I I I I ' i i 1 ¥ British Birds Volume 88 Number 7 July 1995 Canon Bird Photograph of the the natural history museum 10 JUL 1995 PRESENTED TRING LIBRARY ""ear ' j Identification of Western Reef and Little Egrets I Robert Spencer BA MSc (1923-1994) Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels: new to Britain and Ireland British Birds Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prt'therch, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Photographic Researcher Robin Chittenden Art Consultants Robert GiUmor, Alan Harris Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Advertising Alanager Erika Sharrock Rarities Committee R. A. Hume (Chairman), Dr Colin Bradshaw, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, C. D. R. Heard, Doug Page (co-opted), K. D. Shaw, Andy Stoddart, Reg Thorpe, Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (museum consultant and archivist); Peter Fraser & Dr John Ryan (statisticians); Michael J. Rogers (Hon. Secretart') Behaviour Notes Panel Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R, Shamick, Dr K. E. L. Simmons Identification Notes Panel Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson, K. E. Vinicombe Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £48.70, IR£56.70 or 891.70. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £39.60, IR£46.20 or 874.60; personal airmail, outside Europe £66.35, IR£77.45 or 8125.30. Single back copies £5.00, IR£5.85 or 89.50. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, )iotes, letters, items for ‘Nezus and comment’, drazvings & p/wtographs: Dr J. T. R. ShamK'k, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford AtK44 3NJ. Phone & Fax: Biggleswade (01767) 640025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies: Mrs Erika Shamick, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467 Advertising: Mrs Erika Sharrock, BB Advertising, do Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467. Fax: (01767) 640025 Bird news for ‘The ornithological year’: Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, do 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MKiv 9QS. Phone: Woburn (01525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions: M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, do Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwy'd ciiv 4i.N. Phone: Mold (01352) 770581. Fax: (01352) 771590 The journal ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1995 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. ISSN 0007-0335. Printed in England by Newnorth Print Ltd, Kempston, Bedford. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the West Palearetic. 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 or magazine. Photographs and drawings are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten v\'ith 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 sequence of birds follow The 'British Birds' list of Bnglisli Names of Western Palearetic Birds (1993); or, for non-Wesl-Palearctic species, Monroe & Sibley (1993, A World Checklist of Birds); names of plants follow Dony et al. (1986, liiglish Names of Wild liozvcrs); names of mammals follow Nowak & Paradise (1983, Walker's Mammals of the World, 4th edn). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Bnt. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, or light blue 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 (live each to two or more authors). SURREY 89(B) LONDON ROAD, MORDEN, SURREY SM4 5HP Open: Mon to Sat: 9am-5pm Lunch 1-2pm (Not Sun) Tel 0181-648 8822 Fax 0181-687 2021 Location: Southern edge of Greater London, 15 mins drive M25 (eg: via A3 then Merton turnoff) or 2 mins walk Morden Underground. Viewing facilities Parking: 50 yards past our premises - 1st left. Alternative venues to Morden and Tring, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given below. Every effort is made to take our full range of equipment and payment can be made in all the usual ways. Repairs can also be handed in. *10.00 am to 4.00 pm* * PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sunday 25th June, 30th July and 27th August. * SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sunday 2nd July, 6th August and 3rd September. * BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 junction (with access from the B2042 or B2027; the information centre is to the north of the reservoir) on Sunday 18th June, 16th July and 20th August. * SLIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) Village Hall (on the left, halfway along village road into the W&WT). Saturday 8th July and 2nd September. * THE KENT TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION in the Tyland Barn, near Sandling, Maidstone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, going south), on Sunday 30th July and 27th August, 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. * DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK, Near Reading, Berks, Sunday 11th June and 10th September, in the Loddon Room. * BEWL WATER, on A21 just south of Lamberhurst, Kent, in the Education Centre on Sunday 25th June and 24th September. * HENFIELD, W. Sussex. Sussex Wildlife Trust at Woods Mill. Sunday 9th July. * ALTON WATER, near Ipswich, Suffolk (on the B1080) Saturday 26th August. UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical Est. 1962 - SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc SWAROVSKI 8x30SLCMklll 499 10x42SLC (619)659 7 X 42 SLC (569) 599 AT 80 body (45°) 595 ST 80 body 595 AT80 HD body (45°) 859 ST80 HD body 859 22x eyepiece 78 30x (WA) EP (new) 130 20-60x zoom eyepiece 189 Optical camera adaptor (800mm) 1 41 LEICA 8 X 20 BC Trinovid (249) 265 8 X 20 BCA Trinovid (279) 299 10 X 25 BC Trinovid (285)299 10 X 25 BCA Trinovid (298) 316 Soft Pouch (20) 24 8 X 32 BA Trinovid* (629) 698 7 X 42 BA Trinovid’ (689) 778 8 X 42 BA Trinovid’ (699) 778 10 X 42 BA Trinovid’ (719) 798 8 X 50 BA Trinovid’ (889) 950 1 0 X 50 BA Trinovid (899) 950 Carrying strap 26 (2 year free accident cover) LEICA APO Televid scope 960 LEICA Std. Televid scope 498 20-60x (B) zoom eyepiece 221 20x (WW/B) eyepiece 135 40x (B) eyepiece 110 Photo adaptor 204 ER case 98 ZEISS OPTICAL CENTRE 8 X 20B Classic 225 10 X 25B Classic 265 Classic pouch 20 10 X 25 B/TP (New DS) 359 8 X 20 BATP (New DS) 349 8 X 30 BGA/T (P) 699 7 X 42 BGA7T(P) 769 10x40BGA/T(P) 769 7x45 Night Owl 879’ 8x56 Night Owl 979’ 10x56 Night Owl 1059’ ’ex-case 15x60 BGA/T 1,499 SWIFT 8 X 42 RA UltraLite 219 10x42RAUItraLite 219 7 X 42 RA UltraLite 219 8'/2 X 44 HR Audubon 269 10x50 Audubon 289 NIKON 8 X 30 ECF porro WF 299 10X35ECFporroWF 349 Fieldscope II body 309 Fieldscope II (A) 450 339 ED II body 559 ED II (A) 45° 579 15x, 20x, 30x or 40x EP (84) 94 30x (WA) eyepiece 179 60x eyepiece 115 20-45X zoom EP 179 ED 78 769 ED78A 849 Camera adaptor 200 Mod for other cameras 18 KOWA At low, low (prices) - while stocks last TSN-1 (45°) or -2 body . .(299) 349 TSN-3 (45°) or -4 body . . . .(599) 699 25x or 40x eyepiece (72) 80 20x (WA) eyepiece (1 09) 1 27 30x (WA) eyepiece (1 39) 1 62 60x eyepiece (1 05) 1 38 77x eyepiece (105)125 20-60X zoom eyepiece ... .(1 75) 1 96 Camera adaptor 800mm . .(135) 150 Camera adaptor 1 200mm .(1 99) 231 Stay-on case 45 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 74 TS-611 body (45°) (249)304 TS-612body (229)284 TS-61 3 Fluorite body (45°) (51 9) 634 TS-61 4 Fluorite body (469)584 TS-61 0 accessories: 20x (WA) eyepiece (64) 74 27x (WA) eyepiece (95) 109 20-60X zoom eyepiece ... .(1 1 5) 1 27 20-40X zoom eyepiece 150 Stay-on case 40 SPECIAL OFFER Kowa TS-1 (45°) with 27x(WA) eyepiece and case £259 BUSHNELL 8 X 42 Natureview 129 1 0 X 42 Natureview 149 8 X 32 Trophy (w/p) 195 1 0 X 42 Trophy (w/p) 219 8 X 40 Birder 59 OPTOLYTH 8x30Alpin (258)275 8x40Alpin (279)298 10x40Alpin (283)305 10x50Alpin (315)331 12x50Alpin (320)340 7x42Alpin (295)309 TBGSObody (475)530 TBS 80 body (475)530 TBGorTBS80HD (669)815 30x (WW) eyepiece (1 57) 1 75 20x (WW) eyepiece (1 38) 1 58 30x or 40x eyepiece (87) 89 70x (WW) eyepiece (1 89) 1 93 20-60X zoom eyepiece . . . .(165) 210 Cam. adaptor 850mm 185 Stay-on case 45 DISCOVERY 8x42or10x42RR GA 129 OPTICRON SPECIAL OFFERS 8 X 32 Dioptron 139 8 X 42 Dioptron 149 10x42 Dioptron 149 10 X 50 Dioptron 159 HERTS/BUCKS BORDER TRING PLANT & GARDEN CENTRE, BULBOURNE ROAD, Nr. TRING, HERTS HP23 SHF Open: Tues to Sat, 1 0am-5pm Sunday (1 1 .00am to 4.00pm) Phone/Fax: 01442 825590 Location: On B488, 1 0 minutes from A41 near Tring. Very accessible from Ml, M25, etc. Viewing facilities (Easy disabled access) Parking: On Site 8x32(HRII) 204 8x42(HRII) 215 10x42(HRII) 219 10x50(HRII) 229 7x42(HRII) 205 7x24, 8x24 or 10x24 MCF 115 Roof prism binos (new): 7 x 36 BGA 375 8 X 42 BGA 395 10x42 BGA 395 10x50 BGA 399 HR 60mm scopes: Standard 60s body 236 60/45° body (angled) 310 60/SR body (rubberised) 273 60/SR ED body (rubberised) . . . .449 60/45° ED body (angled) 469 New gen. scopes: HR 66 299 HR 66 (45°) 326 1 5x, 20x, 25x or 40x HR eyepiece 44 20x WW HDF eyepiece 94 28x WW HDF eyepiece 122 22x W HR eyepiece 55 30x W HR eyepiece 58 60x HR eyepiece 47 20-60x zoom eyepiece 132 Soft nylon case 14 Stay-on case 44 HR 80mm body 345 Eyepieces as above but increase power by 33'/3% Soft nylon case 18 Stay-on case 44 NIGHT VISION Helios TZS-4 229 MANFROTTO TRIPODS NEW! We now stock a wide selection of BIRD and NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS, in association with SUBBUTEO NHB LTD. REPAIRS • Optical instrument experience unrivalled. All makes serviced, including Zeiss, Leica etc. • Mail Order (same day) • Personal Exports • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments) • Part exchange arranged • Used items • Package deals E.&O.E. * RECULVER COUNTRY PARK (off A1 30, north of Basiidon). (KTNC), 3 miles east of Herne Bay. Access from A299 (Thanet Way) through Hillborough. In the interpretation centre on Sunday 11th June and 1st October. Sunday 18th June and 13th August, near fishing lodge. * QUEEN ELIZABETH COUNTRY PARK, 4 miles south Sunday 6th August and 8th October * DENHAM COUNTRY PARK, Bucks., (A40, M40 junction, A412, A413, etc). Sunday 9th July and * HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR of Petersfield, Hants., on the A3. Saturday 23rd September. (D474) .. THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS in focus NORFOLK MAIN STREH, ITTCHWEa, NR. KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK, PE31 8BB Open 7 (iays 9am - 6pm Tel: 01485 210101 HOW TO FIND US; We ore 500 yards east of ihe RSPB reserve ol Tilchwell on the A1 49 between Hunstanton and Broncoster. in focus ^1^ SLIMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE THE WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS TRUST, SUMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL2 7BT Open 7 days 9.30om - 5. 30pm Tel: 0374-746472 HOW TO FIND US; We are situated within the reserve with viewing over the Swan Lake. The centre is well signposted from the M5 motorwoy. in focus YORKSHIRE WESTLEIGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HD8 8QJ Open Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm Tel: 01484 864729 HOW TO FIND US; We are close by the roilway station at Denby Dole on the A636 neor June. 38 & 39 on the Ml . in focus LEICESTERSHIRE ANGUAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE EGLHON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICESTERSHIRE, LETS BBT Open Weekends and Bank Holidays 9am - 5pm Tel: 01572 770656 HOW TO FIND US; We ore situated on the Egleton Reserve at Rutlond Water. Follow signposts to Egleton Village on the A6003 to Oi^hom. in focus CENTRAL LONDON 8, 9 8 TO ROYAL OPERA ARCADE, PAUMAU, LONDON, SW1Y4UY Open Mon • Fri 9am - 6pm Sat 9am • 4pm Tel: 0171-839 1881 Fax:0171-839 8118 HOW TO FIND US; We ore 300 yards from Piccadilly Underground Station in Royal Opera Arcade between Poll Moll and Chorles II Street, in focus HERTFORDSHIRE 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTFORDSHIRE, ENS SSZ Open Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm Tel: 0181-449 1445,0181-441 7748 Fax:0181-440 9999 HOW TO FIND US; We ore 1 0 mins from M25 and AIM motorwoys and 1 5 mins walk from High Bomet Tube Station situated at the Hadley Green end of Barnet High Street. SUMMER FIELD EVENTS 1 1 AT LAST A QUALITY BINOCULAR AT A SENSIBLE PRICE FOR CUSTOMERS PREFFERING TO SELECT AND PURCHASE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS WE OFFER THE FOaOWlNG PROGRAMME WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE RSPB, WWT AND COUNTY TRUSTS EVENTS ARE HELD FROM 1 0.00AM-4.00PM *n SATURDAY L7TH t SUNDAY 18TH RSPB RYE HOUSE, RYE HOUSE MARSH SATURDAY I7TH t SUNDAY 18TH WWT CENTRE MARTIN MERE, ORMSKIRK SUN/MON/TUES/WED 18TH TO 21ST RSPB ARNE, NR, WAREHAM SUNDAY 18TH ABBERTON RESERVOIR, COLCHESTER SATURDAY 24TH 8 SUNDAY 2STH RSPB DUNGENESS SATURDAY 24TH 8 SUNDAY 2STH WWT CENTRE LLANELII, DYFED SUNDAY 2STH EAIRBURNINGS, CASTLEFORD,.. HERTFORDSHIRE LANCASHIRE DORSET ESSEX KENT WALES WEST YORKSHIRE JULY SATU^AY 1ST 8 SUNDAY 2ND RSPB LODMOOR, WEYMOUTH SATURDAY 1ST 8 SUNDAY 2ND WWT CENTRE WASHINGTON SUNDAY 2ND PENNINGTON PUSH, LEIGH SATURDAY 8TH 8 SUNDAY 9TH RSPB ELMEEY MARSHES, ISIE OF SHEPPEY SATURDAY 8TH 8 SUNDAY 9TH RSPB BLACKTOET SANDS SUNDAY 9TH FISHERS GREEN, LEE VAILEY COUNTRY PARK DORSET TYNE & WEAR GREATER MANCHESTER NORTH KENT SOUTH HUMBERSIDE ESSEX UMBER BRIDGE IRS) . . . HUMBERSIDE TOTgRbAylWiiUHMV'UTti WWT CENTRE MARTIN MERE, ORMSKIRK SUNDAY 16TH ABBERTON RESERVOIR, COLCHESTER SATURDAY 22ND 8 SUNDAY 23RD SEAHOUSES • AT THE BAMBURGH CASTIE HOTEL SUNDAY 23RD FAIRBURN INGS, CASTLEFORD WEST YORKSHIRE ^s"prArN?.VwM°”'»^^°^*^” DORSET LANCASHIRE ESSEX NORTHUMBERLAND TRE LLANELLI. DYEED.. SATURDAY 29TH 8 SUNDAY 30TH EXMOUTH, EXE ESTUARY SUNDAY 30TH THATCHAM NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE, NR NEWBURY .. WALES SOUTH DEVON BERKSHIRE FUTURE EVENTS BRITISH /•TN' Eqleton Nature Reserve BIROWATCHING ( Ck- j Rutland Water FAIR 'vtL/ 18-20Aug‘95 tR- for accommodation TELEPHONE: 016A5 720283 Full Waterproofing Compact Lightweight Shape Rubber Armouring Superb Multicoated Optics Excellent Close Focussing Ideal for Spectacle Wearers Full Internal Focussing 30 Year Warranty EXCEEDS SPECIFICATIONS AND HANDLING NORMALLY FOUND IN BINOCULARS COSTING £600 OR MORE A The Delta Roof Prism Available in 8x42 and 1 0x42 — . , ^ ■ Complete with Soft Cose & Wide Neck Strap F V* J* 1 FULL RANGE OF LEADING BINOCULARS ALWAYS IN STOCK reM*a Nikon VWbon r.TrT7J7n;n (SBUSHFIELL SWIFT SUJC OPTOLYTH SWAROVSKI CULIMAWW Qptigao ZEIH NEW OPTICRON HR66 GA 'SCOPE AND TRIPOD OUTFITS OPTICRON HR66 GA 'SCOPE WITH 20X WA/HDF EYEPIECE • FULLY RAIN WATERPROOF IN STRAIGHT OR ANGLED EYEPIECE VERSIONS WITH VELBON CX680 TRIPOD FROM £393.00 AS ABOVE WITH NEW 28X WA/HDF EYEPIECE FROM £4 1 8.00 FULL RANGE OF 'SCOPE OUTFITS ALWAYS AVAILABLE FROM £200.00 THESE INCLIUOE THE FULL OPTICRON RANGE PLUS ALE THE KOWA TS/ISN, OPTOLYTH TBGABS, NIKON SPOTTING t FIELD SCOPES & SWAROVSKI ATAT 80 RANGES. FREE TRIPOD WITH ALL NEW 'SCOPES — — WI ALSO CARRY THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST SEUCT10N OE USED TEUSCOPES - DONT FORGET THAT YOUR PREFERRED OtOIQ MAY WEU BE AVAIIAIU SECOND HAND. FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL SCOPE REQUIREMENTS CONTAG YOUR NEAREST IN FOCUS SHOP. SUPPORT SYSTEMS HEIWA HS 6448 TRIPOD Cl 09.00 SLIK MASTER 02 TRIPOD CI29.00 MANFROTTO 290 ft 128 R( HEAD C133.00 VEIION TRIPODS FROM C59.95 CULLMAN lIRDINC TRIPODS FROM CS9.00 HIDE CLAMPS FROM £42.00 CAR WINDOW MOUNTS AT . £30.00 UNIVERSAL MOUNT AT C2S.00 QUICK RELEASE SYSTEMS FROM £12.00 TRIPOD STRAPS AT £8.00 IN FOCUS STAY-ON CASES NOW AVAILABLE TO TIT MOST 'SCOPES FROM £42.00 BOOKS At oil our shops we carry a good ronge of field ond identification guides os well os o full selection of trip reports REPAIRS Full service and repair focililies in our own workshops. All work corries our six month worronty MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Pleose remember to odd C2 00 towords the cost of insured Trokbok postoge and pocking - whether poying by cheque, Visa, Access or Mostercord-ond goods will be despotched with full 1 4 days opprovol on receipt of your remittance SECOND HAND ITEMS All instruments offered with six month worronty As stock turnover is high phone for lotesi details. PAMT-IXCHANOIS ALWAYS WILCOMI. ALL LMTINM COAKICT AT TIMi OP OOlNa TO lAOI. AHONI POB LATIBT BBICBB. British Birds Eslabhshed 1907; imorporaling ‘The ZoologisT, established 1843 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 10 JUL 1995 PRESENTED TRING LIBRARY Identification of Western Reef Egrets and dark Little Egrets Philippe J. Dubois and Pierre Yesou The Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis and the Little Egret E. garzetta are usually recognised as separate species (e.g. Cramp & Simmons 1977; Payne 1979; Hancock & Elliott 1978; Brown et al. 1982; Sibley «& Monroe 1990), although their relationships are debated. Three, sometimes four, subspecies are described for the Little Egret, including nigripes from islands in southeast Asia and the southwest Pacific and immaculata from Australia. Only the nominate garzetta, which breeds sparsely in Europe, Asia and Africa, is considered in this paper. Two, sometimes three, subspecies have been recognised for the Western Reef Egret. All of them have a mainly coastal distribution and are dimorphic, with dark and white individuals occurring in the same population, together with intermediates in variable proportion; nominate gularis breeds in West Africa from Mauritania to Gabon, and schislacea (= asha) in East Africa from the Red Sea south to Kenya and eastwards to India and Sri Lanka. The form dimoipha, which breeds in Madagascar, Aldabra, Comoro Islands, Seychelles and locally in coastal East Africa from southern Kenya to Tanzania, is considered a race of either of the above species, or a species in its own right: the Dimorphic Egret E. dimorpha (Payne 1979), now known as the Mascarene Reef-Egret (Sibley & Monroe 1990). Hancock (1984) and Hancock & Kushlan (1984) have argued that all these forms are subspecies of the Little Egret, on the assumption that interbreeding [Brit. Birds 88: 307-319, July 1995] 307 308 Identification of Western Red and Little Egrets occurs between garzelta and schistacea in India (Naik & Parasharya 1983; Parasharya & Naik 1987) and Kenya (Hancock & Kushlan 1984). No detail was given, however, on the identification of the individuals involved (but see Ashkenazi 1993), and interbreeding is highly surprising in India as Little and Western Reef Egrets have differing breeding seasons there (Naik et al. 1981). Voisin (1991) considered that interbreeding is yet to be confirmed. The fact is that the identification of the African and Asian forms remains poorly understood, particularly regarding the white individuals, which are more prone to be mistaken for Little Egrets, while the possibility of a rare dark morph of the Little Egret further complicates the matter. These are problems of concern not only for systematists, but also for birdwatchers in the southern part of the Western Palearctic: small numbers of Western Reef Egrets, both giilans and schistacea^ regularly occur north of their range, from Israel to Morocco and also to the northern Mediterranean shores from Greece to Spain, with most western European records in France and Italy (Yesou & CHN 1986; Grussu & Poddesu 1989; Grussu 1993). Here we discuss the field identification of Western Reef Egrets of the subspecies gularis and schistacea in comparison with garzetta, based on our field experience of these birds in Senegal (PJD & PY), the Gambia (PJD), southern Mauritania (PY), Israel (PJD) and Bahrain (PY), often in close association with Little Egrets, and on discussion with obser\'ers who know the species from Djibouti, Egypt, northern Mauritania and Ivory Coast. We also present new information on the occurrence of dark individuals in European colonies of Little Egrets. Description of Western Reef Egret Size, silhouette and behaviour Nominate gularis is rather similar in size to the Little Egret, and schistacea has on average larger measurements, although with much overlap (table 1). Birds of the latter race seen together with Little Egrets usually look bulkier, but not necessarily larger, and some individuals even look smaller. Both subspecies have a proportionally longer and thinner neck than that of Little Egret, and tend to keep it more hooked or S-shaped: this distinctive shape is always well marked in the case of schistacea, and usually so but often to a lesser degree on gularis, giving these birds a serpentine silhouette reminiscent of an Intermediate Egret E. intemiedia or a Purple Heron Ardea purpurea. Both gularis and schistacea usually show an angular head profile, with the bill and forehead almost in a line and a blunt outline to the rear of the head, while both the forehead and the crown tend to be more gently rounded on garzetta. Specific differences in head shape are not constant, however, and depend in part on the bird’s behaviour and the effect of the wind. The bill of Western Reef Egret is on average proportionally longer tlian Little’s: again, the difference is more marked on schistacea, although it is not always obvious. There are also differences in bill shape, as discussed below, which again tend to be more obvious with schistacea than with gularis. The outer wing is marginally shorter and more rounded on Western Reef Egret, the tip of the folded wing just reaching the tip of the tail; it can, however, also extend slightly beyond the tail, as it does on Idule Egret. The more round- 1 1‘75. Typical dark Western Reef Egret Egretta of race schistacea. Note heavy, dagger-shaped bill in line with forehead, and shape of rear head. i|i n, December 1992 (Pierre Yesou) Plate 76. First-summer Western Reef Egret Egrett gularis of race schistacea. Note thick bill (compared wit plate 77), especially at base, yellowish lores, short nec feathers and brown juvenile feathers on coverts ani neck. Eilat, Israel, April 1994 {Philippe J. Dubois) bj'77. Typical dark Western Reef Egret Egretta il ( of race gularis. Note more slender appearance 4 chistacea, with thinner bill, and presence of ti.d brown juvenile coverts. Bignona, Senegal, a-ry 1988 {Philippe Delaporte) i *79. Below, dark first-winter Western Reef \ rE. gularis of race gularis. Variegated appearance i by retained bleached brown juvenile feathers t !i ting with dark freshly moulted feathers. Ivory j IDecember 1986 {Thierry Bara) Plate 78. Unidentified egret Egretta, with bare-par coloration typical of Little Egret E. garzetta. Bill i relatively heavy, but still compatible with that species Horizontal stance and, particularly, shape of neck however, point to Western Reef Egret E. gularis, as doe area of grey feathers behind eye. Bignona, Senega] February 1988 {Philippe Delaporte) Plate 80. Below, Western Reef Egret Egretta gtilan schistacea in flight. Note large wings and silhouetti recalling Intermediate Egret E. intermedia. Nabq, Sinai Egypt, April 1 994 {Philippe J. Dubois) 310 Identification of Western Reef and Little Egrets winged shape is more obvious in flight, when, combined with a stronger, less buoyant flight action and a stockier body, it makes a flying Western Reef Egret look more like a smallish Grey Heron A. cinerea or Great White Egret E. alba than a Little Egret. Again, the difference is more marked for schisiacea than for gularis. Lastly, both forms often adopt a more horizontal stance when feeding or resting than does Little Egret. The feeding actions of the two species reportedly differ, as foraging Western Reef Egrets not uncommonly perform ‘wing-screening’ (Cramp & Simmons 1977), also called ‘double-wing feeding’ (Kushlan 1978), as Black Herons Hydranassa ardesiaca often do. Little Egrets do, however, sometimes behave similarly (Hancock & Elliott 1978; Sueur 1979; Robert & Voisin 1991; pers. obs.). Ashkenazi (1993) considered Western Reef Egrets to be solitary feeders, which is not true: this species can be gregarious all over its range when the feeding conditions are favourable. The Western Reef Egret tends to be coastal, frequenting various habitats from rocky shores to mudflats, while for Voisin (1991) ‘the Little Egret is not a coastal bird’ and usually forages more inland in deltas, marshes and lagoons. There is nevertheless some overlap in habitat use. Little Egrets regularly associate with rocky coasts and marine mudflats (e.g. in the northern part of their range around western France and southern Britain), and locally breed on sea cliffs in Spain (Bemis 1956), and on rocky islets off the French Channel coast (Bargain 1993), while Western Reef Egrets are locally common in inland marshes — not only mangroves — along the lower reaches of West African rivers. Plumage The white morph, in which the plumage is pure white, is usually rare in the case of gularis. Less than 1% of the Western Reef Egrets that we saw in Senegal and in the Gambia were white. This morph is found in similar proportions on Banc d’Arguin in Mauritania Q. Trotignon, verbally), where the identity of the white breeding individuals is disputed; de Naurois (1969) called xhcm garzeita, and said that they did not pair with dark individuals, but dark X white pairs are currently under study there (B. Lamarche in litt.). White individuals are locally better represented farther south (e.g. in Sao Tome and in Cameroon: Cramp & Simmons 1977). White individuals are far more common in the case of schisiacea, usually accounting for at least 10% of the population and locally more than 50% in the northern part of the range (Cramp & Simmons 1977); in large samples identified to morph in Bahrain, 19% to 25% of individuals were white, a situation rather similar to that encountered from northern Egypt to Pakistan (E. Hirschfeld in lilt.). Some juvenile and immature white-morph schisiacea have pure white underparts, but on the rest of their body the white feathers are more or less strongly washed grey, sometimes giving a spotted effect (Naik & Parasharya 1983): such individuals are usually assigned to the ‘intermediate’ morph described below. The dark morph of gulans is basically dark slate -grey, often with a bluish hue and sometimes looking blackish in the field, although dark Western Reef Egrets are much paler than Black Herons when the two species are seen together. A glossy blue or green tinge is visible on the head and upper breast of adults in some British Birds, vol. 88, no. 7, July 1995 311 lights, and their underparts are slightly tinged browii. The differences in tone between the different parts of the body are subtle, however, and visible only under favourable conditions. Juveniles are brown or dark grey-brown. Immatures are a shade paler than adults, lack any gloss, and may show browner wings owing to retained juvenile feathers. The only parts of the plumage which are always white in both adults and immatures are the chin and, to a variable extent, the upper throat and lower ear-coverts. Also, there is often a white patch more or less developed on either one wing or both, formed by white primary coverts and, more rarely, the bastard wing, and a few white feathers occasionally occur on any part of the body, but perhaps most frequently on the head and wings. Dark individuals of the race schistacea are often paler than dark gularis, being ash-grey, often with a lavender tinge, or sometimes dark grey. The white areas are the same as on gularis, although white wing patches extending to the primaries have sometimes been reported from India (Naik & Parasharya 1983). I Individuals intermediate between the white and dark morphs show a variety of plumages. They often have the upperparts a paler ash-grey than those of dark individuals, and the belly and lower breast whitish. This pale area often extends to the front part of the neck and to a variable degree to the flanks, which, together with the sides of the neck, can be mottled grey-and- white. This kind of plumage is not uncommon on schistacea, but is rare on gularis, at least in the northern part of its range. Also, some grey-backed individuals have a white head, a feature seemingly always associated with pale grey to whitish underparts and neck, and a very large white area on the outer wing: not exceptional in the case of schistacea (Naik & Parasharya 1983j pers. obs.), but rare for gularis. In another kind of intermediate plumage, which we know only for gularis, most of the head, neck and body is white, often with limited dark speckling on the back and flanks, while the wings are mainly grey, often with a few white feathers. It remains unclear whether adults show such varied plumages or whether they are restricted to immatures, and it is supposed that some intermediate immatures may turn into dark adults (E. Hrrschfeld in litt.), although this needs confirmation. Plate 81. Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis schistacea. Typical silhouette, with long, relatively thin, ‘hooked’ neck and proportionally short bill in line with forehead. Hurghada, Eg^'pt, May 1990 {Olivier Pineau) 82 & 83. Little Egrets Egretta garzelia 84 & 85. Grey egrets Egretta, probably and certainly Little Egrets E. garzetta 86. Below, Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and Western Reef Egrets E. gularis British Birds, vol. 88, no. 7, July 1995 Bill 313 The bill of the Western Reef Egret differs from that of Little Egret in being usually thicker, with a different shape. The basal two-thirds of the mandibles are more parallel-edged before tapering to a point either almost symmetrically or with the distal part of the upper mandible markedly downcurved: then the bill may look either dagger-shaped (Hancock & Elliott 1978) or with the culmen downcurved to a greater or lesser extent (Wassink 1978; Jonsson 1992). This particular shape is usually obvious on schistacea, which also often have a proportionally longer bill. West African gularis have a shorter and less thick bill: while some individuals have a distinctive bill shape, others can hardly be told from Little Egret in this respect. Breeding adult gularis has a black bill (Hancock & Kushlan 1984), whereas schistacea has either a yellow or, more rarely, a black one (Parasharya & Naik 1987). The colour varies considerably among non-breeding adults and immatures of both subspecies. Some have a blackish, dark brown or reddish-brown bill, with the base of the lower mandible often a paler brown to pinkish. On others, the bill is paler, hom-coloured or yellowish, sometimes pale pinkish-brown, either plain or with darker brown areas at the base of the upper mandible or extending along the edge of both mandibles. Adult Little Egret has a dark bill throughout the year, although it can be somewhat paler at the base in winter. Only exceptionally do breeding Litde Egrets show a pale, yellowish bill. The bills of immatures are a paler brown, often with a pinkish area at the base of the lower mandible, and a minority of young Little Egrets have one mandible or both very pale, from fleshy-hom to straw-yellow (Yesou 1984; Cope «& Cajdbrd 1988; Voisin 1991). Thus, the bill colour of young Little Egrets can be similar to that of Western Reef Egrets. Legs Both gularis and schistacea have on average a shorter tarsus than that of Litde Egret, and some Western Reef Egrets look obviously shorter-legged. Although FACING PAGE Plate 82. Top left, typical adult Litde Egret Egretta garzetta, but showing pale legs, a feature uncommon for an adult of this species. Bignona, Senegal, February 1988 {Philippe Delaporte) < Plate 83. Top right, atypical adult Litde Egret Egretta garzetta with bare-part coloration reminiscent of Western Reef Egret E. gularis schistacea. Silhouette and bill shape, however, rule out latter species. Such pale bare-part colour is not uncommon on juvenile and first-winter Little Egrets, but is exceptional on adults. Camargue, France, July 1993 {Olivier Pineau) Plate 84. Centre left, grey egret Egretta, probably Litde Egret E. garzetta. Note pale base of bill and white head and upper neck (which does, however, have rather an S-shape). La Tapa, Cadiz, Spain, August 1987 {M. Eemandez Cruz) Plate 85. Centre right, grey Litde Egret Egretta garzetta. Silhouette, including neck and bill shape, rules out Western Reef Egret E. gularis. Uniformly scaled wing feathers indicate a bird of the year. Note pale lower mandible and greenish legs, not rarely found on Little Egrets of this age. Camargue, France, September 1986 {Guy Morel) Plate 86. Bottom, mixed flock of feeding Litde Egretta garzetta and Western Reef Egrets E. gularis gularis. Dakar, Senegal, February 1988 {Philippe Delaporte) The inclusion of plates 75-80 and 82-86 in colour was subsidised by Carl Zeiss Ltd, sponsor of the British Birds Rarities Committee. ZEISS 314 Idenrification of Western Reef and Little Egrets Table 1. Measurements (in mm) of Little Egret Egretta garzetta and Western Reef Egret E. gularis gularis and E. gularis schistacea. Mean, sample size (in parentheses) and range (age and sex combined), (a) Cramp & Simmons (1977); (b) Hiraldo Cano (1971) and Bemis (1971), combined; (c) Vaurie (1965); (d) Ashkenazi (1993 & in lilt.). Note that tarsus-to-bill ratio helps to separate gularis, but hardly schistacea, from garzetta. garzetta gularis schistacea MEASUREMENTS Wing (a) 276 (34) 245-303 265 (23) 244-285 - (b) 274 (15) 248-300,5 270 (12) 258-285 - (c) - 277 (10 males) 288 (10) 272-311 (d) 281 (72) 198-308 - 297 (10) 270-345 Bill (a) 82 (34) 67-93 83.8 (21) 79-89 - (b) 85 (15) 79-95 84.4(13) 79-91 - (c) - - 98(10)94-103 (d) 89 (77) 72-98 - 98.2 (10) 92-106 Tarsus (a) 99.2 (34) 78-112 89.8(19) 82-94 - (b) 104.1 (15) 97-115 90.2(13) 83-92 - (c) - - 104 (10) 92-116 (d) 103.8 (77)84-115 - 110.6 (10)105-118 RATIOS blll/tarsus (b) 0.82(14) 0.77-0.87 0.93(13) 0.86-0.96 - tarsus/bill (c) 1.22 (37) 1.05-1.42 1.06(19)0.90-1.17 - (d) 1.17(73) 1.03-1.38 - 1.13(10)1,02-1.27 particularly noticeable in the eastern population, this character is, however, not constant, as there is much individual variation and overlap in measurements. Breeding adults of both species have black legs with yellow feet and lower tarsus, turning orange or red at the peak of courtship (Cramp & Simmons 1 977; Hancock 1984; Parasharya & Naik 1987; Voisin 1991). The feet and lower tarsus are sometimes a greenish yellow on non-breeding adult Little Egrets. Exceptionally, adults have wholly pale legs, yellowish to greenish-grey, either in winter or within a breeding colony (plates 82 & 83). The legs of non-breeding Western Reef Egrets (whether adults or immatures) are much more variable in colour. On gularis, the basic colour is a dull brown, with plain yellowish extending from the foot to about the lower one-third of the leg, and yellowish spots of variable size and number often occur on the brown part. Legs tend to be paler on schistacea from the Red Sea and Persian Gulf: sometimes dark to medium brown with yellowish to greenish-yellow feet and lower tarsus, but often mostly olive-green or yellowish with darker brown markings on the upper leg. In India, the legs are black and remain so on non-breeding adults according to Parasharya & Naik (1987), with yellow extending from the feet to the distal end of the tarsus. A few juvenile and immature Little Egrets are pale-legged (usually light green, but also brown-green to yellow) and in this respect strongly recall some Western Reef Egrets (Alibone 1981; Sueur 1982; Yesou 1984; Cope & Cayford 1988). Lores The skin on the lores of the Western Reef Egret is basically yellowish to greenish- Brirish Birds, vol. 88, no. 7, July 1995 315 yeUow, sometimes greenish to olive-green or bluish-green, turning pale yellow (or even more briefly red) for a short period during mating (Cramp & Simmons 1977; Hancock & Elliott 1978; Hancock 1984; Parasharya & Naik 1987). Little Egrets usually have greyish lores, which turn bright during courtship; either orange to reddish, or bluish-rose to Ulac-rose, according to the terminology used respectively by Voisin (1977) and O. Pineau {in litt.), who studied the same population in Camargue. Hancock & Elliott (1978) considered that the grey lores of Little Egrets were a distinction worth mentioning between the two species, and this has been repeated in recent identification literature (e.g. Lewington et al. 1991). Unfortunately, the situation is not so straightforward. A greenish or bluish tinge is sometimes visible on the facial skin of Little Egret, which also, even if rarely, can be yellowish (Lewington et al. 1991; pers. obs.). More importantly, non-breeding schistacea commonly have greyish lores and, among hundreds of non-breeding gularis examined carefully in West Africa at aU times of the year, almost all had greyish, often blue-grey, lores and were indistinguishable from Little Egrets on this character: only a tiny minority of non-breeding gularis in fact shows yellow lores. Dark Little Egrets Dark Little Egrets have been claimed since the last cenmry (e.g. Berlioz 1949; Mock 1980), but their occurrence is so rare and the given proof so scanty that the reality of their existence has repeatedly been questioned since Payne (1979) considered that the dark egrets seen in southern France, Sicily and Hungary probably referred to E. gularis. Only three specimens have been traced in museum collections (Y esou & CHN 1986; Voisin 1991). One collected in 1956 in southern Spain (Bernis 1956) and discussed below is in fact either a hybrid garzetta X gularis or a pure gularis. Another, caught in Hungary in 1964, was identified as a Little Egret ‘of African origin’ (Fabian & Sterbetz 1964-65): its measurements, however, make clear that it is a Western Reef Egret (Yesou & CHN 1986; Voisin 1991). Only the third specimen, collected in Bulgaria before 1876, possibly in 1869, and housed in the Natural History Museum of Cobourg, Germany, may be a true Little Egret from the photograph published (von Boetticher 1952) and the measurements given (Voisin 1991), which agree only with garzetta or schistacea, while the bill shape is not in favour of the latter race. Furthermore, it had a grey body but white head, neck and wings (Rivoire 1956), which would be an odd combination for a Western Reef Egret. Sight records of claimed dark Little Egrets have also been published, most of them listed by Yesou & CHN (1986), Grussu & Poddesu (1989) and Grussu (1993): the descriptions have not always allowed a precise identification, however, or have been reinterpreted in favour of Western Reef Egret. For these reasons, and also because no dark offspring had then been reported from the heronries where many young Little Egrets have been handled for ringing or biological study, particularly in Spain and France, the existence of a dark morph of the Little Egret has been considered doubtful (Yesou & CHN 1986; Grussu & Poddesu 1989), at least before the measurements of the Cobourg specimen were known. Its existence is still considered doubtful by Grussu (1993) 316 Identification of Western Reef and Little Egrets and, once she had examined the Cobourg specimen, Voisin (1991) nevertheless concluded that ‘further specimens are needed to be quite sure that [such a dark morph] does, in fact, occur’. There was a new development in July 1991 when, in the course of a monitoring scheme of Little Egrets breeding in Camargue, France, O. Pineau (in litt.) and his colleagues found a uniformly pale grey nestling, together with three white ones, in the nest of a white pair. The grey offspring was similar in proportions to young Little Egrets of the same age. In 1992 and 1993, this ringed grey individual was obsen'ed in Camargue again, and its colour led the unwary to confuse it with a Grey Heron. In July 1992, another uniformly grey juvenile, bom of unknown parents, was found in Camargue, in another colony, where in 1993 a slaty-grey egret identified as giilaris bred with a white mate and had three young which looked white at a distance (O. Pineau in litt.). Ashkenazi (1993) then reported on the existence of rare dark Little Egrets, this time in Israel, where up to seven different dark individuals were found in one year among the population numbering 3,000 in the Huleh Valley, thus accounting for about 0.2% of the local population. Their plumage was described as ‘variable from light grey to almost black and from uniform cover to small dark patches without bilateral symmetry’, with no further detail. The fact that only Western Reef Egrets of the race schistacea occur in the area should theoretically allow an easy separation of the tw'o species on their silhouette, and particularly the shape of their bill and neck. Unfortunately, the identification process appears also to have referred to other features, such as bare-part coloration and behaviour, which are not so reliable as Ashkenazi thought: on this basis, confirmation is needed that no stray Western Reef Egret has been included within the records of Huleh Valley dark-morph Little Egrets, and proper, more detailed descriptions would be welcome in order to establish accurately the range of plumage darkness shown by Israeli garzetta. In France and Spain, too, and particularly in Camargue, a few dark individuals, similar to the Little Egret in general silhouette and bill shape, have been observed in recent years. Some were almost entirely pale grey, while others were ‘pied’, with a plumage resembling that of intermediate schistacea: wings and back pale grey, neck and head a paler grey or white, belly off-white to white. One such individual frequented a colony in 1988 and another bred near Camargue in 1992 (O. Pineau in litt.). These birds are surely not schistacea, which always shows a distinctive silhouette owing to its bulkier body, shorter legs, more serpentine neck, broader curved biU, or at least a combination of some of these characters. They probably are not gularis either, as, although this subspecies sometimes looks very much like garzetta in silhouette, it rarely shows this kind of plumage. These observations thus suggest the existence of a very rare dark (actually pale grey, either uniform or pied) morph among West European Little Egrets. Discussion A dark adult female egret in breeding condition was collected in June 1956 in a colony in the Guadalquivir, southern Spain, where one or two other similarly plumaged birds were seen in the same period. Identified as a Western Reef Egret British Birds, vol. 88, no. 7, July 1995 317 by Saez-Royuela & Valverde (1956), the individual collected was thought to be a Little Egret by Bemis (1956), who, however, later changed his opinion (Bemis 1971): its measurements agree with those of both garzetta and gularis, although more in favour of the latter. Also, the colour of its bill points to a Western Reef Egret. Thus it was reidentified as either a hybrid garzetta X gularis, or possibly a pure gularis. Two dark individuals were seen again in the Guadalquivir in June 1970: one was collected and shown to be gularis (Hiraldo Cano 1971). Meanwhile, dark egrets were breeding in the same area in 1960 and 1962 (Mertens 1961; Fabian & Sterbetz 1964-65). In 1988, ornithologists from the University of Sevilla observed eight dark egrets in colonies at Coria del Rio, south of Sevilla, Spain, including at least one dark pair which produced a grey young showing the typical white wing-patches of the Western Reef Egret (O. Pineau in litt.). In Camargue, a grey egret was paired with a white one in 1958, producing two grey young (Fabian & Sterbetz 1964-65). One slaty-grey egret, whose identification as gularis was agreed upon by the French rarities committee, has been observed there every spring and summer since 1987; it possibly bred in 1990 and certainly did in 1992. These repeated observations of proved or suspected Western Reef Egrets in colonies of Little Egrets give credit to the hypothesis that some gularis may have occasionally interbred with garzetta (Bernis 1971). The presence of a grey young in the nest of apparently typical Little Egrets may then be the expression of hybrid lineage. This, however, remains speculative: the frequency of pied or pale grey ‘Little Egrets’ seen in France in recent years is probably too high in relation to the very low possible occurrence of mixed pairing between Little and stray Western Reef Egrets, thus suggesting that at least some of these odd-coloured birds are not hybrids but pure garzetta, and that the occasional appearance of dark Little Egrets is not Limited to one colony in Israel. The laconic description of Israeli birds suggests that melanism could be even more marked m this species than shown by the grey and pied individuals observed in France: the possibility of a really dark Little Egret would further complicate the identification of any out-of-place dark egret. Were the existence of hybrids to be proved, it would similarly complicate the matter. In any case, when identifying a dark egret, the greatest attention must be given to the structure of the bird, particularly the shape of its neck, the shape and size of its bill, and the proportions of its legs. The structure of schistacea always allows the identification of this well-differentiated form, which is as different from the other two as are many bird species. Structure is also often greatly helpful in separating gularis, even if individuals of this race can be close to garzetta in many respects, especially in silhouette. Bare-parts coloration is also important, although this mostly helps identification of adults, since young Little Egrets occasionally show the same bare-parts colour as Western Reef Egrets. Conversely, a white gularis can sometimes be very difficult to assess, since some individuals are very similar to Little Egrets in structure and in colour of bare parts. We can only hope that further research will help overcome this difficulty. Further information from the colonies where pied or grey egrets breed or are reared in southern Europe may help us to understand what these birds are. 318 Identification of Western Reef and Little Egrets Acknowledgments Our fieldwork in Senegal has been made easier thanks to the assistance of the Director of Serv'ice des Parcs Nationaux and his team. Erik Hirschfeld pro\’ided help to Pierre Yesou in Bahrain and commented on a first draft, as did Olivier Pineau, who also provided details of grey egrets in France and Spain. Shoshanna Ashkenazi supplied unpublished biometric data. We also thank Philippe Delaporte, who provided us with many valuable photographs, and Thierry Bara, Pierre Crouzier, Michel Fouquet and Claude Hadancourt for photographs or stimulating discussions. Summary The identification of Western Reef Egrets Egretta giilaris of the subspecies gularis and schutacea is discussed, and information is given on the occurrence of ‘dark’ (usually pale grey or pied, but sometimes almost black) Little Egrets E. garzeiia. Western Reef Egrets of the race schistacea, although very variable in appearance, are easily separated from Litde Egrets by a combination of structural characters. Many nominate gularis share these diagnostic characters, while others resemble the Little Egret much more, up to a point where some white indi\'iduals can be very difficult to tell from Little. A few dark Little Egrets have been found in Israel. Pale grey or pied egrets with a plumage resembling gularis or schistacea, but with a shape and structure typical of garzetta, have also been found in France and Spain in recent years. Some of these are probably melanistic Litde Egrets rather than hybrids between Litde and Western Reef Egrets, although various observ'adons in Spain and southern France suggest that mixed pairing may occasional!}' occur, and be productive. The existence of rare melanistic garzetta, and the possibility of occasional hybridisation, further complicate the identification of any stray Western Reef Egret. References Ai.ibone, M. R. 1981. Litde Egrets with green legs and feet. Brit. Birds 74: 41. AsHKiiNAZi, S. 1993. Dark-morph individuals of Egretta spp. in Israel. Colonial Waierbirds 16: 202-207. Bargain, B. 1993. Oiseaux de Bretagne. Mise a jour du statut de quelques especes. Penn ar Bed 150: 11-25. Berlioz, J. 1949. L’albinisme du plumage chez les Ardeides. L’Oiseau & RFO 19: 12-30. Bernis, F. 1956. Sobre la Garceta {Egretta) de color negruzco aparecida en Donana. Ardeola 3: 93-114. 1971. Reconsideracion del ejemplar melanico de Egretta spp., obtenido en Donana in 1956. Ardeola 15: 107-110. Brovc'n, L. H., Urban, E. K., & Newman, K. 1982. The Birds of Africa, vol. 1. London. Cope, D. A., & Caypord, J. 1988. The Exe Estuary egret of August 1985. Brit. Birds 81: 281- 282. Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1977. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 1. Oxford. DE Naurois, R. 1969. Peuplements et cycles de reproduction des oiseaux de la cote occidental d’Afrique. Mern. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat., Paris, Serie A 56: 1-312. FAbian, G., & Sterbetz, I. 1964-65. Black Litde Egrets {Egretta g. garzetta L.) in Europe. Aquila 69-70: 99-112. Grussu, M. 1993. D problema delle Garzette scure in Europa e in Italia. Riv. Ital. di Birdwatching 1: 11-34. , & PoDOESU, G. 1989. Considerazioni sulla presenza dell’airone schistaceo, Egretta gulark, in Europa e sui problemi dell’identificazione in natura. Riv. ital. Om. 59: 172-182. Hancock,). 1984. Field identification of West Palearctic w'hite herons and egrets. Brit. Birds 77: 451-457. , & Ei.Lio rr, H. 1978. The Herons of the World. London. , & Kushian, J. 1984. The Herons Handbook. London. HiRAi.no Cano, F. 1971. Primera captura segura Egretta gulaiis in Espafia. Ardeola 15: 103-107. JONSSON, L. 1992. Birds of Europe. London. Kusmlan, J. a. 1978. Feeding ecology of wading birds. In Sprunt, A., Ogden, J. C., & WiNCKi.iiR, S., Wading Birds. Audubon Society Res. Rep. 7: 249-297. Lp.wingion, I., Ai.S'FrOm, P., & Colston, P. 1991. Rare Birds of Britain and Europe. London. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 7, July 1995 319 Mertens, R. 1961. Bin schwarzer Seidenreiher. Om. Mitt. 13: 203-205. Mock, D. W. 1980. White-dark polymorphism in herons. Proc. First Welder Wildlife Found. Symp.: 145-161. Naik, R. M., & Parasharya, B. M. 1983. Sequence of plumage changes and polymorphism in the Indian Reef Heron Egretta gularis. Sandgrouse 5: 75-81. 3 3 Patel, B. H., & Mansuri, A. P. 1981. The timing of breeding season and interbreeding between the colour phases in the Indian Reef Heron, Egretta gularis (Bose) . J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 78: 494-497. Parasharya, B. M., & Nak, R. M. 1987. Changes in the soft part coloration of the Indian Reef Heron, Egretta gularis (Bose) related to age and breeding status. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 84: 1-6. Payne, R. B. 1979. Ardeidae. In Ma^t^, E., & Cottrell, G. W., Checklist of the Birds of the World, vol. 1. 2nd ed. Cambridge. Rivoire, a. 1956. Observation d’une Aigrette grise en Camargue. Pp. 31-32 in Valverde, J. A., Essai sur I’Aigrette garzette (Egretta g. garzetta) en France. Alauda 24: 1-36. Robert, D., & Voisin, C. 1991. Un comportement de peche inhabituel de TAigrette garzette. L’Oiseau Gf RFO 61: 51-52. SAez-Royuela, R., & Valverde, J. A. 1956. Sobre una captura de Egretta (Demigretta) gularis en Espana. Ardeola 3: 91-92. Sibley, C. G., & Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. New Haven. Sueur, F. 1979. Comportement de nutrition du Heron cendre Ardea cinerea et TAigrette garzette Egretta garzetta. Alauda 47: 120-122. 1982. Little Egrets with green legs and feet. Brit. Birds 75: 535. Vaurie, C. 1965. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna: Non-Passeriformes. London. Voisin, C. 1977. Etude du comportement de I’Aigrette garzette (Egretta garzetta) en periode de reproduction. L’Oiseau & RFO 47: 65-103. Voisin, C. 1991. The Herons of Europe. London. VON Boetticher, H. 1952. La Garzette europeenne en plumage gris du Museum de Cobourg. L’Oiseau & RFO 22: 61-62. Wassink, j. 1978. Some additional field characters of the Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis. Ardea 66: 123-124. Yesou, P. 1984. Little Egrets with uncommon bare parts coloration. Brit. Birds 77: 315-317. , & CoMiTE d’Homologation NATIONAL. 1986. L’ Aigrette des recifs Egretta gularis-. une espece a part entiere sur la liste des oiseaux de France. Oiseau & RFO 56: 321-329. Dr Philippe J. Dubois, LPO, 2 rue Mozart, 92200 Nanterre, France Pierre Yesou, Office National de la Chasse, 53 rue Russeil, 44000 Nantes, France LOOKING BACK In July 1970, two new members were elected to the Rarities Committee: R. A. Richardson and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, and it was noted that records of Arctic Redpolls Carduelis hornemanni would be considered only if the bird or birds concerned had been examined in the hand. (Brit. Birds 63: 267-268) ‘Redpolls Acanthis [Carduelis] flammea continue to be greatly on the increase as a breeding species, especially in the Midlands and East Anglia.’ (July ‘Recent reports’, Brit. Birds 63: 352) ‘In June, 1942, I was walking down the side of the Severn in Gloucestershire with a man who lives on the river bank and has quite a good knowledge of birds, and we located seven Corn-Crakes [Crex crex] in a distance of perhaps five miles. In one case my companion’s dog brought an egg to us in his mouth and in another a dead young bird. His owner told me that this happens every year and he is unable to prevent the dog doing it.’ (Brit. Birds 38: 278-279, July 1945) OBITUARY Robert Spencer BA MSc (1923-1994) Bob Spencer, who died on 2 1 st September 1 994 at the age of 7 1 , was a nation- al figure in the ornithological scene for 40 years. He joined the staff of the British Trust for Ornithology in 1954 as its first professional head of the Bird Ringing Scheme, following the retirement of Aliss Elsie Leach, who for many years had occupied the role in a voluntary capacity. During the next 30 years. Bob was to preside over the many developments which resulted in the bird-ringing technique becoming the major ormthological research tool which it is recognised to be today. He initiated many changes in the quality and durability of materials, and in trapping, handling, ageing and sexing techniques to maximise the value of information obtained, yet always preached — and taught — a proper concern for the welfare of the bird in the hand. Amongst the first to use imported Japanese mist-nets, he drew on his own experiences with them to draw up a code of conduct (under the aegis of the BTO’s Bird Ringing Committee) for their use by British ringers; he dealt firmly with any instances of carelessness which came to his attention. When cannon-netting and rocket- netting techniques were devised, he insisted on there being operating rules (with the birds’ welfare in mind) for those who wished to use them in conjunction with BTO rings — withdrawal of which was the ultimate sanction. He refined the system of bird-ringing licences and devised strict training standards, to ensure that ringers operated within their individual levels of experience and competence. Bird rings were redesigned to make them safer, yet more durable. Always the well-being of the bird — in the hand and after release — ^was a primary considera- tion: Bob saw clearly that ringing was justified or worthwhile only when the results could provide reliable and unbiased data for analysis, which required unharmed and unhandicapped subjects. Ringers were taught and encouraged to maximise the opportunities when a bird was captured; detailing moult and measurements became a stepping stone to ageing and sexing, which were seen as essential in using ringing data for studies of population structure. Bob saw that ringers re- trapping their own birds in subsequent seasons were able to provide data of greater worth than the small percentage of ‘exciting’ distant recoveries. This led him to advocate in Britain the concept of the Constant Effort Site, to which he had been introduced in Germany, and which he developed during his own field- work around Tring. In time, this became an integral part of British ringing philosophy. It is no exaggeration to say that, during Bob’s reign over the BTO Ringing Office, the ‘ringing scene’ in Britain (and in Ireland, where he went out of his way to encourage growth) changed out of all recognition. These changes were reflected in quantity (a ten-fold increase in ringing totals), in methodology and documentation (which led inevitably to computerisation), in approach (planned population-oriented projects superseding random ringing), and in analytical scope (encouraging ringers to use their own data, as well as making the national database available to students and professionals). Though not himself a prolific contributor to the scientific literature (regretting his poor grounding in statistical methodology), Bob’s concepts are nevertheless being put to good use by otliers, 320 [Bni. Birds 88: 320-.^22, July 1995] British Birds, vol. 88, no. 7, July 1995 321 aided by this major reorganisation and upgrading of ringing as a scientific method. Bob was bom on 12th March 1923 into a Quaker family, and was brought up in Cheshire, where he attended King’s School in Macclesfield. He was of the gen- eration to be caught up in the Second World War, and spent four years (1942- 46) in the Royal Navy, where he once had his ship torpedoed and sunk under him in the Mediterranean. On demobilisation, he entered Durham University, where he took a BA in general studies; later in life, he was to be awarded an Honorary MSc by his old university in recognition of his work in ornithology. After graduation, he chose teaching for a career, took a Diploma in Education, and obtained a post in Chelmsford, Essex, where he specialised in English Language and Literature. It was there that I met him in 1951 — as teacher and pupil. One of Bob’s early steps was to found a school natural history society, and he soon had us parading the seawalls of Essex, teaching us how to identify the birds we saw. When he obtained his own BTO ringing permit at this time, his infectious enthusiasm had his pupils helping to a degree which would now be impossible owing to Bob’s subsequent tightening of the licensing system. The Romford Ringing Station was founded in the early 1950s, and duly became widely known for its experiments with trapping methods and its adaptations of Plate 87. Bob Spencer, Hertfordshire, August 1982 {Alison Spencer) 322 Robert Spencer BA MSc (1923-1994) bird-observatory techniques (such as moult-recording and the collection of ectoparasites) to an inland trapping station. By now, ornithology had become more attractive to Bob than teaching; and soon afterwards (in 1954) he applied successfully for the newly created BTO post of Ringing Officer. Five years later, I was to join him as his assistant. With his teaching background, lecturing came naturally to him. As an informed and confident speaker, he was much in demand, and to a large extent became the public face of the BTO. For some years, he was a regular contributor to BBC radio natural history programmes; and for more years than he cared to remember he ran ornithological evening classes at Morley College, which brought numerous amateur birders into the BTO’s fold. Bob understood well that the BTO was indeed the sum of its members, and did all that he could to encourage their participation in projects and meetings. Himself a regular participant in the Trust’s two (sometimes three) annual conferences at Swanwick, his approachability, friendliness and genuine interest in what others were doing, and his readiness to offer advice and encouragement, made him a popular figure. There was also an international aspect to Bob’s thinking. He was a regular at- tender of international ornithological congresses, participated in major expeditions to Spain, Bulgaria, Jordan and Morocco, and lost no opportunity to establish long- term contacts with ringing and migration workers in other countries — visiting them whenever he could. Thus it was that Bob had a considerable role in the founding (in 1963) of the European Committee for Bird Ringing (EURING), which led to the establishment of a centralised databank of European ringing re- coveries, housed in the Netherlands. Now that we are all so used to the idea of European co-operation, it is hard to visualise the problems which were presented in the early years and which it needed great tact and patient persuasion to over- come. These last attributes Bob possessed in large measure. When he retired in 1983, by then being the Trust’s Director of Services, he returned to his beloved Cumbria, but not to inactivity: he was pressed into taking over the secretaryship of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, whose annual reports he compiled for 1983- 93. Though the Panel had then been in existence for nigh on a dozen years, it was still held in suspicion by a few fieldworkers and recorders who feared that centralised collection and summary publication of sensitive information might lead to security breaches. This had not ever happened, but fears persisted in some quarters. With his reputation for tact and integrity. Bob was able to persuade most such doubters to co-operate with the RBBP, the reputation of which was enhanced by his stewardship. He was elected as an Honorary Subscriber to British Birds in 1992 (Brit. Birds 85: 504). Only Bob’s close friends were aware of the true nature of his protracted last ill- ness, but a much wider circle had reason to mourn his passing. Bob Hudson Contributions to The Robert Spencer Memorial Fund, to provide help for amateur ringers, may be sent to Alison McLeod, BTO, The National Centre for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk 1F24 2PU. British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers^. The books included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. We aim to provide the best, most reliable and friendliest service possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd. All correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd ch7 4LN. Books All listed books are POST FREE SPECIAL OFFERS Please tick / British Birds/IBCE Internatioiwl Bird Identification EXCLUSIVE REDUCED price (usually £10.50) Paperback £9.50 □ Clement The Chiffchajf (Hamlyn) exclusive special offer (usually £12.99) Paperback £10.99 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic (OUP) BOXED SET vols 1-9 (normal price £775, save £125) £650.00 □ Ogilvtie & Winter Best Days zvith British Birds (British Birds) exclusive reduced price (usually £14.95). £12.95 □ Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds vol. 2. raptors to lapwings (OUP) exclusive reduced price, (usually £150) £125.00 □ Mason The Blackcap (Hamlyn) exclusive special offer (usually £12.99) Paperback £10.99 □ Ridgely & Tudor The Birds of South America (OUP) vols. 1 & 2 exclusive 2-vol price (usual price £115) £105.00 □ NEW THIS MONTH Butler Videoguides for Birdwatchers: an identification guide to the World’s Tringa sandpipers (Nature Vision) (add £2.00 p&p) £17.50 □ Dazley & Trodd An Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Bedfordshire 1988-92 (Bedfordshire NHS) £19.95 □ Donovan & Rees Birds of Pembrokeshire: status and atlas of Pembrokeshire birds (Dyfed Wildlife Trust) ..£19.95 □ Gosney The Video Guide to British Birds 4th edn. (Red, Green & Blue Co.) vol. 1 divers to ducks □; vol. 2 birds of prey to phalaropes □; vol. 3 skuas to woodpeckers □; vol. 4 larks to flycatchers □; vol. 5 tits to buntings Lk (add £2.00 p&p per order) £15.95 each; or set of five £59.45 □ Gosney Gosney in Israel: a spectacular birdwatching adventure in the Holy Land (Red, Green & Blue Co.) (Video) (add £2.00 p&p) £19.95 □ Jones, Dekker & Roselaar Bird Families of the World: the megapodes (OUP). Plus free tee-shirt £35.00 □ Wheatley Where to Watch Birds in South America (Christopher Hekn) £14.99 □ Wheeler & Clark A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors (Academic Press) £20.00 □ COMING SOON _ ORDER NOW Byers, Olsson & Curson Buntings and Sparrows: a guide to the buntings and North American sparrows (Pica Press) DUE SEPTEMBER £28.00 □ Harrap & Quinn Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers (Christopher Helm) due autumn 1995 £27.99 □ Shirihai The Birds of Israel (Academic Press) DUE 1995 approx. £80.00 □ RECO.MMENDED BOOKS Alstrom, Colston & Lewington A Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe (HarperCollins). ...£14.99 □ British Birds The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds £1.00 □ Campbell & Lack A Dictionary of Birds (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1985 £49.95 □ Chantler & Driessens Swifts: a guide to the szuifts and tree swifts of the world (Pica Press) £25.95 □ Clement, Harris & Davis Finches and Sparrows: an identification guide (Christopher Helm) £29.99 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic (OUP) vols. 1-7 & 9 all £85 each; vol. 8 £95 Curson, Quinn & Beadle Nezu World Warblers: an identification guide (Christopher Helm) £24.99 □ del Hoyo, Elliot & Sargatal Handbook of the Birds of the World vol. 1 (Lynx) Best Bird Book of 1993 £95.00 □ vol. 2. New World \oiltures to guineafowl (Lynx) £98.00 □ Fry, Fry & Harris Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers: a handbook (Christopher Helm) Best Bird Book of 1992 £27.99 □ Gibbons, et al. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1994 £40.00 □ Harris, Tucker & Vinicombe Lite Macmillan Field Guide to Bird Identification (Macmillan) Paperback £7.99 □ Harrison Seabirds: an identification guide Revised edn. 1991 (Christopher Helm) Best Bird Book of 1983 £24.99 □ Hayman, Marchant & Prater Shorebirds (Christopher Helm) Best Bird Book of 1986 £24.99 □ Heinzel, Fitter & Parslow Birds of Britain and Europe zvith North Africa and the Middle East NEW edition (HarperCollins) Paperback £9.99 □ Howell & Webb A Guide to the Birds of Mexico & Northern Central America (OUP) Paperback £25.00 □ Hardback £50.00 □ Jonsson Birds of Europe zvith North Africa and the Middle East (Christopher Helm) voted best field guide in 1995 £25.00 □ Keith, Urban & Fry The Birds of Africa (Academic) vol. 1 £85.00 □ 2 £85.00 □ 3 £85.00 □ 4 £85.00 □ Kemp Bird Families of the World: the hornbills (OUP). Plus free tee-shirt £40.00 □ Lack The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) Best Bird Book OF 1987 £21.95 □ Lekagul, Round, Wongkalasin & Komolphalin A Ginde to the Birds of Thailand (Saha Kam Bhaet) £39.50 □ Please use the British BirdShop form overleaf to complete your order. British BirdShop (continued) Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers RECO\tMENDED BOOKS (cont.) • Madge & Bum Wildfowl: an identification guide (Christopher Helm) Best Biri:) Book OF 1988 £24.99 D Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (OUP) vol. 1 £i25.00 □ National Geographic A Field Guide to the Birds of North America Best Bird Book OF 1984 £14.95 D Oddie Bill Oddie's Uttle Black Bird Book (Robson) Paperback £6.99 □ Olsen & Larsson Terns of Europe and North America (Christopher Helm) £24.99 D Peterson, Mountfort & Hollom A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe 5th edn (HarpcrCollins) £14.99 EH Ridgely & Tudor The Birds of South America (OUP) (4 vols.) vol. 1 £55.00 D vol. 2 D £60.00 D Sibley & Monroe Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World (Yale UP) Best Bird Book of 1991 £80.00 □ Supplement Paperback £19.95 □ Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. 4th edn. (Christopher Helm) Paperback £17.99 EH Turner & Rose A Handbook to the Swalloivs and Martins of the World (Chnstopher Helm) Best Bird Book of 1990 £22.99 □ Williams Bird Families of the World: the penguins (OUP). Plus EKEE tee-shirt £35.00 □ Winkler & Christie Woodpeckers: a guide to the woodpeckers, piadets and wrynecks of the world (Pica Press) £30.00 □ other titles All the above titles are POST FREE. Any other natural history books in print may be ordered from Subbuteo. Please refer to the Subbuteo catalogue for details of current prices and postage rates. Free copies of the Subbuteo catalogue are available on request: tick this box □ Binders Pkase tick / Ihe British Birds Binder (holds 12 issues & index) wirex retaining £7.95 □ cordex retaining £7.95 □ Recordings & videos Please add £2.00 p&p per order Please tick / Butler Videogiddes for Birdwatchers: an identification guide to the World’s Calidris sandpipers (Nature Vision) £17.50 □ Doherty The Birds of Britain & Europe Video Guides (Bird Images) vol. 1 divers to dabbling ducks □ ; vol. 2 diving ducks to bustards □ ; vol. 3 waders to gulls □ ; vol. 4 terns to woodpeckers □ £16.95 each; or set of four £59.95 □ Kettle More British Bird Sounds (1 cassette) £6.95 □ Kettle & Ranft British Bird Sounds on CD (2 CDs) £29.00 □ Roche All the Bird Songs of Britain and Europe (Sittelle) (4 cassettes) £29.95 □ (4 CDs) £49.95 □ PRICES VALID DURING JULY 1995 for all special offers {and for overseas customers only, also during the following month). Other prices quoted are subject to any publishers’ increases. Overseas insurance optional, but recommended if available (please enquire). Make all cheques and PCs payable to Subbuteo NHB lad. Payment can be made in US8 at current exchange rate. All orders are normally despatched promptly from stock, but please allow up to 21 days for delivery in UK, longer if abroad. Giro ac no. 37 588 6303. To qualify for POST FREE please quote your BB ref. no. Name Address . , Total £, ChequeTO enclosed □ Giro payment made □ Any item ordered through British BirdShop which faUs to meet your approval can be returned to Subbuteo and your money will be refunded without question. You can also pay using If your address for credit card purposes is different from tliat abo\’e, give it here these credit cards: Please debit my Access/Visa/MastcrCardTurocard Expiiy date Signature You can phone in your credit card orders, but please quote your BB ref. no. as well as your credit card no. TFT.. Mold (01352) 770581. fax. (01352) 771590 Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN REVIEWS Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 2: New World vultures to guineafowl. Edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, 1994. 640 pages; 60 colour plates; 302 colour photographs; 590 distribution maps. ISBN 84-87334-15-6. £98.00. With only a two-year gap since volume 1, this monumental handbook maintains momentum. This second volume is only slighdy smaller than the first, and the general standard is just as high. The illustrations (60 colour plates) are by ten artists, but the styles blend together very well; most are by Ian Willis (13), Norman Arlott (12) and Francesc Jutglar (ten). The limitations (mostly only adults illustrated, and often only adult males) are inevitably the same as those in volume 1, but this is not primarily an identification guide, but a review of the whole spectrum of variety within the World’s birds. The colour photographs have been selected with great care and the majority are stunning, and so is the quality of reproduction. With exceedingly readable general texts covering many aspects of the biology, behaviour, ecology, status, relationship with Man, and so on, and succinct species accounts, each with a useful bibliography, this series of volumes will inevitably become the standard general reference work. It is not cheap, but it is superb value for money. In such a large book, crammed with so many facts, there must inevitably be some errors somewhere. I was not, however, able to find any when perusing the book for this review. I am merely filled with admiration at the size of the task which has been completed so competently, and the quality of both the illustrative and the written material. Volume 1 was voted ‘The “British Birds” Best Bird Book of the Year’ in 1993 (reviewed Brit. Birds 86; 190-191) and this second volume, covering all the raptors and all the gamebirds, is of the same impressively high standard. If you can possibly afford to do so, I strongly recommend that you buy volume 1 , volume 2 and each new one as it appears. y. T. R. Sharrock Where to Watch Birds in South America. By Nigel Wheatley. Christopher Helm, London, 1994. 432 pages; over 50 line-drawings; 105 site maps. ISBN 0-7136-3909-1. Hbk £14.99. To attempt a site guide for the whole continent of South America, part of Antarctica and the Galapagos, Falkland, Trinidad and Tobago islands is a very ambitious under- taking in a single small volume. The author is, however, to be congratulated on producing a very useful and detailed guidebook. A fascinating ten-page introduction covers, in league-table form, the country sizes, species totals, endemic totals, top-ten site lists, and much more. For each of the 18 countries covered, there is an outline map showing the main localities and a general introduction dealing with such An Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Bedfordshire 1988-92. By R. A. Dazley & P. Trodd. Bedfordshire NHS, 1994. 280 pages; 119 line-drawings; over 200 distribution maps. ISBN 0-950-6521-48. £19.95. The value of a breeding-bird atlas is greatiy in- an earlier survey, and the new atlas for creased when it can be compared directly with Bedfordshire is a splendid example of this. topics as Getting Around; Accommodation and Food; Health and Safety; Climate and Timing; and Endemic Species. The book provides detailed coverage of 206 of the best sites, with some 1 05 site maps, lists of the endemic species and specialities and access information. With over 3,000 species. South America supports far more birds than any other continent and sooner or later must attract the World lister. Do not be without this book if you intend to make a visit. David Clugston 323 324 Reviews Having been heavily involved in the original atlas in 1968-77, I found the results of this later one utterly fascinating. The introductory' chapters on the methodology of fieldwork and analysis and on the geology and geography of Bedfordshire are very well written, and the later sections discussing the historical ornithology of the county' and the changes demonstrated by comparison of the two atlases are both succinct and stimulating. A total of 1 1 9 species is included in the main body of the book, using the now-standard format of a double-page spread. The popula- tions of 38 have increased, 48 have decreased, 28 are stable, two gamebirds are supplemented by releases, and three species are not yet established. Most of the increases are to be welcomed, particularly Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter ?tisus and Hobby Falco subbuteo, but the considerable increases in feral goose popu- lations give cause for concern. Many decreases were predictable and aU are regrettable. Hopefully, consen'ationists can use these in- valuable data, at county and national levels, to promote beneficial changes in land-use, farming and forestry practices and the long- term management of mineral-extraction sites. Well produced, good value for money: highly recommended. Nick Dymond Terns of Europe and North America. By Klaus Mailing Olsen & Hans Larsson. Christopher Helm, London, 1995. 224 pages; 41 colour plates; 208 colour photographs; 7 figures and 23 distribution maps. ISBN 0-7136-4056-1. £24.99. This book, describing 23 species of terns, has a smaller format than the previous books in the Helm Identification Guides and also differs in the inclusion of colour photographs. The text is packed with useful information, and pleasingly concentrates on the more difficult non-breeding plumages. The sections on moult are particularly easy to follow, but the very detailed sections on measurements may not be utilised by most obserc'ers. Geographical variation and hybrids are also described. Hans Larsson’s artwork is of a very' high standard. Each plate features birds of a single species, which makes comparison between species more difficult, but it is a delight to see so many plumages illustrated. The occasional plates of mainly white terns on white backgrounds do not perhaps work so well as others. The photographs are generally of good quality', complementing the text well, but there are a couple of pictures where the captions have been switched. There is much new and useful information in this well-produced book, and tern identification has been greatly advanced by it. Although not really a pocket guide, it is the sort of book that I shall keep nearby for handy reference and I shall enjoy using it. David Kramei' Birds of Pembrokeshire: status and adas of Pembrokeshire birds. By Jack Donovan & Graham Rees. Dyfed Wildlife Trust, 1994. 180 pages; 99 distribution maps; 43 line-drawings. ISBN 0-902794-02-7. £17.95. This large book, with an atmospheric Red- billed Chough Pynhocorax pyyrhocorax on the cover (but no colour inside), reviews Pembrokeshire birds with the benefit of tetrad maps of breeding birds in 1 984-88 (using the familiar three-sizes-of-dot presentation). Tables detail numbers of some breeding species (mostly seabirds), wintering waterfowl and sample wildfowl and wader counts, and histograms illustrate migration at Skokholm and Strumble Head. Thus, it presents infor- mation concisely and comprehensively, despite rather short species accounts. Rarities get little space, reflecting their rela- tive importance, but not, perhaps, their interest to potential readers (they are insignificant, but I would have liked a little more about Little Shearwater Puffimis assimilis, w'hich has occu- pied a burrow on Skomer, Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax, Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda. Little Swift Apns affiim^ Moussier’s Redstart Phoenicums moussieri and Blackburnian Warbler Dcndroica fusca, among other cracking rarities). As each family starts on a fresh page, some of these take a w'hole page for half a dozen short lines: now' they have taken an excessive amount of space in this review. Short chapters detail sites, habitats, conser- vation and a historical review of Pembroke- shire birdwatching. The bulk, however, is properly concerned with the systematic list British Birds, vol. 88, no. 7, July 1995 325 and is full of detail, often put in a broader local, national or international context. I learn that numbers of Common Scoters Melanitta nigra build up in nearby Carmarthen Bay in spring, but no daytime spring passage is noted in Pembrokeshire, implying that they move at night; that the rocky coastline of the county has only 250 wintering Turnstones Arenaria interpres (and just 96 pairs of Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis, which surprises me), while Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto still fly west over the isles and a Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris was once seen clinging to the only wooden object on Grassholm. Pembrokeshire has special birds — Red- billed Chough, Manx Shearwater Pujfinus pujfinus and Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus — and special places, such as Grassholm, Skomer and Strumble Head, ingredients in a menu to be sampled as often as possible. This book provides explanatory notes to help you interpret and enjoy whatev- er may tempt you. Rob Hume The Video Guide to British Birds. 4th edn. vols 1-5. 1 divers to ducks; 2 birds of prey to phalaropes; 3 skuas to woodpeckers; 4 larks to flycatchers; 5 tits to buntings. Commentary by Dave Gosney; illustrations by Alan Harris; birdsound recordings by Jean Roche. 7 hours. Red, Green & Blue Co., London, 1994. £15.95 each; or £59.95 per set. These videos cover 250 species of British birds, including some occasional visitors such as Hoopoe Upupa epops, Bluethroat Luscinia svecica and Wryneck Jynx torquilla. Each video has its ovm printed index card, listing the species and tape-running information, so it is easy to find each bird quickly. Instructions at the start of each tape helpfully explain conventions (e.g. yellow on a map indicates summer visitors). Each species has a size measurement and label showing whether it is male, female, juvenile, etc., but this is in white lettering often against a pale background, making it very difficult to see. Some species are shown as stills rather than as moving images, which can be forgiven in some cases, when the latter are difficult to obtain, but surely not for birds such as Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos} I recommend these videos to most general birdwatchers, to supplement the static illustrations in a field guide. They capture the jizz and character of many species: ideal for brushing up on your identification skills. Simon Patient Gosney in Israel: a spectacular birdwatching adventure in the Holy Land. Co., London, 1995. Video; approx. 48 minutes. £19.95. By Dave Gosney. Red, Green & Blue For the birdwatcher, Israel is an ideal destina- tion. A vast array of species, often relatively easy to observe, includes a mouth-watering selection of ‘special birds’. From the very first, a Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis at Eilat, to the closing views of wintering raptors and Common Cranes Grus grus in the Hula Valley, we are treated to a host of delights: not only wheatears and larks, four species of sand- grouse and three of kingfisher, raptors, and huge flocks of waterbirds, but many other local specialities — and the close-ups are a birder’s dream. Brief ‘guest appearances’ from John Morgan (birds in the hand at Eilat Ponging Station), Paul Doherty (on his tenth annual visit) and, of course, the inimitable Hadoram Shirihai (with some informed words on conservation) add to the instructive and occasionally humorous commentary. The scenery and the birds are magnificent. The photographer has even managed to capture Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Plerocles lichtensteinii at dusk at the famous Eilat pumping-station — where in 1994, in failing light, I narrowly escaped the fangs of an African Homed Viper Cerastes cerastes. If you think that you know Israel, you may get a few surprises when you watch this video at home. If you have yet to visit, it will surely spur you to book your first trip. Amazingly, this film was shot entirely in November. I urge Dave Gosney to show us Israel’s spectacular birdlife in spring, and in early autumn, too. David A. Christie BIRD PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR After several viewings and much discussion, this year’s entry of around 140 slides was whittled down to the top 20. Even closer examination was followed, as usual, by the four judges making individual, confidential votes, each placing the final 20 photographs in sequence. The result was as follows: 1st European Bee-eater Alerops apiaster, Mike Lane, West Midlands 2nd Lesser Kestrel Fako naiimannu Jens Eiiksen, Sultanate of Oman 3rd Grey Partridge Perdix perdix, Mike Wilkes, Worcestershire 4th Imperial Eagle Aqiiila heliaca, Jens Eriksen 5th= Common Coots Fnlica atra, Neil Bowanan, Norfolk 5th= Sociable Lapwing Chetiusia gregaria, Hanne Eriksen, Sultanate of Oman 7th Merlin Falco coliirnbarius, David Callan, Strathclyde 8th Black-headed Gull Lams ridibimdus, Steve Young, Merseyside 9th Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola, Gordon Langsbur\', Berkshire 10th Green Woodpecker Ficus viridis, Tim Loseby, Kent llth= Greater Flamingos Phoenicoptems mber, B. Wright, South Humberside 1 lth= Grey Partridges, Mike Wilkes 13th= Little Auk Alle alle, C. M. Greaves, Yorkshire 13th= Little Crake Porzaua parva, Richard Brooks, Essex 15th= Moorhen Gallinula chbropus, D. Robinson, Northumberland 15th= Turnstone Arenaria intejpres, Wayne Richardson, Cleveland 1 5th= Mallards Anas platyrhynchos, Gaiy' Smith, Norfolk 18th Common Teal A. crecca, R. Glover, Essex 19th White Stork Ciconia ciconia, Richard Brooks 20th Mallards, Ernie Janes, Hertfordshire European Bee-eaters always have the potential to make pleasing photographs. With this year’s winner (plate 88), Mike Lane has surpassed this standard to achieve a truly beautiful photograph. In Spain last year, Mike spent three afternoons waiting for the bird to land on this particular delicate branch of the flowering tree. It was worth the wait. The whole picture is well defined and the bird in a perfect pose. The green of the leaves and yellow of the flower complement the feather colours of the bird, creating a perfect portrait. Even if the bird was not in the picture, the photograph would stand up on its own right; the Bee-eater enhances the picture. Surely this is a good test for assessing stunning bird photographs? Second place went to Jens Eriksen’s evocative picture of a Lesser Kestrel in Oman (plate 90). This individual was one of an impressive flock of 150. The photographer used his car as a hide and camera rest, although by all accounts the birds were not timid. We could not recall seeing such a fine photograph of any kestrel species hovering, let alone of the delicate Lesser Kestrel. The third prize goes to Mike Wilkes for his stunning photograph of a Grey Partridge taken in Warwickshire (plate 91). The bird seems almost to jump out of the photograph, demanding attention. As well as being in perfect focus, the action shown by this singing bird adds additional interest. Plate 88. Bird Photo(jrarh of thf Yf:ar 1995. European Bee-eater Mcrops apiaster, Spain, May 1994 (Canon EOS 5; Canon 600 mm F4 autofocus; l/125th, f8; Kodachrome 64) (Mike Lane) 326 [lirii. liirds 88: 326-331, July 1995] IThe definitive binocular. Outstanding twilight performance, maximum contrast, optimum brilliance and first class image quality. Thanks to a totally new optical system with major improvements to many important details. . A waterproof, nitrogen filled housing with ' DesignSelection styling for good looks and ! maximum ease of handling. The perfect synthesis of function, convenience and prestige: technical precision in its most attractive form. In other words a new dimension in binocular technology from Carl Zeiss, guaranteed to withstand the excesses of climate and nature for the next thirty years. ^ A The mark of Carl Zeiss quality Night Owls 7x45 B, 8x56 B, 10x56 B For the full 'Facts and Figures' about Carl Zeiss binoculars, please complete the coupon below and send to: Carl Zeiss Limited, Binocular Division, Dept. BB, PO Box 78, Welwyn Garden City, Flerts. AL7 ILU. Name Address ZEISS Postcode D464 Handbook of the BIRDS OF THE WORLD Volume Ostrich to Ducks Handbook of the BIRDS OF THE WORLD ◄ BRITISH BIRD BOOK OF THE YEAR 1993 The first volume of this ambitious project was received with universally enthusiastic reviews: rarely, it was said, does a book come up to and exceed expectations as this one did. Birds, Spring 1995 ... the most ambitious bird book of all time. Country Life, April 27, 1995 Handbook of the BIRDS OF THE WORLD Volume 2 New World Vultures to Guineafowl ‘1* Lynx Edlclons Volume 3 (Hoatzin to Auks), covering cranes, bustards, rails, gulls, terns, waders and many others, is already well advanced. The international team of 34 authors from 1 1 countries includes many of the world’s leading authorities on these groups, such as George Archibald, David Baker-Gabb, Joanna Burger, Nigel Collar, Jon FJeldsS, Bob Furness, Michael Gochfeld, Luiz Gonzaga, Phil Hockey, Rob Hume, Algirdas Knystautas, Gordon Maclean, David Nettleship, Ray Pierce, Theunis Piersma, Mike Rands, Barry Taylor and Richard Zusi. With authors currently putting the fini.shing touches to their texts, the lap.se between successive volumes is now being reduced considerably (Volume 3 due June 1996). If you have not already started collecting this indispensable .series, now is the time to do .so! < REVIEWF:D IN THIS ISSUE OF BRITISH BIRDS If the remaining ten volumes keep up the standard of the first two -and all the omens suggest that they will- the Handbook will end up as not merely the best bird book yet published, but the best that is ever likely to be published. International Zoo News, May 1995 This massive and impressive work continues to be one of both superb artistry and unsurpassed scientific value. Indiana Audubon Quarterly, May 1 995 ORDER FORM CH 1 wish to be included in the HBW mailing list and receive infor- mation about pre-publication offers for forthcoming volumes. I wish to order □ Vol. I at £98 □ Vol. 2 at £98 □ Vols. 1 & 2 at £196 CH 1 wish to place a standing order Name: Address: Country: Signature: Date: CH 1 enclo.se a cheque issued in favour of LYNX EDICIONS. n Visa CH Mastercard dl American Express m rm I I I I I rm Expiry date: Send this form to: Lynx Kdicions. Passeig de Gracia 12, 08007-Barcelona, Spain. VI I Plate 89. fourth: Immature Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Oman, November 1994 (Nikon F4s; Nikkor 300 mm + 1.4 converter; 1 /350th, f.5.6; Fujichrome 100D)C7CTti Eriksen) Plate 90. SECOND prize: Lesser Kestrel Falco tianrnanni, Oman, April 1994 (Nikon F4s; Nikkor 600 mm T 1.4 converter; l/500th, f.5.6; Fujichrome 1 OOP) (Jens Eriksen) ^ mi i V MB. Plate 91. THIRD prize: Male Grey Partridge Perdix perdix singing, Warwickshire, February 1994 (Canon EOS 100; Canon 300 mm F4L; l/350th, f.5.6; Kodachrome 64)(Mike Wilkes) 330 Bird Photograph of the Year PROO; NIKON UK LTD. (for The United Kingdom and The Republic of Ireland) 380 RICHMOND ROAD, KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (0181) 541-4440 FAX: (0181) 541-4584 When you traverse hill and dale in search of nature’s marvels, you expect the clearest images available. That is what Nikon gives you. In August 1994, Bird Watching magazine selected our Nikon Fieldscope ED78/ED78 A as “Telescope of the Year” in the over £350 class. The judges emphasised its “stunning optical performance” and “extremely accurate colour rendition”. They “Highly Commended” our Spotting Scope A in the under £350 class, noting its superior optical per- formance at a reasonable price. And they were so impressed by the “out- standing brightness and clarity” of our Nikon 30x/38x Wide EyepieQe for Fieldscopes that they declared it “Accessory of the Year”. All of the judges were experienced bird watchers. No doubt, they also chose Nikon for our ability to bring you that much closer to nature. lilliO ms us unique. A pool and Hand adjacent to the ’room attract numerou: enabling our irs to test ament in field litions. The experts Professionals recommend! QUALITY BINOCULARS nd TELESCOPES Select from the world's finest optical Instruments; ZEISS-LEICA-HABICHT-NIKON'OPTOLYTH-KOWA BAUSCH & LOMB-BUSHNELL-PENTAX-QUESTAR . BRESSER-MIRADOR-OPTICRON-DOCTER-SWIFT 'i**e range fujinon-fumoto-praktica-ross oap quality Tripods: SLIK-MANFROTTO-CULLMANN . carry one of the most extensive ranges of Binoculars and Telescopes In the country, plus a wide range of accessories. We also stock rjigham Equipment Bags and a large selection of BOOKS, VIDEOS -AUDIO CASSETTES by leading publishers. Worldwide coverage I V fisit our BIRD apd kaSERVATION CENTRE cent to our Binocular and .Telescope showroorn ;;l^hing lor the discern^ u atcher. Randier and Natural|t lOOWROOM & CENTRE Et=N Monday to Saturday 9 am until 5pm INTEREST FREE CREDIT available on sales of £600 plus (APR 0%) subject to status UNHURRIED TESTING AND VIEWING FACILITIES allowing time to choose and discuss options. WRITE OR PHONE NOW for easy directions, latest prices and mail j orders. L<,-J !ltUS OPTICS Church Lane, Corley, Coventry CV7 8BA 0J1 676-540501 & 542476 Fax:01676-540930 FOCALPOINT THE BINOCULAR & TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS OPEN 9.30-5.30 MON-FRI SAT 9.30-4.00 FOCALPOINT is owned and staffed by experienced birders. We guarantee to help you find the best value for money among the maze of competing products. Good range of bird/natural history books. SKUA ‘sfay-on-the-scope’ telescope cases (8 models). Ask for our leaflet on the world’s finest cases of their type. SUPERB VIEWING FACILITIES NEW LEICA TELESCOPES ASK I BEST ADVICE . BEST CHOICE ■ BEST PRICES E3 (D484) FOOALF^OirsJT" Unit 8, Marbury House Farm, Bentleys Farm Lane, Higher Whitley, Near Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 01925 730399 Fax: 01606 692207 M56 Junct 10 1 mile SMALL 2 BED SEMI-DET. HOUSE. Over 125 species on or from large wildlife garden (chemical & dog free). Secluded rural setting. 1 mile from coast NW Norfolk. Wild geese fly over. Barn owl frequent. £79.500. Box No. 111. (B827) WANTED BRITISH BIRDS Vols 1915/16. 1919/20 to 1925/26 incl. (Vols 9, 13 to 19). Tel. 0181 367 0308. (A260) WANTED to complete set. British Birds, Vols 34 and 37. Plea.se contact Peakall, 17 St Mary's Road. Wimbledon SW19 7BZ. Tel: 0181 947 0573, (A26I) KBIRD BOOKS: Private collection, send £1 for list. Sony ,ape recorders: WM-D6C. $225; TCM-5000EV, $295: rCD5 Pro 11. $745. J, Wall, 19 Ti.sdale Rd, Scarsdale. NY 10583. USA. (A255) RSIRDWATCHING IN LESBOS. Find out the sites to visit, he birds to see. Full description of sites with maps plus )ird list. 45 pages, £4.50. M. Williams. 87 Learn Terrace, t^eamington Spa. Warwickshire CV3 1 IDE. (BB773) HBRITISH BIRDS vols 32-65 bound, vols 65-69 unbound. Offers — Bridge Cottage', Goring. Reading RG8 9AN. (BB824) FHRD .lOURNAL BACK NUMBERS SUPPLIED. (BB, |- lird Study, County Reports, etc). David Morgan. Whitmore, iJmberleigh. Devon EX37 9HB. (BB831) BIRD INFORMATION PAGERS Contact us now for the best deal this summer ! call Dick Filby now Rare Bird Alert: 0i603-767799 (BB815) BIRDINGPlustWiR 1THE UP-TO-DATE BIRDIMC MAGAZINE ON VIDEO In our Latest Sighting's section we bring you full reports on the rare birds seen since our last issue. Using both video and photographs from some of the UK's best Birding Photographers. We join Operation Wallacea a Birding Holiday and conservation project where participants get first hand experience in surveying Indonesia's fantastic birds and wildlife under our Conservation Spotlight. We look back at the 1994 Rutland BirdFair, and preview what's on in 1 995. We also take a look at Birding Books and Video's available at the moment in our Reviews section. As a treat we review all the best moments from the Birding scene in a Bird Review of 1994. Our Photographers Gallery is updated to include video footage from around the world. e a t u r e s Latest Sighting's Conservation Spotlight Birding Holidays Bird Review 1994 I Reviews J To ofder call our CREDIT CARD HOTLINE on (01205) 354500 or send a cheque for £12.99fp&p made payable to Birding Plus Released 13th May For further details write to; Eagle House, Redstone Industrial Estate, Boston, Lines. PE21 SEA. Telephone (01205) 360050 xiii (D476) ^British Birds Volume 88 Number 7 July 1995 307 Identification of Western Reef Egrets and dark Little Egrets Dr Philippe J. Dubois and Pieire Yhou 319 Looking back Obituary' 320 Robert Spencer BA MSc (1923-1994) Reviews 323 ‘Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 2: New World \Tjltures to guineafowl’ edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 323 ‘Where to Watch Birds in South America’ by Nigel Wheadey David Clugston 323 ‘An Adas of the Breeding Birds of Bedfordshire 1988-92’ by R. A. Dazley & P. Trodd Nick Dymond 324 ‘Terns of Europe and North America’ by Klaus Mailing Olsen & Hans Larsson David Kramer 324 ‘Birds of Pembrokeshire: status and adas of Pembrokeshire birds’ by Jack Donovan & Graham Rees Rob Hume 325 ‘ITie Video Guide to Bridsh Birds’ by Dave Gosney, Alan Harris & Jean Roche Simon Patiait 325 ‘Gosney in Israel’ by Dave Gosney David A. Christie 326 Bird Photograph of the Year Robin Chittenden, Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Letters 332 Shooting and wildlife DrJ. T. R. Sharrock 333 Critical approach to mud-slinging Dr W. R. P. Bourne and W. F. Curtis 334 Great Auk appeal Keith Bowey 335 Lost Great Auks and new breeding ' gulls Dr W. R. P. Bourne 335 Belly-patch pattern of Alpine Swift Fabrizio Bulgarini, Fulvio Fraticelli and | Marta Visentin 336 News and comment Wetidy Dickson and Bob Scott 342 Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels at Tynemouth: new to Britain and Ireland Mark G. Cubitt Announcement 349 Birding trips with ‘BB’ 349 Monthly marathon 350 Recent reports Bany Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 307 dark Litde Egrets {Norman Arlott); 342 Swinhoe’s and European Storm-petrels {Rob Hume) Front cover: Bearded Tits Pattimis biannicus {Dan Powell): the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 1 8.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 25 in January issue for procedure) ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1995 ISSN 0007-0335 ;OS. I o uf^ Volume 88 Number 8 August 1995 Bird Illustrator of the THE NATURE, , HISTORY museum 31 JUL 1995 PRESENTED LIBRARY Spotted Eagle tracked by satellite PhotoSpot: Asian Dowitcher The White-winged Lark in Britain The ‘British Birds’ Achievement Award Tree Swallow: new to the Western Palearctic ^ British Birds Established 1907; incorporating 'The Zoologist’, established 1843 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Photographic Researcher Robin Chittenden Art Consultants Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris Circulation Manager & Advertising Manager Erika Sharrock Rarities Committee R. A. Hume (Chairman), Dr Colin Bradshaw, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, C. D. R. Heard, Doug Page (co-opted), K. D. Shaw, Andy Stoddart, Reg Thorpe, Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (museum consultant and archivist); Peter Fraser & Dr John Ryan (statisticians); Michael J. Rogers (Hon. SecretatA') Behaviour Notes Panel Dr C. J. Bibby, Ian Dawson, Dr J. J. M, Plegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Shamock, Dr K. E. L. Simmons Identification Notes Panel Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, 'P. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson, K. E. Vinicombe ,\nniial subscriptions ( 1 2 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £55.00, IR£64.00 or S104.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £43.20, IR£50.40 or S81.60; personal airmail, outside Europe £72.40, 1R£84.50 or 8137.00. Single back copies £5.60, IR£6.40 or 810.50. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for ‘Nezvs and comment’, dtmeings & photographs: Dr J. T. R. Shamock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Fax: Bigglesw'ade (01767) 640025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies: Mrs Erika Shamock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467 Advertising: Mrs Erika Sharrock, BB Advertising, do Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467. Fax: (01767) 640025 Bird nezvs for ‘The ornithological year’: Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire mki7 9QS. Phone: Woburn (01525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions: M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Tow’ednack, Cornwall l'R26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clw\'d CII7 4I.N. Phone: Mold (01352) 770581'. Fax: (01352) 771590 The journal ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1995 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. ISSN 0007-0335. Printed in England by Newnorth Print Ltd, Kempston, Bedford. British Birds publishes material dealing witJi original obseivations 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 or magazine. Photitgraphs and drawings are welcomed. Papers should he typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side ot the sheet only. Authors should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially iil' reterences and tables. English and scientillc names and sequence of birds follow The 'British Birds' Ust oj luiglish Names oj Western Palearctic Birds (1993); or, for non-West-l’alearctic species, Moiirk' & Sibley (1993, A World Checklist of Birds)', names t>f plants follow Dony et al. (1986, Pnglisli Names of Wild I'lozvcrs)', names of mammals follow Nowak & Paradiso (1983, Walker's Mammals of the World, 4th edn). 'I'opographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). bigures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, or light blue'pale grey graph paper; lettering should be inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (hut not notes or letters) receive ten I'ree copies of the journal (fi\'e each to two or more authors). SURREY 89(B) LONDON ROAD, MORDEN, SURREY SM4 5HP Open; Mon to Sat: 9am-5pm Lunch 1-2pm (Not Sun) Tel 0181-648 8822 Fax 0181-687 2021 Location: Southern edge of Greater London. 15 mins drive M25 (eg: via A3 then Merton turnoff) or 2 mins walk Morden Underground. Viewing facilities Parking: 50 yards past our premises - 1 st left. ■ Oternative venues to Morden and ring, at which you can try and buy ' ur equipment IN THE FIELD are iven below. Every effort is made to j'tke our full range of equipment I Jid payment can be made in all the iNSual ways. Repairs can also be uanded in. * 10.00 am to 4.00 pm * f PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL lAATURE RESERVE on the B2145 r.to Selsey. West Sussex, on Mjnday 30th July, 27th August, Wth September and 29th October. S SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL EESERVE on the A25 between .tverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and i ill station on Sunday 6th August, Td September and 1st October. BBOUGH BEECH NATURE ESSERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 -les south of the A25/A21 junction ”ith access from the B2042 or L'027: the information centre is to f : north of the reservoir) on onday 16th July, 20th August Tth September and 15th October. S6LIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) i1iiiet ■n our own worLsFsops All work comes our SIX monlh worronly MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS pleose ’emember to odd C3 00 lowords ihe cost oF insu'ed IrolLbok'postoge nnd pocking whether poymg by cheque Visa. Access or ^Aosle'cord•ond goods will be despoichcd with luFi li days opp'ovol on receipt oF your remittonce SECOND HAND ITEMS All instruments offered with six month worronty As slock turnover It high phone For loiesi details PART-IXCHANOIf ALWAYS WILCOMI. AU LISTINOS CORRICT AT TIMI OF GOING TO RRI8S. lAOI. RHONI FOR LATIST RRICIS. British Birds Established 1907; incoi-porating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 31 JUL 1995 PRESENTED TRING LIBRARY ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’ With an increase in entries, the seventeenth BIY was, at the end, extremely close and difficult to judge, with the three finalists all claiming supporters among the judges. Detailed voting on each drawing resulted in the following winners: Bird Illustrator of the Year, 1995 1st Andrew Stock (Beaminster, Dorset) 2nd Tim Worfolk (Bristol, Avon) 3rd Dan Powell (Fareham, Hampshire) John M. Walters (Devon) was placed fourth, and the following were also in the final short list: Gordon Dunn (Dorset), Chris Orgill (Nottingham), Anthony Smith (Merseyside) and Andrew Tewson (Dorset). Although there was an increase in the number of entrants for the award com- memorating the late Richard Richardson, we should like to see even more artists aged 21 or under submitting work for this category. For the second year, the winner was: The Ricrvrd Richardson Award, 1995 1st Max Andrews (Bath, Avon) Simon Patient (Essex) was the runner-up. The judges always enjoy choosing a drawing to receive the PJC Award, set up by David Cook in memory of his wife Pauline. They are free to pick any which attracts their attention for particular artistic merit, design, imagination, ornitho- logical interest and, preferably, most of these. Evenmally, our choice had to be made between two contrasting drawings and it fell on a group of Moorhens mak- ing a strong, graphic pattern. The winner was: The PJC Award 1st George Woodford (Lymington, Hants) Anthony Smith’s dramatic drawing of Spotted Redshanks came a veiy close second. [Brit. Birds 88: 351-356, August 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 351 352 Gillmor ei al.: Bird Illustrator of the Year Andrew Stock, the major title-winner, had won the Richard Richardson Award 15 years earlier, and had been placed second in BIY in 1987. Returning after eight years to carry off first prize is an unprecedented and very welcome record. The quartets of drawings by the finalists were all excellent and quite different. We tried hard to fmd faults with the illustrations, hoping to make the final selection easier, but it was only by voting on individual drawings that we came to the final placings. Tim Worfolk (second) and Dan Powell (third) reversed their posi- tions of last year. Bird Ii.i.usrRAroR oi‘ i he Year winner: Collared Do\'es Streptopelia decaocto outside my studio window (Aiidreiv Slock) Bird Iei.us era tor or I'Ue; Yi-ar winner: Black Kites Ahlvus migmm gathering over waste ground by Lagardelle, Lot Valley, France, early morning (Aiidreic Stock) ItiRO Iii.us TRA I OR ot iiii: Yl-AR winner: Grey Heron Ardcii ct'ncmi in lieptford Creek, London {Andmu Stock) British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 353 Pomarine Skxias Slercoramis pornarimts (Tim Woifolk) Long-billed Dowitcher Limmdwmus scolopaceiis (Tim Woifolk) 354 (iilliTUir a i//.: Hii'd Illusirator ol ihc 'I'car \X’e know of a number of artists who ha\’e not submitted work recenU\' who would undoubtedly be highh' placed if tliey did. \X'e also felt that a few 'regulars' did not produce their \ ery best work this year. Past winners can attest to tlie boost to their careers tliat BIX' has gi\en them, and we do encourage all bird illustra- tors lo 'have a go’ next year. One of Andrew Stock's four drawings is used — as is miditional — as Uiis month's co\-er design, and the original is for sale in tlie monthh- postal auction. This Barn Owl illusu'ation will also be featured as the frontispiece of x'olume 88. Richako Riciiarosox Avcari) winner: Juvenile Haillon's Crake Por-aiui fuisilLi (Ala.\ Andmvs) British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 355 Other illustrations from this year’s competition will, as usual, appear on and within the covers of BB over the coming 12 months. Most of the artists who took part will have one or more drawings shown on the BIY display at the Society of Wildlife Artists Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London during 27th July to 11th August 1995 and at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water during 18tli-20th August. Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti and Common Comfrey Symphytum officinale, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire {Dan Powell) 356 Gillmor ci al.: Bird Illustrator of the Year PJC Award winner: Moorhens GallviuLi chlowpiis: amusing family feeding antics (George Woodford) Spotted Redshanks Twiga erytliropiis (Anthony Smith) Richard Richardson Award winner; Buff-breasted Sandpiper Ttyngites snbrnfuolli':^ Axe Estuary, Avon, October 1993 (Max Andretes) This is the final year of sponsorship of BIY by Kozva telescopes, and we are extremely grateful for their eight years of interest and splendid prices. Robert (rillmor, Alan Hams, Keith Shaekktoft attdj. f. R. S/uinvek do Rotititaitis, Park Latte, Blwiham, IL'dford MK44 INJ Migrations of an adult Spotted Eagle tracked by satellite Bernd-U. Meyburg, Xavier Eichaker, Christiane Meyburg and Patrick Paillat The Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga breeds from eastern Poland to the Pacific Ocean, in southeast Siberia and Manchuria. Despite this extensive breeding range, the biology of this rare species has been very little studied (Glutz von Blotzheim et al. 1971; Cramp & Simmons 1980; Meyburg 1994). This applies especially to the eagle’s migrations. Ringing has so far revealed very little (Mikhelson & Viksne 1982). True, there are numerous overwintering areas known in southern Europe, southern Asia, the Middle East, including Egypt, and elsewhere, but hardly anything is known about the migration routes, the migration speed, and the length of time spent at stop-over sites, at resting areas and in the winter quarters. Within the framework of a research programme on Steppe Eagles A. nipalensis by means of satellite telemetry, we captured an adult Spotted Eagle in Arabia which we also equipped with a transmitter. Since an adult specimen of this species had never before been captured and fitted with either a conventional or a satellite transmitter, our findings are given here in detail. Satellite telemetry has been developing since its first experimental application in 1970 to track the movements of animals. Most early efforts were necessarily associated with large terrestrial and marine mammals because of the size of transmitter units. It was not until the mid 1980s that technology permitted effective deployment on large avian species, and it was only as recently as 1992 that a 48-50 g satellite transmitter, technically called platform transmitter terminal (PTT), became available, small and light enough to be used for birds of the size of Spotted Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle A. pomanna (Meyburg et al. 1993). Procedure Satellite telemetry currently uses the Argos Data Collection and Location System, [Brit. Birds 88: 357-361, August 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 357 358 Me\ burg ei uL : Spotted Eagle tracked by saleUite which is a co-operative international project of the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales of France (CNES), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Details are given in Appendix 1. On 24th October 1993, we caught an adult Spotted Eagle north of Taif’ in Saudi Arabia. Its weight was 1,900 g and its wing-length 53 cm. A 48-g PTT was attached as a backpack wath teflon ribbon and seuTi with biodegradable cotton thread (plate 98). Transmitter life can be varied with timer set-up. The unit was set on an 8-hours-on/96-hours-off schedule. For the computer calculations of distances covered between Argos locations, we used an integrated global mapping system displaying a true Mercator projection. For plotting the breeding area in western Siberia and the stop-over areas in Saudi Arabia, coloured maps of the Russian ordnance suiv'ey with a scale of 1:200,000 were used, and for the winter quarters iii tlie Yemen a map with a scale of 1:250,000. tSWJrmmi Plate 98. Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga fitted with platform transmitter terminal, Saudi ,\rabia, October 1993 (B.-U. Meyburg) Results Between 24th October 1993 (day of capture and release of tlie bird) and 8th June 1 994 (last day when a location was received and when the battery' voltage became too low), 96 locations of different quality were obtained tlirough Argos and the bird was tracked over a total distance of 6,390 km excluding local movements in the winter quarters and stop-over sites (see fig. 1). ' The geographical co-ordinates of locations mentioned in the text are given in Appendix 2. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 359 Fig. 1. Migration route of an individual (Spotted 'Eagle Aquila clanga. This bird was tracked by satellite during the last part of its outward migration and during its return migration from the Yemen to western Siberia, 24th October 1993 to 8th June 1994. After its release, the bird flew a further 385 km southeasm'ards to the vicinity of the small village of A1 Subaikhah^ in southwestern Saudi Arabia. There, from 29th October to 24th November, it exploited a home range of about 65 square kilometres. It then moved a further 465 km south into the Yemen, where it remained from 28th November 1993 to 2nd February 1994, in an area around Wadi Adhanah^ 30 km southwest of Marib (104 km east of Sana) in the south of the Sirwan district north of Jebel Suhayfah (2,610 m above sea level). There, See Appendix 2. 360 Mcyburg el at.: Spotted Eagle tracked by satellite its home range, taking only the best locations into consideration, encompassed about 50 square kilometres. Following this stay of little more than two months at the southernmost point of its migration, the bird moved back to its former stop-over site near A1 Subaikhah in Saudi Arabia, where it remained between 1 1th and 28th February. Further return migration then continued in a leisurely fashion. Up to 22nd March, it had progressed only another 545 km northwards, but it covered the next 593 km within the space of four days, and at a location^ close to the Saudi Arabian-Iraqi border west of Kuwait it swung northeastwards. From there, it crossed over the 4,000-m-high Zagros Mountains and the highlands of Iran. It then journeyed along the southern slopes of the Elburz Mountains, where* on 31st March another change of direction occurred, taking it more to the north. From this point, it crossed the nearly 3,000-m-high Koppet Dagh Mountains to the border of Turkmenistan and made in a straight line for the southern shore of the Aral Sea, where it arrived on 9th April. It then followed the southeastern shore of the Sea, after which it flew more or less northeast to its probable breeding area in the southern part of the West Siberian lowlands^ about 196 km northwest of Omsk, arriving there on 2 1 st April. It remained in this area until the last location on 8th June. Unfortunately, the locations were not precise enough to enable us to calculate its home range. Discussion Of aU the eagles in the genus Aquila, the Spotted Eagle is the most strongly attached to water and wetlands. This is equally true of both its breeding and its wintering areas. It is therefore surprising to find this bird spending the winter in the completely arid landscape of the southwest of the Arabian peninsula. The Spotted Eagle was known to be a winter visitor to Arabia, but only in areas of wetland. Further examples need to be tracked in order to establish whether the species is more adaptable in its winter quarters than was liitherto supposed. The remrn migration followed almost the shortest possible route. Only the Arabian Gulf near Kuwait was by-passed in a rather circuitous manner, as was the southeastern end of the Caspian Sea, as would appear to be necessary il' the shortest possible flightpath was to be followed. The by-passing of the Caspian Sea was probably in order to avoid flying over the Elburz Mountains. It took the bird a full seven weeks to cover the first 1,010 km from the wintering grounds in the Yemen. It was not until 22nd March that the bird actually appeared to be ‘on the move’, and the remaining part of the return migration, amounting to 4,516 km, was accomplished within barely a montlt, with an average of about 150 km being covered daily. The highest average rate of 280 km per day was reached at the end of March, during the crossing of Iraq and Iran. Acknowledgments 'Fhc Deutsche I'orsehiingsgemeinsehaft (DFG) kindly supplied funds for the transmitter. Prof. Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada, Secretary General of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (Saudi Arabia), gave us permission to capture the eagle and ^ See Appendi.\ 2. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 361 arranged logistic support. Dr Mark R. Fuller was very’ helpful when we started satellite telemetry. Dr Stephane Ostrowski and Philippe Gaucher of the National Wildlife Research Center in Saudi Arabia helped us in the field. We also thank R. D. Chancellor for linguistic help. Prof. K. Graszynski read a first draft of the manuscript and was helpful in various other ways. Friedhelm Weick kindly made the heading drawing and the map. Summary The migration and wintering grounds of an adult Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga were studied for the first time by means of satellite telemetry. During the 228 days following equipment of the eagle, 96 locations were procured and the bird could be tracked ov'er a stretch of 6,390 km. The eagle spent little more than two months, from the end of November to the beginning of Februaiyy in its winter quarters in north Yemen. A stop-over site in southwestern Saudi Arabia was occupied for several weeks on both outward and return migration. Surprisingly, this eagle spent several months in arid desert regions. The total distance between winter quarters and breeding area in western Siberia was 5,526 km, of which 4,516 km were covered on the return migration in scarcely a month. References Cramp, S., & Slmmons, K. E. L. 1980. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 2. Oxford. Gi.urz VON Bi.otzhhim, U. N., Bauer, K. M., & Bezzel, E. 1971. Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas. vol. 4: Falcotiifonnes. Frankfurt am Main. Meypurg, B.-U. 1994. 207. Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga. In Dee Hoyo, J., ELLiorr, A., & S.VRGAl AL, J. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 2. Barcelona. , ScHELLER, W., & Meyburg, C. 1993. Satelliten-Telemetrie bei einem juvenilen Schreiadler (Aquila pomanna) auf dem Herbstzug. J. Orn. 134; 173-179. Mirheeson, K. a., & ViKSNE, Y. A. 1982. Migrations of Birds of Eastern Etirope and Northern Asia: EalconifotTnes-Grinfonnes. Moscow. [In Russian] Dr Bernd-U. Meyburg, World Working Group on Birds of Prey, Wangenheirnstrasse 32, D- 141 93 Berlin, Germany Xavier Eichaker, Saint Martin, F-82440 Realville, France Christiane Meyburg, 31 Avenue du Maine, F-75015 Paris, France Patrick Paillat, National Wildlife Research Center, P.O. Box 1086, Taif, Saudi Arabia Appendix 1. Explanation of Argos Data Collection and Location System This system includes equipment in Tiros-N satellites and a network of satellite tracking stations and communications links that transfer satellite data to processing centres in Toulouse (France) and Landover, MD (USA) . The near-polar, sun-synchronous orbits of Tiros-N satellites permit coverage of a specific geographic area at approximately the same time each day. Locations of transmitters are estimated from the Doppler shift in its carrier frequency (410.650 MHz). For normal processing, Argos requires four transmissions, or messages, during an overpass of the satellite to calculate location, but special processing for wildlife research estimates locations from as few as two Doppler measurements. Up to 15th June 1994, Argos graded locations according to precision (i.e. 68% of a series of locations expected within the given distance) with location quality indices (LQ): LQ3 = 150 m, LQ2 = 350 m, LQl = 1 km, and LQO = undetermined. Within LQO, Argos also pro\'ided an interpretative index, which helped in assessing estimated locations by explaining why normal processing failed. Appendix 2. Geographical co-ordinates of locations mentioned in the text ' Taif, Saudi Arabia 21° 31’ N 40° 49’ E ^ A1 Subaikhah, Saudi Arabia 1 9° 07’ N 43° 2 1 ’ E ^ Wadi Adhanah, Yemen 15° 19’ N 45° 07’ E Location near Saudi Arabian-Iraqi border 29° 23’ N 44° 13’ E Location along Elburz Mountains 35° 50’ N 55° 44’ E ^ Probable breeding area in West Siberian lowlands 56° 14’ N 71° 24’ E PHOTOSPOT 36. Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatiis An article in Bnmh Birds some 17 years ago (Kitson 1978) was prefaced by the suggestion that Long-toed Stint Culidns subniiiiiitu^ Pintail Snipe Gcillwago stenwa and Asian Dowitcher were possible contenders for addition to the British & Irish List. Since then, Long-toed Stint has been added to the List, and Pintail Snipe has been suspected on a number of occasions though there are no confirmed records, but there are no records of Asian Dowitcher for anywhere in the Western Palearctic. The nearest records are ot one at Aden in 1958 (Paige 1965), and one in Kenya in 1966 (Smart & Forbes-Watson 1971), but as a long-distance migrant it remains a strong candidate for addition to the Western Palearctic List, perhaps even for the British List. Alaybe this is one reason why Asian Dowitcher is one of the most sought-after species by those birding in the Far East. It has always been regarded as a scarce species. Estimates ol the World population have been of the order of 5,000 individuals, but, following a report of 1 0,000 wintering in Sumatra, it has been suggested that the total population might be as high as 25,000 (Flowes & Parish 1989). Sumatra has long been thought of as the most important wintering location, but some are regularly reported on passage at Hong Kong and in Thailand (Lekagul et al. 1985; Tipper 1993), and smaller numbers are known to winter as far south as Australia, where the total is perhaps 150 (e.g. Lane 1987). Most of these occur in northern Western Australia, where there have been counts of 131 at Port Hedland Saltworks, and at Broome, where there were 103 as recently as March 1995. Asian Dowitchers arrive in Western Australia from late August, staying until April, when the majority depart, though a few non-breeders probably stay through the Northern Hemisphere summer. By the beginning of April, many are in full breeding plumage, though they can easily be overlooked amongst the thousands of Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica with which they congregate, particularly at high-tide roosts, at which these photographs were taken. Since Asian Dowitchers are coloured very similarly to the Bar-tailed Godwits, and closely approach them in size, being considerably larger than the two North American dowitcher species, they take some seeking out. The accompanying photographs show this similarity, and also show the thick, straight, blunt-tipped all-black bill, held at 30° below the horizontal, which is an excellent field mark. There appear to be few published photographs of any but distant views of this species, so it should not be difficult to imagine my thrill on discovering no fewer than 1 6 (possibly more) in an approaching flock of Bar-tailed Godwits and Great Knots Calidris lenuirostns, and then, within a few minutes, having tliese handsome waders at quite close photographic range. The experience was one ot my all-time wader-photography highlights. R. J. Chandler 2 Rnsland Avenue, Orpington, Kent BR6 8/1 U 362 [Bril. Bird.c 88: .S62-."164, August 1995] © Hritish Birds l.td 1995 Plate 99. Three Asian Dowitchers Limnodromus semipalmatus (centre and right) with Bar- tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica and Great Knots Calidris tenuirostris, Western Australia, April 1995 (R. J. Chandler) Plate 100. Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus in fresh adult summer plumage (with Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica behind), Western Australia, April 1995 {R. J. Chandler) 364 Chandler: PhotoSpot: Asian Dowitcher References Howhs, J., & Parish, D. 1989. New iiifomiation on Asian shorebirds; preliminary review' of the INTER WADER Programme 1983-89 and pnorilies for the future.^ Asian Wetland Bureau, Kuala Lumpur. Kn soN, A. R. 1978. Identification of Long-toed Stint, Pintail Snipe and Asiatic Dowitcher. Bnt. Birds 71: 558-562. Lane, B. A. 1987. Shorebirds in Australia. Melbourne. Lekagul, B., Round, P. D., & Komolphalin, K. 1985. Birdwatching for Palearctic migrants in Thailand. Bnt. Birds 78: 2-39. Paige, J. P. 1965. Field identification and winter range of the Asiatic Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus. Ibis 107; 95-97. Smart,]. B., & Forbes-Watson, A. 1971. Occurrence of the Asiatic Dowitcher in Kenya. Bull. E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc. (1971): 74-75. Tipper, R. 1993. Waders in Hong Kong. Brit. Birds 86; 231-242. ANNOUNCEMENT The Carl Zeiss Award Thanks to the sponsor of the British Birds Rarities Committee, Carl Zeiss Ltd, the lucky person winning The Carl Zeiss Award this year will again be able to choose as his or her prize a pair of traditional Zeiss 1 0 X 40 binoculars or 7 X 42 binoculars, or the new ‘Night Owl’ 7 X 45 binoculars. The presentation will take place at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water in August, and the winner’s travelling expenses will be paid by Zeiss so that he or she can attend the Fair. The Carl Zeiss Award is presented annually to the person who supplies the most helpful, interesting and instructive photograph of a rarity taken in Britain and examined by the BBRC during a record circulation. The three previous winners of the Award were Bob Proctor for his photographs of a Pechora Pipit mist-netted on Unst, Shetland, in September 1991 {Brit. Birds 85: 622, plates 230 & 231), Ren Hathway for his photograph of the 1992 Cape Cornw'all Great Grey Shrike Lanins excubitor of the race pallidirostris in flight {Brit. Birds 86: 565-566, plate 196), and Dr Adrian Wander for his photograph of a Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanitcs oceanicus at sea off Scilly in August 1993 {Brit. Birds 87: 434-435, plate 111). This year’s winner will be announced next month. Carl Zeiss Ltd also presents all runners-up — including eveiyone whose photograph or documentaiy drawing is used in the annual ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain’, or is published elsewhere in British Birds to document a rarity record — ^with a voucher for a free six-month subscription to British Birds. Contributions selected for publication in ‘From the Rarities Committees files’ are also eligible. The aim of The Carl Zeiss Award is to encourage full participation in the w'ork of the British Birds Rarities Committee and to reward those whose work helps the Committee to function effectively. We arc most grateful to Zeiss for this additional support. Any photographs (transparencies, colour prints, or black-and-white prints) of 1994 rarities which have not already been submitted should he sent in now, please, to Mrs Sheila Cobban, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 .