS601 &TS602 25x and 40x 601 Zoom 30x Wide TSN Zoom 77 x Photo Adapter. 20x Wide Cases from P R I C R I S E LEITZ Trinovid 8 x 20 Trinovid 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 7 x 42 BA 5 Trinovid 8 x 42 BA Trinovid 10 x 42 BA Armoured £12 extra PENTAX Highly recommended T Ultra Compact 8 x 24 L Ultra Compact 10 x 24 „ Compact DCF II 7 x 20 h Compact DCF II 9 x 20 1 0 % Roof Prism DCF 8 x 42 nicrnimiT Roof Prism DCF 10 x 42 on 1 Armoured DCF 7 x 50 pitmta y Annoured DCF 8 x 40 Armoured DCF 10 x 50 E, Armoured DCF 12 x 50 Armoured DCF 16 x 50 A S P H O N E SPECIAL Spacemaster Waterproof 15x-45x Zoom, incl. case etc £275 SKUA CASES IN STOCK (D836) gj 365024 British Birds Established over 80 years The quality independent monthly magazine for the serious birdwatcher. Unlike most magazines British Birds does not have a short life. It is not read and then thrown away like a newspaper or glossy bookstall magazine. A staggering 99.6% of readers keep their copy of British Birds permanently. British Birds subscribers not only keep their copies permanently, they devote more than two days a week to birdwatching and are prepared to spend to support their hobby. (D805) xvi i FOR THE ELITIST From the producers of the world famous Elite Binoculars OPTICAL EXCELLENCE WITH OPTICAL ELEGANCE * NEW MODELS NOW AVAILABLE BAUSCH & LOMB @ ELITE 60MM WATERPROOF FOGPROOF TELESCOPE ‘MODEL 61 2268 22x Eyepiece. Approx, length 12" weight 25V2 0ZS. Rubber Armoured. ‘MODEL 61 1548 15-45 Zoom. Approx, length 12!4" weight 26V?ozs. Rubber Armoured. MODEL 61-2260 22 x EYEPIECE. Approx, length 12" weight 22 ozs. MODEL 61-1545 15 x 45 ZOOM. Approx, length 12" weight 22 ozs. Fully multi-coated. Non glare matt finish. Ultra lightweight. Swift sure focus. Long eye relief. Easy carry tailored case. Fitted tripod adaptor. THE SCOPE OF THE FUTURE -AVAILABLE TOD A Y BIRDWATCHING AID THE ENTHUSIAST CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT OFFICIALLY IMPORTED ONLY BY - J.J. VICKERS AND SONS LTD UNIT 9-35, REVENGE ROAD, LORDSWOOD, CHATHAM, KENT. ME5 8DW LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY ONLY OFFERED BY OFFICIAL SOLE DISTRIBUTORS FOR NEAREST ACCREDITED WARRANTY STOCKIST PHONE VICKERS ON 0634 201284 (D798) island holidays SEYCHELLES Small guided groups visiting eight islands Magpie Robin, Brush Warbler, Scops Owl, Seychelles White-eye plus huge seabird colonies “Unique by a thousand miles” Departure 1 September 1 991 16 days £2,595 For details of this and other destinations contact Island Holidays, Ardross, Comrie Perthshire PH6 2JU. Tel. 0764 70107 (0842) Binoculars & telescopes for bird watching, nature, yachting and marine observation We are stockists of : Optolyth Opticron Ranger Tokina Aico Minolta Solus Kenko Swallow Hilkinson Bausch & Lomb Alderblick Benbo Manfrotto Slik Tripods and Monopods Hide clamps & car windowclamps 33 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5NW Tel: 0792-469502 (D821) xviii Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be PREPAID and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Telephone 0621 815085 Rates (including 17V2% VAT) £2.94 a line — average of 6 words £9.98 a centimetre — min. 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words is £1 .00 extra per insertion Replies should be sent to the above address Series Discounts 3 insertions for the price of 2 6 insertions for the price of 4 Copy Date June Issue May 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment British Birds is most grateful to those companies which support the magazine by their sponsorship: Sponsors of the Rarities Committee Germany Sponsors of ‘ Monthly marathon ’ Christopher Helm ^ Sponsors of and Bird HaxpexCollins £ Photograph of the Year ’ Sponsors of Bird Illustrator of the Year ’ telescopes British Birds has over 10,000 subscribers: a total of around 40,000 readers in 63 coun- tries, and 99.6% of them keep their copies of ‘BB’ permanendy, for future reference. HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND TjF Beautiful Georgian Hotel f iJuL ExceUent Food & Accommodation Lawns Hoh, Norfolk. ffOTEL (0263) 713390 3 crowns commended CLEY 5 miles Bargain Breaks (BB525) FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Reserve and The Farnes. Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: MrsJ. Sutherland, Ross Farm, Belford, Northumberland NE70 TEN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB560) GRACIOUS GEORGIAN HOUSE in private grounds. Central to the Yorkshire Dales, Gouth- waite, Scar and Angram reservoirs. High stan- dard of accommodation. Private bathrooms. Interesting home cooking. Friendly quiet atmo- sphere. Residential licence. Ideal birdwatching area. Sae: brochure: Mrs P. B. Garforth, Grass- fields Country House Hotel, Pateley Bridge, Har- rogate. Tel: Harrogate 711412. (BB621) NORFOLK, Cley next the Sea 1 mile. Flintstones Guest House, Wiveton, Holt. Full C.H., tea/cof- fee making, colour T.V. Private facilities all rooms. Evening meal optional. Open all year. Sorry no smoking. Tel: 0263 740337. (BB737) WEST SUSSEX, Black Mill House, Aldwick, Bog- nor Regis. Visit Arundel Wildfowl Trust, Chich- ester and Pagham Harbours. Family run Hotel. Sea 300 yds. Enclosed garden. Games room, lounges, P/Bs, cocktail bar, restaurant. Tele- phone, tea/coffee, colour TV all rooms. Short breaks from 2 days £52-£66, D.B/Bkfst. Members SEE Tourist Board (3 crowns) - own car park. Brochure. Tel: 0243 821945. (BB652) GARA MILL, Slapton, Devon. Self-catering for 2- 7 in secluded four acres overlooking river and woods. Eight detached cedar lodges plus 2 CH flats in 16th c. cornmill. Near Slapton Ley. TVs. Dogs welcome. Free brochure: (0803) 770295. (BB568) CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed- rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071- 431 2942. (BB496) EXMOOR. Peaceful s/catering c/heated holi- day homes in National Trust Village. Marshes, woods and moorland — rich in birdlife. Reduced spring/ autumn terms. Open all year. Stamp to Sheila Wright, Pack Horse, Allerford, nr Mine- head. Tel: 0643 862475. (BB719) xix COUNTRY COTTAGES at Ellingham between Alnwick and Belford, sleep 6. Fully equipped, self-catering, available Easter to October. Well placed for Holy Island, Fame Islands, Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty. SA.E., Lady Gadsden, 606 Gilbert House, Barbican, London EC2Y8BD. (BB717) NORTH NORFOLK COAST, Burnham Overy Staithe, Domville Guest House B&B + EM (opt), double/twins (2 en suites) singles (4). TV lounge. Close to major reserves. For details ring (0328) 738298. (BB612) RYE. 10 minutes to hide. Cottage £120.00 Tel: 081-467 0937. (BB646) NEAR SLAPTON LEY, southern tip of Devon. Charming Country cottage. Seaviews, oak panelling, beams, woodburner, dishwasher, microwave. ‘Birdwatcher discount. Tel: 0752 862522 (evenings). (BB648) CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2). Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB662) ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St. Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds over- looking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB664) B&B IN PURBECK from £1 1 per night EM opt. Family residence, 1.5 miles south of Wareham. Home from home, ‘Hyde Hill’, 64 Furzebrook Road, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5AX. Tel: 0929 552392. (BB380) LAKE DISTRICT - RYDAL. Two cottages, sleep 6 each, weekly lets. Fisher Hoggarth, 52 Kirk- land, Kendal. Tel: 0539 722592 in office hours. (BB609) EXMOOR for country and animal lovers. Farm- house accommodation, bed and breakfast and evening meal, or self-catering cottage. Details from: French, Brendon Barton, Lynton, Devon. Tel: 059 87 201. (BB389) YORKSHIRE DALES (GRASSINGTON). BB & EM. Eileen & Allan invite you to share their idyl- lic 17c. riverside cottage. Private fishing. (Bird- watching courses.) Brochure (0756) 752463. (BB607) WEST SUSSEX, Pagham Harbour/ Selsey. Beau- tiful Georgian Farmhouse, with purpose built B&B accommodation. All facilities provided. Warm, friendly atmosphere, children welcome. Open all year. Tel: 0234 602790. (BB530) OLD HUNSTANTON, NORFOLK- Overlook- ing the Wash. Fully equipped holiday cottages, col TV, gas or CH. Close beach, available all year. Mrs Lindsay, 4 Marks Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9SH. Tel: Upper Warlingham (0883) 622013. (BB666) WEYMOUTH, Birchfields Licensed Guest House, close to RSPB reserves. BB from £14. Evening meal optional. Ideal winter/spring breaks. Parties welcome. For details phone 0305 773255. (BB678) BIRDWATCHERS travel many miles in the pursuit of their hobby. Over half of British Birds subscribers use hotel or guest house accommodation. Phone 0621 815085 for advertising details. ( BB68 1 ) VISIT BEMPTON and Flamborough Head for the best in sea bird watching. Spring and A migs. S breeding. Stay at the Flaneburg Hotel, Flam- borough. BB from £17. Full restaurant facilities. Tel: (0262) 850284. (BB516) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi-pension (Private bath) from £38.00. De- tails, brochures, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB526) ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into two warm, comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Cal- gary. Tel: 068 84 265 or (0453) 833323. (BB567) ISLE OF GIGHA, Argyllshire. For a holiday sur- rounded by natural beauty, sandy beaches, ex- otic gardens, birds, wild flowers, good food and comfortable accommodation. Also self catering accommodation. Please contact Mrs. Mc- Sporran, Post Office House 058-35 251. (BB620) SPEY VALLEY. Maureen and Larry once again invite guests to sample their highland hospitality. Set in five acres, our home has uninterrupted views of the Cairngorms. Bird register available. Good home cooking and a warm welcome await you. D/B/B £120.00 p.w. (All rooms en-suite). Brochure: Maureen Taulbut, ‘Braes of Duthil’, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND. 047984 395. (BB713) SPEY VALLEY, Beautiful secluded informal country hotel, 2 miles from village of Carr- bridge. Home cooking, full central heating. .All rooms en-suite. Perfect base for birdwatchers and walkers. Discount available for parties. Terms from £160.00 per week DB&B. Brochure from Mrs Y. Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel: 0479 84278. (BB736) WALES ANGLESEY. Superb beachside hotel with mag- nificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanists in area noted for its lakes, reserves and coastline of outstanding beauty. Come to ‘High- ground’ AA/RAC listed, licensed, for warm wel- come, excellent food and accommodation. Brochure: Mrs Karen Hayter, Highground, Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY. Tel: 0407 860078. (BB716) RED KITE COUNTRY— Tregaron— Guest- House standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Ynys-hir RSPB reserves. Parties wel - come. WTB — 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 298965 or 298905. (BB755) xx IRELAND CO. CORK - IRELAND’S TOP RARE BIRD COUNTY. Plover Cottage: Fully modernised self-catering, open fire, C.H., sleeps 4, Tourist Board Approved. Available all year. Situated on tidal estuary in village. Central for all West Cork sites; Old Head of Kinsale to Galley Head. Bally- cotton and Cape Clear easy day trip. Bird info., guide book and maps provided. Good Game and Sea Fishing. Peter Wolstenholme, Court- macsherry, Co. Cork, Ireland. Tel. 010 353 23 46239. (BB663) OVERSEAS SOUTH-WEST BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada. Bed & Breakfast, field trips; 200-t- local species, B.C. total 400+. Write/phone for brochure, checklist: D. Solecki, 3672 West 1st Avenue, Van- couver, B.C., Canada V6R 1H2 (604) 736-9471. (BB712) CAMARGUE - Apartments in farm. Sleeps 2/4/6 people. Comfortable. Tel: 33 9097 2036. (BB667) FRANCE, Golfe du Morbihan, South Brittany, House to Let Sept, to June, sleeps 4/5, FF 1 200 per week. Egrets, Harriers, Avocets, Spoon Bills. Contact: Mr. R. Basque, Bindre, 56860 Sene. (BB732) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS Visiting AUSTRALIA? Coming to Sydney on holiday or business? Guided day and half-day trips for birdwatchers. Specialising in individuals and small groups. If you have special needs then let us know. Enquiries to: Mr R. L Morrow Babbler Bird Excursions 2 Wentworth St, Randwick 2031 NSW, Australia (BB354) OVER HALF of British Birds subscribers travel abroad birdwatching each year, averaging 19 days per trip. To reach this audience, phone 0621 815085 for advertising rates. (BB682) COSTA RICA INDIVIDUAL BIRDING HOUDAYS - brochures: TRANSWORLD, Apt 6951, San Jose, COSTA RICA QUALITY + VALUE + EXPERIENCE = PINGRUM June 22-29 B1RDWATCH TO BRITTANY £315 June 29-July 5 NATUREWATCH NORTH BRITAIN £249 JuJv 20-28 BIRDWATCH TO THE AZORES £1200 Sept 27-Oct 4 BIRDWATCH TO MINORCA £390 Oct28-Nav 14 BIRDWATCH - FALKLAND ISLANDS £2949 Nov 20 -Dec 1 BIRDWATCH TUNISIA & SAHARA FRINGE £494 Jan 6/23 BIRDWATCH TO NEW ZEALAND £1950 Jan 12/19 BIRDWATCH - THE GAMBIA £598 PLEASE APPLY FOR DETAILS FOR ANYTOUR PINGRUM SPECIALIST TOURS Woodend House, Woodend, Little Horwood, Milton Keynes, MK17 OPE Tel: 02% 712992 (BB7M) CZECHOSLOVAKIA 14 DAYS -MORAVIA £680 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER TURKEY 18 DAYS CENTRAL & EASTERN £999 1 1 DAYS BOSPHORUS MIGRATION £685 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER Enquiries to: CHRIS L SLADE, 8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull, West Midlands B92 9EL Tel: 021 -742 5420/021 -705 5535 YNYS ENLLI (BARDSEY) a rare island and N.N.R. off the Lleyn peninsula, Nort Wales. Watch and help research island birds (Shearwa- ter, Chough, Peregrine) at Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory. Crossing and accommodation for 1 week (£62 Adults) excluding food. Self catering. Island food store. Details from: S. Baber, 38 Walthew Avenue, Holyhead, Gwynedd, LL65 1AG (0407 762633) . (BB685) D iudIOI^S The Travel Agency for Bird Watchers Low Cost Airfares & Car Hire...Worldwide Telephone us (or your quote, any destination, we otter the widest range of airfares. CURRENT RETURN FARES FROM: FLORIDA £260 SWEDEN £135 CALIFORNIA £270 GAMBIA TEXAS £280 MOROCCO/ISRAEL FAR EAST £359 WINTER 91/92 TURKEY £135 On Sale Soon! KENYA £355 Always phone us MALAGA £94 TOT for the very latest TENERIFE £t24 prices/offers. ANTARCTICA WINTER 91/92 Fly Cruises from London. Booking nowl Includes The Falklands, Argentina and Patagonia. Join our exclusive Blrding Groups from only £2795 pp Incl. * Discounts on Package Holidays ^and Cruises. Save £££s - Ask for Leaflet! 0272-259999 M0N-FRI CREDIT CARDS or DICK FILBY 0603-619409 ACCEPTED II A B T A 65077 (BB753) XXI NEW ZEALAND For the best of NZ birding, write Nature Quest New Zealand. Box 63 14, Dunedin, New Zealand for custom departures or details of self drive consultancy. Tel: & Fax: (03)4739-149. (BB741) DIVISION OF NICK'S TRAVEL 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ BIRDWATCHING ABROAD? WE OFFER THE LOWEST QUOTATIONS FOR ALL BIRDING HOTSPOTS, INSUR- ANCE AND DISCOUNT CAR HIRE ALSO ARRANGED. SPECIALIST ADVISOR - ANDY HOWES 0533 881318 (EVES) RING US LAST YOU’LL BE SURPRISED (BB7i5)j BIRDWATCHING TOURS Britain ’s leading ornithological booksellers where you can find our comprehensive range of new and secondhand books and reports on birds and natural history, including all new titles as they are published. Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Mail order catalogue available on request HENRY SOTHERAN LTD 2 Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London W1X2DP Tel: 071-439 6151 (BB724) BEIDAIHE BIRD T OURS Visit Beidaihe, east China the place to see East Asian* migrants; around 390 species to date. Common migrants include Siberian Blue Robin, Siberian Accentor, Red-necked Stint and Red-flanked Bluetail. Relict Gull, Siberian Crane and Asian Dowitcher are annual. For information: Barlavington Estate, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0LG. (BB752) ‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804. (BB738) The original BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 159 diary pages. Send £5.95 to: Coxton Publications, $ Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, Beverley, N. Humberside HU17 8RP (E CRUISES PLYMOUTH SANTANDER birding voyages. Details, birdlist etc. Ian McNamee, SEBA, West Lodge, Puddington, Wirral L64 5ST. Tel: 051-336 8441. (BB725) BOOKS BOOKS ON BIRDS, MAMMALS, ETC., BOUGHT & SOLD. Also Field Sports, Big Game, Travel, Science, the Arts, etc. Catalogues issued. David Grayling, Crosby Ravensworth, Pen- rith, Cumbria CA10 3JP. 09315 282. (BB613) SUBBUTEO NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS LTD Wide selection of ornithological and natural history titles available from stock, also travel books & maps. Mail order catalogue on request. Personal callers welcome. Low postage rates Dept BB, Ffordd y Llan, Treuddyn, Nr. Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN Tel: (0352) 770581 (24 hours). Fax: (0352) 771590 (BB438) THE AVERAGE Bridsh Birds reader will spend over £100 on bird books yearly. They could be buying your books. To advertise, ’phone 0621- 815085. (BB683) XXII BIRDWATCHING IN CRETE. 2nd Ed. with cor- rections. £3.50 inc. p&p. Stephanie Coghlan, 25 Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield HD5 8TA. (BB61 1 ) A BIRDWATCHERS GUIDE TO NEPAL, by Carol Inskipp, £8.75. Prion Ltd. Essential for trav- ellers to Nepal. From bookshops or NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Tomes, Devon. Tel: (0803) 865913. (BB706) BIRD BOOKS. N e\v Nats., bought/sold, want lists welcome, catalogues issued. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherways, Freshfield, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel: 07048 71115. (BB714) VIDEOS 1989/90 RARE BIRD VIDEO with the best quality, most rarities and a full, money-back guarantee. £20 from Alan Shaw, Holmfields, Breach Lane, Melbourne, Derby. (BB672) PERSONAL BIRDING CANADA or United States? For info, checklists, etc., write Dunnock 2409 Spey- side, Dr., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5K 1X5. (BB569) SITUATIONS VACANT EDITOR to assist with revising and updating a manuscript on cormorant behaviour (750 type- written pages). Should be familiar with Tinber- gian ethology. Work is not urgent. Dr. Adriaan Kortlandt, 88 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7ND, phone 0865-515602. (BB735) FOR SALE FOR SALE - Individual BB subscribers can adver- tise here FREE (up to 30 words, selling a single item, e.g. binocular, book, set of journals). Quote your BB Ref. No. and address envelope to ‘Free BB Advertis- ing’. (BB753) “BIRDCATCHER-PC”: New version for ALL PC COMPATIBLES Program for recording bird sightings. User friendly. BIRDCATCHER still available for Amstrad PCWs. State computer model, £18 or SAE details. Davis and Makohon, 12 St Mary’s Close, Albrighton, Wolverhampton WV7 3EG. (BB707) BRITISH BIRDS 1907/1909 - 1944/1983 also IBIS. Telephone 0342 832 334. (BB733) BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUPPLIED. (BB. Bird study, County Reports, etc.), David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon. (BB740) ORIGINAL PLATES from The RSPB Book of British Birds (Holden, Sharrock & Burn). Some still available at reasonable prices direct from the artist. Ring Hilary Burn for details - 0984 24077. (BB743) FOR SALE to Best Offer - British Birds 1946- 1982. Bound (Brown non standard) 1983-1990 unbound. Bird study 1970-1980 (bound). Tel: 0457 853763. (BB744) NEW NATURALIST Vols 1-60 good clean set in dust jackets. Offers please to: M. B. Gray, 26 Chaucer Rd, Bath BA2 4QX. Tel: 0225-315879. (BB745) FOR SALE. Full set of five Lars Jonsson books, near mint - Best offer to: 0457 853763. (BB746) BAUSCH & LOMB 15-60 x 60 Discover Scope. Good condition with case £120 ono. Tel: (evenings) 06077 6304. (BB747) OPTOLYTH 7 x 50 binoculars need new eye- cups, otherwise in good condition. £85. Derek Tutt, 21, Heron Close, Lower Halstow, Sitting- bourne, Kent, ME9 7EF. Telephone: 0795 844464. (BB748) FOR SALE: British Birds 1971-90 including in- dexes, unbound, very good condition. All offers considered. FRANK DUNN 0429 272867. CARL ZEISS 10 x 25B excellent £150. Tel: 0503 63902 .ANDY. (BB750) BWP Vols 2, 4 and 5. Mint condition, in boxes. £55 each. Tel: 0484 665651 (evenings). (BB751) BRITISH BIRDS SUBSCRIBERS spend between £300 and £1,000 a year on bird- watching equipment. They could be buying your equipment. To advertise, ’phone 0621 815085. CARRY YOUR TRIPOD in comfort with the Tripod Tamer Shoulder Strap, £8.50 including postage from Vital Equipment, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd LL29 8AT (S.A.E. for details). BUSHNELL 8-24 X50 zoom binoculars. Cost £150+, used once, will accept £100. Tel. 0748 81 1 758 (North Yorks) . (BB726) B.W.P. VOLS 1-5 R.S.P.B> edition. £300 + car- riage. Phone Pamela Bell 0228 31561 daytime. (BB727) OLYMPUS 400mm f6.3 TELEPHOTO LENS. Olympus mount inc. case. Excellent condition £550 o.n.o. Tel: 0484 510854. (BB728) PHOTOGRAPHS of the Wick Harlequin Duck. £1.30 inc. p&. Phone David Astins on 0752 226792. (BB729) LISTEN THE BIRDS, Hans Traber, boxed set of 18 (7") records, excellent condition - hardly used. Offers. Tel. 0382 580002. (BB730) WANTED WANTED BOOKS. Portrait of a Jungle and Por- trait of a Desert by Guy Mountfort, in good con- dition and complete with d.w. Tel. (0533) 708581. (BB731) WANTED Lars Jonsson Birds of Mediterranean, and Alps, and Fair Isle Garden Birds. Tel: 0295 711334. (BB742) T&D POYSOR TITLES REQUIRED. Phone 0245-267771 for best offer. (BB754) British Birds Volume 84 Number 5 May 1991 161 Bean Geese in the Yare Valley, Norfolk Mariko Parslow-Otsu 170 Seventy-five years ago . . . 171 World status of the Red Kite: a background to the experimental reintroduction to England and Scodand Dr Ian M. Evans and Dr - M. W. Pimkowski 188 Red-necked Grebe breeding in England Mariko Parslow-Otsu and G. D. Elliott 191 Mystery photographs 166 Knot Dr R. J. Chandler 193 Monthly marathon Notes 194 Kestrel concealing and retrieving half-eaten prey J. F. Sims and L. M. Sims 194 Stone-curlew swimming P. F. Whitehead 194 Snipe feeding on teasel Brian Forristal 195 Cuckoo attacking Woodpigeon Dr A. P. Radford 195 Call of migrant Wryneck P. J. Chantler 195 Great Spotted Woodpecker exploiting foraging Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Paul N. Johnson, Patrick Knight and Peter Bonus 196 Great Spotted Woodpecker robbing Nuthatch and being robbed by grey squirrel Derek Goodwin Letters 197 Shearwaters, sirens and halcyons Dougal G. Andrew; Dr W. R. P. Bourne 198 Cirl Bunting song types J. M. Binder 198 Trees, gardens and birds Dr S. R. da Prato Reviews 199 ‘Birds and Forestry’ by Mark Avery and Roderick Leslie Stephen Moss 200 ‘Rare Birds in Britain 1989-1990’ (video) by Alan Shaw Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Announcements 200 Has that rarity been accepted? 