0 Sc i Vv i ‘St i 0- i % )l» J - -r i , iff % ♦ ft 4 Jk ■ I r» i- ISSN 0007-0335 British Volume 91 Number 7 July 1998 TH? NATURAl HtSTOr.Y r^USEUM -1 rJL 1998 PRESENTED tring library T & AD Poyser and Bird Illustrator of the Year C. D. Hutchinson (1949-1998) The Little Egret in Britain 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 I. Carter, Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. CoUinson, R. J. Pr\therch, N. J. Redman, 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 Dr Colin Bradshaw (Chairman), Pete ElUs, Paul Harvey, John McLoughlin, John Martin, Doug Page, K. D. Shaw, Dr Jimmy Steele, Andy Stoddart, Reg Thorpe, Grahame Walbridge; Peter Colston (museum consultant); John Marchant (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, Prof. 1. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, 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 Libraries and agencies £58.50, 1R£68.00 or SI 11.00. Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £46.00, IR£53.80 or S87.20; personal airmail, outside Europe £77.00, IR£89.95 or $145.00. Single back copies £5.95, 1R£6.85 or $11.30. 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 ‘Nejvs and comment’, draicings & photographs: Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, F'ountains, 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 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 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, do Subbuteo Books, Pistyll Farm, Nerewys, Mold, Flintshire CH7 4EW. Phone: Mold (01352) 756551. Fax: (01352) 756004. e-mail: sales@subbooks.demon.co.uk The journal ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1998 Copyright of photographs remains widi 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 tlic 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' list of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1997); or, for non-West-Palearctic species, Monroe & Sibley (1993, A World Checklist of Birds); names of plants follow Dony ct al. (1986, linglisli Names of Wild h'Unoers); names of mammals follow Ckirbet & Harris (1991, The Handbook of British Mammals, 3rd edn). 4’opographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). Figures should be in Indian ink on good-quality tracing paper, drawing paper, or light blue/pale grey graph paper; lettering should he 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). 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Alternative venues to MORDEN and AYLESBURY, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given alongside. We aim to show our full range of equipment, but it helps us to help you if you let us know your interests before each field day. REPAIRS can also be handed in/collected. * 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, usually * ★ BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 junction (access from the B2042 or B2027) near Ide Hill, Kent. Info, centre north of the reservoir) on Sunday 21 st June, 19th July, 16th August, 20th September and 18th October. * PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sunday 28th June, 26th July, 30th August and 27th September. * THE KENT WILDLIFE TRUST, Tyland Barn, Sandling, near Maidstone, Kent on Sunday 13th September and 13th December (10.30-4.00). VIKING 7x36 Wide View 124 OPTOLYTH 8 X 40 Alpin NG 279 10x40AlpinNG 279 10 X 50 Alpin NG 299 7 X 50 Alpin NG 299 TBG 80 body 449 TBS 80 body 449 TBG or TBS 80 HD 659 30x (WW) eyepiece 159 20-box eyepiece 189 DISCOVERY 8x42or10x42RR GA 135 OPTICRON 8x42lmagic 149 10x42 1magic 159 8x32Dioptron 167 8 X 42 Dioptron 169 1 0 X 42 Dioptron 179 10 X 50 Dioptron 199 8x32(HRII) 197 8x42(HRII) 199 10x42(HRII) 209 10x50(HRII) 229 81/2 X 50 (HRII) 229 7x42(HRII) 198 7x24, 8x24 or 10x24 MCF 125 Roof prism binos (new): 7 X 36 BGA 329 8 x 42 BGA 339 10x42 BGA 339 10x50 BGA 359 HR 66 scope 279 HR 66 (45°) 319 HR 80 GA (45°) 429 1 5x, 20x, 25x or 40x HR eyepiece 44 20x WW HDF eyepiece 96 28x WW HDF eyepiece 119 22x W HR eyepiece 57 30x W HR eyepiece 59 60x HR eyepiece 49 20-60X zoom eyepiece 119 HR 60 GA (black with 30 x WA) ,299 HARD DOMES to protect your telescope eyepiece. Hand turned from solid black nylon. Suits TS611/614TSN1/4, Opticron (HR, HR66, Classic IF), Spacemaster etc. State which. A Kay Optical exclusive £20 TRIPODS, BOOKS, etc * While stocks last 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 email: kayoptical@netmatters-co.uk 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. BUCKS Sales in AYLESBURY by appointment only. Visitors welcome - please phone first. Tel: 01296-424145 Also, Field Operations Centre, • Mail Order if required (same day despatch) • Part exchanges • Used items • Package deals • Interest-free short-term credit E.&O.E. REPAIRS & SERVICING After 35 years of servicing all types of equipment (including Zeiss and Leica), we can promise you a thorough job. Post or bring your optical equipment to our workshop at MORDEN. We know how important a quick turn-round is to you. Remember, you cannot be optimistic with misty optics! ★ DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK, near Reading, M4 (A329(M) Woodley turn-off) and then A329 to Winnersh and Winnersh Station (B3030). Sunday 23rd August and 22nd November. ★ HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR, Essex (off A130 North of Basildon, near the fishing lodge) on Sunday 12th July and 11th October. ★ COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE on the B488 near Bulbourne, Tring, Herts on Sat/Sun 25th/26th July, 15th/16th August and 17th/18th October. ★ GIBRALTAR POINT, south of Skegness at N.W. corner of the Wash, Lines on Sunday 19th July and 1st November. ★ BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR, (S. Staffs Waterworks) off B5013 on Sunday 9th August and 25th October. * THE SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Woods Mill, Henfield, W. Sussex. Sunday 9th August and 8th November. * GREAT LINFORD WILDFOWL RESERVE (ARC Environmental Study Centre), near Milton Keynes, on Sat/Sun 4th/5th July, 1st/2nd August and 7th/8th November. ★ DUNSTABLE DOWNS (Beds CO Visit Centre) off J1 1 of Ml , on the B4541 , west of Dunstable (near Whipsnade Zoo). Saturday 8th August 1 I Announcing the Ecotravellers' t&AD Wildlife Guides series POYSER Costa Rica Les Beletsky An invaluable handbook to Costa Rican natural history and wildlife habitats, this is the only guide to combine natural history, ecology, species identification and site guide all in one volume. Includes maps, colour plates and line drawings, together with lists of wildlife reserves and other ecologically significant sites with up-tcKiate conservation news from Costa Rica. ISBN: 0-12-084810-4, Paperback, 41 6 pages, £1 9.95 ♦ Belize and Northern i Guatemala (Tikal) Les Beletsky The second in the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide series, this guide provides identification, location and conservation information on the animals most frequently spotted in the region. An extensive section examines Belize's famous coral reef fish. Fully illustrated with colour photographs, line drawings and maps. ISBN: 0-12-084811-2, Paperback, 400 pages, £1 9.95 Coming soon: Tropical Mexico, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii Also from T & AD Poyser and Acdemic Press ■| l Nt)R.V 1'I.OM-KS ThcKBtVAtiM i/fUiropnn BnvtlinK S^irb BIRD COLLECTORS Tundra Plovers I The Eurasian, American and Pacific Golden I I Plovers and Grey Plover Ingvar Brykjedal and Des Thompson ' A definitive text on a group of evocative and biologically fascinating species. Long-awaited considerations of differences in plumage, vocalisations, habit use, breeding, movements and food, as well as the differences between the sexes, are included. Illustrated with colour and line illustrations by Ingvar Brykjedal. ISBN: 0-85661-109-3, Hardback, 452 pages, £27.95 The Bird Collectors Barbara & Richard Mearns “rousing tales of exploration and adventure” Robert Burton, BBC Wildlife “This is a mighty study from the Poyser stable” British Wildlife “beautifully produced, well illustrated and readable” DW Snow, British Ornithologists' Club ISBN: 0-12-487440-1, Hardback, 400 pages, £29.95 Available from your local bookseller or direct from our customer services department For orders, telephone 0181-308 5700 or fax 0181-309 0807 Why not send your order by e-mail? wildlife@harcourtbrace.com For enquiries or to order a 1998 catalogue, contact Academic Press Marketing Department, 24-28 Oval Road, London NWl 7DX telephone 0171-424 4518 or fax 0171-424 4515- The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds Their Distribution and Abundance — Edited by Ward JM Hagemeijer and Michael J Blair “If I could take but a single book to my desert island, this is it.” David Tomlinson, New Scientist “This is a monumental work, based on enormous effort and international cooperation” John Law, Scottish Bird News “This book... is an outstandingly important reference, yet attractive, readable and fascinating to browse through time and time again.” Steve Gantlett, Birding World “...it provides a benchmark against which census work will be measured well into the next millennium.” Tim Harris, Birdwatch ISBN: 0-85661-091-7, Hardback, 920 pages, £55.0,0 II 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, Pistyll Farm, Nercwys, Mold, Flintshire CH7 4EW. Books All listed books are POST FREE BEST BIRD BOOKS OF THE t'EAR All books voted ‘Best Bird Book of the Year’ during 1983-97 (listed in full on p. 67 in January-February 1998) are available POST FREE. 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Paper £1 1.95 CD Hard £17.95 D Enticott & Tipling Photographic Handbook of the Seabirds of the World (New Holland) £29.99 U Gatter Birds of Liberia (Pica Press) ^ Hagemeijer & Blair The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds (Poyser) nn H Harris, Shirihai & Christie The Macmillan Birders’ Guide to European and Middk Eastern Birds (MacmiUan) .£17.99 U Harris, Tucker & Vinicombe The Macmillan Fkld Guide to Bird Identification (MacmiUan) Paperback £14.99 U Heather & Robertson Fkld Guide to the Birds of Nezv Zealand (OUP) Paperback £25.00 CD Hardback £50.00 LJ Higgins, Marchant & Davies Handbook of Australian, NZ & Antarctic Birds (OUP) vols. 1-3 all £135 each .vol. 1 □ vol. 2 □ vol. 3 □ Jonsson Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East (Helm) Paperback £1^.99 □ luniner & Parr Panvts: a guide to the parrots of the World (Pica Press) Keith, Urban & Fry The Birds of Africa (Academic) vol. 1 £85.00 □ 2 £85.00 □ 3 £85.00 □ 4 £85.00 CD 5 £99.00 □ Lefranc & Worfolk Shrikes (Pica Press) ££ i on N Lekagul, Round, Wongkalasin & Komolphalin A Gidde to the Birds of Thailand (Saha Karn Bhaet) £45.00 U Matthysen The Nuthatches (Poyser) r"'i" riloo H MitcheU Where to Watch Birds in the London Area (Helm) 1 aperback £12.99 1_1 Please use the British BirdShop form overleaf to complete your order. iii British BirdShop (continued) Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers RECOMMENDED BOOKS (cont.) 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(01352) 756004. e-mail: salcs(ajsubbooks. demon. co.uk Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Pistyll Farm, Nerew^s, Mold, Flintshire CHv 4E\v. APOLOGY The photographs of Ian Carter and Dr Martin Collinson ■were accidentally transposed on page 209 in tlie last month’s issue. A revised four-page section {'209-210, 259-260) is included in the centre of this issue for readers to substitute in their June issues. IV NATURAL HISTORY 'vlUSEUM British Birds 1 < * Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 PRESEMTFD THING irOR/^TlY ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’ When we started this competition back in 1979 {Brit. Birds 72; 403-409), we hoped to encourage the art of bird illustration. Its success has, however, greatly exceeded our expectations, for the list of past winners of the title reads like a ‘who’s who’ of bird illustrators, and the spate of wonderful field guides and handbooks of recent years bear the names of many of them on the title pages. It is especially pleasing that two of the publishers involved — Pica Press and T. & A. D. Poyser — are the sponsors of this competition. We are delighted that it continues to be run in conjunction with, and is supported in a whole variety of ways by, the Society of Wildlife Artists. With 19 years of texts giving advice to potential entrants, we now seldom receive submissions in which the scale is wrong, and the natural backgrounds have nowadays usually received just as much attention from the artist as have the birds. There is, however, still the occasional finch the size of a turkey. Perhaps the most testing aspects of the Bird Illustrator of the Year competition are the requirements to produce four drawings; at three different, precise sizes; aU drawn in a form suitable for printed reproduction. Sets of four seem often to comprise three good or even excellent drawings and one so duff that the set has to be discarded. That may seem severe or even unfair, but a professional bird illustrator needs not only to be able to produce careful and accurate drawings, but also to be sufficiently self-critical that he or she can discard any that have clearly failed. In a commercial setting, he or she may often be sending drawings to an impatient publisher or art editor who has no personal ornithological or namral-history expertise. It is the bird illustrator’s job to produce drawings of a consistently high standard. That is why the BIY rules are so precise and why we, the judges, are so critical in our assessments. Occasionally, artistic flair is allowed to override ornithological exactitude (when an especially evocative or attractive drawing has aesthetic appeal), but T& AD ^ POYSER PREISS [Brit. Birds 91; 263-268, July 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 263 264 Sharrock el aL Bird Illustrator of the Year ornithological inaccuracy, which includes making the bird look the wrong size in relation to its surroundings, is always completely unacceptable. This year’s prize-winners maintain the high standard which we have come to take for granted. The winners are as follows: BIRD ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR 1st Paul Henery (Morpeth, Northumberland) 2nd Dan Cole (St Austell, Cornwall) 3rd Peter Michael Beeson (Felixstowe, Suffolk) Also short-listed: 4th Ernest Leahy (Redboum, Hertfordshire), 5th= John HoUyer (Deal, Kent) and 5th= Anthony Smith (Tarboek, Merseyside) THE RICHARD RICHARDSON AWARD 1st Simon Patient (Mai don, Essex) Also short-listed: 2nd Marek Kolodziejczyk (Poland) THE PJC AWARD 1st George Brown (Braintree, Essex) Also short-listed: Peter Michael Beeson, Massimiliano Lipperi (Italy) and Antliony Smidi Examples of the work by all the winners are included here, and nine others win be appearing on the front covers of issues from now to June 1999. BIRD ILLUSl’RATOR OF THE YEAR winner: Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis {Paul Henery) BIRD ILLUSTRATOR OF' I'lIE YEAR winner: Black-necked Grebes l\rJiceps ingticollis (Paul Henery) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 265 Goldcrest Reguliis regulus {Dan Cole) Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator {Dan Cole) Great Bittern Botanrus stellaris {Peter Michael Beeson) Fieldfares Turdns pilaris {Dan Cole) 266 Sharrock et al.: Bird Illustrator of the Year The Richard Richardson Award is financed by a trust fund established in memory^ of the famous and well-loved Cley artist who died in 1 977 {Bnt. Birds 70: 541-543). He was, of course, the illustrator of what should perhaps be regarded as the first of the modem high-quality field guides. The Pocket Guide to British Birds (R. S. R. Fitter & R. A. Richardson, 1952). He was also always willing to encourage and help novice birdwatchers and artists. The Richard Richardson Award is open to all artists under the age of 22. RICHARD RICHARDSON AWARD winner: Spotless Stumus unicolor! Common Starling 5. vulgaris in Scilly on 2nd February 1998 {Simon Patient) RICHARD RICHARDSON AWARD winner: Black-tailed Godwit Limosa liniosa {Simon Patient) The PJC Award, donated by David Cook in memory of his first wife, Pauline Cook, is presented annually to the artist whose individual drawing particularly appealed to the judges. It allows the judges to ignore the other drawings in a set and recognise a single illustration which shows especial flair, a new or enterprising technique, a bold approach, or any aspect which caught their eyes for any reason. As usual, all the winning entries will be displayed at tlie Society of Wildlife Artists Annual Exhibition at The Mall Galleries in London from 23rd July to 7th August 1998. In total, we have selected 46 drawings for display at the Exhibition, by 24 artists, all of whom will be invited to attend the Press Reception at which the prizes will be presented. As an innovation tliis year, the other artists who entered the competition, but whose work was not selected for display, will be invited by the Society of Wildlife Artists to attend its Private View, which will give them not only the opportunity’ to mingle with other wildlife artists, but also the opportunity to study the drawings which pipped British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 267 THE PJC AWARD winner: Crab-plovers Dramas ardeola {George Broivn) Bam Swallows Hirundo nislica {Massimiliano Lippeii) Greenshank Tringa nebidaria {Anthony Smith) theirs in the judges’ assessments. We greatly welcome this generous gesture by the SWLA, which should be of benefit to many budding bird illustrators. As well as being displayed for two weeks at The Mall Galleries, the winners’ illustrations will be on view in the Art Marquee for the whole of the three days of the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water during 21st-23rd August 1998. 268 Sharrock ei al.: Bird Illustrator ol' the Year VC'hite-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla (Alarek Kohdziejczyk) We shall be delighted to forward letters from any publisher or individual wishing to commission work from artists feamred in Bird Illustrator of the Year. y. T. R. Shamrock, Robert Giijmor, Alan Harris, Bruce Pearson and Keith Shackikton do Fountains, Park lame, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ OBITUARY Clive Desmond Hutchinson BA (1949-1998) In September 1965, an inexperienced and diffident schoolboy spent a week at Cape Clear Bird Observatory. Within the next couple of years, the callow youth had matured into one of Ireland’s most reliable observers, his notebooks filled with evocative sketches as well as solid descriptions, and he had been invited to join the Observatory’s Council. He loved Cape Clear Island both for its birds and for its people. He became the Observatory’s Report Editor in 1970, and then Chairman for 12 years from 1986. Reliable is perhaps the best single word to describe Clive Hutchinson. If he took on a job, it got done, and done well: both thoroughly and on time. That word is, however, inadequate by itself, for Clive was also the best companion one could select for any trip: not only well organised, but also constantly good- humoured, even when enjoying a good argument (no less than one would expect from a graduate in History and Political Science from Trinity College, Dublin). Islands were special to Clive. On one visit to the Blasket Islands, stranded (more like abandoned!) for a few extra days and squeezed with two companions into a small two-man tent, argument and debate about the ecology of Ireland’s birds filled the many hours sheltering from the Atlantic rain. There was very little room for manoeuvre, either in the tent or in the arguments with Clive . His chosen career was as a Chartered Accountant in a practice in Cork City. Clive’s service to national Irish ornithology, in a wholly amateur capacity, matched that for his county’s bird observatory. He was elected to the Council of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy for three terms, in 1969-76, 1979-84 and 1988-91, and was its Treasurer in 1981-84. He took local or national responsibility for several surveys and censuses, including organising the IWC’s Wetlands Enquiry in 1971-75, which led to the first of his books, Ireland's Wetlands and their Birds (1979). He was a member of the Working Groups A 87. Clive Hutchinson {Richard T. Aiills) (1949-1998) [Brit. Birds 91: 269-270, July 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 269 270 O’Halloran & Sharrock: C. D. Hutchinson (1949-1998) for both The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland (1980-85) and The Nezv Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (l'987-88). He was also the founder and first Editor of the journal Irish Birds, for eight years (1977-84), and author of the classic Birds in Ireland (1989), still the definitive work, which built on the sound foundations provided by Ussher & Warren’s Birds of Ireland (1900), Kennedy, Ruttledge & Scroope’s Birds of Ireland (1954) and Ruttledge’s Ireland’s Birds (1966). Indeed, despite having no formal biological training, Clive had, in many ways, gradually taken over the mantle from Major R. F. Ruttledge (happily, still with us, aged 99) as Ireland’s most respected, knowledgeable and prolific ornithologist, with several popular as well as academic books to his name. A profile of Clive, by John Rochford, was published in 1978 {Brit. Birds 71; 305-307). It is a tragedy for ornithology,', as well as for his friends and family, that Clive lived for only 48 years, succumbing to cancer in March 1998. As in the whole of his life, Clive met this with courage and optimism. After his funeral ser\4ce, a flock of Starlings came in to roost on the high trees over the footpath, calling loudly: it was a sound that Clive loved. We shall miss him as a colleague, as one of Ireland’s most distinguished ornithologists and as a generous friend. His achievements, however, and our \'eiy^ fond memories of him, live on. His wife, Rachel, and sons, Andrew and Mark, can temper their sadness with great pride. John 0’Haux:>ran and J. T R. Sharrock LOOKING BACK Twenty-five years ago: ‘In its desire to ensure that each species has a distinctive vernacular name that will separate it from allied species in other countries, the Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of the American Ornithologists’ Union has decreed that henceforth there shall be Northern Fulmar Fulrnams glacialis, Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata, Black Scoter Melanitta nigra and Red Knot Calidris canutus. Such a policy has much to commend it. In Britain, however, it is difficult to see who would be prepared to tackle this aspect of terminology, even though we are a major offender in pinning what should be group names on to single species: Storm Petrel, Cormorant, Teal, Buzzard, Coot, Snipe, Cuckoo, Swift, Swallow, Wren and Wheatear are obvious examples of this British insularity of attitude. [Robkri' Hudson]’ ‘Sahara expansion? There has been copious mention in newspapers about human problems resulting from the prolonged drought that is affecting die arid belt south of die Sahara . . . This Sahel Region relies upon a short wet season to provide the water necessaiy for the maintenance of life, and for several years now' diese rains have failed: the Sahara Desert is broadening. Whether diis trend will condnue or be reversed remains to be seen; meanwhile there are grounds for fearing that such changes may have repercussions on Furopcan birdlife . . . Could this, for example, be why the Whitethroat [Sylvia communis] has failed to recover from its population crash in 1969?’ {Brit. Birds 66: 315, July 1973) CONSERVATION RESEARCH NEWS Compiled by Mark Avery and Andy Evans This feature, contributed by the RSPB’s Research Department, reports the most interesting recent scientific news relevant to the conservation of Western Palearctic species. Long-term reductions in shell thickness Recent research has suggested that some birds now find it hard to gather enough calcium to lay eggs of normal thickness {Brit. Birds 90: 266), but it is not clear whether this is a recent change, perhaps caused by acid rain reducing calcium availability, or whether some habitats have always been calcium-poor. A recent study by Dr Rhys Green of the RSPB sheds some light on this issue, but also opens up many new avenues for research. Dr Green weighed and measured the eggs of Song Thrush Turdus philomelos, Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus, Blackbird Turdus rnerula and Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus in several museums. The eggs were coDected from sites all over Britain as long ago as 1850. The eggshell thickness of all four species (measured indirectly as a ratio of mass to linear dimensions, but also directly for Song Thrush and Blackbird with a specially adapted micrometer) declined gradually through the period 1850-1960. More recently, the data became sparse, because of the legal protection of birds’ eggs, but there Green, R. E. 1998. Long-term decline in the in Britain. Proc. Roy. Soc. B 265: 679-684. was an indication that, in the cases of Song Thrush and Blackbird, shell thickness increased again. The magnimde of the thinning between the late 1800s and 1960, measured directly by micrometer, was 4.3% for Song Thrush and 10.7% for Blackbird. The effect was clear-cut for Song Thrush, Mistle ITirush and Blackbird, even when clutches from the period in which the environment became contaminated with organochloiine pesticides were excluded. This study does little to establish the mechanism behind this interesting phenomenon, but it does suggest that a range of species may have experienced eggshell thinning throughout most of this century’. Future studies are planned to explore whether other species have undergone similar trends and to examine geographical patterns of eggshell thiiming. The exciting possibility exists that eggshell thickness will prowde a biological marker to reconstruct emdronmental changes over large geographic areas and long periods of history. thickness of eggshells of thrushes Turdus spp. Yellowhammers on the slippery slope? When things start to go wrong, species can decline in numbers very quickly indeed. When Birds of Conservation Concern was compiled, the Yellowhammer Emberiza cttnnella was firmly on the Green List (of birds in little danger); two years later it would probably qualify for the Amber List (of species of moderate concern) and in a few years’ time it will probably be a candidate for the Red List. A survey by the RSPB in Northern Ireland suggests that the range of the species has declined by two-thirds since the ‘New Atlas’ was finished in 1991. Why? Chris Stoate, Steven Moreby and John Szczur of the Game Conservancy Trust (GCT) have shown that breeding Yellowhammers face similar problems to those confronting many other farmland birds. They have demonstrated that Lepidoptera larvae, Araneae and Tipulidae are important components of nestling diet, but that cereal grains are also eaten. Deliberate spraying of hedgerow bottoms with herbicides to control weeds, or accidental spray drift, removes nesting habitat for Yellowhammers, and pesticide use in the crop can reduce food availability for nestlings and adults. [Brit. Birds 91: 271-272, July 1998] 271 272 Consen’ation research news The authors advocate a reduction in pesticide applications around the field margin to presert e nesting habitat and to maintain invertebrate and plant food sources. Provision for such management has been made in a new Arable Stewardship pilot scheme introduced this year by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in East Anglia and Sliropshire, based on GC'F/RSPB/English Namre recommendations. Although very timely, this v\'ork does not explain why Yellowhammer populations apparently started to decline over a decade later than did those of most other declining farmland passerines. FTom what w'e know of their ecology, it is difficult to understand why they held out for so long. Stoa'I'E, C. S., Moreby, S. J., & Szczur, J. 1998. d'he ecology’ of Yellowhammers breeding on farmland. Bird Snidv 45: 109-121. Dr Aiark Aveiy & Dr Andy Evans, Research Departnieni, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 2DL MONTHLY MARATHON 0 The tenth ‘Monthly marathon’ has now started, and entrants have until 15th July to send in their April, May and June answers (see plates 42, 49 and 79). 'Fhe fourth stage appears below (plate 88), for which the deadline is 1 5th August. The prize for this tentli competition is once again the oppoitunit\- to join a S UNBIRD birdwatching holiday in Africa, America or Asia (the winner will have a choice of several destinations). The full rules are given on page 305. A 88. ‘Monthly marathon.’ Photo no. 14.5. F’ourlh stage in tenth ‘Maratlion’. Identify die species. Read the rules (see page .505), then send in your answer ott a postcard to Mondily Maradion, Fountains, Park Lane, Hlunham, Bedford MK44 .tNj, to arrive bv 15th August 1998. The Little Egret in Britain: a successful colonist Leigh Lock and Kevin Cook ABSTRACT Following a dramatic change in the level and pattern of occurrence in Britain during the last ten years, the first successful breeding in Britain by Little Egrets Egretta garzetta occurred in 1996. On Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset, one pair raised three young in 1996, and five pairs reared 12 young in 1997. This paper describes the background to this colonisation and suggests what future this attractive species may have in Britain. The Little Egret Egretta garzetta is a widespread species in the World, occurring throughout the temperate and tropical latitudes in the Palearctic, African and Oriental regions, and also in Australia. The nominate form occurs in Europe, where it is widely distributed in wetland areas containing abundant foraging habitats. This population was estimated at 30,000 pairs (Hagemeijer & Blair 1997). It is particularly abundant in the lower catchment of the largest rivers — Tagus, Ebro, Rhone, Po, Danube and Volga and in those coastal areas of Italy, France and Spain which have large lagoons. Whilst breeding populations and ranges have mainly decreased in eastern Europe, they have increased in Italy, Spain and France. It is thought that winter mortality may be an important factor affecting Little Egret populations. The majority of European Little Egrets move beyond soutlrern Europe to winter in North Africa in order to avoid harsh conditions. Since the 1950s, however, an increasing number, thought to be about 10% of the total population, overwinters on the European side of the Mediterranean. [Brit. Birds 91: 273-280, July 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 273 274 Lock & Cook: The Little Egret in Britain The increase in the French and Spanish population and the change in wintering behaviour has seen these egrets spread northwestwards along the Atlantic coast of Europe. In Brittany, wintering birds then began to establish breeding territories in spring, and finally, in 1960, Little Egrets established a regular breeding colony in Brittany, at the Lac de Grandlieu (Bargain 1993). Although numbers built up during the 1960s, this remained the only Breton colony until 1983, when breeding occurred around Guerande (Bargain 1993). At this time, there was a dramatic increase in the number arriving in late summer — particularly July and August, but extending into October. Many of these birds subsequently spent the winter in the area, benefiting from the mild oceanic climate. Breeding farther north along the coast soon followed, and there was then rapid range expansion along the entire Breton coast through the mid 1980s and early 1990s. The birds moved into Normandy for the first time in 1993, breeding on the lies Saint Marcout (Spiroux 1995). Thus, in northwest Erance during 1 983-93, breeding Little Egrets colonised a 600-km section of coast, establishing about 16 colonies and a population of approximately 400 pairs. The driving force behind the range expansion has been northwesterly post- breeding dispersal, leading birds to overwinter for the first time in new areas, and then to stay on to breed. Bargain & Gelinaud (in press) have suggested, however, that the rapid increase has been aided by the extra protection offered to the species by the EC Birds Directive since 1979. Status in Britain and Ireland The level and pattern of occurrence of Little Egrets in Britain has changed dramatically in the last ten years. Eraser, Lansdown & Rogers (1997) showed that, during the 31 -year period 1958-88, the average number of Little Egrets in Britain each year was fewer than 15, with a typical pattern of spring vagrancy. This changed abruptly in 1989, when there was an unprecedented early-autumn influx involving at least 40 individuals present in autumn. Since then, an early-autumn invasion, with a high proportion of individuals overwintering, has become the norm. This annual influx involves several hundred birds, and the total here recently reached in excess of 1,000 individuals present in autumn. Whilst they were recorded from a large number of localities, concentrations of egrets were occurring mostly on the sheltered South Coast estuaries and bays bem^een Chichester Harbour, West Sussex, in the east and the Isles of Scilly in the west — ^with particular concentrations in Chichester Harbour, in Poole Harbour, Dorset, and on the Tamar Estuary, Cornwall/Devon, where individual counts of more than 100 have been recorded. Although, typically, winter flocks disperse in spring, with many egrets presumably migrating soutli to breeding colonies in continental Europe, there has been an increasing tendency for small numbers of egrets to spend the summer in Britain. Display, copulation, stick-collection and even nest-building, often in association with existing colonies of Grey Herons Aniea cinerca, were reported from a number of Soutli Coast localities as long ago as 1993 (RBBP data) and 10X42HG DCF WP (watBrproofi Nature's best perforrtiances deserve Nikon's High-Grade Binoculars 8x42HG DCT WP/10x42Hfc DCF WP and 8x32SE CF/10X42SE CF \ v. '% As the name behind exemplary optical standards since lQ17,^ikon has never • failed to make every sfitctacle more spectacular. ■Vow, we at iVikon go further to offer closeup views of birds, wildlife, and \’istas that are vivid and clear beyond compare. VVith.8x421 K. 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Wallcreeper, Masked Shrike, Alpine Chough, Rose-coloured Starling, Dead Sea, Pale Rock and Yellow-throated Sparrows, Snow Finch, Red- fronted Serin, Crimson-winged Finch, Mongolian Trumpeter Finch, Cinereous. Grey-necked, Cretzschmar’s and Black-headed Buntings. SPKCIAl. OFFER: one day in high-standard motel with .1 meals and guiding to find Crimson-winged Finch, Red- fronted Serin and Wallcreeper - price £1(X) per [lerson. Contact Hadorain Shirihai, FO Box 4168, Eilat, 88102 Israel. Phone/Fax 00972-52-624063 VI British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 275 led to much speculation over exactly when and where Little Egrets would first breed in Britain. Finally, the first confirmed successful breeding in Britain occurred in 1996, when two sites were occupied. Given the inaccessibility of some other potential nesting sites, however, it is possible that breeding may have occurred previously, but remained unnoticed or unreported. This was followed by further successful breeding at both sites in 1997. A similar pattern of occurrences has been noted along the south coast of Ireland (Smiddy & Duffy 1997), where Little Egrets bred successfully for the first time in 1997. Details of range expansion of breeding Little Egrets into northwest Europe are summarised in table 1; details of breeding in Britain are summarised in table 2 (both are on page 277). An account is given below of the breeding on Brownsea Island, Dorset. Details of the second site, in southwest England, must remain confidential, until it is considered that this colony is fully established and that public knowledge of the site will not compromise the success of the birds at this sensitive stage of their colonisation. A 89. Brownsea Island and lagoon, Dorset {Kevin Cook) 276 Lock & Cook: 'llie Little Egret in Britain A 90. Three juvenile Little Egrets Egretla garzella reared on Brownsea Island, Dorset, 1996 {Kevin Cook) Breeding at Brownsea Island Nature Reserve, Dorset At 200 ha, Brownsea Island is the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour. Since 1963, The National Trust has opened the island to the public, and the Dorset Wildlife Trust has leased the northern 100 ha as a nature reserve. The most impressive habitat is the lagoon: about 25 ha of open brackish water with surrounding reedbeds and saltmarsh protected from the sea by a seawall. Its w’ater levels are controlled by a pump and sluice to protect its important tern colonies and w'ader feeding grounds. In winter, it is home to up to 700 Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta, over 1 ,000 Black-taUed Godwits Limosa limosa and many other waders. The rest of the island is centred around a wet valley of lakes, carr and reedbed. Rising from this are dry, sandy hills, largely cloaked in woodland of Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris, with dense thickets of Rhododendron Rhododendron pontiewn or cleared areas beneath. Early records of Little Egrets in Poole Harbour included singles in 1 940, 1 946 and 1961. In 1988, however, along with their colleagues in other southern counties, local bird-counters noted a steady increase of I Jttle Egrets in the Harbour with up to four being seen regularly. Little Egrets were soon also noted inland, up river valleys, but the Harbour, with over 3,500 ha of open water, tidal creeks and mudflats, saw the largest roosts on evenings in late summer. In the Harbour, 16 Little Egrets were recorded in July 1992, 32 in 1993, 85 in 1994 and 110 in 1995. ITe egrets regularly fed in the Browmsea lagoon and some roosted there overnight. Maximum numbers generally occurred during July to November, with smaller numbers tliroughout tlie rest of the year. Numbers on the lagoon peaked in 1994, witli 52 on one July evening. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 277 Table 1. Northwest European records of breeding Little Egrets Egretta garzetta. 1. There is also a one-off breeding record from the Loire Valley in 1989 (Guermeur & Monnat 1980). 2. Philippe J. Dubois in Hu. 3. Smiddy & Duffy (1997). Location Year of first confirmed breeding Number of colonies in 1997 1997 population (pairs) Brittany I960’ 18+ 500+ Normandy 1993 4 120^ Picardie 1996 T 42' Britain 1996 2 7 Ireland 1997 P 123 Table 2. Numbers of breeding Little Egrets Egretta garzetta in Britain, 1996-97. 1996 1997 Site Nests No. young Nests No. young Brownsea Island 13 5 12 Site X 12 2 2 but then a slow decline was noted, with 43 in 1995 and only 28 in 1996, and very few seen at other seasons. It did not look as if Brownsea was going to attract the Little Egret as a breeding species as we had thought. They were, however, first suspected of breeding on the island when strange guttural noises were heard coming from a secluded treetop* in 1996. Some weeks later, the assistant warden, Giles Strother, saw a Little Egret nest- building and later sitting, and the staff then kept a daily watch on the site, though it was extremely difficult to confirm fully whether this was a definite breeding attempt or just a roost, as the egrets left the nest at the slightest disturbance. Up to 12 individuals would roost there from about 20.00 GMT onwards. There were probably two pairs attempting to breed, with the earlier one succeeding. About 30 days after first hearing the birds, suspicions were confirmed as the warden, Kevin Cook, saw the fluffy feathering of four egret nestlings (one later perished)*. The nest was smaller than that of a Grey Heron and, as the young egrets grew, they moved onto nearby branches where they waited for the remrn of their parents. Feeding was noisy, but quick, with adults feeding the young on shrimps and small fish caught nearby. About a month later, the nestlings had fledged. After they left the nest site, they stayed together as a family group, being seen on the lagoon or roosting on a nearby lake. Keen-eyed birdwatchers would have noted the two adults with three young, the latter lacking the adults’ characteristic feathers and yellow feet, but people are used to seeing Little Egrets and no-one ever mentioned this to us. The second year, 1997, was a repeat of the first, though we feared initially that the egrets would not try again as even fewer were seen around the island. The nesting site was some distance away from that of 1996, and was even *Details of the nesting-tree species and the date of fledging have been omitted deliberately at this crucial stage in the species’ colonisation. 278 Lock & Cook: 'ITie Little Egret in Britain more difficult to spot, the nests being in the canopy about 1 5-20 m away, with very poor access. There was some difficult in making a nest-count, but evenmally it was agreed that five pairs were nesting, probably yielding 12 young. Unfortunately, to preser\'e its seclusion, visitors to tine reserve will not be shown the nest site. There are, however, hides overlooking the lagoon, where egrets may occasionally be seen feeding. The island is open from April to September, with the reserv^e accessible by nature trails (guided tours only in July and August). The future in Britain Given the range expansion into northwest France, the colonisation of Britain by Little Egrets has been expected for a number of years. Early indications, particularly from Brownsea, are that they are able to breed successfully and that the population may be able to expand quickly, much in the way that it has done in France. The build-up of breeding numbers in Normandy has been phenomenal: an increase of over 100 pairs in three years (see table 3). Also, in Ireland, a colony of 12 breeding pairs was established in 1997, at a site where only one summering individual was present in 1996 (Smiddy & Duffy 1997). Breeding success would also appear to be good — 2.6 young per pair in Ireland and 2.4 young per pair in Dorset — comparing favourably with productiviU' recorded in Camargue in soutliern France (2.4 fledged young per pair: Voisin 1991). Table 3. Numbers of breeding Little Egrets Egreila garzetla in Normandy (1993-97) (Debout 1997; Philippe J. Dubois in lilt.) Year Number of sites Number of pairs 1993 2 9 1994 2 30 1995 3 110 1996 3 120 1997 4 120 Outside the breeding season. Little Egrets occupy a large number of sites which could also support breeding pairs. In Brittany and Normandy, a variety of nesting habitats has been used — most frequently high up in broadleaved or coniferous trees, but also low down within reedbed or scrub, and even on rocky- islands amongst Tree Mallow Ijivateria arborea. Many egret colonies are associated witlr breeding Grey Herons and botli British breeding sites and the single Irish breeding site involve tree-nesting egrets associating \ritli heronries. Some egret colonies are isolated from other herons, and on islands tlie egrets are associated until nesting seabirds. Given such a catholic choice of breeding habitats, lack of suitable sites is unlikely to be a limiting factor and one could expect egrets to have tlie ptitential to breed much more widely in soutliem England. 'fhe British and Irish wintering population is the most northerly in tlie World. Severity of winter weather and high winter mortality could be a factor affecting future breeding success and limiting colonisation to the north and British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 279 east. Experience to date in Brittany suggests, however, that, although prolonged cold spells such as those in 1984/85, 1986/87 and 1996/97 can result in liigh mortality (e.g. 60% of individuals at Croisic in 1997; Bargain & Gelinaud in press), this has not had a long-term effect on the breeding population, which has continued to increase dramatically. Protection and management of key wetland sites are essential if further colonisation is to occur, and sites of national importance, including all breeding sites, should be afforded statutory protection. For non-breeding sites (given a population peaking at about 1,000 individuals), about ten birds would represent a 1% level, indicating national importance. As a minimum of 50 individuals is, however, generally accepted for defining sites of national importance, this could also be applied to Little Egrets. Given such criteria, a number of coastal sites in southern England would meet national-importance criteria for non-breeding Little Egrets (e.g. Gannel/Camel, north Cornwall; the Tamar complex, Cornwall/Devon; Teign, Devon; Poole Harbour, Dorset; Langstone/Chichester Harbour complex, Hampshire/West Sussex). The potential effects of disturbance are unknown, but, particularly during the early critical stages of colonisation, it is essential to adopt a precautionary approach and to seek to keep all current and potential breeding sites free from disturbance. Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act also needs revision to offer full legal protection to this species. It would seem, therefore, that, if egrets are given adequate protection from disturbance, particularly during the breeding season, they are likely to flourish in southern England in coming decades. Whilst the precise effects of climate change are difficult to predict and a number of scenarios have been proposed, mild winters would be likely to encourage further overwintering, and increasingly warm summers would be suitable for breeding. If these occur, there may be even greater range expansion, and the Little Egret may become a familiar breeding species along the South Coast, possibly being joined by other southern European species (e.g. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus) , before too long. Acknowledgments Thanks to Pat Smiddy, who provided updated information from Ireland; Philippe J. Dubois, who provided updated information from Brittany and Normandy; and the Dorset Bird Club for background information on Poole Harbour. Thanks also to Dr Ken Smith, who commented on an earlier draft. References Bargain, B. 1993. Oiseaux de Bretagne. Pen Ar Bed 150; 12-14. & Gelinaud, G. In press. Actualisation des effectifs reproducteurs et donnees sur la migration postnuptiale de I’aigrette garzette Egretta garzetta en Bretagne. DEBOtrr, G. 1997. Evolution recente de statut de 1’ Aigrette garzette en Normandie. Le Connoran 10 (45): 43-48. Fraser, P. A., Lansdovctm, P. G., & Rogers, M. J. 1997. Report on scarce migrants in Britain in 1995. Bn't. Birds 90: 413-439. Guermeur, Y., & Monnat, J.-Y. 1980. Histoire et Geographie des Oiseaux Nicheurs de Bretagne. Societe pour L’Etude et la Protection de la Nature en Bretagne. 280 Lock & Cook: 'Fhe Little Egret in Britain Haghmeijer, VC'. J. M., & Blair, M. J. (eds.) 1997. The EBCC Allas of European Breeding Birds — their distribution and abundance. London. Sauddy, P., & Duffa', B. 1997. Little Egret Egreita garzetta: a new breeding bird for Ireland. Irish Birds 6: 55-56. Spiroux, P. 1995. Premiere nidifieation de I’aigrette garzette en Normandie. Le Cormoran 9 (42): 151-158. VoisiN, C. 1991. Herons of Europe. London. Leigh Lock, RSPB, Keble House, Soiitherhay Gardens, Exeter, Devon EXi INT Kevin Cook, Dorset Wildlife Trust, The Villa, Broivnsea Island, Poole, Dorset BH13 7 EE NOTES These contributions have all been assessed by the eight members of either the Behaviour Notes Panel or the Identification Notes Panel. Display of Fulmar in presence of Great Skua On 8th August 1994, at sea off Cornwall, one of a group of about 12 Fulmars Fiilmams glacialis on the water was seen to lower its head and raise its tail and wings vertically in an apparent threat or aggressive display not unlike tliat of an owl (Strigidae) or the ‘cat display’ of a Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus. After watching this for about one minute, I noticed a Great Skua Catharacta skua circling overhead. The skua remained for about five minutes, throughout which the Fulmar continued the display, even when tlie skua was distant; on one occasion, the skua landed and drifted to within 2 m of tlie group, but at no point did the displaying Fulmar spit or lunge at it (although, when the skua had left, it lurched at and drove off another Fulmar). No other Fulmar in tlie group gave this display, although one individual of a loose group of three about 200 m away did so for about one minute. The Fulmar’s displays at the nest site are well recorded, but tliose at sea appear to be less well known. PHII. PAIjMER 72 Grove Road, Retford, Notiinghamshire DN22 7JN I'DtrORlAL coMMHN'r A very similar aggressive display at sea, again in tlie presence of a Great Skua, was described by T. R. Evans (Brit. Birds 44: 107), but in tliat instance the Fulmar held its head back almost betu'ccn its wings. [liw. nirds 91: 280-289, July 1998] © Kritisli Birds Lid 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 281 White Stork with Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in bill On 14th September 1994, at the Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba, United Arab Emirates, five White Storks Ciconia ciconia were feeding on grasshoppers in a newly cut field. Several hundred Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters Merops superciliosns were also present, perching on water-sprinklers and making occasional forays over the fields to catch insects, which were either consumed in flight or brought back to the perch; they often flew very close to the storks, but it was unclear whether they were taking advantage of insects disturbed into flight by the storks. One of us (EH) then saw a stork with a struggling Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in its bill, and alerted Michel Fouquet, Olivier Girard, Jan Lontowski, Michael Skakuj and TS. The bee-eater was held midway along the stork’s bill, gripped diagonally across the body, and was flapping its wings in an attempt to escape. The stork did nothing for a few seconds, then shook its head back and opened its bill slightly, as if to move the bee-eater closer to its mouth; as it did so, however, the bee-eater flew away, apparently unharmed, and settled on a perch with feathers ruffled. Unfortunately, we did not see the capture, and no further attempts by any of the storks to catch bee-eaters were observed. BWP (vol. 1) does not mention birds (apart from a domestic chicken) in the diet of White Stork, and we are unsure whether the Blue-cheeked Bee- eater was intended as food, was caught by accident or was attacked simply because it was annoying the stork. We thank Dr Ibrahim Zaki for allowing us access to the farm. We also thank the sponsors of the Abu Dhabi Shorebird Project, in which we took part: ETISALAT, ADMA-OPCO, ADCO, LOT PoHsh Airlines, TOTAL oil company, and the A1 Fahim Group. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan were most helpful in assisting the project. Erik Hirschfeld and Tadeusz Stawarczyk Sodra Forstadsgatan 62, S-211 43 Mahno, Sweden Successful hybridisation between Ruddy Shelduck and Egyptian Goose On 9th June 1991, a male Ruddy Shelduck Tadoma femiginea arrived at Rutland Water, Leicestershire. It remained until 1st September and during this period was sometimes observed associating with an Egyptian Goose Abpochen aegyptiacus. What was presumed to be the same male Ruddy Shelduck returned in early 1992 and since then has been more or less resident. Each breeding season, it has paired with a female Egyptian Goose, but in the years 1992-95 no offspring were recorded so the pairing was assumed to be infertile. In 1996, the male Ruddy Shelduck again paired with a female Egyptian Goose (presumed to be the same individual as in previous years), and this time they were successful: two small downy young (less than a week old) were first seen accompanying the parents on 18th May; they remained with the parents until at least 25th June, but by mid July had left them and joined a flock of Egyptian Geese which included several juveniles. 282 Notes ITie dowTiy young most closely resembled the downy young of Ruddy Shelduck as portrayed in BWR they appeared more black-and-white than downy young Egyptian Geese, their dark crowns extended down to eye-level (i.e. tliey lacked pale supercilia), and they had discrete whitish o\'al patches at the sides of the mantle and rump. Once fully grown and in juvenile plumage, they still superficially resembled Ruddy Shelducks: their eyes and bills were dark; the legs of one bird were grey, those of the other more flesh-coloured; their heads were greyer than normal for Ruddy Shelduck, and seemed more like male Cape Shelduck T. cana; their body plumage was duller than normal for Ruddy Shelduck, with grey mottling on the flanks and huffish undertail-coverts, more like Egyptian Goose; and the white greater coverts lacked the black subteiTninal line shown by Egyptian Goose, but had greyish tips. There are previous records of hybrids between Ruddy Shelduck and Common Shelduck T. ladonia (e.g. Gillham & Gillham 1996; Judith Smith in litt.), but, so far as I know, this is the first time that hybridisation with Egyptian Goose has been recorded. It is particularly notable tliat it occurred between wild-living escaped/introduced birds, and that tlie offspring superficially resembled Ruddy Shelducks. A. H. J. Harrop 30 Dean Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6AF Reference Gillham, E., & Gillham, B. 1996. Hybrid Ducks. Hytlre, Kent. Eurasian Sparrowhawk entering building In the coastal sand-dunes north of St Annes, Lancashire, a large derelict building (formerly a children’s holiday home) holds a good population of domesticated Rock Doves Columba livia. Sufficient ridge and roof tiles are missing to allow a reasonable amount of light into the attic space. On the morning of lltli January 1995, in sunny weather witli a cool norfli wind, I saw a female Eurasian SparrowEawk Accipiter nisiis fly to the building and perch on the top of a spiral outer staircase. After about 30 seconds, it flew' up the slope of the roof and quickly dropped into the attic; it had not emerged after ten minutes. At 10.15 GMT on 5th February 1995, in cool weather with sunny spells and a light southwest wind, I observ'ed the same beha\iour; on this occasion, the haw'k was apparently still inside after 30 minutes, although it may possibly have emerged on the far side. On neither date was the raptor chasing prey. I can find no reference to Eurasian Sparrowhawks deliberately entering buildings. Maurice Jones 31 Laverton Road, St Annes, iMncasliire FY8 IFW HDrroRiAi, coMMitN'P Prof Ian Newton has commented: ‘I have seen Eurasian Sparrowhawks enter buildings several times, but do not know' of any w'ritten record. The most surprising occurrence was of an adult male wiiich roosted for several nights inside an occupied cow byre, where the farmer saw it catch a sparrow Passer. A Iriend photographed it roosting on a rafter, where it is clearly identifiable as an adult male.’ British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 283 Lanner Falcon robbing Black Kite On 17th August 1993, at Tarquinia rubbish-tip, Lazio, Italy, I saw a juvenile Lanner Falcon Falco biannicus attack a Black Kite Aiilvus migrans which was feeding in the air on an object held in its talons. The kite dropped the object, and the falcon swooped below, caught it and carried it off (fig. 1). I saw the same behaviour again on 20th August, but this time the kite did not release its food and the two raptors locked talons; they fell together from the sky at increasing speed, parting only just before reaching the ground (fig. 2a & 2b). Roberto Gildi Via Alessandro Avoli 7, 00135 Roma, Italy EDITORIAL COMMENT Although food-piracy by Lanner Falcons has been recorded before {BWP vol. 2), Roberto Gildi’s drawings illustrate this behaviour particularly well. Figs. 1 & 2. Interactions between Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus and Black Kites Aiilvus migra?is: above, on 17th August 1993; below, on 20th August 1993 (Roberto Gildi) White-rumped Sandpipers in Britain and Ireland Speculation as to why so many White-rumped Sandpipers Calidris fuscicollis appear on the east coast of Britain has occupied various analysts over the years. In 1971, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock suggested that they were birds which had 284 Notes crossed the Atlantic during a previous season and were now undertaking a north-south migration from Northern Europe, with the implication that, although insufficient data were available, they were mostly adults {Bnt. Birds 64: 93-103). Subsequently, Sharrock & Sharrock (1976) used data up to 1972 to put the proportion of British records occurring on the East Coast at 22%, revised later to 39%, based on data up to 1985, by Dymond et al. (1989). Currently (as at the end of 1996, including Irish records up to 1995), the proportion stands at 25%, including records from Kent to Hampshire and from the inland counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Surrey, but excluding Orkney and Shetland. One aspect which has hitherto eluded comment, however, is the statement in BWP that, in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada, there is a clearly defined adult passage from 21st July to 8th September, males predominating. Vagrants appear regularly in the Azores at this time, and have included a flock of 48 adults, on 28th August 1990 {Ardeola 39; 78). Of the records on the eastern side of Britain, 57% fall within this period, whereas in the West it is only 24%. After 8th September, when fresh arrivals from across the Atlantic might be expected, the proportion in the West increases to 62%, whilst that in tlie East decreases to 25%. Establishing a bird’s age became a regular practice only after 1977. Since then, the vast majority of summer-month records in the east of Britain have related to adults, as would be expected. Indeed, in the East, only 14 have ever been identified as juvenile or ‘immature’, all subsequent to 14th September, but mostly from 26th September onwards. The earliest juvenile recorded in Britain to date was on Deemess, Orkney, on 8th September 1996, the ver\' year in which nine adults mmed up during the summer period. Could it be that all the adults had spent the breeding season in Northern Europe and the Deemess juvenile had actually been reared there? The geographical distribution of records in the East is also interesting. There have been only 12 on the east coast of Scotland (eight during the period 30th July to 20th August), whereas East Anglia and Kent have accounted for no fewer than 74, tire vast majority having been in Norfolk. This implies that, if North Sea crossings have been taking place, they have been well to the soutli rather than by the relatively shorter crossing from northern ScandinaHa to Scotland. Only two summer-month adults have ever been identified in Shetland and none in Orkney. The data for the east of Britain do not and can not, of course, take into account the very real possibility of repeat visits by some individuals, perhaps over a period of several years. No longevity data for tliis species are given in BWP, but the oldest known Dunlin C. alpina, admittedly a rather more robust species, is given as 19 years and nine montlis. For all tliat, there is scant evidence of any return passage in the spring, tlie only records having been in West Glamorgan in March 1970, Scilly in mid June 1978, Lothian in May 1980, Kent in April 1986 and Norfolk at the end of June 1989. It may be that, as Vinicombe (in Vinicombe & Cottridge 1996) speculated, diey find a different route back nortli, or in some cases succeed in returning to Nortli America. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 285 Another seeming anomaly, and one which is likely to remain unresolved, is that, despite intensive coverage at favourable feeding localities on the East Coast over the years, the annual number of records has varied widely. It may be, of course, that North Sea crossings are purely a matter of chance. Nor does there appear to be any correlation between the number of juveniles arriving anywhere in Britain in aummn and the number of adults in the East during the following summer. Some day, perhaps, a pair will be found breeding somewhere in Northern Europe and all will be Ught. M. J. Rogers 2 Churchtozun Cottages, Towednack, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 3AL References Dymond, J. N., Fraser, P. A., & Gantlett, S. J. M. 1989. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton. Sharrock, j. T. R., & Sharrock, E. M. 1976. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. VINICOMBE, K. E., & COTTRIDGE, D. M. 1996. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland: a photographic record. London. Aggressive behaviour of Caspian Terns towards herons During May and June 1994, at Lake Bemamba, western Madagascar, we made daily observations of waterbirds using a daytime roost in shallow water at an exposed sandbar. A flock of 20-50 Caspian Terns Sterna caspia roosted at the water’s edge, leaving for the coast about 10 km away at nightfall and returning around dawn (05.55 hours). Arriving terns often presented cichlid fish (Tilapia) to others, and copulations were seen. Throughout the period of our observations, arriving or departing Caspian Terns often flew low over the water, apparently aiming at herons feeding or sleeping nearby. They quite obviously aligned their flight to include ‘heron- startling’, managing to pick out single herons in the area. Grey Herons Ardea cinerea and Great White Egrets Egretta alba were targeted most regularly, with Purple Herons A. pwpiirea and Humblot’s Herons A. humbloti also harassed. The terns flew at a heron’s head, either approaching at head height or swooping down at the last moment. Adult herons ducked down under the flying tern, often snapping their bill in response; juveniles, on the other hand, became very excitable, rushing about and leaping into the air. This behaviour was observed on many occasions and was repeated each day. Introduced Tilapia fish are abundant at Bemamba, and no aggression or interspecific competition among fish-eating birds was observed elsewhere. BWP (vol. 2) describes a Merlin Falco coliimbarius making early-morning visits to a gathering of Carrion Crows Cowns corone in order to fly through them, causing panic and forcing several to the ground without attempting a kill. H. Glyn Yolu^g and Kevin Dlefy Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust Jersey Zoo), Les Augres Manor, Tnnity, Jersey JE3 5BF, Channel Islands 286 Notes Redwing taking flesh from dead Greenfinch At 12.00 GMT on 26th October 1994, while carr\dng out my usual ‘birding rounds’ aboard the British Petroleum platform ‘Buchan Alpha’ in the Central Sector of the North Sea (at 57°54'14"N, 00°01'55"E), I saw a single Redwing Tiirdiis iliaciis and a Fieldfare T. pilaris, and the remains of several Greenfinches Cardiielis chloris which had been killed by a Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. On approaching the Redwing to within 3 m, I saw that it was feeding from the detached wing of a Greenfinch; the thrush pecked and shook several small pieces of flesh from the wing, which had been severed at the shoulder, and ate them. Paul F. Baker Buchan Alpha, do BP Exploration, Farburn Industrial Estate, Dyce, Aberdeen AB2 OPA EDITORIAI. COMMENT This individual was presumably stressed, but, as Derek Goodwin has pointed out, starving and stressed Redvings usually refuse foods new to them, even when other thrushes are eating tliese. Large roost of Common Chiffchaffs in Spain Although communal winter roosts of Common Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita have been described {BWP vol. 6), they are not well known. In winter 1990/91, a roost of Common Chiffchaffs was discovered at the Biological Station of the Canal Veil in the Natural Park of the Ebro Delta, northeast Spain. It was situated in two rows of Myopomm tenuifolium bushes up to 3.5 m tall bordering a 188-m-long path. The surrounding vegetation consists mainly of Common Reeds Phragrnites australis and a patch of Glasswort Arthrocnemuni fruticosum saltmarsh. During the winters from 1990 to 1993, these roosting warblers were located with flashlights and caught by hand. The results showed that the roost began to form in December and remained occupied until mid March. In each winter, the maximum number of individuals was found between mid January and early February: 108 birds on 18th January 1991, 111 on 8th February 1992, and 116 on 22nd Januarv' 1993. Ringing also revealed that some individuals used tlie same roost during the three years in which samplings were made, suggesting a degree of winter site fidelity. The Namral Park of the Ebro Delta facilitated the monitoring, and tlie Grup Catala d’Anellament partly financed the study. L. M. Copete, R. Marine, J. Solans and R. Vidal assisted in catching and ringing tlie birds. B. Wcitzmann translated the manuscript. At PERT Bertoipro, J. Figueroia, X. Riera and L. Gustamenee Parc Natural delta de I’Ebre, Plaga 20 de Maig sin, 43580 Deltebre, Spain Long-tailed Tits feeding on peanuts On 4th January 1998, we saw a single Long-tailed 'Pit Aegithalos caudatus feeding on peanuts in a wire frame suspended from an apple tree at Bramley, British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 287 near Basingstoke, Hampshire. The bird was soon joined by others of its group and up to four were seen feeding simultaneously on the peanuts. Later during the same day, two Long-tailed Tits returned to the food source suggesting that it had become a regular feeding station. When one Long-tailed Tit was feeding, a Blue Tit Pams caemleus fed opposite, undisturbed. The presence of four Long-tailed Tits feeding together seemed, however, to deter up to three Blue Tits, which had arrived close by and perched in the tree, from approaching the nuts. A single Long- tailed Tit was again feeding at the same source of peanuts on 28th January: it fed in the company of a Blue Tit for two minutes when they were on opposite sides of the container, but, when they came face to face, the Long-tailed Tit fled. This also occurred when during another feeding visit it encountered a Great Tit Pams major. The Long- tailed Tit was undeterred, however, and remrned to feed alone, pecking into the nuts vigorously and continued when joined by two Blue Tits. Although Long-tailed Tits are known to take seeds and breadcrumbs from birdtables (BWP vol. 7), we are not aware of accounts of their taking peanuts, a habit which may soon, perhaps, become widespread. Robert A. Cheke and Anthony S. Cheke Natural Resources Institute, University of Greemuich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB EDITORIAL COMMENT Peanuts in hanging containers have been provided at Fountains, Blunham, Bedfordshire, for the past 21 years. Long-tailed Tits have been almost daily visitors to the garden throughout that period, but visited the nut-containers for the first time only in winter 1995/96 (on a handful of occasions); their visits became regular in 1996/97, and by 1997/98 had become as frequent as those of Blue and Great Tits. The significance of this for a species previously relying mainly on invertebrate prey, and consequently subject to heavy mortality in prolonged spells of freezing weather, is obvious. The change in habit at this one site is very recent and very striking. For a more-considered, national view, we have invited David Glue (BTO Research Department — Nest Records & Garden Birds) to comment in detail (see below). Peanuts as a winter food source for Long-tailed Tits Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus have taken peanut fragments from hanging baskets in gardens for at least 35 years, though the habit has increased substantially in recent decades, most strikingly in the early 1990s. Edwin Cohen (Sway, Hampshire) advocated breaking up peanut kernels using a mincing machine (designed to process meat products), a ploy he used to good effect during the severe 1962/63 winter to attract Long-tailed Tits to the birdtable. This method was also used successfully by me at Dibden Purlieu (Hampshire) in 1968, at Virginia Water (Surrey) in the ‘late 1960s’ (per Douglas Carr) and at East Boldre (Hampshire, per Norman Pullen). The BTO started its long-running Garden Bird Feeding Survey (GBFS) in winter 1970/71, at which point Long-tailed Tits were seen to be taking supplementary foods of some type in an average of 11% of the gardens 288 Notes sampled over the first decade. In winter 1971/72, obsen^ers were asked to list the range of food items they provided and subjectively to assess their status as ‘preferred’, ‘regular’ or ‘occasionally taken’ materials for visiting birds (Glue 1982). The countrywide scatter of 620 gardens covered was boosted to 980 over the foUov'ing two winters. Long-tailed Tits were watched taking supplementary foods at 132 of these feeding stations. Key food items found to be ‘preferred’ or ‘regular’ included fat, suet, meat fragments from bones, small seeds (often oat meal) and less often peanut fragments, crumbs of cheese and bread. The ‘preferred’ feeding positions employed were on hanging containers and raised surfaces (tables and benches), and only occasionally the ground. Interestingly, a scattering of obser\^ers noted the unobtrusive way in which Long-tailed Tits might monopolise the feeding station: ‘Oddly enough, although this is the smallest of the birdtable visitors (if we exclude the tail), the sight of a dozen Long-tailed Tits around the edge of a feeding tray seems to have an inhibiting effect on other birds, and they are usually allowed to stay until they are satisfied’ (Glue 1982). Long-tailed Tits maintained a regular, if variable, level of attendance at the cross-section of UK gardens sampled throughout the 1980s. It was during the early 1 990s that the numbers of birds coming, and the proportion of birdtables patronised, increased relatively sharply (table 1), endorsing comments made by discerning birdwatchers at large. Initial increases during winter 1993/94 and 1995/96 were in part attributed to larger flock sizes following on from productive breeding seasons in the UK. Not so, though, in winter 1996/97, when Long-tailed Tits reached all-time-high attendance levels at GBFS feeding stations, despite the abysmal nesting season, the legacy of a destructive cold late spring with damaging frosts and rains in April and May. Clearly, Long- tailed Tits have located, and are increasingly exploiting, supplementary' foodstuffs at garden feeding stations. It seems likely that this is due, at least in part, to the recently improved diversity of seed-mixes (including black sunflower hearts) available from wildbird-food dispensers, and including the availability of peanuts in a popular ‘granular’ form, more easily assimilated by small-billed species such as the Long-tailed Tit. Local observations suggest that this species is quick to copy fresh forms of behaviour and utilise new food types provided. Though Long-tailed Tits are not long-distance travellers, BTO ringers have shown not only how flocks increase in size over the late autumn and winter periods, but also that there is an interchange of individuals between flocks. Clearly, any learned forms of behaviour may be copied quickly and spread widely, as happened with Blue Tits Pams caemleus (and other tit species) and the expansion of milk-bottle-top opening (Fisher & Hinde 1949; Table 1. Percentage of BTO Garden Bird Feeding Sur\'ey stations attracting Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos candalus to supplementary foods from winters 1992/93 to 1996/97. 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 % of gardens 24 37 33 44 45 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 289 Cramp et al. 1960). The beneficial impact that this relatively new form of food may have on a small passerine vulnerable to cold weather, especially glazed-ice conditions, is deserving of further smdy. David Glue British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU References Cramp, S., Pettet, A., & Sharrock, J. T. R. 1960. The irruption of tits in autumn 1957. Bnt. Birds 53: 49-77, 99-117, 176-192. Fisher, J., & Hinde, R. A. 1949. The opening of milk-bottles by birds. Brit. Birds 42: 347-357. Glue, D. E. 1982. The Garden Bird Book. London. Anting behaviour of Rooks Around midday on 1 2th September 1 994, at Cadover Bridge, near Plympton, Devon, I stopped to observe a group of Rooks Corvus frugilegus feeding on a grassy bank by the road. After a few minutes, one of them moved on to a sandy area beneath some taller vegetation, where it spread its wings. At first I thought that it was simply enjoying the warmth of the sun, but it soon began picking up ants from the surrounding ground and placing these between the feathers of its breast and between those of its axillaries. Almost immediately, it was joined by a juvenile Rook; a tussle for space ensued, before the two settled and proceeded to pick up ants and place them between not only their own but also each other’s feathers. A few minutes later, a further half-dozen Rooks had joined the two on the bank, and all began anting in the same way. There was much jostling between adults for the best places, with individuals in bodily contact when they placed ants on each other; the juveniles, when close to the adults, had ants placed between their feathers. In all cases, ants were placed in the breast feathers and the axillaries, but the way in which the Rooks nestled close to the ground made it likely that ants were climbing between most of the feathers of the belly and flanks. The juveniles appeared to be mimicking the adults, but how many ants they actually picked up was questionable. The behaviour continued for approximately five minutes, until a sudden noise caused all the Rooks to fly back across the road, where they resumed feeding. The ants were later identified by entomologists at the University of Plymouth, Devon, as Black Garden Ants Lasius niger, a species abundant throughout Britain. Sara McMahon 72 Underroood Road, Plympton, Devon PL7 ISZ EDITORIAL COMMENT The communal namre of this incident is interesting, while the apparent anting of one bird by another seems extraordinary. Derek Goodwin has commented: ‘. . . there seem few records of Rooks anting in the wild. I’ve never seen free Rooks anting (so far as I can recall), though often Carrion Crows Corvus corone and sometimes Eurasian Jays Gamdus glandarius, and I’ve never kept Rooks in captivity.’ In a major review of the anting behaviour of passerines {Brit. Birds 50: 401-424), Dr K. E. L. Simmons stated for the Rook: ‘Both main forms of anting [active and passive] noted in the wild and in captivity’. LETTERS Grants for conserv^ation I was pleased to see that the grant that Norfolk Wildlife Trust has been awarded from the Heritage Lotter\’ Fund for restoration at Hickling Broad was considered to be worthy of mention in ‘News and comment’ {Brit. Birds 91: 69). The point made (that grants should cover running costs and maintenance as well as capital expendimre) is completely valid in essence, and we would be delighted if there were some funding available for ongoing expenses. The article was, however, somewhat misleading, as it implied that we are building a new visitor centre, whereas we are investing in much-needed improvements to our existing centre. Similarly, the hides we are building replace existing hides which are now at the end of their service, and the proposed tree tower will replace an existing strucmre. The vast majoriU' of the funding is going into habitat restoration work, and, in that respect, wildlife has definitely come first. It does need to be remembered, however, tliat we are very^ dependent on the people who visit the reserv'e, because it is their support, donations and membership that subsidise our ongoing running costs. It is only right, therefore, that we provide good and appropriate facilities for visitors. Brendan Joyce Director, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, 72 Cathedral Close, Norzuich NRl 4DF Cattle Egrets using roads for navigation Jacques Franchimont {Brit. Birds 90: 385) reaffirmed his view {Brit. Birds 86: 17, commented on by Chris Mead, Brit. Birds 86: 375-376) that Cattle Egrets Bubidciis ibis in Morocco use roads as navigation aids while moving to roost. On the island-city of Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, there has been a steady increase in the number of wintering Cattle Egrets since the early 1990s. They are usually to be found in the city’s parks and gardens during the day, flying to a fixed roost in a stand of mangroves Avicemna marina on the eastern side of the island at dusk. On 5th January' 1996, I was inspecting a small pool at Abu Dhabi International Airport, located on the adjacent mainland 25 km from the egrets’ roost. Shortly before sunset, I noticed a flock of 74 Cattle Egrets flying fast above the trees lining the approach road to the airport, and apparently following the main road towards the city. Pursuing them in my car (at some risk to myself and other drivers), I followed the birds down tlie road. At a flyover junction, the birds flew upwards to pass over tlie flyover, turning right to follow the main road towards tlie city. 4"hey continued to fly just above the height of the central street lights, rising upwards over several crossing road bridges, until they reached tlie bridge providing access to tlie island. At this point, they swung slightly right to follow tlie eastern coast of the island. 'Thanks to the proximity of the coastal road to the coast itself, I was able to observe the birds almost uninterrupted until they arrived at tlie main roost in tlie mangroves. 290 [Bril. Bmh 91: 290-291, July 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 291 The distance flown by the birds was approximately 35 km, significantly longer than the direct route from the airport to the roost, and also, incidentally, much farther than the distance of ‘up to 1 0 km’ cited by Franchimont as that flown by Cattle Egrets to roost in Morocco. In a mid-winter, cloudy Abu Dhabi, the tarmac of the main roads is unlikely to provide much more in the way of warm air rising to assist the Cattle Egrets in flight than the sahkha salt-flats adjacent to the main road followed by the birds. I suggest that there is little doubt that the birds I observed were, in fact, using the road as a navigational aid, at least until the point when they had the option of choosing between a road and the coastline. At that point, they plumped for the adjacent coast. Peter Hellyer PO Box 791, Abu Dhabi, UAE Cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets When I read with interest the note on cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis {Brit. Birds 91: 107), I recalled seeing what I assume was the same nest-site near Lagos, Portugal, during a boat trip which my wife and I took on 23rd May 1987. My notes record ‘About 500 Little [Egretta garzetta] and Cattle Egrets at breeding colony on cliffs — ^Little oumumbering Cattle by about 4 to 1’. Stephen B. Edwards Hazeldene, Medboume Lane, Liddington, Swindon SN4 OEY Cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets Concerning the recent note on this subject {Brit. Birds 91: 107), it is worth pointing out that nesting on cliffs is well known m the Algarve. Vowles & Vowles (1994, Breeding Birds of the Algarve) specifically noted the Ponta de Piedade colony and also mentioned that most colonies in the Algarve are simated on sea stacks, although the species also uses reedbeds and trees. Rae Vernon 1 6 Orchid Meadoiv, Pwllmeyric, Chepstow, Gwent NP6 6HP Cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets A recent issue {Brit. Birds 91: 107) referred to Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis nesting on cliffs at Ponta de Piedade, near Lagos, in the Algarve, Portugal, in April 1988. The tone of the note and the subsequent editorial comment implied that this was previously unrecorded behaviour. There is, however, a weU-known and well-established colony of cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets at Tajo de Barbate, near Cape Trafalgar, Andalucia, Spain. The colony has probably been in existence since the last century, and E. F. J. Garcia {in litt.) estimates that there are over 2,000 pairs of Cattle Egrets, together with about 40 pairs of Little Egrets Egretta garzetta. Neil Money Heathfield House, Dunnet, Thurso, Caithness KW14 8XP MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPHS Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus and Black-billed Cuckoo C. erythrophthalnms breed throughout much of the USA and in southern Canada. In autumn, when both species migrate to their winter quarters in South America, individuals occasionally cross the Atlantic, and have appeared in several European countries. Up to the end of 1996, 61 Yellow-billed Cuckoos and 13 Black-billed Cuckoos had been recorded in Britain and Ireland; all were in aummn and early winter, with most in October. These occurrences have clearly been influenced to a greater degree by the more easterly autumn migration route of many Yellow-billed Cuckoos, which involves a lengthy ocean crossing, than by the more northerly breeding range of many Black-billed Cuckoos. The complete post-juvenile moult of both cuckoos starts on the breeding grounds and is then suspended, to be resumed after autumn migration, during which, though the state of moult is very variable among individuals, the flight- feathers and tail-feathers are always retained juvenile feathers. For the purposes of this text, an individual in active or suspended post-juvenile moult is referred to as a ‘first-winter’. Mystery' photograph A, taken by Philip Jones, shows a first- winter Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Surrey in October 1991, while mystery photograph B, taken by Brian Walker, shows a first-winter Black-biUed Cuckoo in Cheshire in October 1982. Both species are smaller and proportionally slimmer and shorter-winged than the familiar Common Cuckoo Cuculus canoms. Comparing the two. Yellow-billed Cuckoo averages the larger and has marginally longer and more pointed wings and a slightly longer and deeper bill with a more markedly decurv'ed tip. Black-billed Cuckoo is the more slender of the pair, with the longer and more strongly graduated tail. Such distinctions are, however, of little use in the field. The strikingly two-toned bill of Yellow-billed Cuckoo is dark horn to dark grey and lemon-yellow to bright yellow; normally, the yellow extends along the basal half to two-thirds of the cutting edges of the upper mandible and covers all but the tip of the lower mandible. The more subtly tw^o-toned bill of Black-billed Cuckoo is slate-grey to black, with blue-grey along the basal one- third or so of the cutting edges of the upper mandible and with the basal three-quarters or more of the lower mandible blue-grey. Basing identification on bill colour alone, however, is not always advisable. Juvenile Yellow-billed Cuckoo has pale grey on the bill where an adult’s bill is yellow. Such juveniles of the western race occidentalis possess no yellow at all on the bill, while tliose of the nominate eastern race show either none or only a limited amount of yellow at the base of the lower mandible. An identification pitfall is provided by individuals that take longer than most to gain the full complement of yellow on the bill. A further problem is created by those adult Black-billed Cuckoos which display a little yellow underneath the lower mandible at its base. While the eye-rings of first-winters of both species are yellow, those of adult Yellow-billed Cuckoo are grey and the eye-rings and the adjacent bare skin of adult Black-billed Cuckoo are a stunning red, as shown by the individual in 292 [Brit. Birds 91: 292-294, July 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 293 A 92. Mystery photograph 214B. A 91. Mystery photograph 214A. plate 93. Both species possess dark brown irides and blue-grey legs and feet. The best plumage character for separation is provided by the tail. All of the tail-feathers of adult Yellow-billed Cuckoo, except for the central pair, are black, or largely black, with the second-innermost pair usually tipped with buff-white and the outermost three pairs white-edged and extensively tipped with white. From above, except when the tail is spread, this bold pattern is obscured by the plain central tail-feathers. From below, however, the six large white tips contrast at all times with the otherwise black feathers. First- winter Yellow-billed Cuckoo has a similar, though less distinct, tail-pattern: the outer feathers are dark grey above and grey below, not black, the white edges are more extensive but less well defmed, and the white tips are a little smaller and less clean-cut than those of an adult. The tail-feathers of adult Black-billed Cuckoo are uniform in colour except for comparatively small white tips and dark subterminal bars to the outermost four pairs. From above, this rather indistinct pattern is usually hidden by the central tail-feathers, but, from below, the white tips and dark bars contrast somewhat with the otherwise pale grey feathers. First- winter Black-billed Cuckoo has a similar, though even less well- defmed tail-pattern: the dark subterminal bars are either faint or absent and the pale tips of the feathers are very small and huffish- white. Another good distinguishing feature, though one which should be applied with caution, concerns the wings. The largely rufous inner webs of the greater primary coverts and the majority of the primaries and secondaries of adult Yellow-billed Cuckoo create an area of contrast on each wing. The rufous. M 93. Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythrophthalmus with begging nestlings, Canada, June 1995 {Kevin Carlson) 294 Mysten' photographs which is usually clearly visible on an individual at rest, shows as large, eye-catching wing patches in flight. The wings of first-winter Yellow-billed Cuckoo, which have the greater primaiy^ coverts and most primaries almost wholly rufous and a rufous tone to the outer webs of at least the outer secondaries, are even more colourful. Adult Black-billed Cuckoo generally lacks such contrast, though some individuals show' a faint rusty tone to the median and greater wing-coverts and to the bases of the inner primaries. Many first-winter Black-billed Cuckoos, however, like the one in myster>' photograph B, possess a deep rufous tone to the greater wing-coverts and to the basal two-thirds of the primaries and the outer secondaries, and thus invite confusion with Yellow-billed Cuckoo. WTiile some first-winter Yellow-billed Cuckoos have narrow', creamy-white or rich buff margins at the tips of the upperwing-coverts, first-winter Black-billed Cuckoos frequently display slim, off-white or pale buff fringes to the tips of not only the upperwing-coverts, but also the inner primaries and the secondaries. Although the upperparts of the two cuckoos are of a similar colour, those of Yellow-billed Cuckoo are comparatively brown-toned, while those of Black-billed Cuckoo are relatively grey-toned; this is especially so in autumn. Other differences include Yellow-billed Cuckoo’s purer grey forehead and lores, adult Yellow-billed Cuckoo’s darker brow'n ear-coverts, which are often bordered below by a slim, black line, and the very thin pale fringes to the upperpart feathers of first-winter Black-billed Cuckoo. Both cuckoos possess largely white or pale-cream underparts, normally with the sides of the breast and the lower flanks olive-grey. While the chin, throat and upper breast of Yellow-billed Cuckoo are sometimes tinged with pale grey, with the centre of the throat and breast then creamy or buff, those of Black-billed Cuckoo are not infrequently buff-toned. The underwdng-coverts and axillaries, vent and undertail-coverts of Yellow-billed Cuckoo are cream-buff; those of Black-billed Cuckoo are generally more richly coloured, vaiy'ing from cream-buff to deep yellow-buff. I am most grateful to Ian Dawson for providing references to works which discuss the colour and pattern of the bill of juvenile Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Peter Lansdown 197 Springwood, Uanedeym, Cardiff, Glamorgan CF2 6UG References A1.STROM, P., Colston, P., & Lewington, I. 1991. Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe. London. Cramp, S. (ed.) 1985. Tlie Birds of the Western Palearctic. \'ol. 4. Oxford. Farrand, J. (ed.) 1983. The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding. vol. 2. New York. Potter, E. F. 1981. Notes on nesting Yellow-billed Cuckoos. J. Field Dm. 51: 24. Pyi.e, P. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds, part 1. Ann Arbor. Rogers, M. J., & the Rarities CoMMirriiE. 1991. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1990. Brit. Birds 84: 478. & 1997. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1996. Brit. Birds 90: 488. SlTTFON, G. M. 1982. Portrait of a young cuckoo. Living Bird 1: 17. Williams, W. 1989. Birds of the Northeast. 'Tampa. OCEAN ADVENTURES Experience the unforgettable birds, wildlife and scenery of Antarctica & The Arctic We have a superb selection of cruises on small or medium-sized vessels, ranging from the famous World Discoverer to former Russian research ships. Visit Antarctica, South Georgia, The Falklands, The Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand & Australia, The South Atlantic Islands, The Amazon, The South Pacific Islands, The Kurils & Kamchatka, Arctic Siberia, The Aleutians & The Pribilofs, Alaska, Arctic Canada, Greenland and Spitsbergen. Brochures from Ocean Adventures, Two Jays, Kemple End, Stonyhurst, Lancashire BB7 9QY. Tel: 01254-826116. Fax:01254-826780. E-mail: ocean@birdquest.co.uk ZZ / Lf /vxolI 4647 Great hireling! Great value! BEIDAIHE from £990 22 September-? October 1998 with Paul Holt EILAT from £640 1-8/15 November 1998 with Killian Mullarney GOA, INDIA from £920 14-29 November 1998 (2nd departure) with Paul Holt SOKOKE, KENYA from £850 7-22 February 1999 with David Fisher HONG KONG from £1190 31 March-10 April with extention to Emei Shan, China, until 17 April with Steve Rooke and Richard Lewthwaite Details from Sunbird (BS), PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 IDF. Tel 01767 682969. Fax 01767 692481. (Please specify which event you are interested in). Sunbird is a tradinQ 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 Protessionals recommend! QUALITY BINOCULARS nd TELESCOPES Select from the world’s finest optical instnjments: 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 BCXDKS, VIDEOS and AUDIO CASSETTES by leading publishers. Worldwide coverage ! Visit our BIRD and 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 [ {**1 orders. FOCUS OPTICS Church Lane, Corley, Coventry CV7 8BA Tel:01 676-540501 & 542476 Fax:01676-540930 vii BIRD eserve, Rutland Water Sunday 23 August 199S 9.30 am - 5.30 pm daily Adult £8 • Children free BBWF 1998 SUPPORTING BirdLife Main sponsors Also sponsored by THREATENED BIRDS PROGRAMME Canon Naturetrel^ SWAROVSKI Ail profiU wtii tM donMsd by Laicaararshir* WlldUfa Salat to BirdUfa Intamatiorial. laleattarahira WildHfa Salta it a whoHy ownad tubiMiiry of LRTNC. Tha BSPS, Blrdlifa fmarnatiooaf and LitTNC art ragiitarad charltiaa. Illustration by Robart OlHmor. 94/888/97 6 viii REVIEWS Birds on the Spurn Peninsula. By Ralph Chislett with G. H. Ainsworth. Edited by Michael Densley. Peregrine Books, Horsforth, 1996. 216 pages; one colour plate; 12 black-and-white plates. ISBN 0-9520268-7-2. £17.95. As a young teenager, I started birdwatching in the East Riding, and trips to Spurn Point were always a magical occasion. I was lucky to find an original copy of Part One of this title and always wished that it had been completed. Now, at last, the missing half has been added, after more than 30 years, to produce a near-complete and fascinating picture of one of Britain’s most exciting bird observatories. This work details the establishment of the observatory and catalogues the many species seen at Spurn, from early rarities such as the 1896 Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata to the 400 Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis trapped in January and February 60 years later. It is both an ornithological chronicle and a charming account of pioneering bird- watching and ringing which will truly delight anyone who already knows this unique and wonderful part of the UK. Chris Harbard Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 4. Sandgrouse to cuckoos. Edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, 1997. 679 pages; 70 colour plates; 250 colour photographs; 850 distribution maps. ISBN 84-87334-21-0. £110.00. This series is a reviewer’s nightmare. By vol. 3, all the superlatives have already been used. It is even appearing quickly, on a tight schedule, and is solidly bound. First, however, we should consider the good points. The texts describing family characteristics are not only informative and comprehensive, but are also beautifully written, so that they are a pleasure to read. The species texts are succinct, but remark- ably comprehensive and well referenced, and, although they are in tiny type, are made readable by good design and use of clear print which could hardly be bettered. The maps are small, but cover an appropriate portion of the Earth’s surface in each case, so that they, too, are ideal for reference. The paintings (by 1 8 artists in this volume — half of whom are, notably, Bird Illustrators of the Year) are all good as individual portraits, but also provide splendid com- parisons between species (e.g. 16 pigeons on a page); many plates could fairly be described as beautiful, and some are exquisite. TTie photographs — yes, there are photo- graphs as well! — portray behaviour as well as plumage, are reproduced exceptionally well and many are simply stunning. Recently, while judging Bird Photograph of the Year, a typical ornithological question came up (as we were looking at Dr Jens Eriksen’s photograph of a male Chestnut- bellied Sandgrouse Pterocks exustiis rising from a pool): ‘Do female sandgrouse ever carry water on their breast feathers to the nestlings in this way?’ Turning to the recently received volume, we read: ‘How water is brought to the chicks is perhaps the most surprising and most written-about aspect of sandgrouse breeding behaviour. It is curious too that although the truth was discovered at the end of the last century, it was not generally accepted until fairly recently. In 1896, Meade-Waldo published an account in The Zoologist [British Birds’ precursor], that was both lively and accurate, of how a male Pin-tailed Sandgrouse [P. alchata] entered a drinking pool, saturated his belly feathers with water and then proceeded to run back to his recently hatched chicks, whereupon they crept beneath him and sucked at his feathers. In several later works, up to 1922, Meade-Waldo continued to insist on the reality of this phenomenon, which had been observed in other species by other bird-fanciers, such as St Quentin who had seen it in the Chesmut-bellied Sandgrouse. However, for some strange reason it was repeatedly asserted that the whole story was pure fantasy and that one could only go as [Brit. Birds 91: 295-299, July 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 295 296 Reviews far as saying that sandgrouse might possibly regurgitate like other birds. This state of affairs continued until, in July 1960 near Baghdad, Iraq, S. Alarchant happened to obserxe a male Spotted Sandgrouse [T. senegallus] in the wild gi\'ing water to his two chicks. The following year, the same author made a similar observation, but this time of a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, and then a few years later T. J. Cade and G. L. Maclean published a comprehensive smdy about the Namaqua Sandgrouse [P. naniagua], which cleared up the matter once and for all. ‘Before taking water into their feathers, the males normally rub their bellies on the ground, presumably to get rid of or reduce the oily film on their feathers, then they enter the water and ruffle their ventral feathers, at the same time rocking to and fro. Sometimes they drink at the same time, though not always. When they reach the chicks they walk with their legs wide apart, instead of placing one foot in front of the other, as they normally do. They then stand in a strange, erect “W'atering Posture”, which allows tlie chicks to strip the feathers of water. While the chicks are thus engaged tliey look rather like a “litter of suckling pigs”, as somebody graphically reported. Once they have finished drinking, the males usually rub their bellies on the ground again, perhaps tliis time in order to get themselves dn,’. ‘The male’s belly feathers are specially adapted for carrying water. They arc capable of holding up to 1 5-20 ml of water per gram dry weight, when the equivalent in a synthetic sponge would be little more than 5 ml. The feathers in the proximal sections have barbules without barbicels and are thus not interwoven; they are coiled several times spirally and instead of being arranged at right angles to the barbs, as is the normal arrange- ment, tliey are parallel. However, when the keratin is dampened, these barbules uncoil partially and proceed to lie at right angles to die plane of the feather vane or vexillum, so creating a special layer, a kind of felt, capable of holding water and absorbing it by capillaiy attraction in which an important part must be played by the hairy filament in which the barbules terminate, some tenths of a millimetre in length. Not all the water manages to reach the chicks, since some of it evaporates during flight, but at least a fair amount does. For the Namaqua Sandgrouse, it has been calculated that males can take in 25-40 ml, and that after a journey lasting 32 km and half an hour they would be able to give their chicks some 10-18 ml. If need be, they make more trips: Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse [P. orientalis] in Spain at times make as many as diree in a day; it is frequent to see males at the water-holes alone and not at die usual times. ‘In the female too, specialized feathers appear, but they cover much less surface area, which tallies with the fact that [die] female is rarely seen to wet these feathers at the watering pools, perhaps only if the male has died, or if, as the chicks grow apace, the male’s contributions need to be supplemented. Moreover, these feathers seem to be present in all die species except in the Tibetan Sandgrouse [Syrrhaptes iibeta>ms], which is also unique amongst sandgrouse in die special nature of its habitat; it does not visit watering pools on a daily basis.’ I have given this gigantic quote to demonstrate, by one example, just how readable die text Is in this book, how interesdng its content, and how valuable for reference purposes. The whole v'olume is a delight to die eye, and a pleasure for anyone who just enjoys good books. Secondly, there must be some bad points. No book of this size can possibly be error- free. But, even if 1 had found one, 1 would not mention it here, for no-one should be deterred from looking at (and, preferably, owning) all the volumes in this series. J. T. R. SHARROCK An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the Oriental Region, By Tim Inskipp, Nigel Lindsey & William Duckvvortli. Oriental Bird Club, Sandy, 1996. 294 pages. ISBN 0-9529545-0-8. Paperback /]9.95. riie Oriental Bird Club has grown steadily since its inception in 1984 and has achieved a great deal. The publication of this book must surely stand as a major milestone in the Club’s history and one of which it can be rightly proud. This checklist is clearly and concisely laid out and lists all the species known to occur within the area covered by die Oriental Bird Club. Widely used alternative Fnglish names are also given, which, in a part of the World with a bewildering array of names, is British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 297 extremely useful. The at-a-glance, succinct taxonomic notes are equally valuable and add to the importance of this book as an essential reference. This long-awaited volume has been extremely well produced, and it is clear that a lot of thought and effort have gone into its making. It is, quite simply, one book you cannot do without. Steve Rooke Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain and North-West Europe. By Chris Kightley & Steve Madge. Illustrated by Dave Nurney. Pica Press, Mountfield, 1998. 320 pages; 296 colour plates. ISBN 1-873403-49-6. Paperback £11.95. This boldly designed field guide details 385 species occurring in an area best described as ‘Northern Europe’. The omission of southern Iberia and the Balearic Islands is curious, given the popularity of birdwatching holidays there, but otherwise this guide compares favourably with the established European field guides. It is well laid out and easy to use, the maps, status and population data are informative, and the text, annotated around the illustrations and as bulleted points, is concise and detailed, but not abstruse. Inevitably, as in all field guides, some of the most complex groups, such as skuas and raptors, receive superficial treatment. That the authors are well acquainted with the real field appearance of the birds is obvious, and they often capture this in their text. In addition, the title ‘Pocket Guide’ is not a misnomer: the book is light, durable and ideal for field use. Dave Numey’s paintings are big, strive to capture a variety of postures and are, on the whole, accurate. Some, such as the grebes and chats, are excellent, but others, for instance certain raptors, young guUs and tubenoses, are rather less convincing. In essence, this guide comes recom- mended: it is a pleasure to use and should prove especially useful to new or inexperienced birders. Oscar Campbell Rare Birds in Dorset. By Stephen Morrison. Stephen Morrison, Branksome, 1997. 192 pages; 157 graphs; 55 distribution maps. ISBN 0-9530078-0-4. £19.95. This is an attractive, well-produced book, albeit one which is expensive bearing in mind that it contains no photographs and just a single vignette. It follows the now- familiar format of using histograms and dot-distribution maps to shed light on the subject. Species accounts vary from nearly four sides for some scarce migrants to just a single line for one-off vagrants. There is no mention of rare subspecies of common species not covered in the text — a puzzling omission considering the current interest in taxonomic matters. Unfortunately, a constant irritation for the reader is the apparent lack of any subediting, making tlie text very heavy going in places. By and large, the hard facts of dates, places and numbers are accurately presented, although, in the absence of any attempt critically to re-evaluate most old records, the book is not tlie ‘complete review’ that the author suggests. M4RTIN Cade Atlas Hmzdmho Rozslfem Ptaku vCeske Republice 1985-1989. By Karel Stastny, Vladimir Bejcek & Karel Hudec. Nakladatelstvi a Vydavatelstvi H&H, Jinocany, 1996. 457 pages; 199 line-drawings; 388 distribution maps. ISBN 80-86022-18-8. No price given. This is ‘The Atlas of Breeding Birds in the Czech Republic’, based on the 628 ‘squares’ (the standard 12 km X 11.1 km map grid), covered by 750 fieldworkers during 1985-89. TTiis is the second such survey, the first having been part of the Atlas project covering the whole of what was then Czechoslovakia during 1973-77. (In between came ‘The Atlas of Wintering Birds in the Czech Republic, 1982-85’, reviewed recently: Brit. 298 Reviews Birds 90; 106-107.) Although there is only one page of English text (a mere 0.2% of this book), the inclusion in the book of the 1973-77 maps at quarter-size, alongside the 1985-89 maps, and tables giving statistics for both surv'eys of numbers of squares containing possible, probable, and confirmed breeding records, make this volume enormously valuable and absolutely fascinating ‘reading’, even for those, such as myself, who cannot read a word of Czech. These comparative breeding surv'eys show extraordinary changes in a mere 12 years. Over 20 species have more than doubled the area of their ranges, and three have declined to half or less of their former ranges. Twelve species were found breeding in 1985-89 which were not breeding 12 years earlier, whereas four species breeding then have subsequently been lost. These changes have significance far outside the Czech Republic itself, for what is happening there doubtless reflects what has happened or will happen in other parts of Europe, so that these Czech data can be used to confirm Europe-wide trends or act as a basis for prediction of range expansion and colonisation or range contraction and extirpation. There is also significance for those who are interested in rarities, for vagrancy is far more likely to occur from a thriving and expanding population than from one that is declining and contracting. It is worth, therefore, listing some of the major changes which have been revealed by these two surv'eys. The following species have all at least doubled their ranges in 12 years: Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Mute Swan Cygnus olor, Common Goldeneye Encephala clangula. Black Kite Milvus migrans. Red Kite M. milvus, Marsh Harrier Circus aeniginosus, Hen Harrier C. cyaneus, Montagu’s Harrier C. pygargus, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, Black Tern Chlidonias niger, Pygmy Owl Glauddium passerinum, Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius fnnereus, European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos. Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva, Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus, Penduline Tit Remiz pendulums, Rook Corvus frugikgus. Raven C. corax and Common Rosefinch Carpodaais erythrinus. The two biggest increases were by Red Kite (from 1% to 1 7% of the squares in the Czech Republic) and Raven (from 3% to an amazing 45%). Other notable increases of especial interest to ornithologists in Britain for a variety of reasons were shown by Honey-buzzard Pemis apivorus. Eagle Owl Bubo bubo. Rufous Nightingale Luscinia rnegarhynchos. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris. River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis, Savi’s Warbler L. luscinioides. Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris, Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus, Collared Rycatcher Ficedula albicollis and Willow Tit Pams montanus. The 12 species which have colonised since the earlier surv'ey are Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo. Little Egret Egretta garzetta. Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. Common Crane Gms gnis, Dotterel Charadmis morinellus. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, Mediterranean Gull Lams rnelanocephalus, Common Gull L canus, Ural Owl Strix uralensis. Thrush Nightingale laiscinia luscinia and Bluethroat L svecica. ITie only three of these showing significant spread were Great Cormorant (5% of ‘squares’). Green Sandpiper (6%) and Bluethroat (7%). The declines have been fewer, only three species declining to half or less of their prev'ious range: Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca (from 6.5% to 3%), Hoopoe Upupa epops (from 30% to 15%) and Woodchat Shrike lanius senator (3% to 1%), but other large declines were shown by Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix, European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. Wood Lark Lullula arborea and Com Bunting Miliaria calandra. Four species which were breeding in the 1970s had ceased to do so by the 1980s: Pintail Attas aam. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus. Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis and Lesser Grey Shrike lanius minor. These are just the higlilights, which should whet the appetite of everv'one who is interested in range changes and population trends of Europe’s birds. The value and interest of a repeat surv'ey of this sort are more than double those of even a trail-blazing first survey. This splendid volume deserv'es to be in all serious ornithological libraries. J. T. R. Sharrock ALSO RI-CEIVED Where to Watch Birds in Australasia and Oceania. By Nigel Wheatley. (Christopher Helm Publishers, London, 1998. 448 pages. ISBN 0-7136-4543-1. £16.99) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 299 A Guide to the Nest, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. By Paul J. Baicich & Colin J. O. Harrison (Academic Press, London, 1997. 2nd edn. 347 pages. ISBN 0-12-072831-1. Paperback $24.95) This is a fine guide and I certainly would not be without it if I lived in North America. It provides comprehensive coverage of 669 species of birds breeding in Canada and the United States. Each species account covers about one-third of a page and provides a succinct description of nest, eggs, young and parental behawour. Beautifully illustrated, with line-drawings throughout the text, it also contains excellent colour plates of selected nestlings and of the eggs of 597 species. Humphrey Q. P. Crick The Large Gulls of North America. Introduced by Jon L. Durm. (Bird Images Video Guides, Sherbum-in-Elmet, 1997. The Advanced Birding Video Series. Video 1, covering 13 species, total running time 119 minutes. £16.95) Here is an explosion of gulls! Numerous images of all ages of Thayer’s Lams thayeri, ‘Kumlien’s’ L. glaucoides kumlieni, the North American race of Herring Gull L. argentatus smithsonianiis and those British ‘wannabees’. Glaucous- winged L glaucescens and Slaty-backed L. schistisagus, plus fascinating sequences of Yellow-footed L. livens, colonising Kelp L. dominicanus, the barroviaitus race of Glaucous L. hyperboreus, and Vega Gulls L. argentatus vegae. It is comprehensive, but not exhaustive (e.g. nothing on variation in wingtip pattern of adult smithsonianiis), with some misidentifications, incorrect ageings and wrong assumptions. It is also a missed opportunity, with nothing on vocalisations. Nevertheless, if you want a glimpse of these birds’ real appearance, and wish to be equipped for pioneering gull action, get this video. Martin Garner A Dissimulation of Birds: illustrated collective nouns of birds. By Steve Palin. (Minerva Press, London, 1998. 48 pages. ISBN 0-75410-290-4. Paperback £9.99) Some of the nouns of assemblage for flocks of birds are covered in 22 double-page spreads (the whole of the left-hand page being devoted to paintings of the birds cavorting around a large capital letter of the noun described, with this same illustration repeated and occupying one-third of the right-hand page), each devoted to one such word (e.g. exaltation of larks) . There is also a useful list of over 150 such terms. Some of the supposed derivations could be disputed (e.g. a fall of Woodcocks Scolopax msticola surely derives from the sudden appearance of large numbers, particularly on the East Coast in autumn or in hard-weather movements). The author states that the book is not intended to be academic, but is intended to provide fun. It is described as ‘An invaluable addition to any bird-lover’s library.’ Yes. JTRS Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. By Ken Simpson & Nicolas Day. (A & C Black, London, 1998. 5th edn. 400 pages. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5. Paperback £24.99) In this third edition of the paperback version of Simpson & Day’s Australian guide, there are 20 new colour plates, the identification section has been reordered to match the most up-to-date classification, the distribution maps have been entirely redrawn and updated, and numerous black-and-white illustrations have been added. This guide now competes directly with the latest version of the Slater guide and the completely revised Pizzey guide, providing three excellent field guides from which to choose when birding in Australia. All three can be recommended and each has different advantages; the strength of this guide is the excellent Handbook section, which is over 1 00 pages long. David Fisher Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Falkland Islands. By Robin W. Woods and Anne Woods. (Anthony Nelson Publishers, Oswestry, 1997. 190 pages. ISBN 0904614-60-3. £25.00) This Atlas marks the successful culmination of decades of work and interest in the Falklands’ birds. It is a professional, excellently presented work, based largely on amateurs’ observations. Given the difficulties of covering such inhospitable and often inaccessible terrain with so few observers, numbers and distribution details are, not surprisingly, inexact. There are now, however, clearly documented, sensibly considered records where previously there had been so few. This publication provides an important baseline for further smdies, which should help to focus attention on a wide range of local conservation issues. R. P. D. Munns NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Bob Scon and Wendy Dickson Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Bird fairs — national and regional The annual British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water is now firmly placed in the August diary^ and continues to grow in size and, as a result, regularly increases the sums of money raised for conservation. The success of the national fair has spawned a host of regional fairs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to the Chilterns, the South West and no doubt many more. The regional fairs give opportunities to those who cannot get to Rutland to experience at least some of the excitement, and there is clearly a place for them in the annual birding calendar. There is, however, limited ability for societies and companies to support all the fairs, and organisers must look to local support rather than a full range of the national organisations. It is wonydng, too, when there is a close proximity of date and locality, with apparent competition. This is not helpful. We hope that all the fairs taking place in the coming months and years will give tangible support to conserv'ation. In addition to the national British Birdwatching Fair (21st-23rd August 1998) at Rutland W'ater, we have recently been informed of the Birdwatchers’ Fair & Wildlife Photofair 1998 at Middleton Hall, Tamworth (4th-5th July 1998), the Scottish Wildlife & Countryside Fair 1998 (5th-6th September 1998) and the South West Birdwatching Fair at Roadford Reservoir, West Devon (3rd-4th October 1998). Agreement on Shetland sandeel fishery A notable management package for the Shetland inshore sandeel fishery has been agreed between the Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SEA), RSPB Scodand and Scottish Natural Heritage. The package will be presented to the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department (SOAEFD) and is in line widi earlier proposals put forward by SOAEFD. The proposed three-year management scheme will operate a closed season between 1st June and 31st July to take pressure off seabird species such as Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea at the most crucial time in die breeding cycle. Fishing will, however, take place each side of this closed season. 'The total allowable catch (TAG) of 7,000 tonnes is a substantial increase on the 3,000 tonnes TAG operating during 1995-97 and follows an unprecedentedly large recruitment of young sandeels in autumn 1997. The TAG will, however, be review'ed annually, to take account of any marked changes in sandeel recruitment and stocks, in order that it can be set in accordance with die precautionary principle. Landing of sandeels from the Shedand fishery should take place only at die uvo designated ports of l.erwick and Scalloway. This is die first time that conserwitionists and fishermen have reached such a complete consensus on management measures which allow a sustainable industrial fishery, whilst also protecting breeding seabirds, sandeel stocks and odier wildlife. It bodes well for the future. 300 [lint. Birds 91: 300-305, July 1998] €> Hritish Birds L.td 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 301 On tour to Ireland Field excursions are not the most important part of a weekend conference, but Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegem. Common Crane Gnis gim, Blue-winged Teal Anas ducors, Long-tailed Duck Clangnla hymialis, Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus and notable flocks of geese. Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa and Greenshanks Tiinga mbularia all added spice to the 32nd All-Ireland Conference on Bird Conser\^ation held at Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford, during 27th-29th March 1998, on the subject of ‘Birds and tourism’. Tourism, within its broadest definition, is now the World’s largest industry' and ‘green tourism’ (also t'ariously called ‘eco-tourism’, ‘soft tounsm’ and a few other names over the weekend) is the fastest-growing sector. It was unfortunate that there seemed to be a complete lack of tourist agencies or authorities present to hear some of the presentations. Topics addressed included how to get the money spent into the pockets of the local community and how to prevent damage to the very wildlife that the tourist has come to see. Contributions took us within Europe David Scott (1909-1998) Everyone who was in any way connected with the breeding bird atlas surv'ey in Ireland during 1968-72 will be enormously saddened to hear of the death on 21st April of David Scott. During those years, and for the period up to publication of The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain atid Ireland in 1976, David was the linchpin of the magnificent Irish effort which saw every single 10-km square covered; an achiev'ement beyond the wildest dreams of those who had predicted 25% coverage of Scotland and when, to quote James Ferguson-Lees, ‘nearly everyone thought that the coverage would be so thin in Ireland that nothing should be attempted in that country.’ David persuaded, cajoled, encouraged and blackmailed almost every Irish birdwatcher to participate, and then led by example, travelling by caravan to the remotest areas and cov'ering them energetically and meticulously. An accountant by profession, his ordered brain ensured that the volumes of paperwork involved in his task as Atlas Co-ordinator for the Republic of Ireland were equally meticu- lous. His enthusiasm and achievements were the inspiration for others, while his tenacity and dedication ensured that any colleagues who were inclined to be tardy seldom got from the heartland of Ireland, vtia mid Wales, to Finland, and to each of the other continents. How can National Parks adapt and plan for tourism (Liam Lysaght)? What effect can mass-tourism have on unspoiled countryside (Tony Lowes)? How does tourism pay for the wildlife (Roger Lovegrove)? Some topics to stimulate the minds of all touring birders. Pleasant relief was provided by pioneering fieldwork in Donegal (Ian Wallace) and a record World tour (Bryan Bland). One message that we can all take on board (from Martin Davies) was that every time any of us fills in one of those immigration forms we should make sure to indicate that we are a wildlife tourist, and also tell everyone we meet that that is what we are doing. The 1998 conference was organised by BirdWatch Ireland, Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, Ireland. In 1999, the conference is scheduled for early March in Northern Ireland; ask for details from RSPB, Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast, Northern Ireland til's 4QT. away with it. He did not suffer fools gladly, and, as a result, made an enemy of almost everyone at one time or another. Time always healed the wounds, of course, but also, usually, showed that he had been right. His contribution to Irish ornithology was largely forgotten in the decades following that first Atlas, but was immense. The unexpectedly thorough coverage of Ireland meant that, despite hav'ing many fewer observers, Ireland was not ‘the poor relation’, but an equal partner with Britain in this joint enterprise between the fledgling Irish Wildbird Conserv'ancy (now IVC^C BirdWatch Ireland) and the British Trust for Orni- thology. Today’s Irish ornithologists and con- serv'ationists owe him a great debt of gratitude. What I shall remember most, how- ev'er, is the twinkle in his eye and the impish grin on his face as he shared his joy in his studies of Hen Harriers Cirats cyaneus and when he made discoveries such as populations of Whinchats Saxicola nibetra in Co. Sligo and Ring Ouzels Turdtis torquatus in Co. Leitrim. A profile of David Scott, by Dr John Temple Lang, was featured in our series ‘Personalities’ in 1977 {Brit. Birds 70: 71-72). (JTRS) 302 News and comment Calf of Man and Filey first First of the 1997 annual reports to reach us were those for the Calf of Man and Filey Brigg, both in early April. The Calf of Man Bird Observ'atory was founded back in 1959, so new species are hard to come by. Three were claimed in 1997: a Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bukverii on 13th September is said to be ‘Subject to acceptance by BBRC’ (but had still not been submitted by mid May 1998), while an Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola on 7th May (a major rarity in spring) and a Bearded Tit Panunis biamiicus on 3rd September are both described in terms that suggest that that is quite probably what they were. Including these three claims, 171 bird species were recorded during the year, the highest-ever total. The year-list of 124 ‘macro’ moths included 1 1 new to the island. The Calf of Man Bird Observatory Annual Report for 1 997, compiled by Tim Bagworth, is available, price £2.50 (+ p&p), from H. Magee, The Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man LMl 3LY. Filey Brigg recorded ‘only’ 210 bird species in the year and no major rarity, but the Report reflects the dedication of the area’s obser\'ers and the fascination of stud\Tng a ‘patch’ on obser\'ator\' lines. Two problem birds are dis- cussed: a gull, probably a leucistic Herring Gull Lams argetttatus, and a treecreeper, prob- ably the Scandinavian, nominate race of Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris. As well as the birds, the Filey Brigg Bird Report 1 997, edited by Peter J. Dunn, docu- ments 14 species of dragonfly, 20 butterflies and 89 motlis. It is available, price £5 (+ 80p p&p), from John Harwood, 13 West Garth Gardens, Cayton, Scarborough von 3SF. Suffolk late but lavish With a bumper 200 pages, Suffolk Birds (vol. 46), incorporating the 1996 Suffolk Bird Report, arrived with us in early April. Too late for inclusion in tlie Best Annual Bird Report Awards judging (though note that the rules have been amended and it will be eligible in the next assessments), but quite up to snuff Rarities described in detail include the county’s first Crested Lark Galerida cristala (Paul Holmes) and Booted VC’arbler Hippolais caligata (Dave Jupp), sec- ond Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola (Brian Small), Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis Qohn Archer) and Western Bonelli’s Warbler P. bonelli (Mark Grantham) and third Rustic Bunting Emberiza mstica (Ricky Fairhead) . This model report, edited by Mike Crewe, costs £1.50 (+ £1.50 p&p) from the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, The Museum, High Street, Ipswich IPI 3QH. Garden mammals TTie Mammal Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species are launching a surv'ey of mammals in gardens, starting in August 1998. If you would like to participate, ask for a questionnaire from James Hargreave, 15 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London sws 4BG; phone 0171 622 2232; fax 0171 498 4459; e-mail Mammal_Survey(l^compuser\'e.com Cormorants and fish again A recent report by the Environment Agency shows that the impact of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo on fish populations is perhaps not so great as popularly perceived on all waters. This follows a 12-month research project which studied the cormorants’ feeding habits at two lakes in Hertfordshire’s Lea Valley. To give a balanced view. Wildlife Trust and RSPB representatives were called on to carry out obser\'ations to identify the number of fish being taken. The report — An Assessment of Cormorant Depredation on Stillwater Fish Populations in the Lea and Colne Valleys of the Thames Catchment — revealed a 6% loss of existing fish in summer and a 1 7% loss in winter. A detailed sun-ey among several hundred angling clubs revealed that the birds seemed to prefer Roach Rutilus mtilus, small Bream Abramis brama and Rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus in die 10-20cm length range. Unfortunately, many anglers are fighting back by restocking lakes with large Carp Cyprinus auratus which, although too big for the birds, are ha\-ing a detrimental effect: being aggressive, stirring up lake floors and making underwater conditions too difficult for plant life (and subsequently odier fish) to survive. Thus, anglers may be exacerbating the situation and ultimately could destroy more fish titan do cormorants. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 303 Rarity descriptions now, please It is very 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 will speed up the decision-making process if notes on all major spring rarities are submitted by mid July at the latest. Please do not wait until the end of the year. Thank you. {Contributed by M. J. Rogers) ‘Birds of Wiltshire’ project The Wiltshire Ornithological Society began a four-year summer survey of the county’s birds by tetrads in 1995. Its aims have been (a) to find as many species as possible in each tetrad during April-July, also trying to establish which are breeding, and (b) to make two two-hour counts of aU individual adults of every species seen in each tetrad, on routes planned in advance to cover all the main habitat types, the first in April-May and the second in June-July. Over 100 WOS members have been taking part, and 83% of the 913 tetrads were cov- ered in the first three years. The WOS is now to begin a two-year winter survey based on randomly selected tetrads in each 10-km square. The results will be published in a new Birds of Wiltshire which will have tetrad maps for breeding, distribution and relative density, and 1 0-km winter distribution maps for residents and winter visitors. The accompanying texts will interpret the maps against national and regional trends. Passage migrants and vagrants will be summarised. RSPB Events Diary More than half the year is already over, but it is worth remembering that each spring the RSPB publishes its Diary of Events running from the beginning of April to the end of September throughout the UK. A great variety is on offer: educational fun activities during school holidays, walks at many reserves, advice on optical equipment, floral forays and even a moth morning. A nominal charge is made at many events, slightly more for non-members of the Society. For further information, contact the RSPB’s Media Unit on 01767 680551. Under 22? Keep a notebook? Let’s see it! If you are (or you know) a birdwatcher aged 21 or under, and thereby eligible to win the title Young Ornithologist of the Year, please enter (or encourage him or her to enter) the competition. Prizes and titles will be awarded within three age categories: 18-21 years, 15-17 years and 14 or under. The prizes for the winners are worth over £2,500, and all it takes to enter is a good field notebook. For 1998, entrants should submit their actual field notebooks relating to all or part of the period 16th August 1997 to 1 5th August 1 998, plus any notes written up afterwards, by the closing date of 1st September 1998. Entrants must be aged under 22 on 1st September 1998 and should supply details of their date of birth and also a suitable SAE for the return of their notebooks. ‘Birding Scotland’ Edited by Ian M. Phillips and designed by Harry I. Scott, Birding Scotland is a new journal. The first issue contains papers on ‘Birding in North-West Scotland’, the September 1997 Unst Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum, the four Shetland Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers Locustella certhiola in autumn 1997, a nineteenth- century Unst Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula, Icterine Warblers Hippolais icterina on the Scottish east coast, Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus, a Fife Bonaparte’s Gull L. Philadelphia, ‘Kinnaird Head, a Mecca for gulls’, Scottish birding highlights in 1997, mainland Scotland’s first Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis. North American Herring GuU Lams argentatus smithsonianus 100 nautical miles off St Kilda, Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera on the Isle of May, and, in association with the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, ‘The Scottish List’. All this within a 48-page issue! We trust that all Scottish birdwatchers will continue to support and be active members of the long-established Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh ehv 5BT), but at the same time there will probably be many who wish to sample the migrants and rare-birds fare of Birding Scotland. The subscription is £15.00 p.a. for four issues, from H. Scott, do Pica Design, 259 Union Grove, Aberdeen ABio 6SX. 304 News and comment Boost for Broads wetlands A £750,000 project by the Broads Authority, known as New Wetland Har\-ests, supported by local and national partners with a grant of £345,000 from Europe, involves a prototype high-tech Wetland Harvester machine which will help to develop environmentally sustain- able technolog\' for w'etland management. Harvesting fens is a labour-intensive process, involving teams of volunteers ‘scrub-bashing’ and then burning the litter. TThis project seeks to find uses for these fen ‘products’ as biofuel and animal feed, so that the fens have a viable economic and ecological future. New EBCC Chairman Dr David Gibbons, Head of Monitoring at the RSPB, w'as elected Chairman of the European Bird Census Council at its March 1998 meeting in Cottbus, Germany. After working on the joint publication of die British Trust for Ornithology, the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club and the Irish WUdbird Conservancy (now BirdWatch Ireland), The Neiu Allas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1988-1991, David moved to die RSPB. He currendy co-ordinates the Sodet\’’s input to UK bird-monitoring and works with BirdIJfe International partners in Spain and Hungary to get bird-monitoring schemes established elsewhere in Europe. He also recendy visited the Caribbean island of Montserrat to determine the population levels of the Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi following the volcanic eruptions. New BOURC Chairman After completing his four-year term, Prof. David Parkin’s position as Chairman of the British Ornithologists’ Union’s Records Committee has been taken on by B. A. E. (Tony) Mart. We wish him good luck in his role, which will involve keeping an even hand between the avid splitters and the con- seri'ative lumpers, and persuading stick-in- the-mud Brits that die one cisticola widi a range extending into Europe should have the same English name here as it does in the rest of die World. We look forward to working widi I’ony and building on the excellent co-operation which has long existed between BB and die BOU and between die BBRC and die BOURC. Belize BirdFest A week of tom's and expeditions is being run during 2nd-8th October 1998 by the non-profit organisation, the Belize Audubon Society, to raise funds for conserv'ation. For details, contact the BAS gt 1 2 Fort Street, PO Box 1001, Belize City, Belize; phone 501-2-35004; fax 501-2-34985; E-mail base(g)Bd.net; VCTbsite http/Zw'W'w. belizeaudubon.org Mushrooms being overexploited Over-picking of wild mushrooms and odier fmigi is becoming a problem, according to English Nature, so a group of consen'ation organisations has now decided to establish a code of practice. ‘Fungus forays’ are enjoyable events that help people to learn about the natural emironment, but collecting wild fungi is becoming a serious problem for rangers and wardens of land widi public access. More research is needed into the effects of recreational and commercial collecting on woodland wildlife. The group feels, however, drat there is a need to set aside certain areas, such as Nature Reserv'es containing rare species, where no picking should take place other dian for research purposes. In line with continental European practice, the Code will recommend a maximmn w'eight of edible mushrooms wliich can be taken per day, together with a recommended limit on the number of specimens taken for identification purposes. Separate ad\dce will be produced for leaders of fungus forays. For further information, contact Dr Brian Johnson on 01823 283211. Phone the Jersey owls Phonecards are becoming as collectable as postage stamps, and telecommunications companies have not been slow in realising this. We have just received from Jersey Telecoms its latest set of phonecards produced in conjunction widi die local branch of llie Hawk & Owl Trust. ITie extremely attractii’e cards feature Bam Owl Tyto alba. Short-eared Owl Asia flamniens. Long-eared Owl A. otns and a family paity’ of young Bam Ow'ls. 'Die cards are ai'ailable at £2 each; a presentation set widi information on die ow'ls is also available. Details from Jersey Telecoms, PO Box 53, Telephone House, Jei-sey Jlt4 8PB, Channel Islands. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 7, July 1998 305 Twitchers? We have all experienced it. Like it or not, we have been called ‘twitchers’. In the eyes of the media, the word is synonymous with ‘birdwatcher’. You calmly explain, you argue strongly, but still it happens. Occasionally, it happens where it should not. We have just received the latest advertising brochure from Benham stamps, a company that specialises in supplying first-day covers. They are promoting a new scheme of ‘RSPB bird club first day covers’, 25% of the money to be raised being passed to the RSPB. Good stuff, but the promotional photograph, featuring Bill Oddie, Barbara Young and Julian Pettifer, labels them as ‘Britain’s best known Twitchers’. Oh dear! If you are interested in the first-day covers, contact Benhams, Benham House, Folkestone, Kent CT20 iSD. Ne’w RSPB Chief Executive Fastest-growing bird club in Scotland Such is the claim of the Fife Bird Club in a recent Press release. It states that, over the past 13 years, the Club has developed and grown in size well beyond expectations. Founded by a group of 12 in 1985, the Club now boasts over 300 members. To know more, contact the FBC, 25 St Fillans Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY2 6LT. Safer environment for Grey Herons English Nature has successfully persuaded Eastern Electricity to place underground the power lines supplying Osea Island, Essex. This will particularly benefit the 16 or so pairs of Grey Herons Ardea cimrea that breed in the area. In one recent year, six were killed by flying into the overhead power lines. Following Barbara Young’s departure to supremo of the RSPB. We wish him well in head English Nature {Brit. Birds 91: 260), this vital and challenging post. Graham Wynne has been appointed as M MONTHLY MARATHON This month’s ‘Marathon’ text and photograph are on page 272. RULES 1. Only current individual subscribers to British Birds are eligible to take part. Entrants should give their name, address and BB reference number on their entr>'. Only one entry is permitted per person each month. 2. Entries must be sent by post, each one on a separate postcard, and be received at the British Birds Editorial Office (Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3N]) by the stated closing date. Every care will be taken, but, even if negligence is involved, no responsibility can be accepted for non-delivery, non-receipt or accidental loss of entries. 3. All BB subscribers are eligible, except members of the Editorial Board and staff of British Birds, Directors and members of staff of sunbird/wings Holidays, and Directors and members of staff of our printers, Newnorth Print Ltd. (Members of BB Notes Panels, the Rarities Committee, and other voluntary' contributors — including bird-photographers, even if one of their photographs is used in the competition — are eligible unless proscribed above.) 4. To win, a British Birds subscriber must correctly identify the species shown in ten consecutive photographs included in this competition. The ‘Monthly maratlion’ will continue until the prize has been won. 5. In the event of two or more BB subscribers achieving the ten-in-a-row simultaneously, the competition will continue each month until one of them (or someone else!) achieves a longer run of correct entries than any other contestant. 6. In the event of any dispute, including controversy over the identity of any of the birds in the photographs, the decision of the Managing Editor of British Birds is final and binding on all parties. 7. No correspondence can be entered into concerning this competition. 8. The name and address of the winner will be announced in British Birds. RECENT BBRC DECISIONS This monthly listing of the most-recent decisions by the British Birds Rarities Committee is not intended to be comprehensive or in any way to replace the annual ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain’. The records listed are mostly those of the rarest species, or those of special interest for other reasons. All records refer to 1997 unless stated otherwise. ACCEPTED: Bufflehead Encephala albeola Heveningham Hall Lake (Suffolk), 29th November to 6th December. Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria Castel, Guernsey (Channel Islands), 25th-28th August. Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia Landguard (Suffolk), 28th September. Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka Seahouses (Northumberland), 29th October. White’s Thrush Zoothera daiima Foula (Shetland), 29th September. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligala Icklesham (East Sussex), 30th September 1996. Radde’s Warbler Phylbscopus schtvarzi St Levan (Cornwall), 19th October. Dusky Warbler P. fuscatus Corton (Suffolk), 23rd-24th October. Penduline Tit Reniiz pendulinus Four, Hickling (Norfolk), 20th December. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanins minor Foula, 28th May; Sidlesham (West Sussex), 24th October. Rosy Starling Stumns roseus Newbiggin-by- the-Sea (Northumberland), 1st September. M. J. Rogers, Secretary, BBRC, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 3AZ ZEISS ^ RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period from 11th May to 14th June 1998. These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records. Purple Heron Ardea purpnrea Two, Ballycotton (Co. Cork), 12th May. Lesser Scaup Aythya qffinis Cottam (Nottinghamshire), 4th-17th May. White- rumped Sandpiper Calidris fnscicollis Dawlish Warren (Devon), 28th-30th May. Franklin’s Gull Lams pipixcan Nutt’s Comer (Co. Antrim), 5th June, potential first for Northern Ireland. Scops Owl Otns scops found injured. Port Glasgow (Strathclyde), 20th May, taken into care, released 1 2th June. Pallid Swift Apns pallidns St Agnes (Scilly), 17th May; Cliffe (Kent), 25th May. Black- eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica Winspit (Dorset), 16th May; Tresco (Scilly), 18th- 23rd May; Skomer (Pembrokeshire), 4th June. River Warbler Lomstella flnviatilis Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire), 29th May. Collared Flycatcher Ficeduh albicollis Fair Isle (Shetland), 28th May. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia lencoptera Sandringham (Norfolk), 23rd-24th May. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis Noss (Shetland), 8th June. Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia Stronsay (Orkney), 14th- 18th May. Chestnut Bunting E. mtib Male, Salthouse (Norfolk), 30th May to 1st June. Rare Bird News supplies all its information free to ‘British Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (28p/min cheap rate; 41p/min otlier times; incl. VAT) 306 [Brit. Birds 91: 306, July 1998] © British Birds Lid 1998 Neturetr(2lOI NT Unit 8, Marbury House Farm, Bentleys Farm Lane. (D484) Whitley, Near Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 01925 730399 Fax: 01925 730369 M56 Junct 10 1 mile Ace Optics of Bath THE BEST DEALS IN OPTICS QUESTAR - now in stock! TEL: 01225-466364 16 Green Street, Bath BA I 2JZ ,HBK,n xn TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 FOR SALE I ZEISS 10 X 40 BINOCULARS, Old. but optically perfect. ! Ring for details. £250. Nr Buckingham. Tel: 01280 813906. (BB227) 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., clothing etc. etc. Details: Kevin Keatley, Wildlife Watching Suppiies, Town Living Farmhouse, Puddington, Tiverton, Devon EX16 8LW. Tel, fax and 24 hr (01884) 860692 (bbi66) I BIRD JOURNAL BACK NUMBERS SUPPLIED. (B.B., Bird Study, County Reports etc.) David Morgan, Whitmore, I Umberleigh, N. Devon EX37 9HB. (BB21 1) I BRITISH BIRDS 1947/48/53-56 inclusive bound and 1957- 1977 (Vols 50-70) inclusive unbound. Must sell £175 or near offer + carriage. Tel/Fax: 01273 733 795. 1 PAILLARD-BOLEX M16 reflex 16mm cine camera Yvar . 2.8/75, Switar 1.4/25, filters, leather case. Offers in excess of I £500. Tel: 01202 889633. British Birds is most grateful to those companies which support the journal by their sponsorship Sponsors of the Rarities Committee Sponsors of Monthly marathon Vacant Sponsors of Bird Photograph of the Year Pica Press Sponsors of & Bird Illustrator T. & A. D. Poyser of the Year ZEISS British Birds Information Supplied by i^iThe Met Office forecasts ,A special new •service for British Birds readers. Plan all your Ibirding trips with 1 precise up-to-date •weather information. 'Will the wind be easterly? Will it be i foggy? When will the cold front pass through? For a detailed weather forecast for your (or any other) region, for today and the week ahead call 0891 11 00 14 For synoptic weather charts by fax for today and tomorrow, dial I 0897 200 229 FORECASTS ARE UPDATED TWICE DAILY 0891 calls are charged at 50p per minute. 0897 fax calls are charged at £1.50 per minute (Synoptic Chart = 1 page transmission) Weathercall is product of TIS pic. If you require further information or have any ; problems using these services dial Weathercall Helpdesk: oi?l 729 8811. British Birds Volume 91 Number 7 July 1998 263 ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’ Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris, Bruce Pearson and Keith Shackleton Obituary 269 Clive Desmond Hutchinson BA (1949-1998) Dr John O’Halloran and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 270 Looking back 271 Conservation research news Dr Mark Avery and Dr Andy Evans 272 Monthly marathon 273 The Little Egret in Britain: a successful colonist Leigh Lock and Kevin Cook Notes 280 Display of Fulmar in presence of Great Skua Phil Palmer 281 White Stork with Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in bill Erik Hirschfeld and Dr Tadeusz Stawarezyk 281 Successful hybridisation between Ruddy Shelduck and Egyptian Goose A. H. J. Harrop 282 Eurasian Sparrowhawk entering building Aiatirice Jones 283 Lanner Falcon robbing Black Kite Roberto Gildi 283 White-rumped Sandpipers in Britain and Ireland M. J. Rogers 285 Aggressive behaviour of Caspian Terns towards herons H. Glyn Young and Kevin Duffy 286 Redwing taking flesh from dead Greenfinch Paul F. Baker 286 Large roost of Common Chiffehaffs in Spain Albert Bertolero, J. Figuerola, X. Riera and E Gustamente 286 Long-tailed Tits feeding on peanuts Dr Robert A. Cheke and Anthony S. Cheke 287 Peanuts as a winter food source for Long- tailed Tits David Glue 289 Anting behaviour of Rooks Mrs Sara McMahon Letters 290 Grants for conservation Brendan Joyce 290 Cattle Egrets using rqads for navigation Peter Hellyer 291 Cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets Stephen B. Edivards 291 Cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets Rae Vernon 291 CUff-nesting Cattle Egrets Neil Money 292 Mystery photographs 2 1 4 Peter Lansdozvn Reviews 295 ‘Birds on the Spurn Peninsula’ by Ralph Chislett with G. H. Ainsworth Chris Harbard 295 ‘Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 4. Sandgrouse to cuckoos’ edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Hordi Sargatal Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 296 ‘An Aimotatcd Checklist of tlic Birds of the Oriental Region’ by Tim Inskipp, Nigel Lindsey & William Duckworth Steve Rooke 297 ‘Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain and North-West Europe’ by Chris Kightley & Steve Madge Oscar Campbell 297 Rare Birds in Dorset’ by Stephen Morrison Martin Cade 297 ‘Atlas Hnizdniho Rozsifeni Ptaku vCeske Republice 1985-1989’ by Karel Sfasmy, Vladimir Bcjcek & Karel Hudec DrJ. T. R. Sharrock 299 Short reviews 300 News and comment Bob Scott and Wendy Dickson 306 Recent BBRC decisions M. J. Rogers 306 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan Line-drawings: 263 Richard Richardson {Bryan Bland)-, 273 Little Egrets {John Davis) Front cover: Great Ringed Plovers Charadritts hiaticula displaying, Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, December 1997 {Paul Hctrery): the original of this month’s cover design, measuring 17.0 X 16.96 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 66 for procedure). ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of © British Birds Ltd 1998 ornithology. 1 ISSN 0007-0335 British Birds Volume 91 Number 8 August 1998 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM -6 AUG 1998 PRESENTED TR1NG LIBRARY 'The effects of global climate change IRuddy Ducks in the UK in 1994 British Birds Established 1907; incoqjorating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board I. Carter, Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. Collinson, R. J. Pn>Therch, N. J. 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Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £48.00, IR£56.20 or S91.00; personal airmail, outside Europe £80.35, 1R£93.85 or 8151.30. Single back copies £6.20, 1R£7.15 or 811.80. Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Pa>Tnent may be made directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303. Addresses Please keep co'rrespondence on different items separate. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papas, notes, letters, items for ‘Nezvs and comment’, draivings & photographs: Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford ALK44 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 Advertising, do Fountains, Park I.ane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: Biggleswade (01767) 640467. Fax: (01767) 640025 Bird news for ‘The ornithological year’: Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, do 1 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: Woburn (01525) 290314 (evenings) Rarity descriptions: M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, Comw'all TR26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, do Subbuteo Books, Pistyll Farm, Nercwys, Mold, Flintshire CH7 4EW. Phone: Mold (01352) 756551. Fax: (01352) 756004. e-mail: sales(^subbooks. demon.co.uk The journal ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornithology. © British Birds Ltd 1 998 Copyright of photographs remains w’ith photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, 93 High Street, Bigglesw'ade, 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 VC'est Palearcdc. 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 w'idc 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 Birds of the Western Palearctic (1997); or, for non-West-Palearctic species, Monroe & Sibley (1993, A World Checklist of Birds)', names of plants follow Dony et al. (1986, linglish Names of Wild Flowers)', names of mammals follow Corbet & Harris (1991, 'I'hc Handbook of British Mammals, 3rd edn). 'Popographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). 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UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE Kay Optical - SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc SWAROVSKI 8 X 20B Mkll 307 10x25BMkll 327 8x30SLCMklll 519 10X42SLC 695 7x42SLC 635 7X50SLCNEW 749 3X50SLCNEW 779 10X50SLCNEW 809 3T/AT 80 body 629 ■ 3T/AT 80 HD body 929 22x eyepiece 94 30x (WA) eyepiece 145 20-60x zoom eyepiece 220 'Camera adaptor 800mm 159 -Stay-on case 55 LEICA 3 X 20 BC Trinovid 259 ■ 3 X 20 BCA Trinovid 289 10 X 25 BC Trinovid 289 10 X 25 BCA Trinovid 309 ■ 5 X 32 BA Trinovid 619 ■ 3 X 42 BA Trinovid 679 i 0 X 42 BA Trinovid 699 ' 3 X 50 BA Trinovid 859 ' 1 0 X 50 BA Trinovid 859 ^Carrying strap 26 :-EICA APO Televid scope 799' ,:_EICA Std. Televid scope 509 M0-6OX (B) zoom eyepiece 209 ? ?0x (WW/B) eyepiece 125 ;.12x (WW/B) eyepiece 180 I 'Ox (B) eyepiece 105 ^’hoto adaptor 239 rSkua case 89 32EISS OPTICAL CENTRE • t X 20B Classic 225 ' 0 X 25B Classic 265 ■ 0 X 25 B/TP (New DS) 339 > . X 20 BTTP (New DS) 329 ■ - X 30 BGA/T (P) 599 ■ ■ X 42 BGA/T(P) 659 ■ 0x40BGA/T(P) 659 • ■ X 45 Night Owl 759 CANON 12 X 36 stabilised binoculars . . .575’ 15 X 45 stabilised binoculars ...785' 10 X 30 stabilised binoculars . . . .349 SWIFT 7 X 42, 8 X 42 or 10 x 42 Ultrallte .239 NIKON NEW10x42SE CF 629 NEW 8 X 23 SE CF 575 KOWA NEW Scopes - (82 mm) TSN 821/822 319 TSN 823/824 Fluorite .639 20-box zoom EP 199 32x(WA)EP 149 50xEP 169 850mm Photo Adaptor 159 Adaptor for TSN 1-4 EPS 24 Skua case 64 TSN-1 (45“) or -2 body 289 TSN-3 (45°) or -4 body .589 25x or 40x eyepiece 89 20x (WA) eyepiece 129 30x (WA) eyepiece 159 60x eyepiece 138 77x eyepiece 125 20-60X zoom eyepiece 185 Camera adaptor 800mm 150 Skua case 54 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 74 TS-61 1 body (45°) 229 TS-612 body 209 TS-613 Fluorite body (45°) 449 TS-61 4 Fluorite body 429 TS-61 0 accessories: 20x (WA) eyepiece 75 27x (WA) eyepiece 99 20-60X zoom eyepiece 127 Skua case 54 PICCOLO 60mm scope (45°) -f zoom & case 249 (or with 22x WA) IFIELD PAYS khltemative venues to MORDEN r nd AYLESBURY, at which you :. an try and buy our equipment iN irHE RELD are given aiongside. / -Ve aim to show our fuii range of k quipment, but it helps us to help I ou if you let us know your r -itenests before each field day. ■rIEPAIRS can also be handed ° i/collected. t 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, usually ★ f PAGHAM HARBOUR OCAL NATURE RESERVE on °-ie B2145 into Selsey, West i ussex, on Sunday 26th July, ‘■0th August, 27th September nd 25th October. * SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sunday 2nd August, 6th September, 4th October and 1st November. ★ BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the A25/A21 junction (access from the B2042 or B2027) near Ide Hill, Kent. 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VIKING 7 X 36 Wide View 124 OPTOLYTH 8 X 40 Alpin NG 279 10x40AlpinNG 279 1 0 X 50 Alpin NG 299 7 X 50 Alpin NG 299 TBG 80 body 449 TBS 80 body 449 TBG or TBS 80 HD 659 30x (WW) eyepiece 159 20-box eyepiece 189 DISCOVERY 8x42or10x42RP, GA 135 OPTICRON 8 x 42 Imagic 149 10x42lmagic 159 8 X 32 Dioptron 167 8 X 42 Dioptron 169 10 X 42 Dioptron 179 10 X 50 Dioptron 199 8x32(HRII) 197 8x42(HRII) 199 10x42(HRII) 209 10x50(HRII) 229 8'h X 50 (HRII) 229 7x42(HRII) 198 7x24, 8x24 or 1 0x24 MCF 125 Roof prism binos (new): 7 X 36 BGA 329 8 X 42 BGA 339 10x42 BGA 339 10x50 BGA 359 HR 66 scope 279 HR 66 (45°) 319 HR 80 GA (45°) 429 1 5x, 20x, 25x or 40x HR eyepiece 44 20x WW HDF eyepiece 96 28x WW HDF eyepiece 119 22x W HR eyepiece 57 30x W HR eyepiece 59 60x HR eyepiece 49 20-60X zoom eyepiece 119 HR 60 GA (black with 30 x WA) .299 HARD DOMES to protect your telescope eyepiece. Hand turned from solid black nylon. Suits TS61 1/614 TSN1/4, Opticron (HR, HR66, Classic IF), Spacemaster etc. State which. A Kay Optical exclusive £20 TRIPODS, BOOKS, etc ■ While stocks last 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 email: kayoptical@netmatters.co.uk 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. BUCKS Sales in AYLESBURY by appointment only. Visitors welcome - please phone first. Tel: 01296-424145 Also, Field Operations Centre. • Mail Order if required (same day despatch) • Part exchanges • Used items • Package deals • Interest-free short-term credit E.&O.E. REPAIRS & SERVICING After 35 years of servicing all types of equipment (including Zeiss and Leica), we can promise you a thorough job. Post or bring your optical equipment to our workshop at MORDEN. We know how important a quick turn-round is to you. Remember, you cannot be optimistic with misty optics! ★ DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK, near Reading, M4 (A329(M) Woodley turn-off) and then A329 to Winnersh and Winnersh Station (B3030). Sunday 23rd August and 22nd November. ★ HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR, Essex (off A130 North of Basildon, near the fishing lodge) on Sunday 11th October. ★ COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE on the B488 near Bulbourne, Tring, Herts on Sat/Sun 25th/26th July, 15th/16th August 12th/13th September and 17th/18th October. ★ GIBRALTAR POINT, south of Skegness at N.W. corner of the Wash, Lines on Sunday 19th July and 1st November. ★ BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR, (S. Staffs Waterworks) off B501 3 on Sunday 9th August and 25th October. * THE SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Woods Mill, Henfield, W. Sussex. Sunday 9th August and 8th November. ★ GREAT LINFORD WILDFOWL RESERVE (ARC Environmental Study Centre), near Milton Keynes, on Sat/Sun 1st/2nd August 5th/6th September, 3rd/4th October and 7th/8th November. ★ DUNSTABLE DOWNS (Beds CC Visit Centre) off J1 1 of Ml , on the B4541 , west of Dunstable (near Whipsnade Zoo). Saturday 8th August ★ WHISBY NATURE PARK, off Lincoln by-pass (Moor Lane), NW of Lincoln on Sunday 11th October. 1 Main sponsors in focus Also sponsored by Naturetrel<^ SWAROVSKl Canon BBWF 1998 SUPPORTING X BirdLife INTERNATIONAL THREATENED BIRDS PROGRAMME All profit* will b« donated by Laicettanhire Wildlife Sale* lo BirdLife Inlernational Leicaetarahira Wildlife Sale* i* a wholly owned subsidiary of LRTNC The RSPB, BirdLife Inlernational and LRTNC are registered chanties Illustration by Robert Gillmor 94/R8&9H 9 British BIRDWATCHING FAIR Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water Dutch Birding Bimonthly journal on field ornithology •Excellent papers on identification, distribu- tion, occurrence, movements and behaviour of Palearctic birds • Recent developments in bird taxonomy and systematics in the regular Trends in systematics •Latest news on rare and interesting birds in the Netherlands and the Western Palearctic •Well produced with numerous high quality colour photographs •Yearly report on rare birds in the Nether- lands •In English or with extensive English sum- maries It is very easy to subscribe to Dutch Birding. The sub- scription rate for 1998 is GBP 26.-, which amount can be sent as a Sterling cheque to Dutch Birding, Posthus 75611, 1070 AP Amsterdam, Netherlands For information or a free sample issue, please write to the same address Subscribers lo Dutch Birding can claim the special reduced rate tor a British Birds subscription APOLOGY Owing to a machine fault, the colour reproduction of tlic photographs of dowitehers Linmodronius in the March issue was substandard. A replacement four-page section (pages 97-100) is included in the centre of this issue for readers to substitute. hnithos The French magazine for every birdwatcher • Status and Identification of Birds of France and WP • Annual Report of French Rarities Committee • Annual Report of Rare Breeding Birds in France • French and WP Birding Spots • News and Mystery Bird 48 pages, numerous colour photographs French text with English summaries and English captions For further information, please write to : Orn/thos, LPO, BP 263, F-17305 ROCHEFORT Cedex (France - r + 33 46 82 12 34) BB 02/96 British Birds THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ! - 6 AUG 1998 Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established 1843 PRESENTED JRING 1 fBRARY Predictions of the effects of global climate change on Britain’s birds Stephen Moss ABSTRACT Global climate change is no longer speculation, but reality. It wiU have unprecedented effects on Britain’s weather and climate, and on habitats, ecosystems and the flora and fauna which comprise them, including birds. As a result, during the next century there are likely to be major changes in our avifauna: range extensions and contractions, rises and declines in populations, new colonists and extinctions as British breeding birds. Global warming will also affect patterns of migration, wintering and vagrancy, with long-distance migrants particularly at risk. In order to deal with the new challenges posed by climate change, our current conservation strategy will have to shift rapidly and radically. Whole ecosystems may have to be relocated or in some cases created from scratch, in order to deal with loss of habitat and changes in range. Whether or not this will ultimately prove successful it is still too early to say. [Brit. Birds 91; 307-325, August 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 307 308 Moss: The effects of global climate change Global climate change, as a result of mankind’s profligate misuse of natural resources, is no longer mere speculation, but an objective, proven reality. In the carefully chosen words of the 1995 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 1996): ‘The balance of evidence now suggests that there is a discernible human influence on global climate.’ The evidence for this is as follows; • Since the late nineteenth centur\y global surface temperatures have increased by 0.3°-0.6°C. • Nine out of ten of the hottest years on record, globally, have occurred since 1983. The top five have occurred since 1990. • The year 1997 was the warmest, globally, since records began in the late nineteenth cenmiy'. • In England, the five warmest years since records began in 1659 have all been since 1975. This global rise in temperamres has been caused by tlie rapid increase in atmospheric concentration of the ‘greenhouse gases’, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These are released as a result of the burning of fossil fuels, and form a layer around the Eartli’s atmosphere. As the Sun’s heat is reflected away from the Earth’s surface, tlie gases prevent the heat escaping, leading to a rise in temperatures. Global zoanning — the future The IPCC has also forecast the likely progress of global climate change (IPCC 1996): • Over the next centuiy, global average temperatures are predicted to rise by 1.5°-4°C, although as a result of the cooling effects of pollution this may reduce to 1°-3.5°C (all figures from 1990 baseline). • In the shorter term, by the year 2050, global average temperamres are predicted to rise by 0.5°-2°C. • In Britain, warming is predicted to continue at a rate of about 0.2°-0.3°C per decade — up to 1.6°C by the year 2050 (CCIRG 1996). If these predictions are correct, global warming will have an almost incalculable effect on the distribution, population and variety of birdlife, both globally and in Britain. Global zvarming in a historical context The World’s climate is far from static. Major flucmations have occurred in die past, as a result of which birds have had to adapt, often quite rapidly, to periods of climatic amelioration and deterioration. Eor example, about 3,000 years ago, during a spell of warming, Dalmatian Pelicans Pelecatms crispus thrived in the Somerset Levels (Burton 1995). More recently, a period of warming during the first half of the twentieth century enabled species such as Black Redstart Phocnicurus ochruros, Cetti’s Warbler Gettia cettf Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus, European Serin Seritius seritius and Zitting Cisticola Gisticola juncidis to spread northwards across British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 309 Europe, and in the case of the first three, to colonise Britain (Burton 1995; Moss 1995). In contrast, a brief speU of cooling during the 1960s and early 1970s allowed Scandinavian species, including Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola and Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca, to colonise northeast Scotland, at least temporarily (Burton 1995). A longer-term trend towards wetter, cloudier summers was also implicated in the decline and eventual extinction of the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio as a British breeding bird (Peakall 1962). Using previous research by Alexander & Lack (1944), Parslow (1973) and others, Sharrock (1974a) showed that more species were breeding in Britain then than at any time since 1800, with a net gain of about five species per decade since 1949. So, even within our lifetimes, we have seen climate change affect the distribution of our breeding birds. There are, however, important differences from the current situation. Past climate change was fairly local, short-lived and gradual. For example, since the height of the last Ice Age, more than 15,000 years ago, global average temperatures have increased by only 5°- 7°C, an average of 1°C every 2,000-3,000 years. Today’s climate change is very different. It is global, long-lasting and happening faster than at any time in recorded history — as much as one hundred times the rate of ‘natural’ climate change. This is likely to have dramatic consequences for habitats and ecosystems, and for the birds that depend on them. Even more worryingly, there is a growing body of evidence that global climate change is already having far-reaching effects on the World’s ecosystems, involving species from taxa as diverse as amphibia, insects and flowering plants, and affecting ecosystems on every continent (Briggs 1997). Likely effects of global warming on Britain’s weather and climate It is important to understand that the effects of climate change will not be spread evenly across the Earth’s surface. Some areas will get much warmer than others, while a few places may even experience lower temperamres than before. Here in Britain, the Climate Change Impacts Review Group suggests that the following changes are likely to occur during the next cenmry (CCIRG 1996): • Temperamres to rise, probably by more than the global average because of our relative proximity to the North Pole. • Milder, less-frosty winters. • A greater frequency of warm summers, with twice as many ‘heat-wave days’. • A general increase in rainfall of about 10%, most of which will fall in northern and western Britain. • Winter rainfall to increase in southeast England, but summers to become much drier, with droughts and a rise in evaporation rates leading to near-desert conditions in some areas. • A higher incidence of ‘extreme weather events’, such as storms. 310 Moss: The effects of global climate change • Average wind speeds to increase, especially around the spring and autumn equinoxes. These predictions are based on the most likely consequences of global warming, and are therefore subject to a margin of error. For example, some scientists believe that warmer summers will result in more cloud-cover, and therefore higher summer rainfall. Others suggest that a weakening of the prevailing Atlantic weather patterns could result in a more continental-type climate, especially in southeast England. Recently, a far more catastrophic scenario has emerged: the ‘Big Freeze’, in which changes in ocean currents would lead to a weakening of the North Atlantic Drift, the current which gives northwest Europe its relatively mild winter climate. Should the North Atlantic Drift change course, Britain and Ireland could experience the kinds of winter temperamres to be expected at our northerly latitude — as low as minus 50°C (Pearce & Smith 1993). This is a possible, but unlikely, consequence of global warming, and for the purposes of this paper I propose to ignore it. The fact that it can be considered seriously shows, however, how unpredictable the consequences of global warming may be. Long-term effects of global zvartnmg on habitats and ecosystems The popular press tends to regard global warming as — to borrow the comment by Sellar & Yeatman (1930) on the Roman Conquest — ‘a Good Thing', leading to Mediterranean conditions at South Coast holiday resorts, and bringing an end to winter freeze-ups. Birdwatchers and ornithologists may be tempted to agree, anticipating colonists from the south, such as Hoopoe Upupa epops. Black Kite Milvus migrans and Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis. This is, however, a dangerous oversimplification. Global warming will set in motion a complex and unpredictable train of events which will affect all ecosystems, and the fauna and flora that comprise them. By upsetting the current balance (albeit a ‘balance’ already altered by Man’s activities), no organism will be left untouched by its influence. Global warming is likely to have the following effects on habitats and ecosystems: • Changing the start and end dates, and length, of the growing season, and consequently altering the balance of plant life in any particular habitat (Huntley 1995). • Allowing plants to extend their ranges northward in latitude or higher in altitude, where they will compete with existing flora, to the detriment of habitats such as the specialised arctic-alpine ecosystem of tlie Scottish Highlands. • Causing the gradual disappearance of the dominant plant species, and its replacement with one more tolerant of die new conditions, such as Beech Lagus sylvatica replacing oak Qucrcus, scrub and carr replacing reedbeds, and Headier Calluna vtdgans replacing heath Erica (Briggs & Hossell 1995). • Allowing insects (both benevolent and ‘pests’) to extend dieir ranges, and, British Birds, vol, 91, no. 8, August 1998 311 by reducing winter mortality rates, to increase their populations. • Affecting the balance between predators and their prey, and between different species competing for similar resources, by favouring one species over another. • Increasing the geographical range, virulence and effect of diseases. • Allowing farmers to grow new crops, such as Sunflower Helianthus annuus and Maize Zea mays. • Disrupting the long-estabUshed relationships between species, by changing the timing of specific events in their life-cycles (Briggs 1997). Changes in sea-level as a result of global warming As well as changes in temperature and rainfall, global warming is predicted to lead to rises in sea-level. Popular wisdom believes that this will be a result of the melting of the polar ice caps, but in fact this will not have a major effect for many years to come. The mam effect will be because water expands in volume as it warms up. Already, since the end of the nineteenth century, sea-levels have risen by 1 0- 25 cm. Current predictions suggest that, by the year 2050, sea-levels will have risen by a further 37 cm; and, by 2100, by 65 cm (IPCC 1996; CCIRG 1996). Rises such as these would result in temporary or permanent flooding of many low-lying coastal areas, such as The Wash, the North Norfolk coast and the Solway Firth. Some 10,000 ha of mudflats and 2,750 ha of salt-marsh in the UK are threatened with permanent flooding. This would have untold consequences for the millions of waders and wildfowl which depend on these ecosystems. Other consequences of rises m sea-level could include: • Unpredictable effects on tidal ecosystems, potentially reducing food supplies. • Loss of coastal habitat, affecting shoreline nesters such as Little Tern Sterna albifrons and Great Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula. • Salination of coastal freshwater ecosystems, such as reedbeds, threatening rare breeders such as Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris. • Changes in marine ecosystems, reducing the food supplies for seabirds such as Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea and Puffin Fratercula arctica. • An increase in outbreaks of botulism. • An increase in the spread of algal blooms, which kill fish by depriving them of oxygen. The Climate Change Impacts Review Group predicts tliat these changes will ‘greatly reduce the numbers of many species of birds that roost, feed or breed on the UK coasts’ (CCIRG 1996). Likely consequences of global climate change for Britain’s birdlife It is important to stress that global climate change, and its effects on birdlife, are not taking place in isolation. Even without the added pressures brought about by global warming, birds face a bleak future, with habitat loss, pollution and persecution amongst the greatest threats to their continued sur\dval. 312 Moss; I’he effects of global climate change Latest predictions from BirdLife International suggest that as many as 10% of the World’s bird species may be endangered, and the rate of extinction is likely to increase dramatically in the coming cenmry. So, global warming will have a far greater impact than if bird populations were thriving. Effects of global warming on birds These are some of the likely effects of global warming on birds: • Changes in temperatures and rainfall during spring and summer are already allowing many species to begin breeding earlier, lay larger clutches and raise more young (see below). • Changes in temperature and rainfall during autumn and winter will affect sunival rates of resident species, such as Wren Troglodytes troglodytes and Goldcrest Regidus regulus. • Changes in the plant life of a particular ecosystem may have beneficial or harmful effects on the birds that nest or roost there. • Changes in invertebrate life of a particular ecosystem may have beneficial or harmful effects on birds that prey on these species. • Rises in average summer temperamres will result in expansions and contractions of breeding range. • Rises in average winter temperatures will affect wintering ranges, for example allowing wildfowl to winter farther north and east than at present. • Rises in sea-level will affect migrant waders, which depend on tidal ecosystems for food. • Changes in wind-patterns will affect vagrancy. Winners and losers in Britain The birdlife of Britain is likely to be particularly affected as a result of global warming, partly because of our maritime climate, which gives us a very' low range of temperamres between summer and winter compared with other parts of the World. This means that even a slight alteration in temperamres could have a disproportionate effect. Indeed, we are already seeing indications that climate change is altering the habits of our breeding and wintering birds. Smdies by the BTO have shown that 20 common breeding birds are nesting significantly earlier now than tliey were 25 years ago, witli laying dates on average nine days earlier (Crick et al. 1997). The species involved include water-birds, such as Oystercatcher Haernatopus ostralegiis; resident insectivores, such as Wren; migrant insectivores, including five species of warbler; crows, such as Magpie Pica pica\ and seed-eaters, such as Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. Perhaps more significandy, they cover a wide range of laying dates, from early to late in the season, suggesting tliat global warming, rather than more short-term factors, such as a particular season’s weather, is the cause. These findings have been partially confirmed by long-term smdies of Great Tit Pams major in Wytham Wood, Oxfordshire (McCleerv & Perrins 1998). Over the same period, a higher frequency of mild winters has led to an increase in wintering by summer visitors such as Common Chiffchaff British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 313 Phylloscopus collybita and Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla. Wintering Blackcaps originate from central Europe, where it has been discovered that they have a higher breeding success than those wintering in traditional areas such as the Mediterranean. Both these changes would seem to be good news for the birds concerned, and, indeed. Prof. Dr Peter Berthold has described the first few decades of global warming as likely to produce ‘heavenly conditions’ for many of Europe’s commoner breeding species (Berthold 1993). But, as global warming accelerates, and conditions become more extreme, problems will begin to occur. Already, changes in the timing and length of the growing season mean that the caterpillar prey of young Great Tits is not available throughout the whole fledging period, leading to potential food shortages (Dr H. P. Q. Crick in litt.). So, in the great climate-change lottery, it is probable that some species will survive and flourish, while others will decline and disappear. Species likely to prosper include those; • with large populations; e.g. with more than one million breeding pairs in Britain and Eeland (including Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus. Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus, Sky Lark Alauda arvensis, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, Wren, Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis, Robin Erithacus rubecula, Blackbird Turdus menda. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus. Blue Tit Parus caeruleus. Great Tit, Common Starling Stumus vulgaris. House Sparrow Passer domesticus and Chaffinch); • able to adapt rapidly to change, such as Black-headed Gull Lands ridibundus and Carrion Crow Corvus corone, • able to breed across a large range of temperatures, such as Wood Pigeon, whose range extends from the 13°C to the 30°C isotherm (Voous 1960); • able to live alongside Man, such as pigeons, guUs and crows; • for which Britain and Eeland is on the northern edge of their range, such as FEecrest Regulus ignicapillus and Golden Oriole; • without obvious competitors; notably alien, introduced species such as the Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri and Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus. Species likely to suffer include those; • with rapidly declining populations as a result of changes in land-use, such as Com Bunting Miliaria calandra or Tree Sparrow Passer montanus', • with limited or specialised habitats, such as Great Bittern; • with a highly restricted breeding range, such as Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis and Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus', • for which Britain and Ireland is on the southern edge of their range, such as Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus and Greenshank Tringa nebularia. To sum up, in the words of one botanist; ‘In the main, rare species with finicky habitat preferences will decline, while common species, which are often abundant and widespread because of their undemanding namre, will increase’ (Gates 1992). 314 Moss; The effects of global climate change Breeding species At first, global warming would seem to be good news for resident breeding species. The longer growing season, resulting in a greater availability of food, coupled with more-frequent mild winters, allowing higher juvenile survival, should benefit small insectivorous species such as Wren and Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus. Not all changes will, however, be beneficial, as ‘birds may be adversely affected if they become unsynchronised with the phenology of their food supplies’ (Crick et al. 1997). Global warming may also be good news, at least in the short term, for several species for which Britain and Ireland is on the northern edge of their range, such as Firecrest, Girl Bunting Emberiza cirlus, Cetti’s Warbler and Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata. Currently, their ranges are limited by both summer and winter temperatures, which control the availability of their food supply and breeding habitat. If, however, the isotherms were to ‘shift’ northwards by a predicted 150-230 km for every 1°C of warming (Barkham 1994), they may be able to take advantage of suitable habitat to the north of their current ranges. This may, however, be offset by other consequences of global warming. For example, in the case of Dartford Warbler, the longer growing season will also allow invading plant species to colonise its heathland habitat, which, if left unchecked, will rapidly turn into scrub of birch Betula and pine Pinus. Also, more prolonged and severe summer droughts would reduce the availability of insect prey, and increase the frequency of heathland fires. These factors may offset the advantages gained by milder winters. Farther north, the Scottish avifauna is likely to be enhanced by species extending their range northwards from England. These may include European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, which may return to its previous haunts in Scotland, Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur. Green Woodpecker Picus viridis. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor, Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca, European Nuthatch Sitta europaea and Marsh Tit Pams palustris. Other species, such as Rufous Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, may extend their ranges into northern England (Cadbury 1995). Eor other resident species, global warming could prove more problematic. Earmland birds, such as Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge Perdix perdix, Sk}' Lark, Corn Bunting and Linnet Carduelis cannabina, have already undergone severe declines during the past quarter-century. Global warming will allow farmers to grow new crops, and to turn previously uneconomic land, such as heaths and moors, into farmland, with potentially devastating consequences for species that depend on these habitats. Britain and Ireland supports internationally important populations of seabirds such as Northern Gannet Moms bassanus, Puffin, Common Guillemot Uria aalge and Great Skua Catharacta skua. l ake farmland birds, seabirds are already under great pressure, as a result of pollution and of food shortages caused by overfishing. By altering the marine ecosystems via global warming, we may tip the balance between breeding success and failure, leading to sudden and catastrophic population declines. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 315 Long-distance migrants: songbirds The strategy of long-distance migrants depends on a fine degree of synchronicity between the timing of migration and the life-cycles of the many plant and animal species on which the migrant depends for food, shelter and nesting-places. If just one of these factors goes out of synchronisation then the migratory strategy could become non-viable. Migrants are also threatened by habitat loss caused by drought, both in their winter-quarters and at staging-posts on their migration routes. This may be offset, in the short-term at least, by greater breeding success as a result of improved conditions for breeding. Prof. Dr Peter Berthold has, however, pointed out that the breeding success of migrants is directly dependent on the population sizes of resident species and early migrants competing for the same habitat (Berthold 1993). So, if resident species are able to take advantage of the earlier arrival of spring to begin breeding sooner, late returners such as Garden Warbler Sylvia borin and Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata could find that their breeding opportunities become more limited. Berthold (1993) also predicted that long-distance migrants are unlikely to be able to adapt their behaviour rapidly enough to cope with the speed of change. If, however, more short-distance migrants remain on their breeding- grounds all year around, it is possible that long-distance migrants may be able to take advantage of the resulting vacant niches in the MediteiTanean basin. A clue to which species may be able to respond to rapid change better than others comes from a current study (Sutherland in prep.). This shows that, while some species, such as Blackcap, are able to adapt their migratory strategies very quickly in response to changes in the environment, others, including Lesser Whitethroat and Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris, continue to foUow historical migration routes which take them thousands of kilometres farther than the most direct route. Long-distance migrants: zvaders Amongst the World’s greatest long-distance travellers are waders such as Red Knot Calidris canutus, Sanderling C. alba and Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica. These breed in the high Arctic, and migrate south to winter on the coasts of Europe, Africa and South America. One commentator has already singled out the Red Knot as ‘the classic example of a bird whose complex migratory strategy, which has evolved over thousands of years, may be put in peril by a rapidly warming world.’ (Markham 1996). Climate change threatens every aspect of the Red Knot’s annual cycle: • Alterations in the mndra breeding habitat, caused by an earlier growing season, will affect food supplies and nesting sites. • Stopover sites, such as coastal esmaries, are threatened by rises in sea-level and changes in marine ecosystems. • Wintering sites are also vulnerable to sea-level rises. It will be worth monitoring the fortunes of the Red Knot closely during the 316 Moss: The effects of global climate change next few years, as it is likely to provide one of the best early-warning systems of a species’ ability to cope with climate change. Colonists, extinctions and range extensions One of the more exciting aspects of climate change is the possibility that new breeding species may colonise Britain from the south and east. What is less welcome is the likelihood that others will become extinct as British breeding species as our climate becomes unsuitable. Potential colonists from the south Breeding ranges are largely governed by the availability of suitable habitat, which in turn affects food supply. One of the greatest influences on the formation of habitats is the prevailing climate. Thus, the breeding (and indeed wintering) range of a particular species can be defined by isotherms. The July mean isotherm is that most generally used (Voous 1960; Harrison 1982). In western Europe, the July isotherms run more or less east to west, but with a significant swing to the north in areas away from the moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the 17°C isotherm runs just inland from the coast of northern France and the Low Countries, before swinging northeastwards to skirt the southern shores of the Baltic Sea and into northern Russia. 'Ehis, together with a sunnier summer climate, enables species such as the Golden Oriole to breed much farther north in Continental Europe than in Britain, w’here cloudy, wet summers reduce breeding success (Dagley 1994). One effect of global warming will be to ‘shift’ the July mean isotherm northwards, although predictions of how far vary from approximately 150-230 km per 1°C of warming (Barkham 1994) to 200-300 km per 1°C (Briggs & Hossell 1995). Thus, if temperatures rise by 2°C, the high end of the prediction for the year 2050, many species whose ranges are currently limited by tlie 17°C isotherm will become potential colonists — so long as they can get across tlie English Channel in sufficient numbers (Moss 1995). One species, Zitting Cisticola, was first predicted to colonise Britain more than 20 years ago (Ferguson-Lees & Sharrock 1977). Like European Serin (which has so far failed to become established in Britain) and Cetti’s Warbler (which has succeeded: Wotton et al. 1998), it extended its range rapidly across Europe during the first half of the twentieth century, reaching the Pas-de-Calais in the mid 1970s — just 80 km aw^ay from apparently suitable habitat in Kent’s Stour Valley. Yet there have been just tw'o British records since: in 1976 and 1977 (Dymond & Clarke 1978; Cade 1980). One clue to die Zitting Cisticola’s inability to colonise southeast England may be that it is largely resident on or near its breeding-grounds. To survive the winter, it requires January mean temperatures of at least 5°C, which w'ould currently confine it to the extreme south and w'esi of Britain. A 1°C rise in temperature, predicted by around the year 2020, would, however, bring Kent and Sussex well within its range (Moss 1995). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 317 Other potential colonists may depend not just on temperature rises, but also on the nature of our new spring and summer climate. For example, a rise in temperatures of 1°-2°C, with little or no change in summer rainfall, would restrict colonisation to those species currently breeding in the damp, maritime areas of northern and western France, whose ranges fall within the area defined by the 17°C July isotherm. These include Hoopoe (already an irregular British breeder). Black Kite, Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus, the white-spotted race of Bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula and, perhaps finally establishing itself as a regular breeder, European Serin. Other potential colonists include Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta and Western BoneUi’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli. Another contender is Cattle Egret, one of the World’s most successful bird species. In western Europe, it has spread rapidly northwards along the Atlantic coast of France, reaching Charente-Maritime in the early 1980s (Voisin 1991), and could soon join Little Egret Egretta garzetta (see Lock & Cook 1998) as a British breeding bird. Potential colonists from the east If, however, southern and eastern Britain begin to experience a more continental-type summer climate, with longer periods of sunshine and lower rainfall, then species currently breeding only to the east of Britain would become candidates for colonisation. Or, in the case of three species, recolonisation. Climate change was a possible factor in the long-term declines of the Red-backed Shrike (Peakall 1962; Bibby 1973) and Wiymeck torquilla (Monk 1963; Peal 1968), and may also have accelerated the disappearance of Kentish Plover Charadnus alexandrinus as a British breeder (Burton 1995). Drier, warmer summers might encourage them to remrn. Eastern species currently spreading northwards and westwards across continental Europe, and whose range falls within the 17°C July isotherm, include six passerines: Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus, CoUared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis, Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia, Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus irochiloides, Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetonim and River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis (Hagemeijer & Blair 1997). All six are currently rare vagrants to Britain and migrate mainly in a southeasterly direction. Thrush Nightingale was predicted as a coloniser of Britain (Sharrock & Hilden 1983) and bred in the Netherlands in 1995 (van den Berg 1996), and the nest of a Penduline Tit was found in East Kent in 1990 (Spencer et al. 1993). Given time and suitable conditions, they should all be regarded as potential colonists. Other species currently expanding north, northwest or west in northwest Europe include Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena, Mediterranean Gull Lams melanocephalus, Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina, and, one of our most recent colonists. Common Rosefmch Carpodacus erythrinus (Burton 1995). All have bred recently in Britain, and are likely to increase. 318 Moss: The effects of global climate change Introduced and alien species One feature of our post-war avifauna has been the success of species introduced, wittingly or unwittingly, by Man. Indeed, of the ten greatest expansions in range reported in tlie 1988-91 Breeding Atlas, no fewer than tour were introduced aliens; Rose-ringed Parakeet, Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis, Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata and Egyptian Goose (Gibbons et al. 1993). In the absence of natural predators, aliens are able to expand their ranges and populations ver>^ rapidly. They are helped by tlie abundance of artificially provided food and mild winter climate, especially in soutliern Britain. The handful of ‘official’ aliens in Category' C of the British List is, however, merely the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential colonists. Recent studies have shown that many other species, including Musco\^ Duck Cairina rnoschata, have populations which could be described as self-supporting (Vinicombe et al. 1993). It is worth noting that, in areas of the World where readily available food is combined with a suitable climate, aliens rapidly become pests. In Horida, more than 170 exotic species have been recorded in a free-flying state, of which 61 have reportedly bred in the wild (Pranty 1996). Closer to home, exotic species, mainly popular cagebirds, are causing problems to native species in Portugal (Costa et al. 1997). Milder winter temperatures combined witli a longer breeding season may allov' many other alien species to become established in soutliern Britain in the coming decades. Potential extinctions Of all the likely effects of global warming, one of die least welcome will be tlie disappearance of some of our rarest breeding species. Those whose range lies mainly to the north of Britain are the most vulnerable, although in some cases their decline may be offset by careful habitat management. In recent years. Red-necked Phalarope has bucked the trend associated witli a warmer climate by increasing its tiny breeding population on Shetland, largely as a result of intensive habitat management by tlie RSPB. Nevertlieless, this may have simply postponed the extinction of this boreal species as a British breeder. Other ‘northern’ species likely to suffer as a result of global warming, and possibly even disappear as British breeders, include Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata, Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auntus, Whooper Swan Cygtius cygnus, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra and Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus, together with waders such as Whimbrel Nurnenius phaeopus, Grecnshank and Wood Sandpiper (Cadbury 1995). Otlier sporadic breeders from tlie nortli, such as Snowy Owl, Temminck’s Stint Calidns tenuninckii. Purple Sandpiper C. mantima. Horned Lark Hremophila alpestris and Lapland Longspur Calcaritis lapponicus, have already retreated. 'The arctic-alpine climatic zone of the Cairngorm plateau and other parts of die Scottish Highlands support populations of Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting and Dotterel Charadrius niorinellus. Recent studies suggest that this unique habitat British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 319 is now under severe threat from global warming; indeed the RSPB has gone so far as to predict that the habitat itself will become ‘extinct’ during the next 50 years (Briggs & Hossell 1995). Just as increases in temperature allow vegetation to spread northwards, they also allow plants to spread higher in altitude, by approximately 150 m for every 1°C of warming (Barkham 1994). Colonisation by low-altitude plants would destroy the food supply for the specialist bird species, leading to their eventual extinction. Winter visitors Britain and Ireland, with its relatively mild winter climate, supports internationally significant wintering populations of many species of bird, notably about half of Europe’s wildfowl, and approximately two million waders (Prater 1981). These include Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus (80% of the World population), the Greenland race of White-fronted Goose A. albifrons flavirostris (50%), Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis (30%) and Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus (30%) (Batten et al. 1990). These birds spend the winter here because they are unable to stay on or near their northern breeding-grounds, where below-freezing temperatures, ice and snow make food supplies difficult or impossible to find. Global warming, predicted by the IPCC to be greater nearer the poles, may make it possible for some or all of these birds to remain close to their breeding areas, or to spend the wmter elsewhere — for example around the Baltic Sea. A rise in mean winter temperamres of 2°-3°C, predicted by the year 2050, would make large areas of the Baltic suitable for birds to spend the winter (Hossell 1994). Such a warming trend might also put an end to invasions of wildfowl from the Netherlands caused by harsh weather, as occurred in the winter of 1978/79 (Chandler 1981). Species such as Smew Mergellus albellus might become scarce vagrants, rather than regular winter visitors. Meanwhile, birds that do attempt to spend the winter here may experience food shortages and habitat loss brought about by the disappearance of coastal wetlands following rises in sea-level. Britain and Ireland also plays host in winter to millions of songbirds from continental Europe, including an estimated 10-20 million Chaffinches, and several million Blackbirds, Song Thrushes Turdus philomelos and Robins, together with smaller numbers of Eieldfares Turdus pilaris. Redwings T. iliacus and Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla (Lack 1986). Meanwhile, many of our so-caUed ‘resident’ breeders, including finches, thrushes and chats, head southward, to spend the winter in Erance or Iberia. It is difficult to predict what effect global warming might have on these movements. Will some birds stay put for the winter, only to find that they must compete with immigrants from Europe? Will we find ourselves with vastly reduced winter populations if the European birds stay put? Or will some kind of new equilibrium be established? Global warming and vagrancy It is often assumed that the vagrancy of birds, by its very nature, is inherently 320 Moss: The effects of global climate change unpredictable. Attempts have, however, been made to quantify records and discover patterns (Sharrock 1974b; Williamson 1974; Vinicombe & Cottndge 1996). The rise and fall of Amencan landbird vagrants By analysing the patterns of transatlantic landbird vagrancy over more than a cenmry, Williamson showed that the surge in records of American landbirds in Britain and Ireland from the early 1950s to the 1970s was not, as had been assumed, simply a result of increased obseiv^er coverage, but in fact was due to a change in the Atlantic weather systems as a result of a spell of cooling during the 1950s and 1960s. As the North Atlantic climate deteriorated, the relative positions of tw'O crucial weather systems (the Icelandic low and the Azores high) began to change. As a consequence, the mean path of the Atlantic storm-track moved south, making it more likely that transatlantic vagrants would make landfall in southwest Britain and Ireland, rather than farther north (Williamson 1974; Moss 1995). The last decade or so, since global warming began to take hold, has seen a significant fall in records of American landbirds from traditional southwestern sites, with a noticeable increase in records from farther north, such as St Kilda and Shetland. It seems likely that global warming has restored the prevailing conditions of the early twentieth cenmry, during which there was only a handful of records of American landbirds in southern Britain. Other effects of global zvarming on vagrancy As a result of global warming, it is likely that mean wind-speeds will increase, especially at the spring and aummn equinoxes. The effects of wind speed and direction on vagrancy are somewhat contentious, and there are differing views on the subject (Moss 1995; Vinicombe & Cottridge 1996), but it is generally accepted that they have a significant effect on spring overshooting, transatlantic vagrancy and aummn vagrancy from the east. It is also true, however, that prevailing weather conditions are only one of several factors accounting for vagrancy. Perhaps the most fundamental of these is the migratory behaviour of the species concerned, such as the ‘reverse migration’ of eastern species such as Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregidus and Yellow-browed Warbler P. momatus (Rabol 1969). Another potential source of vagrants is as a result of eruptions: sudden and irregular mass movements of birds away from their breeding areas, usually as a result of a population boom followed by food shortages (Campbell & l.ack 1985). If areas such as the central Asian steppes become hotter and drier, we may see a repeat of westward irruptions of species such as Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syniiaptes paradoxus. As Arctic and sub-Arctic climates warm up more rapidly titan those fartlier south, food shortages caused by lack of synchrony between the life cycles of birds and their prey may force nortliern species such as Gyr Falcon T'alco msticolus and Snow>' Owl to head southwards in search of new sources of food. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 321 Although it is difficult to forecast what effects the combinations of changes in weather patterns and shifts in migratory behaviour wiU have on particular species, I believe that we can predict with some certainty that the coming decades wiU see changes in vagrancy patterns. Some species are likely to become more frequent in their appearance, and others less so. Changes could include: • Spring overshooting to become more frequent and regular, as a result of warmer, earUer springs caused by dominant high pressure. North African species to appear with greater regularity. • Long-distance autumn vagrancy from the eastern Palearctic to become more erratic and irregular in occurrence. • Spring appearances of both transatlantic and eastern Palearctic vagrants to increase, at least in the short term, as a result of greater survival rates due to mUd winters. • Transatlantic vagrancy to continue at lower rates than before, with a shift to higher latimdes. • Vagrancy from unexpected quarters to increase: notably irruptive behaviour from the north and east. In the medium to longer term, however, there are likely to be fewer and fewer vagrants, as a result of declines in bird populations caused by the effects of global warming and other factors. What can be done to mitigate effects of global climate change? Britain’s birds in the year 2100 Imagine, if you wiU, the British avifauna a cenmry hence. Long-term forecasting is not without its pitfalls, but the weight of evidence suggests that today’s predictions are likely to be more accurate than those in the past. If they are fulfilled, then our avifauna will certainly be very different from what we know today. There wiU be fewer breeding species. Many northerly ones wUl either have disappeared or have much reduced populations. Others, especially those which currently have a southerly range, wUl have expanded northwards and increased in population. There will be new additions to our breeding avifauna, mainly species currently expanding their ranges on the Continent. Many species dependent on a specialised habitat, however, such as farmland, heathland or wetland birds, will have decreased in numbers and range. Resident breeding species, especially highly adaptable ones such as pigeons, crows and gulls, will have increased, and, together with a greater variety of alien species, wUl dominate our birdlife. In winter, formerly crowded estuaries and coastal wetiands wUl support a much reduced variety of species and numbers of birds. MeanwhUe, some of our rarer winter visitors wUl have been replaced by increasing numbers of former summer visitors spending the whole year here. Long-distance migrants wUl have undergone a series of catastrophic population crashes. 322 Moss: The effects of global climate change What can we do? What can we do to stop this doomsday scenario coming true? First, it is important to understand that we cannot stop global warming: it is already too far advanced to do so even if the political will were there. It may, however, be possible to mitigate the effects, and thereby reduce the consequences for our birdlife and other flora and fauna. The World’s politicians — first at Rio in 1995, then at the World Conference on Climate Change at Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 — are at last beginning to address the problem. Reductions in greenhouse gases have been agreed, although many environmentalists still fear that this is a case of ‘too little, too late’. As individuals, we can contribute, by taking the problem of global warming more seriously, and putting it to the forefront of our considerations of the future of Britain’s birdlife. We can also help to monitor changes in bird ranges and populations — indeed, one of the most important pieces of evidence that global warming is already occurring was discovered by scientists working with data provided by amateur enthusiasts (Crick et al. 1997). In the fumre, the efforts of birdwatchers in carrvang out local and national bird surveys and atlas smdies are likely to prove more valuable than ever. Changes in conservation strategy It is important to consider the effects of global warming on our current conserv^ation strategy. For the last 50 years or more, organisations such as the RSPB, the local wildlife trusts and English Namre have pursued a ‘location-based’ strategy^, purchasing or designating important habitats and areas of land as reserves or SSSIs. With the onset of global warming, this strategy looks at best naive, and at worst virtually useless. As many habitats change beyond all recognition, others ‘shift’ northwards, and some simply disappear altogether, we need to rethink our whole approach to conservation for the twenty-first century. Indeed, the RSPB has already begun to do so, by defining four categories of UK habitats, categorised according to the likely impacts of climate change (Briggs & HosseU 1995): 1 . Extinction — habitats that probably will not survive in the UK. At present, there is only one in this category: the montane habitat of the Scottish high-tops. 2. Relocation/re-creation — habitats which could survive only in another location. These include lowland heatli, lowland wet grassland, upland bogs and heath, and the native pine of the Scottish Caledonian forests. 3. In situ conservation — habitats which could be conserved by management in their current location. This includes many of tlie habitats in category 2, together with upland and lowland broad-leaved woodland, rivers and streams, and arable land. 4. Robust — habitats that do not need conservation measures to survive climate change, 'fhese mainly include far-less-important habitats, such as improved pasture and built-up areas. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 323 This radical shift in the RSPB’s policy has gone almost unnoticed since first being published — despite the fact that it heralds a change in approach to conservation as fundamental as the earlier move away from emphasising individual species and towards conserving whole habitats and their attendant ecosystems. What does it really mean? Well, effectively it means producing new habitats from scratch, as the RSPB is already doing by creating a huge reedbed at Lakenheath Fen, in the heart of East Anglia. This may already be too late: all but three of the LJK’s booming Great Bitterns are now threatened by saline incursions caused by sea-level rises (Bamaby Briggs in litt.). Future projects might include creating lowland heaths in northern Britain, ready for a northward shift in the range of Dartford Warbler, and inland reedbeds and marshes, to compensate for losses of coastal habitat caused by rises in sea-level; and trying to re-create the unique habitat of the Caledonian pine forests on the moors of Caithness and Sutherland. This presents a formidable challenge for our conservation bodies, as acknowledged by Dr James Cadbury of the RSPB; ‘Rapid climate change will emphasise the need for corridors or “stepping stones” so that the less mobile species can migrate between blocks of habitat fragmented by land-use changes. Barriers to migration may increase the necessity to translocate stocks within the UK or reintroduce species from the Continent.’ (Cadbury 1995). Nevertheless, the RSPB still believes that prevention is better than cure, as Cadbury concluded: ‘The main conservation aim, however, should be to slow down the rate of climate change by increasing awareness of the effects of global warming and pressing for more resolute steps to be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.’ Another tough decision to be taken is whether or not to continue to conserve species which, although rare in Britain, are globally widespread, such as Osprey Pandion haliaetus or Red-necked Phalarope; or to devote our limited resources to safeguard species and habitats of international importance, such as Com Crake Crex crex and lowland heath. Whatever happens, conservation bodies will need to be more adaptable. In the words of one observer: ‘There is also a need to be more flexible and opportunist, rather than spending large sums of money trying to secure species in places where they have no long-term future . . . Those of us engaged in wildlife conservation may have to swallow some of our prejudices . . . and become much more liberal in our approach to species introduction. Better that than a despairing acceptance of an overall and widespread impoverishment of our wildlife’ (Barkham 1994). Whether or not we succeed will become apparent within the next few decades as we discover just how resilient and adaptable is our avifauna. In the meantime, we and the birds are riding together on an out-of-control rollercoaster. Let us hope that, when it eventually comes to a halt, we will all have survived. Acknowledgments I should like to thank Bamaby Briggs, Bill Sutherland and Humphrey Crick for their helpful 324 Moss; The effects of global climate change and constructiv'e comments, corrections and additions to drafts of this paper. I should welcome any comments or observations which I may be able to include in future work on this complex and controversial subject. References Alexander, W. B., & Lack, D. 1944. Changes in status among British breeding birds. Brit. Birds 38: 42-45, 62-69, 82-88. Barkham, J. 1994. Climate change and British wildlife. British Wildlife 5: 169-180. Batten, L., Bibby, C. J., Clement, P., Elliott, G. D., & Porter, R. F. 1990. Red Data Birds in Britain. London. Berthold, P. 1993. Bird Migration: a general survey. Oxford. Bibby, C. 1973. The Red-backed Shrike: a vanishing British species. Bird Study 20: 103- 110. Briggs, B. 1997. Climate Change and Wildlife: summary of international workshop at Boulder, Cobrado, September 1997. Available from RSPB. & Hossell, j. E. 1995. The implications of global climate change for biodiversity. RSPB Conservation Reviezu 9: 41-47. Burton,]. 1995. Birds and Climate Change. London. Cai:)BURY, j. 1995. How might global warming affect the UK’s flora and fauna? RSPB Conservation Revieiv 9: 48-52. Cade, M. 1980. Fan-tailed Warbler in Dorset. Btit. Birds 73; 37-38. CA.MPBELL, B., & Lack, E. 1985. A Dictbnary of Birds. Calton. Chandler, R. J. 1981. Influxes into Britain and Ireland of Red-necked Grebes and other waterbirds during winter 1978/79. Brit. Birds 74: 55-91. Climate Change Impac ts Review Group. 1996. The Potentbl Effects of Climate Change in the United Kingdom. London. Costa, H., Elias, G. L., & Farinha, J. C. 1997. Exotic birds in Portugal. Brit. Birds 90: 562-568. Crick, H. P. Q., Dudley, C., Glue, D. E., & Thomson, D. L. 1997. UK birds are laying eggs earlier. Nature 388: 526. Dagley, j. R. 1994. Golden Orioles in East Anglia and their conseiv'ation. Brit. Birds 87: 205-219. Dymond, J. N., & Clarke, P. R. 1978. Fan-tailed Warbler in Norfolk. Brit. Birds 71: 275- 276. Ferguson-Lees, I. J., & Sharrock, j. T. R. 1977. When will the Fan-tailed Warbler colonise Britain? Brit. Birds 70: 152-159. Gates, P. 1992. Spring Fever. London. Gibbons, D. W., ItoiD, J. B., & Chapman, R. A. 1993. The New Atbs of Breeding Birds in Britain and Irebnd: 1988-1991. London. Hagemeijer, E. j. M., & Blair, M. J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: their distribution and abundance. London. Harrison, C. 1982. An Atlas of the Birds of the Western Palearctic. London. Hossell, J. E. 1 994. The Implications of Global Climate Change for Biodiversity. Report to the RSPB, Sandy. HuhTTLEY, B. 1995. Plant species’ response to climate change: implications for the conservation of European birds. Ibis 137 (supplement 1): 127-138. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 1996. Climate Change 1995 — the science of climate change. Cambridge. Lack, P. 1986. The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Irebnd. Calton. Lock, L., & Cook, K. 1998. The Little Egret in Britain: a successful colonist. Brit. Birds 91: 273-280. McCleery, R. H., & Perrins, C. M. 1998. Temperature and egg-laying trends. Nature 391: 30-31. Markham, A. 1996. Interrupted Flight: climate change impacts and bird migration. Washington. Monk,]. F. 1963. The past and present status of the Wryneck in the British Isles. Bird Study 10: 112-132. Moss, S. 1995. Birds and Weather: a birdiuatchers' guide. London. Nature's best performances deserve Nikon High-Grade Binoculars 8x42HG DCF WP/l6x42tlp DCF WP and 8x32SE CF/10x42SE CF C - As the name behind exemplary optical standards since 1917,^'ikon has never • failed to fnake every spectacle more spectacular. ‘ ^ • .NJow, we at Nikon go further to offer closeup views of birds, wildlife, and rnstas that are \’i\id and clear beyond compar,e. Wifh,8x42HG EXIF WP/10x42HG DCF WP and 8x32SE CF/f0x42SE GF binoculars that advance our mastery of what the competition can only dream of: high^efficMency design, peerless materials inno- vation, and technology that'^, always a step ahead. ' ■ .. Every element is, precision engineered to achieve perspective, natural- ism, and brightness that elevate performance to unprecedented peaks. All the bet- ter for wa.tching the wonders of nature unfold before your eyes; .Nikon's.Spotting Scopes-^AII/RAII A feature superb liglit transmis- sion and brightness thfif ni^ke thcmputsbinding for fjefd ob's^vation. Light weight and compact size' m^e the scopes portable enough to take atn'wrhere. They are.niggetf and easy to operate, too. Availability ' of three interchangeable e) epi^ces and straight and angled body types make'^ewing os versatile as'fjossible,. . Spotting Scope RAII A NIKOA UK LTD. (for The United Kingdom and The Republic of freland) 380 RICHMCND ROAC, KlMGSTONrUPON-THAMES. 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FOCUS OPTICS Church Lane, Corley, Coventry CV7 8BA Tel:01 676-540501 & 542476 Fax:01676-540930 Visit our rONSERVATION CENTRE 9 am until 5pm Flights Worldwide Return Australia Thai land Venezuela Fares From £449 USA £339 Goa £365 £224 £389 Birding Ho L i days Hungarian Bird Festival 8-15 August from £599 MANU 12 August - 18 September from £3,050 Tel 0117 984 8040 Fax 0117 9610 200 International House Bank Road Kingswood Bristol BS1S 8LX UK •Discount FlightS'Car Hire* ‘Accommodation- •Travel Insurance • Package Holidays-Sea Travel- •Groups & Expeditions Worldwide-Space Travel- I AT A ’fit IabtaI iv British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 325 Parslow, J. L. F. 1973. Breedmg Birds of Britain and Ireland: a historical survey. Berkhamsted. Peakall, D. B. 1962. The past and present status of the Red-backed Shrike in Great Britain. Bird Study 9: 198-216. Peal, R. E. F. 1968. The distribution of the Wryneck in the British Isles, 1964-66. Bird Study 15: 111-126. Pearce, E. A., & Smith, C. G. 1993. The World Weather Guide. 3rd edn. Oxford. Pranty, B. 1996. A Birder’s Guide to Florida. Colorado. Prater, A. J. 1981. Estuary Birds of Britain and Ireland. Calton. Rab0L, j. 1969. Reversed migration as the cause of westward vagrancy by four Phylloscopus warblers. Brit. Birds 62: 89-92. Sellar, W. C., & Yeatman, R. J. 1930. 1066 and All That. London. Sharrock, j. T. R. 1974a. The changing status of breeding birds in Britain and Ireland. In: Hawksworth, D. L., The Changing Flora and Fauna of Britain. London & New York. 1974b. Scarce Migrant Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. & Hilden, O. 1983. Surv'ey of some of Europe’s breeding birds. Brit. Birds 76: 118- 123. Spencer, R., & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. 1993. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1990. Brit. Birds 86: 62-90. Sutheri^and, W. In prep. Evidence for flexibility and constraint in migration systems. J. Avian Biol. VAN DEN Berg, A. B. 1996. European news. Brit. Birds 89: 38. ViNicoMBE, K., Marchant, J., & Knox, a. 1993. Review of status and categorisation of feral birds on the British List. Brit. Birds 86: 605-614. & COTTRIDGE, D. M. 1996. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland: a photographic record. London. VoisiN, C. 1991. The Herons of Europe. London. Voous, K. H. 1960. Atlas of European Birds. London. Williamson, K. 1974. New bird species admitted to the British and Irish lists since 1800. In: Hawksworth, D. L., The Changing Flora and Fauna of Britain. London & New York. WOTTON, S., Gibbons, D. W., Dilger, M., & Grice, P. V. 1998. Gem’s Warblers in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands in 1996. Brit. Birds 91: 77-89. Stephen Moss, 40 Gilpin Avenue, London SW14 8QY LOOKING BACK Fifty years ago: ‘local reports. Nineteenth Report of the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society, 1 946. The Devon report is as usual very well produced and surprisingly detailed. We congramlate the editorial committee on having at last abandoned the exasperating practice of treating the birds in alphabetical order, which meant that a reader wishing for information about any particular group, say waders, had to hunt about all over the report . . . '’South-Eastern Bird Report, being an Account of Bird-life in Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex during 1 946. Although this report is titled as above, the Hampshire section, reprinted from the Hampshire Field Club Proceedings, is in fact for 1945. It contains much valuable information, but not always sufficiently critically edited. We note that Major E. M. Cawkell and Mr G. des Forges will in fumre act as sub-editors for Kent and Sussex respectively.’ {Brit. Birds 41: 251-252, August 1948) MONTHLY MARATHON The first stage, the female duck with brood (plate 42), was named as Common Pochard Aythya ferina (85%), Canvasback A. valisineria (10%), Redhead A. arnencana (4%) and Ferruginous Duck A. nyroca (1%). The second stage, the mainly submerged waterbird (plate 49), was named as Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope (62%), Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristams Red-necked Grebe P. grisegena (4%) and Little Grebe Tachybaptus nificollis (3%), with a few votes for Slavonian Grebe P. aiiritus and Black necked Grebe P. nigncollis, and one for Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cuadlatus. The third stage, the warbler carrymg food for its nestlings (plate 79), was named as Western Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopiis bonelli (51%) and Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler P. onentalis (46%), with a few votes for Common Chiffchaff P. collybita (3%), and one each for Upcher’s Warbler Hippolais languida, Icterine Warbler H. icterina, Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria, Common Redstart hoenicums phoenicunis and Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthopiymna. The majority view was correct in every' case. The Common Pochards were photographed in West Glamorgan in June 1991 by Harold E. Grenfell; tlie Eurasian Wigeon was photographed in Essex in January 1997 by Bob Glover; and the Western Bonelli’s Warbler was photographed in Portugal in June 1989 by Dr Kevin Carlson. After these first three stages, 1 9% of entrants have all three correct, 9% have the last two correct, 23% have only the last one correct, and 49% are back at the starting line. Remember, in this Marathon, one slip and the competitor has to start again; it is a sequence of ten correct answers which is the minimum requirement to win the SUNBIRD holiday prize. The identity of the bird in the fourth stage (plate 88) will be given next month (your entry must arrive by 15th August), and the fifth-stage bird is shown below (plate 94). A 94. ‘Monthly marathon.’ Photo no. 144. Fifth stage in tenth ‘Marathon’. Identify the species. Read the rules {Brit. Birds 91: 305), then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 .INJ, to arrive by 15th September 1998. 326 [Bril. Birds 91: 326, August 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 NOTES These contributions have all been assessed by the eight members of either the Behaviour Notes Panel or the Identification Notes Panel. Mandarin Ducks and Mallards diving for acorns On 4th October 1994, while walking beside the River Dee from Chester to Eccleston, Cheshire, I watched a drake Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata on the river under the overhanging branches of oak Quercus and alder Alnus, with a second drake on an oak bough just above the river. I was surprised to see the duck dive repeatedly, totally submerging for about four seconds, and resur- facing each time with an acorn in his bill, which he then swallowed whole. Seven accompanying Mallards Anas platyrhynchos also dived and collected acorns in the same manner, and after five minutes the second Mandarin Duck joined in. The depth of the water was estimated at about 70 cm, the acorns being clearly visible below. BWP (vol. 1) states that adult Mallards only occasionally dive ‘e.g. for sub- merged acorns in autumn and winter’, and that the Mandarin Duck rarely dives. The combination which I observed appears rather unusual. P. I. Morris Caughall Farmhouse Cottage, Caughall Road, Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire CH2 4BW Common Kestrels and Great Grey Shrike hunting insects by artificial light On 13th August 1991, in Czestochowa, central Poland, we observed six Common Kestrels Falco tinnunculus catching insects near the very weU- illuminated tower of Jasna Gora monastery. They continued until 21.30 hours, sunset having been at about 18.50 hours. On the following day, seven Common Kestrels were foragmg in the same way, one male catching insects right up to 22.30 hours. On 28th April 1991, in Wroclaw, west Poland, a Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor was seen foraging in the light of streetlamps. At about 20.00 hours, 37 minutes after sunset, it perched on the lamps and from time to time flew up after moths, some hunting sallies being successful. The shrike finally flew away in the direction of a wood some 100 m away, where a female Great Grey Shrike was sitting on a nest. PiOTR Tryjanowski and Grzegorz Lorek Dept Avian Biology & Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznan, Poland Common Coots killing Carrion Crow On 4th June 1990, at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve, Lancashire, I saw a pair of Common Coots Fulica atra kill a Carrion Crow Corvus corone. The crow had been harassing a small colony of Black-headed Gulls Lams ridibundus when one of the gulls struck it heavily, knocking it into the water. [Bril. Birds 91: 327-330, August 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 327 328 Notes Unfortunately for the crow, it fell almost on top of the coots’ nest, whereupon the pair of coots set upon it aggressively, striking at it with their claws, or hold- ing it down under the water, which was approximately 15-20 cm deep. As the seconds ticked by, it was obvious that the hapless crow was doomed; wound- ed and waterlogged, it eventually succumbed after the attack, which lasted about 1-1 V2 minutes. I do not know whether the coots’ nest contained eggs or young. J. Wood 26 Eltham Drive, Leeds LS6 2TU EDITORIAL COMMENT Although Common Coots have been recorded killing a Carrion Crow {Brit. Birds 63: 384), it was not seen how that incident started; iVlr Wood, however, was able to observe the entire event from beginning to end. In another instance, two Common Coots attacked and drowned a Black- headed Gull which alighted on the water near their dependent young {Brit. Birds 75: 535-536). Razorbills with greyish flanks During the large ‘wreck’ of auks (Alcidae) in February 1983 {Bird Study 31: 79-88), I examined over 100 dead Razorbills Alca torda from Yorkshire beaches. Among these were tw'o with lavender-grey lower flanks (plate 95). Both w'ere females at least four years old, aged by the presence of one white and tw'o black bill-grooves (see Ringing & Migration 9: 11-17) and with fuUy developed supraorbital skull ridges. Of many dead Razorbills which I have examined over the years, these are the only two which have had grey flanks, and I was unaware of the recorded presence of this feature until reading, in October 1996, Peter Lyngs’s observation {Brit. Birds 89: 453) that it was shown by 20% of Razorbills attending colonies in the central Baltic Sea; an editorial comment to that note stated that neither Dr M. P. Harris nor Prof. T. R. Birkhead had ever seen grey-flanked Razorbills during their prolonged studies of auks in Britain, and both were unaware of any mention of this character in the literature. In view of the large numbers of such Razorbills in the Baltic, it is perhaps strange that none has ever been recorded in Britain, and one is tempted to assume that grey flank coloration is absent or, at best, very' scarce in the British populations. Of the 278 recoveries of ringed auks (Common Guillemot Uria aalge. Razorbill and Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica) reported during the 1983 ‘wreck’, 94% had been ringed in Britain, 4% (all Razorbills) in Iceland and 2% in Norway {Bird Study 31: 89-94). P. Hope Jones et al. {Seabird 8: 9-14) examined 724 dead Razorbills and concluded that only 20 (2.8%) could be allocated by size to the nominate race (Scandinavian and Russian populations). I’he wing lengths of the tw'o Yorkshire birds, 195 mm and 200 mm, are around the lowermost limit of the range for tlie nominate race ( 1 98- 220 mm), and this, coupled with tire known British origin of the majority of auks in the ‘wreck’, would perhaps indicate that they belonged to the race islandica, whose breeding range includes Britain and Ireland. This does not, however, constitute definite proof that grey-flanked Razorbills occur in British British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 329 A 95. Adult female Razorbill Aka torda with lavender-grey lower flanks, from the February 1983 ‘wreck’, Yorkshire (Ann Mettam) colonies, although I suspect that they do. An awareness of the character, which is not strikingly obvious, may lead to their discovery. John R. Mather Eagle Lodge, Aspin Lane, Knares borough. North Yorkshire HG5 SEP Two Reed Warblers laying in same nest On 20th June 1994, at Chew Valley Lake, Avon, I found the nest of a Reed Warbler Acrocephalns scirpaceus containing one egg. On 25th June it held four eggs, and on 5th July two eggs and three nestlings. On 14th July there were three normally developing young, which were ringed, one newly hatched chick and an unhatched egg, and by 21st only an unhatched egg. The fifth egg would appear to have been laid on 29th June, seven days after the start of incubation of the original clutch; it seems likely, therefore, that it was laid by a second female. In checks of more than 1,300 Reed Warbler nests, I have on a number of occasions suspected (because of different egg types) that more than one hen has laid in a nest. I have never, however, found such an asyn- chronous hatch before. D. Warden Centaur, Ham Lane, Bishop Sutton, Bristol BSlS 4TZ EDITORIAI. COMMENT Prof. Ian Newton has commented: ‘This could be egg- dumping when nests have been destroyed by Common Cuckoos Cuculus canonis or other warblers.’ Rooks feeding inside poultry huts Concerning the subject of Rooks Corvus fnigilegus entering buildings {Brit. Birds 91: 64): on my farm near Driffield, East Yorkshire, I have frequently obsen-^ed both Rooks and Carrion Crows C. corone entering poultry huts to feed on eggs and on grain from hoppers. The huts are circular, 3 m in diameter, each with an entrance door 1.5 m X 1.5 m. 330 Notes I first noticed this behaviour during October 1996, mostly before 10.00 GMT, involving up to five birds in each hut. This continued until May 1997, resuming in October 1997. R. W. Peacock Highfield Farm, Langtoft, Driffield, East Yorkshire Y025 OBJ Common Starlings and Red-legged Partridges collecting insects from parked vehicles On 10th August 1994, at Eastleigh railway station, Hampshire, I saw tw'o Common Starlings Stumus vulgaris fly in and inspect the flat, vertical front of a large locomotive at rest in a siding. They perched on the light mountings, brackets and other protruding features and proceeded to peck at the surrounding area; although I could not see the objects of their attention, I concluded that they were feeding on impacted insect remains. This behaviour continued for perhaps two or three minutes, before the tw'o flew away together. For some time, I have been aware of similar activities by a pair of Red-legged Partridges Alectoris mfa, which peck the remains of insects from the registration plates of cars parked at an Isle of Wight hospital. David Brazier Sandahvood, Coniston Drive, Ryde, Isle of Wight P033 3AE EDITORIAI. COMMENT House SpaiTows Passer domesticus have also been noted collecting insects from cars {Brit. Birds 77: 121). LETTERS The death of ornithology The lead story in ‘News and comment’ on the increasing average age of ornithologists involved in bird-monitoring projects in Sweden {Bnt. Birds 91; 203) is interesting, but may not be such bad news. If the same is true in this country, perhaps we can hope that the long, shallow declines in so many bird populations are due, at least in part, to the long, shallow declines in the faculties of the ageing birdwatchers who monitor them. Ian D. Moorhouse Garden House, Cotherstone, Co. Durham Dl.iz 9PQ [Bril. Birds 91: 330-332, August 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 331 Re-establishment of Great Bustards in England It was with much interest that I noted the ‘Looking back’ entry in the April issue {Brit. Birds 98: 123). I looked up the article referred to from April 1973 {Brit. Birds 66: 133-135): an Editorial concerning the introduction and re-establishment of birds and the reasons behind such activities. The project to re-establish the Great Bustard Otis tarda did not meet with the hoped-for success at Porton Down, Wiltshire. The one surviving bird from the project, a male, is now kept at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park in Bedfordshire. The Great Bustard Group (a member of the lUCN Species Survival Commission Bustard Specialist Group) is working with other organisations to investigate the chance of successful re-establishment of the Great Bustard into Britain, and, if appropriate, to pursue the idea to its natural conclusion. I believe that re-establishment of this species could have only a positive effect on our native avifauna. The Great Bustard would not displace or conflict with any other species, and, being such a high-profile bird, could induce changes to grassland habitats that would also be positive for species such as Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus and Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra, which share the same habitat. A fundamental principle, to which the Great Bustard Group will adhere, is that no release would be sanctioned unless there was a broad level of scientific agreement that the project would meet with success. That the first attempt was not successful has in no way lessened our determination. One has only to look at the success of the releases of White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla and Red Kites Milvus milvus to be encouraged to pursue a second attempt with Great Bustards. David Waters Chairman, The Great Bustard Group, 41 Beech Grange, Landford, Wiltshire SP5 2AL The Girl Bunting in Britain I found Roger Penhallurick’s letter {Brit. Birds 91: 146-148) on Girl Buntings Emberiza cirlus of great interest, as I am currentiy engaged in extensive research on historical aspects of farming and birds. To some extent, however, I sense that he is trying to have it both ways. Either the species was overlooked until Montagu pointed it out, which the bulk of his letter argues, or it was confined to southwest England where Montagu found it, which is his final conclusion. In the latter case, the probability that it was then in the process of colonising England must be high. We may, I think, rule out the idea that it was a long-standing resident in England which was restricted to the southwest in the eighteenth century by unfavourable climatic factors, namely the frequency of severe winters and poor summers. The difficulty with that argument is simply that such unfavourable climatic conditions were even more frequent, and in the winter more severe, in the seventeenth century and earlier (see Burton 1995). Arguing that the Girl Bunting is strongly influenced by such climatic 332 Letters factors thus actually reinforces the idea that it was a fairly new colonist when discovered. I do not believe that the Cirl Bunting is influenced solely by climatic variation for the same reason that Dr A. D. Evans {Brit. Birds 91: 148) does not. The mechanism is not obvious. In particular, nineteenth-century authors stressed repeatedly that seed-eating passerines, except usually Goldfinch Cardiielis carduelis, gathered at stackyards and barn doors (flail- threshing floors) to feed in severe winter weather, exploiting the substantial resources provided not just by the waste from threshing, but also by the ricks themselves; Cirl Buntings liked hay ricks. Such flocks of seed-eaters were frequently regarded as pests, which gives a clear indication of the numbers involved. Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra could and did strip the thatch off ricks; farmers retaliated by eating Corn Bunting pudding. In the nineteenth century, declines of such species following severe winters seemed to be recorded infrequently, if at all, except, again, for Goldfinch. Few nineteenth-century authors say very much about status change or colonisation within the Cirl Bunting’s main range. The nineteenth-century position was summarised by Aplin (1892), who noted in his introduction that, once discovered by Montagu, ‘the Cirl Bunting has been found to be a resident species in many other parts of southern England as well as in some of the home counties and western midlands.’ He also noted some recent expansion into Wales. It is clear that nineteenth-century ornithologists considered that they were unravelling the distribution of a bird that was there, not chronicling a major expansion or colonisation. Thus, I suggest that Penhallurick is correct in his belief that the bird was generally overlooked (the fact that White did not know it argues only possible absence from Selborne, not from the whole of Hampshire), but wrong then to argue for a more restricted distribution arising from climatic factors in the early nineteenth century, followed by an expansion in the period of climatic amelioration. I also suggest that Dr Evans is wrong in suggesting {Brit. Birds 91; 267-282) a ‘spectacular expansion’ in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, although some took place around the margins of the main range, as Holloway’s (1996) map suggests. Michael Shrubb Hillcrest, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys LD5 4TL References Aplin, O. V. 1892. On the distribution of the Cirl Bunting in Great Britain. Zoologist (3rd series) 14: 121-128, 174-181. Burton, J. F. 1995. Birds and Climate Change. London. Holloway, S. 1996. The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. London. REVIEWS A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal. By Clive Barlow & Tim Wacher. Illustrated by Tony Disley. Pica Press, Mountfield, 1997. 400 pages; 48 colour plates. ISBN 1-873403-32-1. £26.00. On my first visit to The Gambia, in February 1973, with no previous African experience, the only available reference books were Bannerman’s two-volume The Birds of West and Equatorial Africa (1953) and the non-passerine volume of Mackworth-Praed & Grant’s Birds of West Central and Western Africa (1970-73). None of these weighty tomes was either aimed, at field observers or suitable for field usage, and evening reference to the books in the hotel room left many unresolved identifications. In 1977, Serle & Morel’s A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa was published. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment, and virtually useless for sorting out identifications within many groups of species, not least the raptors, for which a two-week trip to The Gambia in the dry season can produce over 30 species. Through the 1980s and 1990s, when I was fortunate to make nine visits to The Gambia or Senegal, there was a huge increase in numbers of visiting birders, mainly from Europe, and a parallel increase in young Gambian ornithologists keen to act as guides for foreign birders. Until now, all have been seriously disadvantaged by the lack of even a reasonable field guide. The problem is now solved: this new book is quite simply excellent, and is certainly one of the very best true field guides for any region in the World. Yes, I rate it that highly. It is clearly evident that great thought and consideration went into the planning and design of the book — it really is user-friendly, nothing is missing that should be included, and nothing included is a waste of space. The end result is a masterpiece: a concise and informative 1 3-page introduction, 48 outstanding colour plates by Tony Disley with facing-page summaries of status and main identification features, and a main body of 272 pages of thoroughly helpful species texts. Of the 660 or so species that have been recorded in The Gambia or Senegal, 570 are illustrated in colour, with male, female, non-breeding and immature plumages shown whenever relevant, and flight views are depicted for aU seabirds, raptors, storks, quails, terns, nightjars, swifts and hirundines. Colour representation is excellent and the general impressions, shapes, proportions and accuracy of detail produced by Disley are, with very few exceptions, of the highest standard. He definitely gets promotion to the premier division of my league of bird artists. The main species texts have sections on identification (including separation from likely confusing species), flight characteristics (for raptors), habits, voice, stams and distribution and, where relevant, breeding. Clive Barlow and Tim Wacher have done a great job here, and visiting birders will now even have a serious chance of correctly identifying some of those wonderful cisticolas. During several days of intermittent browsing, I have found very few mistakes: the illustration of Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus on page 48 is numbered 7 instead of 6, and there is an unfortunate mis-spelling of Egyptian on page 46. A more important error occurs in both the illustration and facing-page notes for Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae — it does have fairly obvious barring on the flight feathers. My one serious criticism is the lack of illustrations for some 90 species. Although nearly all of them are either vagrants from the Nearctic or Palearctic or African species which are extremely rare residents in, or vagrants to, the outlying areas of Senegal, the unlikelihood of most visiting birders finding them does not justify their exclusion. Another seven or eight plates could have accommodated all these species without, surely, significantly increasing the price of the book. In the main, however, congratulations are due to the authors and artists on a superb achievement. If you have been to, or are going to visit. The Gambia, Senegal or any of the surrounding West African countries, this book should be at the top of your packing list, next to sun-hat. NlCK Dymond [Brit. Birds 91: 333-335, August 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 333 334 Reviews Seabirds in the Marine Environment. Edited by J. H. S. Blaxter. Proceedings of an ICES International Symposium held in Glasgow, Scodand, 22nd-24th November 1996. Academic Press, London, 1997. 238 pages, 22 papers. ISSN 1054-3139. Paperback £35.95. (ICES Journal of Marine Science, vol. 54, no. Science Symposia, vol. 204) This conference was sponsored jointiy by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Seabird Group. The papers, from the tropical Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico, include a wealth of facts: Kittiwakes Rissa iridactyla do not thrive without sandeels (Ammodytidae) in the North Sea, nor do Herring Gulls Larus argentatus in the St Lawrence Seaway now the Cod Gadus morrhua has gone. Very small temperature changes have profound effects on fish migration, and hence on seabirds. 4, August 1997; also issued as ICES Marine Kittiwakes and Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica both feed on sandeels, but one dives to 30 cm, the other to 68 m. A pelagic trip off the Ebro Delta is the way to see Audouin’s GuU L. audouinii, the most numerous bird around the fishing fleet there. The 18 million Icelandic seabirds eat 8% of one of the fish stocks. Curiously, in Iceland, mercury levels in the north are higher than those in the south. This journal is of interest to those concerned with seabirds, fishing and pollution. Dick Newell Passerines and Passerine Migration in Eilat 1984-1993. By John H. Morgan & Hadoram Shirihai. International Birdwatching Center, Eilat, 1997. 50 pages; 20 colour photographs. Paperback £17.00. Bird observatories and ringing/banding stations are invariably staffed and visited by dedicated enthusiasts who faithfully log the details of their records each day. Over the years, this database builds up and becomes not only increasingly rewarding to analyse, but also increasingly daunting. These authors deserve great credit for carrying out their desk-top study of a decade’s data, which has enabled normally individually insignificant statistics to be combined to confirm or to reveal a variety of patterns and trends. The book begins with nine pages of introduction concerning the ringing station, the area’s importance for migrants and its habitats, migrant-passerine strategy, the data-analysis methods adopted and an explanation of the species accounts. The colour photographs, over half of which are of hand-held birds, are arranged on eight unnumbered centre pages, while a list of references fills the last page. The remaining 40 pages are occupied by the species accounts themselves, which total over 200 and sensibly cover many near-passerines and Common Quail Cotumix cotumix as well as all the passerines. More than half of the species, including some common residents and migrants and many of the rarest visitors, are dealt with in three lines or less. For the major rarities, this unfortunately represents a missed opportunity. Many migrants, however, ranging from uncommon to abundant, receive commendably full treatment, and the text is littered with histograms and tables. These accounts are very largely based on ringing data and contain information on wing-length, weight, moult, ageing, longevity, preferred habitat, changes of stams, subspecific identification (including the discovery of a new subspecies of Sand Martin Riparia riparia eilata), the origins of controlled birds, the countries where recoveries have been made, and the intensity of migration in both spring and autumn. This fascinating little book also includes much discussion and speculation and is an absorbing read for all ringers and for all birders with an interest in migration and the Middle East. Peter Lansdown British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 335 The Bam Owl. By Colin Shawyer. Axlequin Press, Chelmsford, Essex, 1998. 213 pages; 18 colour plates; 54 black-and-white plates; 29 line-drawings, isbn 1-900159-70-8. £18.95. The Director of Conservation and Research at the Hawk and Owl Trust has written this latest account of this popular bird. It is well written and comprehensive, and covers, as well as the more obvious life-cycle topics, causes of mortality, reasons for the marked decline in numbers of Bam Owls Tyto alba in Britain, and conservation. This last chapter includes details of what has been done and what is now recommended, which are not entirely the same. The controversial rearing and re-establishment programme, which flourished in the late 1980s, but with exceedingly poor results, is now strictly licensed. The author confirms that habitat restoration, especially the maintenance of rough grass margins to fields, rivers and ditches, coupled with provision of nest sites, is the way forward, and he ends on an optimistic note, by forecasting a considerable population increase and spread within the next few years. Malcolm Ogilvie The Birds of Caernarfonshire. By John Barnes. (The Cambrian Ornithological Society, Caernarfon, 1997. 169 pages, isbn 0- 9532498-0-8. Paperback £9.50) This book summarises the status of birds in Caernarfonshire as perceived by the county recorder. Probably as a result of local observers failing to submit their observations, the book is disappointingly incomplete and, for many species, it fails to provide the detailed statement of current status and distribution that one would hope to find in a county avifauna. Reg Thorpe Birds of Liberia. By Wolf Gutter. (Pica Press, Mountfield, 1998. 320 pages. ISBN 1- 873403-63-1. £40.00) The bulk of this well-produced book consists of an atlas of the birds, but it also contains descriptions of the ecology and habitats of Liberia. A map accompanies most species accounts and there are colour and black-and-white photographs of 64 species and of various habitats. For students of West African birding, this is essential reading; for the rest of us, it is an unexpected delight, and a reminder of how much else there is to discover in the World. CouN Bradshaw Borneo Rainforest. CD. By John Paterson. Qohn Paterson, Winchester, 1995. Total running time 68 minutes. £10.00) An atmospheric day in the rainforests of Sabah, from the dewdrops at dawn to the insect orchestra at dusk. Each track runs into the next, but an index aids identification of the 24 principal bird species (though there are more in the background) and four primates, including the bizarre grunting of a female Orang-utan Bongo pygmaeus. Not intended to be an aural field guide, this is a pleasant reminder for anyone who has experienced rainforests, and an opportunity to dream for those who have not. Lie back and close your eyes. JuuAN Hughes Bird Call Identification: a CD and book on how to identify birds from their song. By Geoff Sample. (HarperCollins, London, 1998. £14.99) An accurate if idiosyncratic mixture of calls and songs of 130 species on CD, accompanied by an honest if slim book, full of doubts and questions. The CD is easy listening with a real-life feeling. Highlights: Spotted Crake Porzana porzana, vocabularies of Long-eared Asio otus and Short-eared Owl A. flammeus, song of Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia, comparison of calls of Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis and Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis, and ‘autumn notes’ of Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita. Unfortunately, this guide is neither comprehensive nor definitive. Given time and editing, Geoff Sample will produce a fine guide to bird sounds. This is not it. AIark Constantine ALSO RECEIVED Where to Watch Birds in Yorkshire (including the former North Humberside). By John R. Mather. (Christopher Hehn Publishers, London, 1998. 2nd edn. 330 pages, isbn 0-7136-4634-9. Paperback £14.99) (Review: Brit. Birds 87: 634) Ruddy Ducks breeding in the United Kingdom in 1994 Baz Hughes, Mark Underhill and Simon Delany *s\SV'«. «.i;vv. S-'r«NV« ''XW'V'* VNV.*^- jjj 4 '•^-'i "t 4^ . jiyBiaiak '‘'■'^'''^'^SS5y>S\'. yS'^^v'^S: ABSTRACi' A national survey of Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis in the UK was carried out in 1994 via the Wetland Bird Sur\^ey (WeBS) network. Of 667 sites visited, 311 held Ruddy Ducks. Most of those breeding were in northern and central England, with 1 1% in Scotland, new breeding areas in southern England and 1 1 breeding females in Northern Ireland. Most sites held only one or two pairs, with a maximum of ten at Mickletown Ings, West Yorkshire. Broods were reported from 92 sites (30Yo of those with Ruddy Ducks). Mean brood size fell from 4.2 ducklings for newly hatched broods to 3.0 ducklings at fledging, somewhat smaller than brood sizes reported from North America. Most broods less than 27 days old were attended only by a female, 14% were accompanied by both a male and a female, and 2Yo by only a male. The proportion of broods unattended by adults increased from 2% at less than nine days old to 70 Yo for those older than 27 days. Creches were observed on only three occasions, but individual females were suspected to have reared two broods at six sites. Most breeding sites were relatively small lakes, both man-made and natural, 65Yo of which had some protected status, and 86% of which suffered human disturbance. The UK population was estimated at 336 [Hrii. Birds 91: 336-353, August 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 337 641-780 breeding females, but is likely to be even higher, since a number of breeding sites probably remain unknown. This is supported by crude population-modelling, which, based on a mid-winter population of 3,300 birds, suggests a breeding population of 780-974 females. Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis are native to North America and were introduced into captive collections in the UK in the 1930s (Lever 1977). They first escaped from captivity in the UK in 1953 and first bred in the wild at Chew Valley Lake, Avon, in 1960 (ICing 1976). At first, the population increased at an exponential rate, but during the 1980s this slowed to an increment of about 10% per annum. The current population is estimated at 3,300 wintering birds, with a minimum of 600 breeding pairs (Hughes & Grussu 1994; Hughes et al. in press). In winter. Ruddy Ducks are gregarious, forming large flocks on inland waterbodies, but during the breeding season they disperse widely to breed on small, reed-fringed pools. Nests are constructed over water in emergent vegetation, typically Reed Canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea, Bulrush Typha latifolia, Common Club-rush Schoenoplectus lacustris, or sedge Carex. Ruddy Ducks arrive at their breeding sites in March and April, pair formation takes place from the start of April, and the first eggs are laid towards the end of April (Hughes 1992). Unlike most other waterbirds in the UK, the breeding season extends throughout the summer into September or even October (Cramp & Simmons 1977). Clutches are incubated for a relatively short period of 23-25 days and broods hatch from late May (Palmer 1976; Cramp & Simmons 1977). The ducklings are very well-developed on hatching; diving for food from only two days of age, they are well able to survive alone. Indeed, female Ruddy Ducks frequently lay eggs in other waterbirds’ nests, and offspring produced in this parasitic manner may represent 7% of total duckling production (Joyner 1983). Broods may be accompanied by males, but this is thought to be caused by attraction to females rather than to the ducklings (e.g. Gray 1980). As ducklings grow, the females become less attentive, and desert their broods at around three weeks of age, leaving the ducklings to fend for themselves until fledging some five weeks later (Gray 1980; Hughes 1992). Some broods may merge into creches, which in North America can contain up to 100 ducklmgs (Joyner 1975). Females re-nest readily if their nests are interfered with by predators and can start to re-lay only four days after the loss of a clutch (Tome 1987). Females are known to re-nest at least once per season in the wild, but are physiologically capable of re-nesting up to four times per breeding season in captivity (Minton & Kear 1978). The premature desertion of ducklings has led to speculation that some females may rear more than one brood per season. Although this is known to have occurred in captivity (Palmer 1976), there is only circumstantial evidence of its occurrence in the wild (Palmer 1976; Hughes 1992). As with most species of waterfowl in the northern hemisphere Johnson et al. 1992), Ruddy Ducks show a male-biased sex-ratio. Shortly after pairing. 338 Hughes et al.\ Ruddy Ducks in the UK in 1994 paired birds (particularly females) become much less conspicuous as they strive to avoid the unwanted attentions of unpaired males. In contrast, unpaired males are very obvious as they rove around potential breeding sites in search of mates. Females with broods are initially veiy^ secretive and remain hidden in lakeshore vegetation. Even with daily hour-long monitoring visits, broods can be overlooked for up to two weeks (B. Hughes pers. obs.), although they do become more obvious as the young become older and more independent. The only previous information on breeding Ruddy Ducks in the UK was collected during breeding-atlas surveys in 1968-72 and 1988-91 (Sharrock 1976; Gibbons et al 1993). Both provided accurate information on breeding distribution, but, because coverage relied on visiting 10-km or 2-km squares rather than individual waterbodies, they could not provide site-specific abundance data or information on breeding success. This 1994 survey collected quantitative site-by-site information on numbers of Ruddy Ducks present, their breeding success, and the ecological characteristics of breeding sites. Methods The breeding surv'ey was carried out in 1994 via the Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS) count network. Two regions poorly surveyed in 1994 (Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire) were resurveyed during 1995. Regional organisers submitted regional nil returns if, based on their own knowledge, they felt that no Ruddy Ducks were present in their regions. As Ruddy Ducks are known to be secretive during the breeding season, survey visits were made in early morning or evening when they are most active. Counters were requested to spend a minimum of 30 minutes at each site on five dates during the summ.er: 10th April, 15th May, 10th July, 31st July and 21st August 1994. During each visit, the numbers of males, females and ducklings were recorded. Only sites with all five visits were selected for analysis of seasonal changes in sex-ratio and proportion of birds paired. For each brood observed, the number of ducklings and the body size of the ducklings in relation to the size of the female were also recorded in four age/size classes: Class I < V4 size of female; Class II V4-V2 size of female; Class III V2-L4 size of female; and Class IV > ^/4 size of female. Finally, counters were asked to record whether broods were accompanied by females, by males or by neither, and whether they were creched. Additional site-specific information was requested on conservation status (local nature reserve; SSSI; National Namre Reserve/Special Protection Area/Ramsar site; or none); surface area (in hectares); type of waterbody (reservoir; man-made, including gravel-pits; natural lake; or river/canal) and dominant emergent vegetation species (Reed Canary-grass, Bulrush, Common Club-rush, sedge or Common Reed Phragmites australis); and the daily amount of human disturbance (none, O-V2 hour, V2-2 hours, 2-8 hours, and 8+ hours). Population estimates Comprehensive survey work on Anglesey suggested that individual British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 339 pre-breeding surveys in April located the majority of males present on the island, but only 71% (52-87%, n=3 surveys) of females (Hughes 1996). Mid-summer counts located a much smaller proportion (about 75% of males and 30% of females). There are two possible methods for calculating population estimates of Ruddy Ducks: first, using the above data to calculate correction factors for actual totals of birds counted, and, secondly, using the sum of individual site estimates of the numbers of breeding females present. Counters were, therefore, requested to estimate the actual numbers of females thought to be present at each site. Breeding-population estimates were expressed as numbers of females rather than numbers of pairs, since only 60% of female Ruddy Ducks form pair bonds during the breeding season (Gray 1980; Hughes 1996). Furthermore, females are thought to be relatively site-faithful during the breeding season, whereas males, especially unpaired males, frequently rove from site to site in search of mates. Pre-breeding counts, rather than mid-summer counts, were selected for calculation of population estimates, as they overlooked a much smaller proportion of females present. Results Survey coverage Survey coverage was generally good, with returns received from 95% of the 92 WeBS regions (fig. 1), including 26 regional nil returns, 17 of which were from Scotland. Five regions (Essex, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Lanarkshire and Renfrew) remained inadequately covered. Count data were received from 667 sites, on 311 of which Ruddy Ducks were recorded. The number of sites surveyed on individual visits varied from 187 (31st July) to 236 (15th May), representing 60-76% of the total number of sites on which Ruddy Ducks were recorded. Repeat coverage of individual sites was good, with 77% of sites having more than one visit, and 73% three or more. Only 44% of sites, however, received aU five visits. Status and distribution TOTAL NUMBER Ruddy Ducks were recorded in 65% of WeBS regions in the UK, including all regions in England except Cornwall, the Isle of Wight, Somerset and Suffolk. None was recorded in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Anglesey held most sites, followed by Cheshire, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. In Scotland, Ruddy Ducks were recorded in ten of the 27 WeBS regions on a total of 27 sites, including six in Fife and six in Perth & Kinross. In Wales, five sites from ten WeBS regions held Ruddy Ducks, while in Northern Ireland they were present in three out of six regions at six different sites. The greatest number of full-grown Ruddy Ducks was recorded during the April and August visits (table 1). 340 Hughes et al: Ruddy Ducks in the UK in 1994 V' Fig. 1. Survey coverage by WeBS region during the 1994 UK Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis breeding survey. Table 1. Total numbers of Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis counted during the 1994 UK breeding survey. Ducklings not included, but note that some full-grown juveniles may be included in the late-summer total of females. Visit date No. of sites No. of dd No. of 99 No. unsexed Total Mean no. of individuals per site 1 0 April 216 587 363 259 1,209 5.6 (±0.71) 15 May 236 488 259 127 874 3.7 (±0.31) 10 July 227 438 200 100 738 3.3 (±0.28) 31 July 187 388 191 98 677 3.6 (±0.43) 21 August 228 681 347 174 1,248 5.3 (±0.95) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 90 80 70 60 50 % 40 30 20 10 0 .fP % .--P .nP nP