^Nj. ZEISS ‘Swifts: a Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World ! 24 colour plates, 248 pages I Publication 18th August 1995: Price £26 Inmtatimi you are invited by 'Pica Press to come to the launch of SWlJ^S by Phil Chantler and Gerald P)riessens on the Subbuteo Stand at the Ps^tland Pird J^air on Jriday, ISth^ugust from 12 noon, free glass of wine with every copy of SWlJ^S bought! Come and meet Phil Chantler and Gerald Priessens! FOR A FREE CATALOGUE OF PICA PRESS BOOKS PLEASE WRITE OR FAX CHRISTOPHER HELM: PICA PRESS. THE BANKS, MOUNTFIELD, NR. ROBERTSBRIDGE, E SUSSEX TN32 5JY TEL: 01580 88056 1 FAX: 0 1 580 88054 1 THE ULTIMATE IN BIRDING 1996 Tours to • Finland & Varangerfjord • Poland • Bulgaria • Morocco • Eastern Turkey Israel • Yemen • UAE & Bahrain • Turkestan • Siberia • Ussuriland • Arctic Siberia Beidaihe • Hong Kong & South China • Sichuan • Tibet • Northern India • Nepal Sikkim, Darjeeling & Assam • Southern India & The Andamans • Sri Lanka • Thailand Peninsular Thailand • Vietnam • Borneo • The Philippines • Java & Bali Sulawesi & Halmahera • Gambia & Northern Senegal • Ivory Coast • Cameroon Ethiopia • Kenya • Northern Kenya • Uganda • Malawi • Namibia • South Africa Madagascar • Australia • Papua New Guinea • New Caledonia, Vanuatu & Fiji New Zealand • Churchill & Southern Manitoba • Belize & Tikal • Costa Rica Panama & Darien • Cuba • Trinidad & Tobago • Venezuela • Ecuador Southern Ecuador • Peru • The Manu • Bolivia • Brazil • Northern Argentina • Chile SMALL GROUPS • GREAT LEADERS • ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICES BIRDQUEST ... THE PROFESSIONALS Also: Ocean Adventures - Antarctica (from £2550), Falklands, Arctic etc. For our brochures contact Birdquest at Two Jays, Kemple End, Birdy Brow, Stonyhurst, Lancashire BB7 9QY. Tel: 01254 826317. Fax: 01254 826780. ATOL 2937. Wide Eyepiece Fieldscope ED78 A Spotting Scope A When you traverse hill and dale in search or nature s marvels, you expect the clearest images available. That is what Nikon gives you. In August 1994, Bird Watching magazine selected our Nikon Fieldscope ED78/ED78 A as “Telescope of the Year” in the over £350 class. The judges emphasised its “.stunning optical performance” and “extremely accurate colour rendition”. They “Highly Commended” our Spotting Scope A in the under £350 class, noting its superior optical per- formance at a rea.sonable price. And they were so impressed by the “out- standing brightness and clarity” of our Nikon 30x/38x Wide Eyepiece for Fieldscopes that they declared it “Accessory of the Year”. All of the judges were experienced bird watchers. No doubt, they also chose Nikon for our ability to bring you that much closer to nature. NIKON UK LTD. (for The United Kingdom and The Republic of Ireland) 380 RICHMOND ROAD. KINGSTON-UPON THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (0181) 541-4440 FAX: (0181) 541-4584 1 ■ r ' The White-winged Lark in Britain Tony Man* and Richard Porter, on behalf of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee As with the Great Black-headed Gull Lams ichthyaetiis, the British records of which were recentiy reviewed by the BOURC (Vinicombe & Hopkin 1993), the White-winged Lark Melanocorypha leucoptera is one of a small number of rarities on the British List that have remained extremely infrequent and unlikely visitors to these islands. Breeding in dry grass steppes from Kazakhstan to eastern Europe, its range has decreased in the last 100 years with the ploughing-up of the steppes. The White-winged Lark migrates only short distances to winter to the south and west, mainly within the former Soviet Union, although regularly as far west as Romania. There has been a small number of westward vagrants to central and northwestern Europe, including, until recently, five British records of seven individuals between 1869 and 1981. There are no Irish records. The British records were: 1. Brighton, East Sussex, 22nd November 1869. 2. Three, Hove, East Sussex, 15th November 1917. 3. Betw'een Rye and Camber, East Sussex, 19th August 1933. 4. Hilfield Park Reservoir, Hertfordshire, 12th-17th August 1955. 5. King’s Lynn, Norfolk, 22nd-24th October 1981. Several other records from Sussex were dismissed among the ‘Hastings Rarities’ (Nicholson & Fer^son-Lees 1962). Up to 1992, naturally occurring birds in Britain and Ireland were placed in Category A of the British & Irish List if they had occurred within the previous 50 years, or in Category B if they had not been seen for half a cenmry. Under this definition. White-winged Lark was in Category A on the basis of the 1955 and 1981 records. In 1992, however, Category B was redefined as containing [Brit. Birds 88; 365-371, August 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 365 366 Marr & Porter: The VCTiite-wingcd Lark in Britain those species not seen since 1958, when the British Birds Rarities Committee was formed (BOU 1992). This change resulted in the 1981 record becoming the sole basis for keeping White-winged Lark in Category A. This prompted a re\iew of the 1981 record and all the older records of the species in Britain. Extensive research had been carried out into the identification of this species during the three BBRC circulations of the 1981 King’s Lynn record, which ultimately led to its acceptance. The BOURC is aw'are of the difficulty of applying modern criteria to old descriptions. Allowances are always made for this, within the context of the need for records to remain convincing on the basis of the available evidence. The review of the records of White- winged Lark led to the confirmation of the 1869 East Sussex bird and the acceptance of the 1981 Norfolk bird, thus retaining the species in Category A. None of the other three records proved to be acceptable beyond all reasonable doubt, as the possibility of misidentification could not be eliminated. Distribution The White- winged Lark is endemic to the former USSR, breeding from Dagestan, the lower Volga River area, through central and northern Kazakhstan to about 80°E. It is found mainly in the Kirghiz Steppe, an area of dry, short- grass plains with orache Ainplex, wormwood Artemisia and feather grass Stipa interspersed with bare, open ground (Dementiev & Gladkov 1968). The amount of suitable breeding habitat has no doubt declined since the opening-up of these ‘Virgin Lands’ for agriculture. Since 1954, over 25 million ha — an area roughly the size of Italy — have been ploughed for cereals in Kazakhstan alone (Larkin & Burambayev 1980). The species is migratory, wintering in the Ukraine, Crimea, Caucasus, Transcaspia and Iran. In severe winters, it has also occurred several times in Romania. Some winter in the southern part of the breeding range, but these are thought to be migrants from farther north rather than residents. In spring, they arrive on the breeding grounds in April and early May. Autumn departure takes place in August and early September, with strong passage noted in Trans Volga in late August. The species forms large flocks outside the breeding season (Dementiev & Gladkov 1968). The range of vagrancy includes parts of the former USSR as far west as Moscow, as well as Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Belgium and Heligoland in Germany. Identification Few European ornithologists have had the opportunity to observe White-winged Larks in the field. As a result, the species is little knowm, and difficulties have occurred over the identification of vagrants in the West. It was not until die early 1980s that the relaxation of travel restrictions in the USSR provided some British ornithologists with the chance to study the species, particularly in tlie steppes of central Kazakhstan (see Robertson 1986). White-winged Lark is slightly larger than Sky Lark Alauda arvcnsis and smaller than Calandra Lark Af. calandra. There is some discrepancy between actual British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 367 measurements and appearance in the field, particularly in flight (Witherby et al. 1941; Dementiev & Gladkov 1968). Though wing-length is intermediate between those of Sky Lark and Calandra Lark, White-winged looks noticeably long- winged in flight. Soviet authors have likened it to a shorebird in flight. This long- winged appearance seems to result from the visual effect of the very broad white trading-edge to the wing. From measurements, the tad is proportionally shorter than that of Sky Lark, but in the field this is not apparent. White-winged Lark looking quite long-taded, again as a result of the white trading-edge to the wing. First impressions are of a pale brownish lark, with a ‘bare-faced’ expression, and a white panel in the closed wing. The closest comparison is with an upright female Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis, rather than with another lark, though this is less so in winter. In flight, the striking three-tone wing pattern even recalls Sabine’s GuU L. sabini. In adult plumage, the perched White-winged Lark is very distinctive. The male has an unstreaked rufous crown and ear-coverts, often with reddish patches on the sides of the breast and reddish-brown uppertad-coverts; the female has a grey- brown crown, streaked darker and with much less rufous on the uppertad-coverts. Both sexes show a rufous-chesmut forewing. First-winters, however, are less distinct, being more streaked, especially on the breast, with less rufous tones to the crown, forewing and uppertad-coverts. The main danger lies with partially albinistic individuals of other larks. Though rare, these are perhaps not so rare in Europe as are genuine White- winged Larks. Patches of albinistic feathers are often symmetrical, suggesting a natural, rather than an aberrant plumage. The combination of chesmut crown and lesser coverts, however, together with the facial pattern and very dark primaries and central wing area, should provide a clear distinction from any other species of lark showing aberrant white secondaries. Snow Bunting’s bill shape and colour, together with white lesser and/or median coverts, should rule out that species in any plumage. The possibility of confusion with Snow Buntings or with partially albinistic individuals of other larks had to be considered carefully by the BOURC during its review. Several members of both the BBRC and the BOURC have had recent experience of White-winged Larks in Kazakhstan. The five British claims The 1869 East Sussex record The specimen, a female, is now in the Booth Museum of Natural History in Brighton (plate 101). It was taken alive in a net near Brighton, East Sussex, on 22nd November 1869, and reported by Mr Frederick Bond of South Hampstead, London, who saw it very shortly after capture and was quite sure that it was ‘truly 'wild’. He first thought that it was ‘a young snow fmch Montijringilla nivalis’ (Bond 1870a), correcting the identification the following month (Bond 1870b; see .also Rowley 1870).' The specimen was promptly acquired by Mr Thomas Monk of Lewes, East 'Sussex, and, after his death, obtained for the Booth Museum. Interestingly, the lark was caught ‘in the company of a flock of about two dozen 'Snow Buntings . . . one of which it was at first considered to be.’ Although the V specimen is faded, the photographs show the comparatively long, dark-brown 368 Marr & Porter: ITie VC'hite-winged I^rk in Britain Plate 101. Display of three White-winged Larks Mclaiiocoiypha leucoptera in the Booth Museum of Natviral History', Brighton. I'he display case (no. 343) contains specimens numbered 208045, 208046 and 208047. The individual caught on 22nd November 1869 is the one standing on the right (ref 208047) {Booth Mmeum) primaries, edged white on the outer webs and tipped with huffish, and the white panel in the closed wing, formed by the secondaries. The bill is yellow, but this is presumed to have been an error when preparing the specimen. The identification of the specimen was accepted by the Committee and the bird was considered to have been of natural origin. There was a vigorous trade in wild birds, particularly Sky Larks, caught on the Brighton Downs in the late nineteenth century and these were sold in local markets and shops. There are records from the Brighton area in the 1860s of Crested Lark Galerida cristata in October 1863; Little Bunting Embenza pusilla in November 1864; Rustic Bunting E. nistica in October 1867; Dark-throated Thrush Tiirdus mficollis in December 1868; and Common Rosefinch Cmpodacus erythnnus in the last week of September 1869. With most of these birds, the timing is consistent with modern records. Three, Hove, East Sussex, 15th November 1917 These birds were seen by John Walpole-Bond ‘for some time at very close quarters ... on the upper part of the beach just below the front at West Hove.’ The description in his A History of Sussex Birds (1938) states that ‘the hall marks, so to speak, of the species were very noticeable, to wit, the distinct chestnut of the primary-coverts and lesser wing-coverts and the snowiness of tlie secondaries. Two of the birds by the rusty-red of their crowns were at once marked as males; the third individual — the one with the dark brown head — was just as obviously a lady.’ The chestnut wing-coverts would appear to rule out Snow Bunting; there is, however, no description of size, structure, bare parts or behaviour. It would have British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 369 been more believable if the birds had been Snow Buntings and the habitat would have been more likely — the upper part of the beach at West Hove is pure shingle. There are two unexplained aspects of this record. First, it remained unpublished until 1938. Secondly, it is not amongst the records listed by Witherby et al. in the Handbook of British Birds, vol. 1 (1941). Perhaps the authors did not believe the record? The record is inadequately described and the habitat and number of birds are unlikely. The Committee was unable to recommend the continued acceptance of the record. Between Rye and Camber, East Sussex, 1 9th August 1 933 This record was described by Allen (1933), who was ‘bicycling along the road from Rye to Camber that runs alongside the golf links’ and ‘saw a strange bird standing sentinel-like on a hump on the thin, brown turf.’ He stated that ‘the most striking feature was that its shoulders and crown were a bright, rusty red, the shoulders being brightest.’ ‘Another prominent feamre was a bar of pure white on each wing.’ It flew off silently, ‘giving me the impression as it flew of a patch of white on the under surface of the wings.’ It was the size of ‘a rather large Skylark.’ Although he wrote down the description in a notebook at the time, the description is vague in places, rather too colourful in others and not at all convincing. Some members of the BOURC were not certain that it was even a lark. Walpole-Bond (1938) considered 19th August to be ‘an extraordinarily early date for this species to be in this country’. The BOURC unanimously decided that, for such a rare species, this record could not now be upheld. Hilfield Park Reservoir, Hertfordshire, 12th-17th August 1955 The circumstances of this record were fully described by Sage & Jenkins (1956). The bird was found by B. L. Sage; watched by him and A. R. Jenkins on 13th and 14th; and subsequently by various other observers, including F. H. Jones and H. P. Medhurst, until 17th. It was considered to be an adult female. The BBRC studied the description in the course of assessing the 1981 Norfolk record, and concluded that the record should be reviewed by the BOURC. BBRC members with experience of White-winged Lark on its breeding grounds considered that the description of the Hertfordshire bird did not exclude the possibility of a partially albinistic Sky Lark. Certain features supported the identification as a White-winged Lark: I . Shorter tail and bulkier body than Sky Lark. 2. The wing pattern, with large white patch on secondaries, white underwing, chesmut on lesser coverts and pale outer web to 2nd primary (although this last feature, which is obvious on skins, is not usually noticeable in the field). 3. Lack of a crest. 4. Wings held slightly drooped. 370 Marr & Porter: The VCTite-winged Lark in Britain Apparently against the identification as a White-winged Lark were: 1. The one reference to wing shape at rest or in flight suggests a Sky Lark-like shape and appearance, apart from the white secondaries. White- winged Lark, as described earlier, has a very distinctive long-winged appearance, both in flight, when it immediately attracts comment, and on the ground. 2. The white ‘wing-bar’ is not clearly described. It is so striking in flight, and contrasts so much with the rest of the wing, that it usually evokes exclamation and comparisons with Redshank Tringa toianus and e\^en Sabine’s Gull. 3. There is no mention of the primary coverts, which should be tinged with rufous and are a diagnostic feature. 4. There is no mention of the hopping. This is a regular habit and produces a gait ver>’ unlike that typical of larks. 5. The underparts and face pattern as described do not tally with those of White- winged Lark. 6. The tail was cocked in flight just above the level of the back when it glided down in a manner similar to Sky Lark; White-winged Larks observed by those BBRC and BOURC members who have seen the species have not shown this feature. On reading Iain Robertson’s paper on the identification of White-winged Lark (Robertson 1986), one of the original obser\’ers, Howard Medhurst, contacted the BBRC. He wrote that he had been unhappy about the record for some years and now believed the bird to have been an aberrant Sky Lark. With the recent clarification of some of the identification criteria for White- winged Lark, the unexpected date and the withdrawal by one observer from support of the record, the Committee decided that the record could no longer be considered proven. The 1981 Norfolk record This bird was seen at King’s Lynn Sugar Beet Factory on 22nd October 1981 by J. Lines, and on 24th by J. A. W. Moyes, who had been told of its presence by the fmder. On each occasion, only the single observer was present. The record was accepted by the BBRC on its third circulation. At the time of the first circulation, none of the members of BBRC had seen the species alive, so expert advice was sought. A split decision the second time around was followed by a third circulation, in 1985-86, which led to acceptance. By then, three members of BBRC, including Iain Robertson, had seen the species. The record then passed to the BOURC, which accepted the record and retained the species in Category A of the British & Irish List (BOU 1992). The view was taken that the descriptions were sufficient to eliminate confusion species (including Mongolian Lark A1 rnongolied) or a partially albinistic Sk>' Lark. The bird was considered to have been an immature male. Acknowledgments We arc grateful to the Booth Museum of Natural I hstoiy, Brighton, for allowing us to photograph the 1 869 specimen and for providing copies of pages fn^m the Museum's Cu/ufcgt/c; and to the Jourdain SocieW for copies of Walpole-Bond’s original diaries. 371 Brirish Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 Summary Five claims of White-winged Lark Melanocoiypha kucoptera from Britain have been reviewed by the BOURC. The distribution and identification of the species are summarised. Three of the British records are now considered to be unproven. White-winged Lark remains in Category A of the British & Irish List on the basis of a specimen from East Sussex in November 1869 and a sight record in Norfolk in October 1981. References Ai.lhn, P. 1933. White-winged Lark seen in Sussex. Brit. Birds 27: 163. Bond, F. 1870a. The Zoologist 28: 1984. 1870b. The Zoobgist 28: 2022. Boo th, E. T. 1927. Catabgue of Cases of Birds in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton. British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU). 1992. Records Committee: sixteenth report (December 1991). Ibis 134: 211-214. Dementiev, G. P., & Gladkov, N. A. 1968. Birds of the Soviet Union, vol 5. Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem. Hollom, P. a. D. 1968. The Popubr Handbook of British Birds. London. Larkin, V., & Burambayev, G. 1980. Kazakhstan. Moscow. Lines, J. 1986. White-winged Lark — a bird new to Norfolk. Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 1986: 416-417. Nicholson, E. M., & Ferguson-Lees, I. J. 1962. The Hastings Rarities. Brit. Birds 55: 281- 384. Robertson, I. S. 1986. Identification of White-winged Lark. Brit. Birds 79: 332-335. Rowley, G. D. 1870. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of laondon. January 27 1870: 52-53. Sage, B. L., & Jenkins, A. R. 1956. White-winged Lark in Hertfordshire. Brit. Birds 49: 41-42. Tucker, G., Heath, M. F., Tomialojc:, L., & Grimme'TT, R. F. A. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. Cambridge. Vinicombe, K., & Hopkin, P. J. 1993. The Great Black-headed GuU in Britain. Brit. Birds 86: 201-205. Walpole-Bond, J. 1938. A Histoty of Sussex Birds. London. Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 1941. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. 1. London. Tony Matr, Two Hoots, Old Hall Farm Bams, Cley next the Sea, Norfolk NR25 7RY Richard Porter, 21 Roundhouse Drive, West Peny, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE 18 ODJ LOOKING BACK Twenty-five years ago, August 1970 was notable for thousands of Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus off southern Irish headlands, and an influx of Scandinavian migrants, dominated by Wiv'necks Jynx torquilb, with at least 150 at 45 localities, mostly on the English East and South Coasts, accompanied b\^ Whinchats Saxicob rubetra, Pied Flycatchers Eicedub hypokuca, Icterine Warblers Hippobis icterina and Barred Warblers Sylvia nisorb (Brit. Birds 63: 397-400). The start of a habit: ‘On 29tli March 1970 a female Siskin Carduelis spinus flew to the bird table in my garden at Stapleford, Cambridge. At the time a Greenfinch C. chbtis was feeding on peanuts in a plastic mesh bag suspended nearby; when this bird left with a nut the Siskin im- mediately took its place and commenced to peck at the nuts until it was dislodged by another I Greenfinch. The Siskin made two such feeding attempts before finally flying away. B. Harrup’ (Brit. Birds 63: 344, August 1970). The ‘British Birds’ Achievement Award This award, established earlier this year {Bnt. Birds 88: 46), recognises an exceptional contribution to ornithology by a single person or a team, a charitable organisation or a commercial company. The first award was to the whole team responsible for the nine- volume Birds of die Western Palearctic (1977-94). The Achievement Award is not annual, but is announced when the occasion demands. The recipients of the second Award have now been nominated, and we are delighted to report that Trevor Poyser and Anna Poyser have accepted this recognition of the innovative publishing achievements of T. & A. D. Poyser Ltd. From its first title. Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland in June 1973, to the forty-fifth. The Kestrel in March 1990, T. & A. D. Poyser produced a series of natural history (mainly ornithological) books of which Britain can be proud. It is all the more remarkable since it is wholly the result of the labours, dedication and expertise of two people, Trevor and Anna. The books, known affectionately as ‘Poysers’, are collected by book-lovers as well as by ornithologists, for not only are the subjects well selected and the contents well written and well edited, but the books themselves are well designed and beautifully produced. It is not surprising that four of the 15 books chosen as the ‘British Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year during 1980-94 have been Poysers, or that three of the top tides chosen as ‘Essendal reference books’ by the eminent members of the Behaviour Notes Panel were Poysers {Brit. Birds 88: 284). The Poyser list includes tides as prestigious and influential as any in that renowned series, the ‘New Naturalists’ published by Collins Natural History, which recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. A startling achievement by a two-man team! Trevor & Anna Poyser retired in 1990 {Brit. Birds 82: 630), and the company T. & A. D. Poyser Ltd has since then been in the experienced hands of Academic Press, with Dr Andrew Richford as Senior Editor. This Achievement Aw'ard is, however, made not to the company, but personally to Trevor and Anna for establishing what has become a national institution and, to birdwatchers, a household name synonymous with excellence. The ‘British Birds’ Achievement Award: Trevor Poyser and Anna Poyser, founders of the publishers T. & A. D. Poyser 372 [Brit. Birds 88: 372, August 1995] © Hritish Birds Ltd 1995 REVIEWS Birds of Britain and Europe, with North Afidca and the Aliddle East. By Hermann Heinzel, Richard Fitter & John Parslow. HarperCoUins, London, 1995. 384 pages; over 3,000 colour illustrations; over 500 maps. ISBN 0-00-219894-0. Paperback £9.99. The first edition of this ‘Collins pocket guide’ appeared 23 years ago. It has undergone a number of mostly minor revisions since, but has now been, and I quote, ‘completely re- designed, repainted, rewritten, revised and updated’. Compared with the first edition, of which I still possess a (well-wom) copy, the plates are, indeed, largely redrawn, with the incorporation of more plumages and flying birds. Numerous additional small illustrations of, for example, heads, bills and more flying bii'ds appear on the facing text page. One can spot a number of original paintings that have been lifted from the old edition, but the great majority are new. To highlight just a few changes, I was pleased to see that the amazingly long-necked swans and geese of the first edition now have better, if not perfect, proportions, though I do not care for the new ‘scaly’ effect of the grey-goose plumages. The two pages of flying ducks have disappeared, with more flying birds placed on the species plates, though there is now a use- ful double-page dealing with duck hybrids. The original double-page spread showing just 19 raptors in flight has been replaced by two spreads with over 100 illustrations. Another addition is that all the accidentals are now One Paiu" of Eyes. By Donald Watson. Arlequin Press, Chelmsford, 1994. 151 pages; trations. ISBN 0-9522019-5X. ,^55. 00. This book is another quality limited edition from Arlequin Press> this time featuring the paintings and drawings of Donald Watson. The 80 or so paintings span his career and most are previously unpublished. The text is also by Donald Watson, and is mainly about birds and his Galloway surroundings; the anecdotes, often prompted by the paintings, make a good read. Always a strong advocate illustrated. In general, the colours are good, certainly much better than in the first edition, though perhaps some of the reds and oranges are just a little overdone. The maps have been completely revised and include more detail, even though reduced in size. There are now maps for all species except vagrants, though some are tiny. Was it really worth inserting 10 X 8 mm maps for both BoUe’s Colmnba bollii and Laurel Pigeon C. junoniae, on which one is meant to discern that there are coloured dots off the African coast, when the text states that both occur in the Canary Islands? The text, too, has been improved, and this new edition represents a significant advance over past ones. Everyone has his or her favourite field guide and, for many, Lars Jonsson’s Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East (1992), with its greater amount of detail in both paintings and text, will remain pre-eminent. It is, however, heav- ier on the pocket in both senses, being sub- stantially larger and more than twice the price. I predict continuing popularity for this much- improved CoUins field guide. Malcolm Ogilvie 85 colour illustrations; 50 black-and-white iUus- of working directly from life, his loose ‘on-site’ landscapes reveal a delightful spontaneity and freshness, with a vibrant use of colour. Happily, these qualities translate to the tighter studio works. In most, his birds are skilfully ‘incidental’ focal points. Being a limited edition, this book is expen- sive. Nevertheless, it is warmly recommended. Alan Harris [Brit. Birds 88: 373-375, August 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 373 374 Reviews An Exaltation of Skylarks: in prose and poetry'. Compiled by Stewart Beer. (SMH Books, Pulborough, 1995. 227 pages. ISBN 0- 9512619-7-5. £12.95) From Theocritus (circa 310-250 BC) to the present day, via William Shakespeare, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Henr\' Williamson. JTRS Collins Checkbook: British Birds. Compiled by Michael Chinery. (HarperCoUins, London, 1995. 128 pages. ISBN 0-00-220022-8. Paperback £4.99) A beginners’ ticklist, with single photographs of 230 species. JTRS The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. By Leslie Christidis and Walter E. Boles. (RAOU, Melbourne, 1994. 112 pages. ISBN 1-875122- 06-0. Paperback SI 8.00) The main interest for ornithologists outside Australasia will be the complete checklist of Australian birds ("which it is planned to revise at least ever\’ three or four years). Species are listed wdth both scientific and English names, the latter generally following Recommended English Names for Australian Birds (RAOU 1978), but with changes to accord with international usage following British Birds (86: 1-2) for Palearctic species and Sibley & Monroe (1990) for other regions. The 23-page check- list is followed by 46 pages of discussion on taxonomic decisions taken and other changes, such as the removal of Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotiis cafer from the main list, since the introduced population is now extinct. With 19 pages of references, this is a very clearly set- out, authoritative and useful reference, essen- tial for anyone seriously interested in the birds of Australasia. JTRS Bird Behaviour. By Louise Dawson & Mike Langman. (Hamlyn, London, 1995. 48 pages. ISBN 0-600-57981-6. £7.99) This guide, which is aimed at 8- to 14-year-olds, continues the same excellent standards as the previous three in the series. It deals with its subject in a very readable manner and is clearly written by people who understand the interests of young birdwatchers. This book should encourage its readers to enjoy watching birds and not simply to tick them, and for this reason alone it should be on every young birdwatcher’s bookshelf David Parnaby Birds in the Yorkshire Museum. By M. L. Denton. (The Yorkshire Museum, York, 1995. 224 pages. ISBN 0-905807-10-3. Paperback £7.50) This is a nicely produced catalogue of the bird collections of the Yorkshire Museum, which comprise 5,000 skins, mounts, skeletons and eggs. All data are included, w'here these exist, and there is a useful cross-referencing list of material by species. Clemency Fisher Follow That Bird!: around the world with a passionate bird-watcher. By Bill Oddie. (Robson Books, London, 1994. 172 pages. ISBN 0-86051-919-8. £12.95) The six chapters detail Bill’s adventures (acmally oumumbered by misadventures) when birding in Morocco, Scilly, India, Ireland, Shedand and Papua New Guinea. The catastrophes and crises are mosdy the sort which arc not funny at the time (ruined honeymoons, cars stuck in the mud, and unhelpful foreigners), but Bill Oddie’s gift for writing turns ever}- episode into an amusing and entertaining anecdote. Recommended light reading for eveiy birdwatcher. JTRS The Bam Owl. By Mike Read & Jake Allsop. (Blandford Press, London, 1994. 128 pages; 80 colour photographs; 8 line-drawings. ISBN 0-7137-2349-1. £16.99) A deUghtful book on one of my (and many other people’s) favourite birds. The text gives a good account of the life history' of the Barn Owl Tyto alba, its habits and conser\-adon problems, with added value from Jake Allsop’s many personal obser- vations and anecdotes. Mike Read’s pho- tographs cover every possible aspect, from habi- tat to pellets to birds in all plumages, and have been \'ety- well reproduced. E\-en if the text were not so good as it is, the book w'ould be worth it for these illustrations alone. 'ITie dust- jacket photograph is nothing less than stunning. MAO A Photographic Gitidc to Birds of Britain and Europe. By Paul Sterry & Jim Flegg. (New Holland, London, 1995. 144 pages. ISBN 1-85368-413-9. Paperback £6.99) With three-colour thumbnail-size distribution maps, short texts and just single colotir photographs (usuallv showing an adult male) of 252 species. JTRS Wildlife in the West Country. By Colin Vtirnell. (Nigel J. Clarke Publications, L\me Regis, 1994. 93 pages. ISBN 0-907683-44-4. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 375 £12.95) The photographs make the book, with some marvellous images: a Grey Heron Ardea cinerea with a writhing Eel Anguilla afiginlla, a Grass Snake Matrix nairix flicking its forked tongue, a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes at full tilt. I wish the short texts included even more information on where, when and how the photographs were taken. JTRS A Birder’s Guide to Arkansas. By Mel White. (ABA, Colorado, 1995. 272 pages. ISBN 1-878788-09-4. Wire-O binding SI 6.95) Well-planned, ‘user-friendly’ guide to 59 sites, with ver)' clear maps and directions. JTRS ALSO RECEIVED Where to Wateh Birds in East Anglia. 3rd edn. By Peter and Margaret Clarke. (Christopher Helm, London, 1995. 266 pages. ISBN 0-7136-4064-2. Paperback £11.99) Where to Watch Birds in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire. 2nd edn. By Brian Clews, Andrew Heryet and Paul Trodd. (Christopher Helm, London, 1995. 315 pages. ISBN 0-7136-4002-2. Paperback £12.99) Vogels van Belgie. Oiseaux de Belgique 1901-1992. By P. Herroelen. (Herroelen, Boutersem, 1995. 60 pages. Paperback £7.00) Parrots: look who’s talking. Video. By Paul Reddish. (BBC Video, London, 1995. 48.53 minutes. £9.99) Junior Nature Guide: Birds of Great Britain and Europe. By Angela Royston. (Dragon’s World, London, 1995. 80 pages. ISBN 1-85028-240-4. £7.95) Polygyny and Sexual Selection in Red-winged Blackbirds. By William A. Searcy & Ken Yasukawa. (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1995. ISBN 0-691-03686-1 (hbk), 0-691- 03687-X (pbk). Hardback £45.00, paperback £24.00) ANNOUNCEMENT Special offer on ‘Britain’s Birds’ Britain’s Birds, published jointly by the BTO and the JNCC, draws together results from the major monitoring programmes to give a comprehensive annual review of the stams of Britain’s birds. Three volumes have been published so far, covering 1989-90 (I), 1990-91 (II) and 1991- 92 (HI). These volumes are an essential source of reference for the serious birdwatcher or birder and we are delighted that, in co-operation with the BTO, we can now make these books available to BB subscribers on the same basis as that enjoyed by BTO members: Britain’s Birds IB alone £9.95; III + II or III + I £11.95; ffl + II + I £13.95. This offer is available, books POST FREE to BB subscribers, through British BirdShop (see ! pages ix & x) . NOTE Juvenile Spotted Eagle apparently killed by Eagle Owl On 20th July 1992, during a long-term smdy of the Spotted Eagle Aqiiila clanga in northeastern Poland, we visited three eyries and ringed three fully feathered young, which we also fitted with conventional radio transmitters. By the end of September, two of the young had become independent and had dispersed up to 25 km from the nest. The third, however, which we had also fitted with a small satellite transmitter (PTT) in order to study its departure and migration, was found dead on 26th September; its plucked remains were discovered beneath the nest, and, close by, the feathers, a pellet and excrement from an Eagle Owl Bubo bubo strongly suggested that the latter had killed the young eagle. Seven breeding pairs of Eagle Owls are known within a radius of 3 km of the eyrie, the closest only 300 m away. We supposed that the eagle had been killed at the eyrie during the night. While it is well knov\m that Eagle Owls may kill quite large raptors (Mikkola 1976, 1983), no instance of their killing a juvenile Spotted Eagle is given in the literamre (e.g. Glutz von Blotzheim et al. 1971; Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer 1980; Cramp & Simmons 1980; Piechocki 1985; Suchy 1986). Nevertheless, a seven-week-old White-tailed Eagle Haliaeeius albicilla was killed in a Polish eyrie, probably by an Eagle Owl (Falandysz & Mizera 1989). In spring 1992, we used a stuffed Eagle Owl as a decoy in an attempt to catch adult Spotted Eagles (a method used successfully for Lesser Spotted Eagles A. pornarim). Although the Spotted Eagles were almost immediately attracted, they were not aggressive enough to get caught, presumably indicating that diey regarded Eagle Owls as potentially dangerous. In one instance, a Spotted Eagle, on coming close to the decoy, was heard calling in a way which resembled the distant neighing of a horse. Benid-U. Aieyburg, Tadeusz Mizera, Grzegorz Maciorowski, Marek Dyhwerski and Arkadiusz Sniyk Wangeuheirnstrasse 32, D- 141 93 Berlin, Germany References Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1980. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 2. Oxford. Faiwnoysz, J., & Mizkr.-\, T. 1989. [Mercury content in feathers from a White-tailed Sea Eagle.] Notatki Om. 3-4: 87-91. (In Polish, with English summary.) j Gi.utz von Blotzheim, U. N., & Bauer, K. M. 1980. Handbuch der Vogel Mittelcttropas. Band i 9. Wiesbaden. j , & BE-ZZEL, E. 1971. Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas. Band 4. Frankfurt. ( Mikkola, H. 1976. Owls killing and killed by other owls and raptors in Europe. Brit. Birds 69: ! 144-154. 1983. Chvb of Europe. Calton. PiiiCHOCKi, R. 1985. Der Uhu Bubo bubo. 5th, revised edn. Wittenberg I^utherstadt. Suchy, O. 1986. [Raubvogel und Eulen als Nahning des Uhus Bubo bubo.] Sovy. Sboniik z ornitologicke konference, Prerov 14.-15.1 1.I986\ 147-152. (In Czech, with German summaiy.) 376 [Brit. Birds 88; .^76, August 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 i LETTER The Norwegian Brown-headed Cowbird The female Brown-headed Cowbird Molothnis ater at Jomfruland, Kragero, Telemark, Norway, on 1st June 1987 was not just ‘found dead’ as stated by McKay (1994). The bird was alive and feeding with Greenfinches Carduelis chlons on the ground in the garden of the bird observatory. Subsequently, it was trapped and photographed (plates 102 & 103, which have never been published before), was found to be in a weak condition, and then died. The bird is now preserved at the Zoologisk Museum in Oslo, Norway. The record is accepted by the Norwegian Rarities Committee (Bentz 1989). Jorn R. Gnstad {Secretary of the Norwegian Rarities Committee) Magmisgate 7, N-0650 Oslo, Norway References Ben'I’Z, P. G. 1989. Sjeldne fugler i Norge i 1987. Rapport fra Norsk sjeldenhetskomite for fugl (NSKF), NZF og NOE. Vdr Fuglefaima 12; 101-110. McKay, C. R. 1994. Brown-headed Cowbird in Strathclyde: new to Britain and Ireland. Brit. Birds 87: 284-288. Plates 102 & 103. Female Brown-headed Cowbird Mobihrus ater, Norway, 1st June 1987. Left, with Greenfinch Carduelis chlons. {Oyvitid Olsen) [Brit. Birds 88: 377, August 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 377 RARITIES COMMITTEE NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ZEISS The annual meeting of the British Birds Rarities Committee was held at Blunham on 1st April 1995. Escapes A matter of concern at ever\' level, from potential additions to the British List to ever^'day submissions to county recorders, is the ‘escape problem’, to which there is no simple answer. It is clear, for example, that rare waders genuinely occur in strange places in southeast England while obvious exotic escapes appear in far- flung parts of the Southwest and the Northern Isles. There seems no logic in assuming, therefore, either that Nearctic wildfowl or Asiatic passerines in Cornwall or Shetland ‘must be truly wild’ or that similar species in the Home Counties ‘must be escapes’. As both wild Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris in North America and Tufted Ducks A. fiiligula in Britain come to be fed on bread, ‘tame’ behaviour of a potential vagrant mixed up with ‘tame’ wildfowl on a British lake may not be enough evidence to prove its origin one way or another, although extreme cases may create more than reasonable doubt. The Committee believes that, although identifications may often be judged with ease, origins are frequently impossible to ascertain. With species that are known to have vagrancy potential but are also known to occur in captivity, we can only continue to look at reports and publish those of proven identity, without thereby implying that the individual birds concerned were necessarily wild in origin. Plate 104. British Birds Rarities Com- mittee, Blunham, April 1995 {Erika Sharwck). Ixft to right, Peter Clement, K. D. Shaw, Dr Colin Bradshaw, Reg 'I'horpe, R. A. Hume (Chairman), C. D. R. Heard and M. J. Rogers (Seeretar\’). G. P. Catlcy, Pete Ellis, Andy Stoddart and Grahame Walbridge were unable to attend. 378 [Brit. Birds 88; .t78-.18(), August 1995) © British Birds Ltd 1995 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 Contentious records 379 The Committee sometimes hears of comments on published accepted records such as ‘Surely everyone knows that wasn’t right?’. This is not particularly helpful and we need either to hear such doubts before a record is published or to receive a proper explanation in writing afterwards. We do not want to encourage criticism of observers by others, but a polite, reasoned and objective letter to the Secretary will ensure that the Committee takes aU the evidence into account and will help to avoid mistakes. We wish to encourage greater openness and positive contributions to debatable reports. Unsubmitted records We also repeat our desire to maintain as complete a record as possible. If you saw a rare bird which has not yet been included in an annual ‘Report on rare birds’, or which you know has not been submitted by the finder, please help to ‘plug the gap’ by sending in a description. The Committee has discussed the possibility of highlighting the finder’s name in the annual report, but this presents too many difficulties. We much prefer to have a report by an observer not involved in the finding or identification of a bird than to have no report at all, and those sending in such reports need have no fear of being accused of ‘poaching’. In particular, we should like to thank D. J. Holman for sending in copies of his field descriptions of a number of birds each year which would otherwise fail to appear anywhere. We acknowledge, however, that neither Dave Holman nor others who do the same wish to be thought of as trying to take credit for ‘other people’s birds’. ‘Eastern’ Common Redstarts Following an extensive review of the literature and examination of skins by Dr Alan Knox, the Rarities Committee has decided that, owing to the degree of overlap, it is unsafe to separate in the field females of aU ages and first-year males of Common Redstarts Phoenicunis phoenicimis of the race samamisicus from similar birds of the nominate race. Adult males of the race samamisicus differ from the nommate by showing pure white (not just pale) edges to the primaries, secondaries and sometimes tertials. Individuals showing pale edges may belong to either race, whilst those showing pale tips as well as edges are Ukely to be aberrant individuals of the nominate race. This differentiation requires excellent views and should preferably by supported by good-quality photographs (see Brit Birds 86: 378-386 for justification). Because of these strict criteria, the majority of records submitted as showing characteristics of this race have been rejected and several previously accepted records are now being reconsidered. South Coast Gull-billed Terns The Committee has been asked to re-examine the remarkable series of records of Gull-billed Terns Gelochelidon nilotica from Sussex in the early and mid 1960s. The Committee felt that it would be more logical to examine the pattern of records along the whole English south coast at that time, and has found it difficult to reach any decision. Few if any of the records would be acceptable by today’s standards (but that is true for many other perfectly good records of several other 380 Hume: Rarities Commirtee news and announcements species for that era) and we feel that the records should either stand or fall together. We shall welcome comments, especially from those involved in birding at the time and from those with knowledge of the changing status of the Gull- billed Tern in Northern Europe in the last 40 years. Please write to M. J. Rogers, Secretary BBRC, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 3AZ. New member With effect from 1st May 1995, Graham Catley resigned from the BBRC owing to pressure of other commitments. We are pleased to announce that a candidate already independently nominated for the post which w'ould normally have become vacant on 1st April 1996, Doug Page of Doncaster, has been co-opted as a replacement for Graham with immediate effect. We are sorry to lose Graham, whose contribution to the Committee has been excellent and unstinting. We wish him well in his alternative endeavours and have no doubt that his expertise concerning rarities matters will still be called upon from time to time. Doug Page had been on the Committee’s own ‘short list’ of potential members before his nomination. We are delighted to have such a capable ready-made replacement to call upon. Graham Catley’s resignation will obviate the need for the usual retirement of the longest-serving member. Doug Page will stand for formal election to the Committee at the beginning of 1996 and nominations for alternative candidates should be submitted before 31st December 1995 to me at the address below. Newly accepted first records Two records, both of which predate the previously accepted first records on the British & Irish List and both already accepted by the Rarities Committee, have now also been accepted by the BOU Records Committee: Long-toed Stint Calidris submiNiita, Marazion, Cornwall, 7th-8th June 1970. Iceland Gull Lams glaucoides of race kunilieiii^ colloquially known as ‘KumUen’s Gull’, Penzance, Cornwall, 3rd- 15th March 1979. The BOURC has also notified the acceptance of the following specimen record from Northern Ireland, which predates the previously accepted first record on the British & Irish List: Pallid Swift Apus pallidus, St John’s Point, Co. Down, 30th October 1913. R. A. Hume 15 Cedar Gardens, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 II-Y ZEISS I'he British Birds Rarities Committee is sponsored by Carl Zeiss Lid. 1 m 1 The definitive binocular. Outstanding twilight performance, maximum contrast, optimum brilliance and first class image quality. Thanks to a totally new optical system with major improvements to many important details. A waterproof, nitrogen filled housing with DesignSelection styling for good looks and maximum ease of handling. The perfect synthesis of function, convenience and prestige: 'technical precision in its most attractive form. In other words a new dimension in binocular technology from Carl Zeiss, guaranteed to withstand the excesses of climate and nature for the next thirty years. ^ A The mark of Carl Zeiss quality Night Owls 7x45 B, 8x56 B, 10x56 B For the full 'Facts and Figures' about Carl Zeiss binoculars, please complete the coupon below and send to: Carl Zeiss Limited, Binocular Division, Dept. BB, PO Box 78, Welwyn Garden City, Flerts. AL7 1LU. Name Address Postcode ZEISS Whether you’re new to birdwatching or an experienced birder, there’s only one place to find all the informa- tion you need. Biidwatch is published specifically to help you improve your skills, and to keep you informed each month on everything from iden- tification, bird behaviour, conservation and where to watch, to all the latest sight- ings, rare bird news, product reviews and topical comment - including Bill Oddie’s regular monthly column. This month: August issue on sale NOW September issue on sale 24 August ■ Yellow-legged Gulls Taxonomy, identification and a change in status? ■ Itineraries From Cornwall to Morocco ■ Rarities and reports Ross's Gull, River Warbler, Citrine Wagtail in colour ■ FREE RUTUND GUIDE 16-page official programme Birdwatch ESSENTIAL FOR ALL BIRDWATCHERS Cygnus WiMlife Consistently the most enjoyable birdwatching tours worldwide. 1996 PROGRAMME OF ESCORTED BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS INCLUDES: ★ NORTHERN INDIA ★ WASHINGTON STATE ★ SOUTH AFRICA ★ SRI LANKA ★ NORTHERN ARGENTINA ★ CATALONIA ★ TIGER SPECIAL’ ★ SOUTHERN ARGENTINA ★ MAJORCA ★ VIETNAM ★ TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ★ SPANISH PYRENEES ★ MALAYSIA ★ ARIZONA & CALIFORNIA ★ SLOVAKIA ★ NEW ZEALAND ★ BRAZIL ★ HUNGARY ★ AUSTRALIA ★ ETHIOPIA ★ POU\ND ★ HAWAII ★ KENYA ★ TEXAS ★ NAMIBIA For full details of these, and other exciting tours, please ask for our free brochure; we will be pleased to hear from you at the following address: CYGNUS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS, 57 FORE STREET, KINGSBRIDGE, DEVON TQ7 1 PG Telephone: (01548) 856178 Fax: (01548) 857537 Li 3111 Tree Swallow in Scilly: new to the Western Palearctic Jeremy Hickman The Isles of Scilly is renowned as a haven for displaced migrant birds, and the autumn pilgrimage of observers in September and October is famous in ornithological circles. June is usually a quiet month for numbers of visiting birdwatchers, as are the other months outside the aumrnn, but June 1990 was the exception. In one five-day period, between 800 and 1,000 people came to see one bird: the first record for Britain & Ireland, Europe and the Western Palearctic of a North American species. Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor. On Wednesday 6th June 1990, having finished my shift behind the bar in the Mermaid Inn, I decided to go to Forth Hellick. I watched from the main hide for a while and could hardly believe how devoid of bird life it was. I could not even console myself by counting the Moorhens Gallinula chloropus. At about 19.00 BST, five hirundines approached low over the pool: one House Martin Delichon iirbica, three Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica and another bird. This fifth bird gave the impression of a martin, but with no white rump and a glossy blue-green mantle and crown, and pure white underparts. My heart sank as the bird then flew to the back of the pool and began hawking around the pines and surrounding fields. I rushed to Sluice to obtain closer views and to note its plumage in detail. It appeared slightly bigger and bulkier in the body than a House Martin, with broader-based wings and more powerful flight. Its underparts were all pure snowy white, from its chin to its undertail-coverts, with only a very tiny extension of white from the flanks to the upperside of the body at the base of the wing. Its upperparts were the most amazing bright, glossy blue-green. The wings and tail were matt-black, and the underwing and undertail off-white to silvery grey. The colour of the crown extended well below the level of the eye and squared off into the ear-coverts. The shape of the tail was similar to that of House Martin, being short, but less forked when closed. The next few minutes were total panic. Would it go? Would it stay? What was [Brit. Birds 88; 381-384, August 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 381 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 8, August 1995 383 it? I was not calm! As it was June, there was no-one anywhere. At about 20.00 BST, I ran back to my car and drove to Old Town to phone the other resident birders on St Mary’s (all tw^o of them). At this stage, I was stiU unsure of exactly what I had found. I was not expecting to see American birds in June, and I had no knowledge of any eastern species of this namre. I phoned Carl Downing and Adrian Hickman to discuss the possibilities. CD and AH explained that Violet-green Swallow T. thalassina had large white sides to the rump and a bare facial expression, with the only green gloss being on the cap, and white cheeks. It was also unlikely as a vagrant, being found in the Western States of North America. It was, however, the week of the Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus on Lundy, Devon, so anything was possible. Bahama Swallow T. cyaneoviridis, another unlikely vagrant, is much more like a Barn Swallow, with a deeply forked tail, so was easily eliminated. CD and AH, using A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World (Turner & Rose 1989), were able to help me to rule out species originating in the East as well, and to identify the bird that I had found as a North American Tree Swallow. On driving back to Forth Hellick, my panic had turned into elation. I re-entered the hide like a polaris missile to fmd, to my embarrassment, three visitors quietly and patiently birdwatching. They enquired as to my disposition and I told them of my earlier sighting. Luckily the bird was still present, but was in amongst a larger group of hirundines. We watched it until dusk, confident that it would be around the following day. Thankfully, it did stay in the Forth Hellick area until the morning of 10th June 1990, when it departed with the same group of hirundines with which it had arrived. A photograph by Jack Levene has already been published in British Birds (84: plate 266). Description The following details were compiled during several days of observ^ations, and include points noted by C. D. R. Heard, F. G. Lansdown, K. E. Vinicombe and W. Wagstaff SIZE AND S TRUCTURE Obviously a hirundine. Slighdy larger than House Martin. Bulkier in the body, with broader-based wings and bulging secondaries. Short tail like that of House Martin, less forked than House Martin’s when closed. HEAD Forehead, crown and nape all iridescent blue-green/bottle-green, the colour extending below eye level and squared off into the ear- co\'erts. The colour of the crown was possibly lighter and greener than the general upperpart coloration, with a thick black eye-stripe I bulging downwards behind eye. UPPERPARTS Because of the nature of the iridescent plumage, it is difficult adequately or correctly to state the colour, as it varied in different shades of sunlight. It has been variously described, but metallic blue with a slight green tint is, to my mind, the most accurate. Whitish bases to the shafts of the first two visible primaries gave a ‘slatted’ effect to the wings in flight. Tail matt black above and silver-grey below. LtNDERPARTS Pure snow-white from cliin to undertail-coverts. Underwing and undertail off-white to silver-grey. Axillaries and underwing-coverts dusky. Submarginal coverts with diru^ white tips. BARE PARTS Legs and feet grey. Rather long- legged, Mth the tarsus clearly visible at rest; also, large feet vtith long claws. Rather liquid- looking, black eyes. IPlates 105-110. Tree Swallow Tachycmeta bicolor, St Mary’s, Scilly, June 1990. (Top three, Robin Chittenden-, fourth, Martin P. Goodey, bottom left, Robin Chittenderr, bottom right, Jack - Levene) 384 Hickman: Tree Swallow: new to the Western Palearctic Behaviour Flight possibly less dashing than that of Barn Swallow, with several quick loose flaps followed by a glide on upswept wings. Quite often appeared to stall in mid- air, hunching its body, looking downwards and fanning its tail. Tended to perch on rocks and posts, where it was heard to sing. This presumably means that it was a male. The song was a soft, liquid chirping with some notes recalling Barn Swallow. The call was a soft ‘t-reep’. Origin Tree Swallow had been regarded by Chandler S. Robbins as a candidate for transatlantic vagrancy {Brit. Birds 73: 448-457), but I doubt if this one crossed the Atlantic in June. From its association with northward-moving European hirundines, it seems more credible that it crossed the Atlantic in the previous autumn and had already wintered in Europe or Africa. Acknowledgments I should like to thank C. R. Downing and A. E. D. Hickman for tlieir help on identification, and special thanks to Bernard D. Bond for all the beer. D. J. D. Hickman, 46 Adelaide Street, Penzance, Cornzoall TR18 2ER KDi roRiAL COMMI-N'P Rob Hume, Chairman of the British Birds Rarities Com- mittee, and Dr David Parkin, Chairman of the BOU Records Committee, have commented that ‘Acceptance of the identification was straightforward. Members of the BBRC looked at skins at The Natural History Museum. The upperparts of most are strongly iridescent, but others are quite dull. A few are predominantly green, but some are strongly purple-hued. The bright plumage and song suggest that the bird was an adult male. ‘This is an abundant species along the Atlantic coast of North America that occurs in variable numbers on offshore islands such as Bermuda and Sable Island. It is not a long-distance migrant, but is unknown in trade so that its escape risk is virtually nil. The record was accepted, and the species admitted to Category' A of the British List. ‘It is not possible to decide whether the bii'd was newly arrived in Europe, or whether it had arrived the previous autumn and overwintered. It is even possible that it crossed the Atlantic farther south, perhaps to West Africa, and moved north with returning Palearctic hirundines. ‘An earlier record of this species, from Derbyshire in 1850, was also considered by the BOURC. The details of its shooting are rather vague. It passed through several pairs of hands, and even the original recorder, John Wolley, admitted that there was “quite a possibility of mistake”. It seemed safer not to admit this record (see Brit. Birds 86: 188).’ ZEISS The inclusion of plates 105-110 in colour has been subsidised by Carl Zeiss Ltd, sponsor of the British Birds Rarities Committee NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Bob Scott and Wendy Dickson Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ DNA and captive registrations Most readers will have noticed the increasing use of DNA tests in court cases involving captive birds of prey. Earlier this year, such evidence resulted in a custodial sentence on one ‘bird-breeder’. It was during 1993 that this tech- nique became well known and it has since become a more regular monitoring tool. We therefore ask the question: Has the reduction in new registrations of Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus and Northern Goshawks Accipiter gentilis in 1994 anything to do with these tests? Registrations reported in Hansard have been as follows: 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Peregrine 269 319 290 360 289 Goshawk 79 155 141 154 116 At much the same time as this information became known, the Environment Minister, Sir Paul Beresford, announced that the Government was providing funding to extend and promote the use of DNA testing to improve the protec- tion of threatened species. A total of ;“3n below. Every effort is made to * 3 our full range of equipment : t payment can be made in all the ..ral ways. Repairs can also be V ded in. *10.00 am to 4.00 pm * f| WAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL I .TirURE RESERVE on the B2145 I : > Selsey, West Sussex, on I Mday 27th August, 24th I pwtember and 29th October. I 56EVENOAKS WILDFOWL I S6ERVE on the A25 between ^rhead and Sevenoaks Bat and - station on Sunday 3rd ■ jKtember, 1st October and 5th ■ wember. I 5COUGH BEECH NATURE I S8ERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 ' south of the A25/A21 junction I ' 1 access from the B2042 or "27; the information centre is to I north of the reservoir) on I vday 20th August, 17th I Xftemberand 15th October. I H.LIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) ! ,ge Hall (on the left, halfway 1 g village road into the W&WT). I L.irday 2nd September and 4th I rr ember. ME KENT TRUST FOR ■ ruURE CONSERVATION in the nd Barn, near Sandling, .'-Istone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, g south), on Sunday 27th ivust and 29th October, 10.30 IKO 4.00 pm. "■vNTON PASTURES COUNTRY IKK, Near Reading, Berks, clay 10th September and 19th “smber, in the Loddon Room. EcWL WATER, on A21 just T of Lamberhurst, Kent, in the c ration Centre on Sunday 24th le ember. E'iNFIELD. W. Sussex. Sussex ■’ife Trust at Woods Mill, r fay 22nd October. 1 L’.TON WATER, near Ipswich, -Ik (on the B1080) Saturday ^August. UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical Est. 1962 - SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc SWAROVSKI 8x30SLCMklll 549 10x42SLC (659)735 7 X 42 SLC (599) 670 AT 80 body (45°) (595) 665 ST 80 body (595) 665 AT80 HD body (45°) (859) 960 ST80 HD body (859) 960 22x eyepiece (78) 90 30x (WA) EP (new) (130)145 20-60x zoom eyepiece ... .(1 89) 21 5 Opiical camera adaptor (800mm) (141) 145 LEICA 8 X 20 BC Trinovid (259) 265 8 X 20 BCA Trinovid (295) 299 10 X 25 BC Trinovid (295)299 10x25 BCA Trinovid (309)316 Soft Pouch 24 8 X 32 BA Trinovid' 698 7 X 42 BA Trinovid' (729) 778 8 X 42 BA Trinovid' (729) 778 1 0 X 42 BA Trinovid' (749) 798 8 X 50 BA Trinovid' (889) 950 10x50 BA Trinovid (889)950 Carrying strap 26 (2 year free accident cover) LEICA APO Televid scope 960 LEICA Std. Televid scope 498 20-60x (B) zoom eyepiece 221 20x (WW/B) eyepiece 135 40x (B) eyepiece 110 Photo adaptor 204 ER case 98 ZEISS OPTICAL CENTRE 8 X 20B Classic 225 10 X 25B Classic 265 Classic pouch 20 10 X 25 B/TP (New DS) 359 8 X 20 B7TP (New DS) 349 8 X 30 BGA/T (P) 699 7 X 42 BGA7T(P) (699) 769 10 X 40 BGAd(P) (699) 769 7 X 45 Night Owi 879' 8x56 Night Owl 979' 10x56 Night Owl 1059' 'ex-case 15x60BGA7r 1,499 SWIFT 8 X 42 RA UltraLite 219 10x42 RAUIIraLite 219 7 X 42 RA UltraLite 219 8Vz X 44 HR Audubon 269 10x50 Audubon 289 NIKON 8 X 30 ECF porro WF 299 10X35ECFporroWF 349 Fieldscope II body 299 Fieldscope II (A) 45” 329 ED II body 539 ED II (A) 45° 559 15x, 20x, 30x or 40x EP (84) 94 30x (WA) eyepiece 179 60x eyepiece 115 20-45x zoom EP 179 ED 78 759 ED78A 839 Camera adaptor 200 Mod for other cameras 18 KOWA TSN-1 (45°) or -2 body . . . .(299) 349 TSN-3 (45°) or -4 body . . . .(599) 699 25x or 40x eyepiece (72) 80 20x (WA) eyepiece (109)127 30x (WA) eyepiece (1 39) 1 62 60x eyepiece (1 05) 1 38 77x eyepiece (105)125 20-60X zoom eyepiece ... .(1 75) 1 96 Camera adaptor 800mm . .(1 35) 1 50 Camera adaptor 1 200mm .(1 99) 231 Stay-on case 45 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 74 TS-61 1 body (45°) (249) 304 TS-612body (229)284 TS-61 3 Fluorite body (45°) (51 9) 634 TS-61 4 Fluorite body (469) 584 TS-61 0 accessories: 20x (WA) eyepiece (64) 74 27x (WA) eyepiece (95) 109 20-60X zoom eyepiece . . . .(115) 127 20-40X zoom eyepiece 150 Stay-on case 40 BUSHNELL 8 X 42 Natureview 129 10 X 42 Natureview 149 8 X 32 Trophy (w/p) 195 10 X 42 Trophy (w/p) 219 8 X 40 Birder 59 RANGER ZM-Makro scope with 15-45x zoom eyepiece (uses Nikon spotting scope eyepieces) & case 234 OPTOLYTH 8x30Alpin (258)285 8x40Alpin (279)309 10x40Alpin (283)305 10x50Alpin (315)331 12x50Alpin (320)340 7x42Alpin (295)329 TBG 80 body (475) 530 TBS 80 body (475)530 TBG or TBS 80 HD (669)789 30x (WW) eyepiece (1 57) 1 90 20x (WW) eyepiece (1 38) 1 70 30x or 40x eyepiece (87) 89 70x (WW) eyepiece (1 89) 21 0 20-60X zoom eyepiece . . . .(165) 210 Cam. adaptor 850mm 185 Stay-on case 44 DISCOVERY 8 X 42 or 10 X 42 RP, GA . .(129) 135 OPTICRON 8x32Dioptron (139)196 8 X 42 Dioptron (1 49) 1 98 10x42Dioptron (149)207 10x50 Dioptron (159)214 8 x 32 (HRII) (204) 224 HERTS/BUCKS BORDER TRING PLANT & GARDEN CENTRE, BULBOURNE ROAD, Nr. TRING, HERTS HP23 SHF Open: Tues to Sat, 1 0am-5pm Sunday (1 1 .00am to 4.00pm) Phone/Fax: 01442 825590 Location: On B488, 10 minutes from A41 near Tring. Very accessible from Ml , M25, etc. Viewing facilities (Easy disabled access) Parking: On Site 8x42 (HRII) (215)225 10x42 (HRII) (219)239 10x50 (HRII) (229)249 12'/j X 50 (HRII) 264 7 X 42 (HRII) (205) 225 7x24, 8x24 or 10x24 MCF 122 Roof prism binos (new): 7 X 36 BGA 375 8 X 42 BGA 395 10x42 BGA 395 10x50 BGA 399 HR 60mm scopes: Standard 60s body 236 60/45° body (angled) 310 60/SR body (rubberised) 273 60/SR ED body (rubberised) . . . .475 60/45° ED body (angled) 499 New gen. scopes: HR 66 (299) 326 HR 66 (45°) (326)355 15x, 20x, 25x or40x HR eyepiece 44 20x WW HDF eyepiece 96 28x WW HDF eyepiece 122 22x W HR eyepiece 57 30x W HR eyepiece 59 60x HR eyepiece 49 20-60x zoom eyepiece 132 Soft nylon case 14 Stay-on case 44 HR 80mm body (345) 390 Eyepieces as above but increase power by 33Vs% Soft nylon case 18 Stay-on case 44 NIGHT VISION Helios TZS-4 229 MANFROTTO TRIPODS NEW! We now Stock a wide selection of BIRD and NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS, in association with SUBBUTEO NHB LTD. REPAIRS • Optical instrument experience unrivalled. All makes serviced, including Zeiss, Leica etc. • Mail Order (same day) • Personal Exports • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments) • Part exchange arranged • Used items • Package deals E.&O.E. E5 * RECULVER COUNTRY PARK (KTNC), 3 miles east of Herne Bay. Access from /\299 (Thanet Way) through Hillborough. In the interpretation centre on Sunday 1st October 10.00 am-3.00 pm. * HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR (off A130, north of Basildon). Sunday 13th August and 8th October, near fishing lodge. * QUEEN ELIZABETH COUNTRY PARK, 4 miles south of Petersfield, Hants., on the A3. Sunday 8th October. ★ DENHAM COUNTRY PARK. Bucks., (A40, M40 junction, A412, A413, etc) Saturday 23rd September and 21 st October. All prices subject to fluctuation, usually upwards! THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS in focus NORFOLK MAIN STREET, TITCHWEU, NR. KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK, PE31 8BB Open 7 doys 9.00am • 6.00pm Tel: 01485 210101 HOW TO FIND US, We are 500 yards easf of tfie RSPB reserve ot Titchwell on the Al 49 between Hunstanton ond Broncaster in focus HERTFORDSHIRE 204 HIGH STREH, BARNET, HERTFORDSHIRE. ENS SSZ Open Mon • Sot 9.00am • 6.00pm Tel: 0181-449 1445,0181-441 7748 Fax:0181-440 9999 HOW TO FIND US, We ore 1 0 mtns from M25 ond Al M rrroforways and 1 5 mtns walk from High Barnet Tube StOhon Situated of the Hadley Green end of Bomet High Street in focus YORKSHIRE WESTLEIGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, CgWSm WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HD8 8QJ Open Mon - Sot 9.00am - 6.00pm Tel: 01 484 864729 HOW TO FIND US; We are close by the roilway stotion at Denby Dale on the A636 near June. 38 & 39 on the Ml in focus LEICESTERSHIRE ANGLIAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE EGLHON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE15 BBT Open Weekends and Bank Holidays 9.00am ■ 5.00pm Tel: 01572 770656 HOW TO FIND US, We are situoted on the Egleton Reserve ot RuHond Water Follow signposts to Egleton Villoge on the A6003 to Oakham. in focus CENTRAL LONDON 8, 9 & 10 ROYAL OPERA ARCADE, PAUMAU, LONDON, SW1Y4UY Open Mon - Fri 9.00am • 6.00pm Sat 9.00am - 4.00pm Tel: 0171-839 1881 Fax:0171-839 8118 HOW TO FIND US, We ore 300 yards from Piccadilly Underground Stotion in Royal Opero Arcade oetween Pall Moll and Charles II Street in focus SLIMBRIDGE, ffSgQp B GLOUCESTERSHIRE r THE WILDFOWL AND WHLANDS TRUST, SUMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL2 7BT Open 7 days 9.30om - 5.30pm Tel: 01453- 890333, 0374-746472 HOW TO FIND US, We are situated within the reserve with viewing over the Swan Loke The centre is well signposted from the M5 motorway. AUTUMN FIELD EYENTI 1 Tl AT LAST A QUALITY BINOCULAR AT A SENSIBLE PRICE FOR CUSTOMERS PREFFERING TO SELECT AND PURCHASE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS WE OFFER THE FOaOWING PROGRAAAME WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE RSPB, WWT AND COUNTY TRUSTS EVENTS ARE HELD FROM 1 0.00AM-4.00PM AUGUST BRITISH BIRDWATCHING FAIR Egleton Nature Reserve Rutland Water Fri 1 8 - Sun 20 Aug SUNDAY 20TH A8BERT0N Rf StRVOIII. COICHFSTER SATURDAY 26TH KENFIG NATURE RESERVE. MID GIAMORGAN SATURDAY 26TH A SUNDAY 27TH RSPB BARONS HAUGK, MOIHERWEU SUNDAY 27TH WWI (FNIRE ttANEllI, OYFED SUNDAY 27TH EAIRBURN INGS, CASIIEFORD ESSEX WALES SCOTLAND WALES WEST YORKSHIRE lyHtil i SATURDAY 2ND & SUNDAY 3RD WWT CFNTRF WASHINGTON SUNDAY 3RD TRIMIFY MARSHES. NR PEIIXSTOWE SUNDAY 3RD PENNINGTON PUSH. LEIGH SUNDAY 3RD TO WEDNESDAY 6TH RSPB ARNE. NR WAREHAM SATURDAY 9TH EXMOUTH. EXE ESTUARY SATURDAY 9TH t SUNDAY lOTH BRITISH countryside PAIR, CARSINGTON WATER. SUNDAY tOTH ROAOFORO RESERVOIR. OPF A30 BETWEEN LAUNCESTON & SUNDAY lOTH FISHERS GREEN. LEE VALLEY COUNTRY PARK SATURDAY I 6TH & SUNDAY 1 7TH WWT CENTRE MARTIN MERE, ORMSKIRK SATURDAY 16TH t SUNDAY 17TH RSPB 0UN6ENESS SUNDAY T7TH ABBFRTON RESERVOIR. COLCHESTER SATURDAY 23RD & SUNDAY 24TH RSPB LOOMOOR, WEYMOUTH SATURDAY 23RD I SUNDAY 24TH RSPB RYE HOUSE. RYE HOUSE MARSH SUNDAY 24TH HORRID BIRO FAIR, RIVERSIDE COUNTRY PARK. GILLINGHAM SUNDAY 24TH EAIRBURN INGS. CASTLEFORD TYNE & WEAR SUFFOLK GREATER MANCHESTER DORSET SOUTH DEVON DERBYSHIRE OKEHAMPTON MID DEVON ESSEX LANCASHIRE KENT ESSEX DORSET HERTFORDSHIRE KENT WESTYORKSHIRE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER SATURDAY BOTH SEPT A SUNDAY 1ST OCT MWllSh W4RPEK SATURDAY BOTH SEPT X SUNDAY I ST OCT RSPB BIACKTOEI SANDS SUNDAY 1ST tHAtCHAM NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE, NEWBURY SUNDAY 1ST PENNINGTON ElASH SOUTH DEVON SOUTH HUMBERSIDE BERKSHIRE GREATER MANCHESTER Full WoTerproofing Compact Lightweight Shape Rubber Armauring Superb Fully Caated Optics Excellent Clase Focussing Ideal for Spectacle Wearers Full Internal Focussing 30 Year Warranty EXCEEDS SPECIFICATIONS AND HANDUNG NORMAUY FOUND IN BINOCUURS COSTING £600 OR MORE The Delta Roof Prism Available in 8x42 and 10x42 Complete with Soft Cose & Wide Neck Strap ONLY (^mc^ Jlsica Nikon Volbon (KiBUSHnELL SWIFT SL.1K OPTOLYTH SWAROVSKI CUUMANN OjOttOTOO ZEISS I'i'.omr FROM OUR FULL TELESCOPE RANGE OPTiCRON CLASSIC If 60/IF 75 BODIES AVAILABLE IN SIRAIGHt OR ANGIED VERSIONS NOW ACCEPT HR EYEPIECE RANGE COMPtETE OUTFITS FROM BELOW £200.00 PICCOLO II BODY OffERS UGHTWEIGHT GOOD OUAtITY VIEWING WITH ACCESS TO FUU HR AND HDF EYEPIECE RANGE BODY WITH 20X EYEPIECE FROM £ 1 99.00 HIGH RESOLUTION IN 60MM OR 46MM RANGES IN STRAIGHT OR ANGIED VERSIONS WITH EXTENSIVE HR/HDf EYEPIECE RANGE HR66 WITH 20X HDf FROM £420.00. HR60 GA WITH 22XWA EYEPIECE PROM £330.00 HR80 BODY FROM £390.00 NIKON SPOTTING SCOPES IN STRAIGHT OR ANGIED VERSIONS FITTED WITH 20X OR I5X ASX EYEPIECES SUPPLIED WITH CASE FROM £276.00 FIELDSCOPE II 60 RANGE WITH MC OR ED GUXSS IN SIRAIGHT OR ANGLED EYEPIECE VERSIONS WITH A WIDE RANGE Of EYEPIECES £389.00 ED VERSIONS FROM £699.00 ED 78 SUPPtlED IN STRAIGHT OR ANGLED VERSIONS OFFERS THE HIGHEST POSSIBlt PERFORMANCE WITH A FUU EYEPIECE RANGE PRICES START AT AROUND £1000.00 KOWA UGHTWEIGHT TS610 SERIES AVAITABIE IN SIRAIGHI OR ANGIED VERSIC5NS WITH MC OR ED GLASS ACCEPTS A FULL RANGE Of TS AND TSN EYEPIECES BODIES AVAITABIE FROA £284.00 ED MODELS FROM £584.00 TSN 77MM RANGE IN STRAIGHT OR ANGLED BODY IN MC OR FLUORITE (PROMINARI VERSIONS FULL RANGE OF EYEPIECES AVAIUkBLE FROM 20XWA TO 77X INCLUDING POPULAR 30XWA BODIES FROM AROUND £379.00 FLUORITE MOT5CLS FROM AROUND £735.00 OPTOLYTH TBG/TBS 80MM MODELS AVAILABLE IN SIRAIGHI OR ANGLED VERSIONS MC OR HDF MODELS WITH FUUT WATERPROOF NITROGEN FILLED ARMOURED BODIES FULL EYEPIECE RANGE INCLUDES VERY POPULAR 30XWW PHOTO ADAPTOR NOW AVAILABLE BODIES FROM £555.00 HOF MODELS FROM £8 15.00 ■MB FREE TRIPOD WITH ALL NEW 'SCOPES SUPPORT SYSTEMS mVJHElWA HS 644B TXIPOO C125.00 HIDE CLAMPS FROM C4S.00 StlirMASTER 02 TRIPOD C139.00 CAR WINDOW MOUNTS FROM C3S.00 MANFROTTO 790 & 17B R( HEAD C) 33.00 UNIVERSAL MOUNT FROM C36.00 VEL60N TRIPODS FROM CS9.9S QUICK RELEASE SYSTEMS FROM £12.00 CULLMAN 8IRDING TRIPODS FROM £89.00 TRIPOD STRAPS FROM £8.00 IN FOCUS STAY-ON CASES NOW AVAIIAIIE TO FIT MOST 'SCOPES FROM £44.00 BOOKS Al oil our sKops we COrry o good ronge oF Field ond ideniiFicoiion guides os well os 0 Full seleciiOA oF i^ip reporis REPAIRS Full service ond repair Foolities in our own workshops All work comes our six month worronfy MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Pleose remember to odd £2 00 lowords the cosi ol insured Trokbok posioge ond pocking whether poyino by cheque.Viso. Access or Mosterco'd-ond goods 'll! be despatched wilh lull 14' ‘ ' ' i doys opprovol on receipt ol you' remiTtonce SECOND HAND ITEMS All instruments oFFered with six month worronty As slock turnover ■s high phone For lolesl details PAET-iXCHAN08S ALWAYS WfLCOMI. ALL LISTINOS COEEICT AT TIMi OF OOINO TO PEiSS. lAOI. PNONI FOE LATEST PEICES. THE NATURA HISTORY MU£ SI AUG 19b PRESENTED TRING LIBRARY British Birds Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 Lark Sparrow in Suffolk: new to the Western Palearctic Trevor D. Charlton Landguard Point in coastal Suffolk has, over recent decades, proved to be the county’s most important migratory watchpoint. Indeed, so much so that in 1984 an unofficial bird observatory developed, steered by a strong force of local ornithologists. Fortunately, this commitment still continues to this day. Through its flourishing popularity and intensive coverage since the early 1980s, Landguard has played host to an impressive variety of rare birds from both the East and the West. Perhaps the most memorable of these was the Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus: an individual whose arrival was to provoke much controversy, and which was set to embark upon a prolonged passage before entering Category A of the British List. The following account highlights the occurrence of this Lark Sparrow, which turned out to be Landguard’s first major crowd-pulling bird. On the warm and sunny afternoon of 30th June 1981, my wife Lesley (LHC) and I decided to visit Landguard Point with the intention of an afternoon’s casual birding. Not surprisingly, as it was late June, there were few birds to see, so we switched our attention to the reserve’s flora. This was, however, short-lived as, whilst walking the open short grassy sward near the Coastguard’s Cottage at 14.45 BST, we flushed a flock of about 20 House Sparrows Passer domesticus, a Sky Lark Alauda arvensis and an intriguing, slightly smaller and darker bird. The tantaHsingly brief flight view of the smaller bird suggested a bunting Ernberiza, with a relatively long tail which, when fanned, showed an extraordinary amount [Bril. Birds 88; 395-400, September 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 395 396 Charlton: Lark Sparrow: new to the Western Palcarctic of white on its edges and comers. The bird landed about 100 m away in a cluster of Yellow Homed-poppies Glaudum flavurn on a raised shingle bank, where it remained completely concealed for a few tantalising minutes. As we approached to within 30 m of the poppies, the bird momentarily peeped out through the foliage, revealing a rather complex face-and-head pattern, recalling Rustic Bunting E. mstica, only to retreat again into obscurity. Being conscious of recent predominantly westerly weather, time of year and unusual tail pattern, I considered that Rustic Bunting was unlikely. So what could it be? Moments later, the bird showed again, this time out in the open, revealing all, including a startling dark breast-spot. Ha\ ing seen many of the American sparrows in the USA some years earlier, I realised that we were watching a British ‘first’, one of North America’s few sparrows to sport such a breast marking; but which one? Following rapid sketching and note-taking, I telephoned Derek Moore, then Suffolk’s County Bird Recorder, from the Coastguard’s Cottage. News of an unidentified Nearctic sparrow was quickly passed to local birders, and shortly afterwards the late Messrs Arthur Westcott and Harry Lee arrived, armed with a field guide. From the book, I was able positively to identify the bird as Europe’s first Lark Sparrow. 0\ er the following eight days, the bird was well watched by many hundreds of obser\'ers. The bird allowed prolonged and sometimes close views which provided ideal opportunities for note-taking and photography (Bni. Birds 74: plate 236; 86; plate 201; 88: plates 112-114). The following description is based on field notes taken by TDC and LHC over several days. Description sizi; AND SHAPI-; Similar in size to a House Sparrow, though notably slimmer, longer- legged and longer-tailed. Head shape reealled wpieal bunting, often showing peaked rear erown. ill-AO PA'rn;RN V’ery striking indeed. Crow'n- stripe ereamy on forehead, merging with ereamy-buff on crown and becoming greyer towards nape. Lateral crown-stripe appeared black forward of eye, becoming dark chestnut towards rear. Supercilium creamy, slightly huffier along upper edge. Eye-stripe black and thin, extending from bill through eye to rear edge of ear-coverts. Ear-coverts dark chestnut, beginning at base of bill, grading to paler chestnut towards rear, where prominent white spot present. Malar stripe black, starting very thin at bill base and thickening towards end. Submoustachial stripe white. Eye-ring white and broken, with most prominent area below eye, formed by white crescent. Nape greyish-brow'ii, blending to warm buff breast sides. um-Ki’AR rs iVlantlc, scapulars, back and rump grey-brown, perhaps a shade darker than those of female House Sparrow, with irregular blackish streaking extending to rump. Lesser and median coverts darker brown than mantle, grading darker towards tips of median coverts, forming line of about five blackish spots with cream tips, resulting in thin but distinctive wing-bar. Outer greater coverts black-centred, grading paler brown towards innermost coverts. All greater coverts edged pale brown, including tips, which formed indistinct wing- bar. Alula appeared completely dark brown. Greater primar>- covens dark brown, edged pale brown. Primaries, secondaries and tertials dark brown, all edged pale brown, with secondaries and tertials darker tlian primaries. Short off-white notch recalling that of Wood Lark Liilhila arborcn present directly below dosed greater primar\’ coverts. iiNDi'Rl’AR i\s Chin and throat white, llpper breast white with eonspicuous central black spot. Breast spot had white cleft on top side, forming horseshoe shape. Breast sides warm buff, with lower breast and belly greyish-white, shading to huff on flanks and \-ent. Vent hounded by dark brown che\ ron on each side of body, though not meeting on the underside, a feature not illustrated in field guides. Under! ail-coverts creamy. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 397 TAIL Blackish-centred, with most visible rectrices showing brown fringe, except outermost, which was white on outer web and broadly tipped white. White tips to each rectrLx reduced in size towards centre of tail. Undertail appeared white. BARE PAR I S Eye appeared black. Bill pale lead- grey with slighdy paler lower mandible. Legs flesh-coloured with bluish-grey feet. VOICE On the few occasions that we heard the bird call, it gave a quiet, disyllabic, nasal or coarse ‘tsssi-tsssi’, ‘tssit-tssit’ or ‘pnTip-prrrip’, repeated two to four times in succession. Behaviour The Lark Sparrow was fairly approachable and occasionally offered views down to about 4 m. It fed mainly on its own, out in the open, either on a short-grass Plates 112 & 113. Lark Sparrow Choiidestes grarnrnacus, Landguard Point, Suffolk, 4th July 1981 {David M. Coltridge) I 398 Charlton: Lark Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic ! sward interspersed with Common Restharrow Ononis repens and Lady’s Bedstraw | Galium verurn or on sandy-shingle ground, paths and road. It occasionally fed alongside House Sparrows and Linnets Carduelis cannabina in a rather typical bunting-like fashion, being crouched and showmg very litde, if any, leg. The bird most often hopped but on occasions ran, stopping sharply to peck at the ground in a rather plover-like manner. It sometimes scurried short distances across open ground in pursuit of low-flying insects, flicking its wings and tail in the process. When alarmed, it stood erect, stretching its head upwards. Status and distribution The Lark Sparrow occurs throughout western and central USA, with a range expansion to southeastern seaboard states in recent years. It winters in central and southern California, southern Arizona and south-central Texas, south to Central America. Status on the British List The identification of the Lark Sparrow was accepted unanimously by the British Birds Rarities Committee {Bni. Birds 75: 531). The BOU Records Committee considered that the escape possibility, especially from the Low Countries, could not be ruled out, and therefore took the cautious decision to place the species in Category D rather than admit it to the British List {Ibis 126: 443). The background to this decision was explained in detail in British Birds in an editorial response to a letter on ship-assisted passage by Steve N. G. Howell {Brit. Birds 78: 52-53). Subsequently, following new information about the species’ distribution and migration in the USA, combined with a modification of the BOURC’s definition of Category D, the BOURC decided to promote the Lark Sparrow’s status to inclusion within Category A of the British List {Ibis 135: 221). Almost ten years on, Barry Jarvis found Britain’s second Lark Sparrow, at Waxham, Norfolk, on 15th May 1991 {Brit. Birds 84: plates 306 & 307; 86: 530). Plate 114. Lark Sparrow Chondcsta. Landjiiiard Point, Suffolk, 3rd luly 1981 {Nifiel R. Jones) 399 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 Summary The identification of a Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus obsert'ed at Landguard Point, Suffolk, from 30th June to 8th July 1981 was accepted and the species included in Category D. The occurrence has now been reconsidered and the species was admitted to Category A of the British & Irish List in 1993. Trevor D. Charlton, 11 Carlton Avenue, Hornsea, East Yorkshire HU 18 IJG EDITORIAL COMMENT R. A. Humc, Chairman of the British Birds Rarities Committee, has commented; ‘This very distinctive species provided no major identification problems and the Suffolk record was accepted after a single circulation to the BBRC.’ Dr David Parkin, Chairman of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee, has commented: ‘There was never any doubt about the identification of this bird, and it was unanimously accepted as a Lark Sparrow by the BOURC. However, its arrival in midsummer at a location close to a major container port led most members of the Committee to conclude that the bird had probably arrived with the benefit of ship assistance. At the time (1983), Category D included species for which ‘there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a wild state’, or ‘which have certainly arrived with ship assistance’. ‘Probable’ (rather than ‘certain’) assisted passage was not, therefore, any bar to inclusion in Category A. The Committee’s North American consultant, however, expressed the strong opinion that Lark Sparrows did not cross the Gulf of Mexico, so were very unlikely to land on a ship and be carried on board across the Atlantic. Thus, there was the strange situation that those who believed that the bird had reached Europe on board ship were pressing for inclusion in Category A and those who believed that ship assistance was unlikely were espousing outright rejection (on the grounds that a natural crossing was highly unlikely, but that escape from captivity was far less improbable). The obvious compromise was inclusion in Category D, which did not (and does not) form part of the British & Irish List {Ibis 126: 443): limbo, an admittance that the Committee was uncertain. The decision was, however, and still is, widely misunderstood, many people being under the misapprehension that the bird’s inclusion in Category D was because of the likelihood of ship assistance (the opposite of the actual reason!). ‘In 1 986, the criteria for the categorisation were reviewed and Category D2 was amended to include those birds which ‘certainly arrived with a combination of ship and human assistance, including the provision of food and shelter’. This change was intended to recognise that birds can move about the World more or less naturally using ships, and that such birds are eligible for Category A, but that records involving bii'ds whose survival had depended upon human intervention should still be excluded from the List and placed in Category D. ‘At the request of Peter Lansdown — ^who was at the time Chairman of the BBRC — the record was re-assessed. He pointed out that Lark Sparrow both breeds and winters in southern Texas, and ships travel regularly between Houston, Texas, and Felixstowe. It was thus feasible that tlie bird could have boarded a ship in the Gulf of Mexico or tlie Florida straits and travelled across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving close to Landguard Point. The second record, from 400 Charlton: Lark Sparrow: new to the VC'cstcm Palearctic Norfolk in 1991, might support this scenario, although there was also evidence that the species is imported into Belgium and the Netherlands (Peeters, 1986, Vogeljaar 34: 108). ‘There are two races of Lark Sparrow, the nominate grarnmaciis and the western sltigatus, which extends into Mexico, especially in winter. Alan Knox compared photographs of the two British birds with skins in the Namral History Museum at Tring on behalf of BOURC, and concluded that both were of the nominate form. Had they been of the western race, they would have been deeply suspect, although the eastern race winters south to Mexico, from where they could also have been imported. Tim Inskipp, however, advised that he had no records of advertisements or imports into Britain, and correspondence from Mexico suggested that the species is rarely found in the bird markets. ‘From this, it was concluded that Lark Sparrow was very unlikely to occur in trade, and that the Landguard Point record fell into the gap betw^een the original and revised defmitions concerning ship assistance. It was, therefore, agreed that it should be moved from Category' D to Category A, and Lark Sparrow was admitted to the British & Irish List in 1993 (Ibis 135: 221).’ LOOKING BACK ‘Honey-buzzard, Pemu apivonis. 1 could wish to exclude the vulgar name of honey-buzzard^ for it only tends to perpetuate an error, since it is well known that tlie bird never eats honey. Ray called it “Buteo apivorus seu vespivonis," as if it fed solely on bees and zeasps. Being an insectivorous as well as a carnivorous species, I have long named it larvivorns, because it is most fond of the Lu-vae of bees and wasps. Therefore the gentle buzzard is, I consider, a ver\’ apt English name for it; gentle being, as all disciples of honest Isaac Walton need not be told — a maggot.' (The Zoologist 3: 1053, September 1845). ‘A little after midday on September 1 9th 1 920, while sitting on St. Michael’s Mount, I saw a line of ten black long-necked birds fly from the east over Marazion (about half a mile away) and drop down to the Marazion Marsh; on reaching this marsh, I saw at once that the flock consisted of ten Glossy Ibises (Plegadis f. falcinellns). A. W. BoYO.’ (Bnt. Birds 14: 137). In September 1970, you could have bought Bardsey Island, Gwynedd ‘(ihen Caernarvonshire), lock, stock and barrel for a mere £50,000 or so. It was also all change at Fair Isle, where Roy Dennis had left to join the RSPB staff in Speyside, to be replaced as FIBO’s warden by Roger Broad (Brit. Birds 63: 397, September 1970). Richard’s Pipits Anthns novaeseclandiae were in the news 25 years ago. Of over 120 in autumn 1970, the first were two on Bardsey on 7th September, and about 40 occurred during the five days 23rd-27th September. On 20th September 1970, a warbler-like bird was flushed from sedge around the Pool on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. It was seen again on 21st and 23rd and was identified as Europe’s first Hooded Warbler Wilsonia eitriiun the descriptions were subjected to minute scrutiny by the BBRC and the BOURC and the record was eventuallv accepted in 1972 (Brit. Birds 65: 203- 205, 351; 114: 446). Studies of West Palearctic birds* 194. Com Bunting Miliaria calandra David Harper ‘Look at the common Com Bunting as he sits on wires or the hedgetop: he is lumpy, loose-feathered, spiritless. He is a didl bird and seems to know it. ’ (Warde-Fowler 1922) The Corn Bunting has rarely received a good press. Even its common names tend to refer to its dullness, such as Hoar-frosted Chirper in Finnish (Hdnndsukku) or Grey Bunting in both DuX.ch {Grauwe Gors) and German (Grauammer). The only positive thing that Seth-Smith (1937) could fmd to say about Com Buntings was that they were good to eat (although he provided no recipes). Morris (1863) agreed, having tasted them as a schoolboy, and huge numbers used to be caught for the table, from Orkney (Donald et al. 1994) south to Morocco (Johns 1909). In the Isles of Scilly, however, bounties were paid to encourage the destmction of what was considered to be an agricultural pest (Penhallurick 1978). Com Buntings used to be regarded as particularly damaging to cereal crops, worse even than House Sparrows Passer domesticus (Morris 1863), earning themselves the name of Corn Tief (Thief) in parts of Scotland. In the last decade. Com Buntings have attracted considerable attention from ornithologists, partly because of a dramatic reduction in numbers (Donald et al. 1994; Donald & Evans in press) and partly because of their interesting behaviour. Peter McGregor has studied Com Bunting song from the wild coasts of Cornwall to the flowery machair of the Outer Hebrides. Ian Hartley and Mike Shepherd unravelled many details of the behavioural ecology of the Hebridean population. Together with Timothy Robson and Terry Burke, they have studied the paternity *This paper, and others in this long-running British Birds series, will be published in a forthcoming HarperCoUins book. [Brit. Birds 88: 401-422, September 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 401 402 Harper: Studies of Com Bunting of Corn Buntings using DNA fingerprinting. Des Thompson contributed to all these studies and also collaborated with Simon Gribbin in a study of the habitat selection and mating system of Corn Buntings around the Kibble Estuary. Farther afield, Anders MoUer and Joachim Hegelbach made similar major studies on behaviour in Denmark and Switzerland respectively. Paul Donald ran the BTO Corn Bunting surveys, persuading over 700 observ'ers to scour the countryside for this ‘dull’ bird. He is now planning to study Corn Bunting breeding success in relation to crop types in the East Anglian fens. I have been watching Corn Buntings on the South Downs around the University of Sussex, near to the site illustrated by Leverton (1993). This is one of the few areas of low-intensity agriculture left in southern England (Bignal & McCracken 1993). Since 1985, smdent ‘volunteers’ and I have surv'eyed singing males in an area of 3,374 ha, with a mean altimde of 125 m (30-225 m). We do, however, have a long way to go to match the 17-year study by Liibcke (1977). In 1985, our study area was dominated by cereals (48%) and managed grass (33%), with very little other tillage (2%) or fallow (1%). By 1993, changes in EC Agricultural Policy (Robinson 1991) had altered the picture considerably. Grass (44%) had overtaken cereals (24%) and there were substantial areas of other crops (7%) and fallow (9%). During this period, spring sowing of cereals was virtually eliminated. To answer specific questions about Corn Buntings, we colour-ringed them on smaller study sites within the large study area. In 1986, Peter McGregor and Verena Walford tape-recorded some of the males as part of a study on song dialects. Geographical range and distribution The Corn Bunting is the only species in the genus Miliaria and is distinguished from the 37 species of Embenza buntings by its large size, details of bill structure and by having a complete post-juvenile moult. Like most Emberizid buntings, it is omnivorous, with invertebrates making up almost a third of the diet (W. E. Collinge in Witherby et al. 1940). The plumage is very variable (Bannerman 1953), both in how buff it is and in the amount of black streaking on the sides of the throat and breast (fig. 1). In consequence, many of the races proposed by taxonomists are dubious and most authors recognise only two subspecies: M. c. calandra and M. c. buturlini. Even these might be better merged (e.g. Witherby et al. 1940; Howard & Moore 1980). The nominate race includes (R. A. Payntor in Peters 1970) the so-called races arrani (Arran & West Scotland), thanneri (Canaries), parrotti (Corsica and Sardinia), graeca (Greece), volhynica (West Russia), minor (Caucasus) and caucasica (Caucasus). In Europe, the nominate race breeds from the Mediterranean north to Orkney, southern Sweden and northwest Russia. Other populations breed in the Canary Islands (Bannerman 1953) and North Africa from Morocco east to Tunisia or possibly even Libya (Hollom et al. 1988). The nominate race ranges from being totally migratory in the northeast of its range to largely sedentary in the southwest. Most migrants winter within the breeding range, but they also penetrate farther south into Morocco (Pineau & Giraud- Audine 1977, 1979) and even to Mauritania (Curry- Lindahl 1981) and east along the North African coast through Libya, possibly reaching Egypt. Around British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 403 Fig. 1. Variation in breast streaking of Com Bunting Miliaria calandra. The bird in the centre would be unusually heavily streaked for a juvenile, while that on the right would be unusually strongly marked for an adult. the Strait of Gibraltar, numbers increase during October and fall slowly during the spring from February onwards (Finlayson 1992). Arrivals on the West Russian breeding grounds continue until mid May, and most have left by late September (Dementiev & Gladkhov 1954). The extent of migration in Britain and Ireland is unclear. Some authors (e.g. Saunders 1899) have suggested that movements are ‘very pronounced’ (Nicholson 1951). In southern England, some depart to sea from Selsey Bill (des Forges & Harber 1963) and the Seven Sisters (own data) in both autumn and spring. Vagrants occasionally occur at island sites where they do not breed, from Lundy (Dymond 1980) to Jersey (Le Sueur 1976). Only one British-ringed Corn Bunting has, however, ever been recovered abroad, in France (Mead & Clark 1993), and most authors regard the British population as highly sedentary (e.g. Cady & Hume 1988). On the other hand, ringing recoveries suggest that they are more mobile than YeUowhammers E. citrinella, with about 42% of recoveries more than 5 km from the place of ringing, compared with 15% (Mead & Clark 1993). Most Com Buntings appear to breed within 1 km of their birthplace and often within 300 m (McGregor et al. 1988). It is, however, very difficult to detect movements longer than this, and I have had one male move 4 km and one female move 7 km. Once they have established a territory, males rarely move outside it. If they do, it is usually for a distance of less than 200 m (McGregor et al. 1988). Females are more mobile, but rarely breed more than 800 m from a previous nest. These are very short distances compared with their winter wanderings: one of my marked females was found dead over 20 km from her previous year’s nest. The rather grey eastern race, M. c. buturlini, breeds from Syria to Turkestan, south to Iran. It is a partial migrant south to Sinai, reaching Egypt in some years (Bannerman 1953), and the Arabian Gulf as far southeast as Oman (Gallagher & Woodcock 1980). Winter quarters are occupied from late October to March (Bannerman 1953). Biometrics and moult Male Com Buntings are much larger than females (Follows 1969; Pr^s-Jones 1976; Boddy & Blackburn 1978). Table 1 summarises the weights and wing 404 Harper: Studies of Com Bunting Table 1. Weights and wing lengths of Com Buntings Miliaria calandra of known age and sex. Data expressed as means (with range, standard deviation and sample size in parentheses). Juveniles were considered to become yearlings once they had completed their first primaiy' moult. Data from South Downs in East Sussex, and analysed using t-tests (0.001 significance level). Males were significantly heavier than females in all three age classes and juvenile females were significantly lighter than both of the older age classes of females. There were no other significant differences in mean weight. Fourteen of the 1 5 possible comparisons of mean wing length were significant; the exception was that between yearling and adult females. Age class Measurement (EURING Code) Males Females Weight (g) Wing length (mm) Juvenile (3J) Yearling (3/5) Adult (6) Juvenile (3J) Yearling (3/5) Adult (6) 54.5 (42-65; 5.4; 159) 53.8 (45-63; 4.2; 83) 54.6 (44-65; 4.8; 46) 97.9 (94-1 03; 1.8; 154) 100.3 (94-1 05; 2.3; 88) 101.8 (95-106; 2.0; 44) 41.6 (33-52; 4.4; 161) 43.8 (33-54; 4.6; 97) 45.2 (35-54; 4.2; 48) 89.9 (86-95; 1.7; 169) 90.9 (85-96; 2.1; 96) 91.2 (86-96; 2.4; 50) lengths of Corn Buntings of known age and sex. Many males are as heavy as Redwings Turdiis iliacus, while some females are as light as Greenfinches Carduelis chloris. The figures for male and female wing lengths are similar to Russian figures of 99.9 and 91.2 mm respectively (Dementiev & Gladkhov 1954). In Portugal, however, it is possible that the sexes are not so different in size (C. J. Mead in Svensson 1992). Although very variable in size, the ‘bib’ on the sides of the breast offers little clue about a Corn Bunting’s age or sex. All five marked individuals on the South Downs with a complete gorget across the chest (right-hand bird in fig. 1) were, however, males. Juveniles tend to have fewer dark feathers on the sides of the breast (left-hand bird in fig. 1), which is why early texts often referred to them as ‘bibless’. Some adults have just as little streaking on the breast, and a much better way of identifying juveniles is by the broad, pale fringes to their wing- coverts. Adults have narrower fringes that are usually much buffer when fresh, although they can subsequently become very bleached. Sometimes, a few juvenile feathers are retained after the first moult, which can help to age some full-grown birds. The Com Bunting is one of the few passerines with a complete post-juvenile moult, during which young birds replace all their feathers in the autumn after hatching. In the Western Palearctic, they share this feature with all the larks (Alaudidae), Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis, Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon, Bearded Tit Panums biarmicus, Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus, all the starlings (Sturnidae) and all the sparrows (Passeridae) . A minority of the juveniles of some finch species, such as Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis. Greenfinch, Linnet C. cannabina and European Serin Serinus sennus, also undergo a complete moult (Harris 1992; Svensson 1992). It remains unclear what this modey list of birds have in common, although a complete post-juvenile moult seems to be commonest among tropical species (Fogden 1972). A second unusual feature of Corn Bunting moult is that the primaries finish moulting several days ahead of the tail feathers (Newton 1968). The first individuals start to moult in July, with unpaired males tending to begin first and paired males tending to start ahead of females. Juveniles begin to moult about five weeks after British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 405 leaving the nest. Although most individuals finish by mid October, a few late- nesting females and their offspring do not start until early September and, since primary moult lasts about 80 days (Ginn & Melville 1983), probably do not finish until late November. Breeding habitat The distribution of Corn Buntings is notoriously patchy, both in Britain (Lack 1986) and on the Continent (Nicholson 1951). It has proved impossible to work out why. Corn Buntings are believed to have originated in steppe-hke terrain around Turkestan, together with the Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bmniceps (Duncker 1912). They are almost always found in dry, open countryside (Dolman 1992), and are common only in areas between the July isotherms of 17°C and 32°C (Voous 1960). An avoidance of areas of high rainfall (Lack 1986) might explain the strongly coastal distribution in northwestern Britain and Ireland (Donald et al. 1 994) . Com Buntings avoid moorland in northwestern Europe, but occasionally breed on lowland heaths (Walpole-Bond 1938; Bannerman 1953). Local names for Com Buntings often imply an association with tillage, such as Docken Sparrow (Shetland: docken refers to docks Rumex) and Clodman (Sussex). An even more specific association with cereals is implied by many vernacular names, including Komsparv (Sweden), Cornbill (Shetland), Stubble Lark (Sussex) and Fat Bird of the Barley (Hebrides). Most studies of habitat selection have confirmed this association between Corn Buntings and cereals (Mead & Smith 1982; MoUer 1983; Thompson & Gribbin 1986; Smith et al. 1993; Donald & Forrest in press). Some also suggest a preference for barley Hordeum vulgare over wheat Triticum aestivum (BOS 1985; Thompson & Gribbin 1986; O’Connor & Shmbb 1986; Lack 1992), although BTO data do not (Donald & Evans in press; Donald & Forrest in press). A preference for barley might reflect differences in the invertebrate fauna of different cereal crops (Thompson & Gribbin 1986), but is surprising since most insectivorous passerines tend to forage more in wheat than in barley (G. S. Cracknell in Lack 1992). Other evidence suggests that other crops are as important for Corn Buntings as are cereals. Hayfields are a preferred habitat in the Netherlands (SOVON 1987) and on the South Downs. They were also widely used in Sutherland (Raven 1927), where Corn Buntings are now extinct (Donald et al. 1994). Other crops favoured in some areas are field bean Vicia faba, flax Linum usitatissimum and oilseed rape Brassica napiis (Mead & Smith 1982; Lack 1992). The importance of non-cereal crops was emphasised by the BTO Corn Bunting survey in 1993: regional population sizes were positively correlated with the total area of tillage, but not with the proportion of tillage consisting of cereals or with the total area of farmland (Donald & Evans in press). Corn Buntings are not always associated with tillage. Two studies in eastern Scotland found no preference by Corn Buntings for any field type, including grassland (Goodbody 1955; MacDonald 1964). Around the Tweed, Evans (in Donald et al. 1994) considered that they favoured ‘barren spots covered with rough grass’ and fallow areas are sometimes preferred (Mead & Smith 1982). In a Swiss study, Corn Buntings bred in marshes and damp grassland, avoiding 406 Harper: Smdies of Com Bunting tillage altogether (Hegelbach & Ziswiler 1979; Hegelbach 1984), and drained marshes are a popular nesting habitat around the Strait of Gibraltar (Finlayson 1992). In the latter area, Com Buntings seem to be less specialised in their habitat requirements than are Rock Buntings Emberiza da and Girl Buntings E. drlus, breeding even in open areas within woods and the low scmb known as mattoral (Finlayson 1992). Hedgerow loss may reduce habitat suitability for Com Buntings (Mutton & Westwood 1974; Donald et al. 1994). Lack (1992) suggested that they ‘need some woody vegetation’ and regarded them as ‘nesting and feeding mainly in hedges or other field boundaries’. CBC data suggest, however, an active avoidance of trees in hedgerows (Lack 1992), making a striking contrast with Yellowhammer (Morgan & O’Connor 1980). It is not surprising that most authors have used the widespread, but far from universal, association with tillage to link the fate of Com Buntings with agriculmral change. Other authors (Baxter & Rintoul 1953; Parslow 1973; Thom 1986; Harrison 1988) have, however, failed to detect any detailed correlation in their population size or range with farming practices. The initial clearances of woodland, starting about 7,000 years ago, must have benefited open-country species such as Corn Buntings (Donald et al. 1994). Indeed, Voous (1960) suggested that Corn Buntings owe their presence over much of Europe to the spread of cereal agriculture. They had, however, arrived in Britain much earlier, about 11,500 years ago (Bramwell 1984; Harrison 1988). The Cresswell Crags cave deposits from Derbyshire show that they lived in the same area as birds from open habitats, such as Sky Lark Alauda arvensis, and from scmb or woodland, such as Greenfinch and Mistle Thmsh Turdus visdvorus (Jenkinson 1984). Since grassland subsequently became rare in Britain between 10,000 and 6,000 years ago, it is possible that Corn Buntings were temporarily exterminated. On the other hand, they may have hung on in open dry areas, such as the brecks of East Anglia, sugar-limestones of Teesdale and machair of the Atlantic coast (Rackham 1986; Ferns 1992). Studying habitat selection by Corn Buntings is complicated by their strong site fidelity, even in the face of dramatic habitat changes. Even housing development on adjacent land has little effect (Walpole-Bond 1938). On the South Downs, I have never found a nest in improved pasture, yet males rarely abandon fields converted to grass from other crops, until at least part way through the next breeding season. Similarly, on a Cumbrian farm, the small numbers of Corn Buntings were much less likely than Sky Larks to change their distribution in response to crop changes (Robson & Williamson 1972). It seems likely that Corn Buntings either evolved in rather stable habitats, in which habitat reassessment was unnecessary, or have difficulties assessing the future quality of a site: is this green stuff newly sown barley or grass? Winter habitat In Britain, stubble fields are the most important wintering habitat, holding about half of the flocks and about 60% of the individuals detected in the BTO Winter Corn Bunting Survey (Donald & Evans 1994). Weedy stubbles held about twice as many Corn Buntings as did clean ones. Winter cereals and improved grassland British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 407 were avoided, and other open habitats, such as rough grassland and bare till, were used roughly in proportion to their availabilities. In Gibraltar, most wintering Corn Buntings occur in pastures (Arroyo & TeUeria 1984) and low areas of scrub known as mattoral (Finlayson 1992). Johns (1909) reported that, in North Africa in winter, ‘all the trees in the public roads and squares of the villages are literally covered with these birds’. In the light of recent population declines (see below), it would be interesting to know if they are still. The BTO Winter Corn Bunting Survey (Donald & Evans 1994) found that the most common winter flock size was two. Almost two-thirds of the 221 flocks in the survey contained fewer than ten individuals and less than 5% exceeded 60. Much larger flocks can form, such as the 500 seen on kale Brassica oleracea accepta in East Sussex (SOS 1992). Although large flocks are relatively rare, they contain the majority of Corn Buntings. For example, the Winter Survey suggested that, while the mean flock size is six, the average Corn Bunting flocks with at least 20 companions. This number is often swelled by other seed-eaters; on the South Downs, these are typically House Sparrows, Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs. Greenfinches and YeUowhammers. As can be guessed from this list, many of these flocks are near buildings where grain is stored or fed to stock. Aggression between Corn Buntings in flocks may be reduced by disputes being settled, without fighting, on the basis of the variation in plumage (fig. 1). Dark birds tend to dominate individuals with less breast streaking, although they are not more capable of winning escalated fights (Maynard Smith & Harper 1988). Outside the breeding season. Corn Buntings form communal roosts, often in association with other buntings. These can contain over 300 birds, but most are much smaller, with few on the South Downs exceeding 15. Marked individuals travel up to 4 km from their feeding sites to visit roosts, and regularly change roost site, even if not caught at the first one. Scrub appears to be the most common roost site, but Corn Buntings are so catholic in their choice of roosting habitat that a shortage of suitable sites is unlikely to be an important reason for population declines (see M. Shrubb in Lack 1986). They often roost on the ground (Bannerman 1953), both on open fields and on saltmarshes (e.g. Saunders 1899), sometimes in the company of Sky Larks. Like most buntings, with the possible exception of YeUowhammers (Frost 1979), they also seem to lUce roosting in swamps, especially reed-beds (Bibby & Lunn 1982). Less usual sites on the South Downs have included stacks of hay bales, a derelict barn, a combine harvester and a dried-up pond. Population changes The Corn Bunting is decUning over most of northwest and central Europe, although stable or even increasing in the south (Tucker 1991). In 1993, there were probably between 32,000 and 46,000 Corn Buntings left in Britain (Donald & Evans in press), far fewer than previously thought (Marchant et al. 1990; Gibbons et al. 1993). The decline and its possible causes have been reviewed by Donald et al. (1994). A number of changes in farming practices were impUcated, including a reduction in the area of barley cultivated, a switch towards aurnmn sowing of cereals, replacement of hay by silage and a reduction in traditional rotations. Food suppUes may have been reduced by increased use of pesticides 408 Harper: Smdies of Com Burning and by the removal of hedgerows and rough ground. Access to water might be important, since the ‘Corn Bunting is particularly fond of its ablutions’ and is ‘a very thirsty species’ (Walpole-Bond 1938). Improved field-drainage has been implicated in the decline of Corn Buntings in the Netherlands (Hustings et al 1990). Climatic changes, especially increased rain, may also be involved (Evans & Flower 1967; M. Shrubb in Lack 1986). Mating system Some Continental smdies have reported that Corn Buntings are promiscuous (Hegelbach & Ziswiler 1979; Moller 1983) and this has been quoted in books on British birds (e.g. Cady & Hume 1988). Promiscuity is a very unusual mating system (Krebs & Davies 1993) and has also been described for one North American bunting, the Sharp-tailed Sparrow Amrnodramus caiidacutiis (Woolfenden 1956). In Britain, however, most male Corn Buntings are mono- gamous, with some males remaining unpaired and some becoming polygynous. The highest frequencies of polygyny reported are 100% for 15 Cornish males (Ryves & Ryves 1934b) and 35% for 50 males on North Uist (Hartley et al. 1993). On the South Downs, the proportion of males that were polygynous in different territory clusters ranged from 0 to 33%. Most polygynous males are bigynous and cases of more than three females nesting on the same territory are exceptional (Thompson & Gribbin 1986; Hartley el al. 1993). One male on the South Downs, however, attracted 18 females in one year, up to six of which were nesting simultaneously. Polyandry has rarely been reported, although females sometimes change mates between successive nesting attempts (Robertson 1954; MacDonald 1965). At one site in East Sussex, however, there were four cases in which females copulated with two males, both of which fed their nestlings. The males were aggressive to each other, but used some of the same song posts. Early authors assumed that polygyny by Corn Buntings was due to a female- biased sex ratio (Ryves & Ry\'es 1934b; Follows 1969). Samples caught in winter flocks and at communal roosts typically contain between 60% and 75% females (Follows 1969; Boddy & Blackburn 1978; own data). This excess of females may be exaggerated if, for example, males are more likely to avoid or escape from nets. The sex ratio of Com Buntings breeding on North Uist was exactly 1 ; 1 (Hartley et al. 1993) and pooling of all my data for the South Downs gives only a slight excess of females, although this difference was statistically significant (55% out of 434). The sex ratios in small populations, however, can depart wildly from this, with an excess of either sex. This may explain the extreme sex ratio of at least 77% females reported by Ryves & Ryves (1934b). A male’s mating success appears to be influenced by his song output, with polygynous males singing more than less-successful ones (Moller 1983; Thompson & Gribbin 1986). On the South Downs, polygyny was very rare among males with no cereal in their territories and, as in Lancashire (Thompson & Gribbin 1986), it was more common among males defending barley rather than wheat. Some sites are occupied by several females in successive years, despite the territorial male being replaced in the meantime. This is consistent with the idea that polygyny is related to habitat quality, but detailed study on North Uist north China Top of the big five tour companies - British Birds survey, May 1992 Li 3003 For 16 years Sunbird has been organising professionally-led and excellent value bird- watching tours throughout the world. With details of over 70 tours, covering all six continents, our new brochure has something for everyone. To find out what you could be watching in 1996 write to Sunbird, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SGI 9 IDF. Telephone 01767 682969. Fax 0171 692481. The best of birdM'atching tours Sunbird is a trading name of Conderbury Limited. Sunbird/96 When you traverse hill and dale in search of nature’s marvels, you expect the clearest images available. That is what Nikon gives you. In August 1994, Bird Watching magazine selected our Nikon Fieldscope ED78/ED78 A as “Telescope of the Year” in the over £350 class. The judges emphasised its “stunning optical performance” and “extremely accurate colour rendition”. They “Highly Commended” our Spotting Scope A in the under £350 class, noting its superior optical per- formance at a reasonable price. And they were so impressed by the “out- standing brightness and clarity” of our Nikon 30x/38x Wide Eyepiece for Fieldscopes that they declared it “Accessory of the Year”. All of the Judges were experienced bird watchers. No doubt, they also chose Nikon for our ability to bring you that much closer to nature. PROO^' 30x/38x Wide Eyepiece Fieldscope ED78 A Spotting Scope A NIKON UK LTD. (for The United Kingdom and The Republic of Ireland) 380 RICHMOND ROAD, KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (0181) 541-4440 FAX: (0181) 541-4584 w Wl- British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 409 Plate 115. Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra, with useful size comparison with Common Starlings Stumus vulgaris, Dorset, April 1982 {Peter Gasson) Plate 116. Com Bunting Miliaria calandra, East Yorkshire, June 1992 {M. Curley) 410 Harper: Studies of Com Bunting revealed no such correlation (Hartley 1992). Since both sexes regularly feed off territory, the cause of the apparent associations between habitat and male mating success is unclear. Pair formation In my study area, established males visit their territories briefly even during the depths of winter, usually singing while there. They become regular visitors to their territories in January, around the time that yearling males start to establish territories. Elsewhere, males begin to abandon the winter flocks between February (Hertfordshire: Smith et al. 1993) and April (North Uist: Shepherd 1992), suggesting a south-to-north dine in settlement date within Britain. Territory settlement continues until mid June, after the first nesting attempts have started. In the Netherlands, settlement continues for longer on arable than on grassland (SOVON 1987). Unpaired males continue to switch between sites all summer. When a territorial male is approached by other Corn Buntings, he often begins to sing from a song post or flies towards them, singing in flight. Usually, he is ignored, despite pursuing the flock well beyond his territory, sometimes flying up into the flock and circling. Some other individuals are, however, attracted to the male, who rapidly lands if airborne and commences a wing-quivering display, either from a perch or on open ground. This display is accompanied by a very rapid version of the flight call, ‘titi..’ (Andrew 1957b), and sometimes alternates with nest-site displays (see below). Despite the male’s endeavours, the other Com Buntings usually leave, but sometimes remain. Colour-ringing on the South Downs confirmed that those that stayed were females, and that at least some of them visited several males before pairing. A male and his mate(s) usually ignore each other but, when they do not, can be very aggressive. The role of so-called sexual chases, in which males relentlessly pursue their mate, is unclear (Andrew 1957a). They sometimes flush the female to do so, and frequently sing while doing so. These chases are not associated with copulation, and often occur during the incubation and nestling periods. Breeding Com Buntings nest unusually late in the year: laying dates in England (1948-89) from the BTO Nest Records Scheme range from 2nd May to 7th August, with a mean of 21st June (Yom-Tov 1992). This late laying date probably reflects a later peak in food abundance for nestlings and laying females than that for either Reed Bunting E. schoeniclus (mean laying date 21st May) or Yellowhammer (2nd June). The female and her brood depend largely on ripening cereal grain and invertebrates, which both become more common as the summer progresses (Aebischer 1990; Potts 1990). There are two other non-exclusive explanations for the late breeding season of Corn Buntings compared with other buntings (Yom- Tov 1992). First, larger species probably need more food to meet their basic metabolic requirements, and it has been suggested, mainly on the basis of data from tits Pams (Dunn 1976; P. J. Jones in Perrins 1979), that this forces them to lay later. Secondly, late laying might be a result of reduced parental care by males, assuming that the abundance of food for chicks tends to increase during the breeding season (Yom-Tov & Hilborn 1981). A tendency for polygynous British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 411 passerines to lay later than do related monogamous species has been reported for four other British genera (redstarts Phoenicurus, reed warblers Acrocephalus, scrub warblers Sylvia and leaf warblers Phylloscopus) and for North American wrens (Troglodytidae) (Yom-Tov 1992). Late nesting is not, however, associated with polygyny among the thrushes Turdus (Norman 1994). In southern Europe and North Africa, most clutches are laid from mid April onwards, with the earliest clutches (from 20th March) appearing to be those at low altitudes in the Canary Islands (Bannerman 1953) and those from the area around the Caspian Sea (Dementiev & Gladkhov 1954). Egg-laying continues until late August in Denmark (MoUer 1983). The location of Corn Bunting nests appears to vary. Some authors report that they are mainly located in the crop, often far from the field margin (e.g. Saunders 1899; Andrew 1956; MacDonald 1964), while others suggest that most nests are close to or on the field margin (e.g. Lack 1992). I found most nests on the South Downs in rank vegetation next to fields or in the outer 5 m of the crops (nests in hay and silage were more likely to be farther out into the crop). This is not surprising, since most of the territories were concentrated around the field margins, as were those in Denmark (MoUer 1983). Moreover, invertebrate densities tend to be highest near field margins (Potts 1986). Seasonal trends in nest sites are confusing, with some reports that nests are more likely to be in the crop early in the year (e.g. Walpole-Bond 1938) and others suggesting the reverse (Lack 1992). Differences between areas in how dense the crop has become by a certain date and in how early it is harvested may account for this inconsistency. The nest is buUt by the female alone, although males often carry material. Prior to building, males often give nest-site displays (in sites of varying suitabiUty). They dart into nooks and crannies, giving a version of wing-quivering display seen during pair formation. Nest-site displays are, however, accompanied by a very different caU, a quiet, rather conversational ‘sisi . . . ’. The nest is a loose cup of grass; on my study area it was most often buUt from Barren Brome Bromus sterilis. The cup is tightly lined with fine grasses such as bents Agrostis and fescues Festuca, plant roots and hair. Nests are usuaUy weU concealed in dense vegetation, but a few are spectacularly obvious on bare soU. Most are on the ground under herbs (e.g. Hogweed Heracleiim sphondylhim) or a few centimetres above it in a grass tussock (e.g. Tor-grass Brachypodium pinnatum) or smaU bush, such as Gorse Ulex europaeus or Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. Only a few smdies have found bush-nesting to be at aU common, but there are records of nests up to 1.7 m above the ground (Ryves & Ryves 1934a; Woods 1950). Nests in bushes tend to be untidier than normal, as if the loose cup keeps collapsing during construction. Ground nests are frequently close to a landmark, such as a tall weed or a large flint. Copulations are hard to miss, even when they occur on the ground, because the male gives loud ‘kwaa’ copulation calls (Andrew 1957b). They are also often associated with aggression between the pair, and males may hover persistently over the female’s back. Most observers agree that Corn Buntings copulate infrequently, even though there is a record of a pair copulating twice in five minutes (Hartley et al. 1993). On the South Downs, however, I estimated that females copulated about 55 times per clutch, mainly in the week before egg-laying (but see G. Niethammer in Witherby et al. 1940^ Another difference between Plate 117. Com Bunting Miliaria calandra, Spain, April 1991 (Axel Halley) Plate 118. Com Bunting Miliaiia caLaidra, France, July 1975 (G. Olioso) i Plate 119. Com Bunting Miliaria calandra, Ayrshire, July 1980 {Don Smith) 414 Harper: Studies of Com Bunting studies is that the observers on North Uist only once saw a male attempt to copulate with a female with which he was not paired (out of a total of 17 copulations; Hartley et al. 1993), while I saw such extra-pair copulations regularly on the South Downs. The North Uist study used DNA fingerprinting to demonstrate that very few, if any, chicks were fathered in this way. I wish that I knew whether this was true for my birds. Like the Yellowhammer, the Corn Bunting used to be called the Writing-Lark (Saunders 1899) because its eggs are usually covered by dark scribbles. These are embarrassingly easy to rub off freshly laid eggs. The scribbles, which are often purple-fringed, are usually scattered all over the egg, but are sometimes concentrated at the broader end. The eggs are slightly glossy, and the background colour is usually off-white with a variable hint of buff, pink, purple or blue. A few are so dark, however, that the scribbles are hard to see. I have found one clutch of unmarked cream eggs. Like most passerines. Com Buntings lay one egg per day (with an occasional gap in the laying sequence), usually in the first two hours of daylight. On average, they lay fewer eggs than do Yellowhammers and more than do Reed Buntings (Yom-Tov 1992). Most clutches are of three to five eggs; in Sussex, clutches of one, two or six are rare (Walpole-Bond 1931, 1938) and, throughout Britain, clutches of seven are exceptional (Witherby et al. 1940). The graph in Greenwood et al. (1993) is misleading in this respect, because it extrapolates beyond the range of clutch sizes in the data set. The mean clutch size in England between 1948 and 1989 was 3.8 (Yom-Tov 1992), rather smaller than the 4.7 recorded in Germany (Gliemann 1973). Clutches of seven are common in Iberia (P. Donald verbally), reversing the usual trend of clutch size and latitude. Incubation, which is by the female alone, often starts with the penultimate egg (B. H. Ry\’es in Witherby et al. 1940) and typically lasts 12 to 14 days. The chicks usually hatch at night or in the first few hours of daylight. They are well covered by buffish down and have a flesh-coloured gape with yellow flanges at the base of the mandibles. Their eyes open about five to six days after hatching, and their primary feathers emerge from their quills after about six or seven days. They can leave the nest from nine days old, well before they can fly, but some appear to return. Certainly, some nests are not finally abandoned until 14 days (exceptionally 1 7 days) after hatching. The chicks are fed for up to 24 days after leaving the nest (maximum 34 days after hatching). Many broods are impossible to monitor, because they leave their natal territory as soon as they can fly (as early as five days after leaving the nest) . A few of these broods are found, together with their mothers, at nearby feeding sites, such as stubble fields. Both nestlings and fledglings are fed almost entirely on invertebrates. In East Sussex, cereal-feeding sawflies, especially Dolenis, are very important, as they are to Reed Buntings in Kazakhstan (A. V. Badulin in Potts 1986). The larvae of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are taken in large numbers on some territories. Beetles ranging from carabids to rove beetles (especially Tachyporus), arachnids, small snails, plant bugs and flies are the other items commonly fed to chicks. Most of the 633 or more species of invertebrates found in cereal fields (Potts 1990) are, however, probably taken to some extent, together with many from adjoining habitats. Even strong-flying species, such as adult butterflies and damselflies, are not entirely safe. Nor is small size any protection against Corn British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 415 Buntings: aphids are sometimes collected in large numbers after summer spraying, as observed for Tree Sparrows Passer montanus (Greig-Smith 1990). Some prey items suggest a degree of desperation, particularly Seven- spot Ladybirds Coccinella 7-punctata, which are notorious for their toxicity to nestlings (Marples et al. 1989). Ripening grain is also fed to nestlings (Watson 1992a), and fledglings seem to rely almost entirely on grain as they learn to feed themselves. The contribution made by males to feeding the brood is very variable. Most provide between 10% and 20% of the feeds delivered, but some provide very few, if any, whQe others almost match their mate’s effort. The reasons for this variation are not known; surprisingly, polygynous males are not strikingly less devoted fathers than are monogamous ones. Males seem to eat fewer invertebrates than do females during the nesting period (remains in 19% of faeces compared with 83%), and it is possible that males are not very competent at catching them or find them too time-consuming. Chicks, especially fledged ones, are sometimes fed by other juveniles (Ryves & Ryves 1934b). On the South Downs, colour-ringing revealed that most of these helpers were females and that most were probably feeding half-siblings with the same father as themselves. Although each helper delivers only a few feeds per day, juvenile helpers may make a significant contribution, since several of them often feed the same chick. Such helping by juveniles is unusual, although it is known for Moorhens Gallinula chloropus (Gibbons 1987). The reason for juvenile male Corn Buntings rarely feeding chicks might be very simple: they are often having problems maintaining their body weight (see table 1 on page 404 for sexual dimorphism) . In years of high chick mortality, males often beg in vain, and females end up rearing a brood with a female-biased sex ratio. This loss of sons is most severe when several broods are being fed on the same territory. Like Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings (Lack 1963; Glue & Morgan 1972), Com Buntings are rarely brood-parasitised by Common Cuckoos Cuculus canoms (Ryves & Ryves 1934b; F. C. R. Jourdain in Lack 1963). Given the high proportion of insects fed to their own chicks. Corn Buntings ought to make tolerable foster parents, and they can rear Common Cuckoos at least as far as fledging (Ryves & Ryves 1934b). It is at first sight surprising that so few Corn Buntings get brood-parasitised, particularly since Black-faced E. spodocephala and Meadow Buntings E. cioides are major hosts for Common Cuckoos in Japan (T. Royama in Lack 1963). One possible reason is that very few female Common Cuckoos lay eggs after late June (Glue & Morgan 1972), so missing many Corn Bunting nests. Secondly, there is only limited habitat overlap between Corn Buntings and the major hosts of Common Cuckoos in Europe (Glue & Morgan 1972; FuUer 1982; Cramp 1985). Song During the breeding season, males sing incessantly throughout the day (Gyllin 1967). Although song seems to be important in mate attraction (see above), it is also used during fights between males, suggesting a role in territory defence as well. Fighting males often take turns to make swooping attacks on each other from nearby perches, interspersing these with snatches of song and moth-flights 416 Harper; Studies of Com Bunting which involve exaggeratedly slow wing-beats (Andrew 1957a). Most males have fewer than six regular song posts, which are usually 1-2 m above the ground on a fence, bush or herb, although they can range from large stones to trees and electricity pylons. Favoured perches become plastered with droppings, which can severely damage the surrounding herbage (Walpole-Bond 1938). Males often continue to visit their territories outside the breeding season and usually sing during these visits. They are particularly quiet while moulting, although they are not silent then {contra Hollom 1975). In winter, song can be heard even when snow lies deep on the ground (e.g. in February' in the Crimea: Nicholson 1951). Winter visitors to Egypt sing, at least from January onwards (Witherby et al. 1940). A determined obser\'er, therefore, ought to be able to hear Corn Bunting song every day of the year (although it is not obvious why anyone should want to!). The song has a stereotyped, accelerating rhythm. Abnormalities are rare, although there is some apparent mimicry of Yellowhammers (Richards 1981; Donovan 1984; Stirrup & Eversham 1984). Typically unflattering comments about the song include: ‘jangling’, ‘discordant’, ‘jarring’, ‘glass-splintering’ and ‘like rattling bunch of keys’ (SOVON 1987; Cady & Hume 1988; Delin & Svensson 1988; Jonsson 1992; Peterson et al. 1993). The song has, however, attracted fans, most notably Hudson (1928), who found it ‘a constant pleasure’, and a Grasshopper Warbler Locnstella naevia that appeared to imitate it (Wilson 1985). People in Andalusia used to excuse the monotony of the song by explaining that the Corn Bunting was vainly demanding rent payments from the Hoopoe Upttpa epops (Bannerman 1953). DIALECTA DIALECTB ■■ I ! i 1 , '|fi’'|in|! 