200 Books in British BirdShop 201 News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett Request 202 Photographs of 1990 rarities needed 202 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 161 Bean Geese (Mariko Parslow-Otsu)', 171 Red Kites (Dan Powell)', 188 Red- necked Grebes (Gordon Trunkfield) Front cover: Female Goshawk, North Yorkshire (Andrew Hutchinson ): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see pages 37-38 in January issue for procedure) Volume 84 Number 6 June 1991 iird Photograph of the Year Sponsored by Christopher Helm and HarperCollins 02 •irdcraft: recording rare seabirds European news British Birds Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Photographic Consultants Don Smith & Roger Tidman Art Consultants Robert Gillmor 8c Alan Harris Rarities Committee P. G. Lansdown (Chairman); Dr Colin Bradshaw, Alan Brown, G. P. Catley, Peter Clement, A. R. Dean, Pete Ellis, S. J. M. Gandett, C. D. R. Heard, R. A. Hume & J. H. Marchant; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Peter Fraser (Statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary) Notes Panels BEHAVIOUR Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons; IDENTIFICATION Dr R. J. Chandler, A. R. Dean, T. P. Inslapp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c K. E. Vinicombe ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology © British Birds Ltd 1991 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by Brirish Birds I.td, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire ISSN 0007-0335 Publishing Manager, Production & Promotion Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Advertising Sandra Barnes Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your envelope correctly. Please supply SAE, if reply requited. Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (0767) 40467 Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085 Bird news for ‘ Seasonal reports’ Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (0525) 290314 (evenings); Luton (0582) 490049 (office hours) News items for News and comment ’ Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon PE 18 9BS Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Bag End, Churchtown, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3A7. Special book and sound recording offers British BirdShop, NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN. Phone: Totnes (0803) 865913 Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £38.40, IR£42.35 or $69.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £31.20, IR£34.80 or $54.00; personal: airmail outside Europe £52.50, IR£58.35 or $94.00. Single back copies £4.00, IR£4.50 or $7.00. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearctic. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequences of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1984): names of plants follow Dony et at. (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers); names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern (1977, The Handbook of British Mammals). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should be inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). Printed in England by Newnorth Print Limited, Kempston, Bedford 204 HIGH STREET BARNET, HERTS. EN5 5SZ OPEN MON-SAT in focus MAIN STREET, TITCHWELL, NORFOLK PE31 8BB 9am-6pm PHONE 081-449 1445 PHONE 081-441 7748 FAX: 081-440 9999 ICBP WORLD ENVIRONMENT \\ PARTNER 1991 THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS BRITISH BIRDWATCHING FAIR 1991 EGLETON NATURE RESERVE • RUTLAND WATER NEAR OAKHAM • LEICESTERSHIRE SPONSORED BY ‘in focus’ /fiXgN SUPPORTING ICBP DANUBE DELTA PROJECT FRIDAY 30 AUG • SAT 31 AUG • SUN 1 SEPT OPEN 7 DAYS 9am-6pm PHONE 0485 210101 ICBP WORLD ENVIRONMENT PARTNER 1991 -EE VALLEY FIELD DAYS SUNDAY DATES 10am-4om itti JUNE. 14th JULY REGIONAL FIELD WEEKENDS SPRING 1991 ‘ in focus* HAUXLEY DUNGENESS NEW SHOWROOM hese summer field days at Fishers Green will elp our customers choose their equipment nder field conditions at this popular irdwatching site Lee Valey Rangers will be on and to help enhance your birdwatching day. hone for details. ’QRTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY 1ELD DAYS *JN 16th JUNE. SUN 21 st JULY Oam -4pm In focus* are pleased to offer our customers i the South and West the opportunity to test, ompare and purchase from our full range of quipment at this famous Dorset bird bservatory. Phone for details. NORTHUMBERLAND SAT 22nd, SUN 23rd JUNE KENT SAT 29th, SUN 30th JUNE KENFIG NATURE RESERVE SOUTH GLAMORGAN SAT 6th, SUN 7th JULY CHEW VALLEY LAKE AVON SAT 27th, SUN 28th JULY PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO VISITORS WITH AN INVITATION BETWEEN 10am AND 4pm EACH DAY The ideal way to test optics for birdwatching is to watch birds! These Field Weekends at well- known Reserves around the country will enable our customers to choose and select from our complete range of equipment under field conditions. You are invited to apply in writing or phone for an invitation pack to any of the above events indicating your preferred day and time of attendance. OUR NEW SHOP IN NORFOLK OFFERS UNRIVALLED VIEWS OVER TITCHWELL MARSH AND WILL BE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK. CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE AND SELECT FROM OUR FULL RANGE OF EQUIPMENT. BAUSCH & LOMB £ elite 8x42BGA 605.00 Elite 1 0x42BGA 605.00 Custom 8x368 1 89.00 Custom 10x40BGA 219.00 Elite 22x606 269 00 Elite 22x60BGA 289.00 Elite 15x-45x60B 319.00 Elite 15x-45x60BGA 339.00 LEICA £ Trinovid 8x20BC 199.00 Trinovid 10x25BC 226.00 Trinovid 8x20BCA 226.00 Trinovid 10x25BCA 239.00 Case for Mini 15.00 Trinovid 7x42BGA 628 00 Trinovid 8x42BGA 628.00 Trinovid 10x25BGA 628.00 CARL ZEISS £ Dialyl 8x20B 236.00 Dialyt 10x25B 259.00 Dialyt 8X20BGA 305.00 Dialyt 1 0x25BG AT 509.00 Dialyt 7x25BGAT 589.00 Dialyt 10x40BGAT 599.00 Dialyt 10x40BT 639.00 Dialyt 8x56BGAT 729.00 15x60 Porro GAT 1190.00 Accessories: Tainguard 5.00 ;ye Cups (Set) 10.00 Eye Cups Hard (Set) 10.00 .anyard 4.00 Vide Lanyard 10.00 Spare Case 30.00 IIKON £ 'X20CF 69.00 lx25CF 79.00 IX23CF 85.00 0x25DCF 89.00 IX20DCF 135.00 0x25DCF 150.00 IX30DCF 249.00 2X36DCF 279.00 IX40DCF 539.00 •*30CF 229.00 0x35CF 249.00 x-12x24DCF 329.00 ieldscope II 20x60 265.00 ieldscope II 20x-45 330.00 ieldscope ED II 20x60 475.00 0x-45x60 545.00 5x 20x 30x 40x or 60x 65.00 loya Multi Coat Filter 20.00 lubber Hood 10.00 hoto Kit 157.00 ■tay-on Case 45.00 potting scope 20x60GA .... 199.00 potting scope 20x-45x60GA 259.00 KOWA £ TS-601 179 00 TS-602 179 00 20xWA 55.00 25xWA 48.00 20x-60x Zoom 99 00 Case 19.95 TSN-1 295 00 TSN-2 295 00 TSN-3 555 00 TSN-4 555.00 20xWA 96 00 25 x 63.00 30xWA 11900 40x 63.00 60x 96 00 77x 99.00 Skua Case 39.95 Rear Dust Dome 15.00 Spare O G Cover 6.00 27xWA (Screw Fit) 59 00 Case for TSN 24.95 Photo Adaptor 99 00 OPT1CRON £ Vega II 8x30 39.00 Vega II 8x40 49.00 HR 7x42MC 143.00 HR 8x42MC 145.00 HR 1 0x42MC 150.00 HR 1 0 x 50MC 167.00 Minerva 8x40MC 170.00 Minerva 9x35MC 169.00 Minerva 10x42MC 175.00 HR Body 80mm (New) 249.00 30xWA 32.00 27x-80x Zoom 76 00 HR Body. 22x & Case 159.95 HR GA, 22x & Case 169.95 HR 45, 22x&Case 199 95 HR Body, 20x-60x & Case 199.95 HR GA, 20x-60x & Case 209 95 HR 45, 20x-60x & Case 229.95 25x or 40x 30.00 Classic IF60 c/w 20x 99 00 18xWA 23.00 25x 23.00 Zoom 22x-47x 50.00 Classic IF 75mm 1 37.00 22xWA 23.00 30x 23.00 Zoom 22x-47x 59.00 Piccolo c/w 20x 1 28.00 Eye Pieces from 29.00 Piccolo ED 20x60 355.00 Piccolo ED 20x-60x60 399.00 Photo Kits from 28.00 Cases for Scopes 15.00 Macro Monocular 50.00 MINOLTA 7x21 BGA 75.00 8X22BGA 85.00 1 0x25BGA 105.00 7x42BGA 209 00 10x42BGA 249 00 QUESTAR £ Field Model 3" Broad Band Coating Supplied with 50x-80x Hood. Case ...1900 00 30x-50x 120 00 80x-130x 120.00 Porro Prism 140 00 OPTOLYTH £ Alpin 8x30BGA 205.00 Alpin 8x40BGA 225 00 Alpin 1 0x40BGA 230.00 Alpin 10X50BGA 241.00 Touring 8x30BGA 388 00 Touring 7x42BGA 398.00 Touring 10x40BGA 398.00 TBS80 Body 350.00 TBG80 Body 350 00 20x WA 100.00 30x WA 64.00 30x WW (New) 119 00 40x WA (New) 65.00 22x-60x Zoom 1 50.00 Soft Case 29 00 Hard Case 35.00 Stay-on Case for TGS/TBG . 45.00 MIRADOR £ 8X40B 110.00 10x406 114.00 10x50B 122.00 Merlin 60mmx25 97 00 Merlin 18x-40x60 129.00 Merlin 75mmx30 119 00 Merlin 22x -47x75 157 00 Case for Merlin 16.00 CENTURY £ 60mm GA Body 165 00 20x-45x Zoom 60.00 20x30x40x 20.00 Case 15.00 BRESSER £ Action 8x40 69.00 Action 10x50 79.00 Linear 8x42 119.00 Linear 10x42 124.00 ROSS £ Cavendish 8x42B 139.95 Hanover 10x42B 149.95 Regent 8x42B 169.95 Kensington 10x42B 179.95 HABICHT £ 10x40 Diana 372.00 7X30SLC 321.00 8x30 SLC 331.00 8x20B 220.00 AT80 Body 547.00 22xWA 72.00 32xWA 72.00 20x-60x Zoom 164.00 Case 93.00 SWIFT £ Grand Prix 8x40 89.00 Country 10x40 89.00 Triton 10x50 99.00 Trilyte 8x42BGA 135.00 Trilyte 10x32BGA 139.00 Audubon HR5 199.00 Audubon 7x35BGA 329.00 Viewmaster 60 Body 149 00 15x -45 x Zoom 49 00 20x 20 00 Case ’5 00 BUSHNELL £ Spacemaster Body 145 00 Spacemaster Body GA 165 00 15x-45x Zoom 70.00 22xWA 32.00 Case 15.00 VELBON £ D400 39.95 D500 NEW FLUID HEAD 59.95 D600 TRIPODS 69.95 D700 79 95 CULLMANN £ Hide Clamp 49.95 Shoulder Pod 24.95 Q/R System 9 95 Q/R Plate 4.95 SLIK £ Master D2 72 95 MANFROTTO £ 190 Base 40 00 190B Base 45.00 144 Base 50.00 144B Base 55.00 128 Head 45.00 200 Head 50.00 Tripod Strap 10.95 Spare Q/R Plate 5.95 ACCESSORIES £ Car Window Mount 22.00 Universal Mount 22.00 Hide Clamp 38.00 Rainguards from 3.50 Pentax Cleaning Kit 3.99 Tripod Strap 6.95 Lanyards from 4.00 ‘in focus’ CARE PLAN At a cost of just £10 any new equipment can be covered for a period of 3 years from purchase. In the event of equipment failing for whatever rea- son it will be rectified by ourselves at no charge. Ask for full details. PERSONAL CALLIRS Can choose and select from our comprehensive range of equip- ment. Compare Zeiss with Leitz and Bausch & Lomb, Kowa with Nikon and Optolyth. We are a completely independent company, whose only concern is that our customers select the correct instrument for their personal needs. PHONI ORDERS Discuss your requirements with our technical staff and orders placed with Access or Visa Cards will be despatched same day. MAIL ORDER Just add £2 to help towards P&P and insurance and your order will be sent the same day as we receive your cheque. All goods supplied on 14 days approval upon receipt of full remittance. SECONDHAND Instruments are always available. Turnover is fast so we do not print a list. Phone for information. PART EXCHANOE Top prices paid for good condition Bins and Scopes. HOW TO FIND US (BARNET) We are 10 mins from M25 and AIM motorways and 15 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station. HOW TO FIND US (NORFOLK) We are 500 yds east of the RSPB Reserve at Titchwell on the A149 between Hunstanton and Bran- caster, and we have our own pri- vate car parking. TELESCOPES AND TRIPOD OUTFITS If you purchase a scope and tripod at the same time we can offer you a very special price! PHONE FOR A QUOTE INTEREST FREE CREDIT ON SELECTED Zeiss, Leitz, Kowe and Nikon products Phone or write for details. j m SPRING special FREE TRIPOD WITH ANY NEW SCOPE! BUY ANY NEW SCOPE OVER £140 AND WE WILL GIVE YOU FREE OF CHARGE A TOP QUALITY TRIPOD. NORMAL PRICE £40 OR PAY THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR CHOICE OF TRIPOD OR CLAMP. %tCdSo4C*td& from Bird Recording Service ALL THE BIRD SONGS OF EUROPE ON 4CDs Jean C. Roche / Sittelle 1990/91 A new ID guide with incomparable laser sound quality and instai access to species. Songs & calls of 396 breeding & migrant birds < Britain & Western Europe in systematic order. 99 species/99 tracks p CD. No announcements but detailed 12 pg booklet with each CD. £49.95 (inc. p&p Britain & Europe)!! or individual CDs at £12.99 inc. p&p (UK). See below for p&p to Continental Europe. Vol. 1 Divers — ► Ducks — ► Birds of Prey Vol. 2 Gamebirds, Rails — ► Bustards, Waders — ► Gulls — ► Sandgrouse Vol. 3 Cuckoos, Owls — ► Woodpeckers, Larks — ► Pipits, Thrushes — ► Hippolais Warblei Vol. 4 Sylvia Warblers, Flycatchers, Tits — ► Nuthatches ♦ Shrikes, Corvids -* Bunting* ATMOSPHERE RECORDINGS Sittelle 1990/91 Just turn on, sit back, close your eyes, relax and think of . . . The Amazon The Jungles of Asia . . . The Plains of Africa. • African Forests & Savannas 70 mins. Stereo. A number of atmosphere recordings from Niokolo-Koba and Casamance, Senegal, many areas of Southern Africa inc. Kruger National Park & Victoria Falls; also Kenya - Mombasa, Tsavo and Lake Nakuru. • Birds Awakening 52 min. Stereo. A natural concert in the Alpine foothills, on a Spring morning from dawn onwards, a most unusual listening experience - the music of nature. • Forests & Mountains of Asia 63 min. Stereo. Recordings from Pokhara Lak Nepal; Khao Yai NP, Thailand, Taman Negai NP, Malaysia; & China. • Forests of the Amazon 70 min. Stereo. Atmospheres from differei parts of the Amazon Rainforest. • American Forests & Lakes 70 min. Stereo. Recordings from Canada, tl West Indies & Venezuela (incl. Oropendola Antbirds, Musician Wren, Common Potoo etc Available either as cassette £7.95 or CD 12.99. Please note there are no announcements but many of the main bird species that can be heard are listed m the insert/bookie •Nocturnal & Diurnal Birds of Prey Jean C. Roche / Sittelle 1991 Sound guide to the diurnal raptors (from eagles to falcons) & owls of Europe. 40 species. Announced. 1 x C-70 cassette. £7.95 • Bird Songs of Israel & the Middle East Krister Mild 1990 114 species on 2 C-90 cassettes. Wil accompanying booklet & seasonal check-list > Israeli birds 1980-1989. £24.95 • Southern African Bird Calls. Len Gillard 1987. 541 spp in S.A. Bird No. order - 3 cassettes SABI-3. £27.00 • Bird & Animal Calls of Southern Africa. Len Gillard 1989. SAB4. Additions to SAB 1/2/3; Birds without words - 22 beautiful & melodious Southern African birds & sounds of Southen African mammals. SAB-4 £9.95 or Set of 4 LG SABI-4 £36.( Prices include p&p for UK only - unless otherwise stated. Where p&p to Europe is not specified please add £1.50 per order and if required a further £2 per order for registration/ insurance - pleas state preference. Payment for orders from Europe only in sterling - Sterling Eurocheque, Sterling bank draft drawn on a UK bank address, or by credit card - Access/Mastercard/Visa. Please send your order with payment to: BIRD RECORDING SERVICES ORDER DEPT BB 6/91 P.O. BOX 942 LONDON E10 6RZ, ENGLAND Telephone enquiries & CCQ p-q/M Credit card Hotline UolODO 1-7 pm Weekdays, 10-4 pm Saturdays (Your call may be diverted by BT to another available line at extra charge to you.) User-friendly answerphone at other time (D8! u Kay Optical * 1st Floor, 89(B) London Road, MORDEN, Surrey, SM4 5HP. 081 -648 8822 (24 HR) OPEN MON - SAT 9am - 5pm (Mon-Fri: Lunch 1-2pm) Sales & Servicing of: BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS, etc VIEWING FACILITIES for the best equipment. COMPETITIVE PRICES. LONG-ESTABLISHED WORKSHOP. CALLERS WELCOME. PHONE/MAIL ORDER SERVICE. ZEISS 10 x 25 B Diaiyt 8 x 30 BGA/T (P) 7 x 42 BGA/T (P) 10 x 40 BGA/T (P) 15x60 BGA/T 8 x 56 BGA/T (without BAUSCH & LOMB 8 x 42 BA Elite 10x42 BA Elite Custom 8 x 36 B Custom 1 0 x 40 BGA 22 x 60 B Elite 22 x 60 BGA Elite 1 5-45x B Elite 15-45x BGA Elite SWAROVSKJ 7 x 30 SLC 8 x 30 SLC 1 0 x 40 Diana AT 80 scope (body) 22x (WA) eyepiece 20-60x zoom eyepiece AT80 case LEICA 8 x 20 BC Trinovid 8 x 20 BCA Trinovid 10 x 25 BC Trinovid 10 x 25 BCA Trinovid 7 x 42 BA Trinovid 8 x 42 BA Trinovid 10 x 42 BA Trinovid ZEISS (Jena) 8 x 32 BA Notarem 1 0 x 40 BA Notarem SWIFT 7 x 35 roof prism 8’/? x 44 HR5 Audubon FUJINON 8 x 40 BFL NIKON 8 x 23 waterproof 10x25 waterproof 8 x 20 F roof prism 10 x 25 F roof prism (239) 259 (416)509 (475) 589 (505)599 1.190 case) 669 599 599 193 239 275 293 315 332 332 332 (340) - 535 70 160 91 199 226 226 239 628 628 628 115 160 329 205 179 157 157 143 158 £ OPTIC RON £ 9 x 30 roof prism 248 8 x 32 (HRII) 139 8 x 30 CF porro 229 8 x 42 (HRII) 145 10 x 35 CF porro 249 10x42 (HRII) 150 Fieldscope II 20 x 60 (270) 320 10x50 (HRII) 167 Fieldscope II 20-45 x 60 (340)388 7 x 42 (HRII) 143 ED II 20 x 60 (485) 572 8 x 32 Dioptron 110 ED II 20-45x60 (557)630 8 x 42 Dioptron 110 30x, 40x or box eyepieces 76 1 0 x 42 Dioptron 115 Camera adaptor 160 1 0 x 50 Dioptron 127 Mod. for other cameras 18 7 x 35 Elite 147 Quality filter 13 9 x 35 Elite 186 Rubber hood 8 7 x 40 Minerva 168 Spotting scope 20 x 60 GA 204 9 x 35 Minerva 169 Spotting scope 20-45x GA 271 8 x 40 Minerva 170 KOWA 1 0 x 40 Minerva 175 TSN-1 (45°) body 295 7 x 24 MCF 77 TSN-2 body 295 HR 80mm scope body 249 TSN-3 body 555 30x (WA) eyepiece 32 TSN-4 body 555 27-80x zoom eyepiece 76 25x or 40x eyepiece 63 HR 60mm scopes:- 20x (WA) eyepiece 96 Std w/22x & case 160 30x (WA) eyepiece 119 Std w/zoom & case 200 20-60x zoom eyepiece 139 GA w/22x & case 170 60x eyepiece 96 GA w/zoom & case 210 77x eyepiece 99 45° w/22x & case 200 Camera adaptor 800mm 107 45° w/zoom & case 230 Camera adaptor 1 200mm 179 HR Photokit 62 Kowa case 22 Classic IF, 60mm & 75mm phone Weathershield case 38 Piccolo body 130 Spare OG cover 5 Zoom eyepiece 77 27x (WA) eyepiece (Screw fit) 59 Other eyepieces, from 20 Eyepiece dust dome 15 Nylon padded case 15 VIEWMASTER BUSHNELL 45° scope with zoom EP 199 Spacemaster body 148 OPTOLYTH 1 5-45x zoom EP 72 8 x 30 Alpin 205 22x (WA) EP 32 8 x 40 Alpin 225 25x or 40x EP 30 10 x 40 Alpin 230 Photokit 62 10 x 50 Alpin 241 Nylon padded case 15 12 x 50 Alpin 247 REDFIELD (waterproof) TBG80 telescope body 350 7 x 30 RA roof prism 290 TBS 80 (45°) body 350 1 0 x 50 RA roof prism 310 30x, 40x eyepieces 64 1 5-45 x 60 RA scope 299 20x (WA) eyepiece 100 FALCON 22-60x zoom eyepiece 150 8 x 42 RA roof prism 110 TB nylon case 35 1 0 x 42 RA roof prism 110 ★ PACKAGE DEALS: Special prices are given in many cases where a combination of goods are bought. ★ SHORT-TERM INTEREST-FREE CREDIT available on £150 and over (three payments). ★ REPAIRS carried out in our own workshops (our policy is to get your optics bird-watch operational with minimal delay). GREENKAT £ 8 x 40 RA VISTA 56 10 x 42 RA VISTA 56 SGN-III 60mm scope body 165 20x, 30x, 40x 50x or 60x EP 25 Close-up lens 24 Photo tube 23 Padded nylon case 15 OBSERVATION Vixen 20 x 1 00 750 Greenkat 20 x 60 150 Greenkat 20 x 80 215 MONOCULARS 8 x 20 RP with micro. 80 8 x 30 GA RP 80 1 0 x 30 GA RP 81 NIGHT VISION Red scan infra-red scope, complete 705 Mains charger 71 Sentinel 70mm image intensifier 1,790 SOLIGOR Camera lenses etc. stocked ROSS 8 x 42 ZCF Regent 174 1 0 x 42 ZWCF Kensington 184 QUESTAR Phone for quotation. Used scopes may be available. TRIPODS etc. Slik D2 75 Slik SL67 107 Manfrotto 144/200 105 Manfrotto 144/128 100 Manfrotto 1 90/200 93 Soligor 550 40 Universal clamp 22 Hide clamp II 38 Car window mount 22 Shoulder pod 30 Cullmann hide clamp 50 T-mounts, from 8 FREE TRIPOD WORTH £40 (Soligor 550) with any telescope over £140 - or pay the extra for a different tripod, etc. FIELD DAYS: Alternative venues to Morden, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below. We will be at the Visitor/Information Centre in each case. Repairs can also be handed in. ★PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey (near Chichester, W. Sussex) on SUNDAYS 26th May, 30th June, 28th July and 25th August (1 0.30am to 4.00pm approx.) AWARNHAM NATURE RESERVE just off the A24 (northern roundabout for HORSHAM) on the B2237, on SUNDAYS 2nd June, 14th July, 11th August and 22nd September (10.30am to 5.00pm) ★SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE, on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball Station, on SUNDAYS 16th June, 7th July, and 18th August (1 0.00am to 4.00pm) ★SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at WOODS MILL, Henfield, W. Sussex (A2037) on SUNDAY 8th September (10.30am to 4.00pm) We are only 15 minutes’ drive from the M25 (e.g. via the A3 and then the Merton Turn-off) or 2 minutes’ walk from Morden Underground. Parking: 1st left past our entrance (50 yds). (D849) iii To report your si 700 222 ine on 0263 741140 Masked Shrike One of the very few 'Hastings Rarities' that has not subsequently occurred in Britain Where next? Seen in Finland, 1982 and Sweden, 1984 and now on Majorca, Spring 1991 ip/MIN PEAK/STD, INC VAT IlT, NORFOLK, NR257RZ IV (K/ L HISTORY) -4 JUN 1991 The advent of Spring saw our kestrels back in their nest box in the ash tree and the moorhens hatched their chicks on the 27th April. The activity of the moorhens has been absorbing : feeding on the bird table to our customers’ amusement, nest building, and latterly, the male bringing offerings to the nesting female. It was interesting to note how carefully they cleaned their breasts when moving on to the nest. Any attempt by mallards to take up residence has been thwarted by the territorial attitude of the moorhens. Collared doves are now permanent residents. Reed buntings are regular feeders on the bird table and on the 9th of April we had our first whitethroat. PRICE CHANGES : Due to the recent rise in VAT, all prices illustrated may vary. •ice always available with no obligation! Leading p specialists in quality BINOCULARS and TELESCOPES ZEISS WEST WE STOCK ALL ZEISS MODELS. Wide range of accessories. Phone for prices. LEICA Trmovid 8x20 BCA 226.00 Tnnovid 10x25 BCA 23 9 00 7x42 BA 628.00 8x42 BA 628 00 10x42 8A 628 00 HABICHT Compact 8x20 8 215.00 Traditional 8x30 WM 340 00 Traditional 7x42 WM 320.00 Diana' 10x40 WM 365.00 S.L. Range 7x42 395.00 S.L. Range 10x40 44 0 00 SLC Range 8x30 325.00 AT 80 Body 535 00 »x£P 69 95 NIKON 7x20 CF II 69.95 Waterproof 10x25 152 00 Roof Priam 10x26 F 152.00 Sporting 7x35 CF 120 00 8x30 ECF 230.00 10x35 ECF 24 5 00 Root Priam 9x30 DCF 254 00 Fieldacopa Mk II 20 45x60 329 00 ED Mk II 20-45 x 60.... 545.00 15x20x30x40x60x each 65.00 Spotting acope 20x60 RA 199 00 20-45x60 RA 259 00 OPTOLYTH Alpm 8*40 BGA Alp.n 10x40 BGA Alpm 10x50 BGA Touring 10x40 Roof Prism 8*56 Scope 30*75 TBS 80 body T8G 80 body 20xWA 20*30x40* 22* 60* zoom. 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Testing facilities are probably the best in the country. Viewing from the showroom is across a large pool with its various bird visitors and to more distant views of the countryside. Why not try the unhurried experience of testing the latest optical equipment in a relaxed atmosphere with experts who caret __ Ample free and safe parking. FOCUS OPTICS Church Lane. Corley. Coventry CV7 8BA LENKE£. Telephone: 0676-40501 & 42476 Fax:0676-40930 ACCESSORIES: Wide range of eyecups, rainguards, lens caps, lanyards, cases etc. USED BARGAINS: Guaranteed secondhand equipment at bargain prices. EXPORT FACILITIES: Personal and postal export orders welcomed. PACKAGE DEALS: Attractive discounts. Phone for quotations. MAIL ORDERS: Insured postage and packing FREE OF CHARGE (U.K.only). Goods are despatched promptly upon receipt of full remittance. Use your ACCESS or VISA card to order by telephone. E&OE V (D854) TWICKERS WORLD The natural world Borneo Experience 17 days visiting Bako National Park, Kota Kinabalu Park, Sandakan, Uli Ai & Manuken Island in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Stay in a longhouse, see turtles, proboscis monkeys and orangutans. Escorted. Departing 26 July 1991- Price from £1460. 