3 breeding females. NC = not counted. ‘ Ranked importance of wintering sites, based on five-year means from WeBS data. ^ No data available from Avon Bird Report: data withheld in protest against Ruddy Duck control. SURVEY DATE Winter Site County 10 April 15 May 10 July 31 July 21 Aug Peak peak (Rank)' 1. Fairburn Ings N. Yorks. 27 22 14 40 119 119 144 (9) 2. Blithfield Res. Staffs. 116 6 12 16 115 116 602 (1) 3. Chew Valley Lake^ Avon NC NC NC NC 97 97 362 (2) 4. Holme Pierrepont Notts. 29 NC NC NC 45 45 64 (22) 5. found Gravel Pits Notts. 19 9 6 23 45 45 7 6. Abberton Res. Essex 38 32 28 31 43 43 77 (18) 7. Clumber Park Notts. 29 28 19 NC 43 43 118(12) 8. Llyn Penrhyn Anglesey 30 10 16 36 39 39 103 (14) 9. Farmwood Pool Cheshire 35 0 0 6 28 35 123(11) 10. Aqualate Mere Staffs. 34 20 1 NC 4 34 17 11. Betley Mere Staffs. 5 9 17 32 22 32 NC 12. Hilfield Park Res, Herts, 28 5 1 3 7 28 96(15) 13. Hanningfield Res. Essex 27 17 18 NC 18 27 207 (6) 14. New Swillington Ings W. Yorks. 27 NC 0 0 2 27 238 (5) 15. Kilconquhar Loch Fife 8 8 10 13 26 26 58 (23) NUMBERS OF BREEDING FEMAL.ES Female Ruddy Ducks were consistently present from May to August in 60% of WeBS regions in the UK. Ruddy Ducks occurred, but were thought not to have attempted to breed, in five regions; Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, South Cumbria, Kent and Norfolk, probably representing areas soon to be colonised. The top ten WeBS regions held 38% of all breeding females, Anglesey holding most, followed by Cheshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Staffordshire (table 3). Table 3. WeBS regions holding most female Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis during the 1994 breeding survey. ‘ Total includes all sites with breeding females, not just those in the table. WeBS Region Estimated no. of $ 9 No. of sites with Ruddy Ducks No. of sites with attempted breeding Mean no. of breeding 9 9 per site 1. Anglesey 60 29 23 2.6 2. Cheshire 42 25 19 2.2 3. West Yorkshire 32 18 16 2.0 4. South Yorkshire 31 17 15 2.1 5, Staffordshire 31 13 10 3.1 6, Greater Manchester 21 17 11 1.9 7. Nottinghamshire 20 15 9 2.2 8. Derbyshire 15 10 9 1,7 9. Leicestershire 13 10 9 1.4 10. West Midlands 16 10 9 1.8 TOTAL’ 512 311 240 2.1 British Birds, vol. 91 no. 8, August 1998 343 AT 96 & 97. Male Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis, April 1996 (above), and female TA A Slimbridge, Gloucestershire {Mark Hiilme) 344 Hughes ei al: Ruddy Ducks in the UK in 1994 Fig. 3. Distribution of female Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis during the 1994 UK breeding survey. An estimated 23% of sites where Ruddy Ducks were seen were considered not to be breeding locations as there were no regular sightings of females during the summer and no observations of ducklings. The remaining 240 sites held an estimated 512 breeding female Ruddy Ducks, 58 of which (1 1%) were in Scotland and 1 1 (2%) in Ireland. Most were found in tlie English Midlands northwards up both sides of the Pennines, on the west as far north as Cumbria and on the east to North Yorkshire (fig. 3). A small number of sites extended Limosa HOLIDAYS Call our Brochureline: 01263 578143 Bulgaria • Poland • Romania • Lake Neusiedl • Hungary • Finland & Arctic Norway • France • Spain • Lesbos • Bay of Biscay (mini-cruises) • Morocco • Israel • Egypt • The UAE • Yemen • Gambia • Kenya • South Africa • India • Nepal • AustraUa • New Zealand • Florida • Oregon • Costa Rica • Brazil Galapagos -Falkland Islands Limosa Holidays, Suffield House, Northrepps, Norfolk NR27 OLZ Fax: 01 263 579 251 e-mail: limosaholidays@compuserve.com dllo C*TRU ST^ ^iivy — "ZZ y~ rnr ***ocunoN N/73— 13/ « IHDSPeXOINI — TOL* OPfRATOIW We accept payment by Visa & Mastercard 1 1. Evening excursion from Eilat (March-April) for Hume’s Tawny Owl - £15. :2. 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Dept BB, PO Box 78, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL7 1 LU he Definitive Binocular & Monocular ZEISS Superior vision from dawn British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 345 up the east coast of England to southeast Scotland. North and southwest Scotland, Wales (excluding Anglesey), East Anglia and southwest England were notably devoid of breeding sites, but there were a number of newly colonised sites in southern England. Individual breeding sites held a mean of 2.1 females, ranging from one to ten (table 3, fig. 4). About half of the 240 breeding sites held only one female, while a further 23% held two. Thus, most breeding Ruddy Ducks were thinly dispersed over a relatively large number of sites. Fifteen sites held more than NO. OF FEMALES Fig. 4. Frequency distributions of the number of breeding female Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis per site during the 1994 UK breeding survey. Data labels are numbers of sites. Table 4. Sites supporting more than during the 1994 UK breeding survey. Site L five female Ruddy Ducks County Oxyura jamaicensis No. of females 1 . Mickletown Ings West Yorkshire 10 2. Abberton Reservoir Essex 9 3. Llyn Penrhyn Anglesey 9 4. Llyn Coron Anglesey 8 5. Loch of Kinnordy Angus 8 6. Scarisbrick Hall Lancashire 8 7. Aqualate Mere Staffordshire 7 8. Fairburn Ings North Yorkshire 7 9. Betley Mere Staffordshire 6 10. Blashford Lakes Hampshire 6 1 1 . Brent Reservoir Greater London 6 12. Doddington Pool Cheshire 6 13. Llyn Llywenan Anglesey 6 14. Shell Carrington NR Greater Manchester 6 15. Wathings South Yorkshire 6 346 Hughes ei at. Ruddy Ducks in the UK in 1994 five females, the most important being Mickletown Ings (West Yorkshire), Abberton Reservoir (Essex), Llyn Penrhyn, Llyn Coron (Anglesey) and Loch of Kinnordy (Angus) (table 4). Although sites with most breeding females were generally located in the main breeding areas, notable exceptions were Abberton Reservoir, Loch of Kinnordy, Scarisbrick Hall (Lancashire), Blashford Lakes (Hampshire) and Brent Reservoir (Greater London). Social structure The number of Ruddy Ducks counted on the sub-set of 1 38 sites with all five visits was highest in April, fell during midsummer, then rose to almost pre-breeding levels by mid August (fig. 5). The pre-breeding sex-ratio was 1.5 males per female, increasing to 1.9-2. 2 for the remainder of the summer as females became more secretive than males during breeding. The seasonal variation in the percentage of paired females mirrored that of males (fig. 6) being initially low, increasing to a peak of 37% of males and 72% of females on the May visit, then declining steadily to 10% of males and 21% of females by August. II n .| [ Males Females Total o 0X ~ 1 0 1 1 0 Fig. 5. Seasonal variation in sex-ratio and numbers of Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis counted on sites with all five visits during the 1994 UK breeding survey. Population estimate ESTIMATED NUMBER OF FEMALES PER SITE The total number of breeding female Ruddy Ducks, calculated as the sum of individual site estimates, was 512 (see above). This figure must then be corrected for those present in regions with poor coverage. By far the most important of these was Shropshire, which is estimated to have 40 Ruddy Duck breeding sites (A. Hearle in litt.). Assuming a mean of 2.1 females per site (see above), Shropshire would hold 84 female Ruddy Ducks, rating it the most British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 347 Fig. 6. Seasonal variation in the percentage of paired male and female Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis. Data labels are sample sizes. important region in the country. Ruddy Ducks were recorded on 24 sites in Derbyshire in 1994, with breeding confirmed at eight, involving 13 broods (James 1995). Fourteen of these sites (three of which had confirmed breeding records) were not counted during this survey, although the five major sites were covered. Assuming a mean of 2.1 females per site, the 14 unsurveyed sites would have held 29 breeding females, resulting in an amended regional estimate of 44 females, second only to Shropshire and Anglesey. Bond et al. (1995) indicated that Ruddy Ducks bred on five sites in Essex in 1994 for which this survey had no records. A minimum of 11 females summered at these sites (rearing at least three broods), giving a revised county estimate of 25 females. In Lanarkshire and Renfrew, this survey received returns from four sites holding five females with seven young in two broods. Murray (1995) stated that Ruddy Ducks were present at eight sites in these two regions, rearing a total of ten young from six broods. Assuming that the four sites covered during this survey were included in these eight sites and that a mean of 2.1 females was present on the four unsurveyed sites, this represents an additional eight females (a figure in line with the reported production in 1993 of six broods) and a revised regional estimate of 13 females. In total, therefore, an additional 129 breeding female Ruddy Ducks (81 in Shropshire, 29 in Derbyshire, 1 1 in Essex, and eight in Scotland) may have been present on 60 sites not covered by this survey. Adding this to the earlier figure of 512 females gives a final population estimate of 641 females ^ Pre-breeding survey The April survey located a total of 1,209 Ruddy Ducks (587 males, 363 females and 259 unsexed individuals, or 747 males and 462 females, assuming that the sex-ratio of unsexed birds was equal to that of sexed birds). If the pre-breeding survey located a similar proportion of females present as ’ It should be noted that further information on sites overlooked in regions deemed to have adequate coverage during the survey may have been available from county bird reports. This information was, however, not collected as part of this exercise and the population estimates produced are, therefore, recognised as minima. 348 Hughes et ai: Ruddy Ducks in the UK in 1994 pre-breeding sun^eys on Anglesey (Hughes 1996), this equates to a population of 651 females on sun^eyed sites. Adding the 129 females from unsur\'eyed sites produces a final population estimate of 780 females. Breeding success Broods of Ruddy Ducks were first recorded on 31st May. The number of broods and ducklings counted then increased as the season progressed (table 5). Although broods were located on a maximum of only 52 sites on any one visit, a total of 79 different sites held broods. Broods were reported on non-count days from another 13 sites, giving a total of 92 sites with broods, representing 30% of sites with Ruddy Ducks and 38% of sites at which breeding was suspected. Broods were observed on only one visit at 28% of sites. The highest number of ducklings recorded on any one visit was 305 in 82 broods on the last visit, in August (table 5). An estimated 178 broods of 703 ducklings were, however, reported in total. Most sites (61%) held only one brood, with a maximum of six recorded on three sites. Table 5. Ruddy Duck Oxytira jamaicensis broods and ducklings counted during the 1994 UK breeding survey. ' Although the count date was set as 1 5th May, tlie site holding these two broods was actually visited on 31st May. Visit date No. of sites Observed no. of sites with broods No. of broods No. of ducklings Cumulative no. of sites with broods 1 0 April 216 0 0 0 0 15 May' 236 2 2 6 1 10 July 227 34 48 196 . 34 31 July 187 36 47 196 56 21 August 228 52 82 305 79 Ducklings were aged and brood sizes registered on 177 occasions at 74 sites. A total of 63 Class I broods was observ^ed, two on the 15th May visit, 23 on 10th July, 21 on 31st July and 17 on 21st August, suggesting that broods hatched throughout the summer. Mean brood size of small (Class I) ducklings was 4.2 ± 0.3 ducklings (n = 63, range 1-10), falling to 3.8 ± 0.3 ducklings (n = 45, range 1-8) for Class II, 3.8 ± 0.4 ducklings (n = 23, range 1-7) for Class III, and to 3.0 ± 0.3 ducklings (n = 46, range 1-7) for the largest (Class IV). Most broods of small to medium-sized ducklings (Class I-III broods) were attended by a female only, although both a male and a female were present with 14% of broods and males only with 2% (table 6). As broods became older, the proportion unattended increased from 2% for Class I broods to 70% for Class IV broods. Creches were observed on three occasions, one from two broods of six and four ducklings (both Class IV), another from two broods of five ducklings each (also both Class IV), and a third from two broods of three ducklings, one Class II, the otlier Class IV. In tlie first tw'o cases, broods in the creche were thought to have been produced by different females, while tlie third comprised different-aged broods from the same female. Such double- brooding was suspected on six sites: Rye Harbour Nature Reser\^e (East British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 349 Sussex), Brent Reservoir, Chasewater (Staffordshire), Carr Vale and Netherthorpe Rash (both Derbyshire), and Hauxley Nature Reserve (Northumberland) . Table 6. Number of Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis broods of different ages attended or unaccompanied during the 1994 breeding survey (percentages in parentheses). Attended by: 1 Age/size Class 11 III IV Total Male only 1 (2%) 1 (2%) 1 (4%) 0 3 (2%) Female only 48 (76%) 33 (73%) 16(70%) 12(26%) 109 (62%) Male and female 13(21%) 7(16%) 3(13%) 2 (4%) 25(14%) Unattended 1 (2%) 4 (9%) 3(13%) 32 (70%) 40 (23%) TOTAL 63 45 23 46 177 45 40 35 30 /o 20 15 10 5 0 41 97 .6^ 89 Type of waterbody Protected status Dominant vegetation Hours of human disturbance Fig. 7. Site characteristics of waterbodies with Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis present during the 1994 UK breeding survey. Data labels are numbers of sites. 350 Hughes et al:. Ruddy Ducks in the UK in 1994 Habitat characteristics of breeding sites Most Ruddy Duck breeding sites were relatively small, man-made or namral lakes (fig. 7). Ruddy Ducks appeared tolerant of all levels of human dismrbance, with 86% of sites experiencing some human disturbance and 1 9% more than eight hours per day. The dominant vegetation on most sites was Common Reed, followed by Bulrush and sedge. A large proportion of sites had some protected status: 29% were local nature reserves (without SSSI stams), 27% were SSSIs and 9% were National Nature Reserves, SPAs or Ramsar sites. The remaining 35% were either publicly or privately owned sites with no reported protected status. Discussion Status and distribution The 1968-72 breeding atlas reported only 20 10-km squares with Ruddy Ducks present, mostly in the English West Midlands (Sharrock 1976), while the 1988-91 atlas survey located them throughout England, and into Scotland, Wales and Ireland (Gibbons et al. 1993) (fig. 8). Indeed, the Ruddy Duck showed the third most substantial increase in breeding range between the two atlases (1,437%), surpassed only by Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti and another introduced species, Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri. This survey revealed further northward expansion of the Ruddy Duck’s breeding range, with major concentrations now established in northern England and southern Scotland. This range extension may now have extended to Iceland, where there have been annual records of Ruddy Ducks since 1984 and breeding records since 1990 (Nielsen 1995). These Icelandic-breeding Ruddy Ducks most likely originate from the UK, as their arrival in Iceland in May is preceded by annual spring records on Orkney and Shetland. Rapid colonisation of the UK by Ruddy Ducks is thought to be due to the species exploiting a largely vacant niche, that of a nocturnal-feeding, mainly insectivorous waterbird which nests in emergent vegetation over water (Hughes 1992). The Ruddy Duck’s breeding strategy also results in potentially high annual productivity. Ruddy Ducks are reproductively active for much longer than other waterfowl, thus allowing females to renest or even to rear two broods per year. Renesting appeared to be common on Anglesey, where on five sites the number of nesting attempts was twice the number of females present (Hughes 1996). Double-brooding may also be more common than previously thought, with six reports during this survey. Finally, a high proportion of females may breed in their first year. One-year-old Ruddy Ducks have bred successfully both in captivity (N. S. Jarrett in litt.) and in the wild (Alisauskas & Ankney 1994). The Anglesey study, with twdce as many nesting attempts as females present, may also suggest that all females bred, although the possibility cannot be ruled out that some birds may have bred three times or more and others not at all. This survey provided no evidence for formation of non-breeding flocks by Ruddy Ducks. Post-breeding flocks formed in August on important wintering British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 351 • Confirmed breeding • Probable breeding • Confirmed or probable breeding • Possible breeding Fig. 8. Distribution (by 10-km grid square) of breeding Ruddy Ducks Oxyttra jamaicensis in Britain and Ireland (after Sharrock 1976; Gibbons el al. 1993). sites, but it is unclear whether these represented pre-moult or post-moult concentrations. Ruddy Ducks in captivity undergo a complete post-breeding moult lasting two weeks, beginning during 2nd-30th August (B. Hughes pers. obs.), suggesting that these birds may have been gathering to moult. It is also possible, however, that they were non-breeders or failed breeders which had already moulted. As Ruddy Ducks are highly aquatic, the only major predators of full-grown birds are gulls (Misterek 1974; Joyner 1977a). Formation of moult concentrations would appear to offer little benefit to Ruddy Ducks, since this would simply serve to attract aerial predators (Fox et al. 1994) and increase competition for food resources. It may be more likely, therefore, that Ruddy Ducks replace their flight feathers prior to autumn migration in order to benefit from the associated increase in flight efficiency, especially given their relatively high wing-loading (mass: wing-surface area). Breeding success A minimum of 63 different broods hatched from an estimated breeding population of 5 1 2 females, suggesting that a minimum of 1 2% of females bred successfully. North American waterfowl have observed brood/pair ratios (number of broods/number of pairs) of about 0.4, ranging from 0.22 for Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis to 0.76 in one study of Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (Johnson et al. 1992). The brood/pair ratio (or rather brood/female ratio) during the current survey was therefore much lower than those reported for other waterfowl. This is, however, probably a result of the secretive behaviour of Ruddy Duck broods, since detailed studies on Anglesey produced higher brood/female ratios of 0.50 in 1993 and 0.26 in 1994 (n = 22 females and n = 23 females, respectively) (Hughes 1996). As Ruddy Ducks are fully grown at six weeks of age (Siegfried 1973), the 352 Hughes et ai: Ruddy Ducks in the UK in 1994 four size classes used during this study are broadly equivalent to nine-day periods. In a synthesis of North American smdies, Bellrose (1976) reported a mean brood size of 5.69 ducklings (n = 962 broods) for 1 -day-old to 18-day- old broods, 4.96 ducklings (n = 562) for 19-day-old to 42-day-old broods, and 4.43 ducklings (n = 164) for broods over 42 days old. Brood size in Utah was even higher, at eight ducklings in 126 one-v^eek-old broods, declining to six by three weeks of age (Jo\Tier 1977b). The mean brood sizes recorded during this suiwey (4.2 ducklings at hatching, falling to 3.0 at fledging) are therefore smaller than those in North America. Brood sizes on Anglesey in 1993 and 1994 were also small, with a mean for newiy hatched broods of 4.0 (n = 19 broods) and 3.8 ducklings (n = 17 broods), respectively, falling to 2.9 and 2.6 young at fledging. It is tempting to suggest that this lower producti\ity is a result of the inbred namre of the British Ruddy Duck population, which w^as established by only seven individuals (four males and three females) imported to Slimbridge in the late 1940s (Hughes 1992). Preliminan’ DNA- fingerprinting studies of Ruddy Ducks have already confirmed that British birds are highly inbred compared with those in Nortli America (E. Signer in litt.). Population estimate This surv^ey suggested a UK Ruddy Duck breeding population of 641-780 females. Even the larger figure is, how'ever, probably still an underestimate, since some breeding sites w^ill undoubtedly have been overlooked. Calculations based on a winter population of 3,300 individuals (from Waters et al. 1996, assuming a 90% WeBS count efficiency, after Owen et al. 1986), a population sex-ratio of 1.13 (Hughes 1996), a nest success of 70% (Hughes 1996), a fledging success of three chicks per female (see above), a first-year mortality of 40% and an adult mortality of 20%, both typical for diving ducks Qohnson et al. 1992), suggest a breeding population of 780-974 females depending on w'hether no or all mortality^ takes place by midwinter. These calculations, albeit crude, suggest that current population estimates from surv'ey data represent minima. Acknowledgments yC'e should like to thank all the WeBS regional organisers and counters, who did an excellent job in achieving such good coverage throughout die UK. Thanks to Mark Pollitt for coding site forms and providing additional data, and to Pete Cranswick for dropping eveiwtliing on a number of occasions to help. Rachael George did a sterling job inputting sur\'ey data to tight deadlines, and John Bowler improved an earlier draft of this paper. This work was carried out under contract to the Deparmient of the Environment and is published witli die Department’s agreement. References Ai.isauskas, R. 17, & AnknI'Y, C. D. 1994. Costs and rates of egg formation in Ruddy Ducks. Condor 96: 11-18. BhI-LROSE, P7 C. 1976. Ducks, Geese and Simns of North America. Harrisburg. Bono, G. C., Rhymes, D. J., & Wood, S. D. (eds.) 1995. The Essex Bird Report. Ipswich. Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. 1„ (eds.) 1977. The Birds of the W 'esteni Balearctic. vol. 1. Oxford. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 353 Fox, A. D., Green, A. J., Hughes, B., & Hn/roN, G. M. 1994. Rafting as an antipredator response in wintering White-headed Ducks Oxyura leiicocephala. Wildfowl 45; 232-241. Gibbons, D. W., Reid, J. B., & Chapman, R. A. 1993. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991. London. Gray, B. J. 1980. Reproduction, energetics and social structure of the Ruddy Duck. PhD thesis. University of California. Hughes, B. 1992. The ecology and behaviour of the Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis Gmelin in Great Britain. PhD thesis. University of Bristol. 1996. The feasibility of control measures for North American Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis in the United Kingdom. Report to the Department of the Environment. & Grussu, M. 1994. The Ruddy Duck {Oxyura jamaicensis) in the United Kingdom: distribution, monitoring, current research and implications for European colonisation. Oxyura 7; 29-47. , Kirby, J., & Rowcliffe, J. M. In press. Waterbird conflicts in Britain and Ireland: Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis, Canada Geese Branta canadensis, and Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo. Proc. BOU/RSPB Conference, Belfast, 5-7 September 1997. James, R. M. R. (ed.) 1995. The Derbyshire Bird Report. Derby. Johnson, D. H., Nichols, J. D., & Schwartz, M. D. 1992. Population dynamics of breeding waterfowl. Pp. 446-485. In: Batt, B. D. J., Alton, A. D., Anderson, M. G., Ankney, C. D., Johnson, D. H., Kadlec, J. A., & Krapu, G. L. (eds.) Ecology and Management of Breeding Waterfowl. Alinneapolis. Joyner, D. E. 1975. Nest parasitism and brood-related behavior of the Ruddy Duck {Oxyura jamaicensis rubida). PhD thesis. University of Nebraska. 1911 d.. Nest desertion by Ruddy Ducks in Utah. Bird Banding 48: 19-24. 1977b. Behavior of Ruddy Duck broods in Utah. Auk 94: 343-349. 1983. Parasitic egg-laying in Redheads and Ruddy Ducks; incidence and success. Auk 100: 717-725. King, B. 1976. Association between male North American Ruddy Ducks and stray ducklings. Brit. Birds 69: 34. Lentr, C. 1977. The Naturalised Animals of the British Isles. London. Misterek, D. L. 1974. The breeding ecology of the Ruddy Duck {Oxyura jamaicensis) on Rush Lake, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. MS thesis. University of Wisconsin. Murray, R. 1995. The 1993 Scottish Bird Report. Edinburgh. Murton, R. K., & Kear, j. 1978. Photoperiodism in waterfowl: phasing of breeding cycles and zoogeography. J. Zool. Bond. 186; 243-283. Nielsen, O. K. 1995. Hrokond sest ao a Island!. Bliki 15: 1-15. Owen, M., Atkinson- Willes, G. L., & Salmon, D. G. 1986. Wildfowl in Great Britain. Cambridge. Palmer, R. S. (ed.) 1976. Handbook of North American Birds, vol. 3. New Haven. Sharrock, j. T. R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Tring. Siegfried, W. R. 1973. Post embryonic development of the Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis and some other diving ducks. Int. Zoo Yearbook 13: 72-87. Tome, M. W. 1987. An observation of re-nesting by a Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis. Can. Field Nat. 101: 153-154. Waters, R. J., Cranswick, P. A., Evans, J., & Pollitt, M. S. 1996. The Wetland Bird Survey 1994-95: zoildfoiol and wader counts. Slimbridge. Dr Baz Hughes and Mark Underhill, The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester GL2 7BT Simon Delany, BirdWatch Ireland, Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co. 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The second week will be based in Eilat, justifiably famous for its falls of migrants and passage of nortli-bound raptors. 4th-21st April BHU'I'AN widi Paul Holt. Explore this almost mvlhical Himalayan kingdom, with its vast untouched forests harbouring many species difficult to see elsewhere on Eardi. Highlights are likely to include Rufous-necked Hombill Aceros nipalensis, VC^ard’s Trogon Harpactes wardi and Great Parrotbill Conostoma oemodiwti. 8th-22nd May POINT PHLEE with Sean McMinn. The classic spring migration point where North American wood-warblers drip from the trees during fall conditions. The tour also includes a trip into Michigan to look for the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler Dcndroica kirtlandii. 13th-23rd May POIWND witli Richard Bashford & Gregory Lesniewski. A step back in time to traditional agricultural landscapes where Com Crakes Crex crex still thrive, primeval forests filled with woodpeckers including White-backed Dendrocopos leucolos and Three-toed Picoides tridactylus, and vast marshes where Great Snipes Gallinago media lek and Aquatic VC^arblers Acrocephalus pahtdicola sing. 30th April to 7th May CANARY ISLANDS witli Tony Clarke, for the famous endemics, including Laurel Pigeon Columba junoniae, Canary Islands Stonechat Saxicola dacoliae and Blue Chaffinch Fringilla teydea, as well as seabirds such as Little Shearwater Puffimis assimilis and Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria buhverii. These trips have been planned jointly witii the top bird-tour company, SUNBIRD. British Birds subscribers may claim a 10% reduction on die normal price of these trips. For more details please contact Sunbird, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 idf; phone 01767 682969; fax 01767 692481; e-mail: sunbird(^sunbird. demon. co.uk Volunteer ringers for Donana Expert ringers and assistant ringers are needed to help in ringing programmes to study trans- Saharan night migrants in Donana National Park, Spain, during 1st September to 15Ui November 1998. A stay of at least one week is expected. Local schoolchildren will watch die ringing procedures, which will be from dawn to dusk. A rota should allow some days off, when volunteers will be encouraged to join odier research teams in the Donana area. For details, contact Jose Luis Arroyo Matos (ReseiA'a Biologica de Donana), Crta. de Matalascahas s/n, Apartado de correos N^’ 4, 21760 Matalascahas, Almonte (Huelva); telephone: +34-959-440032; fax: +34-959-440033; e-mail: joseluis(«)ebd. csic.es 354 [RnV. Birds 91: 354, August 1998] © Hritish Birds Ltd 1998 NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Wendy Dickson and Bob Scott Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Cuts in BTO research programme Some four years ago, we commented on the fact that the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) was cutting its annual grant to the BTO {Brit. Birds 87: 574). We were soon taken to task {Brit. Birds 88: 50) when it was pointed out that there had been no real cut, only a reduction in ‘planned funding’. We now hear that the planned funding for the BTO (from JNCC sources) in 1998/99 will be reduced by 15% from that in 1997/98. The route by which Government money reaches the BTO is long and tortuous. This stems largely from the era when the Nature Conservancy Council was dismembered by Nicholas Ridley and the country agencies of English Namre, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales were established. JNCC funding is very dependent upon the annual contributions from the country agencies, which m turn are very dependent upon funding from the Department of Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR), which requires resources from the Treasury. Confused? Over the years, the British Government, of whatever political persuasion, has signed up to large numbers of international conventions and treaties and has made the ‘right’ conservation and environmental noises. To comply with its commitments, the Government requires knowledge and scientific facts. In many cases, the only source of this knowledge is the BTO’s massive data base assembled from the dedicated work of a huge network of amateur birders throughout the country. To pay individuals to gather the information would cost tens of millions of pounds. What is the result of the Government’s short-sighted approach? Fortunately, in the last four years, the BTO has very wisely and successfully diversified its financial sources and is now less dependent upon the JNCC funds. There will inevitably, however, be a problem, and it is looking as if there will be less analysis of the Nest Record Scheme, an increase in the cost of bird rings and, perhaps more significantly, serious reductions in environment-change and habitat smdies. Most worrying of all, there will be a cut-back in the ‘alert system’ that warns Government and non-govemment bodies of significant changes in bird populations. Governments cannot continue to boast of their environmental credentials and not provide the wherewithal to do the work. [Brit. Birds 91: 355-359, August 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 355 356 News and comment Claudia Wilds honoured The American Birding Association has awarded its Ludlow Griscom Distinguished Birder Award posthumously to the late Claudia Wilds, who died in June 1 997 {Brit. Birds 90: 399). Don’t miss the Fair! I'he British Birdwatching Fair is at Rutland Water during 21st-23rd August 1998. It is the place to meet people; friends, publishers, artists, authors, birders, birdwatchers, bird- lo\'ers, everyone. If you’ve never been to it, go; if you’ve been already, you’ll doubtless be going again. The Bird Illustrator of the Year drawings will be on display in the Art Marquee, and Bird Photograph of the Year prints will also be on \'iew. Have a look. BB's stand is no. 31 in marquee 2. Do call in and say ‘Hello’ to us. BIY judging Every year, the judges of Bird Illustrator of the Year get together at Fountains for the enjoyable task of assessing the current year’s entries. Never before photographed together, this year they were captured (plate 98): the two instigators of BIY, back in 1978 (RG & d'S); the current President and two Past Presidents of the Society of Wildlife Artists (BP, RG & KS); and two winners of the title Bird Illustrator of the Year, in 1982 and 1984 (AH & BP). Blinded by science Plans have been announced for huge mirrors to be put into orbit around the Earth to reflect sunlight onto cities at night and, thereby, save the costs of street lighting. The scheme is especially appealing to the governments of countries at high latitudes, where the winter nights are long. The only criticism that we have heard of this to date has come from astronomers, who have pleaded the case for their amateurs, who would no longer be able to see the stars at night. Nor would the rest of us. Nor would migrating birds. And what effect would it have on nocturnal predators, such as owls, that rely on surprise?-' And on their nocturnal-feeding prey species, which rely on darkness for protection? The consortium planning this lunacy (a term we use deliberately) obviously has its eyes blinded by its desire for financial gain. It would not be metaphorical blinding for the wildlife. BPY extra Several of the stunning bird photographs short-listed in this year’s Bird Photograph of the Year competition will, as in past years, be feamred, along with the winner, in the monthly magazine Bird Watching. We are delighted that this additional co\’erage is provided by Bird Watching. Look out for the September issue in your local newsagent or bookstore. A 98. BIRD ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR judges; left to right, Bruce Pearson, Alan Harris, Robert Gillmor, Keitli Shackleton and Dr 'I'im Sharrock, at P'ountains, April 1998 (J. T. R. Sharrock) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 357 Kidnapped birders freed Four American Birding Association members are now free, after having been kidnapped and held hostage in Colombia by FARC (the Forces of Armed Revolution of Colombia). The guerilla group abducted them at a roadblock less than 60 km south of Bogota. One of the party, Tom Fiore, escaped after being held for over a week, and the other three (Louise Augustine, Todd Mark and Peter Shen) were released, after being held captive, threatened with death and handcuffed at night for nearly five weeks. The best advice that we can offer to the travelling birder is always to teU someone reliable where you are planning to go; to avoid known trouble spots; to heed local up- to-date advice; to cany’ a field guide with bird pictures; and, if the worst happens, to remain calm. While jokes may be inappropriate and may be misinterpreted, a smile can often help to defuse a tense situation. In the majority of cases, as in this instance, patience leads to eventual release. Butterfly records needed ‘Butterflies for the New Millennium’ is the dtle of a project to map the distribution of all butterflies in Britain and Ireland for a new Atlas in the year 2000. To obtain instructions, recording forms and details of local co-ordinators, send an A4 SAE (with 3 Ip stamp) to Butterfly Conservation, PO Box 222, Dedham, Colchester, Essex C07 6EY. Prof. Dr Herbert Bruns (1921-1998) A unique contribution to ornithology was made by the late Prof. Dr Herbert Bruns, who was Editor of the German journal Omithologische Mitteilungen for an astonishing 50 years. He lived to see the publication of not only the first issue of the fiftieth volume, but also the comprehensive index of authors and titles included during the first 50 years. A month before he died. Prof Dr Bruns handed over responsibility to Dr Walther Thiede, his second-in-command at Om. Mitt, for the past 15 years. Flying the flag It had been a good weekend in North Wales: a flock of about 45 Red-billed Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax feeding just the other side of a stone wall had seen to that. When we called in at the RSPB Conwy reserve, the Society’s flag was flying proudly in the strong northwesterly wind from a remarkably high flag-pole. Now RSPB flags regularly fly from marquees at game fairs and county shows, but this was the first time that we had seen one flying on a nature reserve. The first reaction was one of doubt: do we want flags flying over our nature reserves? Then two things occurred to us. First, at the time the RSPB had something to celebrate: well over one million members had just been announced. Secondly, against the backdrop of an industrial estate and the road-signs for the A55 expressway, it made a ‘brave’ sight. Keep the flag flying! ‘All is not weU . . . on the machair breeding grounds of Britain’s most important community of nesting waders. In recent years numbers of most species have fallen by over half and every year the declines continue.’ In Tlte Outer Hebrides (Western Isles) Bird Report 1997, a splendid 128-page compilation, these declines are firmly attributed to egg-predation by Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus, introduced to the Uists in 1974. The RSPB’s research on the subject is summarised by Digger Jackson. ‘If the current situation persists one of the nation’s greatest ornithological treasures could disappear for good.’ The Uist machairs held some 17,000 breeding pairs of Dunlins Calidris alpina. Great Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiatiada. Common Redshanks Tringa totanus. Common Snipes Gallinago gallinago, Oystercatchers Haematapus ostralegus and Northern Lapwings Vamllus vanelltis in the 1980s, but all, except the last two, have now declined by 43%-65%. All is well wtith this new Report, edited by Brian Rabbitts. In addition to the obligatory systematic list, there are descriptions of three additions to die county list: Veery Cathams fuscescens in October 1995 (Phil Benstead) and Swainson’s Thrush C. uslulatus (Brian Rabbitts) and Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica stiiata (Bob Wemyss) in October 1996. The Report is available (price £4.00 incl. p&p) from Brian Rabbitts, 6 Carinish, Lochmaddy, North Uist HS6 5HL. 358 News and comment The rarest of the rare World Birdwaich, the quarterly magazine of BirdLife International, is always read with enthusiasm at the ‘N&c’ desk. This is the magazine that puts the populations of the World’s birds in true perspective. In the UK, we may discuss the validity of a whole host of species, ranging from Armenian Gull Lams (argentatus) armenicus to Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus (collybita) brehmii; we may debate whether Pmnella niodularis should be called Hedge Sparrow, Hedge Accentor or Dunnock; but somehow this all pales into insignificance when one reads of the problems facing the World’s birds. Only 14 Bali Mynas Leucopsar rothschildi sunave in the World; in India, two Forest Owlets Athene blezuiili were seen in late 1997, tlie previous record being a museum specimen collected in 1884; a female Kakapo Strigops habroptihis discovered on Stewart Island, New Zealand, increases the known World population to 55; and nine young Hawaiian Crows Corvus hawaiiensis raised in captivity in 1997 boosted the 15 wild individuals. In recent years, BirdLife International has instigated some exciting programmes. The BirdLife Conservation Series of publications includes books on the World’s endangered species, threatened habitats, seabird islands and Important Bird Areas in the Middle East and South America. In conjunction with BushneU, the BirdLife International binoculars are now widely available at reasonable cost. The latest innovations, in conjunction witli EcoTraveller, are wildlife tours that visit some of the many conservation projects that BirdLife International operates throughout the World. Full details are available from BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 ONA. Big Sit gains momentum in UK d’he Hampshire Ornithological Society started it in the UK in 1995 {Brit. Birds 88: 203) with a ‘Spotwatch’. Peter Wilkinson and Alistair Berry took it one stage fartlier in 1997 by carrv'ing out a 24-hour ‘Big Sit’, based upon North American rules, at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire, managing 62 species by the close of play on 18th May. Surprisingly little interest was shown by the bird-racing fraternity, yet here was a verv' environmentally sound, easy-to-do, bird- racing technique for those not wishing to dash around quite so much. In 1998, Peter and Alistair threw out a challenge to Ann & Bob Scott, and on 15th-16th May die two teams established their points of observation. Peter and Alistair returned to the Wicken Fen tower hide; Ann and Bob chose die Titchwell ‘Pamnder’ hide. A few hiccups for the Wicken team — including having to avoid disturbing a Wren Troglodytes troglodytes feeding young in the hide — gave a narrow victory to Titchwell, with 67 species. The tw'O teams managed 91 species in total, which compares favourably with one bird-race team that clocked up 105 species in Cambridgeshire, but had to travel 246 miles (396 km) to do so. Tie time has, surely, come to add ‘Big Sit’ into the annual bird-racing calendar? The two 1998 teams will be out again in 1999, this time better planned, and widi sponsorship towards bird conserv'ation. Anybody out diere want to take up die challenge? Cambridge Bird Club’s 75th 'Phe Cambridge Bird Club’s 75di birthday coincides with millennium year 2000, and celebrations are planned, including a dinner and a special omnibus publication. The Club has strong connections with bodi ‘Town’ and ‘Gown’. ITie President or Chairman are anxious to hear from as many past members as possible, to invite diem to participate in the celebrations, and, also, because diey would welcome items (not to be more than 2,500 words) for inclusion in the publication. These could be on any ornithological subject, diough preferably widi a Club connection, such as reminiscences of dieir time in die Club; photos and odier illustrations will be considered. Robin Cox or Roger Clarke would like to hear from all past Club members. CHAIRMAN: Roger Clarke, New Hythe House, Reach, Cambridge CR5 ojQ. Tel/fax 01638 742447. rri-sii)1-:n r: Robin Cox, Linden House, Long Lane, Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire sc,8 rrc. Tel 01763 208636, Pax 01763 208549. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 8, August 1998 French bird festival Somehow we rather doubt if it would work in the UK, but it most definitely worked in Abbe\alle/Baie de Somme, France, during 11th- 19th April 1998. The entire town and surrounding area was given over to the 8th ‘Festival de I’Oiseau’. Unlike the British Birdwatching Fair, where a site is chosen and adapted for the weekend event, the French change the town. On the approaches to Abbeville, all the roundabouts were decorated with banners and huge cut-out models of birds. The streets were similarly decorated with posters and banners and the loudspeakers broadcast bird songs to the shopping public. Virtually every shop displayed something relevant to the event; opticians advertised special deals on binoculars, and book and art shops featured birds very prominently. The local cinema hosted a seven-day film festival: EOU II The second meeting of the European Ornithologists Union will be held in Gdansk, Poland, during 15th-18th September 1999. Details are available from the EOU Organising Committee, University of Gdansk, Bird Migration Research Station, Przebendowo, 84-210 Choczewo, Poland; phone +4858 676 32 20; fax +4858 676 32 65; e-mail eou.meeting@univ.gda.pl Negative lapwings We have just completed suiv'eying four tetrads for the RSPB/Cambridge Bird Club survey of breeding Northern Lapwings Vanellus vamllus in the East Anglian Chalk Natural Area, and the results were not inspiring. It is frequently claimed that negative records are as valuable as positive, but collecting the negative can be slightly disappointing. We did find two pairs of nesting lapwings, but both were on fields outside our tetrads. Indeed it was difficult to find fields that looked at aU suitable as nesting sites. The autumn-sown cereals and the rape fields contained far too much vegetation to be attractive to lapwings. The only consolation on the day was the discovery of some 275 Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis, accom- panied by two Water Pipits A. spinolelta, on a field of very recently sprayed set-aside. Details of the lapwing breeding survey are available from Manor Farm, Fowlmere, near Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 7SH. 359 winner of the ‘Grand Prix’ was the BBC’s Paracas and the Billion Dollar Birds. There were excursions to local nature reserves, including the increasingly popular Parc Omithologique du Marquenterre. The halls and meeting rooms of the town were filled with photographic exhibitions, art displays and carving shows, whilst evening soirees included a bird-imitating competition that allowed some of the local hunters to display their skills. Via the Channel tunnel, the Marquenterre reserve and Abbeville are only a few hours from London, and the French have expressed considerable interest in welcoming more British birders to the event. Watch out for them at this year’s British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water, or contact Festival de I’Oiseau, 30 me Lesueur, 80142 Abbeville cedex, France. The thrill of a big movement We do not seem to hear so much about big, impressive bird movements these days. All the bird news seems to focus on individual rarities and the excitement that they generate. Perhaps it is the old bird-observatory blood that raced on the mornings when the bushes were literally alive with small birds, but the excitement and thrill of large numbers is still there. But are they being reported? In recent years we have been lucky enough to add the odd species to a national list or two — and that was exciting — but does it really compare? On Mahe, in Seychelles, on the morning of 27th September 1996, between 06.15 and 07.45 hours, a rniriimum of 135,000 Lesser Noddies Anous tenuirostns flew south close inshore off Cap Lascars. They were accompanied by 1,500 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Puffinus pacificus and 450 Brown Noddies A. stolidus. More recently, at Cap Kaliakra, Bulgaria, on the evening of 25th September 1997, in a period of one hour, over 12,000 Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba flew south at ‘knee height’ and continued out to sea until lost from sight. How about sending us some more accounts of such spectacular events, rather than the odd individual rarity? New Recorder Paul H. Downes, 450 Bruckfield Road, Leominster, Hereford HR6 8SD, has taken over from Keith A. Mason as Recorder for Herefordshire. RECENT BBRC DECISIONS This monthly listing of the most-recent decisions by tlie British Birds Rarities Committee is not intended to be comprehensive or in any way to replace the annual ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain’. The records listed are mostly those of the rarest species, or those of special interest for other reasons. All records refer to 1 997 unless stated otherwise. Long-billed Dowitcher Linmodronius scolopaceus Penclacwydd (Carmarthenshire), 30th November to 10th December. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis River Clw\'d, near Rhuddlan (Elint — then Clwyd), 9th-27th August 1994. Lesser Yellowlegs T. flavipes Banks and Marshside Marshes and Martin Mere (Lancashire), 18th October into 1998; another, 26th December into 1998. Desert Wheatear Oenanlhe deserii Dungeness (Kent), 16th-17th October; Musselburgh (Lothian), 1st December to 4th Januaiy 1998. Lanceolated Warbler Loaistella lanceolata Bardsey Island (Caernarfonshire), 27th September. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola North Ronaldsay (Orkney), 26th October. Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Hayle (Cornwall), 2nd December 1996 to 10th January. Isabelline Shrike Lanins isabellinus North Ronaldsay, 30th November. Two- barred Crossbill Loxia leitcoptera Isle of May (Fife), 8th-llth August. Dark-eyed Junco Jiinco hyemalis Vicar’s Cross, Chester (Cheshire), 15th December into 1998. i\L J. Rogers, Secretaiy, BBRC, 2 Churchlown Collages, Tozvednack, Si Ives, Conmall TR26 3AZ ZEISS ACCEPTED: RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Barry Nighlingale and Anlhony McGeehan This summary covers the period from 15th June to 19th July 1998. These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records. Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis Summer- plumaged adult, Ballycotton (Co. Cork), from 30th June to 3rd July (first Irish record). Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Tacumshin (Co. Wexford), from 28th June to 5th July. Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini Eight along south Irish coast during unseasonal southerly gale, 1 9th July; five off Galley Head (Co. Cork), two off Ballycotton, one off Camsore Point (Co. Wexford). Alpine Swift Tachymarptis nielba Spurn (East Yorkshire), 21st June. Little Swift Apiis affinis Barton- on-Humber (Lincolnshire), 26th June. Black-eared Wheatear Oenanlhe hispanica North Rona (Western Isles), 15th- 16th June. Isabelline Shrike Lanins isabellinus Cemlvn (Anglesey), 2nd- 1 8th July. Rar0 Bird News supplies all its information free to ‘British Birds’. Call 0881-888-1 1 1 for the latest, up-to-date news (28p/min cheap rate; 41p/min other times; inti. VAT) 360 [Bril. Birds 91: 360, July 1998] i British Birds Ltd 1998 British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers BirdShop are recommended by British Birds as reliable, good Subbmeo Namral despatched for British Birds subscribers by sent to Bridsh ^ correspondence concerning British BirdShop should be to British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, PisQ^U Farm, Nercwys, Mold, Flintshire CH7 4EW Books All listed books are POST FREE BEST BIRD BOOKS OF THE \-EAR SPECLAJL OFFERS Please tick / Regg & Hostmg Fnc Hoshng s Classic Birds Limited Edition (HarperCoUins) fusuaUv fSO OO'i /-?« nn n Cramp eial. 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APOLOGY Owing to a machine fault, the colour reproduction of the photographs of dowitchers Limnodromus in the March issue was substandard. A replacement four-page section (pages 97-100) is included in the centre of this issue for readers to substitute. 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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 £3.20 a line — average of 8 words. £10.50 a centimetre — minimum 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words and is £2.50 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 SEPTEMBER issue AUGUST 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION ENGLAND CHAPEL COTTAGE. Swanton Novers. North Norfolk. Charming 18th century cottage. Near excellent birdwatching. Stubenbord 01508 570296. Weeks or weekends available. (BBI40) HUNSTANTON, GARGENEY HOUSE, 2 w ETB guest hou.se catering for bird watchers in Norfolk. Tel. 01485 534416. 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(BFIOO) BIRD INEORMATION It’s been worth waiting for! COUNTYPAGER The NEW birders news service from Rare Bird Alert Tel 01603 456789 for an information pack BOOKS BIRD BOOKS BOUGHT & SOLD. Send A5 s.a.e. for catalogue. Vi.sit our shop and see our extensive collection. Hawkridge Books, The Cruck Barn, Cross St, Castleton, Derbyshire S30 2WH, Tel. 01433 621999. Fax. 01433 621 862. (BB078) 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 autumn Fig. 5. Connmon Chiffchaif Phylloscopus collybita (top six), Canary Islands ChiffchaflF P. canariensis (bottom left), Iberian ChiflchaS" P. brehmii (right, next to bottom) and Mountain Chiffchafi' P. sindianus (bottom right) (Zina;? Small) 374 Clement, Helbig & Small: Taxonomy and identification of chifTchaffs the undenving-coverts, and on perched birds is frequently visible at bend of wing. Right feathers and tertials dark brown, finely edged olive-green; tail similar, but some may show pale grey-brown edges to bases of outer feathers. Supercilium (which may appear slightly longer .than on either nominate collybita or abietinus and may extend to rear of ear-coverts) is thin, whitish- buff, and underlined by dark lores and eye-stripe; cheeks and ear-coverts pale buff to buffish-brown or mottled darker, and white eye-crescents contrast well against dark lores and eye-stripe. Underparts whitish, often appearing creamy to silveiy’-white, especially in good light, with pale buff wash on breast (especially the sides) and flanks. Bill appears all black, but has a very' small or restricted area of pale or pinkish-yellow at immediate base of lower mandible. Legs and feet jet-black, with dull yellow soles. Aummn and early-winter plumage is similar to that in spring, but on average is paler, with a greyish cast to upperparts and a buffish-brown tinge to rump and uppertail-coverts. Wing and tail feathers have fine pale buff- brown edges, and tips of flight feathers are visibly pale buff. P. c. brevirosiris Poorly differentiated from abietinus, but has a slightly browner tinge to upperparts, especially on crown, with a well-defined supercilium (especially in front of eye); underparts white, with huffish wash on breast, and may show a small amount of yellow streaks; undertail-coverts off-white or cream. Has shorter primaiy projection than abietinus, creating impression of a slightly longer tail. P. c. caucasicus (Description based on Loskot 1991, from 60 specimens examined in various Russian and Ukrainian eollections) Similar to abietinus, but upperparts darker, more brownish and less greenish on mantle; cheeks and sides of breast more brownish; underparts in fresh plumage cream, with vent white, lacking the yellow streaking characteristic of abietinus. P. c. menzbieri Very similar to previous tw^o races, and unlikely to be separable with certainty outside its isolated range. In fresh plumage, upperparts olive- brown, tinged with grey or faintly washed greenish; edges to wing and tail feathers slightly paler. Underparts white, with yellowish-buff tinge to breast, and flanks brownish; undertail-coverts lack any yellow. IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF Single individuals are probably indistinguishable on plumage from nominate collybita in file field. The diagnostie calls (see above) are the best character for identifying non-singing individuals. In the contact zone with nominate Common Chiffehaff, male Iberian have on average slightly longer and more pointed wings and longer tarsus (a combination of four measurements separates 95% of individuals: Salomon et al. 1997). CANARY ISLANDS CHin^CHAn’ Similar in plumage to summer nominate Common, but differs in having slightly but visibly longer bill (12.5-14 mm, compared with 10.5-12.5 mm on Common) and slightly longer tail. Differs from collybita most obviously in the For the past twenty years, Sunbird has been taking groups around the world in search of birds. In 1999 we q will be offering over 100 tours lead by our team of full- time professional leaders. Whether you are a beginner ’ looking for a relaxed tour or a keen birder seeking some ^ of the world's rarest birds, you will find something to suit you in our new brochure. For a free copy contact: ^ Sunbird (BS), PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SGI 9 IDF Telephone 01767 682969 Fax 01767 692481 ; Email sunbird@sunbird.demon.co.uk i or see us on the worldwide web: www.sunbird.demon.co.uk Your money is fully protected by our own ATOL bond. The best of bird watching tours Sunbird is a trading name of Conderbury Limited Sunbird L« 3003 V Limosa HOLIDAYS Call our Brochureline: 01263 578143 Bulgaria • Poland • Romania • Lake Neusiedl • Hungary • Finland & Arctic Norway • France • Spain • Lesbos • Bay of Biscay (mini-cruises) • Morocco • Israel • Egypt • The UAE • Yemen • Gambia • Kenya • South Africa • India • Nepal • Australia • New Zealand • Florida • Oregon • Costa Rica • Brazil Galapagos •Falkland Islands limosa Holida)’S, Suffickl House, Northrepps, Norfolk NR27 OLZ Fax; 01 263 579 251 e-mail: limo,sah()lidays(u'a)mpusei'\'e.c()m -4iIo dllo r Ru s T> ^llVy U (' accLpI jMiymciil hy \ Isa C- Ma.sicrcai'il RMS ST. HELENA BIRDING VOYAGES TO THE TROPICS Unique opportunity to see the Ascension frigatebird and the St Helena Wirebird as well as the pelagics of the tropical South Atlantic: frigatebirds, tropiebirds, albatrosses, noddies, boobies, terns and gannets. Special Binding Voyage aboard 7.000 ton British luxury cargo liner, RMS St Helena April 22nd - 22nd May 1999. On board; renowned South African ornithologist, Warham Searle Cape Town. St Helena. Ascension Island, Tenerife, Cardiff (plus Vigo and Banjul subject to cargo requirements). 8-day stay on beautiful St Helena inclusive, with bird spotting expeditions with Warham Searle. Fly/cruise packages from £3,133 from Heathrow. Call or write now for our leaflet and brochures Tel: 01326 211466 Curnow Shipping Ltd. (Agents for St. Helena Line). 48-50 Killigrew Street. Falmouth,. Cornwall TR 11 3AP Fax: 111 126 212808 Quote Ref.: BB 9/8 PBF A Natural History and Gardening BOOKFAIR 1998 Meeting Rooms London Zoological Society Regents Park, London NW 1 Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 10am' 6pm Antiquarian and secondhand books and prints on Natural History, Gardening and related subjects for sale by specialist booksellers Admission £ 1 .00 Enejuiries: Sue Lowell, 0181 960 4382 Organi.scd hy PBFA, The Old Coach House, 16 Melhourn Street, Roy.ston, Hert.s SC8 7BZ VI British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 375 strong buff-brownish tinge to its underparts, particularly the breast and flanks (spring birds). The pale supercilium is better marked and somewhat longer than that of collybita. Upperparts are darker brownish-olive, becoming greenish-olive on lower back, rump and uppertail-coverts; fine edges to flight feathers and base of tail are light green to greenish-olive. Cheeks and ear- coverts olive or tinged duller or browner and mottled paler. Chin and throat off-white, becoming dingy yellow on lower throat and breast, with lower breast and belly strongly or heavily tinged dull buffish-brown; flanks warm buff, and centre of belly to undertail-coverts pale yellowish- white. Leg colour varies from greenish to grey, brown or yellowish-brown. First-years as adults, but have some yellow tips to the buff feathers of breast. MOUNTAIN CHIFFCHAFF Both races are very similar in structure to Common Chiffchaff, but slightly more compact in shape, with a rounded wingtip and short primary projection (wing of males 59-64 mm, of females 54.5-62 mm), which creates impression of a slightly longer tail; bill is also slightly shorter (Scott & Siddle in prep.). P. s. sindianus Separated by range from other taxa of the ‘chiffchaff complex’. Similar to lorenzii (see below), but slightly paler or warmer brown on upperparts, with more prominent greyish tone to crown, mantle, scapulars and edges to wing-coverts, and greyer still in worn plumage. Supercilium as on lorenzii, but not so well defined against the slightly paler head. Underparts also similar, but flanks are warm brown, wearing to a duller or drab brown. P. s. lorenzii Differs from Caucasian race of Common Chiffchaff in lacking green on upperparts and yellow on underparts. Upperparts brownish (may even approach warm brown) and with a greyish wash; wings and tail dark brown with fine olive-brown edges; underwing-coverts vary from white or off- white to cream or, exceptionally, pale yellow. Head pattern more contrasting than on Common Chiffchaff, with long, well-defined, whitish or whitish-buff supercilium, broadest over lores and tapering to a point beyond ear-coverts, underlined by a distinct and fairly broad dark eye-stripe contrasting with pronounced whitish eye-ring. Underparts off-white, tinged fulvous-brown on breast and often with a buff or rusty wash on flanks, and greyish-white undertail-coverts. Bill black, with pale horn basal half to lower mandible. Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to the editor of Ibis and the British Ornithologists’ Union for permission to reproduce figures from Helbig el al. (1996). We are also grateful to G. Elias for assistance with calls and song of P. brehmii; and to Eduardo de Juana for providing a copy of the early proofs of the Spanish breeding-bird atlas and Lynx Edicions for permission to include fig. 2. References Clement, P. 1995. The Chijfchajf. London. Cramp, S. (ed.) 1992. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 6. Oxford. Haftorn, S. 1993. ‘Willow Warbler’ Phylloscopus trochilus imitating the song of the Chiffchaff P. collybita. Bull. BOC 113: 216-224. 376 Clement, Helbig & Small: Taxonomy and identification of chiffchaffs Helb, H.-W., Dowseit-Lemairh, F., Bergmann, H.-H., & Conrads, C. 1985. Mixed singing in European songbirds — A review. Z. Tierpsychol. 69: 27-41. Helbig, A. J., M^tens, J., Seibold, I., Henning, F., Schoitler, B., & Wink, M. 1996. Phylogeny and species limits in the Palaearctic Chiffchaff Phylbscopus collybila complex; mitochondrial genetic differentiation and bioacoustic evidence. Ibis 138; 650-666. Knech'I, S. 1960. Ein Beitrag zur Erforschung der Kanarischen Vogelwelt, insbesondere der Brutv'Ogel, und hauptsachlicher Berticksichtigung der drei vvestlichen Inseln Teneriffa, Gomera und La Palma. Anz. om. Ges. Bayern 5: 525-556. Loskot, V. M. 1991. A new Chiffchaff subspecies (Aves, Sylvmdae) from the Caucasus. Vestnik Zoologii, Kiev 3: lb-11 . [In Russian] Marova, I. M., & Leonovich, V. V. 1993. Hybridization of Siberian and European Chiffchaffs in the zone of sympatry. Proc. Zool. Mns. Moscow University 30: 147-164. MOhlstegen, J.-H., Niehaus, G., & Selun, D. 1994. Nachweise des Iberischen Zilpzalps Phylbscopus collybita brehmii in Deutschland. Limicob 8; 8-14. SAI.OMON, M., Bried, a. j., Helbig, A. J., & Rioiiuo, J. 1 997. Morphometric differentiation between male Common Chiffchaffs Phylbscopus [c.j collybila Vieillot, 1817, and Iberian Chiffchaffs P. fc.j brehmii Homeyer, 1871 in a secondary contact zone (Aves: Sylviidae). Zool. Anzeiger 236: 25-36. SCOIT, M. S., & SliODLE, J. S. In prep. Identification of Mountain Chiffchaff Birding World. Stepanyan, L. S. 1978. The Birds of the USSR and Their Distribution. Passeriformes. Moscow. 1983. Superspecies and Sibling Species in the USSR Avifauna. Moscow. SvTNSSON, L. 1992. Identification Guide to European Passerines. Fourth edn. Stockholm. Thielcke, G. 1972. Waldbaumlaufer {Certhia familiaris) ahmen artfremdes Signal nach und reagieren darauf J. Om. 113: 287-296. 1983. Entstanden Dialekte des Zilpzalps {Phylbscopus collybita) durch Lernentzug? J. Om. 124: 333-368. Ticehurst, C. B. 1938. A Systematic Reviezu of the Genus Phylloscopus (Wilbzv-zvarbbrs or I^af-zvarblers). London. Vaurie, C. 1954. Systematic notes on Palaearctic birds. No. 9. Sylviinae: tlie genus Phylbscopus. Amer. AIus. Novitates no. 1685. Voous, K. H. 1977. List of recent Holarctic bird species. Passerines. Ibis 119: 376-406. Peter Clement, 69 Harecroft Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PEI 3 IRL Dr Andreas J. Helbig, Vogelzvarte Hiddensee, D-1 9565 Kloster, Gennany LETTER The best-watched site in the UK I certainly agree that Cley, Norfolk, and its surrounding area is ‘the most- watched square in the United Kingdom’ (Brit. Birds 91: 260). Whilst there is (as stated) no annual report for Cley, quarterly reports have been published for the past 1 1 years in the Cley Bird Club Nezvsletter sent to some 400 subscribers countrywide. The annual subscription for issues in June, September, November and March is only £4.00; the latest issue is no. 48, published in June 1998. Applications for membership with cheques, payable to the Cley Bird Club, can be sent to me. Peter Gooden 45 Charles Road, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6DA NOTES These contributions have all been assessed by the eight members of either the Behaviour Notes Panel or the Identification Notes Panel White Storks wintering in northeast Algeria The northeast Algerian breeding population of White Storks Ciconia ciconia normally leaves for sub-Saharan winter quarters in July and August, at the time when other long-legged marshbirds arrive to winter alongside the large resident population of Cattle Egrets Bubidcus ibis. Since 1994, however, small parties of White Storks, varying in size from two to 1 7 individuals, have been observed at several sites up to the end of the year, behaving as if residents, and unconfirmed reports exist of overwintering elsewhere in northwest Africa. What prompts the White Stork to cross the desert to winter south of the Sahara is unclear. Low temperamres can hardly be a factor: the recent climate in northeast Algeria is relatively mild, and the storks usually return to their local breeding sites during the coldest period (January-February) . There is no apparent shortage of food (see Boukhamza et al. 1995); indeed, our unpublished data indicate that food, especially ground beetles (Carabidae), is plentiful, even peaking during autumn-winter. Over the last 100 years, the status of several species of wildfowl (Anatidae) has changed within the area (Heim de Balsac & Mayaud 1962), and in recent decades a number of Mediterranean and desert passerines have expanded their range northwards (Isenmann 1990), as have several insect species (Samraoui 1996). Whether tliis development is linked to global warming is an intriguing possibility. B. Samraoui University of Annaba, 4 rue Hassi-Beida, Annaba, Algeria References Boukhamza, M., Righi, M., Doumandji, S., & R^mdine, W. 1995. Le regime alimentaire de la Cigogne Blanche Ciconia ciconia dans une region de Kabylie (Algerie). Alauda 63: 199-207. Heim De Balsac, H., & Mayaud, N. 1962. Les Oiseaux du Nord-ouest de I’Afrique. Paris. ISENMAIVN, P. 1990. Some recent bird invasions in Europe and die Mediterranean Basin. In: Dl Castri, F., Hansen, A. ]., & Debussche, M. (eds.), Biological Invasions in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. Kluvver Academic Pub. Samraoui, B. 1996. Breeding status and range expansion of Danaus chrysippus in the Algerian Sahara (Lepidoptera: Danaidae). Nota Lepidopterologica 19: 261-263. Common Swifts flying with lowered legs On 26th July 1994, at Cranham, Essex, a large concentration of about 1,250 Common Swifts Apus apus fed for most of the day over an extensive field of recently harvested Rape Brassica napus. The sky was virtually cloudless, and the temperature was about 27°C; a slight easterly breeze occasionally blew. While checking through the loose wheeling flocks witlt binoculars, I became aware that some of the swifts flying close by me had clearly lowered their tibia and tarsus, forming a visible ‘V’ shape with their legs. Although this behaviour was not adopted by all the swifts that were close enough for this to have been [Brit. Birds 91: 377-382, September 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 377 378 Notes visible, I estimated that 25% of them were flying with their legs lowered. I assumed that, in the temperature and conditions that prevailed, this was a cooling strategy: the air rushing past exposed legs in the shade of the bird’s underbody helped to maintain the required heat balance. I have not come across this behaviour by aerial feeders before. John H. Smart 34 Ty elands, Billericay, Essex CM 12 9PA EDITORIAL COMMENT Prof. C. M. Perrins has commented: ‘I do not recollect having heard of swifts flying like this and, I suppose, some sort of cooling- down might be the correct strategy. However, I can suggest an alternative. Lowering the undercarriage, while it does not improve flying efficiency, does have the effect of increasing the drag and so slowing the bird down. One not infrequently sees this with birds such as vultures (Accipitridae) and gulls (Laridae) where they are in updraughts and dangle their feet. From the description, the birds were feeding fairly low and presumably on fairly small prey. Lowered flight speed might enable them to hunt more efficiently in these circumstances.’ In an earlier note describing similar leg- trailing by European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster and other species in Spain and East Africa (Brit. Birds 76: 139-140), Prof. D. M. Bryant considered the behaviour likely to be a thermoregulatory device. Syrian Woodpecker using wall crevice as ‘anvil’ On 26th October 1994, at Nagymaros, northern Hungary, I saw a male Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus fly through a garden and land about 1 m from the ground on the side of a stone waU, where it clung with difficulty before finding its grip. It was carrying what appeared to be a fruit stone, which it wedged into a crack in the wall. The woodpecker dropped to the ground for a few seconds, before flying back up to its initial spot on the wall. It then proceeded to hack away for over a minute at the item, which was fixed firmly in this ‘anvil’, until it was disturbed by passers-by and flew away. Gerard Gorman Pf. 701-1047, Budapest 1399, Hungary EDITORIAL COMMENT Although neither BWP (vol. 4) nor Winkler et al. (1995, Woodpeckers: a guide to the woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks of the World) specifically mentions cracks in stone walls as being used as anvils, this species will in fact use virtually any suitable crevice for such purposes. Ian Dawson has added that it is ‘not unexpected that it would use crevices in walls, as it is much more closely associated with broken settlement than is Great Spotted Woodpecker D. major where the two species co-exist.’ Robin feeding Hedge Accentor in winter On 22nd January 1995, on one of my regular walks along the River Ivel at Blunham, Bedfordshire, I was watching, from a range of about 10 m, a Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis which was progressing in its typical British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 379 shuffling’ fashion among leaf litter below bushes. Apparently purely by chance, it came close to a Robin Erithacus ruhecula, which had just caught an insect of some sort. The Robin fed this insect to the accentor, an act performed in a moment, with no preliminary sign from either bird, nor any subsequent reactions; the accentor just moved on. Whereas the Hedge Accentor appeared to take such a ‘gift’ for granted, I was very surprised. At the time, I wondered whether the accentor’s flicking wings had triggered a response from the Robin, by simulating the quivering wings of a begging female or juvenile Robin. I could recall no previous instance of an adult of one species feeding an adult of another, but have subsequently found reference to two observations by Kenneth Halliday: a Crested Tit Pams cristatus feeding an adult Blue Tit P. caenilens in early November and a Blue Tit feeding a Robin, also in November {Scottish Bird News 37; 5). J. T. R. Sharrock Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ Behaviour of Blackcaps in winter in Jersey In Jersey, Channel Islands, the Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla is considered common in winter in a variety of habitats, particularly gardens and parkland. Blackcaps often remain for several weeks in single trees or shrubs: behaviour well documented for this species (BWP, vol. 6), which is even known to return to the same site in consecutive winters {Ibis 137: 70). At the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (Jersey Zoo), ornamental gardens with many exotic trees and shrubs support several male and female Blackcaps throughout the winter. The most-frequented shrub is the Castor-oil Plant Fatsia japonica, a dense evergreen which produces large quantities of black berries. Blackcaps may spend the entire winter inside single isolated Fatsia, and from late winter males may sing from deep within the shrub for several weeks, although nesting has never been proven in the Zoo grounds. The other plant most favoured during winter is a Dove Tree (also known as Pocket-handkerchief Tree or Ghost Tree) Davidia mvolucrata, 6.5-8 m tall. Following the loss of its leaves, this tree is very open, affording no cover. It produces numerous medium-sized apple-like fruits, on which several bird species, notably Blackcap, Common Starling Stumus vulgaris and Great Pams major and Blue Tits P. caemleus, feed. Each winter, one Blackcap defends the tree against all conspecifics, and at times against other species. When dismrbed, the defending Blackcap retreats into nearby denser vegetation, usually a HoUy tree Ilex aquifolium. In years in which the Dove Tree produces a lot of fruit, these remain on the tree until early February, by when all have been eaten or have fallen. During the winter of 1993, the Dove Tree was defended by a male Blackcap, and in 1994 by a female. H. Glyn Young Jersey Wildlife Preservation Tmst Jersey Zoo), Fes Augres Manor, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BF, Channel Islands 380 Notes Flight of Magpie The usual flight of the Magpie Pica pica is described in The Handbook (vol. 1) as ‘direct, rather slow, with fairly rapid wing beats’. Bannerman (1953, The Birds of the British Isles, vol. 1) noted ‘their short wings being rapidly beaten’, while BWP (vol. 8) states that ‘over long distance, action alternates slightly desperate bursts of rapid wing beats with stalling glides . . .’. None of these, however, seems adequately to describe the species’ flight action. While watching Magpies either flying short distances or making longer high flights, I have noticed that the ‘normal’, rather slow wing beats are constandy interspersed with short bursts of extremely fast wing-beating (presumably Blf7^s ‘desperate bursts of rapid wing beats’). During these short bursts, the beats appear to be at almost double the usual rate. The ‘stalling glides’ often occur when Magpies are dropping to land; the species can, of course, cover a fair distance simply by gliding. E. J. Wiseman Nomiandy Farmhouse, Nomiandy Lane, Lymington, Hampshire S041 8AE EDITORIAI. COMMENT 'Fhe best description we can find of die Magpie’s flight is that by W. H. Hudson (1911, British Birds'): ‘The wings are very short, and the flight is slow and somewhat wavering, and at every three or four yards there is an interval of violent wing-beats, during which the black and white of the quills mix and become nearly grey.’ Carrion Crow devouring Common Toad In the early afternoon of 29th April 1990, at Staunton Harold Reser\'oir, south Derbyshire, I noticed an incubating Carrion Crow Corvus corone leave its nest in a waterside oak Quercus and glide down to the water’s edge, where it landed briefly before taking to the air carrying what appeared to be either a frog or a toad. The crow flew a short distance, landed again and began to pick at its catch, before starting to eat it. After a few minutes, it carried the animal back to the water’s edge in its bill and immersed it in the shallow water, where the crow shook its head to wash the food; it then proceeded to eat a few more small morsels. After some 8-10 minutes of undisturbed activity, the crow flew back to its nest. On inspecting the prey, I found the remains of a Common Toad Bufo bufo approximately 8 cm long: all that was left was the whole of the warty back skin, attached to which were the head, including eyes, and the rear limbs, the spine having been broken; the rest had been eaten. I was surprised that a Carrion Crow would eat a toad, an amphibian renowned for its habit of secreting a foul-tasting, irritant fluid when handled. Anthony Messenger 35 Buxton Road, Chaddesden, Derby DE2i 4JJ EDI I ORIAI. COMMEN'E Toads seem very rarely to be eaten by any birds. In June 1989, a Eurasian Jay Gamdus glandarius was seen canyang a live toad, but whether or not it ate this was not ascertained (Brit. Birds 86: 21). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 381 Murmuring calls of young Common Ravens On several occasions during April 1995, near West Quantoxhead, Somerset, I listened from cover to the sounds coming from a cliff nest of a pair of Common Ravens Corvus corax in a disused quarry. As expected, the commonest vocalisations of the four well-grown young were harsh, rasping, food-begging calls, uttered especially if an adult Common Raven approached. At about 04.30 GMT on 29th April, however, when the young were 39-41 days old, I heard pleasing and varied murmuring sounds of both high and low frequency. It sounded as though the young were greeting a new day, or even each other; on two occasions, these vocalisations continued for about a minute. This type of call is not mentioned in BWP (vol. 8). A. P. Radford Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3EG EDITORLAL COMMENT Derek Goodwin has commented that he has heard ‘apparently comparable sounds from young Eurasian Jays Gamilus glandarius stiU in the nest when apparently not very hungry and “contented”.’ Unusual roosting sites of Common Starlings On the evening of 25th September 1991, in Burnley, Lancashire, I saw a flock of about 125 Common Starlings Stumus vulgaris swirling around the tall disused chimney of FuUedge Mill. My first thought was that they were reacting to the presence of a predator, but it transpired that they were in fact assembling to roost inside the upper part of the chimney, which is about 43 m tall and with the opening at the top some 1.5 m across. I watched them go in on that evening and on several other occasions during the ensuing winter. On 20th October 1991, another roost developed elsewhere in Burnley, this time in Ivy Hedera helix on the walls of two stone-built terrace houses. About 500 Common Starlings used it until February 1992, when the householders removed the Ivy. On 27th February 1995, I watched an assembly of about 2,000 Common Starlings repeatedly circling the tall disused chirnney of another Burnley mill. Unlike those at FuUedge MiU, however, the starlings evenmaUy descended to enter a semi-derelict engine-house below, going in via what had been a side window. A friend told me tliat they had been using this site for at least three months. In 50 years of local bird study, I have never come across Common Starlings roosting inside tall chimneys, in Ivy or inside semi-derelict buddings, and I can find no references to similar sites in the standard literature. K. G. Spencer 167 Manchester Road, Burnley, Lancashire BBi i 4HR Height of Corn Bunting nests above ground BWP (vol. 9) mentions that nests of Com Buntings Miliaria calandra have been recorded at up to 1.5 m above the ground in bushes, and that they are often buUt in low branches of trees in Morocco (height not specified) . During the late 1970s and the 1980s, I found many Com Bunting nests in southern 382 Notes Spain, especially in the Tarifa region, where the species was abundant: most were on the ground in crops and weeds, but bush nests were also extremely common, including at least half-a-dozen above 1.5 m (highest about 2.5 m); one was about 3 m up in the branches of a Cork Oak Quercus suber. On 17th May 1994, in southern Morocco, I found a nest containing eggs 5 m above ground in an olive tree Oka. Peter Casteel Fairlawn, 679 Chester Road, Great Sutton, South Wirral L66 2LN EDITORIAL COMMENT Dr David Harper, in a major paper on Corn Buntings (Brit. Birds 88: 401-422), stated that only a few studies had found bush- nesting at all common and mentioned records of nests up to 1.7 m above ground. MONTHLY MARATHON Almost nobody was fooled by the Common Coot Fulica atra in plate 88, photographed in Shetland by Wendy Dickson in April 1 998, although 6% plumped for Red-knobbed Coot F. cristata and the pale flight feathers deceived one entrant into naming it as Red- crested Pochard Netta rufina. This month’s hurdle appears below (plate 99). For a free SLTNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF; or telephone Sandy (01767) 682969. A 99. ‘Monthly marathon.’ Photo no. 145. Si.\th stage in tentli ‘Marathon’. Identify the species. Read the rules (Brit. Birds 91: 305), then send in your answer on a postcard to Montlily Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 .tNJ, to arrive by 15th October 1998. [Bril. Birds 91: 382, September 1998] © British Birds l,td 1998 REVIEWS A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan. [In Japanese] By Takuya Kanouchi, Naoya Abe & Hideo Ueda. Yama-Kei, Tokyo, 1998. 624 pages; over 2,200 colour photos, isbn 4-635-07007-7. 3,150 Yen. Three CDs/cassettes of sound recordings. 9,450 Yen per set. As a photographic field guide, this is the best I have seen (but not read; I confess to having perused only the pictures). As a collection of photographs of the birds of Japan, it is superb. Of conventional field-guide size, it covers 479 species (over 580 occur in Japan) with half a page to two pages per species, and at least one photo of the rarer species, but as many as nine (though more typically six or seven) where a range of plumages or races needs to be shown. English and scientific names are given for each species or race, while the distribution, migratory stams and months of occurrence in Japan are clearly shown. But beware: photos of ‘similar species’, included for comparison, may cause confusion. For example, the nine photos in the two-page account of Marsh Sandpipers Tringa stagnatilis include a Wood Sandpiper T. glareola. For this and similar reasons, the addition of a couple of short introductory paragraphs in English, explaining the layout and general organisation of the book, would have been most helpful. Perhaps the publishers might consider printing a small ‘slip-in’ sheet including this information if they are seriously considering selling to the non-Japanese market. Even without this, anyone wanting an extensive collection of excellent photographs of the majority of Japanese bird species will want to purchase this well-produced and remarkably compact book. The CDs include 283 of the species in the book; an index enables the disc/track with the calls and/or song of each species to be located easily. Symbols in the book indicate those species that are featured on the CDs. Richard Chandler The Breeding Birds of South-east Scotland: a tetrad atlas 1988-1994. By R. D. Murray, M. Rolling, H. E. M. Dott & P. Vandome. Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, Edinburgh, 1998. 358 pages; 25 colour plates; 168 line- drawings; 143 distribution maps. ISBN 0-9512139-1-1. £27.00. This well-produced large-format book shows, with very clear maps and descriptive text, the results of seven years of fieldwork by 230 observers in the Lothian and Borders regions of Scotland. As well as the tetrad (2 km X 2 km square) distributions — with three sizes of red square corresponding to confirmed, probable and possible breeding, and open squares showing observed but no breeding evidence — there are small maps showing the 1968-72 distribudon and 1988-94 distribution by 10-km squares. Naturally, the tetrad distribution is very much more revealing. There are also diagrams showing distribution according to altitude and, often, a relevant habitat type (e.g. ‘unimproved grassland’ for Whinchat Saxicola rubetra; ‘any woodland’ for Blackbird Tiirdus merida\ ‘mixed and deciduous woodland’ for Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix', ‘coniferous woodland’ for Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea) . Naturally, as compiler of ‘the Old Atlas" (the first time that I have seen this abbreviation used, and which rubs salt into my wrinkles), I am fascinated by all bird- distribution atlases. This one, while following a now-well-established pattern, is of a particularly high standard: very attractive, very easy to use, and filled with both the broad brush strokes and the fine detail which make bird distributions so exciting. Change is inevitable — e.g. Twites Carduelis flaviroslris have gone (almost), but Siskins C. spinus have come — and this is a very fine (in both its senses) baseline for a repeat in ten or 20 years’ time. Sponsorship from East of Scotland Water, Scottish Natural Heritage and the RSPB, as well as the support of the [Brit. Birds 91: 383-385, September 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 383 384 Re\iews Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, is no doubt responsible in part for both the quality of this book’s production and the inclusion of 25 aerial views in colour, these latter wonderfully portraying the range of habitats of this part of Scotland. This book really does do justice to the labours of the observers who produced 91,000 records of 168 species in the 1,756 tetrads in southeast Scotland, and those of the four authors/compilers/editors. J. T. R. Sharrock Endemic Bird Areas of the World: priorities for biodiversity conservation. By Alison J. Stattersfield, Michael J. Crosby, Adrian J. Long & David C. Wege. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7. BirdLife International, Cambridge, 1998. 846 pages; 10 colour plates; 160 black-and-white plates; 30 black-and-white illustrations; over 200 maps. ISBN 0-946888-33-7. Paperback £37.00. One quarter of the World’s bird species have restricted ranges (defined here as less than 50,000 km^). Endemic bird areas (EBAs) contain two or more such species. This book documents the 218 EBAs, which quite surprisingly cover only 1% of the Earth’s surface and yet encompass the complete World distributions of 20% of the World’s birds. Most EBAs are tropical and have forest as their main habitat. Seven countries (read the book to discover which they are!) have more than ten EBAs. This book is beautifully produced (perhaps a litde too beautifully for a book which should be used to save the World’s birds?) and makes fascinating reading. It makes the case well that conserving these areas is a global conservation priority. If we could map the distributions of all restricted-range species, not just birds, would we find areas of great overlap? This book suggests that we might. If diis is so, then conserving EBAs would help conserve much of the World’s biodiversity. This book is a great achievement of the BirdLife International partnership and an extremely important book for global biodiversity conservation. Mark Avery World Bird Species Checklist: with alternative English and scientific names. By M. G. Wells. Worldlist, Bushey, 1998. 671 pages. ISBN 0-9532420-0-5. £29.50. This is a wonderful addidon to the library of any ornithologist, birdwatcher or birder. The ornithological literature is bedevilled with alternative English names for the same species (and the same name for different species), and scientific names do not always help, even within Europe, particularly if you go back 30 or 40 years. This book solves your problems. Following the familiar sequence, with most recent splits included, here is a list of all the species in the World, with die majority of the names which they have been called, not only listed, but also indexed. The list itself occupies 427 pages, covering 9,95 1 species; there are 22 pages of references in the bibliography; the index of scientific names occupies 87 pages, and the index of English names 1 1 5 pages. It would be a miracle if a book containing so many names had no errors; the few that there are stand out and will doubtless be corrected in subsequent editions (the author asks users to send in details of any errors. and also to suggest any improvements which might be made to the format and presentation). I could argue with die detail of many of the English names (e.g. Olive Tree Warbler for Hippolais olivet onim, which common sense decrees should be Olive-tree Warbler) and the haphazard use of modifying words (such as ‘Leaf-’ among some of the Phylloscopus warblers), although many of these merely redect inconsistencies in previous literature. It is a pity, however, that the opportunity has not been taken to standardise names, with accepted English usage of hyphens, capital letters and so on. Perhaps this will be addressed in die second edition, which will surely follow by public demand. From the very elegant dust jacket to the substantial binding and the excellent choice of a very clear typeface and well-planned layout, this is a high-quality- product, easy to use and much needed. J. T. R. Sharrock British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 Checklist of the Birds of Eurasia. By Ben F. King. (Ibis Publishing Company, Vista, 1997. 112 pages. ISBN 0-934797-15- 3. Paperback $19.95) How can one possibly take seriously a checklist of European and Asian birds which refers to Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola as ‘Yellow-hooded Wagtail’, Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis as ‘Brown Tree-Pipit’ and Olive-backed Pipit A. hodgsoni as ‘Olive Tree-Pipit’, and applies the name ‘Pied Wagtail’ to Motacilla aguimp? These are four examples from scores of such ill-considered names which destroy any value which the checklist might have had. The inappropriate sprinkling of hyphens and incorrect use of capitalisation are additional constant irritations. This is all a great pity, since, with a little bit of liaison with the BOU or with British Birds, the absurdities could have been avoided and the list would have been useful for reference purposes. As it is, it merely adds further chaos to an already confusing situation. JTRS Bill Oddie’s Birds of Britain and Ireland. By Bill Oddie. (New Holland, London, 1998. 240 pages, isbn 1-85368-898-3. £12.99) If you are a begimier or you want to encourage and inspire a new birdwatcher, here is the perfect book: a field guide which includes over 200 of the more common species and 55 rare or localised birds. Bill Oddie’s clear, easy-to-read text includes notes on behaviour, plumage, distribution and habitat, as well as hints on calls and songs. Each species is given its own page and the information is both detailed and simple. The book is crammed with excellent pictures by David Daly, Stephen Message and Clive Byers, showing birds in various plumages and positions. There are also several pages comparing similar species in their natural habitat and a section at the front on bird topography to help with sketching and describing birds. In summary, this is an excellent book to help and to stimulate anyone who is at all interested in birds. M^rmr-w Slaymaker A Natural History of the Pheasant. By Peter Robertson. (Swan Hill Press, Shrewsbury, 1997. 160 pages, isbn 1- 85310-564-3. £24.95) This is a personal account of the author’s smdies of this most artificial of introduced birds, so important because of its impact upon the management 385 of the countryside, modified for its benefit. Comparisons with its preferred habitat in its namral range, and in other parts of the World where it has been introduced, reveal remarkable adaptability. Here, we tend to think of it as a bird of woodland edge and wide woodland rides, but the dykes of treeless East Anglia also provide the necessary cover. There are index entries of ‘Egg dumping’, ‘Harems’ and ‘Infidelity’ (shades of the shy, retiring Prunella modularis) . It was a surprise to find as many as five pages devoted to ‘Flying ability’ for a species which most of us would think of as flying only when asked to provide entertainment for the local gentry. There is, however, much more to the Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus than a mere flying casserole. Do note, in case you meet the author in person, that Peter Robertson is not amused when asked whether The Game Conserv'ancy Trust employed him as a pheasant-plucker. His book, however, will entertain as well as educate you. JTRS The Natural History of Selborne. Double CD/double cassette. By Gilbert White. Qohn Paterson, Winchester, 1998. Total running time 2 hrs 28 minutes. CDs £15.00, cassettes £12.50) Billed as ‘a journey into 18th century rural England’, this can be both fascinating and slightly depressing. Actor Benjamin Whiterow brings to life the letters of Gilbert White against a backdrop of the wildlife featured. Red-billed Chough Pyniiocorax pyirhocorax. Dipper Cinclus cinclus. Corn Crake Crex crex, Raven Corviis corax and Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus all feature, where now all are rare or unknown in Hampshire and Sussex. The anecdotes and theories remind twentieth-century naturalists how much about animal behaviour was known over 200 years ago (though scepticism that hirundines migrate is revealed in a theory that House Martins Delichon urbica fly in April in order that tlieir blood can recover from winter torpor). It becomes mildly depressing only when one steps into the countryside of modern England and sees the contrast. What would White have made of today’s comparatively silent fields? At 2V2 hours, this is a long ‘talking book’, but an accessible way into this classic and perhaps ideal to enliven a journey down the A3 and A27. Jvuan Hughes Sabine’s Gulls in western France and southern Britain Norman Elkins and Pierre Yesou ABSTRACT Meteorological factors determining the arrival of Sabine’s Gulls Lams sabini in western France and southern Britain are described. The largest coastal and inland concentrations are associated with very deep depressions moving across or to the north of the Bay of Biscay and the western approaches of the English Channel, although flocks at sea and off coasts in western France are also recorded in settled weather. This pattern indicates a late-summer and autumn feeding area in Biscay much closer inshore than was formerly acknowledged. The majority appear to be adults. The increasing frequency of large concentrations in the last 20 years may reflect an increase in the number of competent observers and/or the gull population using the Bay of Biscay. Data also suggest that there has been an increasing incidence of deep depressions over the region, and hence of southwesterly or westerly gales. The presence of large numbers on the French coast may on some occasions, however, be linked to temporary oceanographic episodes, particularly the warming of waters which lead to planktonic blooms. 386 [Brit. Birds 91: 386-397, September 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 387 The occurrence ashore of rare gulls is often due to displacement by strong winds (e.g. Elkins 1987). In western Europe, this has always been held to be true of the Sabine’s Gull Lams sabini, a pelagic migrant. Until the 1950s, its wintering area was thought to be mainly north of 50°N, with some found in the Gulf of Gascony (Fisher & Lockley 1954). Since then, the winter quarters of the Atlantic migrant population have been located in the Benguela Current upweUing off southern Africa (Mayaud 1965; Lambert 1967). In the Bay of Biscay, where the species has been known as a migrant since the last century (Mayaud 1961), they are present from July to December. Early records are from the third week of July, with the species becoming regular from 20th August onward. Only a few remain after October (Yesou 1993; Recorbet 1 996) . Autumn passage is observed over the shipping lanes in western Biscay and southwards off the coast of western Iberia (e.g. Bourne 1965). From time to time, unusually large numbers occur on the coasts of France and Britain. Harrison (1985) suggested that a major staging area, probably involving several thousand individuals, exists west of Belle-Ile off the coast of northwest France, although his reference is suspect (W. R. P. Bourne in litt). Prior to the 1970s, an autumn total of 75 in the whole of Britain was considered exceptional, and in the 1990s annual totals have been only slightly higher (Fraser et al. 1997). Coverage by observers along the Biscay coast of France is much less complete than in Britain, so that influxes there may have been missed in the past. Substantial numbers have, however, been recorded in both countries in recent years. It is the purpose of this paper to relate the results of an investigation into the meteorological aspects of these influxes, and to discuss the immediate source of the birds. We have also taken the opportunity to place on general record recent unpublished French observations of the species. Methods Ornithological literature was searched to identify the major autumn influxes and coastal concentrations in Britain and France during the 20 years 1977-96. All concentrations of 100 or more Sabine’s Gulls at one site on the same date were considered, but smaller concentrations were also noted. Daily weather charts for the months of August, September and October for the same period were scrutinised, and the incidence of severe gales identified. Especially important was the passage of deep depressions eastwards or northeastwards across the area bounded by latitudes 52°N and 47°N, and longitudes 10°W and 5°W. Deep depressions were defined as those with central pressures at or below 985 hPa (1 hecto^scal = 1 millibar). Such depressions are very rare so far south in the North Atlantic in summer and aummn, and may be spawned from tropical storms in the western sector of the Ocean. Depressions of this depth invariably create very powerful winds, and it is these which are of note when considering displaced seabirds. The approximate duration of associated gales from directions conducive to coastal concentrations of seabirds was also noted. Night-time illumination levels were derived from a computer programme developed from work by Turton & Stone (1989). 388 Elkins & Yesou; Sabine's Gulls in France and Britain Results A total of 1 2 occasions on which deep depressions crossed the prescribed area occurred in the two decades, at least four of which could be directly related to previous tropical storms (i.e. extra-tropical depressions as opposed to the normal polar depressions, see table 1 ) . Monthly totals were nil in August, four in September and eight in October. Less-powerful storms, related to deep but more-distant depressions, were noted on a further 12 occasions: one in August, two in September and nine in October. The stormiest autumn during the period was in 1993. The severe gales associated with the majority of these systems lasted less than 24 hours (table 1). Table 1. Details of deep depressions (central pressure less than 985 hPa) crossing Biscay, Celtic Sea and western English Channel in August, September and October, 1977-96. Entries in bold associated with Sabine’s Gulls Lams sabini. D = polar depression; ET = e.xtra-tropical depression. E = England, FR = France, Cl = Channel Islands. As a rough guide, mean wind speed at time of gust = 'h of gust speed. Year Date Duration (days) Type Maximum gust (kph) in onshore winds Country affected by onshore gales 1981 19th Sept 1 D 120 (E), 130 (FR) E,FR 1982 13th Oct 1 D 115 (FR) FR 1986 20th Oct 1 D 104 (Cl) E,FR 1987 15th Oct 1 D 180 (E), 158 (Cl), 194 (FR) E,FR 1989 28th Oct 1 D 162 (E) E,FR 1991 28th Sept 1 D 133 (FR) FR 1993 13th Sept 2 ET 159 (FR) FR 1993 1st Oct 1 D 108 (FR) FR 1993 5th Oct 1 D 100 (FR) FR 1994 22nd Oct 1 D < 100 (E,FR) E,FR 1995 7th Sept 1 ET 148 (FR) FR 1996 28th Oct 1 ET 130 (E) E Records associated with deep depressions 1983 A very^ deep depression moved northeast across western Ireland, with its associated westerly gales affecting the Southwest Approaches on 2nd September. Winds gusted to 120 kph, with 100 Sabine’s Gulls recorded at St Ives, Cornwall, on 3rd September (table 2). A further 200 or more were noted in Britain that autumn. 1987 This event, in which over 300 Sabine’s Gulls were recorded from 16tli October, has been well documented (Hume & Christie 1989), and was tlie result of the infamous storm that devastated soutliern England, die Channel Islands and nordiern France (see fig. 1). While considerably smaller dian some French influxes, it was remarkable in British terms, especially as die gulls moved far inland. The pattern of occurrence of Sabine’s Gulls (and of Grey British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 389 Table 2. Concentrations of 100 or more Sabine’s Gulls Larus sabini ashore in Britain and France, 1977-96. Gale-related influxes are shown in bold. Year Date Number Site 1980 9th Sept 240 Les Sables d'Olonne, Vendee 1980 1 3th Sept 120-140 Les Sables d'Olonne 1983 3rd Sept 100 St Ives, Cornwall 1984 1 5th Sept 700+ Vilaine estuary, Morbihan 1984 1 6th Sept 1,220 Vilaine estuary 1984 7th Oct 100 lie Dumet, Morbihan 1985 11th Sept 130 Vilaine estuary 1985 1 3th Sept 600 Vilaine estuary 1987 11th Sept 250 Vilaine estuary 1987 16th-18th Oct 300+ S and E England 1993 13th-15th Sept 2,000+ W France 1995 7th Sept 850+ Les Sables d'Olonne 1995 11th Sept 150 Hoedic, Morbihan 1995 20th Sept 200 Vilaine estuary Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicarins which were also displaced in unusual numbers) suggests, however, that the gales themselves were not the cause of displacement while the birds were at sea. Surface winds over Biscay around the depression were not particularly strong early on 15th October. The first reports of violent winds occurred off northwest Spain from midday, with these gales extending across Biscay and northwest France as the depression deepened to below 960 hPa and moved northeastwards. There was a distinct Fig. 1. Synoptic chart for 12.00 UT on 15th October 1987. Dashed line = track of depression centre ( X marks 1 2-hourly positions) Horizontal shading = main areas of land-based records, 16th- 17th Oct 1987 Dotted line = edge of continental shelf Dotted-and-dashed line = southern limit of destructive gales 390 Elkins & Yesou: Sabine’s Gulls in France and Britain dearth of reports of Sabine’s Gulls from France (‘a few tens’ were reported from the tip of Brittany, the only area in France close to the depression track) . This suggested that they moved with the eye of the storm, remaining over the sea until the landfall of the depression centred on the Dorset coast early on 16th. It is likely that the gulls began to settle out over the coast and were overtaken by the very powerful west-to-southwest winds to the rear of the depression (gusting to 145 kph inland, and maintaining a steady 130 kph at an altitude of 500 m). These winds then carried them across southern and central England. The geographical distribution of observations on 16th and 17th (see figs. 1 & 2 in Fraser & Ryan 1994) showed a swathe of reports from Dorset to Essex and Cambridgeshire, corresponding almost exactly to the horizontal trajectory (not the direction) of the airflow during the first few hours from the gulls’ landfall on 16th. This is supported by the paucity of records in the extreme southeast and southwest of England. The Southeast (East Sussex and Kent) was too far south to receive birds from Dorset, despite suffering winds as severe as other locations in southern England, and the Southwest was on the ‘wrong’ side of the depression. Observations on 16th from a southwest-bound vessel near Land’s End revealed no Sabine’s Gulls and relatively few other seabirds (W. R. P. Bourne in litt.), of which there were only small numbers inland in the days following the storm. The weekend’s birdwatching activity on 17th and 18th coincided with the birds’ return towards the Atlantic, with the vast majority having departed by 20th. 1993 This autumn saw the largest-ever coastal influx in Europe, when at least 2,000 Sabine’s Gulls were reported on the French Atlantic coast between southern Brittany and the Gironde from 13th September (Desmots & Yesou 1994). Ex-hurricane ‘Floyd’, reinvigorated as an extra-tropical depression, passed slowly east into Brittany on 13th with a central pressure of 968 hPa (fig. 2). Winds gusted to 159 kph at Belle- lie, but, as the depression moved along the Channel Coast of northern France, filling slowly, the severe westerly gales veered northwest and abated. In Vendee, at least 1,600 Sabine’s Gulls were counted on the afternoon of 13th, with 800 in the vicinity of les Sables d’Olonne alone, and several occurred well inland during the next few days. Only 130 Sabine’s Gulls were recorded in Britain during the whole season between mid August and early October. Unlike the 1987 event, it appears that the birds were drifted in the prolonged gales rather than moving in tlie eye of the storm. No gale-induced Sabine’s Gull influx of any size had been recorded in France since September 1930, when westerly gales associated with a deep polar depression over Britain carried large numbers onto fire Atlantic coast, particularly in Gironde (Mayaud 1931). 1995 This meteorological situation was almost a mirror image of that in 1993. 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HONG KONG from £1190 31 March-10 April 1999 with extension to Emei Shan, China, until 17 April with Steve Rooke and Richard Lewthwaite All events offer a full, professionally-led excursion programme. For an information pack, contact Sunbird specifying which event you are interested in. Details fromiSunbird (BS), PO Box 76, Sandy, Beds, SG19 IDF Telephone: 01767 682969 Fax: 01767 692481 Email: Sunbird@Sunbird.demon.co.uk Web site: www.sunbird.demon.uk Your money is fully protected by our own Sunbird is a trading name of Conderbury Limited British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 391 *an 972 hPa. It moved up the English Channel, weakening steadUy, with severe southwest-to-west gales battering western France. A wind speed of 148 kph was recorded at the tip of Brittany. Most of the sightings were from " Sabine’s Gulls were counted at Les Sables d’Olonne arrived around midday, at the height of the storm, and reached a peak in the evening. A rapid decrease in the wind overnight aUowed all but a few to return to sea. Sabine’s GuUs were also reponed from other sites, especiaUy in Morbihan (Desmots & Yesou 1996). Again, few were recorded in Britain from this storm. During the period under review, there were a number of deep depressions west of the area that gave rise to severe south-to-southwesterly gales. This would theoretically drift any seabirds in northern Biscay onto the south-facing coasts of Ireland or ComwaU. Five such events were noted, but on no occasion was any increase of Sabine’s Gulls reported from coastal waters Outwith the period of this study, on 29th August 1997, a remarkable northwestward coastal passage was recorded at Les Sables d’Olonne into a strong WNW airstream associated with a deep depression over Britain. The strength of the winds was not particularly notable, gusting to 97 kph on Ouessant on 28th, and backing southwest on 29th in the circulation of a wave depression. The movement, which was estimated to be of several hundred on 28th and 29th, appeared to be more of a concentrated ‘fly-by’, perhaps of birds newly arrived in Biscay. Preliminary reports reveal that this aumrnn produced almost 1,000 Sabine’s Gulls off Ireland, with 347 off Co. Kerry on 29th August in light winds, suggesting that huge numbers must have been present in the region. Unusually high numbers were also noted in the North Sea in September, with passage through the Strait of Dover in October. Displacement by gales around northern Scotland seems likely to have occurred, in a manner similar to that of other pelagic seabirds. Discussion The small numbers of Sabine s GuUs (no more than 25 at any one time) that occur in southwest England and southern Ireland are often associated with strong westerly or northwesterly winds. Most of these are ‘fly-bys’ of migrants. The 1982 storm did produce 30 or more near Les Sables d’Olonne, an unpublished record that recently came to light from a non-ornithological source (J. Moreau verbally). The events at sea and on the French coast in 1977, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989 (tables 2 & 3) were notable, however, in that they were not associated with any particularly strong winds. Indeed, many occurred during light winds of varying directions, often near ridges of high pressure. Some records were of Sabine’s Gulls roosting ashore, suggesting that flocks may sometimes feed nearer the coast titan is generally believed (see Desmots & Yesou 1994). As southerly gales bring no coastal flocks to Britain or Ireland, most would appear to be concentrated off the French coast south of Brittany. Bourne (1986) identified a seabird concentration (Great Sheaiw'aters Puffinus gravis. Sooty Shearwaters P. griseus, Manx Shearwaters P. piiffiniis. 392 Elkins & Yesou: Sabine’s Gulls in France and Britain ^ 100. Sabine’s Gull Lams sabini, France, August 1997 (Frederic Jiguef) . The grey neck patch behind the black collar, the retained black-tipped tail feather, and the much-abraded white primary tips are indicative of first-summer plumage; it is uncommon for the grey hood to be so extensively developed at this age, and such an individual could easily be taken for a moulting adult when seen in normal seawatching conditions. ▼ 101. Adult Sabine’s Gull Lams sabini, France, August 1997 (Frederic Jiguei) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 393 Northern Gannets Moms bassanns and occasional passing Grey Phalaropes) in late summer south of Brittany. The area concerned is along the ‘shelfbreak front’, a persistent line of upwelling created by a deep current impinging on the edge of the continental shelf. Although there have been no records of large numbers of Sabine’s Gulls in this area, French ornithologists have found that in coastal waters (up to 55 km from the coast) the frequency of Sabine’s Gulls from late August to mid October usually varies from 0.2 to 1.4 birds per hour at sea in central and northern Biscay (Yesou 1993; Recorbet 1996). Higher densities occur south and west of this area in mid Biscay over the continental shelf between 45°N and 46°30'N (A. Bertrand verbally; Bumeleau & Dubois 1985; G. Hemery in Recorbet 1996; PY pers. obs.). Over ten Sabine’s Gulls per hour have been regularly observed at sea in the area known as Rochebonne, 55 km west of La RocheUe, and farther south, with the highest numbers recorded in the 1980s (fig. 2 & table 3). The lack of three-figure records in the 1990s probably reflects the scarcity of pelagic trips to the right places, rather than decreasing densities. TTie 1980 influx in French coastal waters involved a total of about 500 Sabine’s Gulls recorded in daily observations near Les Sables d’Olonne during 5th- 18th September (see table 2). The area affected is usually characterised by cold coastal water, leading to thermal oceanographic fronts favourable to feeding Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus maiiretanicus (Le Mao & Yesou 1993). During the summer of 1980, however, warmer water from southern Biscay invaded the area (Yesou 1982). Although there is no proof that this can explain the influx of Sabine’s Gulls, a relationship is suggested by events in the Vilaine estuary, where phytoplanktonic blooms linked to warm water have occurred simultaneously with high Sabine’s Gull numbers. For example, such a massive bloom appeared in the Vilaine estuary in 1984. Recorbet (1996) suggested that the presence of numerous Sabine’s Gulls (see table 2) was linked to that bloom, although there is no direct proof of such a linkage (e.g. the end of the bloom was characterised by an abundance of toxic algae, theoretically detrimental to most living organisms). Blooms still occur there almost annually, while associated large numbers of Sabine’s Gulls have not recurred in the last ten years. Any connection between the abundance of Sabine’s Gulls and oceanographic parameters cannot be certain owing to the lack of information on the gulls’ food and its distribution. The sequence of meteorological events leading up to the influxes of 1987, 1993 and 1995 correlates very well with such concentrations noted in Biscay. Innumerable voyages by members of the Royal Naval Birdwatching Society and others have never found anything other than passing Sabine’s Gulls along the shipping routes (W. R. P. Bourne in litt.), but these routes are well away from coastal waters and the regions of upwelling along the ‘shelfbreak front’. Figs. 1 & 2 (pages 389 & 394) show the tracks and positions of the depressions during the largest English and French influxes, as well as the areas in which the majority of Sabine’s Gulls were observed immediately after the strongest gales. In 1987 (fig. 1), the distribution of the gulls mirrored the track of the depression, and hardly affected France, lending credibility to the suggestion that their initial movement was in the eye of the depression, with 394 Elkins & Yesou: Sabine’s Gulls in France and Britain Fig. 2. Synoptic chart for 06.00 UT on 13th September 1993. Dashed line = track of depression centre (X marks midday positions), 12th- 13th Sept 1993 Horizontal shading = main areas of land-based records, 13th-14th Sept 1993 Dotted line = edge of condnental shelf 1, 2, 3 = locations of Belle-Ile, Vilaine estuaiy and Les Sables d’Olonne respectively Angled shading = area of recendy observed offshore concentrations Table 3. Records of over 100 Sabine’s Gulls Lams sabini off the French coast, 1977-96 (from Burneleau & Dubois 1985; A. Bertrand & P.