1 1 ' 1 U 1 ”■ >iii! !i'> 1 1 0 1 1 • ■ 0 1 1 1 Fig. 2. Sonagrams of the three song types in two Com Hunting Miluinii caUiiulni dialects (A and B) on the South Downs. Vertical axis measures frequency in kiloHerlz and the horizontal axis is lime in seconds. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 417 Fig. 3. Distribution of Com Bunting Miliana calandra dialects in part of the South Downs study area in 1986. Each male’s dialect is indicated by a capital letter (A to E). Eleven males were not recorded and are represented by question marks. Four males sang songs from two dialects and these are indicated (e.g. A+C), as is the one male singing songs that were apparently intermediate between two dialects (A/C). Major roads in the study area are showm (A27, A275 and B21 16). The Unwersity of Sussex is shown in black and the English Channel by stippling. Recent research suggests that, whatever its aesthetic appeal, Corn Bunting song is interesting. One reason is that it differs so much from the songs of other buntings in the Western Palearctic. For example, Corn Buntings sing fewer songs per minute, mainly because the intervals betw^een songs are much longer (Catchpole & McGregor 1985). This is typical of polygynous passerines, and it has been suggested that it is the result of their extended song period compared with that of monogamous species, forcing males to expend less energy while 418 HaqDer: Studies of Com Bunting singing (Read & Weary 1992). Male Com Buntings sing only two or three song types, fewer than other buntings (Read & Weary 1992). A small song repertoire like this is typical of bird species in which males play little part in feeding the chicks. Perhaps, song-repertoire size is correlated with a male’s parental abilities (Read & Weary 1992), although it is unclear why this should be so. Although they have few songs in their repertoire. Corn Buntings have more different syllables in each song than do other buntings. This is typical for a polygynous species compared with its monogamous relatives (Read & Weary 1992). A possible reason for the association between within-song complexity and mating system is that females use syllable diversity as a way of assessing potential mates. If so, sexual selection (Krebs & Davies 1993) would favour males singing songs containing many different syllables. The high syllable diversity of Corn Bunting song would then be an acoustic equivalent of the tail of the Peacock Pavo cristatus. A second reason for an interest in Corn Bunting song is the existence of clear- cut local dialects (McGregor 1980, 1991; Pellerin 1981, 1983). These occur because Corn Buntings, like most passerines, learn the details of their song from other males. Chicks reared in acoustic isolation produce a reasonable approximation of normal song (Thorpe 1958), but, in the wild, young males learn from their territorial neighbours (McGregor et al. 1988). Each male sings two or three song types which differ during the first half of the song (fig. 2). Playback experiments (McGregor 1986) show that males can distinguish between these song types. Dialect variation occurs in the second half of the song (fig. 2). Again, play-back experiments show that Corn Buntings can detect differences between dialects (Pellerin 1982; McGregor 1983). Males singing the same dialect tend to occur in small clusters (fig. 3). A few males sing song types from two dialects, demonstrating that males can learn from at least two other males. The small number of males singing intermediate songs means that the clusters of males with the same dialect often have sharp boundaries. The boundaries between dialects around White Horse Hill, Oxfordshire, were remarkably stable for eight years, even though no barriers to dispersal could be detected (McGregor & Thompson 1988). Young Corn Buntings of both sexes disperse freely across dialect boundaries, so that dialect clusters do not represent groups of relatives, as suggested by Nottebohm (1969) for Rufous-collared Sparrows Zonotiichia capensis in Argentina. On the other hand, female Corn Buntings do not avoid pairing with males singing the same dialect as their father (McGregor et al. 1988), so dialects are not a mechanism for preventing inbreeding, as suggested by Jenkins (1978) for Saddlebacks Creadion carunciilaius on Stewart Island, New Zealand. Concluding remarks The Corn Bunting is one of many farmland birds which are declining dramatically in Britain and Ireland (Gibbons et al 1993; Donald et al 1994). In the case of the Grey Partridge Perdix perdix this decline is well understood (Potts 1986), and considerable progress has been made for some other species, notably Corn Crake Crex crex (Stowe et al. 1993) and Nortliern Lapwing Varielliis vanellus (Peach et al. 1994). Hopefully, we shall soon understand why tlie Corn Bunting is decreasing, and also appreciate that Warde-Fowler (1922) underestimated this archetypal ‘Linle Brown Job’. A ‘dull bird’, indeed! British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 References 419 With a major paper on this species published in British Birds as recently as March 1994 (Donald et al. 1994), references quoted in both that paper and this paper are not repeated in this list of references; researchers should consult British Birds 87: 129-132. Aebischer, N. J. 1990. Twenty years of monitoring invertebrates and weeds in cereal fields in Sussex. In: Firbank, L. G., Carter, N., Darbyshire, J. F., & Potts, G. R. The Ecology of Temperate Cereal Fields, pp. 305-331. Oxford. Andrew, R. J. 1956. Territorial behaviour of the YeUowhammer Emberiza citrinella and Com Bunting Emberiza calandra. Ibis 98: 502-505. 1957a. The aggressive and courtship behaviour of certain emberizines. Behaviour 10: 255- 308. 1957b. A comparative study of the calls of Emberiza spp. (buntings). Ibis 99: 27-42. Andrews,}., & Carter, S. P. 1993. Britain’s Birds in 1990-1991: the conservation and monitoring review. Thetford. Arroyo, B., & Telleria, J. L. 1984. La invemada de las aves en el area de Gibraltar. Ardeola 30: 23-31. Banbury Ornithological Society^ (BOS). 1985. Corn Bunting Survey. Ann. Rep. Banbury Omithol. Soc. 1985: 33-34. Banneral\n, D. a. 1953. The Birds of the British Isles, vol. 1. London; Bibby, C. j., & Lunn, j. 1982. Conservation of reed beds and their avifauna in England and Wales. Biol. Conserv. 23: 167-186. Bignal, E., & McCracken, D. 1993. Nature conservation and pastoral farming in the British uplands. British Wildlife 4: 367-376. Boddy, M., & Biackburn, A. C. 1978. Ringing studies at a Nottinghamshire Com Bunting roost. Ringing & Migration 2: 27-33. Bramwell, D. 1984. Vertebrate species turnover rates at Creswell Crags, 70,000 to 9,000 b.p. In: Jenkinson, R. D. S., & Gilbertson, D. D. In the Shadow of Extinction, pp. 89-99. Cady, M. C., & Hume, R. 1988. The Complete Book of British Birds. Basingstoke. Catchpole, C. K., & McGregor, P. K. 1985. Sexual selection, song complexity and plumage dimorphism in European buntings of the genus Emberiza. Anim. Behav. 33: 1378-1380. Cramp, S. 1985. Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 4. Oxford. Curry-Lindahl, K. 1981. Bird Migration in Africa, vol. 1. London. Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Fugleregistreringgruppe (DOFF). 1989. Ynglefiiglerapport 1988. Copenhagen. Delin, H., & SvENSSON, L. 1988. Photographic Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. London. Dementiev, G. P., & Gi^dkhov, N. A. 1954. [Birds of the Soviet Union, vol. 5] Moscow. [In Russian] Donald, P. F., & Evans, A. D. 1994. Habitat selection by Com Buntings Miliaria calandra in winter. Bird Study M \ 199-210. & In press. Habitat selection and population size of Com Buntings Miliatia calandra breeding in Britain in 1993. Bird Study. & FORRES r, C. In press. The effects of agricultural change on population size of Com Buntings Miliaria calandra on indmdual farms. Bird Study. , Wilson, J. D., & Shepherd, M. 1994. The decline of the Corn Bunting. Brit. Birds 87: 106-132. Donovan,}. 1984. Com Bunting singing like YeUowhammer. Brit. Birds 77: 491. Duncker, H. 1912. Die Verbreitung der Gattung Emberiza. J. Orn. 60: 69-95. Dunn, E. K. 1976. Laying dates of four species of tits in W}tiham Wood, Oxfordshire. Brit. Birds 69: 45-50. Dymond, }. N. 1980. The Birds of Lundy. Plymouth. Evans, P. R., & FLOWitR, W. U. 1967. The birds of the SmaU Isles. Scot. Birds 4: 404-455. Ferns, P. 1992. Bird Life of Coasts and Estuaries. Cambridge. Fini^yson, C. 1992. Birds of the Strait of Gibraltar. London. Fogden, M. P. L. 1972. The seasonality and population dynamics of some equatorial forest birds in Sarawak. Ibis 114: 307-344. Follows, G. 1969. Weights and measurements of Com Buntings. Ringers’ Bull. 3: 11-12. Frost, R. A. 1979. YeUowhammers roosting in reed-beds. Brit. Birds 72: 595-596. 420 Harper: Studies of Com Bunting Fuixer, R. J. 1982. Bird Habitats in Britain. Calton. Gallagher, M., & Woodcock, M. W. 1980. The Birds of Oman. London. Gibbons, D. W. 1987. Juvenile helping in the Moorhen Gallinula chbropus. Anim. Behav. 35; 170-181. , Reid, J. B., & Chapman, R. A. 1993. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991. London. Ginn, H. B., & Melville, D. S. 1983. Moidt in Birds. Tring. Glue, D., & Morgan, R. 1972. Cuckoo hosts in British habitats. Bird Study 19: 187-192. Greenwood, J. J. D., Crick, H. Q. P., & Donald, P. F. 1993. Changes in reproductive performance of some seed-eating birds, 1962-89. In: Andrews, J., & Carter, S. P. Britain’s Birds in 1990-91: the conservation and monitoring review., pp. 82-85. Thetford. Greig-Smith, P. W. 1990. The Boxworth experience: effects of pesticides on the fauna and flora of cereal fields. In: FiRBANK, L. G., Carter, N., Darbyshire, J. F., & Potts, G. R. The Ecology of Temperate Cereal Fields, pp. 333-371. Oxford. Gyllin, R. 1967. Dygnsr>Tm hos kornspanTn (Emberiza calandra). Vdr Fdgelvdrld 26: 19-29. Harris, P. 1992. Ageing finches in southern Portugal. Ringing & Migration 13: 175-176. Harti.ey, I. R. 1992. Polygymy, parentage and parental investment in the Com Bunting, Miliaria calandra. PhD thesis, Leicester University. , Shepheri^, M., Robson, T., «& Burke, T. 1993. Reproductive success of polygamous male Com Buntings {Miliaria calandra) as confirmed by DNA fingerprinting. Behav. Ecol. 4: 310- 317. Hix lELBACH, J. 1984. Untersuchungen an einer Population der Grauammer {Emberiza calandra L.); Territorialitat, Brutbiologie, Paarbindungs-system, Populationsdynamik und Gesangsdialekt. PhD thesis. University of Zurich. Hollom, P. a. D. 1975. The Popular Handbook of British Birds. London. , Por ter, R. F., Christensen, S., & Willis, I. 1988. Birds of the Middle East and North Africa. Calton. Howard, R., & Moore, A. 1980. A Complete Checklut of the Birds of the World. Oxford. Hudson, W. H. 1928. Nature in Downland. London. Jacobs,}. 1974. Quantitative measurement of food selection. Oecologia 14: 413-417. Jenkins, P. F. 1978. Cultural transmission of song patterns and dialect development in a free- living bird population. Anim. Behav. 26: 50-78. Jenkinson, R. D. S. 1984. Vertebrate species turnover rates at Creswell Crags, 70,000 to 9,000 b.p. In: Jenkinson, R. D. S., & Gilber tson, D. D. In the Shadow of Extinction, pp. 1 17-124. Johns, C. A. 1909. British Birds in Their Haunts. London. JONSSON, L. 1992. Birds of Europe. London. Krebs, J. R., & Davies, N. B. 1993. An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology. 3rd edn. Oxford. Lack, D. 1963. Cuckoo hosts in England. Bird Study 10: 185-192. Lack, P. C. 1986. The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton. 1992. Birds on Lowland Fanns. London. Le Sueur, F. 1976. A Natural History of Jersey. London. Leverton, R. 1993. Migrant Ring Ouzels at a stopover site on the South Downs. Brit. Birds 86: 253-266. Lubcke, W. 1977. 17 Jahre Beringung an einem Schlafplatz der Grauammer {Emberiza calandra). Vogelkundl. Hefte 3: 57-73. MacDonai^d, D. 1965. Notes on the Com Bunting in Sutherland. Scot. Birds 3: 235-246. McGregor, P. K. 1980. Song dialects in the Com Bunting {Emberiza calandra). Z. Tierpsychol. 54: 285-297. 1983. The response of Com Buntings to the playback of dialects. Z. Tieipsychol. 62; 256- 260. 1991. The singer and the song — on the receiving end of bird song. Biol. Rez\ Cambridge Philos. Soc. 66: 57-81. & Thompson, D. B. A. 1988. Constancy and change in local dialects of the Com Bunting. Omis Stand. 19: 153-159. , Waleord, V. R., & Harper, D. G. C. 1988. Song inheritance and mating in a songbird with local dialects. Bioacoustics I: 107-129. Marchan'T, J. H., Hudson, R., Carter, S. P., & Whi ltington, P. 1990. Population Trends in British Breeding Birds. Dmdon. NAMIBIA AFFORDABLE TOURS AND HOLIDAYS 1996 2-23 March, with Dick Filby ft local guides. The most comprehensive tour/safari. Over 420 species of bird and 49 species of mammal were seen on the '95 trip. Prices from £2,565 per person. EILAT 17-24 March. We are again UK agents for the Spring Migration Festival organised by the Bird Watching Centre in Eilat. Prices from £459 per person. HONG KONG 13-24 April. Based at Mai Po itself, David Rosair ft Dick Filby lead this our third year. 43 species of wader seen in '95. Prices from £1,099 per person. BEIDAIHE 4-23 May. Join Tony Marr to witness the spectacular spring migration ft more. Optional trips to Flappy Island. Prices from £1,049 per person. POLISH BIRD FESTIVAL 11-19 May. A rerun of the highly successful first event, superb value for money and an optional Ural Owl extension. Prices from £435 per pe5on. ALASKA 8-22 June. A small group trip with David Rosair including breeding Pacific seabirds of Gambel Island. O 0117984 24HR BROCHURE LINE 0117 961 0874 PERU Late July/August Co-lead by Barry Walker ft Clive Byers, based in the Manu Biosphere Reserve with optional extensions. COTA DONANA FLYDRIVE All Year. A flexible programme allowing you to explore this ornithologically rich area of Spain. TRINIDAD All Year. We are UK agents for the Pax Guest House. Birding packages from £859 inci flights/accom/meals ft birding! OR 01603 767757 INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, BANK ROAD, BRISTOL BS15 2LX ABTA 02229 I AT A v A The Ultimate in Birding 65 TOURS IN 1996 TO • FINLAND & NORWAY “ POLAND • BULGARIA • MOROCCO • TURKEY ISRAEL • YEMEN • UAE & BAHRAIN • TURKESTAN SIBERIA • HONG KONG • CHINA • TIBET • INDIA NEPAL • SRI LANKA • BURMA • THAILAND • VIETNAM BORNEO • PHILIPPINES • INDONESIA • GAMBIA & SENEGAL IVORY COAST • CAMEROON • ETHIOPIA • KENYA • UGANDA MALAWI • NAMIBIA • SOUTH AERICA • MADAGASCAR • AUSTRALIA SOLOMON IS • NEW CALEDONIA & EIJI • NEW ZEALAND • BELIZE & TIKAL COSTA RICA • PANAMA • CUBA • TRINIDAD & TOBAGO • VENEZUELA ECUADOR • PERU • BOLIVIA • BRAZIL • ARGENTINA • CHILE Ocean Adventures: ANTARCTICA from £2550 Incl. FALKLANDS/SOUTH GEORGIA from £3290. Also: ARCTIC REGIONS Eor brochures contact BIRDQUEST at: Two Jays, Kemple End, Birdy Brow, Stonyhurst, Lancashire BB7 9QY. Tel: 01254--826317. Eax: 01254'826780. ATOL 2937. Top of every birdwatcher’s list Whether you’re new to birdwatching or an experienced birder, there’s only one place to find all the informa- tion you need. Birdwatch is published specifically to help you improve your skills, and to keep you informed each month on everything from iden- tification, bird behaviour, conservation and where to watch, to all the latest sight- ings, rare bird news, product reviews and topical comment - including Bill Oddie’s regular monthly column. This moiith: August issue on sale NOW September issue on sale 24 August ■ Yellow-legged Gulls Taxonomy, identification and a change in status? ■ Itineraries From Cornwall to Morocco ■ Rarities and reports Ross’s Gull, River Warbler, Citrine Wagtail in colour ■ FREE RUTLAND GUIDE 16-page official programme Biidwatch ESSENTIAL FOR ALL BIRDWATCHERS VI British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers^, The books included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. We aim to provide the best, most reliable and friendliest service possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by Subbuteo Namral History Books Ltd. AH correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, do Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CH7 4LN. Books All Listed books are POST FREE SPECIAL OFFERS Please tick / British Birds/IBCE Intermtiortal Bird Identification EXCLUSIVE REDUCED price (usually £10.50) Paperback £9.50 □ Clement The Chiffchaff (Hamlyn) exclusive special offer (usually £12.99) Paperback £10.99 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic (OUP) BOXED SET vols 1-9 (normal price £775, save £125) £650.00 □ Ogilvie & Winter Best Days with British Birds (British Birds) exclusive reduced price (usually £14.95). £12.95 □ Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds vol. 2. raptors to lapwings (OUP) exclusive reduced price, (usually £150) £125.00 □ Mason The Blackcap (Hamlyn) exclusive speciai. offer (usually £12.99) Paperback £10.99 □ Ridgely & Tudor The Birds of South America (OUP) vols. 1 & 2 EXCLUSIVE 2-voL price (usual price £1 15) £105.00 □ t NEW Tras MONTH Adolfsson & Cherrug Bird Identification: a reference guide (SKF) £16.00 □ Andrews 'The Birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Andrews) Paperback £18.50 □ ! Burton Birds and Climate Change (Helm) £24.95 □ Hammond & Pearson Waders (Hamlyn) £14.99 □ Price, Droege & Price The Summer Atlas of North American Birds (Academic) £29.95 □ COMING SOON - ORDER NOW Byers, Olsson & Curson Buntings and (North American) Sparrows (Pica Press) DUE OCTOBER £28.00 □ Harrap & Quinn Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers (Christopher Helm) due autumn 1995 £27.99 □ Shirihai The Birds of Israel (Academic Press) due 1995 approx. £80.00 □ RECOMMENDED BOOKS Alstrom, Colston & Lewington A Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe (HarperCollins). ...£14.99 □ Britain’s Birds (BTO & JNCC) 1991-92 £9.95 □ 1990-91 + 1991-92 £11.95 □1989-90+1990-91 £11.95 □ All three £13.95 □ British Birds The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds £1-00 □ Campbell & LackH Dictionary of Birds (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1985 £49.95 □ Chantler & Driessens Swifts: a guide to the swifts and tree swifts of the luorld (Pica Press) £25.95 □ Clement, Harris & Davis Finches and Sparrows: an identification guide (Christopher Helm) £29.99 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic (OUP) vols. 1-7 & 9 all £85 each; vol. 8 £95 vol. 1 □ vol. 2 □ vol. 3 □ vol. 4 □ vol. 5 □ vol. 6 □ vol. 7 □ vol. 8 □ vol. 9 □ Curson, Quinn & Beadle New World Warblers: an identification guide (Christopher Helm) £24.99 □ Dawson & Langman Bird Behaviour (Hamlyn) £7.99 □ , del Hoyo, Elliot & Sargatal Handbook of the Birds of the World vol. 1 (Lynx) Best Bird Book of 1993 £95.00 □ vol. 2. New World vulmres to guineafowl (Lynx) £98.00 □ | Fiy, Fry & Harris Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers: (Christopher Helm) Best Bird Book of 1992 . ... j,21.99 □ Gibbons, et al. 'The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) ! Best Bird Book of 1994 £40.00 □ Harris, Tucker & Vinicombe The Macmillan Field Guide to Bird Identification (Macmillan) Paperback £7.99 □ | Harrison Seabirds: an identification guide (Christopher Helm) Best Bird Book of 1983 £24.99 □ Hayman, Marchant & Prater Shorebirds (Christopher Helm) Best Biri7 Book of 1986 £24.99 □ Heinzcl, Fitter & Parslow Birds of Britain and Europe zmth North Africa and the Middle East NEW EDITION (HarperCollins) Paperback £9.99 □ | Howell & Webb A Guide to the Birds of Mexico & Northern Central America (OUP) Paper £25.00 □ Hard £50.00 □ Jonsson Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle hast (Christopher Helm) VOTED BEST FIELD GUIDE IN 1995 £25.00 □ Keith, Urban & Fry' The Birds of Africa (Academic) vol. 1 £85.00 □ 2 £85.00 □ 3 £85.00 □ 4 £85.00 □ Kemp Bird Families of the World: the hombills (OUP). Plus free tee-shirt £40.00 □ Lack The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1987 £21.95 □ Lckagul, Round, Wongkalasin & Komolphalin A Guide to the Birds of Thailand (Saha Kam Bhaet) £39.50 □ Madge & Bum Wildfozvl: an identification guide (Christopher Helm) Best Bird Book of 1988 £24.99 □ Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (OUP) vol. 1 £125.00 □ National Geographic A Field Guide to the Birds of North America Best Bird Book of 1984 £14.95 □ Oddie Bill Oddie’s Little Black Bird Book (Robson) Paperback £6.99 □ Please use the British BirdShop form overleaf to complete your order. I vii British BirdShop (continued) Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers Please rick / 99 □ 99 □ 00 □ 99 □ RECOMMENDED BOOKS (cont.) Olsen & Larsson Terns of Europe and North America (Christopher Helm) £24 Peterson, Mountfort & Hollom A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe 5 th edn (HarperCoUins) £\4 Ridgely & Tudor The Birds of South America (OUP) (4 vols.) vol. 1 £55.00 □ vol. 2 □ £60 Rosair & Cottridge Hamlyn Photographic Guide to the Waders of the World (Hamlyn) £24 Sibley & Monroe Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World (Yale UP) Best Bird Book of 1991 £80.00 □ Supplement Paperback £19.95 □ Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. 4th edn. (Christopher Helm) Paperback £17.99 D Turner & Rose A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World (Christopher Helm) Best Bird Book of 1990 £22.99 □ Wheatley Where to Watch Birds in South America (Christopher Helm) £14.99 □ Wheeler & Clark A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors (Academic Press) £20.00 □ Williams Bird Families of the World: the penguins (OUP). Plus FTtEE tee-shirt £35.00 □ Winkler & Christie Woodpeckers: a guide to the woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks of the world (Pica Press) £30.00 □ OTHER TITLES All the above titles are POST FREE. Any other natural history' books in print may be ordered from Subbuteo. Please refer to the Subbuteo catalogue for details of current prices and postage rates. Eree copy on request: tick this box □ Binders Please tick .y“cC 6Ja_S UitU ‘nc.-t'T-Qus U'r\de.rfiL\! Cooe.rfs looked po-ie ii// Om C./os*s't Vie.US. CLTil Sirucfu-re Like r 5h^G-//6^" LJifU ■pTOpOrtiO’naJc/u sUe. fj. ^ ^ ^ V Most ‘>-err)CK.rks mcLc/e.^ sk G'raSS k c(> Pir CLYmc pad p-rimo.r'^ project, or). ose. r U U oj: Und’irte^i] Coi>e.rfj TG.Ue.cdeJ, aftrk sir no. Fig. 1. Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata, Sumburgh Head, Shetland, 27th September 1993 (Peter A. Dennis') 438 Voder & Moon: Lanceolated Warblers in Norfolk and Shedand was typical Locustella with its severely graduated tail, not to mention its mouse-like behaviour, as well as a very flat crown with virtually no forehead. Its actual structure was incredibly variable: when perched in the wall it was very compact and rather rotund, when alarmed it would stretch itself out and stick its head up giving it a much longer profile, when it was feeding on the grass it seemed for all the world Like a small rodent running, even bounding, along with a typical horizontal stance. It was particularly adept at disappearing into thick clumps of grass. Although confiding given still observ^ers, it was easily alarmed by movement and would run for 20-30 m before stopping to look around. More often than not, its normal feeding behaviour could be described as furtive and unobtrusive. Interestingly, a Grasshopper Warbler L. naevia seen very well in long grass a week or so later gave a profile of an Acrocephalus as it perched up on the grass stem with its tail cocked; by way of comparison with the Lanceolated, its tail was noticeably longer, the tertial pattern was still quite striking, but the fringes were distincdy wider and washed with grey and they formed a much less striking contrast to the rest of the closed wing. More critically, the undertail-coverts were definitely brown, not buff, and noticeably streaked. UPPKRPARTS Overall a rather rich brown tone to the plumage. Head; the face was rather plain with an indistinct yellowish supercilium from the base of the bill to just beyond the eye; the latter was dark with a fine, but quite obvious, pale eye-ring. Ear-coverts rather grey-brown, ver>' lightly streaked darker, bordered above by a faintly darker eye-line and below by a thin rather yellowish submoustachial line with a dark malar stripe (see underparts). Bill: quite long for a Lanceolated, dark culmen, but rest of bill including cutting edge of upper mandible pale flesh-pink. Distincdy streaked crown, the streaks forming a series of dark brown lines. At times, it revealed a greyish ‘shawl’ on the hindneck, but this was very dependent on neck posture and was not always obvious. The mande was dominated by a series of bold dark tramlines, becoming less striking on the lower back. The uppertail-coverts, and to a lesser extent the rump, were boldly streaked dark browm, each feather having a dark central band on either side of the feather shaft (most striking on the longest pair of feathers), but stopping subterminally. The closed wing was rather club-shaped. The greater coverts and tertials were incredibly neat, with dark brown feather centres and thin, uniform, pale buff fringes, forming a strong contrast with the less richly coloured primaries. The primary' tips fell well short of the tips of the uppertail-coverts and the exposed primary tips formed only one-third to one-half the length of the exposed tertials. The uppertail was dark brown, darker than the rest of the upperparts and markedly graduated (tliis was even obvious without the tail being fanned open). UNDERPARTS Overall rather dirt>' greyish- white, but throat and breast strongly suffused with yellow (more obvious at certain angles and particularly in the centre of the throat and breast) and flanks, vent and undertail strongly suffused with buff. Throat and breast finely streaked dark brown, the streaking finest on throat, becoming wider and more striking on breast (the centre of throat was unstreaked and bordered by a dark malar stripe on each side and streaking below); this streaking continued along the flanks and vent, forming several lines on the flanks. Lower breast and belly was unstreaked. Undertail-coverts: two longest unstreaked (seen only at very close range), rest were unmarked except for a thin dark browTi line (short-pin-shaped) in the centre of each feather. LEGS Rather livid pink. Identified as Lanceolated Warbler (all comparisons with Grasshopper Warbler) on small size, proportionately shorter tail, proportionately shorter primaries (only one-third to one-half length of exposed tertials, compared with nearly equal length in Grasshopper), extensive streaking on underparts, bold, and strongly contrasting, greater coverts and tertials and scarcely streaked buff undertail- coverts. Identified as presumed first-winter on richness of plumage tones, as well as the evident freshness of the plumage and particularly the absence of apparent feather wear. Andrew V. Moon Chalk Dell House, London Road, Rickmansworih, Hertfordshire WD3 IJP NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Bob Scott and Wendy Dickson Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Too many chemicals, too few Swallows It is not often that the members of the ‘N & c’ team take the unusual step of giving themselves a pat on the back. Just occasionally we feel we deserve it. Under the heading ‘Chemicals and the environment’ {Brit. Birds 88: 247), we expressed the opinion that the profile of chemicals and their presence in the environment needed raising. Since that piece was penned, the profile has certainly started to rise. A full-page article by Robin Page {Weekend Telegraph April 15th 1995), under the heading ‘Why the threat of a silent summer hangs over our green but poisoned land’, was followed by Geoffrey Lean, environment correspondent for the Independent on Sunday, writing on ‘The sacred swallow, summer’s missing guest’ Qune 11th 1995). Both articles wrote of Ivermectin, Aldicarb and a range of other biocides being liberally added to the British countryside. (Appositely, the letter page of the same issue of the Independent on Sunday has the heading ‘While scientists look for proof, people are being poisoned’, although the subject is different!). Robin Page has subsequently followed this up with the launch of a campaign in Country Living Quly 1995), ‘Save our Swallows’, stressing the alternatives that are available for some of the most damaging chemicals. It would be easy to get side-tracked by criticism of a particular chemical, but it is the vast array of herbicides, insecticides, moUuscicides and fungicides that are used in modern-day farming and gardening that is the worry. The Barn Swallow Hinmdo nistica makes an excellent flagship for any action, with the loss of over half a million in the last 25 years. In some areas, the decline has been so dramatic that we hear stories of complete absence. It must now be time for a conservation body with political clout to take up what appears to be a very challenging campaign. Bird Conservation: the science and the action Proceedings of the landmark BOU/RSPB/ JNCC/WWT/BTO conference held at Shuttleworth College during 6th- 10th April 1994 {Brit. Birds 87: 344, 404) have now been published as a 250-page supplement to Ibis. Copies are available (price £20.00 incl. p&p) from the BOU, c/o Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire hp23 6AP. Netting at Ngulia Mist-netting during the ‘small-moon periods’ in November-December was again productive at Ngulia, Kenya, with 10,954 Palearctic migrants ringed in 1994 (the fourth-highest annual total, exceeded only in 1979, 1990 and 1993). As usual. Marsh Warblers Acrocephalus palustris predominated, with almost 6,000 ringed, including a record 1,104 on 5th December. {Contributed by Graeme Backhurst & David Pearson, Box 15194, Nairobi, Kenya) 439 440 News and comment New Honorary Subscribers We are delighted to announce that Brian & Sheila Bottomley have been elected as Honorary Subscribers to British Birds. The credit ‘J. B. & S. Boiiomley' has appeared under no fewer than 199 photo- graphs in British Birds, mosdy during the three decades of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The first photograph by either member of this husband-and-wife team ever to be published was in British Birds in 1957, and it gives us great pleasure now to include the two- hundredth in this journal (plate 123 on page 429). Neither Brian nor Sheila had done any real photography or developed a film prior to their marriage in 1955, but after only four years they were elected to membership of the Zoological Photographic Club and were awarded the Medal of the Royal Photographic Society in 1961. Eric Hosking and I. J. Ferguson-Lees, writing in 1964, described them as having ‘risen to the very forefront of bird-photographers’ {Brit. Birds 57; 501- 502). At first they concentrated on nest- photography and some ‘wait-and-see’ photo- graphy from hides at bait, but then pioneered bird-photography by stalking, described and illustrated in British Birds (6 1 : 546-549) . This inspired a generation, and revolutionised wader-photography, pro\'iding us with many classic images (see e.g. Brit. Birds 70; 521- 529). It is our pleasure to honour two ornithologists whose contributions have had such a significant influence on their successors. Their letter of acceptance ended with the typically generous invitation ‘to any w'ho remember us to call for tea and/or gin, should they be “rained off’ w'hile in West Cornwall.’ The address is Chypons, Ch\-woone Hill, Newiyn, Penzance, Cornwall I'Ris 5BU. Brian & Sheila Bottomley join I. J. Ferguson- Lees, P. A. D. HoUom, Guy Mountfort, E. M. Nicholson, Roger Tory Peterson, Major R. F. Ruttledge, Dr P. O. Swanberg, Prof Dr K. H. Voous and D. I. M. Wallace as Honorary- Subscribers to British Birds. {Eds.) Volunteers wanted in Sulawesi Would you like to spend eight days in the forests and mountains of Buton, a remote island off the southeast coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia? This is home to some exceptionally rare species, including Sulawesi Serpent Eagle Spilomis rufipectus. Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher Cittura cyanotis and Purple-bearded Bee-eater Meropogon forsteni. After penetrating some of the remotest parts of the island to gather a range of biological information, it would be time to move to the Tukanghesi Islands for a period of snorkelling among the coral reefs and lazing on white sand beaches. The entire programme is sponsored by the Hongkong Bank under its ‘Care-for-Nature’ programme. So, what is the catch? It is necessary to have a strong interest in birds and a willingness to live under expedition conditions, staying in local villages and eating local food. The programme is funded, but participants would be required to meet their personal costs, which amount to some £1,800 if starting from the UK. Further details from Operation Wallacea, c/o Ecosurt'eys Ltd, Priory Lodge, Hagnaby, Spilsby, Lincolnshire PE23 4BP. Irish losses and gains Com Crakes Crex crex failed to nest in Northern Ireland for the first time ever in 1 994, and, although there was some optimism from the Republic of Ireland in that year, the species is again absent from the north in 1995. Now joining it as a lost breeding species in Northern Ireland in 1995 is the Common Scoter Melanitta nigra, although the first news from the 1995 survey is that the population south of the border is healthier than expected. Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii are hanging on by the skin of their teeth in the North (just six pairs in 1995), with the vast bulk of the West European population in the Republic. The numbers of summering Ospreys Pandion haliaetus and Marsh Harriers Circus aeniginosus in the island of Ireland have been increasing steadily in recent years and records for 1995 suggest that first breeding cannot be far away. They have been pipped at the post, however, by a new' breeding species for Ireland; a pair of Mediterranean Gulls Earns melanoccphalus at a currently undisclosed site. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 Lessons from NRA boob Mid June: waist-high river-bank vegetation filled with breeding Sedge Warblers Acrocephaliis schoenobaenus and the flowers throbbing with bees and flashing with dragonflies . . . until National Rivers Authority tractors and boats turned the banks into a lawn and destroyed the fringing reedbeds. This could have been anywhere, but happens to have been along the River Ivel beside Fountains in Blunham. Some of the workmen involved were as horrified at what they were being expected to do as we were at seeing it done. The site manager defended the devastation, claiming that the conserv'ationists in the NRA had approved it and that they said that it was doing no environmental damage. No environmental damage! Thank Heavens for sanity, however, when NRA Anglia Region headquarters was contacted by telephone and the NRA’s Area Flood Defence Manager, Ian Hart, immediately visited the site. The NRA’s guidelines — (1) no bank-vegetation cutting 441 within 1 m of the water’s edge, (2) no bank cutting at all until the second week of July, and (3) cutting in the river only in the central channel and not within 2 m of either bank — had been ignored. Happily, the unnecessary and lethal (to nestlings) ‘manicuring’ of the river banks was immediately halted. Mistakes happen. But lessons can be learned. In this case, we hope that the NRA’s excellent guidelines, outlined to us verbally, can be put into easily understandable written intructions (if that has not already been done), and these passed annually not only to offices where they will be filed or ‘binned’, but also given to the men who are actually cany'ing out the work (eveiy’where in the UK, not just in East Anglia), so that such misunderstandings never recur. If you see the guidelines being broken, tell the NRA at once. Equally, a letter of appreciation to the NRA would doubtless be welcomed if the guidelines are being adhered to in your area. We shall be keeping an eye on future events. Hampshire Birds An audience of 250 gathered at Southampton University on 4th March to enjoy a conference organised jointly by the Hampshire Ornithological Society’ and the BTO on ‘The Ups and Downs of Hampshire Birds’. John Clark (HOS) presented a positive picture of the fortunes of Hampshire’s birds since 1950, with success stories such as those of Brent Goose Branta bernicla. Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Firecrest Regiilus ignicapillus, Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti, and Dartford Warbler Sylvia iindata oumumbering species in decline or lost as breeders such as Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia. Red-backed Shrike Lanins colluno, and Girl Bunting Embenza cirlus. Dick Potts of the Game Conserv'ancy painted a more depressing picture of the outlook for the Grey Partridge Perdix perdix and other farmland species, and Da\ad Burges (RSPB) pointed out that the current high numbers of European Nightjars Capiimidgus enropaeus in Hampshire resulted from a coincidence of the forestry^ cycle in certain major forests in the county’ and storm damage in 1987 and later, not from the health of Hampshire’s heathlands. In between, we heard Rob Fuller (BTO) on woodland management, were stunned by showman David Boag’s photographs of Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis, and reminisced over the past 50 years with Norman Orr (HOS). The traditional British Birds mystery photographs competition resulted in a three- way tie, with the draw for the bottle of champagne being won by Rosie Powell. (Contributed by Nigel Peace) Moroccan Rare Birds Committee A Moroccan rarities committee has recently been established with Moroccan, Belgian and French members. The annual report of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee (MRBC) will be published in Porphyria in French with a summary’ in English. A list of species that should be submitted will be supplied on request from, and all records of rare birds should be sent to. Dr Jacques Franchimont, Secretary of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee, Villa Elizabeth, 9 rue Abdellouahad el Marrakchi, V. N. Meknes, Morocco. (Cotitributed by Hugues Dujoumy) 442 News and comment New bird books in Wales Congratulations go to birdwatchers in south Wales for their part in the production of two important new books. The recent launch of the new' Birds in Glamorgan at the National Museum of Wales followed hard on the publication of Birds of Pembrokeshire. Both books pro\'ide excellent updates of previous countv'/vice-countv' avifaunas and both include maps of breeding distribution based on tetrad data gathered during the 1980s. On 10th June, Peter Morgan, Rob Hume and Stephanie Tyler helped to launch the Glamorgan book, w'hich has been written largely by Clive Hurford, a monitoring ecologist with the Countiyside Council for Wales, and Peter Lansdow'n, well known to all BB readers as past Chairman of the Rarities Committee. Their production is a veiy w'orthy successor to the previous Bird<: of Glamorgan (1967), and the first list dating back to 1802. It is full of interesting snippets, as well as being well illustrated with sketches and both black- and-white and colour photographs of habitats and birds. It ensures that Glamorgan remains the best-documented county in Wales. Birds of Pembrokeshire (1994), with a forew'ord by Ronald Lockley, is the third in its line, the others being published in 1894 and 1949. A colour painting of Red-billed Chough Pyrrhoeorax pyirhocorax on Skomer graces its cover. Who better to write this book than Jack Donovan, bird recorder for the county’ for 34 years, vice-president of the Dvfed Wildlife Trust and Chairman of the Skokholm and Skomer Management Committees, and Pembrokeshire-bom Graham Rees, joint bird- recorder and editor of the Pembrokeshire Bird Report since 1981 and BTO Regional Rep.? These two publications, together with the relativ’ely recent Birds of Oivent (1977) and the Givent Breeding Bird Atlas (1987), Birds of Radnorshire and Mid Powys (1985) and Birds of Breconshire (1990), mean that the southern part of Wales is well covered with county' av’ifaunas. Let us hope that these are a spur to counties in north and west Wales, w'here there has been a dearth of recent ornithological publications. {Contributed by Stephanie Tyler) Welcome ‘Alula’ A new Finnish quarterly birding magazine, called Alukn will concentrate on publishing ‘richly illustrated identification papers, with good-quality' colour photographs’. The text w’ill be in Finnish and English, with at least an extensive English summarv’ to all papers considered to be of international interest. TTiere w’ill be two issues in 1995, but from 1996 Alula w'ill appear quarterly. The April 1995 issue includes papers on identification, ageing and sexing of Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, Great Black-headed Gull Lams ichthyaetus and Black-throated Gavia arctica and Red-throated Divers G. stellata in flight, and Finland’s first Thick-billed Warbler Acrocephalus aedon. The Editor-in-chief is Antero Topp and the other editors are Dick Forsman, Hannu Jannes, Matti Kapanen, Pekka Keskinen and Pekka J. Nikandcr — mostly familiar names to British Birds readers. We send our best wishes to this new magazine and look forward to long and fruitful co-operation with Alula. ITe subscription price for 1 995 is 90 Finnish marks in Finland and 105FIM elsewhere (or the equivalent amount in US dollars, sterling or Deutschmarks; and you can pay by Visa/Eurocard). Write to Alula, PO Box 85, Fin-02271 Espoo, Finland. New Italian magazine We have just received tlie latest issue of Rivista Italiana di Birdwatching. It is a pleasure to welcome this new magazine, which reflects the fast-growing interest in ornithology in Italy. For details, write to Marcello Grussu, via Cagliari 2, 1-09095 Mogoro (Oristano), Italy. New editor for ‘Scottish Birds’ Dr Stan da Prato is taking over from Anne- Marie Smout as editor of our sister journal, Scottish Birds. We send our best wishes to them both. Membership of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club is £15.00 p.a., and the address to write to is 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh i-:ir sKi'. Devon gets new President No sooner does she retire from the Presidency of the BOU {Brit. Birds 88: 387) than Dr Janet Rear accepts a new responsibility: taking over as President of the Devon Bird-watching and Preserv'ation Society from Robin Khan, who now' becomes Hon. Vice President. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 Red Kite sightings As part of the English Nature/RSPB Red Kite Milvus milvus reintroduction programme a second English population is being established by releasing birds at a secret location in the Midlands. Small breeding populations have already been successfully established in southern England and northern Scotland. In 1994, 20 pairs reared 37 young in southern England and eight pairs reared 13 young in northern Scotland. The first release of birds imported from Castilla y Leon, central Spain, at the new site took place in July-August. Each bird has been fitted with coloured, letter-and-number coded wing-tags and a radio transmitter, allowing its movements to be tracked. All sightings of Red Kites from Bedford- 443 shire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Hertford- shire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, North- amptonshire, Staffordshire, Warwick-shire and the West Midlands will be welcomed. Records are of particular value if the letter-and-number code or colour of wing-tags can be seen, and all such records, from anywhere in the UK, will be much appreciated. Please send details, including exact location and as much informa- tion as possible on the bird’s behaviour, to Ian Carter, English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough pei iua (tel: 01733 318 324). Please send Scottish records of all Red Kites, whether with or without wing-tags, to Lorcan O’Toole at RSPB’s North Scotland Regional Office, Etive House, Beechwood Park, Inverness rv2 3BW. Red Kite trail opens In 1994, the Welsh population of Red Kites Milvus milvus, numbering 108 pairs, raised 97 young, the best breeding result this century. Following on from this success came the opening of the ‘Red Kite Viewing Trail’ in 1995. This consists of a range of opportunities to view Red Kites throughout mid Wales, based around six key centres: Llandovery, Llandrindod Wells, Llanwrtyd Wells, Nant yr Arian near Ponterwyd, Gigrin Farm at Rhayader, and the RSPB Dinas reserve. There are various activities throughout the year, including winter watching of kites and other carrion feeders at two stations. We recently returned from a visit to mid Wales and took the opportunity to call in at both the Dinas reserve (Red Kite circling overhead) and the Llanwrtyd Wells centre. The latter provided closed-circuit TV pictures of Red Kites, Blue Tits Pams caemleus. Bam Owls Tyto alba and Northern Goshawks Accipiter gentilis. Whilst there, the female Goshawk was watched dismembering and feeding her young on a Eurasian Sparrowhawk A. nisus. A leaflet detailing the Red Kite trail is available from RSPB, Bryn Aderyn, Newtown, Powys SY16 2AB; tel. 01686-624143. New BNP member We are delighted to report that Ian Dawson has agreed to join the Behaviour Notes Panel. All notes published in British Birds are assessed by members of the Behaviour Notes Panel or the Identification Notes Panel, and the Editorial Board. The current members of the BNP are Dr Colin Bibby, Dr Jim Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr Ian Newton FRS, Dr Malcolm Ogilvie, Dr Tim Sharrock and Dr Ken Simmons, with Ian Dawson now taking the Panel membership to eight. In the past, Ian has been compiler of our monthly ‘Recent reports’, is still one of our regular proof-readers, was until recently on the BOU Records Committee and, as the RSPB’s Librarian, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the ornithological literature. Ian was profiled in ‘Personalities’ in 1987 (B?it. Birds 80: 378- 380). Green power on East Anglian reserves We have recently heard that Scolt Head, Norfolk, has joined Havergate Island, Suffolk, to become East Anglia’s latest reserve to receive its power from wind and sun. Between them they are powering communications equipment, lighting, refrigerators and televisions with the aid of solar panels and wind generators. The romance of the lonely nature reserve warden, cut off from all contact other than with the birds that he (or she) is charged with protecting, seems to be a thing of the past. They can now, presumably, be contacted easily by the boss and also watch ‘Neighbours’. Further details from On-Site Power Ltd, Chalk Bam, Winch Road, Gaston, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE32 IQP. 444 News and comment Wind farms in Andalucia News just in from the Sociedad Espanola de Ornitologia (Spanish Ornithological Society) paints a rather depressing picture concerning future developments near Tarifa. Many British birders will have enjoyed the spectacular migration in this part of southern Spain, and will also have seen the wind farms operating in the area. We must all be supportive of green energy production, but the siting of any such development is critical. There are currently 268 windmill generators operating in the Tarifa area, but there are plans for a further 900. Regretably, there appears to be no general plan and no control being exerted by the regional Andalucia government, in other words a complete lack of any environmental-impact assessment. At a minimum, a quarter of a million diurnal migrating raptors pass through this area, mainly Griffon Vultures Gyps fiilviis, Common Buzzards Biaeo biaeo and Black Kites Milviis migrans, together with Black CicoHia nigra and White Storks C. cicotiia. Add to this the impressive passage of tens of millions of nocturnal migrants that pass through the area each spring and autumn and the possibility of a major environmental catastrophe is in the making. Quite clearly, any such wind-pow'er construction needs careful consideration and siting. Until environmental considerations have been fully investigated, all funire construction should cease. If you agree that environmental investiga- tion should take place ugently, write to the President of the Andalucian Region Government: Excmo. Sr D. Manuel Chaves Gonzalez, Presidente de la Junta de Andalucia, Avda. de Roma s/n, 41071 Sevilla, Spain, informing him of your views. The official deadline is for letters to arrive before 30th September so please WTite at once (but protests even after this date will still ha\'e an impact) . More Slender-billed Curlews Made famous by its wintering Slender-billed Curlews Nurnenius tennirostris, Merja Zerga in Morocco is the ‘Site to Save’ featured in an article by Gary' Allport in the latest issue of World Birdzcatch (vol. 17, no. 2, June 1995), with tips on how' to make the most of a trip there. World Birdzcatch also reports on the flock of 20 Slender-billed Curlews wintering in southern Italy from January to March 1995, the largest flock of this species to be seen for many years. A good home for your spare transparencies Do you have any spare photographic slides of birds (or of w'ildlife habitats under any form of threat) w'hich are surplus to your requirements? If so, they could be very helpful to illustrate lectures and seminars on ornithology' and bird protection at the Lvi\’ State University in Ukraine. Even just a few spare slides would be greatly appreciated by Dr Igor Gorbah of Lviv State Uni\’ersity, Department of Zoology, Grushevskiy str. 4, Lviv 290005, Ukraine. Help for declining farmland species There have been some dramatic declines in the numbers of sLx common farmland birds in the last 20 years: Grey Partridge Perdix perdix down by 75% to 150,000 pairs. Sky Lark ALuida arvemis down 54% to 2 million pairs, Tree Sparrow Passer montanus down a massix'e 86% to 1 1 0,000 pairs, Linnet Carduelis cannabina down 56% to 520,000 pairs, Reed Bunting Embetiza schoenidiis down 59% to 220,000 pairs and Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra down 77% to 20,000 pairs. Just what role the use of agricultural chemicals has played in this decline is still not certain, but changes in farming practices are certainly implicated quite strongly. 'Die Game Conservancy Trust, the RSPB, the BTO and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group have now' come together to produce a scries of guidelines for suitable management on lowland farms. The guidelines stress the importance of suihbles for winter food and conser\ation strips for seeds and insects. 'Phey show' the value of sympathetically managed, naturally regenerated rotational set-aside for all the six species, and, most importantly, advocate the careful and selective use of herbicides and insecticides. Further information from Melinda Appleby, Agriculture and land-use adviser, RSPB, tel: 01767-680551. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 9, September 1995 445 Power cable goes underground Good news in that nearly 1 km of overhead power lines near the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust centre at Slimb ridge, Gloucestershire, is to be placed underground. Midlands Electricity pic, following discussions with the WWT, is to spend £20,000 removing the lines and installing new underground cables in their place. Raptors, The Gambia and the Inner Hebrides In the September issue of Bird Watching magazine, the RSPB proposes a new attitude towards Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisiis and Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus', Richard Millington looks at Britain‘s rarest raptors; the birding potential of The Gambia is outlined; and Dr Malcolm Ogilvie describes the attractions of the Inner Hebrides. Rare breeding birds Observers with information on rare breeding birds in Britain in 1995 are requested to send full details now to the relevant county bird recorder (or to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel’s Secretary, Dr Malcolm Ogilvie, Glencairn, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay pa49 7UN) . Please do not wait until the end of the year. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Allen — Northern Ireland Tim Cleeves — Northeast David Clugston — Scotland Dave Flumm — Southwest Barrie Harding — East Anglia Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Don Taylor — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales John Wilson — Northwest MONTHLY MARATHON / ~ We greatly regret that the closing dates for the last two hurdles (plates / 97 and 111) were given incorrectly as 15th July and 15th August, i I instead of 15th August and 15th September, respectively. We are, therefore, extending the deadline for receipt of answers relating to both of these two photographs to 15th October, to give all entrants a chance to consider them thoroughly. We also give the opportunity to anyone who has already sent in an answer (of necessity, one arrived at hastily) to submit a substitute, revised answer, provided that this is clearly marked ‘SECOND, REVISED ENTRY’. All entrants can be alerted to the fact that the identification of the four birds in plates 97 and 111 are giving rise to considerable debate, and deser\'e very careful analysis. This month’s hurdle is shown in plate 126 on page 446. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 idf; or telephone Sandy (01767) 682969. 446 Monthly marathon Plate 126. ‘Monthly marathon’. Photo no. Ill: either eighteenth stage in seventh ‘Marathon’ or first or second stage in eighth ‘Marathon’. Identify' the species. Read the mles on page 65 of the January’ issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park L^ne, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th October 1995. RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Bany Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 10th July to 13th August 1995. These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records. White-billed Diver Gavia adatnsii Fetlar (Shetland), 1 7th-24th July. Madeira/Cape Verde/Soft-plumaged Petrel Ptero- dronia madeiraJfeae/ mollis Two, Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), 27th July. Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea Total of 638, Cape Clear Island, 28th July. Great Shearwater Piiffiniis gravis Total of 974, Cape Clear Island, 28th July. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites occanicus Singles off Cape Clear Island, 1 9th and 27th July and 1 2th August. Red-neeked Stint Calidris rttficollis River Wansbeek, near Blyth (Northumberland), 12th-13ih August. Least Sandpiper C. miniitilla Sidicsham Ferry (West Sussex), 19ih-25lh July. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Old Hall Marshes (Essex), 28th July; Pett Level (East Sussex), 3 1 St July; three together, Cantlcy Beet Factory (Norfolk), 4th- 13th August. Terek Sandpiper Xemis cinereus Snettisham (Norfolk), 14th- 15th July. Ivory Gull Pagophtla ebunica Inverness (Highland), 18th and 22nd July. European Roller Coracias garndiis Kyle of I.ochalsh (Highland), 22nd-25th July; Stowford Common (Devon), 30ih July. Olivaceous Warbler Hippotais pallida Benacre I’its (Suffolk), Nth- 13th August. Lesser Grey Shrike laiihis minor St Margaret’s at ('.lilfc (Kent), 13th August. Rare Bird News supplies all its information free to ‘British Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (25p min cheap rate; ,39p min other times; inel. VAT) Cygnns WUMUe Consistently the most enjoyable birdwatching tours worldwide. 1996 PROGRAMME OF ESCORTED BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS INCLUDES ★ NORTHERN INDIA ★ ★ SRI LANKA ★ ★ ‘TIGER SPECIAL’ ★ ★ VIETNAM ★ ★ MAUWSIA ★ ★ NEW ZEALAND ★ ★ AUSTRALIA ★ ★ HAWAII ★ ★ TEXAS ★ WASHINGTON STATE NORTHERN ARGENTINA SOUTHERN ARGENTINA TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ARIZONA & CALIFORNIA BRAZIL ETHIOPIA KENYA NAMIBIA ★ SOUTH AFRICA ★ CATALONIA ★ MAJORCA ★ SPANISH PYRENEES ★ SLOVAKIA ★ HUNGARY For full details of these, and other exciting tours, please ask for our free brochure; we will be pleased to hear from you at the following address: CYGNUS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS, 57 FORE STREET, KINGSBRIDGE, DEVON TQ7 1PG Telephone: (01548) 856178 Fax: (01548) 857537 3111 ACE OPTICS OF BATH ADMINISTRATOR The South West’s Largest Optical Specialist ZZeiss •7x42/1 0x40 BGAT C689 • -8x20 Classic (inc Case) £199 10x25 Classic One Case) Phone • New Nightowls e.g. 7x45 OPA' £799 LLeica •8x20 BC £239 10x25 BCA OPA* £289 •8x32 BA OPA* £625 •8x42 BA £689 10x42 BA £699 '. Mew 8/10x50 BA £899 'Mew Leica Televid Scopes Phone Opticron Countryman £99 Hi-Res 8/10x42 £189 Classic 60mm + 22x w . £169 60 SR + 22x HR & Case £269 HR66 £269 HR 80 Body £319 30xW eye piece £52 Nikon Spotting Scope 20x £229 Spotting Scope Zoom Angled OPA* ..£319 Fieldscope IIA £339 Fieldscope 78 ED OPA* £769 30xx ww OPA* or 20-45 Zoom £159 THE BEST DEALS IN OPTICS C 01225 466364 KKowa TSN1&2 £299 TSN3&4 £599 rSN 30XWW £139 ••’SN Zoom 20-60 £175 -'SN60xor77x £105 ‘S 61 1/12 OPA* £239 'S 613/14 OPA* £519 '*S27xw £95 )lay on case £42 8.3ausch & Lomb x26 Custom Premier £269 •x24 Legacy OPA* £99 x3S or 1 0x50 Glasses on £129 x42 Natureview OPA* £109 •0x42 Natureview £129 Swift iLtralile 8/10x42 OPA* £179 • .udubon 8.5x44 £229 Swarovski 8x30 SLC III £449 7x42 SLC £529 10x42 SLC £589 AT-80 Scope £539 AT-80 HD Scope £769 30xXW Eye Piece £119 Optolyth Alpin 8/10x40 £255 TBS/TBG 80 New Model £479 TBS/TBG 80 HD New Model £719 30xww £149 20-60 zoom £175 Night Vision Scopes from Accessories SliK D3 tnpod Slik 444 Sport , Velbon tripods from Car window mount Hide mounts from .£250 .£119 . .£79 . .£45 . £29 . .£29 British Birds readers only offer. 25% discount off any Velbon Tripod (E39-E79) with any Telescope purchased (while stocks last). 'e cannot list all models we stock please phone To save you the hassle of negotiating, all our pnees are jgely discounted from the start, Should you find a genuinely cheaper pnee, we will normally beat rt. We so offer the best advice, service and stock, so why bother to go elsewhere? If you cannot call in. we offer 48 hour mail order delivery service Please ask for David or Peter for specialist advice Low cost credit rms available. Please mention Bntish Birds magazine when calling. 16 GREEN STREET, BATH, BA1 2JZ 01 225 466364 If busy try 466975 *Also available at 10 South Walk, Yate, Bristol (01454) 325302 nces are correct at time of going to press. *OPA - Birdwatching Magazines Optical Products Award The British Ornithologists' Union invites applications for the post of Administrotor, based at its office at The Natural History Museum, Tring, Hertfordshire. The successful applicant will run the office and must have secretarial and accounting skills and be computer liter- ate (word processing and spreadsheets). Experience of running a membership-based registered charity would be an advantoge. Starting salary will be negotiable according to experience, within the SPS range of Civil Service pay, currently £1 2,450-£l 5,956. The closing date for applications is 22.9.1 995 For further details and a job description, contact Dr C. J. Feare, Honorary Secretary, British Ornithologists' Union, c/o Central Science Laboratory, Tungley Ploce, Worplesdon, Surrey GU3 3LQ. Tel. 01483 232581. Fax 01483 234675. THAILAND Nature tours; Bird & Wildlife watchings with one of Thailand’s top experts. Contact: NATURE TRAILS Tel: 662-933 0745-6 Fax: 662-538 7824 bbssq xi TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 British Birds Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be prepaid and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Telephone 01767-640467 Fax 01767-640025 HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND ISI.es of SCII.I.Y. Mincarlo Guest House. St Mary’s. SuperSly situated in own grounds overlooking the harbour. Write Colin Duncan or Tel: 01720 42251.^. (BB8.76) CI.EY. Attractive house in village, four bedrooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album. 47 Lyndale Avenue. London NW2. Tel: 0171-431 2942. ' (BB720) ISLES OE SCII.I.Y. Trelawney Guest House. St Mary’s TR2I OJT. Bookings now being taken for B&B. 1995 Season. Tel/Fax: 01720 422377 for brochure. 1BB789) N. NORFOLK. NR CI.EY. Charming 2 bedroom Hint cottage in Holt. Tastefully furnished, well equipped. GCH. spacious garden. Tel. 01788 815380. IBB838) NORTH NORFOLK BIRD WATCHING AREA. Secluded 3 crown hotel. Beautiful grounds. Adjacent Bird of Prey Centre & Sanctuary. Good food. En-suite rooms. T V ’s, tea/coffee facility. Tel. 01263 712235. IBB86I) CLF;Y. 3 quality cottages (sleep 4. 6 and 6+2). fjuiet. comfortable, excellent value. Brochure (01353) 740770. (BB872) WALES NFLAR DEVILS BRIDtfFL Guest house in glorious unspoiled surroundings. Log fires, en-suite. superb candlelit dinners. Kite all around, clo.se bird reserves. Open all year, winter/autumn breaks. Brochure tel: 01974 282289. (BB876) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL. Isle of Colonsay. Argyll PA6I 7YP. Demi- pension (private bath) from £55.00. Details, brochure, map (birdlist on request). Tel: 01951 200316. (BB874) OVERSEAS NORTH M.3LLORCA family house, peaceful Old Policnsa. Mountain views, near beaches and wildlife sites. Brochure 01628 22342. (BB736) PR()VF;NCE, CAMAR(;UFL Farm cottage, apt., b&b. Rogers. Mas d’Auphan. Le Sambuc. 13200 ARLES. France. Tel: (0033) 90972041. fax 90972087. (BB80I ) •Alderney Channel Islands (JY9 3T.I Neal & Co Alderney is a small island 3.5 by 1.5 miles and is ideal for Bird Watchers. We offer a choice of .self-catering cottages, houses or flats including a Penthouse flat in a Victorian Fort. A full brochure is available or just call for the current vacancies. Tel: 01481 823332 Fax: 01481 82.3821 The Alderney Accommodation Agency (BB7.50) ACSTRALIA, CAIRN.S, JIILATTEN — Located in Australia’s premier birding region, central to 7 diverse habitats offering up to 400 species including the Golden Bower Bird. Bustard and Blue Faced Finch, our 12 acre rainforest .setting hosts 8 endemic birds including the Lesser Sooty Owl and is abundant with native fauna, notably the Red Necked Crake. Paradi.se Kingfisher and Platypus. We provide modern, spacious S/C suites and expert guiding is available. Write now for a free bird list to Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge. P.O. Box 3. Julatlen 4871. Queensland. Australia. Tel: +61 70 941263 Fax: +61 70 941466. (BB752) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS 3’ENEZLIFIL.A — superb neotropical birdwatching. Tailor- made tours for club groups & others. Expert guides available. Geodys.sey 0171 281 7788 (24hr). (BB822) NF;VV ZF-.ALAND. Experience our unique plant and bird community jn diverse and dramatic landscapes. Our lours are customized to suit birders, photographers and naturalists. Information: Manu Tours. 106 Oceanbeach Road. Tairua 2853. New Zealand. Ph/Fax (64) (7) 864 7475. (BB826) WESTERN PYRENEES. Resident English local guide for Western Pyrenees and Northern Spain (Hecho/Riglos area). Contact Richard Cruse. 106 Rue Navarrot. 64400 Oloran Sle Marie. France. Tel. (0033) 59-39-47-75. (BB873) HONG KONG - Superb birding Sept-May. Richard Lewlhwaile. 2 Villa Paloma. Shuen Wan. Tai Po. Hong Kong. Tel: (+852) 2665 8506. Fax; (+852) 2665 8190. (BB875) ISRAEL - EILAT & ARAVA VALLEY M AUTUMN MIGRATION - SEPT 20-DEC 20 71 SPRING MIGRATION - EEB 1 5-MAY 20 JJ * One two-week lour program incorporating wide variety of habitats with many exciting resident and migratory species. Q * Superb raptor migration, seabirds, waders and songbirds ^ in spectacular desert environment. * Optional cultural and historical guided trips ta ancient desert locations. * Full board, raom and guiding inclusive at £335 W.K. $536 dollars. Further details: James Smitb/Michael livni. Kibbutz Lolan, Ooar Na, Chevel Eilot, Israel 88855. Fax 00-972-7-356827. (bb830| COSTA RICA EXPERIENCE THE BEST IN BIRDING! TAILOR-MADE TRIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS & GROUPS BROCHURES: BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA APARTADO 7911, lOOOB SAN JOSE (BB721) COSTARICA FAX: +(506) 228 1573 ‘SOUTHERN SPAIN’ Quality birding at Budget Prices. Flights, accommodation, escorted trips, access to best ‘Hotspots’ and some of Europes rarest species. Brochure from Calancfra Holidays, 6 Church Road, Hauxton, Cambridge BG or call 01223-872107 BB834 SRI LANKA - ORNITHOLOGISTS PARADISE - Home to 426 species 21 of which are endemic - Specialist guides provided for tours from individuals to groups - Best period November to March - Contact Delmege Forsyth Tours. 101, Vinayalankara Mawatha. Colombo lO. Sri Lanka. Telephone; 0094 1 693361 - 8. 699500 & 699984 Telex : 21320 LEWIS CE, 21536 DFSHIP. 22766 DELAIR CE Fax : 0094 1 698139, 699413, 686149 (BB856) XII TO ADVERTISE FAX 01 767 640025 visiting NORTHERN SPAIN? Contact local guides! Professional wildlifers. English, German & French spoken. Javier Ferreres, Miguel Servet 69 50013 Zaragoza, Spain. Fax +34 76597255 (BB830) PEMBERLEY BOOKS Antiquarian & Secondhand books on Birds & other Natural History. Catalogue on request. I.A. Johnson B.Sc., F.R.G.S. 34 Melrose Close, Hayes, Middx, UB4 OAZ Tel./Fax: 0181 561 5494 (bB837) BIRD REPORTS CAPE TOWN For Western Cape birding and quality pelagics contact; Jim Enticott, PO Box 34088. Rhodes Gift. 7707. Cape Town or tel: 27-21-757676. EMAIL. cthomas@botzoo.uct.ac.za. Earmhouse type accom- modation organised. Tour operators, groups and indi- viduals welcome. (BB816) DIVISION OF NICK'S TRAVEL ^BTA 97237 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ EXPERTS IN LOW COST AIRFARES - WORLDWIDE. DISCOUNT CAR HIRE/INSURANCE TELE: (0116) 247 0600 ALWAYS RING US LAST (BB825) COSTA RICA “The Ultimate in Birding” RANCHO NATURALISTA or TARCOL LODGE ALL inclusive from $436/wk/ Apdo. 12071-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica. Ph/fax 506/267-7138 (BB701) ‘HIGH ISLAND’ ' UPPER TEXAS COAST U.S.A. Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8. Tours given. ■| 'Birder’s Haven. PO Box 309, High Island. Texas 77623. Tel. 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390. (BB863) BOOKS 1‘BIRD BOOK.S’. Good secondhand books bought and ■ sold. Free catalogue from and offers to Brian! Books. 94 I. Quarry Lane. Kelsall. Tarporley. Cheshire CW6 6NJ. Tel; 101829 751804. (B728) 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 £6.75 inclusive P/P to: Coxton Publications, Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, Beverley, HU17 8RP. 01482 881833 ORKNEY BIRD REPORT 1994. includes all North Ronaldsay and Stronsay records, now available from O.B.R.. Vishabreck. Evie. Orkney. KWI7 2PF. Price £4 including p and p. (B823) BIRD INFORMATION PAGERS Contact us now for the best deals this autumn ! call Dick Filby now Rare Bird Alert: 0i603-767799 (BB815) WANTED TO COMPLETE COLLECTION. Sharrock: Nat. Hist. Cape Clear. Kear: Flamingos. State cond./cost. 25 Heatherways. Freshfield. Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel 01704 871115. (BB87I) FOR SALE •BRITISH BIRDS' bound volumes 1955-78. Offers 01736 331810. (A265) BIRD JOURNAL BACK ISSUES. Huge catalogue out now. Stamp appreciated. C. Morgan. Whitemore, Umberleigh, N. Devon EX37 9HB. (BB870) WEST CORNWALL. 2 bed. spacious terraced bungalow, very near Hayle Estuary. Quiet, secure cul-de-sac. Rear patio, enclo.sed garden, garage. £65.950 freehold. Phone 01985 844317. (BB877) FOCALPOINT THE BINOCULAR & TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS OPEN 9.30-5.30 MON-FRI SAT 9.30-4.00 FOCALPOINT is owned and staffed by experienced birders. We guarantee to help you find the best value for money among the maze of competing products. Good range of bird/natural history books. SKUA ‘stay-on-the-scope’ telescope cases {8 models). Ask for our leaflet on the world’s finest cases of their type. I BEST ADVICE • BEST CHOICE • BEST PRICES I E3 (D484) ROOAi_F>oirsinr Unit 8, Marbury House Farm, Bentleys Farm Lane. Higher Whitley, Near Warrington. Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 01925 730399 Fax: 01606 892207 MS6 Junct 10 1 mile SMALL 2 BED SEMI-DET. HOUSE Over 125 species on or from large wildlife garden (chemical & dog free). Secluded rural setting. 1 mile from coast NW Norfolk. Wild geese fly over. Barn owl frequent. £79,500. Box No. 111. (B827) British Birds Volume 88 Number 9 September 1995 395 Lark Sparrow in SufFolk: new to the Western Palearctic Trevor D. Charlton 400 Looking back 401 Studies of West Palearctic birds 1 94 Com Bunting Dr David Harper Request 422 Hybrid Mediterranean X Black- headed Gulls Notes 423 Grey Heron capturing hirundine in flight Mark Keighley and Andrew Hall 423 Greylag Goose fledging in company of Oystercatchers M. G. Pennington 424 Interreaction between Montagu’s Harrier and Red Fox John C. Sutherby 424 Feeding association of Grey Phalarope with Avocet R. E. Yonngman 425 Unusual song of Common Whitethroat M. Tidbch and F. J. Roberts Reviews 426 ‘The Birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’ by Ian J. Andrews Richard Porter 426 ‘Waders’ by Nicholas Hammond & Bruce Pearson Dr R. J. Chandler 427 The Carl Zeiss Award R. A. Hume and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 429 PhotoSpot 37 Long-billed Dowitcher J. B. & S. Bottomley From the Rarities Committee’s files 430 Lanceolated Warbler in Norfolk Stephen C. Votier 435 Lanceolated Warbler in Shetland Andrew V. Moon 439 News and comment Bob Scott and Wendy Dickson 445 Monthly marathon 446 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 395 Lark Sparrow (Trevor Charlton)', 401 Com Bunting (John Davis) Front cover: Wrymeck Jynx torquilla, Attenborough Nature Resen’e, Nottinghamshire, September 1994 (Chris Orgilt)', the original drawing of this month’ s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 25 in January issue for procedure) ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds L.td 1995 s . / o ISSN 0007-0335 British »lume 88 Number 10 October 1995 natural history museum 16 OCT 1995 inoculars and telescopes survey 1 $9$ring^library rtie Best Bird Book of the Year 1995 Ihe ornithological year 1994 iiiladelphia Vireo: new to the Western Palearctic ireat Grey Shrikes in Britain and Ireland British Birds Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogil\ ie, R. J. Pr>therch, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Photographic Researcher Robin Chittenden Art Consultants Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris Circulation Manager & Advertising Manager Erika Sharrock Rarities Committee R. A. Hume (Chairman), Dr Colin Bradshaw, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, C. D. R. Heard, Doug Page (co-opted), K. D. Shaw, Andy Stoddart, Reg Thorpe, Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (museum consultant and archivist); Peter Fraser & Dr John Ryan (statisticians); Michael]. Rogers (Hon. Secretar\‘) Behaviour Notes Panel Dr C. J. Bibby, Ian Dawson, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr 1. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Shamick, Dr K. E. L. Simmons Identification Notes Panel Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. LansdowTi, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson, K. E. Vinicombe Annual subscriptions ( 1 2 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £55.00, IR£64.00 or 8104.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £43.20, IR£50.40 or 881.60; personal airmail, outside Europe £72.40, IR£84.50 or 8137.00. Single back copies £5.60, IR£6.40 or 810.50. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, motes, letters, items for ‘News and comment’, drawings & photographs: Dr J. T. R. Shamtek, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3NJ. Phone & Fax: Biggleswade (01767) 640025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies: Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467 Advertising: Mrs Erika Sharrock, BB Ad\'ertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467. Fax: (01767) 640025 Bird news for ‘The ornithological year’: Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MKiv 9QS. Phone: Woburn (01525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions: M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall tr26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clw\'d CH7 41.n. Phone: Mold (01352) 77058 r. Fax: (01352) 771590 The journal ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1995 Copyright of photographs remains w'ith photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. ISSN 0007-0335. Printed in England by Newnorth Print Ltd, Kempston, Bedford. 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 materia is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal or magazine. Photographs and drawing are welcomed. Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one sid< of the sheet only. Authors should carelully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially 0 references and tables. English and scientific names and sequence of birds follow The ‘British Birds’ Us of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds (1993); or, for non-West-Palcarctic species, Monroe & Sibley (1993, A World Checklist of Birds); names of plants follow Dony er al. (1986, linglish Names c Wild Ploivcrs); names of mammals follow Nowak & Paradiso (1983, Walker's Mammals of the W'ork 4th edn). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editoria recommendations {Bril. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink oi good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, or light blue/palc grey graph paper; lettering should b inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors of main papers (bU not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). SURREY (H.O.) 89(B) LONDON ROAD, MORDEN, SURREY SM4 5HP Open: Mon to Sat: 9am-5pm Lunch 1-2pm (Not Sun) Tel 0181-648 8822 Fax 0181-687 2021 Location: Southern edge of iGreater London, 15 mins drive M25 (eg: via A3 then Merton :urnoff) or 2 mins walk Morden Underground. Viewing facilities Parking: 50 yards past our premises - 1 st left. FIELD DAYS tfternative venues to Morden and ng, at which you can try and buy r equipment IN THE FIELD are -ven below. Every effort is made to . '.e our full range of equipment d payment can be made in all the : ual ways. Repairs can also be nded in. *10.00 am to 4.00 pm ★ PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL ItATURE RESERVE on the B2145 o Selsey, West Sussex, on x- nday 24th September, 29th dstober and 30th November. SSEVENOAKS WILDFOWL ESSERVE on the A25 between •"erhead and Sevenoaks Bat and II station on Sunday 1st October, h li November and 3rd December. BSOUGH BEECH NATURE tSSERVE,'RESERVOIR about 4 •>-es south of the A25/A21 junction "th access from the B2042 or .'.027: the information centre is to : ■ north of the reservoir) on Ixvnday 17th September, 15th i.tober and 19th November. SoLIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) age Hall (on the left, halfway ng village road into the W&WT). tUurday 4th November. T>fHE KENT TRUST FOR TTURE CONSERVATION in the ^ ind Barn, near Sandling, r-iidstone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, rng south), on Sunday 29th tober and 26th November, .300 am to 4.00 pm. l»INTON PASTURES COUNTRY 8RK, Near Reading, Berks, rviday 10th September and 19th vfvember, in the Loddon Room, JBEWL WATER, on A21 just “ th of Lamberhurst, Kent, in the ication Centre on Sunday 24th ::>tember and 17th December. -BENFIELD, W. Sussex. Sussex dlife Trust at Woods Mill. riday 22nd October. fSECULVER COUNTRY PARK kNC), 3 miles east of Herne Bay. ■ -ess from A299 (Thanet Way) ■ugh Hillborough. In the '.Tpretation centre on Sunday 1st r ober 10.00 am-3.00pm. UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical Est. 1962 - SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc SWAROVSKI 8x30SLCMklll 549 10X42SLC .(659) 735 7 X 42 SLC .(599) 670 AT 80 body (45°) 665 ST 80 body 665 AT80 HD body (45°) .... 960 ST80 FtD body 960 22x eyepiece 90 30x (WA) EP (new) 145 20-60x zoom eyepiece . . 215 Optical camera adaptor (800mm) 145 LEICA 8 X 20 BC Trinovid .(259) 265 8 X 20 BCA Trinovid .(295) 299 10 X 25 BC Trinovid .(295) 299 10 X 25 BCA Trinovid . . . . .(309)316 Soft Pouch 24 8 X 32 BA Trinovid' .(659) 698 7 X 42 BA Trinovid* .(729) 778 8 X 42 BA Trinovid* .(729) 778 10 X 42 BA Trinovid* .(749) 798 8 X 50 BA Trinovid* .(889) 950 10 X 50 BA Trinovid .(889) 950 Carrying strap 26 (2 year free accident cover) LEICA APO Televid scope . 960 LEICA Std. Televid scope . 498 20-60x (B) zoom eyepiece 221 20x (WW/B) eyepiece . . . . 135 40x (B) eyepiece 110 Photo adaptor 204 ER case 98 ZEISS OPTICAL CENTRE 8 X 20B Classic 225 10 X 25B Classic 265 Classic pouch 20 10 X 25 B/TP (New DS) . . . 359 8 X 20 B/TP (New DS) . . . . 349 8 X 30 BGA/T (P) 699 7 X 42 BGA/T(P) (699) 769 10 X 40 BGA/T(P) (699) 769 7 X 45 Night Owl . . . .879* 8 X 56 Night Cwl . . . .979* 10 X 56 Night Cwl . . .1059' *ex-case 15x60 BGA/T . . .1,499 {Bracket prices while stocks last) KOWA .349 .699 TSN-1 (45®) or -2 body TSN-3 (45°) or -4 body 25x or 40x eyepiece 80 20x (WA) eyepiece 127 30x (WA) eyepiece 162 60x eyepiece 138 77x eyepiece 125 20-60x zoom eyepiece 196 Camera adaptor 800mm 150 Camera adaptor 1200mm 231 Stay-on case 45 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 74 TS-61 1 body (45°) 249 TS-612 body 229 TS-61 3 Fluorite body (45°) 519 TS-614 Fluorite body 469 TS-61 0 accessories: 20x (WA) eyepiece 74 27x (WA) eyepiece 109 20-60x zoom eyepiece 127 20-40X zoom eyepiece 150 Stay-on case 40 BUSHNELL 8 X 42 Natureview 129 10 X 42 Natureview 149 8 X 32 Trophy (w/p) 195 1 0 X 42 Trophy (w/p) 219 8 X 40 Birder 59 RANGER ZM-Makro scope with 15-45x zoom eyepiece (uses Nikon spotting scope eyepieces) & case HERTS/BUCKS BORDER TRING PLANT & GARDEN CENTRE, BULBOURNE ROAD, Nr. TRING, HERTS HP23 5HF Open: Tues to Sat, 1 0am-5pm Sunday (1 1 .00am to 4.00pm) Phone/Fax: 01442 825590 Location: On B488, 1 0 minutes from A41 near Tring. Very accessible from Ml, M25, etc. Viewing facilities (Easy disabled access) Parking: On Site .234 FUJINON 8 X 40 BFL, with EBC coating . .269 NIKON 8 X 30 EOF porro WF 299 1 0 X 35 ECF porro WF 349 Fieldscope II body 299 Fieldscope II (A) 45° 329 ED II body 539 ED II (A) 45” 559 15x, 20x, 30xor40xEP 110 30x (WA) eyepiece 199 60x eyepiece 130 20-45X zoom EP 199 ED 78 945 ED78A 999 Camera adaptor 250 Mod for other cameras 18 OPTOLYTH 8x30Alpin 275 8 X 40 Alpin 298 10x40Alpin (283)305 10x50 Alpin (315)331 12x50 Alpin (320)340 7x42 Alpin (295)329 TBG 80 body 530 TBS 80 body 530 TBG or TBS 80 HD (669)789 30x (WW) eyepiece 190 20x (WW) eyepiece 170 30x or 40x eyepiece 89 70x (WW) eyepiece 210 20-60x zoom eyepiece 210 Cam. adaptor 850mm 185 Stay-on case 44 DISCOVERY 8x42or10x42RP, GA 135 OPTICRON 8x32Dioptron 196 8 X 42 Dioptron 198 10x42Dioptron (149)207 10 X 50 Dioptron (159)214 8x32(HRII) 224 8x42(HRII) 225 10x42(HRII) 239 10x50(HRII) 249 12W x50(HRII) 264 7x42(HRII) 225 7x24, 8x24 or 10x24 MCF 122 Roof prism binos (new): 7 X 36 BGA 375 8 X 42 BGA 395 10 X 42 BGA 395 10x50 BGA 399 HR 60mm scopes: Standard 60s body 236 60/45° body (angled) 310 60/SR body (rubberised) 273 60/SR ED body (rubberised) . . . .475 60/45” ED body (angled) 499 New gen. scopes: HR 66 326 HR 66 (45°) 355 15x, 20x, 25x or 40x HR eyepiece 44 20x WW HDF eyepiece 96 28x WW HDF eyepiece 122 22x W HR eyepiece 57 30x W HR eyepiece 59 60x HR eyepiece 49 20-60x zoom eyepiece 132 Soft nylon case 14 Stay-on case 44 HR 80mm body 390 Eyepieces as above but increase power by 33Vs% Soft nylon case 18 Stay-on case 44 NIGHT VISION Helios TZS-4 229 Baigish 7 950 MANFROTTO TRIPODS VELBON TRIPODS We now stock a wide selection of BIRD and NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS, in association with SUBBUTEO NHB LTD. REPAIRS • Optical instalment experience unrivalled. All makes serviced, including Zeiss, Leica etc. • Mail Order (same day) • Personal Exports • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments) • Part exchange arranged • Used items • Package deals E.&O.E. ★ HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR (off A130, north of Basildon). Sunday 8th October, near fishing lodge. ★ QUEEN ELIZABETH COUNTRY PARK, 4 miles south of Petersfield, Hants., on the A3. Sunday 8th October. * DENHAM COUNTRY PARK, Bucks., (A40, M40 junction, A412, A413, etc) Saturday 23rd September and 21st October. * BEACHY HEAD, Eastbourne, E. Sussex (in the new Countryside Centre) Sunday 22nd October. * RSPB SNETTISHAM, King's Lynn, on the A149, Norfolk. Sat./Sun. 7th/8th October. ★ WALSEY HILLS, Cley, on the A149, Norfolk. SaVSun. 4th/5th November. Naturetrel<^ NATURETREK’S UNIQUE £990 COLLECTION The following action-packed, long-haul birding tours - each led by an expert local ornithologist - offer excellent value for money, and outstanding birding. If you would like further details of a particular tour, please complete and return this coupon. NEPAL - Chitwan, Kosi and the Kathmandu Valley. A 10-day holiday departing every Friday throughout January, February and Easter 1996, ETHIOPIA - Addis, Gafersa, Awash National Park, Wondo Guenet and the Rift Valley Lakes. 24 November - 3 December 1995; & 16 - 25 February 1996. NAMIBIA - Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Spitskoppe, Etosha and Waterberg Mountains. 8 - 17 February & 7 - 16 March 1996. MALAWI • Ledikkim and Assam (Mar/Apr) with Steve Madge & Tim Appleton ttong Kong (Apr) with David Cottridge & Martin Williams rfexas Coast & Hills (Apr/May) with Chris Kightley & Rose Ann Rowlett Htungary and Slovakia (May) with Alex Randall & Sandor Konyhas 33ulgaria (May/Jun) with Steve Madge & Nikolai Dilchev Finland & Arctic Norway (Jun) with Dick Forsman & David Cottridge 'Canada: Churchill & Prairies (Jun) with Chris Kightley & Jan Pierson The Seychelles (Jul/Aug) with Jeffery Boswall & Steve Madge -uapland & Varangerfjord (Aug) with Dick Forsman Limosa Holidays, Suffield House Northrepps, Norfolk NR27 OLZ TTel: 01 263 578143 Fax: 01 263 579251 \»TRU5 T^) ~^ay Mb me AttOCIATIOD THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS in focus NORFOLK MAIN STREH, TlTCHWEa, NR. KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK, PE3I BBS Open 7 days 9am - 6pm Tel: 01485 210101 HOW TO FIND US; We are 500 yords east of tKe RSPB reserve at Titchwcll on fKe A1 49 between Hunstonton arsd SrarKOSter. in focus SLIMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE THE WILDFOWL AND WHLANDS TRUST, SUMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL2 7BT Open 7 days 9.30am • 5.30pm W: 0374-746472, 01453 890333 HOW TO FIND US, We ore sityoted witbin the reserve with viewinq over the Swan Loke The centre is well signposted from the M5 motorway. in focus YORKSHIRE WESTLEIGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DEN8Y DALE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HDB BQJ Open Mon - Sot 9om ■ 6pm Td: 014B4 B64729 HOW TO FIND US, We ore close by the roilwoy stoHon at Denby Dole on the A636 near June. 38 & 39 on the M1 . in focus in focus LEICESTERSHIRE ANGLIAN WAHR BIRDWATCHING CENTRE EGLHON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICESTERSHIRE, LEIS BBT Open Weekends and Bonk Holidoys 9om • Spin Tel: 01572 7706S6 HOW TO FIND US; We ore situated on the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water. Follovr signposts to Egleton Village on the A6003 to OoKhom. in focus CENTRAL LONDON B, 9 & 10 ROYAL OPERA ARCADE, PAU MAU, LONDON, SW1Y 4UY Open Mon * Fri 9am - 6pm Sot 9om • 4pm Tel: 0171-839 1881 Fax:0171-839 8118 HOW TO FIND US; We ore 300 yards from Piccodilly Underground Stotion in Royol Opero Arcode oetween Pall Moll and Charles II Street. HERTFORDSHIRE 204 HIGH STREH, BARNET, HERTFORDSHIRE, EN5 5SZ Open Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm Tel: 0181-449 1445,0181-441 7748 Fax:0181-440 9999 HOW TO FIND US, We ore 10 mins from M25 orkd AIM molorwoys or>d 15 mins walk from High Bomet Tube Station Situated at the Hodley Green end of Bomet High Street AT LAST A QUALITY BINOCUUR AT A SENSIBLE PRICE ✓ Full Waterproofing ✓ Compact Lightweight Shape ✓ Rubber Armouring ✓ Superb Multicooted Optics ✓ Excellent Close Focussing ✓ Ideal for Spectacle Wearers ✓ Full Internal Focussing ✓ 30 Year Warranty Complete with Soft Cose, Rain Guard & Wide Neck Strop EXCEEDS SPECIFICATIONS AND HANDLING NORMALLY FOUND IN BINOCULARS COSTING £600 OR MORE The Delta Roof Prism Available in 8x42 and 10x42 <»BusHn€a ciiujiAJNii Nikon . vw»h»i SULOC WmXTTH SWAROVSKt I piss pS BAU8CH &L0MB BOOKS At oil our shops we carry a good rortge of field and identificotion guides os well os o full selection ol trip reports REPAIRS Full service and repoir facilities in our own workshops All work comes our six month worronty MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Pleose remember to odd £2 00 towards the cost of insured Trokbok postoge orsd pockirvg - whether poymg by cheque, Viso. Acceu or Mostercord-ond goods rill be despatched with full M days opprovol on receipt of your remitiorsce SECOND HAND ITEMS All instruments offered with six month warranty As stock turrsover is high phorte for latest details PARt-tXCNJmQM AtWAYt WBtCOia. AM. UfTIMftf CCMIQBCr AT TtMB Of QOIMQ TO PtmU. lAOI. l^HOMB TOR UlTIfT RRICIB. IV British Birds Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IB OCT 1995 PRESENTED TRINfi I.IBRARY Binoculars and telescopes survey 1995 J. T. R. Sharrock and C. M. Forrest This is the sixth periodic report on the opinions of the subscribers to British Birds of their binoculars and telescopes. The previous reports were published in 1978, 1983, 1985, 1988 and 1991 {Brit. Birds 71: 429-439; 76: 155-161; 78: 167-175; 81: 149-160; 84: 267-282;. As we have pointed out previously, British Birds subscribers are, as a group, perhaps the most discrirninating and demanding users of optical equipment, since not only is their general degree of competence as ornithologists exceptionally high, but they also make use of binoculars and telescopes for an enormous range of different tasks — from distinguishing feather lengths at close range on waders or warblers to picking out raptors or seabirds at great range — and in a very wide range of habitats and conditions — from the tw^ilight of dawn and dusk on murky English October days to the brilliance of midday in A/liddle Eastern deserts. These, and a wide variety of other general principles, have been discussed in detail in our previous five reports. Rather than repeat them here, we refer new readers particularly to the most recent previous account {Brit. Birds 84: 267-282); this report will concentrate on the results of the latest questionnaire (over 750 were completed and returned for analysis), which are presented mainly in tabular form (tables 1-12). It assumes that readers are familiar with points such as the fact that all the binoculars and telescopes listed here are the top makes and models, and that even the lowest-rated are still good and amongst the best available, since British Birds subscribers would not own (and report on) poor- quality equipment. The questionnaire form itself was identical to that of previous surveys (see e.g. Brit. Birds 84: 268). A few of the returned forms contained answers to some but not aU questions. In consequence, the totals are not necessarily the same in each table. [Bril. Birds 88: 447-455, October 1995] ® British Birds Ltd 1995 447 448 Sharrock & Forrest; Binoculars and telescopes survey 1 995 Binoculars The most popular binoculars are still the Zeiss West 10x40 and the Zeiss West 7X42, the latter having continued to gain in popularity (table 1). The Leica 10 X 42BA has risen to take third place, and two other Leica models, the 8 X 42BA and the 8X32BA, have appeared in the listings for the first time, as have the Szvarovski 10X42SLC and Opticron HRS X 42. Zeiss is still the most popular make, owned by three out of every eight top birdwatchers (table 2). Leica has overtaken Optolyth as the second-most-popular and Szvarovski is also coming up fast, these two increasing their shares by over 50% and over 80%, respectively. Table 1. Most popular binoculars. The binoculars most frequently owned by knowledgeable birdwatchers in (1990 Position position) Make & model 1994. 1990 (%) Now (%) 1st (1) ZEISS WEST 10x40 28.4 23.1 2nd (2) ZEISS WEST 7x42 8.8 9.6 3rd (13=) LEICA 10 X42BA 1.3 5.5 4th (4) SWIR Audubon 8.5x44 5.5 4.0 5th (6) OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x50 4.2 3.6 6th - LEICA8X42BA - 3.5 7th (3) LEITZ Trinovid 10x40B 6.0 3.3 8th (7) ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 1 0 x 50 3.7 3.2 9th - LEICA8X32BA - 2.9 10th (8) LEITZ Trinovid 8 x40B 2.8 2.3 11th (5) OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x40 4.9 2.0 12th= SWAROVSKI10X42SLC - 1.7 12th= - OPTICRON HR8X42 - 1.7 12th= (11) BAUSCH & LOMB Elite 10 x42B 1.7 1.7 15th (13=) ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 8 x 30 1.3 1.4 16th= (12) BAUSCH & LOMB Elite8x42B 1.4 1.3 16th= (9) SWAROVSKI Diana 10x40 2.4 1.3 18th (16) LEITZ Trinovid 7 x42B 1.2 1.2 All others 22.4 26.7 Table 2. Most popular makes of binocular. The makes most frequently owned by knowledgeable birdwatchers in 1994. Position (1990 position) Make 1990 (%) Now (%) 1st (1) ZEISS (formerly ZEISS WEST) 39.7 37.9 2nd (3) LEICA (formerly LEITZ) 12.8 19.9 3rd (2) OPTOLYTH 12.9 8.2 4th (4) ZEISS JENA 8.4 6.2 5th= (7) SWAROVSKI 2.9 5.3 5th= (5) SWIFT 6.7 5.3 7th (6) BAUSCH & LOMB 3.7 4.7 8th (8) OPTICRON 2.5 4.1 9th BUSHNELL _ 0.9 10th= - ROSS - 0.8 10th= (10) NIKON 1.3 0.8 All others 9.1 5.9 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 449 Owners’ ratings of their binoculars (table 3) include some models owned in very small numbers but highly regarded by their users. We leave it to our readers to judge the weight they give to ‘rave reviews’ provided by such small samples, but the LeicalLeitz 8 X 20, Zeiss Night Owl 7 X 45 and Zeiss Night Owl 8X56 are Table 3. Most highly rated binoculars. Performance of binoculars as rated by their owners. Performance rating: 6 = excellent, 5 = very good, 4 = good, 3 = satisfactory, 2 = poor, 1 = very poor. All prices in tables 3-5 are those on 14th July 1995, including VAT; they are included to facilitate comparisons between models, but should be regarded as approximate. ( 1 990 Average Posi- tion posi- tion) Make & model Price 6 Performance rating 5 4 3 2 1 performance rating 1st= _ LEICA/LEITZ8X20 £265 3 _ _ _ _ _ Excellent 6,00 1st= - ZEISS Night Owl 7x45 £879 3 - - - - - Excellent 6.00 1st= (1) ZEISS Night Owl 8x56 £979 3 - - - - - Excellent 6.00 4th (1=) LEICA10X42BA £798 38 3 - - - - Excellent 5.93 5th (7) LEITZTrinovid 7x42B - 8 1 - - - - Excellent 5.89 6th= (4) ZEISS WEST 7x42 £778 61 11 - - - - Excellent 5.85 6th= (10) LEICA8X42BA £778 22 4 - - - - Excellent 5.85 6th= SWAROVSKI10X42SLC £679 11 2 - - - - Excellent 5.85 9th (13) ZEISS WEST 8x30 £699 4 1 - - - - Excellent 5.80 10th= LEICA8X32BA £698 17 5 - - - - Excellent 5.77 10th= (6) BAUSCH & LOMB Elite 10X42B £729 10 3 - - - - Excellent 5.77 12th= - SWAROVSKI8X30SLC £499 6 2 - - - - Excellent 5.75 12th- SWAROVSKI 7X42SLC £619 3 1 - - - - Excellent 5.75 14th- (1=) BAUSCH & LOMB Elite 8x42B £729 8 1 1 - - - Excellent 5.70 14th- (14) SWAROVSKI Diana 10x40 £450 7 3 - - - - Excellent 5.70 16th= ZEISS WEST 8x56 £899 4 2 - - - - Excellent 5.67 16th= — ZEISS WEST 8x20 £245 2 1 - - - - Excellent 5.67 18th (9) ZEISS WEST 10x40 £769 114 55 5 - - - Excellent 5.63 19th (5) LEITZTrinovid 8 x40B - 11 5 1 - - - Excellent 5.59 20th (8) LEITZTrinovid 10 x40B - 14 10 1 - - - Excellent 5.52 21st= (11) NIK0N8X30ECF £299 1 2 - - - - Very good 5.33 21 St- SWIFT 10x50 £289 1 2 - - - - Very good 5.33 23rd (16) OPTICRON Classic 10x42 £175 1 3 - - - - Very good 5.25 24th (20) ZEISS WEST 10x50 - 2 2 1 - - - Very good 5.20 25th= (21) SWIFT Audubon 8.5x44 £279 7 19 3 1 - - Very good 5.07 25th- (28) OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x50 £361 7 15 5 - - - Very good 5,07 27th= BAUSCH & LOMB Custom 10x40 £329 2 3 - 1 - - Very good 5.00 27th= (33) OPTOLYTH Touring 10x40 £534 1 1 1 - - - Very good 5,00 27th= _ OPTOLYTH Touring 7x42 £534 - 3 - - - - Very good 5.00 30th (23) OPTOLYTH Alpin 8x40 £318 - 5 1 — - - Very good 4.83 31st (31) ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 10x50 - 3 14 6 1 — — Very good 4.79 32nd= (32) ZEISS JENA Notarem 10x40 - 2 1 2 1 - - Very good 4.6/' 32nd= (12) OPTOLYTH Alpin 12x50 £370 1 - 2 - - - Very good 4.67 34th (22) OPTOLYTH 10x40 £324 2 7 4 2 — — Very good 4.60 450 Sharrock & Forrest: Binoculars and telescopes survey 1 995 all regarded as superb by those who have them. Among the most widely owned models, the Leica 10X42BA, Zeiss West 7X42, Leica 8X42BA and Szvarovski 10X42SLC are especially praised, but an amazing 20 models are all regarded as ‘Excellent’ (and several others with even smaller samples would also have come into this category')- ‘I’d get the same again’ is indeed an accolade for any product, and, with a small sample, the Zeiss Night Owl 7X45 achieved a 100% score; Leica also deser\'es congratulations for providing three of the top four models, 8X32BA, 10X42BA and 8X42BA (table 4). The listing of binoculars which top birdwatchers currently plan to buy when they replace their current models (table 5) reveals that the ever-popular Zeiss West 1 0 X 40 is still the top choice, but now has far more competition than in the past, with the Leica 10X42BA and 8X32BA models lying second and third. The new ‘Night Owl’ range introduced by Zeiss is headed by the 7X45, which appears in sixth position. Taking all models, Leica has now ousted Zeiss from its dominant top position (table 6), and Swarovski has risen four places to occupy the number three slot. In the 1995 sample, 39.5% of respondents reported that they wear spectacles when birdwatching, and 71.8% of them (sensibly) do not raise or remove their spectacles when using binoculars. Table 4. The most satisfactory' binoculars. Proportion of current owners who would buy the same binoculars again. ri990 Position position) Make & model Price No. (%) 1st _ ZEISS Night Owl 7x45 £879 3/3 100.0 2nd - LEICA8X32BA £698 19/22 86.4 3rd (4) LEICA 10 X42BA £798 32/41 78.0 4th (1) LEICA8X42BA £778 18/26 69.2 5th - SWIFT 10x50 £289 2/3 66.7 6th - SWAROVSKI 8 X30SLC £499 5/8 62.5 7th (2) BAUSCH&LOMB Elite8x42B £729 6/10 60.0 8th= (5) BAUSCH & LOMB Elite 10 x42B £729 7/13 53.8 8th= - SWAROVSK1 10 X42SLC £679 7/13 53.8 10th (3) ZEISS WEST 7x42 £769 37/72 51.4 11th= - BUSHNELL Natureview 8 x 42 £129 2/4 50.0 11th= - SWAROVSKI 7 X42SLC £619 2/4 50.0 13th (7) ZEISS WEST 10x40 £769 64/180 35.5 14th= - BAUSCH&LOMB Custom 10x40 £329 2/6 33.3 14th= - OPTOLYTH Touring 7x42 £534 1/3 33.3 14th= (12=) OPTOLYTH Touring 10x40 £534 1/3 33.3 14th= (11) OPTOLYTH Alpin 12x50 £370 1/3 33.3 18th (9=) SWAROVSKI Diana 10x40 £450 3/10 30.0 19th (20) OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x50 £361 8/27 29.6 20th (9=) OPTICRON Classic 10x42 £175 1/4 25.0 21st (15) OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x40 £324 3/15 20.0 22nd= (14) SWIFT Audubon 8.5x44 £279 5/30 16.7 22nd= (24) OPTOLYTH Alpin 8x40 £318 1/6 16.7 22nd= - ZEISS WEST 8x56 £899 1/6 16.7 25th - OPTICRON HR8X42 £229 2/13 15.4 All others 37/242 15.3 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 451 The increasing move towards lower-powered binoculars (giving high priorities to size of field of view and high light-gathering) is demonstrated by the proportions of respondents using binoculars of lOX or higher magnification; this was 78% in 1982, but had dropped to 69% in 1990 and was 52% in the current suiwey. The 8 X and 7 X models have a bright future. Table 5. Top binoculars for the future. The make and model which experienced birdwatchers intend to purchase next time they buy a pair of binoculars. Position (1990 position) Make & model Price 1990 (%) Now (%) 1st (1) ZEISS WEST 10x40 £769 28.5 10.2 2nd (3) LEICA10X42BA £798 8.8 9.7 3rd - LEICA8X32BA £698 8.4 4th (2) ZEISS WEST 7x42 £769 13,8 12 5th (4) LEICA8X42BA £778 4.2 5.3 6th - ZEISS Night Owl 7x45 £879 — 3,9 7th= - SWAROVSKI10X42SLC £679 — 2.2 7th= (7=) BAUSCH&LOMB Elite 10 x42B £729 2.6 2,2 9th - ZEISS Night Owl 10x56 £1059 — 2.1 10th - ZEISS Night Owl 8x56 £979 — 1.6 11th (11) OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x50 £361 1,8 1.5 12th= - LEICA10X50BA £950 — 1.2 12th= (7^) BAUSCH&LOMB Elite8x42B £729 2,6 1.2 14th (5=) SWIR Audubon 8.5x44 £279 2.8 1,1 15th= (12) LEICA7X42BA £778 1.4 0.9 15th= (14=) OPTOLYTH Alpin 8x40 £318 0.8 0.9 17th (9) OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x40 £324 2.3 0.8 Others 98 9 / 16.2 No decision C.O.C. 1 22.6 Table 6. Top makes of binocular for the future. The makes which experienced birdwatchers intend to purchase next time they buy a pair of binoculars. (1990 Position position) Make 1990 (%) Now (%) 1st (2) LEICA (formerly LEITZ) 17.9 31.2 2nd (1) ZEISS (formerly ZEISS WEST) 45.1 29.6 3rd (7) SWAROVSKI 2.4 4.6 4th (4) BAUSCH & LOMB 5.4 4.5 5th (3) OPTOLYTH 6.1 4.4 6th (5) SWIR 3.5 1.7 7th= (8=) OPTICRON 1.0 0.8 7th= BUSHNELL - 0.8 9th (8=) NIKON 1.0 0.7 10th (6) ZEISS JENA 2,5 0.5 Others 15 1 1 1.1 Don’t know 1 20.1 452 Sharrock & Forrest: Binoculars and telescopes survey 1 995 Telescopes Nowadays, about three-quarters of experienced birdwatchers use a telescope ‘always’ or ‘regularly’ when birdwatching, and 77% of them ‘always’ use a tripod (and only 2% of them ‘never’). The Kowa TSN-1/2 is still the most popular telescope, with, as we predicted, the Kowa TSN-3/4 rising to second position (table 7). The sturdy, reliable Table 7. Most popular telescopes. The telescopes most frequently owned by knowledgeable birdwatchers in (1990 Position position) Make & model 1994. 1990 (%) Now (%) 1st (1) K0WATSN-1/TSN-2 x77 16.2 18.3 2nd (3) KOWA TSN-3/TSN^ x77 7.7 12.5 3rd (4) OPTOLYTH TBS/G80 7.5 7.7 4th (6) NIKON Fieldscope EDII x60 5.8 6.8 5th (2) BUSHNELL Spacemaster x60 12.2 6.5 6th (8) NIKON Fieldscope ED x60 4.5 6.4 7th (5) OPTOLYTH 30X75GA 6.9 4.5 8th (10) BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB Discoverer 15-60 x60 3.2 3.4 9th (7) K0WATS-1/TS-2 x60 4.7 3.0 10th K0WATS-6137TS-614 - 2.4 11th - K0WATS-611/TS-612 - 2.2 12th (11) OPTOLYTH 30 X 80GA 2.1 2.1 13th (14) HERTEL&REUSS x60 1.8 1.8 14th (17=) OPTICRON Piccolo x60 0.9 1.7 15th= (9) OPTICRON HR x60 3.6 1.5 15th= (12=) QUESTAR (mirror-lens) 1.9 1.5 17th - OPTIMA x60 - 1.2 18th= - OPTICRON Classic x75 - 1.0 18th= (12=) KOWA TS-6017TS-602 x60 1.9 1.0 18th= SWAROVSKI AT80 - 1.0 18th= (15) NICKEL Supra x60 1.2 1.0 All others 17.3 12.5 Table 8. Most popular makes of telescope. The makes most frequently owned by knowledgeable birdwatchers in (1990 Position position) Make 1994. 1990 (%) Now (%) 1st (1) KOWA 24.0 41.8 2nd (2) OPTOLYTH 21.3 16.6 3rd (7) NIKON 3.0 14.6 4th (3) BUSHNELL7BAUSCH & LOMB 20.6 10.3 5th (4) OPTICRON 7.8 5.2 6th= (6) MIRADOR 3.3 1.8 6th= (5) HERTEL & REUSS 5.1 1.8 8th (16) QUESTAR 0,3 1.5 9th (13) SWAROVSKI 0.7 1.3 10th (10) OPTIMA 1.4 1.2 11th (8) NICKEL 2.8 1.0 12th (12) CHARLES FRANK 1.0 0,7 Others 8.7 2.2 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 453 Bushnell Spacemaster, which led the field in 1987, when it was owned by nearly 1 5% of observers, has now dropped to fifth position. Kowa now dominates, with nearly 42% of birdwatchers using a Kowa telescope, this make having increased its share by 74% (table 8). The rising star, however, is Nikon, now in third place (from seventh), ownership having nearly quintupled since 1990. Other ‘makes to watch’ are Swarovski and the superb but expensive Questar, both of which are climbing the league table. Owned by relatively few but rated faultless are the Questar and the Nikon ED78A (table 9). Three Kowa models, the Swarovski AT80 and the Optolyth TBS/G80 are also rated as excellent by their owners. Table 9. Most highly rated telescopes. Performance of telescopes as rated by their owners. Performance rating: 6 = excellent, 5 = very good, 4 = good, 3 = satisfactory, 2 = poor, 1 = very poor. All prices in tables 9-11 are those on 14th July 1995, including VAT. Where changeable eyepieces can be added to a standard body, the price is that for the body plus the cheapest eyepiece appropriate for birdwatching. The prices are included to facilitate comparisons between models, but should be regarded as approximate; those preceded by c are especially variable. Posi- tion (1990 posi- tion) Make & model Price Performance rating 6 5 4 3 2 1 Average performance rating 1st= (1) QUESTAR (mirror- lens) c £2750 9 - - - - - Excellent 6.00 1sb - NIKON ED78A £1195 6 - - - - - Excellent 6.00 3rd - KOWATS-614/ TS-613 £668/£718 15 1 - - - - Excellent 5.94 4th _ SWAROVSKI AT80 £695 5 2 - - - - Excellent 5.71 5th (2) KOWATSN-3/TSN^ x77 £823 61 19 3 - - - Excellent 5.70 6th (-) KOWATS-612/ TS-611 £368/£388 9 6 - - - - Excellent 5.60 7th (6) OPTOLYTH TBS/80 £644 32 18 2 - - - Excellent 5.58 8th (5) NIKON Fieldscope 1 & II £485 21 12 3 .1 - - Very good 5.43 9th (3) NIKON Fieldscope EDII £795 22 19 5 - - - Very good 5.37 10th (4) NIKON Fieldscope EDI - 2 3 1 - - - Very good 5.17 11th (7) K0WATSN-1/TSN-2 x77 £468 30 78 11 3 - - Very good 5.07 12th (8) OPTOLYTH 30X80GA £675 4 8 - 2 - - Very good 5.00 13th (12) KOWATS-601/TS-602 x60 - 5 2 - - - Very good 4.71 14th (11) OPTOLYTH 30X75GA £565 1 19 7 2 1 - Very good 4.57 15th (13=) KOWATS-1/TS-2X60 - 3 9 5 2 1 - Very good 4.55 16th (15) BUSHNELL Spacemaster x60 c £229 5 15 20 3 - - Very good 4.51 17th (17) OPTICRON HR x60 £317 1 4 4 1 - - Very good 4.50 18th (23) MIRADOR Merlin x60 - - 2 1 1 - - Good 4.25 19th= (18) BUSHNELLTBAUSCH & LOMB Discoverer x60 c £349 1 7 11 2 2 - Good 4.13 19th= (16) OPTIMA x60 - - 3 3 2 - - Good 4.13 .21st (21=) OPTICRON Piccolo x60 £230 - 5 3 2 1 - Good 4.09 .22nd (21=) MIRADOR Merlin x75 - - 1 2 1 — — Good 4.00 .23rd (20) OPTICRON Classic x75 £228 - 2 2 3 — — Good 3.86 .24th (26) NICKEL Supra x60 - - 2 1 4 — — Good 3.71 .25th (19) HERTEL&REUSSX60 - — 3 3 5 1 — Good 3.67 454 Sharrock & Forrest: Binoculars and telescopes survey 1 995 The three models considered most satisfactory by their owners (who plan to buy the same telescope next time) are all relatively new, not ha\'ing been included in the 1990 surv'ey: Koiva TS-614/613, Swarovski AT80 and Nikon ED78A all achieving a loyalty rating of over 80% (table 10). The v^olatility of the optical market and discrimination shown by top birdwatchers is revealed by, for instance, the fact that less than one in five of owners of even the most popular model Table 10. The most satisfactory telescopes. Proportion of current owners who would buy the same telescope again. (1990 Position position) Make & model Price No. (%) 1st _ KOWA TS-614/TS-613 £668/£718 14/16 87.5 2nd - SWAROVSKI AT80 £695 6/7 85.7 3rd - NIKON ED78A £1195 5/6 83.3 4th (4) OPTOLYTH TBS/80 £644 29/52 55.8 5th (1) K0WATSN-3/TSN-4X77 £823 37/84 44.0 6th= (17) OPTICRONHR x60 £317 3/10 30.0 6th= (3) QUESTAR (mirror-lens) c £2750 3/10 30.0 8th - K0WATS-612/TS-611 £368/£388 4/15 26.7 9th - MIRADOR x60 c£183 1/4 25.0 10th (6) OPTOLYTH 30 X 80GA £675 3/14 21.4 11th (2) NIKON Fieldscope EDII x60 £795 9/46 19.6 12th (8) K0WATSN-1/rSN-2x77 £468 22/123 17.9 13th (11=) OPTICRON Classic x75 £228 1/7 14.3 14th (5) NIKON Fieldscope x 60 1 & II £485 6/43 14.0 15th (10) BUSHNELL Spacemaster x60 c £229 5/44 11.4 16th - OPTICRON Piccolo x60 £230 1/11 9.1 17th (9) OPTOLYTH 30X75GA £565 2/30 6.7 18th (16) BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB Discoverer 15-60x60 c £349 1/23 4.3 All others 11/128 8.6 Table 11. Top telescopes for the future. The make and model which experienced birdwatchers intend to purchase next time they buy a telescope. (1990 1990 Now Position position) Make & model Price (%) (%) 1st (1) KOWA TSN-3/TSN-4 x77 £823 20.5 12.3 2nd - NIKON ED78A £1195 - 9.2 3rd (3) OPTOLYTH TBS/G80 £664 9.2 8.2 4th - LEICATelevid x77 £1095 - 6.1 5th - KOWA TS-«14/TS-613 £668/£718 - 4.6 6th= (4) K0WATSN-1/TSN-2 x77 £468 CO bo 4.5 6th= (2) NIKON Fieldscope EDII x60 £795 19.3 4.5 8th - KOWA TS-612/TS-611 £368/£388 - 3.7 9th - NIKON Fieldscope II £485 - 3.4 10th - SWAROVSKI AT80 £695 - 2.5 11th (9) OPTOLYTH 30X80GA £675 1.6 1.5 Others 9R n { 16.6 Don’t know ^o.u 1 22.9 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 455 {Kowa TSN-1/2) plan to buy the same telescope next time. No wonder optical manufacturers devote so much effort to promotion and advertising. The Kowa TSN-3/4 remains the telescope to which most birdwatchers aspire (table 11), though both it and its chief rival last time (Nikon Fieldscope EDIT) have declined in this respect; these two models were previously wanted by almost 40% of birdwatchers, a share now taken hy five models. The three most-owned makes of telescope (Kowa, Nikon and Optolyth) have retained their relative positions and share of the market so far as birdwatchers’ future bujdng intentions are concerned (table 12), but look out for Leica, leaping into fourth place from nowhere, and note the steady rise of Swarovski, now fifth. Table 12. Top makes of telescope for the fiiture. The make which experienced birdwatchers intend to purchase the next time they buy a telescope. Position (1990 position) Make 1990 (%) Now (%) 1st (1) KOWA 38.4 37.2 2nd (2) NIKON 20.9 24.9 3rd (3) OPTOLYTH 14.2 15.6 4th - LEICA - 12.9 5th (7) SWAROVSKI 0.4 3.3 6th (6) OPTICRON 0.4 1.9 7th= (5) BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB 3.9 1.5 7th= (4) QUESTAR 4.0 1.5 All others 17.8 1.2 ' Counting the cost With money not a consideration, most birdwatchers would choose to own, say, Zeiss West 10X40 or Leica 10X42BA binoculars and a Kowa TSN-3/4 telescope (or even a Questar). Money is, however, usually a major consideration, for, with a good tripod, the ‘ideal’ combination would involve an outlay of over Xjlj500, and some of the other ’ very highly rated choices would cost even more. Our advice is to peruse the tables lin this report and also the price lists of reputable optical retailers to find the most I highly rated equipment which is within the price range you can afford. Then try out 1 the equipment, preferably in the field, to see if it suits you personally, before buying. Finally, we wish to repeat that all the makes and models included in this report , are of high quality. There are many other makes and hundreds of other models which will not feature in lists of optical equipment owned by discrirninating ' birdwatchers of the high level of expertise of British Birds subscribers. ; Acknowledgments 'We thank the 753 British Birds readers who completed and returned the questionnaires. We are also most grateful to the optical retailing company In Focus (204 High Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire en5 ssz), which checked for us the specifications of the binoculars and telescopes listed in tables 1-12 and provided all the information concerning prices in the tables. Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ C. M. Forrest, 34 Heather Gardens, Bedford MK41 OTD The ‘British Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year For the benefit of those who may wish to acquire (or give as a present) just one of the many bird books published each year, British Birds selects annually its choice of the ‘Best Bird Book of the Year’ from those reviewed in the journal during the previous 12 months. The winner may, in one year, be an important, erudite scientific treatise and, in another, a lighter, less academic work, but it will always be reliable, well produced and thoroughly worthy of inclusion in any birdwatcher’s library. Our choice for BEST BIRD BOOK OF 1995 is: Woodpeckers: a guide to the woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks of the World. By Hans Winkler, David A. Christie & David Numey. Pica Press, Mountfield, 1995. j(j30.00. (Review: Brit. Birds 88: 287) WOODPECKERS A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets and Wrynecks oj the World Hans Winkler, David A C.hriitie and David Nurney Two other books were close contenders and both are highly recommended: Moult and Ageing of European Passerines by Lukas Jenni & Raffael Winkler, published by Academic Press (review: Brit. Birds 87: 633-634), and Where to Watch Bird's in South America by Nigel Wheatley, published by Christopher Helm Publishers (review: Brit. Birds 88: 323). The Editorial Board was also very impressed by the new (fifth) edition of Birds of Britain and Europe, with North Africa and the Middle East by Hermann Heinzel, Richard Fitter & John Parslow, published by HarperCollins (review: Brit. Birds 88: 373). 456 [Brit. Birds 88: 456, October 1995] © Hritish Birds Ltd 1995 The ornithological year 1994 Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp This report summarises the major bird movements and influxes of 1994, as well as including the rarity highlights. All the rarities noted here have been accepted by either the British Birds Rarities Committee^ or the Irish Rare Birds Committee, with the exception of two reports (each indicated by an asterisk)^ reports still under consideration or not yet submitted are not included. Full details of all the major rarities can be found in the annual report on ‘Rare birds in Great Britain’ in the November issue of British Birds. Another mild winter January was a cyclonic westerly month, with an almost complete absence of easterly, northerly and anticyclonic conditions. Mean temperatures ranged from near normal in Scotland to 2°C above in the southern half of England. It was the wettest January' since 1 988, but it was also very sunny. Staying over from December 1993, the Killdeer Plover Charadrius vociferus on Anglesey (Gwynedd)* caused the first big twitch of the New Year. Equally exciting, but less obliging, was a Dark-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis of the black-throated race atrogularis found near Bournemouth (Dorset) on 7th January. In Wales, another short-stayer, untypically, was a Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri at Fishguard (Dyfed) on 10th, departing the next day. Bean Geese Anser fabalis, always eagerly sought after by the year listers, provided two interesting local records, with 28 over Beddington Sewage-farm (Greater London) on 3rd and 130 just south of Falkirk (Central Region) on 1 6th January. Goosanders Mergus merganser appeared in good numbers, with 260 at Hirsel Lake (Borders) on 9th January and 79 at Eversley Gravel-pits on 23rd, the highest count for Hampshire since winter 1962/63. Other sought-after wildfowl included the two regular Ferruginous Ducks Aythya nyroca, at Brothers Water (Cumbria) and Lea Marston (Warwickshire), and Smews Mergus albellus which arrived in above-average numbers. Up to 115 were reported, with the largest concentration at Dungeness RSPB Reser\^e (Kent), with a peak of 27 on 29th January, and up to seven in Northamptonshire, six on Eye Brook Reservoir (Leicestershire), 13 at Wraysbury (Berkshire) and nine at Draycote Water (Warwickshire). An overwintering Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni at Pitsea (Essex), found on 13th January and staying until 26th February, was unexpected, but echoed a previous wintering record from Berkshire in 1984. How many others go unnoticed in winter? ^ The British Birds Rarities Committee is sponsored by Carl Zeiss Ltd. [Brit. Birds 88: 457-472, October 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 457 458 Reports of Red Kites Milvus milvus from the reintroduction scheme partly obscure the traditional distribution pattern, but surely 54 feeding at Tregaron (D\fed) were all of ‘pure Welsh’ blood? Just tw'o Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus were seen throughout January, both in Scotland, and numbers of wintering Great Grey Shrikes Lanins excubitor (plate 127) were unexceptional. Gull- watchers, however, had plenty to search for among the winter roosts, with Mediterranean Gulls Lams melanocephalus and both Glaucous L hyperborens and Iceland Gulls L. glaucoides appearing regularly. Over 100 Mediterranean Gulls were reported during January, including 18 at Foreland (Isle of Wight) on 23rd January' and 1 1 at Copt Point (Kent) on 8th January. A minimum of 125 Iceland Gulls appeared, mostly during 6th-8th January, and again from 28th, and ournumbered Glaucous Gulls, which totalled 1 00. At Draycote Water (Warwickshire) seven Kittiwakes Rissa tridaciyla picked out of a gull roost numbering 38,000 merited an observer- award for diligence. In Ireland, a Great Bittern Botaums stellaris, an Irish rarity, stayed from late January' to end February at Lough Hunshigo (Co. Down), but there were fewer than 20 others reported away from their breeding sites. Grey Wagtails Motacilla dnerea were plentiful in many areas, and a Northern WTieatear Oenanthe oenanthe at Southampton Town Quay (Hampshire) on 28th January must have been waiting for a southbound boat. A Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca at Bexhill (East Sussex) on 8th was also trying to overwinter, and three Hoopoes LJpupa epops, in Strathclyde, Gwynedd and Norfolk, must have wished they were farther south. There were reasonable numbers of Horned Larks Eremophila alpestris, with over 20 reported, but Bohemian Waxwings Bombydlla garmbds were few and far between, with fewer than 30, nearly all in Scotland. Nightingale & Ailsopp: The ornithological year 1994 February was generally wet, and it was the third cyclonic month in succession. There was, however, a marked southeasterly bias, with pressure well above average over Scandinavia. A White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii at Gruinard Bay (Highland) opened up Februaryjs account on 1st, but there was to be only one other in the first half of the year. A count of 1,000 Bramblings Fnngilla montifringilla near Plymouth (Devon) on 2nd was one of the few large gatherings of this finch, and a Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta found on 4th February' at Waterfoot (Co. Antrim) was the first for Northern Ireland. With the first ten days of February staying mild, numbers of Northern Lapwings Vanellus vaneUus and European Golden Plovers Plnvialis apricaria were high every'where, with counts of 5,000 of the former at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) and 6,300 of the latter at Lound (Nottingham- shire) typical of many reports. Major seabird wreck The most significant event of February came early, with news of a huge seabird wreck, first from Shetland and then from farther south. Large numbers of dead seabirds were washed ashore on all east-facing coasts of the North Sea, with Common Guillemots Uria aalge, Razorbills Alca torch, Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis and Herring Gulls Lams argentatus involved. Of over 2,700 corpses from Orkney, more than 2,200 were Common Guillemots and 254 were Shags. In all, it was estimated that total deaths reached 50,000, including 20,000 around Shetland’s shores, and it was the largest incident of its kind since 1983. Subsequent counts at six Shetland Common Guillemot colonies suggested, however, that the wreck did not have a major impact on the population as a whole. By surprising contrast, a Briinnich’s Guillemot Uria hmvh off Musselburgh (Lothian) on 6th February' was found alive, but it flew off west before it could be added to many lists. Late winter and early spring Good numbers of Water Pipits were reported from southern counties of England, including 15 at Rainham (Essex), 29 on the Lower Test Marshes (Hampshire), 15 at Stoke Water Meadows (Surrey) and up to ten at Shoreham (West Sussex). Numbers of wintering Black-tailed Godwits Liniosa DISCOUNT FLIGHTS GROUPS AND EXPEDITIONS WORLDWIDE rjF^ r 1 ] ■ r ■ t j TRAVEL NEWS RETURN FLIGHTS I FROM: ISRAEL £149 GAMBIA £169 MOROCCO £129 USA £174 COSTA RICA £469 ECUADOR £494 INDIA £281 THAILAND £335 AUSTRALIA/NZ £449 TOURS AND HOLIDAYS ANTARCTICA & THE FALK LANDS, ARGENTINA & CHILE, 27 NOV-13 DEC LAST FEW PLACES FROM £3999 OR 01603 767757 INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, BANK ROAD, BRISTOL BS15 2LX # ABTA 02229 V The definitive binocular. Outstanding twilight performance, maximum contrast, optimum brilliance and first class image quality. Thanks to a totally new optical system with major improvements to many important details. A waterproof, nitrogen filled housing with DesignSelection styling for good looks and maximum ease of handling. The perfect synthesis of function, convenience and prestige: technical precision in its most attractive form. In other words a new dimension in binocular technology from Carl Zeiss, guaranteed to withstand the excesses of climate and nature for the next thirty years. The mark of Carl Zeiss quality Night Owls 7x45 B, 8x56 B, 10x56 B For the full 'Facts and Figures' about Carl Zeiss binoculars, please complete the coupon below and send to: Carl Zeiss Limited, Binocular Division, Dept. BB, PO Box 78, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 ILU Name Address Postcode ZEISS Plate 127. Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor, Westleton Heath, Suffolk, winter 1993/94 (R. Chittenden) Plate 128. First-winter male Black-faced Bunting Embenza spodocephala, Pennington Flash, Greater Manchester, March 1994 (R. Chittenden) Plate 129. Below, male Bluethroat Lmcinia svecica of red-spotted race svecica, Southwold, Suffolk, May 1994 {Rob Wilson) 460 limosa at Titchfield Haven (Hampshire) reached 1,000 on 13th February-, and 84 Mandarin Ducks Aix galericulaia were counted at Cutt Mill (Surrey). Blackcaps Sylvia airicapilla are overw'intering with us in seemingly ever-increasing numbers, and are perhaps forming the nucleus of a permanent wintering population in Northern Europe. There were 16 reported in Hertfordshire, 19 different individuals ringed in a single Hampshire garden, records from 35 gardens in Avon and ‘unprecedented numbers’ reported from the Leigh area (Greater Manchester) and the West Midlands. Northern Fulmars Fulmanis glacialu are unusual inland, so one flying east down the River Thames past Tower Bridge (Greater London) on 14th Febmary and one over Stoke Lake (Surrey) on 20th were of interest. Another species which mostly attracts attention only when seen in unusual numbers is the Coot Fiilica atra, so 1,800 at Linlithgow (Lothian) on 1 6th February' provided sufficient inspiration for someone to count them. Between 1 1 th and 2 1 st February, winter arrived and went. Southeasterly winds brought a drop in temperature and produced snowfalls. There followed some intensely cold days, until milder air reached the southern counties of Britain on 22nd. On 25th February, renewed warm southerlies spread over much of Britain, no doubt responsible for a Red-rumped Swallow Himiido daurica on Tresco (Scilly) on 28th, the first February' record for Britain. Travelling companions, to remind us of spring, were a Barn Swallow H. rustica in Hampshire, that county’s first February record. Sand Martins Riparia riparia in Ireland, Nottinghamshire and Gwynedd, Northern Wheatears in Surrey, Wiltshire and West Sussex and House Martins Delichon urbica in Scilly, all appearing before the end of February'. March was warm, and westerly-type weather dominated to an almost unprece- dented extent. More summer migrants were in evidence across the southern counties of England by 5th, and the first of several multiple arrivals of Penduline Tits Remiz pendulums occurred, with five at Dungeness on 4th, when a build-up of 1,230 Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus off Whiteabbey (Co. Antrim) was noted. One of the most popular, not to say controversial, events started on 8th March, when a Black- faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala was found at a feeding station at Pennington Flash (Greater Manchester)* (plate 128). Debate Nightingale & Allsopp: The ornithological year 1994 continues on its status as a genuine vagrant or an escape from captivity. Whatever its origins, it attracted a great deal of attention during its long stay up to 24th April. Almost everything else seemed to pale into insignificance, apart from a nearby Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea at Reetw'ood. (Lancashire) which stayed from 12 th to 17 th March, a day when many southern-based birders found themselves driving north again, this time to Colwick (Nottinghamshire) to add a Bufflehead Bucephala albeola to their lists. Full marks to whoever looked skywards at Colwick on 18th to note Nottinghamshire’s earliest-ever House Martin. Numbers of Black-throated Divers Gavia arctica reached 16 at Strangford Lough (Co. Down) on 20th March, the highest-ever day-count for Northern Ireland. On the same day, a movement of Ospreys Pandion haliaetns passed through England, with up to 12 reported by the month end. Throughout March, concentrations of Little Egrets Egretta garzetta were building up, perhaps totalling 150, including 18 on the Kingsbridge Estuary (Devon), 45 on Jersey (Channel Islands), 22 on the River Lynher (Cornwall) and 15 on Thorney Island (West Sussex). Garganeys A}ias querquedula were still scarce, with just 12 or so, and about 40 Firecrests Regulns ignicapillns moved through. Up to a dozen Great Grey Shrikes had been reported during January and February, numbers in March increasing to 1 9. The last five days of March were unsettled, with frequent rain, although 29th and 30th were quite warm, with 1 8°C in Kent. This no doubt helped several more early migrants to feel at home, and by 1st April Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea had reached Cheddar Reservoir (Avon), Pied Flycatchers Fieedula hypoleuca were in Surrey, and a Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus was in Hampshire, the earliest-ever record there. On Tresco, an American Black Duck Anas mbtipes appeared, to take up residence, staying through to 1995. Dungeness maintained its near monopoly of Short-toed Treecreepers Certhia brachydactyla when one was found there on 3rd April. Frequent northwesterly and northerly winds during the first half of April discouraged most migration from the south. They did not, however, stop seabirds moving towards their nesting ledges, and estimates of 8,000 Common Guillemots per hour past Westray (Orkney) on 7 th must have been impressive. A ridge of high pressure brought an improvement in the weather on 10th and British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 461 1 Ith, a Ross’s Gull to Hartlepool (Cleveland) and the only Black Stork Ciconia nigra of the spring to Blencogo (Cumbria). A Great Bittern at Pordand Bill (Dorset) on 14th was only the second record at that bird observatory, as was a European Nuthatch Sitta europaea there on 16th. Garganeys were more apparent from mid April, with about 16 reports, and about 60 Ospreys showed, mainly after 20th April. Concentrated falls of migrants during April were few, with Willow Warblers Phylloscopiis trochilus prominent in those that occurred, including 600 at Pordand Bill on 12th, 300 there on 20th, and 300 also at Church Norton (West Sussex) on the same day. With the dramatic drop in their breeding numbers in southern England, we have to ask where they went from there. A rush from the south Between 18th and 21st April, it became somewhat warmer in the south, and on 22nd- 23rd temperatures rose above 18°C for the first time in the month. Almost immediately, reports of southern rarities accelerated, with a Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis in Northamptonshire (what a good spring that county had), a Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax in West Sussex, both on 19th, a Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius in Dorset on 20th and a Sardinian Warbler Sylvia rnelatzocephala, the first of six spring records, in Norfolk on 21st. A Black Kite Milviis migrans appeared over Tresco on 22nd; there were to be three others elsewhere before the end of the month in what was to be a very good year for this species. How long before a pair setties down to breed? Alpine Swifts Apus melba appeared in Kent and Suffolk on 23rd April, with another three by 27th. A scattering of European Serins Senniis sennm (plates 130 & 131) raised hopes of a few staying to breed, and good numbers of Little Gulls Lams rninutus appeared on the London reservoirs on 23rd, with eight at King George V, 16 at Staines and 12 at King George VI. On the same day, 20 Pomarine Skuas Stercorarius pomarinus were seen along the south coast of England, but they were totally eclipsed by counts of ‘commie’ Terns Sterna hinindolparadisaea, with 5,340 off Hove (East Sussex) in four hours and 5,500 past Seaford (East Sussex). About 200 Pomarine Skuas were seen in the last ten days of April, peaks being 17 past Pordand Bill on 25th and 60 past Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) on 27th. In Cumbria, however, where the spring passage of Pomarine Skuas has been well monitored in recent years, mosdy low numbers were reported, with only about 100 by the end of May. Passage of Arctic Skuas Stercorarius parasiticus, on the other hand, was above average. Perhaps compensation for those ardent seawatchers was a massive count of 12,000 Kittiwakes past Bowness-on-Solway during the spring. Dotterels Charadnus monnellus appeared in a rush, after three on Holy Island (Northumberland) on 24th April, with 18 in South Yorkshire on 29th and a good scatter elsewhere in northern localities. Wader passage, though, had generally been unremarkable, with even the normally common species thin on the ground. Exceptions were Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola, with flocks reported from many 462 inland counties, and Whimbrels Niimenius pliaeopus, with several flocks of up to 100 during the second half of the month. An exciting May On the whole, May was diy and sunny in the north, and wet and dull in the south. The average monthly pressure was above normal over Scandinavia, and below normal in the Southwest Approaches, and so easterly and southerly weather patterns were more frequent than usual. This was to have a significant effect on the variety of migrants arriving on the east-facing coasts and the Scottish islands in the second half of the month. In general, western and northern Europe was cooler than normal in May, and much of Russia w’as also cooler than normal. The first three days of May were, however, rather warm, especially over England and Wales, appropriate for the six European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster in Avon on 1st, and the start of a mini-invasion of Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybridtis, with one at Bredon’s Hardwick (Hereford & Worcester) and others in West Sussex on 2nd, Abberton Reservoir (Essex) on 3rd, Dungeness on 5th and two at Rockland Broad (Norfolk), which later flew inland to Willen Lake (Buckinghamshire). Typically, four Broad- billed Sandpipers LJmicola falcimllus were discovered in May, with the first at Pennington Marsh (Hampshire) on 2nd, and the more-regular waders were appearing, including 416 W'himbrels at Rye Harbour (East Sussex) . Dotterels reached a peak of 20 in Cumbria, and there were to be about 200 reported in May, mostly during 7th- 14th, including 16 near St Albans (Hertfordshire), 20 on The Long Mynd (Shropshire) and 16 Nightingale & Allsopp: The ornithological year 1994 at Danby Beacon (North Yorkshire). More southern migrants included a Black Kite at Cromer (Norfolk) on 2nd, the first of about 12 to appear by mid May, and Red-footed Falcons Falco vesperiinus, with four in England in the first half of the month, followed by. seven in the second half, mostly along the south and east coasts of Britain. Of greater significance were eight in Ireland during 3rd-25th May: there had been only 12 previous Irish records. Subalpine Warblers Sylvia canlillans appeared in Cornwall and on Lundy (Devon) on 2nd, the first of an incredible 2 1 in May, with nine arriving during 10th- 15th. May is often a ‘southern heron’ month and 1 994 was no exception, wath about 24 Purple Herons Ardea purpurea appearing, mostly during lst-6th, and also 21st-28th. Little Bitterns Ixobrychus minutus showed on Tresco on 5th, with others on St Maiy’s (Scilly) on 8th, in Lothian on 1 1 tli and Gwent on 15th. With a Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides also on Tresco on 3rd, it was possible to see in Scilly six species of heron in one day — Little Bittern, Squacco, Purple, Grey and Night Herons, and Little Egret. In particular, 1994 was to be a record year for Squacco and Purple Herons. Not to be outdone. Fair Isle (Shetland) was also setting records, not just in having its sunniest month ever; 49 black Carrion Crows Corvus corone corone on 5th May was the highest Fair Isle observatory count of the nominate race. About 40 Montagu’s Harriers Circus pygargus passed through southern England in two waves, during 3rd-8th and 13th- 19th May. Ospreys, too, were moving through, with about 80 during the month. A Honey- buzzard Pemis apivorus near Moira (Co. Down) was the first record since 1965 for Northern Ireland. From 9th May, pressure rose strongly to the north of Britain and, until 27th May, easterly winds covered the country. Tliese gave a more autumnal feel to the species lists. A fall on Fair Isle on 12th-13th included 15 Bluethroats iMsciiiia svecica, 60 Common Redstarts Phoeuicurus phocuicurus, 150 Northern Wheatears and 20 Pied Flycatchers. A Corn Bunting Miliaria calaudra was only the second Fair Isle record since the 1970s. It was to be a good year for passage Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus, though not for the East Anglian breeding population, with a peak of 22 on Scilly on 6th May, and about Plates 130 & 131. European Serin Serinus serinus, Southwold, Suffolk, April 1994 {R. Chittenden) Plate 132. Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Plate 133. Yellow-browed Warbler proregulus, Felixstowe, Suffolk, October 1994 Phylloscopus inomatus, St Mary’s, Scilly, {Akm Tate) October 1994 {Rob Wilson) Plates 134 & 135. Below, Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola, Cley, Norfolk, October 1994 (R. Chittenden) 464 Nightingale & Allsopp: The ornithological year 1994 20 in the southern counties of Ireland. Continuing with the eastern feel, a Red- breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva on St Agnes on 9th May w^as the first spring record for Scilly, surprising in view of the autumn numbers there. It arrived with two Richard’s Pipits Anthiis novaeseelattdiae and a Wryneck Jyrix lorquilla on nearby St Mary’s. A Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubitis on North Ronaldsay on 10th May was only the second for Orkney, and other unusual passage w'ader records included uvo Stone- curlews Btirhinus oedicnemus at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) on 1 1 th. A Great Reed Warbler Acrocephahis anmdinaceus at Cley (Norfolk) on the same day was the first of six spring records, with perhaps the most interesting of these being one at Elmley (Kent) seen canying nesting material. Pomarine Skuas passing the English south coast reached a peak on 1 3th May, with 148 reported, including 66 past Hove and 81 past Dungeness. Temminck’s Stints Calidris tennnvickn, too, showed w'ell, with about 70 reported, mainly during 12th- 16th and 19th-22nd May. Two in Cumbria on 16th w'ere the first there in spring since 1988. A Lesser Grey Shrike Lanim minor at Hexham (Northumberland) on 14th May arrived on the same day as a Rustic Bunting Embenzn mstica at Boddam (Shetland), of w'hich there were others on Fair Isle on 1 5th, St Kilda (Western Isles) on 17th and then five more during 21st-26th May. Arriving with these Rustic Buntings were at least 1 14 Bluethroats (plate 129), during 10th-24th, 27 Marsh Warblers Acrocephahis palnstris, 29 Icterine Warblers Hippolais icterina, 72 Red-backed Shrikes Lanius collnrio and 17 Common Rosefinches Carpodacus erythiimis, all during 21st-31st May, and most making their landfall between the Kent coast in the south and Fife in the north. Adding extra spice to the list were Thrush Nightingales Lnscinia luscinia at Dungeness on 18th, Donna Nook (Lincolnshire) on 22nd and Gullane (Lothian) on 25th, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephahis diimetonim at Kergord (Shetland) on 23rd and a BoneUi’s Warbler Phylbscopus bonelli on Copinsay (Orkney) on 25th. A European Roller Coracias gamilus at Penlee (Cornwall) on 29th saw^ May out in real style. Despite a dismrbed w’esterly airflow' over Britain for ‘the first week of June, easterly migrants w'ere still being found, w'ith a Greenish Warbler Phylbscopus trochibides in Kent, the year’s second Bufflehead, a first- summer male in Cleveland on 1st, and a Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus on Foulney Island (Cumbria) on 3rd frustrating would-be obser\'ers during its three-day stay w'ith its on-and-off appearances. Follow'ing a massive irruption into central Europe, Rosy Starlings Sturnus roseus reached Britain, too, with one at Spurn (Humberside) on 4th June, followed by at least another seven at scattered locations in June, and seven more in July and early August. A Booted Warbler Hippobis caligata at Beachy Head (East Sussex) on 5th June continued the recent spring trend for this species, but with it most of the migration came to an abrupt halt as a cool northwesterly flow covered much of Britain. It w'as the sunniest June since 1989 over England and Wales as a w'hole, and since 1975 locally in the South. The breeduig season — ups and downs Many of our scarcer species did rather well. A joint census of Dartford Warblers Sylvb undata by tire RSPB and English Nature revealed 1,600-1,670 breeding territories in southern England. In northeast Hampshire alone, there were about 1 00 pairs, the highest since the 1930s, and in Surrey 155 singing males was the highest total ever recorded. On those same Hampshire heaths, about 100 pairs of Common Stonechats Saxicolq torquata were mapped, the most ever recorded. Again in Hampshire, 71 pairs of Wood Larks Liilhib arborea were found, the highest level since 1981. As w'ith Dartford Warblers, there is also evidence of tlicir spreading into new' areas, breeding just w'est of London and in Bedfordshire, despite the ever-present danger from human disturbance. Two juvenile Wood Larks in Derbyshire was the first record there since 1 976. In Scotland, 95 pairs of Ospreys reared 146 young, and the reintroduced White-tailed Eagles Haluieetus albicilb raised five young. F’or the first time since the start of the reintroduction scheme, a pair of Scottish-raised White-tailed Eagles also attempted to breed. Red Kites in British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 465 Wales had their best year this century, with 106 pairs raising 98 young. Red Kites from the reintroduction programme reared 13 young from eight pairs in Scotland, and 37 young from 20 pairs in England. In Norfolk, Montagu’s Harriers had their best year since 1924, with nine pairs raising ten young. On a sadder note. Com Crakes Crex crex failed to breed in Northern Ireland for the first time (ever?), but, following a change to more crake-friendly farming methods, singing males increased on Coll, to 18, and on Tiree, to 126. Also on a down note. Stone-curlews were badly affected by poor spring weather, with just 87 young being reared compared with 102 in 1993. The most unexpected breeding event of the year (of the cenmry?), however, was the successful pairing of the long-staying Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps at Stithians Reservoir (Cornwall) with a Little Grebe Tachybaptus mficollis, resulting in three hybrid young, one of which survived into 1995. The start of an excellent autumn Towards the end of June, migrants started to trickle through, although it was two gull reports that first caught the eye, with a Franklin’s GuU Lams pipixcan at Topsham (Devon) on 25th June and yet another Ross’s GuU, at Workington (Cumbria), the next day. An influx of Ruddy Shelducks Tadonia femiginea occurred from the end of June through to October, including wandering parties of eight in Clwyd, up to ten in Cheshire and Merseyside and six in Cornwall. Whether or not they came from a wild source is open to question. (Further details will be published in a forthcoming paper in British Birds.) The first three days of July were hot and humid, and two long-standing absences were broken, with a CoUared Pratincole Glareola pratincola at Titchwell on 1st, the first in Norfolk since 1868, and an Alpine Swift at Noup of Noss on 2nd, the first in Shedand since 1977. A very unseasonal Redwing Turdus iliacus appeared in Scilly on 5th and a Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva in Humberside on 10th, in what was to be a quiet year for the species. The amazing saga at Tynemouth (Tyne & Wear) continued on 11th July when a Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodrorna monorhis was heard, and then trapped on 23rd and 25th July, the same individual as that in each of the preceding four years (Brit. Birds 88: 342-345). Numbers of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo reached 516 at Rutland Water (Leicestershire) on 15th July, and Little GuUs 242 at Seaham Harbour (Co. Durham) on 16th. A River Warbler Locus tella fluviatilis during 16th-25th in Fife renewed hopes of the species’ long-anticipated colonisation of Britain (another long-stayer was to appear in 1995). A Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla arrived at Keyhaven Marsh (Hampshire) on 17th July, one of only two to appear this aummn and on a somewhat early date, as was a Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola at Holm (Orkney) on 18th. A White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fiiscicollis at Rutland Water from 21st to 24th July coincided with a weekend when there was little else around and was rightly popular. The next rarity was another Nearctic wader inland, a Baird’s Sandpiper C. bairdii in Northamptonshire on 31st July. During the month, winds from a southerly quarter were more frequent than usual. It was strongly anticyclonic throughout the month over much of Europe, and Britain and Ireland were on the periphery' of a record- breaking hot July on the Continent. In eastern, southern and central England, it was the hottest July for 1 1 years, no doubt encouraging the growing number of Little Egrets, which by 19th July reached 150 around our shores. Large numbers of Yellow-legged GuUs Liras cachinnans included 100 at Rainham on 3rd August, and high counts of Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligiila from the London reservoirs included 1,198 on Girling on 5th and 1,049 on King George VI on 21st August; elsewhere, equally impressive was a count of 4,395 on Rutland Water on 16th. A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata, found at Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) on 6th August, stayed long enough to be twitched from afar, but most of the more usual waders were thin on the ground. Exceptions were Black-tailed Godwits, which moved through many inland counties in above-average numbers, and impressive inland counts of Ruflfs Philornachus pugnax and Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula, including 86 at Staines Reserv'oir on 16th — but where were all the Spotted Redshanks Tringa eiythropus, which were almost entirely absent? About 16 Pectoral Sandpipers Calidris melanotos were reported in August, with the first in Cumbria on 10th, and White-rumped Sandpipers appeared at Frodsham (Cheshire) on 11th and in Kent on 12th. Up to 15 Spotted 466 Crakes Porzana porzana were found, mostly in the Southwest, including three at Marazion (Cornwall), whilst a Little Crake P. pawa performed at Stanpit Marsh (Dorset) on 17th. Smaller-than-usual numbers of the large shearwaters were seen in August, with 15 Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea past Gwennap Head (Cornwall) on 1st the only noticeable movement off English coasts. In Ireland, 56 went past Cape Clear Island on 23rd and 60 — the same birds? — passed Mizen Head (Co. Cork) on 24th, where tw^o Madeira/Cape Verde/Soft-plumaged Petrels Pterodwnia rnadeiraJfeae/ mollis occurred on the same day. Fewer than 20 Great Shearwaters Puffinus gravis were reported, all of those during 19th-28th August. Totally over- shadowing those tw'o species, however, were Sooty Shearwaters P. grisens, with perhaps 1,000 in total, including 50 past Pendeen (Cornwall), and over 200 past Rock}' Point (Co. Donegal) on 28th, where observers also counted 128 Pomarine Skuas. Most of the Long-tailed Skuas Siercorantis lotigicaudus had passed by early in August, perhaps 450 in total, with the biggest single-day counts from Hartlepool Headland, with 19 on 10th, Whitburn (Tyne & Wear), with 17 on 14th, Hound Point (Lothian), with 29 on 13th, and Chanonr}’ Point (Highland), with 76 on 14th. The first half of August had been rather humid and thunder}', with widespread storms, followed by a brief spell of cool north- westerlies. Around 14th, a low-pressure area developed over the Baltic Sea, bringing northeasterly winds on its northern flank. The low was quickly replaced by high pressure over Scandinavia, which stayed put until 27th August. It was land-based rarities that attracted the attention away from seawatching, and most of these, in the second half of August, came from an easterly direction. A Citrine Wagtail Moiacilla citreola in Cleveland on 14th arrived on the same day as an early Fieldfare Turdiis pilaris in Scilly, and then a Greenish Warbler on Fetlar on 18th heralded the first of the real autumn falls. On 21st August, 200 Northern Wheatears were on North Ronaldsay, and there were good numbers of Pied Flycatchers in Scilly, mixed in with Whinchats Saxicola rnbetra and Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa siriata. Of the 37 Wrynecks reported, most arrived after 21st, as did most of the Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria, with about 70 during 20th-31sl August. Icterine Warblers added to the Nightingale & Allsopp: The ornithological year 1994 Scandinavian flavour, with about 40 during 22nd-31st. Another Citrine Wagtail, and Isabelline Shrike Lanins isabellinus on Fair Isle, Greenish Warbler in Grampian, Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis on Stronsay (Orkney), and Thrush Nightingale, Booted Warbler and Yellow-breasted Bunting Ernberiza aureola in Shetland all added spice to the already impressive roll call. Meanwhile, Little Egrets (plate 137) had continued to increase throughout August, reaching a national total of about 400. A series of counts at Poole Harbour peaked at 83 on 31st, there were 75 at Longville Marsh, Jersey, on 26th, and at Thomey Island regular counts of over 70 during 19th-31st peaked at 94 on 27th. A census in Devon on 30th revealed a count}' total of 85. During September, a westerly, cyclonic type of weather persisted until the middle of the month. It was generally cool, dull and wet, and was the third poor September, in weather terms at least, in succession. Not so the birds! September opened with a week of changeable westerly winds and the result pleased the wader buffs. A Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricobr in Devon on 4th was followed by about 46 Pectoral Sandpipers, mostly in the first half of the month, and 20 Buflf-breasted Sandpipers Tryngites submficollis, all arriving during 1st- 16th and including one well inland at Draycote Water (plate 138). Earlier, on Fair Isle, a juvenile Red-necked Stint Calidris mficollis had been found dead, on 31st August, but that of course had arrived on a different track. Another Citrine Wagtail appeared on Fair Isle on 1st September, and there were to be four others in the Northern Isles during the month. A Greenish Warbler at Wells (Norfolk), also on 1st, was followed next day by a modest fall on Portland Bill of 247 Yellow Wagtails Motacilla jlava and 140 Northern Wheatears. On 3rd September, excitement in Leicestershire was caused when seven Arctic Skuas flew over Eye Brook Resert'oir, and at nearby Rudand Water the count of Great Cormorants increased to an amazing 785. On Jersey, Little Egrets had increased to 93 by 4th, and a census of Bam Owls Tyto alba revealed an island population of about 100, probably as many as Jersey can support. Staying with the Channel Islands, a Cor}'’s Shearwater on 5th was only the second Guernsey record. Large numbers of Sooty Shearwaters were still passing our coasts, with 209 at Flamborough Head Plate 136. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus, Winterton/Horsey, Norfolk, November 1994 (R. Chillenden) Plate 137. Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Gweek, Cornwall, November 1994 (Paul Hopkins) Plate 138. Below, BuflF-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subnificollis, Draycote Water, Warwickshire, September 1994 {Rob Wikon) 468 (Humberside) on 1st and 253 there on 14th September. Other good counts included 143 off Uisaed Point (Strathclyde) on 9th and 207 past the Fame Islands (Northumberland) on 14th. A Booted Warbler WTested attention away from the sea at Cromer (Norfolk) on 4th, and there were tw'o Arctic Warblers on North Ronaldsay, on 4th and 7th. Blue Tits Pams caemleiis, not often mentioned in these summaries, warranted attention at Gibraltar Point, with a count of 480 on 6th September, and two Yellow-breasted Buntings arrived, at Hilbre (Merseyside) on 7th and Fair Isle on 9th. A depression then centred over the north of Scotland caused swirling westerly winds onto Atlantic-facing coasts, resulting in good seabird passage. On 10th, a _ Little Shearwater Pitffinus assimilis was seen off the Calf of Man (Isle of Man) and inland three more Arctic Skuas were seen, o\er Chew Valley Lake (Avon), and Manx Shearwaters P. piiffinus reached Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Leach’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma lencorhoa also featured prominently, one reaching Derbyshire for that county’s first record for five years, and Cumbria had its best passage of this species since 1988. During 9th-llth September, some ver>- impressive counts were made elsewhere, including 200 past Merseyside, 140 off the Lancashire coasts, 90 off Strathclyde, 470 past Ramore Head (Co. Antrim) and 200 off Co. Donegal. The movement was over as quickly as it started. Caught up in the same rush were Grey Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicarius — no surprise there — with o\'er 60 reported during 9th- 19th September, many reaching the shelter of inland waters. Although 155 Pink- footed Geese Anser brachyrhyiichus at South Walney (Cumbria) on 14th gave an early reminder of the winter months ahead, many observers were relishing the prospects of what was to continue to be an excellent autumn. Nightingale & Allsopp: The ornithological year 1994 Excitement knows no bounds During 14th- 18th September, a depression of unusual intensity tracked across the eastern North Sea and then lay over Denmark and southern Sweden. Air circulating over the northern edge of this low concentrated landfalls in the northern part of Britain. The first of four Pechora Pipits Anihiis giistavi was found on Fair Isle on 15th, with another on Foula on 18th, and a Thrush Nightingale was in Lincolnshire on 17th. A Paddydield Warbler Acrocephaliis agricola in Cleveland, also on 17th, was the foremnner of another five before the end of September, all in the Northern Isles, apart from a second in Cleveland on 18th. At Filey (North Yorkshire), a Yellow-breasted Bunting on 18th was the first of some real gems at that site during the autumn. Another was on Fair Isle the same day, with an Arctic Warbler, of which there were two more there on 20th-2 1 St, and three more elsewhere during 21st-22nd September. The highlight in this busy period for many observ'ers was a male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica at Burnham Over\’ (Norfolk) on 18th. On a slightly more sober note, a spectacular movement of himndines included 10,000 Bam SwtUlows going to roost at Clumber (Nottinghamshire) on 18th and a hea\7 coastal movement in Avon comprising 1 2,000 Barn Swallows in two hours on 19th together with 10,000 House Martins. Three Lanceolated Warblers Loaisiella laiiceolaia were found during 19th- 21st, the last at Mundesley (Norfolk), an Isabelline Wheatear Oeiianihc isabdlina on Whalsay (Shetland) on 20th, a Calandra Lark Melatiocoiypha calandra on St Kilda on 21st, with a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Lociisiella cerihiola on Fair Isle the same day. Arri\’ing with these premier stars were lower- division performers, but still impressi\'e in llieir own right. Nearly 150 Wrynecks were noted throughout the month, including 22 in Norfolk alone during 1 st-6th, and there were six Short- toed Larks Calandrclla brachydactyLi during 17th-24th, and 50 Richard’s Pipits, mainly after 20th. Most of the 13 or so Tawny Pipits Anthns campesuis arriwd earlier, during 6th- 18th, but Icterine Warblers arrived in two separate movements, the first involving 27 individuals during lst-6th and the second involving about 20 during 14th-25th September. After mid month, about 28 Red- breasted Flycatchers arri\ed, togeUier v\ith 115 or so Yellow-browed Warblers Phyllflscopns inoniaiiis (plate 133), mainly during 17th-30th September. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 The interest did not stop just with passerines. There was a Baird’s Sandpiper on South Walney on 14th September, a Wilson’s Phalarope in Norfolk on 16th, a White-rumped Sandpiper in Strathclyde, another Baird’s, at Eye Brook Reservoir, and a Great Snipe Gallinago media at Sheringham (Norfolk), all on 17th. Seabirds, too, were having another surge, with 1 1 ,000 Northern Fulmars, a Cory’s Shearwater, 101 Sooty Shearwaters, and 35 Arctic, four Pomarine and 1 1 Long-tailed Skuas past North Ronaldsay on 29th September. Thrushes were arriving, with the first substantial falls of Redwings, including 800 on North Ronaldsay on 30th, but a Dark- throated Thrush of the nominate red- throated race, which graced The Naze (Essex) from 29th September to 7th October, caused a lot more excitement. October was, from a weather point of view, a tale of two halves. The first half, up to 18th, was anticyclonic, dry' with some warm days, and the second half was cyclonic, wet and then rather cold. From a birding point of view it was, however, the same story throughout the month: excitement following excitement. A post-breeding gathering of 50 Stone- curlews at a Breckland site in Suffolk on 1st October was untypical, and a Bonaparte’s Gull Lams Philadelphia on Blithfield Reserx'oir (Staffordshire) was a good inland find on 4th. With the predominance of easterly winds throughout the autumn, transatlantic passerines had been absent, so a Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus on Mizen Head on 8th was a surprise. A Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus at East Prawle (Devon) on the same day quickly focused attention back to the east, as a ridge of high pressure developed across the centre of Europe, bringing southeasterly winds, to Britain during 6th- 10th. There was another Dusky' Warbler, on South Uist (Western Isles) on 10th, and an amazing 19 more by the year’s end, with 14 of those during the period from 1 1 th October to 7th November. Frustrated observers in Scilly, in what had been a quiet autumn for them so far, listened in vain to news from the mainland, first about the Pechora Pipit at Filey on 9th October and then almost unbelievingly about the Lanceolated Warbler there the next day. A Desert Wheatear Oerianthe deserti at Portland on 1 1th and an Arctic Warbler at Kenidjack (Cornwall) tried to steal the spotlight away from northeast England, but those Scilly obsert'ers had to make do with a Slavonian 469 Grebe Podiceps auritus, only the fourth record this century for the archipelago, and one of the month’s three Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludicola, aU on 1 0th- 1 1 th and including an unexpected East Coast record at Cley (Norfolk) (plates 134 & 135). Many obser\'ers left Scilly on 15th October, heading for the Northwest as news flashed through of a Song Sparrow Zonotnchia melodia at Seaforth (Merseyside) and a Greater Yellowlegs Tnnga melanoleuca at Rockcliffe (Cumbria). The latter was to stay into November, proving to be very popular with the estimated 1,600 birders who made the journey to see it. Radde’s Warblers Phylloscopus schwarzi on Scilly and in Kent on 14th were about to be overshadowed by the biggest invasion of Pallas’s Leaf Warblers P. proregulus (plate 132) we have witnessed. Overnight on 15th/16th October, cold air extended southeastwards from Greenland. Over southern Sweden the temperatures fell to 0°C, and yet it was more than 10°C higher over northern Germany. This cold band of air stretched right across the north of Scotland and the Northern Isles during 16th- 18th October. Small passerines seeking more favourable conditions would have been swept west to arrive in eastern England rather than Scotland and the Northern Isles. About 180 Pallas’s Leaf Warblers arrived between 14th October and mid November; the previous best annual total was 127 in 1982. The normal peak arrival time is the second week of October, but this movement came significantly later, with about 65 arriving during 16th-23rd October and then about 75 during 3rd-6th November. One possible reason for this was that a vast area of above- average temperatures stretched from the eastern Mediterranean (up to 35°C) through central Russia to northeastern Siberia, presumably causing many of the local bird populations to delay their migration. In the 470 first wave, 28 made landfall in eastern England, 16 in northeast England, five in western England and Ireland, three on the English south coast, five on mainland Scotland and yet only three in the Scottish islands. In Suffolk, at least 21 were reported, almost as many as had been previously recorded in the county (27 to the end of 1993), with 14 seen in the Felixstowe area alone. Record books were being modified, then transformed and then totally rewritten. In November, during 3rd-15th, a total of 37 Pallas’s Leaf Warblers was found in eastern England, 25 in Scotland, 16 in northeast England and ten each on the English south coast and in western parts of England. The Continental anticyclone retreated very' slow'ly during 18th-20th October as active fronts encroached from the west, but from 2 1 St onwards pressure was constandy low over Britain and Ireland. There was a strong southeasterly flow across the North Sea, with a weather front on 20th stretching along the East Coast from Scodand to Norfolk. A depression was centred over the Northern Isles from 23rd to the end of October. Remarkably, following closely on the 1993 Dorset record, two more Red-flanked Bluetails Tarsiger cyanurus came to southern Britain, the first at Great Yarmouth (Norfolk) during 18th-20th October and the second, at Landguard (Suffolk), on 26th. Is this species really extending its range, or are these ‘vagrants’ from a more dubious source? Arriving with diese eastern gems came a huge influx of over 100 Rough-legged Buzzards (plate 136), the second-largest on record. The first arrivals, on 15th October, focused on East Anglia and the southeast corner of England, with groups of up to five lingering in favoured localities, such as the Norfolk coastal belt and the Isle of Sheppey Nightingale & Allsopp: The ornithological year 1994 (Kent). Many stayed on, and, with further new arrivals supplementing their numbers, about 75 were reported during November. Another significant influx involved the nominate Continental race of the Bullfinch Pynhiila pyrrhula, the largest ever recorded. The vanguard was on Hoy (Orkney) on 1 6th October and by the end of the month 50 had been seen on North Ronaldsay, and there were parties of up to ten on other Orkney islands. About 120 arrived in Shedand, including 19 at Helendale and 15 at Kergord on 26th and 15 at Quendale on 27th October. On Fair Isle, 56 were trapped (compared with only 41 during the previous 45 years). Further sightings extended along the eastern coast of England as far south as Suffolk, where one was trapped at Bawdsey on 1st November. Few American thrushes made it across the Adantic this aummn, but 16th October saw a true ‘East meets West’ situation: Grey- cheeked Thrush Cathanis minimus on North Hoy (Orkney) was only a few kilometres away from a Dark-throated Thrush on Fair Isle. Britain’s fourth Yellow-browed Bunting arrived on St Agnes (Scilly) on 19th October, and on 22nd there was another flurn,' of eastern rarities in the Northern Isles. On Sanday, a Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka was Orkney’s third, a Paddyfield Warbler was only its second and a Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos made a fine trio. Another Paddyfield Warbler was on South Ronaldsay on 23rd, and there were Pine Buntings on Out Skerries (Shedand) on 22nd, Sumburgh on 23rd and North Ronaldsay on 28th October. Another Pied Wheatear was in Kent on 23rd, with others at Fagbury Cliffs (Suffolk) on 24th October and in Cleveland on 6th November. Also in Suffolk, a southerly movement of Wood Pigeons Colnmba palmnbus at Landguard between 24th October and 6th November was estimated at nearly 84,000, with a maximum of 30,160 passing over on 2nd November. By contrast, a solitan,- Blue Tit on Fedar on 25th October was the first in Shedand since 1990. Landguard also witnessed the start of an interesting series of Red-rumped Swiillows, with one on 26th, followed by one in Kent on 28th, then two in Clumber Park (Nottinghamshire) on 29th, with three there between 30th October and 3rd November. Possibly the same trio then turned up at Brancaster (Norfolk) on 6th November, staying until 1 1th. During 1st- 15th November, a juvenile also visited various localities in north Norfolk and finally there was one in THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS Hn focus lORFOLK JN STREET, TITCHWEII, , KINGS LYNN, »FOlX, PE31 8BB pen 7 doyj 9om - 6pm i.el:014BS 210101 ^\10W TO FIND US; We ore 500 yards eost ■ tf the RSPB reserve at Tllchwetl on the A1 49 rietween Hunstanton and Broncoster. in focus SLIMBRIDGE, mSSr GLOUCESTERSHIRE THE WILDfOWl AND WETLANDS TRUST, SUMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GU 7BT Open 7 days 9.30am - 5.30pm Tel: 0374-746472, 01453 890333 HOW TO FIND US; We are situated within the reserve with viewing over the Swan Lake. TKe centre is well signposted from the M5 motorwoy. in focus YORKSHIRE WESTLEIGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HDB BQJ Open Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm Tel: 01484 864729 HOW TO FIND US; We are close by the railway station at Denby Dole on the A636 near June. 38 & 39 on the Ml . in focus CENTRAL LONDON^^^S B, 9 & 10 ROYAL OPERA ARCADE, PAU MAU, LONDON, SW1 Y 4UY Open Moo - Fri 9am - 6pm Sat 9am - 4pm Tel: 0171-839 1881 Fax:0171-839 8118 HOW TO FIND US; We are 3(X) yards from Piccadilly Undergrour>d Station in Royal Opero Arcade between Pall Mall and Charles II Street, in focus HERTFORDSHIRE 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTFORDSHIRE, EN5 5SZ Open Mon - Sot 9am - 6pm Tel: 0181-449 1445,0181-441 7748 Fax:0181-440 9999 HOW TO FIND US; We are 10 mins from M25 and AIM motorways ond 1 5 mins walk from High Bomet Tuk>e Station situated at the Hadley Green end of Bomet High Street. focus EICESTERSHIRE IGUAN WATER WRDWATCHING CENTRE LETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, ILICESTERSHIRE, LE15 8BT ^(pen Weekends ond Bonk Holidays 9am • 5pm eJ: 01572 770656 h DW TO FIND US, We are situated on the Egleton ••KS T * 1 all our shops we corry o good i| , e of field ond identification guides x ell os a full selection of trip reports REPAIRS Full service and repair focilities in our own workshops All work corries our six month worronfy MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Pleose remember to odd £2 .00 lowords ihe cost of insured Trokbok postoge ond pocking • whether poyino by cheque.Viso, Access or Mostercord-ond goods will be despofehed with fuff 14 doys opprovol on receipi of your remittonce SECOND HAND mMS All instruments offered with six month vrtjrroniy As slock turnover is high phone for lotest details PART-IXCHANOIS ALWAYS Wf LCOMl. All USTINOS COMICT AT TIME OF OOINO TO MESS. EAOE. PHONE FOA LATEST PMCES. ■ oneevinij Lire! I our 3 can ntiJJ: AFRICA: BOTSWANA • ETHIOPIA KENYA MADAGASCAR • MALAWI MOROCCO ■ NAMIBIA ■ SOUTH AFRICA TANZANIA • UGANDA ■ ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE Naturetrel^ ASIA: ARUNACHAL PRADESH BHUTAN BORNEO • CHINA ■ INDIA JORDAN LADAKH MONGOLIA NEPAL SIKKTM • TIBET ANTARCTICA & AUSTRALASIA: ANTARCTICA SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NZ & AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND EUROPE: BULGARIA CORSICA CRETE ■ CYPRUS FRENCH PYRENEES ■ GREECE • HUNGARY ■ ITALY MADEIRA ■ POLAND ROMANIA • SARDINIA ■ SLOVAKIA ■ SPAIN & SPANISH PYRENEES SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL COSTA RICA ■ ECUADOR ■ GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ■ VENEZUELA RUSSIA (and the new states): RUSSIA'S BOREAL FOREST ■ VOLGA DELTA & SOUTHERN RUSSIA USSURILAND & AMUR DELTA ■ KAZAKHSTAN & ALTAI ■ THE BALTIC STATES ■ SIBERIA & LAKE BAIKAL ■ SAKHALIN & KAMCHATKA Bargain NEPAL An action-packed 10-day birdmg lour to this spectacular Himalayan kingdom, including nearly 300 bird species and 20 larger mammals during extensive birdmg in the hills ol the Kathmandu Valley. Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Guided by Nepal's lop ornithologists. Hem Sagar Baral. Tika Ram Gin and Halhan Choudhary iOepartures leaving every Friday throughout January i FeOruary '96 BHUTAN & NEPAL Our Speciality % Over 25 birdmg lours and treks into the most exciting regions of the remote Himalaya • Private birdmg Ireks and tours — tailor-made to your requirements — organised for groups and individuals, with or without one of our tull-time Nepalese ornithologists • Unbeatable prices for all Himalayan travel arrangements • Slay at KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE CAMP Our own luxury tented camp, and the only accommodation at Nepal s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, one of Asia's finest wetlands This is the only accommodation in Nepal run by birders lor birders, and with 150 species daily and 200 during a 4-night stay, a rival to Bharatpur' WORtL) rsVIROVMfST PARIVtR !*«■> For our brochure please contact: NATURETREK, CHAUTARA, BIGHTON, Nr. ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE S024 9RB, ENGLAND. TEL: (01 962) 733051 FAX: (01 962) 733368 BIRD CONSERVATION: BOOKS from JNCC Free offer Quote BBl when ordering these books before 1 November 1995 and claim a free copy of Coppiced woodlands: their management for wildlife. The ecology and conservation of European owls Conference proceedings. 1992. 1 10 pages, A4, softback £34.00 The ecology and conservation of lapwings. 1994. 66 pages, A4, softback £15.80 The conservation of lowland dry grassland birds in Europe Conference proceedings. 1991. 136 pages, A4, softback £10.00 World checklist of threatened birds. 3rd ed. 1993. 325 pp, A4, .softback £26.00 Seabird monitoring handbook for Britain and Ireland 1995. 150 pages, A4, loose-leaf in ring-binder £44.50 Po.stagc & packing. UK: Orders up to £10: add £.T. Orders £10.01 to £20: add £4. Maximum for a single item in UK: £4. Orders over £20 or abroad, please contact NHBS. .INCe publications are distributed by: Natural History Book Service Ltd. 2-3 Wills Rd. Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5XN. Tel: 01803 865913. Fax: 01803 865280 Payment with order, please. Cheques payable to ‘NHBS Ltd’. For a full list of JNCC publications, contact: Publications, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road. Peterborough, PEI IJY. Tel: 01733 62626 (D502) Birdwatch ESSENTIAL FOR ALL BIRDWATCHERS [I Moult and ageing very birder’s guide to this omplex subject I Itineraries rom Scilly to Poland ■ Rarity photos Red-necked Stint, Black Stork, Olivaceous Warbler ■ Girl Buntings Top south coast sites September issue on sale NOW »ctober issue on sale 28 September vVhether you’re new to birdwatching or an experienced cirder, there’s only one place to find all the informa- "lion you need. Birdwatch is published specifically to nelp you improve your skills, and to keep you h nformed each month on everything from iden- '■.ification, bird behaviour, conservation and rvhere to watch, to all the latest sight- imgs, rare bird news, product reviews 5)nd topical comment - including Bill .'Dddie’s regular monthly column. iT'his month: Top of every birdwatcher’s list IBIMONTHLY jOURNAL ON FIELD ORNITHOLOGY H Excellent papers on identification, distribution, occurrence, movements and behaviour of Palearc- tic birds □ Regular contributions on Asian-Pacific birds D Latest news on rare and interesting birds in the Netherlands and tSie Western Palearctic D Well produced with numerous high quality colour photographs D Yearly report on rare birds in the Netherlands D In English or with extensive English summaries For information or a free sample issue, write to: Dutch Birding, Postbus 7561 T , 1 070 AP Amsterdam, The Netherlands Subscribers to Dutch Birding can claim 25% off a British Birds subscription (D469) ACE OPTICS OF BATH The South West’s Largest Optical Specialist Zeiss Opticron 7x42/10x40 BOAT . . . ,£689 Countryman . . .£99 8x20 Classic (inc Case) . . . .£199 Hi-Res 8/1 0x42 . .£189 1 0x25 Classic {inc Case) . . .Phone Classic 60mm + 22x w . .£169 New Nightowls e.g. 7x45 OPA' . . . . . .£799 60 SR + 22x HR & Case . .£269 HR66 . .£269 Leica HR 80 Body . .£319 8x20 BC . . . .£239 30xW eye piece . . .£52 10x25 BCA OPA' . . . .£289 Nikon 8x32 BA OPA* . . . .£625 Spotting Scope 20x . .£229 8x42 BA . . . .£689 Spotting Scope Zoom Angled OPA* . .£319 10x42 BA . . . .£699 Reldscope IIA . .£339 New 8/10x50 BA , . . .£899 Fieldscope 78 ED OPA' . .£769 New Leica Televid Scopes . . .Phone 30xx ww OPA' or 20-45 Zoom . , .£159 THE BEST DEALS IN OPTICS « 01225 466364 Kowa Swarovski TSN 1 & 2 £299 8x30 SLC III .£449 TSN3&4 £599 7x42 SLC .£529 £139 10x42 SLC .£589 TSN Zoom 20-60 £175 AT-80 Scope .£539 TSN 60x or 77x £105 AT-80HD&ope .£769 TS 611/12 OPA' £239 30xXW Eye Piece .£119 TS 613/14 OPA' £519 Optolyth TS27XW £95 Alpin 8/10x40 .£255 Slay on case . ... £42 TBS/TBG 80 New Model .£479 TBS/TBG 80 HD New Model .£719 Bausch & Lomb 30x WW .£149 7x26 Custom Premier £269 20-60 zoom .£175 3x24 Legacy OPA' 7x35 or 10x50 Glasses on .... £99 £129 Night Vision Scopes from .£250 8x42 Natureview OPA' £109 Accessories 10x42 Natureview £129 Slik D3 tripod .£119 Swift Slik 444 Sport . .£79 Velbon tnpods from . .£45 JLtralite 8/10x42 OPA' £179 Car window mount . .£29 Audubon 8.5x44 £229 Hide mounts from . .£29 British Birds readers only offer. 25% discount off any Velbon Tripod (£39-£79) with any Telescope purchased (while stocks last). We cannot list all models we stock please phone To save you the hassle of negotiating, all our pnces are hugely discounted from the start Should you find a genuinely cheaper pnce. we will normally beat rt. We also offer the best advice, sen/ice and stock, so why bother to go elsewhere? If you cannot call in. we offer a 48 hour mail order delivery service. Please ask for David or Peter for specialist advice. Low cost credit terms available. Please mention Bnbsh Birds magazine when calling. 16 GREEN STREET, BATH, BA1 2JZ 01 225 466364 If busy try 466975 Also available at 10 South Walk, Yate, Bristol (01454) 325302 Pnces are correct at time of goirtg to press ‘OPA - Birrfwatching Magazines Optical PnJducts Award t: IX ‘BEST BIRD BOOK OFTHE YEAR 1 995’ British Birds BUNTINGS AND SPARROWS A Guide to the Buntings and North American Sparrows Clive Byers, Urban Olsson and Jon Curson 240 X 170mm: 320pp 39 colour plates; maps November 1995 £28 ISBN 1-873403-19-4 Pica Press are proud to accept the award of ‘Best Bird Book of the Year 1995’ from the journal British Birds, on behalf of the team that produced Woodpeckers. “This superb book deservedly should grace the bookshelf of every forest birdwatcher and woodpecker enthusiast.” Philip Round in British Birds WOODPECKERS A Guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets and Wrynecks of the World Hans Winkler, David A Christie and David Nurney 240 X 170mm: 416pp; 64 colour plates; maps £30 ISBN 1-873403-25-9 SWIFTS A Guide to the Swifis and Treeswifis of the World Phil Chantler and Gerald Driessens 240 X 170mm: 256pp , 24 colour plates; maps £26 ISBN 1-873403-31-3 SONGBIRDS OF TURKEY An atlas of biodiversity of \ Turkish passerine birds — C.S. Roselaar 240 X 170mm: 256pp; 144 maps September 1995 £24 ISBN 1-873403-44-5 For a copy of the latest catalogue please write to: Christopher Helm, Pica Press, The Banks, Mountfield, nr. Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JY. Telephone: 01580 880561 Fax: 01580 880541 PRESS British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 Northumberland during 18th-20th November. An Arctic Warbler on Fair Isle on 26th October was the eleventh of the year, while a Radde’s Warbler in West Sussex, also on 26th October, with another Radde’s in Suffolk on 2nd November, were by contrast only the third and fourth of the year. The eighth Pechora Pipit of the year duly arrived on 27th October, unexpectedly on Tresco: Scilly ‘came good’ in the end. A wave depression, starting life on 28th October, tracked across from Newfoundland to northern Britain, reaching us on 29th October. Most American migrants had already pushed south and so were unaffected, but it managed to bring with it two Yellow-billed Cuckoos Coccyzus americattus, one found near St Davids (Dyfed) on 30th October and another at Camcastle (Co. Antrim) on 31st, and probably two Yellow-rumped Warblers Dendroica cororiata, one at Ramsey Island (Dyfed) and another found on 16th November in Bristol (Avon). Unfortunately, an American Robin Tiirdns migratorius at Felixstowe on 2nd November was found recently dead. Four Homed Larks at Colwick on 3rd November was only the fifth occurrence in Nottinghamshire, and 120 Common Scoters Melanitta nigra passed through the same locality on 4th, the same day as four Penduline Tits appeared at Titchfield Haven (Hampshire) and a Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlezuskii began a week- 471 long stay at Landguard. A Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax brought more fireworks to Fair Isle on 5th November, staying only to the next day, as did a Desert Wheatear at Weyboume, appearing on 5th and visiting Cley on 6th. Southerly and southwesterly winds blew during November almost without a break. It was the warmest November since before 1659 and it was also very dry, so presumably this and subsequent Desert Wheatears found conditions here to their liking. A White-billed Diver off Southwold (Suffolk) on 6th November was an unexpected southern English record. On 7th there was another Desert Wheatear at Castleton (Herefordshire) and yet another at Blackpool (Lancashire) on 11th November. A count of 588 Northern Shovelers Anas clypeata on Walton Reservoir on 10th was a new Surrey record, and a Lesser Scaup Aythya ajfinis at Lechlade (Gloucestershire) was, not surprisingly, a new record for that county, too. An Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris in Lincolnshire on 14th, staying until 17th November, was much sought after, but the year had one more ace to deal. Just over 1 3 years since the previous and so far only British record, a Grey-tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes frequented a Grampian shoreline, at Burghead. Found on 27th November, it was added to many a grateful observer’s life list until it departed a month later. ' ;«• ■ ■. Plate 139. Birders at Landguard, Suffolk, November 1994 (R. Chittenden) 472 A couple of good Irish records in December, 71 Slavonian Grebes on Lough Foyle (Co. Londondeny) on 6th and at least 80 Black-throated Divers at Ball^-eaughan (Co. Down) on 15th, straddled the discoveiy of a Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata well inland at Bewl Water (East Sussex) on 10th. It stayed until 20th December, no doubt encouraged by the mild, wet and sunny weather which prevailed for much of the month. It was the warmest December since 1988. Finally, after a year crammed to excess with mainl\- eastern exotica, we finish with news of some adopted exotica of our ovm. At a roost Nightingale & Allsopp: ITie ornithological year 1 994 at Walton (Surrey), the count of Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameri reached a staggering total of 697. Acknowledgments We are most grateful to the numerous individual correspondents, national, regional, county and local societies, and bird obserx'atories, whose information has been used to compile this summary. We are especially grateful to the British Birds Rarities Committee and the Irish Rare Birds Committee for complete information on their nationally accepted major rarities. Barry Nightingale, 7 Bloomsbuty Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK19 9QS Keith Allsopp, 137 Redbridge, Stantonbwy, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK14 6DL The inclusion of plates 127-138 in colour was supported by Carl Zeiss Ltd, sponsor of the British Birds Rarities Comminee. Appeal to all bird recorders, bird-club secretaries and bird-observatory wardens In order to make these annual re\’iews a complete reflection of the year’s major happenings, and not just those associated with rarities, we would like to receive as many local reports, bulletins, newsletters and observatory reports as possible. Please send them to Barry Nightingale at the address above. ZEISS LOOKING BACK ‘Burrow-chat, Wheatear or White-rump, Saxicola CEnauthe. Abundant on the sand links along our coast, where it arrives early in the spring, and breeds in the deserted rabbit-holes ... It is delicious eating, although in this neighbourhood it is neglected as a luxury for the table. ‘Common Golden-crested Regulus, Regiilus cristatus. Some remain with us all the year . . . and vast numbers migrate from the north of Europe. It seems really wonderful that so diminutive a bird should be capable of such a long flight. For this reason, the common people of Hartlepool name it “tot o’er seas.” ’ (The Zoologist 3: 1058, 1059, October 1845). ‘'Phe Ornithologist in Heligoland . . . this little island is the only part of the world of which the ornithology has been properly worked. Every little boy on the island is a born and bred ornithologist. Every’ unfortunate bird which visits the island has to run the gauntlet of about forp- guns, to say nothing of blow-pipes and catapults. The flight and note of every’ bird is familiar to every islander. A new species is immediately detected. The fisherman steers with a gun by his side; the peasant digs his potatoes with a gun on the turf and a heap of birds on his coat. The common birds are eaten, the rare ones sold to the bird-stuffer, and the new ones taken to Herr Gatke. Long before sunrise the island is bristling with guns; after dark the fowlers are busy with their nets, and at midnight the birds commit suicide by dashing against the lighUiouse ... the wonder is not that so many species of birds have occurred on Heligoland, but that so many have hitherto escaped detection.’ (The Zoobgist Third series 19: 363-364, October 1895) In a purple patch in October 1970, two new Ncarctic species were added to the British & Irish List: Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea found in the Piirth Hcllick area of St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, on 4th October by Barrie Harding, Dave Holman and Ray 'Purley, and a Veery Cathanis fitscesceiis found at Porthgwarra, Cornwall, on 6th October by Giles Duitmore and Howard Medhurst (Brit. Birds 65: 45-49, 155-158, 351, 352; Ibis 1 14: 446). MONTHLY MARATHON As noted last month, the closing dates for the last three hurdles (plates 97, 111 and 126) are all 15th October 1995, so the answers will be given next month. This month’s hurdle is shown below (plate 140). The current leaders in this competition are Jon Holt (Buckinghamshire) and Peter Sunesen (Denmark), both of whom have achieved 15-in-a-row sequences of correct answers. Perhaps the deadlock will be broken by one of the three outstanding pictures (the sixteenth to eighteenth hurdles), which involve five separate identifications. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 idf; or telephone Sandy (01767) 682969. Plate 140. ‘Monthly marathon’. Photo no. 112: either nineteenth stage in seventh ‘Marathon’ or first, second or third stage in eighth ‘Marathon’. Identify the species. Read the niles oti page 65 of the Januaiy issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. to arrive by 15th November 1995. 473 Philadelphia Vireo; new to the Western Palearctic J? F. Dowdall On 12th October 1985, while birding on Galley Head, Co. Cork, with J. Adamson and P. A. Cummins, I discovered an unfamiliar bird feeding with some Blue Tits Pams caemleus and Goldcrests Regulus regulus. The initial view of its bluish ‘cap’ and greenish upperparts made me suspect Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus. When the bird turned around, however, and revealed its lemon-yellow underparts, I realised that it was a species unfamiliar to me. We watched it for as long as was possible before we had to leave to catch the ferry to Cape Clear Island. Aboard the ferry, we met several other birdwatchers and we were able to refer to the National Geographic Society Field Guide to the Birds of North Amenca (1983). From this guide, we were able to make a tentative identification of Philadelphia Vireo V. philadclphicus, although this book warned that Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregtina, a species which I had not seen, could be similar. That night, however, when I saw the photograph of Philadelphia Vireo in the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds (1977), I became certain of llie identification. We revisited Galley Head the following day, along with several other birdwatchers, and the identification was confirmed. 474 [Bril. Hints 88: 474-477, October 1995] lO llritish Birds Ltd 1995 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 475 The Philadelphia Vireo remained in the area until 17th October, and it was seen by a large number of observers. It was also photographed {Brit. Birds 79; plates 10-11; 88: plates 141-143). It is likely that it had been in the area since at least 7th October, when there was a report of a possible Red-eyed Vireo from the same location. The following description of the bird is compiled from the descriptions submitted to the Irish Rare Birds Committee: SIZE AND STRUCTURE Slightly larger than Chiffchaff Phylloscopiis collybita, perhaps about the size of a Wood Warbler P. sibilatrix, but with a completely different structure. It was rather stockier, with a deep-bellied appearance, and noticeably short- tailed. The tail was notched. PLUMAGE Forehead and crown soft bluish- grey. Prominent white supercilium running from base of the bill onto the ear-coverts, broadest above and behind the eye. Dark eye- stripe from base of the bill, through the eye and onto the ear-coverts. Below the eye, an obvious white line almost acted as a mirror image of the supercilium. This was broadest directiy below the eye and created a distinctive ‘pale-faced’ appearance. Lower ‘cheeks’ warm yellow. Mantle and rump uniform, light olive- green. Wings also predominantly olive-green, but outer greater coverts had pale fringes and slightly paler tips, forming an indistinct wing- bar. Inner webs of greater coverts and tertials darker, sepia; primaries and primary coverts also this colour. Uppertail uniform light sepia, with paler outer tail feathers. Undertail dark. Throat and upper breast warm yellow, with rest of the underparts entirely washed yellow, although not so bright as the throat; a slight olive suffusion on the sides of the breast. BARE PARTS BiU short but rather fat and quite broad-based; predominantiy dark, although greyish towards the base, and the extreme tip was also pale. Legs dark grey. Eye dark and rather prominent owing to the pale-faced appearance. HABITAT AND BEHAVIOUR The bird frequented tall Sycamores Acer pseudoplatanus, although it did on occasions move down into the undergrowth, which consisted mainly of Escallonia Escallonia macrantha and Fuchsia Fuchsia magellanica. Its behaviour was rather like that of a Hippolais warbler, alternating between bursts of activity and spells of lethargy. It regularly remained motionless for several minutes at a time, often making it difficult to locate. Plate 141. Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus, Co. Cork, October 1985 {R. T. Milk) 476 Dowdall: Philadelphia Vireo: new to the Western Palearctic Plate 142. Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicm, Co. Cork, October 1985 {R. T. Mills) The record was accepted by the Irish Rare Birds Committee as the first for Ireland (Brazier et al. 1986). It is also the first record for the Western Palearctic. The file was sent to Will Russell, who fully endorsed the record. He commented as follows: ‘Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus can be washed with yellow on the flanks and lower beUy, but lacks the bright yellow on the throat and chest, and more importantly lacks the dark line between the bill and eye, giving the bird a blank- faced appearance. Red-eyed Vireo of the yellow tropical race flavovindis could be that yellow below but is larger and has a big, noticeably hooked bill as well as a far more contrasting face and greyer back. Other vireos have wing-bars.’ The Philadelphia Vireo has a breeding range that extends from southern British Columbia and southern Alberta in the west to Newfoundland and northern New England in the east. It winters in Central and South America (Bull & Farrand 1977). Robbins (1980), predicting potential future Nearctic vagrants to Europe, rated Philadelphia Vireo as the thirty-second most likely candidate out of liis top 38. It had a rather low predicted number of 0.91, against 4.86 for the ‘most likely’ species. Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis. October 1985 was, however, exceptional for American landbirds in Britain & Ireland, with at least 45 individuals of 18 species, including Wilson’s Warbler Wilso)iia piisilla and Indigo Bunting Passenna cyanea. The exceptional number of Nearctic landbirds was preceded by Ireland’s first Short-billed Dowitcher Limtiodromiis gmciis, on 30tli September. There were also records of Nearctic passerines in the Netherlands and France. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 477 The Galley Head Philadelphia Vireo was followed less than two years later by the first British record of the species: one on Tresco, Isles of SdUy, during 10th- 13th October 1987 (Brodie Good 1991). To date, these are the only two records for the Western Palearctic. References Blanki^rt, J. J., Moerbeek, D. J., & CDNA. 1987. Rare birds in the Netherlands in 1985. Dutch Birding 9: 46-53. Brazier, H., Dowdall, J. F., Fitzharris, J. E., & Grace, K. 1986. Thiitv'-third Irish Bird Report. Irish Birds 3: 287-336. Brodie Good, J. 1991. Philadelphia Vireo in Scilly: new to Britain. Biit. Birds 84; 572-574. Bui.l, j., & Farrand, j. 1977. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North Ametican Birds. New York. Dowdall, J. F. 1993. Philadelphia Vireo in Co. Cork — new to the Western Palearctic. Irish Birds 5; 76-78. National Geographic Society. 1983. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Washington. RoBBtNS, C. S. 1980. Predictions of future Nearctic landbird vagrants to Europe. Biit. Birds 73: 448-457. Rogers, M. J., & the Rari pies Committee. 1986, 1987, 1988 & 1989. Reports on rare birds in Great Britain in 1985, 1986, 1987 & 1988. Brit. Birds 79; 526-588; 80: 516-571; 81: 535- 596; 82: 505-563. J. F. Dowdall, Kinnoull Hill, Garristown, Co. Dublin, Ireland Status of the Great Grey Shrike in Britain and Ireland Peter Fraser and John Ryan The Great Grey Shrike Lanins excubitor is a widespread Holarctic species. The nominate race breeds from Scandinavia and France east to western Siberia, northern populations exhibiting a winter dispersal or short-distance migration to warmer areas, including Britain and Ireland (Cramp & Perrins 1993). Its status in these last countries has not been investigated in detail until comparatively recently. This paper attempts to estimate the current numbers of this attractive shrike visiting these islands. Historical perspective In the first half of the twentieth century, when there were far fewer observ'ers than there are today, records of Great Grey Shrike in Britain seemed to be rather scarce. Bannerman (1953) suggested that the Great Grey Shrike might be ‘even [an] annual visitor to our shores’. Two decades later, it was described as both a passage migrant and a winter visitor in ‘small, rather variable numbers’, being most numerous on the East Coast in October, with most wintering individuals occurring in Scotland (BOU 1971). The first systematic attempt to assess tlie British wintering population was made during 1981-84, with the Wuiicr Atlas (Lack 1986); records were found to be much more widespread in midwinter than had previously been supposed, and the wintering population was estimated at a minimum of 150 individuals. In Britain, the Great Grey Shrike has long been characterised by considerable annual fluctuations in its numbers. The available records nevertheless suggest tliat there has been a general decline over the last 40 or more years, and particularly since the 1970s. Several previous traditional wintering areas, such as in Hampshire (Clark & Eyre 1993) and south Staffordshire (R. A. Hume hi liti.), are no longer being occupied by Great Grey Shrikes. The evidence from Scotland 478 [Bril. Birds 88: 478-484, October 1995] ‘C Hritisli Hirtls Ltd 1995 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 479 also suggests that the species is less common than formerly in that country: a total of over 140 autumn records in 1970 (with at least 70 individuals overwintering) had dropped to around 100 in 1982 (Thom 1986). The species remains a great rarity in Ireland, with a total of only 13 recorded during 1966-86 (Hutchinson 1989). Only one was discovered in Ireland during survey work for the Winter Atlas (Lack 1986). Methods In order to make a quantitative assessment of the numbers and distribution of Great Grey Shrikes in Britain «& Ireland in winter, we searched all local, regional and national bird reports for the years 1986-92 and extracted all records of the species. A total of some 890 published records was collated and analysed, and their distribution plotted according to vice-counties. The records were initially classified into three groups: (i) site-faithful long- staying wintering individuals; (ii) short-staying East Coast autumn migrants; and (iii) all other records. Predictably, those records which faU into the third group posed the biggest analytical problems. Of the 890 records, 534 (60%), a much higher percentage than might be suspected, referred to individuals seen on one day only. These could fall into any of the three groups; most are autumn migrants (see below), but they also include individuals on well-known wintering sites which were seen only intermittently, as weU as ‘one-off records at other localities. In estimating the wintering population, we started with those individuals which were long-staying territory-holders, which we defined as those recorded staying for longer than ten days. In addition, we included those shrikes which, although seen for as little as just one day in the winter (December-February), were observed regularly in the same area in more than one year in the period under review. These records indicate that individuals were probably resident in the area, but were being under-recorded. The remaining records (the vast majority) are of short-staying individuals not associated with regular wintering areas. We categorised these as follows: 1. Individuals recorded before December, seen for less than ten days and away from known wintering territories: these are mostly coastal migrants. 2. Individuals recorded in December-March inclusive, seen for less than ten days and not on a regular basis from year to year: these we have called ‘winter wanderers’. 3. Records in spring/summer from April onwards. Results and analysis The annual totals for each category are shown in table 1. The figures are calculated for each winter period (i.e. autumn to spring) rather than for each calendar-year. The four different categories are considered separately below. Winter residents During 1986/87-1991/92, the number of Great Grey Shrikes wintering in Britain ranged from 28 to 51, with a mean annual figure of 37 (table 1). The two years with the highest number of individuals overwintering (1988/89 and 1990/91) 480 Hrascr & Rvan: Great Grey Shrikes in Britain and Ireland Table 1. Total numbers of Great Grey Shrikes Lanins exatbitor recorded in Britain and Ireland, 1986/87-1991/92. Category 1986/87 1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 Mean Winter residents 38 30 43 30 51 28 37 Autumn 38 36 71 29 70 70 52 Winter wanderers 18 17 21 19 29 22 26 Spring 18 9 29 9 10 1 13 Totals 112 92 164 87 160 121 followed the ‘best’ autumns. Large autumn numbers do not, however, necessarily produce a large wintering population, as demonstrated by, for example, winter 1991/92. The distribution of winter residents is shown in fig. 1. The New Forest, Hampshire, has the highest number of wintering Great Grey Shrikes in Britain. The next most favoured areas are, in approximate order of importance, the Dartmoor and East Devon commons area of south Devon, the Surrey heaths, Rauceby Warren in south Lincolnshire, and Kielder Forest in south Northumberland. Other important areas include the Loch Ken area of Kirkcudbrightshire in Galloway, Budby in Nottinghamshire, Breckland on the west Norfolk/west Suffolk border, and the Lee Valley area of Hertfordshire. 4 Fig. 1. Distribution in Britain, by vicc- counties, of site-faithful, long-staying Great Grey Shrikes Lanins exenbitor in winter, 1986/87-1991/92. Fig. 2. Distribution in Britain, by vice- counties, of short-staying Great Grey Shrikes Ixmins cxcnbiior in autumn, 1986- 92. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 481 Great Grey Shrikes have a catholic taste in habitat. The most favoured areas in the south coincide with the lowland-heath habitat preferred by the Red-backed Shrike L. collurio in its last decades as a breeding species in Britain, but young coniferous plantations are also popular. Otherwise, they occur in almost any habitat that is exposed and open, with sparse trees and bushes to allow vantage points. Autumn passage An annual average of 52 individuals was recorded in autumn, their distribution being shown in fig. 2. The majority of autumn records are from the East Coast, with most from east and west Norfolk, southeast Yorkshire and the Northern Isles of Scotland. This pattern is typical of scarce migrants breeding in Fenno-Scandia, such as Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina, Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria and, especially. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides. It seems reasonable to assume, therefore, that most Great Grey Shrikes reported at this time of year are passage migrants. The most frequented sites in October and November are at the major East Coast migration stations: Spurn in southeast Yorkshire had a total of 15 records during 1986-92, followed by Flamborough Head with 11 and Fair Isle with nine. Of interest in assessing the winter population is the number of records away from the coast in areas unfashionable for migrants. As mentioned above, the category ‘autumn’ does not include those individuals recorded in October and November in regular wintering areas (these are included within ‘winter residents’). Of a total of 352 individuals recorded over seven aummns (1986-92), 230 were seen at migration watchpoints, leaving 122 observed elsewhere (an average of 17 per year). It may seem reasonable to call these latter birds casual winter visitors or ‘winter wanderers’ which, through lack of coverage or high mobility, are not knowingly recorded subsequently. Nevertheless, some of these must be genuine migrants. Somewhat arbitrarily, we have split this group into two, giving mean figures of 42 migrants and nine winterers. The timing of the autumn migration of the Great Grey Shrike is shown in fig. 3. We have used data from the Northern Isles only, as this nunirnises the risk of the figures being distorted by the presence of irregularly obser\^ed winter residents. Of the 75 individuals involved, 55% (41) were recorded in October and another 16% (12) in November, with the peak in the last week of October. Fig. 3. Autumn migration of Great Grey Shrikes Lanius excubitor in Northern Isles, Scotland, 1986-92. The period concerned, in seven-day periods, is week 36 to week 52 (records from week 39 to week 48), with peak during 22nd-28th October. 1 J lL - lih. Sept Oct Nov Dec 482 Fraser & R\an: Great Grey Shrikes in Hritain and Ireland Throughout Britain, the species is extremely rare before the last week of September; during 1 986-92, there were records of one individual arriving in July (Hoy, Orkney, 5th July 1991), one in August (Flamborough Head, 29th-30th August 1991) and two in the first half of September (Bere Regis, Dorset, 9th September 1990; Holme, Norfolk, 11th September J989). It might be anticipated that coastal sites would provide incontrovertible evidence for the continuing arrival of Great Grey Shrikes throughout the winter, but this is not the case. In the Northern Isles, there were records from Shetland (Channerwick, 4th January 1 992) and Orkney (North Ronaldsay, 22nd February 1986); despite many winter records for coastal Norfolk, there was none for the Yorkshire ‘migrant traps’. A correlation of high autumn numbers with high wintering numbers does not necessarily imply that individuals seen on the East Coast in October are the same as those seen inland later in the winter. The disparity between the aummn and winter figures in 1991/92 may in fact indicate otherwise. A successful breeding season could well produce the same effect, with the October migrants subsequently moving on to overwinter in southwest Europe. Winter wanderers Included in this category is a smaller number of individuals (annual mean 26) seen for only a short duration in the winter period (fig. 4). Their contribution to the general statistic is very difficult to assess. In Scotland, there is a disproportionately high number of records in this category, which would imply that wintering shrikes are under-recorded. Fig. 4. Distribution in Britain, by vice- Fig. 5. Distribution in Britain, by vice- counties, of transient Great Grey Shrikes counties, of Great Grey Shrikes Lunins Lm> tins exaibit or in winter, 1986/87-1991/92. cA-a/toor in spring, 1986-92. ?ro5S. PRl\V NIKON UK LTD. (for The United Kingdom and The Repubiic of Ireland) 380 RICHMOND ROAD. KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (0181) 541-4440 FAX: (0181) 541-4584 When you traverse hill and dale in search of nature’s marvels, you expect the clearest images available. Thai is what Nikon gives you. In August 1994, Bird Watching magazine selected our Nikon Fieldscope ED78/ED78 A as “Telescope of the Year” in the over £350 class. The judges emphasised its “stunning optical performance” and “extremely accurate colour rendition”. They “Highly Commended” our Spotting Scope A in the under £350 class, noting its superior optical per- formance at a reasonable price. And they were so impressed by the “out- standing brightness and clarity” of our Nikon 30x/38x Wide Eyepieoe for Fieldscopes that they declared it “Accessory of the Year”. All of the judges were experienced bird watchers. No doubt, they also chose Nikon for our ability to bring you that much closer to nature. Fieldscope ED78 A >0t Ot* 30x/38x Wide Eyepiece Spotting Scope A British Birds :1 ii- Send orders with eheque, payable to British Birds Ltd, to Mi Gathercole, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MR ti SN), or telephone 01767-640025 with eredit eard orders NA rUR.'\L GREEN Swealshirts L £\2.99 XE /:i3.49 XXL /:i3.99 Add /4 -90 ]MT order lor p&p NA rUR.\L GREEN lVe-sliirts E ^'6.99 XL /:7.49 XXL /;7.99 (die(|iie eiu losed (dr /: Name & address British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 483 Alternatively, some of the records could arise from shrikes wandering from known territories; or could include a completely unknown number of individuals showing facultative migration from the Continent during the winter. This last theory is possibly supported by the large number of records in Norfolk, where the level of observer coverage would lead to a higher percentage of winter residents being discovered. Thus, ‘one-off records in well-watched areas such as Norfolk are much less likely to be under-recorded winter residents than are such reports in, say, Scotland. Spring passage Records of Great Grey Shrikes in spring, from March onwards, comprise a mix of coastal spring migrants and individuals which could also be considered to be winter wanderers. Their geographical distribution is shown in fig. 5. The existence of a spring migration can be seen from the pattern of records from the Northern Isles (fig. 6). This is further supported by the distribution of spring records, which are concentrated on the English northeast coast and the Scottish southeast coast, as well as in the Northern Isles (fig. 5). Spring passage is not marked, however, with a mean annual total of only 13 individuals. May records are unusual, but include that of a Great Grey Shrike which stayed from 1 8th May until 8th July 1 99 1 in Carlton Colville, east Suffolk. There were two June records, both in 1986: at Bellingham, south Northumberland, on 10th, and at Whitby, northeast Yorkshire, on 14th. 15 10 5 0 Mar Apr May Jun _h ■ ■ ■ Fig. 6. Spring migration of Great Grey Shrikes Lanius excubitor in Northern Isles, Scotland, 1986-92. The period covered, in seven-day periods, is week 10 to week 26 (records from week 14 to week 21), with peak during 16th-22nd April. Conclusions From the published data, it is possible to give an absolute minimum figure for the number of Great Grey Shrikes visiting Britain; and, using arrival and departure dates, the number present at any one time can be calculated. Fig. 7 shows the average number of Great Grey Shrikes present in Britain in each week during the period 1986-92. There is no hard evidence that there are ever more than about 15 Great Grey Shrikes in Britain at any one time. We would assume, however, that this indicates how difficult the species is to record. More realistically, we would suggest the following figures: Migrants An average of about 40 individuals recorded in autumn and 15 in spring. 484 Fraser & Ryan: Great Grey Shrikes in Britain and Ireland 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 JFMAMJJASOND Fig. 7. Mean number of Great Grey Shrikes Lanins exciibitor present in Britain each week, 1986-92. Winter visitors Around 35 individuals regularly hold territories each winter. In addition, an average total of 40 shrikes is recorded for short periods of time at various locations. The exact status of the latter individuals is impossible to determine. In Scotland, it seems likely that the species is under-recorded, while in England and Wales some duplication may occur if shrikes are roving over large distances during the winter. Currently, a figure of 75 seems to be an upper maximum for the number of Great Grey Shrikes recorded in winter. Acknowledgments We should like to express our gratitude to the network of observers, county bird recorders, report editors and bird clubs whose records made this paper possible. We should especially like to thank David A. Christie for his invaluable comments and his input to the drafts of this paper. Summary A total of 890 accepted records of Great Grey Shrikes Lanius excubilor in Britain and Ireland was published in the county, regional and national bird reports for the years 1986-92. Analysis shows that, on average, about 52 were reported on autumn passage, mostly on the East Coast, about 63 overwintered, mostly in southern and eastern England, of which some 37 occupied territories and about 26 wandered more widely, and about 13 were reported on spring passage, mostly on the East Coast. In the Northern Isles, passage reached its peaks in late October and mid April. Taking account of duplication (especially in eastern England) and under-recording (especially in Scotland), it is conjectured that about 40 migrants usually occur in autumn and about 15 in spring, and that a maximum of about 75 individuals overwinters, 35 in large but static territories and about 40 more mobile and roving (or elusive) individuals. References Bannerman, D. a. 1953. The Birds of the British Isles. Edinburgh & London. British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU). 1971. The Status of Birds in Britain and Ireland. Oxford. Clark,). M., & Eyre, J. A. (eds.) 1993. Birds of Hampshire. Hampshire Om. Soc. Cramp, S., & Perrins, C. M. (eds.) 1993. The Birds of the Western Palearciic. vol. 7. Oxford. Hutchinson, C. 1989. Birds in Ireland. Calton. Lack, P. 1986. The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton. Thom, V. 1986. Birds in Scotland. Calton. Peter A. Fraser, 1 2 Redland Court Road, Bristol BS6 7EQ Dr John F. Ryan, Lynwood, Landeryon Gardens, Penzartce, Cornwall TRI8 4JN NOTES White Stork taking domestic ducklings In 1992, in the village of Byshkiv in the Lviv region of Ukraine, I noted a White Stork Ciconia ciconia regularly taking domestic ducklings. While the ducklings, which were two or three weeks old, were swinarning on the water, the stork moved sharply towards them and caught the nearest one in its bill. The stork then flew 50-70 m with the prey, landed, and killed it; sometimes the duckling was eaten immediately, but more frequently it was carried to the stork’s nest 500 m away. Taras V. Bashta Lviv 290000, Chaykovskij 17, Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians, Ukraine EDITORIAL COMMENT BWP (vol. 1) does include domestic duck under ‘odd items’ taken by White Storks. Common Kestrel robbing female Eurasian Sparrowhawk On 3rd November 1992, in a meadow near Halfweg, a village west of Amsterdam, Netherlands, I saw a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus catch a Common Starling Stumus vulgaris on the ground. The latter uttered loud distress calls while the Sparrowhawk sat on it. Suddenly, a Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus appeared, uttering an aggressive cry. A brief quarrel ensued on the ground. The Kestrel, probably a female (events happened too rapidly to be certain), grabbed the Starling, still alive, from the hawk’s talons and flew off with it. Mostly during the last 25 or so years, several notes have been published in British Birds on Common Kestrels robbing other avian predators. The victims of these robberies were: Short-eared O'wXAsio flammeus (64: 317; 66: 228; 67: 474- 475; 85: 188); Bam Owl Tyto alba (61: 264; 72: 337); Little Osn\ Athene noctua (40: 216); Merlin F. columbarius (72: 336-337); and Eurasian Sparrowhawk, a male robbed of its small-mammal prey in flight (70: 35-36). My observation shows that a Kestrel was able to rob a much larger female Sparrowhawk without much difficulty. Joh. J. Frieswijk Gerard Terborgstraat 51 III, 1071 TL Amsterdam, The Netherlands 1 EDITORIAL COMMENT The importance of food-robbery by other raptors in the . evolution of the eating behaviour of Eurasian Sparrowhawks is discussed in The Sparrowhawk (Ian Netvton, 1986, pp. 107-110). [Brit. Birds 88: 485-487, October 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 485 486 Notes Migrant House Martins roosting on buildings During 29th September to 5th October 1 992, while my wife and I were staying at Galas de Mallorca, Spain, we observed the following. About 20 minutes before dark each evening, up to 2,000 House Martins Delichon urbica and a handful of Sand Martins Riparia riparia would congregate over the purpose- built resort and fly around in circles, calling loudly. During adverse weather. House Martins roosted on the roofs of the hotel buildings and on the lit sign of the Hotel America. On the night of 3rd October, I went around the four hotels; there were House Martins around each, and one which had closed for the season had many perched on the verandahs. I watched until it became too dark to see them, and assumed that they roosted for the night. The following evening, when there was a high wind and claps of thunder, an employee at the Hotel America allowed me (unofficially) to go up to the roof, where I found many House Martins perched on pipe work on the rooftop buildings. When asked if the birds were there often, the hotel employee replied that they were ‘Here all the time’. George A. Miles Cerrig Cregin, Bryngwran, Holyhead, Gwynedd LL65 3RF Common Redstart healthy despite deformed bill On 19th October 1991, in Jerusalem, Israel, we trapped a young male Common Redstart Phoenicunis phoenicums which had a smashed bill. Its upper culmen was not visible, while its lower culmen was curved downwards at 90°, parallel with its body (plate 144). It was clear that this was not a recent deformity. Since Common Redstarts do not breed in Israel, this individual must have been about five months old and must have migrated a few thousand kilometres. It had no fat, but its weight was normal and it flew perfectly. Yoav Perlman and A. Gancz Pinchas Rozen 7, Rarnal Sharet, Jerusalem 96925, Israel Plate 144. Common Redstart Phoaiiamis phoenicums with damaged bill, Israel, October 1991 (Y. Perlman) British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 487 Blackbirds roosting in old nests of Magpies Over the four winters 1987/88-1990/91, during a study of roosting Magpies Pica pica in the suburbs of Arhus, eastern Jutiand, Denmark (Heniiksen 1992), a total of 83 Magpie nests was monitored after dark. No Magpies used the nests for roosting, but, in 15 out of 44 watches at ten nests, single roosting Blackbirds Turdus menila were found, all during the period from 9th November to 6th February. The ten nests were 3-6 m above the ground in hedges and scrub on waste ground: eight in Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and one each in Downy Birch Betula pubescens and Goat Willow Salix caprea. AH nests were roofed, and the Blackbirds always roosted inside them. Usually it was too dark to sex the individuals, but a male was involved at one nest used on five out of nine nightly watches. Neither Cramp (1988) nor Glutz & Bauer (1988) referred to this behaviour. It appears, however, that Blackbirds will use almost any thick cover for roosting (e.g. Snow 1958; Simms 1978; Stephan 1985), so why not occasionally the roofed stick nests of Magpies, too? Keld Henriksen Kcervej 1 7, DK-8230 Abyhoj, Denmark References Cramp, S. (ed.) 1988. The Birds of the Western Pakarctic. vol. 5. Oxford. Glutz von Blotzheim, U. N., & Bauer, K. M. 1988. Handbuch der Vogel Mittekuropas. vol. 11. Wiesbaden. Henriksen, K. 1992. Faelles ovematning hos Husskade Pica pica i bymaessig bebyggelse. Dansk Om. Foren. Tidsskr. 86: 253-256. Simms, E. 1978. British Thrushes. London. Snow, D. W. 1958. A Study of Blackbirds. London. Stephan, B. 1985. Dk Amsel. Wittenberg Lutherstadt. Willow Warbler with ant’s head attached to tarsus On the morning of 23rd May 1991, following a fall of warblers on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man, I extracted from the mismets a Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus which appeared to have a papilloma some 3 mm in diameter on its left tibio-metatarsal joint. Closer examination revealed the lump to be the head of a large ant with its mandibles firmly clamped to the warbler’s tarsus. The warbler’s foot appeared swollen and lifeless, but, when inspected at the observatory, the swelling proved to be an accumulation of spongy necrotic tissue on the sole of the foot. Considerable force was required to prise apart the ant’s jaws: the right mandible had penetrated deep into the tarsus, and on its removal the wound bled freely, although it showed no sign of sepsis. After the leg had been cleaned with a mild antiseptic, the warbler appeared bright and demonstrated a weak grip in its left foot. It was in remarkably good condition and weighed 9.4 g, compared with a mean of 8.2 g (range 6. 9-9.5 g) for 20 Willow Warblers caught earlier that morning. The ant’s head was identified by the Department of Entomology at the Natural History Museum, London, as that of a worker Dorylus nigricans, a driver-ant from West and Central Africa. N. V. McCanch and M. McCanch 23 New Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT4 7BT NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Bob Scott and Wendy Dickson Opinions expressed in tdiis feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Where are the new RDBs? It was in 1990 that the (then) Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) and the RSPB published Red Data Birds in Britain^ identifying 117 species in need of ‘our care and attention’. Knowledge relating to the status of some of these species was inevitably sketchy and the authors stressed the need to continue monitoring so as to review the simation in coming years. Several new publications since 1990 have presented the results of further monitoring, most notably two from BirdLife International in 1 994, Birds in Europe: their conservation status and Birds to Watch 2, the World list of threatened birds. It was at the April 1994 British Ornithologists’ Union conference, on ‘Bird Conservation; the science and the action’, that Dr Mark Avery presented a paper: ‘Revising the British Red Data List for birds’. We still seem to be waiting for the production of this revised list. It is a well-acknowledged fact that, since the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (lUCN) started preparing international red data books, they have become a cornerstone for the work programmes of conservation organisations worldwide. Agreement first time around seems to have been relatively straightforward; close working co-operation between the voluntary and statutory conser\ution organisations in the late 1980s resulted in the 1990 publication. The splitting of the NCC into national agencies seems to have resulted in some difficulties. We hear stories suggesting that, north of Hadrian’s Wall, progress towards finally agreeing the list is advancing at a snail’s pace. We all know that it is not possible totally to disentangle conservation from politics, but, surely, if a species clearly fits within one of the agreed criteria, then it should be on the list? The message to all those working on the new list is ‘Must get on with it!’: produce it, and those who need it for their work can progress with some conservation actions. Pica and Poyser support BTY The Editorial Board is delighted to announce that the publishers Pica Press and T. & A. D. Poyser will be co-sponsoring ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ for at least the next three years, 1996-98. The winner, second and third will each be able to choose a total of 15 books from the Pica Press, T. & A. D. Poyser and Academic Press lists. A big ‘Thank you!’ to Pica Press and T. & A. D. Poyser, and to Christopher Helm and Dr Andrew Richford who were instrumental in arranging this support for the BIY competition. Christopher and Andy tell us that they are both ‘Absolutely delighted’ with the new arrangements. 488 [Bril. Birds 88: 488-492, October 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 British Birds, vol, 88, no. 10, October 1995 489 New reserve in East Anglia A new site, recently acquired by the RSPB, has exciting management potential. An area of the fens near Lakenheath, Suffolk, is to be converted from arable farmland into a wetland with a large component of reedbed habitat. With only 20 booming Great Bitterns Botaums stellaris in Britain in 1995, any potential new nesting site is to be welcomed. Acquiring such a reserve is one thing, but we wonder how many reserve visitors know just how expensive it is to set up and manage (for ever!) a significant wetland namre reserve. It is often possible to find people who will pay for the purchase of a reserve or people to pay for the purchase of a tractor. The difficulty comes with finding money for the diesel fuel to put in the tractor or for the pay for the tractor-driver. Is this why the RSPB is now the only UK- wide conservation organisation to be acquiring and managing large-scale namre reserves? Even the RSPB, however, cannot continue to maintain expensive new reserves without extensive new funds. Garden Bird Feeding Survey is 25 years of age The ‘new’ BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch has achieved a remarkable response from BTO members and the general public, with literally thousands of garden birders expressing an interest in the project. As a research project, however, it is not entirely new, as its predecessor, the Garden Bird Feeding Survey, is now 25 years old. Based on (what is now a very small sample!) 247 plots, the winter of 1994/95 saw the Song Thrush Turdus philomelos slip to 13th place, having been ousted by the Magpie Pica pica, now firmly in at number 12. In addition to showing declining flock size for House Sparrows Passer domesticus, the 1994/95 winter provided further evidence of increases in Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla and Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, together with nationwide examples of Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus and Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis feeding from nuts and seeds in hanging baskets. (Word has reached the N & c desk of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker D. minor behaving in a similar manner.) Further information on the current BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch may be obtained from Tracey Brookes, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. Feeding garden birds in summer With a growing interest in garden-bird feeding and smdy, it is worth noting that several organisations have recently advocated summer feeding as advantageous, or at least not detrimental to garden birds. Recent issues of the BTO’s news sheet The Bird Table have debated the subject. A letter from Shelley Hinsley in The New Scientist (1st July 1995) indicated the death of nestling tits Parus from whole peanuts being fed in the breeding season. Is it not a little too hopeful to expect the general public to know just what can and cannot be fed during the summer months? A safer message could be: Do not feed birds during the breeding season. No doubt the debate will continue. English names It cannot seriously be argued against that, in an ideal world, having a single English name I for wildlife taxa, be it birds, mammals or j plants, would be a wonderful thing. The , debate, as we are all too aware, hovers around what is the acceptable English name. We have just been looking through the long- awaited updated list of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) species under , European Commission regulation no. 558/95. If you think EngHsh names are a mess in the bird world, think again. It is bad enough trj'ing to decide if Pipile jacutinga should be called Black-fronted Piping-Guan, Black-faced Piping Guan, Black-faced Curassow or Jacutinga, without worrying if Saguinus oedipus should be called Cotton-headed Tamarin, Cotton-top Marmoset, Pinche Marmoset, Liszt Monkey, Cotton-top Tamarin, Geoffrey’s Tamarin or Rufous-naped Tamarin. Thank heavens for scientific names! 490 News and comment Map projections At the ‘N & c’ desk, we have always taken it for granted that you open a bird book and there is a map showing breeding distribution, migration route or winter quarters. We have not really thought about it, and we suspect that most readers will, like us, have taken them for granted. We have heard of Mercator and his projection (a hangover from school days) and that is about it. The subject is explored in depth in the July issue of Birding World. The shapes of countries and continents may look a bit strange, but the arguments are strong for a cylindrical equal-area projection for distribution maps and an azimuthal equidistant projection for migration maps. It will be interesting to see how many publications take up the recommendations. Lottery money for conservation Ov'er the"" years, three conservation organisations, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, the Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust and the RSPB, have owned and managed land on the Ouse Washes, Norfolk/Cambridgeshire. News has just been released by the RSPB that it has recently managed to purchase a significant area of land to reinforce one of the key ‘sanctuary'’ areas within the site. Support for the purchase (over £250,000) has come from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (from the national lottery). Concern had been expressed that lottery’ money would not be available for conser\'ation. Let us hope that this is an indication of future sums being made available to safeguard land. Britain awaits massive duck invasion We have been browsing through a highly readable North American magazine. Bird Watcher’s Digest for July/August 1995, and came across the following snippet, which should get us out scouring the beaches: ‘Britain is bracing for a massive invasion of ducks. Little, yellow, plastic ducks. In January of 1992 twelve containers of the children’s bath toys washed off a cargo ship in the north Pacific Ocean, and they have been paddling (well, floating, actually) toward Britain ever since. They are expected to start arriving in 1997. A few have already been beached in coastal Alaska, but the bulk are expected to follow a route through the Arctic, moved by ocean currents and drifting pack ice. Scientists are monitoring the movement as a way of fine tuning models of ocean currents and ice movement. Those models are used in assessing weather, pollution and fishing forecasts.’ Italians and the Slender-billed Curlew As we reported earlier {Brit. Birds 88: 444), a flock of approximately 20 Slender-billed Curlews Niimenius tenuirostris was discovered wintering in southern Italy. Birders who had made the pilgrimage to Morocco in the hope of seeing the (perhaps) single bird must have been relieved that there were more. Now we can expand on the good news. The birds were present for much of the first three months of 1995, on a wetland site in Apulia, the observations having been made and co-ordinated by INFS (Instituto Nazionale Fauna Selvatica). The site had previously been identified as an IBA (Important Bird Area) by BirdLife International, and, under a scheme to gain support, LIPU (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli), the Italian BirdLife paitner, has produced an information leaflet about the IBA programme 'in Italy and its implementation. Further details are available from LIPU, Vicolo San Tiburzio 5 A, 43100 Parma, Italy. Not good news from Bulgaria Recent news from Bulgaria suggests that the government is intending to amend the Environmental Conservation Act to avoid having to undertake an environmental assessment prior to certain development projects. High on the list are plans for a nuclear-power plant on Belene Island, an Important Bird Area in the Danube river, and a scheme to transfer water to pro\ide a supply for public use in Sofia. The latter will have a serious impact on the Rila National Park, as well as IB As in Greece. It will involve a transfer of water between two catchment areas, those of the Struma and Iskar rivers. An important wintering area for the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Limni Kerkini, and the Stry’monas Delta could both be affected. The Bulgarian Society' for the Protection of Birds (2 Gagarin Street, BG-1 1 13, Sofia) and the Hellenic Ornithological Society (PO Box 64052, GR- 15701, Zographos) have joined forces to register complaints with the appropriate national authorities. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 10, October 1995 491 Discovery of Mascarene Shearwater Hadoram Shirihai, Ian Sinclair and Peter R. Colston report on the discovery of a new species of shearwater, closely related to Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis and Audubon’s Shearwater P. IhetTninieri, which they have named Mascarene Shearwater P. atrodorsalis {Bull. BOC 115: 75-87). The first was found alive at Durban, South Africa, in January 1987, but subsequent records include one in the Western Palearctic, at Eilat, Israel, during 18th-21st June 1992, and the species is apparently locally abundant in the western Indian Ocean. Another look at Hastings The excellent Dorset Bird Club Newsletter devotes two full pages of its summer 1995 issue to a discussion of the ‘Hastings rarities’, debunked amidst great publicity in the August 1962 issue of British Birds (55; 281-384). The author, Mick Shepherd, concludes ‘What a pity there was not a flourishing tabloid press in the 1930s — their cheque book journalism would surely have loosened tongues and unravelled the whole story.’ DBG Membership Secretary is Eileen Bowman, 53 Lonnen Road, Colehill, Wimborne, Dorset BH2i 7 AT. Birding ethics We have probably aU seen the discussions in the ornithological journals and magazines: How far can birders go in their desire to see new birds?, and How much disturbance is or is not justified? Your reporter must own up to going (perhaps) a little ‘over the top’ to get a decent view of a Little Crake Porzana pawa in Bulgaria this spring, and felt distinctly guilty afterwards, even though it is doubtful if any harm was done. Recently, however, the debate has become more scientific. How far are research workers allowed to go in carrying out their work? Are there any circumstances when experimentation that win lead to death is allowable? We recently attended an interesting discussion where highly respected and knowledgeable ornithologists argued strongly that the collecting of specimens for museums should now be outlawed, but the same 1 individuals would be prepared to allow large I numbers of birds to be taken into captivity if . undertaken in a sustainable manner. Ethics is a very personal thing and we all have our own standards, standards that must at least take some note of the beliefs and concerns of others. This topic received serious attention at the International Ornithological Congress in Vienna in August 1994 {Brit. Birds 88: 122), but needs constantly to be kept in mind. New nightjar Legs in a stewpot {Brit. Birds 87: 239, 346) and now a wing in a wheel-track. The latest report on a bird species new to science concerns the Nechisar Nightjar Caprimulgus solala, described, from a decomposing roadside corpse found in southern Ethiopia in September 1990, by R. J. Safford, J. S. Ash, J. W. Duckworth, M. G. Telfer and C. Zewdie {Ibis 137: 301-307). The Wirral, Montgomery, the World The latest issue of the popular monthly Bird Watching features guides to The Wirral and to birding in Montgomeryshire, and has a special preview of the World Bird Watch on 14th- 15 th October. If any BB reader has difficulty’ in getting a copy from the local news-stand or newsagent, ring Dave Cromack or Chris Jones on 01733-264666. George Dunnet We are very sad to have to report the death in mid September of Professor G. M. Dunnet, first Chairman of The Seabird Group and widely known for his studies of the Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis. Always busy, but ever-helpful with a cheeiy' smile, George leaves his friends and former students with many fond memories. A full obituary wUl be published in British Birds in due course. Access to Orford Ness Since the National Trust acquired the site, Orford Ness, Suffolk, has not been open to formal visiting. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, until the end of October 1995, it will be possible to visit ‘The Ness’ by feny’, leaving Orford Quay at 30-minute intervals from 10.00 hrs to 13.30. There will be a maximum number of 96 visitors per day. Ferries, which cost £3> for NT members, £5 for non-members, should be pre-booked by writing in advance to Orford Ness Ferry, Walnut Tree Cottage, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 2NF. 492 News and comment Professor Ian Newton Belated congratulations to Dr Ian Newton FRS, who was given the title Visiting Professor in Omitholog}' by the University of Oxford in July last year. ‘The Wildlife Photographer’ We apologise for gi\’ing the wrong telephone number in the August issue {Brit. Birds 88: 390); it should be 01527-852357. Change of Recorder’s address Jeffer>' J. Wheadey, County Recorder for Surrey, has moved to 9 Copse Edge, Elstead, Godaiming, Surrey GU8 6DJ. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Allen — Northern Ireland Tim Cleeves — Northeast David Clugston — Scotland Dave Flumm — Southwest Barrie Harding — East Anglia Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Don Taylor — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales John Wilson — Northwest RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 14th August to 17th September 1995. These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records. Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), 10th September. Madeira/Cape Verde/Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma madeiraJfeaeJ mollis Bridges of Ross (Co. Clare), 25th August; Kerry Head and Brandon Head (Co. Kerr>’), both on 26th August (possibly just one rather than three individuals) . Little Shearwater Pnffinns assirnilis Bridges of Ross, 25th August. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus Bridges of Ross, 25th August; Malin Head (Co. Donegal), 27th August. Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Influx of up to 50 from early August onwards. Great Snipe Gallinago media Sandwell Valley (West Midlands), 22nd-23rd August; Fair Isle (Shetland), 31st August to 1st September, 8th September and 1 7th September. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macitkiria Juvenile, Lowry’s Lake (Co. Armagh), 5th-16th September (first for Northern Ireland). Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendroeopos mediiis St Margaret’s Bay (Kent), 19th August (potential first for Britain and Ireland). Pechora Pipit Anthns gustavi Fair Isle, 1 3th- 17th September. Citrine Wagtail Motadlla citreola Fair Isle 17th- 18th August, 6th September; St Martin’s (Scilly), 26th August; Tresco (Scilly), 27th- 28th August, same or another 12th- 15th September; Kelling Quaggs (Norfolk), 17th September. Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis Kilbaha, Loop Head (Co. Clare), 14th-16th September. Lanceolated Warbler Locnstella laneeolata Cutts (Shetland), 10th September. River Warbler Locnstella fluznatilis Ix'rw’ick (Shetland), 14th September; North Ronaldsay (Orkney), 15 th September; Sumburgh (Shetland), 17th September. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata Sumburgh, 7th- 10th September. Greenish Warbler Phylbscopns trochiloides About 21, mainly on east coast of England. Isabelline Shrike Ixtnins uabcllinns Deerncss (Orkney), 10th- 16th September. Red-eyed Vireo I olivaceous Cape Clear Island, 14th- 17th September. Rare Bird News supplies all its inl'ormation tree to ‘British Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (2.Sp/niin cheap rale; .t9p'min olhcr times; incl. VA'H British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers The books included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. We aim to provide the best, most reliable and friendliest service possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd. AH correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Cl\vyd chv 4LN. Books All listed books are POST FREE SPECIAL OFFERS Please tick / British Birds/IBCE International Bird Identification EXCLUSIVE REDUCED PRICE (usually £10.50) Paperback £9.50 □ Clarke The Marsh Harrier (Hamlyn) exclusive reduced price (usually £12.99) Paperback £10.99 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic (OUP) BOXED SET vols 1-9 (normal price £775, save £125) £650.00 □ Hurford & Lansdown Birds of Glamorgan EXCLUSIVE REDUCED PRICE (usually £25.00) £24.00 □ Ogil\tie & Winter Best Days luith British Birds (British Birds) exclusive reduced price (usually £14.95). £12.95 □ Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds vol. 2. raptors to lapwings (OUP) exclusive reduced price, (usually £150) £125.00 □ Ridgely & Tudor The Birds of South America (OUP) vols. 1 & 2 exclusive 2-vol price (usual price £115) £105.00 □ NEW THIS MONTH Britton & Day Where to Watch Birds in North-East England (Hehn) Paperback £12.99 □ Brockie Keith Brockie: drawn from nature (Arlequin) £45.00 □ Doherty The Raptors of Britain & Europe Video Guides (Bird Images) (add £2.00 p&p) £16.95 □ Moss Birds and Weather: a birdwatcher's guide (Hamlyn) Paperback £16.99 □ Roselaar Songbirds of Turkey: an atlas of biodiversity of Turkish passerine birds (Pica Press) Paperback £24.00 □ van Perlo Collins Illustrated Checklist — Birds of East Africa (HarperCollins) £14.99 □ Wheatley Where to Find Birds in Africa (Helm) £14.99 □ COMING SOON _ ORDER NOW Byers, Olsson & Curson Buntings and (North American) Sparrows (Pica Press) due November £28.00 □ Harrap & Quinn Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers (Helm) DUE JANUARY 1996 £21.99 □ HoUoway The Historical Atlas of Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1875-1900 (Poyser) DUE November £25.00 □ Shirihai The Birds of Israel (Academic Press) due November approx. £80.00 □ recommended books Adolfsson & Cherrug Bird Identification: a reference guide (SKF) £24.50 □ AJstrom, Colston & Lewington A Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe (HarperCollins). ...£14.99 □ Andrews The Birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Andrews) Paperback £18.50 □ Britain’s Birds (BTO & JNCC) 1991-92 £9.95 □ 1990-91 + 1991-92 £1 1.95 □ 1989-90+1990-91 £11.95 □ All three £13.95 □ British Birds The ‘British Birds’ last of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds £1.00 □ Burton Birds and Climate Change (Helm) £24.95 □ Campbell & Lack A Dictionary of Birds (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1985 £49.95 □ Chantler & Driessens Swifts: a guide to the swifts and tree swifts of the world (Pica Press) £26.00 □ Clement, Harris & Davis Finches and Sparrows: an identification guide (Helm) £29.99 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic (OUP) vols. 1-7 & 9 all £85 each; vol. 8 £95 Curson, Quinn & Beadle New World Warblers: an identification guide (Helm) £24.99 □ del Hoyo, Elliot & Sargatal Handbook of the Birds of the World vo\. 1 (Lynx) Best Bird Book of 1993 £95.00 □ vol. 2. New World vultures to guineafowl (Lynx) £98.00 □ Fry, Fry & Harris Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers: (Helm) Best Bird Book of 1992 £27.99 Cd Gibbons, et al. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1994 £40.00 □ Harris, Tucker & Vinicombe The Macmillan Field Guide to Bird Identification (Macmillan) Paperback £7.99 □ Harrison Seabirds: an identification guide (Helm) Best Bird Book OF 1983 £24.99 □ Hayman, Marchant & Prater Shorebirds (Helm) Best Bird Book OE 1986 £24.99 □ Heinzel, Fitter & Parslow Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East NEW edition (HarperCollins) Paperback £9.99 □ Jonsson Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East (Helm) voted best field guide in 1995 £25.00 □ Keith, Urban &c Fry The Birds of Africa (Academic) vol. 1 £85.00 □ 2 £85.00 □ 3 £85.00 □ 4 £85.00 □ Lack The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1987 £21.95 □ Lekagul, Round, Wongkalasin & Komolphalin A Guide to the Birds of Thailand (Saha Kam Bhaet) £39.50 □ Madge & Bum Wildfowl: an identification guide (Helm) Best Bird Book of 1988 £24.99 □ Please use the British BirdShop form overleaf to complete your order. xiii British BirdShop (continued) Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers RECOiVLVlENDED BOOKS (cont.) Please lick / Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, Nezu Zealand and Antarctic Birds (OUP) vot I £125.00 □ National Geographic A Field Guide to the Birds of North America Best Biro Bt)OK of 1984 £14.95 □ Oddie Bill Oddie’s Little Black Bird Book (Robson) Paperback £6.99 □ Olsen & Larsson Terns of Europe and North America (Christopher Helm) £24.99 □ Peterson, Mountfbrt & Hollom A Field Guide to dw Birds of Britain and Europe 5th edn (HarperCollins) £14.99 D Price, Droege & Price The Summer Atlas of North American Birds (Academic) £29.95 □ Ridgcly & Tudor The Birds of South America (OUP) (4 vols.) vol. 1 £55.00 □ vol. 2 □ £60.00 □ Rosair & Cottridge Hamlyn Photographic Guide to the Waders of the World (Hamlyn) £24.99 D Turner & Rose A Handbook to the Sioalbzvs and Martins of the W'orld (Helm) Best Biro Book of 1990 £22.99 □ Winkler & Christie Woodpeckers: a guide to the ivoodpeckers, piculcts and tciy necks of the zvorld (Pica Press) BFiT BIRIt BOOK OF 1995 £30.00 □ OTHIiR TITLES All the above titles are POST FREE. Any other natural history books in print may be ordered from Subbutco. Please refer to the Subbutco catalogue for details of current prices and postage rates. Free copy on request: tick this box □ Binders Please tick / Tlw British Birds Binder (holds 12 issues & index) wirex retaining £7.95 □ cordex retaining £7.95 □ Recordings & videos Please add £2.00 p&p per order Please tick / Butler Videoguide to dw World's sandpipers (Nature Vision) Calidris £17.50 □ Tringa £17.50 □ Doherty The Birds of Britain & Europe \ ’ideo Guides (Bird Images) vol. 1 divers to dabbling ducks □ ; vol. 2 diving ducks to bustards □ ; vol. 3 waders to gulls □ ; vol. 4 terns to woodpeckers □ £16.95 each; or set of four £59.95 □ Gosne\’ The I 'ideo Guide to British Birds 4th edn. (Red, Green & Blue Co.) vol. 1 divers to ducks Ck \-ol. 2 birds of prey to phalaropcs □; vol. 3 skuas to woodpeckers □; vol. 4 larks to llycatchcrs □; vol. 5 tits to buntings □ £15.95 each; or set of five £59.45 □ Kettle British Bird Sounds (1 cassette) £6.95 □ Kettle & Ranft British Bird Sounds on CD (2 CDs) £29.00 □ Roche All the Bird Songs of Britain and Europe (Sittellc) (4 cassettes) £29.95 □ (4 CDs) £49.95 □ PRICES VALID DURING OCTOBER 1995 for all spcdal offers (and for overseas customers only, | also during the following month). Other prices quoted arc subject to any publishers’ increases. Overseas insurance optional, but f recommended if available {please enquire). ^ Afcike all cheques and POs payable to .Suhbuteo SHB Ud. Payment can be made in US$ at current exchange rate. All orders are nomially t despatched promptly from stock, but please allow up to 21 days for delivery in UK, longer if abroad. Giro ac no. 37 588 6303. To qualify for POS T FREE please quote your HH ref. no. Name Address jqj, I I I I I I I I I I Total £, Cheque PO enclosed □ Giro payment made □ Any item ordered through British BirdShop which fails to meet your approval can be returned to Subbutco and your money will be refunded without question. You can also pay using If your address for credit card purposes is different from that above, give it here tlicsc credit cards: Please debit my Acccss/Visa/MastcrCard'Eurocard Fxpiry date Signature You can phone in your credit card orders, but please quote vour BB ref no. as well as vour credit card no. TEI.. Mold (01352) 770581. FAX. (01352) 771590 ( Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbutco Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwy'd CM? 4i.N XIV ■■■ ^^BIRDS in Bahrain a study of their migration patterns 1990-1992 MIGRATION DETAILS DRAWINGS, TABLES, GRAPHS, MAP SITE DESCRIPTIONS, CHECKLIST BIRDS in Bahrain a study of their migration patterns 1990-92 by Erik Hirschfeld ISBN 1-872839-03-7 sftbk, 22 x 15cm 124pp send £8.00 (incl. p&p) to Colin Richardson, RO, Box 50394 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (D500) treat birding! sSMer Great value! :ILAT from £490 Hfith Killian MuUarney 9} Oct-5 Nov ItHARATPUR from £1350 iHith Paul Holt ■t13 January IIILAT from £540 #f/j Killian MuUarney & Steve Rooke Vi-17/24 March 003 Details from Sunbird, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 IDF. Tel 0767 682969 (Please specify which event you are interested in). Sunbird is a Irnding name of Conderbury Limited. Our own Conservation Area makes us unique. A pool and woodland adjacent to the showroom attract numerous birds, enabling our visitors to test equipment in field conditions. The experts Professionals recommend! LEADING SPECIALISTS IN HIGH QUALITY BINOCULARS nd TELESCOPES Select from the world's finest optical instruments: ZEISS-LEICA-HABICHT-NIKON-OPTOLYTH-KOWA BAUSCH & LOMB-BUSHNELL-PENTAX-QUESTAR BRESSER-MIRADOR-OPTICRON-DOCTER-SWIFT Wide range fujinon-fumoto-praktica-ross Top quality Tripods: SLIK-MANFROTTO-CULLMANN We carry one of the most extensive ranges of Binoculars and Telescopes in the country, plus a wide range of accessories. We also stock Billingham Equipment Bags and a large selection of BOOKS, VIDEOS and AUDIO CASSETTES by leading publishers. Worldwide coverage ! Visit our BIRp OPEN Monday to Saturday 9 am until 5pm INTEREST FREE CREDIT available on sales of £600 plus (APR 0%) subject to status UNHURRIED TESTING AND VIEWING FACILITIES allowing time to choose and discuss options. WRITE OR PHONE NOW for easy directions, latest prices and mail orders. FOCUS OPTICS Church Lane, Corley, Coventry CV7 8BA Tel:01 676-540501 & 542476 Fax:01676-540930 BIRDS IN BELIZE TAMANDUA JUNGLE EXPERIENCE An integrated development of Organic Fruit Farm, Wildlife Sanctuary and Tourist Accommodation on 170 acres in the beautiful foothills of the Maya Mountains, Belize. A wonderland for botanists, biologists and naturalists. An exciting stop for ecology conscious individualists and adventurers. A veritable paradise for bird watchers. Please contact: Janet and Bernard Dempsey Tamandua, P.O. Box 306, Belmopan, Belize, Central America (046.6) XV ILLUSTRATION: RAY SMITH Overhead cables underground ^ , Theme park pla^ prevented defeated Green belt test case won against urban sprawl scheme Broad leaf woodlands protected Legal hedgerow protection brought closer Straw and stubble burning banned Water conservation case, to remedy drying rivers, officially accepted Neiv grants for environmentally sensitive farming Proposed motorway Advertising hoardings diverted along stopped less harmful route Can you see what CPRE has achieved? The countryside protectors' monument is often what is not there. Please join us to protect the countryside. Reg.Charity No. 233179 — X YES, I would like to join CPRE. iencwse □ £12 (individual) □ £16 (joint) □ £350 (life) And/or □£ (donation) I am paying the total of £ by □ Cheque/PO (payable to CPRE) □ Access/Visa No. Expiry date Cardholder's signature PLEASE PRINT Name(s) Address Postcode PLEASE POST TO COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND (CPRE) FREEPOST, GOLDTHORPE, ROTHERHAM S63 9BR XVI 906 TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 British Birds Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be prepaid and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Telephone 01767-640467 Fax 01767-640025 Rates excluding VAT £2.15 a line — average of 8 words. £9.00 a centimetre — minimum 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words and is £2.00 extra per insertion Replies should be sent to the above address Series Discounts 3 for the price of 2 6 for the price of 4 1 2 for the price of 8 Copy date November issue October 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION SCOTLAND THE HOTEL. Isle of Colon, say. Argyll PA61 7YP. Denii- pension (private bath) from £55.00. Details, brochure, map (birdlist on request). Tel: 01951 200316. (BB874) WALES NEAR DEVILS BRIDGE. Guest house in glorious unspoiled surroundings. Log fires, en-suite. superb candlelit dinners. Kite all around, clo.se bird reserves. Open all year, winter/autumn breaks. Brochure tel: 01974 282289. (BB876) ENGLAND CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bedrooms, large gaaarden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 0171- 431 2942. (BB720) ISLES OF SCILLY. Trelawney Guest House, St Mary’s TR21 OJT. Bookings now being taken for B&B. 1995 Season. Tel/Fax: 01720 422377 for brochure. (BB789) N. NOREOLK, NR CLEY. Charming 2 bedroom flint cottage in Holt. Tastefully furnished, well equipped, GCH, spacious garden. Tel. 01788 815380. (BB838) OVERSEAS Alderney Channel Islands GY9 3TJ Neal & Co Alderney is a small island 3.5 by 1.5 miles and is ideal for Bird Watchers. We offer a choice of self-catering cottages, houses or flats including a Penthouse flat in a Victorian Fort. A full brochure is available or just call for the current vacancies. Tel: 01481 823332 Fax: 01481 823821 The Alderney Accommodation Agency (BB750) VENEZUELA - two superb neotropical birdwatching tours for early 1996, at realistic prices. Also tailor-made trips. Geodys.sey 0171-281 7788, (BB879) NORTH MALLORCA family house, peaceful Old Pollensa. Mountain views, near beaches and wildlife sites. Brochure 01628 22342. (BB736) PROVENCE, CAMARGUE. Farm cottage, apt., b&b. Rogers, Mas d’Auphan. Le Sambuc. 13200 ARLES. France. Tel: (0033) 90972041. fax 90972087. (BB80I) AUSTRALIA, CAIRNS, JULATTEN — Located in Australia’s premier birding region, central to 7 diverse habitats offering up to 400 species including the Golden Bower Bird. Bustard and Blue Faced Finch, our 12 acre rainforest setting hosts 8 endemic birds including the Les.ser Sooty Owl and is abundant with native fauna, notably the Red Necked Crake, Paradise Kingfisher and Platypus. We provide modern, spacious S/C suites and expert guiding is available. Write now for a free bird list to Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge. P.O. Box 3, Julatten 4871. Queensland. Australia, Tel: -s61 70 941263 Fax: +61 70 941466. (BB752) ALGARVE. Villa, quiet countryside, private reserve. 