22 Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NW Telephone 081-892 8164 24 hour brochure service 081-892 7851 Fax 081-892 8061 ABTA No 60340 MAIL ORDER SPECIALISTS P/P & INS. FREE BINOCULARS BAUSCH & L0MB LEICA ZEISS ADLERBLICK HABICHT 0PTICR0N CENT0N BUSHNELL NIKON SWALLOW MIRAD0R BRESSER INEXPENSIVE NEW OPTICRON E.D. GLASS TELESCOPE PHONE NOW! fOCALPOINT Please note our change of address from Comberbach just 2 miles to Higher Whitley - we are now very easy to find!! Tel. 0925 730399 DIRECTIONS M56 Jet 10takeA559 towards Northwich for 1 mile to the Birch & Bottle. Turn right into Bentleys Farm Lane, we are on the left after V2 mile. KQWA TSN-1or2 £295.00 TSN-3 or 4 £555.00 20 x WA £89.00 30 x WA Now In Stock £1 09.00 25x, 40x £59.00 60 x NEW superb! £89.00 77 x NEW £99.00 20-60 x Zoom £139.00 PHOTO ADAPTOR £99.00 SKUA ‘STAY ON THE SCOPE’ CASES latest Mklll £39.50 Leather eyepiece case £9.95 Leather Photo adaptor case ....£1 4.95 TRY & BUY! DEMONSTRATIONS OF TOP BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES ON NATURE RESERVES Sunday 30th June 1991 (10.30am- 4pm) with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at WASHINGTON, Tyne & Wear (District 15). Saturday 6th July 1991. (2pm-5pm) and Sunday 7th July (10am-2pm) with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at LLANELLI, Dyfed (M4 Jet. 48). ‘Please note demo hours carefully* We shall have all the leading instruments in each price bracket for you to ‘field test’. Please phone if you wish us to bring a specific item. BIRDGUIDES- TOURS TO GAMBIA & KENYA. Phone Peter Wolstenholme on 061-428 2175 FOCALPOINT (D855) UNIT 8, MARBURY HOUSE FARM, BENTLEYS FARM LANE, HIGHER WHITLEY, WARRINGTON, CHESHIRE WA4 4QW. 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C tr O a (D856 BRITISH BIRDWATCHING FAIR )tt - at, *** atM* LRTNC **4*4 & * The National Birdwatching Event Combining local and national support for international bird conservation at EGLETON NATURE RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER Nr Oakham, Leicestershire Friday, August 30th to Sunday, September 1st 1991 1991 EVENT SUPPORTING ICBP DANUBE DELTA PROJECT in focus LRTNC in association with R S N C The Wildlife Trusts PARTNERSHIP tnmms magazine (D845) Best Days # British Birds Their most exciting birdwatching experiences, described by David Fisher David Glue Steve Madge Bill Oddie Robin Prytherch & many others Edited by Malcolm Ogikrie & Stuart Winter Published by British Birds Ltd, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3\j Available from all good bookshops £14.95 hardback ISBN 0 9508471 3 5 SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE IF ORDERED THROUGH ‘BRITISH BiRDSHOP’ (D526) IX National Bird News “ Are pleased to welcome “ The B.B.R.C.'s own hotline of accepted records now available All profits from this line go direct to British Birds. “Find out which records have been accepted ” 0898-884-522 N.B.N. 0898-884-500 FOR THE FASTEST RARE BIRD NEWS ANYTIME ANYPLACE ANYWHERE "TWITCH-LINE 0898-884501” Responding after the tone in the headlines gives full site and direction details, so you only listen to what you want to hear.A large proportion of all monies recieved by National Bird News and Twitchline are donated direct to named conservation bodies, such as the BTO. the WWF. the ICBP. the BBCS .the RSPB and to British Birds.If you have any rare bird news ring our HOTLINE on 0205-358050. 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PE2I SAL Calls arc charged at 33p per min cheap rate / 44p standard-peak rate incV AT (D815) BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION BTO British Birds VOLUME 84 NUMBER 6 JUNE 1991 New Photographic Consultant In April 1980, Dr Richard Chand- ler and Don Smith joined the British Birds team, as joint Photo- graphic Consultants (Brit. Birds 73: 379-380). For the past 11 years, they have combined this voluntary work with their separate, distin- guished careers, Richard in practi- cal academia and Don in com- merce. In August 1987, Richard joined BB's four-man Editorial Board (Brit. Birds 80: 515), but continued also as joint Photo- graphic Consultant. In 1980, the year in which BB became independent of a commer- cial publisher, we noted that the previous volume of BB had inclu- ded 257 photographs, compared with 100 in 1976. Ten years on, the total in 1990 had increased to 306 (119 of them in colour). The Editorial Board considered that the journal would benefit from a further strengthening of the team. We are delighted to announce, therefore, that Roger Tidman has accepted the Board’s invitation to take over Richard Chandler’s position as joint Consultant with Don Smith. Richard will, of course, continue his interest in the photographic aspects of BB , in his capacity as a member of the Editorial Board. Roger Tidman describes himself as ‘raised in Cambridgeshire’, where his interest in natural history was nurtured. After obtaining a degree in ophthalmic optics from Aston University, he moved to Norfolk in 1979, and began a new career as a wildlife photographer. Every year since 1984 he has produced a wildlife calendar featuring his own photographs (printed by BB’s printers, Newnorth Print); that planned for 1992 will, appropriately, be entitled ‘Birds of Europe’. His work has been featured regularly in natural history books and periodicals, including BB , and he won the RSPB/Kodak ‘Winter Birds’ competition. His one regret at joining the BB team is that, as one of the competition’s judges, he will no longer be eligible to submit an entry for ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’. [Brit. Birds 84: 203 June 1991] 203 - ■■■■■■■■ Birdcraft The aim of this occasional series is to pass on tips which may improve readers’ fieldcraft when birdwatching. For each topic, the authors will have not only drawn on their own experience, but also summarised advice gleaned from other specialists. 4. Recording rare and unusual seabirds* Despite a slippery, pitching deck, consequent lack of use of a telescope and the smell of ‘chum’, watching and taking descriptive details of Wilson’s Petrels Oceanites oceanicus in the Southwestern Approaches is not significantly different from observing migrants in bushes. The point is that, more often than not, the bird in question stays in the immediate vicinity for a sufficient time for good views and good notes to be obtained. This is not the case with most other encounters with seabirds, however, whether the observer is on board ship or on dry land. The norm is a single fly-past, and great presence of mind is required to concentrate on the correct characters to facilitate a successful identification and record submission. Quite apart from the comparatively short viewing time, the weather conditions and state of the sea often contribute to the difficulties. The British Birds Rarities Committee and its Seabirds Advisory Panel (and, no doubt, county and regional recorders and their records committees) recognise the problems, but sometimes can do little more than sympathise with observers that their views were too brief or too poor to clinch the identification to the exclusion of ‘confusion species’. Records committees must be as certain that seabirds are correctly identified as they are about landbirds, for uniformity and confidence in the written record to be maintained. There is no substitute for field experience, particularly with seabirds, but observers can greatly assist themselves before setting out to seawatch by doing some basic homework. Seawatchers should be aware in advance of the species likely to be seen and of their identification characters, and this involves at least some knowledge of confusion species. Also, do keep watching: it is no good relying on others to find and identify a rare or unusual seabird flying past. Having little idea as to what to look for, and suddenly being jerked into action by the shouts of others, severely reduces the chance of seeing such a gem. It might help the ‘magic moment’ for observers to practise by writing down in the field their perceptions of the flight action of various species. Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus , Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus , Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus and Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis would be useful practice - *This contribution is a publication of the Rarities Committee, sponsored by ZEISS Germany. 204 [Brit. Birds 84: 204-206, June 1991] Birdcraft: recording rare seabirds 205 species. This could be carried out in varying conditions and it would be instructive for observ ers to compare their notes with those of others. Those who submit records of rare and unusual seabirds can help their case by presenting descriptive details as suggested below. Size and structure These are usually important characters, but it should be stated how they were assessed. The alternatives are by direct comparison with another species, by indirect comparison with another species seen earlier (how long ago?) or later at similar (or greater, or closer?) range, or from memory. The term ‘size’ may itself be misleading, in some descriptions signifying bulk, but in others referring to length from bill-tip to tail-tip, and occasionally relating to wing-span, so clarification is required here. Flight action This very important character is frequently given too little prominence in descriptions of seabirds. Flight action is multifarious and deserves full treatment and, where possible, stage-by-stage comparison with that of a more familiar confusion species. Plumage patterns and colours These should be noted, as for all species, and positively no attempt should be made to ‘fill in’ details on those parts not seen or not studied. Most records committees would find a full description of a fly-past seabird somewhat suspicious. General approach Size and structure, flight action, and plumage patterns and colours should each be described carefully and analytically. Members of records committees put great store in field-notebook extracts, and details gleaned from even the crudest of field sketches often carry more weight than those evident only from a formal description or finished drawing. Even after the bird in question has passed, and descriptive notes have been completed, seawatchers can record various pertinent details addi- tional to those requested on record forms. Those listed below are amongst the most important of these. Direction of viewing. Light conditions, including angle of sun (if any) to the observer. Wind direction and speed (using Beaufort Scale) (most seabirds fly differently in light and strong winds). The state of the sea’s surface. Whether or not there was any rain or mist. Species directly and indirectly available for comparison and how they flew in the conditions. Approximate distance from the bird (and how this was assessed). Height of observer above sea level. Optical aids used. Start and finish times of the seawatch. Time and duration of the observation. 206 Birdcraft: recording rare seabirds Number of seawatchers present at the time of the observation and the number who saw the bird in question. If on a headland, the observer’s seawatching experience at the site. The observer’s usual seawatching locality and the date of his or her most recent seawatch from that point. An assessment of the number of hours spent seawatching (1) ever, and (2) during the previous 12 months. For a correct identification and subsequent acceptance of a rare or unusual seabird, an observer requires great concentration and greater attention to detail than he or she does when faced with other species. As with flying raptors, observers must be prepared to resign themselves to a proportion of observations remaining indeterminate. Even the most experienced seawatchers regularly see birds flying past to which they cannot put a name. In such circumstances, the good observer does not allow enthusiasm to overcome caution. Peter Lansdown and Peter Harrison 197 Springwood, Llanedeym, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF2 6UG Bird Photograph of the Year Sponsored by HarperColIins % and Christopher Helm This annual competition goes from strength to strength. The number of colour-transparencies which are of an award-winning standard is quite astonishing. Even applying very critical standards, the judges were unable to keep the initial short-list below 50; indeed, it ended up as 56, all of which had the qualities which we look for in our search for the Bird Photograph of the Year. In the initial selection, six photographers had all three of their entries chosen (David Callan, Paul Doherty, David Kjaer, Tim Loseby, Roger Tidman and Roger Wilmshurst) and a further nine had two chosen (Hanne Eriksen, R. Glover, Tony Hamblin, Chris Knights, Hans Schouten, David Tipling, Ray Tipper, M. S. Wallen and Mike Wilkes). Such consistency is the mark of the expert. Elimination, even at this early stage in the judging, was exceedingly difficult, but, after a further 23 had been thinned out — to use a garden analogy (‘weeded out5 would be a most inappropriate phrase) — the second short-list was still 33-strong, and still included the complete three- transparency sets of four photographers: David Callan, David Kjaer, Roger Tidman and Roger Wilmshurst. [Brit. Birds 84: 206-215, June 1991] 207 Bird Photograph of the Year After minute examination and much discussion, 13 more transparen- cies were reluctantly eliminated to give us our final short-list of 20. A vote, each judge independently placing the transparencies in order from 1 to 20, resulted in the following sequence: 1st Bird Photograph of the Year Mute Swans Cygnus olor (plate 119) Philip Perry, Humber- side 2nd Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus (plate 120) Chris Knights, Norfolk 3rd Crossbill Loxia curuirostra (plate 121) David Tipling, Kent 4th Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus (plate 122) Roger Tidman, Norfolk 5th Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (plate 123) Mike Weston, Netherlands 6th Bee-eater Merops apiaster (plate 124) David Kjaer, Wiltshire 7th Little Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis (plate 125) David Callan, Ayrshire 8th Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (plate 126) Ray Tipper, East Sussex 9th= Crossbills David Kjaer 9th = Dunnock Prunella modularis Roger Wilmshurst, West Sussex llth= Black- winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Ray Tipper llth= Coots Fulica atra Roger Wilmshurst llth= Shelducks Tadoma tadoma Roger Wilmshurst 14th Ring-billed Gull Lams delawarensis Paul Doherty, Kent 15th Lapwings Vanellus vanellus Mike Wilkes, Worcestershire 16th Kingfisher Alcedo atthis David Kjaer 17th Sanderling Calidris alba W. Richardson, Humberside 18th Crossbills Chris Knights 19th Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum Serge Sorbi, Belgium 20th Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba Tim Loseby, Kent Also short-listed: David Callan (Black Grouse; Swallows), Stan Craig (Whooper Swans), A. de Knijff (Hawk Owls), Paul Doherty (Tufted Duck; Curlew), Hanne Eriksen (Squacco Heron; Collared Dove), Jens Eriksen (Spoonbill), Dr Edmund Fellowes (Wigeon), R. Glover (Crag Martin; Jay), C. M. Greaves (Sparrowhawk), John G. Hall (Black Kites), Tony Hamblin (Moorhens; Black-shouldered Kite), Brayton Holt (Ptarmigan), Paul Hopkins (Great White Heron), Gordon Langsbury (Whooper Swans), Dr Harry J. Lehto (Sanderling), Tim Loseby (Blue Tits; Fulmars), Mike McKavett (Tree Pipit), P. Munsterman (Yellow Wagtail), Hans Schouten (Blackbird; Oystercatchers), Roger Tidman (Lammergeier; Knots), David Tipling (King Eider), Norman D. van Swelm (Kestrel), Bernard Volet (Mallards), M. S. Wallen (Spoonbills; Spoonbills), Mike Wilkes (Lapwing), Pierre Yesou (Sanderling) and Steve Young (Little Gull). The sponsorship of this competition — jointly by Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd and HarperCollins Publishers — enables us not only to include with this account colour plates of the top eight transparencies, but also to invite all the 31 photographers whose work was short-listed, as well as the three winners, to the award presentation at a Press Reception in London. Now to the winning photograph (plate 119), which was the runaway winner in the judges’ independent vote. This may surprise some readers, for the Mute Swan is not generally regarded as a spectacular or exciting bird (we have even heard it referred to as ‘hardly a bird at all’), and a pair with its family is a familiar summertime sight on most local rivers, canals, lakes and even urban boating pools. Indeed, Philip Perry himself sounded surprised when we telephoned him with the news of his win. He had, 208 Bird Photograph of the Year however, submitted only the one transparency, so he must have sensed its qualities, much admired by all the judges. Just as it is difficult to show detail in the plumage of an all-black bird such as a Raven Corvus corax , so too with all-white birds such as swans. This photograph achieves that. In addition, it tells a story. The young cygnets are riding on the pen’s back, thereby not only hitching a free ride when the parents swim any distance, but also remaining safely out of reach of predators such as pike Esox lucius. The pen has her eyes fixed on her destination (not the photographer, who is clearly not upsetting the birds), but the cob has his protectively on the three cygnets. Thus, this fast-swimming group shows in one picture the close family relationship of a pair of swans with its brood. Chris Knights’ Jack Snipe (plate 120) was part of a small passage through Norfolk in late September 1990. The bird was usually partly concealed by vegetation, but Chris waited in a hide until it moved around into a clear area. Even then, its constant bobbing action while feeding made it far from easy to photograph. The bird’s cream-coloured stripes are startlingly conspicuous when it is out in the open, as in this photograph, but the closeness in colour to that of the nearby dead reeds shows how effective they would be as camouflage in cover. Late summer/autumn 1990 brought an irruption of crossbills Loxia of three species to Britain from the Continent (Brit. Birds 84: 140). These usually found an appropriate habitat of cone-bearing conifers fairly quickly, but those reaching Fair Isle, Shetland, would have had a fruitless search. The Crossbill depicted by David Tipling (plate 121) did, however, find an apparently satisfying substitute: a thistle-head (others there were feeding on oats and other seeds). Roger Tidman’s alighting Lammergeier (plate 122) was attracted to the vicinity of his hide by baiting with bones; none came on the first day, but three different Lammergeiers came on the second. Apart from the spectacular image presented of this magnificent raptor, the photograph also gives an impression of the bird’s mountain habitat and the panoramic view of the valley and the neighbouring hillsides visible from its feeding area. The rules of the competition state that preference will be given to photographs taken in the West Palearctic; this Lammergeier portrait would assuredly have moved up a notch or two in the judging order if it had been taken in the Pyrenees, the Taurus Mountains or the High Atlas, rather than in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa. Various species of heron can be observed sunning on hot days, but the Grey Heron photographed by Mike Weston (plate 123) is shown exceptionally well, its bill parted as it pants heavily, and its wings lowered and spread. Not only is the bird itself well depicted, but so too is the variety of the surrounding vegetation. David Kjaer must surely be the best bet as a future winner of this competition: all three of his transparencies remained in the judges’ reckoning up to the final vote, avoiding all three previous elimination processes; they fill sixth, equal ninth and sixteenth places. Extraordinary consistency! David’s top-rated photograph is a perfect portrait of a superb bird: the Spanish Bee-eater in plate 124. The whole picture is crisp: the Bi rd Photograph of the Year 209 bird itself, the tracer)' of the veins in the wing of the dragonfly and even the protruding branch used as a perch are all sharp. David Callan’s hide, situated on a raft, had been in place beside the Little Grebes' nest for three weeks when this photograph was obtained (plate 125). In torrential rain, the female climbed onto the nest, calling softly to the male, who appeared and started swimming around the nest. After three or four minutes, during which time she continued to utter a soft trill, he made a half-hearted attempt to mate with her. The rain slackened and both birds moved off. For the next IV2 hours, David looked out at an empty, soggy nest. The heavy rain then resumed, the female returned, and climbed onto the nest, calling softly. The male arrived, but again failed to copulate. In the next three hours, she tried to entice him to mate on three occasions — always when the rain was heaviest — by stretching out her neck and calling softly. Finally, she succeeded; and so did he. David Callan was convinced that the pattering of the heavy rain acted as a sexual stimulus to the female. Ray Tipper’s Squacco Heron (plate 126) was photographed at an egretry in a botanical garden in the Malagasy Republic. Like Roger Tidman’s Lammergeier, a similar photograph obtained in the West Palearctic might well have been even higher up the judges’ lists. In November, many of the egrets and herons had eggs, but were still actively displaying. In this case, the Squacco was raising its crown and scapular plumes, lowering its head below the level of its feet, and slowly lifting each 119. Bird Photograph of thf. Year 1991: pair of Mute Swans Cygnus olor with three cygnets, North Humberside, June 1990 (Nikon F4, handheld; Nikon AF 180 mm f.1.8; Kodachrome 64; l/500th, L5. 6) (Philip Perry) 20. Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus, Norfolk, September 1990 (Canon 620 EDS; Canon 300 mm & converter; Kodachrome 200 ASA ) (Chris Knights) 121. Male Crossbill Loxia curvirostra feeding on thistle-head, Shetland, October 1990 (Nikon F4; Nikkor 600 mm f.5.6 IFED; Kodachrome 64; 1 /250th, f. 5.6)(Dairid Tipling ) 122. Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus alighting, South Africa, August 1990 (Canon EOS 600; 300 mm; Kodachrome 200; 1/1 50th, f.8 ) (Roger Tidman ) 123. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea sunning, Netherlands, August 1990 (Canon Al; FD 600 mm f.4.5; Kodachrome 64) (Mike Weston) 124. Bee-eater Merops apiaster , Spain, May 1990 (Pentax SFXN; Pentax A-600 mm f.5.6, EDIF; f.8 o auto; Kodachrome 200 ) (David Kjaer ) 125. Little Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis copulating, Central Region (Clackmannanshire), June 1990 (Nikon 80-200 zoom & single flash unit; l/60th, f.5.6; Kodachrome 64 )(David Callari) 126. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides displaying, Madagascar, November 1990 (Nikon FA; 800 mm Nikkor; automatic aperture l/60th; Kodachrome 200)(/?a)> Tipper) Fieldscope II 8X40DCF WP Fieldscope EDII VS alue and quality are two reasons Wildlife and Bird Watching rated these Nikon Binoculars and Fieldscopes among the best in their classes. For instance, Bird Watching awarded the Nikon 8 x 30ECF WF binoculars a full five stars, their highest value-for-money rating. What’s more, they acclaimed the 8 x 30s “Excellent in every way optically— very sharp and bright.”