-P. Evrard in PY pers. obs.) Year Date Number Site 1977 6th Sept 150 off 1le d'Oleron, Charente-Maritime 1980 29th-30th Aug 2,000 55-90 km off Charente-Maritime & Gironde 1980 17th Sept 854 75-90 km off Charente-Maritime 1988 31st Aug 144+ 35-55 km off Vendee 1989 24th Sept 200 35-55 km off Vendee dispersal inland afterwards being suddenly overtaken by the hurricane-force winds. This inland penetration was unprecedented. It is possible tliat the sudden change in their atmospheric environment as they attempted to stop at tlie coast took them unawares during the hours of darkness, 'khey would have experienced a sudden transition from relative calm in die eye of tlie stomi to tlie violent winds on its soutliem flank. Taking into account tlie date, time of day, cloud cover and moon phase, the light level was only 2 millilux at landfall (with sunrise 3 'A hours later). This equates to tlie amount of light available on a moonless but starlit night, to which must be added a little ‘cultural’ lighting from any towns. Although the gulls would initially have been aware that tliey were over land, tlie effect of tlie minimal illumination would have been negated by the violent winds. 'They would, therefore, have been swept inland where tliey British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 395 later located such suitable resting places as reservoirs. In contrast, tliose in the 1993 event (fig. 2) were already weathering the gales while at sea, and therefore stopped when they reached the coast. PY recorded some tens of Sabine’s Gulls, accompanied by other pelagic species, moving westwards into the gale over the hinterland near Les Sables d’Olonne in the early morning of 13th September. This suggests the likelihood of a similar nocturnal inland displacement, during what was an even darker night (0.4 millilux). Coastal records were widespread, attesting to the extent of onshore gales. Fig. 2 also shows the sea area in which French ornithologists have located a considerable concentration of gulls in late summer. Comparison of the two synoptic situations and the pattern of records suggests that in 1993 the gulls were widely distributed in eastern Biscay, while in 1987 the origin of the guUs may have been much more concentrated, possibly over the shelf west of Brittany. With the 4'/2-week difference in timing between the two events, differences in location would be expected, and annual variations in population and feeding areas would be superimposed on these. The birds’ apparent lack of exhaustion highlights the fact that their involvement with the storm systems is confined to a very short time-scale. In both 1987 and 1995, this was less than 24 hours. Thus, Sabine’s Gull influxes cannot be compared with wrecks of seabirds in the accepted sense since, being an oceanic species, they seem physically able to tolerate such conditions. Table 2 shows that most French records occur from late August to mid September, coinciding with the aummnal peak of the species in Britain (Dymond et al. 1989), so the 1987 influx was particularly late. Only in 1984 and 1987 were October influxes recorded, although 1996 brought a few. There were no significant Sabine’s Gull records in the storms of 1986, 1989 and 1994 (see table 1), which all occurred in late October, after the bulk of Sabine’s Gulls have departed from Biscay. Relationship of other seabirds with Sabine’s Gulls and with similar stomis The association with Grey Phalaropes on several occasions may reflect the rather similar migration patterns of the two species, although many phalarope influxes have occurred without any accompanying Sabine’s Gulls. A small influx of phalaropes into Britain in late September 1957 (Sage & King 1959) took place during the passage east off southwest Ireland of a deep depression originating from hurricane ‘Carrie’. This depression was at its most intense approximately 1,000 km southwest of Cape Clear, Co. Cork, and generated severe gales over the western Bay of Biscay. The autliors postulated, however, that the phalaropes had been swept along in the eye of the storm (similar to the 1987 Sabine’s Gull event, although clearly from a more westerly origin). Indeed, it is well known that seabirds often travel in the calm centres of tropical storms, occasionally being deposited inland and/or well outside their normal range (Elkins 1995). Another phalarope invasion occurred in autumn 1960, involving over 7,000 reported, mainly off southwest Ireland and southwest England (Ferguson-Lees & Williamson 1960); 21 years later, an estimated 1,000 occurred off fie d’Ouessant after a fast-moving wave depression crossed the area on 9th- 10th October 1981. These events brought hardly any Sabine’s Gulls. An influx of Sabine’s Gulls in northwest France in 396 Elkins & Yotou: Sabine’s Gulls in France and Britain late September 1965 (on moderate southwesterly winds) was, however, associated with Grey Phalaropes (Ricard 1966). Leach’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa appeared in rather small nurpbers in 1987, but were somewhat more abundant in 1993. In the latter storm, hundreds of European Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus were recorded, especially off Brittany. Skuas Stercorarius! Catharacta appeared in small numbers in both storms, but it would seem that the speed and track of the depressions described precluded the involvement of many of the pelagic seabird species which, at this time of the year, frequent waters farther out in the North Atlantic. Age of the birds Almost all the Sabine’s Gulls in 1983, and 76% in 1987, were aged as adults. In 1993, the proportion of first-years was only 6%, and a sample in 1995 revealed 12% to be first-years. Similar low proportions of first-year birds were reported in the 1930 influx (10-12%: Mayaud 1931) and in the 1989 record in table 3 (7-10%). In the decade 1958-67, Sharrock (1971) showed that most Sabine’s Gulls recorded in Britain and Ireland before mid September and after mid October seemed to be adults, while immatures predominated between these periods. The samples were, however, very small, and, as no major influxes occurred in his period of smdy, this pattern should be treated with caution. In addition, conditions often do not allow observers to distinguish betu'een first-summer birds and full adults, especially those in moult. Age data must, therefore, be considered with care, as knowledge of moult and age-related plumages was in its infancy until the late 1970s. The subject has recently been addressed fully by Yesou (1997). Acknowledgments We wish to thank all the seabird enthusiasts on both sides of the Channel for gathering die data. They are too numerous to mention, but their efforts are no less appreciated. We are also indebted to Didier Desmots, for assistance in gathering data over many years, and to Dr Bill Bourne and Rob Hume for their helpful comments, and for assistance with references and additional information. Special thanks are due to those French observers who contributed unpublished data, among them Alain Bertrand, Jean Chevallier, Philippe Dubois, Pierre-Paul Evrard and Jean-Phjlippe Siblet. References Bourne, W. R. P. 1965. A trip to Gibraltar in September. Seabird Btdl. 1: 34-37. 1986. Late summer seabird distribution off the west coast of Europe. Irisii Birds 3: 175-198. BURNELF.AU, G., & DuBOis, P. J. 1985. Migration et hivemage des l.arides en Charente- Maritime. Ann. Soc. Sc. Nat. Charetiie-Mariiimc 7: 409-433. 19esmots, D., & Yesou, P. 1994. l.a Mouette de Sabine lamis sahini sur le littoral adantique francais. Omithos 1: 31-33. & 1996. Un nouvel afflux de Mouettes de Sabine Imhis sahini aux Sables d’Olonne (Vendee). Omithos 3: 11-13. Dvmond, J. N., Frase;r, P. A., & GAN'n.E:Tr, S. M. 1989. Rare Birds in Britain ami Ireland. Calton. Elkins, N. 1987. Origin of arctic gulls in Britain and Ireland. Brit. Birds 80; 635-637. 1995. Weather and Bird Behaviour. 2nd edn. London. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 397 Ferguson-Lees, I. J., & Williamson, K. 1960. Recent reports and news: phalaropes in abundance. Brit. Birds 53: 529-531. Fisher,]., & Lockley, R. M. 1954. Seabirds. London. Fraser, P. A., & Ryan,]. F. 1994. Scarce migrants in Britain and Ireland. Part 2. Numbers during 1986-92: gulls to passerines. Brit. Birds 87: 605-612. , LansdoW'N, P. G., & Rogers, M. ]. 1997. Report on scarce migrant birds in Britain in 1995. Blit. Birds 90; 413-439. Harrison, P. 1985. Seabirds: an identification guide. London. Hume, R. A., & Christie, D. A. 1989. Sabine’s Gulls and other seabirds after the October 1987 storm. Bnt. Birds 82: 191-208. Lambert, K. 1967. Beobachtungen zum Zug und Winterquartier der Schwalbenmowe {Xenia sabini) im ostlichen Atlantik. Vogekvarie 24: 99-106. Le Mao, P., & Yesou, P. 1993. The annual cycle of Balearic Shearwaters and West- Mediterranean Yellow-legged Gulls; some ecological considerations. In Aguilar, ]. S., Monbailliu, X., & Paterson, A. M. (eds.). Status and Conservation of Seabirds, Proc. 2nd Med. Seabird Symp., Mallorca, March 1989: 135-145. Soc. Esp. Om., Madrid. Mayaud, N. 1931. Notes et remarques sur le passage des Mouettes de Sabine Xema sabini (Sabine) sur les cotes ouest de la France. Ahiuda 3; 106-109. 1961. Sur les migrations de la Mouette de Sabine Xenia sabini (Sabine) et la question de ses zones d’hwernage. Alaiida 29; 165-174. 1965. Sur la zone d’hivemage atlantique de la Mouette de Sabine Xenia sabini (Sabine). Alauda 33: 81-83. RiiCORBET, B. 1996. Composition, Abondance, Distribution et Sensibilite aux Pollutions par Hydrocarbures de I’Avifaune Marine Cotiere du Sud Gascogne! Nord Bretagne. Montpellier. Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes. Ricard, M. 1966. Observ^ations de Mouettes de Sabine {Lams sabini). L’Oiseau et RFO 36: 64-65. Sage, B. L., & King, B. 1959. The influx of phalaropes in aummn 1957. Brit. Birds 52: 33-42. Sharrock, ]. T. R. 1971. Scarce migrants in Britain and Ireland during 1958-67. Part 5. Pectoral Sandpiper, Sabine’s Gull and American land-birds. Bril. Birds 64; 93-113. Turton, ]. D., & Stone, G. D. 1989. Forecasting night-time illumination. Met. Mag. 118: 249-253. Yesou, P. 1982. A propos de la presence remarquable du Puffin cendre Calonectris diornedea pres des cotes du golfe de Gascogne et de la mer Celtique en 1980. L’Oiseau et RFO 52: 197-217. 1993. L’avifaune marine du littoral de la Vendee, golfe de Gascogne. Montpellier. Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes. 1997. Determiner I’age des Mouettes de Sabine Lams sabini. Ornithos 4: 116-121. Norman Elkins, 18 Scotstarvit Viezv, Cupar, Fife KYI 5 5DX, Scotland Pieire Yesou, Office National de la Chasse, 53 rue Russeil, 44000 Nantes, France LOOKING BACK Fifty years ago: ‘the black redstart inquiry for 1947 . . . has yielded evidence for at least fifteen pairs of Black Redstarts {Phoenicuros ochmros gibraltanensis) breeding in south-east England in 1947, again in the counties of Sussex, Kent and Middlesex. In addition four other pairs were present, without breeding being proved, and some nine other singing males were located. [R. S. R. FrrrER]’ {Brit. Birds 41: 267, September 1948) NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Bob Scoll and Wendy Dickson Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Farmers, take note Mention the words ‘chemical spray’ and environmentalists’ hackles rise instantly. DDT, Aldrin, Dieldrin and the like have created distrust between conser\'ationists, including birdwatchers, and the agrochemical industiy' and agriculturalists, including farmers. Now, however, perhaps for the first time (on anything otlier than a minor scale), there is evidence of a chemical spray which is ‘better’, at least for birds, than an alternative physical operation. There are two pre-harvesting ways of treating oilseed rape: cut the crop early and leave it on the field to dry, or spray the crop with a desiccating herbicide, such as Diquat, and leave it standing. BTO studies have shown that cutting the crop destroyed all the birds’ nests (mostly those of Reed Buntings Embenza schoeniclus) , but that nests in sprayed fields survived the spraying operations, and no nestlings were lost prior to fledging, since the spraying provided the birds with an extra 14 days during which the nestlings fledged. This Bl'O research was funded by Zeneca Agrochemicals, and the BTO has commented that it hopes ‘that farmers will take note of these results’. ‘The Birds of Hauxley’ Situated at the north end of Druridge Bay in Northumberland lies Elauxley, protruding significantly into the North Sea, and home of the Northumbria Ringing Group’s Hauxley Ringing Station alongside the Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s 22-ha Hauxley Reserv'e. The Birds of Hauxley by Ian Fisher and Sandy Bankier has just been published, summarising the results of the past 35 years’ of ringing. Sadly, Sandy Bankier did not live to see the finished product, which is now dedicated to his memory. I'his A4-size ring-binder publication will appeal not only to local people, but also to tlie much wider audience of anyone who has ever visited tlie area. If you would like a copy, send a cheque for /(4.00, which includes p&p, payable to Ian Fisher, at 74 Benton Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne Nl'7 7NB. All profits go to the Ringing Station. Britain’s first Citrine Wagtail In January 1998, members of the Shetland Bird Club assembled in the County Museum and examined specimens obtained by the late Sammy Bruce, who ‘collected’ in Shedand from the 1910s to the early 1950s. In that time, he added one species to die British List and at least one to the Scottish List, botii in 1947: Collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis on 1 1 tii May and Red- flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanunis on 7tii October. Thanks to die eagle-eyed Pete fllis, die BOU Records Committee now needs to make its usual meticulous assessments of a possible third ‘first’: a skin — labelled ‘Blue- headed Wagtail’ [Moiacilla flava flava] and dated, in a barely legible scrawl, ‘193-’ — was actually a Citrine Wagtail M. citreola. which predates die currendy accepted first (on f'air Isle in September 1954). This extraordinaiy- club meeting is described in die Shelland Bird Club Newsletter (112: 2). 398 [Ihii. Birds 91: .^98-401, Scpicmbcr 1998] © Hrilish birds Lid 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 399 First peatbog for Plantlife Plantlife has launched a major appeal for £200,000 to buy its first peatbog and nature reser\'e in Scotland; the 1,350-ha Munsary Peatlands, one of Europe’s last remaining botanical wildernesses, in the Flow Country of Caithness. Part of an SSSI and a candidate Special Area of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive, it may well also qualify as a Special Protection Area for birds and a Ramsar Wetland of International hnportance. One of Plantlife’s first tasks will be to block off the major drains in the reserv'e to return the peat to its full wemess. To contribute to this purchase, send your donation to Plantlife, FREEPOST, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5YZ. Two Max Planck research centres It is good news that the ornithological research of the Max Planck Institute for BehaHoural Physiology, due to close on 30th November 1999, wiQ continue at two centres: under Prof Eberhard Gwinner at Andechs, near Munich, and under Prof Peter Berthold at the Radolfzell Ornithological Station on Lake Constance. The work by Prof Gwinner’s team on biological rh>tihms and by Prof Berthold’s team on bird migration was critically assessed by a team of international scientists, which concluded with an ‘impressively positive vote for the continuation of ornithological research in the Max Planck Society.’ Slender-billed Curlew news BirdLife International maintains a database of aU records of Slender-billed Curlew Nunienins tenuirostris, as an essential part of its efforts to conserv'e this globally threatened species. Please send any information to Dr Nic Peet or Zoltan Waliczky, BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 ONA; phone 01223 277318; e-mail nic.peet@birdlife.org.uk A 12-man expedition, organised jointly by Glasgow University and the Kazakhstan Institute of Zoology, sponsored by a dozen organisations, and supported by the Animal Health Business Group of the commercial company Bayer, is searching for the breeding grounds of Slender-billed Curlews in the Kustani, Petropavlovsk and Pavlodar regions in northern Kazakhstan during 20th July to 30th September. ‘Bird Watcher’s Digest’ Into vol. 20 and still going strong is Bird Watcher’s Digest, with style and general format reminiscent of Reader’s Digest, but compiled for birders. Its contents are largely North American in origin, but its editorial team trawls the World’s ornithological literature, so snippets from BB appear now and again. The Editor is William H. Thompson III, and subscription details can be obtained from PO Box 110, Marietta, Ohio 45750, USA. The last Wildlife Photographer We are sorry to have noted the demise of the occasional magazine The Wildlife Photo- grapher, published by Aquila Photographies and edited by first-ever BPY winner, Mike Wilkes. The editorial of the 1998 special edition notes that ‘Without the power of a big publishing house behind such a venture it has proved impossible to produce a viable magazine on a regular basis. Despite all the accolades that have been heaped on us and all the encouraging letters received at this office it does not, I am afraid, make commercial sense to continue.’ Alike Wilkes does, however, ‘nurture a faint hope that one day, like the Phoenix, it wiU rise again!’, a sentiment echoed, we feel sure, by very many bird-photographers. Middle East co-operation Under the headline ‘Migrating birds are carrying the message of peace in the Middle East’ comes the announcement that USAID/MERC has committed over $1 million to co-operative work for migrating birds by Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian conservation bodies. The Israeli ‘International Center for the Study of Bird Migration’, the Jordanian ‘Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature’ and the Palestinian ‘Children for the Protection of Nature’ will each receive $350,000. The announcement carried a symbolic photograph showing Dr Sultan Sufian, Minister of the Environment of the Palestinian Authority, and Dr Yossi Leshem, founder of the International Center, jointly releasing a ringed Common Kestrel Falco tinmmculns back into the wild. (Information supplied by John Barclay) 400 News and comment Raptor migration at Gibraltar The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural Histor\’ Society (GONHS) is continuing its programme to monitor migration over the Strait of Gibraltar. Volunteers are needed to assist, mainly in covering bird of prey passage between July and November and again during February^ to June. Accommodation is available at the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, within easy reach of the observation points. There are also opportunities for bird-ringing and seabird-watching, and all the benefits of an English-speaking territory' in a sterling area. Anyone interested should contact the Strait of Gibraltar Bird Observatory, GONHS, PO Box 843, Gibraltar; tel (350) 72639; fax (350) 74022; e-mail gonhs(agibnet.gi EN purchases Shapwick Heath NNR English Nature has gained £199,695 from the Heritage I .onery' Fund to secure the freehold of 114 ha of prime conservation land at Shapwick Heath in Somerset, which will consolidate EN’s holding at this site. The area includes orchid-rich, traditionally managed hay meadows, ferny wet woodland, ditches with rare diving beedes, and a remnant of the sphagnum- moss mire which once covered the valley door. The oldest known neolithic wooden trackway, the 'Sweet Track’, is also preserved within the Reserv'e. ‘Atlas of Public Forests’ Congratulations to the Ramblers’ Association on the publication of the second edition of Ramblers’ Atlas of Public Forests shcnuing latid in England, Scotland and \X'ales held by the Forestry Commission. The compilation was undertaken with the assistance of Forest Enterprise and clearly indicates the range of facilities available to visitors: the location of car parks, information centres and toilets in the forests — all handy information to the travel- ling birder. The Ramblers’ Association, 1-5 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2XX. Ernest Ian Appleyard (1923- 1998) Ian Appleyard, perhaps best known to fellow BB subscribers as author of Ring Ouzels of the Yorkshire Dales (1994, reviewed Brit. Birds 87; 632), was even better known as a successful athlete and rally driver than as an ornithologist. He represented Britain at skiing in the 1 948 Olympics and took part in the 2,000-mile Alpine Rally, winning the Alpine Cup five times, including in three consecutive years (1950-52). Ian’s interest in omithologv' started in his childhood in the Yorkshire Dales. In his studies of Ring Ouzels Turdus torquatus during 1978-93, he and his wife, Philippa, located over 350 nesting pairs. Ian died, in Harrogate, on 2nd June. A full obituarv' was published by The Independent on 16th June. Tuna on RSPB reserves Regular visitors to some of the most popular RSPB reserves will not have missed the arriv'al of tea-rooms and serv'eries. On a cold wet day, they are particularly welcome. Conserv’ation-minded reserve visitors have not been slow to notice that tuna (usually as fillings in sandwiches and rolls) has appeared on the menus and have queried its origin in the light of worldwide marine conserv'ation problems that tuna fishing has produced. The RSPB has stated: ‘The tuna tliat is served at [this reserv'e] comes from a dolphin and albatross friendly fishery. The skipjack tuna we use is caught by hand-held pole and line in regions of tropical seas which include some of the world’s better managed and thus more sustainable fisheries. This method of fishing avoids die death of scav'enging seabirds caught by long lines of baited hooks, a method of fishing which is decimating some of the long lived and slow breeding albatross populations of the southern oceans, which get caught on the hooks when scavenging. It also avoids the death of dolphins in monofilament nets which are used to catch other tv’pes of tuna. When you buy tuna you can help to conserv’e dolphins and albatrosses by buying skipjack tuna where possible. Check that the can is labelled dolphin friendly. Avoid buying bluefin tuna (which you may come across especially when abroad) which is not only becoming a rare fish due to ovcr-fishing but also may well have been caught at the expense of the seabirds of the southern ocean.’ British Birds, vol. 91, no. 9, September 1998 401 New BBRC member Nominations will be welcomed for the vacancy which will occur on the British Birds Rarities Committee when the longest- ser\ting member, Pete Ellis, retires on 1st April 1999. The Committee’s nomination is Adam Rowlands, who lives in Kent (no current member of the BBRC lives in Southeast England). Candidates must have a proven ability in the field; a wide experience of rare birds; experience of record assessment; knowledge of the national rarities ‘scene’; an ability to deal with paperwork efficiently and effectively; and the time required to deal with the Rarities Committee workload (which varies from a couple of hours in some weeks, up to ten hours in others). The election will involve voting by each County Recorder and local Records Committee (five votes per county) and each official Bird Observatory Warden and Records Committee (two votes per obser\"atory) . Nominations, with the names and addresses of two supporters, should be sent to Prof. Colin Bradshaw, 9 Tynemouth Place, Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear NE30 4Bj. Change of address The RSPB’s Scottish Headquarters has a new address: Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 3TP; tel. 0131-311- 6500; fax. 0131-311-6569. Rose, Peregrine and Wildwood One of the most stunning pictures at The Society of Wildlife Artists 35th Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries was an oil- painting of a Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrimis by Chris Rose, entitled ‘Carrifran lookout — Peregrine on Raven Crag’ and marked ‘NFS’. ‘Not for sale’ because it is being auctioned to raise funds for the Carrifan Wildwood Project. The aim is to restore 600 ha of the wildwood in the Southern Uplands of Scotland, from seeds collected locally, with the spectrum of the re-established flora based on evidence from peat borings. The top bid at present is £3,250, but you can put in your postal or fax bid by contacting Fiona Martynoga (Carrifran Wildwood, Kirkbride House, Traquair, Scottish Borders EH44 6PU; fax: 01896 830361), before 5.00 p.m. on 23rd November 1998. For more details about the Carrifran Woodland Project, contact the Borders Forest Trust, Montewot Nurseries, Ancrum, Jedburgh, Scotland TD8 6TU. Rare breeding birds Observers with information on rare breeding birds in Britain in 1998 are requested to send full details now to the relevant county bird recorder (or to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel’s Secretary, Dr Malcolm OgilHe, Glen- caim, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay PA49 vun). Please do not wait until the end of tlw year. ANNOUNCEMENT Exclusive jigsaw puzzles Produced by state-of-the-art programmed laser technology, with every piece a different shape (and intriguing straight-sided pieces in the middle, and hidden comers), a set of four unique bird jigsaw puzzles is being specifically produced for British Birds subscribers. The first is now ready. Nicknamed ‘Mrs Invisible’ by photographer Christer Kalenius, the featured female Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus is debatably the most devilishly difficult subject ever featured on a jigsaw puzzle. The 250-piece wooden puzzle is a real challenge. Other puzzles to follow in due course will be a Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus by Nick Dymond, Eurasian Jays Garrulus glandarius by Tony Hamblin and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters Merops superciliosus by Hanne & Jens Eriksen. Each puzzle will be cut differently, and each will include several appropriate ‘whimsies’ — special shapes which were included ‘on a whim’ by Victorian puzzle makers. Start collecting now! To order, ask for ‘Mrs Invisible’ and send a cheque for £24.99 (or £27.99 if outside the UK) to Jigsaw, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3N]; or order by phone and credit card from 01767-640467. RECENT BBRC DECISIONS This monthly listing of the most-recent decisions by the British Birds Rarities Committee is not intended to be comprehensive or in any way to replace the annual ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain’. The records listed are mostly those of the rarest species, or those of special interest for other reasons. AH records refer to 1997 unless stated otherwise. ACCEPTED: Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus At sea, sea area Sole, 1 1.3 km SW of St Agnes (Scilly), 24th August. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Chelford (Cheshire), 28th October. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus Cliffe (Kent), 31st May. Briinnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia Eetlar (Shedand), 26th-30th December. Little Swift Apus affinis Brading Marsh area (Isle of Wight), 5th-6th May. European Roller Coracias gamilus New Forest (Hampshire), 25th May. Olive-backed Pipit Anlhiis hodgsoni Tresco (Scilly), 23rd October. Red-throated Pipit A. cervinus Dungeness (Kent), 19th October. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Sumburgh (Shedand), 21st August; St Agnes, 5th September; North Ronaldsay (Orkney), 26th-28th September; North Ronaldsay, 28th September. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Girdleness (Northeast Scodand), 7th November; Holy Island (Northumberland), 20th & 30th November; Bamburgh (Northumberland), 10th- 15th December. Dark-throated Thrush Turdus mjicollis of race alrogularis Fedar, 8th October; Bressay (Shedand), 10th October. Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella cerihiola Sumburgh, 27th September; Kergord (Shedand), 28th-30th September. M. J. Rogers, Secretary, BBRC, 2 Churchtozm Cottages, Toivednack, St Ives, Comivall TR26 3AZ ZEISS RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Barry> Nightirigale atrd Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period from 20th July to 16th August 1998. These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records. Black Stork Ciconia nigra Holywell Pond (Northumberland), 8th August; Venmor (Isle of Wight), 10th August; Covehithe and Southwold area (Suffolk), 12th-16th August. Sora Crake Porzana Carolina Adult, Tacumshin (Co. Wexford), 2nd-4th August. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Adult, RSPB Reserve, Belfast Harbour Estate (Co. Down), 13th- 16th August. Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica Courtmaesherrv' (Co. Cork), 26th-30th July. Western Bonelli’s Warbler Phylbscopus bonelli Near PhTnstock (Devon), 9th- 12th August. Rare Bird News supplies all its information free to ‘British Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (28p/min cheap rate; 41p/min other times; incl. VAT) 402 [Brit. Birds 91: 402, September 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 T&AD POYSER Announcing the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guides series Costa Rica M/k 1 Les Beletsky 1 An invaluable handbook to Costa Rican Belize J natural history and wildlife habitats, this Northern CudU-nuU is the only guide to combine natural 1 history, ecology, species identification • and site guide all in one volume. Includes maps, colour plates and line drawings, together with lists of wildlife reserves and other ecologically significant sites with up-to-date conservation news from Costa Rica. ISBN: 0-12-084810-4, Paperback, 416 pages, £19.95 Belize and Northern Guatemala (Tikal) Les Beletsky The second in the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide series, this guide provides identification, location and conservation information on the animals most frequently spotted in the region. An extensive section examines Belize's famous coral reef fish. Fully illustrated with colour photographs, line drawings and maps, ISBN: 0-12-084811-2, Paperback, 400 pages, £19.95 Coming soon: Tropical Mexico, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii Also from T & AD Poyser and Acdemic Press Tundra Plovers The Eurasian, American and Pacific Golden Plovers and Grey Plover Ingvar Brykjedal and Des Thompson A definitive text on a group of evocative and biologically fascinating species. Long-awaited considerations of differences in plumage, vocalisations, habit use, breeding, movements and food, as well as the differences between the sexes, are included. Illustrated with colour and line illustrations by Ingvar Brykjedal. ISBN: 0-85661-109-3, Hardback, 452 pages, £27.95 The Bird Collectors Barbara & Richard Mearns “rousing tales of exploration and adventure” Robert Burton, BBC Wildlife “This is a mighty study from the Poyser stable” British Wildlife “beautifully produced, well illustrated and readable” DW Snow, British Ornithologists’ Club I ISBN: 0-12-487440-1, Hardback, 4400 pages, £29.95 The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds Their Distribution and Abundance Edited by Ward JM Hagemeijer and Michael J Blair “If I could take but a single book to my desert island, this is it.” David Tomlinson, New Scientist “This is a monumental work, based on enormous effort and international cooperation” John Law, Scottish Bird News “This book... is an outstandingly important reference, yet attractive, readable and fascinating to browse through time and time again.” Steve Gantlett, Birding World “...it provides a benchmark against which census work will be measured well into the next millennium.” Tim Harris, Birdwatch ISBN: 0-85661-091-7, Hardback, 920 pages, £55.00 /Available from your local bookseller or direct from our customer services department For orders, telephone 0181-308 5700 or fax 0181-309 0807 Why not send your order by e-mail? wildlife@harcourtbrace.com For enquiries or to order a 1998 catalogue, contact Academic Press Marketing Department, 24-28 Oval Road, London NWl 7DX telephone 0171-424 4518 or fax 0171-424 4515 Tl\1)r.\ Piovi-.hs BIRD COLLECTORS I iMiKuiA (JiudIOIn^s New Birding Holidays 1999 Namibia 12 February 1999 led by Steve Braine & Dick Filby from £2999 ig and wildlife tour in search of the specialities and endemics of the region Eastern Arabia (The Emirates. Oman and Yemen) 8-23 February 1999 led by Colin Richardson and David Rosair from £2299 A three centred tour in search of the specialities and endemics of this region Polynesia (The Cook Islands. Taihiti. Tuamotus and Marquesas) 6-20 March 1999 led by David Rosair from £3099 A repeat of our highly successful 1997 trip in search ofTuamotu Sandpiper, Bristle-thighed Curlew, seabirds and island endemics set in stunning tropical scenery. Cameroon (Africa in miniature) 28 March- 1 8 April 1 999 led by Mark Andrews A three week trip exploring all the main habitats of this bird rich West African country which will include most of the sought after endemics. Alaska to Kamchatka (via the Aleutians & Kommander Islands) 2 tours I 1-27 June 1999 led by Peter Harrison 6 Dick Filby from £6145 24 June- 1 2 July 1 999 led by Dick Filby from £4899 These birding, wildlife and photography cruises visit one of the most spectacular regions on earth, parts of which have only just become visible. Dick Filby has visited this region more than any other UK leader, the name Peter Harrison (tour I) speaks for itself too! Brochures for the above are now in stock. Please remember Book Early to avoid disappointment TELEPHONE 0117 9 8 4 8 0 4 0 24HR BROCHURE LINE 01 17 961 0874 Tours Available Without International Flights For Overseas Residents International House. Bank Road. Kingswood, Bristol BSI5 8LX . UK {jSj Fax No 0 1 I 7 96 1 0 200 email:wildinfo@wildwings. co.uk lATA web: httpW.www.wildwings.co.uk Ain A' X A BIRDQUEST Swifts The Ultimate Collection of Shorter Bird Tours ARIZONA (11 days; £1650) CALIFORNIA (10 days: £1650) CUBA (13 days: £1890) ETHIOPIA (12 days: £1860) ISRAEL (12 days; £1450) KENYA (11 days: £1980) NEPAL (10 days: £1850) SOUTH AFRICA (12 days: £2090) U.A.E. (9 days: £1840) VENEZUELA (11 days; £1930) BULGARIA (5-11 days; V £650-£1270) COSTA RICA (12 days: ^£1980) CYPRUS (8 days: ^£1040) HUNGARY (5-1 1 days: 1 £690-£1 380) KAZAKHSTAN (13 days; £2240) MALAYSIA (11 days: £1870) INDIA (12 days: £1790) TEXAS (10 days: £1450) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (1 1 days: £2090) TURKMENISTAN (9 days; £1530) PLUS The most comprehensive selection of longer tours available! For The Ultimate in Bird Tour Brochures please contact: BIRDQUEST, Two Jays, Kemple End, Birdy Brow, Stonyhurst, Lancashire BB7 9QY. Tel: 01254-826317 Fax: 01254-826780 E-mail: birders@birdquest.co.uk Our own Conservation Area '•makes us unique. A pool and woodland adjacent to the ^'Showroom attract numerous :■ 'Dirds, enabling our visitors to test 'Squipment in field . conditions. The experts Professionals recommend! QUALITY BINOCUURS fid 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 pujiNON-FUMoro-PRAKTiCA-ROSS Top quality tripods; slik-manfrotto-cullmann YVe carry one of the most extensive ranges of Binoculars and Telescopes in the country, plus a wide range of accessories. We also stock B Billingham Equipment Bags and a large selection of BOOKS, VIDEOS i and AUDIO CASSETTES by leading publishers. Worldwide coverage I Visit our BIRD aPj-pp TOPEN 9 am until optTi INTEREST FREE CREDtt 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. ^OCUS OPTICS Church Lane, Corley, Coventry CV7 8BA eel:01 676-540501 & 542476 Fax:01676-540930 'rnithos The French magazine for every birdwatcher • Status and Identification of Birds of France and WP • Annual Report of French Rarities Committee • Annual Report of Rare Breeding Birds in France • French and WP Birding Spots • News and Mystery Bird 48 pages, numerous colour photographs French text with English summaries and English captions For further information, please write to : Orn/thos, LPO, BP 263, F-17305 ROCHEFORT Cedex (France - T + 33 46 82 12 34) BB 02/96 XI (JiUdUn^S Return Fares F rom (joa £389 Mexico £329 New York £175 Na i robi £344 Gambi a £299 Ei Lat ^ £159 Delhi Bangkok £275 £295 Binding Holidays . . . winter 98/99 Packages Goa 14 nights from £498 Gambia 7 nights from £329 Birdfinders GOOD VALUE TOURS SINCE 1993 1999 destinations INCLUDE: MOROCCO, ETHIOPIA, FRENCH LAKES, CANADA, ECUADOR, COSTA RICA, TEXAS, ISRAEL, GAMBIA, CZECH REP, ZIMBABWE, CALIFORNIA, HUNGARY, ARIZONA, TURKEY, LESVOS & SPAIN also CUSTOMISED TOURS TO GAMBIA, ECUADOR, COSTA RICA & ZIMBABWT FULL BROCHURE FROM: Tel 0117 984 8040 Fax 0117 9610 200 |lnte^rnationaL House Bank Road Kingsuood Bristol BS15 8LX 1 •Discount FLights-Car 1 Hire- •Accommodation* 1 •Travel Insurance • lATA 1 2792 Package HoLidays-Sea ■ Travel* 1 •Groups S Expeditions L Wor Idwi de-Spa ce Travel- AB r .A VAUGHAN ASHBY, 18 MIDLEAZE, SHERBORNE, DORSET DT9 6DY TEL/FAX: (01935) 817001 EM\IL: Birdfmders^tompuserve.com WEB: http:; /ounvorld.compuserve.com, homepages, birdfinders MEMBER OF THE IK TOl'RISM TRl'ST NUMBER 1574 YOUR MONEY' LS PROTECTED BY 'niE UK TOURISM TRUST AGENTS FOR WILDMINGS (BAKERS WORIJ) TR.AVFX UMITmi ATOl, NUMBER 2792 British € Information Supplied by (The Met Office Birds forecasts A special new semce for British Birds readers. Plan all your birding trips with precise up-to-date weather information. Will the wind be easterly? Will it be foggy'? When will the cold front pass through? For a detailed weather forecast for your (or any other) region, for today and the week ahead call 0891 11 00 14 For synoptic weather charts by fax for today and tomorrow, dial I 0897 200 229 FORECASTS ARE UPDATED IXi'lCE DAILY 0891 calls arc charged at 50p per minute. 0897 fax calls arc charged at ZT.50 per minute (Synoptic Chart = 1 page transmission) Wcathcrcall is product of TIS pic. If you require further information or have any problems using these services dial Weatliereall Helpdesk: 0171 729 8811. XII SCOTLAND 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 £3.20 a line — average of 8 words. £10.50 a centimetre — minimum 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words and is £2.50 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 OCTOBER issue SEPTEMBER 5th Please post early to avoid disappointment SITUATIONS VACANT PART-TIME OR FLEXI-TIME PA/SECRETARY needed for British Birds. The monthly journal British Birds requires someone reliable, experienced and efficient in office skills, wifh audio-typing and knowledge of basic computing and word-processing essential. This is a new post, based in BLUNHAM, partly replacing the Managing Editor's PA, Sheila Cobban, who retires in October. The post will, initially, be for a five-day, 30-hour working week (say, 10am to 4pm). The work is interesting and varied, but is demanding and requires dedication. The appointment will commence on Thursday 1 st October 1998, to give a three-week overlap with the current PA. Salary by negotiation. Apply in writing with typed CV to Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION MORVERN (DRIMNIN) HOLIDAY COTTAGES. Beautifully situated by Sound of Mull. Superb walking and wildlife. No pets. Open all year £I00-£I60 fully inclusive. Tel/Fax: 01223-871 650. (BB230) OVERSEAS PROVENCE, CAMARGUE. 2 farm cottages, also b(&b, Rogers, Mas d'Auphan, Le Sambuc, 13200 ARLES, France. Tel: (0033) 490972041, fax 490972087. (BB097) PROVENCE: Watch Short-toed Eagles soar overhead while Serins and Black Redstarts sing in the vines below. You are sipping our medal-winning wine on your patio, in the shade, with your binoculars by your side. Too good to be true? Not if you stay on our, organically farmed, vineyard set in a completely secluded, wooded valley near Gigondas. There is a single bedroom gite and a semi-detached 4-bedroom house, both luxuriously furnished with all the mod-cons (dishwasher, etc.). There is also a beautiful large swimming pool. Direct bookings, no agency fees. Tel: 0181 3417912. (BB225) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS OUT BY THE SEA BED AND BREAKFAST. Located in Crystal Beach, Texas USA (Upper Texas Coast). Tel. (409) 684-1555 http: www.outbythesea.com (BB237) 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 DFSHfP, 22766 DELAIR CE Fax : 0094 1 698139, 699413, 686149 (BB149) FIND THAILAND’S BIRDS with expert leader and top Thai artist, Kamol Komolphalin. Short special trips for individual birders, or full expeditions for individuals or groups. Say what you want, and we will quote. Contact “Nature Trails” 49 Thantip Soi, 2 Sukapibaan 3 Road, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240, Thailand or phone: 66-2-374 6610, 735 0644 Fax: 735 0638 E-mail: ntrails@samart.co.th (BB224) ENGLAND CH.APEL COTTAGE. Swanton Novers, North Norfolk. Charming 18th century cottage. Near excellent birdwatching. Stubenbord 01508 570296. Week.s or weekends available. (BBI40) AUSTRALIA: LOTUS LODGE, 200-r species of birds. Resident naturalists, outback experience. Extensive variety of flora nd fauna in far north Queensland, I'/: hour flight north of Cairns. Superior accommodation. Excellent cuisine. Tel: 617 4059 0773. Fax: 61 7 4059 0703, web: http://www.cazirns.ausl.com/lolus bird. (BB203) xiii TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 Australia Kimberley and the interior exclusive Birdwatching Tours individually arranged for groups of maximum 4 Birdwatching Aficionados Jonny Schoenjahn Phone +61 8 9192 770-7 Fax-8 PO Box 5493 Broome WA 6726 Australia (BB232) BIRDER’S HAVEN BIRDERS HAVEN Bed and Breakfast for the Birding Community “GLENDAWEENA'S” Books. Tapes, Knicknacks and More Stars Beginner Bird I.D. Classes & Tours Reservations: (409) 286-5362/Dallas: (214) 824-5390 Fax: (409) 286-5661 / Dallas Fax: (214) 824-3834 E-mail: www.glendaweena@apl.com www.imurnet/website/birds 2081 WINNIE, HIGH ISLAND, TEXAS 77623 BB194 NEW ZE.AL.ANT) Experience our unique plant and bird community in diverse and dramatic landscapes. Personalised birding/nalure tours. Information: Manu Tours. 106 Ocean Beach Road, Tairua, New Zealand. Ph/Fax (64) (7) 8647475. (BB165) AVESTRAVEL SUPREME BIRDING & NATURAL HISTORY TOURS MIGHTY ANDES • WINDSWEPT PARAMO ■ ELFIN FOREST VERDANT CLOUDFOREST • COASTAL SEMIDESERT DECIDUOUS W'OODLANDS ■ WILD AMAZONIA Robert Jonsson, Resident Direrctor & Guide • P.O. BOX 17-07-9219 Tel/Fax (593) 2224 469 E-inail: aveslravta'impsat.net.ec QUITO-ECUADOR • SOUTH AMERICA EILAT AND THE NEGEV DESERT SPECIALITIES: Trips guided by the local guide. Hadoram Shirihai. If you are based around Eilat you may join our one day Negev trip (Cost 25 slg. per person between 10 March and 10 April and 45 slg. per person at all other limes), providing mo.st desert and migrating birds including Houbara Bustard and 4 species of Sandgrouse. and on an evening excursion (15 slg.) to ob.serve the Hume's Tawny Owl. Please book through Sunbird office, tel: 01767-682969. fax: 01767-692481. For additional information contact Hadoram; PO Box 4168. Eilat 88102, Israel. Telefax: (K)972-7-6379326. (BB169) Birding in Hong Kong & China Kingfisher Tours (HK) Ltd 2 Villa Paloma, Shuen Wan, Tai Po, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2665 8506 Fax: +852 2665 8190 E-MAIL myrl@kthk,com,hk WEB SITE: www.kthk.com.hk BB210 Over 18 years experience in arranging affordable tailor-made birding trips for Individuals, bird clubs and birding tour companies British-owned. Write or fax for our 1 999 brochure BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA APARTADO 7911. 1000-B SAN JOSE COSTA RICA - FAX (00) 506-228-1573 BB224 VENEZUEl.A birdwatching holidays: Andes. Llanos. Henri Pittier and La Escalera. Small group tours and tailor- mades. Geodys.sey 0171 281 7788. (BB22.T) Come to Donana, the wild heart of Spain. Professionally led birding and botany excursions, small groups. All year round. Charming guesthouse facing the marshes. Full board from £1 8, guide with L. Rover from £1 0, All-inc 6 days holiday from £1 80. Ltd. Acebuchal 14, El Rocio, Huelva, Spain Tel/fax 0034 959 442466 http://www.viweb-as.com/dohana Canary Islands Mini - breaks from £599 Tick them all in 5 days w Ed OR. Charming hotel. 4WD minibus. Optional trips to Salvages. Fuerte- ventura.. Family welcome. ATOL 4324 Tel: (01227) 74 07 09. Fax : 36 39 46 AVES ECOTOURS Travel Tel: (003422) 27 99 58 . Fax: 27 06 03 BB228 BIRD INFORMATION It’s been worth waiting for! COUNTYPAGER The NEW birders news service from Rare Bird Alert Tel 01603 456789 for an information pack XIV TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 BOOKS BIRD BOOKS BOUGHT & SOLD. Send A5 s.a.e. for catalogue. Visit our shop and see our extensive collection. Hawkridge Books, The Cruck Bam, Cross St, Castleton, Derby.shire S30 2WH. Tel. 01433 621999. Fax. 01433 621 862. (BB078) 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 OINT Unit S, Marbury House Farm, Bentleys Farm Lane, Higher Whitley, Near Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 01925 730399 Fax: 01925 730368 M56 Junct 10 1 mile Ace Optics of Bath THE BEST DEALS IN OPTICS QUESTAR - now in stock! TEL: 01225-466364 16 Green Street, Bath BAl 2JZ ,bbi6d FOR SALE BIRD JOURNAL BACK NUMBERS SUPPLIED. (B.B., Bird Study, County Reports etc.) David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, N. Devon EX37 9HB. (BB229) BRITISH BIRDS 1979-98. Good condition, plus. London Bird Reports. £100 - offers. Tel. 0171 608 0523. (BB235) BARBOUR FLYWEIGHT ‘DURHAM’ (lined) size 38". £119 new. Never worn due to illness. Will accept £80. Tel/Fax 01544 388216. THE WARBLERS OF BRITAIN & EUROPE. Video by Bird Images. Now available from British BirdShop. £16.95 plus £2.25 p&p. BIRDS OF THE WESTERN PALEARCTIC. Vols 1 to 6 inclusive, plus Vol lx. Mint condition, cost £630. Sell for £450. Payer collects. Cash only. Tel: 01904 340504. XV British Birds Volume 91 Number 9 September 1998 361 Taxonomy and identification of chifFchafis in the Western Palearctic Peter Clement and Dr Andreas J. Helbig Letter 376 The best-watched site in the UK Peter Gooden Notes 377 White Storks wintering in northeast Algeria Dr B. Samraoui 'ill Common Swifts flying with lowered legs John H. Smart 378 Syrian Woodpecker using wall crevice as ‘anvil’ Gerard Gorman 378 Robin feeding Hedge Accentor in winter Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 379 Behaviour of Blackcaps in winter in Jersey H. Glyn Young 380 Flight of Magpie E. J. Wiseman 380 Carrion Crow devouring Common Toad Anthony Messenger 38 1 Murmuring calls of young Common Ravens Dr A. P. Radford 381 Unusual roosting sites of Common Starlings K. G. Spencer 381 Height of Com Bunting nests above ground Peter Castell 382 Monthly marathon Reviews 383 ‘A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan’ by Takuya Kanouchi, Naoya Abe & Hideo Ueda Dr Richard Chandler 383 ‘The Breeding Birds of South-east Scotland: a tetrad atlas 1988- 1994’ by R. D. Murray, M. HoUing, H. E. M. Dott & P. Vandome Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 384 ‘Endemic Bird Areas of the World: priorities for biodiversity conservation’ by Alison J. Stattersfield, Michael J. Crosby, Adrian J. Long & David C. Wege Dr Mark Avery 384 ‘World Bird Species Checklist: with alternative English and scientific names’ by M. G. Wells DrJ. T. R. Sharrock 385 Short reviews 386 Sabine’s Gulls in western France and southern Britain Norman Elkins and Pierre Yesou 397 Looking back 398 News and comment Bob Scott and Wendy Dickson Announcement 401 Exclusive jigsaw puzzles 402 Recent BBRC decisions M. J. Rogers 402 Recent reports Barry Nightingale and Anthorry McGeehan Line-drawings: 361 Common Chiffchaff of eastern race tristis {Brian Smalt)-, 386 Sabine’s Gulls {Aiike Langmarr) Front cover: House Sparrow Passer dornesticus, Maldon {Simon Patient)', the original of this month’s cover design, measuring 16.9 X 16.7 cm, is for sale in a postal auction (see page 66 for procedure) . ‘British Birds’ is published by a non-profit-making company for the benefit of ornitliology. © British Birds Ltd 1998 ISSN 0007-0335 British Birds Volume 91 Number 10 October 1998 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM I -7 OCT Yiit ygRARY Editorial Best Bird Book of the Year The Carl Zeiss Award Egyptian and Griffon Vultures in Pyrenees Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 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 I. Carter, Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. Collinson, R. J. Pr\therch, N. J. Redman, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Photographic Researcher Robin Chittenden Art Consultants Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Rarities Committee Prof. Colin Bradshaw (Chairman), Pete Ellis, Paul Harvey, John McLoughlin, John Martin, Doug Page, K. D. Shaw, Dr Jimmy Steele, Andy Stoddart, Reg Thorpe, Grahame Walbridge; John Marchant (archivist); Peter Fraser (statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Hon. Secretary) Behaviour Notes Panel Dr C. J. Bibby, Ian Dawson, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Derek Goodwin, Prof I. Newton FRS, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Dr K. E. L. Simmons Identification Notes Panel Prof. 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 Libraries and agencies £61.00, IR£71.00 or SI 16.00; Personal subscriptions: UK, Europe and surface mail £48.00, IR£56.20 or S91.00; personal airmail, outside Europe £80.35, IR£93.85 or S151.30. Make cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may be made direcdy into UK Post Office GIRO account 37 588 6303. Single back copies £6.20, IR£7.15 or 81180, from David Morgan, British Birds, Whitmore, Umberleigh, North Devon EX37 9HB. (Cheques made payable to David Morgan) Addresses Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please supply SAE, if reply required. Papers, notes, 'letters, drawings & photographs, exchange journals; competition entries: Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Fax: 01767 640340 Subscriptions & advertising: Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: 01234 364366 Promotion: British Birds, The Banks, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JY. Phone: 01580 882039. Fax: 01580 880541. e-maU: christopher.helm@helm-information.co.uk Items for ‘News and cotnment’: Bob Scott & Wendy Dickson, 8 Woodlands, St Neots, Cambridgershire PE 19 lUE. Phone: 01480 214904. Pax: 01480 473009. Bird news for ‘The ornithological yeaP: Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: 01525 290314 Rarity descriptions: M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books, Pistyfl Farm, Nercwys, Mold, Flintshire CH7 4EW. Phone: 01352 756551. Fax: 01352 756004. e-mail: sales@subbooks.demon.co.uk © British Birds Ltd 1998 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, The Banks, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JY. 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’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1997); 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 Flozuers) ', names of mammals follow Corbet & Harris (1991, The Handbook of British Mammals, 3rd edn). Topographical (plumage and structure) and ageing terminology should follow editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242; 78: 419-427; 80: 502). P’igurcs 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 (five each to two or more authors'). UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE - SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc SWAROVSKI 8 X 20B Mkll 307 10x25BMkll 327 8x30SLCMklll 519 10x42SLC 695 7 X 42 SLC 635 7X50SLCNEW 749 8x50 SLC NEW 779 10x50 SLC NEW 809 ST/AT 80 body 629 ST/AT 80 HD body 929 22x eyepiece 94 30x (WA) eyepiece 145 20-60X zoom eyepiece 220 Camera adaptor 800mm 159 Stay-on case 55 LEICA 8 X 20 BC Trinovid 259 8 X 20 BCA Trinovid 289 1 0 X 25 BC Trinovid 289 1 0 X 25 BCA Trinovid 309 8 X 32 BA Trinovid 619 1 0 X 32 BA Trinovid 659 8 X 42 BA Trinovid 679 10 X 42 BA Trinovid 699 8 X 50 BA Trinovid 859 1 0 X 50 BA Trinovid 859 . Carrying strap 26 LEICA APO Televid scope 799' . LEICA Std. Televid scope 509 , 20-60X (B) zoom eyepiece 209 20x (WW/B) eyepiece 125 - 32x (WW/B) eyepiece 180 - 40x (B) eyepiece 105 : Photo adaptor 239 ; Skua case 89 2 ZEISS OPTICAL CENTRE ■ 8 X 20B Classic 225 1 0 X 25B Classic 265 10 X 25 B/TP (New DS) 339 ■ 8 X 20 B/TP (New DS) 329 ■ 8 X 30 BGA7T (P) 599 ■ 7 X 42 BGATT(P) 659 10x40BGA7T(P) 659 7 X 45 Night Owl 759 CANON 1 2 X 36 stabilised binoculars . . ,575' 1 5 X 45 stabilised binoculars . . .785' 1 0 X 30 stabilised binoculars . . . .349 SWIFT 7 X 42, 8 X 42 or 10 X 42 Ultralite .239 NIKON NEW 10x42 SECF 629 NEW 8 X 23 SE CF 575 KOWA NEW Scopes - (82 mm) TSN 821/822 319 TSN 823/824 Fluorite 639 20-box zoom EP 199 32x(WA)EP 149 50xEP 169 850mm Photo Adaptor 159 Adaptor for TSN 1-4 EPS 24 Skua case 64 TSN-1 (45°) or -2 body 289 TSN-3 (45°) or -4 body 589 25x or 40x eyepiece 89 20x (WA) eyepiece 129 30x (WA) eyepiece 159 60x eyepiece 138 77x eyepiece 125 20-60X zoom eyepiece 185 Camera adaptor 800mm 150 Skua case 54 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 74 TS-611 body (45°) 229 TS-612 body 209 TS-61 3 Fluorite body (45°) 449 TS-614 Fluorite body 429 TS-61 0 accessories: 20x (WA) eyepiece 75 27x (WA) eyepiece 99 20-60x zoom eyepiece 127 Skua case 54 PICCOLO 60mm scope (45°) + zoom & case 249 (orwith22xWA) VIKING 7x36 Wide View 124 OPTOLYTH 8 X 40 Alpin NG 279 10x40AlpinNG 279 10 X 50 Alpin NG 299 7 X 50 Alpin NG 299 TBG 80 body 449 TBS 80 body 449 TBGorTBS80HD 659 30x (WW) eyepiece 159 20-box eyepiece 189 DISCOVERY 8x42or10x42RP, GA 135 OPTICRON 8x42lmagic 149 1 0 X 42 Imagic 159 8x32Dioptron 167 8 X 42 Dioptron 169 1 0 X 42 Dioptron 179 10 X 50 Dioptron 199 8x32(HRII) 197 8x42(HRII) 199 10x42(HRII) 209 10x50(HRII) 229 8'/r X 50 (HRII) 229 7x42(HRII) 198 7x24, 8x24 or 10x24 MCF 125 Roof prism binos (new): 7 X 36 BGA 329 8 X 42 BGA 339 10x42 BGA 339 10x50 BGA 359 HR 66 scope 279 HR 66 (45°) 319 HR 80 GA (45°) 429 1 5x, 20x, 25x or 40x HR eyepiece 44 20x WW HDF eyepiece 96 28x WW HDF eyepiece 119 22x W HR eyepiece 57 30x W HR eyepiece 59 60x HR eyepiece 49 20-60X zoom eyepiece 119 HR 60 GA (black with 30 x WA) .299 HARD DOMES to protect your telescope eyepiece. Hand turned from solid black nylon. Suits TS61 1/61 4 TSN 1/4, Opticron (HR, HR66, Classic IF), Spacemaster etc. State which. A Kay Optical exclusive £20 TRIPODS, BOOKS, etc ‘ While stocks last 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 email: kayoptical@netmatters.co.uk Location; Southern edge of Greater London, 1 5 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. BUCKS Sales in AYLESBURY by appointment only. Visitors welcome - please phone first. Tel: 01296-424145 Also, Field Operations Centre. • Mail Order if required (same day despatch) • Part exchanges • Used items • Package deals • Interest-free short-term credit E.&O.E. REPAIRS & SERVICING After 35 years of servicing all types of equipment (including Zeiss and Leica), we can promise you a thorough job. Post or bring your optical equipment to our workshop at MORDEN. We know how important a quick turn-round is to you. Remember, you cannot be optimistic with misty optics! FIELD PAYS -Alternative venues to MORDEN and AYLESBURY, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given alongside. . We aim to show our full range of •equipment, but it helps us to help you if you let us know your nterests before each field day. •^REPAIRS can also be handed iVcollected. ♦ A 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, usually ★ *k PAGHAM HARBOUR L .OCAL NATURE RESERVE on he B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sunday 25th COctober and 29th November. ★ SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sunday 4th October, 1st November and 6th December. ★ BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the /\25/A21 junction (access from the B2042 or B2027) near Ide Hill, Kent. Info, centre north of the reservoir) on Sunday 18th October, 15th November and 20th December. * THE KENT WILDLIFE TRUST, Tyland Barn, Sandling, near Maidstone, Kent on Sunday 13th December (10.30-4.00). ★ DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK, near Reading, M4 (A329(M) Woodley turn-off) and then A329 to Winnersh and Winnersh Station (B3030). Sunday 22nd November. ★ HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR, Essex (off A130 North of Basildon, near the fishing lodge) on Sunday 11th October. ★ COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE on the B488 near Bulbourne, Tring, Herts on Sat/Sun 17th/18th October and 28th/29th November. ★ GIBRALTAR POINT, south of Skegness at N.W. corner of the Wash, Lines on Sunday 1 St November. ★ BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR, (S. Staffs Waterworks) off B5013 on Sunday 25th October. * THE SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Woods Mill, Henfield, W. Sussex. Sunday 8th November. ★ GREAT LINFORD WILDFOWL RESERVE (ARC Environmental Study Centre), near Milton Keynes, on Sat/Sun 3rd/4th October, 7th/8th November and 12th/13th December. ★ WHISBY NATURE PARK, off Lincoln by-pass (Moor Lane), NW of Lincoln on Sunday 11th October. T&AD poYSER T & AD Poyser and Academic Press The Nuthatches ERIK MATTHYSEN The KAinCJKS of Europe and The Middle Hast The Nuthatches Erik Matthysen Erik Matthysen's extensive studies, begun in 1982, illuminate the ecology of the nuthatch and create a rich picture both of this bird and its 23 fellows around the world. Beautifully illustrated in colour and black and white, this fascinating work gives a detailed description of the ecology and behaviour of the Eurasian species. Comparisons with other nuthatch species provide general perspectives on biological species separation problems. Publication date May 1998, Hardback, ISBN 0-85661-101-8, 288 pages, £24.95 The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East A Handbook of Field Identification Dick Forsman The most complete and up-to-date guide to the recognition of the diurnal raptors of Europe and the Middle East ever published, this book sets a new standard for raptor watching and identification. Over 700 high quality photographs are complemented by drawings focusing on particular identification details. Written by an acknowledged expert, the detailed text enables birdwatchers to get to grips with even the most difficult species. Publication date August 1998, Hardback, ISBN 0-85661-098-4, 608 pages, £29.95 Birds of the Thai-Malayan Peninsula, Volume I Non-Passerines David R. Wells This volume provides the only detailed up-to-date reference on the peninsula and its birds. Over 380 species of non-passerine are described with details of their distribution ecology and identification. The work includes maps and over 70 spectacular full- ^ page colour plates by a team of internationally respected artists. Volume 2 (Passerines) will be published in 2002. Publication date June 1998, Hardback, ISBN 0-12-742961-1, 512 pages, £65.00 The Golden Eagle Jeff Watson “The author’s enthusiasm for this majestic bird of prey shines through on the pages of this excellent work.” BIRDWATCH The Golden Eagle JtlEK WATSON “Jeff Watson has filled a huge gap with this magnificent book which manages to combine the results of rigorous scientific research including field observation with a genuine feeling for the species.” COUNTRY-SIDE “Books written by enthusiasts are always the best, which is why Jeff Watson’s The Golden Eagle is such a fine work.” NEW SCIENTIST Publication date February 1997, Hardback, ISBN 0-85661-099-2, 392 pages, £29.95 The Raven DEKEK RATaJPFE The Raven Derek Ratcliffe “It is a book both for the serious birdwatcher and the general reader, for it includes not only everything science knows about ravens but also more popular matters, such as raven " folklore and raven history. It is the sort of bird book I particularly enjoy because a fresh wind blows through much of it, showing the author to be what a writer about ravens should be - an acute observer, who has spent much time with the ravens of the hills and the sea cliffs in all weathers.” THE GUARDIAN ... in your row of Poysers in the bookcase, this is one which will not long remain in its pristine condition - expect to keep going back for another look.” SCDTTISH BIRD NEWS Publication date February 1997, Hardback, ISBN 0-85661-090-9, 384 pages, £25.00 Available from your local bookseller or direct from our customer services department For orders, telephone 0181-308 5700 or fax 0181-309 0807 Why not send your order by e-mail? wildlife@harcourtbrace.com For enquiries contact Academic Press Books Marketing Department, 24-28 Oval Road, London NWl 7DX telephone 0171-424 4518 or fax 0171-424 4515 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. 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SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (0181) 541-4446 FAX, (0181) 541-4584 , - ■ ' LITERATURE LINE: 0800-23022041ocal call only) > X ■ ' i£iO<« 9^nC4t|«CV noMLoev _j (b-YEA 1- vv ARRAN] Resurgence of Egyptian Vultures in western Pyrenees, and relationship with Griffon Vultures Jacques Carlon This paper is dedicated to the memory of Bernard Braillon, who died on 26th December 1 986, in recognition of his pioneering zvork on this species on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees. ABSTRACT A long-term study of Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus in southwest France showed a marked population recovery from 1985, the species having declined greatly during the previous decade and more. This resurgence was due in part to improved weather during critical periods of the breeding cycle, and also reflected improvements in the fortunes of the Spanish population. The species’ relationship with the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus was also studied, and its response to nest-site usurpation by the larger vulture showed interesting adaptations. Our observations on Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus were carried out in the province of Beam, in the eastern half of the departement of Pyrenees- Atlantiques, situated on the northern slope of the Pyrenees in southwest France (see Carlon 1 996b) . The study area comprised the valleys of the rivers Baretous, Aspe, Ossau and Ouzom, all in the southern half of the province and covering an area of approximately 860 km^. [Brit. Birds 91; 409-416, October 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 409 410 Carlon: Egyptian and Griffon Vultures in western Pyrenees During the 12 years 1984-95, a total of 2,366 hours of field obsen'^ations was made by the author, with an additional 330 hours by colleagues. Altogether, 205 pairs of Egyptian Vultures were monitored at breeding sites over the 12 years, plus ten pairs in 1982 and 1983: making 215 pairs in all. Various findings of this study have already been published in French (Carlon 1989, 1992, 1993, 1996a). The present paper presents a summar\’ in English of the remarkable resurgence of the species in Beam, together with interesting aspects of its relationship with the Griffon Vulture Gyps fiilvus. Decline and regrowth of the population The population of the Egyptian Vulture in southern France and the Pyrenees underwent a strong decline in the years preceding the 1980s, but has since recovered to a healthier level. This was apparent not only in our study area, but also in the neighbouring regions of Provence, in southeast France (Bergier 1985), and Aragon, on the southern slope of the Pyrenees in Spain (Kostrzewa et al. 1986). During the main period of our study, regular checking of sites that had been abandoned for more than ten years, togetlier with a systematic search of all potential breeding sites, enabled us to record the reoccupation of six sites, the discovery of ten new ones, and successful breeding at a site where a regular pair had taken a seven-year ‘sabbatical’ during 1977-83. Table 1 summarises the annual development of the Bearn population from 1984 to 1995. The years 1982 and 1983, when our fieldwork was less intensive, are also included, to highlight the low point of this population (six pairs in 1984) and the subsequent spectacular recovery and growth (to 21 pairs in 1990). The population stabilised at 20-21 pairs during 1990-95. This apparent stagnation in the 1 990s could, we believe, be linked with tw^o factors. First, usurpation of eyries and competition for habitat by the Griffon Vulture represent an appreciable limiting factor (see below); and, secondly, observer effort and efficiency tend, through the process of habituation, to decrease over the course of the years, particularly with regard to searching for potential new^ breeding sites. It is possible, if not probable, that two or even three sites may have escaped detection in 1994 and 1995, bearing in mind the large extent of suitable breeding habitat available in the study area. Site fidelity A striking feature of this study was the great fidelity of pairs to breeding sites, so long as they were not subject to heavy disturbance or interspecific parasitism. Apart from instances of nest-site usurpation by Griffon Vultures (see below'), we recorded only two definite cases of site desertion out of 205 pairs monitored. The first occurred at the highest site in the study area, at 1,450 m, within the montane and subalpine zone; tliis was a result of unusual w'eather conditions, with heavy snowfalls in two years out of three in April, tine month when the pair was establishing territory. The second was in Vallee d’Aspe, very' probably caused by disturbance from increasingly heavy traffic on the roadway; the pair involved re-established itself at a site 300 m higher up. British Birds, vol, 91, no. 10, October 1998 411 Factors responsible for the resurgence of the population Climatic influences The influence of climatic conditions on population fluctuations and reproduction was discussed by Carlon (1992). Two interesting facts have emerged from this study: the low percentage of breeding failures, and the development of earlier and more successful fledging. In years with ‘normal’ weather conditions, breeding failures appear to be relatively rare. In Provence, Bergier & Cheylan (1980) recorded only four failures (6.8%) out of 59 breeding attempts. In Beam, of 66 breeding attempts over the five years 1985-88 & 1990, only five failed (7.5%, a figure roughly equivalent to theirs), even though the Mediterranean climate is more favourable to the species. On the other hand, the Provengale region is subject to much greater disturbance, owing to the greater accessibility of nesting sites. Breeding success across the entire northern slope of the Pyrenees in normal years during 1959-85 was shown to be 77% (Braillon 1986). In Beam, during 1985-90, we recorded only ten breeding failures (plus two suspected failures) out of 91 pairs, giving a success rate of 88%. This improvement appears to be due to better weather conditions during the early stages of development of the young. This was borne out in 1991, when six pairs failed out of a total of 21, all but one (which was probably due to human disturbance) at or soon after hatching. In that year, precipitation was 15.1% less than in the three preceding years, but temperature and total sunshine hours were both 14-15% lower, and these last two parameters would appear to be of the greatest importance during the critical period of hatching and early development. Note that cold, wet springs, such as occurred in 1988, do not necessarily lead to failure if hatching takes place after such weather has ceased. During the study period, a distinct advancement in fledging date was noted. Up to 1987, the mean fledging date in Beam was about 20th August; during the two drought years which followed (1989, 1990), it was 12th August, where it remained. Owing to much earlier fledging at some sites in 1994 — 2nd and 5th August, 25th and 30th July, and an unprecedented 1 1th July in Vallee d’Aspe (M. & R. Cmse in litt.) — the mean date for fledging has been brought forward to 25th July. We also recorded a small increase in productivity, with a higher number of juveniles reared per pair during 1988-95 (mean 1.26/pair) than during 1959- 85 (1.17/pair) (table 2). Given that 1989 and 1990 were drought years, we demonstrated (Carlon 1992) that higher temperatures, increased total sunshine hours and a drop in total precipitation were determining factors in this increase in fledging rate. As recording fledging success requires an enormous amount of time in the field, it was not possible to determine this throughout the entire 12-year period. Nevertheless, we were able to calculate it for six years (1988-90, 1991- 92 and 1995; table 2). These involved a significant number of breeding attempts (88), and a representative sample of climatic conditions which included two years (1989-90) of dry, hot weather, followed by two years (1991-92) with particularly cold and wet weather throughout the most critical 412 Carlon; Egjptian and Griffon Vultures in western PtTenees stages (May-June: end of incubation, hatching and first days of life of the chicks), and then by one year of drought (1995). On the basis of these criteria, and a rigorous follow-up during the three periods, we consider our figure of 1.26 young/pair a realistic one, corroborated by and comparable \^^th those published for Provence (1.38-1.40: Bergier & Cheylan 1980; Bergier 1985; Bayle 1990) and for the Spanish slope of the P\Tenees in Catalonia and Navarra (1.29-1.75; Donazar & Ceballos-Ruiz 1988). Note that this increase in fledging rate is due almost solely to the higher percentage of broods of tw'O young in years when weather conditions were very favourable for this sun-loving species. Especially when climatic conditions have been propitious, fieldwork needs to be concentrated during and subsequent to the period when the young leave the nest (about the third week in July to late August); this is particularly true when the brood contains two young. Other possible influences As well as these climatic factors that have played a major role on the two sides of the Pyrenean massif, particularly in Beam, there are others, not insignificant, that need to be examined (see Carlon 1989). The resurgence of the population may best be appreciated by dividing the period into two parts. In 1982-85, the combined number of occupied sites was 33 (possibly 35), or an annual mean of eight or nine; in 1986-88, this total rose to 46, or a mean of 15 or 16 per year (table 1). During 1979-83, Bergier (1985) recorded, in Provence, the recolonisation of a territory abandoned since 1965, the occupation of a new site, and the observ^ation of several immarnres during the breeding season, while in Aragon, Spain, in 1984-85, a population increase was confirmed for the first time (Kostrzewa et al. 1986). Table 1. Sites occupied by Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnoptems in Beam, southwest France, from 1982 to 1995. Totals include 6 reoccupied sites and 10 newly discovered sites. 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Total occupied sites 9 7 6 11 13 15 18 19 21 21 20 20 21 20 Sites vacant since 1968 and reoccupied by 1987 6— ► New sites 10 ► Several possible factors may explain these changes. In the western part of the west Pyrenees, the Griffon Vulture population underu'ent a spectacular growth: from 61 pairs in 1976, to 78 in 1979, and 168 pairs with 122-130 young fledged in 1986 (J.-J. Lequemeneur, verbally 1986). The numerous local rubbish dumps (for household waste) were amalgamated during tlie late 1970s and the 1980s into vast refuse tips, most of which were sited at tlie entrance to large valleys; Egyptian Vultures are frequently observed at these sites. Feeding stations, initially intended for Griffon Vultures, regularly British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 413 Table 2. Mean fledging rate of Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus in Beam, southwest France, 1959-95. Figures refer to number of young per successful pair. Data for 1959-85 are from Braillon (1986). Average 1959-85 1988-90 1991-92 1995 1988-95 No.juvs 1.1 7v 1.34 1.08 1.35 1.26 Sample - 27 41 20 88 attracted the smaller species, with increasing numbers of adults in June (i.e. at the start of brood-feeding) . Pastoralism, a not insignificant source of food, had been maintained at apparently the same level during the period. In addition, Egyptian Vultures regularly foraged along the banks of upland watercourses, which are subject to increasing eutrophication. What was probably a more decisive influence was the fluctuations of the very large Iberian population of Egyptian Vulmres. This was estimated at 2,000 pairs in the 1970s (Bijleveld 1974) and was showing worrying signs of decline in most of the provinces (Cramp & Simmons 1980), this being confirmed by a 1985 census which produced a figure of 950-1,100 pairs (Congres international sur les Rapaces mediterraneens, Evora, Portugal, 1986). This historical picture enables a better appreciation of a factor which is relevant to the Beam study: namely, the increase, starting in 1984, of the Aragon population, recorded by Kostrzewa et al (1986), who have also pointed out {in litt.) that poisoned baits aimed at Red Poxes Vulpes vulpes and Carrion Crows Corvus corone were outlawed throughout Spain from 1984. It is also worth bearing in mind the abundance of suitable breeding habitat available in the Pyrenean region. This fourth positive factor (after those of relative food abundance, presence of the large Spanish population on the southern slopes, and increased rate of expansion of the Griffon Vulmre population in recent years) throws into particular relief the simation of the Egyptian Vulmre in the western Pyrenees, and more particularly in Bearn. While the position of the Egyptian Vulmre in southwest France remains precarious and of concern, it is nevertheless more favourable than those of the Golden Eagle Aqtiila chrysaetos and the Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus. It cannot, however, rival the recent dynamism of the smaller predators such as the Red Kite Milvus rnilvus and especially the Black Kite M. rnigrans, botli clearly increasing, or even more so that of the Common Raven Corviis corax, which has undergone a spectacular expansion during the last decade in the departement of Pyrenees- Atlantiques. Relationships between Egyptian and Griffon Vultures On the outskirts of Griffon Vulmre colonies, or sometimes a few kilometres away, it is not unusual to see one or two Egyptian Vulmres joining in with the comings and goings, or taking advantage of the larger species’ exploratory flights and, being less suspicious, descending before the Griffons when a carcase has been spotted. This behaviour, however, then brings the Griffon Vulmres down to the feast, and during this period the Egyptian Vulmre, given 414 Carlon: Egyptian and Griffon Vulmres in western Pyrenees its subordinate status in the interspecific hierarchy of vailtures, demonstrates patience and prudence. Cohabitation with the large vultures is noteworthy and can be obser\^ed particularly in those areas where there are many large Griffon colonies, as in the Vallee d’Aspe. The attraction exerted by the Griffon Vulmre may be demonstrated by the fact that, in Les Gausses, following that species’ successful reintroduction in 1982, the Egyptian Vulture appeared almost immediately, after having ceased to nest in that region in 1955; others followed, and a pair established itself from 1984 (C. Bagnolini, J. Bonnet & J.-L. Pinna in litt.). The height of Egyptian Vulture eyries in cliff sites seems to be a direct consequence of the marked dominance of the Griffon Vulture. In all but one of the large Griffon colonies in Beam, the nests of Egyptian Vultures occupy the base of these sites, whereas in the years 1965-70, when Griffon numbers were about 80% lower than in 1985, they were higher up the cliffs. This change can probably be attributed to the constant activity of Griffon Vultures at their colonies and the resulting numerous interactions creating permanent disturbance in the close surroundings of the eyries (see below) . The immediate departure of an Egyptian Vulture from a tiny cramped ledge as soon as a Griffon Vulmre lands is further evidence of the dismrbance and the dominance exerted by the latter. On the other hand, adult Egyptian Vulmres move around at all levels in these colonies, and make frequent inspections of Griffon nest sites; similar visits by Egyptian Vulmres to nest sites of Lammergeiers have been observed (Terrasse & Terrasse 1967). From numerous observations gathered in recent years, I suggest that the term ‘mumalism’, or commensalism strongly tinged with mumalism, best describes the relationship between the two species. The Egyptian Vulmre, as it precedes or often joins the Griffons in searching for carrion, and as it is bolder or more daring at such times, can play a role of ‘reconnaissance’ and can also ‘give the aU-clear’: in other words, it tends to attract the larger vulmres to food more quickly because it is often the first to descend, and, because it is more cautious when on the ground, it thereby indicates tliat it is safe to feed tliere. On the other hand, the Griffon parasitises the smaller species in several ways. Parasilisation by Griffon Vultures In 1986, in the Griffon Vulmre colony in Vallee d’Ossau which had experienced an unprecedented growth from 1979 to 1993 (Carlon 1993), an Egyptian Vulmre eyrie was taken over by a pair of Griffons. A further nine pairs of Egyptian Vulmres in the smdy area have had their breeding attempts disrupted by loss of their eyries, or have been forced to move to different sites. I have wimessed three instances of food parasitism by Griffon Vulmres at two Egyptian Vulmre sites. One of these caused tlie tw'o young to leave the nest premamrely, one young disappearing for good. In 1988, at a large Griffon colony, a breeding attempt failed at the chick stage (approximate age three weeks) following tlie frequent presence of a Griffon Vulmre at the eyrie; although the exact cause of death could not be determined, the Griffon had been seen feeding dtere on several occasions. Another eyrie, while being British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 415 prepared for nesting, was abandoned following the frequent presence of a Griffon on the nest ledge. These three examples indicate the disturbances and losses suffered by the Egyptian Vulture during the breeding period at sites where it coexists with large colonies of Griffon Vultures. More recently, in spring 1996, in Vallee d’Aspe, a particularly prolific pair of Egyptian Vultures which produced two young every other year, and had occupied a large, very accessible cave for eight years, was forced out when a pair of Griffon Vultures set up breeding territory at the site in January. It is worth noting that, in Spain, Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus and Lammergeier suffer the same fate, with Griffon Vultures taking over 40% of their breeding sites (Kostrzewa & Galushin 1992). In Bearn, the Booted Eagle H. pennatus is victim of a similar exclusion in the Gave de Pau plain by the Black Kite, still expanding in this region and whose pre-breeding arrival is one month earlier than the eagle’s (Carlon 1995, 1996b). Modification of breeding behaviour A direct consequence of this parasitisation of eyries by Griffon Vultures was the emergence of two new adaptations by the Egyptian Vulture. The first was the selection of a breeding place in cliff sites of smaller size, on sheltered or camouflaged narrow ledges or equivalent caves, but where Griffon Vultures were not present. The second was to breed, when the possibility still remained, at the heart of the Griffon colony, this time not on narrow ledges or even in big caves, but in small cavities without reception ledges, thus preventing access by Griffons; or else to select sites at the base of these same cUffs, little visited by and even inaccessible to the Griffons. Ackno wle dgments A number of observers have participated in this study, on a regular or occasional basis and for varying periods, and their assistance is most gratefully acknowledged: Jean-Louis Bormeville, Laurent Brun, Josephine Carlon, Maurita & Richard Cruse, Pascal & Jean-Luc Dunoguiez, the late Robert Etchegorry, Jean-Louis Grange, Robert Houert, Georges Lopez, Henri Navarre, Nicolas Pinczon-du-Sel, Serge Raoult, Jean Tischmacher, and Catherine & Olivier TriouUier. I also thank David A. Christie for translating and adapting my earlier writings on this subject. References Bayle, P. 1990. Bilan couple par couple de la reproduction du Vautour percnoptere en Provence en 1 988 et 1 989. Centre d’Etude sur les ecosystemes de Provence. Bergier, P. 1985. La reproduction du Vautour percnoptere en Provence de 1979 a 1983. Bulletin no. 2 du Groupe de Travail Mondial sur les Rapaces. [WWGBP] & Cheylan, G. 1980. Status, succes de reproduction et alimentation du Vautour percnoptere en France mediterraneenne. Alauda 48: 75-97. Bijleveld, M. 1974. Birds of Prey in Europe. London. Braillon, B. 1986. Nidification du Vautour percnoptere sur le versant Nord des Pyrenees. Un suivi de I’ensemble commence il y a 27 ans. In: Oiseaux des Pyrenees. Acta Biologica Montana 7. Pau. Carlon, J. 1989. Contribution a I’etude du Vautour percnoptere en periode de reproduction. Nos Oiseaux 40: 87-100. 1992. Contribution a I’eco-ethologie du Vautour percnoptere Neophron percnoptems. 416 Carlon: Egyptian and Griffon Vultures in western Pwenees Phenologie de la reproduction en Bearn. Marie-Blanque 1 . 1993. Contribution a I’eco-ethologie du Vautour percnoptere Neophron peraioplenis en Bearn. Versant Nord des P\Tenees Occidentales. Marie-Blanque 2. 1995. Special Aigle botte Hieraaetus pennatus. Marie-Blanque 4. 1996a. Synthese duodecimale (1984-1995) de la nidifiyation du Vautour percnoptere Neophron percnoptems, en province de Beam, versant nord des Pyrenees Occidentales. Marie-Blanque 5\ 1-11. 1996b. Response of Booted Eagles to human dismrbance. Brit. Birds 89: 267-274. CrajMP, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1980. The Birds of the W'estem Palearctic. vol. 2. Oxford. Donazar, J. a., & Cebau.os-Ruiz, O. 1988. Alimentacion y tasas reproductoras del Alimoche Neophron percnoptems en Navarra. Ardeola 35; 3-14. Kostrzewa, a., & Galushin, V. 1992. Premiere session sur I’etude des populations chez les rapaces. In circular of the GTMR, no. 16-17. Paris. [VCWGBP] , Ferrer-Lerin, E., & Kostrzewa, R. 1986. Abundance, status and vulnerability of raptors and owls in parts of the Spanish PvTenees. Birds of Prey no. 3. Paris. Terrasse, J.-F., & Terrasse, M. 1967. Les Vautours en France. Le Courrier de la Nature, no. 86 (special issue). Jacques Carlon, 12 me Rabelais, 64000 Pan, France SHORT REVIEWS Understanding Owls. By Jemima Parry- Jones. (David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1998. 160 pages. ISBN 0-7153-0643-X. £17.99). Owls are always fascinating, with their forward-facing eyes and somewhat human appearance. Just examine John Crookes’s cartoons scattered throughout this volume. A total of 1 1 9 pages is devoted to owls in captivity. Whatever your views on this may be, it is written knowledgeably, by an acknowledged expert in the field, with all the necessary warnings included. Jemima has written this in her own highly individual and entertaining style — I even managed to find the odd (minor) swear word in the text. Bob Scott Handbook of Waterfowl Identification. By Frank S. Todd. (Ibis Publishing, Vista, 1997. 104 pages. ISBN 0-934797-14-5. Paperback 819.95) The word ‘Adult’ needs to be inserted before ‘Waterfowl’ in the title. Frank Todd has taken colour photographs, distribution maps and an appendix from his comprehensive Natural History of the Waterfowl (1996, from the same publisher) and created a handy pocket guide to tlie World’s wildfowl. Only adult birds are illustrated or described: one or two photographs and two or tliree sentences per species. The appendix lists mean weights (in pounds!), clutch size and incubation and fledging periods. MAO ALSO RECEIVED Self-assessment Review of Avian Medicine. By Neil A. Forbes & Robert B. Altman. (Manson Publishing, London, 1998. 192 pages. ISBN 1-874545-71-5. Paperback £18.95) [Hrii. Birds 91: 416, October 1998] C> British Birds Ltd 1998 Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1995 Malcolm Ogilvie and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel This, the twenty-third annual report of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, contains information on the breeding in 1995 of the species on the Panel’s list, whether proven, probable or possible. As usual, the amount of detail included varies according to the perceived sensitivity of the species to intentional disturbance or to nest robbery. Thus, for the majority, the counties are grouped into the Panel’s ten regions (see below), though for some it is possible to list the actual counties. For a few species, only country totals are given. There has been some unfortunate slippage in the production of this report, but we hope to make amends with the 1996 report, which should follow this one after a shorter interval. The Panel The current (April 1998) membership of the Panel is Dr L. A. Batten, Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr H. Q. P. Crick, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Dr K. W. Smith, D. A. Stroud and Dr M. A. Ogilvie (Secretary). The individual members of the Panel serve in a personal capacity, but four of them are additionally able to reflect the interests and needs of the respective sponsoring bodies. The work of the Panel is supported financially by the JNCC (on behalf of the country conservation agencies), with further contributions coming from the RSPB, the BTO and British Birds. The Panel collects records from the whole of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, but not from the Republic of Ireland. Coverage in 1995 was almost complete, with records (or nil remrns) received from virtuallv every county and region. Information for some species remains patchy, however, and any known gaps are mentioned in the species accounts. [Bril. Birds 91: 417-447, October 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 417 418 Ogilvie el al:. Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 Review of the year 1995 The weather continues to exert a considerable influence on the success or otherwise of many of Britain’s rare breeding birds. As w'ill be apparent from reading the species accounts below, gales and rain at critical periods during the breeding cycle adversely affected a number of species in 1995, especially Osprey Pandion haliaetus and Golden Oriole Orioliis oriolus. Predation and high tides took their toll of some coastal nesting species, especially Avocet Reciirvirostra avosetta. Slavonian Grebes P. auritus achieved a w'elcome recovery' from last year’s low, with an especially pleasing increase in productivity, and four pairs of Red-necked Grebes Podiceps grisegena, all seen displaying, with one pair copulating and nest-building, is the best ever. Black- necked Grebes P. nigricollis also reached a new high for confirmed pairs. Despite a slight fall in the number of sites, the total of ‘booming’ Great Bitterns Botaiinis stellaris was the same as last year, while at least 14 young w'ere reared, compared with eight or nine. The occurrence of two pairs of Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia, one bird being seen to collect nesting material, may be the precursor of a colonisation, just as the continued presence of pairs of Little Egrets Egretta garzetta finally (in 1997, Brit. Birds 91: 273-280) led to successful breeding, though not in 1995. As expected, reported numbers of Northern Pintails Anas acuta fell in the absence of last year’s full suiv'ey of Orkney. Garganeys A. querquedula increased in England and Wales, though it was a very poor year for them in Scotland. Greater Scaups Aythya marila appeared in Scotland for the second sumrher running, while a full survey of aU known haunts of Common Scoter Melanitta nigra produced a population estimate of 76-89 potential pairs, indicating a decline from the approximately 100 pairs in the mid 1980s. Honey-buzzards Pernis apivorus continued to increase slowly, for the sixth successive year, and the minimum of 13 young reportedly reared was also a new' record. The Welsh Red Kites Milvus milvus maintained their long-term increase, while the re-established birds in England and Scotland also continued to grow in numbers and expand in range. Both Marsh Circus aemginosus and Montagu’s Harriers C. pygargus had good seasons, with record numbers of young, though production per pair of the former species was dowm. A male Pallid Harrier Circus macroums and a female Hen Harrier C. cyaneus bred together in Scotland, though sadly the eggs were eaten by a predator. Ospreys fell one short of the ‘century’ of breeding pairs, and failures due to high w'inds and rain were added to by no fewer than six robberies. It was another good year for Common Quails Coturnix coturnix, but Spotted Crakes Porzana porzana had their second successive poor year and none was proved to breed. Corn Crakes Crex crex continued their recovery in their main haunts on the Scottish islands, thanks in the main to die conserv'ation efforts of the RSPB, Scottish Namral Heritage and die Scottish Crofters’ Union. The number of confirmed pairs of Avocets fell back from last year’s peak, while production was little short of disastrous, with the kwvest number of young reared since 1984 and, allowing for incomplete reporting, the w'orst production per pair since 1977. Predation by Red Eox I 'uipcs vulpes and gulls British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 419 Lams is the most serious problem at a number of sites, though bad weather at key moments also contributed. Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnemus increased for the seventh year running, with a substantial increase in the number of young reared compared with last year’s low figure. No Ruffs Philomachus pugnax were proved to breed this year, but Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa did better. Of the rarer waders, only Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola had a good year, with at least seven pairs breeding. The Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus on Fetlar continued to do well, but breeding away from Shetland seems to have ceased. The first breeding by Yellow-legged Gulls Lams cachinnans in Britain was reported, though it is not thought that any young were reared. Numbers of Mediterranean Gulls L. melanocephalus seem to have levelled off over the last four years, while there was just one hybrid pairing with Black-headed Gull L. ridibimdus. The long-standing hybrid pair of Lesser Crested Sterna bengalensis and Sandwich Terns S’, sandvicensis bred yet again, but unsuccessfully. Roseate Terns S. doiigallii had another poor year. A pair of Bluethroats Luscinia svecica bred successfully in Scotland, only the second breeding record of this species in Britain and the first time that young have been reared. A second male, at a different site, was heard singing. The reported number of Black Redstarts Phoenicums ochmros fell back to the 1 993 level after the boost given last year by the sur\^ey of the Greater London area. A pair of Fieldfares Tiirdus pilaris bred after last year’s gap, but total numbers were small. Cetti’s Cettia cetti and Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata had good seasons, but Savi’s Warblers Locustella luscinioides are declining fast. Marsh Warblers Acrocephalus palustris also declined in numbers for the second year running, while last year’s increase in localities did not last. These reports now regularly include records of males of different species of vagrant warblers singing and, occasionally, nest-building, and some of these may one day breed with us. Golden Orioles seem to have the worst luck of any rare breeding species when it comes to weather. The losses in 1 994 from heavy rain and bad storms destroying nests were repeated this year, and only 7-11 young were thought to have been reared. There were more Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla than for over ten years, with nest-building and singing reported, though no confirmed breeding. As more work is done on the crossbills Loxia of Scotland, so new and sometimes puzzling facts are coming to light, such as the seven adults at five nests which had bill measurements well within the limits for Parrot Crossbill L. pytyopsittacus. For the first time for six years, a Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus appeared in suitable habitat. Conservation uses of Panel data It is the policy of the Panel to make data available for conservation uses where this is compatible with the constraints of confidentiality. As well as site- specific information (e.g. for reviews of Special Protection Areas), national 420 Ogilvae et al.: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 data sets have been used by the RSPB for planning sun^eys. Panel data have also played a key role in reviews of birds of conservation concern and national population estimates, together with the development of recovery plans for certain species. Publications A number of papers on Panel species, including results of surveys, are listed at the end, under References. Acknowledgments The Panel, and in particular its Secretary, very’ gratefully acknowledges the willing co- operation of all the many county, regional and local recorders throughout the country'. Completing the forms is just one more burden put upon their willing shoulders, and it is greatly appreciated. The following specialist contributors are also deser\'ing of thanks: Jake Allsopp and the Golden Oriole Group, Colin Crooke, Peter E. Davis, Roy Dennis, Dr Andy Evans, Dr Ian Evans, Dr Rhys Green, Bob Image, Lorcan O’Toole, Steve Petty, Dr Ron Summers and lolo Williams. We are grateful to the licensing officers of the three country agencies, Peter Clement (English Nature), John Ralston (Scottish Natural Heritage) and Iwan Hughes (Countryside Council for Wales), for their ready co-operation in supplying information. Sandra l^mbton and Dr David Gibbons of the RSPB kindly provided survey information. We should also like to express our sincere thanks to all die very many individuals whose fieldwork produced the observations which make up this report. Key to geographical regions used in this report England, SW Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Isles of Scilly, Isle of Wight, Somerset, Wiltshire England, SE Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex (East and West) England, E Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire and South Humberside, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk England, Central Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire (with Rutland), Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire England, N Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Greater Manchester, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Northumberland, North Humberside, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire (North, South and West) Wales All present-day counties (i.e. includes Gwent, the former Monmoutli) Scotland, S The regions of Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Ixitliian and part of Stratliclyde, comprising the former counties of Ayrshire, Berv\'ickshire, Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, l^narkshire, Lothian (East, Mid and West), Peeblesshire, Renfrewshire, Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire, VCtigtownshire Scotland, Mid The regions of Central, Fife, Grampian and Tayside, togctlicr with parts of Highland and Strathclyde, comprising the former counties of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Banffshire, Clackmannanshire, Dunbartonshire, Fife, Kincardineshire, Kinross, Moray, Nairn, Perthshire, Stirlingshire Scotland, N & W Orkney, Shetland and tlie Western Isles, togctlicr witli tlie greater part of Highland and part of Strathclyde, comprising the former counties of Argyllshire, Bute, Caithness, Inverness-shire, Ross & Cromarty, Sutherland Northern Ireland Antrim, Armagh, Down, Ecrmanagh, Londonderry, 'Pyronc British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 421 Systematic list The definitions of ‘Confirmed breeding’, ‘Probable breeding’ and ‘Possible breeding’ used in the Panel s reports follow those recommended by the European Ornithological Atlas Committee (now part of the European Bird Census Council). Within tables, the abbreviations ‘Confirmed (pairs)’ and ‘Possible/probable (pairs)’ mean ‘Number of pairs confirmed breeding’ and ‘Number of pairs possibly or probably breeding’, respectively. Great Northern Diver Gavia immer One locality: single. Scotland, N & W One locality: adult present on loch late June and early July, possibly paired to Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica A hybrid pair involving these two species occurred in 1985 and 1986, with eggs being laid in the latter year, though the single chick which hatched failed to survive. The only proven breeding record by a Great Northern Diver pair in Britain was in 1970 {Scot. Birds 6: 195). Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps No breeding records. An adult was present at Stithians Reservoir, Cornwall, throughout the summer, while one of the hybrid young, from the 1994 nesting with Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis:, was last seen in late March, but there were no signs of any further breeding activity. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Six localities in six counties: pair copulated and built platforms; two other pairs displayed. England, E Two localities: (1) one in summer plumage from 29th March to 3rd September and second bird from 29th April to 24th May, with some calling and display; (2) one from 25th March to 30th August. England, N Two localities: (1) pair from 29th January to 8th May, with much loud calling for two weeks prior to their departure; (2) adult from 20th May to 29th June. Scotland, S One locality: pair at regular summering site, seen copulating and buOt nest platforms, but no egg-laying suspected. Scotland, Mid One locality: two adults, probably a pair, on 3rd June only. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 1 5 10 8 6 5 3 9 7 10 6 No, individuals 4 5 9 12 9 3 4 12 7 13 10 No. pairs 1 1 1 3 3 2 1 3 0 1 4 The southern Scotland pair was observed copulating and nest-building, behaviour that has been noted in almost every year since 1983, but, as usual, there were no further developments. With three other pairs seen displaying, this is the largest number of active pairs yet recorded, though the number of single birds observed was the lowest for ten years. Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus 31 localities: 58-65 pairs breeding. Scotland, Mid and N & W 31 localities: (1)-(31) total of 58 pairs bred, producing minimum of 46 young to near fledging; also seven singles. 422 Ogilvie et ai: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 40 43 39 22 39 36 . 31 34 33 32 31 Confirmed (pairs) 63 68 33 31 70 74 61 72 73 51 58 Possible/probable (pairs) 18 19 6 6 8 12 13 5 4 8 7 Max. total (pairs) 81 87 39 37 78 86 74 77 77 59 65 A slight, but welcome, increase in the number of breeding pairs from last year’s six-year low, while the number of young reared was the best since 1 992 and the productivity figure of 0.79 young per pair was well above the 2 5 -year average of 0.62. The Panel is grateful to the North of Scotland Regional Office of the RSPB for information on numbers and breeding performance. Detailed research into the breeding biology' of this species was carried out by the RSPB in 1992 and 1993 (Summers & Mavor 1995). • Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigncollis 30 localities in 15 counties; minimum 30-77 pairs breeding, hatching at least 36 young. England, SW Two localities: 4-12 pairs. hajMPSHIRE Two localities; four pairs bred, two other pairs and si.x singles. England, SE One localiw; pair. KENT One locality: pair. England, E Nine localities: 1-18 pairs. CAMBRIDGESHIRE I’wo localities: pair bred and four singles. HUN'i’lNGDON & PETI'RBOROUGH Four localities: pair and seven singles. nortFamfionshire Three localities: tw'O pairs, including display, and three singles. England, Central Five localities: 0-5 pairs. LEICESI ERSHIRE Two localities: two singles. No rriNGHAMSHlRE Two localities: pair and one single. SHROPSHIRE One locality: pair. England, N Four localities: 14-23 pairs. CHESHIRE One locality: two pairs bred. GRiiATER MANCHES'I'ER One locality: pair bred, plus one other pair. Northumberland Two localities: 1 1 pairs bred, plus eight other pairs. Wales One locality: 0-1 pair. GW'YNEDD One locality: pair. Scotland, S Three localities: 2-3 pairs. BORDERS Three localities: two pairs bred and one single. Scotland, Mid Five localities: 9-14 pairs. Eire Two localities: three pairs. TAYSIDE Three localities: nine pairs bred, one other pair and one single. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 17 15 19 22 19 19 25 29 31 32 30 Confirmed (pairs) 9 11 27 15 25 21 19 26 24 27 30 Possible/probable (pairs) 13 22 12 20 15 16 34 34 26 54 47 Max. total (pairs) 22 33 39 35 40 37 53 60 50 81 77 The largest number of confirmed pairs ever recorded. Just as die 1994 total of confirmed pairs could have been up to 1 1 pairs higher, as full details were not received from an important Scottish site, so, this year, no report was received from an important site in North Humberside where 14 pairs bred in 1994. Successful breeding occurred in southern England after a year’s gap. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 423 Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris One locality: one in spring and summer. Scotland, N & W One locality. SHETLAND One locality; adult in colony of Northern Gannets Moms bassanus, Hermaness, from 3rd April to 7th July. The twenty-fifth year of summering (missing only 1988 and 1989) and, as last year, staying for over three months. Great Bittern Botaunis stellaris 13 localities: minimum of 20 and maximum of 21 booming males, with minimum of 12 young fledged. England, SE Two localities: (1) single on 16th April (up to four in mid March); (2) single on 3rd May. England, E Ten localities: (1) four booming males, two nests found, at least three young fledged; (2) four booming males, two nests found, number of young unknown; (3) booming male, nest found, three young hatched, two probably fledged; (4) (5) booming male, nest found, two young fledged; (6) booming male, nest found, three eggs, one hatched, not known if fledged; (7)-(9) booming male in May and/or June, no evidence of breeding; (10) booming male on 29th April only. England, N One locality: four, possibly five, booming males, three nests found, five fledged young seen. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 15 12 17 14 14 12 13 14 13 16 13 Confirmed nests 0 0 1 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 11 Booming males 28 23 22 30 30 20 19 19 17 20 20 Although the slight improvement in the number of localities shown in 1 994 has not been sustained, the number of booming males has stayed at the same level. The considerable increase in the number of nests found reflects the detailed research now being carried out on this species by RSPB staff. The number of young fledged represents a significant increase on the eight or nine thought to have done so last year. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Ten localities: up to 12 pairs. England, SW Nine localities, with ten pairs present throughout the summer, though no signs of breeding. Wales One locality: two pairs seen displaying in colony of Grey Herons Ardea cinerea in March, but no further activity. The above are the actual pairs reported to the Panel, as opposed to the many flocks also present in southern Britain. Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia One locality: two pairs. England, E One locality: up to four present between 14th April and lOtlt August; at least one seen collecting nesting material in late April. There were several other records of Spoonbills in the same county during the spring. The only previous report of this species to the Panel was in 1989 when a pair started to build a nest in late July. The breeding population in the Netherlands has been increasing in recent years, with over 600 pairs in 1993 424 Ogilvie ei al.: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 compared with about 150 in the 1960s, when pesticides had considerably reduced numbers (Osieck & Voslamber 1997), so further activity in eastern England may be expected. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Nine localities: pair bred, but failed. England, SE Two localities: uvo singles, both released birds. No reports were received from the sites where released pairs bred or attempted to breed in 1994. Scotland, S Two localities: (1) pair, probably released, laid eggs but none hatched; (2) one, presumed injured, summered. Scotland, N & W Five localities: (1) single bird built a nest and sat on it for a while; (2)- (5) singles summering, one of which displayed. Last year’s successful breeding by apparently wild birds in North & West Scotland was not repeated and there was a remrn to the more usual scattering of single, probably mostly injured, birds. Nor were there any reports of introduced or released birds breeding successfully. Black Duck Anas mbripes One locality: one. England, SW One localiw: one male. SCILI.Y A male, which has been present on Tresco since 1st April 1994, was present throughout the year and seen to be paired to a female Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. It is not known whether breeding took place, but no young were seen. It remains to be seen whether this hybrid pair will emulate tlie pairing between a female Black Duck and a male Mallard which occurred at the same site in the late 1970s and early 1980s, producing several young. Northern Pintail Anas acuta 25 localities: 11-45 pairs breeding. England, SE Five localities: 1-7 pairs. KENT Four localities: three pairs, and three singles. SUSSEX One locality: pair bred. England, E Six localities: 1-9 pairs. CAMBRIDGESHIRE One locality: three pairs, no evidence of breeding. NORI-OLK Four localities: four pairs, and one single. SUETOLK One locality: pair bred unsuccessfully. England, Central One locality: 0-1 pair. LEICESTERSHIRE One locality: pair present in April. England, N Two localities: 0-5 pairs. LANCASHIRE One locality: four pairs, uncertain whether any breeding attempt. NORTHUMBERLAND One locality: single male throughout May. Wales Two localities: 2-3 pairs. PEMBROKESHIRE: Two localities: two pairs bred, and single female throughout year which may have attempted to breed. Scotland, S One locality: 0-2 pairs. AYRSHIRE One locality: two females. Scotland, Mid One locality: 0-4 pairs. GRAMPIAN One locality: four males in May and June. Scotland, N & W Seven localities: 7-14 pairs. ARGYLL One locality: two pairs summered, hut no evidence of breeding. INVERNESS One locality: two pairs bred. ORKNEY h'ive localities: five pairs bred, two otlier pairs and three singles. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 425 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 17 14 16 20 16 20 28 23 23 49 25 Confirmed (pairs) 9 6 7 14 11 9 4 13 4 20 11 Possible/probable (pairs) 12 12 14 15 28 27 39 35 43 56 34 Max. total (pairs) 21 18 21 29 38 36 43 48 47 76 45 Last year’s boost to the numbers was produced almost entirely by the full survey undertaken of Orkney. In its absence this year, and with fewer pairs reported from both England and Wales, numbers have fallen back to the levels of the three previous years. Garganey Anas querquedula 81 localities: 9-117 pairs breeding. England, SW Nine localities: 0-14 pairs. AVON One locality: pair and one male. DEVON Four localities; four single males. SOMERSET Four localities: two pairs and six males. England, SE 23 localities: 2-32 pairs. ESSEX Four localities: pair and four males. Hertfordshire Two localities: male and immarnre male in late summer. KENT Eight localities: pair bred, four pairs and seven males and one single. GREATER LONDON One locality; male. SUSSEX Eight localities: pair bred, five pairs and five males. England, E 26 localities: 3-42 pairs. CAMBRIDGESHIRE Three localities: two pairs bred, two pairs and one male. HUNTINGDON & PETERBOROUGH Three localities: pair and four males. LINCOLNSHIRE Two localities: two males. NORFOLK Six localities: pair bred, nine pairs and seven males. Northamptonshire Four localities: three pairs and one male. SUFFOLK Eight localities: two pairs and seven males. England, Central Two localities: 0-2 pairs. LEICESTERSHIRE One locality: pair. STAFFORDSHIRE One locality: pair. England, N Three localities: 3-5 pairs. GREATER MANCHESTER One locality: parr. Lancashire One locality: pair. Yorkshire One locality; three pairs bred, eight young seen. Wales 14 localities: 0-17 pairs. ANGLESEY Two localities: two pairs and three males. REST OF COUNTRY 12 records of singles at 12 localities. Scotland, S One locality: 0-2 pairs. AYRSHIRE One locality: two pairs, not known if breeding attempted. Scotland, Mid Two localities: 1-2 pairs. GRAMPIAN One locality: pair. TAYSIDE One locality: pair bred unsuccessfully. Scotland, N & W One locality: 0-1 pair. ARGYLL One locality: male. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 32 42 36 37 81 87 90 90 73 65 81 Confirmed (pairs) 4 8 8 11 18 14 12 16 14 13 9 Possible/probabie (pairs) 36 47 37 40 80 97 82 144 149 98 108 Max, total (pairs) 40 55 45 51 98 111 94 160 163 111 117 A slightly better year than 1994, with more in eastern England and in Wales, but the worst year for Scotland since 1988. Common Pochard Aythya ferina 142 localities or areas: 309-494 pairs breeding. 426 Ogilvie et al.: Rare breeding birds in tire UK in 1995 England, SW 12 localities; 10-32 pairs. AVON One locality: 12 females in late April, no evidence of breeding. CORNWALL Three localities: pair and single male and single female. HAMPSHIRE Five localities; seven pairs bred, three other pairs. SOMERSET Three localities: three pairs bred and four males. VCTIH'SHIRE Nil return, the first time since 1977 that there has been no breeding. England, SE 50 localities or areas: 156-220 pairs. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Two localities: five pairs bred. ESSEX 17 localities: 34 pairs bred, and 35 other pairs. GREATER LONDON Seven localities: ten pairs bred, four other pairs and two males. HERTFORDSHIRE Five localities: four pairs bred, and two other pairs. KENT Eight localities or areas: 100 pairs bred, no count of other pairs. SURREY Nine localities: three pairs bred, 16 other pairs and one single. SUSSEX Two localities: five pairs. England, E 33 localities: 89-107 pairs. CAMBRIDGESHIRE Four localities: eight pairs bred, one other pair. LINCOLNSHIRE. One locality: at least 21 pairs bred. NORI-OLK 19 localities: 58 pairs bred, and eight other pairs. NORTHAMIG'ONSHIRE Seven localities: pair bred, at least five other pairs or singles. SUETOLK Two localities: (1) four pairs; (2) pair bred. England, Central 14 localities: 7-41 pairs. DERBYSHIRE One locality: pair bred. LEICESTERSHIRE Eight localities: three pairs and 3 1 males. NO'ETlNGHAiMSHlRE Four localities: five pairs bred. SHROPSHIRE One locality; pair bred. England, N 13 localities: 30-54 pairs. CUMBRIA One locality; two pairs bred. GRitA l'ER MANCHES EER Two localities: tliree pairs bred. I.ANCASHIRE Three localities: eight pairs bred, nor'eh Humberside One locality: at least one pair bred, plus eight pairs. NOR'I'HUMBERLAND Five localities: 14 pairs bred, and six other pairs. YORKSHIRI-; One locality: at least two pairs bred, plus ten otlier pairs. Wales Six localities: 9-14 pairs. ANGLESEY One locality; up to eight pairs bred, and one otlter pair. GLAMORGAN One locality’: pair bred, elsewhere Four localities; pairs or singles at each. Scotland, S Six localities: 4-12 pairs. BORDERS Six localities; four pairs bred, four other pairs and two males and two females. Scotland, Mid Eight localities: 4-12 pairs. ElEE One locality: pair bred. GRAMPIAN One locality: pair in May. TAYSIDE Six localities: three pairs bred, six other pairs and a male. 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 68 63 138 116 133 161 145 117 158 142 Confirmed (pairs) 126 130 185 260 207 284 266 237 347 309 Possible/probable (pairs) 59 44 162 76 86 144 292 179 291 185 Max. total (pairs) 185 174 347 336 293 428 558 416 638 494 Although numbers have fallen back from last year’s peak, this reflects variation in reporting from some important counties, with a concentration on successful breeding pairs, which have dropped much less than reports of non- breeding pairs and single birds. Greater Scaup Aythya marila Three localities: two pairs, two males and a female. England, E One locality: two males remained until 26tli May, and one female on 3rd June. Scotland, N Two localities: (1) two males and a female on 24th April; (2) female for at least a week around 19th May. Some slightly encouraging signs from northern Scotland, building on last year’s pair, which followed two blank years. Summering in eastern England has occurred in the past (e.g. in 1989). This followed successful breeding in Anglesey tlie year before, so such birds should never be dismissed out of hand. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 427 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 61 localities: population estimate of 76-89 potential pairs. Shetland Ten sites surveyed, none occupied. Flow Country 310 sites surveyed, 32 occupied, holding peak counts of 32 pairs and 36 females, with population estimate of 32-36 potential pairs. West & South Scotland 121 sites surveyed, 21 occupied, holding 32 pairs and 41 females, with population estimate of 32-41 potential pairs. Islay Four sites surveyed, two occupied, holding 12 pairs, with population estimate of 12 potential pairs. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 25 35 15 36 7 9 14 32 38 47 61 Confirmed (pairs) 2 8 29 14 8 6 9 9 16 5 n.c. Possible/probable (pairs) 72 92 33 76 32 23 21 62 72 79 76-89 Max. total (pairs) 74 100 62 90 40 29 30 71 88 84 89 The results shown above are taken from those of the full survey of this species carried out in summer 1995 and written up for publication (Underhill et al. 1998). The areas used in the survey report differ from those conventionally used by the Panel, with ‘Flow Country’ equating to Caithness and Sutherland (Scotland, N & W), while ‘West & South Scotland’ includes Inverness, Ross & Cromarty and Argyll (also Scotland, N & W) and Tayside (Scotland, Mid). The survey also included Ireland, where 111 pairs were present on just three sites. The previous best estimate of breeding pairs in Britain was about 100 in the mid 1980s, so, provided that that estimate was reasonably accurate, there appears to have been a marked decline. The Irish population declined steeply in the 1970s, from about 170-180 pairs in 1967 to about 95-111 pairs in the early 1980s, but has since remained stable. The survey highlighted the lack of protection afforded to the breeding sites of this small population and makes recommendations for further research and conservation. (See also page 405.) The Panel is grateful to the senior author of the report for making the results available ahead of publication. Common Goldeneye Bucephala dangula Breeding occurs predominantly in one extensive nestbox scheme in Scotland, for which only sample data are available, so there is no longer an estimate of the total number of breeding pairs. Increasing numbers are summering elsewhere, with breeding proved at three other Scottish sites, plus breeding by a released/escaped pair in England. England, SE One locality. HERTFORDSHIRE One locality: injured female summered. England, E Two localities. CAMBRIDGESHIRE One locality: female in June. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE One locality: immature male summered. England, Central Four localities. DERBYSHIRE One locality: two summering females, botli presumed injured. LEICESTERSHIRE Three localities: (1) two females to 3rd May; (2) male and two females throughout July; (3) female until 23rd May. Nottinghamshire One locality: immature male and adult female all summer. 428 Ogilvie et al.: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 England, N One locality. LANCASHIRE One locality: released female seen with four young in June. Wales One locality. ANGLESEY One locality: female on 19th May. Scotland, S Two localities. BORDERS One locality: pair present and possibly bred, with female last seen 13th June an male on 2nd July. LOTHIAN One locality: female summered. Scotland, Mid Seven localities. i j. TAYSlDE Seven localities: (1) female with six young; (2) pair bred in nestbox, but faued, (3) pair seen copulating 4th May, no further evidence of breeding; (4)-(7) from one to five singles during summer. Scotland, N & W Three localities. HIGHLAND Three localities: (1) 39 pairs attempted to nest in boxes, 15 of which were successful, while 24 failed to hatch any eggs; (2) 19 pairs successful in 46 boxes checked, with total 204 eggs laid and 159 young fledged; also two or three pairs bred m natural sites; (3) female with four young in July (apparently also bred here in 1994; not included in 1994 Report). TTie results from Highland Region refer to a sample only of tlie many boxes available to the species. Elsewhere, the successful breeding in Tayside and suspected breeding in Borders continue a very slow expansion from this core area. Honey-buzzard Pemis apivorus 23 localities in ten counties: 9-30 pairs breeding; minimum of 13 young reared. Great Britain 23 localities: (l)-(5) single pairs each raised two young; (6)-(8) single pairs each raised one young, two adult males and single immamre male and female also present at one site; (9) pair bred but apparently failed; (10) pair and single present and behaviour suggested breeding but no young seen; (11) pair and male, but no young reared, (12)-(14) single pairs in breeding season; (15) up to four birds, but perhaps involving two pairs already accounted for; (16) one, probably two, birds; (17)-(19) singles in suitable habitat, (20)-(23) singles on single dates only, perhaps migrants. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Confirmed (pairs) 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 8 6 9 9 Max, total (pairs) 4 6 7 10 20 19 22 26 27 28 30 Another small increase to new record totals of both pairs and young reared. The Panel is aware that the above information is incomplete, with no reports received from two known breeding areas, and appeals to all obser\^ers to submit their records for safekeeping. Red Kite Milvus milvus 124 wild pairs reared 117 young, and 39 released pairs reared 81 young. Wales 124 pairs were proved to breed, of which 79 were successful, rearing 117 young; all three totals were new records, for the second successive year. In addition, there were a further 20 non-breeding pairs, while 108 unmated individuals were identified during the spring. 'I'he total population was estimated as at least 394 in April and 5 1 3 in August, an increase of 38 since August 1993. (The Panel’s thanks go to Peter Davis for his detailed report. His work is funded by the RSPB and the Welsh Office ‘Kite Country Initiative’, with additional support from the Countryside Council for Wales.) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 429 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Total pairs 54 58 59 68 71 84 92 102 115 136 144 Breeding pairs 43 40 44 49 54 65 76 84 104 111 124 Successful pairs 19 23 27 27 33 47 41 60 61 70 79 Young reared 25 29 39 38 49 73 62 96 82 99 117 Young/successful pair 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.5 The re-established breeding populations in England and Scotland continue to make excellent progress, and the Panel is grateful to Ian Evans QNCC) and Lorcan O’Toole (RSPB) for the following information. England The number of breeding pairs increased by two to 24, of which 22 were successful, fledging no fewer than 55 young (mean 2.5 young/successful pair). There were also two non- breeding pairs. Scotland The increase here was larger, from eight to 1 5 breeding pairs, of which 1 1 were successful, rearing 26 young, double last year’s total (mean 2.4 young/successful pair). There were two non-breeding pairs. ENGLAND 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 SC0TU\ND 1992 1993 1994 1995 Total pairs 2 7 12 22 26 Total pairs 2 8 11 17 Breeding pairs 2 4 9 20 24 Breeding pairs 1 5 8 15 Successful pairs 0 4 8 17 22 Successful pairs 1 3 6 11 Young reared 0 9 14 37 55 Young reared 1 7 13 26 Young/successful pair - 2.2 1.8 2.2 2.5 Young/successful pair 1.0 1.0 2.2 2.4 The history of the re-establishment of the Red Kite in England and Scotland has recently been described in detail (Evans et al. 1997). White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Re-establishment. Scotland Ten territories were occupied by territory-holding pairs, including two by trios of a male with two females. Nine clutches were laid, and seven young were reared from five broods, both equalling previous highest totals. One nest failed when the young were small, one during hatching, and two during incubation. Two Scottish-bred pairs, one of which bred unsuccessfully last year, attempted to breed, but neither was successful. In addition, a territory was occupied by two adults, though they were probably not paired, and another by a single female. A further six chicks were brought from Norway, reared in captivity and released. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Breeding pairs 4 5 6 6 6 9 8 9 6 8 9 Successful pairs 1 1 2 1 3 2 4 4 4 4 5 Young reared 1 2 3 2 5 2 7 7 5 5 7 Young/successful pair 1.0 2.0 1.5 2.0 1.7 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 A slightly better year than 1994, but four failures out of nine remains disappointingly high. The Panel is grateful to the Sea Eagle Project Team for providing it with information. The Project is supported jointly by the JNCC, SNH and the RSPB. 430 Ogilvie el al.: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 Marsh Harrier Circus aeniginosus 151 males and 156 females bred, rearing at least 277 young. Great Britain The figures for definitely breeding males and females shown in the table should be treated with caution as not all sex ratios are known in polygamous situations. Furthermore, the information received from one important area did not record the sex ratio, so the total for males is probably an overestimate. The number of young reported to have fledged is again a new record. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Breeding males 29 26 40 42 58 73 83 92 84 114 151 Breeding females 31 32 46 56 66 110 91 107 110 129 156 Young 86 82 126 145 172 145 198 229 244 255 277 The number of breeding adults has increased substantially, though production per pair has fallen. (The Panel wishes to thank Bob Image for the continued provision of detailed information on this species.) A paper on the current status of the Marsh Harrier in Britain has recently been published (Underhill-Day 1998). Pallid Harrier Circus macroiirus Male bred with female Hen Harrier C. cyaneus. Scotland, N One locality: male paired to female Hen Harrier; clutch of five eggs laid, but eggs disappeared, probably taken by a predator. The only previous occurrence of this species in these reports was in 1993, when a second-summer bird was seen displaying to a female Hen Harrier. This breeding record, though unsuccessful, is a first for Britain and is comparable with the successful breeding with Montagu’s Harrier C. pygargus in Finland in 1993 {Blit. Birds 88: 268). Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus 14 localities: eight males and nine females reared a minimum of 26 young. England, SW Nine localities: (1) pair fledged four young; (2) pair fledged two young from second clutch, having lost its first, and additional male present; (3) pair fledged at least one young; (4)-(7) single pair in suitable habitat or at traditional site, but no breeding evidence; (8) (9') male regular during summer. England, SE One locality: single reported. England, E Three localities: (1) three males and four females fledged 12 young; (2) pair fledged four young; (3) pair fledged three young. England, N One locality: male seen. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 9 10 10 14 15 9 14 12 8 15 14 Breeding males 3 7 4 5 4 8 5 7 5 7 8 Other males 5 3 4 4 5 4 3 2 2 9 8 Breeding females 3 7 5 6 6 11 7 8 6 12 9 Other females 5 3 4 4 7 2 6 4 1 11 4 Young 7 13 13 17 14 20 14 12 9 13 26 The most successful year, since die Panel was formed, for production of young, though from fewer nests than last year. 'The surge in numbers in British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 431 eastern England in 1 994 was not sustained, but breeding in southwest England was better than for the last three years. Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis At least 270 localities or areas: 249-319 pairs breeding. England and Wales Up to 220 localities in 34 counties: up to 188 pairs bred, of which 163 were reported as successful; an additional 63 pairs and 1 1 singles were reported. Scotland At least 50 localities in four regions: 41 pairs known to have bred, of which 33 were successful; an additional seven pairs and a single were reported. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. counties 20 31 31 31 23 30 36 34 35 33 38 Confirmed (pairs) 36 57 54 108 112 93 158 150 199 145 249 Possible/probable (pairs) 39 59 40 68 54 79 71 93 100 80 70 Max. total (pairs) 75 116 94 176 166 172 229 243 299 225 319 The increase in the number of confirmed pairs partly reflects better reporting to the Panel. Raptor Study Groups and a small number of individual observers make a considerable contribution to knowledge of the numbers and distribution of this species, and the Panel is grateful to them for the summary information provided. Osprey Pandion haliaetus 99 pairs: 92 pairs laid eggs, rearing 144 young. England, SW One locality: single from late May to September. England, Central One locality: one or two regularly in April. England, N Two localities: (1) single from 19th May to 30th June, with second bird visiting intermittently; (2) male from 10th May to 5th September. Scotland, S One locality: one in May and three, briefly, in July. Scotland A total of 99 occupied nests was found. It was thought that there might be a further three pairs breeding whose nests were not located. Eggs were laid in 92 nests, of which 77 hatched young and 73 reared 144 young. All except the last figure are new record totals. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Pairs 34 42 50 53 58 62 73 76 88 95 99 Successful pairs 22 24 30 38 38 44 44 48 56 69 73 Young reared 53 48 56 81 81 90 82 101 111 146 144 Young/successful pair 2.4 2.0 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.0 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0 A further increase in the number of pairs and successful pairs, but no corresponding increase in the number of young reared. No fewer than six clutches were stolen, a very disappointing resurgence. Other failures were caused by strong winds and by bad weather during the critical hatching penod. (The Panel is grateful for the information supplied to it by Roy Dennis and his associates.) Hobby Falco subbuteo Minimum of 613 localities: 161-430 pairs breeding. England, SW 60-127 pairs. AVON 4-7 pairs. CORNWALL 2 pairs. DEVON Minimum. 10 pairs. DORSET 11-26 pairs. 432 Ogilvie el ai: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 GLOUCESTERSHIRK 1 pair. HAMPSHIRE 28-46 pairs. SOMERSET 0-5 pairs. WILTSHIRE 4-30 pairs. England, SE 44-195 pairs, 60 young reported. BEDFORDSHIRE 1 pair. BERKSHIRE 2-9 pairs. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 4-15 pairs. ESSEX 13-50 pairs. GREATER LONDON 6 pairs. HERTFORDSHIRE 2-48 pairs. KENT' 5-10 pairs. OXFORi:)SHlRE 2 pairs. SURREY 8-29 pairs. SUSSEX 1-25 pairs. England, E 19-48 pairs. CAMBRIDGESHIRE 1-2 pairs. HUNTINGDON & PETERBOROUGH 2-5 pairs. LINCOLNSHIRE 0-9 pairs. NORi-OLK 11-12 pairs. Suffolk 5-20 pairs. England, Central 32-48 pairs. DERBYSHIRE 24-29 pairs. LEICESTERSHIRE 3-1 1 pairs. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 3 pairs. SHROPSHIRE 2 pairs. 'X'orcesi’ERSHire 0-3 pairs. England, N 1-5 pairs. CHESHIRE 1 pair. NORTHUMBERIAND 0-3 pairs. YORKSHIRE 0-1 pair. Wales 4-7 pairs. BRECONSHIRE 1-3 pairs. GWENT 3-4 pairs. Scotland, Mid 0-1 pair. ANGUS 0-1 pair. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Confirmed (pairs) 98 91 108 103 140 154 159 255 152 170 161 Possible/probable (pairs) 148 202 164 226 250 287 310 327 341 330 269 Max. total (pairs) 246 293 272 329 390 441 469 582 493 500 430 As this species has become commoner, so tlie reporting of its numbers has become less accurate. Equally, the reporting of breeding success and numbers of young reared has also become more sporadic and it is no longer sufficiently meaningful to include the latter in the table. The decline seen in 1995 is much more apparent than real. The successful breeding in Scotland in 1994 was not repeated. Common Quail Commix commix At least 320 localities: 15-515 pairs breeding. England, SW 61 localities; 4-108 pairs. AVON Three localities: pair bred, one other pair and 17 singing males, cornpoc'all Three localities: six singing males. DEVON Ten localities: pair bred and nine singing males. DORSirr Up to 28 localities: 28 singing males. GLOUCES'FERSHIRE Three localities: ten singing males. HAMPSHIRE Eight localities: two pairs bred and ten singing males. SOMERSEI’ Six localities: one pair and 22 singing males. England, SE 42 localities: 3-64 pairs. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Nine localities: pair bred and 13 singing males. ESSEX Eight localities: 12 singing males. HERTFORDSHIRE Five localities: five singing males. KENT Ten localities; two pairs bred and 21 singing males. SURREY Three localities: tlrree singing males. SUSSEX Seven localities: seven singing males. England, E 96 localities: 5-139 pairs. CAMBRIDGESHIRE 18 localities: two pairs bred and 16 singing males. llUN'riNGDON & PETERBOROUGH Four localities: five singing males. LINCOLNSHIRE Eight localities: two pairs bred and 13 singing males. NORi'OLK 41 localities; pair bred and 63 singing males. NOR IHAMFIONSHIRE Ten localities: 15 singing males. SUFT'OLK 15 localities: 22 singing males. England, Central 54 localities: 2-115 pairs. DERBYSHIRE 16 localities; 18 singing males. LEICES TERSHIRf; Nine localities: 23 singing males. NO'rriNGHAMSHiRE Eight localities: 38 singing males. Shropshire 12 localities: two pairs bred, and 17 singing males. Staffordshire Five localities: 13 singing males. WORCES TERSHIRE Four localities: four singing males. England, N 24 localities: 1-30 pairs. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 433 CHESHIRE Two localities: two singing males, greater Manchester Six localities: six singing males. Lancashire Seven localities: eight singing males. Northumberland Eight localities: pair bred and nine singing males. YORKSHIRE One locality: four singing males. Wales Six localities: 0-6 pairs. ANGLESEY One locality: one singing male. BRECONSHIRE One locality: one flushed. CLWYD One locality: one singing male. Glamorgan Three localities: three singing males. Scotland, S 17 localities: 0-31 pairs. AYRSHIRE Two localities: two singing males. BORDERS 12 localities: pair and 25 singing males. LOTHIAN Three localities: three singing males. Scotland, Mid 13 localities: 0-14 pairs. ABERDEEN Seven localities: seven singing males, fife Six localities: seven singing males. Scotland, N & W Seven localities: 0-8 pairs. ARGYLL One locality: one singing male. INVERNESS Two localities: three singing males. ORKNEY One locality: one singing male. ROSS & CROMARTl' Three localities: three singing males. 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 84 152 130 904 255 88 319 172 359 320 Confirmed (pairs) 1 1 5 27 13 2 9 1 8 15 Possible/probable (pairs) 110 245 158 1,628 364 105 481 202 604 500 Max. total (pairs) 111 246 163 1,655 377 107 490 203 612 515 Another good year for the species, if slightly below the total for 1994. There was also a more northerly bias, with higher numbers in central England and in Scotland and fewer in southern England. Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Eight localities: 0-12 pairs breeding. England, E Three localities: (1) pair; (2) two singing males; (3) singing male. Wales Two localities: (1) singing male; (2) juvenile from 24th September to 3rd October. Scotland, N & W Three localities: (1) four singing males; (2) singing male; (3) single seen on 3rd and 14th May, but not apparently heard singing. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. counties 2 3 4 5 7 6 5 9 12 4 5 No. localities 2 3 7 6 14 14 7 12 19 5 8 No. singing 3 4 18 10 21 21 14 14 31 11 10 A slight improvement on 1994, but still a poor year. The juvenile seen in Wales in the autumn was nowhere near the locality with the singing male in spring. Com Crake Crex crex 25 ‘localities’; 551 males calling. England, SE KENT One singing male, not heard after 23rd June. England, E Cambridgeshire One singing male from 11th to 20th July. Suffolk Two singing males on 4th July, one on 5th. England, N CUMBRIA One on 1 st July. LANCASHIRE One singing for at least a week in June. Wales PEMBROKE Single singing males at two localities in April and July. Scotland, S BORDERS Singing male on 27th June. Scotland, N & W: Mainland ROSS & CROMARTY One singing male on several nights in July. SUTHERLAND At least two singing males at one locality, and single singing males at two others. 434 Ogilvae et al:. Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 Scotland, N & W: Islands Totals of singing males: HIGHIJWI) - INNER HEBRIDES 9 (Sk\'e 9), STRATHCLYDE - INNER HEBRIDES 207 (Coll 37, Tiree 140, Iona 4, Colonsay & Oronsay 12, Islay 14), ORKNEY 39, VITSTERN ISLES 282 (Lewis 96, Harris 8, North Uist 53, Benbecula 23, South Uist 58, Barra & Vatersay 44). A total of 537 singing males was found by RSPB, SNH and SCU teams on the Scottish islands this year, compared with 463 in 1994 and 446 in 1993. This brings the total back almost to the 540 reported in 1988. Although all the islands listed above showed an increase between 1994 and 1995, four other islands (Canna, Eigg, Muck and Mull), which had one or two individuals each in 1994, had none in 1995. In addition, Berneray and Rum, which had Corn Crakes in 1993, have now gone two years without any. The RSPB/SNH/SCU Corncrake Initiative operated for the fourth year in Scodand, with increased numbers of farmers and crofters accepting payments to delay mowing their hay or silage fields until after 31st July, with an additional payment available for mowing in a Corn Crake-friendly manner, in strips or from the centre outw'ards. The Initiative, and other current conserv^ation actions in Britain and Ireland, were reviewed in detail by Williams et al. (1997). Common Crane Gnis gms One extensive locality. United Kingdom Four pairs; at least one bred. Altliough the eggs are thought to have hatched, no young were reared and chicks were believed to have been taken by a predator. Once again, no young were reared, for the seventh year running. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantoptis One locality: single male. England, E One locality: male present all year. Although only a single bird was present, it was in suitable breeding habitat, so this record is worth noting. Avocet Recurvirosira avosetta At least 25 localities; 613-615 pairs reared a minimum of 149 young. England, SE 1 1 localities ESSEX Five localities: (1) 36 pairs fledged 24 young; (2) eight pairs bred, success unknown; (3) sLx pairs bred, success unknown; (4) (5) two pairs bred at each, success unknown. KENT Five localities: (1) 76 pairs present, but eggs hatched in only 21 nests, and ten pairs fledged 16 young; (2) 33 pairs bred, but only two young reared, with major chick loss due to failure of food supply; (3) 17 pairs bred, but only 14 young fledged, from five nests; (4) four pairs bred, two hatched, but no young fledged; (5) three pairs bred, but no young thought to have fledged. Pairs at localities 4 and 5 had probably already failed at one of the other sites. SUSSEX One locality: five birds present May-July, but no sign of breeding. England, E 14 localities. NOREOI.K I’en localities: (1) 63 pairs bred, but only three young fledged; (2) 45 pairs bred, success unknown; (3) 40 pairs bred, 40 young fledged; (4) at least 28 pairs bred, 70 clutches laid, but only three young fledged owing to high level of predation by Red Fox Vulpcs vulpcs\ (5) 22 pairs fledged at least 15 young; (6) six pairs bred, success unknown; (7) four pairs bred, but no young fledged, and one other pair; (8) three pairs bred, success unknown; (9) three pairs bred, but all nests preyed on by Red Fox; (10) three pairs bred, but nests flooded. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 435 SOUTH HUMBERSIDE One locality: four pairs bred, 14 young fledged, one other pair simply made scrape. SUFFOLK Three localities: (1) 141 pairs fledged just 21 young, with gull predation the main cause of loss; (2) 80 pairs fledged just 12 young, with gull predation and bad weather the main causes of loss; (3) 30 pairs bred, fledging 25 young. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No, localities 14 15 18 27 24 21 21 29 25 29 25 Confirmed (pairs) 269 255 341 389 521 355 448 492 436 623 613 Young reared (min.) 245 227 315 136 150 200 305 336 347 181 149 Although the number of young reared was not reported from all sites, and no reports were received from at least one regular, though small, site, this was clearly a disastrous year for production. Poor weather at key times in the summer had an adverse effect, but predation by, especially, gulls and Red Foxes was mainly to blame. Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Seven counties: 165-174 pairs. England, SW & SE Four counties: 56 pairs made a minimum 88 breeding attempts, fledging 61 yotmg; five other pairs. England, E Three counties: 109 pairs made 164 breeding attempts, from which 125 hatched young, at least 103 fledging, plus four other pairs and a single. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Confirmed (pairs) 68 103 137 126 126 139 139 155 146 141 165 Possible/probable (pairs) 47 12 0 3 17 10 16 4 16 32 9 Max. total (pairs) 115 115 137 129 143 149 155 159 162 173 174 Min, no. of young fledged n/a n/a n/a 62 79 112 123 111 101 91 164 The best year to date, with only a modest increase in the number of confirmed pairs, but these producing by far the largest number of fledged young yet recorded. The capacity shown by this species for re-laying following loss of the first clutch was well demonstrated this year. (The Panel wishes to thank Dr Rhys Green, RSPB, for his assistance in compiling the data.) Dotterel Charadrius morinellus One locality: two pairs probably breeding (excluding those in main Scottish breeding areas). England, N One locality. CUMBRIA One locality: two pairs in May. The Panel seeks records only if away from the main breeding range, which lies north of a line from the Firth of Clyde to the Firth of Tay, and accepts that at least some of the birds on hilltops in southern Scotland and northern England will be on passage. A paper examining the history of Dotterel breeding in northern England will shortly be submitted to British Birds. Ternrninck’s Stint Calidris temminckii One locality: 0-2 pairs. Scotland, N & W One locality: two males and one female were present at a traditional site in late May and early June. 436 Ogilvie et al.\ Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Confirmed (pairs) 0 1 4 2 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 Possible/probable (pairs) 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 2 2 Max. total (pairs) 2 3 5 3 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 The minimum amount of monitoring of this species is carried out, just enough to establish presence. Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima One locality: one pair bred. Scotland, N & W One locality; one young seen in mid July. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 3 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 Confirmed (pairs) 1 1 3 2 2 1 3 1 1 4 1 Possible/probable (pairs) 2 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 Max. total (pairs) 3 2 3 2 4 1 4 2 1 4 1 As with the preceding species, only minimal monitoring is carried out and confirmed breeding records such as this one are largely fortuitous. Ruff Philornachus pugnax Seven localities: lekking at three and breeding may have occurred at one. England, SE Two localities SUSSEX Two localities: (1) two males and two females in breeding plumage; (2) male in breeding plumage, with two females. England, E One locality. CAMBRIDGESHIRE One locality; two males, but no lekking. England, Central One locality. STAETORDSHIRE One locality: two males and five females, some lekking, but site too dry. England, N Three localities. LANCASHIRE One locality: up to 50 birds lekking, two males and one female probably bred. NORlllUMBERLAND One locality; up to 12 males and three females lekking, but ver>’ doubtful that breeding took place. YORKSHIRE One locality: up to 45 present, with two or three females staying into spring, but no evidence of breeding. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 8 7 16 14 15 8 9 21 10 13 7 No. leks 3 3 10 6 6 1 4 7 7 3 3 Nests/broods 0 1 1 1 1 3 7 0 0 2 0 Reported from fewer localities than for some years, and the number of leks remained low. No breeding was confirmed, but was probable at one site. Black-tailed Godwit Umosa limosa 13 localities: 28-35 pairs breeding. England, SW Two localities. SOMERSET Two localities: (1) three adults; (2) single adult. England, SE Three localities. KENT Three localities: (1) three pairs laid, one clutch hatched, hut no young fledged; (2) one British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 437 pair hatched one young, not known whether it fledged; (3) pair bred, success unknown. England, E Three localities. CAMBRIDGESHIRE. Two localities: (1) 14 pairs bred and fledged at least ten young; (2) five pairs bred, with unknown number of young fledging. NORFOLK One locality: two pairs bred, fledging at least three young. England, N Two localities. LANCASHIRE One locality; pair displaying and copulating at potential breeding site. NORTH YORKSHIRE One locality: pair in June, but no sign of breeding. Scotland, N & W Three localities. ORKNEY One locality: adult in May and displaying, but no other evidence of breeding. SHETLAND Three localities: (1) pair reared two young; (2) pair reared at least one young; (3) adult present. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 11 19 13 17 14 16 18 24 16 22 15 Confirmed (pairs) 22 23 28 36 34 33 28 20 28 20 28 Possible/probable (pairs) 17 24 12 28 22 33 25 38 5 16 7 Max. total (pairs) 39 47 40 64 56 66 53 58 33 36 35 A reduced number of sites, but the number of confirmed pairs returned to earlier levels, with at least 16 young fledged. Breeding records in Scotland are thought to involve the Icelandic race. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus No reports away from Orkney and Shetland. For the fourth year running, no reports were received from areas away from the regular breeding area in the Northern Isles. We repeat our appeal for records of any summering or displaying elsewhere in the UK. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Six localities: 7-11 pairs bred. Scotland, N & W Six localities; (1) three pairs bred and hatched young, but number fledged unknown; (2) two pairs bred and fledged at least three young; (3) two pairs bred successfully; (4) two pairs present throughout season; (5) (6) single adults in mid May. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 3 2 3 4 6 2 2 4 4 8 6 Confirmed (pairs) 2 2 3 3 2 1 1 1 2 6 7 Possible/probable (pairs) 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 5 6 5 4 Max. total (pairs) 3 3 4 4 6 2 2 6 8 11 11 Although the number of sites dropped back, the number of confirmed pairs increased slightly on last year’s high count. Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Seven localities: 33 breeding males reared at least 50 young at two sites. Scotland, N & W Seven localities: (1) 31 breeding males, and 50 young were fledged; (2) two breeding males, unknown number of young reared, plus a third male; (3) three males and five females, but breeding not proved; (4) two males and two females present to mid July, but no evidence of breeding; (5) two females; (6) male in early spring; (7) female, but not at former regular site nearby. 438 Ogil\ie et al.: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 The combined total of sites 1 and 2 is the highest since 1968 and reflects the success of the RSPB’s management work on Fetlar, Shetland, recently reviewed by O’Brien et al. (1997). Reports from other areas were more than usual, but did not include any breeding. Mediterranean Gull Lams melanocephalus 14 localities: 18-28 pairs, plus hybrid pair breeding. England, SW Three localities: (1) pair bred, success unknown; (2) three pairs, but not known whether breeding took place; (3) pair holding territory. England, SE Seven localities: (1) five pairs bred, but all failed because of high tides, and immature pair; (2) three pairs, tw'O definitely bred, fledging total of two young; (3) three pairs bred unsuccessfully; (4) three pairs bred, but success unknown; (5) pair bred, but failed; (6) pair summered; (7) pair present April to June. England, E Three localities: (1) three pairs bred, but failed; (2) (3) single pairs. England, Central One locality: second-summer male paired to adult female Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus bred and fledged one hybrid young. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 3 5 3 9 5 10 13 15 14 16 14 Confirmed (pairs) 3 1 1 5 6 11 15 19 15 16 18 Possible/probable (pairs) 5 4 2 10 3 5 8 12 17 14 10 Max. total (pairs) 8 5 3 15 9 16 23 31 32 30 28 There has been a levelling-off in tJie number of localities and breeding pairs, with poor productivity this year because of high tides and predation. Yellow-legged Gull Lams cachinnans One locality; pair bred. England, SW One locality: pair bred, but probably failed as young seen being fed by adult on 14th May, but not subsequendy, despite checking; second pair present. The first confirmed breeding in the United Kingdom. A hybrid pairing, with Lesser Black-backed GuU L. fuscus, was reported in 1992 (Brit. Birds 88: 84). Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis One locality: female bred with Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis. England, N One locality. NORTHUMBERI.AND One locality: female bred with Sandwich Tern, laid one egg which was lost to unknown causes, a second clutch of one hatched, but the chick vanished at five days old. A simpler story than in 1994, with no sign of the hybrid bird which bred and produced young that year. Roseate Tern Sterna doiigallii 15 localities: 72-85 pairs breeding, fledging at least 66 young. England, SW 'fwo localities: (1) two pairs bred, but success unknown; (2) tliree adults, but no breeding activity. England, E Two localities: (1) pair probably bred, with clutch of two eggs thought to be of this species, plus one adult; (2) pair and adult present, but no breeding attempt. England, N Five localities: (1) 38 pairs bred, rearing up to 40 young; (2) two pairs bred and probably reared young, three other pairs; (2) pair bred; (3) two pairs made scrapes, but apparently did not lay; (4) tliree seen regularly at suitable site. Wales 'fwo localities: (1) ten pairs bred and fledged eight young; (2) pair, but did not breed. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 439 Scotland, Mid Two localities: (1)(2) total of 11 pairs bred at the two sites and fledged 13 young. Northern Ireland Two localities: (1)(2) total of eight pairs bred at the two sites and fledged five young. 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 10 13 17 15 13 15 18 14 15 Confirmed (pairs) 169 164 172 93 52 62 84 74 72 Possible/probable (pairs) 164 33 5 31 5 10 21 24 13 Max. total (pairs) 333 197 177 124 57 72 105 98 85 A further worrying fall from the peak of 1993, with birds absent or not breeding at four former regular sites. Several new sites were used, however, with one pair at a former breeding site in Mid Scotland not occupied for over 40 years; rings indicated that both birds had fledged from the main Irish colony at Rockabill. In Northern Ireland, pairs bred successfully for the first time in two years at two sites. Despite the lower numbers of confirmed pairs, the spread to new or formerly used sites is encouraging. Wryneck Jynx torquilla Three localities; three singles. England, Central One locality: single seen in late May and early June. Scotland, N & W Two localities: (1) singing bird in May, but not relocated in June; (2) single in early August in area where has bred in previous years. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 9 9 10 9 8 6 6 1 6 1 3 Confirmed (pairs) 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 Possible/probable (pairs) 8 8 9 9 7 6 5 2 5 1 3 Max. total (pairs) 9 9 10 10 8 6 6 2 6 1 3 Not quite so bad as in 1994, and with a welcome remm to Scotland, although the population, if it can be called that, remains at a very low ebb. Wood Lark Liillula arborea 261-847 pairs breeding. England, SW 234 breeding pairs or singing males. DEVON Six areas: at least 16 singing males. DORSET Ten localities: 22 singing males found in partial survey. GLOUCESTERSHIRE One locality: singing male. Hampshire Total of 194 pairs or singing males counted or estimated, but coverage incomplete. WILTSHIRE One locality: pair. England, SE 126 breeding pairs or singing males. BEDFORDSHIRE One locality: breeding pair and singing male. Berkshire Four areas: 14 breeding pairs or singing males. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE One locality: two singing males. KENT One locality: pair plus singing male. SURREY Whole county: 78 breeding pairs or singing males. SUSSEX Whole county: 28 breeding pairs or singing males. England, E 473 breeding pairs or singing males. LtNCOLNSHlRE Whole county: nine breeding pairs or singing males. NORFOLK Two main areas: 198 breeding pairs or singing males. SUFFOLK Two main areas: 266 breeding pairs or singing males. England, Central 14 breeding pairs or singing males. UNNAMED COUNTT' Three localities: 13 breeding pairs or singing males. STAR-ORDSHIRE One locality: pair in suitable habitat. 440 Ogilvie el ai: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. counties 9 13 11 12 10 14 12 14 13 13 16 Confirmed (pairs) 5 47 28 88 156 64 • 39 124 213 100 261 Possible/probable (pairs) 122 181 165 157 54 272 303 535 408 524 586 Max. total (pairs) 127 228 193 245 210 336 362 659 621 624 847 The distinction between confirmed and possible/probable is not always made in some reports, so the breakdown of the maximum total pairs should be treated with caution. There has been a further increase. The true picmre of this species’ abundance will be revealed by the results of the census in 1997. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Red-spotted race L s. svecica. Two localities: pair bred, plus one singing male. Scotland, N & W Two localities: (1) pair bred and fledged three young; (2) singing male on 8th June. Only the second confirmed breeding record of this species in the United Kingdom, and the first instance of successful breeding. The previous record was in 1 968, when a female was flushed from a nest and eggs, also in northern Scotland, though no male was seen and the fate of the nest was unknown {Biit. Birds 61: 524-525). The singing male was a long distance from the breeding site. Black Redstart Phoeniciims ochmros 58 localities: 19-82 pairs breeding. England, SW One locality: pair breeding. DORSE'I' One locality: pair fledged four young in two broods. England, SE 33 localities: 7-47 pairs breeding. BEDi-ORDSHlRE One locality: singing first-summer male. BERKSHIRE One locality: two singing males. ESSEX Two localities: (1) pair and singing male; (2) pair. HERTFORDSHIRE One locality: pair. KENT Ten localities: (1) pair fledged seven young in uvo broods; (2) pair fledged four young; (3) three pairs; (4) pair and four singing males; (5) (6) single pairs; (7) two females; (8)-(10) single singing males. LONDON Nine localities: (1) pair fledged four young in two broods, one other pair; (2) pair fledged one young; (3) (4) single pairs bred; (5) pair and singing male; (6) four singing males; (7) (8) single juveniles seen in June; (9) single singing male. SURREY Six localities: (1) pair fledged two young; (2) (3) single pairs; (4)-(6) single singing males. SUSSEX Three localities: (1) pair; (2) (3) single singing males. England, E Nine localities: 5-15 pairs breeding. CAMBRiDGESHlRli One locality: female in June. NORFOLK Three localities: (IJ pair bred; (2)(3) single singing males. NOR'l'HAMP'roNSHlRE One locality: pair bred and two singing males. SUFTOLK Four localities: (1) two pairs bred, third pair probably bred; (2) at least tliree singing males, six juveniles ringed; (3) pair bred; (4) pair in July. England, Central Eight localities: 4-11 pairs breeding. DERBYSHIRE Four localities: (1) two pairs bred; (2) pair bred; (3) pair, but no breeding evidence; (4) singing male. LEICES'I'ERSIIIRE One locality: singing male. NO ITINGHAAISHIRE One locality: pair and two singing males. STAFFORDSHIRE: Two localities: (U pair bred; (2) female. England, N Seven localities: 2-8 pairs breeding. GREA FER MANCI ll'S'l'liR Five localities: (1) male and two females fledged two broods; (2) (3) single singing males; (4) female; (5) female or juvenile in July. Lancashire: Two localities: (1) pair in March-April; (2) female in F'ebruary-May. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 441 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 92 77 70 56 50 36 44 53 66 58 Confirmed (pairs) 81 46 54 36 28 23 14 32 32 19 Possible/probable (pairs) 38 63 58 46 46 46 57 44 63 63 Max. total (pairs) 119 109 118 82 74 69 71 76 95 82 A thorough survey was made of the London area in 1994, which boosted the totals for that year. In the absence of a repeat survey, numbers have, fallen back to close to the 1993 level. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Six localities: 1-6 pairs breeding. England, SE One locality: one on 30th June. England, Central One locality: one on 1 4th June. England, N One locality: pair with three young. Scotland, S Two localities: (1) bird ‘alarming’ on 4th June, but ‘probably late migrant’; (2) moulting adult on 1st August. Scotland, N & W One locality: pair holding territory in suitable habitat. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 3 2 7 7 12 12 13 7 5 5 6 Confirmed (pairs) 0 2 1 2 3 5 2 2 2 0 1 Possible/probable (pairs) 3 0 6 5 10 7 11 8 3 5 5 Max. total (pairs) 3 2 7 7 13 12 13 11 5 5 6 A single definite breeding record after last year’s gap, but still only half the number of reports of a few years ago. Redwing Turdiis iliacus Nine localities; 3-14 pairs breeding. Scotland, S One locality: singing male in early June, but apparently did not stay. Scotland, Mid One locality: singing male. Scotland, N & W Seven localities: 0)-(3) single pairs bred; (4) pair and four singing males; (5) uvo singing males; (6) (7) single singing males. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 35 32 39 22 38 17 15 13 22 15 9 Confirmed (pairs) 12 20 9 10 12 6 7 9 5 4 3 Possible/probable (pairs) 23 26 41 30 39 15 13 15 22 15 11 Max. total (pairs) 35 46 50 49 51 21 20 24 27 19 14 A particularly poor year for this severely under-recorded species. In past years, many records have come from a very few people in good areas and the lower totals reflect the absence of such observations. Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti At least 103 localities: 15-441 breeding ‘pairs’. England, SW 6-305 ‘pairs’. AVON One locality: male bred with three females, fledging 11 young. cornv'ALL Four localities: two pairs bred and 13 singing males. DEVON Whole county: about 66 singing males. 442 Ogilvie et al.: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 DORSET Whole county; (1) 32 pairs or singing males; (2) eight singing males; (3) total of 32 singing males at other localities. GLOUCESTERSHIRE Two localities: (1)(2) two singing males at each. Hampshire Whole county; at least 98 (and probably up to 120) pairs or singing males, somerset Whole county^: three pairs bred, and 38 singing males at 18 localities. WILTSHIRE Three localities: eight singing males. England, SE 15 localities: 4-25 ‘pairs’. BERKSHIRE Two localities: (1) male with two females; (2) two singing males. HERTFORDSHIRE Two localities: (1) pair bred; (2) single in June. KENT Three localities: seven singing males. SUSSEX Eight localities: three pairs bred and nine singing males. England, E 26 localities: 1-57 ‘pairs’. CAMBRIDGESHIRE One locality': singing male. HUNTINGDON & PETERBOROUGH One locality; singing male. 1.INCOLNSHIRE One locality: singing male, first summer record for county. NORFOLK 20 localities: 51 singing males. NORTHAMFFONSHIRE One locality: pair fledged three young. SUFFOLK Two localities; two singing males. England, Central One locality; two ‘pairs’ bred. WORCESTERSHIRE One locality': male bred with two females, fledging six young. Wales 13 localities: 2-52 ‘pairs’. BRECONSHIRE One locality: one singing male. CARMARTHEN Seven localities: 19 singing males. CARDIGAN, PEMBROKE One locality': 23 singing males, breeding occurred, but no details received. GLAMORGAN Two localities: two pairs bred and four singing males. GWENT Two localities: three singing males. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. counties 13 11 14 14 15 21 17 18 21 23 25 Confirmed (‘pairs’) 59 4 31 24 12 19 27 15 11 14 15 Possible/probable (‘pairs’) 190 175 156 174 196 326 214 273 306 318 426 Max. total (‘pairs’) 249 179 187 198 208 345 241 298 317 332 441 A further substantial increase, but still under-representing the population, which was censused in 1996 (Wotton et al. 1998). There is a slow but steady expansion north and west, with the first summer record for Lincolnshire and an expansion in Wales. River Warbler Locustella fliiviatilis Two localities; two singing males (Brit. Birds 88: 516; 89: 499). England, E CAMBRIDGESHIRE One locality: singing male at Wicken Fen, 7th to 10th July. England, N GREA TER Manchester One locality: singing male at Scotsman’s Flash, 1 1th June to at least 1 2th July. Singing males reported for the third year running, the Greater Manchester bird being the longest stayer so far. Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides Two localities; 0-3 pairs breeding. England, SE One locality. KEN'T One locality: two singing males in July, one for one day only. England, E One locality. NORFOLK One locality: one seen on 22nd April only. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 12 9 16 10 13 5 13 13 5 7 2 Confirmed (pairs) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 1 0 Possible/probable (pairs) 14 11 20 13 17 9 16 20 4 9 3 Max. total (pairs) 15 12 20 13 17 10 16 22 8 10 3 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 443 A very poor year, with none reported from Suffolk, which has regularly produced up to four singing birds. Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris 16 localities: 2-31 pairs breeding, plus hybrid pair breeding. England, SW Two localities: (1)(2) single singing males. England, SE Nine localities; (1) pair bred, five other pairs present; (2) five pairs present; (3) four singing males and two presumed females; (4) tltree pairs; (5) tliree singing males; (6) pair probably bred, juvenile seen end July; (7) pair bred, but nest destroyed by reed- cutting; (8) (9) single singing males. England, E One locality; singing male. England, Central Four localities. WORCESTERSHIRE Four localities: (1) male Marsh Warbler bred with female Reed Warbler A. scirpaceus and fledged two young; (2) two singing males; (3) (4) single singing males. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 23 18 11 13 10 12 15 13 15 22 16 Confirmed (pairs) 2 12 10 6 11 13 9 9 12 0 2 Possibie/probable (pairs) 40 16 11 14 11 11 23 26 46 48 29 Max. total (pairs) 42 28 21 20 22 24 32 35 58 48 31 The number of localities has dropped back to the 1993 level, while the number of pairs and singing males has fallen sharply for the second year running. The successful breeding of the hybrid pair will doubtless add to future identification difficulties. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus One locality: one singing male {Brit. Birds 89: 517). England, N CLEVELAND One locality: singing male, Haverton Hole, 22nd June to 4th July. Although this is the sixth consecutive year in which males have been reported in song, the slow build-up of one (1991), three (1992), four (1993) and five (1994) has gone sharply into reverse. Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata Up to 1,679 territories identified. England, SW County totals: CORNWALL 10, DEVON 174-233, DORSET 339 (partial sur\'ey), HAMPSHIRE 150 (very incomplete), plus probably 600 in New Forest, ISLE OF \X1GHT 9, SOMERSET 11, WILTSHIRE 1. England, SE County totals: BERKSHIRE 1, KENT 1, SURREY 283, SUSSEX 38. England, E County totals: SUFFOLK 3. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. counties 5 5 8 6 5 8 8 7 11 10 12 Confirmed (pairs) 26 15 8 26 23 55 67 63 93 n/a n/a Possibie/probable (pairs) 368 293 239 616 499 873 634 863 1,053 1,675 1,679 Max. total (pairs) 394 308 247 639 522 928 701 926 1,146 1,675 1,679 The results of the 1 994 RSPB/EN national survey were reported recently (Gibbons & Wotton 1996). Some of the figures given above are guesstimates based on the detailed work carried out that year. Real increases have, however, been reported from Devon (156-165 in 1994), Surrey (155-173) 444 Ogilvie et ai: Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 and Sussex (34), while the first breeding for the county was reported from Kent. Firecrest ignicapillus 35 localities; 4-56 pairs breeding. England, SW 15 localities: 1-29 pairs breeding. DEVON Two localities: (1)(2) single singing males in April, perhaps on passage. GLOUCESTERSHIRE Four localities: (1) three singing males; (2)-(4) single singing males in May. HAMPSHIRE Five localities: (1) pair bred, and three singing males; (2) eight singing males, but coverage far from complete; (3) pair cany'ing nest material; (4) (5) single singing males. SOMERSET One locality: singing male in May. vctltshire Three localities: (1) three singing males; (2) (3) single singing males. England, SE 15 localities: 1-19 pairs breeding. BERKSHIRE Three localities: (l)-(3) single singing males. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Two localities: (1)(2) single pairs. ESSEX One locality: singing male. KENT Two localities: (1) female gathering nest material, and two singing males; (2) four singing males. LONDON Two localities: (1) female with brood patch; (2) singing male. SURREY One locality: singing male. SUSSEX Four localities: (l)-(4) single singing males. England, E Two localities: 1-3 pairs breeding. NORFOLK Two localities: (1) pair bred, plus singing male; (2) singing male. England, Central Three localities: 1-5 pairs breeding. DERBYSHIRE Two localities: (1) pair bred, second pair and singing male; (2) singing male. LEICESTERSHIRE One locality: singing male. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 24 19 37 44 52 48 19 15 20 41 35 Confirmed (pairs) 5 1 8 11 19 9 2 3 3 4 4 Possible/probable (pairs) 41 28 74 72 112 88 20 16 25 62 52 Max. total (pairs) 46 29 82 83 131 97 22 19 28 66 56 With more-limited surv'ey work in the New Forest, numbers were bound to fall back from tlie peak in 1994, though still remaining about the level of the three previous years. Golden Oriole Oriolns oriolus 34 localities: 8-35 pairs breeding, rearing 7-11 young to fledging. England, SW Two localities: (1) adult and immature males singing from late May to mid June; (2) male on 6th May, probably on passage. England, SE Eight sites surv'eyed, of which three held orioles and five held none: (1)(2) single singing males in May; (3) one. England, E 61 sites surveyed, of which 33 held none, and a minimum of eight breeding pairs found, of which three known to have fledged young; three other pairs probably bred, there were also pairs at nine other sites, and singing males or singles at eight more. England, Central One locality: male in early July. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 12 13 22 35 29 38 27 37 33 34 34 Confirmed (pairs) 4 5 11 16 15 10 16 14 14 7 8 Possible/probable (pairs) 11 11 20 25 22 32 12 23 19 28 27 Max. total (pairs) 15 17 31 41 37 42 28 37 33 35 35 A second consecutive very disappointing year. A full survey carried out in 1 994 coincided with very poor weather, so it was decided by the Golden Oriole British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 445 Group, in consultation with English Nature, to repeat it in 1995. Unfortunately, 1995 turned out to be an equally bad season, because of inclement weather at critical times in the breeding cycle, with only seven to 1 1 young thought to have fledged (cf. 2-14 in 1994, but 31-37 in 1993, the best year to date). The Panel is most grateful for the detailed information on the eastern England population supplied by the Golden Oriole Group. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio One locality: 0-1 pairs breeding. England, SW One locality: male seen in suitable habitat on 2nd June (only visit paid) . 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 7 3 8 6 3 7 5 13 6 7 1 Confirmed (pairs) 6 4 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 Possible/probable (pairs) 6 2 11 6 6 7 4 12 6 7 1 Max. total (pairs) 12 6 13 7 6 8 5 13 6 8 1 A complete absence of records from Scotland, where a pair bred in 1994, and a continuing minimal presence in England, leaves the situation precarious in the extreme, and a far cry from the minimum 49 pairs, almost all of which bred, and 79-80 young reared, of just 20 years ago, in 1975. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Eight localities: 0-8 pairs breeding. Scotland, S Two localities: (1) pair, male singing, 13th May; (2) singing male on 7th May. It seems probable that these birds were on passage. Scotland, Mid One locality: singing male on 30th April, probably migrant. Scotland, N & W Five localities: (1) pair in late June, female nest-building on 1st July; (2)- (5) single singing males in suitable habitat, one found dead on road after singing for a month. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 No. localities 3 1 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 4 8 Confirmed (pairs) 0 0 1 1 • 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Possible/probable (pairs) 3 1 2 1 1 1 2 3 1 4 8 Max. total (pairs) 3 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 2 4 8 Even subtracting the probable passage birds in south and mid Scotiand, this is the best year since 1984. European Serin Serinus serinus One locality: 0-1 pair. England, SW One locality. CORNWALL One locality: singing male on 14th April and pair on 14th May, though not seen subsequendy. Yet another poor year, with Devon, formerly the most regular area, now apparently abandoned. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus One locality: up to seven breeding adults. Scotland, N & W One locality: seven breeding adults, at five nests, were of this species on 446 Ogil\’ie el al.\ Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1995 measurements (Svensson, 1992, Identification Guide to European Passerines). The first report since 1991, when two pairs bred in North & West Scotland, following a considerable influx the previous autumn {Biit. Birds 84: 500). Detailed smdies of breeding crossbills in the region (Marquiss, M., paper read at Scottish Ringers’ Conference, 1997, and RSPB) are revealing obvious differences in, especially, bill measurements, making some individuals referable to this species, and others to Common L. curvirostra and Scottish Crossbills L. scotica. More work by the RSPB is in progress to try to sort out the complex situation now being revealed. Common Rosefinch Carpodaciis erythrimis Five localities; 0-7 pairs breeding. England, SE One locality; male on 1 7th July. England, E One locality: up to four birds present, female seen carr\dng nest material. Scotland, N & W Three localities: (1)(2) single immature males singing; (3) at least three birds staying into July. The first sign of breeding since 1 992, though inconclusive. Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus One locality; one male. Scotland, iVEd One locality: male in suitable upland area in June. The first report of this species since 1989. There was a little burst of breeding in the late 1970s, with two confirmed pairs in 1977 and 1978, 11 in 1979, then only one in 1980, since when there have been just singles in 1981 and 1989. Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Eight areas or localities: up to 19 pairs breeding. Scotland, Mid and N & W Eight areas or localities: 19 pairs or singing males. Limited surc^ey work in one area together with casual observ^ations have produced the above, which represent only a small proportion of the estimated 70-100 breeding pairs in northern Scotland. Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus 42-379 breeding pairs. England, SW CORNWALL Seven localities; (1)(2) single pairs; (3)-(7) single singing males. DEVON 'I'he sample tetrad surc'ey, now carried out on an annual basis by the RSPB, led to an estimate of 372 pairs as a county total; of a sample of 40 pairs, only 21 were successful (52.5%), well below last year’s 67%, fledging a total of 65 young (3.1 young per successful nest). 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Confirmed (pairs) 36 48 98 113 92 43 42 Possible/probable (pairs) 83 85 143 207 269 369 337 Max. total (pairs) 119 133 241 320 361 412 379 The tetrad survey suggests a decline in numbers from the peak in 1994, while breeding success of monitored nests was also poor. (The Panel would like to thank tlie RSPB for the information on tlie sample surv^ey in Devon.) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 447 References Evans, I. M., Dennis, R. H., Orr-Ewing, D. C., Kjellen, N., Andersson, P.-O., Sylven, M., Senosiain, a., & Comp AIRED Carbo, F. 1997. The re-establishment of Red Kite breeding populations in Scotland and England. Brit. Birds 90: 123-138. Gibbons, D. W., & Wotton, S. 1996. The Dartford Warbler in the United Kingdom in 1994. Bril. Birds 89: 203-212. OsEECK, E., & VosLAMBER, B. 1997. Spoonbill. Pp. 60-61 in: Hagemeijer, W. J. M., & Blair, M. G. (eds.) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds. London. O Brien, M., Newbery, P., & Suddaby, D. 1997. Action for breeding Red-necked Phalaropes in Scotland. RSPB Conserv. Rev. 11: 74-79. Sumaeers, R. W., & Mayor, R. A. 1995. Occupation patterns of lochs by Slavonian Grebes in Scotland. Scot. Birds 18: 65-70. Underhill, M. C., Gittings, T., Callaghan, D. A., Kirby, J. S., Hughes, B., & Pet any, S. 1998. Pre-breeding status and distribution of the Common Scoter Melanitta nigra in Britain and Ireland in 1995. Bird Study 45: 146-156. Underhill-Day, j. 1998. Breeding Marsh Harriers in the United Kingdom, 1983-95. Brit. Birds 91: 210-218. Williams, G., Green, R., Casey, C., Deceuninck, B., & Stowe, T. 1997. Halting declines in globally threatened species: the case of the Corncrake. RSPB Conserv. Rev. 11: 22-31. Wotton, S., Gibbons, D. W., Dilger, M., & Grice, P. V. 1998. Cettii’s Warblers in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands in 1996. Brit. Birds 91: 77-89. Dr Malcolm Ogilvie, Secretary, Rare Breeding Birds Panel, Glencaim, Bniichladdich, Isle of Islay PA49 7UN The Rare Breeding Birds Panel is sponsored and supported by: JOINT NATURE _ CONSERVATION COMMITTEE British Trust for Ornithology LOOKING BACK Twenty-five years ago: ‘aldrin and dieldrin to be withdrawn Nearly four years ago the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals recommended that the use of aldrin and dieldrin as seed-dressings in the control of wheat-bulb fly should be kept under review with a view to their eventual withdrawal. For some years now, wildlife conservationists have been pressing for a total ban on the use of these two organochlorine pesticides, and will now be delighted to learn that, following consultations between Government and industry, the Advisory Committee has recommended that supplies to the trade should cease by 31st December 1973.’ (Brit. Birds 66: 456, October 1973) Also in October 1973, there was a ‘huge influx’ of Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus, with at least 70 individuals reported (Brit. Birds 67: 35), and Iain Robertson found Britain’s first live Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus, on Out Skerries, Shetland (Bril. Birds 68: 453-455). ANNOUNCEMENTS New addresses and phone numbers for ‘British Birds’ Changes are noted in bold. EDITORIAL Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication; exchange journals & county bird reports; competition entries Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, British Birds, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ; phone & fax 01767 640340. CIRCULATION & ADVERTISING Mrs Erika Sharrock, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ; phone & fax 01234 364366. PROMOTION British Birds, The Banks, Aiountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JY; phone 01580 882039; fax 01580 880541. BACK ISSUES Copies of single issues (except for most-recent 12 months) David Morgan, British Birds, Whitmore, Umberleigh, North Devon EX37 9HB; phone 01769 540214. ‘news and CO.MMent’ Items for publication Bob Scott & Wendy Dickson, 8 Woodlands, St Neots, Cambridgeshire pei9 ILE; phone 01480 214904; fax 01480 473009. Other addresses are unchanged; see inside front cover. Special Princeton offers to ‘BB’ subscribers Up to 20% off all Princeton University Press paperback field guides; Beehler, Pratt & Zimmerman Birds of Neiu Guinea SAVE £1.00 £28.00 Flint A Field Guide to Birds of the USSR SAVE £5.00 £21.50 Hilty & Brown A Guide to the Birds of Colombia SAVE £8.00 £32.00 Pratt, Bruner & Berrett A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii SAVE £6.10 £24.40 Raffaele A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands SAVE £3.75 £15.50 Ridgely & Gwynne A Guide to the Birds of Panama with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras SAVE £5.25 £21.50 de Schauensee & Phelps A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela SAVE £7.00 £28.00 Sick Birds in Brazil: a natural history SAVE £18.50 £75.00 All are available POST FREE to British Birds subscribers (quote your reference number, please). Offer ends December 1998, and all prices are subject to change without notice. Please use the British BirdShop form on pages iii & iv. Send your orders to British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Namral History Books Ltd, Pistyll Farm, Nercwys, Mold, Flintshire CH7 4EVC’; tel. 01352-756551; fax 01352-756004; e-mail: sales@subbooks.demon.co.uk. A new ‘British Birds’ jigsaw puzzle The second in our four-puzzle set of jigsaws is now available: ‘On the Look Out’, depicting two Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters Merops superciliosus photographed by — who else? — Hanne & Jens Eriksen. Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters are certainly among the most stunningly elegant and beautiful of all birds, so there could not be a greater contrast from last montli’s ultra-cryptic picture (of a camouflaged female Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus on the forest floor, by Christer Kalenius). To order, ask for number 2, ‘On the Look Out’, or just for ‘the bee-eater puzzle’, and send a cheque for £24.99 (or £27.99 if outside the UK) to Jigsaw, British Birds, The Banks, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TO32 5JY; or order by phone and credit card from 01580 880561. (Number 1, ‘Mrs Invisible’, is also still available at the same price.) 448 [Bril. Birds 91: 448, October 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 A Collector’s Wooden Jigsaw : ■(' COLLECTOR’S WOODEN JIGSAW for British Birds ‘certainly among the most stunningly elegant and beautiful of all birds’ 2. Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters by Hanne & Jens Eriksen The second puzzle in a series of four, with exclusive designs. Each 250-piece puzzle contains Victorian ‘whimsies’. Please send me I enclose boxed puzzles (£24.99 per puzzle; £27.99 if outside UK). Name Send to: Jigsaw, British Birds, The Banks, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JY; or phone 01580 882039 with credit-card orders. Address No. 2 22 September-7 October 1998 with Paul Holt EILAT from £640 1-8/15 November 1998 with Killian Mullarney GOA from £920 14-29 November 1998 (2nd departure) with Paul Holt BHARATPUR from £990 29 January-7 February 1999 with Paul Holt SOKOKE, KEni lYP i from £1190 8-23 February 1999 | with David Fisher ^ [• n NEW DATES 1 Great birding, GREAT value! HOniG KOniG from £1190 31 March-10 April 1999 with extension to Emei Shan, China, until 17 April with Steve'Rooke and Richard Lewthwaite All events offer a full, professionally-led excursion programme. For an information pack, contact Sunbird specifying which event you are interested in. Details from:Sunbird (BS), PO Box 76, Sandy, Beds, SG19 IDF Telephone; 01767 682969 Fax: 01767 692481 Email: Sunbird@Sunbird.demon.co.uk Web site; vwvw.sunbird.demon.uk Your money is fully protected by our own Sunbird is a trading name of Conderbury Limited vii lJlkD(Oi)^S New Birding Holidays 1999 Namibia 11 February 1999 led by Steve Braine & Dick Filby from £2999 ig and wildlife tour in search of the specialities and endemics of the region Eastern Arabia (The Emirates. Oman and Yemen) 8-23 February 1999 led by Colin Richardson and David Rosair from £2299 A three centred tour in search of the specialities and endemics of this region Polynesia (The Cook Islands. Taihiti. Tuamotus and Marquesas) 6-20 March 1999 led by David Rosair from £3099 A repeat of our highly successful 1997 trip in search ofTuamotu Sandpiper, Bristle-thighed Curlew, seabirds and island endemics set in stunning tropical scenery. Cameroon (Africa in miniature) 28 March- 1 8 April 1999 led by Mark Andrews A three week trip exploring all the main habitats of this bird rich West African country which will include most of the sought after endemics. Alaska to Kamchatka (via the Aleutians & Kommander islands) 2 tours 11-27 June 1 999 led by Peter Harrison & Dick Filby from £6 1 45 24 June- 1 2 July 1 999 led by Dick Filby from £4899 These birding. wildlife and photography cruises visit one of the most spectacular regions on earth, parts of which have only just become visible. Dick Filby has visited this region more than any other UK leader, the name Peter Harrison (tour I) speaks for itself too! Brochures for the above are now in stock. Please remember Book Early to avoid disappointment TELEPHONE 0117 984 8040 24HR BROCHURE LINE 01 17 961 0874 Tours Available Without International Flights For Overseas Residents International House, Bank Road, Kingswood. Bristol BSI5 8LX . UK fjj* Fax No 0 1 I 7 96 1 0 200 email:wildinfo@wildwings. co.uk web: httpW.www.wildwings.co.uk #kl A I! T A VIII MONTHLY MARATHON The fifth stage (plate 94) was named as Dunn’s Lark Eremelauda diinni (46%), Calandra Lark Mekujocorypha calandra (31%), Thick-billed Lark Rharnphocoris clothey (8%), Black-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix nigriceps (4%), Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra (4%), Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (4%) and Common Rosefinch Carpodacns erythrinus (2%). This time, the majority was not right. Only 1 5 entrants identified the female Black-crowned Sparrow-lark, photographed in the United Arab Emirates in April 1993 by D. Robinson. As a result, we now have five competitors with five consecutive correct answers: Jens Lind (Denmark), Steve Mann (Nottinghamshire), Dave Numey (Cambridgeshire), Jakob Sunesen (Denmark) and Peter Sunesen (Denmark); tw’O with four in a row: Jorgen Munck Pedersen (Denmark) and Jean-Yves Peron (France); three with three in a row: Volker Konrad (Germany), Peter Lansdown (Glamorgan) and Steve Preddy (Avon); two each with a brace: the Revd Canon J. M. Crook (Stirlingshire) and Hannu Jaimes (Finland); three with a singleton: Theo Bakker (Netherlands), Lee Gregory (Norfolk) and Roy Hargreaves (Hertfordshire); and everybody else is back at the start, on zero. The pressure is now on! The winner will receive a SUNBIRD birdwatcliing holiday in Africa, America or Asia. A 110. ‘Monthly maratlion.’ Photo no. 146. Seventh stage in tenth ‘Marathon’. Identify the species. Read the rules {Brit. Birds 91: 305), then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park l^ne, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3Nj, to arrive by 15th November 1998. [Brit. Birds 91: 449, October 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 449 NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Wendy Dickson and Bob Scott Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ Birdcrime and Golden Orioles Considering the quantity of paper that passes over the ‘N&c’ desk, it is surprising that items rarely mesh together. Recently, however, four separate items all related to similar topics. The first to arrive was Birdcrime ’97, the annual publication from the RSPB Species Protection Department, which has been published some four months early this year. It includes a summary of all the incidents that came to the RSPB’s attention during the year, together with a summary of all prosecutions taken during 1997. The RSPB expressed concern at the increase in the number of nest robberies relating to birds of prey, which they believe may reflect an increase in the number of Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus being taken for the captive market. In view of the information coming to our notice in the following days, we checked the number of egg-collecting incidents for 1997; at 109, the total was only a fraction below the annual average of 115 since 1990. Next to arrive through the post was a Press release from the RSPB East Anglia Office with the information that on 4th June the RSPB Warden at the Lakenheath reserve, in Suffolk, discovered that the nest of a pair of Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus had been robbed; one of only some 20 pairs nesting in England this year. Although rare in the UK, the Golden Oriole is widespread and common throughout much of Eurasia. The loss of a British clutch is, therefore, of little significance in international terms. More worrying, however, is the suggestion in the Press release that careless talk by birdwatchers may have been to blame. For many years, the British population of Golden Orioles has been monitored by the Golden Oriole Group (GOG), which works closely with the RSPB, the Rare Breeding Birds Panel and the Government’s stamtory advisers on conservation, English Nature. GOG tells the story that one of its members, birding on the Norfolk coast, met someone, whom he did not know, who, out of the blue, told him of a Golden Oriole’s nest he had found, where to find it, what tree it was in, and so on. GOG is clearly convinced that this is the route by which egg-collectors heard of the nest and were able to steal the eggs before a proper guard could be mounted. The final document was a copy of a letter sent to the RSPB, complaining that a rare bird on one of its reserves had not been protected adequately. Whether or not such a complaint is justified we are not in a position to say, but, quite clearly, there is a consensus that loose talk was the cause of the loss. We can only endorse the GOG statement that ‘if you find a nest of any rare breeding bird, you do not broadcast its whereabouts, even to people present at that site at that time.’ It goes on to say ‘. . . report the finding to the RSPB 450 [Brit. Birds 91: 450-453, October 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 451 or other responsible authority, but tliereafter keep the knowledge to yourself.’ The Golden Oriole Group can be contacted on 01353-740540, and it offers a slide presentation on ‘Golden Orioles in Britain — the story so far’. Birdcrinie ’97 is available (price £5.00 incl. p&p) from RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. For information on the RSPB Lakenheath Reserve, contact RSPB East Anglia Office, Stalham House, 65 Thorpe Road, Norwich, RSPB extends SuffoU^ reserve Nature reserves are expensive to buy and expensive to manage. Every time that a new reseiv'e is acquired by a consen'ation body, there is a substantial setting-up cost: staffing, office facilities, management tools and equipment, vehicles and the all-important initial expenditure to ‘get the land right’. The latter may include earthworks, dams, sluices, planting schemes or a wide range of similar activities. The largest and always ongoing cost, however, is the staffing and necessary back-up. It is in these circumstances that a reserve extension is so much more financially attractive than a new reserve. Not only is a larger unit of land more productive ecologically, but all the necessary infrastructure is in place and the management costs can be more widely, but just as effectively, spread. It is therefore particularly good news that the RSPB’s exciting (and relatively new) reserve at Lakenheath, Suffolk, has been extended by some 57 ha. A £240,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will assist the £330,000 acquisition and start-up costs. RSPB & GCT reviews By chance, two annual reviews arrived at the ‘N&c’ desk on the same date; the RSPB Co)isei'vation Reviezv 1997 (‘an insight into the broad range of the RSPB’s conser\^ation work’) and The Game Consewancy Trust Reviezv of 1 997 (‘a full report of the activities of The Game Conservancy Trust and Game Conser\'ancy Limited’). They provide some interesting similarities and contrasts, but they are both absolutely fascinating in their contents and an excellent read for anyone interested in birds and the wider environment. Agriculture figures highly in both publications, with the latest news from the GCT ‘AUerton Project’ and a full review of the indirect effects of agricultural chemicals. The RSPB’s international works include reports from throughout Europe, as well as on the current situation relating to the Seychelles Magpie- robin Copsychus sechellamm. Predators and prey, a perennial subject for managers of nature reserves and grouse moors, are dealt with in some detail, including the by now almost familiar Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus and Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus debate. The GCT tackles the fascinating topic of the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes and its relationship with wildlife tourism, particularly in Norfolk. Non-avian topics include fungi and butterflies on RSPB reser\'es, and deer and fisheries management on \'arious estates. These two impressive publications need closer attention from the birding community. The reports are obtainable from RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SGI 9 2D1,; and Game Conser\'ancy Trust, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 lEF. Bulgarian news in English The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) now produces two English- language versions of its colour magazine For the Birds. Previously this was produced, printed and circulated in Bulgaria at high cost to the Society in the present economic situation, with the poor exchange rate that exists between the Bulgarian lev and sterling. Since the formation of the LTK branch of BSPB, however, the English-language version is produced in Bulgaria and sent to the UK, where it is duplicated and circulated to the approximately 100 UK members. Details of the BSPB (annual subscription £10.00) are available from Ann Scott, Secretary BSPB (UK), 8 Woodlands, St Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 lUE. 452 News and comment Chan Robbins elected Hon. Subscriber We are delighted to announce that Dr Chandler S. Robbins has accepted our invitation to become an Honorary Subscriber. He was elected unanimously by the Editorial Board in recognition of his enormous contribution to World ornithology, especially in the field of surveys and censuses, including atlas smdies. Most of Chan’s work has been in North America, especially his native USA, but his fieldwork has also often taken him to Central and South America, and his influence has been worldwide. In his letter of acceptance. Dr Robbins wrote: ‘I am overwhelmed, and of course ver>’ pleased, that the Editorial Board of British Birds has voted to elect me as an Honorar\' Subscriber — the only American among your distinguished dozen. I shall celebrate this honor at my 80th birthday next week. ‘I really miss die stimulating contacts I used to have with British and European ornithologists. I’ve gotten so involved with research and training in the New VC’orld tropics that I now go to Neotropical and Caribbean meetings rather than lOCs or census/atlas meetings in Europe or Africa. So the honor from British Birds came as a great surprise. Please convey my thanks to the Board.’ Chan joins Brian & Sheila Bottomley, I. J. Eerguson-Lees, P. A. D. Hollom, Guy Mountfort, E. M. Nicholson, Bill Oddie, M. J. Rogers, Major R. F. Ruttledge, Dr P. O. Swanberg, Prof Dr K. H. Voous and D. I. M. Wallace, who are the journal’s only other Honorary' Subscribers. Where are our young Great Bitterns? The RSPB has put a lot of effort into researching the ecology of tlie Great Bittern Botaimis stellaris, rehabilitating the habitat at old breeding sites, and creating new sites, but still there were only 13 booming males in Britain this summer. This is tw'o up on last year, but a frighteningly low figure. RSPB researchers are increasingly gathering vital data on habitat requirements by radio- tracking individuals. 'Phis year, radio-tags and a B'PO ring were fitted to 20 nestling Great Bitterns. Their progress was then tollowed until most had dispersed from their natal sites. Now, you can help. RSPB researchers need to know as quickly as possible the location of any sightings of Great Bitterns with a BTO ring or a radio-tag. The BTO ring is on the tarsus; the radio-tags are small and are fitted onto die leg by a leather strap above the tarsus, and a thin silver or black wire a few centimetres long may be seen at close quarters when the birds are in flight. Once relocated, dtese young bitterns will continue to provide us with crucial conser\'ation information. Please contact or leave a message for Dr Gillian Gilbert: phone 01767 680551; mobile 1411127895; e-mail gillian.gilbert @rspb. org.uk; address RSPB, 4’he l.odge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. Checklist of Irish birds Now that the British Ornithologists’ Union has decided to produce a British List (rather dian a British & Irish List), those who want to know the accepted status of bird species in the whole of Ireland will wish to consult the new 40-page Checklist of the Birds of Ireland, compiled by the Irish Rare Birds Committee and published by BirdWatch Ireland. It is available (price £5.00, post free) from BirdWatch Ireland, Ruttledge House, 8 Longford Terrace, Monkstown, Dublin. Kittiwakes in Suffolk We have had our wrists slapped — and justifiably! We recently reported {Brit. Birds 91: 204) on Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla nesting in Durham on an artificial site provided as a replacement for former nesting ledges on a converted building. Brian Brown from Lowestoft has written to inform us of the ‘Lowestoft wall’ and its nesting Kittiwakes that he designed some nine years earlier. How we overlooked tliis very well-known fact we cannot say. We must admit that the Gateshead project may not have been so innovative as we suggested. 'Phe most important thing, however, is that the Kittiwakes seem to be doing well at both sites. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 10, October 1998 453 ‘Welsh Birds’ Sponsored by Chevron Oil UK Ltd, the new journal Welsh Birds started its second volume in June. With refereed main papers, notes on subjects such as ‘Ravens \Corvns corax] playing in snow’ and book reviews, this excellent journal is already performing a vital role in establishing the Welsh Ornithological Society alongside the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. Ex-pat Welshmen in Patagonia and New Zealand, take note. The biannual journal costs £4.50 per issue. The WOS Membership Secretary is Dr D. K. Thomas, Laburnum Cottage, 12 Manselfield Road, Mutton, Swansea SA3 3AR. Raptor and Upland Bird Conference This year, the annual conference for northern upland-bird enthusiasts is sponsored by Northumbrian Water Ltd and is hosted jointly by the Durham Bird Club and the Durham Upland Bird Study Group. It will be held at Collingwood College, Durham University, on Samrday 21st November, from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. For more information, please contact Mrs Anne Raw, 25 Pinewood Crescent, Heighington, Co. Durham DL5 6RR; tel. 01325-314292. Top wildlife photographs The 150 winning and commended photographs in this year’s Wildlife Photograph of the Year competition, sponsored by BG and organised by BBC Wildlife magazine and The Natural History Museum, will be on view at the Museum from 24th October to the end of February 1999. Judging by previous years, it will be well worth a visit if you are in London. Highs and lows in the garden The BTO’s Garden BirdWatch scheme has revealed all-time high levels for Long- tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus, Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis and Siskins C. spinus in winter 1997/98, and all-time low levels for Song Thrushes Turdns philomelos and House Sparrows Passer domesticus. For more details, or to find out how to contribute, write to BTO Garden BirdWatch, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, or phone 01842 750050, or fax 01842 750030. World’s oldest Curlew Sandpiper The aptly named Victorian Wader Study Group has claimed the World’s oldest known Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea. It was first caught not in the nineteenth century, but in December 1979, making it over 19 years old when retrapped in Australia earlier this year. Dr Clive Minton comments that, in its life, this bird must have flown well over 400,000 km, equivalent to the distance from tlie Earth to the Moon. Andrew Stock at The Mall Andrew Stock’s seventh London exhibition will be held at The Mall Galleries in October-November. He was accepted as a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists in 1983, and was elected as its Hon. Secretary in 1995, the year in which he won the title Bird Illustrator of the Year {Brit. Birds 88: 351-356, 634). In December 1997, he was elected as the youngest-ever member of the Board of Governors of the Federation of British Artists. His latest exliibition will be open for ten days from 22nd October. For details, phone/fax 01935 873620. Bernard Tucker Memorial LecUire The 47th Bernard Tucker Memorial Lecmre, hosted jointiy by the Oxford Ornithological Society and the Ashmolean Natural History Society and sponsored by British Birds, will be given by Dr Rob Fuller of the BTO, on ‘Woodland Birds in Britain and Europe: from primeval forest to coppiced woodland’. The Lecture will take place on Tuesday 3rd November 1998 at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (formerly the University Museum), Soudi Parks Road, Oxford, at 8.00 pm. Non-members are welcome; admission is £1.00. New Recorder Geoff Holmes, 22 Tenbury Drive, Telford Estate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire sy2 5YF, has taken over from Geoff Smith as Recorder for Shropshire. RECENT BBRC DECISIONS This monthly listing of the most recent decisions by the British Birds Rarities Committee is not intended to be comprehensive or in any way to replace the annual ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain’. The records listed are mostly those of the rarest species, or those of special interest for other reasons. All records refer to 1997 unless stated otherwise. ACCEPTED: Lesser Yellowlegs Tnnga flavipes Fmmpion-on-Sevem (Gloucestershire), 26th April to 1st May 1998. Ivory Gull Pagophila ebumea Aberthaw (Glamorgan), 2nd January 1998. Pallid Swift Aptis pallidus St Agnes (Scilly), 17th Alay 1998. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus irochibides Near Johnshaven, Aberdeen (Northeast Scotland), 31st August to 2nd September. Hume’s Warbler P. hiiniei Strumble Head (Pembrokeshire), 20th November 1993; Litdestone (Kent), 25th No\’ember. Radde’s Warbler P. schivarzi St Mary’s (Scilly), 14th October; presumed same, 19th October. Dusky Warbler P. fuscaius Point of A\t (^Flintshire), 11th to at least 12th November. Penduline Tit Rentiz pendulinus Kenirg (Glamorgan), since 11th November 1996 to at least 9th March, possibly to 16th; Dungeness (Kent), male and one other, 26th-27th October; Tresco (Scilly), 28th October; another male, Dungeness, 6th November to at least 19th February 1998, possibly to 14th March 1998; Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour (Dorset), 20th January to 13th February 1998. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucopiera Near Parkend (Gloucestershire), from 15th February' to 27th Adarch 1998. Blackpoll Warbler Dcndroica striata Tresco, 12tli October to 1st November. Common Yellowthroat Geot/ilypis trichas St Alary’s, 9th October to 2nd No\'ember. M. J. Rogers, Secretary’, BBRC, 2 Churchlozmt Cottages, Tozvednack, St Ives, Conmall TR26 .lAZ ZEISS RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary covers the period from 17th August to 13th September 1998. These are unchecked reports, not authenticated records. Black-browed Albatross Diomedea nielanophris Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork), 1 1 th September. Madeira/Cape Verde Petrel Pterodronia niadeiraJfeae Bridges of Ross (Co. Clare), 20th August; Newbiggin (Northumberland), 24th August; Cape Clear Island, 10th September. Cory’s Shearwater Caloneclris diomedea Large movements off southwestern coasts including 3,500 off Porthgwarra (Cornwall), 5th September. Litde Shearwater Puffinus assimilis Pendeen (Cornwall), 8th September; Seaforth (Alerseyside), 10th September; Port Isaac (Cornwall) and Sheringham (Norfolk), 11th September. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicns Pendeen, 24th August; Bardsey (Gwynedd), 10th September; Strumble Head (Dyfed), 1 1 th September. Least Sandpiper Calidris minntilla St Mary’s (SciUy), 8th September; Rogerstown (Co. Dublin), 12th- 13th September. Sabine’s Gull l^ws sabini 65, mosdy juveniles, Kilcummin Head (Co. Alayo), 10th September. Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Alale, St Agnes (Scilly), 9th-13tli September; female, St Agnes, 13th September. Clift' Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota 'fitchfield Haven (Hampshire), 13th September. Eastern BoneUi’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis Sumburgh and Grumess (Shetland), 27th August to 7th September. Nutcracker Nncifraga caryocatactes Kingsdown (Kent), 6tli September. Rare Bird News supplies all its information free to ‘British Birds'. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news i28p/min cheap rate; 41p/min other times; incl. \’AT) 454 \Iirii. Birds 91: 454, October 1998] i British Birds Ltd 1998 i Lima s a HOLIDAYS Call our Brochureline: 01263 578143 Bulgaria • Poland • Romania • Lake Neusiedl • Hungary • Finland & Arctic Norway • France • Spain • Lesbos • Bay of Biscay (mini-cruises) • Morocco • Israel • Egypt • The UAE • Yemen • Gambia • Kenya • South Africa • India • Nepal • Australia • New Zealand • Florida • Oregon • Costa Rica • Brazil Galapagos •Falkland Islands Liniosa Holidays, Suffield House, Northrepps, Norfolk NR27 01 .7 Fax; 01 263 579 251 e-mail: limosaholidays@compusei've.com We accept payment by Visa & Mastercard BirdfiiHLciers GOOD VALUE TOURS SINCE 1993 1999 DESTINATIONS INCLUDE: MOROCCO, ETfflOPIA, FRENCH LAKES, CANADA, ECUADOR, COSTARICA, TEXAS, ISRAEL, GAMBIA, CZECH REP, ZIMBABWE, CALIFORNIA, HUNGARY, ARIZONA, TURKEY, LESVOS & SPAIN also CUSTOMISED TOURS TO GAMBIA, ECUADOR, COSTA RICA & ZIMBABWE FULL BROCHURE FROM: VAUGHAN ASHBY, 18 MIDLEAZE, SHERBORNE, DORSET DT9 6DY TEL/FAX: (01935) 817001 EMAIL: Birdfinders@compuserve.com WEB: http:/ /ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/birdfmders MEMBER Of THE UK TOLWSM TRUST NUMBER 1574 YOUR .MONEY IS PROTECTED BY THE UK TOURISM TRUST AGENTS FOR VV1LDHTOCS |B,\KERS WORLD TRAVEL IJMITEDI ATOL NUMBER 2792 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! QUALITY BINOCULARS nd TELESCOPES Select from the world's finest optical instalments: 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 BIRD pp open Monciay to Saturctay 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. 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V For The Ultimate in Bird Tour Brochures please contacr: BIRDQUEST, Two Jays, Kemple End, Birdy Brow, Stonyhurst, Lancashire BB7 9QY. Tel: 01254-826317 Fax:01254-826780 E-mail: birders@birdquest.co.uk Naturetrel<^ Don’t miss our £990 selection These action-packed, long-haul binding tours - each led by an expert local ornithologist - offer excellent value for money, and outstanding binding. If you would like further details of a particular tour, please call us now! Naturetrek Chautara, Bighton, Nr. Alresford, Hampshire S024 9RB Tel: 0 1 962 73305 1 Fax: 0 1 962 736426 web: www.naturetrek.co.uk ZAMBIA - South Luangwa National Park. 13-22 Feb ’98; 27 Mar - S Apr ’98: 6 - I S Nov '98. NAMIBIA - Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, Spitskoppe, Etosha & Waterbcre Mountains. 22-31 Jan '98; 1 2 - 2 1 Feb '98: 26 Feb - 7 Mar '98. MAIAWI - Lake Malawi. Zomba Plateau & Liwonde National Park. 16 -25 Feb '98; 16 -2S Mar '98. SOUTHERN MOROCCO - The desert. 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NEW ENGLAND - USA Spring migration on the Massachusetts coast. 17-26 May '98. TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 Flights Worldwide Return Fares (joa £389 New York £175 Gambi a £299 Delhi £275 Bang kok £295 From . . Mexico £329 Nai robi £344 Bi rding Holidays Winter 98/99 Packages Goa 14 nights from £498 Gambia 7 nights from £329 HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND HUNSTANTON, GARGENEV HOUSE, 2 * ETB guest house catering for bird watchers in Norfolk, Tel. 01485 534416. (BB200) CHAPEL COTTAGE. Swanton Novers, North Norfolk. Charming 18th century cottage. Near excellent birdwatching. Stubenbord 01508 570296. Weeks or weekends available. (BB140) CORNWALL, NEAR LAND'S END. Secluded Farmhouse, B&B. Surrounded by acres of fields and trees. Tel/Fax (01736) 810801/8100054 for more information. (BB24I) SCOTLAND Tel 0117 984 8040 Fax 0117 9610 200 l^InternationaL House Bank Road Kingswood Bristol . BS15 8LX UK 1 •Discount FLightS'Car Hire* •Accommodation* 2792 •Travel Insurance • Package HoLidays*Sea T ravel* •Groups S Expeditions Wor Ldwi de*Spa ce Travel* lATA L lABTAl British Birds Classified Advertisements All advertisements must be prepaid and sent to British Birds Advertising Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Tel/Fax 01234 364366 Rates excluding VAT £3.20 a line — average of 8 words. £10.50 a centimetre — minimum 2 centimetres Box Number counts as 2 words and is £2.50 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 MORVERN (DRIMNIN) HOLIDAY COTTAGES. Beautifully situated by Sound of Mull. Superb walking and wildlife. No pets. Open all year £100-£160 fully inclusive. Tel/Fax; 01223-871 650. (BB230) OVERSEAS PROVENCE, CAMARGUE. 2 farm cottages, also b&b. Rogers, Mas d’Auphan, Le Sambuc, 13200 ARLES, France. Tel; (0033) 490972041. fax 490972087. (BB097) PROVENCE: Watch Short-toed Eagles soar overhead while Serins and Black Redstarts sing in the vines below. You are sipping our medal-winning wine on your patio, in the shade, with your binoculars by your side. Too good to be true? Not if you stay on our, organically farmed, vineyard set in a completely secluded, wooded valley near Gigondas. There is a single bedroom gTte and a semi-detached 4-bedroom house, both luxuriously furnished with all the mod-cons (dishwasher, etc.). There is also a beautiful large swimming pool. Direct bookings, no agency fees. Tel; 0181 3417912. (BB225) BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS OUT BY THE SEA BED AND BREAKEAST. Located in Crystal Beach, Texas USA (Upper Texas Coast). Tel. (409) 684-1555 http: www.outbythesea.com (BB237) FIND THAILAND’S BIRDS with expert leader and top Thai artist, Kamol Komolphalin. aiiuiluis ^ Short special trips for individual birders, or full expeditions for individuals or groups. Say what you want, and we will quote. Contact “Nature Trails” 49 Thantip Soi, 2 Sukapibaan 3 Road, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240, Thailand or phone: 66-2-374 6610, 735 0644 Fax: 735 0638 E-mall: ntrails@samart.co.th (BB224) XI TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 SRI LANKA - ORNITHOLOGISTS PARADISE - Home to 426 species 21 of which are endemic - Specialist guides provided for tours from individuals to groups * Best penod November to March - Contact Delmege Forsyth Tours. 101. Vinayalankara Mawalha. Colombo 10. Sn Lanka. Telephone ; 0094 1 693361 - 8. 699500 & 699984 Telex : 21320 LEWIS CE. 21536 DFSHIR 22766 DELAIR CE Fax ; 0094 1 698139. 699413. 686149 (BB149) AUSTRALIA; LOTUS LOD(jE, 200+ .species of birds. Resident naturalists, outback experience. Extensive variety of flora nd fauna in far north Queensland. I V: hour flight north of Cairns. Superior accommodation. Excellent cuisine. Tel; 617 4059 0773. Fax: 61 7 4059 0703. web; http;//w ww.cazirns.aust.com/lotus bird. (BB203) ize: Outpost- [ cu-l S'* Outstanding year round birding on the scenic New River Lagoon. Over 300 species in five diverse habitats. Truly a magical place in the midst of ancient Maya civilization Packages, tours, guides, and checklists available. Comfortable accommodations. Visit us ,if www.belizenet.com/lamanai html phone/fax: +501 2 33578 email lamanai@bll.net BB232 KILAT AM) 1 UK NKttKV DKSKRT SI'KCIAI.HIKS: trips guided by the local guide. Hadoram Shirihai. If you are based around Eilat you may join our one day Negev trip (Cost 2.S stg. per person between 10 March and 10 April and 4.5 stg. per person at all other limes), providing most desert and migrating birds including Iloubara Bustard and 4 species of .Sandgrouse. and on an evening excursion ( 15 stg.) to observe the Hume’s Tawny Owl. Please book through Sunhird office, tel: 0l767-682%9. fax: 01767-6924X1. For additional information contact Hadoram: PO Box 4I6X. Eilat X8I02. l.srael. Telefax: 00972-7-6.579.526. (BBI69) SPANISH PYRENEES/birdwatching centre. Birders dream. Rural guesthouse nr Wallcreeper and Lammergeier sanctuary. Fb £150 pppw. 7-day programme for couples, individuals, friends visiting: Hecho. S. J. Pena. Guara. Riglos. Steppes. £450 incl. accom. transport, expert guide. Tailor-made walking/birdwatching holidays. Brochure: ’Boletas’. 22192 Loporzano. Hue.sca. Tel/fax: 00 54 974 Australia Kimberley and the interior exclusive Birdwatching Tours individually arranged for groups of maximum 4 Birdwatching Aficionados Jonny Schoenjahn Phone +61 8 9192 770-7 Fax-8 PO Box 5493 Broome WA 6726 Australia (bb232) BIRDER’S HAVEN BIRDERS HAVEN Bed and Breakfast for the Birding Community “GLENDAWEENA’S” Books, Tapes, Knicknacks and More Stars Beginner Bird I.D. Classes & Tours Reservations: (409) 286-5362/Dallas: (214) 824-5390 Fax: (409) 286-5661 / Dallas Fax: (214) 824-3834 E-mail, www.glendaweena@apl.com www.imumet/website/birds 2081 WINNIE. HIGH ISLAND, TEXAS 77623 BB194 .AEfiARVE Villa with private pool on British-owned nature reserve. Oct-Apr: B&B. optional meals and guided outings. Ringing usually on site. May-Sept: 2 bedrooms en suite, self- catering. Vowles. Vale Bom. Odelouca. 8300 Silves. Portugal. (BB245) NEW ZEALAND Experience our unique plant and bird community in diverse and dramatic landscapes. Personali.sed birding/nalure lours. Informalion: Manu Tours. 106 Ocean Beach Road. Tairua. New Zealand. Ph/Fax (64) (7) 8647475. (BBI65) Birding in Hong Kong & China Kingfisher Tours (HK) Ltd 2 Viila Paloma. Shuen Wan, Tai Po. Hong Kong Tel: +852 2665 8506 Fax: +852 2665 8190 E-MAIL: myrl@kthk.com.hk WEB SITE: www.kthk.com.hk BB210 Over 18 year s experience in arranging affordable tailor-made binding trips for individuals, bird clubs and birding tour companies British-owned. Write or fax for our 1 999 brochure BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA APARTADO 7911, 1000-B SAN JOSE COSTA RICA - FAX (00) 506-228-1573 iF BB224 262027. e-mail: boletas@abaforum.es (BB246) XII TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 640467 VENEZUELA birdwatching holidays: Andes, Llanos, Henri Pittier and La Escalera. Small group tours and tailor- mades. Geodyssey 017 1 281 7788. (BB223) BIRD BOOKS Out of print, uncommon and rare Quarterly catalogue. Peacock Books, Box 2024. Littleton, Mass. 01460 USA (BB216) HE WORLDS MEGADIVERSITY HOTSPOT AVESTRA^ZEL SUPREME BIRDINO & NATURAL HISTORYTOURS MIGHTY ANDES ■ WINDSWEPT PARAMO ■ ELFIN FOREST VERDANT CLOUDFOREST ■ COASTAL SEMIDESERT DECIDUOUS WOODLANDS ■ WILD AMAZONIA Robert Jonsson, Resident Direrctor & Guide • P.O. BOX 17-07-9219 Tel/Fax (593) 2224 469 E-mail: avestrav@impsat.net.ec QUITOECUADOR • SOUTH AMERICA RARE AND OUT OF PRINT books on Ornithology. Isabelline Books. Tel: 01392 201296. Fax 201663. (BB2I7) COLLECTION OF BIRD BOOKS for sale. Send stamp for list. Little Holcombe Books, 10 Lumb Carr Avenue, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancs. BLO 9QG. (BB243) BOOKS ON BIRDS New and secondhand. Journals etc. Cartalogue s.a.e. Est. 1972. G. Demar, Old Forge, Stone Street, Sevenoaks TN15 OLP. Tel: 01732 810482. (BB244) WEATHERCALL BIRD INFORMATION It’s been worth waiting for! 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SUPERB VIEWING FACILITIES NEW LEICA TELESCOPES ASK El (D484) ROCAI_F*OINT Unit 8, Marbury House Farm, Bentleys Farm Lane, Higher Whitley, Near Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4QW Telephone: 01925 730399 Fax; 01925 730368 M56 Junct 10 1 mile BOOKS BIRD BOOKS BOUGHT & SOLD. Send A5 s.a.e. for catalogue. Visit our shop and see our extensive collection. Hawkridge Books, The Cruck Barn, Cross St. Castleton, Derbyshire S30 2WH. Tel. 01433 621999. Fax, 01433 621 862. (BB078) 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 ’ 1998) are available POST FREE. 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(01352) 756004. e-mail: sales(« subbooks. denmn. co.uk no. Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Books. Pistyll h'ami, Nerewys, .Mold, Flintshire CM7 4i;\v IV ^British Birds Established 1907; incorporating ‘The Zoologist’, established h THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 2 8 OCT 1898 h PRESEMTED Report on rare aird 1 TRING LS3PARY _ s in Lrrea t Britain in 1997 M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee with comments by Grahame Walbridge and Andy Stoddart This is the fortieth annual Report of the Rarities Committee and, once again, it demonstrates the vital roles of the Report and the Committee. This is, perhaps, not surprising, as the Committee is the only body that liaises with the full network of County Bird Recorders (to whom we give thanks) and produces the only report for which detailed descriptions are independently assessed by a panel of democratically elected individuals. In an average year, we process about one thousand records, and our estimate for this year is that only 35 reasonable claims have not yet been submitted to the Committee for scrutiny. Two notable records were not submitted in time to be dealt with in this Report: a Great White Egret Egretta alba (possibly of the Nearctic race), in Nortiiamptonshire, in November-December, and a Veery Catharus fuscescens, in Devon, in May. A further 20 for 1997 and earlier years arrived too late to be considered for this Report. We feel that, whilst it is not ideal, a late- submission or non-submission rate of 5% is to be expected. The role of the Committee is clear. We are to assess, from information provided to us, the suitability of records of rare birds to be included in the national rare-bird archive. The specifics of this task create one of our major problems. Because we are judging the records for posterity, we have to base our decisions on the information that is provided to us, so that, if the records are reappraised in future, the logic of our decision-making is obvious. Whilst this may appear self-evident, it was not necessarily the case in previous generations. Recent reassessments of older records have sometimes proved impossible, as the documentation lacked sufficient detail on which to make a judgment. Decisions often seemed to have been based on ‘observer criteria’ only, that is whether the Committee, at the time, felt that the observer ‘would know this bird if he or she saw one’, and not on the standard of description. This has been one of the major reasons why reviews of old records have taken so long. Currently, we strive to reach a balance, with knowledge of the observer used alongside the quality of the description. The ever-improving standard of rare- bird photographs has made this much easier, although it has also caused some problems. Today, it is a comparatively rare event to see someone taking field notes at a ‘twitch’; why should you, when there are superb photographs for sale or published for all to see in the birding glossies? In addition, if the initial ZEISS [Brit. Birds 91: 455-517, November 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 455 456 Rogers et ai: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 description from the finder is not sufficiently detailed, we can usually get further descriptions from other obser\’ers present at a twitch. Our problem comes more with birds that are seen by a ver\’ few or only one observ^er, and especially when the bird is not a ‘mega-rarity’. Because of the twitching network, it is possible for a birder to see three or four individuals of some species — e.g. Laughing Gull Lams atncilla or Desert Wheatear Oenanihe deserti in a year. Thus, it is easy to understand why some people feel that they need to supply a less-than-complete description; but, if there are no photographs or supporting descriptions, the Committee often has to judge the record to be unproven. In this Report, we not only detail those records which we feel are acceptable, but also list, in Appendix 2, those records which we feel do not meet the standards required for acceptance. In the majority of cases, the Committee considers that the identification was probably correct, but that the documentation, usually through no fault of the observ'ers, is not sufficient to prove the record beyond reasonable doubt. Whilst the level of detail required for some species is not great, for others, such as the ‘peeps’, a fuU and ver\- detailed description is required. 1 he Committee takes all records seriously; none is discarded out of hand (altliough flocks of Nutcrackers Nucifraga caiyocatactes coming to bird-tables in summer are an exception) and some take an enormous amount of work (see Bnt. Birds 91: 180-184). In a small number of cases, we feel that a mistake in identification has been made, and, in an even smaller number of instances, we wonder whether we are being deliberately misled. The kudos of finding rare birds is now such that one can understand the desire to ‘find’ a rarity, and sometimes this may lead to a claim of a bird tliat really has not been properly identified. This is one of the reasons why we prefer descriptions which include details of circumstances of the obser\'ation. On most occasions, we empathise with the obser\'^er and understand how some feature has been missed. Sometimes, however, we feel that it is impossible to have got tlie level of detail submitted from the reported views. We are also v'ery cautious about obser\^ers with a high proportion of single-observer records. We are aware tliat geographical and social circumstances are such that some people are more likely to find rare birds on tlieir own, but this does not account for the startling rates which we see witli some observers. Britain is a small countr\', and there are many birders out there. Rare birds are a long way off course, and many stay a few days after tliey have been found. Many observers in remote areas or on inaccessible islands find birds that others get to see, and it is rare for a birder to have a single-obser\^er record rate of more titan 50% (in fact, most of the Committee have a single-observer rate of between 5% and 20%). It sets alarm bells ringing when an individual’s profile is well outside this range, especially if, as is often die case, it is accompanied by a gradually increasing scarcity of die species claimed in single-observer records, 'fhere is no bias against such records individually, but we do have a policy of watching any patterns closely and reviewing the observers’ past records on a regular basis. Appendix 4 contains a list of submissions which have been pended for further information either from the observers or from outside experts or other British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 457 sources. Whilst we understand the desire for a speedy decision to be reached, we can work only with the material at hand. A less-than-complete description of a good bird might result in its not being accepted. If the record is pended and further information is forthcoming, the correct decision can be made. Under these circumstances, it is in the interest of the observers, as weU as being vital to tlie integrity of the scientific archive, that the record is delayed. We continue to work in close co-operation with tlie BOU Records Committee, which is currentiy examining records of Canvasback Aythya valisineria, in Kent in 1996 and in Norfolk in 1997; Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, in West Sussex in 1997; and Iberian Chiffehaff Phylloscopiis breivnii, in Greater London in 1972 and in Scilly in 1992. All have been accepted by the BBRC. We are indebted to the many photographers who have sent us a total of over 500 prints and transparencies for circulation during record assessment (see The Carl Zeiss Award, Biit. Birds 91: 406-408), particularly Dr Iain H. Leach, George Reszeter and Steve Young, who supplied large numbers of high-quality prints, and all those whose work especially helped the Committee in its deliberations (e.g. Gary Bellingham, whose photograph of tlie Cumbrian Purple Gallinule Porphyrio poiphyrio showed, despite assertions to the contrary by some observers, that this bird had missing primaries on at least one wing). Whilst the BOU Records Committee has, at the request of the Irish Rare Birds Committee, ceased to maintain a British & Irish List, now publishing only a British List, we have agreed, following representation from the Northern Ireland Bird Records Committee, to continue to provide statistics for Britain and Ireland combined. This makes zoogeographical sense, whereas listing of data separately for the United Kingdom and for the Republic of Ireland would not. This arrangement will, of course, be reviewed periodically, but, for the time being, the metliod of calculating the annual statistics is the same as that used for the past 40 years (see pages 458-459). The Committee continues to examine ways of streamlining its system, and is currently in the throes of a modernisation process that, amongst other things, will allow the speeding-up of circulations of difficult records. We have developed a netw'ork of international experts who have agreed to act as advisors to the Committee. All are able to receive information through the Internet, including scanned photographs and drawings. We wish to thank those who have agreed to help us in this way, including Per Alstrom, Arnoud B. van den Berg, Louis Bevier, Ned Brinkley, Geoff Carey, Alan Dean, Jon Dunn, Jim Enticott, Dick Forsman, Kimball Garrett, Erik Hirschfeld, Hannu Jannes, A1 Jaramillo, Paul Lehman, Bruce Mactavish, Michael O’Brien, Dennis Paulsen, Ron Pittaway and Will Russell. We should also like to thank Ned Brinkley, Pete Clement, Dick Forsman, Erik Hirschfeld, Paul Holt, Gabor Magyar, Anthony McGeehan, Bruce Mactavish, Klaus Mailing Olsen and Keith Vinicombe for their input on difficult records tliis year, and Keitla Naylor for his extensive practical assistance in respect of historical data. We continue to be enormously grateful to Carl Zeiss Ltd for sponsorsliip of the Committee’s work, which has supported us for the past 16 years. CouN Bradshaw 458 Rogers ei ai: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Highlights Formerly regarded as a race of Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopiis inomatiis hwnei, Hume’s Warbler P. humei is the latest ‘split’ announced by the BOU Records Committee, and the first 27 records arc listed in this Report, a mere 19’/2 years after reports were first requested by the BBRC {Bnt. Birds 72: 126). In 1997, the most unexpected event was an influx invoh'ing the amazing total of 1 6 Desert Wheatears Oenanthe deserti betw’een mid October and early December. Other especially notable rarities listed in this Report include; Common Snipe Galhnago gallinago of race delicata (Ireland, 1991) Cedar Waxwing Bomhycilla cedrornm (1985) Eastern BoneUi’s X^’arbler Phylloscopiis orientalis (1987) Redhead Aythya americana Semipalmated Plover Charadrins semipabnatus Rufous Nightingale Ltiscinia megarhyiichos of race afiicanaJliafizi (\99\) Siberian Rub\throat L. calliope Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta (Ireland, 1996) 7th Calandra I.arks AUlauocoiypha calandra 7th Common Yellowthroats Geothlypis rrichas Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis (Ireland, 1996) Western Sandpiper C. maim Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Aierops superciliosns 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd 6th & 6th & 7th 8th 8th JTRS Systematic list of accepted records 'Fhe principles and procedures followed in considering records were explained in the 1958 Report {Bnt. Birds 53; 155-158). The systematic list is set out in the same way as in the 1996 Report (90; 453-522). The following points show the basis on which the list has been compiled: 1 . I’he details included for each record are (1) counw; (2) locality; (3) number of birds if more than one, and age and sex if known (in tlie case of spring and summer records, however, tlie age is normally given only where the bird concerned was not in adult plumage); (4) if photographed, tape- recorded or video-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, tliis Report is confined to records which are regarded as certain, and ‘probables’ are not included. In the case of the very similar American Plnvialis dominica and Pacific Golden Plovers P. fiilva. Long-hilled IJirmodromits scolopaccus and Short-hilled Dowitchers L. griseus, and Hastem Phyllmcopiis orientalis and VCAstem BoneUi’s Warblers P. honclli, however, we publish indetemiinate records, and this also applies to those of pratincoles Glarcolu, albatrosses Dioniedea and frigatebirds Fregaia. 3. 'I’he sequence of species, English names and scientific nomenclature follow The ‘British Birds’ Ust of Birds of the W'estem Pakarctic (1997). 4. Hie three numbers in parentlieses after each species’ name refer respectiwly to tlie total number of indiGduals recorded in Britain & Ireland (excluding tliose ‘At sea’) (i) to tlte end ol 1957, (ii) for tlie period since tlie formation of the Rarities Committee in 1958, hut excluding (iii) tltosc listed here for die current \-ear. 'llie decision as to how many indiiiduals were involved is often difficult and rather arbitrary, hut the consensus ol members is indicated by ‘possihh- die same’ (counted as 459 than one is counted in the totals. A detailed breakdown of the 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, following the subheading IRHAND. 6. "^Fhe breeding and wintering ranges are given in parentheses at the beginning of each species comment. White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii (18, 170, 4) Dorset Portland Bill, age uncertain, 13th March (M. Cade). Orkney North Ronaldsay, second-summer, 7th June (P. J. Donnelly). Shetland Fetlar, second-summer or third-summer, 24th-29th April (S. Hinde, D. Suddaby, r. Thomason et ai). Sussex, East Newhaven, adult, 27th April (E. Urquhart). 1996 Shetland Mousa Sound, adult, 5th-6th May {Bril. Birds 90: 457), observers included S. Croft. (Arctic Russia eastwards to Arctic Canada) A rather poor year by recent standards, but two more records in the English Channel, including the first for Dorset. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps (0, 20, 4) Cornwall Hayle, since 31st December 1996 {Brit. Birds 90: 457) to 15th April. Greater London South Norwood Lake, 26th January to 30th March, photo. (J. Flynn el al.) (plate 116); presumed same, Tooting Bee Common, 5th December to 10th February' 1998, photo. (G. Messenbird et al). Lancashire Dock Acres Gravel-pits, 24th May to 8th June, photo. (J. A. Girdley et al). Also in West Yorkshire. Northamptonshire Ravensthorpe Reservoir, 26th April (G. Pullan el al). Wiltshire Cotswold Water Park, lst-15th August (G. M. Buchanan et al). Yorkshire, West Skelton Lake, 14th June to 17th July, photo. (P. R. Morris et al)-, same, Mickletown Ings, 18th- 19th July (per W. J. Hesketli). Presumed same as Lancashire. (North and South America) A record year, though it is just feasible that the Greater London bird merely did a tour around Britain. Black-browed Albatross Diornedea melanophns (2, 25, 0) IRELAND 1967 & 1968 Cork Following a review of all Irish records by the Irish Rare Birds Committee, records on 1st June 1967, 1st October 1967 and 13th August 1968 are no longer accepted {Irish Birds 6: 64). See also 1967 Cork under ‘Albatross’, below. 1995 Cork 3 km southwest of Cape Clear Island, adult or subadult, 9th September {Irish Birds 6: 64). 1996 Cork Cape Clear Island, adult, 22nd August {Irish Birds 6: 64). (Southern oceans) There has been none in Britain since 1995, when the adult at Hermaness, Unst, Shetland, put in its final (?) appearance, having returned to summer at the Saito outcrop in all but three years since 1972. Albatross Diornedea (2, 37, 0) IREIWND 1988 Cork 8 km southeast of Cape Clear Island, 8th July {Irish Birds 6: 64). 1968 & 1973 Cork Following a review of all Irish records by tire IRBC, records on 13th July 1968, two on 26th August 1968, 3rd September 1968 and 17th May 1973 are no longer accepted {Irish Birds 6: 64). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 different in the totals), ‘probably the same’ (counted as the same in the totals), or ‘the same’ when the ev'idence is certain or overwhelming. An identical approach is applied to records of a particular 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 460 Rogers et al.\ Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 1967 Cork Cape Clear Island, adult, 2nd September, previously accepted as Hlack-browed D. melanop/ins-, now accepted as unidentified albatross (Irish Birds 6: 64). (Southern oceans) The totals include those specifically identified. xMadeira/Cape Verde Petrel Pierodroma ))iadeiralfeae (0, 22, 1) Norfolk Blakeney Point, 26th June (S. J. McEKvee); same, Cley (S. J. M. Gandett); same, Sheringham (I. K. & Mrs K. Johnson); same, Mundesley (M. Fiszer). 1996 Cornwall Gwennap Head, lldi June (J. Hawkey). 1996 Scilly About 3.2 km southwest of Bishop Rock, 18th August (W. H. VX'agstaff). IRKIANU 1974 Cork Cape Clear Island, 5th September (Irish Birds 6: 65), previously accepted only as an unidentified Pierodroma petrel (Bril. Birds 70; 445). 1989 Cork Old Head of Kinsale, 14th August (Irisii Birds 6: 65), previously accepted only as an unidentified Pierodroma petrel (Sm. Birds 86: 453). 1994 Cork Mizen Head, one or possibly two, 24th August (Irish Birds 6: 65), not ‘uvo’ as previously stated (Bril. Birds 88: 497). 1995 Kerry Kerry Head, 26th August, probably same as Brandon Point nine hours later on same date (Bril. Birds 90: 458; Irish Birds 6; 65). 1996 Cork Cape Clear Island, 22nd August (Irish Birds 6: 64). 1996 Down St John’s Point, 22nd August (Norihcm Ireland Bird Rep. 1996: 21; Irish Birds 6: 64). (Central Adantic) Soft-plumaged Petrel P. mollis is now excluded by this Committee from the formula employed by the BOURC, no British or Irish record having involved a bird showing a combination of a complete (or near- complete) breastband and a short rounded tail, concolorous witii the uppertail- coverts and back. In so far as exclusion of P. madeira is concerned, die Committee follows die view that its identification in the field as clearly separable from P. feae still remains to be rigorously tested. The 1974 Irish record becomes the first, predating the one at Porthgwarra, Cornwall, during 12th to 14th August 1990 (Brit. Birds 85; 510; 87: 509). Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis (5, 93, 1) Pembrokeshire Strumble Head, 12th September (G. H. Rees ei al). IRia.ANO 1996 Clare Bridges of Ross, 16th August (Irish Birds 6; 66). (Atlantic south from Madeira and Caribbean, southern Pacific and Indian Oceans) After two blank years in Britain, a typical record in what is the peak month, accounting for 27% of the total. This species continues to have the dubious distinction of having just about the highest rejection rate, but die Committee does not entirely subscribe to the view tiiat the species is as rare in British & Irish waters as has been suggested in some circles; it is, however, an apparent anomaly that seven records of eight corpses fall in die period 7tl-i March to 29th June. Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus (4, 23, 1 ) Pembrokeshire Strumble Head, 5th September (C. Benson, R. H. Davies, G. H. Rees). At sea Sea area Sole, 49°07'N 07°04'W, about 64 km southwest of Bishop Rock, Scilly, two, lOth August (M. S. Wallen ei at.); about 1 1.3 km southwest of St Agnes, Scilly, 24th August (P. K. Greaves el al.). IRH1.AN1) 1995 Cork Cape Clear Island, 27th July; Uvo, 19th August (Irish Birds 6: 66). 1996 Cork Cape Clear Island, 17th August; presumed different, 18th August (Irish Birds 6: 66). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 461 (Southern oceans) Mainland sightings are still very rare: the Pembrokeshire record is the third from that headland, but, in Britain, St Ives, Cornwall, leads the way with seven. Reports of up to four on the Scillonian pelagic trip were not substantiated by the details received by the Committee. Frigatebird Fregata (0, 5, 0) IREL.AND 1995 Dublin Booterstown, female or immature, 22nd June {Insli Birds 6: 66). (Tropical oceans) Presumably the same individual as that seen earlier in the month in Cornwall and then in Dyfed (Brit. Birds 89: 487). Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus (150, 191, 6) Hertfordshire Rye Meads, d, 17th- 18th May, trapped 17th (A. J. Harris et al). Lancashire Marton Mere, d, 12tli-23rd June (M. Jones et al). Norfolk Holme, d, 13th-16th June, probably since 11th (G. F. Hibberd, M. J. & Mrs D. E. Saunt, J. R. Williamson et al). Scilly St Mary’s, ?, 3rd-5th May, photo. (M. S. Scott et al). Shetland Lera Voe and Footabrough area, 9, 12th-30th June, photo. (O. Cheyne, P. Sclater et al). Somerset Highbridge, d, 6tli-10th April, photo. (R. J. Ingram, B. E. Slade el al) (fig. 1). 1958 Somerset Locality withheld, d, intermittentiy, 21st June to 1st August; $, 18tlr, 27th July, 12th August (Brit. Birds 53: 160; 74: 396), locality was Huntworth. 1960 Cambridgeshire Locality withlield, d, $, intermittentiy, 21st June to 19th July {Brit. Birds 54: 180), locality was Stibbington Gravel-pits, Huntingdonshire. 1993 Dorset Radipole, d, 7th May (T. Baker). (West Eurasia, Africa and Australia; winters Africa and Southern Asia) A fairly typical year in terms of dates and numbers, though the Shetland record is noteworthy, being only the fifth for that archipelago: the last was way back Fig. 1. Male Little Bittern Ixobtychus minutus, Somerset, April 1997 (Brian E. Slade) 462 Rogers et al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (165, 377, 17) Cornwall Skewjack, adult, 23rd April (K. A. 'X^ilson). Gwent Llandegfedd Reserv'oir, juvenile, 7th-30th July Q. R. Bennett, C. Jones, M. Plunket ei al.). Norfolk Little Dunliam, juvenile, 26th-28th Januan,’ (K. Bishop et al.). Holkham, up to five, 7th May to 28th August: two adults, lst-29tli June; two second-summers, 7th May to 28th August; subadult, 15th May to end of June (V. Eve, M. Tunmore et al.). Honing, juvenile, 2nd September (C. Lansdell). Northumberland HoKwell Dene, two adults, one second-summer, llth-21st May (M. D. Plenty et al.). Scilly St Maty’s, adult, 11th June (M. S. Scott, N. Wheadey). Somerset Shapwick Heath, adult, 13th May (Dr P. J. Knight et al.); two adults, 14th- 15th June, one to at least 22nd (J. A. & JVlrs K. L. Hazell et al.). 'X'esthay Moor, two, age uncertain, 14th August (B. D. Gibbs, R. Musgrove); two, possibly three, 22nd, 28th Q. A. Hazell per B. D. Gibbs); presumed same as Shapwick Headi. Wiltshire Cotswold Water Park, adult, 7th August (P. Adams). 1991 Devon Brixham, adult, February, date uncertain, photo. Q. Hingley). 1996 Clyde Strathaven, juvenile, 21st-24th July (A. I. English et al.). (South Eurasia, Africa and the Americas; European population winters Africa) Multiple occurrences are not, in themselves, unprecedented. In the last century, eight adults were collected from the Riv'er Erme at Rete, Dev'on, in May/June 1849 {Zoologist (1849): 2528) and, much more recently, up to nine were in Scilly in the spring of 1990. The summering birds in Norfolk and Somerset, mirroring the rv\’o adults in Kent last year, have, however, raised hopes that this species may be a future colonist. Witli regard to the free-flying collections {Bnt. Birds 89: 487-488), tlie present situation in Norfolk is tliat: at Earsham, the colony no longer exists; but, at Great Witchingham, in addition to up to 30 individuals held in captivity in tlie park, there are thought to be up to 30 free-flying unmarked birds. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (95, 43, 5) Cambridgeshire Ouse XX'ashes area, firsl-summer, 7th to at least 9th July, photo.; same, Ely, 26th July to 2nd August (A. S. Cook et al.). Devon Seaton, 15th May (P. Abbott, R. Annlng, 'P. Wiley et al.). GloucestershireAViltshire Cotswold Water Park, 24tli June to 1st July, photo. (G. A. J. Deacon, K. J. Grearson et al.) (plate 121). Also in Somerset. Somerset Rode, first-summer, 13tln June (B. J. "W^dden et al.). Presumed same as Gloucestershire/Wiltshire. Surrey NX’alton Reserv'oir, 17th June (D. M. Harris et al). Sussex, East Bodle Street, 18th-20th June (A. & Mrs J. Ainslie, A. Aldridge, MT. R. Potter). Wiltshire Sec GloucestershireAlfiltshire above. IRELAND 1996 Cork Ballycotton, 13th- 17th June (Irish Birds 6: 66). (Southern Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa; winters Africa) A good year, die arrival dates falling neady into die already established peak period. This species has been recorded in seven of the past ten years, accounting for over hall of the post- 1958 total. This is perhaps surprising when die species has declined over much of its range in Europe, but it is most likely attributable to overshoots from an increasing Spanish populadon. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (2, 86, 1 ) Cheshire West Kirby, 30th April (C. 1. Buttcrworth). 1987 Shropshire Near Westbuiy, adult, dead, January, date uncertain, mounted specimen British Birds, vol. 91, no. 1 1, November 1998 463 held by R. Dodwell, photo. (J. Beecroft). Presumed same as Doxey Marshes, Stafford, 7th January, previously in Derbyshire {Brit. Birds 81: 542). 1992 Yorkshire, East Hornsea Mere, 14th May, photo. (T. D. Charlton, D. R. Middleton el ai). 1996 Pembrokeshire Skomer, 30th April (W. Parker, P. Pugh el al). 1996 Yorkshire, South Thorne area, 12th October to 29th November, 22nd December {Bnt. Birds 90: 459), dates were 11th October to 29th December, found/identified by B. P. Wainwright. IRELAND 1996 Wexford Ring Marsh, 31st March {Irish Birds 6: 66). (Almost cosmopolitan in tropics; nearest breeding in north of France) A poor year by recent standards, though there was a blank in 1991. The additional 1992 record completes the picture for the influx of at least 19 in that year. Great White Egret Egretta alba (10, 79, 8) Cambridgeshire Fen Drayton Gravel-pits, 4th-5th December; same. Marsh Lane Gravel- pits, 6th-8th Q. Oates et al.) . Devon Axmouth Marsh, 21st July (A. J. Bundy et al). Dawlish Warren and Countess Wear, 18th and 22nd October (I. W. Lakin, A. Rosier, K. Rylands et al.). Glamorgan Kenfig, 22nd July (N. P. Roberts). Greater London Brent Reservoir, 13th May G--P- Charteris, A. M. Self, M. Wurr). Hampshire Lymington, 19th August (G. Giddens). Surrey Cranleigh, 22nd-23rd December (R. Stride et al). 1996 Kent Bough Beech Reser\'oir, 5th- 14th January (C. Bond et al); same as East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire {Brit. Birds 90: 460). IRELAND Antrim Black Glen, 8th October to 29th November. (Almost cosmopolitan, extremely local in Europe) The first for Northern Ireland. Details of a much-publicised bird in Northamptonshire have not yet been submitted, as is also the case with the well-watched individual in Norfolk. In the Channel Islands, one was at St Saviour’s, Guernsey, on 23rd October 1996. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinelliis (many, 70, 2) Lancashire Pilling Lane Ends, two, 20th-29th April (R. E. Danson, S. J. Dodgson, M. Jones el al). 1996 Pembrokeshire Skokholm, 19th June (G. V. F. Thompson, J. & Mrs G. Threadgold); presumed same as Marines, 16th {Brit. Birds 90: 460). 1996 Somerset Ston Easton, first-winter, 28tli November, photo. (D. Clothier, Mrs B. Watts per K. E. Vinicombe). IRELAND 1996 Cork Clogheen Marsh, Inchydoney, immature, 20th-2 1 st June {Irish Birds 6: 67). 1996 Wexford North Slob, from 1995 {Brit. Birds 90: 460) to 15th May, and Tacumsliin, immature, 6th July to 21st August, presumed same as North Slob individual {Irish Birds^: 67). (Almost cosmopolitan, nearest breeding colonies in Balkans and irregularly Camargue, France) A Yorkshire record remains to be dealt with. Altliough the Puna Ibis P. ridgzvayi is known to be still at Whitwell, Hertfordshire, where it has been in residence since May 1980, there has been no recent evidence that it has been given to travelling far afield. Lesser White-fronted Goose Amer eiythropiis (47, 87, 1) Norfolk Holkliam, adult, 12th-22nd Januaiyy photo. (A. I. Bloomfield, P. Tuck et al). (Northeast Europe and Siberia; winters Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia) With the now regular wintering of small numbers in the Netherlands, it 464 Rogers et al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 is perhaps surprising that this species has not become more frequent on tlie East Coast. Brent Goose Branta bemicla B. b. nigricans (1, 75, 13) Anglesey Penrhos, 23rd-30th March, photo. (M. Robinson et al.). Dorset Fenybridge, 14th- 17th January (G. Walbridge el al.). Essex North VC'oodham Ferrers, 8th December 1996 to 1997 (Brit. Birds 90: 461), presumed same. South Woodham Ferrers to 7th March (A. VC'. Shearring el al.). Maldon, 5th JanuaiA' (S. D. VC'ood). Flolland Haven, 18th January (P. Davis, M. L. Hawkes, S. J. Patient). Cudmore Grove, two, 26th-28th January, one since 25di, one photo. (S. J. Dodgson et al.). Holliwell Point, at least 1st February (C. McClure et al.). Kent Otterham Creek and Horsham Marsh, 18th January to 2nd February (C. G. Bradshaw, J. A. Rowlands, Mrs A. Shepherd et al.)-, presumed same, Eg\pt Bay/St Mary’s Bay, 16th, 23rd February (M. J. Orchard). Momey Hill, two, 7th April (A. Parker); one, 2nd-30th November (C. G. Bradshaw). Lancashire Pilling Lane Ends, since 17th December 1996 (Brit. Birds 90: 461), to 24tli February (per M. Jones). Norfolk Cley, 17th to at least 18th Januar\’ (J. Jury, F. J. VC'atson et al.), presumed same as Salthouse and area, 23rd November 1996 (Bni. Birds 90: 461). Lynn Point, 5tli February (A. Collins). Titchwell, d'hornham and Holme area, 5tlt December to 1998 (P. Bradley, G. E. Dunmore et al.). Suffolk F'alkenham, 23rd January (D. Low); presumed same, lst-25tli February (M. C. Marsh et al.); presumed remrning individual last recorded 25tli February 1996 (Bril. Birds 90: 461 ). Cowton, 26th December to 6Ui January 1998 Q. H. Grant et al.). 1995 Kent Coombe and St Mary’s Bays, 3rd, 26di December Q. Martin, D. Mercer, M. J. Orchard), presumed same as Gillingham, November-December 1994 (Brit. Birds 90: 461). 1996 Hampshire Needs Ore Point, 1 lth-29tli May (A. Rliodes, D. J. Unswortli et al.). IRl-LANO 1996 Londonderry Lough Foyle, adult, 7tli October to 15tli November (Northern Ireland Bird Rep. 1996: 29). (Arctic North America and East Siberia; winters USA and East Asia) A record year. Some authorities, notably the Dutch rarities committee (CDNA), treat this form and the pale-bellied Brent Goose B. b. hrota as specifically distinct from the nominate dark-bellied Brent Goose {Dutch Birding 19: 21-28). Red-breasted Goose Branta nificollis (15, 33, 1) Essex See 1996 Essex below. Hampshire Keyhaven Marsh, first-winter, 17th February' (D. & G. VC'albridge), present 15tli January to at least 30th March; also in Isle of Vfight. Wight, Isle of Compton, first-winter, 1st to at least 6th January Q. C. Gloyn el al.); also in Hampshire. 