176 bird species recorded. Sleeps 4. Maid. Pool. Details: SCI, Rua Nobre Oliveira 13B. 8300 Silves, Portugal. Tel: 082443413. (A247) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS CLEY NATURE RESERVE 1 mile Small quest house offers you warm welcome. B&B opt. E/M CTV, tea/coffee, all ensuite. full C/H, Parking, singles, doubles, twins. Non-smokers only please. EAL FOR BIRDWATCHERS IDEAL FLINTSTONES. WIVETON, HOLT NOREOLK NR25 7TL 01263 740337 (BB880) JJ NORTH NORFOLK BIRD WATCHING AREA. Secluded 3 crown hotel. Beautiful grounds. Adjacent Bird of Prey Centre & Sanctuary. Good food. En-suite rooms. T.V.'s, tea/coffee facility. Tel. 01263 712235. (BB86I) CLEY. 3 quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6+2). Quiet, comfortable, excellent value. Brochure (01353) 740770. (BB872) ISLES OF SCILLY. Minc,arlo Guest Hou.se. St Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds overlooking the harbour. Write Colin Duncan or Tel: 01720 422513. (BB836) COSTA RICA “The Ultimate in Birding” RANCHO NATURALISTA or TARCOL LODGE ALL inclusive from $436/wk/ Apdo. 12071-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica. Ph/fax 506/267-7138 (BB701) ‘HIGH ISLAND’ UPPER TEXAS COAST U.S.A. Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8. Tours given. 'Birder's Haven. PO Box 309, High Island. Texas 77623. Tel. 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390. (BB863) XVII TO ADVERTISE FAX 01 767 640025 ‘SOUTHERN SPAIN’ Quality birding at Budget Prices. Flights, accommodation, escorted trips, access to best 'Hotspots' and some of Europes rarest species. Brochure from Calandra Holidays, 6 Church Road, Hauxton, Cambridge BG or call 01223-872107 BB834 NEW ZEALAND. Experience our unique plant and bird community in diverse and dramatic land.scapes. Our tours are customized to suit birders, photographers and naturalists. Information: Manu Tours. 106 Oceanbeach Road. Tairua 2853. New Zealand. Fh/Fax (64) (7) 864 7475. (BB826) dOSTA RICA EXPERIENCE THE BEST IN BIRDING! TAILOR-MADE TRIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS & GROUPS BROCHURES: BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA APARTADO 7911, lOOOB SAN JOSE (BB721) COSTARICA FAX: -i-(506) 228 1573 WESTERN PYRENEES. Resident English local guide for Western Pyrenees and Northern Spain (Flecho/Riglos area). Contact Richard Cruse. 106 Rue Navarrot. 64400 Oloran Ste Marie. France. Tel. (0033) 59-39-47-75. (BB873) HONG KONG - Superb birding Sept-May. Richard Lewthwaite. 2 Villa Paloma. Shuen Wan. Tai Po. Hong Kong. Tel: (+852) 2665 8506. Fax: (-r852) 2665 8190. (BB875) 4^ THAILAND Nature tours; Bird & Wildlife watchings with one of Thailand’s top experts. Contact: NATURE TRAILS Tel: 662-933 0745-6 Fax: 662-538 7824 bbb59 SRI LANKA - ORNITHOLOGISTS PARADISE - Home to 426 species 21 of which are endemic * Specialist guides provided for tours from individuals to groups - Best period November to March - Contact Delmege Forsyth Tours. 101. Vinayalankara Mawatha, Colombo 10. Sri Lanka. Telephone; 0094 1 693361 - 8. 699500 & 699984 Telex ; 21320 LEWIS CE. 21536 DFSHIP. 22766 DELAIR CE Fax : 0094 1 698139, 699413, 686149 (BB856) ISRAEL - EILAT & ARAVA VALLEY M AUTUMN MIGRATION -SEPT 20-DEC 20 {I SPRING MIGRATION - FEB 1 5 MAY 20 W * One two-week lour program intorporoling wide variety of hobitots with many exciting resident and migratory species, n ’ Superb raptor migration, seabirds, waders and songbirds in spectacular desert environment. * Optional cultural and historical guided trips to ancient desert locutions. * Full boord, room ond guiding inclusive at 2335 W.K. $536 dollurs. Further detoils; Jomes Smilb/Michael Livni, Kibbutz Lotan, Door No, Chevel Eilol, Israel 88855. Fox 00-972-7-356827. (bb830) DIVISION OF NICK S TFtAVEL 1(X) LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ EXPERTS IN LOW COST AIRFARES - WORLDWIDE. DISCOUNT CAR HIRE/INSURANCE TELE: (0116) 247 0600 V. ALWAYS RING US LAST (BB825) SHETL.AND — Let us show you Phalaropes. King Eider. Black-browed Albatross. Otters, Cetaceaus etc. Brochure from Shetland Wildlife Tours. Fairview. Scalness, Virkie. Shetland ZE3 9JW. (Tel. 01950 460254). (A246) BIRD REPORTS ORKNEY BIRD REPORT 1994. includes all North Ronaldsay and Stronsay records, now available from O.B.R.. Vishabreck. Evie, Orkney, KWI7 2PF. Price £4 including p and p. (B823) TEXAS. Comprehensive Spring Trip Report, includes itinerary, entertaining diary, detailed maps, systematic list etc, conveniently spiral bound. David Astins. Tel: 01437 764 503. (A225) GLOS BIRD REPORTS 1993. £3.50. Also available 1992 & 1991. £6.50. Set 3. £5.50 any two inc. p/p. Cheque to J, McLellan. 15 Charlton Road, Tebury. Glos. GL8 8DX. (A263) TEXAS TRIP REPORT UPDATE 1994. £4.95. Honeysuckle Cotlage, Les Caches. St Martins. Guernsey. Tel. 01481 35634. (A244) ^ British Birds is most grateful to those companies which support the journal by their sponsorship Sponsors of the Rarities Committee 0 Sponsors of Monthly marathon Canon Sponsors of Bird Photograph of the Year Pica Press & T. & A. D. Poyser Sponsors of Bird Illustrator of the Year xviii TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN SHETLAND — Detail of 72 top birding sites, checklist etc. £4 (inc. p&p). From Hugh Harrop, Fairview, Scatness, Virkie, Shetland ZE3 9JW. (A246) DERBYSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1993. 108 pages. Colour cover and plates. Articles £5.50 inc p&p. Also past reports. R. W. Key, 3 Famingham Close, Spondon, Derby DE2I 7DZ. (A254) FOREIGN BIRDWATCHING REPORTS and information service, site guides and checklists from 140 countries and islands. 5 Stanway Close, Blackpole, Worcester or call Steve 01905 454541. (A264) BIRD INFORMATION PAGERS now from just £7.95 PER MONTH! incl. Pager-i-Bird News and free personal paging “Pagers you can rely on” Rare Bird Alert: 01603-767799 Flas a annual fee of £30. All prices plus VAT minimum contract 12 months BOOKS ‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books bought and sold. Free catalogue from and offers to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall, Farporley, Cheshire CW6 6NJ. Tel: 01829 751804. (B728) B.W.P. Vol. I and 2, £45 each. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland — Dymond (Poyser), £12.50. All fine in dust jackets. Fryer, 41 Sefton St, Liverpool 8. 01695 573263. (A251) 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 £6.75 inclusive P/P to: Coxton Publications, Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, Beverley, HU17 8RP. 01482 881833 FOR SALE BIRD JOURNAL BACK ISSUES. Huge catalogue out now. Stamp appreciated. C. Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh. N. Devon EX37 9HB. (BB870) ZEISS WEST GERMANY 10 x 50. Superb condition. £350.01326 375593. (A50I) CARL ZEISS BINOCULARS. Made in West Germany, 7 X 50 BGAT. Never used. Still in box. Cost new £1070. Accept £750. Tel. 01404 891067. (BB883) BRITISH BIRDS VOLUMES 75-87 inclusive (Jan 82- Dec 94). Birdwatching Magazine No. I March 1986 to March 1995 inclusive. Offers please - ring Paul evenings 0181-898 6959. (BB882) WOODPECKERS OF THE WORLD plates for sale. Prices from £l00-£400. Ring Dave Nurney on 01945 860786. (BB884) SCARCE ITEMS: “Oologists’ Exchange & Mart” 1919- 1936, complete, bound, £140. "The Birds of Bromley (Kent)” 1901 , Walpole-Bond, £60. 0117 978 1194 (weekends). (BB877) FINCHES AND SPARROWS. Original artwork by Alan Harris £250-£300. Other published artwork available. Tel. 01279 424307. (BB88I) FOCALPOINT THE BINOCULAR & TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS OPEN 9.30-5.30 MON-FRI SAT 9.30-4.00 FOCALPOINT is owned and staffed by experienced birders. We guarantee to heip you find the best vaiue for money among the maze of competing products. Good range of bird/natural history books. SKUA ‘stay-on-the-scope’ telescope cases (8 models). Ask for our leaflet on the world's finest cases of their type. I BEST ADVICE • BEST CHOICE • BEST PRICES | SUPERB VIEWING FACILITIES NEW LEICA TELESCOPES ASK E5 (D484) i=ocAi_F>oirsj"r Unit 8, Marbury House Farm, Bentleys Farm Lane, Higher Whitley, Near Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 01925 730399 Fax: 01606 892207 M56 Junct 10 1 mile ARTWORK — Original scraperboard drawings from BTO Atlas, Birdwatchers Yearbook etc. From £38 plus postage. Phone T. Y. Sykes. Blue Neb Studio. 01244 880209. (B259) BANNERMAN “BIRDS OF CYPRUS” (89 rep ). £65: BWP vol. 2 (RSPB) £35: Birding World vols 3, 4. 5 complete, £55: The Woodpigeons (NN), £40. Tel. 01629 650784. (A262) KOWA 27xW EYEPIECE, for TS6I0 series scopes, unused still in box, accept £55, cost £109 new. Tel. Ely 01353 741197. (A258) HAND TALLY for seawatchers and wildfowl counters, £12 plus 50p postage. The easy way to count birds. Murray’s Wildlife. 12 Belvoir Close, Belfast BT8 4PL. (A256) BIRD BOOKS: Private collection, send £1 for list. Sony tape recorders: WM-D6C. $225: TCM-5000EV. $295: TCD5 Pro II $745. J. Wall, 19 Tisdale Rd., Scar.sdale, NY 10583, USA. (A255) WATERSIDE APARTMENT near Plymouth. Double bedroom, d/g, c/h., garden, allocated parking. Good base for West Country birding, close to all amenities. £39,950 for details, 01752 841343. (A252) BAUSH & LOMB Elite 77mm ED scope. 30W EP (retail £999). £550. Phone 0181-558 6896 Tues, Wed. Thurs (A243) BRITISH BIRDS 1988-1994 inclusive. (Vols 81-87) unbound. Mint condition. Offers 01892 730329. (A250) BRITISH BIRDS vols 57 to 86 inc. Unbound, ex. cond. £270 -t- carriage. Phone 01943 464845 evenings. (A248) WANTED TO COMPLETE COLLECTION. Sharrock: Nat. Hist. Cape Clear. Kear: Flamingos. State cond./cost. 25 Heatherways, Freshfield, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel 01704 871115. (BB87I) BRITISH BIRDS Vols 1915/16. 1919/20 to 1925/26 incl. (Vols 9. 13 to 19). Tel. 0181-367 0308. (A260) WANTED to complete .set, British Birds, Vols 34 and 37. Please contact Peakall, 17 St Mary's Road. Wimbledon SWI9 7BZ. Tel: 0181-947 0573. (A26I) XIX British Birds Volume 88 Number 10 October 1995 447 Binoculars and telescopes sur\^ey 1995 Dr J. T. R. Shairock and C. M. Foiresi 456 The ‘British Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year 457 The ornithological year 1994 Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp 472 Looking back 473 Monthly marathon 474 Philadelphia Vireo: new to the Western Ptilearctic J- F Dozedall 478 Status of the Great Grey Shrike in Britain and Ireland Peter A. Fraser and Dr John F. Ryan Notes 485 White Stork taking domestic ducklings Taras V. Bashta 485 Common Kesucl robbing female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Joh. J. Friesu’ijk 486 Migrant House Martins roosting on buildings George A. Miles 486 Common Redstart healthy despite deformed hill Yoav Perlman and A. Ganez 487 Blackbirds roosting in old nests of Magpies Keld Henriksen 487 Willow Warbler with ant’s head attached to tarsus N. V. McCanch and Mrs M. McCanch 488 News and comment Bob Scott and Wendy Dickson 492 Recent reports Bariy Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 447 binoculars and telescopes logo {the late P. J. Grant); 457 Black Kite {Dave Numey); 458 Glaucous Gull, 461 Whimbrels and Great Black- backed Gull, and 462 Bluethroat {Dan Pozuclt); 464 Rosy Starling (J. P. P. Wileznr); 468 Grey Phalarope {Dan Powell); 469 Red-eyed Vireo {Dave Nnmey); 470 Red-rumped Swallow {Phil Jones); dlA Philadelphia Vireo {Killian Mnllarney); 478 Great Grey Shrike {the late Crispin Fisher) Front cover: Barnacle Geese Branta lencopsis {Gordon Dunn); the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.7 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 25 in January issue for procedure) ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1 995 ISSN 0007-0335 OS, iOl^ British Birds Volume 88 Number 11 November 19&iy r im hiATUiRAL ^ HISTORY MUSSUiM 13 NOV 1995 PRESENTED THING LIBRARY iZEISS Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 British Birds Established 1907; incorporating 'The Zoologist’, established 1843 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Prytherch, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Photographic Researcher Robin Chittenden Art Consultants Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris Circulation Manager & Advertising Manager Erika Sharrock Rarities Committee R. A. Hume (Chairman), Dr Colin Bradshaw, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, C. D. R. Heard, Doug Page (co-opted), K. D. Shaw, Andy Stoddart, Reg Thorpe, Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (museum consultant and archivist); Peter Fraser & Dr John Ryan (statisticians); Michael]. Rogers (Hon. Secretary) Behaviour Notes Panel Dr C. J. Bibby, Ian Daw'son, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Gttodvvin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Shamock, Dr K. E. L. Simmons Identification Notes Panel Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdowti, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson, K. E. Vinicombe Annual subscriptions ( 1 2 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £55.00, IR£64.00 or SI 04.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £43.20, IR£50.40 or S81.60; personal airmail, outside Europe £72.40, IR£84.50 or SI 37.00. Single back copies £5.60, IR£6.40 or S10.50 (this issue £9.00). Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, letters, items for ‘News and comment’, drazvings & photographs: Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Fax; Bigglesw'ade (01767) 640025 Subscriptions atid orders for back copies: Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467 Advertising: Mrs Erika Sharrock, BB Advertising, do Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467. Fax: (01767) 640025 Bird news for ‘The ornithological year’: Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, do 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (01525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions: M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtow'n Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, do Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, ClwA'd CH^ 4i,N. Phone: Mold (01352) 770581'. Fax: (01352) 771590 The journal ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1 995 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. ISSN 0007-0335. Printed in England by Newnorth Print Ltd, Kempston, Bedford. British Birds publishes material dealing with original observ'ations on the birds of the West Palearctic. Except for records of rarities, papers and notes arc normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in whole or in part to any other journal or magazine. Photographs and drawings 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 stjle of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific names and sequence of birds follow riic 'British Birds’ last of English Names of K'eslem Palearctic Birds (1993); or, for non-West-Palearctic species, Monroe & Sibley (1993, A World Checklist of Birds)', names of plants follow Dony ct al. (1986, English Names of Wild 1 -lowers)', names of mammals follow Nowak & Paradiso (1983, Walker’s Mammals of the World, 4th edn). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). I'igures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, or light blue/pale grey graph paper; lettering slutuld be inserted lightly in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Authors ol main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more authors). SURREY (H.O.) 89(B) LONDON ROAD, MORDEN, SURREY SM4 5HP Open: Mon to Sat: 9am-5pm Lunch 1-2pm (Not Sun) Tel 0181-648 8822 Fax 0181-687 2021 Location: Southern edge of Greater London, 15 mins drive M25 (eg: via A3 then Merton turnoff) or 2 mins walk Morden Underground. Viewing facilities Parking: 50 yards past our premises - 1 st left. -Alternative venues to Morden and Tring, at which you can try and buy ■ our equipment IN THE FIELD are i given below. Every effort is made to take our full range of equipment ■ and payment can be made in all the usual ways. Repairs can also be handed in. *10.00 am to 4.00 ppm* 1* PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL ^ NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on S Sunday 2^ October, 30th h November and 31st December. * * SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL F RESERVE on the A25 between - Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and - Ball station on Sunday 5th F November and 3rd December. <* BOUGH BEECH NATURE F RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 ‘ miles south of the A25/A21 junction (with access from the - B2042 or B2027: the information ■ centre is to the north of the ■ reservoir) on Sunday 15th (October, 19th November and 17th C December. < * SLIMBRIDGE, GLOS (off M5) Village Hall (on the left, halfway : along village road info fhe W&WT). F Saturday 4th November < * THE KENT TRUST FOR ' NATURE CONSERVATION in the Tyland Barn, near Sandling, ' Maidstone (off A229, Bluebell Hill, going soufh), on Sunday 29th C October and 26th November, 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. 1 * DINTON PASTURES C COUNTRY PARK, Near Reading, - Berks, Sunday 19th November, in the Loddon Room. m FIE LD DAYS 1 UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical Est. 1962 - SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc (Bracket prices while stocks last) SWAROVSKI 8x30SLCMklll 549 10 X 42 SLC (659) 735 7 X 42 SLC (599) 670 AT 80 body (45“) 665 ST 80 body 665 AT80 HD body (45°) 960 ST80 HD body 960 22x eyepiece 90 30x (WA) EP (new) 145 20-60x zoom eyepiece 215 Optical camera adaptor (800mm) 145 LEICA 8 x 20 BC Trinovid (259) 265 8 X 20 BCA Trinovid (295) 299 10 x 25 BC Trinovid (295) 299 10 X 25 BCA Trinovid (309) 316 Soft Pouch 24 8 X 32 BA Trinovid’ (659) 698 7x42 BA Trinovid* (729) 778 8 X 42 BA Trinovid’ (729) 778 10 X 42 BA Trinovid’ (749) 798 8 X 50 BA Trinovid’ (889) 950 10x50 BA Trinovid (889)950 Carrying strap 26 (2 year free accident cover) LEICA APO Televid scope 960 LEICA Std. Televid scope 498 20-60X (B) zoom eyepiece 221 20x (WW/B) eyepiece 135 40x (B) eyepiece 110 Photo adaptor 204 ER case 98 ZEISS OPTICAL CENTRE 8 X 20B Classic 225 1 0 X 25B Classic 265 Classic pouch 20 10 X 25 B/TP (New DS) 359 8 X 20 B/TP (New DS) 349 8 X 30 B(WT (P) 699 7 X 42 BGA/T(P) (699) 769 10 X 40 BGA/T(P) (699) 769 7 X 45 Night Owl 879’ 8x56 Night Owl 979’ 10x56 Night Owl 1059’ ’ex-case 15X60BGA/T 1,499 FUJINON 8 X 40 BFL, with EBC coating . . .269 NIKON 8 X 30 ECF porro WF 299 10x35 ECFporroWF 349 Fieldscope II body Fieldscope II (A) 45° ED II body (539) ED II (A) 45° 1 5x, 20x, 30x or 40x EP 110 30x (WA) eyepiece 199 60x eyepiece 130 20-45x zoom EP 199 ED 78 945 ED78A 999 Camera adaptor 250 Mod for other cameras 18 KOWA TSN-1 (45°) or -2 body 349 TSN-3 (45°) or -4 body 699 25x or 40x eyepiece 80 20x (WA) eyepiece 127 30x (WA) eyepiece 162 60x eyepiece 138 77x eyepiece 125 20-60x zoom eyepiece 196 Camera adaptor 800mm 150 Camera adaptor 1 200mm 231 Stay-on case 45 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 74 TS-61 1 body (45°) 249 TS-612 body 229 TS-61 3 Fluorite body (45°) 519 TS-61 4 Fluorite body 469 TS-61 0 accessories: 20x (WA) eyepiece 74 27x (WA) eyepiece 109 20-60X zoom eyepiece 127 20-40x zoom eyepiece 150 Stay-on case 40 BUSHNELL 8 X 42 Natureview 129 10 X 42 Natureview 149 8 X 32 Trophy (w/p) 195 10 X 42 Trophy (w/p) 219 8 X 40 Birder 59 RANGER ZM-Makro scope with 15-45x zoom eyepiece (uses Nikon spotting scope eyepieces) & case 234 OPTOLYTH 8 X 30 Alpin 275 8 X 40 Alpin 298 10x40 Alpin (283)305 10x50 Alpin (315)331 12x50 Alpin (320)340 7x42 Alpin (295)329 TBGSObody 530 TBS 80 body 530 TBG or TBS 80 HD (669)789 30x (WW) eyepiece 190 20x (WW) eyepiece 170 30x or 40x eyepiece 89 70x (WW) eyepiece 210 20-60X zoom eyepiece 210 Cam. adaptor 850mm 185 Stay-on case 44 DISCOVERY 8x42or10x42RP, GA 135 OPTICRON 8 X 32 Dioptron 196 8 X 42 Dioptron 198 1 0 X 42 Dioptron 207 10 X 50 Dioptron 214 8x32(HRII) 224 8x42(HRII) 225 * HENFIELD, W. Sussex. Sussex Wildlife Trust at Woods Mill. Bucks., (A40, M40 junction, A412, A413, etc) Saturday 21st October. HERTS/BUCKS BORDER TRING GARDEN CENTRE, BULBOURNE ROAD, Nr. TRING, HERTS HP23 SHF Open: Tues to Sat, 10am-5pm Sunday (1 1 .00am to 4.00pm) Phone/Fax: 01442 825590 Location: On B488, 1 0 minutes from A41 near Tring. Very accessible from Ml, M25, etc. Viewing facilities (Easy disabled access) Parking: On Site 10x42(HRII) 239 10x50(HRII) 249 12’/2 x50(HRII) 264 7x42(HRII) 225 7x24, 8x24 or 10x24 MCF 122 Roof prism binos (new): 7 X 36 BGA 375 8 X 42 BGA 395 10x42 BGA 395 10 X 50 BGA 399 HR 60mm scopes: Standard 60s body 236 60/45° body (angled) 310 60/SR body (rubberised) 273 60/SR ED body (rubberised) . . . .475 60/45° ED body (angled) 499 New gen. scopes: HR 66 326 HR 66 (45°) 355 15x, 20x, 25x or 40x HR eyepiece 44 20x WW HDF eyepiece 96 28x WW HDF eyepiece 122 22x W HR eyepiece 57 30x W HR eyepiece 59 60x HR eyepiece 49 20-60X zoom eyepiece 132 Soft nylon case 14 Stay-on case 44 HR 80mm body 390 Eyepieces as above but increase power by 33'/3% Soft nylon case 18 Stay-on case 44 NIGHT VISION Helios TZS-4 229 Baigish 7 950 MANFROTTO TRIPODS VELBON TRIPODS We now stock a wide selection of BIRD and NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS, in association with SUBBUTEO NHB LTD. REPAIRS • Optical instrument experience unrivalled. All makes serviced, including Zeiss, Leica etc. • Mail Order (same day) • Personal Exports • Interest-free short-term credit (3 payments) • Part exchange arranged • Used items • Package deais E.&O.E. Centre) Sunday 22nd October. 1 * BEWL WATER, on A2^ just ■ south of Lamberhurst, Kent, in the Education Centre on Sunday 17th C December. Sunday 22nd October. * DENHAM COUNTRY PARK, * BEACHY HEAD, Eastbourne, E. Sussex (in the new Countryside * WALSEY HILLS, Cley, on the A149, Norfolk. SaVSun. 4th/5th November. THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS in focus NORFOLK MAIN STREET, TfTCHWEa, NR. KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK, PE31 8BB Open 7 days 9.00am * 5.00pm Tel: 01485 210101 HOW TO FIND US; We are 500 yards east of the RSPB reserve ot Titchwell on the A1 49 between Hunstanton and Brancaster in focus HERTFORDSHIRE 204 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTFORDSHIRE, EN5 5SZ Open Mon • Sot 9.00am ■ 6.00pm Tel: 0181-449 1445,0181-441 7748 Fax:0181-440 9999 HOW TO FIND US, We ore 10 mms from M25 and AIM motorways ond 1 5 mtns wolic from High Bomet Tube Station Situated crt the Hodley Green end of Borrret High Street in focus YORKSHIRE WESTLEIGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HD8 8QJ Open Mon - Sat 9.00am - 6.00pm Tel: 01484 864729 i HOW TO FIND US; We are close by the i roilwoy station ot Denby Dole on the A636 ' near June. 38 & 39 on the Ml in focus LEICESTERSHIRE ANGUAN WATER BIRDWATCHING CENTRE EGLCTON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER, LEICESTERSHIRE, LEI 5 BBT Open Weekends and Bank Holidays 9.00am - 5.00pm Tel: 01572 770656 HOW TO FIND US, We are situoted on the Egleton Reserve at Rutland Water Follow signposts to Egleton Village on the A6003 to Ockham, in focus CENTRAL LONDON 8, 9 & 10 ROYAL OPERA ARCADE, PAlLMALi, LONDON, SW1Y4UY Open Mon • Fri 9.00am - 6.00pm Sat 9.00am - 4.00pm Tel: 0171-839 1881 Fax:0171-839 8118 HOW TO FIND US; We ore 300 yards from Piccadilly Underground Station in Royal Opera Arcade between Pall Mall ond Charles 11 Street. in focus SLIMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE THE WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS TRUST, SUMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL2 7BT Open 7 days 9.30am - 5.30pm Tel: 01453- 890333, 0374-746472 HOW TO FIND US, We are situated within the reserve t with viewing over the Swon Loke The centre is well Ik WINTER FIELD EVENTS FOR CUSTOMERS PREFERRING TO SELECT AND PURCHASE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS WE OFFER THE FOUOWING PROGRAAAME WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE RSPB, WWT AND COUNTY TRUSTS EVENTS ARE HELD FROM 1 0.00AM-4.00PM SATURDAY 21ST t SUNDAY 22ND WWT CENTRE MARTIN MERE, ORMSKIRK SATURDAY 21ST & SUNDAY 22ND RSPB RYE HOUSE, RYE HOUSE MARSH SUNDAY 22ND EAIRBURN INGS, CASILEEORD SATURDAY 28TH t SUNDAY 29TH HAUXLEY NATURE RESERVE, NR AMBLE SATURDAY 28TH 8 SUNDAY 29TH RSPBDUNGENESS LANCASHIRE HERTFORDSHIRE WEST YORKSHIRE NORTHUMBERLAND KENT SATURDAY 4TH A SUNDAY 5TH WWF CFNTRf. ARUNOFL WEST SUSSEX SATURDAY 4TH & SUNDAY STH TOPHILl LOW NATURE RESERVE. BEVERLEY YOFIKSHIRE SUNDAY STH PENNINGTON FLASH GREATER MANCHESTER SATURDAY 11TH KENFI6 NATURE RESERVE. MID-GLAMORGAN SOUTH WALES SATURDAY 1 1TH t SUNDAY 12TH WWT CENTRE WASHNGTON TYNE & WEAR SUNDAY 12TH WWT CENTRE LLANELLI, DYFEO SOUTH WALES SUNDAY 12TH FISHERS GREEN. LEE VALLEY COUNTRY PARK ESSEX SATURDAY 18TH A SUNDAY 19TH WWT MARTIN MERE. ORMSKIRK LANCASHIRE SATURDAY 18TH A SUNDAY 19TH RSPB PULBOROUGH BROOKS WEST SUSSEX SUNDAY 19TH ABBERTON RESERVOIR. COLCHESTER ESSEX SATURDAY 2STH A SUNDAY 26TH WWT CENTRE WEINEY. WISBECH CAMBRIDGESHIRE SATURDAY 25TH A SUNDAY 26TH CARSINGTON WATER DERBYSHIRE SUNDAY 26TH EAIRBURN INGS. CASTLEFORD WEST YORKSHIRE SUNDAY 26TH THATCHAM NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE. NEWBURY BERKSHIRE jmm SATURDAY 2ND I SUNDAY 3RD RSPB LOOMOOR. WEYMOUTH SATURDAY 2ND t SUNDAY 3RD RSPB BIACKTOFT SANDS SUNDAY 3RD PENNINGTON FLASH SATURDAY 9TH t SUNDAY 10TH HAUXLEY NATURE RESERVE. NEAR AMBLE SATURDAY 9TH I SUNDAY 10TH RSPB DUNGENESS DORSET SOUTH HUMBERSIDE GREATER MANCHESTER NORTHUMBERLAND KENT AT LAST A QUALITY BINOCULAR AT A SENSIBLE PRICE ✓ Full Waterproofing ✓ Compact Lightweight Shape ✓ Rubber Armouring ✓ Superb Fully Coot^ Optics ✓ Excellent Close Focussing ✓ Ideol for Spectacle Wearers ✓ Full Internal Focussing ✓ 30 Year Warranty EXCEEDS SPECIFICATIONS AND HANDLING NORMAUY FOUND IN BINOCULARS COSTING £600 OR MORE ONLY A The Delta Roof Prism Available in 8x42 and 10x42 Complete with Soft Cose & Wide Neck Strap cetcq Nikon Valbon (DBUSHHELL SWIFT SLIK OPTOLYTH SWAROVSKI CUUMANN Q|0LICron ZEISS |\oMB New New New New New Bousih & lomb PREMIER HDR 'Scop* BODY ONLY £299 FEATURES INCLUDE •STRAIGHT OR ANGLED EYEPIECE •RAINPROOF ARMOURED FINISH •FULL EYEPIECE RANGE AVAIUBLE 20XW/27XW/30XW/40XW CHOICE OF THREE ZOOMS •COMPAQ BODY SHAPE 265MMII0.5INS) LONG free tripod WITH DELTA Lightweight Tripod • COMPAQ (ONLY 60CM /2CIHS WHEN CLOSED) •IICHIWEIGKT (ONLY 2ICG/4 Sill •FULL HEIGHT SPECIflCAI10N(l75CM/60INS) • QUICK lElEASEnilUlAR LEGS •All METAL CONSmUQlOH •SIHGLEAQIONHEAO f 00 A QUALITY TIINQ tOI ONLY £ M M ALL NEW 'SCOPES I SUPPORT SYSTEMS DELTA LIGHTWEIGHT TRiPOf) C99.00 HEtWA HS 6448 TRIPOD CI25.00 MANFROTTO 290 & 1 28 fU. HEAD £133.00 VEIBON TRIPODS FROM CS9.9S CUURAAM iIRPING TRIPODS FROM CS9.00 HIDE CLAMPS FROM C4S-00 CAR WINDOW MOUNTS FROM £38.00 UNIVERSAL MOUNT FROM £36.00 QUICK RELEASE SYSTEMS FROM £12.00 TRIPOD STRAPS FROM E8.00_ IN FOCUS STAY-ON CASES NOW AVAIIAIIE TO FIT MOST 'SCOPES FROM £44.00 BOOKS At oil our shopj we corry o good ronge oF Field and idenhficotion guide* os well os Q full selection of trip reports REPAIRS Full service ond repair facilities m our own workshops All work comes our six month worronty MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Pleose -emember to odd £2 00 towards the cost of insured Trokbok posloge ond pocking > whether poyino by cheque.Vtso, Access or Moslercard ond goods will be despotched with full 14 doys opprovol on receipt of your remittonce SECOND HAND ITEMS All instruments offered with six month worronty As stock turnover IS high phone for lolesi detoils PAQT-IXCHANOIt ALWAYS WILCOMI. ALL USTINOS CORRICT AT TIMS OT OOINO TO RRISS. lAOI. PHONI TOR LATIST PRICIS. II British Birds Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 13 NOV 1995 PRESENTED TRING LIBRARY Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Michael J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, with comments by P. M. Ellis and A. M. Stoddart As this thirty-seventh annual report of the Rarities Committee illustrates, the changing fortunes of rare birds visiting Great Britain continue to be sufficient to stimulate discussion and speculation, and sometimes, indeed, disagreement. Their appeal remains undimmed and the Report aims to meet the needs of the wide variety of interests among rarity enthusiasts. Our principal aim is straightforward: to provide as complete and accurate a record as possible year by year. This can then be used by those responsible for producing county and local bird reports, books, lists and papers, as the ‘official’ record of rare birds in our islands. The Rarities Committee forms part of an increasing international network of such committees and gains strength from that and from its widespread recognition as a model upon which others are based. We are conscious, of course, of the need to provide interest and entertainment: simply reading a report should be enjoyable in itself, and even ensuring that the names of those people involved in finding and identifying birds are included is something that we take seriously. Then there is what might be called the scientific aim of recording rare birds. This relies on the completeness and accuracy already mentioned and it is the integrity of the Committee and its actions, and the attitude it takes towards reaching difficult decisions, that determines the value of its ultimate product. We are aware that decisions on some reports remain to be made after long periods of consideration, but prefer to take longer and get it right than to rush into a decision that may need to be reversed (perhaps, by then, too late to correct local or national publications, or even identification papers, based in part upon wrong assumptions). Much of the value, however, depends upon analysis of the records, and we are sometimes criticised for having moved too far towards simple recording and away from useful analysis. This is a point worth making, but it must be said that the workload of the Committee, all of whose members do the job voluntarily and, supposedly, for the fun of it, is already large and there is no reason why others cannot use the published data for analytical work. Indeed, there is every reason ZEISS [Brit. Birds 88: 493-558, November 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 493 494 Rogers et at.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 why they should: this is why we publish the records. We should all like to see more understanding of the changing patterns of rarities, but cannot necessarily take on the extra work ourselves. The data are there, however, presented in 37 detailed reports; and papers on the changing numbers, and geographical and temporal patterns of some Siberian vagrants (but not others), for example, are waiting to be written. The membership of the Rarities Committee is listed each month on the inside front cover of British Birds, and changes in its composition are reported from time to time. In the past year, we held an election for a new member to fill the gap created by the retirement of the longest-serving one: it is disappointing to report that only two candidates were put forward, although the calibre of both is undeniably excellent. A further nomination for membership came about during the process of the election and in fact that nominee was later co-opted to fill the vacancy created by a subsequent resignation: nevertheless, we appeal for more nominations for the Committee for next year’s election. We are also considering new ways to widen the electorate, which currendy comprises the county recorders and observatory wardens. Given the progress made last year in addressing the backlog of accounts of birds new to Britain & Ireland, we are pleased to report a continued level of publication of such papers in British Birds in our efforts to maintain a complete picture of the circumstances surrounding additions to the British List. Thank you to all observers involved in preparing these fascinating short papers. A few remain to be written, and obser\'ers are sometimes curiously unwilling to see their accounts in print. We urge anyone involved to supply a short text to the Managing Editor of Bntish Birds as soon as possible. We also thank Dr David Parkin and the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee for their continued close co-operation and the addition of comments regarding the reasons behind categorisation and the possible origins of the individual birds concerned. We maintain a close and productive relationship with the BOURC and look forward to its continuation: it is perhaps worth reminding readers that the Rarities Committee deals with verification of the identification of rarities, the dates of their occurrence and the naming of observers involved, while the BOURC steps in with ‘firsts’ and ‘category changes’ to double-check the identification and to assess the most appropriate status of new species for the British List. This involves researching escape likelihood, relevant weather and other circumstances, migration patterns and timing, vagrancy patterns elsewhere, and much more besides, in the attempt to make the correct decision (rather than merely using subjective guesswork or ‘wishful thinking’, which sometimes surface elsewhere). There are a number of reports remaining in circulation at the time of writing. These include 30 records for 1994 and 38 from earlier years upon which a decision has not yet been reached, plus 33 for 1994 and four from earlier years received too late for inclusion in this report. We appeal to observers (and county and observatory recorders) to continue to submit reports as early as possible after each observation to spread and ease our workload and to ensure prompt attention. Our aim is to provide an efficient service. Also remaining under consideration are six recent claims of Blyth’s Pipit Attthns godlezvskii, which seem likely to include a mixture of good, bad and indifferent, and 17 reports of Citrine Wagtails Motadlla dtreolu from past years; we do British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 495 appreciate that the delays are frustrating for those who reported the occurrences. There are also 1 1 claims of South Polar Skuas Stercorarius maccormicki circulating in particularly weighty files but mostly making little progress (although several are undoubtedly of individuals seen poorly, or with described characters so peculiar that they seem unlikely ever to be acceptable) and some 30 reports of YeUow- browed Warblers Phylloscopus inomatiis of the race hiimei. The review of reports of Lesser Kestrel Fako naumanni has been completed and the results are presented within this report, while the review of records of Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida remains to be finalised. It should be noted that a considerable number of changes have been made to the 1958-93 totals given in the heading to each species entry as a result of in- depth research since the last Report by the Committee’s Statisticians, Peter Fraser and John Ryan; where relevant, appropriate amendments have been noted in the text. Acknowledgments The work of the Rarities Committee was once again sponsored by Carl Zeiss Ltd, to whom we remain indebted and extremely grateful. It is not an inexpensive exercise and this financial support is invaluable in maintaining the uniform, objective review of rare birds in Great Britain which the BBRC provides. The Committee gratefully acknowledges special assistance with records from Dick Forsman, Peter Lansdown, Simon Harrap and Lars Svensson. The members of the Seabirds Advisory Panel (BiU Curtis, Jim Enticott, Steve Madge, Tony Marr and John Ryan) supplied valuable advice. The species comments have been written by Pete Ellis (non-passerines) and Andy Stoddart (passerines), and the running totals were compiled by Peter Fraser and John Ryan. As in other recent years, tw'o ex-members of the Committee, Peter Lansdown and John Marchant, volunteered to assist with checking the proofs of this Report. We are indebted to Patrick Smiddy and the Irish Rare Birds Committee for their friendly help and agreement in allowing us to publish essential details of rare birds reported in Ireland. The Irish records have not been assessed by the BBRC but are wholly the responsibility of the IRBC. The long-standing agreement that they should form a part of this Report allows us to present a complete picture of the situation in the whole of Britain & Ireland. We greatly value this co- operation betw^een the IRBC and the BBRC. The BOURC has already been mentioned, but we thank that committee again for its co- operation during the year. In particular, we express our warm appreciation of the work of the county recorders and bird- observatory wardens nationwide, without whose help this Report could not exist, and of course the observ'ers who provided the records. Without their co-operation the Report could never be compiled, but at least they also have the enjo^mient and excitement of finding the birds in the first place! While we envy them their luck, many submissions convey the pleasure they take in seeing good birds and remind us all that this is the core of the whole business, and that for most of us it is, after all, just our hobby. RAH Highlights The year 1994 was often exciting (see Bril. Birds 88: 457-472), but was not outstanding for major rarities, though these included: 1st Dark-throated Thrush Tiirdus mficollis of the red-throated nominate race 2nd Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii (but several other earlier reports are still under consideration) 496 Rogers ei ai: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 2nd Grey- tailed Tattler Heteroscelns brevipes 3rd Red-necked Stint Calidris mficollis 4th Calandra Lark Melanocoiypha calandra 4th Yellow-browed Bunting Ernberiza chrysophrys 6th Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibinca 7th Song Sparrow Zonotrichia melodia There were all-time record numbers of Black Kites Milviis migram (26), Iceland Gulls Lams glaucoides of the races kmnlieni or thayeri (11, taking the total to 31), Pechora Pipits A. gustavi (8), Citrine Wagtails Motacilla citreola (7), Paddyfield Warblers Acrocephalus agricola (9), Dusky Warblers Phylloscopus fiiscatus (21, but only 4 Radde’s Warblers P. schwarzi), Great Grey Shrikes Lanins excubitor of the race pallidirostris (4), Rosy Starlings Stnmus roseus (26) and Pine Buntings E. lencocephalos (5). On the minus side, American passerines were few (including only three American wood-warblers), and there was not one Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica, a species which had registered only nine other blanks during the previous 30 years. Three other ‘firsts’ included in this report relate to earlier years: 1st Long-toed Stint C. snbmirmta (in 1970; total now two) 1st Pallid Swift Apus pallidas (in Ireland in 1913; total now ten) 1st British Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella nifescens (in 1992, but four records involving 42 individuals in 1956 and 1958 are on the Irish List). JTRS & PGL Systematic list of accepted records The principles and procedures followed in considering records were explained in the 1958 report (Brit. Birds 53; 155-158). The systematic list is set out in the same way as in the 1993 report (87: 503-571). The following points show the basis on which the list has been compiled: 1. The details included for each record are (1) 3. counw; (2) locality; (3) number of birds if more than one, and age and sex if known (in the case of spring and summer records, howe\’er, the age is normally given only where the bird concerned was not in adult plumage); (4) if photographed or tape- recorded (and this e\’idence seen or heard by the Committee); (5) if trapped or found dead and where specimen is stored, if known; (6) date(s); and (7) observ^er(s), normally up to three in number, in alphabetical order. 2. In general, this report is confined to records which are regarded as certain, and ‘probables’ are not included. In the case of the very similar Ix)ng-billed Lmnodromm scohpacais and Short-billed Dowitchers L griseus, however, we are continuing to publish indeterminate records, and this also applies to those of pratincoles Glareola, albatrosses Diomedea and frigatebirds Fregata. The sequence of species, English names and specific nomenclature follow The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds (1993). Any sight records of subspecies (including those of birds trapped and released) are normally referred to as ‘showing the characters’ of the race concerned. 4. The three numbers in parentheses after each species’ name refer respectively to the total number of individuals recorded in Britain & Ireland (excluding those ‘At sea’) (i) to the end of 1957, (ii) for the period since the formation of the Rarities Committee in 1958, but excluding (iii) the current year. The decision as to how many individuals were involved is often difficult and rather arbitrarv’, but the consensus of members is indicated by ‘possibly the same’ (counted as different in the totals), ‘probably the same’ (counted as the same in totals), or ‘the same’ when the evidence British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 is certain or overwhelming. An identical approach is applied to records of the same species recurring at the same locality after a lapse of time, including those which occur annually at the same or a nearby site. In considering claims of more than one individual at the same or adjacent localities, the Committee usually requires firm evidence before more than one is counted in the totals. A detailed breakdown of the 497 figures for previous years is held by the Honorary Secretary'. 5. Irish records, assessed and accepted by the Irish Rare Birds Committee, are included separately, by special permission of the IRBC, following the subheading iRiitAND. 6. The breeding and wintering ranges are given in parentheses at the beginning of each species comment. White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii (18, 139, 6) Fife Largo Bay, age uncertain, 16th-17th October (A. W. Lauder et al). Highland Gruinard Bay, probably adult, 1st Februaiy' to 1st May (S. Blamire, D. M. PuUan). Northumberland Hauxley, age uncertain, 1st September (I. Fisher, S. Sexton et al). Suffolk Southwold, adult, 6th November (W. J. Brame, J. M. Cawston). Western Isles Balranald, adult, 17th May (S. Robson). Yorkshire, North Scarborough, 9, recently dead, 15th October, photo. (B. Cockerill, J. R. Mather), skin retained by J. R. Mather. (Arctic Russia eastwards to Arctic Canada) A fairly average showing, with a typical set of dates, except for 1st September, and an unsurprising mixture of localities. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbiis podiceps (0, 16, 1) Cornwall Stithians Reser\'oir, since 1992 {Bnt. Birds 87: 508), throughout the year, paired with Little Grebe Tachybaptus nificollis, hatched three young by 9th July, two sur\'iving to 15th October, one to 1995, photo, (per S. M. Christophers) (plate 147, on page 507). Northumberland Warkworth Lane Pond, since 1992 {Brit. Birds 87; 508) to 8th January, 8th- 17th April; same, Druridge Pool, 11th January' to 21st March, photo, (per B. N. Rossiter). Scilly Tresco, adult, 11th November to 1995, photo. (R. J. Hathway et al). (North and South America) This species now joins the very select list of those Nearctic vagrants which have bred in the Western Palearctic, but the chance of a ‘pure’ pair remains remote. The long-staying habit continues. Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris (2, 25, 0) Shetland Hermaness, Unst, individual last recorded on 13th July 1993 {Brit. Birds 87: 508), 26th March to 24th July (per D. Suddaby). 1974 Sussex, West Chichester Harbour, 10th May {Bril. Birds 68: 309), now considered inadequately documented. (Southern Oceans) The returning individual present for its twenty-first year over a twenty-three-year period. Madeira/Cape Verde/Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodrorna madeiraJfeael mollis (0, 6, 2) 1991 Humberside Flamborough Head, two, 6th September Q. McLoughlin). IRELAND Cork Mizen Head, two, 24th August. 1993 Cork Cape Clear Island, 11th August. (Pacific, central and southern Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans) Apart from the two at Flamborough in 1991, all the accepted British & Irish records are concentrated in one 16-day period, during llth-26th August (12th, 13th & 14th August 1989 at Porthgwarra, Cornwall; 26th August 1990 at Cape Clear Island; 20th August 1991 at St John’s Point, Co. Down; and the two Irish records listed above). A 1994 record from Gwynedd remains to be dealt with. 498 Rogers el at.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Little Shearwater Puffinus assirnilis (5, 86, 2) Man, Isle of Calf of Man, 10th September (J. Bishop, Dr J. P. Thorpe); possibly same, 11th (N. V. McCanch). 1986 Tyne & Wear Tynemouth, 18th August (M. P. Carruthers, A. Hutt, K. D. Shaw). (Atlantic south from Madeira and Caribbean, southern Pacific and Indian Oceans) This is possibly the most troublesome species of all for the Committee, hence the small number reaching these pages. Many submitted descriptions inspire little confidence that ‘sluggish’ Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus were not involved. Interestingly, the few photographed or specimen records from Britain are from the spring and early summer. Does this tell us anything? In the Channel Islands, one passed Les Aiquettes, Jersey, on 9th May 1994. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus (4, 13, 0) At sea Sea area Sole, 49° 05' N 07° 12' W, about 60 km SSW of Bishop Rock, Scilly, 13th August; two, 49° 06' N 07° 04' W, another tw'o, 49° 12' N 07° 04' W, also 13th, photo. (P. Flint, J. F. Ryan et al.). IRELAND 1993 At sea The record 20 km south of Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, on 25th August (Bril. Birds 87: 509) involved two individuals. (Southern Oceans) Entirely typical records of this species, the numbers of which depend largely on the number of pelagic trips launched in search of them. One seen from land remains a major prize. Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis (0, 3, 0) Tyne & Wear 'Pynemouth, 11th July, heard only (M. G. Cubitt); same or another, trapped 23rd, 25th, same as 1993 (Brit. Birds 87: 509), photo. (M. G. Cubitt et al.). (Northwest Pacific Ocean; winters western tropical Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean) The female recorded every' summer since 1990 (Bnt. Birds 88: 342-348) returned once more to be tape-lured and trapped. No new individuals have been trapped at this site this decade, but one was discovered in similar circumstances at a colony of European Storm-petrels Hydrobaies pelagicus 2 km off Benidorm, Spain, on the night of 12tbT 3th July 1994. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus (150, 174, 4) Gwent Newport, d, 15th May (S. N. G. Howell, C. Jones, S. Webb). Lothian Gorebridge, d, 11th May (R. M. McGregor). Scilly Tresco, d, 5th-8th May (D. P. Wyatt et al). St Mary’s, 9, 8ih-17th May, photo., remains found about 31st (W. H. Wagstaff et al). 1984 Surrey Send, juvenile, 16th September (L. Norton). 1988 Glamorgan, Mid Kenfig Pool, d 25th June to 2nd July (Brit. Bird'; 82: 510), now considered inadequately documented. (Western Eurasia, Africa and Australia; winters Africa and southern Asia) A small influx in the first half of May, typically concentrated in the Southwest, though the one in Lothian was a good record for Scotland. In the Channel Islands, one was at St Ouen’s Pond, Jersey, from 7th to 1 0th May 1994. Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (165, 335, 18) Greater London Brent Reservoir, first-summer, 19th May (S. E. Barbato et al). Gwent Newport, adult, 6th-23rd May (C. & Mrs R. Jones, R. & Mrs A. Jones et al); first- summer, 6th-25th May, possibly since 10th April (J. R. Bennett, B. Burgess et al). Gwynedd Cefni Resert’oir, Anglesey, adult, 2nd June (R. D. Hearn, H. Kmttt). British Birds, vol. 88, no, 11, November 1995 499 Hertfordshire Stevenage, juvenile, 12th August, photo. (R. Pople, A. & Mrs J. Tooby). Kent Dungeness, first-summer, 5th June (D. Walker et ai). Norfolk Sheringham, adult, 31st May (M. C. Young-Powell) . Shetland Fetlar, juvenile, 22nd October Q. & T. G. Davies, B. H. Thomason). Suffolk Lackford, adult, 8th May (T. Humpage ei ai). Sussex, East Arlington, juvenile, 23rd December, photo. Q. Irons, P. Luffingham). Sussex, West Thomey Deeps, adult, 19th April (C. B. Collins). Tayside Kercock, probably first-summer, 3rd August (S. R. Hacker). West Midlands Brierley HiU, adult, 6th-17th May, photo. (S. Edwards, A. Gwilt et al.) (plate 145, on page 507). Wiltshire Cotswold Water Park, adult, 25th May (K. J. Grearson). 1989 Suffolk Lackford, second-year, 5th May (S. Bishop). 1993 Clwyd Ddol Uchaf, near Caerwys, immature, 18th June Q. C. Jones, M. G. Neal). 1993 Cornwall Portgaverne, adult, 8th April (D. Wilson). 1993 Kent Ham Fen, second-summer, 28th May (J. N. HoUyer). IRELAND Cork Cape Clear Island, adult and two second-years, 3rd May, one second-year remaining to 4th May. Sherkin Island, second-year, 9th May. (South Eurasia, Africa and the Americas; European population winters in Africa) A typical scatter of largely May overshoots, but the Shetland record in October is of note. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (95, 32, 7) Cornwall Drift Reservoir, llth-29th May (G. Hobin et al.)-, presumed same, Nance, near Towednack, 6th- 10th June (S. Hodder et ai). Glamorgan, Mid Kenfig Pool, 28th June (H. A. Williams). Hampshire Titchfield Haven, 7th-9th July (D. Houghton, P. M. Potts et al). Scilly Tresco, 3rd-6th, 29th May (J. & Mrs E. Turner et al.)-, presumed same, St Mar\’’s, intermittendy, 8th May to 6th June, photo., St Martin’s, intermittendy, 20th-30th May; St Agnes, 29th May (per W. H. Wagstaff). Yorkshire, South Thorpe Marsh, Doncaster, 2nd-7th June, photo. (S. Chester et al). IRELAND Waterford Dungarvan Harbour, two adults, 2nd to at least 17th May. (Southern Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa; winters Africa) After a complete blank in 1993, an influx larger than any since at least 1958. The Cornish individual finished up at a site within 1 km of that in 1992. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (2, 74, 1) Gloucestershire Near Gloucester, 19th March to 18th April, photo. (N. Hunt, A. Jayne et al.)-, same, Sandhurst, 29th July to at least 2nd September (per A. Jayne), presumed same as 1993 Hereford & Worcester below. Hampshire Blashford, 14th- 15th July (R. J. Casalis de Pury ). 1993 Hereford & Worcester Besford, near Pershore, 25th October intermittendy to 26th December, photo. (D. Stephens, S. M. Whitehouse et al.)-, same, Bredon’s Hardwick, 27th December (S. J. Huggins, S. M. Whitehouse). (Almost cosmopolitan in tropics; nearest breeders in north of France) A return to form after the double-figure injfluxes of 1986 and 1992. Great White Egret Egretta alba (10, 60, 3) Buckinghamshire Milton Keynes, 22nd February^ to 2nd March, photo. (R. S. Hill, A. Stevenson et ai), presumed same as Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire. Cambridgeshire Fen Drayton, 17th February (P. L. Varney et al.), presumed same as Buckinghamshire. Norfolk Feltwell Anchor, since 22nd December 1993, to 13th February (Bnt. Birds 87: 511), presumed same as Buckinghamshire. Cley, 21st January (T. C. Davies). 500 Rogers el ai: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Northamptonshire Thrapston Gravel-pits, 18th Februan,’ (J. E. Steward); same, Earls Barton, 20th (S. R. Mawby, J. Price-Stevens el al.), same as Buckinghamshire. Shetland Brow Marsh, Spiggie, 28th April (A. J. & I. E. McCall). Yorkshire, West Anglers Country Park, 26th May (P. Meredith, J. M. Turton). 1990 Highland Bunarkaig, Loch Lochy, 31st May to 1st June (Brit. Birds 86: 457), first noted 30th. (Almost cosmopolitan, extremely local in Europe) A return to the norm after the high number in 1993. The wintering individual mentioned in last year’s Report (Brit. Birds 87: 511) became more mobile and toured the East Midlands until its eventual disappearance in March. Black Stork Ciconia nigra (26, 91, 2) Cumbria Blencogo, 1 1 th April (T. Holden) . Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, 17th September (T. J. Edwards, R. Prior et al.)-, same, Littlehampton, 17th (R. J. L. Kemp, E. Standling). 1993 Hampshire Yew Tree Bottom, New Forest, 25th August (P. Palmer, D. P. & I. M. Powell), probably same as Isle ofWight, 26th (Brit. Birds 87: 512). (Eurasia and Southern Africa; winters Africa) A poor year for this species after a series of influxes during the last decade. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (many, 61, 1) Cornwall Burvas Bridge, 27th September (D. S. Flumm, D. Oates), presumed same as Scilly. Scilly Tresco, 23rd-27th September, photo. (R. J. Hathway el al.) (plate 146, on page 507); same, Br\her and Samson, 23rd, St Mar\-’s, 24th (per W. H. Wagstaff). (Almost cosmopolitan, but nearest breeders are in Camargue, France) With the long-staying individuals in Kent now no longer with us, this species reverts to being rare and unpredictable. Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus (47, 79, 2) Kent Sheppey, adult, 23rd January to 6th March (J. R. Hunter, P. Worsley et al.)-, sub-adult, 5th- 13th February (J. Cantelo, D. S-H. Coates et al.). (Northeast Europe and Siberia; winters Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia) The present-day situation regarding the status of this species was dealt with recently (Bril. Birds 86: 458-459). In respect of the two records here, the Committee felt that it had no good gi'ounds for presuming them to be escapes, but could not take the same view of two Norfolk records involving adults at Burnham Norton from 4th April to 1st May and at Welney during 9th-22nd December. It is worth noting that the Norfolk Bird Report for 1 993 states that, on 1 6th January that year, four adults and five juveniles arrived at Penmey from the northeast in two family groups and that there were singles there in October and December, with others also at Wroxham, Surlingham, Titchwell and Fordham. Collection birds at Pensthorpe were not known to wander, but at Earsham, near Bungay (Brit. Birds 86: 458), there was still a full-winged flock of 15. There was also a neck-coUared individual at Cantley on at least 20th December 1993 and another in the Yare Valley on 11th January 1994. Elsewhere, an unmarked individual was seen at various Dorset localities between 19th November 1992 and 1st September 1993. Brent Goose Branta bemicb B. b. nigricans (1, 62, 4) British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 501 Individuals showing the characters of the North American and East Siberian race B. b. nigricans were recorded as follows: Essex Horsey Island, adult, 26th November (C. McClure, R. Neave, S. D. Wood et al). Suffolk King’s Fleet, Felixstowe, adult, 6th November (M. C. Marsh), not same as 1993. 1993 Suffolk Felixstowe, adult, 22nd-24th January {Brit. Birds 87: 513), finder was M. C. Marsh. IRELAND Down Killough, adult, 7th March to 5th April, presumed same as 11th- 19th April 1992 {Brit. Birds 86: 459). Dublin Poolbeg, adult, 1st April. This is a different individual from those recorded in Dublin in previous winters {Insh Birds 3: 108 et seq.). Louth Annagassan, adult, 6th April. 1992 Dublin Coolock, 1st January. 1993 Dublin Rogerstown, 3rd January to 21st February; and a different individual, Malahide, 21st February to 9th April. (Arctic North America and East Siberia; winters USA and East Asia) In West Sussex and Hampshire, the individual which had visited Thomey Island and East Hayling each winter since 2nd November 1986 {Brit. Birds 87: 513) failed to reappear in its usual haunts. Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis (15, 26, 2) Central Region/Strathclyde Endrick Mouth, 5th December (D. C. Orr-Ewing). Dorset See Hampshire. Essex Burnham-on-Crouch area, intermittently, 2nd January to 5th February (S. D. Wood et al), presumed same as Sheppey, Kent, 26th-28th December 1993 {Bnt. Birds 87: 513). Hampshire Shepherd Spring, 13th March (A. J. PoUey); same, Brownsea Island, Dorset, 14th- 30th (per M. Cade); same. Needs Oar, 17th (D. Chivers, G. Horacek-Davis); all presumed to relate to West Sussex escape in 1993 {Bnt. Birds 87: 514). Norfolk Wells area, first-winter, 24th October to 6th November, photo. (A. 1. Bloomfield, J. R. McCallum, R. Waddington et al). (West Siberia; winters Southeast Europe) The current run of records continues, with at least one new individual under typical circumstances. American Wigeon Anas americana (22, 250, 9) Cleveland Cowpen Marsh and Greatham Tank Farm, S, $, 30th April, photo. (T. G. Francis, G. Joynt, C. Kehoe et al). Dorset Stanpit Marsh, first-winter 6, 8th-12th March (P. Morrison et al), also in Hampshire. Fife Stenhouse Reservoir, 6 , 1st, 9th- 10th January. Burntisland, S, lst-2nd January, 6th, 9th February, two 6 6, 4th January. Lochore Meadows, 6, 17th-3 1st January, 5th- 12th February, 3rd April (per D. E. Dickson). Two 6 6 involved, both presumed same as 1993 below. Hampshire Tanner’s Creek, first winter 6, 13th March (S. G. Keen), same as Dorset. Lancashire Leighton Moss, 6, 7th-9th, 20th December (A. Schofield, J. Searle et al). 1988 Cleveland See below. 1989 Cleveland Seal Sands, Greatham Creek, Saltholme Pools, 6, since 1988 {Brit. Birds 82: 514), to 23rd January (per G. Joynt). 1992 Grampian Loch of Skene, first-winter 6, 16th to at least 22nd November (A. Aitken, J. Vaughan et al). 1992 Strathclyde Campbeltown Loch, 6, 2nd February to 14th April, photo. (E. J. Maguire et al). 1993 Fife Stenhouse Reservoir, 6, to 13th March {Brit. Birds 87: 514), to 9th March only. Burntisland, two 6 6, 16th October to 29th December; presumed one of same, Lochore Meadows, 17th to at least 23rd November (per D. E. Dickson), both presumed returning 1992- 93 individuals. IRELAND Cork Whitegate Bay and Rostellan Lake, 6, 4th December to 1995, presumed same as 1992/93 and 1993/94 {Brit. Birds 85: 514; 87: 515). Cork/Limerick Charleville Lagoons, first-winter 6, 3rd December to at least 25th February 1995. 502 Rogers et al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Donegal Lough Swilly, adult 6, 22nd to 23rd January. Dunfanaghy, adult 6, 20th March. Fermanagh Castlecaldwell, Lower Lough Erne, 6, 9, throughout January', believed to be the same as those recorded in 1991, 1992 and 1993 (Irish Birds 5: 85, 214). Londonderry Lough Beg, adult d, 25th to 27th May (perhaps the same as one reported a few days earlier at Belfast Harbour Pools, Down). Wicklow Blessington, adult d, 25th September to 1st October. 1986 Londonderry Lough Foyle, d, 5th October (Irish Birds 3: 616), should be deleted: this was 9, as correcdy stated in Irish Birds (4: 86). 1993 Cork W^tegate/Rostellan area, d, since 1992 (Btii. Birds 87: 515), remained to at least 19th Februaiy, returned 16th October and remained to 1994. Reenydonegan Lake, 9 or juvenile d, 12th October. 1993 Wexford Tacumshin, adult d, 14th March. (North America; winters USA and Central America) It is always difficult to identify particular occurrence patterns or new individuals of this species, but 1 994 clearly saw no great influx of new blood. Common Teal Anas crecca A. c. carolinensis (13, 321, -) A drake showing the characters of the North American race A. c. carolmensis was recorded as follows: 1990 Humberside Hornsea Mere, 7th April to 5th May (T. D. Charlton ei al.). (North America) This race is no longer considered by the Committee. American Black Duck Anas mbripes ( 1 , 1 8, 2) Scilly Tresco, d, 1st April to 1995, photo. (R. J. Hathway ei al.) (plate 152, on page 516). IRHGVND Cork Lissagriffin, 3rd September to at least mid October. 1993 Cork Ballycotton, d, 26th to 28th January'; same individual al Loughaderry from 30th January to al least 9th February. (North America). The latest new arrival in Scilly looks set to continue the long- staying tradition. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors (19, 168, 5) Cleveland Reclamation Pond and Haverton Hole, $, intermiltenlly, 30th August to 29th September (M. J. Gee, C. Kehoe ei al). Devon Roadford Reser\’oir, d, 17th-21st October (I. Kendall, S. G. Madge, P. Stone et al.). Kent Stoke Lagoon, 9, 18th-30th May, consorting with d Northern Shoveler A. elypeata (T. E. Bowley, D. L. Davenport et al.). IRHIANO Wexford L.ady’s Island Lake, d, 9th November. Wicklow Kilcoole/Newcasde, 9, 11th to 21st September. 1987 Down Quoile Pondage (Irish Birds 3: 617) was 6. (North America; winters south to Brazil) A decline in fortunes from the higher totals of the 1980s, but the traditional habits of autumn occurrence and making friends with Northern Shovelers A. elypeata remain. Ring-necked Duck Ayihya eollans (1, 334, -) 1991 Humberside Hornsea Mere, d, 25th May (4’. D. Charlton, C. R. Hine). 1992 Higliland Loch Morlich, 9, 29th October to 5th December fS. Blamire, T. M. Brereton, D. M. Pullan et al.). 1992 Humberside Hornsea Mere, d, 5th April to 2nd May (T. D. Charlton et al.), presumed same as 1991 above. 1993 Cleveland/Durham Crookfoot Resereoir, d, 9th- 10th May (B. J. K. Caswell, G. Jovnt), presumed same as Cleveland and Durham, May 1993 (Bril. Birds 87: 515). British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 503 1993 Scilly Tresco, 6, 23rd September (R. J. Amfield, R. J. Hathway et al). 1993 Yorkshire, West Pugneys Country Park, d, 7th September (P. Smith), presumed returning 1991 West Yorkshire individual (Brit. Birds 85: 516). IRELAND 1990 Armagh Ellis’s Gut, Lough Neagh, S (Brit. Birds 87: 516), refers to Co. Down. 1990 Down See 1990 Armagh, above. 1993 Kerry Kallamey, d, January to March and November to March 1994. CNforth America; winters to Central America) The female at Loch Morlich was discovered on the same day as the regular male reappeared (Brit. Birds 87: 516), but neither then nor during subsequent observations did they seem to show any particular interest in each other, despite the fact that both departed at about the same time. The Humberside individual in both 1991 and 1992 provided yet another example of short-staying apparent passage migrants in spring. There are as yet few clues as to where these birds are summering. This species is no longer considered by the Committee. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis (0, 7, 2) Gloucestershire Lechlade, d, 10th November to 28th December, photo. (C. Menendez, S. N. Thomson et al.) (plates 150 & 151, on page 516). Lancashire Pine Lake and Dockacres Gravel-pit, first-winter d, 18th-31st December, photo. (W- C. Aspin, P. J. Marsh, J. F. Wright et al). (Western North America; winters south and east to Colombia) With two further records, this species looks destined to become an annual feature in these Reports. King Eider Sornateria spectabilis (62, 74, 4) Fife Tayport, d, 2nd January' to 26th February; same, Luckv' Scalp, River Tay, 2nd March; presumed same, Tentsmuir Point, River Tay, 16th October to 1995 (O. Campbell et al), presumed returning 1993 individual (Brit. Birds 87: 517). Presumed same as Ythan Estuary', Grampian, below. Methil, $, 20th September (D. E. Dickson et al). Grampian Ythan Estuary', d, 26th March (C. H. & the late A. G. Clarke, C. Hill et al.)', same, Murcar, 6th July (G. Buchanan, A. Webb, R. White); presumed same. Girdle Ness, 12th June I (Dr I. M. Phillips, K. D. Shaw); also in Fife. Kingston, d, 2nd May (M. J. H. Cook); presumed same, Lossiemouth, 9th October to 1995 (C. A. Gervaise, R. A. Mavor, R. Proctor et al). Shetland Mousa Sound, first-winter d, 8th January to at least 29th April (P. M. Ellis et al.)', presumed same, as first-summer, Sumburgh Head, 16th July to at least 21st August (M. Heubeck et al). West Voe of Sumburgh, 9, 16th to at least 24th January (M. Mellor et al.)', presumed same, Wadbister Voe, 24th November (A. & J. Clifton). Raewick, Redayre and Tresta area, d, since 10th November 1993 (Brit. Birds 87: 517), to 11th September (per K. Osborn). 1993 Fife Tayport, d, to 6th March (Brit. Birds 87: 517), 13th March (per D. E. Dickson). 1993 Highland Brora, d, to Nth Februaiy (Brit. Birds 87: 517), 19th March, 5th-8th May (A. Vitteiy') . (Circumpolar Arctic) The male regularly visiting Brora, Highland, was apparently missing this year, as was one of the regulars on the Ythan Estuary. A further Shetland record remains under consideration. Common Scoter Melanitla nigra M. n. americana (0, 5, 0) Individuals showing the characters of the North American and East Siberian race M. n. ameticana were recorded as follows: 1992 Highland Burghead Bay, d, at least 8th December (Brit. Birds 87: 518), locality is in Grampian. 504 Rogers et al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 1993 Grampian Findhom, 6, 23rd Febmar\’ (R. J. Evans); presumed same, Burghead, 12th March (M. C. Dennis et al.), presumed same as December 1992 (Brit. Birds 87: 518). 1993 Highland Dornoch, 6, 21st April (Brit. Birds 87: 517), 6th-7th March, 4th April (I. A. MacDonald per A. Vitterv’). (Northern Holarctic). Obser\^ers are reminded that excellent views and descriptions are required to substantiate claims of this race. Bufflehead Bucephala albeola (5, 2, 2) Cleveland Coatham Marsh, first-summer 6, lst-7th June, photo. (D. J. Britton, I. Foster, E. M. Laverick et al.). Nottinghamshire Colwick, 6, 17th-26th March, photo. (S. Boot, M. C. Dennis et al.) (plates 148 & 149, on page 516). (North America) The publication of these records does not constitute any official endorsement of their status as wild birds, but merely that in both cases their identification was established beyond doubt. The last British record, however, from South Uist, Western Isles, from 14th to 18th March 1980 (Biii. Birds 74: 464) and most of the Western Palearctic records from 1980 onwards suggest that the date of discovery of the Colwick individual does no harm to its credentials as a wild bird. Black Kite Milviis rnigraris (5, 193, 26) Avon Walton-in-Gordano, 1 4th May (R. J. Pn,-therch) . Cleveland Billingham, 17th August (M. A. Blick). Cornwall St Bur\'an area, 18th-21st May (G. Hobin et al.). Dorset Portland, 4th May (G, Walbridge, J. Williamson). Abbotsbury, 10th May (S. A. Groves). Edmondsham, 16th June (H. G. Woeid Homer). Essex Rayleigh, 9th May (R. & Mrs S. Peppiatt). Colne Point, 10th May (N. Han’ey). Hampshire Pig Bush, New Forest, 9th May (G. Maclean, P. Pearson). Kent Bough Beech Reseiroir, 24th April (C. Bond, M. C. Buckland, J. Tilbrook et al.); 9th May (C. Newton, S. R. & Mrs J. R. Penv'). Pegwell Bay, 12th May (D. C. Gilbert). Dover, 13th May (J. T. Smith). St Margaret’s Bay, 15th May; 30th May (A. J. Greenland). Lancashire Preston, 24th April Q. G. & P. M. Hall), presumed same as A4erseyside. Lincolnshire Boston, 4th June (P. A. & Mrs P. J. Hyde). Merseyside Seaforth, 24th April, photo. (P. Kinsella, T. Vaughan, S. Young et al.) (plate 164, on page 532), also in Lancashire. Norfolk Beeston, 29th April (D. Bryant, N. Owens, J. C. Wasse et al.)-, same, Blakeney, 29th 0. Gallagher). Cromer, 2nd May (B. J. Murphy). Attleborough, 15th May (C. & Master J. Knott). Scilly St Maiy’s, 22nd April (G. M. Haig); same, Tresco, 22nd-24th (R. J. Hathway et al.). Strathclyde Pinwherry, Ayrshire, 6th June (P. McEwen, A. Stevenson). Surrey Capel, 15th May (W. Attridge, D. C. Fraser). Tyne & Wear Tynemouth, 28th April (T. J. Tams), probably same as North Yorkshire. Wiltshire Little Durnford, 4th June (G. D. Pictor, Miss G. M. Young). Aldboume, 12th June (G. L. Webber). Yorkshire, North Scarborough, 28th April, photo. (P. J. Dunn), probably same as Tyne & Wear. 1989 Humberside Hornsea Mere, 12th May (T. D. Charlton, J. Dale). 1991 Dorset Near Cranbome, 23rd May (W. Hayloff, S. S. King, G. Shepherd). 1991 Humberside Hornsea Mere, 11th May (T. D. Charlton, T. Isherw'ood, A. Shepherd). 1993 Devon Teignmouth, 18th August (R. Normand). 1993 Hampshire Wendleholme, Warsash, 28th April (R. K. Levctt). (Most of Eurasia, Africa and Australia) The best year ever, with an impressive number of spring overshoots in the South and Southeast, but sightings remain as brief and elusive as ever. Eliminating duplication is difficult witli such mobile birds, but the ongoing upward trend is clear enough. Nevertheless, observ’ers British Birds, vol. 88, no. 1 1 , November 1 995 505 should resist the temptation to jump to conclusions with this species, as both Marsh Harriers Circus aemginosus and dark Honey-buzzards Pemis apivorus need to be eliminated carefully. Many claims continue to be superficial and unconvincing. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus alhicilla (many, 23, 1) Northumberland Rayburn Lake, Morpeth, first-winter, 21st March (A. D. McLevy). (Southwest Greenland, Iceland and northern Eurasia) This bird’s proximity to Scotland and the reintroduced population there raises the question as to where any arbitrary geographical dividing line should be drawn. Pallid Harrier Circus rnacrourus (3, 4, 0) 1993 Essex HoUiweU Point, second-summer 6, 13th- 15th June (E. Jackson, D. & P. J. Low, J. & Mrs I. Miller, J. C. Sutherby). 1993 Leicestershire Saddington Reservoir, S, 15th September (D. J. S. Gamble). 1993 Shetland Exnaboe area, juvenile, 15th-16th September, photo. (D. & J. Coutts, J. N. Dymond, H. R. Harrop, M. Mellor et ai). 1993 Tayside Locality withheld, 3, probably second-summer, 5th-7th May (J. Craib, R. Etheridge, Mrs W. Mattingley). (Eastern Europe east to western China; winters from southern Europe south to southern Africa and east to Southeastern China) Undoubtedly amongst the highlights of 1993, these four accepted records place the species well and truly back on the British scene after 40 blank years and more than double the all-time total. Their lucky observers will be widely envied. This influx sits neatly in the context of larger-than-normal numbers in northern Europe in 1993 (Brit. Birds 87: 4; 88: 268). Those in spring are clearly overshoots, whereas those in autumn, both miraculously on the same day, were caught up in a strong easterly flow which was responsible for the arrival of many large birds of prey, notably Honey- buzzards Pemis apivoms. The Tayside individual is perhaps of greatest interest in that it exhibited territorial behaviour and drew attention to itself by its display and call. One further report from 1993, in Humberside in September, remains under consideration. It has also been brought to our attention that the adult male reportedly shot ‘in east Dorset’ on 11th April 1938 (Bnf. Birds 32: 150), and stiU in identifiable condition at the County Museum, Dorchester, is in fact labelled as having been obtained at Whatcombe, near Blandford Forum. On a technical note, the BOURC is currently considering the question of transferring this species from Category B to Category A. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (11, 6, 0) 1992 Greater London Hampstead Heath, 6, 3 1st May (M. A. Hardwick). 1968 Cornwall St Ives, 31st May (Biit. Birds 62: 466), was first-summer 8, correct date 30th. The following records are now considered to have been inadequately documented: 1969 Cornwall Porthgwarra, 11th October (Brit. Birds 63: 274). 1971 Scilly St Agnes, 28th October (But. Birds 65: 331). 1973 Glamorgan, West Vale of Neath, 7th November (Brit. Birds 67: 319). 1973 Staffordshire Cannock Chase Reservoir, now Chasewater, 4th November (Bril. Birds 67: 319). 1973 Sussex, West Steyning, 4th November (Brit. Birds 67: 319). 1983 Humberside Atwick, 14th June (Brit. Birds 79: 541). (Iberia, Northwest Africa and southern Europe eastwards into Asia; winters 506 Rogers et al.: Rare birds in (jreat Britain in 1994 Africa south of the Sahara) Following the review of post- 1958 records, the six listed above have been considered inadequately documented. The review therefore considerably alters the status of this species in Britain and further emphasises its occurrence here largely as a spring overshoot rather than an autumn vagrant. Of the 17 currently acceptable records, only three now fall in October/November, with a clear majority falling in May/June, a pattern more consistent with what one might expect from a species with such a southerly distribution. This places the 1992 record neatly into the established pattern and it is noteworthy that its occurrence coincided with the second of tu'o large waves of Red-footed Falcons F. vespertinus in that month. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertimis (100, 522, 19) Cleveland Hartlepool Headland, 9, 24th May (C. Kehoe). Cornwall St Columb Major, first-summer S, 6th-l 2th June (S. M. Christophers, A. Grundon el al.). Humberside Spurn, 9, 12th-13th May (F. Baudet, J. Cudworth et al.). Kent Stodmarsh, first-summer 9, 9th- 1 1th May (R. Boulden, D. C. Gilbert). Lancashire Leighton Moss, 9, 27th-28th May, photo. (P. J. Marsh et al.) (plate 165, on page 532). Lincolnshire Kirkby Moor, 9, 14th- 19th May, photo. (G. P. Catley, A. Parker er al.). Donna Nook, 9, 22nd-25lh May (A. H. J. Harrop, J. Wright et al.) (fig. 1, on page 510); same. North Coates, 26th (per G. P. Cadey). SuflTolk Great Livermere, 9, 25th-29th May, photo. (T. Humpage, T. Stopher et al.). Minsmere, 9, 29th May to 3rd June (S. Dove, A. Lapworth, A. Smith et al.). Sussex, East Icklesham, 9, 30th May to 12th June (I. Hunter). Yorkshire, North Scarborough, first-summer 9, 6th May (R. H. Appleby). Yorkshire, South Rovd Moor Reservoir, 9, 28th May Q. E. Dale, N. E. Parker, M. Wells et al.). 1990 Strathclyde Southend, Kinwre, 9, 19th August (E. J. Maguire). 1992 Hampshire King’s Sombornc, first-summer 6, 21st-22nd June (J. G. Grafton, T. J. Norriss) . 1992 Highland Loch Flemington, c?, 15th- 16th May (M. Har\ey, A. E. McNee, G. Presi). 1992 Norfolk Winterton, first-summer 8, 9, first-summer 9, 14th May (G. M. Cresswell). IKl'IAN’l) Cork Cape Clear Island, second-year 6, 4th May. Londonderr>' l.ough Beg, 6, 22nd to 29th May. Tipperary' Rockwell, 9, 15th May. Waterford Helvick Head, 9, 5th May. Wexford Near Kilmore Quay, 9, 3rd to at least 20th May. Wicklow Five-mile-point/Kilcoole, 9, 15th to 16th May. Blessington, 9, 19th May. At sea Fastnet Rock area, 9 , came aboard fishing boat 32 km off Co. Cork, 3rd May, cared for and released at Youghal on 17th May. (East Europe to Central Siberia; winters Africa) An at erage showing, and no surprises in either dates or locations. Of particular interest, however, is the great preponderance of females, for which no obvious reason presents itself Pre\-ious influxes, including the invasion of 1992 (Brit. Birds 87: 223-231), have contained no such imbalance between the sexes. ITe late acceptances for 1992 raise that year’s total to an astonishing 125. The field identification of this species has recently been reviewed by Brian Small (Bril. Birds 88: 181-189). Gyr Falcon Falco rusticoliis (many, 106, 5) Orkney North Ronaldsay, first- or second-year 9 , white-phase, 5th March tt) 2nd May Q. Cutt, P. J. Donnelly, S. D. Stansfield et al.)-, presumed same, Stronsay, 12th- 18th April (J. F. & Mrs S. M. Ht>lloway). Plate 146. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, Tresco, Scilly, September 1994 (Reston Kilgow) Plate 147. Below, hybrid Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps X Little Grebe Tachybaptus nificollis, Cornwall, August 1994 (P. Hopkins) 508 Rogers ei al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Shetland Easter Quarff, $, white-phase, 18th February’ (H. R. Harrop, M. Mellor). Mid Yell, first-winter d, white-phase, 14th February’ (P. V. Har\-ey, D. Suddaby); presumed same, Haroldswick, Unst, 20th (M. J. Macleod, M. G. Pennington), Westings, Unst, 28th (per M. G. Pennington), Sandwich, 14th April (M. Heubeck). Nesbister, 16th March (C. J. Fraser), presumed same as one or other of above. Western Isles Hirta, St Kilda, white-phase, 14th April (J. Vaughan). IRELAND Mayo Clare Island, adult 9, found moribund, mid May. 1992 Donegal Bunbeg, 14th March. (Circumpolar Arctic) Despite some long stays in the Northern Isles, appearances were often brief and widely separated in time and location, thus hindering attempts to determine the true number of individuals involved. Several records from earlier years remain under consideration. Further to the list of records of white-phase individuals in the 1993 Report {Bnt. Birds 87: 520), it is now known that the one at Glen Tanar, Grampian, on 18th April 1973 {Biii. Birds 67: 318) was also white-phase. Little Crake Porzana parva (68, 30, 1 ) Dorset Stanpit Marsh, juvenile moulting to first-winter 6, 17th August, photo. Q. Hall, D. N. Smith el al.). (Central and East Europe and West Asia) This species remains unpredictable in its occurrences, this being the first since 1987. Common Crane Gms gms (many, 1242, -) 1986 Cheshire Burton Point, at least 25th August (Bril. Birds 87: 521), entered Clwyd daily, 18th-28th (E. J. Abraham). 1986 Clwy’d See above. (Scandinavia east to Central Siberia; winters North Africa and Middle East east to Southeast Asia) This species is no longer considered by the Committee. Little Bustard Tetrax letrax (92, 15, 1) Shetland Fair Isle, S, 5th-6th November (Mrs E. A. Riddiford, Dr R. Riddington, N. C. Ward et al.). (Breeds France, Iberia and Northwest Africa eastwards through southern Europe to Kazakhstan. The northern French population probably winters south to Iberia) Always a major prize, this ranks high on the list of liighlights of autumn 1994 and fits well into the established late-autumn/early-winter pattern. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus hirnantopus (98, 196, 1) Kent Dungeness, 11th July (D. Okines). Norfolk Titchwell, since 17th September 1993 (Brit. Birds 87: 521), to 1995, photo. (B. J. Robson et al.). IRELAND 1993 Cork Dunworly Bay, adult, 12th April. 1993 Wexford Lady’s Island Lake, adult 9, 10th to 24th April. (Southern Eurasia, Africa, the Americas and Australia) With only one new bird, this was the worst showing since 1982. The Norfolk indix'idual looks set to become a permanent resident. Collared Pratincole Glareola pralincola (31, 48, 2) Gloucestershire See Hereford & Worcester. Hereford & Worcester Bredon’s Hardwick, 4th May (R. W. Price, S. M. Whitchouse et al.), flew into Gloucestershire (per A. Jayne); presumed same, near Hereford, 20th May (S. Coney, C. Wells). British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 509 Norfolk Titchwell, lst-3rd, 14th July, photo. (B. J. Robson, C. Samuels et al.) (plate 166, on page 532); presumed same, Cley, intermittently, 4th-20th (per G. E. Dunmore). (South Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa; winters Africa) A swift response to the request in the Report for 1992 {Brit. Birds 86: 476), but this species remains rare and shows no signs of regaining its levels of occurrence of the 1970s. The one in Norfolk was the first in that county this century. Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivamm (0, 5, 0) 1993 Suffolk Havergate, 4th, 19th September (C. A., M. L. & W. R. Cornish, S. Denny). 1993 Sussex, East Pevensey Levels, 29th-30th August (D. & J. F. Cooper, R. D. M. Edgar, R. J. Fairbank et al). (South and East Asia; winters India east to Northern Australia) The Committee could find no direct evidence to link either of these records with that of the 1993 Norfolk individual, which was last seen on 17th August (Brit. Birds 87: 522). It is clearly possible for only one erratically wandering bird to have been involved, but it seems equally reasonable to treat those in East Anglia as relating to the same bird and that in Sussex as a separate occurrence. Collared/Oriental/Black- winged Pratincole Glareola pratincola/ maldivamm/ nordrnarmi (36, 99, 2) 1993 Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, 21st September (T. J. Edwards). The totals include those specifically identified. Killdeer Plover Charadrius vocifems (9, 40, 0) 1993 Shetland HiUwell and Brake area, 17th-18th March {Brit. Birds 87; 522), full dates 13th- 20th. (North America) The one on Anglesey in December 1993 referred to in last year’s Report {Brit. Birds 87: 522) lingered into 1994 (plate 161, on page 525), but still remains to be properly documented. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fidva (0, 28, 2) Cornwall Hayle, adult, 26th August (C. Batty, A. S. Disley) (fig. 4, on page 513). Humberside South Ferriby and Read’s Island area, adult, lOth-llth July (G. P. Catley, S. Roudedge) . 1990 Clwyd Oakenholt Marsh, adult, 2nd-4th August, photo. (I. Higginson et al). 1990 Lancashire Pilling, adult, 22nd July to at least 6th August (Brit. Birds 85: 525), 24th (P. J. Marsh, T. Wilmer et al). IRELAND 1993 Dublin Swords Estuar>^, adult, 3rd to 5th August. 1993 Wexford The Cull, adult, 21st to 24th July; same individual at Tacumshin, 24th July to 2nd August. (North and Northeast Asia and Alaska; winters southern Asia, Australia and western North America) It is quite possible that the one in Humberside was the same individual as that in the same area on similar dates in 1993 {Brit. Birds 87: 524), whilst the Clwyd occurrence echoes that of a specifically indeterminate bird at the same locality on 23rd July 1989 {Btit. Birds 86: 477). The first British records also involved presumed repeat performances at Aberlady, Lothian, on 10th- 16th July 1976 and 9th July 1977. The pattern of summer and early- autumn adults is now well established, but are we missing juveniles later in the autumn? 510 Rogers el al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Uff Fig. 1. Female Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, 22nd May 1994 (John Wright) .. I - , f e u. 5 f •* • ' (Xat . -.4- , 4-1 . !•> 1 • . > " f t.«f "J »r ,1 (i I dr:- f--t Wf»>> , CW «V, ,1 b ^ » V f- 'StSSa^ t M * t < i I: I ij yri ' <4 4-1 Fig. 2. Adult White-rumped Sandpiper Cah'diis fusdcallis, Leicestershire, 21st July 1994 (John Wright) British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 511 «r-«^ r* o«-rrvj , d ttt.#./- . ho p -f «-^ h»f^ W»’^3 *• • « o4 ’<, h» «AVO*ViO bv.,rf’^ Vw''^C ’«*' rsili*jo». • ^ ^ ' o/" • L rv*<*\ trf'J'U < ff “ j wViht frw,j^*s^ • -t. ft- '-♦♦N4 i ». . »'A^t ir^>v •»»»-«■• . ■I ^ b^rt" W »>v ••<' l»Tv- • .cr*t, ••It H.U.>3 V- r f*i-t-*V ,’t/J*^ H< 5V©f-<-^jX*. 5e»«v.h»»'« w<*- • AcJ-' «^v«j^e 1on5ic • t-»/ J»-4.-v • ^r*wci^ jf#A ^ ♦ ftrf- aO 4- ir.<.*rf 4e*tr».* « aA^-«" . 5’ tvorvt l^f’c* W* T«»« WW I CM# rv 1 ) 1 W./t. Ao 51 #rh • f t>-#rt T..,^j ^c«> fttjyfi I 0^<»i»4^ kwj^u cri • f f*^-«. H^;tcX #. f- vtic| ^ ( 4 ^ it / I »tv . i ■>* • J.**< \ 0 based in the Manu Biosphere Reserve with optional extensions. ■ Prices from £2649 per person. All Year. A flexible programme allowing you to explore this ornithologically rich area of Spain. TRINIDAD All Year. We are UK agents for the Pax Guest House. Birding packages from £859 inci flights/accom/meals Ft birding! 0 0117984 24HR BROCHURE LINE 0117 961 0874 COTA DONANA FLYDRIVE OR 01603 767757 INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, BANK ROAD, BRISTOL BS15 2LX lABTAl D2229 I AT A iii The definitive binocular. Outstanding twilight performance, maximum contrast, optimum brilliance and first class image quality. Thanks to a totally new optical system with major improvements to many important details. A waterproof, nitrogen filled housing with DesignSelection styling for good looks and maximum ease of handling. The perfect synthesis of function, convenience and prestige: technical precision in its most attractive form. In other words a new dimension in binocular technology from Carl Zeiss, guaranteed to withstand the excesses of climate and nature for the next thirty years. The mark of Carl Zeiss quality Night Owls 7x45 B, 8x56 B, 10x56 B For the full 'Facts and Figures' about Carl Zeiss binoculars, please complete the coupon below and send to: Carl Zeiss Limited, Binocular Division, Dept. BB, PO Box 78, Welwyn Garden City, Flerts AL7 ILU. Name Address Postcode ZEISS British Birds, vol. 88, no, 11, November 1995 513 iSroVAini-bl-y grey underviingsj ayiUerieS ■Nere noted tne bird flew OinsetSize compar\s>on e>lonc)Slde a 3ug $ Ruiff bhoooed Just Inovo SnoaU tbe bird reallvi was . Ojff , Opposed to tbe StnKirvg iWWite axlUerles on European tdcAden plcwer. t Nl^en inuncv^ed tloe bior^ winged as in American Cj. P. Contrast between mante/scapulars and thie whitish wing Co»erbS was often veru) apparent . Fig. 4. Adult Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fiilva, Cornwall, 26th August 1994 {Antony S. Disky) 514 Rogers el al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 White-nimped Sandpiper Calidris fiiscicollis (24, 332, 9) Cheshire Frodsham, adult, 1 1th August (E. J. Abraham, W. S. Morton, D. Roberts). Kent Cliffe, adult, 12th-14th August, photo. (R. C. Peters et al). Leicestershire Rutland Water, adult, 2 1 st-24th July, photo. (T. P. Appleton, A. H. J. Harrop, A. Lees el al.) (fig. 2, on page 510). Strathclyde Barassie, adult, 27th-29th August (R. H. Hogg ei al). Tumbeny Point, adult, 17th September (R. H. Hogg). 1RHI.AND Cork Lissagriffin, 7th September. Inchydoney, adult, 8th September. Rosscarbeiy-, juvenile, 14th October. Wicklow Kilcoole/Newcastle, adult, 10th to 17th September. 1993 Cork Ballycotton, adult, 20th to 24th July. Kinsale Marsh, juvenile, 1st to 10th October. 1993 Wicklow Kilcoole, adult, 13th to 14th August. (Northern North America; winters southern South America) An unimpressive showing of the now-expected early-aummn adults, though inland records are rare. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidm bairdii (5, 163, 6) Cumbria South Walney, juvenile, 14th-15th September (W. Makin, P. Zaltowski el al). Leicestershire Eye Brook Reser\’oir, juvenile, 17th-26th September, photo. (A. H. J. Harrop, L. Proctor, J. Wright el al) (fig. 3, on page 511). Northamptonshire Stanwick Gravel-pits, adult, 31st July to 1st August, photo. (C. J. Coe, F. C. Smith ei al). W'estem Isles St Kilda, age uncertain, 16th-20th August (T. J. Dix, J. Vaughan, J. A. Wolstencroft). 1990 Suffolk Easton Bavents, juvenile, 27th October to at least 1st November {Brit. Birds 86: 480), 27th October only. 1993 Norfolk Titehwell, adult, 25th August {Brit. Birds 87: 526), 27th (C. & D. K. Lamsdell). 1993 Orkney North Ronaldsay, juvenile, 4th-llth October (M. Gray et al). IRK1.AND Cork Inchydoney, juvenile, 6th September. Kerry Blackrock Strand, juvenile, 3rd to 5th September. (North America and Northeastern Siberia; winters South America) An average number, though, as with the previous species, note the inland occurrences. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata (5, 16, 1) 1973 Cheshire See below. 1973 Clwyd Shotton, Flintshire, 14th-24th October {Brit. Birds 67: 323), was on Shomaek Fields, flew across Cheshire boundar\' briefly on 16th (E. J. Abraham). IRH1.AND Wexford Taeumshin, adult, 7th to 20th August (plate 159, on page 524). (Northeast Siberia; winters New Guinea and Australasia) None in Britain in 1994 but the first Irish record. Broad-billed Sandpiper Lirnicola fakinellus (23, 150, 7) Cleveland Saltholme Marsh, 5th-7th May, photo. (D. Clayton, G. Joynt, J. Grieveson et al). Greatham Creek and Greenabella Marsh, 22nd-26th July (N. A. Preston, A. J. Whecldon et al). Seal Sands, juvenile, 27th September to 3rd October (T. G. Francis, R. M. Ward et al). Hampshire Pennington Marsh, 2nd-7th May Q. M. Clark, J. A. Eyre, D. Gumn et al). Kent Shellness, 3rd May, photo. (R. E. Jackson). Elmley, 19th-22nd July (J. A. Rowlands et al). Strathclyde Balephetrish Bay, Tiree, 13th May (P. A. Fraser, C. J. Murphy). 1992 Cleveland Greatham Creek and Seal Sands, 3rd-6th June {Brit. Birds 86: 480), delete P. A. A. Baxter. Additional record: Greenabella Marsh, 23rd June (P. A. A. Baxter et al). IRI-LANl) 1993 Kerry Rough Point, Castlegregory, adult, Nth to 18th July. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 515 (North Eurasia; winters southern Asia and Australia) A typical set of May and July records, though autumn juveniles remain hard to come by and are therefore highly prized. With the late acceptances detailed here, Cleveland is making a bid to rival Norfolk as the premier county for this species. Norfolk had its first blank year since 1988. Great Snipe Gallinago media (180, 73, 4) Norfolk Sheringham, 17th September (D. P. Appleton, K. B. Shepherd et al). Orkney North Ronaldsay, 1st October (M. Gray). Honeysgeo, South Ronaldsay, 20th October (T. Dean). Shetland Geosetter, 29th September (N- Alford, N. R. Stocks). (Northeast Europe and Northwest Asia; winters Africa). Four records is higher than the average, and there were five in 1993. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus (9, 171, 3) Cornwall Crowdy Reservoir and Davidstow Airfield, age uncertain, 17th-23rd September, photo. (A. & P. Blonden, G. P. Sutton et al.). Norfolk Penmey, 28th April (J. D. Geeson et al). Tayside Montrose Basin, adult, 10th-29th July (G. M. Addison, M. S. Scott et al.)-, presumed same, as returning individual, 17th-24th September (M. Groves, D. Whitton et al). 1968 Norfolk Snettisham, juvenile moulting to first-winter, 7th-30th September (D. J. Holman et al), previously accepted as unspecified dowitcher (Brit. Birds 62: 468). IRELAND 1987 Kerry Akeragh Lough, 13th September to 26th October. 1993 Clare Lough O’Donnell, 30th October. 1993 Cork Ballycotton, juvenile, 24th September, joined by another juvenile on 25th September. (North America and Northeast Siberia; winters USA and Central America) A poor year. Spring ones are still good finds. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (12, 68, 5) Kent High Halstow area, 8th-16th May, 12th, 25th June, 3rd July (P. G. Akers, P. Larkin); presumed same, Cliffe, 7th July to 22nd August, photo. (D. Mercer et al, per D. W. Taylor), possibly same as Surrey. Northamptonshire Earls Barton Gravel-pits, 19th-23rd April, photo. (G. P. Douglas, S. R. Mawby et al). Surrey Old Woking, 4th-7th May (J. Gates et al), possibly same as Kent. IRELAND Wexford North Slob, two, 17th August, one remaining to 21st August. (Southeast Europe, Asia; winters Africa, South Asia and Australia) The records here are well in line with the average of recent years, apart from small influxes in 1984 and 1990. Greater YeUowlegs Tringa melanoleiica (12, 17, 1) Cumbria Carr Beds, Rockcliffe, juvenile moulting to first-winter, 15th-28th October, 12th-13th November, photo. (A. Cremin et al.) (plate 163, on page 525). 1992 Cambridgeshire Welches Dam, 24th May (R. M. Patient, B. J. Small et al). (North America; winters USA south to southern South America) These, including the late acceptance, are the first in Britain since the record three in 1985. The Cumbria individual may well have been the same as one present at Zeebrugge, Belgium, from 27th November to 2nd December (Brit. Birds 88: 272). This remains a very rare bird, given to prolonged absences. Plates 148 & 149. Male Bufflehead Encephala albeola, Nottinghamshire, March 1994 (Ian Fisher) Plates 150 & 151. Male Lesser Scaup Aylhya affinis, Gloucestershire, 14th December 1994 (J. F. Cooper) Plate 152. Below, male American Black Duck/l;j<^ mbripes, Scilly, October 1994 (Rob Wihon) British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 517 Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes (35, 193, 2) Dorset Coward s Marsh, Christchurch, first-winter, 30th November to 3rd December; same, Stanpit Marsh, 3rd-6th, and Wickfield area to mid month, photo. (A. Hayden et al.) (plate 162, on page 525). Norfolk Cley, 13th-15th May, photo. (T. C. Davies et al). (North America; winters southern USA, Central and South America) A very poor showing indeed, and not a single one in autumn. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia (6, 99, 4) Cambridgeshire Fen Drayton, first-winter, since 7th October 1993 (Brit. Birds 87: 529), to 1st May (per R. AUison). Kent Near Ashford, adult, 14th-15th June, photo. (Dr C. Powell et al). Norfolk Welney, juvenile moulting to first-winter, 18th September to 27th January 1995 (J. B. Kemp et al). Nottinghamshire Hokne Pierrepont, first-winter, 17th December to 5th January 1995, trapped 28th December, photo. (B. & J. Ellis, A. W. Mason, D. C. Wood et al) (plates 121 & 122). 1992 Yorkshire, West (Brit. Birds 87: 529); two previously overlooked records probably related to this same individual: Wath Ings, South Yorkshire, 24th-25th May 1982 (Brit. Birds 76: 498), and Ingbirchworth Reservoir, South Yorkshire, adult, 13th-28th September 1983 (Biit. Birds 77: 527) (per J. M. Turton). IRELAND Kerry Dunquin, 22nd June. (North America; winters USA south to Uruguay) This species, along with Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes, remains strangely rare (particularly in autumn) and, for the time being at least, is occurring largely as a winterer. Grey-tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes (0, 1, 1) Grampian Burghead, juvenile, 27th November to 27th December, photo. (P. T. Hirst, J. M. Stenning et al.) (plate 160, on page 524). (Breeds Northeast Siberia; winters Southeast Asia to Australasia) The second for Britain and the Western Palearctic, following the one at the Dyfi Esmary, Dyfed/Gwynedd, from 13th October to 17th November 1981 {Brit. Birds 80: 540; 88: 255-262). Not a wholly surprising re-occurrence given the length of the species’ migration and its previous history of vagrancy to both the Western Palearctic and the Nearctic. The nearest part of its breeding range lies west of the Yenisey, and is therefore closer than that of both Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata and Red-necked Stint C. nificollis. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor (1, 251, 3) Devon Lower Tamar Lake, first-winter, 4th-6th September, photo. (D. Churchill, J. Hawkey et al). Norfolk Locality in Broadland, age uncertain, 16th-20th September (P. J. Heath, B. W. Jarvis et al). Somerset Steart, first-winter, 10th- 15th September, photo. (B. Jones, N. Milbourne, R. Musgrave et al). (North America; winters South America) After 1993’s complete blank, a small September scattering, but stiU well below average by the standards of the 1970s and 1980s. Laughing Gull Lxirus atricilla (2, 61, 2) Tayside Kinnaber, juvenile moulting to first-winter, 16th October (R. D. Goater). IRELAND Armagh Reedy Flats, Lough Neagh, second-winter, 25th August. (North America; winters USA to South America) No documentation has yet been received for claims in Devon and Merseyside. 518 Rogers et al.: Rare birds in Great Hritain in 1994 Franklin’s Gull Lams pipixcan (0, 28, 2) Cornwall Hayle, adult, 21st October (M. C., P. & Mrs S. M. Combridge el al.). Devon Topsham, adult, 25th June (P. & Mrs C. Leigh et al.). (North America; winters South America) With none in Britain before 1970, this species has missed only two years since 1979. Records are always weU scattered, both in location and in time of year. Bonaparte’s Gull Lams Philadelphia (11, 69, 3) Cornwall Marazion area, adult, 3rd-5th May (D. J. D. Hickman et al.). Essex Hadleigh Marsh, adult, 27th August (P. D. Green, A. R. Perkins, C. Todd). Stafifordshire Blithfield Reserv'oir, adult, 4th-6th October (E. S. Clare et al.). 1961 Sussex, East Portobello, Brighton, immature, 20th June (Brit. Birds 55: 574), now considered inadequately documented. (North America; winters USA to Mexico) A typical scatter, in both number and location, but well short of the record numbers in 1990. Iceland Gull Lams glaiicoides L. g. kumlienil thayeri (0, 20, 11) Individuals showing the characters of one or other of the western races L. g. kiimlieni or L. g. thayeri were noted as follows; Grampian Banff, adult, 27th March (D. P. Appleton), probably also present 4th, 29th Januaiy, 3rd-9th April, presumed same as 1993 (Brit. Birds 87: 531). Shetland Virkie, adult, 3rd February (D. Coutts, I. Sandison). Lerwick, adult, 8th, 14th February (D. Coutts, C. Donald, I. Sandison); same, Scalloway, 11th, photo. (P. Sclater el al.). Lerwick, adult, 9th- 10th February (P. M. Ellis et al.); first-w'inter, 10th February to 10th March, photo. (P. Sclater et al.); first-winter, 7th-29th March, photo. (D. Suddaby et al.); second-winter, 25th Januaiy, 6th-10th Februaiy (L. Dalziel, D. Suddaby et al.). Bigton, remains of adult, 6th Fehmary, photo., now at National Museum of Scotland (P. M. Ellis, M. Heubeck et al.). Western Isles St Kilda, adults, 25th Januaiy to 6th February, two, 28th to 2nd (T. J. DLx, K. Douglas). 1979 Cornwall Penzance, adult, 3rd-15th March, photo. (W. R. Hirst, L. P. Williams). 1992 Lincolnshire North Hykeham, adult, 18th December (K. E. Durose). 1993 Highland Inverness, adult, 27th Februarv (Bril. Birds 87: 531), first-named observer was S. G. Addinall. IRH1.AND Cork Adrigole, adult, 25th March. Kerry Blenneiville, adult, 8th to 27th March. 1992 Cork The Lough, adult, 9th to 1 1th January. 1 993 Cork The Lough, adult, 24th December to February 1 994, probably the same individual in the three successive winters (see 1992 Cork above and Brit. Bird'! 86: 489). 1993 Dublin Skerries, third-winter, 12th September to 26th March 1994. (Canada; winters North America) A remarkable surge of records which, particularly in the case of non-adults, may have something to do with observers scrutinising Iceland Gulls more closely. Nevertheless, an influx is clearly indicated here. Identification of these races can be fraught, to say the least, and the Committee has had considerable difficulty in drawing a line between ‘pure’ glaiicoides types and those showing traces, however subtle, of plumage feaaires suggesting an origin from within the kumlienil thayeri part of the dine. For this reason, a number of other records since 1990 remain under consideration. Assessment of some of the above was helped greatly by photographic evidence. The recent paper by Weir el al. (Brit. Birds 88: 15-25) reminds us that periodic invasions of Iceland Gulls to the northwestern Palearctic may occasionally contain a high proportion of pale-winged kumlieni. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 519 Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea (2, 61, 5) Cleveland Hartlepool, first-winter, 11th April (M. J. Gee, C. Kehoe ei al). Cumbria Workington, first-summer, 26th-30th June, photo. (A. F. Gould ei al). Lancashire RossaU Point and Reetwood Marina, adult, 12th- 17th March, photo. (A. Heath, R. Scholes, M. A. Stephens et al.)^ also in Merseyside. Merseyside Seaforth, adult, 23rd March, photo. (A. Pryce, G. Thomas, S. White et al.), presumed same as Lancashire. Tyne & Wear Sunderland, adult, 26th February to 7th March, photo. (A. & J. Brooks et al.) (plates 153 & 154). Western Isles Drimsdale, South Uist, second-summer, 12th-14th May, photo. (T. J. Dix, S. Robson et al.) (plate 156, on page 521). 1993 Highland Inverness, first-winter, 30th January’ to at least 25th March (D. McGinn, A. F. McNee, G. Prest). (Northeast Siberia and Canada) An above-average showing, with some typical late- winter/spring dates. The one in Cumbria echoes the first-summer individual which lingered in Dorset (then Hampshire) from 16th June to 20th August 1974 (Brit. Birds 68: 320). Although the North Sea continues to produce a high percentage of records, it is clearly also worth looking for this delightful gull in the West. Plates 153 & 154. Adult Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea, Tyne & Wear, 5th March 1994 (F. Golding) 520 Rogers et al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Ivory Gull Pagophila ebiimea (76, 39, 0) 1993 Shetland Whalsay, first-winter, 13th December, was presumed same as CoUafirth and Leru'ick {Brit. Birds 87; 532), (Arctic) The first blank year since 1987. Gull-billed Tern Gebchelidon nilotica (52, 195, 2) Hampshire Milford-on-Sea, 12th May (P. Combridge). SciUy Gugh, 3rd May (W. H. Wagstaff et al.). 1993 Dorset Stanpit Marsh, 5th October (Brit. Birds 87: 532), also 6th (L. Chappie). 1993 Norfolk Burnham Norton, 6th August (V. Eve, M. E. S. Rooney). (Almost cosmopolitan, nearest breeding colony is in Denmark; European population winters Africa) Typical brief appearances from this ‘hard to get to grips with’ rarity. The Committee would still be interested in comments on the South Coast records in the 1960s (Brit. Birds 88: 379-380). Caspian Tern Sterna caspia (30, 202, 2) Cheshire Neumann’s Flash and Marbuiyy 12th June (P. M. Hill, P. E. Kenyon, M. Miles); same. Fiddler’s Ferry, 1 2th (K. G. Massey, J. Williams) . D>fed Skomer, 28th May (P. Oakes, M. S. Wallen). 1993 Humberside Southfield Reservoirs, Goole, 13th May (C. Featherstone, H. Grewar et al.), presumed same as Warwickshire, 10th, Derbyshire, 11th, Nottinghamshire, 12th (Brit. Birds 87: 532). (Almost cosmopolitan except South America, everywhere local; European populations winter Africa) Touring individuals, particularly inland, are becoming a regular feature. The individual in Cheshire repeats occurrences there in 1993 (Brit. Birds 86; 490) and 1988 (Brit. Birds 83: 467). Such repeat visits echo similar events in east Norfolk in 1991 and 1993 and raise the question of how many (or few) may be involved. Lesser Crested Tern Sterna betigaknsis (0, 4, 0) Cleveland Hartlepool Headland, 12th May (T. G. Francis, M. J. Gee, C. Kehoe). Seaton Snook, 18th May (R. M. Ward); 26th May (G. Joynt). Teesmouth, 21st May (A. J. Wheeldon et al.). North Gare, 28th May (M. J. Gee, C. Kehoe et al.). All presumed same as Fame Islands, Northumberland. Northumberland Fame Islands, $, intermittently, 29th April to 24th August, presumed returning 1993 individual (Brit. Birds 87: 533), again paired with Sandwich Tern 5. sandvicemis, one egg hatched, no young reared (K. Gillon et al., per B. N. Rossiter) (plate 157); presumed same, Hauxley, 4th June (A. D. McLev'}' et al.), Cresswell Pond, 3rd July (P. W. Davidson, M. S. Hodgson, K. Robson et al.). 1993 Humberside Beacon Ponds, Easington, 1 5th-20th June (A. L. Dawson, C. Dennison et al.), presumed same as Northumberland (Brit. Birds 87: 533). (North and East Africa, east to Australia; winter quarters uncertain) An orange- billed tern at Ross Back Sands, Northumberland, on 12th June was almost certainly this same individual. ‘Elsie’, as she is nicknamed, hatched an egg on 1 0th July, but the chick died on 1 5th, on which date another chick strongly reminiscent of the 1 989 and 1 992 hybrid offspring was located. It later became clear that one of this bird’s parents was a ‘Sandwich Tern’ with more yellow on its bill tlian normal. The chick fledged on 28th July and moved away from the islands on 7th August. The adult was presumably the returning 1989 or 1992 hybrid and tlie young a second-generation hybrid. Both birds were seen together at Musselburgh, Lothian, on 28th August. Plate 156. Second-summer Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea, Western Isles, 14th May 1994 (John Metcalf) Plate 157. Below, female Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis with hybrid chick among Sandwich Terns S. sandvicensis. Fame Islands, Northumberland, July 1994 (Mat Cottam) A W 522 Rogers el al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri (0, 21, 2) Dv'fed Fishguard, first-winter, 1 0th- 1 1th January-, photo. (D. J. Astins, B. Atkinson, S. Earl et al.). Lothian Musselburgh area, first-winter, 16th December to 1995, photo. (C. N. Davison, K. Gillon et al.). IRELAND 1993 Wexford Wexford Harbour, 17th March to 2nd April {Brit. Birds 87: 533), stayed to 1st May. (North America; winters USA and Mexico) Two new individuals break the recent dearth of records. Coincidentally, the only previous Scottish record was at exactly the same site in 1985 (Brit. Birds 79: 557). Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus (3, 16, 1) Cumbria Foulney Island, 3rd-5th June, photo. Q. Fairhurst, B. Makin, C. Raven et al.). Yorkshire, West Fairburn Ings, 3rd June (J. Glendinning), presumed same as Cumbria. (Caribbean, West Africa, Indian and Pacific Oceans) The unbroken run since 1988 continues. The West Yorkshire bird was seen at 07.30 and then — presumably the same individual — appeared in Cumbria at midday, thus illustrating how far and fast some of our rarities can move in a day. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus (20, 88, 7) Buckinghamshire Willen Lake, two, 16th-21st May, photo. (N. J. Phillips et al.), probably same as Norfolk. Essex Abberton Reservoir, 3rd-12th May, photo. (D. Rhymes et al.) (plate 155, on page 521). Gwent Llandegfedd Reservoir, adult, 1 5th-28th July, photo. (C. Hatch, J. Waddington et al.). Hereford & Worcester Bredon’s Hardwick, 1st May (R. W. Price, S. M. Whitehouse et al). Kent Dungeness, 5th-6th May, photo. Q. R. Hunter, R. J. Price et al), also in East Sussex. Norfolk Rockland Broad, two, 15th May (D. Lester et al), probably same as Buckinghamshire. Sussex, East Rye, 7th-8th May (D. J. Funnell et al), same as Kent. Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, 2nd May (B. Milton et al). (South Eurasia, Africa and Australia; European population winters Africa) An above-average showing. Previous records of duos were in West Glamorgan in 1974, Sussex in 1979, Avon in 1983 and Hampshire in 1988. Most probably related to pairs if, as BWP suggests, pair-bonding persists from year to year. No documentation has been received of two said to have been at Cley, Norfolk, on 22nd May. White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucoptenis (50, 606, 20) Cumbria Barrow-in-Furness, adult, 17th July, photo. (M. Cope, C. Raven et al), presumed same as Barton-on-Humber, Humberside, below. Devon Dawlish Warren, adult, 6th-7th August (R. L. & Mrs J. M. Smith et al). Essex Hanningfield Reservoir, adult, 31st July (J. Miller et al). Gloucestershire Frampton-on-Severn, juvenile, 31st October (N. Smart). Grampian Loch Spynie, adult, 20th July (C. Gerv'aise et al). Hertfordshire Wilstone Reservoir, juvenile, 24th-27th August (G. J. White, R. Young et al). Humberside Barton-on-Humber, adult, 16th July (G. P. CaUey, S. Routledgc), presumed same as Cumbria. Southfield Reservoir, adult, 5th August (C. Fcatherstone). North Cave, juvenile, 21st-24th October, photo. (G. Dayes, S. Martin et al). Leicestershire Watermead Park, adult, 12tli July, photo. (R. E. Davis, R. M. Fray, P. Morris et al). Lincolnshire Messingham, juvenile, 25th July, photo. (J. T. Harriman et al). Lothian Gladhouse Reservoir, juvenile, 15th October (Dr L. L. J. Vick). Norfolk Lakenhcath Hashes, adult or second-summer, 5lh June, pluHo. (M. G. Kerby, S. H. Mustoe, D. R. Watson et al). Sheringham, Cley and Blakeney area, adult or second-summer, British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 523 4th-l 1th November (K. B. Shepherd et al.). Locality in Broadland, adult, 19th-23rd November, photo. (B. W. Jarvis et al). Nottinghamshire Lound, adult, 5th August (W. Collingham, G. & P. Hobson et al). Colwick Park, Netherfield and Holme Pierrepont, juvenile, 24th September to 9th October (A. S. Boot, M. C. Dennis et al). Shetland Hillwell and Loch of Spiggie, 7th- 14th June, photo. Q. N. Dymond, M. Mellor, A. Sinclair et al) . Shropshire Ellesmere, juvenile, 6th November to 1st December (R. M. Stokes, M. Webb et al). Suflfolk Walberswick, 6th-7th June (S. H. Piotrowski, C. S. Waller el al). Minsmere, adult, 4th August Q. King, R. Moore et al). 1993 Cambridgeshire Nene Washes, 28th-29th May, photo. Q- R- Baxter, J. B. Kemp, K. J. Warrington et al). 1993 Lancashire Marton Mere, second-summer, 25th-26th June {Brit. Birds 87: 536), to 28th (per M. Jones). (Southeast Europe, Asia and Africa; European population winters Africa) An average number, but containing the earliest ever juvenile and some particularly noteworthy late-autumn individuals lingering in the mild weather, one of which remained into December and became Britain’s latest ever. Brunnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia (2, 27, 2) Lothian Musselburgh, 6th Februaiy' (Dr B. D. & Dr M. Griffin). Shedand Wadbister Voe, recently dead, oiled, 12th February', photo. (M. Heubeck et al), now at National Museum of Scotland. (Circumpolar Arctic) Another tantalising duo, including a standard Shetland corpse, but also a further live individual at the same site as one in 1993 {Brit. Birds 87: 536). Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius (6, 31, 1) Dorset Hengistbury' Head, 20th April (D. N. Smith). (South Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa; winters Africa) A fairly typical date, but only the second Dorset record, the first being m 1989. The patterns of occurrences and ages of Great Spotted Cuckoos in Britain & Ireland were recently reviewed by Peter Lansdown and illustrated by Ren Hathway {Brit. Birds 88: 141-149). Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus (22, 35, 2) Dyfed Near St David’s, 30th October (K. J. S. Devonald, T. J. Price). 1RE1.AND Antrim Carncastle, found moribund, 31st October. (North and Central America; winters south to Argentina) The first two since 1991 and the first in Wales this century. Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops (64, 22, 0) IRE1.AND 1993 Cork Inchydoney, found injured, died, 27th April. (South Europe, Russia, West Asia and Northwest Africa; winters Africa) The first since one in Dorset in 1990, and only the fourth this century in Ireland. Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca (many, 112, 3) Orkney Egilsay, S, 9, 8th October (A. & P. Sansom). Papa Westray, age and sex uncertain, 23rd October to 3rd December (M. Gray, Mr & Mrs W. hv'ine et al); presumed same. North i Plate 158. Juvenile American Golden Plover Pluvialis dorninica, St Mary’s Island, Tyne & Wear, October 1994 {Ian Fisher) Plate 159. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidm acuminata, Co. Wexford, August 1994 {Rob Wilson) Plate 160. Below, juvenile Grey-tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes, Grampian, November 1994 {Alan Tate) Plate 161. Killdeer Plover Charadrim vocifems, Holyhead, Anglesey, Gwynedd, January 1994 (Rob Wilson) 4 Plate 162. First-winter Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes, Coward’s Marsh, Dorset, 3rd December 1994 (G. J. Amstrong) Plate 163. Below, juvenile Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca, Cumbria, October 1994 (Rob Wilson) 526 Rogers et al: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Ronaldsay, as second-winter 6, 10th-17th December (M. Gray, T. Outlaw, H. Swanney el al.). Shetland See ‘At sea’ below. At sea Sea area Forties, 58° 34' N 01° 35' W, first-winter 6, taken into care exhausted on board vessel, 18th October, photo., released Fedar, Shedand, 25th, last noted 17th February 1995 (P. M. Ellis, J. Garriock el al.). 1993 Western Isles Bornish, South Uist, 23rd June (Bril. Birds 87; 538), observ ers were G. W. Dodds el al. IRELAND 1993 Donegal Aranmore Island, 24th June (Bril. Birds 87: 538), was immature 6, present from 22nd June to mid July 1994. (Circumpolar Arctic; disperses south in some winters) A fairly typical number of records for recent years. The male released on Fetlar may have a lonely time as there were no records of females there in 1994, for the first time in over 30 years. Pallid Swift Apiis pallidiis (1, 9, 0) 1993 Norfolk Burnham Norton, 25th July (J. Charman, P. R. Colston el al.). IRHIAND 1913 Down St John’s Point, S, collected, 30th October. The specimen is in the National Museum, Dublin. (Northwest Africa and Iberia to southern Iran; winters Africa) This brings the 1993 total to two, with one seen in 1992, but a seven-year gap to the previous records in 1984 of this very difficult species. The Irish record predates the previous first for Britain & Ireland. Alpine Swift Apus melba (150, 348, 10) Kent Capel Le Feme, 23rd April (D. A. Gibson). Capel Lx Feme and Folkestone, 19th-20th May, photo. (B. Cox, J. A. Flynn, D. A. Gibson el al.). Norfolk Beeston, 27th-29th April (Miss J. R. Damon, D. A. Riley el al.)', presumed same, Titchwell, 30th (A. Culshaw, N. Harwood, G. Shorrock). Northumberland Bamburgh, 26th April (D. G. & Mrs S. A. Bell); same. Fame Islands, 26th (M. Cottam). Shedand Noss, 2nd-30th July (C. Barton, C. Donald, E. Stuart el al.). Strathclyde Ailsa Craig, rccendy dead, 10th July, photo., now at National Museum of Scotland (B. Zonfrillo). Lunga, Treshnish Isles, Argt'U, 11th July, photo. (R. Craig, A. Mawdsley, J. W. Proudlock ei al.). Suffolk North Warren, 23rd April (R. N. Macklin). Tyne & Wear Jesmond, 13th, 15th June (M. P. Frankis). Yorkshire, North Filey, 27th April (H. M. & W. H. Lealman, H. J. Whitehead). 1992 Hereford & Worcester Upton Warren, 24th May (P. S. Anstis el al.). 1992 Strathclyde Balgray Reservoir, 2nd May (Bril. Birds 87: 539), to 16th. 1993 Kent Capel Lx Feme, 29th June (D. A. Gibson). Cheriton, 20th September (D. A. Gibson) . (South Eurasia, Northwest and East Africa; winters Africa) A below-average total for recent years, but the one in Shetland was the longest-staying individual so far. The identification pitfalls of this species were discussed by Alan Dean (Bril. Birds 87: 174-177) and subsequent correspondence has indicated variability in the shape of the beUy-patch (Brit. Birds 88: 52, 335). European Bee-eater Merops apiaster (154, 327, -) (South Europe, Southwest Asia and Northwest Africa; winters Africa) This species is no longer considered by tlie Committee, but, for the benefit of county and regional records committees, M. J. Rogers recently reviewed the British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 527 identification pitfalls and assessment problems relating to this species {Brit. Birds 88: 221-223). European Roller Coracias gamdus (135, 89, 1) Cornwall Penlee, 29th May (R. J. Bedford, J. S. Holmes). 1992 Kent Monkton, 15th June, photo. (A. E. Eley). (South and East Europe, West Asia and Northwest Africa; winters Africa) One to three individuals of this spectacular species have occurred annually since 1989. Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra (0, 3, 1) Western Isles St Kilda, 21st September (T. J. DLx, J. Vaughan). (Iberia and Morocco eastwards through the Mediterranean to Kazakhstan and Afghanistan; mainly resident, but partial migrant in east) A wonderful find in a spectacular setting. Previous records were in Dorset in 1961, Shetland in 1978 and Scilly in 1985, all in April. Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (40, 394, -) 1993 Gwynedd South Stack, Anglesey, 25th May (the late A. G. Clarke). 1993 Scilly St Marsh’s, 12th October, present since 6th (D. J. Holman et al). 1993 Shetland Banna Alinn, West Burra, 26th-27th May {Biit. Birds 87; 541), named observers should include H. R. Harrop. (South Eurasia; winters North Africa) These additional records bring the 1993 total to 20. This species is no longer considered by the Committee. Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella nifescens (37, 5, 0) 1992 Dorset Portland, 2nd May (I. R. Dickie, K. E. Vinicombe et al). (Spain and North Africa eastwards to Manchuria; mainly resident and dispersive, but eastern populations winter south to Pakistan) A marv'ellous find and somewhat overdue, the first British record to come before the BOURC and predated only by an inexplicable series of records in Eeland: 30 in January 1956, five in March 1956, two in May 1956 and five in March 1958. . Red-rumped Swallow Hinmdo dawica (7, 242, 20) Essex Barling, 23rd-27th May, photo. (P. Green, A. R. Perkins, C. Todd et al.) (plate 167, on page 533). Humberside Messingham, 23rd April (W. GHlatt). Kent Stodmarsh, 8th May (G. F. A. Burton et al). North Foreland, 28th October (M. H. Davies). Norfolk Winterton, juvenile, lst-8th November, photo. (P. K. Batchelor, B. J. Murphy,]. C. Wasse et al), presumed same, 15th (P. J. Ransome); presumed same, Cley, 12th-14th (M. Kenefick et al.)-, presumed same, Sheringham, 14th (K. B. Shepherd, M. P. Taylor). Brancaster, Burnham Norton, Holme and Titchwell area, three adults, 6th-llth November (D. Crisp, B. J. Robson, M. E. S. Rooney, R. Q. Skeen et al), possibly same as Nottinghamshire . Northumberland Doxford Lake, 18th- 19th November; same. Long Newton, 20th (R. Har\?ey et al). Nottinghamshire Clumber Park, two, 29th October, 1st November, three, 30th-31st October, 2nd-3rd November, photo., all probably adults (I. Draycott, A. J. Mackay et al), possibly also in Norfolk. Scilly Tresco, 28th February to 28th March, photo. (R. Gleadle, R. J. Hathway, W. H. Wagstaff et al). Suffolk Minsmere, 27th May (D. Fairhurst, D. T. Ireland et al). Landguard, 26th October (I. R. Hartley, D. Rafe, J. Tobias et al). 528 Rogers ct al:. Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Sussex, East Beachy Head, 3rd May Q. F. Cooper). Cuckmere Valley, 19th May (R. Izzard, N. J. Thomas). Wight, Isle of West High Down, 18th May (F. Hamilton, R. PeroUs). 1993 Essex East Tilbur\’, 26th September, now considered same as Isle of Grain, Kent, 25th (Bni. Birds 87: 542). IRKIAND Cork Cape Clear Island, 3rd May. Ballycotton, 4th September. 1992 Wicklow Arklow, 20th April. (South and East Eurasia and Africa; winters Africa) An above-average year, the only higher totals being 64 in 1987 and 32 in 1990, when small groups also occurred in late autumn. Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii (1, 0, 1) Suffolk Landguard, first-winter, 4th- 10th November, trapped 10th, photo. (M. C. Marsh, N. Odin, B. J. Small et al.) (fig. 5), taken by Common Kestrel Fako linnuuadiis on 10th, tail feathers retained by R. I. Thorpe. Crown grcy-tawny, streaked dark brown-black- \'arying, according to angle, in slrenglh Supercilium, lores and area below eye pale cream; supercilium short behind eye, weak in front; lores — faint line in front of eve Ear-coverts \'ery even colour; slight hollow- centred look; unstreaked; grey-tawny; black moustachial stripe as cuive below eye Nape and sides of neck grey, tawny, streaked/spotted darker — only slightly fainter than crown • Mantle as crown: very distinct streaks, brownish but not so contrastingly dark as on Richard’s Tertials centred dark brown, edged cream; two longest tips quite close together Short-tailed appearance and size most noticeable in flight Bill relati\'cly short and pointed; quite straight culmen ridge; culmen ridge and tip dark black — ^rest flesh- pale fail extension beyond tertials less than length of exposed tertials. Short wedge up inner web of second outer tail feather Vent as belly Legs raw sienna to orange-straw Malar streak weak; not forming dark triangle but broken spots — on creamy-white chin and throat V Median coverts with brown-black centres, edged and tipped whitish, forming distinct wing-bar Greater coverts brown-black, paler than median coverts; edged cream; tipped white, forming wing- bar (wing-bars most visible from rear) Hind claw short and curved; less than length of toe; pale greyish Underparts overall cream; peachy along flanks hut pale (not contrasting white) overall lone Fig. 5. Hlyth’s Pipit Anthus godleivskii, Suffolk, November 1994 (Brian Stnall) British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 529 (Southern Siberia, China and northeastern India; winters India, Sri Lanka and Andaman Islands) A number of earUer claims of this ‘difficult’ species remain under consideration. This one, well watched, photographed and examined in the hand before its ultimate fate as a meal for the local Kestrel, proved the ideal candidate for acceptance and one which wiU greatiy assist the Committee in its assessments of some of the others. We hope that the backlog can be cleared without further long delays. This record is stiU to be considered by the BOURC regarding a change of category, from B to A, on the British List. Ohve-backed Pipit Anthiis hodgsoni (1, 185, 6) Essex Pitsea, 13th January to 26th February, trapped 19th February, photo. (S. Woods et ai). Fife Isle of May, 3rd November (A. Robinson). Hampshire Warsash, 7th November (D. A. Christie). Scilly St Marys’s, 14th October (E. D. Lloyd). St Martin’s, 24th October (R. J. Arnfield). Shetland Tingwall, 24th September to 1st October, trapped 24th September, photo. (G. W. Petrie, P. Sclater el ai). 1992 Kent Capel Le Feme, 12th-15th October, photo. (D. A. Gibson, J. P. Siddle et al). 1993 Kent Sandwich Bay, 6th October {Biit. Birds 87: 542), now considered inadequately documented. 1993 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 24th September (M. Gray et al). 1993 Shetland Culswick, 2nd and 5th October {Brit. Birds 87: 542), 2nd only, observer C. D. R. Heard only. Additional records: Dale of Walls, 3rd October (Dr C. F. Mackenzie), presumed same, 5th (C. D. R. Heard). Norwich, two, 30th September, one to 3rd October Q. Courts, J. M. & T. P. Drew, D. J. Rigby). Fair Isle, second individual, 3rd October (D. Suddaby). Fetlar, 6th October {Bnl. Birds 87: 542), observer was B. H. Thomason. (Northeast Russia to Central and East Asia; winters southern Asia) After the flood of records in recent years (the additional records bring the 1993 total to 35), this was a very poor year. Winter records are no longer considered particularly unusual. Pechora Pipit Anthiis gits tavi (13, 32, 8) Scilly Tresco, 27th-28th October (C. Bradshaw, R. J. Hathway, D. J. Holman et al). Shetland Fair Isle, at least four: 15th- 16th September, trapped 15th (Dr R. Riddington, G. Thompson et al); 16th-18th September (N. Ward et al)-, 16th-19th September (G. Thompson et al)-, 1st- 9th October (N. C. Green, G. Thompson et al). Foula, 18th-28th September, photo. (M. J. McKee, C. Turner). Out Skerries, 13th- 14th October, trapped 14th, photo. (P. M. Ellis, Dr B. Marshall) (plates 185 & 186, on page 544). Yorkshire, North FUey, first-winter, trapped, 9th October, photo. Q. M. & R. G. Bayldon, P. J. Dunn, C. C. Thomas et al). 1993 Shetland Fair Isle, 27th September to 5th October, trapped 29th, photo. (A. J. Leitch, S. J. Read et al) (plates 183 & 184,^ on. page 544). (Northeast Russia to Central and East Asia; winters Southeast Asia) This is a record annual total, the previous highest being six in 1991. The two individuals outside Shetland (including the first for Scilly) bring additional hope to rarity- seekers away from the Northern Isles. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervmiis (30, 277, 15) Cornwall Sennen, 14th October (P. H. Aley, P. A. St Pierre, R. W. White). Pentire Point, 18th October (G. J. Conway). Essex Shoebur^mess, 21st-22nd May, photo. (I. Prentice et al). Kent Elmley, 1st October Q. A. Rowlands). Norfolk Sheringham, 2nd October (S. C. Votier). Brancaster, 6th November (V. Eve). Orkney Graemeshill Loch, in song, 16th- 18th May (R. G. Adam, K. E. Hague). North 530 Rogers el al:. Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Ronaldsay, 7th May (M. Gray, E. J. & M. G. Scott); 13th May (A. E. Duncan el al.)', 27th October (S. D. Stansfield). Scilly Tresco, 10th October (R. M. & R. P. Fray, A. J. Mackay et al.). Gugh, 14th- 15th October (M. J. McKee, D. J. Price, C. Turner ei al.); presumed same,^St Mary’s, 15th to at least 21st (O. J- Leyshon et al.). Warwickshire Lawford Heath, 22nd-28th October (R. E. Harbird, D. J. Scanlan et al.). Western Isles St Kilda, 21st-24th May (T. J. DLx, J. Vaughan et al.). 1990 Norfolk Weybourne, 19th May, photo. (R. H. Chittenden et al.). 1993 Humberside Spurn, 16th September (M. Barnett et al.). 1993 Merseyside Red Rocks, lst-2nd October (Dr J. E. Turner, E. Williams). 1993 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 10th September (M. Gray et al.). IRELAND Cork Dursey Island, 13th October. (Arctic Eurasia; winters India and Africa) This is an above-average total, but a far cry from that of 46 in 1992. The Warwickshire record is only the eighth inland. The additional records bring the 1993 total to ten. Yellow Wagtail Motadlla flava M. f feldegg (0, 6, 0) In addition to the records already listed as no longer considered acceptable {Btit. Birds 87: 543), as the outcome of a review by the BOU Records Committee, the records shown below' were assessed as no longer acceptable in a subsequent review by the Rarities Committee: 1958 Dorset Portland, 6, 9th October (Bril. Birds 53: 171). 1960 Shetland Vaila, 3, 15th May (Bril. Birds 63: 291). 1974 Sussex, West Thorney Island, 3, 23rd July (Brit. Birds 68: 329). 1978 Scilly Tresco, u««r ijwft u>Ct wetqt. ■JuvexlcE. fco&E~Cou>u v\ icM -f / ce iv<(L Jonic 8-y A f UM, S .f. (Ha Wo ^ tvA'/e. -A nA.A^ Ai4 jiAi/^ U .skJi Ih S ofik i 'cLaaaa (x A rrr dxA.A..,i A) A2. .Int^ y i k^-f (jLA) Fig. 7. Juvenile Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus, Nanjizal, Cornwall, 19th October 1993 {Nik Hando) I British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 547 1993 Cornwall Nanjizal, juvenile, 19th October (N. Hando) (fig. 7); presumed same as St Leven, 19th {Brit. Birds 87: 560). 1993 Scilly St Agnes, juvenile, 13th October (D. J. Holman); present 22nd September to 25th November (per W. H. Wagstaff). 