* That’s because they share the Nikon heritage of optical excellence. So take a look through the leaders today. *By courtesy of EMAP Pursuit Ltd.: Quoted from an article BEST BUYS IN BINOCULARS, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Bird Watching, May 1990. And, BEST BUYS IN TELESCOPES, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Bird Watching, June 1990. By courtesy of BBC Publications; JUST THE BEST, by Chris Harbard and Ian Dawson, Wildlife, March 1989. Nikon NIKON U.K. LTD. (United Kingdom) 380 RICHMOND ROAD, KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (081) 541 4440 FAX: (081) 541 4584 Somerton Foto Ltd. (The Republic of Ireland) TEL: (01) 773173 (D747) A5 DURHAM JACKET A430 MOLESKIN SHIRT People who know the country, know why they need Barbour COUNTRY CLQTHI NCj Our new Country Cloth, n* brochure is available now For your free copy please write to:- Dep, D33, J Barbour & Sons Ltd.. Simons.de, South Shields. Tyne & Wear. NE34 9PD Xll 215 Bird Photograph of the Year foot alternately (one is in the process of being raised in the photograph) as it was gently swaying from side to side. Ray Tipper commented: ‘A performance not unlike one of the pre-fight ceremonial rituals of a sumo wrestler!’ As well as its scientific interest, depicting this display, the photograph is also aesthetically enchanting, the heron’s plumes appearing to mimic the lacy heads of the papyrus, to form a visually pleasing pattern. That’s the top eight. The next 50 or so were of the same remarkably high standard. Is it any wonder that the judges are already looking forward to next year’s feast? R. J. Chandler, J. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Reviews Tous les Oiseaux d’Europe [All the Bird Songs of Europe]. By Jean- Claude Roche. Sittelle, 1990. Available from Bird Recording Services, London. Compact discs vols. 1-4. £12.99 per vol.; £49.95 for full set. Following record and cassette versions, this CD release is Jean-Claude Roche’s third sound guide to the birds of Europe. The coverage is greatly expanded and includes many new recordings, three-quarters by Roche himself. The full set of four CDs gives a total of 396 or so species arranged in Voous order. Each CD plays for around 75 minutes, so the average playing time per species is about 45 seconds. For most species, the usual calls are given, as well as one or more songs. The quality of recording varies, but is mostly excellent. ‘Roche’ is not as comprehensive as the Peterson Sound Guide, which covers 470 species, excluding vagrants. You will not, however, find many species missing (Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea and most of the exotic introduced species are obvious gaps), and there are some real rarities included, such as Andalusian Hemipode Tumix sylvatica. There are some surprises, too. I thought at first that the remarkable call attributed to Mute Swan Cygnus olor was a Crane Grus grus until, checking in BWP , I found that Mute Swan does indeed have a Crane-like call in the east and north of its range, but not apparently in western Europe. And this leads to my only real gripe: the limited data given in the accompanying booklets, with no indication of where and when each species was recorded. Although less convenient than cassette for use in the field, CD is, in every other way, the medium ideally suited to bird-sound recordings: there are no intrusive announcements, because you can see at a glance which track is playing; you can choose which tracks you want to listen to, and in any order, with instant access — excellent for comparison; and, with many CD players, the random-choice button allows for self-testing. And, of course, there is no unwanted background noise, other than that on the original recordings. More please! Ian Dawson Adas das Aves que Nidificam em Portugal Continental. Edited by Rui Rufino. Servigo Nacional de Parques reservas e Conservagao da Natureza, Lisboa, 1989. 215 pages; 189 line-drawings; 188 distribution maps. Paperback Portuguese $1500.00. The breeding birds of nearly every country in Europe have now been surveyed using standard methods, under the aegis of the European Ornithological Atlas Committee. This 216 Reviews ‘Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Portugal’ is the latest addition. The layout is similar to those already available, with a two-colour map (in this case, brown dots on a black outline), a decorative line-drawing (in this case, all by Alfredo da Conceigao) and an explanatory text. The species texts in this atlas are entirely in Portuguese, but this hardly matters to the British reader, since there is a two-page English summary describing the project, and the distribution maps are the most important things in every atlas. The mapping units for this Portuguese survey are 20 X 32 km rectangles, of which there are 175 in Portugal. A total of 113 observers took part in the survey, which extended over seven years, from 1978 to 1984. A total of 189 species was proved to breed in Portugal; all are mapped in detail, except for Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca and Peregrine Falco peregrinus, for which the number of occupied rectangles is indicated, but not their exact location. Every atlas is a mine of fascinating information, and this one is no exception. To give just a few examples, Woodlark Lullula arborea was found in over 90% of Portuguese rectangles, and proved breeding in three times as many as was Skylark Alauda ari'ensis, which was found in only 50% of the rectangles; the alien Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild was found in 30% of Portuguese rectangles; the most widespread species were House Martin Delichon urbica , Blackbird Turdus merula , House Sparrow Passer domesticus and Greenfinch Carduelis chloris (found in every rectangle), Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur. Swallow Hirundo rnstica , Great Tit Parus major , Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs and Serin Serinus serinus (found in 174), Wren Troglodytes troglodytes (173) and- Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla (172). This book is an essential purchase for anyone interested in European breeding distributions or in the birds of Portugal. J. T. R. SHARROC.K Diary dates This list covers July 1991 to June 1992 9th July BRiTim ornithologists’ club. R. E. Scott on ‘Birds in Bulgaria.' Central London. Non-members should write (en- closing SAE) at least 21 days before to Hon. Secretary, Mrs Amberley Moore, 1 Upping- ham Road, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6JB. 2nd-llth August society of wildlife artists’ annual exhibition (including dis- play of winning entries in ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’ competitions). The Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1. Open 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission £2.00 (free to SWLA members). 25th August ORIENTAL BIRD CLUB MEETING. Blakeney Village Hall, Blakeney, Norfolk. Details from OBC, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. 30th August- 1st September brutish bird- watching fair 1991 . Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water, near Oakham, Leicester- shire. Enquiries to Tim Appleton, Fish- ponds Cottage, Stamford Road, Oakham, Leicestershire LE15 8AB. 5th-8th September 12th symposium of the intern ATIONA L BIOACOUSTICS COUNCIL. Uni- versity of Osnabriick. Details from Pat Sellar, 89 Riddlesdown Road. Purley, Surrey CR8 1DH. 6th-8th September small falcons confer- ence. Organised by the Hawk and Owl Trust. University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent. Details from Fiona Swingland. DICE, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7 NY. 27th-29th September bou autumn scien- tific meeting. University of Nottingham. Theme: What DNA fingerprinting has told us about populations that we didn't know before. Details from Dr David Parkin, Uni- versity' of Nottingham, Department of Gene- tics, School of Medicine, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH. 28th September rspb film premiere. Royal Festival Hall, London. Details from Kate Berry (Films), RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. 5th October rspb agm. QE2 Centre, Lon- don. Details from Janice Harnett, RSPB. 217 Diary dates 17th October obc meeting. Isles of Scilly. Details from OBC. 22nd October BOC. Dr Robert Cheke on ‘Birds of Togo.’ Central London. Details from Hon. Secretary. lst-3rd November Scottish ornitholo- gists’ CLUB ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Marine Hotel, North Berwick. Details from SOC, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT. 9th November bto/cheshire ornithologi- cal SOCIETY ONE-DAY CONFERENCE. Details from BTO, The Nunnery7, Nunnery Place, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. 22nd-24th November BTO/SC.OTTISH RIN- GERS5 CONFERENCE. Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar. Details from BTO. 22nd-24th November IRISH WILDBIRD conservancy/bto autumn field confer- ence. The Prince of Wales Hotel, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland. Details from IWC, Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Place, Monks- town, Co. Dublin, Ireland. 26th November BOC. R. E. F. Peal on ‘Birds of NW Morocco’. Central London. Details from Hon. Secretary. 30th November BTO/DYFED WILDLIFE TRUST ONE-DAY CONFERENCE. Details from BTO. 6th-8th December BTO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & ACM. Hayes Conference Centre, Swan- wick, Derbyshire. Details from BTO. 6th-8th December national exhibition of CAGE AND AVIARY BIRDS. National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Details from Brian Byles, Editor, ‘Cage and Aviary Birds’, Prospect House, 9-13 Ewell Road, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey SMI 4QQ. 14th December OBC AGM. Zoological Soci- ety meeting rooms, Regent’s Park, London. Details from OBC. 3rd-5th January bto ringing and migra- tion CONFERENCE. Hayes Conference Cen- tre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. Details from Ringing Office, BTO. 25th-26th January young ornithologists’ club garden birdwatch. Details from YOC, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. 31st January Closing date for entries for ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’. 31st January Closing date for entries for ‘Best recent black-and-white bird- photographs’. 15th March Closing date for entries for ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’. 16th March-17th May yoc flightline. Migration phone-in. Details from YOC. 20th-22nd March bou annual conference. University of Durham. Details from Profes- sor P. R. Evans, Zoology Department, Uni- versity of Durham, South Road, Durham DHl 3I.E. 27th-29th March rspb members’ weekend. Warwick University. Details from Janice Harnett, RSPB. 27th-29th March seabird group confer- ence. Kelvin Conference Centre, Glasgow. ‘European seabirds.’ Details from The Sea- bird Group, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedford- shire SGI 9 2DL. Offers of papers to: Dr T. R. Birkhead, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University, Sheffield S10 2TN. 10th- 15th May international symposium ON THE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF natural HISTORY COLLECTIONS. Madrid. De- tails from Julio Gisbert & Fernando Pala- cios, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Natur- ales, Jos Gutirrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain. Sheila D. Cobban , Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedfordshire MK44 3NJ iktoentp-ffoe pearg ago... ‘SOME BREEDING-HABITS OF THE SPARROW-HAWK. (1) The Effect of Rain, by J. H. Owen. When she is satisfied with the way she is covering the young she may not move for several minutes. On the other hand she may, if the rain is very heavy, shake her head now and then or look up as a leaf flutters down from the tree. The look in the eye varies continually and has many “expressions”, such as alertness, fierceness, weariness, sheer boredom and calm satisfaction among others.’ (Brit. Birds 10: 2-3, June 1916) Mystery photographs 218 -| Picture the scene: it is / April, you are standing on the cliff tops of Lake Nasser in Egypt, it is late morning and it will soon be too hot to do any more birdwatching for a few hours. Sud- denly, you notice a tight flock of some 20 or so very large birds flapping and gliding along the cliffs towards you. As they come over- head, it is easy to see that they are pelicans Pelecanus: they are huge, with massive bodies, wide, fingered wings and ridiculously short tails (without projecting feet); up front, the neck is folded, but you cannot fail to notice the long, protruding bill. A migrating flock of pelicans seemingly wending their way north towards their Soviet breeding grounds has just passed, and you hope that some of the photographs will come out satisfactorily. One of these is our subject (plate 116, repeated here), but now we have to decide which of our region’s three basically similar species we have seen. At all ages, the underwing of the very large Dalmatian Pelican P. crispus is a relatively uniform pale grey, with a whiter band along the greater coverts; the very tips of the primaries and secondaries are dark grey, forming a narrow and indistinct dark fringe. Overhead, if not too high, the dark feet contrast with the pale rear-end. Although the mystery pelican shows an obvious pale mid-wing band, the leading wing-coverts and the flight feathers (both primaries and secondaries) are too dark, and the feet not dark enough, for the bird to be a Dalmatian. The most numerous pelican of the region, passing through the Middle East and northeast Africa in spectacular flocks in spring, is the White Pelican P. onocrotalus. Unlike the Dalmatian, there is a considerable change in plumage characteristics with age; full adult plumage takes some four years to be attained. We can immediately discount adult White Pelican. In flight, it differs from the other two species in being white, with contrasting jet-black primaries and secondaries from below. Juveniles and immatures, however, have a very different pattern: dusky brown underwing, with broad whitish central band, showing a striking contrast; their flight feathers blacken with age as the brown of the forewing becomes whiter. Immature White seems the most likely solution, but the bill of the mystery bird is distinctly pale (should be darker on young White) and our pelican, [Brit. Birds 84: 2 1 8-2 1 9. June 1991] Mystery photographs 219 although showing a pattern suggestive of young White, has neither the forewing nor the flight feathers dark enough for that species. It is in fact a Pink-backed Pelican P. rufescens, which shows cinnamon- grey underwing-coverts and dull greyish flight feathers, contrasting with a paler band up the centre of the underwing. Worn adults can show a contrasting pattern, recalling a diluted version of an adult White, but the flight feathers never become really black, and the white is invariably greyish-white. A close inspection of the primary tips reveals that the outermost ‘finger* is distinctly shorter than the longest; it is only slightly shorter on both Dalmatian and White. A view of the upperside would have shown the upperwing to be a dull greyish or brownish-grey, with dull, dark grey secondaries and primaries (more uniform in pattern than on either White or Dalmatian Pelican, which have darker primaries and obscured secondaries), and an off-white or pale pinkish rump, contrasting with a brownish tail and extending farther up onto the back than on either Dalmatian or White. Pink-backed is the smallest of the three, but is still a very large bird, the size difference being apparent only if compared directly with White Pelicans. The combination of wholly pale greyish- flesh bill and legs (both yellower on breeding adults) and more-restricted, bare, fleshy facial skin are further points to check on swimming individuals. I photographed this Pink-backed Pelican under the circumstances outlined above, in April 1984, near Abu Simbel, Egypt. During our two- day stay there, we found that small flocks of this species, and small numbers of Yellow-billed Storks Mycteria ibis , drifted north up the shores of the lake in the mornings and back towards the Sudan in the late afternoon, presumably enjoying a scenic tour on the midday thermals. It seems that this site has become the only place in the Western Palearctic where one is likely to see these primarily African species. STEVE Madge 2 Church Row, Sheviock, Torpoint, Cornwall PL11 3 EH 128. Mystery photograph 168. Identify the species. Answer next month Notes Canada Goose diving to escape attacks by Mute Swan On 30th June 1984, at Rostheme Mere NNR, Cheshire, I observed a male Mute Swan Cygnus olor repeatedly attack a solitary adult Canada Goose Branta canadensis which was moulting and flightless. At a time when the swan’s mate and two cygnets were about 1 km away at the opposite end of the mere, the swan adopted a threatening posture and finally rushed across the water at the goose. Almost at the point of impact the goose dived; on surfacing, it tried to swim discreetly away, its body almost wholly submerged, but the swan recommenced attack and the goose desperately dived again. After four attacks in quick succession, causing three dives of 16-18 seconds and one of 20 seconds, the goose escaped, very exhausted, into a stand of lesser bulrush Typha angustifolia. Malcolm Calvert 12 Hill Drive, Handforth, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 3AR Dr M. A. Ogilvie has commented: ‘Moulting wildfowl of all kinds — including Mute Swans for that matter — dive to escape danger.’ Eds Brent Geese with white neck bands During observational work on about 1,500 Brent Geese Branta bemicla for The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, at the Exe Estuary, Devon, between November 1988 and March 1989, I was struck by several individuals with complete white neck bands resembling the west North American and east Siberian race B. b. nigricans. I saw the first of these on 10th December 1988, amongst a flock of 805 of the nominate, dark-bellied race on the Exminster Marshes. Apart from the rather broad white collar, which completely encircled the neck at the front, this bird was otherwise identical in plumage to the other adults with it. By 11th February 1989, I had seen at least two others with complete white neck bands and several intermediates with incomplete bands (fig. 1). All were adults and none showed any joining of the white neck patches on the rear of the neck. In addition, there was an adult with an almost completely white head and upper neck and two others with white- speckled heads. I can find no mention in the literature of Brent Geese of the nominate Fig. 1. Variation in neck patches of Brent Geese Branta bemicla bemicla: front views of individuals in Devon in winter 1988/89 ( D . S. Flumm) 220 Notes 221 race showing complete white neck bands. In fact, BWP states ‘Triangular w hite patches at sides of neck, w hich do not meet in front or behind neck.’ I hope this note will warn observers that, faced with a distant Brent Goose showing a complete white neck ring, one should not necessarily assume that it is of American/east Siberian origin. D. S. Flu MM 52 Porthia Road , St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2JB Dr M. A. Ogilvie has commented that the Exe Estuary flock is likely to be fairly self- contained, and there could well be a gene present in this population responsible for the variation in these individuals. This is also another example demonstrating the need for caution (and more than a single character) to be used in the identification of any rare bird, either species or race. Eos Black-shouldered Kite feeding over ploughed fields in winter The Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus is often recorded feeding during the breeding season over growing cereals (e.g. Collar 1978), but less seems to be known about its winter feeding habitat. During the winters of 1987/88 and 1988/89, I made observations at Pancas, in the Reserva Nacional do Estuario do Tejo, Portugal, and at various typical lowland habitats. I noted Black-shouldered Kites hovering and/or feeding in and around fallow crop fields, ungrazed grassland and close-cropped pasture near groves of olive Olea europaea and cork oak Quercus suber. On 14th January 1989, a juvenile/first-winter kite was seen hovering and feeding in abandoned, overgrown crop fields with weedy vegetation about 40 cm tall; it hovered frequently, dropping slowly and gently into the vegetation as described by Brown & Amadon (1968). Later that day, it was relocated on a fence post near fields being actively and noisily ploughed: at least five times during 15 minutes’ observation, it stooped into the furrows less than 80 m from the moving plough, each time with a rapid and emphatic plunge as described by Collar (1978); one plunge resulted in prey capture. Differences in stooping behaviour (see Collar 1978) may in this instance have been due to differences in habitat: higher ground vegetation may be linked to the ‘gentle’ drop described by Brown & Amadon (1968). C. C. Moore v/v Monte Mar r/c, Monte Sta. Luzia, 2775 Parede, Portugal REFERENCES Brown, L., & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World (vol. 1). Feltham. Collar, N. J. 1978. Nesting of Black-shouldered Kites in Portugal. Brit. Birds 71: 398-412. Two male Kestrels at same nest On 23rd May 1984, in Bagley Wood, Oxfordshire, I was attracted by excited ‘ki-ki-ki . . .’ calls coming from an oak Quercus. The commotion, which lasted at least three minutes, involved two male Kestrels Falco tinnunculus , both of which were carrying prey. One flew to a nearby oak where I had previously found a Kestrel’s nest with a brood of five chicks; begging calls were heard, and about four minutes later a male and female left the tree. Immediately, the second male swooped towards the nest and begging calls were again heard; the female dashed back and chased the second male out of sight. I did not see two males near the nest on any of four subsequent visits. 