1996 Essex Old Hall Marshes, adult, 14tli January (M. L. Hawkes); present, 3rd-4tli; presumed same, Mersea Island, 21st December to 16th February 1997, photo. (M. L. Hawkes et al.). Presumed same as Holland Haven, 21st F’ebruaiy' 1996 (Brit. Birds 90: 461), and as returning Esse.x/Kent individual, 1993-94. (West Siberia; winters Southeast Europe) The credentials of these birds are good, but escapees continue to pose the Committee problems. In Hampshire, a colour-ringed adult was picked up dead at Needs Ore Point on 17tli February, and another adult, bearing a black colour ring, was at Warsash during 1 5tly February to 8th April at least, in association witli Brent Geese B. bernicla, though known escapees usually keep less convincing company. American Wigeon Anas americana (22, 311, 18) Anglesey/Caernarfonshire Conwy listuaiy and Llanlairfechan area, 6, since 7th October British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 465 CyL MifH OA<3VC» r «swi Oso^orsi . GAi^n.,f^Ot c*»sj Oicruj/v* ^ .NJAf'f T£/2riAt*» — 6r££y X^NtyL •%»£-€£; ^ CnJTe^ W.TM *N/HtT£ ftS./MaCi V'lHiTfi £.y^cjC> CliV.OOi Pc^T To fc«£„£AC T« CiZC'xIi'J Mote. AjA/'c£. Tma»o f^cAfsiKS. Wj-^r (yW2K S-^-At.c.Cr'S . VNHtTg. SgtwV PAw£ 0»^Avg„„c. A^«a<,£ IS - Pfl,.££. &.0T<1W,M£„ ThA,v4 ^f^CiSATAiL. foVC,e.T £ . 6C4-KY TVyAAJ e. Kl<6^£o^ AJCT.C^eA^V fi£rwe£^ M*ft^rtH£. -»- Fig. 2. First-winter male American Wigeon Anas ajuericana, Hayle, Cornwall, October 1997 {Steve Dodgson) 1996 {Brit. Birds 90: 461), to 21st Febmary, photo.; presumed same, 13di December to 1998. Cambridgeshire Fen Drayton, d, since 30th December 1996 to 5tii January {Brit. Birds 90: 461). Ouse Washes, 6, 24th Febmary, 11th March (M. A. Ward et al). Cheshire Frodsham, first-winter cJ, 13th October (W. S. Morton). Cleveland Seal Sands and Greenabella Marsh, d, 4th-9th October (G. Joynt ei al.). Cornwall Stithians Reservoir, d, since 23rd November 1996 {Brit. Birds 90: 462), to 21st Febmary. Hayle, first-winter d, 3rd October to 1998, photo. (S. J. Dodgson et al.) (fig. 2). Cumbria Hodbarrow, d, 20th May (C. Raven, S. C. Peters). Ravenglass area, d, 9th-16th November (S. J. Dodgson). Devon Ilsley Marsh, Taw Estuary, d, since 10th October 1996 {Brit. Birds 90: 462), to 9th Febmaiy', photo. Dorset The Fleet and area, d, 28th October to 1998 (N. Fowler et al). Durham Witton le Wear, d, 9th Febmary to 25th March (M. Irvin et al). Fife Craigluscar Reser\mirs, d, 9th March (J. S. Nadin et al.). Kent Cliffe, first-winter d, 28th September to 14th October (P. Larkin, M. J. Orchard, R. C. Peters). 466 Rogers el al:. Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Lancashire Heysham, d, intermittently, 12th Januar\' to 14th February, photo. (P. J. Marsh et al. y Lincolnshire Read’s Island, 6, 5th October (G. P. Catley). Norfolk Welney, d, 24th Januar\- Q. B. Kemp). Outer Hebrides Loch Leodasay, Nortlr List, and area, 6, since 10th November 1996 (Bril. Birds 90: 462), to 15th March. Oxfordshire Stanton Harcourt, d, 7th July to at least 28th August, photo. (J. Baker el al.). Pembrokeshire See 1996 Pembrokeshire below. Shetland Loch of Spiggie, first-summer d, 24th May; same, Loch of HiUwell, 25th-28th (R. Baatsen, R. M. Fray, M. Lawson et al.). Somerset Catcott Lows, d, 20th March (P. Amies, G. Evans, G. Suter). Staffordshire Blithfield Reser\’oir, d, 9th-23rd Februar\- (P. D. Hyde, W. J. Low ei al.). Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, first-winter d, since 13th October 1996 (Brit. Birds 90; 462), to 15th February. Yorkshire, North Knaresborough, d, 16th-22nd March (R. Evison, I. Webster et al.). 1995 Gwent Dingestone, $, 26th August to 10th September (S. D. S. Bosanquet, A. E. D. Hickman). 1996 Hampshire Lower Test Marshes, d, since 22nd October 1995 (Brit. Birds 89: 491) to 25th March. 1996 Pembrokeshire Lawrenny, d, 27th December to 3rd Januar\’ 1997 (C. & R. Stonier et al.). IRl-IARD 1994 Cork Carrigadrohid, d, 20th-21st November, presumed to be one of two dd near Macroom on 5th March 1995 (Bril. Birds 90: 462; Irish Birds 6: 68). 1996 Cork Lee Reservoir, d, 21st January, presumed returning individual. Reendonegan Lake, d, 9, 21st Januarc', one presumed returning individual. Rostellan, two adult dd, one first-year d, 17th November to 24th December, one adult d presumed returning individual. (Irish Birds 6: 68) 1996 Donegal Blanket Nook, d, 2nd FebruarN’ (Irish Birds 6: 68). 1996 Tipperary Ashton’s Callow, d, 8th November (Irish Birds 6: 68). 1996 Wexford North Slob, d in eclipse, 13th October; first-wdnter, 3rd November to 29th December (Irish Birds 6: 68). (North America; winters USA and Central America) Anotlier good showing. The Caernarfonshire individual was present for its third winter. The last summering bird was a male in Angus & Dundee in 1984 (Brit. Birds 83; 448), so the Oxfordshire record is noteworthy, tliough cynics may well question the origins of such birds. Common Teal Anas crecca A. c. carolinensis ( 1 3, 428, -) IRI-IWND 1981 Dublin North Bull Island, d, 29th November, presumed returning individual {Irish Birds 6: 68). (North America) 'Fhis race was no longer considered by tlie Committee after 1990, but, for the sake of completeness, Irish as well as British records for the earlier period are updated. The Dutch rarities committee (CDNA) treats this form as specifically distinct from Common Teal on tlie basis of differences in morphology (Dutch Birding 20: 22-32). Black Duck Anas mbripes (1, 20, 0) Scilly fresco, d, since 1996 (Brit. Birds 90: 462) to 1st November. 1986 Yorkshire, East Broomlleet Ponds, d, 1st September (Brit. Birds 80: 527), now considered inadequately documented. IRIilANI) 1996 Kerry Barri)w Harbour, d, 19th September into February 1997 (Irish Birds 6; 68). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 467 (North America) Rather disappointingly, details of a ‘well-twitched’ female present at Almrlie Point, Highland, from 13th January to 1st April 1997 have yet to be submitted. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors (19, 200, 7) Derbyshire Monsal Dale area, 3, 1st March to 20th April, photo. (B. Crossthwaite, M. Lacey et al.) (plate 113); probably same as Middleton Moor, 24th-27th August, lOth-llth November 1996 {Bnt. Birds 90: 463). Devon Kingsteignton and Bowling Green Marsh, $, 27th March to 19th April (M. Knott, K. Rylands et al.). Paignton, 6, 25th-26th December (C. Bath). Flintshire Point of Ayr, 3, 2nd- 12th October (R. Penson et al.). Lincolnshire North Somercoates, first-winter, 28tlr September (G. P. Catiey). Norfolk Stiffkey Fen, 3, 22nd-23rd December (V. J. Hanlon et al.). Northumberland Holywell Pond, 9, 5th January (C. Annan, T. R. Cleeves, M. Hepple et al.). Suffolk Pipps Ford Gravel-pits, Needham Market, 9, 23rd September to 19th February 1998 (P. Whittaker et al.). IRELAND 1977 Dublin North Bull, rrj>rv\ X I. ^ l-M ■ C) ■' j OaJ . P fiXn j t 1 ft t 11 . ^ iL, . -..V , - ■ ; i - _ - - f , \ ■ - . 1- V ‘ 4 ‘ i t*- ' - ; W"!- ' 4 < . foJ/V ..-L^ V-' i'/ _bv ur'- *■ OM-f- ha , r-A- - . . , 1 J be i^. <1 - h w -li, Lh'’ " 7 H.<. P# J _ J Fig. 3. Male Redhead Aythya americana, Leicestershire, February 1997 (7- Wright). See page 467. 470 Rogers et ai: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 BuflQehead Bucephala albeola (5, 4, 1) Suffolk Heveningham Hall Lake, 6, 29th November to at least 6th December, lst-21st January 1998, photo. (A. Howe et al). (North America) Unlike the as-yet-undocumented East Yorkshire individual in 1997, this bird was definitely not carr\’ing a ring, despite reports to the contrary, though that is not positive evidence in fav'our of a wild origin. Black Kite Milvus migrans (5, 249, 9) Cleveland/North Yorkshire Leven Valley, 28th April (G. Iceton). Derbyshire Carr Vale, 22nd April (M. A. Beevers, R. Box). Dorset Verne Common, 22nd April (C. E. Richards, C. White). Blacknor Point, Portland, two, 24* April (G. Walbridge, C. White, H. G. Wood Homer). Dumfries & Galloway Loch Ryan, 9th August (C. Baines). Orkney North Ronaldsay, 2nd- 13th May, photo. (M. Gray et al.)-, presumed same as Shedand. Shetland Kergord, Scalloway and Alid Yell area, 15th May to at least 18th August, photo. (P. M. Ellis, J. Mitchell et al.) (plate 1 17); presumed same as Orkney. Suffolk Benacre, 16th March (C. A. Butde, A. Riseborough, D. Walden); same, Lowestoft, 16th (N. Skinner). Yorkshire, North See Cleveland North Yorkshire abo\'e. Yorkshire, South Near Maltby, 27th April (R. & Mrs J. Hardcasde, A. Hirst). 1994 Essex Great y('akering, 28th April (P. Low). IREIWND 1980 Cork Ganyvoe and Ballycotton, 20th April to 13th May (Msh Birds 6: 71). (Most of Eurasia, Africa and Australia) Claims of this easy-to-identify (but difficult-to-prove) species provide many a Committee member’s headache; the recurring ‘nightmare’ is of multiple-recirculation batches, made up solely of reports of this species. 4'he 1980 Co. Cork record becomes the first for Ireland, predating the one at Killoughter, Co. Wicklow, on 11th May 1981 (Brit Birds 75: 496). White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (many, 23, 1) Ceredigion Tregaron, first-year, 12th November (P. E. Daws, L. R. Holliwell, A. Webb et al.). Cheshire Chelford, first-year, 28th October (S. & Mrs G. Barber). Norfolk Burnham 0\'ery, first-year, 28th October (I. Barton, K. Rosewame, C. Symes et al.). (Southwest Greenland, Iceland and northern Eurasia) The first since 1994. With the improving fortunes of the re-established population in northwest Scotland, an increasing number of unmarked immatures are ‘on tlie loose’, making it progressively more difficult to ascertain the likely origin of many individuals. The credentials of this bird are, however, as good as any; having possibly arrived from across the North Sea, it made good progress, traversing the country’ aided by a strong easterly tailwind, travelling the 210 km to Cheshire in under five hours. It then resurfaced in Wales, more tlian two weeks later, the sight of it ‘attended to’ by up to eight Red Kites Milvus milvus and a Common Buzzard Buteo buteo more than just reward for the party’ tliat was dipping’ on a Rustic Bunting Emberiza mstica present the previous day. In Ireland, an immature eagle Haliaeetus at Lough Beg, Co. Londondern’, on 22nd December 1996 was either this species or Bald Eagle H. leucocepl talus (Northern Ireland Bird Rep. 1996: 38; Irish Birds 6; 71). Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus (100, 569, 17) Dorset Durlston Head, $, 26* September (S. J. Morrist>n). Kent Stodmarsh, 6, 5* May (D. Tutt). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 471 Leicestershire Kelham Bridge, near Ravenstone, first-summer i, 9th- 1 0th June, photo. (I. Merrill et al.). Norfolk East Ruston, 6, llth-17th May, photo. Q. S. Hampshire, A. J. Kane et al.) (plates 118-120); presumed same, Hickling, 17th-18th (R. & Mrs L. Stimpson). Burnham Norton, 3, 14th May (Mr & Mrs M. Stones, R. A. Stroud). Stiffkey, 3, age uncertain, 29th May (A. I. Bloomfield,]. R. McCallum). Winterton, $, 8th June (I. N. Smith). Norfolk/SuflFolk Near Herringfleet, first-summer 3, 14th May (P. R. Allard). Northamptonshire Earl’s Barton Gravel-pits, first-summer 3, 7th-8th June, photo. (P. Britten et al.). Outer Hebrides Balivanich, Benbecula, 9, 23rd May (P. R. Boyer). Oxfordshire Near Merton, 9, 23rd to at least 25th June, photo. (B. Batchelor et al.). Suffolk Westleton Heath, first-summer d, 1 1th May (J. C. Eaton). Minsmere, first-summer 3, 14th- 18th Alay (G. R. Welch et al.)-, 9, 30th-31st May (D. Fairhurst, P. Green, G. R. Welch et al.). See also Norfolk/Suffolk above. Surrey Near Shamley Green, first-summer 3, 3rd July, injured, taken into care, photo., released in good health, Thursley Common, 30th May 1998 (D. M. Harris, Hydestile Wildlife Hospital et al.). Yorkshire, East Spurn, first-summer 3 3, 4th June (J. Cudworth); 7th-8th June, photo. (A. Archer, S. J. Standring). 1992 Lothian Yellowcraig, first-summer 3, remains of, 5th July, photo. (A. Bain per I. J. Andrews) . (East Europe to Central Siberia; winters Africa) A return to a more-typical series of records, with just one in autumn. The individual in the Outer Hebrides is only the second there, following a male on Benbecula during 1 6th- 21st June 1973 (Btil. Birds 67; 318-319). In the Channel Islands, there was a female at Tourgis Hill, Alderney, on 18th June 1997. Gyr Falcon Falco msticolus (many, 123, 2) Orkney Hoy, adult, white phase, 22nd March (S. Dunnet, J. R. L. Hogarth et al.). Outer Hebrides Hirta, St Kilda, white phase, 19th April, photo. (K. Douglas, S. Murray). IRELAND 1996 Donegal Tory Island, 24th April {Irish Birds 6: 72). (Circumpolar Arctic) Very predictable in terms of both timing and location. The identification of this species has been well covered by Shirihai, Forsman, Christie & Gale in ‘Field identification of large falcons in the West Palearctic’ {Brit. Birds 91: 12-35). Little Crake Porzana parva (68, 31, 1) Kent Bough Beech Resert^oir, 3, 23rd-30th March, photo. (G. Harris, C. & Mrs M. Langton et al.) (plate 122). (Central and East Europe and West Asia) What was arguably the most appreciated find of the spring departed just before the Bank Holiday, disappointing many would-be observers. Four of the last five records have been in spring, so it is perhaps surprising that the peak month is November, with seven records. Black- winged StUt Himantopus himantopus (98, 212, 4) Avon Oldbury-on-Severn, 17th May (A. J. Middleton). Caernarfonshire Cors Geirch, Pwllheli, first-year, 28th March to 1st April (R. I. Thorpe, E. Urbanski et al.). Essex Rainham Marsh, first-year, 10th-20th September, photo. (S. Pickering et al.). Norfolk TitchweU, from 1996 {Brit. Birds 90; 468), throughout year. Northamptonshire Earl’s Barton Gravel-pits, 15th May, photo. (R. W. Bullock, P. Storr et al.). 1995 Essex Hanningfield Resertmir, 8, 9, 10th May (D. L. Acfield, J. T. Smith, R. Widgery et al.). 472 Rogers et al.\ Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 IREIAND 1987 Roscommon 2 km north of Clonmacnoise, 5th-6th May {Irish Birds 6; 72). (Southern Eurasia, Africa, the Americas and Australia) The 1995 Essex birds were additional to the two in the Pitsea and Conton area on 19th-22nd May {Brit. Birds 89: 497), which were differently marked. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola (31, 50, 2) Lancashire Pilling Lane Ends, 7th July (L. G. Blacow, S. J. Dodgson, A. Sharpies et al.). Norfolk Berney Marshes, 15th-17th May (P. R. Allard et al.); also entered Suffolk (per D. J. Holman); same, Burnham Norton, 26th (R. Q. Skeen), Titchwell, lst-8th June, 6th July, intermittendy, 14th-21st, photo. (M. L. Havvkes, S. J. Patient et al.). Holme, 9th July (per G. E. Dunmore), Snettisham, 19th (per G. E. Dunmore), also Cley, Holkham. Metton and Felbrigg area, first-winter, 12th-28th October, photo. (N. R. & Miss F. A. Stocks et al.) (plate 123); also in Suffolk. Suffolk Gorton, 29th September (P. Ransome), presumed same as Norfolk. 1996 Suffolk Dunwich, 8th June {Brit. Birds 90: 468), finder/identifier was B. J. Small. (South Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa; winters Africa) It is now safe to assume that the adult in Norfolk is that which has put in annual appearances since 1994; the total is therefore adjusted by one to reflect tliis. As a result, the other two birds become the first ‘new blood’ since tliat bird’s arrival in 1994. Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni (5, 26, 1) Lancashire Martin Mere, 22nd August to 16th September, photo. (H. Shorrock et al.). 1996 Cumbria See 1996 Lancashire below. 1996 Lancashire Leighton Moss and Mid Eoulshaw area, first-summer, 25th-28tii August {Brn. Birds 90: 468), latter localiw is in Cumbria; observ'ed either there, Halforth or Arnside Marsh, 25th, 27tii, 28th (I. R. Kinley, K. Tate el al.). (West Asia; winters Africa) The longest-stayer ever; it is possible that it was the remrning 1996 individual. Semipalmated Plover Charadniis semipalmatus (0, 1, 1) Devon Dawlish Warren, first-summer, mid April to 21st September, photo. (M. Ahmad, J. E. Fortey, I. W. Lakin, K. Rylands et al.) (plates 106-109). (North America) I’he long-awaited second, following the juvenile on St Agnes, Scilly, from 9th October to 9th November 1978 {Brit. Birds 73: 458- 464). All the above-named observers are to be congratulated for their part in the finding, identification and high standard of submission of this record. The bird s prolonged presence at an accessible mainland site not surprisingly resulted in a mass twitch, and that, combined with tlie inevitable discussion tliat ensued, has resulted in a far wider understanding of the identification criteria for this ‘difficult’ species. In consequence, there will surely not be such a long wait for the next one? Killdeer Plover Charadriiis vocifems (9, 47, 0) IRELAND 1996 Cork Cape Clear Island, first-year, 18th October {Irish Birds 6: 72). 1996 Offaly Shannon Harbour, 16th December {Irish Birds 6: 72). (North America; winters USA and Central America) American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica (3, 206, 5) Cumbria Bowness-on-Solway, adult, 2nd October, photo. (D. G. H. & Mrs M. W'est et at.). Lincolnshire South P’erriby and Read’s Island, age uncertain, 24th )ulv to 13th August (G. P. Catiey et al.). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 473 Outer Hebrides North Boisdale, South Uist, juvenile, 2nd-3rd October (L. M. & R. J. Safford et al). Scilly St Mary’s and Tresco, adult, 20th September to 12th October, photo. Q. Reynolds et al). St Martin’s, adult, 21st September; same, Tresco, 22nd; same, St Mary’s, 23rd-24th (J. Reynolds, W. H. Wagstaff et al). 1978 Kent Grove Ferry, possibly first-year, 29th April to 2nd May {Brit. Birds 75: 500), now accepted as P. dominica. 1982 Kent Elmley, adult, 16th-29th May {Brit. Birds 90: 469), now accepted as P. dominica, photo. 1995 Yorkshire, South South Anston, 31st August to 6th September {Brit. Birds 89: 498), identifier was M. Thomas. IRELAND 1991 Kerry Blackrock, juvenile, 27th October {Irish Birds 6: 73). 1996 Cork Inchydoney, two adults, 25th October, one remaining until 29th October, other at Rosscarbery, 27th and 29th October {Irish Birds 6: 73). 1996 Offaly Shannonbridge, adult, 13th September {Irish Birds 6: 73). 1996 Wexford Tacumshin, 26th May, moved to Co. Wicklow, see below. Killag, juvenile, 18th October. {Irish Birds 6: 73) 1996 Wicklow Kilcoole, 6th-8th June, believed to be Tacumshin individual, see 1996 Wexford {Irish Birds 6: 73). (Arctic North America and extreme Northeast Asia; winters South America) The Committee’s review of ‘Lesser Golden Plover’ records has now been completed. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva (3, 40, 0) 1996 Cambridgeshire Swaffham Prior Fen, first-summer, 14tli-27th April, photo. (R. Grimmett, A. Long et al). (North and Northeast Asia, and Alaska; winters southern Asia, Australia and western North America) The first blank year for a decade. This species shows a very strong bias of adults in late summer/early autumn, that period accounting for 70% of the records. The additional 1996 record is noteworthy, therefore, being only the third spring occurrence, following records in May 1992 and March 1996. American/Pacific Golden Plover P. dominical fulva (6, 265, 7) Kent Pegwell Bay, adult, 12th June (D. C. Gilbert). Suffolk Walberswick, first-summer, 26th May (C. S. & H. Waller). 1978 Kent See American Golden Plover. 1982 Kent See American Golden Plover. 1996 Cornwall Land’s End, 28th January (R. Andrew). (Ranges: see above) The totals include those specifically identified. White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus (0, 4, 0) 1984 Shropshire Locality withheld, 24th-25th May {Bnt. Birds 78: 545; 79: 294), was near Telford. (South Russia and Middle East, and West Central Asia) Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla (2, 84, 1) Orkney Deemess, adult, 25th July (K. E. Hague). IRELAND 1996 Donegal Tory Island, juvenile, 14th-15tli September {Irish Birds 6: 73). 1996 Dublin Sandymount, juvenile, 21st-28th August {Irish Birds 6: 73). 1996 Wexford Tacumshin, juvenile, 6th-13th October {Irish Birds 6: 73). (North America; winters Central and South America) Only the fourth record for the Northern Isles and the third adult, the previous two having been in late spring. 474 Rogers et ai: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Western Sandpiper Cahdris maun (1, 6, 1) Lothian Musselburgh, first-summer or adult, 9th-25th August, probably since 25th luly, photo. (I. J. Andrews ei al.) (plate 125). IRELAND 1996 Wexford The CuU, adult, 20th-21st August {Irish Birds 6: 73). (North America; winters southern USA and Central America) This represents only the eighth record, and the sixth for Britain, where the last tvvitchable birds were way back in 1973. Previous occurrences have been in September (three) and in August (m-o), with singles in May/June and July. One can fully sympathise with the initial confusion, particularly when one recalls the events of ^e infamous ‘Felixstowe stint’ back in 1982 {Brit. Birds 79; 617-621). This bird s true identity became apparent at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water in August 1997, when a photograph was shown to Killian MuUamey, who noted that the bird had completed its moult into winter plumage, the timing of w'hich was a good two months too early for Semipalmated. Further close examination of tlie series of photographs revealed bill structure, face pattern, breast pattern and lone primary' projecting beyond the longest tertial that confirmed tlie identification beyond doubt. It is possible that a winter-plumaged stint observ'ed at the site on 12th June was the same bird. The 1996 Irish record is only the second there, following a juvenile at North Slob, Co. Wexford, during 3rd-6th September 1992 (Brit. Birds 86: 478). Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta (0, 3, 0) IRl-IAND 1996 Cork Ballycotton, 15th-16th June {Irish Birds 6: 73). (Breeds Siberia; winters India, Southeast Asia and Australia) Only tire third record and the first for Ireland. Previous records were at Marazion, Cornwall, in June 1970 and a juvenile at Saltholme Pool, Cleveland, in August- September 1982 {Brit. Birds 89: 12-24; 85: 429-436). White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis (24, 397, 2) Norfolk Cley, adult, 9th-14th July (D. H. Russell et al.)-, another adult, 17th-19th (I K Johnson et ai). 1996 Lothian Aberlady, age uncertain, 25th August (I. M. Ttomson). 1996 Norfolk Saltliouse, 2nd-8di November {Brit. Birds 90; 471), to 5th only See also 1996 Suffolk below. 1996 Suffolk Breydon, south shore, adults, 16th July, two 29th {Brit. Birds 90: 471), first date 23rd, not 16th (per D. F. Walsh); locality is in recording area of Suffolk but in administrative county of Norfolk. IREIAND 1993 Wexford Tacumshin, adult, 8th August {Irish Birds 6: 73). 1995 Wexford 'facumshin, adult, 13th August; adult, 30th August {Irish Birds 6: 73) 1996 Kerry Blackrock, first-winter, 10th-15th October {Irish Birds 6: 73). 1996 Wexford 'facumshin, adult, 3rd-9th August; two adults and four juveniles during 5tlt- 10th October; adult 5tli-10th, juvenile 5tli-6tli, uvo juveniles 6tli-10th, adult and juvenile 8tli- 10th {Irish Birds 6; 73). 1996 Wicklow Broadlough, adult, 7th September {Irish Birds 6: 73). (Northern North America; winters southern South America) 4Te poorest showing since 1992, but tliis Norfolk duo is tlioroughly in keeping witli die pattern of this species in Britain & Ireland, a subject which was recendv discussed by M. J. Rogers (Bnt. Birds 91: 283-285). 'Phe multiple occurrence in Co. Wexford in October 1996 is unprecedented, the date and British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 475 predominance of juveniles further evidence that birds in the West arrive via a more direct, transatlantic route. The additional 1996 records advance the total for last year to a record 26. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii (4, 196, 8) Cleveland Coatham Marsh, adult, 10th August (M. A. Blick, M. Corner). Cornwall Gannel Estuary, age uncertain, 3rd August (S. M. Christophers et al). Hayle, juvenile, 31st August (L. P. Williams et at). Devoran, juvenile, 10th to at least 18th September, photo. (M. May et al.) (plate 126). Gwent Llandegfedd Reservoir, juvenile, 26th September to 4th October, photo. (S. D. S. Bosanquet et al.). Norfolk Cantley, juvenile, 30th September to 10th October, photo. (B. Jarvis et al.). Scilly Bryher and Tresco, juvenile, 30th August to 12th September, photo. (B. Thomas et al.). Yorkshire, East Tophill Low, adult, 16th August (T. Dixon, P. W. Izzard et al.). 1996 Derbyshire Carsington Water, adult, 23rd July Q. Bradley, S. L. Thorpe). 1996 Kent Sandwich Bay, age uncertain, 4th October (D. Howe) (Brit. Birds 90: 519), now considered acceptable. IRELAND 1994 Cork Ballycotton, adult, 6th-7th August; juvenile, 27th-28th August (Irish Birds 6: 74). 1994 Kerry Blackrock Strand, juvenile, 3rd-5th September (Irish Birds 6: 74). 1995 Kerry Blackrock Strand, juvenile, 15th-17th September (Brit. Birds 90: 476), also 1 1th September. Smerwick Harbour, 15th September. (Irish Birds 6: 74) 1996 Clare Quilty, juvenile, 8th-10th October (Irish Birds 6: 74). 1996 Cork Ballycotton, adult, 31st May to 2nd June; juvenile, 25th-31st August (Irish Birds 6: 74). (North America and northeastern Siberia; winters South America) A return to a more-typical pattern of a predominance of juveniles in the Southwest, but a couple more East Coast adults, indicating that some, at least, arrive via a circuitous route, more in keeping with the preceding species’ pattern of vagrancy. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata (5, 18, 1) Cleveland Long Drag Pool, adult, 26th August, photo. (T. Francis et al). (Northeast Siberia; winters New Guinea and Australasia) The third record for Cleveland and typically of an adult in what has become the peak month, boasting ten records. As is the case for other Far Eastern wader species, there is a paucity of records of juveniles, there having been only four such records (one in August and three in October). Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus (23, 172, 3) Kent Cliffe, 31st May, photo. (R. M. Andrews, P. Larkin et al.). Lincolnshire Gibraltar Point, adult, 4th August, video. (M. Anderson, K. Wilson et al.). Norfolk Scolt Head, 3rd-4th June (N. M. Lawton, M. E. S. Rooney). 1996 Norfolk Titchwell, juvenile, 31st August (P. W. Atkinson et al). IRELAND 1996 Cork Ballycotton, adult, 2nd May (Irish Birds 6: 74). 1996 Down Belfast Harbour Pools, 13th- 14th May (Northern Irekmd Bird Rep. 1996: 50), not 13th-14th July as given in Irish Birds (6: 74). 1996 Wexford Tacumshin, adult, 19th-20th May (Irish Birds 6: 74). (North Eurasia; winters southern Asia and Australia) Another poor showing. Recorded annually since 1972, records of this species reached a peak in the 1980s, averaging nearly nine birds a year, with a record 13 in 1988. 476 Rogers ei al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Since then, numbers have fallen to just over five per annum in the present decade. Stilt Sandpiper Micropalarna hirnantopus (1, 25, 1) Suffolk Minsmere, adult, 7th-13th September, photo. (D. Eaton, B. J. Small et al.) (plate 127). (North America; winters South America) The first since 1990. There are no surprises with the date or location, and this becomes the third record for that site. This species shows a very strong late-summer/early-autumn bias, arrival dates peaking in August (ten) followed by July (six) and September (five), with just a single in October; the remainder were all in spring (three in April-May). The sole record of a juvenile was in Ireland, in Co. Cork in September 1991. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago G. g. delicata (-, 1, 0) IREIAND 1991 Londonderry Coleraine, juvenile, shot, 28th October (Northern Ireland Bird Rep. 1996: 52; Irish Birds 6: 75). (Northern North America; winters southern USA south to Brazil) A ‘first’ for Britain & Ireland and the West Palearctic. The Dutch rarities committee (CDNA) treats this taxon, colloquially known as ‘Wilson’s Snipe’, as specifically distinct from Common Snipe on the basis of differences in morphology^ vocalisations and drumming display (Dutch Birding 20: 22-32). Great Snipe Gallinago media (180, 94, 1) Shetland Fair Isle, 14th September (N. C. Ward). (Northeast Europe and Northwest Asia; winters Africa) The poorest showing since 1992, but one further record remains under consideration. Since 1958, 86% of the records have come from the eastern half of Britain and, of those, the Northern Isles account for half Of the remaining 1 1 occurrences, five, inexplicably, come from Scilly prior to 1974. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus (9, 185, 5) Breconshire Llangorse Lake, juvenile, 18th-21st October (V. A. King, M. F. Peers et al.). Carmarthenshire Penclacwydd, age uncertain, intermittendy, 30th November to 10th December (C. Harper, P. Rollin et al.). Kent Elmley, adult, intermittendy, 8th July to 7th December (G. W. Allison et al.). Lothian Gladhouse Reserv'oir, juvenile, 2nd-8th October, photo. (M. A. Wilkinson et al.). Norfolk TitchweO, adult, 10th June, photo. (R. Kimber, R. Q. Skeen et al.). (North America and Northeast Siberia; winters USA and Central America) A fairly typical year. Dowitcher identification and ageing was recently reviewed by Dr R. J. Chandler (Brit. Birds 91; 93-106). Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (12, 86, 2) Lothian Musselburgh, adult, 18th-19th May, photo. (B. Robertson, G. I'hompson et al.). Sussex, East Icklesham and Pett Level, adult, 1 1th August (P. M. I'roakc et al.). 1994 Flintshire River Clwyd near Rhuddlan, adult, 9th-27th August, photo. (C. Rowley, R. 1. Thorpe et al.). (Southeast Europe, West and East Asia; winters Africa, southern Asia and Australia) Two very typical records in terms of dates; August (27 records) and May (25 records) are the peak montlns for arrivals. 4'he Lotliian individual is only the eightln for Scotland. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 477 Greater Yellowlegs Tringa rnelanoleuca (12, 23, 0) 1996 Devon Braunton, 29th May (A. & Mrs P. Symons, J. Turner et al). IRELAND 1962 Antrim Bog Meadows, Belfast, 14th- 16th April {Irish Bird Rep. 11; 20). 1995 Kerry Tralee Bay, 17th November to 3rd December {Irish Birds 6: 75). (North America; winters USA south to southern South America) This species has now occurred in every month except June; with this record. May and September are now the peak months for arrival (each with six records). The most popular location is Scilly, with four records, but, surprisingly, there has been only one post- 1958 record there, way back in 1975. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes (35, 216, 6) Cornwall Hayle, adult, 28th August to 12th September, photo. (C. C. Barnard et al). Kent Dungeness, adult, 22nd July to 8th August, photo. (P. G. Akers, C. Westlake et al). Lancashire Leighton Moss, juvenile, at least 13th September, photo. (J. Leedal, P. Woodruff). Banks and Marshside Marshes and Martin Mere, first- winter, intermittently, 18th October to 1998, photo. (T. Baker, B. Woolley et al)-, with another first-winter, Banks Marsh, 26th December (P. J . Hornby, R. Jackson et al), there or Martin Mere to 1998 (P. J. Hornby et al). Wight, Isle of Bembridge, 6th March (D. J. Brazier). 1996 Cheshire Gatewarth, intermittently, llth-22nd April; same, Houghton Green, 23rd April to 1st May {Brit. Birds 90: 479), at latter locality, 21st April (F. Duff). IRELAND 1995 Down Comber Estuary, 28th April {Brit. Birds 90: 479) was 28th August. 1996 Cork Lissagriffm, 8th-10th October {Irish Birds 6: 75). 1996 Wexford Ring Marsh, 4th-5th May, presumed same Tacumshin, 19th May to 21st July, presumed same The Cull, 18th August to at least 19th October {Irish Birds 6: 75). (North America; winters southern USA, Central and South America) The ‘multiple’ occurrence in Lancashire is not without precedent, but the only previous instances in Britain were both in 1953: duos in Kent in April and in Greater London/Surrey in September. Such occurrences have been more frequent in Ireland, though, with a record four together at Akeragh, Co. Keny^, in August 1973 {Brit. Birds 67; 322), with further multiples of three (once) and two (four occasions). Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria (6, 23, 0) (Northern America; winters Central and South America) None in Britain, but a juvenile at Castel, Guernsey, Channel Islands, during 25th-28th August. The last in Britain was on Fair Isle, Shetland, in September 1 992, but a major prize would be a truly twitchable mainland bird, of which the last one was in Cornwall in 1980. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereiis (3, 44, 1) Northeast Scotland Loch of Strathbeg, 9th May (S. Bowie, A. Burnett, C. Shaw). 1996 Clyde River Leven, 22nd-30th September {Brit. Birds 90: 479), correct locality was Clyde Estuary, Dumbarton. IRELAND 1996 Wexford Rosslare Backstrand, adult, 24th August to 26th September {Irish Birds 6: 49-50, 75). (Northeast Europe and Siberia; winters Africa, South Asia and Australia) Only the sixth for Scotland, on a classic date. The Co. Wexford record is the first for Ireland. 478 Rogers et al.\ Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Spotted Sandpiper maailaria (6, 112, 1) Cleveland Long Drag Pool, juvenile, 16th-29th September, photo. (T. Francis ei al). 1975 Highland Locality withheld, pair with nest, four eggs, unsuccessful {Bril. Birds 69: 288-292), was on Skye. (North America) winters USA south to Uruguay) Another poor year, but the last blank was in 1988. This species shows a strong southwesterly bias in Britain, that region accounting for some 35% of the total, so it is perhaps surprising that up to and including 1 996 there were only 1 1 Irish records, representing less than 10% of the total. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor (1, 264, 5) Caernarfonshire Llanfairfechan, first-winter, 21st October, 3rd November (R. Evans per R. I. Thorpe); same as Flintshire. Flintshire Point of Air, 24th September to 6th October, photo. (C. Rowley, R. I. Thorpe el al.). Moray & Nairn Findhom Bay, adult, 1 1th- 12th September (D. M. PuUan el al). Northumberland Cresswell Pond, juvenile to first-winter, 22nd-27di September, photo. (R. Dodds, I. Fisher el al.). Surrey Staines Reserc'oirs, first-winter, 5th-13di September, photo. (T. G. Ball, C. & D. K. Lamsdell, D. J. Morris el al.). Yorkshire, East Beacon Ponds, Kilnsea, age uncertain, 2nd September (K. Gillon el al.). 1990 Cheshire Burton Marsh, ju\'enile to first-winter, 5th October {Bril. Birds 87: 529), first noted 2nd. (North America; winters Soutli America) An average showing for the present decade. There were only 35 records prior to 1970, after which tliere was a marked increase, peaking in the 1980s, with an average often per year including the record year, 1980, when tliere were 20. Since then, diere has been a noticeable slump. Laughing Gull Ljxnis atricilla (2, 79, 7) Cornwall Drift Reserv^oir, adult, 22nd April, video. Q. P. Chappie, G. Hobin el al.). Maenporth, second-winter, 29th December (R. C. James, A. & C. Mason el al.). Gloucestershire Hempsted, adult, 10th November (J. D. Sanders el al.). Lincolnshire Cleethorpes, adult, 21st October (C. J. McNaghten). Lothian Musselburgh, adult, 27th April (M. A. Wilkinson). West Midlands Bartley ResetA^oir, adult, 12th October (S. Roberts et al.). 1996 Devon Portworthy Dam, 13th-21st September (Bril. Buds 90: 483), first noted, Chelston Meadow, 13th, daily to 21st, but roosted at Portworthy Dam (per M. K. Ahmad). 1996 Highland Dornoch, Sutherland, first-summer/second-w'inter, 13th August to 12tli October, photo. (A. Vitteiy, A. Wight ei al.). IREIAND Armagh Albert Basin, Newry, first-winter, 5tli-12di March. 1996 Galway Nimmo’s Pier, first-winter, 29th January to 5th February' (Irish Birds 6: 77). 1996 Kerry fralee, first-winter, 8th April to 10th May, presumed same Smerwick Harbour, 4tli-5th June {Irish Birds 6: 77). 1996 Londonderry Coleraine, third-winter, 3rd-16tli November (Norihcrn Ireland Bird Rcf>. 1996: 60; Irish Birds 6: 77). (North America and Caribbean; winters USA to Soutli America) Anotlier good year. The total for 1996 moves on to 11, equalling tlie previous record year of 1984. Franklin’s Gull Lams pipixean (0, 33, 1) Cornwall Gannel Estuaiy', Newquay, adult, 18tli-20th November ;S. M. Christophers el al). (Nortli America; winters South America) Idrst recorded in Britain as British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 479 recently as 1970 {Brit. Birds 64; 310-314), this species maintains its status as a true rarity. Despite that, it has been recorded in all but three years since 1980. There is no real pattern geographically, though a distinct peak exists in terms of ‘arrivals’, with two-thirds of the records falling in the period May-August. The theory that direct transatlantic vagrancy is unlikely is perhaps confirmed by its status in Ireland: a single record up to 1996 (in May 1993). Bonaparte’s Gull Lams Philadelphia (11, 89, 3) Cornwall Drift Reservoir, adult, 12th February (G. Hobin). Swanpool, Falmouth, first- winter, 22nd December (R. C. James); same, Maenporth, 22nd (J. P. Chappie). Fife Kingsbarns Beach and Cambo Sands area, adult, 18th August to 12th September, photo. (R. A. Lambert, Dr J. Wilson et al.). 1996 Devon Plym Estuary, first-winter, present, 28th April to 5th May {Brit. Birds 90: 484), finder/identifier was M. K. Ahmad. IRELAND 1996 Londonderry Roe Estuary, adult, 19th October to 3rd November {Brit. Birds 90: 484), stayed until 17th November. (North America; winters USA to Mexico) Two very typical records, but the Fife individual becomes only the seventh for the Scottish mainland. Ring-billed Gull Lams delawarensis (0, 1799, -) 1987 Sussex, East The Crumbles, Eastbourne, first-summer, 6th June {Brit. Birds 81: 564), now withdrawn by observer. (North America) Records of this species were considered by the Committee only until 1987, but those for the earlier period are still assessed and listed here. Herring Gull Lams argentatus L. a. smithsonianiis (9, 19, 2) Scilly St Mary’s, first-winter, intermittently, 18th December to at least 6th April 1998, photo. (W. H. Wagstaff et al.). At sea Sea area Rockall, 57°43'N 12°24'W, juvenile/first-winter, 11th September, photo. (R. W. White). IRELAND Antrim North Foreshore Tip, Belfast, juvenile/first-winter, 15th February. 1996 Cork Ballycotton, second-winter, 31st August to 1st September {Irish Birds 6: 80). 1996 Louth Clogher Head, second-winter, 27th December {Irish Birds 6: 80). (North America) Only the third and fourth records for Britain, following first-winters in Cheshire/Merseyside in February-March 1994 and in Merseyside in March 1995 {Brit. Birds 89: 504). With the recent pletliora of papers/articles devoted to the taxonomy and field identification of the ‘large white-headed gull complex’, we can expect to see a steady increase in the number of claims of many forms of ‘Herring Gull’. The identification of the North American form L. a. smithsonianiis has been dealt with by Killian MuUamey {Birding World 3: 96-100) and Dr Philippe J. Dubois {Brit. Birds 90: 314-324). Some authorities, notably the Dutch rarities committee (CDNA), treat this taxon as specifically distinct from Herring Gull L. argentatus, on the basis of differences in morphology and vocalisations {Dutch Birding 20: 22-32). 480 Rogers el al:. Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 481 Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides L. g. kumlieni (1, 54, 5) Derbyshire Ogston Reservoir, adult, 27th January (S. L. Thorpe). Lancashire Marshside Marsh, adult, 5th March (Dr B. McCarthy). Shetland Lerwick, second-winter, 26th January (K. Blomerly, P. M. Ellis, P. V. Harvey et al.)-, adult, 22nd October (P. V. Harvey). Scatness, adult, 21st December (P. M. EUis, P. V. Harvey, J. D. Okill). IRELAND 1994 Kerry Blennerville, adult, 8th March (Irish Birds 6: 80). 1996 Donegal Kilcar, third-year, 21st Eebruary. Killybegs, adult, 8th March. (Irish Birds 6: 80) (Canada; winters North America) The first British record concerns a third- winter female in Shetland on 24th November 1869; this specimen is retained at the British Museum, Tring (Brit. Birds 88: 23; Ibis 140: 182). Ross’s GuU Rhodostethia rosea (2, 73, 5) Northeast Scotland Kinnairds Head, adult, 31st January to 10th February, photo. (K. & Mrs L. Buchan, A. Webb et al.) (plate 112). Northumberland Black Middens, Tynemouth and Druridge Bay area, adult, 2nd May to 1st June (C. Bradshaw et at). Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter, 2nd October (M. Gray); adult, 16th November (M. Gray et al.). Point of Ayre, Deemess, adult, 22nd November (K. E. Hague); possibly same as North Ronaldsay. IRELAND 1995 Galway Galway Docks, adult, 27th January to 1st February (Irish Birds 6; 81). (Northeast Siberia and Canada) A remm to better fortunes after the poor showing last year. In the past two decades, the only blank year was 1990. A 112. Adult Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea, Northeast Scotland, February 1997 (Steve Voziiz^/Birdwatch) Ivory Gull Pagophila ebumea (76, 40, 1) Northeast Scodand Kinnairds Head, first-winter, 24th-25th October, photo. (D. Gill, J. Hamper, A. Rigg et al.) (plates 104 & 105). (Arctic) Since 1958, there has been only one record of a first-winter earlier in the year, at Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, during 10th- 12th October 1988 (Brit. Birds 83: 466). GuU-billed Tern Sterna nilotica (52, 206, 6) Essex Holland Haven, 16th May (M. L. Hawkes, K. Marsden, N. F. Pepper). Shropshire Venus Pool, 19th May (A. Matthews). Somerset Dunster Beach and Bilbrook, first-wdnter, 4th-5th October, photo. Q. White et al.). 482 Rogers ei al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 SuflFolk Landguard, two, 1st May (N. Odin). Wight, Isle of St Catherine’s Point, adult, 5th August (J. C. Gloyn); presumed same, 1 1th (^M. J. Sparshott). 1996 Gower Whiteford Sands, adult or second-summer, 14th September (D. Lewis, P. Parsons); presumed same as Carmarthenshire, Gower, interrriittently, 4th July to 17th August (Bnt. Birds 90: 486), also in Ireland (see below). IREI.AND 1996 Wexford Tacumshin, second-summer or adult, 18th August, same, Rosslare Backstrand, 25th August to 1st September (Irish Birds 6: 81), regarded as same as individual in Gower and Carmarthenshire, south Wales, during 4th July to 17th August and 14th September (Bnl. Birds 90: 486 and abov'e). (Almost cosmopolitan; nearest breeding colony is in Denmark; European population winters Africa) The numbers breeding in Denmark have declined to single figures in the 1990s (DOFT 90: 73; 91: 101-108). Caspian Tem Sterna caspia (30, 212, 4) Cornwall Stithians Reser\'oir, 28th July (G. Cockhill); presumed same, Penzance, 4th August (C. B. Cole). Glamorgan Kenfig, 6th August (N. Donaghy). Kent Pegwell Bay and Stodmarsh, lst-2nd August, photo. (D. Feast, D. C. Gilbert, P. Milton et al.). Norfolk Breydon, 30th July (S. Smith et al.). 1996 Suffolk Minsmere, two, 3rd-10th June (Brit. Birds 90: 487), also 1 1th (per D. F. Walsh). (Almost cosmopolitan, except South America; European populations winter Africa) A fairly average year and very typical dates. Amazingly, the Stithians Reservoir record is the first for Cornwall. Lesser Crested Tem Sterna bengalensis (0, 7, 0) Northumberland Fame Islands, returning 9 of 1996 (Brit. Birds 90: 487), 3rd May to 31st July, photo., again paired with Sandwich Tern S', sandvicensis, incubating by 25th May, one egg hatched 10th June, young fledged by 8th July, colour-ringed young seen La Paracou, near Sables d’Olonne, Vendee, France, 23rd September (per B. N. Rossiter). 1993 Norfolk Scolt Head, 10th July, present 8th- 15th, 21st (Brit. Birds 87: 533), probably 6, now considered additional to Fame Islands individual Q. R. Williamson et al.). 1995 Cleveland Hartlepool, 15th July (Brit. Birds 89: 507), also Seaton Snook (M. Thomas). 1996 Kent Pegwell Bay, 22nd August Q. N. HoUyer, P. Milton, B. E. Wright et al.). IREl^ND 1996 Cork Ballycotton, adult, 7th-8th August (Irish Birds 6: 81), perhaps same as individual in Scilly on 2nd-4th August (Bril. Birds 90: 487). (North and East Africa, east to Australia) It is perhaps worth noting that, of the four hybrid young that are known to have fledged — in 1989, 1992, 1996 and 1997 — the 1996 individual bears a red colour ring on each leg in addition to a BTO ring on the right leg, whilst the 1997 individual bears a yellow colour ring on the left leg with a red colour ring and a BTO ring on the right leg. In 1996, the breeding female, ‘Elsie’, stayed until 13th August, so the Kent record may have been of her. The Co. Cork record is the first for Ireland. Forster’s Tem Sterna forsteri (0, 27, 0) IREIAND 1986 Dublin North Bull Island, adult, 16th November 1985 to Febmary 1986 (Brit. Birds 79: 557; 80: 545), stayed until 14th March (Irish Birds 6: 81). 1996 Galway Nimmo’s Pier, adult, 21st Febmary to 24th May, same 20th October into 1997 (Irish Birds 6: 81). (North America; winters USA and Mexico) ^ 113. Male Blue-winged Teal Anas discors, Derbyshire, March 1997 {Iain H. Leach) ^ 114 & 115. Female (left) and male (right) Lesser Scaups Aythya ajfinis, Loe Pool, Cornwall, August 1997 {George Reszeter) ^ 116. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbns podiceps. South Norwood Lake, Greater London, 28th March 1997 {Jim Pattinson) • n A 117. Black Kite Milvus migrans, Shetland, June/July 1997 {Bill Dalton) AT 118-120. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespeninus, East Runton, Norfolk, May 1997 (Iain H. Leach) ; r: 1P4 A 121. Squacco Yler on Ardeola ralloides, Cerney Wick, Gloucestershire, June 1997 {George Reszeter) A 122. Male Little Crake Porzana parva, Kent, March 1997 {Iain H. Leach) T 123. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola, Felbrigg, Norfolk, October 1997 {Robin Chittenden) A 124. Spur-winged Lapwing Hoplopterus spinosus, Dungeness, Kent, June 1997 {George Reszeter). See Appendix 3. A 125. First-summer or adult Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri with Great Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, Lothian, August 1997 {Iain H. Leach) T 126. Juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper ▼ 127. Adult Stilt Sandpiper Calidris bairdii, Devoran, Cornwall, Micropalama himantopus, Suffolk, 16th September 1997 {R. J. Chandler) September 1997 {Iain H. Leach) A 128. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus, Asta, Shetland, June 1997 (L. Dalziel) A 129. European Roller Coracias garrulus, DumMes & Galloway, June 1997 {Steve FoMn^/Birdwatch) ▼ 130. Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra, Isle of Man, May 1997 {Alan Tate) A 131. Olive-backed P'v^ix Anthus hodgsoni, Devon, 18th February 1997 (J. Harriman) A 132. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus, Sheringham, Norfolk, May 1997 {Iain H. Leach) T 133. 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Light weight and compact size' mafke the scopes portable enough .to t.ike anywhere. Ihey are ruggetf and easy to operate, too. Availability’ of three inten hangeablc eyepieces and straight and angled body types maki- viewing as v'crsatile as possible.. NIKOft UK LTD. (for The United Kingdom and The Republic of Ireland) 380 RICHWGND ROAD. KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES. SURREY J' (M. S. Cavanagh, A. M. Stoddart et al). 508 Rogers el ai: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 1989 Norfolk Winterton, lst-8th December (P. Cawley, P. J. Heath, A. M. Stoddart). 1989 Northumberland Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, 18th-22nd November, photo. (A. S. Buder, J. McLoughlin, J. G. Steele). 1990 Yorkshire, East Aldbrough, 10th-14th November (P. I. Holt, A. Johnson, J. McLoughlin el ai). 1991 Angus & Dundee Auchmithie, 13th October, sound-recorded (G. Addison, C. Campbell, M. S. Scott et ai). 1991 Devon Efford Marsh, 1 0th-24th January (R. W. White). 1991 Norfolk Holkham Meals, 25th October to 1st November (A. I. Bloomfield el ai). 1991 Yorkshire, East Kilnsea, 29th October to 2nd November (A. J. Booth, J. McLoughlin) . 1992 Devon Plymouth, 13th January to 10th March, sound-recorded (S. C. Madge, S. McMahon el ai). 1993 Pembrokeshire Strumble Head, 20th November (S. Berry). 1993 Yorkshire, East Flamborough Head, 5th-8th November, trapped 5th, photo. (P. A. Lassey et al.). 1994 Cleveland Hartlepool Headland, 11th November (B. Beck, C. Kehoe). 1994 Dorset Winspit, 26th Nov’ember to 3rd December (G. Dutson, R. W. White et ai). 1994 Fife Isle of Isay, 10th November (A. Robinson). 1994 Northeast Scotland Bullers of Buchan, 10th-13th November (T. W. Marshall, A. Webb et ai). 1994 Orkney South Ronaldsay, 4th-6th November (M. Gray, E. R. Meek el ai). 1994 Staffordshire Westport Lake, at least 20th December (W. J. Low). 1994 Yorkshire, East Flamborough Head, llth-15th November (J. C. Lamplough, J. McLoughlin et ai). 1995 Norfolk Great Yarmouth, 2nd January to 28th April, photo., sound-recorded (D. J. Holman, S. Smith el ai). 1995 Yorkshire, East Hornsea, 21st February to 16th March, sound-recorded (T. D. Charlton et ai). 1996 Scilly St Mary’s, 4th-7th October, probably since 1st (W. E. Fletcher, M. S. Scott, J. P. Siddle et ai). (From Sayan and Altai mountains south to the Northwest Himalayas; winters mainly in the Indian subcontinent from Pakistan to Bangladesh) A long-awaited and welcome recognition of this species’ occurrence in Britain, though treated until recently as a race of Yellow-browed Warbler P. inomatm. With no records prior to 13th October, and tlie majority falling in November, its occurrence pattern differs markedly from that of its Siberian cousin and most closely mirrors that of Pallas’s Warbler P. proregulus and Dusky Warbler P. fuscatiis, though a greater propensity to attempted wintering is clear. Identification was dealt with recently by Steve Madge and David Quinn (Brit. Birds 90: 571-575), who stressed the importance of vocalisations. Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schzvarzi (1, 164, 8) Cornwall St Levan, 19th October (P. G. Akers, D. J. Chown et al). Dorset Portland Bill, first-winter, trapped 22nd October, photo. (M. Cade, Prof P. J. & Mrs C. R. Morgan et al.). Norfolk Holkham Meals, 22nd October, photo. Q. B. Kemp, E. J. Reed et al.). Northumberland Low Hauxley, first-winter, 18th-23rd October, trapped 18th, photo. (D. Middleton et al.). Orkney St Margarefs Hope, South Ronaldsay, first-winter, trapped 19tli October (J. A. & Mrs R. McCutcheon el ai). Scilly St Mary’s, 14th October (R. L. Harris); presumed same, 19tli (D. & Mrs J. Bridges el al.). Shetland Eedar, 10th-15th October (S. Croft, T. G. & J. Davies, D. Suddaby). Yorkshire, East Spurn, 19th-20th October (K. Gillon et al). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 509 (Central and East Asia; winters Southeast Asia) A traditional line-up of dates and venues, with a wide geographical spread, and confirming the middle two weeks of October as the best bet for finding this species. Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatiis (1, 172, 16) Devon Lannacombe Valley, trapped 23rd October, photo. (A. K. Searle). Dorset Winspit, 23rd-24th November (S. J. Morrison, A. & C. Rogers, G. Walbridge et al). Hengistburv' Head, 30th November (S. Simmonds et al). Flintshire Point of Air, llth-12th November (E. J. Abrahams, C. Rowley, R. I. Thorpe et al). Lothian Thomtonloch, 6th November (K. GiUon et al). Norfolk Holkham Meals, 20th-21st October (A. I. Bloomfield, J. R. McCallum et al). Waxham, 23rd-25th October, photo. (K. K. Harrison, P. J. Heath, B. Jarvis). Northumberland Fame Islands, 5th November (D. Munns, A. Upton et al). Newbiggin- by-the-Sea, 18th-21st November (T. R. Cleeves, A. S. Jack et al). Scilly St Mary’s, 22nd October (T. Francis, D. Page); 5th-6th November (J. P. Siddle et al). Shetland Out Skerries, 17th October (P. M. Ellis). Fetlar, 17th-19th October (S. Croft, D. Suddaby et al). Fair Isle, 7th-8th November (Dr R. Riddington et al). Suffolk Gorton, 23rd-24th October (C. A. Buttle et al). Yorkshire, East Spurn, trapped 28th September, photo.; same, Kilnsea, 5th October (L. J. Degnan, D. Page, M. J. Pilsworth et al). (Central and northeastern to southern Asia; winters northern India and Southeast Asia) Another good showing by this increasingly frequent visitor, which is now starting to ‘pull away’ from the previous species. As usual, a high proportion of November records, though the Spurn individual reminds us that early birds can be looked for in late September. A fairly typical spread of locations, though the Flintshire bird is more noteworthy. Radde’s/Dusky Warbler P. schwarzilfuscatus (2, 337, 24) IRELAND 1994 Wexford Great Saltee, 24th May (Irish Birds 6: 85). (Ranges; see above) Western BoneUi’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli (2, 49, 0) (Central, western and southern Europe and Northwest Africa; winters in tropical West Africa) The 51 acceptable records of this newly defined species were listed recently {Brit. Birds 91; 122-123). Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis (0, 2, 0) 1987 Scilly St Mary’s, 30th September, 8th-10th October, as Bonelli’s Warbler P. bonelli {Brit. Birds 81: 585), now specifically reidentified as P. orientalis (Ibis 139; 197-201). (Southeast Europe and Asia Minor; winters Sudan) This individual now represents the first accepted record, predating the one in Northumberland on 20th-29th September 1995 {Brit. Birds 90; 503). At the stroke of a taxonomist’s pen, this becomes Britain’s rarest Phylloscopus. Westem/Eastem BoneUi’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli! orientalis (3, 137, 2) SciUy St Agnes, 15th May (N. E. Wall). St Mary’s, 15th May, photo. Q- P- Siddle et al), possibly same as St Agnes. (Ranges; see above) In the Channel Islands, one was at Port Saumarez, Guernsey, on 23rd August. 510 Rogers el al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis (2, 17, 1) Angus & Dundee Ethie Mains, first-summer S, 31st May to 1st June, photo. (S. R. Green et al.) (plate 146). (Central and Southeast Europe and western Russia; winters Africa) This species retains its rarity and unpredictability, representing a magical find for anyone so formnate. Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus (0, 115, 16) Cornwall Hayle, 6, 1st, 10th January' (T. S. Hale, P. J. Yokes et al.); possibly present since 2nd December 1996. Glamorgan Kenfig, sex/age uncertain, presumed since 11th November 1996 (Bnt. Birds 90; 503) to at least 9th March (D. G. Carrington et al.). Kent New Hythe, sex/age uncertain, 14th- 17th March (A. Woodcock et al.). Dungeness, 6 and one other, 26th-28th October (W. Attridge, O. Leyshon, N. E. Wall et al.); 6 same as East Sussex; another 6, 6tli November to at least 19th February 1998, possibly to 14th March (P. G. Akers, R. J. Price el al.). Norfolk Hickling, d and three otliers, 20th December (A. J. Kane). Scilly Tresco, juvenile, 28th October, photo. (G. Sellors et al.). St Mary’s, age/sex uncertain, 7th-8th November (J. P. Siddle et al.). Somerset Westhay Moor, 6, 9, 5th January to 8th March, photo. (T. Raven et al.). Berrow, d, 9 and first-winter, 14th-21st December (Dr D. Murdoch, B. E. Slade). Sussex, East Icklesham, first-winter d, trapped 25th October, photo. (T. Squire et al.); also in Kent, previously ringed Sweden. 1996 Cornwall See Cornwall above. 1996 Kent Singleton Lakes, Ashford, two dd, 14th November Q. Brookes, M. Hall). (Western Europe to Manchuria; mainly resident, occasionally dispersive or irruptive) An excellent showing by this long-mooted potential invader. The flock of four in Norfolk echoes the four at Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, on 4th November 1994 (Brit. Birds 88: 542). Isabelline Shrike iMuiiis isabellinus (1, 45, 4) Devon Berry Head, first-winter, 19th-23rd October Q. Howes, S. J. Lees el al.). Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter, trapped 30th November (S. D. Stansfield el al.). Suffolk Boyton Marshes, first-winter, 23rd November, photo. (G. Lowe, M. R. Morley, E. W. Patrick et al.). Yorkshire, East Spurn, first-winter, 23rd September, photo. (R. Bolton, M. J. Pilswortli el al.). (South Asia to China; winters Northeast Africa) A typical wide aummn scatter of dates and localities. Given current taxonomic moves, these attractive shrikes are doubdess destined for ever-more-critical scrutiny, though only the tiny proportion of adults seems likely to offer die chance of real enlightenment. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanins minor (32, 123, 3) Fife Isle of May, d, lst-2nd June, trapped 2nd (K. Brockie, J. M. Wilson et al.). Shetland Foula, sex uncertain, 28th May (P. Catry, J. R. & Mrs S. C. Gear, A. R. Mainwood). Sussex, West Sidlesham, adult, 24th October, photo. (P. W. Bradbeer, S. J. Patton, I. J. Whitcombe et al.). 1996 Suffolk Walberswick, d, 25th May (D. Pearson, L. 'Pownsend et al.). (Southern and eastern Europe and Southwest Asia; winters liast and Soudi Africa) An average small scatter of records, including yet another autumn adult. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 511 Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis (1, 13, 1) Northamptonshire Long Buckby, first-winter, L. m. pallidirostris, 3rd-4th November, photo. (R. D. Gossage, N. Roberts, P. K. Spokes et al). 1989 Yorkshire, North Bishop Monkton, probably first-winter, L. m. pallidirostris, 31st October to 1st November, photo. (P. K. Bowman, R. Evison, C. Slator et al. per BBRC). (Iberia, southern France, northern Africa across the Middle East and Arabia eastwards to India and southern Asia; mainly sedentary, but southern Asian population winters south to Sudan, northern Ethiopia and Somalia) This migratory form, colloquially known as ‘Steppe Grey Shrike’, may well represent a distinct species. This inland occurrence follows the one at Swindon, Wiltshire, on 23rd-28th September 1993. The 1989 record was not submitted as relating to this species, but the photograph clearly shows it to be so {Brit. Birds 87: 560). Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus (160, 319, 18) Anglesey Rhosneigr, adult, 24th August (M. Davis, M. L. Hawkes el al.), present 20th- 24th, photo, (plate 148). Cornwall Lizard, adult, 17th July (Mrs A. M. Ball). Trevose Head, juvenile, 20th September (S. M. Christophers). St Just, juvenile, 18th October (J. P. Chappie, G. Hobin). Denbighshire Gian Conwy, juvenile, 22nd October, photo. (L. Brewin). Essex The Naze, juvenile, 19tli October (A. J. A. Dally). Kent Dungeness, juvenile, 27th-28th September (M. C. Buckland, T. & Mrs K. Robertson et al.). Lothian Aberlady, adult, 29th June (S. & Mrs K. Housden). Norfolk Blakeney, juv'enile, 20th-27th October, photo. (B. & Mrs A. Rumsey el al.). Beeston, adult, 15th November to 1998, photo. (S. Crowe, D. E. Nye et al.) (plate 149). Northumberland Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, juvenile, 1st September (S. C. Votier). Scilly St Agnes, juvenile, 14th-20th October, photo. (Dr I. H. Leach et al.). Shetland Eair Isle, adult, 7th-9th August Q. M. Reid et al). Quendale, juvenile, 14th September (A. E. T. Eitchett); presumed same, 5th-8th October (G. J. Fitchett et al). Fetlar, juvenile, 24th September (S. Croft, J. & T. G. Davies, D. Suddaby). Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, juvenile, 3 1 st December (T. J. Edwards) . Wight, Isle of Seaview, adult, 4th-9th June (A4. & Mrs S. Newell). Yorkshire, East Kilnsea and Spurn, juvenile, 27tlt-28th September (W. H. Priestley, A. Scutt, B. Wainwright et al.). 1990 Kent Foreness, juvenile, 10th September (Brit. Birds 86: 540), now considered acceptable (K. D. Lord). 1994 Perth & Kinross See 1995 Angus & Dundee below. 1995 Angus & Dundee Near Spittal of Glenshee, adult, 29th-30th June (Brit. Birds 90; 505), was in 1994; locality is in Perth & Kinross. 1996 Cornwall St Just, juvenile, 24th September to 21st October Q. Hawkey, M. P. Semmens et al.). 1996 Highland Dornoch, Sutherland, adult, 15th August (I. Dillon et al.), present 12th- 21st. IRELAND 1996 At sea Gas-platform off Kinsale, Co. Cork, adult, 9th- 1 1th June. 1996 Cork Ballycotton, adult, 20th July to 5th September. AUihies, adult or first-year, 27th- 28th July. Old Head of Kinsale, juvenile, 1 5th September. (Irish Birds 6; 86) (Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia; winters India) Another excellent year, with an unusually strong autumn influx on the East Coast. With the correction to the details of the 1994 Perth & Kinross individual, that year, with 31, now holds the record. In the Channel Islands, two juveniles were at Chouet, Guernsey, on 4th-5th October 1997. 512 Rogers ei al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Spanish Sparrow Passer /tispaniolensis (0, 6, 0) Cumbria XX'aterside, 6, since 13th July 1996 (Bril. Birds 90: 505), throughout year. (Iberia, Noitliwest Africa, Sardinia and the Balkans east to Southwest Asia; mainly resident) The remarkable long stay of this individual continues, though no hybrids with the local House Sparrows P. domesticus seem yet to have been produced. Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceiis (1, 109, 0) 1RKI.AND 1996 Cork Inch Strand, 5th October. Crookhaven, 6th-8th October. Cape Clear Island, 14th October. (Irish Birds 6: 86) 1996 Waterford Mine Head, 15th-24th October (Irish Birds 6: 86). (North America; winters Cuba and northern Soutli America) The 1996 total is now nine (cf. peaks of 13 in 1995 and 14 in 1985), in striking contrast to the total absence in 1997. European Serin Seriiius serinns (76, 1129, -) 1967 Dorset Locality withheld, pair bred successfully. May (Brit. Birds 61: 56, 87-88, 357; 64: 217), was in Swanage. 1969 Dorset Locality withheld, see original references for details {Brit. Birds 63: 290; 64: 217;, was on Pordand. 1978 Devon Locality withheld, see original references for details (Brit. Birds 72: 541; 73: 526; 74: 489), was at Thurlestone. 1981 Devon Localities withheld, see original references for details (Brit. Birds 75: 527; 76: 521), were at Budleigh Salterion and Starcross/Cockwood. 1982 Devon Locality withheld, see original references for details (Brit. Birds 75: 527; 76: 521), w'as at Starcross/Cockwood. (West, central and southern Europe) This species is no longer considered by the Committee, but the statistics for pre-1958 and 1958-96 are up to date. Arctic Redpoll Caniuelis honiemanni (30, 709, 7) Norfolk Holkham Meals, 1 Itii Januar\- Q. R. Williamson ei al.). Orkney Rendall, first-winter, trapped 7th November (J. B. Ribbands et al.). Shetland Skaw, Unst, 5th October (P. M. Ellis, P. V. Harv'ey, M. G. Pennington et al.). Baltasound, Unst, 8tii-23rd October (P. V. Harvey, M. J. MacLeod, M. G. Pennington et al.). Lambaness, Unst, C. h. homemamii, 10th October (P. V. Harvey, M. G. Pennington, S. C. Votier). Foula, 16th October (A. R. Mainwood); 25th October Q. R. Gear, A. R. Mainwood). 1995 Cumbria Dalston, Carlisle, trapped 16th December, photo. (I. J. Armstrong, G. Home). 1995 Norfolk Horsey, 5th November Q. Harris, J. Oates). Winterton, trapped 20th November, photo. (A. W. Bowles, K. Brett, D. Parsons). 1995 Staflfordshire Near Newborough, 24th December; first-winter, 28th (D I M Wallace). 1995 Yorkshire, North Hawkser, 11th November (Brit. Birds 90: 508), locality is Hawsker. 1995 Yorkshire, South Wath Ings, first-winter, 29th December (S. Exley, S. D. Stansfield et al.). 1996 Cheshire Thurstaston, 9th-10th January (Brit. Birds 90: 506), to 1 1th (C. J. 8: S. R. Williams); presumed same, 22nd (A. Butler, J. Clark). 1996 Lincolnshire Gibraltar Point, 14th- 15th January (M. R. Briggs, K. M. VC'ilson). 1996 Outer Hebrides Stornoway, first-winter, 7th- 14th January (R. D. Wemyss). 1996 Staflfordshire Stepping Stones, Cannock Chase, adult, 16th-17tii P'ebruary (J. K. Higginson, P. D. Hyde, S. Turner et al.); anotiier, 20th (P. French, J. Gullby, J. K. Higginson et al.); another, 7th-llth March (T. Hextel, J. K. Higginson et al.); first-winter, 8tii March (P. D. Hyde). (Circumpolar Arctic; spreads erratically soudi in winter) An abrupt return to normality following the near ‘white-out’ of 1995/96. Other than in inllux British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 513 years, however, this remains a ver>^ rare bird, and high standards of documentation will continue to be required. Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera (40, 78, 2) Fife Isle of May, 8, 8th- 11th August, trapped lOtli, photo. (I. M. Darling, F. D. Hamilton et al.) (plate 150). Norfolk Thetford Forest, 8, trapped 21st August, photo. (S. F. Moores el al). 1990 Northumberland Harwood Forest, 6, 24th December to 16th March 1991, photo. (M. Hemy, M. J. Sharp el al). 1991 Northumberland See 1990 Northumberland above. (Northeast Europe, North-central Asia, northern North America and Hispaniola; winters south and west of breeding range) After a five-year absence, the occurrence of two in a year of a massive influx of Common Crossbills L. curvirostra is perhaps not surprising. There were much larger numbers in several nearby countries on the Continent {Brit. Birds 91: 252). BlackpoU Warbler Dendroica striata (0, 35, 1) Scilly Tresco, 12th October to 1st November, photo. (D. L. Acfield el al) (plate 151). (North America; winters northern South America) A typical record, though this species’ appearances in SciUy are now less regular than previously. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas (1, 4, 2) Scilly St Mar^^’s, first-winter S, 9th October to 2nd November, photo. (A. M. Bines, P. S. Read, I. R. Lewington el al) (plate 152). Shetland Baltasound, Unst, first-summer $, 16th-23rd May, trapped 17th, photo. (M. J. MacLeod, M. G. Pennington el al). (North America; winters south to West Indies and Panama) A striking echo of the double occurrence in 1 984, when one was on Fetlar, Shetland, in June {Brit. Birds 78: 570, 582-583), followed by another on Bryher, Scilly, in October {Brit. Birds 78: 582; 79: 434-435). Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina (0, 2, 0) (North America; winters Mexico and Central America) An account of the second accepted British record, on St Kilda, Outer Hebrides (then Western Isles), on 10th September 1992 {Brit. Birds 86: 530), has been published recently {Scot. Birds 19: 123). Dark-eyed Junco Jtmco hyemalis (1, 19, 1) Cheshire Vicar’s Cross, Chester, probably first-winter, 15th December to 19th April 1998, photo. (P. & Mrs P. Gillam, P. R. Hale el al). (North America) The tenth British record to have occurred in a garden. A close watch on the bird-table is clearly in order. Pine Bunting Ernberiza leucocephalos (2, 34, 0) IREIWND 1996 Dublin Swords, adult 6, 3rd-10tli March {Irish Birds 6: 48-49, 87). (Urals, across Asia to Sakhalin; winters Middle East, India and China). Rustic Bunting Ernberiza nistica (34, 330, 11) Borders St Abb’s Head, 9, 21st May (L. M. & R. J. Safford et al). Ceredigion Cors Caron, 8, 11th November, video. Q- & Mrs W. Gale). Devon Yelverton, 22nd-23rd March (A. W. G. John, J. F. Jones el al). Northumberland Holy Island, 5, 17th May (R. Forster, M. J. Sharp). 514 Rogers el al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 6, 10th June (S. D. Stansfield). Scilly 'fresco, 19th to at least 24th October (A. Butter el al.). Shetland Fetlar, 2, 21st May Q. & T. G. Davies, D. Suddaby). Fair Isle, probably 2, 19th May (Dr R. Riddington); 2, 24th-27th May (M. A. Newell el al.); 8th October (J. M. Reid). 1991 Meirionnydd Arthog Bog, 5th to at least 10th April (R. I. Thorpe el al.). 1996 Cornwall Nanjizal, 7th October (K. A. Wilson). IREI^D Antrim Rathlin Island, 19th-25th October. (Northeast Europe across to North Asia; winters Turkestan to China and Japan) The Devon individual provides further reinforcement of an emerging pattern of early-spring occurrences, presumably of birds moving away from wintering sites elsewhere in Britain or W'^estern Europe. The Co. Antrim record is the first for Northern Ireland. Little Bunting Embenza pusilla (23, 626, -) 1986 Highland Locality withheld, near Inverness, <3, 9di March to 26th April, possibly since 31st January- {Brit. Birds 80: 567), was at Tarradale. (Northeast Europe and northern Asia; winters Turkestan to India and Southeast Asia) This species is no longer considered by the Committee, but the statistics for pre-1958 and 1958-96 are up to date. Yellow-breasted Bunting Ernberiza aureola (10, 181, 6) Shetland Fetlar, 2 or first-winter, 22nd August ('f. G. & J. Davies). Foula, 2 or first- winter, 1st September, possibly same, 6th (A. R. Mainwood). Out Skerries, 2 or first- winter, trapped 2nd September, photo. (J. F. & Mrs D. R. Cooper, E. Tait). Fair Isle, 2 or first-winter, 20th-23rd September (A. A. Murray, J. J. Sweeney ei al.); another, 28th Al. A. Newell, Dr R. Riddington et al.). 1996 Northumberland Fame Islands, 2 or first-winter, 20th-23rd August {Brit. Birds 90: 551), correct obser\'ers were S. J. McElwee, M. S. 'fhomas et al. (Northern Europe across northern Asia; winters India and Southeast Asia) Bucking the recent trend towards more widespread occurrences {Bril. Birds 90: 511, 517), tlie emphasis shifts back to the Northern Isles. Black-headed Bunting Ernberiza melanocephala (9, 122, 6) Dorset Weston, Portland, first-summer 3, 3rd June (G. Walbridge). Kent Capel Fleet, in song, 30th June to 6th July, photo. (D. Belshaw, C. Morris, J. A. Rowlands el al.). Man, Isle of Ramsey, 3, 12th April (Mr & Mrs Henderson, C. M. Sharpe). Scilly St Agnes, 3, 3rd-4th June, photo. (Mrs P. Hale, M. S. Scon et al.). Shetland Bressay, 3, 14th-24di June Q- Garden, P. Goddard, A. M. Wheeler). E'edar, 2, 21st-26th June (D. Suddaby et al.). (Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia; winters India) A typical year in respect of number, dates and localities. Red-headed/Black-headed Bunting E. brmiiceps/ melanocephala (-, -, -) IRI-I.ANI) 1992 Cork Cape Clear Island, first-year 2, killed by Common Kesnel l•'alca timiunadus, 3rd-4th October {Irish Birds 6: 87). (Southeast Europe and Asia) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 515 Appendix 1. Category D species accepted (see Ibis 136: 253) White Pelican Pelecaniis onocrotaliis (not known, 16, 0) 1971 Surrey Staines Reservoirs, three adults, 18th September (Brit. Birds 90: 518), was 19di April; presumed link with Nortolk record now probably invalid. (Balkan region; some winter Northeast Africa) Greater Flamingo Phoenicoptenis ruber P. r. roseus (-, 8, 0) Kent Cliffe, since 1996 (Bnl. Birds 90: 518), intermittendy throughout year. 1995 Essex Abberton Reservoir, 29th-30th JiUy (Brit. Birds 89: 529), 6di August (M. L. Hawkes). (Old World race P. r. roseus breeds Mediterranean area, Africa eastward to India) Falcated Duck Anas falcata (0, 14, 0) 1994 Yorkshire, East Blacktoft Sands, d, 22nd May (A. Grieve et al). (Eastern Siberia; winters North India, Japan, Korea) Daurian Starling Stumiis stuminus (0, 1, 1) Northumberland Ponteland, d, 26th August to 5th September, photo. G- Alder, D. R. Shannon, E. Slack). (Central and East Asia; winters southern China to Indonesia). A far from uncommon species in the cage-bird trade. Appendix 2. List of records not accepted This list contains all current records not accepted after circuladon to the Committee. It does not include (a) those withdrawn by the observ'er(s) without circulation, after discussion with the Hon. Secretary’; (b) those which, even if circulated, were not attributed by the obser\’er(s) to any definite species; (c) those mentioned in ‘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 convinced that the identification was fully established; only in a very few cases were we satisfied that a mistake had been made. 1997 White-billed Diver Orcombe Point, Devon, 13th March; Applecross, Wester Ross, Highland, 20th October. Madeira/Cape Verde Petrel Eccles-on-Sea, Norfolk, 26th June; Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, 3rd November. Bulwer’s Petrel Bidzveria buhueiii Eccles- on-Sea, Norfolk, 12th October. Short-tailed Shearwater Pnffinus temdrostris Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, 27th July. American Bittern Botaunis lentiginosus Land’s End, Cornwall, 10th October. Great White Egret Penclacwydd, Gower, 5th January’; Yelland, Devon, 9th April; Dawlish Warren, Devon, 23rd October. American Wigeon Ashlewortli Ham, Gloucestershire, 22nd February to 14th March; Stanwick Gravel-pits, Northamptonshire, 23rd February, 1st March; Boarhunt, Hampshire, 12th March; E.\moutli, Devon, 26th October. Canvasback Eccleston Mere, Lancashire, 20tli July. Black Kite Cove Bottom, Suffolk, 29th March; Hopton, Norfolk, 24th April; Aqualate Mere, Staffordshire, 3rd May; East Stratton, Hampshire, 4fli May; LetweU, Nottinghamshire/Soutli Yorkshire, 4th May; Comwood, Devon, 16th May; Freshwater, Isle of Wight, 16tli May; Kingsbridge, Devon, 17th May; Oatwoods, Staffordshire, 18th May; Norvdch, Norfolk, 13th June; Christchurch, Dorset, 14th June; Woburn, Bedfordshire, 17th June; Plymouth, Devon, 27th June; Sculdiorpc, Norfolk, 1st August; Latton, Wiltshire, 10th August; Stiffkey, Norfolk, lltli August; Manea, Cambridgeshire, 26tli August. Red-footed Falcon Blakeney, Norfolk, 19tli May; Cannop Valley, Gloucestershire, 29th May; Porthgwarra, Cornwall, 19th October. Little Bustard letrax tetrax Dartmoor, Devon, 10th March. Black-winged StUt Trimley St Martin, Suffolk, 18tli August. Collared Pratincole Willington Gravel-pits, Derbyshire, 26tli Apiil. Pratincole Llantwit Fardre, Glamorgan, 22nd August. American Golden Plover Musselburgh, Lothian, 6th September. Pacific Golden Plover Lynn Point, Norfolk, 21st August. Semipalmated Sandpiper Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, 8tli-9th September. Broad-billed Sandpiper 516 Rogers el al.: Rare birds in Great Britain in 1997 Greatham Creek, Cleveland, 25th November. Great Snipe Fair Isle, Shetland, 14th September; 19th September; Trimingham, Norfolk, 27th September; Flamborough Head, East Yorksliire, 6th November. Dowitcher Spurn, East Yorkshire, 28th August. Lesser Yellowlegs Yantlett, Kent, 2nd Februar\’; Doonfoot, Ayrshire, 12th August. Wilson’s Phalarope Queen Mother Reseiv'oir, Berkshire, 5th September. Great Black-headed Gull Ixims ichtliyaelus Cley, Norfolk, 27th April. Laughing Gull Turnberrx’ Point, AvTshire, lOtli Eebruarv’. Bonaparte’s Gull Gouthwaite Reseiv'oir, North Yorkshire, 26th March; Cotsw old VC’ater Park, Gloucestershire, 29th March; Famham Gra\'el-pits, Nortli Yorkshire, lOtlt April; 'X'oolston Eyes, Cheshire, 3rd May. Iceland Gull L. g. kumlieni Rainford, Lancashire, 2nd January; Seaforth, Lancashire, 6th May; Kenfig, Glamorgan, 28tlr December. Gull-billed Tern Towan Head, Cornwall, 26th June; Portland Bill, Dorset, 1st October. Caspian Tern Llandegfedd Reserv'oir, Gwent, 29th-30th July. Forster’s Tern Stithians Reserx’oir, Cornwall, 11th September; E\te, Orkney, 29th September to 3rd October. Sooty Tern Portland Bill, Dorset, 12th September. White-winged Black Tern Capheaton, Northumberland, 4th May; Tyninghame, Lotliian, 31st May. Alpine Sw'ift Pemwell, Cambridgeshire, 26tlr May; Bexliill- on-Sea, East Sussex, 26th Aday; I^ndulph Marsh, Cornwall, 1st June; Benenden, Kent, 12tli August. Little Swift Colchester, Essex, 6th June. Pallid Swift Wigan, Greater Manchester, 2nd June; ^’ierton Hill, Kent, 8tli November. Red-nimped SwaUow' Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex, 12th April; Spurn, East Yorkshire, 23rd May; Bexliill-on-Sea, East Sussex, 26tli May; Holltyvood, \X'est Alidlands, 20th July. Olive-backed Pipit Newburgh, Nortlieast Scotland, 7th May. Red-throated Pipit Prevose Head, Cornwall, 26th September. Citrine Wagtail Loch ot Suathbeg, Northeast Scotland, 1st September; Bossirigton Beach, Somerset, 30tli-31st October. Common Stonechat A. t. mauraJstejnegeri K>'nance Cove, Cornwall, 22nd March; Isle of May, Fife, 25tli May; Headon Warren, Isle of Wight, 19tli October; Bumliam 0\’eiy, Norfolk, 24th October. Pied Wheatetir Sker, Glamorgan, 9th No\’ember. Black-eared W heatear 1 ow'an Head, Cornwall, 1 4tli August. Desert Wheatear Garlieston Bay, Dumfries & Calloway, 19th July. Dark-throated Thrush Essington, Staffordshire, 2nd Januan-. Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Trevose Head, Cornwall, 4tli October. Paddyfield Warbler Holland Haven, Essex, 25th October. Subalpine Warbler Calf of Man, 9tlt May. Arctic Warbler Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire, 23rd September. Dusky Warbler Great Yannouth, Norfolk, 22nd October. Western Bonelli’s Wtubler Sizewell, Suffolk, 24tli October. Nutcracker Niicifraga caiyocatactes Gunnislake, Cornwall, 22nd July. Arctic Redpoll St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, 29th April. Black-headed Bunting Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, 7tli July. 1996 Albatross Winterton, Norfolk, 13tli January'. Little Shearwater Peterhead, Nortlieast Scotland, 24th July. Night Heron Brent Reservoir, Greater London, 5tli April. King Eider Daw'lish 'X'arren, Devon, 22nd September. Black Kite Great Leighs, Essex, 19th May; Medmenham, Buckinghamshire, 22nd July; Camon Downs, Cornwall, 20tli August; St Agnes Head, Cornwall, 8th September; Eastleigh, Hampshire, 16tlr September. Lesser Kestrel hako iiaumanm Holland Haven, Essex, 4th-5th October. Red-footed Falcon Donna Nook, Lincolnsltire, 3rd July. Little Crake Tresco, Scilly, 1 1th October. Baird’s Sandpiper Blitlifield Reseiwoir, Staffordshire, 5th October. Great Snipe Loch of Spiggie, Shetland, 18th September; Blitlifield Resen-oir, Staffordshire, 9th October; Sandwich Bay, Kent, 8tli November. Alarsh Sandpiper Frodsham, Cheshire, 14th August. White-w'inged Black Tern Skomer, Pembrokeshire, 11th November. Pallid Swift Nanquidno, Cornwall, 19tli August. Red-rumped Swallow Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire, 17th May. Bly'th’s Pipit Amhus godkzvskii St Mary’s, Scilly, 6tli-10tli November. Red-throated Pipit Flamborough Head, liast Yorkshire, 6tli September; Burnham Norton, Norfolk, 26tli September; Nanjizal, Cornwall, lOtli October. Subalpine Warbler Nanjizal, Cornwall, 26tli August. Greenish Warbler Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, 21st September. Penduline Tit Radipole, Dorset, 21st July; Nene Washes, Cambridgeshire, lOtli October. Arctic Redpoll Fxclestone Mere, luncashire, 4tli-30tli January-; lire Bell, Borders, 2 1 st Januaiy; Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, 1st, 7tli, 24th March; Thoiyse Marsh, Soutli Yorkshire, 14tli November. Yellow-breasted Bunting Warham Greens, Norfolk, 21st September. 1995 Sociable Lapwing Vancllus gregarius Frolesworth, Leicestershire, 23rd October. Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla Frodsham, Cheshire, 12th September. Audouin’s (Jull Ixirus audommi Off St Catlierine’s Point, Isle O' Wight, 14tli August. Lesser Crested Tern Bexhill- on-Sea, liast Sussex, 8tli August. Red-headed Woodpecker Mchiiicrpcs ayilnvctpludiis British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 517 Swansea, Gower, 21st November. Middle Spotted Woodpecker Denchvcopos niedius St Margaret’s Bay, Kent, 19th August. Black-eared Wheatear Fair Isle, Shetland, 14th September; Trimley, Suffolk, 25th October. Greenish Warbler Canvey Point, Essex, 19th September; Whitburn, Durham, 29th September. Rosy Starling Oakwood, Derbyshire, 25th November. Arctic RedpoU North Stow, Suffolk, 9th November; Blythburgh, Suffolk, 19th November. Yellow-breasted Bunting North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 6th September. 1994 Black Kite Frampton Fen/Skegness area, Lincolnshire, 2nd-6th May. Pratincole Wrangle, Lincolnshire, 14th June. Black Woodpecker Diyocopus rnartius Benacre, Suffolk, 13th March. Alpine Swift Scarborough, North Yorkshire, 4th A4ay. Dark-throated Thrush T. r. mficollis Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, 18th October. 1993 Black Kite Oakthorpe, Leicestershire, 30th September. Red-footed Falcon Pulborough Brooks, West Sussex, 22nd June. Soutli Polar Skua Calharacta maccormicki Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, 5th September. Rustic Bunting Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, 25th September. 1990 Citrine Wagtail Sandwich Bay, Kent, 8th- 10th May. 1986 South Polar Skua Cley, Norfolk, 6th September. 1982 South Polar Skua St Ives, Cornwall, 14th October. 1980 Hume’s Warbler Sandwich Bay, Kent, 11th November. 1974 Hume’s Warbler Wells, Norfolk, 24th October. Appendix 3. List of records not accepted, but identification proved This list provides a permanent record of those occurrences which, usually on the grounds of likely escape from captivity, find no place in any category, but which may, at some fumre date, merit further consideration. It does not include (a) any record of a species for which namral vagrancy is wholly unlikely, or (b) those records of presumed escapes already mentioned in the main text of this or earlier Reports. Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor Ditchford and Stanwick Gravel-pits, Northamptonshire, four, 1st October 1997. Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus Barmstone, Hoveringham and Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire, 2 or first-winter, 16th November 1996 to 1997 {Bnt. Birds 90: 521), to 18th February; same, Grantliam Canal, Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire, 22nd May. Spur-winged Lapwing Hoplopteivs spinostis Stodmarsh, Kent, 30th April, 3rd-9th June 1997; same, Pett Level, East Sussex, 13th- 14th June; same, Dungeness, Kent, 15th June to 10th January 1998 (plate 124). Pallas’s Rosefineh Carpodacus roseiis Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, 2nd-6th June 1994; Vane Farm, Perth & Kinross, 28th-30th April 1997. Appendix 4. List of records remaining under consideration This list is not intended to be complete. Some decisions may have been arrived at and notified to County Recorders/observers prior to the publication of this Report. 1997 Black Kite Burnham Norton, Norfolk, 29th-31st May. Laughing Gull Houghton Green, Cheshire, 12th January. Red-throated Pipit St Mary’s, Scilly, 10th October; Porthgwarra, Cornwall, 22nd-23rd October. Radde’s Warbler St Agnes, Scilly, 18th- 19th October. Two-barred Crossbill Kergord, Shetland, 6th July. Trumpeter Finch Whitby, Nortli Yorkshire, 27th May. Pine Grosbeak Moreton, Cheshire, 26th April. Yellow- breasted Bunting Fife Ness, Fife, 15th October. 1996 Madeira/Cape Verde Petrel Pendeen, Cornwall, 24th August. American Golden Plover Witham Mouth, Lincolnshire, 10th March. Greenish Warbler Prawle Point, Devon, 24th September. 1995 American Wigeon Leighton Moss, Lancashire, 6th- 16th October. Semipahnated Sandpiper South Huish, Devon, 8th-9th October. Black-eared Wheatear Great Orme’s Head, Caernarfonshire, 20th October. Hume’s Warbler Spurn, East Yorkshire, 3rd November. 1994 Black-headed Bunting Skomer, Pembrokeshire, 9th May. 1993 South Polar Skua Sea area Sole, 26th August. Hume’s Warbler Bridlington, East Yorkshire, 11th Febmary. 1985 CoUared Flycatcher Holkham Meals, Norfolk, 12th-13th May. NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Wendy Dickson and Bob Scott Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily' those of ‘British Birds’ Imataca Forest Reserve needs your help You do not have to be a South American birder to know the value of South American forests for their amazing diversity of wildlife. You are probably aware of the fantastic birding in Venezuela, one of the richest avifaunas in tlie Neotropics, with over 1,300 species of resident and migratory' birds. Approximately 46 of these species are endemic to the country'. In the east of Venezuela, south of the Orinoco Delta and nestling against the border with Guyana, is the Imataca Forest Reserv'e. The area is not particularly well known to birders, and like much of South America no doubt contains much to be discovered. Unfortunately, beneath the reser\'e lies considerable mineral wealth, including over 10,000 metric tons of gold. The remoteness of the region is demonstrated by tlie fact that it is home to five tribes of indigenous peoples. I'he fact that Imataca is a Forest Reserve and Protected Area meant that full-scale mining could not take place, although during the 1980s tlte area had been invaded by thousands of illegal miners whose smuggling activities destroyed some 10% of the area, which totals approximately 3.6 million hectares. The big mining companies’ response has been simple: they have pressured the Venezuelan government to change the law. On 14tli A4ay 1997, the Government put a management plan into action that distributed most of Imataca amongst several multi-national mining and logging corporations and subsequently issued Presidential Decree 1850, which passed the plan into law. In November 1997, in response to cases placed before it, Venezuela’s Supreme Court announced an investigation into the legality' of Decree 1850 and suspended the issuing of mining concessions. There is now a need for voices throughout the World to be heard in support for the overturning of Decree 1850. Your voice is needed. Further details of how you can help can be obtained from Earth Action, 17 The Green, Wye, Kent 'l'H25 5AJ; tel: 01233-813796. New conservation supremo for RSPB Following Graham Wynne’s promotion to Chief E.xecutive (Brit. Birds 91; 305), the RSPB’s post of Conservation Director has been filled by Dr Mark Avery. Mark has become well known to readers of British Birds through his regular column ‘Consen'ation research news’. For six years, Mark fronted the RSl^H’s research in his role as Head of Conserv’ation Science. Mark will now be able to bring the research background into the wider conservation scene. It will gi\'e him die opportunity not only to work on die results of e.\tensi\e research, but also to take messages from die field-workers, birdwatchers and RSPB members who often require action based on ‘gut feelings’. Under some circumstances, it is only by successfully combining the uvo diat die stable door can be slammed in time. We wish Mark well in his new role. 518 [Bril. Birds 91: 518-521, Novemher 1998] ic Briiish Birds Ltd 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 519 BIY 1998 and 1999 The 1998 awards were made at The Mall Galleries in London on 22nd July (plate 154). The BIY prizes were presented by Christopher Helm, on behalf of the co- sponsors PICA PRESS and T. & A. D. POYSER; The PJC Award was presented by Mrs Maisie Head, motlter of the late Pauline Cook, in whose honour the Award was established; and The Richard Richardson Award was presented by Bruce Pearson, President of the Society of Wildlife Artists. The closing date for next year’s competition will be 15th March 1999. Entries should be sent to the address given on page 448. A 154. BIRD ILLUSTRATOR OF THE ’TEAR: left to right, Peter Michael Beeson (THIRD, btt), George Brown (THE PJC award), Dan Cole (second, bd), Paul Henery (winner, biy), Simon Patient (THE RICHARD RICHARDSON award), London, July 1998 {Peter Wilkinson) British Birdwatching Fair 1998 Officially opened by HRH The Eon of Oku; bigger and better than ever; well attended; and with Sir David Attenborough, Bill Oddie and Chris Packham among the crowds. Friday’s ‘Universal Bird Challenge’ was won (easily!) by OSME ahead of the ABC, with the NBC and the OBC trailing; on Saturday, ‘Birdbrain of Britain’ was won by Chris Harbard (RSPB); and in Sunday’s ‘A Question of Birds’ Stephen Moss’s team, including Tony Marr and Bill Oddie, just pipped Chris Packham’s trio. Many familiar faces called at our stand, and the cool weather was wonderful for sales Bobby Tulloch Memorial Bobby Tulloch, founder member and first President of the Shetland Bird Club, died in May 1996. In his memory, the Club has decided to commission a Memorial, which will take the form of a plaque to be erected close to the Loch of Funzie on Fetlar, one of Bobby’s favourite places. With a final cost likely to be in the region of £1,000, the Club has decided to launch an Appeal not just to its present membership, but to any past of our BB sweatshirts. Winners of the bottles of champagne in our ‘Mystery' Photographs Competition’ were Ian Dawson (RSPB), Gary Crowder (Lancashire) and Lynda Haynes (Nottingham). The aim of the Fair was to raise £100,000 to help consen'ation of the World’s 1,111 most endangered bird species. Organisers Tim Appleton and Martin Davies will doubtless soon report on the Fair’s success. We are already looking forward to the eleventh British Birdwatching Fair, on 20th- 22nd August 1999. Put it in your diary now! members or friends who might also like to make a contribution. If you are one, please send your cheque, made out to Tlie Shetland Bird Club, to George Petrie, Kelstain, Ocraquoy, Cunningsburgh, Shetland, before the end of November, when tlie Appeal will close. If more money comes in than is required, the Club’s Committee will decide how best to use tlie surplus. 520 News and comment Valerie MacLaren Thom (1929-1998) I first met Valerie in the early 1960s, when she was a \'ital member of the band of keen amateur birdwatchers who helped the W'ildfowl (& ^X'etlands) Trust with its winter censuses of grey geese. If you asked Valerie to help with a count, you knew' that it would be undertaken with the same conscientious- ness, skill and enthusiasm with w’hich she approached all her ornithological interests. Her work as an agricultural advisor and then with the Countrv'side Commission for Scotland took her around her home county of Perthshire and more w'idely throughout Scotland, giving her a valuable under- standing of consen-ation and rural affairs. She was a long-time supporter of tlte P’air Isle Bird Obsenatorv' Trust and of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, of which she ser\'ed a distinguished temi as President. 1 \i\’idly recall her standing at the podium and announcing, with obvious relish, tliat the funds w'ere in place for the long-sought-after project to wxite a new work on the status of the birds of Scotland and tliat she was going to be the author and compiler: the fine book Birds VI Scotlwid (Poyser 1986) w'as the result. She also managed spells as editor of botlt Scottish Birds and Scottish Bird Neivs. Scotland’s omitholog>' is tire poorer for her passing. {Contributed by Malcolm Ogilvic) Scilly needs report editor The Comw’all Bird ’VC'atching & Presen ation Society is seeking an editor for The Isles of Scilly Bird Report, starting on 1st Januarv 1999. After the production of se\’en superb, highly acclaimed bird reports, the present Piditor, Peter Robinson, has decided to take a well-earned break. Dick Barratt, his Assistant Hditor, will also be retiring. The new Editor will work witli tire Isles of Scilly Recorder, Will NX^agstaff, and establish a new team to write the species accounts. The Report is produced w'itli the aid of the COBRA Programme, and computer experience would be advantageous. ITie team will be fully supported by the CBWPS, which is a Registered Charity (no. 255899). 'Ihe post is voluntary, but all reasonable expenses are covered. If you wish to discuss the position further, please contact Will NX’agstaff, 42 Sally Port, St Mar\'’s, Isles of Scilly 'FR21 ojii, tel. 01720 422212; or Graham Sutton (Chairman of CB'XTS), 6 Elm Drive, Bude, Cornwall EX23 8EZ, tel. 01288 356605. Changes on Texel Having played host to the Dutch Birding Association’s birding week on Texel in September, the Texel Birdwatching Centre ('PBC) is changing hands. From 1st Nov'ember 1998, the founder of the Centre, Arend Wassink, will be handing over the reins to die family Brandsema. Arend will continue to live on die island and be closely involved widi die Centre. You can be sure of a warm welcome at the TBC, 94 Vuurtorenwcg, De Cocksdorji; tel: 00-31-2223-16416. Thank you, Sheila On 23rd October, Sheila Cobban retired, after over 22 years as Personal Assistant to the Managing Editor. Sheila’s cheerv’ voice on the telephone and friendly smile at die British Birdwatching Fair will be missed by many BB subscribers; her steady hand will be sorely missed in the BB office; and Tim says that he fears that ever>'one will now discover who has really been running BB since 1976. Happy retirement, Sheda! A 155. Sheila Cobban {Tessa Musgravc) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 11, November 1998 521 Ian Mitchell joins Seabird 2000 Dr Ian Mitchell has been appointed by the Government’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to co-ordinate ‘Seabird 2000’, tlie major new census of all breeding seabirds in Britain and Ireland (announced in Brit. Birds 91; 261). The JNCC is working in partnership with the statutory nature conservation country agencies, the RSPB, the Seabird Group, the Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group, the National Parks & Wildlife Service (Ireland) and BirdWatch Ireland. The census will be during the three years 1999-2001. This huge task will depend upon the efforts of dedicated volunteers and needs the input of British Birds readers. Anyone who wishes to take part in Seabird 2000 should contact Dr Ian Mitchell at the Seabirds &; Cetaceans Branch, JNCC, Dunnett House, 7 Thistle Place, Aberdeen ABio lUZ; fax: 01224 621 488; e-mail: mitche_i@jncc.gov.uk MONTHLY MARATHON Although also named as Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandriniis, Greater Sand Plover C. leschenaultii, Caspian Plover C. asiaticus. Grey Plover Pluvialis sqtiatarola, White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucimis and Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina, 98% of competitors identified the Cream-coloured Courser Ciirsorius cursor (plate 99), which was photographed by Tony Croucher in Essex in September 1984 {Brit. Birds 78: 543). A 156. ‘Monthly marathon.’ Photo no. 147. Eighth stage in tenth ‘Marathon’. Identify the species. Read the rides {Brit. Birds 91: 305), then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 1 5th December 1998. LOOKING BACK Twenty-live years ago, on 6th Nov'ember 1973, Britain s first Little Swift Apus ajfiiiis was picked up at Llanrwst, Denbighshire {Brit. Birds 67: 328). RECENT BBRC DECISIONS All records refer to 1998 unless stated otherwise. ACCEKrED: Broad-billed Sandpiper Umicola fuldfiellns Minsmere (Suffolk), 26th May. Spotted Sandpiper Aciiiis maculaiia Eyebrook Reser\'oir (Leicestershire), 9th- 10th May. Laughing Gull Lams, atricilla Burnham ^ Norton (Norfolk), 18th- 19th May (also, Titchwell, 9th May to June; also Holme and Hunstanton; all Norfolk). FrankUn’s Gull L. pipixcan Titchwell, 10th May. Dark- throated Thrush Turdus mficollis atrogtilaris Snettisham (Norfolk), 25th-28th April. BOURC DECISIONS Canvasback Ayihya valisimria Welney and Wissington, Norfolk, 18th Januar\' to 10th March 1997, and Lesser Sand Plover Charadrins mongohts, Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, 14th- 16th August 1997, both already accepted by the BBRC, are now also accepted for Category A by the BOURC. AI. J. Rogers, Secretaty, BBRC, 2 Churc/nozvn Cottages, Tozvednack, St Ives, Comzvall TR26 3AZ ZEISS ANNOUNCEMENT Editorial phone and fax number TTie ‘old’ number has now been reinstated by BT, so please note tliat, for all editorial matters, 01767 640025 is the correct number. (See inside front cover for other numbers.) m. RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Barni Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary of unchecked reports covers 14th September to 11th October 1998. Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax Quendale area (Shetland), 4th-6th October. Western Sandpiper Calidris manri Deerness (Orkney), 29th September to 3rd October. Franklin’s Gull Lams pipixcan Baltray (Co. Louthj, 11th October. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Five during 20th September to 4th October: Fair Isle (Shetland); Ardmore Point (Strathclyde); Whitby (North Yorkshire); Southwold (Suffolk); Minsmere (Suffolk). Red- flanked BluetaU Tarsiger cyannms Fame Islands (Northumberland), 25th September; near Newburgh, Ythan Estuary (Grampian), 27th-28th September. Ring Ouzels I'nrdns torquatns Major influx, mainly on East Coast, in early October, including 700 at St Margaret’s Bay and 380 at Capel-Le-Eerne (both Kent) on 7th. Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Ijocnstella certhiola Fair Isle, 30th September; another, lst-7th October; Skegness (Lincolnshire), 3rd October. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalns agricola Tory Island (Co. Donegal), 21st September. Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida St Agnes (Scilly), 24th September to 8th October. Lesser Grey Shrike iMiiins minor Lochinver (Highland), 5tli-9tli October. Rustic Bunting Emberiza mstica About 30 during 24tli September to 6th October, including 16 in Shetland. Yellow-breasted Bunting E. aureola 4'ory Island, 21st September. Bobolink Dolichonix oiyzivoms Durigarth (Shetland), 28th September to 5th October. y Rare Bird News supplies all its information free to ‘Hritish Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (28p/min cheap rate; 41p/min other times; inct VAT) 522 [Bril. Birds 91: 522, November 1998] 9 L-innit: .u'estr.ivw iin psiil.net.ee QUITO-HCUADOK • SOUTH AMEKICA Over 18 year s experience in arranging affordable tailor-made birding trips for individuals, bird clubs and birding tour companies British-owned. Write or fax for our 1999 brochure BIRDWATCH COSTA RICA APARTADO 7911 1000-B SAN JOSE COSTA RICA - FAX (00) 506-228-1573 BB224 Birdwatching In the Netherlands Come and see large flocks of wintering geese (including Red-breasted and Lesser Whitefronted) asnd ducks (Smew) as well as Dutch specialities: Black Woodpecker, Bearded Tit. Crested Lark etc. Free brochure from BINS; Sandenburglaan 36, 3571 BC UTRECHT, The Netherlands. Fax: +31 416 313750 or email: BINS_tours(g)yahoa.com (BB2so) XII TO ADVERTISE PHONE 01767 01234 364366 BB228 SPANISH PYRENEES/birdwatching centre. Birders dream. Rural guesthouse nr Wallcreeper and Lammergeier sanctuary. Fb £150 pppw. 7-day programme for couples, individuals, friends visiting: Hecho, S. J. Pena, Guara, Riglos, Steppes. £450 incl. accom, transport, expert guide. Tailor-made walking/birdwatching holidays. Brochure: 'Boletas', 22192 Loporzano, Huesca. Tel/fax: 00 34 974 262027. e-mail: boletas@abaforum.es (BB246) VENEZUELA birdwatching holidays: Andes. Llanos, Henri Pittier and La Escalera. Small group tours and tailor- mades. Geodyssey 0171 281 7788. (BB223) NEW ZEALAND Experience our unique plant and bird community in diverse and dramatic landscapes. Personalised birding/nature tours. Information: Manu Tours. 106 Ocean Beach Road, Tairua. New Zealand. Ph/Fax (64) (7) 8647475. (BB165) BIRD INFORMATION It’s been worth waiting for! COUNTYPAGER The NEW birders news service from Rare Bird Alert Tel 01603 456789 for an information pack BOOKS BIRD BOOKS BOUGHT & SOLD. Send A5 s.a.e. for catalogue. Visit our shop and see our extensive collection. Hawkridge Books. The Cruck Barn, Cross St, Castleton, Derbyshire S30 2WH. Tel. 01433 621999. Fax. 01433 621 (BB078) 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 ’ 9 -2 CL 1998 I Young Ornithologists of the Yea | \ The ornithological year 1997 All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic Status of Brent Goose in East Siberia British Birds Established 1907; incorporating 'The Zoologist’, established 1843 Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Personal Assistant Mrs Frances Buckncll Assistant Editor David A. Christie Editorial Board 1. Carter, Dr R. J. Chandler, Dr M. CoUinson, R. J. Pr\therch, N. J. Redman, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Design Deborah Felts Photographic Researcher Robin Chittenden Art Consultants Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris Circulation Manager Erika Sharrock Rarities Committee Prof. Colin Bradshaw (Chairman), Pete Ellis, Paul Harvey, John McLoughlin, John Martin, Doug Page, K. D. Shaw, Dr Jimmy Steele, Andy Stoddart, Reg ITiorpe, Grahame Walbridge; John Marchant (archivist); Peter Fraser (statistician); Michael J. Rogers (Hon. 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Papers, notes, letters, drazvings & photographs, exchange journals; competition entries: Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone & Fax: 01767 640025 Subscriptions & advertising: Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Phone: 01234 364366 Promotion: British Birds, The Banks, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TTJ32 5JY. Phone: 01580 882039. Fax: 01580 880541. e-mail: christopher.helm@helm-information.co.uk hems for ‘News and comment’: Bob Scott & W'endy Dickson, 8 W'oodlands, St Neots, Cambridgeshire PE 19 lUE. Phone: 01480 214904. Fax: 01480 473009. Bird neius for ‘The ornithological year’: Barry Nightingale & Keith Allsopp, 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS. Phone: 01525 290314 Rarity descriptions: M. J. Rogers, 2 Churchtowm Cottages, Towednack, Cornwall TR26 3AZ. Special book and sound-recording offers: British BirdShop, do Subbuteo Books, Pistyll Farm, Nercwys, Mold, Hintshire CH7 4EW. Phone: 01352 756551. Fax: 01352 756004. E-mail: sales@subbooks.demon.co.uk © British Birds Ltd 1998 Copyright of photographs remains with photographers. British Birds is published monthly by British Birds Ltd, The Banks, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JA7 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 \X’est 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 Birds of the Western Palearctic (1997); 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 Corbet & Harris (1991, The Handbook of British Mammals, 3rd 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 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 (five each to two or more authors). UNRIVALLED EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE - SALES & REPAIRS - BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES - TRIPODS etc SWAROVSKI 8x20BMkli 307 10x25BMkll 327 8 X 30 SLC Mklll 519 10x42SLC 695 7x42 SLC 635 7x50 SLC NEW 749 8x50 SLC NEW 779 10x50 SLC NEW 809 ST/AT 80 body 629 ST/AT 80 HD body 929 22x eyepiece 94 30x (WA) eyepiece 145 20-60X zoom eyepiece 220 Camera adaptor 800mm 159 Stay-on case 55 LEICA 8 X 20 BC Trinovid 259 8 X 20 BCA Trinovid 289 1 0 X 25 BC Trinovid 289 1 0 X 25 BCA Trinovid 309 8 X 32 BA Trinovid 619 1 0 X 32 BA Trinovid 659 8 X 42 BA Trinovid 679 1 0 X 42 BA Trinovid 699 8 X 50 BA Trinovid 859 1 0 X 50 BA Trinovid 859 Carrying strap 26 LEICA APO Televid scope 799' LEICA Std. Televid scope 509 20-60X (B) zoom eyepiece 209 20x (WW/B) eyepiece 125 32x (WW/B) eyepiece 180 40x (B) eyepiece 105 Photo adaptor 239 Skua case 89 ZEISS OPTICAL CENTRE 8 X 20B Classic 225 1 0 X 25B Classic 265 10 X 25 B/TP (New DS) 339 8 X 20 B/TP (New DS) 329 8 X 30 BGA/T (P) 599 7x42BGA/r(P) 659 10x40BGA/T(P) 659 7 X 45 Night Owl 759 CANON 1 2 X 36 stabilised binoculars . . .575' 15x45 stabilised binoculars . . .785' 10 X 30 stabilised binoculars . . . .349 NIKON NEW 10 X 42 SE CF 629 NEW 8 X 23 SE CF 575 KOWA TSN 821/822 319 TSN 823/824 Fluorite 639 20-box zoom EP 199 32x(WA)EP 149 50xEP 169 850mm Photo Adaptor 159 Adaptor for TSN 1-4 EPS 24 Skua case 64 TSN-1 (45°) or -2 body 289 TSN-3 (45°) or -4 body 589 25x or 40x eyepiece 89 20x (WA) eyepiece 129 30x (WA) eyepiece 159 60x eyepiece 138 77x eyepiece 125 20-60x zoom eyepiece 185 Camera adaptor 800mm 150 Skua case 54 27x (WA) Screw-in-eyepiece 74 TS-61 1 body (45°) 229 TS-612 body 209 TS-61 3 Fluorite body (45°) 449 TS-61 4 Fluorite body 429 TS-61 0 accessories: 20x (WA) eyepiece 75 27x (WA) eyepiece 99 20-60X zoom eyepiece 127 Skua case 54 PICCOLO 60mm scope (45°) + zoom & case 249 (orwith22xWA) VIKING 7x36 Wide View 124 ★ SEVENOAKS WILDFOWL RESERVE on the A25 between Riverhead and Sevenoaks Bat and Ball station on Sunday 6th December, 10th January, 7th February and 7th March. Alternative venues to MORDEN and AYLESBURY, at which you can try and buy our equipment IN THE FIELD are given alongside. We aim to show our full range of equipment, but it helps us to help you if you let us know your interests before each field day. REPAIRS can also be handed in/collected. * 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, usually ★ * BOUGH BEECH NATURE RESERVE/RESERVOIR about 4 miles south of the /\25/A21 junction (access from the B2042 or B2027) near Ide Hill, Kent. Info, centre north of the reservoir) on Sunday 20th December, 17th January and 21 St February. * PAGHAM HARBOUR LOCAL NATURE RESERVE on the B2145 into Selsey, West Sussex, on Sunday 29th November, 27th December, 31st January and 28th February. ★ THE KENT WILDLIFE TRUST, Tyland Barn, Sandling, near Maidstone, Kent on Sunday 13th December, 24th January and 14th March (10.30-4.00). OPTOLYTH 8 X 40 Alpin NG 279 10x40AlpinNG 279 10 X 50 Alpin NG 299 7 X 50 Alpin NG 299 TBG 80 body 449 TBS 80 body 449 TBG or TBS 80 HD 659 30x (WW) eyepiece 159 20-box eyepiece 189 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 DISCOVERY 8 x42 or 10 x42 RP, GA 135 OPTICRON 8 X 32 SR/GA 237 7 X 42 SR/GA 238 8 X 42 SR/GA 239 10x42 SR/GA 249 10x50 SR/GA 255 8 X 42 Imagic Porro 149 1 0 X 40 Imagic Porro 159 8 X 32 Dioptron 167 8 X 42 Dioptron 169 1 0 X 42 Dioptron 179 10 X 50 Dioptron 199 8x32(HRII) 197 8x42(HRII) 199 10x42(HRII) 209 10x50(HRII) 229 8’/! X 50 (HRII) 229 7x42(HRII) 198 7x24, 8x24 or 10x24 MCF 125 Roof prism binos (W/P): 8x24 BGA 180 10x28 BGA 190 7x36 BGAPC Ag 419 8 X 42 BGA PC Ag 429 10 X 42 BGA PC Ag 429 10 X 50 BGA PC Ag 430 8 X 42 Imagic RP WP 349 10x42 Imagic RPWP 355 HR 66 scope 279 HR 66 (45°) 319 HR 80 GA (45°) 429 1 5x, 20x, 25x or 40x HR eyepiece 44 20x WW HDF eyepiece 96 28x WW HDF eyepiece 119 22x W HR eyepiece 57 30x W HR eyepiece 59 60x HR eyepiece 49 20-60X zoom eyepiece 119 HR 60 GA (black with 30 x WA) .299 email: kayop6cal@netmatters.co.uk 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. BUCKS Sales in AYLESBURY by appointment only. Visitors welcome - please phone first. Tel: 01296-424145 Also, Field Operations Centre. • Mail Order if required (same day despatch) • Part exchanges • Used items • Package deals • Interest-free short-term credit E.&O.E. REPAIRS & SERVICING After 35 years of servicing all types of equipment (including Zeiss and Leica), we can promise you a thorough job. Post or bring your optical equipment to our workshop at MORDEN. We know how HARD DOMES £20 TRIPODS, BOOKS, etc ■ While stocks last important a quick turn-round is to you. Remember, you cannot be optimistic with misty optics! ★ DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK, near Reading, M4 (A329(M) Woodley turn-off) and then A329 to Winnersh and Winnersh Station (B3030). Sunday 14th February and 11th April. ★ HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR, Essex (off A130 North of Basildon, near the fishing lodge) on Sunday 11th April. ★ COLLEGE LAKE WILDLIFE CENTRE on the B488 near Bulbourne, Tring, Herts on Sat/Sun 19th/20th December, 23rd/24th Janmuary and 20th/21st February. ★ GIBRALTAR POINT, south of Skegness at N.W. corner of the Wash, Lines on Sunday 14th March. ★ BLITHFIELD RESERVOIR, (S. Staffs WatenAforks) off B5013 on Sunday 28th March. ★ THE SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST at Woods Mill, Henfield, W. Sussex. Sunday 28th March and 23rd May. ★ GREAT LINFORD WILDFOWL RESERVE (ARC Environmental Study Centre), near Milton Keynes, on Sat/Sun 12th/13th December, 9th/10th January and 6th/7th February. ★ WHISBY NATURE PARK, off Lincoln by-pass (Moor Lane), NW of Lincoln on Sunday 28th February and 18th April. ★ NORFOLK BIRD- WATCHING FESTIVAL. Joint BTO and National Trust enterprise at Felbrigg Hall, near Cromer, Norfolk. Sun/Mon 2nd/3rd May. I Don’t miss ^ our £990 NaturetreK selection These 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 call us now! Naturetrek Bighton, Nr. Alresford, Hampshire S024 9RE Tel: 01962 733051 Fax: 01962 736426 e-mail: sales@naturetrek.co.uk web: www.naturetrek.co.uk ZAMBIA - South Luangwa National Park. 6- IS Nov '98; 12-21 Feb '99; 26 Mar - 4 Apr '99; S - 14 Nov '99. NAMIBIA - Swakopmund & Walvis Bay. Spitskoppe, Etosha & Waterberg Mountains. 29 Jan - 7 Feb '99; 1 2 - 2 1 Mar '99. MALA¥H - Lake Malawi. Zomba Plateau & Liwonde National Park. 12-21 Feb '99; 12-21 Mar '99. SOUTHERN MOROCCO - The desert. Oued Massa. Oued Sous & Marrakech. 1 2 - 2 1 Feb '99; 26 Feb - 7 Mar '99; 17-26 Sep '99. ETHIOPIA - Addis. Gafersa. Awash National Park. Wondo Guenet & Rift Valley Lakes. 20 - 29 Nov '98; 1 2 - 2 1 Feb '99; 2- II Apr '99; 19 -28 Nov '99. ETHIOPIAN ENDEMICS - Debre Libanos. Solulta. Ankober, Lakes. Wondo Guenet & Bale Mountains. 27 Nov - 6 Dec '98; 19-28 Feb '99; 2 - 1 1 Apr '99; 26 Nov - 5 Dec '99. INDIA - Delhi. Ranthambore & Bharatpur. 20 - 28 Nov '98; 12-20 Feb '99; 2- 10 Apr '99; 19 -27 Nov '99. NEPAL - Chitwan. Kosi & Kathmandu Valley. Departures every Friday throughout Jan & Feb '99; 7- 1 6 May '99; 21 - 30 May '99. NEPAL - THE TRAGOPAN TREK A 1 0-day tour including Langtang Valley trek. 14-23 May '99; 28 May - 6 Jun '99. TANZANIA - Saadani Game Reserve, and the Usambara and Uluguru Mountains. 12-21 Feb '99; 22-31 Oct '99. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 31 Jan -7 Feb '99; 4- 1 1 Apr '99; 14-21 Nov '99. NEW ENGLAND - USA Spring migration on the Massachusetts coast. 16-24 May '99. SRI LANKA - Sinharaja Forest & the Hill Country. 23 Jan - I Feb '99. GAMBIA - A variety of localities along the Gambia River. 29 Oct - 7 Nov '99. TEXAS - USA - Spring migrants along the Gulf coast of Texas. 10- 18 Apr '99. KAZAKHSTAN - Deserts, steppes & Tien Shan Mountains. 1 3 - 2 1 May '99; 27 May - 4 Jun '99. SOUTH AFRICA - Kruger National Park & Dullstroom. 12-21 Feb '99; 9 - 18 Apr '99; 17 - 26 Sep '99. OMAN - With Colin Richardson. 20 - 28 Nov '99. British BirdShop Listed books are POST FREE to ‘British Birds’ subscribers^ by BritiA B.rds as reliable, good reliable and MendLst Sv°ce p,ble " Subbmeo nS by ^n. to British B,rdShop. c/o Subbuteo BooCprsgll Books All listed books are POST FREE BEST BIRD BOOKS OF THE ^’EAR « "~eb„a,y 1S,S, .e SPECIAL OFFERS Enticott & Tipling Photographic Handbook of the Seabirds EXCLUSIVE REDUCED PRICE (usually £29.99) of the World (New Holland) Revised edn. Please tick / 00 □ lonS oSke^^lf (HarperCollins) (usuaUy £50 00) ^ T oTf ^ (OUP) (normal price £35.00) .... ^ ^ ^ V Pit^> Broadbtlls and Asities (Pica Press) (normal price £ (usually IP'-'/y (New Holland)WusiVE reduced price r^mhr.^T'w/ .£ I o • ff^egapodes (UUH) (normal price £35.00) .... r?s on n t 'Woodcock Pit^,Broadbtlls and Asities (Pica Press) (normal orice ?26 Om cofon S &tyo\m.e Photographic Handbook of the WUrifmni r,f ikc„/j rxT„.. TTiii_ _ js £21.00 □ ... £27.99 □ now (ed.) 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(01352) 756004. e-mail: salcs(o)subbttoks.demon.co.uk Send order to: British BirdShop, c/o Subbuteo Ihtoks, Bistyll h’ami, Nerewy s, Mold, Hintshire CH7 4i;\v. British Birds THENATir’AL I HISTO': a ' BJM | r L ■- 1998 I E^lablUhed 1907; mcorpcramg ‘The Zchgisf, esuMshed 1843 LIBRARY ; J • , T 1* V.' Vm « »-» I t/ « f YOUNG ORNITHOLOGISTS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Brasher Boot Co. BTO Christopher Helm Hamlyn HarperCollins PaniVIacmillan Pica Press T. & A. D. Poyser Swarovski WhdWings It was pleasing this year to have an increased number of enmes, the majority of a very high standard. The six judges— representing Bmish Birds, the British Birds Rannes Committee, the British Ornithologists’ Union, the Bnnsh Trust for Ornithology, the Society of Wildlife Artists and the YOC— had a very enjoyable but long day reading through and comparing the entrants’ field notebooks and permanent records. The standard was such at we have chosen to list the runners-up as well as the winners. AU those listed below deserve congratulations. 1.1 , 1 7 uoLcu uciuw aeserve o ugh only those placed first in each age category receive prizes. SENIOR (18-21 years) INTERMEDIATE (15-17 years) 1st BEN PHALAN (20) Co. Wicklow (95%) 2nd Sam Bosanquet (21) Gwent (89%) 3rd Tom Lowe (20) Cheshire (74%) 4th Paul French (20) Cambridgeshire (68%) 1st JONATHAN DEAN (15) Fife (89%) 2nd Robert Martin (16) Nottingham (85%) 3rd Ross Ahmed (15) Tyne & Wear (77%) JUNIOR (14 and under) 1st ANTHONY PRICE (9) Shropshire (93%) 2nd Matthew Slaymaker (13) Buckinghamshire (87%) 3rd Sarah Greaves (7) Northamptonshire (72%) o^ended: Hugh Wright (12) Somerset; Mark Mitton (10) Co. The three winners— Ben Phalan, Jonathan Dean and Anthony Price— will be presented witit their pnzes at the BTO Annual Conference in December. he aim of the competition is to encourage, foster and reward the accurate recording of field observations by young birdwatchers. We hope that as a result, they will enjoy their hobby and find it even more satisfying, and that some may in due course become the next generation of county bird recorders, BTO representauves or RSPB group leaders, while a few may choose to make a professional career in namral history, ornithology or conservation. Several previous winners of this competition have followed these routes. Rather than write at length about the entries, we show (pages 524 & 525) some examples of pages from the winners’ field notebooks Guidelines and mles for the 1999 competition (open to anyone aged under 22 on 1st September 1999) are available from the address below J. T. R. Sharrock (BB), Roh Hume (BBRC), B. A. E. Marr (BOU) Dr J J D Greenwood (BTO), Robert Gillmor (SWLA) and Peter Holden (YOC)^ do Fountains, Park Lane, Blunharn, Bedford MK44 3NJ [Rnt. Birds 91: 523-525, December 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 523 524 Sharrock ct al.‘. Young Ornithologists of the Year r 1 lo A. C i- 0;v!«l r uo~4cJ, iew4' r TVvA. ^ pv , 1/ •; r '6 ^■ ■>j^ .Joiar (Z.M ? /\ UtU s>/jUJL«r V*.- ^-■' ^ vvO*' t»tWrr-i . (/^pciJV-.s ^ (^'.) ' '■ Pc4^ I "f V// C fav-^ - 1l f'tAjfi , V. sv^-^ \ i L^r^J t’l'v-Zj C.W CViY^^«W’ ^ rv» jy>*v.v«4” ^5+ -wt . jo^ , Ui^ • «A*|0* Ovj-cr*.!) 'kv^vtj!? -^( />-W vl^t "f «■.. ■ Is.^Vr^ 4 ^ — -^ "W»./ €-»-^ V .'tbU# I ^)4iA X«. V *=" >®|'\ C/<2o/cur W44- »f «'*-s ^ eJlirt" ^ l^ f‘»f' . C)kv L of t^uTT-r ''>V, •On'"; If . i — Jo.N i- ROma ‘^d VoT {A^i oi/aiMJ. *^**^'^ ' C 7 Lan. ^ 2 SuCt Ceeove) — do;-lc \v<:l' vV^ * K«? cloBful" - ASCrfre>VN ! ffd lyTIK EeJ[\k>N4t. - TV<^ -fiW$^ CWV.JI (bl cioDe, to JAtU for "7p »v\.i^i..Wf piave. TVc^ + pl^ ,ff ■fo (^{1 Qw UsCf , Mo+ »v 5" '’vS (f Iftrlt. fc.c«\ 0*w Att^v-tr t'-^ -fewAiUj ^...) British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 525 ^ £ltl ~.Spr>vt-'\ ■'■4 (0..)-... Oc.i^ . >-XL \!., , i ^ M\ SVvi L i> \ ' ' 2^ VVI41 1 V-i Examples from notebooks of Young Ornithologists of the Year 1998 Facing page, Ben Phalan (Senior winner) Above, Jonathan Dean (Intermediate winner) Right, Anthony Price (Junior winner) sw ' vi;‘ I JD-yg-i— ' : ( 2 'A ;— i ' ' ' ■ . ■■ / 1^4 < t OjoLtiX ■\k^n^Cro^Att§. ■" ,A,i; F'-' The ornithological year 1997 Barry Nightingale and Keith Allsopp This report summarises the major bird movements and influxes of 1997, as well as including the rarity highlights. All the rarities noted here have been accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee; reports still under consideration or not yet submitted are not included. Full details ol aU major rarities can be found in the annual ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain and Ireland’, in the November issue {Biit. Birds 91: 455-517). Echoes from the past January was the driest since 1880, and in southern England was the coldest for ten years, with easterly winds prevailing until lOtli. Temperamres on the near-Continent were some 2°-3°C below the 30-year average. A low of -15.2°C was recorded in Leicestershire on 3rd. During the second half of Januar\’, in some areas of Britain at least, it became exceptionally mild. At the end of 1 996, large concentrations of Smews Mergellus albellus had gathered, no doubt driven out of the Continent by the freezing conditions, and by January had reached impressive numbers. Upwards of 200 were reported each day; about 150 in Norfolk, 86 in Sussex, a peak of 53 in tlie Dungeness area (Kent), 41 at Wraysbury Gravel-pits (Berkshire), about 60 in Surrey and up to 250 in the English midland counties. High counts of Goosanders Mergns merganser were made, in some areas of unprecedented numbers, Uvo particularly good totals being 218 at Queen Elizabeth II Reser\'oir (Surrey) on 12tl-i January and 237 at Blithfield Reser\'oir (Staffordshire) on 26tli January-. At QEII Reservoir, the roost of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo reached a site-record of 1,149. There were rarer ducks, too, staying over from 1996: the Black Duck Anas rnbripes on I'resco (Scilly), Lesser Scaups Aytliya affinis in Highland and Cornwall, seven American Wigeons Anas americana and a scattering of Ring-necked Ducks Aytliya collaris (plate 157). 526 [Bril. Birds 91: 526-539, December 1998] © Ibitish Birds Lid 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 527 oppmg all these, however, was a first-winter male Canvasback Aythya vahsinena ^l Welney and Wissington (Norfolk) for over seven weeks from 18th Januaix bout 1 70 Homed Larks Eremophila alpestris were reported, mainly ^ong the coast from the Wash to Suffolk. Relatively large flocks of Bohemian Waxwmgs Bornbycilla garmlus were found, in total about 1,200, raising hopes of a repeat of the 1996 influx, but it was not to be, with few straying farther south than Scotland and northern England. A Dark-throated Thmsh Turdus mficollis of the more-frequent black-throated race atrogularis was found wintering inland on 3rd January in Derbyshire (plate 141), and a Dusky Thrush T. naimianm of the nominate race was found at South Norwood (Greater London) three days later (fig. 7 on page 504). For the second winter running, good concentrations of Greater Scaups Aythya mania were found off the Norfolk coast, incluctog 210 at Holme. Another echo from the past was the Olive- backed Pipit Anthns hodgsom, found in a garden in Brixham (Devon) on 18th January and staying until 9th April (plate 131), by which time over 600 observers had passed through the house to view it. In the second half of January, several notable flypasts of Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata occurred’ including 411 at Sea Palling (Norfolk) on 17th, 1,023 off Borth (Ceredigion) on 25th and 230 east past Hartland (Devon) in under one hour on 29th. At the Ouse Washes, a total of 5,004 Tundra Swans Cygmis colwnbiamis, with 2,767 at Welney alone on 26th January, compared with about 950 Whooper Swans C. cygniis for the Washes count on 17th January. February was very unsettled, with frequent gales, especially in the North and West, but was mild, mean temperatures generally around 3°C above the long-term average. The month’s most notable bird was Britain’s second Redhead Aythya americana (or was it perhaps the first remrning?), at Rutland Water (Leicestershire) on 4th (fig. 3 on page 469). Numbers of Smews had fallen to about 150 per day, but were still notable, and Bohemian Waxwings to about 650 in total, but dispersing rapidly by the end of February. At Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire), Horned Larks reached a peak of 42 on 16th, but Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla were generally in very short supply. The southwesterly airflow which had dominated February continued into March, bringing further gales and very heavy rain, particularly in the first few days. Arriving at this time, too, were the first southerly migrants, with a Northern Wheatear Oeimnthe oettanthe at Dungeness on 2nd March, that site’s earliest ever, and a Desert Wheatear O. deseni in Dorset on 3rd, which was to be the first of a remarkable 17 in the year— but more of those later. Five Hoopoes Upupa epops were found in early March, no doubt finding the unseasonably warm weather, with temperatures regularly exceeding 15°C, to their liking. In the Southwest, there was an interesting observation of four Red-billed Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax at Lynmouth (Devon) on 8th March, a White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii past Portland Bill on 1 3th March, the first for Dorset, and a Rustic Bunting Embenza mstica, found in a private garden at Yelverton (Devon) on 22nd. More accessible, for a few days at least, was a very obliging Litde Crake Porzana parva at Bough Beech Reservoir (Kent) during 23rd-30th March (plate 122), recalling the behaviour of the tame individual in East Sussex in March 1985. 528 Nightingale & AUsopp: The ornithological year 1997 April, and some real stars The weather in April was almost exclusively anticyclonic, until 22nd, with very warm days until 1 1th. Thereafter, there was a cold northeasterly flow on most days. It was quite sunny and very dry'. A Scops Owl Otus scops on Tiree (Arg\’ll) and a Little Bittern Ixobrychus mimitus in Somerset (fig. 1 on page 461) were both found on 6th April, and no less interesting were five Water Pipits Anthus spinoletta in Co. Louth, an unprecedented number for Ireland. A Semipalmated Plover Charadnus semipalrnatus at Dawlish Warren (Devon) was only the second in Britain (plates 106-109), as was a Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata at Landguard (Suffolk), found on 20th April, but staying until 2nd May (plate 147), enabling many twatchers to add two star birds to their lists. A Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti at Gibraltar Point on 19th April was the first ever there, and several areas, from Bristol to the London area and East Anglia, reported increases for this species; Bedfordshire recorded its first ever Cetti’s in 1997. A Gyr Falcon Falco msticoliis on St Kilda (Outer Hebrides) on 19th April was followed by a wide scatter of Black Kites Milvus migrans, with seven between 22nd April and 2nd May. So far, April had been unremarkable for decent falls of summer visitors, but, witli warmer air pushing up from the Azores from around 25th April and heavy' rain in places, the first noticeable arrivals occurred. At Gibraltar Point on 26th, arrivals included 67 Common Whitethroats Sylvia communis, whilst the first real spring fall at Dungeness on 27th included 40 Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava, 18 Whinchats Saxicola mbetra, 70 Northern Wheatears, 60 Common Whitethroats and a few Common Redstarts Phoenicums phoemcunis. By normal standards, the counts involved were rather insignificant, but they were about the best this spring could muster. It was to be a very poor spring for Common Redstarts throughout the passage period, and Bluethroats Luscinia svecica were not so prominent as in otlier recent springs, with fewer than 50 reported from the coastal stations. Several flocks of Homed Larks lingered through to the end of April, including 25 at Titchwell (Norfolk) and at least 30 at Gibraltar Point, and a remarkable build-up of Great Northern Divers Gavia inimer during the spring at Deer Sound (Orkney) culminated in a total of 393 on 28th April, possibly Britain’s highest-ever count. As temperamres rose, and insect activity increased, so the aerial feeders arrived, two Alpine Swifts Tachymarptis nielba, in Worcestershire and South Yorkshire on 28th April, being the forerunners of seven in May, and a Red-rumped Swallow Hinmdo daurica in Essex on 29th April, which was followed by another 1 1 during May. Eurasian Jays Garndus glandarius, not often mentioned in annual rev'iews, featured strongly at several migration watch-points from the end of April. An unprecedented southerly movement at Dungeness came mainly in two waves, from 30th April to 2nd May and Htli to 20th May, involving a total of 268 birds. On 3rd May, passage was noted in Norfolk, with 40 over Sheringham and 36 at Waxham, and on the same day there were 84 at Gibraltar Point, witli 77 there on 9th May. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 529 May — a month of influxes The wami weather continued into May, and in the London area the temperature reached 27°C on 2nd and 26°C on 3rd, and 23°C as far north as Aviemore (Highland) . These high temperatures coincided with a huge movement of Black Terns Chlidonias niger (plate 1 62) . It was interesting that it lasted just one day (3rd) and was restricted mainly to the midland counties of England. Leicestershire enjoyed the best passage since 1959, with at least 435, including 285 at Rutland Water and 110 at Eye Brook Reservoir, there were 150 in Nottinghamshire and 230 at Draycote Water (Warwickshire). It has been estimated that about 1,400 passed through the English midland counties on that day. In addition, there were 230 in Norfolk, 1 10 at Abberton Reservoir (Essex), 80 at Dungeness, 85 at Leighton Moss (Lancashire), 200 south at Spurn (East Yorkshire) and 70 in Sussex. By contrast, there were ‘only’ 50 noted at the London reservoirs, the passage in Surrey was described as ‘poor’, with only six seen, there were just 1 1 at Chew Valley Lake (Avon) and Suffolk recorded only a singleton. During early May, Pomarine Skuas Stercorarius pomarinus moved along our coasts, and about 1,350 were reported, including 107 past Selsey Bill (West Sussex) on 2nd, 372 past Balranald (Western Isles) on 7th, and 261 there on 13th. Also arriving on 3rd May, with the Black Terns, were other visitors from more southerly climes, with a Little Bittern in Scilly, a Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinns at Blakeney Point (Norfolk), a Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola in Cornwall, with another in Lancashire on 4th (plate 133), and a Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans at Tynemouth (Northumberland), the first of 14 to arrive in May. Other multiple arrivals included Red-footed Falcons Falco vespertinus, with the first of ten May records, at Stodmarsh (Kent) on 5th, a Little Swift Apus affinis in the Isle of Wight, also on 5th (plates 102 & 103), remarkably the first of three in the year, and then an intriguing group of five Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax at HoUdiam (Norfolk) on 7th May, which stayed until the end of August. There was a temporary lull in arrivals from 6th May as a sudden change to northerly winds brought snow to some parts, and freezing night temperatures. From 9th to 21st, the weather became very unsettled and windy, and from 1 6th temperatures rose again. Red-backed Shrikes Lanins collurio arrived in strength, with about 160 from 9th to the end of May, and over 300 Dotterels Charadriiis morinellus moved through from early to mid May (plate 158). Two Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnenius made local news, with one on 13th May on the Teifi Esmary being the first this century for Ceredigion and another, at Netherfield on 23rd May, only the third record for Nottinghamshire this century. So far as the more usual waders were concerned, reports were a little mixed, but, generally speaking, passage was poor, witli Spotted Redshanks Tringa erythropus, Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos and Ruffs Philomachus pugnax in low numbers, and with only Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus and Wood Sandpipers T. glareola appearing in above- average strength. 530 Nightingale & AUsopp: ITie ornithological year 1997 A trio of ace rarities occurred in mid May, with a Coiiiiiion Yellowthroat Geothlypis tnchas on Unst (Shetland) on 16th, and two Calandra Larks Aielanocorypha calandra, one on the Isle of Man on 17th (plate 130) and anotlier at Scolt Head (Norfolk) on 19th, the latter showing for just two hours before disappearing into thick fog. A Thrush Nightingale Luscinia liiscinia in Cleveland on 18th (plate 134) was the first of six, in an average year for the species, whereas a Great Reed Warbler Acvoceplialus anindinaceus on St MaiA^’s (Scilly) on 19th was one of only three, in a poor year. A Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybiidiis at St Ouen’s Pond on 19th was only the second record for Jersey, and a Gull-billed Tern Sto'tia nilotica, a rare inland visitor, on the same day at Venus Pool was a first for Shropshire. In Kent, a European Bee-eater Alerops apiasier at St Margaret s Bay on 9th May was the start of an unprecedented arrival ol this species, encouraged no doubt by the very warm and humid conditions over Britain from 16th onwards. During 12th- 18th May, about 26 arrived, including nine over St MaiA^’s on 14th and six at Birchington (Kent) on 15th. During 21st-27th May, 32 more were seen, including an incredible flock ot 18 at Fulbrook (Oxfordshire), found on 21st (plate 159). The others in tliis period were all singles. During 29th-31st, anotlier 20 included groups ol six at Whitburn (Tyneside) on 30th and Durlston Countr>^ Park (Dorset) on 31st, bringing the total for May to about 79. Most occurred in the southern hall of England, with ‘only’ 14 north of a line between tlie Wash and the Severn. The influx continued into June, with ten singles during the montli, and two flocks of four, of which one was in Surrey on 16th and tlie other in Cornwall on 17tli. Amongst all these colourful exotics came another, when a European Roller Covacias gamilus was found on 25th May, in the New Forest (Hampshire). May closed with Scotland drawing all the aces: a Lesser Grey Shrike iMiiius minor on 28tli and a Little Swift on 29di, botli in Shetland, and a Great Reed Warbler on 30th and a Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis on 31st (plate 146), botli in Angus & Dundee. The Scottish theme continued into June, with another Lesser Grey Shrike, in Fife on 1st June, and another European Roller, this time in Dumfries & Galloway on 3rd (plate 129). Attention then moved south for a few days, with a Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala in Scilly on 3rd, a Rosy Starling Stiimiis roseiis on the Isle of Wight on 4tli and yet another Little Swift, in Dorset, on 5tli June, all no doubt comfortable in tlie warm sunny weather which had continued since 23rd May. On 5tli June, as the fine weather started to break, the temperature soared to around 27°C in some southern and southeastern parts of England. Scilly struck again on 9th June, when a Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola was found on St Mary's, the date atypical but not unprecedented. A Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodrornus scolopaceus at Titchwell (Norfolk) on 1 Otli was followed by anotlier eight by tlie year end, a fairly typical sho\\’ing. A small spate of Little Bitterns was widely scattered, in Lancashire and Shetland on 12th June and in Norfolk on 13th. Also on 13th, there was a Squacco Heron Ardcola ralloides in Somerset, followed by tliree more: at Walton Reservoir on 1 7th, the first in Surrey this centuiy, in East Sussex on British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 531 18th, and on the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border on 24th (plate 121). And just when we were getting used — almost — to aU the European Bee-eaters, along came their rarer cousin, a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus in Shetland on 20th June (plate 128), which stayed long enough to achieve television fame. Breeding birds and crossbills Unusual breeding records included a pair of Common Eiders Sornateria rnollissima on Anglesey, raising four ducklings, the first breeding record for Wales, and a pair ot Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jarnaicensis breeding in Orkney for the first time. Long-eared Owls Asio otiis made their first breeding attempt in Orkney since 1971, and four pairs of Little Terns Sterna albifrons bred there for only the second time. A solitary Hoopoe remrned to the previous year’s breeding site in Wales, but failed to attract a mate. Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus bred in the Goyt Valley, raising four young, the first successful breeding in Derbyshire since 1870. From around 24th June, the best influx of Common Crossbills Loxia curvirostra since 1 990 got under way, and for some areas it was their best ever. In Norfolk, there were 400 during 24th-30th June, and in July they were reported from 41 locations, with the single largest flock being 100 at Swanton Novers. In Suffolk, they were widespread, with coastal passage most evident on 28th June, with 81 at Minsmere and 330 flying south at Felixstowe. At Gibraltar Point on 27th June, 110 was the site’s highest-ever count, as was 210 at Spurn on 26th June. Large flocks occurred in the Midlands, with 150 in Nottinghamshire, over 200 in Derbyshire, 250 in Warwickshire, 250 in Worcestershire, about 500 in Staffordshire, while 1 10 at Leawood on 30th June was the best-ever count for Leicestershire. In the London recording area, there were nearly 300 from 24th June onwards, including 25 over Regent’s Park on 1st July. Surrey enjoyed its largest influx ever, with 450 in June, 600 m July and 167 in August. After a lull in September, and as in many other areas, another surge occurred in Surrey, with 200 in October, 300 in November and 200 in December. The influx became nationwide, as indicated by 100 on St Marys’s on 3rd July, 500 in Grizedale (Cumbria) in early July, and 18 in the far, far west, on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) on 3rd July. In Devon, there were many parties of up to 20, several of 50-60, and flocks of 200 on Dartmoor. Although there was an irruption of Two-barred Crossbills L. leucoptem on the Continent, none was found in Britain until a meagre two in August, on the Isle of May on 8th (plate 150) and in Norfolk on 21st. Seabirds, too The second half of June was wet, with many thunderstorms, stormy winds and much lower temperatures. It was the wettest June of tlie cenmry. It was an abnormally cold day for June on 26th, and a low remained stationary over East Anglia for two days, bringing strong easterly airflows, very heavy rain and generally murky conditions. Very localised bird movements occurred during this time. Along the Norfolk coast on 26th June, there were 532 Nightingale & AUsopp: The ornithological year 1997 1,000 Fulmars Fulmanis glacialis off Sheringham, a Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea, and good numbers of Manx Shearwaters Pnffinus puffinus, including 364 past Scolt Head, and Northern Gannets Moms bassanus, including 641 east past Mundesley. A Sabine’s Gull Lams sabini was seen from Cley and Holme, but the best bird in this impressive flypast was a Madeira/Cape Verde Petrel Pierodroma madeiraJfeae which was tracked at several points between Blakeney Point and Mundesley. Curiously, this seabird movement was not reflected elsewhere, with only a single Manx Shearwater and 26 Northern Gannets in this period off Suffolk, and just 13 Fulmars and 28 Northern Gannets off Gibraltar Point. Other apparently isolated — but impressive — mov^ements inv'olved 20,000 Common Swifts Apus apus over Dungeness on 27th June and 25,000 moving south over Gibraltar Point on 1 6th July, both of which can only have been flocks that were finding conditions for feeding difficult in the ver>' wet weather. The stormy weather pattern had continued into early July, with some localised but serious flooding. Generally, July was warm, but was changeable, with short periods of cyclonic and anticyclonic spells alternating. A Golden Eagle Aqidla chrysaetos at Antrim plateau (Co. Antrim) on 2nd July was a big rarity for Ireland, in more ways than one, but it was seabirds again that caught the attention. During July, about 170 Cory’s Shearwaters were seen, mainly off southwestern England, with just a handful of Great Shearwaters Puffinus gravis-^ and about 100 Balearic Shearwaters P. mauretamcus. A White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis at Cley on 9th July was followed by another there on 17tli July, but amazingly these were the only ones of the year. Generally speaking, autumn wader passage was poor, with only Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus and Wood Sandpipers showing in decent numbers, and Green Sandpipers, too, including an impressive count of 82 at Cantley Beet Factory (Norfolk) in August. A Caspian Tern Sterna caspia at Stithians Reservoir on 28th July was tlie first lor Cornwall, followed by others at Breydon (Norfolk) on 30th July, in Kent on 1st August and in Glamorgan on 6th August (or was this one very energetic solo flight?). Hot temperatures and birds to match August had begun cloudy and wet, but quickly changed to drier, sunnier days. I'he weather picmre was very patchy, being very dry indeed in central and western Scotland, but exceedingly wet in southwest England. From 6th, there were 19 consecutive days when the temperature reached 2TC in eastern England, and on 10th the mercury reached 33°C at Worcester. It was the second hottest August on record. A Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii on the Gannel estuary (Cornwall) on 3rd August was the first of eight for the aummn, and a Rosy Starling on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 7tlr August started a good run of 15 by tlie year end. With two Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandnnus at Dawlish Warren on 8th August, and with botli Little Ringed Plover C. dubius and Great Ringed Plover C. hiaticula, and the long-staying Semipalmated Plover still present, four species of Charadrius could be seen on one day at the same location. Another long-stayer was a Western Sandpiper Calidris iiiauri at Alusselburgh British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 533 (Lothian) from at least 9th to 25th August: the first Scottish mainland record (plate 125). The star wader, however, was a Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongoliis at Pagham Harbour (West Sussex) during 14th- 16th August. At Icklesham (East Sussex), eight Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludicola (plate 161) were trapped during 9th- 10th August, and by mid September about 30 had been trapped there, twice the previous site record. In total, 55 were found in Britain during August. About 50 Wrynecks Jy?2x torquilla (plate 160) showed in August, 40 of them during 27th-31st, and Icterine Warblers Hippolais icterina too, about 110 in all, mostly between 20th August and 12th September. On 19th August, at Esher (Surrey), 1,507 Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameri were counted leaving their roost site, a new British record. In contrast, on 22nd August, an Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis on Out Skerries (Shetland) was the first of only three, and on the same day a Yellow- breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola on Eetlar was the first of five or six in autumn, all in Shetland. A Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides at Quendale (Shetland) on 23rd August was the first of 1 1 by the end of August. In an already good seabird year, there was still much more to come, with tremendous numbers of shearwaters appearing off southwest coasts, with 600 Cory’s and 1,000 Great Shearwaters off Porthgwarra (Cornwall), and 250 Greats off Scilly, all during 23rd-24th August. Off Cape Clear Island, 400 Greats on 24th were followed by 1,700 on 25th, and then a staggering 5,285 on 26th August. With two hours on that last date uncounted, and with passage at a rate of about 800 per hour, there could have been nearly 7,000 Great Shearw'aters flying past there that day. Prom mid August, Sabine’s Gulls showed, with about 70 off English coasts, and one or two inland, but Ireland again stole the honours with almost 1,000 seen in a phenomenal spell. The best count was 347 off Brandon Point (Co. Kerry) on 29th August. Other big counts included 137 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta roosting at Thomey Island (West Sussex) on 24th August, but oumumbered by a count of 165 Greenshanks Tringa nebularia there. At Strumble Head (Pembrokeshire), 112 Black Terns on 27th August were also noteworthy. For landbirds, August had, up to now, been fairly unremarkable. From 23rd, a high-pressure area east of the Baltic moved north and became established to the east of northern Scandinavia. By 27th, a deep low moved to the north of Ireland, and on 28th the first autumn fall occurred in the Scottish islands. Relatively small numbers of Wrynecks, Common Redstarts, Whinchats, Garden Warblers Sylvia borin. Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus and Pied Flycatchers Eicedula hypoleuca were involved, accompanied by two Greenish Warblers. On 30th August, another fall on North Ronaldsay included 252 Northern Wheatears and 43 Whinchats, and a further movement there on 1st September included 16 Icterine Warblers, eight Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria, 55 Pied Hycatchers and 51 Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis. An Arctic Warbler was found on Eetlar on the same day. September — a magic spell for Fair Isle After the heat of August, September was warm and sunny, but was much more pleasant. It was also a dry month. The sea was still scoring over land. 534 Nightingale & Allsopp; 'Hie ornithological \’ear 1997 and watchers at Strumble Head found a Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus on 5th. Leach’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma leiicorhoa were appearing too, with about 1,000 off Irish coasts and about 2,000 off British coasts, mainly in the Northwest, and mostly during 8th- 15th. On the East Coast, Suffolk had its best-ever autumn for this species, with at least 23, mainly during 19th-21st September. A Stilt Sandpiper Micropalama himantopus at Minsmere on 7th September (plate 127) was the first since 1990, and a Little Shearwater Puffimis assimilis at Strumble Head on 12th September was the first since 1994. Siskins Carduelis spvtus were in abundance, and a significant passage w’as noted at Portland Bill, with 1,300 moving through during 13th- 14th September. By 20th September, a ridge of high pressure had stretched right across eastern Europe and it w^as to ±at direction that our attention now’ turned. Almost on cue, an Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellvia appeared on Bardsey (Caernarfonshire) on 20th, the first for Wales, to be followed by another, different individual on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire). It w-as now^ time for Fair Isle to step into the spotlight, and it did so in classic style. A Paddyfield Warbler on 21st was follow’ed by a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler lj)custella certhiola on 24th, an Olive-backed Pipit on 26th (w’itli another on 27th), and a Pechora Pipit Anthiis gustavi and a Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata, also both on 26th, the same day as a I^anceolated at Landguard. Another Lanceolated Warbler was found on Fair Isle on 27th, another on Bardsey (making four in two days), and a second Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, at Sumburgh (Shetland), all on the same day, and then a third Pallas’s Grasshopper, at Kergord (Shetland) on 28th September. There was another Paddyfield Warbler on Fair Isle and a Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus at Spurn on 28th and, perhaps best of all, a White’s Thrush Zootheva duioiiu on Poula (Shetland) on 29th September. During all this excitement, good numbers of Siskins continued to arrive, and also about 100 Yellow-browed Warblers Phylloscopus inomatus during 25th-30th September. In a poor month for migration at Gibraltar Point, tlie commonest migrant had been Goldcrest Regidiis regulus, the passage peaking witli 350 on 28th. Nearly one-tliird of all the birds ringed during September at Portland Bill were also of this species. Seabirds were still making an impression, w’ith 1,060 Great Shearwaters past Rocky’ Point (Co. Donegal) in five hours on 29th September, whilst one past Burra voe on 30th was a major Shetland rarity. Birders on their starting blocks October was very sunny, apart from the second week, w’as often anticyclonic and was another dry month. A Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea on North Ronaldsay on 2nd October w’as a first for Orkney and a Great White Egret Egretta alba in Co. Antrim on 8th was the first for Northern Ireland. 'Phis is the time when many birders are holding their breath for the next rarity to turn up, and they did not have long to wait. A Dark-throated Thrush on Fetlar on 8th was followed by another in Shetland on 10th, and then, again on Fetlar, a Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi showed on 10th, tlie first of eight during the next 12 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 535 A 157. Male Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris, London, January 1997 {Iain H. Leach) A 158. Dotterel Charadriiis morinellus, Thomham, Norfolk, May 1997 (Iain H. Leach) 536 Nightingale & AUsopp: The ornithological year 1997 A 162. Black Tern Chlidomas niger, Seaforth, Lancashire, May 1997 (Slcz’c Yowig/Birdwatch) A 159. Seven European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster, part of a flock of 18, Fulbrook, Oxfordshire, May 1997 (Steve Yowig/Birdwatch) A 160. WryTieck Jytix torquilla, Seaforth, Lancashire, September 1997 (Steve V^o;/«^/Birdwatch) A 161. 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(for The United Kingdom and The Republic oMreland) 380 RICHMOND ROAID, KINQSTON-UPON-THAMES, SURREY KT2 5PR TEL: (0181) 541-4440 FAX; (0181) 541-4584 literature LINE: 0800-230220 (local call onjy) nc«»iX'(XT3 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 537 days Sandwiched between these easterly vagrants were two Nearctic wood- warblers: a Common YeUowthroat found on St Mary’s on 9th (plate 152), and then a Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata on Tresco on 12th October (plate 151). Both were to be long-stayers, although elusive at times for tlie crowds of watchers who, particularly in SciUy, were becoming bored by the lack of rarities. The cause of their frustration was a strong northerly airflow w 1C by 10th October stretched from northern Scandinavia southward through Bntam, effectively slowing down the arrival of eastern and southern vagrants. A spectacular arrival of Redwings Turdiis iliaciis occurred in many parts on 12th October. In the London area, 12,000 passed over Hampstead Heath in three hours, 3,600 flew over Brent Reservoir and 2,000 were over Stockers Lake in one hour. In Staffordshire, there were 5,000 in Coombes VaUey during 11th- 13th, and large influxes were noted in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. At Minsmere, 5,000 were estimated on 12th, with 1,600 at Gibraltar Point the same day and heavy overnight passage was noted at Sheringham and Horning (Norfolk) during 11th- 12th. In Surrey there was possibly the heaviest-ever influx, with 10,000 west over Beddington Sewage-farm and 5,250 at Unstead Sewage-farm on 12th, by which time good numbers had also reached Guernsey. We are now getting used to large numbers of Pallas’s Leaf Warblers Phylloscopus proregulus arriving, and in the second half of October about 120 were found. There were 25 in Norfolk during 14th-31st, an arrival surpassed only by autumn 1996, and with a shift to an easterly airflow during 20th-21st nine arrived in Scilly. About 135 Yellow-browed Warblers arrived too, with the peak during 17th- 19th, and one at La Coupe on 23rd was, surprisingly, only the sixth record for Jersey. There had been some remarkable movements of the more regular species this year and more were to come. On 16th October, an incredible passage of finches occurred west along the Norfolk coast, involving mainly Chaflanches Fringilla coelebs, with 24,000 at Sheringham, 2,000 per hour at Brancaster, 10.000 at Holme and an amazing 85,000 at Hunstanton. Greenfinches Carduelis Moris featured, too, with 1,000 at Holme, where there were also 1.000 Goldfinches C. carduelis, 300 Siskins and 1,000 Linnets C. cannabina. This passage was clearly on a very narrow front, for it was not reflected in Lincolnshire or Suffolk. At the same time, huge numbers of Common Starlings Stumus vulgaris arrived in Norfolk, with a series of counts at Holme, starting with 5,000 on 14th October, 10,000 on 16th, and 100.000 on 18th, and at Cley, with 6,000 on 19th, and then 35,000 at Titchwell on 22nd October. A Desert Wheatear at Dungeness on 16th was, too, the start of an unprecedented rush, with 1 5 more to arrive before the year end. Two Dusky Warblers, both in Shetland, appeared on 17tli, with another four to arrive in October. Richard’s Pipits Anthus novaeseelandiae appeared regularly throughout October, about 50 in total, 1 1 of which came during 17th- 19th. And it was 19th October tliat really set the pagers bleeping and telephones ringing as news broke of a Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope at Osmington Mills (Dorset) (plate 135). With a Red-throated Pipit 538 Nightingale & AUsopp: The ornithological year 1997 at Dungeness, Arctic Warbler at Whitby (North Yorkshire), Isabelline Shrike Ijinius isabelliniis in Devon, and a Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanunis on inaccessible land in Leicestershire (plate 136), this was ‘The Big Day’ of the year, certainly so far as rarities were concerned. Two Pied Wheatears Oenanthe pleschanka, at Sheringham on 20th October and at Kilnsea (East Yorkshire) the next day (plate 138), virtually completed the lull set of rare wheatears for the year, in contrast to the rather bleak 1996. The airflow then once more swung around to the north, and strengthened. An Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea at Kinnaird’s Head (Northeast Scotland) on 24th October (plates 104 & 105) completed a good brace of rare gulls— a Ross’s Gull had been found there in January' (plate 112). A Paddyfield Warbler on North Ronaldsay on 26th October arrived with 130 Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis.) followed by two more Pied Wheatears, in Lancashire on 27th (plate 137) and Northumberland on 29th. An Alpine Accentor Prunella collans on 30th at Strumble Head was the first Welsh record this cenmry' and it rounded off an excellent aummn for that locality'. The last week of October had brought widespread sharp frosts, providing a foretaste of the season to come, and bringing a decidedly wintry feel to the new arrivals. About 18 Rough-legged Buzzards Biiteo lagopus appeared in November, including five in Norfolk, but none lingered, and numbers of Horned Larks once again started to build up. In November, low pressure again dominated, winds blew frequently from the south, and it was to be the fourth-equal warmest November on record. A Firecrest Regidus ignicapillus which arrived on North Ronaldsay with a large fall of Blackbirds Tiirdus rnernla and Fieldfares T. pilaris on 4th November was only the fourtli for Orkney. Two Dusky Warblers on 5th November, in Scilly and on tlie Fame Islands (Northumberland), were the first of nine in November, following the six in October. Mainly from 11th November, Snow Buntings continued to arrive, with up to 360 at Deerness and many counts into three figures in Norfolk. A few crept into inland counties. And, just like buses, after a long wait for the first, a second Ross’s Gull came along to Orkney, again on North Ronaldsay. From 16th November, deep lows brought strong westerly gales across tlie Atlantic, probably responsible for the arrival of a Frankhn’s Gull Imvus pipixcan in Cornwall on 18th November. By now, rarities were, however, getting decidedly thin on tlie ground, but two late Isabelline Shrikes, in Suffolk on 23rd and on North Ronaldsay on 30th, and tw'o Hume’s Warblers Phylloscopus hurnei, in East Sussex on 16th (plate 144) and in Kent on 25th, saw November out in some sty'le. December was changeable and rather mild, with unsettled westerly and southwesterly weather prevailing. Two Desert Wheatears arrived on 10th December, in a very' mild spell, in Gloucestershire and Nortitumberland (plate 140), and, with three earlier arrivals still around, five were present in Britain on this one day, to be followed by anotlier on Skokltolm on 12th December. Three Penduline Tits Rerniz pendnlinns in Somerset on 14th December, staying to 21st, and four at Hickling (Norfolk) on 20tlt December rounded off an excellent year for tltis species, too. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 539 In a year with very few American passerines, a Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis in a garden in Chester (Cheshire) was a real bonus to end the year, as was a Briinnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia which arrived off Fetlar and stayed until 30th December. So ended a somewhat erratic, but rarely dull year. Of course, if you missed out on the bee-eater influx and the crossbills, failed to get excited about large numbers of Black Terns and seabirds, did not happen to be in Dorset on 19th October, and were not on Fair Isle at the end of September, then you could be excused for thinking that it was rather ordinary. On the other hand, there were plenty of opportunities for making it a rather splendid year. Acknowledgments We are most grateful to the numerous individual correspondents, national, regional, county and local societies, and bird observ'atories, whose information has been used to compile this summary. We are especially grateful to the British Birds Rarities Committee for complete information on its nationally accepted major rarities. Barry Nightingale, 7 Bloomsbury Close, Wohum, Bedfordshire MK17 9QS Keith Allsopp, 137 Redbridge, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK14 6DL Appeal to all bird recorders, bird-club secretaries and bird-observatory wardens In order to make these annual reviews a complete reflection of the year’s major happenings, and not just those associated with rarities, we should like to receive as many local reports as possible. Please send them to Barry Nightingale at the above address. One hundred years ago: ‘The Girl Bunting in Breconshire. At the present time the Girl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) is a firmly established resident in this county, and is to be found in at least five or sLx localities ... I found a nest containing four eggs ... A few days afterwards I heard two male birds of the same species in song near the site . . . One of them I shot . . . nearly every summer its song is to be heard in some fresh locality. It seems partial to hill-sides furnished with gorse and isolated elm and oak trees ... I have obtained several specimens for myself and friends; a pair in my collection are in full adult plumage, and a bird which I obtained for the Hereford Museum is an immature male . . . {Zoologist Ser. 4, vol. 2: 478-479, November 1898) Twenty-five years ago: 'Nobel Prize winners Seldom, if ever before, have scientists who could be described as ornithologists been the recipients of a Nobel Prize. We therefore offer our congratulations to Professor Niko Tinbergen and Professor Konrad Lorenz, who this year share, together with Karl von Frisch, the Nobel Prize for Medicine. This award, the highest honour to which a scientist can aspire, is in recognition of their roles as founding fathers of the behavioural science of ethology. Wliile Karl von Frisch has worked mainly with insects, Niko Tinbergen and Konrad Lorenz have done some of their most important work on birds. It might not be out of place here to praise their writings for non-specialist readers, too; and their books The Herring Gull’s World (1953), and King Solomon’s Ring (1952) and On Aggression (1970), have been deser\'edly successful.’ {Brit. Birds 66: 542, December 1973) LOOKING All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic Stephen Morrison ABSTRACr Of 69 reports of all-dark petrels in the North Atlantic, mostly since 1980, 22 have resulted in positive identification: 13 as Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma rnonorhis (14 individuals, all trapped) and nine as Bulwer’s Petrel Bidzueria btdweni (ten birds). Many of the unidentified storm-petrels seem likely also to have been Swinhoe’s, rather than the rare dark-rumped variant of Leach’s Storm-petrel O. leiicorhoa. It appears possible that this warm-water species entered the South Atlantic from its Indian Ocean wintering grounds, tried to migrate north and, moving into the North Atlantic, became trapped; general oceanographic conditions would assist passage of Swinhoe’s around South Africa, and frequent influxes may have occurred. Although circumstantial evidence also suggests the possibility that the species may breed on the Selvagens (Madeira), this remains unproven. Accounts of larger unidentified petrels in the English Channel are similar to published descriptions of Matsudaira’s Storm- petrel O. ?natsudairae; but they could also refer to Bulwer’s Petrel showing a flight pattern poorly described or rarely seen. 540 [Bril. Binis 91; 540-560, December 1998] ‘ British Birds Ltd 1998 British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 541 or, in one case, in moult. A great number of other records of similar birds strongly suggest Bulwer’s Petrel, and these coincide with the occurrence of other warm-water species such as Cape Verde Petrel Pterodroma feae and Swinhoe’s Storm- petrel. It seems possible that all the larger all-dark petrels observed in the northeast Atlantic were Bulwer’s Petrels. There are 69 known reports of all-dark petrels (Procellariidae) and storm- petrels (Hydrobatidae) in the North Atlantic, the vast majority in the period from 1980 onwards. These have involved a total of at least 74 individuals, only 24 of which have been positively identified: 14 as Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis (all trapped) and ten as Bulwer’s Petrel Bidwena bulwerii. Of the remaining 50 records, 22 were thought to involve a species related to Leach’s Storm-petrel O. lencorhoa (i.e. one of the smaller Oceanodroma species), while 27 other descriptions were of a much larger species, including five that did not seem to fit current descriptions of Bulwer’s Petrel. The purpose of this paper is to try to clarify the situation regarding the presence of small all-dark petrels in the North Atlantic and to throw light on their status, distribution, origin, and identification. As Swinhoe’s and the occasional nearly (rarely, fully) dark-rumped variant of Leach’s are the only aU-dark storm-petrels known to have occurred in the North Atlantic, it seems likely that many of the at-sea records of small all-dark storm-petrels refer to one of these species. Since most of the records of trapped Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels have been documented elsewhere Qames & Robertson 1985; Carruthers et al. 1989; Cubitt 1991, 1995; Cubitt et al. 1992; Dawson 1992; King & Minguez 1994), the following discussion deals mainly with these at-sea records. Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel breeds in the northwest Pacific Ocean on islands off Korea, off Shanmng in China, and off Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu in Japan, and on the Verkhovski and Karamzin Islands near Vladivostok. It winters in the Indian Ocean, where it seems to be widely distributed. Leach’s Storm-petrel of the nominate race breeds on headlands and islands in the North Pacific betw^een Russia/Japan and California, USA, and in the North Atlantic between Massachusetts, USA, and western Norway. The subspecies chapmani breeds in the summer on Islas San Benito and Islas Los Coronados, Mexico, and soccoiroensis breeds in summer on islets off Guadalupe Island, Mexico; the inadequately documented race cheimomnestes is said to breed on Guadalupe during the winter, altitough apparently no reliable specimens have been produced. The validity of these last two races has been disputed, and it has also been suggested that both the winter and the summer breeding populations should be placed within soccorroensis, while the inclusion of the intermediate beali and, by some authors, chapmani in nominate leucorhoa may be too general a classification (Ainley 1980, 1983; Bourne & Jehl 1982; Power & Ainley 1986); indeed, recent work on the south Californian islets (Dr W. R. P. Bourne in litt.) suggests that the simation is far more complex. The populations of the southeastern North Pacific disperse 542 Morrison: All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic south to warm equatorial waters in the non-breeding season. The nominate race is highly migratory', moving south to equatorial waters in both the Pacific and the Atlantic, although some remain in the northern hemisphere where food supply allows, while at least a few occasionally wander to other oceans. Records of all-dark storm-petrels in the North Atlantic The 31 records are summarised below in chronological order. Trapped individuals, marked with an asterisk (*), were all identified as Swinhoe’s, and many of the at-sea records, while not entirely excluding dark-rumped Leach s Storm-petrel, are also indicative of this species (i.e. a small Oceanodroma storm-petrel with an all-dark rump). Descriptions were not received for those records marked with a cross (+). Note that, for trapped Swinhoe’s (of which all but the 1983 Selvagens bird and those in Tyneside were capmred in the early hours of the date given), the presence of a brood patch is unknown unless stated. A nineteenth-century' Madeiran record of an all-dark petrel, identified as Bulwer’s Petrel by Harcourt in 1855 but showing characteristics of a storm- petrel, seems likely to belong to this family (Bourne 1990) and is, therefore, included below. 1829 MADEIRA: one small dark storm-petrel type with forked tail on unknown date (C. Heineken).* 1971 USA Off Oregon Inlet, North Carolina: one on 2nd October (R. Rowlett) . 1982 FRANCE Cherbourg: one at sea on 16th October {Ibis 133: 351- 356).+ 1983 MADEIRA Selvagens: one female heard on various nights from 29th June, trapped 8th July (P. C. James, H. A. Robertson).* 1986 ENGLAND Spurn, Humberside: one moving north on 27th May (S. Lister) . 1988 MADEIRA Selvagens: one trapped on 30th June (V. BretagnoUe).* 1989 FRANCE He de Banneg, Brittany: one trapped on 15th July, retrapped on 24th July (F. Bisret, V. BretagnoUe et al.).* ENGLAND Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear: one ‘possible’ seen circling trapping area on 19th July (not included in totals); separate females trapped on 23rd and 26th July (M. P. Carruthers, M. G. Cubitt, L. HaU, A. Hutt).* BELGIUM Ostend: one, possibly two, moving north on 7th October (L. Janssen, R. de Smet). BELGIUM Mariakerke: one at sea on 7th October, probably different from above record (T. Goethals). NETHERLANDS Schiermonnikoog: one at sea on 8th October (B. de Bruin, L. Steijn, R. E. van der Vliet et al.). ENGLAND Portland Bill, Dorset: one moving west on 24tli December (R. Newton). 1990 MAURETANIA 23°N, 18°W: one at sea on 20tli Januaiy (W. R. P. Bourne). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 543 ENGLAND Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear: one female trapped on 7th July; subsequently retrapped on 31st July 1991 (with brood patch), on 30th July 1992 (with brood patch), on 21st, 28th and 29th July 1993, and on 24th and 26th July 1994 (and perhaps the same female heard on 12th July 1994) (M. P. Carruthers, M. G. Cubitt, P. Harris, D. Hirst, A. Hutt et al.)* FRANCE Noirmoutier: one at sea on 11th August (A. Reille). ENGLAND Hilbre Island, Merseyside: one moving south on 20th September (D. Goulding, P. Kenyon). ENGLAND Cley, Norfolk: one moving east on 25th September (Birding World 3: 296); presumably the same individual flew south off Ness Point, Suffolk, later that day (J. Cawston). 1991 MADEIRA Selvagens: one with brood patch trapped on 23rd July (F. Zino).* ITALY Genoa: one capmred sick on 11th August (R. Savio).* ENGLAND Sea area Sole, c. 25 mUes southwest of SciUy: one on 18th August (J. Clifton, R. A. Kempster, J. Knifton, H. Vaughan). 1992 ENGLAND Selker Point, Cumbria: one at sea on 30th August (A. Strand). 1993 ENGLAND Minsmere, Suffolk: one at sea on 28th July (B. J. Small, M. Smith). ENGLAND Sea area Sole, from MV Scillonian between SciUy and CornwaU: one on 9th August (R. Clay). ENGLAND Sea area Sole, from MV Scillonian'. one on 15th August (observers unknown). + USA Off Manteo, North Carolina, 35°N, 74°W: one on 20th August (E. Brinkley). MADEIRA Selvagens: one female with brood patch trapped on an unknown date in summer; possibly same individual (with a leg missing) retrapped on 30th August 1994, on an unknown date in summer 1995 and on 29th August 1996 (F. Zino).* 1994 SPAIN Islote de Benidorm: one (male?) with brood patch trapped on 13th July (B. Arroyo, J. King, S. Mazzoletti, L. & C. Palomores).* 1996 NORWAY Revtangen, Jaeren, Rogaland: one without brood patch trapped on 13th August (M. Kersbergen et al.).* MADEIRA: one at sea on 29th August (Birding World 9: 350).+ 1997 NORWAY Revekaien, Rogaland: one trapped on 9th August {Dutch Birding 19 : 200 ).* SPAIN Cabrera, Balearic Islands: one trapped on 16th August {Birding World 10: 293).* A full analysis of every record is not feasible, but two of the more complete and typical accounts are repeated below (original descriptions, with only minor subediting) . SITE AND DATE Hilbre Island, Merseyside, England. One moving soutli on 20tli September 1990. OBSER\TRS D. Goulding, P. Kenyon. WTATHER Overcast, windy, visibility excellent. 544 Morrison: All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic riMi- AND DURA TION Ol- SIGHTING About mid morning, for five minutes. DISTANCE Down to 100 feet [30 m], DESCRJFTION Plumage was dark brown/ blackish all over, apart from an inconspicuous pale upperwing-covert bar which extended almost to the carpal joint but not onto the primar\’ coverts. Tlie tail was shortish with only a semblance of a fork but not forked as much as Leach’s. Neither the tail nor the rump showed any pale feathers. The wings appeared slightly longer than those of Leach’s and were also angled at the carpal joint, but other than this the bird was of a similar size. All these obsen-ations gave the bird the appearance of an all-dark Oceanodroma apart from the pale wingbar. The -flight of the petrel was also interestingly different as it seemed to fly lower over the water. It behaved in a similar fashion to the Leach’s, with vertical lifts, but instead of hanging over the water or paddling it would simply swoop powerfully down and continue on its way. (27 X telescope used) STTE AND DATE 35°33'N, 74°53”W’, off Manteo, Nortlt Carolina, USA. 20th August 1993. OBSERVTR E. Brinkley. VCTATHER Clear, excellent light, wind SE? force 2-3. TIME AND DURATION OE SIGHTING Eirst located at 12.39 hours and presumably the same individual was refound at 13.56 and tlien watched for uvo minutes. DISTANCE 10-100 m. DESCRIFTION Large storm-petrel with long wings, held out and away from the body, more so than on Leach’s. Darker above titan Leach’s, more a blackish-brown, with smaller grey or off-white (dusky) carpal bar, not extending to carpal joint. Bar of uniform width throughout length. Dark rump seen well — extended views of dorsal at close range; caudal projection apparently longer than Leach’s, but perhaps an artefact of wings held at wider angle (i.e. not a sharp angle). About l^each’s size, perhaps 5-10% larger (again, this may be an illusion stemming from flight attitude). 'Hands’ less pointed titan Leach’s, with apparently more area (also ven,’ much dependent on flight attitude). White shaft streaks in primaries clearly visible in excellent light at 30 feet (c. 10 m) with binoculars. Not visible past 50-60 feet (15- 18 m). At least 5-6 shaft streaks noted. Notch in tail noted twice. Rump concolorous with tail (very dark brown), back only slightly paler. No wood-brown, buffy or golden tones in the dorsal area at all, despite strong (noonday) light. flight (behaviour) unusual in my experience. Erratic hovering almost like noddy [Amns], with verv’ slow, deliberate wingbeats — long-winged look especially prominent in tltis flight attitude (appeared to be investigating something on the water’s surface); locomotion exclusively by two strong, long-winged bounds and an effortless, shallow dynamic soar (best described as a ‘rollercoaster’ pattern [Brinkley 1995]), about 1 m abo\-e rite ocean’s surface — Leach’s soars in high winds, but winds less than ten knots now, probably fiv'e. ... I have seen around 500 Leach’s in the past 15 years, and I feel that this bird has a very different jizz in the field, perhaps also a different strucmre. Proportions on a flying bird were difficult to assess, since the different posture made the w ings look veiy long, but the tail (or rather die entire caudal projecdon) also looked long for a Leach’s type, since the wings were not swept back ... 1 cannot comment on [European records of Matsudaira’s], but die bird discussed above looked longer-winged than I believe it to have been (when seen next to Wilson’s [Occaniies oceanicus]) . I do not think it was in Matsudaira’s size class, even though its flight jizz allowed a split-second consideration of Bulwer’s Petrel at a distance. Two records from the list above could not safely be identified as eitlier Swinhoe’s or Leach’s from what was observ^ed. The first, in North Carolina on 2nd October 1971, following tlie passage of hurricane ‘Ginger’, was in die general proximity of two White-faced Storm-petrels Pelagodroma marina, as well as at least 30 Leach’s; the occurrence of White-faced may suggest die area of origin, 'fhe second was off Mauretania, on 20di January’ 1990. Odier British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 545 accounts mention, to a greater or lesser degree, characters noted in the above two descriptions, but in addition some record a less erratic flight than Leach’s in strong winds, varying tone in the colour of the upperwing-covert bar (which, in the majority of cases, also appeared buffy- white along the edges, as opposed to the grey-white of Leach’s) and, in one instance, pale underwing- coverts. Two characters were observed by V. Bretagnolle when he released his 1989 He de Banneg Swinhoe’s far offshore, in calm and sunny conditions: the primary shafts were visible at up to 250 m distance with lOX binoculars; and its flight pattern was unlike that of Leach’s in that it would rise up like a Leach’s, from the sea’s surface, but then “swoop down” again rather than drop or shear down’. Of all these observations, the individual off North Carolina in 1993 was seen exceptionally well, and as a result aU characters consistent with Swinhoe’s were seemingly confirmed. Other records seem likely to be referable to this species on the basis of date and feamres apparently typical of Swinhoe’s, but they could not be confirmed beyond aU doubt owing to lack of further descriptive evidence, generally because of weather conditions and distance. Dark-rumped Leach’s Storm-petrels Leach’s Storm-petrels showing a dark mmp have occurred in the North Atlantic, but they are exceedingly rare; indeed, they are unknown to observers in Newfoundland, each of whom has seen well over 10,000 Leach’s (B. Mactavish in litt.). So far as we are aware, the only definite North Atlantic record is of an individual with a completely dark rump found dead at Oneida Lake, New York, USA, on 7th September 1933 (part of a general seabird ‘wreck’); it was identified by Dr R. C. Murphy as a moulting Leach’s Storm- petrel (Sadler 1933). Other Leach’s Storm-petrels with a partially dark rump have been observed. The one with the most extensive dark was an individual retrieved from Ascension on 22nd January 1964 and deposited in the Natural History' Museum, Tring; it was only just perceptibly paler on each side of the base of the rump when examined carefully in the hand; the rump markings approximated to scale ten of Ainley’s (1980) scale of one to eleven (Bourne & Simmons 1997), and the rump would therefore appear all dark at sea. Another Leach’s, closely observed in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina on 27th July 1992, showed an entirely dark rump ‘save for a pale border that highlighted the sides of the rump “V-like”’ (M. Tove in litt.). About 20 other records have been located, most from the Gulf Stream and in British waters (reflecting observer density), while smaller numbers have been seen farther south in equatorial waters during the winter. The majority occur in the late summer and autumn, suggesting that these are heavily worn or moulting individuals. When the pale edges of the central rump feathers wear away, this leads to an apparent darkening of the central rump; in extreme cases, the only pale areas remaining are restricted to the sides, producing two parallel patches or a ‘V’ mark. Such individuals, having worn edges to the upperwing-coverts, will also show a subdued wingbar. Presumably, any aberrant Leach’s would 546 Morrison: All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic show these dark rump markings all year around, but should still (unless worn) show a prominent upperwing-covert bar. The likelihood of examples of the eastern Pacific Leach’s complex mming up in these waters is very' slim. The most likely route is via the Drake Passage, but they would have to traverse a distance of approximately 1 1 ,000 km and pass over the cold northward-flowing Peru Current (which effectively blocks any southward movement of warm-water species). The possibility that an unknown colony of dark-rumped Leach’s exists in the North Atlantic, parallelling those of the tropical east Pacific, cannot be excluded, but the species is currently known to breed no farther south than Massachusetts, USA, at 41°N. Identification of Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel According to current literature, Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel is dark brown (though appearing blackish at a distance), with greyish undeiwing-coverts which may occasionally show in flight, and with a generally inconspicuous but variable upperwing-covert bar. The outer primaries have white shafts which are not so obvious as on Matsudaira’s Storm-petrel, the only other all-dark storm-petrel to exhibit this feature to any degree. As Leach’s, it soars, twists and glides with tern-like wingbeats, but with more bounding and swooping (Bailey et al. 1968). It is essential to point out, however, tliat all species of storm-petrel show variations in plumage tone and in the strength of the upperwing-covert bar, the appearance of these features being dependent on wear, moult and age (first-year or adult). Moreover, the pale primary-shaft bases exhibited by Swinhoe’s should not be confused with the pale sheaths of growing flight feathers, nor with pale remex bases exposed by moulting upperwing-coverts; the latter phenomenon is common to many seabirds, such as dark-backed gulls Imhis and Great Skua Catharacta skua, which can show an enormous amount of white at the base of the primaries and secondaries when moulting their coverts, although such areas are normally difficult to see on petrels in the field. The following is based mainly on information gleaned from descriptions received. It is not considered to be comprehensive, or even necessarily completely accurate, and many of the characters given below will need to be confirmed by study of the species in its normal range. Structure Swinhoe’s is a medium-sized storm-petrel, similar in size and structure to Leach’s. The tail is forked, but less so than on Leach’s, though tliis is normally of little use in the field. Of the Swinhoe’s trapped in the Nortli Atlantic, wing- length measurements averaged 161 mm (154-167; n = 10) and tail measurements 79 mm (73-83; n = 9). The ratio of wing length to tail length is 2.0 for Swinhoe’s and 1.9 for Leach’s, a difference of 5%. Swinhoe’s may therefore appear relatively short-tailed or long-winged in comparison with Leach’s. Swinhoe’s may occasionally, when gliding, hold its wings out at right angles to the body and straighter tlian on Leach’s, and this may increase the impression of a longer wing (fijrther work is needed on tliis character and, if British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 547 found to be valid, to what extent wind strength affects this posture). Some descriptions also mentioned a slightly broader wing on Swinhoe’s; this may become more apparent if the bird adopts the posture described above. Plumage Swinhoe’s has a similar pattern to Leach’s, but its plumage is browner and it completely lacks the white rump of Leach’s, the most obvious difference between the two (but note that heavily worn Leach’s may show a dark rump and thus appear similar to Swinhoe’s) . Although the greater-covert bar on the upperwing is less distinct than on Leach’s, this will vary according to moult and the age of the individual concerned (adult Leach’s in worn plumage shows a near-uniform upperwing at times, while the covert bar of first-year birds can be as noticeable as the wliite rump) . Additionally, Leach’s shows a greyish tint to the covert bar, whereas most descriptions of Swinhoe’s state that the covert bar has a brownish or buffy tint, reflecting the differences in plumage tone; this may, however, be a result of different stages of wear, in which case some worn Leach’s, which appear dull and brown, may also show a buffy tint to the upperwing-coverts and, conversely, some fresh Swinhoe’s may show a greyish tint. Swinhoe’s exhibits five to six white outer-primary shafts adjacent to the primary coverts, which Leach’s lacks. These shafts are normally visible up to 20 m away in good light with lOX binoculars; but exceptionally, in excellent viewing conditions, they can be observed at up to 250 m and be quite obvious at 75-100 m (V. Bretagnolle in litt.). Individuals moulting their upperwing- coverts will show more distinct shafts, but on the whole they appear rather inconspicuous. The underwing of Swinhoe’s may look a paler grey or brown, but further research on this character is needed. Flight In strong winds, Swinhoe’s resembles Leach’s in having an irregular flight, bounding and swerving with intermittent deep tem-like wingbeats, but, unlike Leach’s, after ‘hanging in the wind’, it swoops down and glides on, rather than shearing or dropping down to foot-patter over the water’s surface. Its flight therefore appears more direct and less erratic than Leach’s, with a quicker progression. This may be less evident in strengthening winds. In light winds, the flight of Swinhoe’s is seemingly more confident than that of Leach’s, with a few strong wingbeats and a dynamic bounding glide low over the water; Leach’s tends to fly higher off the water and show a more steady flap-and- glide flight, although its wingbeats still appear wooden and jerky, and generally reminiscent of a nightliawk Chordeiles (A. McGeehan m litt.). Moult Little is known about the moult of Swinhoe’s, but a bird captured in the Indian Ocean on 15th March 1964 was in wing and tail moult, with the three outermost primaries old, the rest new, and with feathers above the tail and on the belly in pin (Bailey et al. 1968). Cramp & Simmons (1977) stated that a 548 Morrison: All-dark peffcls in the North Atlantic complete moult starts on arrival in winter quarters in November ana/or December. S\\anhoe’s trapped at Tyneside in July were in tresh plumage, with one individual (on 23rd July) apparently just completing primary moult. The timing seems similar to that of Leach’s, adults of which moult at the end of the breeding season Quly and August, but varying individually), starting with body feathers, followed by remiges and rectrices, and the birds will then appear relatively dull; the main period of moult appears to be October, continuing into December and, in winter quarters, to February, being completed by April. Juvenile Leach’s appears relatively fresh in the autumn. Post-juvenile moult begins in April of the following year and is completed by October or as late as December; subsequent immature moults occur progressively later until adult (the early completion ol moult exhibited by tlie Tyneside birds suggests that they may have been immatures). Status, distribution and origins of Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel in the North Atlantic iViost records of dark-rumped storm-petrels in the North Atlantic come from the northeastern sector (figs. 1 & 2), doubtless owing to tlie many observers present in this area; others are from areas of the warm Gull Stream and Canary Current. Most records span July to October, and seem likely, bearing in mind the rarity of dark-rumped Leach’s (see above), to consist entirely of Swinhoe’s (fig. 3). The succession of eastern Nortli Atlantic records is reflected by recent exualimital records of seabirds inhabiting the Canar}' Current, principally Cape Verde Petrel Piewdrorna jeae (fig. 4j. This is consistent with the hypothesis that Sw'inhoe’s is present in die \\’arm waters of tw^o branches of die Gulf Stream; the Canary’ Current, which moves south; and possibly the North Adandc Current, which moves noitlieast past Scodand, where a small portion intrudes into the North Sea, possibly explaining the occurrence of Swinhoe’s there. The relatively large number of records in the nordieast Adandc could be evidence of individuals dispersing from a breeding population in the Canary Current and moving north with Cape Verde Petrels. Such a population would have to be reasonably large to account for die number of records, although this could also be explained by the fact that Swinhoe’s seems to be coastal in both its breeding and its non-breeding ranges. Work on the Selvagens, Madeira, has produced a number of possible breeding records of Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel: in 1983, a single male was discovered on a nest of a Madeiran Storm-petrel O. castro in a wall (James & Robertson 1985); in 1988, a male was capmred in a wall (Bretagnolle et al. 1991); and, in each year from 1993 to 1996, on a nest in a collapsed wall usually occupied by Madeiran Storm- petrels, a female with a vascularised brood patch (suggestive of breeding^ was regularly caught by Dr F. Zino, who considers diat Swinhoe’s may nest in die Selvagens (F. Zino in Hagemeijer & Blair 1997). Of four Swinhoe’s trapped elsewhere in the North Atiantic, at least three had a large but non-vascularised brood patch, although the latter is often shown by immature and non-breeding adult storm-petrels and does not, dierefore, prove breeding. The existence of a breeding population, although a strong possibility', is as British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 549 Fig. 1. Distribution in North Atlantic of trapped Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma monorhis (■), at-sea records of apparent Swinhoe’s (•) and unidentified all-dark Oceanodroma species (★). yet unproven. The records could also indicate that non-breeders wander around the warm waters of the North Atlantic and are thus not faithful to warmer waters farther south. Origins of Szvinhoe’s Stonn-petrel in the Atlantic Since the Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels now occurring regularly in tiie North Atlantic are inseparable from those breeding in the northwest Pacific Ocean (Bretagnolle et al. 1991; Cubitt et al. 1992; Dawson 1992), it has been assumed that they are recent arrivals in the context of the evolutionary' timescale, and not an ancient relict population. Either way, this poses the question of how they entered the Atlantic in tiie first place. The species’ non-breeding distribution is still poorly known, but it would seem to include the warm waters of the nortiiwest Indian Ocean south to approximately 12°S and east to approximately 80°E (Bailey et al. 1968). On current evidence, it is likely that Swinhoe’s is present in the Indian Ocean from at least October to March. The most likely route from the Indian Ocean into the Atlantic for this warm-water species is via South Africa. All other routes are improbable owing 550 Morrison: All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic Fig. 2. Distribution of trapped Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma monorhis (■) and at-sea records of apparent Swinhoe’s (•) off northwest Europe. to the vast distance that would have to be travelled and the unfavourable oceanography. Passage via tlie Red Sea into the Mediterranean, effectively overland and usually in unfavourable weather conditions, is unlikely to account for the large numbers of individuals recorded in the Atlantic, despite the record of a dead, emaciated bird found on 13th January 1958 on a beach at Eilat in the Gulf of Aqaba (Merom 1960) and tliree records from the Mediterranean (see list above). A probable route is along the corridor of the warm westward-flowing Agulhas Current, which originates east of Madagascar and which, during the winter, is strengthened by the easterly airflow which predominates at tliat time of year. This current runs west to the Agulhas Bank oft Soutli Africa, whereupon it effects an anticyclonic turn^ tlie Agulhas Retroflection, back into the Indian Ocean, and eddies, measuring roughly 275 km at tlieir broadest point at the water’s surface, enter tlie Soutli Atlantic (Gordon 1985). 1. Note that weather and oceanographic systems in tlie southern hcmisplicre rotate in die opposite direction to those in die nordiern hemisphere. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 551 6 1 4 - 2 ■ 0 ■■ 8 1 6 - 4 ■ 2 ■ 0 - □ at-sea Swinhoe’s ■ trapped Swinhoe’s I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I" 'I I I I □ Bulwer’s ■ larger dark petrels -.'rH-n ■ Q . ■ ■ . ■ r ■fl m M M J A S O N D Fig. 3. Seasonal distribution of confirmed (trapped) and apparent (at-sea) records of Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma monorhis in North Atlantic, and of larger all- dark petrels, including confirmed Bulwer’s Petrel Buhueria bidzverii, and presumed Cape Verde Petrels Plerodrorna feae off western Europe. This event provides Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels with a corridor to the South Atlantic. There seems little to prevent their passage and they are, if anything, assisted not only by the warm current but also by the prevailing easterly airflow. The regular occurrence of this oceanographic event suggests that regular, albeit rather modest influxes of Swinhoe’s are possible over a long period, whether past or present. Records of a larger, unidentified petrel in the North Atlantic The following four records involve a much larger species than Leach’s or Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels, and seemingly different from Bulwer’s Petrel. 1988 ENGLAND Sea area Sole, 49.2°N, 7.5°W, c. 30 miles southwest of Scilly: one on 3rd August (P. Charles, K. Cutting, T. M. England, P. Harrison, H. W. Wallis, J. R. Ward, S. A. Young). 1990 ENGLAND Chesil Cove, Dorset: one at sea on 14th and 15th May, and presumably the same from 28th to 30th May (P. M. Harris, D. Holden, D. & G. Walbridge et al). 1991 ENGLAND Prawle Point, Devon: one at sea on 27th and 31st May (P. Dennis). 1993 ENGLAND St Aldhelm’s Head, Dorset: two moving east on lOtli May (D. Burt, S. J. Morrison). The 1988 individual, seen from the MV Chalice, has been adequately documented (Hume et al. 1997). The 1990 Chesil Cove bird is included in 552 Morrison: All-dark petrels in tlie North Atlantic 6 4 2 0 8 8 1 6 ■ 4 - 2 0 Cape Verde - -1— I — t— 1 — 1 — r~T — r— 1— 1 — 1 1 1 1— i i □ at-sea Swinhoe’s ■ trapped Swinhoe’s 1 — I — I — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — r— 1 — 1 — 1 — 1—1 , . . fe , n w □ Bulwer’s ■ larger dark petrels 1 — I — I — r- 1960 -I — I — I — I — t — I — 1970 1980 1990 Fig. 4. Annual distribution during 1960-97 of confirmed (trapped) and apparent (at-sea) records of Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels Oceanodroma monorhis in North Atlantic, and of larger all-dark petrels, including confirmed Bulwer’s Petrel Buhveria htdwerii, and presumed Cape Verde Petrels Pterodroma feae off' western Europe. this group, as written descriptions received from the observers mentioned characteristics shown by the 1991 and 1993 individuals. Accounts of the last two follow. sm- AND DATKS Prawle Point, Devon, England. 27th and 31st May 1991 (presumed to be same bird invt>lved). OBSERVER P. A. Dennis. WHA'i HER On 27th May, wind NE 3-4, visibility moderate/good; on 31st, NE 2, misw but visibility moderate. (Sea temperature 13-14°C [56-57°F] at Torbay.) riAiE AND DURATION OF SIGH TING On 27th, 07.00 GMT for ten minutes; on 31st, 09.00 gmt for 20 minutes. DISTANCE '/4 to ’/4 mile [400-1200 m]. DESCRIFTION (synthesised from observ'er’s notes) Bird seen flying east at about mile on 27th May. Soon realised that we were looking at a large dark-rumped petrel. After 10 minutes it disappeared behind the headland. Bird seen again at at least 'A mile on 31st May, flying east, occasionally chased, briefly, by gull. Watched for 20 minutes. Structure: When chased by Herring Gull [Ixints argcntalHs] on 31st May, appeared at least one-third the size. Wings broad, long, with rounded wing-tips, similar to a small, broad-winged raptor. Wingspan at least twice lengtli of body. Tail quite long and rounded at end, also quite slim in profile. Plumage: Overall sooty-grey. No clear marking noted, e.g. no pale upperwing- covert bar visible (perhaps owing to distance, although paler grey areas v\ere briefly noted on the bird but were thought at the time to be due to light reflection) . 25 X telescope used. Hight/jizz: General flight seen on 27th May was slow, le\el and reasonably straight. No shearing or sudden change of direction. Just an occasional body-tipping as it flew low over the wave contours. Might consisted British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 553 of long periods of flapping followed by short glides (ratio of 4-5:1). Wingbeats were quite deep and similar to those of Kittiwake [Rissa indaclyla] observ^ed on the day. Wingbeats also looked more below the body. Wingbeats, a lot of the time, appeared quite rapid as it appeared to be hovering and dipping on the water. When seen on 31st May, bird first located higher off the water’s surface (35-40 feet [c. 11-12 m]) being chased by a Herring Gull, when it twisted and sheared with little effort on outstretched wings. This was repeated later at a greater distance. When the bird continued its normal flight, it flapped almost continuously with just two or three short glides. In normal flight, wingbeats quite rapid and deep as before. Also hovering and dipping near water’s surface as before. SITE AND DA'FES St Aldhelm’s Head, Dorset, England. At least two east on 10th May 1993. OBSERVERS D. Buit, S. J. Morrison. WTATHER Wind ENE 3, generally overcast with good risibility, clearing from 09.00 GMT but with fog patches scudding off out to sea; visibility occasionally poor. TIME AND DURATION OF SIGHTING First bird at 07.40 GMT, second at 07.51 GMT for four minutes (description based on latter, as well seen), possibly a third or one of former two seen briefly at 11.07 when apparently settled on water and lost to riew. DISTANCE Two-thirds of a mile [c. 1 km] (second bird). DESCRIPTION Plumage overall appeared very dark sooty-brown. When the bird banked, a very brief flash of diffuse (grey?) pale was seen, but its exact location on the bird is not known. No other markings noted. 30 X telescope used. Flight very distinctive, reminiscent of a smaU Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisiis. Level and direct, with no veering, bounding, swooping or twisting and with slow progression over the water, interspersed with periods of flapping and gliding both of similar duration. Brief, vigorous banking seen only twice (which is perhaps why flash of diffuse pale was seen only once; perhaps part of upperwing-covert bar). Flapping loose, relatively fast, with between five and nine, mainly six, deep wingbeats reminiscent of sparrowhawk but with speed of flapping slighdy slower and looser, lazier. On the whole, the flight was steady and unhurried with slow progression, but easy. Structurally a large bird, halfway in size between European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagiciis and Manx Shearwater Pujfiniis pujfinus. Size approximates well with Merlin Falco colunibarius (when first bird seen farther out, general structure could be assessed along with wing structure; European Storm-petrels at same distance appear as brief dots, with little to give idea of structure). Head not visible. Tail long and appeared blunt-ended, but the tail was not fanned at any point so a fork or otherwise would not have been risible if present. Wings long and relatively broad, exaggerating Accipiter jizz, and pointed. Little bend noted in the wings. General appearance was rather raptor-like, with long, relatively broad pointed wings and long tail particularly noticeable. These descriptions are very similar to those given by Bailey et al. (1968) and Marchant & Higgins (1990) for Matsudaira’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma matsudairae. Those authors stated that Matsudaira’s is considerably larger than Swinhoe’s, appearing long-winged and long-tailed in flight, with wings pointed, noticeably bent at the carpal joint and much broader-based than those of Swinhoe’s (and other Oceanodroma), and with whitish shaft bases to the outer primaries forming a ‘small whitish area near leading edge of upperwing, halfv\^ay between carpal joint and tip; visible to 75 m with 7 X 50 binoculars’. They also stated that it has a much slower flight than Swinhoe’s, flapping and then gliding for a short distance: ‘In calm conditions it usually has a slow, sluggish flight with very short glides, and, even in strong winds, its flight is quite slow ... On occasions, however, even in calm seas, [Matsudaira’s] was suddenly seen to change to an erratic twisting flight low over the water’; and ‘Flight twisting with short glides, but occasionally 554 Morrison: All-dark petrels in the North Adantic accelerate quickly, twisting low over the waves. Legs do not trail in flight. In 10-knot winds, gives 3-4 quick flaps followed by bounding glide, sometimes touching water at end of glide; longer periods of direct flapping flight also seen. (N. G. Cheshire)’. Unfortunately, the similarity of the above descriptions of Matsudaira’s and those of individuals from the south coast of England may be superficial, as shown by this report of tu'o Bulwer’s Petrels seen seven times between 16.00 and 20.00 hours off the Costa Brava, northeast Spain, on 29th April 1984 (Eigenhuis 1985): ‘The sky was overcast and a moderate north-east wind blew .... At 16.00 I discovered two distant aU-dark petrels flying slowly northwards. Shortly after a [European Storm-petrel] flying close by made me wonder whether the first tw'o birds had just been too far away to see a white rump. However, when a second pair of these dark petrels followed, now at a shorter distance, I was certain that they really lacked a white rump. [ They also] showed a strikingly long and thick tail, projecting far more than the head. Wings were long and narrow but seemed somewhat blunt-tipped. Wing-span was clearly less than that of Balearic SheaiM'ater [Puffimis mauret aniens]. Their total size was comparable with Black Tern \Chhdonias niget] although bulkier. They were flying low above the water surface in a rather straight line witltout arcs. Their flight, with series of quick wing-beats interrupted by short glides, reminded me of [Eurasian] Sparrowhawk. They were progressing slowly, with Baleanc Shearwaters flving about three times faster. A third pair of petrels passed close enough to demonstrate some grey across the upperarm. Up to my departure at 20.00, I noticed at least four more pairs of which the individuals flew 10- 200 m apart.’ The most readily available description of Bulwer’s Petrel in the literature is that given by Harrison (1987). ‘Between storm-petrels and smaller Pterodroma petrels in size, with diagnostic long, wedge-shaped tail which is usually held dosed and appears long and pointed. Plumage blackish-brown, except for paler diagonal bar across median coverts of upperwing (normally invisible over 250m range) ... In flight, appears small-headed with long wings and long pointed tail, moving over ocean with buoyant masting flight, wings held forward, weaving and twisting close to waves, rarely higher than 2 m before dipping into trough. Over calm seas flight often direct and purposeful, a few wingbeats followed by a short glide with wings parallel to sea surface.’ Descriptions of birds seen in England in 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1993 could, therefore, fit Bulwer’s Petrel as well as Matsudaira’s Storm-petrel. (It may also be noted here that the first of these, the 1988 ^Chalice petrel’, was initially identified as either Tristram’s Storm-petrel O. tristrami or Markliam’s Storm- petrel O. markhami, and then as Matsudaira’s; since the first two species were considered in detail by Hume et al. 1997, Young & King 1997 and Force 1 997, they are not included in the present discussion.) 'fhe moult period of Bulwer’s Petrel is virtually unknown, but is presumed to occur on the wintering grounds, as wings found by M. J. & N. P. Ashmole on St Helena in February were in secondary moult (Dr W. R. P. Bourne in liti.), and Bulwer’s Petrels captured in May in tlie Cape Verde Islands were in British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 555 fresh plumage (Murphy 1 924) . Other summer-breeding seabirds in the North Atlantic invariably have worn plumage by late summer or have started moult, and this is likely to apply to Bulwer’s as well. Despite the lack of knowledge of the moult regime of Bulwer’s, it is possible that the ‘'Chalice petrel’ (Hume et al. 1997) was a young Bulwer’s Petrel in moult (Bourne 1997). This would account for the possible pale bases to the primaries (detected on some photographs), while moulted coverts might also expose pale feather sheaths on growing primaries, and the tail could appear forked if the central feathers had just begun to regrow. While W. F. Curtis has commented {in litt.) that birds seen in apparent tail moult in the South Atlantic had a short, square tail, this would also occur during a later stage of the moult when the new central rectrices were about half-grown. The prominent white basal primary shafts, indicative of Matsudaira’s, would not have been visible on the St Aldhelm’s Head and Prawle Point petrels owing to distance, but the ‘Chalice petrel’ was seen at close range and lacked these obvious field marks. Force (1997) mentioned that some Matsudaira’s do not show a distinct white primary patch, and this could be the case with the ‘Chalice petrel’; but Matsudaira’s observed by N. G. Cheshire north of Papua New Guinea in July and August, and thus presumably in moult, showed more prominent pale primary shafts than others observed off Australia in October (Bourne 1996). Therefore, if the August ‘Chalice petrel’ was a Matsudaira’s, it should have shown a prominent primary patch, as it, too, should have been in moult. The wing and tail structures also suggest Bulwer’s, bar the tail of the Chalice bird discussed above. The broad-winged appearance perceived by some observers and which suggests Matsudaira’s may also be a character of Bulwer’s in light winds, as it is with other petrels and, particularly, shearwaters (which appear more rakish and narrow-winged in high winds than in light winds, owing to the different flight manner adopted). The flight of these four unidentified individuals, as described by the observers, lacks the bounding glide given by N. G. Cheshire for Matsudaira’s in light winds, but is otherwise similar. It could, however, also fit Harrison’s (1985, 1987) description of Bulwer’s in light winds. In such conditions, the two Bulweria species do show a direct sparrowhawk-like or bat-like flight interspersed with level glides, as, indeed, do many petrels in calm weather with lack of updraughts. Either this has been poorly described, or it is rarely seen owing to the general absence of calm conditions or the pelagic namre of the species. On the combined evidence, some of it circumstantial, tlie balance of probability seems to lie with Bulwer’s Petrel rather than with Matsudaira’s Storm-petrel. Until further work on the field characteristics of these birds is carried out, however, the above comments must remain conjectural. The fact that these birds have not been specifically identified may have more to do witli lack of knowledge than with difficulty of separation. It should be noted that the well-watched Chesil Cove bird was much as described above, but observers also mentioned the presence of a solid white patch at the base of the primaries. This was not restricted just to the primary 556 jMorrison: All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic shafts, and was deemed similar to that of a skua (Stercorariidae) or European Nightjar Capruniilgns eiiropaeus. The bird was perhaps either a Matsudaira s with an unusually prominent wing patch but on which the obser\'ers failed to detect the tail fork, or a Bulwer’s Petrel moulting its coverts and thus revealing the pale bases or feather shafts of the primaries, as. reported by Warham (1996) for the Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis. The possibility ot symmetrical albinism is regarded as too remote to warrant serious consideration. Status and distribution of Bulwer’s Petrel in the North Atlantic This warm-water species breeds mainly on tlie Selvagens and in Madeira on the Desertas and the Porto Santo group, vvitli smaller numbers in the Azores, Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands. It is higWy pelagic and normally occurs no farther north tlian approximately 43°N, but is a regular and not uncommon visitor to upwellings over the shelf-break west of Portugal (Paterson 1997), while J. W. Enticott {in litt.) reports tliat Joe Sheehan saw occasional dark petrels in summer off southern Ireland in the 1960s. In the non-breeding season, it apparently disperses to approximately 50°W and 40°S (Bourne 1995). The possibility of Bulwer’s Petrel turning up in west European waters has been largely neglected in recent years. Away from the species’ acknowledged area of distribution in tlie North Atlantic, there are nine accepted records, mainly off Britain, Ireland and northwest Europe (fig. 5). These are marked witli an asterisk (*) in the list below, which also includes other sightings of all-dark petrels apparently too large to be either Swinhoe’s or I.each’s Storm-petrels and showing a distinct flight pattern strongly suggesting Bulwer’s. The timing of tliese records of unidentified large petrels fits well with that of known Bulwer’s Petrels (fig. 3). 1837 ENGLAND River Ure near West lanfield, Yorkshire: one dead on 8th May (Newton 1887).* [Note tliat this site, northwest of Ripon, is the correct one; Tanfield, west ot Sunderland, T yne & Wear, although widely quoted, is erroneous.] 1849 ENGLAND Scarborough, Yorkshire: one on unknown date (Higgins 1849). 1898 ITALY/FRANCE Between Corsica and Genoa: one on a lightship on 3rd June (Bourne 1967).* 1908 ENGLAND Near Scalby Mills, Scarborough, Yorkshire: one washed up on 28th Februarv' (CoUinge 1922).* 1965 IRELAND Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork: one at sea on 26tli August (Clements 1966). 1967 FRANCE Salin de Giraud, Camargue: two at sea on 12tli May (C. Oreel, J. de Roever, P. Zwister). 1975 IRELAND Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork: one at sea on 3rd August (Alibone 1980).* 1977 FRANCE 10 km off Erontignan, Languedoc: one at sea on 17tli June (observ'er unknown). 1980 ENGLAND Worthing, West Sussex: one at sea on 12tlt and 23rd May (B. J. Short, J. Newnham). British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 ' 557 Fig. 5. Distribution of larger all-dark petrels (■), including confirmed Bulwer’s Petrels Bnhueria bukverii (•), off western Europe and (inset) in northwest Mediterranean Sea. 1981 ENGLAND Mundesley, Norfolk: one at sea on 20th September (observer unknown). 1982 SPAIN Torremolinos, Malaga; one at sea on 7th February (Paterson 1997).* 1984 SPAIN Punta del Rio Tordera, Costa Brava: at least two at sea on 29th April (Eigenhuis 1985).* 1986 FRANCE Ouessant, Brittany: one at sea on 15th January (observer unknown).* 1987 ENGLAND Seaforth, Merseyside: one at sea on 19th September (observer unknown). 1988 WALES Strumble Head, Dyfed: one west on 13th September (R. H. Davies, G. H. Rees). ENGLAND Meols/Moreton, Merseyside, one at sea on 9th October (observer unknown). ENGLAND Towan Head, Cornwall: one at sea on 23rd July (Bnt. Birds 83: 78). 1989 558 Morrison: All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic ENGLAND Spurn, Yorkshire: one at sea on 9th September {Birding World 3: 27). ENGLAND Hornsea, Yorkshire: one north on 22nd November (G. Bennet, B. Richards). 1990 ENGLAND South Walney, Cumbria: one at-sea on 17th April (Z. Dawson, T. Dean, A. Robinson).* FRANCE Leucate, Languedoc: one at sea on 28th April (Y. Kayser). WALES Point of Ayr, C\wyd: one west on 21st September (R. D. Corran, I. Higginson). 1991 ENGLAND Keyhaven, Hampshire: one at sea on 30th May (P. Chesborough). ENGLAND Hornsea, Yorkshire: one at sea on 8th September (T. Charlton, S. James et al). WALES Porth Colman, Gw\medd: one on 24th September (observer unknown) . NORWAY Alesund: two seen from boat on 26th October {Birding World 4: 361). 1992 ENGLAND Seaforth, Merseyside: one at sea on 3rd September (A. J. Conway, P. Kinsella, T. Vaughan). WALES Point of Ayr, Clw^'d: one at sea on 1 1th September (obser\^er unknown) . 1995 NETHERLANDS Westplaat, Zuid-Holland: one feeding on 21st August {Dutch Birding 18: 221-226).* 1996 SCOTLAND Lunan Bay, Tayside: one south on 12th October {Birding World 9: 376). 1997 FRANCE Sete, Languedoc: one at sea on 19th May {Brit. Birds 91: 38). ENGLAND Eccles-on-Sea, near Hempstead, Norfolk: one at sea on 12th October {Norfolk Bird Club Bull. 27). NETHERI.ANDS Camperduin, Noord-Holland: one at sea on 5th December {Roy. Nav. Birdzvatching Soc. Bull. 138:11). 1998 ENGLAND Selsey Bill, West Sussex: one west on 14th July (T. Edwards et al.); seen later on same day off Ventnor, Isle of Wight (D. Swensson). The recent surge in possible records of Bulwer’s Petrel is similar to tliat for Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel and Cape Verde Petrel (fig. 4). The above records certainly suggest that Bulwer’s have accompanied those two species into northwest European waters. It would seem logical that, if one or two warm- water species from the Canary Current should occur oft these coasts, then so, too, should more-common species such as Bulwer’s Petrel. Acknowledgments Much correspondence was undertaken during tlie preparation of Utis paper. Helplul comments were receiv-ed from the BBRC’s Seabirds Advisory Panel (Peter Colston, \X . P. Curtis,]. W. Imticott, S. C. Madge, B. A. E. Marr and Dr J. 1-. Ryan). 1 should also like to thank the following people for providing at least some information and encouragement. Britain & Ireland; Dr Bill Bourne, who not only supplied much of the literartire cited and British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 559 other information, but also provided advice and helpful comments throughout the writing of this paper, as well as comments on the final draft; also Dick Burt, for comments on various drafts, and Pete Dennis, Anthony McGeehan, Mike Rogers and Mark Cubitt. USA: Edward Brinkley, for much correspondence and for providing information; Richard Rowlett, Alan Brady, Michael Tove, David Ainley and Dr Joe Jehl, for information. Canada: Bruce Mactavish, for information. France: Vincent BretagnoUe, for advice and information regarding trapped Swinhoe’s and for comments on the final draft; Pierre Yesou and Dr Philippe Dubois, for locating and providing information on French records; and Christian Jouanin. Belgium: Leo Janssen, for locating and providing information on Belgian records. Norway: Runar Jabekk, for supplying information on the Norwegian records. New Zealand: John Warham. Last, but not least, I thank all those observers who kindly provided descriptions of, or other information on, the small dark petrels they encountered: Ned Brinkley, Bert de Bruin, Dick Burt, John Cawston, Robert Clay, Jon Clifton, Leo Janssen, Paul Kenyon, John Knifton, Steve Lister, Brett Richards, the late Jowi de Roever, Brian Short, Arnold Strand, Roland E. van der Vliet, Howard Vaughan, Tim Vaughan and Steve Young. My thanks to Ned Brinkley, Paul Kenyon and Pete Dennis for allowing me to use their descriptions. References Ainley, D. G. 1980. Geographic variation in Leach’s Storm-petrel. Auk 97: 837-852. 1983. Further notes on variation in Leach’s Storm-petrel. Auk 100: 230-233. , Lewis, T. J., & Morrell, S. 1976. Molt in Leach’s and Ashy Storm-petrels. Wilson Bull. 88: 76-95. Aubone, M. R. 1980. Bulwer’s Petrel in Co. Cork. Brit. Birds 73: 217-218. Austin, O. L., Jr. 1952. Notes on some petrels of the North Pacific. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard 107: 391-407. Bailey, R. S., Pocklington, R., & Wnxis, P. R. 1968. Storm-petrels Oceanodroma spp. in the Indian Ocean. Ibis 110: 27-34. Bourne, W. R. P. 1960. Petrels of the Indian Ocean. Sea Siuallozv 13: 26-39. 1965. Observations of sea-birds. Sea Szvallow 17: 10-39. 1967. Long-distance vagrancy in the petrels. Ibis 109: 141-167. 1990. The first dark-rumped petrel. Birding World 3: 249. 1995. The movements of Bulwer’s Petrel and the larger shearwaters in the Atlantic Ocean. Sea Szvallozu 44: 49-52. 1996. Observations of seabirds received in 1995. Sea Szvallozv 45: 33-46. 1997. Rare birds. Sea Szvallozu 46: 77-78. & Dixon, T. J. 1973. Observations of seabirds 1967-1969. Sea Szvallozv 22: 29-60. Sz jEHl., J. R., Jr. 1982. Variation in the nomenclature of Leach’s Storm-petrels. Auk 99: 793-797. & Simmons, K. E. L. 1997. A dark-rumped Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa in the South Atlantic. Sula 11: 209-216. Bretagnolle, V., Carruthers, M., Cubitt, M. G., Bioter, F., & Cuillandre, J.-P. 1991. Six captures of a dark-rumped, fork-tailed storm-petrel in the northeastern Atlantic. Ibis 133: 351-356. BRiCHEimi, P., Arcamone, E., & C.O.I. 1995. Comitato di Omolgazione Italiano (C.O.I) 9. Riv. Ital. Om. 65: 63-68. Brinkixy, E. S. 1995. Dark-rumped storm-petrels in the North Atlantic. Birding 27: 95-97. Carruthers, M. P., Cubitt, M. G., & Hai.l, L. 1989. The dark-rumped petrels in Tyne & Wear. Birding World 2: 288-289. Clements, J. R. H. 1966. Bulwer’s Petrel Btdzveria btdzverii. Irish Bird Report 13: 14. COLLINGE, W E. 1922. Bulwer’s Petrel near Scarborough. Naturalist 783: 128. Cramp, S„ & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1977. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 1. Oxford. J n ; ■ Crossin, R. S. 1974. The storm petrels (Hydrobatidae) . In: King, W. B. (ed.), Pelagic Studies of Seabirds in the Central and Eastern Pacific. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology' 158. 560 Morrison: All-dark petrels in the North Atlantic CUBnT, M. 1991. The mystery petrels of Tyneside. Birding World 4: 295-297. 1995. Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels at Tynemouth: new to Britain and Ireland. Bnt. Birds 88; 342-348. . , , CARRLn-HERS, M., & ZiNO, F. 1992. UnraveUing the mysteiy of the Tyne petrels. Birding World 5; 438-442. Dawson, R. 1992. Blood, sweat and petrels. Birding World 5: 443-444. Eigenhuis, K. J. 1985. Bulwer’s Petrels at Costa Brava in April 1984. Dutch Birding 7; 20- 21. Force, M. 1997. Comments on ‘The Chalice Petrel’. Bnt. Birds 90: 339-342. Gantleit, S. 1988. Matsudaira’s Storm-petrel off Cornwall— a new British bird. Birding World 1: 285. ^ ^ „ Gordon, A. L. 1985. Indian-Atlantic transfer of thermocline water at the Agulhas Retroflection. Science 227; 1030-1033. HAGE.MEUER, W. J. M., & BiAiR, M. J. (eds.) 1997. Die BBC C Atlas of European Breeding Birds. London. Harrison, P. 1985. Seabirds: an identification guide. Beckenham. 1987. Seabirds of the World: a photographic guide. Beckenham. Higgins, E. T. 1849. [Report of Bulwer’s Petrel at Scarborough.] Zoologist 1849: 2569. Hume, R. A., Harrison, P., Wai.lis, H. W., Cutting, K., Young, S. A., Charles, P., Engiand, T. M., & Ward,]. R. 1997. From the Rarities Committee’s files: ‘The Chalice Petrel’. Brit. Birds 90: 305-313. ^ James, P. C., & Robertson, H. A. 1985. First record of Svvinhoe’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma monorhis in the Adantic Ocean. Ardea 73: 105-106. King, J., & Minguez, E. 1994. Swinhoe’s Petrel; the first Mediterranean record. Birding World!: 271-273. Lister, S. 1990. More dark-rumped petrels. Birding World 3; 27. McGeI'HAN, a. 1989. More dark-rumped storm-petrels again. Birding World 2: 37. McKi-e, S. 1990. Leach’s Petrel variadon. Birding World 3: 392. Marchant, S., & Higgins, P. J. (eds.) 1990. Handbook of Australian, Nezu Zealand and Antarctic Birds, vol. 1. Melbourne. Merom, H. 1960. Birds of Israel. Hakibbutz Hameuchad, d'el Aviv. [In Hebrew] MuRl’in', R. C. 1924. 'fhe marine ornithology of the Cape Verde Islands, with a list of all the birds of the archipelago. Bull. Am. AIiis. Nat. Hist. 50: 211-278. Naveen, R. 1981, 1982. Storm-petrels of the World: an introductory guide to their field idendficadon. Birding 13; 216-229; 14: 10-15, 56-62, 140-147. Newpon, a. 1887. [Exhibidon of a Bulwer’s Petrel from Yorkshire.] Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud. 1887; 652-653. Paterson, A. 1997. Las Aves Marinas de Espana y Portugal. Barcelona. Pri'MAN, R. L. 1986. Atlas of Seabird Distribution and Relative Abundance in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Administrative Report LJ-86-02C, Southwest Fisheries Center, Ia Jolla, California. Power, D. M., & Ainley, D. G. 1986. Seabird geographic vanation: similanw among populations of Leach’s Storm-petrel. Auk 103: 575-585. Sadler, N. M. 1933. Leach’s Petrel in Western New York. Bird Lore Nov-Dec; 320. Trimble, B. 1968. Aberrant Wilson’s Petrel on the Newfoundland Grand Banks. Auk 85: 130. Vaughan, T. 1990. Variation in Leach’s PeU-el. Birding World 3: 318. Warham, j. 1996. The Behaviour, Population Biology and Physiology of the Petrels. London. Young, S. A., & King,]. R. 1997. ‘The Chalice Petrel’ revisited. Brit. Birds 90: 329-335. ZiNO, F., Bisco rro, M. J., & Zino, P. A. 1995. Birds of the archipelago of Madeira and the Scivagens: new records and checklist. Bol. Ahis. Aiun. Lunchal 47 (262): 63-100. S. J. Morrison, do 9 Holt Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset BH12 IJQ NOTES Melanistic Black-headed Gulls I agree with Rob Hume’s editorial comment on Roderick Thome’s account of a presumed melanistic Black-headed Gull Lams ridibundus in Orkney (Brit. Birds 89: 570) that such melanism is rare among gulls. In ten years of active gull-watching, I have seen just mo individuals which I believe were melanistic: both winter-plumaged adult Black-headed Gulls at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire. One, on 2nd March 1993, was very similar to the Orkney individual: the areas of plumage that would normally be white were sooty- grey, with the general effect and coloration of a Black Tern Chlidonias niger. The second, on 22nd December 1996, was much more distinctive: the upperparts were normal, apart from sooty black greater primary coverts, identical on each wing, and slightly lighter greyish-black uppertail-coverts and rump sharply demarcated from the rest of the plumage; the belly, flanks and vent were greyish-black, this colour merging gradually into the white foreneck and throat. This second individual caused consternation among the other roosting gulls, which appeared reluctant to let it settle with them. N. y. Hallam 6 7 Appleton Road, Curnnor, Oxfordshire 0X2 9QH Reaction of other birds to melanistic Black-headed Gull On 27th June 1996, I watched the melanistic Black-headed Gull Lams ridibundus described by Roderick Thorne (Brit. Birds 89: 570) when it was present on Stronsay, Orkney. I observed the gull at ranges down to 5 m as it followed a silage-cutter in the field next to our reserv'e, and there can be no doubt that it was not soiled in any way: its plumage was in perfect condition. Of particular interest, however, was the reaction of other birds. The melanistic gull was ignored by a flock of normally plumaged Black-headed Gulls while feeding among them, but on several occasions, after it had preened and rested following a bout of feeding, it caused total panic among all other birds present (including many Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata) as it took to the wing. I assumed that they mistook it for a skua Stercorarius, as the pattern of melanism suggested Long-tailed Skua S’, longicaudus and it displayed similar white wing-flashes to those of Arctic Skua S’, parasiticus. John Holloway Castle, Stronsay, Orkney KW 17 2AG Presumed melanistic Black-headed Gull At about 14.00 GMT on 15th March 1998, at Cooling Marshes, Kent, I became aware of a constant state of panic among 3,000-4,000 Black-headed Gulls Lams ridibundus feeding on the grazing marshes. Looking for the cause of the dismrbance, I noticed what I initially thought was a dark-phase Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus flying among the gulls. Further watching revealed 562 Notes that it was in fact a ‘black’ Black-headed GuU. My first thoughts were that it must have been extensively oUed, but the even tone and colour of the dark plumage and the symmetry of pale areas suggested that the gull was melanistic. I took a description and studied the behaviour of the bird. Apart from some paler plumage areas, the gull was essentially black/charcoal-grey (hereafter referred to as black). It appeared to have a black hood as in normal plumage (although no brown tone was detected), this accentuated by a pale, almost white nape, shading to black towards the base of the hindneck and around the sides towards the throat. Mantle, scapulars, back and rump, as well as throat, breast and entire underbody, were evenly black, with no detectable blotching. The tail appeared all black from beneath; but from abov'e, when spread on landing, the bases of all but the central tail feathers appeared to have pale webs (the effect not unlike that of a giant Whinchat Saxicola mbetra, though the pale ‘patches , while perfectly symmetrical, were not so conspicuous). On both uppenA'ings, the outer three or four primaries were dirtv' white/pale grey (similar to normal Black-headed Gull forewing), as were the marginal/lesser wing-coverts and the median primary' coverts, producing a pale leading edge to the wing, broken by darker sets of feathers or dark feather bases. I'he pale forewing shaded into black across the median and greater coverts, secondaries and inner primaries. Both underwings showed slightly paler coverts contrasting with black primaries, the outer two or three primaries were whitish distally and tipped black. Legs and bill appeared black, with no red or reddish colour. The gull’s behaviour did not suggest that it was sickly in any way, which it might well have been had it picked up so much oil or pollution . On the ground, where it superficially resembled a Eurasian Jackdaw Cotuus moiieduhx in plumage, it appeared alert, walked quickly and fed in typical fashion. It frequently flew, when it was as agile as any of the other gulls. In the air, it looked remarkably like a small, dark skua (or, at times, like a Black Tern Chlidonias niger) and caused panic whenever it took flight. When it evenmally landed, all the other gulls would remain 50 m or so away, thus forcing the aberrant bird to feed in total isolation; its attempts to join the flock always elicited the same response, and this continued all afternoon until the gulls left at about 17.15 hours to roost on the river. At times during tlie panic flights, two or three other Black-headed Gulls would chase or harass the dark bird. An apparently melanistic Black-headed Gull recorded in Orkney in July 1996 {Blit. Birds 89: 570, plate 187) bears a very close resemblance to the Kent individual, except that the latter was much darker (black) on the neck, throat, breast and underbody. Interestingly, the nape was tlie palest part of both birds. It occurred to me that, if melanistic plumage can darken with age, the Orkney and Kent sightings might refer to the same individual, or that tlie two gulls could be genetically related. M. J. Orchard 1 Gatesbwy Way, Puckeridge, Ware, Hertfordshire sail ITQ British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 563 Another melanistic Black-headed Gull OAnTv'^ JvT melanistic Black-headed Gull Lams ridibundus m eul^ar P‘'°™P'S me to record the observation of a similar Sefton Meadows Tip, Merseyside, on 19th March 1984. As with the r ey individual, the normal plumage pattern was visible, although the fes^rh “ brownish-grey. The hood was more or tess the normal chocolate-brown colour and reasonably distinct, contrasting with a paler nape; the mantle was slightly darker than the rest of the body* while the taU was distinctly paler and more dirty grey in coloration. I did not note pale primary shafts, as shown by the Orkney bird. The bill and legs were wry dark, with no obvious coloration. The gull soon flew off, and, like Rob Hume, in his comments on Mr Thome’s note, I could not rule out excessive so mg, especiaUy on a bird seen at a landfill site, but the symmetry of its pattm strongly suggests that the gull was a true melanistic individual M. G. Pennington 9 Daisy Park, Baltasound, Unst, Shetland ZE2 9EA ANNOUNCEMENTS Bird Illustrator of the Year: artists take note! The rules concerning the dimensions of drawings are changing for the 1999 competition Drawmgs already completed at the ‘old’ sizes (8.5 X 6.0 cm; 17.1 X 6.9 cm; and 16.95 X 16.8 cm or 22.6 X 22.4 cm) will be accepted for one year only, but the new rules (effective now) seek a set of four black-and-white illustrations as follows: 1. 19.5 cm wide X 6.75 cm deep, for reproduction at 13.0 cm wide X 4.5 cm deep 2. 9.15 cm X 9.15 cm, for reproduction at 6.1 cm X 6.1 cm 3. 6.0 cm X 6.0 cm, for reproduction at 4.0 cm X 4.0 cm 4. A vignette of any size (drawn half-up for reproduction at two-thirds), suitable as a ‘decoration’ within a printed page Artists are also invited to supply an optional fifth illustration: 5. A painting, for publication in colour as the cover design for the BIY issue, measuring 22.0 cm wide X 32.0 cm deep, quarter-up, for reproduction at 17.0 cm wide X 25.0 cm deep (title will be added within top 4 cm, and there will be 3 cm bleed all around; artists should not include title or blank space for the title). The inclusion or exclusion of a painting with the set of four black-and-white illustrations will not affect the judging for the title of Bird Illustrator of the Year. The artist whose painting is selected will also receive a prize of several T. & A. D. Poyser and Pica Press books of his or her choice. The closing date for submission of the four (or five) illustrations is 15th March 1999. ‘HBW’ to sponsor BPY We are delighted to announce that the Handbook of the Birds of the World, published by Lynx Edicions, will sponsor Bird Photograph of the Year in 1999. The winning photographer will receive the complete set (12 vols.) of HBW as his or her prize. The closing date for entries is 31st January (see rules on page 66). REVIEWS Nightjars: a guide to nightjars and related nightbirds. By Nigel Cleere. Illustrated by Dave Nurney. Pica Press, Mountfield, 1998. 317 pages; 36 colour plates; 1 1 9- distribution maps, ishn 1 873403-48-8. £30.00. This authoritative monograph, firmly rooted in museum work of exemplan,' compre- hensiveness, covers all 119 species in the five families of the traditional order Caprimulgiformes. The introductory, thematic text (24 pages) is thorough and well written, directing the reader to a 700- reference bibliography for such curiosities as echolocation and hibernation. The illustrations are outstanding, revealing the artist’s command of the finest of plumage details in the plates, and of ‘jizz’ in the line- drawings. Species accounts average IV2 pages, and seem well researched, summarising available information for the best-known species, and providing more or less all that is known for others, including information never before published, such as certain calls. I would have appreciated sonagrams, as nightbirds have calls that are well suited to this much-maligned medium, and would be a valuable group for sonagram no\4ces (like myself) to learn from. In addition, a brief profile introducing the most intriguing aspects of each species (such as how Eiirostopodus diaboliciis got its name) could have made for enjoyable reading. The complementary CD is not available at the time of writing; many will baulk at the extra £15, but it is a justified addition, considering a typical encounter with these birds. Roger Safford 'Phis, the third in the excellent Netv Holland series, is an outstanding collection of photographs, including distinctive sub- species. Commendably, most photographs are of wild birds, and the inex’itable captive ones are captioned in italic. 'ITiere arc some real gems, particularly the Crozet Pintail Amis acuta drygalskii, Madagascar Pochard Aytliya innotaia (a captive shot of possibly the last one ever to exist) and the Brazilian Merganser d lergus octoselaceus. photographs, are written in 'handbook style’, d'hey describe tire various plumages and continue with a brief summary of confusion species and comments on ‘Distribution and Status’, which often makes depressing reading. ITiis is not a definitive book on wildfowl plumages, but as a unique collection of photographs of the World’s wildfowl, it can be thoroughly recommended. Kuri H \'l\ICOMRF Photographic Handbook of the W ildfowl of the World. By Malcolm Ogilvie & Steve Young. New HoUand, London, 1998. 175 pages; 718 colour photographs. ISBN 1-85368-625-5. £29.99. Die main texts, each opposite a montage of In Pursuit of the Peregrine. Bv R. B. I'releaven. Tiercel Publishing, Wheathampstead, 1998. 256 pages; 20 colour plates; 30 line-drawings. ISBN 0-9532002-0-5. £29.50. Dick Treleaven has been watching Peregrine Ealcons Falco peregnnus on the Cornish clifls for nearly 50 years, and has spent long hours in observ'ation at e\ries, at all times of year and in all weathers. In consequence, he has seen much that the rest of us usually miss, including nearly 300 prey captures. Diis has gi\ en him an exceptional insight into the way that Peregrines live, their relationships with one another, and their individual nuances of behaviour. 'Die book comprises a mixture of cautious generalisations that result from years of e.xperience and diary extracts that recount particular events. We learn, for example, that Peregrines in Cornwall remain at their nesting cliffs all year around, tliat territoiy -holders which die are replaced just as rapidly outside die breeding season as within it, and diat throughout die winter the females make most of the kills, their paitners living mainly on die leftovers. Prey-caching is common, and occurs at all times of year. 'Die book is nicely produced, and the text is enlivened by many expressive paintings and line-drawings by the author. 1 enjoyed die book and learned from it. I. Nf\\'TO\ 564 [/tni. Hirds 91: 564, Dcccmhcr 1998] < British Birds Ltd 1998 Status of Brent Goose in northwest Yakutia, East Siberia E. E. Syroechkovski^ C. Zockler and E. Lappo ABSTRACT During June-July 1997, five colonies of Brent Geese Branta bemicla were visited in northwest Yakutia, East Siberia, three (total about 132 pairs) in the Olenyok delta and two (22 pairs) in the western Lena delta. Colonies varied in size from ten to 90 pairs. At all sites, both the nominate race bemicla and the race nigricans were found, the proportion of nominate varying from 15% in the east to over 95% in the west, eight mixed pairs were located, with five individuals showing intermediate characters. Ringing recoveries confirm the presence of two populations, one migrating to the Pacific coast of America and the other to northwest Europe. Populations of nominate bemicla and American nigricans are increasing, the latter also expanding westwards in Eastern Siberia, whereas the small Asian-Pacific population of nigricans remains in decline as a result of hunting pressure on passage and in winter. The discovery of mixed colonies of the two races counters suggestions that these forms should be treated as different species. During several recent expeditions to Eastern Siberia, tlie status of the Brent Goose Branta bemicla was investigated. Although the species was still considered to be threatened in the 1980s in Siberia (Pozdnyakov 1987), recent studies indicate that the race nigricans (known as the ‘Black Brant’) is expanding its range westwards and that the nominate dark-bellied Brent [Brit. Birds 91: 565-572, December 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 565 566 Syroechkovski et al.\ Status of Brent Goose in East Siberia Goose B. b. bernicla is spreading eastw^ards. The status of nigricans in Siberia has been unclear, and the status of its Asian-Pacific population, in particular, remains uncertain. . Most of the results of these expeditions will be published in a later thesis (Syroechkovski in prep.). Since the conserv^ation stams of geese in Eastern Siberia (e.g. Syroechkovski 1995a; Madsen et al. 1996) is of more topical interest, however, some of the findings of the 1997 expedition to northwest Yakutia are published here. Recent proposals that the Brent Goose should be ‘split’ into three species (Stepanyan 1990; AiiUington 1997; Sangster et al. 1997) have generated additional interest, including discussion on the ‘European Bird Nef (EBN; e.g. Inskipp and Sangster in April 1997). Breeding distribution and population The Brent Goose has a circumpolar breeding distribution along the Arctic coast and on islands in the Arctic Ocean. Only small numbers breed inland, for example at Lake Taimyr (fig. 1). 131 km Projection Lambeii Az>rm;thel Compiled by CZitkief Fig. 1. Breeding distributions of races of Brent Goose Brania bemicla in \akutia with World ranges inset, study area marked by rectangle). H B.b.bernicia IS B.b.hrota Q B.b.nigricans Exceptionally, a few stragglers of the dark-bellied nominate subspecies have been seen as far east as Faddeevskiy Island in the New Siberian Islands, at 75“50’N 142°30’E, but as yet with no proof of breeding (Syroechkovski 1995b). Until summer 1997, Taimyr was thought to be the eastern limit of the majority of this subspecies. T he race nigricans breeds throughout Eastern Siberia as far west as Olenyoksky Bay, at 73°22’N 118‘’25’E (Syroechkovski 1996). Two British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 567 populations of this race can be distinguished. One migrates to the Pacific coast of North America south to Mexico, where the wintering population is considered stable, and variously estimated at 114,000 (Madsen et al. 1996), 124,000 (Kokarev 1996) or 184,000 individuals (Rose & Scott 1994); the proportion of Siberian birds is unknown, but their numbers are probably increasing or stable. The second population is known to winter in Japan, China and Korea (Miyabayashi 1995), where it is estimated to number fewer than 7,000 birds, and is showing a trend of decline (Rose & Scott 1994; Syroechkovski 1995b; Madsen et al. 1996). The breeding area of this latter population is unknown, but colour-ringing at three different localities in the Olenyok and Lena deltas may help to shed light on its whereabouts. The light-bellied race hrota breeds in northeast Canada, Greenland, Svalbard and Franz Josef Land, wintering on the Atlantic coast of the United States and locally in western Europe. It is not considered further here. Study area and methods The Olenyok, at 2,270 km Russia’s twelfth-longest river, is not well known in the West and until quite recently had never been visited by ornithologists (Ilicev & Flint 1985). Muller and Chekanovski, who visited the river in 1873, focused mainly on botanical and geological features and did not publish any detailed information on birds (Muller 1882). The small delta of the Olenyok is situated between Taimyr and the Lena delta. Owing to its size, simation and habitat, Brent Goose colonies were expected (see fig. 1). At the end of June 1997, we arrived at the Olenyok delta, and, in early July, proceeded east to the western Lena delta. Since access to most parts of both deltas is limited, only five colonies were visited. We counted the number of nesting Brent Geese and estimated the number of non-breeders. A special check was made on the status of the two subspecies, using published criteria for field identification (e.g. Millington 1997). Breeding Brent Geese were caught at the nest and colour-ringed. In addition, we gathered questionnaire data from local hunters and collected rings from geese shot in the area. Results In the entire Olenyok delta, we found three colonies on different islands, while local hunters and fishermen reported the existence of at least tw^o more. All held breeding individuals of both nominate bemicla and nigricans. Sightings of geese in flight, along with a couple of recently preyed-on nests, indicated a wider distribution in the Olenyok delta. A further two colonies were found on the western Lena delta. Colonies varied in size from ten to 90 pairs. All were simated in mixed colonies of Herring Gulls Lams argentatus (of the race vegae) and Glaucous Gulls L. hyperborens. Although predation by gulls was noted, the Brent Goose seems to benefit from the gulls’ defence against Arctic Foxes Alopex lagopus. In the five colonies visited, we found a total of 154 pairs; about 132 pairs in the Olenyok and 22 pairs in the western Lena delta. The proportion of 568 Svroechkovski el al.: Status of Brent Goose in East Siberia nominate bemicla varied from 15% in the most easterly colonies to 95 /o in the westernmost; one colony consisted solely of nominate bemicla, but non- breeding nigricans were also present. The biggest colony in the Olenyok, with about 90 pairs, held both subspecies in about equal numbers. As a check on racial identification, particularly detailed observ'ation vvas made of 87 pairs, of these, 43 (49%) were of the dark-bellied nominate race bemicla (plate 163), 36 (41%) were nigricans (plate 164), and eight (9%) were mixed pairs (plate 165) or pairs containing individuals with intermediate plumage. Six American colour-rings and one Dutch ring collected from local hunters revealed the presence of two fl>ways and two populations mixing in the Olenyok-western Lena delta region. In addition, ^^’e marked 22 individuals (three bemicla and 19 nigricans) with two rings (green above white) on one leg and took their blood samples. On 17th October 1997, a Brent Goose of the nominate subspecies with this ring combination was controlled on Vlieland in The Netherlands (Spaans in litt.); it had been ringed on 5th July 1997, on a nest with five eggs, on the island of Maly Petrushka in the western Lena delta (73“03’N 122"21’E), and had therefore travelled more than 5,500 km farther than the longest distance previously known for migrating dark-beUied Brent Geese. It was accompanied in The Netherlands by another adult (presumabh its mate) and a single juvenile, indicating a breeding success of 20%. Western European and American birdwatchers are requested to look out for this ring combination and carefully to check tlie subspecies on wintering grounds. Of 58 nests examined, about 40% had already been preyed on. The manner in which down feathers had been left behind led us to believe that most were destroyed by human activity during egg-collecting. Owing to a peak in lemming numbers, there were fewer dismrbances by foxes, hardly any of which were seen. Discussion Conservation In the 1940s, the race nigricans of the Brent Goose was known to breed as far west as the east coast of Taimyr (Uspenski 1960), but expeditions in tlie 1990s reported no evidence of its still breeding in this area (Syroechkovski 1995b). Ringing recoveries from recent expeditions, including tliat in 1997, indicate a westward expansion of the range of this race and possibly an increase in its numbers. Both tlie dark-bellied nominate race and tlie American population of nigricans are increasing, whereas the small Asian- Pacific population of nigricans remains in decline. It is highly likely that tlie formerly more widely distributed Asian nigricans met and possibly overlapped with the nominate race in Taimyr, but that, during the 1940s, it declined and was reduced to a small population of fewer than 7,000 individuals in an as yet unknown part of East Siberia. At about the same time, tlie nominate race underwent a severe decline in numbers and tor various reasons did not recover until the 1970s (e.g. Ogilvie & St Joseph 1976; Prokosch 1984; Nowak 1995). 4'he nigncans population which migrates to Ghina, Rorca and Japan along The Handbook of Bird Identification hor Europe and the Western Palearctic MARK BEAMAN and STEVE MADGE Illustrated by Hilary Burn, Martin Elliott, / Alan Harris, Peter Hayman, Laurel Tucker, and / Aan Zetterstrom ►' the most comprehensive ID guide The to the area gver / n* ► over 5,000 illustrations / ^ nrd ’ nearly 900 species covered / ► 640 maps, 357 tolour plates / Wo serious birder can afford to be without this guide Published November 1998 £65 CHRISTOPHER HELM Publishers an imprint of A & C Black Publishers PO Box 19, Huntingdon, Cambs PE19 3SF tel: (01480) 212666 fax: (01480) 405014 email: sales®'acblack. co.uk A Collector’s Wooden Jigsaw for ‘The females’ bright plumage is conditioned by testosterone, normally a male hormone . . . the dense breast plumage provides a raft oj air on which they float lightly.’ 4. ‘Lazy Lady’: female Red-necked Phalarope by Nick Dymond Each 250-piece puzzle contains Victorian ‘whimsies’. Send to: Jigsaw, British Birds, The Banks, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JY; or phone 01580 882039 with credit-card orders. Please send me 1 enclose boxed puzzles (£24.99 per puzzle; £27.99 if outside UK). Name Address No.4 BHARATPUR from £990 29 January-7 February with Paul Holt SOKOKE, KENYA from £1190 8-23 February with David Fisher HONG KONG from £1190 31 March-10 April 1999 with extension to Emei Shan, China, until 17 April with Steve Rooke and Richard Lewthwaite EILAT from £680 14-21/28 March with Killian Mullarney BEIDAIHE from £990 1-19 May with Paul Holt Great birding, GREAT value! GOA from £920 30 October-14 November 1999 with Paul Holt All events offer a full, professionally-led excursion programme. For an information pack, contact Sunbird specifying which event you are interested in. Details fromiSunbird (BS), PO Box 76, Sandy, Beds, SG19 IDF Telephone; 01767 682969 Fax: 01767 692481 Email: Sunbird@Sunbird.demon.co.uk Web site: www.sunbird.demon.uk Your money is fully protected by our own ATOL bond. Sunbird is a trading name of Conderbury Limited vm British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 569 the Lena and Yana rivers (Syroechkovski 1995b; Pozdnyakov et al. 1996) faces the same conservation problems as all other goose species of Eastern Siberia, the numbers of which are declining severely (Madsen et al. 1996). The principal reason for this has been described as overexploitation, mainly in China, where intensive hunting rapidly reduces the numbers of all geese (Xiaomin & Yongqing 1996). Ringing recoveries indicate that the recent westward expansion of nigricans in Siberia is probably due to North American ‘Black Brants’ migrating back along the routes by which they originally colonised the region. On these routes, they do not encounter the same threats prevalent in southern-central Asia, and so, despite the trend of other East Siberian geese (Madsen et al. 1996), this population of nigricans is increasing in numbers and range. Although nigricans colonised the area probably over the last 25-30 years, it remains vulnerable in northern Yakutia. Increasing hunting pressure on arrival in spring and improved methods of egg-collecting are significant threats to this breeding population. A 163. Female Brent Goose Branta bemicla of the nominate race near her nest in mixed colony of Herring Gulls Lams argentatiis vegae and Glaucous Gulls L. hyperboreus, Olenyok Delta, June 1997 {Christoph Zdckler) A 164 Male Brent Goose Branta bemicla of dark-bellied race nigricans defending nearby nest, with Glaucous Gull Lams hyperboreus, Olenyok Delta, June 1997 {Christoph Zdckler) 570 Svroechkovski el ai: Status of Brent Goose in East Siberia female those of bemicla, Olenyok Delta, June 1997 {Chnsioph Zdckler) A 166. Nest of Brent Goose Branta bemicla, as usual preferably placed near driftwood, Olenyok Delta, June 1997 {Christoph Zdckler) Taxonomy Despite some recent statements (Stepanyan 1990; Millington 1997; Sangster et al. 1997), the discovery of several mixed colonies of nominate bemicla and nigricans in northwest Yakutia casts considerable doubt over the validity of separating these forms into two different species. The Biological Species Concept (e.g. Mayr 1996) is based on reproductive isolation of populations from others and a consequent absence of interbreeding. As pair-formation and mating among Brent Geese take place in the wintering area (Bergmann ct al. 1994), however, it is not easy for different populations to mix, since they winter in largely separate areas (e.g. Western Europe and Pacific America). Interbreeding occurs only when immaturcs of different subspecies meet in the breeding area and subsequently migrate togetlicr to tJie British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 571 same wintering sites and form pairs. The situation at the Olenyok, with mixed pairs and intermediates forming less than 10% of the total, represents possibly a very recent stage of re-overlapping, re-mixing and re-interbreeding. Increased sightings of nigncans in Western Europe (van den Berg et al. 1984; Berrevoets & Erkman 1993; Millington 1997; van Dongen et al. 1997; Rogers et al. 1998) support the theory that more and more individuals of this subspecies are tending to change their migration route where they meet with Brent Geese of the nominate race. At least one observation of a hybrid, in The Netherlands, has been documented (Berrevoets & Erkman 1993). During the history of the species, this overlapping of ranges and subse- quent separation must have occurred many times as a result of glaciation or, more recently, hunting pressure or other factors, leading to the development of the present subspecies. The evolution of the Brent Goose into three species, even if at all incipient, is certainly not yet complete. Acknowledgments The expedition, in association with the Russian Academy of Sciences, is part of a joint project of the East European and North Asian Swan and Goose Study Group. We should especially like to thank the Japanese Association of Wild Geese Protection and the Swedish Club 300 for substantial fmancial support. Numerous Yakutian and other Russian organisations, especially the Yakutian Sakha Intemord, provided enormous logistic support. We should also like to thank Tony Tree and Marcus Stensmyr for their help during the expedition. References Berrevoets, C., & Erkaian, A. 1993. Gemenegd paartje Rotgans en Zwarte Rotgans met twee ‘hybride’ jongen bij Oude Tonge in winter van 1991/92. Dutch Birding 15: 61-63. Bergmann, H.-H., Stock, M., & Ten Thoren, B. 1994. Die Ringelgans. Wiesbaden. Ieicev, V. D., & FuNTr, V. E. 1985. Handbiich der Vogel der Sozvjetimion. vol. 2. Wiesbaden. Kokarev, I. E. 1996. Population trends of geese and swans in North America. Casarca 2: 38-50. [In Russian] Mai:>sen, ]., Reed, A., & Andreev, A. 1996. Stams and trends of geese {Amer sp., Branta sp.) in the World: a review, updating and evaluation. Gibier Faune Sauvage, Game Wildl. 13: 337-353. h\AYR, E. 1996. What is a species and what is not? Philosophy of Scieme 63: 262-211 . Aiin .tNGTON, R. 1997. Separation of Black Brant, Dark-beUied Brent Goose and Pale-beUied Brent Goose. Birding World 10: 11-15. Mti'ABAYASHI, Y. 1995. Distribution of Black Brant {Branta bemicla) in Japan, 1994/95. Goose Study. Jap. Assoc. Wild Geese Protect. 10: 3-23. Muller, F. 1882. Unter Timgusen und Jakulen. Leipzig. Nowak, E. 1995. Jagdaktivitaten in der Vergangenheit und heute als Einflufifaktor auf Gansepopulationen und andere Vogel Nordsibiriens. Corax 16: 143-159. Ogilvie, M. a., & S r Joseph, A. 1976. Dark-bellied Brent Geese in Britain and Europe. Brit. Birds 69: 422-439. POZDNYAKOV, V. 1987. Red Data Book of the Yakutian ASSR. Nauka, Novosibirsk. [In Russian] , Germegenov, N. L, Slepstov, S. M., & Egorov, N. N. 1996. Review of status of geese population in central Verkhoyansk mountain systems. Casarca 2. 258-267. [In Russian] Prokosch, P. 1984. Population, Jahresrvthmus und traditionelle Nahrungsbedingungen der Dunkelbauchigen Ringelgans {Branta berntcla bemicla) im Nordfriesischen \ldattenmeer. Okol. der Vogel 6: 1-89. Rogers, M. J., & toe RARrriF.s CoMMrrrEE. 1998. Report on rare birds in Great Bntam m 1997. Brit. Birds 91: 455-517. 