1RH1.AND Antrim Antrim, 24th July to 3rd August. Cork Cape Clear Island, juvenile, 25th September to 19th October. (Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia; winters India) By far the largest annual total, with only 17 in 1983 and 16 in 1991 even coming close. The multiple record m Somerset is the first such occurrence of adults since the Committee came into existence. These records follow huge influxes in Bulgaria, including a roost of 3,000 on 2nd June {Brit. Birds 88: 43), and Hungary, where 550-600 pairs nested {Bnt. Birds 88; 278). Whilst some observers may find juveniles of this species dull and uninteresting, the Committee wishes that more reporters would emulate the fine examples set by Bill Simpson and Nik Hando (figs. 6 & 7). Fig. 8. Adult Rosy Starling Stumiis roseus, West Bexington, Dorset, 10th June 1994 (D. J. Choivn) Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus (1, 77, 1) 1991 Cleveland North Gate, 12th October {Biit. Birds 86: 525), to 13th (per G. Joynt). IRE1A.ND Cork Mizen Head, 8th to 10th October. (North America; winters Cuba and northern South America) None in Britain and just this one m Ireland, in a poor year here for North American passerines. Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni (30, 263, 10) Grampian Cruden Bay, 13th November (J. Oates, Dr I. M. Phillips et ai). Norfolk Brancaster, 17th- 18th April (B. Robson, R. Q. Skeen, D. Thurlow et al). Orkney North Ronaldsay, two first-winters, 9th-22nd November, both trapped 11th, one to 24th, retrapped 23rd, photo. (S. D. Stansfield et al.). Shetland Baltasound, Unst, 16th January' (H. J. Burgess, M. G. Pennington, I. Spence). Quendale, 27th-28th October (P. M. Ellis, P. V. Harvey, H. R. Hanop). Out Skerries, 28th October (P. M. Ellis). Skaw, Unst, 2nd November (H. R. Harrop). Tayside Easthaven, 22nd October (M. S. Scott). Yorkshire, North Filey, 16th October Q. W. Cooper, R. F. Dickens, S. Gwillian et al). 1993 Shetland Fair Isle, 20th-23rd May, trapped 21st (P. A. Jenks, A. J. Leitch, T. Lumsden). 548 Rogers ei al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 (Circumpolar Arctic; spreads erratically south in winter) A similar total to those of the previous two years and a decline from the large influxes of 29 in 1 990 and 63 in 1991. The Out Skerries individual made its landfall on the obser\^er. Two-barred Crossbill Lx)xia leucoptera (40, 77, 0) 1990 Norfolk Sandringham Warren, 6, 29th September {Bni. Birds 86: 526), correct dates 30th September to at least 6th October, possibly to 14th (D. J. Holman, J. A. Rowlands et al.) {Bril. Birds 84; plate 92); not same as juvenile 6, 29th-30th, not accepted (Brit. Birds 87; 570). 1991 Clwv'd Near Llanfihangel Glyn Myriy-r, 6, 3rd-26th March, photo. (M. Davies, M. G. Neal et al.). (Northeast Europe, North-central Asia, northern North America and Hispaniola; winters south and west of breeding range) The problem of distinguishing individuals of this species from Common Crossbills L. airvirosira with exceptionally broad whitish wing-bars is still very real. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pyiyopsiitacus (10, 470, 1) Shetland Kergord, first-winter 9, 19th-20th October, photo. (P. M. Ellis, D. Suddaby el al.). 1991 Northumberland Harwood Forest, two 9 9, 17th March (J. Hallowell, A. D. McLet^yO- (Scandinavia and West Russia; periodically spreads south and west in winter) The first record after two blank years and in stark contrast to the large influxes of 208 in 1990 and 51 in 1991. Care must be taken in describing the struemre of the bill of this species in sufficient detail to eliminate both large-billed Common Crossbills L. enrvirostra and Scottish Crossbill L. scotica. Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata (1, 17, 2) Avon EasU'ille Park, Bristol, 16th- 17th November, photo. (R. M. Andrews, R. Erickson-Hull, J. P. Mardn, A. J. Musgrove et al.) (fig. 10, on page 550). Dyded Ramsey Island, 31st October to 4th November, photo. (K. Dobbs, D. Woodhead et al.) (plate 194, on page 553; fig. 9, opposite). (Northern and Central America; winters south to Panama) There have now been records in two successive years after a gap of five years since the previous record in 1987. Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata (0, 31, 1) Sussex, East Bewl Water, 10th-20th December, photo. (M. Scott-Ham et al.) (plate 193, on page 553). (North America; winters northern South America) Another strange winter record of an American wood-warbler. This follows Black-and-white Warblers Mniotilta vatia in Devon on 3rd March 1978 and in Norfolk during 3rd- 15th December 1985; Golden-winged Warbler Vemtivora chiysoptera in Kent during 24th January to 10th April 1989; Yellow-rumped Warbler D. coronata in Devon during 4th January to 10th February 1955; Ovenbirds Seitmts anrocapillns in Lancashire (wing only) on 4th January 1969, and in Co. Mayo (freshly dead) on 8th December 1977; and Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis ttidias in Kent during 6th January to 23rd April 1989. Song Sparrow Zonotrichia mclodia (0, 6, 1) Merseyside Seaforth, 15th-17th October, photo. (A. Pryce, T. Vaughan et al.). (North America; winters mainly within the USA) The first since 1 989 and tlie first in autumn. Its proximity to dockyards was perhaps no coincidence. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 549 Mpr-He (Jayhleir iX^dviC ^ Coro a af d , Pci*^io/dk'€sk'/e -^Kf Octetfe/'- f ujo/m ^fou/^ ff/ejtkecJ O'tcj^ oi/e^ J- //\ T«^ct!.'u/n 07^e^ o{ €«^e . t)utl C/DW<^ ^0 1*3 'TMi-a Of^ iO/CAVf. bWkliK, vjjpe^ solrc). ^^iv^ AoKvc 4a 4 p«.4je''A VeK^^ pcukkt^ pCA^dA. •f<'(x44ie»^ f0 \cd or.clJip’Air^- c!€^i i>elo(jj . C/OioA pak^ 6cWoc 54 ji4 e tA/ire,-. Jc') placed. Fig. 9. Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroka coivmta, Dyfed, October-November 1994 (D. Woodhead) 550 Rogers ei al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 wEAlC GiiffiSH wWnt ^ 5upERClUU>V^ . ^ 6ill (5UCK. - loets. CLtArfiL'i-OEPlwKi TUSoAT t^OTiCEAQLt GHiTf /-OwfC ei£- cResceAjTS. PtonHJBJT 0OI/6LE vuirtE Uj |t^G6AC5 . ^CfitA^ee. covieCTS GtAcKt^-nCEKiTCeo, WITH Ga/f- r5R£N fCiMtilS AWO eJHHE -nfsy l^w0E«PA(i4S whitish. TBZTiAlS ftlActtSH CEWtREO, WV\ni5M UffEKTAli- serooD/W?iES OAl?<. u/itH dLne-QREy PPiWQfS 6/-ACK STiZfAKwHG atTflooS TO PLA1WK5 LEGS /yuO'^'CtS Slate G55 fePEASr Almost TADes to A GPtTtsH wash iwthc ceKnCc. Fig. 10. Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata, Avon, 17th November 1994 (R. Ad. Aiidravs) Black-faced Bunting Embenza spodocephala (0, 0, 0) (Eastern Central Asia from the Altai Mountains east to Japan; winters eastern Nepal to southern China) The identification of the first-winter male which stayed at Pennington Flash, Greater Manchester, from 8th March (when it was trapped) until 24th April (plate 128) is not in dispute. Its probable origin is, however, still under active investigation by the BOU Records Committee, and is the subject of considerable debate amongst the birding fraternity, especially tlie hundreds who travelled to see the bird. The patterns of occurrences of rare passerines in Britain British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 551 & Ireland in relation to vagrancy versus escape from captivity were recently explored by Dr David Parkin and Dr Alan Knox {Brit. Birds 87: 585-592). Whatever its origin, and its eventual categorisation, this well-watched individual — potentially the first wild one for Britain & Ireland — gave pleasure to many observers. Pine Bunting Emberiza leiicocephalos (2, 22, 5) Orkney Sanday, 6, 22nd October (K. Fairclough, E. R. Meek). North Ronaldsay, 8, 28th October (P. J. Donnelly). Shetland Out Skerries, first-winter 9, 22nd-23rd October (P. M. Ellis, D. Suddaby, E. Tait). Sumburgh, 6, 23rd October (J. Clifton, H. R. Harrop, A. McCall et al). Fair Isle, S, probably first-winter, 7th November (M. A. Newall, Dr R. Riddington et al). 1990 Tyne & Wear Big Waters Nature Reserve, 2, about 18th Februaiy to 16th March, photo. (C. Bradshaw, A. Hurt, K. W. Regan et al). 1991 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 2, 12th- 13th October; first-winter 2, lst-5th November (M. Gray et al). (Urals, across Asia to Sakhalin; winters Middle East, India and China) The best year ever, the previous best being the four in 1987 and the three in 1988. The very real problems of eliminating the possibility of exceptionally pale Yellowhammers E. citrinella or, even more likely. Pine Bunting X Yellowhammer hybrids meant that a great deal of research and deliberation was necessary before the additional 1990 and 1991 records could be accepted. A great deal of useful information on the finer points of the identification of this species has, however, now come to light, particularly the need to check carefully the colour of the fringes to the outer webs of the primaries, especially on females. Interestingly, 1994 saw the first Polish record, involving a male which hybridised with a female YeUowhammer {Bnt. Birds 88: 44). Autumn vagrants were also reported in Finland (one) and the Netherlands (four to six individuals) {Biit. Birds 88: 279). Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys (0, 3, 1) Scilly St Agnes, 19th-22nd October, photo. Q. Lowes, M. Oksien, S. L. Rivers, J. F. Wright et al) (plate 190, on page 552). (Northeast Asia and East China; winters Southeast China) The age and sex of this bird remain uncertain, but it was probably first-winter. The first for Scilly. Previous records were of singles in Norfolk on 19th October 1975, Shetland on 12th-23rd October 1980 and Orkney on 22nd-23rd September 1992. Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica (34, 278, 15) Cambridgeshire Fowlmere, sex uncertain, 26th Januaiy^ to 10th March, photo. (S. L. Cooper et al). Cleveland Locke Park, Redcar, 25th September, photo. (M. R. K. Askew et al). Devon Lundy, 12th October (A. M. Jewels). Dyfed Skokholm, sex uncertain, 23rd May Q. Gale, Miss P. A. Wild). Lincolnshire North Coates, 8, 23rd-24th May (D. Bradbeer et al). Norfolk Salthouse, sex uncertain, 22nd-23rd May, photo. (J. V. Bhalerao et al). Northumberland Fame Islands, 2, 21st-23rd May (A. Baxter et al). Scilly Tresco, 11th- 14th October, photo. (Mr & Mrs T. Atkinson, M. P. Edgecombe, S. Howard et al). Shetland Boddam, 8, 14th May (E. J., J. & P. McOwat). Fair Isle, 8, 15th May Q. Reid, N. Ward et alp, 8, 26th-28th May (Dr R. Riddington, N. Ward et al)^ first-winter, probably 2, trapped 17th October (Dr R. Riddington, N. Ward et al). Loch of Splggie, 28th September (C. Barton, I. Gordon, I. A. Roberts). Western Isles Hirta, St Kilda, sex uncertain, 17th May (T. J. DLx, J. Vaughan). V t ^ri Plates 187-189. Great Grey Shrikes Lanins excubitor of eastern race pallidirostris: above, Papa Westray, Orkney, November 1994 {Anne Honrston); below and right. North Ronaldsay, Orkney, October 1994 (Steven Stansfield) Plate 190. Below, YeUow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophtys, Scilly, October 1994 (Rob i Plate 193. Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata, East Sussex, 17th December 1994 {Dave Stewart! Birding Images) Plate 194. Below, Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata, Dyfed, November 1994 {Alan Tate) 554 Rogers er al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Yorkshire, North Filey, 25th September (J. Sanderson, J. M. Turton). 1990 Cleveland South Gate, 6, 26th April (Brit. Birds 84: 501), was 22nd April. 1993 Cleveland South Gare, 16th- 19th September (Biit. Birds 87: 563), to at least 22nd (per G. Joynt). 1993 Devon Lundy, 20th October (G. K. Gordon). 1993 Greater London Beddington Sewage-farm, 9, 9th Febniaiy to 13th March, photo. (A. Greensmith, J. S. Walsh et al.). 1993 Humberside Beacon Ponds, Easington, d, 1 1th May (A. L. Dawson et al.). 1993 Norfolk Holkham Meals, 18th May (Brit. Birds 87: 564), was 18th September. 1993 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 29th October (M. Gray). 1993 Scilly St Mar\-’s, 9th-12th October (P. Higson et al.). IRBLAND 1993 Cork Old Head of Kinsale, adult 6, 9th October. (Northeast Europe across to North Asia; winters Turkestan to China and Japan) An average total, but a second winter record, in Cambridgeshire, follows the first, in Greater London in 1993. The one in Co. Cork came 34 years to the day after Ireland’s first ever. The additional 1993 records bring the total number of individuals for that record year to a remarkable 50. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla (93, 527, -) 1992 Humberside Flamborough Head, 4lh October (R. Hearn, M. Thomas et al.). 1993 Greater London See 1993 Surrey below. 1993 Merseyside Meols, 12th October (S. R. Davidson). 1993 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 13th September (M. Gray et al.)', first-winter, trapped 29th October (A. D. Mitchell et al.). Stronsay, 30th October to at least 31st December (Brit. Birds 87: 564), to 10th Februaiy 1994. 1993 Shetland Whalsay, 3rd October Q. L. In ine). 1993 Surrey Beddington Sewage-farm (Brit. Birds 87: 565), locality is in Greater London. (Northeast Europe and North Asia; winters Turkestan to India and Southeast Asia) The additional records bring the 1993 total to 45. This species is no longer considered by the Committee. Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola (10, 157, 5) Merseyside Hilbre, 9 or first-winter, 7th September (G. Broad, S. Brown et al.). Shetland Skaw, Unst, 9 or first-winter, 27th-28th August, photo. (Dr C. F. Mackenzie et al.). Fair Isle, 9 or first-winter, 9th September (Dr R. Riddington et al.)', 9 or first-winter, 18th (J. Reid et al.). Yorkshire, North Filey, 9 or first-winter, 18th September (R. E. Harbird, D. J. Scanlan et al.). 1993 SuflFolk Landguard, 9 or first-winter, 14th September (Bril. Birds 87: 565), report related to 4th September. (Northeast Europe across Northern Asia; winters India and Southeast Asia) An average total for recent years. This species is still most often encountered in Shetland, and the Merseyside record is especially unusual. The fourth French record this century was also reported, on 24th-27th October (Bril. Birds 88: 280). Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melauocephala (9, 1 08, 3) Devon Starcross, 6, 8th June (G. & Mrs P. Wills). Highland Durness, 6, 30th July (M. Fitch). Brora, S, lst-4th October, photo. (A. R. & H. 'F. Mainwood, A. Vitteiy? et al.). 1993 Devon Lundy, 6, 24th May to 4th June (A. M. Jewels, D. Parker et al.). 1993 Gwynedd Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey, S, 12th June (R. K. Treeby, D. Wright et al.). (Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia; winters India) A return to more- typical numbers after 13 in 1992 and 12 in 1993. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 555 Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheiicticus ludoviciarius (0, 23, 0) 1991 Humberside Bridlington, first-winter 6, 5th-6th November, photo. (I. & Mrs J. Atha, T. D. Charlton et al). (North America; winters Central America to Peru) The elderly owners of the small suburban garden were understandably reluctant to allow access to more than a handful of local birders. This record was later than most, almost aU of which have been in October. The only previous record in Eastern Britain was in Essex during 20th December 1975 to 4th January 1976. Appendix 1. Category D species accepted (see Ibis 136: 253) Greater Flamingo Phoenicoptems niber P. r. roseus (-, 3, 1) Grampian Ythan Estuary, adult, 31st May to 28th June, photo. (S. M. D. Alexander, P. Shepherd et al.). 1988 Shetland Pool of Virkie, adult, 27th-31st May, photo. (P. V. Harvey, Adrs L. Marshall et al). 1990 Norfolk Breydon, immature, 6th October, photo. (P. R. Allard, J. Oates et al). 1992 Yorkshire, North Bolton-on-Swale, adult, intermittently 4th-17th January (B. Miller, N. Morgan) . (Old World race P. r. roseus breeds Mediterranean area, Africa eastward to India) Widely kept in captivity and some captive-bred individuals may wander. The Committee has not yet received confirmation that the Grampian bird was also seen in Lothian and Dumfries & Galloway, and the widely publicised North Kent and Essex individual has yet to be fully processed. Falcated Duck Alna5 falcata (0, 10, 1) Essex Old Hall Marshes, 16th January to at least 11th April (C. McClure, S. D. Wood et al.). (Eastern Siberia; winters North India, Japan, Korea) The Committee would welcome identification details of currently undocumented records at the Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, in 1971 and at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, in 1976. Baikal Teal Anas fonnosa (0, 3, 1) Essex Old Hall Marshes, 6, 28th May to 12th June (D. Rhymes, C. Shields, S. D. Wood et al). (Central and eastern Siberia; winters Southeastern China, Southern Japan) This species was transferred from Category A to Category D in 1993 {Ibis 135; 495). Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostns (0, 5, 2) Glamorgan, Mid Kenfig Pool, 7th June, photo. (S. J. Moon, G. H. Thomson, H. A. Williams). Somerset Steart, 23rd June (J. R. Diamond, B. D. Gibbs). 1990 Leicestershire Rutland Water, 1 6th-20th June (A. H. J. Harrop et al). 1990 Warwickshire Kingsbur>' Water Park, 13th July to at least 19th August Q. P. Martin et al), presumed same as Leicestershire. 1990 Yorkshire, South Poneric Carr, 14th September {Brit. Birds 87: 567), to 27th October, possibly same as Warwickshire. 1991 Greater London Barn Elms Reserv'oirs, 3rd-30th August (per C. Lamsdell). (Mediterranean region of Europe, North Africa and Middle East; winters locally or south to Central and West Africa) It is just possible that the current Glamorgan and Somerset records related to the same individual. 556 Rogers et al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Chestnut Bunting Embenza riitila (0, 4, 1) Shetland Out Skerries, 9 , 2nd-5th September, trapped 3rd, photo. Q. F. & Mrs D. R. Cooper, J. D. Okill ei al.) (plates 181, on page 544, & 196, below). 1974 Shetland Foula, 9th-13th June {Bril. Birds 70: 444) was 9th-13th July {Ibis 134: 213). (Southern Siberia; winters Southeast Asia, Burma}^ All four previous records have been in June/July, but a September occurrence is perhaps a better candidate for genuine vagrancy. Plate 195. First-winter male Pied Plate 196. Female Chestnut Bunting Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka, Cleveland, Emberiza rutila, Shetland, 3rd September 6th November 1994 (C. Sharp) 1994 (J. F. Cooper) Appendix 2. List of records not accepted This list contains all current records not accepted after circulation to the Committee. It does not include (a) those withdrawn by the observer(s) without circulation, after discussion with the Honorary- Secretary; (b) those which, even if circulated, were not attributed by the obsetv-er(s) to any definite species; (c) those mentioned in ‘The ornithological year’ or ‘Recent reports’ in this journal if full details were unobtainable; or (d) certain escapes. In the vast majority of cases, the record was not accepted because we were not con\’inced, on the evidence before us, that the identification was fully established; in only a very few cases were we satisfied that a mistake had been made. 1994 White-billed Diver Loch Barraglom, Western Isles, 28th January. Little Shearwater St Catherine’s Point, Isle of Wight, 22nd May; Portland, Dorset, 31st July; Porthgw'arra, Cornwall, 4th August; Cemlyn Bay, Gwynedd, two, 1 1 th September; Hinkley Point, Somerset, 1 8th September; Brora, Highland, 21st October. Little Bittern New Hythe, Kent, 24th May; Westhay Moor, Somerset, 27th May. Night Heron Loch of Strathbeg, Grampian, 3rd May; Kcnnack Sands, Cornwall, 30th May. Squacco Heron Plymouth, Devon, 4111 May. Great White Egret Hamford Water, Essex, 8th May; Stodmarsh, Kent, 8th May; Winterton, Norfolk, 15th May; Linford, Buckinghamshire, 3rd August; Butley Creek, Suffolk, two, 6th August; Barnstaple, Devon, 6th November. Black Stork Chudleigh Knighton, Devon, 2nd February; Chilham, Kent, 22nd June; Stanwell, Greater London, 30th June. American Wigeon St Mary’s, Scilly, 20th October. King Eider North Berwick, Lothian, 1st April; Mull, Strathclyde, 2nd Deluxe version 5 CD set Special Price 1^^ The CT)-KOM Guide to the Birds of Northern Europe dir years in preparation, the ultimate ililti media encyclopedia for bird- ittchers is now available, giving you ittant access to: ► Over 1000 top quality video dips of over 330 species Over 1000 superb illustrations by Alan Harris eta/ from the Larousse Field Guide (Over 1000 recordings of songs and calls •from the definitive Jean Roche collection ■jpatible with Apple Mac, Windows 3. 1 and dows 95. (8mb RAM recommended) imJ L J — !'■ — T I l ■■ T ^ — V ... . Single CD British Species Only £49.95* Other features include: Side by side comparison of any species, in any plumage. A mini-documentary on every species in Northern Europe. Frame-by-frame analysis of the superb video clips. Highly detailed identification commentaries. BOOKS AND VIDEOS FOR BIRD WATCHERS NEW GOSNEY IN EASTERN EUROPE Share the excitement of a spring-time expedition to Poland and Hungary in search of birds such as Saker Falcon, Great Bustard, Aquatic Warbler, Red-footed Falcon. An amazing variety of birds of prey, , warblers, flycatchers and woodpeckers (every European species!) are all superbly captured on film. EBUY ALL 4 “Gosney In...” VIDEOS and SAVE £30 Mie Arctic, Eastern Europe, Israel & Mallorca for £49.80* FINDING BIRDS IN EUROPE... Dave Gosney’s outstanding series covers the whole of Europe. Each booklet provides precise up-to-date maps with details of exactly where to find the best birds in each country. Essential reading for travellers abroad. Available in this Series: Mallorca, S. Portugal, S. Spain, N. Spain, S.France, N. France, Cyprus, N. Greece, W.Turkey, Central Turkey, E.Turkey, Israel, Egypt, N. Morocco, S. Morocco, E. Poland, Flungary, Romania, Bulgaria, ■,S £5 each £6 overseas rnjoyable... very professionally produced... congratulaHonsI” Tim Sharrock ^CREDIT CARD M HOTLINE EB 1 0114-285-4085 E.Austria, Sweden, Finland, Canaries. To order your CD-ROMs, books or videos either phone or send a cheque to: Bird Guides Ltd, P.O. Box 471 Sheffield S6 2YT *P4P Please add £1 .50 for the first CD-Rom, video or CD-ROM set plus 90p for each additional item (Books are post free). Goods normally delivered in 7 days. Money back if not fully satisfied. BIRDOUiDE^ 109 Hammerton Road Sheffield S6 2NE j-^ioneerintj Llrcl loiit'S ijon can I ajj orJ to ouJa! AFRICA: BOTSWANA ETHIOPIA KENYA ■ MADAGASCAR • MALAWI MOROCCO NAMIBIA SOUTH AFRICA TANZANIA ■ UGANDA ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE Naturetrel<^ ASIA: ARUNACHAL PRADESH BHUTAN BORNEO CHINA ■ INDIA ■ JORDAN LADAKH MONGOLIA NEPAL SIKKIM ■ TIBET ANTARCTICA & AUSTRALASIA: ANTARCTICA SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NZ & AUSTRALIA • AUSTRALIA ■ NEW ZEALAND EUROPE: BULGARIA ■ CORSICA CRETE CYPRUS FRENCH PYRENEES ■ GREECE HUNGARY ■ ITALY MADEIRA ■ POLAND ROMANIA SARDINIA SLOVAKIA • SPAIN & SPANISH PYRENEES SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL COSTA RICA ■ ECUADOR ■ GALAPAGOS ISLANDS VENEZUELA RUSSIA (and the new states): RUSSIA'S BOREAL FOREST ■ VOLGA DELTA & SOUTHERN RUSSIA • USSURILAND & AMUR DELTA KAZAKHSTAN & ALTAI ■ THE BALTIC STATES SIBERIA & LAKE BAIKAL SAKHALIN & KAMCHATKA Bargain NEPAL An action-packed 10-day birding tour to this spectacular Himalayan kingdom. Just * £990!< including nearly 300 bird species and 20 larger mammals during extensive birding in me hills ol the Kathmandu Valley. Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Guided by Nepal’s lop ornithologists. Hem Sagar Baral Tika Ram Gin and Hathan Choudhary, 7Departures leaving every fnday througnout January S February 96 BHUTAN & NEPAL Our^iaUty • Over 26 birding lours and Ireks into the most exciting regions of the remote Himalaya • Private birding Ireks and lours — tailor-made to your requirements — organised for groups and individuals, with or without one of our full-time Nepalese ornithologists, • Unbeatable prices lor all Himalayan travel arrangements • Slay at KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE CAMP our own luxury tented camp, and the only accommodation at Nepal s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, one ol Asia s finest wetlands This is the only accommodation in Nepal run by birders lor birders, and with 150 species daily and 200 during a 4-mght stay, a rival to Bharatpur' WORLD ENVIRONMLM PARI\(R IW- Por our brochure please contact: NATURETREK, CHAUTARA, BIGHTON, Nr. ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE S024 9RB, ENGLAND. TEL; (Ol 962) 733051 FAX: (01962) 733368 THE ULTIMATE IN BIRDING 1996 TcTurs to • Finland & Varanfrerfjord • Poland • Bulgaria • Morocco • Eastern Turkey Israel • Yemen • UAE & Bahrain • Turkestan • Siberia • Dssuriland • Arctic Siberia Beidaihe • Hong Kong & South China • Sichuan • Tibet • Northern India • Nepal Sikkim, Darjeeling &. Assam • Southern India & The Andamans • Sri Lanka • Thailand Peninsular Thailand • Vietnam • Borneo • The Philippines • Java &. Bali Sulawesi tSi Halmahera • Gambia th’s Reed Warbler Dungeness, Kent, 2nd November. Marmora’s Warbler Kynance, Cornwall, 28th August. Greenish W’arbler Wormiston, Fife, 13th-14th May. Short-toed Treecreeper Dungeness, Kent, 31st August to 19th September, 1st- 11th December. Rosy Starling Theberton, Suffolk, 29th August; Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway, 25th September; Tomes, Devon, 12th November. 1992 Bulwer’s Petrel Point of Air, Clw>d, 11th September. Gull-billed Tern Holkham, Norfolk, 20th September. Black-eared Wheatear Folkestone, Kent, 1st October. Bonelli’s Warbler A/Iinsmere, Suffolk, 13th October. 1991 Booted Eagle North Foreland, Kent, 14th August. Pacific Golden Plover Vidlin, Shetland, 1st October. Broad-bUled Sandpiper Fareham, Hampshire, 12th- 16th Februar>-. ‘Siberian’ Common Stonechat Porthgw'arra, Cornwall, two, 8th April. Booted Warbler Stronsay, Orkney, 23rd-27th August. Great Grey Shrike mendionalis Carlton Colville, Suffolk, 18th May to 8th July. Nutcracker Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, 9th November. Parrot Crossbill Brandon, Suffolk, 29th March. 1990 Greater Flamingo rosem Walberswick, Suffolk, four, 26th November. White-tailed Eagle Broomfleet Ponds, Humberside, 3rd February. White-rumped Sandpiper Broomfleet Ponds, Humberside, 17th-21st September. European Bee-eater Battle, East Sussex, 18th June. 1989 Common Scoter americana Pennington, Hampshire, 22nd July. Red-footed Falcon Broomfleet Ponds, Humberside, 20th June. White-cheeked Tern Dungeness, Kent, 13th May, St Margaret’s, Kent, 13th May. Lesser Grey Shrike Bishop Monkton, North Yorkshire, 1st November. 1988 Little Bunting Fame Islands, Northumberland, 13th November. 1984 ‘Siberian’ Common Stonechat Gulval, Cornwall, two, 2nd April. Bhth’s Reed Warbler Holkham Meals, Norfolk, 28th-29th May. 1981 Brown Pelican Pelecaniis occidentalis Skomer, Dyfed, 1 1th April. 1979 ‘Siberian’ Common Stonechat Landguard, Suffolk, 17th April; Selsey Bill, West Sussex, 28th April; Red Rocks, Merseyside, 26th May. Appendix 3. List of records not accepted but identification proved This list pro\’ides a permanent record of those occurrences which, usually on the grounds of likely escape from capti\’it\', find no place in any categoiyy but w'hich may, at some future date, merit further consideration. It does not include (a) any record of a species for w'hich natural vagrancy is wholly unlikely or (b) those records of presumed escapes already mentioned in the main text of this or earlier Reports. The decisions have been taken by this Committee unless otlierwise shown. Ross’s Goose A}iser rossii South West Mosses, Lancashire, 5th December 1970 to 17th Januaiy 1971; presumed same, 8th December 1971 to 9th January 1972, 30th November 1972 to Januan,’ 1973, late December 1973 to 12th January 1974. Demoiselle Crane Atithropoides virgo The Fleet, Dorset, at least 29th September 1975; Spurn, Humberside, 13th-23rd September 1993, presumed same, Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, 25th, Stewartby, Bedfordshire, 2nd October, localities in Essex, 5th- 10th. Laughing Dove Strcptopclui sciicgalciisv! Scunthorpe, Humberside, 21st October 1988; Gullane, Lothian, 24th April 1988; Brighstone, Isle of Wight, 24th-25th February’ 1993, possibly since November 1992. Verditer Flycatcher Ahiscicapa ihaLissina Crail, Fife, 3rd-4th October 1993. White-cheeked Starling Snirims ciiicracais Buckie, Grampian, end January' to 12th April 1994. Long-tailed Rosefmch Uragiis sibiriais Minsmere, Suffolk, 2 1st April 1994. MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPHS LOOKING BACK One hundred and fifty years ago: ‘A List of the Migratory Birds of Provence . . . Great Grey Shrike, Lanins excubitor, and Lanins meridionalis, arrive in March and April, leave in September. These two species are rare. ‘Hedge Accentor, Accentor modnlaris. Seen in winter. Contrary to the opinion of ornithologists, sportsmen assure me that these birds cross the sea, since they are to be seen regularly about our shores in spring and autumn, at the time of their passage.’ (Lite Zoobgist 3: 1118, 1121, November 1845). Twenty-five years ago, in November 1970, the highlights were at least 2,000 Little Auks Aik alk off the Isle of May (Fife), about 45 Great Grey Shrikes Lanins excubitor and flocks of up to 300 Bohemian Waxwings Bombycilb garmlns at 75 localities in 30 counties. Three of the year’s four Pallas’s Leaf Warblers Phylhscopns proregnlns were in November, including one far inland, at Weston-under-Lizard (Staffordshire). {Brit. Birds 64: 90-92, 339-371) 559 MONTHLY MARATHON 0 We have a winner! Peter Sunesen (Denmark) has won his choice of SUNBIRD holiday in Africa, Asia or North America by achieving a 17-in-a-row sequence of correct identifica- tions, one more than any other competitor. The two birds in photograph number 109 (plate 97) were named by competi- tors as Common Buzzard Biiteo buteo (53%), European Honey-buzzard Pemis apivortts (44%) or Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis (3%); with a Rook Corviis fnigilegus (38%), Carrion Crow C. corone (38%), Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyirhocorax (14%), Yellow-billed Chough P. gracultis (8%), Common Raven C. corax, Brown-necked Raven C. nificollis. Booted Eagle Hieraaeius pennatus or a second European Honey-buzzard (all less than 1 %) . The two birds in photograph number 1 1 0 (plate 111) were named as Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga (73%), Golden Eagle A. chrysaetos (15%), Lesser Spotted Eagle A. pomaiina (6%), White- tailed Eagle Haliaeems albicilla, Steppe Eagle A. nipalensis, Booted Eagle or Common Buzzard (all 3% or less); with a Yellow-billed Chough (31%), Red-billed Chough (18%), Carrion Crow (17%), Rook (16%), Common Raven (9%), BrowTi-necked Raven, European Honey-buzzard, Marsh Harrier Circus aenigiiwsus. Hen Harrier C. cyaneus or Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus (all 3% or less). Each of the tw'o photographs shows a raptor being mobbed by a crow. The raptors are a Common Buzzard, photographed in Germany by Gunter Rinnhofer (plate 97) and a Spotted Eagle photographed in Belgium in February 1988 by Arnoud B. van den Berg (plate 111). In each case, the mobbing crow is either a Rook or a Carrion Crow, probably a Rook in plate 97 and probably a Carrion Crow in plate 111. In such cases, the photographer is naturally more concerned with photographing and identifying the raptor than the crow. When it came to check- ing the identification of the two crows, we, members of the Rarides Committee who were con- sulted and in one case the photographer himself could not be 100% positive about the identifi- cations. To be wholly fair, therefore. Rook and Carrion Crow were both accepted as correct iden- tifications for each of the two photographs. Our commiserations go to Jon Holt, who was pipped at the post by Peter Sunesen, after a tremendous neck-and-neck run. Now, however, we begin a new ‘Monthly marathon’. The first two photographs have already appeared (plate 1 26 in September and plate 1 40 in October) . The revised closing date for both of those is the same as that for the third hurdle (plate 198, below), 15th December 1995. If you fancy a free holiday in Kenya or Thailand or Texas (to give just three possible choices), have a go. Answers to 1st, 2nd and 3rd stages (plates 126, 140 and 198) can all be sent on one postcard. Start now! Plate 198. New ‘Monthly marathon’. Photo no. 1 13: third stage in eighth ‘Marathon’. Identify the species. Read the rules on page 65 of the Jaituaty issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 .tNj, to arrive by 15th December 1995. 560 MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPHS 1 O ^ This month’s mystery bird (plate 197 on page 559, repeated overleaf as plate 199) is a small, relatively dull passerine with no obvious markings. The combination of unstreaked warm-brown upperparts, steep forehead and rel- atively fine bill suggests that it is a warbler of one of the genera Acrocephahis, Locustella or Hippolais. Unstreaked Lociistella warblers, however, have long wide undertail-coverts concealing most of the underside of the tail and much darker underparts, so which of the remaining two genera is it? Tradition has it that Hippolais warblers have short undertaH-coverts and square tails (or just rounded at the corners) whilst Acrocephalus warblers have long undertail-coverts and distinctly rounded tails (Wallace 1964). To this list of Hippolais characteristics. Grant (1979) added an open-faced expression lacking dark lores and eye-stripe, stout pale legs, and uniform plumage, often pallid and lacking rich brown or rufous hues. It is rather difficult to be sure which it is. Our mystery bird appears to have a rounded tail, despite its being tightly closed. The undertail-coverts stop farther down the tail than the primaries, there are dark lores, distinct rusty hues on the flanks, and the legs do not look particularly thick or pale. There is something not quite right for an Acrocephalus about the bird in plates 197 & 199 (and even less so about that in plate 200, another photograph of the same species). The rather fuU-chested and tapering look, the pale lower mandible, combined with the rather beady eye, all seem more characteristic of a Hippolais. The undertad-coverts are, perhaps, slightly too short for an Acrocephalus, but there is little doubt about that tail shape and the dark lores. Let us take more time over it. The bird has a peaked crown, which is mid- brown in colour with darker sides just above the supercilium, which stretches from the base of the bill to the rear of the ear-coverts. The supercilium is both wider and paler in front of the eye, and becomes much narrower behind. There is a dark loral bar, which may perhaps continue behind the eye, with a white eye-ring, and ‘cheeks’ concolorous with the crown, nape, mantle and perhaps the wing-coverts, although the primaries seem to be darker. Our bird has a white throat and breast with rusty flanks, and white undertail-coverts. It is difficult to make out any colour on the tail, but there appears to be a white spot on the tip of the outer tad feather. The bid is long, with a prominently pale yeUow-pink lower mandible, and the legs are pale brown. We can exclude both of the two yeUow-green Hippolais, as, even in their ‘brown-and-white phase’ (if it exists), they would never be this' dull; Olive-tree H. olivetomm and Upcher’s Warblers H. languida, which have much heavier bids than this; and Booted Warbler H. caliga- ta, which is Phylloscopus-\)k.&, with a relatively weak bid and square tad sides. This leaves us with only Olivaceous Warbler H. pallida. That ‘has several things going for it’. The sdghtly rounded tad and short wings make the undertad-coverts look relatively long and, according to Harrap (1990), it can show slightly darker sides to the crown. Those marks above the supercdium are not, however, just ‘sdghtly’ darker, and whdst, at some angles. Olivaceous can seem to have dark on the lores, they are usuady pale. Given the clear dght, side-on view and strength of the mark- ing, it is difficult to bedeve that these are anything other than genuinely dark lores. Have we made a mistake, then, and is this an unstreaked Acrocephalus warbler. [Brit. Birds 88: 561-564, November 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 561 562 Bradshav\' & Steele: Mystery photographs Plates 199 & 200. Left, Mystery' photograph 195, repeated fi-om plate 197; right, the same species as that shown in plate 199; both Kazakhstan, June 1987 (C. Bradshazv) Plates 201 & 202. Left, Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata of the nominate race; right, Paddy'field Warbler Aavcephalns agricola; both Kazakhstan, June 1987 (C. Bradshazv) perhaps a Paddyfield A. agncola or even a well-marked Reed Warbler A. scu'paacus? Both have rusty tones on the flanks, the loral mark, and the rounded tail. Paddyfield does show the- dark mark above the eye, but also displays a supercilium at least as obvious behind as before the eye and an eye-stripe more obvious tlian this. Reed Warbler does not show the dark shadowing above the supercilium and, in addition, we just cannot get away from the fact that this bird shapes up like a Hippolais. What is it, then? More-careful reading of both Wallace and Harrap may give some clues. Both authors specify dark lores as being typical of Booted Warbler, while Harrap also cites the now well-known dark sides to the crown (a feature unknown when Wallace originally published his work in 1964). It is still difficult, however, to British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 563 reconcile the relatively large bill and rounded tail sides with that identification. There is another possibility, which is the southern race of Booted Warbler, rama. There has been little published on this race until recendy, although Svensson (1992) stated that it is stronger-billed, and more grey-brown above and paler below, with a more prominent white tip and edge to each outer tail feather; Williamson (1976) noted its longer tail; and Wallace (1980), in a postscript to his original work, cited a more prominent supercilium. Recently, further details have emerged, following records of individuals, possibly of this race, in Shetland (Osborn 1993) and Sweden. The Shetland bird was the ‘milky-tea’ colour re- garded as characteristic of Booted Warbler, with a long supercilium and dark lat- eral crown-stripe. In the field, the structure was more reminiscent of Olivaceous Warbler, although biometrics were compatible with, and perhaps slightly favoured, ra?na. Both this and the Swedish bird appear to be worn adults and the tail ends are ragged and squared off, but photographs confirm that they look longer- tailed than do nominate Booted Warblers. How does all this help us with our mystery bird? In aU honesty, not very much. This bii'd, and several others like it, were photographed in June 1987, breeding in arid scrub near Tselinograd in Central Kazakhstan. There was initial disagree- ment amongst the birders present as to what species the birds were, as also pre- sent in the same region were birds typical of nominate Booted Warbler (plate 201), with paler upperparts and underparts, shorter bills and squarer tails, nu- merous Olivaceous Warblers of the race elaeica, and, in adjacent reedbeds, Paddyfield Warblers (plate 202), showing a more prominent supercilium, better- defined loral line and longer undertail-coverts than the mystery bird. Our mystery birds flicked their tails and called a harsh ‘tchack’; they also sang from the tops of the low bushes. The song lacked the scratchy, discordant tones of elaeica and was similar to the repetitive though comparatively musical song of nominate Booted, but included episodes of rather harsher notes, resembling the call, which is typical of rama (Cramp 1992). Everyone evenmally agreed that the combina- tion of song, dark lores and dark lateral crown-stripe meant that these birds must be Booted Warblers, and that the structure pointed strongly towards rama. The rounded tail and rich coloration were not and have still not been explained. Perhaps we took too simplistic a view. Intergradation of rama and nominate Booted and hybridisation with elaeica Olivaceous Warblers are thought to occur, so a ‘hybrid’ is a possibility. Some authorities recognise another race, aunectens, which is said to be more rufous (Dement’ev & Gladkov 1968), but others feel that these are intergrades between rama and caligata or even perhaps a rufous morph of rama (S. Madge in lilt.). In addition, could there be some poorly de- scribed races of Paddyfield Warbler that we have not considered? The best guess for our mystery bird is, therefore, a Booted Warbler of the race rama, but this is by no means the last word. We should be interested to hear other opinions both on our mystery bird and on this group in general. Colni Bradshaw and Jimmy Steele 9 Tytiemouth Place, North Shields, Tyne & Wear nh30 4BJ References CrajVIP, S. (ed.) 1992. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 6. Oxford. Di-MiiN'riiV, G. P., & Gladkov, N. A. 1968. Bird; of the Soviet Union, vol. 6. Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem. 564 Bradshaw & Steele: Mysterv- photographs Grant, P. J. 1979. Head patterns of Hippolais warblers. Bni. Birds 72: 436-437. Harrap, S. 1990. Identification of Hippolais warblers. Birding World 3: 268-272. Osborn, K. 1993. The Shetland Hippolais warbler. Birding World 6: 437-438. SvKNSSON, L. 1992. Identification Gidde to European Passerines. 4th edn. Stockholm. Wallace, D. I. M. 1964. Field identification of Hippolais warblers. Brit. Birds 57: 282-301. 1980. Field identification of Hippolais warblers. In Sharrock, J. T. R. (ed.), Frontiers of Bird Identification. London. Williamson, K. 1976. Identification Guide for Ringers: 1: The Genera Cettia, Locustella, Acrocephalus and Hippolais. Tring. ANNOUNCEMENTS The ‘BB’ Award for the Best Annual Bird Report Entries are invited for the fifth annual award (see accounts of the first, second, third and fourth awards, Btit. Birds 85: 299-308; 86: 163-165; 87: 171-173; 88: 218-220), which is open to all those clubs and societies in Britain and Ireland which publish an annual bird report. The aim of the Award is to provide public acknowledgment of the high qualitt’ of publications which may generally be seen only locally, and to encourage and promote high standards in all regional bird reports. We hope that every- local bird club and society in Britain and Ireland will submit a copy of its annual report for consideration by the judges. The senior editor of the winning report will receive an inscribed book of his choice as a permanent personal memento of the award, and the club or society publishing the winning report will be authorised to use the logo of the Award on its reports and in its advertising and promotion. Entries (which need consist only of the club or society’s 1994 report and a covering note stating the number of members, the price of the report and from whom it can be obtained) should be submitted at once if available (the closing date for entries is 15th December 1995) to Bird Report Award, British Birds, Eountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Bird Illustrator of the Year The closing date for this competition is Friday 15th March 1996. Required dimensions of entries will henceforth be 16.95 cm wide X 16.8 cm deep (or 22.6 cm wide X 22.4 cm deep), 17.1 cm wide X 6.9 cm deep, and 8.5 cm wide X 6.0 cm deep, for reproduction at two-thirds (or half) these sizes. The co-sponsors for 1996 are the bird-book publishers Pica Press and T. & A. D. Poyscr. Prizes will be £100, £40 and £25 for the first, second and third, and all three winners will each be able to choose a total of 1 5 books from the Pica Pre.'^s, T. & A. D. Poyscr and Academic Pre.'ts lists. Winning and many short-listed entries will, as usual, be displayed at The Mall Galleries during the Society of Wildlife Artists annual exhibition and subsequently at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 565 ‘Zeiss’ binoculars and six-month ‘BB’ subscriptions to be won All prints or transparencies of 1995 rarities sent to the Rarities Committee for circulation during record assessments will be eligible for consideration for The Carl Zeiss Award. The year’s winner will be able to choose a pair of Zeiss binoculars (10X40, 7X42 or Night Owl 7X45), and the runners-up (and all those whose rarity photographs are published in British Birds) will receive a voucher for a free six-month subscription to British Birds. For circulation to the Committee, send prints or duplicate transparencies to M. J. Rogers, Hon. Secretary BBRC, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, St Ives, Cornwall tr26 3AZ. For publication in BB, send prints or original transparencies to Mrs Sheila Cobban, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3NJ. ZEISS Exclusive reduced-price offers It is worthwhile scanning the British BirdShop pages every month because there are always new special reduced-price book offers available for BB subscribers. All books are sent POST FREE anywhere in the World. This month’s offers include: Clarke Cramp et al. Hurford & Lansdown OgUvie & Winter Marchant & Higgins Ridgely & Tudor This month, British The Marsh Harrier Birds of the Western Palearctic Boxed set vols. 1-9 Birds of Glamorgan Best Days with British Birds Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds vol. 2 The Birds of South America vols. 1 & 2 BirdShop is on pages xi & xii (facing page 572). SAVE £2.00 SAVE £125.00 SAVE £1.00 SAVE £2.00 SAVE £25.00 SAVE £10.00 ‘BB’ ties Available exclusively to BB subscribers, these distinctive ties in blue, green, brown or maroon feature our Red Grouse logo in white. Price £6.95 (incl. VAT) post free. Please order from Ali Gathercole, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3Nj (or phone 01767- 640025 for credit-card orders), quoting quantity of each colour and your BB reference number. REQUEST Photo requirements For possible publication in future papers in BB, we welcome colour transparencies, colour prints or black-and-white prints of the following: Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea in Britain Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus American Pluvialis dominica and Pacific Golden Plovers P. fulva Adistle Thrush Turdus viscivonis (portraits and interesting behaviour) Common Starling Stumus vulgaris (portraits and interesting behaviour) Tree Sparrow Passer montanus (portraits and interesting behaviour) Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Please send slides or prints to Mrs Sheila Cobban, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. SHORT REVIEWS Irish Birds. By David Cabot. (HarperCollins, London, 1995. 224 pages. ISBN 0-00-220023-6. Paperback £1.99) The common Irish birds (143 species) each receive one page, including one or two paintings and around 150-200 words of text, covering habitat, behaviour and so on as well as identification. Unfortunately, species are grouped under habitats, which separates closely related (and therefore similar-looking) species. This silly system ought to have been discarded long ago; beginners should be encouraged to identify a bird as a warbler or a duck or a thrush as step 1 in the identification process. The artist is not cTedited on the title page and the cop\Tight cTedits ‘Artwork HarperCollins Publishers’, but by careful searching one finds that the paintings are in fact by Norman Arlott, who should sureh' have been gi\’en equal status to that of the author of the te.xt, since any identification guide depends at least as much on the reliabilin’ of the illustrations as on the reliabiliw of the accompanying words. Ikitting thc'se criticisms aside, this little Ixxik will do nothing but gexid in promoting an interest in and a sensible attitude tow'ards Ireland’s birds. JTRS Bird Habitats & Conservation. By David Chandler & Mike hangman. (Hamlyn, London, 1995. 48 pages. ISBN 0-600-57982-4. £1.99) This book provides an excellent, concise overview of bird habitats and conservation today. As part of the series of Hamlyn ‘Young Ornithologist’s Guides’, the book is dearly aimed at a younger age-group, but the comprehensive content should provide new information for even the most experienced birdwatcher. Superbly illustrated, and a ‘must’ for any young person with an interest in wildlife. Stei'c I'otier The Birds of Badenoch & Strathspey. By Roy Dennis. (Colin Baxter Photography Ltd, Grantown-on-Spey, 1995. 160 pages, isbn 0- 948661-62-3. Paperback £8.95) This handy- sized guide provides up-to-date informatktn on one of the most important and popular areas of Britain. The early chapters set the scene, describing the various habitats, climate, ornithological year and places to visit. 'Ibe species accounts are short and include a few histograms summarising the data. A checklist with bar graph is a very' useful quick source of information for working out the optimum time to see each of the 237 species recorded. David Clugsto>i Portrait of Wildlife on a Hill Farm. By Anne McBride & Tony Pearce. Illustrations by Darren Rees. (Whittet Books, London, 1995. 160 pages, isbn 1- 873580-18-5. £25.00) The farm is Gilfach near Rhayader in Powys, which has not been ‘improved’ since the seventeenth century and is now maintained by the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust. The text is readable (rather than consisting of lists and tables) and is delightfully enhanced by scores of ev'ocative paintings bv Darren Rees. JTRS Mammal Detective. By Rob Strachan. (Whittet Books, London, 1995. 128 pages. ISBN 1873580-20-7. Paperback £7.99) For the non-mammalogist, this is a fascinating book, filled with tips on how to study mammals and to identify' tlte signs which they leave in the countryside (droppings, footprints, chew marks, and so on). Includes many helpful drawings interspersed with irritatingly silly cartoons (a feature of this series, presumably intended to attract younger and less-serious readers). Inclusion of scientific names (at the very least in a short appendix) would have been helpful. JTRS Birding in Ohio. By Tom Thomson. (Indiana University Press, Bloomington & Indianapolis. 2nd cdn. 1994. 268 pages. ISBN 0-253-20874-2. Paperback £11.99) 'Phis useful book details over 300 birding sites in Ohio, listed alphabetically within each of tluec regions. County maps show the approximate locations of each site; otlier maps generally show’ location rather than trail details. Each site entry includes infomiation on habitat, access and the birds to be found. Finally, there is an annotated checklist of the birds of Ohio. If you are birding in Ohio, this bcxik is a must. Nigel Redman 566 [Ihit. Ihnh 88: 566, November 1995] it Itritisb Birds 1 .id 1995 NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Wendy Dickson and Bob Scott Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ More lottery funds for conservation We mentioned last month (Brit. Birds 88: 490) that a way had been found of securing money for conservation from the National Lottery through the National Heritage Memorial Fund. News has now reached us that a grant from this fund of £75,147 has been given to the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to purchase the 10.7-ha Buckleaze Farm on the edge of Jones’s Mill nature reserve in Pewsey. A habitat for such important birds as Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, this area of lake, reedbed, wet grassland and shallow pools is also home to some of the scarcest sedges Carex in the country, a nationally rare snail, and large numbers of butterflies and dragonflies. Once the purchase has been completed, an army of volunteers will undertake a number of habitat-management tasks. Shetland Bird Club centenary Not 100 years old, but the one-hundredth SBC Newsletter (November 1994-March 1995), published just 21 years (there’s another reason to celebrate!) after the first in January 1974. Issue number 1 00 of The Shetland Bird Club Nezvsletter includes the usual news of birds, people and plans, plus accounts of their best day’s birdwatching by John & Ad Clifton (migration on Happy Island, China) and Nick Dymond (Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis in Viemam). It was a very nice touch by the editors, Chris Donald and Kevin Osborn, to include a reproduction of the veiy first Newsletter as an integral part of the one- hundredth. Membership of the SBC is just £6.00. Write to Kevin Osborn, 20 Nederdale, Lerwick, Shedand. Cyprus expedition Thirw members of the Royal Air Force Ornithological SodeW, with the co-operation of the two Ct'prus ornithological societies, conducted an ornithological surx’ey of the Akamas Peninsula, in the extreme northwest of Cyprus, during 23rd March to 3rd May 1995. The primary aims were to determine the scale and timing of the spring migration and to record the breeding species. This was achieved by 1 ,800 man-hours of bird-ringing and over 1,200 man-hours of census fieldwork on set transects. Of the 127 species recorded, 36 were breeding. A total of 3,516 birds of 65 species was ringed. In the census area, Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala, only recently confirmed as a Cyprus breeding bird, was more numerous than Cypms Warbler S’. melanothorax. Sponsorship for the expedition was provided by the Royal Air Force Ornithological Society, the Trenchard Memorial Award Fund and Marshall of Cambridge Aerospace; logistic and administrative support was provided by Commander British Forces Cyprus. A follow- up expedition is being planned. (Contributed by J. N Wells) [Brit. Birds 88: 567-571, November 1995] © British Birds Lid 1995 567 568 News and comment Silent Fields On 24th July, on the sweltering first day of the Royal Welsh Show, William Hague visited the RSPB’s stand. John Redwood’s young successor as Secretaiy of State for Wales paid tribute to the Society’s work, noting that its membership was larger than that of any political partyy and that it probably talked more sense than any political party! He was there to launch the RSPB’s new publication highlighting the demise of farmland birds in Wales — Silent Fields/Gu’lad Tawel: the current status of farmland birds in Wales by Roger Lovegrove, Mike Shrubb and lolo Williams. This timely report contains a wealth of useful facts and figures documenting the changes in agriculture in the principality' since the 1930s and the changes in populations of twelve species of farmland bird. The information on birds, including Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus, Northern Lapw'ing Vanellus vanellus. Sky Lark Alauda arz’ensis and Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, comes from a rrux of survey results and anecdotal evidence, this last gleaned from interv'iews with a wide range of landowners, farmers and birdwatchers. It is a discussion document, aimed at stimulating debate to find the right formulae to help stem the decline in farmland birds in Wales. {Contributed by Stephanie Tyler) BTO launches Farmland Appeal For the first time in its 62-year history, the BTO has launched a Farmland Bird Appeal, to raise funds not only from its members, but also from industry, farmers and the general public. The BTO believes that the problems facing our farmland birds are so great that new', vUde-ranging research must urgently be undertaken to identify the detailed causes of the declines and provide advice on how to recdfr’ them. The Appeal’s emblem is the Sky Lark Alauda arvensis and w'ill thus be known as SOS — ‘Save our Sk\'larks’. Apart from the Sk\' Lark, of which there are thought to be 3,000,000 fewer breeding here now than there were 25 years ago, another nine species have declined by more than half over the same period: Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, Grey Partridge Perdix perdix. Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur, Bullfinch Pytrhula pytrhula, Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, Song Thrush Turdus phibmelos, Northern Lapw'ing Vanellus vanellus, Reed Bunting Emberiza schoetiiclus and Linnet Carduelis cannabina. Declines in these species are shown up through the BTO’s ongoing Common Birds Census. Sky Lark Survey The BTO has announced that it is to organise a survey of Sk\' Larks Alauda atvensis in 1997. ln\’olving many volunteers, the sun’ey aims to discover the detailed reasons for the decline of Slty- Larks, and thus to enable the BTO to offer advice to farmers on how to help this beleaguered species. This will be one of the major new studies on farmland birds to result from the ‘Save Our Sk\'larks’ Appeal launched this summer, to raise funds for a number of farmland research projects. Further information on this can be obtained from the BTO, National Centre for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. Nightjars make northern comeback One of our rarest birds is breaking new ground and increasing its numbers in Forest Enterprise’s North York Moors w’oodlands at Dalby Forest, near Pickering. According to a recent survey undertaken by the North Yorkshire Forest Bird Study Group, this 3,500-ha area is home to an expanding colony of European Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus, with 42 singing males, an increase of 27% in the past three years. That makes it not only the largest colony in Yorkshire, but also the biggest in any British upland area. Ian Prestt Memorial Appeal 'fhe re-creation of Lakenheath Fen — the restoration of 240 ha of farmland to its previous state — is the £ 1 million project being launched by the RSPB in memory of the late Ian Prestt, the Society’s former Director and President, who lived only 1 6 km from the site. Anyone wishing to help to re-create the Fen and remember Ian should send their contribution to the Ian Prestt Memorial Appeal, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGi9 2ni.. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 New seabird atlas The most important areas of the North Sea have been identified in a new atlas published by BirdLife International at the same time as the June ‘Fourth North Sea Conference’ was being held at Esbjerg, Denmark. Lack of infonnation can no longer be used as an excuse to postpone urgently needed conservation measures. Twenty key areas are identified where internationally important concentrations of seabirds occur. These include some of the waters around Orkney and Shetland, sections of the Dogger Bank 569 and parts of the English Channel. It is to be hoped that BirdLife International can persuade countries surrounding the North Sea to adopt suitable conservation measures for these newly identified areas. For further information on Important Bird Areas for Seabirds in the North Sea, including the Channel and the Kattegat, by H. Skov, J. Durinck, M. Leopold and M. Tasker, write to BirdLife International, WeUbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 ONA. Helping in Albania The Italian organisation Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli (LIPU) is organising expeditions to Albania to survey the wintering, migrating and breeding birds during October 1995 to June 1996. Volunteers who would like to join these expeditions are welcomed. The word ‘volunteer’ needs to be stressed, for neither the Albanian Society for the Protection of Birds and Mammals nor LIPU has any money for the expeditions, so participation will be at the participants’ own expense. Expeditions have already taken place in April 1994 and October 1995; there will be others during 12th- 19th January' 1996, 5th- 12th April 1996, 31st May to 6th June 1996 and 2 1 st-28th June 1996. Anyone interested in taking part in the expeditions should contact Fabio Casale, IBA Officer, LIPU, V.lo S. Tiburzio, 5, 43100 Parma, Italy; fax +39 521 287116. {Contributed by Barbara Lombatti) Dee Estuary Ramsar Monitoring Report published July saw the publication of the monitoring report on the Dee Estuary, situated on the English/Welsh border, following a visit to this Ramsar site last year by a team of international experts. In 1992, the Dee was included in the Montreux Record, a list of Ramsar sites In need of priority conservation attention, and it was agreed that the Ramsar monitoring procedure should be applied. The recommendations in the report have the ultimate aim of enabling the Dee to be removed from the Montreux Record. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of the Report should contact the Department of the Enwonment, European Wildlife Division, Room 906, Tollgate House, Bristol BS2 9Dj. Tunnicliffe artwork for auction The 114 paintings that the late Charles Tunnicliffe undertook for Christmas cards and magazine covers for the RSPB are being auctioned by Sotheby’s in London on 22nd November 1995. Half the paintings will be shown at preview exhibitions in Wales and Scotland before the final preview in London. Two of the most important paintings will not be sold but will instead be given on long-term loan to the Oriel Ynys Mon (Anglesey Heritage Gallery) near Llangefni, which already houses a superb collection of Tunnicliffe paintings and drawings. Catalogues for the collection (the first which Sotheby’s has produced on recycled paper) are available, price £9 (plus £2 postage in UK), from the Catalogue Subscriptions Department, Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street, London wiA 2AA. Welsh Wildlife Trusts Ltd The seven Wildlife Trusts in Wales officially came together on 7th July 1995 under the banner of The Welsh Wildlife Trusts Ltd. Sir David Attenborough, National President of the Wildlife Trusts, presided over the launch at the National Museum of Wales. The aim of The Welsh Wildlife Trusts Ltd is to enable the seven trusts to work more closely together on national issues, to attract funding for projects and to raise awareness of their work. The new director of the WWT Ltd is Robin Cross, formerly director of the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust. Further details are available from WWT Ltd, Collot House, 20 Severn Street, Welshpool, Fowl's SY2i vad. (Contributed by Stephanie Tyler) 570 News and comment News from France More often than not, news about birds in France has been on the negative side. How encouraging, then, to hear some positive — and sometimes surprising — news on what is happening ornithologically across the Channel. Litde Egrets Egretta garzeita have undergone a populadon explosion in recent years, the source of the well-known influxes into southern Britain, but how' many people who do not scan the pages of our ‘European news’ are fully aware that there are over 300 pairs of White Storks Ciconia cicotiia and more than 30 pairs of Black Storks C. nigra nesting in France now, many in the northern half of the countr\-? Knowing the French attitude to things American, it is ironic that we may be exporting Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicetms in their direction. It may not be too long, however, before there is a reverse transfer of Sacred Ibises Threskiornis aethiopiais, now well established in Brittany and the northwest. Of course, there are threats to bird populations, too, many being the all-too-familiar Europe- wide ones of habitat degradation and pollution, as well as the well-publicised hunting pressures. Migrating birds are in particular need of protection, as such large numbers from the w'est European populations have to pass through France to and from their wintering grounds. (Conrnbined by Ken Hall) ‘L’Oiseau’ What better way to brush up your French than to read about birds and birding in that wonderful yet oh! so infuriating country just across the English Channel. The LPO (Ligue Franyaise pour la Protection des Oiseaux) publishes this excellent magazine four times a year, with articles on conser\’ation, birding sites, status of breeding species, personalities, current news, etc. In full colour throughout, it provides a real eye-opener on developments in France, a country whose inhabitants are popularly thought to view birds only along the barrels of a 12-bore. Yet membership of the LPO, the foremost French bird-protection organisation, and the French parmer for BirdIJfe International, has more than doubled in five years to over 20,000 by mid 1995; and the societx' is actively acquiring more and more land as bird reserves. It is now possible to join the LTO and to subscribe to its publications through a UK address. If you want to know more about birds in France and support their conservation, contact Ken Hall, LPO (UK), The Anchorage, The Chalks, Chew Magna, Bristol BSix XSN (tel.: 01275 332980), for more details. More Red Kites released 'Hie second phase of the project to release Red Kites Milvus niihiis into England took place in Jul\-, when nine young birds brought in from Spain were released at a secret Forestry’ Commission woodland in the English Midlands, where they were given a helping hand by Forestry Alinister, A'lr Tim Boswell. Each bird carries a tiny radio transmitter and coloured wing-tags to enable its movements to be tracked by the project team. Similar releases of the Red Kite in southern England over a number of years ha\’e resulted in a self-sustaining breeding population. The BIY winner says . . . ‘1 am, naturally, delighted at winning Bird Illustrator of the Year, and will treasure my silver salver and wonderful Koiva telescope. ‘'Fhe Richard Richardson Award has, along with the BIY, been a huge help to myself and many other artists/illustrators, and a very' useful road into wildlife art.’ {Extract from a letter received from Andrew Stock) For Red Kite read Black Vulture! It is always nice to hear of expertise gained being shared between communities in the name of bird conservation. This is tiie case with the Kite Country Project, which recently shared the expertise gained in protecting Red Kites Milvus milvus in Wales with Kostas Pistolas, frt)m the Greek National Park at Dadia, where the at-one-time-almost-extinct Monk Vulture Aegvpius monachus is now- flourishing ow'ing to the successful establishment of a feeding station in the Rhodopi Mountains, which also now attracts 10,000 human visitors annually. Learning how high technology was used to view the kites and otiier raptors, Kostas w'as especially interested in copying the techniques used to transmit live pictures of birds to visitor centres. He was also shown henv the Kite Country Project has ttsed green power from wind generators and solar panels to help to operate cameras in remote, mountainous areas of Wales, similar to areas of Dadia. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 11, November 1995 Wing-tagged Ruddy Ducks 0\'er the past two years, the issue of Ruddy Ducks Oxytira jarnaicensis from the UK mo\dng to the Continent and on to Spain, where they hybridise with the globally threatened White- headed Duck O. leucocephala, has caused great contioversy (see Brit. Birds 86: 338; 87; 394- 395, 494; 88: 243-244). A total of 32 Ruddy Ducks at Abberton Reservoir, Essex, has been marked with coloured wing-tags. These are either yellow or orange and are marked with one or two digits in either black or white. Despite their bright colour, the tags can often be hidden behind the birds’ plumage so that they may not be instantiy noticeable. 571 We ask anyone watching Ruddy Ducks in the UK (or abroad!) to be extra vigilant for any with wing-tags. If you do see a Ruddy Duck with a wing-tag, please record details of location, date, wing-tag colour and inscription colour, inscription (if you can read it), and any other information, such as the number of Ruddy Ducks present at the site and their status (whether breeding or wintering, resident or seasonal visitor). Send details of anv observations to Colour Marked Wildfowl,’ WWT, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 VBT. All reports will be acknowledged, with details of the bird’s known history. {Contributed by Richard Hearn) Rarity descriptions It is ver>' helpful if all observers of rarities send in their descriptions (preferably to the relevant county or regional recorder) as soon as possible after the sighting. It wtil speed up the decision-making process if notes on all major autumn rarides are submitted by mid November at the latest. Please do not wait until January. Thank you. {Contributed by M. J. Rogers) Cormorants galore If you have an interest in Great Cormorants Phakicrocorax carbo, the journal Ardea is for you. Specifically, the mammoth 338-page latest issue (vol. 83, number 1), with 32 papers (all in English, not Dutch) on the species. For details, contact Nederlandse Ornithologische Unie, P. Starmans, Oude Arnhemseweg 261, 3705 BD Zeist, The Netherlands. 'Grasshopper Warbler extinct I in Sussex? I In spring 1995, Robert Edgar reported on ‘the .parlous state of the Sussex breeding population of the Grasshopper Warbler [Locustella naevia] and the imminence of .extinction’ and appealed for any on territorv' .during the summer to be reported at once. The autumn 1 995 Sussex Ornithobgical Society (appropriately SOS !) Nezvsletter states that, by 2nd July, not a single report had been received. Ragged Robins What a marvellous opportunity to provide some really attractive Christmas stamps: this year the Royal Mail has commissioned five designs of Robins Erithacus nibecub. Unfortunately, the artist chosen — ^who may be very good at landscapes or portraits or still life, for all we know — is totally inept, in our opinion, when it comes to drawing birds. Instead of life- like Robins (or even humorous, cartoon-like Robins, which would have been acceptable), the Christmas stamps show five badly drawn Robin-patterned objects, resembling badly stuffed skins. Even the scale is usually wrong: a beginner’s error. The many wildlife postage stamps from around the World are generally of a very' high standard, but these pathetic designs this year make us cringe with embarrassment. We certainly shall not be putting any of them on our envelopes. There is a Society of WildUfe Artists. Let us hope that the Royal Mail learns its lesson and in the future, if it needs designs showing birds (or mammals or plants or insects), consults with the SWLA concerning its choice of artists. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Allen — Northern Ireland Tim Cleeves — Northeast David Clugston — Scotland Dave Flumm — Southwest Barrie Harding — East Anglia Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Don Taylor — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales John Wilson — Northwest RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Bany Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summan- covers the period 18th September to 15th October 1995. These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceatiites oceanieus Off St Ives (Cornwall), 24th September. Cream-coloured Courser Cimoriiis cursor Jersey (Channel Islands), 4th- 13th October. Killdeer Plover Charadrius vocifems Ballycotton (Co. Cork), 8th-15th October. Sociable Lapwing Chettnsia gregaria Poxwell (Dorset), 14th October. Upland Sandpiper Bartraniia longicauda Kilbaha (Co. Clare), 10th October; St Mary’s (ScUly), 12th October. Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne nipestiis Beachy Head (East Susse.x), 8th October. Pechora Pipit Anthiis gustavi Foula fShedand), 21st-24th September; Nanquidno (Cornwall), 5th October. Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus Lundy (Devon), 9th October. Dark-throated Thrush Turdiis nificollis Sumburgh Head (Shetland), 1st October. Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata Unst (Shetland), 2nd October. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata Seaham Hall (Co. Durham), 21st September; Fair Isle (Shetland), 30th September; Tresco (Scilly), 15th October. Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata St Kilda (Western Isles), 10th-22nd September. Sardinian Warbler 5. melanocephala Portland (Dorset), 12th October. Radde’s Warbler P. schwarzi Winspit (Dorset), 12th-13th October; Porthgwarra (Cornwall),’* 13th- 14th October; Landguard (Suffolk), 15th October. Penduline Tit Remiz penduliniis Dungeness (Kent), 13th October. Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivacetis Single on M\ ' Scillonian, near Land’s End (Cornwall), 30th September; Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) in late September; Tresco, 3rd-9th October, two on 10th October, and single on 10th- 14th October; St Maiy’s, 7th-8th October, and tw'o on 9th- 10th October; Trevilley (Cornwall), on 9th- 14th October; Lundy, 9 th October; Weymouth (Dorset), 10th October; Southw'old, 12th- 13th October, and Thorpe Ness (both Suffolk), 12th-15th October; eight in Ireland during 5th-9th October: two Co. Wexford (both Hook Head), four Co. Cork (Ballycotton, Baltimore and Cape Clear Island), and singles Kilbaha, and Aran Islands (Co. Galway). Tennessee Warbler I'ennivora peregrina St Kilda, 26th September. Northern Parula Parula arncricana St Agnes (Scilly), 10th October. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia Singles, Brownstown Head (Co. Waterford), 11th- 12th October, and Kilbaha, 12th- 14th October (first and second records for Ireland and third and fourth records for Britain & Ireland) . Yellow-rumped Warbler D. coronata Tresco, 4th-15th October; North Ronaldsay (Orkney), 13th October. White-crowned Sparrow Zonotnehia leu- cophys Scaforth (Merseyside), 2nd October. Rare Bird. News supplies all its information free to ‘British Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (25p min cheap rate; 39p min other times; incl. VAT) Nutcracker Nucifraga caiyocatactes Huge irruption into Finland in August-Seplember, with over 30,000 migrants seen and over 2,000 ringed. Will any reach Britain? 572 British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers^. The books included in British BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good value and valuable additions to any birdwatcher’s library. We aim to provide the best, most reliable and friendliest service possible. Items ordered through British BirdShop are despatched for British Birds subscribers by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd. AU correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be sent to British BirdShop, do Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd CHV 4LN. Books All listed books are POST FREE SPECIAL OFFERS Pkase tick / British Birds/IBCE International Bird Identification EXCLUSIVE reduced price (usually £10.50) Paperback £9.50 □ Clarke The Marsh Harrier (Hamlyn) exclusive reduced price (usually £12.99) Paperback £10.99 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic (OUP) BOXED SET vols 1-9 (normal price £775, save £125) £650.00 □ Hurford & Lansdowm Birds of Glamorgan exclusive reduced price (usually £25.00) £24.00 □ Ogilvie & Winter Best Days with British Birds (British Birds) exclusive reduced price (usually £14.95). £12.95 □ Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, Nezv Zealand and Antarctic Birds vol. 2. raptors to lapwings (OUP) e.xclusive reduced price, (usually £150) £125.00 □ Ridgcly & Tudor The Birds of South America (OUP) vols. 1 & 2 EXCLUSIVE 2-VOL price (usual price £115) £105.00 □ NEW THIS .MONTH Byers, Olsson & Curson Buntings and {North American) Sparrcnvs (Pica Press) £28.00 Cabot Irish Birds (HarperCollins) Paperback £7.99 Chandler & Langman Bird Habitats & Conservation (Hamlyn) £7.99 Dennis The Birds of Badenoch & Strathspey (Colin Baxter) Paperback £8.95 ffrench A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (Helm) £25.00 Holloway The Historical Atlas of Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1875-1900 (Poyser) £25.00 McBride, Pearce & Rees Portrait of Wildlife on a Hill Fartn (Whittet Books) £25.00 Thomson Birding in Ohio (Indiana UP) Paperback £11.99, hardback £27.50 van Perlo Collins Illustrated Checklist: birds of East Africa (HarperCollins) £14.99 □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ COMING SOON _ ORDER NOW Harrap & Quinn Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers (Helm) due January 1996 £27.99 □ Shirihai The Birds of Israel (Academic Press) DUE DECEMBER approx. £65.00 □ RECOMMENDED BOOKS Adolfsson & Cherrug Bird Identification: a reference guide (SKF) £24.50 □ Alstrom, Colston & Lewington A Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe (HarperCollins). ...£14.99 □ Britain’s Birds (BTO & JNCC) 1991-92 £9.95 □ 1990-91 + 1991-92 £1 1.95 □ 1989-90+1990-91 £11.95 □ All three £13.95 □ British Birds The ‘British Birds’ List of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds £100 □ Britton & Day Where to Watch Birds in North-East England (Helm) Paperback £12.99 □ Campbell & Lack A Dictionary of Birds (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1985 £49.95 □ Chander & Driessens Szvifts: a guide to the szvifts and tree szvifts of the zuorld (Pica Press) £26.00 □ Clement, Harris & Davis Finches and Sparrozvs: an identification guide (Helm) £29.99 □ Cramp Birds of the Western Palearctic (OUP) vols. 1-7 & 9 all £85 each; vol. 8 £95 Curson, Quinn & Beadle Nezu World Warblers: an identification guide (Helm) £24.99 □ del Hoyo, Elliot & Sargatal Handbook of the Birds of the World vol. 1 (Lynx) Best Bird Book of 1993 £95.00 □ vol. 2. New World vulmres to guineafowl (Lynx) £98.00 □ Fry', Fry & Harris Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers: (Helm) Best Bird Book of 1992 £27.99 □ Gibbons, et al. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1994 £40.00 □ Harris, Tucker & Vinicombe The Macmillan Field Guide to Bird Identification (Macmillan) Paperback £7.99 □ Harrison Seabirds: an identification guide (Helm) Best Bird Book of 1983 £24.99 CD Hayman, Marchant & Prater Shorebirds (Heim) Best Bird Book of 1986 £24.99 □ Heinzel, Fitter & Parslow Birds of Britain and Europe zuith North Africa and the Middle East NEW edition (HarperCollins) Paperback £9.99 □ Jonsson Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East (Helm) voted best field guide in 1995 £25.00 □ Keith, Urban & Fry The Birds of Africa (Academic) vol. 1 £85.00 CD 2 £85.00 D 3 £85.00 CD 4 £85.00 D Lack The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland (Poyser) Best Bird Book of 1987 £21.95 □ Lekagul, Round, Wongkalasin & Komolphalin A Guide to the Birds of Thailand (Saha Kam Bhaet) £39.50 □ Madge & Bum Wildfowl: an identification guide (Helm) Best Bird Book of 1988 £24.99 □ Marchant & Higgins Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (OUP) vol. 1 £125.00 □ Please use the British BirdShop form overleaf to complete your order. XI British BirdShop (continued) Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers RECOMMENDED BOOKS (cont.) Please tick / Moss Birth and Weather: a birdwatcher's guide (Hamlyn) Paperback £16.99 D National Geographic A Field Guide to the Birds of North Atnerica Rest Bird Book OF 1984 £14.95 □ Oddie Bill Oddie’s Idttle Black Bird Book (Robson) ^ Paperback £6.99 □ Olsen & Larsson I’en-Ls of Europe and North America (Christopher Helm) £24.99 □ Peterson, Mountfort & Hollom A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe 5th edn (HarperCoUins) £14.99 □ Ridgely & Tudor The Birds of South America (OUP) (4 vols.) vol. 1 £55.00 Dvol. 2 □ £60.00 □ Rosair & Cottridge Hamlyn Photographic Gidde to the Waders of the World (Hamlyn) £24.99 □ Roselaar Songbirch of Turkey: an atlas of biodiversity of Turkish passerine birds (Pica Press) Paperback £24.00 D Wheatley VlAiere to Bind Birds in Africa (Helm) £14.99 □ Winkler & Christie Woodpeckers: a guide to the woodpeckers, pkulets and wiynecks of the world (Pica Press) BIST BIRD BOOK OF 1995 £30.00 □ O I HER TITLES All the above titles are POST FREE. Any other natural history books in print may be ordered from Subbuteo. Please refer to the Subbuteo catalogue for details of current prices and postage rates. Free copy on request: tick this box □ Binders Please tick / The British Birds Binder (holds 12 issues & index) vvirex retaining £7.95 □ cordex retaining £7.95 □ Recordings & videos Please add £2.00 p&p per order Please tick / Butler Videogidde to the World’s sandpipers (Nature Vision) Calidris £17.50 □ Tringa £17.50 □ Doherty The Birds of Britain & Europe I 'ideo Giddes (Bird Images) vol. 1 divers to dabbling ducks □ ; vol. 2 diving ducks to bustards □ ; vol. 3 waders to gulls □ ; vol. 4 terns to woodpeckers □ £16.95 each; or set of four £59.95 □ Doherty The Raptors of Britain & Europe Video Gtndes (Bird Images) £16.95 □ (josney The Video Gtiide to British Birds 4th edn. (Red, Green & Blue Co.) vol. 1 divers to ducks □; vol. 2 birds of prey to phalaropes Q vol. 3 skuas to woodpeckers Q vol. 4 larks to llycatchers Q vol. 5 tits to buntings □ £15.95 each; or set of five £59.45 □ Kettle More British Bird Sounds (1 cassette) £6.95 □ Kettle & Ranft British Bird Sounds on CD (2 CDs) £29.00 □ Roche All the Bird Songs of Britain and Europe (Sittelle) (4 cassettes) £29.95 D (4 CDs) £49.95 □ PRICES VALID DURING NOVEMBER 1995 for all special offers (and for overseas customers only, also during the following month). Other prices quoted are subject to any publishers’ increases. Overseas insurance optional, but recommended if available (please enquire). Make all cheques and TVs payable to Subbuteo SHK Ud. Payment can be made in US8 at current exchange rate. All orders are normally despatched promptly from stock, but please allow up to 21 days for deliver^’ in UK, longer if abroad. Giro ac no. 37 588 6303. I'o qualifr for POS T FRIiH please quote your BB ref. no. Address No. Total £ Chcque'PO enclosed □ Giro payment made □ Any item ordered through British BirdShop which fails to meet your approval can be returned to Subbuteo and your money will be refunded without question. ■\’ou can also pay using If your address for credit card purposes is different from that above, give it here these credit cards: Please debit my Access Visa 'MasterCard/ Eurocard Expiry date Signature ■\’ou can phone in vour credit card orders, but please quote vour BB ref. no. as well as vour credit card nc>. I EL. Mold (01352) 770581. FAX. (01352) 771590 Send order to: British BirdShop, e/o Subbuteo Books, Treiiddyn, Mold, Clwyd cii? ti.N Top of every birdwatcher’s list Whether you’re new to birdwatching or an experienced 5’irder, there’s only one place to find all the informa- icon you need. Birdwatch is published specifically to itelp you improve your skills, and to keep you nformed each month on everything from iden- rfication, bird behaviour, conservation and ■'here to watch, to all the latest sight- ipgs, rare bird news, product reviews rnd topical comment - including Bill 'ddie’s regular monthly column. 'his month: I Identification Nlyth’s Pipit demystified I Itineraries com Northumberland to I Hcdia and Sri Lanka ■ Rarity photos Rock Thrush, Great Snipe, Bonelli’s Warbler and more ■ Raptor-watching Top south coast sites llovember issue on sale NOW December Issue on sale 23 November iiidwateh ESSENTIAL FOR ALL BIRDWATCHERS Bird Identification A reference guide Adolfsson & Cherrug • Contains more than 11,800 references to all papers and notices, dealing with identification of bird species that have occured in the Western Palearctic and Arabia. • Includes refences from 66 European and American ornithological journals totally covering nearly 300,000 pages and two decades 1975-1994. • Also includes references to photos of rarer species. • Format 170 x 235 millimeters, hard- back, linen wowen, about 380 pages. Could be ordered from your local dealer or by sending GB£ 20 in bills (25 if you send a cheque) to: Skanes Ornitologiska Forening Ecology Building, S-223 62 LUND, Sweden Bird Identification A reference guide Kristian Adolfsson Stefan Cherrug xiii Limosa Holidays Our 1996 brochure is out NOW! Join Steve Madge, Dick Forsman, David Cottridge, Chris Kightley, Jeffer}’ Boswall Arjwud van den Berg & others in: N&S Ireland Holland France Portugal Spanish Steppes Italy - Birds & Art Finland & Norway Lapland & Varanger Sweden Hungary & Slovakia Bulgaria Greece - Lesvos Turkey UAE Israel - N&S Seychelles Kenya Ethiopia Sikkim & Assam Malaysia Hong Kong Australia Arctic Canada Texas Oregon Trinidad & Tobago Galapagos Antarctica, Chiie, South Georgia & the Faiklands Limosa Holidays, Suffield House Northrepps, Norfolk NR27 OLZ Tel: 01 263 578143 Fax: 01 263 579251 BHARATPUR from £1350 4-13 January EILAT from £540 10-17/24 March HOniG KONG from £1180 30 March-9 April BEIDAIHE from £1090 4-19/26 May Details from Sunbird, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 IDF. Tel 01767 682969 (Please specify which event you are interested in). Sunbird i» 4 trading name of Conderbury Limited 3003 ACE OPTICS OF BATH The South West’s Largest Optical Specialist Zeiss Opticron 7x42/10x40 BGAT C689 Countryman C99 8x20 Classic (me Case) £199 Hi-Res 8/10x42 £189 10x25 Classic (tnc Case) Phone Classic 60mm + 22x w £169 New Nightowls e.g. 7x45 0PA‘ £799 60 SR + 22x HR & Case £269 Leica hr 80 Body £319 0x20 BC £239 30xW eye piece £52 10x25 BCA OPA* £289 NikOfl 0x32 BA OPA* £625 Spotting Scope 20x £229 0x42 BA £609 Spotting Scope Zoom Angled OPA* . £319 10x42 BA £699 Fieldscope tlA £339 New 8/10x50 BA . . .£899 Fieldscope 78 ED OPA* £769 New Leica Televid Scopes Phone 30xx ww OPA* or 20-45 Zoom ,£159 THE BEST DEALS IN OPTICS * 01225 466364 Kowa Swarovski TSN 1 & 2 . . . .£299 8x30 SLC III £449 TSN3&4 . . . £599 7x42 SLC . . . . £529 £139 10x42 SLC £589 TSN Zoom 20-60 £175 AT-00 Scope £539 TSN60xor77x £105 AT-80 HD Scope £769 TS 61 1/12 OPA* £239 30xXW Eye Piece £119 TS 613/14 OPA* ... £519 Optolyth TS27XW £96 Alpine 10x40 £255 Stay on case £42 TBS/TBG 80 New Model £479 TBS/TBG 80 HD New Model £719 Bausch & Lomb 30x ww £149 7x26 Custom Premier £269 20-60 zoom . . £175 8x24 Legacy OPA* 7x35 or 1 0x50 Glasses on . . . £99 £129 Night Vision Scopes from £250 0x42 Natureview OPA* £109 Accessories 10x42 Natureview £129 silk 03 tnpod £119 Swfft Silk 444 Sport £79 Velbon tnpods from , . £45 ULtralite 0/10x42 OPA* £179 Car window mount £29 Audubon 8,5x44 £229 Hide mounts from £29 British Birds readers only offer. 25% discount off any Velbon Tripod (C39-C79) with any Telescope purchased (while ^ocks last). We cannot list all models we stock please phone To save you the hassle ot negotiating, all our pnees are hugely discounted from the start Should you find a genuinely cheaper pnee. we will normally (Mat it We also offer the best advice, service and stock, so why bother to go elsewhere? if you cannot call m, we ofNr a 46 hour mail ordar delivary sarvice Please ask for David or Peter for specialist advict Low coat credR tarms avaiiabia Please mention Bntish BinJs maganne whan calling 16 GREEN STREET, BATH, BA1 2JZ 01225 466364 If busy try 466975 Also available at 10 South Walk, Yate, Bristol (01454) 325302 Pnees are correct at time of going to press *OPA - Birdwalching Magannee Optical Products Award XIV TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 British Birds Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be prepaid and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Telephone 01767-640467 Fax 01767-640025 Rates excluding VAT £2.15 a line — average of 8 words. £9.00 a centimetre — minimum 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words and is £2.00 extra per insertion Replies should be sent to the above address Series Discounts 3 for the price of 2 6 for the price of 4 1 2 for the price of 8 Copy date December issue November 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment . r own Conservat/on Area i'lkes us unique. A pool and »odland adjacent to the .-'owroom attract numerous ^.'ds, enabling our \‘itors to test [.- jipment in field r.nditions. The experts Professionals recommend! QUALITY BINOCULARS nd TELESCOPES Select from the world's finest optical instruments: ZEISS-LEICA-HABICHT-NIKON-OPTOLYTH-KOWA BAUSCH & LOMB-BUSHNELL-PENTAX-QUESTAR BRESSER-MIRADOR-OPTICRON-DOCTER-SWIFT MVide range fujinon-fumoto-praktica-ross TTop quality tripods: slik-manfrotto-cullmann K 3 carry one of the most extensive ranges of Binoculars and Telescopes in the country, plus a wide range of accessories. We also stock Dillingham Equipment Bags and a large selection of BOOKS. VIDEOS r id AUDIO CASSETTES by leading publishers. Worldwide coverage ! “"visit our BIKU and ssSr assSs )PPEN Monday 9 am until 5pm INTEREST FREE CREDIT available on sales of £600 plus (APR 0%) subject to status UNHURRIED TESTING AND VIEWING FACILITIES allowing time to choose and discuss options. WRITE OR PHONE NOW for easy directions, latest prices and mail f* orders. ^ 34CUS OPTICS Church Lane, Corley, Coventry CV7 8BA ''1:01676-540501 & 542476 Fax:01676-540930 HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND CLEY. 3 quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6+2). Quiet, comfortable, excellent value. Brochure (OI3.S3) 740770. (BB872) ISLES OF SCILLY. Mincarlo Guest House. St Mary's. Superbly situated in own grounds overlooking the harbour. Write Colin Duncan or Tel: 01720 422.SI3. (BB836) CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bedrooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all year. Details from Mrs E. Album. 47 Lyndale Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 0171-431 2942. (BB720) ISLES OF SCILLY. Trelawney Guest House. St Mary's TR2I OJT. Bookings now being taken for Bc&B, 1995 Season. Tel/Fax: 01720 422377 for brochure. (BB789) f CLEY NATGRE RESERVE 1 Small guest house offers you warm welcome. B&B opt. E/M CTV, tea/coffee, all ensuite, full C/H, Parking, singles, doubles, twins. Non-smokers only please. IDEAL FOR BIRDWATCHERS FLINTSTONES. WIVETON. HOLT NORFOLK NR25 7TL 01263 740337 (BB880) ^ WALES NEAR DEVILS BRIDGE. GuesI house in glorious unspoiled surroundings. Log fires, en-suite, superb candlelit dinners. Kite all around, close bird reserves. Open all year, winter/autumn breaks. Brochure tel: 01974 282289. (BB876) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL, Isle of Colon.say, Argyll PA61 7YP. Demi- pension (private bath) from £55.00. Details, brochure, map (birdlist on request). Tel: 01951 200316. (BB874) OVERSEAS VENEZUELA - two superb neotropical birdwatching tours for early 1996, at realistic prices. Also tailor-made trips. Geodyssey 0171-281 7788. ( BB879) NORTH MALLORCA family house, peaceful Old Pollensa. Mountain views, near beaches and wildlife sites. Brochure 01628 22342. (BB736) PROVENCE, CAMARGUE. Farm cottage, apt., b&b. Rogers, Mas d'Auphan. Le Sambuc. 13200 ARLES, France. Tel: (0033) 90972041. fax 90972087. (BB801) Alderney Channel Island.s GY9 3TJ Neal & Co Alderney is a small island 3.5 by 1.5 miles and is ideal for Bird Watchers. We offer a choice of self-catering cottages, hou.ses or flats including a Penthouse Hat in a Victorian Fort. A full brochure is available or just call for the current vacancies. Tel: 01481 823332 Fa.\: 01481 823821 The Alderney Accommodation Agency (BB7.50) XV TO ADVERTISE FAX 01767 640025 AUSTRALIA, CAIRNS, JULATTEN — Located in Australia's premier birding region, central to 7 diverse habitats offering up to 400 species including the Golden Bower Bird. Bustard and Blue Faced Finch, our 1 2 acre rainforest setting hosts 8 endemic birds including the Lesser Sooty Owl and is abundant with native fauna, notably the Red Necked Crake. Paradise Kingfisher and Platypus. We provide modern, spacious S/C suites and e.xpert guiding is available. Write now for a free bird list to Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge. P.O. Box 3. Julatten 487 1. Queensland. Australia. Tel: +6 1 70 941263 Fax: +61 70 941466. (BB752) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS NEW ZEAL AND. Experience our unique plant and bird community in diverse and dramatic landscapes. Our tours are customized to suit birders, photographers and naturalists. Information: Manu Tours. 106 Oceanbeach Road. Tairua 2853. New Zealand. Ph/Fax (64) (7) 864 7475. (BB826) WESTERN PYRENEES. Resident English local guide for Western Pyrenees and Northern Spain (Heeho/Riglos area). Contact Richard Cruse. 106 Rue Navarrol. 64400 Oloran Ste Marie. France. Tel. (0033) 59-39-47-75. (BB873) HONG KONG - Superb birding Sept-May. Richard Lewthwaite. 2 Villa Paloma. Shuen Wan. Tai Po. Hong Kong. Tel: (+852) 2665 8506. Fax: (+852) 2665 8190. (BB875) MAS ir.ACPHAN in the HEART OF THE CAMARGUE offers excellent birding nearby, both wetland and upland — and is secluded, truly rural and (res sympa! Tel. 0033 90972041 (A.503) BIRDFINDERS HOLIDAYS French Lakes for Cranes. Eagles. Wildfow l and Woodpeckers. February 21-25. £145. Ex Portsmouth. Full Brochure: Vaughan Ashby. 18 Midlea/.e. Sherborne. Dorset DT9 6DY. (A502) PROVENCE. CAMARGUE. Farm cottage, apt., b&b. Rogers. Mas d'Auphan. Le Sambuc. 13200 ARLES. France. Tel. (0033) 90972041. fax 90972087. (BB892) DISCOUNT FLIGHTS CAR HIRE ACCOMMODATION SEA TRAVEL PACKAGE HOLIDAYS GROUPS AND EXPEDITIONS WORLDWIDE CLIVE BYERS A BARRY WALKER 13 JULY-1 AUGUST FROM £2646 TRINIDAD - YEAR ROUND MONTHLY DEPARTURES FROM £806 INCLUSIVE! lOiuotOiN^s Ot 01603 767757 INHiNATIONAL HOUU, 6ANK lOAD, UISTCH ISIS 2LX 1^4 \s SRI LANKA - ORNITHOLOGISTS PARADISE - Home to 426 species 21 of which are endemic - Specialist guides provided for tours from individuals to groups • Best period November to March - Contact Delmege Forsyth Tours. 101. Vinayalankara Mawatha. Colombo 10. Sri Lanka Telephone: 0094 1 693361 - 8. 699500 & 699984 Telex : 21320 LEWIS CE. 21536 DFSHIP. 22766 DELAIR CE Fax ; 0094 1 698139. 699413. 686149 (BB856) COSTA RICA “The Ultimate in Birding” RANCHO NATURALISTA or TARCOL LODGE ALL inclusive from $436/wk/ Apdo. 12071-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica. Ph/fax 506/267-7138 (BB701) ISRAEL - EILAT & ARAVA VALLEY M AUTUMN MIGRATION -SEPT 20-DEC 20 71 SPRING MIGRATION - FEB 1 5-MAY 20 B * One two-week lour program incorporating wide voriety of hobitots with many exciting resident and migratory species, n * Superb raptor migration, seabirds, waders and songbirds in spectacular desert environment. * Optional culturol and historicol guided trips to ancient desert locations. * Full board, room and guiding inclusive at £335 W.K. S536 dollars. Further details: James Smith/Michael Livni, Kibbutz Lotan, Door No, Chevel Eilot, Israel 88855. Fax 00-972-7-356827. (bb830) ‘HIGH ISLAND’ UPPER TEXAS COAST U.S.A. Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8. Tours given. 'Birder’s Haven, PO Box 309, High Island, Texas 77623. Tel. 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390. (BB863) ‘SOUTHERN SPAIN’ Quality birding at Budget Prices. Flights, accommodation, escorted trips, access to best 'Hotspots’ and some of Europes rarest species. Brochure from Calancira Holidays. 6 Church Road, Hauxton, Cambridge BG or call 01223-872107 BB834 DIVISION OF NICK'S TRAVEL 100 LONDON ROAD, LEICESTER LE2 OQS ‘FLIGHTS FOR BIRDWATCHERS’ EXPERTS IN LOW COST AIRFARES - WORLDWIDE. DISCOUNT CAR HIRE/INSURANCE TELE: (0116) 247 0600 ALWAYS RING us LAST (BB825) BOOKS BIRD BOOK.S. Now Naturali'.ls, BB' Bookx. bought .V sold Catalogues issued. Faiulion Books. Carr Close. Rainton, Thirsk, Y07 3l>.S. Tel: 1)1845-578224. (BB885) XVI TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 HUIRD BOOKS'. Good secondhand books bought and )ld. Free catalogue from and offers to Briant Books, 94 , 'uarry Lane. Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 6NJ. Tel: 1829 751804. (B728) IIIRD BOOKS, NEW NATURALISTS. Bought & sold, ats. issued. West Coast Bird Books, 25 Heatherways, reshfield. Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel 01704 871115. (BB888) 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 £6.75 inclusive P/P toi Coxton Publications, Eastwood, Beverley Rd, Walkington, Beverley, HU17 8RP. 01482 881833 BIRD INFORMATION inteic%net and Birding Information Service http://www.cityscape.co.uk/users/fq19/index.htm 'Postal Address: PO BOX 1, STUDLEY, WARWICKSHIRE, UK, B80 7JG PHONE; +44 (0)1 527 852357 FAX: +44 (0)1 527 857507 Email:lnterbirdnet@cityscape.co.uk (A504) PAGERS now get your bird news from just £7.95 PER MONTH! incl Pager+Bird News and free personal paging “Pagers you can rely on” Rare Bird Alert: 01603-767799 TPIus an annual fee of £.10. All prices plus VAT minimum contracl 12 months (BB886) WANTED ICO COMPLETE COLLECTION. Sharrock: Nat. Hist. Cape I'Clear, Kear: Flamingos. State cond./cost. 25 Heatherways, feshfield, Liverpool L37 7HL. Tel 01704 871115, (BB871) OPTICAL EQUIPMENT FOCALPOINT THE BINOCULAR & TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS OPEN 9.3D-5.30 MON-FRI SAT 9,30-4.00 FOCALPOINT is owned and staffed by experienced birders. We guarantee to help you find the best value for money among the maze of competing products. Good range of bird/natural history books. SKUA ‘stay-on-the-scope’ telescope cases (8 models). Ask for our leaflet on the world’s finest cases of their type. I BEST ADVICE • BEST CHOICE • BEST PRICES I I^OCALF^OirMT M Unit 8, Marbury House Farm, Bentleys Farm Lane, M56 (D484) Higher Whitley, Near Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 01 925 730399 Fax: 01 606 892207 June! 10 1 mile BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES by; Swarovski, Swift, Ross, Kowa, Docter Optic, Bresser, Bushnell, Bausch & Lomb, Zeiss, Optolyth, Mirador. TRIPODS & ACCESSORIES by: Cullmann, Silk Phone or write tor your free brochure and price list P.O. Box No. 184, Banbury, Oxon, 0X16 9RT Telephone: (01295) 264365 (BB893) LOFTUS & ROWE We will collimate your binoculars for only £21.00 including carriage. 71 BOLD STREET, LIVERPOOL TEL: 0151 709 4149 (BB891 BIRD REPORTS ORKNEY BIRD REPORT 1994, includes all North Ronaldsay and Stronsay records, now available from O.B.R., Vishabreck. Evie. Orkney. KWI7 2PF. Price £4 including p and p. (B823) AVON BIRD REPORT 1994 now available from AOG, 6 Falcondale Walk. Bri.stol BS9 3JG. £4.50 inc. p&p. (BB883) FOR SALE WILDLIFE WATCHING/PHOTOGRAPHY Camouflage pattern materials, poles, frames and fittings. Leafscreens, scrim, olive green camera straps, padded tripod slings, belts, webbing, clothing, hats, mats, insect repellent, elastic camouflage sleeving for lenses. Outdoor safety equip, etc. etc. Details: Kevin Keatley, Wildlife Watching Supplies, Town Living Farmhouse, Puddington, Tiverton, Devon EX16 8LW. Tel, fax and 24 hr (01884) 860692 (BB890) BIRD JOURNAL BACK ISSUES. Huge catalogue out now. Stamp appreciated. C. Morgan. Whitmore. Umberleigh, N. Devon EX37 9HB. (BB870) BIRDWATCHING IN LESBOS. Find out the sites to visit, the birds to see. Full description of sites with maps plus bird list. 45 pages, £5.00. M. Williams, 87 Learn Terrace, Leamington Spa. Warwickshire CV3I IDE. (BB887) PRIVATE COLLECTION OF BOOKS. Many rare and .sought after, inc. ‘Lilford'. "Bannerman'. 'Morris' etc. Phone 0181 317 4182 days, 01795 522175 eves. (BB884) FINCHES AND SPARROWS. Original artwork by Alan Harris £250-£300. Other published artwork available. Tel. 01279 424307. (BB88I) WEST CORNWALL. 2 BED, SPACIOUS terraced bungalow, very near Hayle Estuary. Quiet secure cul-de-sac. Rear patio, enclosed garden, garage. £65,950 freehold. Phone 0 1 985 8443 1 7. (BB889) xvii British Birds Volume 88 Number 11 November 1995 493 ZEISS Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1994 Michael J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee 559 Myster>’ photographs / 95 559 Looking back 560 Monthly marathon 561 Mystery photographs y 95 The solution Dr Colin Bradshaw and Jimmy Steele Announcements 564 The ‘BB’ Award for the Best Annual Bird Report 564 Bird Illustrator of the Year 565 ‘Zeiss’ binoculars and sLx-month ‘BB’ subscriptions to be w'on 565 Exclusive reduced-price offers 565 ‘BB’ ties Request 565 Photo requirements 566 Short reviews 567 News and comment Wendy Dickson and Bob Scott 572 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Front cover: Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra {Tim Worfolk)\ the original drawing of this month’s cover design, measuring 18.6 X 20.8 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 25 in January' issue for procedure) i ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1 995 ?> o I 0/-|- ISSN 0007-0335 ^Volume 88 Number 12 December 1995 British Birds IB reeding Temminck’s Stints in Brin Studies of Eurasian Woodcock TH6 NATURAL ^ HISTORY MUSEUN -7 DEC 1995 in presented TWNG LIBRARY Lesser Short-toed Lark: new to Britain Identification of Pine Bunting Young Ornithologists of the Year British Birds Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. J. Pr>therch, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Photographic Researcher Robin Chittenden Art Consultants Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris Circulation Manager & Advertising Manager Erika Sharrock Rarities Committee R. A. Hume (Chairman), Dr Colin Bradshaw, Peter Clement, Pete Ellis, C. D. R. Heard, Doug Page (co-opted), K. D. Shaw, Andy Stoddart, Reg Thorpe, Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (museum consultant and archivist); Peter Fraser & Dr John Ryan (statisticians); Michael J. Rogers (Hon. Secretary) Behaviour Notes Panel Dr C. J. Bibby, Ian Dawson, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Dr I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Shamock, Dr K. E. L. Simmons Identification Notes Panel Dr Colin Bradshaw, Dr R. J. Chandler, R. A. Hume, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, 1. S. Robertson, K. E. Vinicombe Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £55.00, 1R£64.00 or SI 04.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £43.20, IR£50.40 or S81.60; personal airmail, outside Europe £72.40, IR£84.50 or SI 37.00. Single back copies £5.60, IR£6.40 or S10.50. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, note$^ letters, items for ‘News and comment’, drawings & photographs: Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3NI. Phone & Fax: Bigglesw'ade (01767) 640025 Subscriptions and orders for back copies: Mrs Erika Shamtck, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3Nj. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467 Advertising: Mrs Erika Sharrock, BB Advertising, do Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3N]. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467. Fax: (01767) 640025 Bird news for ‘The ornithological year’: Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, c/o 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (01525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions: M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall tr26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwy'd ch7 4LN. Phone: Mold (01352) 770581. Fax: (01352) 771590 The journal ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-mtiking company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1995 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. ISSN 0007-0335. Printed in England by Newnorth Print Ltd, Kempston, Bedford. 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 or magazine. Photographs and drawings 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 sequence of birds follow The 'British Birds’ Ust of English Names of Western Palearctic Birds (1993); or, for non-West-Palearctic species, Monroe & Sibley (1993, A World Checklist of Birds)', names of plants follow Dony et al. (1986, English Names of Wild Flowers)', names of mammals follow Nowak & Paradiso (1983, Walker’s Mammals of the World, 4th edn). 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 uacing paper, drawing paper, or light blue/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). SURREY (H.O.) 89(B) LONDON ROAD, MORDEN, I SURREY SM4 5HP I Open: Mon to Sat: 9am-5pm I Lunch 1 -2pm (Not Sun) I Tel 0181-648 8822 Fax 0181-687 2021 Location: Southern edge of Greater London, 15 mins drive M25 (eg: via A3 then Merton turnoff) or 2 mins walk Morden Underground, Viewing facilities Parking: 50 yards past our premises - 1 st left. - - - IFIELD DAYS i •'Iternative venues to Morden and I ■ ing, at which you can try and buy ; > ur equipment IN THE FIELD are I ; iven below. Every effort is made I I ) take our full range of equipment I nd payment can be made in all the ; ,>3ual ways. Repairs can also be anded in. ★ 1 0.00 am to 4.00 pm ★ I 1 1 PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL I WATURE RESERVE on the B2145 ■■ to Selsey, West Sussex, on • kunday 30th November, 31st >?ecember and 28th January. I ( ! SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL I lEESERVE on the A25 between ' iverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and k all station on Sunday 3rd leecember and 7th January. ( f BOUGH BEECH NATURE lEESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 ■riles south of the A25/A21 . nction (with access from the 2042 or B2027; the information e-antre is to the north of the iNServoir) on Sunday 19th Icovember, 1 7th December and i 23 FEB - 12 MAR 1996: £1.929 24 MAR. 7 APR 1996: £1,195 Cyprus 14-28 APR 1996: £1.175 tffAtl 4- 19 MAY 1996: £1.599 BtJ 80 ha), and that woods of less than 10 ha are rarely used (Fuller 1982). Clausager (1972) reported that in Denmark the rniriimum size of woods frequented by Woodcocks was 20-30 ha. Kalchreuter (1983) has suggested that, in many cases, increased disturbance by Man in small woods is probably the limiting factor rather than woodland size itself. In Scotland, Woodcocks breed in sparse woods of scattered birch Betula, but show a preference for dense patches of naturally regenerating saplings (Hoodless 1994). In mature deciduous woodland, an understorey of brambles Rubus, Hazel, Holly Ilex aquifolium or Bracken provides cover from avian predators (Hirons & Johnson 1987). Nevertheless, breeding Woodcocks have also been found on treeless islands off the Irish coast (Shorten 1974), and I have found nests in Heather Calhina vulgaris on Scottish moorland. Earthworm-rich soils are chosen by Woodcocks for feeding areas during the breeding season, and, in lowland mixed deciduous woodland, Hirons & Johnson (1987) found that Woodcocks fed almost exclusively in stands dominated by Sycamore Acer pscudoplataniis, Ash Fraxinns excelsior or Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur and avoided areas of Beech Fagus sylvatica and mature conifers owing to their low densities of soil invertebrates. Wide rides and small clearings (1-3 ha) are important to provide easy access and flight paths in large woods (Shorten 1974). The habitat requirements are less specific in winter, and patches of Gorse Ulex europaens, willow Salix and Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum often hold Woodcocks during the day. This is probably because, in winter. Woodcocks become nocturnal and frequent nearby fields to feed. Consequently, areas with permanent pasture or long-rotation grass leys within about 1 km of woods are preferred, as these types of field support high densities of soil invertebrates (Hirons & Bickford-Smith 1983; Granval 1988). The Woodcock’s breeding distribution in Britain and Ireland has changed little during the twentieth century, with absences only from Devon, Cornwall and south and west Wales (Witherby el al. 1940; Sharrock 1976; Gibbons el al. 1993). The reason why there are no breeding Woodcocks in these areas is still unclear. They each, however, support very high densities of Woodcocks in winter, and possible explanations for the absence in the breeding season are local extinction owing to high shooting pressure or increased overwinter mortality as a result of density-dependent effects when large numbers of migrant Continental Woodcocks arc present. Breeding Woodcocks are currently most abundant in the north of England (Yorkshire, Co. Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland) and the lower-lying areas of Scotland (the Borders, eastern Tayside and the area between Inverness and Nairn). The highest numbers in southern England occur in Kent, Sussex and Surrey. Densities never seem to be particularly high. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 581 however, even in prime habitats. Hirons’ (1983) estimate of 18-23 individuals per km^ during his study at WhitweU Wood in northeast Derbyshire is probably typical of the densities to be found in the best lowland deciduous woodland sites in England. There was probably some expansion of range in southern Scotland, Wales and East Anglia during the 1950s and 1960s owing to the planting of large areas of new conifer forest (Parslow 1967), but the extent to which these were used by Woodcocks was never investigated. It seems likely that these forests are less suitable for Woodcocks now because they have reached the age where the canopy is closing. The size of the breediug population in Britain and Ireland is very difficult to estimate, but is believed to be about 36,000 individuals (10,250-26,000 ‘pairs’; Gibbons et al. 1993). Aligrant Woodcocks originating mainly from Fennoscandia and the former USSR visit Britain in winter. The first of these usually arrive in northern Britain during the second week of October and those in the south about ten days later (Hoodless & Coulson 1994). The influx of overwintering migrants continues until late December and is such that the British wintering Woodcock population may number 800,000 individuals (Hirons & Linsley 1989). This means that, if there are equal numbers of young and adult British Woodcocks m winter. Continental Woodcocks comprise approximately 91% of the wintering Woodcock population in Britain. Woodcocks winter in all counties of Britain and Ireland, but generally avoid high ground in both Scotland and northern England (Lack 1986). They are thought to be more numerous on the British east coast and in southern and western England and Wales (Tapper & Hirons 1983). Densities often reach 30 per km^ in Cornwall, with its mild climate and predominance of dairy farms, but densities of eight to 12 per km" are more typical in the largely arable areas of central and southern England. On higher ground farther north, such as in North Yorkshire and Co. Durham, densities tend to be about six per km^ (Hoodless 1994). Using information on the size of breeding Woodcock populations on the Continent and the proportion of ringed individuals recovered in Britain, I have estimated the proportions arriving from each country as 37% from the former USSR, 25% from Finland, 12% from Sweden and 10% from Norway (Hoodless & Coulson 1994). Comparison of the mean recovery latitudes of foreign-ringed and British-ringed Woodcocks and the proportions recovered m different areas of the British Isles indicates that by far the largest numbers of Continental migrant Woodcocks wmter in southern England and Wales (Hoodless & Coulson 1994). The majority of these Continental Woodcocks depart during late February and March, but ringing has revealed that some are present in Britain until mid April. There are no records of any remaining to breed. Breeding system Woodcocks are most conspicuous during the spring and early summer, owing to the distinctive roding flights performed by males at dawn and dusk. Flights average six to eight minutes and individuals generally make two to five flights per evening (Hirons 1978; Ostermeyer & Ferrand 1979). During the course of these flights, I the males periodically reduce their wing-beats and give two to four frog-like croaks 582 Hoodless: Studies ol' Eurasian Woodcock followed by a series of sharp ‘tizik’ calls. Some individuals may rode for up to an hour in a single 24-hour period (Hirons 1983). They tend to rode for longer periods at dusk than at dawn, but roding may continue sporadically for most of the night during the full-moon periods. Study of sbnagrams has revealed that, within the basic call, each male has his own distinguishable voice pattern (Hirons 1978). Until the late 1970s, the Woodcock was believed to be monogamous, and roding flights were thought to delimit the boundaries of exclusive territories (Steinfatt 1938; Tester & Watson 1973), although promiscuity had been suggested by a few obsen’ers (von Zedlitz 1927; Geroudet 1952; Bettmann 1961). During the last 15 years, thanks to radio-tracking, great advances have been made in our understanding of the breeding behaviour of the Woodcock. In a large deciduous wood in Derbyshire, Hirons (1983) found that most first-year males did not rode and that the roding areas of the older males overlapped. Males will occasionally chase one another and very rarely three or even four individuals may be involved. Hirons concluded that a dominance hierarchy was established, resulting in a few males roding the longest and obtaining all the matings with females. He later demonstrated that males roded longest over the patches of best nesting habitat (Hirons 1988a). To prove the existence of the male hierarchy, Hirons captured the tw'o males which he believed to be most dominant in his study population and subsequently monitored the intensity of roding by the remaining radio-tagged individuals. He found that for two days following the removal of the dominant males the general intensity of roding was reduced, but then previously sub-dominant males started to rode for longer and within seven days the intensity of roding was back to its original level. When one of the original dominant birds was returned to the population, the level increased still further (Hirons 1983). The female remains on the ground near clearings or rides and probably calls the male down. She often runs in circles, displaying the brilliant white tips of her tail, before allowing the male to copulate. Occasionally, the pair may make short low- le\^el flights together. The pair bond usually lasts for only three or four days, during which time the male does not rode but follows the female closely. The male then resumes roding and does not revisit the female (Hirons 1980). It has also been shown that dominant males may fertilise up to four females in a season (Hirons 1980). The mating system of the Woodcock is generally now referred to as one of successive polygyny. The age of first breeding by females has been reported as 12 months (Ostermeyer & Ferrand 1979; Hirons 1980), but it is not clear whether all females or only a proportion breed at this age. The gonads of first-year males are well developed by February-March (Stronach 1983), but the proportion of first-year males roding in a particular area seems to depend on the number of older males present. In Britain, only a small proportion of first-year males are thought to rode (Hirons 1980), whereas in countries such as Sweden, where older males are removed by spring shoohng, up to 50% of roding males may be first-years (Marcstrom 1988). Recaptures and recoveries of ringed birds indicate that a high proportion of breeding adults return to the same breeding site in subsequent years (Hoodless 1994). British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 583 Plate 203. Woodcock Scolopax mstkola, Norfolk, March 1986 (Roger Tidman) Plate 204. Concealed Woodcock Scolopax msticola on nest in snow, Nottinghamshire, March 1974 (J. Ellis). The bird’s eye is dead centre in photograph, just to the right of the bole of the tree, with the bill pointing towards the right. 584 Hoodless: Studies of Eurasian Woodcock Breeding season and productivity The breeding season in Britain is generally considered to extend from early March to mid July. Two of the earliest recorded instances of roding in Britain or Ireland were on 3rd February' in West Sussex (des Forges 1975) and on 15th February' in Surrey (Raynsford 1959). I reckon to see roding Woodcocks in Hampshire and Dorset by about 20th February'. Roding activity usually peaks in mid May and ceases by mid July. The earliest Woodcock clutch found in Britain was on 2nd March (Vesey-Fitzgerald 1946), although the nest observed by des Forges (1975) was probably completed on 2nd March. The latest clutch was found on 9th September (Savage in Glutz von Blotzheim et al. 1977). In Denmark, 43% of clutches were found prior to 7th April in years when the mean March temperamre was 0.5°C or more above average and only 13% were found before 7th April when the mean March temperature was 0.5°C or more below average (Clausager 1973b). The mean first-egg date from all BTO nest record cards up to 1989 was 18th April, but egg-laying commenced significantly later in the nortli of England (17th April) than in central and southern England (13th April) and was later still in Scotland (24th April) (Hoodless 1 994) . It may initially seem odd that the peak of roding activity is later than the main period of nesting, but this is probably because the dominant males quickly find mates during March and April, whereas in May and June, when most females have nests or young, they have to rode for longer before finding a receptive female. The nest is little more than a flat hollow, measuring 13-15 cm in diameter, usually lined with dead leaves or dry grass. The clutch generally consists of three or four eggs, exceptionally two or five, and the mean clutch size from nest record cards is 3.9 eggs (Hoodless 1994). The eggs are usually laid on consecutive days or, less frequently, on alternate days. The incubation period ranges from 1 7 to 24 days, the average being 22 days. The female alone is responsible for incubation and the caring of the young (Shorten 1974; Hirons 1980). During a prolonged watch of a Woodcock nest, des Forges (1975) found that the female left her nest on average four times a day during daylight hours, at inteivals of about 2V2 hours. The periods of absence lasted for 14-40 minutes. During the two days immediately preceding hatching, the absences were less frequent, with the female leaving the nest only twice a day. Woodcocks do not usually leave the nest at night. Time off the nest is spent feeding, and des Forges found that the female usually walked to her feeding area, which was never more than 30 m from the nest. Occasionally she walked only a few metres from the nest and then flew to her feeding ground. Nest record cards have revealed that only 44% of nests sur\'ive from the day the first egg is laid until hatching, whilst in my intensive study at Whitwell Wood the proportion was 50%. Many Woodcocks will, however, re-nest after the loss of a clutch, but probably attempt to do so only once. Occasionally, the female will re-nest in the vicinity of the first nest, but usually she leaves the wood and selects another site up to 10 km away (Hirons 1983). Assuming that each female can make two nesting attempts, but that each will raise only a single brood per year, I have estimated that 65-71% of the females alive in mid April produce a brood of chicks. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 585 Desertion is the cause of almost as many nest losses as predation, and previous authors have noted that the Woodcock seems particularly prone to desert its clutch (Shorten 1974; Kalchreuter 1983; Nethersole-Thompson & Nethersole- Thompson 1986). Desertion is often the result of accidental flushing of sitting birds by walkers and dogs or disturbance caused by forestry activities. Inevitably, in some cases, however, apparent desertion is due to predation of the female away from the nest, and Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisiis and Tawny Owls Strix aluco are known to kill adult Woodcocks. The main egg predators are Eurasian Jays Gamdiis glandaritis and Carrion Crows Cowus corone, although Wood Alice Apodernus sylvaticus, Grey Squirrels Sciums carolinensis and Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus will also occasionally take Woodcock eggs. Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes and Stoats Miistela errninea are important nest predators, usually taking both the female and the eggs. Egg fertility is high and, excluding eggs which are taken by predators during incubation, an average of only 7% are addled or are damaged by the parent bird. The chicks weigh 16-20 g at hatching and their bills are about 17 mm long (Marcstrom & Sundgren 1977; Hoodless 1994). They remain in the nest cup for only two to three hours before being led away by the female. The chicks remain in contact with the female by means of short, shrill calls, but she generally makes no attempt to feed them. Varga (1968) saw a female turning over leaves for the chicks, and Workman (1954) saw an adult feeding a chick bill to bill, but these observations are probably exceptional. Wilson (in Cramp & Simmons 1983) followed the movements of 14 broods, but never saw the female help the chicks to feed, and this was the case with the few broods that I observed during the period shortly after hatching. Woodcock broods do not generally wander so far as those of other waders (Nethersole-Thompson & Nethersole-Thompson 1986) and often remain within 250 m of the nest during their first ten days. In the event of danger, the female performs an impressive distraction display, flying away from the chicks with laboured wing-beats and a depressed tail (Lowe 1972). She then circles the potential predator at a distance of about 20 m and will occasionally drop to the ground and feign a broken wing. Aluch has been written about Woodcocks carrying their young, a subject of considerable controversy. In some instances, observers have clearly mistaken the laboured distraction display for the female carrying a chick. Nevertheless, there are now several records from observers who have managed to foUow the female to the point where she drops and have then found a chick (Alexander 1946; Nethersole-Thompson & Nethersole-Thompson 1986). It must be concluded that Woodcocks will occasionally carry their young, but do not do so in every instance when they are dismrbed. The chicks are able to fly after 20 days (Hirons 1983), by which time they weigh 130-160 g (about 50% of the adult weight) and their bills are about 45 mm long. They become independent of the female shortly afterwards, but are not fully grown for at least another 20 days. Alean chick survival until fledging at Whitwell Wood was 45%, but the rate of chick mortality varied greatly from year to year (Hoodless 1994). During the summers of 1989 and 1990, which experienced average rainfall, 60% of chicks sur\aved to fledging, whereas during the very dry summers of 1991 and 1992 only 32% of chicks fledged. The reason for the poor chick survival in years with dry summers is thought to be that 586 Hoodlesss: Studies of Eurasian Woodcock earthworms are less available. Hirons (1988b) found that in northern England there was a correlation between the ratio of adult to young Woodcocks shot by hunters in winter and the amount of rainfall the previous summer. It has been suggested that the Woodcock is double-brooded (Alexander 1946; Clausager 1973b), but there are only two proven instances of this, where Woodcocks incubating eggs were seen surrounded by a brood of chicks (von Zedlitz 1927; Jensen in Pay 1937). It is possible that the prevalence of double- brooding might vary regionally and seasonally according to the prevailing weather (Kalchreuter 1983). Further information from a marked population, preferably containing radio-tagged individuals, is required before any firm conclusion can be drawn. Diet, winter behaviour and mortality Woodcocks take their food from the ground surface, from under leaf litter and by probing. They eat a wide range of invertebrates, including earthworms, adult and larval beetles, caterpillars, sawfly larv^ae, spiders and harvestmen, ants, millipedes, woodlice, earwigs, fly larvae and small snails. Vegetable matter generally comprises only a small component of the diet and consists of seeds of buttercups (Ranunculaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), peas (Leguminosae) and grasses (Gramineae) (Glutz von Blotzheim et al. 1977). Kiss et al. (1988) found vegetable matter in Woodcock stomachs in autumn, winter and spring, but the proportion relative to animal matter was highest in spring. There appears to be great regional variation in the relative proportions of invertebrate prey items, but, when the ground is soft enough to allow probing, the proportion of adult beetles, earwigs and millipedes tends to decrease in favour of earthworms (Glutz von Blotzheim et al. 1977). In spring and summer in northern England and Scodand, earthworms, spiders, millipedes and woodlice are the groups taken most frequendy by both adult Woodcocks and chicks. Adults, however, also select beede larvae more often than expected from their availability, whilst chicks exhibit a particular preference for spiders (Hoodless 1994). The greatest variety of prey items is taken during autumn migration. In mild winter conditions, earthworms and leatherjackets (Diptera larvae) are by far the most important components of the diet (Hirons & Bickford-Smith 1983; Granval 1988). During the breeding season. Woodcocks feed in woodland by day and remain in cover to roost at night. In autumn, however, their behaviour changes, and throughout the winter and early spring Woodcocks are nocturnal and leave the woodland at dusk to feed on nearby fields. They return to cover approximately half an hour before dawn (Hirons & Bickford-Smith 1 983) and roost during the day. It is thought that this change occurs because invertebrate food becomes relatively more available in fields in the winter (Hirons & Owen 1982). It may, however, also be due in part to the fact that Woodcocks foraging in open, mainly leafless woodland by day would be especially vulnerable to avian predators, which l-ACING PAGK Plates 205-207. Woodcocks Scolopax msiicola on nests. Top, Norfolk, April 1985 {Roger Tidnuiu); centre, with eggs, Nottinghamshire, May 1991 (J. Ellis); bottom, with chick, Nottinghamshire, June 1992 {Gerald M. Hall) 588 Hoodlcss: Saidies of Eurasian Woodcock are known to constitute an important threat in the breeding season, when there is more cover than in winter (Hirons & Johnson 1987). The Woodcocks select permanent pastures and grass leys in preference to plough or fields of winter cereals (Ferrand & Gossmann 1988; Hoodless 1994), even in areas where the proportion of grass fields is very low (Hirons 1983). In grass-dominated farmland, they feed on the permanent pastures with the highest densities of soil invertebrates, and the same individuals often remrn to the same field each night for up to a month (Hoodless 1994). During cold spells when Woodcocks are unable to feed at night, they will often frequent streams during the day (Hirons & Bickford-Smith 1983), although I have seen them on fields at night even when the ground was frozen. On the basis of the mean Woodcock hunting bags per county during a mild winter (1979/80) and a cold winter (1980/81), Tapper & Hirons (1983) have suggested that there is a redistribution of Woodcocks within Britain during cold winters. If this is the case, it probably involves only the Continental migrants, as there is no evidence from ringing reco\'eries that British Woodcocks move farther from their natal or breeding sites in cold winters or cold spells within winters (Hoodless & Coulson 1994). It seems plausible that the resident and the migrant Woodcocks might follow different strategies in cold weather, since the resident birds will probably benefit from remaining in the same place owing to familiarity with the site, but the migrants have little to lose by moving and may ha\-e a better chance of fmding an unfrozen feeding area elsewhere. Woodcocks can generally withstand four or five days of freezing conditions, but they are believed to experience higher mortality in exceptionally cold wmters owing to all of their feeding sites becoming frozen (Baillie et al. 1986; Marchant et al. 1990). During the severe winter of 1962/63, unusually large numbers of Woodcocks were concentrated in the southern and western counties of England and Wales and significant numbers were among the many dead birds reported (Ash 1964; Dobinson & Richards 1964). There is no direct evidence that more Woodcocks move to Britain from the Continent in cold winters, but there is a suggestion of this from increased numbers of sightings of Woodcocks on the coast (Dobinson & Richards 1964; Marchant 1982; Cramp & Simmons 1983). The annual adult survival rate of British Woodcocks has been calculated from 342 ringing recoveries as 58%, while first-year survival has been estimated from 426 recoveries as 47% (Hoodless & Coulson 1994). The main namral predators of adult Woodcocks are Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Tawny Owls, Red Foxes and Stoats, although Northern Goshawks Accipiter gentilis, Peregiine Falcons Falco peregrinus. Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos and Common Buzzards Bmco hiitco are also known to take them (Nethersole-Thompson & Nethersole-Thompson 1986). Woodcocks found dead have generally flown into wire fences or overhead cables, or collided with vehicles. Status and population pressures The state of the British breeding Woodcock population is very difficult to assess because there is no simple way to census the species. Woodcock nests are notoriously difficult to find and, although counts can be made of roding males, these are of questionable value because of the species’ polygynous mating system r THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS iin focus INORFOLK ' MAIN STREH, TITCHWEU. •NR. KINGS LYNN, • NORFOLK, PE31 8BB COpen 7 days 9.00om - 5.00pm Tel: 01485 210101 ■HOW TO FIND US; We are 500 yards east of the RSPB reserve ot Titchwell on the Al 49 ?between Hunstanton and Brancaster. in focus HERTFORDSHIRE 204 HIGH STREET, BARNr, HERTFORDSHIRE, ENS 5SZ Open Mon - Sot 9.00am - 6.00pm Tel: 0181-449 1445,0181-441 7748 Fax:0181-440 9999 HOWTO FIND US; We are 10 mins from M25 and AIM motonAKoys and 1 5 mins walk from High Barnet Tube Station situated at the Hodley Green end of Bomet High Street. in focus YORKSHIRE WESTIEIGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HD8 8QJ Open Mon - Sot 9.00am - 6.00pm Tel: 01484 864729 HOW TO FIND US; We ore close by Hie railway station at Denby Dale on the A636 near June. 38 & 39 on the Ml . iin focus LLEICESTERSHIRE kANGUAN water BIRDWATCHING CENTRE Ev-GLETON RESERVE, RUTIAND WATER, UilCESTERSHIRE, LE1S 8BT COpen Weekends and Bank Holidays 9.00am ■ 4.00pm Vel: 01572 770656 -.HOW TO FIND US; We are situated on the Egleton ^f^eserve at Rutland Water. Follow signposts to : -gleton Village on the A6003 to O^hom. in focus CENTRAL LONDON 8, 9 & 10 ROYAL OPERA ARCADE, PAtiMAa, LONDON, SW1Y4UY Open Mon - Fri 9.00am - 6.00pm Sat 9.00am - 4.00pm Tel: 0171-839 1881 Fax:0171-839 8118 HOW TO FIND US; We ore 300 yards from Piccodilly Underground Station in Royal Opero Arcade between Poll Mall and Charles !l Street. in focus SLIMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE THE WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS TRUST, SUMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL2 7BT Open 7 doys 9.30am • 4.30pm Tel: 01453- 890333, 0374-746472 HOW TO FIND US; We are situoted within the reserve with viewing over the Swan Loke, The centre is well signposted from the M5 motorwoy. WINTER FIELD EVENTS FOR CUSTOMERS PREFERRING TO SELECT AND PURCHASE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMME WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE RSPB, WWT AND COUNTY TRUSTS EVENTS ARE HELD FROM 1 0.00AM-4.00PM S SATURDAY 1 8TH t SUNDAY 1 9TH ‘ WWT MARTIN MERE. ORMSKIRK .. . $ SATURDAY 1 8TH t SUNDAY 1 9TH » RSPB PULBOROUGH BROOKS S SUNDAY 19TH . ABBERTON RESERVOIR. COLCHESTER S SATURDAY 2STH & SUNDAY 26TH ' WWT CENTRE WEINEY, WISBECH $ SATURDAY 2STH A SUNDAY 26TH CARSIN6T0N WATER $ SUNDAY 26TH FAIRBURN INGS. CASTLEFORD c SUNDAY 26TH • THATCHAM NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE, NEWBURY . S SATURDAY 2ND A SUNDAY 3RD ^RSPBLODMOOR, WEYMOUTH, S SATURDAY 2ND A SUNDAY 3RD ? RSP8 BIACKTOFT SANDS $ SUNDAY 3RD ^ PENNINGTON FLASH S SATURDAY 9TH A SUNDAY 10TH - HAUXLEY NATURE RESERVE. NEAR AMBLE . . S SATURDAY 9TH A SUNDAY 10TH >RSPBOUNGENESS S SUNDAY 10TH • FISHERS GREEN. LEE VALLEY COUNTRY PARK . (SATURDAY 16TH ' KENFIG NATURE RESERVE. MID-GLAMORGAN . (.SATURDAY )6TH A SUNDAY 17TH -‘WWT CENTRE MARTIN MERE. ORMSKIRK (SUNDAY 17TH • ABBERTON RESERVOIR, NR. COLCHESTER (JSUNDAY 17TH ■ WWT LLANELLI, DYFED . . (.SATURDAY 23RD 'WWT ARUNDEL .SATURDAY 23RD -FAIRBURN INGS. CASTLEFORD . (.SATURDAY 30TH ■ WWT WELNEY. NR WISBECH .. LANCASHIRE WEST SUSSEX ESSEX CAMBRIDGESHIRE DERBYSHIRE WEST YORKSHIRE BERKSHIRE DORSET SOUTH HUMBERSIDE GREATER MANCHESTER NORTHUMBERLAND KENT ESSEX WALES LANCASHIRE ESSEX SOUTH WALES WEST SUSSEX WEST YORKSHIRE CAMBRIDGESHIRE JANUARY 1996 ^SATURDAY 6TH & SUNDAY 7TH OAWLISH WARREN J£ATURDAY 6TH t SUNDAY 7TH ‘ WWT MARTINMERE, ORMSKIRK ieUNDAY 7TH • "ENNINGTON FLASH SATURDAY 13TH t 3IG WATERS SSATURDAY 1 3TH 1 SUNDAY MTH ^ 3IRD WATCHERS WEEKEND, WWT WEINEY, WISBECH . SISUNDAY 14TH ■•WWT WASHINGTON SISUNDAY MTH HSHERS GREEN, LEE VALIEV COUNTRY PARK, . SOUTH DEVON LANCASHIRE GREATER MANCHESTER NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE CAMBRIDGESHIRE TYNE 8. WEAR ESSEX AT LAST A QUALITY BINOCULAR AT A SENSIBLE PRICE ✓ Full Waterproofing ✓ Compact Lightweight Shape ✓ Rubier Armouring ✓ Superb Fully Coated Optics ✓ Excellent Close Focussing ✓ Ideal for Spectacle Wearers ✓ Full Internal Focussing ✓ 30 Year Warranty EXCEEDS SPECIFICATIONS AND HANDLING NORMALLY FOUND IN BINOCULARS COSTING £600 OR MORE A The Delta Roof Prism Available in 8x42 and 10x42 Complete with Soft Cose & Wide Neck Strap c Tjexca Nikon Valbon ®BUSHnELL SWIFT SLIK OPTOLYTH SWAROVSKI CULL MANN cy&fcgBD ZEISS annD BAUSCH &L0MB New New New New New Bous(h & Lomb PREMIER HDR 'Scope BODY ONLY £299 FEATURES INCLUDE •STRAIGHT OR ANGLED EYEPIECE •RAINPROOF ARMOURED FINISH •FULL EYEPIECE RANGE AVAILABLE 20XW/27XW/30XW/40XW CHOICE OF THREE ZOOMS •COMPAQ BODY SHAPE 265MM(10.5INS) LONG FREE TRIPOD WITH DELTA Lightweight Tripod • COMPAQ (OKIY 60CM /?4INS WHEN CIOSED) • UGH1WEIGHTI0NLV2KC/4.5LBI •FULL HEIGHT SPECIFICATION (175CM/60INS) •QGICyELEASETUBUUUEGS •ALL METAL CONSTluaiON • SINGLE AQIOHHEAO fQQ A OUAlin TRIFOD FOI ONLY £ W M ALL NEW 'SCOPES I SUPPORT SYSTEMS DELTA LIGHTWEIGHT TRIPOD £99.00 HEIWA HS-644B TRIPOD £125.00 MANFROTTO 790 & 1 26 RC HEAD £133.00 VELBON TRIPODS FROM £59.95 CULLMAN BIRDING TRIPODS FROM £89.00 HIDE CLAMPS FROM £45.00 CAR WINDOW MOUNTS FROM £38.00 UNIVERSAL MOUNT FROM £36.00 QUICK RELEASE SYSTEMS FROM £12.00 TRIPOD STRAPS FROM £8.00 IN locus STAY-ON CASES NOW AVAIIABIE TO EIT MOST 'SCOPES EROM £44.00 BOOKS Al oil our shops we carry o good nge of field and identificolion guides well os a full selection of trip reports REPAIRS Full service and repair faciitties in our own workshops All work carries our six month worronfy MAIL AND TELEPHONE ORDERS Pleose remember to odd £2.00 lowords the cost of insured Trokbok posloge ond packing - whether poying by cheque, Viso, Access or Mostercord-ond goods 'ill be despolched with fulT 14 doys opprovol on receipt of your remitfonce SECOND HAND ITEMS All instruments offered with six month worronty. As stock turnover is high phone for latest details. PART-IXCHANOIS ALWAYS W8LCOMB. AU LIST1NOS COiUUCT AT TIMl Of OOtHO TO PAIRS. BAOl. PHOMB 90K LATIST PRICBS. vii The definitive binocular. Outstanding twilight performance, maximum contrast, optimum brilliance and first class image quality. Thanks to a totally new optical system with major improvements to many important details. A waterproof, nitrogen filled housing with DesignSelection styling for good looks and maximum ease of handling. The perfect synthesis of function, convenience and prestige; technical precision in its most attractive form. In other words a new dimension in binocular technology from Carl Zeiss, guaranteed to withstand the excesses of climate and nature for the next thirty years. The mark of Carl Zeiss quality Night Owls 7x45 B, 8x56 B, 10x56 B f For the full 'Facts and Figures' about Carl Zeiss binoculars, t please complete the coupon below and send to: Carl Zeiss Limited, Binocular Division, Dept BB, PO Box 78, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL7 1LU. Name Address Postcode ZEISS British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 589 and the fact that only a proportion of the males rode. The BTO’s Common Birds Census (CBC) index suggests a progressive decline in the British Woodcock population, which has become steeper since 1980 (Marchant et al. 1990). The CBC is, however, not particularly suited to crepuscular species such as the Woodcock which do not hold breeding territories, and it is not clear how reliably the CBC monitors the Woodcock population. In addition, the CBC data are biased towards southern England and it is now clear that Woodcocks are more numerous and have fewer gaps in their breeding distribution in northern England and Scotland (Gibbons et al. 1993). Nevertheless, the difference in the records of breeding Woodcocks between the BTO breeding-bird surveys of 1968-72 (Sharrock 1976) and 1988-91 (Gibbons el al. 1993) clearly points to a reduction in the size of the British breeding Woodcock population. Woodcocks are stiU highly prized by sportsmen, who can legally shoot them between 1st October (1st September in Scotland) and 31st January. The impact of hunting on the Woodcock is very difficult to assess, but it is likely that shooting claims only a small proportion of the total overwintering population. There was no significant difference between the annual adult survival rates of ringed individuals that were shot and that were found dead (Hoodless & Coulson 1994), and recent evidence suggests that there has been a decline in hunting pressure on Woodcocks in Britain and Ireland, together with most other European countries, since the 1960s (Henderson et al. 1993). Hunting statistics provide an indication of changes in the numbers of wintering Woodcocks from year to year, but yield no information on the British breeding population because of the large influx of Continental migrants. Game Conservancy Trust figures suggest that the size of the wintering population has remained relatively constant since 1960 (Tapper 1992). Forestry practice in Britain clearly affects the Woodcock population by altering the amount and type of habitat available to the species. Habitat loss is caused by the closing of forest canopies, conversion of mixed stands to pure conifer stands and clear-felling. In the south of England, there has been a net loss of woodland and covert since the 1930s owing to the felling and fragmentation of old woodlands and the dissolution of former sporting estates (Marchant et al. 1990). There has also been an 82% decline in managed coppice in Britain since 1950 (Warren & Key 1991). These losses may have been offset to some extent by the creation of large areas of new conifer forests during the 1950s and 1960s mentioned earlier. Information is stiU required, however, on the extent to which conifer plantations of different ages and different species composition are used by breeding Woodcocks. Because Woodcocks feed primarily on farmland m the winter and early spring, their fortunes may flucmate in relation to changes in agriculmral practice. The single factor most likely to account for the widespread decline in the number of resident Woodcocks is probably the large-scale conversion of pasture to tillage in Britain since the 1950s. There has also been a vast increase in the range and quantity of pesticides applied to farmland, and the effects of some of these chemicals on the soil-invertebrate food of birds are still poorly known. It has been shown recently that some moUuscicides and fungicides are directly poisonous to earthworms and some other classes of soil invertebrates (Wiltshire & Glen 1989). The cattle anthelmintic Ivemiectin has also caused concern because it inhibits the 590 Hoodless: Studies of Eurasian Woodcock larval development of certain Diptera and dung-beetles (Aphodiiis) (Madsen et al. 1990). Earthworms are known to adsorb pesticide residues readily, and Woodcocks may therefore be contaminated by accumulation of these residues. Such an effect was demonstrated in the case of the American Woodcock during the early 1960s, which accumulated lethal doses of heptachlor epoxide that was applied in the Gulf States to control the imported Fire Ant Solenopsis saevissima (Shekel et al. 1965a, b). Another potenhal problem is the recent occurrence of the New Zealand flatworm Artioposthia tnangulata in some parts of Britain and Ireland. This flatworm feeds upon earthworms, and the Woodcock is one of many birds and mammals likely to be affected adversely if the flatworm becomes established widely and abundantly in the soil here (Hancocks 1995). References AI-I-xander, W. B. 1946. The Woodcock in the British Isles. Ibis 88: 1-24. Ash, J. S. 1964. Obsen-ations in Hampshire and Dorset during the 1963 cold spell. Brit. Birds 57: 221-241. Baiijje, S. R., Ciark, N. A., & Ogilwe, M. A. 1986. Cold Weather Movements of Watetfowl and Waders: an analysis of ringing recoveries. NCC CSD Report No. 650. Peterborough. Be'ITMANN, H. 1961. Die Waldschnepfe. Miinchen. Clausaghr, I. 1972. Skovsneppen (Scolopax msticola) som ynglefugl i Danmark. Datiske Vildtnnckrsogelser 19: 1-39. 1973a. Age and sex determination of the Woodcock {Scolopax msticola). Dan. Rev. Game Biol. 8(1); 1-18. 1973b. Skovsneppens Scolopax msticola yngletid i Danmark. Dansk Om. Foren. Tidsskr. 67: 129-137. Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 3. Oxford. ntis Forges, G. 1975. Behaviour of an incubating Woodcock. Brit. Birds 68: 421-428. Dobinson, H. M., & Richards, A. J. 1964. The effects of the severe winter of 1962/63 on birds in Britain. Brit. Birds 57: 373-434. Fi-rrand, Y., & Gossmann, F. 1988. Repartition spatiale des Becasses des Bois sur leurs habitats nocturnes en Bretagne. In Have r, P., & Hirons, G., Proc. 3rd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 48-52. Slimbridge. Fuller, R. J. 1982. Bird Habitats in Britain. Calton. Gerouoe'L, P. 1952. Nidification de la Becasse dans le pays de Geneve. Nos Oiseanx 21: 15-17. Gibbons, D. W., Reid, J. B., & Chapman, R. A. (eds.) 1993. The Nezv Atlas of Breeding Bird^ in Britain and Ireland 1988-91. London. Gluiz von Blotzheim, U. N., Bauer, K. M., & Bezzel, E. 1977. Handbuch der \'bgel Mitteleuropas. vol. 7. Wiesbaden. Granvai., P. 1988. Influence de la disponibilite et de I'accessibilite des lombriciens sur le choLx des milieux frequentes par la Becasse des Bois (Scolopax msticola L.). In Have l, P., & Hirons, G., Proc. 3rd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 60-66. Slimbridge. Hancocks, P. J. 1995. Where have all the earthworms gone? BTO News 196: 7. Hi;nderson, I. G., Peach, W. J., & Baillie, S. R. 1993. The hunting of Snipe and Woodcock in Europe: a ringing recoveiy analysis. BTO Research Report No. 1 15. Thetford. Hirons, G. 1978. The Game Conserc'ancy Woodcock project. Game Consemanev Ann. Rev. 9: 93-97. 1980. The significance of roding by Woodcock, Scolopio: msticola: an alternative explanation based on observ'ation of marked birds. Ibis 122: 350-354. 1983. A five-year study of the breeding behaviour and biology of the Woodcock in England — a first report. In Kalchri;u ri;R, H., Proc. 2nd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 51-67. Slimbridge. 1988a. Habitat use by Woodcock (Scolopax msticola) during the breeding season. In Ha\’i:1', P., & Hirons, G., Proc. 3rd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 42-47. Slimbridge. 1988b. Some factors affecting the age ratios among Woodcock wings collected from British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 591 hunters in Britain. In Havet, P., & Hirons, G., Proc. 3rd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 92-95. Slimbridge. & Bickford-Smi'fh, P. 1983. The diet and behaviour of Eurasian Woodcock wintering in Cornwall. In Kai^chrhuter, H., Proc. 2nd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 11- 17. Slimbridge. & Johnson, T. H. 1987. A quantitative analysis of habitat preferences of Woodcock, Scobpax msticola, in the breeding season. Ibis 129; 371-381. & Linsley, M. 1989. Counting Woodcock. Game Conservancy Ann. Rev. 20: 47-48. & Owen, R. B., Jr. 1982. Radio-tagging as an aid to the study of Woodcock. Symp. Zool. Soc. Land. 49: 139-152. Hoodless, A. N. 1994. Aspects of the ecology of the European Woodcock Scolopax rusticola. PhD thesis, University of Durham. & COULSON, J. C. 1994. Survival rates and movements of British and Continental Woodcock Scolopax rusticola in the British Isles. Bird Study 41: 48-60. Kai.chreuter, H. 1983. The Woodcock. Mainz. Kiss, J. B., RekAsi, J., & Sterbetz, I. 1988. Donnees sur la nourriture de la Becasse {Scobpax nisticob L.) dans le nord de la Dobrudja (Roumanie). In Havet, P., & Hirons, G., Proc. 3rd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 78-82. Slimbridge. Lack, P. 1986. The Atbs of Wintering Birds in Britain and Irebnd. Calton. Lowe, V. P. W. 1972. Distraction display of a Woodcock with chicks. Ibis 114: 106-107. Madsen, M., Overgaard Nielsen, B., Holter, P., Pedersen, O. C., Brochner Jespersen, J., Vagn Jensen, K-M., Nansen, P., & Gronvold, J. 1990. Treating cattle with ivermectin: effects on the fauna and decomposition of dung pats. J. Appl. Ecol. 27: 1-15. ALvrchant, J. H. 1982. Waders. In Salmon, D. G., Wildfowl and Wader Counts 1981/82, pp. 32-48. Slimbridge. , Hudson, R., Carter, S. P., & Whiti'ington, P. A. 1990. Popubtbn Trends in Btitish Breeding Birds. Tring. Marcstrom, V. 1988. A study on display activities of Woodcock in Sweden. In Havet, P., & Hirons, G., Proc. 3rd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 83-85. Slimbridge. & SuNDGREN, F. 1977. On the reproduction of the European Woodcock. Viltrevy 10: 27- 40. AIartin, G. R. 1994. Visual fields in Woodcocks Scobpax nisticob (Scolopacidae; Charadriiformes) . J. Comp. Physiol. A 174: 787-793. Nethersole-Thompson, D., & Nethersole-Thompson, M. 1986. Waders — their breeding, haunts and watchers. Calton. OsTERMEYER, R., & Ferrand, Y. 1979. Approche du comportement de b Becasse des Bois fScolopax rusticola L.) en pmode de reproduction en foret domanbk de Compiegne (Oise-France). Paris. Parslow, j. L. F. 1967. Changes in status among breeding birds in Britain and Ireland. Brit. Birds 60: 97-123. Pay, L. M. 1937. Die Waldschnepfe. Munchen. PlERSMA, T. (ed.) 1986. Breeding waders in Europe: a review of population size estimates and a bibliography of information sources. Wader Study Group Bulletin 48: supplement. Raynsford, L. j. 1959. Early roding of Woodcock. Bril. Birds 52: 268. Sharrock, j. T. R. 1976, The Atbs of Breeding Birds in Britain and Irebnd. Berkhamsted. Shorten, M. 1974. The European Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola). Game Conservancy Report no. 21. Fordingbridge. STEiNFA'rr, O. 1938. Das Brutleben der Waldschnepfe. J. Om. 86: 379-424. S riCKEL, W. H., Dodge, W. E., Sheldon, W. G., DEWi rr, J. B., & S riCKiiL, L. F. 1965a. Body condition and response to pesticides in Woodcocks. J. Wildl. Manage. 29: 147-155. , Hayne, D. W., & Stickel, L. F. 1965b. Effects of heptachlor-contaminated earthworms on Woodcocks. J. Wildl. Manage. 29: 132-146. S'l RONACH, B. 1983. A report concerning the reproductive organs of the Woodcock in the month of February. In Kai.chreuter, H., Proc. 2nd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 43- 50. Slimbridge. Tapper, S. 1992. Game Heritage. Fordingbridge. & Hirons, G. 1983. Recent trends in Woodcock bags in Britain. In Kalchreuter, H., Proc. 2nd European Woodcock and Snipe Workshop, pp. 132-137. Slimbridge. 592 Hoodless: Studies of Eurasian Woodcock TiiS i KR, J. R., & Watson, A. 1973. Spacing and territoriality of Woodcock (Scobpax nisticola) based on roding behaviour. Ibis 115: 135-138. Varga, F. 1968. Nesting and hatching of the Woodcock in the neighbourhood of Zag^Tarona and Matraszele in 1965 and 1966. Aquila 75: 297-298. Vaurie, C. 1965. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna: non-passerifonnes. London. Vhsey-Fitzghrau), B. 1946. British Game. London. VON Zedlitz, O. 1927. Contributions a I’etude biologique de la Becasse. Rev. Franc. Orn. 11: Warri-n, M. S., & Ki;y, R. S. 1991. Woodlands: past, present and potential for insects. In CoixlNS, N. M., & Thomas, J. A., The Conservation of Insects and their Habitats, pp. 1 55-21 1 . London. Wii. rsHiRi:, C. W., & Glen, D. M. 1989. Effects of moUuscicide on slugs and soil arthropods in winter cereal crops. In Henderson, I., Slugs and Stiaih in World Agriculture, British Crop Protection Council Monograph 41, pp. 399-406. Guildford. Wri HERBY, H. F., JouRi:)AiN, F. C. R., Ticehurs t, C. B., & TucKiiR, B. W. 1940. The Handbook of British Birds, vol. 4. London. Workman, W. H. 1954. On hen Woodcock feeding chicks. Irish Nat. J. 1 1: 232. Dr Andrew Hoodless, The Game Conseix>ancy Trust, Fordingbiidge, Hampshire SP6 IFF ‘Woodcock, Scobpax rusticob. The woodcock arrives here [Durham and Cleveland] about the 15th of October, but does not remain with us, proceeding to the larger woods further inland. The greater number of these birds come with a north-east wdnd during the full moon, in the latter end of October, which, with us, is called the “hunter’s moon.” Once only I remember to have seen a woodcock on its direct passage; its flight was then high, and very swift, perfectly different from its usual owl-like mode of flying when disturbed in cover.’ ‘It is easy to know whether there are any woodcocks in a wood by seeking for a spring or marshy spot, and looking round these for its excrements, which are large, white and inodi>rous.’ {The Zoobgut 3: 1173-1174, 1 187-1188, December 1845) Twenty-five years ago, on 16th December 1970, Grahame Walbridge set out to walk the 3 km from his home at Weston, Portland, Dorset, to the bird obseiY’atoiy at Portland Bill. His journey was interrupted by his discoveiy^ of ‘an amber-coloured Sylvui warbler', which pro\-ed to be not only a new species for Britain & Ireland, but alsti (Mily tlie third record for Western Europe. Desert Warbler Sylvia tiana, for that is what it pro\’ed to be, was a completely unexpected vagrant in those days, though another nine have occurred here since {Brit. Birds 65: 460-464; 66: 356, 357; Ibis 1 16: 578). 74-81. LOOKING Lesser Short-toed Lark in Dorset: new to Britain L R. Dickie and K. E. Vinicombe During the morning of 2nd May 1992, IRD left the bird observatory at Portland BiU, Dorset, to search the ‘Top Fields’ for migrants. He was accompanied by a Young Ornithologists’ Club group, of which he was an assistant leader. At about 10.10 GMT, he noticed a small, pale passerine as it flew away over a large barley field in flie dry limestone valley opposite the observatory. He followed it through binoculars but moved on after failing to relocate it with a telescope during five minutes of scanning. At 17.40, he returned to the field with the YOC group while the leaders, Anna Hughes and Charles Wilkins, prepared dinner. The odd bird again flew out from near the path. This time, it settled some 40 m away and was viewable on the ground. It was clearly a small, pale lark. IRD returned to the observatory to report his find and began discussing the identity of the lark with Martin Cade, the assistant warden. Quite sensibly, MC suggested that it might be a pale Sky Lark Alauda aruensis. IRD could not accept this, although he was unable to suggest a conclusive alternative. A number of other birders in the lounge eavesdropped on the conversation, but no-one showed any real interest. IRD returned to the field and, a short while later, was joined by AH, whose first impression was that it was a Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla. At this stage, however, it was first heard to caU, and its small size also became apparent when it was compared directly with a Whinchat Saxicola nibetra. AH immediately ordered the fastest YOC member to run back to the observatory, where the incumbents at last erupted from their semi-somnambulant state and were soon running breathlessly up the hill. CW, who was already on his way, was the first to suggest that it might be a Lesser Short-toed Lark C. nifescens. Pretty soon, there were some 20 observers gathered on the track, including S. J. Broyd, MC, R. & S. Hibbett, R. Newton, I. Pembroke, R. J. Senior, R. Taylor and KEV. The bird was feeding at a range of perhaps 40-50 m but slightly against the light. After a quick binocular view, KEV pronounced it a Short-toed Lark. Once in the telescopes, however, it soon became apparent that it was ‘wrong’ for that species. Most obviously, it had a clearly streaked breast band, a small bill, and a crested effect, while it lacked both a prominent supercilium and [Brit. Birds 88: 593-599, December 1995] €> British Birds Ltd 1995 593 594 Dickie & Vinicombe: Lesser Shon-tocd Lark: new to Britain a Strong median-covert bar. Unaware of CW’s earlier suggestion, we excitedly began to discuss the realistic possibility that it was a Lesser Short-toed Lark and we edged closer in an attempt to see the all-important primary projection. Inevitably, we flushed it across the field, but it called loudly twice, and those of us who were familiar with the call became convinced that it was indeed a Lesser. As it flew, E. T. Welland arrived from the opposite direction, having been told that there was a ‘funny lark’ in Top Fields. He was also familiar with both species abroad, and he quite independently recognised the call as being that of Lesser Short-toed and was confident enough to suggest this identification to SJB. The bird settled on the path, near where it had originally been flushed. Despite close views (down to 30 m), it was still not possible to see the primaries as the lark grovelled in a small hollow or frustratingly contri\'ed to keep them hidden behind vegetation. Eventually, it flew again and proved to be rather flighty until it settled on an area of bare earth in the northeast corner of the field. There it gave excellent prolonged, unobscured views at about 30 m, and at this point we could all clearly see that it had a good ‘half-inch’ (1.3-cm) primary projection. Around this time, we were joined by several local observers who had been summoned by a frantic telephone call. These included P. A. Coe, P. Kent, K. Pritchard, I. Prophet and D. & G. Walbridge. The lark was kept under observation until about 20.15, when it flew over to the far side of the field. By this time, it had been seen by perhaps 30 observ'ers, several of whom were very familiar with the species in Spain, the Canary Islands, North Africa or the Middle East, and others with the eastern forms in China. The following dawn saw a crowd of some 400 obseiv^ers gathered, but, disappointingly, the bird had gone. Some confusion ensued over the identification of a Sky Lark and, a few days later, MC received an anonymous and abusive telephone call saying that our bird had been a ‘runt Sky Lark’. Following tlie publication of a preliminary account of the observation (Dickie 1992), KEV received a long telephone call from Lee Evans informing him that the word was out on the grapevine that the bird had indeed been a runt Sky Lark. This was a portent of things to come. Two descriptions by IRD and KEV were submitted to the British Birds Rarities Committee, but assessment was protracted since one member ‘pended’ the record on the grounds that he considered (a) that it was full of anomalies, (b) that several of the features indicated Short-toed Lark and (c) that the descriptions did not eliminate Oriental Lark A. gulgnla. As all records with eight or nine ‘accept’ votes are automatically reconsidered by the entire committee, the original descriptions were recirculated, along with further independent ones from SJB, MC and ETW, as well as with additional notes from GW added to the file in his capacity as a BBRC member. On the second circulation, the lone non- accepting member retained the file for almost a year before returning it to the Chairman with a further ‘pend’ vote. It then resumed its journey around the Committee, but was lost in the post halfway through tliis second circulation. The file was reconstructed and the record was swiftly accepted unanimously on the third circulation, the ‘blocking member’ by then having retired. A request from that member to be allowed to continue to take part in tlie assessment of tlie record, even after having left the Committee, was declined, but all ten accepting members were aware of the circumstances and of the arguments which the dissenting but now absent member had put fomard. Subsequently, tlie Portland occurrence was British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 595 accepted unanimously as the first British record in a single circulation of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee*, the members of which, as is usual, saw not only the documentary evidence, but also all the BBRC comments and correspondence. The species was, of course, already in Category A of the British & Irish List by virtue of some previous records in Ireland (see below). The following is a synopsis of the five submitted descriptions and GW’s BBRC comments. Description In general appearance and structure, it was a small, evenly proportioned, compact Calandrella lark, rather short-tailed and similar in size to Short-toed Lark. It often appeared somewhat finch-like because of its small, stubby bill and MC stated that, at first glance, it reminded him of a Linnet Carduelis cannabina, an effect heightened by its bill. SJB considered it ‘noticeably smaller’ than nearby Sky Larks, while ETW noted that it was ‘much smaller’ than a Sky Lark which he had flushed on his approach. In his initial views, IRD considered it to be slightly shorter than a Whinchat in direct comparison. When feeding, it crept quietly but busily along the ground, sometimes in a low, shuffling manner. The back was rounded and it sometimes appeared hunched, but it was longer-necked and more upright when alert. Initially, the wings were held relaxed, with the primaries drooping below the level of the tail, but later, when more active and alert, they were held on a level with the top of the tail. When disturbed, it would often creep away rather than fly. When flushed, it flew fast and direct, low over the ground in typical Calandrella manner, and it would drop straight to the ground from full flight, with no hovering. It was basically pale sandy-brown in appearance, considerably paler than Sky Lark, and GW considered it to be a fawner or greyer shade of brown than the greyer-type Short-toed Larks which he has seen. In flight, it looked quite strikingly pale and sandy, an effect heightened by the very pale belly and underwing. It showed a darker tail, with contrasting pale outer tail feathers, but it lacked a pale or white trailing edge to the wing. The following more-detailed notes expand on the above: HEAD Short-toed Lark has a head shape and pattern rather reminiscent of female House Sparrow Passer domesticus, with a largish bill, a usually rounded crown, a fairly prominent supercilium and a dark line behind the eye. This bird failed to give this impression. Its head usually looked less rounded than that of Short-toed, with a somewhat steeper forehead. It quite often showed a crested effect, with a sharp angle at the crown/nape juncture, this often being caused by the wind catching the rear crown feathers; they were more typically laid flat when feeding in sheltered conditions. It is important to note that the raised crown feathers did not impart such an obviously crested appearance as on Sky Lark. Compared with Short-toed, it had a rather plain-faced appearance within which the dark eye stood out. The crown was evenly and finely streaked brown on a sandy-brown background, perhaps recalling Sky Lark. The buffy supercilium was narrow and faint and blended well with the rest of the head. There was only a narrow inconspicuous dark line behind the eye. The eye itself was surrounded by an obvious pale creamy-buff ring which merged with the lores and supercilium around the front of the eye. The most distinctive facial character was a narrow, but quite noticeable, brown line which extended back from the bottom of the lower mandible, curving upwards below the lores and ending approximately level with the rear of the eye, thus forming the lower border to the pale eye-surround. Ear-coverts plain and variously described as light sandy or buffish-white. Indistinct dark moustachial stripe merged into dark ear-covert surround (comprised more of streaks than a solid area of colour) which ^Although a member of that Committee, KEV did not vote on the record. 596 Dickie & Vinicombe: Lesser Short-toed Lark: new to Britain curved up to meet narrow dark eye-stripe, thus giving complete border to ear-coverts. To KEV, whole facial pattern was characteristic of Lesser Short-toed Lark. GW thought that nape was contrastingly paler and unstreaked, but IRD described it as sandy with dark flecks visible only during the best views. UNDERPARTS Throat and lower neck pale buffish-white. Across the breast was a noticeable pectoral band of profuse, even, fine streaking, the general impression recalling Sk\’ Lark. The band was less deep in the middle, but was continuous right across the breast. At the sides, the streaking became more organised and more heatily lined. The streaking was delicate, profuse and unlike the more random streaking shown by some Short- toed Larks. It failed to show even a hint of dark patches on the breast sides. Underparts variously described as ‘pale with a sandy wash’, ‘pale buff or ‘sandy-grey’. In hindsight, KEV thought them buffer and less white than on most Short-toeds, while GW also considered them buffer than on that species. Flanks faintly streaked. UPPERPAR'I'S Pale sandy-brown with distinct grevish cast, heavily streaked dark brown (perhaps heaviest on lower mantle). Two heav\' blackish streaks dowTi scapulars, these feathers overhanging innermost wing-coverts. Lower back, rump, uppertail-coverts and closed tail sandy with light greyish cast. WINGS Median coverts, greater cov'erts and tertials brown, noticeably edged buff. Lacked the obvious dark median-co\’ert bar shown by most Short-toed Larks (which recalls that of Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris), because centres of median coverts were brown — not dark brown or black — and did not coalesce to form a bar; in fact, individual feathers could be picked out because of their broad, light buffy- brown fringes. Lesser coverts appeared basically sandy-grey, while piimaiy coverts were noticeably blacker than other wing- cov'erts. IRD noted secondaries and primaries as being slightly paler than rest of upperparts, forming paler wedge back from the alula, under the tertials. MC noted underwing as pale, ‘perhaps dirtv' whitish’. PRIMARY PROjitcnoN This was obviously the key feature and the one that caused us the most frustration. At any distance, it was verv' difficult to determine where the tertials ended and where the primaries began and the evaluation of' this was hampered by the lark frequently moving through the newly sprouting barley. At closer ranges, it frustratingly managed to conceal this vital part of its anatomy behind vegetation or in hollow's. On many occasions, we were 95% certain that we could see a primaiy projection, but it took us a good three-quarters of an hour to see it well enough to be 100% certain. The problem was caused by the fact that the primaries themselves were very faded, sandy-brown, and so appeared more-or-less concolorous with the tertials. When seen well, however, it was possible to count down three tertials from the shortest uppermost to the longest lower one and a primarv’ projection of about half an inch (1.3 cm) was clearly vasible beyond the lowest tertial. MC considered that the exposed primaries were approximately equal to half the length of the overlying tertials. In a close, semi- back-on view, the primaiy projection was in fact obvious. Viewing through a 50X Quesiar telescope at 30 m, SJB was able to count three visible primaiy tips with the space between the tips of the second and third being greatest. RH, GW and ETW were also able to view the primaries through the Questar. There w'as no question of the bird lacking the covering tertials. Although the tertials were also worn (particularly the longest), it was nevertheless quite easy to count them and to see their pale buffy edges. The primaiy’ projection was clearly visible on both wings. HARi; PARIS Bill Very distinctive: noticeably small and pointed, and much less conspicuous than the more sparrow-like bill of Short-toed Lark. Structurally similar to that of a Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla, but with the mandibles convex, not concave (IRD). Quite conical, with straighter mandibles than Short- toed, more like Linnet’s in both shape and proportions (KEV). Small and somewhat stubby, on occasions giving the head a small finch-like appearance; when concentrating on the head, it was the small bill which always stood out (SJB). In colour, it had a dark tip and a greyer base (described by MC as ‘grey-hom’). Legs Quite noticeably orange or fleshy-orange. CALI, Clearly and loudly heard on three occasions, less clearly on others. It fitted exactly KEV’s memory of the call of Lesser Short-toed Lark, which he had last heard in Morocco in 1990. Immediately after it called the first time, he wrote it down as: ‘a rapid, almost buzzing “ddddr”, sounding like four notes conccrtinaed together’. He added that ‘this call was obviously different from tlie more usual calls of Short-toed Lark’, which, in his most recent notes, he had noted as a hard ‘t-trip trip’, ‘chip chip’ or as a ‘hard chirruping’. The call was, in fact, difficult to describe and this accounted for a variety’ of transcriptions by the various observers. SJB described it as a ‘distinctive. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 597 buzzy “chirr”, given several times as the bird flew from one spot to another’. ETW considered it ‘a loud buzzing churring note’, quite dissimilar to the ‘hard chirrupy call’ which he associates with Short-toed Lark. GW variously transcribed it as ‘dddrr’, ‘ttttr’, ‘trrrr’ or ‘drrrr’ and as ‘a rasping dry rattle, very distinctive and quite different from Short-toed, being lower in pitch and louder’. MC described it as a short, dry, quite buzzing ‘dddr’. As an interesting postscript, MC again encountered the species in southern Morocco in November 1992 and he first detected and correctly identified the birds by ‘the dry, buzzing call identical to that heard from the Portland bird’. Identification The separation of Short-toed and Lesser Short-toed Larks has been covered by Dennis & Wallace (1975) and summarised by Alstrbm et al. (1991). Despite their superficial similarity, the two species are not difficult to identify, given a reasonable view, and there is a feeling amongst those who know them that there has been a tendency to overstress their similarities, rather than their differences. Lesser Short- toed has something of the character of a ‘miniature Sky Lark’, an impression which Short-toed never gives. Even those Short-toeds which show breast streaking are not a problem, since the streaking tends to be sparser and more ‘random’ than that shown by Lesser. Despite this, KEV took the opportunity to examine carefully some 50 Lesser Short-toed Larks (race polatzeki) on Euertevenmra, Canary Islands, on 19th April 1993. This was particularly useful as it was at the same time of year as the Portland bird (just 13 days earlier). Every individual had worn primaries and many had them equally as worn and faded as those on the Portland bird (at this time of year, these feathers are perhaps nine months old and have been subjected to a lot of strong sunlight) . At a distance, every individual appeared to show concolorous primaries and tertials, but, at closer ranges, some less-faded individuals had sUghtly darker primaries. Their crests were raised very frequently and, as with the Portland bird, were often caught by the wind, but tended to be lowered when feeding. The call was also similar and he again noted it as ‘a distinctive, rattling, dry “dddr” ’. Interestingly, in flight, several of the larks on Euerteventura showed a very narrow white trailing edge to the secondaries, a feature not apparently recorded previously. Distribution, movements and habitats Much of the following information is taken from BWP. Lesser Short-toed Lark frequents the mid-latitude steppe and semi-desert zones and, compared with Short-toed Lark, it exists on barer, poorer, drier, more saline, more clayey or more gravelly sites, although the habitat distinctions between the two are not totally clear-cut. It is normally a lowland species, but the Transcaucasian race pseudobaetica ascends to alpine meadows at 3,000 m. The breeding distribution of Lesser Short-toed Lark extends from Spam, the Canaries and Morocco in the west, across North Africa to Turkey and the Middle East and through the southern parts of the former Soviet Union to Manchuria. In Spain, it is considered to be largely sedentary, while in North Africa it is resident to dispersive and perhaps nomadic. Farther east, it is more migratory, and breeders from the former Soviet Union withdraw mainly into the southern part of the breeding range in winter. Even in eastern Turkey, it is mainly a summer visitor. In the Far East, it moves southwards into northern parts of the Indian subcontinent and southern China. 598 Dickie & Vinicombe: lesser Short-locd Lark: new to Britain Geographical variation Lesser Short-toed Lark forms a superspecies with the Rufous Short-toed Lark C. somalica from east and northeast Africa and with the Indian Short-toed Lark C. raytal from the Indian subcontinent. In the Palearctic, there is marked and complex geographical variation involving mainly the ground colour of the upperparts, the width of the shaft streaks, the amount of white in the tail, size, and bill shape. BVC^P recognises ten races in the western Palearctic and an additional four to six in the east. The ranges of heinei and kucophaea overlap to the east of the Caspian Sea, apparently without interbreeding, so most authors now split kucophaea with the four to six other races from central and eastern Asia as the Asian Short-toed Lark C. chekensis. No attempt has been made to ascribe the Portland bird to any particular race. On the face of it, a southern origin from Spain (race apetzii) or from North Africa (race minor) would seem most likely. In this respect, it is interesting to note that MC found that the Lesser Short-toed Larks in southern Morocco in November 1992 were in all respects similar to the Portland bird. Given the relatively sedentary namre of the western populations, however, one should perhaps not rule out the possibility of vagrancy of one of the migratory eastern races, such as heinei from the steppes and semi-deserts of the southern parts of the former Soviet Union. Previous European vagrancy B\XT mentions seven spring and four autumn records from Malta, but the species is surprisingly rare in northern Europe. The only other records from the British Isles involve a remarkable series of some 42 individuals in southern Ireland in 1956 and 1958 {Insh Bird Report 4: 15, 24; 6: 20, 30; Brit. Birds 53: 241-243). Alstrom et al. (1991; noted an old record from Heligoland, Germany, on 26th May 1879, and two more-recent ones from Finland in November 1 962 and January-February 1975. Five recent records have been listed in the ‘European news’ reports in this journal: Falsterbo, Skane, Sweden, on 27th-28th April 1986; Molen, Lan'ik, Vestfold, Norw'ay, during 7th-23rd November 1987; Wauwilermoos/Lucerne, Switzerland, on 28th-29th April 1989; Hoburgen, Gotland, Sweden, on 10th- 11th May 1991; and in Austria on 7th April 1993 {Brit. Birds 80: 13; 81: 9; 85: 10; 88: 39) . The Portland bird fits in with the recent pattern of spring occurrences, which have been mainly during 27th April to 10th May. Summary • A Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella nifescens was seen by about 30 obser\'ers at Portland Bill, Dorset, on 2nd May 1992. It is described in detail and a summary’ is given of the species’ range and geographical variation. Other records of European vagrancy are listed. References Als tkOm, P., Miu), K., & Zi-tthrs i rOm, W. 1991. Identification of Ixsser Short-toed l^rk. Btrding World 4: 422-427. Dictcil', I. 1992. The Lesser Short-toed Lark in Dorset. Birding World 5: 179-180. Dennis, R. H., & Wai.i.ace, D. I. M. 1975. Field identification of Short-toed and Lesser Short- toed Larks. Brit. Birdi 68: 238-241. I. R. Dickie, 14 St Katherine's Road, Henky-on-Tharncs, Oxfordshire RG9 il^ K. E. Vinicombe, 1 1 Kenningtorr Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9BU British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 599 EDITORIAL COMMENT Rob Hume, Chairman of the BBRC, has commented: ‘There have always been instances of rare birds disappearing overnight to leave a frustrated crowd of people with nothing to do but grumble the next day. With modern communication methods, there is inevitably more chance of a large crowd being drawn to see a “bird that never was” — something that has been misidentified, much to the embarrassment of the observers and the information network concerned — or a bigger crowd than before being disappointed if the bird has flown. Trying to assess the likelihood of either event before putting out news, by whatever means, is not easy. It is unfortunate that the second situation (“You should have been here yesterday”) may lead to an assumption that the first is also true (“It was only a Sky Lark”); indeed, this may help to assuage disappointment. Rare-bird record assessment is sometimes as much about human nature as it is about bird identification. ‘In this instance, however, an overwhelming case has been made for the identification of the small lark as Lesser Short-toed. Details of general impression, head pattern, bill shape, breast and wing markings, the relative tertial/primary lengths on the closed wing as confirmed by several observers, and the call, all add up to a firm identification which the present Committee accepts without question. The delay m the assessment process, which will be known to some readers — ^but, I suspect, is of little interest to many others — ^was unfortunate, particularly the loss of a substantial file in the post. To be fair to the Royal Mail, we lose very little in the post: it would have to be this one.’ Dr David T. Parkin, Chairman of the BOURC, has commented: ‘The problems relating to the identification of this bird are well discussed by I. R. Dickie and Keith Vmicombe in the main article. Several very experienced observers saw the bird, and there can be no serious problems over its separation from possible confusion species. Size, plumage, primary projection and call are all documented. The objections raised by the single dissenting voice on the BBRC were discussed and dismissed by the BOURC, and the bird was accepted as a Lesser Short-toed Lark in a single circulation. As one of the finders of the bird and a member of the BOURC, Keith Vinicombe was excluded from commenting and voting. ‘One member of the BOURC was among the throng who turned up the following day, and failed to see the bird. In the file, he has commented that: “I was unaware of anyone even clairning a runt Skylark — amazing how these stories arise and then spread.” Another commented: “I confirm that KEV and others among the observers are widely held in very high regard. Collusion and fabrication are easily discounted in this case.” ‘There is no evidence of this species being involved in the current bird trade. Although there are records of importation in the past (London Zoo, pre-1929, Avicultural Magazine 64: 146), it is unlikely that western populations would be involved these days. The coincidence of date for records from several European countries is striking. The record has been accepted as the first for Britain {Ibis in press), although Lesser Short-toed Lark is already on the British & Irish List on the strength of the records from Ireland in 1956 and 1958 {Ibis 102: 629).’ NOTES Large Kittiwake flock inland in Iceland On 14th June 1972, near Krisuvik, Reykjanes peninsula, southwest Iceland, I obser\'ed a huge gathering of an estimated 30,000 Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla on lava-flow terrain about 6 km inland from the breeding cliffs. Close examination revealed the majority to be adults, with immamres comprising about 10%. Variable-sized groups moved periodically between this flocking area and the coast. The weather at the time was mild and cloudy. Bryan Sage Waveney House, Waveney Close, Wells-nexi-the-Sea, Noifolk NR23 IHU EDITORIAL COMMENT Gunnlaugur Pemrsson (in litt.) has informed us that about 32,000 pairs of Kittiwakes breed on the sea cliffs south of Krisuvik, using the lake (Kleifarram) 2 km northeast of Krisuvik for bathing, with up to a few thousands being seen together during the breeding season at the lake or between it and the coast; ‘30,000 birds is probably an order of magnitude larger than usually seen together’. Blackbird playing with and killing shrew On 20th June 1 994, as our father was driving us along a lane in Seaton, Devon, we saw a male Blackbird Turdus rncmh in the road. The Blackbird was playing with a tiny shrew Sorex, like a cat playing with a mouse; it finally killed the shrew and flew off with the mammal in its beak, perhaps to feed to its young. Our father remarked that he had never before seen a Blackbird behave in this way. Torn Waite and Steven Waite 38 Durley Road, Seaton, Devon HX12 2HW EDITORIAL. COMMENI' Previous notes have recorded a male Blackbird beating and shaking a shrew, which it eventually carried off to a wood, and a female Blackbird killing and feeding to a juvenile a shrew, a House Mouse Mus doniesticus and a fledgling House Sparrow Passer dornesticus (Bnt. Birds 58; 439, 513). Such behaviour does, nevertheless, seem to be quite unusual. Sombre Tit stringing food on thorn On 6th July 1989, on Mount Hermon, Israel, I saw an adult Sombre Tit Pams lugtibris with three fledglings. The adult was carrying a small worm, which it strung on a thorn of a hawthorn Crataegus aronia. One of the young approached the branch, took the worm off the thorn and swallowed it. Yoav Perlman Pinchas Rozen 7, Ramat Sharet, Jerusalem 96925, Israel liDi roRiAi , COMMENT Perhaps the adult Sombre Tit accidentally spiked the worm when wiping its bill to remove slime. 600 [Bril. Birds 88: 6()()-60L December 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 601 Carrion Crows building wire nests The note on Magpies Pica pica building nests of metal {Brit. Birds 84: 441-443) prompts the following. In the mid 1960s, in Caithness, the nest of a pair of Carrion Crows Corvus corone of the ‘hooded’ race comix, placed some 45 m up on a meteorological tower, was constructed basically of pieces of strainer wire (plate 208). David Stark 2 Harland Road, Castletown, Thurso, Caithness KW14 SUB EDrroRiAL COMMENT The building of wire nests by crows and other species, especially pigeons and doves (Columbidae), is not new (see e.g. Brit. Birds 63: 36-37; 64: 77-80; Scot. Birds 18: 59), but we are glad to publish this photograph from some 30 years ago. Plate 208. Nest of Carrion Crow Corvus corone comix, composed mainly of wire, Caithness, 1960s {David Stark) LETTERS Naturalised birds: feral, exotic, introduced or alien? The theme of the British Ornithologists’ Union’s 1995 Annual Conference (organised jointly with the UK Joint Nature Conserv'ation Committee) was ‘Feral and Introduced Birds’. It became apparent from the papers presented at the Conference that a variety of terms such as ‘exotic’, ‘introduced’, ‘alien’ and ‘feral’ are currendy used to describe species introduced by man to a particular location, either deliberately or through escape from captivity. These terms are often used interchangeably, leading to much confusion. The meeting considered the meanings of these words to try to ensure a common understanding. Terms such as ‘exotic’, ‘aUen’ and ‘non-native’ describe the origins of the species concerned, whereas ‘feral’, ‘introduced’ and Re- established’ describe the process by which establishment in the wild has occurred. The consensus at the Conference was that ‘naturalised’ was a more appropriate all-encompassing term for such species, describing the outcome of the process. A Dictionary of Birds (Campbell & Lack 1985) defines Riaturalised birds’ as: ‘species that have been introduced by human agency, direct or indirect, into areas where they either had not spread by natural means, or had become extinct, and that have successfully established themselves and are now breeding regularly as wild birds. Mere acclimatisation in captivity, or even casual escape of individuals is excluded from the definition.’ ‘Feral’, which is often more widely used to describe such species, has a more limited definition: ‘literally “wild”, but applied only to populations of domesticated species that have reverted to a free existence.’ We assume here that mere keeping in captivity does not constitute domestication. A feral species would have to have undergone some change in genotype, phenotype or behaviour through domestication. Terms such as ‘alien’ and ‘exotic’ similarly have a more restricted meaning. Table 1 outlines the derivation of four terms to describe naturalised species. Note that the term ‘naturalised’ is accompanied by a qualifier explaining the origin of the species concerned. Note also that the term ‘re-established’ is favoured over Reintroduced’. The latter is often used to describe species such as Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus which have been re-established in an area of former natural occurrence. This usage is incorrect, however, since reintroduction implies that the species was ititroduccd in the first place. Suggested terms: NA'ruRAi.iSiiD Domesticated species gone wild. The feral pigeon (i.e. non- native Rock Dove) Columba livia is the only bird species in Britain which currently fits into this category, although Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata is a potential candidate since it is currently considered by the BOURC to be potentially self-sustaining (Vinicombe et al. 1993). 602 [Brit. Birds 88: 602-611, December 1995] © Hritish Birds Lid 1995 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 603 NATURALISED INTRODUCTION Established species which would not occur without introduction by man. This includes species such as Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis and Mandarin Duck Aix galenculata. NATURALISED RE-ESTABLISHMENT A successful re-estabUshment of a species in areas of former occurrence (e.g. Greylag Goose Anser anser, Capercaillie) . NATURALISED ESTABLISHMENT Establishment of a species which occurs, but does not breed naturally (e.g., potentially, Pmk-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus, Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis). Table 1. Derivation of terms to describe naturalised birds. Oiigin Process Outcome Term Domestic Feral Naturalised feral Non-domestic Introduced Naturalised alien/Non- native/Exotic introduction Re-established Naturalised Naturalised re- (Re-stocked) establishment Non-domestic naturally occurring Established Naturalised (Stocked) establishment Note that these terms are meaningless without some geographical reference. For example, the Greylag Goose is a naturalised re-establishment across much of Britain where it had previously become extinct as a breeding species. It could, however, be considered a naturalised establishment in certain areas (i.e. in areas where it had not formerly bred naturally), and it is also a native breeder in Caithness, Sutherland and the Hebrides. ACKNOWLEDGMEN TS Many people contributed to the discussion of terminology' at the 1995 BOU/JNCC Conference. In particular, the suggestions presented in this letter were developed by a smaU group consisting of the authors, Dr Colin Galbraith, Dr Humphrey Crick and Sir Christopher Lever. J. S. Holmes and D. A. Stroud Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough PEI IJY References Campbell, B., & Lack, E. (eds.) 1985. A Dictionary of Birds. Calton. ViNicoMBE, K., Marchant, J., & Knox, a. 1993. Review of status and categorisation of feral birds on the British list. Brit. Birds 86: 605-614. EDITORIAL COMMENT We shall welcome comments on these proposals concerning the use of standardised terrninology to describe the status of naturalised birds. 604 Letters Moult and ageing terminology The paper by Suddaby et al. (1994) on the King Eider Sornateria spectabilis, with particular reference to the sequence of plumages, was of special interest to me. In that paper, the ‘documentation’ for ageing and sexing King Eiders is given as Cramp & Simmons (1977) and Madge & Burn (1988). In addition, two pertinent papers are cited in the references: Ellis (1994) and Dawson (1994, erroneously given as Brit. Birds 86 rather than 87). The plumage descriptions in Suddaby et al. adhere closely to those of Ellis (1994). The usage of nomenclature for age classes/plumages is utterly different in Cramp & Simmons, Madge & Burn and Ellis, and thus is confusing to a reader comparing these accounts. This emphasises the value of the Humphrey & Parkes (1959, hereafter H/P) terminology and its underlying concepts. In what follows, the H/P names are given initial capitals. The fundamental concept underlying the H/P approach to the study of plumages is that of homology. Two kinds of homology are involved, and both are pertinent to Suddaby et al. (1994) and Ellis (1994). It is perhaps of historical interest to note that our 1959 paper was generated by a request from Ralph S. Palmer to compile the sections on plumages and moults for certain sea ducks for the Handbook of North American Birds. The plumage sequence of ducks is completely homologous to those of other birds, though that is obscured by the fact that the ‘eclipse’ plumage is worn in the summer, whereas its place in the plumage sequence is exactly homologous to the ‘winter’ or ‘non-breeding’ plumage of other birds. Furthermore, for the great majority of birds that have, as adults, two moults (thus two plumages) per year, there is a sequence of ‘immature’ plumages homologous to that of the definitive plumages of adults. The confusion in plumage terminology is perpetuated by calling the Alternate Plumage of King Eiders the ‘winter’ plumage (Ellis 1994); it is the ‘breeding’ plumage in Cramp & Simmons (1977) and Madge & Burn (1988). This plumage is not homologous to what is often called the ‘winter’ plumage in other birds with a two-plumage cycle. Rather, the ‘eclipse’ (Madge & Burn) or ‘non-breeding’ (Cramp & Simmons) is homologous to the less-colourful ‘winter’ plumage of many other birds. Confusion of this kind was one of the rationales for the introduction of the H/P terminology, which is deliberately tied to neither the seasonal nor the reproductive cycle. Ellis’s ‘post-juvenile’ plumage of male King Eiders is the First Basic of H/P, homologous to the ‘first adult non-breeding’ of Cramp & Simmons, and to the ‘first winter plumage’ of Dwight (1900). This plumage moults into what Ellis confusingly calls the ‘first-winter plumage’ in the King Eider (i.e. the First Alternate plumage of Humphrey & Parkes) . Suddaby et al. are wrong in stating that the ‘post-juvenile’ plumage ‘is not shown by female eiders or other ducks’. For a description of the First Basic (‘post-juvenile’) plumage of female King Eiders, see Palmer (1976: 106). As for males of other ducks, the First Basic plumage is rudimentary and transitory in a few, for example Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, and long-lasting in others, such as Nortlicrn Shoveler A. clypcata. Madge & Burn (1988: 16) presented a table attempting to equate the ‘British’ and ‘American’ (i.e. H/P) plumage terminologies. They are correct in equating British ‘first-summer’ with H/P ‘First Alternate’, and British ‘adult breeding’ with British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 605 H/P ‘Definitive Alternate’, but the first-summer/First Alternate plumage is the ‘first-winter’ plumage of Ellis. The relative simplicity of the H/P terrninology, and the homological concepts underlying it, appear to have been particularly confusing to British writers. One of the principal motivations for its introduction was to obviate the confusion nicely demonstrated by the case of the King Eider. Kenneth C. Parkes Senior Curator of Birds, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, USA EDITORIAI. COMMENT As argued above, there are advantages in the Humphrey & Parkes terminology, particularly since it avoids problems regarding ‘winter’ and ‘summer’. The whole subject of plumages and moults is most elegantly and simply described in BWP. The conclusion reached there was that the BWP terminology seems ‘more straightforward and easier to understand’ than that of Humphrey & Parkes. We, however, prefer the even simpler terminology which we have used since 1985, and which, though not perfect, has been widely accepted for use within the Palearctic. We acknowledge that there may be a few occasions in the future, as should have been the case with King Eiders, when our terrninology may require modification. In order to remind our readers, and to aid the reading of the letter above, we are reprinting here the table that we originally published in 1985 (Brit. Birds 78: 426), comparing the British Birds terminology with those of BWP and Humphrey & Parkes (table 1). Table 1. ‘British Birds’ plumage and moult terminology, showing ‘BWP’ and Humphrey & Parkes alternatives. The names of the moults are in italics. ‘British Birds’ ‘BWP’ Humphrey & Parkes Juvenile Juvenile Juvenal Moult to first-winter or Post-juvenile moult First prebasic moult post-juvenile moult First-winter First immature non-breeding First basic Moult to first-summer First immature pre-breeding moult First prealternate moult First-summer First immature breeding First alternate Moult to second-winter First immature post-breeding moult Second prebasic moult Second-winter Second immature non-breeding Second basic Moult to second-summer Second immature pre-breeding moult Second prealternate moult Second-summer Second immature breeding Second alternate Moult to adult winter or Adult post-breeding moult Prebasic moult autumn moult Adult winter Adult non-breeding Definitive basic Moult to adult summer or Adult pre-breeding moult Prealternate moult spring moult Adult summer Adult breeding Definitive alternate References Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1977. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 1. Oxford. Dawson, J. 1994. Ageing and sexing of King Eiders. Biit. Birds 87: 37-40. DvaOHT, J. 1900. The sequences of plumages and moults of the passerine birds of New York. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 13: 73-360. Ellis, P. 1994. Ageing and sexing of King Eiders. Brit. Birds 87: 36-37. Humphrey, P. S., & Parkes, K. C. 1959. An approach to the study of molts and plumages. Auk 76: 1-31. 606 Letters Madge, S. C., & Burn, H. 1988. Wildfowl: an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the World. London. Pauvier, R. S. (ed.) 1976. Handbook of North American Birds, vol. 3. New Haven & London. SuDDABY, D., Shaw, K. D., Ellis, P. M., & Brockje, K. 1994 King Eiders in Britain and Ireland in 1958-90: occurrences and ageing. Brit. Birds 87: 418-430. Pesticide poisoning of birds In reply to ‘Chemicals and the environment’ (Btil. Birds 88: 247), I should like to alert readers to the existence of the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS), which was set up in the wake of the persistent pesticide problems of the 1950-60S, to investigate the problems of pesticide poisoning to wildlife, including birds. The Scheme relies on animals that are found dead or dying being reported by the public, so it is usually only the direct effects of pesticides which are investigated. With the exception of fish, all vertebrate wildlife, beneficial insects (honey-bees) and pets (companion animals) are included in the Scheme. After acceptance of an incident, a post-mortem examination is carried out, to assess the condition of the animal and identify any typical poisoning lesions. Incidents arising from disease, trauma and starvation are screened out. A field inquiry may be undertaken to gather as much information as possible concerning the cause of the incident. Relevant tissues from casualties are forwarded for residue analysis. The results are collated and interpreted to assess whether any residues detected contributed to the death or illness of the animal. Incidents arising from the approved use of pesticides are reassuringly few in number and the results are fed back to the Regulatory authorities. Over the years, problems with the approved pesticides have been identified and, where necessary, changes of use, formulation or withdrawal of the pesticide have ensued. For example, incidents involving Brent Geese Branta bemicla, poisoned after grazing on winter wheat that had been sprayed with the insecticide triazophos, used to control yellow cereal fly, were identified by the Scheme. As all the incidents were found to occur in the new year, spraying was restricted to the period up to the end of December, when cereal grazing by the geese was minimal. The majority of poisoning incidents arise from the abuse or misuse of pesticides. Abuse results from the deliberate, illegal attempts to poison animals, such as laying baits containing pesticides. Misuse includes the poor storage of pesticides, chemicals not being used in the approved manner (e.g. rodenticide baits being left uncov^ered) or compounds being disposed of in an inappropriate way. Unfortunately, birds of prey, including some of our rarest, feature high on the list of casualties. There are various pieces of legislation, relating either to the chemicals (how they are used, stored, etc.) or to the protection of animals from poisoning. Where the Scheme finds that an incident has resulted from the abuse or misuse of a compound, the evidence so gathered may be used in court cases. Fines and subsequent costs may be substantial when a transgression is proven. A long-term campaign against the illegal poisoning of animals has been initiated by Government departments, led by MAFT, and this has been supported by the British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 607 agricultural industry, product-users, animal-welfare groups, environmental bodies and others. The arms of the campaign are to educate perpetrators that their action is illegal; to make the public aware of the Scheme and that pesticide poisoning is occurring; to encourage respect for legal methods of controlling pests; and to encourage the public to report incidents through a freephone number (0800 321600). Mark Fletcher Wildlife Incident Unit, Central Science Laboratory, AiAFF, London Road, Slough SL3 7HJ EDITORIAL COMMENT Bob Scott has commented: ‘The WHS is important and fulfils a useful function, but, as Mark Fletcher has stated, “only the direct effects of pesticides ... are investigated.” Currently, there is serious concern in several quarters about the indirect effects that may cause the “disease, trauma and starvation” that are screened out from the WHS programme. ‘We welcome the opportunity to publicise the work of the WHS, but must wonder about the resources available to it. There are stories of delays in feedback of results and difficulty in getting some work undertaken. Increased funding, via MAFT or some other Government source, would be an extremely useful way to focus more attention on the pesticide issue.’ Vagrancy likelihood of the Welsh Monk Vulture After having read Keith Vinicombe’s paper on the Welsh Monk Vulture Aegypius monachus (Brit. Birds 87; 613-622), some comments on the status of this species in Spain perhaps may be useful regarding the British record. There has been a large recovery in the Spanish population, evaluated in 1990 as 774 pairs in 27 colonies, ten of them containing fewer than five pairs (Gonzalez 1990). The species increased by about 52.7% from 1970’s levels, colonising new areas within 30-40 km of established ones. Of 18 colonies, 13 increased, four were stable and only one showed a decrease. The population is still recovering, with 900-1,000 pairs in 1992 (Gonzalez 1994). On the other hand, the species remains rare outside its range, although it is being observed more often than it was formerly: in the period 1987-94, 16 extralimital records of the species have been published in the journal Ardeola (36: 242; 40: 92-93; 41: 196). Of those records, one was in January and the rest fell in the period 29th April to 29th August. The species has been recorded well out of its breeding range, even near the Atlantic coast in Asturias and Vizcaya and in Catalan Pyrenees near France, in company with Griffon Vulmres Gyps fulvus (X. Parellada in litt.), and a long-staying individual is known from the Ports de Tortosa mountains, Tarragona, from 1976 well into the 1980s (Ferrer et al. 1986). Additionally, a marked individual was seen in winter 1993/94 among Griffon Vultures in the Strait of Gibraltar area; it was one previously reintroduced in the French region of Grand Gausses, where it was relocated in spring 1994 (SECONA 1995). Other large vulmres have been found making large ‘unexpected’ movements (e.g. a transmitter-marked Griffon Vulmre released in Jaca, Pyrenees, flew southwards as far as Valencia, flying a 608 Letters maximum of 80 km per day and in total wandering about 2,000 km; Berthold et al. 1991), and another ringed on 19th August 1992 in Alava, Spain, was recovered in lie Kuriale, Monastir, Tunisia, on 31st October 1992, 73 days after and 1,418 km from the initial point (Cantos & Gomez -Manzaneque 1994), and, even more surprising, a Lammergeier Gypaetiis barbatus from the Alps reintroduction scheme was seen in 1994 near Calais, France, while diving in the sea, from where it was recovered by a fisherman (D. Garcia Ferre in litt.). Thus, these large, thought-to-be-nearly-sedentary birds do in certain circumstances undertake large movements. It is totally possible, therefore, that the Welsh bird could have been a genuine vagrant. All Spanish captive birds are ringed. Whether it was a juvenile or an adult is of no significance to vagrancy potential of this species (it could be an adult having lost its breeding territory and wandering north), and it is not rare to see voiltures flying with some of their feathers considerably damaged. Concerning sea-crossings, besides the already mentioned ringed bird travelling from Europe to Africa, the Tarragona bird in 1976 to the 1980s was thought to have come from Mallorca (although we shall never know the truth), but what is true is that the Griffon Vultures that are regularly recorded in Mallorca certainly come from the Iberian Peninsula (a sea journey of not less than 187 kmj. In my opinion, the behaviour and characteristics of the Welsh Monk Vulture could perfectly well be those of a wild individual. Ricard Gutierrez Reserves Naturals Delta del Uobregat, Direccio General del Medi Natural, Generalitat de Catalunya, Gran Via de les Carts Catalanes, 612-614 2nd, 08007 Barcelotia, Spain References Bi-RTiioi.n, P., Grii-singhr, J., Nowak, E., & Quhrnhr, U. 1991. Satellite tracking of a migrating Griffon Vulture in Spain. J. Oni. 132: 327-329. Can tos, F. J., & Gomi-z-Manzanhquh, A. 1994. Informe sobre la campana de anillamiento de aves en Espana. Ano 1993. Ecobgia 8: 285-357. Fi-;rri;r, X., et al. 1986. Histdria Natural dels Paisos Catabns, vol. 8: ocells. Fundacio Enciclopedia Catalana. Barcelona. GonzaI-KZ, L. M. 1990. Situacion de la poblaciones de Aguila Imperial y Buitre Negro en Espana. Querciis 58: 16-22. 1994. Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus. In: Tuckhr, G. M., & HEA Tlt, M. F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. Birdlife Conservation Series no. 3. Cambridge. SECONA. 1995. Un buitre viajero. Quercus 110: 49. Incredible bird records In recent months, I have detected a hint of naivete and gullibility running through the correspondence in British Birds. First, we had ‘old curmudgeon’ Keith Bowey {Brit. Birds 88: 334-335) stating that the conservation problems of Spix’s Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii, and 300 other endangered species, can be solved by not paying £30,000 for a stuffed Great Auk Pinguinus irnpemiis. His suggestion of an empty case with a suitable label may go down well at the Tate Gallery, but I do not believe that tlie citizens of Glasgow would accept it. The Glasgow Museum Great Auk has now ceased to be an ‘investment’ and in public hands will become an object of education, science and British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 609 wonderment for all who gaze upon it — free of charge. The price paid for something so historic is a bargain by today’s standards. Gullibility rears its head in the realm of the Great Auk through Dr W. R. P. Bourne {Brit. Birds 88: 335), who expects us to believe that the BOU figurehead, Col. H. M. Drummond-Hay, in 1852, peering no doubt through his monocle off Newfoundland, spotted not just a rare bird but an extinct one! He at first thought that it was a ‘northern diver’ and that is probably just what he saw (Newton 1862). WRPB also informed us that Gavia irnmer could not have been involved, since the sighting was ‘too far out to sea’ — a strange argument for a species which winters off Newfoundland and crosses the Atlantic Ocean from as far away as Baffin Island to winter in Shetland (Heubeck et al. 1993). The Col. noted the ‘white patches’ on a December Great Auk which, had it still existed, would probably have been in full winter plumage and generally white about the face as are Gaviiformes. The white pre-orbital patches evidently moulted to dark on winter birds (Bourne 1993). Being very kind, one could suggest that the Col. saw a White-billed Diver G. adarnsii. Similarly, the bird reported washed up in Newfoundland around the same time is unsubstantiated — no specimen, no bones, no description — therefore no record. Divers in primary moult over winter are, like Razorbills Aka tor da and Common Guillemots Uria aalge, flightiess, and finding a corpse in such condition would lead the uneducated to believe that the bird was indeed a permanently flightless species. WRPB also forgets that we already have a new American waterbird breeding in Europe — the Ruddy Duck Oxyiira jamaicensis, although it appears to be genetically identical according to the criteria described by Dr A. G. Knox {Brit. Birds 87; 51-58) to what we call the White-headed Duck O. leucocephala, which should now be reduced to a subspecies. We have the naivete of the Wildfowl Trust (as it was then called) to thank for that addition. Finally, G. Buzzard {Brit. Birds 88: 116) drew attention to a spurious record of Canary Island Black Oystercatcher Haematopus (rnoquini) rneadezvaldoi reported by local fishermen 30 years after the event, and in turn about 30 years after the species became extinct. Notwithstanding such a hazy recollection — would they have known a Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus had they seen one, or, more appropriately in this instance, a Red-billed Chough Pyirhocorax pyrrhocorax had one landed on the shore? I think not. I dismissed this record at the time I prepared my note {Brit. Birds 87: 269-21 Q). I prefer fact to fiction. There are more-believable sightings of the late Elvis Presley. All records of rare birds should be viewed critically; old records should also be viewed sceptically. Bernard Zonjrillo 28 Brodie Road, Glasgow G21 3SB References Bourne, W. R. P. 1993. The story of the Great Auk. Archives of Natural History 20; 257-278. Heubeck, M., Richardson, M. G., Lys'i-er, I. H. J., & McGowan, R. Y. 1993. Post-mortem examination of Great Northern Divers Gavia immer, killed by oil pollution in Shetland, 1979. Seabird 15: 53-59. Newton, A. 1862. Abstract of Mr J. WoUey’s researches in Iceland respecting the Garefowl or Great Auk. Zoologist 20: 8108-8130. 610 Letters Great Auk good buy It is entirely inappropriate for Mr Bowey {Bnt. Birds 8S: 334-335) to associate the purchase of a mounted Great Auk Pingiiinus irnpennis by the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum with the plight of endangered species. His contention that the money would be better spent on saving Spix’s Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii is, perhaps, a pretty enough idea. In practical terms, it is nonsense. Had the Glasgow authorities decided that the Great Auk was not an appropriate specimen for their collection, they would have used their money to buy a painting, an item of local furniture or some other relevant object. Being attentive custodians of their local heritage, however, they did realise the significance of the specimen and they did buy it. The smffed Great Auk should captivate the minds of Glaswegians for many years to come. Errol Fuller Oxenhoaih, Hadlozv, Kent TNii 9SS Call-only records Mike Rogers’ feature on identification pitfalls and assessment problems of bee-eaters Merops {Brit. Birds 88: 221-223) reminded me of an occasion in mid summer about ten years ago at Bempton Cliffs, North Yorkshire. The querulous call of an unfledged young Common Guillemot Utia aalge carried by the updraught reached a group of birdwatchers standing in the light fog on the clifftop. Idle call was baffling to the entire assembly, and European Bee-eater M. apiaster was one suggestion put forward. A rarities committee, if in munificent mood, might well ha\^e accepted the record as such, allowing for the fact that only the fog prevented the bird from being seen, since the date, locality and meteorological conditions would all fit the known occurrence pattern of this species in the UK. Here in Abu Dhabi, the few resident birdwatchers have no difficulty at all in recognising the hoarser calls of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater M. superciliosus and distinguishing them from those of European Bee-eater, and usually we do not even try to see them to confirm our identification (although we are not blase, we may be foolhardy). The former’s call is most definitely more grating or rasping than that of the latter. My transcription differs from Rogers’ own, which is, of course, an additional assessment problem. Should the British Birds Rarities Committee accept none, some or all Teard- only’ records? It would be a shame for records to be lost simply because a bird was unseen. County bird reports are perhaps the appropriate place to lodge these records, with a suitable caveat or, for want of a better word, downgraded to ‘bee- eater species’ as Rogers suggested. There is one further consideration. Quite apart from birders playing bird tapes in the British countryside, as a hoax or otherwise, many birds are accomplished mimics, including several migrant species likely to have encountered either or botli bee-eater species (amongst other species vagrant, rare or even unrecorded in Britain) on their own travels. I have, for instance, heard Sedge Warbler British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 611 Acrocephaliis schoenobaenns make a plausible imitation of the call of an African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer at Cley, Norfolk, although the latter species remains unlikely to be recorded in Britain even at that renowned rarity hotspot. Mimicry of the learnt calls or songs may continue for several months without the original species having to be heard again. The issue should not prevent our enjoyment of birdwatching simply because the county records or national rarities committee remains unconvinced that the sound of the Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae heard on Fair Isle, Shetland, in early October had not come through the observatory’s open window where a film of Tarzan (in Africa!) was on TV, or maintains that we had not excluded Blue-winged Kookaburra D. leachii. Simon Aspinall do National Avian Research Center, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates EDITORIAL COMMENT CaU-only records (in the strict sense) are never accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee, and even those when a distinctive call is heard and the bird is seen briefly or at long range are very critically assessed. Age of Norfolk Red-breasted Nuthatch The British Birds Rarities Committee was uncertain as to whether the Red- breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis, first observed by Aley & Aley (1995) in Norfolk on 13th October 1989, was a male or a bright female. Based on photo- graphs that accompanied their article and subsequent BBRC comments {Brit. Birds 88: 150-153, plates 36-37), I am quite certain that the bird was a first-year male. This determination is based on the combination of the contrast in colour between the wing-coverts and the back, indicating first-year, and the black crown and ear-coverts, indicating male among young birds. I have recently examined specimens of Red-breasted Nuthatch as part of a survey of first-year wing-covert moults of North American passerines. As with European Nuthatch 5'. europaea (Jenni & Winkler 1994), Red-breasted and other North American nuthatches replace relatively few wing-coverts and no remiges during the first prebasic [= post-juvenile] moult. On all four North American species, the contrast between the greyish wing feathers and the bluer back is a reliable indication of first-year of both sexes; adults show concolorous bluish backs and wings. The photographs of the Norfolk bird clearly show such a contrast. While adult female Red-breasted Nuthatch can show a dull black crown and ear- coverts, perhaps matching the Norfolk bird’s appearance, first-year females have distinctly greyish plumage in these areas. Thus, given that the bird was in its first autumn, it was a male. Peter Pyle PRBO 4990 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach, CA 94970, USA References Aley, J., & Ai.ey, R. 1995. Red-breasted Nuthatch in Norfolk; new to Britain and Ireland. Brit. Birds 88; 150-153. Jenni, L., & Winkler, R. 1994. Moult and Ageing in European Passerines. London. REVIEWS Bird Identification: a reference guide. By Kristian Adolfsson & Stefan Chemig. SOF, Lund, 1995. 379 pages, isbn 91-86572-24-5. Paperback, Europe: 220 SEK (+60 SEK if cheque); rest of World: 240 SEK (+60 SEK if cheque). The standard researcher’s tool — Zoological Record: Section 18: Aves — is not generally available in the ordinary birdwatcher’s personal library', purely for reasons of cost, although it w'ill be accessible in every serious ornithological library. This new reference guide performs the same task for the single subject of bird identification, with the advantage that it covers 20 years of published papers, notes and photographs in a single volume. The 1 1 ,800 references, compiled from 66 ornithological journals published in 21 countries, are grouped under species, so, for instance, all the references (to identification) for Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata occupy two pages. Unlike Zoological Record, there is no separate listing under author (sensibly, for that would probably have been largely a waste of space for the potential users of this book). Under each species, the references are listed rather strangely, in alphabetical order of the country of the journal concerned, rather than, for instance, by date order, which might have been helpful for anyone wishing to consult only the latest references on the identification of a particular species. Under Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, for instance, this leads to an Egretta reference (from Austria) being followed by one from Aves (Belgium), one from Dansk Omitologisk Forenings Tidsskrifi (Denmark), single references from Lxntumies and Omis Fennica (both Finland) and then five from Birding World, one from Birds, two from Birdzvatch, ten from British Birds, one from Scottish Birds and two from Twitching (all Great Britain), and so on through Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the USA. This system does have the advantage that references in any one particular journal are all grouped together (which can be useful for follow-up information), so may in practice be as convenient as a date-sequence listing. Species are listed in standard Voous order, and there is an index of scientific names and another of English names. This reference guide should help to ensure that future identification papers are thoroughly researched, and will help the discoverer of any rare bird to find quickly relevant published information to expand upon that given in the field guides. Illustrations are minimal, being confined to a few space-filling (but veiy pleasing) line-drawings by Peter Elfman, and a beautiful colour painting of Red-necked Stint C. ruficollis by Hans Larsson on the cover. The two compilers of this list of identification references have performed a very useful service for European bird- identifiers, and this volume deseiv'es to find its way on to the bookshelves of most individual birders. J. T. R. Sharrock Birds and Climate Change. By John F. Burton. Christopher Helm, London, 1995. 376 pages; figs. ISBN 0-7136-4045-6. £24.99. For John Burton, ‘global warming’ (human- induced global climate change) is not a hy- pothetical possibility. If it has not already commenced, it is imminent. I agree, al- though there are other significant features of the present book with which I take issue. It is not, incidentally, primarily about global warming. Rather, it reviews the his- tory of Europe’s birds from the last Ice Age to the present day, focusing on events since the nineteenth century. The possible conse- 1 1 black-and-white plates; 25 line-drawings; 34 quences of global climate change are then set in this context. Mixed throughout the text are occasional references to other taxa (insects and mammals in particular), and to other continents (North America), but in a rather unsystematic and bitty way. As a source of reference, it is valuable. For example, chapters 6-10 are chiefly con- cerned with detailed accounts of over 200 species of birds which spread north and west across Europe in the climatic ameliora- 612 [Brit. Birds 88: 612-620, ftcccmbcr 1995] © Hritish birds Ltd 1995 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 tion of 1850-1950. Here, and in numerous appendices, Burton brings together a wealth of otherwise scattered, and difficult-to-obtain information. The sheer scale of the changes that have taken place in Europe’s avifauna on a time scale of a few hundred years is staggering. Unfortunately, the comprehensive and de- tailed nature of the information does not make for an easy read. Nor is it a book to be studied uncritically. I do not share Burton’s unblinking faith that climate accounts for virtually all changes in range; his analyses lack statistical rigour and a proper evaluation 613 of alternatives, not least habitat modification. The biggest omission is its failure to suggest possible mechanisms, except for occasional references to food supply. Anybody interested in large-scale past, and likely future, changes in the distribution and abundance of bird species should read this book. So should conservation biologists, struggling to uphold the myth of ‘natural distributions’. But take its main message — that climate is the primary determinant of species’ distributions — as a bold hypothesis and a source of ideas, not as established fact. John H. Lawton 126 pages; 19 colour plates; 26 line-drawings. ISBN 0-600-58301-5. The Marsh Harrier. By Roger Clarke. Hamlyn, London, 1995. Paperback £12.99. Most monographs are based on the author’s own observations, supplemented by, and compared with, those of other workers. This book, as the introduction tells us, is not based on personal study, but is a general review. Clarke has combed the literature and produced a good general account of the ecology of the Marsh Harrier Circus aemgmosus, including history, distribution, breeding biology, behaviour and a final chapter on threats and conservation. At times, it appears that published sources have been quoted rather uncritically, and, as these make up a high proportion of the material used, it is a pity that full references are not given in the bibliography. Some of the most up-to-date references are from a harrier conference held in 1993 (Clarke is the Proceedings editor), but these papers have not yet been published. Generally, this is a comprehensive and readable account, although more emphasis on the special features of the species (e.g. polygyny, large clutch size, recent adaptation to crop-nesting in Britain) would have added greater depth and interest. It is, however, a useful addition to the series. John Underhill-Day New World Warblers. By Jon Curson. Illustrated by David Quinn & David Beadle. Christopher Helm, London, 1994. 252 pages; 36 colour plates; 117 distribution maps. ISBN 0 7136-3932-6. £24.99. To many, the New World warblers (Parulidae) form a particularly stunning group of species, which in spring plumage are difficult to beat. Anyone who has been to the New World to see these birds on spring migration will know that the number of birdwatchers who gather to see these birds is testimony to the group’s popularity. This recent addition to the Christopher Helm Identification Guides follows the series’ familiar format. The introductory chapters cover taxonomy, evolution, dimorphism, breeding behaviour and conservation, all in some detail. In addition, there is useful discussion on superspecies, the Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia complex and hybridisation. The individual species accounts are reviewed under Identification, Description, Geographical Variation, Voice, Habitat and habits. Status, Distribution, Movements, Moult, Measurements and References. The texts appear to be both accurate and concise, and pull together much useful information not readily available in any other single- volume publication. They usefully include biometric data and black-and-white drawings of relevant tail shapes and patterns, which will be of particular interest to ringers. The differences in moult terminology used in North America and in Europe are explained, which is helpful and will be useful for the international marketing of the book. There are very' few errors. The only one 614 Reviews likely to cause much confusion is on page 58, opposite plate 19, where the captions are transposed for the two races of Belding’s Yellowthroat Geothlypis beldingi: the text for 55a should be exchanged with that of 55c. The only minor shortfall concerns the song descriptions, which are sometimes hard to understand. Songs are always difficult to translate to the reader and there are few, if any, books which have achieved this adequately. The 116 species of North American and Neotropical wood-warblers appear on 36 colour plates. Several age-related plumages are depicted w'henever relevant, as w'ell as the normal seasonal plumage variations. The two artists, David Beadle and David Quinn, are to be congratulated on their fine artwork. Few of the species illustrated have lost their visual impact from the field to the plate, and my own favourite, the Prothonotaiy Warbler Protondlaria citrea, has lost none of its appeal. The book has been well planned and the plates reproduced to a very high standard. Its size also allows it to be used, to some degree, in the field, but much of its value w'ill be as a source of reference, or just simply to study the plates. I can thoroughly recommend it to all, particularly those with an interest in this group of birds, whether resident in or frequent visitor to North, Central or South America, or w'ho search for potential vagrants in southw'est Britain or Ireland during the autumn. Sean McMinn Important Bird Areas in the Middle East. Compiled by M. I. Evans. BirdLife Intemadonal, Cambridge, 1994. 410 pages. ISHN 0-946888-28-0. Paperback £24.15. Many Middle Eastern countries are popular destinations for birdwatchers, owing, no doubt, to their wide range of habitats (not just deserts!) that harbour a wealth of birds, including many endangered species. Conser- vation in a few of these countries is well developed, but in others much remains to be done. For the first time, this welcome volume lists all of the important bird sites in the region and describes them in detail so that planners and politicians cannot claim to be unaware of which areas merit special protec- tion. This book does not include Turkey (which w'as included in Important Bird Areas in Europe by Grimmett & Jones) or Egypt (and thus excludes the Sinai), though it does extend as far east as Afghanistan, and includes all of the southern Arabian countries. After some interesting chapters on mea- sures for site conservation, site selection, data presentation and an overview and recommen- dations, the bulk of this book is taken up with the site accounts, each of which includes a detailed site description, a list of birds for which the site is important (sometimes w'ith a status summary and sometimes w'ith peak counts), notes on other threatened wildlife, a piece on conserv'ation issues and, when rele- vant, a reference to further reading. Maps of each countiy' show the location of the sites, but there is none for any of the individual sites. Throughout the text, only scientific names are used for birds. EngUsh names are given in an appendix, but anyone unfamiliar with the scientific names of Middle Eastern birds will frequently need to refer to the back of the book. TTiis compilation was a joint project with the Ornithological Society of the Middle East, and was supported by the IWRB and the RSPB. We now only have to hope that those in authority in the relevant countries take note and help to conserve these important sites. David Fisher Ruffled Feathers and Worse: an outline of the legal measures for the protection of birds in the United Kingdom. By James Fitzgerald & Nick Carter. BTO/Simmons & Simmons, Thetford & London, 1995. 71 pages; 16 colour plates. £4.95. The first impression is of an A4-sized internal report, not a document for external distribution. The only concession to an outside market is 16 small colour pho- tographs, which have not succeeded. In his Forew'ord, Jeremy Greenw'ood states ‘there is now a plethora of legislation aimed at wildlife protection' and this volume brings it all under one cover. Approximately half of the contents consists of tables of habitats, species schedules and details of appendices to various conventions, several in a some- British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 what simplified form. Unfortunately, sched- ules regularly get amended or updated and there can be no guarantee that the informa- tion will be 100% accurate a short time after publication. This is clearly intended to be functional, Photographic Field Guide: Birds of By Jim Flegg, with Steve Madge. New Holland, London, 1994. 367 pages. Paperback ISBN 1-85368-398-1. £14.99. This comprehensive and excellent collection of photographs of Australian birds is pre- sented as a field guide, with short texts opposite each page of photographs, along with a distribution map for each species. Pho- tographic field guides of this kind inevitably suffer in comparison with those using painted illustrations, since only one or two pho- tographs of each species are usually included; insufficient to illustrate all of the various plumages. Used to supplement a normal field guide, however, they are of great benefit, and that is primarily the use to which this book should be put. Anyone visiting Australia should certainly take a copy, along with a field guide of their choice. The quality of the photographs is excellent and in the 1995 paperback edition all of the birds are correctly captioned (unlike many photographic books). In the 1994 hardback edition, however, the photograph captioned Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus shows a Wood Sandpiper T. glareola', and the pho- tographs of whisders Pachycephala have been 615 and it has the look of a solicitors’ document (the influence of Simmons & Simmons). For those working in this field, it will be useful; for the average birder or BTO member, probably not. Bob Scott Australia. Hardback isbn 1-85368-353-1. £19.99. 1995 muddled up completely, presumably at a fairly late stage in the editing: the bird cap- tioned as a male Gilbert’s Whistler P. inomatu is a male Black-tailed (Mangrove Golden) Whistler P. melanura, the bird captioned as a male Mangrove Golden Whistler is a Grey- headed Whistler P. griseiceps, the bird captioned as a male ‘Grey Whistler P. simplex’ (= Grey-headed Whistler) is a male Rufous Whistler P. mfiventris, and the bird captioned as a male Rufous Whistler is a male Gilbert’s Whistler. The 1995 edition corrects these errors and also includes revi- sions and additions to the text by Steve Madge. Anyone owning the first edition may wish to amend their copy. It would have been useful if the date and place where each photograph was taken had been given, since this helps to clarify the plumage the bird is in and which race is involved. Nevertheless, this book makes a very nice, portable collection of photographs of Australian birds and is recommended. David Fisher Birds in Bahrain: a study of their migration patterns 1990-92. By Erik Hirschfeld. Line-drawings by Hans Larsson. Hobby Publications, Dubai, 1995. 124 pages; 27 line-drawings. ISBN 1-872839-03-7. Paperback £8.00. This is my sort of book. The author has treated his personal observations in Bahrain as if he were a one-man moving bird obser\-a- tory. By standardising watching areas and times of observations, and then analysing records by ten-day periods and plotting them as graphs using sliding three X ten-day aver- ages, he indicates the relative likelihood of seeing each species at different times of year. For the rarer species, histograms of actual records are given rather than calculated graphs. Thus, the most interesting informa- tion relates to the commonest migrants, which could so easily have been almost ignored if observations, recording and analysis had not been well organised. AH species which were, in the author’s opinion, reliably recorded in the country during 1990-92 are included. The transposition of two pages is noted by an erramm slip, and there is a scattering of probably unimportant printer’s errors and the occasional ambiguiw (e.g. does ‘2-300 birds’ mean two to 300 or does it mean 200 to 300?). This book follows hot on the heels of Tom Nightingale & Mike Hill’s Birds of Bahrain 616 Reviews (1993; reviewed Brit. Birds 87: 282), and anyone with an interest in or visiting the island of Bahrain will doubdess wish to owti both books. As well as documenting observ'ations, Erik Hirschfeld notes that ‘trapping of birds is quite widespread in Bahrain, especially in spring when many migrants are conspicuous. The most sought-after species are wheatears [Oenanthe] (for eating) and shrikes [LMnius] (for their preny colours).’ He notes that at least 500-1,000 Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni are trapped each spring, which ‘will have a serious effect on the World popu- lation of this vulnerable species unless something is done immediately to stop it.’ Another serious threat is to Sooty Falcons F. concobr, owing to a probably well-intentioned but misguided project to stock an artificial breeding programme with eggs and chicks from the remote islands where the species is breeding safely, and introduce these artificially reared birds to mainland Bahrain. One must hope that Erik Hirschfeld’s w'ords will draw attention to this potential error of judgment and lead to a proper scientific assessment of the best actions needed to safeguard the Sooty Falcon population. Meanwhile, buy the book. y. T. R. Sltanvck Collins Gem Birdwatching Photoguide. By Rob Hume. Photographic consultants David & Jean Hosking. HarperCollins, London, 1995. 240 pages; over 200 photographs. ISBN 0-00-470756-7. Paperback £3.50. This is a marvellous book, absolutely crammed with spot-on advice for even'one contemplating taking up birdwatching as a hobby. It is not a field guide, but covers just about every other relevant topic. It is, however, the sort of book to which one wishes to refer when at home, planning what to do, so the tiny size (8.2 X 1 1.7 cm), standard for the ‘Gem’ series, seems highly inappropriate; there is no need for it to fit into a pocket. This will, however, fit ver\' well into a Christmas stocking, where it could do a tremendous amount of good . . . This book should be reprinted in a larger version, with ver\' much larger print, for the benefit of the maturcr beginner, for whom the small format and excruciatingly tiny print will be a deterrent. The text deserv'es a wide audience. y. T. R. Sharrock Birds of Glamorgan. By Clive Hurford & Peter Lansdown. Hurford & Lansdown, Cardiff, 1995. 228 pages; 30 colour plates; 16 black-and-white plates; 53 line-drawings; 127 distribution maps; 73 histograms. ISBN 1-872808-34-4. £25.00. When I started birdwatching in Cardiff in the late 1 960s, The Birds of Glamorgan by Heath- cote, Griffin & Salmon was my main source of information. Poring over its pages, I was inspired to learn that Nightingales Luscinia megarhynchos and Red-backed Shrikes Lanins collurio used to breed on the farm from where I helped with the local milk round, a Little Auk Alle alle had been found on the pond near my school. Hawfinches Coc- cothraustes coccothrai isles bred in the suburb of Cardiff where I lived and an Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea and many other rarities had been seen on the reserc'oir only 200 m from my house. Now, nearly 30 years on, a new Birds of Glamorgan has been produced summarising the ornithological data amassed during the interv'ening years, including the results of two breeding-bird atlas surveys. The book includes chapters on the history of bird- recording in Glamorgan, a summary of bird- ringing, a geological oven'iew of the county, a description of the principal bird habitats including quite detailed botanical informa- tion, and the species accounts themselves. Interestingly, the authors have chosen to revert to the Watsonian Vice-county system for the definition of the county boundaries, thus excluding parts of Monmouthshire and Breconshire which were treated as part of Glamorgan in the annual bird reports from 1974 to 1992. This results in many records of rarer species, especially from the Rumney Great Wharf area, being relegated to an appendix (including my record of two British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 Horned Larks Erernophila alpestris in 1972, which was the only species that I ever added to the county list) . Their reasons for doing so do, however, seem logical. The other slightly unusual feature of the book concerns the breeding-bird atias maps, which, rather than using the standard inter- national symbols (dots of different sizes), use solid black circles to show confirmed breeding records, stippled circles for prob- able breeding, and open circles for possible breeding. These conventions work well and give a clear picture of the atlas results. 617 The species accounts are well written and summarise the status of each bird succinctly. The book is attractively produced and includes a splendid selection of habitat and bird photographs in both black-and-white and colour. Anyone with an interest in the ornithology of Glamorgan wUl certainly want to obtain a copy, and I hope that it will inspire future generations of young (and not- so-young) birdwatchers resident in the county in the way that the earlier volume did me. David Fisher Birds and Weather: a birdwatchers’ guide. By Stephen Moss. Hamlyn, London, 1995. 174 pages; 28 colour plates; 25 line-drawings; 27 maps. ISBN 0-600 58679-0. £16.99. One of the thrills of birdwatching is finding the unexpected — from a Woodcock Scolopax msticola in your garden to a Siberian vagrant on an East Coast headland. We all know that the weather plays a major part in what turns up where; but not everybody can read a weather map well enough to predict a big East Coast fall, or to know that conditions are perfect for transadantic vagrancy. Even fewer birders can explain why American vagrants make it to Europe more often now than 20 years ago. These and many other issues are addressed clearly and simply in this excellent little book. The 1 1 chapters provide an introduction to climate, and to birds, weather and folklore, before launching into the influence of climate on migration patterns, vagrancy, seabirds, and birds in winter. The three closing chapters provide one of the best popular accounts of climate change that I have read. The focus throughout is upon Britain and Ireland, and is enlivened by Stephen Moss’s palpable excitement as he relives some of the great weather-driven birding dramas of the last few decades. A book to enjoy, and from which to learn. Johi H. Lazvton Sjaeldne Fugle i Danmark: en oversigt over forekomsten af sjaeldne fugle i Danmark og Nordvesteuropa 1963-1992. By Svend Ronnest. Illustrated by Niels Knudsen. Pinus, Skjem, 1994. 393 pages; 177 line-drawings; numerous maps and histograms. iSBN 87- 7722-068-4. DKR 345. This is the Danish equivalent of our Rare Birds in Bntain and Ireland (Sharrock & Sharrock 1976; updated by Dymond, Fraser & Gandett 1989). The text is wholly in Danish, although scientific names and English names are given for each bird species. For those not able to read Danish, there is no English-language summart', but the maps and histograms are self-explanatory. The maps of Denmark show numbers of records in each region (by actual numerals rather than symbols) and, where appropriate, there are histograms showing distributions of all the records for 1 1 mainly northwestern European countries in addition to Denmark: Iceland, the Faroes, ‘England’ (= Britain & Ireland), the Netherlands, Germany (former West and former East), Poland, Norv'ay, Sweden, Finland and France. The species texts include mention of relevant identification papers and there are lists of other useful references. This compilation is considerably enhanced by evocative drawings by Niels Knudsen. Although clearly aimed mainly at Danish readers, it will be a useful source of reference for eveiyone interested in the rare birds of Western Europe. 7- T. R. Sluinvck 618 Reviews Hamlyn Photographic Guide to the Waders of the World. By David Rosair & David Cottridge. Hamlyn, London, 1995. 175 pages; 700 colour plates. ISBN 0-600-58475-5. ,^24. 99. This book is essentially a photographic re\4ew of all the World’s 212 extant species of Char- adrii, including sheathbills (Chionididae) and Plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus. Accompanying text covers races, range and movements, plumages, habitat and beha\aour. Remarkably, there are photographs for 208 species, omitting only Eskimo Curlew Numenius borealis. Imperial Snipe Gallinago imperialis, and two of the woodcocks Scobpax. For several species, it is likely that these are the first ever to be published, and for Tuamotu Sandpiper Prosobonia cancellata and Giant Snipe G. iindulaia, for example, they are certainly the first I have seen. Others, however, are familiar, having been feamred already in the pages of this journal for example. TTie quality of photography and reproduction is superb throughout. No shots are of birds in the hand, while many have clearly been selected to display important aspects of behaviour or identification features. David Cottridge, although himself the most prolific photographic contributor, has trawled extensively for high-quality images. Brief captions idendfy the species and, where appropriate, the sex, plumage or race depicted, for which the assistance of BB’s owti Richard Chandler is acknowledged. Sadly, the authors have included neither date nor place; this would have been of particular value, since clearly marked seasonal changes in appearance are the norm for waders. David Rosair’s informative and well-written text adds insights clearly drawTi from his personal field experience of more than 180 of the species. The material and its presentation have more of a ‘handbook’ feel than the ‘field- guide’ sty'le of the previous Hamlyn photographic guide (to the birds of Britain and Europe). In an unwelcome change of fonnat from that work, there are no line- drawings to clarify identification points, and no distribution maps. Too high a frequency of spelling errors, particularly in subspecies’ names in the captions, also seriously limits the value of the text for reference purposes, 'fhe high standard, completeness of coverage and, in some cases, rarity of the photographs, however, make this book an essential purchase for any wader enthusiast. John H. Marchani Managing Habitats for Conservation. Edited by William J. Sutherland & David A. Hill. Cambridge University' Press, Cambridge. 399 pages; 19 colour plates; 118 black-and-white plates. ISBN 0-521-44776-3, paperback £17.95; ISBN 0-521-44260-5, hardback £55.00. This book is aimed at conservationists responsible for managing an area and provides the information necessary to make sound management decisions. It is a practical guide to what needs to be done, but does not describe the techniques, which can be found in British Trust for Conservation Volunteers manuals, for example. lntrt)ductor>' chapters on the principles of ecological management and preparing management plans arc followed by separate chapters by well-known experts, such as John Andrews, Chris Baines, David Bellamy, Richard Hobbs, Nigel Holmes and George Peterken, on ten major habitats, including waterbodies, grasslands, farmland, woodland and urban areas, as well as one on access. which covers car parks, footpaths, hides and signs. The authors use their wide experience to give many valuable insights into problems, and their solutions are often illustrated by excellent, clear diagrams. The book is, indeed, copiously illustrated, but the inclusion of purely decorative colour plates w'as surely unnecessary for the specialised audience looking for the hard information which this book provides. This book should be on every land- manager’s bookshelf (and mostly off it) and, at a paperback price of under £18, it is great value. Pranklyn Perring British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 619 Birds in Europe: their conservation status. Compiled by Graham M. Tucker & Melanie F. Heath with L. Tomiatoje & R. F. A. Grimmett. BirdLife International, Cambridge, 1994. 600 pages; numerous maps, isbn 0-947888-29-9. Paperback £29.50. This work can only be described as monumental. It provides, for the first time, a detailed review of Europe’s birds, classifying 514 regularly occurring species according to their conservation status. As a testament to the amount of information contained in the book, there are 72 pages of references. Be prepared — it makes depressing reading and contains many surprises. The most- threatened species are dealt with in detail. Information is given about distribution, population trends, threats and conservation measures. A table gives details of the present breeding or wintering population and whether the numbers are declining, increasing or stable. Where appropriate, a map also shows the status in each country. What is depressing is that so many of the maps are peppered with blue arrows showing declines. Among the surprises is that the Common Redstart Phoenicums phoenicunis, substantially declining over most of Europe, is increasing most in the UK. The message within the book is that positive conservation initiatives can help. Anyone travelling to a European countty' should use this book to find out what is really happening and give support to the often-struggling BirdLife partners, who are all trying to halt these worrying declines among Europe’s birds. Chris Harbard The Oxford Book of Creatures. By Fleur Adcock & Jacqueline Simms. (OUP, Oxford, 1995. 387 pages. ISBN 0-19-214225- 7. £17.99) Poetry' and prose on everything from Adder and Archaeopteryx to Yellowhammer and Zebra, by authors as di- verse as Richard Adams and Aesop to Alfred, Lord Tennyson, J. R. R. Tolkien, Virginia Woolf and W. B. Yates. Good browsing stuff. JTRS Birds to Watch 2: the World list of threatened birds. By N. J. Collar, M. J. Crosby & A. J. Stattersfield. (BirdLife International, Cambridge, 1994. 407 pages. ISBN 0-946888-30-2. Paperback £20.50) This book replaces Birds to Watch (reviewed Brit. Birds 82: 84). It deals with the same subject in the same basic manner, but presents an entirely new evaluation of the World’s threatened bird species using new lUCN criteria. A total of 1,1 1 1 species is identified as threatened, and for each one there is a brief summary' of distribution, numbers and threats, with precise coding of its status. The book also lists 1 1 species as Conservation Dependent, 66 as Data Deficient and 875 as Near- threatened. In aU, therefore, one-fifth of the World’s birds are shown to be at some risk of global extinction. The book identifies considerable gaps in our knowledge of some species: information that could be crucial to their surv'ival. RJP Collins Atlas of Bird Migration. General Editor Jonathan Elphick. (HarperCollins, London, 1995. 180 pages. ISBN 0-00-220038- 4. £16.99) This is a lavishly illustrated and very informative introduction to bird migration, and with Chris Mead and Dr Malcolm Ogilvie among the contributors we can expect the content to be both reliable and entertaining. After a very thorough review of why and how birds migrate, the different migration strategies of a wide range of species are described. Glance through the pages and any thought of migration being a straightforward, north-south seasonal movement disappears at once, because here, graphically portrayed for us, is a variety of highly complex, individual migrations. The bright, bold maps are sometimes a little difficult to follow, especially when information about two species has been condensed onto one map, but that is a quibble. This book provides a valuable source of information. Peter Plolckn To Fair Isle and Back. By John Holloway. (Stronsay Bird Reserve, Mill Bay, Stronsay, Orkney, 1995. 112 pages. ISBN 0-9526298-0-1. Paperback £8.50 + £1 p & p) The story of the making of his own nature-reser\'e-cum- bird-observatory on Stronsay, Orkney, illustrated with his own evocative paintings. It would be easy to sink into envy' as one reads of splendid selections of rare migrants, but the correct emotion should be admiration, for 620 Reviews John & Sue Holloway chose the site carefully, gave up the ‘soft life’ of southern England and created the habitats where most of their birds are now found. This book tells the story, and, if you want to go and \’isit them, telephone 01857 616363. JTRS Where to Watch Birds in Italy. Compiled by Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli. (Christopher Helm, London, 1994. 224 pages. ISBN 0-7136-3867-2. Paperback £10.99) Though not usually regarded as a major birding destination, Italy has a lot to offer visiting birders, as is well shown by this very useful addidon to the Christopher Helm/A. & C. Black ‘Where to Watch Birds’ series. The guide is well organised, with details of 103 birding areas, useful maps, lists of species, and contacts, often with telephone numbers. Indispensable for anyone visiting Italy. RJC DIARY DATES Compiled by Sheila D. Cobban This list covers January to December 1996 5th-7th January BTO ringing and migra- tion CONHERHNCK. Details from BTO, The Nunnerv', Norfolk IP24 2PU. 31st January bird photograph op thp YliAR: closing date for entries. 9th March soc/b to join t conpprpnch. St Margaret’s Hall, Craiglockhart Campus, Napier University, Edinburgh. Details from David Kelly, SOC Lothians Branch, 149 High Street, Prestonpans, East Lothian ph32 9AX. 15th March BIRD ILLUSTRATOR OP THP YEAR: closing date for entries. Note new dimensions of drawings (see page 564). 22nd-24th March RSPB members’ weekend. University of York. Details from Events Secdon, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedford- shire SG19 2DL. 29th-31st March IRISH wii.DBiRD conser- VANCY/RSPB ALL-IRELAND CONEERENCE. ‘Biodiversity — variety is the spice of life.’ The Grand Hotel, Wicklow. Details from IWC, Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. 19th-21st April bou/wii.dpowi , & weti.ands TRUS T JOIN T IN TERNA'I IONAL CONEERENGP.. Bristol. Details from BOU, do Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire hp23 6AP. 19th-20th May 1996 CHILTERNS bird & wiLDLiPE PAIR. College Lake Wildlife Centre, Bulbourne, near Tring, Herefordshire. 25th July to 9th August SOCIETY OP WILDLIPE ARTISTS’ ANNUAL E.XHIBTTION (including display of winning entries in ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’ compeddons). 'Phe Mall Galleries, The Mall, London swi. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission £2.00 (free to SWLA members) . 16th-18th August Bri tish birdwatghing PAIR. Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water, Leicestershire. 1st September young orni thologis ts oe THE year: closing date for entries. 7th-8th September Scottish bird- watching pair. Vane Farm RSPB Reser\'e, Kinross. 6th-8th December b to annual conper- encp; & AGM. Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick. Details from BTO. 15th December iiip; best annual bird Ri'BOR T AWARDS: closing date for entries. Mrs S. D. Cobban, Fowitaitis, Park Lxnic, Plwiham, Bedford MK44 3NJ When you traverse hill and dale in search of nature’s marvels, you expect the clearest images available. That is what Nikon gives you. In August 1994, Bird Watching magazine selected our Nikon Fieldscope ED78/ED78 A as “Telescope of the Year” in the over £350 class. The judges emphasised its “stunning optical performance” and “extremely accurate colour rendition”. They “Highly Commended” our Spotting Scope A in the under £350 class, noting its superior optical per- formance at a reasonable pride. And they were so impressed by the “out- standing brightness and clarity” of our Nikon 30x/38x Wide EyepieQe for Fieldscopes that they declared it “Accessory of the Year”. All of the judges were experienced bird watchers. No doubt, they also chose Nikon for our ability to bring you that much closer to nature. 30x/38x Wide Eyepiece Spotting Scope A Fieldscope ED78 A iM9a NIKON UK LTD. (for The United Kingdom and The Republic of Ireland) mlKmmn 380 Richmond road, kingston-upon-thames, surrey kt2 spr TEL: (0181) 541-4440 FAX: (0181) 541-4584 j-^ioneerin(^ LirJ lours ^^oii cun / ujj orJ lo niiss! AFRICA: BOTSWANA ETHIOPIA KENYA MADAGASCAR MALAWI MOROCCO ■ NAMIBIA • SOUTH AFRICA TANZANIA ■ UGANDA ■ ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE Naturetrel^ ASIA: ARUNACHAL PRADESH BHUTAN ■ BORNEO ■ CHINA INDIA ■ JORDAN LADAKH MONGOLIA ■ NEPAL SIKKIM TIBET ANTARCTICA & AUSTRALASIA: ANTARCTICA SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NZ & AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA • NEW ZEALAND EUROPE: BULGARIA CORSICA • CRETE • CYPRUS FRENCH PYRENEES ■ GREECE HUNGARY ■ ITALY • MADEIRA POLAND ROMANIA SARDINIA SLOVAKIA SPAIN & SPANISH PYRENEES SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL COSTA RICA ■ ECUADOR • GALAPAGOS ISLANDS VENEZUELA RUSSIA (and the new states): RUSSIA'S BOREAL FOREST ■ VOLGA DELTA & SOUTHERN RUSSIA USSURILAND & AMUR DELTA KAZAKHSTAN & ALTAI ■ THE BALTIC STATES SIBERIA & LAKE BAIKAL SAKHALIN & KAMCHATKA Bargain NEPAL An action-packed 10-day birdmg tour to this spectacular Himalayan kingdom, including nearly 300 bird species and 20 larger mammals during extensive birding in the hills ol the Kathmandu Valley. Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlile Reserve Guided by Nepal s lop ornithologists. Hem Sagar Baral. Tika Ram Gin and Hathan Choudhary 'Departures leaving every Friday throughout January S FeOruary 96 BHUTAN & NEPAL Our Speciality » Over 25 birding tours and treks Into the most exciting regions ol the remote Himalaya » Private birding Ireks and lours — tailor-made to your requirements — organised lor groups and individuals with or without one ol our tull-time Nepalese ornithologists • Unbeatable prices lor all Himalayan travel arrangements t Slay at KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE CAMP our own luxury tented camp, and the only accommodation at Nepal s Koshi Tappu Wildlile Reserve, one ol Asia's linest wetlands This is the only accommodation in Nepal run by birders lor birders, and with 160 species daily and 200 during a 4-nighl stay, a rival lo Bharatpur' wowu fNVlHONMtM PARTNIR IW. V For our brochure please contact: NATURETREK, CHAUTARA, BIGHTON, Nr. ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE S024 9RB, ENGLAND. TEL: (01962) 733051 FAX: (01962) 733368 Limosa Holidays Our 1996 brochure is out NOW! Join Steve Madge, Dick Forsman, David Cottridge, Chris Kightley, Jeffery Bosivall, Arnoud van den Berg & others in: N&S Ireland Holland France Portugal Spanish Steppes Italy - Birds & Art Finland & Norway Lapland & Varanger Sweden Hungary & Slovakia Bulgaria Greece - Lesvos Turkey UAE Israel - N&S Seychelles Kenya Ethiopia Sikkim & Assam Malaysia Hong Kong Australia Arctic Canada Texas Oregon Trinidad & Tobago Galapagos Antarctica, Chile, South Georgia & the Falklands Limosa Holidays, Suffield House Northrepps, Norfolk NR27 OLZ Tel; 01 263 578143 Fax; 01 263 579251 >iilo THE AiaOCUIlOH or INDBPENDINT TQUW OFEWAIQWE 2950 ( Field identification of Pine Bunting Hadoram Shirihai, David A. Christie and Alan Harris The Pine Bunting Emberiza leiicocephalos breeds mainly in the open woodland and forest edge of Siberia and west to the Urals. It is a partial migrant, wintering in northern China and northern India to Afghanistan, with a few west to the Middle East (regular in northern and central Israel in November-March), and a vagrant elsewhere in Europe (mainly in late aummn and winter). In both the breeding season and the non-breeding season, it overlaps in range with the Yellowhammer E. citrinella, with which it hybridises. In winter, mixed parties are found in lightly wooded country, often farmland with deciduous growth, including orchards with interspersed pine woods or open bushy areas; the Pine Bunting, however, prefers higher elevations than the Yellowhammer. In their interesting assessment of British Pine Bunting records, Bradshaw & Gray (1993) have enriched our knowledge of a species that can cause major identification problems at certain times and in certain places, and have thus added to the process to which Lewington (1990), Lewington et al. (1991) and Svensson (1992) have already contributed. Bradshaw & Gray (1993) have highlighted the dilemma confronting observers when faced with a putative Pine Bunting; readers are recommended to refer to their paper as well as to the present one. The following information is based mainly on nine years of intensive observations by HS of Pine Buntings and Yellowhammers on their common wintering grounds near and around Jerusalem and at other places in northern and central Israel. HS, DAC and AH are currently preparing a book on the identification of difficult groups of species, to be published in 1996 by Macmillan Publishers Ltd, and the painting accompanying this paper (fig. 1 on page 626) is [Brit. Birds 88: 621-626, December 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 621 622 Shirihai, Christie & Harris: Identification of Pine Hunting basically a result of ‘the Jerusalem experience’ together with museum work carried out in connection with that book. General identification features In structure, behaviour and voice, Pine Bunting and Yellowhammer appear almost identical, even to experienced observ^ers. Adult male and first-year male Pine show an unmistakable chesmut, white and black head pattern, and rufous on the breast. Females of the two species are virtually identical in pattern and coloration, although most Yellowhammers show a variable amount of yellow at least on the central belly, crown and supercilium (Pine lacks all yellow). Plates 209-211. Above, first-winter female Pine Buntings Emberiza Icucocephalos, Jerusalem, Israel, December 1985 {Rami Mizrachi) . Note head and throat-breast patterns and upperpart streaking. FACING PAGE Plates 212-217. Female Yellowhammers Emberiza ciuindla of race erynlirogefiys, Jemsiilem, Israel, mid-winter 1980s {Hadoram Shirihai). Top left, first-winter, ‘non-yellow’ plumage. Top centre, adult, ‘non-yellow’ plumage: note crown and upperpart streaking. Top right, first-winter, normal plumage: note yellow pigmentation. Centre left, adult, ‘non-yellow’ plumage: note head and throat-breast pattern. Centre right, first-winter, normal plumage: note yellow pigmentation. Bottom, adult, ‘non-yellow’ plumage: note slight yellow tone on remex fringes. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 623 624 Shirihai, Christie & Harris: Identification of Pine Bunting The main problem is separating female Pine from ‘non-yellow’ female Yellowhammers (tfie latter are not uncommon regionally, e.g. in Israel in winter). At close range, most individuals of both species exhibit a combination of constant differences, but a degree of overlap exists and trapping has shown that a few are so alike as to be inseparable in the field. Adult and first-year females are largely similar (first-years have primaries and rectrices more pointed and worn, and unmoulted tertials more worn), but most ‘non-yellow’ Yellowhammers are first- years. Identification of females In the field, and even in the hand, the only useful, constant differences betw'een females of Pine Bunting and those of ‘non-yellow’ Yellowhammer are as follows: 1 . Reniex fringes White or whitish-buff on Pine, ne\’er with any yellowish pigment as on most Yellowhammers. 2. Head-top streaks On Pine, crown streaks are generally more marked on individual feathers (creating total crown pattern), on average blacker and narrower, more often almost confined to feather shafts, with slightly more pointed ends (browner on Yellowhammer, averaging wider and with less or no point). Streaks are more restricted to the lateral crown on Pine, with far fewer on the central crown (can appear as a paler crown-stripe), this pattern added to by the deeper and higher supercilium (often resulting in appearance of a better-defined or prominent darkish lateral crown-stripe). Yellowhammer normally (not always) shows a more evenly streaked crown and narrower supercilium. Otherwise, female Pine shows striking contrast between lateral part of crown and paler and almost unstreaked supercilium (but supercilium sometimes whitish, with very thin faint streaks), whereas Yellowhammer shows less contrast owing to its greyer supercilium. Most (but not all) female Pine tend to have a conspicuous brownish patch on rear lateral crown area and side of upper neck, created by slightly denser streaking with more brown or rufous fringes, whereas this patch is reduced or lacking on most Yellowhammers. 3. Side of head On female Pine, the apparent broadness of the supercilium is also a result of its reaching downwards to almost half eye level; on most ‘non-yellow’ Yellowhammers, the supercilium reaches only just below top of eye. Pine’s broader and higher supercilium (well apparent in front of eye) is almost concolorous with the (broader) paler loral area, but contrasts greatly witli the (smaller) ear-covert area; as opposed to Yellowhammer’s darker loral area which is more concolorous with the (wider) ear-covert area, together producing less contrast with the greyer (whitish on Pine) supercilium. The whitish eye-ring of Pine Bunting is on average more neatly defined than Yellowhammer’s and stands out more clearly. 4. Nape colour The grey area on sides of neck, nape and hindneck of Pine is slightly suffused with and/or faintly streaked brown, whereas on Yellowhammer it is purer and cleaner grey and from most angles covers a smaller area than on most Pine. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 625 5. Underparts Pine Bunting, apart from its moustachial stripe tending to appear more prominent than Yellowhammer’s, also tends to have a stronger and better- defmed malar stripe composed of three or four rows of blackish blotches, rather than Yellowhammer’s generally weaker stripe of two or three rows of blackish- brown blotches (but can appear as conspicuous as on Pine) . Pine tends in general to have fme spots or streaks over a wider area of the throat, often spread quite evenly and extending from lower throat up towards biU, whereas YeUowhammer’s tlrroat shows fewer markings (often extending just to lower or central throat). The entire underparts of Pine are whiter, apart from a buff suffusion on chest, and the upper-breast streaking is more blackish, fading and with intermixed rufous-orange markings towards breast sides and flanks. A comparable pattern occurs on YeUowhammer, but the latter lacks Pine’s diagnostic fme blackish markings on upper breast. Pine’s undertail-coverts are on average more finely and faintly streaked than on YeUowhammer, or are even unstreaked (unlike YeUowhammer), but can, rarely, be quite heavUy streaked. 6. Less-obvious differences These include YeUowhammer’s diagnostic yeUowish underwing-coverts (sometimes inconspicuous). Female Pine tends on average to have more intense rufous pigments to the fringes of the lowest row of scapulars, with the lesser upperwing-coverts more uniform grey-brown (less grey than on YeUowhammer). Pine’s head often appears more square-shaped, peaking at rear crown, and a smaU crest is erected when nervous (indistinct on YeUowhammer). Both species show about the same primary projection (sometimes sUghtly longer on Pine), and both also show two closely spaced primary tips at the wingtip, as weU as one shorter primary tip; only Pine, however, shows (not always) a fourth primary tip (or tertial tip faUs approximately level with this fourth tip or, rarely, sUghtly conceals it). Otherwise, a few ‘very old’ female Pine Buntings show an indication of non-adult male pattern, with at least some rufous on the breast and even a whitish patch on the central crown and more chesmut coloration on the head. Acknowledgments Thanks are due to Rami Mizrachi for valuable discussion and for sharing many years of observations in Jerusalem. We also thank Macmillan Publishers Ltd for permission to reproduce the painting (fig. 1 ) from our forthcoming book Macmillan Birder’s Gidde to European and Middle Eastern Birds. References Bradshaw, C., & Gray, M. 1993. Identification of female Pine Buntings. Brit. Birds 86: 378- 386. Lhwington, I. 1990. Identification of female Pine Bunting. Birding World 3: 89-90. ^ Alstrom, P., & Colston, P. 1991. /I Eield Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe. London. ' SVENSSON, L. 1992. Identification Guide to European Passerines. Stockholm. Hadoram Shirihai, PO Box 4168, Eilat 88102, Israel David A. Christie, 4 Steventon Road, Harefield, Southampton SOI8 5HA Alan Harris, 60 East Park, Harlow, Essex CMJ7 OSE 626 Shirihai, Christie & Harris: Identification of Pine Bunting Fig. 1. Female Pine Buntings Emberiza leticocephalos and Yellowhammers E. citrimlla {Alan Harris). (Reproduced by permission of Macmillan Publishers Ltd) Top left and bottom left. Top right, normal female Yellowhammer. female Yellowhammer lacking yellow. Bottom centre and right, female Pine Bunting. ZEISS The inclusion of plates 209-217 in colour has been subsidised by support from Carl Zeiss Ltd, sponsor of the British Birds Rarities Committee. YOUNG ORNITHOLOGISTS OF THE YEAR Having thoroughly enjoyed exaniining the high-quality entries during last year’s judging session, the six judges assembled again at ‘Fountains’ with keen anticipation. We were not disappointed. The competition aims to encourage a serious smdy of ornithology by up-and-coming birdwatchers and to promote a conscientious attitude towards wildlife and the recording of observations. Entrants are asked to submit their actual field notebooks and also any logbooks or notes written up afterwards as a permanent record. This year’s three winning entries were all of an outstandingly high standard, as evidenced by the judges’ scores (see below; each judge independently rated each entry out of ten). The winners were as follows: JUNIOR Jonathan Dean (St Andrews, Fife) Aged 12 (12 years and under) INTERMEDIATE Matthew Harding (Blackburn, Lancashire) Aged 13 (13-16 years) SENIOR Jane Reid (Yarm, Cleveland) Aged 20 (17-21 years) Runners-up; the judges were also impressed by two other entries and wished to congratulate Tom Fieldsend (junior age-group) and Mark Gurney (senior age-group) on the high quality of their field notebooks. A flavour of the judges’ enthusiasm is given by the following quotes: JONATHAN DEAN ‘Genuine field notebook.’ ‘Makes his own interpretations.’ ‘Mature, observant, meticulous.’ ‘Formidable promise.’ ‘Good detailed notes.’ ‘An obvious enthusiast.’ Scores 9 9 9 9 9 8, average 8.8 MATTHEW HARDING ‘Amazing quantity of top-quality field observations.’ ‘Great breadth and depth.’ ‘Outstanding field notebooks. Enthusiastic and enquiring mind. Well illustrated, with Lively sketches.’ ‘Promising artist with talent. Promising namral-history photographer.’ ‘Very enthusiastic.’ ‘Good all-round naturalist.’ Scores 9 9 9 9 9 8, average 8.8 JANE REID ‘Top-class work by a future leading World-class ornithologist.’ ‘Equally thorough, impressive and accurate on both common birds and rarities.’ ‘Excellent sketches.’ ‘Impressive critical observations of plumage variations.’ ‘First-rate sketches with great attention to detail.’ ‘Lovely sketches. Meticulous attention to detail. Good to see her applying her skills to a practical conservation project.’ Scores 10 9 9 9 9 8, average 9.0 Some sample pages of the winners’ field notebooks (figs. 1-3) give a further flavour of the high standards this year. (Highly illustrated pages have been chosen, for their interest, but the judges do not allow artistic ability — or inability — to dominate their judgments.) Sponsored by Barbour BTO Christopher Helm Hamlyn HarperCoIIins OUP Pan Macmillan Pica Press T. & A. D. Poyser Swarovski [Bril. Birds 88: 627-629, December 1995] © British Birds Ltd 1995 627 628 Sharrock et ai: Young Ornithologists of the Year Jonathan Dean (Junior winner) ^ f A> , ^ ‘i\ •< ,uvu^*i f/UJU/i '*'* ' ^--V ^ ^ W Itt'J ' TSrv 'tM ^'.t/ jSai k/vw^/, 5^ ,jj' :.v 4-'w :y: i .'■• 'VKf . ^ i5w7Za/^'» Au: ■ : 'i’f-»- Gff/^ Oj^'W SiMJUjuxVi ^t'.^ '-^><-v.fe*kjr (-«• A tN GarJ>'A\ ViJ jfr.'.y XCi . 7 . » »oM . CrcLy^ .•v1*6 .t Jane Reid (Senior winner) 4f*f f»*< Matthew Harding (Intermediate winner) tCri f 1 r*^ £♦© i^- if n,4.,iUJ Ri (L - Figs. 1-3. Examples from the pages of the notebooks of the three winners of the title ‘Young Ornithologists of the Year’ 1995. British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 629 The rules for the 1996 competition will again call for the submission of field notebooks and other more-permanent records, as in 1995. The winners will receive prizes worth over 362,500. We hope that BB readers will encourage any keen birders who will be aged under 22 on 31st August 1996 to enter this competition. Acknowledgments We are most grateful to the ten sponsors of this competition — J. Barbour & Sons Ltd, the British Trust for Ornithology, Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd, the Hamlyn Publishing Group, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, Oxford University Press, Pan MacmiUan Ltd, The Pica Press, T. & A. D. Poyser, and Swarovski UK Ltd — who have provided the prizes for the three winners and also financial assistance towards the administrative costs. We are also most grateful for the support of the Society of Wildlife Artists, the British Trust for Ornithology, the Young Ornithologists’ Club, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the British Birds Rarities Committee and the British Ornithologists’ Union. We are also grateful to the BTO for agreeing to host the award ceremony at its annual December Conference. J. T. R. Sharrock (BB), Rob Hume (BBRC), B. A. E. Marr (BOU), Mike Crewe (BTO), Robert Gillmor (SWLA) and Peter Holden (YOC) do Fountains, Park Lane, Blimharn, Bedford MK44 3NJ ANNOUNCEMENT January issue In 1 1 months of the year, British Birds is mailed on the last Thursday of the month preceding the date of the issue (e.g. the November 1995 issue was despatched on 26th October). The Januaiy issue, however, is always despatched in the middle of January: first, so that the mailing list is as complete as possible (with late resubscriptions included) and, secondly, to take account of our printers’ (and our own) Christmas holiday breaks. The January 1996 issue will be posted to subscribers on 1 1th January. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As well as the many people who help BB in a whole variety of ways, many of whose names are listed on the inside front cover each month, we should like to thank the following, who waived all or part of their photographic or artistic fees in favour of BB\ Richard AUen, Max Andrews, Graham Bundy, Hilar}' Bum, Dr Richard Chandler, Dr Euan Dunn, Jens Eriksen, Mike Everett, David Fisher, Jon Fjeldsa, Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris, Ren Hathway, L. N. Hawkins, Jack Hill, D. C. Jardine, Phil Jones, Chris Knights, C. Massingham, Dave Nurney, Georges Olioso, Dan Powell, Robin Prytherch, Jan Sevcik, Dafila Scott, Brian Small, John Waldon, J. P. P. Wilczur, Christine & John Winterman, Martin Withers, and Bernard Zonfrillo. We apologise for any accidental oversight. NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Wendy Dickson and Bob Scott Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Usk Barrage dumped In July, the Severn Estuary was classified as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) under the EC Birds Directive, and as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The site, on both the English and the Welsh sides, covers in excess of 23,000 ha. Then, on 14th September, conser\'ation and environmental bodies, which had presented evidence at a three-month-long public inquiry early in 1994, heard tlie good news that William Hague, Secretary of State for Wales, had turned down plans for a barrage across the River Usk, above its confluence with the Severn estuary, in Newport, Gwent. Newport Borough Council had wanted to flood permanently the estuary’s mudflats, perceived by councillors as ugly, to attract development. Mr Hague concluded, however, that the barrage proposal would cause irreversible damage to the river character, landscape and fish, and that the economic case for the barrage had not been demonstrated. Just 20 km away, however, barrage construction across the mouth of the Taff- Ely Estuaiy^ SSSI (Cardiff Bay) has begun. This Government-promoted project, which will cost almost £200 million, aims solely to cover the mudflats, supposedly to make the area more attractive for development. Delegates at a European Union coastal conference held in Swansea in July, who visited Cardiff Bay, were horrified at the barrage proposal and could not understand how it had been sanctioned. (Contributed by Stephanie Tyler) More protection for Teesmouth Following the designation of the Teesmouth area as a National Nature Rcseiwe (see Bril. Bird; 88: 391), the Environment Minister, James Clappison, announced that the Teesmouth and Cleveland coast, an area of some 940 ha, had now been designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EC Birds Directive and as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Cemvention. 'ITiis brings the UK total of SPAs to 1 07, covering 350,000 ha, and Ramsar sites to 91, spread across 385,000 ha. The Minister is quoted as saying: ‘ITiis is a significant ornithological site which provides a winter [.vzt] home for over 20,000 waterfowl, including Sandwich [S’tcmu sandvicensv;] and Ldttle Terns [A. albifrons]., and I am glad to give it the recognition it dcseivcs.’ Enough said! New National Nature Reserves for Somerset In a joint promotion, English Nature, the Somerset Wildlife Trust and the RSPB declared three new A\ alon reserws in the peat areas of Somerset. All three designations followed prolonged negotiations with the peat industry tliat had been extracting from the area for many years. Conservationists will deciy' the loss of some striking habitat o\’cr recent years, but must welcome the arrival of the reserves as some compensation. The three- sites are: Shapwick Heath, to be managed by English Nature; Westhay Moor, managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust; anei Ham Wall, managed by the RSPB. Further information is available from English Nature, Roughmoor, Bishop’s Hull, 'Paunton, Somerset TAl .SAA. 630 [Brit. Birds 88: 630-6.35, Dcce-mbcr 1995] tC’ British Birds Ltd 1995 British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 631 Rare Bird Alert announces ‘Wordcall Plus’ Birding technology continues to develop at an alarmingly rapid rate. No sooner do we think that we are working with the latest state-of-the- art equipment than along comes an essential innovation. Latest news from the Rare Bird Alert team is of a highly sophisticated pager system that allows a range of facilities, including a personal message service. The ‘Wordcall Plus’ is capable of storing up to 231 messages and offers 14 different ways of alerting the user that a new message has arrived. (It is difficult to imagine what all those 14 might be!) The user not only can receive all the latest bird news, from mega-rarities to early-morning and late-evening news, but also has access to a full-message personal-paging service. This means that, in a dire emergency, a personal message could ensure that you remrn just before reaching the mega-rarity, if you have forgotten that you are supposed to be getting married. Useful! For details, contact Dick FUby on 01603- 767799. SOC’s 60th anniversary Next year marks the sixtieth anniversary' of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. British Birds is delighted to send its warm congratulations and good wishes for the next 60 years and onwards. To mark the occasion, the SOC is planning a number of events during the year, including a Spring Birdwatchers’ Conference at Napier College, Craiglockhart, Edinburgh, on 9th March. Anyone interested in further details is invited to contact the SOC at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT. A dream come true? A steady, stable image with 20 X magnification and no need to carry-’ a heaw tripod? Bliss! Carl Zeiss Ltd has announced the Zeiss Mono 20X60 S; a spotting scope small enough to be held easily in one hand and with an image-stabilisation system. So, no wobble, and no weary shoulders; but to find out the effect on the pocket, or for other further details, contact the Binocular Division of Carl Zeiss Ltd, PO Box 78, Woodfield Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 ILU; telephone 01707 331144. Birds instead of Birdies The Irish Wildbird Conservancy welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleandla, announced at the beginning of August, to refuse permission for a golf course at Cloheen Marsh, Clonakilty, west Cork. In refusing the application, the Bord considered that it would materially contravene a development objective set out in the development plan for the use of the area to be primarily as an ecological habitat for wild birds. John Coveney, IWC Conservation Officer, said that ‘This decision sets an enormously important precedent for bird conservation in Ireland’ and appealed to all local authorities and the DoE to ensure that this type of case never arises again. BPY Awards With the kind permission of the Society of Wildlife Artists, the 1995 award presentations for Bird Photograph of the Year were made immediately prior to the Bird Illustrator of the Year presentations. So, for the first time, the top bird-photographers (plate 218) rubbed shoulders with the top bird-artists at the Mall Galleries in London. BPY was sponsored by Canon in 1 995, and we hope soon to be able to announce the arrangements for 1996 onwards. As usual, the closing date for entries will be 31st January. Plate 218. bird photogr.\ph of the year, London, July 1995 {Peter Wilkinson) . Left to right, Tristan Millen (The Windmsh Award winner), Mike Lane (Bird Photograph of the Year winner), and Mike Wilkes (third). (Second-placed photographer, Jens Eriksen, was unable to be present.) 632 News and comment Reflections from France We had arrived north of Bordeaux one day early, with the intention of getting in a little birding before the start of the serious confer- ence business. The plan was to spend the Sunday exploring the local marshes, but sounds reaching the hotel bedroom were wor- rying even before tackling the breakfast. No, not the battle of the Somme, just the first day of the French hunting season. There were cars, people and gun shots everywhere. From one vantage point, a total of 2,000 shots per hour was counted. What, if anything, they hit we do not know. It was hardly surprising that the birds that we did find were safely tucked away in the reserv'es of the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO). 'Fhe LPO must be congratu- lated on the work it is doing and also commended upon recently passing the 21,000 total for its membership. This is an encour- aging sign, but remember: the hunters of France total F5 million! Here are a few other snippets picked up during the visit. Yellow-legged Gulls Lmhis cachinnatis were very abundant and very obvious amongst the Herring Gulls L argen- tatus. There were signs of French protest against the South Pacific nuclear tests every- where. There have been significant increases in western France of Spoonbills Platalea leii- corodia, White Storks Ciconia ciconia and Spotted Redshanks Trifiga erylhropus. The hunting season below high-water mark starts in mid-July. There are now 70 pairs of Sacred Ibises Threskiomis aethiopicus breeding wild in France (as reported in Alauda 62; 275-280 and Bril. Birds 88; 265), in a mixed colony of eight other species. It is possible to sex Spoon- bills in the field by size of head and bill shape. In the last ten years, 1 km of coastline in Europe has been lost to industrial development e\'ery’ day. The Fair: bigger, better and hotter Now so well established in the ornithological calendar, the British Birdwatching Fair for 1995 hosted more events, more trade stands and more activities than ever before. This was the place to meet people, to see and to be seen. But was it hot! Stand-holders sweltered in temperatures more reminiscent of some of the holiday locations on offer, rather than mid August in Rutland. There were competitions, prizes, special offers, lectures, panel games, demonstrations, clubs, societies and, indeed, virtually everything you could think of relating to birding. And all with one key aim in mind: to provide money for the Moroccan Wetlands project. The organisers — Tim Appleton, Martin Davies and the whole of their team — are to be congratulated on yet another highly successful event. We are already looking forward to Rutland ’96. It was great to welcome so many of our readers to the BB stand, and to have so much interest in the mystery photograph competi- tion on the three days. Congratulations to the winners: P. Palmer of Retford, Chris Derry of Pendeford and Simon Patient of Maldon, each of whom won a subscription to BB. No more champagne As announced at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water in July, BB has discontinued awarding the bottles of champagne which had become traditional over the past 20 years as prizes for our regular mystery photographs competitions. We support the Polynesian, Australian and New Zealand governments’ objections on envi- ronmental grounds to the French Gvwemmcnt’s testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific, and, therefore, consider it inappropriate for us to purchase French products as prizes. Subsequently, we have noted that French conservationists have applauded the worldwide condemnation of their Government’s actions, and BB's small gesture has been welcomed by our ornithological colleagues in France. Bruce Pearson joins BIY panel We are delighted to report that Bruce Pearson has accepted our invitation to join fellow artists Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris and Keith Shackleton on the judging panel for Bird Illustrator of the Year. Bruce himself won the BIY title in 1984, and is now the President of the Society of Wildlife Artists. (Alan Harris won tlie BIY title in 1982, of course, and Keith Shackleton and Robert Gillmor are both Past Presidents of the SWI.A.) As announced in October {Bril. Birds 88: 488), BIY is now co-sponsored by Pica Press and T. & A. D. Poyscr. The closing date for entries is 15th March 1996, and artists should note the precise new dimensions of drawings for this competition (sec Bril. Birds 88: 564). British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 633 Tenth Welsh Dipper weekend The tenth annual ‘Dipper Weekend’ was held at its usual venue at Newbridge-on- Wye in mid Wales during lst-3rd September. Volunteers from Northern Ireland, Norfolk, SUmbridge and Devon, as well as from north and south Wales, came to this popular get- together at the Newbridge Field Centre to help catch and monitor Dippers Cincliis cinclus and other river birds on tributaries of the Wye and Usk. Visits to Dipper roosts continued throughout Friday evening into the early hours of Saturday, the last team arriving back at the field centre at 3 a.m. Walking and netting along rivers took place throughout Saturday and on Sunday morning, interspersed on Saturday evening with a tenth-anniversary celebratory drink and slice of cake and sojourn at the local pub. The dry summer and low river flows may have contributed to the low proportion of young Dippers caught this year, but, by comparison, catches of young Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis and Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea were good. {Contributed by Stephanie Tyler) Save our Skylarks Last month, we noted the campaign mitiated by the BTO for raising funds to investigate the dramatic declines in our farmland birds, with particular emphasis on the Sky Lark Alauda arvensis, after which the campaign is named {Brit. Birds 88: 568). It is good to be able to report that there was an immediate response from one sector of the agricultural industry, Willmot Pertwee, which has pledged 50p per acre (20p per ha) of their Setaside Grass Mix sold with the Cornflower Option. The seed for this comes from Emorsgate, which specialises in producing wild-flower seeds from UK sources. It is estimated that rotational setaside will account for one million acres (over 400,000 ha) of the UK’s farmland in 1996, much of which is left to regenerate naturally, with its share of noxious weeds. This mix has been formulated so that farmers can spray to control Black-grass Alopecurus myosuroides, brome Bromus, Wild-oat Avena fatua and even volunteer cereals from the previous crop. Disease carry-over from earlier crops is seen as a particular hazard from single-year setaside. Anyone wishing for further information about this seed mix can contact David Rickerby on 01476 550379. Yellowhammers go, turtles come The latest Cape Clear Bird Observatory Report (no. 23, covering 1993 and 1994) records that Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella have now become extinct on the island, with a single record in 1993 and none whatsoever in 1994 (around 35 pairs bred annually in the 1960s). Apart from rarities, the year’s highlights were perhaps the high totals of 42 Mediterranean Shearwaters Pujfinus yelkouan in 1993 and at least 14 Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus in early May 1994. Turtles (mostly Leathery Turtles Dermochelys coriacea) have become almost commonplace. There was only one record in the Observatory’s first 25 years, but then 32 ‘turtle-days’ with up to seven in a day in 1989 and some every year since (except for a blank year in 1992), and a peak of 98 turtle-days (including 30 on one day!) in 1993. Bookings and travel enquiries should be sent to Sean Farrell, 81 Femdale Avenue, Dublin 1 1, Ireland. Fings ain’t . . . ‘I was one of over one hundred birders enjoying excellent views of the Bl^lh’s Pipit [Anthus godlezvskh] at Landguard. Whilst making several sketches of the bird I became aware of an equally rare sight on the common that day; as far as I could see there appeared to be only one other person actively using their notebook to record their observ'ations . . . Since [then] I have kept a casual eye out for people using notebooks in the field and I have been rather surprised by the number of people who never seem to use one. As far as I am concerned a notebook is just as vital a piece of equipment as your bins and ’scope and you shouldn’t leave home without it.’ So says Stuart Ling in his Editorial in The Harrier (104: 1-2), the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group’s excellent bulletin. We agree wholeheartedly with his final sentence quoted above. For membership details of the SOG, write to Andrew Gregory, 1 HoUy Road, Ipswich IPl 3QN. 634 News and comment BIY Awards Courtesy of the Society of Wildlife Artists, the traditional award presentations were made at a Press Reception at the Mall Galleries in London on 26th July 1995 (plate 219). As usual, there was a happ>' gathering, including bird-book publishers and many of Britain’s top artists, so the opportunity was taken to obtain a photograph of over a dozen previous winners of the title Bird Illustrator of the Year — almost a who’s who of today’s well- known bird-artists (plate 220). This year w'as the last of seven valuable and much-appreciated years of sponsorship by Kozva telescopes. As already announced (Bril. Birds 88: 488), the co-sponsors from 1996 onwards will be Pica Press and T. & A. D. Poyser. Plate 219. bird illustr,\tor oh thk ykar, London, July 1995 (Peter Wilkinson). Left to right, Dan Powell (third). Max Andrew-s ('Phe Richard Richardson Aw'ard w'inner), Tim Worfolk (second) and Andrew Stock (Bird Illustrator of the Year winner). Plate 220. bird illustrators oh thh yhars, London, July 1995 (Peter Wilkinson). Back nw, left to right: David Cook, Martin Woodcock (1983), George Woodford, Norman Arlotl (1980 & 1981), Chris Rose (1986), Andrew Stock (1995), John Cox (1989), Martin Hallam (1988), Ren Hathway (1994) and Bruce Pearson (1984). lYonl row': David Quinn (1987), Alan Harris (1982), Richard Allen (1993), Ian Lewington (1985) and Gordon 'Prunkfield (1990). 'Du' only missing winners were the late Crispin b’isher (1979), John Davis (1991) and John Gale (1992). British Birds, vol. 88, no. 12, December 1995 635 ID papers coming up Scheduled for publication soon in BB are major identification papers on Hippolais warblers, the separation of Grey-cheeked Thrush Cathams minimus from Bicknell’s Thrush C. bicknelli, and Little Crake Porzana paiva from Baillon’s Crake P. pusilla, and the identification of YeUow-legged Gulls Lams cachinnans in Britain, the first three illustrated by Alan Harris and the fourth by David Quinn. REGIONAL NEWS TEAM Dave Allen — Northern Ireland Tim Cleeves — Northeast David Clugston — Scotland Dave Flumm — Southwest Barrie Harding — East Anglia Oran O’Sullivan — Republic of Ireland Alan Richards — Midlands Don Taylor — Southeast Dr Stephanie Tyler — Wales John Wilson — Northwest MONTHLY MARATHON X ^ The seventh ‘Marathon’ was won by Peter Sunesen {Brit. Birds 88: / \ 560), who joins the elite band of expert bird-identifiers who have I / won SUNBIRD holidays: Pekka J. Nikander (who chose to go to Thailand), Anthony McGeehan (Arctic Canada), Ralph Hobbs (Kenya), Martin Helin (Hong Kong), Hannu Jannes (Thailand) and Paul Archer (who has not yet selected his trip). The first three stages of the new, eighth ‘Monthly marathon’ were in the September, October and November issues (plates 126, 140 and 198) with a I deadline for receipt of entries of 15th December 1995, so the solutions to those •will all be given next month. The fourth hurdle appears below (plate 221). IPlate 221 ‘Monthly marathon’. Photo no. 1 14: fourth stage in eighth ‘Marathon’. Identify the -species Read the rules on page 65 of the Januaiy issue, then send in your answer on a postcard to ’Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3NJ, to amve by 15th Januar>- 1996. RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period 16th October to 12th November 1995. These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records. Little Auk Alle alle Strong northerly passage along east-facing coasts involving several thousands, with a few individuals reaching midland English counties from about 29th October. Yellow-bUled Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus St Mary’s (Scilly), 19th October; Morpeth (Northumberland), 22nd October. Tree Swallow Taehycineta bicolor St Ives (Cornwall), 12th November. Cliff Swallow Hirnndo pyrrhonota Kilnsea/Spum area (Humberside), 22nd-23rd October and 28th October. Blyth’s Pipit Anthiis godletvskii Loop Head (Co. Clare), 31st October to 1st November (first record for Ireland). Black-eared Wheatear Ocnanthe hispatiica Great Orme (Gwwnedd), 18th-20th October. Hermit Thrush Cathams guttatus Fair Isle (Shetland), 19th October. Veery C. fitscescens North Uist (Western Isles), 20th to at least 28th October. Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregtdns Influx of at least 52, including 14 in Kent, six in Norfolk and four in Ireland, from 23rd October. Willow Tit Pams montanns Cork City (Co. Cork), 11th November (first record for Ireland) . Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria Single in off the sea at Dungeness (Kent), on 2nd November. Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla Llanddeusant, Anglesey (Gwc’nedd), 3rd-8th November and 12th November. Isabelline Shrike Lanins isabellitins St David’s (Dyfed), 27th October. Pine Grosbeak Pinicola cnncleator Margate (Kent), 19th October. Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica Prawle Point (Devon), 18th October. Blackpoll Warbler D. striata St Agnes (Scilly), 27th October to 2nd November and 6th November; Kenidjack Valley (Cornwall), 29th October. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Phencticns Indovicianns Venmor (Isle of Wight), 30th October to 1st Nov'ember. Bobolink Dolichonyx oiyzivoms St Maiy’s, 20th October. Rare Bird News supplies all its informaiion free to 'British Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (25p min cheap rate; 39p min other times; incl. VAT) CORRECTIONS VOI.UMH 88 15-25 ‘Iceland Gulls from the “Braer” disaster, Shetland 1993.’ Page 21, in footnote, definition of bursa should read ‘Pouch on w'all of cloaca found only in veiy young birds’; page 22, ‘Discussion’, line 15: ‘one’ should read ‘none’. 136-140 ‘Kentish Plovers with complete breast bands.’ Scientific name of Chcsinui-bandcd Plover is Charadnus pallidiis; nominate race occurs in soutlicrn Africa, while the East African race is C. p. venustns. Page 138, Plates 34 & 35: ‘C. vennsins' should read ‘C. pallidiis'; table 1: ‘C. vetuistns' should read ‘C. pallidns'. 145 ‘Ages of Great Spotted Cuckoos in Britain and Ireland.’ Fig. 2: penultimate histogram block (mid October) should show 3, not 2. 449 ‘Binoculars and telescopes survey 1995.’ 'fable 3, 1990 ptisition, line 3. ‘-’ should replace ‘(1)’. 636 ‘The Famous Grouse’ 'Scotch whisky Christmas puzzle Sponsored by J Solve the five clues (below) and enter your answers in the five grids. Then t transfer each letter to the appropriate numbered squares (above) to find the lexpert’s answer. NOTE Each number represents the same letter every time that it is used, but each letter is not : necessarily always given the same number. 11. Not a hopping fmch (nine letters) 11 13 10 11 12 i2. Spots congregations in tickly spot out West (eight letters) 3 14 3 4 5 15 -3. Drunk when lacking grit, but famous one’s bred here (ten letters) -4. European bird found on lawns (six letters) 13 -7 12 13 '5. Sunless souvenirs of which we have had 82 up to 1994 (six letters) 8 1 13 18 7 16 Send the expert’s four-word answer on a postcard to Tlte Famous Grouse Christmas puzzle, • Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3Nj, to arrive by the closing date of 15th January- ,1996. Do not forget to include your name and address. The senders of the first three correct answers drawn after the closing date will each win a bottle of TJw Famous Grouse Scotch whisker XI 392pp 36 colour plates^ 115 colour maps^ line drawings cased & jacket £27.99 360pp 70 maps^ 40 line drawings paperback £12.99 Tits, Nuthatches & Treecreepers SIMON HARRAP AND DAVID QUINN There are 1 10 species covered in this highly illustrated and comprehensive guide to the world's tits, nuthatches and treecreepers. 36 detailed plates and 1 15 colour distribution maps illustrate all species. The text is exhaustive, covering each species, from identification to breeding biology. Available through your usual supplier , or in case of difficulty contact: A&C Black, PO Box 19, Huntingdon, Cambs PEI 9 3SF tel: (01480) 212666 fax: (01480) 405014 Where to Watch Birds in Northeast England DAVE BRITTON AND JOHN DAY (D520 xii ^^BIRDS ^ in Bahrain Q Study of their migration patterns I990-J992 MIGRATION DETAILS DRAWINGS. TABLES. GRAPHS, MAP SITE DESCRIPTIONS. CHECKLIST BIRDS in Bahrain a study of their migration patterns 1990-92 by Erik Hirschfeld ISBN 1-872839-03-7 sftbk. 22 x 15cm I24pp send £8.00 (incl. p&p) to Colin Richard.son, P.O. Box 50394 Dubai, United Arab Emirates ACE OPTICS OF BATH The South West’s Largest Optical Specialist Zoiss 7x42/10x40 BGAT . . . C689 8x20 Classic (inc Case) £199 10x25 Classic (inc Case) Phone New Nightowls e.g. 7x45 OPA' £799 Leica 8x20 BC £239 10x25 BCA OPA' £289 8x32 BA OPA' £625 8x42 BA £689 10x42 BA £699 New 8/10x50 BA £899 New Leica Televid Scopes Phone Opticron Countryman £99 Hi-Res 8/10x42 £189 Classic 60mm + 22x w £169 60 SR + 22x HR & Case £269 HR66 £269 HR 80 Body £319 30xW eye piece £52 Nikon Spotting Scope 20x £229 Spotting Scope Zoom Angled OPA' ..£319 Fieldscope IIA £339 Fieldscope 78 ED OPA' £769 30xx ww OPA’ or 20-45 Zoom £159 THE BEST DEALS IN OPTICS « 01225 466364 Kowa TSN 1 & 2 £299 TSN 3&4 £599 TSN 30xww £139 TSN Zoom 20-60 £175 TSN60xot77x £105 TS 611/12 OPA' £239 TS 613/14 OPA* £519 TS27XW £95 Stay on case £42 Bausch & Lomb 7x26 Custom Premier £269 8x24 Legacy OPA* £99 7x35 or 10x50 Glasses on £129 8x42 Natureview OPA* £109 10x42 Natureview £129 Swift ULtralite 8/10x42 OPA* £179 Audubon 8.5x44 £229 Swarovski 8x30 SLC III , . £449 7x42 SLC £529 10x42 SLC £589 AT-80 Scope £539 AT-80 HD Scope £769 30xXWEye Piece £119 Optolyth Alpin 8/10x40 £255 TBS/TBG 80 New Model £479 TBS/TBG 80 HD New Model £719 30x ww £149 20-60 zoom £175 Night Vision Scopes from ... £250 Accessories SlikD3 tripod £119 Slik 444 Sport £79 Velbon tripods from .... £45 Car window mount £29 Hide mounts from £29 British Birds readers only offer. 25% discount off any Velbon Tripod (£39-£79) with any Telescope purchased (while ^ocks last). We cannot list all models we stock please phone To save you the hassle of negotiating, all our pnces are hugely discounted from the start. Should you find a genuinely cheaper pnce. we will normally beat it. We also offer the best advice, service and stock, so why bother to go elsewhere? If you cannot call in. we offer a 4S hour mail order delivery service. Please ask for David or Peter for specialist advice. Low cost credit terms avalable. Please mention Bntish Birds magazine when calling. 16 GREEN STREET, BATH, BA1 2JZ 01 225 466364 If busy try 466975 Also available at 10 South Walk, Yate, Bristol (01454) 325302 Prices are correct at time of going to press. ‘OPA - Birdwatching Magazines Optical Products Award ■ own Conservation Area ■sakes us unique. A pool and •'oodland adjacent to the r howroom attract numerous irds, enabling our :sitors to test equipment in field . onditions. (D500) The experts Professionals recommend! MNOCUURS nd TELESCOPES Select from the world’s finest optical instruments: ZEISS-LEICA-HABICHT-NIKON-OPTOLYTH-KOWA BAUSCH & LOMB-BUSHNELL-PENTAX-QUESTAR BRESSER-MIRADOR'OPTICRON-DOCTER-SWIFT FUJINON-FUMOTO'PRAKTICA-ROSS Tripods: SLiK-MANFROTTO-CULLMANN Ye carry one of the most extensive ranges of Binoculars and Telescopes in the country, plus a wide range of accessories. We also stock BBillingham Equipment Bags and a large selection of BOOKS. VIDEOS ind AUDIO CASSETTES by leading publishers. Worldwide coverage I I Wide range Top quality INTEREST FREE CREDIT available on sales of £600 plus (APR 0%) subject to status UNHURRIED TESTING AND VIEWING FACILITIES allowing time to choose and discuss options. WRITE OR PHONE NOW for easy directions, latest prices and mail ^7! orders. Visit our BIRp_^,JrRE fpEN Monday to Saturday 9 am until 5pm OCUS OPTICS Church Une, Corley, Coventry CV7 8BA el:01 676-540501 & 542476 Fax:01676-540930 BHARATPUR from £1350 4-13 January EILAT from £540 10-17/24 March HONG KONG from £1180 30 March-9 April BEIDAIHE from £1090 4-19/26 May Details from Sunbird, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 IDF. Tel 01767 682969 (Please specify which event you are interested in). Sunbird is a trading name of Conderbury Limited. 3M3 xiii BIRDWATCHERS YEARBOOK 1996 Cover price £12.50 MAIL ORDER £11.00 POST FREE £1.50 OFF ORDER NOW! 16th GREAT NEW EDITION 320 pages packed with information. 430 reserves. Personal bird log. Projects Feature articles. Quick reference section Diary. County and National Directories British and European Bird List. Etc etc. Illustrated with drawings, maps and charts "How can anyone possibly be a birder, birdwatcher, twitcher, bird- spotter, ornithologist, tally hunter or ‘real birdwatcher’ without this fact-filled volume on his or her shelves?" (Bob Scott in British Birds) Send PO/cheque (no cards please) for El 1.00 per copy. (Overseas: add El. 00 postage and use eg. Sterling Bank Draft or Eurocheque. Cheques drawn on other than British banks are not accepted). BUCKINGHAM PRESS 25 MANOR PARK, MAIDS MORETON BUCKINGHAM MK18 IQX (Tel 01280 813931) BIMONTHLY jOURNAL ON FIELD ORNITHOLOGY D Excellent papers on identification, distribution, occurrence, movements and behaviour of Palearc* tic birds □ Regular contributions on Asian-Pacific birds □ Latest news on rare and interesting birds in the Netherlands and the Western Palearctic D Well produced with numerous high quality colour photographs □ Yearly report on rare birds in the Netherlands G In English or with extensive English summaries for information or a free sample issue, write to: Dutch Birding, Posttnis 7.'jbl I. 1070 AP Amsterdam, The Netherlands o rnithos The French quarterly magaxine for birdwatchers Main papers and notes about Identification, Status and Ecology of the Birds of France and WP • Annual Report of French Rarities Committee (CHN) • Annual Report of Rare Breeding Birds in France • Results of birds census in France • Birding Spots in France and WP • News about birdwatching and birds in France and WP • Mystery Bird. Annual subscription (four issues) Europe : 230 FF or 190 FF (LPO subscriber) Other countries : 270 FF or 230 FF (LPO subscriber) Please contact : Omithos, Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, BP 263, F-17305 Rochefort Cedex (France) Subscribers to DuU h [brdin^ cun i lulm 25% off u ihitish birds sutrsr rifilion (D469) XIV D472 British Birds Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be prepaid and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Telephone 01767-640467 Fax 01767-640025 Rates excluding VAT £2.75 a line — average of 8 words. £9.00 a centimetre — minimum 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words and is £2.00 extra per insertion Replies should be sent to the above address Series Discounts 3 for the price of 2 6 for the price of 4 1 2 for the price of 8 Copy date January issue December 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment to^ HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION WALES NEAR DEVILS BRIDGE. Guest house in glorious unspoiled surroundings. Log fires, en-suite, superb candlelit dinners. Kite all around, close bird reserves. Open all year, winter/autumn breaks. Brochure tel: 01974 282289. (BB876) SCOTLAND THE HOTEL Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA6I 7YP. Demi- pension (private bath) from £55.00. Details, brochure, map (birdlist on request). Tel. 01951 200316. (BB898) OVERSEAS VENEZUELA - two superb neotropical birdwatching tours tor early 1996, at realistic prices. Also tailor-made trips. Geodyssey 0171-281 7788. (BB879) PROVENCE, CAMARGUE. Farm cottage, apt., b&b. Rogers. Mas d'Auphan, Le Sambuc. 13200 ARLES. France. Tel: (0033) 90972041. fax 90972087. (BB892) Alderney Channel Lslands GY9 3TJ Neal & Co Alderney is a small island 3.5 by 1.5 miles and is ideal for Bird Watchers. We offer a choice of self-catering cottages, houses or flats including a Penthouse Hat in a Victorian Fort. A full brochure is available or just call for the current vacancies. Tel: 01481 823332 Fax: 01481 823821 The Alderney Accommodation Agency (BB7.50) ENGLAND I CLEY. 3 quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 6-t2). Quiet, comfortable, excellent value. Brochure (01353) 740770. (BB872) I ISLES OF SCILLY. Mincarlo Guest House. St Mary's. Superbly situated in own grounds overlooking the harbour. Write Colin Duncan or Tel: 01720 422513. (BB836) t CLEY. DELIGHTFUL HOUSE in village. 4 bdm. CH. large garden. Avail, all year. Mrs E. Album. 47 Lyndale Ave.. London NW2 OQB. 0171-431 2942. (BB886) I ISLES OF SCILLY. Trelawney Guest House. St Mary's TR2I OJT. Bookings now being taken for B&B. 1995 Season. Tel/Fax: 01720 422377 for brochure. (BB789) N. NORFOLK, NR CLEY. Charming 2 bedroom Bint cottage in Holt. Tastefully furnished, well equipped. GCH. ■ spacious garden. Tel. 01788 815380. (BB838) t CLEY. DELIGHTFUL HOUSE in village. 4 bdm. CH. large garden. Avail, all year. Mrs E. Album. 47 Lyndale Ave., London NW2 OQB. 0171-431 2942. (BB886) f CLEY NATGRE RESERVE 1 milel Small guest house offers you warm welcome. B&B, CTV, tea/coTfee, all ensuite, full C/H, Parking, singles, doubles, twins. Non-smokers only please. IDEAL FOR BIRDWATCHERS FLINTSTONES, WIVETON, HOLT NORFOLK NR25 7TL 01263 740337 (BB880) Jj BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS NEW ZEALAND. Experience our unique plant and bird community in diverse and dramatic landscapes. Our tours are customized to suit birders, photographers and naturalists. Information: Manu Tours. 106 Oceanbeach Road. Tairua 2853. New Zealand. Ph/Fax (64) (7) 864 7475. (BB826) WESTERN PYRENEES. Resident English local guide for Western Pyrenees and Northern Spain (Hecho/Riglos area). Contact Richard Cruse. 106 Rue Navarrot. 64400 Oloran Ste Marie. France. Tel. (0033) 59-39-47-75. (BB873) HONG KONG - Superb birding Sept-May. Richard Lewthwaite. 2 Villa Paloma. Shuen Wan, Tai Po. Hong Kong. Tel: (+852) 2665 8506, Fax: (+852) 2665 8190. (BB875) PROVENCE, CAMARGUE. Farm cottage, apt., b&b. Rogers. Mas d'Auphan. Le Sambuc. 13200 ARLES. France. Tel. (0033) 90972041, fax 90972087. (BB892) BIRDFINDERS HOLIDAYS. French lakes for Cranes, eagles, wildfowl and woodpeckers. February 21-25. £145. Ex. Portsmouth. Full 1996 brochure Vaughan Ashby, 18 Midleaze. Sherborne. Dorset DT9 6DY. (A505) ‘HIGH ISLAND’ UPPER TEXAS COAST U.S.A. Bed and breakfast for groups of 4 or 8. Tours given. 'Birder's Haven. PO Box 309, High isiand, Texas 77623. Tei. 409 286 5362 or 214 824 5390. (BB863) Tft&vuf t(y ’ dates: 298, 620 Dickie, I. R., and Vinicombe, K. E., Lesser Short-toed Lark in Dorset: new to Britain, 593-9 Dickson, Wendy, and Scott, Bob, news and comment, see News and comment Diornedea exnlans, see Albatross, Wandering melatiophris, see Albatross, Black-browed Dipper, runt eggs, 169-80 Display: Great Bittern, 47; Green Sandpiper, 225-6; Long-eared Owl, 48-9; Corn Bunting, 410 Diver, Black-throated, summary for 1994, 460, 472 , Great Northern, European news, 26 , Red-throated, runt eggs, 169-80, plate 40 , White-billed, migration past south- western Norway, 125-9; European news, 263; accepted records 1994, 497 Dotterel, British breeding records in 1992, 81; summary' for 1994, 461-2 Dove, Laughing, European news, 37 , Namaqua, European news, 273 , Oriental Turtle, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103; European news, 273 , Rock, European news, 273 , Turtle, European news, 273 DowdaU, J. F., Philadelphia Vireo: new to the Western Palearctic, 474-7, plates 141-3 Dowitcher, Asian, PhotoSpot 36, 362-4, plates 99-100 , Long-billed, European news, 35; Pho- toSpot 37, 429, plate 123; accepted records 1968-94, 515 Diyocopns martins, see Woodpecker, Black Dubois, Philippe J., European news, 26-45, 263-80 , , and Yesou, Pierre, identification of Western Reef Egrets and dark Little Egrets, 307-19, plates 75-86 Duck, American Black, European news, 266; accepted records 1993-94, 502, 516, plate 152 , Falcated, European news, 28, 266; 1994 record accepted in Category' D, 555 , Ferruginous, European news, 29, 267; summary' for 1994, 457 , Mandarin, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; summary for 1994, 460 , Marbled, European news, 266; 1990-94 records accepted in Category' D, 555 , Ring-necked, European news, 29, 267; accepted records 1991-93, 502-3 , Ruddy, European news, 29; letter on proposals for control, 243-4 , Tufted, European news, 29; runt eggs, 169-80; summary for 1994, 465 , White-headed, European news, 29 Dukes, Paul, Wood Thrush in Scilly: new to Britain and Ireland, 133-5 Dumetella carolinensis, see Catbird, Grey Dunlin, photograph, 124, plate 26 Dylawerski, Marek, see Meyburg, Bemd-U., et al. Dymond, Nick, review of Marchant & Higgins: Handbook of Attstralian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, vol. 2: raptors to Lipzvings, 117-18; short review, 160; rewew of Dazley & Trodd: An Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Bedfordshire 1988-92, 323-4 Eagle, Booted, European news, 30, 268 , Golden, European news, 30 , Imperial, European news, 30, 268; pho- tograph, 328, plate 89 , Lesser Spotted, European news, 268 , Spotted, European news, 30; migrations of an adult tracked by satellite, 357-61, 644 Index to volume 88 plate 98; juvenile apparentl}' killed by Eagle Owl, 376; photograph, 394, plate 1 1 1 , Steller’s Sea, European news, 30 , Steppe, European news, 268 , White-tailed, British breeding records in 1992, 77; summary for 1994, 464; accepted record 1994, 505 Eggs, runt, 169-80, plates 40-7 Egret, Cattle, European new'S, 27, 264; accepted records 1993-94, 499 , Great White, European news, 27, 264; accepted records 1990-94, 499-500 , Little, European news, 27, 264; separa- tion of dark birds from Western Reef Egrets, 307-19, plates 75-86; summan,’ for 1994, 460, 465-7, plate 137 , Western Reef, separation from dark Little Egrets, 307-19, plates 75-86 Egretta alba, see Egret, Great White garzeiia, see Egret, Little giilaris, see Egret, Western Reef Eichaker, Xavier, see Meyburg, Bemd-U. Eider, Common, European news, 29, 267; runt eggs, 169-80, plate 41 , King, accepted records 1993-94, 503 , Steller’s, European news, 29; threatened by proposed oil refinery in Lithuania, 25 1 Elaniis caenileus, see Kite, Black-shouldered Ellis, J., photographs of Woodcock, 583, 587, plates 204, 206 Ellis, P. M., photographs of Pechora Pipit, 544, plates 185-6 Emberiza aureola, see Bunting, Yellow- breasted bnmiceps, see Bunting, Red-headed cia, see Bunting, Rock cioides, see Bunting, Meadow drills, see Bunting, Cirl dtrinella, see Yellowhammer elegans, see Bunting, Yellow- throated fiicata, see Bunting, Chesmut-earcd godlewskii, see Bunting, Eastern Rock hortulana, see Bunting, Ortolan leiicocephalos, see Bunting, Pine melanocephala, see Bunting, Black- headed pallasi, see Bunting, Pallas’s Reed pusilla, see Bunting, Little nistica, see Bunting, Rustic schoenidiis, see Bunting, Reed spodocephala, see Bunting, Black-faced tristrami, see Bunting, Tristram’s Enright, S. D., Magnolia Warbler in Scilly: new to Britain and Ireland, 1 07-8 Eophoiia migratoria, sec Grosbeak, Yellow- billed pcrsfliiata, see Grosbeak, Japanese ErcmaLiiuia diiniii, see Lark, Dunn’s Eremophila i^lpesiris, see Lark, Horned bilopha, see Lark, Temminck’s Homed Eriksen, Hanne, photograph of Sociable Lapwing, 330, plate 93 Eriksen, Jens, photograph of Imperial Eagle, 328, plate 89; 2nd place. Bird Photograph of the Year 1995, of Lesser Kestrel, 327, plate 90 Enihaais nibecula, see Robin European news: 26-45, plates 2-9; 263-80, plates 65-8 Everett, Mike, obituan,- of Ian Prestt, 281-3, plate 69 Extinction, letters on, 114-16 Fairbank, Richard J., letter on Citril Finch, the British List and the Booth Museum, 244-5 Ealco amiirensis, see Falcon, Amur cherntg, see Falcon, Saker coliimbarius, see Merlin concolor, see Falcon, Sooty eleonorae, see Falcon, Eleonora’s naumanni, see Kestrel, Lesser peregiinus, see Falcon, Peregrine nisticolus, see Falcon, Gyr snbbiileo, see Hobby tinnwiadns, see Kestrel, Common vespertinus, see Falcon, Red-footed Falcon, Amur, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Eleonora’s, Fiuropean news, 30, 268-70 , Gyr, European news, 30; accepted records 1992-94, 506-8 , Peregrine, European news, 30; numbers in captivity in Britain and DNA testing, 385 , Red-footed, European news, 30, 268; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; field identifica- tion, 181-9, colour plate; accepted records 1990-94, 506, 510, 532, plate 165 , Saker, European news, 30, 270 , Sooty, European news, 270 Farinha, Joao Carlos, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Ficeditla albicollis, see Hycatcher, Collared hypoleuca, see Dycatcher, Pied mugimaki, see Flycatcher, Mugimaki tiardssina, sec Flycatcher, Narcissus pawa, see Ilycatcher, Red-breasted semitorquata, see Ilycatcher, Semi-collared Field characters: Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel, 342-8, plates 94-6; Western Reef Egret, 307-19, plates 75-7, 79-81, 86; Little Egret, 307-19, plates 78, 82-5; Barrow’s Goldeneye, 104-6; Red-footed Falcon, 181-9, colour plate; Kentish Plover, 136- 40, plates 27-35; Grey Plover, 195, 209-10, plates 48-9; Semipalmated Sand- Index to volume 88 645 piper, 196-200, plates 50-3 and colour plates; Red-necked Stint, 112; Asian Dow- itcher, 362-4, plates 99-100; South Polar Skua, 155-6; Great Spotted Cuckoo, 141- 9; Alpine Swift, 52; European Bee-eater, 221-3; White-winged Lark, 365-71, plate 101; Tree Swallow, 381-4, plates 105-10; Cyprus Pied Wheatear and Pied Wheatear, 230-41, plates 56-62 and colour plates; Blue Rock Thrush, 130-2; Wood Thrush, 133-5; Lanceolated Warbler, 430-438, plates 124-5; Paddyfield Warbler, 561-3, plates 199-202; Booted Warbler, 561-3, plates 199-202; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 150-3, plates 36-7; Woodchat Shrike, 291- 5, plates 70-3; Philadelphia Vireo, 474-7, plates 141-3; Magnolia Warbler, 107-8; Lark Sparrow, 395-400, plates 112-14; Pine Bunting, 621-6, plates 209-11 and colour plate; Yellowhammer, 621-6, plates 212-17 and colour plate Field guides, sur\'ey of the best, 190-2 Field-note perfection, letter on, 5 1 Fieldfare, British breeding records in 1992, 87 Finch, Citril, letter on Great Yarmouth spec- imen, the British List and the Booth Museum, 244-5 , Desert, European news, 43 , Trumpeter, European news, 43 Firecrest, European news, 42; British breeding records in 1992, 91; summary for 1994, 460 Fisher, Clemency, short review, 374 Fisher, David, short review, 160; review of Evans: Important Bird Areas in the Middle East, 614; of Flegg: Photographic Field Guide: Birds of Australia, 615; of Hurford & Lansdown: Birds of Glamorgan, 616-17 Fisher, Ian, photographs of Bufflehead, 516, plates 148-9; of American Golden Plover, 524, plate 158 Flamingo, Greater, European news, 28, 265; 1988-94 records accepted in Category D, 555 , Lesser, European news, 28 Flaxman, E. W., letter on migration of a typical migrant, 50-1 Fletcher, Mark, letter on pesticide poisoning of birds, 606-7 Flint, Peter, separation of Cyprus Pied Wheatear from Pied Wheatear, 230-41, plates 56-64 and colour plates Flycatcher, Asian Brown, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103, plate 14 Collared, European news, 42 , Grey-streaked, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103, plate 15 Mugimaki, at Beidailie, China, 94-103 , Narcissus, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Pied, runt eggs, 169-80; summan' for 1994,460,462,466 , Red-breasted, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103; European news, 278; summary for 1994, 462-4, 468 , Semi-coUared, European news, 42 , Siberian, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103, plate 16 , Spotted, summary’ for 1 994, 466 Folvik, Asbjom, and Mjos, Alf Tore, spring migration of White-billed Divers past southwestern Norway, 125-9 Food and feeding behaviour: Cory’s Shear- water, 47; Grey Heron, 423; White Stork, 485; Common Kestrel, 337, 485; Corn Crake, 297; Moorhens, 111; Avocet, 424; Grey Phalarope, 424; Northern Wheatear, 297; Barred Warbler, 227-8; Sombre Tit, 600; Corn Bunting, 405-8, 414-15; garden birds survey and in summer, 489 Forrest, C. M., see Sharrock, J. T. R. Fraser, Peter, and Ryan, John, status of the Great Grey Shrike in Britain and Ireland, 478-84 Fraticelli, Fulvio, see Bulgarini, Fabrizio Frieswijk, Joh. J., Common Kestrel robbing female Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 485 Fringilla montifingilla, see Brambling From the Rarities Committee’s files: Semi- pahnated Sandpiper in Orkney, 196-200, plates 50-3 and colour plates; ‘Steppe’ Great Grey Shrike in Cornwall, 288-90, colour plate; Lanceolated Warbler in Norfolk and Shetland, 430-8, plates 124-5 Frost, Darren, photographs of Cyprus Pied Wheatear, 237, plate 59 Frost, R. A., Woodcock perching in tree, 225 Fulica americana, see Coot, American atra, see Coot, Common Fuller, Errol, letter on Great Auk, 6 1 0 Fulmar, summary for 1 994, 460, 469 Fulmams glacialis, see Fulmar Gaetlich, M., photograph of Cream-coloured Courser, 269, plate 66 Galbraith, Colin A., see Greenwood, Jeremy J. D. Galeiida cristata, see Lark, Crested theklae, see Lark, Thekla Gallinago gallinago, see Snipe, Common media, see Snipe, Great stenura, see Snipe, Pintail Gallinula chloropus, see Moorhen Gallinule, Allen’s, European news, 270 Gancz, A., see Perlman, Yoar Ganea, I. M., European news, 26-45, 263-80 Gannet, Northern, European news, 26, 264; 646 Index to volume 88 runt eggs, 169-80 Garganey, British breeding records in 1992, 73-4; summan.' for 1994, 460-1 Gamtlus gUuidarius, see Jay, Eurasian Gasson, Peter, photograph of Corn Bunting, 409, plate 1 1 5 Gaultier, Thierry, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Gazna adamsii, see Di\’er, White-billed arciica, see Di\’er, Black-throated immer, see Diver, Great Northern stellata, see Diver, Red-throated Gebuis, Hans, photograph of Common Redpoll, 208, plate 54 Geister, Iztok, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Gebchelidon iiilotica, see Tern, Gull-billed Gillmor, Robert, et al, ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’, 351-6 , , see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. GlareoLi rnaldivanim, see Pratincole, Oriental iiordmanni, see Pratincole, Black-winged pratincola, see Pratincole, Collared Glancidium passerinum, see Owl, Pygmy Godwit, Bar-tailed, summary for 1994, 465 , Black-tailed, British breeding records in 1992, 82-3; summary- for 1994, 458-9 Goldeneye, Barrow’s, in Strathclyde: new to Britain and Ireland, 104-6; European news, 267 , Common, European news, 29, 267; British breeding records in 1992, 75-6 Golding, F., photographs of Ross’s Gull, 519, plates 153-4 Goodey, Martin P., photograph of Tree Swallow, 382, plate 108 Goosander, European news, 267; summary for 1994, 457 Goose, Barnacle, European news, 28, 266 , Bean, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; European news, 265-6; summary for 1994, 457 , Brent, European news, 28, 266; accepted records of B. b. nigricans 1992-94, 500-1 , Canada, runt eggs, 1 69-80 , Greylag, European news, 28, 266; fledging in companv of Ovstercatchers, 423-4 , Lesser White-fronted, European news, 266; accepted records 1 994, 500 , Pink-footed, summar\- for 1 994, 468 , Red-breasted, European news, 266; accepted records 1994, 501 , Ross’s, liuropean news, 266 , Snow, European news, 28 , White-fronted, numbers of Greenland race A. a. flaviwstris increase, 166 Gorban, Igor, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Gorman, Gerard, display of Great Bittern, 47 Goshawk, Dark-chanting, European news, 268 , Northern, British breeding records in 1992, 77-8; European new's, 268; numbers in captivity in Britain and escapes, 203; numbers in capti\’it\' in Britain and DNA testing, 385 Go\’emment cuts hit ornithological research, letter on, 50 Crackle, Common, letter on possible record, 1 56; runt eggs, 1 69-80 Grebe, Black-necked, British breeding records in 1992, 71-2; European news, 263 , Great Crested, European news, 26, 263; summan.’ for 1994, 460 , Little, breeding with Pied-billed Grebe, 497, 507, plate 147 , Pied-billed, European new's, 263; accepted records including breeding with Little Grebe 1994, 497, 507, plate 147 , Red-necked, British breeding records in 1992, 71; European new’s, 263 , Slavonian, British breeding records in 1992, 71; summary for 1994, 469, 472 Greenfinch, European news, 279 , Grey-capped, European new’s, 43 Greenshank, Common, runt eggs, 169-80; aggressive behaviour w'ith Common Red- shanks, 296 Greensmith, A., photograph of Citrine Wagtail, 533, plate 169 Greenwood, Jeremy J. D., and Galbraith, Colin A., letter on government cuts hitting ornithological research, 50 Grenfell, Harold E., monthly marathon pho- tograph credit, 65 Grosbeak, Japanese, European news, 44 , Rose-breasted, European news, 44, 280; accepted record 1991, 555 , Yellow-billed, European new's, 44 Grouse, Black, European news, 270 , Red, European news, 30; runt eggs, 169-80 Gms grns, see Crane, Common japonensis, see Crane, Red-crowned lencogeranns, see Crane, Siberian monachal see Crane, Hooded vipio, see Crane, White-naped Guillemot, Black, European news, 273 , Briinnich’s, European news, 37, 273; accepted records 1994, 523 , Common, summar\’ for 1 994, 458, 460 Gull, Audouin’s, European news, 36, 272 , Black-headed, European new's, 35-6; runt eggs, 169-80 , Bonaparte’s, European new's, 35; Index to volume 88 647 accepted records 1 994, 5 1 8 , Common, in juvenile plumage in late February, 48; two sharing a nest, 112-13 , Franklin’s, European news, 35, 272; accepted records 1 994, 5 1 8 , Glaucous, summary' for 1994, 458 , Glaucous-winged, egg size, 176 , Great Black-backed, European news, 36; runt eggs, 169-80 , Great Black-headed, European news, 35, 272 , Herring, European news, 36; runt eggs, 169-80; attempted copulation between adult and first-year, 226; summary' for 1994, 458 , Iceland, from the ‘Braer’ disaster in Shetland 1993, 15-25, plate 1; summary for 1994, 458; accepted records of L. g. kiimlie)iilthayeri 1979-94, 518 , Ivory', accepted record 1993, 520 , Laughing, European news, 35, 272; accepted record 1 994, 5 1 7 , Lesser Black-backed, European news, 36; runt eggs, 169-80 , Little, British summering records in 1992, 84; summary for 1994, 461 , Mediterranean, European news, 35, 272; British breeding records in 1992, 84; summary' for 1994, 458 , Ring-billed, European news, 36, 272 , Ross’s, European news, 36, 273; accepted records 1993-94, 519, 521, plates 153-4, 156 , Slender-billed, European news, 36, 272 Yellow-legged, at Dungeness, Kent, 5- 7; along the Riv'er Thames in Essex, 8-14; British breeding records in 1992, 84; Euro- pean news, 273; summary for 1994, 465 Gullick, Tom, review of Finlayson & Tom- linson: Birds of Iberia, 158 Gustad, Jorn R., letter on Norwegian Brown- headed Cowbird, 377, plates 102-3 Gustin, Marco, European news, 26-45, 263- 80 Guderrez, Ricard, letter on vagrancy likeli- hood of Monk Vulture, 607-8 Gypaetus barbatns, see Lammergeier Gyps fidviis, see Vulture, Griffon Haematopus (moqtnni) meadcrvaldoi, see Oys- tercatcher, Canary' Islands ostralegus, see Oystercatcher Haliaeelus albicilla, see Eagle, White-tailed pelagicus, see Eagle, Steller’s Sea Hall, Andrew, see Keighley, Mark Hall, G. M., photograph of Woodcock, 587, plate 207 Halley, Alex, photographs of Corn Bundng, 410-11, plates 117, 120 Handrinos, George I., European news, 26-45, 263-80 Hanlon, James, Little Owl hovering, 226 Harbard, Chris, review of Tucker & Heath: Birds in Europe: iheir conservation status, 619 Harding, Matthew, intermediate winner, Young Ornithologists of the Year 1995, 627-9 Harper, David, studies of West Palearctic birds 194. Corn Bunting, 401-22, plates 115-20 Harrier, Hen, runt eggs, 169-80; European news, 268 , Marsh, British breeding records in 1992, 77 , Montagu’s, British breeding records in 1992, 77; European news, 268; interreac- tion with Red Fox, 424; summarv for 1994, 462, 465 , Pallid, European news, 268; accepted records 1993, 505 , Pied, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 Harris, Alan, review of Watson: One Pair of Eyes, 373 , , see Gillmor, Robert, et al. , , see Shirihai, Hadoram, et al. Hastings, Rupert Benedict, obituary, 1 66 Hathway, Ren, colour plate of Great Spotted Cuckoo, 142; of ‘Steppe’ Great Grey Shrike, 289 Heggland, Hakon, photograph of White- rumped Sandpiper, 38, plate 8 Henriksen, Keld, Blackbirds roosting in old nests of Magpies, 487 Heron, Green, European news, 27 , Grey, European news, 27, 264; cap- turing hirundine in flight, 423 , Night, European news, 27; accepted records 1989-94, 498-9, 507, plate 145 , Purple, European news, 264; summary for 1994, 462 Squacco, European news, 264; accepted records 1994, 499 Heteroscelns brevipes, see Tattler, Grey'-tailed Heubeck, M., see Weir, D. N., et al. Hewitt, John, photograph of Pink-backed Pelican, 31, plate 3 Hickman, Jeremy, Tree Swallow in Scilly: new to the Western Palearctic, 381-4, plates 105-10 Hieraaetus pennatns, see Eagle, Booted Hilden, Olavi, obituary, 304 Hill, C. John, feeding association between Northern Wheatear and Com Crake, 297 Hill, M. R., photograph of Pied Wheatear, 648 237, plate 62 Hinianlopus himantopus, see Still, Black- winged Hippolais caligata, see Warbler, Booted iaerina, see Warbler, Icterine pallida, see Warbler, 01i\’aceous Hiriindapiis caiidacutus, see Swift, White- throated Needletail Himndo daiirica, see Swallow, Red-rumped pyirhonoia, see Swallow, Cliff rusiica, see Swallow, Bam Hobby, British breeding records in 1992, 78 Holden, Peter, short review, 619 , , see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Holloway, John, Semipalmated Sandpiper in Orkney, 196-200, plates 50-3 and colour plates Holman, David, review of Rappole & Black- lock: Birds of Texas, 53-4 Holmes, J. S., and Stroud, D. A., letter on terminology of naturalised birds, 602-3 Holt, Paul 1., ei al., Beidaihe, China: East Asian hotspot, 94-103, plates 1 1-24 Honey-buzzard, European, European news, 29; British breeding records in 1992, 76; summary for 1994, 462 , Oriental, European news, 30-1, plate 2; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 Hoodless, Andrew, studies of West Palearctic Birds 195. Eurasian Woodcock, 578-92, plates 203-7 Hoopoe, European news, 39; British sum- mering records in 1992, 85; summary for 1994,458 Hopkins, P., photograph of Little Egret, 467, plate 137; Duskv' Warbler, 540, plate 180 Hoploplems spinosns, see Lapwing, Spur- winged Hourston, Anne, photograph of Great Grey Shrike, 552, plate 187 Hudson, Bob, obituary of Robert Spencer, 320-2, plate 87 Hume, R. A., letter on artistic field-note per- fection, 51; Rarities Committee news and announcements, 109-10, plate 25; on behalf of the Rarities Committee, Blue Rock Thrush in Strathclyde: new to Britain and Ireland, 130-32; Rarities Committee news and announcements: election of new member, 242; review of Donovan & Rees: Birds of Pembrokeshire: status and atlas of Pembrokeshire birds, 324-5; Rarities Com- mittee news and announcements: report on annual meeting, 378-80, plate 104 , , and Sharrock, J. T. R., The Carl Zeiss Award, 427-8, plates 121-2 , , sec Chittenden, Robin, et al.-, see Shamick, J. 'P. R., et al. Index to volume 88 Hydrobates felagicus, see Storm-petrel, Euro- pean Hybcichla mustelina, see Thrush, Wood lankov, Petar, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Ibis, Glossy, European news, 27-8, 265; accepted records 1994, 500, 507, plate 146 , Sacred, European news, 265 Icterus galbtila, see Oriole, Northern Identification pitfalls and assessment prob- lems: 16. European Bee-eater, 221-3; 17. Woodchat Shrike, 291-5, plates 70-3 Irania gutturalis, see Robin, White-throated Ixobiychus miiiiitus, see Bittern, Little Jackdaw, Eurasian, egg size, 174; European news, 278 Jackson, D., photograph of Swanhoe’s Storm- petrel, 345, plate 96 Jakes, Colin, see Bamber, Tom James, R. M. R., Barn Swallows roosting away from water, low down in bracken, 226-7 Jardine, D. C., monthly marathon photograph credit, 65 Jarvis, B. W., photograph of Red-tlanked Bluetail, 537, plate 176 Jay, Piurasian, European news, 278 , Siberian, European news, 278 Johnson, Mike, photographs of Semipalmated Sandpiper, 198, plates 50-3 Jones, Carl G., letter on extinction, 114-16 Jones, Nigel R., photograph of Lark Sparrow, 398, plate 114 Junco hyemalis, see Junco, Dark-eyed Junco, Dark-eyed, European news, 44, 279 Jynx torqtdlla, see Wtymeck Keighley, Mark, and Hall, Andrew, Grey Heron capturing hirundine in flight, 423 Kestrel, Common, European news, 30; pro- longed attack on by Carrion Crows, 228; detecting voles, 337; robbing female Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 485 , Lesser, European news, 268; photo- graph, 328, plate 90; accepted records 1968-92, 505-6 Kilgour, Reslon, photograph of Glossy Ibis, 507, plate 146 Kitchener, A. C., see Weir, D. N., et al. Kite, Black, European news, 30; accepted records 1989-94, 504-5, 532, plate 164 , Black-shouldered, photograph, 66, plate 10; European news, 267 , Red, European news, 30, 267-8; British breeding records in 1992, 76; Kite Counliy Project launched, 300; summarv for 1994, 458, 464-5 Index to volume 88 649 Kittiwake, European news, 273; summary' for 1994, 458, 461; large flock inland in Iceland, 600 Knot, Great, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 Knowler, John T., Barrow’s Goldeneye in Strathclyde: new to Britain and Ireland, 104-6 Knox, Alan, letter on records of Red-billed Tropicbirds in Canary Islands, 116; pho- tographs of Pied Wheatear, 238-9, plates 63-4 Koren, Moshe, see Madge, Steve Kramer, David, inland spring passage of Arctic Terns in southern Britain, 211-17; review of Olsen & Larsson: Tei'iis of Europe and North America, 324 Kurlavicius, Petras, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Lafontaine, Rene-Marie, European news, 26- 45, 263-80 Lagopus lagopus, see Grouse, Red Lammergeier, European news, 30, 268 Lane, Mike, Bird Photograph of the Year 1995, of European Bee-eater, 327, plate 88 Lanins collurio, see Shrike, Red-backed cristatus, see Shrike, Brown excnbitor, see Shrike, Great Grey isabellinus, see Shrike, Isabelline minor, see Shrike, Lesser Grey senator, see Shrike, Woodchat Lansdown, Peter, on behalf of the Rarities Committee, ages of Great Spotted Cuckoos in Britain and Ireland, 141-9, colour plate Lapwing, Northern, European news, 33; runt eggs, 169-80, plate 43; summary for 1994, 458 , Sociable, European news, 33, 270-1; photograph, 330, plate 93 Spur-winged, European news, 33, 270; nesting on rooftops, 224-5 , White-tailed, European news, 271 Lark, Bar-tailed Desert, European news, 274 , Black, European news, 274 , Calandra, European news, 274; accepted record 1994, 527 , Crested, European news, 274 , Dunn’s, European news, 274 , Dupont’s, European news, 39, 274 , Horned, photograph, 306, plate 74; summary for 1994, 458, 471 , Lesser Short-toed, European news, 39; accepted record 1992, 527; in Dorset: new to Britain, 593-9 , Oriental, European news, 274 , Short-toed, European news, 39, 274; accepted records 1993, 527 , Sky, runt eggs, 169-80 , Temminck’s Horned, European news, 39 , Thekla, European news, 39 , Thick-billed, European news, 274 , White-winged, in Britain, 365-71, plate 101 , Wood, European news, 39; British breeding records in 1992, 86; summarv for 1994,464 Larostema it tea, see Tern, Inca Lariis argentatus, see GuU, Herring atricilla, see Gull, Laughing audotiinii, see Gull, Audouin’s cachinnans, see Gull, Yellow-legged caniis, see Gull, Common delaivarensis, see Gull, Ring-billed fiiscjis, see Gull, Lesser Black-backed genei, see Gull, Slender-billed glaucescens, see Gull, Glaucous-winged glancoides, see Gull, Iceland hyperboreus, see Gull, Glaucous ichthyaetus, see Gull, Great Black- headed marinus, see Gull, Great Black-backed rnelanocephalus, see Gull, Mediterranean minutus, see Gull, Little Philadelphia, see Gull, Bonaparte’s pipixean, see Gull, Franklin’s ridibundus, see Gull, Black-headed Lawton, John H., review of Burton: Birds and Climate Change, 612-13; of Moss: Birds and Weather: a birdzvatchers^ guide, 617 Levene, Jack, photograph of Tree Swallow, 382, plate 110 Lilleleht, Vilju, European news, 26-45, 263- 80 Limicola falcitiellus, see Sandpiper, Broad- billed Limnodromus scolopaceus, see Dowitcher, Long-billed semipalmattis, see Dowitcher, Asian Limosa lapponica, see Godwit, Bar-tailed limosa, see Godwit, Black-tailed Linnet, runt eggs, 1 69-80 Lock, Malcolm, prolonged attack by Carrion Crows on Common Kestrel, 228 Locustella certhiola, see Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper fluviatilis, see Warbler, River lanceolata, see Warbler, Lanceolated luscinioides, see Warbler, Savi’s naevia, see Warbler, Grasshopper Lonchura punctulaia, see Munia, Scaly- breasted Longspur, Lapland, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103 Looking back: 14; 106; 135; 195; 223; 283; 650 Index to volume 88 319; 371; 400; 472; 559; 592 Lorenzo, Juan Antonio, European news, 26- 45, 263-80 Loxia leucopiem, see Crossbill, Two-barred pytyopsittaciis, see Crossbill, Parrot Liilliib. arborea, see Lark, Wood Liuida citrhata, see Puffin, Tufted Luscvtiu calliope, see Rub\Throat, Siberian cyane, see Robin, Siberian Blue lmci)iia, see Nightingale, Thrush megarhynchos, see Nightingale, Rufous svecica, see Bluethroat Madorowski, Grzegorz, see Meyburg, Bernd- U., et al. Madge, Steve, and Koren, Moshe, Spur- winged Lapwings nesting on rooftops, 224-5 Magpie, runt eggs, 169-80; old nests used for roosting by Blackbirds, 487 Magyar, Gabor, European news, 263-80 Mallard, runt eggs, 169-80; European news, 266 Marchant, John, European news, 26-45, 263- 80; review of Rosair & Cottridge: Hamlyii Photographic Guide to the Waders of the World, 618 Marmaronetta atigiistirostris, see Duck, Marbled Marr, Tony, and Porter, Richard, the White- winged Lark in Britain, 365-71, plate 101 , , see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Marsh, P. J., photograph of Red-footed Falcon, 532, plate 165 Martin, Crag, European news, 39, 274 , House, European news, 39; egg size, 173; nests attacked by woodpeckers, 297; summary for 1994, 460, 468; migrants roosting on buildings, 486 , Sand, survival linked with body size, 338; summary' for 1994, 460 McCanch, N. V., and McCanch, M., Willow Warbler with ant’s head attached to tarsus, 487 McGeehan, Anthony, review of Chartier: A Birder's Guide to Churchill, 54 , , see Nightingale, Bany- McGowan, R, Y., sec Weir, D. N., et al. McMinn, Sean, review of Curson; Nezv World Warblers, 613-14 McOrist, S., see Weir, D. N., et al. Alelauerpes formicivorus, see Woodpecker, Acorn MeUiuitta fusca, sec Scoter, Velvet uigra, sec Scoter, Common perspicillata, see Scoter, Surf Alelaiiocoiypha calaudra, sec 1 -ark, Calandra Icucoptera, see I ,ark. White-winged yeltonitifisis, see Lark, Black Melierax metabates, see Goshawk, Dark- chanting Merganser, Hooded, European news, 29, 267 , Red-breasted, European news, 29, 267 Alergus albellus, see Smew cuadlatus, see Merganser, Hooded merganser, see Goosander serrator, see Merganser, Red-breasted Merlin, European news, 30; relationship with forests, 388 A'lerops apiaster, see Bee-eater, European onentalis, see Bee-eater, Little Green superciliosus, see Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Metcalf, John, photograph of Ross’s Gull, 521, plate 156 Meyburg, Bemd-U., et al, migrations of an adult Spotted Eagle tracked by satellite, 357-61, plate 98 , et al juvenile Spotted Eagle apparendy killed by Eagle Owl, 376 Meyburg, Christiane, see Meyburg, Bernd-U. Migradon: letter, 50; White-billed Diver, 125- 9; Spotted Eagle, 357-61, plate 98; Arcdc Tern, 211-17 Miles, George A., migrant House Martins roosdng on buildings, 486 Miliaria calaudra, see Bunting, Corn Millen, Tristan, winner. The Windrush Award 1995, 331, 631, plate 218 Mills, R. T., photographs of Philadelphia Vireo, 475-7, plates 141-3 Mills, T. L, photograph of Woodchat Shrike, 293, plate 71 Aiilvus migraus, see Kite, Black rnilvus, see Kite, Red Aiitnus polyglottos, sec Mockingbird, Northern Minton, Clive, leg coloration of Red-necked Sunt, 1 12 iVlizera, Tadeusz, see Meyburg, Bernd-U., et al Mjos, Alf Tore, see Folvik, Asbjorn Mockingbird, Northern, Piuropcan news, 40 Aiolothrus atcr, see Cowbird, Brt)wn-headed Monthly marathon, 7: 10, plate 10; 7: 11, plate 26; 7: 12, plate 38; 7: 13, plate 54; 7: 14, plate 55; 7: 15, plate 74; 7: 16, plate 97; 8: 17, plate 111; 8: 1 plate 126; 8: 2, plate 140; 8: 3, plate 198; 8: 4, plate 221 Mouticoki saxatilis, sec Thrush, Rock solitanus, see Thrush, Blue Rock Moon, Andrew V., from the Rarities Com- mittee’s files; Lanccolated Warbler in Shetland, 435-8 Moore, C. C., Cory’s Shearwater pursuing and apparently consuming dying-fish, 47 Moorhen, feeding on pollen. 111; runt eggs, 169-80 Index to volume 88 651 Morel, Guy, photograph of Little Egret, 312, plate 85 Mortimer, K. A., photograph of Woodchat Shrike, 292, plate 70 Moms bassanus, see Gannet, Northern Motacilla agiiimp, see Wagtail, African Pied alba, see Wagtail, Pied cinerea, see Wagtail, Grey citreola, see Wagtail, Citrine flava, see Wagtail, Yellow Moult and ageing, letter on terminology, 604- 6 Mudge, Greg P., and Dennis, Roy H., history of breeding by Temminck’s Stints in Britain, 573-7 Mundy, A. Miller, aggressive behaviour between Common Greenshanks and Common Redshanks, 296 Munia, Scaly-breasted, European news, 278 Muscicapa dauurica, see Flycatcher, Asian Brown griseisticta, see Flycatcher, Grey-streaked sibirica, see Flycatcher, Siberian striata, see Flycatcher, Spotted Myna, Common, European news, 43 Mystery photographs: 194. 195, plates 48-9, and answer 209-10; 195. 559, plate 197, and answer, 561-4, plates 199-202 Naturalised birds, letter on terminology, 602-3 Neophron peraioptems, see Vulmre, Egyptian Netta nifina, see Pochard, Red-crested New to Britain: Lesser Short-toed Lark, 593-9 New to Britain and Ireland: Swinhoe’s Storm- petrel, 342-8, plates 94-6; Barrow’s Goldeneye, 104-6; Magnolia Warbler, 107- 8; Blue Rock Thrush, 130-2; Wood Thrush, 133-5; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 150-3, plates 36-7 New to the Western Palearctic: Tree Swallow, 381-4, plates 105-10; Lark Sparrow, 395- 400, plates 112-14; Philadelphia Vireo, 474-7, plates 141-3 News and comment: 60-4; 119-23; 161-8; 201-8; 247-54; 299-305; 336-41; 385-93; 439-45; 488-92; 567-71; 630-5 Nightingale, Barry, and Allsopp, Keith, the ornithological year 1994, 457-72, plates 127-39 , , and McGeehan, Anthony, recent reports, see Recent reports Nightingale, Rufous, mimicked by Mistle TTirush, 227 , Thrush, accepted records 1992-94, 531 Nightjar, European, European news, 37, 274; increased numbers in Britain, 120 Nikander, Pekka J., European news, 26-45, 263-80 Nikiforov, Michael E., European news, 26- 45, 263-80 Nucifraga caryocatactes, see Nutcracker Niimenius arquata, see Curlew, Eurasian madagascariensis, see Curlew, Far Eastern minutus, see Curlew, Little phaeopus, see Whimbrel tenuirostris, see Curlew, Slender-billed Nutcracker, European news, 278 Nuthatch, European, summary' for 1 994, 460 , Red-breasted, in Norfolk: new to Britain and Ireland, 150-3, plates 36-7; letter on age of, 611 Nyctea scandiaca, see Owl, Snowy Nycticorax nycticorax, see Heron, Night Obituaries: W. D. Campbell, 248; Rupert Benedict Hastings, 166; Olavi Hilden, 304; Ian Prestt, 281-3, plate 69; Robert Spencer, 320-2, plate 87 Oceanites oceanicus, see Storm-petrel, Wilson’s Oceanodroma castro, see Storm-petrel, Madeiran leucorhoa, see Storm-petrel, Leach’s monorhis, see Storm-petrel, Swinhoe’s Oddie, Bill, short review, 159 Odell, Dave, short review, 1 94 O’Dowd, Barry, Misde Thrush mimicking Rufous Nightingale, 227 Oena capensis, see Dove, Namaqua Oenanthe cypriaca, see Wheatear, Cyprus Pied deserti, see Wheatear, Desert hispanica, see Wheatear, Black-eared isabellina, see Wheatear, Isabelline Itigens, see Wheatear, Mourning oetia)iihe, see Wheatear, Northern pleschanka, see Wheatear, Pied Ogilvie, Malcolm, review of BIRDING data- base: BIRDING Database, 118; of Meyburg et al.\ Raptor Conservation Today, 246; of Heinzel et al.'. Birds of Britain at id Europe, with North Africa and the Middle East, 373; short review, 374 , , and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1992, 67-93 Olioso, G., monthly marathon photograph credit, 123; photograph of Corn Bunting, 410, plate 1 18 Olsen, Oyvind, photographs of Brown- headed Cowbird, 377, plates 102-3 Oofoo, Whistling, the strange case of: what are runt eggs?, 169-80, plates 40-7 Oriole, Golden, British breeding records in 1992, 92; European news, 278; summan,’ for 1994, 462 , Northern, European news, 280 652 Index to volume 88 Oriolus oriolm, see Oriole, Golden Ornithological year 1994, 457-72, plates 127- 39 Osprey, British breeding records in 1992, 78; European news, 268; summaiy for 1994, 460-2, 464 O’Sullivan, Oran, review of Perrins: Hand- book of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 8: crozes to finches, 286 Otis tarda, see Bustard, Great Otiis scops, see Owl, European Scops Ouzel, Ring, European news, 41 Owl, Barn, adverse effect of barn con\'crsions in Devon, 166; breeding-site provision, 338; summaiy for 1994, 466 , Eagle, European news, 274; apparendy killing juvenile Spotted Eagle, 376 , European Scops, European news, 37; accepted record in Ireland 1 993, 523 , Litde, hovering, 226 , Long-eared, communal display, 48-9 , Pygmy, European news, 274 , Snowy, European news, 37; British summering records in 1992, 85; accepted records 1993-94, 523-6 , Tawny, runt eggs, 169-80 , Ural, European news, 274 Oxyura jarnaicensu, see Duck, Ruddy lencocephala, sec Duck, White-headed Oystercatcher, runt eggs, 169-80; Greylag Goose fledging in company of, 423-4 , Canary Islands, letters on extinction, 116, 609 Pagophila ebumea, see Gull, Ivorv' Paillat, Patrick, see Meyburg, Bemd-U. Patidion haliaetus, see Osprey Panums biannicus, see Tit, Bearded Parakeet, Rose-ringed, summary for 1994, 472 Parkes, Kenneth C., letter on moult and ageing terminology, 604-6 Pamaby, David, short review, 374 Partridge, Grey, European news, 30; photo- graph, 329, plate 91 Pamla americana, see Parula, Northern Parula, Northern, European news, 279 Pams caemletis, see Tit, Blue cinctus, see Tit, Siberian cyanus, see Tit, Azure Ingubns, see Tit, Sombre major, see Tit, Great Passer htspanioknsis , sec Sparrow, Spanish montanns, see Sparrow, Tree Pas.zerina cyanea, see Bunting, Indigo Patient, Simon, intermediate winner Young Ornithologists of the Year 1994, 164, plate 39; review of Gosney et al.: The Video Guide to British Birds. 4th edn. vob 1-5, 325 Pearson, Bruce, joining Bird Illustrator of the Year judges, 632 Pelecanus crispus, see Pelican, Dalmatian onocrotalus, see Pelican, White rufescens, see Pelican, Pink-backed 31, plate 3 Pelican, Dalmatian, European news, 264 , Pink-backed, European news, 27, 31, 264, plate 3 , White, European news, 264 Pennington, M. G., Greylag Goose fledging in company of Oystercatchers, 423-4 Perdix perdix, see Partridge, Grey Perez, Charles E., European news, 26-45, 263-80 Perisoreus infaustus, see Jay, Siberian Perlman, Yoav, Sombre Tit stringing food on thorn, 600 , , and Ganez, A., Common Red- start healthy despite deformed bill, 486, plate 144 Pernis apivoms, see Honey-buzzard, European ptilorhyncus, see Honey-buzzard, Ori- ental Perring, Franklyn, review of Sutherland & Hill: Managing Habitats for Cotiservation, 618 Pesticide poisoning of birds, letter on, 606-7 Petrel, Soft-plumaged superspecies, European news, 26, 263; accepted record in Ireland 1993, 497 Petronia brachydactyla, see Sparrow, Pale Rock Petursson, Gunniaugur, European news, 26- 45, 263-80 Phaethon aethereus, see Tropiebird, Red-billed Phalacrocorax aristotelis, see Shag carbo, see Cormorant, Great pygmeus, see Cormorant, Pygmy Phalarope, Grey, feeding association with Avocet, 424; summaiy for 1 994, 468 , Red-necked, British breeding records in 1992, 84 , Wilson’s, European news, 35, 272; accepted records 1 994, 5 1 7 Phalaropus fulicaritts, see Phalarope, Grey bbatus, see Phalarope, Red-necked tricobr, see Phalarope, Wilson’s Phcucticus ludovicianus, see Grosbeak, Rose- breasted Phibrnachus pngtiax, see Ruff Phocnicopiems minor, see Hamingo, Lesser mber, see Elamingo, Greater Phoenicurus crythrogastcr, see Redstart, Giildensladt’s moussbii, see Redstart, Moussier’s Index to volume 88 653 ochriiros, see Redstart, Black phoenicums, see Redstart, Common PhotoSpot: 36. Asian Dowitcher, 362-4, plates 99-100; 37. Long-billed Dowitcher, 429, plate 123 Phylloscopus annandii, see Warbler, Yellow- streaked boiielli, see Warbler, Bonelli’s borealis, see Warbler, Arctic chloronotus, see Warbler, Lemon-rumped collybiia, see Chiffchaff coronatns, see Warbler, Eastern Crowned fiiscatus, see Warbler, Dusky inornatus, see Warbler, Yellow-browed {inornatus) humei, see Warbler, Hume’s Yellow-browed proregidits, see Warbler, Pallas’s Leaf regidoides, see Warbler, Blyth’s Leaf schzvarzi, see Warbler, Radde’s sichiianensis, see Warbler, Chinese Leaf siibaffinis, see Warbler, Buff-throated tenellipes, see Warbler, Pale-legged trochiloides, see Warbler, Greenish trochilus, see Warbler, Willow Pica pica, see Magpie Picas carins, see Woodpecker, Grey-headed viiidis, see Woodpecker, Green Pigeon, Laurel, European news, 37, 273 , Wood, summaiy for 1994, 468 Pineau, Olmer, photograph of Western Reef Egret, 311, plate 81; of Little Egret, 312, plate 83 Pingainus impennis, see Auk, Great Pintail, Northern, British breeding records in 1992, 73 Pipit, Blyth’s, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; European news, 269, 275, plate 68; accepted record 1994, 528-9 , Buff-beUied, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Olive-backed, European news, 40, 275; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; accepted records 1992-94, 529 , Pechora, European news, 40, 275; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103, plate 21; accepted records 1993-94, 529, 544, plates 183-6 , Red-throated, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103; European news, 275; accepted records 1990-94, 529-30 , Richard’s, European news, 40, 274-5; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; summary for 1994, 464, 468 , Tawny, summary for 1994, 468 , Water, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; European news, 275; summary for 1994, 458 Piranga olivacea, see Tanager, Scarlet PJC Award 1995, 351-6, 634, plate 220 Platalea alba, see Spoonbill, African leucorodia, see Spoonbill, Eurasian Pkctrophenax nivalis, see Bunting, Snow Plegadis falcinellus, see Ibis, Glossy Plover, American Golden, European news, 33, 270; accepted records 1993-94, 511- 12, 524, plate 158 European Golden, summaiy' for 1994, 458 , Great Ringed, runt eggs, 169-80, plate 42; summart’ for 1994, 465 , Greater Sand, European news, 32, 270; photograph, 154, plate 38 , Grey, summary' for 1994, 461-2 , Kentish, European news, 32; with com- plete breast-bands, 136-40, plates 27-35 , KiUdeer, European news, 32; accepted record 1993, 509, 525, plate 161 , Kittlitz’s, European news, 32 , Lesser Sand, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103; European news, 270 , Little Ringed, summary' for 1 994, 464 Pacific Golden, European news, 32, 33, 38, 270, plate 6; at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103; accepted records 1990-94, 509, 512, 513 Pluvialis apricaria, see Plover, European Golden dominica, see Plover, American Golden fulva, see Plover, Pacific Golden sqnatarola, see Plover, Grey Pochard, Baer’s, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Common, Bridsh breeding records in 1992, 74; European news, 267 , Red-crested, European news, 29, 267 Podiceps auritns, see Grebe, Slavonian cristatus, see Grebe, Great Crested giisegena, see Grebe, Red-necked nigricollis, see Grebe, Black-necked Podilymbus podiceps, see Grebe, Pied-billed Polysticta stelleii, see Eider, Steller’s Poiphynila alleni, see GaUinule, Allen’s Porter, Richard, review of Andrews: The Birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, 426 , , see Marr, Tony Porzana parva, see Crake, Little porzana, see Crake, Spotted Powell, Dan, 3rd place. Bird Illustrator of the Year 1995, 351-6, 634, plate 219 Poyser, Trevor, and Poyser, Anna, winners of The ‘British Birds’ Achievement Award, 372 Pratincole, Black-winged, European news, 32 , Collared, accepted records 1994, 508-9, 532, plate 166 , Oriental, European news, 32; at Bei- 654 Index to volume 88 daihe, China, 94-103; accepted records 1993, 509 Preset, Ian, obituary, 281-3, plate 69; memo- rial appeal, 568 Prunella atrogtdaris, see Accentor, Black- throated collaris, see Accentor, Alpine niodularis, see Accentor, Hedge montanella, see Accentor, Siberian Piytherch, Robin, short review, 6 1 9 Psittaaila kramen, see Parakeet, Rose-ringed Pterodroma mollisi madeiralfeae, see Petrel, Soft-plumaged superspecies Ptyonoprogne nipestris, see Mardn, Crag Puffin, Tufted, European news, 37 Piiffinns assiniilis, see Shearwater, Little airodorsalis, see Shearwater, Mascarene gravis, see Shearwater, Great giiseus, see Shearwater, SooU’ puffiniis, see Shearu'ater, Manx yelkoiian, see Shearwater, Mediterranean Pyaionoiiis lencogenys, see Bulbul, White- cheeked Pyle, Peter, letter on age of Norfolk Red- breasted Nuthatch, 6 1 1 PyrrhiiLi pyrrhiila, see Bullfinch Quail, Common, European news, 30; British breeding records in 1992, 79 Qiiucalus quiscula, see Grackle, Common Rail, Water, stabbing Common Snipe, 224 Ralliis aquaticiis, see Rail, Water Ramphocons cloibey, see Lark, Thick-billed Randier, Christoph, photograph of Black Scrub-robin, 34, plate 4 Rare Breeding Birds Panel, rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1992, 67- 93 Rarities Committee, news and announce- ments, 109-10, plate 25; election of new member, 242; report on annual meeting and photograph of Committee, 378-80, plate 104; report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1994, 493-558, plates 145-96 Rasmussen, Brian, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Razorbill, runt eggs, 169-80; summary for 1994,458 Read, S. J., photographs of Pechora Pipit, 544, plates 1 83-4 Recent reports: 66; 124; 168; 210; 254; 306; 350; 394; 446; 492; 572; 636 Reatwirostra avosciia, see Avocct Redpoll, Arctic, European news, 279; accepted records 1 993-94, 547-8 , Common, European news, 43, 279; photograph, 208, plate 54 Redshank, Common, aggressive behaviour with Common Greenshanks, 296 , Spotted, summaiy for 1994, 465 Redstart, Black, British breeding records in 1992, 86-7 , Common, European news, 40; egg size, 173; summary for 1994, 462; healthy despite deformed bill, 486, plate 144 , Giildenstadt’s, European news, 40, 275 , Moussier’s, European news, 40 , Plumbeous Water, European news, 275 , White-capped Water, European news, 40 Redwing, British breeding records in 1992, 87-8; summaiy- for 1994, 465, 469 Regidns ignicapillus, see Firecrest Reid, Jane, senior winner. Young Ornitholo- gists of the Year 1995, 627-9 Remiz pendtdinns, see Tit, Penduline Requests: 45; 241; 422; 565 Reviews Adolfsson & Cherrug: Bird Identification: a reference guide, 6 1 2 Andrews: The Birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, 426 Barber: The Human Nature of Birds, 54 BIRDING database: BIRDING Database, 118 Burton: Birds and Climate Change, 612-13 Butler: Videoguides for Birdwatchers: the world’s Calidris sandpipers, 246 Charder: A Birder’s Guide to Churchill, 54 Clarke: The Marsh Harrier, 613 Cole: In Search of the Cirl Bunting, 1 1 7 Curson: Nezv World Warblers, 613-14 Dazley & Trodd: An Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Bedfordshire 1 988- 92, 323-4 del Hoyo et al. \ Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 2: New' World vultures to guincafozd, 323 Donovan & Rees: Birds of Pembrokeshire: status and atlas of Pembrokeshire birds, 324-5 Ehrlich et al.\ The Birdzvatchcr’s Handbook, 53 Elgood et al. : The Birds of Nigeiia, 1 93 Evans: Important Bird Areas in the Middle East, 614 Finlayson & Tomlinson: Birds of Iberia, 158 ' P'itzgerald & Carter: Ruffled Feathers and lUone, 614-15 P’legg: Photographic Field Guide: Birds of Australia, 615 Gjershaug ct al.: Norsk Fugleatlas, 158-9 Gorman: Where to Watch Birds in Fa.'itern Europe, 1 1 7 Gosney: Cosney in Israel (video), 325 Gosney ct al.: The I’tdeo Guide to British Index to volume 88 655 Birds. 4ih edn. voh 1-5, 325 Hammond & Pearson: Waders, 426 Heinzel et al.: Birds of Brilain and Europe, with North Africa and the Middle East, 373 Hirschfeld: Birds in Bahraiti: a study of their migration patterns 1990-92, 615-16 Hume: Collitts Gem Birdwatching Photo- guide, 616 Hurford & Lansdown: Birds of Glamorgan, 616-17 Marchant & Higgins: Handbook of Aus- tralian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, vol. 2: raptors to lapivings, 117-18 Meyburg et al.: Raptor Consetx’ation Today, 246 Moss: Birds and Weather: a birdwatchers’ guide, 617 Oddie: Bill Oddie’s Little Black Bird Book, 287 Olsen & Larsson: Terns of Europe and North America, 324 Perrins: Hatidbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 8: crows to finches, 286 Perrins: Hatidbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 9: buntings and New World warblers, 286-7 Rappole & Blacklock: Birds of Texas, 53-4 Ronnest: Sjaeldne Fugle i Danmark, 617 Rosair & Cottridge: Harnlyn Photographic Guide to the Waders of the World, 618 Skarphe^insson et al.: Utbreiclsla vatpfugla a Suhvesturland: Konnun 1987-1992, 193-4 Stebbing- Allen: A Diversity of Birds, 1 94 Sutherland & Hill: Managing Habitats for Consetvation, 6 1 8 Tucker & Heath: Birds in Europe: their con- servation status, 619 Valvo et al.: Uccelli i Paesaggio in Sicilia alle Soglie del Terzo Millennio, 1 59 Watson: One Pair of Eyes, 373 Wheatley: Where to Watch Birds in South America, 323 Winkler et ai: Woodpeckers, 287 Short reviews: Adcock & Simms, 619; Beer, 374; Bezzel, 159; Birds of Europe (CD- ROM), 159-60; Cabot, 566; Chandler & Langman, 566; Chineiyy 374; Chnstidis & Boles, 374; Christophorou, 159; Collar et al., 619; Dawson & Langman, 374; Dennis, 566; Denton, 374; Elphick, 619; Gooders, 194; Holloway, 619-20; King, 160; Lawson, 160; Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli, 620; Love, 160; McBride & Pearce, 566; Oddie, 374; Pemberton, 160; Read & Allsop, 374; Ruttledge, 194; Simpson & Day, 160; Steny & Flegg, 374; Strachan, 566; Thomson, 566 Varnell, 374-5; Ward, 160; White, 375 Rhodospiza obsoleta, see Finch, Desert Rhodostethia rosea, see Gull, Ross’s Rhyacornis fuliginosus, see Redstart, Plumbeous Water Richard Richardson Award 1995, 351-6, 634, plate 219 Richards, Charles E., attempted copulation between adult and first-year Herring Gulls, 226 Riddiford, Nick, two Common Gulls sharing a nest, 112-13 Rinnhofer, Gunter, photograph of Common Buzzard, 350, plate 97 Riparia riparia, see Martin, Sand Rrisa tridactyla, see Kittiwake Rissanen, Petri, photograph of Blyth’s Pipit, 269, plate 68 Roberts, F. J., see TuUoch, M. Robin, American, report of in 1994, 535 , runt eggs, 169-80 , Siberian Blue, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103, plates 17-18 , White-throated, European news, 275 Robson, Keith, see Bowey, Keith Rogers, M. J,, letter on possible record of Common Grackle, 156; identification pit- falls and assessment problems 16. European Bee-eater, 221-3 , , and the Rarities Committee, report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1994, 493-558, plates 145-96 , , see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Roller, European, European news, 39, 274; accepted records 1993-94, 527 Rook, European news, 43, 278; runt eggs, 169-80 Roome, M., communal display by Long- eared Owls, 48-9 Roosting: Barn Swallow, 226-7; House Martin, 486; Wren, 49; Blackbird, 487; Corn Bunting, 407 Rosefinch, Common, European news, 44; British breeding records in 1992, 93; summar>' for 1994, 464 , Long-tailed, European news, 279 , Pallas’s, European news, 279 , Streaked, European news, 44 Round, Philip, review of Winkler et al.: Woodpeckers, 287 Rubythroat, Siberian, European news, 40; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103, plates 23-4 Ruff, British breeding records in 1992, 81-2; summaiy for 1994, 465 Ryan, John, from the Rarities Committee’s files: ‘Steppe’ Great Grey Shrike in Corn- 656 Index to volume 88 wall, 288-90, colour plate , , see Fraser, Peter Sadler, A. E., European news, 26-45, 263-80 Sage, Br\'an, large Kittiwake flock inland in Iceland, 600 Sandpiper, Baird’s, European news, 33, 271; accepted records 1 990-94, 511, 514 , Broad-billed, European news, 33, 271; accepted records 1 992-94, 514-15 , Buff-breasted, European news, 33, 271; summaiA' for 1994, 466-7, plate 138 , Curlew, European news, 33 , Green, post-breeding display whale on autumn passage, 225-6 , Least, European news, 271 , Marsh, European news, 35, 272; accepted records 1 994, 5 1 5 , Pectoral, European news, 33, 271; summary’ for 1994, 465-6 , Purple, European news, 33, 271; British breeding records in 1992, 81 , Semipalmated, runt eggs, 169-80; from the Rarides Committee’s files: in Orkney, 196-200, plates 50-3 and colour plates; European news, 271; accepted records 1994, 512 , Sharp-tailed, European news, 33; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; accepted records 1973 and 1974, 514, 524, plate 159 , Spotted, European news, 35, 272; British breeding records in 1992, 83-4; photographs, 428, plates 121-2; accepted records 1992-94, 517 , Terek, European news, 38, 272, plate 7; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Upland, European news, 272 , Western, European news, 271 , White-rumped, European news, 33, 38, 271, plate 8; accepted records 1993-94, 510, 514 , Wood, British breeding records in 1992, 83 SaxicoLi nibeira, see Whinchat torguata, see Stonechat, Common Scaup, Greater, lack of British breeding records in 1992, 74; European news, 267 , Lesser, European news, 29, 267; accepted records 1994, 503, 516, plates 150-1 Schmid, Hans, European news, 26-45 Scobpax mslicoLi, see Woodcock Scoter, Common, British breeding records in 1992, 74-5; summary for 1994, 471; accepted records of M. n. americam 1993, 503-4 , Surf, European news, 29, 267 , Velvet, European news, 267 Scott, Bob,"* short review, 160; review of Fitzgerald & Carter: Ruffled Feathers and Worse, 614-15 , , and Dickson, Wendy, news and comment, see News and comment Scrub-robin, Black, European news, 34, 40, plate 4 Seiurus iioveboraceusis/ inoiacilla, see Waterthrush, Northem/Louisiana Serin, European, summary for 1994, 461, 463, plates 130-1 , Red-fronted, European news, 43, 278-9 Seniiiis citritiella, see Finch, Citril pusillus, see Serin, Red-fronted seriiius, see Serin, European Shackleton, Keith, see Gillmor, Robert, et al. Shag, runt eggs, 1 69-80; European news, 264 Sharp, C., photograph of Pied Wheatear, 556, plate 195 Sharrock, Erika, photograph of Rarities Com- mittee, 378, plate 104 Sharrock, J. T. R., photograph of Rarities Committee, 109, plate 25; review of Gjer- shaug et al.: Norsk Fugleatlas, 158-9; short reviews, 160, 194, 374-5, 619-20; review of Skarphei^insson et al.: Utbreihsla varpfugla d Sibvesturlaiid: Kounttu 1987- 1992, 193-4; of Oddie: Bill Oddie’s Little Black Bird Book, 287; of del Hoyo et al.: Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 2: New World vultures to guineafowl, 323; letter on shooting and wildlife, 332-3; review of Adolfsson & Cherrug: Bird Iden- tification: a reference guide, 612; of Hirschfeld: Birds in Bahrain: a study of their migration patterns 1990-92, 615-16; of Hume: Collins Gem Birdwatching Photo- guide, 616; of Ronnest: Sjaeldne Fugle i Danmark, 617 , , see Chittenden, Robin, et al. , , see Gillmor, Robert, et al. , , see Hume, R. A. , , et al. The Best Annual Bird Report Awards, 218-20; Young Ornitholo- gists of the Year, 627-9 , , and Eorrest, C. M., binoculars and telescopes survey 1995, 447-55 Shearu'ater, Cort-’s, European news, 26, 263; pursuing and apparently consuming flying- fish, 47; summan- for 1994, 466, 469 , Great, European news, 26, 263; summart’ for 1 994, 466 , Little, litiropean news, 263; accepted records 1994, 498 , Manx, summan- for 1 994, 468 , Mascarene, discovert’ announced, 491 , Mediterranean, European news, 263 , Sooty, European news, 26; summary Index to volume 88 657 for 1994, 466, 469 Shelduck, Common, European news, 28 , Ruddy, European news, 28, 266; summary' for 1994, 465 Shepherd, K. B., photograph of Lanceolated Warbler, 431, plate 124; of Paddyfield Warbler, 544, plate 182 Shiota, T., photograph of Black-shouldered Kite, 66, plate 10 Shirihai, Hadoram, European news, 26-45, 263-80; photograph of Oriental Honey- buzzard, 31, plate 2 5 , Christie, David A., and Harris, Alan, field identification of Pine Bunting, 621-6, plates 209-17 and colour plate , , see Chandler, Richard Shoveler, Northern, European news, 29; summary^ for 1 994, 47 1 Shrike, Brown, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103, plate 1 1 , Great Grey, European news, 278; from the Rarities Committee’s files: L. e. pal- lidiwsms in Cornwall, 288-90, colour plate; status in Britain and Ireland, 478-84; accepted records of L. e. pallidirostris 1994, 543-5, 552, plates 187-9; summary for 1994, 458, 460 , Isabelline, European news, 42, 278; accepted records 1994, 543 , Lesser Grey, accepted records 1994, 543 Red-backed, British breeding records in 1992, 92; runt eggs, 169-80; European news, 278; summary for 1994, 464 , Woodchat, identification pitfalls and assessment problems 17, 291-5, plates 70- 3; accepted records 1980-90, 545 Sialia stalls, see Bluebird, Eastern Simmons, K. E. L., review of Barber: The Human Nature of Birds, 54; of Stebbing- AUen: A Diversity of Birds, 194 Sitta canadensis, see Nuthatch, Red-breasted europaea, see Nuthatch, European Sitters, Humphrey, review of Cole: In Search of the Cirl Bunting, 117 Skua, Arctic, summary for 1994, 461, 466, 468-9 , Long-tailed, European news, 35, 272; summary^ for 1 994, 466, 469 , Pomarine, summary for 1994, 461, 464, 466, 469 , South Polar, letter on identification, 155-6 Slator, Colin, and Worwood, Stephen, post- breeding display by Green Sandpipers on autumn passage, 225-6 Small, Brian, field identification of Red-footed Falcon, 181-9, colour plate; colour plates of Cyprus Pied Wheatear and Pied Wheatear, 232-3 Smew, European news, 29; summary for 1994, 457 Smiddy, Pat, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Smith, Don, photograph of Corn Bunting, 41 1, plate 119 Smyk, Arkadiusz, see Meyburg, Bemd-U., et al. Snipe, Common, European news, 35; stabbed by Water Rail, 224; hunting pressure in Europe, 300 , Great, European news, 34-5, plate 5; accepted records 1994, 515 , Pintail, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 Somateria mollissima, see Eider, Common spectabilis, see Eider, King Sorensen, Soren, European news, 26-45, 263- 80 Sparks, G. M. B., woodpeckers attacking House Martins’ nests, 297 Sparrow, Fox, European news, 279 , Lark, in Suffolk: new to the Western Palearctic, 395-400, plates 112-14 , Pale Rock, European news, 43 , Song, accepted record 1994, 548 , Spanish, European news, 278 , Tree, European news, 43 , White-crowned, European news, 279 , White-throated, European news, 279 Sparrowhawk, Eurasian, female robbed by Common Kestrel, 485 , Levant, European news, 30 Spencer, Robert, obituary, 320-2, plate 87 Spoonbill, African, European news, 265 , Eurasian, European news, 265 Stansfield, Steven, photographs of Great Grey Shrike, 552, plates 188-9 Stark, David, Carrion Crows building wire nests, 601, plate 208 Starling, Common, European news, 43; runt eggs, 169-80 , Rosy, European news, 43, 278; accepted records 1991-94, 545-7, 553, plates 191-2 , Spodess, European news, 43 Sfasmy, Karel, European news, 26-45, 263- 80 Stawarczyk, Tadeusz, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Steele, Jimmy, see Bradshaw, Colin Stercorarius longicaudus, see Skua, Long-tailed maccormicki, see Skua, South Polar parasiticus, see Skua, Arctic pomarinus, see Skua, Pomarine Sterna albifrons, see Tern, Little anaethetus, see Tern, Bridled bengalensis, see Tern, Lesser Crested 658 Index to volume 88 caspia, see Tem, Caspian doiigallii, see Tem, Roseate forsteri, see Tern, Forster’s hinmdo, see Tem, Common maxima, see Tern, Royal paradisaea, see Tem, Arctic sandvicemis, see Tem, Sandwich Stewart, Dave, photograph of Collared Prat- incole, 532, plate 166; of Dark-throated Thrush, 536, plate 173; of Blackpoll Warbler, 553, plate 193 Stilt, Black-winged, European news, 32, 270; accepted records 1993-94, 508 Stint, Little, European news, 33 , Long-toed, accepted record 1970, 512 , Red-necked, European news, 33, 271; leg coloration, 1 12; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Temminck’s, British breeding records in 1992, 81; summary for 1994, 464; histoiy’ of breeding in Britain, 573-7 Stock, Andrew, Bird Illustrator of the Year 1995, 351-6, 634, plates 219-20 Stone, Keith, photograph of Night Heron, 507, plate 145 Stone-curlew, British breeding records in 1992, 80-1; European news, 270; summaiy for 1994, 465, 469 Stonechat, Common, European news, 40, 275; summary for 1994, 464; accepted records of S. t. maura/stejncgcri 1991-94, 531-4 Stork, Abdim’s, European news, 265 , African Openbill, European news, 27 , Black, European news, 27, 265; accepted records 1993-94, 500 , Oriental White, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103 , White, European news, 27, 265; taking domestic ducklings, 485 Storm-petrel, European, European news, 26; without toes, 1 1 1 , Leach’s, European news, 263; summaiy for 1994,468 , Madeiran, European news, 26, 264 , Swinhoe’s, European news, 264; at Tynemouth: new to Britain and Ireland, 342-8, plates 94-6; accepted records 1994, 498 , Wilson’s, accepted records 1993-94, 498 Streptopelia orientalis, see Dove, Oriental lurUe senegalensis, see Dove, 1 >aughing turinr, see Dove, I'urllc Strix aliico, see Owl, 'fawny iiralensu, see Owl, Ural Stroud, D. A., see Holmes,]. S. Studies of West Balearctic birds 194. Corn Bunting, ^40 1 -22, plates 115-20; 195. Eurasian Woodcock, 578-92, plates 203-7 Suirntis rosens, see Starling, Rosy itnicolor, see Starling, Spodess vulgans, see Starling, Common Subscribers, Honorar}', J. B. & S. Bottomley elected, 440 Snla neboiixii, see Booby, Blue-footed Sullivan, Syh’ia, re\'iew of Valvo et al.: Uccelli i Paesaggio in Sicilia alle Soglie del Terzo Millemiio, 159 Sultana, Joe, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Sutherby, Jon C., interreaction between Montagu’s Harrier and Red Eox, 424 Swallow, Barn, runt eggs, 169-80; roosting away from water, low down in bracken, 226-7; decline linked to chemicals, 439; summary for 1 994, 460, 468 , Cliff, European news, 39 , Red-rumped, European news, 39; accepted records 1992-94, 527-8, 533, plate 167 , Tree, in Scilly: new to the Western Palearcdc, 381-4, plates 105-10 Swan, Black, European news, 28, 265 , Mute, runt eggs, 1 69-80 , Tundra, European news, 28 , Whooper, European news, 28, 265; Briush breeding records in 1992, 72-3 Swift, Alpine, letters on belly-patch shape, 52, 335; accepted records 1992-94, 526 , Common, egg size, 173 , Pacific, European news, 37; at Bei- daihe, China, 94-103 , Pallid, European news, 37, 274; accepted records 1913 and 1993, 526 , White-throated Needletail, European news, 37 Sylvia airicapilLi, see Blackcap cantillans, see Warbler, Subalpinc communis, sec Whitclhroat, Common conspicilkua, sec Warbler, Spectacled cmruca, see Whitethroat, Lesser hortoisis, sec Warbler, Orphean mclanocepliaki, sec ^X'arblcr, Sardinian )iana, sec Warbler, Desert nisoria, sec Warbler, Barred sarda, see Warbler, Marmora’s undaia, see Warbler, Dartford Szczur, John, winner. The Carl Zeiss Award 1995, with photographs of Spotted Sand- piper, 427-8, plates 121-2 Szimuly, Gyorgy, European news, 26-45 Tacliybapiiis nificollis, see Grebe, Little Tactivcincia bicolor, see Swallow, lYee Tadorna fcrmginca, see Shelduck, Ruddy tadorna, see Shelduck, Common Index to volume 88 659 Tanager, Scarlet, European news, 44 Tarrant, Michael, photograph of Horned Lark, 306, plate 74 Tarsiger cyanums, see Bluetail, Red-flanked Tate, Alan, photograph of Grey-tailed Tattler, 524, plate 160; of Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, 463, plate 132; of Yellow-rumped Warbler, 553, plate 194 Tattler, Grey-tailed, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103; in Wales: new to Britain and Ireland, 255-62; accepted record 1994, 517, 524, plate 160 Teal, Baikal, European news, 28, 266, 268, plate 67; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; 1994 record accepted in Category' D, 555 , Blue-winged, European news, 29, 266; accepted records 1987-94, 502 , Common, European news, 28-9, 266; accepted records of A. c. carolinensis 1990, 502 Tern, Arctic, inland spring passage in southern Britain, 211-17; European news, 273; summaiy for 1994, 460, 461 , Bridled, European news, 36, 273; accepted records 1994, 522 , Caspian, accepted records 1993-94, 520 , Common, runt eggs, 169-80, summarv' for 1994,461 , Forster’s, European news, 273; accepted records 1 993-94, 522 , Gull-billed, European news, 36; accepted records 1993, 520 , Inca, European news, 37, 273 , Lesser Crested, European news, 36, 273; British breeding records in 1992, 85; accepted records and breeding with Sand- wich Tern 1993-94, 520-1, plate 157 , Little, European news, 36 , Roseate, European news, 36; British breeding records in 1992, 85 , Royal, European news, 36, 273 , Sandwich, breeding with Lesser Crested Tern, 520-1, plate 157 , Whiskered, accepted records 1994, 521-2, plate 155 , White-winged Black, European news, 36; accepted records 1993-94, 522-3 Tet7-ao tetiix, see Grouse, Black Thevenot, Michel, European news, 26-45, 263-80 Thorpe, R. I., Gre\^-tailed Tattler in Wales: new to Britain and Ireland, 255-62 Threskionns aethiopicus, see Ibis, Sacred Thrush, Blue Rock, in Strathclyde: new to Britain and Ireland, 130-2 Chinese Song, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Dark-throated, European news, 41, 276; accepted records 1993-94, 535-6, plates 170-2 , Dusky, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; European news, 276 , Eyebrowed, European news, 41 , Grey-cheeked, European news, 41; accepted records 1991-94, 535 , Grey-sided, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Hermit, European news, 41 , Mistle, rnirnicking Rufous Nightingale, 227; European news, 276 , Rock, European news, 40 , Siberian, European news, 41; at Bei- daihe, China, 94-103, plate 22; accepted record 1994, 535 , Song, runt eggs, 169-80, plate 45; pho- tograph, 229, plate 55 , Swainson’s, European news, 41 , White’s, European news, 41 , Wood, in Scilly: new to Britain and Ireland, 133-5 Tidman, Roger, photographs of Woodcock, 583, 587, plates 203, 205 Tipling, David, photographs of Radde’s Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Siberian Blue Robin, Yellow-browed Bunting, Little Curlew, Siberian Thrush, Siberian Rubythroat, at Beidaihe, China, 95-8, plates 12-13, 18-20, 22, 24 , , see Holt, Paul et al. Tit, Azure, European news, 278 , Bearded, European news, 42 , Blue, runt eggs, 169-80; summar\- for 1994,468,470 , Great, runt eggs, 1 69-80, plate 46 , Penduline, European news, 42; British summering records in 1992, 91-2; accepted records 1992-94, 542-3 , Siberian, European news, 278 , Sombre, stringing food on thorn, 600 Treecreeper, Short-toed, accepted record 1994, 542 Tniiga erythropus, see Redshank, Spotted flavipes, see Yellowlegs, Lesser gkireola, see Sandpiper, Wood mdanokuca, see Yellowlegs, Greater nebiilatia, see Greenshank, Common ochropus, see Sandpiper, Green stagiiatilis, see Sandpiper, Marsh lotanus, see Redshank, Common Trogbdytes aedo>i, see Wren, House trogbdytes, see Wren Tropicbird, Red-billed, letter on records in Canart' Islands, 116 Tryngites submficollis, see Sandpiper, Buff- breasted TuUoch, M., and Roberts, F. J., unusual song of Common Whitethroat, 425 Index to volume 88 660 Turdus feae, see Thrush, Grey-sided iliaciis, see Redwing menila, see Blackbird migraiorius, see Robin, American mupuiemis, see Thrush, Chinese Song lumrnanni, see Thrush, Dusk}’ obscimis, see Thrush, Eyebrowed phibmebs, see Thrush, Song pibris, see Fieldfare mficollis, see Thrush, Dark-throated torquaais, see Ouzel, Ring viscivonis, see Thrush, Mistle Turnstone, British breeding records in 1992, 83 Twite, European news, 43, 279 Tvrberg, Tommy, European news, 26-45, '263-80 Tyio alba, see Owl, Bam Underhill-Day, John, review of Clarke: The Marsh Hanier, 6 1 3 LJpupa epops, see Hoopoe Uragus sibiriais, see Rosefinch, Long-tailed Uria aalge, see Guillemot, Common bniina, see Guillemot, Briinnich’s van den Berg, Arnoud B., European news, 26-45, 263-80; photograph of Great Snipe, 34, plate 5; of Pacific Golden Plover, 38, plate 6; of House Crow, 43, plate 9; of Baikal Teal, 269, plate 67; of Spotted Eagle, 394, plate 1 1 1 Vanelliis vanelbis, see Lapwing, Northern Vaughan, Tim, letter on critical approach to skua identification, 155-6; reply, 333-4 Verroken, Luc, photograph of Terek Sand- piper, 38, plate 7 Vinicombe, K. E., see Dickie, I. R. Vireo olivaceiis, see Vireo, Red-eyed phibdelphicus, see Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Philadelphia, new to the Western Palearctic, 474-7, plates 141-3 , Red-eyed, European news, 43, 278; accepted records 1991-94, 547 Visentin, Marta, see Bulgarini, Fabrizio Voice: Mistle Thrush, 227; Moustached Warbler, 113; Common Whitethroat, 425; Com Bunting, 415-18 Votier, Stephen C., senior winner Young Ornithologists of the Year 1994, 164, plate 39; photograph of Woodchat Shrike, 293, plate 72; from the Rarities Committee's files: Lanceolated Warbler in Norfolk, 430- 5, plates 124-5 Vulture, Egyptian, European news, 30, 268 , Griffon, European news, 30 , Monk, European news, 268; letter on vagrancy likelihood, 607-8 Wagtail, African Pied, European news, 40 , Citrine, European news, 40, 275; accepted records 1992-94, 530, 533, plate 169 , Grey, mnt eggs, 169-80; summary for 1994, 458 , Pied, mnt eggs, 169-80 , Yellow, European news, 40, 275; runt eggs, 169-80; summary for 1994, 466; rejection of previously accepted records of M.ffeldegg 1958-78,’ 530 Waite, Tom, and Waite, Steven, Blackbird playing with and killing shrew, 600 Walker, David, status of Yellow-legged Gull at Dungeness, Kent, 5-7 Wallace, Ian, review of Elgood ei al.\ The Birds of Nigerb, 1 93 Warbler, Aquatic, summar}’ for 1994, 463, 469, plates 134-5; accepted record 1975, 538 , Arctic, European news, 42, 277; at Bei- daihe, China, 94-103; accepted records 1994, 541 , Barred, food and feeding habits in winter in England, 227-8; summary for 1994, 466 , Blackpoll, European news, 44; accepted record 1994, 548, 553, plate 193 , Blyth’s Leaf, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103 , Blyth’s Reed, European news, 41, 276; accepted record 1994, 538 , Bonelli’s, European news, 42; accepted records 1994, 542 , Booted, European news, 41, 276; British summering records in 1992, 89; accepted records 1993-94, 539; photo- graph, 562, plate 201 , Buff-throated, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103 , Cetti’s, British breeding records in 1992, 88 , Chinese Leaf, at Beidaihe, China, 94- 103 , Dartford, British breeding records in 1992, 90; European news, 276; increasing numbers, 390; summaiy for 1994, 464 , Desert, European news, 42, 277 , Dusky, European news, 42, 278; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103, plate 13; accepted records 1993-94, 540, 542, plate 180 , Eastern Crowned, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 , Grasshopper, European news, 41 , Great Reed, British summering records in 1992, 89; European news, 276; accepted records 1993-94, 538-9 Index to volume 88 661 — , Greenish, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; British summering records in 1992, 90-1; European news, 277; accepted records 1993-94, 540-1, plate 177 — , Hume’s Yellow-browed, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 — , Icterine, European news, 41, 276; British breeding record in 1992, 90; summary' for 1994, 464, 466, 468 — , Lanceolated, European news, 41, 276; from the Rarities Committee’s files: in Norfolk and Shetland, 430-8, plates 124-5; accepted records 1994, 535-8 — , Lcmon-rumped, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 — , Magnolia, in Scilly: new to Britain and Ireland, 107-8 — , Marmora’s, British summering records in 1992, 90 — , Marsh, European news, 41; British breeding records in 1992, 89; summarv for 1994, 464 — Moustached, apparent female singing, 113 — , Olivaceous, European news, 276 — , Orphean, European news, 277 — , Paddyfield, European news, 41, 276; accepted records 1988-94, 538, 544, plate 182; photograph, 562, plate 202 — , Pale-legged, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 — , Pallas’s Grasshopper, accepted record 1994, 53 — , Pallas’s Leaf, European news, 42, 277; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; summary for 1994, 463, 469-70, plate 132 — , Radde’s, European news, 42, 277-8; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103, plate 12; accepted records 1988-94, 540-2, plates 178-9 — , Reed, European news, 41; runt eggs, 169-80; summary for 1994, 460 — , River, British summering records in 1992, 88; European news, 276; accepted record 1994, 538 — , Sardinian, European news, 41, 277; accepted records 1994, 539-41 — , Sati’s, British breeding records in 1992, 88-9 — , Spectacled, European news, 41; British summering records in 1992, 90 — , Subalpine, European news, 41; accepted records 1992-94, 539 — , Thick-billed, European news, 276 — , Willow, summary for 1994, 460; with ant’s head attached to tarsus, 487 — , Yellow-browed, European news, 42, 277; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; summary for 1994, 463, 468, plate 133 — , Yellow-rumped, European news, 44; accepted records 1994, 548-50, 553, plate 194 , Yellow-streaked, at Beidaihe, China, 94-103 Waterthrush, Northern/Louisiana, European news, 279 Watson, Adam, Wrens building autumn nests, 49 Watsonian vice-counties, 60 Waxwing, Bohemian, European news, 275; summary' for 1994, 458 Weir, D. N., et al., Iceland Gulls from the ‘Braer’ disaster, Shetland, 1993, 15-25, plate 1 Wheatear, Black-eared, European news, 276 , Cyprus Pied, separation from Pied Wheatear, 230-41, plates 57-60, 62 and colour plates , Desert, European news, 276; accepted records 1994, 533-4, plate 168 , Isabelline, European news, 275; accepted record 1994, 534 , Mourning, European news, 276 , Northern, feeding association with Com Crake, 297; summary for 1994, 458, 460, 462, 466 , Pied, separation from Cyprus Pied, 230-41, plates 56, 61, 63-4 and colour plates; accepted records 1994, 534, 556, plate 195 Wheeler, T. E., food and feeding habits of Barred Warbler in winter in England, 227-8 Whimbrel, lack of British breeding records in 1992, 83; at Beidaihe, China, 94-103; summary for 1 994, 462 Whinchat, runt eggs, 169-80; summary for 1994, 466 Whitethroat, Common, unusual song, 425 , Lesser, summary' for 1994, 458 Wigeon, American, European news, 28, 266; accepted records 1986-94, 501-2 Wilkes, Mike, 3rd place. Bird Photograph of the Year 1995, of Grey Partridge, 329, plate 91 Wilson, John, short review, 1 60 Wilson, Rob, photographs of Red-breasted Nuthatch, 151, plates 36-7; of Yellow- browed Warbler, 463, plate 133; of Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 467, plate 138; of American Black Duck, 516, plate 152; of Whiskered Tern, 521, plate 155; of Sharp- tailed Sandpiper, 524, plate 159; of KiUdeer Plover, 525, plate 161; of Greater Yellowlegs, 525, plate 163; of Red-mmped Swallow, 533, plate 167; of Dark-throated Thrush, 536, plate 172; of Greenish Warbler, 540, plate 177; of Yellow-browed Bunting, 552, plate 190 662 Index to volume 88 Windrush Award, winner 1995, 331, 631, plate 218 Woodcock, perching in tree, 225; hunting pressure in Europe, 300; studies of West Palearctic birds 195, 578-92, plates 203-7 Woodford, George, winner. The PJC Award 1995, 351-6 Woodpecker, Acorn, runt eggs, 169-80 , Black, not accepted for British List, 389 , Great Spotted, attacking House Martins’ nests, 297 , Green, attacking House Martins’ nests, 297 , Grey-headed, European new's, 274 , Middle Spotted, European news, 39 , Syrian, European news, 39 , White-backed, European news, 39 Worfolk, Tim, 2nd place. Bird Illustrator of the Year 1995, 351-6, 634, plate 219 Woru'ood, Stephen, see Slator, Colin Wren, building autumn nests, 49 , House, egg size, 1 74 Wryneck, British breeding records in 1992, 85-6; summary for 1994, 464, 466, 468 Xeniis cinereiis, see Sandpiper, Terek Yellowhammer, European news, 44; field iden- tification, 621-6, plates 212-17 and colour plate; extinct on Cape Clear Island, 633 Yellowlegs, "Greater, European news, 35, 272; accepted records 1992-94, 515, 525, plate 163 , Lesser, European news, 35, 272; accepted records 1994, 517, 525, plate 162 Yesou, Pierre, see Dubois, Philippe J. Young Ornithologists of the Year, 1994 award presentation, 164, plate 39; 1995 winners, 627-9 Young, Steve, photograph of Black Kite, 532, plate 164; of Radde’s Warbler, 540, plate 179 Youngman, R. E., feeding association of Grey Phalarope with Avocet, 424 Zbinden, N., European news, 263-80 Zonfrillo, Bernard, letter on incredible bird records, 608-9 , , see Weir, D. N., et al. Zonotrichia albicollis, see Sparrow, White- throated iliaca, see Sparrow, Fox leucophiys, see Sparrow, White-crov\iied mcbdia, see Sparrow, Song Zoologist, The, in memory of, 1843-1916, 1-4 Zooihera daiima, see Thrush, White’s sibirica, see Thrush, Siberian n I f t \ f • r I f ■. . i» ^ « f • I # « 1-- i i i 4 ■X Rilc)' Dunn & Wilson Ltd EmKTcoNSEftvATOfls & iK>ouiNoeiis