222 Notes Between 11th May and 3rd June 1987, near Falmer, East Sussex, two male Kestrels were regularly seen feeding a brood of four nestlings. Initially, aggression between the adults was frequent, but, later on, all three often perched amicably on the same tree. I know of no similar records of two male Kestrels at one nest, but second males have been recorded at nests of Lesser Kestrels F. naumanni (. BWP ) and Merlins F. columbarius ( Condor 88: 533-534), while an intruding male Hobby F. subbuteo has been seen to feed a paired female (BWF). David Harper School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex BXJ 9QG Pectoral Sandpiper’s reaction when alarmed On 16th September 1987, along with several other birdwatchers in East Hide, Minsmere, Suffolk, I was watching a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos which was busily feeding in the mud; other waders were feeding in the water. Suddenly, ducks and waders rose as one, with the exception of the Pectoral Sandpiper; the latter immediately entered the water and lowered itself until only its head and ‘shoulders’ were exposed. The other birds returned very quickly to feed in the water, and the sandpiper returned to the mud and fed as before. We could see no bird of prey and did not know what had caused the alarm. I remarked, however, that this behaviour was exactly the same as that shown by a Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola when a Merlin Falco columbarius passed overhead (Brit Birds 80: 426). Jean D. Garrod 769 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 5TJ Spotted Redshank joining pigeon flock David Norman (Brit. Birds 71: 461-462) described waders attaching themselves to flocks of pigeons Columba, and the editors appended a request for further observations of this practice, especially inland. At 19.20 GMT on 4th September 1987, a Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus was circling and calling over the village of South Witham, Lincolnshire. A flock of homing pigeons C. lima was then released for their evening exercise and, as they reached a height of some 30 m, the wader immediately joined them as closely as any other member of the flock; the Spotted Redshank then completed four circuits of the village, calling loudly, before breaking away and flying off. Eric Simms 21 Church Street, South Witham, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG33 5PJ Spotted Redshank evading attack by diving The note on unusual flight- bathing behaviour by Greenshanks Tringa nebularia (Brit. Birds 82: 28) recalled the following. On 26th November 1987, at the Broadwater, Gwynedd, I watched a Spotted Redshank T. erythropus feeding in a shallow sandy pool. After five minutes, a passing Herring Gull Larus argentatus swooped down on the wader three times; each time, the wader evaded attack by briefly ‘belly-flopping’ under the water with wings outstretched and slightly raised, until only the wingtips remained above the surface. Notes 223 From the state of the incoming tide I estimated the depth of the pool to be about 22 cm, which would have involved the wader bringing its legs up tight against its underbody. After the attacks, the Herring Gull flew off and the Spotted Redshank continued feeding. Roger Q. Skeen Bustards , 60 Station Road, Docking, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE31 8LT Perching habits of Wheatear and Black-eared Wheatear ‘Mystery photograph’ number 138 (Brit. Birds 81: 625, plate 310) of a perching female Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica prompted me to read again the notes I made during several memorable spring holidays in Mallorca in the 1970s. My companions and I often saw Black-eared Wheatears and Wheatears 0. oenanthe on passage north of Puerto Pollensa, in the Boquer Valley, and at Casas Veyas on the Formentor Peninsula. The male Black-eared Wheatears commonly perched on slender stems and flimsy sticks. Male Wheatears never used such insubstantial perches, preferring to look out from rocks, boulders and low walls. The smaller sample of less-easily-distinguished females showed the same difference in habits. I consider that the choice of spindly perches is virtually diagnostic of Black-eared Wheatear in comparison with Wheatear. Alan Hunter 16 Boltin Walk, Reddish Road, South Reddish, Stockport SK5 7JW This difference is noted, but not emphasised, in several standard identification works. As with all behavioural characteristics, this habit should be used with caution and no identification should be based wholly (or even largely) upon it. A wheatear making regular use of flimsy herbs as perches would, however, be well worth a second glance: this habit could draw attention to a vagrant Black-eared Wheatear. Ens Crested Tits hiding nest material On 19th March 1988, in Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, Catalonia, Spain, I observed a pair of Crested Tits Parus cristatus carrying moss. They were very excited and called continuously. I then realised that I was standing beside a dead tree with a hole in it, where I suspected the nest must be. Both tits approached the trunk, but did not enter the hole. Suddenly, one of them perched on an open pine cone and lodged the moss in it, and the other did the same in another cone. Some seconds later, the pair came back carrying more moss, which they again stored. I then inspected two of the cones that were accessible, and left the moss in position. The next morning, I returned to the site and saw that the moss had been removed. I have not heard of any bird species hiding nest material, although I have observed birds, particularly tits and warblers (Sylviidae), dropping nest material if disturbed during nest-building. AbelJulien I Vila Ramhla St Isidre, 21, 08184 Palau de Plegamans, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain No doubt the tits’ behaviour was triggered by the close presence of the observer. Derek Goodwin has commented: ‘I have seen (rarely) captive Lanceolated Jays Garrulus lanceolatus hide nest-lining material when “put off” by my close presence. The only record I know of birds hiding nest material, before the breeding season, for later use is that by F. Lindgren for the Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus (1975, Fauna Flora Stockholm 70: 198-210).’ Eds 224 Notes Chaffinch giving Nuthatch-like song On 26th April 1988, in Kensing- ton Gardens, London, I heard what sounded like a Nuthatch Sitta europaea , a species which had been uncommon there recently. I then saw that it was a finch-like bird, singing frantically from one tree for a minute or two and then dashing off some distance to another to repeat the performance. I got only a poor view and, although the bird looked similar to a Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs , I thought that it must be an escaped exotic species, especially in view of its behaviour. When I visited the park again on 10th May, the bird was still performing and proved to be a male Chaffinch. My assistant (now Curator) at the British Library of Wildlife Sounds, Richard Ranft, recorded the song that afternoon and made a sonagram (fig L). Fig. 1. Sonagram produced on Voiceident RT1000 digital analyser of aberrant Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs song recorded by Richard Ranft, NSA, London, May 1988 Fig. 2. Sonagram from BLOWS of calls of Nuthatch Sitta europaea (similar to those of aberrant Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs) recorded by R. Jervis in Sussex in April 1982 The song consisted of a loud upswept whistle repeated four times, very similar to one of the sounds of a Nuthatch (fig. 2), and was often introduced by a softer, ‘wavering’ two-syllable phrase; it was very unlike ‘normal’ Chaffinch song (fig. 3). It is difficult to think of any explanation for this completely abnormal song. Ron Kettle British Library of Wildlife Sounds, The National Sound Archive, 29 Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AS Notes 225 Fig. 3. Sonagram from BLOWS of normal song of Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs recorded by Richard Savage in Somerset, May 1970 Dr J. T. R. Sharrock has commented: ‘I have often heard Chaffinches giving Nuthatch-like songs, and seen people unfamiliar with the habit misidentifying the singer. I thought that it was recorded in the literature — I have known about it for over 20 years.’ Eds Letters Keeping warm In his useful ‘Birdcraft’ article on clothing for birdwatch- ers (Brit. Birds 84: 27-30), Dr M. A. Ogilvie could have given one more useful tip of which a surprisingly large number of birdwatchers are apparently unaware. Most farmworkers, especially those of an older school, know that tying a piece of baler twine around one’s middle is as good as or better than an extra pullover. Much heat which would otherwise be lost is thereby retained, and bitter winds are prevented from blowing up under the jacket. For those who feel that a piece of string is an inelegant accoutrement, a belt will do equally well, but is more expensive. Since many jackets have no belt or drawstring, this simple addition will enable otherwise frozen birders to remain behind their ’scopes a little longer. Jeremy D. Powne 1 Augustan Close, Castle Park, Dorchester, Dorset DTI 2QU We hope that those who follow Mr Powne’s good advice do not become known as stringers. Eds 226 Letters A second look I am afraid that Drs Chandler and Sharrock made a slip- up in the March 1990 issue (Brit. Birds 83: 115), when, referring to the splendid photo of the Woodpigeon Columba palumbus feeding its young (plate 59), they said ‘as the squab . . In fact, the photograph clearly shows that there are two squabs. The one with its bill inside the parent’s mouth has both wings, with part of each clearly visible, folded against its body, with the tips of its primaries (visible only on near side) below the somewhat raised tail. The top of its head is nearly on a level with the adult’s eye and needs a close look to see where it is demarcated from that portion of its sibling’s head that is visible. The other squab’s wing is ‘embracing’ the upperparts of the nearer young bird. The line of its back, rump and tail can clearly be seen as quite distinct, with the tail at a different angle from that of the nearer squab. It is not possible to see from the photo whether this second squab has also got its bill in the parent’s mouth or is merely trying to put it there, with the bill obscured by the parent’s head. I believe that one function of the wild flapping and ‘embracing’ with the wings, in which young pigeons indulge when hungry and begging for food, may be to hinder the sibling from ‘getting in first’. Derek Goodwin 6 Crest View Drive, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent BR5 1BY RJC and JTRS have replied ‘ Mea culpa. When writing the text, we did overlook the second squab, even though Anthony J. Bond, the photographer, had captioned his picture ‘Woodpigeon feeding squabs’. Our only excuse is that the text was written when looking at a photocopy of the photograph (the original being with our printers); the clarity of the published photograph is such that our printers deserved (and received) a compliment from us. ‘As an aside, we wonder whether such competitive tussling for food by young birds is the origin of the verb to squabble?’ Eds European news This twenty-ninth report includes records from 25 countries. We are pleased to be able to draw attention to the addition of Lithuania to the list of countries represented. New contacts in unrepresented West Palearctic countries will be very welcome. The official correspondents whose detailed six-monthly reports are summarised here are acknow- ledged at the end. This feature is intended as a news service; anyone requiring further information or quoting records in other publications should refer to the literature of the relevant country. If you have made observations in any of the countries included here, and do not know to whom records should be sent, we suggest that you send a copy of your records to the relevant ‘European news’ correspon- dent listed at the end of this summary; for countries not included here, we European news 227 suggest that you send them to British Birds , and we shall do our best to pass them on to the appropriate person. Records awaiting formal verification by national rarities committees are indicated by an asterisk (*). Unless otherwise stated, all records refer to single individuals Black-throated Diver Gama arctica FAROE ISLANDS Second and third records (first this century): Akraberg on 19th October 1987 and Hvannasund from 26th June 1990 for several days. MOROCCO Second record this century: El-Jardida on 9th February' 1990*. Great Northern Diver Gama immer GIBRAL- TAR Correction: first record was on 23rd November (not December) 1989 {Brit. Birds 83: 222). Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena SLOVENIA First breeding record: two or three pairs at Cerknica Lake in 1990. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis SWE- DEN Continuing decline: fewer than ten pairs bred successfully in 1989. Wilson’s Petrel Oceanites oceanicus FRANCE Fifth record: two off Les Sables d’Olonne, Vendee, on 22nd August 1990*. Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus DENMARK Largest influx for many years: peak of 22 passing Blavandshuk, W-Jutland, on 21st September 1990. NETHERLANDS Influx: more than 15 on coast of Holland, during strong winds, during 21st-23rd September 1990 (only six individuals during 1982-88). Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa DEN- MARK Large influx: during September 1990, with peak of 95 at Blavandshuk, W-Jutland, on 19th. LATVIA Fifth record: Pape on 11th October 1990*. SPAIN High mortality: up to 800 corpses along 34 km of beach in Huelva province after gales in November and De- cember 1989. Cape Gannet Sula capensis MOROCCO First records: single at El-Oualidia on 9th Febru- ary 1990* and three at Cap Rhir on 10th February 1990*. Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo SWEDEN Breeding expansion: total of 4,830 breeding pairs found in nine different colonies, all in southern Sweden, in 1989 (cf. recent in- creases or range expansions in Austria, Byelorussia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, the Nether- lands, Poland, Spain and the Ukraine, Brit. Birds 75: 25; 76: 272; 78: 638; 80: 9, 321-322; 82: 14, 321; 83: 223; 84; 2). White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus FRANCE Influx: adult at Areze, Gard, on 17th July 1990*, singles at Lannion, Cotes d’ Armor (former Cotes-du-Nord), on 10th August 1990*, at Le Collet, Loire-Atlantique, on 4th September 1990*, juvenile at Maissonais s/ Tardoire, Haute-Vienne, on 24th-25th Sep- tember 1990*, and adult at La Ferte- Hauterive, Allier, on 24th December 1990*. POLAND Small influx: five records in south- ern Poland in July and August 1990 (singles recorded every year recently). (Only other recent possible vagrants reported were in Denmark and Sweden in October 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 331.) Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus FRANCE Probably second or third record: single (perhaps escape) at Dunkerque, Nord, dur- ing mid-September to beginning of October 1990*. HUNGARY Fourth and fifth records this century: two adults near Szeged on (8th May 1989, and five individuals on the Hortobagy during 22nd May to 1st June 1990. (Only other recent possible vagrants reported were in Germany in December 1976 to March 1977 and in Norway in June 1976, September 1977 and May 1978, Brit. Birds 72: 275; 73: 257; 75: 25.) Bittern Botaurus stellaris SWEDEN Highest number for several years: 213 males boom- ing in 1989. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus NETHER- LANDS Decrease: only eight breeding pairs in 1990. Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax SPAIN Cen- sus: about 1,600 pairs in 1989 (cf. about 1,300 in 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 322). Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides SPAIN Cen- sus: about 400 breeding pairs in 1989 (cf. fewer than 250 pairs in 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 322). Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis SPAIN Census: about 54,000 pairs in 1989 (range expansion noted previously, Brit. Birds 83: 223). Little Egret Egretta garzetta BYELORUSSIA First record: adult (shot) in Luninets district, Brest region, in August 1979. SPAIN Increase: about 5,000 pairs in 1989 census. 228 Great White Egret Egretta alba SWEDEN Record numbers: 12, mainly in southeast, in spring and summer 1989. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea SPAIN Increase: about 1,500 pairs in 1989 census (cf. local increase already noted, Brit. Birds 83: 223; and recent increases in Italy and Belgium, Brit. Birds 78: 639; 82: 322). Purple Heron Ardea purpurea LITHUANIA First record: adult near Daugai during June-July 1981. White Stork Cicorda ciconia FRANCE Increase: 119 pairs in 1990, compared with 1 1 pairs in 1974, 69 pairs in 1988, and 107 pairs in 1989 (cf. decreases in Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, but increases in Austria and Poland, Brit. Birds 75: 25, 268; 78: 339; 81: 15; 83: 9; 84: 2). Sacred Ibis Threskiomis aethiopicus LITHUANIA First record: adult at Zuvintas Nature Re- serve in September 1986. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘Euro- pean news’ summary.) African Spoonbill Platalea alba FRANCE Fourth record: Sainte-Opportune, Eure, 9th October 1990* (first to third were in Sep- tember 1987, April 1990, now reported to have stayed to September 1990, and May 1990, Brit. Birds 83: 9; 84: 2). Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber SPAIN Highest-ever breeding numbers at Fuente de Piedra lagoon: some 12,000 chicks fledged from almost 14,000 pairs in 1990 (cf. good breeding seasons in France/Spain in 1984, 1986 and 1988, Brit. Birds 78: 339; 80: 322; 82: 322). Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus AUSTRIA Vagrants: two adults at Seewinkel, Burgen- land, during 14th December 1990 to at least 13th January 1991 (very rare away from Lake Constance). BYELORUSSIA Second re- cord: one with Mute Swans C. olor at Lake Chemoe, Bereza district, Brest, during De- cember 1983 to February 1984. Greylag Goose Anser anser NETHERLANDS Increase: at least 800 breeding pairs in 1990. Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus LITHUANIA First record: single in flock of White-fronted Geese A. albifrons near Kintai, Silute district, on 13th May 1985 (cf. first Norwegian record, two adults during 23rd-26th June 1985, Brit. Birds 82: 322). ' European news Snow Goose Anser caerulescens LITHUANIA First and second records: single in Nemunas Delta on 20th April and 1st May 1982 and two (second/third-years) at Lake Kretuonas on 5 th May 1984. American Wigeon Anas amencana CANARY ISLANDS Lirst record: male and three females on Fuerteventura during January-February 1991. CZECHOSLOVAKIA First record: male near Tovacov, central Moravia, on 10th February' 1990. Teal Anas crecca NORWAY Fourth record of Nearctic race A. c. carolinensis: adult male at Kurefjorden, Rade, 0stfold, on 16th April 1989* (third was in May 1985, Brit. Birds 82: 323). Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina ESTONIA Fifth record: male at Lake Soitsjarv, Jogeva District, on 25th May 1990. King Eider Somateria spectabilis LATVIA First record: female at Kolka, northwest Latvia, on 24th October 1990*. Sweden Record numbers: at least 103 individuals, of which 80% observed in spring, on both coasts, in 1989 (cf. previous peaks of 90 in 1986 and 70 in 1987, Brit. Birds 82: 15). Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri Latvia Second record: two males and three females on west coast of Riga Bay on 20th January' 1991* (first concerned two females in April 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 224). SWEDEN Highest total for about 50 years: about 285 individuals, of which 98% were seen in the Baltic, in 1989 (cf. previous high totals in 1980, 1985 and 1987, and high numbers in Poland in 1987, Brit. Birds 82: 15). Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus FAROE ISLANDS Lourth and fifth records: adult male at Kirkjubour during May -July 1990 (perhaps 1989 individual, Brit. Birds 83: 10) and two adult males at Torshavn on 11th June 1990. Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca MOROCCO First record this century: two at Meija Zerga on 28th December 1989. Hooded Merganser Mergus cucullatus FRANCE Second record: male (perhaps escape) in Baie de Somme from at least 25th August to 23rd September 1990*. NORWAY Third re- cord: adult female at Asen, Levanger, Nord- Trondelag, during 13th January to at least 10th February' 1991* (first and second were 229 European news in September 1985 and Tune 1986, Brit. Birds 82: 15-16). Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis NORWAY Fifth record: adult male at Evjevika, Ring- saker, Hedmark, on 8th and 11th May 1989 (third and fourth were in May 1988 and October 1988, Brit. Birds 84: 4). Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus FRANCE Correction: pair raised four (not three) young in Pyrenees-Atlantiques in 1990, adults with one or two young being seen to at least end of year (Brit. Birds 84: 4). Migrant: single at Col de Soulor, Haute- Pyrenees (altitude 1,400 m) on 6th October 1990*. Red Kite Milvus milvus DENMARK Highest- ever count: 122 at Stevais Klint, Zeeland, on 16th September 1990, arriving from Fal- sterbo, Sweden, about 25 km to ENE. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla BYELORUSSIA Population estimate: 40-50 pairs, about half in Byelorussian Poozerie (northern lake district). FINLAND Best-ever breeding success: 60 young fledged in 1990 (cf. 42 in 1988 and 52 in 1989, Brit. Birds 83; 224). Black Vulture Aegypius monachus SPAIN Rapid recovery: 1989 census showed 774 pairs, in 27 colonies (cf. 365 pairs, in 16 colonies, in 1983-84, Brit. Birds 80: 323). Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus NETHER- LANDS Second record: Molkwerum, Fries- land, on 27th October 1959 (one previous record at Oldebroek, Gelderland, in Novem- ber 1907, and two subsequent, at Wijdenes, Noordholland, on 3rd June 1979, and at Maasvlakte during 8th-9th August 1981; other records now rejected). Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus DENMARK Highest-ever count: 140 at Stevns Klint, Zeeland, on 26th August 1990, arriving from Falsterbo, Sweden. Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax MOROCCO Only recent confirmed breeding record: adults at nest near Taroudant in early April 1990. Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca SPAIN Popula- tion recovery continuing: 126 pairs in 1989 (cf. 104 pairs in 1983-84, Brit. Birds 80: 323). Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus SPAIN Census: 751 pairs in 1990. Quail Cotumix cotumix SWEDEN High num- bers: about 430 individuals, including two proved breeding, in 1989 (highest number since 1943 or 1947; cf. high numbers in 1989 in Britain and Denmark, Brit. Birds 82: 457, 577; 83: 11). Sora Porzana Carolina SPAIN First and second records: Traba Lagoon, La Coruna, on 10th April 1988* and Llobregat Delta, Barcelona, on 25th April 1990*. Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla POLAND First record this century: adult at Zakliczyn near Krakow' on 24th April 1990. Corncrake Crex crex SWEDEN Increase: in 1989, highest numbers for at least 21 years. Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrula alleni FRANCE Third record: immature at Marais d’Olonne, Vendee, during 18th-23rd January 1991* (plates 129 & 130), found dead on 23rd (cf. only other recent records, in Spain in December 1975, Finland in May 1979 and Morocco in April 1985 and January 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 11). Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo FRANCE Ninth record: Lac du Cebron, Deux-Sevres, on 23rd October 1990* (cf. other recent records in Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland, Brit. Birds 84: 5). Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata LITHUANIA First record: adult in Radviliskis district during November 1988 (this is the only Continental European record reported since ‘European news’ was started in 1977). Great Bustard Otis tarda CZECHOSLOVAKIA Rapid decrease: 13-17 individuals in south- ern Moravia in 1990 (cf. 30-35 during 1970- 82; 20-25 in 1987). Lithuania First record for 100 years: Pakruojis district during April-June 1985. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Netherlands Decrease: ten breeding pairs in 1990. Correction: 22 breeding attempts were in 1989, not 1990 (Brit. Birds 84: 5). Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus ESTONIA Fourth record: Abruka Island, Saaremaa District, on 18th July 1990. Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalma- tus SPAIN Second record: first-summer at Ensenada de la Insui, La Coruna, during May to August 1990* (first was in July 1988, Brit. Birds 83: 11). Kittlitz’s Sand Plover Charadrius pecuarius MOROCCO Date extension: four adults at Merzouga from 19th January to at least 7th THE CHOICE OF THE ELITE MADE BY LEICA Take a look on the wild side through the ‘new’ eyes of Bill Oddi* Whenever I’m doing a serious study, I take my new Leica 10 x 42’s. Their timeless design and superior optical performance initially took me by surprise, but like most innovations I immediately enjoyed the benefits and I soon wondered how I ever got along without then The picture really is brilliantly sharp and bright. The extra close focus is tremendousl} useful too . . . especially if you are a naturalist who not only watches approachable birds, bui also butterflies, dragonflies, bats et al. Another good point is the independent ‘personal eye setting. Simply lock in the number, and you never need worry about it ‘slipping’ during use. Overall the new waterproof Leica 10 x 42’s are as you would expect - brilliant and a bit more besides. The freedom to see. For further information on Leica products tick the appropriate box and send the coupon to Leica, P.O. Box 10, Buntingford, Herts SG9 9BT. Leica BinocularsD Leica R5D Leica R6D Leica M6D Leica ProjectorsD Name j Address Telephone Telephone and service enquiries (0908) 666663 LBB4/91 (D829) L 231 European news southern Moravia, Brit. Birds 77: 237). NETHERLANDS Increase: 90 breeding pairs in 1990. Bonaparte’s Gull Larus Philadelphia MOROCCO Date extension for second record: adult in winter plumage at Oued Sous estuary was present from 22nd January to 14th February 1990 (Brit. Birds 84: 7). NETHERLANDS Third record: first-winter at Ritthem, Zeeland, during 11th to at least 19th February 1990 (first and second were in August 1985 and June to December 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 327). Slender-billed Gull Larus genei Gibraltar Third record: one flying west out of the Mediterranean on 31st August 1990 (second concerned two in June 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 12). Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii Gibraltar High numbers: 2,246 during 1st July to 30th September 1990, including record count of 820 on 26th August during six-hour watch (fourth consecutive yearly increase, cf. Brit. Birds 83: 226). Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis HUNGARY First record: moulting from first-summer into second-winter plumage on River Danube, near Sutto, on 21st December 1990. Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla LITHUANIA First to fifth records: singles near Klaipeda on 19th December 1982, near Palanga on 27th Feb- ruary 1983, near Juodkrante on 24th and 31st October 1983, and wintering at Klaipeda Port during January 1988 (cf. first to fourth Latvian records during 1983-86, Brit. Birds 79: 288; 81: 334). Ivory Gull Pagophila ebumea NETHERLANDS Second record: first-winter at Stellendam, Zuidholland, during 9th- 19th February 1990 (first was in February 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 18). Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus BYELO- RUSSIA Third breeding record: four pairs near Dzerzhinsk, Minsk region, in May 1990 (previous two were in 1987 and 1988, Brit. Birds 83: 226). Black Tern Chlidonias niger GIBRALTAR High numbers: total of 4,844 in autumn 1990, including 3,303 moving out of the Mediter- ranean during three-hour period on 31st August 1990. Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus NORWAY Date extension: female at Rinn- leiret stayed from 20th July until 11th November 1990* (Brit. Birds 84: 7). POLAND First record since 1908: flock of seven at Drozdowo nearLomza on 29th April 1990. Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Denmark Highest-ever count: 208,000 passing Ishoj Strand, Zeeland, on 8th October 1990 (cf. 70,000 in 1984 and 111,170 in 1985, Brit. Birds 78: 343; 79: 288). Bam Owl Tyto alba ESTONIA Third record: female at Puise, Haapsalu District, on 25th May 1990. Hawk Owl Sumia ulula AUSTRIA Vagrant: Seewinkel, Burgenland, on 24th November 1990. Needle-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus SPAIN First record: juvenile at Cecebre Re- servoir, La Coruna, on 4th November 1990*. (This species has not previously been men- tioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Alpine Swift Apus melba Finland Second record: two in Kotka on 5th May 1989 (first was in October 1980, Brit. Birds 74: 261). POLAND Fourth record: at Poznan on 14th September 1990 (third concerned two in July 1986, Brit. Birds 80: 326). 129 8c 130. Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrula alleni, France, January 1991 (page 229) (Mickael Lambert) [The inclusion of plates 129-132 in colour has been subsidised by a donation from ZEISS Germany \ 232 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis FRANCE First record: Ares Natural Reserve, Gironde, dur- ing 29th December 1990 to at least 7th January 1991* (only other recent European record was in Greece in winter 1986/87, Brit. Birds 81: 19). Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos ma- jor NORWAY Huge invasion: in many areas, especially in south, in autumn 1990; around 100 shot illegally at just one locality in Hedmark county. Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius ESTONIA First record: one trapped at Kabli, Pamu District, on 13th October 1990. White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos SLOVENIA. First breeding record of race lilfordi : successfully breeding at Kocevski Rog in 1989 and 1990. SWEDEN Continuing decline: one of last strongholds along River Dalalven now hit and only 1 1 instances of confirmed breeding in the country in 1989; species now on verge of extinction (cf. declines in Finland and Nor- way, Brit. Birds 81: 335; 82: 328; 83: 227). Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus SWEDEN Unusually high numbers: along north Baltic in September 1990, with daily counts of up to nine at coastal localities such European news as Stora Fjaderagg, in Vasterbotten, and Jamasudden, in Angermanland: eastern ori- gin likely, since species has declined se- verely in Sweden owing to modem forestry (cf. influxes in Norway and Sweden in 1987/ 88). Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni SPAIN Dele- tion: 1989 record now rejected (Brit. Birds 84: 9). Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis FINLAND First and second records: single males at Joensuu on 24th March 1989 and at Koorp- poo, Jurmo, on 8th April 1989 (only other recent European vagrant was in Poland in January 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 20). Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla POLAND Fourth and fifth records: about 20 at Kosienice near Przemysl on 18th February 1990 and single at Gliwice on 4th September 1990 (third was in January 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 20). Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris MOROCCO First breeding record in Anti-Atlas: male at 2,531 m on top of Jbel Aklim, Igherm, on 20th May 1990 (new southern limit of breeding range). Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris DENMARK Second record: Hammeren and Svaneke, Bornholm, during 7th- 1 1th November 1990* (first was in May 1988, Brit. Birds 83: 227). 131. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva , one of two at Narpio, Finland, September 1990 (page 230) (Jouni Riihimdki) 233 European news Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae LATVIA First record: suburbs of Riga on 8th Septem- ber 1990*. NORWAY Unusually high numbers in south: at least 45 during September and October 1990. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni FRANCE Fourth record: Ouessant on 2nd-3rd November 1990* (third was in October 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 227). Sweden Third record: Haparanda Sandskar, Norrbotten, on 6th October 1990* (first and second were in October 1988 and October 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 227). Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi FRANCE Second record: adult at Lugon, Vendee, on 16th September 1990* (first was in April 1987, Brit. Birds 83: 14). Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola FRANCE Third record: juvenile in Baie d’Audieme, Finistere, on 2nd September 1990* (first and second were in April 1987 and April 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 14). Lithuania First breeding record: Zuvintas bog in 1986 (first record concerned a pair at same locality in 1985). SPAIN Second record: juvenile at Ebro Delta on 23rd September 1990* (first was in April 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 335). Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus DENMARK Large irruption: flocks of up to 2,000 in autumn 1990. HUNGARY Large influx in winter 1989/ 90: many flocks of up to 500 individuals widespread. Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes CYPRUS First winter record: two at Evretou Dam on 20th January 1990. Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos LITHUANIA First record: female trapped in Ventes Ragas on 17th May 1987. Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope DEN- MARK Second record: dead juvenile male at Skovlunde, Zeeland, on 20th November 1990* (first was in October 1985, Brit. Birds 79: 289). SWEDEN First record: juvenile/ female northeast of Slite, Gotland, during 22nd-24th September 1990*. Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus CYPRUS Second record: Bishop’s Pool on 11th November 1990* (first was in Novem- ber 1957). White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis CYP- RUS Third record: Emba, near Pafos, on 25th October 1990 (first and second were in April 1962 and March 1981). Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina MOROCCO Fourth and fifth records: Gouli- mine on 22nd January 1990* and Merzouga on 27th March 1990* (second and third were in March 1988 and March 1989, Brit. Birds 83: 15). Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka GREECE First breeding record: Sithonia Peninsula on 12th June 1989. White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma POLAND First spring record: adult female caught at Cahipy, Hel Peninsula, on 4th May 1990 (eighth Polish record). Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica SWEDEN First record: first-year male at Ottenby, Oland, on 1 1th September 1990* (this is the first record reported from Continental Europe since 1984, Brit. Birds 80: 14). Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Netherlands In- crease: at least 700 breeding pairs in 1989 in Zuid-Limburg alone and numbers breeding elsewhere (cf. increases and range expan- sions in Austria, Denmark, France, Poland, Romania and Yugoslavia, Brit. Birds 74: 262; 75: 279; 81: 20). Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola NORWAY Third record: juvenile ringed at Bjordal, 0stra, More & Romsdal, on 15th September 1988* (first and second were in September 1986 and October 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 350). POLAND First record: immature female caught at Darfowko, Baltic coast, on 12th September 1989. Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata FRANCE Third record: Ouessant on 28th October 1990* (first and second were in August 1982 and September 1986, Brit. Birds 76: 275; 81: 20). Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides Gibral- tar Second record: 22nd September 1990. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus FAROE islands Second record (and first singing male to take up territory): Torshavn during most of June 1990. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola Estonia First record: one trapped at Vaibla, Viljandi District, on 15th July 1990. FRANCE First record: one trapped at Upaix, Hautes- Alpes, on 26th September 1990*. ISRAEL First and second records: two ringed, in Bet 234 Shean Valley and at Eilat, in October 1990. NORWAY First record: one ringed at Lista Fyr, Farsund, Vest-Agder, on 15th October 1990*. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum LITHUANIA Highest number caught at bird- ringing stations: ten in 1988 (cf. two in 1983; four in 1984; four in 1986; and one in 1987; first record was on 25th May 1976). MALTA First record: one ringed in October 1990. NETHERLANDS First record: Lelystad, Flevo- land, on 26th June 1990. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus SWEDEN Highest-ever total: 360 singing males in 1989; almost half of Swedish population is at Lake Takem, Ostergotland (cf. previous highest, 305 in 1988, Brit. Birds 83: 228). Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata NETHER- LANDS Fourth record: Bloemendaal, Noord- holland, on 29th September 1990 (first to third were in October 1982, October 1986 and September 1988, Brit. Birds 76: 275; 81: 21; 82: 351). Norway Third record: one ringed at Orrevatn, Klepp, Rogaland, on 17th August 1990* (first and second were in October 1978 and September 1983, Brit. Birds 79: 290). Sweden Second and third records: one ringed at Ottenby, Oland, on 8th September stayed until at least 13th September 1990* and one at Landsort, Sodermanland, during 25th-27th September 1990*. Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta NETHERLANDS First breeding record: Vogel- weg, Flevoland, during May-June 1990 (cf. first confirmed breeding in Luxembourg in 1986 and recent increases and range expan- sion in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, Brit. Birds 80: 14). POLAND Third record: singing male near Czamkow on 28th May and 17th June 1987 (record in May 1990 becomes fourth, Brit. Birds 84: 10). Two-barred Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus NETHERLANDS First record: Cas- tricum, Noordholland, on 17th September 1990. (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Fin- land Highest-ever total: 46 during 28th September to 19th November 1989. SWEDEN Highest-ever total: about 60, with strong concentrations on Baltic coastline and adja- cent islands, in 1989 (mostly in October). European news Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inoma- tus CYPRUS Fifth record: Dhekelia on 30th November 1990* (first to fourth were in November 1968, on 16th October 1969, during 18th-29th October 1969 and on 15th November 1970). Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi MALTA First record: one ringed in November 1990. Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus Juscatus ESTONIA Third record: one trapped at Sorve saar, Saaremaa Island, on 11th October 1990 (first and second were in October 1986 and November 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 338). Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita HUNGARY First record of Siberian race tristis : near Dinnyes on 10th November 1990. Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus NORWAY Inva- sion: influx in south of at least 62 indi- viduals, involving at least nine different observations, mainly during autumn 1990 (only five previous records). Coal Tit Parus ater SWEDEN Massive south- westerly movement: in provinces of Vaster- botten and Angermanland during 24th-28th August 1990, with more than 10,000 counted in three days at Sonnerstgrundet, Vasterbotten. Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus MALTA Win- tering numbers continue to increase: 30 on one day in two localities in February 1990 (cf. Brit. Birds 82: 353). Netherlands In- crease: at least 130 territories in 1990 (cf. 55 pairs in 1989, Brit. Birds 84: 10). Norway First record: adult male nest-building at 0re, Fredrikstad, 0stfold, during 7th May to 7th July 1989. SWEDEN Explosive increase from 1988 to 1989: breeding confirmed in six provinces in south, with autumn popula- tion perhaps as high as 1,000 individuals. Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus LATVIA First record: Pape on 5th November 1990*. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Hungary First record since 1981: adult male near Szekesfehervar on 7th September 1990 (bred at Aggtelek in 1981). (This species has not previously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus HUN- GARY Fourth record: two at River Danube, near Nyergesujfalu, on 16th September 1990. Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus Slo- venia Fifth record: about 30 at Ankaran, on 20th June 1988. European news 235 132. Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus, Finland, April 1989 (Jari Kostet)(Brit. Birds 84: 1 1) Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis FRANCE Second and third records this century: single males in Camargue, Bouches-du- Rhone, on 15th June 1990*, and at Leucate, Aude, on 15th July 1990* (previous one was in June 1987, Brit. Birds 81: 21). NORWAY Second record: adult male ringed at Lista Fyr, Farsund, Vest-Agder, on 22nd July 1990* (first was in May 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 354). Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni DENMARK Irruption: up to ten at best sites during autumn/winter 1990/91. SWEDEN Increase: more numerous than usual in south during winter 1990/91 (e.g. more than 30 reported in January 1991). Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera BYELORUSSIA Second record: first-year near Maryina Gorka, Minsk region, in September 1990. DENMARK Large influx: more than 100 during October-November 1990, with 30 at Gilleleje, Zeeland, on 10th October 1990. FRANCE Fifth and sixth records this century: single at Gambsheim, Bas-Rhin, on 16th December 1990*, and two females in Foret d’Halatte, Oise, on 27th and 30th January 1991*. (Cf. prediction of eruption from Sweden, Brit. Birds 84: 11.) Crossbill Loxia curvirostra DENMARK Irrup- tion: several thousands during July-August 1990. FRANCE Irruption: during June to at least October 1990 (probably largest influx since about 1968). Gibraltar Irruption: 78 individuals during 7th September- 1 3th November 1990 including 38 on 27th Octo- ber, largest flock numbering 30 (only four previous records). HUNGARY Irruption: in summer 1990, scattered flocks of mainly 10- 20 individuals throughout country. (Erup- tion from Sweden and irruptions into Faroe Islands and Malta already noted, Brit. Birds 84: 11.) Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus DENMARK Irruption: hundreds from October 1990, with peak of 560 at Skagen, N-Jutland, on 14th December 1990. FRANCE Fourth record this century: Noel-Cemeux, Doubs, during lst-3rd January 1991*. Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus SPAIN First record for Balearic Islands: female or juvenile caught on Dragonera Island on 20th September 1990*. Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus Fin- land First record (Brit. Birds 84: 11): see plate 132, above. Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator DENMARK Small influx: at least five during autumn/ winter 1990/91* (first since 1981). Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata FRANCE First record: Ouessant during 9th-15th 236 October 1990*. (This species has not pre- viously been mentioned in a ‘European news’ summary.) Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus SPAIN Third record: first-winter male on Col- umbretes Islands, Castellon, on 9th October 1989*. SWEDEN Strong passage: largest re- ported flock was of 250 at Stora Fjaderagg, Vasterbotten, on 10th September. Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos NETHER- LANDS Correction: individual photographed was in November 1987 (not 1988), Brit. Birds 82: 12, plate 12. Spain First record: male trapped at Llavaneras, Barcelona, in Octo- ber 1987*. European news House Bunting Emberiza striolata MOROCCO First confirmed breeding record in Meknes: during spring 1989 (cf. range expansions to Casablanca in 1960s and to Rabat and Fes in 1980s, Brit. Birds 79: 292). Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana MOROCCO First winter record: Sidi-Bettache on 13th January 1990. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla CYPRUS First record: Phasouri area on 15th November 1990*. HUNGARY Second record: on the Hortobagy on 22nd October 1990 (first was in November 1988, Brit. Birds 82: 354). POLAND First winter record: near Gliwice on 27th January 1989 (tenth record). Correspondents AUSTRIA Hans-Martin Berg, Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Vogelkunde, c/o Naturhistoris- ches Museum Wien, A- 10 14 Wien 1, Burgring 7, Postfach 417 BYELORUSSIA M. E. Nikiforov, Lab. Ecol. Terrestrial Animals, Inst. Zoology, Byel. Acad. Sci., Skoriny St 27, 220733 Minsk CANARY islands Keith Emmerson & Dr Aurelio Martin, Departamento de Biologia Animal (Zoologia), Universidad de la Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife; new' correspondent: Juan Antonio Lorenzo (same address) CYPRUS C. J. L. Bennett, P.O. Box 4319, Nicosia CZECHOSLOVAKIA Dr Karel Stastny, Institute of Applied Ecology and Ecotechnology, Agriculture University in Prague, 281 63 Kostelec n.c.lesy DENMARK Brian Rasmussen, Kastanie Alle 27, DK-3250 Gilleleje ESTONIA Dr Vilju Lilleleht, Institute of Zoology and Botany, 21 Vanemuise St, SU-202400 Tartu FAROE ISLANDS Soren Sorensen, Bratskowej 5, DK-2720 Vanlose, Denmark FINLAND Hannu Jannes, The Finnish Ornithological Society, Zoological Museum, P. Rautatiekatu 13, SF-00100 Helsinki 10 FRANCE Dr Philippe J. Dubois, 29 rue Saint-Didier, 95810 Epiais-Rhus GIBRALTAR C. E. Perez, 7 Kensington House, Laguna Estate GREECE George I. Handrinos, 50 El Venizelou Str, 166 75 Glyfada HUNGARY Zoltan Waliczky, 1039 Budapest, Juhasz Gy.u. 15.VII.60 ISRAEL Hadoram Shirihai, Israel Trust for Ornithology, P.O. Box 4168, Eilat 88102 LATVIA Dr Janis Baumanis, Laboratory of Ornithology, Miera 3, 229021 Salaspils Lithuania Dr Petras Kurlavicius, Institute of Ecology, Academijos 2, Vilnius, SU-232600 MALTA Joe Sultana & Charles Gauci, The Ornithological Society, PO Box 498, Valletta MOROCCO Michel Thevenot, Laboratoire de Biogeographie et Ecologie des Vertebres, Case 100, Universite de Montpellier 11, F-34060 Montpellier Cedex, France NETHERLANDS Drs. Amoud B. van den Berg, Duinlustparkweg 98, 2082 EG Santpoort-Zuid NORWAY Andrew W. Clarke, Granlia, Kyrresvingen 21, 3190 Horten POLAND Dr Tadeusz Stawarczyk, Wroclaw University, Museum of Natural History', Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wroclaw PORTUGAL New correspondent: Dr Joao Carlos Farinha, Servi^o Nacional de Parques, Reservas e Conservagao da Natureza, Rua Filipe Folque 46, 3°, 1000 Lisboa Slovenia Iztok Geister, 64202 Naklo, Pokopaliska pot 13 SPAIN Dr Eduardo de Tuana A., Sociedad Espanola de Omitologia, Facultad de Biologia, PI. 9, 28040 Madrid SWEDEN Johan Elmberg, Biologigrand 47, S-90241 Umea TUNISIA Thierry Gaultier, INRST/CBRG Unite d’Omithologie, BP 95, 2050 Hammam-Lif No information was received from Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland or the Ukraine. Announcements Young Ornithologists of the Year As in other recent years, entrants had to submit their field notebooks for the judges’ perusal. The winners and runners-up in the 1990 competition, organised as usual by the Young Ornithologists’ Club and sponsored by British Birds , were: JUNIOR (under 10 years old) 1st Tom Fieldsend of Dereham, Norfolk 2nd Hazel Eyre of Waterlooville, Hampshire 3rd Peter Hully of Retford, Nottinghamshire INTERMEDIATE (10-12 years old) 1st Dominick Spracklen of Huntly, Aberdeenshire 2nd Christopher Batty of Blackpool, Lancashire 3rd Gavin Paterson of Uphall, West Lothian SENIOR (over 12 years old) 1st Mark Gurney of Stevenage, Hertfordshire 2nd Martin Gilbert of Keswick, Cumbria 3rd David Anning of Deal, Kent 4th Jane Reid of Yarm, Cleveland The three winners (plate 133) received their prizes at a special award ceremony at the RSPB headquarters at The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, in January 1991. British Birds wishes to thank Mike Everett, who stepped in as a judge this year, during Tim Sharrock’s absence in New Zealand. Mike commented on the high standard, and specifically noted Tom Fieldsend’s entry as ‘A nice field notebook, full of details of what’s happening’; Dominick Spracklen’s entry as ‘In my view, quite outstanding’; and Mark Gurney’s notebook as ‘An extremely good and well-presented effort.’ 