572 Syroechkovski et ai: Status of Brent Goose in East Siberia Rose, P. M., & Sco'IT, D. A. 1994. Waterfowl population estimates. Special Publication 29. Sangstcr, G., Hazevoet, C. J., van den Berg, A. B., & Roseiaar, C. S. 1997. Taxonomic changes in 1977-97. Dutch Birding 19; 21-28. Sl-EPAN\'AN, L. C. 1990. Conspectus of the Ornithological Fauna of the USSR. Moscow. [In Russian] S\TtOECHKOVSKi, E. E., Jr. 1995a. Tundra Ecology - 94 Expedition: urgent conser\'auori is needed for Arctic geese. Bull, of the Goose Study Group of Eastern Europe and North Asia 1: 36-38. [In Russian] 1995b. Current status of Asian population of Pacific Black Brant Branta bermcla nipt- cans. Bull, of the Goose Study Group of Eastern Europe and North Asia 1: 57-67. [In Russian] 1996. Species, status and population distribution of Russian arctic geese. Gibier Eaune Sauvage, Game Wildl. 13: 381-396. ,r ^ USPENSKI, S. M. 1960. The Brent Goose in the So\aet Union. Ann. Rep. Wildjozvt Inist 11; 80-93. VAN DEN Berg, A., LAAtBECK, R. H. D., & Mullarney, K. 1984. The occurrence of the ‘Black Brant’ in Europe. Brit. Birds 77: 458-465. VAN Dongen, R. M., Hofland, R., & DE RoUYC, VC'. W. 1997. Recente meldingen. Dutci Birding 19: 139-146. XlAOMiN, L., & Yongqing, Wang. 1996. Status and conser\'ation of geese {Anser sp., Branta sp.) in China. Gibier Eaune Sauvage, Game Wildl. 13: 397-402. Eugeny E. Syroechkovski, Jr, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninski Avenue 3, Aioscow 117071, Russia Christoph Zdckler, World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CBS ODE Elena Lappo, Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Starornonetny 29, Moscozv 109017, Russia ANNOUNCEMENTS Don’t leave it until the last minute The January’ issue is usually sent out very late. This is because so many people do not resubscribe until the end of December or, even, early January'. Since we ha\ e to print address labels about one week before dispatch, late subscriptions delay the first issue. Please help eveiybody by resubscribing at once. Thanks! The final jigsaw puzzle 'fhis month, the final jigsaw puzzle in our exclusive four-puzzle set is available; 4. Eemalc Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus photographed by Nick Dymond. Numbers 1-3 are also still available. Each one costs £24.99 (or £27.99 if outside the UK) from Jigsaws, British Birds, The Banks, Mountfield, Robertsbridge, East Sussex 11^32 .sjY. Fair Isle correction Paul Baker has asked us to point out that (contra Brit. Birds 91; 207) tlie island’s Seabird Monitoring Officer is Stephen 'furner. LETTERS Hybrid waterfowl in western Central Europe Many papers have been written about waterfowl hybrids and a lot of information is available, but there is still great interest in the subject because of identification difficulties and possible confusion with potential vagrants (Perrins 1961— but still up to date!; Gillham & Gillham 1996, 1998) or the problems created by interbreeding (e.g. between introduced and natural populations, Delany 1993). /'■ Tufted X Common Pochard 40.7% Red-crested Pochard X Tufted 1.8% others 22.1% Common X Red-crested Pochard 2.8% Fig. 1. Proportions of various reported hybrid waterfowl in Central Europe, 1960-97. Greylag Goose Anser anser. Canada Goose Branta canadensis. Red-crested Pochard Netla nifina. Common Pochard Aythya ferina. Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula. Greylag X Canada 11.4% Tufted X Ferruginous 5.3% Common Pochard Ferruginous 15.9% T’he occurrence of hybrid waterfowl has as yet been smdied only in restricted areas (Smallshire 1986; Schiitt 1994). This communication summarises the first results of a study to survey occurrence and distribution of and relationship between different types of hybrids within a larger range, covering the westerly parts of Central Europe. In 1996, I started a survey of waterfowl hybrids in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, gathering data from local literamre, annual bird reports and local recorders. Now, it is possible to present the first results, although the survey is still in progress. More than 800 records of hybrid waterfowl observed in the wild have been collected. Fig. 1 shows that hybrids between Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula and Common Pochard A. ferina make up the lion’s share (over Fig. 2. Annual totals of hybrid waterfowl in Central Europe, 1960-97. There are also 23 records prior to 1960. 1. i - cn~) cn£L 1 QQQl I'Pi RrificEi RirHc T .fH 1 QQ8 573 574 Letters 300 records). More than two-thirds of all instances involve the tribe A^thyini. Hybrids within this tribe seem to be mostly of natural origin, whereas a lot of goose hybrids originate from feral populations. The occurrence of hybrid waterfowl has been noted regularly since 1934 (Wust 1935), but numbers have increased steadily since the mid 1980s (fig.- 2). This increase is undoubtedly a reflection of birdwatchers’ increasing awareness and, especially, improved identification literamre (e.g. Madge & Burn 1987; Harris, Tucker & Vinicombe 1989). Detailed papers about the occurrence of dillerent types, identification and geographical distribution are in preparation, but the purpose of this preliminary communication is to draw attention to the study and to encourage the reporting and publication of relevant records, including any unpublished for previous years. I wish to thank Dr J. Holzinger tor his support and for access to his library. Christoph Raxdler Conrad-Rotenbiirger-Str. 3, 74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany References Delaot, a. 1993. Introduced and escaped geese in Britain in summer 1991. Brit. Birds 86: 591-599. Gili.ha.\i, E., on Sea. & & Gillham, B. 1996. Hybrid ducks: a coninbution tozvards an invenloiy. Lydd 1998. Bulletin No. 1. Updating Hybrid ducks: a contribution tozvards an invcntoiy. Harris, A., Tucri-r, L., & Vinicombh, K. E. 1989. The Macmillan Field Giuide to Bird Identification. London. Maogh, S. C., & Burn, H. 1987. Wildfozvl: an identification guide to the ducks, geese and szuans of the zvorld. London. Perrins, C. M. 1961. 'Phe ‘Lesser Scaup’ problem. Brit. Birds 54: 49-54. ScHurr, R. 1994. Hybriden bei Tauchenten der Gattung Aylhya — Beobachtungen vom Unterlaufder I'rave bei Lubeck. Loge/zee/t 115: 185-196. Smai-LSHIRE, D. 1986. d'he frequency of hybrid ducks in tlie Midlands. Bnt. Birds 79: 87- VC’Os r, V('. 1935. Ein Bastard Tafc\— N. fuligii la [L.] Reiherente {Nyroca f fenna [L.])[sic] Beitr. F'ortpflanzungsbiol. Vogel 11: 149-150. Declines in bird populations are real Ian Moorhouse {Bril. Birds 91: 330) suggested that tlie increasing average age of ornithologists involved in bird-monitoring could be responsible tor the apparent ‘long, shaUow declines in so many bird populations’. No doubt his tongue was firmly in his cheek, but it is important to rebut tlie idea before it gains currency amongst those who would cast doubt on the e\ idcnce tor the alarming state of bird populations in the wider country-side of Britain (Baillie el al. 1998; Crick el al. 1998) and many other parts of western Europe (1 ucker & Heath 1994; Tucker & Evans 1997). 4’he clearest evidence that tlie apparent population declines are real is that they arc overwhelmingly concentrated among birds characteristic ot tarmland. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 575 in woodland, by contrast, losses are balanced by gains (Fuller et al. 1995). Given tliat ornithologists generally use sound to detect birds more in woodland tlian in open landscapes, one would have expected to have found the converse pattern had the apparent declines been mere artefacts of reduced sensory acuity of observers. (It is true that sight as well as hearing deteriorates with age, but spectacles are adopted at a relatively earlier stage than are hearing aids and are generally more effective.) Amongst species occurring on farmland, farmland specialists declined by 30% on average during 1968-95, whereas more generalist species increased by 23% on average; eight other ecological characteristics had no apparent influence on patterns of decline or increase (Siriwardena et al. 1998). Problems of detectability bedevil most wildlife-monitoring schemes. One of the advantages of the current Breeding Bird Survey methods is that they incorporate ‘distance sampling’, so that systematic variations in detectability can be allowed for (Bibby et al. 1992; Greenwood 1996). Future analyses of population changes could, therefore, be absolutely robust against the effects of ageing of the field workers. Given that the age-structure of the human population at large is changing, we should expect parallel changes in the networks of ornithologists that are responsible for monitoring bird populations in many European countries. There are, however, other forces at work, at least in Britain: the 1997 survey by the Institute of Volunteering Research showed that the proportion of retired people engaged in voluntary work has increased in the last six years, whereas participation has fallen away amongst younger people. We should be grateful tlrat the older members of the population are so willing to volunteer (and encouraging younger generations to emulate them), rather than cast doubts on the quality of the work they do. Jeremy J. D. Greenwood (aged 56^/4) British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU References Baillie, S. R., Gregory, R. D., & Siriwardena, G. M. 1998. Farmland bird declines: patterns, processes and prospects. In: Kirkwood, R. C., BCPC Symposium Proceedings No. 69: Biodiversity and Conservation in Agriculture. Farnham. Bibby, C. J., Burgess, N. D., & Hill, D. A. 1992. Bird Census Techniques. London. Crick, H. Q. P., Baillie, S. R., Balmer, D. E., Bashford, R. L, Beaven, L. P., Dudley, C., Glue, D. E., Gregory, R. D., Marchant, J. H., Peach, W. J., & Wilson, A. M. 1998. Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status (1972-1996). BTO Research Report No. 198. Thetford. Fuller, R. J., Gregory, R. D„ Gibbons, D. W„ Marchant, J. H., Wilson, J. D., Baillie, S. R., & Carter, N. 1995. Population declines and range contractions among lowland farmland birds in Britain. Conserv. Biol. 9: 1425-1441. Greenwood, J. J. D. 1996. Basic techniques. In: Sutheri.and, W. J., Ecological Census Techniques. Cambridge. Siriwardena, G. M., Baillie, S. R., Buckland, S. T., Fewster, R. M., Marchant, J. H., & Wilson, J. D. 1998. Trends in the abundance of farmland birds: a quantitative comparison of smoothed Common Birds Census indices. J. Appl. Ecol. 35: 25-43. Tucker, G. M., & Evans, M. I. 1997. Habitats for Birds in Europe: a conservation strategy for the wider environment. Cambridge. ^ Heath, M. F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. Cambridge. 576 Letters Sonagrams I was interested to read Dr David Parkin’s review of the Concise Edition of the Birds of the Western Palearctic {Bnt. Birds 91: 256-257), but concerned that he saw fit to comment: ‘gone are all those sonagrams (did any birder understand them anyway?)’. The value of sonagrams for serious research is weU established, but publication should not be just in esoteric publications, for sonagrams can be of great value to the average birdwatcher who takes the trouble to read the simple explanations which are usually provided. I should hate to think that my nearly 50 years of wildlite sound-recording and its conversion into sonagrams had been of so little use. Eric Simms 21 Church Street, South Witham, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG33 5FJ Cambridge Bird Club’s age The statement in August’s ‘News and comment’ (Brit. Birds 91: 358) that the Cambridge Bird Club’s 75th birthday occurs in the year 2000 was unduly modest. While a Cambridge Ornithological Society was founded in 1925, it was soon pointed out that a Cambridge Bird Club had been founded in 1905 — to perpemate the famous receptions held by Protessor Alfred Newton PRS— but had lapsed during, and had not been revived after, the First World War. The two were, therefore, united under the earlier name, and a 50th Anniversary’ Dinner, addressed by Sir Peter Scott, was held on 25th November 1955. W. R. P. Bourne Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 TEN EDITORIAL coMMiiN r Dr Robin Cox, President of the CBC, has commented that the Club was ‘founded under its modem constitution in 1925 ... We therefore consider it fit and proper that w'e should celebrate its 75th Anniversar\’ in the year 2000 ... We have no intention of waiting un^ 2005, when some of us may no longer be around to enjoy the celebrations!’ Thus, the CBC has a marvellous opportunity to have twice as many binges as other similar organisations. We at BB did celebrate our 75th anniversaiy’ in 1982 {Bnt. Birds 75: 241-242, 431), and look forward to our centenaiy' in 2007, but missed the chance in 1993 of celebrating the 150th anniversary ot the formation of The Zoologist (since Dr Bourne reminded us too late: Brit. Birds 88: 1-4). NEWS AND COMMENT Compiled by Bob Scott and Wendy Dickson Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’ British Birdwatching Fair — the fringe Many words have been written on the Rutland fair, and no doubt many more will be written in the months (and years) to come. If you have yet to experience a visit to the British Birdwatching Fair, you can have no idea what you have been missing, and we strongly recommend that you put matters right as soon as possible. This year, the Fair was declared open by HRH The Eon of Oku. (Eon is the title of the local king/chief in Cameroon.) Those present at the opening ceremony were impressed with his grasp of the conservation problems in the Kilum Ijim Forest, home of Bannerman’s Turaco Tauraco bannermani, one of the World’s endangered species which has benefited from this year’s Fair. We were very honoured to entertain the Eon for two days before the Fair, and escorted him to two RSPB reserves to see active woodland management (Stour Esmary and Wood, Essex) and extensive visitor facilities (Minsmere, Suffolk) (plate 167). The Eon is a very shrewd politician and is well aware of the problems of the forest and his people. His challenge is to balance the environmental needs with the demands of a growing human population. We rather suspect that he has the skills and ability to do it. BirdLife Intemational’s project in the area obviously helps. We asked him about Bannerman’s Turaco: ‘Ah yes!’, he replied, ‘We have at least one in the palace grounds.’ We are tempted to take up his offer of a visit. In contrast, we provided accommodation during the Fair for the three volunteers from BirdLife Malta. They were visiting to man the Malta stand and generate some interest in the conservation problems on the island. At the end of each tiring day on the stands, when by rights we should have been in bed fast asleep, we talked through Malta’s conservation problems and what if anything A 167. HRH Eon Samuel Ngum III of Oku with Bob Scott (left) at Minsmere RSPB Reserve, Sufiblk, August 1998 (Ann Scott) 578 News and comment can be done. Here in the UK, we are so fortunate to work in a political climate that is generally supportive of wildlife and conservation; in Malta, they have massive problems. At the time of writing, they are approaching national elections, and every major part\' that may win or have influence has declared itself in favour of hunting. Hunting that has wiped out so much of Malta’s wildlife. If ever there was a conservation body that needs our help, it is in Malta. A mere will secure membership, and provide moral as well as financial support. The next British Birdwatching Fair will be held at Rudand Water during 20th-22nd August 1999 (tel. 01572 771079), details of the Kilum-Ijim Forest Project, Cameroon, are available from BirdLife International (tel. 01223 277318); to become a member of BirdLife Malta, write to PO Box 498, M- VaUetta, CMROl, Malta. Aliens in our midst According to the En\’ironment Agency’s Ri\'er Habitat Surv'ey, one in four UK rivers and streams has been colonised by invasive alien weeds which are threatening native wildlife. Highlighted in its report. River Habitat Quality: the physical character of rivers and streams in the UK and Isle of Mam are three particular species: Indian Balsam Impatiens glandulifera, Japanese Knotweed Reyhoutria japonica and Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum. Introduced as ornamental plants in the nineteenth century, thev have since become widely established throughout Britain, particularly along river banks where their dense foliage displaces native plants, may reduce habitat value tor wildlife and is said to cause riverbank erosion. SBC’s silver jubilee Founded at a meeting in Lerwick in December 1973, the thriving Shetland Bird Club is 25 years old this montli. We send the Club our congramlations. Earlier than first We said {Bnt. Birds 91: 302) that The Calf of Man Bird Observatory Annual Report for 1997 and the Filey Brigg Bird Report 1997 were the first two annual reports to reach us, both in early April 1998. We apologise for overlooking the fact that we had received Colwick Park Wildlife 1997 on 18th March 1998. 'Phe Colwick Park report is available for £3.50 (incl. p&p) from M. G. Walker, 14 Ramblers Close, Colwick, Nottingham NG4 2DN. When and where do butterflies fly? Any lepidopterist who likes to see records displayed on maps and in histograms or graphs will delight in Butterfly Conservation’s 56-page Hertfordshire and Middlesex Butterfly and Moth Report for 1997. It costs £3.50 (incl. p&p), and die 1996 Report is also available (£2.00 incl. p&p), from John C. Stevens, 3 Scarborough Road, London N9 8AT. News of former YOY Since his award as senior Young Ornithologist of the Year in 1994 (Brit. Birds 87: 603-604; 88: 164, plate 39), Steve Votier has been kept busy. Hav'ing completed his BSc honours degree in biolog\’ at Newcastle University in 1995, he then spent three exciting ‘fall’ months at Long Point Bird Observatory, followed in 1996 by working as Assistant Warden at Fair Isle Bird Observatory. Spring 1997 saw him undertaking contract work for the RSPB, monitoring upland wader populations in Northumberland. This year, based at Glasgow University, he has just completed the first of three field seasons in Shetland (mainly Hermaness and Noss) for a PhD, looking at the feeding ecology of the Great Skua Catharacta skua. S3U01BAJ9SqO pjig If you are planning a trip to Australia, it is well worth fitting in a visit to one of the bird obsen-'atories. Contact addresses are: BARREN GROUNDS B.o. PO Box 3, Jamberoo NSW 2533; phone (02) 4236 0195; fax. (02) 4236 0537; email barren.grounds @bigpond.com BROOME B.o. Crab Creek Pond, PO Box 1313, Broome, WA 6725; phone (08) 9193 5600; fax. (08) 9192 3364; email bbo(rttpgi.com.au ItYRli B.o. do Cocklebiddy, Norseman, WA 6443; phone (08) 9039 3450; fax. (08) 9039 3440. ROTAMAH ISLAND B.O. PO Box 75, Pavnesville, Victoria, Australia 3880; phone/fax. (03) 5156 6398. British Birds, vol. 91, no. 12, December 1998 Scotland in 1996 With a scattering of the best artwork from the Scottish local bird reports to break up the text and enhance the appearance, the 29th Scottish Bird Report, covering 1996, runs to 76 pages, all absolutely crammed with interesting records. Major rarities are assessed by the British Birds Rarities Committee; 140 records of intermediate rarities were considered by tire Scottish Bird Records Committee; and the lesser rarities are assessed by local records committees. To pick out a few highlights at random: a pair of Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava of the grey-headed race thunbergi nested on Fair Isle, fledging four young on 17th July; Siberian warblers included 12 Pallas’s Leaf Phylloscopus proregidus, about 105 Yellow- browed P. inornatns and four Radde’s P. scfnvarzi (in contrast, there were only two Firecrests Regulus ignicapillus, one in October and one in December); and European Nuthatches Sitta europaea 579 reached a new peak of 18 pairs and nine singles, with seven ‘known or likely breeding sites’ listed. There are also two short papers, one describing Scotland’s first Pterodroma, probably Cape Verde Petrel P. feae, seen by Richard W. White at sea from the RRS Charles Danvin in sea area Fair Isle on 25th June, and the other providing a review of the status of the Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubiiis in Scotiand, by R. D. Murray, from the first known occurrences in 1 894 up to the 1 996 peak of 2 1 individuals and two breeding records, the sixth and seventh ever. This excellent Report, edited by Ray Murray, published by The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, and with its very distinctive Scotland-made-of-bird-names cover, is free to SOC members and is on sale to non-members for £4.50, from 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5B'r. Photographs of Sylvia warblers High-quality photographs of the following birds in the field or in the hand are needed for a forthcoming monograph on the Sylvia warblers by Hadoram Shirihai, Gabriel Gargallo and Andreas Helbig, illustrated by Alan Harris and with photographs by David Cottridge: Tristram’s Warbler Sylvia deserticola, Menetries’s Warbler 5. mystacea (mainly the races mystacea and turcmenica), RtippeU’s Warbler S', nieppelli (juvenile), Cyprus Warbler S. nielanothorax (juvenile). Desert Warbler S. Jiaiia of the North African race deserti, Arabian Warbler S. leucotnelaena of soutli Arabian and East Knockdown pish A migration hot-spot. A day with a fall. A small passerine zips by, just overhead, and is gone for ever. Hang on! Maybe it could have been stopped in mid flight. Peter Dunne suggests that ‘Pishing not only draws hidden birds out, it often prompts passing birds to take cover. A sLngle, explosive “pewsh” note, [or] better still a two-note “pew-pew”, is bird Esperanto for “Look out!” . . . sometimes, after an evasive dive, . . . they perch to see what all the fuss is about. You are no worse off if tliey continue on, and much better off if they fall for your trick’ {Birding 30: 333). African forms, Orphean Warbler 5. hortensis of the nominate race. Barred Warbler S. nisoria, Lesser Whitethroat Y. curnica of tlie southeastern forms althaea and minula, and the ‘Afro-Sylvias’ (‘Paiisoma") including Rufous-vented Warbler 5. siibcaeruleum, Banded Warbler 5. boehmi, Layard’s Warbler Y. layardi, Yemen Warbler 5. bwyi and Brown Warbler 5. lugens. Photographers will receive full credit and a fee for any of their photographs used. Please send photographs as soon as possible to D. M. Cottridge, 6 Sutherland Road, Tottenham, London Ni7 OBN. Bullock’s Identification of those recently re-split Nearctic orioles — Bullock’s Icterus bullockii and Baltimore I. galbula — is discussed thoroughly by Cin-Ty Lee and Andrew Birch in well-illustrated articles in the August 1998 issue of Birding (30: 282-295, 296-298). Birding is published bimontlily by the American Birding Association. Enquiries concerning membership (S45 outside USA) to PO Box 6599, Colorado Springs, CO 80934, USA. MONTHLY MARATHON ' ^ The bird in the seventh stage (plate 110) was identified as a / wheatear Oenanthe by everyone, and • most entrants (87 /o) I correctly named it as Red-tailed O. xanthoprynia (it was photographed by Colin Richardson in the United Arab Emirates ^ November 1989). The relatively long bill obviously misled those competitors who misidentified it as Hooded O. monacha (9%), while a few plumped for Alouming O. lugcns or Isabelline O. isabcllinci (2/o each). The current race leaders are Jens Lind, Steve Mann, Dave Numey, Jakob Sunesen and Peter Sunesen (aU with a sequence of seven consecutive correct answers), Jorgen Munck Pedersen and Jean-Yves Peron (both with six) and Volker Konrad, Peter Lansdown and Steve Preddy (each with five). When one competitor is ahead of aU the rest of the field, with a sequence of at least ten consecutive correct answers, he will win the prize of a SUNBIRD birdwatching holiday in Africa, America or Asia. Previous winners have been Pekka Nikander, Anthony McGeehan, Ralph Hobbs, Martin Helin, Hannu Jannes, Paul Archer, Peter Sunesen, Anthony McGeehan (the only two-time winner so far) and David McAdams. For a free SUNBIRD brochure, write to PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 IDF, or telephone 01767 682969. A 168. ‘Monthly marathon.’ Photo no. 148. Nintli stage in tenth Maratlion . Identib the species. Read the rules {Bnt. Birds 91: 305), then send in your answer on a postcard to Monthly Marathon, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunliam, Bedford MK44 3NJ, to arrive by 15th January 1999. f 580 [Ih-it. Birds 91: 580, December 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 RECENT BBRC DECISIONS This monthly listing of the most recent decisions by the British Birds Rarities Committee is not intended to be comprehensive or in any way to replace the annual Report on rare birds in Great Britain’. The records listed are mostly those of the rarest species, or those of special interest for other reasons. AH records refer to 1998 unless stated otherwise. accepted: Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Pensthorpe G^orfolk), 26th April to 5th May. Great White Egret Egretta alba Stiffkey Fen (Norfolk), from December 1997 to 29th March; Dorman’s Pool and Haverton Hole (Cleveland), 17th- 18th April. King Eider Somatena spectabilis South Dare and Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland), 4th July. Gyr Falcon Falco msticolus North Uist (Western Isles), 12th March to 16th April. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Chew Valley Lake (Avon), 18th February; Budworth Mere (Cheshire), 4th March; March (Cambridgeshire), 5th March; Start Point (Devon), 13th May; Wilstone Reservoir (Hertfordshire), 27th May. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Bosheston Ponds (Pembrokeshire), at least 20th-23rd February; Hengistbury Head (Dorset), 26th February; Lodmoor (Dorset), 25th April; Skateraw (Lothian), 30th May. Penduline Tit Remiz penduliniis Titchwell, 1st January to 4th April. M. J. Rogers, Secretary, BBRC, 2 Churchtown Cottages, Towednack, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 3AZ ZEISS m. RECENT REPORTS Compiled by Barry’ Nightingale and Anthony McGeehan This summary of unchecked reports covers 12th October to 8th November 1998. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Bryher (Scilly), 28th-30th October. Black Duck Anas rubripes Stithian’s Reservoir (Cornwall), 29th October to 8th November. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis three (one male, two females). Loch of Spiggie (Shetland), 1st- 5th November; Islay (Strathclyde), 7th-8th November. Great Bustard Otis tarda Broadstone (Dorset), 1st November. Long- billed Dowitcher Ldmnodromns scolopaceus Ballycotton (Co. Cork), and two at The Cull (Co. Wexford) in late October. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Findhom Bay (Grampian), 29th-30th October; Ardmore Point (Strathclyde), 31st October. Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir (West Glamorgan), 28th October to 1st November. Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Malin More (Co. Donegal), 1 9th-28th October. Homed Lark Eremophila alpestris Large influx, including up to 100 at Waxham, up to 80 at Holkham Bay and 60 at Salthouse (all Norfolk) from mid to late October. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni St Mary’s (Scilly), 20th-23rd October. Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis on board QEII in Southampton Docks (Hampshire), 21st October, remained on board. Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus St Margaret’s at Cliffe (Kent), 18th- 19th October. White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma Found dead, Ormiston (Lothian), 12th October; North Tolsta, Lewis (Outer Hebrides), about 14th-27th October. Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus, Galley Head (Co. Cork), 25th-26th October. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Big influx on East Coast in early November, including 20,000 at Brancaster (Norfolk) on 5th November. American Robin T. migratmius St Agnes (Scilly), 26th- 28th October. Dusky Warbler PhyUoscopus fuscatus Bamburgh (Northumberland), 4th- 6th November; Abbotsbury Swannery Reserve (Dorset), 4th-7th November. Red- eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus Helston Loe Pool (Cornwall), 3rd-8th November. Rose- breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus Bryher, 30th October to 1st November. >Rare Bird News supplies all its information free to ‘British Birds’. Call 0881-888-111 for the latest, up-to-date news (28p/min cheap rate; 41p/min other times; incl. VAT) [Brit. Birds 91: 581, December 1998] © British Birds Ltd 1998 581 CORRECTIONS VOLUME 90 , ^ . 321 ‘Shirihai 1996’ should read ‘King & Shirihai^ 1996’ (the reference on page 324 should also be amended, by the insertion of ‘King, J., & . 473 Plate 159. Bird at extreme left is a Little Gull Lams mmulus. 545 Plate 197. Cornwall (not Devon). VOLUME 91 . c 132 Tree Sparrow. Table 1. For 15 million, read 1.5 million for Sweden. 394 ‘Sabine’s Gulls in western France and southern Britain’ Owing to a misunderstanding, the area with angled shading, denoting where there have beeri recent observations of offshore concentrations of Sabine’s Gulls Lams sabim, was misplaced in fig. 2 on page 394. This map now shows the correct position. We apologise to readers and to the authors, Norman Elkins and Pierre Yesou. Angled shading = area of recently observ'ed offshore concentrations MANZANILLA LA GHANA CHRISTMAS PUZZLE Illustrated by John HoUyer Contrived by Tim Sharrock Sponsored by Vinicola Hidalgo SA ndy, Brian and Cyn had one fantastic day in the field this autumn. Of the 15 Phylloscopiis warblers that ’ ey had in view at the same time, eight had wing-bars and four had a distinct pale rump-patch. At one point, Cyn observed that ‘I’ve got three individuals of one species close to me.’ Brian responded ' at ‘There’s definitely two of another species, too; one perched to my right and one flying in from my t.’ Excitedly, Cyn whispered ‘. . . and one of those two recent splits by the BOURC — I can see two, 1 le of each species, both to my left.’ At this, Andy added ‘. . . and I’ve got a third: one of the commoner those two species is in my scope.’ At tlie end of the day, Andy commented: ‘I know tliat we’ve seen 11 of the 12 British species of P/iyllosc, It I don’t know which one we didn’t see.’ ‘Nor do I,’ said Brian. ‘Me neither,’ echoed Cyn. ‘Do you realise,’ said Andy, ‘that only seven of those birds were of species tlrat breed closer to Britain : an the Urals?’ Cyn then added: ‘But four of them might have bred in Britain.’ 1. Which was the most numerous species that day? 2. Which two species were next most numerous? 3. In not more than 5 words, explain why none of the three birders knew which species they ad not seen. >end your three answers on a postcard to BB Christmas Puzzle, Fountains, Park I.ane, Blunham, Bedford AtK.44 3N] to arrive bv Hth uary 1 999. The three competitors whose correct entries arc drawn on tlial date will each win the very appropriate festive-season prize of a e of three bottles of Im Gitana sherry' (a light, crisp, delicately flavoured sheny, best drunk chilled as an aperitif), c British Birds Ltd 1998 2. Rooks, Hemhill {Mark James) 4. Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank and Common Snipe {Barry Ryan) Illustrations for sale by auction Five drawings, picked from amongst those submitted for Bird Illustrator of the Year 1998, are for sale in a postal auction (see page 66 for the procedure). F)ach original picture measures approximately 16.8 cm X 16.8 cm. Send in your bids now, to arrive by 15th January 1999. Send no money now, just your bid for any one (or more) of tire illustrations. The highest bid will be accepted in each case (pro\ided it exceeds the artist's reser\’e price), and you will be asked to pay your hid price plus £1.50 to cover postage & packing. During the past year, successful bids have ranged from £35 to £162, and the average has been £97. Send your name, address, telephone number and your bid(s) to Postal Bids, British Birds, b'ountains. Park Dme, Blunham, Bedford AtK44 .tNj. 1. Great Crested Grebe, Monikie Country’ Park, spring 1997 {Paul S. Hartley) 3. Glossy Ibises, Lesbos, Greece {Ernie Leahy) 5. Mandarin Duck, Alverstone Marsh, Isle of Wight {Michael Webb) X RMS ST. HELENA BIRDING VOYAGES TO THE TROPICS Unique opportunity to see the Ascension frigatebird and the St Helena Wirebird as well as the pelagics of the tropical South Atlantic: frigatebirds, tropicbirds, albatrosses, noddies, boobies, terns and gannets. ^ Special Birding Voyage aboard 7,000 ton British luxury cargo liner. RMS St Helena. April 22nd - 22nd May 1999. On board; renowned South African ornithologist. I Warham Searle IPI^ Cape Town. St Helena, Ascension Island. Tenerife. I Cardiff (plus Vigo and Banjul subject to cargo t requirements). 8-day stay on beautiful St Helena inclusive, with bird spotting expeditions with Warham Searle, Ry/cruise packages from £3.133 from Heathrow. Call or write now for our leaflet and brochures Tel; 01326 211466 Curnow Shipping Lid. Quote Ref.; BB 1 2/8 (Agents for St. Helena Line), 48-50 Kllligrew Street. Falmotith.^. CnmwallTRU 3AP Fa.\; 01126 >13808 IJiudIOiWs Flights Worldwide Return Fares From . . 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Juiy 25th to Aug 7th, Varirata, Kumul, Ambua, Tabubil, Kiunga. 20 Birds of Paradise are possible. WALLACEA Timor & Sumba 4-16 June. 122 spp not found in Aust. Moiuccas 11-28 August. Ivory-breasted Pitta, Wallace's Standardwing. Includes 3 d/s Sulawesi & Bali Starling. THAILAND 12-28 Feb with Philip Round or Uthai Treesucon. Malaysia extension to 5th March. AMERICAS USA Apr 25 to May 13, Bostin Spring Warblers -p Alaska Bolivia Sept 1999 with Ammonia. 8 macaws possible. Costa Rica Dec 1999. Brilliant birding. Ecuador Dec '99-Jan 2000. Next century in the Amazon birdc@internetnorth.com.au fax/ph: 07 4031 8803 Box 7999, Cairns 4870, Austraiia Andrew P. Anderson’s AUSTRALASIAN BIRDING SERVICES Showing the Birds of Australasia to the People of the World XI HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION ENGLAND HUNSTANTON, (JARCANEY HOUSE, 2 w ETB guest house catering for bird watchers in Norfolk, lei. 01485 5.53269. ^ © British Birds Ltd 1998 Index to volume 91 Compiled by M. A. Ogilvie Entries are in single list with reference to: (1) every significant mention of each species, not only in titles, but also within the text of papers, notes and letters, including all those appearing in such lists as the ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1997’, major mentions of those in ‘News and comment’, but excluding those in ‘Recent reports’, requests and reviews. Where species appear both in ‘The ornithological year 1997’ and in the ‘Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1997’, however, only the latter inclusion is listed; (2) scientific nomenclature under generic name only and following The ‘British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1997); (3) authors of all papers, notes, reviews and letters, and photographers; papers and notes are referred to by their tides, other contribudons as ‘letter on’, ‘review of, etc.; (4) a few subject headings, e.g. ‘Announcements’, ‘Breeding’, ‘Field characters’, ‘Food and feeding behaviour’, ‘News and comment’, ‘Rarities Committee’, ‘Recent reports’, ‘Roosdng’, and ‘Voice’; (5) ‘Reviews’ and ‘Short reviews’, which are listed together in alphabedcal order of authors reviewed. Accentor, Alpine, accepted records, 500-1 , Black-throated, European news, 51, 250 , Hedge, effects of global climate change, 313; fed by Robin in winter, 378-9 Accipiter gentilis, see Goshawk, Northern nisus, see Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Acrocephaliis agricola, see Warbler, Paddydeld arundinacens, see Warbler, Great Reed dumetomm, see Warbler, Blyth’s Reed paludicola, see Warbler, Aquadc pains tris, see Warbler, Marsh schoenobaenus, see Warbler, Sedge scirpaceus, see Warbler, Reed Actitis hypoleucos, see Sandpiper, Common macularia, see Sandpiper, Spotted Aegithalos caudatiis, see Tit, Long-tailed Aegolitis fimereus, see Owl, Tengmalm’s Aegypius rnonachus, see Vulture, Monk Aix galericulata, see Duck, Mandarin sponsa, see Duck, Wood Alaemon alandipes, see Lark, Hoopoe Alauda arvensis, see Lark, Sky Albatross, Black-browed, European news, 38, 241; British summering record in 1995, 423; accepted records, 459 , Yellow-nosed, European news, 38 , sp., European news, 241; accepted records, 459-60 Alca torda, see Razorbill Alectoris chiikar, see Partndge, Chukar graeca, see Partridge, Rock nifa, see Partridge, Red-legged Alle alle, see Auk, Little Alopochen aegypliacus, see Goose, Egyptian Anas acuta, see Pintail, Northern aniericana, see Wigeon, American crecca, see Teal, Common cyanoptera, see Teal, Cinnamon discors, see Teal, Blue- winged falcata, see Duck, Falcated formosa, see Teal, Baikal penelope, see Wigeon, Eurasian platyrhynchos, see Mallard querquedula, see Garganey rubripes, see Duck, Black strepera, see Gadwall Announcements: 66-8, 89; 113, 170; 230; 354; 401; 448; 563; 572 Anser albifrons, see Goose, White-fronted anser, see Goose, Greylag brachyrhynchus, see Goose, Pink-footed erythropus, see Goose, Lesser White- fronted fabalis, see Goose, Bean indicus, see Goose, Bar-headed Anthropoides virgo, see Crane, Demoiselle Anthus cervinus, see Pipit, Red-throated godlewskii, see Pipit, Blyth’s gustavi, see Pipit, Pechora hodgsoni, see Pipit, Olive-backed novaeseelandiae, see Pipit, Richard’s petrosus, see Pipit, Rock pratensis, see Pipit, Meadow mbescens, see Pipit, Buff-bellied spmoletta, see Pipit, Water trivialis, see Pipit, Tree Appleyard, Ernest Ian, obituary, 400 Apus affinis, see Swift, Little 583 584 Index to volume 91 aptis, see Swift, Common caffer, see Swift, WTiite-rumped pallidus, see Swift, Pallid AquiLi chrysaetos, see Eagle, Golden cla>iga, see Eagle, Spotted fieliaca, see Eagle, Eastern Imperial Ardea cinerea, see Heron, Grey turodias, see Heron, Great Blue Ardeola ralbides, see Heron, Squacco Arnold, R. W., Whimbrels thermalling, 198 Asia Jlammeus, see Owl, Short-eared otiis, see Owl, Long-eared Association of European Rarities Committees, report of meeting, 72, plate 8 Auk, Little, European news, 248 Avery, Mark, review of Stattersfield ei air. Endetnic Bird Areas of the World: priorities for biodiversity conservation, 384 , , see Conser\'ation research news Avocet, European news, 44; British breeding records in 1995, 434-5 Aythya affinis, see Scaup, Lesser aniericana, see Redhead collaris, see Duck, Ring-necked ferina, see Pochard, Common marila, see Scaup, Greater nyroca, see Duck, Ferruginous valisineria, see Canvasback Baha Pil Din, Sherif & Mindv, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Baker, Paul F., Redwing taking flesh from dead Greenfinch, 286 Barthel, Peter E., European news, 38-57, 241- 53 Bartratnia longicatida, see Sandpiper, Upland Basterfield, Peter, photograph of Syrian Woodpecker, 58, plate 5 Baumanis, Janis, European news, 38-57, 241- 53 Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked, European news, 49; apparently caught by White Stork, 281; accepted record, 487, 497, plate 128 , European, European news, 49, 249; summarv’ for 1997, 530, 536, plate 159 Beeson, Paul Michael, 3rd place. Bird Illustrator of the Year 1998, 263-8 Bellingham, Gary, photograph of Desert Wheatear, 490, plate 139; of Rosy Starling, 493, plate 148 Berg, Hans-Martin, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Bertolero, Albert, et al., large roost of Common Chiffchaffs in Spain, 286 Binns, George, Cattle Egrets nesting on cliff, 107 Bird Illustrator of the Year 1998, 263-8; judges, 356, plate 98; award presentation, 519, plate 154 Bird Photograph of the Year, 1997 award presentation, 162, plate 45; 1998, 219-24, plates 73-8 Bittern, Great, European news, 39; effects of global climate change, 31 1, 313, 323; British breeding records in 1995, 423 , Little, European news, 39; reaction to attack by Great Reed Warbler, 232-3; accepted records, 461 Blackbird, using Rape fields in east Scodand, 144-5; conservation research news, 271, 405; effects of global climate change, 313; summary for 1997, 538; photograph, 569, plate 164 Blackcap, wintering birds taking nectar from, and probably pollinating, Mahonia, 201; effects of global climate change, 313, 315; behaviour in winter in Jersey, 379 Bluetail, Red-flanked, accepted record, 489, 501, plate 136 Bluethroat, effects of global climate change, 317; British breeding record in 1995, 440 Bobolink, European news, 56, 253 Bobwhite, Northern, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7 Bonibycilla cedronim, see Waxwing, Cedar gamilus, see Waxwing, Bohemian Bond, Tony, photograph of Ring-billed Gull, 90, plate 1 1 Borrow, Nik, short review, 157 Botaums slellaris, see Bittern, Great Bourguignon, Pascal, Monthly marathon photograph credit, 75 Bourne, W. R. P., letter on age of Cambridge Bird Club, 576 Bradshaw, Colin, review of Lefranc & Worfolk: Shrikes: a guide to the shrikes of the World, 65; short review, 335 , , and Lansdown, Peter G., from the Rarities Committee’s files: a report of Long-toed Stint on South Uist, 180-4, plates 50-5 Brambling, effects of global climate change, 319; British breeding records in 1995, 445; summary' for 1997, 527 Branta bemicla, see Goose, Brent canadensis, see Goose, Canada leucopsis, see Goose, Barnacle nificollis, sec Goose, Red-breasted Brazier, David, Common Starlings and Red- legged Partridges collecting insects from parked vehicles, 330 Breeding: Red-throated Diver, 231; Egyptian Goose, 281-2; Ruddy Shelduck, 281-2; Common I’ern, 140; Reed Warbler, 329; Blue 'Pit, 201-2; Penduline Idt, 237-8; Com Bunting, 381-2 Brehm, 4’orsten, photograph of Black-necked Grebe, 7 1 , plate 7 Index to volume 91 585 Brewster, Paul, deception by Great Tit, 63 ‘British Birds’ Best Annual Bird Report Awards, 185-7 ‘British Birds’ Best Bird Book of tlie Year, 404 British List: new categories and their relevance to conser\'ation, 2-11 Brown, George, winner, PJC Award, 1998, 263-8 Brucker, Jolin, Kittiwakes and Great Crested Grebes ‘flycatching’, 199 Bruns, Herbert, obituary, 357 Bubo bubo, see Owl, Eagle Biibidctis ibis, see Egret, Cattle Bucanetes githagitieus, see Finch, Trumpeter Bucephala albeola, see Bufflehead clangula, see Goldeneye, Common islandica, see Goldeneye, Barrow’s Buckingham, D. L., variation and occurrence of intennediiis Lesser Black-backed Gulls in southern England, 60-2 Bucknell, Neil, see Holmes, John, et al. Budgerigar, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7 Bufflehead, European news, 42, 243; accepted records, 470 Bullfinch, Common, European news, 55; eating Dandelion seeds, 143-4 Bidiveiia biihoerii, see Petrel, Bulwer’s Bunting. Black-faced, European news, 56 , Black-headed, European news, 56; accepted records, 514 , Chesmut, European news, 252 , Cirl, letters on stams in Britain, 146-8, 331-2; European news, 252; effects of global climate change, 314; British breeding records in 1995, 446 , Corn, using Rape fields in east Scotland, 144-5; effects of global climate change, 313-14; height of nests above ground, 381-2 , Cretzschmar’s, European news, 56 , Indigo, European news, 56 , Little, European news, 56; accepted record, 514 , Pine, European news, 56, 252; accepted record, 513 , Red-headed/Black-headed, accepted record, 514 , Reed, using Rape fields in east Scotland, 144-5 , Rock, European news, 252 , Rustic, European news, 252; accepted records, 513-4 , Snow, effects of global climate change, 313, 318; British breeding records in 1995, 446; summary for 1997, 538 , Yellow-breasted, European news, 56, 253; accepted records, 514 , Yellow-throated, European news, 252 Burhinus oedicnemus, see Stone-curlew senegalensis, see Thick-knee, Senegal Burton, Robert, fighting Magpies surrounded by others watching, 142 Bustard, Great, letter on re-establishment in England, 331 , Houbara, European news, 44 , Little, European news, 44 Buteo buteo, see Buzzard, Common lagopus, see Buzzard, Rough-legged nifinus, see Buzzard, Long-legged Buxton, Ian, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Buzzard, Common, European news, 244 , Long-legged, European news, 43, 244-5 , Rough-legged, European news, 43; summary for 1997, 538 Calandrella brachydactyla, see Lark, Short-toed Calcarius lapponicus, see Longspur, Lapland Calidris acuminata, see Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed alba, see Sanderling bairdii, see Sandpiper, Baird’s canutus, see Knot, Red fuscicollis, see Sandpiper, White-rumped inaniima, see Sandpiper, Purple maun, see Sandpiper, Western melanoios, see Sandpiper, Pectoral minutilla, see Sandpiper, Least pusilla, see Sandpiper, Semipalmated nificollis, see Stint, Red-necked subminuta, see Stint, Long-toed temminckii, see Stint, Temminck’s tenuirostris, see Knot, Great Cabnectris diomedea, see Shearwater, Cor\^’s Cambridge Bird Club, letter about its age, 576 Canvasback, accepted in Category A, 522 Capercaillie, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7 Capnmtdgtis europaeiis, see Nightjar, Eurasian nificollis, see Nightjar, Red-necked Carduelis cannabina, see Linnet carduelis, see Goldfinch chlons, see Greenfinch flammea, see Redpoll, Common hornemanni, see Redpoll, Arctic spinus, see Siskin Carl Zeiss Award, 1998, winning photographs, 406-8, plates 102-9 Carlon, Jacques, resurgence of Egyptian Vultures in western Pyrenees, and relationship witli Griffon Vulture, 409-16 Carlson, Kevin, photograph of Western BoneUi’s Warbler, 224, plate 79; of Black- billed Cuckoo, 293, plate 93 Carpodacus erytlirinus, see Rosefinch, Common roseus, see Rosefinch, Pallas’s Carpospiza brachydactyla, see Sparrow, Pale Rock 586 Index to volume 91 Carter, Ian, new member of Editorial Board, 209 Castell, Peter, height of Corn Bunting nests above ground, 381-2 Catharacta skua, see Skua, Great Catharies aura, see Vulture, Turkey Cathams juscescens, see Veery’ usiulaius, see Thrush, Swainson’s Cercotrichas galactotes, see Scrub-robin, Rufous-tailed Cettia cetli, see Warbler, Cetti’s Chaetura pelagica, see Swift, Chimney Chaffinch, feeding on Rowan seeds, 64; using Rape fields in east Scotland, 144-5; effects of global climate change, 312, 319; summary for 1997, 537 Chandler, R. J., Dowitcher identification and ageing. A photographic review, 93-106, plates 13-28; photographs of House Sparrow, 192-3, plates 65, 67; photograph of House Sparrow X Spanish Sparrow hybrid, 194, plate 69; review of Kanouchi er at.: A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan, 383; photograph of Baird’s Sandpiper, 486, plate 126 , , see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Charadrius alexandrinus, see Plover, Kentish asiatiais, see Plover, Caspian dubius, see Plover, Little Ringed hiaticula, see Plover, Great Ringed leschenaultii, see Plover, Greater Sand mongolus, see Plover, Lesser Sand niorinellus, see Dotterel pecuarius, see Plover, Kittlitz’s semipaltnatus, see Plover, Semipalmated vociferus, see Plover, Killdeer Cheke, Robert A., and Cheke, Anthony S., Long-tailed Tits feeding on peanuts, 286-7 Chiffchaff, Canary Islands, taxonomy and identification in the Western Palearctic, 361-76, colour plate , Common, European news, 53, 251; large roost in Spain, 286; effects of global climate change, 312-13; taxonomy and identification in the Western Palearctic, 361-76, colour plate , Iberian, European news, 53; taxonomy and identification in the Western Palearctic, 361-76, colour plate , Mountain, taxonomy and identification in the Western Palearctic, 361-76, colour plate Chittenden, Robin, photograph of Great Spotted Woodpecker, 58, plate 6; of Common Gull, 90, plate 10; of Spanish Sparrow, 1 92-3, plates 66, 68; of Spectacled Warbler, 226, plate 81; of Collared Pratincole, 485, plate 1 23 , , see Sharrock, J. T. R., el al. Chlamydotis undulaia, see Bustard, Houbara Chlidonias hybridus, see Tern, Whiskered leucopterus, see Tern, White-winged Black niger, see Tern, Black Chough, Red-billed, summary for 1997, 527 Christie, David A., see Shirihai, Hadoram, et al. Chrysolophus amhersliae, see Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s pictus, see Pheasant, Golden Chvtil, Josef, Savi’s Warbler imitating Bearded Tit and Water Rail, 200-1 Ciconia ciconia, see Stork, MCliite nigra, see Stork, Black Circaelus gallicus, see Eagle, Short-toed Circus aemginosus, see Harrier, Marsh cyaneus, see Harrier, Hen macrounis, see Harrier, Pallid pygargus, see Harrier, Montagu’s Cisticola jtmcidis, see Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola, Zitting, European news, 52, 250; effects of global climate change, 308, 3 1 6 Claniator glandarius, see Cuckoo, Great Spotted Clement, Peter, and Helbig, Andreas J., taxonomy and identification of chiffchaffs in the Western Palearctic, 361-76, colour plate Cobban, Sheila D., short review, 158; diary dates, 258; photograph, 520, plate 155 Coccyzus americanus, see Cuckoo, Yellow- billed erythrophlhalmus, see Cuckoo, Black- billed Cole, Dan, 2nd place. Bird Illustrator of the Year 1998, 263-8 Colinus virginianus, see Bobwhite, Nortliern Collinson, Martin, new member of Editorial Board, 209 Collinson, Tony G., photograph of Spectacled Warbler, 492, plate 147 Columba palumbus, see Pigeon, Wood Conservation research news, 36-7; 187-8; 271-2; 405 Constantine, Mark, short review, 335 Conzemius, Tom, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Cook, Kevin, see Lock, Leigh Cooper, Stephen L., reaction of female House Sparrow to displaving male, 238-40, plates 82-4 Coot, Common, alarm call in response to ground predator, 139; nests preyed on by Moorhen, 234; photograph, 272, plate 88; killing Carrion Crow, 327-8 Coracias gamdus, see Roller, Piuropean Cormorant, Double-crested, European news, 39 Index to volume 91 587 , Great, killing trapped Black-headed Gulls, 109; European news, 241; summary for 1997, 526 , Pygmy, European news, 242 Corrections: 582 Corvus corax, see Raven, Common corone, see Crow, Carrion dauuriciis, see Jackdaw, Daurian fmgilegus, see Rook monedula, see Jackdaw, Eurasian splendent,, see Crow, House Cottridge, David M., photograph of Spectacled Warbler, 226, plate 80 Cotumix cotumix, see Quail, Common Courser, Cream-coloured, European news, 44, 245; photograph, 382, plate 99 Crake, Baillon’s, European news, 43 , Corn, European news, 43, 245; effects of global climate change, 323; British breeding records in 1995, 433-4 , Little, accepted record, 471, 485, plate 122 , Spotted, European news, 43, British breeding records in 1995, 433 , Striped, European news, 43 Crane, Common, European news, 44; British breeding record in 1995, 434 , DemoiseOe, European news, 44 Crex crex, see Crake, Com Crick, Humphrey Q. P., short review, 299 Crossbill, Common, summary for 1997, 531 , Parrot, European news, 252; British breeding records in 1995, 445-6 , Two-barred, European news, 55, 252; accepted records, 493, 513, plate 150 Croucher, Tony, photograph of Cream- coloured Courser, 382, plate 99 Crow, Carrion, effects of global climate change, 313; killed by Common Coots, 327-8; devouring Common Toad, 380 , House, European news, 252 Crozier, Jacqueline, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Cuckoo, Black-billed, mystery photograph 214, 292-4, plate 91 , Great Spotted, European news, 49, 249 , Yellow-billed, European news, 49; mystery photograph 214, 292-4, plates 92- 93 Curlew, Eurasian, European news, 46; reaction to Grey Squirrel, 140 Little, European news, 46 , Slender-billed, European news, 246 Cursoriiis cursor, see Courser, Cream-coloured Cygnus columbianus, see Swan, Tundra cygnus, see Swan, Whooper Dalton, Bill, photograph of Black Kite, 484, plate 117 Dalziel, L., photograph of Blue-cheeked Bee- eater, 128 Darling, Ian, photograph of Two-barred Crossbill, 493, plate 150 Darolova, Alzbeta, European news, 241-53 Davies, Jeff A., roosting behaviour of Peregrine Falcons, 197-8 Davis, Judy, review of Svingen & Dumrose: A Birder’s Guide to Idaho, 1 89 de Juana, Eduardo, European news, 38-57, 241-53 de Knijff, Peter, and van Swelm, Norman D., letter on mystery warblers in Tselinograd: an attempt to solve part of the problem, 190-1, plates 56-64 Dean, Jonathan, intermediate winner. Young Ornithologists of the Year 1998, 523-5 Delany, Simon, see Hughes, Baz, et al. Dendrocopos kucotos, see Woodpecker, White- backed major, see Woodpecker, Great Spotted medius, see Woodpecker, Middle Spotted minor, see Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted syriacus, see Woodpecker, Syrian Dendrocygna viduata, see Duck, White-faced Whistling Dendroica caslanea, see Warbler, Bay-breasted cendea, see Warbler, Cerulean coronata, see Warbler, Yellow-mmped magnolia, see Warbler, Magnolia palmarum, see Warbler, Palm petechia, see Warbler, Yellow striata, see Warbler, BlackpoO virens, see Warbler, Black-throated Green Dennis, M. C., Redhead in Nottinghamshire: new to Britain and Ireland, 149-54, plates 37-40 Diary dates: 258 Dickson, Wendy, photograph of Common Coot, 272, plate 88 , , and Scott, Bob, news and comment, see News and comment Dies, J. Ignacio, and Dies, Bosco, hybridisation between Lesser Crested and Sandwich Terns in Valencia, Spain, and plumage of offspring, 165-70 Dilger, Michael, see Wotton, Simon, et al. Diomedea chlororhynchos, see Albatross, Yellow-nosed melanophris, see Albatross, Black-browed sp., see Albatross, sp. Display: Fulmar, 280; Caspian Tern, 285; Pied Wagtail, 235; Rook, 285; House Sparrow, 238-40 Diver, Great Northern, British summering record in 1995, 421; summary for 1997, 528 , Red-throated, European news, 38; feeding young in October, 231; effects of 588 Index to volume 91 global climate change, 318; summarv for 1997, 527 , NX'hite-billed, accepted records, 459 Dolichonyx oryzivonis, see Bobolink Dolphin, Alan K., Common Redpolls feeding on algae, 240 Dotterel, European news, 44; effects of global climate change, 318; British breeding records in 1995, 435; summary for 1997, 529, 535, plate 158 Dove, Collared, European news, 48; feeding from fresh Rabbit carcase, 200 , Laughing, European news, 49, 248 , Mourning, European news, 49 , Oriental Turtle, European news, 49, 248 , 'Eurde, effects of global climate change, 314 Dowitcher, Asian, identification and ageing: a photographic review, 93-106, plates 26-8 , Long-billed, European news, 46, 246; identification and ageing: a photographic review, 93-106, plates 22-5; accepted records, 476 , Long-billed/Short-billed, European news, 246 , Short-billed, identification and ageing: a photographic review, 93-106, plates 13-21 Dubois, Philippe J., European news, 38-57, 241-53 Duck, Black, European news, 41, 243; British summering records in 1995, 424; accepted records, 466-7 , Falcated, European news, 40; record accepted in Category D, 515 , Ferruginous, European news, 41, 243 , Harlequin, European news, 42 , Mandarin, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countrc'side Act, 7; European news, 40, 242; effects of global climate change, 318; diving for acorns, 327 , Muscovy, effects of global climate change, 318 , Ring-necked, European news, 41, 243, accepted record, 467; summary for 1997, 526, 535, plate 157 , Ruddy, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7; European news, 42, 243; effects of global climate change, 318; breeding in the United Kingdom in 1994, 336-53, plates 96-7; summary for 1997, 531 , White-faced Whistling, F2uropean news, 40 , White-headed, European news, 42 , Wood, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countrc’side Act, 7; European news, 242 Dully, Kevin, see Young, H. Glyn Dymond, Nick, photograph of Red-necked Phalarope, 1 1 9, plate 30; review of Barlow & Vfacher: A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal^ 333 Eagle, Bald, European news, 42 , Bonelli’s; European news, 245 , Booted, European news, 43 , Eastern Imperial, European news, 43, 245 , Golden, in Scotland and Norway: coexistence and competition with VC’hite- tailed Eagle, and environmental degradation, 171-9, plate 46; summair for 1997, 532 , Short-toed, European news, 43 , Spotted, European news, 43 , White-tailed, on Schedule 9 of the \X'ildlife & Countryside Act, 7; European news, 42; in Scotland and Norway: coexistence and competition with Golden Eagle, and en\Tronmental degradation, 171- 9, plate 46; British breeding records in 1995, 429; accepted records, 470 Editorial, 1 ; 209; 403 Edwards, Stephen B., letter on cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets, 291 Egret, Cattle, European news, 39, 242; nesting on cliffs, 107, 291; using roads for navigation, 290-1; effects of global climate change, 310, 317; accepted records, 462-3 , Great White, European news, 39, 56, 242, plate 4; accepted records, 463 , Little, perching on horse, 60; European news, 242; in Britain: a successful colonist, 273-80, plates 89-90; effects of global climate change, 317; British summering records in 1995, 423; summan' for 1997, 533 , Western Reef, European news, 39 Egreita alba, see Egret, Great White garzetta, see Egret, Little gtilaris, see Egret, Western Reef Fader, Common, summaiy' for 1997, 531 , King, accepted records, 468-9 , Steller’s, European news, 243 Hlanoides forficatus, see Kite, Swallow-tailed Elanus caenileus, see Kite, Black-shouldered Elkins, Norman, and Yesou, Pierre, Sabine’s Gulls in western France and southern Britain, 386-97, plates 100-1 Elliott, Simon T., alarm call of Common Coot in response to ground predator, 1 39 Emberiza aureola, see Bunting, Yellow-breasted brunicepsimelatiocephala, see Bunting, Red-headcxl/Black-headed caesia, see Bunting, Cretzschmar’s da, see Bunting, Rock cirlus, see Bunting, Carl citriuella, see Yellowhammer Index to volume 91 589 elegans, see Bunting, Yellow-throated leiicocepfialos, see Bunting, Pine rnelanoceplmla, see Bunting, Black-headed pusilla, see Bunting, Little rustica, see Bunting, Rustic miila, see Bunting, Chestnut schoenidus, see Bunting, Reed spodocephala, see Bunting, Black-faced Encalado, Juan Jose Ramos, Red Kites ‘playing’ with newspaper, 233-4 Eophona migratoria, see Grosbeak, Yellow- billed Erernophila alpestris, see Lark, Homed Eremopterix nigriceps, see Sparrow-lark, Black- crowned Eriksen, Jens, winner and 2nd place, Bird Photograph of the Year 1998, of Sooty Falcon and Greenshank, 221, plates 73-4 Erithacus nibecula, see Robin Erritzoe, Johannes, Tree Sparrows feeding on ebn seeds over protracted period, 142-3 Ealco amurensis, see Falcon, Amur biamiiaiSy see Falcon, Fanner dienug, see Falcon, Saker columbarius, see Merlin eleonorae, see Falcon, Eleonora’s pelegjinoides, see Falcon, Barbary peregnniis, see Falcon, Peregrine msticolus, see Falcon, Gyr mbbuteo, see Hobby tinnuncidus, see Kestrel, Common vespertinus, see Falcon, Red-footed Falcon, Amur, European news, 43 , Barbary, field identification in the West Palearctic, 12-35, colour plates , Eleonora’s, European news, 245 , Gyr, field identification in the West Palearctic, 12-35, colour plate; accepted records, 47 1 , Fanner, field identification in the West Palearctic, 12-35, colour plate; robbing Black Kite, 283 , Peregrine, field identification in the West Palearctic, 12-35, colour plates; conserc'ation research news, 36-7; European news, 43; roosting behaviour, 197-8 , Red-footed, European news, 43; accepted records, 470-1, 484, plates 1 18-20 , Saker, field identification in the West Palearctic, 12-35, colour plate Farinha, Joao Carlos, European news, 241-53 Eicedula albicollis, see Flycatcher, Collared hypoleiica, see Flycatcher, Pied pa7va, see Flycatcher, Red-breasted semitorquaia, see Flycatcher, Semi- collared Field characters: Dalmatian and White Pelicans, 159-60, plates 43-4; Aytbya hybrid, 195-6, colour plate; Saker Falcon, Fanner Falcon, Gyr Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Barbary Falcon, 12-35, colour plates; Short-billed, Long-billed and Asian Dowitchers, 93-106, plates 13-28; intemiedius Lesser Black-backed GuU, 60- 62; Lesser Crested and Sandwich Terns, 165-70; Northern Mockingbird, 110; House and Spanish Sparrows, 192-4, plates 65-9 Fieldfare, European news, 51-2; effects of global climate change, 319; British breeding records in 1995, 441; summary for 1997, 538 Figuerola, J., see Bertolero, Albert, et al. Finch, Citril, European news, 55 , Tmmpeter, European news, 55, 252 Firecrest, effects of global climate change, 313-14; British breeding records in 1995, 444; summary for 1997, 538 Fisher, David, short reviews, 157, 299 Fitter, Richard, short review, 158 Fitzpatrick, Susan, sunning behaviour of Pied Wagtails, 235-6 Flamingo, Greater, European news, 40; records accepted in Category D, 5 1 5 , Lesser, European news, 40 Flycatcher, Collared, European news, 54; effects of global climate change, 317; accepted records, 492, 510, plate 146 , Pied, summary for 1997, 533 , Red-breasted, European news, 54 , Semi-coUared, European news, 54 , Spotted, effects of global climate change, 315 Food and feeding behaviour: Great Crested Grebe, 199; Cory’s Shearwater, 231-2; White Stork, 195, 281; Mandarin Duck, 327; MaOard, 327; Common Kestrel, 327; Fanner Falcon, 283; Red-legged Partridge, 330; Moorhen, 234; Long-tailed Skua, 235; Lesser Black-backed Gull, 199; Kittiwake, 199; Collared Dove, 200; Syrian Woodpecker, 378; Robin, 378-9; Redwing, 286; Blackcap, 201; Lesser Whitethroat, 236-7; Long-tailed Tit, 286-9; Great Grey Shrike, 327; Rook, 64, 329-30; Carrion Crow, 380; Common Starling, 330; Tree Sparrow, 142; Chaffinch, 64; Greenfinch, 143-4; Common Redpoll, 240; Bullfinch, 143-4 Forsman, Dick, see Sliirihai, Hadoram, et al. Fratercula arctica, see Puffin, Atlantic Eregata and, see Frigatebird, Lesser sp., see Frigatebird sp. Frigatebird, Lesser, European news, 242 , sp., European news, 242; accepted record, 461 EiingUIa coelebs, see Chaffinch 590 Index to volume 91 montifringilla, see Brambling From the Rarities Committee’s files: a report of Long-toed Stint on Soutli Uist, 180-4, plates 50-5 Fidica aim, see Coot, Common Fulmar, display in presence of Great Skua, 280; summar\' for 1997, 532 Fiilmanis glacialis, see Fulmar Gadwall, European news, 41 Gallinago gallinago, see Snipe, Common media, see Snipe, Great megala, see Snipe, Swinhoe’s chbrapus, see Moorhen Gallinule, Allen’s, European news, 43-4 Gannet, Northern, European news, 39; effects of global climate change, 3 1 4; summary’ for 1997, 532 Garganey, European news, 243; British breeding records in 1995, 425 Gamer, Martin, short review, 299 Garr, J. J., reaction of Common Greenshanks and Eurasian Curlew to Grey Squirrel, 140 Gamdus glandarius, see Jay, Eurasian Gaultier, Thieny, European news, 38-57 Gavia adamsii, see Diver, VC'hite-billed immer, see Di\-er, Great Northern stellaia, see Diver, Red-throated Geister, Iztok, European news, 241-53 Georgieva, Ursula, see Milchev, Bojan Geoddypis irichas, see Yellowthroat, Common Geronticiis eremiia, see Ibis, Bald Gibbons, David W., see Wotton, Simon, et at. Gildi, Roberto, fanner Falcon robbing Black Kite, 283 Gillmor, Robert, see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Gilmartin, Markas A. T., and Gilmartin, Caroline R., feeding behaviour of Long- tailed Skua outside breeding season, 235 Glareola maldivamm, see Pratincole, Oriental nordmanni, see Pratincole, Black-winged pralincola, see Pratincole, Collared Glaucidium passerinum, see Owl, Pygmy Glover, Bob, photograph of Eurasian Wigeon, 1 79, plate 49 Glue, Dav’id, peanuts as a winter food source for Long-tailed Tits, 287-9 Godwit, Bar-tailed, effects of global climate change, 315 , Black-tailed, British breeding records in 1995, 436-7 Goldcrest, European news, 53; effects of global climate change, 312; summary for 1997, 534 Goldeneye, Bamow’s, European news, 42 , Common, effects of global climate change, 309; British breeding records in 1995, 427-8 Goldfinch, summary for 1 997, 537 Gooden, Peter, letter on the best-watched site in tlie UK, 376 Goosander, European news, 42; summaiy for 1997, 526 Goose, Bar-headed, European news, 40 , Barnacle, European news, 40, 242; effects of global climate change, 3 1 9 , Bean, European news, 40 Brent, European news, 40, 242; accepted records of B. b. nigricans, 464; status in northwest Yakutia 565-72, plates 163-6 , Canada, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7; European news, 40, 242 , Egyptian, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7; successful hybridisation witlr Ruddy Shelduck, 281-2; effects of global climate change, 313, 318 , Greylag, European news, 242 , Lesser White-fronted, accepted record, 463-4 , Pink-footed, effects of global climate change, 319 , Red-breasted, European news, 40; accepted records, 464 , Wliite-fronted, effects of global climate change, 319 Gorbair, Igor, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Gorman, Gerard, Syrian Woodpecker using wall crevice as ‘anvil’, 378 Goshawk, Northern, British breeding records in 1995, 431 Grebe, Black-necked, photograph, 71, plate 7; British breeding records in 1995, 422 , Great Crested, European news, 38; flycatching, 199 , Little, nests preyed on by Moorhen, 234 , Pied-billed, European news, 38, 241; British summering record in 1995, 421; accepted records, 459, 483, plate 116 , Red-necked, effects of global climate change, 317; British breeding records in 1995, 421 , Slavonian, European news, 38; effects of global climate change, 318; British breeding records in 1995, 421-2 Greenfinch, eating Dandelion seeds, 143-4; European news, 252; summaiy for 1997, 537 Greenshank, reaction to Grey Squirrel, 140; conservation research news, 186; European news, 247; effects of global climate change, 313, 318; summary for 1997, 533 Greenwood, J. J. D., letter on declines in bird populations, 574-5 , , see Sharrock, J. 17 R„ el al. Grenfell, Howard E., photograph of Common Pochard, 1 56, plate 42 Grice, Philip V., see Wotton, Simon, et al. Grosbeak, Yellow-billed, European news, 55 Index to volume 91 591 Gms gnis, see Crane, Common Guillemot, Brunnich’s, accepted record, 496 , Common, European news, 48; effects of global climate change, 314 Gull, Audouin’s, European news, 47, 247-8 , Black-headed, European news, 47; trapped birds killed by Great Cormorant, 109; effects of global climate change, 313; melanistic birds, 561-3; reaction of other birds to melanistic individual, 561 , Bonaparte’s, European news, 47, 247; accepted records, 479 , Common, mystery photograph 211, 90- 92, plate 10 , Franklin’s, European news, 247; accepted record, 478-9 , Glaucous, European news, 48 , Great Black-headed, European news, 47, 247 , Herring, European news, 248; accepted records of L. a. smithsonianus, 479 , Iceland, European news, 48; accepted records of L. g. kumlieni, 48 1 , Ivor>', European news, 48; photographs, 407, plates 104-5; accepted records, 481, plate 112 , Laughing, European news, 47, 247; accepted records, 478 , Lesser Black-backed, variation and occurrence of intermedins in southern England, 60-2; apparently picking up and dropping Live Stoat, 1 99 , Little, European news, 247 , Mediterranean, European news, 47, 247; effects of global climate change, 317; British breeding records in 1995, 438 , Ring-billed, European news, 47-8, 248; mystery photograph 211, 90-2, plates 11- 12; accepted record, 479 , Ross’s, European news, 48; accepted records, 481 , Sabine’s, European news, 47, 247; in western France and southern Britain, 386- 97, 582, plates 100-1; summary for 1997, 532-3 , Slender-billed, European news, 47, 247 , Yellow-legged, European news, 48, 248; British breeding records in 1995, 430 Gustamente, L., see Bertolero, Albert, el al. Gustin, Marco, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Gutierrez, Ricard, Little Bittern’s reaction to attack by Great Reed Warbler, 232-3 Gypaetus barbatus, see Lammergeier Gyps fidvus, see Vulture, Griffon Haetnatopiis ostralegus, see Oystercatcher, Eurasian Haliaeetus leucocephalns, see Eagle, Bald albicilla, see Eagle, White-tailed HaUam, N. J., melanistic Black-headed Gulls, 561 Halley, D. J., Golden and White-tailed Eagles in Scotland and Norway: coexistence, competition and environmental degradation, 171-9, plates 46-8 Handrinos, George I., European news, 38-57, 241-53 Harding, M. A., photograph of Northern Wheatear, 75, plate 9 Harrier, Hen, conser\^ation research news, 36- 7; European news, 43; breeding success on English grouse moors, 107-8; breeding with Pallid Harrier in 1995, 430; summary for 1997, 531 , Marsh, breeding in the United Kingdom, 1983-95, 210-8; British breeding records in 1995, 430 , Montagu’s, European news, 43; British breeding records in 1995, 430-1 , Pallid, European news, 244; breeding with Hen Harrier in 1995, 430 Harriman, J., photograph of Olive-backed Pipit, 488, plate 131; of Thrush Nightingale, 489, plate 135 Harris, Alan, see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Harrop, A. H. J., female Aythya hybrid resembling Lesser Scaup, 195-7; successful hybridisation between Ruddy Shelduck and Egyptian Goose, 281-2 Harrup, Brian, wintering Blackcaps taking nectar from, and probably pollinating, Aiahonia, 201 Hart, Alan S., et al., Red-throated Diver feeding young in October, 23 1 Helbig, Andreas J., see Clement, Peter Hellyer, Peter, letter on Cattle Egrets using roads for nawgation, 290-1 Hemsley, Darren, Whooper Swan with white bill-base, 233 Henery, Paul, winner, Bird Illustrator of the Year 1998, 263-8 Heron, Great Blue, European news, 242 , Grey, European news, 39, 56, plate 4 , Night, on Schedule 9 of the WUdlife & Countryside Act, 7; accepted records, 462 , Squacco, accepted records, 462, 485, plate 121 Hieraaetus fasciatus, see Eagle, Bonelli’s pennatiis, see Eagle, Booted Himantopus himantopus, see Stilt, Black- winged Hippolais caligaia, see Warbler, Booted ictemia, see Warbler, Icterine pallida, see Warbler, Olivaceous polyglotta, see Warbler, Melodious Hirschfeld, Erik, and Stawarczyk, Tadeusz, White Stork with Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in bill, 281 592 Index to volume 91 Hmindo daurica, see Swallow, Red-rumped pyrrfionola, see Swallow, Cliff Hisirionicus hislrioniais, see Duck, Harlequin Hobby, British breeding records in 1995, 431-2 Hoi, Herbert, see Valera, Francisco, et al. Holden, Peter, see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Hollom, P. A. D., review of Hagemeijer & Blair: The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds, 254-5 Holloway, John, reaction of other birds to melanistic Black-headed Gull, 561 Holman, David, short review, 157 Holmes, John, el al., The British List: new categories and their relevance to conser\’ation, 2-1 1 Honey-buzzard, European, British breeding records in 1995, 428 , Oriental, European news, 42 Hoopoe, European news, 49, 249; effects of global climate change, 310, 317; summarv’ for 1997, 527, 531 Hopbptenis spimstis, see lapwing. Spur-winged Hosey, Geoff, and Jacques, Marie, Lesser Black-backed Gull apparendy picking up and dropping li\'e Stoat, 1 99 Hosking, David, see Sharrock, J. T. R., el al. Hughes, Baz, el al.. Ruddy Ducks breeding in the United Kingdom in 1994, 336-53, plates 96-7 Hughes, Julian, short review’s, 335, 385 Hulme, Mark, photographs of Ruddy Duck, 343, plates 96-7 Hume, R. A., see Sharrock, J. 4'. R., et al. Hunnybun, Martin, winner, Carl Zeiss Aw'ard 1998, 406-8, plates 102-3 Hunter, J. S. A., Bullfinches, Greenfinches and Dandelions, 143-4 Hutchinson, Clive, obituarx’, 269-70, plate 87 Hybrid waterfow'l, 195-7; 281-2; 573-4 Hydrohales pelagicus, see Storm-petrel, European Hypocoliiis ampelimis, see Hypocolius, Grey Hypocolius, Grey, European news, 5 1 lankov, Petar, Eluropean news, 38-57, 241-53 Ibis, Bald, European new's, 242 , Glossy, European new's, 40; accepted records, 463 , Sacred, European news, 40 IcteiTAS galbida, see Oriole, Baltimore Ishii, T., photograph of Asian Dowitcher, 100, plate 26 Ixobiychus miniiius, see Bittern, Litde Jabekk, Runar, European news, 241-53 Jackdaw, Daurian, European news, 54 , Eurasian, European news, 54 Jackson, Bill, photograph of Greenish Warbler, 493, plate 145 Jacques, Marie, see Hosey, Geoff James, R. M. R., Common Redshanks using trees as high-water roost, 1 39 Jardine, David J., see Hart, Alan S., et al. Jay, Eurasian, summaiy for 1997, 528 Jensen, Jens-Kjeld, photograph of Greenish Warbler, 56, plate 3 Jew'itt, Colin, see Hart, Alan S., et al. Jiguet, Frederic, photographs of Sabine’s Gull, 392, plates 100-1 Jones, Carl G., short review, 157 Jones, Maurice, Eurasian Sparrowhawk entering building, 282 Jones, Philip, photograph of Yellow'-billed Cuckoo, 293, plate 91 Joyce, Brendan, letter on grants for conserx’ation, 290 jfunco hyemalis, see Junco, Dark-eyed Junco, Dark-eyed, European news, 56; accepted record, 5 1 3 Jynx lorquilla, see Wryneck Kestrel, Common, hunting insects by artificial light, 327 Kington, Brian L., juvenile Lesser Whitethroat eating cooking fat, peanuts and seeds, 236-7 Kite, Black, European new's, 42, 243; robbed by Lanner Falcon, 283; effects of global climate change, 310, 317; accepted records, 470, 484, plate 117 , Black-shouldered, European new’s, 42, 243 , Red, European news, 42, 243; ‘playing’ with newspaper, 233-4; British breeding records in 1 995, 428-9 , Swallow'-tailed, European new's, 243-4, plates 84-5 Kittiwake, letter on predation by Great Skua, 1 1 0; flycatching, 1 99 Klimpins, Viesturs, photograph of Great White Egret and Grey Heron, 56, plate 4 Knot, Great, European news, 45 , Red, effects of global climate change, 315 Kralj, Jelena, European new's, 38-57, 241-53 Kurlavicius, Petras, European new's, 38-57, 241-53 Lafontaine, Rene-Marie, European news, 38- 57, 241-53 Ijxgopus minus, see Ptarmigan Lammergeier, European news, 42-3 Landsman, Iain, 2nd place, Carl Zeiss Award 1998, 406-8, plates 104-5 Lane, Mike, photograph of Tree Sparrow, 135, plate 34 Uuiius collurio, see Shrike, Red-backed e.xaibitor, sec Shrike, Great Grey Index to volume 91 593 isabellimis, see Slirike, Isabelline meridionalis, see Shrike, Southern Grey minor, see Shrike, Lesser Grey senator, see Shrike, Woodchat Lansdown, Peter, mystery photographs 210. Syrian and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 58-9, plates 5-6; 211. Common and Ring- billed Gulls, 90-2, plates 10-12; 212. Dalmatian and White Pelicans, 159-60, plates 43-4; 213. House and Spanish Sparrows, 192-4, plates 65-9; 214. Yellow- billed and Black-billed Cuckoos, 292-4, plates 91-3; review of Morgan & Shirihai; Passerines and Passerine Aiigration in Eilat 1984-1993, 334 , , see Bradshaw, Cohn Lappo, E., see Syroechkovski, E. E., et al. Lapwing, Northern, European news, 45 , Sociable, European news, 45, 245 , Spur-winged, photograph, 486, plate 124 , White-tailed, European news, 45, 245-6; accepted record, 473 Lark, Bimaculated, European news, 50 , Calandra, European news, 50; accepted records, 487, 497-8, plate 130 , Hoopoe, European news, 50 , Homed, European news, 249; effects of global climate change, 318; summary for 1997, 527-8, 538 , Short-toed, European news, 50, 249 , Sky, European news, 50; using Rape fields in east Scotland, 144-5; effects of global climate change, 313-14 , Wood, British breeding records in 1995, 439-40 Lams argentatus, see Gull, Herring atricilla, see GuU, Laughing audouinii, see GuU, Audouin’s cachinnans, see GuU, YeUow-legged canus, see GuU, Common delazoarensis, see GuU, Ring-billed fiiscus, see GuU, Lesser Black-backed gettei, see GuU, Slender-bUled glaucoides, see GuU, Iceland hyperborens, see GuU, Glaucous ichthyaetus, see GuU, Great Black-headed melanocephalus, see GuU, Mediterranean minutus, see GuU, Little Philadelphia, see GuU, Bonaparte’s pipixcan, see GuU, Erankhn’s ridibundus, see GuU, Black-headed sabini, see GuU, Sabine’s Leach, Iain H., photograph of Redhead, 151, plates 38-40; 3rd place, Carl Zeiss Award 1998, photographs of Semipalmated Plover, 406-8, plates 106-9; photograph of Lesser Scaup, 468, plate 111; of Blue-winged Teal, 483, plate 113; of Red-footed Falcon, 484, plates 118-20; of Litde Crake, 485, plate 122; of Western Sandpiper, 486, plate 125; of Stilt Sandpiper, 486, plate 127; of Red-throated Pipit, 488, plate 132; of Collared Flycatcher, 492, plate 146; of Rosy StarUng, 493, plate 149; of BlackpoU Warbler, 494, plate 151; of Ring-necked Duck, 535, plate 157; of Dotterel, 535, plate 158 Leptoptilos cmmenifems, see Stork, Marabou LUleleht, VUju, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Limicola falcinellus, see Sandpiper, Broad- bUled Limnodromus griseus, see Dowitcher, Short- biUed scolopaceus, see Dowitcher, Long-billed scolopaceus! griseus, see Dowdtcher, Long- biUed/Short-bUled semipalmatus, see Dowitcher, Asian Liniosa lapponica, see Godwit, Bar-taUed liniosa, see Godwit, Black-taUed Lindroos, Tom, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Linnet, effects of global cUmate change, 314; summary for 1997, 537 Lock, Leigh, and Cook, Kevin, The Little Egret in Britain: a successful colonist, 273- 80, plates 89-90 Locustella certhiola, see Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper fluviatilis, see Warbler, River lanceolata, see Warbler, Lanceolated luscinioides, see Warbler, Sari’s naevia, see Warbler, Grasshopper Longspur, Lapland, European news, 56, 252; effects of global climate change, 318; British summering record in 1 995, 446 Lontkowski, J., photograph of Association of European Rarities Committees, 72, plate 8 Looking back: 11; 109; 123; 207; 218; 270; 325; 397; 447; 521; 539 Lophodytes cucidlatus, see Merganser, Hooded Lophura nycthemera, see Pheasant, SUver Lorek, Grzegorz, see Tryjanowski, Piotr Lorenzo, Juan Antonio, European news, 38- 57, 241-53 Loseby, Tim, photograph of Dalmatian PeUcan, 159, plate 43 Loxia curvirostra, see Crossbill, Common leu cop tern, see CrossbUl, Two-barred pytyopsittacus, see CrossbUl, Parrot Lidlula arborea, see Lark, Wood Liiscinia calliope, see Rubythroat, Siberian luscinia, see Nightingale, Thrush megarhynchos, see Nightingale, Rufous svecica, see Bluethroat Magpie, clinging to back of mtting Red Deer stag, 63; fighting birds surrounded by others watching, 142; effects of global climate change, 312; flight, 380 594 Index to volume 91 Mag\'ar, Gabor, European news, 38-57, 241- 53 Mallard, diving for acorns, 327 Marchant, John, European news, 38-57, 241- 53 , , see Holmes, John, et al. iMannaronetta angustiwstris, see Teal, Marbled Marr, B. A. E., see Sharrock, J. T. R., el al. Marsh, Brian, Misde Thrush alighting on and taking off from water, 236 Martin, Crag, European news, 50, 249 , Plain, European news, 249 Mather, John R., Razorbills with greyish flanks, 328-9, plate 95 Matthews, John, see Yates, George McAlone, Derek, trapped Black-headed Gulls killed by Great Cormorant, 109 McDonnell, M., photograph of Redhead, 151, plate 37 McGeehan, Anthony, see Nightingale, Barry McMahon, Sara, anting behaHour of Rooks, 289 Mead, Chris, letter on abnormal song of Robin, 110-11 Melanitta fusca, see Scoter, Velvet nigra, see Scoter, Common perspicillata, see Scoter, Surf Melanocorypha biniaculaia, see Lark, Bimaculated calandra, see Lark, Calandra Melopsittaais nndulalus, see Budgerigar Merganser, Hooded, European news, 42 Mergellns albellus, see Smew Alergus merganser, see Goosander Merlin, conservation research news, 405 Meme, Oscar J., diving behaviour of Cory’s Shearwater, 231-2 Merops apiaster, see Bee-eater, European SHperciliosus, see Bee-eater, Blue- cheeked Messenger, Anthony, Carrion Crow devouring Common Toad, 380 Mettam, Ann, photograph of Razorbill, 329, plate 95 Micevski, Branko, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Micropalama hirnantopus, see Sandpiper, Stilt Milchev, Bojan, and Georgieva, Ursula, long- distance vagrancy of Ptarmigan, 1 98 Miliaria calandra, see Bunting, Com Miller, J., Monthly marathon credit, 75 Mills, Richard T., photograph of Clive Hutchinson, 269, plate 87 Milne, Paul, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Milvns niigrans, see Kite, Black niilvus, see Kite, Red Minms polyglotlos, see Mockingbird, Northern Mitchell, Barry, photograph of Ring-billed Gull, 92, plate 12 Mitchell, Dominic, letter on the report of the Rarities Committee, 112-13 Mniotilta varia, see Warbler, Black-and-white Mockingbird, Northern, letter on juvenile plumage, 110 Money, Ngil, letter on cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets, 291 Monthly marathon: 9: 18, plate 9; 9: 19, plate 30; 9: 20, plate 42; 9: 21, plate 49; 10: 3, plate 79; 10: 4, plate 88; 10: 5, plate 94; 10: 6, plate 99; 10: 7, plate 110; 10: 8, plate 155; 10: 9, plate 168 Monticola saxalilis, see Thrush, Rock solilarius, see Thrush, Blue Rock Moore, Derek, see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Moorhen, preying on nests of Little Grebe and Common Coot, 234 Moorhouse, Ian D., letter on death of ornithology', 330 Morris, A. & E., photograph of Short-billed Dowitcher, 98, plate 19 Morris, P. I., Mandarin Ducks and Mallards diving for acorns, 327 Morrison, Stephen, all dark petrels in the North Atlantic, 540-60 Morton, J. I. R., photograph of SnovvA,' Owl, 496, plate 153 Morns bassanus, see Gannet, Northern Moss, Stephen, predictions of the effects of global climate change on Britain’s birds, 307-25 Motacilla alba, see Wagtail, Pied citreola, see Wagtail, Citrine Jlava, see Wagtail, Yellow Munns, R. P. D., short review, 299 Muscicapa striata, see Flycatcher, Spotted Musgrave, Tessa, photograph of Sheila Cobban, 520, plate 155 Myiopsitta monachns, see Parakeet, Monk Mystery photographs: 210. 58-9, plates 5-6; 211. 90-2, plates 10-12; 212. 159-60, plates 43-4; 213. 192-4, plates 65-9; 214. 292-4, plates 91-3 Neophron percnoptems, see Vulture, Egyptian New to Britain and Ireland: Redhead, 149-54, plates 37-40; Spectacled Warbler, 225-30, plates 80-1 Newell, Dick, review of Blaxter: Seabirds in the Marine Environment, 334 Newman, Philip, 3rd place. Bird Photograph of tile Year 1998, of Black Grouse, 222, plate 75; photograph of Dipper, 222, plate 76 News and comment, 69-74; 115-19; 161-3; 203-7; 259-61; 300-5; 355-9; 398-401; 540-3; 518-21; 577-9 Newton, Ian, review of Treleaven: In Pursnit of the Peregrine, 564 Index to volume 91 595 Nightingale, Barry, review of Grover & Goodrich: Leicestershire Garden Birds, 65; of Burton: RSPB Birdfeeder Garden, 253 > 5 and Allsopp, Keith, the ornithological year 1997, 526-39, plates 157-62 5 5 and McGeehan, Anthony, recent reports, see Recent reports Nightingale, Rufous, accepted record of L. m. africatiaJhafizi, 501 , Thrush, European news, 51, 250; effects of global climate change, 317; accepted records, 489, 501, plate 134 Nightjar, Eurasian, effects of global climate change, 314 , Red-necked, European news, 49 Nikiforov, Michael E., European news, 38-57, 241-53 Nucifraga caryocalactes, see Nutcracker Nuijen, H., Chaffinches feeding on Rowan seeds, 64 Nnmenius arquata, see Curlew, Eurasian rninutus, see Curlew, Litde phaeopns, see Whimbrel tenuirostris, see Curlew, Slender-billed Nutcracker, European news, 54, 252 Nuthatch, European, effects of global climate change, 314 Nyctea scandiaca, see Owl, Snowy Nycticorax nycticorax, see Heron, Night Obituaries: Colin Tubbs, 155-6, plate 41; Clive Hutchinson, 269-70, plate 87; David Scott, 301; Herbert Bruns, 357; Ernest Ian Appleyard, 400; Valerie Thom, 520 Oceaniles oceanicus, see Storm-petrel, Wilson’s Oceanodroma leucorhoa, see Storm-petrel, Leach’s monorhis, see Storm-petrel, Swinhoe’s Oenanthe deserti, see Wheatear, Desert hispanica, see Wheatear, Black-eared isabellina, see Wheatear, Isabelline oenanthe, see Wheatear, Northern pleschanka, see Wheatear, Pied xanthopryrnna, see Wheatear, Red-tailed Ogilvie, Malcolm, review of Shawyer: The Bam Old, 335; short review, 416 , , and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1995, 417-47 O’Halloran, John, and Sharrock, J. T. R., obituary of Clive Hutchinson, 269-70, plate 87 Oliver, P. J., review of Mitchell: Where to Watch Birds in the London Area, 114 Orchard, M. J, presumed melanistic Black- headed Gull, 561-2 Oriole, Baltimore, European news, 56 , Golden, effects of global climate change. 308, 313, 316; British breeding records in 1995, 444-5; nest robbed, 450-1 Oriolns oriolus, see Oriole, Golden Osprey, effects of global climate change, 323; British breeding records in 1 995, 43 1 Otis tarda, see Bustard, Great Otus scops, see Owl, Eurasian Scops Ouzel, Ring, conservation research news, 271 Owl, Barn, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7; European news, 249 , Eagle, European news, 49, 249 , Eurasian Scops, accepted record, 496 , Great Grey, European news, 249 , Hawk, European news, 49 , Long-eared, summary for 1997, 531 , Pygmy, European news, 49 , Short-eared, European news, 49 , Snowy, effects of global climate change, 309, 318; accepted records, 496, plate 153 , Tengmalm’s, European news, 49, 249 Oxyura jamaicensis, see Duck, Ruddy leucocephala, see Duck, White-headed Oystercatcher, Eurasian, European news, 245; effects of global climate change, 312 Pagophila ebumea, see Gull, Ivory Palmer, Phil, display of Fulmar in presence of Great Skua, 280 Pandion haliaetus, see Osprey Panums biarmicus, see Tit, Bearded Parakeet, Monk, European news, 249 , Rose-ringed, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7; European news, 248; effects of global climate change, 313, 318; summary for 1997, 533 Parkes, Kenneth C., letter on juvenile plumage of Northern Mockingbird, 110 Parkin, David T., review of Snow & Perrins: The Birds of the Western Palearctic: Concise Edition, 256-7 , , see Holmes, John, et al. Partridge, Chukar, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7 , Grey, European news, 43; effects of global climate change, 314 , Red-legged, collecting insects from parked vehicles, 330 , Rock, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7 Pamla americana, see Parula, Northern Parula, Northern, European news, 55 Pams caendeiis, see Tit, Blue cyanus, see Tit, Azure major, see Tit, Great paliistns, see Tit, Marsh Passer domesticus, see Sparrow, House hispanioknsis, see Sparrow, Spanish montanus, see Sparrow, Tree Passerina cyanea, see Bunting, Indigo 596 Index to volume 91 Patient, Simon, winner, Richard Richardson Award, 1998, 263-8 Pattinson, Jim, photograph of Pied-billed Grebe, 483, plate 116; of Desert Wheatear, 490, plate 140 Peacock, R. W., Rooks feeding inside poultrx' huts, 329-30 Pearson, Bruce, see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Pelagodroma marina, see Storm-petrel, VC'hite- faced Pelecamis crispus, see Pelican, Dalmatian onocrotalus, see Pelican, White Pelican, Dalmatian, myster\' photograph 212, 159-60, plate 43; effects of global climate change, 308 , White, European news, 39; mystery photograph 212, 159-60, plate 44; record accepted in Category D, 5 1 5 Penhallurick, R. D, letter on the Cirl Bunting in Britain, 146-8 Pennie, Ian D., letter on Kittiwake versus Great Skua, 1 1 0 Pennington, M. G, another melanistic Black- headed Gull, 563 Perdix perdix, see Partridge, Grey Perez, Charles E., European news, 38-57, 241-53 Peiriis apivonis, see Honey-buzzard, European ptilorhyncHS, see Honey-buzzard, Oriental Petrel, Bulwer’s, European news, 38; occurrence in the North Atlantic, 540-60 , Madeira/Cape Verde, European news, 241; accepted records, 460; occurrence in North Atlantic, 540-60 , Soft-plumaged superspecies, European news, 38 Petursson, Gunnlauger, European news, 38- 57, 241-53 Phalacrocorax arislotelis, see Shag auritus, see Cormorant, Double-crested carbo, see Cormorant, Great pygtneus, see Cormorant, Pygmy Phalan, Ben, senior winner, Young Ornithologists of the Year 1998, 523-5 Phalarope, Grey, European news, 247 , Red-necked, photograph, 119, plate 30; effects of global climate change, 313, 318, 323; British breeding records in 1995, 437-8 , Wilson’s, European news, 47, 247; accepted records, 478 Phalaropus Julicarius, see Phalarope, Grey lobalns, see Phalarope, Red-necked tricolor, see Phalarope, Wilson’s Phasianus colchicus, see Pheasant, Common Pheasant, Common, effects of global climate change, 3 1 3 , Golden, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countr\’side Act, 7 , Lady Amherst’s, on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countn’side Act, 7 , Ree\'es’s, on Schedule 9 of the XX’ildlife & Country-side Act, 7 , Silver, -on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 7 Philomachiis piignax, see Ruff Phoenicopiems minor, see Flamingo, Lesser ruber, see Flamingo, Greater Phoenicums anroreus, see Redstart, Daurian ochniros, see Redstart, Black phoenicums, see Redstart, Common Phylloscopus bonelli, see W’arbler, Western Bonelli’s borealis, see XX^arbler, Arctic brehmii, see Chiffehaff, Iberian canariensis, see Chiffehaff, Canary- Islands collybiia, see Chiffehaff, Common fuscalus, see Warbler, Dusky- Immei, see VC^arbler, Hume’s inornatus, see Warbler, Yellow-browed orienlalis, see Warbler, Eastern Bonelli’s proregulus, see Warbler, Pallas’s Leaf schzvarzi, see Warbler, Radde’s schzvarzUfuscatus, see VX’arbler, Radde’s/ Dusky- sindianus, see Chiffehaff, Mountain irochiloides, see Warbler, Greenish trochilus, see Warbler, Willow Pica pica, see Magpie Picus viridis, see Woodpecker, Green Pigeon, Wood, effects of global climate change, 313 Pintail, Northern, British breeding records in 1995, 424-5 Pipit, Blyth’s, European news, 50, 249 , Buff-bellied, European news, 50 , Meadow, using Rape fields in east Scotland, 144-5; effects of global climate change, 313 , Olive-backed, European news, 50, 249; accepted records, 488, 498, plate 131 , Pechora, European news, 50, 249; accepted records, 498-9 , Red-throated, accepted records, 488, 500, plate 1 32 , Richard’s, European news, 50, 249; summary for 1 997, 537 , Rock, European news, 249 , Tree, summary for 1997, 533 , Water, summary- for 1 997, 528 PJC Award, 263-8 Platalca Icucorodia, see Spoonbill, Eurasian Plectroplicnax nivalis, see Bunting, Snow Plegadis falcinellus, see Ibis, Glossv Plover, American Golden, Fiuropcan news, 44-5, 245; accepted records, 472-3 Index to volume 91 597 , American/Pacific Golden, European news, 45, 245; accepted records, 473 , Caspian, European news, 44 , Great Ringed, effects of global climate change, 311 , Greater Sand, European news, 44, 245 , Kentish, European news, 44; effects of global climate change, 317; summary for 1997, 532 , Killdeer, accepted records, 472 , Kittlitz’s, European news, 44, 245 , Lesser Sand, European news, 245; accepted in Category A, 522 , Litde Ringed, European news, 44 , Pacific Golden, European news, 45, 245; conservation research news, 188; accepted record, 473 , Semipalmated, European news, 44; accepted record, 472 Pliivialis dominica, see Plover, American Golden dominical fidva, see Plover, American/ Pacific Golden fidva, see Plover, Pacific Golden Pochard, Common, photograph, 156, plate 42; British breeding records in 1995, 425-6 Podiceps awittis, see Grebe, Slavonian crisiatiis, see Grebe, Great Crested grisegetia, see Grebe, Red-necked nigncollis, see Grebe, Black-necked Podilymbiis podiceps, see Grebe, Pied-billed Polysticta stelleri, see Eider, SteDer’s Population decline in birds, letter, 574-5 Porphyrio poiphyrio, see Swamp-hen, Purple Porphynila alleni, see Gallinule, Allen’s Porzana marginalis, see Crake, Striped parva, see Crake, Little porzana, see Crake, Spotted piisilla, see Crake, Baillon’s Pratincole, Black-winged, European news, 44, 245; accepted records, 472 , Collared, European news, 245; accepted records, 472, 485, plate 123 , Oriental, European news, 245 Pratt, Norman, and Wiseman, Eddie, obimary of Colin Tubbs, 155-6, plate 41 Price, Anthony, junior winner. Young Ornithologists of the Year 1998, 523-5 Prowse, Alan, letter on Dippers’ Twitch, 146 Prunella alrogularis, see Accentor, Black- tliroated collaris, see Accentor, Alpine modularis, see Accentor, Hedge Psittacula krarneri, see Parakeet, Rose-ringed Ptarmigan, long-distance vagrancy, 198; effects of global climate change, 313, 318 Pterodroma madeiralfeae, see Petrel, Madeira/ Cape Verde madeira! mollis! feae, see Petrel, Soft- plumaged superspecies Ptyonoprogne nipestris, see Martin, Crag Puffin, Atlantic, effects of global climate change, 311, 314 Pujfinus assimilis, see Shearwater, Little gravis, see Shearwater, Great griseus, see Shearwater, Sooty mauretanicus, see Shearwater, Balearic mauretanicus! yelkouan, see Shearwater, Balearic/Levantine puffinus, see Shearwater, Manx Pyrrhocorax pynhocorax, see Chough, Red- biUed Pyrrhula pynhula, see Bullfinch, Common Quad, Common, British breeding records in 1995, 432-3 Radford, A. P., Magpie clinging to back of rutting Red Deer stag, 63; Collared Doves feeding from fresh Rabbit carcase, 200; murmuring calls of young Common Ravens, 381 Rae, Robert, see Watson, Adam Rail, Water, imitated by Savi’s Warbler, 200-1 Rallus aquations, see Rail, Water Ramvik, L., photograph of Golden and White-tailed Eagles, 175, plate 46 Randier, Christoph, letter on hybrid waterfowl, 573-4 Rarities Committee, news and announce- ments, 121-3, plate 31; recent decisions, 76; 120; 164; 208; 262; 306; 360; 402; 454; 522; 581; letter on report, 112-113; report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1997, 455- 517, plates 1 11-153 Rasmussen, Brian, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Raven, Common, European news, 252; murmuring calls of young, 381 Razorbill, European news, 248; with greyish flanks, 328-9, plate 95 Recent reports: 76; 120; 164; 208; 262; 306; 360; 402; 454; 522; 581 Recurvirostra avosetta, see Avocet Redhead, European news, 41; in Nottinghamshire: new to Britain and Ireland, 149-54, plates 37-40; accepted record, 467, 469 Redman, Nigel, review of Harrison et al:. The Atlas of Southern African Birds, 189; new member of Editorial Board, 209 Redpoll, Arctic, European news, 55; accepted records, 512 , Common, European news, 55; feeding on algae, 240 Redshank, Common, using trees as high-water roost, 139 , Spotted, summary for 1997, 529 598 Index to volume 91 Redstart, American, European news, 56 , Black, effects of global climate change, 308; British breeding records in 1995, 440-1 , Common, summar\' for 1997, 533 , Daurian, European news, 250 Redwing, taking flesh from dead Greenfinch, 286; effects of global climate change, 319; British breeding records in 1995, 441; summar\’ for 1997, 537 Regiilus ignicapilliis, see Firecrest reguliis, see Goldcrest Remiz penduliniis, see Tit, Penduline Reszeter, George, photographs of Lesser Scaup, 483, plate 114-115; of Squacco Heron, 485, plate 121; of Spur-winged Plover, 486, plate 124; of Red-rumped Swallow, 491, plate 143; of Hume’s Warbler, 492, plate 144; of Aquatic Warbler, 536, plate 161 Reviews Barlow' & Wacher: A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal, 333 Blaxter: Seabirds in the Aiarine Environment, 334 Burton: RSPB Birdjeeder Garden, 253 Chislett: Birds on the Spurn Peninsula, 295 Cleere: Nightjars: a guide to nightjars and related night birds, 564 del Hoyo et al.: Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 4, 295-6 Dunn & Garrett: A Field Guide to Warblers of North America, 1 14 Grover & Goodrich: Leicestershire Garden Birds, 65 Hagemeijer & Blair: The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds, 254-5 Harrison et al.: The Atlas of Southern African Birds, 189 Inskipp et al.: An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the Oriental Region, 296-7 Kanouchi et al.: A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan, 383 Kightley & Madge: Pocket Ginde to the Birds of Britain and North-West Europe, 297 Lefranc & Worfolk: Shrikes: a guide to the shrikes of the World, 65 Mitchell: Where to Watch Birds in the London Area, 114 Morgan & Shirihai: Passerines and Passerine Migration in Eilat 1984-1993, 334 Morrison: Rare Birds in Dorset, 297 Murray et al.: The Breeding Birds of South- east Scotland: a tetrad atlas 1988-1994, 383-4 Ogilvie & Young: Photographic Handbook of the Wildfowl of the World, 564 Pyle et al.: Identification Guide to North American Birds, part 1., 256 Shaw'yer: The Barn Ozul, 335 Shuker: From Flying Toads to Snakes zvith Wings, 189 Snow' & Perrins: The Birds of the Western Palearctic: concise edition, 256-7 Stastny et al.: Atlas Hnizdiho Rozsifent Ptakii V Ceske Republice 1985-1989, 291 Stattersfield et al.: Endemic Bird Areas of the World: priorities for biodiversity conservation, 384 Svingen & Dumrose: A Birder’s Guide to Idaho, 189 Treleaven: In Pursuit of the Peregiine, 564 Wells: World Bird Species Checklist: zvith alternative English and scientific names, 384 Short reviezvs: Baicich & Harrison, 299; Barnes, 335; Barre et al, 157; Brooks, 157; Dunn, 299; Gatter, 335; lankov, 157; Johnsgard, 157; Juniper & Pair, 257; King, 385; Mearns & Meams, 157-8; Monk, 158; Moss & Cottridge, 257; Oddie, 385; Palin, 299; Parry-Jones, 416; Paterson, 335; Pemberton, 158; Robertson, 385; Roman Sancho et al, 158; Sample, 335; Simpson & Day, 299; Todd, 416; Webster, 158; MCTiite, 385; Woods & Woods, 299 Rhodostethia rosea, see Gull, Ross’s Richard Richardson Aw'ard, 263-8 Richardson, Colin, letter on ‘the missing rarities’ in the United Arab Emirates, 111; photograph of Red-tailed Wheatear, 449, plate 1 1 0 Riera, X., see Bertolero, Albert, et al. Rikar(9sson, Rikan^ur, photographs of Palm Warbler, 56, plates 1-2 Riparia paludicola, see Martin, Plain Rissa tridactyla, see Kittiwake Robin, European news, 51; abnormal song, 110-111; effects of global climate change, 313, 319; feeding Hedge Accentor in winter, 378-9 Robinson, D., photograph of Black-crowned Sparrow-lark, 326, plate 94 Rogers, M. J., White-rumped Sandpipers in Britain and Ireland, 283-5 5 5 and the Rarities Committee, report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1997, 455-517, plates 1 1 1-53 Roller, European, accepted records, 487, 497, plate 129 Rook, European news, 54; feeding inside station, 64; anting behaviour, 289; feeding inside poultr\' huts, 329-30 Roosting: Peregrine Falcon, 197-8; Common Redshank, 139; Common Chiffchaff, 286; Common Starling, 381 Rosefmch, Common, European news, 55, 252; effects of global climate change, 3 1 7; British breeding records in 1995, 446 Index to volume 91 599 , Pallas’s, European news, 55 'Rubythroat, Siberian, European news, 51, 250; accepted record, 489, 501, plate 135 IRuff, British breeding records in 1995, 436; summary for 1997, 529 1 Rumsey, Stephen, re\dew of Pyle et al:. Identifica- tion Guide to North Anmican Birds, pan 7., 256 Rynchops flavirostris, see Skimmer, African Sadler, A. E., European news, 38-57, 241-53 Safford, Roger, review of Cleere & Nurney: Nightjars: a guide to nightjars and related nightbirds, 564 Samraoui, B., White Storks wintering in northeast /dgeria, 377 Sanderling, effects of global climate change, 315 Sandpiper, Baird’s, European news, 246; accepted records, 475, 486, plate 126 , Broad-billed, European news, 46; accepted records, 475-6 , Buff-breasted, European news, 46, 246 , Common, summary for 1997, 529 , Green, European news, 247; summary for 1997, 529, 532 , Least, European news, 45, 246; photographs, 182, plates 50-5 , Marsh, European news, 46; accepted records, 476 , Pectoral, European news, 46, 246 , Purple, European news, 246; effects of global climate change, 318; British breeding records in 1995, 436 , Semipalmated, European news, 45, 246; photographs, 408, plates 106-9; accepted records, 473 , Sharp-tailed, European news, 246; accepted record, 475 , Solitary, European news, 46-7; accepted record, 477 , Spotted, European news, 47, 247; accepted records, 478 , Stilt, European news, 46; accepted records, 476, 486, plate 127 , Terek, European news, 47, 247; accepted records, 477 , Upland, European news, 46 , Western, conservation research news, 188; European news, 246; accepted records, 474, 486, plate 125 , White-rumped, European news, 45-6, 246; in Britain and Ireland, 283-5; accepted records, 474-5 , Wood, effects of global climate change, 309, 318; British breeding records in 1995, 437; summary for 1997, 529, 532 Saxicola nibetra, see Whinchat torquata, see Stonechat, Common Scaup, Greater, British summering records in 1995, 426; summary for 1997, 527 , Lesser, European news, 41, 243; resembled by female Aythya hybrid, 195-7, colour plate; accepted records, 467-8, 483, plates 111, 114-115 Schak-Neilsen, Leif, photograph of White Pelican, 159, plate 44 Schleicher, Brigitte, see Valera, Francisco, et al. Scoter, Common, European news, 42; effects of global climate change, 318; conservation research news, 405; British breeding records in 1995, 427 , Surf, European news, 42, 243 , Velvet, European news, 42 Scott, Ann, photograph of HRH Eon Samuel Ngum III and Bob Scott, 577, plate 167 Scott, Bob, short review, 416 , , see Dickson, Wendy Scott, David, obituary, 301 Scott, Derick, short review, 157 Scrub-robin, Rufous-tailed, European news, 51 Seiurus noveboracensis, see Waterthrush, Northern Serin, European, effects of global climate change, 308, 316-17; breeding records in 1995, 445; accepted records, 512 Serinus citnnella, see Finch, Citril serinus, see Serin, European Setophaga ruticilla, see Redstart, American Sevcik, Jan, White Stork fishing from the air, 195 Shackleton, Keith, see Sharrock, J. T. R., et al. Shag, European news, 39 Sharrock, J. T. R., photograph of the British Birds Rarities Committee, 121, plate 31; short reviews, 157-8, 257, 299, 385; review of Shuker: From Flying Toads to Snakes with Wings', 189; obituary' of David Scott, 301; photograph of the Bird Illustrator of the Year 1998 judges, 356, plate 98; Robin feeding Hedge Accentor in winter, 378-9; review of Murray et al.'. The Breeding Birds of South-east Scotland: a tetrad atlas 1988- 1994, 383-4; of Wells: World Bird Species Checklist: with alternative English and scientific names, 384 , , et al.. Bird Illustrator of the Year 1998, 263-8 , , et al.. Bird Photograph of the Year 1998, 219-24, plates 73-8 , , et al, ‘British Birds’ Best Annual Bird Report Awards, 1 85-7 , , et al.. Young Ornithologists of the Year 1998, 535-7 , , see O’Halloran, John Shearwater, Balearic, European news, 38 , Balearic/Levantine, European news, 38 , Cory’s, diving behaviour, 231-2; summary for 1997, 532-3 600 Index to volume 91 , Great, summar\' for 1997, 532-4 , Little, accepted records, 460 , Manx, summar\' for 1997, 532 , Sooty, European news, 241 Shelduck, Common, European news, 40, 242 , Ruddy, European news, 40, 242; successful hybridisation with Egyptian Goose, 281-2 Shirihai, Hadoram, European news, 38-57, 241-53 ) , et ai, field identification of large falcons in the West Palearctic, 12-35, colour plates Shrike, Great Grey, hunting insects by artificial light, 327 , Isabelline, European news, 54, 251; accepted records, 5 1 0 , Lesser Grey, European news, 251; accepted records, 5 1 0 , Red-backed, effects of global climate change, 309, 317; British summering record in 1995, 445; summary’ for 1997, 529 , Southern Grey, European news, 54, 251-2; accepted records, 511 , Woodchat, European news, 54 Shrubb, Michael, letter on the Girl Bunting in Britain, 331-2 Siskin, summaiy for 1997, 534, 537 Sitta europaea^ see Nuthatch, European Skinner, Neville, Common I'ems nesting on roofs in Suffolk, 140-1 Skua, Arctic, effects of global climate change, 318 , Great, letter on predation on Kittiwakes, 110; European news, 247; effects of global climate change, 3 1 4 , Long-tailed, European news, 47, 247; feeding behaviour outside breeding season, 235 , Pomarine, European news, 247; summary for 1997, 529 Slaymaker, Matthew, short review, 385 Small, Brian, colour plate of chiffchaffs, 373 Smart, John H., Common Swifts flying with lowered legs, 377-8 Smew, European news, 42; effects of global climate change, 319; summary for 1997, 526-7 Smith, Don, see Sharrock, J. 'P. R., et al. Snipe, Common, European news, 246; accepted record of G. g. delicata, 476 , Great, accepted records, 476 , Swinhoe’s, European news, 246 Somateria niollissirna, see Eider, Common spectabilis, see Eider, King Sorensen, Soren, European news, 38-57, 241- 53 Sparrow, House, mystery photograph 213, 192-4, plates 65, 67; reaction of female to displaying male, 238-40, plates 82-4; effects of global climate change, 3 1 3 , Pale Rock, European news, 54, 252 , Spanish, European news, 54; mystery photograph 213, 192-4, plates 66, 68; accepted record, 5 1 2 , Tree, European news, 54; Studies of West Palearctic birds, 124-38, 582, plates 32-6; feeding on elm seeds over protracted period, 142-3; effects of global climate change, 313-14 Sparrowhawk, Eurasian, entering building, 282 Sparrow-lark, Black-crowned, 326, plate 94 Spencer, K. G., unusual roosting sites of Common Starlings, 381 Spoonbill, Eurasian, European news, 40; British summering records in 1995, 423-4 Starling, Common, European news, 54; effects of global climate change, 313; collecting insects from parked vehicles, 330; unusual roosting sites, 381; summarv for 1997, 537 , Daurian, record accepted in Category D, 515 , Rosy, European news, 252; accepted records, 493, 511, plates 148-9 , Spotless, European news, 54 , White-shouldered, European news, 54 Sasmy, Karel, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Stawarezyk, 'Padeusz, European news, 241-53 , , see Hirschfeld, Erik Stercorarim btigicaudus, see Skua, Long-tailed parasiticus, see Skua, Arctic pomarifius, see Skua, Pomarine Sterna albifnms, see Tern, Little anaethetus, see Tern, Bridled bengalensis, see ITm, Lesser Crested caspia, see I'em, Caspian dougallii, see Tern, Roseate etegans, see- Tern, lilegant forsteri, see 'Pern, Imrster’s fuscata, see 'Pern, SooU’ fuscata! anaethetus, see Tern, Sooty/ Bridled Iiimndo, see ITm, Common maxima, see Tern, Royal nilotica, see 'Pern, Gull-billed sandvicensis, see Tern, Sandwich Stilt, Black-winged, European news, 44; British summering records in 1995, 434; accepted records, 471-2 Stint, Long-toed, a report of one on Soutli Uist, 180-4; European news, 246; accepted record, 474 , Red-necked, liuropean news, 246 , 'Pemminck’s, effects of global climate change, 318; British breeding records in 1995, 435-6 Index to volume 91 601 Stonechat, Common, European news, 51, 250; accepted records of 5. t. rnattral stejriegeri, 501-2 Stone-curlew, conservation research news, 187-8; British breeding records in 1995, 435; summan,' for 1997, 529 Stork, Black, European news, 39 , Marabou, European news, 40 , White, European news, 39-40; fishing from the air, 195; with Blue-cheeked Bee- eater in bill, 281; wintering in northeast Algeria, 377 Storm-petrel, European, European news, 38-9 , Leach’s, European news, 39, 241; summary for 1997, 534; possible occurrence of dark-rumped variant in North Atlantic, 540-60 , Swinhoe’s, occurrence in the North Atlantic, 540-60 , White-faced, European news, 241 , Wilson’s, European news, 241; accepted records, 460-1 Stott, Malcolm, Hen Harrier breeding success on English grouse moors, 107-8 Sireptopelia decaocto, see Dove, Collared orientalis, see Dove, Oriental Turtle senegalensis, see Dove, Laughing tHrtiir, see Dove, Turtle Strix nebtdosa, see Owl, Great Grey Stroud, David, see Holmes, John, et al. Studies of West Palearctic birds 197. Tree Sparrow, 124-38, plates 32-6 Stumus roseus, see Starling, Rosy sinensis, see Starling, White-shouldered stiiminus, see Starling, Daurian imicolor, see Starling, Spotless vulgaris, see Starling, Common Sultana, Joe, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Summers-Smith, J. Denis, Studies of West Palearctic Birds 197. Tree Sparrow, 124- 38, plates 32-6 Sumia idula, see Owl, Hawk Swallow, Cliff, European news, 50; accepted record, 498 , Red-rumped, accepted records, 491, 498, plate 143 Swamp-hen, Purple, European news, 44, 245 Swan, Tundra, effects of global climate change, 319; summary for 1997, 527 , Whooper, European news, 40; with white bill-base, 233; effects of global climate change, 318; British breeding records in 1995, 424; summary for 1997, 527 Swiff, Alpine, accepted records, 497, 499 , Chimney, European news, 249 , Common, European news, 49; flying with lowered legs, 377-8; summary for 1997, 532 , Little, European news, 49; photographs. 406, plates 102-3; accepted records, 497 , Pallid, European news, 49, 249; accepted record, 497 , White-rumped, European news, 49 Sylvia atricapilla, see Blackcap borin, see Warbler, Garden cantillans, see Warbler, Subalpine communis, see Whitethroat, Common conspicillata, see Warbler, Spectacled ciimica, see Whitethroat, Lesser deserticola, see Warbler, Tristram’s melanocephala, see Warbler, Sardinian nisoria, see Warbler, Barred rueppelli, see Warbler, Rtippell’s sarda, see Warbler, Marmora’s undata, see Warbler, Hartford Syrmaticus reevesii, see Pheasant, Reeves’s Syroechkovski, E. E., et al.. Status of Brent Goose in northwest Yakutia, East Siberia, 565-72, plates 163-6. Tachybaptus mficollis, see Grebe, Little Tachymarptis melba, see Swift, Alpine Tadorna ferruginea, see Shelduck, Ruddy tadorna, see Shelduck, Common Tarsiger cyanums, see Bluetail, Red-flanked Tate, Alan, photograph of Calandra Lark, 487, plate 130 Tchagra senegala, see Tchagra, Black-crowned Tchagra, Black-crowned, European news, 54 Teal, Baikal, European news, 242 , Blue-winged, European news, 41, 243; accepted records, 467, 483, plate 113 , Cinnamon, European news, 41 , Common, European news, 41, 242-3; accepted record of C. c. carolinensis, 466 , Marbled, European news, 41, 243 Tern, Black, European news, 248; summary^ for 1997, 529, 533, 536, plate 162 , Bridled, European news, 48 , Caspian, European news, 48, 248; aggressive behaviour towards herons, 285; accepted records, 482 , Common, nesting on roofs in Suffolk, 140-1 , Elegant, European news, 248 , Forster’s, European news, 48 , Gull-billed, European news, 48; accepted records, 481-2 , Lesser Crested, European news, 48, 248; hybridisation with Sandwich Tern in Valencia, Spain, and plumage of offspring, 165-70; breeding with Sandwich Tern in 1995, 438; accepted records, 482 , Little, effects of global climate change, 311; summary' for 1997, 531 , Roseate, European news, 48; British breeding records in 1995, 438-9 , Royal, European news, 48 602 Index to volume 91 5 Sandwich, European news, 48; hybridisation with Lesser Crested Tern in Valencia, Spain, and plumage of offspring, 165-70; breeding with Lesser Crested Tern in 1995, 438 , Sooty, accepted records, 483 , Sooty/Bridled, European news, 248 , Whiskered, European news, 48; accepted records, 480, 495 , ^X'hite-winged Black, European news, 48, 248; accepted records, 495 Telrao iirogallus, see Capercaillie Tetrax tetrax, see Bustard, Little Thevenot, Michel, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Thick-knee, Senegal, European news, 245 Thom, Valerie, obituary, 520 Thomas, Craig C., et ai. Spectacled Warbler in North Yorkshire: new to Britain and Ireland, 225-30, plates 80-1 Thorpe, Reg, short review, 335 Threskiomis aethiopiais, see Ibis, Sacred Thrush, Blue Rock, European news, 5 1 , Dark-throated, European news, 51, 250; accepted records, 491, 503, plate 141 , Dusky, European news, 51; accepted record, 503-4 , Eyebrowed, European news, 5 1 , Mistle, alighting on and taking off from water, 236; conservation research news, 271 , Rock, European news, 5 1 , Siberian, European news, 250 , Song, effects of global climate change, 319; conserv'ation research news, 271 , Swainson’s, European news, 5 1 , White’s, European news, 51; accepted record, 503 Tidman, Roger, Monthly marathon photograph credit, 1 1 9; photograph of Tree Sparrow, 135, plate 36; of Turtle Dove, 223, plate 77 Tit, Azure, European news, 54 , Bearded, European news, 54; imitated by Savi’s Warbler, 200-1 , Blue, nesting in standard bat-box with fatal results, 201-2; effects of global climate change, 313 , Great, deception by, 63; effects of global climate change, 312-13 , Long-tailed, feeding on peanuts, 286-7; peanuts as a winter food source, 287-9; effects of global climate change, 3 1 4 , Marsh, effects of global climate change, 314 , Penduline, juvenile parasitising another nest, 237-8; effects of global climate change, 317; accepted records, 510 Tringa erythropus, see Redshank, Spotted flavipes, see Yellowlegs, Lesser glareola, see Sandpiper, Wood melanokuca, see Yellowlegs, Greater nebiilaria, see Greenshank ochropus, see Sandpiper, Green solitaria, see Sandpiper, Solitarv' stag>iatilis, see Sandpiper, Marsh totanus, see Redshank, Common Trogbdytes troglodytes, see Wren Tryjanowski, Piotr, and Lorek, Grzegorz, Common Kestrels and Great Grey Shrike hunting insects by artificial light, 327 Tiyngites subruficollis, see Sandpiper, Buff- breasted Tubbs, Colin, obituarv^, 155-6, plate 41 Tubbs, Jenni, photograph of Colin Tubbs, 155, plate 41 Turdns iliaciis, see Redwing ttienda, see Blackbird trawnanni, see Thrush, Dusky obsaims, see Thrush, Eyebrowed phibtnelos, see Thrush, Song pibris, see Fieldfare mficollis, see 'Phrush, Dark-throated torquatiis, see Ouzel, Ring viscivoms, see Thrush, Mistle Tyrberg, Tommy, European news, 38-57, 241-53 Tyto alba, see Owl, Barn Underhill, Mark, see Hughes, Baz, et al. Underhill-Day, John, breeding Marsh Harriers in the United Kingdom, 1983-95, 210-18 United Arab Emirates, letter on rare-bird recording, 1 1 1 Upupa epops, see Hoopoe Uria aalge, see Guillemot, Common bmvia, see Guillemot, Briinnich’s Valera, Francisco, et al., juvenile Penduline Tit parasitising another nest, 237-8 van den Berg, Arnoud, European news, 38- 57, 241-53 van Swelm, Norman D., see de Knijff, Peter Vanellns gregarius, see Lapwing, Sociable kuctims, see Lapwing, W’hite-tailed vanellus, see Lapwing, Nortliem Vasic, Vojislav F., European news, 38-57, 241-53 Veery, European news, 51 Vennivora peregrina, see Warbler, 'Pennessee Vernon, Rae, letter on cliff-nesting Cattle Egrets, 291 Vinicombe, K. E„ review of Ogilvie & Young, Photographic Handbook of the Wildfowl of the World, 564 Vireo olivacens, sec Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed, European news, 54, 252; accepted records, 512 .Index to volume 91 603 Woice: Common Coot, 139; Robin, 110-111; Savi’s Warbler, 200-1; Common Raven, 381 ''Vulture, Egyptian, European news, 244; resurgence in western Pyrenees, and relationship with Griffon Vulmre, 409-16 5 Griffon, European news, 43, 244; relationship with Egyptian Vulture, 409-16 5 Monk, European news, 43 , Turkey, European news, 42 Wagtail, Citrine, European news, 50-1, 250; accepted records, 488, 500, plate 133 , Pied, sunning behaviour, 235-6 , Yellow, European news, 249-50; summary for 1997, 528 'Walford, James, photograph of Black-winged Stilts, 223, plate 78 'Walker, Brian, photograph of Black-billed Cuckoo, 293, plate 92 Warbler, Aquatic, European news, 52; accepted records, 505; summary for 1997, 533, 536, plate 162 , Arctic, European news, 251; accepted records, 507 , Barred, European news, 53 , Bay-breasted, European news, 56 , Black-and-white, European news, 55 , BlackpoU, European news, 56; accepted record, 494, 5 1 3, plate 1 5 1 , Black-throated Green, European news, 55 , Blyth’s Reed, European news, 52, 251; effects of global climate change, 317 , Booted, European news, 52; accepted records, 506 , Canada, European news, 56 , Cerulean, European news, 55 , Cetti’s, European news, 52; in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands in 1996, 77-89; effects of global climate change, 308, 314, 316; British breeding records in 1995, 441-2; summary for 1997, 528 , Dartford, European news, 52, 251; effects of global climate change, 314, 323; British breeding records in 1 995, 443-4 , Dusky, European news, 251; accepted records, 509 , Eastern Bonelli’s, European news, 53; accepted record, 509 , Garden, effects of global climate change, 315; summary for 1997, 533 , Grasshopper, European news, 250 , Great Reed, attacking Little Bittern, 232-3; effects of global climate change, 317; British summering records in 1995, 443; accepted records, 491, 506, plate 142 — , Greenish, European news, 53, 56, plate 3; effects of global climate change, 317; accepted records, 492, 507, plate 145 — , Hume’s, European news, 53, 251; accepted records, 492, 507-8, plate 144 — , Icterine, photograph, 191, plate 63; European news, 251; effects of global climate change, 317; summary for 1997, 533 — , Lanceolated, European news, 52 — , Magnolia, European news, 55 — , Marmora’s, European news, 52 — , Marsh, European news, 52, 251; effects of global climate change, 315; British breeding records in 1995, 443 — , Melodious, European news, 52, 251; photograph, 191, plate 64; effects of global climate change, 317 — , Olivaceous, European news, 52, 251 — , Paddyfield, European news, 52, 250-1; accepted records, 505 — , Pallas’s Grasshopper, European news, 52; accepted records, 504-5 — , Pallas’s Leaf, European news, 53, 251; effects of global climate change, 319; summary for 1997, 537 — , Palm, European news, 55-6, plates 1-2 — , Radde’s, European news, 53, 251; accepted records, 508-9 — , Radde’s/Dusky, accepted record, 509 — , Reed, effects of global climate change, 314; two laying in same nest, 329 — , River, European news, 52; effects of global climate change, 317; British summering records in 1995, 442; accepted records, 505 — , Ruppell’s, European news, 53, 251 — , Sardinian, European news, 52 — , Savi’s, imitating Bearded Tit and Water Rail, 200-1; British summering records in 1995, 442-3 — , Sedge, using Rape fields in east Scotland, 144-5 — , Spectacled, in North Yorkshire: new to Britain .and Ireland, 225-30, plates 80-1; accepted record, 492, 506, plate 147 — , Subalpine, European news, 52; accepted records, 506 — , Tennessee, European news, 55 — Tristram’s, European news, 52 — , Western Bonelli’s, photograph, 224, plate 79; European news, 251; effects of global climate change, 317 — , Willow, effects of global climate change, 313; summary for 1997, 533 — , Yellow, European news, 55 — , Yellow-browed, European news, 53, 251; effects of global climate change, 319; summary for 1997, 534, 537 604 Index to volume 91 , Yellow-rumped, European news, 55, 252 VC arden, D., two Reed Warblers laying in same nest, 329 VC'aters, David, letter on re-establishment of Great Bustards in England, 33 1 'X'aterthrush, Nortliem, European news, 56 VC'atson, Adam, and Rae, Robert, use by birds of Rape fields in east Scotland, 144-5 Waxwing, Bohemian, summaiy for 1997, 527 , Cedar, European news, 51; accepted records, 500 VC'heatear, Black-eared, European news, 51, 250; accepted records, 502 5 Desert, European news, 51, 250; accepted records, 490, 502-3, plates 139-40 , Isabelline, European news, 51, 250; accepted records, 502 , Northern, photograph, 75, plate 9; summary for 1997, 527-8, 533 , Pied, accepted records, 490, 502, plates 137-8 , Red-tailed, photograph, 449, plate 1 10 Whimbrel, thermalling, 198; effects of global climate change, 318; lack of British mainland breeding records in 1995, 437; summaiy for 1997, 532 VCTiinchat, summary for 1997, 528, 533 VC'hitethroat, Common, using Rape fields in east Scodand, 144-5; summary for 1997, 528 , Lesser, juvenile eating cooking fat, peanuts and seeds, 236-7; effects of global climate change, 314-15 Wigeon, American, European news, 40, 242; accepted records, 464-6 , Eurasian, photograph, 1 79, plate 49 VC'ilkes, M. C., photographs of Tree Sparrow, 127, 135, plates 32, 35 V( ilkinson, David iVl., Rooks feeding inside station, 64 VCalkinson, Peter, photograph of winners of Bird Photograph of the Year 1997, 162, plate 45; of winners of Bird Illustrator of the Year 1997, 519, plate 154 Vrilsonia canadensis, see Warbler, Canada W'inter, Stuart, review of Dunn & Garrett; A Field Guide to Warblers of North America, 114 Wiseman, E. J., flight of Magpie, 380 > , see Pratt, Norman Wood, J., Common Coots killing Carrion Crow, 327-8 Woodpecker, Great Spotted, mystery photograph 210. 58-9, plate 6; European news, 249 , Green, effects of global climate change, 314 , I.esser Spotted, effects of global climate change, 314 , Middle Spotted, European news, 49, 249 , Syrian, mysteiy photograph 210. 58-9, plate 5; using wall crevice as ‘anvil’, 378 , \XTiite-backed, European news, 49-50 Vf'ooldridge, G. E., Little Egrets perching on horse, 60 ^X'otton, Simon, et ai, Cetti’s ^X'arblers in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands in 1996, 77-89 Wren, effects of global climate change, 312-14 \X 'right, John, colour plate of Avthya hybrid, 196 XCYyneck, effects of global climate change, 317; British summering records in 1995, 439; summarv for 1997, 533, 536, plate 160 Xeniis cinereus, see Sandpiper, Terek Yates, George, and Aiatthews, John, Blue Tits nesting in standard bat-box with fatal results, 201-2 Yellowhammer, conservation research news, 271-2 Yellovviegs, Greater, European news, 46, 247; accepted records, 477 J Lesser, European news, 46, 247; accepted records, 477 Yellowtliroat, Common, European news, 56; accepted records, 494, 513, plate 152 Yesou, Pierre, see Elkins, Norman Young Ornithologists of the Year, 1997 award presentation, 115, plate 29; 1998 winners, 523-5 Young, H. Glyn, and Duffy, Kevin, aggressiv’e behaviour of Caspian 'Perns towards herons, 285; behaviour of Blackcaps in winter in Jersey, 379 Young, Steve, photograph of Ivoiy Gull, 481, plate 112; of European Roller, 487, plate 129; of Citrine Wagtail, 488, plate 133; of Pied Wheatear, 490, plates 137-8; of Dark- throated 'Phrush, 491, plate 141; of Great Reed Warbler, 491, plate 142; of Common Yellovvyliroat, 494, plate 152; of European Bee-eater, 536, plate 159; of Wrv’neck, 536, plate 160; of Black Tern, 536, plate 162 Zbinden, N., European news, 38-57, 241-53 Zenaida rnacroura, see Dov'e, Mourning Zockler, C., photographs of Brent Geese, 569- 70, plates 163-6 ? 1 see SvToechkovski, E., E., ct al. Zoothcra damna, see 'Phrush, W'hite’s sibirica, see 'Phrush, Siberian ( I ndex to volume 91 605 1 ^ist of line-drawings WOES 2 Greater Flamingos {George Brown) 12 Gyr Falcon (John Gale) 77 Cetti’s Warbler Joht Hollyer) 93 Long-billed Dowitcher in spring, with Little Stints (Dati PoivelJ) 124 Tree Sparrows (Kevin Baker) 149 Redhead and Common Pochards Jan Wilcznr) 165 Lesser Crested Tern with Sandwich Terns (Frederick J. Watson) 171 Golden and White-tailed Eagles (Keith Brockie) .210 Marsh Harrier (Nonnan Arlott) 225 Spectacled Warbler (Alan Harris) 263 Richard Richardson (Bryan Bland) 213 Litde Egrets John Davis) 307 Hoopoe (Dave Numey) 336 Ruddy Ducks (R. J. Piytherch) 361 Common Chiffchaff of eastern race tristis (Brian Small) 386 Sabine’s Gulls (Mike Langrnan) 409 Egyptian and Griffon Vultures (Robin Prytherch) 417 Bluethroats (Dan Gole) 526 Common Crossbills (Aki72 Hanis) 540 Bulwer’s Petrel (Killian Mullamey) 565 Brent Geese (Robert Gillmor) ey Dunn & Wilson Ltd PgP r COMSERVATORS & 800K8IM0ERS