133. Young Ornithologists of the Year 1990. Left to right, Mark Gurney, Tom Fieldsend and Dominick Spracklen, Bedfordshire, January 1991 ( RSPB & C. H. GomersaU) 237 238 Announcements Followers of this competition will note the satisfying progress being made by several of this year’s top young ornithologists. Dominick Spracklen was third in the Junior Section in 1987, and first in the Intermediate Section in 1988 as well as in 1990. Mark Gurney and Martin Gilbert were joint winners of the Senior Section in 1989. David Anning was second in the Intermediate Section in 1987 and fourth in 1988. Jane Reid — ‘fourth by only a small margin’, said Mike Everett — was fourth in the Intermediate Section in 1987. It is very pleasing to see the perseverance and dedication of those who enter for this annual award. Full details of this year’s competition, which will again be sponsored by British Birds , will be found in Bird Life , the magazine of the Young Ornithologists’ Club (write to YOC, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL). ‘The Famous Grouse’ Scotch whisky Christmas puzzle solution The bird left over was a sparrow. The introduction noted that this puzzle was ‘specifically for BB readers, who were advised to use a ‘scientific approach’. The specific scientific names paired up as follows: bearded leader — castro, big = major , little = minor , flag = tricolor , flowering tree = magnolia , girls = barbara and penelope , news purveyors = media , North or South = Carolina, politician — senator, Semites = arabs, and US organisation = cia\ which left sparrow unpaired. The number of entries was the highest ever in this annual competition. After a draw, the winners of the three bottles of The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky were R. Duggleby (Harrogate, North Yorkshire), A. Hankin (Reading, Berkshire) and Arthur Westcott (Ipswich, Suffolk). Autumn 1991 Migration Survey, Israel Experienced birdwatchers willing to watch migration for a minimum of eight hours a day for at least three weeks are invited to participate in the annual Raptor, Stork and Pelican Migration Survey in the Northern Valleys of Israel during 10th August to 20th October (pelicans to 15th December) 1991. Participants will have to pay the cost of travel to and from Israel, but the Israel Raptor Information Center will cover the cost of food and lodging in a kibbutz in Israel. During autumn 1990, over a period of 45 days, some 806,000 migrating birds were counted in the skies above Israel. These included 580,000 raptors of 30 different species, 190.000 White Storks Cicorua ciconia and 36,000 White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus. Those interested in the 1991 count should write to Dan Alon, Autumn Survey, Israel Raptor Information Center (IRIC), Har-Gilo, Doar Na Zfon Yehuda 90907, Israel; tel.: 972-2-932383/4, Fax: 972-2- 932385. Additions to the British and Irish List Already accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee, the following four records have now also been accepted by the BOU Records Committee and will be added to Category A of the British List when published in the Records Committee’s fifteenth report (Ibis in prep.): Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Shetland Scatness and Pool of Virkie, adult, 15th September 1989. Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius Dorset Portland, 10th June 1984. (One previous record more than 50 years ago, in Nottinghamshire on 20th June 1883, so species will be promoted from Category B to Category A by the acceptance of this Dorset record.) Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina Scilly St Agnes, first-winter, 7th October 1987. Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis Norfolk Holkham Meals, 13th October 1989 to 6th May 1990. These changes will bring the total of species on the British and Irish List to 541. Books in British BirdShop A wide range of books is added this month to the list of those available POST FREE to British Birds subscribers. Additions to our list and special reduced- price offers are indicated by asterisks(*) on pages xv and xvi. News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Timothy Andrews and Michael Entwistle With great regret, we must report that news from Peru has confirmed that both birders were killed (see previous reports, Brit. Birds 83: 515, 567). Tim’s mother, Mrs K. M. Leskovych, has sent us a copy of an eyewit- ness’s report. Tim and Mike were suspected by Sendero Luminoso terrorists of being Drug Enforce- ment Administration agents; one of them was shot and killed when trying to avoid capture, just after crossing the River Mon- zon by ferry, and the other was taken by truck to Bella and then to Inti, where he was held captive for two days and then shot. We extend our sympathy to the families of both Tim and Mike. According to the eyewitness, women sell- ing fruit told them not to cross the river, because there were Sendenstas on the other side, but Tim and Mike either didn’t under- stand or didn’t take the advice seriously. There is a lesson here which we hope will make all readers more aware of such dan- gers when travelling in Peru or any of the many other countries where terrorists, ban- dits or guerilla groups are known to be operating. Be circumspect, and heed local advice. The cruel nets In mid February 1991, there were more horrific incidents in which hun- dreds of birds were drowned when they became trapped in synthetic gill nets off St Ives, Cornwall. In two separate incidents, 80 and over 300 drowned birds, mostly Guille- mots Uria aalge and Razorbills Alca torda, were taken from fishing nets. A call by the RSPB for a voluntary ban on the use of these nets in St Ives Bay has been ignored by many fishermen. Such sickening incidents will, perhaps, mean that appropriate legisla- tion will be put before Parliament in order to control the use of synthetic gill nets. But how many more birds will have to die before action is taken? Welsh Conference 1991 The Welsh Ornithological Society held its fourth annual conference at Aberystwyth on 23rd March 1991. The theme was birds of prey in Wales, and it proved to be an absorbing, instructive and entertaining day, even if many of the participants would rather have been out in the superb weather looking at the subjects of their interest. Colin Bibby kicked off with the Merlin Falco columbarius and explained that, although good heather moors are important for successful breed- ing, sites where the moor is close to farm- land, thus providing a variety of habitats and prey species, are best. Fears that afl'orr estation would be detrimental to the breed- ing Merlins have proved to be unfounded; they are increasingly using old nests in the trees, with good fledging rates. Peter Davis then presented a review of the recent popu- lation increase of that most spectacular of Welsh raptors, the Red Kite Milvus milvus. Since the 11 to 14 pairs of the 1950s, there has been a steady increase of about 5% per year during the three decades that followed, with an accelerated increase during the last few years. There are now over 80 occupied territories (1990), and this figure could have been even higher but for the attentions of egg-collectors, which have increased during the last 12 years. Problems for the Red Kite are far from over. Next, Peter Dare gave an overview of the non-specialised and highly adaptable Buzzard Buteo buteo. Wales holds between 4,000 and 5,000 territorial pairs (about a quarter of the British breeding population), but their productivity is poor. It is sufficient to maintain the population in Wales, but unlikely to provide a surplus which could expand into spare territories in England. After lunch, Hywel Roderick set a chal- lenging and very entertaining quiz. The Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus situation was then explained by Iolo Williams; the small popu- lation in Wales is doing badly because of habitat loss, and the prognosis is not good Graham Williams (who won the quiz) had a happier tale to tell about the Peregrine F. peregrinus, which is now breeding in greater numbers than pre-1940. Interestingly, num- bers inland have recovered better than on the coast, and there has even been a record of tree nesting, a habit that offers the species 239 240 News and comment breeding potential throughout Britain. Nick Fox ended the day with a call for co- operation between falconers and ornitholo- gists. The former have pioneered many of the techniques associated with captive rear- ing and breeding of raptors, with ultimate benefit to species we now watch, wild and free, such as Red Kites and Peregrines. A decade of change In March, after ten years in the post, Sir Derek Barber retired as Chairman of the Countryside Commission. During those ten years, we have seen an amazing transformation in the relationship between conservationists and farmers, with a much greater awareness on both sides of the need for co-operation rather than con- frontation! Much of this change in attitudes can be attributed to Sir Derek's own persua- sive influence. ‘Marathon’ winner in Kenya ‘Ten days gone, and well over 450 species recorded so far’, wrote Ralph Hobbs on a postcard featuring East African wildlife sent to BB from the most recent ‘Monthly marathon winner on his SUNBIRD-holiday prize trip to Kenya (plate 134). ‘Much more to set, and on course for the magical 700 . . .’, which, we understand, was achieved. The highlight for Ralph Hobbs was ‘all three eagle owls’: Spotted Bubo ajricanus, Cape B capensis and Verreaux’s B. lacteus. Ngulia, Kenya The autumn 1990 ringing season at Ngulia Lodge in Tsavo National Park was the most successful ever. It is 22 years since the inception of the Ngulia Ringing Group and this year saw the largest number of ringers assisting. Top species ringed were Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris (5,627), Whitethroat Sylvia communis (4,612), Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia (4,399), River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis (483) and White-throated Robin Irania gut- turalis (412). A total of 17,007 birds (of 35 Palearctic species) was ringed, and a record for a night-morning catch was established on 24th November, with 2,432 birds ringed. Extensive work on the physiology and parasites of the birds was conducted, parti- cularly as many were found to carry imma- tures of economically important cattle ticks. Ringers interested in assisting during November- December 1991 should at once contact Graeme Backhurst, Box 24702, Nairobi, Kenya (telephone 010 254 2 891 419) or David Pearson, Brouses, Sibton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP 1 7 2JH, England. {Contributed by Stephen Rumsey ) Rye Bay Ringing Group The Rye Bay RG concluded its initial five-year bird-ringing project in East Sussex in 1990. A principal objective was to demonstrate the improve- ment of habitat for wildlife when some 134. ‘Monthly marathon’ winner Ralph Hobbs (second from right) with SUNBIRD group, Lake Nakuru, Kenya, January 1991 (Hazel Millington) News and comment 241 coastal marshland, which had been cereal fields and pasture for many years, was encouraged to regenerate as freshwater la- goons, reed swamp, sallow and so on. Annual ringing totals in the five years 1986-90 were 3,800, 8,400, 19,700, 31.500 and 57,300. In 1990, the top species ringed were Sand Martin Riparia riparia (24,200), Swallow Hirundo rustica (8,620), Sedge Warb- ler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (7,670), Reed Warbler A. scirpaceus (4,737), Blackcap Sylma atricapilla (1,720), Willow Warbler Phyflosco- pus trochilus (1,699) and ChifTchaff P. collybita (1,553), with other high totals including Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia (251) and Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca (245). Studies will continue in July-November 1991. This will provide a good opportunity for competent trainee and ‘C permit ringers to obtain experience to improve their pro- ficiency. Anyone interested should contact S. J. R. Rumsey, c/o Barclays de Zoete Wedd Ltd, Ebbgate House, 2 Swan Lane, London F.C4R 3TS. ( Contributed by Stephen Rum- sey) Euring Expedition to Senegal 1990-91 A bird-ringing expedition to the Parc National du Djoudj in northern Senegal has been organised from December 1990 to April 1991. This has been supported by the BTO, Euring and the ICBP, and about 70 British and French ringers are each spending be- tween two weeks and four months at the Parc. By mid April, about 19,000 birds had been ringed, of 71 Palearctic species. There had been about 320 European controls, of which 213 were from the British Isles, 78 having been ringed by the Rye Bay Ringing Group (see above). Plans are being devel- oped for October 1991 to April 1992, and ringers interested in participating should contact S. J. R. Rumsey, c/o Barclays de Zoete Wedd Ltd, Ebbgate House, 2 Swan Lane, London EC4R 3TS. ( Contributed by Stephen Rumsey) Thank you We have received a letter from John Fletcher of the Fylde Bird Club asking us to pass on the Club’s thanks to all the birdwatchers who visited Marton Mere, Blackpool, on 3rd February 1991, and gave so generously for the pleasure of seeing the American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus. Over £400 was collected and has been deposited in a ‘Special Project Fund’, which will be used for the benefit of both birds and birdwatchers. Well done, and thanks from us too. ‘The most unusual phone-lines’ In its feature on British Telecom, the Observer Magazine (31 March 1991) highlighted two phone-lines for this title. One was ‘Dial-a- Pope' (0839-777705), which provides an inspirational message from the Pope, and the other was the National Bird News ‘Twitchline’ (0898-884501). Silly corner Edwin Pierce has sent us an astonishing list of eight media misprints, all in the same article which appeared in The Boston Sunday Globe dated 15th July 1990. In just over four column inches, there are ‘leaf bitterns', ‘city shearwaters', ‘curry shear- waters , ‘short-billed owatures’, one of which was of the ‘Hender Sonar Race' {hendersoni) , ‘leaf sandpipers’, ‘pine siscans’ and ‘upling sandpipers’. Edwin adds, ‘I know Americans have been accused by the British of vulgaris- ing the English language. Perhaps this is how- it gets started. At any rate, we do like to be first in anything we do, so I’m confident that . . . you will agree that we do now hold the media misprint record.’ We agree Edwin, and should like to thank you for sending this gem to us. Another silly, of a different kind, has come from Peter Atherton. His cutting is from the Daily Mail dated 16th March 1991, in which the Grey-headed Woodpecker is described as one of the four species of woodpecker to be found in Britain, although much rarer than the Green. And ... all the woodpeckers drum to find food. A pity, since the ‘message’ of this article is certainly pro-woodpecker. Thanks Peter. ‘Birds of Galway’ By Tony Wilde, this new book is subtitled A Review of Recent Records and Field Studies and covers primarily the period 1988-89. It is not planned to be an annual publication, but there are hopes that it will appear regularly. The report is published by the Galway Branch of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy and is available from Ann Fleming, 62 Devon Park, Salthill, Galway, for £4.50 inch p. & p. New County Recorders Geoffrey R. Smith, Church Cottage, Leebotwood, Church Stretton, Shropshire SY6 6NE, has taken over from Jack Sankey as County Recorder for Shropshire; T. Hextell, 49 Cradley Croft, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 8HP, has taken over from R. M. Normand as County Recorder for West Midlands; Chris Jenes, 283 Malpas Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 6WA, has taken over as County Recorder for Gwent from B. J. Gregory. Monthly marathon Sponsored by When Steve Young supplied the transparency of the wader featured as the sixth stage in this ‘Marathon’ (plate 7), the competition’s com- piler queried the photographer’s identification, since the bird was ‘obviously’ a Little Stint Calidris minuta and not, as labelled, a Dunlin C. alpina. (A second transparency of the same bird proved Steve Young to be quite right, of course.) Very many competitors fell into the same trap, however, misled mainly perhaps by the bird’s obvious ‘braces’: Little Stint Calidris minuta (49%) Dunlin C. alpina (37%) Red-necked Stint C. ruficollis (6%) with a few votes each for Western Sandpiper C. mauri, Long-toed Stint C. subminuta , Least Sandpiper C. minutiUa, White-rumped Sandpiper C. Juscicollis, Baird’s Sandpiper C. bairdii and Pectoral Sandpiper C. melanotos. Steve Young photographed the Dunlin in Merseyside in July 1987. The leading runner was one of those who fell at this hurdle, and no other competitor had achieved four in a row or three in a row, so those now taking up the running advanced from two to three answers right; just four competitors were in this bunch: C. D. R. Heard (Berkshire), Hannu Jannes (Finland), Anthony McGeehan (Co. Down) and W. R. Tunnicliffe (Buckinghamshire) . The passerine flashing its yellow undertail-coverts (plate 62) was named as follows: Y ellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos (67%) White-cheeked Bulbul P. leucogenys (21%) Common Bulbul P. barbatus (4%) Grey W agtail Motacilla cinerea (2%) with a few votes each for Namaqua Dove Oena capensis, Yellow Wagtail M. flava, Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus, Daurian Starling Stumus sturmnus and Black- headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala, and one for the non-West-Palearctic Black-headed Bulbul P. atriceps. It was indeed a Yellow-vented Bulbul, photographed by G. P. Catley in Israel in September 1989. Of the leading group, C. D. R. Heard, Hannu Jannes and Anthony McGeehan all identified this bird correctly, each moving on to achieve four-in-a-row sequences. The wader featured as the eighth stage (plate 80) was named as: Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla (60%) C urlew Sandpiper C.ferruginea ( 1 4%) W estem Sandpiper C. mauri ( 1 0%) Red-necked Stint C. ruficollis (8%) White-rumped Sandpiper C. juscicollis (4%) Baird’s Sandpiper C. bairdii (3%) with a few votes each for Great Knot C. tenuirostris, Little Stint C. minuta , Dunlin C. alpina and Ruff Philomachus pugnax. 242 Monthly marathon 243 The majority of entrants got it right. This Semipalmated Sandpiper was photographed in Canada in September 1989, by Anthony McGeehan. This has created a small problem, for the ultra-ethical Anthony refuses to let his identification of his own photograph count in the ‘Marathon’ series (despite this contingency being foreseen and specifically allowed in the competition’s rules). As one of the leading group of three (see above), however, it would be quite wrong for Anthony to be eliminated because of his firm moral stance; we have, therefore, compromised, and he has sidestepped this hurdle, thereby dropping back one stage in his sequence in relation to his two rivals, both of whom correctly identified the Semipalmated Sandpiper. The leaders, therefore, are now C. D. R. Heard (Berkshire) and Hannu Jannes (Finland), both with five-in-a-row sequences; closely followed by A. H. J. Harrop (Rutland), Anthony McGeehan (Co. Down), Roderick Mavor (Moray), Pekka J. Nikander (Finland), Brett Richards (Humber- side), Andy Stoddart (Norfolk) and Heikki Vasamies (Finland), all with four-in-a-row sequences. The first contestant to achieve a longer sequence (of ten or more consecutive photographs correctly identified) than any of his rivals will win the prize of a SUNBIRD birdwatching holiday in Africa, Asia or North America. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (0767) 682969. 135. Fifth ‘Monthly marathon’ (eleventh stage: photograph number 60). Identify the species. Read the rules on page 16 of the January 1991 issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th July 1991 Forthcoming ‘British Birds’ -SUNBIRD tours The following trips have been arranged, with the itineraries especially designed for British Birds readers: COUNTRY LEADERS DATES ISRAEL Hadoram Shirihai & David Fisher llth-25th September 1991 FALKLAND ISLANDS David Fisher/Rod Martins 2nd- 15th December 1991 THAILAND Phil Round/Kamol Komolphalin & Tim Sharrock 16th February to 10th March 1992 MOROCCO Bryan Bland & Peter Lansdown 15th-30th April 1992 CENTRAL ASIA A1 Knystautas & Paul Holt August/September 1992 For full details, write or telephone to SUNBIRD (see address and phone number above). Recent reports Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 12th April to 9th May 1991 (February to 9th May for common migrants; first date listed is date of first report) These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records Black Stork Ciconia nigra Skokholm, 27th-28th April, and Skomer (both Dyfed), 29th April. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Belfast (Co. Antrim), 28th April. Garganey Anas querquedula Sandwich Bay (Kent), 7th March; March records from eight other coun- ties. Black Kite Milvus migrans Cape Clear Island and Middleton (both Co. Cork), both 18th April. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Peterborough (Cam- bridgeshire), 5th March; other March records from Staffordshire. Devon and Cumbria. Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Ballyconneally (Co. Gal- way), 3rd-10th April. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Same individual: Dunstable Sewage-works (Bedford- shire), 26th-27th April; Groxall Gravel-pit (Staf- fordshire), 28th April; Tamworth (Staffordshire), 2nd-5th May; Louth (Lincolnshire), 6th May; Blacktoft Sands and Goole (both Humberside) and near Barnsley (South Yorkshire), 7th May; Tam- worth, 8th May. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Drakelow Wildfowl Reserve (Derbyshire), 5th March; other March records from Hampshire, Kent, Suffolk and West Yorkshire. Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Balranald. North Uist (Western Isles), 5th May. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Elmley (Kent), 24th-29th April. Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini Adult in winter plumage, Bann Estuary (Co. Londonderry ), 6th-7th May. Ring-billed Gull Larus ddawarensis Belfast Harbour Estate (Co. Down): passage peak in last week of April, with up to eight, including six first-years. Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Cumbria, 15th March. Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus Indi- vidual from 1990 returned to Lundy (Devon), 14th April to at least 9th May. Cuckoo Cuculus canoms Bedfordshire and Hamp- shire, 11th April; widespread by 25th. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca North Ronaldsay (Orkney), 3rd May; near Peterhead (Grampian), 2nd-3rd May. Swift Apus apus Channel Islands, 15th April; mainland Britain: Greater London, 23rd April; main arrival 25th-28th April. Alpine Swift Apus melba Beachv Head (East Sussex), 13th April. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Copeland Island (Co. Down), 3rd to at least 5th May (first in Ireland since 1988). Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Fair Isle (Shetland), 28th April; Portland (Dorset), 5th and 9th May; Tyttenhanger Gravel-pits, near Hatfield (Hertfordshire), 7th-9th May. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Kent, 24th February; Derbyshire, 13th March; main arrival 16th-26th March. Swallow Hirundo mstica Cumbria, 16th March; main arrival 8th- 13th April. Red-rumped Sw'allow Himndo daurica Scilly, 24th April; Ogston Reservoir (Derbyshire), 5th-8th May. House Martin Delichon urbica Cambridgeshire, 16th March: main arrival 3rd-7th April. Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae Elmley, 9th May. Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris Scilly, 24th April; Portland, 5th May; Durlestone Country’ Park (Dorset), 8th May. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Lundy, 24th April. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Suffolk, 14th March. Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Avon. 6th March; main arrival 10th- 17th March. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Derbyshire and Cum- bria, 17th March. Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides Beverley (Hum- berside), 14th April; Leighton Moss (Lancashire), 29th April to 6th May. Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans Fame Islands (Northumberland), 26th April; Scilly, 3rd May. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Weyboume (Norfolk), 27th April. Whitethroat Sylvia communis Cornwall, 26th March; Avon, 28th March; next arrivals 14th- 16th April. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 12th- 14th March; heavy influx 17th-24th March. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Devon, 15th March; other March records from Wiltshire, Avon and Cornwall; main arrival 6th- 13th April. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Cromer (Norfolk), 25th April; Fair Isle, 28th-30th April. We are grateful to the National Bird News ‘Twitch-line’ for supplying information for this news feature. For the latest, up-to-date news, phone 0898-884-501 (34p/min cheap rate; 45p, min other times; inch VAT) Much of the information on common migrants courtesy of ‘Flightline’ (RSPB). 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Charlotte Nanton, 13 Millpond Court Boumeside Road, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 23A Telephone: 0932 244140 845580 ALAUDA Journal of the Societe d'Etudes Omithologique • 4 issues a year, 320 pages • scientific articles on field studies of wild birds, ethology, breeding biology, ecology, population dynamics, vocal behaviour etc. • coverage is world-wide but mainly western palearctic and particularly French. • papers have an English summary • illustrated with photographs, both black and white and colour Annual subscription of 260 FF Also available : sound recordings of some of the more difficult West African birds — a complete set of 11LP records and accompa- nying notes : 850 FF S.E.O. - ALAUDA Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle 4, avenue du petit chateau — 91800 Brunoy FRANCE (D791) island holidays CHRISTMAS ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND (Kingdom of the Crabs) Rare and endemic birds (including Abbott’s Booby), rainforest, and the possibility of red crab migration make this a very special Christmas. This Indian Ocean island lies south of Java and well away from its atomic namesake in the pacific. CHRISTMAS ISLAND/ COCOS (KEELING) with Roy Dennis 17 days departing 1 October 1991 contrasts the rainforested Christmas Island with the coral atoll of Cocos (Keeling). A really exotic combination. For details of this and other destinations contact Island Holidays, Ardross, Comrie, Perthshire PH6 2JU. Tel: 0764 701 07 (D847) Binoculars & telescopes for bird watching, nature, yachting and marine observation We are stockists of : Optolyth Opficron Ranger Tokina Aico Minolta Solus Kenko Swallow Hilkinson Bausch & Lomb Alderblick Benbo Manfrotto Slik Tripods and Monopods Hide clamps & car windowclamps Opon 9am- 5.30pm Mon-Fri / 9am- 1pm Sat 33 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5NW ,nR6m Tel: 0792-469502 ( 1 xvn Fax: 0723 363334 American Express/Access/Visa. 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HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND '77.„ Beautiful Georgian Hotel lilt, Excellent Food & Accommodation Lawns HOTEL Hoh, Norfolk. (0263) 713390 3 crowns commended CLEY 5 miles Bargain Breaks (BB525) GRACIOUS GEORGIAN HOUSE in private grounds. Central to the Yorkshire Dales, Gouth- waite, Scar and Angram reservoirs. High stan- dard of accommodation. Private bathrooms. Interesting home cooking. Friendly quiet atmo- sphere. Residential licence. Ideal birdwatching area. Sae: brochure: Mrs P. B. Garforth, Grass- fields Country House Hotel, Pateley Bridge, Har- rogate. Tel: Harrogate 711412. (BB621) NORFOLK, Cley next the Sea 1 mile. Flintstones Guest House, Wiveton, Holt. Full C.H., tea/cof- fee making, colour T.V. Private facilities all rooms. Evening meal optional. Open all year. Sorry no smoking. Tel: 0263 740337. (BB737) GARA MILL, Slapton, Devon. Self-catering for 2- 7 in secluded four acres overlooking river and woods. Eight detached cedar lodges plus 2 CH flats in 16th c. cornmill. Near Slapton Ley. TVs. Dogs welcome. Free brochure: (0803) 770295. (BB568) CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed- rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 071- 431 2942. (BB496) EXMOOR. Peaceful s/catering c/heated holi- day homes in National Trust Village. Marshes, woods and moorland — rich in birdlife. Reduced spring/ autumn terms. Open all year. Stamp to Sheila Wright, Pack Horse, Allerford, nr Mine- head. Tel: 0643 862475. (BB719) Christopher Helm‘d Sponsors of and ‘Bird HarperCollins *£ Photograph of the Year * Sponsors of 1 Bird Illustrator of the Year ’ telescopes COUNTRY COTTAGES at Ellingham between Alnwick and Belford, sleep 6. Fully equipped, self-catering, available Easter to October. Well placed for Holy Island, Farne Islands, Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty. SA.E., Lady Gadsden, 606 Gilbert House, Barbican, London EC2Y8BD. (BB717) CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6 + 2). Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure: (0353) 740770. (BB662) xix To advertise phone 0621 815085 ISLES OF SOLLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St. Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds over- looking the harbour. Write to: Colin Duncan or Tel: 0720 22513. (BB664) WEYMOUTH, Birchfields Licensed Guest House, close to RSPB reserves. BB from £14. Evening meal optional. Ideal winter/spring breaks. Parties welcome. For details phone 0305 773255. (BB765) FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Reserve and The Farnes. Comfortable and well equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mrs J. Sutherland, Ross Farm, Belford, Northumberland NE70 7EN. Tel: 0668 213336. (BB766) B&B IN PURBECK from £1 1 per night EM opt. Family residence, 1.5 miles south of Wareham. Home from home, ‘Hyde Hill’, 64 Furzebrook Road, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5AX. Tel: 0929 552392. (BB380) LAKE DISTRICT - RYDAL Two cottages, sleep 6 each, weekly lets. Fisher Hoggarth, 52 Kirk- land, Kendal. Tel: 0539 722592 in office hours. (BB609) EXMOOR for country and animal lovers. Farm- house accommodation, bed and breakfast and evening meal, or self-catering cottage. Details from: French, Brendon Barton, Lynton, Devon. Tel: 059 87 201. (BB389) YORKSHIRE DALES (GRASSINGTON). BB & EM. Eileen & Allan invite you to share their idyl- lic 17c. riverside cottage. Private fishing. (Bird- watching courses. ) Brochure (0756) 752463. (BB607) WEST SUSSEX, Pagham Harbour/Selsey. Beau- tiful Georgian Farmhouse, with purpose built B&B accommodation. All facilities provided. Warm, friendly atmosphere, children welcome. Open all year. Tel: 0243 602790. (BB530) BIRDWATCHERS travel many miles in the pursuit of their hobby. Over half of British Birds subscribers use hotel or guest house accommodation. Phone 0621 815085 for advertising details. (BB681) British Birds The monthly for British Birdwatchers If you rent Holiday Accommodation in a bird watching area then you should advertise in British Birds; the established birdwatching monthly for Britain’s Birders. With over 40,000 genuine bird enthusiasts reading British Birds every month, where else would you find such a unique and specialised readership. To find out details of advertising rates and our special series discounts phone Sandra Barnes 0621 815085. (BB775) NORTH NORFOLK — Glavenside guest house in Letheringsett, 5 miles inland from sea at Blakeney, Cley and Salthouse. River Glaven works adjoining mill & flows through 4 acres of garden on its way to sea at Cley. Tel: Holt (0263) 713181. (BB619) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi-pension (Private bath) from £38.00. De- tails, brochures, map (bird list on request). Tel: 09512 316. (BB526) ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into two warm, comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Cal- gary. Tel: 068 84 265 or (0453) 833323. (BB567) ISLE OF GIGHA, Argyllshire. For a holiday sur- rounded by natural beauty, sandy beaches, ex- otic gardens, birds, wild flowers, good food and comfortable accommodation. Also self catering accommodation. Please contact Mrs. Mc- Sporran, Post Office House 058-35 251. (BB620) SPEY VALLEY. Maureen and Larry once again invite guests to sample their highland hospitality. Set in five acres, our home has uninterrupted views of the Cairngorms. Bird register available. Good home cooking and a warm welcome await you. D/B/B £120.00 p.w. (All rooms en-suite). Brochure: Maureen Taulbut, ‘Braes of Duthil’, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND. 047984 395. (BB713) SPEY VALLEY, Beautiful secluded informal country hotel, 2 miles from village of Carr- bridge. Home cooking, full central heating. .All rooms en-suite. Perfect base for birdwatchers and walkers. Discount available for parties. Terms from £160.00 per week DB&B. Brochure from Mrs Y. Holland, The Old Manse Hotel, Duthil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel: 0479 84278. (BB736) NORTH BERWICK. Family run hotel with warm, friendly atmosphere, comfortable rooms and home cooking. Open all year round. Over- looking Craigleith Rock and within easy reach of Bass Rock, Fidra and Aberlady nature reserve. Small groups welcome (max 15). Belhaven Hotel, Westgate, North Berwick. Tel: (0620) 3009 for brochure. (BB758) WAIFS ANGLESEY. Superb beachside hotel with mag- nificent views. Ideal centre for bird watchers and botanists in area noted for its lakes, reserves and coastline of outstanding beautv. Come to High- ground’ AA/RAC listed, licensed, for warm wel- come, excellent food and accommodation. Brochure: Mrs Karen Hayter, Highground, Ravenspoint Road, Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd LL65 2YY. Tel: 0407 860078. (BB716) xx To advertise phone 0621 815085 RED KITE COUNTRY— Tregaron— Guest- House standing in 22 acres, overlooking the Cambrian Mountains and on the doorstep of the Cors Caron Nature Reserve. Central for Dinas and Ynys-hir RSPB reserves. Parties wel - come. WTB — 3 crowns. For brochure, phone Margaret Cutter, 0974 298965 or 298905. (BB755) IRELAND IRISH COTTAGE Magnificent situation on Dingle peninsula, Kerry. Sea and mountain birds, unspoilt beaches, countryside full of flow- ers, quietness. Mod cons, sleeps 4. £94-£154 weeklv plus electricity. Gerrards Cross (0753) 883082. (BB617) CZECHOSLOVAKIA 14 DAYS -MORAVIA £680 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER TURKEY 1 8 DAYS CENTRAL & EASTERN £999 1 1 DAYS BOSPHORUS MIGRATION £685 MAY - JUNE - SEPTEMBER Enquiries to: CHRIS L SLADE, 8 The Grange, Bmdon Park, Solihull, West Midlands B92 9EL Tel: 021 -742 5420/021 -705 5535 OVERSEAS SOUTH-WEST BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada. Bed 8c Breakfast, field trips; 200+ local species, B.C. total 400+. Write/phone for brochure, checklist: D. Solecki, 3672 West 1st Avenue, Van- couver, B.C., Canada V6R 1H2 (604) 736-9471. (BB712) FRANCE, Golfe du Morbihian, South Brittany, House to Let Sept, to June, sleeps 4/5, FF 1200 per week. Egrets, Harriers, Avocets, Spoon Bills. Contact: Mr. R Basque, Bindre, 56860 Sene. (BB732) Australia Birdwatching in North Australia is excellent Brittania charters to Cairns. Stay in comfort at Cassowary House and tour with: John Squire, Cassowary House, Kuranda, Queensland 4872 Australia. (BB653) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS OVER HALF of British Birds subscribers travel abroad birdwatching each year, averaging 19 days per trip. To reach this audience, phone 0621 815085 for advertising rates. (BB682) TAKING BIRDWATCHERS TO EUROPE AND BEYOND SIBERIA • NEPAL • GAMBIA SPAIN • MAJORCA • KENYA BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS IN SMALL GROUPS WITH EXPERT LEADERS FREE BROCHURE, PHONE OR WRITE TO: 0723 891715 (DAY) 0532 586555 (EVENING) 59 HUNGER HILLS DRIVE, LEEDS LS18 5JU (BB708) COSTA RICA INDIVIDUAL BIRDING HOLIDAYS - brochures: TRANSWORLD, Apt 6951, San Jose, COSTA RICA (BB650) DIVISION OF NICK’S TRAVEL 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 0QS FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ BIRDWATCHING ABROAD? WE OFFER THE LOWEST QUOTATIONS FOR ALL BIRDING HOTSPOTS, INSUR- ANCE AND DISCOUNT CAR HIRE ALSO ARRANGED, SPECIALIST ADVISOR - ANDY HOWES 0533 881318 (EVES) RING US LAST YOU’LL BE SURPRISED (bb/isu NEW ZEALAND For the best of NZ birding, write Nature Quest New Zealand. Box 6314, Dunedin, New Zealand for custom departures or details of self drive consultancy. Tel: & Fax: (03) 4739-149. (BB741) TO ADVERTISE PHONE 0621 815085 To advertise phone 0621 815085 QUALITY + VALUE + EXPERIENCE = PENGRUM June 22-29 BIRDWATCH TO BRITTANY £315 June 29-July 5 NATUREWATCH NORTH BRITAIN £249 July 20-28 BIRDWATCH TO THE AZORES £1200 Sept 27-Oct 4 BIRDWATCH TO MINORCA £390 Oct 28-Nov 14 BIRDWATCH -FALKLAND ISLANDS £2949 Nov 20 -Dec 1 BIRDWATCH TUNISIA & SAHARA FRINGE £494 Jan 6/23 BIRDWATCH TO NEW ZEALAND £1950 Jan 12/19 BIRDWATCH - THE GAMBIA £598 PLEASE APPLY FOR DETAILS FOR ANY TOUR PINGRUM SPECIALIST TOURS Woodend House, Woodend, Litde Horwood, Milton Keynes, MK17 OPE. Tel: 02% 712992 bbtmi * Discounts on Package Holidays and Cruises. Save £££s - Ask for Leaflet! 0272-259999 or DICK FILBY 0603-619409 MON-FRJ CREDfT CARDS ACCEPTED I A B T A 65077 (BB757) BIRDWATCHING TOURS BEIDAIHE BIRD TOURS Visit Beidaihe, east China the place to see East Asian* migrants; around 390 species to date. Common migrants include Siberian Blue Robin, Siberian Accentor, Red-necked Stint and Red-flanked Bluetail. Relict Gull, Siberian Crane and Asian Dowitcher are annual. For information: Barlavington Estate, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0LG. (BB752) PERSONAL BIRDING CANADA or United States? For info, checklists, etc., write Dunnock 2409 Spey- side, Dr., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5K 1X5. (BB569) CRUISES PLYMOUTH SANTANDER birding voyages. Details, birdlist etc. Ian McNamee, SEBA, West Lodge, Puddington, Wirral L64 5ST. Tel: 051-336 8441. (BB725) BOOKS BOOKS ON BIRDS, MAMMALS, ETC., BOUGHT & SOLD. Also Field Sports, Big Game, Travel, Science, the Arts, etc. Catalogues issued. David Grayling, Crosbv Ravensworth, Pen- rith, Cumbria CA10 3JP. 09315 282. (BB613) Britain ’s leading ornithological booksellers where you can find our comprehensive range of new' and secondhand books and reports on birds and natural history, including all new tides as they are published. Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 6 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Mail order catalogue available on request HENRY SOTHERAN LTD 2 Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London W1X 2DP Tel: 071-439 6151 (BB756) A BIRDWATCHER’S GUIDE TO NEPAL, by Carol Inskipp, £8.75. Prion Ltd. Essential for trav- ellers to Nepal. From bookshops or NHBS, 2 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon. Tel: (0803) 865913. (BB706) BIRD BOOKS. New Nats., bought/sold, want lists welcome, catalogues issued. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherwravs, Freshfield, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel: 07048 711 15. (BB714) XXII To advertise phone 0621 815085 ‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CVV6 ONJ. Tel: 0829 51804. (BB738) The original BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOK The most concise way to record your observations. Monthly, annual and life columns for 762 species, plus 159 diary pages. Send £5.95 to: Coxton Publications, Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, Beverley, N. Humberside HU17 8RP (BB739) SUBBUTEO NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS LTD Wide selection of ornithological and natural history titles available from stock, also travel books & maps. Mail order catalogue on request. Personal callers welcome. Low postage rates Dept BB, Ffordd y Llan, Trcuddyn, Nr. Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN Tel: (0352) 770581 (24 hours). Fax: (0352) 771590 (BB438) THE AVERAGE Bridsh Birds reader will spend over £100 on bird books yearly. They could be buying your books. To advertise, 'phone 0621- 815085. (BB683) BIRDWATCHING IN CRETE. 2nd Ed. with cor- rections. £3.50 inc. p&p. Stephanie Coghlan, 25 Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield HD5 8TA. (BB61 1) FOR SALE FOR SALE - Individual BB subscribers can adver- tise here FREE (up to 30 words, selling a single item, e.g. binocular, book, set of journals). Quote your BB Ref. No. and address envelope to ‘ Free BB Advertis- ing’. (BB753) “BIRDCATCHER-PC”: New version for ALL PC COMPATIBLES Program for recording bird sightings. User friendly. BIRDCATCHER still available for Amstrad PCWs. State computer model, £18 or SAE details. Davis and Makohon, 12 St Mary’s Close, Albrighton, Wolverhampton WV7 3EG. (BB707) TRIPOD TAMER Carry your tripod in comfort with a TRIPOD TAMER the 2" wide adjustable black webbing shoulder strap that controls even the most awkward tripod. £8.50 including post from: VITAL EQUIPMENT Colwyn Bay, Clwyd LL29 8AT (Please send SAE for details) (BB774) BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUPPLIED. (BB. Bird study, Count}' Reports, etc.), David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon. (BB740) BRITISH BIRDS SUBSCRIBERS spend between £300 and £1,000 a year on bird- watching equipment. They could be buying your equipment. To advertise, 'phone 0621 815085. (BB684) B.W.P. vols 1-5, in boxes £275: “Birds of Africa” vols 1-3, (ACADEMIC PR.) £120: “Waders 8c Shorebirds”, (HELM) £15 each: “Adas of Breed- ing Birds” 8c “Wintering Birds", £15 each: “Birds of Scotland”, (POYSER) £17: Plus many other Poysers. .All mint. Tel: 086 730 7308. (BB759) BB’s FOR SALE: March 1977; Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec 1982. £2 each inc. postage. Phone 0285 657586. (BB760) BRITISH BIRDS vols 54-84 1960-1990 missing onlv Oct 61. BEST OFFER. Tel: (0235) 850298. (BB761) BRITISH BIRDS vols 73-75 1980-1982, unbound, each with index. Offers 041-334 8101. (BB762) WILDFOWL TRUST REPORTS 1-19, mostly G./V.G., 2 have slightly damaged spines, a few unobtrusive signatures. Offers, to include carriage. Tel: 0534 62473. (BB763) FOR SALE: Optolyth TB80 with x30 lens plus leather case, mint condition £250. Tel: 04022 26249. (BB764) CLEY BIRD OBSERVATORY ANNUAL REPORTS. 1959-62, £1 each. BB Nov 79, Nov 80, £2 each. BB Jul 82, Jun 87, Aug 87, Oct 87, Sep 88, Oct 88, £1.50 each. 1979 Fair Isle plus other reports. 0395 273426. (BB767) POYSER TITLES FOR SALE. Rare birds in Britain 8c Ireland, Sharrock 8c Sharrock, £15. Estuary Birds of Britain 8c Ireland, Prater £15. Other titles available. Tel: 0395 273426. (BB768) LIMITED EDITION PRINTS by Jon Holt. American Bittern No. 26/100 £10; Snowy Owl No. 15/50 £5. Phone 0353 741 197. (BB770) ‘SANDGROUSE’ nos. 1-12, OSME bulletins nos 13-24. Excellent condition. £55 including postage and packing. Telephone 0665 720651. (BB771) FOR SALE: 300mm f5.6 FD Canon Lens £150. Bill Metcalfe 0832 274373 (BB772) OPTOLYTH TBG 80, as new. Fully equipped with 2 lenses (including 22-60x zoom), Slik D2, case, photo adaptor. New over £700/will accept £450 o.n.o. Tel: 065 56 281. (BB773) WANTED WANTED. Original editions of Bechstein’s “Cage-birds”. Please name your price to H.-G. Bauer, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, D-7760 Radolfzell. (BB769) T&D POYSER TITLES REQUIRED. Phone 0245-267771 for best offer. (BB754) British Birds Volume 84 Number 6 June 1991 203 New Photographic Consultant 204 Birdcraft 4 Recording rare and unusual seabirds Peter Lansdown and Peter Harrison 206 Bird Photograph of the Year Dr R.J. Chandler, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith Reviews 215 ‘Tous les Oiseaux d’Europe’ by Jean-Claude Roche Ian Dawson 215 ‘Atlas das Aves que Nidificam em Portugal Continental’ edited by Rui Rufino Dr J. T. R. Shamrock 216 Diary dates Mrs Sheila D. Cobban 217 Seventy-five years ago . . . 218 Mystery photographs 167 Pink-backed Pelican Steve Madge Notes 220 Canada Goose diving to escape attacks by Mute Swan Malcolm Calvert 220 Brent Geese with white neck bands D. S. Flumm 221 Black-shouldered Kite feeding over ploughed fields in winter C. C. Moore 221 Two male Kestrels at same nest Dr David Harper 222 Pectoral Sandpiper’s reaction when alarmed Mrs Jean D. Garrod 222 Spotted Redshank joining pigeon flock Eric Simms 222 Spotted Redshank evading attack by diving Roger Q. Skeen 223 Perching habits of Wheatear and Black-eared Wheatear Alan Hunter 223 Crested Tits hiding nest material Abel Julien I Vila 224 Chaffinch giving Nuthatch-like song Ron Kettle Letters 225 Keeping warm Jeremy D. Powne 226 A second look Derek Goodwin 226 European news Announcements 237 Young Ornithologists of the Year 238 ‘The Famous Grouse’ Scotch whisky Christmas puzzle solution 238 Autumn 1991 Migration Survey, Israel Dan Alon 238 Additions to the British and Irish List 238 Books in British BirdShop 239 News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett 242 Monthly marathon 244 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Front cover: Grey Wagtail against ivy-covered wall (. Richard W. Jarvis ): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.55 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see pages 37-38 in January issue for procedure)